ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 20664, 20 April 1929, Page 18

ANGLING

(By

“Creel.”)

Last week-end’s climatic conditions can safely be written down as “shoddy,” very few good bags being reported. The early morning fishing on the Mataura river was productive for some anglers, but owing to the wind changing to a cold south-easter, the (rout were then very difficult, to move. Messrs A. E. Butt, E. Keast and H. Braxton at Sam’s Grief tried various lures, but could only capture one fish. On the Oreti river practically the same conditions prevailed, small fish being the order of the day. Even the dry fly experts found the trout very shy, Messrs Strang and Mackie both reporting an absence of fastening fish. Quite a few trout were observed on the old playing stunt, especially in pools sheltered from the prevailing wind. Mr Jules Tapper reported that with Mr SV. Jenkins some three weeks ago, they were interested to observe for quite some time at Little Bush the depredations of a large penguin among a shoal of trout. The unusual visitor was observed busily diving in a deep pool, and quite a commotion was caused ig the water by the trout rushing through the stream to safety. Luckily it is only on very rare occasions that, these poachers work so far up stream. Another interesting item is reported by a Riverton resident, who was intrigued to notice a large school of barracootas voraciously feeding on innumerable sardines at the traffic bridge. Apparently the small fish had been driven up the river to the confined space, and then were ruthlessly slaughtered by their pursuers. It is to be hoped that some would eventually enter the Aparima river, where they would surely be then welcomed by the river trout.

In conversation with Mr H. B. Farnall some interesting information was forthcoming with reference to the quinnat salmon fishing on the Rangitata river. In company with Mr W. Charters (Waikaia) and another angler, some time was spent in pursuit of the salmon, and about half a dozen fish were captured up to 231bs weight. A few heavier fish were fastened, but were broken. As far as could be gathered the angling offering is not nearly so fascinating as our own local fishing, the Te Anau salmon giving, it is alleged, better sport. The trout at the Waiau mouth will generally give the angler plenty of fight before being brought to the kill. Summed up, many anglers allege that they would rather have a nice two-pound trout on light tackle than the capture of these heavy fish. And then again, it is not nearly so expensive, as lost tackle among the huge boulders of the Rangitata river is quite a common experience.

“Creel” visited the Makarewa river in the vicinity of the Settlers’ Bridge, and there was nothing doing until about 3.30 p.m., when a lib trout was killed on the Hardy’s Favourite fly, and was then left, stuck in a two-pounder. In the sheltered corners three other trout of about lib each were killed on the Male March Brown fly, the lost Hardys being the only one left in the book. However, anglers will generally find that for this month a grey fly is very often the best sample for results, practically on any stream in Southland. A trial of the following patterns is strongly recommended: Hardy’s Favourite, any of the March Browns, Red Tip Governor (for the Aparima, the Y'ellow Tip), and the Haggard. Recently the writer had the pleasure of perusing the very fine publication of the Southland Anglers’ Club, “Trout-fishing in Southland.” The contents have been wisely chosen, and a fund of information is available for both local and visiting anglers. It is pleasing to the writer to observe that views and observations which have been published in this column from time to time receive endorsement from the joint authors responsible for the letterpress. The book is well got up, the print is very’ readable, and the publishers are worthy of commendation for their noteworthy effort. That a keen demand for the book will be forthcoming is optimistically anticipated. The following splendid article is taken from the current issue of the N.Z. F and S. Gazette. The Curators’ Conference. An event of far-reaching importance to anglers in New Zealand was the first meeting of trout curators, held in Wellington in March. Up till now no great interchange of ideas had taken place between curators. Many were strangers to each other, and the insularity proceeding from working

■ in one district, has applied also to ideas and discoveries. These have become the property of the discoverer. The conference which, it is hoped, will be the first of many, should do much to remove this attitude. During the discussions very many points of interest were raised, and the peculiar phenomena attached to trout and eels in New Zealand were briefly discussed. Mr Hefford’s address was highly' interesting, and his presence at the Conference should make for the rapprochement necessary because of the divided control of our fifth. It is absolutely necessary that we get unity of action between the Societies, and the Departments of Marine, Internal Affairs, Tourists and Forestry, and we sincerely hope that Conferences in future will effect this, and that these Departments will always be represented. Anglers are notoriously apathetic regarding the control or improvement of their sport, yet there is no more actively fault-finding body of men. It is just as difficult to get the right stamp of license-holder on the councils of the Acclimatization Societies as (o induce sound business men to take part in the management of local bodies. There are signs that control will be taken out of the hands of sportsmen altogether, not a bad thing, provided that a bureaucratic management remedied the faults that are all too apparent at present. There are too many departmental cooks, and the yearly Conference of Societies does not appear to effect concerted action, while the conflict, of interest as regards revenue between the Societies and the Government is another factor which while not openly alluded to by either party, does not lead to harmony or advancement. The. Acclimatization Societies introduced the opossum, but now that the revenue from furs is becoming appreciable the Government is taking more and more control. There is, too, another point that should not be forgotten. The Societies’ share of the opossum revenue is now devoted to cither rod or gun. There would be no guarantee under purely Government control, where it would go. It might be devoted entirely to research, an excellent thing in its way, but anglers might find the whole thing expensive and irksome. Bearing in mind the fact that ultimately (he question of sportsmen’s entry upon lands has io be decided anglers may see that the whole matter is a serious one. On the other hand, it must be admitted that, one can find some fault with the conduct of affairs by certain Societies. As one delegate to the recent Conference of rangers and curators’ put it, a popular tradesman, or what not might be elected to the local Acclimatization Council overnight, and next day might proceed to upset a curator’s work of years. It was also pointed out that the curators were at present the only persons in a position to make the experiments necessary in research work in connection with stocking rivers and replenishing bait supplies, but they had their hands full with other duties. With the exception of two societies, none has so far attempted research work, probably for the good reason that the license-holders who provide the revenue consider that not enough is being done to provide sport, especially for the gun. Properly administered, there is no doubt that unifier! control of all wild life by the Government in collaboration with the numerous societies for the protection of game and native wild life, would allow of better ranging than the societies can now afford. The pooling of reliable information would alone be worth while, and the interests of sportsmen could well be watched in a determined attempt to combine the welfare of forestry and sport and river and lake improvement. It is evident from the remark of Ihe Minister of Internal Affairs that there is “room for investigation and adjustment” of the arrangements between the Acclimatization Societies and Government Departments, that something of the sort is being considered, and if, from the anglers’ point of view alone, the steady deterioration of fishing due to denudation of forests, pollution, etc., is thereby arrested, it will be all to the good, while stalkers (tourists) would welcome a more efficient control of the deer herds than at present exists.

With the increasing number of industrial plants of all descriptions, the question of river pollution is assuming a grave aspect both for the Health Authorities, "Water Boards, and, of course, anglers and pisciculturists.

At the conference of rangers, curators and Marine Department officials, the following resolution was passed on the motion of Captain Yerex, seconded by Mr C. J. Evans: —

“This conference views with grave concern the menace of the pollution of our rivers, and the importance of taking steps to prevent pollution altogether rather than to penalize such offences; that the authorities controlling acclimatized fish in these waters have power to decide what kinds of effluent from factories, etc., be allowed to flow into rivers, and also that, before new factories are erected, the disposal of barred effluents be arranged for so as not to contaminate the rivers.”