162 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. M, mi. 



Two years ago the Fishing Gazette, London, contained 

 a supplement showing salmon from the egg ready to 

 hatch, one day old, two months old, and so on to twelve 

 months old, when the fish had reached the smolt stage 

 and put on a silver coat over its parr marks and was 

 ready to go to sea. Mr. Andrew Young was quoted as 

 follows: "The last figure is that of a smolt or salmon fry 

 one year old. * * The young fish, 'clean as a smelt,' 

 has assumed its migratory coat. * * The length of the 

 specimen here represented was 5£in. * * They are 

 fully prepared to leave the streams of their nativity for 

 the trackless ocean. * * We have various accounts of 

 their size at this age. Some make the smolts in general 

 Sin. long; some allege to have seen them 10in., while 

 others have ventured even as high as 14in." 



Even in England there seems to have been a question as 

 to when or at what age the salmon becomes a smolt and 

 goes to sea, judging by what Mr. Young says further: 



"On the contrary, the experiments of Mr. Shaw were 

 made with ova and fry taken from the waters of the river 

 Nith and removed to experimental basins of .pure spring 

 water. .* * * His ' converted parr,' as he designates 

 it, or smolt, being two years old, while ours is only one. 

 At two years his smolt measures about Gin. in length; 

 ours at the age of one year measures 5J,-in. , and at the 

 age of two years will be most probably a well conditioned 

 salmon weighing from 9 to 141bs. * * * At this age 

 of eighteen months Mr. Shaw's engraved specimen is 

 about 5iin. long. * * * It could barely weigh 6oz. 

 * * * A great error exists somewhere." 



Sure enough, a great error exists somewhere. The size 

 of young salmon is no sure guide, for yearlings on Long 

 Island have been taken 7in. long, while yearlings from 

 the upper Hudson measure but 5in. As to a 5^-in. salmon 

 weighing "barely 6oz.," it would not weigh 2oz. A brook 

 trout in good condition and aim. long, excluding the tail, 

 or a trout which by measuring the tail would just about 

 save a man from breaking the 6in. trout law, weighs 

 lioz. Salmon weighing lib. and 14Jbs. have been taken 

 in the lower Hudson in September, and were supposed to 

 be about 18 months old, but are they not older? Who will 

 tell? One thing I do know and that is that some salmon 

 are in the brooks where planted, 7a to 100 miles above 

 tidewater, when they are 18 months old. 



A. N. Cheney. 



BOSTON AND MAINE 



February Trout Fishing in Maine. 



Hardly does one close season on game and fish begin 

 when another opens. The legal close season on trout, 

 togue and landlocded salmon in Maine is ostensibly from 

 Oct. 1 to May 1, but there is a provision to the law that 

 has caused a good deal of discussion. It reads: "Pro- 

 vided, however, during February, March and April citi- 

 zens of the State may fish for and take trout, togue and 

 landlocked salmon, and convey the same to their own 

 homes, but not otherwise." This provision makes the 

 open season in that State begin on Feb. 1, though it does 

 not apply to all lakes and ponds. But it opens ice fishing 

 in a way that is not agreeable to those most interested in 

 the fisheries of the State. It would seem to apply only 

 to citizens of the State, but the law is easily got over. I 

 know of two or three parties that go every year for ice 

 fishing for trout into the State of Maine in February and 

 March. They are mainly citizens of Massachusetts, but 

 are interested in clubs and club houses in Maine. They 

 employ Maine guides and help at their camps, and the 

 fish taken are generally taken to their camps to be used 

 there. Maine guides cut the holes and bait the hooks, if 

 the Massachusetts sportsmen desire them to do so. But 

 the fishing is run entirely in the interest of the Massachu- 

 setts sportsmen and they calculate to get all the fun out 

 of it. A Boston salesman who came through from Lewis- 

 ton, Me., on Saturday mentions a fine string of fish he 

 saw at the latter city. The fish came from Cobbosseecon- 

 tee Lake. Among the rest was one trout that weighed 

 31bs., with a number of white perch and pickerel. 



