68 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 21, 1892. 



grounds in Illinois): Mr. Geo. I. Maillct of Crown Point, 

 Ind.; Mr. W. G. Reeve of Peru; Messrs. John Wilkinson, 

 P. P.. Organ, Joel Kinney, R. S. Cox, J. 0. Burket, O. F. 

 Weidener, .las. Gardiner, Charles Morris, Calvin Smith, 

 W. P. Mussey, Dr. N. Rowe and Dr. Karl Sandberg, all 

 of Chicago. 



Dr. Bartlett stated briefly the object of the meeting, 

 and the importance of the work it sought to accomplish. 

 He detailed something of his own struggles in his prac- 

 tically helpless position. To succeed in the fish work of 

 the State he needed help. This State organization would 

 give help such as he bad never had. With such a body 

 behind him he could work with the belief in success. 



Dr. Bartlett called for Capt. Bronson, warden at Pull- 

 man. The latter declined to speak. Dr. Bartlett did so 

 for him, commending his work, notably the arrest of 

 fifteen violators at one haul. 



Mr. W. CI. Reeve, president of the I llinois Valley Asso- 

 ciation, described the lawless state of affairs on the 

 Illinois River below Da Salle, and the need of a better 

 and more practical working law. The proposed league 

 would work to benefit in these matters. 



Mr. Geo. Kamper, warden in Vermilion county, talked 

 at length upon the natural advantages of tho 'Vermilion 

 River as a bass stream, of the lawless and destructive 

 methods long practiced there, of the patient e (Torts of 

 the few of the faithful and their good prospect of success 

 in the work. He could see how the State league would 

 be a benefit. 



Mr. N. S, Young, of Burlington, Iowa, whose club, the 

 Crystal Lake, has grounds in Illinois, spoke heartily in 

 favor of the proposed movement. The Illinois commis- 

 sion had often stocked their waters for the club men. 

 Protection was a necessity. The league would make it 

 practical. He thought organization should be made at 

 once. 



Mr. H. L. Watlington, of La Salle, introduced the 

 resolution to organize, moving that the chair appoint a 

 committee of seven, as representatives of the fish clubs of 

 the State, to take the necessary steps for organization 

 into a State league. Seconded by Mr. R. S. Cox. 



Dr. Bartlett spoke in favor of the resolution. He said 

 that for one great thing, we needed better laws. An or- 

 ganization like this would be of grea t value in legislative 

 work. It would show the assembly that there was some- 

 thing to this sportsmen's movement. It Would promote 

 intelligent and united action. The late agitation had 

 done good. It was not mere talk to say that the people 

 were waking up. They wanted better protection. He 

 knew personally that many large clubs would take hold 

 and help this organization financially and morally. Help 

 would come in. 



Mr. Watlington also spoke, telling first of the bad state 

 of affairs lately the case on the central Illinois River. He 

 had known 3,0001bs. of fish taken in one haul, and 

 shoveled into wagons like corn. His association had 

 taken out 24 nets, Warden Green active in this. They 

 had secured 27 convictions since last spring, and only one 

 defeat, the defendant appealing, but afterward pleading 

 guilty and paying costs, admitting himself in the wrong. 

 They had collected $603.85 in fines since spring of 1891. 

 A great drawback was the contradictory and obscure con- 

 dition of the fish statutes, particularly the notorious "cor- 

 porate dam" clause, on which the illegal seiners rested. 

 A great league of the clubs could frame a better and 

 clearer law, one that would hold water, and could have 

 so many men at Springfield that they could get the law 

 passed. We needed better laws, laws granting more 

 practical justice to all. Now was the time to act. We 

 should organize. The league should not be a Chicago 

 affair, and should not be so considered. Chicago should 

 not be asked to do all the work. He bound his own as- 

 sociation and the lower clubs of the State in advance. 

 They would work. 



