FISHING POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 11

FISHING POLICY

DOMINION CONDITIONS REPLY TO OVERSEAS CRITIC WORK OF ACCLIMATISATION "I do not think Major Ashley-Dodd has taken into consideration how conditions vary in the different acclimatisation society districts when he urges uniformity of policy," said Mr. James Robertson, president of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, to whom Major Asliley-Dodd's comments on fishing in New Zealand were referred in Invercurgill last week. Major Ashley-Dodd, a visitor from England, left by the Rangitata last Thursday. "Each society has to a large extent to be guided by circumstances peculiar to its district," said Mr. Robertson. "Furthermore, until research into fresh water fishing had reached a more advanced stage it would be extremely difficult to formulate a policy. There is much divergence of opinion on the whole question, and when experts differ so widely it is not surprising that acclimatisation societies are working along somewhat different lines." Mr. Robertson said it was true that in certain popular rivers in the North Island there was congestion on the banks. Sometimes anglers were so close to one another that they had difficulty in casting. This did not happen in Southland. He did not think overseas anglers would have any grounds for this sort of complaint when fishing in the South Island. Mr. Robertson added that, while it was desirable that the utmost courtesy and consideration should be shown to visiting anglers, he thought it would be a retrograde step to make fishing a sport for the wealth}', as it largely was at Home.