April 17, 1890.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



2 61 



FREE FISHING GOING. 



THAT there is a growing interest in trout fishing and 

 hunting goes without the saying, but its particular 

 growth is toward centralization and control. It is prob- 

 able that the good old days, when the fishermen could 

 follow the streams at will and fish wherever he pleased, 

 without that disagreeable sign "no fishing here," staring 

 him in the face, is fast drawing to a close. The farmers 

 are waking up to the value of the trout streams they own, 

 and the tendency is to lease them to sportsmen and clubB 

 of sportsmen, A recent letter from a gentleman in Con- 

 necticut says, that the trout fishing was never better in 

 that State,' but that the number of streams that are 

 posted and let to private parties was never so great. The 

 letter ventures the assertion that it will take hardly 

 more than one year to post every stream of any value as 

 a trout stream in that State. The fishing is excellent 

 this spring from the fact that the effect of the restocking 

 of a few years ago is beginning to be felt. This is wak- 

 ing up the farmers and the owners of woodland to the 

 value of what has heretofore been only a tax and vexa- 

 tion to them. The same is true of Massachusetts, only 

 not quite as much is being done in the way of posting 

 and leasing streams. Still the beginning has been made 

 in that direction, and it will not take long for the land 

 owners to find out the value of their streams. If a sports- 

 man or a fishing club will give a farmer $10 or $20 for 

 the exclusive right to fish a brook through his land for a 

 season, that $1.0 is better for the farmer than not to post 

 or protect his brook and allow everybody to fish and 

 tread clown his mowing and break down his fences. 



Fishing and sporting clubs that own or lease lakes, 

 streams and lands in Maine are on the increase, and the 

 tendency is to crowd out the man with no rights there — 

 the nomad who formerly fished as he pleased. I hear 

 that the John Danforth camps at Parmachene Lake have 

 this year been leased by a party of New York sportsmen, 

 and that John has been retained as chief guide and 

 keeper of the property. But I hardly think that any 

 land has been purchased or any special rights granted, 

 for it has long been a principle of the landowners of the 

 section of the Androscoggin Lakes not to sell an inch 

 of land or grant to any person or club any special rights. 

 E. S. Coe, the senior partner of the firm controling the 

 Coe and Pingree estates, which embrace the greater part 

 of the lands about the Androscoggin Lakes, more famil- 

 iarly known as the Rangeleys, has always been set against 

 granting any special privileges to anybody on the com- 

 pany's lands. He has occasionally leased camp locations 

 on their lands about the lakes, but he has steadily re- 

 fused to sell land to anybody. 



It is a fact that the best of the Eangeley lakes, the 

 home of the trout of the world, would long ago have been 

 controlled by clubs and private parties but for this prin- 

 ciple of the landowners not to sell or grant special fish- 

 ing or hunting privileges. Thus it is that the best trout 

 waters in the world have been kept open to the sports- 

 men of the country. But the principle is the same, and 

 monopoly of fishing and hunting rights is the order of 

 the day. It is a fact that the work of the several fish 

 commissioners of the New England States is likely to tell 

 more plainly in the pockets of the owners of the borders 

 of lakes and streams than into the general pleasure of 

 the public. The time is coming, and that, too, quite 

 rapidly, when, if the several States will build up and 

 protect fishing waters and hunting grounds for the dear 

 public, then these grounds and waters will have to be 

 owned by the several States, for as fast as the waters 

 become valuable to sportsmen, from the effects of restock- 

 ing by the several fish and game commissions, just so 

 fast are individuals getting control of them either through 

 lease or purchase of the lands. Special. 



AQUARIA NOTES. 



Occasional Observations on the Fishes in the Aquaria of the U. S. 

 Fish Commission. 



THE SPAWNING OF YELLOW PERCH. 



THE spawning of yellow perch in aquaria, within 

 walls, deserves some addition to the brief mention 

 accorded it in the Forest and Stream of March 27, as it 

 points to possibilities in fisbculture as yet only to be con- 

 jectured. There ai - e some at least who believe that when 

 proper and adequate conditions are provided the same 

 result may be attained with any of our fishes. By this 

 it is meant to be understood that some fish are less amen- 

 able to artificial conditions than others, and require more 

 room and more naturalness of surroundings. Some of 

 these fish spawned in March and April, '89, and again in 

 December, ; 89, and January. February and March, '90. It 

 is very evident, therefore, taken in connection with sim- 

 ilar occurrences, that the limits of the spawning seasons 

 are influenced by the conditions of temperature alone. 

