262 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
[March 28, 1896. 
SIRENS VS. BLACK BASS. 
Somewhere in the sea, an ancient myth tells us, lies 
an isolated rock, where the sirens, most beautiful and be- 
witching creatures, are wont to waylay "those who go 
down to the sea in ships." 
I am not much versed in the details of this legend, and 
get some of my ideas from a picture which hangs upon 
the wall in my sanctum. 
In some respects they seem somewhat behind, and in 
others quite up with or a little in advance of the times. 
As regards dress, they cling quite closely to the style 
which prevailed in the Garden of Eden (this from the 
picture), but they have reached the highest notch of per- 
fection in voice culture, and men have nothing to say 
either in domestic or public affairs. Consciences they 
have no more than cold-weather raiment. Of course, 
situated as they are, they are more or less exposed to the 
elements, and a surplusage of clothing would only be a 
nuisance, and that deficiency may well be excused. 
But as to the rock: upon this it is that they pose and 
sing, and not with the best of intentions. Oh, no! for 
they are as wicked as they are beautiful. The unfortunate 
mariners who sail near them become so enchanted by their 
beauty and song that, blind and deaf to all else, and 
neither seeing the foaming breakers nor hearing their 
roar, they tack toward them and meet their doom — a 
watery grave. Bad sirens! So through association they 
really become a part of the rock and their charms its 
charms. 
Now I am still young and little traveled, and as yet 
have had no opportunity of even seeing salt water, much 
less the rock graced by these lovely beings. 
In old Grand River's bed, however, I claim to have 
found a rock whose charms far surpass those of the rock 
of the sirens. 
This old granite boulder of which I write and whose 
side of the question I will try to support, while not of 
great size, would probably comfortably seat three or four 
full-grown sirens, providing they dress in their usual 
becoming manner — mandolin sleeves barred. 
It lies, in low water half submerged, right in the middle 
of the river's channel, and the action of the water has 
worn it nearly round. 
The ample pool in which it is situated begins and ends 
with long, broad stretches of riffs, where the water gur- 
gles and foams among stone and shale. There in the 
swiftly running, cool water the minnows flee for refuge 
from the hungry bass, and there too in spring the mullet 
congregate. At the right and north side and extending 
the whole length of this pool rises to a considerable 
height an almost perpendicular wall of alternate layers of 
solid rock and shale. In and out of the nooks and cran- 
nies of this wall, during nesting season, bankswallows are 
continually darting, while the pewee takes up a claim and 
rears her family under some projecting ledge of 
rock. At intervals, wherever they may get a root- 
hold on the face of this cliff, scraggy aspens and 
stunted evergreens hang, and the summit is 
crowned with a more luxuriant growth of pines 
and other trees. Still higher, way up, an eagle or two 
may generally be seen circling round and round. They 
probably nest in the vicinity; at any rate, they are gener 
ally there. To the left of the pool stretches a beautiful 
green level of grass, dotted here and there with groups of 
trees and boulders. Beyond this the ground begins to 
rise gradually, and away on the gently rising slope, over 
thickets and wood, a beautiful panorama is lifted to 
view — just far enough for distance to mellow and blend, 
and yet not so far that objects seem indistinct. Well- 
cultivated farms, with buildings, orchards, meadows, pas- 
tures; the far-away, hazy, bluish background of forest — a 
pretty picture. 
Looking up, or down the river may be seen the same 
charming scenery; the stream with its pools and minia- 
ture rapids; on one side the cool, gray, rocky wall, on the 
other the low land, with its trees, rocks, shrubs and 
rushes. Occasionally there is an opening in the wall 
forming a beautiful ravine, where from its source, aspring 
far above, the water trickles down from ledge to ledge. 
There, sheltered from the cold winds, many delicate flow- 
ers grow, and with them — the curse of outdoor life- 
mosquitoes. 
As soon as warm weather sets in for good, and the river 
clears and lowers, the charm begins to work, and from 
then till late in the fall I am a frequent visitor to the old 
rock, though each trip usually means a walk of several 
miles — not the best walking either. Through pasture and , 
woodland, over fences and ditches, lugging minnow 
bucket and rod, I tramp; but never was labor more cheer- 
fully undertaken (and 1 am constitutionally lazy) or more 
handsomely rewarded. 
Sometimes I am accompanied by Ed or Walt, some- 
times by my father, who is a veritable "block of the 
young chip," and better company on a fishing trip there 
never was or will be. 
