ILLEGAL FISHING EXPEDITION WAS EXPENSIVE

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 287, 8 August 1957, Page 6

ILLEGAL FISHING EXPEDITION WAS EXPENSIVE

THREE nien, two froin Palmerston Nortli and oue from Foxton, fouiid when they appeared before Mr W. A. Harlow, S.M., at Taupo Police Court last vveek that illegal fishing on Lake Taupo may he expensive. They were : Ian Dodunski, of Palmerston Nortli, Who was fined £2 10s and costs £1 for allowing a boat to remain in motion in a restricted area wliile a person on board was fishing, and £10 and costs £1 for exeeeding the speed-limit for a boat in a restricted area. George Wickham, of Foxton, wbo was fined 10s and £1 costs for fishing with a spoon in a restricted area ; £2 10s and costs £1 for fishing from a boat irot securely ancliored ; £1 costs for fishing from a boat in a restricted area. SERIOUS OFFENCES Edward Rout, of Palmerston North, fishing from a boat not securely anchored ; 10s and costs £1 for fishing with a spo*on in a restricted area ; £1 and costs £1 for fishing from a boat in a restricted area. Mr P. J. Burstall, for the Internal AfFairs Department, said the cases wero slightly more serious than usual. At 5.45 p.m. on April 21, while ranging, he saw a boat with the occupants fishing. He was about to stop another boat 000 yards out from the stream, when he saw a boat from the restricted area speed up and attempting to head in the direction of Tokaanu. "I set oflf, but after I had gone 100 yards I realised I had no ehance of catching up with the speedmg boat," he said. '•The other boat travelled about 700 yards and round the Kuratau Spit, on tlie south-eastern side of Lake Taupo. I was 350 yards behind when the other boat broke down." NEEDED FASTER BOAT Mr Burstall said tlie boat was in another restricted area. In his hurry t o get away from that area, the driver niade it impossible for his companions to get their spoons in. Mr Burstall went alongside just as ihe other boat was getting awTay again, and lie managed to stop it. He had seen t liem before they set off earlier.in the day, knew they were strangers to Taupo, and told theni not to fish in streanr-mouths. To the inagi.st.rate : Their speed would he hetween 12 and 16 knots, in a five-knot restricted area. It was the first time a boat had tried to get away. Mr Harlow: It means that the department will have to nieet metiiod with method; it will have to get you a faster boat. Mr Burstall said tlie department oonsidered speeuing tlirough fishing areas to he more serious than some other breaches. Mr Harlow: I have always taken that view myself. He then imposed the .lines, as stated previously.