BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 58

BANK NOTES.

What is detrimental to the interests of one .is sometimes highly beneficial to another. lam referring to the recent heavy rains, and consequent flooding of certain parts of the country and loss to farmers. Anglers, however, should foe benefited by the rain experienced !ast week. It will have had the effect of clearing out the rivers, wihich should be in really tip-top condition for the Ist October. I am not in a position to state with any definiteness as to what the coming season is going to be like, but from cursory convrsation with people in the country I have happened to oorae in contact with I am inclined to' forecast a good season and some heavy baskets— that is if that capricious thing the weather does not unduly interfere. One gentleman whom I met in the train coming from the soutih gave a glowing account of what he had seen in the upper readies of the Waikaia. He told me that some nine miles above the wjwn4>hip, and for some distance down, he saw a.n enormous number of very large trout. The matter of accommodation is the trouble, but from what he said to me I am quite satisfied that it would be a great place to spend a holiday at, in which case camping out would be the thing-. I spent a,n afternoon a short time back in visiting tho Water of Leith, and saw some very fine fish busy spawning along the back of tho Duke Street Reserve. Theso, lam given io understand, were netted, stripped, and turned adrift in the pond in the reserve, where they remain to be caught by these who can beguile them. I found one fish about lib in weight land-locked just below the old dam, aud as I lifted it and" returned it to the dam I could not help thinking that if a rangor had come along he would certainly have formed the opinion that I was after no good Appearances would certainly have been against me. I was -present at the annual gathering- or the Dunedin anglers, who put their business through rapidly without neglecting any tiling that would make for the stood of angling, in order that they might enjoy a social hour r,c rn-o teforo they separated. I am dad to see they are flourishing financially, "and trust similar bodies in the country are in a liko satisfactory condition. A suggestion was thrown out that meetings might be held during the winter month in. order that experiences might be exchanged —"lie? swopped" was tho expression I heard whispered, but it is a well-known and equally well established fact, that anglers are the most veracious of men. It occurred that if an interchange of experiences was what was wanted, the Angling Column of the Otago Witness was a very good medium for such a thing, but I will say no more on the subject, or I shall be accused of doing a bit of special pleading. However, I am not going- io let the opportunity pass without asking" those who use the rod to

give me what assistance they can in the coming season in the matter of news. I tope all will rne-et with success, and that blank days will be conspicuous by their absence.