BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 54

BANK NOTES.

The Shag. — The week before last Mr Jno. Ogg had two days' fishing on the Shag CRiver, and secured 40 trout weighing in the aggregate about 481b. The 9 largest would average 21b each. The water fished (by Mr Ogg was from Mrs Crawford's up >to Dunbaek. The larger fish were caught ibelow and in the neighbourhood of Mrs Crawford's, and were taken with the minnow. .The other fish were caught principally on the red spider. The river was low and "dear. On Saturday week Messrs Cook), ■Crust, and Wilson had a day on the samo river, and accounted for 32 fish among" them. The heaviest fish weighed about 51b, and fell to the rod of Mr Wilson. The anglers report that, like Mr Ogg, they experienced fc low, clear river, but were materially assisted in luring the fish by a nice breeze. Most of the fish were caught on the minnow, but when using the fly, the governor and alder were found most" effective. A Dunedin angler fishing the Shag River on Saturday week caught 10 very good trout, which "weighed fully 251b iv the aggergate. The heaviest fish was about 41b, and all were taken with the N.Z. minnow. The angler Was on the river again on the Monday, but the weather was very bad, the wind blowing a gale. He, however, found a somewhat sheltered spot, and took four fish. Tiie minnow used was, as before stated, the New Zealand minnow, with a cocoon body and a silver head. On Saturday last Mr W. Finlayson and Mr Russell, fishing the same river, landed 40 trout between them from the water at and above Mrs Crawford's. The river was very low, and they Teport that they saw a great many fis,h F but they were difficult to come- at. They Caught most of their fish with the minnow, but they also found the Pomahaka and blue upright flies fairly killing. It should be mentioned that the previous catch of 10 fish was made in the neighbourhood of Bushey. 1 have heard of yet another good catch in the Shag River. It was made on the same day as that of Messrs Finlaysori and Russell, and consisted of about 50 fish for two rode. These fish were, so I am informed, caught almost entirely with the fly. The two anglers, after making the haul, proceeded to the Waikouaiti River, but what success they met with there I have not heard.

The Kakanui.— The Oamaru Mail of the 24th inst. says: — Mr W. E. Farr captured 24 trout with the natural bait on Tuesday evening at the Kakanui, his companions, Messrs W. Sinclair, Alex. Familton, David. Sinclair, and H. Grenfell landing 13, 9, 7, and 6 fish respectively. The Kakanui is teeming with fish, and eood sport can always

be obtained with the fly or natural bait. "F. G.," writing on the 24th inst., says : "Since my last notes there have been some fair baskets of medium-sized fi%h got from the Kabanui. On tiie King's Birthday the banks were lined with anglers, who met with varied success. I regret to state that a good many anglers are taking to the unsportsmanlike practice of fishing during tbe night time. These gentlemen may catch fish, but I don't see where the sport comes in, and I think the societies should make rules prohibiting night fishing in any form. I trust that yourself and all true anglers will protest against this practice. — [What my correspondent says is true enough, particularly as regards some rivers, and if I remember aright, a few years ago the hours for angling were limited. A bad feature of night fishing is that it affords facilities for talking fish by illegal method*. There are some rivers, however, where, if fishing was confined to the daytime, the angler would not, as a general thing, put up much of a record. The trouble would be to specialise the rivers where night fishing should be prohibited. For my own part, I never now trout fish of a night, though I well remember as an enthusiastic juvenile I fished the Water of Leith frequently after dark.— J. S.]

. Waipahi, November 24. — "W. D." writes: "This river is in fairly good fishing trim an present. I did not hear of many big takes last week. On the 19th Mr D. Melrose killed 12 fish, Mr R. Campbell 6 fish, and I got 12 fish myself. On th* 22nd Mr Thompson secured a nice ba-g of 20 fish."

Winchester. — My Winchester regular correspondent sends me the following, dated 24th inst. : — Langdon's register for the week is 169 fish, weighing 1121b. Several nice fish were taken out of the Rangitata during last week; some weighing 81b, 51b, 31b, and 21b. The Rangitata and Op*lii are in splendid order for fishing afc present.

