Tasmanian Fly Fishing Museum Part 2
(This document was given to us by Mike Stevens, from Tasmania. In our July issue we gave the history of Australian fly fishing up until 1864, as recorded in these notes.
In this issue he have the history from 1864 to 1900. Not the complete history by any means, but an interesting review of the development of fly fishing in Australia, and particularly Tasmania.)
1864
Cholmondeley-Pennell, H., ed. (1864, 1865)
The Fisherman’s Magazine and Review. Chapman and Hall: London; 8vo; two volumes (Vol. 1, April to December 1864 and Vol. 2, January to October 1865); 432pp and 479pp; 52 illustrations including 11 full page colour plates of fish and 14 full page black and white illustrations; hard cover. Contains articles on acclimatisation of salmon and trout in Australia including historic correspondence of Anglicus Australis (Bob Dunn). Vol. 2 includes Fishing in Australia by Anglicus Australis (p.24), Salmon Ova for Australia (p.135), a brief note about the death of young salmon in Tasmania (p.332) and The Angler in Australia; No. 2 (p.371) which relates an extended account of fishing on the Clarence. Anglicus Australis was the pseudonym of New South Wales District Court judge, Henry Ralph Francis. In Fishing in Australia, H.R. Francis famously writes: My first word on Australian angling must be a dismal confession. There is no fly-fishing worthy the name in New South Wales. (p.26)
1864
Allport, Morton (1864)
Account of the recent successful introduction of the salmon ova to Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1864, pp.39-42.
1864
Allport, Morton (1864)
Further notes on the introduction of the salmon into Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1864, pp.110-114.
1865
Francis, Henry Ralph
Fishing in Australia. Fisherman’s Magazine, vol. II, 1865, pp.24-30.
1865
Francis, Henry Ralph
The angler in Australia. Fisherman’s Magazine, vol. II, 1865, pp.371-378.
1866
Successful attempt (Youl) to transport 93,000 salmon ova, 15,000 salmon trout ova and 500 brown trout ova from London to Melbourne and Tasmania on the Lincolnshire.
1866
Allport, Morton (1866)
Report of the late successful experiment for the introduction of salmon ova and sea trout ova to Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1866, pp.39-42. 1866 (June): 2nd edition.
1866
Cholmondeley-Pennell, H. (1866)
Fishing Gossip or Stray Leaves from the Notebooks of Several Anglers. Adam and Charles Black: Edinburgh; 12mo; (xi), 329pp; vignette on title page, fishing scene frontispiece and text illustrations; hard cover with gilt angling motif on spine. One of the earliest references to angling in Australia, An Angler At The Antipodes by H.R. Francis, is included.
1867
Piguenit, W.C. and Henn, M.L. [1867]
The Salmon Ponds and Vicinity, New Norfolk, Tasmania. M.L. Henn: Hobart Town; oblong 37x52cm; [1] leaf; [6] tinted plates (a very faint yellow; each about 22x32cm) drawn on stone by W.C. Piguenit (pronounced as though the name ends in ‘et’, according to Clifford Craig in The Engravers of Van Diemen’s Land; p.109) and lithographed by M. L Henn; limp paper with a blue cloth spine. The engraved front wrapper has the view of the falls and the title within a tinted oval lithograph (24x38cm) headed The Salmon Ponds and Vicinity, New Norfolk, Tasmania, illustrated by W.C. Piguenit. The one page of letterpress gives a short history of the successful introduction of salmon into Tasmania, including earlier attempts on the S. Curling (an utter failure), and the Beautiful Star, a small iron vessel intended for a steam collier, but then sent under sail to Tasmania.
1867
Illustrated London News (1867)
Salmon Ponds at New Norfolk, in The Illustrated London News, No. 1410, vol. L, 16 January 1867. The article discusses efforts to bring trout and salmon to the Australian waters. The accompanying engraving of the Salmon Ponds, 14.8×23.7cm, is by Major Wingate of Darlinghurst.
1868
Allport, Morton (1868)
Reasons for the introduction of the perch into Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1868, pp.56-57.
1870
First published in the Ballarat Evening Mail on December 7, 1870, this extract is from a narrative of an angling trip to Tasmania by the writer, W.P.W. and his friend C—. Is this the first Antipodean discussion of trout flies in print? Is this the first example of tying trout flies at the riverside to match the hatch?
