ARAHURA RIVER

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 November 1927, Page 6

ARAHURA RIVER

TROUT FISHING RIGHTS.

The Grey and Westland Acclimatisation Societies received advice from Wellington yesterday to the effect thatit was proposed to pass a bill making the Arahura River a close river for trout fishing, except to the Maoris. It has been stated previously that the river was proclaimed sacred under the Treaty of Waitangi, but investigations proved that this was not so, and because of this several Maoris living at Arahura were proceeded against in the Hokitika court about 18 months ago for taking trout out of the river out of season, and fines were inflicted. At that time the plea that the river was a sanctuary, open only to the Maori race, failed. Evidently, since then the Maoris have been working quietly to have the rights in the Arahura determined, and the present bill before Parliament is the result. The idea is thought by those interested in fishing to be to extort 'a special royalty from fisherman for the right to fish in the Arahura. The Grey and Hokitika Societies telegraphed to the Prime Minister yesterday protesting against such an enactment, and pointing out that trout was being liberated in the river from time to’ time, and that last season 70,000 fry was liberated there. It was suggested by the Government that a special license of 5/- per fisherman be paid by those desiring to fish the Arahura, the revenue so obtained to be paid by the Native Trout Department to the Maoris at Arahura. The feeling of the Acclimatisation Societies is that to protect any river in the manner suggested would mean that the Maoris would be free to remove fish by the easiest means, and dispose of them, at any time of the year, in and out of season, and that this would very materially interfere with the natural increase of the trout. It is well known by those interested in the habits of trout, that they enter the rivers at spawning time, going to their spawning grounds and laying their eggs and then going out to sea again. At such times the trout (females) are in a lazy languid condition, and are quite easily caught. The expediency of protecting trout against being depleted at the spawning season makes it apparent to the Grey and Westland societies that if any section of the population is to be given rights which will interfere with the trout culture, steps shoulf be taken to oppose them. It is hoped that no bill will pass Parliament which will give the Maoris any right over the Arahura or any other river to the detriment of the work being carried out gratuitously • by the Acclimatisation Society.