BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 45

BANK NOTES.

I hear that Dr Rentoul, of Victoria, has been fishing in the Aparima, and is on the point of leaving for the Waiai*. " Rod" reports that in Southland the extremely rough weather prevailing a -week ago prevented anglers following their pastime. He says: "Taking the climatic conditions on the whole so far this season, they may be classed as the worst experi-enced-for many years past. However, there is plenty of time yet before the season closes in which to endeavour to capture the wily trout."

The present angling season (reports the Manawatu Standard) has proved one of the most disappointing on. record, owing to the unsatisfactory state of the rivers. Very few fish have been taken. and._ those captured were taken principally with the worm. Practically 'no fly-fishing has yet been done. Harbour-fishing.—Blue cod-fishing in the lower portions of the Otago Harbour is still in full swing, and plenty of fish are being caught. In an hour's time a party of three got 20. ' In the Upper Harbour there are evidently an abundance of red cod and mullet to be caught. The Waipahi.—One day recently. Mr Eggleston got amongst the finny tribe, and mado a catch of 23 fish, some nice ones being included in the basket. Upper Mataura.—l am told that fishing has been very good in the Upper Mataura, and that a party of four well-known Dunedin anglers made an aggregate basket of 343 fish for just over a week's fishing. The party consisted of Messrs Moir„(2), A. Mathews, and Williamson. So far as I can ascertain the flies that proved tho best killers were the Pomahaka, Samuel, and Purple Grouse. The Oreti. —A party of eight, in which were included Messrs A. E. Jenkins and W; Finlayson, spent their Christmas holidays on the Oreti River in tho vicinity of Caroline. The stream had been very low previous to their arrival, but matters had been improved by a slight, fresh, and the water was in better order than it had been. Fish were found to be more numerous than they had been for several years; but no large fish were captured by the party, those taken ranging from £lb to 21b. Spread over the party the average basket per man per day would be about 15 fish of varying weights. The water covered was that portion of the river lying between a point two miles below Cardrona to two miles above that station. The fly was the lure generally used,' and the most successful flies were Grccnwell's Glory, Purple Grouse, and Red Capcrer. A good many of tho fish caught were taken with a small Silver Devon minnow. I hoar that Mr Jno. I/ogan, fishing about a mile above Lumsdcn. secured a fine trout weighing 731 b with the fly. The run caused some excitement, and two nets collapsed in tho frantic efforts to make the capture certain. No gaff was available. The Wvndham Record says: "The Oreti was in capital fishing condition during the week, and. according to report, some good bags were secured by local anglers, fish ranging up to Bilb being grassed. The fish were all in splendid condition." Tho Linclis.—Messrs G. W. MTntosh and A. Harris had a trip round the Lindis recently. Tho first piece of tho river fished produced 15 fish, none of which was over Next day they got three or four more right up at the Lindis Crossing. Later they fished morning and evening, but got only one fish, though they rose several more. Continuing their trip, they went to Morven Hills and camped there for two days, one of which was very wet. The river is described as being mado up of beautiful fishing water. The heaviest trout taken weighed 2£lb; but the total catch was not large. This fact was attributed by local people to the cloudburst up there, which, they

believe, washed right away. The country carries signs of the severity of tho visitation. The two anglers left Morven Hills on the Saturday afternoon and proceeded to Omarama, and fished the Ahuriri near Sailor's Cutting. They again camped, and were out next morning about 5 o'clock, and fished right down to the- Gorge. In the Gorge Mr M'lntosh hooked a couplo of fish, but lost them both. Mr Harris caught a six-pounder, and lost another good one. Mr M'lntosh went down the river about a mile and a-half, but neA r er saw a fish in the splendid water ho passed over. "The anglers then returned to Kurow, and proceeded thenco to Duncdin. The Makarewa.—The Southland Times of Saturday sayst" "The Makarewa has been visited by many fishers this year. During the week the heavy wind suited this stream well, and .those who braved tho element*, I am informed, were well rewarded." A Generous Impulse.—A party of Duncdin anglers, who modestly desire that their names should not be published, while on a recent anglinjr expedition to the Oreti River, conceived 'tho idea of devoting a& least one day's catch to the Dunedin Hospital, or, rather, ,to the wounded soldiers unhappily therein detained: " The proposition came in the form of a suggestion from one of tho party (whoever ho was he must bo a pood \man), and was at once acted upon. Providence must have smiled upon tho efforts of thoso anglers that day, as the aggregate catch was between 80 and 90 fish, which were duly forwarded to the Hospital, and were, I sinoerely hope, thoroughly enjoyed. Unsportsmanlike Methods.—l hear, in a very roundabout way, that there is considerable talk in Lumsden about the depredations of a party of so-called sportsmen, who are alleged to have been after trout in tho neighbourhood of Josephville. Tho party arrived in a "substantial" motor ear, and appears to have lost very little time in getting to work. Unfortunately it was not a caso of virtue being rewarded but ot. vico meeting with success Personally, I hope some action, if possible, will be taken by those empowered to do so, and that these men will be made to see the error of their ways. Among the Eels.—Holiday anglers from tho city seem to havo had some fine fun amongst the eels in the Oreti (I have purposely avoided using the word "sport ), and took out as many as they could lay ..their hands on—" lay their hands on,'"of course, being a figure of speech. The party was out at night on two occasions, and \ some big specimens were obtained, the total haul being big each night. The anglers -were not particular about the mode of capture, and the implements of warfare included axes, spades, etc., which were used with almost startling success, tho assailants wading about in shallow vcater looking for their prey. Fully_ 40 eels were destroyed on the two evenings the-men were out, and but few escaped the marauding party.