BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 38

BANK NOTES.

. • In bidding farewell to anglers for another season I would thank them for the kind and courteous manner in which they have supplied me with information from time to time. In tome cases my country friends have been more than good in keeping me posted with regard to the doiuga in their vicinity, and it ib with such help as this that a column of this character can bs made interesting aud of uoms little value, wherea? without their co-operation reports must of necessity bu exceedingly scanty. Before entering upon an account of what has been done of late I would just like to maution that it has baeu urged upoa me very forcib'.y by an angler that it is most desirable that the senson for perch should be coinmmosd at an earlier date than December. He points out that the fish take much better earlier, and avers that towards the end of the se&son they are spawning or on the eve of doing so, and consequently are sluggish and iK-disposed to feed. This is of course a matter for the consideration of the Acclim\tisation Society, but I think there is Eornething in my friend's arguments. The ifiiAG — Several auglers visited this river duiiog the Bafet^r holidays, the mrst successful being Messrs R. Forrest aud J. Kobeitson. They went to the river on the Wednesday preceding the holiday?, ard fished that evening for about four hours, Mr Forrest gett'ug 6 fish and Mr Robertson 7, among them being several good o- c".. Next day they tried their luck again, Mr Forrest getting 17 and Mr Robert«on 16. On the Friday Mr Forrest killed 20 and Mr Robertson 13, and on Saturday Mr Robertson gra-sed 20 and Mr Forrest 19. On Monday Mr Forrest's tally wa3 6 and Mr Robertson's 12, and on tho day following they secured 1 and 2 respectively, but did not fish very much The total for their outing was Mr Forrest 69, and Mr Robertson 70. Mr Forreet confined himself to fishing with black aud red spide-s aod the alder, Mr Robertson usiug the Bruce and red spider, with a mnggot. Tha largest trout takou was about 2-ilb, atad to give an idea cf the class of fish met with it may b^ mentioned that 14- filled Mr Forrest's 201b basket. The water fished was from Mrs Crawford's to Munro's pool. The river was very low and clear as crystal, and ib was consequently a case of fishing fine and throwing far. Mr Forrest informs me that the pools from belov Brown's to Munro's were swarming with fi?h. Mr W. Bragg had two days on the stream, and took a dozen fisb, the heaviest being about 21b, He fished from Craw-

l ford's up tho river, and his basket wa» made with 1 the minnow and worm. Mr J. Corbett tried the river on Friday aud Saturday and got about 20, the largest being about l£lb. They were caught chiefly on the fly, though a worm was also used. The water covert d by this angler was from Munro's to Russell's. Mr M'Kay, who accompanied him, met with about the tame success. Another Dunedin angler, flsbicg below Mrs Crawford's, also got; a few nice takeable fish. The Glexomaru.— Mr J. Hunter fished the Glenoraaru at Eister time. The river was in fust-class order, aud Mr Hunter took from it on Friday 17 trout, and on Saturday succeeded in killing nine. He did not, however, angle for very loog on that day. Monday was nice and warm and the fish were taking splendidly, and for three hours' fishing Mr Hunter took 15 trout. His catch was made with the fly and maggot, and the fish averaged about a pound, the largest caucht weighing about l^lb. Tiik Waipahi.— Mr A. Anderson visited the Waipahi during the Eister holidays and found the river in splendid order, but the li'h not on the take. Only six were cnught with the minnow, and were fouud to be lull of spawn. The ! weather was very good but the w«tsr very cold. Otahia — Mr Auderson in addition to fishing the Waipahi tried the Ofcana, but had no better luck than he had at the Waipahi. The sfc-eam was in pood order. Tme Waiiaki. — I^srs 8. Brugh and J. Telford were at the Waitaki over a week ago and killed 9 fish between them, raoging from 3ib to 41b in weight. Fisit auout Hawua. — Messrs Ford and Woitmacott visited the Hawea River about a week ago and made good baskets, two ot the fish taken weighing 121b each. At Timaru Creek they wt:r^ also succss^ful, one of the fiMi caught turning the scsile at 131b. The anglers also tried the Haw'c a Lake, but did 1 ob do much fishing, us they wc-e more iutont