New Caledonian Sport

Enormous Herds of Deer Chance for Riflemen

THE movement in the exchange (both Australian and sterling) during the last 12 months, has thrown awry all New Caledonia’s plans for building up a substantial tourist traffic between Australia and Noumea. But when the Australian £ recovers a little of its value in French eyes, it may be that Austral ian sportsmen will recognise that in New Caledonia —the great Pacific Is land which lies nearest to their east ern coast —there is a sportsman’s paradise.

New Caledonia is literally overrun by Sumatran deer —a well grown species that provides excellent sport .and a first-class food. Enormous num bers of these animals range over the New Caledonian coastal plains and uplands, and they do such destruction to plantations and pasturage that the majority of the bigger planters and pastoralists regularly employ deer killers, whose job is to keep the ani mals away.

Captain R, W. Tate (son of a for mer administrator of Western Sa moa), who was recently a planter in New Caledonia, informs us that at a place near Bouloupari, Ouamenie, he saw not less than 60,000 head in one herd, in a huge incredible moving mass of deer. Not long ago, exasper ated planters in Southern New Cale donia organised a drive, and thous ands of deer were compelled to run across a narrow isthmus, on either side of which machine guns had been placed. In this way, thousands of animals were slain and numbers of natives were employed skinning them.

Receipts from the sales of hides more than paid the cost of organising the drive.

The French administration wel comes and assists anyone prepared to shoot the animals and will provide Them with free ammunition. There are hotels scattered throughout the Colony, but the ideal way to under take the sport would be for a party of men to supply themselves with camping equipment and cars (which are to be had in Noumea) and spend a few weeks in the back country.

There is also excellent fishing in New Caledonia. Rouget, a salt water fish, is caught freely off the coast; while the rivers are very well stocked with a good fresh-water fish called grosyeux, running about to 2 pounds in weight. They are similar to the freshwater fish found in the streams of Samoa, and they will take a dry fly and provide magnificent sport.