THE WHAREAMA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9052, 11 February 1908, Page 5

THE WHAREAMA.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Would you kindly allow me, ) through your columns, to reply to Mr Ayson's letter of 10th February. Mr j Ayson asks: "Why does not Mr Cole ; continue fishing on the same scale i as he did last year . . . wh«n he could make at the rate of £7O for three months." Well, I will tell you the reason. I could get no access to the river on this side, as there is no road, and the proprietor would not let me go through his land. I got permission from Messrs Morrison Bros, and the late Rev. J. C. Andrew, of lea atation, to camp on the' ■ other side. Now, after catching the fish. I had to pack them on horsehack over the hills, then a:ross the river, then pack again on to the road, a distance of eight or nine miles, and over very rough ground. When the river was in flood we could not - cross, and had to throw the fish away, as we had no means of keeping them. During the three months that I go* .£7O from Mr Maltby, I thr i\v away more than £7O worth, as there was no way of getting them to Masttrton. In the winter the river is often in flood, so that, although I could catch the fish, I could not get them to market. That is why I did not continue fishing. A road on this side of the river is what is wanted. During the three months that 1 supplied Masterton I also supplied Te Nui and Langdale once a week. Mr Ayson is going to the Whareama and will take any person with him. What could any person know by going and looking at the river with Mr Ayson's knowledge as a guide? To fish the Whareama one needs to know the river and know the coast. I have this knowledge, learned from experience, and I know the Whareama'as a fishing ground cannot be too much boomed. Thanking you.—l.am, etc., H. COLE. Masterton, February 10th.