——- == i 
that the law was too early for all portions of it. Two bodies 
of water near here bear terrible witness against early fishing 
by being sadly depleted in consequence. J hope that our 
law makers will extend the close season for black bass 
throughout the State until July 1. Even then, some waters 
require a still longer time for the bass to spawn. In Maine, 
Massachusetts and. Virginia the open season for this~ fish 
does not begin until Juiy 1. Im Rhode Island it is July 15, 
and in parts of Maryland it is as late as Aug, 14. 
A. N. CHENEY, 
Gurns Fabts, N, Y,, Aug. 25. 
LARGE BLACK BASS. 
“()N MONDAY, August 18, on Hast Lake, Daniel §&. 
Burley and Charles G. Fall caught from the 
same boat, on one trip, four black bass, whose total weight 
within five minutes of the time when caught, was seventeen 
pounds by the seales which were carried in the boat. One 
weighed 34 pounds, one 4}, one 4%, and one 54, an average of 
44 pounds, Mr. Fall caught the fish that weighed 54 pounds, 
which is the largest black bass, says Mx, Burley, of which 
there is any record, and he has won the five-dollar prize 
which has been for several years a standing offer by the Hast 
Lake Club for the first five-pound bass.— Wolfbore, (NV. H.) 
aper. 
f! [A correspondent asks for the largest small-mouthed biack 
bass on record. Mr. Blackford, of Fulton Market, New 
York, had one of eight pounds which was caught in Lake 
Ronkonkoma, Long Island, | 
The Glens Falls, N. Y., Messenyer, of August 29, says: 
*Mr, Reuben Seelye, one of our well-known townsmen, 
who resides near the outlet of Glen Lake, better recognized 
as Long Pond, has had much experience and success as a 
fisherman, haying taken with hook and Jine many large fish 
from the waters of the lake. But he made the best haul of 
his life this week Wednesday, when he caught a bass which 
was 25 inches long and of 21 inches girth, and weighed 114 
pounds. This is the largest bass of which we have any 
record as being caught anywhere in the country, Mr, Seelye 
is fairly entitled to the cake.” 
IN KENTUCKY WATERS. 
_\ PRING and summer have not been particularly favorable 
to angling, especially io us who could not step out and 
investigate the stage of water. Riparian residents took some 
sood ones on trawls and “‘set-outs.” When I dropped in on 
Unele Joe in May to arrange for an excursion, 1 found him 
greatly furtied by the shabby mannerin which his agents, 
to watch and report shoaling of red-horse in the Cumber- 
land, had treated him. ‘Two days before he had gone to his 
favorite shoal a few miles off, and cold water was thrown on 
his hopes by those in Gharge of his 90-foot seine, who bad 
been yisiting the river daily, Water was too high, and the 
fish had moved up to-snother shoal where they were safe 
from seiners, ete., but if a prospect of a catch offered a run- 
ner would be sent for him, 
That morning he had found the markets elutted with red- 
horse caught Sunday with his seine, and he knew that his 
supposed friends had ‘thrown him off.” [accompanied him 
and his recruits to see the fun, and when we drew up on the 
bank ten lusty fellows were drawing the seine on the oppo- 
site shore, and more than 200 pounds of fish were divided 
out before a skit was sent over tous. Not a scale was set 
apalt for the owner of the seine, and the old fellow cut his 
tobacco rather nervously, but restrained an outburst, He 
soon had the seine manned, and a mess for each, when the 
seine was stretched to dry and be brought in next day. I 
Jearmed that it hadn’t dried when pickets reported the owner 
gone, and the coast clear for a resumption of work. Seining 
is legal in Cumberlaud, in and below Pulaski county. But 
one bass of jess than a pound weight was caught. Last year 
1200 red-horse that averaged more than 3 pounds were taken 
off that shoal With a seine. 
