816 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[June 1(3, 1894. 



duly netted, and then we prepared for the escalade. 

 Peter being the strongest and most active, made the ascent 

 over my shoulders, and then on my taking bold of the 

 handle of the landing net and Peter's hand, when within 

 reach, I was soon safely at the top. Our return was easy 

 enough, but the going down on your back with a rod in 

 one hand, to alight upon a narrow ledge without plunging 

 in to the cold lake, is a feat that I would not like to attempt 

 a second time,, either voluntarily or otherwise. Peter said 

 my escape was simply miraculous. The rubbers which I 

 had put on over my slippers for rock climbing, were what 

 saved me from a very cold bath, Alex. Starbuck. 

 [to be continued.] 



The Mastigouche Waters. 



Montreal, June 7. — I returned on Monday last from 

 the Mastigouche lakes where I had been spending a very 

 pleasant ten days. The season opened much earlier than 

 usual. On my arrival I found the trees out in full leaf on 

 the 24th ult. ; the black fly, fully alive to the condition of 

 affairs, was making things lively both for man and beast, 

 so that smudges were in order everywhere. It is surpris- 

 ing how quickly thecatile in these parts become educated. 

 It don't take them long to know what a smudge is built 

 for, and which is the leeward side of it, and there you 

 will find them as close up to it as they can get, only leav- 

 ing it for a short time to hurriedly snatch a few mouths- 

 f ul of grass, and then rush back to the friendly protection 

 of the smudge. 



Although the weather was not altogether what one 

 could have wished, being rather rainy, still we managed 

 to enjoy ourselves and have some very good fishing. For 

 the first few days the trout did not rise well to the fly, 

 but before I left one could have as fair fly-fishing as any 

 one might wish for; and as for bait fishing it was simply 

 slaughter. On the 24th, the day I arrived at camp, there 

 were eight gentlemen out fishing, and in the evening 

 when they returned they had nearly 500 trout, that must 

 have weighed from 125 to MOlbs", there being quite a 

 number in the catch that would run from lib. to 2£lbs. 

 While I was there I had the pleasure of seeing three 

 caught that weighed from 4 to Ulbs. Thpse were I be- 

 lieve taken with five minnows, but one was caught troll- 

 ing with a very small Skinner spoon, with a salmon fly on 

 it, instead of the usual treble hook, with which the spoon 

 is usually mounted when sold. 



We had a number of sportsmen from your side of the 

 line visiting our camp, some of them for the first time, 

 while others of them have been regular visitors for the 

 past seven or eight years. 



I hope to take another trip to the Mastigouche about 

 Sept. 1 next, as that is really the most delightful sea- 

 son of the year in that charming region. H. W. A. 



Plaice Fishing at Asbury Park. 



Asbury Park, N. J., June 4.— The bad weather of the 

 past two weeks has held fishing very slow at this point. 

 Honest effort has been put forth by men who stand at the 

 head of the fraternity hereabout, but results have been 

 far from satisfactory so far as sea fishing is concerned. 

 The rivers and lakes have done a little better, but few 

 catches of importance are reported. I succeeded in boat- 

 ing seven fine plaice at Shark Eiver on the afternoon of 

 May 30, which I believe to be the best catch of the sea- 

 son so far. The. almost total extinction of striped bass, 

 kingfish, sea bass, etc., make plaice fishing quite popular. 

 Take.n with light tackle, using a float with a well leaded 

 fine to keep the bait close to the bottom, these fish afford 

 really excellent sport. Being strongly carnivorous they 

 will take almost any fish bait, but the most killing is the 

 green-head minnow when presented alive. I have fre- 

 quently taken fifteen to twenty in two hours' fishing in 

 the tide rips of our inlets, with average weights of 8 to 

 51bs. each. I am well aware that the plaice or fluke is gen- 

 erally held in light esteem by anglers, being in no sense 

 a game fish, but like many another subject, tbe pleasure 

 attending its capture depends largely upon the methods 

 employed. Leonard Hclit. 



The Log Cabin Club's Large Trout. 



