PROSPECTS FOR FISHING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 8

PROSPECTS FOR FISHING

- SEASON TO OPEN NEXT SATURDAY GOOD SPORT INDICATED ' The fishing season will open next Saturday, October 1. and according to Mr G. li. Pomfret-Dodd. secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, some very good sport is to'be expected ' this year. The society s licences had been ■ available for a fortnight, he said, and anglers would observe that the restrictions, which were often considered irksome, had this year been reduced to what in their interests were very necessary. “A survey of the rivers throughout the district has been made by the society’s rangers with the aim of acquainting experienced fishermen and those who intend taking up the sport with the immediate prospects for the opening date,” said Mr Pomfret-Dodd. “In general terms it may be said that official observations support the view, unacknowledged by many, that North Canterbury, given suitable climatic conditions, is capable of yielding a quality of brown trout and rainbow trout difficult to surpass. “The volume of water carried by the majority of rivers throughout the winter to the present time encourages the belief that large numbers of spawning fish have this season been able to reach the most suitable spawning grounds. To guard against undue loss

of young fish in the event of a dry season, the Acclimatisation Society has already completed arrangements whereby stranded fish will be promptly and efficiently transferred to permanent waters.” ~ „ - Mr Pomfret-Dodd said that the sal* vage of fish was acknowledged to be one of the most valuable contributions to future stocks that it was possible to make. During the last two years the society could claim to have been singularly successful in saving from, the effects of drought many thousands of fish, from fingerlings and yearlings to those of a size which the average angler would not despise. The society’s efforts to conserve fish had been ably supported by an increasing number of enthusiastic anglers who could at all times be relied upon to assist in maintaining stocks by closely studying the conditions of rivers and encouraging the inexperienced fisherman to follow the true principles of sportsmanship. Unsportsmanlike practices seemed to be less in evidence than formerly, and although the acclimatisation societies had a duty to suppress such activities it was fully realised that most fishermen needed no appeal for observance of the regulations. A service of inestimable value to acclimatisation would be given by every angler who look the. opportunity to protect the sport. ■