BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 21

BANK NOTES.

The Leith and Waitati. — I have nob heard of anything authentic concerning these two rivers, but *m led to understand that fishing in the Leith has pretty well been abandoned, and that but few fish beyond the bare takoable sine are now got from tbe Waitati. The Shag.— Mr R. Coghill had a few days on the Shag River recently, and secured 26 fiah — ■ chiefly with the creeper. The heaviest fish was 2lb, the remainder ranging downwards. Mimihau. — A correspondent states that the streams in this direction are in good order and the weather fine. Local men were all doing well (November 27), especially of an evening. Mr Tanner, from luvercaryill, had a few d&ys' good gport on the U^uer Mimth&u. The fish ace in.epkndid ordor and fairly numerous. Th? Owaka. — A Dunedin angler^ has just been doirn to the Owaka, but has ; been unfortnnate in running up against -vtry bad weather. He «ayß : '♦ If it was v not> raiDiog it was blowing, aod you couldn't da anything." During his 10 days' stay he of course got/ a tew fish, but Hotbing to speak of, though he is quite satisfied that they were there, for the surface of tbe water w*s covered with the unmistakable circle associated with the rise of a trout.. The portion of the river fished by my informant was from Dntton's to abjve the dam-rrather too low down for my ■taste. A Trip South.— liS4te\d of. getting out at Arthurtou on this ilh OMeaMon of my usual visit to tbe Waipahi, I proceeded as far as Pukerau, where I wa« met by Mr D. A. Purvis, who had with his usual kindness driven in to meet me by the early morning train from Clinton. After a pleasant drive of about eight miles and a-faalf to Kaiwera, where his home is situated, we lost very little time in getting our rods fixed up, and commenced operations on the Waipahi, which is enly abou l ; two chains from the homestead. The river after the recent heavy rains was in splendid condition, and gave promise of good sp }rt. My host generouily pointed out the most likely spot«, and after fishing a few pools I had the good fortune to get hold of my first fish, which, through being foul-hookod, gave a lot of trouble before lauding. We fished poul about, with v»rytng success, and when within 6ight of Trumble's Creek ceased our labours for the day with eight good fish each. Our operations for the next day were still confined to the upper waters, but were not so successful as on the previous day, only iix fish apiece b&ing basketed. Next morning we walked down to the junction of the Otarai* and Waipahi, and on our way there had the pleasure of meeting Mr George Valentine, tho keen angler and good sport. He was n?t fishing, but accompanied us down the ttre&m aud pointed out a favourite pool of his in which a good fish was rising. Throwing my flies over him I soon had him fast, and on being gaffed he was found to icale 51b. This one, though I think not the heaviesc, was in the best condition of any fish taken by me during my visit. From the junction we fished up to the house, and In the afternoon to the rocky face below Wilson's Creek. 11 flsh falling to my share for tUs daj'a

sport. On the following morning, which was the last day. of my stay, in company with Mr G. Valentine, wo fished from the junction, and had good sport till a cold south-eftflt wind sprang up, which completely put the fish off the take. Eighteen fiah between us for the last five hours' sporb was not so bad, however. 1 regret not having made a note of the weights caught during the different days, but as a result of our combined efforts 881b of troub were sent to Dunedin. The flies I found to be the most successful were the Samuel, Leith, and Admiral. I would strongly advise some of our city anglers to try and p*y a visit to the waters of the Upper Waipahi — aay, fom the junction of the Oiavraia and Waipahi to Hutchison's. In my opinion finer water could not bs wished for, and is the beat I have ever seen. The rest of my holiday I had the pleasure of spending with my friends, Mr and Mrs W. Stewart, of the Waiwera. This stream was in nice order, but I