ARAPUNI FISHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 14

ARAPUNI FISHING.

TROLLING ON THE LAKE.

ROWING BOATS PERMITTED.

SOCIETY'S ALTERED VIEW.

The rocont decision to prohibit trolling from boats on Arapuni Lake was reversed m part by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society at its meeting last evening, when it was decided to pormit trolling from row.rig-boats but not from power-driven boats. Thi, permission will not cover tlx* portion of the lake already set aside exclusively for fly-fishing The chairman Mr. F E McKenzie. said that at tin- last mee'uig it hud been decided to obtain tlio opinion of subsocieties and Lht secretary. Mr C. M Gordon, thoi read the replies received. The Papakura sub-society reported it was satisfieo with the present regulations and suggested the limit on the number of fish caught should bo reduced to ten The Huntly branch was ot opinion trolling from power-ooats should be prohibited, but should permitted from rowingboats The remit from Matamata suggested the prohibition of trolling for the first threo months of tho season, while Putaruru Miranda and Te Aroha all supported the use of rowboats on the lake, but held that fishing from launches would soon deplete ttio lake. The Taumarunui clul> replied that tho fishing should bo unrestricted, hut no trolling should be permitted within 100 yds of either bank. Support lor Trolling. Two delegates from tho Te Awamutu sub-society supported the permission of' trolling. "I cannot see that your society is catering for local fishermen, as not ono in ton knows anything about fishing with the fly," said Mr. W. F. Woodward. "The lake at present seems to be teeming with fish, and 1 think that if trolling; is not allowed it will soon become overstocked and tho fish will become thin." Tho present condition ot tht lak« did not ('avour fly-fishing or bait-casting., and at the top of the lake and in tho shallow reaches it was impossible to make a cast. If trolling were prohibited tho local fishermen would not bother *o take out a licence.

Mr. W. H. Holmes, of To Awamutu. said that if anglers could not cot a rea sonable number of fisn, say 30. then the Te Awamutn fishermen would not go to Arapuni at aIJ. 110 suggested the upper portion of tho lake, which could not bo reached by rowing, should be left to power-boats, while rowboats could use the lower enit. and fly-fishermen tho banks and mouth of tho river. Tho chairman said it would be difficult to have complicated regulations making such provisions gazetted. He asked country delegates to speak, as members of tho council had already expressed their opinions on the matter. Resort foi Spoon Fishermen. Dr T. W. J. Johnson explained tho reasons which caused the society to framo the present regulations. Tho bulk of evidence before the society showed there was not a large .stork of full-grown fish in the lake, men who had been trolling all day failing to average anything like tho catches to bo expected. There soemed to be a misapprehension among country members that the lake had been cornered for fly-fishermen, but the society realised the lake was mostly spoon water. For that reason the lake w;.s looked on ns a resort foi spoon fishermen, and if fish could be caught fry trolling with a spoon they could be caught by spinning. Tho most important reason, howevcj, was that tho fish in the lake should bo conserved for this season. There was no intention to stor men fishing as they desired.

Tho chairman stated that, as delegates from the sub-societies which had expressed an opinion on tho matter were not present the report could not lie allowed as votes, but they served to show tho wishes of the country branches, which members could bear in mind when voting. He then put a resolution that the council request the Government to alter tho present regulations to permit trolling from power-boats and this was lost by a large majority. A similar resolution referring to hand-propelled rowing hoats. and mak ing-provision to retain the fly-fishing arc;i at present constituted, was then carried 12 votes to 5. :