BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1927, 29 January 1891, Page 29

BANK NOTES.

Perch — Some fine baskets of perch are being obtained in the Tomahawk lagoon, Messrs Murray, Sanderson, Henderson, and several others nave landed some very good specimens during tbe last few weeks. Three or four very large eels have also been caught by persons fishing for perch. The competitors in tbe Pomahaka river competition, held on the 23rd inst,, were :— Ho. Name. Starting Point. I— E. Ghisholm ... Lower Clydevale bridge to one mile and a-half above same. 2— W. Sheddan ./. One milo and a-half above Lower Clydevale bridge to three miles above same. 3— J. Moen ... Three miles above Lower Clydevale bridge to four and a-half miles above same. 4— J. Sparks ... Four and a-half miles above Lower Olydevale bridge to Upper Olydevale bridge. 5— P. Aitken ... From Upper Olydevale bridge to one mile and a-half above same. 6— Jast Telford ... One mile and a-half above Upper Clydevale bridge to three miles above same. 7— J. O'Hara .;. Three miles above Upper Olydevale bridge to four miles and a-half above same. 8-Geo. Munro ... Four miles and a-half above Upper Olydevale bridge to six miles above same. 9— W. Cumberbeaoh One mile and a-half below Wairuna oreek to the mouth of same. 10— J. Oorbett ... Wairuna oreek to one mile and a-balf above same, 11— S. Corbett ... One mile and a-half above Wairuna creek to three miles above same. 12— J. Moir ... Three miles above Wairuna oreek to Waipahi Junction. 13— W. Carlton ... Waipahi Junction to Oonical Hill*. 14— D. Melrose J.. Pomahaka bridge to one mile and a-half above same. , 15— J. Burt ... One mite " and a-balf above Pomahaka bridge to M'Kenzie's bridge. 16— Jas* King ... M'Kenzie's bridge to one mile and a-half above same. ■ ■ The reault of tbe competition was as follows : Name. No. of Fish. lb oz I— George Munro 12 34 0 2-D. Melrose 8 15 9 3- J. Burt 8 12 O James Sparks 3 11 13 James King 3 11 0 W. Oarlton 3 10 0 W. Cumberbeach 2 8 13 Peter Aitken 4 8 5 Corbett 1 4 0 Jas Telford 1 4 0

Messrs George Munro and D. Melrose have won prizes at previous competitions. The special prize (Mr Thomas Brown's) falls to Mr Burt.

CltjtSA.— Two 14-pounders are reported from this river, caught respectively by Mr John Melville and Mr William Willocks. The former measured 20in from tip to tip.

Tbout in the Kawabau,— ln vain have anglers fished the Kawarau with rod and line, using all kinds of bait, natural and artificial. Now we (Lake County Press) leatn that about a fortnight ago Mr Charles Stoele caught a 71b trout with a rabbit's leg that he was using aa a bob for eels. So, it seems, rabbit's leg is to the taste of the trout in tbe Kawarau. We have also been told that trout have been caught there on eel'hooks baited with meat. The Salmon in the Aparima. -At i conference between the Southland Acclimatisation Society and Mr L. H. B. Wilson, of the Marine department, the question of opening the Aparima river to anglers was discussed. Mr Wilson stated) that the Government were determined to keep the river closed until it had been definitely ascertained that the salmon experiment was a failure. Until that point was settled they are resolved that nothing should be done which might jeopardise the chances of founding an industry that would add greatly to the wealth of the colony. They were strengthened in this course by the fact that owing to recent legislation in Great Britain it would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to obtain further supplies of salmon ova. If tho salmon were established in the river it would then be necessary to keep it free from fishers, with the view of making it a nursery from which to stock the Waiau and other rivers. It is intended during tbe next two months to net the river, with the view of ascertaining whether the salmon have returned from tbe sea.

Tkout in Puni Creek.— At the instance of the Southland Acclimatisation Society ita curator, Mr A. N. Campbell, liberated 1000 young trout in Puni oreek on Saturday morning, the spot chosen beinfr near tbe railway line a mile or so above Elles road station. Considering the nature of the creek, the wisdom of this proceeding is probably open to question, but if the society has lots of fish to spare the experiment cannot altogether be condemned. At any rate it won't hurt tbe oroek. —Southland Times.

Lakes Distbiot Acclimatisation Society. —At the last monthly committee meeting the report of the curator stated that during the season 250,000 trout ova had been put into the boxes, and that they had hatched out very well, not more than ÜBual having died. Besides distributing a few fry in other places, 20,000 had been liberated in Hayes creek, and 50,000 in the Town creek. There were still about 100,000 fry in the boxes, which should be liberated without delay. It was ordeied that a supply be furnished to Mr Valpy ; that about 4000 be liberated in Long Gully creek. Shotover ; and that tho curator usa his discretion in liberation of rest.

