Sept. 17, 1891.]! 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



167 



Tvine for using illegal seines. Tliese notorious market 

 men went to their attorney, a Mr. Porter, of Henry, for 

 an opinion. He advised them they oould seijie all they 

 I liked with a 2in. mesh in Lake Senachwine, one of the 

 most noted Illinois Valley bottom lakes. Porter so advised 

 Mr. Watlington, of the Illinois Valley Association, and 

 the latter referred the matter to State Commissioner, 

 who in turn has sent a statement of the case in to Attor- 

 ney-General Hunt for an opinion. Soon we shall have 

 this opinion, and soon probably, too, a case carried to the 

 Supreme Court for a decision. Then we shall see whether 

 common sense ever does enter at all, a little bit, in the 

 smallest way, into matters of the law. 



Now, we will drop down this Illinois River a little bit 

 i further. Supposing the Fox and Kankakee rivers pretty 

 I well able to take care of themselves now, the Illinois 

 I River is next in line and more important because it feeds 

 [ both these streams. Away below La SaJle and below 

 I Sf nachwine is Beardstown, a hotbed of market fishers. 

 ' Some time ago I duly reported the organization there of 

 the protective society, with Mr. A. A. Greene as presi- 

 dent. A great deal of good has been done there, so much 

 so that the market men have organized a counter-associ- 

 ation, which they call the "Illinois River Fishermen's 

 Protective Association." This body was organized simply 

 to fight the sportsmen. In order to enlist popular sym- 

 pathy this sweet-scented outfit lately Kave a free "fish 

 fry" at Beardstown, in which about l,5001bs. of fish were 

 used. The head of this gang^ is a fellow by name of 

 Siriith. A letter to Mr. Cole from Mr. A. A. Greene may 

 tlirow some light on thie: 



BkaPvDSTowk, 111., Sept. 3.— Your.s duly at hand, Many 

 thauks for your kind coSperation. I have not as yet been 

 summoned as a witness, but Sheriff Beattie has the papers, 

 and I understand Smith has brought suit against Mr. Bart- 

 lett in Schuyler county, and myself and the two other men 

 I t-m ployed are sumrnoned as' his witnesses. Case to be 

 called, I think, first Monday in October, at Rushville. 

 fust what Smith expects to prove by us is a puzzle, but we 

 lave or will demand witness fees before moving a step, as 

 ;t is out of the county. I mailed you a Beardstown paper 

 with notice of a fish fry here last week. It was engineered 

 iy the Illinois River Fishermen's Protective Association, 

 jfgjiuized to light us, am) is comiiosed of tnarket fishermen, 

 ilia Smith is tl]e grand mogul of it, a,lliion,Li;h fithcr mym- 

 )crs of this association tell live they are not backing Smith 

 ill Ills suit against Mr. Bartlett. Be that as it may, this 

 ish fry was Kiven in our city park, and for the purpose of 

 getting the sympathy of the people, being free of charge. 

 Kvcrythiug is quiet so far here, and about six to twelve bar- 

 rels of fish being shipped Qvery night to St. Louis and Chi- 

 cago, mostly buffalo, but a mixture of all kinds. I wish we 

 i could wipe out the law entirely, allowing seining_ or catch- 

 I iuK of fish in any way except with hook and line for all 

 , time, or at least ifive years. I am afraid that is the only 

 thing that will help us. As long as there is a market the 

 , slaughter will contiaue night and day until all are gone. I 

 hope the sportsmen all over the State will wake up soon and 

 make a move. An association for protecting fish and game 

 has been organized at Astoria. I sent them our by-laws and 

 , ether iaforiiiatiou. I would like to assist others to organize. 

 Will keep you posted soon again of any news. Fraternally 

 vcni's, A. A. GliEENE. E. HoUGH. 



ANGLING NOTES. 



THE trout fishing in New York State is now at an end. 

