Rod and Gun.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 90, 17 April 1909, Page 14

Rod and Gun.

(By "Minnow.")

Locally there is very little news to chronicle in the angling world. There is an "end of the season" air about. Throughout the present season (writes the Huntly correspondent to the Auckland Herald), trout-fishing has been an utter failure. In the long reach of river from Taupiri to Rangiriri ten trout have not been landed. The disastrous flood which occurred some two years ago appears to have depopulated the river, while those fry and yearlings with which the lakes in the vicinity were stocked have either failed to reach maturity or have disappeared. Duck and teal appear to-be very plentiful on the lakes and river, and good sport is anticipated for Ist May, provided, of course, that impatient sportsmen do not anticipate the opening of the season by shooting during the close period, as was done to some considerable extent last year. Mr. C. Fitton informs a Rotorua paper that his catch for this season alitady totals over ;600 trout, and he antio.pates landing considerably more than 2000 before the close of the season. Mr. W. Andrew, secretary of the Acclimatisation Society at Levin, is obtaining a great many signatures to his petition to the Prime Minister for the opening of the Horowhenua Lake to anglers. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., has also promised to further the scheme, which would prove of immense benefit to the town as weU as a strong attraction to fishers. On various parts of the Otaki beach at this season of the year (reports the local journals), many penguins may be found, while Kapiti Island abounds with them. Recently several have been captured, and liberated again. From information that came into the possession of the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society, it was deemed advisable to ask the assistance of the police in making enquiries as to an alleged infringement of th©N law in shooting deer out of season, in shooting deer carrying less points than eight, 'and in shooting a greater number of deer than a license allows, viz., four. These alleged breaches, states North Otago Times, will come before the Magistrate for his decision. The heads in question \vere secured by Constable Ca&sidy, and have been sent to the freezing works. A message received in Timaru from the party of deerstalkers; who left here a week ago for the deer forests of North Otago indicates (says the Herald) that the hunters had not had an over pleasant time. It had been raining and knowing there, and to make matters worse, when the party arrived at the Dingle, they found traces of a recent camp, indicating that someone had been over the ground before them shooting out of season. Word has. reached town, says the Oamaru Times, that the slaughter of paradise ducks has commenced in at lea6t one part oi the district if not in more. The ducks repair to the stubbles to pick up the grain that may be shaken out or left in the ears on the ground, and fall an easy prey to the gunner, who is usually hidden by straw. The season does not open till the first oi May for native game, and it will further be a close one for paradise ducks. We learn that not less than 100 ducks were shot in one night in the district we are alluding to, and it is possible the transgressors will b© hauled before a magistrate. Several hundred good trout ai - e reported by the Auckland Star to have been caught in Lake Takapuna.