SEAL POACHING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 12

SEAL POACHING.

OPEN SEASON ADVOCATED.

CONSERVING FISH SUPPLIES.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday.

Fishermen at the Bluff hold the view that seals are being poached by vessels that do not touch at New Zealand ports. This information was given to the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua) during the consideration of the Marine Department vote.

Mr. Hargeat said that in view of the reported increase in the number of seals on the southern coast of Stewart Island and in the vicinity of the West Coast Sounds there should be an open season for sealing, particularly as seals were said to consume and wantonly kill an enormous quantity of fish. It would reduce the number of seals, conserve the fish supplies, and give the fishermen some additional revenue. What he had •aid was substantiated by scores of fishermen who should know what thev were talking about. The Minister of Marine, Mr. Fraser, in reply said that the Government steamer Matal would visit the seal rookeries when the occasion presented itself. The visit would have been made before, but bad weather intervened.