RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 24

RANDOM REMINDER

HOT-COASTER TRAWLER

Late last month an article in “The Press” had something to say about the large numbers of women now taking up fishing. It was an interesting article, and it stated that the sport has gained favour among women from the example of Lady Cobham and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Women now have lighter rods, scientifically - balanced lines, and, most important, special outdoor clothes which have swept into vogue. The article was of such general interest to women that we feel compelled to add our small sum of knowledge to the topic. Unfortunately, it does not deal with elegant women in elegant thighboots tricking trout at Taupo. But it may be of

some interest, even if it is confined to trawling, which is hardly fishing at all, off a beach. Our observations are based on the recent record of one small woman, who weighs about the same as a Great Dane. But it is not unreasonable to suppose that if there is to be a vogue in these things, she has set it. First, the woman has to decide that trawling is required to replenish the larder when a suitable tide occurs only in the very small hours of a very cold morning. Her husband, if the only accomplice available, is despatched to the far end of the net to be buffeted by heavy surf. An off-shore wind is helpful, for from the shallows she can then offer advice and issue in-

structions without undue effort. The lady stays at a comfortable ankle depth. Now to costume. The thing to wear is a pair of short grey school trousers belonging to a son and if this, with the sun-hat, gives an impression of boyish youth, it is remedied by the bulk at mid-wicket, caused by the carrying of a hot-water bottle beneath a couple of heavy jerseys. With such an outfit, and with the wind in her favour, a woman can give a very good display of cool sporting competence: until the net brings up a great, flat, wriggling, slippery brill, the size of a clothes basket. That is the time to come all over feminine again.