 A number of attempts were made to hatch these eggs 

 in the aquaria, but they were not very successful, only a 

 small percentage hatching. The egg mass is in the shape 

 of a long tube, closed at the ends and arranged in folds 

 like the bellows of an accordeon. When folded the mass 

 is several inches long (probably eight to twelve), but 

 when drawn out it will be three to" four or more feet 

 long. 



Of the eggs transferred to the Central Station hatchery, 

 as stated, the loss was slight, thus demonstrating that the 

 McDonald universal hatching jar is adapted to at least 

 some kinds of adhesive eggs as well as the non-adhesive 

 ones. The occurrence of this spawning in the aquaria 

 has led to quite an extensive spawning and hatching of 

 these fish at the Central Station hatchery. The actual 

 spawning takes place at night and has not until recently 

 been observed. 



The actions of the fish preliminary to spawning have 

 been witnessed by Mr. Wm. Maynard, a night watchman 

 of Central Station. His description of it is as follows: 

 "The female remained quiet in one spot on the bottom of 

 one of the hatchery aquarium tanks, one or more of the 

 males hovering over and about her, with pectoral fins 

 vibrating with intense activity. The males would at 

 times lie close alongside of her, and at other times en- 

 deavor to force themselves under her, with the evident 

 intention of assisting in the extrusion of the eggs. The 

 extreme muddiness of the water and darkness at that 

 point prevented my seeing the actual spawning. There 

 was apparently nothing to distinguish it from the more 

 ordinary habits of fishes." 



The roe when taken from a dead fish not yet ripe is in 

 a single compact mass, covered by a thin membrane; but 



in spawning the mass separates, one side being spawned 

 before the other. This was noticed in a specimen which 

 had spawned one side and appeared to be unable to get 

 rid of the other. It was stripped from her and artifici- 

 ally fertilized successfully. A number of the spawners 

 are undoubtedly last year's fish; so it appears that they 

 will spawn when one year old. 



THE SPAWNING OF RAINBOW TROUT IN SALT "WATER. 



In Forest and Stream of Jan. 9, '90, there is a mention 

 of trout spawning in salt water. The spawning of a female 

 rainbow trout in a salt-water aquarium is a matter of 

 some interest as showing that the development of the ova 

 of trout may go on in salt as well as in fresh water. She 

 had previously spawned a few eggs in a fresh-water aqua- 

 rium., but had been some weeks in the salt water before 

 spawning again. As there was no other fish in the aqua- 

 rium but a male hybrid (lake and brook) it is hardly prob- 

 able that the eggs are fertilized. The eggs are normal in 

 appearance, except that they are lighter in color than is 

 usual in that species. They are quite as light as a white- 

 fish egg. The density of the water is between 1.020 and 

 1.021. No change of color is as yet discernible in the fish 

 since its transfer to salt water. A number of other trout 

 have been killed in the same aquarium by the male hy- 

 brid, which is very vicious. Since writing the above the 

 rainbow trout in question was found dead during the 

 night with eggs oozing from her and quite a number 

 already spawned. Whether she died from the exhaustion 

 of spawning or some effect of the changed conditions, 

 or was killed by the hybrid cannot be known. The; hybrid 

 is still vigorous and feeding well. 



SPAWNING OF GOLDFISH. 



The spawning of the goldfish in the aquarium is so 

 common as not to be worthy of mention if occurring at 

 the regular season. Mr. Walter Sauerhoff , however, has 

 had some to spawn during January in his house in a 

 small tank. Some Japanese fan tails, lately imported, 

 and last season's fish, probably now not more than nine 

 months old, have been on the point of spawning during 

 the winter, the males having the distinguishing tubercles 

 on the opercles and pectoral fins well developed: but re- 

 curring falls of temperature have retarded them, which 

 is further evidence of the influence of temperature in 

 controlling the spawning seasons of fishes. 



Wm, P. Seal. 



ANGLING NOTES. 



WE have had the pleasure of interviewing Capt. F. 

 A. Boutelle, U. S. A., and Superintendent of the 

 Yellowstone Park, who has been East on a visit. The 

 Captain is very enthusiastic about the Park, and speaks 

 in glowing terms of the trout fishing there. He states 

 that he has succeeded, with the aid of the Fish Commis- 

 sion, in stocking miles of barren waters with trout and 

 landlocked salmon, and that in a very few years the fish- 

 ing there will be unexcelled by any waters in the States. 

