BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2645, 23 November 1904, Page 58

BANK NOTES.

The Waipahi. — Fishing on the Upper Waipahi for a, few days last week, Mr John Howat had very good sport, and brought home some splendid fish, including a few scaling up to 51b. Good Aggregate from the Mixnihau. — The Southland Times of the 16th inst. says: "Four anglers, fishing in the Mimihau stream, on Saturday, grassed -60 fish, weighing 761b. Each member of the quartet made a .satisfactory bag."

- Alleged Wholesale Slaughter of Trout in the Kakanui. — The Kakanui correspondent of -the Oamaru Mail writes: — "I regret to say that reports are current that wholesale slaughter of trout is being carried on in the upper reaches of the Kakanui Biver. I hope the Acclimatisation Society will take some practical steps to put a stoj to this wanton destruction."

Tapanui Anglers' Competition. — The following is from the Tapanui Courier: — For the Tapanui District Anglers' Association's competition on the 9th inst. the Pomahaka was in good order, but no large baskets were taken. At Tapanui only three competitors weighed in, as follows : — P. Hay, seven, fish, weighing 61b 2oz ; T. Hagen, nine fish, weighing 51b 12goz ; P. M'Cann, seven fish, weighing 51b 2oz. The contest was on a handicap basis, Hagen receiving 10 per cent, from Hay and' 20 per cent, from M'Cann, Ha.gen therefore coming first with a few ounces to spare. The returns of those who weighed in at Keko have not yet come to hand. [It will be noticed that the fish did not average a pound each. — J. S.] — Mr Wm. Morrison had some, good sport on the Pomahaka last week, and secured two backets of 26 and 27 fish respectively. The former take weighed 271b, and the latter about 171b. [Two fine baskets, but the fish did not average over the pound, or at least only a fraction over.— J. S.]

An Infernal Machine. — The- Tapanui Courier has the following under the sideheading of "The Poacher's Friend": — "Whilst fishing on the Pomahaka. the other day a couple of local anglers came across what is known as a ' leestler,' that had been carried down the river and washed ashore whilst the river was in flood. The weapon was strongly made, with a handle about 9ft long and three well-barbed! prong.?, from which it would be' impossible for a, fish, to escape. If the poa'dhot' wlio owned the article is anxious to see it again, he can do so by applying 'to the ranger for the Otago Acclimatisation Society or Constable Cowan !"

Angling at Rotorua. — A Rotorua correspondent writes to the New Zealand Herald of the 14th inst. : — "A party of six secured 15 troiit, of a- total weight of 601b, amongst which were two brown trout, weighing about 61b each. Tho fish were taken with fly and minnow at the mouth of the Haimirana Stream. The maiority of the fish were in good condition."

Angling in Canterbury. — The Christchurch I Press of tho 14-th inst. records the following takes: — "During the past few days two anglers took 14- fish weighing 961b out of the Selwyn, and other anglers a 16lb and 91b fish respectively." — The Lyttelton Times , of the 15th contains the folowing: — "Two Ashburton anglers, fishing with worm bait, on the Ashburton River, on Saturday, landed 28 trout, averaging lilb in weight. Mr H. Revell, on tho same river, landed 21 trout, averaging lib in weight. This fisherman reports that the * blue d\m ' and ' Hardy's favourite ' flies are exceptionally successful just now." — A large number of spectators (says the Christchurch Press of the 15fch inst.) gathered yesterday morn- . ing round a big catch of trout, comprising about 1461b, from the Selwyn, which was being photographed on the grassy s.lope at the Government buildings. All the fish were in splendid condition and fairly even in size. — Mr Ten-js, of Ashburlon, ' with a companion, fishing on the Opi'hj stream at Pleasant Point on Thursday grassed 96 trout in fivo hours, the average weight of the fish bein^ Well above- lib. On Friday another angler joined the party, and the three rods secured! 37 fish in three hours' fishing* A local angler, fishing in the upper reaches of the Ashburton River, on Friday, landed 13 trout, weighing from |lb to gib.— Ashburton . Mail of the 15th instw " " ~J[

