2IO 



RECREATION. 



has built a commodious club house. It is 

 on a shady island just opposite the mill, 

 and is at the disposal of all parties going 

 there for the hunting or fishing. 



The mill, dam and club house are at the 

 end of an island where the cut-off is about 

 ]/i mile. The river runs around 3 miles and 

 returns to this point. One can leave the 

 club house in a skiff, row J4 niile up to the 

 dam, have 3 miles of good fishing, all down 

 stream, land within 50 yards of where he 

 started, and not be worn out by a hard pull 

 back to camp. 



I have been reading Recreation more 

 than a year and it can't be beaten. It out- 

 classes all the other magazines. 



C. H. Miller, Hermann, Mo. 



WHY THE FISHING IS POOR. 



The report of my catch of 154 trout in 

 Maple river is correct. I have often caught 

 more than that. Maple river has been a 

 good stream, but is playing out because of 

 being fished to death. It is only 14 miles 

 from Harbor Springs. One can go to the 

 head of the river and get 15 miles of fishing 

 in one day, from a boat, and only be 3 

 miles from his starting point. But so many 

 are fishing that it is killing the sport; al- 

 though they are planting the stream each 

 year. 



H. Chamberlin, Harbor Springs, Mich. 



Mr. Chamberlin seems to think it strange 

 the trout should be decreasing in Maple 

 river, but as a matter of fact, it would be 

 strange if they did not. I wonder there 

 are any left there now, in view of the record 

 he boasts of. 



If he and a few more of his class keep on 

 fishing that stream, or any other, it would 

 be just as well for the State and United 

 States Fish Commissions to quit planting 

 fry there and devote their attention to 

 streams that are fished by decent people. — 

 Editor. 



a strawberry bass. 

 While walking along French creek, in 

 the Northeastern part of Erie county, Pa., 

 I saw a large number of black bass eagerly 

 chasing small minnows. The water was so 

 low the minnows could easily get away 

 from their pursuers. The bass seemed 

 hungry enough to grab at any moving ob- 

 ject that came near them. I had neither 

 rod nor bait, but did have, in my pocket- 

 book, a piece of silk line and some hooks. 

 That did not better matters any as I was 

 still without bait. While wondering what 

 to do, my eyes fell on a patch of ripe wild 

 strawberries. Why will they not do as well 

 as red flannel? I thought. I fastened a 

 berry on the point of my hook, cast it as 

 far as I could and started to troll toward 

 me. I had not drawn in more than 3 or 4 

 feet of line when a large bass took the bait. 

 I hooked him easily, as the water was so 



clear I could see every move he made. It 

 was a severe test for my small trout line, 

 but I landed the fish. He was a fine fellow 

 and would weigh about 2 l / 2 pounds. While 

 I was putting a string through his gills 

 mother called up the stairs, " Breakfast is 

 ready," and I awoke to find myself Ashless. 

 D. T. B., Girard, O. 



NOT HEAVY ENOUGH. 



I was interested in an article in October 

 Rfxreation, entitled, " A tall fish story." 

 Far be it from me to doubt the veracity of 

 any fisherman, whether his name be Truth- 

 ful James or Ananias. But when dimen- 

 sions and weight look askance at each 

 other, it makes the credulous spectator 

 wonder if " things are as they should be." 

 The pugnacity of that muskalonge was sub- 

 lime, and equalled only by his tenacity of 

 purpose and the toughness of the poor, 

 handicapped bass. 



In these days of optimism no cautious 

 man would hint that the dramatic wind-up 

 to the fracas between the fish and the men 

 did not occur. The only " scaly " thing 

 (beside the dishevelled bass and the belliger- 

 ent musky) I find in the account is the ex- 

 traordinary weight of the latter. The ar- 

 ticle says: " Its weight was 27 pounds; 

 girth 27 inches, and length 43 inches." A 

 muskalonge of those dimensions will un- 

 doubtedly exceed 40 pounds. Anyway, its 

 style of fighting was not of the light weight 

 class, but decidedly of the heavy weight; 

 which also goes to prove that something 

 must have been wrong with the scales with 

 which he was weighed — and found wanting. 

 J. H. H. 



NOTES. 

 Had a good time on my fishing trip to 

 Edwards Ferry, Md., last September. Did 

 not stay long, as bad weather and muddy 

 waters drove me home. Was gone just a 

 week. Caught 72 bass; the largest weigh- 

 ing 3 pounds 14 ounces and many over 2 

 pounds. Many were fishing there during 

 September and October, but no great 

 catches were made. The largest bass I 

 heard of were 2 taken at the mouth of the 

 Seneca. They weighed 5 pounds each. 

 Fish last season were somewhat fastidious 

 in their taste. Most of my fish were caught 

 on crawfish. Other bait they would hardly 

 take. It is strange Eastern fishermen do 

 not visit these waters. They can be easily 

 reached and at little cost. 



C. S. Wheeler, Washington, D. C. 



For the sake of a little trip at sea, I went 

 recently with a few friends to the fishing 

 banks off the Jersey coast. The trip would 

 be a pleasant experience for anyone, were 

 it taken only to watch the throngs of an- 

 glers who patronize the fishing steamers. 

 Fish in great variety and goodly numbers 

 are taken daily. I was fortunate enough to 



