CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2842, 8 March 1888, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Trout Fishing and Poaching. - To the Editor. Sir.—Your readers have to thank you for bringing the subject of "a new food supply," in the shape of . fresh water fish under notice in your two last issues, but I think one or two of your assertions smack too much of old world notions to be acceptable to New Zealanders. • For instance you use the term . " poacher." Now 5 poachers (a person who steals game, vide Webster) are not known to us, they are what a certain gentleman in Masterton would call exotics, thsy cannot live here, because there is no. class distinction, and it is universally admitted that the length of a man's purse is not the criterion as together he shall dine off a trout calpt by f' himself, or munch dry bread. Ygt may make laws, but the moment ycSr attempt to enforce those in New Zealand which are contrary to common ■' right, you will bring a storm about your ears which' will compel their repeal. You say "Fresh-water fish are not yet within the reach of the poor man unless he helps himself to - them by surreptitious and unlawful means.' Just so! but you cannot get over the fact that k helps himself, And this brings me to questions which I should like to see discussed: -(1) Why is it that so few ' fishing licenses are issued in the Wairarapa? (2) Why is it that the force of public opinion does not prevent persons fishing without licenses ? (3) Why do the public not prevent persons destroying fish in an unwarranted manner ? and lastly (4) Why is it that "fresh water fish are not yet within the reach of the poor man?'' Does the fact of a poor man eating a trout affect the increase of fish in our streams to a greater extent tijft it would do if eaten by a rich Han? I would like you to answer-these questions, for since you have taken ur. the subject, I purpose, if you ,wiM allow me space, to discuss this matt!®, at some length, in order that an intelligent idea may be arrived' at, and this can only be done by examining jt from a poor man's view, as well as that of the rich man. I am, etc., 6. M.Pakk.