S74 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 28, 1891. 



week. The prettiest food fisli of tlie family, introduced 

 from Germany, is the tench. Quite a number have been 

 caught in the Potomac. 



The shad season thus far has been poor in the Potomac. 

 "White perch hare been scarce in the seines, but the ang- 

 lers (hook and liners mostly) have been reaping a rich 

 harvest between Georgetown, a new addition to Wash- 

 ington, and the chain bridge. A fellow told me recently 

 that he caught more than a hunda-ed perch, and stopped 

 fishing for want of bait. He searched for worms in a 

 place wherein worms were not, and had to give up fish- 

 ing. I asked him why he didn't use young eels, and told 

 him where to look for them. He saw thousauds of them 

 go wriggling around the roc^ks, but didn't know what 

 they were or that they make good bait for white perch. 



There has been a little good black-bass fishing. On 

 April 27 Messrs. A. Hancock and J. H. Hunter caught 3T 

 bass at the falls. These weighed about 45ibs. , and were 

 caught with rQinnows. About May 1 Mr. Wm. Alvey, 

 aiui one or two others, of the Woodmont Club, caviglit 90 

 bass in three days' fisliing. On tlie 6tli Messrs. Moliler, 

 Hendrickson, Lisle and J ohn and Arthur llshedat Wever- 

 ton, near Harper'd Ferry, catching 6 bass and 3 sunfish. 

 Arthur (aged 9) succeeded in taking the largest bass, a 

 1^-pounder. The day was cold and very disagreeable. 

 Lots of bass ha.ve been taken on that part of the river, the 

 fishing late in A])riL and early in May having been better 

 than for several years. On May 20 Mr. H. C. Coburn, 

 using live minnows for bait, caught 6 bass averaging over 

 21bs. in weight. Dr. Townshend, Mr. Einstein and 

 another gentlemen had equal success. These fish were 

 taken at the club house near Great Falls, and the bait was 

 bought at the place for about 25 cents a bucketful. No 

 eggs were seen in the bass opened by Mr. Coburn. Some 

 of the bass now are on the spawning beds and little fishing 

 is looked for until about the middle of August. From 

 then till cold weather sets in good fishing is to be expected. 

 During the fall months the bass is in his prime condition 

 and contests vigorously every inch of ground. 



The water in^the Potomac at present is very clear and 

 high. A good season for rocktish at the Little Falls is 

 predicted. Rare sport is often had here, the fish ranging 

 from 1 to 51bs. in weight. 



On May 11 B, new rod and gun club was organized in 

 Washington, which is named The Washington Rod and 

 Gun Club. The following ofiicers were elected: President, 

 S. W, Stinemetz; Vice-President, Joseph H. Hunter; 

 Secretary, A. M. McCormick; Treasurer, L, K. Devendorf ; 

 Captain, George S. Atwater, The object of this club is 

 trap shooting, fiBhing and the protection of fish and game. 

 A club house for the accommodation of the anglers is to 

 be erected on tlic Potomac in the vicinity of Seneca, and 

 grounds suitable for trap shooting will be secured. 



Many things of interest have been observed in the mar- 

 ket besides those already mentioned. The supply of 

 Southern and East Coast fishes has been unusually good. 

 Croakers of large size, weighing as much as 21bs., have 

 been in good supply: bluefish quite plentiful, and pom- 

 pano also. Quite a large number of small pompano have 

 been on the market. Red snappers are plentiful. May 14 

 I noticed a channel bass or red drum of good size, I should 

 say 201bs. weight. Weakfish or salt-water trout, both 

 plain and spotted, common. Spanish mackerel fairly 

 common. I noticed for the first time this spring moonfisla 

 {Clioetodipterus) and kingfish (Aleniicirriis), May 14. The 

 moonfish, a pair of them, were as fine specimens as I 

 have ever seen; at least of 61bs. weight each. The king- 

 fish, but three small bunches, measured from 11 to ]5in. 

 each. A few small tautogs were seen. The sea bass 

 {CentropriHtiH striatvs) are plentiful and reach here in 

 excellent condition. Porgies or scup {BtenotomuH) are 

 quite abundant and have been running large, but I 

 noticed a few bunches of small ones. These were not 

 larger than the common sunSsh, Very few sheepshead 

 are seen. Flatfish and young halibut quite plentiful. 

