BANK NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 64

BANK NOTES

Remarkable Growth. — '* Piscator "' writes Jo the Christchurch Press as follows : — " Sir, — Having seen lately in several of the 'English papers some data on the growth of marked salmon and other fish, I send you an account of the following remarkable case of a trout in New Zealand. A v.-ell-fcnown angler, fishing at the mouth of the Rakaia the other evening, landed a couple of fish of about a pound in weight. I saw them myself, 'so there can be no mistake about it. In the morning, when asked about 'them, lie spoke of them as being ' a seven ' and ' a five.' Now, hie word is, of course, unimpeachable, so that this record is fortunately a thoroughly authsntic one. I think you will agree with me, Sir, ihat such unprecedented increases in weight in fish as 41b and 61b in one" night aie ■worthy of publication."

The Upper Waikaia. — There is good sport to be got on the Upper Waikaia and its tributaries. A few days ago a record bag of trout Mas obtained by Messrs Manson and Anderson, of Riversdale, out of Gow's Creek, about 15 miles above Waikaia. The catch consisted 1 of 51 fish, of which 26 averaged from 21b to 41b, the rest ranging from a half to 21b. The total weight of the fi6h was 701b, and the bait used was the cricket. Messrs Manson and Anderson state that this creek is in good older for fishing, and is a splendid outing for a few days, the scenery alone being something grand. They also state that they would most likely have secured a bigger haul, but for some miscreants who have been dynamiting the creek. It is <o be hoped that in the interest of the fair sports that the Acclimatisation Society will take 6teps to make examples of those who make a practice of securing bags by the unsportsmanlike means of dynamiting.

Angling in the North. — A recent issue of the Post says: — "Still the rain keeps off und the rivers are low, and still the bush fires continue to make outdoor recreation in the country unpleasant. Hardly anything had been done in the rivers around Wellington, and without rain the present conditions will remain." And on the s?mo the Dominion tells us: — "The angling fraternity are experiencing very andiffetent sport throughout the district ; that is, the few who are enthusiastic enough to try their luck. The ' still-water wormBters,' who patronise the Kavori Reservoir, continue to grass the greedy perch in fair numbers. The trout taken from the i-eser-. ■voir are in very poor condition, being in most cases the big head and tail, with thin, long body, variety. There are hunJrcds of very' small trout which often vainly endeavour to pull the float under, but they jresetoble the larger ones and are in pcor condition. The rivers throughout the country districts are as much in need of > good fresh as are our near-by waterways, »nd until the much-hoped-foi rain arrives, jmd in large quantities-, it is scarcely worth While pursuing the spotted beaufcies.*'South Canterbury Rivers.— Several anglers Jook advantage of a recent holiday to visit ihe Lower Opihi, and all report 6port as depressingly poor. One angler reports that among 12 rods on one stretch of water ihe most fortunate fly-thrower had four >mall trout for a night's hard work. Ihe test went home with empty baskets. What .with a low river, abundance of natural feed, and the mouth of the river closed, ihe Lower Opihi is practically not v.crth casting a lure over. The season so far ba^ been absolutely the worst experienced for taany years.

Fishing in the Limelight. — Anglers at Ttotorua certainly do not fish in etealth and blush to find it fame. The following paragraph's from one issue of the Rotorua CPimea, and almost every issue has a Similar 'list: — " Boucher and party, three rode, Jiaye been having some very successful fly fishing on. the Ngongotaha. Their lsigest catch for one day was 63 fish ; another day they got 55, and 26 is the lowest take. The fish were in fine condition with firm pink flesh. The laregst fish tipped the Scales at 81b. Mr and Mrs lies had a successful day on the lake fly fishing, securjng 25 fish averaging 3£lb. Messrs Kinsr Hd Young, fly fishing on Rotorua,'* secured fish, averaging 3ilb. Mr Fitton, «ho s been fly fishing on Rotorua, secured 35 fine fish. aAeraging 41b, the heaviest lunninj; 61b. The fibh were all in fine condition. In tuo days Messr= Nathan B/os., from Palmi'iston North, took 48 fish a\eiajr inn 341b. Tho\ wcie fly n-'unf; Me^in SuiUnLi.'t and M>^' •.■ll tetiued 22 him Uh

from Lake Rotorua on the 26th, fly fishing." Poaching. — It is reported that trout poaching on a wholesale scale is being carried on in the Waipoua. Ri\er (says the Wairarapa Daily Times), and that all mariner of unsportsmanlike devices arc being employed to lure fish. The Rangitikei. — The fish in the Rangitikci this season ai'o in splendid condition, and those anglers who have chosen Galatea as their camp — who have camped at Bird's, Murupara — have had capital sport (says the Hot Lakes Chronicle). Colonel Parry and party have been angling there for the pa^t three or four weeks, and have been greatly fascinated by the sport. Tbey have been taking fish from the Rangitikei st their camp at Murupara. but have now removed to Bird's camp at Rerewakaitu, where the sport is equally good. Those who visit Murupara invariably return there the following and successive seasons, a proof that the trout afford good 6port. Large quantities of trout continue to be taken frctn the lakes and streams; indeed, the hsh appear to be more plentiful now than at the beginning 1 of the season. The Quest of the Three-pounder. — "Iron Blue " in the Press thus narrates the success of the close of a disappointing day on the Orari: — "A tumbling rapid gave me a. herring-sized trout as a return for a skilful exhibition of a Red Governor, and I am afraid a little out of temper .ifter the long quest, I unceremoniously returned him whence he came. Half a. mile below, the meeting of two streams under a feiassy bank near a fire-scorched manuka bti*h. marked the reputed home of the fish of which I was in search, and full of hepes and fears I crawled cautiously near it-fs edge and cast. The instant rice that followed was startlinglv sudden, for I had not known quite where to exnect the tiout. As it happened, the cast had fallen in front of him, and, struck at the right moment, he rushed down stream firmly connected to the dropper fly. A series of jags at the line as he tried to rub the hook out on the stones made the end doubtful, but presently he headed vp the current and all was well, for after a few runs he swam past, almost on the surface, and a clean shot with the caff finished the fight. He was a beautifully plump threepounder, and I made much of him, as he was my only spoil, and when my fn'end found me in the evening I was thankful to be able to say that I had caught one ftood fish, instead of confessing the blank day that he evidently expected."

The Low Levels. — The Western Star says that fishermen report a great mortality among trout in the Jacob's Rive. The fish in search of food have gone into the back pools of the riverbed and become stranded in hundreds,. The rive.r was never so low in the history of the oldest settler.

A Lady Angler. — There is at present on view" at the local office of the Tourist Department a fine 161b trout caught by Mrs W. Murray (wife of the manager of the Chrietchurch Meat Company) at the mouth of the Rangritata River. It has been suitably mounted. Mrs Murray landed 1 the fish, unaided, with a fly rod — an exceptionally clever feat in angling.

The Minnow. — Minnow-fishing in clear water during the day is (says the Dominion) usually regarded as waste of time- The experience of a Waikanae angler last Sunday, however, shakes this theory considerably, for, notwithstanding the lowne6S end clearness of the viver. he. with artificial minnow, ©reeled seven fish of lilb average.