FISHING GEAR SEIZED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 4

FISHING GEAR SEIZED

Telegraph— Press Aasooiation.)

Only Natives Allowed to Use Lake Roto Airi EUR0PEAN 0FFENDERS

(By

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Fishing) gear valued at approximate|y £150 was seized and confiscated by a ranger from a party of eight prominent business and professional men who were allegedly fishing in prohibited waters at Lake Roto Airi, about 11 miles from Turangi, during the Easter vaeation. A report has been made to the Department of Internal Affairs by Mr S. A. McNamara, of Turangi, the ranger appointed by the Department, who made the seizureLake Roto Airi has an area of about 12,000 acres, and it has been prohibited to European fishermen for about eight or niue years. It was explained by Mr A. Kean, Conservator of Fish and Game at Rotorua, that, under a regulation of the Department of Internal Affairs, only Maori fishermen are permitted to use the lake, and they have to procure a permit if they are not members of the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe. It is thought to be the only lake in New Zealand where fishing rights are so restrjcted. The lake is fairly well stocked with good trout, Native anglere are known to have been favoured with good sport in the lake, and large catches at times, although it is not regnlarly fished. For many years no* fry have been liberated in the lake.