 One or two young drum (Pogonias) have found their way 

 to our market. Pike-perch( Stizostedinm) weighing from 

 1 to 61bs. apiece have been more or less common. Eels 

 and catfish in good supply. Sturgeon are reported as 

 being common in the river. 



The market has been well supplied with good fat snap- 

 ping turtles, and by the looks of Golden's stand they can 

 meet a good demand. These come from the Potomac. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, 111., May 33.— The main fact of interest 

 from this point is that the Kankakee Fish and Game 

 Protective Association was organized last night. This 

 was done at the meeting of the Possum Club, as was 

 earlier announced to be the intention. 



Nearly fifty chairs were filled at the Possum Clnb 

 meeting, several gentlemen being present from outside 

 the city, among these Mr. Geo. I. MaiJlet, of Crown 

 Point, and Mr, Chas, J. Bockius, of Marion, Ind., and 

 Col. A. "W. Jones, of Virginia. Mr. Organ was in the 

 chair, and at 7 :30 seated the assembly, which had met at 

 "Werner's. 



At 9:30 Mr. Organ called the meeting to order and asked 

 for the opinion of the meeting on the subject of organi- 

 zation for this protective jjurijose, Mr, Gdlespie at once 

 moved to organize, and this carried, with some discussion 

 by Mr. Farmer and others. The chair called for a descrip- 

 tion of the lawless condition of affairs on the lower Kan- 

 kakee, and attention was drawn to the fact that the fish- 

 ways were not in any of the dams of 'the Kankakee as 

 required by law. The chair then called on Mr. Geo. E. 

 Cole, president of the Fox River Association, present as 

 guest and organizer by special invitation for the evening. 

 The chair called attention to the fact that nothing suc- 

 ceeds like success, that the Fox River Association had 

 succeed ed, that the new association would do well to fol- 

 low these estabUshed lines closely; Mr. Cole was present 

 only under protest, not seeking any glory, but was will- 

 ing to tell how and show how to organize successfully. 

 The new association would do well to follow his advice to 

 the letter. 



Mr. Cole then made some terse remarks about the Fox 

 River work, said he knew that success could be repeated, 

 and at once got to work by moving for a committee of 

 three on by-laws. The chair appointed Messrs. Cole, 

 Mussey and Hough. These retired and in about five 

 minutes reported back for adoption of the by-laws of the 

 Fox River Association, properly modified in phraseology 

 for the Kankakee. By motion of Mr. Low, these were 

 adopted without reading. Mr. Cole explained the by-laws 

 andT their effect briefly aud plainly, and said it was a very 



simple thing to do all the work when it was gone about 

 in the right manner. Mr. Gillespie testified to the thorough- 

 ness of the fishway work on the Fox. Dr. N. Rowe spoke 

 briefly and promised all the aid in his power. Mr. Abner 

 Price said English Lake, on the Kankakee, had always 

 been full of gill nets, nothing practical had ever been 

 done to remove them. He was ready, if this thing meant 

 business. Mr. Jas. Sexton, postmaster of the city of 

 Chicago, said he was still ready to lend a hand in any- 

 thing like this. Col. Felton said he had been interested in 

 propagating things ever since he was knee high. He was 

 glad to see so many present, and was sorry , that he could 

 not bring in with him Mr. John Hunner, State Treasurer of 

 Wisconsin, who he knew would be interested in all this, 

 but whom he had been unable to find at his hotel. Mr. 

 Low told the story of his work at Springfield, compli- 

 mented Commissioner Bai-tlett and Mr. Cole in the highest 

 terms, and indorsed this movement. He said he did this 

 only on the supposition that those going into the Asso- 

 ciation would put up their money. He had heard so 

 much of talk. Mr. MaUlet, of Crown Point told about 

 the recent yanking of three law breakers in that town, 

 but thought the law of Indiana a trifle faulty. Mr. 

 Bockius also spoke nicely. 



