WOMAN ANGLER FINED

Rotorua Morning Post, 29 August 1931, Page 4

WOMAN ANGLER FINED

CASE AT TAUPO. Found guilty of fishing in the Tongariro stream without being the holder of a license and with employing an illegal bait Eileen Jeffrey, a single woman of Rangataua, was fined £2 on each charge by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Taupo Magistrate's Court on Thursday. Mr. A. Kean prosecuted for the Department, and Mr. J. R? L. Lochhead appeared for the defendant who pleaded not guilty to both charges. Evidence was given by Ranger McNamara that on May 24 he observed the defendant fishing in the Tongariro stream with a spoon bait at a time when the use of this type of lure was prohibited under the Taupo Fishing Regulations. When asked for her license, defendant was unable to produce it. Corroborative evidence was given by Mr. E. Furlong, of Wanganui, who stated that he noticed the. defendant remove a spoon bait from her line and put it in her pocket before the arrival of the ranger. The defence was a complete denial of both charges. Defendant in evidence, admitted that she had piclced up a rod belonging to another member of the party which she was accompanying, but said that the cast had not been baited. The owner of the rod, a Mr. Plummer, corroborated this evidence and said that the line was not baited when he left it and crossed to the other side of the stream. The Magistrate convicted the defendant on both chai'ges and imposed the minimum fine. of £2 on each count with costs and witnesses expenses.