478 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Mat 19, 1893, 



THE CANADIAN TROUT SEASON. 



QUEBEC, May 13.— With the disappearance of the ice 

 from the surface of the lakes the fishing season is 

 now fairly open. The ice left Lake St. John and Lake 

 Edward early this week and Lake St. Joseph and most of 

 the Bmaller lakes in this district more than a week ago 

 At no season of the year are the trout taken more freely 

 in these waters than within the first fifteen or twenty 

 days after the disappearance of the ice. Mr. Winfield, of 

 this city, succeeded as early as Tuesday last in making a 

 fine catch in Lake St. Joseph, taking some two dozen of 

 handsome red trout. U. S. Consul Ryder, who has lately 

 returned from Lake St. John with two American friends, 

 who had business with the Hudson's Bay Company's 

 agent there, brought with him some 401bs. of speckled 

 trout which he took on Monday and Tuesday last in the 

 outlet of Lake Kiskisink or Cedar Lake, where the stream 

 is crossed by the Quebec & Lake St. John R. R. Lake 

 Kiskisink is rather more than three-fourths of the way 

 from Quebec to Lake St. John. On its border stands the 

 club house of the Metabetchouan Fishing Club, of which 

 the Consul is a member. He has telegraphed the fact 

 that the season is now well open here, to the officers of 

 the club in Springfield and elsewhere, and several of the 

 members are daily expected here on their way to their 

 territory. The railway people and others who know the 

 country endeavored to deter Mr. Ryder from fishing so 

 early, believing that he had no chance at all of taking 

 anything for another week to come. They are naturally 

 much surprised at his good luck. Several of the Consul's 

 catch are over a pound in weight, and some weigh two 

 pounds each. 



I have not yet heard of any ouananiche being taken in 

 Like St. John, but the season may open now any day. 



E. T. D. Chambers. 



NORTHERN MINNESOTA NOTES. 



DETROIT CITY, Minn., May 13.— We can join in the 

 general chorus of a backward spring. ' 'The most so 

 ever known," or at least for a long, long time. Two 

 weeks at a stretch of rain, chill and cold to one day of 

 sunshine. No bass fishing yet. I went to McNeil's", on 

 Lake Sally, May 2; usually there are several bass fishers 

 there at the opening of the season, but this year my 

 friend and I were all that were there. We tried faith- 

 fully for four hours, but not a bass "did riz" or show any 

 sign whatever. McNeil has made a great improvement 

 in his house— Fair Haven— having added fifteen new bed- 

 rooms, a ladies' parlor, office and large dining room: 

 these are all finished in natural wood, and will add to the 

 popularity of McNeil's as a resort. What especially took 

 my fancy was the 160ft. of broad generous verandah put 

 around the lower story on the lake side of the house. I 

 have not heard of any catch of bass yet, in fact the season 

 seems to be about a month late. 



Stephens and I took a run out Ashland way, in northern 

 Wisconsin, day before yesterday. The streams are all 

 very high and patches of snow still in the woods. Some 

 trout are being caught in the Brule, a few in Pike Creek 

 and Iron River: but the fishing is nothing like it usually 

 is at this season of the year. Stephens and L went to our 

 favorite creek near Ino, but we found the creek a mighty 

 stream, swollen out of all resemblance to the creek we 

 are so fond of. Not a trout could we persuade to rise, 

 and I did not get sight of one, but Stephens saw two try- 

 ing to get up the rapids at one place. Duluth Harbor is 

 full of ice for miles out. The Booth Packing Co. have 

 not started their boat, the Dixon, on its regular trip yet, 

 but say they will the 14th. 



We are hoping for fair weather soon, a subsidence of 

 water and some grand good fishing. Myron Cooley. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



\From a Staff Correspondent.'] 



CHICAGO, 111., May 13.~-In the matter of the "moon- 

 eye," or fresh- water shad, which receives mention 

 in last week's paper at request of Mr, C. S. Burton, of 

 this city, something further transpires by favor Mr. J. P. 

 Roberts, one of the proprietors of "Roberts' Place," at 

 Neenab, on Lake Winnebago, where these fish are caught 

 most generally. 



"In 1865," said Mr. Roberts, "Gen. Cass put 250,000 

 shad fry in the Little Butte des Morts, a small lake a half 

 mile below the dam. Before that time, the natives tell 

 me, these moon-eyes had never been seen. They all 

 think these fish are really shad. The resemblance is very 

 striking. The fish we take during the brief season in 

 which they are rising ustially weighs about l-ilbs. You 

 need a small fly to catch them. An artificial "fly tied as 

 large as a sand fly would not hook them. They are very 

 quick risers, and they fight very well. If you hook one 

 in the lower j aw you are almost certain to lose it. The 

 best of the season lasts about ten days, though last year 

 we caught them in the river for a term of six weeks. 

