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TROUT IN NEW ZEALAND:

WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO CATCH THEM.

BY

T

W. H. SPACKMAN, B.A.,

BABBISTEB AT LAW,

President of the Canterbury Anglers* Society^ and Counsel to the

Canterbury Acclimatisation Society,

WELLINGTON.

BY authority: geobge didsbury, government printer.

1892.

I

t

\

i

=; PEEFACE.

^

\

>^

X'*

>

This work has been written for the purpose of supplying
a want long felt both by anglers in the colony and visitors,
who are at a loss to know where to go and what to
use in order to obtain the sport which is to be found
with trout in New Zealand. Most anglers, even in New
Zealand, are unacquainted with any district but their
own, and strangers to the colony have had no means up
till now of obtaining information except from personal
inquiry from the friends they may chance to meet in their
travels. It is hoped that this little book will give them
V most of the information they may require.

With regard to Canterbury I have had no difficulty,

being personally acquainted with the whole of it. Want of

•J leisure-time, however, prevented me from obtaining that

local knowledge myself of the other districts, without which

this work would be of little use to the angler and tourist.

^ Had it not been for the assistance given me by the accli-

X matisation societies, and by friends living in the various

%v parts of the colony, I could not have written it. To them

J ^ I desire to return my sincere thanks. A few, however,

^ have given me so much substantial assistance that I must

J make special mention of them. The chief of these are my

friends Mr. A. J. Rutherford, of Wellington; Mr. King-

^.§ don, of Nelson; Mr. A. M. Clarke, of Temuka; Mr.

Knubley, of Timaru ; Mr. D. Russell, Mr. Begg, and Mr.

W. S. Pillans, of Otago; and Mr. Edward Tanner, Mr.

285190

11 PREFACE.

Russell, Mr. Feldwick, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Handyside,
of Southland. Last, but not least, I desire to acknow-
ledge my indebtedness to the valuable papers, in the
^^ Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,^^ by the late
^ Mr. Arthur, one of the fathers of acclimatisation in New
Zealand, a man of great ability and original research, and
whose death some years ago is still widely lamented and
deplored.

W. H. SPACKMAN.
Christchurch, September y 1892.

TROUT- FISHING IN NEW ZEALAND,

CHAPTEE I.

Acclimatisation in New Zealand — First Beginnings in Ota^o
and Canterbury — The Hatcheries at Clinton and Wellington
— Different Times required for hatching out Ova — Salmon
Experiments — Examination of Causes of its Success and
Failure.

Seven great rivers — the Clarence, the Waiau, the Waimaka-
riri, the Eakaia, the Eangitata, the Waitaki, and the Clutha —
find their exit into the sea on the east coast of the Southern
Island of New Zealand. They are cradled in the great
southern range, the Southern Alps, which form the backbone
of the South Island. They are all known as snow-rivers —
that is, rivers fed by the melting of the snows in the great
range. They are at their lowest in the winter, at their highest
in the spring. The beds of some of them — the Waimakariri,
the Eakaia, and Waitaki — are in many places more than two
miles across; not one of them, except the Clutha partly, is
navigable. When the snows melt, in the spring and early
summer months, they become huge resistless torrents, their
beds filled with muddy or milky-coloured water, carrying from
the mountains thousands of tons of shingle to the sea.

There are a few smaller ones known also as snow-rivers :
such are the Hurunui and Ashburton.

But there is another class of rivers in the South Island,
known as rain-rivers — that is, rivers draining small portions of
the country, and whose sources, not extending far enough
back into the ranges, are unaffected by the melting of the
snows. These are very numerous, and in anglers* parlance
they are known as rain-rivers.

Twenty-five years ago not one of these rivers had the least
interest for the angler ; they flowed through some of the most
beautiful gorges in the world ; they travelled their courses over
the great plains unheeded and unloved. None but the dweller
on their banks cared the least in what condition were their
waters. The bullhead (Eleotris gobioides) lived beneath their
1

2 TEOUT-FISHING

stones in thousands ; the young of the sea-mullet and the
inanga ascended them annually in millions ; naught but enor-
mous eels and useless shags preyed upon these millions of fry.
The settler cursed them for encroaching on his land ; but the
rod of the fisherman never cast a shadow on their waters;
every one of these mighty rivers, every one of the thousand
creeks and streams that flow into them, or that water the
islands of New Zealand, were tenantless and profitless to the
sportsman.

What a change there is to-day ! From its head- waters, far
beyond Lake Tekapo, Lake Ohau, and Lake Pukaki, to the
sea, the Waitaki, next to the Clutha, the greatest of these
great snow-rivers, is the home of the English trout — trout of
such a size, too, that accounts sent to England of their size
and of the sport obtained with them were long looked upon as.
fabulous, and received with derision and incredulity. From the
Waitaki, from the Eakaia, from the Waimakariri, from the
Eangitata, has the angler taken more than 1001b. weight of
trout in a single day with the Devon or the phantom. Often
has the fly-fisherman captured more than 301b. weight of trout,
with the Governor or the Moorfowl, the Soldier-palmer, or the
March brown. A 101b. trout from any of the snow-rivers is a
thing of every-day occurrence, and they have been taken up to-
251b. With the fly trout have been caught exceeding 81b.

The history of the acclimatisation of trout in New Zealand
is the history of an astounding success. It began in Otago m
1867, and the first successful hatching of trout there was in
October, 1868. This was achieved by Mr. Clifford, the curator
to the acclimatisation society, who went to Tasmania and got
from the spawning-beds at the breeding-ponds of the Plenty
800 ova : 720 of these w^ere hatched out.. Part of this lot was
sent to Lake Wakatipu, but all the young fish died on the
road. The remainder were turned out at Palmerston, in the
mill-race on the property of a Mr. Young. A year after-
wards one of these fish was caught and found to be 7in.
long. In October, 1869, the second shipment of 1,000 trout-
ova was brought from Tasmania by Mr. Clifford. The fish
from these two lots of trout-ova form the original stock which
were liberated in Otago streams in November, 1869, and from
these and their descendants the ova for stocking the rivers in
Otago have been obtained. Between 1869 and 1891 nearly
two millions of brown trout alone have been hatched out by
the Otago society, and distributed in upwards of three hundred
streams.

The hatchery at Clinton, in Otago, is now the largest in the
colony, and was first established in 1885. It is supplied from
a source called Marshall's Creek, a mountain-stream and
tributary of the Kuriwao, the average temperature of the water

IN NEW ZEALAND. *J

during the hatching period being 41° Fahr. The two hatching-
houses have room for hatching out nearly 700,000 ova, and the
number annually \iistributed exceeds 250,000. About 50
acres have been enclosed by a wire and standard fence. The
period for hatching-out is found to be, at this temperature, for
brown trout seventy-five days, for American brook char
(Fontinalis) and for Scotch Burn trout seventy-four days, and
for Loch Leven trout seventy-one. Besides a number of ponds
and races for the small fry, there are three large ones. No
brown trout are now kept in stock, as large quantities of ova
of brown trout can be easily obtained in the months of June
and July from the Waiwera, Wairuna, and Kuriwao, but
about fifty American brook char, 500 Loch Levens, and 220
Scotch Burn trout are kept in the ponds for the purpose of
obtaining the yearly supply of eggs.

Beyond the fact that our trout are believed to be from a
Thames tributary, little is known about them. As nientioned
above, the original stock in Otago was obtained from Tasmania,
and it appears that three lots were sent to Tasmania which
turned out more or less successful. Of these, Mr. Francis
Francis sent one from the Weycombe, Bucks, and another
from the Wey at Alston, Hants ; and Mr. Buckland sent one
lot from Alresford, on the Itchen, Hants. From one or other
of these sources most of the streams in Otago were stocked.

In Canterbury, in 1866, ponds were formed in a piece of
ground forming part of the Public Domain at Christchurch.
These ponds were at first supplied with water from a stream
running through the south of Hagley Park which empties itself
near the Hospital. This not being found very suitable, an
artesian well was put down, which yielded, and has continued
to yield ever since, an abundant supply of pure water, free
from sediment, at a low and even temperature — namely, 53^
Fahr. Other wells were afterwards sunk, and a copious
supply obtained from them. Though deficient in food, this
splendid supply of pure water, always at the same tempera-
ture, has been one of the reasons of the great success attained
in the breeding of fish in Canterbury.

In June, 1867, the curator proceeded to Hobart and ob-
tained 800 ova, but, owing to a long passage, most of them
were destroyed, and only three hatched out. These, unfortu-
nately, escaped. In 1868, however, a substantial success was
obtained : a further supply arrived from Tasmania through the
Otago Provincial Government, a large proportion hatched cut,
and 433 young trout turned out in various places, besides 112
being retained in the society's ponds as a reserve for breeding.
In the year 1869 another lot was obtained from Tasmania vid
Dunedin: from these, 450 were obtained, but most of them
escaped — probably into the Kiver Avon. In 1870 ova was first

4 TROUT-FISHING

taken from the trout in the Gardens, and 292 were sold at £2
per dozen and liberated in various streams in the province.
Since then, every year up to the present time, the number
of trout hatched out has been increased, and very many
thousands distributed, being either purchased from the society
by private individuals or liberated gratis, so that now almost
every little rivulet has received some fish. Yet much
remains to be done in the back country both in Otago
and Canterbury. Such a success, however, as this has been
could not have come about without great enthusiasm. It can
be imagined that men who would give £2 a dozen for little fry,
only about an inch long, would undergo much rather than lose
them in transit. One enthusiast, who obtained fifty in 1870,
carried them in a bait-can in front of him on his horse for
sixty miles, swimming a river or two en route.

In the Wellington Province the first attempt to introduce
trout seems, to have been made in the Wairarapa district by
private individuals. In 1874, Messrs. Beetham and Rutherford
purchased fifty young trout from the Canterbury Society, and
liberated them in the Waipoua River, but nothing apparently
ever came of them. In 1876, Messrs. Beetham Brothers ob-
tained about 2,000 trout, which were hatched out at Brance-
peth and turned out in the Wainuioru and Kaiwhata Streams.
Prom time to time an occasional trout was seen ; but little
result had been obtained, the streams not being very suitable.
Several tried after this to introduce trout, but they never
seemed to increase. It was evident that if the thing was to
be a success it must be undertaken systematically. In 1882,
an acclimatisation society was organized for Wairarapa, which
in 1884 amalgamated with the Wellington society. A hatchery
was established at Masterton, and 10,000 ova of the brown
trout, obtained from Canterbury, successfully hatched out and
liberated. In 1883, 15,000 were obtained through the courtesy
of Mr. Arthur, the Chief Surveyor of Otago ; but, after about
3,700 fish had been liberated, the rest were stolen from the
boxes at night by some miscreant, and one season was thus
almost lost. It was, however, only a temporary check, as
from that time onward very large numbers of various kinds of
trout have been turned out every year.

The hatchery establishment at Masterton is one of the most
complete and valuable in the colony, and from it trout have
been sent to almost every part of the North Island and
northern portions of the South Island. Its natural advan-
tages are unsurpassed, and the arrangements are exceedingly
good. The plan shows the general arrangement, its ponds
being supplied with spring water, carried in races to every
part of the grounds. About 4 acres have been enclosed, partly
by a close-boarded fence and partly by wire. The hatchery is

IN NEW ZEALAND. Q

situated as near as possible to the curator's house, where ifc is
easy of access, and can be visited in any weather and at any
hour. It is most essential for the curator to be as near as pos-
sible to the hatchery. No one who has not had experience
of fiSh-hatching can imagine the constant supervision neces-
sary to prevent a loss of perhaps the whole of one season's
supply. All intakes and outlets must be kept in the most per-
fect working-order, and all diseased or dead ova duly removed.
It is almost necessary to have one person to look after all the
water arrangements and another to look after that person.
Many things were learnt in the early days of fish-hatching —
how a whole season could be lost only through the want of a
little extra care ; but the lesson has been valuable, and the ex-
perience gained has enabled what was but an experiment at
first to be now a complete success.

From the ponds at Masterton in 1891 the society distributed
nearly 350,000 fish, consisting chiefly of brown trout (Salmo
fario), the American brook trout or char (Salvelinus fontinalis),
and the Loch Leven trout. Many thousands were sent to a dis-
tance in large cans, containing from 500 to 1,000 each. This
is the ordinary mode of transit. Last year some very interest-
ing experiments were made in the transit of trout-ova and fry
between this colony and New South Wales. Five thousand
brown trout were sent to Sydney, where they arrived in perfect
condition, and 1,000 Fontinalis fry, in the alevin stage, were
safely carried in the ordinary cans without a change of water.
A small number of feeding fry, hatched from Welhngton trout-
ova in Sydney, reached Wellington alive, a distance of 1,800
miles, having been sent from Sydney in hermetically- sealed
jars, carried at a temperature of between 50° and 60° ; they
lived for eight days from the time they were first impi5soned.
The experiment was repeated from Welhngton, and trout-fry,
previously prepared by a day's starvation, were placed in her-
metically-sealed glass jars, and reached Sydney alive, after being
immured ten days three and a half hours of trying journey,
partly in the steamer's ice-house and afterwards by rail, at a
temperature varying from 53° to 63°.

In all, at the hatchery, besides the number of ponds for the
small fry, there are upwards of twenty large ones for stock fish
of different* kinds, which are kept for breeding purposes. These
are annually stripped and then returned to the water, none the
worse for the operation. In 1886 the Government sent to
California and procured ova of the rainbow trout {Salmo
irideus). This is an exceedingly valuable addition to the
salmonoids, as its stands a much higher temperature than the
ordinary brown trout, and is thus far more suitable for turning
out in the more northern parts, especially round about Auck-
land. To show what loss a Httle carelessness will occasion :

6 TROUT-FISHING

during the season of 1891 about ninety rainbow trout, obtained
from some pva received from the Auckland society, were put
in a large rearing-box with wire-netting lids. These fish were
growing splendidly, when some visitors to the ponds lifting
one of the lids, and leaving it off, a large eel got into the
box, and when discovered next morning its stomach was
packed with nearly all these valuable fry, leaving only
twelve alive in the box. The black Scottish Burn trout,
perch {Perca fluviatilis), carpione trout, the English salmon
(Salmo salar), and a few other representatives of the salmon-
oids can be seen in the ponds. Another is the native
grayling, called by the Maoris upokororo (Prototroctes
oxyrhynchiis), one of the very few representatives of the sal-
monoids in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1888 a few of these
graceful fish were captured, and placed in a pond, where they
have become very tame. According to Dr. Giinther, only two
genera of these species are known — the haplochiton, abundant
in lakes and streams emptying into the Straits of Magellan,
also found in Chili and the Falkland Islands ; and the New
Zealand grayling. They are a mysterious fish, about whose
habits little or nothing is known, found in one part of a stream
to-day and disappearing no one knows where to-morrow. In
the Wairarapa and some of the West Coast rivers — notably the
Otaki, and also the Teremakau— they are found occasionally
very numerous, and often run up to 21b. in weight, giving
capital sport and making an excellent table-fish ; but the large
trout seem too much for them in well-stocked streams, and they
gradually disappear as the trout increase.

The period of hatching appears to vary very considerably
according to the temperature of the water. In a report on the
Crayfishery in Kent, England, the time is given at from'
seventy to eighty-four days. This is very much longer than
that given by Yarrell on the result of an experiment in Ger-
many, where it was found to be only thirty-five days. The
Eev. W. Houghton, in '* British Fresh-water Fishes," 1879,
gives the average as sixty days, and the temperature 40° to 45° ;
and Mr. Francis Francis, in the ** Practical Management of
Fisheries," 1883, gives the mean time recorded as about sixty-
three. The late Mr. Arthur, Chief Surveyor of Otago, gives the
average, at the Opoho hatchery, of a series of observations
extending over a number of years — 1868, 1869, and 1878 to
1882 — as seventy-eight days, the temperature varying from as
low as 39° to as high as 67°. At Clinton, as mentioned before,
the time for brown trout has been found to be, on an average,
seventy-five days, with the temperature of the water 41°.
In Canterbury the temperature of the artesian-water supply
varies extremely little, being 53° Fahr., and the period of hatch-
ing of the brown trout is seldom more than from thirty to

IN NEW ZEALAND. Z

thirty-two days, an immense difference as compared with Otago.
At the WelUngton hatchery the temperature of the water
varies from 60° to 56°, and the average time taken by the
brown trout is thirty-five days.

As stated previously, the original ova from England were
taken from three rivers — the Weycombe, Buckinghamshire,
and the Wey, by Mr. Francis Francis ; and the Itchen, by
Mr. Frank Buckland. Taking Dr. Giinther's arrangement of
species, it determines the trout taken from any of the above-
named rivers to be Salmo fario ansoniiy or the southern form,
probably the same as the Thames trout. Mr. Francis, in the
work above referred to, tells us that Thames trout spawn
early, or in November, and are correspondingly early in getting
into condition in the following spring. This same trout in
Otago spawns from the middle of June till the end of August,
according to locality ; and in Canterbury as early as the
middle of May up till aboat the end of July, though occa-
sional specimens are caught with fully-developed ova both
considerably before and after these dates. Mr. Arthur con-
cluded that the same species of trout in Otago is about two
months later in spawning, and the ova ten days to a fortnight
longer in hatching than in England. In Canterbury, how-
ever, the same species appears to occupy only about half the
English period of hatching, and to spawn at about the same
time of the year, allowing for the change of seasons, as its
English progenitor. Of the fish kept in confinement at the
Masterton hatcheries, the Amerian brook char is always the
first to spawn, commencing very regularly about the 12th
May ; next come the Loch Leven trout, and after them the
common brown trout. The time for both the brook char and
the Loch Leven trout, both at Masterton and in Canterbury,
is about thirty or thirty-two days.

The acclimatisation of the English salmon (Salmo solar)
has been long attempted, but as yet without any great measure
of success. Many thousands, too, of the Californian salmon
were imported, hatched out, and turned into the rivers,
but no full-grown salmon have been caught. In 1885
Mr. Farr, for many years the indefatigable secretary of the
Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, was sent by the Govern-
ment to England to procure a shipment of English salmon-ova.
He was successful in obtaining a large quantity, chiefly from
the Tweed, and equally successful in conveying them safely to
New Zealand. These were distributed to the various societies,
and subsequently by them turned into numerous streams. In
several cases the young fish were kept till they were 5in. or
6in. long, or until the appearance of the smolt-scales, before
being liberated, but still no result was obtained so far as the
actual catching of a veritable Salmo salar*

8 TROUT-FISHING

In the years 1886 and 1887 the Government imported &
very large supply of ova. By the ** Ionic," which left Eng-
land in January, 1886» nine boxes, containing 200,000, were
despatched. These were packed by Sir James Maitland him-
self, to whom and to Sir F. D. Bell the colony is miich indebted
for the trouble and the enthusiasm they showed in order to
make the shipment a success. With the exception of one box
of salmon and two boxes of trout, these were placed in an ice-
house specially designed for the purpose, and a man put in
charge for insuring a supply of ice to the trays. The single box
of salmon- and the trout-ova were placed for experiment in the
refrigerating-chamber.

On the arrival of the ship in Wellington the eight boxes of
salmon-ova were found in very good condition, but those
carried in the freezing-chamber were all dead. These eight
boxes were divided amongst the various accHmatisation
societies, and a large proportion successfully hatched.

In 1887 the experiment was continued on a still larger scale.
By the ** Kaikoura," " Doric," and '* Tongariro," 590,000
English salmon, 80,0)00 S.fontinaliSy 40,000 Loch Leven trout,
100,000 Bhine salmon, 25,000 Ehine brook trout, 25,000
Alpine char, and 25,000 Carpione trout were shipped. Of
these the most successful were the English salmon, in some
cases more than 70 per cent, being hatched out, which speaks
volumes for the skill and care bestowed upon them by Sir
James Maitland.

The experiment of placing a few thousands in each river
having apparently failed, the fry were kept for twelve months
in races, and then turned into the Aparima or Jacob's Eiver,
where there was nothing but a very few brown trout. This
river flows into the sea through a wide estuary off the south-
east coast of Southland, the temperature of the water, on
account of a cold current, being probably lower there than at
any other part of the coast. The advantage of this will be seen
further on. Since then further shipments have arrived, and,
after being hatched out and kept till the young fry were con-
sidered large enough to take care of themselves, they were
turned into the same river. Some were kept in the hatchery
ponds in Christchurch, and also at Opoho, and at Clinton, in
Otago. In 1889 there were at the Opoho hatchery eight four-
year-old salmon, and at Clinton 116 four-year-old. At the
Canterbury hatchery more than 5,000 eggs were obtained from
the salmon imported in 1885; and in 1891, from the stock
in the ponds of the Otago society, 20,000 eggs were got and
hatched out from salmon that had never left the gardens or
been to sea.

These salmon — some of Mr. Farr's shipment — are now six
years old, and, although they appear healthy, the experiment

IN NEW ZEALAND. 9*

of propagating salmon from a stock kept in confinement has not
been altogether successful. Although they have plenty of
room and are well fed, and have produced ova for some years,
they have not grown to their natural size, the largest being^
only about 21b. The stripping of these fish is also a painful
operation, the ova being equally as large as those of a larga
adult fish in its natural state ; consequently, in the artificial
operation of extracting the ova from the female, a large amount
of pressure is necessary, which must injure the parent fish to a
certain extent. An occasional fish has been found dead during
the year, possibly the result of this treatment. The ova, how-
ever, hatch well, and the fry are always healthy.

In May, 1891, the estuary of the Aparima was netted and
several fish taken. One of them was forwarded to Professor
Hutton, of Christchurch, who has given much consideration to
the subject, and who is recognised as one of the best autho-
rities in the Southern Hemisphere. Professor Hutton was good
enough, after he had examined it, to let me have it, and 1
obtained a trout from the accHmatisation gardens for the pur-
pose of comparison. The conclusion we both came to was that
the fish was a grilse. The reasons for the conclusions come to-
are too long to give here, but some of them will be found stated
later on in the description of the Aparima Eiver. This fish
was taken in the estuary, and probably had never been further
towards the sea.

A study of the ocean currents that sweep the coast of New
Zealand will enable us to infer, from the experience gained in
other parts of the world, the character of the marine life which
stocks our seas. From observations, it appears that the coldest
part of the sea round New Zealand is on the south and south-
east coast of Otago, where the temperature of the surface-
water ranges from 48° in winter to 57° in summer, the cor-
responding averages for the atmosphere being 43° to 58°. Thfr
cold current thus indicated, which probably exercises a good
effect on the quality of the fish, besides limiting the range of a
few species, appears to extend its influence up the east coast
as far as Cook Strait, but on the west side of the Islands the
average winter temperature of the sea is found to be much
higher, and equal to that experienced 6° of latitude further to-
the north on the east coast. In the extreme south the
summer temperature does not, however, rise to a correspond-
ing extent ; but, on the whole, there is evidence that the warm
equatorial current which is known to skirt the east coatt of
Australia, and has been likened to a southern counterpart of
the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic, must be directed against the
west coast of New Zealand, tending to equalise the tempera^
ture in that region.

On the north-east coast of New Zealand, as far south as th©=

10 TROUT-FISHING

Bay of Plenty, there are further evidences of a current from
the north to be found in the abundance of the flying-fish, the
-occasional visits of the true nautilus, and also of the argonaut,
or paper-nautilus. Gigantic pods of a leguminous plant that
grows in the Fijis are also frequently cast up in the same way
that West Indian seeds are thrown on the coast of Scotland by
the Gulf Stream. This current, however, although it reaches
New Zealand, does not appear to pass down the east coast, as
there is abundant proof of the existence of a steady drift from
New Zealand eastwards towards the Chatham Islands. From
this it appears that neither the west coast nor the north-
east coast of our Islands are as favourable as regards tempera-
ture as the south-east coast of Otago.

A study of the kind of fishes w^hich are associated together
in different parts of the European seas, and a comparison of
them with the fish found on our shores, will better enable us
to "form an idea of the probability of the ultimate success of
the salmon experiment. Just as the land can be divided into
divisions by the character of its productions, so the seas are
marked by the distinct character of their marine fauna. The
•seas on the western coast of Europe, says Professor Forbes,
in his '* Natural History of the British Seas," may be divided
into three provinces, two of which, possess extremely distinct
<5haracters. The most northern is the Boreal Province, in
which there are few species of fish, but great abundance of in-
dividuals, their pursuit affording the sole employment to large
communities of fishermen. In this province the salmon skirts
the coast-line and enters the rivers. Herrings abound in
the surface-waters during their proper season; in 15 to 60
fathoms water the cod and the hake are plentiful ; while from
that depth to 300 fathoms, whiting, pollack, ling, and tusk
employ thousands of men in most adventurous and perilous
fisheries which are conducted in the deep sea far from land.

The most dissimilar province from the Boreal is the Lusita-
nian, which includes all the southern European seas, and is
•characterized by the profusion of sea-perches, like our kahawai
{Arripis salar) andhapuku (Oligorus gigas), Sparoids, like the
snapper (Pagncs unicolor) and scomberoid fishes, which include
the mackerel, flying-fish, tunny, and John Dory, together with
gurnards and mullets of various kinds, all of which are without
representatives in the extreme north. On the other hand, we
remark the absence from this marine province of the salmon
and all the many species of the cod kind, which are plentiful
in the former.

Between the Boreal and the Lusitanian the fish are of a
•mixed or intermediate character — a sort of neutral ground,
into which the northern fish from the Boreal region are at-
tracted during the winter season, while the southern genera

IN NEW ZEALAND. 11

■are represented during the summer months. These are the
seas round the British Islands. In them the turbot, flounder,
sole, cod, haddock, and whiting reach the greatest perfection,
while the herrings and the salmon amongst the northern forms,
and the mackerel, sea-bream, and red-mullet from the south,
-combine to render the British seas the most prolific and profit-
able in the world.

If we now compare the assemblage of fishes which we find
in the New Zealand seas with those in the European regions,
we find that on the whole they represent the characteristic
forms of the southern or Lusitanian Province, from which the
salmonidflB are almost entirely absent ; in other words, that our
New Zealand fishes resemble those which are found on the
coast between Madeira and the Bay of Biscay more than those
which are caught about the north of Scotland. If we contrast
the thirty odd sea-fishes that are fit to be used as food in New
Zealand, we have amongst the constant residents oh all parts
of our coasts the hapuku, tarakihi (Chilodactylus macropterus),
trevalli {Caranx georgianus), moki {Latris cUiaris), aua, rock-
cod (Percis colias), wrasse (Labricthys bothrycosmus) , and
patiki or flounder (Bhombosolea monopus), and while the
snapper, mullet, and gurnard are only met with in the north,
the trumpeter, butterfish, and red-cod are confined to the
south. But, with the exception of the patiki and the red-cod,
none of these are representatives of fishes that are common
even in the south of Britain, while from the more northern
seas, where the salmon are most plentiful, similar fishes are
altogether absent.

We are now in a position to form some conjectures why
hitherto the attempt to acclimatise the salmon has not suc-
ceeded. With regard to the whole of the west coast and
part of the north and east coast, it is an attempt to intro-
duce a fish which is rarely, if ever, found in the corresponding
fish zone in European regions. The young of the salmon have
been turned in thousands into many rivers of the South
Island — rivers in every way most appropriate as a habitat (as
shown by the rapid growth both of the salmon and brown
trout) until they reach the smolt stage. It is after their
"departure from the rivers that their difficulties begin. At the
period of the year when the young smolt, putting on his silver
coat, makes his journey to the sea, the mouths of nearly all
our rivers swarm with many of the sea-perch tribe, especially
the voracious and active kahawai. Whatever happens to him,
the fact remains that the smolt never returns. What becomes
of him is unknown ; but, out of the tens of thousands — I might
say, hundreds of thousands — of young fry that have been turned
out into the magnificent rivers of New Zealand, not one
•thoroughly authenticated instance can be, as yet, adduced of

12 TBOUT-FISHINa

the smolt's return to the river, and its capture as a veritable
salmon {S, salar) by the angler.

It is too early yet to speak with certainty of the success or
failure of the experiment in the Aparima. The sea at its
mouth is probably four or five degrees colder than at the
mouth of any other river in the colony, with the probability
of the absence, to a corresponding extent, of the sea-perch
class of fishes. When we remember how few of many millions
of the eggs of any fish ever come to maturity, or how few of
those that do so reach the adult stage, it is premature to give
a decided opinion on the subject. It is the wish and hope of
every colonist that the experiment may succeed, and the men
who have worked hard to make it so do not belong to the
class that is easily discouraged. One actual experiment is
worth a bushel of theories, and our only course is to wait and
see what the future may have in store.

