C. Exhibitors and other Licenses. The following licenses under the Cinematograph Films Act were issued for the year ended 30th September, 1940: Exhibitors, 449; circuit exhibitors, 36; renters, 17; storage, 17; miscellaneous, 39. X. ANIMALS PROTECTION AND GAME. A. General. (1) Bird-life. War conditions have restricted activities in ranging, &c. Shooting seasons were declared in 194-1, but provision has been made for a universal close season in 1942. Under the North Island Vermin Control Scheme, bonuses were paid on 20,935 hawks, 3,897 weasels, stoats, ferrets and polecats, and 13,343 hedgehogs. (2) Opossums. The number of skins stamped was 257,639. B. Deer, Thar, Goat, and Chamois Destruction Operations. During the financial year a total of 21,602 animals were destroyed, 9,062 deer-skins were saved, and in addition 97 cats and 274 rats were destroyed on Stewart Island. The number of each species and localities in which taken are as follows : —

The following is a list of numerical results and geographical analysis for season Ist June, 1940, to 31st May, 1941 : —

(1) Skins. All skins possible are being saved, owing to the high prices ruling. The Department sold 16,562 deer and 128 goat skins during the year. Private hunters sold 3,773 skins to the Department. (2) General. Approximately 90 per cent, of the men who have been engaged more or less regularly on deerdestruction work, as well as six field officers, have gone into the fighting services. Taking into account the difficulties in securing suitable men, the result of the year's operations are very satisfactory. Bush huts and tracks cut in some localities have proved of great value. XI. ROTOR UA ACCLIMATIZATION DISTRICT. A. The Fishing Season. Weights of some of the large fish taken during the season and coming under the notice of departmental officers are : — TaupoArea.—loJ lb., 10 lb., 131b., 121b., lOJlb., 111b., lb., 15£1b., lb., 111b., 101b., 10J lb., 10J lb-, 101b., lb., 111b., 10£lb., 1041b., 111b., 121b., 12 lb„ 101b., 10J lb. Rotorua Area. —141b., 13|1b., 101b., 16-J lb., lb., 161b., 171b., 191b., 18J lb. (3), 131b., 151b., 101b., 141b., 12 lb., 111b., 19 lb., 171b., 161b. (2), 131b., lb.

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I - Locality. i Deer. Thar. ChamoiB. Goats. Pigs. Cattle. Total. North Island. Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 480 .. .. ... 62 1 543 Tararuas .. .. .. .. 1,040 .. .. 480 42 .. 1,562 Ruahine Mountains .. .. .. 1,150 .. .. 37 .. .. 1,187 Kaimanawa and Kaweka Ranges .. 1,422 .. .. 363 .. .. 1,785 South Island. Canterbury (Wairau River to Waimaka- 8,172 .. 22 454 29 .. 8,677 riri River) Nelson and North Westland (north of 1,189 .. .. 277 22 .. 1,488 Taremakau River) Central Westland (Hokitika area) .. 153 .. .. 35 .. .. 188 Otago and South Westland (Waitaki River 4,707 40 2 .. .. .. 4,749 to Haast River) Fiordland National Park, Southland .." 1,007 .. .. .. .. .. 1,007 Stewart Island . . . . .. 416 .. . . .. .. . . 416 Totals .. .. ..19,736 40 24 1,646 155 1 21,602

I I ' i ■ " 1 j I Locality. Deer. Thar. | Chamois. Goats, j Pigs. Cattle. Total. Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,090 .. .. .. 332 7 1,429 Ituahines .. .. .. .. 4,336 .. .. 197 .. .. 4,533 Tararuas .. .. .. .. 1,213 .. .. 583 48 .. 1,844 Marlborough .. .. .. 695 .. .. 14,803 763 .. 16,261 Otago, South Canterbury, and South 17,733 289 320 5 .. .. 18,347 Westland Southland Fiordland, National Park .. 3,759 .. .. .. 13 .. 3,772 Stewart Island .. .. .. 402 .. .. .. .. .. 402 Totals .. .. ..29,228 289 320 15,588 1,156 7 46,588