Trout Rivers.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 10

Trout Rivers.

Restrictions on Anglers Proposed. SUB-COMMITTEE was set up at last evening’s meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society to consider the advisability of restricting the hours for angling and the size of the fish to be taken. Steps such as this, it was urged, were necessary to prevent North Canterbury rivers from becoming further depleted of fish of any size. The development of motor traffic was given as one of the main reasons for the scarcity of well-grow’n fish, the motor-car enabling more and more anglers to spend a greater amount of time along the rivers. One member complained that the “ hoggish idea of big bags,” instead of the idea of angling as a sport was a reason for the depletion; and another member declared that an increasing amount of poaching was one of the primary causes. The subject was raised by Mr C. H. Lawrence, who said that recent reports had indicated that the North Canterbury rivers could not provide good sport. “ Our fishing in North Canterbury is rotten and has been worse than for a considerable number of years,” declared Mr Lawrence. Mr C. R. Russell said that there would have to be either restriction or no fish. Motor-cars had enabled anglers to get to the grounds much earlier. The council should tackle the problem as soon as possible. The previous council, said Mr F. Steans, had imposed a restriction but had rescinded that motion a month later, to the regret of many members. Poaching and Flood Menace. Poaching was on the increase, stated Mr P. J. Molloy, and the fish that poachers could not catch they killed with gelignite. Mr C. J. Holsey said that some anglers “ talked all over the town ” of catching up to forty fish in one night in the Ashley. Some anglers stated that they had caught from 250 to 300 fish this season. Those, and not the poachers, were the men responsible for the depletion of the rivers. The flood menace was one of the greatest factors in the destruction of fish, said Mr H. T. Stubberfield. “ I don’t think we are doing the best for anglers,” stated Mr Lawrence. “We are the only major society which has no restrictions, and if we appeal to anglers they will be behind us wholeheartedly.” The president (Mr L. A. Shand) said that from thirty years’ experience of fishing in the Cam he could say that there were as many fish there as ever, but they were not so large. He favoured some form of restriction and would go so far as to suggest a close season. A sub-committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs Lawrence, Molloy, Russell, Stubberfield and Steans was appointed to bring down a report to the next meeting.