CONSERVING GAME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 104, 23 December 1931, Page 5

CONSERVING GAME

appeal to public CONSERVATOR SUPPORTS LEAD GIVEN BY GOVERNOR GENERAL ^ICIOUS FORMS OF POACHING The Governor-General's ' recent appeal to the leaders of the Maori people to do- all in their power to check the destruction of fish by illegal means, was referred to by the Conservator of Fish and Game (Mr. A. Keen) in an interview with a "Post" representative yesterday. His Excellency's appeal, said the Conservator, emphasised the necessity for the co-operation of all sportsmen and members of the general public in order to assist in the presevation of our fish and game to firmly establish the wonderful sporting asset which New Zealand is building up. The Rotorua fish and game area, said Mr. Kean, was one of very wide d'imensions, a fact which made the enforcement of the fish and game regulations one of peeuliar difficulty. In the past, the Department had received a very valuable measure of assistance from sportsmen and members of the general public and this had facilitated the work of the rangers throughout the district. At the same time, without the sympathy and co-operation of sportsmen generally, the Department would be faced with an extremely diffieult task; if residents of the district, both Maori and pakeha, realised the necessity for an observance of the regulations and the prevention of illegal methods, the best possible results would be achieved. Number Of Prosecutions TE>e Denartm^nt's rangers were eontinually on the move in their respective areas and energetically enforced the observance of the regulations. Tlrs was evidenced aloue by the number of prosecutions which had been made during the past 12 months, and the number of convictions obtained. Four convictions had recently been obtained at Taupo against men who had been guilty of spearing fish, two convictions had been obtained at the same court against men who obstructed a ranger in the execution of his duty, one conv'ction against a Maori for fishing before four o'clock in the morning, i conviction at Taupo for taking trout under size, a conviction at Tongariro for fishing without a license, i conviction for a similar breach at laueatua, a conviction for fishing .with the spoon in a fly area at Waikaremoana, two convictions at Rotorua for fishing without a license and for fishing with a spoon in the Ohau Channel, a conviction for fishing at Tarawera without a lisence, a conviction on a similar offence at Waimana, a conviction for using illegal gait in the Waimana, five convictions Cor using a spoon in a fly area on the same stream, a conviction for fishing at Tongariro without a 'icense, and a conviction for using a spoon in the Tongariro. In addition to these aetual convictions obtained during the period, a number of other cases are pending. The Department employed seven rangers over the Rotorua district, Mr. Kean stated, but these were required to carry out their duties over a very large and broken area. In addition they were assisted by a number of honorary rangers, who were also of very considerable assistance in . enforcing the regulations. Although in some quarters the opinion was expressed that Maoris were responsible for poaching to a oredominant degree, this opinion was definitely not supported by the convictions obtained. Pakehas were equally at fault and could not be ab-

sfilved from blame. Worst Form Of Poaching The worst form of poaching against which the Department had to contend was the dynamiting of fish. This was not only a most destructive method of killing fish, but one which was partieularly diffieult to detect. Dynamiting was usually earried out in accessible places and the men using the explosive were careful to safeguard themselves.. Dynamiting killed a large number of fish which were swept away in the water and never recovered, and also destroyed a large quantity of small fish and fry, as yyell as ruining feed in the vicinity. It was in the interest of the general public and every sportsman, to see that persons responsible for this wanton destruction, were. brought to hook. The taking of fish out of season was another partieularly vicious form of poaching, as the fish in the spawning stage were practically helpless and useless for food. The destruction of hen fish carrying eggs must inevitably have a most serious effect upon the season's productivity. It was interesting to recall, stated the Conservator, that the Maoris of old, viewed the taking of birds during the nesting season as a grave breach of their unwritten laws. They realised the fact that the destruction of potential food supplies at a time when they were propagating and not

fit for food, was an offence against the community at large. His Excellency had given an ad- • mirable lead in his appeal, and one which justified him in appealing to every section of the community to assist the Department in protecting the property and natural assets of the people.