RECORD CATCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 9

RECORD CATCH

MUTTON BIRDERS RETURN MUCH WET WEATHER Special Correspondent INVERCARGILL, May 26. A record catch of approximately 300,000 birds is reported by the mutton birders who returned to Bluff this morning after two months at the Titi Islands. All the birders reported record catches, and the birds are in excellent condition. The weather for the first half of the season was wet and cold. For six weeks it rained every day, and the hail at times was so .heavy that it was impossible to see the bird holes. One birder who has been going_ to the island for over 50 years considered that only during one other season was the weather so bad. Conditions improved during the second half, and were good right up to the time of departure. The birds have been plentiful, and are still on the islands. All the birders returned this morning, and conditions were good for embarking with the exception of Paui island, where the Hampstead family was . unfortunate in loading the personal luggage, a wireless set and five pairs of blankets being lost. Paui was worked by the tender Nightingale,' and the. dinghy taking the baggage to the tender was washed against a rock, smashing in the hull. It was impossible to salvage the luggage, which floated around for half an hour before being swept out to sea.