292 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



[Oct. 30, 1890, 



NORTH CAROLINA NOTES, 



A LARGE black caterpillar is found on the red and 

 Spanish oaks, it is almost black in color and from 

 1 to 2iu. long, and about as big arouud as a lead pencil. 

 It is exceedingly common and tbe bugs are gathered into 

 gourds, and kept there until the fishing; commences, when 

 they are allowed to crawl forth over the angler and boat 

 and make a very convenient bait. In the rivers and 

 creeks that come out of the swamps in the flat coast 

 region of the pine tar belt bream and crappie are abund- 

 ant, and when a school of either of these fish is struck, 

 using this black caterpillar for bait, you can take the last 

 one of them without moving from the spot. 



In Orton Lake the large-mouthed black bass abound, 

 and more can be caught'than desired. The perch family 

 generally is well represented here. Col. Murchison. pro- 

 prietor of the Orton House in Wilmington, controls the 

 fishing privileges of the lake, and reserves it for the guests 

 of the hotel and his New York friends. The pond is 

 fifteen miles long and its banks are heavily covered with 

 brush. On account of the latter it is necessary to have a 

 short line when fishing from the banks. This brush is a 

 great rendezvous for the different kinds of herons. A 

 half dozen nests of these birds are often found in one 

 small bush. They are undisturbed and quite tame. Alli- 

 gators are very common in tbe lake also. 



The Black River and its system of waters, which enter 

 into the Cape Fear River, twelve miles above Wilming- 

 ton, contain a large number of game fish. A friend of 

 mine tells me that he saw a man in Wilmington in the 

 spring who had a small boat aud live boxes, in which 

 were 507 large black bass, crappie and yellow perch, 

 caught in the Black River. 



The Lumber River perch is considered tbe tiuest game 

 and pan fish in the State. This perch has bepn thinned 

 out immediately around Lurnbertou. but good fishing is 

 still to be had within five or six miles of Ibis place. 



Overfishing is being practiced here. The market fish- 

 erman takes 300 hooks and ties them to overhanging 

 bushes as he goes along: by the time he has the last one 

 tied the first are ready to be looked after, and in this way 

 many fish are secured. 



At Elizabetha C ty I saw fishermen using skim-nets in 

 the Pasquotank River, and was very much astonished to 

 find that they were catching beautiful specimens of crap- 

 pie with these shallow nets right at the surface of this 

 very clear juniper water. On seeing a bunch of the fish 

 taken into a house I followed and asked to be allowed to 

 see the fish opened. We found that they were feeding 

 on small minnows, and upon further investigation found 

 that the minnows were exceedingly plentiful right over 

 a portion of the river where the bottom was covered with 

 slabs from saw mills close by, and from these slabs come 

 a small insect larva, upon which the minnows were feed- 

 ing. The crappie were so intent in their feeding upon 

 these small fish that it was possible for the skim-netters 

 to scoop them up. S. G. Worth. 



VERMONT FISH AND GAME LEAGUE, 



A CALL has been sent out by Mr. John W. Titcomb, of 

 Rutland, Vt., acting for the Rutland Fish and Game 

 Club, the purpose of which is to invite the sportsmen of 

 the State to unite in a league. The call sets forth: 



"Some years ago a local association known as tbe Rut- 

 land Fish and Game Club was formed here for the pur- 

 pose of protecting the fish aud game of Rutland county 

 and stocking its streams with trout. This club, with very 

 small means, has been notably successful in the enPorce- 

 nient of existing fish and game laws and in stocking our 

 streams with trout; and we are led to believe that a 

 somewhat similar association of sportsmen throughout 

 the State would accomplish far greater results for the 

 pleasure and profit of all its inhabitants. * - * 



"'With natural advantages which cannot be surpassed, 

 it is unfortunate that Vermont should lie allowed to fall 

 behind her sister States, and it is the purpose of the pro- 

 posed league to take advantage of the opportunities for 

 good work in this direction which are presented every- 

 where throughout the Green Mountains. 



•'With this end in view, we ask you to pledge yourself 

 to become a member of the State League by filling out 

 the accompanying blank. 



"The objects of the association are: To procure and en- 

 force suitable laws for the protection and preservation of 

 food fishes, game, song and insectivorous birds: the re- 

 vision and codification of our present laws on this subject; 

 the promotion of fish culture; the introduction of new 

 species and varieties of fish, game and useful birds; and 

 to disseminate information relating thereto." 