 They are usually gone by the end of June. This year the 

 season is late, and there may be a few left at the time of 

 the W. C. A. meet in early July, though none are ever 

 seen in the Oshkosh end of the lake.'* 



Mr. Burton, by the way, was out trout fishing last 

 week, on the streams near Rio, Wis. He got 33 trout, 

 few over a half pound. There are three streams at this 

 point, which is just below Portage City. The market 

 fishers of that region told Mr. Burton that they caught 

 their largest fish at night. This makes him regret that 

 he did not try night fishing for those big trout he saw in 

 the Brule last summer, which would take no known lure 

 by day. 



Mr. Chas. Norris, of the Big Four road, was also out 

 after trout last week, and got 40 on the fly, although he 

 found Wautoma Creek very high. A Mr. Spaulding, of 

 Wautoma, got 43 trout that weighed 261bs, Mr, Norris 

 will be among the trout further north within a couple of 

 weeks. The drive of logs should go out early this spring. 



Mr. H. M. Bacon, an attorney of this city, inquires for 

 some trout water for an early trip, but I have advised 

 him to wait a week or two, as sport now is doubtful. 



An interesting question as to right to take fish with a 

 seine under consent of owner of the land on which the 

 seined water lies, has been taken up and finally decided 

 in the Illinois highest court. It is reported as follows: 



"Springfield, 111., May 11,— The supreme court to-day 

 handed down an opinion in the case of The People ex rel. 

 vs. Bridges, which is of considerable interest, involving 

 a construction of the law for the protection of fish. 



Jacob Miller is the owner of a quarter of a section of 

 land in Sangamon county on which is situated a body of 

 water known as Sand Prairie Lake. It is in the bottom 

 of the north fork of the Sangamon River and at the furth- 

 est point is only a few yards removed from that stream. 

 When the river is high the water from the s'.ream finds 

 its way into the lake through a depression or slough and 

 the connection of the two bodies lasts for a period of sev- 

 eral days or weeks. In July, 1890, James M. Bridges, 

 with the consent of the owner of the lake, engaged in 

 seining for fish in that body of water. For this he was 

 arrested on complaint of a fish warden, tried in the San- 

 gamon circuit court, and fined. This judgment the ap- 

 pellate court subsequently reversed and the case went to 

 the supreme court, the defendent taking the ground that 

 the statute did not and could not apply to the lake or 

 pond in controversy, inasmuch as it was private property. 

 The supreme court reverses the judgment of the appel- 

 late court, holding that the statute is broad enough to in- 

 clude the pond or lake in question; that bodies of water 

 of that character are within the legislative intent and 

 that the statute is constitutional and valid." 



The only safe thing to do is not to use a seine at all. In 

 due course that relic of barbarous days will be abolished 

 formally by statute in this State, for every water without 

 exception. 



Mr. James St. John Greenough, president of the White- 

 side Co. Fish Club, writes as followf: "By the paper I 

 see that the State Fish League has been organized. We 

 have a fishing club here for the purpose of stopping the 

 seining in Rock River. We have had the hearty co- 

 operation of Dr. Bar tie tt and have done good work, but 

 I think that by further organization of the clubs more 

 and better work can be done. We would like to join the 

 League if possible, and any information will be gladly 

 received." 



That is the kind of talk to hear. Mr. Greenough has 

 exactly the right idea. He and his club, and all others, 

 will be very gladly welcomed into the League. As to 

 purposes, methods and the formalities of membership, 

 the most direct way to cover the erround is to send Mr. 

 Greenough a copy of Forest and Stream's report of the 

 Springfield meeting, and this has been done. 



E, Hough. 



COAL MINES AND FISH. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Thomas S. Hargest, Esq., has submitted to the Attorney 

 General the following communications from the State 

 Fishery Commissioners with a request for his official 

 opinion upon the legal means available to prevent the in- 

 cidental destruction of food fish in the streams of the 

 State by coal operators, manufacturers and others: 



Whereas, The fish wardens, after personal investiga- 

 tion and observation, have made reports to this board 

 covering the following facts: 



First — That the coal operators whose mines are located 

 along or near the banks of the Sha nankin, Mahanoy and 

 Wiconisco creeks have accumulated large banks of culm 

 deposited with reference to the creeks, so that with every 

 heavy rainfall large quantities thereof are carried into 

 the streams. 



Second— That these large deposits of culm are now be- 

 ing washed by modern devices for the purpose of separat- 

 ing the slate and dirt? from the small coals and preparing 

 the latter for market, and by these operations the dirt, 

 slate aud waste water, impregnated with sulphur, ia car- 

 ried into the streams — in some instances by artificial 

 means, in others by the natural conformation of the sur- 

 face of the ground. These operations have resulted 

 directly in destroying or banishing all fish from these 

 strpams and obliterating their spawning beds. 