Dr. Rowe concurred in all the above, but suggested 

 that the president and secretary be retained, the meet- 

 ing to adjourn on call of the president, and the com- 

 mittee of seven to report on a constitution and by-laws 

 at the next meeting. He thought that game as well as 

 fish protection ought to be embodied in the purposes of 

 the organization. 



It was suggested by the Forest and Stream repre- 

 sentative that Dr. Bartlett should be heard from upon 

 the latter point, as it was his scanty appropriation, 

 secured for fish protection only, from which it was pro- 

 posed to draw much of the financial support of this un- 

 dertaking. 



Mr. N. S. Young agreed that game and fish protec- 

 tion ought to be blended and the statutes of Illinois 

 changed to that effect, though he could not say that the 

 State Association of his State, Iowa, had much of a 

 record to show beyond one of trap-shooting. He thought 

 the game bird ought to go hand in hand with the fish, 

 however, and that it should be so nominated. 



Dr. Rowe now moved formally to amend and, the pro- 

 posed amendment being carried, the resolution for or- 

 ganization was adopted as follows: "That a committee 

 of 7 be appointed by the chair to frame a constitution 

 and by-laws providing for a permanent organization, 

 and present the same at a meeting to be called by the 

 chairman for the purpose of permanently organizing the 

 association." 



The chair appointed the following committee: Hon. 

 Henry L. Hertz, of the Fox River Association; E. Hough, 

 of the Kankakee Association; Mr. Geo. Kamper, of the 

 Vermilion County Association: Mr. II. L. Watling- 

 ton, of the Illinois Valley Association ; Mr. N. S. Young, 

 of Crystal Lake Club: Dr. S. P. Bartlett, of the State Fish 

 Commission; Mr. Henry Davis, of Springfield. 



Mr, Cole spoke very briefly in his capacity as chair- 

 man, In reality, the organization is one of his most 

 cherished plans, and were^it not for his recent ill health 

 this would have been a very happy culmination of his 

 wishes and hopes. He said little of that, however, but 

 expressed himself to the effect that the next meeting 

 should probably be called for Springfield and not Chicago. 

 He thought it would be necessary to have a paid secre- 

 tary to attend to the work of such an organization. 



The meeting now adjourned, with the understanding 

 that Mr. Hertz, chairman of the agent committee, is soon 

 to call a meeting for action, and that upon the due ex- 

 pression of readiness upon the part of this committee, 

 Chairman Cole is to call the convention for permanent 

 organization. Thus will be verified another Forest AND 



Fox River Association, the first and only one to mention 

 and further the organization, of the successful Kankakee 

 Association, and to print its news in full, the first and 

 only one to get the news of the Illinois Valley Associa- 

 tion and allied protective clubs, and the first and only 

 one to propose and help carry through the winter fishing 

 law. 



There is little danger that the State League will com- 

 mit the unfortunate error ot trying to unite game and 

 fish protection iu this State. That error would cost the 

 league its life. It is an error which has cropped out 

 before, but which has always been properly treated, The 

 fish law of the State is at least a fairly practical one. 

 The game law is not. Moreover, the fish protectionists 

 have done something. The game protectionists have 

 done nothing by comparison, barring President Abner 

 Price's work of last summer. The methods of the fish 

 societies have been simple and direct. Those of the shoot- 

 ing clubs have been complex; moreover, they have failed. 

 The State fish fund is not large enough to cover game 

 protection, and it should not be asked to do so. The fish 

 wardens if made game wardens would gain little and lose 

 muchiu efficiency. By way of individual selfishness, it 

 may be very likely that the unsuccessful game protection 

 men would gladly lay aside their cases and nestle under 

 the wing of the fish protective work, the only wing in 

 Illinois which has got any feathers on it. Yet' it would 

 seem an easy exercise of common sense to see how in this 

 case it is better to let well enough alone. The fish pro- 

 tective men found their own way, cut it out and are 

 walking in it, ft is an old idea that they ought to drag 

 the game protective men along with them. This is an 

 old idea. That is why it belongs to the past. 