am afraid I did nob take advantage of the good fishing it affordf, and through not pursuing the sport with sufficient energy did not get more than fair biskets. The largest fiah I killed was 41b; and gave splendid sport. I saw plenty of fish in the Waiwe-a from the railway bridge up to the gorge, and although they were not taking the fly freely, they could be seen moviog in the ripples. The Waiwera fish are always in grard condition, and are very game. I have to thank those country friends tneutiotied, and Mrs G. Valentine, of Waiwera, for their kinduess and hospitality, and can fissure them th»t I am already looking forward with tb.e fceewes 1 ; p'easure to our next merry meeting. — [Kindly sjpptfed by Mr* A. Anderson. — J S.] The Waipahi — The Waipahi is low and cle<ir. Mr J. R. Smith had a d^y on th; river la t wf ek and considered it the hottest dny they had experienced this season. There) was not a breath of wind all the forenoon, and consequently the pport was poor. He g t any number of rises, but the fi'h would not take the fly properly. Two friends who were cvi v.i'h Mr Smith securei one and two fish, while Mr Smith himself grasstd six weighing. 71b. One of the fish secu-ed by Mr Smi'h's frwnds weighed 41b. The Jessie was the bait used. ■ Another correspondent writing on Novtmber 30 aleo srates thnt the river in his locality is low j and clear. O'i N<>vftnber 24 be sajs Mr W. ! M'Callum -got a uioe basket of six trout, and the [ 6nin« day Mr W. DeUow secured a similar I number. On tbe Way following he killed seven nice fish, the heaviest going 31b. The fl-h, my correspondent telh me, were not taking well last weak, the river bfiog too low and clear. The small fi-'h are in good condition, but the larger ones are not co good e\ The Teviot. — "Anglrr" writes thit the river is in«pleudid order for finhing, and states that Mr W. Fairbdrn kilHl 20 fish and Mr R. Ccckbnrn 17 fish on the 28'h November, the lattei's take wdyhuig up io 31b. He mentions fu".her tU«t Mr J. A. Boyd during the week haa raado *ome go^d bask<jfc«, considering he is yru"g fit tbe work. The takes ot Messrs Fairbsiru and C cktmen wtre imde with the creeper, and the msliard, tbe Jessie, the Otamete, and the Pom-ibaka flies. "Angler" adds that h^ is informed that the Ciutba at Teviot is teeming witti lurge'fiuh, and trusts that some of our anglers will make acquaintance with them »one of thf so <?ay«. Mimihau, Wynpham, and Matatjra — During the pa-jt week or more tbe weather bas beep more sitthd tha-a it has been pines the opening of the season, and the Mimihau and Wyndham have bsen in good trim for angler?, srma'of whom have ma-ie ve r y good .baskets. For eeveral days tfyo sky was bright and cloudless and not a brfath of wind prevailed, so that few fish were caught during the .daytime ; but those who waited till dusk were amply rewarded, as ru instance of which I may mention that Mr W. Leitch took 9 out of 17 in less than half an hour, 7 of which he landed from one pool Tho majority of the takes undermentioned were taken during the evening or afternoon, and those, on the Mimihau all made with the bnre fly. Mimihau Riyer : W. Leitch, 23 fi*h, 47£lb ; do, 17 fish, 391b ; do, 10 fish ; A. M'lntOKh, 14 fi-u, 22tb ; do, 12 fi-h, 181b; M. Laurie, 12 fish ; D. F. Brvmuer, 11 fisb, 20. b ; D. M. Valentine, 9 fi«h, 211b ; J. A. D dd, 6 and 6 ; J. Braud, 10 and 8. Wyndh«m River : J. M'Laren, 17 fiah, 471b. Mataura River (at Mataura Island) : A. Cranston, 7 ifab, 354:1b, heaviest fi*u 74:1b. — [I thank my correopo.. d«jnb for his valuable information — J S ] Winchester, November 30. — Smd^ the 22nd some very nice btwkets have b^eo brought in by visitors, amounting to a total of 193 fish, average ij-lb, all from local streamß. Mr J. Matbew«on (Duaeclin) secuwd 48 fish, and Messrs X Whefcten and W H. Legge's takings were 79 and 27 respectively, all anglers taking matters very easily. We had some rain last nigh*-, but can do with more. — Corespondent. Wyndham. — The Wyndham Farmer says the local streams are now in excellent trim for angling, and som^ good catches nave been made of late. Mr W. A. Leitch