Not. 4, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



887 



ANGLING NOTES. 



Supervisors May Save the Black Bass. 



Nearly ten years ago I wrote an article in Forest and 

 Stream, urging that black bass should be protected in the 

 State of New York during the month of June, because 

 they spawn aU through that month. The issue of the 

 paper containing my letter had also an editorial support- 

 ing all that I said on this subject, and more, for it said 

 that I had understated the case, and asked this question: 

 "Shall the fish be compelled to change their habits to 

 comply with the wisdom of our legislators, or shall we 

 acknowledge that they knew best when they want to 

 spawn and accommodate ourselves to them?" From that 

 time to this I have pleaded for a close time for black bass 

 that would protect them during the breeding season. No 

 one has pretended to justify the opening of the black bass 

 season on May 30, except from the selfish motive that 

 Decoration Day is a holiday and there are men who wish 

 to fish for black bass on that day. The fishermen of the 

 lake, for which this law was ostensibly passed, were 

 among the first to complain of the scarcity of black bass 

 and to ask that the State take measures to restock it with 

 adult fish. After the Codifying Commission had taken 

 testimony from one end of tlie State to the other, Gen. 

 Sherman, the president, wrote me that he fully agreed 

 with me that black bass should be protected until July 1, 

 but that it would be impossible to pass such a law, and as 

 a compromise the Commission would report June 15 as 

 the opening of the black bass season. We know how 

 quickly this was amended and the old date, May 30, re- 

 stored. The past legislation by the State is evidence 

 that no aid is to be expected in the future from 

 that source to preserve the black bass during the 

 breeding season, but those who are in earnest about, the 

 matter and desire to prevent the depletion of black bass 

 waters through the operation of the present unjust State 

 law, have a remedy if they will but take action and put 

 the remedy in force. Section 273 of the game laws (Chap- 

 ter 488, Laws of 1892) reads in part: "Boards of super- 

 visors may pass at their annual ssession such laws and or- 

 dinances as shall afford additional protection to and fur- 

 ther restrictions for the protection of birds, fish, shellfish 

 and wild animals, except wild deer, and to prohibit the 

 taking and killing of the same, but no such ordinance 

 shall be operative until a duly authenticated copy thereof 

 shall have been filed in the office of the clerk of the 

 county, and published in the papers in such county in 

 which the session laws are published, and filed in the 

 office of the secretary of State. * * *" (This and other 

 laws relating to the powers of boards of supervisors may 

 be found in full in the Book of tlie Game Laws.) 



Columbia county has already availed itself of the priv- 

 ilege granted by this section and has made a close season 

 for black bass in the waters of the county from Jan. 1 to 

 July 1, and Madison county has made a close season 

 during the same time for black bass in a portion of its 

 waters. Still another county passed a similar law and 

 complied with all the requirements to make it effectual 

 except to file the resolution with the Secretary of State. 

 Boards of supervisors hold their annual meetings at the 

 close of each year, usually in December, and now is the 

 time for aU who are interested in preserving the bass to 

 act by presenting the matter to the supervisors in their 

 respective counties. All the black bass that it may be 

 possible for the State to plant in interior waters will not 

 benefit them so much as a rigidly enforced close season 

 that covers the breeding period, and if fishing is to be 

 permitted during the breeding season, what good will it 

 do the waters if the State does furnish a few hundred 

 bass annually! The remedy is in protection, not in re- 

 stocking. 



"A Wrinkle." 



A few weeks ago, under this head, I wrote of attaching 

 split shot to leaders in a way that would not injure the 

 leader. I see that in the last issue of the London Fishing 

 Gazette a writer answers a correspondent who desired to 

 know how to do this very thing, and describes his method 

 of doing the trick. The editor of the Gazette, in com- 

 menting upon it in a foot note says: "We noticed in 

 Forest and Stream that Mr. A. Nelson Cheney recently 

 for himself made the discovery of this useful little dodge.'" 



I find, however, that the English device and my wrinkle 

 are unlike, and the former may be an improvement upon 

 my suggestion. My idea is to put the shot on a gut length 

 looped at each end and to fasten the leader to one loop 

 and the sneUed hook to the other, making the shotted gut 

 length the connection between snell hook and leader. 

