172 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[MAEon 31, 1881 



tolerably stout, and a stout hook, w make a start. The 

 rower sits in the stern of the boat to paddle. We bait the 

 book by hooking through the lips the little fishes, visually 

 three at a time, and proceed to make a cast. Moving slowly 

 up stream, we drop tho line in every dark-looking corner, 

 wherever water swirls around a stump, or under the bushes 

 or canes, and pretty soon we feel a tug like some one sud- 

 denly wantiug our rod. Now you must "mind your eye," 

 for you don't know yet whether it is 'a yearling three- 

 pounder or an old mossy-back trout that has you, but pretty 

 soon you find out ; for if it is an old setter he will notify 

 you of the fact by going straight to the bottom in spite of 

 you, and it will only be by the very best management that 

 he does not outgeneral you, for ho knows exactly how to go 

 down among the roots of that old cypress and tangle you so 

 that you are glad to get off with only the loss of hook and 

 fish. There is not much time for any fancy touches, and if 

 yon really want him you try to lead him out into deep water 

 and swing him around to tho man who is p iddliug, who puts 

 his fingers into his gills and lauds him in the boat. 



There is no science about this, not even a lauding net, but 

 lots of good sport, and from 30 to 50 pounds of fine " trout.' 

 This is perhaps the most exciting kind of fishing that a man 

 can engage in— constantly on the move, constantly on the 

 lookout for a big bite, the ever varying autumn tints of the 

 trees, the long waving moss, the chatter of the squirrels, the 

 "quack" of the English duck, and sometimes the sudden 

 "quit, quit" of the wild turkey, make up as good a day's 

 sport as any reasonable man would want. Buckshot. 



WILL QUINNAT SALMON TAKE THE FLY? 



rpHTS is a question often raised, and we are permitted to 

 -L publish the following private letter on the subject : 



Mr. Livingston Stone— Dear Sir : In July last I was flail- 

 ing for tiout with a fly on the Sacramento in a pool a short 

 distance below the bridge at Campbell's, Soda Springs Sta- 

 tion, having on three flies— brown hackle, jungle cock and 

 black gnat. I had fished from the upper end of the pool 

 down to a ripple at the lower end. When near the lower 

 end of the pool a salmon of about five pounds arose to the 

 surface and took the black gnat. I played him for about 

 twenty minutes 1 had but an eight-ounce rod and single- 

 gut leader. I brought him to a sandy beach and got him 

 very near the shore. He was then somewhat fatigued, and I 

 laid down the rod with the line taut, and attempted to get be- 

 hind him and throw him ashore with my bands. In this I 

 made a failure. In throwing him on shore the hook broke 

 from his mouth and he slipped from the wet bank back into 

 the stream and I lost him. He took the fly from the surface 

 in the same manner as a trout takes it— that is, he arose to 

 the surface, opened his mouth and grabbed it. 



On the same trip, further down the river, at Southern's, an 

 English gentleman, whose name I have forgotten (who is the 

 superintendent of the Eureka Mining Company), was there 

 fishing. He considered it unsportsmanlike to take either 

 salmon or trout with anything hut a fly, and persisted in 

 whipping the river, although the water was somewhat roily 

 from the mining above. The fishiug was very good with 

 bait, bat I found it very poor with the fly, and I think he did 

 also. He, however, took one salmon, weighing about ton 

 lbs , also with a black gnat, and brought it to the house. This 

 was the day previous to my arrival at Southern's. On the 

 day I was there he had gone with a camping party over on 

 the McCloud. I have heard of several others, but these are 

 tin- only two cases that have come within my own personal 

 knowledge. As you are aware, salmon can be so readily 

 taken with bail that I think they are rarely caught with the 

 fly, except by persons fishing for trout. My opinion is that 

 thequinu-.t in the Sacramento' just in from the ocean will 

 take a fly ; but after being in freshwater for two or three 

 weeks they will take nothing but the bait. 



1 was not fishing on the river with Sir Rose Price. He 

 took bis with bait, and it is reported also with grab hooks. 1 

 fished on the same stream with Sir John Iiccd, but did not. 

 see him take a salmon with a fly. B. B. Bedding. 



