A WHITEBAIT RAID.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3527, 21 August 1926, Page 3

A WHITEBAIT RAID.

NETS AND FISH CONFISTICATED.

There is a creek at the seaside which empties into the Manawatu River and from which it is illegal to net for whitebait. 'Fishing at this locality has been the cause of a good deal of litigation in the past and heavy penalties have been inflicted on poachers. There is generally a good run of whitebait in this creek when they are scarce in the wider waters of the Manawatu, and with prices ranging from 3s. to 4s. per lb, the temptation to raise the wind and risk a police raid appears to be too much for certain people. Anyhow, at about 4 o’clock this inprning, the town night-watch-man saw two individuals stealthily cifiergc from the police station and ride away on* push bicycles towards the Beach road, He, however, was able to identify the “early birds” as Constables Owen and Ryan. “There is something doing” mused “John,” as he fingered a lethal weapon deep down in the bottom of his coat pocket. “I’m always out of the rough stuff when my ‘squirt’ may be handy, he mournfully mumured to his faithful canine companion.

The rain was falling as the two sleuths ploughed through the newly metalled road —where their bicycles lighted —and murmured imprecations on the roadmen and the rain as one came heavily to earth. At last they arrived nearby the protected stream and sought cover, but not shelter from the rain. Their vigil ,was at last rewarded. A figure appeared carrying a net and can and settled in a posse. Still the sleuths waited and presently another figure loomed up through the gloom and greeted the first, comer with the words: “Hard at itl” “Yes,” came the reply and No. 2 moved to a spot higher up. The sleuths waited until the nets of both parties had been lifted several times and the contents emptied in the cans. Another figure appeared, hut he carried no gear, but gave glad Greetings to the other two fishers. Then the “fishers of men” uprose and pounced upon their prey and seized nets and bait. The sequel will be told before the Magistrate at the next court sitting. What our “devil” would like to know, however, is whether the drenched policemen partook of whitebait flitters for breakfast?