FISHING CASES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 83, 28 November 1931, Page 4

FISHING CASES

FIVE DEFENDANTS FINED FOR ILLEGALLY TAKING TROUT HAY FORKS AND RIFLES ■In the Taupo Magistrates' Court !on Wednesday, before Mr. S. L. : Paterson S. M., five different defendants were charged with taking trout in a maner contrary to the provis:ions of Section 6, Clause 2 of the Taupo Fishing regulations, and were 1 all convicted and fined on the different counts. A miniature arsenal of 'two rifles, a shot-gun, two hay-forks, ; and a potato f ork comprised the exhibits in connection with the cases. Hine Northcroft, a native of Waitahanui, pleaded guilty to a charge of taking fish in an illegal manner on September 8 and was fined £3 and : costs. This defendant was represerit- • ed by Mr. E. Roe of Rotorua. The Conservator of Fish and Game, ;Mr. A. Kean, stated that the date in question, he bad been on his way to Tokaanu accompanied by Ranger ; G. G. Potts of Taupo. While passing along the road near a small stream, they had noticed a Maori pushing something into the water as though he did not wish it to be seen. They had left their car and gone over to interview the man whom they had found to be the defendant. Northcroft had a large potato f ork lying beside him and it was discovered that the objects he had been 'throwing into the water were seven cleaned trout which all bore the marks of the fork. i

Shootmg Fish Similar charges were preferred aainst John Eugene McShane of Auckland and a Maori named Muni Hereaka who did not appear to answer a joint charge of taking fish in an illegal manner on September 6. Ranger Potts, in evidence stated that on the date in question when he had been in the vicinity of Mt. Tauhara, he had heard five rifle shots in succession. On investigating, he had found the two defendants beside a small stream and with the two trout in their possession. One of the fish was still quivering and both had been shot. Both defendants were fined £3 and costs. A Maori woman, Hinekura Ham, was also charged with illegally spearing fish. She was represented by Mr. Lochhead who entered a plea of guilty. The Conservator stated that when Rangers McNamara and Potts had visited the Waimarino stream on August 3, they had seen the defendant accompanied by a small Maori ' boy, wading in the water in the vicinity of the Kroh-e pa. Both the | woman and the boy were carrying forks and trout. In evidence Ranger Potts said that when the woman was asked what she was doing with the fish, she had said that she had picked them up on the bank. When asked what she was. doing -with . the spear, she had said that she did not know. "I only wanted the fish for my tea," she had stated. The- two Maoris had had six fish between them all showing spear marks. The woman was fined £3 and costs. |