Some Maine Personals. 

 It seems that Capt. Fred. O. Barker, so well known at 

 the Rangeley Lakes, and mentioned in the Forest and 

 Stream last week as on his way to New York and Florida, 

 has gone to California, after all. He will doubtless be 

 back to Maine in season for the earliest fishermen at 

 Bemis and the Birches, on Lake Mooselucmaguntic. I 

 understand that Mr. Rowell, also well known as a steam- 

 boat man on the Rangeley Lakes, has built a new hull for 

 Dr. Haven's steamer the past winter, and that he will 

 have it all ready to launch when the ice goes out in the 

 spring. News also comes from the same source that 

 J. Parker Whitney, the writer of those charming 

 letters in the Forest and Stream on salmon fishing 

 in saltwater, etc., will occupy his beautiful camps at 

 Mosquito Brook, Richardson Lake, this summer. Mr. 

 Whitney spent the greater part of last year on the Pacific 

 coast, and it was the first season for many years that he 

 has not been at his Maine camps, at least a part of the 

 time. It is also understood that Mr. S. Betton, of Phila- 

 delphia, will occupy his splendid camps at Upper Dam 

 this year. Mr. Betton's only son died at those camps a 

 year ago last fall, and it was then understood that the 

 father never wished to visit the scene of so great an afflic- 

 tion again. But the old loves are strong; Mr. Betton has 

 been a regular visitor to his camps for over thirty years till 

 last year. That these two men are coming back will be 

 good news to the people of Andover, Me. Mr. Betton owns 

 a handsome house there,|>nd Mr. Whitney is one of the 

 most liberal employers of Andover guides. Mi-. Milton 

 Cutting has worked for him regularly every season till 

 last year for nearly forty years. Special. 



Bass in Northern Minnesota. 



West Dtjltjth, Minn.— I believe northern Minnesota 

 offers the best bass fishing of any locality in the country, 

 and I would be happy to see any true lovers of the pisca- 

 torial art from the effete East come among us. Can 

 promise them lots of sport, and if they so desire, take them 

 to lakes rarely visited by white men. I am not a guide 

 but an ardent fisherman. ' 



I still continue to look upon Forest and Stream as the 

 best sportsman's journal, and could not do without it. I 

 have copies of it saved since 1878 and for the past four 

 years have kept complete files. They are invaluable as 

 reference books. t, 



Bass Taken Through the Ice. 



Auburn, Pa.— Editor Forest and Stream: Tee fishing 

 for pickerel was diligently followed through January and 

 with remarkable success. From the time the ice first 

 formed to Jan. 20, all who went fishing got fish in abun- 

 dance; and the fish taken averaged exceptionally large. 

 One party took six from White's Pond weighing Sollbs. 

 The largest weighed 5 J. On Jan. 20 the fish ceased biting 

 and all attempts since proved failures. All who regard 

 the future supply were glad when they ceased biting. 

 Another ten days of such slaughter would have stripped 

 the ponds bare. At the close of the month the fish were 

 distended with spawn, and it was a shame to destroy 

 them. 



It was claimed by those who advocated the change in 

 the law allowing ice fishing for pickerel that bass never 

 took the hook in winter. The argument has been dis- 

 proved by the taking of large numbers of bass by pickerel 

 fishermen at Lake Carey; and not even a protest has been 

 entered against such illegal taking. Lake Carey is a 

 popular summer resort, and many are drawn there by 

 the fishing, and self-interest should prompt the hotel 

 people to frown down all violations -of law. Bon Ami. 



A History of Scandinavian Fishes 



First published in 1836, with colored plates, by W. von 

 Wright, is soon to be reissued by Sampson Low, Marston 

 & Co. The new edition will be prepared by Prof. F. A. 

