Oct. 7, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



299 



Willamette Falls, while Mead and I took eight salmon 

 with spoon a kid between us caught fourteen with salmon- 

 roe. It occurred to us that the salmon was seeking 

 substantial food, which they were able to discover by the 

 sense of taste or smeU. Trout have been found in the 

 salmon's stomach more than 500 miles up the Columbia. 

 Not many, it is true, but some. 



More than a year ago, July 7 1893, in Forest and 

 Stream, I advanced the theory, which possibly has been 

 previously entertained by others, that the salmon may 

 feed while ia fresh waters, upon food as nutritious and 

 strengthening, although not of so substantial an appear- 

 ance as that of their fattening yards in the ocean; and the 

 fact that the calls of nature demand food for all active 

 Life, should warrant us in claiming the benefit of any 

 doubts. I suggested that the first run of salmon under- 

 take their pilgrimages at a season of the year when they 

 are likely to find a good supply of larvae and other soft or 

 gelatinous substances that wovdd be very nutritious with- 

 out leaving any excrementitious substance; and that 

 those that followed would have the advantage of the 

 spawn of their predecessors. Doctor .Jordan, whose 

 opinions we are all boimd to respect, kindly replying to 

 these suggestions in Forest Aisrc Stream of Aug. 4 1892, 

 said: "It may, however, be true that this early run of 

 salmon feeds upon insect larvae and other soft, nutritious 

 substances, which leave little or no trace in the stomach, 

 and I quite agree that much is yet to be learned of the 

 habits of the salmon in. fresh water." 



Charles Hallock, (whose opinions are respected by all 

 sportsmen) in Forest and Stream of July 21, 1892, said: 

 "For myself I have always maintained, and do insist, 

 that the food of the salmon in rivers and estuaries is 

 mainly of a pulpy nature, and therefore is digested with 

 such rapidi^ that it leaves small trace, if any, in the 

 stomach." 



Another suggestion might be worthy of some considera- 

 tion: We know that the digestive apparatus of the 

 salmon is very strong and active. The distinction 

 between the class of fishes and that of batrachians is very 

 slight indeed. The batrachians belong to the reptiles, 

 and we know that some reptiles seek seclusion and 

 become, in a sense, dormant when gorged. I beHeve that 

 when the salmon is gorged he seeks seclusion in the deep 

 holes and fissures in the bottom of the river, there to wait 

 the action of his rapidly operating digestive apparatus. 

 Should this be true, none of the thousands of seine- 

 fishermen that fish for a living with their shallow, float- 

 ing seines, would ever discover him in his retreat, and 

 woxild never know whether the salmon took food in fresh 

 waters or not. 



As I have said, I do not insist on any of my theories or 

 speculations regarding this interesting subject; but when 

 Doctor Jordan says that much is yet to be learned of the 

 habits of the salmon in fresh water; and when my friend 

 "Podgers" says that it is about as much of a muddle as 

 that of whether rattlers do or do not spit, I cannot help 

 feehng that even the most humble is warranted in offer- 

 ing a suggestion now and then for considei-ation at the 

 hands of the more learned. S. H. Greene. 



PoETiAND, Oregon, Sept. 2. 



CONNECTICUT BASS WATERS. 



Providence, E. I., Sept. 6. — Just returned from a short 

 trip to western Massachusetts and Connecticut, and a 

 few notes regarding the fishing in that section may not 

 come amiss. 



The waters in all the lakes and streams throughout this 

 country were very low. In many of the places the old 

 story of "fished out" was heard, especially in and about 

 Great Barrington, Mass. (Lake Buel, Mansfield Pond, etc. , 

 although good pickerel and bass catches are reported from 

 Long Pond.) 



In the Housatonio Eiver, in the rapids just below the 

 Canaan Falls, Falls Village, Conn. , there used to be good 

 bass fishing, and one cloudy moriiing, well equipped with 

 a sujjply of "yellow beUy" hoppers, a few small green 

 frogs and helgramites (salamanders they caU them in this 

 section), I started out to fish the rapids for bass. Nary a 

 rise or strike could be had -with the frogs or helgramites 

 and so the hoppers were tried. Near the boulders and 

 rocks in the stream there are many promising pools, 

 and it was not long before a good strike was obtained. 

