Rod and Gun.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 28, 2 February 1907, Page 14

Rod and Gun.

[By Field SroßT.] (Contributions to this column, addressed' "Field Sport," will bo welcomed. They should be concise, and must be signed with the writer's full name and address, not for publication, but as a guarantee of authenticity.] A Wellington angler at present fishing the rivers in the Marlborough district has bo far had excellent sport. Included in his various bags, mode with salmon fly, waa a nice eight-pounder, 1 but many trout weighing more were taken with minnow. The most successful salmon fly used was a silver doctor. A waterspout which occurred in the Awatere River, Marlborough, a few weeks ago ifi stated to have killed thousands of trout of all sizes. l Information has reached me from a correspondent at Okute Valley, Little River, Canterbury, that large numbers of trout are dying in Lake Forsyth. Tho stench from the decaying fish is noticed a very considerable distance from the lake. The rivers in that district also contain many dead trout. The cause is attributed to the drynesa of the season. Conversation aTsout the condition of the Makara Stream the other day brought forth some startling facts. It appears j that the resident fishermen there are in the habit of netting quite near the mouth of the stream, and a» recently as last week got a haul which included eighteen large 6ea'-ruri' trout. As the season for < the 6ea-run trout to enter th© rivers for spawning is approaching, it is to be hoped the society will take active 6teps 00 as to prevent a recurrenco of last week's catch. On Friday, 25th January, tho Hutt Valley Gun Club held a £60 , live-bird pigeon match at the xaita. Messrs. White (24vda) aiyl Jensen (22yds) grassed the fulhnumber of birds (thirteen), and divided first and second money ; sixteen others with twelve kills each divided the remaining £5. Jensen also, woo the trophy presented by the club. In the sweepstake that followed the big match, H. Jensen (a brother of the previous winner) won outfight. The arrangements of Mr. J. Brasell, tho club's secretary, and tho handicapping of Mr. C. H. Chavannes gave every satisfaction. Two anglers who fished Wainui-o-mata last Saturday landed twenty fish between them -vfith fly. The fish averaged slightly over jft' pound in wejoht. A bag of fourteen flph weighting 12£lb total was taken at M^ngaroa on the same day with grasshopper. The annual general meeting of the Now Zealand Gun Club was held in the Pioneer Club rooms, Christchurch, on Saturday, .Delegates from Wanganui, Hunterville, Wajkanae, Hawkew Bay, Marlborough, j Ashtjurton, Tai Tapu, Papanui, Hutt Valley,' and Christchurch Gun Clubs were present. The following is a list of officers elected j-JPresident, Mr. T M. Wilford, M.H.R. .(re-elected) ; vice-presidents, Mr. I T. H, Bamber (Wanganui) and Mr. G. Rutherford (Dalothorpe) (re-elected)} 'committee, Messrs. M. F. Ryan (Springstpn 1 ), J. Brasell (Hutt Valley, Wellington), , K. Martin' ( Dunedin), J. Williamson. (El-

lerelie), and G. R. King (Hastings). Mr. J. W. Cassin was re-elected as secretary and treasurer, and a bonus of ten guineas was voted to him. The following programmes were approved : — Hutt Valley, 25th February; Christchurch Gun Club, 30th March ; Wanganui, 23rd May ; Christ, church, 10th August and Ist November. Other applications have to be received. The report and balance-sheet were adopt, cd. Two anglers fishing at the mouth of tho Rangitata, for two days, creeled sixteen trout, weighing 69ilb recently. The same number was taken by a Timaru angler in the Opihi during a recent visit there, They itinged from. 51b to 181 b in weight. From one 11019 in the Opihi twenty-four fish were taken during the last few weeks, weighing from 41b to 171 b. One angler fishing for eight days in the same river got 1021 b weight, including eight totalling 761 b, one of 141 b aud fourteen 121 b.