RUSSELL FISHERMEN

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1933, Page 10

RUSSELL FISHERMEN

USE OF DRAG NET. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. LIFTING OF BAN URGED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) RUSSELL, Tins Day. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, and the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, spent the Faster holidays line fishing- at Russell. Many matters, in regard to schools and affairs of the district in general have been discussed with Bay of Islands people, and the Russell Town Board has asked for some attention to the road from Whangarei, which, in some places, is likely to.be impassable during the winter.

Bay of Islands fishermen, through Mr E. C. Arlidge, complained that, inspectors prevented boat owners from using the drag net, which did not resemble in any way the Danish seine not. It was stated that the men kept expensive launches for the short game fishing season, and if they were preventedfrom using drag nets to get marketable fish they would have to sell their boats and go on relief work. .. It was in the men’s interests, said Mr.Arlidge, not to interfere with the breeding grounds and to see that the (ish were not depleted. There had been more game fish on the coast this season than ever before, and had there been the usual number of visitors the men would have done well. The coming of the big lish showed that schnapper were plentiful, and the fishermen eaught only schnapper for sale. The complaint was supported by the chairman of the Town Board, Mr A. Ik Bisset, who said ho did not, think dragnet fishing would clear out the fish.

The matter was one for the Marine Department, said Mr Ransom, adding that nothin#' should be done to spoil the attraction of the Bay of Islands to tourists and overseas visitors. He said he would discuss the matter with the Minister of Marine.