ILLICIT FISHING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 7

ILLICIT FISHING

NEW SOUTH WALES WATERS. LESSONS EEOM NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, May 31. There is 'at least one Minister of tho Crown in New South Wales who is now willing to admit that it is possible for tho State to learn something from New Zealand. This is tho Chief Secretary, who seems to be awakening to the fact that there is absolutely no control over river and lake nshing. The open, free-for-all policy has been disastrous, and now complaints are being made by the amateur fishermen, tho Minister, somewhat belatedly, is seeking remedies. It is only natural, therefore, that ho should turn to New Zealand, which, in this direction has accomplished so much that the Dominion is worldrenowned. New South Wales is considering the New Zealand scheme of licences, tho revenue derived to bo utilised in paying inspectors. The need for both licences and inspectors is made clear by the amateur fishermen, who have asked that net fishing in rivers and lakes should be prohibited. The Chief Secretary replied that a complete prohibition of net fishing would mean that many married men, who have been fishermen all their lives, and good citizens; to boot, would bo deprived ofMheif. living. In his opinion any dfijpetioA ■#£ fish in the inland rivers had not been caused by these fishermen, but'by. those unscrupulous men who used illegal nets, dynamite and other devices calculated to do enormous harm to fishing in the rivers visited. “Abominable, damnable, and illicit," were the terms he used to describe the methods of these men. An increase in the number of inspectors would alone limit illegal activities of this sort and the matter was now under consideration by his department. In fact a bill was being drafted which .would, for the first time in the State, give definite recognition to amateur fishermen. There was a proposal, indeed, that the amateur should bo licensed. Serious consideration was being given to the appointment of honorary rangers, as was done in Now Zealand.