The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 1904 SEINING IN ESTUARIES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXX, Issue 1786, 19 February 1904, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 1904 SEINING IN ESTUARIES.

Although wo have no sympathy with poaching-, and recognise to the full the valuable work done by the Acclimatisation Society in preserving the Ikh and game introduced into this country at considerable cost, we think Mr Orutckshank's decisions in the poaching cast* on Wednesday last will, if taken as a precedent, causo a considerable amount of discontent not only in this district, but at other places throughout the Colony. And while we do not/ question the correctness of Wa law, we believe tbu time

has arrived when the much-vexed question as to where netting can be |- done should lie finally settled. Twenty- / six years ago, before the big Hood o£ IK7B, the Mat.au and Koau branches of the Clutha joined at the lower end of Inch Clutha and (lowed into the sea below Po'rt Molyneux township. At the time of the big Hood the river burst a now mouth through the spit at Coal Point—live miles from the old one—through which the water in the Matau branch now rims. Another channel was cut through the spit half way between the new and old mouths, which serves as an. outlet for the Koau branch and Puerua river, leav- 1 ing the old mouth a tidal e.stuury, which, while covered with water at liigli tide js,,. with the exception of several channels, dry at low water. The estuary is rapidly filling tip ; indeed on almost any day of the week cattle may be seen grazing where in former years comparatively largesized vessels frequently lay at anchor. Messrs Paterson and Johnston were last week, charged with " I'nlawfully using a net at the mouth of the Puerua river," and convicted ; and that in spite of the ranger's evidence that they were threequarters of a mile from the mouth of the Ptieriui river. This raises, the question, which is the mouth of the Puerua river ? Is it where the river enters the estuary,— or us Mr Macgrcgor calls it tile iiiolyneiix river, though the river to all intents and purposes is lion-existant there—at (he old Alexandria Hotel? or 1 whore, iii conjunction with the Koau. it enters the sea at Stevens ? If the : former : contention holds good, then < Messrs Paterson and Johnston were ! within their rights in fishing three- 1 quarters of a mile from its mouth. If ! the latter, then netting for flounders j ill all estuaries into which a | river flows is illegal, and the effect . will be to stoji an industry or sport ' which, is a source of profit and pleasure to a large number of people. And in what respect, we should like to ask, is the ('at 1 ins lake different to Port Molyneux ? They are both, to all intents and purposes, estuaries ; | and objection* to netting at Port j Molyneux should apply with equal, if j not greater, force at Catlins. Is net- j ting, then, to be prohibited at fat- ! lias ? It is ideal flounder "ground" ; j and are a large Dumber of people to 1 lie. stopped earning an honest, livelihood, and the people of the district denied the right to use the flounders that abound in these waters, simply because a few trout liberated by the Acclimatisation Society have found their way down there V We trow not. ] Trout are good lish, have cost large sums to successfully introduce into our rivers and streams, and will prove a source of considerable revenue to the country, and it is quite right they should be protected. Bui they are now thoroughly acclimatised, and if a statement which lately appeared in the papers is correct that a large catch of trout had been taken in the sea some, mile-; off the mouth of one of the large Southland rivers, then the sea round our shores must be teeming with them, and the necessity for the riiiid protect Ton that was necessary when they were first introduced is not now required ut the places referred to. In discussing the question recently with a well-known member of the Society, who is both ail enthusiastic fisherman and nu active and energetic member of the Society. he suggested as a solution of the difficulty that the control of seining be vested in the Society, who would issue licenses, fix the places S where seining could be carrier! on, the j size of mesh to lie used, and take i steps to enforce the regulation that | all undersized fish should be retuuvd ; to the water. This is a suggestion ; which, as each application to seine in j a particular spot would be considered j on its merits, would, we feel assured, i give much greater satisfaction than I exists under present conditions.

The news from the seat of war lifts not contained any item of special interest during (lie past few days. Persistent rumours reach us of another attack on fort Arthur. fiii'liting is reported near the railway line in Manchuria, and there is mention of communication between Port Arthur and Vladivostock being Interrupted. Japan is to despatch 100,11(10 troops in a few 7 days, destination unknown. Keeling' in .Russia is excited, and there is dissatisfaction at Admiral AlevielT's incapacity. News of n definite nature ma)' be expected almost any time.

Lantern entertainment in Wesleyan Church this evening.

Horticultural slion open today from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ralclutha Brass Band plays selections during'; evening;. Two large flocks of lambs passed through Halclufha this week for Mc--srs Begg Bros.' Itillfnil Staitioii : ,'."ioo on Tuesday and '2IOO yesterday. The Wesleyan Choir held their annual picnic at Mr Smith'* bus! ; Stirling, on Wednesday, when a \ery enjoyable day was sj>en(. A meetingiof committee of the Bruce County Council was held in the Stilling Athenaeum on Tuesday. Present—The Chairman (Mr P. Ilaggart), do;. Mosley, and Alex. Xelson (clerk. The following tenders were opened and dealt with:—Contract .cleaning Matau main drain, SO chains, one tender, Colin Hryce. l/'.l per chain (accepted). Contract 051, cleaning Matau main drain, .'!00 chains, I tender, Byers and C'uthberibon, l/M per chainfaecepted). Contract (152, cleaning centre ditch, Inch Clutha, ; 2 miles—2 tinders, Malcolm JlcKinlay 1/10 per chain (accepted). Byers and Cuthbertson 1/11 per chain. Contract cleaning centre ditch, Inch Clutha, 2 miles, I tender—Byers and Cuthbertson 1/10 petchain (accepted).