Oct. 31, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



S48 



Visitors to our Exhibit in tlie Angling Pavilion at 

 the World's Fair should not fail to examine the 

 stock of "Forest and Stream" bootcs which will 

 be shown by tlie attendant. 



VOLCANIC ASH FROM MT. SHASTA. 



Report to the U. S. Fish Commission concerning the Injurious 

 effect of the volcanic ash beds on Mt. Shasta, on the waters of the 

 McOloud River, California. By Livingston Stone. Printed in advance 

 of its publication by the Commission through courtesy of Commis- 

 sioner Marshal McDonald. 



Nearly fifteen years ago a peculiar cloudiness was 

 noticed at times in the summer in the McCloud River, 

 which at others was as clear as crystal. This somewhat 

 mysterious appearance in a pure mountain stream, fed by 

 the melting snows of Mt. Shasta, not only excited curios- 

 ity, but also created some alarm, as it was feared that it 

 might have an injurious effect in turning away the 

 ascending salmon from the mouth of the river. An in- 

 vestigating party was sent to the head of the MeCIoud at 

 that time to ascertain the cause, and they reported that a 

 creek called Mud Creek or Ash Creeli had overflowed its 

 banks and was discharging mud into the McCloud River. 

 They changed the channel and for a time the evil was 

 remedied. 



Recently, however, this cloudiness has very much in- 

 creased, so much so that after very hot days the usually 

 clear waters of the M( Cloud look almost as white and 

 muddy as the Missouri at St. Louis. In ra'iponse to a re- 

 cent report of mine to Washmgton on the subject I re- 

 ceived instructions to go to the upper waters of the river 

 and again investigate the causes of the trouble. Accord- 

 ingly, on May 'ZQ I left Baird Station for the upper waters 

 of the McCleud, taking with me Mr. Seymour Bass, the 

 foreman of the station. On arriving at Sisson's Camp on 

 the McCloud we took a guide and proceeded to make ex- 

 aminations. We found a very interesting state of affairs, 

 though from a natural history point of view a very dis- 

 couraging one as regarded the practical future of the 

 McCloud River 



We found that far up the mountain side, there was a 

 vast bed of volcanic ashes, doubtless deposited there in 

 remote ages past when Shasta was an active volcano. 

 In the heat of summer quite a considerable stream of 

 water is formed by the melting snows on this peak of 

 perpetual snow. This stream takes its course directly 

 through this bed of ashes just mentioned, and as it flows 

 at present, deposits them in the McCloud River and causes 

 the mysterious cloudiness which the salmon fishery in- 

 terests now make it desirable to avoid. 



The question now arises, "Why is the river any worse 

 off at the present time on this account than it was twenty 

 years ago?" This appears to be the explanation. Twenty 

 years ago and previous to that time, the stream familiarly 

 known as Mud Creek, flowed over a tract of table- land 

 from twenty to fifty acres in extent, where it distributed 

 itself in various channels or deltas and in which it de- 

 posited the fine ashes, which it held mechanically in its 

 waters. This plain or table-land acted as a great settling- 

 box (to use the phraseology of the miners), and caught by 

 precipitation the fine ashy sediment which is now carried 

 into the McCloud River. 



This plain or natural settling-box has now been com- 

 pletely filled up with the ash deposit, united with the 

 fine sand which occurs with it, and no longer acts as a 

 catch-box to receive and detain the fine ashy sediment, 

 which comes down from the si'ie of the mountain. One 

 effect of this has been to turn the once fertile plain into 

 an absolute desert of sand and ashes, and another effect 

 of it has been to carry some of the deposit already made 

 on the plain into the McCloud River. 



The stream flowing from the mountain side, as it cannot 

 distribute itself any longer on the plain below, now simply 

 cuts a channel for itself through the accumulated deposit 

 that it has made, and carries with it into the McCloud not 

 only the ashes it took along with it from the mountain, 

 but also what it gathers on its way through the vast de- 

 posits on the plain. 



This explains why the turbid appearance of the McCloud 

 has increased to such an extent so very recently. How 

 long this state of things will last no one can say. The 

 ash deposit is far above the timber line in perpetual snow 

 and has never betn thoroughly exananed. 



Certain it is, however, that the sedimentary deposit is 

 increasing to an alarming extent in the McCloud River. 

 We were informed at Sisson's Camp, about forty miles up 

 the river and a short distance below where the ashy 

 stream at present comes in, that the deposit was so great 

 there, that all the deep trout fishery pools of the McCloud 

 were filled up by it last year to a level with the higher 

 portions of the bed of the river, and that the trout fishery 

 was completely ruined. The river being rapid at this 

 point, much of the ashy sediment is carried beyond Sis- 

 son's Camp and distributed in pools and eddies along the 

 channel of the river for many miles. 