For the benefit of those who have fished in Old England’s trout streams, we may mention the following few particulars with reference to the “flies” used at the Plenty. Blue and yellow Duns killed well, as also did Coch a Bondu and the Cinnamon fly. Fancy flies were used as well with some success, and we noticed on the stream some varieties of the Spinner tribe and some flies resembling the “Orle.” The Cinnamon fly we caught on the river, so therefore made some, and used them with success. Sundry light colored moths are to be seen about the stream during the evening, and would doubtless kill well towards night after a warm sultry day.
1870
Allport, Morton (1870)
Brief history of the introduction of salmon (salmo salar) and other salmonidæ to the waters of Tasmania. Proceedings, Royal Society London, Sydney; January 1870, pp.14-30. John Clements describes this as an excellent paper on the subject (Salmon at the Antipodes, p.375).
1871
[Meredith, Louisa Anne] (1871)
Walch’s Tasmanian Guide Book: A handbook of information for all parts of the colony (1871). J. Walch and Sons Tasmania: Hobart Town; Walch Brothers and Birchall: Launceston, Tasmania; George Robertson: Melbourne; and Simpkin, Marshall: London; 12mo; 249pp, 30 (advertisements); large folding frontispiece map of Tasmania (Walch’s New Map of Tasmania by H.G. De Gruchy & Co., Lithographers, Melbourne); pictorial boards. The Guide Book has a description of an Excursion to the Salmon Ponds and a very early poem about the introduction of salmon.
1871
Allport, Morton (1871)
Observations on the progress of the salmon experiment. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1871, pp.14-16.
1871
Allport, Morton (1871)
The salmon trout. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1871, pp.43-46.
1871
First stocking of trout in New South Wales.
The first stocking of trout in New South Wales were probably by John Keys who privately purchased ova and bred and released them into the Hunter River in 1971 (Gibson, p.vii). The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday 6 October 1877
Introduction of Trout to the Hunter.
Some years ago Mr. J.H. Keys, of Bengalla, obtained some trout ova and placed them temporarily in the Hunter at Belltrees, intending to take them higher up the river, for the purpose of eventually liberating them in the waters of the Hunter. A high rise occurring in the river, Mr. White lifted the hatching box, and in doing so twenty-five or thirty of the young fish escaped. A few days ago Mr. Donald Cameron of Denison Town was shown a strange fish caught in the Hunter at that place which he at once identified as a trout. Several other persons have caught strange fish which they have not seen before. One was caught some two months ago, and a description of it was given to Dr. Creed, who is perfectly satisfied that it was a trout. It is pretty clear from the above that some of the fish reached maturity.
1880
The Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 16 September 1880
John H. Keys, of Bengalla, to-day received from the Zoological Society another consignment of 500 salmon trout ova, which he placed in a box in the Hunter. Three thousand trout ova have now been placed in the waters of the Upper Hunter by that gentleman.
1887
The Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 20 July 1887
The Late Mr. John H. Keys, of Bengalla.
In the decease of Mr. John H. Keys there has passed away a prominent and venerable gentleman who was well known on the Hunter, and whose high character commanded the esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Keys was very anxious to acclimatise in the waters of the Upper Hunter several kinds of fish common in Ireland, and imported from his native country, and also from New Zealand and Tasmania, the ova of trout and other fish. These were hatched under his own superintendence, and afterwards introduced into many streams throughout the district.
1872
Baden-Powell, George S. (1872)
New Homes for the Old Country: A personal experience of the political and domestic life, the industries, and the natural history of Australia and New Zealand. Richard Bentley and Son: London; 8vo; (xx), 512pp; [4] leaves of plates; illustrated, maps; index; hard cover. Includes Chapter XXXIII, Fish (pp.288-295), in which Baden-Powell discusses the fishing to be found in Australia including the developing opportunities for trout and salmon in Tasmania. Of the mainland he writes about fishing for perch in coastal streams, for Murray cod in inland streams and, further north: In some of the more Northern rivers, their tidal waters afford especially good fly fishing …
1872
Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria (1872-78)
Proceedings of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and Report of the Annual Meeting of the Society. F.A. Masterman: Melbourne; vol. 1 (1872) to vol. 5 (1878); 8vo; buff card covers. The first volume was issued in 1872. Contribution to the Ichthyology of Australia by Count F. De Castelnau can be found in part of vols. 1 and 2 and includes Supplement to the Fishes of Victoria, Fishes of South Australia, Notes on Fishes from North Australia, Fishes of Western Australia and New Sorts of Australian Fauna and Lists of Australian Fishes; vol. 5 includes Wilson’s The Californian Salmon.
