ARAPUNI LAKE FISHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 12

ARAPUNI LAKE FISHING.

, Si r> —While endorsing all the points in Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald's letter, I can mention a further mistake made by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The society can hardly claim authority to issue licences for fishing the whole of Arapuni Lake, as some 240 acres of water are owned by private individuals, the Public Works Department having refnsed to take this area by proclamation or otherwise, although the owners hayn at all times been willing to negotiate. Interested.

Sir, —I should like to endorse every" fact stated by Mr. E. M. Fitzgerald .in his letter in Friday's Her.\ld, and to beg of the Auckland ' Acclimatisation Society to reconsider the new regulation with regard to trolling on Arapuni Lake. The fact that some sportsmen have reported themselves to have taken very large bags in a short time with one rod trolling on the lake only proves them to be better lish-yarn spinners than fishermen. This can be proved by inquiring from members of the fishing fraternity in tiie district. The fish are plentiful, but- not so easy to catch. Having been in charge of a launch on the old river course and the new lake for four years, and being a keen fisherman, I have looked upon it as my duty to help the society in every way, by killing shags in their rookeries and assisting to liberate fry, and also to study the condition, feed and number of fish. Fly fishing has not been a success on the broad part of the lake, 'as the wind on most days makes it too rough. Fishing from a drifting boat is impossible, as the wind blows the boat on to the shore or into deep water. Casting the spoon is only a sport for experts. Hence hundreds of intending fishermen and fisherwomen will not take out licences, so that. as Mr. Fitzgerald says, the society will "kill the bird which offers the gold," and leave the lake undisturbed by boats and gunmen for the shag, the bird poacher that eats the fish. Many trolling boats have a shooting sportsman who looks Out for shags. Last year I came across a camp of fishermen who had caught 22 fish in the week-end—two days, with two rods—and by their camp on a pole were six shags they had shot while trolling. J. H. Moore. Arapuni.