Among the many prominent men who have indorsed 

 this movement and pledged themselves to become mem- 

 bers are Charles H. Sheldon, president Rutland Fish and 

 Game Club; Gen. W. Y. MV'. Ripley, W. C. Clement and 

 H. R, Dorr, Rutland; Hon. Herbert Brainerd. Fish Com- 

 missioner, St. Albans: Gen. W. W. Heury, Burlington: 

 Col. Geo. W. Hooker, Brattleboro: Hon. B. B. Smalley 

 and Hon. Geo. F. Edmunds, Bmlington: Gen. J. G. Mc- 

 Cullough, Benuington; Chas. F. Orvis, Manchester; Co). 

 M. S. Colburn, Manchfster Centre: Hirarn Atkins, Mont- 

 pelier: Hon. Redfield Proctor and Hon. Fletcher B. Proc- 

 tor, Proctor: Gov. Carroll S. Page, Hyde Park: Hon. Ed- 

 ward Smith and H. H. Swift, M.D., Pittsford; J. S. Viles, 

 Montpelier; W. H. H. Murray, Burlington: E. Jas. 

 Ritchie, St. Johnsbury: Hon. T. W. Moloney, Rutland. 



We trust that Mr. Titcomb and his associates will meet 

 a suitable response from the sportsmen of Vermont. The 

 Rutland Club has already shown that it understands the 

 needs of the time, and there is every assurance that the 

 proposed association will be efficient for good under the 

 direction of such promoters as are here named. In this 

 connection the following paragraphs from the report of 

 the Vermont Commission will be read with interest: 



FISH AND GAME PROTECTIVE SOCIETIES. 



The Commissioners recommend as one of the most 

 efficient instrumentalities for the accomplishment of the 

 objects contemplated by our laws, the organization of 

 local clubs or societies for the protection of fish and game; 

 that all who are interested (and every citizen should be) 

 in true sport, and in the preservation of our forest and 

 stream life, take steps for the organization of such 

 clubs, which may also be made the means of much social 

 enjoyment and healthful and legitimate sport. There 

 are now several societies of this kind in the State, and 

 the assistance rendered by them to the Commissioners 



has been most valuable and highly appreciated, and the 

 good work they have done is deserving of all praise and 

 emulation. 



STATE PISH HATCHERY. 

 After careful consideration and examination of the 

 subject in all its bearings, the Commissioners deem it 

 their duty to recommend, strongly, the establishment of 

 a State fish hatchery. They believe this recommend ation 

 to be in the interest of true economy, and that the results 

 of its adoption would be most satisfactory. 



The people throughout tbe State are coming to realize 

 that there is an actual, tangible and considerable profit 

 to be derived from trout ponds and streams— a profit in 

 many instances exceeding that which could be realized 

 from the cultivation of a corresponding acreage of the 

 most fertile land. As a consequence, the Commissioners 

 have not been able, with the means at their command, to 

 meet the call made upon them for speckled and lake trout 

 and landlocked salmon during the past two years; and 

 the demand is steadily increasing. The cost of eggs and 

 expenses for hatching and distributing the fry of these 

 fish alone in the last two years, without considering 

 manv incidental expenses connected with it, has been 

 nearly two thousand dollars, or about one-half the entire 

 appropriation, while, as above stated, the supply has not 

 been equal to the demand. 



To purchase the eggs and defray the cost of hatching 

 and necessary care, as it has to be done at present, on a 

 basis of retail prices is mi duly expensive. A hatchery 

 adapted to all requirements would not cost more than 

 from twelve to sixteen hundred dollars, a competent man 

 to manage ancl care for it could be secured at from four 

 to six hundred dollars per year, and such an establish- 

 ment would produce, according to the best information 

 we have been able to obtain, a, thousand times more stock 

 than one thousand dollars per year will obtain expended 

 as it now has to be. Tbis output would so replenish and 

 supply our ponds and streams that they would soon be 

 fairly teeming with "speckled beauties," to tbe great 

 advantage, not only of Vermont palates, but Vermont 

 pockets as well; besides this, there would be a large sup- 

 ply of fry which would find ready sale at good prices, 

 and should bring in a very considerable revenue. 



Many of the other States have institutions of this kind, 

 and are fully satisfied of the actual profit resulting from 

 them. When this subject is duly considered and investi- 

 gated, taking into account the "direct revenue to be de- 

 rived from well-stocked trout ponds and streams, the 

 advantage to the people of the State from an increase in 

 the number of summer visitors, and the money which 

 will be distributed by them finding its way through all 

 the different channels of trade and business (for it is beyond 

 question that no greater attraction can be offered the 

 average summer tourist than the reasonable certainty of 

 a handsome string of the finest fish in the world as a 

 reward for his day's sport), and the profit to be derived 

 from the propagation of fry for market, the conclusion is 

 unavoidable that the establishment of a State hatchery in 

 Vermont would be a measure of wise economy and a 

 source of profit to the State. 



