BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 51

BANK NOTES.

It is with extreme regret that I learn for the first time of the death of Mr Hugh Jamison, of Lowburn .Ferry, who was an enthusiastic sport with the rod, and a valued correspondent of mine. I note with satisfaction that there is no probability of the size of takcable irout being reduced, the Otago Acclimatisation Society's Council having rescinded their previous resolution in the matter.

The Waitati. — In company with Mr R. T. Wheeler, jun., Mr A. Anderson went to the Waitati River on Saturday morning. The river was very low, and the fish were not on the take, the first being caught about 10 o'clock, and the total basket was seven only. Mr Anderson tried the worm at the start, t>ut as they would not take that he used the Irish March brown, and it was with this lie took his other fish. Although Mr Wheeler •was not fishing he seems to have developed a keen interest in. angling, and, I understand, intends to follow the sport up. The stream at latest was reported to be bank-high and will not be fishable for a few clays to come. The Waikouaiti.— Messrs P. Ait ken and G. Crow were at the Waikouaiti River on Saturday, and fotmd the water very beery, as it -was on the Saturday previous. Towards evening they got a dozen fish between them, Mr Aitken getting nine and Mr Crow three. The largest fish weighed 51b and was taken ( by Mr Crow with the minnow.

The Upper Clutha (Lowburn Ferry). — I am informed that the Upper Clutha. was in good fishing trim on the 7th inst., and that the fish are in beautiful condition. Mr J. Jamison has been meeting with good luck, and lias already taken nearly 50 fish. He secured one nica basket of seven, averaging 21b. The best fly for the month -just expiring wa"* the March brown, and the best minnow the whitebait.

The Kuriwao. — This stream, besides being very well stocked, has since ihe opening of the season been in excellent condition for fishing, and some large baskets have been already taken. Among others Messrs Belsham, Tuffley, and Steel, of Clinton, and Mr Tommy Turnbull, of Dunedin, did very well. The latter took something like 122 trout for five days' fishing, his largest catch for ono day being 43. The principal lures used were the creeper, March brown and Jossie files.- — [I am very much obliged to my new contribu--tor for his note. — J.S.]

The Kakanui. — There are plenty of fish in the Eakanui this season. On night Mr Cameron caught 12, Mr Gunn 10, and Mr Odey 9. The rain has improved the fishing. — North Otago Times of October 22.— " A.F." reports that this stream is high just now and ■will not be fit for fishing with the fly for a ■week. The baits that have been in use are the creeDer, brown fly, and natural and artificial minnow. Mr L. Marcks has caught about 200 fish up to the present, and Mr W. Yorston about 100. Other anglers have been very successful getting from six to 20 fish a day. The river is well stocked with fish, and the heaviest caught so far this season weighed 121b. I have to thank my correspondent for his report. The Waipahi.— " J.R.S." writes from Arthurton that on the'night of the 28th inst. it rained very heavily and the was in

partial flood. The additional water should put the stream in splendid fishing trim for the present week. Mr Howard Stephen&on grassed seven nico trout on Friday, weighing 161b. Messrs Valentine and" Harrison, of Pukerau, were on the stream the same day, and secured fair baskets.

The Waitaki. — The Kiirow correspondent of the Oam.iru Mail writes thua : Judging by the quantity and quality of the trout that are to be seen in both the Waitaki arid Haka Rivers, anglers might do worse than give these streams a trial. Of course, I do not guarantee a basket, but, at all events, the fish are there for the catching. The Haka indeed is literally swarming with trout.

