“FYSHYNGE”- A RELAXING AND ABSORBING SPORT

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 4

“FYSHYNGE”- A RELAXING AND ABSORBING SPORT

By

STEPHEN SPARROW,

V, chairman of the fish management committee

of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

Angling was described as the perfect pastime as long ago as 1496, in the first book printed on the subject, “Treatyse of Fyshynge with an Angle,” attributed to Dame Juliana Berners. The author of this short work extolled the health advantage to be gained from angling, and observed that even if the angler did not catch a fish, he at least had a “holesome walk and sweet air.”

Although written almost 500 years ago, she exhorted anglers “Also that ye break no man’s hedges in going about your disports; nor open no man’s gates but that ye shut them again.”

In today’s setting, this plea also includes not littering the outdoors with cans, glass etc, as well as asking permission to cross private land. Don’t discard long lengths of nylon fishing line — it takes a long time to “break down” and can be the cause of stock losses when it tangles the hooves of sheep. Newcomers to the sport will certainly find angling a relaxing form of outdoor recreation. It can provide unique opportunities for the city dweller to unwind

and to observe wildlife in its natural setting. I urge the newcomer to become interested in more than merely catching fish. For example, read about the habits and biology of trout and salmon. Take an interest in fish habitat requirements. The sport of angling is threatened by civilisation’s ever-growing demands on our rivers and lakes to provide water, hydro-electricity and sewage Fishing Clubs There are a number of clubs and organisations

which the newcomer could join to learn more about the sport, for example the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association, the Canterbury Anglers’ Club, the Christchurch Fishing and Casting Club, and the Amuri Rod and Gun Club, Persons wishing to contact any of those organisations could telephone the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society to obtain the addresses of the respective secretaries. As usual the season’s opening will see rivers and streams with good flows. The situation at Lake Ellesmere ii causing the Acclimatisation Society concern. The run of spawning brown trout out of the lake into the Selwyn river was moni-

tored this year and was probably the lowest ever recorded. It is possible that progressive enrichment pollution in the lake is a factor in this decline. Later in the season, it will be interesting to observe the effects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ induced salmon run project in the Waimakariri river. It is hoped that the results will manifest themselves in the form of a larger than normal run of salmon through the river mouth at Kairaki, since 1977 is the year when the bulk of adults are expected back at Silverstream Hatchery from the first substantial (by New Zealand stan-

dards) release of juvenile salmon in 1974. High Country The open season commences with a new licence on October 1, but I remind anglers that the High Country lakes remain closed to fishing until the first Saturday in November. The Acclimatisation Society will again be conducting its fact-gathering programme at Lake Georgina, and anglers who fish this lake are asked to co-operate with Society field staff in providing information.

Again this year I urge anglers to be courteous to other sportsmen and not to take more fish than they need.