BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 59

BANK NOTES.

The Waipahi. — An exchange says: — Fishing in the Artburton gorge one evening, Mr George Howat obtained . a splendid basket of fish, the take numbering 18. and weighing 411b. The fisb were in perfect order, and afforded capital sport. The "Waikaia. — Waikaia correspondent of the Southern Standard says a xmple of sports, Messrs Pattison and Black, came up from Riversdale at Christmas time and spent three days with rod and line whipping the Waikaia. They were joined by one of the local cracks, Mr A. Christie, sen. The river was not in good fishing trim, consequently the catch was not large. The tallies for the three days were: Mr Christie 33, Mr Pattison 15, Mr Black 11. The lastnamed gentleman was particularly unfortiTnate the first day, not even securing a rise. The Oreti. — An exchange- a few days ago raported as follows:— The Oreti. River is at present in splendid condition for fly fishing, and anglers who have ventured out during the last few days have returned with some very large baskets. Although the - wind was rather severe during the holidays, it did not prevent some good catches, among the most successful fishermen being Messrs Cossgrove and Domigan, who, after journeying to Benmore, succeeded in landing "18 fine fish averaging about half a pound each. Messrs A. Kidil and R. Find Jay, who also tried their luck in the same neighbourhood, returned with a good j basket of 95. The fish, most of which were i in splendid condition, were nearly all caught ! with the fly. We notice that the Red Tip j Governor, Red Spinner and March Brown are three of the 'best taking flies used on the river. - .. . / The Waiau. — Mr F. H. Wilson and a friend recently paid a visit to the Waiau, and for two- hours' fishing landed 11 trout, the largest weighing 81b. At the present time the river is full of trout, which can be seen breaching out of the water. — Our (Western Star) Waiau Mouth correspondent writes: — At present some 20 visitors from Dunediu are having a good time angling at Waiau Moufh.' Among the catches several 15-pounders have been landed. The long duration of hard winds oft shore has made the bay very smooth, and the breakers at the motith are barely perceptible. In consequence the trout .are coming up the river in schools. The river has been high for some three months, but considering the time of the year, each day brings it more confined. — The boatman, J. Hunter, has J been well tested in his boatmanship in the hard gales blowing down stream of late. Western Rivers About Southland. — A Southland paper says the rivers in the Western District are 'receiving a largo share of attention from anglers, and some good baskets are being secured. One Otaaitau man's season's record, from October 1 to Christmas Day, stands at 381 trout. The Fraser River. — The Clyde correspondent of the Cromwell Argus writes: "Anglers are fairly numerous here this season, and the Fraser stream is being whipped into a spray by youthful enthusiasts of the gentle art. N This stream was xe-stocked with fry recently, therefore there is a chance that the trout will increase morerapidly on that account. Several good fish were caught in the Fraser stream this season, and I'm told they were all in. capital condition and of such excellent flavour as makes the fish of that stream a favourite at- the breakfast table.' Fishing at Cromwell. — The Cromwell Argus of a reoenfc date contains the following : Fishermen have been getting some good baskets of fieh lately. One night Mr- J. Holden landed a beauty, weighing Bilb, at the bridge. Angling at Benmore. — Mi H. Raines, of Winton had some good sport at Benmore, one day the week before- last, landing 60 fine fish, averaging about £lb each. The fish were all caught with the fly. It is hoped that the present condition of the river will remain until the holidays have passed, so that anglers may succeed in securing some good baskets with the fly. Trout off Oamarn-.— The North Otago Times says : Several trout have been caught by fishermen off the breakwater within the past week. Whether they became entangled in the hooks on their lines or took the bait we do not know, but the fish were in capital condition, and were a greater prize tc the men than the cod they were fishing for. The trout, of course, should have been returned to the sea, but it was unlikely this was done." The Pareora and Te Ngawai.— The Te Ngawai close to the Point at present is in splendid fishing oi'dor. A party of five from Christchurch, who are staying at Murphy's hotel, landed 76 fish in four hours on the 29th, within two miles of the Point. The fish were in splendid condition and run £lb to l^lb. The Pareora is also full of fish, and three anglers camped near the dam have made excellent baskets. — Timaru Herald. South Canterbury.— Three young anglers from Dunedin fished the Temuka and Opihi recently and caught some 90 odd trout between them. An exchange says: — Timaru anglers have been enjoying good sport at the different streams of late, some declaring that this is the best season yet experienced in South Canterbury. The "big" fish, as is usual at this time of the year, are now beginning to run. Tho Ashburton —The Ashburton Mail of a recenfc date aontaina the following : — A

local angler reports making two good catches during the holidays. On one occasion, fishing above Digby's Bridge, ha caught 13 trout averaging a little over 2'fc each. Fishing at the mouth of the Ashburlon tho same angler landed six fairs'zed trout, the largest turning the scale at 6'b. — A number of anglers visited the mouth of the Ashburton River on Tuesday and on Boxing Day. _among them being a fair sprinkling of ladies. Most of the local fishermen were fairly successful, Mr and Mrs R. D. Johnston landing 22 trout, weighing up to 4 £lb, while several minor catches are reported. — The Christchurch Press says Messrs Barney Bros., fishing for 24 hours at the mouth of the Ashburton, caught 52 trout, the heaviest weighing 101b. — Messrs J Mitchell and F. Clark, of Ashburton, fished in the Rangitata River near the mouth a night and morning, and were very, successful. The former landed 15 fish, of which the heaviest weighed 131b, and tho latter caught 12 fish, the heaviest weighing 141b. The Rangitata.— Messrs R. D. Johnston and Thos. Wilson visited the mouth of the Sangitata recently, their total catch constituting a record for the present season. The former angler bagged 20 fish, and thelatter 16. Several of the fish weighed B±lb. the- total weight being 1261b. or an average' '-' of 3£lb per fish. Steel Fishing-rods. — Steel fishing-rods are now being used in place of those of bamboo. They are handier to carry and are better balanced' and can be weighted (according to a New York science paper) to suit the most fastidious taste. The«e rods are mad© of the finest tempered steel tubing, japanned. The eyelets are of German silver wired to the rod. The handle is of cork. The joints are much superior to those of the bamboo, as the smaller section sinks three inches into the larger one, which makes it practically impossible for the rod to become disjointed when bent in use. It is said that the steel rod is much more sensitive than the wooden one, and that every movement of the fish can be . felt by. the angler. — Exchange.