NEW ZEALAND AS A FISHING GROUND 385 



red deer and wild boar, pheasants and abundance of birds 

 are common and afford excellent sport. The cost of a 

 sportsman's licence, which has to be obtained from the 

 Government, is by no means heavy. The boars have been 

 a feature of both islands since the days of Captain Cook, who 

 touched at Wellington on his passage between the Northern 

 and Southern Islands, and the descendants of the pigs he let 

 loose on the Southern Island provide some of the finest 

 trophies obtainable anywhere. 



The fishing in the Southern Island can be enjoyed until 

 after Christmas, and it will then be well for the tourist to 

 proceed to the Northern Island the island which is so 

 celebrated for its rainbow trout. The two or three months 

 which he will thus spend in the lower island will have 

 afforded him experience which will be among the most 

 exciting and pleasant reminiscences of his life time. He will 

 have had some thoroughly good sport, he may possibly 

 have come across many other travellers and have formed 

 many delightful acquaintances, while he will have been 

 living amongst the most beautiful, striking and interesting 

 scenery in the world. 



The fishing tourist in the Northern Island should depend 

 on the advice he receives from the New Zealand Agency with 

 regard to the best method of reaching the particular rivers 

 he desires to fish. 



The most interesting river in New Zealand is the 

 Wanganui. It can be reached easily by rail, either from 

 Wellington or Auckland, and both above and below 

 Taumarunuii it should be fished from a boat or canoe. 

 It is probably the most beautiful river in the world, 

 unsurpassed either in its grandeur or scenery. It flows 

 from the centre of the Northern Island and empties itself 

 into the sea about 150 miles north of Wellington. 

 The Wanganui is as rich in legendary lore as in 



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