 "A small bass" was the mental comment, for the fish 

 fought well if feebly, but upon bringing it in it was 

 found to be not bass, but an Sin. carp. The river was 

 fished that day with grasshopppers and the result was 

 a good catch of carp, but no bass. Reports from the 

 local fishermen of this place say that very few bass are 

 now caught in the river, but that large numbers of these 

 carp are obtained. The river is pretty weU fished by tlie 

 small boy, who keeps everything he catches, small or big, 

 and the result is that the bass are practically gone. How 

 these carp got here is a mystery, although they probably 

 came down the river from Great Barrington. Many 

 years ago when I was a small boy I was fishing in a deep 

 hole near the road bridge in the southern part of Bar- 

 rington, Worms were the bait and bullheads the ex- 

 pected prizes, but a strong fish took the bait, and after 

 some little excitement (for a youngster) a good-sized fish 

 was pulled in. A good catch was made at that time, 

 and the fishermen of Barrington pronounced them to be 

 carp. How they came in the river at that time was ex- 

 plained by the fact that Mr. Harry Leavitt, who owned 

 a large mansion near this part of the river, had a private 

 pond which he had stocked with the fish. The pond was 

 not much fished, and that spring there was quite an 

 overflow of the waters which resulted in the breaking 

 away of the private pond into the waters of the Housa- 

 tonio River. It is thought (and probably correctly) that 

 the carp got to the river and have bred there since. 

 At any rate there are plenty of them in the river now. 



At Twin Lakes the bass and pickerel fishing is better 

 than has been for some time. Good catches have been 

 made, and the excellent laws (which are very well kept) 

 have probably helped to bring back the good old-time 

 fishing that used to be enjoyed in these beautiful bodies 

 of water. By the way, ili-. Henry Bishop has purchased 

 the large island in the larger lake, and has now erected 

 a regidar "camp" thereon, and he and his sportsmen 

 friends enjoy each summer a joUy outing here. Mr. 

 Bishop is an enthusiastic sportsman in the true sense of 

 the word. 



LakeviUe, Conn., has a beautiful sheet of water. Lake 

 Wononscopomic, which in times past has yielded good 

 catches of bass. It has been frequently stocked, but 



from some cause the catches have been growing less each 

 year. Some claim that it is not a good breeding pond. 

 Possibly, but there are other reasons. Spearing for 

 suckers in the spring "accidently" rids the lake of many 

 good-sized bass and pickerel, in spite of the watchfulness 

 of the local sportsmen, and many of the fishermen keep 

 their catches even to fingerling bass. When we reached 

 this town we were told that there was no fishing there 

 at aU. We trolled the lake twice without a strike, but a 

 few days after took our rods, with grasshoppers and 

 worms for bait, and rowed out to an old familiar ledge 

 just outside of the weeds to try our luck. 



Grasshoppers were not touched, excepting by some 

 lai'ge yellow perch, and worms were tried for "pumpkin 

 seeds" and whatever we might get. (Yes, we had to 

 come to that, brethren, but who wouldn't, after sitting 

 for a long time catching nothing but perch, with our 

 hopes blasted by the reports of the "locals," and a catch 

 of two or three "pumpkin seeds" at one time when they 

 are biting lively Is some degree of sport when nothing 

 else promised better.) Well, we fished with worms, and 

 we hadn't fished more than five minutes when "whirr" 

 went the reel and down went the little 8oz. rod in 

 response to the strike of a good 3f-pound bass. Yes, a 

 genuine "good 'im," and we were so surprised we almost 

 forgot to keep him taut. But we landed him and several 

 more after. But the idea of a nice strong healthy bass 

 taking a worm lying on the bottom Like a bullhead, that 

 is beyond us. They didn't use to. Probably they have 

 been fed with shiners and 'hoppers and dobsons until 

 they wish a change. 



We caught several that morning, but the greater major- 

 ity were too small to keep and were carefully put back. 

 In the afternoon we tried other spots in the lake, catching 

 one fairly good one and a dozen smaU fellows, which were 

 put back for next year. 



There are plenty of bass in these lakes, and if they could 

 only be allowed to grow would make the old-time sport. 

 But you know if a small boy succeeds in hooking a bass, be 

 it large or small, he is the envy of every other small boy, 

 and the result is every small boy who fishes the lake will 

 keep his bass for show. I have seen large strings of perch 

 and ' 'pumpkin seeds" taken from this lake, and pretty 

 well sprinkled in were young bass. Give them a show, 

 boys, and you will be better pleased. 



Long Pond, some distance from the above lake, has 

 always yielded good bass. 



This pond brings to mind my first fly-rod. Many years 

 ago some of my old friends used to camp on the shores of 

 this lake every year. The rods used (poles, rather) were 

 stout cane, having a strong Line tied to the end. Live 

 bait was used, both minnows and helgramites. A bass 

 hooked was swimg back and forth, and if the hook did 

 not tear out or the tackle give way, was landed with no 

 "play" ceremony. 



When a fifteen-year-old youngster, I had purchased a 

 light lOoz. bass fly-rod of our friend Chubb, and that sum- 

 mer when I arrived in Falls Vfllage I was invited to spend 

 a day or two in the camp at Long Pond. Now, being a 

 boy I had never had much practical fishing with such 

 tackle, and the only knowledge I had of the scientific 

 "play" of the black bass was gleaned from the yarns of 

 the Providence fishermen and the poetical rules and regu- 

 lations as laid down in many of the fishing books. 



