INTRODUCTORY 11 



out of the question; my fingers froze to the rod 

 handle and the line fast to the tip; so I had to 

 turn to the 'inevitable worm' — even that was a 

 miserable failure. There won't be good fishing 

 for a month." The first of May is plenty early 

 enough for the opening of the trout season in the 

 States of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, 

 and Connecticut. A far worse condition is present 

 at the closing date of the season, which needs 

 immediate attention and revision. 



Quoting from an angler's letter, written August 

 2, I read: "The river (Beaver Kill) seems now to 

 contain as many fish as in the spring. I caught 

 four last evening, two fourteen and two sixteen 

 inches long. Three were females, and I thought 

 it a crying shame to take trout so late now they 

 are full of eggs.'' Whoever framed the law to close 

 the season on the the last day of August must 

 be entirely ignorant of what is best for the fish 

 and fair to the angler. The season should close 

 on the last day of July; which would give three 

 months open season instead of five months, which 

 it is at present. Those anglers who can only take 

 their fishing in the late summer or fall will find 

 in the bass just as good sport, if not better, be- 

 cause trout fishing in August is only good when 