Dunedin Anglers' Competitions. — The annual fishing competition with the " bare fly " for the medals presented by the Otago Acclimatisation Society to the Otago Ang.ers' Society was held on the Waipahi River on the 9th iil f ., and resulted in the first prize beins awarded to W Marbazan (Gore) and the second 1o D. Finlayson (TTaipahi). Seventeen competitors entered for the contest, and the following are the retiirns sent in: — W. Marzaban, IS fish, 26Mb; D. Fin'ayson, 13 fish, 23flb: T. Murray, 18 fish, 23Jlb ; R. Spiers, 2-L fish, 22',ib; G. Howat, 32 fish, 221b; P. C "Muriay, 28 fis'n, 19ilb ; J. Walders, 12 fish, 191b; D. Mclrose, 25 fish, 16Alo; D. A. Purvi=, 12 fish, ISJIb; W. Dslcw, 8 fish, 15Alb; W. M'Calium, 23 fish, llilb, F. Lade-wig, 6 fish, SJlb. The Otago Angleis' Association also held a competition on the Waipahi River on the following day. any legal bait being allowable, for prizes presented by the president (Air R. Chisholin> and vice-preaidents_(ilessrs R. Forrest and A. Anderson). Ten entries were received for this competition, and the following are the ie turns handed in: — H. G. Williams, 6 fish, 1111b; F. L-adewig, 6 fish, iOJlb . G. Howat. 15~fi<=h, 8Jlb ; T. Murray, 11 fish, 61b ; D. Melrose, 4 fish, 3ilb. Mr Willipms, having previously won a first prize, is subject to a handicap of 20 per cent., thus Mr F. Lade-wig secures first prize, Mr Williams second, and Mr Howat third.

The Pollution of Trout Stream?.— lt is reported in the Southland News of the 35t1. Inst that a meeting of the Acclimatisation Socie-ty's council was held tho previous Monday evening. The report continued: — ■ * Tho committee, Messes Mackhmon, Gilmour, and Russell, appointed to report on the matter, stated that they had visited Messrs Fisher and Co.'s flaxmill at Orawia, in regard to the effect the refuse from it was having on the trout stream in the vicinity. They said that no dead fish were found, and that tho stripper refuse had, since tlse ranger's visit, b&en carted some chains? away to comparatively dry ground, where there was little prospect of its contaminating: influence reaching the stream. Tho gum and otter refu.-c from the scrutcher, however, was still being carried into the stream by the outflow race. Messrs Fisher had, after the ranger's visit, p 7 aced an iron screen in the race to catch the larger portion of i of use from the water sc-rutcher, the result being very beneficial. The committee tasted! the water in the stream about 440 yards below the mill, and fouak! it distinctly tainted with the astringent flavour of flax. The oommitteo pointed out to mill owners that the treatment of the gum refuse was still cbjec-tiona-ble, and that at a slight expense a partial if not complete remedy oould be devised by cutting an outflow race into aa adjoining swamp, to be provided with dams, where the vegetable debris would remain, while the water, freed of most of its impurities, would p&33 to the river. The mill owners agi-osd to c.u-ry out this suggestion. The committee thought tnat if the stripping refuse was deposited on dry ground, free from the influence of flood -water, which was now being done at Fisher's mill, and if the refuse from tha scrutcher was treated as above mentioned, ioiO. not carried directly into th© stream, it was as much as could reasonably be expected from flaxmill owners, ■without seriously interfering with the development of this important industry, or very possibly closing the mills altogether. The eommitte-e had every reason to hops that the majority of flaxmilers would adopt the same measures in dealing with the refuse as Messrs Fisher, so that legal proceedings would not be necessary. At the same time it -was desirable that the ranger should periodically visit all the mills in order to ascertain whether the terms of the council in this respeob are bein.g complied with ia a fair and reasonable manner. The committee had considered it prudent to approach this subject in a conciliatory spirit, as they were fully aware that the flsxmilling industry was of considerable value- and importance to th& colony, necessitating the free use of a fair volume of water (which must eventually reach the river) in the preparation of the fibre, and any liarsb or unnecessarily aggr&ssive measures adopted by the council could not but create much hostile antagonism and resentment, which might ultimately prove prejudicial and even menacing to the interest a«d stability of the society. During the course of the remarks of several speakers, it was stated that the gum eaitered the gills of the fish and prevented breathing, and although the pollution mia-ht not kill the fish, it tmdoubtedly did kill' tli© inseeb food. Ie was stated thafe the committee, in company with the ranger, made an inspection of the riverbed below t/ho mill, and failed to discover any sign of in?ect or worm life. Above the mill, thedr experience was entirely reversed. Others stated that fish were seldom found be-ow thi mills in tihe smaller streams, amd if they wore not killed they were at least kept out; by the pollution. It was decided, on tho motion of Messri'd M'Cairthy and Fisher — 'That the committee be* thanked for their report aaid explanation re Messrs Fisher and Co 's mill, and a sub-committee be appointed to de-fine what would be satisfactory to this society to prevent pollution of the streams, and to confer thereafter with the Flaxmillers' Association.' Messrs Russell, Gilxnour, and Mackinnon were reappointed on the sub-oommifctee, and were given power to act. Proceedings in the case against Mr Fisher will be stayed in the meantime.