appears to have got his hand well in, as in addition to the haul of 4?ilb he made last week he made another almost 'as good on Wednesday week afternoon — viz., 17 fi*h weighing 391b ; A oatoh of 861b odd in two days ia a very creditable record for s^ young a Waltanian.. Mr D F Bemner landed' 11 on the same afternoon, wtigbiug 201b. Mr Aiex. M'lntosh report two nice bsske+s — ou the 18fch got 14 weighing 221b, and on the 23rd 12 weighing 181b. All th- toregoing were gra«sed from the Mimibau. with the fly. On Tuesday week Mr John M'L*ren, ]un , got a very fine basket of 17 fish, weighing 471b, in the Wyndham. — The Herald «ays Mr M. Laurie at the beginning of lust week caught a dozen weighty fish in the Mimihau at Munro's Bush, a very nice stretch of water for the fi«h but rather rough for the angler to traverse. The Wivtaki.— The North Otago Times states that a. fi«h, 161b in weight-, caught by Mr Joha Mitchell in the Waib&ki, i* ou vievr at the post office. Tbe fish is supposed to be a true salmon, and is to be submitted to expert opinion. Experts say th»t the Californian salmon and the salmon trout have crossed, and if so the fi»h under notice may be a hybrid ; but it does nob appear to ba a true Salmon. Things up Nqapaha Way. — Mr J. Milligan writes to the Oamaru Mail from Ngapnra :—: — " Knowing that you are always on the alert for fishiug news at any time, I send you a record of Mr C. Swinard and myself on MoDday last &\ Waitaki mouth. Mr Swinard got 10 nice fish, averaging 51b a-piece, and I got 8 fish — one a female fish weighing 14£lb, the finest I have ever seen. If weighed just out of the water it would have been lib or 2lb heavier. It was a deeper fi3h than Mr Jack Mitchell's, and not so long— a perfect picture, to say the least. Of course I had gaffed Mr Mitchell's fish ont, so can compare them. The other seven were up to 81b and down to 21b. During the time we were on the river only three other fish were caught by seven or eight anglers. The-fishing up the river near Georgetown is ai yet very poor, and the fins caught are hardly worth taking home. I have also tried the Kakanui near Clifton Falls, the result also being unsatisfactory. Those in the vicinity account for this state of things by the quantity of shags | there are. There js a rookery in the gorge, and , I1I 1 am sure it would be a move in tbe rfeht dkeo i

tion if the Acclimatisation Society were to send a man up to have them destroyed, as I am confident we ehould have fair fi-hing were it nob for these ptsts lam going over, when I can spare the day, to have a crack at them, and will let you know the result." Canterbury Doings.— There was on vi«w in Mr W J. Alpe's window, High street, Christchurch, a trout weighing 71b, caught by Mr Stapleton in the Dudley Creek. 16 is reported that the South Canterbury streams are now in vevy good order for fishing, aid that the trout are in fme coudition an-i are taking freely. Two Christchurch anglers got 22 fish, of an aggregate weight of 601b, in tho Sehvyn iv two days last week, and Mr Alpe took 60 fhh in three days at Winch >stcr Competi iios — Til* Wyndham Angl-rs' Society held the fir-t 'f two omDetitions tor a gold medal pivsenbe-d by Mr Johu Milno on November 13. O-riujr lo the loug spell of b»d weather for sonn time previoui the entries were nafc so uumcr >U8 as they othirwiso would have baen, farmers aud o h'jis hiving bo t*ke full advtntago of the good weather in their respective pursuib-i Competitors could fl-iti in either of tho three river^ — -Vlafoura, Wyndham, or Mimi'isu — nud any l»^gal but could be used. The hours weiv from 6 a.m. to 6p m. With tho exception cf Mr A. Simpsou, who fished the Upper Wynaham wibh tbe minnow, nil the others trind the 'Vlimib.au with the fly. The rivers, although hijjh. w-nv clear and the day fairly good," 'but the Ssh wer-i no'; v>iry keenly on the tak*. • The results were as follow : Fish. lb. oz. A. Simpson , 14 36 7 Jas Mitchell 19 28 0 J Giepn^hields 13 ]9 5 ' J. A. D.)dd 13 17 2 ■ W. i.tit-h • 9 16 13 A.M'lnto»h 11 14 12 1). F. Bromuer 8 9 4 Mr J-inc Mitchell gives a priz-j for the two heaviest fish caught in the two cotnpsti ions, and the weights iak'.'n for the ficsb were as follow : lb. oz. A. Simps in 3 15 Tas Miichsll 2 12 L itch 2 5 1) K. Brminer 2 2 J O .