ANGLERS' COMPLAINT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20888, 2 June 1931, Page 11

ANGLERS' COMPLAINT.

TAUPO AND ROTORUA.

EVILS OF OVERCROWDING. LESSONS OF PAST SEASON. The Taupo and Rotorua trout fishing season, which opened auspiciously on November 1, came fo ;i close on Sunday. The feature of the season lias been the very great, increase that has taken place in the number of anglers, a tendency which has been noticeable for the last, two or three years. In Taupo alone it is believed that something like 5000 licences have been taken out, and thousands have been issued in Rotorua and other parts of the country. The very fame and popularity of (he sport is now creating a grave difficulty, and snmo overseas visitors have been loud in their complaints of lack of water. They are finding the best streams so overcrowded that they are wondering if it, is worth their whilo coming all the way to New Zealand. The famous pools in the Tongariro River at Tokaanu, such as the Log and the Hul, have been so heavily fished that any single rod finds it very difficult to averago two or three fish a day. In former years they could have relied on doublo that number. The pools themselves are yielding as many fish as ever, but thpy are fished by many rods from daybreak till dark throughout the season. Exclusive Fishing Area Suggested. A visitor's suggestion that ought to have tho consideration of tlio Government is that the time has now arrived to preserve a selected area with a, limit of say a dozen rods to be balloted for, as is done with deer shooting licences. The price for this water might be £lO per rod per month.

To those who come from the Old Country and arc accustomed to pay large sums for fishing rights over good streams this would lie considered a very reasonable amount. If a. start were made along these lines it is thought that visitors would bo more pleased with the fishing that was available for them and that the Government would bo the richer by an increase in its fishing revenue. Not only at Tokaanu but possibly in the South Island something might bo done to arrango for preserved fishing. This would in no way increase the cost of fishing to the local people, who would have all the water at present available with the exception of one area. The experience of most countries is that fishing for everybody often ends in fishing for nobody. Charges Made by Farmers.

Already 011 a. stream in the Rotorua district a farmer, who has good water running through his property charges 5s a day for the right to fisli in it, and others similarly situated aro making charges. They do not really own fishing rights, but if they own the land on both sides of the stream they have the right to keep trespassers away. The whole question of service and restriction is becoming au urgent matter for wise dealij, £- ...

The Government with the large amounts coming in from licence fees has a duty to provide more fishing, and this could easily be done by clearing the banks of rivers which are not at present fished. Some of these rivers are actually overstocked at the moment with the consequence that the fish are poor, but if these rivers were opened up and heavily fished the probable result would be fewer fish and better fishing. On the other hand the pools of the Tongariro Hivcr today are. absolutely over-fished and except when the fish were running very thickly the fishing has been most disappointing. More Clearances Needed.

The XVuikato River has had very good fish this year, and here the Government ought to spend some of its licence money in making further clearances. A great factor in file increase of fishing licences has been the growing popularity of motor camping holidays which seem to demand a fishing licence, to give added zest. There has been some improvement in the quality of the Taupo fish this year, but the weights are low because the fish do not have (he abundance of feed that was to be found there a few years ago. It seems amply clear from the experience of the past season that fishing licences will have to be made a- little dearer for the protection of the fish.