 The English idea is to attach the shot to a piece of horse- 

 hair about 2in. long, with a loop at one end (gut would 

 answer the same purpose), and then fasten the horse-hair 

 by the loop to the leader above one of the knots. In this 

 way the shotted horse hair or gut length is independent 

 of leader and snell and may be attached or detached 

 without disturbing either. The editor of the Gazette says 

 of this device: ' It is a very old dodge in Ireland in 

 worm fishing for salmon, in Which style of fishing the 

 bait is thrown out and then worked gently over the bottom 

 of the river, and the shot being on a separate fine bit of 

 gut attached by a loop to the gut line proper, if they get 

 'hung up' on the bottom you pull and they break off^ thus 

 saving the rest of yom- tackle." This arrangement is 

 upon the same principle as the independent sinker and 

 sinker line used in deep trolling for lake trout. I prefer 

 my own idea for the reason that the shotted gut length is 

 part and parcel of the leader, being a continuation of it, 

 but I have given both, and anglers who are interested 

 may take their choice. 



Llvinfi- Pictures. 



Every angler who has a particle of poetry in his soul 

 and possesses a love of the beautiful — and is there an 

 angler who has not — is able to recall living pictures that 

 are framed in his memory simply because he is an angler. 

 It is Charles Kingsley who said: "The angler only is 

 brought close, face to face with the flower and bird and 

 insect life of the rich river banks, the only part of the 

 landscape where the hand of man has never interfered.'" 

 But there are other pictures besides those of nature that 

 the angler cherishes in memory. For years I have en- 

 joyed a mental picture which I saw one morning on Par- 

 macheene Lake, in Maine, of a young woman standing 



alone in a boat and casting a fly for trout. When my 

 guide and I roimded a point of land in the lake and came 

 upon the scene, somewhat unexpected to be sure, we 

 stopped and watched it with silent admiration, for the 

 caster was the personification of grace in aU her move- 

 ments, and there was a businesslike air about it all that 

 proclaimed the caster to be a master of the art. Last sum- 

 mer I was fishing in a New England lake and was one day 

 invited by two young ladies to go out fly-fishing for black 

 bass. One of them asked that I put an extra rod in the 

 boat that she might try her skiU. On the pegs in the rod 

 room I had, mounted, a 4ioz. rod with drawn gut leader, 

 and flies tied on about No. 14 hooks, which I had been 

 using for brook trout, and this I put into the boat. We 

 rowed to a bay filledwith rocky shoals, and there I put the 

 light rod into the hand of my f air yoimg hostess and sne be- 

 gan to cast, much to my astonishment, like an old hand at 

 the business, for I had understood that she desired me to give 

 her a first lesson in fly -casting. Questioned, she admitted 

 that she had cast a little on previous occasions without 

 taking a fish, and I was inclined to charge her proficiency 

 in a degree to inheritance. After a few casts, in which 

 the leader and flies were unrolled on the water as deftly 

 as the most fastidious fly-fisher could wish, there was a 

 rise from a black bass of about 2lbs. and the gamy fisher- 

 woman hooked it. Then I regretted that I had given her 

 the light rod, for I feared disaster, as the hook was not 

 large enough to take a secure hold in the mouth of the 

 fish. The young lady stood erect in the boat, her beauti- 

 ful, honest brown eyes fairly flashing with, pleasure, and 

 her lips parted with expectancy as the fish jumped again 

 and again. The fish was handled skillfully until in an 

 evil moment the hook came back empty, for the reason I 

 had feared. I then gave h.er an 8oz. bass rod, with 

 larger flies, and soon the look of disappointment at the 

 loss of the first fish gave way to one of satisfaction as she 

 hooked another bass, which she played safely to the land- 

 ing net, all the time balancing herself in the wave-rocked 

 boat, making a picture of health, loveliness and skill com- 

 bined that will not be forgotten for many years to come. 

 When one has the pleasure of looking upon such a picture 

 as this he wonders why more young women do not 

 engage in the graceful, health-givmg pastime of casting 

 the artificial fly for trout or black bass. There are women 

 who use the two-handed salmon rod, and use it success- 

 fully, though they are chiefly residents across the sea, 

 but here we have a good field for women with the single- 

 handed rod and lack only the performers. However, 

 every year finds a few additions to the number of women 

 who realize that fly-fishing is not a masculine monopoly, 

 and they are so warmly welcomed that I expect in time 

 the field will be more evenly divided. A. N. Cheney. 



BASS IN THE CONESTOGA. 



This large creek is one of many in Pennsylvania that 

 have become more or less noted black bass streams. One 

 of the peculiarities of the fish in the Conestoga is their 

 distribution, occurring in marked abundance in certain 

 portions of the streams, while between the more thickly 

 populated parts of the creek are stretches of water that 

 are almost without bass although the conditions are sim- 

 ilar to the well stocked portions. Between the Wahbank 

 Dam and Petersville Dam, a stretch of three miles, very 

 few bass are now taken. This was one of the favorite 

 parts of the creek for bass before the advent of the Ger- 

 man carp. These fish are getting so large and plentiful 

 that they are apparently driving the bass from the stream. 

