May 26, 1892.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



B01 



Lake Champlain Fish. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I noticed recently an article from a Vermont corres- 

 pondent complaining of the netting of fish across the 

 Canadian line in Missisquoi Bay. It seems that one Mc- 

 Phee gets a permit or license to fish from the Canadian 

 or Provincial Government for a nominal sum, he being, 

 it is claimed, a politician of some note. He commences 

 to net before the ice goes out and keeps it up while the 

 fishing lasts in a manner to pay, and catches an enormous 

 quantity of wall-eyed pike, together with other game and 

 food fishes. If the people of Vermont would put a fish- 

 way in the dam at Swanton and cut a passageway 

 through the Sand Bar bridge, it would keep a large num- 

 ber of fish in Vermont waters that now go further north 

 to spawn, as a way through tbe bridge would afford them 

 access to the Lamville River without going around Grand 

 Isle, a thing I don't believe they will do, as they now fol- 

 low the east shore north until they come to the Missis- 

 quoi River, when those who care to run up that and 

 the balance go on north. But the river below the dam is 

 not all good spawning ground and a fishway would let 

 them go up, and by relieving the over-crowded stream 

 below, cause three fish to run up the river where there is 

 one now.- — Dexter. 



Conroy's New Catalogue. 



Mr, Thomas J. Conroy, who has recently removed his 

 fishing tackle extablishinent to No 308 Broadway, has 

 just issued a new catalogue. He charges twenty-five 

 cents for it. Every man is warned not to send for it un- 

 less he has time "to go fishing, for its pages set forth 

 about everything an angler can need or may indulge in 

 as a luxury, and everything is set out with illustrations 

 and arranged so seductively that to turn the leaves 

 breeds a longing to go fishing. The Conroy catalogue is 

 excellently arranged and is a very complete and hand- 

 some specimen of its class. 



Length and Weight of Bass. 



Mr. J. C. Clagett, of Frederick, Md., on Sept. 20, 

 1884, caught a small-mouthed black bass at Point of Rocks, 

 in the Potomac River, which measured 23fin. in length, 

 14|in. around behind the gills, 16fin. in greatest girth, 

 and weighed 6Jbs. 1" • >-.. 



HOW TO TIE SALMON FLIES.* 



This is one of the rno3t beautiful books which it has been our 

 pleasure to review— in quality of papsr, beauty of typogranhy 

 and illustration and in its orderlv arrangement. Capt. Hale 

 herein relates "the experiences and idea^ of an amateur fly- 

 maker and fisherman; the desire of the writer being to describe 

 the details of the art of salmon fly-making in such homely lan- 

 guage as would convey the several processes clearly to the com- 

 prehension of all beginners who care to approach it" All the 

 essentials to the fly-maker's art are clearly set forth. Tbs seven 

 principal chapters of the book relate (11 to hooks, (2) to materials, 

 implements, ftc„ (8) on dying furs and feathers, (4) gut loopi, etc., 

 tags and tails, (5) butts, ribbing, bodies and hackles, (6) hackles, 

 jointed hodies and grubs, (7) wings: and in the anpendix are given 

 full directions for the dressings of forty flies. The text is thor- 

 oughly illustrated by seventy figures, drawn from photographs. 

 For these photographs Capt. Hale acknowledges his indebtness to 

 Mr. O. O'Meara and to Mr. R, B. Marston, of the Fishino Gazette, 

 for assistance and useful suggestions. 



However amateur fly -tyers m America may differ fr^rn Capt. 

 Hale in little details as to choice of hooks and the various odds 

 and ends belonging to the fly-tyer's outfit, they will richly enjoy 

 the reading of his book and place it among the classics in their 

 libraries. 



*"How to Tie Salmon Flies." A treatise on the methods of 

 tying the various kinds of salmon flies, with illustrated directions 

 and containing the dressings of forty flies. By Capt. Hale, East 

 Lancashire Regiment, London: Sampson Low. Marston &Co.. 

