CONTROL OF LAKE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29734, 30 January 1962, Page 16

CONTROL OF LAKE

Ellesmere Complaint

The Marine Department was overloaded with regulations which, he believed, it found impossible to police, Mr P. C, Kimber, a Lake Ellesmere fisherman, told the Royal Commission on State Services sitting in Christchurch yesterday. He appeared as president of the Lake Ellesmere Fishermen's Association.

"My association considers that the department is understaffed to police regulations.” he said. Some of the weekenders and others now fishing in the lake had become unlicensed professional fishermen who did not understand or follow the rules as commercial fishermen did, he said. “The rank and file do not know what a measuring board is,” said Mr Kimber “As far back as 1953 we urged, the department for stricter control of week-end and unlicensed fishermen Our gains are practically nil “We feel we would get more support for our industry if we were linked rnc-e closely with a production deoartment, such as the Department of Agriculture, rather than the Marine Department, which is more closely concerned with conservation. If the Industry were helped We could produce three times our present quota of flounder with the present gear.” • Mr Kimber said they had consulted with the Marine Department over the speed of power boats which had cut the top line of nets “There is no control over power boats and it is detrimental to commercial fishing.” he said. Professor R. H. Brooks said the commission had heard earlier suggestions that inland fishing should be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, the Lands Department, or the Forest Service

Mr Kimber replied that officers of none of these departments seemed to be available in the district.