U6 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 25, 1880. 



scription, which was made after the parasites of the Eu- 

 ropean brown bear, which, is the same species with our 

 bear. Of course nobody will eat such flesh, but I think 

 it is not unhealthy, and surely of a high scientific in- 

 terest. 



If meat is well done, and all should he, no harm could 

 follow. There was years ago in St. Petersburg, Russia, 

 the fashion in high circles to eat only raw beef, and the 

 consequence was the common appearance of a tape-worm 

 {Taenia medio-canellata) ; till it was ascertained that the 

 previous stages live in beef, and then everybody found 

 well-done meat profitable. Yours sincerely, 



Dr. H. A. Hag en. 



American Fish Cultural Ass ociation.— Members who 

 propose to be present at the annual dinner given in con- 

 nection with the meeting of the Association, are re- 

 quested to immediately notify Mr, Eugene G. Blackford, 

 or Mr. Robert B. Roosevelt, of the same, in order that the 

 Committee who have the matter in charge may make due 

 preparation. _ 



Brook Trout in Ponds. — I was bom in a region of 

 country abounding in trout streams, and in those days 

 said streams abounded in trout, too. For many years 

 those streams have been dammed at almost every avail- 

 able point for obtaining a water power, Some of the 

 poud3 thus formed have been in existence for seventy- 

 five years : large numbers of them have been in existence 

 for twenty-five years or more. I have fished many of 

 these ponds repeatedly, and I know of scores of others 

 who have also ; in fact, I can name several gentlemen in 

 your city and Brooklyn who visit these waters annually, 

 some of whom have" been born and brought up among 

 them, and who take thousands of trout every year from 

 those streams, who have, like myself, fished "scores of 

 times in the ponds, and not one trout a year on an 

 average is taken from any one of these ponds. When 

 one is taken it rarely weighs over a pound. I am now 

 over fifty years of age, and I have to a greater or less ex- 

 tent studied the trout from boyhood, and I believe I 

 know something of the conditions required for their ex- 

 istence and their growth. I will state enough to show 

 why they will not, as a general thing, thrive in ponds. 

 First, they prefer purer water, which is constantly un- 

 dergoing aSration — in other words, running water : and 

 secondiv, they require or prefer food which is principally 

 found in suoh water. The brief reasons stated are suffi- 

 cient to condemn the attempt to make their growth in 

 large ponds a success. I know of several attempts of the 

 kind years ago, and every one is a failure. The only ap- 

 proach to success is by professional lish culturists, who 

 raise them in small ponds where they can be fed with 

 regularity and where their food is entirely artificial. 

 Every pound of trout thus grown costs $1, and more 

 pounds are sold for 75 cents per pound than for more. 

 Let any one invest say $50 in stocking his pond with 

 trout, and I will guarantee that during his day and the 

 next generation there will not be $50 worth of trout 

 taken from that pond, while there will be months of time 

 fooled away in fishing for them without as much as a 

 bite in return. Stock suitable streams with trout, but 

 ponds never. And here let me say that the only way any 

 man ever got his money back in raising trout was by 

 the sale of their eggs or the young fry for stocking pur- 

 Doses. A Practical Fish Culturist. 



Virginia i^H-WAts.— Zyndiburg, Ya,, Marchldth.— 

 The Legislature of Virginia, just before adjournment, 

 made an appropriation to buy the patent right for the 

 State in the McDonald Fish-Way, which had been adopted 

 by the Board of Pubb'c Works some time before. 



THE McOLOUD RIVER DAM. 



% 



WASHINGTON, D. C, March Uth, 1SS0. 



Editor Fortet and Sire-urn :- 



I iuolose herewith oopies of letters from Sir. Norton, of the 

 Fisheries Association ia California, and from Mr. Stone, iu refer- 

 ence to oertatn allegations of the former against the United Slates 

 Fish Commission. I think the publication of these in the Forest 

 ami Stream will tend to remote somo misconceptions on this 

 subject. Si Merely yours, 



Spencer F. Baird, Commissioner. 



Rio Vista, Solano Co., Cal„ F<*. 20th, 1880. 

 Professor Spencer F. Baird, United State* Commissioner Msli and 

 Fisheries. 