 Limited. 18ft?. 



"THE PRACTICAL ANGLER." 



The above is the title of the latest publication in book form 

 from the pen of Kit Clarke, the author of that fascinating 

 little volume "Where the Trout Hide," that holds so warm a 

 place in the affections of the disciples of rod and line. "Where 

 the Trout Hide" is eminently a book for flshermpn, written by a 

 fisherman. Not a guide book or a manual for tha novice in the 

 art, but the experienced angler's companion and friend, deBtined 

 to occupy a place in his pocket or gripsack when starting out a- 

 fishins', alongside thoseiother trifling packages, necessary adjuncts 

 of a fishing excursion, one containing glossy sheets of variously 

 f potted cardboard, the other— if report speaks truly— filled to the 

 hung with a liquid destroyer of microbes, warranted to have 

 crime from old Kentucky, the south of France or the Highlands 

 of Scotland, and destined to be mingled w T ith the water drawn 

 from the lakes and streams, "where the trout hide." What roars 

 of laughter have followed the readings on the cars or by the camp 

 lire of some of Kit's drolleries, and what a delightful raconteur 

 sits by the side of the solitary camper by a far northern lake, who 

 reads and feels the excited blood coursing through his veins as he 

 fancies he sees our author's struggles on -bake Edward with 13lbs. 

 of/onttnoHsalmostievenly distributed between his three fly-hooks, 

 or keeps the tally and holds the "kitty" during that exciting 

 game of fish poker at Lake Hopateong. 



How much, too, of the genniue experience of every angler is 

 recorded in this booklet. In "The Practical Angler" there is no 

 romancing. As the author relates in his preface, the book is 

 written for the benefit of the man whose angling education, to 

 his great misfortune, has been neglected, and who desires to ac- 

 quire a knowledge of the most delightful health-bringing and 

 harmless recreation in existence. Technical phrases and rhetori- 

 cal pyrotechnics are studiously avoided, as they are of no use, as 

 Mr. Clarke well says, in the practical pursuit of catching fish. 

 ' The Practical Angler," as all old fishermen who look into its 

 pages will readily concede, well fulfils its mission of teaching— so 

 far as precept can teach— how, where and when to catch flsb, 

 giving a description in the author's well-known and infatuating 

 style, of American game fish caught with hook and line, methods 

 of capture, their habits and haums, and all requisite information 

 whereby the novice can acquire the art, and enjoy the delightful 

 recreation of going a- fishing. One of the most valuable features 

 of the book is the chapter containing "one hundred hints to 

 anglere," for many of which Mr. Clarke will undoubtedly receive 

 the thanks of many a veteran in the piscatorial art. The illustra- 

 tions of the various American and Canadian game fish are excel- 

 lent, and worthy a place in any authentic text-book of natural 

 history. 



Canadian anglers, and Americans accustomed to whip Cana- 

 dian streams and lakes, have been placed under deep obligations 

 to Mr. Clarke for having assisted in the great work of popular- 

 izing and making known the principal resorts of successful fish- 

 ermen in the Lake St. John region of Quebec. In the work before 

 us he has added to these obligations by a readadle chapter upon 

 theouananicheor freshwater salmon of Lake St. John. Land- 

 locked salmon these fish are not, for they descend the Saguenay 

 10 the sea, and have been captured at or near Tadousac. Mr. 

 Clarke is not the first author of repute who writes the name of 

 thiB illustrious game fish "wininnish," and the spelling undoubt- 

 edly aids tbe pronunciation But this is the only good reason 

 thai I can find for substituting for a pretty, melodious Indiau 

 name wi'h a meaning, an English form of the word that has 

 neither derivation, weaning nor character, Tche is an Indian 

 diminutive when used as an affix. auanan in the M mtaenais dialect 

 signifies salmon; so that "ouanamche" is "little salmon." The 

 chapter on this remarkable fish in "The Practical Angler" is a 

 valuable contribution to the literature of th" subject: the descrip- 

 tion of the species and of the angling for ouananiche is such as 

 only an angler who has handled the fish aud enjoyed the sport of 

 fighting it could possibly write, while the time and nlace for 

 taking it in springtime in rivers tributary to Lake St. John, are 

 correctly defined. It may he added, however, that the ouanan- 



iche is to be freely taken in the same rivers in the late summer 

 months after it has left tbe Grande Discbarge. 



