Fishes--Identification]]> Communities]]> Environmental flows]]> Floods]]> Fish stocking]]> Licenses]]> Lure fishing]]> Fish habitat improvement]]> Water temperature]]> Boats]]> Water sports]]> Erosion]]> Fieldwork]]>
Graham, Ken and Peter are members of the Corowa Angling Club, and have lived in the Corowa area since the 1970s. Graham has worked as a water bailiff, a law enforcement officer responsible for the policing of bodies of water. They are concerned about restricted access to the river as time goes on.

The group talk about: Corugan Pumps (Hans’ Creek), an anabranch of the Murray River; changes in the Murray’s course as a result of floods, early 1980s; fishing at Jerilderie and Deniliquin; increases in Yellowbelly species since restocking; decline in Redfin species since 1980s; club travels; fishing licences; lure fishing; changes in fishing equipment; snags and fish habitat; types of bait; river health; collecting data for Arthur Rylah Institute; restocking activities, since 1988; changes in fishing culture, ‘catch and release’; changes in vegetation from boating activities; use of pylons and stones to stop river bank erosion; changes in width and depth of the river; mammals, birds, reptiles, snakes; blue-green algae and pollution; temperature differences.]]> CC-BY]]> Wetlands]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Fisheries]]> Communities]]> Fieldwork]]> Environmental flows]]> Water temperature]]>
Born in 1960, John grew up in Melbourne, visiting with extended family around the Mildura area. He worked at Snobs Creek as a technician, becoming an expert in breeding Murray Cod. When the research side of Snobs Creek was relocated he took a job with Fisheries Department of Primary Industries to stay in the Alexandra area. He discusses in depth cultural changes in fishing and recreational activities from his perspective as a field naturalist.

John talks about: memories growing up fishing; fishing techniques; changes in fish species around Myall and Mildura; fishing techniques; types of bait; changes in the Murray’s flows and depths; changes in Murray Cod numbers; his work with Fisheries; environmental flows; de-snagging at Hume; anabranches between Hume and Mulwala; changes in water temperature; bush tucker. Mention of Bardi grub, turtle, platypus.
]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Fish hatcheries]]> Fieldwork]]> Fishing nets]]> Camping]]> Diet]]> Fishes--Diseases]]> Fish traps]]> Captive breeding]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Billabongs]]> Floods]]> Fisheries]]> Physical characteristics (Animals)]]> Fishes--Monitoring]]> Scientific methods]]>
Born in 1926, Raymond Donald was a technician at the Snobs Creek Hatchery for thirty-five years. During fieldwork trips, which could last for several weeks, not only did Raymond set nets, angle for brood stock, and process fish, but he also ensured camp life on trips went well. Renowned as a great camp cook, teams would catch game to supplement the provisions they carried with them.

Raymond talks about: growing up in Eildon and living at Rhonda on the Goulburn River; working on the Goulburn River from the headwaters to the Murray; working on Trout Cod at Snobs Creek Hatchery; finding diseases in fish species; stations at Yarrawonga, Echuca, Mildura, where they trapped fish; being the first in Australia to artificially breed Macquarie Perch; migration of fish from Lake Eildon to Jamieson, Goulburn; water temperatures and spawning; plankton surveys in billabongs and flooded rivers; days before radio transmitters, tagging and tracking over twelve-hundred Golden Perch; the effect of 1956 and 1958 floods on fish species; camping and cooking bush tucker on field trips; translocating Murray cod from Lake Charlegrark; impact of European Carp on Catfish, 1970s.

Born 1947, John McKenzie initially worked at Fisheries and Wildlife, and then Freshwater Fisheries on the Murray. He was involved in early development of radio tracking, and was involved in fieldwork with Snobs Creek Hatchery.

John talks about: his work with Fisheries and Wildlife, and Freshwater Fisheries on the Murray; sampling fish for growth rates, age, stomach content; tagging and tracking native fish with radio transmitters; work with Arthur Rylah Institute; techniques and chemicals used to catch/sample fish; coexistence of Redfin and Catfish species; disconnection of billabongs from rivers; and electrofishing revolutionising sampling.

Other fish mentioned (species unspecified): galaxias, grayling.
]]> CC BY-NC]]> 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]]]> 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]]]>