TOUCH THEM NOT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 75, 16 October 1939, Page 6

TOUCH THEM NOT

toheroas forbidden fruit

CLOSE SEASON NOW ON

Protected by the utmost rigour of the law, Oliope tohcroas are now 101 l ing carelessly and disdainfully about on to P of.' Hie sands and

snarling their contempt at passersby. They are now entitled to call a policeman and/or ranger and give in charge anyone who molests them.

In other words October and November have been gazetted as a close season during which the popular shellfish may not be dug, prized, or chased from the sands, either by the hand, spade, or the Opotiki Hunt Club.

This protection applies to ail beaches in New Zealand 011 which the toheroa lurks and is probably connected with breeding seasons. However, this subject could conceivably have its indelicate aspects, and we will leave it at that, as the plaintiff love note of the m:\ting toheroa must not resound in the pages of a family journal.

Certain beaches in North Auckland have had the application of the restrictions varied for commercial

canning purposes, the close season being November and December. This, however, applies to canneriesworking their own leases and docs not vary the close season for the general public 011 the two beaches mentioned —not even for those members of the public who go to th|e beaches to get canned.

It is not expected that there will he any general exodus of refugee !oh ero a s from these. al)oveiiientionccl beaches, but it is reliably stated that local shellfish have the framework of an organisation established to deal with the problem should it arise-