Peter Begg (left) holds his great-grandfather’s cash book and Ian Begg his father’s fishing gear beside the Water of Leith in Dunedin. They concede they did not get hooked on fishing, but they are conscious of the legacy of Alexander Campbell Begg, the first person to catch a trout under licence in Otago.
In particular, cash books from 150 years ago seem to hint at a little piece of history that was about to occur.
On December 1, 1874, Alexander Campbell Begg was the first person to have success in the inaugural Otago freshwater sports fishing season, catching the first legal trout in the Water of Leith, Dunedin.
The three-month trout fishing season was launched by the Otago Acclimatisation Society, the forerunner to the Otago Fish & Game Council, and it was New Zealand's first.
Ian Begg has stored at his Cromwell home the cash books, which were meticulously maintained by his great-grandfather.
Among the entries was one from October 26, 1874, noting the purchase of fishing gear for 10.2s.4d.
It seemed very likely this was the rod used to catch the first trout under licence, Peter Begg, of Dunedin, said.
An entry in a cash book shows Alexander Campbell Begg bought fishing gear in October 1874 for more than 10. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH
Alexander Campbell Begg also jotted down how many fish he caught.
The brothers happen to be unavoidably linked to him through their middle names, their full names are Peter Alexander Begg and Ian Campbell Begg.
Aspects of family history have been preserved.
This includes an account in the Otago Witness of the first sermon preached at First Church of Otago, it was by James Begg, doctor of divinity and father of Alexander Campbell Begg.
Dr Begg was visiting his son, who had made the trip from Glasgow to Port Chalmers in 1859 and kept a daily record of it.
"He was only 19 when he got here," Ian Begg said.
The cash book entries suggest he became quite successful in his business endeavours.
The brothers' father used to enjoy fishing.
"He did show us how to do it and we did learn," Peter Begg said.
They learned to stay out of the way of the backcast, his brother said.
"Our main occupation was to avoid getting hooked."
