FISHING LICENSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 21

FISHING LICENSES.

A QUESTION FOR THE CONSIDERATION OP THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. Dear Jock Scott,— Will you allow me Bpace in your column for a gentle growl. I have takon out a fishing license now for more years than I care to count. Every lime I paid my pound I called myself an old fool at the same time, for all the fishing I hal time to do. I am only a very common working man and have to keep hard at it to make ends meet. I find limes are getting harder, and I have to look at both sides of a sixpence before parting with it, let alone a lovely pound. I cinnot ee2 my way to yay a whole pound for a license again, and very unwillingly will have lo let my rod hang on tho hooks this season. I do not find fault with the price of the present license — 1 think it is too cheap. It gives .. xnc lilc-ily to meander over the whole of the ' southern acclimatisation district rod in hand ; but that sort of license is a mere mockery to me, I have neither the time nor the means to wander from Land's End to John o' Groat's, or their equivalent in N.Z. All my fibhmg is done in an hour in the evening, and perhaps two oi three afternoons during the season. I think I was only out four times last season, • and that only on a modest half-mile or a mile of a single creek. I feel it a little hard that I should have to pay so much for the liltlo I got out of it, when others pay no more who can spend a month or six weeks doing little else but catch fish by the hundred weight, which we see duly chronicled in your wliuna. Ido not say it in any spirit of envy — I would no doubt go and do likewise had I the time and means. The acclimatisation society have done grand woik in stocking the rivers with trori, I lit I think they are getting a little conservative in ' sticking to the one form of license. There is a concession given in the half-time license, but if that were inquired strictly into it would prove lo be a bit of a fraud. It just suits a • certain class who gel their month or six weeks' holidays about that time, and they get thai? ' fishing at half-price. I know that there are a groat many license-holders who feel as I do, and a good many who have given it xcp simply because they did not think it good enough to give a pound for one or two day's" fishing in the season. I know of gome who took out a license or two in tho long long ago and intend to take out another in the sweet by-and-bye — that, is, when anyone challenges them, but have continued fishing all the Fame. There are a good many tradesmen in townships who would gladly spend their holidays out in the country by some creek side, were it not for the pound. 1 will take a friend of mine as an example — a keen sportsman and angler. When I knew him first, he supported . the acclimatisation society in every way ; took out a coursing license, a shooting license, and , for a good few years a fishing license. But row trade is not so brisk, and a good many hungry mouths gathering abovit his table. He hah to consider now whether he will buy ' 40 loaves or pay a pound for a license, and the loaves have it. And now on a holiday you will find him — Plantm' kail and layin' leeks, And delvin' in his yardie, or mouching up and down pome back phcet , wheeling a perambulator with two or three hanging by his coat tails, but he would rather have the rod in his hand and a four -pounder at the end of the line. Again, there are many , sattlcis along the crook sides who could keep out fishers, but all honour to them they do not, but will rather tell you of the best, places I have found it ho. Many of them leel it a bit. hard that they have to pay a whole pound, and ten shillings each for the boys, when all the fishing they do is confined to a half-mile on their own land. All these ye-irs that I have been fishingno one has ever asked to see my license, nor liave I ever challenged anyone, although I havo me! some who I was morally certain had none. There is a gieat deal of poaching goes on which could be prevented by another system. When I am appointed a member of the acclimatisation society, I will work for the following reforms, and as nobody is likoly to nominate me, 1 hereby nominate myself. I.— (a) A license to fish a single creek for one season , ss. (b) A license to fish two creeks, say the Puerua and Kaihiku, 10s. (c) Three creeks, 15s. (d) A big river like the Molyneux to be cut tip into liberal sections at 5s per section. (c) A license for the whole of Olago, £1 (0 For Otago and Canterbury, or Otago and 'Southland, 30s. (g) For the whole of the southern district,

1 (h) All half-time lo be abolished. 2. — Every license-holder to wear a badge, say, in the form of a brooch that, could bo pinned on the lapel of the coat, or on the vest or hat. The date in the centre, the name of crock or creeks on the rim, or Otago or Can- . terbury, •or whatever it is for. Any angler working without it pinned in plain view, \o be liable to a fine of ss. Any angler failing to report another for neglect of this, to be liable to the same fine3.—1 would invite all settlers living on tho banks of our creeks to come up to Clinton on a certain day in each year and bring their boys to see the hatching boxes, &c, and hoar a lecture on fhc hatching of tiout. Many of them would be tempted lo try a small box at, home. They could be advised and superintended by a ranger. Handsome prizes could bo given to the most successful family, subscribed by licsnse-holderg. I do not think there would be any loss to Ihe funds of the society, but rather a gain. There would be a great increase in the number of licenses fourfold), loss poaching, and every angler would be really and truly a ranger. Tt would stop the mouths of ill-natured people who are beginning to hint that the stocking of the rivers with trout is not for the benefit of the people of N.Z., but, only for the favoured few who have the means 'a.nd leis-uro. I still have faith in the members of the society, and I have waited patiently for some relief, but "Oh, it's been lang o' comin'." If they would give the general public a chance to contribute to Iheiv funds by altering the prices something on the lines I have mentioned, they would lose nothing, but do good to, and earn the gratitude of, the greatest aminbe". Hoping you will not think my gentle grov/1 aas extended to a roar, and that you will find room for it, and wishing you every success in &he coming season, — I am, &c., A. N.

Both the Cyclists' Touring Club and lh c League of Wheelmen oppose the Cjcle Traffi c