CAUGHT FISH BY MEANS OF SNARE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19242, 2 December 1930, Page 14

CAUGHT FISH BY MEANS OF SNARE.

FARMER FINED £ls IN THE GERALDINE COURT. Four Geraldine residents were charged in the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr C. Orr Walker, S.M., with illegally fishing in the Waihi River on a Sunday morning. The scene was a chain-long pool of about three and a half or four feet in depth, bounded by river-bed and gorse bushes, the latter giving hiding to Rangers Pellett and Oliver. According to the evidence, E. A. Richards (a farmer), W. J. Mitchell (his man) and R. Smith (a stock agent), went to examine some sheep grazing nearby, and, having done this, they found N. Coombs, who had been enjoying a “ dip.” and who declared the water to be in excellent condition. Richards proceeded to undress and follow the example of Coombs, while Mitchell was content to wash his hands, and Smith was satisfied by walking on the river-bed. On Richards entering the pool, he found it well stocked with trout, and he considered that it would be well to secure a fish, so he found a stick and obtained some wire with which he made a snare, and caught several fish. This sport was spoilt by the rangers, who had found their way to the locality when Richards threw his rod and snare, with a nice fish attached, to the shore, and Smith picked them up. The rangers demanded the names of all the actors, and they secured the fish. Apparently the rangers concluded that all the men had met for the purpose of snaring trout, Coombs to drive the fish down stream. Mitchell, who wore gum-boots, to aid and abet, and Smith to land the fish; but these men on oath gave a different version. Richards said that on seeing the fish he was tempted and fell, and that Mitchell, his man, wore gum-boots, by his order, to drive his sheep across the river, and that the stock agent was with them to examine the sheep, and waited to motor them back in his car. Coombs was not of their party. Smith supported this evidence, and declared that one of the rangers picked up the snare and fish and that he did not touch them. This statement the ranger denied. The Magistrate said there was no evidence against Mitchell, and he gave Coombs and Smith the benefit of the doubt. With regard to Richards, the Magistrate said that coramonsense indicated that it was not a first offence, and he inflicted a fine of £ls with costs. Ranger F. Pellett prosecuted, and Mr L. Inglis defended the accused. Lance Wood was also charged with fishing without a license. He admitted the offence, but said he went out with a friend and took his -friend’s rod while the latter had a smoke. lie was fined £2 and costs.