ANGLING NOTES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21436, 30 March 1935, Page 8

ANGLING NOTES

A PARTY'S (iREEI) i isv ui.ack Gnat.j I'll- >'» which trn written bj & (i k ii-TMiau c-/ exprrienoo and considerable ih-Mm'tical knowledge, will appear (• v•• r y Saturday. Letters containing ncwn or (jUfM i'irifi, Rnd addressed to "Black Jin.'.}." t'.'ire of tho Kditor of "The Pr«ss," .'. ii; ri• c rive prompt attention each week. Isaak Will 1 oil's 'The Coinpleat Angler" should be to all intents and purposes the Bible of all anglers. After turning very few pages the reader will nute that (lie art of angling is not merely employed for the killing of iish but lir.st as a means of passing houis of leisure in a pleasant occupation amidst pleasant surroundings. In this column there has appeared a short description of the Lake Sumner district which is. in good weather, about as pleasant a place as can be found in Canterbury, and will provide enougii fish even for the most gluttinous. It. was with the greatest regret that "Black Gnat," heard news of a parly who Jishecl there this season, whose insatiable desire to kill fish led them to violate one of the first, principles of angling. Not being content with enough fishing to provide themselves with a reasonable amount of sport and their camp with food they wantonly killed 300 odd fine trout in a few days, their intention being 1o bring a large number home to Christehurch. 'through neglect more than 100 of these fish became unlit for food and were left in a heap on the lake shore, a rotting monument lu rotten sportsmanship. Anglers who fished Lake T.*/lor after this party had left say thai not a fish could be .seen moving in cne end of the lake and that it was not worth while fish- | ing there. Three hundred fish might I well be a third of the total stock of mature fish in that lake, and their destruction can be looked on as nothing but an act of vandalism. This party would be an excellent subject for the "Heroes Corner" of "National Sportsman," an American monthly which, in each issue, reserves a space j for roasting anyone who has taken i more than a sportsman's share of fish or game.

There is something very much wrong when a party such as this can legally work such destruction and go scot free, whereas the poacher, armed with a spear and killing one or two fish for a meal, has everyone's hand against him. The fault undoubledy lies with the men themselves and the best advice one can give them is to read and remember the principles of angling decency written by Isaak Walton. It is fortunate for the future of angling that there is an ever increasing body of men who derive a tremendous amount of enjoyment from not only killing fish by sporting methods. but the study of everything that affects their well-being. Very large numbers of beginners are mere pothunters for the very reason that they are beginners, but once their early ambition to catch fish is satisfied many of them pass on to the next stage, in which the method of capture is of greater moment than the weight of the bag. The greatest pleasure is had from the sport only when a close interest is taken in the habits of the fish themselves and skilful methods of capture are employed. The pot-hunter is never happy unless his bag is heavy, whereas the other can claim to have had a good day if he has taken one or two fish. Ail angler of the old school fells how he found, on a camping trip when the salt had been forgotten, that gunpowder made an ideal seasoning for friend trout. He referred to the" oldfashioned black powder, never having tried the smokeless kind in use nowadays. The best way to gaff a fish will usually be a good source of argument, but can be easily proved in practice. Like all other actions incidental to landing a fish gaffing should not be done hurrledlv and needs a certain amout of practice to be done perfectly. The neatest job is done by reaching right over the fish as he moves past slowly, being careful not to touch him or any part of the tackle, and then with a hard upward and inward drive lift him clear of the water all in one

movement. Seldom will a fish struggle on the gatf if this method is used. A gaff in capable hands is a far deadlier instrument than a landing net if the fish is more than two pounds in weight.