A LETTER FROM DENHAM GREEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 22 May 1890, Page 29

A LETTER FROM DENHAM GREEN.

Jook Scott,— Dear Sir : The wonderful trout have just arrived in splendid order, but seemingly the largest has been stolen out of the box, either on board ship or on the railway. You say eight were sent weighing 251b. I have only received Beven, weighing only 181b, I have today dispatched one to the Duke of Fife, one to tbe Marquis of Lothian (Seoretary for Scotland), and ono to the Earl of Rosebery (First Commissioner of Works). I also gave one to Mr James Anderson, aocountant, Commercial Bank, who introduced Mr Farr when he came here seeking salmon ova for the Government of New Zealand, and who heartily enjoyed such a delicate fidh, equal to any salmon or trout I ever saw, I also gave one to J. Barker Duncan, Esq. (seoretary to the Angling Assooiation of Scotland), and he really enjoyed it. My nephew writes me that he kills them up to 221b, Out he forgets to say where, I had a number of scientifio gentlemen examining your trout, as some thought they did not coincide with our Tweed trout. But after all they had to give in and say they were beaten in their endeavours to find out any difference. My opinion is that the snow water and the food they eat will make a difference in their appearance as well as in their colour. I believe most of your floods are from snow water, and are thus very cold. In this country in summer our floods are from the hills, and are heated by the sun. Two of your trout have Loch Lsven marks, but their teeth differ very much from Loch Lsvens, the tails were not shaped liked the Loch Leveu trout, but resembled the Tweed. I am asked by some gentlemen if you freeze such trout for the Melbourne market, as they think they would sell well there. If split, salted a little, and slightly smoked with the roots of apple or pear trees they will also prove attractive. I hfcvo juat proposed Jto the Chief Magistrate or Lord Provost of our oity, to start a large pond at Granton within that extensive harbour for all kinds of fish. My proposal is for it to be 400 ft or 500 ft bfoad by 3000 ft long, toonable vessels of all sizes to come and deliver their live oargo. I propose cultivating and rearing every kind of shell fish, with all kinds of white fish, ao as to again restock the Firtb, Beeing that the Government is desirous ot oarrying out suoh a scheme in order to give instruction to students and fishermen such as never was attempted before. Can you obtain for me all particulars of that great lake 75 miles longLake Wakatipu ? Does it freeze ? Do fish spawn in it ? or are there streams about for that purpose? I havo heard it is upwards of 100 ft deep, but if it as related to me, it may is be several hundred feet deep in some parts, This has been, both for salmon and trout, all over Scotland the worst season ever known, and anglers are everywhere crying out. One river on the Continent last year, which from Ist December to end of March gave 4000 fish, has as yet yielded only 1050, or soarcely over one-fourth, and no one there can account for such a state of affairs. Strange to say, very few grilse, or young salmons, are ever oaught. They are all large, from 151b to 401b. Everyone who saw the box of trout was quite surprised at their being in such a fine Btate. My son, who has a freezer in the shop, can make a soft fish like a board of wood in a very few hours. He had a large case all fitted up, and in it he can keep fish, game, or poultry for Beveral weeks, or months if so required. B^low hia shop his ice store of blocks holdß 1000 tons —rather a cold supply. He generally goes through 20,000 every season. He has two vessels constantly going over, taking coal and bringing over loads of ice from a large lake in Norway. How are the fishermen at Stewart's doing ? If any good, a dozen here are desiring me to send them out ; but I would like to hear what encouragement I could hold out to them. Kindly gather all the information you can, and if good I can send out fishermen in any number that may be required. — Yours truly, John Anderson. Denham Green, Edinburgh, March 25.