Deo. 20, 1888.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



489 



lain landed us at the Baraga dock, where the hospitable 

 Mr. and Mrs. Bourke met us with a hearty welcome and 

 greatly admired Mr. Allen's big trout. Early in the af ter- 

 ternoon we reached Marquette, where each went his way, 

 Mr. Allen to his ledgers and cash accounts, Mr. Somers to 

 a new post of railroad labor in the Northwest, Henry to 

 his land-looking, and I to my Indiana home. Wherever 

 my fishing companions of that outing may be this cheer- 

 less night, I know they have a pleasant recollection of our 

 outing on the Big Huron. I send them greeting. 

 Frankum, Ind .. Nov. 14. D . D. BAKTA. 



SALMON FISHING IN NEWFOUNDLAND. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Having had occasion to visit the Bay of Notre Dame, 

 in the island of Newfoundland, I embraced the oppor- 

 tunity when at Little Bay, to make inquiries as to salmon 

 fishing in Iudian Brook, a well-known salmon stream not 

 far distant from that place. I was astonished to learn 

 from a sportsman there that salmon could not be taken 

 with the fly in that stream; my informant said that he 

 had occasionally taken a grilse, but never a salmon. On 

 consulting the excellent work of Capt. Kennedy, of H.M. 

 S. Druid, the following words arrested my attention: 



"To say that rod fishing in Newfoundland is a delusion 

 and a snare would perliaps be wide of the mark, and yet 

 I have no hesitation in saying that any one going out to 

 that country for the purpose of fishing only, would be 

 disappointed; as regards salmon he most certainly would. 

 Sea trout fishing is merely a question of being in the right 

 spot at the right time, in 'which case the sport is second 

 to none; but if the fish are not running the sport is nil. 

 Salmon Ashing with the fly may be pronounced a failure 

 owing to two causes; one of which may be remedied, the 

 other not. The first is because the whole of the fine sal- 

 mon rivers are ruined by barring, sweeping with nets, 

 traps a,nd weirs. The other reason is that the fi3h do not 

 as a rule rise to the fly. I have occasionally taken grilse 

 with the fly, but only five the first season, eight the 

 second, and about the same number the third. However, 

 this represented many days' hard work, wading for ten 

 and twelve hours a day, and fishing every likely pool." 



Capt. Kennedy was for three years engaged in the pro- 

 tection of the Newfoundland fisheries, and so speaks with 

 much more authority than an ordinary sportsman would. 

 It is not at all improbable that the' persecution of the 

 salmon by barring, which is the placing of nets across 

 the niouths of the rivers of Newfoundland and from high 

 water mark on one side to the same point on the other, 

 as well, as sweeping witSft nets, etc., may have had a good 

 deal to do with the fact of the Newfoundland salmon be- 

 ing so shy of taking the fly. 



The writer can well remember when the general opinion 

 among sportsmen was that salmon could not be taken 

 with the fly in the Tobique, indeed many ineffectual 

 efforts were made by good sportsmen to capture salmon 

 there in'that way at that time, which ended unsuccess- 

 fully, spearing, sweeping with nets, etc., were being 

 practiced very largely. Now, however, since the Tobique 

 hat; been partially protected, and a stop largely put to 

 these practices, salmon, as every one kno%vs, are being 

 taken in this fine river with the fly. Edward Jack. 



Frbdericton, Canada, Dec. 13. 



TROUT FISHING IN GRAND ISLAND BAY. 



