ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 33

ANGLING.

B,

Joon Scott.

To be • perfect Bah erm an yon require mon taoellencies than are usually to be found in >such • email space as is allotted to e, .man’s Haria Gilmour.

Headers are invited fc> contribute items of local fishing news for insertion tn this column. For insertion in the ensuing issue they should reeob Dunedin by Saturday night’s mail.

February 19.—Tomahawk Lagoon. Any legal bait.

Two Dunedin anglers who visited the Pomahaka during‘the week-end report the river low but in great fishing order. Fourteen fish were caught on the fly> the largest being about 21b. Following is the result of the Southland ’Anglers’ Club competition held recently: J. Speirs (minnow), 9 fish, weight 81b 6oz; W. Shuttleworth (fly), 9 fish, 61b 2oz; R. Boyd (minnow), 4 fish, 51b 4oz; W. Mitchell (fly), 7 fish, 41b 12oz; and A. L. Whelan, 6 fish, 31b 12oz. In connection with the quadruple box fly competition, the following rivers have been selected: —Gore Club, Waikaia or Mataura; Mataura Club, Mimihau or Mataura; Wyndham Club, Wyndham or Mataura; Southland Club, Oreti or Aparima. The first competition was suggested for Wednesday, February 16, anglers congregating at Winton at 8 a.m., and the following was the draw for the rotation of competitions:—Southland, Wyndham, Gore, then Mataura. The following conditions were agreed upon: Lure, either wet or dry fly. Shield to become the property of any club winning same three tiir.es in succession or four times at intervals. No fish under lOins to be accepted and 25 fish to be the maximum number taken by any one competitor. An exchange says:—“Though the rivers were in splendid order for fishing during the week-end, anglers had no sport. At Rakaia three fish (7lb, 51b. and 2jlb respectively) were taken, but at the Ashburton and Rangitata rivers the fish taken, it is stated, would not have made a meal. Fishing at the Rangitata this season is the worst experienced for years. Anglers who visit the Ashburton Lake district report that the spear and torch have again made their appearance there. In view of the great interest now’ taken in these lakes by legitimate anglers, an endeavour is to be made to bring offenders to book. Arrangements have been made for telephonic advice of cars passing up the Ashburton Gorge road containing possible poaching parties. Apart from Ashburton anglers, Lake Clearwater has been visited by two Timaru, four Christchurch, and . several Geraldine parties of anglers during the past month, and a considerable number of trout have been taken, ranging from three to eleven pounds in weight. . _ Apparently acclimatisation societies officials are particularly active just now, and a-number of prosecutions had taken place and some adequate and some inadequate fines been imposed. I notice that two anglers who were prosecuted by the Otago Acclimatisation Society were treated very mercifully. They were both charged with taking under-sized trout, and the two made to disgorge 40s in fines and directed to pay costs. Of course, the anglers did not know the fish taken from the upper reaches of a river like the Water of Leith were pretty well certain to be extremely doubtful as to size. I don’t believe there has been anything very much beyond 9in taken from the Leith above the Woodhaugh Paper Mill for many a long day. Anyhow, as it was pointed out, the two anglers’ rods had a measure on them to guide the “erring angler.” Mr J. H. Dixon, S.M., sitting at Balclutha recently, took a different view’ as to the gravity of the offence, and inflicted an exemplary fine for fishing without a license. The report reads: “Thomas Henry Dale, Paretai. was charged on the information of F. W. Pellett (ranger for the Otago Acclimatisation Society), with fishing for trout in the Molyneux River on January 10 without a license. Ranger Pellett gave evidence that on the date in question he saw’ defendant fishing for trout in the river. He then had one trout, which he had caught, in his pos- . session, and said he had formerly held a license, but had not taken one out this season. Defendant, who did not appear, W'as fined £3, with costs (13s) and the ranger’s expenses (£1).” Again, at Invercargill, Charles Sim and Henry Lawton were charged with catching trout In the estuary by means of a net, with refusing to give their names when caught so doing, and with catching flounders less than 9in in length. They pleaded guilty to all three charges. The two first-mentioned charges were laid by the Acclimatisation Society and the third charge by the Customs Department. Henry Tresseder was also charged with catching trout in the estuary with a net and with catching flounders less than 9in in length. He pleaded guilty. Mr Russell, who appeared for the Southland Society, said that on December 18 tw’o acclimatisation rangers discovered the three defendants and another man, on whom a summons had not yet been served, using a net in the estuary from a launch. When the bag was examined several flounders under the regulation size of 9in in length were discovered, and also three trout. When the rangers requested the men to give their names they refused to do so. The usual excuses and explanation were forthcoming on the other side—result: Tresseder lined £2, and costs (7s), for taking the trout, and £3 (costs £1 Is) on the charge of refusing to’give his name; Lawton and Sim each fined £l, and costs (7s), on the charge of taking the flounders, £2 and costs (7s) on the charge of taking the trout, and £3 and costs (£1 Is) for refusing to give their names when asked to do so. An exchange tells of how Mr A. Scheib while on an angling expedition had his minnow seized by a terns. He was whipping the stream (so the account goes) with the minnow, with several birds known as terus, closely following his movements. Some . of these were, flying low down on the river, as the minnow was cast well out. Taking the minnow for a small fish 0I )e of the birds swooped down on it With lightning speed, and snapped the