ST* Johnsbury, Vt., June 4.— Four years ago the Log 

 Cabin Club, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., dammed a small brook 

 near its source, making a pond of fifteen acres or there- 

 abouts. Besides the small brook the pond is fed bv 

 springs. The brook before being dammed may have con- 

 tained a few small trout. The club put into the pond 

 5 000 trout fry in June, 1890. In 1892 members of the 

 club examined and fished the pond without results The 

 same results followed their efforts in 1893. This season 

 thirty-two trout have been taken. The largest weighed 

 4£lbs. The smallest weighed «b., and nearly all the 

 others weighed from 2 to 31 bs. There are more big ones 

 in the pond, as several have been hooked and lost. 



Query— Is it possible that these enormous trout are the 

 results of fry planted in 1890, or were there probablv a 

 lot of trout in the brook before it was dammed and 

 which, havmg a larger range, grew so rapidly? From all 

 appearances there are a great many large trout in the 

 pond, but no small ones have been discovered. 



, Whitlock. 



The * Kingfishers. 



Basswood Lakjs, Algona, Canada, June 2.— The ad- 

 vance guard of the Kingfishers turned up here on Wednes- 

 day last for their summers campaign, consisting of Messrs. 



*%L y F ° 1 ulds a ^ d Gooder of Cincinnati, also Mr. J. Dobie 

 ol Thessalon. Owing to the backward state of the season, 

 the trout have only just made their appearance. The 

 rnf l Tnw my ° Km g fohers wil1 not make their appearance 

 till July 1. GK F. Dyer. 



Restigouche 1 Salmon. 



Campbellton, N. B., June 7.-Heavy run of large fish 

 rYnTt^T 7 n f y esterda y; expect big angling Scores 

 from the Restigouche next week. So far the rod has not 



?« 0 r« e ^ UCh ' ^ (BmaU run > g Qt ahead ^ the few ang- 

 lers who arrived m May. Expect all pools will be occu- 

 pied next week. So far the netted fish average 2olbs 500 

 ash shipped on train this morning. Jno Mowatt 



Niagara County Anglers' Club's Fishing. 



We regret that the report of the Niagara Countv 

 Anglers Association fishing excursion has come to hand 

 so late that it must be deferred to next week 



^inhyalitm mi <JfM jjfrofydon. 



Relations of the Community to the "Fisheries. 



BV MARSHALL M'DOXALD, TJ. S. PISH COMMISSIONER. 



[A paper read before the American Fisheries Society, 1894.] 



As preliminary to the discussion of this topic, it is well 

 to bring to the attention of this Society the extent and im- 

 portance of our fishing industries. The United States Com- 

 mission has recentlv completed and is now publishing a 

 paper on the "Statistics of the Fisheries of the United 

 States." By reference to this report you will find that the 

 commercial fisheries of this country give employment to 

 182,407 persons; represent an investment in vessels, boats, 

 fishing gear, buildings, wharves and other property of $58,- 

 355,000, and yield products of the annual value of $45,000,000 

 in first hands. The cost to the consumer is probably three 

 times the amount received by the fishermen, or about $130,- 

 000,000 per annum. If we add to the number of persona 

 actually employed in the fisheries those who are dependent 

 upon them, as also the large number of people engaged in 

 various other occupations which are directly or indireotly de- 

 pendent upon the fisheries., it is safe to assume that the fish- 

 ing industries of the United States furnish the means of sup- 

 port to over 1,000,000 of the inhabitants of this country, or to 

 one person in every sixty-five of population. 



The conditions under which our seacoast and Great Lake 

 fisheries are prosecuted are peculiar, and without parallel 

 when we compare them with the industries of the land. In- 

 dividual ownership and control is the foundation upon which 

 rests all of our industrial enterprises other than those per- 

 taining to the fisheries. The laws give full protection, and 

 every one is free to enjoy the fruits of his enterprise and 

 labor. The farmer plants in the full assurance that he and 

 not another will reap the harvest. He improves his land and 

 increases his investments, knowing that the greater usufruct 

 determined by the exercise of intelligence and energy will 

 inure to his own benefit. What is true of agriculture is 

 alike true of the various industrial enterprises, manufac- 

 turing, mining and commercial, which engage our people. 

 We may safely trust their administration to the intelligence 

 and enterprise of those engaged in them. 



