LINE & TRIGGER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 716, 26 November 1903, Page 13

LINE & TRIGGER.

(By

"Gillie.")

At a recent trial Mr Adolph Toepperxvein, of San Antonio, Texas, broke his previous record (and at that time the world’s record) of 986 out of 1000 clay discs thrown into the air, by making a score of 989, under slightly different conditions (says the “ Sportsmen’s Review”) Toepperwein missed his 96th disc, and at the end of the first 500 had lost altogether 8. Someone expressed a doubt that he would be unable to equal his previous record. “ Just watch me,” was all he said, and although he lost two more in the next string, he settled down with the greatest of confidence, ran 369 straight, missed one, and ran out with a total of 989-out of the 1000 shot at. During all the time, the gun was never once cleaned, and worked in the most perfect manner’ without rhe semblance of a hitch anywhere. His shooting on the last 500 was purely mechanical. Otherwise such a record never could have been mace. In. a race of 1000 shots, it is naturally obvious that in order to add one, two or three to a score of 986, the more mechanically the work is done, the greater the ’chances for accomplishing it. Moreoxer it means a steady nerve, perfect unison of eye and finger, and last, but by no means least, a perfect gun and faultless ammunition. It is an exhibition where a fidgety man xvould not shine. * ♦ ■* - From Rotorua comes word that trout a e bung caught in large quantities by trolling parties,, the weight, of the fish ranuinp- from 3tb to 12tb. A very fine 12-poundcr was hooked on Sunday last by a party on board the oil launch Mourea. * * ♦ * The passengers and crew of the Ovalau, who had thirteen days’ stay at Lord Howe Island, might have occupied thems'clvc s a good deal more than they evidently did in catching fish (says the “ Sydney Mail ”). Salmon, trevally and bluefish abound near the island, as well as other prettily coloured redfish. Messrs F. and T. Searl, who have been on a holiday xnsit to the island, were amongst the most successful fishermen. They caught on one occasion about scwt of

bluefish and salmon. The largest trevally they secured xvas estimated to weigh 14lb. We do not get trevally that size in thia part of the southern seas. The trevally there are caught on schnapper lines. When of such a large size the trevally is coarse, but it is a full-flavoured and valuable food fish. The bluefish is about the best marine product of Lord Howe Island. It is not the same fish as is the bluefish in American waters. The American bluefish is our tailer, or the skipjack cf South Australia. The Lord Howe bluefish is a relative ’of our blackfish. It’s scientific name is Girella cyanea. In colour the fish is of a bright blueish hue on the back, and the body is touched all over with irregular golden spots. The under part is pale blue. The flesh is excellent eating, and when smoked is regarded by many gastronomical experts as the equal or superior of the blue cod of New Zealand. It is a great pity that no regular supply of smoked bluefish can be sent- from Lord Hoxve Island.

The only real deer forest in England where stags are stalked and shot is on Martindale Fell, near Ullswater. It is the property of Mr J. E. Hasell, of Dalemain. and is in every sense a true deer forest, and much wilder than many of the Scotch forests where the deer are really kept on the ground by a wire fence. The ancient, definition of a forest is that it is only bounded by “marks and meres,” and not by any form of xvall or pale. The Martindale stags are said to xvander to a considerable distance, but in the damp Lake district horn growth is inconsiderable and “ royals ” are not common.