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FOREST AND STREAM. 



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FISHING AND FISH LAWS OF OHIO. 



Till:' lovei otf natural beauty seeks tiie secluded spot to 

 indulgi hisfaflcics, no matter hciw peculiar othox^ men 

 tli ink aim. He is found often awaytrpm the haunts oi 

 Inisj ii. ... where nature revels in lur wildest moods; where 

 the onl; sound reaching him i- tho splash pf the "rippling 



,iti-l hi- boat <ir tin- screams of tin: seagull as ii 



follows the windings- ol the itream, or perchance the pecu- 

 liar noise ol a rail or familiar sound of a stray duck hidden 

 from view in the tall wild nee. thai hems the creels for miles 

 anm , In early spring the grass, weeds, and wild rice a|> 

 pen' at the -urfaer i,i wonderful rapidity, following a clear. 

 beautiful channel, rarely exceeding in Width 100 feel 

 ami an average depth of eighl feet f or tunny miles, until 

 it Widens and loses ii- name, emptying into t lie great waters 

 oi Lake e'.rii-. Such is Ottawa River or Ten Mile Creek, 

 the -p hi iviiem\ home of the members of the Toledo Fish.- 

 inir and Hunting '( lub. To the love!' of nature il i- ever 

 rJnirinmg: lo the lover of the gentle art il commends itself 

 by its nttmhei'sol black bass, pike, rock bass, often pickerel 

 and musltalonge, and boat-loads of porch and sunlish. 

 Ti. -• fish are educated ta ihe same pBculiax habits asto 

 When they tt ill bite, as Other flsh in all streams and lakes. 



The Toledo Fishing and Hunting Huh was organized in 

 April. (8SL with a charter, membershipof 130, continuing, 

 lis -peaking, some ol the best fishermen and 

 hunters in the State, and when you comedown to a genuine 

 6>h story, that rings wRh. truth, there are members in the 

 club Without an equal in the United States, and I am not 

 speaking personally either, the object of the association 

 is similar to other: throughout the Slat' -. the protection of 

 such game, lin and feather, whose tloh affords nutritious 

 food and tho pursuit of- which furnishes a healthful recre- 

 ation. Some time when the thermometer is above zero! 

 will write more particularly about game in this section and 

 at present talk about the tisli and fishing grounds of the 

 association. Ten Mile Creek, as above mentioned, is a 

 peculiar stream about ten miles in length, winding through 

 a beautiful country, and is particularly adapted to the haunts 

 of the pike and black bass. Our efforts to enforce the laws 

 of Ohio were particularly aimed at unlawful fishermen in 

 Ten Mile- Creek, notwithstanding Maumee River oifers in- 

 ducements equally as good, if not better, in the way of black 

 bass fishing, but seining is carried on at such a great rate 

 thai niir means were not sufficient to handle (hem. 



Ten .Mil. Creek, on account of its ready accessibility for 

 fishing and hunting combined, being located within half an 

 hour's walk from -ti.-ct car accommodation, the club has 

 spent its time and money in getting its waters clear of nets. 

 Many of our own eili/eiis trial.- w iih pleasure how, many 

 years ago, they could catch tish from five to twenty pounds, 

 and consider il no iish story to haul out a muskalonge 

 weighing thirty or even forty 'pound-, and with, almosl any 

 kind of bail catch In an hour what we now catch in a day. 

 The scarcity of fish in the river and creek is certainly at- 

 tributed to the continual fishing with nets. Previous to last 

 year fishing with hook and line for five years back was no 

 pleasure. Since the organization of the club we have been 

 ai :i\i ly engaged in fighting unlawful fishermen, and while 

 pur success was only in Ohio-waters, our best fishing is in 

 Ohio, but Michigan State line cuts off On creek hef Ore it 

 widens into the bay. and for half a mile the nets placed 

 ■ ■■!!»( d i lie lish from coming up the stream. The 

 writer can recall quite a number of instances where parties 

 having nets -t i. 'Illicit aerus- the creek in Ohio, and upon 

 being notified to remove them 01 stand consequences, 

 would, in a aight's lime, take up and reset their nets ten to 

 i'onlj feet beyond in the State ol Michigan, and thus he 

 clear ol any attack. 