The presentation copies of his exquisite book received by a few 

 of Mr. Clarke's privileged friends, have looped up upon their 

 satin covers, with the charming originality that characterizes 

 him. one of the favorite flies of the, talented artist-augler-author. 



Quebec, May 7. E. T. D. Chambers. 



"The Human System is like a bow, which, in order to preserve 

 the tension must be relaxed occasionally, and which becomes a 

 worthless thing when its elasticity is no longer apparent." 



Moral: Take a day off and go fishing via the Erie R. R.— Adv. 



Neah-Bt Fishing and Shooting. -A few vacancies exist in 

 a club owning 7 miles of excellent trout streams and 1,500 acres of 

 good quail, ruffed grouse and woodcock grounds within 30 miles 

 of New York. Address P. O. Box 25, New York city.— Adv. 



AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY. 



The twenty-first meeting of this organization was held at 

 the Holland House, New York, May 25-26, and brought to- 

 gether one of the largest and most influential bodies of men 

 that has up to the present assembled to discuss fish anrl 

 fisheries. In the a sence of tbe President, Dr. ,T. A. Hen- 

 shall, who was detained in Washington by sickness, the 

 Vice-President, Dr. Joel C. Parker, of Michigan, presided. 

 At roll call thirty-six members responded to their names. 



Letters were read from Dr. Henshall and A. N. Cheney, 

 both of whom were unavoidably absent. C. J. Bottemaun'e, 

 of Holland, would have attended the meetings but could 

 not leave his duties. Raveret-Wattel, secretary of the 

 Societe" National d'Acclimation, France, sent greetings and 

 regrets. Fish Commissioner J no. W. Titcomb, of Vermont, 

 could not be present because of work for the State, but his 

 colleague, Mr. Warren, represented the commission. 



The non-resideut members of the Fisheries Society were 

 invited by the New York Society for the Protection of Game 

 to dine with them at the Holland House on Wednesday, 

 May 26. The South Side Sportsmen's Club invited the 

 members to visit their preserves at Oakdale, Long Island, 

 and partake of a collation; a special train was provided for 

 the excursion. 



The proposals for membership included forty-live names 

 for active membership and two as corresponding members, 

 the latter being Mr. Thos. Andrews, of England, and Dr. 

 Desio Vinciguerra, of Rome. 



The report of the treasurer, Mr. H. C. Ford, showed a 

 comfortable balance to the credit of the Society. The cor- 

 responding secretary, Mr. Doyle, stated that the numerous 

 circulars sent out to increase the membership had brought 

 scant returns, and more was doue by personal efforts on the 

 part, of Mr. Cheney, Mr. Anisden and other members. 



The committee on nomination of officers for the next year 

 are W. L, May, H. H. Carey and W. A. Butler, Jr. 



-., interesting arti- 

 cle on "Fish and Fishing in Ohio," and was followed by 

 Prof. J. D. Quackenbos, who read a paper by Mr. A. N. 

 Cheney, of G-lens Falls, N. Y,, on "The Food of Fishes," 

 also a paper by Wm. P. Seal on the "Present Status of 

 Trout Culture." The reading of this paper was not con- 

 cluded when the Forest and Stream went to press. 



Those present were: J<\ J. Amsden, John Gay, H. C. Ford, 

 C. C. Warren, H. H. Carey, L. Streuber, W. A. Butler, Jr., 

 Hoyt Post, H. Whitaker, Dr. J. C. Parker, W. H. Bowman. 

