NETTING TROUT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 27

NETTING TROUT.

TAKING UNDERSIZED FLOUNDERS. THREE MEN FINED. INVERCARGILL, January 26. At the Police Court to-day Charles Sim and Henry Lawton were charged with catching trout in the estuary by means of a net, with refusing to give their names when caught so doing, and with catching flounders less than nine inches in length. They pleaded guilty to all three charges. The two first-mentioned charges were laid by the Acclimatisation Society and the third charge by the Customs Department. Henry Tresseder was also charged with catching trout in the estuary with a net and wjjjbs. catching flounders less than nine inches in length. He pleaded guilty. Mr Brian Hewat represented the three defendants, Mr Eustace Russell the Acclimatisation Society and the Collector of Customs. Mr D. Ruffle appeared on behalf of the Customs Department. Mr Russell said that on December 18 two acclimatisation rangers discovered the' three defendants and another man, on whom a summons had not yet been served, using a net in the estuary from a launch. When the bag was examined several flounders under the regulation size of nine inches in length were discovered and also three trout. When the rangers requested the men to give their names they refused to do so. Mr Hewat said that his clients were fishing for flounders in the estuary and were perfectly entitled to do so. They caught the trout by accident and kept them because they were too badly injured to put back. They did not refuse to give their names, but there was, a dispute between the rangers and them, and in the general conversation the request was overlooked and was not repeated. They shook hands with the rangers when they left, and were under the impression that no charge would be brought against them. Replying, Mr Russell said that had no charge been brought, and had the society been informed of the incident, the rangers would have been instantlv dismissed. Tresseder was fined £2. and costs (7s), for taking the trout, and £3 (costs £1 Is) on the charge of refusing to give his name. Lawton and Sim were each fined £l, and costs (7s), on the charge of taking the flounders. £2 and costs (7s) on the charge of taking the trout, and £3 and costs (£1 Is) for refusing to give their names when asked to do so.