Orepuki, November 22 — "F. T B. W.," in his last report says : "Since writing la?t the following catches at Waiau Mouth have been. J reported to me — F. H. Wilson, 22 fish, weigh- ; ing in the aggregate 88ilb; Jno Wilson, 20, ' 671b; Jno Weston, 7, 451b; R. Moore, 7, 28ilb; V. R. Hackworth, 7, 251b; 1. T. B. Walker, 6, 241b; G. B. Hutchins, 4, 171b; A. M'Farlane, 5, 161b; — Tarlton, 3, 101b; and W. Templeton 2, 51b. There are a few others who were very successful since writing, but catches wore not reported to me. The fish are now in good order, and come of above turned the scale at 101b. The river this week was rather dirty for ang-lers to get big baskets.- but it is now clearing again. Since writing. I have received the I following report of fish landed since Thurs- ! day: Mr P. M'Cann, 29 fish, weight 1001b; Jno. Wilson. 1, 91b ; and G. B. Hutchins, 3, 141b. Mr M'Caan informs me he caught his fifeh on one Waiau special minnow, and it is good yet. The local anglers' society's eornanittee met at Wilson's Family Hotel on 14th inst. , to make arrangements for a competition to be held at Waiau Mouth on Wednesday, December 3, for prizes presented by Messrs T. Bell, A. M. Dawson, Jno. Wilson, and C. Small. First prizej gold medal ; second prize, four Waiau , special minnows; "third prize, value ss. It | was decided to fix the boatman's charges to anglers for crossing and recrossing at 2s 6d per Head per day ; anglers wishing to troll to make arrangements with the boatman for same. The charges as above to be posted at both camps, for the convenience of local I and visiting 1 anglers. Mr Alexander inI formed the meeting that he would convey anglert to the Mouth for the sum of 2s 6d per head each way when there was more ' than one; if only one, by special arrange1 ment. It was resolved that all members of the society be requested to report their catches (number and weight) to the secretary. A vote of thanks to donors of prizes and to the chair slosed the meeting." 1 Ashburton, November 23. — My old friend I Mr A. H. Shury writes: — "I see by your paper that a Christchurch angler has caught a ljjlb rainbow trout. You do not say where, and you actually think it worthy of notice. [I do not remember the paragraph. Perhaps it was remarkable for the particular locality where it was caught. — J. S.] Tho Ashburton society have turned out in the Ashburton: 1898-99, 6000 rainbow trout fry; 1899, 6000; 1900-01, 10.000; ISO 2-3, 10.000. In the Rangitata: 1899-00, 1000; 1902-3, 5000. In the Rakaia: 1902-3, 5000. The Canterbury society turned out in the Rakaia in 1902-3, 5000, and also 1500 yearlings. Totals— the Ashburton, 32.000; Rangitata, 6000; Rakaia, 11,500. Of those turned out in the Aahburton in 1898, they are frequently taken of from l£lb to 2lb each ; those turned out in 1899 run from £lb to

lib ; and those turned out in 1900 run from 4 to 6 to the Ib, and should be returned. These trout are distributed from the Lagoon to Valetta, about 18 or 19 miles as the crow flies. Not a large number to stock sc much water, but it is not at all unusual to take them on either fly or phantom, and, I regret to say, on worm. I caught over 20 rainbows, myself last year, up to 21b, and tlus season, although it has not been at all favourable for fishing, I have taken three — one of them 21b — and many other anglers have taken as many, and as they have b&en well distributed they are occasionally taken in all parts of the river. Of the 100T) the society placed in the Rangitata I have only heard of one being taken. I did not ses it, but was informed Mr Frank Brown, a well-known angler there, took it. It was said to be about 21b, and gave more play than any fish he had taken, except one he hooked foul. And yet the South Canterbury Society will not join us in stocking the Rangitata with rainbow trout. They will know better when the tourists and anglers v:ho now gc to Tcmuka and Winchester for fishing leave them and go where rainbow trout can be caught. A 21b rainbow gives more play than a 101b brown trojt. Many gentlemen who hay*> fished for rainbow trout in the North Island, where they grow as large as the brown trout here, cay we can ke-ep our brown trout, bu* they will g-c wheio they can get rainbows."

The Edible Qualities of the Sea Trout.— A sea trout taken from the salt water is vastly superior to one that has been caught after spending any time in a river. Whether it is the want of food or the relaxing effects of fresh water, a. short while in the river has marked effects on the sea trout's flesh. Mtulon from salt marshes, hams fed on peaclic?, a hare that has be«n hunted before it is roast, are all well known to gastronomists as being superior to any others. It is the same with fish ; and no one who ha£ not eaten a sea trout taken -straight from salt water and cooked the same day can have a notion how excellent it can be-. It has tbe pi.*.ness and flavour of a salmon without beino oily, and tho delicacy of a river trout without being ta«.telrs.- oi muddy, which are common qualities of tho river fish that grow tc a large size. — Spectator. Fishing for Tunny.— When lying at the mouth of the Bay of Biscay, tiie people of H.M.iS. Research were surprised to fog French boats busily fishing about 150 miles from the nearest land in 2300 fathom" of wa.cr. They were catching tunny, sailing about four knots, with lines streamed over the stern, from the nuzen, and from two long spars on port and starboard sides, eac!i carrying about 10 line?. The people on board the warship bought about 15 fish from one boat, and found fresh tunny, boiled or soused (not fried), a pleasant change from salt and tinned victual. — G. H. Fowler. — [Fishing' foi tunny has beon carried on f^rf many years v/ith lines boomed out by long bamboo poles in the waters of South-west Europe, but the distance the boats go from land is, perhaps, one cf the reasons why the sport has not been fully appreciated by amateurs.— Ed. Field.]