 It has been a very good season, and never before 

 have so many large trout been taken. While there 

 I is yet much to be done in the way of educating people 

 I not to waste the supply of fish, there is a noticeable im- 

 provement in the general feeling on that subject, and big 

 scores of small fish do not bring out a round of spplatise, 

 but rather an expression of contempt and a request from 

 the listener to know what was done with them and per- 

 haps even a little wholesome advice. To the eager begin- 

 ner, of course, a trout is a trout, even if only a few 

 inches long, but after he has had a good lively tussle with 

 a "big one" he will comi' to appreciate the fact that there 

 is more fun in killing two or three 12 or 15in. trout than 

 a hundred poor little fingerlings. 



Mr. Wm. H. Beemer, of Monticello, N. Y,, has just re- 

 turned from an extended angling trip in Nova Scotia. 

 ', Though an old fisherman, he says he never dreamed of 

 such trout fishing in his life as he enjoyed on this trip. 

 He was fortunate enough to get hold of an excellent 

 I Indian guide, who piloted him to an out of the way sal- 

 mon river, where he killed eight salmon. The only 

 I trouble with the trout fishing was that he had to return 

 I the fish to the water, as it was impossible to make any 

 I use of 80 many, the sea trout were also running, and fish 

 ' of 2 and 31bs. weight were very plentiful. The new line 

 of steamers from Boston to Yarmouth, and the Red Cross 

 I steamers from New York to Halifax make it very easy 

 ■ now for sportsmen to reach excellent sporting grounds 

 for trout, wildfowl, woodcock, and moose and caribou. 

 For particulars apply to Mr. M. Stanley Tweedie, No. 18 

 Broadway, N. Y, 



Ms. F. P. Nye writes from Areata, California, that 

 Cajit. Brier, in'charge of the U. S. Fish Hatchery, at Fort 

 Gaston, is hatching out an abundance of salmon fry with 

 which to stock the Klamath and Trinity Rivers next 

 ' spring. He intends to send some spawn East this year 

 ' to exchange for some Eastern brook trout. He states 

 that the anglers in his section of the country are very 

 anxious to introduce them into their waters, and look 

 eagerly forward to the lime when they can have fly fish- 

 ing for the genuine speckled trout. 



Tiie striped-bass fishing is improving daily, and weak- 

 fish and bluefish are very plenty. Small weakfish fairly 

 swarm in Baruegat Bay, and the big channel fish are 

 fairly plenty. The fishing at the mouth of Shrewsbury 

 is particularly good at present. Scarlet-Ibis. 



SARA.NAC Lake Trout. — Tuesday, Sept. 1, was a red- 

 letter day for Dr. J, R, Romeyn, of Keeseville, and hig 

 skilled oarsman, Mr. Fred Sheldon. Seven miles down 

 stream from the lake. Cold Brook enters Saranac River, 

 at a bit of rough water. Reaching that point in a rain- 

 storm, the doctor, with a 6oz. fly-rod, cast across the 

 rapids, and was soon engaged in a half-hour's struggle 

 with a trout which weighed, when brought to the basket, 

 very nearly olbs. Five others followed almost as large as 

 the first. Two very large ones broke away, one taking 

 tly and snell — then caoie three others weighing nearly 

 lib. each, being the first trout that have been captured by 

 guests of Saranac Lake House since July. 



GALLATIN RIVER GRAYLING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I inclose you the dorsal fin of a grayling caught in the 

 Gallatin River, near Central Park. The fish from which 

 it was taken was about 13in. in length. Your recent 

 contributor "H. L." states that I seem to doubt there 

 being grayling in the Rocky Mountains. How he came to 

 such a conclusion after I had stated that I have oattght 

 them in the Gallatin River, I cannot imagine. He cer- 

 tainly knew the Gallatin is in the Rocky Mountains. 



It has been my pleasure to catch grayling in the Madi- 

 son, from the Paris down to the canon, and all of them in 

 shape of body re^fembled the whitefish very much. Many 

 people mistake grayling for whitefish, but I never knew 

 of one being mistaken for a trout, Livingston. 



