AUG. 3, 1895.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



99 



joyous tidings in ringing tones to many an eagerly wait- 

 ing fisherman! Herring catches in some localities are 

 growing less and less; in some places the fishing smacks 

 are laid high and dry because there is no longer special 

 -use for them. Some fishermen say that shad is getting 

 scarce in some of our rivers; others assert that they, once 

 so rarely flavored, are now at times tainted with coal oil 

 and sewage or foul mud, and are consequently at times 

 almost unsalable. And so the cry continues from shore to 

 shore, while one of the most important industries of the 

 country lies in jeopardy. Both the United States Fish 

 Commission and the commissions of the several individ- 

 ual States have done nobly, so far as they have preroga- 

 tives, but there is still a vast amount of improvement to 

 be made in fish protective legislation before we can feel 

 assured of preventive measures concerning fishing in the 

 public waterways all over the land. A very apparent de- 

 fect, is instituted by conflicting laws made for the control 

 of streams which run through two or more States; 

 whereas, if each State would consult with its neighbor- 

 ing ones before maturing its laws regarding rivers and 

 streams and fishing therein, conjoint measures might be 

 taken which would improve the local fisheries without 

 injury to any one locality. 



In my opinion alert watchfulness is requisite, not only 

 during certain seasons, but at all times, if the product is 

 ever to be elevated to its pristine quality and abundance. 

 Common sense teaches that fish, as well as other animals, 

 require a certain length of time to mature and become 

 perfect for the food of man. It affirms also that when 

 customers discover that they are obtaining an inferior 

 article, particularly if at a high price, they will soon ceaBe 

 to purchase the commodity, giving its place to something 

 else, thereby creating a market which by-and-by may re- 

 pudiate fish as a fashionable staple for food. 



One of the first and most important safeguards to the 

 fisheries is the cleanliness of the rivers in which they are 

 found. Chemical impurities as well as sewage should be 

 kept out of fishing streams entirely, or at least as far as 

 can be made practicable, and facilities would soon appear 

 if so required by legislation. Some chemicals may not be 

 poisonous, others are, and they are therefore unfit to be 

 eaten or drunk by fishes intended for food, either for man 

 or for other fishes. I think there might be a feasible ar- 

 rangement made by which the water from dyeing estab- 

 lishments, mills, factories, etc., could be spread over an 

 extent of ground through which it could percolate before 

 reaching the stream, thus depositing the maximum of 

 poisonous matter in the earth. Possibly the food worms 

 of the fishes might be destroyed, but the localities devoted 

 to these industries are sufficiently limited to allow a much 

 greater extent of land uninjured. 



The dangers of eating fishes which feed in streams pol- 

 luted by sewage have not as yet been considered fully, but 

 it is ably demonstrated that they are subject to very 

 numerous parasites, some of which are not evil to man- 

 kind, while others are poisonous. More extensive and 

 universal biological research, carried on upon strictly 

 scientific principles, will soon make known the number 

 and kind of dangerous parasites and the waters which 

 they infest, when the fish afflicted by them should be pro- 

 nounced unsalable, and if no other plan can succeed in 

 preventing their distribution, fishing in streams in which 

 they are found should be prohibited entirely. 



That parasite growth is possible in fish suggests the 

 question whether they may not be attacked by the bac- 

 teria of diphtheria, the microbes of typhoid or malarial 

 diseases, and even the bacilli of Asiatic cholera from drink- 

 ing the river water near large cities which deposit 

 all or a greater part of .the sewage therein; if that be the 

 case, may they not impart such diseases to unsuspecting 

 mankind using them for food? Many people, especially 

 the poor, eat fish and eels that are caught in lower streams 

 whose waters are so far influenced by tides that they back 

 up a considerable distance, yet the ebb is not strong 

 enough to carry away the debris which they take up and 

 deposit along the shores. This rubbish holds pools of 

 water in check until they become stagnant, and some- 

 times dead fish are found imprisoned among branches, 

 weeds, old barrels, baskets, etc, 



It stands to reason that any fish drinking the water or 

 feeding in such places must become more or less subject to 

 poisonous parasites, and thus become unwholesome for 

 food; and if the flavors of coal oil, gas, tar and other im- 

 urities make themselves disagreeably apparent in the 

 esh, which is a well-known fact, the probability of far 

 more dangerous matter seems to become an incontroverti- 

 ble certainty. By partaking of this infected fish, cholera 

 and other epidemic diseases may be started in the systems 

 of a few persons, and the contamination would spread in 

 every direction, afflicting even people who never touch 

 food-fishes. 