 Fred Mather, E. P. Doyle, W. I,. May, G. B. Goocle, J. F. 

 Ellis, F. N. Clark, J. E. Gunckel, Henry Burden, Dr. E. 

 Bradley, J. D. Quackenbos, W. H. Rogers, C. B. Reynolds, 

 W. F. Page, L. D. Huntington, T. H. Bean, Jas. Benkard, 

 A. S. Bickmore^W. L. Gilbert, D. Morell, C. F. Orris, Dr. 

 F. J. Ferrall, T. W. B. Hughes, J. W. Hoxie, Dr. W. II . 

 Hudson, Judge Asa French, W. L. Powell. 



FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC STATES. 



From Census Bulletin No. 167, dated March 4 1892 

 and prepared by Mr. Charles F. Pidgin and Dr. Hugh m' 

 Smith, we learn that in 1890 the fisheries of thp Pacific 

 States, U. S., gave employment to 13,850 persons. -$6,498 239 

 were invested in the industry, and products to the value of 

 86,387,803 were obtained. According to the tables, the fish- 

 eries of California are more important than those of either 

 Oregon or Washington. The canning of salmon is still the 

 most important branch of the fisheries. 



In the three States there were 63 canneries, and the quan- 

 tity of fresh salmon put up is given as 41,632,2331bs for 

 which the fishermen received $1,783,227. The total output of 

 622,037 cases was worth, at the ruling market prices, $3 - 

 703,838. 



The fisheries of this region, as a whole, show a decided 

 advance over 1880. Increase in capital invested, 182 per cent • 

 value of products, 50 per cent. There has been a decline in 

 a few special branches of the fisheries. Among the causes 

 of the increase are mentioned: "The rapid growth of the 

 country, the natural abundance of fish in the rivers and 

 adjacent to the shores, and the decreased supply of mackerel 

 whales, etc., on the Atlantic coast. Especially worth v of 

 notice is the great increase in tbe whale fleet of this coast 

 and the maintenance of the extensive salmon fisheries in the 

 face of the enormous yearly drain on the species " 



In the general remarks Messrs. Pidgin and Smith call at- 

 tention to the tact that the natural conditions of our Pacific 

 coast are unusually favorable to the development of fisheries 

 of great importance, which are as compared with those of 

 our northeast coast in their infancy. The off-shore vessel 

 fisheries for miscellaneous food fish are yet to be developed 

 San Francisco vessels monopolize the whole fishery and 

 this port has become the greatest rendezvous for whalers in 

 the world. "The river fishery for salmon on this coast is the 

 most extensive in the world, and the business of canning 

 salmon, which is dependent on tbe fishery, is of o- re at mag- 

 nitude." The shore line of California "is given as 1910 

 miles; that of Oregon as 1,170, aud of Washington 1 345 * 



The yield of shrimp has doubled in value; the oyster in- 

 dustry returns products worth half a million of dollars 



Tables showing amount of capital invested, vessels boats 

 nets, fish wheels, seines, and other apparatus used, number 

 of fishermen and shoresmen employed, canning of salmon 

 etc, are given. The values of the different fisheries were as 

 follows: 



Pish 82,865,349.00 



Mammals and their products 3,523,281.00 



Mollusks, crustaceans and reptiles. . . 986,733^00 

 Secondary products 12,440.00 



The average value of the fish proper is ty£ cents per pound • 

 that is the gross price received by the fishermen. Salmon 

 constituted 72.41 per cent, of the entire quantity of fish 

 taken, and 72.69 per cent, of the value. No other single 

 species shown exceeds 5.33 per cent, of the catch, or 3.14 per 

 cent, of the value. 



In the mammal fisheries the fur seal ranks first, beino- 

 63.66 per cent, of the total value of all skins, bone, ivory and 

 oil taken, or nearly three times the value of the whale 

 fishery, which is next in importance. Sea otters ranks third, 

 and yield 8.76 per cent, of the value. Among the shellfish 

 oysters rank first, while the yield is but 9.32 per cent, of the 



shellfish fishery, the value is 61.01 per cent, of the total. 

