420 
FOREST AND ' STREAM. 
[MAY123, 1896 
taken from Washoe Lake with, hook and line in 1883. 
From the reports for 1883-84 and 1889-90 the following 
extracts are taken, which refer to the value of the catfish 
in waters where better fish cannot flourish, and to the 
economic importance which the fish have attained in 
Nevada. 
From nearly every plant of catfish I have reports several times a 
year, and In every instance I have been complimented on the intro- 
duction of this very prolific and superior food-fish. Its hardy nature 
so well fits it for our saline and muddy waters that in localities where 
the trout can not flourish this fish is sure to thrive and multiply far 
beyond any of our transplants. In Washoe Lake, Carson and Hum- 
boldt rivers they are now found in such great numbers that anglers 
never abandon the pleasure until well-filled baskets and sacks mark 
the day's sport. For two years the Carson and Virginia markets have 
been to a great degree supplied with these fish from Washoe Lake. 
They find a ready sale at the higbest prices. Thousands of pounds 
have been taken annually for the last eight or ten years, every 
family living near these waters supplying their table for about seven 
months of the year, while the markets of Carson and Virginia cities, 
although receiving large consignments, find such large sale that their 
stock is exhausted long before the most desirable salt-water fish find 
a purchaser. Add to this the fact of the number engaged in fishing 
for the market, and it will be seen that an industry has .been developed 
not only giving employment to quite a number of men and boys, but 
furnishing a food fish of a most desirable and salable quality, and 
this through the workings of the Nevada Fish Commission. (Report 
for 1889-90 ) 
It is not possible to assign to each species of catfish its 
present distribution in the Pacific States. There is noth- 
ing in the habits of the two kinds known to have become 
acclimatized that would prevent both inhabiting the same 
waters, although the yellow catfish or bullhead (A. nebu- 
losus) is probably more likely to be found in warm, 
muddy ponds, sloughs and ditches than is the other 
species, which on the East coast is commonly known as 
the channel catfish, in allusion to its habit of frequenting 
the deeper, colder and clearer parts of the rivers. 
In California the catfish have a more general distribu- 
tion than any other fish. The State Commissioners in 
1880 asserted that there is no county in which these fish 
were not found: the wide distribution which the fish had 
given themselves had been supplemented by the efforts of 
the Commissioners, who from 1877 to 1879 planted them 
in thirty counties. 
In California catfish are most numerous in the valleys 
of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, where the 
conditions are very favorable for their multiplication. 
They are found in most of the tributaries of those streams 
and in the sloughs connected therewith. They have 
ascended the Sacramento River as far as Kenneth, a 
station seventeen miles above Redding, and the San 
Joaquin to Tulare Lake. In 1886»Mr. William Uttdr, 
writing from Campo Seco, Calaveras county, reported 
that there were millions of catfish in . the Mokelumne 
River, which joins the Sacramento River a short distance 
below Sacramento. Catfish are also found in several of 
the coast rivers of California. 
In a "List of the Fishes Inhabiting Clear Lake, Cali- 
fornia," by Jordan and Gilbert, printed in the Fish Com- 
mission Bulletin for 1894, the bullhead (A. nebulosus) is 
recorded as very abundant, and the white catfish (A. 
catus) is reported as occasionally taken with the other 
species. In Lake Cuyamaca, near San Diego, catfish 
are reported as abundant, and some weighing l^lbs. have 
been taken with lines. 
Catfish are generally distributed in the Lower Columbia 
River and in the Willamette and other tributaries. The 
limits of their range in the Columbia basin have not been 
determined. They are very abundant in the sloughs con- 
nected with the Willamette River below Portland. Mr. 
F. C. Reed, of Astoria, states that the catfish of the Colum- 
bia basin is the bullhead, and that the catfish proper (that 
is, the fork-tailed form) does not occur. 
Pood of Catfish. 
The catfish have the reputation among the California 
fishermen of being large consumers of fry and eggs of 
salmon, sturgeon, shad and other fishes, This accords 
with their known habits in other waters. Mr. Alex- 
ander's examination, however, of the contents of several 
hundred stomachs of catfish in California and Oregon 
yielded only negative results as to the presence of young 
fish and ova. 
Writing of the bullhead in Clear Lake, California, Jor- 
dan and Gilbert say that it is extremely abundant and is 
destructive to the spawn of other species. The scarcity 
of the valuable Sacramento perch in that lake, which 
they attribute to the carp, here as in the Sacramento 
River, may be partly due to the more numerous catfish, 
which feed almost exclusively on animal matter. 
By some persons the catfish are held responsible for the 
scarcity of Sacramento perch in the Sacramento and San 
Joaquin rivers. Mr. Babcock writes that he is informed 
by reliable men living above Colusa that up to 1880 perch 
were very common there and catfish were seldom taken, 
but since that time the catfish have increased beyond all 
belief and the perch have almost disappeared. The sup- 
posed influence of the catfish on the abundance of the 
perch arises from the spawn-eating propensities of the 
catfish. 
