BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 27

BANK NOTES.

The season just closed has been a fair average one for trout fishing, and at one time I thought it would turn out an extraordinarily good one, but a long spell of dry weather set in after New Year, and in consequence the takes fell a long way below the usual average for tho last half of the season. Pravions to the New Year good fishing and big baskets were the rnle, notably on the Waitaki. Some really extraordinary takes were made on this river in December. After that the whitebait became so numerous that the angler bad to use very fine tackle, and be able to handle it skilfully to make any thing like a basket. In Otago, the Waipahi, Pomahaka, and Mataura afforded capital sport to those anglers who had tbe time to devote a week or so to the pastime. The stook in tbe hsith was very much reduced by some person or persons' dastardly action in poisoning the water, whereby over 3000 fish from 21b to 2oz were killed. The poison that was placed in the water .was so strong that even the bullies and minnows were killed. That it was done intentionally there is not the slightest doubt. The Acclimatisation Society have a good idea who the culprits are, but, having no direot proof, they find it hard to sheet home the offence. At first it was thought that the papar mill was responsible for tbe slaughter, but on making a thorough investigation it was found that the fish were only killed in a certain length of the stream, the first dead fish being fouad a long way below the paper mills, and as the trout in tho poola just below the outlet of the.waste water pipes were quite lively almost five minutes after the refuse mill water was turned into the stream, it was quite clear that it oould not have been the cause of the slaughter. I have heard nothing more of the Gore poaching cases. What is Ranger Burt doing? It was thought down here that he had a pretty good case against one of the prominent members of the Border Anglers' Association for fishing all the season in Otago waters without a license. I also beard that the Acclimatisation Society had instructed the ranger to prosecute. What has been done in this matter? Rumour has it that pressure has bean brought to bear on this particular case to have the prosecution quashed. If there isy any truth in thiß rumour I ask ; What ia tba use of a ranger if he is not to be allowed to proseoute when hd goes to all the trouble to catch poachera ? They are not so easily caught that they Bbould bs allowed to go aoott free like thiß ! It must be very disheartening to the ranger to see that all bis trouble has been for naught, to say nothing about the bad example to others, who are almost invited to go and do likewise. Every other person you meet asks you, "Have you been cod fishing?" Well, I have been, and , good sport it is. The bay is just alive with those fish, and they bite bo freely and fiercely that it is almost next door to trout fishing. I heard of one gentleman catching 14 dozen in three hours and a half. Ha sat up half the night splitting and Baiting them for winter use. I observed to a waterman that he must be making a nice thing out of it, letting out his boats. "Hang the cod fishing," says he. "Why, it takes me three hours every day cleaning out the boats after them, and I have to wait here until 10 and 11 o'clock at night until they return. Sometimes some of them leave the boats on the rocky wall, and I have to pay a man to go and look for them. They also forget to pay the hire, so that taking it altogether it is not so rosy as it looks." But still, witb all these inconveniences, they must be doing very well, as night after night all their boats are let out. I went out on Satur day and had splendid sport, one gentleman in the boat next mine catching a ling about 4Jft long. The way it scattered round the movable articles in the boat was a caution. The occupants, however, soon settled him witb a hit over the head. Fully 50 boats wero out. I noticed several members of the Acclimatisation and Anglers' Societies, who seemed to be enjoying themselves and getting full baskets. Small fish ars also very numerous in tbe harbour, trevalli and mullet being especially plentiful, so that there is no lack of sport for those who care for this form of recreation. The news from the Clinton salmon ponds is of a nature likely to be highly pleasing to the members of the Acclimatisation Society and the public generally. Mr Burfc writing to Mr J. P. Maitland on the 21st, reports that last week he emptied the salmon pond for the purpose of transferring to fche race the fish likely to spawn this year, and also to allow of the pond being thoroughly cleaned. Last year these fish produced ova from which 14,000 young fish were hatched. Mr Burt was also anxious to ascertain whether the salmon had maintained their condition while confined to the pond. He reports that the salmon have grown a good deal, several being now 18in length and about 21b in weight, while their condition is excellent. The female fish are perfect pictures and full of ova, while most of fche male fish were of that rich yellow tinge which at once showed their condition. There was no sign of disease, each fish being in the pink of condition. The fish to the number of 87 were all safely conveyed to the spawning race,' and it is anticipated thab 50,000 eggs will be obtained this season. The experiment of keeping the fish in the pond has so far proved a great success, and there is now every reason to think that they will be successfully acclimatised, as tbe society will he in a position to add to the stock in the rivers year by year. Mr Burt states that Dr Maunsell and his daughter arrived at tbe ponds in time to see the fish being netted, and were greatly delighted with what they saw. Mr Burt suggests that the pond should be enlarged.