H.—22,

XI. ANIMALS PROTECTION AND GAME. A. General. (1) Bird-life. —Reports generally indicate a marked increase in waterfowl. There were no gameshooting seasons in 1942. The North Island Vermin Control Scheme has been temporarily suspended. (2) Opossums.—The number of skins stamped was 263,351, compared with 257,639 the previous year. B. Deer, Thar, and Chamois Operations. During the financial year a total of 12,571 animals were destroyed and 5,432 deer-skins saved. The Department has had to reduce the extent of operations owing to difficulties of securing the necessary man-power. By arrangement with the Army authorities, about thirty men were released from military camps and attached to the Department's deer-destruction parties. The Army Bush and Mountain Warfare Parties in the course of training have accounted for numbers of deer, &c., in areas covered by training operations. The following are particulars of animals destroyed by departmental parties, in addition to 94 cats and 209 rats destroyed at Stewart Island. The number of each species and localities are as follows :—

The following is a list of the "seasons" total numerical results and geographical analysis for comparison purposes between seasons in the same regions:— Season 1st June, 1941 to 31st May, 1942.

In addition, 85 cats and 277 rats. The keen demand for deer-skins continues. Private hunters sold 3,395 skins to the Department, and 1,508 were sent in by the Army Bush and Mountain Warfare Parties and these were resold with departmental skins. The total number sold for export overseas was 12,109. XII. ROTORUA ACCLIMATIZATION DISTRICT. A. The Fishing Season. Regulations were issued providing for any member of His Majesty's naval, military, or air forces and any member of any allied force in New Zealand obtaining fishing licenses for the Taupo District at the same fees as residents of New Zealand outside the Taupo District. Weights of some of the large fish taken and coming under notice of departmental officers are— Taupo Area : 12|- lb. ; 12 lb. ; 11| lb. ; 10-| lb. (2); 10 lb. (2). Rotorua Area : 19 lb. (2); 17 lb. (3) ; 164 lb.; 15| lb. ; 144 lb.; 134 lb. ; 13 lb.; 12 lb. (2) : 114 lb. (2); 10 lb. (2). ** B. General. (1) Fry and Ova. At No. 1 Hatchery, Ngongotaha, 2,076,500 eggs were laid down and at No. 2 Hatchery, Tongariro River, 2,104,000 were collected. Sales to acclimatization societies amounted to 480,000. All hatchery operations were on a reduced scale and the Waikaremoana Hatchery was not opened.

5

I Locality. Deer. Thar. Chamois. Goats. Pigs. Total. Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,241 . . .. .. 195 1,436 Tararuas .. .. .. .. 99 .. .. .. .. 99 Marlborough, Nelson, and North Canterbury 4,042 .. .. 203 4,245 North Otago, Otago, and South Westland .. 4,133 458 59 .. 4,650 Southland, Fiordland National Park .. 1,776 .. .. .. 1,776 Stewart Island .. .. .. .. 365 .. .. .. .. 365 Totals.. .. .. .. 11,656 458 59 203 195 12,571

Locality. Deer. Thar. Chamois. Goats. Pigs. Total. Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 479 .. .. .. 37 516 Tararuas .. .. .. 724 .. .. 217 25 966 Kaimanawas .. .. .. .. 1,422 .. .. 363 .. 1,785 Marlborough, Nelson, and North Canterbury 9,567 .. 16 840 60 10,483 Otago and South Westland .. .. 1,733 37 2 38 1,810 Southland, Fiordland National Park .. 809 .. .. .. 1 810 Stewart Island .. ,. .. 439 .. .. .. .. 439 Totals .. 15,173 37 18 1,458 123 16,809