LIMIT ON WHITEBAIT SEASON.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1926, Page 4

LIMIT ON WHITEBAIT SEASON.

“ A RIDICULOUS THING.” (“ Lyttelton Times.”) It was stated at a meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday night that tho society would meet with trouble for interfering with certain men’s livings when it was proposed that an effort should be made to prohibit whitebait fishing after the end of November. An interview with a leading city fish retailer showed that trouble was not likt?ly to come from the retailers, as they would not bo seriously affected by the proposed restriction, but it was stated the fishermen, those who made their living by catching tlio .whitebait would lose money by the scheme. The retailers are not afraid of the proposal, for it has been their experience that whitebait supplies tail off in November. “ If the restriction is imposed it will not materially affect us,” the retailer said. It was his opinion that the proposal would not be entertained by the .Minister, to whom the society will have to make their appeal. “The proposal was a lot of rot, and came from a one-eyed society that could see nothing but trout,” he said. “ Personally I am not bothering my head about the proposal. T don’t know about the others.” “The man who will be hard hit if the restriction is imposed is the fisherman. The fisherman is in the hands of the elements at all times,” stated the retailer. “ There are times when he knows that there arc good catches in the waters, but storm and bad weather conditions prevent liim from taking tho fish. In emergencies such as this the fisherman must hide his time and go after his catch at the first opportunity.” A storm late in November, it was -explained, would probably have the effect of forcing the fisherman to wait until December before lie could make a catch. It was stated that whitebait, by reason of its saleable qualities, commands a high price when supplies are getting low. For some time after the “tailing off” sets in there is always a possibility of big shoals making belated visits up the rivers. Theso visits are eagerly awaited by fishermen, who for their patience receive big rewards. “To deprive the fishermen of these would be unfair,” stated the retailer, and yet that is what this proposed restriction will do. “It is a ridiculous thing.”