New Hampshire annually appropriates many thousands 

 of dollars for her fish interests, and finds the investment 

 a most satisfactory one. The Commissioners trust this 

 matter will receive the careful attention it deserves, and 

 that some action may be taken upon the subject by the 

 General Assembly. 



RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO THE LAWS, ETC. 



The Commissioners respectfully recommend that section 

 3872 of the Revised Laws be so amended as to make the 

 open season for trout, lake trout and landlocked salmon 

 from May 1 to Sept. 1, instead of from April 1 to Aug. 1, 

 as at present. The law as it now stands is seriously ob- 

 jectionable, and works detrimentally. 



In April the ice is not out of the ponds and large 

 streams in ordinary seasons. If holes are cut through 

 the ice the fish naturally collect around them for sunlight 

 and fresh air, and as they are very hungry after a long 

 winter's fast (for the food supply in winter is so scanty 

 that it amounts to almost that for trout), the poor half- 

 starved fish are an easy prey, and may be taken by 

 thousands, until in two or three seasons .a well-stocked 

 pond or stream will be almost entirely depleted. In April, 

 too, the trout are not in condition or properly fit for eat- 

 ing: while the closing of the season at the beginning of 

 August, which is one of the best months, if not the best, 

 for fly-fishing in most of our waters, debars many of our 

 own and visiting anglers from the pleasure of this choicest 

 of outdoor recreations, and that unnecessarily and with- 

 out compensating benefit of any kind. August has come 

 to be the best month of the season for summer visitors, and 

 to make it a close trout season seriously interferes with 

 their plans and pleasures, and tends to drive them to other 

 States, where the laws are more accommodating, to the 

 manifest detriment of our landlords, farmers, merchants 

 and others, who derive a benefit directly or indirectly 

 from their patronage. 



The Commissioners earnestly protest against the repeal 

 of the present law limiting the size of trout to be caught 

 to 6in. The effect of that law has been most excellent, 

 and already the size, quality and quantity of trout taken 

 where it has been observed and enforced afford the strong- 

 est testimony in its favor. It is practical, sensible and 

 right. No change should be made in it, in the opinion of 

 the Commissioners, unless to make it more effective. 



A "Worm Charmer.'— Here at last is what the world 

 has been crying for for eix thousand years and more. 

 There was a time when a part of the fun of going fishing- 

 was in digging the worms for bait; but all that has gone 

 by in this progressive age. A man came into the Forest 

 and Stream office the other day, said his name was 

 Paulsen, and announced that he had discovered a way to 

 make the wonns come forth; that he knew the angling 

 fraternity would hail him as a benefactor, and that he 

 wanted to advertise. He offered to go down into the 

 street, which nowadays is always torn up, and prove it to 

 us by invoking a million worms from' the soil of Broad- 

 way; but we accepted his statements without ocular 

 demonstration, and to-day in our advertising pages is set 

 forth the virtue of Paulsen's "Worm Charmer." It is a 

 liquid, Mr. Paulsen tells us, which is sprinkled on the 

 ground, without incantation, and immediately the worms 

 emerge in hordes with their gripsacks packed, and scuttle 

 off for the next county. A tolerably fast runner can 

 head them off before they climb the fence. 



Names of the Round Whitefish.— One of the small 

 whitefishes of North America, which extends from New 

 England to Alaska and from the Great Lake region to 

 the Arctic ocean is the round whitefish or shad waiter 

 (Coregonus quadrilateralis) This species is also called 

 the Menomonee whitefish. The name shad waiter is 

 applied at Lake Winipiseogee and in Memphremagog 

 Lake. From Col. Hodge we learn that in the Con- 

 necticut Lakes, N. H., it is called "bill fish," In New- 

 found Lake it is the "mackerel." In Megantic Lake it is 

 known as the "cucumber fish," and in some other por- 

 tions of New Hampshire itisstyled "clear fish." Cnester- 

 field Like, according to Col. Hodge, appears to be the 

 southern limit of the round whitefish in New Hampshire, 

 and it is smaller in this lake than in any of the others. 

 This little whitefish is of especial interest because it 

 furnishes abundant and wholesome food for the lake 

 trout. It is an excellent food fish, but owing to its size 

 and remarkably small mouth it is difficult of capture by 

 means of hook and line. 



Lake Trout Notes. — Mr. Walter Aiken has informed 

 us that the lake trout in Winnipiseogee Lake, N. H., are 

 usually long and lank fish, with flesh of a pale color and 

 inferior taste; yet the landlocked smelt, which is con- 

 sidered one of the best food species for the lake trout to 

 feed upon, is abundant in Winnipiseogee. In Newfound 

 Lake, N. H., according to Mr. Aiken, the lake trout are 

 shorter and thicker and tbe flesh is more highly colored 

 and has an excellent flavor. Col. Hodge confirms tbe 

 opinion as to Winnipiseogee lake trout, and states that 

 the species in Newfound Lake has yellow flesh. The 

 voracity of the species may be appreciated from the fact 

 that fifty-nine smelt have been found in a Tibs, individual 

 caught at Bristol, N. H. The lake trout is a rival of the 

 cod in its omnivorous habits. Last winter at Winne- 

 squam Lake a 17-Ubs. fish, caught through the ice, had in 

 its stomach a pebble about as big in circumference as a 

 copper cent, and an entire fish hook, which was in a very 

 rusty condition. 



