3Srov. 36, 189i.l 



FOREST AND StREAM. 



373 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, III., Nov. 17.— Scientists wiU please come 

 to the front now a,nd wonder what the ''landlocked 

 salmon." "deep-water trout," or "salmon trout," of Trout 

 Lake, Wis., is. This fish is taken nowhere else in Wis- 

 consin so far as known, and is taken there only late in 

 the fall or early in the spring, just as the ice goes out. It 

 usually takes the phantom minnow, trolled very deep, 

 in the spring. About Nov. 1 Mr. W. H. Haskell, of this 

 city, brought down one of these "landlocked salmon," 

 which he took in Trout Lake on a spoon. The fish 

 weighed IS^lbs. , and was eaten by a party of nine Chicago 

 friends of Mr. Haskell. I did not see this fish, but it is 

 described as a beautiful one. Elsewhere I have heard 

 these fish described as similar to the lake trout of the 

 Gi-reat Lakes, and I have also beard mention of their 

 ".silvery scales." This is all I can learn about them, and 

 I should be very glad to see a specimen. 



Another oddity in fish life in the West. Do bass spawn 

 twice a year, or do they ever spawn in the fall? It would 

 be supposed that the spawning of bass, even in the 

 northern lakes, would be done by July or August at 

 furthest; yet three weeks ago last Monday Mr. W. H. 

 Lees brought to Chicago three magnificent bass, total 

 weight 16lbs., which he had caught iu Fourth Lake, 

 Madison, Wis., all of which were females full of spawn, 

 as was proved incontestahly. The roe seemed fully de- 

 veloped and the appearance of the fish would have indi- 

 cated that they were about to spawn soon. I do not 

 remember to have heard of a similar instance of late 

 spawners. 



Mr. J. Jeff Smith, of Channel Lake, one of the Fox 

 Lake waters infested by ice fishers, presents a strong 

 petition for appointment as resident warden for that dis- 

 trict, and is indorsed by the leading men of Antioch, who 

 wish to see that abuse stopped for the sake of their 

 summer customers. Mr. Smith thinks that a mere warn- 

 ing will stop George Clark and the other more persistent 

 ones, and says that if appointed will prosecute at once 

 where warning fails. He says that Clark's summer busi- 

 ness was hurt last summer by the showing up he got in 

 Forest and Stream last winter. This ia just as it ought 

 to be. If people up Antioch way want us to come up 

 there in the summer and hire their boats, and eat their 

 ham and eggs, and buy their souvenir spoons, it behooves 

 them to stop this winter fishing, so that we can have a 

 show for our money in the summer. This is pure equity. 

 Moreover, thanks to Forest and Stream, it's an Illinois 

 law. 



As was predicted would be the case, high water has 

 come in the Kankakee River, and found the Momence 

 fish way not yet in, nor is it likely to go in now before 

 next summer. Mr. H. Worcester, agent for the dam 

 owners, explains that it would be necessary now to open 

 the dam, which would incur expense. The dam being 

 under the injunction of the railway, they do not like to 

 move until the property right is settled, but promise to 

 open a section of the dam during the spring run next 

 year. 



In regard to the delay on this and other fishways, Mr. 

 F. L. Buck, the warden who had this in charge, explains 

 that he did all he could under the law, the statute, 

 amended by practical agreement in 1889 (Sec. 3) provid- 

 ing in favor of the dam owners that the fishway shall 

 not "impair the usefulness" of the dam. He also points 

 out that the fishway at Kankakee town was put in its 

 present out of the way location by consent of Dr. Bartlett 

 of the Fish Commission, and that other fishways also 

 rest their responsibility on Dr. Bartlett's broad shoulders. 

 Mr. Cole and I also were told that Dr. Bartlett directed 

 the building of the way at Kankakee, but we were told 

 this by the dam owners, and not by Dr. Bartlett himself. 

