128 



RECREA TION. 



IN DEFENSE OF MR. HALL. 



Chicago, 111. 



Editor Recreation: In June, '98, Rec- 

 reation you criticised a Mr. Hall for catch- 

 ing 100 black bass in one day. 



I am sure you do not wish to do anyone 

 an injustice, and I am certain that when your 

 attention is called to the facts in the above 

 case, you will be only too glad to make it 

 right, and take Mr. Hall's name out of the 

 fish hog class. If you will look over your 

 letter files you will find one from me stating 

 that I have made a rule at Kabekona Camp 

 requiring guests to return to the water all 

 fish that could not be used. In the same 

 letter I called your attention to a picture of 

 a large string of bass which appeared in an- 

 other paper, in connection with the letter 

 Mr. Hall wrote describing his trip to the 

 camp. I wrote you then thinking you might 

 class him as a fish hog, on account of the 

 picture, and explained to you that no such 

 picture of fish had been taken by Mr. Hall 

 or any one else at my place. Also that the 

 paper in question had rung in an old stock 

 cut, that I was in no good humor about it, 

 and had told them so. 



Here is a part of Mr. Hall's letter which 

 puts an entirely different aspect on the case. 



" Practically there is no limit to the num- 

 ber of bass that can be caught. It depends 

 on whether one is fishing for sport or a 

 record. Having no ambition in the latter 

 direction, my wife and I limited our com- 

 bined catch to 100 or less a day, and never 

 exceeded that number, and the result was 

 that we had lots of time on our hands, in 

 which to practice with the camera and loaf 

 about. The wise policy pursued at Kabe- 

 kona Camp of returning to the water all un- 

 injured fish, save such as are used for food, 

 will prese r ve these lakes for many years to 

 come — the grandest fishing grounds in this 

 country." 



I am anxious that you should place Mr. 

 Hall right in this matter. 



H. G. McCartney. 



SECRETARY BLISS A FRIEND OF GAME AND 

 FISH PROTECTION. 



The Honorable C. N. Bliss has, during 

 his term as Secretary of the Interior, made a 

 most excellent record as a friend of game 

 and fish protection. Here is an extract from 

 a letter he recently wrote Hon A. T. Vogel- 

 sang, President Board of Fish Commis- 

 sioners, San Francisco, Cal.: 



" Your letter is to-day referred to the Commissioner of 

 Indian Affairs and directions given him not to permit the 

 work to be neglected or delayed, and to cause the dam to 

 be removed at the earliest practicable date, and that if this 

 cannot be done before the next spawning season, he must 

 cause to be constructed such a fish-way as the laws of the 

 State of Nevada require, and riot to permit fish to be taken 

 within the prohibited limit at the dam. Furthermore, I 

 have directed him to instruct the agent to see that the Ind- 

 ians observe strictly the laws of the State of Nevada in the 

 matter of obstruction of the river and taking fish therefrom. 



" I am glad to note the interest you take in the matter, 

 and assure you of mv disposition to co-operate with you 

 heartily and to the full extent of my authority, to see that 



the State laws are observed both in letter and spirit, and 

 shall be pleased at all times to be advised of any infraction 

 of those laws by persons under the jurisdiction of this de- 

 partment, whether whites or Indians, which may come to 

 your knowledge, as well as to have any suggestions you 

 may feel disposed to offer in matters of this kind, in which 

 the Secretary may have discretionary power." 



I wish all the governmental offices might 

 be filled with such men as Mr. Bliss. 



IS HARD ON FISHERMAN. 



A few days ago mention was made in the Dubuque, la., 

 Telegraph of the capture of a large seine near Specht's 

 ferry, on the Wisconsin shore, by the game warden of that 

 state. The owner escaped, but lost a seine worth $50. The 

 warden captured 2 other fishermen last week, Gus Pust 

 and Ed. Capri tz of this city, who were seining in the Mis- 

 sissippi 6 miles below Cassville. The warden got their 

 seine, which was 1,800 feet long. It was burned, and the 

 men were taken to Lancaster for trial before Judge Bald- 

 win, who imposed a fine of $25 on each, with the costs. 

 Pust paid the bill, but Capritz could not pay and was sent 

 to jail for 2 months. 



Warden Roschi says he is going to break up this flagrant 

 violation of the game laws, and has a force of deputies out 

 along the river who are lying in wait for seiners. It would 

 not be surprising to hear of other captures. — Galena Gazette. 



Here is a game warden who is made of the 

 right kind of stuff. 



NOTES. 

 Professor B. W. Evermann, of the United 

 States Fish Commission, and who is well- 

 known to readers of Recreation through 

 his many valuable contributions thereto, left 

 Washington in December last for a 3 

 months' tour of the West India Islands. He 

 was placed in charge of the expedition sent 

 out for the purpose of making a careful col- 

 lection of the fishes of these waters and has a 

 full corps of assistants, including the well- 

 known artist, A. H. Baldwin, who is making 

 paintings of the more important species of 

 West India fishes. The party sailed on the 

 Fish Hawk, which has been placed at Pro- 

 fessor Evermann's disposal, and some in- 

 teresting reports of the work will be pub- 

 lished in the spring numbers of Recrea- 

 tion. 



CAUGHT A DEER WITH A FISHHOOK. 

 Wesley \V T elch, of Bleecker, N. Y., while fishing on 

 Reek's pond, in Fulton County, New York, saw a deer 

 swimming, a short distance from the boat. Mr. Welch had 

 a lot of trolling hooks, one of which was large and attached 

 to a stout line. He went in pursuit of the deer, and as he 

 approached the animal, threw the hooks at its head. A 

 large hook caught in the deer's nose, and the line was 

 drawn under its leg, pulling the deer's head under water 

 and drowning it. Mr. Welch secured the game. 



— Rantoul, 111. Press. 



Fishing for deer will no doubt become a 

 custom now, among pot hunters who care 

 nothing for sport. They can save their am- 

 munition by taking their deer with hook 

 and line. - 



A BIG BASS. 



The largest yellow bass ever caught in this or any other 

 country, so far as known, was taken with a hook and line 

 on Lake Mendota, off McBride's point, by Isaac Palmer, 

 during the snowstorm yesterday. The fish weighs, ac- 

 cording to affidavit, 8 pounds and 10 ounces, and measures 

 24*4 inches in length and 17% inches in girth. Con 

 Kreuz bought the big fish, and, after it is photographed, 

 he will have it mounted and placed on exhibition in his 

 cigar store. — Madison, Wis. paper. 



