A FISHY BUSINESS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 20, 10 November 1939, Page 19

A FISHY BUSINESS

Handy Guide For Non-Anglers (4)

(Written for "The Listener" by

Irideus

ASSING, in our brief survey of New Zealand freshwater fishes, from the pampered immigrants to the sturdy indigenous stock, we find that the most important native fish is the eel. It is important to the angler in much the same way as bubonic plague is important to the medical authorities, and it differs from plague mainly in that it is more difficult to control, and cannot be stamped out. Eels have been in New Zealand waters from time immemorial. Indeed, Maori tradition has it that the eel doubled for the serpent in the antipodean Garden of Eden (cf. "Paradise of the Pacific"). Ready credence to this tale will be given by anyone familiar with the character of the eel, in fact, it is quite probable that it ate the serpent into the bargain. The problem of the angler and trout, then, differs from that of the angler vis-a-vis the eel in that the former is a problem of negatives: there are not many trout caught, the trout are not big, the trout, in short, do not co-operate one bit. The eel, on the other hand, is a positive, malignant problem. He is, as it were, the Pimple on the Piscacatorial Body Corporate. Several Varieties New Zealand eels comprise several varieties. Science recognises two species only: (1) the Northern Eel, a_ snivelling starveling creature, which snoops round the stream with its hands in its pockets and its hat on the back of its head, trying to pretend that it is (2) the Southern Eel, which is, on the other hand, a gross, fat villain whose chief delight, next to mussing up anglers’ lines, is to chivvy poor, unprotected female trout. Maori nomenclature covers a wider field, frequently providing a_ specific name for the eels of a single stream. The most common terms used by the natives are tuna, tuna heke, koiro, te big black , etc. The pakeha angler is content to differentiate between two types only, black eels and yellow eels, so called on account of their physical appearance and moral character. Black eels generally are to be found in muddy waters. Large pink eels have also been frequently seen by anglers, this species apparently having its habitat in the neighbourhood of country hotels in licensed areas,

Habits and Diet: The habits of the eel, from its juvenile, or elver stage, up are without exception bad. It eats trout and trout eggs, or chivvies trout into a decline, it eats the food meant for the trout, and, worst of all, it takes the baits meant for the trout. The latter activity frequently sends anglers, too, into a decline. Give an eel five minutes on the end of a cast of high quality Spanish gut (at 10/- a hank) and he can make the original Gordian Knot look like an amateur effort. Besides trout and trout-bait, the eel will also eat wild duck, rabbits, sheep and cattle, other eels, offal, garbage of all kinds, and even you, dear reader, if you give him half a chance. But, the Maoris apart, he is not generally eaten, Methods of Capture While no one wants to catch eels for their own sake, it is frequently considered necessary by acclimatisation societies to catch them for the sake of the trout. This idea, while all right in theory, is spoiled in practice by the intransigent attitude of the eels themselves. Not that they refuse to be caught. On the contrary, they seem to enjoy it. The difficulty is in killing them once they are caught and to kill an eel we know only one method. Do not go into the water after them, They will merely hiccup with laughter and tear large and embarrassing sections from your small clothes and you will not catch any. The correct tactic is to lure them on to dry land and then dance upon them with your largest and most heavily hobnailed fishing boots keeping a firm grip the while upon your trouser-tops. It may happen that you will miss the eel, or will dance yourself into an embarrassing state of deshabille before making any impression on it, or the brute may even come to after the count of ten and slide back into the water, but we know no other method which has the slightest chance of success. The physical strength and endurance of the eel is one of Nature’s Wonders and one might add that its strength is enhanced rather than impaired after death. In recent years, scientific investigation has proved that the skin of the eel (elverleather) is suitable for boot and shoe uppers, and analysis of the essential oils of eel-liver suggests that it is as rich in vitamins as cod-liver, all of which just shows you that Shakespeare was right when he said that " There is some soul of goodness in things evil, would men observingly distil it out." Breeding Habits: It is in keeping with the irritatingly contrary nature of the eel that, unlike the salmon or estuarine ‘trout (which one wants to catch, but usually can’t), it is born at sea and grows up in the. rivers, instead of vice versa. As a result of extensive marine research in recent years, it appears that New Zealand eels are born somewhere well out in the depths of the Tasman Sea. If, however, there is still some doubt about where the eel comes from, the concerted imprecations of New Zealand anglers should leave no doubt at all as to where it will eventually go, (To be continued)