Before it reaches Baird Station, which is two miles 

 above the mouth of the McCloud, almost all, if not all, of 

 the heavier sediment has been deposited: but there're- 

 mains in the river countless millions of exceedingly fine 

 particles of ashes, of apparently about the same specific 

 gravity as the water, wiiich give the river the cloudiness 

 which has been mentioned. One cannot say for a cer- 

 tainty that this turbidness actually prevents many salmon 

 from coming up the McCloud, but as it is well known that 

 salmon prefer clear streams to turbid ones, it is safe to say 

 at least tliat the ashes in the river are very vmdesirable. 

 And not only do they possibly prevent salmon from com- 

 ing into the river, but they actually destroy many miles 

 of spawning beds, where the salmon have been accus- 

 tomed to swarm in great numbers and deposit their eggs. 



To obviate the trouble and keep the ashy deposit out of 

 the McCloud is a difficult problem to solve. It appears to 

 be one of those instances where the mighty agencies of 

 nature mock at the power of man. No human power can 

 prevent the sun from melting the snows on Mt. Shasta, or 

 the water thus created from pouring down the mountain 

 aide. Only one possibility remams and that is to turn 

 the melted snow stream on to other level places, using 

 them for temporary settling receptacles and thus doom 

 other fertile plains to descrts— and this at present seems 

 exceedingly impracticable. Some of the efforts that have 

 been made for temporary relief are rather ludicrous. 



For instance those interested in the trout and salmon 

 fishery at Sisson's Camp, on the McCloud, turned the 

 stream at one time into the dairy farming valley of Squaw 

 Creek, which joins the McCloud below Sisson's Camp, 

 The dairy farmers on Squaw Creek who, very naturally, 

 did not want their dairy farms turned into a desert, any 

 more than the fishermen wanted their trout pools filled 

 up, immediately turned the stream back into Elk Cieek, 

 which, emptying into the McCloud a short distance 

 above Sisson's Camp, brought the dust and ashes back to 

 the Sisson trout pools again. 



There is, however, one method which if resorted to 

 every year will for the present bring temporary relief, 

 and that is to take back the stream (Ash Creek or Mud 

 Creek) from Elk Creek into which it has been turned and 

 restore it to its orignal channel, and then to distribute its 

 ashy waters through several smaller artificial channels or 

 deltas, in which they may precipita,te most of their sedi- 

 ment before they reach the McCloud. 



This would of course create more new deserts on a 

 small scale, and would necessitate the presence of some 

 one all summer on the spot, where the streams could be 

 watched. While land is no more valuable there than it 

 is now, this plan for temporary relief would doubtless be 

 Vjracticable, and by engaging the services of some person 

 living in the vicinity the expense could probably be kept 

 within reasonable limits, say $100 a year. 



In conclusion, allow me to add that the subject presents 

 a new and very interesting field for scientific inquiry, and 

 it is to be hoped that some geological or other scientific 

 party will sometime voluntarily undertake a thorough 

 study and examination of the situation which promises 

 such fruitful results. Livingston Stojje. 



THE SEDUCTIVE SMELT. 



I wish I were a flshl 



Oh, wouldn't that be neat? 

 Made into a sweet bouquet. 



Laid at some lady's feet? 

 For when she picked me up. 



If so inclined she felt, 

 And put me to her little nose, 



Why, then I'd be a smelt. —Pollock's Rip. 



Smelts are running bravely now; or if they don't they 

 ought to, for there are hundreds of fishermen after them 

 in earnest. Smelt fishing is all the vogue. Down East is 

 the place to catch them just at present, although their 

 geographical range is from the Potomac River to the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence, including both salt and fresh water 

 locations, three varieties being represented in the distribu- 

 tion. They are a beautiful fish of silvery brightness, 

 with a lateral stripe of silver running from shoulder to 

 tail, which Senator Stewart might envy, and are almost 

 translucent. They are much prized for the table, and 

 when cooked and served the backbone cleaves to the flesh 

 unbroken, and all the little bones are chewed up and 

 swallowed incontinently, while a fresh cucumber flavor 

 lingers in the mouth in a grateful sort of a way whiph 

 epicures appreciate. At this season they afford much 

 sport to the angler, and are taken in tidal currents along 

 the coast with a light rod, hooks and line, baited with 

 shrimp, two 6-inch snoods, with their hooks attached, 

 being bent on to the ends of a wire spreader shaped like 

 a letter A. Quantities are also netted (illegally) at the 

 outlets of creeks where they are inclined to congregate, 

 and in winter multitudes are taken through holes cut in 

 the ice, sometimes as many as SOOlbs. per man per day, 

 which at the market price of twenty-five cents per pound 

 makes a good showing in dollars for a single day's work, 

 though we are not at present writing considering work, 

 but sport. ' 



Portsmouth, N. H., is a favorite winter resort for smelt 

 fishermen. In February and March they are in their 

 prime, for they are essentially a winter fish, spawning in 

 those months. They seldom exceed a foot in length and 

 the average is hardly more than 5 or 6in., the latter size 

 being yearlings and more highly prized, as the large ones 

 axe coarse and tough. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence they 

 are often taken with small scarlet (ibis) flies while fishing 

 for sea trout. In Maine and Massachusetts they are pro- 

 tected dm-ing the months of April and May. 



