R—22

Protection on Canadian geese has been removed in the Ashburton Acclimatization District. Lake Murihiku, in the Southland Acclimatization District, and Horse-shoe Lake, in the North Canterbury Acclimatization District, have been declared sanctuaries under the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22. In the Rotorua Acclimatization District the large tracts of native bush provide shelter for fairly large numbers of native birds, and ranging to the extent that staff and facilities will permit has been carried out. (2) Opossums.—The number of skins stamped was 180,168, compared with 263,351 the previous year. B. Deer, Thar, and Chamois Operations During the financial year a total of 20,032 animals were destroyed by departmental parties. In addition, 251 cats and rats were destroyed at Stewart Island, and 24 wild pigs, 9 wild cattle, 2 deer, and 2 cats by officers in the Rotorua Acclimatization District. The number of each species and localities are as under :—

The following is a list of last season's total numerical results and geographical analysis for comparison purposes between seasons in the same regions

Season 1st June, 1942, to 31st May, 1943

From the departmental operations 8,749 skins were saved. Private hunters sold 3,396 skins to the Department. There is a very keen demand for deer-skins, and the Department disposed of 11,595 for export overseas. • Large quantities of rifle ammunition have been sold to runholders and others who are assisting in keeping down the numbers of deer, goats, and wild pigs. XI. ROTORUA ACCLIMATIZATION DISTRICT A. The Fishing Season The majority of the fish taken at the opening of the season on Ist November, 1943, were in good condition for that time of the year. Very heavy rains from, early February, 1944, affected the Bay of Plenty rivers as well as other waters. There have been great fluctuations in the Waikato River below the lake outlet, caused by the rising and closing of the control gates. The number of licenses issued is likely to show a marked increase on that for the previous year. Weights of some of the large iish taken and recorded by departmental officers are : — Taupo Area.- 14 lb. ; 12$ lb. ; 12 lb. (2) ; 11 lb. (2) ; 10 lb. to 10$ lb. (3). Rotorua Area,- 18 j- lb. ; 17 lb. ; 16 Ib.; 151b.; 13$ lb. ; 11$ lb. (2); 10 lb. to 10$ lb. (3). B. General (1) Fry and Ova. At No. 1 Hatchery, Ngongotaha, 962,000 eggs from Tarawera and Ngongotaha as well as 497,000 from No. 2 Hatchery Tongariro were handled. At the latter hatchery 2,139,500 eggs were stripped. The Waikaremoana Hatchery handled 200,000 eggs from No. 2 Hatchery. Sales of ova to acclimatization societies amounted to 580,000. The following figures show the number of rainbow fry planted in various waters : Tauyo Fishing District.- Tongariro, 191,500 ; Waitahanui, 160,000 ; Tauranga-Taupo, 142,000 ; Hatepe, 40,000 ; Waimarino, 134,(XX); Hatchery Creek, 47,000. Rotorua Fishing District. —Rotorua, 108,000; Rotoiti, 92,000 ; Rotoma, 74,000 ; Rotoehu, 74,000 ; Tarawera, 170,000 ; Rotokakahi, 83,000 ; Okataina, 110,000 ; Okareka, 56,000; Rerewhakaitu, 35,000 ; Taahunaatara, 19,000 ; Whakatane, 63,000 ; Waioeka, 42,000 ; Waimana, 63,000. Brown-trout Fry were planted as follows : Rotoehu, 15,000 ; Waioeka, 14,000 ; Taahunaatara, 5,000.

6

1 ~j j i ! [ Locality. ! Deer, j Thar. I Chamois, j Goats, i Pigs. I Total. Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,257 .. .. .. 149 1,406 Marlborough, and North Canterbury .. 3,044 .. .. '246 .. 3,290 Otago and South Westland .. 12,155 70 12 .. .. 12,237 Southland and Fiordland National Park .. 2,451 .. .. .. 16 2,467 Stewart Island .. .. .. .. 632 .. .. .. .. 632 Totals .. .. 19,539 70 12 246 165 20,032 | ,

Locality. Deer. Thar. Chamois. Goats. Pigs. Total. n j TJrewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,308 .. .. .. 195 1,503 Marlborough and North Canterbury .. 4,304 .. .. 203 .. 4,507 Otago and South Westland .. .. 4,133 458 59 .. .. 4,650 Southland and Fiordland National Park .. 1,948 .. .. .. .. 1,948 Stewart Island .. . . .. 517 .. .. .. .. 517 Totals.. .. .. ..12,210 458 59 203 195 13,125