 A curious incident happened along this part of the creek 

 last summer. A farmer was driving along the road, 

 which touches the edge of the creek, when a lot of carp^ 

 close to the bank and apparently spaw^ning, made such a 

 commotion in the water that his horse took fright and 

 ran away, breaking the vehicle to which it was hitched. 

 The farmer luckily escaped serious injury. 



Mr. H. C. Demuth tells us that from Potfs Landing to 

 Eden, more bass have been taken this year than ever be- 

 fore. The carp in this part of the creek are scarce. 



Anglers along the Conestoga are putting one and one 

 together, carp plentiful, bass scarce, and the former is 

 growing more and more into disfavor. 



Bass weighing as much as 31bs. have been caught in 

 the Conestoga, and from the tales one hears of strong 

 tackle broken in twain some monsters must inhabit the 

 creek. 



Speaking of the falling off of the bass fishing in the 

 Susquehanna, Mr. Demuth gives it as his opinion that the 

 apparent decrease in the numbers of bass in the river and 

 its tributaiy during the past few years is owing to the 

 prevalence of spring freshets, the nmddy water greatly 

 interfering with the natural reproduction of the fish. 

 This is undoubtedly the case, for floods that will wash and 

 carry coal of good size down stream for a hundred miles 

 or more are sure to cause great destruction among the 

 bass and other fishes. It takes no stretch of the imagina- 

 tion to conclude tliat by this cause milUons of the eggs 

 and young are annually destroyed. 



This year has been exceptionally favorable to the spawn- 

 ing of the bass and good results are looked for. Bart. 



Lake Wliatcom. 



New Whatcom, Wash., Oct. 23. — Eastern anglers de- 

 siring recreation and good fishing should come to Washing- 

 ton. Here is some of the finest fishing in the world. Nearly 

 all the streams and lakes abound with trout. The fishing 

 has been unusually good in Lake Whatcom this season, 

 and especially during September and the present month. 

 During one week not long ago, I am told that more than 

 1,000 pounds of moimtain trout were taken there with 

 hook and line. One man alone brought in nearly 301bs. 

 in one day. The trout average about l^lbs. apiece. 



Trout may be taken lawfully in this State from May 1 

 to Nov. 1. H. 



Are the Trout Returning to the Raquette? 



One day in August of this year at a point about one 

 mile from the Windfall House, I took from the Raquette 

 River 6 trout weighing 4^\hs. The largest weighed l^lbs., 

 the next in size Ifg lbs. Another morning I took from 

 the same place 10 trout weighing 5flbs, The largest 

 weighed lib. lacking loz., the next in size lib. less l^oz. 

 The six; largest weighed 4lbs. 5oz. I took them on a 9|oz. 

 Bristol steel rod, and you may readily imagine what sport 

 it was to kiU them. J. M. Graves. 



POLLOCK WITH A TROUT ROD. 



Manchester, N. H., Oct. 27.— Did you ever fish for 

 "pollock" with a trout rod? No I Then take advantage 

 of the first opportunity that presents itself and do so. 



Salvini and I created much merriment among the old 

 fishermen in Portland, Thm-sday, as we left the wharf in 

 a dory, with our trout rods, silk Knes and long sneUed 

 hooks. "Them chaps air a-goin' to ketch cod with trout 

 poles," remarked one old salt; but them chaps were not 

 after the sluggish cod, they were going out to test a 

 couple of new rods, and they succeeded in doing so to 

 their utmost satisfaction. 



Anchoring off Bug Light in about loft, of water, bait- 

 ing an ordinary-sized Limerick with soft clam, weighting 

 with a couple of BBs, we lowered our bait about 4ft. 

 below the surface and waited. A sharp pull and the 

 clicking of the little reel annoimced that Salvini had 

 "struck," and after a brief struggle the blue and silver 

 captive was brought within reach of the landing net and 

 started the string. 



Then came my turn; a big feUow, who fought like a 

 striped bass, taking the bait with a rush, and nmning 

 with it as gamely as a pickerel. In size they averaged about 

 a quarter of a pound. They kept us busy long after twi- 

 light, until Jupiter outshone the after-glow. 



