ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 28

ANGLING.

By Jock Scott.

To be a perfeot fisherman you require more excellences than t-e umi»lH- to be found in sucb » small iptce as U allotted to s mane c&rcas«.— FißKm Giluoub.

Readers are invited to contribute items of looal fishing iv-ori for Insertion la this column. For insertion in t>ic eupulng {jsiie thej should rc&ch Danedio by Monday nights mail.

BANK KOTES.

Fishing Licensbs. — The Daily Times correspondent telegraphs on the 12th :—: — The quf stion of the fee to be charged by the acclimatisation societies for fishing licenses has been brought before the Government by Mr Velenlfiie. Whilst the Southland Society only charges 10s for a licence the Otago Society charges 20s. Hitherto these societies have endowed each other's licenses, but it is vow stated that the Otago Society dcieliiwl to endorse the Southland licenses. Id consequence of this it is probable that the department will lay down the law, which is within their powers, that the

maximum fee shall be 20s, and that where such fee has been paid tbe license shall extend throughout the colony.

Fishino Licenses. — Dr de Lautour, Oamarr, writes as follows on this subject in Friday's Daily Times :— I am pleased to notice that my letter of the 24th ult., protesting against what was then supposed to be an ungenerous or selfish action of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, has been the means of clearing up some doubtful points. Firstly, it has been followed by the circular issued by the Otago Society, which is eminently satisfactory and explains their position. Secondly, it has been followed by letters from the secretary and president of the Southland Society, showing tbat they have two forms of licenses, a 10s and 20s license, and that th bearers of tbe 20s licenses are ipso facto members of the Southland Society. This is satisfactory, as explaining their position, but very unsatisfactory from another point of view. It is very evident now why the Otago Society refused to endorse the Southland 20s license ; for clearly it is only a 10s license after all— i.e., 10s license and 10s subscription to tbe society, and apparently an evasion. Surely Messrs Brodriok and Morrison cannot maintain that their 20s license, including membership subscription, is of equivalent value to the licenses of the other societies, which, including membership subscription, is at least 30a. With regard to the Otago license of 10s for minors, this same thing has been done by all or almost all the other societies, and is, I think quite right, for it is meant principally for boys at school who can only fish dnring holidays. And in this respect the Canterbury Society have gone a little further this year, and propose issuing licenses to adults for tbß whole season for 20s, and for the second half of the season, after the 20th of December, for 10s; youths' licenses in each case half-price. I think this is a step in the right direction as tending to popularise the sport, for many persons can only get away from their business in town during the Christmas, New Year, and Easter holidays. At the same time, if it could be arranged, it would be very much better that there should be one uniform license for the whole colony. 'I am aware that some argue as a reason for including membership under a 20s license that being members they would act more energetically, and would take greater interest in keeping down poaching. They forget, however, that under the regulations a license holder has power to demand the production of licenses and inspect creels, &c, and is thus virtually an honorary ranger if he cares to act as such.

Tokomairiro. — The Brace Anglers' Association held their annual meeting last week. There was a good attendance, and the report and balance sheet, which were very satisfactory, were adopted. It waa resolved to hold a fishing competition on the opening day of the season, the prize to be given by the association. Three other prizes have been offered by interested parties and will ba competed for daring the eeason. The first competition will probably take place on the 9th November. The association has also undertaken to clear the river banks of obstructions.— Own Correspondent.

Angling Extraordinary in Dcnedin. — An unusual capture was made at the cross wharf on Tuesday forenoon by a boy named William Hinde, who was standing close to tbe ship Nelson, when he noticed a large fish swimming round the piles. The boy quickly slid down the nearest pile, and getting on to one of the stringers waited for the tish to come closer. It did so, and Hmde deftly slid bis band under the gills and hauled it out of the water. It proved to be a remarkably fine ling in good condition, and fully 3ft long. Goke. — The anglers of Gore are petitioning the Governor to extend the boundary of the fishing district of the Southland Acclimatisation Society to the eastern boundary of the county of Southland, or make such other provision as will afford the petitioners the privilege of fishing on both sides of the Mataura river.

NoKOMAI. — It is satisfactory to learn in view of the approach of the season that fish are plentiful in this locality. Poaching is, however, prevalent, and steps should be taken to catch and puuish the offenders.

Thus Spectator on Angling.— Angling is accompanied 'by slow tortures to various creatures. It takes many minutes to kill a large trout, and it sometimes takes more than an nour to kill a large salmon. If the fisherman wishes to use worms, he Btarves and purges them for three days in moss and milk, so that they may be pink and enticing ; and, in sticking his Stewart tackle into them, he takes care that they shall wriggle, instead of dying. Maggots are similarly treated. Then, the man who would thrash hie juvenile son for tearing tbe legs of spiders or the wings of flies thinks nothing of impaling an insect on a hook in a manner that keeps it attractively alive, Against what other sport can an indictment such as that be brought ? " The gentle art "is one of tbe many pretty definitions with which angling has been caressed. It is very imperfectly descriptive. The gentleness of angling is merely its outer aspect. " Wanderers by the loitering rills " do seem to be quiet, peaceful men, who could not possibly inflict pain ; but that is only because we are accustomed to associate the gentle tranquility of Nature with the nlow motion and the absence of excitement which constitute the angler's demeanour. Let us turn from the appearanca of things to their reality. If Mr Bright had * een a boy hauling in a crow, or a partridge, or a hen caught on a baited hook, be would, we are sure, have been very much shocked ; but there is not a particle of proof that to drag birds from the air by rod and line would be any more cruel than dragging fish from the water by the same means.— Spectator. The Mimihau Stbbam.— Jock Scott,— Sir : I do not intend to meddle with the endorsement question further than to say that whoever Htockeci the stream is entitled to the revenue. I see a letter in the Witness signed by "Pike," in which the writer makes charges against the Southland anglers of almost clearing certain streams of fish-— amongst otherß, the Mimihau, While I admit the Mimibau is a favourite stream with a pood m&ny anglers both from Otago and Southland, and was heavily fished last season, I believe it is within the mark to say that no stream of a like size had mere fish taken from it. But I can quite assure " Pike " that it is far from cleared yet. If anyone bad gone along the bnukfi on a fine day in the spawning season and seen tbe number ef fish that were visible, they would Bay at once that there was no danger of anglers doing any serious damaga. 1 have- lived beside the elrer m for tho last seven years, and have seen the fish increase year after year in spite of the po^cherp, ahpgp, eelß, or Southland anglers, and I have every hope tbat the Mimihau will elill iraicfr.in its pood name during the 6nfiuing season.— Yours, &c, W. S. Smith.

Physicians, Homoeopathic: and Allopathic, have at last found a safe autl genuine preparation in Ebuthr's Sykup. which nev.r fails to uic-t the ca-e. If is eoaupO6t!il ut ic.^iviiieuts which purify the Wood, And it is a well known fnrt th«fc sound fleili h°ilfchj' iibi-e, an.J Uvd muMiU-are n.adfj frr.'u pu'-e blood. "The Syrup acts dheetly on the liver, the grc.it, uepura 1 ing org>n of th6 system, and when thi3 "jjood housekeeper" io unfetteredly at work there will ba cleanliness v/ithiu, and tlie perfect glow of hralth without Hkutkr's Hbaj,ikg Soap for the toilet, nursery, bath, and the healing of skin diseases of every kind and at every stage.