ANGLING AT TAUPO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 14

ANGLING AT TAUPO.

RESTRICTION ON BOATS.

MOUTH OF WAITAHANUI RIVER

EXPLANATION OF REGULATION. A deputation appointed bv the Taupo Anglers' Association recently waited upon Captain Yerex, of the Department of Internal Affairs, to place before him the views of the association with regard to the new regulation prohibiting fishing from boats at the mouth of the Waitahanm River and to make objection to the regulation. Captain Yerex explained that the restriction became necessary owing to the action of some visiting anglers who anchored rowboats just outside the wading limit and immediately in front of the long line of wading anglers fishing in tho "rip" at the mouth. Should the practice of using boats in this manner become general anglers wading ' would be at a great disadvantage, and the sport would bo ruined.

The new regulation was not found necessary on account of any action by the launches, said Captain Yerex. He had never seen a hire launch there or a hire boat, The department regretted that the now regulation might inflict a hardship on those who owned launches plying for hire, or who hired out rowing boats, but, he felt sure the association would recognise the necessity for protecting the class referred to against the rather selfish tactics of others. It was difficult to frame regulations against any class of person without inadvertently penalising some other class of the community.

The department recognised that launches were essential to 'laupo and to a very large proportion of the visitors to enable them to enjoy the fishing, which the department wanted to see available. The department had to consider the interests of the majority, who, in this case, were those wading, and protect them from undue interference by the minority. The great majority of anglers were visitors who were able to spend only a few days in the district at a time, and who were themselves unable to keep boats for fishing at Waitahanm. Tho boat brigade would undoubtedly be made up entirely of local anglers and constant visitors who had ample time to get plenty of fishing elsewhere, or without unfair advantage.

In the light of Captain Yerex's reassuring explanation members of the deputation unanimously decided that they fully appreciated the necessity for some such restriction and intimated that they withdrew their opposition to the regulation, although they would like to see the restricted area slightly reduced and buoys placed showing the restricted area. They explained that their hostility to the new provision was really actuated by a misunderstanding of the position as it had appeared to them that it was a further encroachment into the water previously loft available for fishing by those who preferred to do so from boats. The frank discussion had fully cleared the position and had shown tho value of a roundtable conference.

On the motion of the secretary a vote of thanks was accorded to the UnderSecretary of the department for his action in sending his representative to receive the deputation and to Captain Yerex for his sympathetic hearing and explanation.