DUCK SLAUGHTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18974, 27 March 1924, Page 6

DUCK SLAUGHTER

1700 IN ONE DAY. NEW WAY TO FINANCE MOTOR-CAR. INVERCARGILL, March 26. Mr. Moorehouse, conservator of fish and game, is visiting the backblocks country between Christchurch and Invercargill as a result of representations made to the Department in connection with the protection of the paradise duck and pukeko. In conversation with a reporter in Invercargill, Mr. Moorehouse said the grey duck is as numerous as ever in the back country, but the paradise duck is scarce. Mr. Moorehouse mentioned that during the journey through Canterbury he found that it was a common thing for runheldcrs to make artificial ponds on their properties by running water from a nearby lake or river into a bed about a quarter of a mile long by half a chain in width. The ducks were then attracted to this artificial lake by constant feeding, chiefly on barley which was spread in little heaps on the ground on the edge of the water. On one property he visited no less than forty bags of barley had been used. On the last day before the season opens the food is all placed at one end of the lake offering the most protection for shootists. In this way he was told as many as 1700 birds had been bagged on the first day. When he asked his informant whether he did rot think that was rather excessive destruction of ducks the man replied that his neighbour had made enough out of such a practice to buy an expensive motor-car and that he himself had been offerred £350 for the shooting rights on his property. “I can assure you,” said Mr. Moorehouse, “that mv report on the matter was telegraphed straight to Wellington.”