In respect to our great commercial fisheries, the conditions 

 are entirely different. Individual ownership of the open 

 waters is not practicable even if it were desirable; nor can 

 we safely trust to the individual to establish or conserve con- 

 ditions which are necessary to maintain supply. Indeed, it 

 is not reasonable to expect that he will undertake, to sow the 

 seeds of a harvest which other men may gather. Intent on 

 gain, he will fail to recognize or appreciate any deterioration 

 of the fisheries so long as his operations yield him a fair re- 

 turn for labor and investment. 



The ownership of the waters is in the State, and they 

 should btrfrarned for the general use and benefit. 



The right of fishing of the individual is subject to the par- 

 amount right of the State to prescribe the conditions under 

 which such right may be exercised. 



Equal privileges under the law and no invidious discrimin- 

 ations or unnecessary restraints upon the enterpriser of the 

 fishermen should characterize the policy of the State in en- 

 acting and enforcing such regulations a*s may be found neces- 

 sary for the conservation of the fisheries. 



The right of the community, through its representatives 

 to regulate the fisheries and to prescribe the conditions under 

 which individuals may exercise the right or privilege of fish- 

 ing being conceded, we must be prepared to admit that the 

 power of the State should be exercised with the most careful 

 conservatism and consideration of the immediate interests 

 to be affected. ■ 



The community is concerned only as to the abundance, 

 quality and price of the products drawn from the waters. It 

 is indifferent as to the methods, except in so far as they affect 

 the quantity or condition of the fish supply. When condi- 

 tions are impaired, when there is evidently a decrease in the 

 fish food supply, then it is incumbent upon the State to 

 adopt measures to arrest the -decline. This policy is in the 

 interest not of the community only, but also of those who are 

 engaged in the fisheries, or who are occupied with enterprises 

 and industries which are related to them, since the security 

 and profit of investments depend upon the assiduity with 

 which we guard the fisheries from the operation of causes 

 which may determine permanent, deterioration. The neces- 

 sity of intervention to this end being satisfactorily estab- 

 lished, we may attempt the regeneration by artificial propa- 

 gation on a sufficiently expensive scale to repair the waste by 

 natural casualties and man's operations, or we may so regu- 

 late the times, methods and apparatus of the fisheries as to 

 permit natural reproduction Under the most favorable condi- 

 tions, or we may resort to both means, artificial propagation 

 being pushed as far as practicable in order to ease or release 

 the restraints upon the operations of the fishermen 



Undoubtedly the rational method of dealing with the fish- 

 eries is to supplement as far as possible by artificial propaga- 

 tion, any deficiency in natural reproduction arising through 

 the operations of the fisheries. Where this can be shown to 

 be adequate, there should be no further interference with the 

 fisheries by legal restrictions orprohibitions that is necessary 

 to insure equal privileges under the law in the exercise of the 

 common right of fishing, or to prohibit or restrict the use of 

 methods or apparatus that experience has shown to be un 

 necessarily wasteful or destructive. Whether we can rely 

 entirely upon artificial propagation to compensate for the 

 destruction effected through the agency of man, I am stronelv 

 inclined to doubt. The value of this resource as a sufficient 

 means of maintaining production and at the same time im- 

 posing little or no restraint upon the fishing enterprises is 

 very forcibly illustrated by the history of the shad fisheries 

 of the Atlantic coast rivers since 1880. This is a species 

 which must find access to the fresh waters of the rivers in 

 order to accomplish reproduction. Where the streams are 

 unobstructed it pushes its way up hundreds of miles from 

 tidewater, m order to find suitable spawning grounds Tt 

 does not spawn in the brackish or salt waters, and if it 'did 

 2? \f£ e X»£ prove infertile. Under the present conditions 

 of the shad fisheries but a very small portion of the shad ap- 

 proaching our rivers under the constraint of reproduction 

 ever find their way to their spawning grounds in the rivere 

 Fully _80 per cent, are taken in the brackish water of the 

 estuaries of our rivers or on the shores of the ocean or the 

 great bays which indent the shore line. Under these ormrti 

 toons we are compelled to depend largely, if not entirely upon 

 artificial propagation to repair the annual waste by natural 

 casualties and the. fisheries. This great fishery is rSder 

