ARAPUNI LAKE

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2217, 2 October 1928, Page 5

ARAPUNI LAKE

FISHING REGULATIONS TO BE REVIEWED. te awAmutu Anglers take action. Eor somf time past, district anglers have been exercised over the attitude ofithe Auckland Acclimatisation Socie*|in regard to the restrictions projMpid for fishing in Arapuni Lake, tw'new stretch of fishing water that has been formed by the 1 , huge dam at the hydro-electric works at Arapuni. The matter was fully discussed at the annual meeting of the Te Awamutu acdlimatisation Society on Saturday evening. The secretary, Mr G. A. Reilly, stated that the local Society had represented in 1925 that steps be taken to regulate fishing, but at that time the parent society decided to defer action until the lake was definitely in being. Later, in 1927, representations were again made, and then negotiawere entered into by which Auckland controls the lake fishing, with certain reservations by which Rotorua license holders could fish there during the month of May. It was stated that at the Auckland meeting recently it was asserted that the local olub had been notified of the proposed regulations, but Mr Reilly said that the first intimation he had was in August, following a meeting of the present council on 12th July. The Te Awamutu executive then wrote to the Minister for Internal Affairs, who forwarded the communication to the Minister for Marine. That gentleman replied that hei would give them "carefunl consideration when the regulations were being framed. Special interest attached to the proposed prohibition of trolling on the lake. The Auckland council persisted in its attitude, despite Te Awamutu’s protest, and called attention to the difference between trolling and spinning. It had now been decided, despite the fact that trolling was forbidden by gazetted regulations, to re-open the subject at a meeting on 11th October. The Putaruru Society desired permission to troll from row-boats, whereas Te Ayvamutu desired unrestricted trolling. Mr Oliphant stated that the Society was indebted to Messrs Holmes and Gibson for their keen advocacy of Te

Awamutu’s claims. Those gentlemen had attended the Auckland meeting and clearly stressed the points in favour of unrestricted trolling. Personally he would favour a limit of ten fish per rod per day. (Hear, hear.) Surely ten were enough fish for a day’s catch. To Mr Holmes, Mr Oliphant agreed that it was almost impossible to determine whether fish were caught one evening or next morning. Arapuni was very well stocked with trout. Mr Woodward did not think any angle.r would Exceed his limit. The limit was quite satisfactory. There might be one or two who could not resist the temptation to take more if the fish were biting freely. He suggested that thu committee prepare a full report supporting Te Awamutu’s contentions. Mr Oliphant thought representations should be supported by delegates fully abreast of Arapuni conditions. Mr Reilly said the Auckland cpuncil was very much concerned with a desire to conserve fish in Arapuni Lake. Rather than reduce the day’s fishing

catch it would be better to shorten the season by a month. By doing this the ducks would have !a quiet month belore the shooting season opened. Mr Mackenzie said that might affect fishermen who desired to try the lake during Easter. Mr Holmes said the Auckland council had proved very sympathetic to Te Awamutu’s recommendations, but they were out to stop wholesale slaughter. The .lake was not identical with Taupo for fly-fishing. There were only a few places for fly-fishing or for spinning. Mr Fitzgerald, of Putaruru. had indicated that he would not oppose trolling from row-boats. When he (the speaker) had asked why the difference between row-boats .and small power-boats the council decided flo dqfelr decision until 11th October. It was, he thought, imperative to have a delegate at that meeting. He was confident the Minister would accept the Auckland Society’s recommendation.

Mr Woodward said he would not favour unrestricted trolling over the whole lake. The down-stream half of the lake proper, or -three miles up from the) dlam, should not be opened for trolling. Mr Holmes said the boundary line should be approximately Bulmer’s boundary. Mr Gibson said the proposed boundary was now Bulmer’s pumping station. Mr Holmes said he would agree, if the rest of the' lake were opened for trolling. The proper oourse was to limit the daily catch. It was finally decided to support Auckland’s proposal !)o restrict the lower mile for fly-fishing, provided the rest of the lake was open for trolling from any boat. The limit of fifteen fish was regarded as ample, and, if

desired, the limit could be reduced to twelve or even ten. This would apply 1)o the lake and river to the southern boundary of the Auckland Society’s territory. Mr Reilly then moved that the fishing season be reduced by one month. Mr Woodward supported, saying he hdd found wounded duck. Quite a lot of illegal shcioting occurred in the few weeks before the shooting season began. The practice was to use pearifles, and great destruction took place. ?rle even knew of a brace of cock pheasant shot from a row-boat. During the silent month anyone using a boat on the lake would be watched as likely to be a poacher. As an amendment Mr Mackenzie moved that the fishing season close on the Wednesday night after Easter. Mr F. Teddy seconded. —Carried. _ Messrs Oliphant, Holmes, and Gibson were appointed a sub-committee to draft the Te Awamutu Society’s arguments in favour of these recommendations. It was unanimously agreed to advance the opinion that Lake Arapuni was not, for its greatojr part, suitable

for fly-fishing. Mr Gibson said one of the oldest anglers in' the district had fished the Waikato River at Arapuni regularly for twenty years, and only once had he caught trout there by the use of a fly.