During the foil ol ism flieowners. of nets were convinced 



of thi test intentions oi the club to clear the creek in 



Ohio, and the nets began to grow I.-- each month. In the 

 -piuii ■■; 1888, instead of twenty-five nets in a distance of 

 three milos.the creek was clear, and reports came tpug 

 id nts along the t-rcck as having- seen an unusual 

 number of black bass and pike, and also reports of splendid 

 fishing all along the line Uu-r a year's steady work the 

 eluh was rewarded i>\ success number one and an unusual 

 quanliiv of lish returning to old haunts. So surprising was 

 the meet - in Me tall fishing that the writer had the plcas- 

 ijr. ol being with a party of limited experience who 

 caught over sixty fine black' bass in less than half a day, 

 and at other I inn-.- forty and fifty were caught in unusual 

 short, time. 1 recall one alb inoon when bail was getting 

 scarce that we bad t0 cUt up -.our minnows, and frequently 

 only u.-e ihe head or tail, and would catch black bass all 

 the' same. It was surprising to the major one afternoon to 

 Bcc a boy in n boat opposite catch has- with common house- 

 flies thai he caught with bis hands in the boat. These fish 

 stories when told to fishermen who ha.A abaudoned the 

 trounm yeare u o on account oi no fishing, were consid- 

 ered a fish storj in .ui it- true sense, and the colojssAJ 

 prevarication" was known fiiV miles around, The actual 



truth n spread, and the local reporters of our Toledo 



papers, which In Ihe way. the club is under ever- 

 lasting obligation to for Ih'eir generous support in having 

 published and applauded our work, soon followed, with 

 Stories beyond anything heard of for years, and hist fall's 

 fishing ua's the most successful one had' for many seasons. 

 "Willi ihi- partial suecess and showing with the ereok only 

 hall protected from lawless fishermen, what would bo the 

 Tesult should the entire creek be kept clear of nets? This 

 gave new encouragement, and an earnest effort w4s made 

 tOgul a hiwyuissi'd in Michigan to protect the- mouth of streams 

 emptying into the lake By the personal efforts of lion. E. 

 M Potter, presidenl of our club, and tbroxigh the unceas- 



ing kindness of the members of the Michigan Sportsman's 

 State Association, a law was passed equally as binding as 

 our own Ohio law, and nov, the club will put every effort 

 forward io protect the fish, and in a year's time the fishing 

 in Ten Mile Creek will equal any place in the country. It's 

 waterS and natural -urroundi'iigs are not excclled'iu the 



Stale. The intention of the ejuh is to make an effort to 

 keep the waters of Maumee River clear of net-, but in order 



to make il a BUCCI -" it i- necessary to gel clubs, already in 

 existence in towns near tt>and OH the banks of the river, or 

 start new ones, to go in and assist u-. 



The black bass fishing at Maumee Kapiils cannot he rv 

 colled in any of the famous inland lakes of Michigan. 

 Prom the annual report of the Ohio Pish Commission I find 

 that black bass have been planted in considerable quantities 

 in the inland waters of Ihe State, and from the supcrinlou- 

 dem oi ihe hatcheries I learn that the supply has not bees 



equal lo the demand, or in plain facts, the "necessity cans, d 

 by unlawful seining." The commission heartily endorse 

 ihe protection aesoowtrons of tin- Male and depend almost 

 wholly upon them to enforce the law. As an illustration 

 of the above. I have seen taken from the mouth of the creek 

 mentioned, in flag nets One day, flol less than 500 black 



bass, not exceeding in weight a quarter of a pound each. 