WOULD any of the readers of Forest and Stream 

 bike to know where speckled trout can be taken 

 in considerable numbers, requiring no greater labor than 

 fishing from a pier; a veritable Mecca for the veteran 

 angler who no longer possesses the agility to traverse the 

 ordinary trout stream as in days of yore? Such a place 

 can be found in Grand Island Bay, Lake Superior, a 

 magnificent bay, which is one of the many attractions 

 for the tourist and sportsman who visits the Upper Pen- 

 insula of Michigan. The writer first discovered its allure- 

 ments for the angler while passing through it in a small 

 boat in August, 1886. As our boat was rounding Powell's 

 Point, one of the most charming spots around the entire 

 shore of the bay, we passed an old pier, reaching out 

 some fifty or sixty feet from the beach, and on it were 

 several young ladies fishing for trout, and we witnessed 

 them take some fine ones in a few minutes' time. Stop- 

 ping at the Powell residence, near by, the writer made 

 the acquaintance of these good people.and determined that 

 at some future time he would return to visit this place, 

 which is so inviting on account of its natural picturesque 

 beauty and many points of interest, and give the trout 

 fishing in this bay a good trial. 



Accordingly our party was organized to make this visit 

 on the first part of last August, which was rather late in 

 the season for the best trout fishing, but the writer's 

 daughter, who is a hay fever subject, had to be one of the 

 party, and this was her regular time for migrating to 

 northern Michigan to escape the malady. She had in- 

 vited two of her former lady school mates to accompany 

 us, and these, with a gentleman friend and your humble 

 servant, composed the party. On the 10th of August, 

 after a ieisurely trip up the lakes, we took a train at the 

 Sault Ste. Marie for Munising station on the Duluth, 

 South Shore & Atlantic Railway. The management of 

 this road, by the way, is very painstaking in providing 

 for the welfare and comfort of its tourist passengers. 

 After arriving at Munising station a ride of four miles in 

 a wagon brought us to Munising village, a quiet hamlet 

 on the shore of Grand Island Bay, and the next morning 

 a sail across to Powell's Point, two miles distant, brought 

 us to our place of destination. The Powells had been 

 waiting for us, and received us so cordially that we at 

 once felt ourselves at home. The young ladies were de- 

 lighted with the place. It was such a charming retreat 

 for rest and recuperation, and so entirely free from the 

 requirements of a fashionable resort. After all I had 

 said in its praise it far excelled their expectations. A 

 romantic description of this locality is given in an article 

 in the American Magazine for September, entitled " In 

 Hiawatha's Country. But no pen picture can do justice 

 to the picturesque beauty and objects of interest that 

 nature presents in this locality. 



But some of your readers are already asking, "Did you 

 catch any trout?" Well, I should say we did. During 

 the entire three weeks of our stay with the Powells we 

 angled for them at the old pier and at points around the 

 shore in the vicinity every day, except Sunday, with the 

 most satisfactory results. The weather was delightful 

 during the entire time, which greatly contributed to our 

 perfect happiness. A score was kept of the number and 



size of the trout taken every day by each member of the 

 party, but to give this would require more space than is 

 necessary. A good outfit of tackle had been provided 

 for the ladies, and though neither of them had ever 

 angled for trout before they were very apt scholars and 

 soon became quite skillful and self-possessed in landing 

 the fish. It did me as much good to see one of them 

 hook a big trout and manipulate the rod, while another 

 secured it in the landing net and brought it up in triumph 

 on the pier, as to catch the fish myself. In size the trout 

 taken by us ranged from Alb. to 3£lbs. Anything 

 smaller was invariably returned to the water. But 

 several 51bs. trout had been taken at the pier earlier in 

 the season. 



A 51b. trout and several weighing from 3 to 41bs. were 

 taken by an old gentleman from New Orleans during our 

 stay at another point on the bay. A camping party 

 from Marquette, who were located on the south end 

 of the bay, at the mouth of the Anna River, took a 

 number of trout from 3 to 41bs. A gentleman 'camp- 

 ing on another side of the bay took six trout in three 

 casts, the total weight of which was 151bs. Around 

 the entire twenty-five miles of shore of this bay trout are 

 found in great numbers, but at Powell's Point they seem 

 to be the most abundant. The old pier there seems to be 

 a great resort for trout, and we found it a most delight- 

 ful one for the angler. 



Grand Island Bay also abounds in lake trout, some of 

 which have been taken weighing 301bs. Had we not de- 

 parted a little sooner than we intended, we would have 

 varied our sport by devoting a few days to the capture of 

 these larger members of the trout family. As I hope to 

 return there next year, perhaps I can give a more definite 

 account of them from personal experience. J. H. N. 