On my last visit. to Central Kentucky, a few weeks since, 
I found some of the boys jubilant over the opening up of 
the finest stream bass fishing in the world, by the completion 
of the Louisville and Knoxville railway. Several years ago 
the upper Cumberland—above falls—was stocked with game 
fish, hauled across from upper Kentucky River, and so care- 
fully protected that to-day it is one of the best streams in 
any of the older States. 
Jt was reported, currently, several years since, that angling 
was excellent in that part of the State, and that a party 
proved euilty of taking a fish except withrod and line, would 
be hanged without benefit of clergy or jury, but the inacces- 
sibility of the waters lent a savor of Munchausenism to that 
fish story till verified by some of the brethren who went and 
indeed, ‘‘pulled them out” till they tired of the monotony, 
And just think of slatherers and professors, whose dreams 
and hopes had rarely materialized in the matter of three 
pound whales, growing tired of ‘‘pulling out” bass of from 
three to seven pounds weight. No doubt about it. Anglers 
of this State in tracing their lineage from the Adamic head 
find them ramifications in such propinquity to the celebrity 
_ of cherry tree and little hatchet fame, that ‘neighborhood 
pride” alone would assure the perfect credibility of any 
representations they’d make about dimensions of a fish. Yet, 
I have met the exceptions—essenvial to establishment of rules 
—who couldn’t tell the truth—exactly—about their catch. 
j A. BLATHERER, 
ANGLING 
Mint SPRINGS, Ky,, August. 
“Were Onn MAY Fish ror DinwEer.—Keokuk, Iowa, 
Aug, 26,—I have just returned from an extended trip to Lake 
Minnetonka and Wisconsin Lakes; I visited the celebrated 
Douseman trout pond, said to be the largest exclusive brook 
trout hatching establishment in the United States. There 
is nearly a mile of fumes full of trout one and two years old, 
and inthe hatching house a million or two of small fry six 
months old, You can catch all you wish at forty cents a 
pound, or enough for a square meal, and Mrs. Comstock will 
cook them and get you up a good dinner for seventy-five 
cents. The establishment is only eight miles trom the cele- 
brated Palmyra mineral springs, or four and a half miles 
from Eagle, on the M. & 8, P, R. R.—W. J. B. 
PorrsyILLE, Penn., Ang. 28.—The anniversary of the 
Pottsville Fishing Party is being celebrated to-day on the 
top of Shark Mountain near this city. The Fishing Party is 
@ social institution like, though of less antiquity than that, | 
known as “the State in Schuylkill,” The festivities were 
participated in by about 110 gentlemen, seyenty of whom 
are members. Among those present are Attorney-General 
Brewster, the Hon. Simon Cameron, Gen. Fitz John Porter, 
and President Keim, of the Reading Railroad, : 
- ¥ eo 
iis ’ 
Dynamite ty Pre County.—A correspondent of the 
New York Ziimes writes as follows: Bushkill, Penon., Aug. 
30.—There are over fifty natural lakes in Pike county. 
They are stocked with black bass and other choice game 
fish, Lying as most of them do in wild and isolated locali- 
ties, the pot fisherman has always had the best of 
opportunities for fishing in their waters without any regard 
for the provisions of the game laws. Nets, traps, and other 
illegal means of taking large quantities of fish with little 
trouble haye been used for years, but it remained for this 
season to introduce the use of dynamite in the lakes. By 
means of this one of the best of the cham of Pike county 
lakes, known to fishermen far and wide as Log Tayern Pond, 
has been almost depopulated of its fish, A number of 
sportsmen who visited this lake afew days ago found the 
shores lined with dead fish of all kinds and sizes. It was at 
the time supposed that the fish in the lake had been attacked 
with some disease, but it has since been learned that 
dynamite was exploded in the lake on three different 
occasions early in the season. It is strongly suspected that 
a prominent resident and officer of the township in which 
the lake is situated was the person who resorted to the deadly 
‘explosive to fill his boats with fish, Sinee this wholesale 
slaughter anglers have been unable to capture any fish in 
Log Tavern Pond, although previously it afforded the finest 
sport. Mud Pond is a favorite resort for anglers In Pike 
county. It lies high among the hills 1 Porter Township. 