Tk 



sks Fisu Notes.— Our anglers are already getting 

 their tackle in order for the spring fishing. The Legislature 

 has not yet passed the much needed protection laws, and it 

 is questionable if they will. It is singular that in this day of 

 enlighten ment so many persons should object to laws which 

 have become necessary and proved so efficacious in their 

 workings elsewhere, the many streams of this Sfate.could 

 soon be replenished wi'h fine game fish could trappers, 

 seiners and giggers be prevented from destroying them, as 

 they do wholesale.. ....One of the most ingenious traps for 



catching minnows is now being offered for sale in this city. 

 It consists of a globe made of fine wire, split in two, and 

 joined togetheron the lower side by a hinge ; to the rim of one 

 of these sides is fastened a small stand for holding bait. The 

 two halves open when set at the bottom of the creek, or can 

 be opened and shut at will. When suspended in deep water 

 by these strings, these are attached through a pulley to the 

 end of a jointed rod, thus allowing the trap to be placed in 

 the water and manipulated without the angler getting wet, 

 as is the case with the old-iashioned minnow'seine. Mauyof 

 our sportsmen have seen experiments fried with it, and pro- 

 nounce it the most perfect implement yet invented for the 

 purpose. Besides, taking large, fish, becomes an impossibil- 

 ity, and doing away with the tugging about of heavy minnow 

 buckets It is rumored here that our new Governor in- 

 tends appointing a person to fill the position of Fish Com- 

 missioner for Middle Tennessee so long and ably; filled by 

 Col. George F. Akers. It is to be hoped that the' rumor is 

 unfounded, since no more efficient Commissioner could be 

 found than the Colonel, besides being a base injustice to him 

 after doing so much as he has for the fish interest of the 

 people. He has created a desire for protection in the minds 

 of many, be-ides stimulating a taste for legitimate angling. 

 lie is known to the National Fish Commissioner, as well as 

 to Profs. Goodc, Mather, Nicholson and others, all scientific 

 gentlemen and enthusiasts for fish culture. With proper 

 laws, a hatchery, and the able assistance of the above-named 

 gentlemen, the Colonel could soon stock our streams and 

 make for himself a notoriety which, after years of stubborn 

 opposition and difficulties, he is justly entitled to. 



Nashville, MairJ, ?, 1881. J. D. H. 



Proposed Law in Michigan— Concord, Jackson Co., 

 Mich., March 31. — Allow me to place before your readers 

 the fish law which is to be passed by the Legislature of the 

 State of Michigan. I find by glancing over the Legislative 

 report of said State that if House bill No. 2S4, which has 

 been reported on favorably for passage, becomes a Jaw, there 



will be little use of any other regulations in regard to fishing 

 in the inland waters of the State' for three or four years ; for 

 fhe three years prohibition includes the streams of every 

 county. Brook I rout have been deposited by the Fish Com- 

 mission in tho tributaries of every river, and by the time the 

 three years have expired the probability is that they will be 

 stocked with the California trout. 



The text of the bill is : Section 1. The people of the State 

 of Michigan enact, that hereafter it shall not be lawful for 

 any person or persons — 1. To take or catch by any means 

 whatever any fish from any stream stocked with brook trout 

 by the Superintendent of Fisheries of the State for the period 

 of three years after the plant of such brook trout therein ; or 

 to capture, in any manner, in any of the inland or public 

 waters of the State, or to have in bia possession brook trout, 

 or gray ling, of a less size than six inches in length ; 2. To 

 take or catch, by any means whatever, any fish from any 

 stream stocked with California trout by the Superintendent 

 of Fisheries of this State for the period of four years after 

 the plant of such California teout therein. Section 2. Any 

 person violating any of the provisions of this act shall, on 

 conviction thereof before any court of competeut jurisdic- 

 tion, be punished by a fine of not more than $100, or by im- 

 prisonment in the jail of the county wherein he shall be con- 

 victedfornot exceeding three months, or by both suchfineand 

 imprisonment in the discretion of the Court. Wolveeine. 



