LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 59

LAND AND WATER.

i A battue of the Rakaia Gun Club on Rakaia Island resulted in 101 hares toeing shot. The Kyle and Doric Gun Club on Mr Craig's estate secured 250 hares for 16 guns. AMATEUR BOXING. TIMARU, June 21. I The South Canterbury Boxing Association held its first championship meeting in the Theatre Royal to-night, with Colonel Chaffey as referee. In the first rounds B. Gould (Timaru) beat H. Lee (Temuka), and Glen (of Timaru) had a bye in the featherweights. In light weights, A. Parker <Dunedm) beat E. Loft (Christchurch), E. W. Salt (Christchurcb) beat A. G. Ennis (Timaru), J. J. Geddie (Timaru) liad a bye with Gould. In middleweights J. Gilmour (Christchurcli) beat B. Girdlestoii (Lyttelton), J. J. Brennan (Timaru) beat C. H. Findlay (Christchurch) after a fourth bout to decide a tie. There was a large attendance of spectators. The affairwas well conducted, and no one was damaged. INTER-STATE LaWN TENNIS. SYDNEY, June 22. The Tennis Association discussed the New Zealand invitation to send a team. It was agreed that New South Wales owed I^ew Zealand a visit, but the matter of funds was apparently an insurmountable difficulty. It was decided to ask the New Zealand Association the latest date on which a decision may be given, in the hope that the trip may be arranged. BOXING. . The amateur boxing championships, which were held in Timaru on Thursday and Friday last, were a most pronounced success, and a profit of over £50 is anticipated. The star* , attraction at the competitions wa,s the c.ever local light- weight, Albert Parker, who scored decisively over his opponents. It is said that Parker never showed to better advantage. In view of his two big engagements in this city next week, this is very encouraging news to his friends and supporters. Most of the visiting competitors at the Duredin tournaments will arrive by the second express from Christchurch on Saturday next. BILLIARD CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, June 24. In a match foT the billiard! championship of Australasia for £100 a-side and 18,000 up, Memmott ran out when Smith was 15.464. GREENBACKS. TO Ttt* EDITOB. Sir,— l was pleased to see the letter of Mr -fßapper, notwithstanding the fact that he differs from me. I think, however, I can refute his arguments. I have never fished the Waiau, and possibly Mr Tapper has not fished our waters, and therefore neither of us has seen the fish we are respectively writing aibout. Mr Tapper infers that all brown

trout, by going to sea, take * green tinge, and the flash becomes pink, which is brought about by their going- to se* tind from thet difference of feed in the se» and river. This argument would be convincing if all the searun trout were greenbacks; but are they? I say certainly not. It is a fact that all river fi%h have the bottom of the tail fin, or tail, quito rubbed off, whilst in the case of all fish that have lived in the sea the tail is perfect — the same at top and bottom, I can show him specimens of undoubted brown trout with the tail perfect. I have two of 191b each and five of from 14lb to lSlb. When we first catch them there are no spots visible on either the brown trout or the greenback, but the spots come out after death, and thecolour changes to a light brown on the brown ttout, and the shape is quite different from the greenback. As pointed out by Dr Gunther, the greenback oan tX once lie distinguished. It is as silvery as the brown trout, but from the difference in the shape of the cperculum and the number of scales on the lateral line, there is Tic- mistaking the two fish. As to the colour of the flesh, the greenback is not pink, like the Loch Leven trout, nor is it spotted in the same way, but the flesh is ft crimson red, like the American trout or salmon. Mr Tapper say» when stripping every fish handled is »' greenback. Therefore* I should say the greenback of the Waian is a different fish from our greenback, and the fact of their being a distinct variety has never been hinted at proves • that either their greenbacks are brown trout (and thia is confirmed 1 by the ova. turning out brown trout fry) or »how« a great "want of observation on the part of Mr Tapper nnd his assistant. A* they" axe now 'probably stripping _fts& 1 Bhould feel" obliged if Mr Tapper will catch an undoubted "browi* trout and also a greenback,' : compare ' the shape of 'the two £sh, note the opercuhim, and count the number of scales from the adipose fin to the lateral line, and also the number of scales on the lateral line. A&wa ca-tch undoubted brown trout and greenbacks in the surf, the tails of each showing thaft they are not river fish, his argument that going to sea alters the shape falls to tne ground, as the greenback and brown trout, whether sea-tun or river fish, are quite distinct in shape. From the American authorities quoted by Mr Ayson and the late Captain Hutton, I was in hopes that the rainbow came back from the »c* as sockeyed salmon. My opinion now is that the **»}- bow goes to sea and stop* there— at all events they do not, or up to the present have not. come back; so I accept Dr. Gunthera opinion that the greenback is a salmon of the Pacific Coast, but which one has not yet been decided. I do not profess to be an expert in pisiculture. I have never etripped a. fish, and I am seeking information, for t want to see our greenbacks increase, ana before we can import ov» we must find ou» what variety of fish it iSj— l am, etc., A. H. Shoey, H.S.AJLS.