 To the contrary. Dr. Bartlett has just informed Mr. Cole 

 to the dii-ect opposite of this. The fact seems to be that 

 the dam owners promised Mr. Buck they would do 

 several things which they never did do, which latter fact 

 was developed by the trip of inspection made by Mr. 

 Cole and myself, when we found the ways far from 

 being in condition to warrant the issuance of certificates. 

 Between us all, however, I don't doubt that these fish- 

 ways will be built, and not only in a legal but in an 

 effective manner. 



Fish are dying by thousands in Vermilion River, prob- 

 ably from sulphureous water from the Streator coal 

 mines turned into that stream. The stench from the 

 dead fish has been very bad near Lowell. This mortality 

 is not uncommon in the Vermilion, and that stream has 

 the reputation of being very poor fishing water. 



Dr. J. A. Henehall, of the World's Fair Fish Exhibit, 

 called at my office when I was out of town. I wish I 

 could get Dr. Henshall in one hand and one of our small- 

 mouth — big-mouth, half-way bass in the other, so we 

 could settle a thing or two. But when the World's Fair 

 comes we shall have all these things on exhibition. 



Nov. 18.— 1 notice the remarks of Mr. E. S. Waters, of 

 Holyoke, Mass., upon the Kankakee fishways, and am 

 very willing to agree with him that he knows a great 

 deal rnore about the Wilmington dams, and the Kanka- 

 kee River, and a great many other things, than I do. I 

 thank him also for his correction of my statement that 

 the "Wilmington dams have no mills upon them," for it 

 is true, as I believe, that the lower and smaller dam is 

 used. The great upper dam stands apparently quite idle. 

 The canal service of the Kankakee is now in disuse. By 

 different parties about Wilmington I was told that the 

 upper dam is kept in repair In the hope of selling it, and 

 because the title, more or less imperfect, of a certain 

 amount of adjacent land was in some way wrapped up 

 in the maintenance of this dam. These parties also said 

 that it was desired to sell these lands. This was what I 

 meant by "speculative purposes," and although it is not 

 an essential point, I am very glad to be corrected upon it. 

 Should the sale be made, however, and should the "em- 

 ployment be given to thousands," I can see no reason why 

 the State of Illinois should not receive this benefit, and 

 still have left the right to say, without serious discussion 

 with ilr. Waters over it, whether or not it cared to have 

 fishways put in for the benefit of the fish, and for the 

 benefit of possible anglers, be they few or many. This is 

 really the essential point. It is not for dam owners to 



Pronounce upon or to weigh benefits, or to divide classes, 

 t is not for Mr. Waters or me to say whether or not this 

 fishway law is right. It is there on the statutes, and it is 

 in force. Those fishways are required by law to go in. 

 The Kankakee Association was organized, in part, to see 

 that they do go in. They will go m. 

 We did not measure the big dam at Wilmington, and 



I am glad to have the advice that it is 15 and not 17ft. in 

 height. From a dozen different sources we had heard 

 the height stated as 17ft. It appeared simply a gigantic 

 wall across the river at the very low stage of water at 

 which we saw it. I should not like to contradict a gen- 

 tleman, especially in so public a place, and Mr. Waters' 

 statement that fish go over the big Wilmington dam 

 must be left unchallenged except of other readers' experi- 

 ence and observation. 1 simply say that that must have 

 been during a very high and very unusual stage of 

 water. At the highest water of last spring, for instance, 

 I stood below an 8ft. dam over which the most active 

 fish could not go, let alone those heavy with spawn. As 

 I understand it, a fishway is no obstruction to the run- 

 ning of fish, even in high water. As to their being a 

 help in the average stage of water, there ia, provided the 

 way is put in properly, no question whatever among the 

 men who ought to know and who do know about that. 

 For the Massachuaetts bass I can not speak, but these 

 are Illinois bass, and they are progressive enough to go 

 over a fishway, fast and plenty, and we all know that 

 too well to talk about it. 



