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5. Forest Wild Life. Native Birds. The pioneer work carried out by the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society in rousing the public to the importance of the preservation of our beautiful and in many respects unique bird-life is having good results, as reports from all regions tend to show that the rapid decrease of our native birds so noticeable some years ago has been arrested in a measure at least. State forests are treated as bird-sanctuaries, consequently carrying and using shot-guns and pea-rifles therein are prohibited, and all illicit shooting is punished where a conviction can be secured. Several such cases were detected throughout the year, and in every instance where a prima facie case could be established legal proceedings were taken and fines inflicted on the offenders. Opossums. The trapping returns for the 1927 season show a falling-olf compared with the previous year, but were slightly higher than in 1925. The following figures show the skins secured for the past five years: 1922-23,54,357; 1923-24,109,905; 1924-25, 95,639 ; 1925-26,145,778; 1926-27,157,480; 1927-28, 149,000. The opossum revenue and share of license fees paid to the Stale forests Account amounted to £4,097 18s., or £581 15s. less than that received for 1926-27. Once again permits to trap in Wellington forest region exceeded those from any other part of the Dominion, and the skins secured represented about 50 per cent, of the grand total. Unfortunately, trapping out of season was again rife, and many convictions were recorded, while others could not be proceeded with owing to difficulty in securing evidence. An offence frequently indulged in and difficult to prove, unless the offender is caught red-handed, is poisoning by the use of cyanide, a wholesale method of destruction of animals and bird life which cannot be too strongly condemned. To combat this evil the efforts of the Service have been directed towards a more rigorous control and inspection of trapping-areas and trapping-lines. Statistical returns from regions show that the number of opossums has decreased, and a close season in at least some districts seems essential to allow the animals to multiply. The question of introducing new stock in order to improve the class and colour of the fur becomes more important each year, as only by this means can a good-quality high-grade skin be assured. The prices of skins sold at public auction ranged from 17s. lOd. to 3s. 6d. each. The revenue received from the opossum industry is largely devoted towards the cost of destruction of deer, pigs, and goats throughout New Zealand. Deer. The investigations made by the Service over a period of years prove conclusively that deer are a serious forest menace by their destruction of young growth and prevention of forest-regeneration; nor are their depredations confined solely to the forests, as in many instances they have been known to eat or destroy entire paddocks of cereal crops, turnips, &c. Payment of the bounty of 2s. per tail, mentioned in last year's report, was again continued, and 5,795 tails were paid for in this manner. A special party was engaged by the Internal Affairs Department for deer-destruction on Stewart Island. Their operations extended over two months, during which time seventy head were destroyed. The establishment of small " salt licks " in all badly infested areas throughout New Zealand has been completed, and to further combat this ever-increasing pest the advisability of carrying out poisoning experiments on the lines successfully tried in North America is under consideration. It is obvious, however, that this method can only be tried out in specially selected localities, where no stock exists and water-supplies will not be polluted. As regional reports disclosed that deer were using the " salt licks," larger and more permanent ones were established with a view to attracting the animals in greater numbers to vantage-points where they can be more readily destroyed by shooting parties. In an attempt to turn the deer liability into an asset, State encouragement and assistance have been given to a private firm in its endeavours to develop an overseas market for the export of deer-carcasses, and, though sufficient time has not elapsed to definitely prove the financial success of the venture, there is every prospect that exporting venison can be made a profitable undertaking. Markets have been found for deer-hides, antlers, &c, and when. this business has been fully developed it is hoped that the cost of extermination will be reduced by the sale of these commodities. Wild Pigs. Funds for the destruction of wild pigs in certain localities in the Dominion were again provided on the same basis as last year, and payment was made in respect to 12,966 pig-snouts. Poisoning experiments have not yet proved successful upon a large scale, and tests of different poisons and baits will be further experimented with this winter. As in the past, great care will be exercised in the carrying-out of these experiments, for the success of a suitable poison for pig-destruction must be governed largely by the fact whether or not it will be harmful to stock. Suitable financial provision has been made for the continued control of the pig menace during the current fiscal year, and, as heretofore, this work will be administered by the Service. Goats. The increase of goats and the resultant damage in State forests has caused grave concern, and, although only certain portions of New Zealand are at present affected, organized plans are being prepared to exterminate this vermin. The profitable utilization of sun-dried goat-skins has been