AN ACCLIMATISATION MATTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3562, 26 August 1920, Page 6

AN ACCLIMATISATION MATTER.

• AEE SHAGS DESTRUCTIVE? A sharp conflict of opinion was disclosed at the conference in Wellington of acclimatisation societies relative to the destructive tendencies of shags. In opposing a remit that a uniformpremium be paid for* snag heads, Mr. E. F. Stead (North Canterbury) contended that the association was pursuing a suicidal course in advocating the destruction of shags. Fish food in the rivers was becoming scarcer every year, and the' wholesome destruction of shags would result in destroying the only remedy that nature had got of preventing the over-stocking of our fishing grounds. Shags were the ideal agency for bringing about the survival \i the Attest among trout. In Canterbury no premium had been paid out for shag heads for a number of years. and jn consequence the fishing had improved. Another point made by Mr. Stead was that shags favoured eeSs as ' a food in preference to trout. After considerable discussion the remit was •withdrawn.