88 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ja>\ 31, M 



MY FIRST TARPON. 



DAY was ,iust breaking when Will and I pushed our 

 boat from tbe wharf of Pine Island. The whole 

 eastern sky was one mass of crimson clouds, shading 

 softly into the pale blue higher up where the cloud banks 

 suddenly ceased. Gradually the changing colors paled 

 and paled, fading into dull gray and white as the sun rose 

 higher and showed his fiery edge over the tops of the low 

 mangroves on the key opposite. It was beautifully calm 

 and still, so calm that as we rowed along hardly a ripple 

 could be seen on the surface of the water. From the 

 shore the chatter and whistling of a flock of Florida 

 grackles came faintly to us, while now and then a mullet 

 threw itself out of the water, falling back with a startling 

 splash. Far off across the bay, in the mouth of a small 

 creek, a flock of pelicans were fishing noisily, diving and 

 splashing the water as they fished or chased one another 

 about in play. As the sun rose higher the heat increased, 

 and Will, who was rowing, laid down his oars, and wip- 

 ing the perspiration from his forehead, turned to me and 

 said, "It is going to be a hot day Mr. Nox, and a fine one 

 for the tarpon." 



Passing several low oyster bars, which are covered at 

 high water, we rowed directly toward a large bar. of 

 perhaps an acre in extent. As we neared it Will stopped 

 rowing, and nodding his head toward the reef, said: 



"Do you see the deep water just to the south of that 

 bar? That is where I saw the tarpon yesterday, and— 

 look yonder — there goes one now!" 



I looked quickly in the direction he was pointing and 

 was just in time to see a swirl in the water where some 

 large fish had evidently come to the surface. As I looked, 

 a dark object suddenly broke the mirror-like surface of 

 the water; a dull gleam, a momentary glimpse of a large 

 dark fin, and then the gradually widening ripples alone 

 remained to mark the spot where the huge fish had shown 

 itself. 



"Quick," cried Will, as with a skillful turn of the 

 oars, he faced the boat in the right direction, "throw 

 well out ahead of that ripple, and if he takes it, give him 

 plenty of time before you strike." 



Swinging the heavy rod backward, I made a strong 

 cast, and the silk bine, weighted with nearly half a mul- 

 let, sung from the reel as I threw it forward. Far out 

 it flew, and struck with a splash not 20ft. from the spot 

 where the tarpon had risen. Loosening the line, and 

 seeing that it ran freely under the leather thumb check. 

 I prepared for the struggle. Will cut off small pieces of 

 mullet, and threw them over the water in different 

 directions, while we waited. Five minutes passed, ten 

 minutes, suddenly my line began to run from the reel, 

 with a strong steady movement. "Steady," cried Will, 

 "give him time, don't strike too quick! Now give it to 

 him! Now! Nowl!" 



Holding the rod firmly with both hands, I checked the 

 reel, and struck so hard that the strong rod bent with 

 the strain. Instantly, with a tremendous rush, a huge 

 silver-gleaming monster, fully 5ft. long, flung itself com- 

 pletely out of water, shaking savagely as it hung for an 

 instant in midair. Down, down it came in a splash of 

 Avhite foam, and it required no warning cry from Will to 

 make me brace myself for the rush which we knew would 

 come. Another moment, and the stout rod bent like a 

 reed and the carefully tested line sung from the reel, in 

 spite of the strong friction of the leather check pressed 

 firmly against it. But the strain was too great to last, 

 the wild rush ceased, and presently the resisting reel 

 ceased to turn, and with a steady pull the great fish 

 moved on, towing our boat rapidly behind him. 



Gradually the strain relaxed, and the boat moved slower 

 and slower. 



"Look out," cried Will, "he's ugly." 



Suddenly the overtaxed rod straightened with a spring. 

