§ 39. Lieut. - Colonel Sir MERVYN MANNINGHAM-BULLERasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether deer and blackgame have increased in the plantations under their charge; and, if so, what steps are taken to protect the trees?
§ Colonel Sir GEORGE COURTHOPE (Forestry Commissioner)Deer tend to invade many of the larger plantations and to increase rapidly as the young trees grow into the dense thicket stage. If the numbers are not controlled much damage is done not only to the plantations but to the farms, orchards and gardens in the neighbourhood. Roe deer, generally, and fallow deer, occasionally, are most troublesome in plantations. In order to keep the head of deer down to a point where they do no real damage it is necessary to shoot, departmentally and by arrangement with shooting tenants, and in some cases to snare. Blackgame also invade new plantations and sometimes do much damage to pine, larches and occasionally spruces. The numbers are controlled by shooting during the game season.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs it less painful to the deer to be shot departmentally?