“THE SERGEANT-MAJOR."

Shannon News, 21 February 1928, Page 3

“THE SERGEANT-MAJOR."

ROTORUA TAKES THE PRIZE.

The trophy for the most truthful fish story of the current season has been awarded to the Rotorua Chronicle for the following contribution to piscatorial literature: —

Many visitors to Rotorua during recent years who may have availed thern- - elves of an opportunity of seeing the trout in the Fairy Spring will be interested to hear of the passing out, recently, of one fish in particular, who bad 'earned for him Self the title of ‘'Sergeant-Major.’’ The fish took it upon "himself some time ago to take charge of a large number of the smaller ash in one of the shallow parts of the stream, where it was usual for visitors to throw them a few crumbs, and before long had them all well under his command. Visitors, upon arrival at this portion of the stream found the fisli lined up in a scries of rows waiting to be fed.

Each fish had its own particular place, while the "Sergeant-Major’’ patrolled up and down nipping the tail uf any who got out. of line or into the wrong place. Upon the visitor throw>ng a few crumbs of bread into the water the parade was dismissed foliations and upon the last crumb being, •onsuiiied ’ the first returned to their plate in the ranks, and the "SergeantMajor” once more, resumed his patrol duty, carrying on until the arrival of more visitors with further supplies of rumbs, when the whole performance was repeated. This may to some, appear to be a most incredible fish story ,ut many of the past visitors to the spring, from all paits ‘of the world have iouhd this absolutely correct. Wheher a new "Sergeant-Major” will bake command of the "regiment” remains to be seen, but so far no appointmerit to the position lias as yet been made, the "regiment,” at present c-ar-,ying on without a commanding officer, i lie cause of the sudden demise of this :aihous fish is believed to be a* bad .) te, which he received from a large ,trango tiout, recently arrived in the dream from Lake Rotorua.