ANGLING CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23481, 19 October 1939, Page 10

ANGLING CONTROL

ROTORUA REGULATIONS EXPLANATION BY MINISTER FISHING' FROM BOATS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Wednesday Tn amplifying some of the more important sections of the recently gazetted consolidation of the Jtotorua trout-fishing regulations, the Minister of internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, said to-day that he feared that locally some misinterpretation existed as tp one or two of the provisions. They were notably in regard to tagged fish and fish for freezing chambers and smoke houses.

Some comment he had read, the Minister said, in referring to the supplying .of details of tagged fish being made obligatory under a penalty, chided the department the statement that "previously the co-opera-tion of anglers was merely enlisted without compulsion." Actually the old regulation of 1936, Mr. Parry said, had not been altered in any way. Surely if the department was to obtain reliable information from the tagging of fish it was entitled to require that particulars of any tagged fish caught should be supplied.

Not a New Regulation The regulations in relation to freezing chambers and smoke houses were not new, the Minister said. As far back as 1929 there was provision made for the placing of < trout in freezing chambers. It was then necessary to refer to Gazette notices of 1908 to ascertain the requirements, and in 19:30 the full provisions, modelled on those contained in the Fresh-water Fisheries Regulations, 1930, were embodied in the Rotorua regulations. The need for a clear and concise summary of the regulations had been suggested.

The Minister referred to the criticism of the regulations, alleging ambiguity as far as boat fishing was concerned, with emphasis on the section dealing with the anchoring of boats. "It has been stated," Mr. Pariy said, "that this section may easily be held to imply that no' fishing from moving boats is permissible in a number of areas, - where, in fact, this restriction is not intended. "Anglers Left in Doubt" "It is a pity that no attempt has been made by the critic to set out what actually and correctly is the position, thus leaving anglers in doubt. As a fact, regulation 35 sets out the various waters which are restricted to artificial fly fishing. All references to trolling or harling, as existed in previous regulations, have been deleted and the matter is covered by regulating boat fishing in the portion of the Kaituna River at Okere Falls which is between the northern end of the wharf landing and the bridge over the rapids. Boat fishing is prohibited altogether in all other fly areas. "No person is permitted to fish from a boat 18ft. or over in length, unless it is securely anchored at both ends. Any boat less than 18ft. must be securely anchored at one end. Anglers desiring to fish from moving boats can do so only in waters outside the fly areas enumerated in this particular regulation."

RIVER STOP-GATES EFFECT ON TROUT FISHING LAKE TAUPO CONTROVERSY [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Wednesday The proposal to instal stop gates on the Waikato River, near Taupo, to provide additional water pressure for hydro-electric purposes, and the effect which this would have upon tront fishing in that area, was investigated by. the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, when he visited Taupo yesterday. The Minister discussed the question with representatives of the pakeha and Maori residents. He was assisted in his investigations by Mr. A. C. A. Caldwell, engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. A. Kean, conservator of fish and i game in the Eotorua district, and Mr. A. F. Moncur, M.P. The proposal, it was stated, would mean a rise of about three feet in the level of Lake Taupo. The effect which this would have was the subject of some controversy. It was considered by some that this rise would result in much of the swamp lands owned by Maoris being flooded. Fishermen held that the bringing of the lake up to its former level would improve the fishing, and reduce the danger to fishermen now existing in certain parts of the lake. The view of the department was that the obtaining of an additional pressure of water at certain periods of the year was essential if the electrical supply was to bo maintained and extended. This was conceded by those who had raised opposition to the scheme. The Minister, after fully discussing and investigating the matter, promised to place the views expressed before the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 11. Semple.