NETTING PROHIBITED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23333, 27 October 1937, Page 5

NETTING PROHIBITED

WAITATI RIVER ESTUARY DEPARTMENT'S REGULATION ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S ATTITUDE The opinion that the regulation prohibiting netting within 500 yards of the point where a stream meets the sea at low water was in the case of Blueskin Bay interfering with the rights of the public, was expressed by several members at a meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society last night. The subject was introduced when it was reported that two men had been caught netting in the bay. Mr S. H. Barnes said that the regulation was never intended to prevent netting on the flats at Waitati, and that it would be reasonable to make the regulation apply from the railway bridge instead of from the actual mouth of the stream at low tide. The only places from which trout were taken were the holes near the bridge. The chairman (Mr C. A. Wilson) agreed with Mr Barnes, and expressed the opinion that in enforcing the existing regulation the society was interfering with the rights of the public. Netting had been done there as far back as he could remember, and there had been one man who had actually made a living there for years by netting flounders. .. ' . Mr Barnes moved that the Marine Department should be asked to define a netting limit at Waitati below the railway bridge. Mr G. E. Turner said that, if they were going to adopt Mr Barnes's motion they would have to do likewise in connection with other streams in the district. Mr G. Howes contended that not only were trout being taken, but under-sized flounders also. The chairman: Is not that happening everywhere? Mr H. G. Williams said the matter would be settled shortly, as the commission which had sat recently would close all these bays for netting. Mr Howes: Yes, to protect young flounders. "Well," said the chairman, when the motion had been put to the meeting and lost on a show of hands, " that finishes that, but I think you are all wrong."—(Laughter.) It was decided to report to the Marine Department that netting was being done at Waitati and to suggest that a notice should be erected to the effect that netting was prohibited.

"You will have a lot of protests against this," said the chairman, and the matter was then dropped.