On Mr. Cole's suggestion it was moved that the chair 

 appoint a committee of three, the chair to be one of the 

 three, for the selection of eleven directors. This com- 

 mittee shortly reported, and after discussion the list of 

 directors was chosen as follows: Messrs. Geo. E. Cole, 

 Abner Price. A. M. Fuller, J. P. Card, T, Benton Leiter, 

 R. B. Organ, H. D. Nicholls, Fred C. Donald and E. 

 Plough, of Chicago; Mr. Geo. I. Maillet and Dr. H. P. 

 Swartz, of Crown Point, Ind. Some talk was had about 

 extending the work of the association over "northern 

 Illinois,"' but this was wisely opposed, the concentrated 

 work of the Fox River Association being held up as the 

 model. The annual membership was placed at $2, and 

 the life membership at $20. This is just double the Fox 

 River dues, and It was a wise move to make them so. 

 The directors were advised to meet under the by-laws 

 one week from date. A vote of thanks was carried for 

 Mr. Cole amid a storm of applause. Mr. Low then moved 

 that the next meeting of the Possum Club be held during 

 the week of the IlUnois State shoot, early June, so that 

 visiting shooters could be invited, and that Dr. N. Rowe 

 be the chairman of such meeting. The latter made a 

 vigorous kick on jjlea of business, but was seated. The 

 meeting adjourned. Those present were Messrs. Maillett, 

 Dicks, Hamline, Farmer, Place, Cleaver, Weaver, Dr. 

 Jones, Andrews, Von Lengerke, O'Brien, C. S. Wilcox, J. 

 L, Wilcox, Cole, Sexton, Organ, Mussey, Kinney, Low, 

 Gillespie, Felton, Anson, Pfetfer, Parker, Stone, Frazier, 

 Wiggins, Bockius, Sheoban, Cox, Stephens, Fetherstone, 

 Mitchell, Waldron, Haynes, Holder, Haskell, Turtle, Dr. 

 Rowe, Knox, Shaw and Price. 



The membership of the Possum changes one-half at 

 every meeting. It grows well, and is already quite a 

 factor in Chicago sportsmanship. If anything needs 

 organizing, the first word is, "Call a meeting of the Pos- 

 sum Club." 



This, in brief, is the first step in the progress of the 

 Kankakee Association. It is something needed, and 

 something which ought to succeed. It will be seen that 

 the process of organization, as laid out by Mr, Cole,- was 

 very simple. Without such guiding plan, already de- 

 vised, there must have ensued here one of those disas- 

 trous talking events which have strewn with wrecks the 

 course of game protection time out of mind. Now, these 

 eleven directors will meet and elect a president and a 

 treasurer, will assign men to levy the contribution, and 

 will appoint fish, game and legal committees. It is all 

 in the hands of the directors. This may look like a close 

 corporation, but that is just what it ought to be. A 

 crowd will talk, but will not work. If out of the eleven 

 directors six will meet for a quorum, and if out of those 

 six three will actually and enthusiastically work, then 

 this association will succeed. This is what the sifting 

 down of organization does, It was three men that made 

 the Fox River Association what it is. All this policy 

 work, this consultation of j>ersonal motives, or club lines, 

 or localities and the like, as is now usually done in such 

 work, is a mistake, because it doesn't organize, and it 

 doesn't sift out the workers from the talkers, and it 

 doesn't get the kernel out of the chaff. Too much thanks 

 cannot be given Mr. Cole for his purely businesslike way 

 of going at this. It would be easy to hm-rah for Mr. 

 Cole and the young association, but that would neither 

 please the one nor benefit the other. The time has not 

 yet come to hurrah, but let us hope it will come, as I 

 firmly believe it will. 



The following ambiguous paragraph from a daily news- 

 paper was handed me to-day by Mr. R. B. Organ. Does 

 anybody know anything about it out here? It is hard to 

 tell what the "improvements" or "pm-poses" may mean: 

 "Pekin, 111., May 21. — A meeting of the parties who pro- 

 pose purchasing the tax title to 15,000 acres of hunting and 

 fishing land, contiguous to Spring Lake, which is fourteen 

 miles below this city on the IlHnois River, was held to- 

 day. It was decided to at once improve the land so that 

 it may be used for the purpose in view when purchased. 

