492 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



tiJraGT 16, 1885. 



A Personal Exi>LAxATWN. — JMif or Forest and Stream: 

 As you might feel a little hesitancy in explaining how it 

 came about that in my communication in last Forest and 

 Stream, entitled, "Gauging; Hooks," the printer makes me 

 say "put three together," "1 had been traveling," "I found 

 a hat store," and "1 twitch it," when to the best of my 

 knowledge and belief Imade the marks which with me pass 

 as writing among the initiated, that stand respectively for 

 "put them together," "I had been trolliug, J ' "I found a hot 

 stove," and "I stretch it;" a personal explanation may be in 

 order. A few years ago I received from my friend Col. P., 

 a leaf from the Century magazine, devoted to the advertise- 

 ment of Prof. Haskell's Compendium of Instructions in one 

 of the "RV The "greatest improvement^ writing during 

 the month" was made by A. N. C , and his portrait and "old 

 style" and "new style" of signature was given, besides sev- 

 eral testimonials as to the efficacy of the "Compendium," 

 The "old style" signature looked like "Piseco's" signature in 

 Arabic as published in Forest and Stream, while the 

 "new style" seemed to be a fragment torn from a war map 

 of the Soudan. One of the testimonials was from a New 

 York editor, certifying that 1 had used but four bottles of 

 the "Compendium" when there was a decrease of fifty per 

 cent, in the mortality of printers who set up my copy. That 

 strikes from the same cause averaged only one in two weeks, 

 and my manuscript had made but one proofreader insane 

 during the month. He closed by ordering twelve bottles of 

 "Compendium." at proof, to be sent to my address. There 

 were several other very flattering testimonials in regard to 

 my chirography, but I have given enough to explain why I 

 was looking for a "hat store." — A. N. 0. (Glens Falls, 

 N.Y.). ^ 



Philadelphia Notes.— July 11.— At the risk of becom- 

 ing tiresome your correspondent will again state this week 

 that fishiug was never belter than it is at present at Barnegat 

 Bay, N. J., and a letter just received from that point indi- 

 cates that new schools oi weakfish have, since last writing, 

 entered the inlet. The Long Island and New Jersey fish oil 

 companies are now complaining of the scarcity of the men- 

 haden on our near coasts and are considering the feasibility 

 of withdrawing a large portion of their steam outfits. This 

 is but a natural consequence resulting from the continued 

 warfare that has been waged on this fish by the companies in 

 question, and can account for the scarcity of the bluefish, 

 especially at Barnegat and Tuckerton, and it is hoped a 

 portion of the nets will be withdrawn and the mossbunker 

 be allowed to increase, in which case a notable improve- 

 ment in the number of the species which feed upon the 

 former variety will be apparent.— Homo. 



Rock Bass For the Schuylsill. — Philadelphia, July 10. 

 — Editor Forest and Stream: The late Thaddeus Norris 

 used to lament the Ashless state of the Scbuylkil River and 

 sigh as he remembered his catches there in an early day. 

 The dams and improvements of civilization destroyed the 

 fisU some years ago. Two days ago the Anglers' Associa- 

 tion, of Eastern Penusylvania.'placed six hundred rock bass, 

 AmblopUics rapestris, in the river at three different points. 

 They were placed as follows: 200 above Flat Rock dam, 

 I'OO below the dam at Conshohocken, and 200 near Pawling's 

 bridge by Perkiomen Junction. The fish were adults and 

 weighed half a pound each, they came from Lake Erie. As 

 the spawning season for this fish is over they will not breed 

 till next year. Had (his planting been done in April we 

 would have had a crop this season. As it is let us hope that 

 all fish captured will be returned to the waters. — Poke-o'- 

 Moonshine. 



The "Black Prince. "— In our last we acknowledged a 

 specimen of this fly from Messrs. Abbey & Imbrie. "We now 

 have another from Mr. O. A. Richardson. The flies differ 

 radically and illustrate the confusion which we have so often 

 alluded to. The only points of similarity is in the black 

 wings and red tail. The fly of Abbey & Imbrie has a body 

 of bright silver tinsel and a black hackle. That of Mr. 