 It needed no warning cry from "VYill to tell me that the 

 fish had doubled and was rushing toward us. I heard 

 Will grunt as he threw his weight on the oars, and then 

 holding my rod forward, with the butt well braced, I 

 awaited the coming strain. Almost instantly it came, 

 , the rod bent rearly double, the reel sung loudly, and 

 shaking savagely, the tarpon threw itself fully two feet 

 above the water. Never can I forget the scene which 

 followed; never, if I catch a thousand of his kind, do I 

 expect to see a more magnificent fight for liberty than 

 that grand fish made in his frantic efforts to rid himself 

 of the cruel barb within his jaws. Once, twice, six 

 times, did he cast his whole length completely out of 

 water in his mad struggles. The water foamed and 

 boiled as he fell and sunk almost immediately, to reap- 

 pear again and again, hurling himself into the air. As 

 he sunk the sixth time the strain on the line suddenly 

 ceased. Turning the reel, there was no resistance. "I 

 heard a sigh from Will: "He's got away, sir, and it can't 

 be helped; but he was a game one." 



I said nothing, but was sadly disappointed. To have 

 had a fine tarpon hooked for twenty minutes and then 

 to lose him was too bad; but as Will said, there was no 

 help for it, and the only thing to do was to tie on a new 

 hook and try for another. 



Slowly and sadly we rowed back to our original posi- 

 tion, and Will selected a fresh and enticing bait, attached 

 it properly to the hook, then making a long cast, I settled 

 down quietly to await events. 



Perhaps twenty minutes had passed, when again some- 

 thing took the bait and moved slowly away with it. 

 There was no need to "strike" this time, for hardly had 

 I lifted the rod, when with a rush a huge tarpon, larger 

 than the first, threw himself out of the water not 20yds. 

 from the boat and started off, towing us behind him. 

 Holding the rod high up I gave it all the strain I dared, 

 but despite the weight he had to drag, the splendid fish 

 towed us for nearly a mile before evincing signs of 

 fatigue. 



Slowly and gently I reeled him in, as the strain re- 

 laxed, until we could plainly see him, towing us slowly 

 along, not more than ten feet from the bow of the boat. 

 Will cried to me to give him the rod, and gradually I 

 drew him nearer and nearer; he was not towing us now, 

 but was swimming in circles about the boat. Will leaned 

 over the side of the boat, a huge gaff gripped in his hand. 

 Suddenly I saw hhn make a quick movement backward, 

 and the great fish, now thoroughly tired out, was pulled 

 alongside and dragged into the boat. There he lay, the 

 most magnificent game fish in the world, glittering in 

 the sunlight, one sparkle of silver, blue and gold. As I 

 was anxious to preserve the skin for mounting, Will ad- 

 vised returning home at once; so we turned about and 



rowed back, having done fishing enough for one day. 

 Although larger fish are sometimes caught, my first tar- 

 pon proved a fine one, measuring 6ft. in length, and 

 weighing 1201bs. Owen Ne-x. 



Pine Island* Florida* 



BLACK BASS SEASONS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In the letter of George E. Cole published under the 

 heading of "Fox River Association," in Forest and 

 Stream of Jan. 17, I notice these words: "The killing of 

 fish from Nov. 15 to April 15 should be prohibited," If 

 he had added "and of black bass from Nov. 15 to June 1, 

 this letter would not have been written; but with black 

 bass standing in the very front rank of our game fish, it 

 seems to me that a knowledge of its habits should have 

 caused him to recommend a greater length of the close 

 season than the middle of Anril. During the months of 

 March, April and May the black bass are nesting. For 

 four weeks the mother bass guards her spawn, and for 

 six weeks after the spawn hatches 6he protects them as 

 faithfully as does a hen her chickens. While guarding 

 her spawn she will not bite at a bait, but will fly at any- 

 thing drawn over her nest, and in this way is taken by 

 the pot fishermen; and for every bass' thus killed 

 thousands of spawn eggs are left to'the mercy of count- 

 less enemies. Spearing and fishing through the ice should 

 certainly be prohibited, but they only destroy thousands 

 where killing on the nests destroy tens of thousands. 



