TWO VIEWS OF WILD LIFE.

Forest and Bird, Issue 33, 1 June 1934, Page 14

TWO VIEWS OF WILD LIFE.

Anglers and Deer-Stalkers.

While some members of Acclimatisation Societies are protesting justly against the pollution of trout-bearing rivers, others are practically defending the destruction of native forests by deer. What is the proportion of anglers to deer-stalkers? Some anglers may be deer-stalkers as well, but such “mixers” would be comparatively few. Probably an accurate tally would show a ratio of far more than a hundred anglers to one stalker. The total of stalkers would run into only a few hundreds, but the aggregate of anglers would be thousands. Thus angling is the sport of the many; stalking is a hobby of the few. But the few are threatening the sport of the many. How? By trying to retain deer which are laying waste the forests on which the troutbearing qualities of rivers depend. Is the scouring of rivers by heavy floods beneficial to trout? Fish food is destroyed and much other mischief is done when rain-water runs raging through denuded country into the rivers and forces them into wrathful moods. Forest-cover in high country is the insurance policy of angling—but there will be no forest-cover if deer are allowed to ravage the undergrowth and tear up the forest-floor.