Tht x wi re brought to tho city in wagons and sold for three 



to five i ..-in- a pound. The reader can see that it is useless 



for the State, or a« the superintendent of Ohio hatcheries 

 sav>. it --,,,'nis absurd that the Stab should appropriate 

 money to reato! k the -i reams if they are to be captured tit 

 the rato they are now, and at the very time of all others 

 when they should not be." The superintendent, continuing, 

 says: -The siatc is supplying food that will be cheaper 



than any other kind, and befoiv it is really ready for the 



m thx.rtsmcn 'mv bcewuitig m, .roabundant CVWJ war. and 



liVea-so^aticnsV^'-m^ 



bu.-iness men of this citv were presented a petition to the 



General Assembly of the StMcol Ohio to revive the fi-h 



laws, and not one refused to -ieii. and tin- remark was not 



iinfrct|uent]y made that "we wish lish could be protected 



so thai a person could catch enough to make it pay the 



time." 



laiion. and for the want of it worn-out 

 nds on the thresholds of the palaces of 

 j have built Stimulants have been re- 

 fhatflAgging strength mighl he kept up, 

 ulv given a deceitful flicker to the waning 

 The resources of medicine are taxed in a 



Men want reci 

 men fall by thous 



success which tin 



sorted to in ordei 



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shattered constitutions, broken do 



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effort and quickei 



Every disci o 



iplira'lion to art opens new fields for 



s the desires and the activities of men. 



ithing'needs to be done bv which repair shall keep pace 

 With the increased wear. How to recreate the sJpcnt forces 

 is a problem better solved by ti true Sportsman', who loves 

 the open-air exercise and enters upon his duties lor such 

 purposes: to such men is attributed the patience of wander- 

 ing for hours along some inviting stream in search of a good 

 fishing ground. 



In all science nucd has been followed by discovery. New 

 sports, greater proficiency in old ones, increasing holidays, 

 regular seasons of vacation, are till movements but as yet 

 only beginning in the right, direction, and there is scarcely 

 a day passes but what we an- reminded of this increased 

 demand for recreation. To the feeble in health, lo the over- 

 worked brain, relief cm be found in a few miles' walk in 

 search of a good fishing ground; and after you have found 

 it let me knew, and I will catch the fish. 



.J. K. (fl'NCKIil,. 



In ibis connection we print the following petition which 

 has been presented to the. Legislature of Ohio, and is now 

 befdre tho House in the shape of a bill. A similar one 

 has boon introduced in the Legislature of Michigan. .V 

 Toledo paper says: 



Within a few days ureal interest litis been aroused in cer- 

 tain circles over the fishery question. Petitions have been 

 circulated, and one carried by J. K. Ounckel is signed by 

 every business man on tin- east side of Summit -street- for a 

 long' distance. The petition is addressed to ihe Legislature 

 •f Ohio, and asks that section 6,968 of the Revised Statutes 

 be so amended as to better protect the small fish in certain 

 wali-r-. This section of the lish law is too loose in its con- 

 struction. Il excepts from the provisions of the act ihe 

 waters of Lake Erie and certain reservoirs. The petition 

 seeks to supply tbisomissiofl by having the law include Lake 

 Krieaud its bays and i-iuai-i, Certain persons who are 



flagrant violators of law contend thai till streams up to the 

 head of tide or back water arc a part of Lake Erie, and that 

 bat k water is included in the term "waters of Lake Erie," 

 as excepted in section (i,008. The petition asks I hat the 

 said section be so atni'iideil as to ••prohibit till catchiogor 

 billing of iish (except by boolf and line), in any of the creeks, 

 streams, rivers or canals within He- state, iributaiy to the 

 Ohio River, Lake Erie, the bays, thereoi and the reservoirs 

 within the State." 



"To prohibit seine, trap or gill net, or pound fishing in 

 Luke Erie and the bays thereof, from May 20 to October 10, 

 in each year." 



"To prohibit the setting up fish nets, gill nets, pound 

 lid- or traps of any kind upon anj of the shoals or roofs, 

 in any of Ihe waters of the State of Ohio during any 

 season of the year." 



"To prohibit the buying or selling of fish caught in 

 violation of such enactments, and making it t h<- duly of the 

 fish commissioner of the Stale and the superintendent of 

 the fish hatchery to enforce the law.'' 



POSITION OF REEL-WEIGHT OF RODS. 