Dear Sir i— In the interest of a considerable body of people 

 who reside at and iu the immediate vicinity of the chief salmon 

 fllherieB of this State, and who are deeply interested in the per- 

 petuation of the salmon stock in our rivers unimpaired, I beg- 

 leave to submit the following :— 



It is understood thatneorthe mouth of the McCloudRlver, at the 

 fish-hatchery maintained by the United States and approved by the 

 Fishery Couiinissioners of this State, a dam constructed by the 

 agent of the United States has been and stlli isin existence, that pre- 

 vents the passage of an j r adult salmon otherthan the smaller salmo- 

 noidsof our waters; that tbe salmon of commerce (quinnat) is whol- 

 ly shut out from hii favorite spawmg grounds that extend more 

 than forty utiles above this dam ; that although this dam furnishes 

 the easiest means of capturing so many salmon as the butchery 

 may need, nevertheless the method is faulty and vastly destruc- 

 tive to the flsh In this, that great numbers not so needed are ar- 

 rested and destroyed by delay aud in their efforts to force or sur- 

 mount the obstruction. The McCloud la iu a thinly-settled 

 locality, not conveniently accessible to us, and as no information 

 has reached us through the report of the State Commissioners, or 

 other official sources, on this matter, wa respectfully inquire if 

 guch a dam is in exlsteuoe. We know there was such a dam and 

 fear it still remains : and, if so, desire to protest against it iu the 

 most decided tarms. With great respect, your obedient servant, 

 Samuel N. Norton, 

 Secretary Salmon Fishermen's Association of San Francisco. 



United States Fisn Commission, 

 Obaelestown, N. 11., March, nth, 1830. 

 Professor' Spinw F. Baird, ITnlUa States Commissioner, Kith and 

 FUheriee, 

 Dbab Sir :— I» reply to the contents or the inolosod letter, 



dated Rio Vista, Cal., Feb. Sfith, I860, and signed by Banruel N. 

 Norton, Secretary of Salmon Fishermen's Association of San 

 Francisco, permit me to say that there is no dam or other ob- 

 struction to the salmon, across the McCloud River, nor has there 

 been since the latter part of Beptember of last year ; that the 

 agent of tho United States has never had a cam across the river, 

 except between the middle of July and the middle of September 

 of any year ; that the great body of spawning salmon have as- 

 ided the river and sought their spawning grounds before the 

 dam of the United States agent is placed in tho river; that the 

 comparatively few salmon which are checked in their course by 

 this dam are nearly all caught, and their spawn is saved and arti- 

 ficially hatched ; that every year 2,000,000 young salmon are re- 

 turned to the tributaries of the Sacramento ; that this number is 

 probably fifty times as great as the number of young fish that 

 would be produced naturally by the salmon themselves that are 

 stopped by the dam, and twice as great as the number that would 

 be produced by all the parent salmon in the river, supposing that 

 none were stopped by any obstruction; that the result of this 

 method of securing tho parent salmon by the obstruction em- 

 ployed is not only not destructive, but is vastly beneficial to the fish 

 In the river, since it is the means by which such a great quantity 

 of young salmon can bo annually returned to the river; that, 

 finally, the prime and sole object of the United States station on 

 tho McCloud River is to increase and multiply salmon, and not to 

 diminish them, aud any course of action that tonds to reduce the 

 numbers of the salmon would not be tolerated a moment. I have 

 tbe honor to be your obedient servant, 



LrvtNG3iON Stone. 



|#* md fftveq 



FISH IN SKA SON IN MARCH. 



SOUTUEKN WATERS. 



Pompano, Trachinotus carotin m. 

 Drum (two Bpecles). Family 

 8dcentd(s. 



Klngflsh, Menticirrw nebulosus. 

 Sea Bass, ScUznops oetilatua. 

 Sheepshead, Archosaiyun proba- 

 toeephalus. 



Grouper, Eptnephelpus uiijrit us. 

 Trout (black bass), entroiyris- 



tix otrartus. 

 Striped Bass, or Rockflsh, Boc- 



cua lineatus. 

 Tailorflsh, p. , ....■■ 



Blaclc Bass, Microplerus nalmoi- 

 dc«. la. palUrtHit. 

 Snapper, Lutjamis hlaclifordtt. 



GAME AND FISH DIRECTORY. 



In sending reports for the Forest ajid Stream Directory of 

 Game and Fish Resorts, our correspondents are requested to give 

 the following particulars, with such other information as they 

 may deem of value : State, Town, County ; means of access ; Hotel 

 and other accommodations; Game and its Season ; Fish and its 

 Season; Boats, Guides, etc.; Name of person to address. 



— New Yorkers will find good trout fishing in the 

 streams of Sullivan County. Th3 man who goes to Isaac 

 W. Bradley's, at Eldred, will be sure of a basketful that 

 will repay him for the time and expense incurred. Deer 

 are to be had there in season. 



