THE ANGLERS' SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2324, 15 September 1881, Page 3

THE ANGLERS' SOCIETY.

A meeting of anglers was held at the Commercial :n Wednesd j vening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the dates of opening and closing the fishing season. There was a considerable attendance of "fishormen," Mr Cooke being eleoted to the chair. Before proceeding to the business of the

meeting, the Chairman said: -It is with feelings of profound sorrow that I take this chair, remembering that at the last meeting of our society it was occupied by our late lamented and deeply regretted friend, poor Dr. Campbell, whose untimely and sad fate has deprived us of a boon companion, an ardent lover of the gentle art, and an enthusiastic sportsman in all its branches j and I fear the hope, stay, and backbone of our oociety. lam sure you will all join with mo ' in expressing your heartfelt sorrow for his lo.w (and a great loss it is), and our deep sympathy with his relations for theirs. I only wish I could bring matters piscatorial beforo you as clearly as he used to do. The meeting then proceeded to business. The Chairman, in speaking of the object of the gathering, remarked that the OJago j season opened on the Ist October, and seeing that we, by reason of our climate, are at least a fortnight in advance of that district, he could see no reason why the season in Canterbury should net also open on that date. This view of the esse was communicated to the Acclimatisation Society, who agreed to the request; but at the same time it waß suggested that because of tho season opening two_ weeks earlier it should close a month earlier—that is, it was proposed to "dock" anglers of the month of March. Now, one of the purposes for which this meeting had been called waa to protest against this proposal. He then read a letter from a proficient and enthusiastic angler, Mr F. Hunt, who was of opinion that the season should extend from the Ist of October to the 31st of March.

Mr Wagner said he had good authority for stating that the fish did come into season earlier in Otago than Canterbury; also, a good many people here were solely dependent upon the Avon, and if they were to fish for six months in the year they would not have a fish left in tho river. In his opinion, if the season opened on the Ist of October, February was late enough to close it.

The Chairman pointed out that they had to consider the province of Canterbury as a whole, not the town of Christohurch alone, which was a very small portion of it. Mr Bichards differed from Mr Wagner as to the cause of the scarcity of fish; it was rather the illegitimate method of fishing, which to a large extent prevailed, than the length of the season.

Mr Wallace sympathised a good deal with the viewe expressed by Mr Wagner. He thought, indeed, the extension of the season, especially as it affected the Avon, was something like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Mr Searrell could not agree with Mr Wallace, and moved—" That this meeting is of opinion that the season for trout fishing in the Canterbury province should oommenee on the Ist October and end on the 31st of March, both days inclusive, and instructs the secretary of the Anglers' Society to communicate with the Acclimatisation Society on this matter at his earliest convenience." Seconded by Mr Bichards, and carried. It was also resolved, as a rider to the resolution—" That the meeting would be glad to see these dates made law, so that future discussion relating thereto might be avoided." The meeting then adjourned.