NO WHITEBAIT NETS AFTER NOVEMBER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 15

NO WHITEBAIT NETS AFTER NOVEMBER.

PROPOSAL THAT SEASON BE CLOSED THAT MONTH “ If the pollution of the rivers were remedied there would be no need to limit the whitebait season at all,' said Mr D. M. Bradbury, when the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, at its meeting last night, was considering a proposal to prohibit whitebait fishing after the end of November. Mr P. J. Wilson, who introduced the matter, proposed that a remit be sent forward to the annual conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association, to the effect that whitebait fishing be prohibited after the end of November.

Mr L. A. Shand said he did not think it was advisable to ask that the w’hitebait season should be curtailed, because whitebait was a food for trout. If they sent the remit in that form they would blow it out at one crack. He suggested that the remit should state that owing to the depleted supply of whitebait the season should be closed at the end of November. Professor R. Speight: Are you making it apply to the West Coast? The chairman (Mr H. H. Smith): We will be looking lor trouble if we do. Mr Barnett: I think we are all looking for trouble, because we will be interfering with a man’s living. Mr D. M. Bradbury said that if pollution of rivers were got rid of, there would- be no need to limit the whitebait season at all. Mr Wilson said he knew of rivers on the West Coast where there was no pollution, yet supplies of whitebait were depleted. The remit was adopted. A discussion then took place regarding the procedure to be adopted in sending the remit, together with another that had been agreed upon, to the conference. The chairman explained that the rules provided that a special general meeting of members must be called by circular for the consideration of remits. He did not think the meeting could be held before the end of the month. After further discussion, it was decided to call a special general meeting in accordance with the rules.