IN reading the article in FOSESit urn Streaat of Feb- 

 ruary 8, by Dr. Henshall, "Position of Heel— Weight of 

 Bods," 1 am reminded of the time I first came here in 1801. 

 Ai thai time a good straight tamarac "pole" (the longer the 

 better, weight was of no account) was the best thing known 

 tor a ■•tish polo." 



Being something of a fisherman 1 sent to New York 

 for half a do/in bas- rods. They sent me one-half dozen 

 lour Pointed rods, about fifteen feet long, am! weighing 

 nearly one and one-half pounds each. At that time we 

 thought these rods elegant. 



Dr, Hen.-hall came here Boon after and made himself a 

 rod, of three joinls. a-h butt, middle joint and tip of lance 

 wood, and about eight iYi : i long-and seyeB and one-half or 

 light ounces in weight I -hall never forget our testing the 



easting qualities of this rod from a boat, with a No. 2 Meek 

 reel and a sinker for a minnow. It. seemed as though we 

 could cast half way across tlie lake, half a mile 



I made one like it and sent it p, N..w York for a pattern, 

 and had some madi . We called ii The Oconoraowoc 

 black bass, m- coining rod.'' I advertised il in For; i- -i v.-.n 

 Stukwi as tin- -Oeouomouoe black bi- rod. " and had or- 

 ders for quite a number of them from the East and South, 

 which 1 filled, and the rod look at. once. 



From this came the light rod. so much iii lav.iiai present. 

 We consider Ibis the birth place and Dr Hen.-hall. thefalher 

 of this light rod. Ami when anyone undertakes to sac that 



WC in the West, and 1 will not except -i ■ portion- ol tlv 



South, use heavy tackle for bas-, they don't know what 

 they are talking about. If Iheywili come here we will 



show them taikle and bass fishing that will astonish tin m, 

 where you can tro out and catch from fifty to one hundred 

 large and small-mouthed bass frem two to seven pounds, 

 with an occasional Iwenly-five jiound pickerel thrown I", 

 on a 7' ounce ie.| and a silk line ' •about, the size of three 

 horse hairs," in a day. if you know how to handle a bass, 

 and your reel is in front of your hand. 



I think that anyone thai 'fishes lor bass with tho reel be- 

 hind the hand, has had his education in that line sadly neg- 

 lected, and would advise him, for his own comfort and plea- 

 sure, it be know- bow h. handle a buss, lo try tile other way 

 at once and be happy. J. 0, II. 



Oconohowoo, Wis. 



/■Mil-.r Fnn.it. mi, i St,;, In, .' 



If you deem my experience in black bass ti-bing as here 

 set forth Worthy of publication. I think you will find my 

 deductions regarding position of reel weight and length of 

 rod. etc.. will receive the aporoval of "all true anglers. 

 July 5, 1877. I stalled for my first try at black bass, As I 

 had never seen one caught, add had Beard such exciting de- 

 scriptions af then leaps and lunges, I armed myself with a 

 lour jointed genera) rod of about 30 ounces weight, mul- 

 liptving reel befdre Hie baud, 80yds. braided line, and No. 

 •,> A'berdei-n hooks (by the way, I use Aberd. ens for all kinds 

 of rod nsbipg), and salt water shrimps for bait. 



My friend Charlie met me at the station, and we were 

 soon' over just the spol in ihe pond thai he said was the best 

 place for thai day. wind. sun. etc., considered. He soon 

 had one in the boat of tflhs. or so, and 1 lost my first bass. 

 Soon after I had another bite, and when the fish flung him- 

 self into the air Charlie begged me lo give him Ihe rod. Al- 

 though it was my first day wit Ii the bass, it was by no 

 means my first day's fishing, and I declined, and fought the 

 fish to the end. lie weighed ollbs after being out of the 

 water three hours, the largest ever taken from that pond, 

 although one. was taken a few days later, weighing lust 

 thesamefresh from the water, 



Alter that light a black bass had nolcrrors for me. and as I 

 never liked a reel before the hand, that was my lasi day n i'h 



heavy bass from that pond , -is any one in Ihe same number of 

 days' fishing, and always on the following tackle: a 10ft. 

 lOin. lly rod of about eight ounces; white grass line not: 

 much coarser than linen sewing thread; six I eel of single 

 gut; an Aberdeen hook, and shrimp for bait. The bass will 

 not rise to the fly in this pond, but with this fine line I can 

 hock ;i fish in fifteen feet of water, and although I have 

 never duplicated my Oral monster. 1 should have no fear, as 

 I have taken several of :;\\h... and one of 411)8. 



