TROLLING ON ARAPUNI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 483, 12 October 1928, Page 13

TROLLING ON ARAPUNI

ROWING-BOATS PERMITTED PROHIBITION RESCINDED Reversing in part a former deci- i sion to prohibit trolling on Arapuni Lake, the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening decided to approve trolling from rowingboats, but not from power-driven boats. This permission, however, will not cover the portion of the lake set aside j exclusively for fly-fishing. Opinions were received from sev- j eral sub-societies in regard to the ques- j tion. The Papakura Sub-society re- j ported it was satisfied with the pres- j ent regulations, and that tlie limit on the number of fish caught be reduced to ten. Huntly considered that trolling from power-boats should be prohibited, but should be permitted from rowing-boats. A suggestion that trolling be prohibited for the first three months of the season came from Matamata, while Putaruru, Miranda and Te Aroha all supported the use of rowboats on the lake, but considered fishing from launches would soon deplete the lake. That no trolling be permitted within 100 yards of either bank was the reply of the Taumarunui Club. TEEMING WITH FISH Mr. W. F. Woodward, a Te Awamutu delegate, supported the request for j trolling. lie did not think that the society was catering for local fishermen as not one in ten knew anything about fishing with the fly. The lake was at present teeming with fish, and he thought that if trolling were not allowed it would soon become overstocked and the fish become thin. Mr. W. H. Holmes, of Te Awamutu, said that if anglers could not get a reasonable number of fish, say, 30, then the To Awamutu fishermen would not go to Arapuni at all. He suggested the upper portion of the lake, which could not be reached by rowing,, should be left to power-boats, while row-boats could use the lower end, and fly-fisher-men tiie banks and mouth of the river. The chairman said it would be difficult, to have complicated regulations making such provisions gazetted. He asked country delegates to speak, as members of the council had already expressed their opinions on the matter. Dr. T. "\V. J. Johnson said the bulk of evidence before the society showed there was not a large stock of fullgrown fish in the lake, men who had been trolling all day failing to average anything like the catches expected. There was no intention to stop men fishing as they desired. The chairman, Mr- F. E. McKenzie, said that as delegates from the subsocieties which had expressed opinions on the matter were not present, the reports could not be allowed as votes. However, they served to show the wishes of the country branches, which members could bear in mind when vot--111 lie then put a resolution that the council request the Government to alter the present regulations to permit trolling from power-boats, and this was lost by a large majority. A similar resolution referring to hand- propelled rowing-boats, and making provision to retain the fly-fishing area as at present constituted, was then carried by 12 votes to 5.