FISHING ACCESS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 98, 9 April 1934, Page 10

FISHING ACCESS

MILES OF WATER LOST Chain Strip Not Preserved A SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY “The inland fishing waters of New Zealand are a national asset.” said a member of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, in discussing the vexed question of the denial of access to anglers to some of the best fishing streams in the Auckland and Taupo districts. “The public of the Dominion should realise this fact and, before it is too late, ensure that these waters are preserved for all time, and that the rightful access to them is not forfeited.” What was in danger of being lost sight of, he added, was that in its freshwater fisheries, New Zealand had one of its main tourist attractions. The license fee paid by the overseas tourist was the least of his expenses when visiting the Dominion. There must be considered the large sums left in the country for travelling, hotel, and other expenses, much of which, in the end, through one department or another, went to the Government. Again, every satisfied tourist was an active advertising agent for New Zealand, particularly as he saw the country at its beet. It was, therefore, a short-sighted policy to crowd fishermen together at certain selected spots while it was impossible to reach hundreds of miles of wonderful fishing water. In brief, the situation was that, in addition to the very definite natural difficulties confronting the sportsman who wished to find in this or that river, there was the serious alienation of the banks of fishing streams to afforestation companies. There was the added danger of unlimited extension of this unnecessary obstacle. It was therefore suggested that much could be done to increase the present fishing areas by making accessible many more miles of river bank and lake shore. This applied particularly to Lake Taupo and its river system, which was more or less the Mecca of overseas and Dominion fishermen. POSITION AT LAKE TAUPO. The western side of Lake Taupo is described by those who have fished there as one of the best_.fishing stands 1® New Zealand. At the moment it is necessary to cross the laSe by boat with the ever present danger of being marooned there by sudden changes of weather. Access by horse from Mokoi ia a possibility and this is one case cited where the Government should open up the lake shore in such a way that fishermen could be sure of easy access and a certain return when they had finished their fishing. It was also mentioned that even within easy reach of the tourist resorts on Lake Taupo a lot of good fishing was lost through neglect to provide access to the river banks. rh De iu ln u 2 nt n- the situat ‘ on as far as the Waikato River was concerned, another well-known angler stated that from Aratiatia Rapids right through to the head of Lake A rapuni there was a wonderful length of rivei, heavily stocked with mature fish, one that should become world famous when pro|«rly opened up. For a great distance ‘bong this stretch both banks were in the hands of forestry companies, while below Atiamuri one bank wa s planted with trees and the other could be reached only by a long and arduous to, mey on horseback through country <wroid even of tracks.

CAMPERS AND FIRE. The forestry companies in many cases had actually been sold the land to the river bank and there was no reserve of a chain wide strip. It is understood that between the main road and the river there are in places dedicated roads, but these are not yet opened, and use of them would involve the task of following the survey pegs. The same situation exists along the Rangataiki River, another of New Zealand’s best fishing waters. The benefit of ensuring the afforestation of watersheds is one that is not denied by anglers, but it i s contended that this can be done without depriving fishermen of their undeniable right of reaching their fishing. The main reason put forward by the forest companies for denial of access to fishermen is the danger of fire. It was pointed out yesterday that the angler is invariably a good camper, careful of property, and that the fire danger would be no greater from his presence than from the employees of the companies, who, at the moment, enjoy the sole privilege of fishing in the rivers mentioned. A further cause for concern mentioned is that of stream pollution from milling activities at some later date, especially from sawdust, which suffocates the fish. It was suggested that m the forest utilisation every safeguard -Mould be provided by the forest comFISHING LOCALITIES CROWDED. Another angler commented on the crowding of fishing spots during the holiday season. He contended that the large revenue from fishing licenses could be used profitably to open up further water, in many cases a matter of little expense. As matters stood jiosition of "fishing for everybody” was the stage when it would be “fishing "’it- was’further suggested that the Department of Internal Affairs, which am>eared to be quite inert in the matbe sold without special alTrime 1 the mistake 8 had been made alreadv of allowing the river banks to be alienated, steps New Zeahud s foremost tourist, attrac-