Jan. 15. — As announced would occur, the Chicago Fly- 

 Casting Club met for organization last Monday evening, 

 Jan. 11, at the Sherman House. Present, Messrs. A. H, 

 Harryman, I, Kenyon, O. Von Lengerke, Chas. Antoine, 

 J. M. Clark, G. W. Strehl, W. H. Babcock, G. A. Murell, 

 H. F. Akin and E. Hough. Messrs. Babcock, Murell and 

 Akin were added as charter members. It was formally 

 moved to organize under the name of the Chicago Fly- 

 Casting Club. Mr. Harryman was chosen president; 

 Mr. Kenyon, secretary. Messrs. Clark, Antoine and 

 Hough were appointed ^ committee on constitution and 

 by-laws. Messrs. Strehl and Babcock a committee to 

 see park commissioners for the purpose of gaining 

 permission to practice in the parks. Etch member was 

 instructed to bring one friend with him to the next 

 meeting, which will be on the first Wednesday in Feb- 

 ruary, at a place to be designated by the secretary. 



This is the first fly-fishers' organization ever made in 

 Chicago. It was first suggested by Forest atsd Stream. 

 The little club promises well, and may amount to a great 

 deal. The art of fly-casting has all too few followers in 

 this city, and it is hoped that the new club will protect, 

 keep together and work, and so go on to create a better 

 interest in a pretty form of sport. 



Mr. Louis Antoine, of New York, was present at the 

 above meeting, and will be in town a few days with his 

 brother, Mr. Chas. Antoine, of this city. 



Mr. T. C. Pearce, deputy of the U. S. Fish Commission, 

 was in the city Wednesday, Jan. 13, with the last car- 

 load of fish which will be distributed before next season. 

 Dr. Bartlett intended sending Mr. Pearce up to Lake 

 Villa with some fine bass for distribution in the lakes 

 near there in the Fox Lake system. After this trip the 

 car will probably go to the trout hatchery at Northville, 

 Mich. , to work at distributing trout. The U. S. work is 

 now closed in Illinois for this season. 



Jan. 16. — State warden F. L. Buck writes me as follows 

 in regard to the manner in which the new Ice law is ob- 

 served in the Fox Lake districts, once most notorious for 

 winter fishing: 



Elgin, Jan. 16, 189.'. — In company with Mr. S. J. Smith I made 

 a trip around tbe lakes. We only found four places where holes 

 had been cut for fishing, and those on Pistsqua Lake, but the 

 men were warned off by Pitson, who lives right there. We drove 

 all over the lakes, and if you would like to take the trip you spoke 

 of there is no better time tbau now to make it, as you can get 

 around so much better and get right on the lakes where you want 

 to see what is going on. If you would like to have me go with 

 you I can do so now better than later. 



Last Wednesday one of the Dunnell boys killed a large timber 

 wolf on Pis ta qua. Lake. When Mr. Smith and I dro^e across the 

 lake we scared him up and he ran across the lake toward Cedar 

 Island. When we got to the house we told Bunnell where he was 

 and they went and killed him. After they shot him the first t hue 

 he ran down Pistaqua Bay and crawled under the steps of Coro- 

 ner Hertz's house, and they killed him there. If you should wau t 

 to go bring your field glass and a rifle, ene to see what is going on 

 and the other to get any game we may come across. 



F. L. Buck. 



The Ice law seems to have been a success from start to 

 finish. E. Hough. 



THE TILEF1SH. 



r pHE National Museum has issued an extract from its 

 J- Report for 1888-89 relating to animals recently ex- 

 tinct or threatened with extermination, as represented in 

 the collections of the U. S. National Mu=eum. Mr. F. A. 

