WHY FEWER FISH?

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 21

WHY FEWER FISH?

CAK OR 'POACHER ■? GOOD RANGING THE TEST ENEMIES OF, TROUT

A correspondent; writes: "People whose responsibility is tlio preservation of freshwutor fish naturally emphasise the weiglit of . certain forces opposing thorn. In more than ono quarter recently stress has been laid on tho increased use of motor-cars. "The motor-car ;.is a rule carries iisherincn wlio fish witliin llio law, and it seoras Iv follow lugically that the motorcar is singled out as signifying a greater rango for legal, trout-fishing ■ "But are trout in greater danger from an increase in the range of the.legal fishermen, or from the prevalence of illegal practices and poaching, including tho use of explosives'? ' ■ CAR CRY ASA BLIND. "To blame the motor-car is all right, but the tendency to blame cars should not be allowed to blind the public to the fact that, whether cars become more or fewer, there is need of effective ranging to assure that people on streams, whether car-owners or not, shall not poach. "J.W. writes in the 'New Zealand Herald': 'Mr. A. E. Hefford, Inspector of Fisheries, stateß that the day of the motor-car is finishing the day of large fish and largo baskets, and artificial means have to play a much more important part than in years gone by in maintaining the condition and number of fish.' "J±" this means more breeding and restocking, well and good. But 'J.W. goes on to say, with special reference to tho Tongariro:— "I'ishlng should be made harder, if possible, than formerly. The disappearance of the spoon from the lower reaches helped the river enormously. Now it appears that tho spoon's place 5s to be taken by the lead and fly with the Silex. That, also, should go if the Tongariro is 'to ■remain the best sporting fly river of the world.' "The writer is not concerned with the Tongariro .River in particular, nor wth the merits and demerits of either the spoon or the sunken fly (with Silex), but with the tendency to blame motor-cars and spoons, and live-bait, and to say as little as possible about the rampant trout-murder that goes on openly in various parts of the country, sometimes near main highways. People who strain at the live-bait gnat swallow the poacher camel. The main thing (ana tho thing by which the acclimatisation societies should be judged) is the efficiency of the ranging. Because there are motor-cars, is it to be assumed that their increase necessitates poorer fishing? Surely tho ranger as woll as the fish-breeder has aai account to render in yiis connection.'' SILEX, LEAD, AND TLY. Tho article by "J.W.," quoted by the above correspondent, while opposing the Silex and sunken fly, does not' support a reduction of the limit of day's catch on the Tongariro. The writer states: — "During March some limits were taken, both on the river and at the Delta, but the number of river limits is not many, and I cannot see that, there is any' reason for a reduction in the present number of fish allowed each (lay. To my inina the men who can, after years of practice,. throw a pcrfoet line, deserve their limits._ There Jivo not many of. them, and it is just as well it is so, if the fish are to go round. Again,-all these men have tho care of the river at heart, and pay only ,occasional visits to it. . ..'"A matter the authorities will.have: to consider very seriously before next November is tho use of the 'Silex reel,, lead; and fly. If this method of taking fish is not stopped before it becomes prevalent, untold damage will be done. This method has been in use a good deal during the latter part of tho sea-, son, much to tho detriment of the fishing from a fly fisherman's point of view. Considering that the Tongariro is tho best river in tho world for taking rainbow on the fly, this is in itself an important factor. It is not as though a part of the river has not been set aside' for those who wish for this style of fishing. ' "During April anyone who liked to put tho time and patieri-ee into fishing couia always get what would and should content the heart of any ordinary fisherman. I know of one man who had not fished the Tongariro before and he averaged five fish a day, of an average weight of 6*lb, during the last week of April. He was ( very much1 more, than content."