 Shrimp, prawn, abalones and clams are the other objects of 

 these fisheries. 



A table giving a summary of the fresh fish trade of San 

 Francisco in 1S8S and 1889 is very interesting. Foriustance, 

 the average price of Spanish mackerel is given as $1.50 per 

 pound, pompano $1, striped bass |L eels 30 cents per pound, 

 while brook trout are 30 cents, lake trout 25 cents and 

 anchovies 5 cents per pound. Notwithstanding the fact that 

 fresh-water perch are 12^ cents, salmon are a fraction less 

 than 7 cents. To an Eastern man's eye it looks as if the sub- 

 jects and prices were mixed, but we are assured by Dr. Smith 

 that these figures are practically correct. 



The average price of oysters' is given at $3.90 per bushel, 

 hard-shell clams $3 per sack, crawfish 1)4 cents per pound, 

 shrimp 8 cents per pound, prawn 20 cents, terrapins $3 per 

 dozen, frogs $3 per dozen and turtles 5 cents per pound. 



Although of small size, but 25 royal octavo pages, this 

 bulletin is full of interesting statistics and of great value to 

 those seeking for information about the west coast fisheries. 



Netters Taken In. 



Complaints concerning unlawful fishing in Vreeland's 

 Pond, in Passaic, have been numerous of late. It lies 

 without easy reach of the sportsmen of that city, but the 

 recently imported Hungarians .seem to have arrived 

 at the conclusion that they can do as they like with the 

 pond and the fish in it. The. recent conviction of Do in us 

 Barkalow, who has been frequently suspected of having 

 netted the lake, did not seem to hare the deterrent effect ex- 

 pected and nets have been used there since. A number of 

 the Hungarians were in the habit of going after dark and 

 netting all they could get hold of. Fish Warden Shriner 

 made it his business to watch the place lastnigbt. Shortly 

 after dark two Hungarians put in an appearance and pro- 

 ceeded to use a large dip net. The net was about ten feet 

 square and was placed in the water: after leaving it there a 

 few minutes the Hungarians raised it. At this juncture of 

 affairs the Warden put in an appearance, confiscated the 

 net aud arrested the violators of the law. They offered no 

 resistance and were at once taken before Justice of the 

 Peace Hamilton M. Ross, where they pleaded guilty. They 

 had the same attenuated excuse to offer, "Ignorauce of the 

 law and poverty." One of them ingenuously supplemented 

 this excuse by saying that he had been told that there was 

 no danger of being caught if they did the netting after dark. 

 The Justice imposed the statutory fine of $20 and costs in 

 each case. The. Hungarians declared they had no money, 

 that they had been trying to save up enough to buy shoes, 

 etc The Justice proceeded to make out a commitment, 

 when one of the two weakened and sent out and got the 

 necessary cash. The other held on a little longer and then 

 also weakened and paid up. The Warden hopes that this 

 will break up the unlawful practice. The names of the 

 convicted were Stephen Petri e aud William Morrisse.— Pat- 

 erson, [N. J.) Daily Press May is. 



Trout Poisoned by Mill Refuse. 



Fish Commissioner Ramon E. Wilson says that the pois- 

 onous liquids used in the paper mills along Paper Mill 

 Creek and which are emptied into the creek have poisoned the 

 trout. The Commissioners are, however, "powerless," they 

 say. Who ever knew them to be otherwise? They are intbe 

 attitude of the Railroad Commissioners. They request that 

 somebody will do the necessary watching or investigating 

 and make a complaint. Perhaps this is not a remarkable 

 similarity, seeing that the Fish Commission is a sub-depart- 

 ment of the Southern Pacific. The company has one of its 

 attorneys on the board. It always takes care to have a tailor 

 or two or an attorney or two on all these commissions, 

 boards, etc. Sometimes they can't, help much, but often 

 they are very useful.— Report, San. Francisco, April 30. 



hnmh 



F iXTU RES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.- Second Annual Dog Show of the 'Blue Grass 

 Kennel Club, at Lexington, Ky. Roger Williams, See'y. 



