TAUPO FISHING

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 13

TAUPO FISHING

TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS ?

Recommendations to the Internal Affairs Department that the type of fly which may be used on the Tongariro River be more clearly defined, and that no fishing be permitted at Taupo' between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., were decided upon by the acclimatisation societies' conference yesterday, Mr. L..0. H. Tripp presiding. It was stated that some of the flies now used were like "small turkeys," while the night fishing laid itself open to poaching, and stopped the run of fish up the river. Mr. P. H. Stockwell (Feilding) said that there were far too many restrictions at Taupo, so much, so that fishermen were being driven off the water altogether. The Tongariro had been taken away from the minnow fisher. What should a visitor do who found the river too dirty for fly? "The restrictions are becoming ■unbearable," said Mr. Stockwell, "and they are responsible for the. poor condition of fishing in Taupo, Since the Government has taken over control, conditions have steadily depreciated. There are plenty of fish, but they are not in condition, and a lot. are diseased. The water is overstocked."1 Mr.- J. H. Edmundson' (Hawkes Bay) agreed that the fishing had gone steadily back, but not for the reasons given by Mr.Stockwell., When the Government took over few people -went to.Taupo,.and there •were more fish, than they could catch.' When the netting -was done more fish were taken out than -were left in the lake. The fish were so few that the fish food was given a chance, and inanga, which1 had practically disappeared, began to show np again, and with that the fishing steadily improved until 1924, when the average of bags was lOlb. The result of the boom' caused by these wonderful fish (he had seen fish up to 19lb) brought thousands of rods to the lake, with, the result that the fishing had been depleted. ; .The lake would only carry a certain number of fish, he said, because the shores were barren, and the water off shore deep. To improve the fishing it was necessary to start over again. The basis1 of all fish food was vegetation, and if they wished to improve the fishing they must provide vegetation. He- advocated the planting of trees and the introduction of water weeds to give the larval life food. The wave action on.Taupo was sufficient to prevent weeds from ever becoming a nuisance or taking charge. The future of the fishing was more important than the wishes of the fishermen. More restrictions were wanted/not fewer.

NINTH CN.Z.) ROYAL SHOW.

AH indications to date are that the Ninth (N.Z.) Royal Agricultural Show, to be held at Palmerston North on 2nd, 3rd., 4th, and sth November, will prove a record for New Zealand. There are 1000 more entries in the schools' sections, and some hundreds more in the home industries than there were at Palmerston North last year, whilst applications for space so far largely exceed those of previous years. The1 enthusiasm with which invitations to exhibit in these sections has been received (together with the large number of entries already in) lends confident hope to the expectation that the displays in the live stock sections will also establish new records for this Dominion. Stud ' 'stock breeders are realising that such a unique opportunity for parading their live stock should not be missed, and extensive displays of New Zealand's finest quality horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs are assured* Next Saturday the secretary's office -will remain open until 5 o'clock, when all entries close.