A few days ago a man named Rhinehart and a companion 
whose name is not known sank a heavy charge of giant 
powder in the lake and expladed it. The explosion took 
place before they had rowed the boat far enough away, and 
it was upset by the concussion. Rhinehart could swim, but 
his companion could not. Rhinehart succeeded in support- 
ing the other man until he could get him to the upturned 
boat, which was floating some distance away. Leaving the 
man clinging to the bottom of the boat, Rhinehart swam 
ashore, and procuring another boat, returned and rescued 
his companion. But for this unexpected result of the 
explosion, the marauding expedition of the two men would 
haye remained a secret. Rhinehart is well known, but as he 
is a man of some influence in that part of the county nothing 
has been done, nor nothing is likely to be done, toward 
punishing his violation of the law. It is reported that 
| dynamite has been used in several other lakes in the county 
with deadly results to fish, 
Tur BLADDERWoR'’.—Office of State Entomologist, Nor- 
mal, Ill,, Aug, 29.—Haditor Forest and Stream; While the 
yery interesting fact of the destruction of young fishes by 
the bladderwovt is occupying the attention of your readers, 
permit me to mention another method than that of direct 
destruction, by which these plants must often greatly hinde 
the multiplication of fishes in waters infested by them. In 
an article on the Entomostraca of Lake Michigan and 
adjacent waters, which I published in the American Natu 
ralist for July, 1882, 1 remarked that in ten ‘“‘bladders” of 
Utricularia vulgaris, taken at random, 1 found ninety-three 
animals, either entire or in recognizable fragments, and rep- 
resenting at least twenty-eight species. Seventy-six of the 
animals found were Entomostraca, and belonged to twenty 
species. Nearly three-fourths of both individuals and species 
were Cladocera. Just one-third of all the animals found in 
these bladders belonged to the single species Acroperus leuca- 
cephalus Koch. Now, my studies previously made of the 
food of young fishes, reported chiefly in the third bulletin of 
the Ulinois State Laboratory of Natural History, showed 
that the principal food of all young fishes, with quite insig- 
nificant exceptions, consists of the very class of minute ani- 
mal forms which the bladderwort is constantly engaged in 
selecting from the water by means of the hundred of blad- 
ders with which each plantis covered. Jt thus not only 
occasionally entraps the youngest fishes, but likewise habit- 
ually and continuously contends with them for food, and 
may be said to thrive largely at their expense.—S, <A. 
FORBES. 
Tap Lare Eneiisa TouRNAMENT.—In our issue of Aug. 
21 we gave the scores of the casting at the late tournament 
at the Welsh Harp, and in an editorial notice said: ‘*We 
note that our English friends are now casting distances 
which they discredited two years ago as having been cast in 
ourown tournaments. Mr, P. D, Malloch made the extra- 
ordinary cast of 92 feet with a single-handed rod, This was 
in the amateur class, and the style of rod is not given. Later 
the same gentleman cast with a single-handed split-cane fly- 
rod 86 feet, while Mr. Marston cast 72 feet. The first cast 
named appears to beat the American records, but we do not 
know what kind of a rod it was done wilh.” -The mail 
failed to bring us the copy of the English Mishing Gazette, 
under whose auspices the tournament was given, and from 
which we expected the most complete report, but from other 
journals we learn that the casts were not made along a 
measuring line, but after the casts were made the line was 
laid out on the grass and measured. Under such a rule the 
casts made on Harlem Mere by Prichard, Hawes and Leon- 
ard would probably exceed 100 feet. We concluded that 
Prichard’s cast of 91 feet had been beaten by Mr. Malloch 
by one foot, and rather rejoiced at it, because it would in- 
cite our casters to greater exertion; hut under the circum- 
stances, we do not think that the late English casting should 
be considered as fairly measured, and it is consequently of 
no value, : 
RockFisH DY THE DELAWARE.—Trenton, N, J., Aug. 25.— 
A rockfish caught here to-day by Mr. Fred Wise, weighed 
seventeen pounds all but an ounce, tlfe largest ever caught 
here. Was nearly four feet long and measured five inches 
across the back. Was caught by trolling with an eel ou an 
oiled silk line, and took one hourto land. Mr, Wise is 
Trenton’s most noted rockfisherman.—J. J. S., Jr. 