 Richardson has a red hackle and a black silk body wound 

 with red twist. The flies are as different in appearance as 

 any two well known ones are and plainly show the necessity 

 of a standard which will be adopted by all makers. 



Patterns op Flies. — We have received from Messrs. 

 Abbey & Imbrie a plate containing sixty-one trout and bass 

 flies, being a few selections from the many forms tied by 

 them. A printed list explains that the flies shown are types 

 to which a great majority of flies can be referred, that is", six 

 figures of palmer hackles show the various styles which can 

 be varied in color at pleasure, and so of the winged flies. 

 The plate is in black and white, but is also furnished in colors, 

 done by Mr. W. Holberton, at $1.25 extra. Our copy is 

 neatly colored and will be useful for reference. 



Fly Fishing for Shad— The season for shad fishing 

 with the fly on the Connecticut, at Holyoke, has been poor 

 so far. The water has been low and the river is full of 

 chubs. On Friday last Mr. Thomas Chalmers and Mr. S. T. 

 Hammond went out and each had a strike from a shad, but 

 made no captures. A rise in the river this week will make 

 fishing better, and they will try it again. Mr. Hammond 

 reports the black bass as being very scarce there now, 

 although they were plenty and of good size last year. 



Casting the Minnow for Lake Trout.— About July 1 

 Mr. R. Kraft took a lake trout, S. namaycush, of four pounds 

 while casting a minnow on Paradox Lake, Essex county, 

 N. Y.,an unusual occurrence in those waters, where the trout 

 are seldom found in shallow water at that time of year. The 

 black bass have been plenty there this year, and have risen 

 freely to the fly. 



A Salt- Water Suneish. — Capt. Thomas Harris, of 

 Whitestone, Long Islaud, while out in his boat on Saturday, 

 when nearing Sands Point, in Long Island Sound, discovered 

 an immense sunfish basking in the water. With the help of 

 the crew of the tugboat the monster was harpooned and 

 captured. It weighed 300 pounds. 



Bluefish on Massachusetts Coast.— Mr, C. H. Au- 

 dariese writes from Cape Cod that both bluefish and mack- 

 erel are very scarce at present on the coast of Massachusetts. 

 The fishermen there ascribe their absence to the scarcity of 

 menhaden. 



ExPresident Arthur has been salmon fishing in Canada. 

 President Cleveland will go fishing in the Adirondacks. 



That Fishing Problem. — See in canoe columns of last 

 week (July 9) description of portable canvas canoe. 



«gklfCMlture. 



Address all communications t.n the Forest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Co, 



HOW TO RESTORE OUR TROUT STREAMS. 



[Read before the American Fisheries Society.] 

 BY* J. S. VAN OLBEF. 



IN 187?' and the two following years, the supervisors of one 

 of the counties of the State of New York lying east of the 

 Hudson River, made appropriations for restocking tLie waters 

 of the county witli fish, and a committee of which the writer 

 was the chairman was intrusted with the work. 



The supply of fish from the .State was liberal, and in each of 

 the springs of 1878, 1879 and 1880, many thousand small fry of 

 trout were distributed, those streams which had been noted 

 trout streams in the past, being especially favored. 



In one of these years thirty-five streams were restocked. 

 The fish were deposited under careful instructions, and con- 

 siderable effort was made to protect the streams, and yet 

 after the most careful inquiry, the committee has failed to 

 hear of a,ny practical benefit resulting from its efforts. 



Many of these streams already abounded to some extent in 

 trout, and it was hoped that the protection afforded after re- 

 stocking would result in a marked increase of the fish: but 

 that hope was not in any single instance realized, and the 

 Committee has been irresistibly forced to the conclusion that 

 some force other than excessive fishing had led to the univer- 

 sal depletion of these streams, and that the same cause still 

 existed to prevent their restoration. 



After the fullest investigation and examination of these and 

 other streams, I have become satisfied that the destruction of 

 the trees bordering on these streams and the changed condi- 

 tion of the banks produced thereby has resulted in the de- 

 struction of the natural harbors or hiding places of the trout, 

 that this is the main cause of the depletion, and that until 

 these harbors are restored, it will be Useless to hope for any 

 practical benefit from restocking them. 



