BIG RAID ON TOHEROAS

Chronicle (Levin), 20 September 1949, Page 5

BIG RAID ON TOHEROAS

Press AssoeiationJ

Party Of Maoris Took 3000 Above Quota

(Per

DARGAVILLE, Sept. 20. Tffe largest illegal toheroa raid" on West Coast beaches for many 5 ears has been' detected by the Fisheries Inspector/ Mr, A. H. Taylor, of Dargaville, who intercepred "a party of Iti Kaikohe Maoris in the . act. of taking away 3000 toheroas 'above their quota from Chases Gorge. Tne quota for Maoris is 80 per person per visit. * ' Mr. Taylor said today tliat the Maoris came 'down from Kaikohe in a truck. They did not take the vehiclq orr,to the beach so as to avoid suspicion. Instead they used

a sledge pulled by two horses. They were intercepted on the road when they were about to commence their return journey to Kaikohe. He added that a bad feature of thecase was that the hsorses and "sledge were loaned to the people . by Maoris from a nearby native settlement. The toheroas were confisca,ted and were returned to Chase's Gorge to be duinped on the beach. Mr. Taylor mentioned another case recently when a truck driven by Whangarei people was taken on to Chase's Gorge Beach at 3.40 a.m. one morning. The_ people were intercepted and digging was stopped. They had omy a few over their quota. Toheroas on the beaches from Chase's Gorge to Glink's Gulley were not breeding as they should be, although the coming breeding season looked promising, said Mr. Taylor. He added, howiever, that even with a good spawning season, when the beaches were closed from October to the end of November, the position would not improve to any great extent owing to the many illegal raids on the - beaches. Hd added that although he was carrymg out numerous night patrols on the beaches, a "grapevine" system forewarned people of his visits.