One of the favorite smelting grounds near Boston just 

 at present, and for a fortnight past, is at Nantasket, where 

 one will see at every tide from two to a dozen skiffs 

 anchored at chosen places best known to experts. Weir 

 River and the vicinity of Bumkin's Island and Paddock's 

 Island are good places, the Boston Herald tells us, and so 

 are Strawberry Hill, near Hull, and the little bight, or 

 "hook," which makes into the land between the Hull Y. 

 C. pier and the steamboat landing. Smelts also like to 

 gather around the lobster cars and under the floats at the 

 boat houses. In every skiff there will be one or two fisher- 

 men and every man intent on smelts, all eager. Every 

 newcomer is regarded as an interloper by those already 

 on the ground, and if he happens to drop his kelleck into 

 the water with a "kerchunk," so as to scare and scatter 

 the fish, curses and thin-spaced imprecations from the 

 other boats drop like hot shot all around him, for it will 

 take fuUy twenty minutes for the school to gather again, 

 which is longer than most country schoolniai-ms allow for 

 recess. From half flood to full and half ebb is the best 

 time of the tide, though one is often apt to catch more 

 pollock and haddock than smelts until the tide begins 

 to turn. When the waters commence to run out of the 

 estuaries and inlets the smelts are on their feed. Voracity 

 drives out caution then, and suspicious fish which have 

 been wary untd now lose all their shyness snatching the 

 tempting bait with avidity, and without reserve. Every 

 boat is provided with a bait car filled with sedge grass or 

 seaweed, which keeps the shrimp fresh and active. The 

 shrimp cost $3 a quait at the market, but if one Avishes, 

 and knows how, he can net his own shrimp in the creeks 

 with a long-handled scoop. A gill of shrimp will answer 

 to start in with, but it will take about %o worth to stock 

 up a bait car for an afternoon's fishing. Hooks are put 

 on lengthways, the point into the tail, through the body 

 and out at the head. Shrimp prefer it that way. By the 

 time the novice has learned the trick most of the bait is 

 gone. Just then the fish begin to bite sharp and he has 

 to borrow. At the finish, after reckoning up all expenses 

 of the outing, the boat hire, the bait, the rig, the car 

 fares, the luncheon, and the Waukesha water, the 

 amount of fun and fish required to balance the account is 

 considerable. 



Upon the whole smelting may be regarded as a high 



art. It engages all the perceptive faculties. Something 

 else besides nose is requisite, as will appear upon the face 

 of it at the outset. Much, of course, depends upon the 

 shrirnp, but an adept will take two smelts to a tyro's one, 

 especially if the latter is fishing with a single hook. One 

 should feel repaid for his time and outlay if he boats no 

 rnore than a dozen fish at the first attempt. Time and 

 tide will serve, again, and perserverance must bring 

 eventual reward. Sententiously speaking, "Pas de lieu 

 Rhone que nous." Charles Hallook. 



Hadley, Mass., Oct. 7. 



SUSQUEHANNA "SALMON." 



Clearfield, Pa. Oct. 9.— My wife and myself left 

 Clearfield Monday Oct. 3, for a few days' salmon fishing 

 on the west branch of the Susquehanna. River and Pine 

 Creek in Lycoming county, bordering on Clinton county. 

 We took the early morning train at Clearfield via P. R. R. 

 for Lock Haven, and there we changed cars to the P. & 

 E. R. R. and got off at Pine Station on the Susquehanna 

 River, six miles below Lock Haven. At tliis point Farmer 

 Rodabaugh met us with a team, and at 12:15 we were en- 

 joying a good country dinner such as only Mrs. Roda- 

 baugh knows how to cook with the assistance of her 

 daughter and daughter-in-law. After dinner we were 

 joined by Ash Rogers, one of Jersey shore's crack 

 fishermen, who never fails to catch fish when he is 

 allowed to fish; but on this occasion Ash was elected to 

 row the boat for Mrs. Clark. About 3 P. M. we were 

 ready with our trolling lines, spoon hooks and laraper 

 eels for bait. At this point on the river Pine Creek 

 empties into the Susquehanna, and there is a stretch of 

 deep water for at least one mile and a half. The depth of 

 the river here is from 5 to 15ft., and at least one-fourth of 

 a mile from shore to shore. It was in this water that 

 Mrs. Clark caught a salmon on Aug. 38, measuring 29in. 

 in length and weighing 6pbs. It took at least fifteen 

 minutes to land him as no landing net is used, and we 

 generally row to shore to land our fish, having lots of 

 sport in the deep water. We use Ught bass rods with lots 

 of line from 150 to 300ft., which makes the sport very 

 exciting when a big fish is hooked and landed. Well, we 

 will return to this trip. We trolled the river on Monday 

 from about 2 P. M. until a late supper or as long as we 

 could see, and did not get a strike, and we gave up think- 

 ing we had caught all the salmon in this water on our 

 last trip, and returned home to sujjper. 



