CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2826, 18 February 1888, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

Poaching, [To the Editor.] Sir,—Does it not seem strange that no effort is made to protect the trout which'at such great cost and' trouble fom been placed in our rivers? At *Je present time while tho water is /low the poachers have every chance, grown bold with impunity, netting, spearing, and trapping are carried on daily quite as openly as if there were no laws to prevent it. It is quite a comjjfci thing now to find . trout in the river dead or dying from spear wounds, and scarce a day passes but trout are hawked from door to door for sale. Poachers can be seen going to tho river, carrying, without any attempt at concealment, the instruments they use, and one man, at least, can bo seen each day drying the

nets which he has used the night before to catch trout. Indeed, the only persons who are under any restraint whatever are those who have paid for the privilege of fishing. Tho authorities of tho Acclimatisation Society are undoubtedly to blame for this state of things, nor must they be surprised to find a serious falling off in the number of licenses next year, for who will pay for a privilege which is freely accorded to everybody without charge ? Tho Society is to blame also for breaking faith with its licensees. Licenses are sold on tho distinct understanding that no one but license holders may lish, and that tho Society will exerciso the powers vosted in it by law to preyent anyono not licensed from fishing or poaching, but notwithstanding that local anglers have loyally supported tho Society, no effort whatever has been made to protect them in the privilege they have paid for, a breach of faith which will surely bring its consequences upon those who have made it. I am, etc,, A DISGUSTED LICENSEE.