TROUT FISHING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5586, 20 January 1879, Page 6

TROUT FISHING.

A meeting of license holders for this season’s trout fishing was held on Saturday afternoon, at Cookson’s Commercial Hotel. Mr TJ. Y. Eichards was voted to the chair. The Chairman said the object for which they had met was to take means to endeavour, if possible, to put a stop to tho practice some persons were indulging in this season of ground bait fishing for trout, and also fishing with prepared bait. He hardly thought it necessary to go into particulars, as the facts were known to nearly every one present. He would merely add that such practices were Tery unsportsmanlike, and would not bo resorted to by any true fisherman. He would take any resolution it might bo desired to propose. Mr Searrell thought the best course would be to appoint a deputation to wait on the Secretary to the Acclimatisation Society and endeavour to have an Act passed to put a stop to the present illegal fishing for trout in the river. License-holders should be restricted to fishing with an artificial or natural fly, and an artificial or natural minnow.

Mr Jardine said that as an old Thames fisherman, and a member of the Thames Angling Preservation Society and Piscatorial Society, he could say that it was not considered unsportsmanlike to fish with a bait on the fly. He had tried ground worms here, but the fish would not look at them ; and hearing something about certain baits being used in the river, he had closely observed two persons whom he thought used liver, but had come to the conclusion that they used salmon roe, which was sent out in tins. In the Lee stream in Otago, he knew that people fished with a piece of sheepskin wound round the fly, ana it was not considered illegal there. So far as nsing ground bait was concerned, a man might throw in a mixture of bread, clay, and worms to attract the fish, but you could not catch fish with it, and any one who fished with a fly could, in his opinion, put a maggot or worm on the hook if he liked. People who fished with worms or maggots did not catch any big fish, and it would be nonsense in his opinion to ask the Parliament to restrict license-holders to fishing with a fly. There were many who had never thrown a fly before; who after “lashing” tho fish away, spoke, of unfair-font beipg'used ifthey >avf # fisherman, km a fijh When they 'had been'TTUauccessfuli and he had got as many- as half a- dozen fish out pf. a.place those persons had been trying for bout's ‘ without ‘ catching a single fisiT- He bad | Sways fished.-in a-legitimate wary’ though he ,his pame had' bam "mentioned.ae using unfair’baft, and he would oppose anything so foolish os asking that people who took out a license should not be allowed to put a bait on the fly. He was aware that illegal fishing was being carried on, and had a strong idea that one man used a net. This person could also mistake a hare for a rabbit, and in one instance he taxed him with making this mistake. He (Mr Jardine) was also aware that some persons made a practice of going up the river in boats at night-time, and bringing back very good hauls. What the Society really wanted, to put a stop to this work, was to have a man who knew something about fishing to watch the river closely. Mr M‘ Williams said what they had met for that day was to endeavour to protect the trout, and not have them slaughtered wholesale.

An instance was mentioned of one man and -his son, who were in the habit of going out with night lanterns, and hauling in the trout hy various means. After a discussion on the practice of boys hobbing for eels, the following resolutions were agreed to :—“ That this meeting desires rto express its opinion that no fishing for trout should be allowed in any rivers in this district, save with a natural or artificial fly and a natural or artificial fish.” “ That to tgive effect to the foregoing resolution, a peti■lion be sent to the Acclimatisation Society, .signed by the licensed fishers of this district, ■requesting them to give effect to the above resolution.” “ This meeting is also of ■opinion that licenses to sell trout should be issued in a similar manner as game licenses."

It was decided that the petition should be drawn up to-day, and lie at Mr M'William’s shop, Colombo street, during the week for signature. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.