1873
Buckland, Frank [1873]
Familiar History of British Fishes. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: London; 12mo; (xi), 396pp; illustrated; gilt and black illustration to the front board and spine; hardcover.
1880: revised edition. Natural History of British Fishes: Their structure, economic uses, and capture by net and rod; cultivation of fish ponds, fish suited for acclimatisation, artificial breeding of salmon. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: London; 8vo; (xii), 420pp; [4]pp advertisements; illustrated; hard cover. Details arrangements for transporting trout and salmon eggs from England to Australia.
1873
The Argus Friday 3 January 1873
It is said that brown trout, weighing as much as 8lb., have been caught in the neighbourhood of Ballarat. The locality is of course secret.
1873
The Mercury Monday 6 January 1873
The Brown Trout. The introduction of the brown trout to some of the waters in the Ballarat district appears to have been attended with great success. The Ballarat Star of December 31st says: – “The existence in this colony of brown trout of 8lb. weight, and plenty of them, as announced by our evening contemporary, has taken anglers by surprise. The statement is quite true, however, but as a rush may be expected should the locality become known, the secret is confined to a very few discreet men.”
1873
Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers Thursday 4 December 1873
Mr. Holmes, of the firm of Holmes and Salter, caught a fine brown trout, not many miles from Ballarat, on 7th November. The fish, which weighed within an ounce or two of six pounds, was in splendid condition.
1873
The Argus Tuesday 11 November 1873
A very fine brown trout was brought into Ballarat on Saturday afternoon by a legal gentleman who had been trying his hand at fly-fishing in a creek some distance from this. The fish measures about 2ft. in length, and weighs within a fraction of 61b.
1873
The Argus Monday 29 December 1873
Another fine trout, weighing over 31b., was brought to Ballarat last night by Mr. M’Dougall, who caught it yesterday in Riddell’s Creek.
1873
Reputed first capture of a trout on a fly in Victoria
Dr Heisse, a committee member of the Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society, is credited with the first capture of a trout in Victoria. The fish, a 4¼lb. Brown was caught in late December at Riddells Creek near Gisborne. … The capture was proudly related by the doctor’s fishing companion, ‘A.B.’ in a letter to “The Field” in 1873 (Dunn, p.189).
1875
Ballarat Courier Friday 17 December 1875
Dr. King has shown us a collection of artificial flies which he has just obtained for angling purposes. They were made by Mr. Shanklin, who carries on a lucrative factory of this sort at Sale, and who deserves to be highly complimented on the excellence of his work. The collection includes several kinds of moths, caterpillars and flies, attached to hooks and casting lines. The cost all round was 6d. a dozen, which Dr. King informs us is quite as cheap as the same articles can be bought for in England. Dr. King also states that Mr. Shanklin’s productions are quite equal to anything of the same kind that is made in the old country.
1876
Successful attempt (Youl and Buckland) to transport 175,000 salmon ova from London to Melbourne and New Zealand on the Durham.
1876
Hawkeye [Major General Richard Hamilton] (1876)
Game [Indian Big Game Hunting, and 2 Chapters on Wildfowling and Fishing in South Australia]. The Observer Press, [with] Agents in Madras, Messrs. Higginbotham: Ootacamund: [India]; 8vo; (vi), 275pp; hard cover. Includes Fishing in South Australia (1847), now known to be by George Hamilton.
1876
Reputed first capture of a trout on a fly in Tasmania
Illustrated Australian News; Wednesday 29 November 1876
Mr. Matthew Seal, one of the Salmon Commissioners, in company with Mr. Morton Allport, was fishing with a fly at the Falls, above New Norfolk, on Sunday, 8th October, and landed a salmon, weighing about three pounds, which was presented to the hon. John Robertson, Premier of New South Wales. A gentleman writing to a friend at Launceston says: — ‘You may well say ‘ the glorious success of the salmon.’ On Saturday last I saw hundreds of the migratory species in the Derwent below New Norfolk. Sometimes ten or twelve were out of the water at once; fish ranging from eighteen inches to two feet six inches in length, while numbers of larger fish only made great curls in the water without showing themselves. A mile of the river was alive with them. Of course I cannot say these were salmon, but I do say most positively they were not trout, and could only be salmon or salmon trout, or both. It is the first time I have lighted on them in numbers, and I could have imagined nothing like it.
