i7& 
ANGLING NOTES. 
Food for Fishes. 
I am well aware that I have friends who expect that I 
may live to a reasonable old age, and they will not be sur- 
prised in such an event to see me tottering around the 
brooks with a paint brush and pot of paint desecrating 
the rocks, and nature generally, with signs, after the 
style of the patent medicine man, reading, "Fish do not 
live on water," "Fish require food as much as the man 
that catches them," "Feed your fish if you wish them to 
thrive and multiply," etc. There is one thing certain, I 
might do worse than to engage in just such missionary 
work, for there is sad need of it. One has only to look 
over the applications made to the Fisheries, Game and 
Forest Commission of New York, if one really thinks at 
all, to wonder what all the fish applied for are expected 
to live on. For little trout brooks that at their best might 
support a planting of 10,000 trout, 100,000 trout are asked 
for. Black bass are asked for in such large numbers for 
certain waters that if, by the mysterious working of 
providence and the return to miracles, they could be 
made to live, one could walk across the water in which 
they are planted dryshod by walking on the backs of the 
fish. 
Fish have good healthy appetites, and unless something 
is provided to satisfy it they will not do well, but provide 
the food and they will grow in proportion to the amount 
of food provided. 
A yearling brown trout jumped out of a can in an Eng- 
lish hatchery and fell into a rearing pond of trout fry. 
It was only one little yearling trout and so the hatchery 
men let the fish remain rather- than to draw the pond 
down to find him and net him out. Nine months later, 
when the yearling trout had grown to 81 months of age, 
the rearing pond was drained and the trout taken out, 
when it was found that the yearling had grown to 
weigh 5itbs. Ordinarily it would have weighed about 
lib,, but by feeding on an unlimited number of his breth- 
ren one year younger, it had increased more than five 
times above the average, though no one could tell the 
number of fry which contributed to make this weight. An- 
other instance, showing the gluttony of fish when opportu- 
nity off ers,and the result, was told to me by the late Herr von 
dem Borne, the distinguished fishculturist of Berneuchen, 
Germany. Herr von dem Borne drained a pond in the 
autumn and allowed it to remain dry all winter. Tn 
April following he filled the po'nd with water filtered 
through gravel, that no fish life could enter. In June he 
put in thousands of small-mouthed black bass just 
hatched and some young carp of the same age. Un- 
known to the proprietor some pike fry (called pickerel in 
New York State) had worked through the gravel into the 
black bass pond when it was filled,[and,when their presence 
was discovered at the end of August he drained the pond 
and separated the fish. The pike were then 5 months old 
and the largest was 17in. long and weighed 2ilbs. This 
shows that pike will thrive amazingly on a diet of young 
black bass, but it is too expensive to rear black bass for 
pike food, and by the same token trout fry are too rich 
to feed other trout; but food of some sort all fish must 
have and have in abundance, and it is a waste of time, 
fish, money, ink and blanks to apply to the State for fish 
for any water unless there is food in the water for the 
fish to eat, or to apply for more fish than there is food in 
the water to sustain them. This is a matter that will he 
treated at some length in the forthcoming report of the 
Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission of New York. % 
Spawning of Black Bass. 
A correspondent in the valley of thegHudson writes: 
"There is a pond here which shows good results from 
stocking with black bass, and during September and 
October last I took quite a number of 2^1bs. average fish. 
Not the 'barn doors' that we used to wrestle with in 
Lake Champlain, but for all that good, respectable fish. 
I observed that in nearly every female fish there was 
spawn well developed, and as the regular season for 
spawning is the same as elsewhere, during May and early 
June, I thought it strange that these fish should have in 
them spawn well advanced in the late autumn, and won- 
dered whether it was usual for black bass to carry the 
spawn of next season during the preceding autumn and 
winter." The spawn observed in the autumn was not de- 
veloped more than is usual at that time and would not 
have been deposited until the following summer. Please 
observe the "regular spawning season," May and early 
June, and remember that the law of the State permits 
black bass fishing on and after May 30. 
I know full well that this is an old, old story, but how is 
the supply of black bass to be kept up if it is legal to catch 
them during the spawning season? 
