BAGS NOW LIMITED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 5

BAGS NOW LIMITED.

Fifteen Fish in Twentyfour Hours. RESTRICTIONS ON ANGLERS. A highly-contentious question, among sportsmen, that of the limitation of hours, came up at last night’s meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The discussion did not commence until 11 o’clock and continued for some time. The motion referring to the restrictions was moved by the president, Mr C. H. Lawrence. An amendment was carried limiting catches of fish to fifteen in twenty-four hours. The portion of the motion referring to restrictions on pond shooting was lost. •The text of the motion was as follows t- “ It shall be unlawful to fish for trout, perch, tench or other acclimatised fish between the hours of 11 p.m. of one day and 4 a.m. of the following. “No person shall kill or destroy or shoot at or attempt to shoot at any imported or native game on any pond after the hour of 4 p.m. on any day.” Mr Lawrence spoke in favour of his motion and said that if the resolution was not carried they would have to consider later not only the limitation of hours, but the limitation of bags. Opposition to Motion. Mr P. J. Molloy opposed the motion strongly. He said the controversy was fifty years old and longer notice of the moving of the evening’s motion should have been given. If it was carried it was sure to be rescinded at a later meeting. It was a question of the fly versus the bully. It was “ the same old chap with its whiskers cropped.” He considered it was a smack at the Halswell fishermen. Mr C. J. Holsey said that if the restrictions were imposed numerous fishermen on the Selwyn and at Ellesmere would not take out licenses. Mr K. Campion said that by curtailing hours they would only penalise the working man, who was a good buyer of licenses. They should hatch more ova and build up business instead of cutting it down. Conservation Necessary. Mr Lawrence stated that conservation would have to be adopted in the near future. Mr F. Steans said that he was con vinced that restrictions were necessary but he would move as an amendment that no fisherman be allowed to take more than fifteen fish in twenty-four hours. The amendment was carried by 14 votes to 7. Dealing with the second part of his motion, Mr Lawrence said that great toll was being taken of birds on ponds. A member said that there would be difficulty in defining a pond while it would drive men to illegal methods as in some cases a shooter would be insane to start before 4 p.m. It was also stated that the motion would give rise to class distinctions. The motion referring to shooting was lost.