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(4) Game Conservation (a) Game Farm. —The necessity for limiting the consumption of foods suitable for fowl and pheasant foods was again felt during the year, and this was a limiting factor in the rearing of game birds. Operations were again conducted, therefore, on a reduced scale and will result in the liberation of only approximately 900 pheasants and 160 ducks. (b) 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 Board, and those destroyed by officers of the Department:—

(c) Anti-Coaching Measures.—Proceedings taken for breaches of the regulations resulted in fines amounting to £69 being imposed. (5) Absolutely Protected Birds A vigorous campaign of ranging designed to check the prevalent practice of killing these birds was conducted, a number of offenders being prosecuted. i\ Southern Lakes Acclimatization District (1) The Fishing Season The fishing season generally over the whole district has been good. In the area of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea some excellent-conditioned rainbow trout were taken early in the season, but as the season advanced results were poorer. In the Lake Wakatipu area, Lake Hayes has been particularly good in the evening and Moke Lake and the Kawarau River gave some good results on the dry fly. Reid and Diamond Lakes gave excellent fishing with the dry fly and on several occasions limit bags were taken consisting of brown trout from 5 lb. to 8 lb. in weight. The Lake Te Anau area has produced good fishing, a large number of Atlantic salmon being taken, particularly at the mouth of the Upukerora River. Some excellent rainbow trout were taken from both the Waiau and Eglmton Rivers, amongst these being a considerable number of young fish which, it appears, are the outcome of the liberations of the first rainbow ova sent to the district from the Taupo waters. Rainbow trout similar to these have been caught in Lake Wakatipu and the Arrow, Kawarau, Hawea, and Clutha Rivers, and, from this, it is considered that considerable success has been achieved in the restocking of the waters of this district. The largest fish caught was a brown trout weighing 10| lb. taken between Half-way Bay and Kingston, on Lake Wakatipu. (2) Fisheries Conservation {a) Fish Salvage.—The salvage of fish rendered necessary through the rivers drying up was continued in April, 1947, and again this year, and a total of 17,567 fish from the Lindis River, irrigation races from that river, and the Mataura River were saved and placed in safe waters. Most of the fish from the Lindis River were reliberated in the Clutha and Hawea Rivers. All these fish were in good condition and should in the near future improve the fishing in the rivers in which they were reliberated. (b) Hatchery Operations.—The hatchery at Lake Hayes commenced operations on 11th July, 1947, but, owing to a very dry season, the fish were very late in " running."

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— Hedgehogs. Hawks. Stoats. (i) Destroyed under North Island scheme (ii) Destroyed by Departmental officers 3 377 13 GO