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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 279, 19 August 1920, Page 4

A sharp conflict of opinion was disclosed at yesterday's conference of acclimatisation societies relative to tho destructive tendencies of shags. In opposing a remit that a uniform premium be paid for shag heads, Mr. E. F. Stead (North Canterbury) contended that the association was pursuing a suicidal course in advocating the dcsU-uction of shags, rish food in tho rivers was becoming scarcer overy year, and the wholesale destruction of shags would result in destroying the only remedy that nature had got of preventing tho overstocking of our fishing grounds. . Shags were the ideal agency for bringing about tho survival of tho fittest among trout. In Canterbury no premium had been paid owl for shag heads for a number of years, and in consequence the fishing had improved. Another point made by Mr. Stead was that shags favoured eels ns a food in preference to trout. After considerable discussion the remit was withdrawn,