1876
Gippsland Times Friday 20 October 1876
The Ballarat Star says: We have been shown some artificial flies tied, and tied admirably, by Mrs. Shanklin, a Sale lady, who is, we believe, a daughter of that famous fly fisher and tier, Mr. Ronalds, whose work on artificial flies is so much prized by all true anglers. Mrs. Shanklin’s flies comprise imitations of those peculiar to most of the British, as well as some of the Tasmanian and Victorian trout waters. The flies in question have been spoken very highly of by the best judges we have of such matters.
1877
Sir Frederick Weld, G.C.M.G., caught what was reputed to be the second “salmon” captured on fly in the colony, an 8½lb. fish caught on 10 January 1877.
1877
Australasian Sketcher: With pen and pencil (1873-1889)
Printed and published at The Argus Office for Wilson and Mackinnon: Melbourne (but printed in South Australia from 15 May 1875 to 29 October 1885); 17 volumes; illustrated; 42cm. Of particular interest to anglers is the March 1877 issue, which features a woodcut of a 16lb. brown trout caught in the Derwent by Dr E.M. James of Melbourne. According to the caption, the fish measured 3 feet, 8 inches in length. The woodcut is from a photograph by Alfred Winter; it is believed to be the first published illustration of a Tasmanian trout.
1877
Allport, Morton (1877)
Present stage of the salmon experiment in Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings and Report of The Royal Society of Tasmania, 1877, pp.109-114. Allport questions the project’s success: Though grilse weighing from 3 to 7 pounds have, during the last four years, been taken in the Derwent, how is it that no mature salmon—that is, fish weighing from 15 to 30 pounds, have been captured? This is a question frequently asked both here and in the neighbouring colonies, but it will be necessary before attempting to answer it to refer to what is known of the early life-history of the salmon in Europe and Tasmania.
1878
Larboard, M. (1878)
Trout fishing in Tasmania. The Field, 20 July 1878, p.74. Bob Dunn comments (Angling in Australia, p.302) that this is an early angling account from a resident of Hobart Town.
1880
The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston) Saturday 31 January 1880
On the second morning of a trip to the Great Lake (January 19, 1880): The Governor (i.e., Governor Weld) rose and moved fish chiefly with the artificial fly; and it seems pretty certain when they are feeding a magnificent basket of fish might be got with the artificial fly, natural water flies abound to a great extent, and many interesting things in the way of history and botany were seen.
1880
The Salmon Ponds sending trout across Australia
Launceston Examiner Monday 1 March 1880
In 1864 the amount expended was £295, but in the two following years it increased to £1213 and £1024 respectively; then full to £612. Since 1870 the expenditure has averaged about £300 per annum, the amount in 1879 being £294. 158,640 ova and fry of the salmon trout and other trout have been produced at the Salmon Ponds, of which number 41,350 ova were presented to Victoria and New Zealand, and 800 to Western Australia. 38,000 ova have been purchased in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and 78,490 ova and fry have been issued for distribution throughout Tasmania.
1880
Senior, William Red Spinner (1880)
Travel and Trout in the Antipodes: An angler’s sketches in Tasmania and New Zealand. Chatto & Windus: London; 12mo; (xii), 315pp; text drawings of fish; hard cover. Also published in 1880 by George Robertson: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. Senior’s book is the first writing in book form about fly fishing in Australia.
1880
Coutts, James (1880)
Vacation Tours in New Zealand and Tasmania. George Robertson: Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide; 8vo; (iv), 100pp; nine leaves of plates (one folded), illustrated; page edges gilt; hard cover with embossed border and gilt title on front board. Contains a lengthy account of A Summer Trip to the Tasmanian Lakes, Echo and St. Clair and an interesting report of a visit to the Salmon Ponds at Plenty. From the latter: One feels as if he could rest for ever here on the soft sward under the leafy boughs, watching the spotted trout, the “finny darters”, as they rise or glide about in calm indifference in the crystal water; or lulled to dreamy ease by the low music of the babbling Plenty …
1880
Günther, Albert (1880)
An Introduction to the Study of Fishes. A. & C. Black: Edinburgh, Scotland; 8vo; (xvi), 720pp; illustrated numerous woodcuts; appendix (Directions for Collecting and Preserving Fishes); index; hard cover; motif on the front board and gilt lettering on spine. Also titled Study of Fishes. In his chapter on acclimatised fishes, Günther suggests the most successful attempt of recent years is the acclimatisation of trout and sea-trout, and probably also of the salmon, in Tasmania and New Zealand.