"Wawayanda Fishing Club.— At a late meeting the 

 following officers were elected : — President, Shepherd 

 F. Rnapp ; Vice-Presidents, James A. Flack and Charles 

 Banks ; Secretary, Robert E. Van Wyck ; Treasurer, 

 William C. Connor. After the meeting the members 

 were treated to an old-fashioned feast. Iu an appro- 

 priate speech by Col. Lee, in behalf of the club, Presi- 

 dent Knapp was presented with a full-length portrait of 

 himself, done in crayon by Ludovice, and measuring 

 nearly five feet by four. The picture will remain at 

 Case's until the opening, early in the summer, of the 

 club-house on Urabtree Island, opposite Fire Island. 



" Grayling Fishing.— Chicago, March 20th.— Gentle- 

 men who live in Ohio, Indiana and adjoining States, and 

 who visit Michigan for some trout fishing, should stop off 

 at the little town of Tustin, on the G. R. and J. R. R. 

 Near this place is a small stream, called Pine River, that 

 empties into the Manistee River. The Manistee, being 

 the great grayling stream of Northern Michigan, one 

 may expect the streams connecting with it will also con- 

 tain grayling. These fine fish are found in great num- 

 bers m this Pine River, which can be easily reached, be- 

 ing about six miles from Tustin. There is a hotel in the 

 village, wagons can be secured at very reasonable rates, 

 and guides will take you to the best fishing points on the 

 stream. Camping parties would find good camping 



§ rounds, good fishing and obliging men to serve them. 

 hould any desire further information let them write, 

 inclosing a stamped envelope, to Mr. D. C. Mosherj 

 Tustin, Oscoloa County, Mich., who will willingly give 

 them all the information they require. Mr. Mosher is a 

 fisherman, though a professional gentleman, and would 

 secure guides for anyone desiring to visit this stream, 

 Let gentlemen who are making up their routes for the 

 summer's fishing remember this place, and make prepa- 

 rations to take in some tine grayling. W, D. T. 



v VARNISHED FLY-RODS. 



Editor Forest and Stream : — 



In your issue of March 11th is reproduced an article 

 written by Francis Francis, Esq., on the frightening of 

 brook trout by the flashing and reflections of a varnished 

 fly-rod in casting, and which at first sight would seem to 

 be plausible enough, but upon mature consideration, and 

 with all due deference to so eminent an authority as Mr, 

 Francis, I am convinced that there is not much in it, and 

 that instead of proving the matter he seems to be rather 

 begging the question, 



The theory of angling, like the theory of medicine, is 

 rather an uncertain subject, and opposite positions can 

 betaken and seemingly maintained upon almost any 

 question of either science, until the crucial test of prac- 

 tical experience proves their truth or falsity. The fact is 

 that fish are not frightened by flashes of light or the re- 

 flections of bright objects, but, on tbe contrary, are at- 

 tracted by them ; any one who has ever fished by torch- 

 light, or trolled with a bright metal spoon, can testify to 

 this, and there is a method of fishing practiced by'the 

 Chinese, by means of a board painted white and attached 

 to a boat at such an angle as to reflect the light of 

 the moon upon the water, when the fish, attracted by 

 this, jump uDon the board as the boat is moved along. 



That flsh afe not much disturbed, if at all, by the flash- 



ing of a polished fly-rod per se, can be easily proven by 

 anv one who, being securely hid behind a dump of 

 fcr.she8, can wave his rod as "wildly" as necessary with- 

 out alarming them to au extent to frighten them away or 

 prevent then- biting ; indeed, the unnatural shaking or 

 disturbance of a branch of a bush near the brink by the 

 careless angler will alarm the denizens of the stream 

 more than the moat highly-varnished and brightly- 

 mounted rod ever made, when waved over the stream by 

 an angler who keeps himself hid from view, and herein 

 lies, to my mind, the key to this whole matter, It is the 

 angler who scares the trout, and not his rod ; and this 

 probably applies with more force to the comparatively 

 narrow and open streams of Great Britain than to the 

 more extensive waters of our own country ; this view 

 seems more probable in connection with the "fact that Mr. 

 Francis advises casting sideways instead of overhead, 

 which method could only be practiced successfully ou 

 narrow streams, for side-way casts are neccsarily short 

 ones, and would not answer "at all for most of our waters. 

 There are situations, however, when the side-way cast 

 can be used advantageously, and is used occasionally by- 

 all good fly-fishers, The main rules to be observed iii 

 fly-fishing I conceive to be these ; in narrow streams to 

 keep entirely out of sight, and in open waters to make 

 long casts ; in either case the fish, not seeing the angler, 

 will not be alarmed at the flashing of the rod ; the finer 

 the water the greater the caution that must be used on 

 the one hand, and the longer must be the cast on the 

 other, 



Mr. Francis does not offer any remedy for the varnished 

 rod, but merely suggests that it might answer to paint it 

 sky-blue, or a dull, smoky tiut, without polish ; but this, 

 I know, will not do. I have seen rodB that had the var- 

 nish scraped off and were painted a delicate pea-green, 

 to harmonize with the foliage of trout streams, and I 

 have seen the bark left on alder, elm and tamarac poles 

 when used in bait-fishing, but they were not more suc- 

 cessful than the varnished rod. 



