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(ee) 
FISH CULTURAL. ASSOCIATION. 
could not make out what they were after in the water, but I soon 
found that it was for the fish-food in the stream, such as the fresh 
water lobster, caddis worm, shrimp, etc. So that if not a direct 
enemy to the fish they indirectly do much harm, as I said under 
the head of Poachers No. I. I have taken them during the night 
in the traps placed for kingfishers. 
Then comes the heron, the “blue heron,” and what a wicked 
fellow, dealing death to everything in the fish line that he once 
strikes with that long, heavy and sharp bill of his. Most of his 
poaching is carried on after dark and early mornings. During 
the day you find him in the more secluded parts of the stream or 
marshes, but after dark he will come into any of your shallow 
ponds, coming to within a rod or two of your house, and as the 
fish move around (he standing inthe water perfectly motionless), 
and come within his reach, he strikes, and good-bye to the fish if 
he hits him. From what I have seen myself and heard from 
others, I think the bird capable of getting outside of from one to 
two dozen, three dozen trout in one night. 
During the summer, when I have been out night-fishing, I have 
often heard within a short distance of mea great flopping and 
disturbance in the water. The next morning I have often gone 
to the spot as near as possible, and found the mark of the heron’s 
feet, and very often near by the stream a large trout, say from 
one-half to one pound in weight, dead, with a hole in his back or 
side into which you could put your finger, and sometimes going 
through the fish. I suppose the fish found in this shape were 
a little too large and strong for the heron, and got away from 
him, but only to die from the effects of the wound. 
If you see their marks, or think heronsare visiting your ponds 
or stream, at once get out your steel traps, and at the spot fre- 
quented most set one, two or three, the more the better. Set 
them in the shallow water or soft mud without baiting. Secure 
the trap well, for when they find themselves caught they start to 
fly, and will carry it off unless proper precaution is used. Ihave 
taken several in this way, and sometimes in winter. When you 
find one in your trap be very careful about going very near until 
you have quieted him with a long club or a charge of shot, for 