1881
Irvine, Richard (1881)
A visit to the Derwent and Plenty. The Field, 8 October 1881, p.517. The author was one of the original Salmon Commissioners (Tasmania).
1882
Nicols, Arthur (1882)
The Acclimatisation of the Salmonidæ at the Antipodes: Its history and results. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington: London; 12mo; (viii), 238pp, [2], plus 32pp of advertisements; hard cover. An important study that details the early experiments, successes and failures in bringing trout and salmon to Australia and New Zealand. Largely written from articles published in The Field Quarterly Magazine and Review and from The Country and Chambers’ Journal.
1882
The Maffra Spectator Thursday 9 March 1882
We have been favoured with a sight of a very handsome testimonial awarded by the Commissioners of the late Melbourne Exhibition to Mrs. R. Shanklin, Upper Maffra, for her display of artificial trout and other flies. It is a first-class award, signed by the chief officials and with the seal of the Commissioners attached. The design and illustrations are extremely chaste and delicate, and no doubt Mrs. Shanklin is proud of such a gratifying acknowledgment.
1882
First trout for South Australia
South Australian Register Tuesday 13 June 1882
A meeting of the Council of (the Acclimatisation and Zoological) Society was held at the office of the Hon. Henry Scott, M.L.C, on Friday, June 9. … A letter was received from a lady residing in Upper Kensington, complaining of the wholesale destruction of birds in that locality by men and boys. Members of the Council made similar complaints. The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the Commissioner of Police on the subject. It was resolved to procure a further supply of turkeys from America; also 5,000 trout ova from the Salmon Commissioners in Tasmania
1882
G.E. Gill’s acclimatisation of trout in New England
The Mercury Tuesday 17 October 1882
Information has been received from Mr. Gill, of Macdonald River, that the hatching of the trout ova under his charge is progressing satisfactorily. About 100 fry are hatched and darting about the boxes, and it is expected that 10,000 will be hatched throughout the year.
Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 23 January 1886
A gentleman shot a cormorant at Surveyor’s Creek near Armidale, and from its pouch took a number of young trout of this year’s hatching, thereby proving that Mr. G.E. Gill’s efforts to stock the river with trout in years gone by have been successful. The secretary of the local Acclimatisation Society asks all interested to wage a relentless war against the fish eating birds.
1883
Tasmania [Fisheries of] (1883)
Report of the Royal Commission: Together with general and critical observations on the fisheries of the colony; classified catalogue of all the known species; abstract of the minutes of proceedings; evidence taken before the commissioners; statistics etc. William Thomas Strutt, Government Printer: Hobart; folio; (lxvi), 86pp.
The Royal Commission’s report, prepared by R.M. Johnston for the Legislative Council, was tabled in October 1882. This report described the fishing industries including a comprehensive Catalogue of Tasmanian Fishes, and recommended that the management of fisheries be placed under professional guidance. It was this recommendation that led to the appointment of William Saville-Kent and to the subsequent improvements to the fisheries under his stewardship. There is much information about acclimatisation efforts and successes.
1884
Fenton, James (1884)
A History of Tasmania: From its discovery in 1642 to the present time. J. Walch and Sons: Hobart; Walch Bros. and Birchall: Launceston, Tasmania; 8vo; (xvi), 462pp; four chromolithographs in colour, one black and white plate and one printed colour folding map; bibliography of books about Tasmania (pp.447-457); appendices; index; hard cover. In Chapter XVI Fenton describes the introduction of salmon and trout into Tasmania.
1884
Progress of trout in South Australia
The South Australian Advertiser Thursday 17 July 1884
There are few people in Adelaide (writes a Campbelltown correspondent) who know what the Acclimatisation Society has done at the Thorndon Park reservoir. A very nice pond cemented, enclosed, and covered in with wire netting, has been constructed for keeping and breeding salmon-trout, and to judge by the beauties that can now be seen the effort has been eminently successful.
1885
Death of Maria Shanklin, flytyer.
