H.—22.

small numbers ill several parts of this area, but the position is not such as to occasion undue concern at this juncture, and, in view of the programme already undertaken, it was decided not to operate there this season. Its accessibility is, moreover, to a certain extent a safeguard against rapid increase of the deer, as numerous sportsmen visit the area, and will assist in keeping their numbers down. (c) As regards the country between the middle and north arms of Lake Te Anau and Caswell and George Sounds, the deer situation of this area has been referred to in the foregoing. Wapiti. —The area referred to in (c) above is inhabited by the herd of wapiti which, having been liberated in the vicinity of the above sounds, have spread into the valleys of the rivers flowing into the middle and north arms of Lake Te Anau and down to the shores of the lake. It was proposed at one stage of the season to undertake operations against the wapiti, but all the evidence then available indicated the probability of their resulting in only a few of these animals being killed, with, the expenditure of a considerable sum of money, and, as it was apparent that the employment of the men and money available on deer operations in the Lake Manapouri area would produce greater results and meet a pressing need, the wapiti project was abandoned. ° It was ascertained also that several parties of stalkers were in the wapiti country, and as their presence would seriously militate against successful operations in such a limited area, this fact helped to influence the Department in deciding not to operate there this season. As the result of the reconnaissance, the following information regarding the wapiti herd has been obtained • (a) The animals have, as stated, spread from the area of liberation of the progenitors of the herd to new country. (6) The facts that they have so spread and that their original home-forest is still populated proves that they have considerably increased in numbers since liberation, (c) As they do not live on the open " tops " but almost exclusively frequent the bush, or fringes thereof, in the narrow valleys, the area inhabited by them is limited, and cannot be regarded as highly suitable or conducive to rapid increase, (d) The rate of fecundity appears to be low, or, alternatively, the rate of juvenile mortality is high in their present habitat, (e) A considerable amount of mortality occurs even amongst the adults, especially big stags, and this may be attributed to pneumonia caused by lack of sunshine and the cold and damp conditions obtaining in the deep narrow valleys in which they are, by reason of their weight and size, compelled to live. (/) In addition to the usual observation of evidences of browsing,, stomach-contents were examined to ascertain their feeding habits, and it was found that, although slight differences occur, their diet is very similar to that of red deer, these animals varying on y in size, colour, and a few unimportant habits, (g) The damage caused by them the bush is almost exactly similar to that by red deer, but is, so far, less severe only because of their smaller numbers. The fact that very little 'feeding is done outside the bush creates a point of difference from red deer, but its natural corollary is that this must result in greater damage to the bush, and the fact that each individual animal, being larger and requiring more food than a red deer, must do more damage. Although the position is not yet serious, quite a considerable amount of damage has been done, (ft) It is significant that odd stags have been seen in the Eglinton Valley—the animals must have swum across Lake Te Anau—near the Waiau River below Lake Manapouri and on the country immediately to the north of Lake Manapouri. Activities of Stalkers. As has previously been pointed out, parties of sportsmen shooting on country over which the Department's organization is conducting systematic operations seriously interfere with the plan of campaign and generally hamper the work. Recognizing this fact, it is the custom for runholders on whose properties departmental parties are operating to do everything possible, by refusing permission to sportsmen, erecting notices, and publishing notices in newspapers, to entirely prohibit other persons from shooting there during This season, however, the parties were considerably hampered by the activities of sportsmen in the Fiordland National Park and the Tararua Ranges. The success which has attended the Department's operations since their commencement is largely due to the fact that they are conducted to a carefully thought-out general tactical plan which provides for the complete co-ordination of the activities of every unit in the organization. An important feature of these tactics is so to conduct the work that disturbed deer will move into localities which give temporary sanctuary, but where they can be shot in large numbers when the proper time arrives ; but all these systematic methods are nullified by uncontrolled parties which scatter the deer. It has been contended that as sportsmen shoot some deer their object is identical with that of the Department, and they must therefore be helpful in bringing about a diminution of the herds. Experience has shown, however, that the numbers they kill are entirely negligible, while the scattering of deer and driving them back on to country which has already been worked and left causes serious reduction of the numbers finally killed. Co-operation by others.—Wherever privately controlled property was operated over, the Department's organization was generally accorded that valuable and whole-hearted co-operation by runholders which always contributes to the success of the undertaking. The manner in which the Southland Electric-power Board in general, and its resident engineer at Monowai (Mr. Walker) in particular, assisted the Department was outstanding. The Southland Acclimatization Society very kindly co-operated by placing at the Department s disposal their boat on Lake Hauroko and giving permission for members of the staff to occupy the living-quarters at their hatchery at Te Anau, both of which facilities were availed of. The several tramping clubs in and near Wellington accorded the Tararuas party all the co-operation which lay within their power.

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