ANGLERS’ MEET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 261, 2 October 1936, Page 2

ANGLERS’ MEET.

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES

LICENSES AND CONDITIONS

Several matters of interest to anglers were discussed at a conference held in Woodville, this week, of sportsmen from the Palmerston North, f oilding, Dannevirke, Pahiatua and Woodville districts. The visitors were entertained by the Woodville Angling Club members with songs and musical items and the gathering concluded with the serving of supper. .... Increased fees for fishing licenses for youths between 16 and 18 years of age were discussed at length, the statement being made that the sum of 25s now required was very nearly prohibitive for learners. It was also pointed out that in the past, boys attending school, but over 16 years of age, were entitled to the os boys license. That privilege had been taken from them and, in many cases, parents were not in a position to pay the increased fee. so that it meant that many boys between the ages of 16 and 18 years would be unable to take part m the sport. That was greatly to be deplored, as it was from those boys that the acclimatisation societies derived their adult fishermen. The acquisition of the control of portions of certain streams by companies or indivdual persons and the debarring of license-holders in general from fishing those waters was also discussed: The Waikato River being cited, it was stated that there were close on one hundred miles of the finest fishing waters in the world closed to anglers thwe because of the operations of private fishing rights. That river was what most overseas anglers came to New Zealand to fish, and thus it was a national asset to the country. The Governments of the past, it was felt, were greatly to blame for allowing that state of things. The meeting expressed the hope tnai the present Government would take the matter in hand and see that arrangements were made to throw open to fishermen that stretch of the Waikato River, and also see that in future, when Crown land adjoining rivers was leased or sold, reasonable access is assured to such waters by a reserve ol one chain for fishermen being provided on each side of such waters. The opinion was expressed that many anglers thought that the wiong class of fish were being stripped to provide ova for the hatcheries. It was stated that a great number of the fish stripped were from fish that habituallv lived in the brackish waters at the mouth of rivers. These fish ran up the rivers in the late autumn and were seen by fishermen during the spawning season, giving great hopes for the coming season, but as soon as the spawning was over they returned to the waters from whence they came. The fry bred from these fish gradually, through hereditary instinct made their way down to the sea also. J lie opinion was expressed that only fish that were actually river fish should be stripped for breeding purposes. The worst enemy of trout was a matter also discussed, the poacher, the eel and the shag being mentioned. It was the unanimous opinion that the sn a 8 was the greatest enemy the fish had to contend with. It was deplored that some of the largest acclimatisation societies were doing nothing towards the destruction of the pest. Alterations to the rules for the competition for the Stockwell Cup were also agreed on. Tt was decided that the series of fishing competitions previously conducted be abandoned and one big field day substituted, the aim beino- for all the clubs to meet at some central spot on one day. The competitions will consist of fly casting, bait casting, the tying of artificial flies, and demonstrations by experts of the different methods of fishing; also a competition in which two men from end club will try conclusions by actual fishing on the river. Club members are to be invited to bring their wives and ]adv friends and-make a picnic of the outing, thus providing an instructive, interesting social outing for every member E resent. It was decidedl to hold the first field day m the W oodville district.