Family life]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Diet]]> Fishing nets]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Introduced fishes]]> Droughts]]> Weirs]]> Environmental flows]]> Physical characteristics (Animals)]]> Intensive farming]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Connection to Country]]>
Richard is a Ngiyampaa Aboriginal man residing in Wodonga, Victoria. Born in 1959, Richard grew up on the Lachlan River in central New South Wales with his family and currently works with the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in the Wodonga area.

In this document, Richard discusses the changes he has observed in native and introduced fish species in the Lachlan River, and illegal fishing activities. He reflects on family life with his mob, growing up, his culture, diet, changes in water flows and levels, conservation practices, and sustainable ecological management.]]>
Lachlan River, NSW [stream]]]> Euabalong, NSW [populated place]]]> Condobolin, NSW [populated place]]]> Lake Cargelligo, NSW [lake]]]> Booberoi Creek, NSW [stream]]]> Wyangala Dam, NSW [dam]]]> Lake Cowal, NSW [lake]]]> Murrin Bridge, NSW [section of populated place]]]>

He reflects on the balance between maintaining healthy river flows and the needs of irrigators, in the context of sustainably feeding a growing population.

He believes the key to balance and sustainability lies beneath the surface, through rehydrating landscapes and recharging aquifiers. JOL discusses how this might be achieved based on the strengths and weaknesses of the Murray and Darling River systems.]]>
Lure fishing]]>
Photographs taken by Jodi Frawley.]]>
CC BY]]> Mannum, SA [populated place]]]> Murray River, SA [stream]]]>
Water levels]]> Lure fishing]]> Bait fishing]]> Floods]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Environmental flows]]> Tournament fishing]]> Water sports]]>
Tony discusses bait and lure fishing; permanent set lines; and recalls the arrival of Redfin and Carp. He shares stories about the professional fisherman who used to fish the Murray; illegal fishing; and talks about electric motors; trolling for cod and Callop; fishing from cliffs and catching Cod and Catfish. He also discusses the advent of lure fishing in the area; what he looks for in a lure (the right action, the right size and then colour); the reasons why fishing gets better when the water's low; and competitive fishing with the Lower Murray Lure Fishing Club. He notes that the popularity of lure fishing in the area contributed to the closing of the Cod season for a couple of years. He talks about water skiing; the floods of 1974/75; yabbying; proper fish handling; his fish 'finder' or fish 'sounder'; and shares what he likes about fishing.
]]>
CC BY]]> Mannum, SA [populated place]]]> Murray Bridge, SA [populated place]]]> Wynarka, SA [populated place]]]> Bow Hill, SA [populated place]]]> Walker Flat, SA [populated place]]]> Lake Mulwala, NSW [lake]]]> Younghusband School, SA [school]]]> Nildottie, SA [populated place]]]>
Fish populations

]]>
Streamflow]]> Irrigation]]> Water levels]]> Fishing industry]]> Fishing licences]]> Water quality]]> Introduced species]]> Floods]]> Siltation]]> Salinity]]> Fishing regulations]]> Tournament fishing]]> Blackwater]]> Fishes--Speciation]]> River engineering]]> Fish kills]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Baraba Baraba people]]>
Greg McNeil:, an irrigator, suggests that recent floods might have made unecessary plans to re-snag and reclaim the river. He advocates for a hands-off approach to river management and says that irrigation across the basin has matured while becoming more 'intense'.

Unannounced: recalls professional fishermen; swimming in the river; and observes that there was less recreational fishing in the past. Remembers that the Loddon was different when backed up by a weir from 1923 to 1964 and also talks about water levels and the river's improved health more recently.

Rodger Reilly: remembers fishing with his uncle. Mention of Woods Point. Worked with Fisheries and Wildlife, transferred to the Lands Department, and ended up in Kerang. He talks about needing to change where he goes angling because of the poor quality of water (caused by Cumbungi, siltation); frontage licenses and the advantage of local knowledge.

