RIVER INVADED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 7

RIVER INVADED

SCHOOL OF KAHAWAI

ONSLAUGHT BY AMATEUR "ANGLERS"

A number of sinister -looking fins cutting the water beneath the Hutt Bridge, Lower Hutt, attracted the attention of many yesterday. During the afternoon a large crowd gathered,' and traffic was held up while people watched an unusual sight.

The fish responsible were kahawai, a large school of which had made its way up the river. The kahawai is quite a big fish, averaging about 51b in weight and about 18in in length, and those which visited the bridge were well up to standard. Indeed, many were of well over average si|e.

From about noon until 3 o'clock, the tide was fairly full, and, the river being tidal up to the bridge, the fish had plenty of water in which to move about. As the fish turned, fins and tails broke the surface, and swirls of water were thrown up. The river was fairly muddy, and the fish soon stirred the mud up even more, but dark shapes could be seen flitting about below the surface, and often rippling wakes proclaimed the presence of a' "big fellow" making his way upstream. WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER. As the tide commenced to run out, the slaughter commenced. The fish had to make their way downstream over the shallows to regain the safety of the river mouth, and in doing so exposed themselv.es to the mercies of many amateur fishermen. Nets, pieces of wood, and even pitchforks were pressed into service, and dozens of fish were thrown out on to the river bank.

Little skill was necessary on the part of the fishers, and any means seemed to them to justify the end of landing a bigger haul than the "other fellow" at the next vantage point. When the survivors of the school reached the mouth of the river, they were a much smaller band than that which went up-river on the previous full tide:

The slaughter appeared to be both wasteful and cruel. The kahawai cannot be described as a fish which is pleasant to eat. Young kahawai make fairly good eating, but have to be treated skilfully by the cook. In any case, many of the amateur fishermen killed much more than were necessary for their needs, and did so in a very cruel manner. Kahawai are chiefly of use to fishermen as bait for much larger game, as they are considered a delicacy by sharks. UNUSUAL VISITATION. For many years, kahawai have frequented the river mouth, and they have been noticed on quite a few occasions under the bridge. Yesterday's visitation ; was easily the largest to date, however, as previously only two or three could be seen from the bridge. It is not known what drove them up the river, and many suggestions were offered to account for their appearance. One of these was the presence of sharks or kingfish in the harbour..

Quite a haul was made in the vicinity of the pipe bridge earlier in the week, so it is plain that the river has been gaining in popularity among the fish for some time. -Despite yesterday's massacre, many fish returned to the bridge today, and were again watchej by an interested crowd.