ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 19223, 19 April 1924, Page 12

ANGLING

(By “CreeT) In a chatty letter received from Mr A. A. McLean (Christchurch) he mentions that up to the time of writing he had not met a line in Canterbury, as the trout streams were too far away, and the quinnat salmon had not yet commenced running in any numbers. Regarding the gear used for the quinnat he describes the sizes of tackle used, 5 and s£in reels; lines thick as counter twine; spoon baits 4 and 5 inches long; minnows the same, with treble hooks like three big cod hooks joined together. He also refers to meeting Mr Hope, Curator for the Canterbury Society, and at one time in charge of the Mataura Hatchery for the local Society. Other Southland enthusiasts met were Messrs Peter Dalrymple and Mr Eggleston of the Land Department. He later mentions that he bad read the report of the meeting of the Southland Angling Club, and suggests that representatives from Winton, Lumsden and Dipton Clubs should be represented on the Acclimatisation Society. (The writer suggested this at the meeting referred to.) The recommendation for the size limit being altered to 10 inches appealed to him strongly, and he concludes his letter by extending Easter greetings to all his old Southland friends. As far as can be ascertained, many trout anglers were again disappointed with returns for last week-end. Nothing exceptional in the way of “bags” has been reported, unless it be the success achieved by the Atlantic salmon fishers at Lake Te Anau. Three rods secured 27 salmon, another pair of anglers landed 25. Trolling in the Lake itself, 11 splendid salmon were caught, all in splendid condition, the heaviest specimen taken weighing lllbs. The Mataura river at the present time seems to be the most satisfactory river for results, especially during the evening “rise.” Fishing this river last week-end Mr Cuthill, Senr, caught 7 nice fish on the fly, the trout ranging from 11b to 3lba. A good heavy fLsh was made fast, to, but, unfortunately broke away eventually. Mr W. Thomson also landed fish from this river, his tally, I understand, being 5 nice trout. Three were taken on the minnow and two on the fly. Whipping the Oreti with the Dark Jessie fly, above the Iron Bridge, Mr Albert Fox, was rewarded with three trout, the heaviest of which weighed 21ba. At the time of writing the climatic conditions are very bright and sunny, with Easterly winds, and aye, a tang of front in the air. The rivers continue to remain extremely low, so that dull weather conditions are absolutely essential for successful operations. In conversation with the ranger, Mr Evans, relating to the interesting Letter supplied to this column last Saturday, one vital factor as to the cause of the scarcity of trout, apparently overlooked by Mr A. E. Tapper, was the fact that for some good few years the Acclimatisation Society have been stripping ova from sea-run fish secured in the Mataura river, and it is contended that when the trout matured sufficiently, the tendency was for them to leave the rivers, and make for the salt water. Certainly, the theory seems quite logical, and if it can be proved conclusively that the fish did leave the rivers in which they were reared, then it surely must be wasted effort to strip sea-run fish for river stocking purposes. A meeting of the Executive of the Southland Anglers’ Club and members interested in Acclimatisation matters was held in the secretary’s office, Esk street, on Wednesday, Mr E. Keast presiding. After some discussion, it was resolved on the motion of Mr A. E. Tapper, “That the motion of the previous meeting nominating a ticket be rescinded, and that this meeting of anglers does not consider it to be in the interests of the Club that an independent ticket be nominated for seats on the Southland Acclimatisation Council, and that the members have a free hand to vote for those most likely to best represent their interests.” A motion was also carried that the sum of £1 be the minimum amount of membership fee to the Southland Acclimatisation Society, and that a motion to this effect be moved at the annual meeting. MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE. Dear Creel, —I noticed in last Saturday’s Times that you were asking for suggestions and opinions. Well, here’s some of mine: First, the “sunk” worm proposition— l have tried it on many occasions with more or less success. There may not be much “art* in it, and yet there is a little, just how much depends on the “artist.” Personally I prefer other modes when the fish are on the job and its only as a last resort that I am persuaded to try the worm. Why rob the weary angler of his quiet “smoke” or his well-earned “lunch.” You get my idea, of course. Then the number of eels removed by the “sunk” worm must amount to fairly large proportions during the season. Do eels take the fly or minnow? Not much! The only drawback seems to be the small fish taken by this method. Raise