LrvTNGSTON, Mont., Auv, 25. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In the last issue of your paper you state that "grayling 

 are said to occur in the Gallatin River." In the autumn 

 of 1889 I had some splendid sport with grayling while 

 camped on the Gallatin near Hellroaring Creek — prettj^ 

 name that. Out of one large pool I took grayling, black- 

 spotted trout and whitefish in about equal numbers. The 

 grayling did not come at the fly quite as sharp as the 

 trout, but required careful handling when hooked and 

 afforded fully as good sport. If I remember correctly I 

 thought their flavor when cooked a trifle more delicate 

 than that of the trout. H. N. MUNN. 



New Yobk Oiiy, Aug. 29. 



[The statement about the Gallatin was made on the 

 authority of Dr. Jordan, who recently visited the Yellow- 

 stone National Park in the interest of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, and has published a valuable illustrated report 

 on the fishes in the Bulletin of the Commission. The 

 whitefish is so often called grayling in the region that we 

 thought it might be the fish in this case; but we are glad 

 to have reliable information to the contrary. The dorsal 

 fin and tail of a Gallatin River grayling, sent with the 

 above communication from "Livingston," remove all 

 suspicion of a possible confusion of names. It is a cause 

 of rejoicing for anglers to learn that the beautiful gray- 

 ling, which has been almost exterminated by milliug 

 operations in Michigan, still thrives and multiplies in its 

 Rocky Mountain retreats, and is also being protectt'd and 

 distributed by the Government.] 



FISHING IN THE ST. LAWRENCE. 



THE ECHO LODGE ISLANDS— FINE SPORT IN THE LAST 

 LAKE. 



THE fishing in the St. Lawrence River this summer 

 has, on the average, been about as usual. Those 

 who could content themselves with a good catch of rock 

 bass and perchance an occasional pickerel, have found 

 enjoyment enough among the islands within a couple of 

 miles of Alexandria Bay. Three or four hours at Goose 

 Bay, Chippewa Bay, Stave Island or the group of islands 

 near Echo Lodge in the upper jaart of the Canada Nar- 

 rows, generally resulted in a good catch of pickerel, the 

 success depending almost entirely upon the skill of the 

 oarsman. 



Last Tuesday noon, Sept. 1, myself and H. W, Power, 

 of Cleveland, O., set out for Echo Lodge, rowed by Newal 

 Paige, a young oarsman who possesses an intuitive knowl- 

 edge of the whereabouts and the habits of the fish. In 

 two hours' fishing that night and two hours the next 

 morning before breakfast we landed ten pickerel weigh- 

 ing from 3 to 61bs. each. Most of them were caught in 

 two small bays located in the center of four islands. 

 From the woody shores the grass ran down and mingled 

 with the tangled weeds. These grew out into the water, 

 receding from the surface as it deejiened, changing from 

 the bright green hue above to a dark velvet, and falling 

 in gradual terraces with a beauty of symmetry and grace 

 that man might try in vain to imitate. These weed 

 banks sloped down in that manner from the four islands 

 some twenty feet, leaving in the middle a clear space for 

 our lines. Here Paige rowed us around and around, our 

 spoons just clearing the weeds and in convenient distance 

 from a fish that might be ready for his morning meal. 

 After a catch of ten pickerel in the evening and morning 

 we went into new grounds out about La Rue's and Ash 

 Island and the Fiddler's Elbow, having but two strikes 

 during the remainder of the day. 



That evening on returning to Echo Lodge the pro- 

 prietor, Mr. Potter, informed us that we must be ready 

 for a jaunt across the country to Lost Lake by 4 o'clock 

 thei next morning. At that hour we had breakfasted, our 

 skiff was hoisted into a wagon, and seated in our boat 

 chairs the horses pulled us over 13 miles of rough road to 

 the lake. Here we fished until dark, only pausing in the 

 fine sport to dine upon a rugged island in the shade of 

 tall pines and hemlocks. The fish were plenty. Paige 

 used all his skill to keep us near and not on the weed 

 beds. We saw no one else fishing, and were informed by 

 neighboring farmers that there were hardly two boats in 

 the lake in a year. We landed 32 good pickerel inside of 

 six hours. Some of them weighed 81bs., most of them 4 

 and 5. They are much gamier than the pickerel of the 

 St. Lawrence, why I know not, unless that they are in 

 colder water, are never disturbed by the sound of a steam 

 yacht and are less removed from the savagery of nature. 

