TROUT WITHOUT LICENSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18584, 17 December 1923, Page 10

TROUT WITHOUT LICENSE.

WELLINGTON PROSECUTION.

FINE OF £10 IMPOSED.

"Wherever Public Works camps are assembled, we always have this trouble over trout," commented Mr. G. Watson, in the Magistrate's Court in Wellington, when appearing for the . Acclimatisation Society in a summons case in which John Thorpe, a roadman, was charged with fishing for trout without & license, and with using explosives for killing trout.' The offences, said Mr. Watson, were alleged to have been committed in the Hutt River, near Maymorn, on December 1. Evidence would be given that three members of the Acclimatisation Society, fishing in the vicinity of the bridge, heard a dull muffled ' explosion, resembling 1 the discharge of dynamite under water, and upon rushing on to the bridge saw defendant standing on a shingle bank in the water and displaying a large trout on the end of a stiok. There, were other men nearby, and when the party reached the spot they found a number of smaller trout lying in a heap. Thorpe's first explanation that he had found -the trout had been followed by a second that he had "jagged" them with a hook under logs. . ' • " , The defence was a complete denial of the allegations. Defendant (for whom Mr. A. B. Sievwrighfc appeared) had visited the river with the other men to wash his feet, and the cord and hook referred to were used by him for catching eels. The absence of. an arm- prevented his handling explosives at any time, and he had absolutely no knowledge of how th& fish found their way to the bank. After hearing considerable evidence, the magistrate, Mr. E. Page, said the first charge had been clearly established, but, although it was likely that ar\ explosive had been used by defendant, there was not sufficient evidence in view of the fact that other men were present, to warrant a conviction on that count. Defendant was fined £10 and £3 Is costs on the first charge, the second information being dismissed. Payment was directed to be made at the rate of £1 per week. •