FISHERMEN'S PROTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21298, 27 September 1932, Page 11

FISHERMEN'S PROTEST

SEINE NET REGULATIONS MINISTER HEEDS COMPLAINT POSTPONEMENT FOR A YEAR [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Monday The recently-gazetted regulations concerning the size of the mesh of Seine nets, a matter which concerns fishermen in all parts of New Zealand, will not be enforced for at least a year, and possibly not then. A decision on the matter was reached to-day after the fishermen's side of the question had been placed before the Minister of Marine, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, and the chief inspector of fisheries, Mr. A. E. Hefford, by Mr. J. Hargest (Invereargill). Mr. Hargest explained that the fishermen of Southland and other parts of the Dominion were being placed in a very awkward position by the proposed alteration, and merchants who supplied nets would be called upon to bear considerable losses because they had stocks of nets with mesV| on hand. If the regulation requiring nets with 4in. mesh was enforced, those stocks would represent a dead loss.

Many fishermen were in poor circumstances and could not afford to buy new nets, said Mr. Hargest. The regulation would force them to seek relief labour. Others had bought nets on time-payment and would never be able to pay for them if they could not fish with them. Fishermen did not agree that a larger mesh would allow the small fish to pass through and escape unharmed. They claimed that the fish would be gill-netted in the larger mesh and killed. Consequently, it would be useless to return them to the water. In addition, they claimed that the larger mesh would make fishing in weedy bays almost impossible, because with a 2£in. mesh weeds were caught and could be tipped out on the shore, but with a 4in. mesh they would thread through the nets and would have to be picked out by hand. In view of the representations made, the Minister agreed to postpone the proposed regulation for a year. It is possible that the whole question will receive further careful consideration.