But there remains to account for the fact that the trout
thrive so well, not only in the brackish water at the mouths
of all the rivers running out on the east coast, but in the
actual sea itself. That the common brown trout &equents not
only the brackish water, but is found in harbours, many miles
from the mouth of any river, is now established beyond doubt.
The late Mr. Arthur, in a paper read by him before the Otago
Philosophical Institute in 1883, alludes to the disappearance
of the largest trout from the Water of Leith except during the
spawning-season, and their evidently resorting to the salt
water of Otago Harbour, since trout of the common S. fario
species were being constantly caught in fishermen's nets in
the Bay. The experience of all anglers is that the extreme
mouths of the great snow-rivers, even as fe^r as it is possible
to throw the spinning-bait into the surf, are the surest places
to find the largest and best-conditioned trout. In December,
1891, when the graving-dock in the harbour at Lyttelton was
emptied, a trout weighing 151b. was caught, this being several
miles from the mouth of the nearest river. In March, 1892,
Mr. Arthur Perry, of Timaru, a very successful angler of many
years' experience, informed me that trout may be seen on
almost any calm day playing round about the stones of the
breakwater in the Timaru Harbour; yet there is no fresh
water or river-mouth within miles ; in fact, nothing but the
open sea. The state of the tide, too, nearly always deter-
mines the time of the sport. As soon as the tide begins
to turn the trout seem to come with it into the river. For two
or three hours the fun will be fast and furious, till before high
water is reached they cease to take. More will be said about
this later on, in the description of the Eakaia and other snow-
fed rivers.

It is evident, then, that the sea as well as the rivers is

IN NEW ZEALAND. 13

suitable for the salmonidae. The answer to the objection seems,
however, simple. Trout of small size, even so small as lib.
in weight, are seldom, if ever, caught in the salt water.
They do not seem to affect the brackish estuaries and the
mouths of the rivers, where kahawai and hapuku abound,
until they are large enough to take care of themselves, whereas
the smolt descends when a few inches in length, consequently
falling a prey to the predatory fish. The difficulty, but an
insuperable one, would be at an end if the smolt could only be
induced to stay in the fresh water till it was big enough to
take care of itself.

CHAPTEK II.

Siiow-rivers and Bain-rivers — Advantage of Division — Dif-
ferent Ap'pearance and Size of Trout — Reasons for their
Enormous Growth — Different Growth in Different Rivers
— The Character of their Food-sujpply — Their Feeding
Times — Cajpricious Character.

Generally speaking the snow-fed river produces a trout both
larger and different in appearance to that found in the rain- fed
stream. Of course in the deep pools of any stream a large trout
can nearly always be found, but the average size of those taken
from rivers like the Eakaia and the Waitaki is greater than
that of trout taken from the smaller raiu-fed streams. In the
small streams the trout still keeps the appearance of its Eng-
lish parent, being marked with many deep red spots, though
these become less numerous as it increases in size, and at last
disappear altogether. In the snow-rivers the absence of red
spots, even in small trout of Jib. weight, is almost universal,
their whole appearance being of a bright silver colour, those
taken near the sea having a larger number of bluish-black
X-shaped spots.

There is no doubt that the yearly growth of our trout is, as
compared with the English fish, immensely greater : this arises
from the supply of food, which, as will be shown hereafter, is
enormous, and has had much influence on their habits. It is
difl&cult, in the case of rivers that have been stocked for a num-
ber of years, to speak with certainty as to the exact yearly
growth. The late Mr. Arthur, in a paper read before the Otago
Philosophical Institute in 1878, calculated the yearly growth
of certain fish procured by him as follows : Shag Eiver, female
trout, 16Jlb., yearly growth 2f lb. ; Water of Leith, male, 12 Jib.,
yearly growth IJlb. ; Lee Stream, 51b., yearly growth lib.;
Deep Stream, 81b., yearly growth IJlb. ; and Upper Taieri,

14 TBOUT-FISHING

female, 61b. 6oz., yearly growth lib. These data were arrived
at from a knowledge of the period which elapsed between the
young fish being turned into the river and its capture.

Trout were first placed in the Omarama Eiver, a tributary of
the Ahuriri, in 1875. In December, 1879, it was first fished
by Mr. J. A. Connell. During one day, two evenings, and one
afternoon he caught fourteen trout, weighing 27^1b., or an aver-
age weight of l*961b., the heaviest fish 71b. Mr. Arthur also
fished the Omarama, and killed five trout, weighing 13Jlb., or
an average of 2 •71b. each. This would give their greatest yearly
growth at about 21b.

The Waitaki Eiver was fished by Mr. S. Thompson in 1879,
when he caught twenty-two fish, weighing 23ilb., or an average
of I'OGlb. each. It was first stocked in 1869, and again in
1874. Taking Mr. Thompson's largest trout, which was 5}lb.,
as one put in during the latter year, its yearly rate of growth
would be l*151b.

Fulton's Creek is a small stream, the upper part of which
descends rapidly from the mountains through bush, and its
lower waters flow gently through the alluvial plain of the Taieri
in deep, long reaches. Trout were first put into it in 1869, and
none since then. In July, 1881, Mr. Deans caught two beauti-
ful females, 181b. each. The least possible annual growth of
these two fish would therefore be about l*51b.

In March, 1883, Mr. McKinnon killed, with native minnow^
in the Puerua a trout of 221b. As trout were first turned into
this river in 1873, the least possible yearly growth of this fish
would be 2-21b.

The yearly growth of lake trout is very great. Hayes Lake
is very full of trout, some being supposed, from appearance, to
weigh over 201b. Mr. Arthur mentions one of 281b. which
was poached out of Butel's Creek, running into Lake Hayes,
in 1882. Now, trout were first put into the streams round
about the Wakatipu in 1874 ; so this very large trout must have
grown yearly at the astonishing rate of S^lb.

The Wakatipu Lake has a stock of trout from 21b. to 251b.
The water is very clear, and they can be seen in shoals on the
margin of the lake at Queenstown Bay, near the Town Creek,
the Peninsula Beef, and other places. They are exceedingly
fat and lazy, and, on account of the clearness of the water and
abundance of food, are difl&cult to catch with the rod and line.
The largest yet taken weighed 281b. In November, 1880, a
trout was caught at the head of the lake which weighed 161b.
4oz., and, as this was probably one of those liberated in 1874,
its yearly growth would be nearly 2f lb.

Lake Heron, in the Ashburton County, holds an astound-
ing number of large trout, which can with difi&culty be caught
with rod and line. Two were shot in 1884 weighing nearly

IN NEW ZEALAND.

15

341b. each. Many large trout have been taken by spearing
them. The method used is to pull slowly in a boat round an
arm of the lake after dark with a spear and a torch. In 1887
one man obtained in this manner 112 fish, weighing over 7cwt.
Lake Heron is rather inaccessible, being distant from the Mount
Somers Eail way-station some thirty-four miles ; and, finding the
fish would not keep, he salted them down in barrels. Either
the hot weather was too much for them or his method of cur-
ing insufl&cient, and they all went bad. To utilise them,
however, with true colonial thriftiness, he gave them to his-
pigs, with the totally unexpected result of killing every pig
— a thoroughly deserved reward for poachers and spearers.

Taking Mr. Arthur's table for some of the above rivers, and
others, we find as follows for the growth of New Zealand trout
between 1878 and 1883 :—

Yearly Grow

TH OF '

Frout, 1878 TO

1883

1

Lb.

Lb.

Omarama

200

Otaria . .

. 0-75

Kakanui . .

1-00

Mimihau

. 100

Waikouaiti

107

Pomahaka

. 108

Fulton's Creek

1-50

Waitahuna

. 112

Lorsell's Creek

1-66

Manuherikia

. 100

Puerua . .

2-20

Hayes Lake

. 3-50

Waiwera . .

1-50

Wakatipu Lake

. 2-73

Waipahi . .

100

If the growth of trout is abnormal, the reason is found in
the equally abnormal food-supply as compared with English
streams. Most of the rivers swarm with various kinds of fish-
food, and in such abundance that it is a wonder the trout ever
take the angler's bait. Smelts (Betropinna richardsoni),
whitebait (Galaxias attemiatus), both anadromous, are in such
countless millions at the mouths and for some distance up the
rivers that frequently they are impaled on the triangles of a
Devon minnow or a phantom when spinning. Crayfish, the
young of the sea-mullet (Agonostoma forsteri), fresh- water
molluscs (Limnoea), flies with their larvae, beetles (especially
two kinds, the well-known brown-beetle {Odontria zealandica)r
in appearance like a cockchafer, and the well-known little
green-beetle), grasshoppers, bullheads (Eleotris gobioides),
a fish in appearance somewhat similar to the loach, and
minnows (Gaiaxias fasciaUis), all these make such a feast
for the hungry trout that it is no wonder it grows at a pro-
digious rate. Mr. Arthur speaks of the stomach of one trout
that he opened which contained thirty-eight bullheads and
smelts. In 1889 I was fishing with Mr. Willock, accountant
to the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch, near the mouth
of the Eakaia Eiver. He caught a fish weighing 111b., and
on opening its stomach we found no less than eighty-five
bullheads and smelts-, each of which could be easily identi-

16 TROUT-FISHING

fled ; besides these, there was a mass which was too far digested
to be distinguishable as fish. I have often opened the stomach
of fish and found them so distended with smelts and whitebait
that the difficulty would be to find room for the live bait with
which they were taken.

The migratory habits which our trout have adopted have no
doubt been occasioned by their finding out that an enormous
supply of food comes in from the sea in the spring and gradu-
ally ascends to some considerable distance up the rivers. In
the early part of the season, in October and November, the
fish are always found in best condition as near the mouths, of
the snow-rivers especially, as it is possible to get with safety
to the angler. More than one fatal accident has happened in
an attempt by the over eager fisherman to go too far out into
the surf. Two years ago, in the spring of 1890, two anglers
were fishing from a boat at the mouth of the Waitaki Eiver,
and both were drowned through the boat being carried by the
current into the breakers. In October, 1891, Mr. Pilbrow, of
Ashburton, was fishing with a party on the south side of the
Eakaia Eiver, close to its mouth. The trout were evidently
well on the feed, and, finding the nearer he got to the sea the
better the sport, he took up a position at the extreme end of a
shingle-spit on the sea-shore. A strong south-west wind was
blowing behind him : a larger wave than usual suddenly passed
over the spit, and with it he disappeared ; he was carried out to
sea and drowned. This unfortunate occurrence was entirely
the result of inexperience. To the angler who is ordinarily
prudent there is no danger : if he will only remember that the
great snow-rivers of New Zealand are treacherous in the
extreme ; that what is a shallow ford to-day may be a deep
channel to-morrow ; that he never ought to attempt to cross
any stream with a swift current where it is deeper than up to his
knees, and not even then if the stones are large or the shingle
is loose ; that it is better never to attempt to cross at any time
when the water is thick unless accompanied by a companion
on whose experience he can rely ; that under no circumstances
should he attempt to cross a rapid shingle stream at night ;
and, lastly, that it is better to lose even a 20-pounder than his
life — he can obtain sport to his heart's content, and with a
certainty of its not ending in such a catastrophe as that which
occurred in the season of 1891-92 at the mouth of the Eakaia.

Experience shows us that our New Zealand trout has all
the idiosyncracies of its English progenitor, with those which
it has acquired in New Zealand added, and these last are by
no means few ; in fact, English experience, except of course
the acquired skill of handling a fish after hooking it, is not
worth much. Dry fly-fishing in most rivers, to use a colonial
phrase, ** isn't in it" with the sunk fly or grasshopper or

IN NEW ZEATiANP. 17

cricket, and it is almost impossible to say what time of day
the trout will come on the take. Mr. Arthur mentions that
in Otago, during the day, the middle portion in particular, when
the sun was brightest and everything apparently against the
angler, he found by far the most trout come to his lines ; and,
moreover, that he found them shy in the morning and evening;
but in this particular his experience is contrary to that of
every angler with whom I have discussed the subject. It is
true that in the very early part of the season, perhaps through*
out October, when the morning and evening are raw and cold,
the trout will take only for an hour or two in the middle of the
day, during the warmest and brightest portion ; but after
October, the universal experience of anglers is that the early
morning and late evening are far better than any other lime ;
in fact, from about noon till 3 or 4 o'clock it is mostly
labour in vain. Here, as in England, of course, much always
depends on the day and the state of the water. In Canter-
bury, given a south-west wind, however cold, the trout will be
on the feed, more or less, throughout the whole day ; but with
a north-easter, the worst of all winds, and, unfortunately, the
most prevalent, the trout will not move in the middle of the
day. Where the river is affected by the tide, other considera-
tions come in, about which more hereafter; but, speaking
generally of rivers unaffected by tide, if you can get nothing
before 12 o'clock you may reckon on a poor day's sport,
unless you fish late in the evening. Sudden changes in the
weather and wind, for which New Zealand is justly famous,
will often bring the trout on the feed for a little while, and
then the angler should make the most of it, for it will certainly
not last. I have fished with two or three friends before now
for hours without stirring a trout, though we must have passed
over hundreds; suddenly the fit seized them, and, although
fishing some distance apart, for an hour or so we all caught
fish; then the blight came again, and not a fin would stir.
A slight change of wind, or perhaps a difference in barometric
pressure, was the only way one could account for it.

The most extraordinary case of capricious behaviour in trout
occurred to a friend and myself when camped on the Waitaki,
just south of the railway-bridge, on the great south line. This
part of the river is particularly well stocked with trout, and
anglers, from Oamaru especially, have made very many large
bags between the railway-bridge and the sea, for which see the
description of the Waitaki, further on. We started about 5
o'clock in the evening, and each took a fish of about 61b. within
the first quarter of an hour. This augured well for future sport ;
yet we fished this river for the following four whole days
without having a single fish even run at the baits we used.
Spinning-tackle of all kinds, live bait, creepers, worms, every
2

18 TBOUT-FIBHINa

size and colour of fly was tried without the least effect ; the
water was in as good condition as we could wish it ; the wind,
if not favourable, was not adverse. All to no purpose. Miles of
this river were fished, and on the last day of the four, besides
ourselves, eight other rods took up our parable. At the end of
the day not one fish was there to the ten rods, and we had to
leave at last, satisfied, at least, that we had probably made a
record which no angler will desire to break.

When, however, really on the take our trout, big and little,
seem to abandon all caution, and come boldly at a fly or bait
of any kind if not very clumsily presented to them. Even
where much fished they are far less shy than the Home species,
especially the large fish ; and this arises, probably, from their
having practically no enemies in their habitat after they
attain a certain size. Their worst enemy, the black shag,
gormandising brute as it is, and the greatest destroyer that
small trout have to contend with, has little power over a fish
that has once attained to a weight of a couple of pounds, and
we have seen, under favourable conditions, this would be at the
end of its second year. Sometimes a large trout will dash at
the spinning-bait two or three times, and even in some in-
stances get hooked (though this is exceptional) yet come again at
it, and eventually be caught. In fly-fishing, except on windy or
cloudy days, the middle portion of the day is the worst possible
time. On the other hand, after the beginning of November, it is
almost impossible to begin too early in the morning or fish too
late. Trout-fishing is allowed during the whole twenty-four
hours, as during the greater part of the summer the large trout
are seldom caught in the day time except in rapid water. The
last hour before dark and the hour immediately preceding the
dawn are favourite times for the trout to feed : then there
will be a lull, and about 10 o'clock in the morning they will
often feed for an hour, even on the worst days. In February,
1890, I was stopping on the banks of the Clarence — a some-
what late river — which was at that time clear and low. The
banks of the Clarence are very high, and large trout could
be seen motionless at the bottom. Eegularly, however, between
10 and 11 o'clock every morning they would leave their haunts
and cruise round for food. This would last, perhaps, for an
hour, and then there was no further movement till 4 or 5
o'clock in the afternoon. Fishing, too, with the creeper or
grasshopper I have found the same thing — early morning and
late evening, but nothing done in the middle of the day after
the first month of the season.

The largest trout yet caught with rod and line was taken by
Mr. Lambie, of Leeston, fishing in Hall's Creek, near Leeston,
with live bait, and weighed 26ilb. Another very fine fish,
weighing 251b. was taken from the same place by Mr. Beetham,

IN NEW ZEALAND. 19

the Eesident Magistrate for Christchurch, the latter being far
the more perfect in shape and general proportions. In the
Selwyn many fish have been caught up to 181b.

The rapid growth has also its effect on the shape and geneml
appearance of New Zealand trout. This will be seen by refer-
ence to the accompanying plates.

CHAPTEE III.

Licenses — Free Trout-fishing — Fishing -tackle— Bods — Lines —
Casts — Flies — Spinning-baits — Crickets — Grasshoppers —
Creepers, dc, — WiTids — Effect of Electricity or Electric Light
— Bules and Begulations for Trout-fishing — Camping-otct,

The first thing the angler has to do before commencing his
season's sport is to obtain a license from the acclimatisation
society for the district in which he happens to be. This costs
£1, and gives him the right to fish in any part of the colony
for the whole season merely by getting it indorsed by the
secretary of any other district. The regulations are mainly
the same throughout the colony. A conference on this sub-
ject was held at Oamaru in March, 1892, when it was recom-
mended that there should be one set of regulations for the
whole of the South Island, and probably these will be drafted
and come into force shortly. The most important of the
regulations are : The holder of a license can fish in any waters
from the 1st October till the following 15th April, using as
baits either the natural or artificial fly, artificial spinning-baits
of any kind, any small indigenous fish, grasshoppers, spiders,
caterpillars, creepers, and worms, but not mussels or shellfish
of any description. Every bait must be used in its natural
state. No medicated bait, or bait prepared with any chemical,
may be used. No fish whatever of the salmon kind may be
taken except trout. Only one rod and line may be used at
the same time. Trout under 8in. in length must be re-
turned. The holder must produce his license when asked to
do so by any Eanger or person holding and showing a license,
and, if required, exhibit to any such person the contents of his
creel or bag and the bait he is using. None of the salmonidas
may be bought or sold except as provided by the regulations
for taking lake-trout. ' The penalty for a breach of the regu-
lations or for selling trout is r^ot less than £1 nor more than
£50, and a license will be refused to any person implicated in
the illegal sale of trout or in breaches of the regulations. The
full text of the regulations is given in the appendix.
Throughout New Zealand trout-fishing is practically free.

20 TBOUT-FISHINa

The river-beds belong to the Grown, and, provided the angler
does no damage to fences, he can go and camp in them where
he pleases. This applies more especially to the great snow-
fed streams. For some of the smaller rain-rivers leave is
necessary, but it is seldom, if ever, refused. In addition to the
river-bed proper, a reserve a chain wide has been made all
along the banks of many rivers, on both sides.

Two rods are sufficient, the one for fly, the other for
spinning and live-bait fishing. Every angler has his own ideas
as to the best material for rods, and, generally speaking, if
the rod is suitable, it does not matter much of what wood it
is made, but if the angler does not object to some little ex-
pense, split-cane rods with steel centres are certainly prefer-
able to any other kind. Not that a spHt-cane rod is essential,
but with our large trout it is certainly more lasting and keeps
its shape better than any other. Constantly having to hold
strong trout, running from lib. to 51b., will try any fly-rod,
and the steel centre not only gives the necessary extra stiSShess
required, but keeps the rod from losing its straightness and
elasticity. On a favourable day when spinning it is common
to get one or two 101b. or 121b. flsh; and with a heavy
current and a strong flsh, unless the rod is fairly stiff, most
of the best part of the day, and probably several good pools,
are spoilt in playing flsh which a little extra stiffness in the
rod would have saved. Common EngUsh fly-rods are of very
little use; they were never made to hold New Zealand trout.
Luckily, the makers at Home know now what is required,
and rods can be obtained in any of the large towns in the
colony suitable for the trout they have to deal with.
Messrs. Hardy Brothers, of Alnwick, make a special New
Zealand rod.

A 12ft. fly-rod is the most convenient length, and, if
slightly stiffer than the common EngHsh fly-rod, will hold any
fish that is likely to take a fly. The largest I have ever taken
in fly-fishing weighed G^lb. Mr. Irvine, fishing with me
some years ago in the Hororata, took a trout of nearly
81b., and Mr. St. Barbe, in the upper waters of the
Opihi, a very fine female weighing 81b. Both these were
caught with a fly. Dr. de Lautour, of Oamaru, informs
me that Mr. Flint, fishing in the Ahuriri, a tributary of
the Waitaki, in 1888, took trout with a fly from 31b. to
101b., but these cases are very exceptional, and, as a rule,
trout taken with a fly seldom exceed 51b. Many of our smaller
streams are bordered with New Zealand flax, the well-known
Phomdum tenax, and it requires good tackle and a strong rod
to keep the fish from getting underneath the roots. For open
water a 9ft. cast is not too much, and either two or three flies ;
but for narrow streams, where the banks are fringed with flax

IN KBW ZEALAND. 21

or any kind of bush, from 4ft. to 6ft. of gat is ample, and two
flies at the most : for the latter kind of stream it is better not
to use more than one. The size and strength of the gut de-
pends more on the nature of the stream than anything eke.
It is quite useless fishing with very fine tackle where it is
necessary to hold steadily on to your fish. On the other hand,
of course, in open water, the finer the tackle, consistent with a
reasonable degree of strength, the better. In streams much
overgrown with flax (the flower of which seems specially in-
vented to promote profanity) the best way to succeed in killing
heavy trout is with a good stiff rod and strong line and a yard
only of gut : let the fly or beetle sink well in the rapid current,
and keep the top of the rod moving with the bait. Strike
immediately you see the bait stop, and hold on as much as you
dare, or Master Three-pounder will be under the bank and in the
flax-roots in a twinkling, his subsequent proceedings interest-
ing you no more.

The angler is strongly recommended to buy his flies in the
colony, as the tackle-makers are now well acquainted with
what is required, and can tell the flies most suitable for the
different streams. A rather larger fly, with stronger gut than
the usual English trout-fly, is necessary with most rivers,
though a great variety is not essential. The best for general
use are the March brown — especially the Irish March brown,
with claret hackle, in the early part of the season — the Moor-
fowl, the Black Ant, the Whirling Dun, the Eed Spinner, the
Coch-y-bondu, a medium-sized Green Drake, the Brown Moth,
and, above all, the Yellow-tailed and Eed-tailed Governors. In
November and December, when the common brown-beetle
(Odontria zealandica) is about, any fly something of the pattern
of the soldier-palmer, with a thickish brown body, is very
deadly : the beetle itself, too, placed on the hook of an artificial
fly and well sunk, will often account for some of the best fish
when simply flinging the fly in the most artistic manner on
the surface is of no avail. Thirty to forty yards of almost any
kind of trout-line is enough.

Cicada-fishing in Otago and Southland in January, February,
and March gives first-rate sport. A medium-sized hook
should be used. Put the hook through the cicada and try its
point on your finger before using it. Throw it like an ordinary
fly, keeping ready to strike the moment you see or feel it
taken ; then look out for squalls, as the biggest fish take it
greedily. With many of the smaller streams with confined
banks, more especially those covered with flax, the water goes
for some distance underneath your feet, and it is there in the
day-time that the big trout lie. They cannot see the bait if
only trailed on the surface of the part of the stream visible ;
but sink it and they will come out from underneath after it.

52 TROUT-FISHINO

The angler will find out in a day's fishing of this sort that
very light tackle is of little use.

Fly-fishing, where the river is open, is, however, far the best
jsport; one can use a fine cast and two or three flies. In
rivers like the Upper and Lower Selwyn, in the streams about
Masterton, and in many of the rivers of the South the angler
will often take fish with the fly up to 31b., 41b., or even 51b.,
and all his skill is tested with these with light tackle. No
prettier sport can be found than this, and baskets of 151b. to
301b. are common.

By the sides of the rain-rivers, underneath the stones (if
these are large enough), close to the water's edge, in the eajly
months of the season, will be found a black hideous-looking
grub. This, called the creeper, or black-fellow, is the larvae
eitlier of the dragon-fly or of a large fly with wings folded
close to its back when at rest — in fact, identical with the English
stone fly, only three times the size. Sometimes only one,
sometimes two or three are found under the same stone. Turn
over a few stones, pick up the grubs, and put them into a little
tin match-box. They are quite harmless, and, ugly as they
look, they are the finest possible lure for trout. Use a hook
about No. 6 in size, and pass it through the little square black
head, letting the grub hang down its full length. About
two or three small shot, or, better still, 2in or 3in. of fine
lead wire wrapped round the gut, should be placed about
8in. or lOin. from the hook. Throw, if possible, up
stream into all the little eddies, at the sides of the most
rapid waters, and if the trout are on the feed at all you will
soon find it out. These grubs are very tough, and can be
thrown like a fly without any fear of their coming off the
hook. Strike directly you see the line stop or feel the
slightest tug, or the trout will have eschewed both the bait
and the hook. In any rapid water these grubs are taken freely,
but it is little use fishing with them in the deep pools.

In the decayed logs of the black-pine another larger grub
can be found, but generally a small axe or tomahawk is neces-
sary to obtain them. These, too, make a famous bait ; they
are larger than the water^creeper, but equally efficacious, and
should be used in the same way, only with more care, as they
are somewhat softer.

The largest bags of fish are made either by spinning- or live-
bait fishing in the great snow-rivers. Some marvellous takes
in the season of 1891-92 will be found in the accounts of the
Eakai£uand Eangitata Eivers. For fishing in all these rivers
a 14ft. or even 15ft. rod is required, and at least 60 yards
of line, with a good check reel. Anglers are rather given to
increase unnecessarily the length of their lines ; and wonderful
accounts are told of how a mighty trout ran out line up to 160

IN NEW ZEALAND. 23

yaxds and then got off, and no wonder. Let any one measure
out 150, or even 100, yards of line, and imagine a trout at the
end of it in a good strong snow-river current, and see what
chance he would have of exercising any control over its move-
ments. In ten years I have never had any fish run out the
whole of my line, and I never use more than 60 yards. Of
course one must follow the fish ; stand still and you will soon
find much more line than this gone ; but, unless you are casting
from the end of a shingle-spit, between two streams, it is nearly
always possible to follow with perhaps a little wading. Within
reasonable limits, the nearer you keep to your fish the better.
Let it once get beyond 60 yards from the end of your rod and
your chance of killing it is very small. Once, fishing in the
Waimakariri, in Canterbury, I had to cross the river to avoid
losing a very strong female fish. Below where it was hooked
was a rather high bluff, and two willow-trees jutting out into
the stream. The fish made off down stream, taking an occa-
sional rest in mid- water, and then turning again down stream
till it gradually came nearer and nearer to the willows. The
other side of the river was clear, but to cross it was evidently
necessary to go in over the tops of my waders. Another rush,
and there was nothing for it but to cross or lose the fish. It is
very disagreeable going in over the tops of one's waders, but it
was that or nothing, and the fish appeared much bigger than
it eventually turned out to be. Across, therefore, it was, at the
top of a big rapid, getting wet up to my waist. Luckily the
fish halted for a minute or two while I was in mid-stream, and
then started again down the river ; by that time, however, I
was ashore, and eventually succeeded in landing it about 150
yards below the crossing. It turned out to be a very hand-
some female fish weighing 12ilb. That is the only time when
I felt I should like to have had more than 60 yards of line ; it
was the stiffness of the rod saved me. With a weak rod, fish,
line, minnow, and trace would all have gone.

For the snow-rivers, almost any spinning-bait, froni lin. to
2in. or 2Jin. long, will succeed, including the archer and other
tackle for spinning dead bait^. A spinner much used in the
colony is known as the whitebait phantom, and is an imitation
of the little silvery anadromous fishes that yearly ascend the
rivers : sizes to 2 are the best. The Devon is a very killing
bait, either silver or brown. Geen's spiral minnow, too, the
angler should certainly have : sizes 2in. and 2iin. Last year
on some occasions trout would take it readily when they would
not look at either the Devon or the whitebait phantom. The
2in. size is the best, and the colour either gold or silver, or
silver- and-brown. With one gold -coloured Geen I killed
numerous fish in the season of 1891-92, and at last lost it in
a very large one in the Bangitata.

24 TBOUT-FIBHIKa

The mounting of all the spinning-baits is n:08t important.
The tackle-makers at Home will persist in sending them out
with the triangles mounted on single gut. This is perfectly
useless. It is a mistake to buy anything that has not the
hooks mounted on strong double gut at least, and even treble-
twisted gut is not too heavy for the triangles. There is not the
least necessity for this mounting to make them clumsy if pro-
perly done. Strong single gut, finished off with pretty floss
silk, looks 80 nice ; but it is about as much use for a day's
fishing in a snow-river, when the fish are on the feed, as single
horsehair : one good fish will put your spinner hors de combat,
and you have all the bother of either sitting down to put on
fresh triangles just at the time when the trout are taking fast,
or constantly putting on a new spinner. Medium-sized gimp,
the colour of your minnow, will do, but it is more clumsy than
treble gut. Triangles of a medium size are better than large
ones, but they should be fastened with silver wire. What is
called bouquet wire answers well, with the coils not too close
together round the shank of the triangle or it will rust. It can
be fastened off in the ordinary way by taking two or three
turns round the shank and pulling it through. To the spinner
attach about 1ft. or 18in. of either strong salmon-gut or double-
twisted gut, ending in a loop.

