NETTING IN ESTUARY

Southland Times, Issue 19657, 6 October 1922, Page 5

NETTING IN ESTUARY

ANGLING CLUB’S ATTITUDE DEPUTATION TO. MINISTER Following on the discussion by the Acclimatisation Society in regard to the question of the licensed netting of trout at the mouth of the estuary, the Southland Anglers’ Club made further reference to the subject at its annual meeting last evening, and it was decided to support the Acclimatisation Society in its objection to netting being permitted. The matter was referred to during the discussion on the annual report of the club, but after the ordinary businc--- of the meeting had been concluded, the secret ary stated that it would be necessary for lhe meeting to appoint a deputation as it was probable the Hon.' G. J. Anderson, Minister of Marine, would be visiting Invercargill in the near future. Mr Tapper suggested that the club should work in with the Acclimatisation Society and appoint a smaM committee to represent the Anglers’ Club. Mr Watson staled that the club should have •separate representation. It would then have more weight. Mr J. W. Smith said that the proposal to permit licensed netting should be strongly opposed. The rivers in Southland were in excellent condition at the present time and if they could prevent netting, they would get much better fishing. Mr Tapper said that now that the Atlantic salmon had been introduced into the Southland rivers, the question of allowing netting at the mouth of the estUary had become a vital one. Few of them realised what a far-reaching effect the introduction of salmon would have on the tourist traffic to this province. A tourist from England hail told him that if anglers at Home knew what excellent fishing was to be hud in Southland a great many more would come out. Owing to the large sum they had to pay for fishing licenses there it paid them to come out to the Dominion to obtain their sport. Mr A. H. Stock then read a letter which was sent to the Minister of Marine by the Southland Acclimatisation Society in January, 1919, and which was later used at a conference of Acclimatisation Societies in 1920. The letter was as follows-: “Prior to 1907 trout were illegally netted in the estuary and when any prosecution was made by this society it was always raised in defence that they were accidentally captured; that they were so injured by capture that they would die, even if put back; and further that they were “seafish” and that their capture should be allowed, as affording a cheap food supply to the public. In 1907 netting was legalised by the Government, despite the protest of this society and anglers, and in 1(110 a certain area proclaimed wherein only indigenous fish could be taken. Experience had glready proved to the society and anglers that the estuary and tide-af-fected portion of the Oreti was frequented by a semi-migratory river trout altogether differing in structure and markings from the sea trout. The latter made their appearance during October-November, when the migratory food supply started to run up the river from the sea, and after a short stay returned to sea. This first migration of sea trout was composed of relatively small fish. From February onwards the larger sea trout would run up preparatory to spawning. Time and observation has shown that the protests of the society and anglers made as far back as October, 1910, to Mr Ayson, arc well founded by the fact that tidal river angling has been, for the past six years or more, not worth indulging in, whilst lhe average size of the fish caught has diminished. For this we blame the netting. Licensed •netting by its capture of sea trout also liecessarily reduces the number of fish that would run up for spawning purposes. With regard to the netters’ claims that the trout are so injured by capture that they would succumb even if put back, and that they are a cheap food supply to the public, th^ n <- borne out by fact. The average selling price was between 1/6 m/H 2/6 per pound. The fishermen also admit that their catches are falling off; this is also supported by the statement showing the weight of trout caught upon which Royalty has been paid during the last 13 years. We therefore claim that it would be no hardship to them to repeal the netting for trout in the Oreti estuary, and hereby earnestly appeal to you to do so, as it would help the society greatly. ' You, no doubt, realise ourselves, that rivers well stocked with trout are not a bad advertisement for a country, more especially now that the Atlantic salmon problem appears to be no longer unsolvable. Statement of trout sold locally: 1907 S, 22671b5; 1908-9, 2751; 1909-10, 2101; 1910-11, 2226; 1911-12, 1642; 1912-13 2197; 1913-14; 5,St; 1914-15, 11’9; 1915 16, 970; 1916-17, 890; 1917-18, 890; 191819, 857; 1919-20, 891; 1920-21, 891. Total 21,31 libs. Average weight 15221b5. per annum.” Continuing, Mr Stock stated that Mr Ayson now desired to legalise netting and he (Mr Stock) thought that they should strongly oppose it, especially as ib had been proved that the Atlantic salmon was now flourishing in the Southland rivers. He thought it would be advisable for the Angling club to appoint a deputation of its own. The result of one year’s prohibition of netting had proved that netting was nut desirable. They should be interested as Southlanders in opposing the movement for they knew that the excellent fishing to be had was a very good advertisement for the province, and with the increase in Atlantic salmon they had something of which they did not know the value. It was suggested that the Lumsden, Mataura, Wyndham, Winton and Dipton clubs should also |?e invitetd to be represented when the deputation waited upon the Minister. The secretary was instructed to write to these clubs asking them to appoint representatives to meet the Minister when he came to Invercargill or to arrange for representation. Messrs E. Keast, A. A. McLean, J. W. Smith, A. E. Tapper and C. W. Wilson were appointed to represent the Southland Club.