 Owing to the entire absence of any other kind of fish and 

 an abundant supply of food, there is no reason why the 

 fish just introduced should not thrive and do well. In 

 speaking of the size of flies that do best there, he says 

 that they should be dressed on Sproat hooks not smaller 

 than No. 6 nor larger than No. 4. The best patterns are 

 coachman, royal-coachman, dark-coachman, professor, 

 brown-Palmer, Abbey, Montreal, alder, Lottie, Imbrie 

 and brown-hen. 



It is curious that so many anglers who are so particular 

 as to rods, lines and flies are not more particular about 

 leaders and the size gut of the snells. It is useless for 

 the fishermen to be so exacting about special patterns 

 and size of flies without paying attention to this impor- 

 tant matter. The snells should be at least as fine as the 

 leaders, and if the water is clear and the trout much 

 fished for the leaders must be long and fine and stained 

 rather a dark mixed color. The flies should be attached 

 to the leader in a manner that will make the least show. 

 The best way is to have 3ft. lengths looped together. 

 Now by shoving the loops apart the knot at the end of 

 the snell can be inserted and the sliding loops drawn to- 

 gether. The loop above the knot on the fly should be cut 

 off. The fly will be held firmly in this position, yet can 

 easily be changed. The snells on these flies (droppers) 

 should not be over 4 or Sin. long. If longer they are apt 

 to twist about the leader, and of course, the fish will not 

 then touch them. Flies should not be nearer together 

 than 24in., 86in. is better, and three flies on a leader are 

 sufficient. The writer has been most successful with two 

 flies 6ft. apart. 



Another very important matter is the color of one's 

 clothing. A quiet gray for both coat and hat is least apt 

 to be seen by the fish. Trout may not hear, but they 

 can see, and their suspicions are easily aroused. Anglers 

 should move quietly, and in casting should avoid as much 

 as possible the windmill motion with their arms. On a 

 still day, when the water is as smooth as a mirror, the 

 fish can see much better than when the surface is ruffled 

 by a breeze, and the angler, if fishing from a boat, should 

 sit as quiet and low as possible and avoid all sudden and 

 unnecessary movements. There is nothing that marks 

 the first-class angler so thoroughly as the attention he 

 pays to these little details. How often we hear fishermen 

 say they cannot catch anything on the still waters or 

 when there is no breeze." If they would fish properly 

 they would find the still reaches held the biggest trout, 

 and when the water is smooth they can best see the fly, 

 but they can also best notice the heavy leader and awk- 

 ward cast. 



Rainbow and Lake Trout in Indiana.— We are in- 

 debted to Mr. Geo. H. H. Moore, of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, for the following account of the successful in- 

 troduction of rainbow and lake trout in Indiana, drawn 

 from a letter of Mr. Lawrence D. Creel, of Angola. "A 

 California rainbow trout weighing about 21bs. was re- 

 cently caught in Crooked Lake. The fish were placed in 

 this lake in 1886 and were then about Gin. long. Fifteen 

 lake trout were taken in Fox and Crooked lakes. These 

 were deposited in 1886 and during the next two or three 

 years. Both of these lakes are in Steuben county. 



Albino Halibut.— From the Gloucester Daily Times, 

 of Gloucester, Mass., we learn that a halibut was landed 

 from a George's trip, April 5, which had white fins and 

 tail, with the usual brownish-black back of this species. 



NOTES FROM WORCESTER. 



WORCESTER, Mass., April 10.— The question of fish 

 propagation and the leasing of fishing privileges 

 is becoming an all-absorbing topic of conversation among 

 Worcester sportsmen. Several things have contributed 

 to this end, prominent among them being the long-con- 

 tinued apathy of the governing board, the local sports- 

 man's club, in regard to the interests of the members who 

 enjoy piscatorial sports. 



The entire club energy seems to be expen ded upon trap- 

 shooting. At the last annual meeting a fish commission 

 was established, and a small sum of money appropriated 

 to be expended in looking into the matter of restocking 

 brooks, an additional appropriation being promised to 

 carry on the work, when some feasible scheme had been 

 decided upon. The committee have investigated the 

 matter at length and decided that the best results could 

 be obtained by growing fry to yearlings and then liberat- 

 ing them in the brooks. The policy proposed was that 

 farmers owning land through which brooks ran, be asked 

 to agree not to lease or post their land for a certain num- 

 ber of years, and the club agree to put so many yearling, 

 trout into their waters every year. Some land owners 

 had been approached on this line, and the idea met with 

 almost universal favor. There is no question but such a 

 policy, if carried out, would in a few years have a strong 

 tendency to discourage the leasing and posting of land. 



