BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2003, 14 July 1892, Page 32

BANK NOTES.

This being the trout spawning season, numbers of the fish are (says the Bruce Herald) making their way up the Tokomairiro river. Many are destroyed when attempting to go by M' Gill's mill. On several occasions within the past few weeks the mill has had to be stopped owing to the trout getting foul of the wheel. Some of the trout thus destroyed are from 101b co 121b in weight. Last year there was a similar experience and means were taken to remedy it, but the appliance brought into requisition has evidently not turned out as anticipated. About 1600 years ago the Greek angler ground baited with a shower of odorous pills made of cheese and flour, and then baited with a paste of the same. Dipton Correspondent : — TheMackays (lately known as the expert fishers and (he would be butt of some of our Otago friend.-) are Lusy again collecting ova, and have been pretty successful so far, having nearly got the complement they require. It is not my intention, however, to commit myself to figures in case i may be thought guilty of blowing the Mackays' trumpet, which would no doubt have the effect of creating a louder and longer blast elsewhere, so I will let well alone. It is strange, however, tihe number of large fish they get each night they are out — 141b to 161b fish, which are rarely met with in the open season, and which I think p6ints conclusively to the conclusion'that the large fish go down to the lower waters during the fishing season, and only come up here to spawn. MAXIMS AND HINTS FOR AN ANGLER. Do not imagine that, because a fish does not instantly dart off on first seeing you, he is the less aware of your presence ; ho almost always on such occasions ceases to feed and pays you the compliment of devoting his whole attention to you', whilst he is preparing for a start whenever the apprehended danger becomes sufficrejitly Imminent. ' ' -— if you pass your fly neatly and well three times over a trout, and he refuses it, do not wait any longer for him ; you may be sure that he has seen the line of invitation which you have sent over the water to him, and does not intend to come. — If your line be nearly taut, as it ought to be, with little or no gut in the water, a good fish will always hook himself on your gently raising the top of the rod whtn he has taken the fly.

— If, after hooking a trout, you allow him to remain stationary but for a moment, he will have time to put his helm hard a-port or a-starboard and to offer some resistance. Strong tackle now becomes useful.

— It appears to me that, in whipping with an artificial fly, there are only two cases in which a fish taking the fly will infallibly hook himself without your assistance — viz. : 1. When your fly first touches the water at the end of a straight line. 2. When you are drawing out your fly for a

new throw.

In all other cases it is necessary that, in order to hook him when he has taken the fly, you should do something with your wrist which it is not easy to describe. — The stations chosen by fish for feeding are those -which are likely to afford them good sport in catching flics — viz. : 1. The mouths of ditches running into the river. 2. The confluence of two branches of a stream which has been divided by a patch of weeds. 3. That part of a stream which has been narrowed by two such patches. 4. Fish are also to be found under the bank opposite to the wind, where they are waiting for the flies which are blown against that bank and fall into the river. — When your water-proof boots are wet through make a hole or two near the bottom of them, in order that the water, which runs in whilst you are walking in the river, may run freely out again whilst you are walking on the bank. You will thus avoid the accompaniment of pumping music, which is not agreeable. — Never mind what they of tho old school say about "playing him till he is tired." Much valuable time and many a good fish may be lost by this antiquated proceeding. Put him into your basket as soon as you can. Everything depends on the manner in which you commence your acquaintance with him. If you can at first prevail upon him to walk a little way down the stream with you, you will have no difficulty afterward in persuading him to let you. have the pleasure of seeing him at dinner.

— Lastly, when you have got hold of a good fish which is not very tractable, if you are married, gentle reader, think of your wife, who, like the fish, is united to you by very tender ties, which can only end with her death or her going into weeds. If you are single, the loss of the fish, when you thought the prize your own, may remind you of some more serious disappointment.