For a trace use 6ft. of strong salmon-gut or double- twisted
gut. A trace of treble gut is too clumsy, except for night-work.
The fine steel casts are admirable, but throwing the minnow
overhand they are apt to get kinked if not very carefully used.
In underhand throwing, however, they very seldom kink, and
certainly show less in the water than any other kind of trace.
To the end of the trace nearest the minnow should be at-
tached a box-swivel. This allows one to change the spinner
without removing the trace, and is a great advantage. Of
course, in the centre of the trace another fixed swivel should be
placed.

To spin well requires considerable practice. It can be done
with great success both in the snow- and rain-rivers, especially
in the early months of the season. In the great snow- streams
— like the Eakaia and Waitaki — the trout often lie close along-
side the bank, and are often caught within a foot of the shingle-
edge. When they lie like this little art is required in throwing,
and spinning then is far easier than when the trout are deep
down in the centre of the stream or far out in some back-water
or stream you wish to reach. Throw up stream if you can,
letting the bait come down well and slowly across the stream.
The great mistake beginners nidke is to spin too fast : as long
as you keep the bait twisting that is all that is necessary. Of
course it is impossible always to throw up stream ; the current
may be too strong or the position unsuitable. Often, how-

l^ NEW ZBALAND. 25

ever, when walking up-stream the great back of a trout may
be seen in the early morning close in shore ; throw your bait
ahead of him, and as it comes past him he will be almost cer-
tain to go for it ; but, if you walk up-stream and try and fish
down to him, he will either see you or the line or something,
and be scared and gone long before it reaches him.

Anything unusual in the way of a spinning-bait seems to
succeed, and if the angler has some novelty it is always worth
giving it a trial. In 1885 Mr. Beetham, the Eesident Magis-
trate at Christchurch, fishing in the Lower Selwyn, using a
4in. Devon, had marvellous success during that whole season.
Not being able to get any at the tackle-shops, I had some
specially made, at considerable expense. The next season I did
nothing with it, nor has either he or I been able to da any
good with it since. This is one of those incomprehensible pro-
blems that are constantly cropping up in trout-fishing without
ever being solved. Why should the trout of one year take a
certain kind of bait freely and the next refuse to be attracted
by it at all ; yet in this case it certainly was so. Both of us
gave it many a trial the next season, with the poorest success,
and then, putting on a 2in. Devon or whitebait phantom, would
take trout after trout. In the season of 1891-92 nothing
seemed to succeed so well when the trout were off the feed as
Geens* spiral minnow, yet whether it will do so next season is
a problem of the future.

In spinning, too, success depends on varying the depth. On
some days I have found it far better to keep the bait close to
the surface, more especially with the whitebait phantom. At
.other times the trout would be lying very low, and much more
lead is then required to sink the line, so as to spin as close as
possible to the bottom. In the snow-rivers there is little
danger of going too low. The water nearly always shows the
proximity of snags, which can thus be avoided, and the greater
part of the bottoms of the shingle-rivers consisting of small
boulders and sand, from which the minnow is easily released
if it gets caught.

Of all methods of taking trout with the rod and line fishing
with live bait in still water is the easiest and least skilful, and
yet it is one of the most effective. For thi? the beginner has
only to obtain a supply of bait, a rod and line, and a 6ft. or 9ft.
stout gut cast with a No. 6 hook. The bait used is either the bull-
head {JEleotrisgobioides), or the New Zealand minnow (Galaxias
attenuatus), or smelt (Betropinna richardsoni), the Maori
inanga, and these can generally be obtained with a hand-net in
the river itself or in the small creeks close by. Pass the
hook through the extremities of both lips of the bullhead or
inanga, beginning with the underlip ; then throw it out to swim
about in a deep pool, and abide results. This is the favourite

26 . TROUT-FISHINO

method of the night-fisherman. In the evening he will be
seen beginning his day's sport as the smi goes down, his rod
in his right hand, a bag, gaff, and lantern on his back, and a
bait-can in his left hand, taking up a position at some
favourite deep pool, and probably staying there far into the
night or even till the dawn, for the hour before the dawn is
one of the most taking times for the monster trout. Here the
novice and the veteran meet on equal terms, the only skill
required being to keep the bait from staying too long on the
bottom of the river, as inattention to this particular results in
the immediate capture of the unwelcome eel.

It is gruesome work this night-fishing ; yet if the live-bait
fisherman only sticks to it long enough, on a favourable night
(and what is or is not a favourable night no one can tell till next
morning), he seldom returns home without a good fish or two,
and not rarely is rewarded with a heavy bag, for the trout of
101b. and upwards feed seldom at any other time in water
where there is no current. The last three miles of the Selwyn
Eiver, in Canterbury, are very deep, and with scarcely any
current, just enough to keep the bait moving, and this is the
favourite haunt of the all-night angler. Up till last year, pro-
bably not less than a ton weight of trout was annually taken
out of these last three miles of water, the supply of fish being
constantly kept up from Lake Ellesmere. Last season was a
failure only on account of drought and the river getting choked
with weeds, but these have now been carried away by flood,
and probably in the season of 1892-93 this river will be as
prolific as ever.

One can never say at what particular hour the trout will
feed by night, the last hour of day and the first before the dawn
being generally found the best, but at any moment the
feeeding-time may begin, often without any apparent reason.
Frequently on a summer night as many as twenty or thirty
rods will be engaged on this particular stretch of river for
. hours without one of them getting a run ; yet hundreds of fish
must have seen the bullhead or inanga, and refused it. Three
or four hours of this will choke off most of the fishermen ; but
an enthusiast or two, with true Sassenach persistency, will fish
on in hopes of something which will gladden their hearts.
Sometimes it comes, and then two or three great trout will be
taken in an hour, weighing, more, perhaps, than he can con-
veniently carry ; or that something wanted may not come at
all — hungry, and weary, and sleepless, and fishless, he sees the
dawn breaking over the everlasting hills, and, anathematizing
the wretch who invented all-night fishing, vows that he has
been made a fool of over it for the last time.

One piece of advice may, however, save the reader many a
profitless hour: electrical disturbance seems to put the fish

IN NEW ZEALAND. 27

down at once ; the first flash of lightning, and, whatever time it is,
give it up and go home ; it is quite useless to keep on ; for that
pight the sport is over. Mr. Knubley, of Timaru, informs me
of a peculiar instance of the effect of any sudden light on fish,
which was shown when the *'Eingaro6ma" warship was in
Timaru exhibiting her electric search-lights. On the Opihi the
fish were taking fairly well on that evening up to about 9.30,
when the ship began to throw her search-lights on the clouds
at an angle of about 45°. This was sufficient to cast a reflec-
tion of the flashes on the Opihi Eiver, a distance of about
eleven or twelve miles, when the fish at once, left off taking.
The same effect was noticed by several anglers, when the
*' Eingarooma" was in Lyttelton Harbour, with regard to the
trout in the Selwyn Eiver.

Fishing by day with the live bait in rapid water is a different
affair, as much judgment is required both in throwing the bait
and making it travel at the proper depth over the most likely
parts of the river, carefully guiding it past the corners of
snags, a sure hiding-place of trout, and generally making it
present as natural an appearance as possible. With the enor-
mous number of bullheads and other small fish in our streams
it is a matter of wonder that the trout ever take at all, unless
it is that the sight of a little fish in apparent difficulty is too
enticing. On a good, rough, windy day they often, however,
feed freely. The first throw should be made at the head of
the rapid, just above where the water begins to break ; then,
immediately having executed the throw, lower the point of
the rod to within a foot or two of the water (the mistake be-
ginners invariably make, after they have made the cast, is to
hold the rod up as though fishing with a fly) . Walk slowly down
the rapid, keeping opposite the bait as it is carried down the
stream, letting it sink without check, as, if taken at all, it will
be when it is nearly close to the bottom. Do not strike if you
see it stop ; it may be only a snag ; and a few seconds will not
make matters worse. It may be a fine trout, and if you strike
immediately, instead of giving the fish just a moment to gorge
it, you may, if it is a bad day, lose your only chance. Then
gather in any slack line and strike ; you will find yourself
stuck fast in one or the other. A single hook passed through
both lips of the bait is, as a rule, to be preferred to two placed
one above the other, as in what is known as " Stewart tackle."
It catches far less in obstructions. Of course, if you are using
two hooks you must strike immediately the bait is seized.
Occasionally, however, the fish will come short. By this is
meant that they will, instead of taking the bait by the head or
shoulders, as they always do when they mean to swallow it,
take it by the tail or middle of the body. Sometimes several
trout, one after the other, will catch hold of it, run a short

38 TBOUT-SlflHlNa

distance, and then drop it, evidently trying to bring the angler
into disrepute. If you find them doing tMs whip on a second
hook about an inch above the first, putting the bait, of course,
on the upper hook, and strike immediately the bait is touched.

A small bag, to carry one's impedimenta — tackle-book, lun-
cheon, &c. — ^is preferable to a large creel, unless a man or boy
is employed to carry it. Where the trout run small a creel
that will hold the probable catch is useful ; but when spinning,
if any fish are caught, they will |)robably average 61b. or 71b.,
and even a couple of fisn of this size are very burdensome
to bear on one's back ail day. The best way, if returning over
the same ground, is not to attempt to carry the fish, but to
hide them in the tussock, or cover them up with shingle, and
then collect them on the return homewards. The worst acci-
dent that can happen to you is to start fishing three or four
miles from your camp in the early morning, and begin in the
very first pool with an eight-pounder : as you are not return-
ing over the ground again, you have then to carry this burden,
with probably sundry others, all the time you are spinning.
Add to this your bag, gaff, bait-can, and perhaps a mackintosh,
and you will find a few hours of it quite enough. It will be
seen, then, that it is better to begin with the water nearest
your camp or hotel, if it is all equally good, and fish back
to it.

When spinning a gaff should always be used, as the triangles
get sadly entangled in the meshes of the landing-net, and then
one kick of a big fish will tear them off, even if on the strongest
gut ; but for fly-fishing a landing-net is preferable. Indispen-
sable, too, is a disgorger. Take a foot of ordinary fencing-wire
and beat one end flat, file a notch in this end, and turn the
other end into a bow, and you have the most perfect disgorger
you can wish. The ordinary shop ones are not long enough
if the trout is hooked far down in the throat, and it is inad-
visable to put your finger into the mouth of a ten-pounder.
Exjperto crede. For convenience of reference, a list of the
angler's equipment will be found in the Appendix.

Waders and good heavy boots may be looked upon almost as
a necessity, certainly for all shingle-streams, and are better
brought or obtained from England. Anderson's No.l quality for
heavy wear are admirable. Good quality waders can be bought,
it is true, in every large town ; but waders, to last, should fit the
foot, or they soon leak, and become useless. The boots or
brogues must have plenty of large square-headed nails, well
clinched before the sole is put on to the uppers, otherwise the
heavy walking on the shingle drags them out of the sole. Of
course, waders can be dispensed with if one does not mind
being wet all day, but this means certain rheumatism sooner
or later. Gum-boots are used commonly, and answer very

IN NEW ZEALAJUD. 29

well, for night-work, but in the day their black colour attracts
the heat and makes them almost unbearable.

Camping out in New Zealand in the summer months is most
enjoyable. Very little rain, comparatively speaking, falls be-
tween November and March— certainly nothing that an or-
dinary calico tent and good fly will not keep out. Of course,
from time to tinje there will be a wet day or two, but seldom
any continuity of wet weather. Everywhere wood and water
can be found in abundance ; and, above all, one of the greatest
charms of tent-Hfe is the entire absence of snakes or harmful
insects of any kind or description. The only poisonous insect
known is the katipo, but these are so rare that in ten years I
have never seen one. The tired angler may throw himself
down in the heaviest tussock or flax without the least fear of
harm, or may sleep at night in his tent in absolute security.
What a boon this is they alone know who have lived in a.
country where venomous reptiles are common; but the fact
remains that, while snakes and centipedes are very common in
Australia and Tasmania, not one single specimen can be found
in the whole of New Zealand. With a horse and cart and
camp outfit the angler can penetrate into gorges containing
some of the finest scenery in the world, or can camp in the
river-beds, and have no long journey to make after his day's
sport is over. %

A tent made of calico is quite sufficient, and better than
canvas, on account of its less weight ; one 8ft. by 10ft. is ample
for two or even three persons. The fly should always be at
least 2ft. longer each way than the tent, as it not only keeps
out the rain better, but provides a shelter for rods, spare tops,
and other impedimenta which are hkely to get damaged, or
which take up useful room inside. It is better to have the
tent-pegs of ^in. iron and about 1ft. long. The tent should
always be well guyed with at least four guys, and pitched so
as to be well sheltered from the winds, more especially from
the north-west and south-west, the north-west in Canterbury
being always the one to guard against. The pegs can be
carried in a small bag to prevent their rusting the tent, and
rolled up with it. For poles, if bamboo cannot be obtained,,
two ash sticks, such as are used for hay-fork handles, from 6ft.
6in. to 7ft. long, will be found most convenient, being both
strong and light, with a ridgepole of the same material. A
ridgepole may, however, be dispensed with altogether by hav-
ing a rope sewn along the top of the tent, passed over or
through the uprights at each end, and fastened to strong guys.
Where the camp is intended to be permanent for some months
a ridgepole is perhaps necessary, together with another sepa-
rate one for the' fly; but for ordinary fishing-expeditions, in the
summer months, this is not required and means adding very

30 TROUT-FISHING

much to one's impedimenta without any corresponding advan-
tage. A general list of requirements for a camp are given in the
Appendix. The angler can select from this what he chooses to
take, and what he thinks luxurious and can he done without.
Though it may be considered a luxury, a camp-bed, with pillow
attached, 80in. long by 36in. wide, which can be obtained from
Silver and Co., in Cornhill, at a moderate price, is, unquestion-
ably, an immense boon. These are made of indiarubber, and,
by means of a pair of bellows (which are made for and given
with the bed), can be inflated in two or three minutes. The
whole thing, when the air is exhausted, takes up less space
than a blanket, and relieves the angler, tired with his day's
sport, of the necessity of cutting fern or brush, and at the
same time gives all the comfort of the most luxurious couch.
The season for trout-fishing lasts from the Ist October to the
15th April, but the best camping-months are from December
till the end of February.

THE NORTH ISLAND.

General Observations on the North Island — The Auckland Pro-
vince — Bainhow Trout — Tauranga — Hawhe's Bay — Tara-
naki, or New Plymouth — The Wellington Province.

If the coasts of . New Zealand were not visited by cold cur-
rents and the climate cooled by the extent of seaboard, there
is no doubt that a great part of the North Island certainly
would be too tropical for the well-being of the finer varieties of
the salmonidsB.

As it is, their introduction into the South Island has been a
marked success, most of the rivers in that Island being well
enough stocked to afford magnificent fishing for trout. In
the North Island they have been successfully introduced
into most of the rivers as far north as Taranaki on the West
Coast and the inland portions of Hawke's Bay on its eastern

side.

As the work of acclimatisation progresses year by year,
rivers further north are being stocked, and no doubt the central
system of rivers running north will be stocked at high alti-
tudes where found suitable.

With the exception, however, of the Wellington Province, no
part of the North Island affords as yet the sport which can be
obtained in the South, in the Provinces of Canterbury, Otago,
and Southland. The reasons are not far to seek. The climate
of the South is far more suitable for the majority of the
salmonoids ; they were introduced at a much earlier date ; and in

IN NEW ZEALAND. 31

the South, the Maoris, both from paucity of numbers, and from
their rights having been well defined or extinguished as regards
the rivers many years ago, interfere but little with them. In the
North Island, on the other hand, the majority of the Euro-
peans live either in or in the immediate vicinity of the towns.
While the Maoris in the South Island are only about 2,000,
there are probably 40,000 north of Wellington. Much of
the land, too, is still held by them, and this interferes
sadly with the work of acclimatisation. Nevertheless, many
thousands of fry have been distributed, and it is only a ques-
tion of a few years before abundance of sport will be attainable.
In some few places it can be got even now, and we proceed to
give the angler some information about these.

The acclimatisation of fish up to the present time in the
Auckland District has not been so successful as in the South,
principally through the earlier efforts of the society having
been directed to the introduction of salmon and the English
brown trout, which, as experience has long proved, are not quite
suitable for its climate. Of late years the Auckland society
has turned its attention to the introduction of the Califomian
rainbow trout {Salmo irideus), which is capable of withstanding
a higher temperature than the Enghsh species. It has been
successfully established in several localities, and has increased
sufficiently to justify the society in throwing the streams open
for fishing, which was done for the first time in 1891-92. The
following are the chief localities : —

1. Lake Takapuna, within a few miles of Auckland, and
easily accessible by steamer and coach. Eainbow trout, 91b*
in weight, have been taken in the lake.

2. Henderson's Stream, about thirteen miles from Auckland
by rail.

3. The Upper Thames Kiver, with its tributaries — the Oraka,
the Waimakariri (which must not be confounded with its
famous Canterbury namesake), and the Mangawhara; also,
in the same district, the Pokaiwhenua, a tributary of the
Upper Waikato. The chief liberations of rainbow trout have
been made in these streams, and they will probably afford
excellent fishing in a year or two. Several anglers had good
sport this last season, landing fish varying from ^Ib. to 41b.
Good hotel - accommodation can be obtained at Okoroire,
Oxford, and Lichfield, near some of these streams, and the
district is easily reached by rail from Auckland.

4. The Upper Waipa and its tributaries, near to Otoro-
hanga. Trout are said to be plentiful here, but the district
has not yet been fished. The above-mentioned localities are
the principal ones, but rainbow trout have been placed in
very many other streams, although too recently to admit of
successful fishing.

32 TB0UT-7ISHINa

The Taubanga Distbiot.

The Tauranga society was formed in 1881, and already has
turned out many thousands of trout into the principal rivers
in the Bay of Plenty, and also the lakes in the Eotorua and
Taupo districts. Already the Bivers Waiau, Wainui, Waipapa,
Te Puna, and Te Pere-a-tukahio have been stocked, together
with a number of rivers and creeks which flow into Lakes
Botorua, Tarawera, Eotoiti, Taupo, and several other smaller
ones. Prom the small number of European residents the
society has as yet been unable to determine with certainty
what success has been attained.

The Hawke's Bay Distbict.

In this district the rivers have been stocked for many years,
but no flsh have been caught by rod and line till the season
of 1891-92. The rivers are the Manawatu and Ngaruroro.
The Manawatu is available by rail from Napier to Danevirke —
about four hours' journey. It rises in the Hawke's Bay ranges,
and, though affected by snow to a certain extent in the early
part of the season, is practically a rain-river. It has an open
shingle-bed. The creeper can be found under the stones by the
water's edge, but fish have hitherto been taken with the spin-
ning-minnow, from 21b. to 101b. The grasshopper can also
be obtained, and is a taking bait. There are good hotels at
Danevirke, within two miles of the river — a river easily
waded when in proper fishing-order, and is good all through
the season. Leave should be asked for, but there is no diffi-
culty in obtaining it. A southerly wind is the best.

The Ngararoro lies to the west of Napier, and can be ap-
proached by coach to Kuripapanga, where there is a good hotel.
It is a snow-river, with plenty of fish, and is a shingle-stream.
Pish have been taken with minnow and grasshopper from 21b.
to 61b. It is affected by snow up till about Christmas. The
green-beetle is found to be a killing bait.

The Waipapa and Tukituki have both been stocked with
trout, and fishing can be obtained in their upper waters. They
are open river-beds, only sHghtly affected by snow in the early
part of the season. To the Waipawa by train from Napier,
about two hours. Por the Tukituki to Waipukurau, about two
hours* journey, five miles past Waipawa. Leave should be
asked, but there is no difficulty in getting it.

Tabanaki, ob New Plymouth Distbict.

Pair sport can be obtained in several rivers in this district.
Possessing as it does innumerable streams, that radiate from
the base of Mount Egmont, this district offers many oppor-
tunities for the introduction of the Salmo family. These
streams are somewhat shorty and pursue tbeir courses seawards

IN NEW ZEALAND. 33^

with pools and rapids in quick succession, thus providing the
true home of the acclimatised trout.

. If the angler takes up his head-quarters at Hawera, a town-
ship on the main line between Wellington and New Plymouth,
there are numerous streams within his reach. He can either
take the early train to Inglewood, in the neighbourhood of
which there are some half a dozen streams, all containing a
few trout, or can drive a few miles along the main road.
Going in the latter direction, the first principal river is the
Waingangoro, running about four miles distant. This takes
its rise direct from Mount Egmont, and is a fine trout-stream ;
it is full of pools and shallows, quick runs, and stickles, but
though many trout have been turned into it, they have not
shown up so well as might have been expected : some good
fish, however, are reported near Eltham. Three miles further
on the road runs the Inaha, a pretty little stream, with rather
a preponderance of deep water. The fish in this stream are
not very plentiful, but a few have been taken up to 31b. or 4ib.
in weight. Half a mile further on the angler will cross the
Te Apuni, differing in character considerably from either of its
predecessors, being much clearer and brighter. This is fairly
well stocked, especially some ten miles up from the sea, where
good baskets are occasionally made. The fish are clean and.
bright, and very pink* One fish has been taken from this river
weighing 151b.

Another mile and the Waiokura is reached. This is hardly
large enough to afford really good fishing, but it deserves
notice on account of its being the first stream in the district
in which trout showed up in any quantity. A short time back
it was remarkably well stocked, and was used as a reserve for
the distribution of fish to other streams, but in 1892, during
the dry weather, it became very low, and much illegal work
was done. Close to this is Manaia, a small township on the
Waimate Plains, where good accommodation can be obtained,
and most of the streams above mentioned are within easy
walking-distance .

If the railway is chosen the first stopping-place should be
Stratford, some twenty miles from Hawera. The Patea flows
through Stratford, and is a mountain-fed stream. It is as yet
only fairly stocked ; but, as it has a small breeding-establish-
ment on one of its tributaries, it will not be long before it should
be well supplied with trout. Thirteen miles further on is Ingle-
wood, the centre of the principal fishing in the district. Six
well-stocked rivers are within fair walking-distance, between
Inglewood and Stratford.

The first three of these are the Ngatoros, being within a
stone's throw of each other, and all fairly well stocked with
fish up to 61b. or 71b. These streams all take their rise from
3

34 TEOUT-FISHING

Mount Egmont. Large baskets are continually caught in these
rivers, and they are the favourites with anglers at present.
Three miles from the township these unite into one large river,
which in its turn flows into the Wanganui, which contains
ld,rge trout.

The Piakau is a little smaller than either of the Ngatoros ;
but, if anything, is better stocked. Trout have been taken up
to 61b., and are remarkably game and strong. The Makataura,
a mile further on, is rather a faster-running stream, and has a
very good reputation. Lastly, Waitepuka, though little fre-
quented on account of its distance, should be mentioned, as its
trout are remarkably strong and bright.

The Wellington District.

The sport in the Wellington Province, more especially in the
Wairarapa and Hutt Counties, is far superior to anything else
in the North Island, and excellent baskets can be obtained
over nearly a hundred miles of running- water in Wairarapa,
and upwards of forty miles in the Hutt County.

The active manner in which the culture of trout was taken
up by the Wellington and Wairarapa Acclimatisation Society
in 1884-85 has done much to render the trout-fishing in these
districts equal to that to be obtained in the earlier-stocked
rivers in the South, and opens up a wide field for the en-
thusiastic angler, who, by starting here early in the season and
following it up in the late snow-rivers of the South Island, can
have the cream of the fishing during almost the whole open
time.

To any one able to afford the time and small expense of
travelling, in most parts of the colony this opens up a perfectly
feasible way of enjoying some of the finest trout-fishing to be
had in the world, either small fish taking fly in the little
streams, or grand fish in the larger rivers, at times caught with
the fly, but more generally with the minnow and grasshopper
or cicada in midsummer. Generally speaking, the best baskets
are made early and late in the season in the North Island,
while the colder snow-fed rivers in the South are later, and
afford capital sport in midsummer, when the fish in them are
in strong condition.

Turning to the fishing in the W^airarapa and the Hutt districts,
almost every variety of stream the most fastidious angler can
wish for flows out of the Tararua Eange of mountains, the
backbone of the southern end of the North Island. Before,
however, treating of the streams separately, perhaps a few
hints as to the rods and tackle most suited to these waters will
be of use.

Fishing-tackle. — The fishing can be divided into two classes —
light fly-fishing in small streams, for trout from 9in. long to

IN NEW ZEALAND. 35

41b. in weight, and fishing in heavier water for larger fish. As
in the other parts of the colony, a 12ft. greenheart or split-
cane rod, with a good easy reel, and 40 yards of light silk acme,
or any other trout-line, will be found convenient, a landing-net,
and a stock of good casts and flies. Good gut is the main thing,
as it does not keep well in the dry climate of parts of New
Zealand, and wants careful attention. The flies that seem to
take best in the smaller streams in Wellington are the red-
tailed governor, March brown (quill body preferable), and red-
quill gnat, black and red hackles early and late in the season ;
and in midsummer, the stone-fly, alder, black gnat, blue
upright, and others of this kind. As a rule, a cast made up
with a March brown, governor, and red-quill gnat is as good
a trial as can be made in a stream. Towards the middle
of summer, when the water is clear, and lots of cicadas
and grasshoppers are about, fish of all sizes will be most
readily taken with them when they will not look at an arti-
ficial fly.

Turning to the fishing in the larger rivers, an outfit consist-
of a 14ft. Gin. greenheart rod, good reel, and 60 yards of good
silk or dressed line will be found useful. A supply of single
grilse-gut traces (which must be of first-class quaUty), and
one or two heavier traces for evening fishing will be necessary.
For minnows, soleskin and whitebait phantom Nos. to 2,
whitebait phantom in silk, same numbers, a few small quill
minnows for fine water, and one or two green phantoms will be
found sufficient for trolling. The principal food of the trout in
most of the larger rivers is the inanga, or silvery, of which
there are several varieties. This fish is imitated by the
phantom whitebaits, which are, as a rule, the most deadly min-
nows to spin with. In all the rivers is the bullhead or ** bully "
(Eleotris gobioides), on which the trout feed largely, and this is
imitated by the brown and dark-blue phantoms, or Devon. As
a rule, trolling with these natural fish on a flight of hooks is
far more deadly than using the artificial imitation, especially
in clear water, but it involves the usual bait-cans, and other
trouble. In addition to the trolling appliances mentioned
above, it will be well for the angler to have a stock of flies,
casts, and some dapping-hooks (Nos. 6 or 7), so as to be able to
turn his attention to any lure the fish are seen feeding on.
Most of the anglers here prefer to troll with a limp fly-rod, and
cast a light minnow overhand, using it to fish far off and
lightly in clear water.

Almost all the rivers in the Wellington District are free, the
property-owners very seldom objecting to any man fishing, pro-
vided he shuts gates, and does no damage to fences.

Starting from Wellington as a base of operations, the first
trout-stream of any magnitude that is reached is

3& TBOUT-FISHING

The Hutt Biver,

Eising in the almost-impenetrable fastnesses of the Tararua
Kange, this river flows through many miles of rocky gorges
practically inacessible to the fisherman till it emerges into a
fine valley, where the river affords capital fishing for about
fourteen miles, till it enters the Wellington Harbour. Large
fish are known to exist in almost every pool among the moun-
tains ; hence the stock in the lower reaches is being continually
replenished by fish dropping down and running up from the
sea, the trout in this river being extremely migratory in their
habits.

Starting from Wellington, eight miles by train brings the
angler to the Lower Hutt Station, about half a mile from the
lower waters of the river before it enters the harbour. Here
the water is much fished, but there is always a chance of
getting a heavy sea-run fish, especially when the water is
coloured with flood. The fish in this part of the river are,
however, shy, and hardly so numerous as higher up the river.

Following up from the Lower Hutt good fishing can be had
all the way up the valley, in which there are five stations on
the railway-line — Belmont, Hay ward's, Silverstream, Wallace-
ville, and Upper Hutt — and fair accommodation can be had on
the opposite side of the river to the railway, at the Taita,
between Belmont and Hayward's, to which place a coach runs
to meet nearly all the trains at the Lower Hutt. Higher up
the river there are hotels at Wallaceville and the Upper Hutt,
close to some of the finest reaches of the river.