Newark, O., Dec. 1. 



PUBLIC TROUT IN PRIVATE WATERS. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



Several article in your paper — the last an editorial in the 

 issue of Nov. 22, (p. 342) with a reference to a paragraph 

 on p. 348 — calculated t» prejudice public opinion against 

 the Hammonasset Club, appear to have been written 

 Tinder a misapprehension of facts. The Hammonasset 

 Club acquired from the riparian owners of about ten 

 miles upon the river, and about as much more upon its 

 tributaries, the right of fishing for a term of years, with- 

 out any notice or knowledge of a claimed right of fish- 

 ing on the part of the public; and stocked the stream 

 with 50,000 fry bought from a dealer. They never asked 

 nor used any fry from the State. 



Certain Middletown gentlemen belonging to a club 

 which has its own preserves of fish and game, then 

 claimed to have previously put State fry into the river, 

 how many is not stated, nor is it material. This deposit 

 of fry is claimed to have been made with the consent 

 of one or more land owners, name or names unknown. 

 Upon these facts it is claimed that all owners along the 

 stream, from, it source to the sea, are estopped from as- 

 serting the ordinary right of preventing trespass upon 

 their lands near the river. 



By Connecticut law, it should be remembered, in 

 streams of this character the title to the soil under the 

 water, to the right of fishing and to the use of the water 

 itself, is absolute in the riparian owners, subject only to 

 the common law rule that each must so exercise his right 

 as not to interfere with the rights of others. That the 

 act of placing State fry in a stream with consent of 

 certain owners, operates instantly and by due process of 

 law to divest of the above-mentioned rights not only 

 those consenting, but also all the other owners, is a pro- 

 position so absurd that it seems impossible for the Middle- 

 town gentlemen themselves seriously to believe it. As to 

 the "consenting" owners, if they intelligently consented, 

 with the understanding that in return for the pri vilege of 

 having State fry in the stream, all their lands bordering 

 upon it were to be made practically a public park for 

 three months in each year, they must greatly differ from 

 the average New England farmer. 



The writer has no interest in lands on or near the Ham- 

 monasset, is not a member of the club, and has no 

 authority to predict its policy; but it seems likely that 

 the right to eject trespassers will be exercised in future 

 as heretofore, even if it be necessary to use gentle 

 physical persuasion, molliter imponere manus, as the 

 lawyers say. Should such expulsion be deemed a griev- 

 ance, the courts are open. J. F. H. 

 Washington, D. C, Dec 11. 



EFFECT OF SAWDUST ON FISH. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I am very much inclined to believe that the only inju- 

 rious effect of sawdust in trout and salmon streams results 

 from the fungus which grows from the sawdust as soon 

 as it is put in the water. This fungus is the most destruc- 

 tive growth that is known— to fish eggs. No fish eggs 

 can possibly hatch out on spawning grounds that are 

 covered with it. It is absolutely fatal to them . It spreads 

 with great rapidity also. Each minute piece broken from 

 it, even every microscopic cell detached from the main 

 stem, is a reproductive seed started on its own errand of 

 destruction. 



After the spawning grounds of a trout stream are cov- 

 ered with sawdust, that stream can produce no more 

 trout. After the trout that are already living in the 

 stream are caught out, that is the end of that stream as a 

 trout stream. No more trout will be hatched there. 



This fungus is not only destructive to the eggs of the 

 fish, but, where there is much of it in the water, it will 

 often get into the gills of the fish themselves, and will some- 

 times get rooted in the skin of the fish also, after which 

 there is very little chance for the fish to survive. I do 

 not think the sawdust itself injures the fish directly, by 

 getting into their gills or otherwise, but by producing the 

 fatal fungus. I believe that it is injurious beyond the 

 possibility of exaggeration, and my motive in writing 

 this paragraph is the hope that it may catch the attention 

 of some one whose influence may help to arrest a rapidly 

 growing and, as far as fish life is concerned, a frightful 

 evil in this country. Livingston Stone. 



