POLICY ON FISHING

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28742, 13 November 1958, Page 7

POLICY ON FISHING

Anglers’ Club Proposals

Proposals for fishing improvements were contained in a letter received by the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society at its meeting last evening from the secretary of the Canterbury Anglers’ Club (Mr D. M. Brown). Mr Brown advised the council that his club intended to submit a remit on the matter at the annual meeting of the society at the end of the month. Mr Brown said that officers of the club should be co-opted to assist in the preparation of a policy. The club offered its assistance in the formation of a joint plan. “We are mvch concerned with the present and future angling prospects, and we submit strongly that a piecemeal approach to the many problems will not achieve the desired rm Its.” Proposals Proposals to be put forward by the Anglers’ Club at the annual meeting of the society include: “The immediate establishment of a hatchery, probably with holding ponds of appropriate capacity for back-country lake stocking, at the outset. To this end we believe the question of amalgamation with other districts of the South Island may offer advantages. “The immediate appointment of a qualified officer for full-time comprehensive study of our lakes and streams. “Negotiation with the Catchment Board at top level. We have all seen the changes in fish environment in the Selwyn, and adverse reports are received on Halswell conditions. “On the subject of environment, we note the prominent references to this subject in the 1957 Marine Department report, and in our view immediate progressive measures, for example on afforestation, are necessary. We note the success attained at Lake Pearson by private interests, and at Grasmere In the small plantation established by Malvern interests. We suggest co-opting a Forest Service official to the council, if such can be arranged. “More constructive use of rangers for observation and record purposes. Plans for much more increased return of anglers’ diaries for information purposes. “An immediate plan to deal satisfactorily with Lake Ellesmere netting. An attempt to inform public opinion on the need jfor preservation of fish stocks and I the prevention of both erosion I and pollution and further liberaj lions of smelt on a larger scale I in selected lakes. i “We are much concerned with the present state of affairs and we owe it to our members and to the future to deal with the present situation, we think, more resolutely even if it entails increases in costs and revenue,” I said Mr Brown.