BOATS AND TROLLING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10051, 8 February 1927, Page 3

BOATS AND TROLLING.

ON LAKE ALEXANDRIA.

UN S P.O RTSM ANDIK E F IS'H ING

DISCUISSION AT MEETING OF

COUNCIL.

At the Council meeting ‘of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on Saturday, the minutes of the special meeting held on the 6th December were read, relative to the use of motor boats being prohibited on Lake Alexandria.

Mr T. Adams stated that the special meeting was out of order, as Mr E.„ MacDonald had not received his notice of the meeting until after the meeting had been held. The question as to whether any notice was necessary was discussed, and the secretary reported that there were no rules governing the notice for special meetings.

Mr. E. Macdonald also voiced his protest, asking ,on what grounds the Society wanted to prohibit the use of motor boats on Lake Alexandria. He had heard that the noise of the motors disturbed the feathered game, but it was largely a' matter of opinion. As far as Lake Alexandria was concerned, motor boats would not disturb the game, for if disturbed, the'birds would just fly over to Lake Tekapo., There were fish all over the place at Lake Alexandria, and the easiest way to get about to them was by boat. He didn’t think the motor boat disturbed the feathered game.

Mr Mackay stated that Mr Macdonald must not overlook the fact that Lake was a sanctuary- • Mr Adams: The Milford Lagoon is a sanctuary, and a motor boat is allowed there.. Mr James: But there’s no game there. Mr James went' on to, say that game life was getting, scarce on Lake Alexandrian. They could have as many motor boats on Lake Tekapo as they wished. Mr J. McDonald said that at the present time there were more grey ducks at Lake Aiexaiidrina than he had formerly seen. It looked to him to be the result of stopping the motor boat, The grey ducks had been stopping at the top end of the lake, and there were certainly more grey ducks around Teal Bay than had been seen lor several years. He put it down to the fact that they had not been disturbed. He suggested that the Society should have control of all boats, including row boats, on Lake Aiexaiidrina, on account of it being a M sanctuary and on account of stopping poaching. ~lf the indiscriminate use of motor .boats were allowed, and there were people coming up to the; lake at two o’clock in the morning, there could, be no other reason for it but poaching.- Their own boat on Lake Alexandria had been broken loose, a link of. the mooring chain- havingbeen cut. If they were going to let every Tom, Dick and Harry have a boat there, they had friends, and it was. going to be hard to discriminate. Anyone who wanted to could go in for poaching if the boats were there. They knew very well the amount of poaching that went on at Lake Clearwater. It had' been stated to him that o'n one occasion two boats with two poaching parties in a single night caught 135. fish averaging 51bs weight. That was going to happen to Lake Aiexaiidrina. Ho would guarantee they could get 50 or 60 fish at Lake Aiexaiidrina in a night. If by going out in a boat, a man saw a big trout in the shallows, he would he only human if he could hot resist the temptation to gaff it. Mr James said some people seemed to think the Society was unjust in prohibiting motor boats on Lake Alexandrina, but they lost sight of the 'fact that the aim of the South (Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was to try and make Lake**Alexandrina the Lake Taupo of the South Island. They were trying to induce tourists to come to the South Island, and to get fishermen to come down to fish in the proper sportsmanlike manner, and some people were objecting. He .had received, a letter from a prominent man in the Mackenzie, expressing the opinion that Lake Alexandrina was- too small for the use of motor boats There was no art required in scull dragging and there was no sport at ail in it, but the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was out to offer the best fishing facilities, and to give fishermen every inducement to go out to Lake Alexandrina to catch as many fish as they could in a sportsmanlike manner. Mr Adams said scull trolling was a legal method. Mr James: But not a sportsmanlike method. Mr E. Macdonald said scull trolling was legal throughout the Dominion, and they were trying to block it in Lake Alexandrina —the one lake in New Zealand. Members said scull trolling had been stopped in a lake in North Canterbury. Mr J. McDonald said his ownopinion of trolling was fliat it did not appeal to him as a sportsmanlike, method. He thought it more sportsmanlike to take a .303 and go out and spot a fish and shoot it. Spearing was just as sportsmanlike as trolling. Mr Mackay ruled against Mr Adams saying lie' (Mr Adams) had got his notice. , The minutes'of the special 'meeting on the 6th December, were.jthen

Mr Adams: You'll take notice of my objection? Mr Mackay: Yes. While on. Ike subject, .1 think personally the Society has, the right to control boats on Lake Alexaudri.ua, and U sa.vs very little for Mr McCort that the, Council should be opposing tbe Society, Mr Macdonald:' Mr McCort intro cl need the subject himself, and there is no desire to oppose the Society on the part of the Council as a body. Mr Adams: I also consider Mi James should have given notice of motion,