Often for want of two-legged company I took Jack 
along. Jack is only a dog, and a blacn one at that, but 
in my way of thinking he is far better company than 
most fellows when it comes to roughing it. 
He is like my father in this: rain, heat, hunger, a night 
out of doors and bad luck of any description he takes like 
a true fisherman. He never curses everything and every- 
body in general, as nine out of ten, yes, 99 out of 100, 
"sports" will, if luck doesn't happen to run their way. 
Sometimes we got there before the sun was up; some- 
times he was just up and looking for us. Then and at 
sunset the river was looking its best. Little wonder that 
at such a time the bass like to play and feed. Golden 
does not half express the richness of the light which the 
water reflects. That coloring is as far more beautiful 
than that of gold as that of gold is more beautiful than 
the dull hue of iron. Then the gray cliff is no longer 
gray, but takes on, though in a less degree than the water, 
that rich, warm coloring which the rising and setting sun 
can give. 
There on the riffs, standing in the shallow water, en- 
joying at the same time a sun and a cold-water bath (I 
never wear wading boots), we get our supply of minnows. 
How hungrily and eagerly the little fellows bite! Little 
they know they are offering themselves to be sacrificed, 
though for a glorious cause. Another thing, I never use 
a minnow net, which is in my mind and experience a 
useless, abominable, temper raising, profanity breeding 
invention. A little caution, a little hook and a little prac- 
tice will supply you with minnows and no little sport in 
half the time you are deciding to throw away your min- 
now net or give it to some angler against whom you have 
a grudge. 
I can boast that I allow nothing else whatever to ruffle 
my sunny temper when upon a fishing trip, but when 
using one of those nets I lose all self-control. Wading 
waist-deep I do not object to; the extra trouble of carry- 
ing one I could put up with; but after scraping a hole 
well stocked with chubs from one end to another, with 
the infernal machine snagging on every root and stone 
and the handles of the same punching my ribs at every 
sudden stop, and then to find upon lifting it only a lot of 
shale and a possible crab or two, what could be expected? 
But perhaps I have been unusually unfortunate in my ex- 
perience with a net; but such it has been. 
Now, supplied with bait and changing my minnow 
hook for a snell, I approach my old friend the rock, who 
never refuses me a black bass. Wading quietly in a little 
above I toss my chub out and let him drift down past the 
rock, but nothing touches it; I feel only the twitching of 
my livply minnow. But this is not discouraging in the 
least. I know his black majesty is eyeing the tempting bait 
from his hiding place in under the boulder. He may not 
be ravenously hungry and just a little suspicious, knowing 
that no chub in his right mind and of his own free will 
would be fool enough to court danger by banging round 
a place likely to be haunted by bass. But I'll try him 
again. This time I hold my bait alongside the rocfc and 
appeal to his sense of honor. Whether hungry or not, in 
all probability he will not naturally put up with such an 
insult; for an insignificant little chub to shake his fins 
right under his majesty's nose, oh, no! Swish— a jerk, a 
pull, I try to lead him away from the rock. (Jh, too 
bad, he's off! No, I've got him again. This time he's 
hooked. Now, if he doesn't get under the rock we're all 
right. He comes to the surface; his dark green side 
flashes. He is a beauty. Away he goes again. He's a 
tighter, but the spring of the lancewood proves too much 
for him, though he tugs valiantly till the end. He will 
weigh about 2lbs.— 2lbs. of solid fun and excitement. Ah, 
this is "the tie that binds." me to that old piece of granite. 
I unhook and string him as gently as possible, then 
fasten him just below the cool riff, where he soon be- 
comes as lively as ever, though a doomed fish. 
But we are not through yet. I exchange the dead min- 
now (who lived and died not in vain) for a fresh one— and 
so forth. 
This is my usual modus operandi, and the rest of the 
day is spent in much the same way, with variations— a 
sameness that is ever new. 
At dark we start for home, with our long walk well 
paid for in advance. 
Tired? Yes. but satisfied. Hungry? We will demon- 
strate later. Nothing is lost by getting real hungry, for 
everything tastes enough better to more than repay. 
Of course never having seen the one, I may not be 
competent to judge impartially, but just the same I am 
ready to wager that my one rock in Grand River, as far 
as attractions go, will discount a whole island of sirens, 
singing and all, and I know all who enjoy black bass 
fishing (the best sport allotted to mortals) will back me. 
