TONS OF TROUT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1135, 24 May 1911, Page 6

TONS OF TROUT.

UP.EAT PISniXG AT TAUPO. Sir. C. 11. L. Potts, a well-known resident of Sydney, and an ardent fisherman, has been spending a couple of months in camp, fishing the rivers that flow into Lake Taupo. The visitor, who is not a stranger to tho locality, is more €iithusiastio than ever in declaring the waters to be the finest trout fishery in the world. During the sojourn of himself and Mrs. Potts at tho Lake, they taught no ln-s than 2! tons of trout, without in any way attempting to put up a record. As a matter of fact, Mr. Potts states there were several people in camp who caught more fish than lie did, so that an idea can be formed of the wonders of these waters to disciples of-Isaac Walton. Olio fisherman, Mr. Schilson, is said to havo taken eight tons of trout this season; and still no impression is made on the swarming numbers which use Taupo as tho sea, and the rivers for breeding purposes. Jinny people, says Mr. Potts, visit the rivers early in the season, and go away disappointed with their sport. This is owing to tho fact that the fish have not yet made for tho home waters from the Lake, for the trout of Taupo behave precisely as do>thc salmon of North America, and commeiioo'to'hohio'at'a certain timo in the same manner as do the. salmon.

"In fact," 'says Mr. Potts, "I believe they are a species of salmon—the flesh when cooked takes on tho pink colour of tho salmon, and tastes exactly like it." Like other succa-sful fishermen who have fished the Taupo rivers, the visitor believes that tho trout would can well, and favours the idea of a cannery being established at Tokaanu. At. present tho fish are either given to the Maoris or are thrown away. "I find it difficult to mako my. people in England believe in (he trout catches here," said Mr. Potts. "Occasionally tho subject of foiling will crop up, and my father will say, with a twinkle in his eye —Tell us one of those Now Zealand fish storks!' I show them genuine photographs, but they say that tho fake photographer is so clover nowadays."