Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1927. WHITEBAIT LICENSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3690, 13 September 1927, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1927. WHITEBAIT LICENSES.

SOME years ago a channel was cut to carry off water from the lakes on private property adjacent to the seaside, to the Manawatu river. The outlet of this drain is on portion of the Harbour Board endowment, and is situated near the settlement at the seaside. When whitebait start to “run” shoals of the little fish make ■ for this outlet and proceed up stream. The “drain,” therefore, Jin times past, was a. much sought after and profitable posse for whiebait fishers, and to gain .possession all manner of “stunts” were indulged in and the local Court records disclose actions for assault by contending parties. In order to stop acts of physical violence an Order-in-Coun-cil was passed prohibiting persons from fishing in the stream. As a result of such prohibition a number of convictions and fines have been imposed upon persons for illegal fishing. We believe that it would be more in keeping if the bait were consumed by human beings rather than by voracious eels, as there is a good demand for whitebait, and the money so derived from the marketing would provide a welcome addition to many people at the present time. What we suggest is that the Foxton Harbour Board request that the Order-in-Council be revoked and in place thereof the creek be divided into areas, and licenses to fish there be granted bv ballot to applicants, upon payment of a fee to he decided upon by the Board. If this suggestion \yere acted upon, temptation to break the law would be avoided, the supply of fish to the public would be increased and the Board would benefit financially.