The question of the "spring run" and the fall dropping- 

 back is something which I know little about, nor does any- 

 body I ever met, I do know that the main breeding 

 grounds of this waterway are far below Wilmington and 

 below Marseilles, on what are known as the "Meredosia 

 flats." That is where the LTnited States Government gets 

 its young fish for distribution. W^e think fish hatched 

 there go up the river, indeed spread all through it. That 

 there is in the spring a general up-stream movement of 

 the fish, if possible far beyond the "first reach above the 

 pool where they wintered," all anglers know and Mr, 

 Waters ought to know. If blocked by a dam they can't 

 go up. But (V. Waters, ^ 3, Forest and Stream 313), 

 authorities hold that a loft, dam cannot block them. 

 Then I should ask Mr. Waters why they go to the trouble 

 of ascending the boiling flood which pours over such a 

 dam at such a time? 



If Mr. Waters will pardon me, I believe he is iu error 

 as to the hook and line fishing below a dam in Illinois, as 

 he says, "If no Illinois angler can fish within half a mile 

 of these dams, when will the Illinois man get his in- 

 nings?" The statute prohibits the catching of fish, "ex- 

 cept minnows for bait, with any device or means other 

 than a hook and line, within one-half mile of any dam," 

 etc., etc. Therefore it is precisely the angler who may 

 lawfully fish under a dam. Our best Chicago anglers, 

 however, do not fish directljr under a dam, especially 

 during the spring run. It is legal, but not sportsman- 

 like. 



As to the general conclusion which Mr. Waters reaches, 

 namely, that the more dams the more fish, there need be 

 small concern that it will receive serious attention any- 

 where but here, nor would it here were it not for the fact 

 that sometimes wrong impressions are taken up by those 

 who are ready for them, and there are wrong impressions 

 enough out now among the opposers of this good fishway 

 work. The Kankakee and Fox River associations are 

 already familiar with the statements of those owning or 

 interested in dams, though it ia only fair to say that these 

 have been usually arranged in a more accurate and logi- 

 cal way than that adopted by Mr. Waters. I don't claim 

 to know the ultimate facts about fish life, and I never 

 made but one continuous trip down the Kankakee River, 

 and though I tried to see both sides of the river and both 

 sides of the case, I can only thank Mr, Waters for help- 

 ing us oullx)n all that. 



Nov, 19H — The fish fight in Illinois goes bravely on, in 

 season and out of season. Two letters to President Cole: 



iLttNOLS State Fish OOAimasiON.— Qaincy. HI., Nov. 16, V^l.— 

 Mr. Geo. E. Cole, Chicago, HI: My attorneys iu the matter of 

 trespass suit tried at Rushville, in whicti a verdict of $63.00 was 

 found B.gainst me, have obtained a new trial, the Judge reversing 

 himself, so to speak. This looks more encouraging.— S. P. Bart- 



LBTT. 



Illinois Vallkt Fisa and Game Protective Association. 

 —La Salle, 111.— Geo. E. Cole, Chicago: I have much pleasure in 

 informing you that we have last week made the initial arrest 

 under the law against seining above Copperas Creels, dam. The 

 arrest was of two men who own and use a small steamboat for 

 flfthing. We tried them in Putnam county. They were defended 

 by counsel, had a jury trial and resulted in a verdict in nur favor 

 with a fine of $40 and costs. We have the steamboat levied upon, 

 and I think members of our association will purchase it, so in the 

 spring you can look for an invasion of Chicago from the canal by 

 the members of our association. We expect to move on the Sen- 

 achwine Lake people very soon,- H. L. Watlington, Sec'y. 



From all sides come reports that "Forest and Stream 

 is the only paper for fishing news." Or any other field 

 sport news. 



Nov. 20. — I want to jerk the sombre robe of prophesy 

 around me for a few moments, and say something which 

 seems to have occurred to no other pajjer. It is about a 

 State league of all our difl'erent protective associations. 