the size limit, you say. I second that motion. Make it twelve inches if you Eke. But what becomes of the small fry that have to be “put back”? That’s the question. I’m bound to admit that nine out of ten of them “turn turtle” ere long and our old friend “Mr Eel” gets a dainty bite. I have seen (I was going to say fishermen) men who have carelessly broken a trout's jaw in order to extract a hook, then returned it to the river. Others are just aa careless with the knife and on occasions one can hardly do otherwise than kill in order to extract a hook. Weil what are we going to do about it? I move that we stop the worm and the fly fishermen. That’s pretty drastic, isn’t it? Still it must be admitted that the “fly* angler is the biggest sinner when it comes to “small fish.” Why are men allowed to take 30 “sprats” day in and day out? Is it any wonder our streams are becoming depleted ? Which would you sooner have, dear Oed, one six-pounder or 30 sprats? Yea, but what about the sport you say? Well, if its sport you want (and I admire a sport) come down to the tidal waters and have a go at the mullet with your flies. Let the fish grow, tbwn’s my aant&nents, and to do that we must shminate all methods at taking the juniors. Remember, on the average a fish lays 1000 eggs tor

every pound weight of fish. Just try to imagine the enormous increase in eggs and spawn we should get within a few years if all our present-day little fish were allowed to reach the 31b. average. And alter all, it's site we all want. Give me the ‘‘big stuff,” that's why I say increase the size limit, eliminate the fly and worm and all other methods that prey on the small fish; if this latter can’t be done limit the “bag” to say a docen or half a dozen fish per day. You see I havn’t much sympathy for the angler who goes for the “small goods.” Why should I* Nature never intended man to ruthlessly slaughter immature trout any more than immature creatures in other branches of the animal kingdom. Fancy a deer-stalker going out in the breeding season to shoot the young, immature deer, and why doesn’t the shooting season open in the late spring. The shootist would get whole nestfuls of young and tender ducklings. Let the fish grow, I repeat, and in a few years there will be fish not only in plenty but also fish to enthuse about. And just while I’m on the job I should like to ask you what has become of cur rangers these days. Believe me, there’s more than flounders being netted at the mouths of some of our best streams. It’s icandalous; and yet our locil acclimatisation ■ociety seems to be either blissfully ignorant or inert. Another privilege that u being abused by some is the spearing of flounders in tidal waters. This should be looked into by our rangers. ’ But if our trout insist on dying out in spite of all our care, we must not despair, for have we not successfully introduced another and even more important species, to wit, the Atlantic salmon. Our treatment at the hands of the Government has been scandalous so far, but Fm pleased to note that all anglers are beginning to size up the situation. The time was never more opportune and I sincerely trust that all local bodies, with the wellbeing of Southland at heart, will put their heads together and agitate and agitate until this wrong has been rectified. Why Southland people have put up with this injustice t so long beats the band. If we don’t get the Atlantic into our main streams right now it will only be a matter of a few years until that detestable species known as the Quinn at salmon takes possession. When that day comes it will be “goodnight nurse” to all our trout and our budding Walto nites can “limber-up” and go home. Let us hope that shall never come to pass. It won’t, if we go the right way about it, but time is fleeting and if we are to make any effort then let's “do it now!” I am, etc., APARIMA. Riverton, April 9, 1924. A REPLY TO MB TAPPER. Dear “Cred,” —Mr Tapper, when in a humorous mood, writes to his friend “Creel” and asks him to swallow a rather awkward pill. Mr Tapper inform his friend “Creel” and also the pubEc when it was that he moved that “progressive motion,” and who moved the amendment to it, i.e. “That the Society endeavour to obtain their requiremems in the way of ova or fry from Otago or Canterbury.” The motion to proceed with the procuring and planting of eyed ova from Te Anau was moved by Mr Russell and seconded by Mr Pattie in March, 1923. There was no amendment to this motion which was carried unanimously. When Mr Tapper supplies the information asked for I will deal with other irregularities m his epistle.