 There are 63 stockholders." It will be remembered that 

 Spring Lake county is one of the best hunting and fishing 

 localities along the Illinois River. 



A party of gentlemen from Cleveland, Messrs. Chas. W. 

 Burrows. Clark T. Hasbrouck, Jas. Wood, F. H. Morris, 

 A. L. Moses, Walter Kennard, Geo. Faulhaber and S. H. 

 Schmuck, outfitted here this week for the muscallonge 

 country of the Manitowish region, via Lake Shore & 

 Western Railway. They are a jolly crowd, and will have 

 a jolly time. Some of these names are familiar along the 

 Oastalia Stream in Ohio, 



Dr. O. W. Nixon, literary editor of the Chicago Daily 

 Inter-Ocean, Mr. Harry Ballard, city editor of the same 

 paper, with Mr. Wm. Taylor and Col. John S. Cooper, are 

 also on their way to the muscallonge lakes. Col. Cooper 

 is an old-timer in that region, and he takes in with him 

 this year a scheme to get away with the wary muscal- 

 longe which gets away with anything I ever saw or heard 

 of in the way of artificial bait. The worthy Colonel has 

 visited some toy store, and purchased a hollow rubber 

 image, about 7x11 in. in size, and alleged to be built in the 

 semblance of a young duck. This he inflated and sealed 

 up the hole, and then he got BUly Morgan, over at Spald- 

 ings, to wire a shark hook to it. ' The device is completed 

 by a coat of paint. The whole business looks like a Chi- 

 nese idol. Col. Cooper fondly dreams that if he leaves 

 that thing floating on the bosom of the festal lakes, the | 



muscallonge will think it is a young wild duck, and will 

 swallow it bodily ; whereupon th© arsenic in the green 

 paint will soon cause the fish to turn belly up, or come 

 out and lean over a log, in either of which cases the task 

 remaining to the Colonel would be but trifling in its na- 

 ture, as he could easily secure the fish. Look out now 

 for a weird fish story when that crowd gets back. A lit- 

 erary editor, a city editor and a 7xll rubber duck— if 

 that isn't a muscallonge combination I don't know where 

 you get them. E. Hough. 



TONS OF FISH DRIED UP. 



Editor Forest, and Stream: 



Why is so little attention paid by the Fish Commission- 

 ers of the several States bordering on the river to the 

 fishes of the Upper Mississippi? I spent four months ®f 

 last summer and fall on the river between Dubuque and 

 St. Louis and I think I am drawing it mild when I say 

 that I have seen tons of black bass and great northern 

 pike left by the water of spring in the shallow ponds on 

 the islands. In a month after the river gets into its 

 banks most of these ponds are dry and the fish that are 

 not scooped up by the natives are left to rot in the sun. 

 At the expense of a few dollars these fish might all be 

 saved. You have no idea how many fish are destroyed 

 in that way every year; they seem to run into all the 

 ponds and low places on the islands to escape the running 

 ice during the spring break-up, and when the river falls 

 they are left imprisoned; then it is only a question of 

 time until they meet their fate. This makes a feast for 

 coons, skunks and mink. I have taken pike that would 

 weigh from lOlbs. upward with great gashes cut in them 

 by the murderous beak of the blue crane. I wonder what 

 he expected to do with such a fish. F. W. S. 



[In 1888 two cars of the U. S. Fish Commission were 

 lent to the Illinois Commissioners, with the men necessary 

 to manage them, and from Jidy 15 to Oct. 5, 26 carloads 

 of fish were rescued and deposited in Illinois waters. 

 This work is still continued with the help of the XJ, S. 