Aw DYVESTIGATION OF SPAWNING Times.—Dr. Tarleton H. 
Bean, of the U. 8. Fish Commission, has been instructed 
by Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, to mves- 
tigate and report on the spawning habits of the fishes which 
inhabit the waters of the south side of Long Island. The 
work will be begun in about ten days, and it is thought will 
oceupy Dr, Bean about a month. 
Waar ann Suckers?—Hditor Forest and Strean: May I, 
without indiscretion, inquire what sort of fish is meant by 
“Parson O’Gath”’ when he writes ‘suckers’? Of course I 
haye caught suckers with a hook, but so seldom that 1 sup- 
osed they only bit to let me know that they could take a. 
| bait if they choose.—Kxrr1pre (Central Lake, Mich.). 
A Bre Havt.—The Louisville Commercial sees fun in this: 
“There was fun in the Ohio River just below the dam last 
eee About 5 o’clock the laborers at work on the dam 
succeeded in vetting the gates raised, which, of course, 
banked up all the water above them and let the water below 
ruu off, leaving nothing but the bare rocks, wilh here and. 
there innumerable small holes, As the water receded all of 
the fish between the dam and the bridge were left in the 
shallow pools of water. They numbered thousands and 
thousands, and were of every description, from the halt- 
pound perch to the fifty-pound buffalo, It soon became 
noised around among the fishermen -who infest the falls that 
the fish had been left high and dry, and in Jess than half an 
hour fully 200 men and -boys were wading around in the 
pools of water gathering up the fish by the armnful. 
Cornered as they were, and knowing escape was impossible 
the fish in some instances made a desperate resistance. 
Many a man had his lower limbs finned in a dozen places, 
causing painful and really dangerous wounds. Armed with 
clubs and rocks, reckless boys waded in among the fish, 
slaughtering them right and left, until the pools turned 
almost to gore. Boatload after boatload of fish as fast as 
captured were sent ashore, and if any.speculator is playing 
in the bucket shops he had better ‘buy short’ this morning, 
for to-day fish in the Louisville market won’t be worth a cent 
a pound.” 
A. Prize ror Good Looxs,—At the annual meeting of 
the New York State Voluntwer Firemen’s Association, beld 
at Utica, the best-looking Chict Engineer was awarded a 
$50 fishing rod. Fishing is good for the complexion. 
Hishenlinre. 
THE SHELLFISHERIES OF CONNECTICUT. 
[A paper read before the American Fisheultural Assoeiation.] 
BY DR. WILLIAM M. HUDSON. 
| Se beginning to read my paper TI think it is fair to 
state that in yiew of the papers in regard to the special 
matter of the propagatioa of oysters, etc,, which we shall 
have from experts, | have thought it best to confine myselfy 
entirely to the relations existing between the State of Con- 
necticut and the shellfisheries of that State, especially the 
oyster, 
‘he especial object of this essay will be to consider the rela- 
tions existing between the State of Connecticut and the pub- 
lic and private oyster beds in Long Island Sound, within the 
boundaries of the State. Until 1855 all the oyster grounds of 
the State were treated as common land, open to’ every one, 
and no one having any exclusive right to any portion of them. 
In 1855 the Legislature enacted a law providing for the ap- 
pointment of committees in towns adjoining the shore, who 
should have the right, for a given consideration, to designate 
and allot to private individuals plots of ground not exceeding 
two acres in extent, for the sole purpose of cultivating oysters. 
