TAUPO FISHERIES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 197, 18 May 1936, Page 6

TAUPO FISHERIES

Complaints and Many Opinions MINISTER’S REVIEW — Dominion Special Service. Tokaanti, May 17. Annually toward the end of the cud of the Taupo fishing season members of the Upper Waikato and Tongari.ro Anglers’ Club gather at Tokaanu to discuss their experiences during the season and various topics of general interest to anglers. This year’s meeting was held yesterday and' was notable by the number of prominent sportsmen present and the large range of subjects discussed. Attending the meeting also were Ihe Under-Secretary of internal Affairs, Mr. J. W. Heenan, and Mr. J. Bennett, of the fisheries branch of the department. It had been arranged by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to be present at the meeting, but as Cabinet meetings over the week-end prevented his leaving Willington the Minister forwarded through Mr. Heenan a message to be read to the meeting. Mr. Parry, expressing keen regret at his in ability to be present, said that it was bis desire to discuss personally with members of the club the many matters of interest alike to the fisheries and sportsmen. On the information he had gleaned on his trip earlier in the year round the lakes and his contact with those who thoroughly knew the district, he was convinced of the national potentialities of the fisheries. But he was amazed to find the wide divergence of opinion on various aspects of the problems. No Unanimity,

“Take this imposing list,” Mr. Parry said, “of contentions and complaints: That owing to the absence of rests, the fish run straight upstream; that the department should remove logs and other obstructions from the stream®, thus destroying rests; that the department should plant the lower reaches of the Tongariro with trees; that scrub, etc., be cleared from reaches of the same river; -that there are too many fish and that extensive netting should be undertaken; that there should be shorter hours for fishing, and the imposition of other restrictions, as the fish are not sufficiently plentiful; that there are inroads through winter poaching; that sea birds and more shags should be shot, because the birds are to blame for a decrease in fish population; that stripping kills the fish handled; that there should be more artificial restocking; that more publicity be given to dry fly fishing on the Tongariro; that this method of fishing should be discouraged, as it is' responsible for the younger fish being caught; that there is a pronounced decrease in the size of fish; that the department should take special steps to kill out big fish, as they give the younger fish no chance; that fish food supply is inadequate; that this view is wrong; that there is congestion at favoured fishing spots; that there should be shorter hours of fishing; that some waters bo closed to fishing; that further waters be opened up; that (from the Rotorua people) the lake level be raised ; that (from the Takaanu requests) Lake Taupo be lowered. A Difficult Task, “Then there are some who are advocating fishing reforms allegedly in the interests of overseas anglers. Others, unfortunately, are making unfounded statements which are not likely to encourage anglers) from overseas. The suggestions are, no doubt, put forward with all seriousness, but it will be realised the greatness of the task given me in endeavouring to sift the oats from the chaff. A point is made of giving consideration to any suggestions made, and very often they entail a good deal of investigation. Luckily, however, on assuming control of the Taupo fisheries, I found that data had been collected under various headings, and conclusions are generally based on this and the observations of the departmental officers. After discussing various points of special concern to anglers, the Minister assured the club that any resolutions passed would receive his earnest consideration.