 Smitt, now director of the Zoological Museum at Stock- 

 holm. He has studied the Arctic fishes collected by the 

 "Vega and other exploring parties, and will prohably 

 include these and other fishes of high latitudes with the 

 Scandinavian species. The new work will be about four 

 times as large as the first edition, embracing about 220 

 kinds of fishes. Prof. Smitt's folio work on the Salmonidai 

 of the Riks Museum, a work involving prodigious patience, 

 but unfortunately serving no very useful purpose, has, 

 however, the best illustrations known of the salbling and 

 some other famous species of the Sabnonidce. It is to be 

 expected that the colored plates of Scandinavian fishes 

 will reach the highest standard of excellence. 



Bass in a Well. 



Warren, Pa.— Some time last June an old mill race 

 here went dry and great numbers of small fish were left 

 in the shallow pools. I caught a couple of dozen of sun- 

 fish and small black bass, which I took home and put in 

 the conductor hole of our well. The hole is tightly closed 

 with boards and is very dark. The fish have had no light 

 and nothing to eat, but what they got themselves. To-day 

 when I opened the hole they were as lively as ever, play- 

 fully chasing each other around. They have also in- 

 creased greatly in size. They appear to be very hardy. 



W. Van O. 



Percy Summer Club. 



Will the correspondent who sent us some notes on this 

 club kindly supply his address that we may communicate 

 with him? 



^mh^ttltme mtd «gwh §rokqHoth 



Pennsylvania Fish Protective Association. 



In the annual report, prepared by Secretary Sellers, the 

 Executive Committee say: 



For submitting a report of its proceedings during the year 

 1893, your committee desires to congratulate the Association 

 upon the large amount of work it has been able to perform, 

 the constant accessions to the. membership, and further, upon 

 the substantial condition of the finances of the Association, 

 as well as the generally healthful condition, in which it 

 enters upon the twelfth year of its existence, giving conclu- 

 sive evidence of the salutary results, following energetic and 

 well directed effort, in a cause which is gradually, but most 

 surely becoming recognized as a public benefaction. As 

 the primary purposes of the Association are w r ell known, it 

 is doubtless unnecessary to state, that a year in which the 

 sessions of the State Legislature are held, must be one of 

 great moment and marked activity. The enactment of 

 restrictive laws for the better protection of fish, and the 

 necessary vigilance to protest against measures detrimental 

 to their preservation, are actions which become obligatory on 

 the part of the Association. 



Never was this more clearly exemplified than during the 

 past year, when the very existence of the Pennsylvania^State 

 Fish Commission was threatened, by the passage of a meas- 

 ure legalizing eel baskets in the rivers and streams of this 

 commonwealth. 



As stated by the chairman of your committee, it was owin°- 

 to the abolition of these illegal devices, that the annual 

 valuation of the catch of sbad in the Delaware River, had 

 risen from $81,600 in 1882, to over half a mil lion dollars in 1892. 

 In accordance with the expressed sentiment of the Associa- 

 tion, your committee strongly opposed this measure 

 adopted and forwarded resolutions to the Legislature urging 

 its defeat, and on Feb. 3, in special session, authorized a. 

 committee to proceed to Harrisburg to oppose its passage 

 but all the efforts of the Association proved unavailing! 

 until finally, a resolution strenuously praying upon Governor 

 Robt. E. Pattison to veto the measure was forwarded by your 

 committee. 



That this action evoked favorable consideration, is. assured 

 in the fact that the bill failed to secure his approval, there- 

 fore did not become a law, and it is most gratifying to record 

 it, not only to the Association, the State Fish Commission 

 but to every individual actuated with a spirit of public &ood'. 



Having learned of the commendable action of the Legisla- 

 ture in appointing a standing committee on fish and game, 

 one of the first duties of your committee was the appoint- 

 ment of thesub committee on propagation and distribution of 

 Fish, to co-operate with the State Commissiouers, in bringing 

 such influence to bear upon the committee of the Legislature 

 as would aid in the protection of fish and game in this com- 

 monwealth. 



