ISLANDS OF EELS
Sir-Mrs. Helen Wilson is quite right about the eels. I have seen almost the same thing. Some time between 1918 and 1920 I was fishing for trout below the waterfalls in the Mapara Stream, It was summer, perhaps about March, and very hot and dry. The bush locusts covered the trees in millions and as usual their din was deafening until you got used to it. Everything became very quiet and still as big black clouds suddenly rolled across the sky. The lightning flashed and the thunder rolled overhead; and then came the rain. It pelted down in great drops. The pool below the falls was covered with a fine spray. Anyone knows what water looks like with big drops of rain pelting on it. Suddenly the eels rose to the surface all over the pool and some were huge -one was at least between 20 and 30 Ib., and five to six feet long. They did not lie in circles but were like a crescent moon, with the middle parts of their bellies out of the water. I tried to hook the big one by throwing a spoon and dragging it across him, but had no luck. The teeming rain suddenly stopped and the eels sank out of sight. They did not swim. The sun shone once more and the locusts resumed their din. I was pleased to read the article by. Mrs. Helen Wilson, as I have told plenty of people this experience, and by their looks and smiles I knew I was not be-
lieved.
A.
PITTAMS
(Waimiha).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19540806.2.12.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 785, 6 August 1954, Page 5
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264ISLANDS OF EELS New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 785, 6 August 1954, Page 5
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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