Indiana. W. E. R, 



STEEL ROD EXPERIENCE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



"Splasher," in a late issue of Forest and Stream, re- 

 fers to steel rods and general merits. I used one of the 

 fly-rods, about 10|oz., as a bait-rod for trolling and still- 

 fishing, and gave it the severest tests jwssible under fair 

 handling. I had it doubled up under the boat by large 

 fish, and held hard to anything I struck. The rod showed 

 no wear and remained true. I did not use the line run- 

 ning through the rod, but wound guides on the outside, 

 and used as an ordinary three-piece rod. I know nothing 

 of rust — mine did not show any from dampness on the 

 outside. 



It was suggested (and by the makers adopttd) that 

 they make the usual three-piece rod, joints parallel to 

 correspond with ferrules, guides outside. They now 

 make some so. I have just handled a three-piece, 8oz. 

 rod, German silver mounting, with outside ring guides, 

 that seemed as well balanced as any fly-rod of wood, as 

 they run. 



If "Splasher" would send to them (the makers) for their 

 new catalogue he can learn the latest in that direction. I 

 am pleased to be able to say that the rod I used was very 

 satisfactory, and I intend U6ing the 8oz. for bait-casting 

 the coming season, believing it will prove just the thing, 

 and strong enough to sling a frog from the Windermere 

 Dock at Greenwood Lake and land it on Fuller's door- 

 step, some six miles away. Black Bass; 



MASSACHUSETTS CARP AND TROUT. 



IN their annual report the Massachusetts Commissioners 

 say of these species: 

 There was an abundant supply of carp for a large number 

 of ponds, but very few applied for them. It is evident that 

 the value and importance of this fish is not understood by 

 the people of this State. There are so many places, worth- 

 less for any other purpose, where they could be grown with 

 very little expense, that it seems singular that they are not 

 more sought for. There is no way in which so much whole- 

 some food can be produced at so little expense. True, they 

 are not trout or salmon; but taken from the pond and put 

 into spring water a few days before they are wanted for the 

 table, they are quite as good as most of the fish sold in the 

 Boston market. 



The artificial batching and distribution of trout into 

 streams which have been depleted largely by overfishing, 

 has in a majority of cases proved successful. The disap- 

 pointments, which have been few in number, have arisen 

 mainly from not understanding the habits and haunts of 

 these fish and depositing them in unfavorable parts of the 

 stream. Any one familiar with a trout stream can, in the 

 latter part of October, easily find where the trout are spawn- 

 ing in it. In depositing the young fish they should never 

 be put iu below that point. It is always safe to put them 

 in at the headwaters, where they are comparatively free 

 from their enemies, and the temperature of the water, which 

 usually flows from springs, remains about the same through- 

 out the year. Such places are generally supplied with an 

 abundance of good food, upon which the trout can feed at 

 all seasons. 



Do you suppose, because you put five or six thousand fry 

 into the stream, that in two or three years you will have 

 anything like that number of grown-up fish ? Nature every- 

 where makes a thousand failures to one success. But this 

 you can depend upon: if there are already enough trout in 

 the stream to produce, in one year, 5,000 eggs, and you plant, 

 properly, in the spring, 5.000 young fry, artificially hatched, 

 and protect them, ydu will have, at the end of three years, 

 twenty times as many large fish as the result of your plant- 

 ing. 



All statements and assertions that artificially bred fish are 

 not as strong and healthy and as likely to mature as those 

 hatched from eggs naturally deposited in the water, are 

 without foundation, and are the result of ignorance and 

 lack of scientific observation. In ninety-nine cases out ot a 

 hundred the young fry produced under culture are healthier 

 and stronger than those produced naturally in their waters, 

 and left to the various chances they are more or less sub- 

 jected to. Twenty years of close observation on the part of 

 those who have been practically engaged in hatching and 

 raising fish, has settled this point beyond a question of 

 doubt. 



