H.—22.

R. Deer, Tiiar, Chamois, and Goat Destruction Operations, Year 1939-40. (1) Numerical Results and Geographical Analysis for Financial Year, Ist April, 1939, to 31st March, 1940. During the financial year a total of 45,051 of the above animals were destroyed, the distribution being shown below. Deer-skins numbering 15,282 were recovered.

(2) Numerical Results and Geographical Analysis for Season Ist June, 1938, to 31st May, 1939. These months comprise last year's natural shooting season. During this season a total of 38,354 animals were destroyed, as follows : —

The remainder of this report refers to the financial year ended 31st March, 1940. (3) Sphere of Operations, Tactics employed, and General Progress. The outbreak of war and other factors resulting in a shortage of supervising staff necessitated a postponement of the full application of the principle, as outlined in last year's report, of allocating officers permanently to certain areas, with the result that this system has been applied only to the Urewera - Lake Waikaremoana and Stewart Island areas, while in the cases of the Tarawera Range and the Fiordland National Park its inception was postponed for one year. (а) Urewera - Lake Waikaremoana Area. —The operations of the permanent organization established in this area were continued, though subjected to some reduction as the result of its being found necessary to make use of the services of the resident officer in a South Island area for a portion of the year. It is considered, however, that the progress so far made was maintained. (б) Tongariro National Park, Kaimanawa, Kaweka, and Ahimanaiva Mountains Area.--A thorough scouring of the National Parle by two energetic and highly skilled officers revealed the fact that deer are comparatively scarce there, and the belief is confidently held that intensive operations in the adjacent Kaimanawa Mountains, where deer are comparatively numerous, will automatically bring about the desired result with regard to deer infestation in the National Park, which is not country that they would inhabit from preference. Large-scale operations by an average of twenty men were conducted throughout the season (November to May) in the whole of the group of mountains comprising the central watershed of the Island (the Kaimanawa, Kaweka, and Ahimanawa Ranges) starting at seven different points along the outside of the one-hundred-mile-sided equilateral triangle and working progressively towards the cluster of peaks and high ridges at its centre. It was found that the operations in this area of two seasons ago have had a marked effect, and further outstanding reductions have been achieved. It can now be confidently anticipated that a continuation for a time at least of the present policy of conducting intensive operations biennially will result in ultimate success in this area. (c) Ruahine Range and Tararua Range Areas.—These results refer merely to the portions of the operations in the areas which were conducted after 31st March, 1939, and were dealt with in last year s report.

2—H. 22.

9

" ~ ■ i ~ i r —— | Deer. I Thar. Chamois. Goats. Pigs. Cattle. Total. I I I Urewera - Lake Waikaremoana .. 841 .. .. .. 44 7 892 Kaimanawa, Kaweka, and ranges .. 5,700 .. .. .. .. •• 5,700 Ruahine Range .. .. .. 1,201 .. .. .. .. • • 1,201 Eastern Wairarapa .. .. .. 816 .. .. 1,397 .. .. 2,213 Tararua Range .. .. .. 1,021 .. .. 203 23 .. 1,247 North Nelson (north of Buller River) .. 3,454- .. .. 423 27 .. 3,904 South-Nelson-North Westland (Buller to 7,778 .. 124 226 14 .. 8,142 Wataroa Rivers) Marlborough-North Canterbury (Wairau 13,035 10 452 770 12 .. 14,279 to Rangitata Rivers) South Westland-Otago-South Canterbury 6,701 53 316 .. .. .. 7,070 Stewart Island .. .. .. 399 .. .. .. 4 .. 403 Totals .. .. .. 40,946 63 892 3,019 124 7 45,051

Deer. Thar. Chamoia. Goats. Tigs. Total. Skins. Urewera - Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,976 .. .. .. 85 2,()6i 1,283 Central North Island (Kaimanawa, Ka- 171 .. 5 176 65 weka, and ranges) Ruahine Range .. .. .. 4,947 .. .. •• .. 4,947 2,207 Tararua Range .. .. ■. 2,538 .. .. 769 58 3,365 568 Southland (Fiordland National Park) .. 81 .. • ■ ■ • 81 58 Central South Island, South Westland, 23,781 959 1,813 815 .. 27,368 7,882 South Canterbury, and Otago Stewart Island .. .. .. 345 .. .. ■ • ! 2 356 I Totals 33,84-8 959 1,813 1,589 | 145 38,354 | 12,063