ioSept., 1910.] Tlie Protection of Fish and Game. 595 



THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME. 



/. .)/. Siinmens, Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Game. 



Some months ago, whilst driving along a country road with a young 

 farmer who considered himself a sportsman, we were discussing the never- 

 ending question of Close Seasons for Wild Duck and Quail. On turning 

 a corner of the road we saw a number of Straw-necked Ibis in a paddock, 

 apparently engaged in eating as much of the grass as possible. My com- 

 panion at once found a text for his arguments, saying: — " Now, there is 

 a bird which is protected during the whole year. If I had my way they 

 would all be shot on sight." On being informed that the ibis is a great 

 eater of grubs, etc., and that a party of them will go systematically through 

 a paddock and clean it up in this regard, he became a little less confident, 

 and promised to look into the matter. When I saw him again recently 

 he was not only satisfied regarding the ibis, but having gone into the 

 matter he had found that quite a number of other birds were worth pro- 

 tecting because of their assistance to farmers. 



Generally speaking, these "Farmer's Friends" are protected during 

 the whole year. Other birds and animals are protected for other reasons, 

 e.g., some beautiful birds such as the Lyre Bird are gradually becoming 

 extinct in spite of protection, but without it they would share the dodo's 

 fate in double-quick time. Then take the Native Bear {Koala), often 

 called the Monkey Bear and, more recently, the " Teddy " Bear. He is 

 an inoffensive animal whose food is the leaves of the Eucalypt. Surely 

 it is a sin, as well as an offence against the Game laws, to kill him I 



The birds and animals which are protected for only portion of the year 

 are those which are considered worth retaining, but which can fairly hold 

 their own by having a close season which corresponds to their usual breed- 

 ing period. I say " usual "" advisedly, because many species of birds are 

 very erratic as regards a breeding time. Among these may be included 

 wild ducks of various kinds, and also quail. The close season is designed 

 to give the birds a rest, and also to cover the " average ' ' breeding time 

 of the birds for an " average " year, so that each bird may have a reason- 

 able chance of assisting in the work of procreation. 



Coming to fish, the like applies. Some female fish produce millions 

 of eggs. It is not contended that in any instance every egg would be 

 hatched, but when the mother fish is killed while carrying spawn every one 

 of her eggs is lost. Another method of conserving fish is the minimum 

 legal w^eight provision. The weights are designed, generally speaking, to 

 protect the fish until they are old enough or large enough to spawn once. 

 The legal weights vary from i oz. for Garfish to i^ lb. for Murray Cod 

 and 3 lbs. for Yellowtail. 



Following are lists of the various close seasons for imported and native 

 game and the minimum legal weights for the various species of fish. 



Other methods of protection are in force, e.g., native game sanctuaries, 

 waters closed against all fishing in some ca.ses and against netting in others, 

 &c. It should be particularly noted that the only legal method of fishing 

 in inland waters is by rod and line or hand line. 



Any information regarding the Fisheries and Game Acts may be ob- 

 tained from the Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Game, Railway Build- 

 ings, Flinders-street, Melbourne. 



