ffioacftera 



NE cannot be a fishery officer or guardian for 

 forty years without coming into contact 

 with poachers and finding out many of their 

 tricks and ways of escaping capture. Many 

 years ago there were two kinds of poachers on this 

 coast, the professional, who made a living by it, 

 and the poacher through necessity, or for the 

 sport he got at the same time as food. Now- 

 adays the professional has practically disap- 

 peared, because nearly every river or brook of any 

 consequence in the county has a guardian. Be- 

 sides this there is also the local fishery officer. A 

 professional poacher needs quite an outfit in the 

 way of nets and also a couple of boats, in order to 

 make the illicit business pay. He must also have 

 means of disposing of his fish, which it is almost 

 impossible to do now, without being detected. 

 The second class, however, still exists, and al- 

 though these cannot cause any serious damage, 

 they are sometimes very annoying. Their outfit 

 is very light and may consist of only a landing 

 net, spear, gaff or snare, easily hid on the person, 

 and frequently thrown away, when danger is 

 scented. They also have the sympathy of the 

 community and no evidence can be had against 

 them. For many years now I have been in the 



