PROTECTED BIRDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1938, Page 6

PROTECTED BIRDS.

. TOLL ON FISH. INVESTIGATION URGED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 20. Strong complaint about the damag* to trout and salmon caused by two protected birds, the white-fronted tern and the black-billed gull, was expressed by the Waimate delegate (Mr S. Cox) at a conference of the South Island Acclimatisation Societies. The complaint was based on a remit from the Waimate Society, and led the conference to pass a resolution that the Minister of Internal Affaire (Hon. W. E. Parry) should be informed of the damage these birds were causing, and that he,should be asked to have data collected for investigation. “In years gone by the Maoris kept some check on the numbers of birds by gathering their eggs in kerosene tins,” said Mr. Cox, “but since protection has been imposed the gulls have increased in numbers tremendously and there is little hope of keeping them in check. They have become a menace.” I As the societies would know, he had been prosecuted for shooting a blackbacked gull,. Mr 'Cox added. He had resigned as chairman of the Waimate Society, but lie had been re-elected. Part of the trouble w r as that protection prevented even one of the birds from being taken for examination. They could not even be taken for search.