BIG-GAME FISHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19896, 15 March 1928, Page 11

BIG-GAME FISHING.

THE COST OF THE SPORT.

LAUNCH-OWNERS* VIEWPOINT. REPLY TO ENGLISH ANGLER. Mr. E. C. Arlidge, of Russell, writes:— As our esteemed angler, Dr. G. R. Badmore, of London, has touched on launch charges, it is my duty to try and explain. Our up-to-date launches cost us just over £IOOO, we cnly get anglers for about two months' big-game fishing in the year, and when we have paid interest, principal, insurance, harbour board licehce fee, Government survey fee mooring fee, fishing licence, painting and other expenses, we have nothing left. As a matter of fact, some of the launchmen will not have a credit balance this season. None of our launchmen has ever charged £5 per day. Dr. Radmore quotes Sir Daniel Cooper. Sir Daniel's own words are: "I do not see how the cost of fishing could be reduced. The sport was a seasonal one, and the launch owners had to make a living and pay for the upkeep of their boats." Then, again, there are two or three classes of launches. Some launchmen have chaaper boats, therefore they charge less. Dr. Radmore states: My own expenses were £4 a day for launch, benzine, launchman's food 10s, making for 23 days £124 4s Id. He does not state that his brother, who shared the launch with him, ought to pay half, and that his share should only be £62 2s. It has been suggested that the New Zealand Government should chaige all the overseas anglers a fee of £SO for the rights to fish on our coast, and I would also like to state hers that under the by-laws of the Auckland Harbour Board, the following are the rates of hire on time authorised to be charged for launch and crew, irrespective of numbers carried: Launches under 20 h.p., 15s pet hour; launches of 20 h.p. and not exceeding 40 h.p., 17s 6d per hour; launches over 40 h.p., 20s per hour. A number of our launches have 100 h.p. engines, if you work that out from eight o clock in the morning till six o'clock in the evening, and some of these anglers stay out longer, then we are only charging half rate. Our launchmen here are decent, respectable fellows. They are the only men on the coast who know the latest methods of big-game fishing. They are the only men who know how to handle the latest Thev have the finest fleet of swordfish launches in the world. They were also first in the field in connection witn the deep-sea fishing. Therefore they are entitled to a fair share of the benehts.

SUCCESSES OFF CAPE BRETT. MORE SWORDFISH CAUGHT. [BT TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.3 BUSSELIi. Tuesday. Latest catches on the deep-sea fishing gl Mr! d H. al Lianfear, Blenheim, swordfish, 2541b., launch Manaaki Mr. Mason Bayly. Orakawa, hlack mi L' lin swordfish, 3201b.. launch Mason B. V Mr. J Kershaw, Maryborough, swordfish, 2411b.; Mr. W. Irons, Martinborough, mako shark, 1301b., Mi. N. Ussher, Martinborough, swordfish, , launch Ozone. This is the second time this season that three fish have been caught from the one launch in one day. Mr. C. Alma Baker, Malay States, swordfish, 2601b. launch Reliance; Mr. N. Cook, Russell, swordfish, AiUlb., launch Billie D. v. Mr. J. A. McDougall, Martinborough, swordfish, 2861b., launch Ozone. Mr. C. Coryton, England, hammerhead shark, 2701b., launch Valhalla, Mr. W. S. Lambe, New South Wales, swordfish, 2571b., launch Rosemary.

SPORT AT WHANOAROA. devonport visitors' success. [by telegraph. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' WHANGAEOA. Tuesday. Fishing from Mr. Eric Sanderson's launch Hazel Mr. J. Rees George, of Devonport, landed a black marlin weighing 3521b. From the same boat Mr. Morgan, of Devonport, landed a striped marfin weighing 3241b. They report swordfish plentiful. The weather is favourable, so some good catches may be expected.

THE MAYOR ISLAND GROUNDS.

TUSSLE WITH BLACK MARLIN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAURANGA, Wednesday. The Mayor Island fishing grounds continue to yield good sport. In three days three swordfish, three mako sharks and a shovel-nosed shark were captured by parties aboard the launches Dauntless, May Belle, Ruamano and Virginia. Mr. Mowlem, owner of the Virginia, had a great tussle with a fine black marlin, which was landed and brought over to Tauranga to-day. It was 10ft. lOin. long, with a girth of 4ft. It was not weighed, but the estimated weight was about 4001b.