WITH ROD AND GUN.

Shannon News, 4 September 1928, Page 2

WITH ROD AND GUN.

SEASON'S SPORT REVIEWED

The 43rd. annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society covers a great deal of ground- of interest to sportsmen. The reports of sub-commit-tees include the following:— LEVIN.

"The deer-stalking season has not been as good as previous years. Some fair heads were taken, but were not as numerous as in the past. The deer seem to have gone further back in the high country. "The game season has opened fairly well. Ducks are numerous, but the weather on the first day was very rough, and no very large bags were taken. The shooting on the small exposed lagoons was poor, while shooting on larger areas was better. Approximately 86 licenses were issued locallv.

" "Th# fishing in this district has been good generally. The Ohau went vcry dry and -many fish were lost. "Pheasants are doing well on areas where thev are protected." TOKOMARU.

"Fishing.-r-The fishing season was only a fair one. While "the first few months were good, drought conditions later accounted for much smaller bags. All yearlings and fry liberated lately seem to have done well. /"Deer Red. —We have heard of only one stag shot, a small ten. Sambur — One fine specimen was taken by Mr J. E. Warrington. The weight of the dried skull and antlers was 241bs. The measurements are not on hand at time of writing. "Game shooting season. —The season opened well for ducks, rough weather making the ducks fly low. The best bags were 32, with 2 guns on the first morning; 10 with,one gun; and 12 with 2. About a score of pheasants were bagged in the first few days. "Pheasants appear to be doing exceptionally well iu this district of late. They have abundance of coyer, and it is believed that they acquire the greater part of their food from the blackberry. Hens are far more plentiful than a few years back. Many claim to have found nests with infertile eggs, due to insufficient cocks at mating. It is generally believed that conditions are so favourable to pheasants here that a much larger quota would be an asset." GAME FARM.

A slight improvement in the number of pheasants reared at the game farm, in the Hutt Valley, is reported, 281 having been raised as against 200 for 1926-27. The report states that the pheasant problem, both with -regard to the number raised on the farm and the number delivered, on order, has proved unexpectedly difficult. The northern breeders suffered heavy losses, as the result of the presence of an unusual quantity of vermin and the protracted drought. Out of an order for 500 pheasants for delivery during March, only 90 came to hand. Further, there were absolutely no pheasants in sight for August liberation. To prevent, if possible, a repetition of the trouble, the Game Committee will recommend that orders for 1928 be spread over several breeders. The position with regard to the raising of birds at the Farm is under review, and probably some changes will be given effect to. The liberations in this district were: — .

August, 1927.—Tokomaru, 10 cocks, 10 hens; Shannon, 4 cocks, 6 hens; Moonshine, 5 eocks, 5 hens; Reikorangi, 3 cocks, 3 hens; Simcox's 3 cocks, 4 hens; Waikanae, 2 eocks, 4 hens; Manakau, 4 cocks, 7 hens; Levin, 14 cocks, 26 hens. March, 1928.—Tokomaru, 11 cocks, 9 hens; "Shannon, 4 cocks, 6 hens; Manakau, 8 cockß, 8 hens; Paekakariki, 5 cocks, ,5 hens; Paraparaumu, 5 coeks, 5 hens. TROUT FRY AND YEARLINGS. Amongst the trout fry -distributed were the following;—, Brown frv.—Levin 50,000, Akatarawa 35,000, Otaki (Waitatapia) 20,000, Porirua 15,000, Horokiwi 10,000, Shannon 20,000, Waikanae ,30,000, Tokomaru 30,000. Rainbow fry.—Otaki 10,000, Levin 9000.

The brown yearlings distributed included 500 for Levin, 500 for Tokoma.ru and 500 for Otaki (Waitatapia); rainbow yearlings —Otaki (Waiotouru) 1000, Mangahao Dams 600. The fish hatchery, at Masterton, has been duplicated, and the Council has arranged with the Masterton Trust Lands Board for an extension of tenure over a long period of years. It is proposed to give orders for some 2,000,000 brown and rainbow ova from the South Island and Taupo. During 1927 the committee set up to select a qualified research student, appointed Captain J. 8. Phillips, of England, to investigate the subject of fresh-water fish and their food supply, and he is making the acquaintance of the rivers and streams in the Society's area and of their occupants. In accordance with the increased output from the hatchery, two additional holding "ponds will be* constructed in time for the 1928 distribution.

FISHING SEASON. A summarised review of the past fishing season is given, as follows: "The season 127-28 just closed has been well above the average for several years past, and in the face of a protracted drought the sport has been uniformly encouraging. One prominent feature has been the legion of young j people found working the streams.' "Summed up, the Manawatu and Buamahanga provided the best average weights, and the Makuri, the Mangatainoka, the Wainui, the Otaki (above and below forks), and the Waipoua were most consistent. ; ' "The Otauru, the Waikanae, the Tokomaru, and the Mungaroa fished well, whilst the Hutt and its tributar- I ies wore, as usual, full of surprises. A basket of five fish taken in one of these weighed out at 51b., 41b., 41b., 3£lb., and 31b. "Some large fish were taken from. the Upp«r Hutt waterß. The Wakatiki -was not as good 88 many.. .Fieh Jftff.

\ hard tp take. (This is the stream of '• which a Wellington angler is reported to have said that he knew the name and address of each fish). "The Bangitikei furnished some fair sport—l 7, running from 51bs down to 21bs. "Some totals are: A "Wellington angler took about 120, chiefly from Wainui and Otaki; two Masterton sportsmen had taken .131 and 119 by the end of 1927. Hardy's Favourite and Groenwell's Glory accounted for most of the above. "There were some remarkable happenings during the season. A persistent angler took 1000 fish from one river. This is remarkable, but true, in patches. Of course there were many other enthusiasts, who did not take 1000 fish, but no one can foretell the future.

"Approximately 2000 licenses were issued; val'ie £1500.'»