bait, and was securely hooked through the upper section of the bill. It rose and gave the angler a little unexpected sport, but was hauled ashore. Mr Scheib brought the bird home with the minnow still attached, and it was the centre of great interest when on view in the town next day. It may not be generally known that these birds account for a good number of small fish, but we can state from personal observation that we have seen them early on a summer’s morning seizing small fish in shallow waters, and carrying them off to their young. This readily accounts for the reason why the bird under notice went after the minnow. The matter of leaving gates open on the east side of the Mataura River on the properties along the Wyndham road was brought up at a meeting of the Southland Anglers Club, and it was decided to ask anglers to see that all gates on the river bank were closed after passing through, so that stock might not stray from one property to another. The Southland Times says: “Since the freezing works opened a large number of eels, ranging up to 181 b, have been caught in the river in the vicinity of the falls, and it was decided to write to the Otago Society inquiring if the medal, promised last year stil holds good for an eeling competition.” Good progress is being made at the hatcheries up-river in stocking the Wanganui with Atlantic salmon, and the time should not be far distant when the society and the Government should be getting a return for their enterprise. A South Canterbury visitor, when discussing the prospects with a Herald reporter, said he considered that the Wanganui River should be ideal for the Atlantic salmon. Personally, he was more interested in the runs of quinnat salmon, having fished for them on numerous occasions in the Rangitata. He had also noticed 'that eels take considerable toll of the youm? fish, and he had actually watched eels tackling them in clear water in the.s: w-fed southern rivers. While deep-sea fishing off the Whitianga coast, a party of Thames enthusiasts had a long and exciting tussle with a mako shark, which tipped the beam of the official scales at 4291 b. The party report excellent fishing along this coast. A sensation was caused among the large number of campers on the Puru beach when it was discovered that some of the campers who had gone out fishing had landed the largest stingarce known to have been caught on the coast. When they unravelled the monster from the net, it measured 7ft 6in long, and sft 3in across, with a sting lOin long. New Zealand is famous all over the world for its brown trout, and acclimatisation experts are exercised at the present time over the question of keeping them uo to standard. This has prompted Mr D. Hope, curator of the Christchurch Acclimatisation Gardens, to carry out experiments with inansra, or whiteha’t. The inanga is peculiar to New Zealand. an<l is the ideal feed for the brown trout. Whitebait are rapidly dying out for want of. protection, and very few shoals are getting to the upper reaches of the -streams. The result is that the trout suffer on account of the fact that there is nothinto take the place of the whitebait. . Mr Hone has been engaged in developing specimens of whitebait from their smallest size until he now has a spec’ment six inches long and an inch thick, with other stimples showing growth from three weeks to fifteen.. we*»ks. The largest is two years old. Mr Hone considers that in view of the fact that the Government has protected game birds, whitebait, should receive the same attention. “The whole secret in the maintenance of the progress of troutfishing is to be found in the feed.” he said, “and the only way to ensure that the quantity and condition of the fish are kept up to standard is to supply them with the feed which is peculiarly adapted to them.” Good reports are being received regarding fishing on both Lake Taupo and Lake Rotoiloi, anglers being well satisfied -The fish are in excellent, condition, and some of those caught in Lake Tarawjera are rivalling Lake Taupo trout for size and quality, fish of from -81 b to 101 b frequently being caught. In these motor car days lone trout fisherman are lone no longer; the wife and family come, and the female side of the establishment catches eels (remarks the Evening Post). Incidentally one fisherman has discovered on recent Sundays that the eel population of most of the rivers is far greater than he deemed. From one pond the ladies hooked and landed five ells —not counting those that refused to be landed—and it is quite certain that that pond contained more eels than trout. On another Sunday a still greater number of eels was caught. The two biggest were opened, and each contained a trout over one pound in weight. On the whole, the prospect of a good bag of eels is considerably better than the prospect of a bag of trout. The present spell of hot weather has brought the eels more into evidence, and it is considered that if they could be controlled by systematic fishing, or other means of destruction, the angling prospect would be r.iuch enhanced.