Eels in the Lakes Distbiot.— A couple of very large cols have lately been oaughfc in Douglaa' creek, down which they have been taken from Lake Hayes by tha floods, One weighed 301b and tho other 261b, The larger eel was gutted, a gaff stuck through its tail, and the brute placed in tbe creek again, when it went oil swimming. This was certainly a oruel proceeding, but it shows how tenacious of life is this species of fish. The repetition of these facts led to the recital of some boyhood oxperiencoa, One individual asserted that he caught a raonstor col that had horn-like growths on ita head, and that when approached

made a barking sound, soaring him to no small extent. He dragged it out of the water, and left it tied up to a post for 24hours, when the eel was as lively as ever. Another man told ; of this experience : He was fiddling about an eel's mouth, when suddenly he found his thumb between the olosed jaws of the eel, and there it stayed for over half an hour, he having no instrument with which to force it to relax its hold. Eels travel considerable distances overland at times. Another individual informed us that he once observed an eel making from one part of the Lindas to another, over the dry bed. On his approaching it, the eel curled round a stone. He belaboured it with a stick, whereupon it emitted sounds best described as squeals. From all this it must be concluded that eels are "queer fish."— Lake County Press.' Shabks at Rivebton.— The Western Star says : — " A fisherman named Lasa was cleaning fish on the rooks at South Biverton, alongside his hut at Dallas' Point, when a shark came blose inshore and almost took the fish out of his hand. His companion, Tony Michel, seized the first weapon to hand, which happened to be an American axe, and struck the unwelcome intruder a blow on the back of the neck, which settled him, and after some little trouble he was safely landed on the beach. He proved to be a young shovel nosed shark, and measured Bft 6in from the nose to the tip of the tail. Another shark of rather larger size had been seen swimming about at the same time, and a piece of groper was attached to a line and thrown into the stream as bait. About an hour after he re-appeared, and as he came sailing along the bait was drawn slowly inshore, Mr Shark following. When within about a yard of the shore, and in quite shallow water, Tony got his axe ready and gave No. 2 a couple of cuts on the neck, and pinned him to the ground for a few seconds, but be succeeded in wriggling himself away ; however, it ia thought that be could not possibly survive the blows he received, one of which Beamed to go right through his neck. Either of these sharks would be very awkward customers to meet in the water, and as there appears to be a shoal of them about just now, it would be as well for bathers not to venture into the river until these undesirable visitors take their departure." Rangitata. — The Christohurch Press says j — ■'• Mr J. Barrett, tobacconist, of High street, was exhibiting on Saturday night two fine trout, weighing 201b, in his shop window. These fish were caught in the Rangitata by one of the local anglers. We are informed that this river is in first-olasß condition and ia teeming with fish." Deep Sea Fish.— There were on view on the 22nd, at the shop of Mr R, G. Warnes, Oashel street, Christchurch, some fine brill and a large kingfish, whioh were caught off the mouth of the Ashley. The kingfish is rare in these waters, and the one mentioned is a very fine specimen. CANTEBBtJBy.— During the early part of the week the Rangitata was in fair fishing condition, and a few decent takes were made. The best to band is that of Mr J. H. Rhodes and party, who on Monday evening landed six, scaling 551b/ Of these the largest went 191b, one of the beßt taken this season. Had it been in really first class condition it would certainly not have weighed less than 251b. Rain on the hills baa now discoloured the Btroatn, and stopped fishing for a day. or two. In the Orari a few deoent hauls have been made, one angler taking near the mouth of the river several averaging 101b each. Mr W. Mendelson continues to do well with the fly. From the Temuka on Monday he took 18, weighing 171b 13oz. The favourite flies are the olaret hackle, governor, Hardy's favourite, and Francis. There are a number of visitors both at Temuka and at the Wolseley Hotel, Winchester. Our Kaiapoi correspondent writes: —"Fishing in Stewart's Gully has been nearly suspended, owing to the freshets in the river, but on Monday evening Mr W. Simpson hooked a trout, which gave the angler some sport, and when landed weighed ll^lb. While Mr Simpson's assistant was landing it the cast broke, but the trout ran into the shallows, when the holder of the net clapped it over the fish, and in his anxiety sat down on the prize. On the same evening Mr S. Johnston hooked a large trout, which, after half an hour's play, broke away. When the river becomes clear again there is promise of good sport. — Lyttelton Times, Carp for Oantkbbcry.— A consignment of carp arrived in [capital oondition by tho s.s. Wairarapa for the Opawa'fißh-breedingestablish-ment. The fish are a larger and better variety than the small useless ones hitherto known by that name in Canterbury. A few will be on view in one of the glass tanks in the Aquarium, The Avon.— The Press says :— "Anglers are obtaining nice sport in the Avon just now, and some fair sized fish have been caught. Mr G. R. Taylor succeeded in landing a nice one on Monday evening near the Gloucester street bridge. It was caught on the bully, and weighed s|lb. The fish was on view in Mr Alpo's window, Colombo street. It is interesting to note that our scientific visitors from Australia have had a chance of appreciating the sport our rivers afford. On Saturday evening Professor Lyle, the president of Section A, suooaeded in landing a 12£lb trout from the Lower Selwyn. It was in grand condition." Poaching in Wellington. — Trout poaching having become common in the Hatt river, Wellington, a watch was recently kept, and two men were caught in the act of raising a net across the mouth of the river. They will be prosecuted.