MUTTONBIRD SEASON

Southland Times, Issue 17025, 25 April 1912, Page 5

MUTTONBIRD SEASON

SUPPLIES SHORT. FIRST OF THE CATCH. The muttonbirdors have had a wary poor season so far and in all pnotonbfiity there will bo, for several of the parties, nothing over after the fares to anul from the islands and the provisions lujato been paid for. On some islands tliq returns have been only about a of what they were last season—on one island ■ only 30 birds were obtained as compared with no less than 500 last .pear. It appears that the hatching season was very wet, and all the holes in the exposed portions of the islaiw's—■vnany of the islands are practically all exposed—wore Hooded and rendered useVoss. Therefore the percentage of uiorta’iity was a very high one. SupplKw t'ais year will bo short and prices IdgU. In several instances contracts were made for supplies and such pri’c’. \ascrs will have a “good thing on I ” —eihould their contracts be fulfilled. The s.s. Rita from the western'islands of £J IC Titi Group on Tuesday night and brought GSOO birds. Site reports that Oic western islands have not l>een to same extent affected as the eastern 'islands. The only eastern island any good is Owen's Island, and the fyt'.iers are very poor. Several parties 1/a; ,-e returned from the eastern islands vird their catch amounted to only 250 biirds as compared with over 4000 last y*ss/,\ Thevo are not so many birders out this season, an d that will further reduce sup7 n a n probability the retail price of a? c mutton-bird will run to 9d ouch th'. s year instead of only 6d last year. To,, birds arc very fat and in excellent c xv.idltion.