Esther Kirby; (of the Baraba Baraba people) used to fish at the weir with her brother sister and partner, catching Redfin and Yabbies and sharing the spoils. She talks about the decline in fish diversity (especially catfish) with arrival of Carp; and how she learnt a technique to call fish up from one of her Aunties. She has fished the Edwards, Wakool, Niemur, and Goulburn rivers, among others.

Elaine Jones; learnt to fish for Flounder on the coast and only later stared fishing on the Loddon. She discusses the 1973 flood and the arrival of European Carp; the disappearance of Tortoises; irrigation, water efficiency and the salinity problem.

Ross Stanton: remembers fishing for Redfin out of Gunbower Creek. and talks about schools of small Carp.

Rob O'Brien: learnt to fish with his Uncle in the lower Kerang. catching Yabbies with "roly-poly" woodlice. He talks about the colour of the water; fishing with spinners; and recalls that people used to fill half a wheat bag with Redfin dragging a spinner while walking from the old Kerang bridge to Kerang. He mentions the arrival of Carp in 1974; swimming; siltation; and using drum nets.

The group goes on to discuss the return of Murray Cod; the use of Murray Cod to control Carp; size limits; catch and release; changing attitudes; competitive fishing; blackwater (in 1986); different species of trout cod; and fish lanes.

Esther mentions that the (Wadi Wadi?, Wodi Wodi?) group met with Parks and Wildlife and the Water Catchment Authority to raise the issue of fish being killed by irrigation.

Mention of Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre; "Water Catchment Authority"; "Fisheries and Wildlife"; "Lands Department"

Also mentions: Red Azolla (Azolla filiculoides); Myriophyllum ("watermilfoil", "cat tail"); Cumbungi (Typha latifolia).]]>
CC BY-NC]]> Loddon River, Vic [stream]]]> Woods Point, Vic [point]]]> Wakool River, NSW [stream]]]> Merran Lake, NSW [lake]]]> Gunbower Creek, Vic [stream]]]> Barr Creek, Vic [stream]]]> Lake Charm, Vic [lake]]]> Kangaroo Lake, Vic [lake]]]> Barmah Lake, Vic [lake]]]> Moira Lake, NSW [lake]]]>
Fieldwork]]>
In 1949-50, J.O. Langtry investigated the biology of native fish. His fieldwork took him to camp sites along the Murray River between Torrumbarry Weir, Yarrawonga Weir, Hume Weir, and its upper reaches. There he met commercial fishers, as well as a variety of poachers who lived off the bounty in the forest.]]>

Electronic records have been made private as per the request of the J.O. Langtry. Material may only be accessed under research conditions.

Preliminary applications may be made to data-librarian@uts.edu.au or State Library of NSW regarding collection ML OH 647/1-130.]]>
Barmah Lake, Vic [lake]]]> Lake Victoria, Vic [lake]]]> Menindee Lakes Park, NSW [park]]]> Menindee, NSW [populated place]]]> Bourke, NSW [populated place]]]> Murrumbidgee River, NSW [stream]]]> Hillston, NSW [populated place]]]> Lachlan River, NSW [stream]]]> Hay, NSW [seat of a second-order administrative division]]]> Swan Hill, Vic [populated place]]]> Kerang, Vic [populated place]]]>
Fisheries]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Fishing industry]]> Fieldwork]]>
J.O. Langtry talks about his investigation into the ecology of the Murray-Darling System with the newly formed State Fisheries and Game Department of Victoria. His systematic examination of native fisheries, informed by collaborating with professional fisherman, is central to our understanding of the Murray-Darling ecosystem. He discusses the anabranch system; drainage zones; opportunistic farming; pelagic fish; hatching Murray Cod at Burraby Station; fish stomach contents and diet; his influence on early fishing regulations; and legal and illegal fishing methods.

He also talks about the people who assisted him in his surveys; the various river conditions that different fish prefer; and the cultural and recreational value of fisheries. He discusses ground water; rising water tables; salinity; water and land management; and the 'Landline' TV series. He argues that efforts to restore the Coorong and Lower Lakes are not worthwhile.

