TROUT ANGLER FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21333, 7 November 1932, Page 12

TROUT ANGLER FINED

USE OF ILLEGAL BAIT SOUTH CANTERBURY CASE The use of creeper for bait for trout fishing at Butler's Crossing ih the Opihi River, South Canterbury, on October 9, formed the basis of a charge against Alfred Frank Boys, who appeared before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court at Timaru last week. Defendant pleaded not guilty. F. W. Pellett, South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society ranger, said that Butler's Crossing was about a mile and a-half below the Pleasant Point traffic bridge, below which the use of creeper bait was bailed. He watched defendant from the bank for some time, and from his mode of fishing witness assumed he was using worm or creeper. He cut a willow stick which he camouflaged to tho appearance of a rod and prei:ended he was fishing, and waded to within a chain and a-half of Boys, whom ho then approached. When defendant saw witness coming be turned his back. When witness an ; nounced his identity, Boys argued he was not Pellett, who had been pointed out to him a few days previously. Defendant admitted ho had been fishing witft cieeper, but when witness asked for the cast defendant defied him, and started to walk away. Witness stopped him and finally defendant handed over the cast which did not have any hooks, whtch he said he had lost. Defendant asserted he had been fishing for 30 years and that his hut had been broken into the previous night and all his tackle had been taken. Defendant said.in evidence that his hut had been robbed of flies, reels and line, leaving him with only a bare rod. He had borrowed some tackle from a person near by, and used some white grubs which ho found in a rotten tree trunk for bait. Ho asserted these were not creepers, which he had never used, always using the fly. lie admitted: that tho grubs did not comply with any of tho baits allowed under tho regulations. "It is clear you committed an offence against tho regulations whatever the bait was you used," said the magistrate, in fining defendant £2 and costs.