WAR ON .THE SHAG.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 12

WAR ON .THE SHAG.

CAPTAIN CLAREVS ADVICE

(special to "'the press.") JNVERCAHGIIiL, November 20

An interesting letter from Captain Clare. Harbourmaster at Inveroirgill, who resides at the New Kivor Heads, was road last evouiug at a mooting of the Southland Acclimatisation fcsociety. Captain Clare was moved to write as a result of the recent decision of the Council to raise- the feo on shags caught within certain limits to throe shillings per hoad.

"Dear Sirs."' ho wrote, "I would like to say a few words about the destruction of thu voracious shag, and perhaps my'long term of residence at tho New River Heads enabled mc to say with some authority that to deal with the question s;> as to x>roduco favourable results one nuisc begin at tho base. Now, tho base of the shag question, I consider, lies anywhere within the bounds of Foveailx Strait, even including tho inland waters at Stewart Island and certain lagoons between Green Hills and the Mataura, river. On many occasions when fishing in the vicinity of Omau Island, which lies at tho entrance of tho New Kiver Harbour, also at the liaif Passage Rocks, situated between Oniani Island and the Itiverton Heads, 1 havo noticed that as soon a.s the sun peeps above tho horjzou scores of shags leave these places and invariably steer their courses for tho rivers, numbers ovim making over that stretch of sandhills separating tho coast from the New Kiver. In fine easterly weather these birds return in the evenings to roost on tho same rocks they vacated in the mornings, but should tho weather be westerly and rough, they fail to make these rocks, evidently finding moro congenial roost-ing-plnces along the river banks and lagoons. I am convinced that the shags ono finds up tho river reaches are tho flankers or outposts of the main body, and by destroying them you do not materially lessen their numbers. Besides, the few that visit the remunerative area at ono time are not sufficient to warrant the loss of timo and trouble in securing them. I would suggest lessening the foe and making tho catchment area, to include, say, the whole of Southland and the adjoining islands, j This, I think, would bo tho means of j breaking up their roost* and rookeries, and perhaps of driving them from the coast. There is no doubt that tho shag plays a big part in the depletion of our fish, and the question is worthy of- consideration by the Government,"

It was abundantly clear during tho discussion that followed tho reading of thia letter that members wore much impressed with Captain Clare's views, and a special committee was sot up to see how far other s/vJp+.ins would coy operate, were a widor campaign determined upon.