Following up the railway-line to Kaitoke Station, above the
Upper Hutt, a beautiful branch of the Hutt Eiver — the Paku-
ratahi — can be reached by about two miles walk, and there
are several farmhouses on the banks \^here accommodation can
be had. This is one of the finest fly-streams about the district,
full of excellent trout of good quality and very game. A trip
to this stream is a capital outing, and very enjoyable,
especially to the angler fond of fine scgnery. There are
between three and four miles of good fishable water available
before the stream enters the rocky gorges of the mountains.

Before going over the mountain-range which separates the
Hutt from the Wairarapa, there are several small streams
where capital trout-fishing can be had, notably,

The Wainui-o-mata Stream.
This stream is situated about twenty miles from Wellington^
and from it the water-supply of the city is drawn. This was
the first stream stocked in the North Island, and has steadily
maintained its character as a good fly-fisher's water, from
which phenomenal baskets have often been obtained. It is
perhaps the most certain water to go to near Wellington, and it

IN NEW ZEALAND. 37

is not often that the careful angler returns from it with an
empty basket. The trout run up to about dlb. weight, but are
rather muddy at times in flavour, and not equal in quality to
those taken from the streams that rise in the higher mountains.
To reach this favourite resort, take train to the Lower
Hutt, get a horse or trap at the stables, and drive over to
Wainui, a distance of about ten miles. Accommodation
can be arranged for with the settlers there ; but it would be
better for the angler paying his first visit either to get
some one who knows the river to go over with him, or get a
man from the stables to drive him over, show him the ground,
and arrange about accommodation, and bring him back.

There are two streams on the West Coast running into the
pretty inlet at Porirua where fly-fishing can be had, but, as
they flow through small enclosures and private grounds, it is
necessary to ask leave of the landowners before fishing. The
Porirua Stream can be reached from Porirua or Tawa Flat
Station, and the Horokiwi by coach from Paremata Station
(six miles). They are both small streams, in which fine tackle
is necessary.

For all-round fishing there is no place so good in the North
Island as the Wairarapa district, through which a large num-
ber of fine rivers and streams flow for a distance of some thirty
to forty miles into a shallow lake before entering the sea. As
an all-round centre from which most varied fishing can be ob-
tained, Masterton, a town of about three thousand inhabitants,
and the site of the central fish- and game-rearing establish-
ment of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, is the best.
From here a number of rivers can be reached by easy trips.
The Euamahanga is the largest, and full of big fish, with
capital runs and pools most suitable for minnow early and late
in the season, but affording good fun at times with fly, and
excellent sport in midsummer with locust or grasshopper.

The Waipoua and its branches are excellent ' water for fly ;
and the Waingawa, a fine, rapid river running into the Eua-
mahanga from the high ranges, is full of large, powerful trout.

There is no lack of river on all sides, and the best thing the
angler can do is to go to the Club Hotel and consult the genial
host, and the curator at the fish-ponds, Mr. Ayson, who will
soon put him on the track of good fishing.

Lower down the Wairarapa Valley there are two fine rivers —
the Waiohine, near Greytown, and the Tauherenikau, at
Fernside, near Featherston, both of which are full of large,
powerful trout, more given to fish than insect diet. The angler
cannot complain of any scarcity of good fishing, and if once
settled at Masterton, with a trap at his disposal, can fish a new
part of some river every day for months.

38

TBOUT-FISHING

There is a stream at Eketahuna, the present terminus of the
WelHngton railway-line— the Makakahi — in which fishing waa
opened in the season of 1891-92, and a good many fish of from
41b. to 111b. taken.

Before closing this brief sketch of fishing in the North Island
it might be useful to point out that, as a rule, the trout feed
badly in south-easterly weather, and that light northerly winds
are preferable for sport. Here, as elsewhere, the best sport is
had when there is a little colour in the streams, after rain,
especially while the water is rising and not too high.

Some of the takes of the season 1890-91 in the Wellington
District, are as follows : —

Name.

Name of Biver.

Mr. J. Eman Smith

Mr. 0. P. Skerrett

Mr. F. D. Dyer

Mr. Smith

Mr. Dyer

Mr. Skerrett

Mr. Smith

Mr. Dyer

Mr. Skerrett

Mr. Smith

Mr. Dyer

Mr. Skerrett

Mr. Smith

Mr. Dyer

Mr. Skerrett

Mr. Smith
Mr. Dyer
Mr. Skerrett
Mr. Smith

1890.

Lb.

Sept. 15

35

45

m

12

15

H

15

17

Sept. 16

15

16

It

25

33

m

10

13

Oct. 15

20

27

K

16

18

It

18

15

Nov. 3

15

17

It

18

21

m

16

19

Nov. 9

34

43

m

25

32

II

20

27

1891.

Feb. 1

20

28

H

17

20

H

12

15

Dec. 7

10

35

Wainuiomata.

m
It

m
H

H

II

m

m
m
It
It

H
H

Biver Hutt.

Twenty-four days' fishing for three rods in the Wainuiomata
alone gave 548 fish.

THE SOUTH ISLAND.

The Nelson Distbict.

There is good sport, both with fly and minnow, to be ob-
tained in the Nelson District, the chief streams being the
Wangamoa, Wairoa, Takaka and Aorere, Motueka, Maitai,
Happy Valley, Kiwaka, and Lake Kotoiti.

Wangamoa,

The Wangamoa Eiver, to its nearest fishing-point, is eighteen
miles from Nelson, and to Oliver's Half-way Accommodation-

IN NEW ZEALAND. 39

house, twenty-three miles. The direction taken from Nelson is
through Wakapuaka and Happy Valley and over the Wanga-
moa Saddle.

The tourist can either go by coach three times a week or in
his own conveyance. This river is fishable its entire length
of about ten miles. It is composed of rough rock and gravel,
with a good fall to the sea, and runs through the forest its entire
leneth, except where here and there there may be a clearing. It
is a capital fishing-stream, being broad and of walking-de|th.

The largest take of fish yet recorded is thirty-five, weighing
on an average IJlb. All these were taken with a fly. The
largest weighed 61b., but there are fish here and there weigh-
ing 101b. All the fish taken with the fly are fair-sized fish.
It is best adapted for the fly, but the minnow can also be
used. An ordinary morning's take should be about a dozen.
All along the bank of the river are capital camping-places.

Wairoa,

The Wairoa Kiver, situated in the County of Waimea, is to the
nearest point twelve miles from Nelson. There are two hotels
on its banks — the Bridge Hotel and the Brightwater Hotel.
The proprietor of the Bridge Hotel is an angler, and can give
all the desired information requisite. This river is a rain-river
and is aboufc forty miles in length. The lower part, being
about a third of its length, runs through level country with
farms on each side, and its bed is composed of gravel and silt.
The upper part is bounded by bluffs on each side, on the top of
which is the forest, and its bed is composed of huge rocks,
boulders, and gravel. Only when it is low, and it is that as a
rule in the fishing-season, is it crossable. It is a broad, swift,
and deep river. Trout abound in numbers, and many of them
are large, the smallest usually caught being 31b. in weight, and
ranging up to 201b. The average fish caught run up to 81b.
The only baits which are used are the live bait and spinning-
minnow. The river, from its mouth to its source, is public
property. The takes from this river are not large in number,
the greatest number taken being five, which weighed 301b.
The fish taken from this river approach very nearly the colour
and flavour of the salmon. There is a large tributary of this
river — the Eoding — ^which is of the same character to a very
great extent, and from which some very large fish have been
taken. In the course of a year or so those two rivers will be
renowned for their fish. To get access to the Eoding Eiver it
is necessary to cross the Hope Saddle and drop into the Ani-
seed Valley. There are no hotels here, but, as a public road
runs along its bank, excellent camping-grounds are available.
These two rivers have always been most attractive to the
Nelson angler, as well as others.

40 TROUT-FISHING

Takaka-Aorere.

The Takaka and Aorere Elvers are each respectively fifty
and seventy miles by sea from Nelson, and several small
•steamers run there during the week.

The Takaka Valley is magnificent, and is renowned for its
limestone caves. There are several hotels here where the
tourist can put up. The Takaka Kiver has only lately been
•stocked with trout, but in the course of a few years should
make a first-rate trout-stream. On the lower part of the
river a boat can be used, and many places of interest can
be seen. In parts there is the usual wild look, offering a
strong contrast to others, where the farms reach to the river's
^dge.

The mouth of the Aorere Eiver is the Port of Collingwood,
where there are two hotels. This river rises in a very moun-
tainous district, and has a rapid fall through the native forests.
The bed is composed of large rough boulders, but can be
forded at * convenient places. The river is a succession of
whirls and eddies, with an occasional deep hole. Many
large trout have been seen here, but, as it is onljt within the
last ten years that they have been liberated, much qannot be
expected at present. No angler has yet paid it a visit, and as
it is practically undisturbed, the trout should multiply and
increase.

The surrounding district has always been a place of inter-
est, on account of its gold-mines. Here it is that the famous
limestone caverns are seen to perfection. Eight miles up the
river is an exceedingly small township, with one hotel, named
Slateford. From this point, without reference to angling, the
-tourist should find scope for investigation.

Motueka.

The Motueka is another fine river, with a gravel bottom, and
bids fair to be a magnificent trout-river. It has a course of
about forty miles, and to the nearest station on its banks
is about thirty- two miles. There are two ways of getting to
this river — firstly, by taking train from Nelson to Belgrove,
and thence by coach over Spooner's Eange, down Norris's
Gully, and to the Motueka Bridge. Bromell's accommodation-
house is on one side of the river and Eobertson's on the other,
Mr. Eobertson being a successful angler, could give very im-
portant information to anglers. The river contains only very
large trout, varying from 61b. to 141b. The spinning-minnow
and live bait are the only kinds of bait used. The other way
is by Belgrove, and then by coach up the Waiiti Valley, over
Eeay's Saddle, and to Stewart's accommodation -house, which
stands on the banks of the Upper Motueka waters. A tribu-
tary, the Motupiko Eiver, is gained by travelling from Stewart's

IN NEW ZEALAND. 41

to David Kerr's station. It is here, in the head- waters of that
river, that the trout are so plentiful. " They vary from ^Ib. to
lib., and take the fly with great eagerness. Permission would
have to be asked to pitch a camp here, but no objection would
be raised ; on the contrary, a hearty welcome would be given.
Both rivers have a gravelly bottom, and the fish are very
numerous and in good order. At the head-waters of both
these rivers there is magnificent mountain scenery. As the
bed of the Kiver Motueka is Crown land, no difl&culty arises
as to fishing. A careful angler should be able to land three
or four large trout from the Motueka and at least two dozen
from the Motupiko in a morning's fishing. To be successful
in the Motueka Eiver the wind should blow up stream.

Lake Botoiti.

Lake Eotoiti is situated about sixty miles from Nelson, and
about four miles from Tophouse Telegraph-station. Take
train from Nelson to Belgrove, drive thence through Waiiti
Valley, over Eeay's Saddle, thence to Stewart's accommodation-
house, over Motueka Kiver to David Kerr's station, thence to
Tophouse. This lake is seven miles long by two miles wide.
The Eiver BuUer runs into and out of it. Mr. John Kerr's
station is in close proximity, from whom all particulars can
be obtained, or from the proprietor of the Tophouse accom-
modation-house, who has a large boat on the lake. The lake
is full of very large trout, the smallest caught or seen weigh-
ing 101b., whilst the largest are, probably, from appearance,
more than 251b. These large fish are caught at the mouth of
the BuUer, running into the lake, or at the top end of same
river, running out of the lake. The live bait or a frog is the
only bait which they will take. There are also the Canadian
whitefish, which Mr. John Kerr liberated in the lake, and
these are seen in great numbers from time to time, but few
if any have been taken so far. To the angler this spot is
one full of interest, irrespective of angling. This fine sheet
of water lies at the foot of the St. Arnaud Eange, the steep
precipitous sides of which here and there, covered in dense
forest, stand magnificently reflected in the smooth lake. In
the whole district is magnificent scenery, and to the alpine
climber it would suggest something more than ordinarily new.
The best plan is to camp on the margin of the lake, or, in the
alternative, board at the Tophouse accommodation - house.
The BuUer is partly a rain-river, and partly a snow-river.
The upper part of the BuUer is strictly called the Eotoiti
Eiver.

Maitai,

The Maitai takes its source about eleven miles from the City
of Nelson, and has two head-waters, called the Maitai North

42 TBOUT-FISHING

and South, each meeting about two miles from their source;
and forming one of the prettiest rivers for trout-fishing. This
river is entirely a rain-river, with a moderate fall to the sea*
The bed of the river is formed of large and small gravel, with
light vegetation on its banks, and is crossable at any point.
At present the river is not fully stocked with trout, but in
1891 a large number of fry were released, so that in a very
short time it should be in first-rate fishing-order. In 1890 and
previous to that date large takes of fish were made. One
angler alone took thirty-two fish, weighing on an average Jib.
Lately the largest fish taken weighed 61b., but this is very,
occasional. The artificial fiy is the favourite bait used, as it is
the most deadly ; but many anglers use the spinning-minnow.
The river is open to the public.

There are many hotels in Nelson from which the angler can
make his starting-point, without the necessity of camping out.
This river should be a favourite resort for tourists, as it con«
tains many spots of beauty, the New Zealand ferns and forests
growing in perfection.

Happy Valley.

The Happy Valley Kiver is ten miles from Nelson, and is
about nine miles in length. The banks are open for a con-,
siderable distance, but about five miles of its course is through
scrub and bush, which, however, is not so bad but that the
angler can fish it. This river is also a rain-river with a
gradual fall to the sea. The bed is composed of rock and
gravel, and can be crossed at nearly any point. The trout
thrive well, and many excellent takes have been made. Aa
ordinary angler should be able to land at least ten fair-sized
trout. The fish are not large, but all are in good condition.,
They vary in weight up to 4:1b. An angler has obtained as many
as thirty-eight fish, weighing 251b. The fly is used by all anglers,
with few exceptions, and these use the spinning-minnow.

There are no hotels on the banks of this river, bjit there are
excellent camping-places from the middle waters upwards. [

The surrounding country is pretty, with abundance, of ferns
and native bush. To the angler it is an ideal place, with its
prof usen ess of vegetation, and seated in the heart of the moun-
tain-land.

Biwaka.

. The Eiwaka Eiver is four miles from Motueka, which latter
place is sixteen miles by sea and thirty-two miles overland
from Nelson. Take train to Richmond, thence by coach over
the Moutere Hills, through Upper and Lower Moutere, and
then to Motueka.

The angler can put up at the Eiwaka Inn, which has all the
usual conveniences.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 45

The Riwaka River is about twelve miles in length, with a
gravelly and shingly bottom. The river is fordable nearly at
any point, with a succession of deep holes. There are some
large trout, the biggest weighing 101b. and from that down to-
lib. This place has had only an occasional visit from the
angler, and although a few weighing about 51b. have been
taken with the fly, yet nothing can really be said of this river.
It is known that numbers have been taken by illogal means,.
and it is said that at places there are plenty of fish.

The surrounding district is prettily laid out in small farms^
and the farmers here would take great interest in giving any
information, as well as making a stay perfectly agreeable.

North Canterbury.

Strictly speaking, the Clarence River is in the Marlborough
Province, but has been made the boundary of the North
Canterbury Acclimatisation Society's district, since it is more
approachable and more easily stocked from the Canterbury
side. It flows out of Lake Tennyson. The traveller should
take train from Christchurch to Culverden, which is as far as
the railway extends, then by buggy or coach to the hot springs
on the Hanmer Plains. At the foot of JoUie's Pass, two mile^
from the springs, is a good hotel. From the hotel to the
Clarence, over JoUie's Pass, is abouc five miles, the river being
immediately at the foot of the pass. Here trout may be
caught up to 101b. ; in fact, this is one of the best parts of the
river for trout. Use either the fly or the minnow — the minnow
for choice. The river is rather a late one. In the summer
myriads of grasshoppers can be found on its banks — the
sparrow and lark not yet having found their way over the pass
— and these the trout take freely. As there is no hotel nearer
than JoUie's Pass Hotel, a tent should be taken if it is intended
to stay more than one day at the foot of the pass.

Following the river down for ten miles the angler comes to
an accommodation-house. This is close to the river, and the
fishing here is fairly good, both for fly and minnow. To make
this trip comfortably from Christchurch a week or ten days
are required, and an inquiry should be made as to the state of
the river, as it is affected by snow. The trip, however, can be
made very enjoyable by combining shooting with fishing, there
being a supply of rabbits around the hot springs, and all down
the Clarence Valley, which the proprietors are only too glad to
have shot. The Clarence is one of the prettiest streams in
New Zealand, having confined banks, with long rapids and
deep pools. Just below the accommodation-house the Acheron
flows into the Clarence. This is a beautiful mountain-stream^
full of rapids and deep pools, but is not yet heavily stocked.
From JoUie's Pass to its mouth, on the East Coast, the Clarence

44 TBOUT-FISHING

flows for nearly eighty miles, partly through wild and rocky
gorges difficult of approach. It is crossed by a bridge about
twenty miles above Kaikoura; but no trout have yet been taken
out of this part of the river.

On the way to the Hanmer Springs, the Waiau lies close to
the road, on the right. This is a large snow-fed river, and
spinning only or live-bait fishing will succeed. This river was
stocked many years ago, and the trout in it are now becoming
numerous.' The township of Waiau is distant only a few miles
from the Culverden Eailway-station by coach, and trout up to
71b. have been caught there. Mr. Bayliffe, the Postmaster at
"Waiau, in 1891-92, took in the course of the season several
fish, both from the Waiau and the Dog Creek, on the Lyndon
Estate, which joins the Waiau Eiver about a mile above the
4iownship bridge, the largest being 8Jlb.

The Mason, which joins the W^aiau just above the bridge, is
Also well stocked, but in summer becomes very shallow, and,
consequently, a prey to poachers.

Where the Eiver Staunton joins the Waiau, about six miles
nearer the sea, and also where the Leader flows into it, at
Mount Parnassus, opposite the Cheviot Hills, twenty-five
miles from Waiau, no doubt excellent sport could be obtained,
but the angler must take a tent, and see that the river is in
good order before he starts.

The Hurunui, distant from Christchurch fifty-two miles, is
crossed by the northern line of railway, and is another snow-
fed stream. Many trout have been turned into it by the
Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and probably good fishing
could be obtained anywhere near its mouth. The mouth is,
however, so far from the line of railway and from good roads
— in fact, so little accessible in comparison with other streams
in Canterbury — that it will probably be neglected for many-
years to come.

The Waipara, the Ashley, and the Kowai, all crossed by the
northern railway, are of no value to the angler.

The Okuku is a small mountain-stream running into the
Grey Eiver, and thence into the Ashley.- It is distant from
Ohristchurch about thirty-seven miles — twenty miles by train
to Eangiora or Ashley Stations, on the northern line from Christ-
chmxh, and thence by buggy. Eangiora is the best station to
43top at, as a conveyance can always be obtained at one or other
of the livery-stables there. The river was first stocked with
trout about 1887, and has already yielded very handsome fish
up to nearly 81b. The river-bed is small, and confined by very
high banks. The months of November and December are the
best for this river, and the creepers which can be found under
the stones close to the water's edge are the best bait. Later on
the fly is taken freely, or a small Devon. For five miles above

IN NEW ZEALAND. 45

the White Rock Homestead the river-bed is open shingle, but
then the gorge is reached, and continues for about six or eight
miles. Trout were first placed in a well-known pool at the-
lower end of the gorge (known as the Picnic Pool), and have
made their way through it into the more open water beyond.
All through this gorge there is a succession of deep rapids and
pools. By the side of the Picnic Pool, which is surrounded by
beautiful bush, is a most convenient camping-ground ; but leave-
should be obtained from the owner of the White Rock Station.
From this point the fishing is good both up and down the river
for about six miles each way. A 12ft. rod is the only one
required for this river.

The Waimakariri is one of the great snow-fed rivers rising in:
the mountains beyond the Bealey, and flowing into the sea
only a few miles north of Christchurch. It is well stocked with
large trout throughout its course, a distance of some sixty
miles. The Bealey, where there is a good hotel, is on the mainr
road between Christchurch and the west coast of the South
Island. By train from Christchurch to Springfield, thence by
coach to Castle Hill and the Cass, and thence to the Bealey, is
about eighty miles. The fishing near the Bealey is best about
four miles from the hotel on the Christchurch side, but is not
worth the long journey from Christchurch for it specially, since
so many other streams nearer at hand afford better sport.
The scenery, however, is superb, both here and at the Cass,
and fishing excursions can be made either from the Bealey
Hotel or the Cass Hotel ; or the angler can take a tent and
cart and camp practically wherever he pleases without being*
interfered with. Spinning with some artificial minnow is the
least troublesome and the best method for these parts of the
river, and trout have been taken up to 181b. in weight. For
many miles the Waimakariri runs through deep and almost
impassable gorges of exquisite beauty, but impracticable to the
angler, till it emerges on the Canterbury Plains. About three^
miles from Sheffield is a very fine bridge, known as the Gorge
Bridge. To reach it, take the train to Sheffield ; twice a week
the train will run from Sheffield on to the bridge, on its way to-
Oxford. Just below the bridge, on the Sheffield side, is a small
cutting, used as a blacksmith's shop years ago when the bridge
was being built. Now it is overgrown with grass and tussock,
and makes a famous place for camping. As the train goes
within a few yards of the actual camping-place, the angler
needs no cart to transport his luggage. Both below and above
the bridge first-rate sport can be had with any spinning-bait,
but before starting from town inquiry should always be made
as to the state of the river, it being very much affected by
melting snows.

Some miles below the Gorge Bridge the river-bed becomes-

46 TROUT-FISHING

very wide, and the river breaks up into numerous streams.
Most of these contain trout, but are not at present conveniently
approached. During the lower part of its course the river runs
<5hiefly in one large stream, from time to time breaking up into
two or three smaller ones, these again uniting and again dividing
in the manner .common to all the great shingle-rivers. The
nearest point of the river to Christchurch is about seven miles,
a coach running the whole way several times a day. Here, at
Belfast, on the North Koad, is a good hotel ; or the angler can
camp on the river-bed. For some miles, both above and below
the hotel, good sport can be got either with spinner or live
bait, the fish running very large. In the last fortnight of the
season of 1889-90 I took six fish from this part of the stream
which averaged very nearly 12 Jib., the largest being 141b.
and the smallest lljlb. Two miles further on is White's
Bridge, "where there is another hotel and an abundance of trout ;
and a mile further on is Stewart's Gully, where the railway-line
crosses the river. Very many large trout have been taken at
both these places in the last two years with live bait and
spinning. The current of the last few miles of this river-course
is very slight, and it is the only one of the great snow-fed rivers
that does not carry its shingle to the sea. From these causes,
and from difficulty of access, the mouth, which in the case of
the Eakaia, Rangitata, and the Waitaki is looked upon as one
of the very best portions of the whole stream, is. comparatively
useless to the angler.

The Gust is another stream in the northern district, of quite
a different character, being in reality a small brook of not much
importance, but it merits mention through its affording good
fly-fishing in the early part of the season. In the early days of
trout-fishing in Canterbury, till the large rivers put it in the
shade, it was a favourite with many. Even now, 151b. or 201b.
weight of fish is not an uncommon take. It is almost entirely
a fly-river, the March brown with claret body, the moorfowl,
red spinner, and yellow- and red-tailed governors being the
best flies to use. Take the morning train from Ghristchurch to
Eangiora, thence by branch line to Moeraki or Gust. If Moe-
raki is chosen, fish up stream till Gust is reached ; if the angler
starts from Gust he can either fish down the river or walk for
a mile up stream, and will then find two or three miles of good
water full of trout up to about 31b. Most of the Gust is private
property, but the owners will always give leave. It is much
covered with flax, and tw^o flies, on a 6ft. fairly strong cast,
are sufficient. The brown-beetle, well sunk, will be found a
very killing bait in this little river in November and December.

The Avon, at Ghristchurch, is one of the very few rivers with
banks almost entirely in private hands. It affords, above
Christchurch, very good sport with the fly, but, except in the

IN NEW ZEALAND. 47

tipper part of the Christchurch Domain and along Park Terrace,
leave must be obtained. Its sources are only about four miles
from the city, and, on account of its being so heavily fished,
very large numbers of fry are turned out by the Acclimatisation
Society every year. The trout do not run large, about 21b.
being the limit, with occasionally a much heavier one from some
deep pool. Below the city sport is worthless. Very many
perch have of late years been turned into the lower reaches,
but, owing to the enormous shoals of sea- mullet — locally known
as herrings, — which come up as far as Madras Street bridge, and
devour the perch-spawn deposited on the weeds, they have not
been much of a success.

The Selwyn is the favourite river of the Christchurch
anglers. It is not affected to any appreciable extent by snow,
and may be looked upon as essentially a rain-river. Its length
is not greater than about fifty miles, and it flows into Lake
Ellesmere, a large shallow lake of nearly seventy square miles.
The fly-fishing in its upper waters and the live-bait fishing
in its lower waters are some of the best in New Zealand. To
get to its upper waters the train should be taken from Christ-
church to either Glentunnel or Sguth Malvern, at each of
which places the traveller will find a good hotel. The river is
close to either of these hotels. In the early months the fish
will take either the creeper, found under the stones close to
the water's edge, or the fly. There is an enormous stock of small
fish, and till within the last year or two trout were commonly
taken up to 51b. ; but the drought in Canterbury in 1889 and
1890 caused the river to be very low, and most of the
large fish were taken out by illegal means. The large stock in
the stream will soon, however, make it again one of the best
fly-rivers in Canterbury. The angler should start at either
Glon tunnel or Whitecliffs and fish up or down, but it is of little
use fishing more than two miles below Coalgate, as in dry
seasons the river disappears into the shingle. With regard to
its lower course, after a disappearance of nearly twenty miles
it reappears below the Selwyn Station, on the main south
line, but it is only after one or two wet seasons any trout can
be obtained here. The way to get to the best part of the
Lower Selwyn is to go from Christchurch to Ellesmere Station,
on the Southbridge railway-line. The river is close to the
station, and a train in the evening brings one back to Christ-
church. There is no hotel near, but about half a mile down
the river there is an accommodation-house where the angler,
if he prefers to stop, can generally get food and lodging. The
river here is suitable either for fly, spinning, or live bait.
Springston, one station short of Ellesmere, is another conve-
nient stopping-place for the Lower Selwyn. There is an hotel
close to the station, where the angler can procure a conveyance

48 TROUT-FISHING

to the Lake EUesmere flat, a distance of five miles, and, as
there is no nearer hotel than Springston, it is advisable to take
a tent or to make friends with the Christchurch anglers^
several of whom have built fishing-boxes near the river, on a
piece of land that will probably be set apart for angling pur^
poses by the Government. The fishing on the lake-flat for
nearly three miles is quite free, there being a reserve a chain
wide on each side of the river as far as its mouth. The water
is deep, with a slight current, and for years has yielded
an astounding number of trout of the very finest description.
In each of the seasons of 1888, 1889, and 1890 not less than
one ton of trout could have been taken out of this water. In
1891 a much less number was obtained, owing to the drought
and the river getting choked with weeds. Trout of 101b. and
121b. were, and are, quite common in this water, but the fish,
take nothing but live bait and spinning. Trout up to about
61b., however, can be caught in the rapids a mile or two
above with a fly. On the 7th November, 1889, I made a
basket of fourteen fish on this river, weighing 711b. These
were all caught in the day-time, but many are taken by fishing
late at night, some enthus^sts keeping on all night till dawn,,
and generally being rewarded by a good fish or two sooner or
later. Any one who has tried the all-night system, however,
and had two or three successive blank nights, will not envy
them their success. In 1888, a party of friends and myself
built a fishing-box, and our example has been imitated by
several others, till now the lake-flat presents quite a viiiage-
settlement-like appearance, and much advantage to the railway
and neighbourhood results therefrom. As the warm weather
comes on in the spring the fish come up the river from Lake
EUesmere, so that a constant supply takes the place of those
captured, and accounts for the enormous numbers taken. A
51b. or 61b. trout is looked upon as a small one. The largest I
have ever seen taken weighed 181b., but this was an un-
common size, the more common sizes being from 81b. to
121b.

Hall's Creek is a small stream also running into Lake EUes-
mere, the nearest station to it being Leeston, on the South-
bridge line. It possesses the distinction of having produced
the two largest fish ever taken by rod-line — one by Mr. Lamby
weighing 26ilb. ; the other by Mr. Beetham, the Eesident
Magistrate for Christchurch, weighing 251b. The last was.
the more perfect fish in every way. Only night-fishing, with
live bait, seems to succeed in this little stream.

