H,— 22.

Earlier investigations in deer-infested country had revealed the fact that deer-destruction operations could only be conducted successfully if carried out to a preconceived and comprehensive scheme, as sporadic efforts, although capable of producing numerically greater results over a short period, would have the effect of scattering deer and thereby ultimately increasing the area of infestation, resulting in fewer being killed over a large area and longer period. With a view to applying this principle, it was hoped to commence operations in the Makarora Valley, which is bounded on the west by the Southern Alps, and to work progressively in a north-westerly direction towards Mount Cook, working each valley in turn. As, however, a small party was already operating in the Makarora Valley, it was necessary to modify the plan for this Department's operations by commencing at Lake Hawea and thence to extend the operations through the valleys and watersheds of the Hunter, Dingle, Ahuriri, Hopkins, and Dobson Eivers and their tributaries and to include the area known as the Morven Hills and Timaru Creek. One party commenced operations in the country near Lake Hawea on the 10th November, and at the end of January moved into the Hunter Valley. A second party commenced on the 21st January in the country lying between the Makarora and Hunter Valleys, operating chiefly in the valleys of the long tributaries on the western side of the Hunter. The Department having decided that an endeavour was also to be made to reduce the number of deer on Stewart Island, operations were commenced at the head of Patterson Inlet on the Bth December. Four men were engaged until Christmas and three from the 9th January till the middle of February, after which two men only were employed. A total of 263 deer were killed and 217 skins recovered. On the 3rd March a party commenced operations in the Morven Hills area, working in a northerly direction towards the Dingle and Ahuriri Valleys. While the Morven Hills were not as badly infested as most of the other areas where operations were conducted, it was considered desirable to include the area in the general plan. Another party took the field on the 16th March in the Valley of the Rakaia River. At the 31st March a total of 3,807 deer had been killed and 2,415 skins recovered. The property-owners welcomed the Department's activities and showed their appreciation by extending all possible assistance and co-operation, in the form of providing pack-horses and vehicles conveying men, stores, equipment, and skins by launch free of charge, giving the use of huts, and assisting in maintaining communications to isolated parties. The areas selected for the commencement of operations comprised some of the main distributing centres and where efforts for some years had failed to seriously abate the menace. It was early discovered that the effect of killing deer in the actual valleys and grazing areas of the back country runs was merely to deal with the natural increase, without really reducing the main herds, which occupy the high " basins " and open " tops " which have been the never-failing source of supply from which the overflow spreads on to new country and invades the pastures and crops of the stations. The operations were therefore directed chiefly against these large concentrations, and much country which had never before been the scene of systematic deer-destruction was worked with marked success. The operations have been conducted entirely with a view to killing the greatest possible number of deer at the lowest possible cost. Terms such as "culling" and "deer-stalking" are often. erroneously used in connection with these operations. These are misleading, as they do not apply to effective methods of wholesale deer-destruction. What are known as " drives " were found to be so successful that they were generally adopted wherever the nature of the country permitted. The largest one-day kill by one party was 204, while many others of over a hundred were obtained. These drives, which are carried out to a carefully arranged plan, are conducted in valleys and gorges where large numbers of deer live or have been driven by operations elsewhere and where there are few or no avenues of escape at the top. Where such passes do exist, men are posted in them before the drive commences and the remainder drive all deer in the gorge ahead of them, until they can be shot at effective ranges. In this way the maximum proportion of kills is obtained and in some cases the numbers that escape are exceedingly small, while in some cases more escape. It was found also that to be fully successful, operations must be systematic and country must be, as nearly as possible, thoroughly " cleaned " before being left. In other words, surviving deer must be kept ahead instead of being allowed to escape on to country which has been worked and left. The " party " organization has been proved to be the best possible as it permits of systematic methods and " drives " being employed, and ensures adequate control and supervision. While it might be argued that it is bad business to save skins that have only a problematical value, and that time spent in skinning could be more profitably spent in killing, there are aspects of this matter that must be taken into consideration. The extent to which deer-destruction can be continued is largely governed by the question of cost, and it must be borne in mind that as the result of the policy adopted the Department is now in possession of 2,415 skins. Furthermore, this Department realizes that a reliable market for deer-skins will greatly help in the future control of the herds by inducing persons to undertake deer-killing as a commercial venture, besides establishing industries or export trade of considerable value to this country. This desirable result cannot be achieved without an adequate supply of skins with which to create and foster such a market and keep it supplied until private enterprise supplies the demand. Where extensive drives are conducted in areas that are very remote and difficult of access the collection of skins is not allowed to preclude the fullest possible advantage being taken of the opportunity to obtain a big " kill," and in such cases few or no skins are recovered, as the cost of carrying them in would make their recovery unprofitable.

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