I have heard that pollock take readily to the fly, and 

 wish some one who knows would enlighten me on the 

 subject. They are game enough, anyway, and as we 

 pulled homeward through the yellow light of the rising 

 moon, we counted forty-eight good-sized fish on the 

 string. Not bad? 



Try it some time with a light rod and tackle, and I'm 

 sure you will agree with me when I say, "It is gi^etrt; sport." 



TkE General. 



Frozen Suckers Ibawed Out. 



New Haven, Ct. — Editor Forest and Stream: Having 

 noticed several communications recently in your valuable 

 paper in regard to the killing of fish by freezing I wiU 

 give my experience of some forty -five yeai-s ago. On one 

 very cold winter's day I witnessed the hauling of a seine 

 under the ice in the Qurnnipiac River in WaUingford, in 

 which were caught about 100 suckers. It was a bitter 

 cold day; the fish were immediately placed in the wagon, 

 in which there was straw; and on our arrival home (some 

 four miles distant) the fish were frozen solid. They were 

 then placed in a tub of water, and in about half an hoxu-'s 

 time the fish took on an icy coat. Soon the ice-coated 

 fish seemed to have some life and began to move. Then 

 the icy coating of the fish began to flake off, and they 

 were soon swimming, and seemed as full of life as if they 

 had not been frozen. My impression is, from the facts 

 above related, that if fish are caught uninjured and im- 

 mediately frozen in the open air, are kept for several 

 days in a frozen state and then placed in cold water to 

 thaw, they wiU be as full of life as before. C. B. B. 



"Forest and Stream" at the Fair. 



A STAFF STORY OF THE MIDWAY. 



It having become necessary, from a journalistic stand- 

 point, for Foeest and Stream to have a thorough and 

 authentic story on the sights and doings of that great in- 

 ternational meeting ground, the Midway Plaisance of the 

 World's Fair, an assignment was made which put both 

 our Western representatives, Mr. Hough and Waters, on 

 duty for that purpose. For reasons found best by the 

 managing editor of the paper, during a recent visit to the 

 Fair, it was thought advisable a^so to assign for the story 

 a shorthand writer. The latter was instructed to follow 

 the two young gentlemen above mentioned, and being 

 unknown and unseen of them, to report faithfully what 

 they said, it being believed that in this manner a story 

 fully as authentic and perhaps more novel could be ob- 

 tained. These three persons were all that were detailed 

 for the work. The dog mentioned balow as one of the 

 party was included on the motion of the two young men 

 themselves. Om- shorthand writer transcribes the follow- 

 ing from his notes: 



They Get tlie News. 



Mr. Houan (reading telegram) — This yer shorely is 

 tough. Chief. "You and ^Ix. Waters take Midway to- 

 night. Rush two columns serious next week's paper." 

 Whatever do these people take us for, slaves? 



SIR. Waters (aUas Chief -with-two-Stomachs) —What, 

 work? Do they expect us to work? Not while the fish- 

 ing is good. No, sir. They can blaze with their serried 

 columns, I will not bend the knee. 



Mr. Hough — You can't, maybe, along of rheumatism, 

 AU the same, we got to get out two serried columns of 

 stuff before the 10:30 train. I was just going — 



Mr. Waters — So was I. Say, Colonel, we can't do it. 

 It's too much like labor, and labor is beneath two free- 

 men who are also gentlemen and scholars. Let's decline 

 their MS. with thanks. 



Mr. Hough— ]VIight fire us. 



Mr. Waters — Well, even so. I have got a good spot 

 picked out in the South Sea Islands, where we can go 

 and sit in the shade and think great thoughts and reach 

 up and knock oft' a himk of bread fruit when we get 

 hungrv. 



Mr. Hough — That an immortal snap. But I tell you 

 what, let's just do this for them this time and teU them 

 not to let it occur again. We can take in the Midway, 

 you know, and then do 3,000 words on the kaleidoscopic 

 quality and all that. 



Mr. Waters— AU right. Colonel. But we got to have 

 a dog. 



The Colonel— What for? 



The Chief {scornfully)— The dog is man's best friend 

 and the noblest animal what tht- re is. Besides, there's 

 lots of things on the filidway that you want to try on a 

 dog first. 



The Colonel— That's so. WeU, what do you say to 

 borrowing Smedgin's great Dane Achates? Smedgin is 

 away from home. 



The Chief— He'll do, I reckon. We'U get him. We 

 can call him Katie for short. 



The Colonel — ^Yes, we can whistle and wait — 



The Chief— Say, did you hear about the failure on the 

 Midway? 



The Colonel— Nope. 



