ROTORUA FISHING

Evening Star, Issue 22031, 17 May 1935, Page 2

ROTORUA FISHING

NO DETERIORATION [Per United Press Association.] ROTORUA, May IC. Statements appearing in the Auckland Press to the effect that the future of fishing in the Rotorua district is “threatened from many angles,” and that a “ falling away in the number of visiting fishermen with a resultant loss of revenue is inevitable,” were described to-day by the conservator of fish and game, Mr A. Kean, as quite unjustified and likely to have a most damaging effect on the tourist business. Mr Kean claimed that some of the best fly fishing in the district was experienced in the Hamurana, Waititi, and Awahou during December, January, and February, and that many good bags Had been taken during the season. Anglers generally were agreed that tno condition of the fish snowed a steady improvement. The poor fishing experienced in some of the lakes during the summer was due to the fact that the hot weather drove the fish out on the shallows into the deep water. The number of spawning fish in the streams at the present time showed conclusively that there was no lack of fish in the district lakes, and their, condition proved that there was feed in abundance.

Mr Kean discounted the suggestion that the number of shags in the district had seriously depleted the young fish, stating that experience showed that shags did not feed exclusively on trout, but to a largo extent on crayfish, bullies and shellfish. This comment was made in connection with the agitation to have the bounty on shags’ heads increased from Is to 2a 6d.