Tho Mimihau.— On the 18th inst., writes "W. PT 5.," Master Adam Mitchell got 15 fish, weighing 201b, and on the 24th inst. Mr R. S. Drummond, in four hours, grassed 13 fish, weighing 261b. Messrs Willocks, M'Kenzie, Sheddan, and another gentleman, whose name is completely obliterated by careless post-office officials placing the post mark right across it — a thing that ha-s occurred on more than one occasion previously — visited the river on the 24th and 25th, the "four rods landing 150 trout, from 41b downward?. Mr Sheddan' s basket of 29 fish was the best obtained. The party were highly delighted with their visit, and speak in glowing terms of the district for sport with the rod. The streams were getting low, my correspondent states, but heavy rain was falling, which would, improve matters. — The following extracts are from' the Wyndham Farmer of the 23rd met. : — There has been no "boom" so far in local angling catches this season; but there have been nice-sized baskets innumerable. The favourite streams-— the Mimihau and Wyndham, with their tributaries — are at present just a little too low and a little too clear to provide perfect' fishing water; but an outfit of fine tackle in skilled hands will do deadly execution all right. The Rev. Rutherford Waddell, of Dunedin, who dubs himself a devotes of the " ancient and apostolic art of fishing," had a most agreeable outing on the gentle Mimihau on Thursday and Friday last, in company with the veteran, Mr John. Greenshields. Fair takes were recorded on both oocasionf-'. Anglers from a distance are invited to try tho local piscatorial resorts, as they may, with ordinary skill, be sure of good sport, tosrether with excellent accommodation at the local hotels. One afternoon recently Mr R. S. Drummond had some grand sport on the Mimihau, at Munro's Bush. He landed 13 fish, weighing 16|lb. Up to the present, Mr A. Grisve has caught 45 trout in the Upper Mimihau, trying his luck in odd half-hours. Mr John A. Stirling landed eight trout from the Mimihau, weighing 15. The fish in this stream are reported to be larger this neason than they have been for some years past. Mr John Greenshields is still able to maintain his reputation as a skilful angler. A short time ago he and Mr A. Simpson caught 14 fish (peven each), weighing 281b. Lately he caught seven in the Wyndham, near the Crescent, weight 121b, and a couple of days afterwards he caught eight in the Mimihau.

Winchester, 2Sth October. — Varying strong winds, principally nor'-westers, prevailed during the past week, interleriug with good sport. Some local anglers however managed to get a few fair baskets from the Waihi, the fisli weighing from £Lb to l^lb. Langdon's figures for the fortnight are 145 fish, weighing 911b. Hea%'y rain to-day and all rivers are likely to be high for a day or two.' — Regular correspondent. Ai'iljnHon. — Air A. If. Shury, writing .on tho 24th, says the A&hburton is still in big flood, and not likely to clear for a week. Messrs Hyde, Hardly, and MTDouald returned yesterday from the Rangilata. A new mouth has opened on the Timaru side and lowered the water- in the lagootv Fishing from the Spit, to the mouth of the riven ]Vlr Hyde got 13 fish, weighing 72^1b; the largest being 9Jrlb. Mr M 'Donald got 16 fish, weighing 741b, the heaviest turning tb % o scale at 121b. Mr Hardly's basket consisted of seven fish, the total weight of which wa? 25 £lb, and the heaviest fish 6£lb. The total catch from the Monday evening to the Wednesday was 41 fish, weighing 1741b. Messrs Walker and Stokes returned from the Rakaia with 32 fisii, averaging- about 61b, the largest taken being 91b in weight. They were a very clean lot of fish, and only two were under 41b. Six persons, adds Mr Shury, were fishing- on the Timaru side, • and were only seen to take one fish, but they may have got as many as were caught on our side. The fish are now in very good condition in both rivers.

The Oreti and Jacobs Rivers. — "Pisces" writes thai on tho 26th inst. Mr M. Maley caught 4-2 trout and Mr Jno. Thomas 45 on the worm in the Oreti River. Mr T. M'Math, using the fly, took 100 from the Jacobs River. Messrs Maley and Thomas caught their fish between Caroline and Dipton, the biggest only weighing 21b. Mr M'Math's was a two days' 'catch, and the flies he used are not known. No wonder, " Pisces " says, fish are scarcer when they are getting slaughtered wholesale like thR The Otamete. — The Otamele continues to maintain its reputation as one of the most reliable trout-fishiug streams in the district (says the Mataura Ensign). Few visits indeed of anglers thither go unrewarded by baskets of greater or less proportions. On Thursday Master W. Turnbull, of Gore, fishing' in the Otamete with the bare fly, captured 21 fine trout, and this in easterly weather, which all the canons of piscatorial art proclaim is against good, or even medium, sport. A Rainbow Trout Caught —A live rainbow trout was caught in the Waikato River near Onewhero. Hitherto it has been believed that the efforts to stock tho Waikato River with trout were unsuccessful.

