ILLEGAL FISHING

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 124, 22 November 1932, Page 9

ILLEGAL FISHING

FIVE OFFENDERS. FINED

(By Telegraph.)/ (Special to "The Evening Post.") . PALMERSTON N., This Bay. In the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court yesterday proceedings were taken by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society against five fishermen, who were charged with using hand lines; and heavy " lead weights in the catching of trout, and also with fishing without licences. - A. 11. Durden pleaded not guilty to using three hand lines for the purpose of catching trout and fishing . without a licence. . . \ A ranger said there were three or four farmers about Aokautere using lines, and they were not only "a perfect nuisance" but very hard to catch. , The defendant said he had put, the lines in for his three children. Sometimes there were eels 'on them, and sometimes trout. The lines were in ■ clear Tvater, and the ranger should know that trout were never caught under those conditions. In any case, he did not think-the Act could stop him fishing. ' A fine of £2 was imposed on each charge, with costs totalling £1 Bs. The defendant, said he would appeal. A. S. Hopcroft and J. W. Hopcrbft admitted fishing without .licences, but denied using hand lines for the purpose of catching trout. The latter admitted that he had caught trout, ■ but his main purpose was eels for feeding fowls. In imposing a fine of £2 on each charge against each' brother the Magistrate said that if they wanted eels they had better go where there were not trout. Each had to pay £1 8s costs. Two other offenders who used heavylead weights were each fined £2, with 16a costs.