The Kakaia is one of the largest of the snow-fed rivers
coming from the ranges across the Canterbury Plains, its river-
bed of shingle being in many places more than two miles
across. In the Field newspaper of the 9th January, 1892, this

IN NEW ZEALAND. 49

river was described as " one of the pretty streams which run
across the Canterbury Plains." Its chief feature is ugliness ;
its only merit being that from the Gorge at the foot of the moun-
tains to the sea — a distance of forty or fifty miles — it is stocked
with the finest trout, seldom caught under 21b., and not un-
commonly attaining a weight of 121b., 151b., and even 201b.
In the spring the north-west winds, which are very hot, melt
the snows in the great ranges, and it is then not uncommon to
see the whole river-bed filled with water from bank to bank.
But ordinarily the river is confined to three or four large
streams, breaking up constantly into numerous smaller ones,
always shifting their position ; the main stream may be here
to-day, but to-morrow a heavy spate comes down, and when
the river recedes to its ordinary height it has shifted a mile from
its former bed.

Such is the Kakaia — constantly changing its course, carrying
annually many thousands of tons of shingle to the sea. It
nevertheless is the home of some of the finest trout to be found
in the world. It is difficult to say that any one part of its
course is better than another, but it is certain the fish get
larger and more plentiful the nearer it approaches to the sea,
and are caught very commonly in the salt water at the mouth
of the river itself. The reason of this has been already ex-
plained. In the spring millions of small anadromous fishes
begin to ascend the snow-fed rivers : on these the trout feed,
and have found out that the nearer they go to the mouth the
sooner this supply of food is to be obtained. Generally at the
mouths of all these great rivers there is a large lagoon of
brackish water. From the perfectly fresh water of the rivers
tbey must have gone by degrees further and further into these
lagoons, till at last, migrating still farther, they leave the river
altogether, and are now found on many parts of the coast
in the open sea, miles from any fresh water at all.

On account of the sources of the Eakaia being far back in
the ranges, it is a river much subject to heavy floods, the
worst being during November and December, when the snows
are melting. In October, the first month of the season, the
very best sport can be obtained, although the fish are not in
as good condition as they are later on ; but one day of north-
west wind — a wind almost constantly blowing in the spring
months — will bring down a flood which is almost continuous.
By about January the ranges are clear, and then it is fit for
the angler till the end of the season, very many heavy bags
being made right up to the end of March. The angler should
always make inquiry before an expedition to any snow-river.

From Christchurch or Ashburton the nearest point to the
Eakaia is the station of the same name, on the main south
railway line, reached in two hours from Christchurch, and

4

60 TROUT-FISHING

an hour from Ashburton. A 14ft. rod, and a spinner of any-
kind, is all that is required for any part of the Eakaia, and the
angler starting from the bridge can fish where he pleases.
The distance from here to the mouth is about ten miles. To
get to the mouth of the river, take the train from Christchurch
to Southbridge — a branch line — and then take a trap of some
kind to the beach, a distance of six miles. A tent is necessary
if it is intended to stay more than one day, but the campings
ground by the little creek running into the lagoon is perfection^
being well sheltered from any violent wind, and with a beau-
tiful spring of water, and wood in abundance. As the mouth
of the river is always shifting, it is impossible to say where it
will be in any year, but at no time will it be distant more
than a mile from the camp. Between the lagoon and the
sea a huge shingle-bank has been thrown up, and somewhere
in this there will be an opening through which the river dis-
charges its waters. The angler should find out this point and
gradually fish down to it. The current of the river will pro-
bably strike the bank at some distance from the mouth, and
from this point to the sea itself no better water can be found.

In these lagoons attention should always be paid to the
tide, as the fish seem to come on the feed soon after low
water, when the tide begins to cause the current of the river
to slacken. The best possible time is generally found to be
when the tide makes shortly after daylight. But even on bad
days, with low tide at noon, the fish will often feed for an hour
or two soon after the tide turns. At the same time the angler
must not reckon too much on this. The capriciousness of our
New Zealand trout is proverbial, and it is quite impossible to say
that they will act the same way next year as they did the last.

A good strong rod, 13ft. or 14:ft. at least, 60 yards of line,
and almost any spinning-bait — the more diverse the selection
the better — are essential for the mouths of all the great snow-
fed streams.

Some idea of the almost incredible sport to be obtained in
this river, near its mouth, when the fish are really on the
feed, may be gained by reference to baskets of fish made in
the season of 1891-92. Before this many very heavy fish had
been captured, Mr. Brice, who in 1890 was living on an
island at the mouth of the Eakaia, having frequently caught
very large trout, up to 181b. in weight. On the 29th January,
1891, Mr. L. Mathias and Mr. Brice caught eight fish, weigh-
ing respectively 141b., 141b., 91b., 81b., 121b., 131b., 111b., and
71b. : total, 881b. On the 13th February Mr. Brice, fishing
by himself, took thirteen fish, weighing 1471b., the largest being
16-|lb., smallest 81b. ; 16th February, six fish, 711b., largest
151b. These takes, enormous as they are, were eclipsed, how-
ever, by a party of three gentlemen from Ashburton — Messrs.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 51

Simpson, Pilbrow, and Shury. On the south side of the river
the current courses along the shingle-bank, near the sea, in a
similar manner to that on the north bank above described, and
it was along this bank that the fish were taken. On the 30fch
and 31st October these three anglers took forty-four fish,
weighing 347^1b., out of the Rakaia. Mr. Simpson's take
weighed 1731b. 4oz., and comprised twenty-two fish, three of
which were of 121b. each, one of lOJlb., three of 91b., five of
81b., two of 71b., three of 61b., and the remainder of 41b. and
31b. with odd ounces. Mr. Pilbrow's basket weighed 1241b. 4oz.,
and contained fish weighing 121b,, 111b., 101b., 91b., 81b., 61b.,
but none lighter than 41b. Mr. Shury, who only fished for
half a day, took 501b. weight of trout — seven fish in all, one of
them 121b.

The Rakaia has been "described at some length, as what
applies to it, both as regards the tackle and bait to be used
and the kind of sport to be had, applies to the Ashburton,
Rangitata, and the Waitaki. All these rivers are exactly
similar, being affected by snow, and. with the exception of
the Ashburton, equally prolific of sport and large fish. The
Ashburton is the smallest of the four, and affords good sport
both with fly and minnow, but the fish do not run so large as
in the other three, averaging from 2Jlb. to 31b. As it runs
through the Township of Ashburton, this is the most con-
venient starting-point for fishing, either up or down the river,
or for making excursions to parts of it at some distance from
the township. On this river Mr. Pilbrow killed, on the 27th
November, 1891, seven fish, weighing 53 Jib. ; and on the 5th
December, 1891, eighteen fish — 1101b.

The Rangitata River is the boundary of the Ashburton and
Geraldine societies* districts, and a description of it is given
under the latter.

Geraldine County.

The introduction of trout into South Canterbury streams
has been attended with most marked success, and those instru-
mental in stocking these rivers, and thereby affording anglers
such rare sport, are deserving of some little notice. As early
as 1871 Mr. Melville Gray liberated trout in streams in which
he was then interested. Mr. Tancred, in the same year,
obtained fifty, which were placed in the Waihi, and Messrs.
Gray, Tancred, and Meyer (late of Bluecliffs) released more in
1872, those of Mr. Tancred's being liberated in the upper
waters of the Orari. In 1873 Mr. Gray obtained a further
supply ; and Messrs. E. T. Walker, R. Inwood, and J. A.
Young, in the following year, commenced systematically to
stock the Waihi River, now probably the best fly-fishing stream
in South Canterbury. In 1875 some fine trout {Salmo fario).

52 TROUT-FISHING

descendants of the celebrated Thames trout, were presented to
the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society by Mr. Youngs
of Palmerston, Otago, who had at the time a private fish-
hatchery there. These were placed in the Opihi Kiver. In
1875 Mr. C. G. Tripp released more in the Orari ; and at the
same time the Hon. J. B. Acland started to stock the Eangi-
tata. Anglers who have made themselves notorious by their
takes at the mouth of this river will doubtless bear that gentle-
man's name in mind. In the following year some 2,500 were
distributed in various streams by Messrs. W. S. Davidson, E.
Cooper, Archibald, C. G. Tripp, J. B. Acland, and C. Meyer.
In the year succeeding, Mr. Fulbert Archer released 300 ; and
in 1878 Mr. S. C. Farr, of the Canterbury Acclimatisation
Society, brought down over 4,000, which were distributed
principally about Timaru. Messrs. Newton (Totara), W.
Upton Slack (Pleasant Valley), and C. G. Tripp (Orari Gorge)
also released fish that season. In the course of the next year
Messrs. Lancelot Walker (Four Peaks), Arthur Perry (Timaru),
A. McDonald (Geraldine), J. A. Gamack (Kaukapuka), S. D.
Barker (Kynnersley), and Tripp (Orari) also distributed their
quota. In the meantime, while private individuals were busy,
the acclimatisation societies were by no means neglectful of
the objects for which they were organized. Trout were pur-
chased from time to time at considerable expense ; and in 1877
the South Canterbury society voted £100 for the purchase of
salmon-fry, and subsequently 5,000 of Californian salmon-fry
were procured by the society, which, together with a like
number given by the Government, were released in the Opihi
and Temuka Eivers by Messrs. Nicholas and Knight. In 1881,
10,000 trout were taken to the Mackenzie country and placed
in Lake Alexandrina, Benmore, Gray's Hill Creek, and other
streams, where they have grown and prospered, and, as yet,
have been comparatively undisturbed. In 1885 the first
English salmon {Sahno solar) were introduced, under the charge
of Mr. Farr, the secretary of the Christchurch society. These,
which were hatched from ova taken from the Tweed, in Scotland,
were liberated in Temuka streams with considerable care, but it
is questionable if they have thriven as it was hoped they would.
Angling for trout was, of course, for some years forbidden,
but in time, as the fish were found to have multiplied, licenses
were issued, and disciples of Izaak Walton shortly became
fairly numerous. There were naturally many novices, and for
their encouragement the Geraldine County Angling Society
was formed in 1884, which had for its object the encourage-
ment of legitimate fishing, the protection of trout, &c. Its
members have been granted valuable privileges by riparian
owners, and the annual competitions held under its auspices
attract a good deal of local interest. The society owns hand-

IN NEW ZEALAND. 53

Bome challenge cups presented by Messrs. A. E. G. Eh odes
and K. H. Khodes ; and to have his name inscribed thereon for
the best record for fly- or minnow-fishing is esteemed no small
honour by the enthusiastic angler. About the same time as
the angling society was started the Geraldine County
Acclimatisation Society was organized, and this body has
virtual charge of the fishing in South Canterbury, for in its
district are included the Opihi, Waihi, Orari, Temuka, and
Eangitata Eivers, with their tributary creeks ; and also the
Mackenzie lakes, the systematic fishing of which has yet to be
commenced. The society is financially in sound condition, and
has accordingly been enabled to protect the interest of anglers
by employing Eangers from time to time as a check to poachers,
and by keeping open the mouth of the Opihi — a river often
blocked — as well as by attending to the stocking of the streams.
The president of the society is Mr. A. M. Clark, of Arowhenua,
Temuka, and Mr. Eobert Pinckney acts as secretary, and is
always willing to afford information upon all sorts of subi'ects
within his province. Hitherto the society has issued licenses
to ladies, schoolboys, and visitors at reduced rates, as well as
the ordinary season-tickets, and complimentary permits are
occasionally granted to distinguished visitors ; but, as stated
previously, it is now contemplated to issue one set of regula-
tions for the whole of the South Island.

The Temuka

must be accepted as the centre of the fishing districts. It is a
neat little township, situated upon the main line of railway,
about ninety miles from Christchurch and a hundred and fifty
miles from Dunedin. It has no commercial pretensions, but is
surrounded by the finest agricultural and pastoral country in
the colony. In its neighbourhood are several pretty private pro-
perties, and plenty of very pleasant drives may be had upon well-
formed and well-kept roads. The township is fortunate in the
possession of a domain of nearly 150 acres, very nicely planted.
The train service from Christchurch allows a visitor to arrive at
about 2 o'clock in the day. The express returns at 5.30 in the
afternoon ; so that at a cost of two days very nearly sixteen
hours might be spent in fishing, for there are streams within ten
minutes' walk of the station that upon likely days afford the
best of sport. The express arrives from Dunedin daily at 5.25
in the afternoon, and leaves for the South at 2.10 p.m. There
are five good hotels in the township. In the season visi-
tors from all parts of the world may be met there, and some
come regularly every year from the Australian Colonies, often
staying a month or six weeks. About ten miles distant are the
South Canterbury refrigerating- works, where fish can be frozen
at any time. Plenty of anglers who have been successful in

64 TBOUT-FISHING

taking fish of unusual size take the opportunity of getting
them frozen for presentation or exhibition to their friends in
other colonies or at Home. Close to the Crown Hotel are two
livery-stables, the one kept by Mr. Charles Story, and the
other by Mr. Nicholas. The latter is a veteran fisherman, and
a great favourite with visiting anglers, who are always able to
obtain from him tips as to the best baits to be used and the
likeliest spots to visit. As a guide he is invaluable. ** Charley
the Veteran " is also a very good maker of fishing-tackle, and
rigs up most killing baits upon ideas of his own. There are
one or two tackle-vendors in the township, whose stocks are
mostly fairly complete, and tents and camping apparatus can
always be obtained with a little trouble and cost. The town-
ship is within about half a mile of the junction of the Temuka
and Opihi Eivers, and about five miles from the sea.

The Opihi

rises near Burke's Pass, and flows in a winding course for
some sixty or seventy miles to the sea. Its characteristics
are essentially those of most South Island rivers — a wide
shingly river-bed with occasional patches of flax, tussocks,
and toitois, intersected with rapid-flowing streams, varied
here and there with deep pools. Fish in plenty are to be
found throughout its course, and the angler cannot desire
better sport than is obtainable in the reaches from Burke's
Pass to Silverstream, a distance of about twelve miles. The
first season Mr. McLeod, formerly of Burke's Pass Hotel,
tried this water he killed forty-seven, of an average weight
of 21b. These were all taken with the fly. Since then re-
cords from that part have been much larger. It is a beautiful
district, but not much frequented by anglers as yet, although
tourists on their road to Mount Cook occasionally cast a fly
with fair success. When about twenty miles of its course has
been run the river enters the Opihi Gorge — a romantic spot, but
not readily comeatable. Close to the western end of the gorge
is the Township of Fairlie Creek, the terminus of the branch
line from Timaru, and the starting-place of the Mount Cook
coaches. Here there are two hotels, each furnishing comfort-
able accommodation. Visitors to this part will find that fish
take most readily from December to February. Earlier in the
season the weather is likely to be somewhat unsettled.

There are some good fish to be taken from time to time in
the Opihi Gorge, but it is a spot that is only likely to attract
those who combine the love of scenery with that of sport.
About two miles from the east end of the gorge the Opihi is
joined by the Opuha, and at about this spot there is magnifi-
cent fishing. The best way to enjoy it is to camp out for a
couple of nights. This can easily be done by driving from

IN NEW ZEALAND. 55

Temuka or Pleasant Point, which will take about two hours,
the road being good the whole way. At this spot Mr. J. L.
Flint took seventeen fish, scaling STJlb., for a night's fishing,
and upon another occasion thirteen fish, weighing 611b. Mr.
Gray, at the same place, landed seven that weighed 51-Jlb.
These were taken in the month of January, with the minnow.

From this spot to its junction with the Te-nga-wai the
river is not very much fished, although probably it is a good
deal poached. There are some capital spots in its course, and
fish weighing as much as 151b. have been occasionally cast up
by heavy floods. Near the junction of the Opihi and
Te-nga-wai Rivers is the little township of Pleasant Point,
about twelve miles from Timaru. There are two hotels here,
but it has never been an angler's resort, the only people who
fish being one or two of the residents. They have a very fair
time of it, and have made some decent records. Close to the
township is a little creek that affords nice fly-fishing. The
Te-nga-wai Eiver is probably destined to serve at some time as
a " feeder " to the Opihi — that is, as regards trout. It rises in
the Mackenzie Pass, and receives the waters of the Exe Creek,
the greater and less Opawa, and other small streams, all of
which afford capital spawning-places. On the banks of the
upper part of the river is the Albury Estate, and here, under the
care of the manager, Mr. E. Richardson, a number of brook-
trout, supplied by the Geraldine County Acclimitisation Society,
have recently been placed, and are now fit for distributing into
adjacent streams.

Frona Pleasant Point to Temuka, a distance of about ten
miles, the river is practically all fishable, and anglers upon its
banks speak highly of the sport they obtain. About a mile
below the railway-bridge at Temuka, the Opihi is joined by the
Temuka River, and it is at this junction and in the reaches from
here to the Milford Lagoon that the best fish have been taken.
Trout up to 201b. weight have been caught here, notably one
taken by Mr. W. G. Aspinall ; and although such fish as these
are exceptional, yet the following records, all authenticated by
the Geraldine County Angling Society, will serve to show that
good baskets are readily obtainable.

The first published records of the society included the
following : —

Weight. Heaviest Fish.
Lb. lib.

691} 14

497 16}

215 5}

364 18

248 16}

These records are interesting not only to the angler, but also
to the naturalist, as serving to show the phenomenal growth of

No. of Fish.

N. 0. Nicholas

.. 372

J. W. Findlay

.. 183

E. Gillnm

.. 172

J. Findlay

.. 168

K. F. Gray . .

.. 46

66 • TROUT-FISHING

trout under favourable circumstances. These trout spawn
from about the middle of June to the end of September,
occasionally even into October. Their natural enemy is chiefly
the common shag or cormorant. Upon these latter birds the
acclimatisation society have put a price, but they are so wary
that very few are killed. As an instance of their voracious
nature, it may be mentioned that from the stomach of one as
many as fourteen trout were taken ; and a competent authority
— the late Mr. W. Arthur, C.E., of Otago — estimates that the
destruction of trout by only fifty shags in one year, and upon
one river, allowing each bird five fish per diem (a very moderate
allowance), would amount to 91,250.

To return, however, to the Opihi. At its mouth is the
Milford Lagoon, separated from the sea by a sand -bank.
Under certain circumstances this bank gets piled up, and the
river's outlet to the sea is obstructed. At such times fishing
is quite at a discount ; but when the bar is opened, either by
the society's employes, or by the natural action of the tides,
&c., capital sport may be obtained. At such times fish bite
very freely, and some very good takes are made. Here are one
or two : Mr. Fitzgerald and party (3 rods), eight fish, scaling
401b. ; Mr. Flint, nine fish, 46^1b. ; Mr. Nicholas, eleven fish,
461b., and again, five fish, 30-J^lb. In addition to trout,
kahawai and grey mullet may also be caught ; in fact, with
favourable weather, the Milford Lagoon and the lower reaches
of the Opihi are very enjoyable spots to visit. On Green
Island, near the mouth, an old fisherman has established
himself, whose assistance sometimes proves of value to the
stranger, and although boats are not regularly on hire, yet
the use of one for a few hours can generally be obtained if
desired. Here is another record of a season's fishing almost
exclusively in the Opihi. (Although the name is not mentioned,
the record has been certified to.)

Fish.

Lb.

October . . ...
November

.. 84
.. 96

254^
298|

December

.. 86

327

January

February

March (to the 18th)

.. 106
.. 96
.. 89

385^
382^
150f

Total .. .. ..507 1,799

In the best day's fishing the average weight was G^^lb.

The Temuha Biver

sweeps in a semicircle about the township, and is reached
from any part in about five minutes' walk. It affords for some
three miles capital fly-fishing, but it is not so frequented now as
formerly, the attraction of the larger rivers, 'with their heavier
yields, proving too much for the ordinary angler. It has, how-

IN NEW ZEAIiAND. 67

ever, a number of consistent admirers, anglers who know its
every ripple and shoal, and who, in the early mornings and
evenings, enjoy many a pleasant hour, and catch many a lusty
trout. It is a good spawning stream, and generally contains-
plenty of feed. Trout are certainly not so plentiful in its.
lower reaches as formerly, and this may be attributed to one
or two causes. The river's propinquity to the township is at
once an advantage and a disadvantage. It is practically all
. open water (although riparian rights are claimed by one owner),,
and, as a consequence, it has in the past been somewhat over-
fished. Access to its upper waters (the Waihi) is partially
obstructed by a mill-dam, the property of Messrs. Aspinall and
Co., and, as a consequence, certain of the best spawning-beds
are inaccessible, and the supply from the upper part is, in its
turn, shut off. The question of having a close season over a
few miles of this stream has been debated, but it is probable
that the acclimatisation society will prefer to re-stock.

Just above and below the trafi&c-bridge which crosses the
stream are two very nice ripples, where a fish can almost
always be obtained, and a little higher up, between Myers's-
willows and the Manse foot-bridge, there is also a good spot.
All the way from the foot-bridge to the mill the fishing is fair,.
there being one or two exceptionally favourite spots. That it
is still a favourite place with many people may be partially
attributed to its scenery. Anglers as a rule are admirers of
Nature, and to those who stroll along this river-bed not too-
intent upon sport the view possesses many beauties. The
barrenness of the ordinary river-bed gradually disappears aa
one ascends the stream. Here and there the banks are more
or less clearly defined, vegetation is comparatively luxuriant,,
and on either side glimpses of well-kept farms with orchards
and plantations may be obtained. In places, willow protec-
tive-works have been erected, and the foliage of these in the
early summer affords a pleasing change to the ordinary sombre
tints of the pines and blue-gums. As a background there are
the splendid ranges of Four Peaks and Mount Peel, which in the-,
singularly clear atmosphere of New Zealand appear only a few
miles distant.

Just below the mill the river receives the Hae-hae-te-moana^
which in turn a few miles higher up has absorbed the waters-
of the Kakahu. The former is scarcely ever likely to be a
reliable stream for the angler. Its course is very short, and in
dry seasons its waters are almost lost in the shingle. The
Kakahu on the other hand is never dry, and there are some;
really capital places in its upper course as yet practically
unfished. In the course of time, unless poached, this stream
will be a favourite for fly-fishing. Above the mill the river for
a few miles is really private property. The owners, Messrs.

-68 TBOUT-FISHING

Aspinall and Co., McCallum, Twigg, and Cliff, reserve to
themselves the right of fishing; but none of them are very
chary in granting an occasional day — all have accorded to the
members of the angling society the right of fishing these
-streams on competition days. As an instance of the sport
obtainable in the Temuka Eiver with the fly only, the following
records kept by Mr. W. Mendelson are given : Season
1889-90, for the months of November, December, January,
February (6 days), and March (1 day) : total caught, 536; of
which 100 were put back as being under size. The remainder
weighed 5141b. 15oz. The following season, his record from
November to February was 413, weighing 341^1b. In addition,
149 were put back. Individual baskets were : eighteen fish,
17tflb. ; fifty-five fish, 221b. ; five fish, G^^^lb. ; eleven fish,
ll^lb. ; twenty-four fish, 111b.

Mr. Mendelson was the winner of the angling society's
prize, and Mr. E. H. Ehodes's challenge cup, in 1890 ; his take
being fifty-five fish, 271b. Other records upon that occasion
were : Mr. J. Findlay, nineteen, weighing 12^1b., and Mr.
Nicholas, ten, scaling 151b. These, it must be remembered,
are the takes for probably less than eight hours' fishing. At
the last competition, the 16th December, 1891, the challenge
cup and first prize was awarded to Mr. N. C. Nicholas for a
basket containing forty-five fish, weighing 33ilb. Mr. W.
Mendelson made the best average, his take being seventeen
fish, 22^1b. Upon this occasion no fish under lOin. were
Allowed to be weighed. Favourite flics are the " Guv'nor "
(small), **red spider," "Hardy's favourite," "blue uprights,"
And "March brown;" but, of course, a great deal of the
angler's success depends upon his skill and observation.

Above Mr. Twigg's farm the immediate confines of Winchester
are reached. Here we come to

The Waihiy

which is a fair fly-fishing stream. It is a favourite resort of
,Anglers, and indeed of visitors generally. The river is very
pretty, with its nicely-grassed banks, drooping willows at
intervals, and generally peaceful and beautiful surroundings.
It rises in the neighbourhood of Woodbury, some sixteen
miles nearer the hills, but its upper waters are not fish-
Able. For about three miles above and below Winchester the
best sport can be obtained, though the water near the hotel
is much fished, and anglers will do best by getting a mile or so
Away. A certain portion of the water is preserved, but, by
arrangement, the lessee of the Wolseley Hotel, Mr. Langdon,
has acquired for his customers liberty to fish all the best of the
water. Mr. W. De Eenzy, of Hunnington, has riparian rights
over some four miles of stream, but he does not exercise them.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 59

to any extent; that is, if asked for permission to fish he
accords it, unless it be that he has reason to think too much
pot-hunting and poaching is going on.

The Uttle village of Winchester, in early days known as
Waihi Crossing, is a pleasant little spot with a peculiar appear-
ance of the Old Country about it. It contains two hotels ;
but "the Wolseley " before mentioned is par excellence the
*' Anglers Rest." A glance through the visitors* book shows
what a number of genuine anglers have stayed there, and all
make favourable mention both of the accommodation and sport.
Here are a few records from this part, taken haphazard, but
authenticated : Fourteen fish, 18Jlb. ; twenty-eight, weigh-
ing 321b. ; eighteen, averaging lib. ; thirty-nine not weighed ;
eighty fish for two rods in three days ; twenty-two fish, 14:1b. ;
twenty-five fish, 161b. ; twenty fish, 151b. Winchester is
easily accessible by railway, it being eighty-four miles from
Christ church on the main line. Latterly the express has not
stopped there; but visitors can always get off at Orari, and, by
telegraphing to the proprietor of the Wolseley Hotel before-
hand, they will be met with a dog-cart or other conveyance
and brought on.

The Orari Biver

runs almost parallel to the Waihi, about four miles further
north. It is a river that is not often fished, the best parts
of it being either somewhat inaccessible or else preserved. The
upper part, near the Orari Gorge (Mr. Tripp's property), is fairly
well stocked; and anglers who have had the opportunity of
fishing it speak well of their takes. Its position is such, how-
ever, that it scarcely repays a visitor unless the visitor desires
a change of scenery as much as sport. Nearer the mouth, at
which there is a small lagoon, sport is better, and this place is
fished pretty regularly from December to February. A tribut-
ary of the Orari is the Ohapi Creek, a splendid little trout-
stream, from which many a basket is taken with the fly. Mr.
Guild of Trevenna, Mr. Gladstone, and other owners are not
shy of granting permission to anglers who desire to fish the
portions flowing through their estates, but, believing that what
is worth having is worth asking for, object to unauthorised visits.
Of late years the heaviest baskets have been taken from

The Bangitata,

the most northern stream in the Geraldine County Acclimatisa-
tion Society's district, and which they share with the Ash-
burton society. It is a splendid stream, teeming with fine fish,
and offering irresistible attractions to those anglers who can
afford a reasonable time to visit it. It is distant from Temuka
or Winchester (the best places from which to start) about
fifteen miles — that is, to the mouth of the river, and the general

60 TROUT-FISHINa

method adopted by visitors is to secure the sendees of Mr. C.
Nicholas to drive them out, and start them upon the best
water. Mr. Nicholas has a convenient accommodation hut>
with all necessaries, near the mouth of the river, and also &
couple of handy punts. Here a day or two can be pleasantly-
spent, and the sport is almost certain to repay a visit. Occa-
sionally, of course, a trip may be made without result, for the
river, under the influence of a nor'-wester, rises very suddenly ;
but, as a rule, information as to its condition is obtainable,
and unless this was favourable the angler would not of course
start. Another plan of visiting this place would be to hire a»
conveyance, with tent and blankets, and select one's own
camping-ground. Many regularly do this from choice, and
more from the fact that it requires early application to get the
use of the hut. Once upon the ground, there is every prospect
of sport, for there is generally some one about in the season
who knows the run of the river, apart from the fact that an
angler with reasonable experience can hardly go wrong in hia
selection of his casting-ground. Very few people fish far up
the stream, although there are plenty of good spots. The reason
of this is that, as with most other snow-rivers, the nearer you
get to the mouth the better. Decent fishing may be obtained,
however, by anglers starting from the Star of the South or the
Bangitata Bridge Hotels. Both of these are near the stream,
and can be reached with comparatively little difficulty. Pro-
bably the reason anglers do not frequent them more is the
dread of the loneliness of a by-day when the river is unfish-
able, and there are no neighbours within a few miles.