A Number of Southern Rivers.— Pishing in tho v Mataura River last week, below Mataura Island bridge, Mr Hugh Marshall secured nine trout, weighing 321b, the heaviest being a fine seven-pounder. Mr Robert Smith took three nice fish from the Tokonui, and Mr J. H. Smith three from the Waimahako. while Mr J. R. Kidd took six out of the Titiroa, weighing 151b, the largest being 4-lb. Last Wednesday Mr R. Kidd, jim., landed an even dozen, weight 151b, from the lower waters of the Mimihau; a few days previously, fishing the same area, he grassed 19, weighing 221b. Mr J. A. Dood reports several evenings' excellent sport on the Mimihau, his best take being 11 fish, weighing 251b. _ On Saturday Mr Greenshields was responsible for a catch of seven from the Wyndham, five weighing 21b apiece, the others a trifle less. — Wyndham Farmer. There are not many fish being taken in this district by the legitimate anglers (says the Tapanui Courier), but the poaching fraternity are as usual having a good time.

Alteration in the Mouth of the Rangitata Ttiver.- — -One result of the recent floods in the Rangitata River has been tho establishment of an almost direct mouth, and it is thought that the fishing prospects will improve greatly. During the early part of the season, although there was an outlet to the

river to the northward, it did not permit of the free egress and ingress of fish, and a lengthy lagoon helped materially to spoil the water from a fisherman's point cf view. A week or so ago preliminary steps were taken to open a direct mouth, and the river baa evidently set in to the excavation made, with very satisfactory results. The secretary of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society received information on Saturday week that the river should be in capital order in a day or two. There is a prospect of the present mouth being maintained for some time, and this should give good promise for sport. It is thought that the Opihi and Temuka Rivers will also be in good order in a day or two. Arrangements have been made for direct communication as to the condition of the largs rivers, and this will be available to anglers during the seasbn. — Lytteiton Times.

Southland Notes. — The Western Star of the 25th inst. reports that the Waiau is in a good state for fishing, and anglers speak in high terms of it as fishing ground. The trout are large and in excellent condition, and some big baskets have been obtained. — On Saturday, says the Southland Times of the 23rd inst., a son of Constable Walker shot, at New River Ferry, a black shag, which had in its moi^Lh a trout weighing |lb.- — Six "beautiful fish were, says the Southland Times, shown in Dee street, Invercargill, on the 24th inst. Unless informed on unquestionable authority, we daresay a good many people would be somewhat sceptical when told they had been taken by rod and Hne off the Invercargill jetty that morning. Such was the fact, however. They were captured by Mr Steans and two friends, between half-past 6 and 8, on the ebb tide. On Monday evening Mr J. Friend caught five fine fish, though smaller, at the same place, and on Tuesday morning three more were basketed. Of course these are not the first trout that have been caught off the jetty, or in the vicinity thereof. It was only last season, or it might be the one previous to that, that we noticed the taking of a magnificent fish off the railway bridge over Puni Creek. Odd fish have been got now and again in various parts of the upper estuary, but this is, we think, the first time that a siiccession of good baskets has been secured. The fish were all in good condition, the most of them in first-rate form. The heaviest of yesterday's catch weighed 7£lb, and the smallest 51b, the average being 61b, or 361b for the half dozen — a very good hour's work, even for three rods, and with no trouble, travel, or inconvenienco whatever to the fishers. Reports as to the plentifulness of fish in the rivers have been fairly good this season, and the Waihopai would seem to be well stocked. The gentlemen who have been so fortunate with their rods at 'the jetty are Mr Stean3, Mr A. E. Smith, and MiFriend, and their good luck will no doubt induce others to try the same waters.