I think, under these conditions, each State should have 

 laws compelling the clearing and lowering of the mouths 

 of all rivers or creeks in which the waters lie stagnant 

 and restricted by rubbish; that each State Commission 

 should have a biologist who could make known the pres- 

 ence of dangerous parasites, and all who are interested in 

 fishculture and protection should join in trying to dis- 

 cover whether there could not be some plan adopted to 

 destroy them without endangering the life of the fish; 

 that the food animalculaa should be as carefully protected 

 as the fish themselves, and that all deleterious matter 

 should be kept from them as far as possible. I believe all 

 States, and especially those that have coast lines and bays, 

 should so regulate the fishing seasons that the strong, 

 mature and fertile fish may be allowed to reach the 

 spawning places unmolested, or else that certain streams 

 in every State shall be closed against fishermen every 

 second year, thus giving tbem a whole season in which to 

 spawn and multiply. While some are closed, others can 

 be opened and so alternated that there will be no danger 

 of exterminating the fine food supply. The reward in 

 full-grown fishes of good quality would soon compensate 

 for the sacrifice. 



If these plans are not practicable then others must be 

 adopted. Perhaps good results would follow if fishculture 

 were made so universal that at the time of the running of 

 the schools to the spawning grounds men were stationed 

 at the mouth of or along every important river to catch 

 the fish, obtain the eggs and hatch them artificially; then 

 they could be deposited in fitting places after the season 

 was over, and thus the danger of extinction would be 

 over. 



The present style of ocean pound-neta could be im- 

 proved by making the meshes large enough to allow o^ 

 many more fishes than can possibly get away now. O- 



course, the larger the fish the less danger there is of its 

 being pounded to death by the others; therefore the mesh 

 of the leader and pound-net should be so increased as to 

 permit those of unmerchantable size to get free without 

 injury to fins or scales. Fish weirs, or so-called eel 

 weirs largely used in inland streams, especially the 

 smaller ones, should be entirely abolished by law in every 

 State as they are now in Pennsylvania; but if any State 

 is unwilling or unable to procure such legislation, then 

 all such arrangements should be legally constructed of 

 such pliable material as to insure that the fish will not be 

 so injured or bruised as by the present slat system. 

 Would it not be practicable in such instances to produce 

 screen of other material than wood, such as woven grass, 

 canvas, or something which would not bruise the fish nor 

 break the scales from them as they go through ? If so, 

 thousands of them would be saved from damage which 

 often results in deformity or deterioration, if not in 

 death. 



I am possessed of a keen interest in food-fish culture 

 and protection: 



First — Because of their vast importance as the chief 

 support of many thousands of inhabitants of this and 

 other countries. 



Second — That because through them may be promul- 

 gated disease, and the public health be jeopardized, be- 

 cause of the waters in which they abide becoming liable 

 to contamination. 



Third— Because of their great value as a staple com- 

 mercial production of the country. 



For these reason's I would earnestly urge fishermen and 

 all those engaged in the trade to join with our American 

 Fisheries Society in the endeavor to perpetuate the growth 

 and quality of food-fishes, and to this end a little self- 

 denial will be found very advantageous, not only to their 

 personal business, but toward the ultimate protection and 

 continuance of our great interests at stake in fish as a 

 commercial element. 



Therefore, let the mackerel banks alone for a year or 

 two, and perhaps they will again be abundantly pop- 

 ulated. 



Do not try to take all the best fish from the sea and 

 streams at one time because prices are temptingly high. 



Let the lobsters have a few years in which to attain 

 their normal growth and quality. 



Do not so far overstock the market with herring and 

 other food-fish that they will become a drug to the trade. 



And let us hope that there may be some way by which 

 we may obtain the right to protect the young herring 

 which are now caught in the waters on our northeastern 

 boundary and canned under the name of "sardines." 



If it is possible to regulate the salable size of each variety 

 of fish so that those below that size will not be caught, let 

 each one conscientiously regard the law. 



Undersized or imperfect commodities always tend to 

 disqualify even the better grades of the same; therefore, 

 from a selfish point of view alone every interested party 

 should give earnest endeavor to favor any plan which points 

 to improvement. Impoverishment has been the finale of 

 nearly every production, and now the necessity calls 

 upon the people and the entire government to provide 

 ample legislation for the protection of all kinds of water 

 animals, from the great walrus, whale, sea lion and seal of 

 the Arctic and Pacific to the delicate brook and mountain 

 fishes, all of which are valuable food for either human 

 beings, other fish, water birds or lower animals. 



