296 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April % 1894. 



BOSTON NOTES. 



Boston, April 2.— The trout season, of 1894, in Massa- 

 chusetts, is open. April 1 was the opening day, and a 

 most auspicious and delightful day it was. In the night 

 the wind changed to the southwest, and the weather also 

 changed from the chill and freezing of several days 

 previous to the most delightful of April days. By 9 o'clock 

 in the morning the mercury registered 60 in the shade. 

 What a day for trout! But alas! It was Sunday! It is 

 darkly hinted that some fishing was really done on Sun- 

 day, however, the sportsmen taking their chances with 

 the authorities of the State. 



The complaint is a bitter and a growing one that "there 

 arenow no waters on the Cape that amount to anything," 

 where the private citizen may fish. The ponds and 

 streams are nearly all under control of individuals rr 

 clubs. The angler, who is not so fortunate as to belong 

 to a club, or to own or control a fishing preserve himself, 

 is more than ever asking himself the question as to where 

 he is to fish in the Bay .State. But invitations to fish the 

 stocked and controlled trout preserves are not very hard 

 to obtain, if one manifests the proper spirit, and shows a 

 true interest in the sport. 



A good trout season is predicted. The streams are clear 

 of snow ice unusually early, and the temperature of the 

 water is favorable. This is especially true of the streams 

 and ponds in Connecticut, in which several Boston and 

 Worcester parties are interested. 



The Boys' Party, of the Monomoy Brant Club, left Bos- 

 ton on Wednesday f ot the shooting grounds. In the party 

 were Mr. Harry Bead, Mr. E. Frank Lewis, of Lawrence; 

 Mr. Harry Wright, of Walpole, and several others. The 

 parties ahead of this one at the Monomoy and the other 

 clubs in that vicinity are reported to have obtained but 

 few brant, though many were seen. The weather was too 

 fine, and though the birds seemed to be numerous off 

 shore, they would not rise and come near to the decoys. 

 Hence but few brant have been obtained. But the duck 

 shooting has been fair. The party of which Mr. Adams, 

 of Adams & Chapman, was a member, is reported to have 

 taken "a barrel of ducks" at the Masaquoit Club, across 

 the bay from the Monomoy. But a late report from the 

 Boys' Party, at Monomoy, says that the brant are behav- 

 ing more to the liking of the shooters, and that some good 

 hauls have been made. 



The Bangor, Me., salmon pool is open much earlier than 

 usual this year. Prominent resident members are trying 

 the salmon, but up to ttoe time of this writing no salmon 

 had been taken. Special. 



A New Fishing Tackle Store. 



Within the past few days a big gilded fish has taken up 

 his position overhanging the sidewalk next door to the 

 Forest and Stream. It is the totem of the United States 

 Net and Twine Co. , who have just opened at 316 Broad- 

 way a very handsome new retail fishing tackle store. 



They celebrate their opening with an elegant display of 

 oil paintings of fish, trout, salmon, grilse and black bass, 

 from the studios of the most celebrated painters in the 

 country, such as William M. Brackett, F. A. Tait, La 

 Goodwin, Kilburne and others. These will remain on 

 exhibition during the month of April, and anglers gen- 

 erally are invited to view them. 



The Kosmic rod display is something wonderful. The 

 United States people have recently bought this split- 

 bamboo rod from A. G. Spalding & Bros;, and now own 

 the complete plant and factory. The exhibit is the same 

 one that won the prize at Chicago, and it consists of a 

 great variety of most beautiful Kosmic rods, from the 

 $500 gold-mounted beauties to the regular standard work- 

 ing rods. 



Mr. E. S. Osgood, formerly manager of the fishing 

 tackle department of A. Gr. Spalding & Bros , is in charge 

 of the retail department of this new store, and Mr. H. J. 

 Frost, who for many years has represented the company 

 on the road, has now been brought into the office and 

 placed in charge of the wholesale, sample rooms as house 

 salesman. Since Jan. 1 Mr. Francis R. Wardle has been 

 elected secretary and manager of the company, Mr. W. 

