A Sportsman 235 



most important food for the larger fish, particularly 

 land-locked salmon, trout, and black bass. In some of 

 the larger lakes of the State, although the smelts do not 

 grow to a larger size than two or four inches in length, 

 and may be observed in the spring plentifully dead on 

 the surface of the water from some unknown cause, 

 they can at the same season be netted by the barrelful 

 in some localities adjoining their spawning places, and 

 furnish without dressing in imitation of white bait, 

 a very palatable dish simply fried in pork fat, beef 

 drippings, butter, or olive oil. 



In a few lakes I have observed there is a run of 

 larger smelts than the usual, as in the Rangeley waters, 

 and this season (1904) I caught one of nearly a quarter 

 of a pound in weight on a small fly while casting for 

 trout, and have seen one which weighed half a pound. 

 As a fish food element in fresh waters, the smelt may 

 be accounted of the first importance in its adaptability 

 and fecundity. 



The flavor of the salmon is more or less affected by 

 the waters it inhabits. I was a member of a California 

 club which was the first, and I think as yet the only 

 one to introduce this fish in that State, in Crescent 

 Lake, on the Shafter ranch, at Point Reyes, where they 

 grew with unparalleled rapidity in less than three years, 

 from six inches in length to four and five pounds in 

 weight, but owing to a scarcity of small food fish, and 

 living largely upon the plentiful caddis larva, imbibed 

 a disagreeable flavor, though eager fly takers and of 

 full game action. 



On Grand Lake stream we met two enthusiastic dis- 

 ciples of the gentle art, Mr. Edward Lannegan, the actor, 

 and W. H. Yenning, since for many years a Canadian 



