246 



said he would recommend to the Government that a larger area 

 than the 140 square miles already promised should be granted, 

 but that he desired to inspect the country himself before de- 

 ciding upon the extent of the additional area. He would 

 also recommend that a sum be placed upon the Estimates for 

 a fence to be put across the island to protect the settlers' crops 

 from the kangaroos. 



Peotection or Opossums. 

 Under the existing Game Act there is no power given to 

 transfer animals from the unprotected to the protected list, 

 and consequently no power of establishing a close season for 

 opossums. The Secretary drew up an amending Bill for the 

 purpose of overcoming this difficulty, and this was placed in 

 the hands of the Government. 



Birds Protection Act. 



The names of several birds have been added to the 

 schedule of those to be wholly protected, among them those 

 mentioned in the last report, comprising bee-eaters, native 

 pheasants, black cockatoos, gang-gang cockatoos, pigeons, 

 doves, and bustards. Efforts are being made to get pelicans 

 again placed on the partially protected list. The close season 

 for the partially protected birds has been extended from De- 

 cember 20 to the middle of January. Your Committee hav- 

 ing been asked to furnish the Commissioner of Crown Lands 

 with the amendments to the Birds Protection Act desired by 

 them, a sub-committee was appointed to confer with the Presi- 

 dent of the Ornithological Association, and a number of sug- 

 gested amendments have been sent to the Minister. With 

 these passed into law many of the difficulties now experienced 

 in carrying out the obvious intentions of the Act will be over- 

 come. 



The members of your Committee note with pleasure the 

 increasingly rapid spread in the community of their views re- 

 garding the necessity for protecting our fauna and flora, 

 enunciated by them some twenty-three years ago and since 

 then repeatedly urged upon the public. 



Saml. Dixon, Chairman. 



M. Symonds Clark, Hon. Secretary. 



September 19, 1911. 



