SALMON AND TROUT FISHING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 49

SALMON AND TROUT FISHING.

NEW REGULATIONS PROPOSED. CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER. (Fhom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 31. In accordance with the desire of the Minister of Marine, representatives of the Canterbury and Otago Acclimatisation Societies met him to-day in connection with tho fishing of quinnat salmon. Mr L. F. Ayson (Chief Inspector of Fisheries), the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, and Messrs L. M. Isitt and E. P. Lee, M.P.'e, were also present. The Minister submitted to the conference a draft of the regulations which it Is proposed to bring into force to govern the fishing of salmon in tho rivers declared salmonfishing rivers—the Waitaki and Rangitata. It is proposed that tho salmon-fishing season shall commence on January 15, and be prolonged till April 15. This was agreed to by the conference. Considerable discussion took place as to the license fee which should bo charged, covering trout and salmon separately and together, the proposed regulations providing for a license fee of £1 in each case, or a total of £2 to cover both trout and salmon, from October 1 till April 15. The delegates urged the Minister to do away with the special license for salmon, as they considered that the reduced trout season would interfere with their revenue, whereas the additional license fee chargeable for taking the salmon would reduce the number of sportsmen. Eventually the Minister stated that he would agree to hold up tho matter for further consideration, but he would not commit himself at present to any concession. Regulations providing- for salmon licenses to be issued by tho postmasters at Christchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Temuka, and Ashburton were agreed to. The Minister explained that the salmon business would be kopt separate from the trout business. Seeing that the Government had borne all the expense, it expected to derfve the revenue from it.

The regulations also provide that no person shall catch more than six salmon in one day. This was agreed to. During the salmon spawning season no nets of any kind will be allowed to be used inside the mouths of any river, stream or tributary where salmon is known to exist, or inside the mouth of any river which is being stocked by the Marine Department. The rivers which come under this regulation are the Molynoux, Taieri, Kakanui, Waitaki, Rangitata, Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui, Waiau, Wairau, and Hokitika.

The regulations also give the Marine Department power to fish off the mouth of any river for salmon for the purpose of placing the fish on the local market.