Fourth— That these streams all fl >w into the Susque- 

 hanna River, the water of which is being rapidly polluted, 

 and the fish therein are being killed and driven out: 

 therefore, 



Resolved, That these facts be submitted to the Attorney 

 General with the request that he advise this Bosrd (a) 

 whether any, and if any, what measures can be taken by 

 this board to require the coal operators to restrict or con- 

 fine their operations so as to avoid the pollution of the 

 streams mentioned and the consequent destruction of 

 food fish; (b) whether any power or authority has been 

 conferred upon the Board of Fishery Commissioners to 

 take action in the premises, and if so (c) what proceeding, 

 if any, is the board authorized to institute or cause to be 

 taken in order to prevent the wholesale destruction of 

 food and game fish which is threatened by the poisoning 

 of the waters of the streams mentioned. 



The communication is signed by Henry C. Ford, H. C. 

 Demuth, W. L. Powell and S. B. Stillwell, members of 

 the commission. 



Early Sea Bass. 



Immense schools of large sea bass were found on the 

 fishing banks by the New York fishing steamers last 

 Aveek, and on Tuesday more than 4,000 were taken with 

 hook and line. The deck of one boat was nearly covered 

 with these fine fish. The run has made its appearance 

 unusually early, much to the delight of the salt-water 

 anglers. The sea bass i3 not a first-class game fish, but it 

 is very showv and has excellent table qualities. It feeds 

 near the bottom, and bites readily at clam or menhaden 

 bait. 



Blind Brook Trout. 



New York.— Some twelve to fifteen years ago, through 

 the kindness of Joseph Park, Esq,, of Messrs. Park & 

 Tilford, the late J.D. Minuse, of Rye, and myself, placed in 

 the stream known as Blind Brook, in Westchester county, 

 N. Y., 18,000 trout. I should like to hear if any of the 

 readers of Forest and Stream have ever fished these 

 waters for trout and with what result. I have been on 

 the Western plains since 1880 and have had no chance to 

 cast a fly since.— Heney Osborn. 



Black Bass in the Potomac. 



Spawning Black Bass are now being caught in large 

 numbers in the Potomac at Weverton and many other 

 places. We regret to learn that some members of a very 

 influential rod and gun club of Washington are taking 

 the bass and aiding their guests to do the same injurious 

 fishing. 



JOHN LYLE KING. 



TT is past 11 o'clock to-night, and immersed in the pages Of 

 Forest and Stream I read with sudden heart-throb that 

 John Lyle King is dead. Not that I knew him personally, but, 

 years ago, a comrade of the Kingfisher Club sent me a copy of his 

 book, "Trouting on the Brule." Then I knew him as all auglers 

 know each other, by his storied interpretations of the language of 

 the woods and waters which revives recollection afresh and en- 

 ables them to live over the delightful hours of the summer vaca- 

 tion. There is sorrow— sympathetic and tender— welling up in 

 t he heart that so genuine a sportsman, so graphic a writer, and so 

 ardent a lovei of nature has crossed the river and camped in the 

 shadows of the beyond. A grand student of the wilderness, his 

 lines of wayfaring have filled many leisure hours with pleasant 

 thoughts, and to me there is a sense of personal loss in his death. 

 Frankfort, Kentucky. Old Sam. 



Early Closing on Saturday.— Most of the wholesale and re- 

 tail firms in Chicago have decided to close their stores on Satur- 

 day at 1:00 P. M„ commencing May 1st, in order to give their 

 e'erks a much needed rest. In connection with this service the 

 Wisconsin Central Lines beg to announce that commencing May 

 1st excursion tickets will be placed on sale to Lake Villa, Fox 

 Lake, Antioch and Mukwonago. Trains leave the Grand Central 

 Passenger S'ation at 8 A.M., 3 P.M., 4:25 P.M., 5:47 P. M. and 

 10:45 P. M. Returning trains arrive at Chicago at 7:15 A. M-. 9:45 

 A. M., 9:50 A. M., 1:65 P. M. and 7:45 P. M. Ticket office, 205 Clark 

 street, Chicago, II 1 .— Adv. 



An Opportunity for Trout Fishermen.— On May 28 and 30 

 the New York, Ontario & Western Railway will sell excursion 

 tickets at the one-way fare from New York to all stations in 

 Orange, Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware counties. This affords an 

 opportunity to spend a holiday on the trout streams, and select, 

 if desired, a summer boarding place in a region famous for its 

 trout streams, and noted for its absolute healthfulness Tickets 

 are good returnable May 31, and are on sale at 323 Broadway, and 

 ferr? ticket offices. Send 6 cen^s in stamps for copy of N. Y., O. 

 & W. Summer Homes It gives all the trout streams, and a full 

 list of all hotels, boarding and farm houses.— Adv. 



American Fisheries Society. 



