ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2332, 10 November 1898, Page 46

ANGLING.

By Jock Scott.

To be a perfect flsliermn you require more excellencies than oro usually to be fouiid in such a small space as is allotted to a msin's carcasß.—l'akker Gilmouu. Reader? are invited to contribute items of local Gshing news for insertion in this column. For insertion in tho ensuing issue tfcey suould reach Dunedin by Wondaj night's mail. COMPETITIONS. Otago Anglers' Association. Waipahi November 10 Acclimatisation SoRiver I ciety's medals Tomahawk December 3 Trophies (perch comLagoon I petition) Any river ... December 26 Trophies (Hospital I Day) Any river ... March 20 ... Trophies (Benevolent I | Day) Temuka Anglers' Club. Competition December 16 I shall be glad to receive dates of other competitions for in&ertion.

BANK NOTES.

The Waitati. — Mr A. Anderson fished the Waitati on Saturday for a couple of hours, and killed half a dozen trout with the fly. He did not get anything over lib. Mr Crust was also angling during the evening, and grassed 9. The stream was in splendid order. I am told that Mr W. Aitken has been plying the rod lately on the river, and has had some phenomenal luck in getting heavy fish, some 7 of them going as high as 61b and 7lb in weight. He has confined his attention to tho water about the lower bridge, where others have also been successful. Mr T. Coleham has taken some very nice fish from the same water, the heaviest being 61b. Young Mr Connell has also been doing well at the same place. Upper Waipori. — A gentleman informs me that good fishing is to be had in the Upper Waipori. Mr W. Cauldwejl took i nice basket there last week — 16- or 18 trout, weighing up to 2|lb. The Molyneux. — "Eldrin," writing from Stirling, reports the Molyneux as being in good trim. On the 2nd insl. Mr Farquhar took 4- fish, weighing 111b, and Mr Duckworth 4, weighing 91b. On the 4th Master Adam Bell landed 5 trout which turned 'he scale at 71b. Note— Though the returns may be modest, they have one great merit — they are regular. Waiwera, November 7. — "Sturgeon" write.l, " The weather is very unsettled, consequently very little fishing has been done. Some -good baskets were got the beginning of last week. The stream is at present in fairly good ordei, and if the wcr.thcn would only mend, anglers would have s-onic c.cod sport."

The Kaihiku, I'uerua, and Owaka. — The two former are reported to be in good order, and the latter fairly so. For the Kaihiku my correspondent advocates the use of a Jessie with a dark body, and for the Puerua the Samuel (white tipped). "As usual," my correspondent says, "we complain of the bad weather, and I think on this occasion not without reason j but through it all some good baskets have been, taken. Mr John Souther*

land, in the Kaihiku, on the 2nd, landed 58 trout averaging ilb. This stream in the tmper reaches seems to be famous for big baskets. Although the fish are not large, there is a plentiful supply. Mr J. Allison took 32 beauties from the lower Owaka (the particulars of this basket I have not to hand), and again in the Puerua had good sport on the 3rd inst. I must also mention that Mrs Jefcoate has been seen on the banks of the Puerua, and, I believe, had some good sport. The Waipahi.— Mr D. A. Purvis, writing from the Upper Waipahi, says that the weather during October has been the worst anglers have experienced for angling. H^e was out recently, and all he got was 6 fish, weighing 141b. Mr G. Valentine fished for the whole of a day on the Kaiwera, and killed a dozen trout averaging about Fishermen in the locality are simply disgusted with their illluck. It is evident that there are any number of fish in the river, but to catch them is another matter. The weather was very unsettled when Mr Purvis wrote, and he states that until ai change for the better takes place, nothing of any consequence can possibly be done with the rod.—" W. D.," reporting from Waipahi on the sth inst., says a slight fresh is on the river. On October 31 he secured 14 nice fish, and on the same date Mr M'Callum took 11, weighing 141b. On the Ist inst. Mr P. Murray and Mr M'Callum got 10 each, and on the day following, the former secured 9. On the 4th he got 11 splendid fish for a few hours' angling. 'W. D." expects some big takes on competition day if the weather keeps good. The river is in pretty fair order, and the fish are feeding more freely. — Writing from Arthivrton on the 7th, " J. R. S." tells me that this river is in good fishing trim, but the weather is still unpettled, and not conducive to good fishing. Mr G. Correns (Pukerau) made a fine basket of 17 fish on Wednesday week on the water below the railway bridge. My correspondent found the red spinner and Leith the best killers when out on Saturday afternoon, taking 6 nice fish on them.