On the opening day of this (1891-1892) season very good
sport was had at the mouth of the river, although the fish
were in rather poor condition. Mr. Nicholas caught twelve
that weighed 531b. ; Mr. Meredith Kaye four, weighing 301b. ;
Mr. Hope seventeen, scaling 81ilb. ; Mr. Hollwell four, weigh-
ing 211b. On the Ashburton side of the river Mr. Huston
took nine, scaling 531b. ; Mr. W. F. Somerville ten, weighing
601b. ; and there were several smaller baskets.

Here are other records from the same river during the same
season : —

Bods.

Pifih.

lib.

September 26

(2 hours'

fishing)

.. 1

6

42

u

(4 hours)

• • 4

.. 1

13

78

October 9 (If hours)

• •

.. 1

11

87J

. 15,16,

17 (7 hours)

.. 3

80

269^

„ 26 (4 hours)

.. 1

9

78^

December 8 (6 hours)

.. 3

16

178^

January 19

.. 1

5

52

. 28

.. 1

9

54^

February 10

.. 1

6

• 37

19

.. 1

9

51

26

.. 1

7

52

March 7

. 1

14

96i

IN NBW ZEALAND. 61

' The largest fish of the above weighed 191b., and all were
taken with the Devon minnow and whitebait phantom. The
» natm'al bait was not used. The above records should serve to
show that the fishing at Eangitata mouth is some of the best
in the colonv.

Another spot, destined at no distant date to come into
popular favour, is Tekapo Ferry, in the Mackenzie Country.
From this centre some of the best creeks and rivers can be
fished as well as the lakes. Lake-fishing, as far as the Mac-
kenzie Country is concerned, is still in its infancy, no one as
yet having attempted trolling from a boat. It is probable that
after a time the lakes will be netted, but this cannot be suc-
cessfully undertaken until suitable provision is made for the
temporary storage of the trout in ice or otherwise, and their
transmission to a suitable market. This is certainly to be
done in the no-distant future, and in the meantime the fish
are growing and multiplying. As a general note in connection
with the whole of the district included in the Geraldine County
it may be mentioned that the roads are remarkably good,
conveyances fairly comfortable and well horsed, and the hotels
well kept, and the charges by no means excessive.

The South Canterbury Society's district is bounded by the
Opihi, already described, and the Pareora. The Pareora runs
into the sea about nine miles south of Timaru. There is occa-
sionally fishing to be had in this river some ten or twelve miles
up from the sea, and about fourteen or fifteen miles from
Timaru, when, after a wet season, a few biggish fish come up
the river to spawn ; but the sport is so uncertain and usually
so indifferent when obtained that it is not worth while enter-
ing into details.

Waitaki and Waimate District.

This district comprises a large area of country in the South
Island. It extends from the Pareora Eiver on the north to the
Kakanui Mountains on the south, a distance of some fifty or
sixty miles ; its western boundary, roughly speaking, being the
Alpine Eange in the vicinity of Mount Cook. The main stream
in this district is the Waitaki, one of the largest of the great
snow-rivers.

What applies to the Eakaia applies also to the Waitaki,
Throughout its length it is abundantly stocked with trout of
enormous size and excellent flavour.

Three large streams — the Ohau, Pukaki, and Tekapo — com-
ing from the highest mountains in New Zealand, and each
passing through large lakes, combine to form the Waitaki
Eiver. Two other smaller streams — the Ahuriri and Haka-
teramea— join it lower down, the first named being the beau
ideal of an angler's stream, either for fly or minnow, and both.

62 TBOUT-FISHING

being out of the reach of the ordinary traveller, are very heavily
stocked.

The Oamaru Creek, a tributary of the Ahuriri, is also well
stocked. The Otematata Creek is stained with water from the
Mount Burster Gold-diggings, and it is of no use to the angler^
except at such times as when from the want of water the dig-
gings are not used ; • then the trout go up from the Waitaki.

The Hakateramea runs into the Waitaki below Kurow. It
is a beautiful clear stream, and affords sport with the fly, and
in the early season minnow, many large baskets having been
taken out of it.

The Maerewhenua, which also runs into the Waitaki, is of
no use for fishing, being always polluted by the washings from
the Livingstone Gold-diggings ; the result being that it is always
like pea-soup, and any trout caught near its mouth are thin
flabby fish,, quite starved.

For the whole of the Upper Waitaki and its tributaries,.
Oamaru should be made the starting-point. This can be
reached either from north or south, it being one of the chief
stations on the main south line. A branch railway runs from
Oamaru to Kurow and Hakateramea, a distance of forty-three
miles. If it is desired to try the Ahuriri, stop at Kurow and
obtain a vehicle of some description. A tent and camp-equipage
also should be taken.

The Upper Waitaki cap be fished either from Kurow or
lower down at Duntroon. Here there are two hotels, but
leave can be obtained to camp, if desired, in an orchard, within
five or six minutes' walk of the river. The minnow is the best
bait for the larger fish, the favourite being the Devon (size^
IJin.). On a calm still evening they will take the fly freely ►
Lake-trout size fly is the best, the fish running up to 41b. or 51b.

The main line between Christchurch and Dunedin crosses
the Waitaki about thirteen miles north of Oamaru. On each
side of the bridge, which is a mile long, is a station — Waitaki
North and South — with an hotel at each. By staying at either
of these (perhaps Waitaki North for preference), the angler is
close to the river, and only distant about two miles from the
mouth, where sport is to be obtained not to be surpassed.
Many very large and heavy baskets have been taken out of the
Waitaki between the bridge and the sea, 801b. and 901b. weight
to a single rod being not at all uncommon for a single day's
sport. This part of the river swarms with large and very
powerful trout, yet I made here once the worst record I know
of. The largest fish that has been caught was taken by Mr.
Henry Aitken, and weighed 21Jlb. This is one of those huge
rivers where trolling with the minnow (and for the lower part
nothing else is of any value), close to the side, is nearly always
successful.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 65

The Kakanui Kiver is about eight miles south of Oamaru,
and is a clear stream full of fish, and affords the best fly-fishing
in the district, large baskets have been taken out of it both
with fly and minnow. Dr. de Lautour has taken fish of 71b.
weight with the fly, and on one evening took five fish weighing
361b. with the minnow, the heaviest being 161b. Mr. Alexander
Thomson also, in the season of 1891-92, one evening caught
eleven trout weighing 501b. ; his companion (Mr. H. Searle)
caught at the same time seventeen trout averaging 6^1b. The
Waianakarua stream, about twenty miles south of Oamaru, also
affords good fly- and minnow-fishing ; it was much affected by
this last dry season, and quantities of fish perished, but it has
since been restocked.

The Waihoa Eiver in South Canterbury, about seven mile&
north of the Waitaki Kiver, is easily accessible from Waimate
or "Waitaki North Eailway-stations, it is well stocked with
trout, and anglers residing at Waimate speak highly of the
sport to be obtained in that river.

In addition to these streams, various other slow-running
streams, lagoons, and ponds have been stocked with perch and
tench, and have thriven well — perch weighing 41b., and tench
over 31b., have been taken.

Otago.
The Cluiha and its Tributaries,

The Middle Island of New Zealand is only about 550 miles
long, with an average breadth of 120 to 124 miles, and contains
a little over 55,000 square miles ; it is, therefore, surprising to
find that it contains a river of such immense volume as the
Clutha Eiver, or Molyneux, as it is sometimes called. It is
stated that this river discharges into the sea an average all the
year round of 1,690,400 cubic feet of water per minute. Of
the Thames the discharge is only about 102,000ft., whilst that
of the Clyde is no more than 48,000ft. ; so that this Otago
river pours forth a volume of water about sixteen times greater
than the Thames, or nearly forty times greater than that of
the Clyde, and discharges about 300,000 cubic feet per minute
more than the Nile.

The Clutha takes its rise in the Wanaka and Hawea Lakes,
and it also drains Lake Wakatipu, through the Kawarau Eiver^
which joins it at Cromwell. These three lakes have a com-
bined area of about 240 square miles, and it is mainly on
account of this wide expanse over which the flood-waters,
caused by the melting of the snow, have first to spread that
disastrous floods in the lower basin of the Clutha do not more
often occur. The total length of the Clutha proper, from where
it leaves Lake Wanaka, is 150 miles, and its principal tributary
streams, besides the Kawarau, are the Manuherikia and Poma-

64 TBOUT-FISHING

haka. Like all rivers which derive most of their water-supply
from the melting of the snow in the high lands, the Clutha is
very low in winter during cold and frosty weather, and keeps
at a high level all summer — warm weather in early spring,
which melts the snow suddenly, being greatly dreaded by the
settlers on account of the floods it sometimes causes in the
lower basin. The. general direction of the river is from north
to south, though in some places it winds a good deal, the
upper portions being for the most part rock-bound and the
channel narrow. In its lower reaches the Clutha is from two
to three hundred yards wide, and runs at the rate of from two
to five miles per hour ; but higher up, where the channel is
more confined, the rate of the current in some of the gorges is
-as much as ten miles an hour. In spite of this and the danger
from sharp rocks and snags, the river has been twice navigated
by boat for a considerable distance — about thirty years ago by
Messrs. Hartley and Riley and a crew, as far as the Dunstan ;
and last year by Mr. H. J. Day and Mr. Pillans, from Balclutha
to Roxburgh and back. It took the latter nine days hard work
to go up, and they returned with ease in ten hours. The Clutha
is navigable by small steamers for about forty miles from its
mouth. Between the mouth of the Kawarau and the mouth of
the Pomahaka its waters are much polluted by mud and tailings
from the gold-diggings, and are not worth fishing ; but, with
the exception of this stretch of about ninety miles, the Clutha
and its tributaries afford fishing- waters to the angler which, for
their extent, and the quality, size, and abundance of trout they
•contain, are unsurpassed even in New Zealand.

The lower basin of the Clutha and its tributaries from the
Pomahaka to the sea are much the most important to anglers
from Dunedin or other distant places, in consequence of their
accessibility from the numerous stations on the main south
railway-line. I therefore propose to begin at the mouth of the
Clutha and gradually work up stream, giving the reader some
notes of the fish and fishing, and such information regarding
localities as may be interesting or useful to the tourist -angler
or visitors from a distance.

The Clutha discharges its waters into Molyneux Bay by two
mouths — the old one near Port Molyneux, and the new one,
which was burst by the great flood of 1878, through the sand-
spit near Coal Point, at the north end of Molyneux Bay. About
nine or ten miles from the mouth in a direct line is situated
the Town of Balclutha, near which the river divides into two
branches ; the westerly one, called the Koau, running almost
direct to the sea, the Matau or easterly branch running in a
tortuous course past the coal-mining Township of Kaitangata.
These branches join before reaching the sea, forming by their
division the fertile island of Inch-Clutha, around which there^

IN NEW ZEALAND. 65

is some of the best fishing-water in the river. As often men-
tioned before, there is no reason to doubt that many of the
tront go out to sea, some of them probably going in and out
of the river with the tide, which rises and falls about 4ft. to
5ft. at the lower end of Inch-Clutha, and, though it does not
much impede the flow of the river, has a slight effect on its
level even so far up as Balclutha Kail way-bridge. The trout
in these waters live almost entirely on the small migratory
fish which from October to April swarm into the mouths of the
river in immense shoals. These shoals run up the river close
under the banks, and the trout lie in wait for them behind
each projecting point where the water makes a ripple. It is,
therefore, useless to cast out into the river, this habit of the
fish having caused the plan of trolhng close to the bank with
a short line to be largely practised, even as far up as the
mouth of the Pomahaka. The trout weigh from 21b. to 71b.,
and have been taken up to 141b. and even 181b. in weight.
On more than one occasion a bag has been made of sixteen
trout by one rod in one day, weighing over 601b.

The first tributary we meet with in our passage up stream —
the Puerua — enters the Clutha near Port Molyneux, and has a
course of about fifteen miles fishable water. The lower
reaches are tidal, and though they contain many and large trout,
are difficult to fish except from a boat ; but in the upper waters
some excellent bags of large fish are taken, particularly about
the middle of the season, with cricket. There is a comfortable
accommodation-house near Puerua Bridge, distant nine miles
from Balclutha, on the Port Molyneux road. Nine years ago
a trout weighing 221b. was caught near this hotel, this being
the largest of which any record has been kept for the Clutha.
There is also a creek which runs into the Puerua, called the
Glenomaru Stream. In the spring the trout in this creek take
the artificial fly very freely, and some large baskets were taken
last season. The fish in the Glenomaru, however, do not run
very large — 21b. and under, averaging about lib. Near the
railway - station at Pomahaka is an accommpdation - house,
where the angler can stay while fishing this stream.

The next tributary of the Clutha flows into the Matau
branch at Kaitangata, and is called the Kaitangata Creek. It
drains the lake of the same name, and also, through Morrison's
Creek, the Tuakitoto Lake. These are large shallow lakes,
nowhere more than 6ft. deep, and averaging about 2ft. They
contain large trout, and some excellent fish have been obtained
at night by spinning with a whitebait phantom in the above-
named creeks, as also in the lower waters of Lovell's Creek,
the principal feeder of the Tuakitoto Lake ; but for the last
three years these creeks and lakes have literally swarmed with
perch (Perca fluviatilis), to a considerable extent spoiling the
5

L.

66 TBOUT-FISHING

trout-fishing, though the perch-fishing is most excellent, as
many as 175, weighing from Jib. to IJlb., having been taken in
six hours by two rods, spinning with artificial minnow.

In the upper waters of Lo veil's Creek the trout take the fly
well in the forepart of the season, Lovell's Flat Kailway-
station being distant about nine miles by rail from either
Milton or Balclutha, where excellent hotel-accommodation can
be obtained by the angler.

To fish the lower parts of the Matau, the angler should stay
at Kaitangata, where there are two good hotels. The best
place to put up at in order to fish Morrison's Creek, Tuakitoto
Lake, and the waters which surround Inch-Clutha is the
Bail way Hotel at Stirling, both of these townships being easily
accessible by rail from Dunedin.

The next tributary of aay size is the Kaihiku, which runs
into the Clutha on the west side, about six miles above Bal-
clutha, the upper waters of which can easily be reached
by rail, the angler getting out at Kaihiku station, on
the main south line, about twelve miles above Balclutha.
This stream has about one mile and a half of sluggish back-
water at its mouth, where trout and perch may be captured by
trolling behind a boat, or from the banks on a windy day, and
the upper waters contain good gravel -reaches, which form a
splendid spawning-ground and nursery for trout, some very
good baskets having been taken there every season with the
artificial fly, particularly during the latter half of October and
the month of November. The average weight, however, is
not much over lib., because, the stream being small, the larger
fish drop down into the sluggish water at the mouth and
eventually into the Clutha Eiver. Indeed, this stream may
be considered one of the best feeders of the Clutha so far as
the supply of trout is concerned. To fish the Kaihikii and the
Koau branch of the Clutha, and also that river as far as the
mouth of the Waiwera, the angler cannot do better than make
his head - quarters at Balclutha, where there are four good
hotels, and every facility for hiring saddle-horses or buggies.
It is also within easy distance by train to Lovell's Flat,
Stirling, Kaitangata, Kourahapa, and Kaihiku. Indeed, this
township, besides being the centre of a large and important
agricultural district, is also the centre from which the best
fishing-waters of the lower Clutha basin are most easily ac-
cessible.

The next tributary of- the river with which we meet — the
Waitahuna — comes in on the east side, and for about eighteen
or twenty miles of its course — that is, from the Waitahuna
Township, or Havelock, as it sometimes called, to the mouth —
this stream is so polluted by the diggings, that its waters
resemble pea-soup. It is needless to say that no angling can

IN NEW ZEALAND. 67

\>e obtained in this stretch of water ; but some little distance
above the township, where the stream is free from tailings,
many fair baskets have been taken with grasshopper, cricket,
and artij&cial fly, though the average weight of the fish is not
very high.

The next two streams we have to consider — viz., the Wai-
wera and the Pomahaka — join the Clutha within a few
hundred yards of each other on the west side. The mouths
of these rivers have the same characteristics as that of the
Kaihiku, having, the former one and the latter, about two
miles of sluggish backwater at their mouths, which abound
in trout, perch, and also huge eels.

On the lower waters of the Waiwera leave should be asked
for from the proprietors who own the land on both sides of
the stream, but above where the main south road crosses the
Waiwera there is excellent fishing-water, where there are
annually recorded large takes of good fish. The Waiwera trout
take fly well, the cricket and black-creeper being also very
deadly baits.

The Kuriwao, an affluent of the Waiwera, which joins it
after passing near Clinton Township, helps much to keep up
the reputation of its sister- stream. It has excellent gravel
fords, and is one of the grand stand- byes of the rangers of
the Otago Acclimatisation Society when the season arrives
for collecting ova for their trout-breeding establishment on
Marshall's Creek, near Clinton.

To fish the Waiwera, Kuriwao, and also the lower waters
of the Pomahaka, the angler ought to make his head-quarters
at Clinton, distant seventy-four miles from Dunedin. There
are two good hotels, and means of conveyance to the streams
in the neighbourhood can be easily obtained.

Before proceeding to treat of the Pomahaka and its tribu-
tary creeks, a few more words may be written about the fish-
ing in the Clutha itself. The banks below Balclutha are
chiefly composed of alluvial clay, but above the township the
angler will find rocky points round which to spin his minnow.
Good trout, running from 21b. to 61b., and even as high as
101b. in weight, are to be caught from Balclutha as far up as
a mile above the mouth of the Pomahaka Eiver. One of the
best bags known of as having been taken in this stretch of
water by one rod in a day was thirteen trout, weighing 531b.
5oz., the largest being 81b. 12oz., and the smallest 21b. 12oz.

The Clutha trout of both sexes acquire a white colour and
lose the red spots usually to be seen on those which inhabit
the creeks, retaining only the black spots, and it is thus easy
to detect by its colour a trout which has recently dropped
down out of one of the tributary streams to take up its abode
in the river. The trout caught near the mouth of the river

68 TBOUT-FISHINO

are of a very bright silvery appearance, with few spots, and
those black, and generally of a cruciform shape. Occasionally
one is caught of a golden- yellow colour. The creek trout are
usually of a darker hue, and the males have red spots, more or
less bright.

Sometimes trout taken in the beginning of October are not
in very good condition, but after the middle of November very-
few ill-conditioned fish are caught; and towards the end of
the season they become very fat, and so shy that it is difficult
to take them, even with the most tempting natural bait. The
Clutha Eiver trout, particularly those caught near the sea, are
excellent eating, being entirely free from the muddy or mossy
taste which so often spoils the edible qualities of those caught
in the creeks. The flesh is of two distinct colours — some have
pink or salmon-coloured flesh, and some yellow. I have beea
unable to detect that this could be accounted for by the sex
of the fish, though it is just possible that it may have some-
thing to do with the age. There is great difference of opinioa
as to whether the pink- or yellow-fleshed trout are the best
eating, but generally the latter ar^ firmer, more flaky, and
better flavoured.

There is a chain-wide reserve along the Clutha Eiver for the
greater part of its course, and in many cases half a chain
along the creeks in the district, so that the angler is free to
fish without trespassing ; but in some places the Government
reserve along the river-bank has been washed away, and in
other cases the creeks have been surveyed in with the sections
and sold, thus becoming the absolute property of the owner of
the land. This has, however, never yet led to much trouble
or any action being taken by the owners of the land against
anglers. The river-side settlers are kind and hospitable, and it
is most unusual to meet with one who would refuse to allow the
angler to fish along his frontage — provided he asks leave civilly
and does not leave gates open, break gaps in the fences, or
bring dogs which disturb the sheep. Many of them are fisher-
men and true sportsmen who would gladly give a visitor ad-
vice about ,the best places, baits, and times of the tide, and
other local hints, which help so much towards the success and
enjoyment of the angler.

Now, proceeding on our way up that splendid trout-river, the
Pomahaka, of which there is over sixty miles of good fishing-
water, we find between the lower and upper Clydevale Bridges
grand rugged rapids and rocky pools. Above the upper bridge
the stream winds through a strip of low country, called the
Burning Plain, on account of a seam of lignite being on fire,
which has evidently been smouldering for a great many years.
The Pomahaka here runs over reefs of lignite, which have been
hollowed out in many places by the current into deep gutters.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 69

in which trout lie in wait for minnows. Trolling with a long
line is here practised, the fisherman throwing his hait far
across the stream, letting it come in towards him in a semi-
circle. Several prize baskets have been taken out of this stretch
of water with artificial minnow, but a few good trout are also
taken with fly in the spring and cricket in December and
January. For minnow-fishing the lower reaches of the Poma-
haka may be considered a late water, partly on account of its
being to some extent snow-fed ; the trout being in the best
condition and taking best after the middle of January. The
upper Clydevale Bridge is distant about ten miles by road from
Clinton. Following up the Pomahaka we find a series of
rocky gorges, affording to the angler alternately rapid water
and long still pools on which to try his skill. These are well
stocked with trout from 21b. to 61b. or 71b. in weight ; the
Back Creek, Eankle Burn, and Wairuna, being all good
breeding-streams, help to keep up the stock in this stretch of
the Pomahaka.

We now come to the most important tributary of the
Pomahaka — the favourite stream of Dunedin fly-fishers — the
"Waipahi. This is one of the very best trouting rivers in
Otago, and is a stream that the trout love to tumble and leap
in. Its waters are as sweet and wholesome as the nectar the
gods partook of. There are deep rocky lairs all overgrown
with long slender weeds that stretch their feathery fronds in
all directions, affording splendid hiding-places — nooks that a
mermaid herself would covet. How calmly and placidly
it meanders down the valley when it leaves the rugged rocks
and tussock-covered hills ! It never seems in a hurry to join
the rocky snow-fed waters of the Pomahaka. When the Otago
angler needs rest in invigorating exercise he hies him away to
this stream, and drinks in the pure ozone of the hills, meanders
along its banks and lures the finny denizens from its crystal
pools, thus viewing nature in all her varied forms. Although
the trout in this stream are inclined to be shy and turn up
their noses at the lures placed so temptingly before them, yet
when they are on the take they give more sport than almost
any other ; and for delicacy of flavour they are not to be sur-
passed, the flesh being of a delicate pink colour with layers of
creamy curd between each flake of flesh. This, though not a
very good breeding-stream, may be considered one of the
earliest fishing- waters in this part of the country, as it is not
snow-fed, and is low-lying and well exposed to the sun. Almost
weekly throughout the season reports may be seen in the
angling column of the Otago Witness of the splendid baskets of
grand trout taken from this stream. It is also generally
chosen as the river on which the annual fly-fishing competitions
are held. Near the Waipahi Eailway Station (distant eighty-

70 TBOUT-FISHINQ

four miles from Dunedin) there is a good hotel, the favourite
resort of the anglers. From here the visitor can make fishing
excursions by rail, either to Arthurton, on the Waipahi, or to
one of the small railway-stations on the Tapanui line, in the
valley of the Pomahaka Kiver, above its confluence with the
Waipahi. The Waipahi has one important tributary, called
the Kaiwera or Otaria Creek, which may be fished from the
Otaria Hotel, distant fifteen miles by road from Clinton. The
upper waters of the Waipahi also afford good sport, and may
be reached by the road from Clinton to Otaria, distant nine miles
from Clinton.

Proceeding up the valley of the Pomahaka, we come to what
may be called its head-waters, and the numerous creeks which
run into them which may all be fished from — Tapanui, Kelso,
or Heriot — at each of which places the angler can get good
accommodation within easy distance of good fishing-water.
The principal streams are the Crookston, Heriot, and Spylaw
Burns, and the Leithen Stream, besides a number of small
creeks which, together with the Pomahaka, form a pleasant
fishing district, where an angler may spend a few weeks with
every prospect of good sport.

There are several good-sized streams running into the
Clutha, between the mouth of the Pomahaka and Cromwell,
which, should the angler find himself in their neighbourhood,
are well worth a trial, as fair baskets taken from them have
been recorded ; but it would not be worth his while to make a
special journey to fish there, more particularly as they are out
of the line of railway communication. They are the Black-
cleugh and Earnscleugh on the west, and the Beaumont (near
Beaumont Hotel), Talla, Fruid, and Minzion Burns on the east
side ; and further up on the same side we have the Teviot
Eiver, and the Manuherikia, and its numerous tributaries. In
all these streams trout have been liberated, and, where the
waters are not polluted by tailings, or diverted for sluicing
purposes, they have thriven well and increased.

In the next stream we come to, the Kawarau, which drains
Lake Wakatipu, there is no fishing, as its waters are very
thick with tailings, particularly below its confluence with the
Shotover — another diggings river, little better than a sludge
channel. The principal streams which run into Lake Waka-
tipu are the Locky, Greenstone, Dart, and Eees Eivers. These
streams are under the control of the Lake Acclimatization
Society, by which they have been thoroughly stocked with
trout. The lake trout are generally fat and short in proportion
to their weight, running from 21b. up to as high as 301b. in
weight, annually ascending the above-mentioned rivers to
deposit their spawn. They are, nevertheless, so difficult to
catch in the lake with rod and line that the society has of late

IN NEW ZEALAND. 71

years let the shores of the lake in sections for netting, and, as
the fish keep moving back and forward along the sides, where the
water is shallow, large numbers are annually captured in this
manner, finding a ready market in Queenstown, Invercargill,
and Dunedin. Lake Hayes, between Queenstown and Arrow-
town, has for the same reason been let for netting. Anglers
visiting Glenorchy, at the head of the lake, ought not to lose
the opportunity of trying the Eees Eiver, particularly near its
mouth, and after dark. Trout are sometimes taken in the lake
by trolling with a long line behind a boat in the evening.

We have now to consider the fishing on the Upper Clutha.
From two miles above Cromwell up to Alberto wn, a distance
of about forty miles, there is first-class fishing to be obtained
on either side of the river. A coach (Cobb and Co.'s) runs three
times a week from Cromwell to Alberto wn, and there are three
hotels on the road — namely, at liowburn (about three miles
from Cromwell), and the Queensbury and Luggate Hotels
(about twenty and thirty miles respectively from that town).
All these hotels are near the river, especially the two latter,
and most conveniently situated as resting-places for the angler
while fishing the best reaches on both sides of the river. Cobb
and Co.'s coaches run along the west side of the river between
Cromwell and Luggate, so that on the east side the con-
veniences for tourists are not so good, there being only one
hotel, which, however, is centrally situated for a large extent
of excellent fishing- water : this is Eocky Point Hotel, about
ten miles distant from Cromwell.

The principal tributaries running into this stretch of the
Clutha are : the Lindis, which has been so much poached that
it is scarcely worth fishing, and the Hawea, which joins the
Clutha at Alberto wn and drains the lake of the same name.
There are good trout to be got in this stream, and also in the
Clutha near the last-named township, which possesses a com-
fortable hotel. The means by which anglers can cross the
river are by punts at Lowbum, Luggate, and Albertown, and
by a chair suspended on a wire-rope, near Queensbury Inn. I
am informed by a local fisherman of great experience, to whom
I am indebted for much valuable information regarding the
Upper Clutha, that although good sport may be obtained on
almost any part of the river above Cromwell, yet he especially
recommends those portions near Queensbury and Luggate
Hotels, fishing the west side in the afternoon till dark, and the
east side in the morning from day-break till the sun gets too
high — these being the only times of day when the fish take
freely ; a brisk breeze from the south and a dull day being the
best sort of weather. The angler ought not to visit this part of
the Clutha before the middle of December. By that time the
snow-water is all down and the fish well on the feed. The

72 TROUT-FISHING

minnow is here considered the most deadly bait ; indeed, any
other lure is seldom used, though a few fish are sometimes
taken with grasshopper and cricket. In the neighbourhood of
Luggate the average weight of the trout is about 2^1b., but the
higher up the river you go the more the average weight
increases — an occasional fish being landed that turns the
scale at 121b. Much heavier trout are often speared, some
thus poached weighing over 201b.

The best baskets I have heard of were taken near Luggate
— this season, sixteen trout weighing 401b., and last year
eighteen trout weighing 4:81b. These were taken by one rod
in four hours' fishing.

Lakes Hawea and Wanaka are full of large trout, but I have
been unable to hear of any having been taken with rod or line.
Whether this is caused by the fish altogether refusing to take
in the lakes or by the inexperience of those who have tried, I
cannot say.

There are several considerable streams which run into these
lakes, and they are doubtless inhabited by trout, but I cannot
find any record of their having been fished.

There is no doubt that there are streams in New Zealand
which afford to the fisherman trout of a greater average weight,
but the tourist-angler may rest assured that for the extent of
its fishing waters, the gameness and condition of its trout,
combined with the beauty, variety, and in the upper basin the
grandeur of its scenery, few rivers equal the Molyneux or
Clutha Eiver and its tributaries.

