ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1829, 10 December 1886, Page 25

ANGLING.

[Headers are 'invited to contribute' Hems «f local fishing news for insertion in this column. Fbr insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach. Dtinedin by Monday night's mail.']

BY JOCK SCOTT. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. D. 8., BfcfcHok. — The fly you send has no particular Dame. It is what we usually call a mixed wing, belt)? a combination of golden pheataut, turkey, and Ibis feathers, with dyed hackles. It eloaely. resembles the " Blueher," but is not that fly. W. P., LorrU'i Flat.— Your notes will always be very acceptable. Will find space for your fish 6t«ry next week. A. N., Athoi.— Thanks for report. Would like to hear from you frequently. A. H., Milburn.— Am glad to hear that my efforts to provide a weekly budget of angling items is appreciated. Anything like your last enclosure I shall always try and find room for in my Notes. H. V.,, Waiwera.— Many thanks for " Bank Notes!" They are always very acceptable, as I am sometimes hard pushed for items of local Interest. FAVOURITE STANDARD FLIES. 111. — Thb Blue Dun. This is also an early and standard fly for a cold day. Hook, No. 4. Body — a small portion of water-rat's fur spun on primrose silk ; wings ■ from a dark starling's wine feather, set on very upright ; for legs, a dark llun hen's hackle, set in close up behind the wings, and brought well forward underneath. This fly is dressed in a variety of shades too numerous to mention, but all of them are useful at times, SEA FISHING IN NEW ZEALAND. (Continued). As soon iis we had dropped our anchor, which consisted of a large stone covered with wickerwork, to which the rope of flax was tied, we baited our hooks with shark's flesh, the skin of whioh fish being very tough, it is not so easily removed. With my line over the side, I lighted 'my pipe 'and awaited the result. Presently I heard a tremendous commotion at the other end of the canoe, and saw a Maori in a great state of excitement, with his eyeballs well-nigh starting from his head, hauling away at his line, at the end of which it was apparent that something weighty was attached, judging by the way the line every now and then slipped from his fingers and also cut the water. I was awaiting anxiously to see what he would bring to the surface, when, quick as lightning, my line was violently seized, and, from the slight hold I had upon it, flew through my fingers like red-hot wire befote I realised that I also had something to occupy my attention, when, just as suddenly, it got quite slack. With a feeling of disgust that I had lost my fish, I began to haul up to examine the bait, and discovered that & large shark was hooked, which, when it came near enough to see the. canoe, turned over and away went my line again, for to stop it was an impossibility just then. The shark carried on the same tactics again, coming up, taking a look and diving away; but this time appearing on the surface some distance from the canoes, and lashing about with its tail; evidently in a fearful rage at being so easily "had." It soon grew tired, though, and; after many attempts, I succeeded itt getting it close 1 , and a Maori plunged a long knife into its heart, which soon quieted it aud oovered the water with blood. Hooking a shark tends, to demoralise a fishing party in a canoe, for all the other lines must be taken up, or in one sweep the shark will entangle the lot, and twist them up in such a manner that to extricate them is almost an impossibility, iand Certainly causes a great loss of time. However, we caught only one more shark, so we had plenty of time to devote to the hapuku, of which we caught that morning nine before they ceased biting. In this respeot they are peculiar, as they suddenly either will not feed any more, or leave the. spot altogether.

After .landing the hapuku and sharks, we fished closer inshore, and here I experienced the • best fishing it is, perhaps, possible for a person to have. The place literally teemed with fish. There was the schnapper, barracouta, tarakihi, rock cod, kingfieh, and others. One's line was no sooner' at the bottom than it was seized, and, as three hooks were used, they were not unfrequently all occupied, and occasionally by three • different species of fish." I never knew what 1 had on my line until I had the fish in the canoe, and my 'fingers were so cut about by sharppointed fins and teeth that it was some days ' before I could go fishing again with any degree of comfort. I have fished since the day abovementioned in many places on the New Zealand coast, but I never again got Such a time as I did then. The French Pass is a capital spot, and so it is at the mouth of the Pelorus Sound and off the Great Barrier, in Auckland, but I never could better Kapiti Island, where I remained for some three weeks fishing and goat shooting. The latter sport, however, is not much, but it makes a variety to fishing.

I once sailed from Nelson in a small yacht of some nine tons for a few weeks' fishing up the •Pelorus, and got capital sport. %Our plan for hauling in the hapuku was to have our lines passed through a block fixed to the mast or stays, and when we happened to hook one of these monsters we hauled' away, and landed him, kicking, on board, without much ceremony. ■ Some of the fish in New Zealand are very fine indeed for the table, and I would like to mention as specially so the frost fish. This peculiar fish is only to be found cast up on Home of the beaches in the South and North Islands during winter time, and I do riot think the cause of their being so stranded has ever been definitely settled. Some assert that it is through their chasing other fish for purposes of food.* Others have again told me that the frost has something to do with their being found on the beach, but I have seen them picked up when there has been scarcely any frost. Certain, however, it is that they are only to be found on the beaches, and in winter time they are much sought after, and sell in ohristchnrch at 2s 6d per lb. (To be continued.)