By giving a few of the facts which have led me to this con- 

 clusion, its correctness will, I think, be made apparent: 



1. In the heart of the Catskills there is a natural trout lake 

 of about twenty-five acres. Being too remote for successful 

 protection, which has only been attempted within the last ten 

 or twelve years, it has been for many years the resort of 

 anglers the year round. Trout have been* taken m enormous 

 numbers through the ice, which usually lasts until May, and 

 it has been the very paradise of poachers by day and bv night. 

 And yet the fish in this lake are substantially as abundant to- 

 day as they have been for the past twenty years, and during 

 all this time there has been no marked diminution of the 



tl'OUt. 



This lake is fed by a stream which runs through a quarter 

 of a mile or more of wet, marshy laud, which is so completely 

 covered by large alders that its is almost impossible to pene- 

 trate them. In this stream the small fry and fish of one or 

 two years' growth abound in myriads. In other words the 

 natural harbors and hiding places for the trout in and about 

 this lake have been left undisturbed, and this is the secret of 

 its continued wealth of trout. 



2. Thirty or forty years ago a brook in Dutchess county, 

 about five miles long, was noted for the abundance and size of 

 its fish. The angler in the early spring was usually rewarded 

 with a well filled creel, and from this little stream, which a 

 child could .lump across, trout were often taken of from one 

 to two pounds in weight. Early in each summer the trout 

 disappeared, only to appear again the next spring in equal 

 numbers. Near the center of this stream, it ran through a 

 marsh, which so abounded in black alders that they protected 

 it from approach. Through this marsh the stream was much 

 broader and the water deeper than elsewhere, and tbe bed 

 was composed of thin, deep mud, maki ng wading impossible. 

 Some twenty or more years ago the owner of this meadow 

 cut down every aider 1 , at the only point where the fish had 

 found a safe refuge, and in a few" years the trout, large and 

 small, practically disappeared! and though recent efforts have 

 been made to restore and restock this stream, under full pro- 

 tection, they have substantially failed. 



3. In one of the principal streams running through Ulster 

 and Sullivan counties, it has been my privilege to fish many 

 times during the last twenty -five years. Here were two pools 

 which always furnished rare sport, and the adjacent pools 

 were always full of fish. On one of the banks of each of these 

 pools the trees had been left standing, then- roots had pre- 

 served the upper portion of the bank, but below these roots 

 the ground had been washed away, so that deep hiding places 

 were thus formed for the trout. It was very seldom that one 

 or more large fish failed to rise to the fly at these points. 



Some twelve or fifteen years ago these trees were removed, 

 the stumps decayed, the bank fell in, the fish no longer had a 

 refuge, and since that time the angler has been fortunate it 

 he has raised a fingerling at or near either of these pools. 



The conditions as to the waterflow are still relatively the 

 same in all three of these waters, the spawning grounds are 

 unchanged, the only difference is in the harbors for the trout, 

 which are unchanged in the first, totally destroyed in the sec- 

 ond, and partially so in the third Arid the depletion of the 

 fish has been in precise proportion to such destruction. 



Lest these may be regarded as somewhat isolated cases, I 

 will cite two more. 



Near the center of Dutchess county a brook "rises in the side 

 of a small mountain, at the base of which it enters a swamp, 

 through which it runs, with occasional openings for two or 

 three miles, where it is completely protected by the trees and, 

 bashes which have never been disturbed. In these open places 

 and below this swamp, where for a distance of several miles 

 there are but few places where the stream cannot be reached, 

 it has been and still is freely fished, and yet thei'e has been no 

 serious diminution in the number or size of the tish. While 

 other streams have failed, this one has always yielded good 

 sport, trout of from one to two pounds being frequently taken. 



In the eastern part of the same count}' there is a long; slug- 

 gish stream running for miles through a marsh. Its very 

 name, "Swamp Elver," indicates its character. Its bottom is 

 one long stretch of ooze; its banks are almost everywhere 

 covered with a dense growth of bushes. It has always been 

 noted for the size of its trout, but on account of the difficulty 

 of access they are seldom taken. It is fed by several tribu- 

 taries of three or four miles or more in length, as well as 

 numerous little streams, all of which are open and freely 

 fished, and they are all good trout brooks. 