 This I have mentioned before in a general way, some time 

 ago. I believe this union into one working body of all 

 our active organizations is a possible and a practical 

 thing. Let us go further, and even call it a probable 

 thing. The annual meetings of the Fox River and Kan- 

 kakee River associations draw on apace (Jan. 14). That 

 opportunity ought not to be allowed to go by of taking 

 formal steps toward a State league. It is time now that 

 means should be discussed toward that end. The Kanka- 

 kee Association was prophesied in these columns. Why 

 should not the Illinois State League be prophesied also? 



The Fox River Protective Association has practically 

 ascomplished its work. The Illinois Valley Protective is 

 doing its work well, as per the record in these columns. 

 We have also the Rock River Protective, and I believe 

 also the Vermilion River Protective, and the Astoria 

 Protective, and the Beardstown Rod and Gun Club, and 

 perhaps yet other sti-ong societies devoted to the enforce- 

 ment of the fish laws. For mutual interest and joint 

 benefit these societies ought to unite. Good work has 

 been done aheady. It is not a drop in the bucket com- 

 pared to what the State League could do. 



The method of this is easy. There should be a call 

 issued at the meetings of the Fox and Kankakee associa- 

 tions Jan. 14 for delegates to meet at Springfield for or- 

 ganization. These delegates should elect a president and 

 also a secretary. The latter ought to be a paid officer, 

 and he ought to be an attorney, so that he could prosecute 

 game law cases at call. The State Fish Commission 

 ought to be willing to devote a part of its fund to the 

 salary of such a man. This is business. No man could 

 take that work except for pay, for it would absorb most 

 of his time. 



With such an officer ready, and with such a fund aa 

 oould be gotten together, it would be possible to prose- 



cute promptly any violation reported by the local men 

 from any given point. The local associations would re- 

 main in full force and activity, and the larger union give 

 them all a greater power. A very pronounced benefit 

 arising from such a society would be its political signifi- 

 cance and influence upon legislation. It would give 

 the sportsman a dignity which he has never yet held at 

 Springfield, and put ns all in far better jjosition to ask 

 for changes and additions in our game laws. 



These things are easy to talk about. In other States 

 they may have been talked about. But these younger 

 protective societies out here in Illinois have of late had 

 such a way of getting there that it is safe to say that a 

 movement of this sort would not end in talk. 



E, Hough, 



A WEEK ON DEAD LAKE, MINN, 



" /^OME, get up. Do you know what time it is? John 

 has been waiting an hour for you." This was the 

 greeting I received from my friend Colehour one October 

 morning as the light was breaking into my window, and 

 the John he mentioned was a mutual friend, John Foster, 

 from Chicago, who had written that he would be along that 

 morning for a week's outing with me at any place that I 

 might choose, Colehour could not go, as he was to meet 

 a party of friends later in the week and go into camp 

 with them. I was soon up, dressed and getting my 

 breakfast, and in a short time Foster and I were on our 

 way to Dead Lake, this being the place I had decided on 

 for our outing. Our camp outfit and a boat was loaded 

 on a wagon, and we made seats for ourselves in the boat 

 on top of all. Leaving the village of Battle Lake, we 

 went around the west end of the lake of the same name, 

 on past Silver Lake, over the Red River where it leaves 

 the famous Otter Tail Lake, on our right being the lake, 

 on the left a high bluff surmounted by many mounds, 

 remains of the mound builders; on over the Amor prairie 

 and finally into the rough wooded country which sur- 

 rounds Dead Lake. Three miles of rough road, boulders, 

 hills, sink holes, jolting and tossing, Foster grimly asking 

 now and then, "flow much more there was of that?" At 

 last we came out into the little valley through which runs 

 Dead River, and in a short time were on the shore of the 

 lake and our fifteen-mile ride at an end. After unload- 

 ing we started the driver back with the team, instructing 

 him to return for us Saturday. Where should we make 

 our camp? On the shore or out on the island? 



