FISHING REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 785, 7 April 1910, Page 9

FISHING REGULATIONS.

. A COMPLAINT. ■ ' ■ (By Teleeraph.— Special Corresponfienf.* Auckland, April 6. ■ A case of alleged hardship arising out of the enforcement of the fishing regulations was. brought under .the notice of tho Minister for Education (tho Hon. Geo. Fowlds) in Auckland by a deputation, consisting of four -fishermen. Mr. A.-E. Glover, M.P., in introducing tho deputation, explained. that a Mr. 'IV I.omns had hired his boat to a fisherman named. J. Macdonald for the. purpose of fishing for flat fish and schnapper. AVhile tho latter was fishing,-the Insp'ec-j ter of Fisheries came alongside, and, seeing about three dozen small mullet (which fish were out of season) anion? the schnapper and flat fish which had been drawn in, he seized tho boat and net. Legal proceedings : were • taken, . and Macdonald was fined JB2 95., and. costs amounting to ,£1.75.. 0d... These amounts were paidj but on applying to tho Collector of Customs for'the restitution'of his boat, Mr.. Lomas was informed that he could only secure it' on payment of the sum of '<£30. It was not the fault of tho fisherman. - that a few mullet had ; got into his net," and if he had thrown 1 them back into the water ho would have committed a breach of .the Harbour Hoard regulations. - Further, it was. understood that tho Hon. J.. A. Millar had informed a deputation which sought his advice in connection .with this matter, that unless.it was shown that'the nets wcro deliberately - cist 'for mullet the authorities would not prosecute. Mr. Glover mentioned that the total loss sustained by the, fishermen concerned as a result of the Court proceedings, was .£122 10s., and. tho seized boat had also suffered from the weather since it. was impounded. Tho fishermen asked-.that the boat bo returned,. and that the harbour limits be extended in Tespect of mullet fishing, as had been done'in the case of Thames and Kaipara. The "Minister promised to forward full details of the case to tlio 'Acting-Minister for Marine. -