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concentrated for several years past on heavily stocking up these waters in view of the formation of the artificial lake by the erection of the big impounding dam at Arapuni for the hydro-electric-power scheme. This lake, when full, some time in 1928, should give the best fishing, owing to the great area of natural growth and feed that will be covered by the river-waters. Further, inten ive stocking of the area will 4 be carried out to provide a continuity of fishing for anglers. The trout-fishing in the rivers and lakes of the Wairoa County was better than for some seasons, owing to the maturing of thousands of both rainbow and brown trout-fry that were reared and liberated from the Waikaremoana trout-hatchery. The trout-fishing in Rotorua Lake itself was very poor through the season, and even for the last few months of the present season there is no indication of any permanent improvement in the numbers of trout that have been caught. A few fair catches have been made off the mouths of the Hamurana, Waitete, Awahou, and Ngongotaha Streams, but there is noticeable by anglers a great scarcity of trout in this lake compared with past years. This is clearly the result of the excessive netting took out thousands of trout annually. The time is ripe for a vigorous restocking policy in regard to the Rotorua Lake and stream waters, and this will be carried out at once. The restocking should be commensurate with the now greatly increased supply of natural trout-foods. Fish equal to the average trout were taken on both Rotoma and Okataina Lakes, while the Green Lake and Rotoiti also produced fish in the pink of condition. During the stripping operations for trout-ova at the Green Lake during the spawning season the hatchery officials report that beautiful eggs were taken from rainbow trout up to 101b. in weight. Anglers have taken good catches by trolling from boats, but there is fine fly fishing to be had from several points if the wind is favourable. Feathered Game. —The season for feathered-game shooting throughout this acclimatization district opened on the Ist May, for two months only, for taking imported and native game of the following species : Cock pheasant; Californian, Virginian, and Australian quail; mallard duck, black teal, spoonbill buck ; black swan ; turnstone and Eastern golden plover. A short period of one month was authorized for the shooting of pukeko, which were reported to be doing damage to crops in some places. A special season of three months (February, March, and April) was also proclaimed for the taking of godwit and knot. In the Wairoa area the duck-shooting was very poor compared with previous years, owing to the continued hot weather drying up some of the best lagoons. This favoured the game, and small bags were recorded in consequence. On the more isolated lakes good shooting was obtained ; while, owing to the restocking operations by the Department with pheasants, there was a noticeable increase in the number of pheasants that were obtained by sportsmen. In the Taupo and Galatea portions of the district good bags of swans and ducks were taken in the opening weeks of the season, while at Whakatane County in several favoured places good duck-shooting was obtained, the limit per gun for a day's shooting being obtained by several sportsmen. The draining of the Rangitaiki Swamp is resulting in the loss of feeding-grounds for the birds, which drives them further afield for food and breeding. It is known that certain settlers now feed maize to the young ducks for a month or two before the shooting season, with the obvious result of a limit bag as long as there are any ducks in the locality. The practice is not in the interests of the preservation of our game birds. Though the draining of the swamps is responsible for the growing scarcity of native game, there has been a fair increase in the numbers of pheasants and quail over the drier portions of the swamp lands, previously too wet to allow breeding under natural conditions. Good bags of pheasants were reported from the Taupo-Tokaanu, Ruatahuna, Murupara, Galatea, and Te Teko areas, and average bags in the Matata, Manawahe, and Mount Edgecumbe localities. Locally, about Rotorua, the sport was poor, owing to the increased number of sportsmen and the added facility of quickly travelling long distances with motor-vehicles. Opossum-trapping Season. —The usual season of one month from the Ist to the 31st July was authorized during the year. The only portion of the district opened for the taking of opossums was in the Waikaremoana forest reserves under this Department's control. A total of seventy trappers took out licenses at a fee of £2 10s. per license, while a royalty of Is. per skin was also paid. Only some 4,300 skins were taken, but the fur was of the best, and the skins topped the market in some of the grades. Trout-fry Liberations. —During the past season a total of 402,000 rainbow trout fry and ova were purchased from the Department of Internal Aifairs hatchery at Rotorua. Of this quantity 132,000 eyed ova were forwarded to the Wairoa County area, where the hatching and liberating of the fry were carried out under the supervision of the Department's assistant ranger at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, assisted by Mr. Richards, of Ruakituri, and Sergeant Wade and Messrs. G. Ormond and A. Harvey of Wairoa. The use of the motor-cars of these gentlemen enabled the ova and fry to be transported and liberated on all necessary occasions, and the thanks of the Department and the anglers of the district have been conveyed to them for the time and care given in the course of the work involved. The balance of 270,000 rainbow fry were taken delivery of and liberated in the following localities: Wairoa County Area—Ruakituri River, 32,000; Waikare-ta-heke River, 64,000; Waikaremoana Lake 25,000; Mangapoike River, 8,000; Waihi Stream, 1,000; Maungaruhe Stream, 1,000; Mahia Streams, 1,000: total, 132,000. In the Rotorua and surrounding district and Counties of Whakatane and Taupo, the following numbers were liberated : Rotorua County and streams, 93,000 ; Whakatane County rivers and lakes, 107,000 ; Taupo County rivers and lakes, 70,000 : total, 270,000. In addition to the above, the Department of Internal Affairs reports having liberated large quantities of Taupo and Hawea Lakes fry in Rotorua and Rotoiti Lakes. A total of 8,059,500 rainbow-trout fry has been liberated within the waters of the Rotorua Acclimatization District since the Department assumed control of acclimatization matters. Pheasantry. —The work in connection with the rearing of pheasants for liberation within the district to add fresh blood to the existing stock of wild birds was reduced very much this year to allow of more ranging being carried out by the rangers. Sufficient stock birds were kept at the Rotorua

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