The Maffra Spectator Thursday 6 March 1884
It is with extreme regret that we have to announce the death of Mrs. Shanklin, wife of Mr. Robert Shanklin, of Upper Maffra, formerly of Sale, who expired at the Gippsland Hospital on Saturday. Mrs Shanklin was the eldest daughter of the late Alfred Ronalds, Esq., author of The Fly-fishing Entymology, an authority now existing, and whose assistance to his brother, the late Sir Francis Ronalds, materially founded that gigantic power, the Electric Telegraph in the year 1820. She had the management at a very early age of her father’s business as a manufacturer of artificial flies – both salmon and trout and which industry she has successfully floated in this district. The deceased lady was highly and deservedly respected by all classes of the community, and was well known for her indefatigability in promoting everything connected with the welfare of the people, as well as being a good and kind mother. The funeral took place on Sunday, and was largely attended by old residents and friends of the family.
1887
Saville-Kent, W. (n.d., c.1887)
Observations on the acclimatisation of the true salmon (salmo salar) in Tasmanian waters: and upon the reported salmon disease at the breeding establishment on the River Plenty. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1887, pp.54-66.
1887
Maitland, Sir J. Ramsay Gibson (1887)
The History of Howietown: Containing a full description of the various hatching houses and ponds, and of experiments which have been undertaken there, from 1873 to the present time and also of the fish-cultural work and the magnificent results already obtained. Part 1. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, Scotland; 4to; (xxiii), 278pp; frontis: Waterfall on Loch Coulter Burn at Milnehome Hatching-House; illustrated; hard cover. Includes Transportation of Ova to the Antipodes, and Shipments by Mr Youl, 1860-70. Scarce work, with a brief mention of the early acclimatisation of trout in Australia and New Zealand.
1887
Sir Robert Hamilton’s 29lb. trout, caught in the Derwent (1887), 35½ inches.
1888
Seager, Philip S. (1888)
Concise History of the Acclimatisation of the Salmonidæ in Tasmania. Tasmania; 8vo; 26pp.
1888
Senior, William Red Spinner (1888)
Near and Far: An angler’s sketches of home, sport and colonial life. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington: London; 12mo; (xv), 304pp, 32pp of advertisements; hard cover. In two parts. In the second, Sketches of Colonial Life, Senior includes three chapters on fishing.
1888
Johnston, R.M. (1888)
World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893: for the information of visitors to that exhibition, the American public, and others interested. Charles Potter, Government Printer: Sydney; 8vo; two volumes (but in vol. I); pp.103-104.
1893
Irvine, Richard (1893)
The mammoth trout of Tasmania. The Field, 14 January 1893, pp.41-42.
1895
Cook [Thomas] and Son (n.d., c.1895)
Cook and Son’s Tasmanian Tours: The Lakes District (Lakes Sorell and Crescent – Parattah and Tunbridge Routes – Attractions for the Artist, the Sportsman, the Angler – Woods’ and Arthur’s Lakes – The Great Lake – Bothwell, Parattah, Tunbridge, and Deloraine Routes – a Paradise for Anglers – Lakes St. Clair and Echo). William Grahame Jr., Government Printer: Tasmania; 8vo; 9pp; soft cover (pamphlet). Believed to be the first travel pamphlet devoted entirely to Tasmania’s Central Plateau, the first of a line of angling tourism promotions advertising a fishery that was just beginning to attract attention.
1897
Kingsbury, W.H. (1897)
The Angler’s Pocket Guide. [W. H. Kingsbury: Ballarat, Victoria], (printed by W. B. Macdonald: Ballarat); 24mo; [viii], 50pp, [12]; soft cover. Kingsbury was a Travelling Inspector of Fisheries. The Angler’s Pocket Guide includes advice on tackle, bait, fly-fishing techniques, recommended methods for particular species and general hints plus recommended fishing spots. On Gippsland Perch: When the waters are coming off the flat-laying lands, there is splendid sport to be obtained with these fish by fishing from a boat in mid-stream, casting an Artificial Fly on to the edge of the bank and allowing it to sink down under water. At this season of the year, viz., about the latter end of October or November, the Perch are feeding on the insects, which are being washed off the low-laying lands, and they take the Fly greedily. The Artificial Flies are Nos. 1 and 2 Red and Black and Yellow and Black made expressly for the Gippsland Perch.