Early one morning I arrived at the camp just in time 

 to be taken aboard a flat-bottom fishing boat with two old 

 friends with their "poles." On the way to the pond I had 

 caught a good supply of grasshoppers. We reached the 

 spot where good catches had been made the day before, 

 and the two old-timers began operations with minnows 

 first. The "boy" carefully put together the httle fly -rod 

 and was hooking a gi-asshopper, when the fisherman in 

 the stern, hearing the sound of a click-reel, looked around 

 and said, "Why, what in thunder do you expect to land 

 with that thing?" meaning the rod. We will confess that 

 the "boy" had some misgivings himself after seeing the 

 others land their fish, and when at length a strike was 

 had and the reel began its music and the little rod seemed 

 to quiver with the excitement of the holder, the "boy" 

 actually wished he had a cod line and a good stout "pole" 

 to land his first bass with. A confused ma.ss of rules 

 came up before his mind: "Don't give him slack," "dip 

 the tip when he breaks," etc. , added to which the excited 

 remarks of the audience tended to "rattle" the holder 

 of the httle rod. "Why don't you yank him in and not 

 let him get away? " was one I shall never forget. But we 

 became calm and played the bass, and landed him too. 

 We fished all that day, and at night when we reached 

 the tents, the "boy" had a bigger string than the others, 

 and the excitement of that day, the playing of the bass, 

 and the pleasure of showing to two old fishermen that 

 even a city boy with "fancy tackle" could bag his game, 

 only impressed the hours more deeply than aU others we 

 have seen, and even now when there are times when we 

 cannot go fishing, we like to five over that day and 

 silently laugh at the many expressions of siirprise we saw 

 on the faces of om- old friends. It may seem like boast- 

 ing, the above, but I presume you have aU "been there," 

 and if I didn't tell about it, who would, not the scoffers 

 at the light tackle surely! 



But pardon the hberty we have taken. Our "notes" 

 have lengthened out into a yarn. Tode. 



The Chicago Fly-Casting. 



Our esteemed Western contemporary, in its report of 

 the Chicago Fly-Casting Club's tournament, mentions that 

 "a thirty to forty-mile gale blew during most of Thurs- 

 day, in consequence of which good work was impossible." 

 One can readily imagine that such a wind would toy most 

 persistently with a fly, and make casting whoUy impossi- 

 ble. The fly-casting on Thui-sday was done in the fore- 

 noon. My estimate of the wind was that it was quite 

 stiff, but far from being a gale. To place the matter on 

 an authoritative basis, I called at the U. S. Weather 

 Bureau, World's Fair Groimds, and there learned that the 

 wind in the forenoon of Sept, 21 did not exceed sixteen 

 miles an hour, and a large part of the forenoon it was less. 

 In the grounds it would be stiU less, as the buildings 

 would be obstructive to it. In the afternoon about 6 

 o'clock a velocity of twenty-four miles was registered. 

 The gale of that night which created so much alarm had 

 a velocity of forty-eight miles, except for one minute, 

 when it plunged at sixty miles. The circimastance is of 

 no special importance, save that it is noisleading to publish 

 that the contest took place under conditions which would 

 render the casting of a fly an utter impossibUity and bring 

 ridicule on the contestants. B. Waters. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



[JVoHi a Staff Correspondent.] 

 Good Bass Grounds. 



Chicago, 111., Sept. 20.— Mr. Samuel J. Ryan, of the 

 Appleton Evening Crescent, Appleton, Wis., writes me 

 the following letter, which I know wiU be of interest. 

 He says: 



"I have not noticed in' the Forest and Stream of^late 

 years any reference to the fishing in the Wolf River. 

 The bass fishing from above Shiocton to Poygan Lake on 

 this river is worth your attention. The September fishing 

 is particularly good, 4 to 6lbs. small-mouth bass being 

 frequently taken, and they seem as lively as those in our 

 swift-running Fox River," 



Later I met Mr. Ryan here in Chicago at the Fair, and 

 have his consent to pubhsh the following more specific 

 description of that country, which he has prepared for 

 Forest and Stream. In this he writes as follows: 



"The Wolf River in Wisconsin rises away up in Eagle 

 River country, running in a southerly course to Lake 

 Winnebago. The latter body of water emptying through 

 the rushing, roaring Fox River, by chutes and rapids, into 

 Green Bay, finding its way to the ocean by the Great Lakes 

 and St. Lawrence. 



' 'The Wolf is best known as a logging river. During 

 the past thirty-five years mflhons of pine logs have been 

 floated down the stream to the great saw mills that once 

 existed at Oshkosh. As the bulk of the pine has been 

 cut, WoLf log driving has almost ceased of recent years, 

 and the fish now have a chance for their lives. 