 H. Wallace remaining in the position of treasurer. 



May the big fish swing aloft many years and the golden 

 sheen be the symbol of the continued prosperity of these 

 new next door neighbors of Forest and Stream. 



The Red-Bellied Dace. 



Webster, Mass., March 19. — Editor Forest and 

 Stream: Would you kindly tell me the common name 

 of inclosed fish '? The prominent black stripe on its sides 

 is something I have not noticed before. 



^Chas. Gerber. 



[The red-bellied dace or minnow is a.strikingly beauti- 

 ful little fish at this time of the year^ as it is now ap- 

 proaching the breeding season. It abounds in small 

 streams from New England to Dakota and southward to 

 Tennessee. Along the sides are two jet black narrow 

 bands, one beginning above the eye and extending to the 

 tail; the other occupying the snout in front of the eye and 

 continued behind the eye to the base of the tail fin, where 

 it ends abruptly in a slightly enlarged spot. The belly 

 and the space between the bands are bright silvery, re- 

 placed by scarlet in breeding males, which have the same 

 red color at the base of the back fin, tail fin and the fin 

 behind the vent. In the height of the breeding season 

 the fins are bright yellow and the body of the male is 

 covered with small tubercles. The dace reaches a length 

 of 3in. In its habits it resembles the stone roller, with 

 which it associates. It prefers clear streams which arise 

 from springs. As an aquarium fish it is scarcely excelled 

 in beauty and hardiness, and as a bait for the black bass 

 t has few superiors among the minnows.] 



Delaware Bass. 



Wilmington, Del., March 26.— A number of local fish- 

 ermen have made good catches in this neighborhood. 

 Last week some very good strings of bass and pickerel 

 were taken on live bait at St. Georges, Del. J. 



Albany Game Legislation. 



[Special Correspondence Forest and Stream,] 



Albany, March 31— The following is Chapter 183 of the Laws of 1894: 

 Section 1 of subdivision 7 of Section 271 of the game law is hereby- 

 amended so as to read as follows: Where an act is prohibited between 

 certain dates, it is not lawful upon the date first named and it is lawful 

 upon the date last named. But when said last date shall fall upon 

 Sunday it shall be lawful to shoot, hunt or fish on the preceding day, 

 as if that day waB the date so named in this act. 



Fortunate Bangor. 



Bangor, Me. , enjoys the distinction of being the most 

 convenient city in the world to a first-class salmon pool. 

 It is perfectly possible for a citizen to go fishing there 

 every day during the season without neglecting his busi- 

 ness. He does not lose track of his interests and can give 

 his directions from his boat almost as well as from his 

 office. 



The big game of the Maine woods crowds down close to 

 Bangor, too. Fortunate residents hitch up their horses 

 and drive out a few miles to hunt, and return with their 

 venison still warm. 



Bangor boasts of the pioneer canvas canoe builder, a 

 first-class taxidermist and the largest manufacturer of 

 moccasins and hunting-boots in the world. J. B. B. 



tgjishquliun and <tjjtBh ffrokqtion. 



Vermont Trout. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I read with pleasure the courteous comments on my letter 

 relating to Mr. Titcomb's plan for proctecting Vermont 

 waters by your correspondent "Rod," and as a continuation 

 of what has been written on the subject, must say I do not 

 think it the purpose of Mr. Titcomb to post all small stream?, 

 as there must be some localities where all streams are small; 

 and to deprive the people of one section entirely of their 

 neighboring trout fishing would be unreasonable and unjust, 

 causing the law to be felt as oppressive to them, thus render- 

 ing it practically inoperative. 



Still, even these small streams could be shut off for a few 

 rods at their heads, thus leaving an occasional spring hole to 

 contain once and awhile a fair-sized fish for propagating 

 purposes;?and one good-sized spawner is wort h a great many of 

 the so called 6-inch fish, that amount to practically nothing 

 as breeders. It 4s only recently that the Vermont people 

 have realized the. value of their State as a summering place 

 for city folks, and now that they have commenced to adver- 

 tise it, the volume of business in that line must increase, 

 letting loose each year a large army of fishermen. How 

 many keepers of hotels or boarding houses would be likely 

 to have one of their boarders or their children fined for taking 

 trout under size? Not one, I believe. Were the streams 

 posted in a manner to make it plain the State did the 

 posting, and all trespassers were amenable to the State, the 

 moral effect would help largely toward partial, protection. 