 Commission. In 1389 two cars were used and in 1890 

 three cars were engaged in the work. The fish distributd 

 were from 4 to 14in. in length. Many hundreds of 

 thousands of valuable fishes, including bass, crappie, 

 strawberry bass, wall-eyed pike and catfishes. In twelve 

 days, near Rapid City, Illinois, nearly one half million of 

 fish were transferred from drying pools to the river. The 

 same kind of work was carried on more than ten years ago 

 by Mr, Shaw, then Fish Commissioner of Iowa. He was 

 followed by Dr. Bartlett, of the Illinois Commission, and 

 in 188^ the Government took up the jjroject and carried 

 it forward on a gigantic scale. There is no question 

 about the immense service rendered by such rescue of 

 valuable food fishes, and all States subject to such mor- 

 tality of fish life should take steps to save them from 

 destruction.] 



PLEASANT LAKE. 



THE many beautiful lakes of New Hampshire afford 

 superb attractions, as her thousands of summer 

 guests annually testify, yet none will tempt thither the 

 anglers of her neighboring States in the years to come 

 like a cold, deep, sparkling gem which lies placidly sleep- 

 ing in the valley near the base of Kearsarge Mountain in 

 the town of New London. 



This attractive sheet of water, pure as crystal, is known 

 as Pleasant Lake, and was at one time locally famous for 

 its trout fishing. Near its western rockbound shore is the 

 residence of Mr. Ransom F. Sargent, the genial superin- 

 tendent of the Lake Sunapee fish hatchery, and through 

 whose influence the attention of Hon. E. B. Hodge, State 

 Fish Commissioner, was directed to this natural trout 

 pond. 



Mr. Hodge at once perceived the advantages of stock- 

 ing its waters, and, by an act of the Legislature prohibit- 

 ing the taking of trout or landlocked salmon from any of 

 its feeders for a period of five years, he felt justified in 

 instructing Mr. Sargent to screen its outlet effectually, 

 and place in the brooks several thousand fry of the sal- 

 mon, rainbow and brook trout from the Sunapee hatchery, 

 each year. 



In the spring of 1890, 15,000 young salmon were placed 

 in Great Brook, and late in the fall myriads of fingerlings 

 swarming the stream proved only too well that these 

 waters are adapted to a thrifty advancement of their 

 growth. Wardens have been appointed to serve as 

 keepers, and a vigilant guard will be maintained, lest 

 unscrupulous poachers attempt to evade the law. 



The five natural trout streams supplying the lake with 

 its wator of crystal purity, have been carefully posted in 

 conspicuous places with copies of the legislative act, 

 defining the penalties imposed, and with the recent addi- 

 tion of 45.000 more fry, no doubt exists of the future 

 treats in store at Pleasant Lake for "knights of the rod." 



Byron. 



THE SQUIRES CATALOGUE. 



I IKE a tree flourishing by the waterside Mr. Squtres's 

 J catalogue takes on new stateliness with the years. 

 The edition prepared for the season of 1891 excels that 

 of last year, and that one surpassed anything that had 

 ever been dreamed of by the most ambitious of sports- 

 man's catalogue makers. 



In addition to the material given before Mr. Squires 

 now presents a number of well-written and readable 

 papers prepared for the catalogue by Hon, Theodore 

 Roosevelt, Dr. James A. Henshall and Messrs. Henry P. 

 Wells, Charles Haliock, C. Bowyer Vaux and others. 

 These are illustrated — and for the most part happily — 

 with engravings from original drawings by well known 

 artists; and no detail of adornment of type and luxurious 

 paper has been neglected. All are creditable and well 

 worthy of their setting, with the single exception of the 

 work of Bill Nye, whose humor degenerates into stable- 

 boy coarseness of a vulgar type. Mr. Roosevelt writes 

 of "Big Game Hunting," a subject on which he is an 

 authority, by virtue of a long experience on the plains 

 and in the mountains o^ the West. Mr. Wells has chosen 

 the salmon as his theme. Dr. Henshall puts a vast 

 amount of black bass lore into compact compass, and Mr. 

 Haliock sketches the happy days of boyhood on the 

 shores of Long Island Sound, This paper we have 

 selected, by Mr. Squires's permission, to reprint here, and 

 it appears, nearly in full, with two of the four illustra- 

 tions, for the delectation of many a silver-haired reader 

 of the Forest and Stream, who was himself once a boy 

 down by the sea, 



