REPORT BY ROD AND GUN CLUB PRESIDENT

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 161, 25 February 1955, Page 5

REPORT BY ROD AND GUN CLUB PRESIDENT

Yeur's Adivities Reviewed Mr L. H. Cheal, retiring president of the Taupo Roa and Ciin Club, in his report for 1954, made to the Annual Meeting of the Club on January 28, referred to the experimental winter fishing season of last year. The consensus of opinion had been that the experiment was well worth while The fish had been in good condition until the middle of July, but thereafter, until the end of September, a deterioration in tlie f'irmness of the flesh was noticeable, though- outwardIv the fish appearecl in good condition. A report to this effect had been conveyecl to the Department. Trolling and Remits In October delegates from all the angling bodies in the Taupo Fishery j District had attended a meeting cailed by Mr S. A. McNamara, Conservator of Wildlife, to discuss ways and means of simplifving tro'iling regulations on Lake Taupo. After long discussion agrcement had been reached upon line.s which should give satisfaction to everybody. It was understood that new regulations would be gazetted and would conie into force for the next fishing season. The following remits had been presentecl by the Club to the Annual Conferenee between angling and shooting bodies and Departmental ofticers, held iast year on December 11: (1) That the fishing season should extend from October 1 to June 30. (2) That the annual fishing licence should be £2 per fishermen irrespective of whether he be from overseas, or resident in New Zealand within or outside the Fishery District, with a sealed rate for women and children. (3) That the form of fishing licence be simplified with emphasis on the possibilitv of issuing day licences in tieke!. form. f4) That food values and water constituents in the Lake be investigated . (5) That Ihe Department advise on action taken to acquire access to fishing waters over private land following discussions with Messrs Hall and- Axby in September 1953. (6) That the limit bag be increased to 10 fish. (7) That dry fly nishing only be allowed at the Hatepe Hydro Dam and upstream when that area is opened for fishing. A written reply to each remit had been promised by the Department. Quesfion oi' FederaHon On the evening prior to the Conferenee, a meeting of delegates from the various clubs had been held to discuss the question of a Federation. Most delegates were unable to commit their Clubs. and the meeting had concludec! without a decision being reached. The matter was to ho puwera" i at a later da I e. In October a meeting of delegates from bodies in the Rotorua area interested in shooting had been cailed by the Conservator of Wildlife to discuss the new Wildlife Bill to comc before Parliament next Session. With minor amendments the Bill was similar to that governing- the shooting regulations at present in force. Club members had taken part in two shag shooting expeditions. and it was creditable to ihe Club that shags at the Taupo end of the Lake had been reduced to very small numbers. This was not the case at Ihe southern end and several concentrated drives would be necessary to have mucli effect. The Club, in carrying out this part of their activities, was indebted to the Colonial Ammunition Co. Ltd. for a donation of 250 rounds oi ! . . ammunition. Game S I r ou f i i !g The past game shooting season had : general Iv not been a very setisfactory oue. Pheasants were increaninr but quail shoot ; . : had been rniho.r i poor, and he did not, said IV I r Cheal. junticipaie any improvement for i several years. This might be ra the r a gloomy outlook, but in the past ,£ew years thousands of acvcs of scrub

land had been ournt, and later grassed for land development purpos^s. Apart from this destroying thoujsands of birds, the land was no long- ■ er accessibie to shooters, owing to I the action of a few vandals in shooting stock. Tlie Ci ub was endeavouring to obtains permits for members to enter upon land, and negotiaticnr. with the Departments concerned were proceeding. Advice had been received that ehukor were now being reared at the Game Farm in Rotorua, but to d ~ to no prcgress report was to hand. L