Fish and Game in Tampico.— Consul-General Sutton 

 in a report to the Department of State from Nuevo 

 Laredo, Mexico, published July, 1890, has the following 

 interesting note on the wealth of animal life in Tampico: 

 "In the gulf and inner waters north and south are vast 

 supplies of fish, turtles, alligators and birds. From here 

 to Corpus Christi, Tex., is a sportsman's paradise from 

 October until April. Considerable quantities of dried 

 bird skins, plumage, etc., have been sent from here, and 

 a New Jersey firm has had its buyers here for several 

 years, getting large numbers of alligator skins." The 

 fishes are known to be essentially those of the West In- 

 dian fauna aud. consequently, agree in the main with the 

 species found at Key West," Florida, which embrace a 

 great variety of showy and excellent game fishes, Among 

 these are the groupers, the snappers, the tarpurn, tbe 

 grunts, porgies, barracuda, pompano, big-eyed scad and 

 mullets. 



Bluefish on North Carolina Coast. — At Life-Saving 

 Station No. 13, Currituck, N. C, more bluefish were seen 

 last spring than have been seen for years. The captain 

 of this station caught 26 large ones by impaling them 

 with a pitchfork as they came upon the beach one day. 

 These fish were chasing the mullets inshore and were 

 rolled up by the surf. Hundreds of mullets were washed 

 up on the shore, many of them being bitten in half by 

 the bluefish, and the water at times was actually crimson 

 with the blood of the mullets devoured by the "pirates." 

 Owing to the good prospects for fishing au unusual num- 

 ber of camps were established on the coast. I counted 

 seven fishing camps from Life-Saving Station No. 12.— 

 Cliff. 



Lake St. John. — The new hotel at Roberval has been 

 so well patronized this year by American tourists that 

 Mr. Beemer is now building two large wings, which will 

 increase the accommodation so as to lodge 800 guests in- 

 stead of 100, as at present. In addition to this he has 

 built, a magnificent hotel, equal to that at Roberval, on 

 one of the islands in the Grand Discharge, the center of 

 the ouananiche (French for winninish) fishing grounds. 

 This will be run in connection with the Hotel Roberval, 

 and two steamers will run daily between Roberval and 

 the Grand Discharge during the tourist and fishing 

 season. 



Every Protective Club Bhould subscribe for the 

 Booh of the Game Laws. It will prove invaluable, for 

 it gives' the full text of the law. 



^isJfmUur^ 



NOTES ON THE BROOK TROUT. 



AT the hatchery at Plymouth, N. H., Col. E. B. Hodge, 

 Fish and Game Commissioner, found a female brook 

 trout full of ripe eygs ready to be cast in July of this year. 

 Unfortunately no male could be found in proper condition 

 to fertilize the eggs. Brook trout have been found with 

 mature eggs in most of the summer months, and this is 

 an additional instance of irregularity in the spawning 

 season. 



The brook trout of Sunapee Lake are noted for their large 

 size and beautiful colors. The good condition of the fish is 

 attributed to the abundance of smelt, upon which they and 

 the larger Salinonida; feed. A brook trout weighing lib., ' 

 when opened was found to contain nine smelt. 



The number of eggs obtained from the breeding females , 

 at Sunapee Lake hatchery is remarkably large. On Oct. 11, 

 for example, Col. Hodge took 13,000 eggs from four females. 

 The Colonel called our attention to a peculiarity in the 

 spawning of a pale-colored brook trout inhabiting Sunapee 

 Lake. This variety is hot profusely reticulated like tho 

 common form and spawns later than the ordinary fon- 

 tinalix. 



Brook trout commenced spawning at Plymouth Sept. lu, 

 about eighteen days ahead of their usual time, and on Oct.. 

 9 some eggs in the trays had already begun to show eye 

 spots. Col. Hodge does hot feed his trout at all when the 

 spawning time is near at hand. In this way when the eggs 

 are taken they are entirely free from digestive products. 

 After the spawning is completed the breeders are fed as soon 

 as they wi 11 take food and are given as much nourishment 

 as possible, in order to prevent the attacks of fungus. 



There is a great deal of variation in the ease of manipu- 

 lating female trout at Plymouth. Some of them have thin 