 conditions as artificial as is the corn o?the wheat croo lte 

 permanence and such marked improvement as has taken 

 place since 1880 in the annual value of the product is un- 

 questionably to be attributed to the extensive measures of 

 artificial propagation which have been conducted wltTthii 

 species by the Fish Commissions of the Atlantic sea Wrrt 

 and by the United States Fish Commission ard 

 Since 1885 there has heen a steady and progressive increa<»P 

 m the annual value of the shad taken on toieAtilSfc Ha 

 Board, and at present the amount and value of thTannu^ 

 product is nearly double what it was in 1880 «"raal 



relied upon as-adequ"ateto"^ 



the most adverse conditions. We must consider however 

 that the ability to maintain supply by this means carTo^l v 

 continue so long as a sufficient number of shad^e* permitted 



to pass into the rivers to furnish the basis of a supply of eggs 

 necessary to carry on the work. I cannot disguise the fact 

 that every year we have more reason to apprehend that the 

 existing fishing conducted in the brackish and salt waters 

 will eventually so reduce the number running into the rivers 

 that we will no longer be able to rely upon artificial propa- 

 gation, unless aided by protective regulations and legal re- 

 straints upon the pound net fishing, not only in the rivers, 

 but also in the bays. 



When we turn to the important salmon fisheries of the 

 Columbia River we find the same conditions not only im- 

 pending but accomplished. Comparing the average catch 

 lor the five years beginning with 1889 with the previous five 

 years we find that there has been an average reduction of 

 150,000 cases in the take of salmon and a reduced annual 

 value of not less than three-quarters of a million of dollars. 

 This is undoubtedly to be attributed to the fact that the ap- 

 pliances for the capture of salmon in the lower river are so 

 numerous, so complete, and so fully occupy every channel of 

 approach that at present very few salmon are able to reach 

 their spawning grounds in the upper rivers. Now, what is 

 impending or accomplished in the present conditions of the 

 shad and salmon fisheries certainly will occur in regard to 

 every species the spawning grounds of which are in these 

 rivers. For it is evident that in regard to any of them the 

 methods of fishing may be such as in a large measure to shut 

 them off from their spawning grounds. Under such a state 

 of things artificial propagation on adequate scale could be no 

 longer carried on, for the reason that we would have no ripe 

 fish from which to draw supplies of eggs. 



Now, what is true in regard to our river species, is alike 

 ti ; lle 1 111 /egard to all the coast species whenever the operations 

 ol the fisheries are such as to intercept in considerable meas- 

 ure the movement of mature fish to their spawning grounds. 

 The necessity of the regulation of the fisheries by law is ap- 

 parent m every case where a knowledge of the habits and 

 movements of the fishes of our coastal waters is such as to 

 indicate that existing methods do seriously interrupt or inter- 

 £ re ,^ th their a PP roach to their spawning grounds. What 

 shall be the character of the protective regulations required 

 in the interest, of the fisheries must be based upon a complete 

 knowledge of the life history of the species. In regard to many 

 of our coastal species, we are approaching a time when it will 

 be possible to give conclusive information upon this subject 

 which may serve as a basis for such regulations as the con- 

 ditions of the fisheries may require. 



You are all aware that the sentiment as to the necessity of 

 protective regulations in reference to the coast fisheries is now 

 active and aggressive. When the allegation is made that 

 there is a material decline in the products of our fisheries, the 

 fishermen, who fear the results of hasty legislation based 

 U i P °S ln 1 ? on 9 lus i ve data, reasonably ask for the evidence as to 

 the decline in the coast fisheries which warrants the attempt 

 to interfere by law with interests which employ a large num- 

 ber of men, a large investment of capital, and which yield 

 products which are very important to the community 



In considering the statistics of our fisheries we may con- 

 sider the fisheries as a whole, and by a comparison of the 

 census taken at intervals of a term of years, determine con- 

 clusively the facts as to aggregate increase or decrease in the 

 period considered. Again, we may make the comparison by 

 geographical divisions, seeking in this way to arrive at local 

 fluct uations which are not indicated in the general aggregate- 

 and again, we may take up the special fisheries for certain 

 important economic species, and by comparison of products 

 determine the fact of increase or decrease in regard to this 

 particular fishery. 