Not by asking the State for millions of black bass 
annually to supply the waste, as is now done, for the 
State has not got tbem and cannot get them. There 
will be a bill introduced in the New York Legislature 
this winter to open the black bass season on July 1 
each year, and if every one who asks for black 
bass to plant in depleted waters will take an interest 
in its passage they will do more to preserve the fish 
and keep up the fishing than by filling out 1,000 blank 
applications for bass to be planted, only to be caught be- 
fore they have spawned, or if they have spawned, before 
the young bass have left their parents and while they need 
the parents' watchful care. I cannot let this opportunity 
pass without saying that it is quite a number of years 
since I began to answer questions about fish and fishing, 
and of all the questions propounded I like best to answer 
such a question as I have put in quotation marks at the 
beginning of this note, when put to me by an angler, for 
it furnishes the best evidence that he who puts the ques- 
tion is not familiar with the condition of the eggs of a fish 
at spawning time, therefore has never caught a spawning 
fish. 
One who has seen ripe eggs of a trout in October 
will never mistake the ova found in trout in June for well 
developed eggs, and yet this comment is frequently made 
of trout eggs noticed early in the fishing season. 
Smelt Running. 
In New England lakes the fresh-water form of the 
smelt begins to run up the streams to spawn as soon as 
the ice breaks up in the spring, and at no other time are 
FOREST AMD STREAM. 
they observed in the streams or shallow water. Commis- 
sioner Wentworth, of New Hampshire, writes me that 
last fall, or perhaps I should say this winter, the ice 
formed on Sunapee Lake and Pleasant Pond, in New 
London, to the thickness of 8in,, and then broke up in a 
thaw, and at once the smelts began to run, something 
never before known. He does not say the smelt had ripe 
spawn, but they acted as they doat spawning: time. Smelt 
run up a stream in the night, spawn, and return to the 
lake or sea before morning, and as they run in great 
schools the spawn probably develops rapidly, and it would 
be curious to know that atmospheric changes could in- 
fluence the development of fish spawn to change the 
spawning season several months. Anyway, we have yet 
quite a bit to learn about fish and their habits before we 
know it all, much as we think we know now. 
Value of Inland Fisheries. 
When the statistician compiles his figures to show the 
value of the fisheries of a nation or State he usually esti- 
mates the value of fish taken in interior waters for local 
markets and the fish taken by the independent hook- 
and-line fisherman, because the quantity taken is so small, 
comparatively, and the fishing is so widespread as to 
make it difficult to collect it as returns are collected from 
the large commercial fisheries. The United States Fish 
Commission has begun the work of collecting system- 
atically the statistics of the value of our inland fisheries. 
Mr. John N. Cobb, one of the field agents, has just com- 
pleted his work in the State of New York. Beginning at 
Lake George, where quantities of lake trout are taken and 
no netting is permitted, he worked over to the smelt and 
other fishermen of Lake Champlain, and then invaded the 
haunts of the trout fishermen of the Adirondacks. He 
writes that in some instances he has found difficulty in 
obtaining information from men who are licensed to use 
nets, but his canvass has been very thorough, and must 
prove interesting and of value. 
Arctic Exploration and Fishing. 
Mr. Alfred C. Harmsworth, of London, who so gener- 
ously fitted out the Jackson-Harms worth North Polar Ex- 
pedition two years ago, and about which we heard so 
much recently upon the return of the steamship Wind- 
ward after her winter in the polar ice, during which time 
it was thought she might be lost, writes me that the re- 
turn expedition will start for the Arctic seas in June, and 
that he expects to entertain a party of guests on board the 
ship as far north as Russia, where they will leave her and 
enter upon a fishing and shooting expedition. He has 
heard of some rivers that afford excellent fishing, but 
that are unfished because of their remoteness, and he is 
bound to have a try at them. He says that the only 
drawback that he can learn of is the mosquitoes, and that 
they are the worst in the world; but for unfished waters 
he is willing to risk the mosquitoes. I shall advise him to 
try some of our American inventions to keep off mos- 
quitoes, and if they, or any of them, prove too much for 
the Russian variety of this insect the fortune of the maker 
of the particular "dope" will be made. 
American Saibling for New York. 
