XXXIII 



IN CAMP IN NEW ZEALAND (continued) 

 1902 



STALKING 



MY next camp was in a very different place, among the high 

 mountains of "Wairarapa in the south-east corner of the 

 Northern Island, and the object in view one or more of the 

 big stags which are said to exceed those in other parts both in 

 size and weight. The camp had been pitched some time before 

 by a professional hunter, who was to act as my guide, a man 

 who spends every season in these mountains hunting for big 

 heads, which he sells at high prices ; he, however, houses and 

 takes out any sporting visitor, should such a one fall into his 

 clutches. There are several such men about who, I fear, 

 destroy an immense amount of game for their heads and head- 

 skins alone, for the meat is uneatable, the shooting having been 

 fixed in the rutting season. So the headless carcasses are left 

 to rot, of no use to any one except the many wild pigs which 

 roam about in great number. Until this year a hunter was 

 allowed to shoot an unlimited number, but now the 1 licence 

 entitles each stalker to five only, the heads to have not less than 

 ten points. No applicant for a licence is refused, and doubtless 

 even now under the present laws he shoots as many deer as ever 

 he pleases, there is no control ; he cannot well bring into a town 

 more than five heads at one time, but he can hide any others in 

 the brush and await a more convenient opportunity. Large 

 numbers of shooters come into the country and numberless 

 carcasses are left lying about to rot a really horrible waste of 

 what would at any other time be the best of meat. No one with 



277 



