FORESTRY EXPERT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 136, 6 December 1938, Page 12

FORESTRY EXPERT

VISITOR FROM HOWIE

LONG-AWAITED TRIP

Fishing rods on a ship arriving from overseas generally betoken the angler on leave and in quest of New Zealand's famous trout. In the case, how-

ever, of Dr. R. N. Chrystal, M.A., D.Sc, who arrived from Sydney by the Awate'a today, his fishing rods are only incidental to the real purpose of his visit, although he hopes to get to grips with the rainbow trout of which he has heard so much from Englishmen who have tried their luck on New Zealand lakes. .

Dr.. Chrystal is forest entomologist and lecturer in forest zoology at the Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford, which has been in existence since 1925. "I have planned this trip for years," he remarked, in an interview. "My main object in coming here is to see something of your forests and particularly to look into the insect side of your forests." Some years ago he had been responsible for the scientific work in connection with the parasite sent to New Zealand by thd Imperial Institute of Entomology to deal with the wood wasp which was attacking pinus insignis, and in the course of his investigations he had made a film of the parasite which should now be in Wellington.

The Imperial Forestry Institute kept in touch with forestry in the Dominions, trained men for work overseas, and dealt generally with forestry matters of interest and importance to the Dominions and the Old Country, said Dr. Chrystal. It was his first trip to New Zealand and the man primarily responsible for his decision to make it was Mr. Neville Wright, a New Zealander, who was the scientific liaison officer at New Zealand House, London. Mr. Wright had been appointed secretary of the Empire Forestry Bureau, which was about to be created, and would be arriving in the Dominion en leave within a few days.

"These fishing rods," said Dr. Chrystal, indicating a rod case beside him, "are only incidental to my trip, but when one comes to New Zealand when one is a keen fisherman it is rather a pity not to try to get some fishing in." The sport said to be. offering in this country for the angler was rather amazing in comparison with the average catches made at Home, and he was keenly looking forward to tasting some of Its thrills.

Dr. Chrystal was met on the Awatea by Mr. T. T. C. Burch, of the State Forest Service, Wellington, who studied under- him in 1926.