Unexplained Presence of Fish in Wells.— I should be greatly obliged for any information which would help to convince the unbelieving- as to the truth of on incident which I* related in connection with fish in artificial wells having no visible or probable communication with any other body of water. While working on sonic coal mines at Soto, Ills., U.S.A., I was astonished to find catfish in wells winch had only been dug a couple of year*. Those fish averaged from 4in to lOin long. They could not have been placed there. The nearest water containing fish is the Big Muddy, one and a-half miles away. The number of wells containing fish was five, as far as I counted, and none over four years old. With the age of the well so did the size of the fish contained increa&c. I can offer no explanation. — Ferry, in the Field.

Nothing Extraordinary. — Angling fairy tales mala© a very interesting study. Nearly all of them come from Amerii a, and many s&em to be manufactured with exceeding care. Some are pure inventions ; others are made urc. This may seem a distinction without a difference, but by pure invention I mean the story et olved from the ;lever brain of a trans-Atlantic journalist. The made-u*j ones aro based on older stories which have no relation to fishine, but are converted to that end, and of ""the^ the following ia a fair sample. The original, which is a regimental yarn of an officer falling over the rock of Gibraltar and being killed, is, if anything, better. An American millionaire, a tenant of a river in the north, gave his Scotch rivor keeper str ; ct orders to keep an accurate account of anything extraordinary which happened in connection with the fishing. A frie-nd of the millionaire's, who was rather a duffer, came to the river one day. and. as duffers often do, hooked a very bi£ salmon, which played him for half an hour and then broke away. The owner of the water was informed of the incident by his friend, and on next visiting the river called for his keeper's diary, expecting to read full particulars of the great fight the fish 'had had with his friend. On the page devoted to the day in question there was no entry. "Do you mean to =ay, Donald." said the millionaire, "tbat nothing extraordinary happened on that day" "Xo. naething," said the keeper. "What ' don't you call it extraordinary my friend Silas P. Green hooking and lo=ing an enormous salmon?" "No," eaid Donald, aftei somd deliberation ; "I dinna think there's anything extraordinary in that. If he had killed th« fish I should ha 1 thoehfc it maist extraordinary, and put it doon in ma reepoort." — John Bickerdyke. Some splendid trout, attracted by the presence of whitebait, nre being- caught at the mouth of the Grey River. A 21-pounder was baetjed last week.

Ninety miles an hour is to be the guaranteed speed of a motor car ordered from a German firm by Mi Schwab, the Steel Trust magnate.

ANGLING ON THE WAIAU.

I'nder tho above he-aJing a "Visiting Angler" sends me the following, for which 1 hay* to thanki him: — "One hears so much of the large fish that are caught in the Waiau R,ive<r that it makes one anxious to go and try their luck. Well, I must Bay that I have been more than satisfied. It is the finest river in New Zealand. The banks are splendid for landing fish, and the conveniences are everything that can be lesired. ThTee large tente have been erected at the mouth of the river, me by D. M'Farlane and two by F. H. Wilson. We hear that F. H. WiUon has been the means of bringing the fisLing on this now popular river to such a Fiir^cess through his energy in making everything comfortable and oonveni&at. I'm sure that bis cam.t>

is as comfortable as a lot of hotels ; so also is MTarlane's camp. All sorts of conveyances can be had from. "Wilson's stables at the shortest notice. I was having a talk to Wilson about the amount of fish that was taken out of the river last season (se-ven tons 12cwt), and he assured me that if anything that was below the weight. "You can judge for yourselves what a great river it is. Wilson was also telling me that Mr Osmond had sent some fine strong minnows down to try on the Waiau. He says they are very good, caily rather heavy ; but he has caught a lot of fish with them. I asked him his favourite minnow, and he strongly recommends Walker's special Waiau trout eel and cocoon. They are very stron,g, and sp>n well. He caught 501b on the opening day of the trout season with the trout skin. Wilson tells me the months of December, January, and February are the best in the season for fishing. It is amusing to see the number of rods on the river some days, everyone trying to beat the other. A day like that our worthy ferryman, John Hunter, is kept very busy. I must cay a word in praise of John Hunter, wlio is most obliging and trustworthy. He is very safe — you can trust yourself with him under all conditions of the river. The weight of fish caught in October was 1 ton scwt ; and for tins month (November) to date, 19owt. The river has been rougli and dirty this month, yet there lias been a lot of fishing done. D. M'Farlane and his three sons were out from Wednesday to Wednesday, and caught a good number of fish. F. and J. Wilson have also been very successful. They all give the belt to F. H. Wilson for being able tc make the bigg&st basket. My catch for three days has been very good — about 1401b. I am we-11 satisfied, and intend coming again, along with some friends of mine." My correspondent goes on to refer to a paragraph appearing in the local paper, which journalistic etiouette forbids me to refer to. and concludes by extolling the qualities of Walker's Waiau special minnow.