FISH AND GAME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 14, 9 April 1947, Page 5

FISH AND GAME

CONSERVATOR'S VISIT ROD AND GUN CLUB'S INTEREST Opportunity was taken by the committee of Whakatane Rod and Gun Club to meet and discuss many subjects relating to game in field and streams with Mr McNamara, the Conservator of Fish and Game while he was in the district recently.

The Conservator assured members that more rangers be operating in the district prior to and during the forthcoming shooting season and the club was asked to ask its members to report any breaches of the regulations promptly to the rangers. An assurance was also given that shooting licenses would be out earlier this season but he was sorry to have to say that a copy of the regulations would not be available for issue with each license, however a few copies would be issued to the club secretary for use of members. When paper and labour were available copies would again be issued to every license-holder.

When asked about introducing additional plant life as food for water fowl, Mr McNamara said that a scientific committee was collecting data from all parts of the world and when it had finished its job more plant life would be introduced. It was learned that the prospects of introducing new types of bird life into the country were poor as there was a big risk of bringing in the dreaded 'Parrots' Disease.' However the Department hoped to rapidly step up its liberation numbers of the game birds that were already in the country, and would also have them tagged when tags were again procurable.

Regarding the stocking of the streams it was learned that fingerlings would be used for the coming season for the bulk of the area but as the capacity of the hatcheries was limited fry would also have to be used to try and build up the streams. Quite a lot of work on the scientific side of trout feeding was being done by the Department at present, and it was hoped that/through these efforts they would be able to bring the fishing generally back to the standard of 10 or 15 years ago. Brown trout had been liberated in the Whakatane River last year.