Mr. A. Paladini, an extensive and long- established 
dealer of San Francisco, believes that catfish are espe- 
cially injurious to salmon in the Sacramento River, where 
he thinks they destroy large quantities of ova and fry. 
This matter is sufficiently important to warrant careful 
attention. It would seem that the centers of abundance 
of catfish are probably remote from the spawning grounds 
of salmon. 
In California and Oregon catfish inhabit to a great ex- 
tent waters in which few other fish could or do exist. In 
the lagoons and sloughs connected with the San Joaquin, 
Sacramento and Willamette rivers but few fish besides: 
catfish are taken with the fyke nets and set lines. When 
fishing is done in the main streams, a number of varieties 
are caught with catfish, among which are split- tails 
(Pogoniehthys macrolepidotus), hardheads (Ptychoeheilus 
oregonensis) and carp (Cyprinus earpio), and, in the 
Columbia basin, young sturgeon (Acipenser transmon- 
tanus). 
Few enemies and no diseases disturb the catfish in 
Pacific waters, according to Mr. Alexander. No fish are 
known to prey on them except the striped bass, and even 
that species must do so very rarely. In some instances 
the ingestion of catfish by striped baBS results in the 
death of the latter, the formidable spines piercing the 
stomach and entering the abdominal walls of the bass. 
As much of the largest part of the catfish yield of Cali- 
fornia is consigned to San Francisco, Sacramento and 
Stockton, figures showing the receipts in those cities will 
give a fair idea of the quantity caught. Mr. Alexander's 
inquiries at Sacramento and Stockton and the writer's 
examination of the books of the San Francisco dealers 
showed that in 1893 the shipments to those places were as 
follows: 
Pounds. 
San Francisco" 43,975 
Sacramento.. . , 69,035 
Stockton 36,000 
Total 139,000 
The quantity of catfish sent from the principal shipping 
centers on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, as de- 
termined by Mr. Alexander, were as follows, the differ- 
ence between these and the foregoing figures amounting 
to about 33,000lbs., representing the aggregate of a 
number of minor shipments of which no record could be 
obtained: 
Pounds. 
Bed Bluffs, Fremont and Knight's Landing 40,000 
Courtland „ . 13,550 
Isleton 12,000 
Bio Vista 2,290 
Bouldin Island. 23,000 
Jersey Landing 15,000 
Total 105,840 
The catch by persons who make something of a busi- 
ness of fishing for catfish was not under 150,000lbs. in 
1893, and fully 50,0001bs. additional would not more than 
cover the catch by farmers, boys and fishermen in other 
branches, most of which is consumed locally. 
The gross value to the fishermen of the catfish caught 
for market was $6,358, and the total value of the fish to 
the State in the year named may be estimated at $8,500, 
making a very moderate allowance for the catfish used 
for home consumption. 
The quantity of catfish taken for sale in the Columbia 
basin in 1893 was about 90,0001bs., with a value to the 
fishermen of $<5,800. Comparatively large numbers were 
also consumed by lumbermen, farmers and others who 
fished for their own use. The receipts of catfish in Port- 
land in 1893 amounted to 75,0001bs. 
The contention of the California Fish Commissioners in 
several of their reports already cited, that the value of all 
the catfish caught annually and consumed as food would 
more than equal the annual appropriation made by the 
State in the interests of the fisheries and fishculture, has 
probably been verified in a number of years. In 1893, 
when the fishery is known to have been leas extensive 
than formerly, the appropriations exceeded the value of 
the catch by only $1,500. 
RHODE ISLAND FISHING. 
Providence, R. I. — Editor Forest and Stream: At the 
annual meeting of the Rhode Island State Association for 
the Protection of Fish and Game there was a large at- 
tendance and the prospects are very bright and encour- 
aging for the coming year. The following officers were 
elected: President, Thomas W. Penny; Vice-Presidents, 
A. L. Andrews, Providence; John T. Fiske, Pascoag; 
W. S. Ballou, Woonsocket; C. Fred Crawford, Central 
Falls; A. S. Saugy, Providence, and A. D. Roberts, 
Woonsocket; Secretary, M, J. Flaherty, Providence; 
Treasurer, J. F. Russell, Providence; Advocate, C. A, 
Tower, Providence; Managing Board, William Moshler, 
A. L. Andrews, J. F, Russell, of Providence, and S. H. 
Roberts, Pawtucket, and President ex-offieio. 
There has been good sport along the trout brooks in 
this vicinity this season and several excellent catches 
have been reported. Among these I mention, Dr. J. W. 