Baird, Cal., D oc. 8. 



Lafayette, Intl., Aug. 21, 1888.— U. S. Cartridge Co., LowelK, 

 Mass.: Dear Sir— I am pleased to be able to give you a moat sat- 

 isfactory account of the paper shells you sent me. I have used 

 Schultze powder altogether for the last seven years, with Eley's 

 shells, and yours are the first perfect substitute I have found, and 

 I shall take care to recommend their use. (Signed) W. Graham, 

 Champion Shoe of England.— Adv. 



TERRAPIN CATCHING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of Dec. (3, under the heading "Terrapin Cul- 

 ture. ' I find an interesting article, brought out in answer to 

 two inquiries for information concerning the culture of tho 

 diamond-backed terrapin, one writer wishing to know about 

 their habits and the modes of capturing them. As you ask 

 communications on the subject, I beg space to contribute my 

 mite, which is gathered from the pages of my scrap book, in 

 which it is my custom to paste every article I find relative 

 to brook, river or lake and the inhabitants thereof. From 

 one of Harper's periodicals, headed "Terrapin Fishing," I 

 have clipped the following: 



"Terrapin are caught from Savannah and Charleston up 

 to the Patapsco River, at Baltimore; while the genuine 

 'diamond-back' is only to be found in the Upper Chesapeake 

 and its tributaries. A diamond-back never measures less 

 than 7in. in length on the under shell, a 7-inch being known 

 as a 'count terrapin,' while anything under the length of a 

 'count' does not count. Ten inches long and 81bs. in weight 

 is reckoned a very large terrapin, the 7-inchers weighing on 

 an average 41 bs. During the season terrapin sell for $30 to 

 $38 per dozen; while 'sliders,' common river turtles, princi- 

 pally caught in the James River, sell at from $6 to |8 per 

 dozen, are palmed off by skillful restaurateurs as genuine 

 'diamond-backs' on unwary but ambitious guests at a dollar 

 and a half the dish. 



"Having consigned our lives and limbs to the custody of 

 the darkest darky my eyes ever alighted upon, and to the 

 most rickety of crazy skiffs, were paddled up a. small tribu- 

 tary of the Chesapeake Bay, situated about six miles from 

 Annapolis, on a terrapin-searching expedition. Having 

 quitted the sanctuary of the boat for the more genial atmos- 

 phere of mud, our darky, who was armed with a long, thin 



ole, commenced to probe the bottom — he was wading waist- 



eep — or, to use the technical term, 'to sound' for terrapin, 

 His practical sense of touch tells him when he taps terrapin, 

 and if they are numerous he marks his prey and returns to 

 grab them with a net. Sliders are plentiful in the tributa/- 

 ries of the Chesapeake, as also are 'snappers.' " 



Turtle are fished for in this way: The fisherman plants 

 poles, sometimes a hundred, in the middle of the stream; to 

 each pole he fastens a line, to which is attached a hook 

 baited with salted eel. The snapper grabs bait and hook 

 and is hauled up, always vicious and desperate. MAO. 



Glasgow, Ky. 



FISH CULTURE IN SCOTLAND. 



WE have the aunual price list of eggs and fry at the 

 Howietoun Fishery, at Stirling, Scotland, one of the 

 largest fishcultural establishments in Europe, from which 

 we quote the following items of general interest: 



"The Howietoun Fishery, in issuing the price list for sea- 

 son of 1888-89, has to record one of the coldest summers ex- 

 perienced since the commencement of the Fishery. Yearlings 

 are fully three weeks later than usual. The rearing season, 

 however, has been exceptionally successful, and fully 

 150,000 yearlings and 25,000 two-year-olds are ready for 

 delivery. 