Tuesday morning we were up at daybreak, but the 

 weather looked threatening. After breakfast we seated 

 ourselves in the boat, and we had made but one turn in 

 the river when it commenced to rain in torrents, and 

 while j-o wing for home at the rate of at least five miles an 

 hour with my spoon hook spinning on top of the water, I 

 hooked a pike (some people call them pickerel) 33in. long, 

 weighing SJlbs. This ended our Tuesday fishing, as It 

 rained all day and \\ q were kept indoors. 



Wednesday morning it did not rain, but was cloudy 

 throughout all of the day. Farmer Rodabaugh hitched 

 up his team and took us up Pine Creek about three miles, 

 and we struck a nice strip of dead water, in the middle of 

 which an old bridge pier was visible. After getting a 

 boat, Rogers took the oars and we started in to troll. We 

 had not gone over 50yds, until I had hooked a salmon 

 and landed him safely, and in less time than it takes me 

 to write it I hooked four, the largest measured 26in. and 

 weighed 5 lbs. strong. This was enough sport for one day 

 and we returned home. Rogei-s dragged our fish in the 

 water in order to keep them alive, so that we could put 

 them in our live box until we went home to Clearfield. 



Thursday morning we got up at day break, and 

 Farmer Rodabaugh hitched up his team and took us back 

 to this same water where we got two boats, Rogers row- 

 ing for Mrs. Clark, and Ernst Rodabaugh rowing my 

 boat. We trolled for two hours faithfully, and never got 

 a strike. Rodabaugh said, "We have paddled this water 

 until it is so thin that the boats will hardly float." We 

 then went to shore and visited John Nepley, who owns a 

 small farm on the banks of Pine Creek. John told us all 

 about farming and how he whipped the Beech Creek 

 Railway Co. in a lawsuit for right of way through his 

 lands, while we ate his grapes and pears, which he had in 

 abundance. I suppose we visited Mr. Nepley for about two 

 hours, when Mrs. Clark and Rogers commenced to troll 

 again. I heard Rogers hollow, "Come in out of the wet," 

 and looking down the creek I saw Mrs. Clai-k tugging and 

 wrestling and her 8oz. rod almost bent double, and I 

 knew she had a good big one hooked. Rogers would 

 say, "Reel in and keep your line stretched, he is a dandy. 

 Come in out of the wet, it is too damp for you out there." 

 When the shallow water was reached, I could see by the 

 splash that it was a big one. After seeing them land their 

 fish, I started in fishing myself, and in the shortest time 

 imaginable, Mrs. Clark landed three — one measuring 38in., 

 weighing 7^1 bs.; one 27in,, 6|ibs.; one 20in., 3lbs. My 

 catch was four, weighing from 3i to 4lbs. each. They 

 then quit biting just as suddenly as they commenced, 

 and we returned to om- quarters. 



One of the peculiarities of the salmon in our streams 

 here is that when they bite they bite fast and wicked, 

 and when not in the humor, a fisherman might as well go 

 home. 



Friday we returned home to Clearfield with eleven 

 salmon and two pike, the total weight being 51 lbs. 



Thos. E. Clabk. 



Spawning of Quebec Trout. 



It was quite dark Saturday evening, Sept. 30, when I 

 took my last trout for the season and laid away my rod 

 for nearly eight months to come. The close .«eason com- 

 mences Oct. 1, but in some of our waters I had stopped 

 fishing two weeks sooner, finding the eggs far advanced. 

 In the lake where I was the trout spawn very late, never 

 until after the ice has taken. We have had good fishing 

 all the season and the trout, though never attaining extra' 

 size have averaged larger than I ever knew them before 

 —as well as plenty. One pleasant evenmg while rowing 

 about half a mile to the camp I counted fifty-two "rises," 

 visible from my boat, in perhaps eight or ten minutes. 



X. 



Basswood Lake. 



SowERBY, Algonia, Oct. 7.— The lake ti-out are taking 

 first-rate just now. Was out yesterday for a couple of 

 hours, caught seven, varying from 3 to 4|lb3. 



G. F. Dyek, 



