Fisheries]]> Fieldwork]]> Camping]]> Diet]]>
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Raymond on the day of his oral history interview.]]> Goulburn River, Vic [stream]]]> Bourkes Beach Number One, Vic [beach]]]> Buffalo River, Vic [stream]]]> Corryong Creek, Vic [stream]]]> ]]> Lake Meering, Vic [lake]]]> Snobs Creek, Vic [stream]]]> Doyles Dam]]> Lake Meran, Vic [lake]]]> Bourkes Beach Number Three, Vic [beach]]]> Riparian restoration]]> Fish stocking]]> Fish surveys]]>
Noal discusses efforts to improve the riparian zone and the first resnagging project in Queensland. He talks about the electric fishing technique used in surveys, restocking fingerlings at Bowenville Reserve, and annual Creel Surveys (catch surveys). He also talks about land owners becoming more mindful of and involved in improving the riparian zone. He notes that native fish favour narrow passages when feeding.

Aquatic life mentioned: jewfish, yellowbelly, silver perch, golden perch murray cod

Plants mentioned: bottle brush, fig, black wattle, ironbark, Condamine Cooch, Johnson grass, Stramonium, acacia

Animals mentioned: finch, kookaburra, peewee, kingfisher, turtle, wood duck, reed wobbler, whistling kite, wedgetail eagle

NSW DPI (http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/642095?c=people). River Trust, Napco]]> CC-BY]]> Bowenville Park, Qld [homestead]]]> Jondaryan, Qld [populated place]]]> Bowenville, Qld [populated place]]]> Weirs]]> Floods]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Racism]]> Cotton]]> Silt]]> Water quality]]> Water pollution]]> Cultural Flows]]> Coalbed methane]]> Aquifers--Australia]]> Cyanides]]> Riparian areas]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Environmental conservation]]> Salinity]]> Sacred sites]]> Connection to Country]]> Land custodianship]]> Aboriginal spirituality (Baiame)]]> Wiradjuri people]]> Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language]]> Water--Symbolic aspects]]>
Phil Duncan is an Aboriginal man with both Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay heritage. He identifies predominantly as a Gamilaraay man who grew up in Moree in northern New South Wales. Born in 1963, Phil is Chair of the First Peoples' Water Engagement Council and has witnessed a number of important changes in this region regarding cotton farming, weirs and dams, and the water quality.

Phil is knowledgeable in his heritage and emphasises the importance of Aboriginal connection to Country, and caring for Country as an important responsibility for Aboriginal people. He recommends that traditional Aboriginal knowledges be adhered to regarding the conservation of Country as Western land management methods have had a detrimental impact.


Mentioned:

Turtles, sheep & cattle (farming), worms.

]]> CC BY-NC]]> Moree, NSW [populated place]]]> Terry Hie Hie, NSW [populated place]]]> Terry Hie Hie Creek, NSW [stream]]]> Mehi River, NSW [stream]]]> Boomi Nature Reserve, NSW [reserve]]]> Mungindi, Qld [farm]]]> Barwon River, NSW [stream]]]> Narrabri, NSW [populated place]]]> Gwydir River, NSW [stream]]]> Boolaroo, NSW [section of populated place]]]> Copeton Dam, NSW [dam]]]> Namoi River, NSW [stream]]]> Cubbie, Qld [homestead]]]> Keepit Dam, NSW [lake]]]> Narran Lake, NSW [lake]]]> Macquarie Marshes, NSW [marsh(es)]]]> Boolaroo, NSW [populated place]]]> Mungindi, NSW [populated place]]]>
An archival version of the Talking Fish Collection is managed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA).]]> 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]]]> 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]]]> 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]]]> Irrigation]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Introduced species]]> Wetlands]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Geomorphology]]> Riparian areas]]> Billabongs]]> Floodplains]]> Fish habitat improvement]]> Environmental flows]]> Fishing industry]]> Physical characteristics (Animals)]]>
John Koehn is a research officer for the Arthur Rylah Institute, Melbourne, and studies freshwater fish ecology. John Douglas works for Victorian Fisheries, and Roy Patterson is a Taungurung man.

John Koehn talks about: his work recovering Catfish and Silver Perch populations in the Murray-Darling Basin, 2000; a commercial fishery that existed at Barren Box when Catfish abundant; drivers of Catfish decline; strengths and weakness of different fish species; impact of irrigation releases on water flow e.g. Murray River; impact of European carp on billabongs and lagoons; carp removal; importance of billabongs, floodplains, wetlands in the Murray-Darling system, their loss and degradation from human activities; importance of ‘active’ ecological management; geomorphology; importance of 'instability' in creating diverse habitats for fish species; changes in vegetation e.g. Phragmite (Common Reed).

The group add their diverse knowledge to the topics discussed, in particular the variety of Catfish species found across the Murray-Darling Basin.]]> CC BY]]> ]]> Maryborough, Vic [populated place]]]> Torrumbarry Weir, NSW [dam]]]> Eulo, Qld [populated place]]]> Albury, NSW [populated place]]]> Alexandra, Vic [populated place]]]> Barren Box Swamp, NSW [swamp]]]>
An archival version of the Talking Fish Collection is managed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA).]]> 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]]]> Lure fishing]]>
Photographs taken by Jodi Frawley.]]> CC BY]]> Mannum, SA [populated place]]]> Murray River, SA [stream]]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Floods]]> Droughts]]> Riparian areas]]> Environmental flows]]> Ecotourism]]> Ecological sustainability]]>
Kevin and Fern talk about: changes they have seen at Hollands Creek over decades; droughts and recent floods in Tatong; force of flood waters on habitat e.g. rock, tree deposits; new habitats and flows created by floods; eco-preservation and eco-tourism; Hollands Creek Demonstration Reach.

Mention of unspecified fish species: trout, galaxias.
]]> CC BY]]> Tatong, Vic [populated place]]]> Hollands Creek, Vic [stream]]]>