Col. Wentworth, of the New Hampshire Fish Commis- 
sion, has assigned 15,000 eggs of the American saibling or 
Sunapee trout to the Fisheries, Game and Forpst Commis- 
sion of New York, and they will be hatched at the Cale- 
donia station of the Commission and planted in waters in 
the Adirondack region. Readers of Forest and Stream 
will remember the controversy over this fish a few years 
ago, as a great part of it appeared in the columns of this 
journal, and the fish needs no introduction here. 
I believe this will be the first time that the fish have 
been hatched and planted outside of New Hampshire. A 
consignment of eggs was once sent to New York, but they 
met with some misfortune in the hatchery and none sur- 
vived to be planted. A. N. Cheney. 
POLLUTION OF LAKES AND STREAMS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Looking over the extracts from the report of the New 
York Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission in ForeBT 
and Stream, I was forcibly reminded of the indifference 
of the larger corporations operating in Hamilton county, 
and their willful violation of all law and decency, and 
also the carelessness of the so-called game protectors of 
the locality mentioned. 
Piseco Lake is fed by large streams coming in from 
T. G. , Pine, Fiy, Sheriff, Ox Bow and other smaller lakes, 
which until five years ago were full of fine trout, as was 
Piseco itself. The timber at that time was not all 
cleared off from the shores of the lake, as is now the 
case, and timber bark was not sought for as it is now. 
There was only one way profitable to the devastator of 
forests to bring this lumber into market, namely, to dam 
the streams, and take out the stones in the beds of the 
creeks and small rivers. This. was done with dynamite, 
and I have heard reliable parties say that often it was the 
case that thirty or more large trout were destroyed by a 
single blast. But if their butchery of trout in this man- 
ner concluded the mischief, we might feel less indignant; 
but in the case of the Gerundigufc Stream — one noted for 
its fine trout, and having natural spawning beds, where 
I have seen at one time in the spawning season hundreds 
upon hundreds of trout weighing from li to51bs,,and 
where the Sacandaga hatcheries employees formerly 
went to secure eggs — they have thrown a dam across the 
stream (this dam is situated midway between the lake and 
spawning beds) at a point not owned by them, and last 
season during spawning I venture to say there were not 
twenty trout of more than 21bs. to be found on the beds, 
and 100 of all sizes would have been near the number, 
when thousands bred prior to the building of this nui- 
sance. 
But how is the evil to be remedied ? 
The protection which the game law gives is by men 
who are natives or residents of the country, and it seems 
to be to their interest not to interfere with these individ- 
uals who rule Hamilton county; indeed, if we are to have 
protectors appointed from among the natives, we need 
never hope for law or justice to do anything but mis- 
carry. Not that they are dishonest, but because if they 
interfere with these petty tyrants their source of revenue 
ends, as they, every one to a man, are on the payroll of 
these corporations and lumber jobbers. Now, this much 
for our streams. 
[Feb. 88, 1896. 
Our lake is in even worse condition, if possible. During 
the running of logs, in the spring of the year, the pine 
dam, on the outlet, is planked until the water is raised 
from 5 to 6ft., and is kept there until midsummer, when 
it is drawn off to suit the large mills at Glens Falls. With 
this rise of water the former feeding grounds of the deer 
are rendered inaccessible to them, again affording an- 
other rational solution of the scarcity of deer in that im- 
mediate neighborhood. 
But this is a digression. 
This high water interferes with the life of the young 
fry, and of the hundreds of thousands placed in these 
waters very few indeed survive. 
Then when the monopolists draw off the water (which 
is when they get good and ready) the shore of our beauti- 
ful lake is coated with a mass of festering vegetable and 
animal matter, which has been placed there by violators 
of sanitary law, which would not be tolerated anywhere 
else on the fair face of the earth. When I first located 
on Piseco Lake it was almost an impossibiiity to find a 
dead tree on its shores, but by the regular and protracted 
submerging of its shores the noble old friends are show- 
ing that not the lumberman's axe alone devastates; but 
his ruthless indifference and the benumbing influence 
that dollars have on his feelings for the rights of others 
should be promptly checked. 
Again, I implore all who are interested in the preserva- 
tion of the Adirondacks to strike a blow in the right di- 
rection — enforce the law we have, and let new and com- 
plicated bills alone. W. H. Hacker, M. D. 