Numerous applications were made to these committees, and 
many acres of ground, mostly mm the shallow waters of the 
bay and coves, were designated for this purpose. The State 
then passed laws recognizing the right of property in these 
lots, and punishing depredators and thieves for stealing from 
them, The business of raising oysters gradually increased in 
magnitude, new laws were enacted for the regulation of the 
industry, and finally some of the more adventurous of the cul- 
tivators conceived the idea that oysters might be successfully 
taised in deeper water than had yet been tried, Their efforts 
were successtul and a new impetus was given to the business, 
An interesting account of the industry up to and including 
1880, may be found in the article contributed by Ernest Inger- 
soll 40 the tenth census of the United States. During all these 
years a dispute had existed between the States of New York 
and Connecticut in reference to the respective boundaries of 
the two States in Long Island Sound, and also as to that of 
Connecticut on the west end, and New York on the east; in 
the former case New York claiming to low-water mark on the 
northern shore of Long Island Sound, and in the latter about 
2,600 acres more than Connecticut was willing to concede. 
Commissioner's were appointed by the two States to take the 
matter into consideration, and after due consultation they re- 
ported in favor of Connecticut conceding the 2,600 acres in 
dispute on her western boundary to New York, and New York 
giving to Connecticut about one-half of Leng Island Sound, 
fhe line running practically through the center. An act carry- 
ing out the recommendation of the Commissioners was passed 
by the legislatures of New York and Connecticut, and finally 
approved by Congress, Feb. 26, 1881, and the new boundary 
was finally fixed. ’ 
. Onthe 14th of April, 1881, the Legislature of Connecticut 
passed an Act Establishing a State Commission for the Designa- 
tion of Oyster Grounds, a copy of which is here inserted; 
CHaprer CLX. 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE COMMISSION FOR THE DESIGNA- 
TION OF OYSTER GROUNDS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
General Assembly convened: 
Szotron 1, The State shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction 
and control over all shellfisheries which are located in that 
area. of the State which is within that part of Long Island 
Sound and its tributaries bounded westerly and southerly b 
the State of New York, easterly by the State of Khode Island, 
and northerly by a line following the coasts of the State at 
high water, which shall cross all its bays, rivers, creeks, and 
inlets at such places nearest Long Island Sound as are witnin 
and between points on opposite shores from one of which ob- 
jects and what is done on the opposite shore can be reasonably 
discerned with the naked eye, or could be discerned but for 
intervening islands. And all shellfisheries not within said 
area shall be and remain within the jurisdiction and control 
of the towns in which they are located, under the same laws 
and regulations and through the same selectmen and oyster 
committees as heretofore. If a difference shall arise between 
any town and the Commissioners as hereinafter provided for, 
as to the boundary line between said town and the area so to 
be mapped, said town, by its selectmen, may bring its petition 
to the Superior Court forthe county within which said town 
is situated, to determine said boundary Jine, and said court 
upon reasonable notice to the parties shall hear said petition 
and appoint a comniittee to ascertam the facts in such case 
and report the same to said court, and said court shall there- 
upon make such order as may be proper in the premises, _ 
Suc. 2. The three Fish Commissioners of the State now in 
office, and their successors, shall also beand constitute a board 
of Commissioners of shellfisheries, and be empowered to make 
or cause to be made a survey and map of all the grounds 
within the said area in Long Island Sound which have been or 
may be designated for the planting or cultivation of shellfish; 
shall ascertain the ownership thereof, and how much of the 
same is actually in use for said purposes; they shall also cause 
a survey of all the natural oyster beds in said area, and shall 
locate and delineate the same on said map, which survey and 
map when completed shall not cost a sum exceeding $2,500, 
and shall report to the next session of the Legislature a plan 
for an equitable taxation of the property in said fisheries, and 
make an annual report of the state and condition of said fish- 
eries to the Legislature, and the said Commissioners shall be 
empowered to appoint and employ a clerk of and for said 