The Clutha and its tributaries comprise three-fourths of the
best fishing waters of Otago ; there are a few other rivers,
however, which afford excellent sport, the first of which
mention is to be made is the Taieri Eiver.

The Taieri Eiver takes its rise in the Naseby district, about
a hundred miles from where it flows into the sea. Unfor-
tunately, it and its tributaries are all more or less affected by
the diggings, excepting its upper waters, where there is splen-
did fishing to be had. There being no railway communication
the angler has to go by coach from Middlemarch or Palmers-
ton. Good hotel accommodation is to be had within reasonable
distances from the river in many places.

Four miles from the mouth of the river is the Waihola Lake,
full of fine fish, which are taken by the minnow on a very
calm day ; but should there be a breeze on the water becomes
too thick for fishing. Eighteen miles up the Lee Stream
comes in, extending westwards for sixteen or seventeen miles.
At one time this was Otago's best stream ; but, alas ! a rascally
Chinaman found gold in its upper reaches about ten years ago,
consequently the anglers of Dunedin had to seek fresh ground.
It is a very nice stream to fish, the lower reaches being one

IN NEW ZEALAND. 73

series of gorges with fine pools ; ten miles of the higher waters
having level banks with grand runs and pools, making Dun-
edinites wish for the old days back again. This year it has
been clear for about half the* time, which makes one hope the
diggings will soon stop.

Eight miles further up the Deep Stream joins the Taieri,
and the same remarks apply to it as to the Lee Stream, only
the stream is about a fourth larger.

Twelve miles further up the Sutton comes in ; it is much
smaller than the Lee or Deep Streams, but is clear, and con-
tains good fish ; is very little fished on account of being situated
in an out-of-the-way place; it extends westward about ten
miles. The best baits for these streams are the grasshopper,
cricket, and fly. The large green grasshopper about an inch
long used to kill well in the Lee and Deep Streams.

Ten miles south of the Clutha Eiver is Catlin's River, extend-
ing about eighteen miles inwards in a north-easterly direction,
through heavy bush-country, which is very trying to the angler ;
but to those who can surmount diJBficulties ample reward is in
store, as the river is full of tine fish. All kinds of baits are used
here with success but perhaps the creeper is the best. Very large
baskets are got here every season by the few who tackle it ; it
is December before the fish are at their best, except near the
mouth, where they are always in good condition. Eunning
parallel with the Catlin's, about four miles apart, is the Owake,
which flows into the same bay ; it also yields good baskets,
and is more easily fished, the country being more open, the
average for the Owake will be about 21b., and Catlin's 31b. ;
baskets of 401b. and 501b. are to be had in the Catlin's fre-
quently.

The Mataura Eiver, which is the southern boundary of
the Otago society's district, will be found described with
its southern tributaries under the district of the Southland
society. The first tributary we come to on the Otago side
is the Mimihau, running eastward amongst the hills about
eleven or twelve miles, and, being free from snow-water, is in
good fishing trim at the opening of the season, but the trout
are not at their best until the middle of November. This
stream is one of the best in the district, and a great favourite
with the South anglers, good baskets being obtained during the
whole season ; 301b. to 401b. weight can be had on a suitable
day, the average being about 21b. The lower reaches next
to the Mataura are mostly fished with the minnow and creeper;
in the upper waters the fly is the best lure. A 71b. trout was
taken out high up this year with the fly.

To fish the lower waters, stop at the Township of Wynd-
ham, where there are good hotels. Wyndham is the terminus
of a branch line from the main south line of railway. The

74 TROUT-FISHING

upper waters are more easily got at from the Mataura Bridge,
on the main line, where there are two good hotels.

The Waikaka joins the Matanra about thirty-five miles up, and
extends north-east for some twenty miles, also free from
snow-water. The lower reaches are not so good for fishing as
those higher up, although some heavy trout are taken occa-
sionally low down. One requires to go up eight or ten miles
to get a good day's fishing. The trout will average about 21b.
Gore Township, on the main line, is the best place to put up at
to fish this stream.

The Waikaia joins the Mataura about fifty miles up, extending
northwards for about twenty miles through a beautiful valley.
It is sometimes affected by snow-water until the end of October.
Being a long way from inhabited centres, it is not very much
fished, but it is a lovely stream. The trout will average be-
tween 31b. and 41b., and are in great numbers. The few in-
habitants in its neighbourhood get grand baskets every season,
the fish being of a very fine quality. There are several tributaries
running into it well worth attention — namely, the Dome Creek
and Gow's Creek. The minnow, cricket, and fly all kill well
here. Some further particulars of this river are found further
on. The most suitable place to fish this stream from is
Waikaia, where there is a good hotel, and is reached after a
drive of fifteen miles by coach from Eiversdale Station, on the
Waimea line of railway, as you leave Gore for the Lakes.

The Owake is fifteen miles from Balclutha. Catlin's is four
miles further on. There is railway communication to within
four miles of the Owake, thence coach. Between the two
streams, near the coast is a good hotel, from which both
streams can be fished.

The Water of Leith is worth mentioning on account of its
past history. It flows into the Dunedin Harbour through the
north end of the city. It was this stream that received the
first trout introduced into New Zealand, and from its waters
the other streams were first stocked. It extends in a north-
easterly direction for five or six miles, and is the beau ideal of
a trout stream ; not a yard of its waters but what is a happy
home for master trout. Although quite a small stream, one
could scarcely credit the quantity of trout taken out of it ever
since it was open for fishing. In the early days good baskets
used to be had. Mr. Eussell, the honorary secretary of the
Otago society, can remember seventeen years ago, when he
and perhaps another solitary angler would have the whole
river to themselves on a holiday. Now, you have always a
dozen and a half rods in sight, and a lib. trout is considered
a prize in its upper waters. After a fresh, trout from 31b. to
61b. are got in the lower reaches, having come out of the
bay, and always in the pink of condition. The stream is full

IN NEW ZEALAND. 75

of trout of small size, and many a good angler has obtained
his first experience in this little stream.

The Waitati enters Blueskin Bay fifteen miles north of
Dunedin. Not a very large stream, but almost as good as the
Water of Leith. All the fishing season good baskets are to be^
had, from 151b. to 251b. on a favourable day ; average fib.
There is a good hotel at Blueskin, and, by leaving Dunedin by
first morning train, returning by last train, ten hours can bo
spent on the stream.

Thirty miles north of Dunedin the Shag Eiver flows into the"
sea, extending inwards about twenty miles ; being affected by
snow-water it is uncertain until November, and occasionally is
discoloured by diggers. Otherwise it is a fine trout river, and
501b. baskets have been got on good days. The lower reaches
contain large trout, which are taken by the minnow and
creeper. The upper waters are fished principally with the fly
and creeper; at times good baskets are to be had with the-
worm, this being about the only stream on which the worm-
fisher is successful. On the lower reaches the trout will
average from 31b. to 4:1b., higher up about 21b. Bail way com-
munication and hotel accommodation every few miles along^
its banks for twelve or thirteen miles, Dumbeck being the
terminus, which is eight miles higher up than Palmerston on
the main line.

There are numerous other small streams in Otago not
mentioned here, but well worth fishing ; and the society are
rearing and distributing the Scotch burn trout into all the hill-
streams, in which the larger kinds of trout do not care to
remain long.

The Southland District.

As has already been stated with regard to other parts of the
colony, most of the streams in Southland are practically free to
anglers. No difficulty will be experienced by the fair fisherman
(or woman), having a license, roving where he will, either a&
regards fishing or camping. As a general rule, on the larger
rivers there is a chain reserve on the banks, and the rivers are
thus entirely open to the public ; and, as regards the few
exceptions, he will not be interfered with if he avoids doing
any damage, in breaking down fences, leaving gates open, driv-
ing sheep, or walking through standing crops, in fact, respect-
ing other people's property as he would his own. One other
piece of advice : an angler should never have a dog with him,
both for his own comfort and that of other people.

Of all the rivers, exclusively confined to the Southland
District, the Oreti Eiver takes the palm, being the most prolific
of trout owing to its superiority as a trout-breeding stream.
This arises from its suitable spawning grounds, from below

76 TROUT-FISHING

Dipton here and there upwards towards its source in the Eyre
Mountains. It is a shingle, snow-fed river, open and accessible
^1 the way, with a public reserve on each side, with wide
banks only reached in floods, and often changing its course
from one bank to the other, with many turns and variations in
depth, with swift runs, ripples, and eddies at the heads and
tails of a succession of comparatively still pools. A number of
lagoons, mostly of a crescent or horseshoe shape, are met
with on both sides of the river, which are useful nurseries to
the trout, and make roving along the banks difficult without
wading. Wading, however, is not absolutely necessary, al-
though double the quantity of fish will be caught by the
wader.

From the opening of the season down to about Christmas,
the Oreti and the New Eiver (the name given to the Oreti below
"Wallace town) are subject to be occasionally discoloured by
Bnow-water. This, however, only prevents fly-fishing, and the
latter is at all times of very little good below Benmore. The
minnow, alive, dead, or artificial, is the bait; the creeper,
which does not last beyond Christmas, is not of much use, and
besides is practicably unobtainable about this river. The
whitebait phantom is most used, and with this, taking the
whole river, the largest bags are made.

From Christmas, however, when the water always clears
and soon becomes very bright, the fly, both artificial and
natural, takes the best above Benmore, except at night, when
the minnow is still used. This is especially the case when the
<5ricket, or, more properly, the cicada, becomes plentiful, which
is soon after Christmas, and lasts till the middle of March. Of
all natural baits used in fly-fishing the cricket, a beautiful large
insect with large gauzy wings, takes the cake, or rather the
trout, and with a little practice it can be thrown with a long
two-handed rod as far as the artificial fly. It is found most
plentifully in the short silver tussock and cutting grass,
Abounding near the river, and can be used with success on
the Oreti all the way above Winton and for a few miles below.

It seems surprismg that trout can be caught with spinning
the natural minnow, or, for preference, the smelt or whitebait
phantom, when the water is much discoloured. The honorary
secretary of the Southland society informs me, however, that
he has caught them up to 91b. in weight, spinning on the
shallows when the water is in this condition.

When the water has cleared in the lower reaches where
fly-fishing ceases, that is, a little below Winton, not much can
be done with the minnow on bright days, unless there is a stiff
breeze up-stream from towards the south, or a burster from the
north-west, except at night ; but, be it ever so bright, if there
4ia:e good ripples from a strong wind you may h^ive sport.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 77

Some of the largest bags have been made in the roughest
of weather — wind and rain — when one can hardly keep the
bait on the water. The trout vary in size from lib. to 121b., or
even more, according to locality, the higher you go the smaller
and the lower, towards the New Eiver Estuary, the larger.
Erom Wallacetown up to Dipton you may put the average at
31b. or 41b. They are very capricious in the days and hours of
feeding, and they exhibit the usual decidedly migratory
instincts. Many are caught by the fishermen in the New Eiver
Estuary, and they have travelled thence through the New
Eiver heads around the coast to the Bluff Harbour, a distance
of some twenty miles in the salt sea, where large specimens of
the brown trout have been seen swimming about the piles of
the wharf. In the New Eiver, the name given to the Oreti
south of Wallacetpwn, the trout resemble in appearance the
white trout of Ireland. They have no red spots, but large
brownish X-shaped ones. Enormous numbers of trout are
taken out of the Oreti and New Eiver in the season by the
numerous anglers.

Centre Hill is about the highest point accessible on the
river where there is an hotel. This is about twenty miles west
of Lumsden, which is on the Invercargill and Kingston line of
railway, and can be reached from Lumsden by coach or trap.
The next place, coming down the stream, is Mossburn, where
also there is an hotel, to which a branch railway from Lumsden
extends, but there is only a weekly train, the distance being
ten miles. From Lumsden, down to two or three stations below
Winton, the river can be easily reached by walking from any
one of the numerous stations on the Invercargill and Kingston
line (mentioned in the railway time-tables, which give also the
distances in miles).

At Centre Hill the first tributary of any importance joins the
river. This is Centre Hill Creek, where there are numerous trout
though smaller than in the main stream, and where wading
is not necessary. A little above Lumsden, the Irthing, the
chief of the small streams called the Five Eivers, joins the
Oreti. At Dipton the Dipton Creek joins, but it is small, and
the trout do not exceed a pound in weight. A similar creek
called the Winton Creek joins the river at Winton.

The only other, and the main tributary, is the Makarewa
itself, a large river, which joins the Oreti a little below and
some distance to the west of Wallacetown Junction, where
the Makarewa is crossed by the railway. From here to the
north, as stated above, the Oreti, thus materially increased in
size and volume, is called the New Eiver. The chief stopping-
places on the Oreti below Lumsden are Dipton, Benmore, and
Winton, where there are comfortable hotels.

Lumsden makes a very good centre, both for the Oreti and

78 TBOUT-FISHING

the streams known as the Five Eivers, of which the Irthing
is the principal. These flow into the river between Mossbum
and Lumsden, and can be fished either from the Lumsden,
Mossburn, or Lowther Eailway-stations. In these there is
good fishing to be had throughout the season, but fish become
more difficult to take in February and March. Fly and cricket
are preferred, and, next, live bait. All these streams are prac-
tically free, the owners and occupiers of land at Five Eivers
never refusing permission of visitors to fish. They are mostly
shingle-streams, with little or no bush. Occasionally, but not
often, is wading necessary, and the trout run from lib. to 61b.
These streams are not much fished, on account of the abun-
dance of trout in the Oreti, into which they flow.

Dipton is a township on the Oreti. Here many parts of the
river are accessible, there being a series of beautiful pools and
ripples, high banks on one side alternating with shingle beds
on the other, making wading necessary. Some of the takes in
this part of the river during last season are worth mentioning,
one rod obtaining 338 fish, weighing 1,1171b., and another 560
fish, weighing 6721b. Some of the largest daily takes with
minnow were : thirteen fish, weighing 511b. ; fifteen, weigh-
ing 421b ; twenty weighing 60f lb ; and, with fly, thirty-eight,
weighing 361b. ; twenty, weighing 341b., forty-two, 461b. ; and
fifteen, 321b.

For the Benmore district, Harrington's Crossing is the nearest
railway- station, a mile and a half from Benmore Hotel, which
is situated on the banks of the river. The river here is
entirely open to the public, and affords famous sport, trout
being plentiful and large, taking almost any bait, the phantom
whitebait being the favourite spinner, some heavy fish being
taken with it in the season of 1891-92. With the cricket, too,
some good takes were obtained during the summer months,
and also with the artificial fly, though those taken with the
artificial fly here, as elsewhere, are, as a rule, not so large as
those caught with the minnow or cricket. The banks of the
river are low, without obstruction, but little can be done with-
out wading.

Mention should here be made of the Otapiri Eiver. This is
distant six miles from Centre Bush Station, eight miles from
Benmore Siding, and about the same distance from Harring-
ton's Crossing. It is also open to the public, and can be
reached either in a trap or on horseback ; at any part of it
there is good camping - ground, and a plentiful supply of
firewood.

The Otapiri is a beautiful mountain stream, the hills in
many places coming to the water's edge ; the upper part of
this stream for several miles has a very rough bottom, the
water running rapidly over rocks, and, in some places, large

IN NEW ZEALAND. 79

boulders, until the level country is reached, then it becomes
deep and sluggish. Good sport can be had with trout up to
51b. : they take the fly readily, and are very strong and lively,
the best fishing being down to its junction with the Lora. The
banks are low, with a little flax occasionally, and scarcely any
wading is required : the best time is in the early season. As
no snow comes into this stream, it gets low in dry weather.
Mr. Hunter, in the season of 1891-92, caught here several nice
baskets from twelve up to two dozen in a few hours with the
artificial fly.

Winton is nineteen miles north of Invercargill. The Oreti,
south of Winton Bridge, is seldom if ever fished otherwise than
with minnow. The whitebait soleskin is generally used, and
most anglers prefer the smallest size (about l^in.). The natural
minnow and smelt are plentiful, until a month or six weeks
before the season closes, when they begin to disappear. These
make a splendid bait, either spinning or used alive. They are
not generally used however, on account of the delay and
trouble in obtaining them, and their being somewhat trouble-
some in use. This river is subject to floods, and, flowing
generally through shingle, the creeper is not to be met with
except at rare intervals. This bait, so deadly where it abounds,
is not so attractive to the trout in the Oreti on account of its
scarcity. Here and there the sportsman's course is impeded
for a short distance in some parts of this river by a lagoon or
back-water, making it necessary to diverge from the river-bank,
when all that he need care to do is to close such gates as he
may open, avoid the immediate precincts of a farm-house, and
take no dog among the farmers' sheep.

The Winton Bridge is about twenty miles from Invercargill,
and two from Winton, which is on the Invercargill and King-
ston railway line, and the bridge is reached by a good road.
The evening and early morning are the best times for fishing
the Southland rivers generally, and the Oreti is no exception.
A dull day and a good breeze are, however, pretty certain to
insure good sport throughout the day if the river is free from
flood. Should it be swollen, ifc is best to sink the minnow
well below the bank, and draw slowly but spasmodically up-
stream, when the fish lying underneath the bank will often
rush at it, especially if the flood be not very high.

There are nearer points where the Oreti can be fished.
Oporo, which is a small station on the Eivertoh line beyond
Branxholme, is only about twelve miles from Invercargill, and
can be reached either by rail (see railway time-table) or by
trap, as there is a good road. Another point easily reached
by trap from Invercargill is the Iron Bridge, distant nine miles
on the same road, a little beyond Wallacetown, where one can
fish either above or below the bridge, though the latter fishing

80 TROUT-FISHING

seems preferred. The fish are not quite so numerous as air
and above Winton Bridge ; but they are generally larger, run-
ning from 21b. to 151b. in weight, with an average probably of
41b. to 51b. At a distance of about four miles below the Iron
Bridge, after the Makarewa joins, the water is tidal and slug-
gish, so that the artificial minnow is comparatively useless,
and the natural minnow or bully should be used either living
or spinning. This applies particularly at the New Eiver Ferry
Bridge, which goes across the New River about two miles below
the junction of the Makarewa, and is distant only seven miles
from Invercargill by a good road. This bridge is distant six
miles from the mouth of the New River in the New River
Estuary, and all the way down there is good fishing in the
early part of the season. The best plan is to take a trap for
the day, with luncheon, and a billy for making tea; if you
have good sport the trap will be required to bring home the
catch.

On one such occasion early last season, one rod, fishing from
noon till 4 p.m., inclusive of half an hour for luncheon, caught
with live bully four fish, weighing 121b., 121b., 101b. and 91b., or
431b. altogether. Probably in consequence of the great abun-
dance of minnow life in these lower reaches, and of the fact of
the flow of the tide bringing up smelts and whitebait, the trout
are capricious and difficult to please, and, though dashing
about and breaking the surface just under one's rod, they
generally object, later on in the season, to the size or appear-
ance of the live or spinning natural bait, and exasperatingly
prefer the smaller fry, such as especially the whitebait. The
largest catch that has been reported in the neighbourhood of
the Iron Bridge in one day was nineteen trout, all caught with
the whitebait phantom. These averaged nearly 41b.

The Makarewa, although a tributary, deserves notice as a
distinct river on account of its length and size and different
characteristics. Here the trout in the lower reaches are very
fine in quaUty, and distinct in appearance from the New River
trout. They have red spots, and are reddish in appearance,
instead of a light-brown Hke the New River and Lower Oreti
trout. The banks of this river are confined, and the bed
alternately earthy and gravelly, with very deep holes and pools.
About Wallacetown and the lower reaches the banks are so
high, and beautifully wooded here and there, that to rove with
a fly or minnow would require a balloon. It is only here and
there you can get at the water at all, and the fish seem to feed
exclusively at night, good baskets having been made only then,
the trout running up to 141b. Two or three miles up the river
the banks soon decrease in height, allowing access to the stream
without difficulty. This fishing is easily accessible from Inver-
cargill. Wading is not necessary, and is not of much use.

Fie. I

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*
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IN NEW ZEALAND. 81

About twenty miles up, at the head of the Makarewa, it
branches off into the Hedgehope on the right, and the Lora
and Otapiri — referred to previously — on the left. In the
Hedgehope there are plenty of trout from lib. to 31b., as also
in the Dunsdale Creek, a small stream running into the
Hedgehope ; but it it is twenty-five miles or more from Inver-
cargill, and camping would be necessary.

The mouth of the Makarewa, and a few miles of many
windings towards Wallacetown are approachable only with
a boat, as the banks are forest-lined, making a beautiful avenue
of water through the bush. This is the only part obstructed
by bush to any extent of all the Southland rivers, except,
however, the Purakino Eiver, which runs into the Aparima
Estuary at Kiverton, and is lined with bush, part of the Long-
wood Forest. For the lower waters of the Makarewa use the
minnow, and the upper reaches the fly, and especially the
cricket in its season, or the creeper, which comes in before the
cricket.

The Oreti and its tributaries form the centre of the district.
Taking the streams to the west of the Oreti, the first of
any importance is the Waimatuku, a small stream, across the
whole breadth of which the fly can easily be thrown. It is niiie
miles from Eiverton, and fifteen miles from Invercargill, and
can be reached either by road or rail. Eunning through flat
country it is a sluggish stream. October and November are
the favourite months, there being more water and absence of
weeds, which, when the river gets low in the summer months,
grow up from the bottom. Both Hve bait and fly are used,
and trout have been taken up to 151b., and, since the South-
land society have stocked it regularly, fish are more plentiful,
but not so large. The trout here are of a dark colour, on
account of the swampy water, but of very fine flavour. Wading
is desirable to reach the pools, the banks alternating with
shingle and flax.

Next to the west comes the Aparima, known also as Jacob's
Eiver. It has its rise in the Takatimo Mountains, and after a
course of about seventy miles discharges its waters into the
ocean at Eiverton, where it forms a large estuary, a great portion
of which is left dry at low tide. This river was originally set
apart by the New Zealand Government to be solely stocked
with salmon, and consequently no trout were put into it by
the Southland society. Unfortunately, however, several land-
owners in the district, becoming impatient at the failure of the
early attempts to import salmon ova in the early days, when
direct communication with Great Britain was only with sailing
vessels, obtained trout fry from one source or another, and with
them stocked several tributaries of the Aparima. The natural
consequence of this ill-advised action is that the main stream
6

82 TROUT-FISHING

itself is full of trout, and the difficulty of deciding the question
of the acclimatisation of salmon is increased. The fact that
brown trout in New Zealand show such a strong Hking for salt
water, and the difference in appearance and in other particulars
which this living in salt water has given them, has made their
identification a puzzle to the best experts.

It may be of some interest to refer to the different opinions
that have been given with reference to some fish taken from
the Aparima. As before stated, very many thousands of
salmon-fry have been turned into this river. In May, 1891,
the estuary was netted and several fish taken : these were
distinctly different to any New Zealand form of brown trout.
Some were sent to Professor Hut ton, one of the best authori-
ties in the Southern Hemisphere ; and to myself ; and some
were sent to Dr. Gunther, Curator of the Natural History
Department of the British Museum. I obtained, for the sake
of comparison, a trout from the Acclimatisation Gardens at
Christchurch that had always lived in confinement, and also a
specimen {fercR naturce) from the Selwyn Kiver, both of about
the same weight as the specimen sent from the Aparima.
From an examination of the number of the branchiostegals or
gill-rays, the form of the operculum or giU-cover, the number
of the fin-rays ; the position, size, and shape of the teeth
generally, and especially on the vomer ; the size and form of
the scales generally, and the number from the root of the
adipose fin to the lateral line specially ; the form and position
of the spots on the gill-cover; the length of the maxillary, and
the number of the pyloric coeca, I concluded that the fish
were grilse, and Professor Hutton in the main concurred in
this conclusion. Dr. Giinther, however, in his account of
those forwarded to him, says (see Field newspaper, 9th
January, 1892) : ** The specimens are most assuredly not
salmon (S, salar) ; neither are they brown trout {S. fario).
They are a kind of sea trout (5. trutta), looking extremely
like the Irish white trout. But the different kinds of migra-
tory sea trout are so closely allied to each other that it is
almost a matter of impossibility to give an opinion on arti-
ficially-reared fish or their offspring."

Now, the extraordinary peculiarity of this opinion is that
Dr. Giinther says these fish were certainly not salmon
(S. salar) nor S, fariOf these being the only two kinds of fish
that have ever been put in the river, while he calls them a
kind of sea^rout {S. trutta), which have never been placed
either in this river or in any other within scores of miles of it.
In other words, he says they were certainly neither of the
kinds of fish that were placed in the river in thousands, but
another kind that has never been put there at all.

But, whatever they are, there are large numbers of salmonidaB

IN NEW ZEALAND. 83

in the Aparima Estuary from lib. to 121b. in weight, and
Mr. A. N. Campbell, the curator of the Southland society,
informs me that he has often seen them caught in the same
net at different times with red-cod (Lotella bacchus), barra-
couta (Thyrsites atun), dogfish, elephant-fish, mullet (not thq
Miigily but Agonostoma forsteri), flounders (Bhombosolea mono-
pus) , &c., a plain proof that they can live and thrive with these
voracious fishes as soon as they have attained a certain size.

The number of salmon-fry turned into the Aparima by the
Southland society during the last few years is as follows :
In 1886, 5,500 ; in the latter part of 1887 and 1888, 52,000 ;
And in 1890, 87,000 ; and the Otago society have liberated in
the same river a very much larger number.

The prohibition by the Government of all angling for trout
in this river has caused some little dissatisfaction amongst the
settlers, and representations have been made to have the river
-declared open. The importance of the salmon experiment is,
however, sufficient justification for keeping it closed for the
present. After a time it will probably be opened, and there-
fore some account of it will be useful.

The Aparima, in its long course through the fertile valley
which bears its name, presents every variety of water which
the angler loves and the trout or salmon delight to revel in.
Part of its upper waters is of a rocky character — heavy streams
with deep pools and a rough boulder bottom predominating.
Again it flows between grassy banks, with heavy streams and
deep reaches alternating. Although there are plenty of open
beaches in its course it is by no means a shingle-bed river,
nor is it affected by snow-water to any great extent. Alto-
gether, the Aparima is an ideal stream from an angler's point
of view, producing short and thick fish of the finest quality.

That part of the river under tidal influence could be fished
from Eiverton, and no doubt good bags of large trout would be
made there with minnow or live bait. A few miles further up
is Thornbury Junction, with a good hotel near the river.
Seven miles further is Fairfax, and five miles on is Otautau ;
both have good hotels and are close to the river.

The Kiverton-Nightcaps line stops at each of these places,
and runs daily. Twelve miles up the river from Otautau there
is a hotel, at Wrey's Bush ; but to reach it one must drive
from Otautau, where good conveyances can be got from the
hotelkeeper. This covers over thirty miles of excellent water,
but to fish the upper waters the angler must camp out, the
country being very suitable for this. Fly-fishing should be
very good on the higher parts, and minnow most effective on
the lower portion of the river.

The Otautau. — This is a tributary flowing into the Aparima.
The Otautau runs through the township of that name, distant

84 TROUT-FISHING

from Invercargill thirty miles. From Invercargill there is a
daily train.

The best months are November, December, January, and
February. The minnow (artificial and natural) seems to be
the best lure in this stream, although occasionally fish are
taken with both fly and cricket. The river has a half -chain
reserve on each side, and is consequently public. The upper
portion has confined banks, and is rather sluggish, but the lower
part is shingle, with fine ripples and streams; for the latter
portion waders are necessary. The general sizes of trout
caught would average 2^1b. to 31b. ; fish have been taken up
to 15^1b., and it is quite common to take six to eight fish of
the average size in the course of an afternoon. There is plenty
of hotel-accommodation for anglers in close proximity to the
river, also plenty of camping-ground for those so dis-
posed. The best time of day is generally the evening, but
this, like many other streams, depends greatly on the state
of the water and the weather.

Again, west of the Aparima are the Morley and Orawia.
The nearest fishable water in the Morley is five miles from
Nightcaps, which is situated fourty-four miles north-west of
Invercargill, and is the terminus of the Eiverton-Nightcaps
Railway, and contains an hotel, post- and telegraph-office, and
the usual stores, &c., common to all country townships. The
daily train on most days arrives from town in the evening,
and leaves for town in the morning, so that tourists can get
to or from Invercargill, Queenstown, or Dunedin the same
day. A horse can be had, and occasionally a trap, by giving
notice beforehand, and there is a good summer road all the
way ; and, as there are a few flax-bushes near the stream
here and there, the horses could be tethered while fishing,
and there is ample rough feed at hand, though it would be as
well to take some.

