FISHING THE PACIFIC 



inaugurated the place has already been well publicized and 

 there is excellent fishing there. Of course it's a matter of luck 

 as to what size fish will take your bait, but luck doesn't 

 always play a part in getting them raised, or in the manner in 

 which a man hooks, fights and boats them. So if there are 

 enough fish in a certain body of water and a group of anglers 

 wants to go into a tournament and fish for them competi- 

 tively, why should anyone object? I believe that competition 

 is often good for the soul and it certainly lends zest to the 

 sport-fishing game. 



I am proud to have been a member of the United States 

 team in the international matches. Fishing contests between 

 this country and others are a great thing for the sport and 

 help create cordial relations among nations just as interna- 

 tional yacht racing, polo, the Davis Cup and Walker Cup 

 matches do. They are all great sporting events. In a body of 

 water like the Lobster Bay tide rips in Nova Scotia, skill plays 

 a good part in the game where all boats and crews are uni- 

 form and fishing out of the same rip. 



In my considered opinion it is a great mistake to offer cash 

 prizes or extremely valuable prizes like automobiles and boats 

 in fishing tournaments. Such awards do not tend to promote 

 good sportsmanship and may be instrumental in creating un- 

 ethical practices among the contestants and guides. Evidence 

 of this came to light in the great Salmon Derby held off 

 Seattle in 1941. When the winner went to claim the auto- 

 mobile offered as a prize it was found that his winning salmon 

 had been netted and procured for him by outside inter- 

 ests. 



If it is the policy to offer cash prizes why not have them 



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