ILLEGAL FISHING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16635, 18 January 1922, Page 6

ILLEGAL FISHING.

IRON STRIKER AND LAMP. SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY. Illegal fishing was charged against Harold Pearce before Mr Wyvern Milson, &.M., in the Magistrate’s Court*today. under the Fisheries Act, 1908. Pearc© was fined £5, with costs. There were two charges:—(l) Did fish with or us© an illegal instrument, or devise mean for taking fish, to wit, an iron striker and an acetylene lamp, on November 23. (2) Did illegally take or attempt to take trout from the Main Drain, near Kaiapoi, on November 23. Mr J. K. Archer appeared for the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and Mr E. W. "White for defendant. Mr Archer said that Mahoney, one of the society’s rangers, saw Pearce near tho Main Drain, by Kaiapoi, attempting to take trout by means of an iron striker and an acetylene lamp. Accused was accompanied by another man, who would be brought before the Court later. Tho men were followed by the ranger for about a mile, and seen to stiik© for trout, and catch one. Mr \\ hit© said that both men admit-'' ted that they were out motor cycling, and, finding a piece of hoop iron, made a striker. The fishing wag not premeditated. Pearc© was a young man, and had not committed the offence before. Mr Archer denied that th© striker consisted merely of a piece of pickedup hoop iron, saying that it was a riveted instrument. The fact that the offence was committed at 11 p.m. was against the theory that they were merely out for a ride. The Magistrate said that he had no sympathy with poachers, who were not sportsmen. Tho only way to put down poaching was by making th© penalty 1 substantial. Defendant would be fined £5 with costs, on the first charge, and ordered to pay costs on the second charge. The costs amounted to £5 Bs.