Sir. Francis wonders why we "tamely submit to the 

 tyranny of taclde-makers" in this match. Perhaps for 

 the same reasons that wo tamely submit to the "tyranny" 

 of gun -makers, rifle-makers and boat- builders ; for who 

 knows so well how to build these various articles as those 

 who make it the study and business of a fife time, es- 

 pecially if the artificers be practical anglers, sportsmen 

 or sailors, as the best ones usually are, and who pursue 

 their trade C07i amore V 



Split bamboo rods must of necessity be varnished to 

 preserve their elasticity and beauty. Think of a delicate 

 split bamboo tip coated with sky-blue paint 1 The very 

 thought is heresy, and an offense against the eternal fit- 

 ness of things that would make even the spots on a brook 

 trout blush moro deeply crimson, American split bam- 

 boo rods are the fineBt made rods in the world, and the 

 numerous foreign orders received by the manufac- 

 turers fully attest this fact, and show, moreover, that 

 they are duly appreciated abroad, as well as at home, 

 highly varnished and flashing though they be, The com- 

 ing Fishery Exposition at Berlin will prove the superi- 

 ority of American rods beyond all peradventure. 



There is one feature of this subject that is peculiarly 

 gratifying to me, and I heartily thank Mr. Francis for 

 the article in question, it concedes the fact that fish, 

 having eyes, can see, and are not the near-sighted dupes 

 that most writers would have us believe ; this concession 

 could not be put in a stronger light than by the asser- 

 tion that they are frightened at the flashing of a var- 

 nished rod, and that a rod, therefore, should be rendered 

 as nearly invisible as possible against the sky by painting 

 it a sky-blue or cloud color. But if this were done, what 

 a quantity of brash wood and poor workmanship, and 

 what a multitude of sins of omission and commission 

 would this sky-blue mantle, like charity, cover. "When 

 fish are frightened at a fishing-rod at all, it is when its 

 shadow is suddenly cast upon the water — which all pru- 

 dent anglers are very careful to avoid doing, especially 

 on small streams — and, viewed in this light, a sky-blue 

 rod has not even a faneied advantage over the most 

 highlv-polished one. J. A. Henshall. 



Cyntkiana, Ky., March 19th. 



tf 



TROUT FISHING IN CONNECTICUT. 



IT was two o'clock one mild morning in the latter part 

 of April, 1878, when my alarm clock called me from 

 my slumbers for a day's trout-fishing. In about throe 

 minutes I was under the window of my neighbor sports- 

 man calling him to action. Before I could get my steak 

 broiled and coffee boiled, he was on hand. Breakfast 

 over, we quickly left the house again in quiet and dark- 

 ness, taking with us all the paraphernalia of our craft, 

 including a substantial lunch and a jug of coffee. 



A feeling of satisfaction came over us as we climbed 

 the hills, and passed out of our village, "We were leaving 

 Rockville, in Tolland County. Its score of factories were 

 at this early hour all quiet, its 0,000 busy people at rest. 

 The Hockanum River, which flows from Sllipeic Lake 

 though the place, is but asuccessionof mill-pouds, 



We were scarcely out of Rockville when (Snipsic Lake 

 appeared in view in the faint gray dawn of the morning. 

 This lake is a favorite resort for fishing and picnicing. 

 Its waters are well stocked with black bass, perch and 

 pickerel, and the State Commissioners have furnished 

 several thousand land-locked salmon, wdiich seem to do 

 well there. One of the salmon recently caught weighed 

 four pounds, A little steamer, owned and run by Capt. 

 Fred H. Thompson, plies around the lake during the 

 summer months, and Capt, Thompson has cleared a 

 grove and built a pieme resort, where shore dinners are 



& Then we passed through Tolland- across the Willi- 

 mantic Giver, and at length brought up on one of its 

 eastern tributaries. By the time our team had beeu 

 cared for. tho sun wae over the hills, and we felt some- 

 what of the spirit of the old gentleman who, when he 

 was ready to go to the trout-brook, used to say : > ■ Now, 

 the man who can drive the fastest, take the reins," We 

 hastened to the brook, and ch i 

 little pond, below which many years Bin 

 sawmill. The partly broken a am yet 1 

 body of water, and the good will of the 

 made obsolete the sign " No fishing," v.l 

 the old water-gate. We tried such flies as are likely to 

 suit the caprice of the fish early in the season, but to no 

 avail ; yet our disappointment was largely tempered by 



:ood a 

 i little 

 g ago 

 11 adorns 