in the deer. A trout weighing 151b wag, however, taken. '-The Uanoitata. — Mr J. Brown spout some time all the Ringitata recently. He with n. party of eight, rome ot whom were from Home and some local fishermen, stayed iv a hub provided t'er the purpose at the mouth of the river. The strpam was not in condition till about Wednesday, when ii was the pink cf perfection for fishing, but even tbeu but few I fi3h vreLvs taken. AU the party, however, got more or less, though no phenomenal baskets were made. A new chum angler not bflonging to the party managed, with apparently niore luck than good mamgeracDU, to take a 10I pouuder, and losb one wbich he averred was vory much larger ; *nd hi« method of going aboub the landing of hii' fi-h was somewhit comic-il. When he hooked his first fish he was at his wit's md a« to how ho was goinx to take ifc out, as he had no gaff, but after a little marccuvrirg he managad to land it safely. The next otip, however, proved too much tor him. . Laying d)wn his rod he walked away and got his steel casting line, aDd with this he essayed ro capturo his quarry, but the only thing he succeeded in getting mt of the water was half lof his minnow. Mr Brown tells me that there has bepn acme maguificent baskets made from the Opihi recently. I The Owaka. — Mr Baxter was, I underatand, ■ at the Owaka at Easter time, and did well, but I am not in ft position to state what his actual catch was. Mr H. Williams also fhhed this river, but did not take many fish. There were I a large numbpr of anglers on the water. I Thi: Pomahaka. — A correspondent writing from the Burning Plains says the Rev. Mr Porter caught six nice fish on Wednesday, when the river was in good trim for the minnow, being a good brown colour. Most of the fish taken the last week or two have been small, the larger onea having gone away up the different; creeks For thr spawning season. The MraiHAU — A correspondent writes :—: — •' Advantage has been taken of the extension of the season, and we have h».d a good many visitors, and all our locul men have been doing well. No prodigious baskets were made, it being too late in the Reason for anything like that. The takes averaged sor 6 fish, from lib to 41b each. The streams are in grand order and the weather setfclpd." Lee Cui'F.K. — Mr John Murray was at the Lee Creek at Easter, and rook 14 fine perch, running from lib to 2£lb. He also took a trout j 41b in weight. Both perch and trout appeared to be lyiDg at the bottom of the river, and it was only by fishing deep that Mr Murray met with success. The fish were taken with the worm. The Waikouaiti. — Mr Conk, so I am inform°d, tried the Waikouaiti River during the holidays, but did no good worth mentioning. LujrsDEN. — " Angler writes under date April 24:-- -"As the fishing season has now closed it may he nf intertsc to some of your readers to know the takes made in the O etii here since thp lagt returns I sent yon. Mr Greive look 50 for one day's fishing (fly). Some were very nice fi^b, but they were mostly about lib Mepsi'3 C^ckroft, Treweek, and Small took about 80 fish for one day's fishing (worm). They were g^od fish, but showing signs of approaching Rp&wning. A few days later Messrs Small. K>ely, and M'Mathhada day, and lauded 103 fish, mostly small, 48 being to the credit of the fly (one rod) and 28 and 27 respectively to the other two (worm). Since then Mr iVJo'oney has made a baskel of 42 for one tUy (worm). -Several large fish have been taken here lately — viz., one by Mr Treweek of 13^ b. and some from 4lb to 6.b. Mr Cockroffc took some very good ones, but I am nob certain of their weight. Mr M'Lean (Caroline) got a 101b and a 71b and several others of lesser size (all worm), Mr M'Math a 9'b (fly), Mr Smill an B£lb (worm). There has been several fish caught which differed so ni'ich in appearance as to cause remarks and inquiries about their name. The belly part is of a very pink colour, And I believe the fle3h salmon-eo'.oured, and the spots much more distinct than on the other trout.. Perhaps you could tell us their name or whether the peculiar colour is simply a freak of Nature. I thought my former notes would bave been the last, bntr as the season was lengthened it was advisable to send you these additional items before Jcck hibernates. — I have often observed that trout vary wonderfully iv colour according to the colour of the bottom of the river and the nalura