CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME. 53 



information pertaining to things that are of interest to all lovers of 

 the great out-of-doors. He can tell one where the best hunting and 

 fishing is to be had ; point out the best camp ground, and be useful in 

 innumerable small ways that I am sure will be highly appreciated. 



I hope to see the day in the not distant future when the true status 

 of our game wardens will be firmly established in the public mind, and 

 the warden will be accorded the respect to which the dignity of his 

 office entitles him. 



Meet him on the open ground of good fellowship ; extend to him the 

 hand of welcome when he favors your camp with a visit, and as he is 

 usually the possessor of a pleasing personality, he will, if afforded an 

 opportunity, win your good will and friendship. 



STRIPED BASS FISHING. 



By C. M. BouTAN. 



My first experience angling for striped bass was sixteen years ago. 

 After several fishing trips to San Leandro Bay, where I caught nothing 

 but sting-rays, I succeeded in hooking a two-pound bass in San Pablo 

 marsh near where the city of Richmond now stands. 



The clam was the only bait used at that time. The preparation^ of 

 a clam for a bait consisted in taking it out of the shell and splitting 

 the neck lengthwise, the idea being to make a pocket of the neck, for 

 the clam belly is soft and comes off the hook easily when cast. The 

 hook was run through the little hard teat on the belly, then through 

 the belly and twice through the neck lengthwise. 



Our fishing was confined to the sloughs and good catches on some 

 occasions were made. 



In July, 1901, Al. Wilson perfected a bass spoon which he brought 

 to San Pablo to try, and it was my good fortune to be there fishing 

 at the time and to see the results. Mr. Wilson informed me that the 

 spoons would be on the market shortly, and upon securing one I made 

 a hasty trip to try it out. Large numbers of bass were occasionally 

 caught with this spoon, both in the sloughs and on flats outside in 

 San Pablo Bay. But the striped bass is a queer fish and on some days 

 it would not strike the spoon. The fish were small, ranging from one 

 to four pounds, but occasionally a larger one was landed. 



A couple of years later some men tried trolling for bass in Raccoon 

 Straits and secured a nice catch, so several of us went over to try our 

 luck. Fishing was so good that we formed a club known as the "Pacific 

 Striped Bass Club" and purchased an ark, which we still maintain at 

 Belvedere. There were two distinct runs of bass in that neighborhood, 

 one in March and April, the other in September and October. Seldom 

 was a fish caught under five pounds and from that up to fourteen 

 pounds, with a few as large as twenty pounds. Two men generally 

 fished together, using the "armstrong" motor. Rod holders were 

 clamped to the sides of the boat to hold the rods. It was ideal fishing, 

 with plenty of excitement, especially when two fish were hooked at the 

 same time, which often happened. The fishing was mostly done close 

 to the rocks. 



