ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 64

ANGLING.

By Jock. Scott,

To be a perfect fisherman you require more excellencies than are usually to be found in such a small space as Is allotted to a man's carcase.— Parker Gilmotjr. Headers are invited to contribute items of local fishing news for insertion in this column. For insertion in the ensuing issue they should roach Dunedin by Monday night's mail.

The following are the competitions fixed by the Otago Anglers' Association during the forthcoming season: October 21. —Shag River. October 27. —Lake Logan, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. November 11.—Waipahi River (bare fly competition). November 13.—Waipahi River. It is probable that a competition will also be held on the Mimihau River some time about Christmas.

The weather has been "most unsuitable for angling, and but few have been out with the rod. I hear that a few fish are now being taken from Lake Logan. Mr H. Islip on Monday night got two fish weighing s£lb between them, and a friend of his also got two fish. These two gentlemen \vent to the Deep Stream on Labour Day, with, the intention of fishing it, but found the river in tlood.

The Otago anglers held a competition on the Shag River on Labour Day, but so far only one return has been sent UX by the four who entered for the competition.. The return is from J. Drew, of Dunedin, whose take consisted of 25 fish weighing 131 b.

No information r.as yet coino to hand concerning the competition the Southland Anglers* Club decided to hold on Labour Day. The rivers selected were the Aparima, Oreti (Gap .road to mouth), Waimutuku, Makarewa, Waikiwi, and Waihopai, the conditions being as follows:—(1) Any legal bait may bo used; (2) hours of fishing from 7 a.m." Prizes are donated for the heaviest bag, second heaviest bag, large.it number of rijsh, and the heaviest fish. Orepuki Anglers' Competition. —The Orepuki Anglers' Society held their first fishing competition on/ Wednesday last. Th© weather proved very unfavourable, and few anglers competed. Mr A. W. Clark, of Ryal Bush, was. successful in annexing the fhst prize, a gold medal, his catch totalling .five nice fish aggregating llib. Mr James Menpes secured second prize with three fine fish, weighing 81b. The denizens of the vVaiau proved too elusive for ithe other competitors, no third prize being gained. The society intends holding another competition at an early date, when it is to tie hoped better weather conditions will prevail. Southland Acclimatisation Society.—At the monthly meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society considerable discussion took place regarding the complimentary license clause in the Stock Committee's report, and it was decided, on the motion of Messrs Russell and Patdiett, that in future no complimentary licenses be granted.—Mr Russell pointed out that in' oases where individuals had done useful work the society had power to grant bonuses, and the complimentary license system was apt to be abused. In any case, he thought thait, although the custom was in vogue ail over New Zealand, if it were strictly audited it would have to stop.— The secretary was instructed to draw up a list of all complimentary license-holders for presentation to next meeting.—ln regard to the opinion asked for in reference to the refusal of licenses, Mr Russell pointed out that the idea was unworkable. Licenses had to bo issued to persons applying- for them unless they had actually been conviobed of poaching; and who was going to declare that a man was suspected?—The report as amended was adopted. South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. —A special meeting of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, lasting over some hours, .was held recently, the new regulations occupying most of the attention. The sub-committee appointed to draw up local fishing regulations recommended that the regulations as drawn up by Messrs Palliser and Hasscl on a previous occasion be adopted, with the following additions: —(1) That the waters of the Opihi between Dairy Creek on the west and a line to be drawn near the lower ford (to be defined by the council) and previously known as O'Mara's and Burke's, bo proclaimed a sanctuary for fish, and that no fishing of any natuD© be allowed therein or thereon. (2) That only one bait bo used in minnow-fishing. (3) That no minnow be used with more than four sets of triple hooks. (4) That no flies be used in conjunction with a minnow. (5) That no ba/re hooks be allowed to be used (6) That not more than two single hook flies be allowed for fly-nshinjg. The

