TONS OF TROUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14690, 26 May 1911, Page 8

TONS OF TROUT.

GREAT FISHING AT TAUPO.

Mr. C. M. L. Potts, a well-known resident of Sydney, and an ardent fisherman, has been upending a couple of months in camp, fishing the rivers that flow into 'Lake Taupo. The- visitor, who is not a stranger to the locality (says the Dominion) is more enthusiastic than ever in declaring the waters to be the finest trout fishery m the world. During the sojourn of himself and Mrs. Potts at the lake, they caught no less than 2£ tons of trout, without in any way attempting to put up a record. As a matter of fact. Mr. Potts states there were several people in camp who caught more fish than he did, so that an idea can bo formed of the wonders of these waters to disciples of Isaac Walton. One fisherman, Mr. Schilson, is said to "have taken eight tons of trout this season ; and still no impression is made on the swarming numbers which use Taupo as the sea and the rivers for breeding purposes. _ Many people, says Mr. Potts, visit the rivers early in the season, and go away disappointed with their sport. This is owing to the fact that the fish have not yet made for their home waters from the lake, for the trout of Taupo behave precisely as do the salmon of North America, and commenco to home at a certain time in the samo manner as do. the salmon. "In fact," says Mr. Potts, "I believe they are a species of salmonthe flesh when cooked takes on the pink colour of the salmon, and tastes exactly like it." Like other successful fishermen who have fished the -.Taupo rivers, the visitor believes that the trout would can well, and favours the idea of a cannery being established at Tokaanu. At present the fish are either given to the Maoris or thrown away. ?. "I find it.difficult to make my people in England believe in the trout catches here," said Mr. Potts. "Occasionally the subject of fishing will crop up. and my father will say, with a twinkle in his eye "Tell us one of those New Zealand fish stories!' I show them genuine photographs, but they say that the fake photograph is so clever nowadays."