PROOF OF POACHING

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 21

PROOF OF POACHING

Fishermen Take Line (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) BRISBANE, October 21. Professional fishermen have taken five miles of Japanese fishing line and equipment to prove Japanese poaching off Moreton Island, near Brisbane. The crew of a Brisbanebased trawler cut and hauled in the line soon after a 100 ft Japanese boat laid it across Barwin Banks, five miles north of Cape Moreton, last Thursday night. The line was cut from a 15mile length set for tuna by the Japanese. The Licensed Boat Owners and Skippers Association president, Mr O. W Riesenweber. said last night the line would be held for inspection by state and Commonwealth fishing authorities He said his association, which represents two-thirds of the state’s trawler fishermen. would call a special general meeting of members to discuss Japanese poaching. Members feared violence could erupt as Australian and Japanese fishermen crossed paths with growing frequency. often at night. Mr Reisenweber said the Japanese were fishing out tuna grounds that would be vital to a Queensland tuna industry and claimed they had almost fished out schnapper grounds close to the coast.