A RAID ON THE TROUT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6485, 2 February 1905, Page 2

A RAID ON THE TROUT.

; . TO THE EDITOR. I Siß,—.During the last day or two 6ome queer rumours have be^n going the rounds/ of the town, regarding some very strange doings at the mouth of the ABhburton River on Sunday. In two points only do the stories appear to tally:—(1) That the heavy fresh in the fiver caused the mouth to alter suddenly, with the result that a large number of trout were left stranded in a pool; (2) That the rising tide a few hours later released what few fish were then left alive. The rumours vary considerably as to who the poachers were, and the quantity of fish they obtained, the lowest estimate being 400. It is said that one individual, whose duties would usually make him deter others from such conduct, took home somewhere about 100. A lady angler was seenover her waist in the water groping for fish. The most regular attendant among licensed anglers, whose religious scruples prevent him using a rod on' the Sabbath, kept his head sufficiently to use the powers of his license to bounce a fine five pound fish out of a young girl, who had succeeded in bringing it safely to land. It was of course presumed he intended»to place it back in the river, but rumour says it was seen in his hut that evening—(and he doesn't fish on Sunday). A one, time commission agent was also prominent in the fray, and on Monday sent some 30 fiah up (o town. {It is said he never caught a fish on a rod in his life). It is sincerely to be hoped that the Acclimatisation Society will invoke Capt. Wray's assistance to find the truth at the bottom of the rumours current in town.—l am, etc., True Sport. Ashburton, Feb. 1, 1905.