FIELD AND STREAM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 9

FIELD AND STREAM.

' TROUT HAUNTS. ' , (By Bmje 'Minnow.) . First I wish to bear testimony,to the excellent results attained by the' energy and enterprise' of the various acclimatisation societies throughout New Zealand. With'.' very little monetary support from either Government or people, they have succeeded in. stocking our lakes, rivers and streams, with, speckled beauties, and ill face of many difficulties have succeeded in "protecting, popularising, and permanently establishing one of tho grandest pastimes ever engaged in. by- . lovers of . sport. . Should an enterprising Dominiox reporter pay an early-morning visit to Wainui-o-mata, and interview some of tho fourpounders, ho would find copy for quite a number of columns. Ho would learn how their forbears were carried o'er the mountains ; in-billy-cans," and "settled" by' the acclimatisation societies in a manner that would , make 1 the average immigrant turn green with envy. There wero "assisted'' passages: in those days, water: for "closa ' f V-'i and protection-;, from land • sliarks. Of course they, had lio/Tourist Do- . partment to tell them where to ' go; no ■ itinerary of travel setting forth the . test places to stop' at—they simply- followed the stream and sorted out the best- scenic and health resorts as they went. Like mankind they had different tastes. Some sought. tha , sylvan shade, o'erhung with gorse and weeping willows. I always reckon 1 tho latter aptly, named, as goodness knows how. many anglers have wept at their existence. Others again, anxio.us for the strenuous life, sought a: "ripple"—a rapid gliding of tho water , with bumps on it, where the flies and tho 'worms swoop down with such'velocity as to' precipitate the early morning meal into the vacuum without any energy on the part; of the recipients. ,'I don't want the civil servants of Wellington to rush away and join the .trout. . ■ '■ ' '\ ' " .

the .trout. . Then!-another class—this world/is made jnpv .of classes—considered' that a. deep, dark, ; and; djftiiSr; pool'' that ; slowly "„'and silently, , all .day, dodging, tho sun,'-,'-•would;-be'.just-the' nlaco- to settle 'dpwn-ih,: tako 'up water,.' ana rear a .family. True; -~m the monotony would be broken for .them 1 occasionally. At intervals leaves from off. the willows would twist and twine in the grimy grip of the slow-flowing water, and a* dog- or cat would interest the fry r '. • ■by body over .tlfe- c 'liquid bops" , Then, further downstream, ■ iMfe''™-- : ffould- 1 w glecn banks with Tiuftircups-and'" ... daisies growing thereon. There tho artistio trout would: take up its abode, arid when' the'; •sun:was-burying its face in tlio cloud.banks, of the west, it would throw itself out of tho water quite a foot: to obtain a glimpse • of the. buttercups and daisies putting up tlio shutters at closing time, and give, if possible ■: a hearty reception to any fly that might just • have dropped in to spend the evening. • They don't have calenders in their liquid depths, and they don't know when-the fish- ' ing season i$ about to commence,'otherwise they would call ; a monster, meeting and unanimously resolve not to tackle a fly . until' ' they saw'.it kick/1 often think .that trout are ;.' colour 'blind, or that .they don't charge,-a,.; : .:r_ hotel license, because' I've.__s.een flies ' .that ■(jven in my worst moments I could not be grilled with, and .yot .I've observed old and •staid fourteen-pounders, who have dodged all.. the! tricks of the stream for . years, race out and snap an artificial fly dressed in the. sporting colours, of - the late Mr. G. G. ; Stead, and never realised their mistake un-' - til they .were being peppered'and salted in -I the pan. They were evidently sports—they. took their chances, and, like all human sports, backed a "dead un." ■_ • ,' . Whenever I hear that favourite ' comio > Scotch song, entitled "Stop your ticklin', Jock," I always think what, a _ mint of . money could bo' mado by travelling round , selling threepenny, editions to tho trout, which inhabit the smaller streams of- this wide and . famous Dominion. Now, there is an art of "tickling" trout. L'vo beon at it ■ ever since I was a mere child. I don't like -to count how long ago that is:. Anyhow, see-' .- irig that the good old. fat, : wriggley worm;;;:. ~is .barred as a bait, no-doubt&t&v "tickling'':.';A •lure! will soon again become fashionable.,L;ct " : .y ,me describe the- proceedings. ..'Select a bank . slightly grooved out by action of the stream. \ That is a favourite haunt of trout. Throw off your coat, roll up your shirt sleeves, kneel down, place your hancl slowly under the bank; withdraw it- and have a look round for the ranger. If ho appears say that you are dragging for your mother-in. • ■-. law. If he don't, .well dive in again. Drawyour hand slowly up stream. You should have a band playing slow time music, but since the Bosses "were out hero musical fees are too high. Suddenly between tho forefinger •. and the thumb" you feel a cold, clammy obiject. You encircle the object; Slowly you * glide your finders along, the object's silvery sides. The object likes it —it leans over for. more scratching as if it had chilblains, and - just when you feel its gills oprjiing andshutting place the thumb in one gill and tho forefinger in. tho other. Snap finger and .' thumb smartly, together—tho fish shoots ■ back, the bank gives way, and in you go." It might havo been tho first bath you remember, having, but you'll get over it. _ ' Far bo it from n;e. to suggest poaching. . ■> . I am one of its mbst deadly opponents, and' woe bo to anyone I find helping himself to the people's property without fee or license. Every angler with a license is ipso -facto, a ranger, and it behoves him to keep an eye on . evil doers. . - - _ - I would -like to havo sufficient' of this world's Wealth to enable me W offer a prize for the best 'fishing yarn sent in every week. Perhaps tho Editor of The. Dominion will arrange for something of the sort.. Therefore, ye old-timo anglors, recall your ancient, experiences, and perhans have the honour of being "gazetted" the champion romancer (it soitnds bettor than liar) of the week.