 Lucas is the author of this very interesting illustrated 

 paper: he treats of the West Indian seal, the California 

 sea elephant, the walruses, the European bison, the Arctic 

 sea cow, the manio or Pacific sickle-bill, the California 

 vulture, the dodo and the solitaire, the Labrador duck, 

 the great auk, Pallas' cormorant, the Galapagos and Mas- 

 carene tortoiaes, and the tilefish. Nearly all of these ani- 

 mals are figured, the last in colors. 



The tilefish was discovered in 1879 by the late Captain 

 Wm. H. Kirby of Gloucester, Mass., while fishing for cod 

 about 80 miles south by east of Noman's Land. Late in 

 the same year the fish was described by Drs. Goode and 

 Bean. The tilefish, on account of its large size, great 

 beauty, abundance, edible qualities a,nd activity in taking, 

 the hook, soon came to the notice of people in Boston, New 

 York and other eastern cities. The newspapers wrote it 

 up, Forest and Stream illustrated it, epicures passed 

 favorable judgment upon its flesh: it was supposed that 

 a new and highly important fish had been permanently 

 added to our store. The F<sh Commission steamer Fish 

 Hawk on one occasion took 73 tilefish, weighing olllbs.. 

 and presenting masses of lemon yellow, brown, black, and 

 white fuch as may be seldom equalled on a vessel's deck. 



The tilefish is one of the most remarkable among fishes 

 in having a large soft (or adipose) tin on the top of its head 

 behind the eyes. Mr. LtlcaS Ids the story of its sudden 

 and total disappearance early in 1882 as detailed in the 

 "History of I be Ti!eii-ir by Capt. J. W. Collins, Vessels 

 arriving at Philadelphia, New York and Boston in the 

 moatQ of Jfareh aim April reported having passed large 



numbers of dead fish covering a water area of many square 

 miles. The Navarino sailed "for no less than 150 miles 

 through waters dotted a3 far as the eye could reach with 

 dying fishes:" aud most of these victims were tilefish. 

 The explanation of this wholesale destruction of life as 

 furnished by Prof. Verrill, ia connected with a sudden 

 lowering of the temperature of the belt of water inhabit- 

 ed by the fish by encroachment upon it of the Arctic cur- 

 rent on the one hand and the cold sea depths on the other. 

 Since the fatality noted the tilefish has not once been taken 

 in its former haunts, although systematic and diligent 

 search was made for it; neither has the first appeared else- 

 where as far as we know. 



The information contained in the article of Mr. Lucas 

 cannot fail to prove interesting to all lovers of nature. 



THE SIX-INCH TROUT LAW. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I read carefu'dy and with much interest the paper by 

 Gen. W. Y. W. Ripley in the issue of Dec. 10, also your 

 editorial calling attention to and. inviting expressions of 

 opinion upon it. 



Gen. Ripley's expressed convictions strike me as force- 

 ful argument and merit the interest and attention of 

 every lover of fishing. 



1 think he voices the sentiments of the many in advo- 

 cating a shorter open season for all fish and game, and 

 limiting the size of fish so that it may be insured one 

 chance to reproduce its kind. 



I heartily indorse the prescribed remedies. I think it 

 would be an advantage to have a uniform open season on 

 fish and game in the different States. 



I live in the grand old Bay State snug to the New 

 Hampshire line: in the vicinity are a number of brooks, 

 none very large, yet which have supported large trout in 

 bygone days, but now, alas! these streams are in a sadly 

 depleted condition, occasionally a good one is hooked, 

 but they are few and far between. 



A few years ago an effort was made to stock up the 

 brooks on the New Hampshire side, which resulted in 

 the piaciug of a few thousand fry in their waters; no 

 special protection was given them, however, and at the 

 present time no trace of them can be found. Whether 

 they have been destroyed by bag-fisbers and pot-hunters, 

 or followed the streams to ponds is a question. 



It is evident that the pot-hunter is getting in his work 

 in season and out, by rumors which have come to my 

 hearing. 