[to be concluded.] 



PUBLISHER'S DEPARTMENT. 



Walsrode Smokeless Powder. 



Messrs. von Lengerke & Detmold, who have been appointed Ameri- 

 can agents for Walsrode smokeless powder, issue an interesting cir- 

 cular descriptive of the pOwder for use in both shotguns and rifles 

 Explicit directions tor loading are given By using ordinary common 

 sense the agents say this powder may he as safelv loaded as any 

 other, but through a fear that such precaution would not he used 

 ODly charged shells have heretofore been sold. The agents sav' 

 "When compared with the bulk or measure of black powder only 

 about one-third the quantity of Walsrode powder will give the same 

 penetration and pattern, and at the same time the same bursting 

 force as the three times larger quantity of black powder by measure 

 It is therefore absolutely necessary when using 'Walsrode 1 powder 

 that each load is weighed on a fine scale or measured with a special 

 'Walsrode' powder measure." 



The Walsrode rifle powder will be furnished in half-pound canisters 

 and a table of loads for the cartridges most often used is given, from 

 which it will be observed that as regards weight the proportional 

 charge is about one-half the standard. Special D. M. C. primers have 

 to be used. 



The "Buzzacott Complete Camp Cooking Outfit" is the most practi- 

 cal thing ot the kind that has yet been offered the American sports- 

 man. It is a marvel of ingenuity, and combines every utensil required 

 for any kind of cooking with a minimum of weight. It will boil stew 

 roast, fry, bake or broil, and provides the means of doing either or ali 

 at the same time. All the articles contained in the outfit nest snugly 

 Within each other, and no additional care is required in packing It 

 will burn any fuel, and requires no fitting or adjusting, and no stove 

 pipe. It has the indorsement of the Government, being used by the 

 regular army, and it is worthy of remark that, this is the only cooking 

 outfit which has stood such a test. Its merits seem to warrant its 

 gaming as complete an ascendency among sportsmen 



The Pennsylvania's Summer Traveling Guide. 



The summer excursion book of the Pennsylvania Railroad for 1894 

 is out. and presents an unusually meritorious appearance. Great care 

 has been exercised in its compilation, the technical information being 

 especially reliable. The great variety of routes suggested, the ex- 

 haustive schedules of rates, the graphic descriptions of about four 

 hundred places, the explanatory maps and the illustrations, make the 

 volume exceedingly valuable and almost indispensable to those con- 

 templating summer touring. A nominal charge of ten cents is placed 

 on each copy, which can be obtained on application to ticketaeentsor 

 the General Passenger Agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 

 Philadelphia. Ten cents extra will be charged for mailing.— Adv. 



538 Pages for Five Stamps. 



A copy of "Health and Pleasure on America's Greatest Railroad ' 

 containing 538 pages, with over 300 illustrations, and a description of 

 more than 1,000 tours; finest book of its kind ever issued, will be sent 

 to any address free, postpaid, on receipt of five 2-cent stamps by 

 George H. Daniels, General Passenger Agent, Grand Central Station 

 New York.— Adv. ' 



Fishing Among the Thousand Islands. 



Fifty-six pages, beautifully illustrated, nine maps showing exact 

 location of the fish, full information, with numerous accurate illustra- 

 tions of tackle, etc., will be sent to any address free, postpaid on 

 receipt of five 2-cent stamps, by George H. Daniels, General Passenger 

 Agent, Grand Central Station, New York— Adv. 



A Book for Two Stamps. 



A copy of the ''Illustrated Catalogue" of the "Four-Track Series," 

 New York Central Books and Etchings, will be sent to any address 

 free, postpaid, on receipt of two 2-cent stamps, by George H. Daniels 

 General Passenger Agent, Grand Central Station, New York, — Adv 



u/P R ' C , 0OK i ? Arctic Expedition. A few sportsmen can join it. To 

 Greenland's icy mountains." To within 800 miles of the North Pole. 

 Hunting polar bear, seal, walrus and reindeer.— Adv. 



