POACHING BY TRAWLER.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 163, 11 July 1921, Page 2

POACHING BY TRAWLER.

CITY COUNCIL'S CRAFT COWAN MASTER FINED £10. \ breach of the fishing regulations by trawling on June 20 within the prohibited area of the Hauraki Gulf was | admitted before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., this morning, by Duff McKay, master of the steam trawler Cowan. For defendant Mr. Johnstone stated that the trawler was proceeding to the Great Barrier to trawl when stopped by heavy weather, and she sheltered at Kawau, and started trawling on a line between Kawau and Cape Colville. Being on the j line of regular sea traffic, a continuous | watch was necessary, and tho master I took his eight hours' watch from mid-' nig-ht to 8 a.m., when he gave the course and went to sleep. At that time the trawler was well outside the prohibited line, but when the Fisheries Inspector | came along some time later he found the j trawler inside the line. The only explana-i tion that could" be given was that in trawling back and forth the boat had to make a big sweep at each turn, and being unab'ie to turn northward against the flood tide had taken a southern sweep each time, which had resulted in the line being crossed inadvertently by the A.B. in charge. Mr. Selwyn Mays, for the Internal Affairs Department, stated that the trawler was two and thrae-quarter miles inside the line when the inspector, who was on his way from the Great Barrier by launch, came alongside. Before he got on the scene Inspector Bennett had; noted the trawler's smoke further in, and I the Cowan was making for outside the | tine when he met her. The poaching by. trawlers had been so frequently noted' that the Department would probably have to consider the matter of exercising its rig-lit to declare boats caught at it absolutely forfeit, instead of permitting' them to be redeemed on pnvment of a redemption fee. The Cowan (under another master) had been seized pi a-; viously and a redemption fee of £50 had been paid. His Worship fined defendant £10, and recommended that the ship be released to the owners, the Auckland City Council, on payment of £50. I '