The Morley — a rain-fed stream — rises in the Beaumont
Hill, and receives one or two tributaries before it is joined by
the Orawia near the Birchwood and Mount Linton stations,
ten miles from Nightcaps. It is here that perhaps the best
trout-fishing is to be obtained, although it is also good all the
way down the river, from the junction, called the Orawia, until
it finds its outlet in the famous Waiau River. The lower part
of the Orawia may also be reached from Otautau Railway-
station (thirty miles from Invercargill) , in the same line, where
traps and horses can always be had to the Eastern Bush
Accommodation-house, a distance of about twenty miles, and
not far from the river. A great part of this road is through the
Merrivale Estate, and near the river are the wonderful limestone
caves, which themselves are worth a visit — many visitors coming
every summer to explore their various and extensive caverns.

IN NEW ZEALAND. 85

The Morley and the Orawia, below the junction, are streams
that at the first glance delight the heart of the angler; gravelly
open beaches, with little or no flax or other obstructions to
casting, the bed of the river for the most part consisting of a
soft blue clay-stone, almost like rock in the distance, which
accounts for the very clear water, except when it is in flood.
There are nice ripples and curly pools below them every
hundred yards or so, with occasional fairly-long stretches of
dead-water between ; in the latter it is not much use fishing
unless there is a strong breeze on, when the fly, blowfly, or
cricket may be used with success.

The grub, or creeper as it is here called, is found below the
stones near the margin of the stream up to Christmas and
even later, and sometimes proves a deadly bait ; but this river
may fairly be called the *' phantom " one, for the trout take it
readily even during the day when the wind is favourable — and it
may here be said, in passing, that, as a rule, the east wind is
generally unfavourable for sport ; but as there is not much of it
in Southland during the season the angler is rarely disappointed
in this way. Bullies and other live bait are to be had for the
catching, and will probably prove more deadly than the arti-
ficial ; but, of course, this entails extra trouble. Flies will
take during the early part of the season, the best being the
March brown, red and black hackle, and governor — which,
indeed, may be called the standard flies for the Southland
District. There is no reserve on either side of the river,
which, for the most part, runs through private property, the
owners of which have never been known to refuse access to
any true sportsman. It is fordable in ordinary weather.
Waders are advisable, otherwise many choice casts may be
missed. Few small trout are caught, the usual size being
from 41b. to 81b., the average being about 51b., and five or
six a day may be considered fair sport. The minnow-tackle
should be strong, but not too stout, owing to the clearness of
the water, and it is needless to say that up-stream fishing is
the best, and keeping out of sight if possible — almost indis-
pensable if the angler wishes to secure fish — when the water
is clear. The river has been annually stocked with young
trout of different kinds for some years past, and as it is not
much fished it ought, in a few years more, to yield better sport
than hitherto ; but it is not probable that the trout will be
heavier except in the lower water, which experience has shown
the larger fish make for in time.

Just stopping to mention the Wairaki (which falls into the
Waiau twelve miles beyond Mount Linton), with its beautiful
clear blue water, with shingle and pebbles, and some fine trout
in it, as being at present too far out of the way of the angler,
we pass on to the Waiau Eiver — a mighty stream, draining

86 TKOUT-FISHING

the great Te Anau and Manapouri Lakes — very large, deep,
and rapid. On account of its great size, depth, and swiftness,,
and its comparative remoteness from settlement, it is unfished,
and practically as yet unfishable to any profitable extent,
though there are trout in it of enormous size. It falls into th&
sea six miles above Orepuki, the terminus of the Orepuki
Branch-railway from River ton.

The only other tributary of the Waiau on the Invercargill
side of it is the Mararoa, falling into the Waiau below Lake
Manapouri. This river drains the Mavora Lake, far to the
north, and can be easily reached by the coach running in the
summer from Lumsden to Lake Te Anau. You pass beyond
Centre Hill, and are dropped at a new hotel en route, which is^
situated near the river at its best part. The river is swift,,
running over a rough bed of shingle, boulders, pebbles, and
gravel, with clear and low banks. Wading, of course, is pre-
ferable, though not absolutely necessary. The fish run large,
a ten-pounder being frequently met with. Minnow- spinning,
dead or artificial, is the mode employed, excepting in the cricket
season, when the cricket takes best ; and the scenery, being
near to the Takatimos and Mount Hamilton, is very fine.

Having now exhausted the principal streams to the west of
the Oreti and its tributaries, we turn to the east.

On this side the nearest stream to Invercargill is the
Waihopai. This small river rises about Morton Mains, on the
Invercargill and Dunedin Railway, and falls into the New
River Estuary, there called the Waihopai estuary, two miles
on the north road from Invercargill. , It is much obstructed by
bush towards its mouth and by flax here and there further up.
The best fishing is at One-tree Point Railway-station, on the
east road, six miles oif. It has been heavily stocked with fry
by the Southland society, but it runs very low in a dry
summer, and the trout are large but not very numerous.
When it is blowing half a gale is the best time in the day, as
the water is clear and rather peaty. No wading is required.
The fish are of good quality, and go from 31b. to 101b. or more
in weight, the minnow only being used — the natural for prefer-
ence. The angler must be content if he takes two or three of
these big fish in a day. Just at and after dark they generally
take freely.

There is no other stream on this side until you come to the
Mataura River, at the Mataura Township, on the same line of
railway, and \vhich river forms the eastern boundary of the
Southland society's district to the sea. This is a magnificent
river, longer and larger than the Oreti, which it resembles in
some respects, with less shingle and more gravel and sand. It
has one disadvantage in being very often discoloured at other
times than during floods, owing to the discolouration through

IN NEW ZEALAND. 87

mining operations which takes place in the Waikaia Eiver,
flowing into the Mataura at the Pyramids Bridge, opposite
Eiversdale, on the Waimea Plains.

There is no tributary to the Mataura Eiver on the Inver-
cargill side from Mataura Town all the way down to the sea,
the tributaries in this distance being on the other side of the
river, and therefore included in the Otago acclimatisation dis-
trict — ^viz., the Mimihau and the Wyndham rivers, which have
their mouths near Wyndham Town. We turn, therefore, up-
stream from Mataura, and the first stream on the west side is
the Waimumu, between Mataura and Gore. This is very
small, but the trout thrive, and are numerous, it being con-
tinually stocked by the Southland society. Then we come to
the Otamita, running into the Mataura at Mandeville, on the
Waimea Plains Eailway, distant from Gore about ten miles.
It has its source in the Hokanui Hills. It is entirely de-
pendent on the rainfall for its supply of water, consequently in
a dry summer it gets so low as to be almost unfishable, and
the trout become an easy prey to the poacher. For the first
three months of ths fishing-season, however, this is, without
exception, the best fly-fishing river in Otago or Southland. A
few years ago the trout averaged over 41b. in weight ; now
they run smaller. Mr. A. N. Campbell fished this river off
and on for three months one year, and caught 120 trout,
which averaged a little over 41b., the heaviest being TJlb.
All of them were caught with fly, and he generally gave it up
when he thought he had over 201b. in the bag. Three seasons
ago — 1889-90 — the summer was very dry, of which the
poachers took full advantage, and almost cleared the river of
large trout ; also, the local anglers found out what a deadly
bait the creeper is, and with it made enormous bags. As much
as 701b. were taken by one rod in a day, and baskets of from
401b. to 501b. were very common. This is altogether too much
for a small river like the Otamita if the stock of large trout is
to be kept up. The trout in this river now average about 21b.,
and this last season — 1891-92 — there was a marked increase
in weight over the previous one, so that, if the river only gets
fair play, the fish will soon recover their former average.

There are fully twelve miles of good fishing-water with clear
open well-defined grassy banks and no shingle-beds. Good
accommodation can be had at the Eailway Hotel at Mande-
ville, close to the river on the Waimea Plains Une, which con-
nects with the express from Dunedin to Invercargill at Gore
every day. Most of the Otamita runs through private pro-
perty, but the proprietor very kindly makes all true anglers
welcome. A fairly skilful angler ought to get from 201b. to
301b. on a good day with fly in the beginning of the season, or
with cricket later on. The flies found most successful are

88 TBOUT-FISHING

March brown, black gnat, red quill, and otaniita, which latter
is a fly Mr. Campbell discovered some years ago, and which is
now sold under that name at all the Ashing- tackle shops.

The only other tributary to the Mataura Kiver on the
Southland side of any importance is the Waimea Stream,
which is nearly the same size and length as the Otamita,
and falls into the Mataura a little above the stream. The
lower reaches of these two streams are very near together,
so that an angler can fish both of them with ease. While the
Otamita is essentially a stream for the artificial fly, the Wai-
mea is rather for the minnow and the cricket, and is the' less
attractive and prolific, being a somewhat sluggish stream.

Mention has been made of the Waikaia, which flows into
the Mataura on the Otago side of the river some twenty
miles above Gore, and of the discolouration caused to the
Mataura below the mouth of the Waikaia from the washings
from the gold-diggings. Yet this part of the Mataura is full
of trout, and large numbers are caught every season with
minnow, and also with fly when the water clears through the
discontinuance of mining operations. During the season
1891-92 Mr Sparks, of Gore, took on one day from the
Mataura, with fly, fourteen fish, averaging 31b., and also had
some excellent takes with minnow and Archer spinner. Mr.
Cumberbeach, of Gore, caught, in three hours* fishing one
afternoon with cricket, eleven fish, weighing dOflb., and on
another afternoon nine fish with artificial minnow, weighing
371b., the heaviest being 5^1b. These are some of the best
takes ; but it is rare that any expert angler fails to get a good
basket of trout when the river is in anything like order.
Above the Pyramids Bridge, on the Waimea Plains, the
Mataura is clear after the snows have melted on the ranges,
Hke the Oreti. This is about Christmas, and thereafter there
is first-rate sport to be had all the way up to Garston, on the
Kingston line of railway, and a Httle beyond. The river runs
parallel to Eiversdale and Longridge, on the Waimea line, but
on the other side of the plains under the hills, and distant
from three to seven miles. Opposite Longridge, however, is
the outlet of the Nokomai Eocky Gorge, through which the river
flows, and this soon stops the angler. He must then take the
rail through Lumsden and Lowther to Parrawa and Athol.
There is an accommodation-house at Parrawa, which is at the
head of the long gorge ; also at Athol, a more central point,
whence the angler can fish unobstructed either up the river
by the Nokomai Station to Garston or down to Parrawa. By
taking a trap from Athol he can spend a delightful day in the
gorge, crossing the river three or four times, and going dovyn
the gorge some miles. During the months of January,
February, and March there is nothing to beat the cricket,

IN NEW ZEALAND. 89

•which is here abundant; but when the water is discoloured
by rain good sport can be had with the minnow, spinning the
natural bait for preference. When, however, the water should
happen to clear earlier in the season there is first-rate sport with
the artificial fly, such as the March brow^n and governor.

Here must conclude the description of the Southland dis-
trict, and with it this short account of the trout-fishing to be
had in New Zealand. Many rivers have been passed over with
a short and curt description ; many of the smaller ones have
not been mentioned at all ; yet sufficient, I hope, has been
written to give inquirers some outline of what sport is to be
had. In Mr. Seton-Karr's book (" Ten Years' Travel and Sport
in Foreign Lands," pp. 238-239), he gives an account of some
trout-fishing in south-east Finland, where the weights of the
fish caught appear to be equal to ours ; but the water is the
property of a wealthy and exclusive club, and apparently very
limited in comparison with the enormous range of perfectly
free trout-fishing afforded to the angling fraternity here.

Lastly, I should hke to add, for the satisfaction of any
English reader, that nothing has been inserted in this little
work on hearsay, but all the numbers of trout and weights
mentioned have been certified as correct either by some accli-
matisation society or well-known colonists. If there is any
part of the world where trout are larger and more numerous
than in New Zealand, nobody will be more pleased to hear of
it than myself ; but till then I think we may fairly claim, in
this record-making era, to have established one both for weight
and numbers of Salmo fario. It is not too much to say that
hitherto no New Zealand angler has dared to speak the truth
at Home about our fishing for fear of being looked upon as an
unmitigated '* something," and many a colonist can look back
with pain on the polite silence with which his perfectly truth-
ful statements have been met in many a London club. If this
little work tends to remove their suspicipns of our veracity, to
assist the many thousand anglers in England to a knowledge
of the fishing to be had in this Httle colony, and tft tempt only
a few of them to come and enjoy it for themselves, I shall feel
that it has not been written in vain. Begun originally as a
mere pastime to fill up a few spare winter evenings, it has
ended by taking up most of my leisure time for several months ;
yet I can scarcely look back upon this time as misspent if the
information here afforded in any way assists hereafter a few of
my brethren of the rod to a tithe of the pleasure I have derived
during the last ten years from an occasional day on some New
Zealand stream.

Christchurch, New Zealand, September, 1892,

APPENDIX.

List op REQUiREMEirrs fob any Rain-river.

A 12ft. fly-rod, check-reel and 40 yards fine line, creel or bag, 3-yard fly-
casts, flies, silk and wax, No. 6 or No. 7 plain hooks (eyed upwards), shot,,
or small coil of flne lead wire ; small tin box for carrying creepers or
beetles ; small round tin box, or equivalent, with sponge or flannel for
keeping moist some spare flies and casts ; disgorger, landing-net or gafl,
pocket-knife or pair of folding scissors, bait-can if live bait to be used,
small net for bait-catching.

List of Requirements for any Snow-river.

A 14ft. or 15ft. rod, check-reel and 60 yards line, strong, but not too
thick or heavy; creel or bag, traces with at least two swivels, 3-yard
strong gut casts, tin box containing various spinning-baits, such as the
whitebait phantom, Devon, and others ; silk and wax. No. 6 or No. 7
plain hooks (eyed upwards), lead wire, some strong spare gut for repairing
the mountings of spinning-baits, spare swivels and triangles, disgorger^
gafl, small round tin box, or its equivalent, with wet sponge or flannel for
spare trace ; pocket-knife or pair of folding scissors, bait-can, bait-net.

Camping Outfit.

A tent for two, three, or even four persons, 8ft. by 10ft., with fly at least
10ft. by 12ft., or, better, 12ft. by 14ft. ; ridge- and tent-poles ; twenty-four
iron pins of Jin. iron lOin. long, for ropes ; some smaller pins or wire bent

thus fl for fastening sides of tent ; two billies, each holding at least two
quarts; plates, frying-pan, coflee-pot, small kettle, candles and candle-
stick, with 3 yards copper wire to support candlestick from ridge-pole ;
small tomahawk, file, cups, knives, forks, spoons, tin-opener, provisions,
blankets ; one air-bed, with pillow and bellows, 80in. by 36in. If no air-
bed, by all means have plain waterproof sheet. Oft. 6in. by 3ft. 6in.

Regulations for Trout-fishing, Eastern Acclimatisation District^

South Island.

1. Licenses to flsh for or take trout in all the waters of the South
Island Eastern Acclimatisation District (with the exception of the
Aparima River and its affluents and confluents, in which fishing is pro-
hibited) will be issued by either of the secretaries of the North Canterbury,
Ashburton, South Canterbury, Geraldine, Waitaki-Waimate, Otago, Lakes
District, and Southland Acclimatisation Societies, and for every such
license a fee of twenty shillings will be charged : Provided that it shall
not be obligatory upon any of the said secretaries to issue a license : Pro-
vided further that it shall be lawful for any of the said secretaries to
issue licenses for the whole season to ladies, or to boys under the age of
sixteen years, for the sum of five shillings each ; and to youths between

92 TROUT-FIBHING

the ages of sixteen and eighteen years of age for ten shillings each ; and
to men, on and after the twentieth day of December in any year, jk)r
the sum of twelve shillings and sixpence each.

2. Licenses when issued as aforesaid for the whole season shall entitle
the person named therein to fish for or take trout in any of the said
waters from the first day of October in any one year to the fifteenth day
of April in the year following ; but no such license shall confer any right
of entry upon the land of any person without his consent.

3. No person shall fish for, take, catch, or kill, or have in his possession*
or attempt to fish for, take, catch, or kill, in ajiy manner whatever, any
of the salmonidse or trout, except during the above-mentioned period.

4. Every such license shall entitle the person named therein to fish
for or take trout with one rod and line only, and with the following baits :
Natural or artificial fiy, natural or artificial minnow, and any small
indigenous fish, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, creepers, and worms.

5. No person shall use any other bait, or any method, device, or con-
trivance of ajiysort or kind whatever, for the purpose of fishing for,
taking, catching, or killing trout, except a rod and line, and a landing-
net or gaff for fish taken vTith rod and line.

6. No cross-line fishing, stroke-hauling, or any other unsportsmanlike
device shall be used for the purpose of taking, catching, or killing trout ;
nor shall any of the baits above mentioned be used with any medicated
or chemical preparation whatever.

7. No person shall fish for or take trout without a license, and every
person fishing for or taking trout shall, on demand of any ranger, con-
stable, or person producing a license, produce and show to such ranger,
•constable, or person his license, and the contents of his creel or bag,
and the bait used by him for taking, catching, or killing trout.

8. Every trout not exceeding eight inches in length from nose to tip of
tail taken or caught by any person shall immediately be returned alive
into the water from which the same is taken.

9. No person shall put, throw, or place, or allow to be put, thrown, or
placed, in any of the said waters, any sawdust or sawmill refuse, or any
thing of any kind or description whatever poisonous, deleterious, or
noxious to fish. This shall not apply to debris or tailings from mining
claims.

10. No person shall take, fish for, catch, or kill in any manner what-
ever, or have in his possession, any salmon, salmon-parr, or smolts, or
the ova, young, or fry of any salmon in any stage whatever; and any
of the above-named taken by accident or otherwise shall immediately be
returned to the water from whence it was taken.

11. No person other than is provided by the regulations for taking
lake trout shall sell, or expose or ofier for sale, within the district to
which these regulations relate, any of the salmonidae, trout, perch, or
tench, or take, fish for, catch, or kill any of the salmonidse, trout, perch,
or tench in order to meike sale of the same.

12. No person shall put, throw, drag, draw, or place, or allow to be
put, thrown, dragged, drawn, or placed, for any purpose whatever, any
net of any description (except a landing-net) in any of the rivers or
streams in the said district, or within half a mile of the mouth or
entrance of any such waters, except as may be provided in regulations
authorising the taking of lake trout.

13. Licenses to fish for perch and tench only in all the waters of the
South Island Eastern Acclimatisation District will be issued by either of

IN NEW ZEALAND. 93^

the secretaxies of the North Canterbury, Ashburton, South Canterbury^
GeraJdine, Waitaki - Waimate, Otago, Lakes District, and Southland
Acclimatisation Societies, and for any such license a fee of five shillings
shall be paid : Provided that it shall not be obligatory upon any of the
said Secretaries to issue a license: Provided further that a license to-
fish for trout shall be deemed to include permission, subject to these
regulations, to fish for perch and tench.

14. No person shall take, catch, or kill any perch or tench under six
inches in length, nor shall any perch or tench be taken, caught, or killed
at all, or had in possession of any person, between the thirtieth day of
June in any year and the thirty-first day of January in the following
year.

15. The penalty for the breach of ^ny of these regulations shall not be
more than fiJEty pounds.

N.B. — These regulations will possibly be subject to small alterations.
Those in force in the North Island are very similar ; trout, however^
must exceed 9in. to be taken.

IZSTD E X.

In the Index the following abbreviations are used: L., lake; R., river; A.,
Auckland Acclimatisation District ; T., Taranaki or New Plymouth ; H., Hawke's
Bay; Ta., Tauranga; W., Wellington; N., Nelson; C, Canterbury; Wa., Waitaki
and Waimate ; O., Otago ; S., Southland.

A.

Acclimatisation in New Zealand, 1

Acclimatisation, Success of, in
South Island, 31

Acclimatisation, Wellington Pro-
vince, 4

Acheron R., C, 43

AhuririR., Wa., 61

Alpine Char, 8

Alresford, Trout from, 3

Angler, Cautions to, in Fishing
Snow-rivers, 16

Angler, Equipment of. Appendix A

Aorere R., N., 38

Aparima R., S., Placing of Salmon
in, 8, 12, 81, 83

Artesian Water, 3

Arthur, late Mr., Observations of,
6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 56

Ashburton R., 0., 1, 51

Ashley R., C, 44

Auckland Province, 5, 30, 31

Avon R., C, 3, 46

B.

Back Creek., O., 69

Baits, what, allowed, 19

Bait-can, 26

Balclutha, Township of, as Centre,

66
Beaumont Bum, O., 70
Beetle, Use of, as Bait, 21, 32
Black-cleugh Burn, O., 70
Black-fellow, or Creeper, where

found, 22
Black-pine, Grub from, 22
Boreal Province, 10
Brogues, 28
Buller B., N., 41
Bullhead, 1, 15

Bullheads, Number of, found in

Trout, 15
Bullheads, Use of, as Bait, 25, 35
Butels Creek, 0., Yearly Growth of

Trout in, 14

C.

Camp-bed, Usefulness of, 30
Camping-out, 29, 45, 50
Camping-out, Outfit for. Appendix
Canterbury, Acclimatisation in, 3
Carpione Trout, 6, 8
Casts, what, required, 20, 22, 46
Catlin's River, S., 73
Centre Hill Creek, S., 77
Char, American Brook, 3, 5
Chatham Islands, Drift of Current

towards, 10
Chili, Ilaplochiton found in, 6
Christchurch, Hatchery at, 3, 8
Cicada, Use of, 21, 35, 76, 78
Clarence R., C, 1, 18, 43
Ghnton, Hatchery at, 2, 6, 8
Clinton, Centre for Waiwera, 67
Clutha R., O., 1, 2, 63, 67, 68
Creel, Size of, 28
Creeper, where found and used, 22,

32, 44, 47, 73 85
Crooks ton Burn, 0., 70
Oust R., 0., 46

D.
Dart R., 0., 70
Deep Stream, Yearly Growth of

Trout in, 13, 73
Devon Minnow, Use of, 2, 15, 23, et

passim
Disgorger, Use of, 28
Dipton Creek, S., 77
Dog Creek, C, 44

96

Index.

Dome Creek, O., 74
Dansdale Greek, S., 81

E.

Eamscletfgh Barn, O., 70
Electricity, Effect of, on Trout, 26
EUesmere L., 47

F.

Falkland Islands, Haplochiton

found in, 6
Farr, Mr., Salmon ova procured by
Field Newspaper quoted, 82, 48
Fish, Comparison of, on New Zea-
land Coasts, 10
Fishing-boxes at Lake EUesmere,

48
Fishing, Free Nature of, 85, 89, 68,

75, 84, 89
Fishing-tackle, Kinds of, Required,

19-24, 84, 85
Five Rivers, S., 77
Flax, New Zealand, 22
Fly-fishing, Largest Trout taken in,

20
Flies, what, required, 21, 35, 46, 58,

62, 85, 88 ,
Fly-rod, what, required, 20
Food-supply, Abnormal Character

of, 15, 65
Fruid Burn, O., 70
Fulton's Creek, Yearly Growth of

Trout in, 14

G.

Gaff, Use of, in Spinning, 28
Geen's Spiral Minnow, 23
Geraldine County, Acclimatisation

in, 51
Glenomaru R., O., 65
Grayling, Native, 6
Greenstone R., O., 70
Grilse, Capture of, in Aparima, 9
Gows Creek, 0., 74
Gum-boots, Use of, 28
Giinther, Dr., Opinion of, 82
Gut, Attention necessary to keep,

35

H.

Hae-hae-te-moana R., C, 57

Hakateramea R., Wa., 61

Hall's Creek, C, 48

Hanmer Plains, 43

Happy Valley R., N., 38, 42

Hatching-houses, 3

Hatching out. Different Periods of,

3,6
Hatchery at Clinton, 2

Hawea L., O., 63, 72
Hawea R., O., 71
Hawera, Central Position of, 33
Hawke's Bay, 30, 32
Hedgehope R., S., 81
Henderson's Stream, A., 31
Heriot Burn, O., 70
History of Acclimatisation, 1,
Horokiwi R., N., 37
Hurunui R., C, 1, 44
Hutt County, Sport in, 34
Hutt R., W., 36

I.

Inaha R.. T., 33
Inanga, 2, et passim^ 25, 35
Inglewood, T., 33
Irthing R., O., 77
Itchen, Hants, 3

J.

Jacobs or Aparima R., S., 8, 9, 12,
81

Kahawai, Abundance of

Kaihiku R., O., 66

Kakanui R., 0., 63

Kaiwera or Otaria R., O., 70

Kaitangata Creek, O., 65

Kaiwhata R., W., 4

Katipo (venomous spider) Rarity of, 7

Kawarau R., O., 63, 70

Koan R., O., 64, 66

Kowai R., C, 44

Kuriwao R., O., 2, 3, 67

L.

Lake Heron, Large Trout in, 14

Lake Heron, Spearing Trout in,*14

Landing-net, 28, 34

Lake Trout, Yearly Growth of, 14

Leader R., C, 44

Lee Stream, Yearly Growth of

Trout in, 13, 73
Licenses to fish for Trout, 19
Limestone Caves, 40, 84
Leither R., 0., 70
Lindis R., 71

Line, what, necessary, 21, 22
Loch Leven Trout, 3
Lochy R., O., 70
LoraR., S., 79,81
Lyttelton, Capture of Trout at, 12

M.

Maerewhenua R., Wa., 62
Maitai R., N., 38, 41
Makakahi R., W., 38

Index,

97

Makataura R., T., 34

Makarewa R., S., 77, 80

Manapouri L., 86

Manawatu R., H., 32

Mangawara R., A., 31

Manuherikea R., O., 63

Maoris, Paucity of, in South Island,

31
Mason R., 0., 44
Marshall's Creek, 2
Masterton, Hatchery at, 4, 6, 37
Masterton, Fishing at, 22
Mataura R., 0., S., 72, 86
Matau R., O., 64
Mavora L., S., 86
Milford Lagoon, 55, 56
Minnow, New Zealand, 25
Minzion Burn, O., 70
Mimihau R., O., 72
Morley R., S., 84
Molyneaux R., O., 63
Morison*s Creek, O., 65
Motueka R., N., 38, 40
Motupiko R., N., 38, 41

N.

Native Grayling, 6
New River or Oreti, S., 75
Ngatoros R., T., 33
Ngaruroro R., T., 32
Night-fishing, Method and Charac-
ter of, 26
North Island, 30

O.

Oamaru Creek, Wa., 62

Ohapi R., C, 55

Ohau L., 2, 61

OkukuR., 0., 44

Okoroire R., A., 31

Opihi R., C, 52-54

Opoho, Hatchery at, 6, 8

Opotiki R., C, 54

Opuha R., C, 54

Oraka R., A., 31

Orari R., C, 52

Orawia R., S., 84

Oreti R., S., 75

Orari, Station of, for Winchester, 55

Otago, Acclimatisation in, 2

Otago Harbour, Capture of Trout

Id, 12
Otaki R., Grayling found in, 6
Otamita R., S., 87
Otapiri R., S., 78
Otautau R., S., 83
Otaria Creek, O., 70
Otemata Creek, 62
Otorohanga R., A., 31

Ova, Transit Experiments with, 5
Ova, Salmon, from England, 8
Owake R., O., 73, 74

P.

Palmerston, 2

Pareora R., C, 61

Pakuratahi R., W., 36

Pegs, Tent, 29

Phantom Minnow, Use of, 2, 15, et

passim
Plenty, Bay of, 10, 32
Phormium Tenax (New Zealand

Flax), 20
Pilbrow, Mr., Accident to, 16
Piakau R., T., 34
Poles, Tent, 29
Pokaiwhenua R., A., 31
Porirua R. and Inlet, W., 37
Pomahaka R., O., 63, 67
Puerua R., O., 65
Pukaki L., 2, 61
Purakino R., S., 81

R.

Rabbits, Quantity of, in Clarence
Valley, 43

Rain-rivers, 2

Rainbow Trout, 5, 31

Rakaia R., C, 1, 2, 24, 48, 51

Rakaia, Accident at Mouth of, 16

Rakaia, Prolific Character of, 49, 55

Rangitata R., C, 1, 51

Rainfall, Small, in Summer, 29

Rankle Burn, O., 69

Rees River, O., 70

Regulations for taking Trout, 19,
Appendix B

Requirements for Rain -river, Ap-
pendix

Requirements for Snow -river. Ap-
pendix

Rhine Salmon, 8

River-beds, Crown Property in, 20

Rivers, Reserve along Banks of, 20

Riwaka R., N., 38, 42

Roding R., N., 39

Rods, Kind of, required, 20

Rotoiti L., 32, 38

Rotorua L., 32

Ruamahanga R., W., 87

S.

Salmon, Calif omian, 7

Salmon, English, Attempts to Ac-
climatise, 7, 82

Salmon -fry turned into Aparima,
83

Salmon, Rhine, 8