The twenty-first annual meeting of the American Fisher- 

 ies Society w'ill be held on Wednesday and Thursday, May 

 25 and 26. The first meeting will be held at 10 o'clock at the 

 Holland House, Thirtieth street and Fifth avenue, New York 

 city. May 25. 



SAN FRANCISCO DOG SHOW. 



[.Special Report.] 



QAN FRANCISCO, Cab, May 7.— The annual dog show 

 lO of the California Kennel Club terminated to-night. 

 Financially the show was a success, hut in some ways it was 

 a miserable failure. The total number of entries was 237, 

 123 less than last year. Non-sporting_ classes have improved 

 in quality and quantity, but the pointers and fox-verriers 

 show a very great falling off, the former 33 against 50 last 

 year, the latter 12 against 32. This falling off being a poor 

 compliment to the judge, in the eyes of those who are not 

 intimately acquainted with the facts of the case, I think it 

 mv duty to explain matters. The small number of entries 

 is "due entirely to dissension and the unpopularity of the Cali- 

 fornia Kennel Club. Mr. J. B. Martin, our fox-terrier king 

 in this section, recently received too many insults to swallow 

 without retaliation, and drew out of the club; inconsequence 

 bis friends refused to exhibit their dogs. The pointer and 

 setter men would not enter their dogs either this year nor 

 last because of the presence of one man in the ciub. This 

 man was manager this year, as well as superintendent, exec- 

 utive committee and about everything else. In consequence, 

 a town that should show at least 500 dogs, entered but 237. 

 I have said above that the California Kennel Club was un- 

 popular; strictly speaking that is not the case. The club 

 contains many men that are not active members and a few 

 that are active members that no man could raise any objec- 

 tion to, The objections are raised to one man and that man 

 runs the club. As a result, almost the entire kennel contiu 

 gency in this section have repudiated the California aud 

 have taken up the old Pacific Club with such a rush that its 

 older members are paralyzed with astonishment. Some 64 

 new members will sign the roll and pay their initiation fee 

 on or before Thursday evening, May 12. 



Mr. Tbos. Higgs, the superintendent in name only, was 

 always on hand, attending to his work in his quiet way to 

 the satisfaction of all. The show was kept very neatly; 

 plenty of disinfectants were used, and, as far as things lay 

 in Mr. Higgs's power, everything ran as smooth as oil. 



Mr. A. B. Truman made himself generally obnoxious 

 from beginning to end, resulting in the reorganization of 

 the Pacific Club. 



The attendance was light the first day, 1 ut very fair after 

 that time. 



Mr. James Mortimer was pronounced by all, even the de- 

 feated ones, to be the most popular judge that ever reached 

 this coast. The Pacific Kennel Cluo entertained him while 

 in town, and I fancy he returned to the East well satisfied 

 with the "glorious climate of California." 



Mastiffs.— Ingleside Crown Prince, the winner, is un- 

 questionably one of the best dogs in America; he has filled 

 out and otherwise improved since last year; he has a 

 splendid skull, good broad, deep, short muzzle; has too 

 much wrinkle and is excessively throaty, is also a trifle 

 light in mask and color of ears, but makes up for all other 

 defects by being about as good as maatiffs ever get behind 

 the shoulders. Lion, second, has a short muzzle of good 

 width, hut is peaked in skull and is bloodhoundy in expres- 

 sion, throaty, toj rough in coat and poor condition, other- 

 wise good. Duke, third, is short in skull, light in eye, ears 

 large and carried out from the head, good body and bone, 

 feet too long, and is not in the same class with the winner. 

 Toby, he, is a ginger faced one, plain in head and without 

 much quality. Lion E., c, is a poor specimen. The bitch 

 class was a very poor lot. Vernist secured third; she is 

 long in head and ears, houndy in expression and light in 

 hone. Nellie, c, is very light and small and out of con- 

 dition from nursing a litter of puppies. 



Great DAXES.— This class did not average as good in 

 quality as last year, though there were fewer poor speci- 

 mens. Hector, first, is a fine upstanding dog, much the 

 tallest in the show, showing more quality than the balance: 

 he has a good bead, splendid neck and shoulders and is very 

 fair in body and limbs. Jumbo, second, has a very good head 

 and nice length of neck, good shoulders and in body and 

 bone he beats the winner, but he loses to the latter in char- 

 acter and has a coat that is much too rough. Caesar II., 

 third, is good in body, back and loin, hut is not square 

 enough in muzzle, light in bone, feet too long and carries a 

 crooked tail. Hector, vhc, is short and thick in head and 

 lacking in stop, excellent bone, good body. Caesar, he., is a 

 little coarse in head and too heavily built all through; a good 

 mover. Leda, first in hitches, is plain in head, ears not 

 trimmed, though too fat, is fair in body, back, loin and 