^mhlelds 2 1 J A D-dd 2 0 • A. M Ioto»h 1 13 • . • I no* ice that the Viotorian Fixh Protection S .>ci?ty *ud Aoglreg Club had two eomt>etitio'»fl at the Werribee on the Prinoe of Walt-s' Birthday. Oae was a ossfcing sna+oh, the fi.s-, I tkrak, ever held in Victoria, and excited a 1-jt <rf interest ftfoougnt those engaged, as well at those who did not think thomttlvea proficient enough in the art to enter. Tbe conditions were tbab c wnpfiitora could u»e Any tackle, bub th<» *od was to be not more than 12ft in length, lib iv weight, and the lead not t) <xceed an €u;ac<f. Toe ohsmh){ wwb to be done from n reel or coil, aad th-i ompfltritor was to stand in « circle and cost a'oog a, centre line Mr E. Cotinatd proved h'm-o { the moit adept, »iid wit 42jds. Tl>e ottter trophy was tor ladies, and. vras w<m by Mrs J. Swain with 3 brewa which" sealed l^ib. Thare were 11 competitors, and the others who caught fi-*h were Mrs . Little ttfQ'^d.l, Mrs Gardiner 2, Mrs Moms6n 2, Mrs Wrfigg.2, and Mrs B ddwin 1. The c*sting competition suggests to my mind the feasibility of having such -a trial of skill among j our anglers. I am »ure sujh a content would i call forth a !a-ge fcU'isbsr of competitors, so ; largi*, indeed, that the entrance fee, if any was charged, might be made very «mall and ttien amount to a cum quite sufficient to reward the succrsjful competitor, I recommend the euggeation to tho considerati m of the Otsgo and other angling societies. A Prohibitionist and a Fisherman.— The following ts from the Ensign :— •• Oo view »t a Gore stud-'o is. a photo of an exceedingly »ico basket of fi;h caught -by tha Rev. L. M. I«itt; atthe Otam r ti, which goes to show that the rev. gentleman is -almost as -expert" at - luring creatures out of cold water aa he is at luring them into it." Anglers Trespass.— CjmpUin's reaoh us from landed proprietors, both large and small holders, to tho fffeob thab anglers are in the habit of trout-fkhing without leave on the banks of the email streams. We need hardly remind fishers thab if they trespass without permits they must take the consequence.— Tapaaui exchange. '." "Topjoint" writes thus:— "We have three classes of anglers here — those who go after bream, those who indulge in sea fishing, end thoss who whip the rivers and creeks for troub. The bream fisher, as a rule, cares little or nothing about the other two branches of the sporb, as he is quite satisfied to cast his line out, place his rod on a rest, and await the result. On the other hand the trout fisher scorns the idea of »-ihhrr fishing for bream or going deepsaa fiahing. For my own part lam as foud of one kind of fishiag as another, and I think thab when river fishers read in ' these notes at Christmas time of the large hauls of rfchnapper, pike, and pVrch that are being caught in the biy they will indulge in a little at& fishiDg The outcome of this prejudice is that the angler if he wishes to enjoy tbe sport must adapt himself to circumstances. This is clearly and nicely pub in an article in a recemt issue of the Fishing Gazette, whjeb. says :—* Nothing is more d«sirable in the liberal education of a fisherman than the occasional exchange of lake and stream for their parent sea ; and nothing could be more gratifying to a lover of the Waltonian art than to see the strides 'which marine angling, as an addendum to that of fresh water, has of late years been making. It is the ocean (exhaling itself in vapours which when driven landwards water the whole earth with rain, which then flows back in the form of rivers) that provider the fresh water angler with the whole of bis fascinating sport, and it is fi .tisg that King Neptune, thus bounteous, should no longer remain slighted by the rodsman as of yore — that his salt waves should be explored, his ozane breathed — that sea-angling, in which there is t cope for the most dslicste skill, should ba no more ignorantly regarded as a cart rope and butcher's hook kind of sport."