388 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



trout were introduced, and the catches of them in these 

 lakes continue to furnish new and wonderful records for 

 lake fishing. 



Undoubtedly the river in New Zealand which has yielded 

 the greatest individual takes of trout, and which is there- 

 fore the best trout river in the world is the Tongariro. 



As regards the size of the rainbow trout in the Northern 

 Island fishing, where the Tongariro discharges itself into 

 Lake Taupo, six trout were taken by one rod in 1911 on 

 one night averaging 17 pounds each. 



The female rainbow trout in the Northern Island in 

 January and February will give as much fun as sea trout 

 of the same weight. This is the highest praise that can be 

 bestowed on a fish, and although the big fish do not come 

 at the dry fly, the struggle that ensues when a fish is caught 

 with a wet fly, will repay the voyage to New Zealand. 



Major Squire, a fishing client of mine, killed in thirty-six 

 days 240 rainbow trout weighing 2,034 pounds, an average of 

 8J pounds per fish. My friend, however, whose interests 

 are by no means centred in making records, looks upon his 

 fishing as a scientific pleasure, and did not attempt in any 

 way to emulate others, simply fishing as the fancy took him 

 and discontinuing his fishing when he was tired. In 1910 

 one of the most indefatigable fishermen of New 

 Zealand, in one day caught forty-two fish, weighing 419 

 pounds, and of these thirty-seven were killed on the 

 fly. As this means an average of 10 pounds to a fish, 

 I should think no more wonderful record has ever been 

 made. Not only does it show the wonderful richness of 

 the river, but it speaks of extraordinary endurance on the 

 part of the fisherman. When it is remembered that a rain- 

 bow of 10 pounds will on the average give as much fight 

 as a fresh running salmon of 16 pounds, the endurance 

 in making such a record is marvellous. I have received 