of the water, but I would not like to say that this would sufficiently account for the peculiarity mentioned by " Angler." It is at all time* difficult to form , an opinion on such matters without seeing the fish, but I throw out the idea as to how the colour may vary aa a v/ay of perhaps accounting for what may be after all a freak of Nature. — J. S. Red Cod — I am told that it is quite possible to fill a dray with cod at Port Chalmers just now by fi>h : ii 7 with a band line. Loch Tkomino. — Although by no means one of the chief branches of the aDgling art, trolling possesses a skill of its own, and when a man ' needs entire rest, is one of the most delightfully lazy modes of taking in health and sunshine, j The fisherman sits idly in the stern sheets ot his boat and is pulled leisurely by the boatman through a succession of charming prospects, mountain glen and moor opening upon his sight in turns, while ibi^ difficult in the still waters to tftll where the rr flection of the mountain eDds and their substance actually begins. Often, too, when the loch is thus calm, or during such

j * dronght ns characterie ed the opening Rummer of 1895, itus impossible for the fisherman to do much, or indte.l anjthing, with the fly rod. Should he have come north for the express puri pose of fishing, this is a grievous disappoiut- | iurnt. Theu it is pleasant to rig up a trolling ; rod and catch such a splendid trophy, either a ! ferox or an ordinary loch trout, that, in the pride of his heart, the angler sends it to be stuffed and put hi a glars case, intending, like J Mr Briggs, to haDg ib vp in his hall over the stuffed skin of his favourite spotted hunter. Many lochs, too, are more or less "dour," such as Lochs Tummol and Ericht ; their fish seldom rise to a fly, but frequently fine ones may be caught in them by trolhug. On the whole, therefore, it is advisable for a man visiting the Highlands to iuclude trolling rods and tackle among his impedimenta. These frequently make all tbe difference between enjoying a trip to the north and finding it as dull as a society novel. Very few angliDg .manuals give any | directions on the ait of tro'.ling. Less than any j other secret of the craf fc can it be learnt from a. hcok; it requires observation and experience. Some believe that it is ever a mere chancewhether a goodly trout falls a victim or not, and never attempt to lay down rules or acquire experimental knowledge of the best mode of trolling "on lochs. That txiallent I writer and capital sportsman, J. Golquhoun, is au exception, and were I asked where a mane mid obtain tha most useful hiutj for trolling I should recommend him to parnso . the two chapters on "Trolling for the Jialmo I'erox" and "Loch Fishing-" in the second ( volume of his " Moor and Loch." Armed i with these directions he will know much mora about trolling than the gillies who will row him. Useful and obliging as these helpers are, ib must bt owned that they are at times comparatively stupid in the matter of trolling, that thty learn nothing year by year concerning it, and, iustt-ad of the wrinkles which a novice might reasonably expect to gain from them, ' they generally cherish prejudices and traditional ' iHuctic-s inuumerable. Let the angler going | north, then, arm himself with a couple of strong i tiolliDg rocs, seven or eight feet loi g, met with upright or ''s:ake" rings. Longer rods area gteat, nuisance in a bflab, and frequency cause the 1 >8s of good n<h. At Wst a hundred yards of tftrong line ought to be procured for each of j thf st 1 , worked by an easy-running wooden reel. A foot link ot Kilmon gut, with, at the least, three swivels, should be attached to a phantom minnow (largest size) in one case, and to a fn-sbly-caughl burn tivut, or parr, in the other. Blue niinuow.