THE FISH INTERESTS OF INDIANA. 227 



In a word, that it is most injudicious to pay such attention to pond breeding as 

 to neglect a more universal interest. What I desire is for our rivers and streams to 

 be well stocked with fish, and the fish protected and preserved from the Vandals 

 who seine and dynamite. I do not care how many ponds are set apart for fish cul- 

 ture by private individuals, what I would should be first looked after is the good 

 of the general public. I want it so that either a poor man or a man well-to-do 

 may go out to any of the adjacent streams and secure a good mess of fish for break- 

 fast, or any other meal. There is no trouble about those who are able to own 

 ponds protecting their fish, but I ask protection also for those who have uo ponds. 

 I would protect the fishes in the public streams of our State so that those unblest 

 with ponds may, if they so desire, indulge in the gentle art and supply themselves 

 with one of the most choice of creature comforts The Good Book says, "Men 

 shall not live by bread alone," neither would I desire that they live exclusively on 

 fish diet, yet there is no other article of food so nutritious to the stomach and 

 stimulating to the brain, and no other in any land the procurement of which afibrds 

 such delightful recreation. Even the " brown viking of the fishing smack," who in 

 his picturesque red blouse and fur-lined jerkin braves the tempest on his jjrofes- 

 sional cruise, dearly loves the dangers and adventures of his life. It is the excite- 

 ment that we all love, better even than the dainty repast that follows. A few 

 years and the rivers and streams of Indiana, protected from the encroachments of 

 fish pirates, will furnish an inexhaustible supply of the best fish in the world 

 For I contend that there are no better fish than those which people our waters 

 and all that is needed is some measure, or measures, for their protection. Our black 

 bass is the favorite of angler and epicure ; it has been the theme of the orator and 

 the inspiration of the poet. The red-eye — well, you have already had my opinion 

 of that beauty. The croppy, which is known by half a dozen other names, is a 

 delightful fish if you eat it very soon after you catch it. No richer fish swims 

 than the channel cat, while even the mud cat is not a back-set to a hungry man. 

 The sportive sun-fish and the graceful jierch, with the horned chub or dace, are 

 splendid fish, and to string a yard or two of the last named is the labor I most de- 

 light in. 



It is said that it takes a lazy man to catch fish. I deny it. No lazy man was 

 ever renowned as a fisherman. To be a successful fisherman one must be forever 

 upon the alert. He must not be caught napping. The slightest motion of a fish, 

 although the fish may not be feen, is readily understood by the disciple of old Sir 

 Isaac. He must know where to strike — and to strike with a will. It will not be 

 inappropos, perhaps, to illustrate this by telling of an experience with the late 

 George C. Harding. He had had but little luck that day — he was a better hunter 

 than fisherman. My string was heavy with perch, red-eyes, sun-fish and dace; all 

 were fish that came to my net — no, I did not use a net. He wanted to know how I 

 did it, and I invited him to draw near; "and now," thought I, "I will have a lit- 

 tle fun at the expense of this man who is so adroit at poking fun at others." I 

 was baiting with craw tails and fishing for small fish in about four to six feet of 

 water, up to my hips in rubber boots. I would throw my line in and when I felt 

 a bite would say : " George, that is a red-eye." Then I would hook my fish and up 

 would come a red-eye. 



