Correspondence. The Wholesale Destruction of Fish.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3116, 30 January 1889, Page 2

Correspondence.

The Wholesale Destruction of Fish.

(To the Editor.) ! Sir -I regretted to find on reading a recent copy of the Daily that 1 poaching'was extensively carried on in the streams around Masterton, and that the rivers were being depopulated of their finny inhabitants by wholesale destruction. ' But, sir, there are more ways of destroying , fish besides dynamiting. If you care ■, to take a walk along the banks of • the Waipoua near the ,town you will find that hundreds upon hundreds of young fish are dying or lying dead in the shallow water Coles along the bed of the river, aud all for (he want of fresh water.' The river is gradually drying up nor can it be wondered at. The water, instead of being allowed to follow its natural courso is dammed back in . the Waipoua above the Kailway Station and diverted to another channel. Every nigh t this week water, volumes of water, have been poured through the" streets of' M astertou from this source., .The jlow-lying . parts of the footpaths along Lincoln Koad to the, Post .Office.and; on both sides of QueeiHtreot to: the • Scotch Ohurcli have been submerged and rendered impassable 1 for foot traffic' dry shod, At the back of 'Mr|McEwen's house there ' has. been an accumulation'of water and mud,enough to float a brig in, In the day time, it appears, the water is Bhut oft'at the head, and what is left gradually sinks into the ground,, leaving'; a Nile-hke, layer of sliihe from whicli ft maisina arises sufficient to breed a fever, All this wilful waste of precious witter.in the midst of.a dry season is very sad," : and when ;it ; is remembered, that i thousands of fish in the Waipoua I are dying '.of drought •it is . time to ask why Is it allowed ? .1 trust, Mr Editor,' you will take the i question'up', and draw the, attention 1 of the powers that be to the wanton' l destruction and . waste that is going on. :>■ ;

I am Ac,, Burgess, The oyerflow from the water-race is undoubtedly a nuisance, but tjae completion of the work- would ■ effectually remove .'lbis ground of complaint, Every effort should be made to push the undertaking on as speedily jis possible. . 'ED. W. D. .