1897
Formation of the oldest angling association in Australia, the Northern Tasmanian Fisheries Association (NTFA). The Association’s report was published annually (76 volumes) from 1904 to 1979 when it merged with the North Western Fisheries Association of Tasmania. The journal was later published as Tasmanian Report (Launceston, Tas). Alternative titles were Annual Report (Northern Tasmanian Fisheries Association) and Northern Tasmanian Fisheries Association Annual Report. The Northern Tasmanian Fisheries Association again published reports for the three years 2002- 2004, edited by Peter Richards, issued in limited quantities and not sold to the public.
1898
Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (1898)
Tourists’ Guide to Tasmania. Union Line of Steamers: Hobart; 12mo; 124pp (including advertisements); Map of Tasmania Showing Principal Tourist Routes tipped in at the front endpaper; soft cover. Edited by Caroline E. Morton; Morton also wrote under the pen name of Dio. Includes Guide to Excursions in Tasmania (pp.27-88) with numerous angling references. Full-page photographic plates by J.W. Beattie include The Salmon Ponds, Mt Ida, Lake St Clair and English Trout Caught in Great Lake.
1899
Parker, Critchley, comp. [1899]
Record of Fish Killed at the Great Lake, Western Tier, Tasmania. From April, 1893, Compiled from Tom Earley’s records. [Critchley Parker: Melbourne]; oblong folio 237´292mm; 34pp letterpress; [278] manuscript; bound in full green leather (ornate blind tooled border, blind tooled bands on spine, gilt title on front cover, Record of Fish Taken at the Great Lake, marbled edges and endpapers). Tom Earley’s records are printed on thick pale-blue laid paper. The paper in the manuscript section is from the same stock as the printed front section. Letterpress at head of each page, NAME OF PARTY. Columns ruled in red ink with letterpress headings: Month, Day, Weight, Locality, Angler’s Initial, Bait [i.e., lure], Weather, Remarks.
[1899]: Record of Fish Killed at the Great Lake, Western Tier, Tasmania. From April 1893, Compiled from Tom Earley’s records. [Critchley Parker: Melbourne]; 29cm; 33 leaves.
c.1985: facsimile; [unknown; possibly Brian Cadle: Tasmania]; hard cover (green boards).
1992: facsimile. Compleat Angler: [Melbourne]; text on rectos only; limited to 42 numbered copies bound in leather.
1899
Bellingham, Sid (1899)
Ten Years with the Palette, Shot Gun and Rifle on the Blue Mountains NSW: A complete guide to the sport and game to be obtained on the Blue Mountains. P. Offer (printer): Sydney; 12mo; 116pp. Cover subtitle: A complete guide to the shooting and fishing to be obtained on the Blue Mountains.
1899
Tourists’ Association, Launceston (1899)
Northern Tasmania: A handy guide, compiled and issued by the Northern Tasmanian Tourists’ Association. The Association: Launceston, Tasmania; 12mo; 84pp; illustrated; one folded leaf of plates; map; index; soft cover.
1900
Murray, A.S. (1900)
Tasmanian Rivers, Lakes, and Flowers: With facsimile reproductions in colour of numerous sketches by the author. G. Robertson: Australia; oblong folio 32x45cm; 57pp; one page advertising the author’s Twelve Hundred Miles on the Murray; 17 chromolithographic coloured plates by the author with 13 separately mounted; all edges gilt (the angling image above is Bend on the Huon River); gilt title and decorative device on front cover; green hide-grain cloth with bevelled edges. Murray was a keen angler (one of his fishing companions was Tasmanian Salmon Commissioner, Matthew Seal) and there are a number of chapters with fishing content, including Trout Fishing at the Great Lake, The River Derwent – Scenery – Trout and Bream Fishing and The River Huon – Scenery – Trout and Bream Fishing.
1900
A.H. (1900)
Trout fishing in Tasmania. The Field, 14 April 1900, p.497.
1900
Anderson, H.H. (1900)
Guide to Fishing in Tasmania. Tasmanian Tourists’ Association (John Vail, Government Printer): Hobart; 8vo; (iv), 54pp; 11 leaves of plates (one folded), maps. The first guide on how and where to fish. Anderson, a Hobart clergyman, describes the fishing in fresh and salt water (especially around Hobart).
1900
First newspaper report about catching trout on the dry fly, rather than just talking about it.
Examiner Saturday 7 April 1900 (In the Rod and Line column)
During September and October fly-fishers had no reason to complain, and on the gliding flats the comparatively new art of dry fly-fishing bore very good results. After that the worm and maggot did great execution, Mr. G. Helliwell one day making a record catch of 38 nice fish.