Soaroitt op Canadian Salmon. — In the article in your 

 issue of Feb. 10, from the Albany Journal, on the " Unex- 

 plained Scarcity of Salmon," allow me to give my idea, and 

 the reasons why. If, as supposed, the winter feeding grounds 

 of the fish are on the far Labrador, Hudson Bay, or out on the 

 North Atlantic, I believe they got caught and many of them de- 

 stroyed in the imemnse ice fields last May on their approach 

 to the coast. Mauy fish were taken in the nets with the skin, 

 fins, tail, and even the gill covers worn and split, not bitten 

 or torn, as 1 have formerly seen them. Ttiey were also in 

 poor condition, very unlike our generally^ne first-run fish, 

 more like a mended kelt, looking just as if they had been 

 forcing their way through thick brush. The fish belonging 

 to our different rivers arrive at different periods. Metapedia 

 River fish, always first, they are easily distinguished from all 

 the others. This, formerly a well stocked river, was nearly 

 a blank, the netters getting none, and only SO by the rod 

 (formerly near 300). Main Biver proper, Patapedia and 

 Kedgwick fish come next. Netti rs term them second run. 

 This river had about one-third the stock it has had the last 

 five years. Its fish gave the smad supply the estuary and 

 coast netters obtained last year. In this river the parent fish 

 are taken for I ho hatchery, and owing to the very low water 

 its stock could easily be. seen, particularly when in October 

 the fish come on the shallows to spawn. On its lower waters, 

 for the first 40 miles, fish were very scarce, and in the pro- 

 portion of five males to one female. On its upper waters it 

 had half the usual number in stock, and fhree females to one 

 male. Such was the proportion taken by us, and in all my 

 former experience males were in excess. ( I may here observe 

 more females than males take the fly.) I can form no reason 

 for the disproportion. The ITpsilquitch River fish are termed 

 greenbacks, generally small size, coming in July, many of 

 them escaping through the netters' 7-inch ine.she3. I saw 

 many pools in this river in August with hundreds of fish in 

 them, and notwithstanding the low water and small stream, 

 had better rod fishing than an v previous year. I think this 

 series of facts must show that if the ice fields did not do the 

 damage* the late run fish escaped in a great measure the 

 general destruction. As there is iu the hatchery here 7f)0,000 

 salmon ova, in fine condition, to supplement the natural 

 supply, no fears need bo entertained for the future. 



Metapnlia, Fib 18. Jonx Alow at, Fishery Officer. 



Maeine FisniNG in Califobwa.— A correspondent in Cali- 

 fornia writes us that the fishing in San Francisco Bay is ex- 

 cellent at present, notwithstanding the floods. The Sacra- 

 mento and San Joaquin rivers, which drain so large a por- 

 tion of the State, are pouring immense volumes of muddy 

 fresh water into the hay, and on the last of the ebb tide the 

 surface water is fresh as far down as Saueelito, which is only 

 a mile or so from the mouth of the Golden Gate. Yet the 

 bay fishing never was better. Catches of fifty, seventy-five, 

 and a hundred pounds of rock cod are frequent at the points 

 off Angel Island, Goat Island and Alcatraz. All down along 

 the Saueelito shores the rocky banks afford opportunity for 

 rod fishing, while a litllc way off the boats anchor, and deep 

 water work is done. Smelt began to ruu early, and are of 

 seeming larger size than formerly. The torn cod, too, are 

 abundant, and in good condition. Drop line angling for rock 

 cod and perch is indulged in from the wharves at Oakland, 

 Alameda, San Quentin and Saueelito. Sea trout, blue perch 

 and green cod are taken from the deep water off Lime Point, 

 at the Golden Gate. In fact the rock cod have been so 

 numerous that there is not much genuine sport in catching 

 them. Alcatraz Island, where there is very deep water anil 

 strong current, sea trout, blue, white and ribbed perch, and 

 rock cod are caught in abundance. Owing to the swiftness 

 of the current, piano wire lines are. used, aiid leather-fingered 

 gloves are necessary. Very heavy sinkers arc of course re- 

 quired. Our correspondent promises us a description of the 

 deep-water fislung at some future opportunity. 



