198 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



fish laws are founded upon the necessity of protecting 

 fish during the spawning season, and their disregard 

 means the killing of hundreds of fish for each one 

 taken. The true sportsman will observe the close 

 seasons for fishing as readily as he will any moral 

 obligation. The necessity for protecting fish when 

 spawning has been fully explained in the chapter on 

 hatching and propagating, and especial attention is 

 called to it here. Do not, under any circumstances, 

 break the law. The open season is sufficiently long 

 to afford ample sport. Maintain also the law in 

 regard to taking undersized fish. The illegal sizes 

 are too small for the table, and no honor accrues 

 from taking them. Above all, never take more of 

 any kind of fish than are actually required. There 

 are many times when fish bite readily, and the temp- 

 tation is to catch as many as possible. As has been 

 stated in a previous chapter, if one simply can not 

 withstand the temptation the fish should be thrown 

 back into the water, only those badly injured being 

 kept. This affords ample sport without slaughter. 

 Don't throw back fish that are badly injured and liable 

 to die. It is more humane to kill them at once, and to 

 keep them, even if caught accidentally out of season. 

 Certain directions should be given in this regard, 

 however. Especial care must be taken in throwing 

 back trout that have been caught, to wet the hand 