Now, I have two friends, as true anglers as over lived, 

 who have often g' m with nn- to this pond. Mow do they do 

 it? First they put overhand lines with the finest of hooks, 

 baited with worm and catch some small - perch. Then 

 baiting their bass hooks, take up their rods, which are about, 

 seven and a half feet long, rather -tiff, and ol about ten- 

 ounce weight, with Frankfort reel before the hand, reel the 

 perch to lino!' rod. bring both hands to right ear, rod pointed 

 back, and a little up. then whiz the rod through Ihe air. gently - 

 thumb the reel arid drop the perch some fifty or sixty feet 

 away. At the end of the day we usually have about the 

 same number of flsh per man. 1 think my stylo Is higher 

 art : while ( m the other hand they claim that it'requlres more 

 delicacy of hand and touch to hurl the perch without ki.ll- 

 ing or fearing it, and to tell just when to strike a fish, in 

 theirs, and that their tackle could he as easily broken in 

 the hands of a duffer as mine. 



from all of which I deduce the following regarding Ihe 

 subject under discussion: The .position of the reel, the 

 wcighi and length of rod to be used in black bass Ashing 

 depends entirely upon the style, which gives the angler 

 himself the most pleasure N. 



L\ 



idei 



ion. — Foukst and Stkeam of Feb. 15 gives its 

 interesting memoranda of the lake salmon 

 {(jalnto salar, variety .Si-Ztc/". etc.). by Mr. Atkins, and the 

 range of this lish in Main.- is divided into "four districts." viz. : 

 "BasmofBt. Crois River, basin of Union River, Hancock 

 county, basin of "Preaumpsoot River (Lake Sebngo, etc.), and 

 basipof Sebec River, a branch of the Penobscot." In connec- 

 tion With the Isttei'ilistricl arc Ihe following remarks: "Not 

 known to be found in other pans of Penobscot Basin. 

 Singular that they have not spread all through the Penoh. 

 scoi. It ha- many hikes seemingly well fitted." The 

 IVnoh.-toi River is a broad, -hallow sin-;. in. with water very 

 warm in summer (although cold streams are tributary to in, 

 and is not of the nature to invite sfdmou or (rout to abide 

 therein. .Manv of the cold lakes tributary lo this river are 

 inaccessible to fish from the main river, else some of them 

 might, by chance, become populated by stray salmon, But 

 a salmon wandering from ii- home in a cold lake to the 

 warmer and impure water of this river would quickly re- 

 turn win nee it came if possible, or if barred out by obstruc- 

 tions would incur capture bv Ihe persistency with which it 

 wouldseek to return home. ' I have calight the lake saMon 



(variety S.h„ : i„) in Ihe west branch of the PenobsCOl Kiver. 

 i'erhaps the s:dl sahnoii of one to live pounds weight occa- 

 sionally taken in oilier portions of the Pcnobscol River are 

 all of the lake or Sebago variety. I believe licit Hie --grilse." 

 form has never been found, at leasl above bide water, in 

 the Penobscot Rivet, nor in any riva - in Maine, although 

 both Ihe "parr" and "smoil' are abundant —Lvkiiktv 

 Smith. 



Tin: Mn niiiAS Netting Case. — Tho Bay City ZN&WW 

 gives an account of the trial of the suit brought by Stab: 

 dame Warden (.'. W. lligby. against neiler.-, from which 

 We make the following extracts: "The so-called fish case, 

 wherein Joseph Robert and David Trombley and Louis 

 Trudell were defendants, drew a large crowd in Justice 

 Mangam's court yesterday afternoon, Those in attendance 

 were 'mostly fishermen or parlies interested in fishing. The 