The “yellow tails” are usually plentiful in the harbour at present. In fact, they are in shoals. A shoal was seen near St. Leonards on Wednesday, and another shoal further down the harbour. As a rule they are scarce. In the North Island this fish is known as the kingfish, and it furnishes good sport for the rod and line fishermen. Something in the nature of a freak -ei was caught in the Kaupokonui River about a month ago, and is now exhibited in a shop window in Hawera (says an exchange). Except for a black spot at the end of its tail and another on the tip of its nose the eel is canary-yellow in colour. The eel was caught by Mr Charles Davis in the Kaupokonui River, about a month ago, since when it has been kept in captivity by Mr Les. Mackay, of Otakeho. As long as two months ago Mr Davis first saw the eel and made several attempts to catch it, at last managing to capture it on a small hook. The hook with which the freak was caught is still inside it, but nevertheless the fish still appears to be quite lively, and has created a great deal of interest, especially on the part of the Maoris. Amongst over 80 dozen denizens of the deep, a party of Gisborne fishermen made a remarkable haul a few days ago—a fine salmon trout measuring 18in in length. Salmon trout are not a native fish of New

Zealand, but have been imported in the South Island, where breeding is proving successful. The party caught the fish at the mouth of the Waipaoa River with a net, and their efforts yielded a fine haul (says the Poverty Bay Herald). When thesalmon trout was taken out of the net none of the party had any idea as to its species ana . they were little the - wiser from inquiries made in. town until the fish was shown to Captain Franks, master of the trawler Gosford. who was greatly surprised I w!ore it h a d been caught. j »s .£ eats three times its weight every day, said a speaker at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation society in referring to the prevalence of tno birds on inland waters in the Auckland province. “It s a good job that they are as ,& Q as elephants, remarked another member, and he was followed by one ''bo declared that the shag as a fisher was the nearest thing to perpetual motion known, lor the benefit of people who do not know, the president said that a shagoven the odiferous black shag— was excellent eattng. The correct method was to oury the bird for 24 hours, feathers and all, and then, upon resurrection, to skin it and cook it to taste. !n the Magistrate’s Court at Oamaru on Wednesday, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. Henry Barwell Burton and Norman Rad-’ chffe were charged with taking trout from Kuri Creek, Hampden, by illegal means, to wit, a spear. Mr Hamilton appeared for the defendants. and Mr Sumpter for tne Acclimatisation Society.—Senior Sergeant Shanahan stated that the two defendants were camping at Kuri Creek. Hampden.. Constable Woodley saw a light and on investigating, found' the two defendants with several small trout, which showed signs of having been speared. The trout and two spears were produced by Constable Woodley. There had been a considerable amount of peaching, and it was a difficult matter to detect. Mr Sumpter said there was no excuse for the defendant taking so many trout, as they could not possibly consume all they had secured. Mr Hamilton, who pleaded "uilty on behalf of the defendants said r e "umber of fish taken was not in excess n-i. ni ! m ber that could be consumed.— jne Afa^»strate: There is not much sport m taking trout in that manner.—Continuing, Mr Hamilton said that when Mr Burton was approached he called Mr Radcliffe. who came and brought the fish with him. He was quite open about it.—Constable Woodlev said he saw the lights, and went down, where he found the defendants with 11 trout and two cels.—The Magistrate, stated that if a man were found taking fish in such a manner the court must take a serious view of the matter. He fined each defendant £5. with costs (£1 8s), the spears to.be confiscated. No quinnat salmon has yet been observed from , the Ashburton side of the Rangitata River at the mouth, but several renorts from South Canterbury are to the effect that these fish have been noticed from the south bank (says the Guardian). Several prominent Ashburton anglers who visit the Rangitata freauentlv. stated that they thought this hardly Fkely. as it is yet too earlv in the season for the run of salmon, which will not be exnected before the mi'ldle of this month. On the other hand, there has been a much better opportunity for the nuinnat to be seen from the opposite bank during the past week, as the river has been much deeper on the South Canterbury side.