CARING FOR GAME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 11

CARING FOR GAME

KARERE LAGOON PLANTED. THREE-FOLD BENEFIT. Extensive measures for the encouragement of breeding by wild ducks in sate and congenial surroundings have been taken by Messrs J. Callesen and M. AV. Voss along the major part of the banks of the Karere Lagoon, an area of water of about 25 acres. These two gentlemen have been the prime movers in this effort to make the water almost a sanctuary, and restricted shooting, together with the provision of shelter, should aid the increase of ducks and pheasants to a material degree. Where once cattle grazed to the water’s edge, and where the ducks were few, there are now sturdy plantations of about 4000 flax plants just outside the raupo at the shores of the lagoon, and about 5000 macrocarpa trees varying in age from 12 months to four. 'years. Although the main scheme is yet undeveloped, because this will conic a little later when the trees’ branches begin to spread, the fencing off of the lagoon lias had an immediate effect. When a “Manawatu Standard” reporter visited the area yesterday easily 2000 ducks were seen swimming about the lagoon or fossicking through the raupo. Three benefits arise from the enclosure of the lagoon and the establishment of deep plantations along the banks. The initial consideration, the fostering of wild life, thus giving the mallard ducks an opportunity to breed in circumstances they seek, . will be amply met, as the results already show. In tiie second place the plantations, at first with “thinnings” and later as fully-grown timber, will be a valuable source of revenue, and will give a far greater monetary return than certain steep banks and awkward corners could do under other uses. The third point is that the wnufe <>rea will be beautified, and even now, with much of the planting relatively new, the ultimate effect can easily be visualised. RESTRICTED SHOOTING. For only four days at the most in the year will these ducks have to contend with the sportsman, and even on those four the number of men operating is restricted by the owners. This year there will be fewer than the four days. Judging from the flight of the ducks which rose quickly yesterday at a liand-clap and a loudly spoken word, the men with the guns will not have matters all their own way. The property-owners concerned have entered into an agreement as to the amount of shooting to be done, and when. Further, requests have been made to the Acclimatisation Society that prosecutions be undertaken for violation of these rules by “outsiders” who have not done, anything to preserve game. The firm belief is held by Mr Callesen, as only one of those who have taken up this scheme of fostering wild life, that similar development of such areas in other districts would be of great benefit to property-owners personally and the ducks and pheasants generally. The provision of cover from the water’s edge and the prevention of stock reaching the whole of the boupdgries of this lagoon is regarded as the basis of the scheme. In years to come, through the measures now undertaken, the Karere Lagoon may become one of the treasured areas of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s district.