As soon as the water in these brooks becomes low the trout 

 disappear, but where? The water flow is increased by the 

 generous rain, they appear again in large numbers, and at 

 such times large fish are often taken even in the smallest 

 tributaries. 



This last instance is especially interesting, as it shows that 

 when the streams are full of water the trout will travel a long 

 distance from their haunts, and that when warned of danger 

 by the receding of the waters the instinct of self-preservation 

 leads them to hasten back to them. 



Unfortunately very many of our most noted streams are not 

 favored with lowlands and swamps, where the fish can find 

 safe refuge, and ha these and our mountain streams especially 

 we must unquestionably look to the larger pools in time of 

 drouth as the principal places of refuge for the trout, and 

 when these are accessible from every point, the trees are cut 

 and the banks fall in, so that every pool assumes about the 

 shape of a huge wash basin. No system of protection will 

 prevent their being dragged with "nets in the night, or the 

 commission of other depredations almost equally desl 

 of the fish. 



I have the most abundant proof that fishing with nets has 

 been constantly done in our finest Catskill streams, such as 

 the "Reaverkiil, Neversiuk and Roudout, and where the trout 

 cannot take refuge under the banks, thev must necessarily be 

 takeil by the net. 



I have not referred to the foregoing facts as in any wise 

 new, nor in the belief that they may have escaped the Obser- 

 vation of anglers; but rather, that' their significance has not 

 been generally understood or appreciated. 



When the trout become scarce the reason most commonly 

 given and accepted is that "the stream is fished out." 



It is not the rod, however, but the axe and the net that have 

 ruined and are ruining our streams. 



The natural homes of the trout are the sluggish waters of 

 the swamp, cold and pure, with their bed of ooze, and shel- 

 tered hank, or in our upland streams the deep cavities under 

 banks or roots. 



We have destroyed his home and he has perished. Let us 

 restore it to him again, and he will thrive, 



I believe it possible, to restore most of our streams, where 

 the waterflow has not decreased too greatly, especially when 

 they are under the control of clubs or associations, Who can 

 and will make the effort. 



The remedy which I suggest is briefly as follows: 



First — Prohibit the further destruction of either tree or 

 bush upon or near the bank of the stream. 



Second— Where the soil is wet and suitable protect the 

 pools by an abundant growth of alders or other hushes: 



Third— Plant trees on the banks wherever feasible* espe- 

 cially where their roots will protect the surface Of the 

 and at the same time permit, the washing away of the soil 

 underneath, so that large hollows may be formed as hiding 

 places for the fish. 



Fourth— J n each year, after the spring freshets are over; 

 protect every pool as far as practicable by placing stumps, or 

 trees or bushes in them, so that fishing with nets will be im- 

 possible. And also that tue trout may be provided with arti- 

 ficial harbors until the natural ones are again restored. 



Fifth — As far as possi'ole prohibit fishing with bait so that 

 the haunts of the trout may be safe against invasion by the 

 hook. 



Let the home of the trout be regarded as his castle. Entice 

 him from it if you can, but do not invade, it. 



SHAD FISHERIES OF THE DELAWARE.— The statistics 

 of the shad catch in the Delaware for 1885, as gathered by the 

 U. S. Fish Commission, shows the largest catch for years. 

 The total aggregates over one million shad. Tne fish are not 



Prevented from entering the river by pound nets, or caught 

 y the same agencies in salt water before they reach the river. 

 This latter fact is significant in comparison with the small 

 catch in the Potomac, to which the shad have to run the 

 gauntlet of pound nets all the way from the Capes, the larger 

 part of the catch being in salt water, few getting into the 

 Potomac. 



TO FISHCULTURISTS.— AIL fishculturists who furnish 

 eggs or fish for sale arc requested to send circulars or other 

 information to the office of the Division of Distribution, U, S. 

 Fish Commission, Washington, D. C. Such inform ation 

 would be valuable in answering numerous inquiries which are 

 made by parties desiring to procure either fish or eggs. 



the Mmnel 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Publish? 

 inn Go. _ 



FIXTURES. 