 Absolute protection cannot be had without prohibiting the 

 catching of trout entirely for a number of years or on waters 

 that have become the private property of individuals or 

 clubs. 



In the Adirondacks I know of small brooks that are seldom 

 fished, but left to grow trout of sufficient size to be useful as 

 breeders. These will drop down into deep water during the 

 winter and such of them as escape the summer fishing work 

 up stream in the fall and perform their natural functions, 

 filling the little rivulets with small trout, they in turn be- 

 coming reproducers. Perhaps the plenitude of good fishing 

 is one reason of this abstinence from fishing such waters; 

 Perhaps it is education forced on the people by the logic of 

 events, and as human nature is largely selfishness, the best 

 way to protect the trout is to educate the Vermont folks that 

 it is to their interest to observe the law, only I tremble for 

 the fate of the little spotted fellows while the lesson is being 

 learned. 



I had a case come under my observation last summer that 

 brought out strongly how queer may be some of the reasons 

 actuating the defense of violators of the fish law. I was at 

 Middlebury, Vfc.; the county court was in session; they were 

 trying a poor Frenchman from Orwell for netting fish (not 

 trout). One of the selectmen of Orwell was there and worked 

 very zealously for his acquittal. I was surprised to see this 

 unwonted interest, and being personally acquainted with the 

 gentleman quizzed him a little, developing the fact he wished 

 to clear the man to prevent his family becoming a town 

 charge, thus increasing the individual's tax, how much I 

 wonder? 



Now if we can make the people feel that it is to their 

 interest to assist personally in carrying out this idea, by 

 showing an increased trout supply, an increased revenue 

 from city boarders and of lands sold for the erection of sum 

 mer homes, giving a larger number of tax payers and a 

 smaller amount of tax on theindividual. Why won't selfish- 

 ness do the rest? H. C. Kirk. 



Albany, N. Y. 



Rearing Brook Trout. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In May, 1891, 1 planted upward of 7,000 speckled trout fry 

 (American brook trout) in a pond about an acre in size, 

 possessing, I think, many of the conditions for successful 

 trout raising, both as the locality and temperature of water, 

 etc. The pond is fed by about a dozen bottom springs in 

 different parts of it, and will soon be reasonably well shaded 

 with trees and shrubs, the depth being from a few inches to 

 seven or eight feet, and in one spot, twelve feet. 



The trout have thriven well, and as they attained a large 

 size as yearlings, must have bred in 1891 as well as '92-3, at 

 least judging from the great number of all sizes that appeared 

 in the pond last autumn. They were fed the first summer 

 and winter, but owing to my absence from the locality, have 

 not been fed since. They appear to have done well, however, 

 without artificial food, but I am a little anxious about then! 

 this winter (the pond being seven miles off), and would like 

 you to give me a hint as to whether they ought to be fed for 

 the remainder of the winter through holes in the ice. 



But what I desire principally is your opinion as to how 

 many speckled trout, say an acre pond, with regular feeding 

 would maintain without overcrowding? Do you say about 

 thirty, forty, fifty, sixty thousand — or how many? 



My object is to make a business of trout culture, adding 

 other ponds interspersed throughout our locality with the 

 expectation of realizing a profitable return. I may say that 

 angling for pleasure by our citizens and others would be the 

 principal source of profit, but of course the stock being kept 

 up, netting for the market might also be resorted to. 



Given, then, that the trout having been three years in the 

 "original" pond, and that the largest sized ones average, say, 

 half a pound, how many do you think it would be prudently 

 safe to fish out every year, having in view the keeping up of 

 the stock and making a permanent business of it? It will be 

 easy under my plan to keep a record of the number caught— 

 of course returning to the water all under eight inches — and 

 call a halt when the maximum number has been reached. 