The Mimihau. — Writing on the 4th inst., "W.P.S." says that on the 2nd the local anglers held their competition. The streams were high, but the weather was fine. On the Upper Mimihau Mr Ja<s. Mitchell got 20 fish, the weight of which was 20|lb. Mr J. Mitchell, jun., landed 18, weighing 17^1b, and Mr J. Wright, 12, weighing 161b. At the time of writing the weather was again bad, there beinsj an east wind blowing, and heavy rain. The streams were consequently rising, — The members of the Wyndham Anglers' Society, who competed for prizes on Wednesday week, says an exchange, had some splendid sport, and record catches were the result. A correspondent of the News reports that eight baskets were weighed in at Milne's Hotel in the evening, the aggregate results being no less than 130 fish, weighing 2441b 14oz. The respective baskets were : A. Simpson, 29 fish, 4.71b 6oz ; W. Leitch, 22 fish, 401b lOoz ; M. Lawrie, 16 fish, 361b 14oz ; D. F. Bremner, 16 fish, 311b 4oz ; J. A. Dodd, 22 fish, 301b 14oz ; J. Tough, 16 fish, 231b; J. Greenshields, 9 fish, 171b lOoz; H. Allan, 9 fisK, 171b 4oz. Messrs Bremner and Allan fished in the Wyndham River, and all the rest in the Mimihau. M. Lawrie caught the heaviest fish, weighing 31b 12oz.

Lowburn Ferry — Cromwell. October 30. — My correspondent writes: "The month's record has been so poor that weekly notes were not worth forwarding. The best basket for the month was that of Mr J. Jameson, on the Ist, of which you had a note. The same gentleman has had some two or three baskets since, of 4 to 5 fish, and smaller baskets have been recorded. In this neighbourhood the trout are in excellent condition. Ten miles up the river they are reported so poor as not to be worth taking home." Winchester, November 5. — Fishing since date of last report has generally been confined to the Waihi, from which many nice baskets have been taken with the fly. Langdon's register shows a total of 132 fish, weighing from -|lb to l£lb. The water was in fine condition. The larger rivers are all now in good order, and with an increase of visiting anglers, a good record is likely to be put up this week. Mr Sugden got 12, fishing in the Rangatata, averaging 41b.— Correspondent. Grey Valley, October 29.— As I write this, the elements are hard at it— rain, thundei, and lightning, with the river rathei high for fishing. However, sometimes, with everything propitious, not a fish is caught — next day, with things a little on the off-side, some good baskets are made. The river is full offish, and I hope when the snow is all off the ranges to be able to tell you of something big. The part of the river lam telling you of is about 30 miles from Greymouth, and I do not hear of anyone trying the river lower down than this. There are plenty of the brotherhood along the river that I know give the grayling a spell and try a cast with the fly. The Arnold should be a good stream. The first trout caught in the river was got at its junction with the Grey, and sent to a medico in Greymouth ; but that is a long story. Some very fine fish have been taken this month. Mr George Hill got 22 fish, weighing lewt. The sons of Mr M'Donnell, farmer, of Totara Flat, have done well; one fish being taken that turned the beam at 131b— top weight for the season so far. I am glad to be able to chronicle the success of two gentlemen who had rather hard luck last season ; but the memory of days lang syne, spent among the lochs of romantic Rosshire, is retained too well for them to be easily daunted, and last Saturday Messrs Kenneday and Nelson landed 2 beauties, each fish weighing exactly 111b. Singular they should be both of the same weight, and both caught in the same place; I hope they will have some good baskets this season. I was in hopes I would have been able to have told you of some big fish having been taken by the sons of Mi Mackley, of the Waipuna station. With the exception of one caught by Mr Herbert (91b) last season, the fish they have taken have been rather small. They deserve some big ones, having been at some trouble foi years past to stock all the small streams with fish from the hatchery. They could be seen doing well, and were very numerous, until they got big and took to the main river. However, the young Mackleys are not easily beaten, and I must tell you some other time how they caught a 10-pounder in a 15ft deep water .hole. W ill some of my brother anglers kindly drop me a line tolling me of their doings? I will then be able to make my reports more complete. — A letlei addressed "Angler," Nobles Post Office, will be received with thanks, and an account given to Jock Scott.— (l hope anglers will pratify my correspondent's wish.) My friend "Angler" must be something of a poet, for he encloses tho following versos, presumably original : But when ye talk o' trootin' streams That gurgle through the broom I feel as if within my breast . My heart had hardly room. O' them I dearly like to hear, Maist ilka pool I ken, I've fished them a' wi' bait an fly, ; An' houp to dae't again. The Waitaki.— One well-knowji analev luul