United States Fish Commission. 
Washington Correspondence Mew York Evening Post. ^ 
The nomination of John J. Brice, of California, for 
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries came as a complete 
surprise to every one interested in the Fish Commission. 
Every appointment hitherto made since the Commission 
was founded has been based on conspicuous fitness and 
. experience in dealing with fishculture. Prof. Spencer F. 
Baird, the first Commissioner, was a scientist of general 
attainments, and the connection of his name with the 
Commission gave the latter a standing throughout the 
world which it could have acquired in no other way. 
After his death, which occurred during President Cleve- 
land's first term, there was great difficulty in finding a 
competent successor, and Prof. G, Brown Goode, director 
of the National Museum, accepted an ad interim appoint- 
ment at the President's personal solicitation, with the un- 
derstanding that he should be relieved ss soon as possible. 
Finally Col. Marshall McDonald, of Virginia, was appoint- 
ed, a thoroughly equipped expert in fishculture on its eco- 
nomic as well as its scientific side. Although Col. Mc- 
Donald was a strong Democrat, and made no secret of his 
affiliations, he scrupulously avoided allowing politics to 
enter into his administration of the Commission, and his 
fitness and success were so universally conceded that 
President Harrison retained him throughout his term. 
On Col. McDonald's death it was naturally expected, 
therefore, that the next Commissioner would be uf the 
same stamp as his predecessors. This is the cause of the 
surprise generally manifested when Mr. Brice's name 
came to the Senate. 
It may be that Mr. Brice will show his mettle and prove 
an excellent administrator, but at present he is almost or 
quite unknown in the field of pisciculture. Ho is a re- 
tired commander and a cousin of Senator Brice of Ohio. 
It is understood that he wa9 urged for the place by Sena- 
tor White, of California, as, although a native and for- 
merly a resident of Ohio, he owns a small estate in Cali- 
fornia, and has spent much time there of late. At the 
Navy Department it is stated that his professional record 
is good, though not distinguished. The last time that his 
name came before the public was when the cruiser 
Adams went ashore in Behring Sea a few years ago. He 
was in command of the vessel, but was ill and in his berth 
at the time of the accident, and the burden of the court- 
martial which followed fell upon his executive officer. 
It was the illness he was then suffering which led him to 
apply for retirement, and the board who examined him 
pronounced him physically disqualified for further serv- 
ice. 
'the only instance in which he appears of record as con- 
nected with the Fish Commission was one detail to serv- 
ice with the Commission — such a billet as many officers 
have had, due not to their interest in pisciculture, but to 
the occasional need of a contribution of their professional 
knowledge to the accomplishment of some special task. 
In the Commission's report for 1889-91 the following pas- 
sage occurs: 
In view of the urgent and many requests received from 
citizens in the regions of the Rocky Mountains and the 
Pacific Coast to stock their waters with suitable food fishes, 
and the difficulties and cost attending shipments from the 
Eastern stations of the Commission, the question of locat- 
ing fishcultural stations on the military reservations of 
those regions was considered, and Lieut. -Commander J, 
J. Brice, U. S. Navy, who was employed under detail 
from the Navy Department, was directed to make a re- 
connoissance. Upon his report and recommendations the 
reservation at Fort Gaston, Humboldt county, Cal., was 
decided upon as offering the necessary requirements; and 
m compliance with the request of this office, the Sec- 
retary of War, on Oct. 16, 1889, gave instructions permit- 
ting the use of a portion of the same by the. Fish Commis- 
sion. Th« organization of the station was intrusted to 
Mr. Brice, who arrived at the place the latter part of No- 
vember with some of the equipment. The use of a build- 
ing 32ft. by 16ft., into which an abundant supply of pure 
cold water was led by gravity, was granted by the com- 
mandant of the post, Capt. W. E. Doughertv, United 
States Army, who also undertook the general charge of 
the conduct of the station. Mr. W. H. Morgan, who was 
serving as fiehrulturist at one of the Eastern stations of 
the Commission, was assigned as foreman. Capt. Dough- 
erty remained in charge of the work till Oct. 1. 1890, 
when he was succeeded by Capt. F. H. Edmunds, United 
States Army, who has been placed in command of the 
post, 
In considering the question of confirming this nomina- 
tion, the Senate will b« confronted with the familiar 
problem of the double office. Mr. Brice is still a retired 
naval officer, drawing a salary of about $3,600 a year. 