Providence, R.I. 
THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER WATERS. 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Feb. 22.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: I send inclosed a copy of a letter received two 
or three days ago from Dr. Wakeham and copies of his 
report to the Dominion authorities. 
I am inclined to think that the Senate committee will 
recommend the proposed article in regard to the St. Law- 
rence River, but am not yet advised as to what action has 
been taken in regard to the matter. 
I have thought that you would be interested in knowing 
how fully Dr. Wakeham and I agree in regard to the pro- 
posed legislation relating to the St. Lawrence River. 
You will see from this report that, unless the Canadian 
boatmen are treated by us as fairly as they treat our boat- 
men, there is little hope of establishing a uniform law in 
the near future. 
I understand that an effort is being made to get such a 
definition of the Labor Contract Law that the trouble 
which now exists will be obviated in the future. 
J. S. Van Cleee. 
Ottawa, Feb. 17, 1896 — J. S. Van Cleef, Esq.: Dear 
Sir — I duly received your favor of the 9iti ultimo, with 
its inclosures, but have delayed replying to it until I could 
submit the matter to my Minister. This, as you will see by 
the accompanying memorandum of the 14th instant, I 
have done. 
Mr. Costigan has approved of all that we have done and 
has directed that the necessary report to council be pre- 
pared to carry out the suggested changes. My own 
opinion is, that under our system no new legislation will 
be required ; however, if it is decided that new legislation 
is required, the necessary bill will be proposed. 
I have to-day been shown by Mr. Smith yours to him of 
the 15th instant. It seems to me that everything now is 
in a fair way. I note the remarks in your report about 
the alien labor restrictions, and I do not see how you 
could have put the case more strongly. The inclosed 
papers will show you how the matter stands with us. 
A expect to leave here for Washington in a day or two, 
and you can communicate with me there to care of the 
TJ. S. Fish Commissioner, 
I hope that all will go on smoothly and I see nothing to 
prevent it. 
I shall try and keep you advised as to how the matter 
stands with our department, and when the necessary 
orders in council are passed I shall let you know. Be- 
lieve me yours very truly, Wm. Wakeham. 
memoranda for the minister. 
I beg to submit for the Minister's information this re- 
port made to the Senate of the State of New York by the 
Committee on Fish and Game, appointed to arrange for 
uniform regulations in the waters of the St. Lawrence 
lying between Cape Vincent and Kingston at the head of 
the river and Ogdensburgh and Prescott below. 
There is also attached a copy of an act to amend the 
"Fisheries, Game and Forest Law" of the State of New 
York, so as to cover the proposed joint regulations for the 
waters in question. 
The regulations are the same as those submitted to the 
Minister in my report of Aug. 21 laBt, with one excep- 
tion. 
We had at first decided to fix the length of bass which 
might be caught and saved at 10in., but on further in- 
quiry we have found that this is too small a bass, and 
have decided that the best length to be fixed for bass 
should be 12in., a bass of this length weighing a pound. 
Other than this there is no change. 
I do not think any new legislation is needed on our part 
to perfect the mutual agreement should the Minister de- 
cide to accept them. On this point, however, the interior 
officers of the department would be better able to inform 
the Minister than I am. 
If the Minister approves of the arrangements as pro- 
posed. I think a letter should be sent to Mr. Van Cleef, 
counsel of the Senate committee, informing him of the 
fact. (Signed) Wm. Wakeham. 
Fkb. 14, 1896. 
(COPY.) 
Department of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa, Aug. 
21, 1895. — Hon, John Costigan, Minister of Marine and 
Fisheries, Ottawa. — Sir: In accordance witn instructions 
given me in your letter of July 21 last, I proceeded on 
Friday, the 16th inst,, to Alexandria Bay, N. Y., and 
there met the Commissioners appointed by the Senate of 
the State of New York, together with Senator Mullin and 
several members of the St. Lawrence Angling Associa- 
tion, I was accompanied to Alexandria Bay by the 
Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries. The members 
of the Senate committee afterward on Monday, the 19th, 
came to Ottawa, when they were received by Sir A. P, 
Caron, the acting Premier; the Hon. J. F. Wood; Dr. 
Bergin, M. P., and the Deputy Minister of Marine and 