This committee immediately placed themselves in com- 

 munication with Hon. Joseph G. West, chairman of the 

 fish and game commission and tendered their assistance to 

 the State Commission in behalf of any measures sought to 

 be enacted or approved by them. 



Stimulated by the action of the Legislature in appointing 

 this committee, with its consequent indication of encourag^ 

 ing results, your committee next directed its attention to 

 the growiog necessity for the passage of a law to prevent the 

 catching of brook trout for barter and sale in this State A 

 special law of this character had been in force in the coun- 

 ties of Potter, Lycoming, Tioga, Clinton and Sullivan since 

 1870. 



As the necessity for its general application had been ur°-ed 

 upon the Association, your committee accordingly deemed it 



advisable to frame a bill to that effect, embodying a protec- 

 tive limit of 6iu.. which was undertaken and presented to 

 the Legislature. 



While the work of your committee has been characterized 

 by earnest endeavor in the form of petitions, seeking legisla- 

 tive consideration upon measures calculated to further the 

 fishing interests of the State, with the necessity and import- 

 ance, for their enactment, it is to be regretted, that notwith- 

 standing the persistent effort in supplementing the aims 

 and wishes of the State Fish Commission in this direction, 

 much desirable legislation failed of passage. 



Prominent among this was the bill in regard to polluting 

 the streams of the commonwealth with culm, coal washings, 

 acids and tannery refuse. It is a fact worthy of record that 

 the State Commission has labored faithfully for years to 

 secure the passage of such a measure without success, and it 

 is not improbable to affirm that the. large invested interests 

 involved exert a powerful influence in its consideration. 



The destructive effect of this pollution upon fish life in our 

 streams is an abuse not conducive iu furthering the effi- 

 ciency of our State board, and the necessity for its immediate 

 correction is clearly demonstrated in the fact that the Asso- 

 ciation is in constant receipt of protests concerning it from 

 all sections. It is therefore earnestly hoped this continual 

 agitation will ultimately bring about the needed reforma- 

 tion. 



Other equally important measures, which were separately 

 considered and acted upon by your committee in this connec- 

 tion, were the subjects of fishiug in trout streams for such 

 other varieties of fish as may inhabit these waters after the 

 close of the season as fixed bylaw; the unlawful taking of 

 trout under size; the excessive weight of trout taken and the 

 possible adoption of means by which this evil could be lim- 

 ited. 



Actuated by a desire to have the law of Pennsylvania con- 

 form in some degree with that of adjacent States.' and as such 

 would work no possible detriment to the fishery interest, the 

 extension of the open season for taking brook trout in this 

 State to Aug. 1 was also recommended. 



The fact that a bill has been introduced to the Legislature 

 authorizing the erection of a dam in the Delaware River in 

 the vicinity of Easton, a similar bill having passed the Legis- 

 lature of the State of New Jersey, the sentiment of the Asso- 

 ciation earnestly condemning the provisior of this act was 

 forwarded to the Legislature in the form of a resolution, 

 drafted by a special committee appointed for that purpose. 

 This action of the Association was given publicity through 

 the agency of the press, and in conjunction with the efforts 

 of the State Fish Commissioners, the vital importance for its 

 defeat made apparent, which combined influence happily 

 effected the desired result. 



Through the continued and increasing efficiency of the 

 State Board of Fish Commissioners, your committee "is grati- 

 fied in being able to record the complete cleaning out of fish 

 baskets, weirs and other illegal devices in the Delaware 

 River, the North Branch of the Susquehanna, a large por- 

 tion of the Juniata and other streams in the interior "of the 

 State. This commendable work is being carried cm with un- 

 abated vigor along the lower Susquehanna River. 



