WHITEBAITING

Southland Times, Issue 21848, 27 October 1932, Page 5

WHITEBAITING

BREACH OF REGULATIONS. FISHERMAN CONVICTED. The first prosecution since the new' whitebait regulations were issued early this month was heard by Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. Mr H. S. Cordery, Collector of Customs, proceeded against Robert Ramsay, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of using a boat on the Otakau Stream to divert whitebait up or down stream. Mr Cordery said that the matter was of some importance. The regulations had been re-drafted and broadcast, the object of them being to “live and let live.” It was quite clear in the regulations that a boat should not be used to divert the bait in a stream, but these had not been obeyed. They had been ignored. The Magistrate: A sort of a dog in the manger attitude? Mr Cordery said the object of the regulations was to give everyone an eoual chance. Every possible inducement was made to let a man get a living from whitebait fishing. The case had not been brought with a view to pressing for a penalty but to have the necessity of obeying the regulations generally understood. Ernest Duncan, ranger, said that after the new regulations were gazetted he visited the Otakau Stream and saw defendant using a boat to divert the bait. The boat was a 26-foot launch and the stream about 30 to 36 feet wide. Defendant was holding the net and boat in such a position as to allow practically no room whatever for the bait to pass upstream. Defendant said there was another whitebaiter on the stream that night and he was getting just as much bait as defendant. He contended he was not diverting the bait. Constable Mcßae, who visited the stream with the ranger, corroborated the latter’s evidence and added that he had received complaints from other baiters regarding the practice. The Magistrate warned defendant not to continue the practice. There was a heavy penalty for such breaches. On this occasion defendant would be convicted and discharged. A. charge of using an illegal whitebait net was withdrawn, the Collector remarking that the dispute regarding the size of the nets was being taken up (as the result of a petition by baiters) with the Marine Department.