 Every one fought for his liberty long and hard, first div- 

 ing into the weeds, whirling and wrapping the line 

 around the head and fins, and often coming to the surface 

 enveloped in heavy layers of sub-marine vegetation. They 

 were all brought in with the landing net. Some, when 

 drawn near the surface of the water, darted like an arrow 

 3 or 4ft. into the air. Of course some of these lively fish 

 got away. Two strikes at a time were common, and one 

 of the struggling captives often succeeded in breaking 

 from the hook; one regained his birthright by a savage 

 break after he was in the boat. We fished entirely with 

 spoons: having the most success with a lai"ge copper 

 spoon. 



Lost Lake is situated about 13 miles northwest of Echo 

 Lodge and 7 miles from the town of Landsdown, which 

 is easily reached by the Grand Trunk Railroad. It is a 

 highly picturesque place. The banks are rocky and pre- 

 cipitous, covered with pine, hemlock and birch. The 

 water winds about into numerous bays and coves, only a 

 few of which we had time to explore. With the excep- 

 tion of two or tliree cattle paths down to the water, we 

 saw no traces of the presence of the innovating hand of 

 man. Flocks of ducks now and then flew over our heads, 



and squirrels, porcupines and snipe were seen in the 

 woods. But the chief feature of the lake was, of course, 

 the fiah. I have told only a little about that, and I hold 

 my reputation in too high regard to hazard it by even 

 teiling the whole truth of what we saw and did during 

 nine hours in the Lost Lake. J. C. C. 



SHAur CovKBT, Sept. B. 



SOUTH JERSEY SEA FISHING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



There has been a surprising scarcity of weakfish or sea 

 ti-out this season at Cape May. The catch entire would 

 not average a dozen a day. It is barely possible that they 

 may come in abundantly during this month, as two or 

 tliree heavy catches have been made near the Cape May 

 Lighthouse. Those that are caught run large. The red 

 drum have arrived on their summer outing and came to 

 the Cape in the middle of August. A dozen have been 

 caught from the Iron Pier, where the ladies as well 

 as the men fish all day and till "night sinks upon the 

 dusky beach and on the purple sea." The water is HOft. 

 below the fishing point and it is fun alive to see a woman 

 hook a 301b. drum. She is generally more frightened 

 than the big fish, which ia sure to get away unless some 

 gallant gentleman climbs down the ladder to the sea, 

 gaffs the fish and bears in triumph the captive up-stairs 

 to the deliglited captor. 



The fishing at Anglesea, that paradise of fishermen, 

 has been simply extraordinary. Weakfish are scarce, 

 flotmders are not often found, but the supply of bass is 

 simply inexhaustible. 



Mr. R, Shimp, the railroad agent, gives me the follow- 

 ing figures, which he vouches for, as the number of 

 pounds of fish, chiefiy sea bass, sent away during the 

 last three months. Here are his figures, dated Sept. 3, 

 1891: Month of June.487,0()01bs.; July, 3C)3.3401bs. ; Aug,, 

 281,380; total, 1,031, 7201b3. 



Fifty vessels can be seen at the Banks any fine morning 

 when the wind don't blow, and till the cold of November 

 the sea bass will still furnish fun for the market-fisher 

 and for the amateur who does not specially desire to 

 bag a game fish. 



But anybody who desires heroic fishing can make his 

 soul serene with ample fun after the red drum. The best 

 mail to get, it' yoit car5, is Kit Ludlam, whose praises I 

 have herein sung before, and as brave a man as ever 

 stood upon a quarter-deck. He will take you out in the 

 Government boat, and if the sea is smooth as glass and 

 the wind is south or west then look out for sport. Not 

 yet have I wet a line in the September seas. But the 

 drum are there and I hope to tell you next week that 

 Captain Ludlam and J. M. S. have had one rare day's 

 sport, for I think there is not any game fish (not even the 

 lordly salmon in the Marguerite) which afford more fight 

 and more delicate sport than the gamy channel bass, or 

 red drum. 