-j appear to be more fancied than other colours, bub 'this is a matter of taste to the iisherm&n as well as to the fish. The rods are rented in the stern of the boat, one on each hide of him ; or. bstter still, one is rested with a stone on the line to tell when a "rugg" comes, while ho can hold the other and strike when the happy occasion for it arisen. When this comes- the other rod is at once to be reeled I up by thf gillie, who must then betake himself i aa quickly as possible fr> the oars. When a big fish is hooked tha boatman's skill is as much needed as the fisherman's. He should keep his oyes on the rod and row or back water, according as it may be : needed. Whatever ensues the line must never be suffered to become, slack. The best course to adopt with a b-tr fhh is to land and kill it from the shore, v (his admits of the fisherman's getting along it He is tar more likely, bjr bo doing, to secure h ; s fish than when the capture is exposed to the numerous I sce'denta ot the boat. Above all, let him be | cool. Nervousness in sure to be fatal to his ; chances. A ttupid gillie with the oars is nearly sure to be also a bungler with the clip or landing net. Few things j»re more exasperating than to ace (he net etifcangled in the flying triangles of the minnow, while tho fish splashes with its tail, half beaten, yet determined to fight to the laßt. This generally means the loss ot the fish at the gunwale of the boat. The fish, too, should be quite exhausted before the net is shown to it. At the lnst a rush buck is frequently mide, and this courage, b-irn of despair, not un^eldom causes it tt r > bri-ak off. ! Even on the bebb loch 3 a man han but few ! " ruggs "in a day. It behoves him, therefore, I to be both quick and careful when the eleAric < touch ruuuinj along the Hue bids him strike. . Between catching one fish and another the I gille ought to row steadily, and not too fast. Time must bs given to the minnow to display itself. It is a great mistake to allow the man to row too fast. The bait is thus borne swiftly over fish, and they do not think it worth while to pursue. It is a good thing for the gillie to have a fair knowledge of the great houses and ! properties around, their traditions, the amount ' of game on the moors, the folk-lore of the district, and the like. He should be encouraged ; to tell his siorio? of the neighbourhood while rowing, for this nmuses his master at the same j time that it helps to keep him awake. The monotonous " crooning," too, soothes the Souihron who is enjoying his holiday, even if h« cares little about the warlocks and witches which he will tell of. under a little judicious encouragement. Methinks I hear Sandy now, " and then, Bir, but yell no believe it, there was a red light all ower the brae, and the stag, the puir beastie, jtet limped along, though it was no like a canny deer ava. No one even saw the sportsman, bufc there was the crack of a rifle and the deer fell dead. I'll no cross that muir of Porthnellan aftsr dark, sir, and I wadna hae ye gang there yourself for — save us, there's a fish ' " and in the confusion that follows the thread of the story is lost Luckily Sandy cm easily find another. It is as well not to boast of your trolling successes unles3 you are sure of your men. A Scotch Joe Miller tells of a man who related wnie wonderful sbory of Loch Bannock and was straightway asked, " How is it that you can kill such big fish and we can tako nothing bigger than puddocks?" whereupon a douce baillie present dryly re- , marked : " Hech, sirs, it's jtat because we're a' bigger leears ! " However this may be, the best fish in Scotland are to be caught by trolling in Lochs Rannoch and Tummel. A story is related of a worthy e qu re who, when he went trolling, always " yacked it into them " when he struck his fi3h. It will serve to sum up the four chief rules of trolling as a conclusion to these remarks — First, directly you feel a fish "yackit into him " ; don't be afraid of breaking the tackle. Next, always hold up the point of the rod when playing the fish. Thirdly, on no account suffer the line to grow slack even for an instant. Lastly, never attempt to gaff or net until the fish is exhausted. A moment more of patience will often save a fish. He who follows these rules and doe 3 not allow his gillie to row him (as he will wish to do) in the deep water, but just where the water begins to deepen after the shallows, will assuredly succeed in lech trolling. — Pelagius, in the Field. . • We cill attention to the Acclimatisation Society's- advertisement at the head of this column in reference to the sale and shooting of game, and also the penalties attached thereto. T^ae notification is evidently a hint from the Government to sportsmen and acclimatisation societies to look after the preservation of what game is still left to us. It will be seen from * perusal of it that no person can sell or dispose of game unless ho is a holder of a license permitting him to do so, the penalty for a breach o£ this regulation not exceeding £20,