July, 1929 
25 
The Queensland Naturalist 
tinued from April to October, by Messrs. C. T. White, D. 
A. Herbert, G. H. Barker, and Dr. F. W. Whitehouse. 
The principal of the Training College, in expressing ap- 
preciation of the weekly lectures, stressed the interest 
of the students in the subjects, and the helpful nature of 
the lectures given. 
HON. RANGERS. — Early in the year the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture and Stock advised your sub-commit- 
tee that six members of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club 
had received appointment as Hon. Rangers for Queens- 
land Sanctuaries, enabling them to deal with any viola- 
tion of the Moreton Bay ond other Sanctuaries. The 
Department has also promised your Council that the 
group of islands at the river mouth, and known as 
Fisherman’s Islands, will shortly be proclaimed a Sanc- 
tuary; as the fresh water lagoons on those islands make 
them a favourite breeding place for wild fowl. 
In August, 1928, the sub-committee sent a circular 
letter to the City, Municipal, Town and Shire Councils, 
and Dingo Boards of Queensland, seeking information 
regarding the number of native bears observed in the 
various districts since the closing of the open season in 
September, 1927. The fear that the open season would 
mean the extinction of the bear was based on the facts 
that its numbers have already dwindled greatly with the 
advance of settlement, and that it is a slow breeder. No 
statistics were available to support the contentions of 
the deputation organised by the Queensland Naturalists’ 
Club, which waited on the Acting Premier before the 
season was opened, and efforts to prevent its opening 
were unsuccessful. It was decided therefore by the 
committee of the Nature Lovers’ League to collect infor- 
mation as to the effects of the open season on the bear 
throughout the State, and if these warranted further 
action, to lay the figures before the Minister for Agri- 
culture with a request for permanent total protection. 
Accordingly, the circulars were sent out by the League 
in August, 1928. Sufficient time had then elapsed for 
the effects of the open season to have been noticed. One 
hundred and two replies were received. Some of the 
districts, particularly the urban areas, and some northern 
shires, whose territory consists mainly of rain forest, had 
no 'native bears, even before the season opened. The 
following is a summary of the replies received : — 