The salary of the Fish Commissioner is $5,000. He can- 
not, under the law, draw both salaries, and the question 
will probably be raised whether he can hold the two offi :es, 
even if he relinquishes for the time being the smaller 
compensation, in the case of Gen. Sickles, it was held 
that a retired army officer could serve at different 
times as Minister to Spain and as Representative in 
Congress without surrendering his military commission. 
Doubtless this will be the eventual ruling with regard to 
Mr. Brice, but the question can hard ly fail to come up in 
some shape if the nval applicants for the Fish Commis- 
sionership are as active as rivals usually are under such 
conditions. 
Mr. Brice is about 50 year3 of age and is 'describad as a 
man of agreeable address and much personal popularity. 
New Jersey Coast Fish. 
Asbury Park, N. J., March 19.— The first evidence of 
fish life of the season along our coast was observed here 
yesterday. . Owing to the turbulent character of the 
surf identification was impossible, but the general opinion 
is tbey were herring. If so, they were in sportive mood, 
as they appeared to be entirely at the surface, which is 
quite contrary to the habits of that species in this vicinity. 
The school, of several acres in extent, were finning their 
way leisurely along northward, and was a very welcome 
sight. The herring is quite a source of revenue to ye 
small boy of this vicinity. Crowding in the small inlets 
along the coast, endeavoring to reach fresh water, they 
are often left by the receding waves in very shallow 
water, where they fall an easy prey to the crab net deftly 
wielded by the youngsters, who sell them from baskets 
and push carts, finding ready market at this season of the 
year, when other fish are scarce. Leonard Holit, 
The Earliest American Angling Books. 
New York, March 21.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
Referring to Mr. Cheney's article in your, issue of the 2 1st, 
I would like to say, that while he is correctin mentioning 
"The American Angler's Guide," published in 1845, as 
being the first book published in America exclusively de- 
voted to angling as a pastime, he will find a still earlier 
American book in which angling is discussed. 
I refer to Dr. J. V. C. Smith's "Natural History of the 
Fishes of Massachusetts, embracing a Practical Essay on 
Angling," published by Allen & Ticknor, B ^ston, in 1833. 
Of course, I am aware of the fact that the book pos- 
sesses absolutely no scientific value, and is merely a com- 
pilation bristling with errors; but as one-fifth of its pages 
are devoted to "the theory and practice of angling," we 
will have to admit its priority of publication over Brown 
and Lanman. Martin Eiche. 
"That reminds me." 
A New Species of Bear in Maine. 
Pete was a French- Canadian who led a hand-to-mouth 
existence in a little clearing on the southern edge of the 
Maine woods. His family was an ever-increasing one 
and Pete was put to his wits' ends to feed and clothe its 
members, for dollars were strangers in his locality. One 
autumn day a party of hunters, bound home from the 
woods, passed Pete's place, and one of the number notic- 
ing a fine fat bear carcass lying beside the shanty door 
asked the Frenchman if he would sell it. It took Pete 
some time to come to a decision, for he was torn in mind 
about the matter. Bears did not fall into his one trap 
every week, and that carcass would feed his family for 
some time to come. Then he thought of the pork, flour 
and molasses which dollars would buy at the settlement 
store, and that seemed to take his fancy. He was a long 
time thinking it over and was no nearer a decision when 
the would-be purchaser came to his . rescue with the 
proposition that if Pete would hitch up his single steer 
and sledge and haul the carcass out a few miles to the 
railroad he would give him 20 cents a pound and leave 
the pelt. The Frenchman took him up and the bargain 
was fulfilled. 
Some weeks later, when Pete went to the settlement 
store to buy a few provisions, he was handed a letter 
which his wife finally deciphered for him. It was from a 
provision dealer in one of the cities, who recalled the pur- 
chase of the bear meat, which he said was in great de- 
mand, and asked Pete to send him another by express on 
the same, terms. Despite the protestations of hia spouse, 
who was of a thrifty turn of mind, Pete had not paid 
much attention to anything since he acquired so much 
wealth, unless it was the spending of it. The bear trap 
lay rusting just where it had been dropped when its prize 
victim was brought in. What with some clothes all 
round, boots, pork, flour and the like, the money had 
been pretty well used up by this time, so next morning 
Pete fixed up his trap and lugged it off into the woods to 
Bet. 
Two weeks went by and Pete had grown very tired of 
