The gillnetting ban on Lake Ashi's Wakasagi fish has been lifted/Hakone

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1310010034/

October 2, 2013

A fishing union member pulls up a net of Wakasagi fish=Lake Ashi

On the 1st, at Lake Ashi in Hakone-machi, the gillnetting ban on Wakasagi fish was lifted. The first day's catch totaled 29 kilograms (64 pounds). "The fish appear small, however this is what we expected," said Nozaki Shigenori, President of the Ashinoko Fishery Cooperative Union.

On that day, members of the fishing union entered Lake Ashi on boats before dawn, having set up nets the night before. The silvery scales of the 12-13 centimeter fish danced inside the nets as they were hauled up from the boats.

In recent years, it's said the intense heat has caused a tendency for the fishing season to be delayed. "The results have been more successful, as their are a lot of fish (in the lake). We're expecting to reach last year's average of 3 tons," said the union. A portion of the catch will be blessed at Hakone Temple and then sent as an offering to the Imperial Household Agency.


Original text:
ワカサギの刺し網漁解禁、芦ノ湖／箱根
2013年10月2日

ワカサギがかかった網を引き上げる組合員＝芦ノ湖

箱根町の芦ノ湖で１日、ワカサギの刺し網漁が解禁された。初日の漁獲高は約２９キロ。芦之湖漁業協同組合（野崎茂則組合長）は「魚は小ぶりのようだが、漁獲は期待できそう」としている。

この日は、同漁協の組合員１１人が夜明け前の芦ノ湖に船をすべらせ、前日夕に仕掛けた網を引き上げていった。船上へとたぐり寄せると、体長１２～１３センチほどの銀鱗（ぎんりん）が踊った。

近年、猛暑の影響などで漁期が遅れがちというが、「釣りでの成果もよく、魚の数は多い。昨年並みの３トンは期待できるのでは」と同組合。漁獲の一部は箱根神社でまつられた後、宮内庁に献上された。