There are plenty of bullheads and calico-backs on the 

 grassy flats and many are killed on Five-mile and Seven- 

 mile Beach. J. M. S. 



Cape jVIay, N. J. 



FISHING ON THE BROAD RIPPLE. 



INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 26.— The palmy days of 

 Broad Ripple as a fishing ground for the few sports- 

 men who existed in the past have now fled, and the 

 patient angler, be he a fly-fisherman or a live-bait man, 

 IS seldom rewarded with a rise or a catch, I have known 

 as many as twenty bass of 31bs. weight — fine looking 

 fellows they were— which were caught at that once fav- 

 orite spot in less than one hoitr's time; but that was in 

 "the long ago." The magnificent and rich scenery ad- 

 jacent to the Ripple is not sufficiently appreciated, and 

 by the frequent and delighted visitor never described. 

 It is frequented by many from this city daily, and by 

 many who cannot tell the difference between a miserable 

 shiner or a "stone roller." The fly-fishermen and those 

 who use the minnow are both frequent visitors at this 

 far-famed spot. The former will be very active by mov- 

 ing about from place to place with his seat, for want of a 

 more convient spot, all festooned with flies of different 

 colors and styles, casting every moment and looking 

 anxiously for a rise. His efforts are not rewarded, and 

 the piscator near him will be quietly watching his min- 

 now the while, and taking his fish every now and then. 

 His success is not doubted. I laughed once immoderately 

 at a fly-fisherman who was whipping the stream, his 

 creel upon his back, heavy rubber boots on, up to his hips 

 in water, with an umbrella over his head, protecting him 

 or his face from the sun, which was unmercifully hot. 

 If you tire of fishing at the dam you can follow the river 

 down to the road bridge, where you will find most excel- 

 lent sport, and in addition a gurgling spring of the 

 coolest and purest water that ever blessed the earth. 

 Immediately below the bridge you begin to find a broad 

 expanse of water, containing a great variety of fine fish, 

 and among them some very large catfish. One was 

 caught at this place recently that weighed over SOlbs. 

 Directly you perceive the Monon Bridge, which spans the 

 liver near here, and just above a small stream called 

 Williams's Creek, here the fishing is also good. The 

 citizens of Broad Ripple have projected an electric line of 

 road leading to the city, but this is yet to be built. My 

 friend W. and I frequently take a boat and row up the 

 river, our intent being chiefly to catch "blue gills," or 

 striped perch . We catch goodly strings of the same, and 

 the appetite is appeased quite as fully as though we had 

 partaken freely of bass. Bass are often taken in these 

 waters, but trot-lines, dynamite and seining have nearly 

 desti'oyed this game fish. The scenery is grand and 

 beautiful to behold. Great trees overhang the water, 

 and are draped with the wild grape and other vines. 

 The dogwood and black thorn exist unmolested, forming 

 often an impenetrable shade and protection to the weary 

 angler. The wild rose peeps out of the heavy under- 

 growth and shady nooks, and later in the season the 

 golden rod blooms in all its beauty, forming a scene that 

 is rarely beheld. B. F. R. 



BuRUKGTON Route.— But one night Chicago to Denver. "The 

 Burliiigt oil's Number One" daily vestibule express leaves Chicago 

 at 1 P.M. and arrives at Deiis'er at 0:15 P. M. the next day. 

 Quicker lime l;han by any other route. Direct connection with 

 tuis train from Peoria. Additional express trains, making as quick 

 time as rliose of :\\]y other road, from Chicago. St. Lonis and 

 I'euria to St. raul. Minneaiiolis, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Oho.vf>nne, 

 I IJeaver, Atchison. Kansas City, Houbtou and all points West, 

 Northwest and Southwest. — jidv. 



