AN ANGLER'S PARADISE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sut,—As a recent visitor to New Zealand—I was there in the early, months of last year—I think it is only fair that I shoUld support the article, "An Angler's Paradise," which, in My opinion, did not in any sense over-sketch the picture. I spent four weeks in camp on the River Tongariro, which is the principal stream flowing into Lake Taupo at the Southern end, and although unfamiliar with the water, and hardly equipped with manly enough tackle (salmon kit is necessary), my friend and I killed during that period nearly three-quarters of a ton of fish, under the most sporting conditions, the average weight being 61 lb. That weight, by the way, is not anything to boast about, as I was told by an experienced fellow-camper, who has fished the same beat for many seasons, that last year the run of fish was greater, and the average weight of fish falling to his roil was 101 lb. It is a wonderful record, and I have no reason whatever to doubt his statement. I had many oppertimities of meeting brother anglers, who were fishing other streams in the Taupo district, and both as to average weight and number of fish killed their evidence bears out the truth of the statements made in your article entitled " An Angler's Paradise."
Lake Taupo a year or two ago was netted in order to reduce the number of fish, and to the best of my recollection about 50 tons were taken out.
I spent A. week on the Lake itself, and wherever the tributary streams fall in rainbow trout in tremendous quantities and of a large size abound. The prevailing method, however, of fishing on the Lake is by trolling the fly and, consequently, of much leis interest thaii the rivers, which arc entirely casting. The pity is that the rivers are nbtopeiked up further than they are.
There are many miles of beautiful water which could be fished if the banks were cleared.
My feeling is that the title of the article in .question " An Angler's 'Paradise," as applied to New Zealand, is entirely justified.—I am, Sir, &c.,
DISNEY BARLOW.
The Chace, Woodhouse Eaves, near Loughborough,
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