It is easier to restock a stream having a few large trout in 

 it, than one that has none. The large fish are an important 

 factor in destroying many of the enemies of the young trout, 

 and they never feed upon the smaller ones unless deprived 

 of their natural food or demoralized by disease. We have 

 caught thousands of trout iu their native streams, and never 

 yet found one that had been feeding upon its own species. 

 It is always an excellent practice to open fish and game, and 

 find out what they have been feeding on. In game it often 

 determines their haunts, and in fish it indicates what bait to 

 use. If trout have been feeding upon one kind of food for 

 any considerable length of time, they are not likely to change 

 until that supply is exhausted. 



So far as our own experience and observation extends, in 

 all instances where failures have occurred in restocking 

 rivers and streams, they have been due either to misman- 

 agement, or to a condition of the water that would have 

 rendered the introduction of either naturally or artificially 

 bred fish equally abortive. This is true of all streams of 

 which we have any knowledge. It has beeu clearly demon- 

 strated in all tbe smaller streams under our care, and in the 



larger and more important experiment of restocking the 

 Merrimac River with, salmon. All our early efforts on 

 this river failed, and It was not until a knowledge of the 

 necessary conditions was obtained that success became her- 

 tain. 



There will be about 400,000 trout fry for distribution next 

 spring. They will be delivered free at the hatching house, 

 Winchester, Mass., and cans will be furnished for trans- 

 portation, to be returned to the hatchery at applicant's ex- 

 pense. All applications should be made before the first of 

 April, indorsed by either senator or representative of the 

 district. Trout fry cannot be intrusted to the express, and 

 a responsible person should be sent to take charge of them. 

 Such a person can take charge of 25.000 or 30,000 fry, and, 

 when several applicants reside on the same line of road, ex- 

 pense may be saved by arranging with one competent man 

 to care for several cans to be distributed along the route. 



PREPARING SALMON EGGS FOR SHIPMENT. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Possibly the practice of systematically and carefully pick- 

 ing out the unfertilized from eggs of the Salmonidse, before 

 packing them up for shipment, may have been more gener- 

 ally adopted by American fishculturists than I suppose, but 

 it is but a few years since the Maine stations acquired an 

 exceptional reputation for excellence of packing, by tbe 

 exceedingly small loss appearing on opening their~packages 

 of eggs, in consequence, almost solely, of the removal of the 

 unfertilized in advance of shipment; and I fancy that there 

 maybe still some readers of Forest and Stream engaged 

 in the handling of salmon and trout eggs who will thank 

 me for showing them the ease with which that operation 

 can be performed. 



During the early stages of the development of the salmon 

 embryo it is exceedingly delicate, and rough handling must 

 be carefully avoided. Indeed, my own observations lead me 

 to the conclusion that the unfecuud eggs will at that time 

 survive much severer shocks than the fecund. About the 

 time of the coloration of the eyes, however, the embryos ac- 

 quire a great degree of hardihood, and at the stage when 

 they are usually transported the tables are completely 

 turned, and the fecund eggs are entirely Uninjured by a 

 shock that ruptures the membranes of the unimpregnated 

 eggs, and sends them on the path of swift decay. Advan- 

 tage is taken of this state of affairs at the Maine stations td 

 separate the good from the bad. The eggs, which arei 

 developed on wire-cloth trays in frames readily removable 

 from the troughs, are turned out into tin milk-pans, poured 

 back and forth repeatedly, with veiy little water, and then 1 

 returned to the troughs. If the contents of a single tray 

 are placed in a pan. they may be poured back and forth six 

 or eight times, letting them drop six inches and strike hard 

 On .the bottom of the pan. If they are in large masses hold 

 them a foot high*, or pour a great number of times. The 

 object is to assure the shock of a sharp concussion to each 

 egg. Take these eggs out again the next day and you will 

 find the unimpregnated eggs all turned white, and easily 

 picked out with your forceps or pipette. The time required 

 for the operation of concussion, including the removal of 

 the eggs from the trough and their return thereto, is, with 

 our apparatus, about one minute per thousaud eggs. An 

 active man will therefore treat half a million of eggs in a 

 day. The picking out of the white eggs of course requires 

 time, according to the number. Our picker at the Penob- 

 scot station the other day picked 10,843 but of 475,000 eggs, 

 besides doing considerable other work. That was a very 

 small loss, but I am confident that the work was very 

 thoroughly done. 