Perhaps it is too much to expect the States which have 

 not been subjected to a threatened insufficiency to join 

 with us in our protective work at present. But this State 

 and others which have taken up the important matter 

 must make the propriety of their measures so prominent, 

 and the attention to every detail in legislation so consistent, 

 that the result will redound to their credit and provoke a 

 spirit of emulation in those who to-day are inclined to 

 disparage the great commercial and financial importance 

 which we are convinced is attached to the numerous 

 fishing interests of the United States. 



The objects and successes of the several commissions 

 should be understood by the general public as well as by 

 those closely connected with the fishing business, and 

 with their knowledge will probably be very valuable aids 

 to the Commission, aroused in districts through which 

 excellent streams pas3. When they are convinced that 

 unclean and unhealthy matter thrown into waters will 

 probably produce disease-breeding fish, they will not 

 place it there, and every individual effort will have a 

 good influence upon others. My firm conviction is that 

 even among the most careless people ignorance is far 

 more to blame than intentional destructiveness. 



Let the consumer and the man who obtains and supplies 

 come together harmoniously on the common ground 

 of mutual advantage to remedy the wasteful impoverish- 

 ments to which I have referred, as well as other impover- 

 ishments. 



ATLANTA EXPOSITION. 



In a short talk with Mr. Ravenel, representative of the 

 U. S. Fish Commission for the Atlanta Exposition, to 

 open in September, we learn that the aquarium to form 

 part of the exhibit is partly constructed, and the appara- 

 tus for circulation of water will be ready about the 

 middle of August. Arrangements have been made with 

 the Standard Oil Company for the transportation of sea 

 water from Morehead City, North Carolina. The rail- 

 roads have been very generous in offering free transpor- 

 tation, thus insuring a very good and at the same time 

 economical exhibit. 



The Fish Commission will show a hatchery, in which 

 the eggs of the salmon, lake trout and whitefish will be 

 hatched. The fry thus obtained, if thrifty, will be 



Planted in suitable waters. There will be a full series of 

 shery apparatus, including implements of the most 

 primitive to the modern forms at present in U36. Thus 

 will the methods employed by the Indians in the early 

 history of this country be shown. Dredges, sounding 

 machines, beamtrawls, townets, etc., will exhibit the 

 modern engines of fishery and scientific research. One 

 of the interesting exhibits will be that showing a system- 

 atic series of economic mollusks or shell-fish. The rate 

 of growth on different kinds of bottom will be illustrated. 

 Of this group the oyster is the most prominent. Crusta- 

 ceans, sponges, and other subjects of fishery will also be 

 exhibited. 



The aquarium will be used in exhibiting the products 

 of the fisheries of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, 

 besides such fishes as are propagated and distributed by 

 the U. S. Fish Commission. 



Another very important feature will be a series of 

 charts illustrating the fishes, distribution, apparatus used 

 in capture, including boats, and other scenes connected 

 with commercial fishing. Models of vessels from the 

 first in use to the most modern craft will be shown. 

 Many of the fine casts of fishes shown at Chicago will be 

 on exhibition, and for this exhibit a large sixty-foot 

 case is being constructed. Installation will commence 

 about August 1, so that the exhibit will be ready by the 

 time the exposition opens. B. A. Bean. 



FISHING FOR A TIGER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I inclose a translation from the French of a remarkable 

 catfish story, all the way from India, which, I am free 

 to remark, any one who chooses may believe it. 



Truthful James. 



New York, July 25. 



Tiger fishing! Here is an astonishing tale reprinted in 

 the Calcutta newspapers. It is well calculated to encour- 

 age anglers and to set hunters a-thinking. A fisherman 

 started for the river accompanied by an old and faithful 

 Shikari carrying a rifle for use in case of an encounter 

 with unexpectedly big game, the country consisting prin- 

 cipally of jungles. The fisherman, knowing that the 

 Shikari was well able to defend himself if attacked, went 

 on in advance toward the river, where after some time 

 he captured a large fish, weighing at least SOlbs. Return- 

 ing with this handsome prize and passing near a ravine, 

 he saw an enormous tiger approaching, and before the 

 brute perceived him concealed himself behind a pile of 

 rocks In the excitement of the moment the fish, which 

 he had not had time to detach from the hook, slipped 

 from his hands and fell in full view of the tiger, who was 

 about to pass it by unnoticed, when his attention was 

 caught by the movements of the fish, upon which he 

 sprang with a bound, seized it by the head and carried it 

 off. The hook still held, and as soon as the tiger felt the 

 resistance of the line and the slight pricking of the hook, 

 he gave a shake of the head, which resulted in his har- 

 pooning himself by the lip. 