As I have little idea practically of the fecundity of speckled 

 trout, and cannot very well estimate, even approximately, 

 the number of a sufficiently large size for table use that in a 

 well-stocked pond of a given area it would be safe to catch 

 each season, I shall be grateful for your advice as a guide in 

 the management of a trout business. 



This letter may appear to you chimerical, rather than prac- 

 tical, but if an approximate— guiding — answer can be made 

 to it at all, I do not doubt but that it can be found in the 

 sanctum of Forest and Stream. Charles Armstrong. 



Hamilton, Ont., Feb. 28. 



[As the trout have survived two winters without artificial 

 food and have increased in number, it seems highly reason- 

 able to suppose that the pond contains natural food suffi- 

 cient for their needs. Among trout culturists, as well as 



other members of a community, the motto ''Let well enough 

 alone" is never forgotten. Brook trout, as a matter of fact, 

 are extremely capricious about feeding in winter. 



It is well nigh impossible to lay down a rule for (he 

 capacity of a body of water for supporting fish life. This 

 ean be determined with accuracy by experiment only. The 

 amount of the inflow from springs, and the extent and kind 

 of food present, will prove the most important factors of 

 the problem. The volume of the water supply can be deter- 

 mined from the amount escaping at the outlet, hut the food- 

 producing capacity is to be learned by actual trial with fish. 

 And this matter will soon regulate itself, or it can be con- 

 trolled by feeding during a portion of the year, say for a few 

 months preceding the breeding season and in the coldest 

 part of the winter if the fish can be induced to feed. 



A better system of trout rearing involves a. series of ponds 

 in which the fish may be always assorted according to size 

 and facilities for artificial hatching of the eggs and care of 



fry-] 



Handicapped Salmon Fry. 



Editor Forest ami Stream: 



A rather remarkable condition of affairs in the life history 

 of salmon was related to me to-day by Mr. James W. Mc- 

 Gowan, of the Cascades, up the Columbia: About the 10th 

 of this month while Mr. McGowan with a force of men were 

 clearing a place for one of their fish wheels on the sloping 

 gravelly bank of the Columbia they unearthed — or rather 

 ungraveled— a whole hatful of salmon fry l^in. in length. 

 Numerous springs in the adjacent bank kept the gravel moist 

 enough seemingly to support fish life while the youngsters 

 more or less patiently awaited a "rise in the Columbia." Pos- 

 sibly there is nothing very remarkable or unusual about 

 this, but it was a revelatiou to me, and the McGowans, who 

 have been actively and prominently engaged in the salmon 

 industry for thirty-five years, were so impressed with the 

 novelty of their discovery that they expressed a desire that it 

 should be made known to the readers of Forest and Stream. 



I might add that they found a number dead where [the 

 gravel bad dried, although this would be hut a natural con- 

 sequence. S. H. Greene. 



Portland. Ore., March 23. 



PUBLISHER'S DEPARTMENT. 



A. G. Spalding & Bros., athletic outfitters, moved into thtir new and 

 large quarters 149 and 151 Wabash avenue, Chicago. April 2. In addi- 

 tion to the increased facilities consequent to more space, the firm will 

 have a well-equipped riding school tor bicyclists, and for those inter- 

 ested in aquatic sports a full line ot sailing boats, canoes and steam 

 launches. 



The Waterbury Watch Company:, Waterbury, Conn., March 19, 1894. 

 —Messrs. E. A. Buck & Co.: I received this day the shoes sent me 

 and they are very satisfactory indeed, and I want another pair made 

 without heels, same style of shoe, only what you would call a moeca- 

 sin, with sole same weight as the sole on these shoes sewed on. Will 

 hold this letter until I see some of my friends who I think will try the 

 shoes. If so, hope to send you orders for more. In this I inclose pos- 

 tal note. Want also one more pair of shoes same as those jusfi sent, 

 but lighter soles. I inclose the note received from a friend who saw 

 these shoes. Yours very truly, Geo. Hurt.— Adv. 



