WITH ROD AND GUN.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1925, Page 1

WITH ROD AND GUN.

HUGE SWORDFISH CAPTURED. AUCKLAND, May 8. A sword irom a monster swordfish capt cired -cl Mayor Island, and a lil-teen-pound trout trcun Lake iaupo are two souvenirs of a most oxlnlaraimg spoiling holiday which Mrs 11. X. Bell, of London, will take hack with her to England next week. Sportsmen Irom all parts m the world have lallen under the spell of New Zealand’s manifold enchantments.

but ilow thill overseas sportswomen are beginning to make I heir appearance i; ci'i'taiulv seems as though the lack of advertising from which tile country has suffered is likely soon to become.! a thing of the least. All's Bell, after three months’ quest of whatever big game might lie otler,ing, is convinced that- New Zealand -is the most remarkable conn lev in the world so far as its natural beauties and the conditions of out-iloor iite and sport with rod and gun arc concerned. She has camped and fished at Mayor Island, has waded streams at the lake- shore at- Taupo. has stalked deer in the country round about Taraworn and at Mount Somers, in Canterbury. and is convinced that it has been the most ivomleriul holiday experience of her life. She described her adventures with real enthusiasm. Prior to coming to New Zealand. she said, she had fished in England and Scotland. had stalked deer and shot grouse, but never once had there come a moment equal to that in which she landed the 3-0-pound monster from the deep blue waters that lie beyond Mayor Island. “ii was. I think, absolutely the most thrilling moment of my life,” she declared. “I knew while I was playing him that he was a monster, hut when I got him alongside and saw the size of him. twelve feet long. well. I suppose only those who have had a similar experience would know how 1 felt.

“Jo the sunshine he glistened all over with a most exquisite opalscent colouring. .1 never imagined fish could he so beautiful. He put up a great light. He rushed away with the line and ran off about three hundred yards, leaping sometimes dear out, of the water. 1 took an hour and a half to land hint, and 1 was aching all over I>y thc time I got him alongside the launch, hut it was well worth it. The sword as nearly two feet long and looked a horribly formidable weapon. 1 was not at all surprised to hear that small boats had been rammed by swordfish.”

-Rotorua-, Wairakei ami Taupo was visited next, and three weeks' trout fishing followed. “It was as thrilling in its way as the deep-sea fishing,” said Mrs Bell. “In Scotland we are very pleased if we get a four-pound trout, so you can imagine how exciting it was when 1 landed a fifteen-pound-er.” Of the doer stalking portion of the trip Mrs Bell spoke little less enthusiastically. Her block at Mount Somers proved to he a poor one. and the sport with the gun was not so exciting as with the rod. hut the scenery, she said, was most impressive—something like that of Scotland, only much grander. The tussock hills, snow-capped peaks, and the m ajestie ranges in the distance made a magnificent setting for a camp, and although she had not the good luck to return with a fourteen pointer she was well satisfied to have made the expedition.

“It wns a splendid trip Irom start to finish.” she said, “and you may he sure I shall do all I can to let otlicis know what sport- awaits them in New Zealand. There is only one thing more I should like to do now—come back as soon as 1 can and have a ‘go’ at the moose.”