RESTRICTIONS RESENTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 13

RESTRICTIONS RESENTED.

TROLLING ON LAKE TAUPO.

PROTEST TO MINISTER.

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAUPO. Tuesday.

A deputation representing the launch owners made a protest to the Minister in charge of Tourist Resorts, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, last evening, against the recent total prohibition of trolling on the eastern shore of the Taupo Bay. Mr. F. C. Loughlin stated that for several years there had been a tendency for more and more restrictions to be placed! on the trolling fishermen, and stated that the trollers felt that the fly fishermen had had too much "spoon-feeding" from the department The prohibition of trolling in the Taupo Bay on the eastern shore meant that in easterly weather no halfday trolling parties could go out from Taupo. Mr. R. H. Ward stated that the prohibition would have no value as a means of conserving the fishing, as more fish were, in his opinion, taken in the locality by fly fishermen than by trollers. The idea that trollers took prodigious quantities of fish was to-day a mistaken one entirely. Half the eastern shore should be open to trolling. Mr. Edmondson, president of tho Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society, contended that the restriction was a reasonable one and was against it being lifted.

A large gathering o,f natives waited on the Minister, asking that the prohibition of trolling in the Waikato River be lifted as far as tho portion from the bridge up to the wharf was concerned. The Maoris fished there for food purposes only. Messrs. Edmondson, J. Loughlin and Ward stated'that no fly-fishing was done in this part of the river, and that there seemed no reason to prohibit the natives trolling there. Representations were made by Messrs. Edmondson and J. Loughlin as to the deterioration in the size and condition of the fish this season. They urged that the department should undertake experimental research work to see if the feed supply could not bo augmented. The deputations were assured" that the matters would be gone into thoroughly. SOME EXCELLENT SPORT. MANY FISH WASTED. The following reference to fishing at Taupo appears in the Napier Telegraph:, —"The weather lately has been more favourable for.fishing, there being plenty of fish, but not up to the old weights. The lake is higher than usual, which is expected to assist in improving the quality. Experienced anglers consider that the feeding of the trout has been neglected. Spoon trolling has gone out a good deal, in favour of harling. Last week Mrs. Holden's party from Danuevirke took 75 fish from the launch Tainui.

"Good sport is also reported' from the camps at Kangatira and Western Bays. One man fishing above on the river near the Spa has caught over 400 to dato, which the resident ranger say? is no doubt correct. This man has no use for the fish. He gives a few away as. opportunity occurs, but nearly all are wasted. It seems a pity that such delicate and delicious food cannot be collected and sent to the hospitals. Those at Napier, Hamilton and Rotorua are all within a few hours."