WITH ROD AND GUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 11

WITH ROD AND GUN

HOW THE WAR HAS HIT THE GAME SOCIETIES. Mr. Dasent, the secretary of the Weiiuigton Acclimatisation Society, states that the war is having a noticeable effect on the affairs of the Wellington Acclimatisation Societv, and other kindred bodies. "By this time of the year, as a general rule," says Mr. Dasent, "we have twice as many orders for game birds from other societies thah we can su l'ply, but Tip till the end of last yoar' wo had not received a single order, and the only one wo have received—only a few days ago—is an application for a dozen pheasants from the Tauranga Society. Every year we breed a few; deer from selected stock in order to supply deer for parts of our own district; and outside districts that are not well This year we have had no applications for deer-calves, and so late m the season are not likely to be bothered with orders. Our stalking season begins on April 1. "As a rule, Mr. Miller, in charge of our ponds at Masterton, receives anything between £100 and £200 for fry from the different societies, who like to keep their streams well stocked. This season, so far, ho has sold 15s. worth of fry only." It may be deduced from the above that those societies who do not run game farms and fish hatcheries are practising_ rigid economy and are quite justified in so doing, as the number of sportsmen will not be nearly so many this year as last, and' if the war goes or for another year, as it very easily might, the position will become oven worse, andtlie Wellington, and perhaps some other societies, will find that they are not able to keep up their activities on the present scale, and'pay their way. The revenue' so far this season is only about half what it usually is, and the prospects for the immediate future are by no means encouraging.