Effect of Muddy Watbbs.— Dauphin Co., Pa.— Will 

 muddy water in any stream or river, if very muddy, say for 

 several weeks at a time, kill or suffocate black ba'ss? "The 

 reason for asking is this: Ever since the warm weather and 

 rains of several weeks ago, which caused a rise in the Sus- 

 quehauna, and made quite a lively freshet of ice and water in 

 the same, the water in tfie river has been very muddy, and 

 within the past week large numbers of black bass have been 

 picked up at the water's edge in a torpid or seemingly uncon- 

 scious state, while many were quite dead. The different 

 papers of Harrisburg have all contained notices of the same, 

 and have given it as their opinion that the fish have been 

 suffocated by the muddy water, and as all the streams empty- 

 ing into the river were' equally as muddy, the fish were un- 

 able to get into clear writer at all. I, as well as many others 

 interested in this matter, should be glad to hear your opinion 

 or that of some one else on the matter, through the columns 

 of Foeest and Sire a.u.— John II. Rothkock. 



Ordinarily, fish stand freshets very well and the mud 

 washed from the surface of the ground, but if the bottoms of 

 the streams are stirred the gas asphyxiates them. 



First Salmon— St. Johns, N, B., March 26.— The first 

 salmon of the season was caught last Tuesday morning in 

 Port Meday Biver, N. S., by Mr. James Palmer. It weighed 

 nine pounds, and was sold for $4.50.— Stakweap. 



He Saw No Catfish.— Hampton, 111.— In answer to 

 "How far North do Catfish Run or Live?" one correspondent 

 says perhaps the Mississippi takes them the farthest; another 

 has told of them iu the Bed Biver, and another of the St. 

 Louis taking them farthest north, which is correct, I think. 

 In 1866 I made a boat trip from St. Paul up the Mississippi 

 to Sandy Lake, 350 miles above, and was about four weeks 

 going up. I fished and hunted all the way, and did not see a 

 catfish or trout. The Iudians and soldiers told me that there 

 were no catfish or trout in any of the waters that fell into the 

 Mississippi above the falls of St. Antony. I caught plenty 

 in St. Louis. I then portaged out of St. "Louis tolPike, and • 

 down Pike to Vermillion Lake, at the time when there was 

 such a rush there for gold ami silver. In 1S76 I paddled 

 down from Sandy Lake again, but saw no catfish.— A. M. 

 Hat ward. 



St. La whence Chub.— Many years ago I used to catch 

 some fish in the River St. Lawrence, between Ogdensburgh 

 and the Galops Rapids, which wore then called " chub." My 

 memory is not very clear regarding them, but I believe there 

 were two kinds— one small and silvery, ranging from £ lb. to 

 perhaps 2 lbs. in weight, aud another,' less bright in hue, with 

 reddish fins, and very much larger. They were taken with a 

 worm, and bad small mouths. It is, I am aware, rather un- 

 reasonable to ask you to name these fish for me, considering 

 how absurdly meagre ray description is ; but as they are (or 

 were) common enough in the locality indicated, some cor- 

 respondent might recognize them, even from the above. Any 

 light upon these points will be most acceptable to— X. 



Illegal Bass— Buffalo, N. Y., March 9.— I was very much 

 surprised a few days ago to learn that black bass arc regular- 

 ly quoted iu the price lists sent out by the dealers in New 

 York, and that they are kept on sale all "the while, regardless 

 of the close season. I have- cautioned a friend wiio is a 

 dealer to have no transactions with black bass, as there were 

 men appointed by the State to watch the markets and dealers 

 as well as the fishermen, whose duty it is to prosecute all in- 

 fractions of the law. Ho seems, like many others, to ihink 

 that the game wardens don't amount to anything, and if what 

 he says about the dealers iu New York is" true,' it seems to 

 me the warden for that district is not attending to his duty. — ■ 

 A. O. B. 



Vermost Bass— Highgate Springs, Vt.— We have some 

 fine black bass fishing here. Two gentlemen from New YorK 

 captured over two hundred with the fly one week last Au- 

 gust The largest eatch was sixty-three in one evening, 

 when one of them, iu six successive casts, landed twelve 

 bass.-L. L. P. 



mh §M\tnn t 



STKirPED BASS IX LAKE ONTARIO. 



