FLOUNDERS THAT WERE TROUT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1668, 30 January 1917, Page 3

FLOUNDERS THAT WERE TROUT.

ILLEGAL BTYING AND SELLING. A true fish story was related in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Friday, says the Post. Ippocratis Karantze, tish vendor, of Cuba Street, was proceeded against by the Acclimatisation Society on a charge of unlawfully buying trout. A plea of guilty was entered. 1( was explained that the Acclimatisation Society bad tor souk* time

past, through its ranger, been endeavouring to tract' trout, that were being sold in Wellington. Del endant received a consignment ot lish from Alexander Lazarette, of Foxton, ami on the ease being examined at the railway station it was found that besides flounders it contained several trout. The lish were traced to Karanfze’s shop, where a trout was purchased for 3s. It was later ascertained that several consignments of lish contained trout, despite the fact that the consignments were labelled flounders. The Society did not ask for a heavy penalty.

After pointing out to the detendant that he was liable to a penalty of £SO, the Magistrate (Mr L. G. Reid, S.M.) imposed a penally of £3, with £1 14s cosls. A further charge of unlawfully selling trout was dismissed.

In the case of Alexander La/.arelte, charged with unlawfully selling trout, the Hem-h looked upon the offence as more serious, and imposed a penalty of £5. with £1 8s costs.

Commenting on the above, the

Palmerston Times says: — “At the instance of the Wellington Aeeliinalisatiun Society a. gentleman milled Ippoeralis Karaiitze lias been fined £5 with £.l Ss Costs, for unlawfully buying I rout from n brother fisherman, Alexander Lazaretto, of Foxion. The evidence showed that Jppo had received consignments labelled “(blunders," but Alex, bad introduced some of Hie more sacred lish in the parcel. This opens up an interesting question, is there any reason why trout, should be regarded as sacrosanct? For our part we would rather enjoy a flounder; but that is not. the point. There must be thousands and thousands of trout going to waste in the lower readies

of the iManawiitn. These lish are well on! of the range of the angler. They are an auxiliary to Hie food supply —or rather would be if the tapn were lifted, if the Accliiuuti.sution Societies were as brainy as they are zealous they would set apart areas of water and allow trout to he netted there. The revenue from this source could be utilised for slocking more accessible streams elsewhere. The great cannibal trout in deep sluggish reaches of such rivers as the Mauawatn are a hindrance, not a help, to acclimatisation. They are better out of the water. Why not let Lazarette net them and Ippoeralis get rid of them? To iiaul them (not the trout) before a magistrate and haye them lined seems under the circumstances 100 ridiculous for words."