—l am, euk, “ANGLER.” ALLEGED RIVER POLLUTION. INVESTIGATION PROMISED. The Minister of Internal Affairs Hon R. F. Bollard was recently supplied with a copy of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society’s letter on the subject of the necessity for legislation to prevent river pollution (reports the Lyttelton Times). The Minister stated in his reply to the Society that he has sent a copy of it to the Minister of Health, Hon Sir Maui Pomare. As a result, the Director-General of Health, Dr T. H. A. Valintine, has advised the Society that an officer of the Department has been instructed to make a special investigation of the specific causes of alleged river pollution quoted by the Society. The Minister of Internal Affairs, in his letter, draws attention to the fact that provision for the prevention of river pollution is made in regulations under the Fisheries Act. Dr Valentine in his letter, in addition to stating that the specific cases cited by the Society will be investigated, writes that the Health Department has forwarded a copy of the Society’s letter to all Medical Officers of Health in the Dominion, and has stressed the importance of enforcing strictly the provisions of the Health Act relating to the prevention of the pollution of watercourses. It is understood that one of the inspectors in the Christchurch office of the Health Department is to conduct the special investigation of cases of river pollution, including the alleged pollution of a partion of the Waimakariri, quoted by the Society. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. COMMITTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT. At the annual meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society to be held on Monday week, the Committee will submit the following report:— FINANCE. Members are once more to be congratulated on the sound financial position of their Society, the capital or excess of assets over liabilities being £9335 13s lid, as against £9066 Os Id last year. This, too, is after writing such assets as Motors and Plant down to a very low figure, depreciation to the amount of £126 8s 4d having been written off this year. The assets consist of £2046 5s 9d in cash, £6OOO permanently invested with the PubEc Trustee and £lOOO mortgage on the Mataura Hatchery property. The other items are. Plant, etc., £lB5, and sundry debtors £B3 2e 6d. The income for the year is £327 less than last year, but this is almost wholly accounted for by the drop in opossum license fees, only £B2 being credited against £3Bl in last balance sheet, which amount represented two years. There is also a fall- f ing off in fishing licenses, which is to be j regretted. The expenditure is very much I as usual, and does not call for any special ] comment. FISHING, The angling season now closing has on the whole been a disappointing one, largely due to the dry weather and low state of the rivers. The smaller streams, such as the Makarewa, Otapiri, Lora and Otamete, have been too low since Christmas for successful fishing, although they are apparently well stocked with trout. The Oreti River in the lower reaches has been particularly disappointing. Some anglers suggest that the fish are not in the river. Possibly this river is suffering from the want of socking in the years 1918 and 1919. In the reaches above Centre Bush some fair bags were obtained. The Aparima was well stocked with trout, but owing to the low state of the stream it was necessary to resort to night fishing to be successful. The most interesting feature of the season from an angler's point of view was the recovery of the Mataura river as a fishing stream, consequent on the cessation of dredging operations in its tribu taries at Waikaka, etc. Anglers who have fished this stream between Mataura Falls and the mouth are all agreed that it eontains a great number of large trout. Also on the Waimea Plains it yielded good results. This river is at present practically a virgin fishing ground, and with the heayy fishing which may be expected in it in future the question of re-stocking will need to be faced, and this involves the question of adjustment of boundaries.

DISTRIBUTION OF OVA. The Society obtained from the Upukororo stream, Lake Te Anau, and planted out in the head waters of the various streams within our district 2,124,000 brown trout eyed ova. This ova was eyed in the Government hatchery' at Lake Te Anau , and was planted out in about thirty differ- | ent beds. These beds were several times ; inspected by the ranger and some memI bers of Council and, with the exception of i two beds, gave most- satisfactory results, the fry being healthy and vigorous and instinctively seeking cover when disturbed. With the experience gained last year it is hoped to get even better results from planting out eyed ova this season. The Society has in the course of erection at Te i Anau* an eyeing station, which will be I equipped with boxes similar to thof?e used j by the Government for Atlantic salmon, in ! time for the coming season. The Council I obtained 25,000 Rainbow fry from the i Otago Society and liberated same in Lake l Monowai where the Rainbows turned out ; the previous year were reported to be thrivj ing well. In addition to above 40,000 eyed i ova was supplied by the Society to the ' Lake Society free of charge. ATLANTIC SALMON. ■ Large numbers of Atlantic Salmon have I been caught this season in the Upukororo I and also in the Lake Te Anau trolling, and i a great many young salmon can be seen I everywhere along the shores of the Lake I and also in the Eglinton. These fine 1 sporting fish have also been caught in inI creasing numbers at and near the month of the Waiau, indicating that more of them are finding their way down to the sea. The Government still insists on its sole right to take the ova of the Atlantic Salmon and last year obtained half a million fry from the Upukororo, the whole of which, in spite of vigorous protests from the Society, was sent to the North Island for distribution in the Wanganui river. The Council, without avail, urged the Department to Eberate some of the fry in the best of our local streams 4° make sure of the thorough acclimatisation of these fish in our waters. It is interesting to note that during the first week in April Mr Malcolm Ross, of Wellington, and Mr Govan caught 8 salmon in the Eglinton river and saw many more. This river is one of the finest fishing rivers in Southland, but from reliable information received it is evident that the salmon do not commence to rim up this river until mid-April and this raises the question of the advisability of having the salmon fishing season extended to the end of May. GAME During the year Ranger Evans obtained from the Lake Society thirty-six brace of quail, which were liberated at Centre Hill, Lakes district. In addition the Council has cabled to the High Commissioner in London to obtain and ship to Bluff 65 brace of Hungarian partridges. The Council has recommended an open shooting season from the Ist May to 31st July for grey and spoon bill duck and swan with a bag limit of 25 per day, and an open season during | the month of May only for Paradise duck I pukeko with a bag limit of 12 per day. The Government sent Mr Moorhouse on a comprehensive tour through the districts frequented by Paradise duck, and so far no word has been received as to the shooting season. No doubt the Government is waiting for Mr Moorhouse’s report. MOOSE AND WAPITI. Last season Messrs Donald and Murrell succeeded in taking three very fine Wapiti, the heads of which were much admired In addition Mr Donald supplied a most interesting report and also some valuable photographs concerning these fine animals. This year the Government, at the Council’s suggestion, granted a free Ecense to Mr Murrell, who kindly donated a fine Wapiti head, shot by him last season, to the Empire Exhibition, and the Government also granted Mr Donald a free license for services rendered in reference to these fine game. There were several applications for licenses, the ballot resulting as follows: Moose licenses: Mr C. Deans (Canterbury) and Mrs E. J. Herrick (Hastings). Wapiti Licenses: Messrs E. J. Herrick (Hastings), H. B. Bailey (South Africa), C. Kirkley (Hastings) and John Deans (Canterbury). Mr John Deans has just returned, having secured a fine fourteen point Wapiti head, and reports seeing only one other Wapiti. Mr and Mrs Herrick were successful in securing three fine Wapiti heads, one of which was a splendid specimen, its spread of antlers being within a few inches of the world’s record head. Ranger Evans accompanied Mr Herrick’s party and will present a full account of the trip to the Council. No moose were seen, although the party came across numerous tracks of them. The dense forest and nature of the country makes it difficult to see these fine animals. Eighteen deer licenses were issued at £4 4s each and the Ecense holders have not yet returned from stalking expeditions. GENERAL. The Council is pleased to note that the Angling Club has been keenly promoting eeling competitions with a view of reducing this great enemy of young fry, and.the Council was pleased to donate £5 towards the cost of this campaign. The Council also instructed the rangers to destroy as many Shag rookeries as possible, and it also passed a resolution recommending the Government to remove the restrictions on the use of automatic guns for shooting game. MEETINGS AND RETIRING OFFICERS. During the year 12 meeting of Council i were held, the attendance of councillors , being as follows: —Messrs Traynor 12, Stock 11, Crofts 11, Strang 11, Keast 11, Sloan 10, McKenzie 10, Stephens 10, Collins 10, Robertson 10, Cowan 10, Weir 9, Butler 9, Tapper 8, Dr Crawford 8, Watson 7, Gilkison 7, Pattie 5 (resigned), Hamilton 5 (elected September), Russell 4, Clark 4, McNaughton 3. The Gore members of Council, Messrs Poppelwell, Fisher and Perry, held separate meetings at Gore. The retiring members of Council are:— Mr A.'H. Stock, president; Mr A. E. Tapper, Dr R. Crawford, vice-presidents; and Messrs Clark, Collins, McKenzie, Perry, Stephens, Cowan and Hamilton. Nominations for the vacancies must be in the secretary’s hands seven clear days before the annual meeting, The Auditors, Messrs Hunter and Reid, retire and offer their services again.