DEEP-SEA FISHING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 73, 26 March 1926, Page 8

DEEP-SEA FISHING

MR. ZANE GREY'S METHODS

REPLY TO CRITICISMS

MR.. ALMA BAKERS-DEFENCE.

A ceii^i.i amount of misconception appears to have arisen over Mr. Zane Grey's methods of fishing and his tackle, and there has arisen some controversy over his comment on the methods and tackle adopted in New Zealand for big game fishing. The following comment by Mr. C. Alma Baker, also a deep-sea angler, who has made several visits to New Zealand and has been at the Bay of Islands with Mr. Grey for some weeks, should be of considerable interest. Mr. Baker stated to a "New Zealand Herald" representative on Wednesday that as he was tho chief cause of Mr. Zane Grey's visit to New Zealand he thought it incumbent upon him to set right as far as he could the slight irritation caused among fishermen by these misconceptions. Mr. Baker made it clear that he was at present carrying out a private fishing tour with Mr. Grey and was in no way connected with Mr. Grey's expenditure on his expedition. "It is needless for me to point out that Mr. Zane Grey's long experience as a deep-sea fisherman is unique," said Mr. Alma Baker, "and that he has been a close student in many waters of the life-history of big game fish and has organised numerous fishing expeditions to different parts of the world. He has also^ devised ways and mean? for capturing, by rod and line,- fish which it has hitherto been impossible to land in that way. "One of your correspondents states, that Mr. Grey is- out for breaking world's records,- both in the number of fish caught and in the size of individual fish. Your correspondent apparently does not know, or has forgotten, that Mr. Grey has come to New Zealand to establish, beyond dispute, the wealth of game fish in New Zealand waters. He has been fortunate enough to be responsible for the landing of fish, on rod and line, of such a size as have never been landed before, and also a larger number of fish in one day than has hitherto fallen to the rod of a single fisherman. He has come to New Zealand for a specific purpose, and that purpose is to show the outside world What can be done here if the right kind of tackle is used." DIFFERENCE IK METHODS. Mr. Alma Baker continued: "A good deal of excitement and pleasure has no doubt been derived by New Zealand fishermen, in spite of the rather out-of-date methods of fishing for these big game fish with the reel under the rod, instead of having the reel above the rod, as is the custom in all other deepsea fishing centres. Fishing with the reel under the rod makes the line guides bear the entire strain of the line, instead of the rod; and there is a great deal more friction and wear and tear on the line with this system of fishing than there is with the reel on top of the rod; and, further, the strain put on the portions of the rod between the guides is much greater. "The pleasure derived from deep-sea fishing is in 'pumping' or fighting the fish on rod and line, and it w:as for this reason that Mr. Grey published his views on the methods universally adopted by the recognised sea-angling clubs ,of the world. There is, of course, no necessity for those who wish to continue fishing with the reel under the rod to alter their method if they are- satisfied with the amount of pleasure they 'derive from, it, .but, if they stop to think about it, they will realise that in their procedure it is the boat and the fish that do niost of the fighting." OBJECTION TO GANG HOOKS. "One of your correspondents asked why it was that Mr. Grey objected to gang hooks in deep-sea fishing when gang hooks were allowed in trout and salmon fishing. I take it that • Mr, Grey's reason was that single hooks have been adopted by all the sea-ang-ling clubs outside of New Zealand, the gang hook being considered unsporting, as it does not give the fish a chance to recover if he gets away with the gang hook buried in his gills. The gang hook, or treble hook, is also prohibited by the 'fresh-water angling clubs of England, Canada, America, and many other countries. "When live bait is hooked for trolling or drifting, the single hook is much more humane than the gang hook, as the single hook is not put through the fish's back, but only through the gristly part of the nose, which in no way hurts the fish, and the fish.keeps alive for five or six hours. On the other hand, the gang hook is stuck through the back of the fish, and causes severe laceration, and tho fish dies in a very short time." The ideal place for hooking a swordfish, said Mr. Alma Baker, was in the angle of the mouth, and this class of hooking could be achieved more readily by a single hook through the nose of the bait, either for trolling or drifting. The large majority of the fish hooked by Mr.. Grey had been hooked in- the angle of the mouth. No lines had been broken during the whole fishing season, so no fish had got away with hooks in their gills and yards of lino and the steel leaders dragging after them. STRENGTH OF MR. GREY'S GEAR. "It must be remembered," continued Mr. Alma Baker, '' that Mr. Zane Grey has fished for the larger- fish in various waters of the world, and consequently has devoted much time and money to the question of the necessary tackle. In Now Zealand ho uses various grade.s, according to the weight of fish ho desire's to-cateh. I have a list of'the fish Mr. Zane Grey has caught by trolling and by drifting, and I find that he has caught a larger number by trolling, and I also find that his usual time for landing a hard-fighting fish of 2501b is about three-quarters of an hour. If, however a fish of this size happens to get on the heavier tackle, it is landed more quick"Mr. Grey has brought to New Zealand the fascinating method of fishing by fast trolling and raising fish by means of 'tarporinos,' or wooden dummies. Some of these dummies ho has given to the Russell boatmen and they. are now using them with great success. He has been keen to increase the pleasure of big game fishing and has shown his tackle, besides carefully explaining his methods of fishing, to many fishermen at Russell, and also to the boatmen in various parts -of the Bay •of Islands. From what I have seen accomplished by Mr. Zane Grey, his picture and book will, I feel certain, fulfil all that tho Government of New Zealand and the public can desire."