WHITEBAIT RUN CONTINUES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 14

WHITEBAIT RUN CONTINUES

Good Hauls At Westport

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, Oct. 12. Whitebait were still running in large shoals most of today in the Buller river, not adhering to the old custom of striking on the incoming tide. A number of good catches were made almost at low tide. The run is the most sustained for some years, and in four days has transformed a poor season to one of the most lucrative for years. As usual when the whitebait are plentiful there is keen competition for the best positions, and one zealous net weilder left one place after taking 801 b on Tuesday to gather in another 301 b a mile further up the river. A man gathered one monster shoal of 401 b near the mouth of the Buller river this morning, and again there were many catches of the traditional “tin”—4oU>. Space on the air services has been overtaxed, but a considerable amount is still going from the Buller to city markets. There have been some good catches again today in the Orowaiti river. A number of persons have earned more than £lOO from their whitebait catches this week. Run Eases in Grey River In the hope of seeing another run of whitebait this morning as large as that of the previous morning, catchers of whitebait kept arriving on the banks of the Grey river at various stages of Wednesday night. In fact, many camped on the rocks overnight in order to be in what are considered to be the best position* for a daybreak start. "Hie catches, however, while quite good in some cases, were very much below the remarkable returns of some hours previously. Although there was a slight variation in the riverside price, those ’baiters who had spent the night out would not budge from the customary demand of 10 shillings a pound Take it or leave it” was their motto. Goed Ron at Hokitika . Individual catches of whitebait in the Hokitika river today ranged from 201 b to 1001 b. The bait ran for about three hours, and were still being caught at the height of the tide at 1.30 pjn