April, 60 Jaar Terug…. | 60 Years Ago…

Voorblad van die April 1960 uitgawe. Die onderskrif is net: “Toneeltjie by Rietvleidam” / Cover of the April 1960 issue. The caption is only: “Scene at Rietvlei Dam” Die fotograaf was Paf Nel/The photographer was Paf Nel. THE TITLE CHANGE Being a typical monthly publication the demands of material and printing deadlines prevented the editor from responding immediately to any posted responses from readers to the first issue - congratulatory or otherwise – but verbal responses were evidently received and acted upon – which is why the cover title on this issue (the second) immediately became bilingual with the words “Tight Lines” added to the title. And so, it remained for the full sixty years, with both English and Afrikaans being used. “LET’S LAUGH AT OURSELVES” This section contained bits and pieces to raise a smile or outright laughter. The entry below not only raised a smile, but it also perfectly reflects the huge difference in outlook between anglers and non-anglers: An angler had a four hour’s tussle with a huge fish before he was able to land it. When at length he had made sure of his catch, he took it home and related his triumph to his wife, laying special stress on the time it took and the energy he had to expand before he could secure the fish. When he had finished, he waited anxiously for praise. With a puzzled expression, his wife looked up from her knitting. “But my dear, why didn’t you cut the line and get rid of the brute?” *Huh?! HENGELOORDE In hierdie uitgawe word die “Petit Chalet-oord” by Nefdt op die westelike oewer van Hartbeespoortdam beskryf, wat ten volle toegeruste huisies en kampgronde met ablusiegeriewe aangebied het. Die eienaar, ’n meneer Kruger Botha, wat saam met sy vrou, Tannie Toice, wat al lank vir talle hengelaars bekend was die gedagte gekoester wat later ’n ideaal geword het, naamlik: waarom nie netjiese volledige geriewe aan hengelaars verskaf nie? Inderdaad – waarom nie? Die resultaat was toe wel netjiese huisies met drie vertrekke – slaapkamer, voorkamer en kombuis, toegerus met gasligte, gasstoof, yskas, warmwater dag en nag en spoel riool. Soos verwag kon word, het die aanvraag die beskikbaarheid heeltemal oortref. *Hierdie idee van hom het oor die jare tot ’n reuse hengeltoerismebedryf ontwikkel wat deesdae derduisende hengelaars oor die hele land bedien – dit was sowaar ’n blink gedagte! VISKENNIS: DIE KURPERS VAN TRANSVAAL Vir die eerste keer in die hengelmedia is ’n kundige artikel oor ons hengelspesies geplaas, met erkenning aan die Departement Fauna en Flora van die ou Transvaal Provinsiale Administrasie. Dit het vyf kurperspesies beskryf. Interessant is dat die bloukurper (Tilapia mossambica) eers algemeen bekend was as die rooivinkurper, en soms ook as die witkurper en grootbek-kurper. Dis eers later dat die naam ‘bloukurper’ algemeen aanvaar is. Die ander was die rooiborskurper (Tilapia melanopleura), die vleikurper (Tilapia sparrmannii), die dwergkurper (Haplochromis moffattii) en die kanariekurper (Serranochromis thumbergi). * The bluekurper was (and still is!) an exceptional table fish, and right in the front of the magazine , just under the Editorial no less, was a thoughtful and entertaining piece by V.W. Smith singing the praises of the bluekurper as a table fish. Here is one of the recipes: KURPER IN TOMATO SAUCE Fry 8lbs of cleaned fish in deep oil. The fish must not be fried crisp. When soft enough to be able to remove the backbone, take out of the pan. If the fish has been filleted beforehand, merely fry until soft. Using an enamel saucepan (not aluminium) boil 8 big onions (sliced) in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Add pepper and salt, ½ cup sugar, 1 bottle vinegar, and 1 ½ small bottles of tomato sauce. Stir well with a wooden spoon, and then add the fried fish and bring to the boil. As soon as the mixtures boils remove from the fire and place in canned fruit jars. This is enough for 5 or 6 bottles. Seal the jars well, making sure that no air is left in the jars. Place the sealed jars in a pressure cooker and cook at 10lbs pressure for 1 hour. The bottled fish will then keep indefinitely. *Volgende maand: Die Mei 1960 uitgawe. / Next Month: The May 1960 issue.