THE WHAREAMA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9051, 10 February 1908, Page 5

THE WHAREAMA.

(To the Editor).

Sir,—l wish to thank you fcr your courtesy in publishing my letter in your issue of the 6th inst, but I mutt < deny any personal motive as imputed by you in your tootnote. T wrote in the interests of the public generally, and judging by the effect of restatements 1 seem to have attained my end, viz., to prevent people being influenced by exaggerated statements that are misleading. The very fact" of Mr H. Cole getting someone to write in the vindictive strain as appeared in yesterday's issue, proves that my assertions have disconcerted the plan of action as outlined by people who are intent on booming the Whareama. I do not intend to write in che strain that appeared in the "letter over Mr Cole's name. Such a strain shows that Mr Cole hath a way peculiar to the average/correspondent. I did not T)Obe [as an expert in sea fishing, so I obtained the opinion of expert men who have had years of experience in fishing, on different parts of the New Zealand coast, and I would impress on Mr Cole's mind the principle of never relying entirely on one's own judgment, especially on questions like this one, whereby a number of people and a large sum of money may become involved. As to experiment • ing with a "trout line and fishhooks." Well, Mr. Cole must have been upset when he made that surmise, and when anyone makes ridiculous assertions of that nature it looks as if they were getting the worst cf • the argument. Apropos of line and hook-fishing, Mr Cole must have been in a humourous mood when he told a friend of mine (a fisherman of experience at that)- that fish were so plentiful that one had only to bait a "long line" and put it out at low watsr. and as the tide rises the fish come in and get hooked, then at low water the fish can be picked upon the beach, be unbooked, and the line rebaited. I don't think such accounts of the Whareama will be taken in without the proverbial grain of salt, nor docs it show much experience on Mr Cole's pare. In matters of this nature it is no use looking at the rosy side without looking at the dull side, but all existing conditions must be taken carefully into consideration before venturing into such a risky industry'as fishing is known to be in different parts of New Zealand. I will give a short detailed description of the plant and the methods that Mr Cole would have a company adopt to exploit the Whareama river and the c?ast line at the mouth of the river. Mr Cole and party have explained all these details to me on several occasions. They would put a boat and a certain number of set and seine nets, an'oil launch to take their immense quantities of fish five miles up the river at high water (the river is only navigable for an oil launch at abcut high water) to where the road comes in. These nets and beats, will cost about £l5O. Then they would require a large launch for using outside the mouth. This with trawls and net« would cost £250 at least. Then when Ihey catch these "immense numbers of fish they will require a freezer and a smoke-hcuse — another £4OO. When the fish aie duly landed at the end of the road, thirty miles from Masterton, the:Q will be a £SOO motor'waggon waitii g to take them to Masterton. When tl e motor arrives here men with carts distribute the fish to various parts of the town and district. Now that sounds very nice, and would lock well on a prospectus, but to rub some of the gilt off and look below the surface how often and for how long would all this plant and the men required to wc.fk it be idle? Then again, how long (and at what risfoj[ would it tako to find the fishing grounds and places where it would be possible to trawl off the mouth of the river, and is it likely that a company- would put all this plant on the Whareama for a few months in the year; in the. winter and spring months fish keep, out in the deep water; the weather is too rough and the roads are nearly impassable. Although thankful f cannot accept Mr Cole's invitation to join a company that Mr Cole guarantees would only recoup anyone for the loss of a "trout line and some hooks," surely a small dividend for a company with so much plant. Anyhow, why does not Mr Cole continue fishing on the same scale as he did last year until this company is floated? If by doing so he could make at the rate of £7O fov three months he could then keep this profitable (?) industry in his own hands. lam going to the Whareama to-day to get some of my be- x longings, and I shall be pleased to take any disinterested person, approved of by Mr Cole and party, with me. Ido not take exception to the opening of the Whareama, but I do object to the way in which it is being boomed by ridiculously exaggerated statements. —I am, etc., W. D. AYSON. February Bth, 1908. -