Canterbury . Acclimatisation Society. — Al meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation; Society's council was held last Wednesday evening. Mr A. H. Shiu-y, representing" the Ashburton Society, attended, and explained that the Canterbury Society's proposal to liberate 10,000 rainbow fry at Laka Coleridge was impracticable, owing to difficulties of transit. He suggested that the fish oould be more advantageously placed in. Lake Heron. Mrs Whiteside mored — '"That tli© society's original decision should be followed," and the motion was carried. Al lettea- was received from tine actinig-supeviu-ten dent of the Tourist Department at Han.mer, stating 1 thaJt of the three streams, thef Percival, the Hammer, and the Rogerson, in the neighbourhood of Hannner Springs, only tho first-named was stocked with fish, and! ho reicomrnended that the other two rivers should be supplied with trout. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Sloman, thati yearlings should be placed in the Hanmec and Rogerson streams during next March, and that the Tourist Department should bet asked to arrange for the oarriage of the fish from. Culverden. Mr J. T. Leemiiigl wi&te that at a recent meeting of anglers at Glen tunnel, it had been decided to ask ihe society to reatook the Selywn Gorge, and! to appoint a-nd pay a ranger to look after the rivor. It was agreed that the local anglers should be authorised to remove fisht from above the Gorigie, if they undertook the work tihenise>lves, under the supervision of Mr A- P. Woodcock. A letter was received from Constable Bird, of Culvertleni, stating that the Hurumii and Waitofoi Rivera were teeming with trout. The Garden Comaiiftaa's yejjort stated that 250 rainbow tronifl

had been sent to Kaiapoi for liberation in the north branch of the 'Waimakariri. The gardens were looking well, and all the fish •were in excelent condition. Mr Hart stated that 10,000 fry had been recently sent to the Ashley River and 10,0(70 to the Hurunui, making a total of 164,156 liberated during t"he season, and leaving 50>000 for distribution. In reference to the operation of the ißshing- regulations regarding (netting at " tio mouths of rivers, the Chairman furnished a legal opinion that the society had the power technically to prohibit netting at the mouths of the Avon, Heathcote, and Waimakariri. However, it was a question ■whether it would be judicious for the society to strictly enforce its powers in view of the fact that a number of people made their living by netting. Several members said that the matter required careful consideration, and notice of motion was given that the legal -opinion should be discussed at the council's next meeting. Inside a large eel which was captured in Masterton a few days ago was found a whole trout about lit in length.