He goes on to talk about the wide variety of people and occupations he dealt with in his work; the differences between Murray Cod and Trout Cod; a plan to remove Bony Bream that was later abandoned; fish farming; fish stocking; local and visiting poachers; and commercial fish markets. He discusses his service in the Australian Army Research Group, and his work to develop rations in Korea, New Guinea and Malaysia. He comments on the demographic of the Victorian public service and ends by reiterating the diminished scale of the anabranch system.

Other fish species mentioned: lungfish, trout fish/eastern big belly.

Mention of: Victorian State Fisheries and Game Department, Melbourne University, CSIRO, National Water Board, Rotary Club, Murray Darling Basin Authority.]]>

Electronic records have been made private as per the request of J.O. Langtry. Material may only be accessed under research conditions.

Preliminary applications may be made to
data-librarian@uts.edu.au or State Library of NSW regarding collection ML OH 647/1-130.]]>
Bourke, NSW [populated place]]]> Menindee Lakes Park, NSW [park]]]> Murrumbidgee River, NSW [stream]]]> Lachlan River, NSW [stream]]]> Barmah Lake, Vic [lake]]]> Moira Lake, NSW [lake]]]> Hughenden, Qld [populated place]]]> The Coorong, SA [lake]]]> Swan Hill, Vic [populated place]]]> Torrumbarry Weir, NSW [dam]]]> Goulburn River, NSW [stream]]]> Cubbie, Qld [homestead]]]> Warrego River, Qld [stream]]]> Seven Creeks, Vic [stream]]]> Lake Victoria, NSW [lake]]]> Lake Charm, Vic [lake]]]> Bourke, NSW [populated place]]]> Yarrawonga Weir, Vic [dam]]]> Lake Mulwala, NSW [lake]]]> Wakool River, NSW [stream]]]> Billabong Creek, NSW]]> Edward River, NSW [stream]]]> Riverina, NSW [area]]]>
Livestock]]> Irrigation]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Bait fishing]]> Introduced fishes]]> Water quality]]> Communities]]>
Born in 1957, Gavin has lived all his life at Picola on the Murray River, at the edge of the Barmah Forest. Gavinā€˜s family property was used predominantly for sheep farming, with the occasional crop for fodder and hay.

Gavin talks about: irrigation channels through the family property; fish species, their locations, and tricks to finding them; types of bait; fishing equipment; tethering fish; impact of European carp e.g. water quality; changes in people over time in the area.]]>
CC-BY]]>
Fishes--Identification]]> Tournament fishing]]> Water quality]]> Water temperature]]> Erosion]]> Fish stocking]]>
Merrylin and Kelli are members of the Corowa Angling Club, Merrylin a champion women's fisher. Kelli is manager of the Corowa Motor Inn and grew up fishing around the Menindee Lakes. They meet with a group of women in Pomona every year for a week long fishing trip.

Merrylin and Kelli talk about: fishing places and trips; fishing and baiting techniques; mammals, snakes, lizards, birds; changes in water quality and temperature; river bank erosion; restocking activities (fundraising).]]>
CC-BY]]>
Fishes--Identification]]> Lagoons]]> Billabongs]]> Plants--Identification]]> Family histories]]> Tourism]]> Boats]]> Weirs]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Environmental flows]]> Siltation]]> Introduced fishes]]> Fishes--Diseases]]>
Born in 1943, Dennis Lean is a third generation shop owner in Yarrawonga. His grandfather came to the area in 1917 and opened a barber shop. The shop was predominantly for hairdressing, but Dennis's father started selling fishing tackle and other items. Dennis expanded this aspect of the business, both as a result of his own interest in recreational fishing, and due to the increase in fishing related tourism. Dennis was also president of the Cobram Fowl and Game Club.

Dennis talks about: learning to fish on Lake Mulwala; fishing methods; different types of boats; draining of the lake for weir maintenance; movement of Murray Cod and Yellowbelly; fish preservation; relationship between Ovens River, Murray River, and Hume Weir; siltation in the Ovens River; displacement of Catfish by European Carp; a virus carried by European Carp; important differences between silver and black species of Willow tree; impact of Willow removal on platypus.

Other fish mentioned: 'silver bream' (species unspecified).]]>
CC-BY]]>