CANTERBURY ANGLERS' SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2230, 21 April 1881, Page 3

CANTERBURY ANGLERS' SOCIETY.

The half-yearly general meeting of this Society was held last evening at the Commercial Hotel. Present—Dr. Campbell (president), Rev. J. D. FergUßSon, Messrs Stoddart, M'William, Riohards, Oogan, Wallace and Wachsmann (hon. sec. and treasurer.)

The statement ef accounts submitted for the half-year showed a credit balance of £5 7b Bd.

The Chairman said it was very satisfactory to see a oredit balance, though he was sorry to observe from the treasurer's statement that twenty-five members had not paid their subscriptions. Like many other institutions, some of the members had started very enthusiastically, but had quickly cooled down, leaving only a few staunch ones who could not forget the sport learnt in the old country, and he sincerely hoped the old enthusiasts would stick to the society, and get as many young members to join the manly and healthy sport as possible. The present meeting was more a formal than u practical one, held at the close of the fishing season to allow of members comparing notes. Occasionally within the last few months he had read of several excellent takes, which savoured somewhat of an advertisement, and he was sorry that these enthusiastic anglers had not turned up to tell members how they had managed to be so successful. He was sorry to hear that means had been used by socalled anglers to take trout which he oould not sufficiently deprecate. One thing he ought to mention as president was the endeavor made by the society to settle without doubt the existence of salmon in the Waimakariri. They would remember that last winter an experiment had been undertaken whioh had resulted in the capture of one fish, whioh had been proved to be a California!! salmon. The Otago Society had got out a specimen, and on comparing the one taken here the conclusion arrived at was that the latter was a true Californian salmon. With the object of placing the matter beyond dispute by catching one in prime condition, a resolution passed by the society was sent to the Acclimatisation Council, asking that the necessary permission should be obtained from the Government. It was understood that the application had long since been forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, whom, it was stated, had not deigned to forward a reply. A few days since the secretarv to the Acclimatisation Council called on him and told him (the chairman) that he found he had unfortunately mislaid the document instead of sending it to Wellington, and had found it recently, duly stamped and addressed, among some old papers. It would thus be seen that it was the acclimatisation secretary, and not the Government, who was to blame for a season being lost before this question was finally settled. With a similar objeot in view, the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society had prospected the Opihi and Waiho with nets where large fish were reported to have been seen, but without success. As the trout in the various waters in this island had attained so large a size, even an expert might mistake them for a salmon, and from what he knew of the streams mentioned he very much doubted whether the ralmon had gone up them. He certainly thought the members of the Ghristohurch Society should come out with more spirit. He had been present at a meeting held in Otago where a paper had been read by Mr Arthur on the importation of fish to the colony. A better meeting he had never attended, and the practical remarks in the discussion which followed were exceedingly interesting. He hoped the Ohristchuroh Society would bestir themselves and bring forward at their meetings similar papers, which would not only be interesting, but also be productive of much good. Both he and the Rev. Mr Fergusson had travelled throughout this Island, and from what they had seen and learnt it was evident that the numerous streams were getting so stocked with trout that the pleasure of using a rod and line might be indulged in by everyone. Angling societies should bo fostered, as they were keystones to what would one day result in great importance to the youth of this oolony. During his visit to the Upper Selwyn he had seen sufficient to corao to the conclusion that if the Acclimatisation Society wished to permanently es- ) tablish trout in those waters they should retain the young troul until they were large enough to proteot themselves from the " bullies," for it was a fact that bullies were as numerous there as the shingle pebbles. No trout should be turned out there until they were at least three inches long, then they would be able to feed off the bullies instead of the bullies off them. There was an instance to show this necessity. Already thousands of ycung trout had been placed in the Upper Selwyn with very little result. In the Leigh and Deep streams in Otago only Bixty-five trout had been placed in each, with the result that five years afterwards ho and Mr Fergusson had taken trout out of those streams weighing 4Jlb. Before concluding his few remarks he would mention that the Otago Society were anxious to get out another class of trout, and had voted a sum of money for that purpose, and he would suggest that the society should urge upon the Acclimatisation Society to follow in the wake of their Southern friends, as he thought such a change would

prove very advisable. Another matter they should impress upon the Acclimatisation Society was the desirableness of not opening the fishing season until November Ist, and not closing it until the end of April. Most of the members would no doubt have seen the necessity of this during the past season. Mr Wallace quite agreed with the season being opened later, but would like to see it closed even earlier than at present, as during the latter part of the season he had observed female fish making up the river, filled with spawn.

With reference to the desirability of introducing a change of trout, Mr Stoddart contended that as fine trout had, at times, been taken out of the Avon and Oust as had ever been taken out of Loon Leven ; it was a simple matter of feediog. He (Mr Stoddart) would far rather hear of the distribution of American brook trout throughout the colony, and might mention that these had already been successfully introduced by Mr Johnson, of Opawa. The Chairman desired publicly to state that he did not believe there was a single American brook trout in the colony. An American who had seen Mr Johnson's fish, had staled to him (Dr. Campbell) that they were not brook trout, but Californian salmon in a young state. Mr Stoddart said ho bad himself seen the fish, and he knew they were very distinct from the Californian salmon.

Mr Wallace hoped the eooiety would suggest that an endeavour be made to close the fishing season at least a fortnight earlier. He had himself taken fish making for the Wairarapa, which he afterwards discovered to be full of spawn. In fact he thought that for a year or two the season might with advantage be closed at leaßt a month earlier.

Mr McWilliam moved—" That the Acclimatisation Society be respectfully requested to alter the date of the fishing season from October 16th to November Ist, leaving the end of season as at present." He thought that the experience of all the members during the last season would show the necessity for this alteration.

Mr Richards seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Richards referred to the necessity for olose supervision by the authorities during the season. It was like a feast of lanterns to walk along the river banks at night time, and he had observed trout being hauled out with lines attached to five or six willow sticks, which could only count one license amongst the lot.

A conversation followed about unsportsmanlike practices indulged in, and a general opinion was expressed that theae would cot be stopped until "anglers" who sold trout were compelled to take out a soiling license. After some remarks as to the necessity for obtaining a right to fish private waters and instituting prizaa for fishing, a member mentioned that he would give a prize of a trout rod to bo competed for at the opening of the next season.

The President said he would also be happy to give a prize during the season. It was decided that the committee should make the necessary arrangements before the opening of the season. Mr Wallace was unanimously elected to fill the vacanoy on the committee caused by the retirement of Mr Q-watkin.

At the suggestion of the Rev. Mr Fergusson, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the president for the interest he has always taken in the affairs of the society and in the cause of angling, with a pleasant voyage during his approaching trip home, and speedy return.

Dr. Campbell, in thanking the members of the Angling Society for their kind wishes, promised to collect all the information on angling during his visit to England and Scotland, and let them have the benefit of it on his return. Arrangements would also be made by which the committee could use their old room during his absenoe. This terminated the business.