H—22

Of the above ova, 2,570,000 were, sold to acclimatization societies, 2,800,000 were sent to the Department's Southern Lakes district, and 645,000 to No. 3 (Tuai) Hatchery. Pry were planted in the district as under :

(b) Gulling of Trout. —The following numbers of " cull " trout were destroyed : Rotorua area : 12 males ; 8 females. Taupo area : 70 males ; 68 females. (c) Trout food. —Investigations showed that in most waters where smelt (Retropinna lacustris) were introduced to augment food-supplies for trout they are well established. (3) Vermin Control The table hereunder shows the numbers of various species on which bounties were paid under the scheme operated by the North Island Vermin Control Council and those destroyed by officers of the Department: —

(4) Game Farm The necessity -for limiting the consumption of foods suitable as fowl-feed was a factor in the rearing of game birds. Operations were therefore continued on a reduced scale and resulted in the liberation of 919 pheasants and 175 mallard duck. The keeping of fowls for egg-production for disposal through commercial channels was reduced. A total of 572 dozen eggs were sold. (5) Ranging All parts of the district were regularly patrolled by the Department's Rangers. Breaches of the two conservation Acts administered in the district in the cases for which prosecutions were conducted resulted as follows :

12

Waters. Hatchery. Rainbow. Brown. Totals. Rotorua area Taupo area Taupo area Lake Waikaremoana and East Coast i— < i— 1 CO dddd 2,605,000 2,022,500 60,000 615,000 637,000 47,500 4:0,000 3,242,000 2,070,000 100,000 615,000 Totals 5,302,500 724,500 6,027,000

Hedgehogs. Shags. Hawks. Stoats and Weasels. 1 Ferrets. Bounties paid Departmental officers '25 464 82 306 50 57 12 1

Act. Number of Prosecutions. Amount of Fines. £ s. d. Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22 4 28 0 0 Fisheries Act, 1908, Part II 9 35 0 0