SPORT OF FISHING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 290, 7 September 1928, Page 19

SPORT OF FISHING

NEW ZEALAND BEST IN THE WORLD PART-SEASON LICENSES NOT FAVOURED The value of the fishing sport in New Zealand was the subject of a discussion at the annual conference of the Acclimatisation Societies, arising out of a remit proposing to do away with part season fishing licenses. It was contended that if a New Zealand fishing license, whether for part or the whole of the season, was not worth £1 it was not worth anything, bucli sport, it was said, could not be obtained at that price in any other pait of the world. • The remit was proposed by Mr. L. \. James (South Canterbury), who said that these licenses were only taken out at the latter end of the season for 12s. 6d., when the license for the whole season in New Zealand [was only £l. Ho thought the full fee 'of £l, which was small enough, should be charged. Mr. C. 11. Lawrence (North Canterbury) expressed regret at having to disagree with his neighbour. The remit, he said, was age old —at least 25 years—and he was sure the Minister would not agree to it. The question had two sides to it. In North Canterbury a number of part-season licenses were issued to school teachers, who could not get away’ for the fishing until after Christmas. If the cost of the license was increased his society would lose a good deal, of revenue. “It is unfair that an individual should come in at the peak of the season and take the cream of the fishing at a lower rate than for the season,” remarked Mr. E. J. C. Willen (Wellington), who thought such people should pay more as they secured better results. The £1 license should be ”unisersal.” It was unfortunate that teachers were iu the habit of taking partseason licenses, but nowhere in the world could they get such sport at so low a figure.

Mr. Janies remarked that hundreds travelled from Christchurch to fish in the Waimukariri. If the fee was increased to £1 they would lose a lot of revenue. He would not object to the remit if it applied to trout fishing. A South Canterbury delegate replied that they went for the quinnat salmon fishing, and surely that was worth £l.

Mr. Lawrence said the late Premier stated that he would like to see a New Zealand license at ss. If they made the fee higher it would tend to increase poaching. Another delegate pointed out that the fisherman paid £lO to £l5 for a rod and £2 to £3 for travelling expenses, so surely he could not grumble at paying £1 for a license. The remit in favour of discontinuing the issue of part-season licenses was carried.