FISH STORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1938, Page 6

FISH STORIES

TRUSTEES IN LIGHTER MOOD. DEAD EELS & TROUT IN TOWN CREEK. Fish stories occupied the attention of members of the Trust Lands Trust last evening while they were awaiting the arrival of a fifth Trustee to form a quorum. Naturally, members recounted stories of big eels which had been caught in and around town, the dimensions of the catches being indicated by a wide stretch of the hands or a statement that the eel was half as long as the table, which, incidentally was about 15 feet in length. Ways and means of capturing these giants were related with enthusiasm, one method being to shoot a rabbit and allow its blood to flow downstream. The eels were attracted by the blood and tracked it to its source. Another approved practice was to light a fire, which likewise attracted the fish. A bag containing rotten eggs was a further way of attracting them to the scene, after which a hook baited with an egg was used in order to catch the fish.

The inspiration of all these reminiscences was a statement made by one of the Trustees that that evening the Renall Street creek contained many dead trout and eels, which could be seen floating down the stream. It was suspected that some poisonous substance had found its way into the creek, probably from the gasworks.