WHITEBAIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1922, Page 3

WHITEBAIT.

' MEETING' OF FISHERMEN

On Saturday morning a meeting ol fishermen was held at the Police Station, a representative gathering ol whitebniters meeting the Inspector of Fisheries, some of them being men with 30 years’ experience in whitebait catching.

The Inspector submitted a memorandum from the Marine Department, stating that this was brought forward in consequence of various representations from the Acclimatisation Societies throughout New Zealand, re a decrease in whitebait and asking for the opinion of the local fishermen on the following questions:—

(1) During the last 10 years, do you think there has been a decided decrease in the quantity of whitebait, which have come up the rivers in your district ?

(2) Do tho fishermen consider there j is any necessity for restricting the sea- ( son for taking whittbait? j ‘Re question one The fishermen were | unanimous that there had been no de- j crease during the past ten years. Some ; of the older fishermen declared that ; there had been no decrease for the past j 35 years. Seasons 1917 and 1918 had ' been poor seasons, but were followed | by a record season in 1919 in which j season the factories were unable to take j .the amount of fish caught. The opin- j ion of the fishermen seemed to he that. | if tho season is one of northerly winds, J with abundance of rain and floods in the : winter, the season will be a good one, but if the winds are southerly with ; frosty weather during winter, the sea- j son will be a good one. Most of tho fishermen were of opinion that every third season is a good one, and they predict 1922 (next season) will compare well with that of 1919. Re question two:—The fishermen | were of opinion that any restriction as to the season would he unnecessary. . The northerly winds, with, rain and i floods had the effect of taking the fish further south, where they remain in the streams almost undisturbed, except the few caught for local consumption. Despite this fact, poor seasons are often experienced. This goes to show that if wo had ;ii close season, it would make no difference whatever. During the re- . cord 1919 season in the Hokitika River, an abundance of whitebait was allowed to pass peacefully up the .river as a. result of the factories not being able to cope with them. Many people were of an opinion that good seasons would follow mainly on account of these fish being allowed to pass up the river and mature to inangn, which is believed to be the parent of the whitebait, hut the result was quite the reverse. Two had seasons followed. Most of the fisheimen are of the opinion that climatic enditions have all to do with the seasons. The fishermen on the Hokitika river are determined that there shall be no restrictions for the taking of whitebait, and it is expected that the fishermen of Greymouth and Westport will feel ’ likewise.

Tlio Rev A. Miller, of Westport, received the sad news on Saturday of the death at Sydney of his sister, who only recently left Westport for Sydney. Miss Miller had been in had health for sometime, but it was honed the change would do her good. Her illness, however, had gone too far and she passed away as stated above. Deceased was of a very bright disposition, both a vocalist and instrumentalist, and greatly assisted the Rev Miller in the work of the Church and the Sunday School. Her death is a sad blow to members of the family and a wide circle of friends.