The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3728, 27 June 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1883.

The Fisheries Bill, that passed its second reading in the House yesterday, is a reprint of the Bill as passed by the Legislative Council, and subsequently reported from Committee of the whole House of Representatives in 1882. This Bill provides protection for fish of all sorts, and for their fry and ova, and of oysters, and also of seals; but the clauses relating to nets, &c, do not apply to lauding nets, nor does it affect any person taking fish in water of which he is the owner, or any person having permission from the owner or from any Collector of Customs or other authorised person by the Commissioner of Trado and Customs to remove ova or fry for the purpose of breeding. The Bill contains a long list of regulations as to size of nets, dates of closo times, &c, which the Governor may bring into operation in any particular district by proclamation. A fine of £20 is imposed for using dynamite, or any explosive substance to destroy fish, or using, a fixed net, and all drag-nets arc to be emptied in the water, and not upon dry land. All fish, oysters, and seal, or blubber unlawfully taken, together with all tackle employed, may be confiscated. The Governor has power to close any fisheries for three years if it is deemed necessary, and may set apart any bays, or other places of water, to be left undisturbed for the natural propagation of fish. Exclusive licenses may, under certain conditions, be granted, and permissive licenses for artificial oysterbeds, may also be obtained. Eels are excluded from the provisions of the Act. This, and the clause setting apart the natural breeding places of fish, are the new clauses in the Act, which may be deemed a most necessary and highly useful one.