CROMWELL NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 22326, 30 April 1936, Page 1

CROMWELL NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) For years past the School Committee has always experienced difficulty in getting sufficient householders to attend the householders’ meeting to form a quorum, so that the large attendance at the householders’ meeting on Monday night came as somewhat of a surprise, and it was plainly evident that some householders desired a change. Only two of the members of the old committee in Messrs L. M. Jolly (chairman) and E. A. Cowey were re-elected. ANZAC STAMPS. The local Returned Soldiers’ Committee is organising a campaign for the sale of the Anzac commemoration stamp, and the demand in Cromwell for first day covers was _ such that the post master had to twice telegraph for further supplies, and on Monday they were’in short supply. This may be accounted for by a few youthful philatelists, who each purchased 50 covers and stamped them and posted the envelopes to themselves. FOOTBALL. The opening of tho season in the Vincent County has been set down for next Saturday, when matches arranged are Bannockburn to play Matakanui on the latter’s ground, Clyde will play the local team at Alexandra, and Wanaka will travel to Tarras,' while Cromwell team, having a bye, will be afforded an opportunity of trying out a few of the young players, whose keenness evidently is to have no outlet, as it seems impossible to muster sufficient to form a B team. ANGLING. At a recent conference between members of the Wanaka Angling Club and Cromwell Club criticism was offered regarding the stocking of rivers with quinnat salmon. One Wanaka member said; “ They had been told by overseas tourists that the district had tho finest fishing waters in the world, but the stock of fish must be maintained.” From information submitted it seems obvious that the salmon are having a serious effect on the trout in the river and lakes, and, referring to the matter, the ‘Argus’ states: “ That the annual run and presence of Quinnat salmon in the lakes was a serious menace to trout, was a very definite opinion expressed at the conference, and all present seemed to ho of the same opinion. One delegate suggested that a canning industry should be established near the sea, and the fish taken there to prevent them invading the lakes. It has to be admitted that there is a marked decline in bags,generally from the Clutha after tho run of Quinnat. One of the visiting delegates who makes a study of matters relating to angling stated that ho had set out to definitely observe the effect of a salmon run on trout. He had watched two points on the Hawea River, and at any time up to the advent of the salmon he could see from eight to ten large trout at these points. Once the Quinnat passed not a trout was to be seen. The same speaker put forward another argument against Quinnat. He said that it was generally agreed that the brown trout, rainbow, and quinnat all sought the same spawning bods. Brown trout were tho first to spawn. Then camo the rainbow and the Quinnat, and in a fight for the spawning beds the brown trout spawn was dislodged and destroyed. After the natural spawning and hatching the young quinnat remained in the lake until in the vicinity of 21b weight before returning to the sea. In the period during which they remained in the lake, and in very large numbers, they were cannibals _ and took a heavy "toll of young rainbow and brown trout. It was generally agreed that the limited sport and quality of the quinnat when taken after their long journey far from compensated for the serious effect on the trout generally.”