It is necessary to observe some caution in the application 

 of this process at an early date, as it is not certain that 

 embryos whose eyes are just beginning to color will stand 

 severe concussion without injury. But any one can make 

 a preliminary trial on a small scale. 



I have never applied the process to any but the eggs of 

 river and landlocked salmon, but I have no doubt that it 

 will be equally practicable with any other kind of salmon or 

 trout, and would recommend those handling eggs of white- 

 fish to consider whether it cannot be made useful to them. 



Chas. G. Atkins. 



Cuaig's Brook STation, U. S. F. C, East Or'and, Me., Jan. 17 



SAWDUST AND TROUT. 



Editor Forest a nd Stream: 



I notice in your journal a few articles on trout vs. sawdust, 

 and I do not altogether agree with "Piscator," who states 

 that sawdust has no deleterious effect on the fish. In trying 

 to prove his statements he refers us to some figures on Nova 

 Scotia fishing streams. The fact of taking those streams as 

 reference shows to me quite clearly that "Piscator" cannot 

 understand the fish we call trout" I can see why sawdust 

 can't possibly have the slightest effect upon the trout found 

 in Nova Scotia. I have yet to see a trout caught in that 

 Province of sufficient magnitude to take into the gills or 

 mouth a sawdust of pine or otherwise. So one can easily 

 see, although lots of dust may be in Nova Scotia streams, no 

 harm can be done to the fishlets. But it is quite different 

 with our New Brunswick beauties. I am sure if "Piscator" 

 would spend a season with us in New Brunswick and study 

 matters as thoroughly as he did in Nova Scotia, he would, 

 then side with us that our trout will succumb to the effects 

 of pine sawdust. 



There is another statement that ''sawdust will not decay 

 under water." We again disagree. I find from observation 

 that it will, to a certain extent, decompose even if it be con- 

 stantly covered with water; but if exposed to the air at times, 

 which is the case during dry spells, it can't escape becoming 

 putrescent in time. We all know that the poisonous gases, 

 which are always being given off, will be against ratherthan 

 encourage fish or any animal to frequent such a place. In 

 this Province I notice that trout are largest and most numer- 

 ous in streams having a clear, stony bottom, where there are 

 no sawmills and consequently no dust to interfere. Would 

 like to know from Mr. Hallock or Mr. "Piscator" why this 

 should be the case in our particular part of the globe? 



Fisher. 



Kingston, N. B. 



HATCHING COD IN NORWAY. — From Mr. Adolph 

 Nielsen we have the following interesting information about 

 the operations at the marine station of Arendal, under the 

 charge of G. M. Dannevig. The height of the spawning 

 season is in March and April. Bast year's collection 

 of eggs amounted to 64,000.000, of which about 36,000,000 

 were developed as fry. Mr. Dannevig is about to try a new 

 method of gathering cod eggs. He proposes to make artifi- 

 cial sea-water basins, into which he w T ill pump water and 

 confine therein cod approaching the spawning condition. 

 The eggs, naturally fertilized, will be hatched in the usual 

 way, and he expects to gets a larger percentage of healthy 

 fry. The fry cost about one cent a thousand. In the sum- 

 mer tbe Arendal establishment will be occupied in hatching 

 lobsters and oysters; with the latter it is said the results are 

 very good. Mr. Nielsen is now on his way to Newfound- 

 land, to take charge of the department of fishculture in that 

 Province, 