TSTE saw the following iu tho Watertowu Time.-, of March 15 * 

 '» " Clark A. Bobbins, th B fish merchants of Buckets Harbor, 

 had brought to their office tho other day a sea bass, probably the 

 only one over caught in tho lake or river.' It was caught in Chau- 

 moufc Bay aud weighed bis pounds. They are a very line IikIi and 

 it is thought by aotne that tliia is a forerunner aud that there wUl 

 be others caught." 



We immediately wrote tho firm named, enclosing drawings of two 

 fishes which might he meaut by the term " sea bass " and received 

 tho following reply : 



Sackets Haueok, N. T., March 21. 



Your favor ot the 21st inst, at baud with incisure of slip from 

 tho Watertowu Times, also drawings. The iish taken hero was the 

 lower one iu drawing— Mocens /meatus— or striped buss of New 

 York. 



It is tho first one Overseen by us taken from these waters, and 

 we have au idea that it found its way tip hero bv following I ;e ale- 

 wife, Tho Bpoeirueu was very handsome aud there is no doubt as 

 to its identity. Tho great question here is, " What will bo the ulti- 

 mate result of the appearance hero of the alewifc V " Have they 

 caused tho extermination of the native oisooo? Will the alewifere- 

 rnain with us or are they to disappear ah invsteriouslv as lhev came 

 or will Bomo of the food fishes of the suit, water become taWues of 

 our lake ? 



These are questions we hardly dare venture an opinion ou, as we 

 ;ood that is to be enduring by the appearance of 



:, nod 



r watci 



Wo Bhould be glad to read vour opinion on those questioi 

 would be pleased if the department at Washington uonld appoint 

 a commission to investigate. The subject need., t i :■■ dealt with in a 

 masterly rnauuer. Claim A Kohhiss. 



Tho Ogdensburg Journal has an article ou the alewifea-, follows, 

 for we think wo are correct iu assuming that they refer to this fish 

 wlion they speak of menhaden, which do not go into fresh waters. 

 It Bays : 



Considerable interest will hang upon the question, "What. 

 effect did the singular mortality aotieed List year have upon the 

 alewives or menhaden of the St. Lawreuce V '* The total D I ~e ,e 

 from the fish markets of the old-fashtpuedcijHioeg o( Lake Ontario, 

 iuds us that that species of fish have been supplanted bails 

 comers as certainly as the aborigines hare disappeared before 

 the whites on the land. If it shall turn out that the menhaden 

 are as numerous aa ever the present season die rim commissioner 

 should take Borne steps to investigate them aud teach the people 

 how to utilize their presence. ' If tile pre-sen,- .| < , i ■'■ 



recently caught near Backets Harbor comes from the following of 

 the menhaden to ecu- waters and other species are ha.nic ro do" t.li.i 

 same ibitig, fishermen and fin, es iea ear '.»■ i.sasle 1 .;. [he i'mes. 



We suggest, the enperiuus a.ieid .,, :ie ii.l. a, Department send a 

 duly-qualified deputation to the St. Lawrence in June of the present 

 year to investigate the menhaden visitation which takes place at 

 that time. 



w 



THE GEORGIA COMMISSION. 



'E have received the annual report of the Commissioner of 



Agriculture of the State of Georgia, ivhon a 



), together with "c'ireu- 

 plemantal report. We 



r ITW : , . 



hoe discharged the du- 



Commissioner of Fisheries for tho lc> 

 lar No. 14 1 ;,, new series," which is a su 

 learn that " Dr. H. II. Gary, of Troup C< 

 periutendont of Fisheries Jan. 14. 1SSU, an 

 ties of that position with energy and fide 

 that time." 



Dr. Cary reports that it has been a gra 

 duct the work with the limited approprmti 

 intended purpose. He thinks that no Stat 

 adapted for the cultivation of unadi-omoT 

 former times the shad passed up all toe 

 the Atlantic, and while uone were tonne 

 Gulf of Mexico it has been den.,-,,, is,..,. 

 will thrive in those rivers of which the 

 shad have been taken from the rivers a 

 , and from numerous streams 



1 thev 

 The 



empty into 



..a-, au\A iiuui uuuiciuii,, Btie.anio in oiuei Duties VeS e 



t in Gulf, all of which are traceable to artificial hatching. In 



