Fishing 50 years ago

Press, 20 January 1979, Page 17

Fishing 50 years ago

Tales from a Fisherman's log By Zane Grey. Hodder and Stoughton. 117 PP: 63 photographs. >9 95. (Reviewed by lan Blair) Zane Grey Incorporated have taken a chance that previously unpublished diary notes might now be compiled advantageously, 40 years after the author’s death. Anecdotes and statistical records from Grey's second 'ishing expedition to New Zealand are now 50 years outdated by subsequent changes and developments Present day anglers, deep sea or freshwater will glumlv compare the naucitv of nresent times with what Grey evidently enioxed mid extracted from the waters. He and his companions took 61 huge fish including a 640pound mako off the Bay of Island* in ’wo and a half months and somewhat ibove 400 monstrous trout (rarely below 10 pounds each) in little more ’han a month on the Tonganro. And indeed they should have succeeded at a time when they were tmong the first exploiters (or oillagers) of a near virgin resource Even at 1927 costs, their expenditure on the expedition must have been gigantic, possible onlv to the American who had funds to burn (or fish with) from the profits of his 54 books which had been translated into 20 languages. At the Bay of Islands, for instance, they had a deep sea vessel sailed from the United States, at least three deepsea launches. 171 rods, 51 reels, miles of line and hundreds of kinds of hook and lore. In fishing for trout they had more finesse. Here thev favoured light tackle that gave more spectacular action bv hooked Z'-h. Grey recorded his repugnance of the threadline and spoon, strokehauling in <mall pools, the method generally favoured by’ the few New Zealanders who fished in those davs The locals did not hesitate to stand over the flyfishing Americans, "chuck and chance it” and generally foul up the water for flyfishing. There is value in the book in what is recorded of recreational angling as it used to be. The differences compared with present day mediocrity in numbers and size of fish may be correlated with increased angler pressure, poor management, deterioration or ruination of the water system (at least in the Tongariro). The merit or quality of the book perhaps lies in the renewed acquaintance it gives readers to the vitality and charm of Grey’s narrative writing; of his skill in portraying atmosphere and habitat. His susceptibility to the reactions of nature has provided arresting passages on the moods of the sea, river and weather. The party d 42 storm days in the two and a half months (autumn) in the Bav of Islands; much the same proportion of “no-fishing” weather on the Tongariro (May and June). On their experience the Americans doubted whether there was anv comparable habitat in the world with a worse climate than New Zealand. It must have been a really bad autumn in 1927. Zane Grey had marvellous fishing, but the skill involved in the catchings was incidental to the stirring of his heart and uplift of spirit so attractively revealed in his writing about it all.