MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20494, 12 March 1932, Page 6

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS.

♦ , PRESERVING AN ASSET.' SCENIC ATTRACTIONS AND FISHING. Failing the early proclamation of the urea as a national park, a Picton resident, in a discussion with a representative of tho "Marlborough Express" recently, strongly advocated steps being taken by tho local authorities to preserve and improve the fishing and scenic attractions of tho Marlborough Sounds. There was no doubt, lie sa/d, that 50 per cent, of the cod fishing in tho Sounds was sheer murder, very often of under-sized fish. He quoted, as an instance of the wanton wasto that was occurring) an occasion when within recent weeks, he visited Waikawa Bay and counted Hourly 00 small, freshly-caught cod lying on tho beach, discarded by a party who had been fishing simply for the sake of catching fish. It was to be deeply regretted that individual visitors to the Sounds did not exercise more control and commonsense when they struck good fishing. Unfortunately nine people out of ten kept on hauling lish up so long as thev would bite, well knowing that they were taking far more than they could hope to use. Undersized Fish. "Tin: waste of tish, altogether, must be simply tremendous every season," the speaker went on, "and the worst aspect of it is the great i )um . her of under-sized fish that are caught. At 'the 'present time, especially 0 well inside the Sounds, small cod predominate, yet how many alleged sports show sufficient real sportsmanship and far-sightedness to put back the small fish as soon as they are caught? If they ever feel any compunction about their 'chicken stealing,' it is when they have to dump over the side a number of little fish after finding out—too lateI—that 1 —that they have no need of them or after beitig warned by their launcliman that they would be liable to prosecution if found in possession of the small stuff. How many people, I wonder, know that there is a Marino Department regulation governing the size of blue cod that maybe taken? If it is known, this regu-. latioii is more honoured in the breach than the observance." Establishment of Bush. Turning to the scenic aspoct of the question, tho speaker said it had always been a matter for wonderment why tho Picton Borough Council persisted in the use of the Snout 'as a pastoral proposition instead of letting the reserve revert to bush. Pieton" people had everything to gain »y the beautification of tho Sounds and the surroundings-*of the town itself, vet for the sake of a few miserable pounds a year in rent they kept the Domain hills and the Snout practically bare. Certainly an attempt was bejner made to reafforest artificially partTof the area, but the introduction of exotic trees into such a setting was n pheer crime when in *a few years native bush would establish itself. He appealed to the < Picton authorities seriouslv to consider this aspect ' iri the interests of the future of their town as a tourist resort of great poten--o,'speaker heartily endorsed the national park scheme, and amongst other things expressed the opinion that quite a ready income would be derived from the renting of summer hutments. At present houses to rent were scarce and charges were fairly hicrh Huts laid out in "villages" on the American holiday resort plan should prove exceptionally popular, _ provide considerable revenue, and fill a long-felt want. Blue Cod Regulations. The legulation controlling the size of bluf cod to be caught in New Zealand was made in 1929. and provides: /1 \ jso person shall take, buy, sell, ovnose for sale, or have in possession anv blue cbd of a less length than I2in in the natural state, or of a less length ioj n when properly headed—that is the head cut off at tho back of the that this regulation .shall not apply t0 blnfi cod taken by licensed fishermen and retained by them solely for use as bait. (v) Any person committing a breach of the foregoing regulation shall be liable to a fine of not'less than £1 nor move than £2O. -riio inspectors under these regulations are Mr P. H. Woods, Collector of Customs at Bbuheim. axid Qytafr MeArthoak HtfWmßMtw a« -noiea.

Questioned with regard to tho enforcement of the regulation, Mr Woods said this week that it presented considerable difficulties, .but both he aud Captain McArthur were exercising every possible vigilance. The Picton launch-owners were well aware of the restriction, but tlio observance of, the rule depended chiefly on the goodwill and" sportsmanship of those who enjoyed the cod fishing in the bounds.