MORE PLENTIFUL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 3

MORE PLENTIFUL

Trout at Waitaki River

The annual report of the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society states that in spite of heavy ranging costs, considerable expenditure on the Waitaki bridge reserve, legal expenses, etc., the balance sheet showed a slight increase in balance of assets over liabilities of £3l 3s 9d. Revenue from the sale of fishing licences receded by only 6s from that of last year, while revenue from game licences brought in £261 ss, an increase of £l6 17s 6d. From the reports of anglers who have kept records for a number of years, it appeared that this season trout were more plentiful in the Waitaki River, bigger bags were taken and average weight much higher. Twelve-pound trout in good condition were not uncommon. Salmon fishing had been very disappointing this year, the river being unfishable for a major part of the year because of heavy rain in the back country and the fluctuations in the river because of the operations of the dam at Lake Pukaki. In the Kakanui River most anglers had taken a fair number of fish for the season, but these were generally smaller than in past seasons. After the longest drought in North Otago for many years with a consequent drying-up of lagoons, swamps and casual water, shooting at the commencement of the 1949 season was largely confined to streams and rivers. Some good bags were obtained at the opening, particularly in the Upper Waitaki districts. In this district chukor had increased, but Californian quail appeared to be harder to secure.