THE FISHERMAN'S NETS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5440, 22 July 1879, Page 2

THE FISHERMAN'S NETS.

Sir, — We have read several paragraphs in a paper stating that a man named John stone has had his nets destroyed by sulphuric acid by some enemy, and as no other than fishermen can have any object in so doing, I hope you will publish this in their vindication. First, John- f stone's boats have never been adrift at I any time, and further we all know that ' his nets were left sot in tho water 11 days during the flood and in muddy water, the said nets being made of No. 4 crochet cotton, more fit for ladies' collars than fishing nets. Some of us have been fishing in this province for 33 years, consequently have had some experience how nets should be treated, and, moreover

sulphuric acid could not have been put on nets stretched at full length in from 2 to 4 fathoms of water ; and with reference to his poverty he has now 12 or 14 nets in use, and he is also the owner of two good boats, one worth about £20, and of freehold property at Pukahu. By his own account only three nets are destroyed, containing six boxes of cotton, value 18s, a wonderful loss to go begging for. The nets have been elamined by most of the fishermen and pronounced to be rotten and not destroyed. — We are, &c, S. Hanson, A. Nelson, W. Denison, TnojrAs Boyd, Geo. H. SattAßTj John Le Gfa t t, S.