BIG GAME FISHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 8

BIG GAME FISHING.

TWO UNLUCKY SPORTSMEN. THE QUESTION OF CHARGES. In a recent number of your paper I read with much interest the opinions of Sir Tom Bridges on big-game fishing off Cape Brett, and quite agree with what he says, writes Mr. G. B Vj Itadmore. My brother and I left London in November to fish in the northern waters, having come ou 1 for this purpose two years ago—but with very unsatisfactory results, owing to hacf weather and having to curtail our time. This year we decided to give it a good trial. . Coming through California our friends, Mr. Zane Grey and Captain Mitchell, very kindly selected our outfit for us. I engaged by cable the Marlin, Mr. L. Warne. We went to the camp at Orepukapuka and commenced fishing on February 1, and fished with out a break for 23 days. The total bag was two swordfish to my rod, 262ib. and 2401b., and two medium-sized mako sharks to my brother. 1 except such fish as kingfish and various sharks which I did not count. I also hooked, played, and brought to s?aff a fine black marlin, but he tore loose from the gaft and so was lost. I kept a most diligent look-out for fins and shadows, but only saw one swordfish fin. At the end of 23 days, with day after day showing ! such disappointing results, and others reporting the same experience, we gave it up, and returned to Auckland. Now, I do not think this result is good enough for a journey of 28,000 miles—to and from England, We had the best equipment obtainable, a fine sea-going launch., ! and one of the most experienced launch men. ' < [ In Thursday's Herald Mr. Arltdge ' remarks that "some launchmen arc ! lucky," but if you have to depend on 1 a "lucky" launchman to lead you to j fish, I am afraid that not many English i fishermen will be tempted to spend the [ money necessary for such a long journey and incidentals. Another point for overseas fishermen is the difference in charges. On the passage to New Zealand from Ban .Francisco. one of three sportsmen coming here to fish (induced to do so after reading Zane Grey's book) showed us a letter with the terms .he was to be charged—launch £5 a day, benzine extra, expert, £l, and food for the two men £l. My own expenses were launch £4 a day, benzine, launchman's food, 10s, making for 23 days £124 4s Id. Another fisherman tells us he pays £3 a day for his launch. This difference in charges is bewildering to men who come from England, and other lands, and I quite agree with the remarks made by Sir Daniel Cooper and think the cluh committee should, in their own interests, • established a fixed price for - expenses, etc. Fishing for swordfish, : , is a fine sport, and if the launch* - owners and others do not want " see fishermen from distant transfer their attentions to soma of the islands, where these big fish are . plentiful, they would do well to study, carefully .some of the above points.