Sept. 6 to 9.— Second Annual Dog Snow of the Hamilton Kennel 

 Club, at Hamilton, Canada. A. D. Stewart, See'y. 



Sept. 0 to 9.— Rochester Kennel Club, at Rochester, N. Y. Dr. O. 

 S. Bambsr, See'y. 



Sept. T3 to 16.— Fourth Annual Dog Show of the Toronto In- 

 dustrial Exhibition Association, at Toronto, Canada. C. A. 

 Stone, See'y. 



Sept. 20 to 23.— Western Michigan Kennel Club, at Grand Rapids, 

 Mich. EL Dale Adams, Galesburg, Mich., Superintendent. 



Sept. 27 to 80.— Dog Show at Ottawa, Can. Alfred Geddes, Sen'y. 



Oct. 25 to 28.— Omaha Kennel Club, at Omaha, Neb. E. L. 

 Marston. See'y. 



Nov. 28 to 25.— American Pet Dcg Club, at Madison Square 

 Garden, New York. Marion E. Bannister, Cranford, N. J., See'y. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Sep*-. 6.— Manitoba Field Trials, at Morris, Man. A. Holloway, 

 Winnipeg, Man., See'y. 



JSIov. 7.— International Field Trials Club, third annual trials, at 

 Chatham, Out. Amateur Stake, Nov. 7. Open Stakes, Nov. 8. 

 W. B. Wells, See'y. 



Nov. 7.— United States Field Trial", at Elizabethtown, Ky. P. 

 T. Madison, Indianapolis, Ind., See'y. 



Nov. 8.— New England Field Trials, at Assonet, Mass. Geo. E. 

 Stickney, Newburyport, Mass., See'y. 



Nov. 14.— Fourth Annual Trials of the Brunswick Fur Club, at 

 Princeton, Mass. J. H. Ba'rd. See'y. 



Nov. 15.— American Field Trials, at Columbus, Ind. W. J. Beck, 

 See'y. 



Nov. 21,-Eastem Field Trial Club Trials, at High Point, N. C. 

 W. A. Coster, See'y. 



Nov. 28. -Philadelphia Kennel Club Trials, at High Point, N. C. 

 F. G. Taylor, See'y. 



Dec. 5.— Central Field Trials, at Lexington, N. C. Col. Odell, 

 See'y. 



THE MERCER CASE AND THE C. K. C. 



Editor Forest and St/ream: 



A case can only be prejudged when new facts may be 

 forthcoming later which might alter the decision if taken 

 into account. All the facts have long been before the pub- 

 lic, and the Ottawa committee had already acted upon them 

 before my letter appeared. The facts are these: Mr, Mercer, 

 a member of the Ottawa committee, knowing the rules of 

 bench shows well, entered another man's dog without his 

 knowledge or consent, by which he obtained a money prize 

 and retained the same until obliged to return it by the com- 

 mand of the Ottawa bench show committee. If this is not 

 fraud, what is it? 



There has been a great deal of sophistication about this 

 case, and it is about time things were called by their right 

 names. Apologies are excellent in their place, but they do 

 not alter the nature of this transaction. 



Had the C. K. C. uttered any uncertain sound in this case 

 they would simply have been encouraging others to indulge 

 in similar sharp practices. Strong letters on this subject 

 were addressed to me, and the purpose of my letter in the 

 Canadian Kennel Gazette was to strengthen that public 

 opinion on which tbe respectability of our Canadian kennel 

 world depends, and I shall not hesitate to speak my mind 

 on any similar occasion. Mount Royal. 



[The above does not alter our opinion as given in "Dog 

 Chat" last week.] 