the misfortune the other day to get beyoncl his depth in the Waitaki (says the Waimate Times), resulting in his getting a good ducking, and the loss of all his "gibbles." Tha Waimate Times reports that Messrs Bell and Cheverton visited the Waitaki and were rewarded by landing 13 first-class trout, the average weight being 41b. Mr Adams landed two fine fish on Thursday, 71b and 81b respectively. The river is in splendid order, if the weather would only change and be a little more seasonable.

Thq Waimatuku.— Mr John Forsyth, of Riverton, last Wednesday week caught 11 fish in the "Waimatuku, the weight of each being lib, l£lb, 31b, 41b, 441b, 51b, 541b, 61b, 61b, 641b and 101b— total weight, 531b. A Note from Southland. — Under the heading of "Trout at Our Door," a Southland paper says: Yesterday morning Mr Macfarlane invited a member of our staff over to hia hotel to "see a picture." This proved lo be a splendid male trout of 81b weight, which had hardly ceased to show signs of life, aad was lying in state in a lordly dish. The history of the catch was interesting. Mr Robert Kidd, an enthusiastic disciple of oM Walton had noticed a "rise" of a goodly fish close to the railway bridge over Pum Creek the previous evening. He hurried homo — Deschler's— for his rod, and spent some jama in whipping the stream, but without ertecs. He vowed, however, that he "would ba-e him in the hotel before breakfast next morning." Accordingly he got up some time before 7, and before 8 returned in triumph with the splendid fish mentioned, which, from the firmness of its flesh and the silvery sheen of .is scales, was deemed by admiring onlookers to have passed some of its sportive youth in £o?.t water. Kelso.— The Kelso correspondent of Hie Tapanui Courier says: Since the commei <16-raent1 6raent of the season, I have not heard of tu^y big baskets. The river has not been favturable for fly fishing, owing to the succession of small freshesduring October. A lady" angler (Miss J. Sector) on her first attempt at the gentle art succeeded in landing a nice fish, turning the scale at 21b 2oz. Ang!in<? is becoming a favourite pastime among lades here, as in other places, and there are o*hors who intend to become license-holders this season in Kelso. Whitebait.— Whitebait is now so plentiful in the Opihi that the Maoris are having too much of a harvest, the demand not being equal to the supply. The trout are having a great time among the little visitors, and find this live feed so delicious that they will not look at any artificial bait. With a swollen river, and excess of feed, anglers find plenty of time wherein to change their minnows, and have weight-guessing competitions on fish, they see in the various pools. Angling in Canterbury.— Mr W. J. Alpe s fishing register shows that Mr P. J. Molloy took in all 71 fish during the month of October. Of these, 7 were from t*he Healhcote, and included one 61b, one 51b, and one 21b (Rainbow). The remainder were from the Avon. On October 31 Mr W. J. Alpe took 4 fish from the north branch of the Waimakoiriri.

