LIVE BAIT AND PLY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 126, 1 June 1927, Page 11

LIVE BAIT AND PLY

HUTT BOUNDARIES UNALTERED A.long discussion at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night (Mr. E. J. C. Wiffen presiding) resulted in tho defeat of a notice of motion, to extend the portions of the river open to live-bait fishermen, the.portion reserved for fly fishermen remaining the same as during last season. ; Mr. D. O. Naughton moved notice of motion having been given, "that the Hutt Eiver from its mouth to its source, be declared open for live or natural bait fishing, with the/exception of tho Akatarawa and Pukuratahi Streams." To his mind, the closing of the river to live bait from Belmont to the Moonshine was most unfair. As everybody knew from Belmont to tho mouth was always interfered with by dredging bridges, and other works. Above Moonshine was too far for young fishermen to reach. There was no other stream where live-bait fishing was allowed, but the stones were always found turned ovor in every other stream, in search of creeper. (Laughter.) The unlawful man would continue to fish creeper everywhere, iv any case. Mr. Thomas said that for some unaccountable reason the society had do'liborately flouted the expression of opinion of the last annual meeting, that the Hutt be made a live-bait stream. Many men fished with bully only. Mr. B. H. Nimmo pointed out that •if the motion were carried the Mangaroa,_ a very small stream, would bo open to live bait. He moved as an amendment that the license as at present endorsed, be continued. Mr. Kennedy seconded the amendment. # Mr. I. Mackay, in support of tho motion, said ho was a fly fisher only, yot he retognised that revenue was necessary. The whole of the Hutt should be made available for live-bait fishing. There wero plenty of fish in tho river! Mr. Kennedy said that there was the paramount consideration that enough sport must bo left to go round, and if al manner of satural baits were allowed in tributaries, there would bo littla left for the fly fisherman. There were fewer fish than was desired, and the maximum sport for everybody should be aimed at. If they fished for sport, it 'Wa x *•?,* for big bag<S >nd H was reigrettable that every year there should be ,an argument about it. ' Last year Mr. Nimmo had made an arrangement on behalf of the b!ait fishermen, and he thought that decision should be loyally adhered to. The: Mangaroa, Pukuratahi, and Akatarawa were adapted only to fly fishing; ' Mr. Nimmo said that by the arrangement made last year tho Whakatiki was to be open to live bait. Mr.^Seed said' that last year everybody felt that a very reasonable compromise had been arrived at, and it had worked very well. Mr. J. Brassell asked what annual meetings were for. - Last year those who did not come to the meeting had held a round robin" afterwards and disagreed with what had been done. Mr: Wiffin said that the matter referred to was only a recommendation, upon which the society had acted. It was not a direction. ' Mr. Thomas: «.«It would have been a direction if the chairman had accepted it." * Mr. Chairma.ai "But ho did not accept. That does not make an iota of difference." ' The amendment was adopted by a large majority.