I would like to see uniform open seasons. I think it 

 would by better in more respects than one; for instance, 

 our open season for trout fishing begins April 1; in New 

 Hampshire, May 1 ; it is an easy matter for Massachusetts 

 anglers to unconsciously (?) overstep the boundary and 

 fish protected water, but not protected trout — in this 

 vicinity it is invariably the case. I believe legal restraint 

 the only means of preservation, but it is not always 

 applied unless by interested parties or paid wardens. I 

 would like to see an effort made to stock our small 

 streams, enforce protective laws and restore the oldtime 

 pleasure of g* tting a basket of trout that would become 

 a true sportsman and put to shame the nefarious persist- 

 ence of the pot-hunter. I would loudly second euch a 

 movement and add materially to its support. 



Ned Harcourt. 



Salisbury, Mass. 



PULP MILLS VS. FISH. 



A N Appleton, Wis., correspondent has informed ids of 

 ±\. the reported destruction of fish in the lower Fox 

 River by acid refuse from pulp mills located at Appleton 

 and Kaukauna. It is stated that vast numbers were de- 

 stroyed last month in this way. Warden Fernandez was 

 asked to prosecute the cases, but learned from Assistant 

 Attorney-General Clancy that the State is powerless to 

 prevent the pollution of the river by depositing acid in 

 the lower Fox and the fish cannot be protected from such 

 destruction. Our correspondent comments as follows on 

 the above report: "If the substance of the statement is 

 true, what need of enacting laws for the preservation of 

 fish and game? Many men have in the past, as well as 

 now, violated the law by seining fish in the lower Fox 

 River; but if the State can not prevent wholesale destruc- 

 tion of fish by the 'acid process,' can it prevent their de- 

 struction by any other means? I am no lawyer and may 

 not see these things in their proper light, but to a plain, 

 every-day understanding it looks like rank discrimina- 

 tion in favor of the money power. If the State cannot 

 enact laws that will apply to the owner of a paper mill, 

 by what process of reasoning can the seining of fish be 

 made illegal? Surely the latter process is the more bene- 

 ficial, as the fish are used for food." 



Trout in Clearfield County, Pa.— Houtzdale, Pa. — 

 We have no ponds for the culture of trout, but we have 

 seven miles of one of the finest streams in the State, sit- 

 uated five miles from Houtzdale,. Pa., and known as 

 Mountain Branch. We have a very nice elub house and 

 keep a man there during the season, to do the cooking and 

 watch the stream. No fishing has been doue there for the 

 past two years to speak of. No member of the club is 

 allowed to take fish home: all that are caught must be 

 cooked and eaten at the house. We try every season to 

 get a few cans of trout and stock all the streams about us. 

 We put in 1200 California trout two years ago; some were 

 caught last season measuring ono foot in length. Two of 

 our streams are very brushy and it is almost impossible 

 for any one to get near them; wedeposit all our fry in these, 

 as we know they will not be disturbed. Near the club 

 house are three very large springs with the water coming 

 up through white sand and pebbles. In this very cold 

 water we can keep our supplies any length of time with- 

 out spoiling. A good many bear and deer are found in the 

 vicinity: but no bear aud only two deer were killed there 

 this season; last season we killed three bear and six deer. 

 During this season the hunting has been poor because the 

 leaves were so thick and dry, causing too much noise for 

 the chase. We do not intend to fish our streams next 

 spring, and we believe in another year we will have worlds 

 of trout.— G. W. D. 



A Book About Indians.— The Forest and Stream will ma 

 free on application a descriptive circular of Mr. Grrinnell'a boo 

 "Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk-tales," giving a table of conten 



Wl P-reciTTipn 'UnstratioTifl frn-m ih* Tolinnft.— A iil). 



The Vedvut Tsain of ths Monou Route between Chicago ami 

 Cincinnati ofrsss the best and W*$< Usurious mr^m Qbti&Wb& 

 between those points,— AAv. 