secretary said that if they could make sanctuaries of Burke's and O'Mara's it would stop a great deal of the illegal taking of fish. That was where most of the trouble arose. It would be rather rough, however, on Timaru fishermen, as both these, places were in their territory. Mr Foster said most of the groping was done in Paddy O'Mara's Hole, and he would not object to closing it, but Burke's Hole shoud not be closed. If they closed both of them it would not be worth while taking out a license to fish.—The Secretary said that if they did not make a sanctuary of these two holes they should put sacks'filled with stones on their bottoms so that those who groped there would break and lose their tackle. —Mr Hope said there was a danger about that as the obstructions n.ig'ht wash down to the ford and cause trap accidents. He had seen some bad accidents in the fords.—Considerable discussion followed, in the coursa of which Mr Hope said that the boat fishing down below stopped the big fish from going to- the upper reaches of the river. Years ago fishing where the Opuha and Opihi River joined be was able to catch fish scaling up to 151 b; whereas now in the tame place he could only get fish weighing one or two pounds. The fish did not got a chance to get up now, owing to the boats. —Mr Aspinall said he did not think they could by law prohibit the boats. The Government would never agree to it. If they " snagged " the holes that would put a step to a lot of the poaching. With this Messrs A Hen and l)onn agreed. To prevent the sacks from washing down Mr Donn suggested that they should anchor them with wire.—Mr Tay'or said that he would not mind doing away with his boat if all other anglers would do likewise.—Mr Aspinall suggested that they should provide in their regulations that no fishing from boats be alowed on Burke's or O'Mara's. —Mr Hope said the regulations would be more likeiy to pass in that form than if they endeavoured to prohibit boat-fishing in general. —It was finally resolved ".that neither of these holes be closed, but that no boatfishing be allowed exoept in tidal waters."— Mr Hopo proposed that sacks of stones interlaced with wire-, be put in the bottom of Burke's and O'Mara's Holes, which the secretary was authorised to have the work would provide cover for the fish. —The secretary was authorised to have the work done.—A good deal of discussion took piace on regulation No. 6, as set out above, and it was altered to read as follows: —'•That not more than three flies be allowed for fly-fishing on any one cast in the day time, not more than two flies at night time, no double hook flies to be allowed, and no lead be used with flies." All the other regulations were adopted in the form proposed by the committee. —The other regu'ations previously drawn. up were also adopted. Annual Meeting of the Southland Society. —The report presented at the recently-held annual meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society stated inter alia that the revenue for the yea.r from licenses amounted to £754 7s od, which was £1 less than the previous year. The totals for the past seven seasons are as follows : 1905, £494 17s 6d; 1906, £624 2s 6d; 1907, £654; 1903, £6BO 15s; 1909, £775 17s 6d; 1910, £755 7s 6d; 1911, £754 7s 6d. The society collected its own ova last season, and as a consequence a saving of £75 was' effected. The total revenue for the year was £933 8s lid, and the expenditure £1049 133 id. In this year's expenditure is an amount of £66 10s paid to the Otagb School Commissioners, which enabled the society to purchase the freehold of the Matauf a hatchery site. There has been other extra expenditure in the employment of an extra ranger, and an expenditure of £4O 15s 3d for hawk's heads. After July next j'ear there should be a considerable improvement in the finances of the society as the leases of the Waikiwi property expire then, and this property should bring in a largely increased rent. The total fry distributed during the season was 800,000, and the yearling fish liberated reached a total of 17,000. Reports of poaching in the rivers were rife during the latter part of .the season, more particularly about the time that the ranger was engaged at the hatchery. The council accordingly put on another ranger temporarily, but he has not, so far, succeeded in making any captures. The report was adopted on the motion of the president (Mr W. A. Stout), and the usual office-bearers were appointed. With reference to Mr A. Tapper's motion : "That the by-laws be amended to provide for an annual subscription of Is for holders of £1 licenses, 2s 6d for holders of 103 licenses, and 5s for non-license holders," the chairman ruled it out of order on the ground that not sufficient notice had been given. The chairman explained that he was sorry to have to rule the motion out, because he believed that it was on right lines, and he would like to have heard it discussed..

Fishermen Caught Here.—All were fish that came to Jones's net —or rod, —and all were welcome waters in which he could swim his float. Ono day, deserting his usual reaches, he endeavoured to extract piscatorial gems from lakes unknown. A short ramble brought him to a small pond, whereon his eye rested joyfully. He sat down on the bank, prepared his tackle, and tried it. But not a fish would bite. Though he tempted them with the most tempting of baits, not a single nibble rewarded him. After an hour he hailed a passing boy. "Are there any fish here?" he queried. "Mebbe," answered the boy. "But if there are, they'll not have grown to much a size." "Why not?" asked Jones. "Because,", replied the yokel, "until the heavy rain last night there wasn't no pond I" The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society recently " marked" lOC trout and liberated them in the Selwyn and Rakaia Rivers, Mr C. K. Denby was the first angler to secure one of the marked fish, and the tag has been handed by him to the secretary of the society.

Two farmers near Brest, married two sisters recently. There were 1100 guests at the double marriage, and 250 carts and carriages were utilised to take them to church. The wedding- breakfast was served in .a field. The gnosis were seated round 10 'long tables, and disposed of 10 barrels of wine, 4000 bottles of lemonade, and 500 bottles of beer, to say nothing of an immense quantity of food. The total recipients of old-age and invalid pensions in Lho Commonwealth on June 30 were 82.953. The cost of the pensions on tho sain<j data wis £2.054,364- Of this amount Now South "Wales took £796,328. The 82,953 pensioners comprised 38,644 males anri 44,309 females. The oosfc of administration during 1910-11 waa £39,244.