"A salmon hatched from ova obtained from the Forth 

 District Board in December, 1880, and reared in the ponds, 

 having spawned three seasons, was found in the first week 

 of November, this year, to be clean. It weighed just under 

 31bs., was very silvery, with about thirty jet black starlike 

 spots. The flesh cut pink, and the flavor was that of agfish 

 a week in fresh water. This salmon had been fed exclus- 

 ively on clams (pectcn), and was a fair specimen of those 

 still alive at Howietoun of the same spawning. The smolts 

 and grilse which have been bred from these fish are grow- 

 ing more rapidly than their parents, and we hope to show 

 that although the first generation of artificially landlocked 

 salmon are usually dwarfed, yet their progeny may attain 

 to the size of Loch Leven trout — viz., 6 to lOlbs. weight. 



"The American landlocked salmon (S. sebago) have not yet 

 spawned, but a few of the rainbow trout (S. ircdeus) 

 spawned in April, and the fry are thriving; the largest 

 iredens weighed, when three years old, between 3 and 41bs. 

 The crosses between salmon and trout, and between trout 

 and salmon, are growing at the average rate of Loch Leven 

 trout at Howietoun. The experiments in inter-breeding these 

 crosses will be continued this season. The success of redds 

 in economically stocking large tracks of water has been 

 again marked during last season. The ova is simply laid on 

 gravel within a few hours of hatching, and if the situation 

 be skillfully selected no further attention is required." 



THE ILLINOIS FISH COMMISSION. 



ST. LOUIS, Mo., Dec. 15.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The fifth biennial report of the Illinois State Fish Com- 

 mission will soon be ready for distribution. The Commis- 

 sion has submitted its report to the Governor and it is now 

 in the hands of the printer. It will be a large one, finely 

 illustrated. A great increase of native fish in all the rivers 

 of the State is reported, and also of fish that have heretofore 

 been thought to be extinct. In the distribution of carp dur- 

 ing the two years, 1,800 applicants have been supplied. In 

 speaking of whitefish the Commission gives its hearty in- 

 dorsement to the proposition that the National Government 

 establish a hatching house in Chicago. Eight rishways have 

 been constructed in the State, and the number of plants in 

 the streams of Illinois in 1887 was 106, aggregating 1,060,000 

 fish. These were placed at points where railroads cross 

 streams. In 1888 the distribution was made by the United 

 States Fish Commission and nothing but native fish were 

 distributed. Twenty-six carloads were distributed in this 

 manner where fourteen of the principal roads crossed 

 streams, and each carload had from 5,000 to 6,000 fish. Of 

 the appropriation of .$7,500 the Commission reports an un- 

 expended balance of a little over $5,000. Changes in the law 

 are suggested so as to make the possession of fish, or appli- 

 ances for fishing, evidence of violation; to designate 

 authority for enforclug the law to some person or persons, 

 and also to make liable to seizure and confiscation illegal 

 apparatus for catching fish. UNSER Fkitz. 



SHAD IN UTAH LAKE. 



SOME time between the first and the middle of last June 

 the United States Fish Commission sent one of its cars 

 to Salt Lake City with two million shad eggs, which were 

 batched in jars on the way. They were sent to test the 

 possibility of stocking the saline waters of Utah with this 

 fish, and on consultation with Mr. A. Milton Musser, Fish 

 Commissioner of Utah, they were placed in a stream between 

 Battle Creek station and Pleasant Grove, on the Denver and 

 Rio Grande Western Railroad. On the 10th of December, 

 Mr. P. Madsen sent a six-inch shad to Mr. Musser, which 

 was caught in Utah Lake about fifteen miles from where 

 the fish were planted, or near the south end of the lake. 



Utah Lake empties iuto Great Salt Lake, and the fish were 

 planted near the outlet of the former, but this specimen had 

 evidently worked up stream, as had some others, for Mr, 

 Madsen had heard ot three others being captured. One year 

 before, in June 1887, a plant of a million shad was made in 

 the Jordan River, which connects Lake Utah with Great 

 Salt Lake, but we have not heard of any captures of this 

 plant. From the size of the specimen sent to Mr. Musser it. 

 is evident that it was of the plant of this year, and while it 