At the Wyndham Anglers' Society's second competition eight baskets were responsible for no less than 139 fish, of a total weight of 2441b 14oz— or a trifle of 201b over 2cwt. The following were the respective baskets in their order of merit : —A. Simpson, 29 fish weighing 471b 6oz ; W. A. Leitch, 22fish weighing 401b lOoz ; M. Lawrie, 16 fish weighing 361b 14oz ; D. F. Bremner, 16 fish weighing 311b 4oz ; J. A. Dodd, 22 fish weighing 301b 14oz; J. Tough, 16 fish weighing 231b ; J. Mitchell, 20 fish weighing 201b 12oz ; J. Greenshields, 9 fish weighing 171b lOoz; H. Allan, 9 fish weighing 171b 4oz. The heaviest fish weighed 31b 12oz, and was captured by Mr Lawrie.

PROSECUTIONS FOR ILLEGAL FISHING.

Cases of more than usual interest to anglers came before Mr Hawkins, S.M., at Gore on Thursday. One was an information by R. E. Horman, ranger for the Southland Acclimatisation Society, charging Donald Miller, of Mandeville, "that he did, on Ist October, attempt to take trout in portion of the waters of the Otamita River running in a channel from and to the river by fishing for the < same with rod and line, without having a license to fish for trout, contrary to 'The Fisheries Conservation Act, 1884,' and the fishing regulations." Mr Russell appeared for the informant, and Mr Bowler for defendant, who pleaded "not guilty." The evidence for the prosecution' showed that defendant had been seen fishing with rod and line in the waterrace or channel referred to, and which is connected with Doull's mill. He had caught no fish. Counsel for defendant relied on section 3 of the act, which says " Nothing in this act shall apply to any person taking fish in water of which he irf the owner, nor to any person authorised by such person to take fish in such water," and urged that the watei in question being on the land of Mr Doull, who had authorised the defendant to fsh there, the prosecution must fail. Authority was cited to show that the test of "ownership was " beneficial use and enjoyment." For the prosecution it was contended that ' ownership " did not attach to water running continuously within defined banks, either through or upon the boundary of land, that the landowner could only make use of such water for domestic purposes, or otherwise, not interfering with the quantity or quality of the water flowing in the ordinary channel to landowners below. Authorities were cited to show this, and that such water could not be impounded and disposed of. His Worship said he was satisfied that there could be no ownorsnip ot the water in question, and fined the accused 10s, costs £3 0s Bd. , The othei cases were informations by tne same informant against two persons for attempting to take trout by fishing for them with rod and line without licenses on <2na October. The defendants, who were represented by Mr Neave, pleaded Guilty. It was urged on their behalf that it -was accidental that no licenses had been taken out on the date alleged; that they had just commenced fishing when detected, and had caught no fish ; that they had obtained licenses tho day following, and for several years had regularly taken out licenses. The court mfhcteu a small fine and costs in each case.— Southland Times. ___

Mr Hislop, railway stationmaster at Clinton, has been allowed to withdraw his resignation, which he sent in some time ago because of ill-health. Mr Heald, stationmaster at the Spit, will take up the duties at Clinton until Mr Hislop has recovered, and will then return to the Spit. A Nelron paper reports that two young men were struck by lightning at Foxhill tho other day, but neither was seriously injured* It is said that one of them received the force of the current in his arm, and that the other was struck on the back of hi« head, and that hi nose bird in con«cc|ncnc"o.

TOBA.CCO HAS TAKEN RANK among the in'iessaricii of life. Only one brand is included among tho luxuries — nauifiLt* "DEIIBX,^

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