DUCKS PLENTIFUL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21647, 7 May 1940, Page 4

DUCKS PLENTIFUL

Society’s Claims Proved

NUMBERED IN THOUSANDS, NOT HUNDREDS

“We can definitely say to the Minister of Internal Affairs that the ducks in South Canterbury can be numbered not in their hundreds but in their thousands.” said the chairman of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society (Mr J. McDonald) at a meeting of the Council last night, when the shooting season was under discussion. “The shooting successes so far prove that the claims we made to the Minister were not exaggerated.” Mr McDonald was referring to the Minister’s having introduced a season restricted to two weeks this year, and his intention to have a close season next year. Both measures were strongly opposed by the South Canterbury Society, which claimed that the supply of ducks in the district was sufficient and that there was no necessity for restrictions on the shooting seasons. The discussion arose after the report of the ranger (Mr F. W. Pellett) had been presented.) In reference to the shooting Mr Pellett said that game shooting grounds nad been well ranged during the last month and indications were for a successful shooting season. Rain would have increased the grounds for game. x “There can be no doubt whatever that the shooting is good this season," said Mr McDonald. He had heard of one man who had obtained a limit bag bag and another who had been very close to the limit.

Mr B. Triggs said that ducks were plentiful, the greater number being grey duck. It was evident that shooting had not deteriorated in South Canterbury, Other members reported excellent numbers, one stating that there must be 2000 ducks on the Milford lagoon, and Mr E. G. Eliot saying that the shooting this season was better than ’ e had ever known it to be before.