"The river south of Shawano is narrow, deep and 

 crooked, with mud bottom; the banks lined with heavy 

 second-growth timber. Anglers have sHghted this river, 

 partially because of the logging operations and partially 

 because only catfish, pickerel, red horse (suckers), sturgeon 

 and other non-game fish were supposed to swim in these 

 dark, deep watere. The time is coming, however, if nets 

 are kept out of the river, when this despised stream will 

 be eagerly sought by bass and trout anglers, 



"Numerous creeks, tributary to the Wolf, teem with 

 brook trout, chief of which is the Evergreen, and the up- 

 per waters wifl certainly afford fine trout fishing in the 

 not distant future (just mark that down in your note 

 book) as conditions are peculiarly favorable. 



"Now, as to the small-mouth bass. Within the past 

 ten years this monarch of the fresh water has multiplied 

 with such astonishing rapidity that I doubt if there is any 

 better ground in the State to-day. Food is plenty and fish 

 grow to great size. There are many excellent points from 

 Shawano to Oshkosh, a vast stretch of water, where one 

 may take 4, 5 and even 61bs. bass. Sept. 1, W. D. Boyn- 

 ton, of Shiocton, captured a small-mouth bass that 

 weighed several ounces over 61bs., from the river four 

 miles above that viUage. I brought back a 41bs. speci- 

 men last week from that place. A couple of days ago at 

 Gill's Landing I helped W. A, Gibbons, of Oshkosh, land 

 a bass that weighed 51bs, after being out of the water sev- 

 eral hours. 



"The fishing above Shiocton is particularly good. The 

 banks run straight down to the water line, and the water 

 is 3 to 10ft. deep at the bank. We fish from the bank. 

 The fly can be used nicely. The heavy fish have all been 

 taken this year with bait, crayfish and minnows, as the 

 warm weather has kept the big feUows down deep. Bait 

 must be taken to both Gill's Landing and Shiocton by the 

 angler. There are no accommodations at the former 

 place except boats. Take Wisconsin Central train and 

 carry lunch along. At Shiocton you can get everything 

 except bait. It is on the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul 

 Railroad, and is the home of Eben E. Rexford, the poet 

 (author of 'Silver Threads Among the Gold'). The bass 

 fishing will be better after a few heavy frosts. 



' 'I will be glad to f m-nish any further information upon 

 application." 



Such information as the above, of good waters and 

 specific directions as to how to get to them, is the best 

 sort of stuff this paper can have, and our Wisconsin fish- 

 ing newspaper man will have the thanks of Forest and 

 Stream's large family for his letter. The Northern Fox I 

 have long known as a good fly-fishing stream, but of the 

 Wolf I know little and would like to learn more by a per- 

 sonal experience with Mr. Ryan for companion. 



IThe Nepig-on, 



The Nepigon was this year apparently as good as ever. 

 Mr. W. H. Comstock, of Chicago, teUs me that he is so 

 informed by his brother, Mr. E. S. Comstock, who accom- 

 panied Mr. Arthm- Baderford, of Baltimore, Md., on the 

 trip to the Nepigon from which they have recently re- 

 turned. They took two Ullhs. brook trout, three of fiilbs. 

 each, two of 61bs. each, and many just short of those 

 heavy weights. Naturally they enjoyed themselves. 



Sept. 2S,—Mx. A. C. Van Horn, of Groton, N. Y., vis- 

 iting the Fair here, said to me the other day: "If you 

 want to know where to send somebody fishing, especially 

 some Eastern body, I wifl teU you. It is Loborough Lake, 

 Canada. A party of six of us, Messrs. W. H. Jennings, 

 J. M. Bruce, F. A. Barney, J. B. Losey, E. E. Barney and 

 myself, aU. of Groton, just got back from there, and we 

 had the best kind of sport on both large and small-mouth 

 black bass. Bass fishers won't miss it there." 



Fly-Catching. 



In regard to the late pleasant and highly successful 

 tournament of the Chicago Fly-Casting Club the owlish 

 daily press has the following to say: 



"Medals were awarded to the enthusiastic fishermen 

 who whipped the lagoon in the fly-catching contest." 



When will we be able to educate our friend, the daily re- 

 porter? E. Hough. 



909 Secueitx Boilding. Chicago. 



The Pennsylvania Pish Protective Association 



At the regular monthly meeting of the Pennsylvania 

 Fish Protective Association for September, at the rooms, 

 No. 1,020 Arch street, Philadelphia, after the election of 

 a large delegation of new members, there was a discussion 

 of the work to be accomplished by the association in cre- 

 ating pubhc sentiment to a greater respect of the laws 

 necessary for the preservation of fish. A large nmnber 

 of communications were read and acted upon, in which 

 the co-operation of kindred organizations in the State was 

 assured in the furtherance of this object. 



