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Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15087, 2 June 1919, Page 3

The stream trawler Pnantom owned by Muriro Bros., and navigated by John Gallagher, was caught at 3 o'clock in the morning operating in the HauraJd Gulf without any show of lights and well inside the trawling limit prescribed by the Sea Fisheries Act. The fisheries inspector, Mr. J. P. Bennett, who had heen patrolling the prohibited area while passing along Waiheke passage, lit a point about five miles north-east of Pakatoa Island,, saw ijhe. vessel with trawl cast. The inspector boarded her without opposition, and found upon the deck 30-cwt. baskets, containing in all about 30001b of recently caught fish. As the trawler was from eight to ten miles inside the prescribed boundary line, he taxed the master, John Gallagher, with a breach of the Act. Gallagher admitted the offence and signed a statement accordingly without hesitation. The 'v^aoh of the Act was admitted by both the master and George Munro, on (behalf of the owners, when charged before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court. Mr Selwyn Mays, for the Crown, stated that the Phantonf was under contract for the supply of fish to the City Council. The council had no interest in the venture. The offenders haH rather assisted the department by their frank admission. The master was fined £o and 28s costs. An order for the forfeiture of the vessel with all tackle used in the offence, and the captured fish, was made against the owner. The Phantom was formerly well-known <tt Napier, where she was engaged in the days of the fishing boom. She was a converted yacht.