LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2400, 1 March 1900, Page 47

LAND AND WATER.

At Thursday's meeting of the council of the Acclimatisation Society the followingdates were selected for shooting game and deer: — Fallow doer, from 15th March to 30th April ; red deer, Ist April to 31st May ; and imported native game, Ist May to 30th June. During the discussion, Mr Richardfon, whose vocation takes him a great deal about the jsountry, stated that grey duck were numerous along the Upper Cluiha Valley, paradise duck were plentiful on. Lake On'slow, red deer in the vicinity of Timaru Creek and the Lindis (a few being seen on the Makarora), and hares and quail were increasing _vi the neighbourhood of Roxburgh.

A heavy tax is about to be taken off the shoulders of the fishermen in the lower harbour. Mr E. G. Allen, M.H.R. for Waikouaiti, has succeeded in obtaining the consent of the Minister of Railways that i» future all fishermen's return empty cases shall be carried on the railways free of charge. This concession has been made in regard to empty fruit cases for some time past. We understand that other concessions in regard to the fishing industry are under consideration by the department.

Mr W. Thomson, of Grants Braes, has applied to the Marine department for the rightto reserve aboul seven acres j»nd a-quarter of the upper harbour' at Waverley for an artificial oyster bed. The Collector of Customs yesterday referred the matter to the Harbour Board, who decided, by ?. majorky of seven to two. to offer no objection to the granting of tho application. Mr Barclay and Mr Begg voted with the minority, and the latter expressed the opinion that it was not in the interest." of iniblic health to have an. oyster bed in the locality in question, on account of the sewage going into the harbour.

A large fish 'of an unknown variety was found stranded on the Western Spit Beach, Napier, recently. The stranger measures fully eight feet in length, and is quite six feet in girth, and bears in a slight degree a resemblance to the kingfish.

The wild geese in the upper part of the Taieri River are multiplying rapidly. There is a flocb up there of over 400.

The Otaki (Wellington) Mail says sportsmen are complaining bitterly at the. illegal shooting of wild pigeons. It is said* that the birds are being shot wholesale.

A strange shark was caught by Mr H. Breeze at Hokitika last weefe. H« >vas fisb.-

ing for cod, when, after great trouble, h« landed the fish. It is about eight feet in length, and weighs 3cwt. The Maoris give the creature the name, of kaupene, and state that only one other has been captured on the Coast.