A. site has also been found which seems to be eminently 

 fitted for the rearing of young trout, and which can be 

 secured together with a provision for the proper care and 

 feeding of the trout, but the prospect for getting the 

 necessary money does not look bright. A fish club, 

 whose objects are shrouded in considerable mystery, has 

 lately sprung into prominence among the wealthier class 

 of fishermen, and one or more brooks near the city 

 have been secured by them. Just what they propose to 

 do does not appear clear, but that their scheme lacks the 

 confidence of fishermen in general is certain, some of , 

 their own subscribers being among the number who are 

 not satisfied with their policy. 



The business of leasing and posting has heretofore been 

 confined to a very few. One of these has seen the harm 

 it works and drawn out. Two others are prime movers 

 in the new enterprise. 



While no one can question the right of a club or indi- 

 vidual to buy or lease anything he chooses, when such 

 leasing tends to shut out from the public other land or 

 water, it is certainly working an injury to those who 

 have not the means to lease their fishing rights. The 

 sentiment which prompts such a generous work as the 

 Massachusetts Fish and Game Association are doing in 

 the matter of restocking with game seems to be an un- 

 known quantity to these men. 



The field is certainly a promising one for a little mis- 

 sionary work, and the fishennen who believe in open fish- 

 ing for all should do something other than growl at the 

 trap-shooters because the latter take sufficient interest in 

 their branch of sport to attend to club meetings and see 

 that their interests are taken care of. Good, or better 

 fishing at least, could be made by either posting and pro- 

 tecting or restocking with yearling trout. 



By the latter method, the majority of brooks would in 

 a short time be open, the fishing in all of them good, and 

 every"one, would be free to lay out his day's trip in any 

 direction that might suit his fancy, selecting for his 

 partner any congenial spirit, whether he belonged to a 

 club or not. 



Under the preserve system, as proposed by the new 

 club, the man who puts in $5 a year is issued a ticket en- 

 titling him to so many days fishing. The one who pays 

 $10 can fish twice as many times. 



Every time you wish to try for a basket of trout, you 

 take your ticket along, present it to the superintendent, 

 who punches it. Just as they do at "Puts" when you 

 get your lunch, and when your $5 worth is punched out 

 you are done for that season, unless you can buy or bor- 

 row a "fishing" from another member. Shades of Izaak, 

 has it come to this! And what next! Only one more 

 turn and when you wish to take a stroll away from the 

 dusty streets for a breath of fresh air, you must need 

 have your credentials along and report at every farm- 

 house' to be punched before you can cross their pastures. 



The trout fishing in Worcester county opened up 

 well. April 1 saw several good strings brought in and 

 every pleasant day since some one has braved the cold 

 to repeat his success. Capt. D, M. Early secured the 

 opening day prize, a beauty that made the scales smile 

 at 21bs. loz. The water is high yet and they bite very 

 sluggishly, but a few more weeks and the sport will be 

 good. If as good as last year, no one can complain. 



Hal. 



Sea Trout Fishing.— East Orange, N. J., April 14. — 

 Editor Forest and Stream: For the benefit of "M, H. 

 F.," Boston, and also for others of your many readors 

 who would like to know of one of the best and most 

 accessible places for sea trout fishing, I can recommend 

 Indiantown, New Brunswick. The district covered by 

 where the Renous and Dungarvan rivers enter the main 

 southwest Miramichi, is one of the best in the Province. 

 The fish in ordinary seasons generally reach that point 

 about the first week in June, on their way to the head- 

 waters. There is a good plain hotel within a few min- 

 utes' walk of the railroad station and the river. The 

 owner and proprietor, Mr. Jardine, locally called Jurden, 

 is an adept with the fly as well as a genial host, so that 

 any who may find their way up there are sure of good 

 treatment. As the fish do not remain in the neighbor- 

 hood for any length of time, it is very necessary to find 

 out beforehand when to go, and then to go at once. — Big 

 Reel. 



Protection For Potomac Fishes. — We are glad to 

 learn that the House committee on merchant, marine and 

 fisheries authorized a favox-able report April 9, on the 

 Stahlnecker bill, with an amendment extending the pro- 

 visions of the act of March 2, 1885, to protect the fish in - 

 the Potomac River, in the District of Columbia, and to 

 provide a spawning ground for shad and herring in the 

 river. Virginia and Maryland should do their part 

 toward enforcing this wise measure and share in the 

 benefits which they must perceive as the results of pro- 

 tection. 



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