WHITEBAIT FISHING

Chronicle (Levin), 28 August 1946, Page 2

WHITEBAIT FISHING

QUESTIONS ANSWERED The Marine Department advises in reply to the questions: — "(li Whitebait can be sold to tlie public without license from the Marine Department. "(2) If a stream runs through a recreation reserve, i.e., through public property the public can nsn in that part though no right is conferred to break down fences, etc., in the course of the fishing, and subject to any local body restrictions. "(3) If a dedicated roadway crosses tht stream though the road is unformed can the public use thaT chaln width for fishing? The question here revolves around whether the dedicated but unformed road is yet a public road or stili private property. If it is a public road the public may fish in that chain width but obviously ihe status of the ' roadway must be determined. "(4) Where a streaiyi flows through private property 01* where the margin or bank of a stream is private property a whitebaiter has no right of entry and the law oi trespass holds. "(5) Where a person is fishing for whitebait on private property be he the owncr, 01* the owner's agent or one appointed by or pcrnutted by the owncr to fish on his property, that fishing must still be d:mc according to the regulatioiis governing thc fishing for whitebait, except that where the fishing is conducted in a 'private water' (that is any water wfiolly contained vvithin the land of one private owncr) by thc owner or a person authorised by thc owner the regulations do not apply, except in closo aeason. "(6) the rules for fishing for whitebait can be summarised as lollows: — "ia) Size of net — the area of the mouth of the net must not exceed 9 square feet. "(bi One person one net. "(e.) Nets two chains apart. "(d) Where a channel or stream) is less than 10ft. wide the mouth of the net must not be more than ' thrcc fcet across its greatest diamcter. (."ej No person sliajl take or fish for whitebait between oue hour , after sunset and one hour before ■ sunrise. i "(f) Set nets are permitted in. the Manawa tu River and its tributaries. but not in any artificial drains flowing thereinto. "(h ) ) The use of boats, groynes, : wings, etc.. to divert the whitebait into the net is prohibited. Boats ■ may of course be used for transport."