At this critical moment the enraged animal perceived 

 the crouching fisherman, who in despair began to "play" 

 the cruel beast as though he had hooked a simple gudgeon, 

 shaking the line gently ; but though the tiger, not com- 

 prehending what had happened, stopped in amazement, 

 the respite was not for long, and the ferocious beast 

 would soon have devoured the unhappy fisherman had 

 not the Shikari just then made an opportune appearance 

 and laid low the king of the jungle by a well-aimed shot 

 from his rifle. 



NOTES FROM FISHING WATERS. 



Correspondents are invited to send us notes of fish, fishermen, fish- 

 ing conditions and fishing facts, so that they may reach this office 

 on a Monday. 



Newport, Vt., July 24,— Dr. A. S. Johnson, of Salem, 

 Mass., who is spending the summer at Owl's Head Hotel, 

 Lake Memphremagog, is making some fair catches of 

 black bass. His catch yesterday amounted to 15 bass, 

 weighing 271bs. in all. " J. L. 



Crystal City, Beulah P. O., Mich.— D. Wallace, E. R. 

 Young, J. S. Acklin, Drs. Evens and Acheble, and C. B. 

 Kroh, all of Toledo, O., have been enjoying some excel- 

 lent trout fishing during the last ten days. The fish are 

 caught in Batsey and Platte rivers. Mr. Wallace brought 

 in one string of 10, weighing 8ilbs. L. T. V. W. 



Jackson, Mich., July 25. — The bass fishing hereabouts is 

 very fine now. I took twenty one day last week in less 

 than three hours' fishing, the aggregate weight being 421bs. 

 I caught the*m casting with frogs, running my boat along- 

 side the pond lilies and casting into the shallow water in 

 among the rushes. The sport was most exciting, the fish 

 rising with a rush at the bait like trout at a fly. 



F. N. Wood. 



Lake Memphremagog, Vt.— Dr. A. H. Johnson, Salem, 

 Mass., who is a guest at the Owl's Head Hotel, caught on 

 the afternoon of July 25 six bass weighing 15ibs. S. E. 

 Young, of Methun, Mass., caught this evening (July 26) a 

 fine 'lunge weighing 12ilbs. John Ladjing, Manager. 



Carteret, N. J., July 26.— Weakfishing at Sylvan 

 Beach grounds on Staten Island Sound continues good. 

 Boats with two fishermen bring in from 20 to 30 weak- 

 fisb. Sylvan Beach is reached by stage from Carteret (C. 

 R. R. of N. J.). C. A. Wehrly. 



Greenwood Lake.— Some good catches were made at 

 Greenwood Lake, Greenwood, N. Y., last week. Mr. 

 Wilson K, Farrington, ' New York, on last Saturday 

 caught one of the finest catches of the season — thirty black 

 bass out of forty -five strikes. They weighed from one to 

 about three pounds. He however had the advantage of 

 the guidance of Mr. James Ryerson, who is the oldest 

 guide on the lake. Frogs and helgramites are used for 

 bait. The hotels are patronized to their full capacity. 

 Mr. and Mrs. Oldham and Mr. James Watson and fam- 

 ily are stopping at Mr. Ryerson's for a few weeks. Mrs. 

 Oldham made an excellent catch of bass, in number about 

 a dozen, one day last week. Nearly all the success is from 

 still-fishing, the bass not rising to trolling or casting. 



Forked River, N. J.. July 29.— Capt. Geo. Hairing 

 with a party of two New Yorkers (J. W. Beers and 

 brother) caught on Saturday, July 27, 54 striped bass, and 

 on Sunday, July 28, 19 striped bass and 50 weakfish, the 

 bass weighing from 1 to 4lbs. B. E. Eno. 



We Prefer Mosquitoes. 



Ed Surprenant spent last Sunday on D<3mp3ey Creek 

 and brought home about 120 fine brook trout, says the 

 Anaconda Recorder. Mr. Surprenant is an ardent apostle 

 of Izaak Walton. When asked if he was not annoyed by 

 mosquitoes he volunteered a bit of information that will be 

 appreciated by anglers. He says that the mosquitoes never 

 bother him, as he has a remedy to fix them. After catch- 

 ing his first fish he rubs his hands, neck and face thor- 

 oughly with it, and a coating of slime is left on the skin. 

 This quickly dries, and if all the mosquitoes in creation 

 were to light on you they could not bite through it, He 

 says it is a very easy matter to wash the slime off when 

 you are through fishing. 



