WANGANUI RIVER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3772, 27 March 1928, Page 3

WANGANUI RIVER.

FISHING WjITH NETS PROHIBITED. Wanganui, March 25. A notice in the last Gazette reads as follows.:—“It shall be unlawful to use a set net for the taking of fish in any portion of the Wanganui River, or to use a net of any description whatever for taking fish, in that portion of the said river above the bridge known as Town Bridge.”

Since the Wanganui River extends to Ruapehu, and as thousands of nets of various descriptions are used for taking fish, this regulation comes as a bombshell. For instance, during the summer evenings for miles up the river enterprising residents were very glad' to supplement their larder by using drag nets for flounders, with a marked degree of success. Any description of net obviously refers to .whitebait nets, so it will be interesting to hear what the Maoris at the various pas along the river have to say about the new regulation. There is no doubt that the regulation, although apparently drastic, has been introduced owing to the prospective run of Atlantic salmon in the Wanganui River. A large sum has already been expended in stocking the river, and the authorities are anxious that nothing shall interfere -with the establishment of the fish until they become a valuable commercial adjunct to Wanganui. It is safe to say that hundreds of trout meet their end each year through being caught in flounder and other set nets. Many set nets have been used in the river this season within only a few miles of the city, and probably very few trout thatr get into the meshes were ever returned to the water. There is also a probability of salmon having been caught.