"Let's get as far away from every one as we can," said 

 Foster. So we loaded all our dunnage into the boat and 

 went for Isle au Mcllvaine, about two miles off. Here 

 we found a beautiful camping place and established our- 

 selves for the week. How we did enjoy it. The point of 

 the island where we were camped was a famous duck 

 pass. Here we generally had some shooting each eve- 

 ning, not great shooting as the weather turned warm. 

 Just off the peninsula opposite us was a famous place for 

 large-mouth black bass, and there any evening between 

 4 and 6 o'clock we could get all the fish we wanted, fine 

 fellows, too, running from 3 to 4lbs. 



The best fishing Ave had was one morning when we 

 went to an island about a mile above us, after woodduck, 

 large numbers of which were always to be found there. 

 Our success after the ducks was not great that morning, 

 so we went back to the boat, rigged up our rods, and 

 tried for bass off a rocky point on the north side of the 

 island. Were they there? Well, yes, rather. The first 

 cast Foster made brought to the net a 4lbs, small-mouth, 

 and directly I had the mate to it. Soon we were each 

 fighting with a fish; then I had one, then Foster, and 

 thus we kept on until thirteen of the gamy beauties lay 

 in the boat, the smallest weighing a trifle over 31bs. and 

 the largest slightly over five. 'Twas rare sport. "What 

 will we do with the fish?" I asked when the thirteenth 

 one was landed. "Blessed if I know," said Foster, "guess 

 we'd better stop," "Let's take them over to Carpenter's." 

 "All right." We strung the fish, and rowing to the 

 mainland we started for Carpenter's, about half a mile' 

 away through the woods. The fish made a good load for 

 us. When we reached the house we found no one at 

 home, so we went into the kitchen and laid the fish in a 

 row on the table, and a fine sight they vvere, wrote "Com- 

 XDliments of the season" on a piece of paper, signed our 

 names, pinned it on the largest fish, went back to the 

 boat and to camp. How we did enjoy that week. One 

 day the wind blew so hard we could not leave the island. 

 Another day it was so summer-like that we took a bath 

 and did not find the water disagreeably chilly. Wednes- 

 day morning as we looked across the lake we saw tents 

 up on the shore, and knew that a party of friends from 

 Chicago and Kansas City were there, and that evening 

 some of them came over to call and urge us to move over 

 to their camp. But we preferred to stay on our island. 

 All too soon came Saturday morning, when we must go. 

 Reluctantly we took down the tent, packed up, loaded 

 the boat, and bid adieu to the island. We ate dinner 

 with our friends and then started for Battle Lake, which 

 we reached in time for Foster to take the evening train 

 for Chicago. Myron Cooley. 

 Detroit City, Minn. 



Central Lake HERRiNas.— Central Lake, Mich., Nov, 

 16. — The advance guard of the herrings appeared on the 

 afternoon of the 14th in our river. They were reported 

 as seen in the river at Bellake at least sixteen days before 

 that. From Bellaire to the head of the Intermediate 

 River and foot of Central Lake is nearly or quite two 

 miles, and the lake is about seven miles long. I think it 

 quite likely that the home of these fishes is in Torch Lake, 

 and it would seem that they move quite slowly on their 

 annual migration if it takes them more than two weeks 

 to advance nine miles.— Kelpie. 



Mr. R. B. Marston, editor of the London Fishing 

 Gazette, is also president of the Societv for Promoting 

 the Reading of Papers among Angling Clubs. 



This May Be Read Two Ways, But Ojtlt One Right 

 Way.— As the fellow said about the buggy he particularly 

 liked, that it was the last cue he expected to own; so I say 

 the Forest and Stream is the last paper I expect to sub- 

 scribe for.— G. W, S. (Mississippi). 



A Book About Indians.— The Forest and Stream -wlU mail 

 free on application a descriptive circular of Mr. Grinnell's book, 

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

 and specimen illustrations from the volume.— jidu. 



The Velvet Train of the Monon Route between Chicago and 

 Giacinnati offers the best and moet luxurloua eeryice obtSoable 

 between those polats.— 