All those who love a dog because it Is a dog 

 and not merely a medium for the accumulation of 

 dollars and cents, are invited by the editor to con- 

 sider this department as one in which they can 

 discuss amicably any subject that is of interest 

 to the canine fancy, without fear of their commu- 

 nications being subjected to personal comment 

 or ridicule. 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



April 17 to 20.— New England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. D B 

 Loveland, Sec'y. Entries close March 31. 



April 18 to 21 — Southern California Kennel Club, at Los Angeles, 

 Cal. C. A. Sumner, See'y, 



Mayl to 4. —Special show of St. Bernard, Collie, Spaniel and Fox- 

 Terrier clubs, in connection with the Hempstead Farm show, Madison 

 Square Garden. 



Sept. 10 to 14.— Toronto Industrial Exhibition Association, at 

 Toronto. C. A. Stone, Sec'y. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Sept. 5.— Manitoba Field Trials Club, at Morris, Man. R. J. Gallaue: 

 her. Winnipeg, Sec'y. 



Nov. 6.— International Field Trials, at Chatham, Ont. W. B. Wells. 

 Sec'y. 



PHILADELPHIA DOG SHOW. 



March 27 to 30. Entries, 4-S4. 



The Philadelphia Kennel Club did all that lay in their 

 power to achieve a success with their show held last week in 

 Tattersalls, on Market street, and take it all in all it was 

 the best gathering of dogs that the Quaker City has seen in 

 many years. The show was well advertised and the press 

 lent its aid as probably never before, and lots of people came 

 to see the dogs. But, as usual, the P. K. C. will have to 

 shoulder a loss. The phenomenal run of fine weather expe- 

 rienced by all the shows in the circuit so far, was broken on 

 Thursday last, when rain fell quite heavily and interfered 

 considerably with the gate. It was fine in the evening, how- 

 ever. A number of prominent fanciers were present and 

 seemed to fully enjoy the opportunity to meet their fellow 

 fanciers. Among those we noticed were Col. II. O'Baunon, 

 C. W, Longest, H. G. Trevor, B. Alton Smith, Dr. Long- 

 necker, Prank Carswell, Dr. Caldwell, Dr. Huidekoper, Prank 

 P. Dole, L. Finletter, Dr. H. T. Foote, M. A. Thiruan, J. T. 

 Barnes, J. H. H. Maenner, E. L. Kraus, E. W. Fiske.'M C 

 Viti, Geo. R. Preston, T. H. Garlick, C. S. Wixom, R. Fox, 

 John N. Lewis, T. Johnson, W. T. Payne, G. P. Run ton 

 Frank P. Smith, W. Tallman, F. Senn, C. A. Shinn, W. J. 

 Higginson, J. Gf. Thomson, G. W. H, Ritchie, Geo. Bell, Mr4. 

 Smyth, Mrs. Trevor, Mrs. Meacham, Mrs. Gilligan, Mrs, 

 Read, Mrs. Atwood, etc. 



The judging was all completed the first day and a marked 

 catalogue issued the morning after by 7 A. M., a record, 

 scarcely even approached in this country before. The catal 

 ogue had few wrong entries and was well arranged, inter- 

 leaved catalogues being provided for the press. Spratt's 

 Co. fed and benched and Mr. John Read as usual, in his quiet 

 undisturbed way, made an efficient superintendent, and 

 everything was kept sweet and clean. Mr. James Watson 

 was press agent and it is due to him in no small degree that 

 the papers did so well and that the marked catalogue was 

 out so early. 



Mr. "Bert" Winslow,_ the popular president, was a whole 

 reception committee himself, and did all, as he only knows 

 how, to make things go. The bench show committee of the 

 club, composed of Messrs. H. G. Sinnott G. H. Thomson, C. 

 G. Thompson, J. J. Schnellenberg, Phil Walsh, Jr., G. 

 Schreiber and Dr. L. C. Sauveur, worked hard and some of 

 them were always on hand. During judging, Mr, H. W. 

 Smith's ring was stewarded by Geo. Thomson, who also 

 looked after Mr. Oldham's interests in the spaniel ring. 

 J. R. Paintor held the ribbons for A. C. Krueger, whiie 

 Mr. Mortimer was relieved of much trouble by Geo. W, 