 BENCH SHOWS. 



Sept '22, 38, 24 and 2i.—Dos Show of the Milwaukee Exposition As- 

 sociation. John D. Olcott, Superintendent., Milwaukee, Wis, 



Oct. 37, 28 aud 3!).— IVelfth Dog Show of the Western Pennsylvania 

 Poultry Society, Pittsburgh, Pa. C. B. Elben, Secretary. 

 FIELD TRIALS. 



Nov. 16, 1885.— Seventh Annual Field Trials of the Eastern Field 

 Trials Chili, High Point, N. O. Entries for Derby close Mow 1. W. 

 A. Coster, Secretary, t'lutbnsh, L. I. 



Dec. 7. — Seventh Annual Field Trials of the National Field Trhils 

 Club, Grand Junction, Teim. Entries for Derby close April 1. B. M. 

 Stephenson, La Grange. Tcnn.. Secretary. 



A. K. R.-SPECIAL NOTICE. 



rpHE AMERICAN KENNEL REGISTER, for the registration of 

 -*- pedigrees, etc; (wich prize lists of alTshows and trials), is pub- 

 lished every month. Entries close on the 1st. Should be in early. 

 Entry blanks sent on receipt of stamped and addressed envelope. 

 Registration fee (50 cents) must accompany each entry. No entries 

 inserted unless paid in advance. Yearly subscription $1.50. Address 

 '•American Kennel Register," P. O. Box- 8838, New York. Number 

 of entries already printed 2519. 



THE STANDARD COMMITTEES. 



WITH reference to our statement, Forest Ann StJueam. 

 June 25, ''The formation of any new standard does not 

 come within the province, of those committees. They were 

 simply to receive the views of others ami present thorn to the 

 club, : ' the following communication appears in the Sporting 

 Life, of July 15: 



"Birmingham, Conn., July 1.— Editor Sporting Life: In 

 your issue of this date your kennel editor, '•Porcupine, 11 says 

 that the secretary of the A. K. C. now informs him that the 

 standard committees were not appointed to do anything but 

 get the views of the breeders, etc., and report, aud wants to 

 know who got up that "yarn." While I do not care to take 

 notice of every scribbler that chooses to pitch into the A. K. 

 C. or their officers, 1 think 1 ought, in justice to all concerned, 

 ask you to publish the inclosed blank form, which contains 

 the only instructions to the standard committees as given by 

 myself.' If "Porcupine'' can make anything out of them to 

 signify that the committees are not to report a standard he 

 can do more than I can. My instructions at the Philadelphia 

 meeting were to request the co m p uttees to confer with the 

 breeders aud exhibitors in the matter and get then- views, and 

 I have done so. Respectfully, G-, Edw. Osbobn, Secretary A. 

 K. C. 



"COPY OF CIRCULAR. 



"American Kennel Club, Secretary's office, Birmingham, 

 Conn.. May 37, 1883. 



•'Dear Sir: At a meeting of the A. K. C, held in Philadel- 

 phia May 19 and 20, you were appointed oue of a committee 



of three on a standard, for judging . The other 



members of your com mite ee are . Pie. 



fer with them on the subject. The tnsfcructii ms are to inform 

 yourself as to the ideas of the different breeders and exhibit- 

 ors, and agree, if possible, on a standard, and report to me on 

 or before Oct. 1, 1885. Respectfully, Gr, Edward Osborn, 

 Sec, A. K. 0, " 



Commenting on this, "Porcupine ' says: "I am obliged to 

 Mr. Osborn. Secretary of the American Kennel Club, for cor- 

 recting me as to the duties of the several standard commit- 

 tees. 'I was misled by the introductory remarks of Forest 

 axe Stream, to which I would call Mr. Osborn's attention. 

 From the way in which the remarks were placed it looked as 

 if the whole business— constitution, by-laws and remarks pre- 

 ceding the names of the committees— was official. Doubtless 

 others were misled as well as myself, ana 1 am glad my com- 

 ments have produced the explanation from Mr. Osbora, 



