From Britain: a tip or two on trout

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 54, 9 July 1974, Page 7

From Britain: a tip or two on trout

Trout-fishermen may have to wait for comprehensive books about two fundamental aspects of angling in New Zealand. So far, scientific studies on trout, and the major food of trout, are only in fragmented form in scores of magazines, scientific papers and bulletins. Fishermen in the United Kingdom are much more fortunate. But only of comparatively recent years have they been able to read thoroughly comprehensive books on both subjects written primarily for laymen. I've mentioned J. R. Harris' "An Angler's Entomology" in earlier columns. This is a sfudy of the special insect world that means so much to trout — and should mean not much less to fishermen. Without some basic knowledge, at least, of this insect world, the angler will always remain at a loss. He will take fewer fish — and far less enjoyment from his fishing. Harris, who combined lifelong passions for angling and entomology with a talent for the keenest observation, brought his book out in 1952. It was published by William Collins in England as a new addition to the continuing series they call "The New Naturalist." Although the book admittedly deals only with entomology for the angler in the United Kingdom, much of Harris' information about insects and their

life-cycles and habits, and their particular places on the trout's menu, has application here in New Zealand. If any New Zealand angler wants to gain a thorough insight into the insects that make up the major portion of the trout's diet, and why, he should certainly read Mr Harris. Fifteen years after "An Angler's Entomology" appeared, Collins published another book for fishermen in their "New Naturalist" series. It is called simply "The Trout", and it was written by two biologists, both women, Dr W. E. Frost and Dr M. E. Brown. Each biologist is wellknown for her distinguished scholarship and highly experienced field work, attributes which are quickly apparent to the reader. Anglers should not feel inhibited by the scientific backgrounds of the authors of both these "New Naturalist" volumes. As the publishers point out, the aim of the series is to interest the general reader. . . by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalists. Clarity of exposition in

presenting the results of modern scientific research is uppermost in the minds of the panel of editors responsible for the series. So, both volumes for the fisherman are easily understood. You don't have to be a scientist to appreciate them. * In particular, don't let the fact that you're a layman stop you from reading "The Trout" from cover to cover. It's all there — everything you've ever wanted to know about the most sought- after freshwater game fish in the world. The authors pay tribute to the work of two distinguished workers who contributed so much of value to trout research in New Zealand — Derisley Hobbs, with whose writings many anglers will be familiar, and K. Radway Allen, whose painstaking study of the trout in the Horokiwi . stream has been acclaimed far beyond New Zealand. Inevitably, the greater part of the book is about the brown trout; but what is common to this widely distributed species is also common in most respects to the rainbow. The authors, as you might expect, quickly come to grips with the problems

of distinguishing between Salmo species. They go deeply into the subjects of anatomy and physiology, distribution, life history, age and growth, - heredity, the physical environment, the trout's food, the biological environment, and end up with a thoughtprovoking chapter they call "Trout and Man," in which the explanatory diagrams are exclusively from K. Radway Allen's published work. Among several appendices are given directions for the routine examination of trout, determining age and growth from trout scales, and calculating growth ratcs. It would be difficult, to my rnind, to say which chapter 6r chapters will be most enjoyed by anglers, although certainly two that will be valued by keen anglers will be the ones about the food of trout and man's impact on the trout. In the latter, angling, pollution, productivity, and management are covered in an attempt to bring problems and solutions into focus for all interested in the welfare of this most important sport-fish of all. Whcn you read "The Trout," don't take everything for granted, even though the authors enjoy not inconsiderablc reputations. If any facts or figures strike you as odd — - let them know, will you? Then 1 won't be the only one writing to them. For I'm going to suggest that in the next cdition they put right their statement that "The first successful hatch of trout j eggs in New Zealand was in 1868 at Otago. South Island. . .", whcn. of course, thcv should have said in 1867 at Christchurch. . .