This brief summary can give no measurable idea of the hard 

 and persistent effort by which it lias been brought about, the 

 strongest opposition being encountered, and many fines im- 

 posed. The gratifying announcement therefore follows that 

 the Association has been largely instrumental in bringing 

 about the improved condition of our streams. In the work 

 of restocking much has been accomplished; large numbers of 

 brook trout, brown trout and hybrids have, through the 

 efforts of the Association, been placed in the streams in the 

 eastern part of the. State, Through the agency of the State 

 Fish Commission, a considerable number of black, rock and 

 white bass were deposited in the Schuylkill, lower Susque- 

 hanna and tributaries, as well as some (5,000 yellow perch in 

 the streams of Philadelphia, Chester, Lancaster and Delaware 

 counties. 



The distribution of trout fry for the year 1893 reached the 

 enormous total of 3,400,000 fish with the facilities at, com- 

 mand; this extraordinary result has told largely and advan- 

 tageously upon the efficiency of the State Fish Commissions, 

 as evinced in the corresponding increase in the demand for 

 applications, which has largely engaged the attention of 

 your committee as in former years. 



Most encouraging reports have been received of the plant- 

 ing of wall-eyed pike in the Delaware River, giving positive 

 assurance of the success of their introduction in those waters. 

 Your committee is able to report with much satisfaction 

 that the influence of the Association has been felt in stimu- 

 lating the. steady increase of organizations of kindred char- 

 acter throughout the State. In view of the importance of 

 united action in behalf of the enforcement of our fishery 

 laws, special attention has been given this subject with en- 

 couraging results, letters expressing assurance of co-opera- 

 tion in this respect having been received from the Game and 

 Fish League of Williamsport, the Clinton County Game and 

 Fish Protective Society and others. 



A well attended meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish Pro- 

 tective Association was held on Saturday evening, Feb. 10, 

 at the rooms, 1020 Arch street, Philadelphia. Mr. H. O. 

 Wilbur, upon assuming the duties of president, addressed 

 the meeting as follows: 



Gentlemen of the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Asso- 

 ciation— Before assuming the duties of the office of president, 

 to which you have almost unanimously elected me, I wish to 

 thank you most cordially and earnestly for the honor con- 

 ferred, and say I cheerfully accept, and promise to do all I 

 can to promote the interests of your organization. 



Gladly would I make a nice speech to you if I could, but I 

 am a silent man, having learned from long experience as a 

 fisherman that the successful angier is he who is most quiet, 

 and after learning the waters casts his line so scientifically 

 and carefully as to avoid all snags and reach the best fish. 



Now, as we are all anglers, let us resolve to do some good 

 work this year by quietly watching every opportunity and 

 casting our lines most judiciously and effectively. 



Let us fish for men good and true, for we need such to 

 increase our membership and assist in our work. For these 

 we must wisely and carefully cast a lure in the form of a 

 seductive fly or__wholesome bait— proudly tell them of the. 

 good we are doing, of the blessings to come upon future 

 generations. If this lure does not win them try the bait- 

 speak of our grand banquets, with feast of reason and flow 

 of soul. 



Let us fish for men who disregard the laws of God and 

 man, they who use every appliance from spear to dynamite 

 to fill their basket. For these I recommend the strong grap- 

 nel hook of the law, and nothing else will hold them. JS'o 

 bait required. 



Let us fish for the men, too, who make our laws, for we 

 need their services to help overthrow the fish hog and the 

 law breaker. For these I recommend the greatest quiet and 

 the finest of tackle. It is better to have a delicate Hue of 

 silver and a hook of gold— no flies needed here, for most legis- 

 lative bodies are too wise to jump at any such lures. 



Now, gentlemen, this is but a portion of our work. With 

 a very excellent executive board, as well' as sub-committees, 

 I feel, by working hand in hand, we shall be able to carry on 

 and perhaps enlarge the work so nobly begun and continued 

 up to the present time by this Association. 



Many of you understand much better than I how many 

 waters are depleted and how sladly they need replanting and 

 protecting. 



We should disseminate literature which will educate the 

 ignorant on this point, teaching them that we are their 

 friends and our work is for their ultimate gain and pleasure, 