Canterbury Notes. — The Lyttelton Timea of the 26th inst. says it is reported that the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers are now in perfect condition for fishing. — The Opihi, Teinuka, Waihi, and Pareora rivers were all in good condition for fishing on i Wednesday, says the Christchurch Press of the 25th inst.— Lyttelton Times, October 24 : A meeting, convened by Mr R. C. London, was held at Lyttelton recently for the purpose of forming a Society .of Anglers. A fair muster of those interested in the sport attended, and Mr F. Over ton, was in the chair. Mr Loudon stated that anglers in the Ellesmere district had contributed about £300 to ,the Acclimatisation Society during the past 10 years or so, and, beyond the liberation of a batch of young trout in a stream near Southbridge a few years ago, they had received nothing in return for their license fees. It was decided to form a society, to be known as "The Ellesmere Angling Society." and the following officers were elected : — Committee. Messrs R. C. Loudon, C. J. Denby, F. Overton, T. Brown, and T. W. Durant; secretary and treasurer, Mr C. J. Denby. A large number of names were given in for membership, and it was decided to admit all members who took out annual fishintr licences, the subscription fee being fixed at 2s a year. The secretary was instructed to write to the Acclimatisation Society, respectfully askina; it to clear the mouths of the Irwell and Hart's Creeks, and to erect an accommodation hut at tho Rakaia River Reserve.

The Netting of Trout in Lake Ellesmere. — A strong petition has been presented to the Government by the fishermen of Lake Ellesmere for a license to pet and sell trout from the Lake Ellesmere waters. The petitioners offer to pay a license fee and bring the fishing under official supervision. The petition also sets forth that very large quantities of trout are caught by the fishermen and surreptitiously sold or exchanged for barter. As many as 80 large trout daily get caught accidentally in the flounder nets, and owing to the sale not being legal the bulk of this quantity is thrown away, and a large and valuable food supply wasted. Southland Acclimatisation < Society.— A meeting of the council of the above society was held on the 21st inst. The secretary read the proposed regulation" for netting Lakes To Anau and Manapouri for trout for the supply of visitors and tourists, and the same were approved by the council for submission to the Government. Correspondence was read relative to the question raised by the Christchurch Society, and supported by the Otago Society, that the minimum, size of takeable trout should bo reduced from 9in to 7in. It was tuia ruinously decided that it would be detrimental to the interests of sport and of this society that any reduction should be made in this district in the minimum size, and that this society prefer an increase rather than a diminution. The secretary was instructed to inform the Government Accordingly. The secretai-y was authorised to accept the offer of the Otago Society of 2000 yearling rainbow trout, to be placed in the Aparima or one of its tributaries. On the recommendation of Mr J. F. Collins Messrs John Henderson and Henry Richardson Wilson, of Otamri, and Messrs Archibald M'Kay, • sen., and James Sutherland, Dunsdale, were appointed honorary rangers of the society, and the secretary was instructed to apply to the Government for their appointment.

Lptterp of naturalisation have been issued to the following Otago residents : —Alfred Donhart, Dunediu : Anne Chresten&en. Port Chalmers; John Mehalski, East Taieri ; Emanucl Jones, Owaka.

The double-barrelled flintlock gun, which was paid as the purchase price of Banks Peninsula, is to be on exhibition among the historical relics at the Christchurch Jubilee Exhibition. One of the flints and the ramrod are ini&sing, but otherwise the weapon is in good order.

From Greymouth last week the Blackball Coal Company exported 1011 tons coal, and the Brurmei- Company 809 tons 2cwt coal, 8 tons scwt coke, and t> tons 13cwt bricks. The Blackball Company's output is the smallest for one week since operations were commenced.