Bond and Arnold Pickering, of this city, visited Greene, 
and that a streak of rare luck attended them is in evi- 
dence through the fact that they bagged thirty beautiful 
trout, the largest of which weighed lib. and 3oz., besides 
401bs. of bull pout. F. Edgar Crumb, of Riverside, spent 
one day near Moosup, Conn. , and upon his return showed 
about twenty trout, five of which weighed 8ibs. They 
were beauties. 
Albert Bates, of Hope, found a fox burrow on Nelson 
Colvin's farm near that village on the 2d, and in it a 
fox family consisting of eight members. He managed to 
dig out the entire lot without losing any, and the eight 
brushes will net him $24 in bounties from the State. 
While he was corralling his foxes a party of hunters on a 
similar quest were 200yds, distant and were considerably 
chagrined when they learned that he ha d probably cap- 
tured all the foxes in that section of the valley. 
William and Alpheus Chase, while cleaning out an old 
well near the village of Douglas recently, unearthed and 
killed thirty black snakes and seven adders, the largest, a 
black snake, measuring 6ft. in length. 
There was found on the Eugene F. Stillman farm, 
Westerly, the other day, a very old box turtle. On the 
top of the shell were the initials of Paul Maxson, with 
the date 1797. On the lower side of the shell were also 
these initials and dates: "A. S., 1808," and "J. F. S., 
1855." These last initials stand for the names of Adam 
Stillman and J. F. Stillman, grandfather and father, re- 
spectively, of Eugene F. Stillman. 
A resolution has been introduced into the General 
Assembly prohibiting fishing from trap3 in the waters of 
Narragansett Bay north of a line drawn from Seal Rock 
to Brenton's Reef and Beaver Tail. 
George A. Lewis, of Wickford, on the 5th caught a 
basket of nine brook trout which measured from 9 to 
13in. in length. W. H. M. 
The Ruination of the James River. 
Lynchburgi, Va., May 14.— The take of black bass in 
the upper James has been very much smaller this season 
than in several years past. The winter was very open, 
there being but little snow; the run of bass should have 
been early and large. I can only attribute the small run 
of this fish to the fact of the river being filled with all 
kinds and sizes of nets, traps and other devices — which 
have a tendency to drive the bass from the wa.ters in 
which nets and traps are placed. The State of Virginia 
is doing absolutely nothing to protect the fishing interest 
in the smaller streaoos. F. M. D. 
Forest and Stream Fishing Postals. 
Drop us a line about the fishing. 
Littleton, Me., May 11. — Fish are commencing to bite 
quite freely and a number of very good strings are brought 
in daily. Reports from Masardis and Ashland are very 
encouraging and the season is sure to be a good one in 
that vicinity. Quite a number of deer have been seen in 
the clearings and are asserted to be quite tame, all of 
which goes to show that pot-hunters have been kept well 
in hand since the commencement of the close season. 
Miss Isquoi. 
Trout and Pike in the Mississippi. 
Wabasha, Minn., May 11. — The Father of Waters is 
not generally noted as being a trout stream, but occasion- 
ally trout are taken when fishing for other fish, as was 
done here a few days ago by a party while fishing for 
pike with a minnow. I have known of several being 
caught in the same way in years past. ■ They are the 
genuine Salvelinus fontinalis, and always of good size. 
They have alBO been taken in Lake Pepin. Some very 
large catches are made every year of pike and bass in this 
part of the Mississippi and at the mouth of Lake Pepin, 
where wall-eyed pike are caught weighing from 10 to 
151bs. I hope friend Hough will happen up this way this 
season and catch and help eat one of the big pike, as he 
talked with me of doing last year. Wapahasa. 
" That reminds me." 
The Problem Solved; 
There seems to be a great diversity of opinion as to 
the proper caliber for large game. I have read from week 
to week in your glorious paper the ideas of some of your 
readers as to what is the proper caliber, and I have come 
to the conclusion that in case any one was really going 
to buy a rifle for large game and took the advice of every 
one of these different sportsmen, or even tried to average 
them, he would be in a pretty quandary. Here is one 
man says a .44-40 is just the thing, another recommends a 
.32 40, another a .40-82 and still another .50-110-500, and 
so we go oh. 
Now I inclose a little drawing of a patent, automatic, rap- 
id-firing rifle. It can be had in any caliber you want, will 
use black or smokeless. Can be made to Bhoot single shot 
or 700 a minute when you feel extra bloodthirsty. Thos« 
who prefer still-hunting it is just what they want. All 
you have to do is to get a couple of guides (?) to help you 
set the machine up in some unfrequented spot; take along 
enough provisions to last you for a month or so, and if 
any moose comes within half a mile he's yours. 
To those who are still undecided as to the gun that they 
want, the best thing they can do is to send for this one. 
It only costs $1,500, but it is a sure killer. The workings 
can be easily understood from the cut. 
You first of all get it set up on the tripod, C, in some 
lonely spot where moose abound. Take along with you 
about 20yds. of ammunition on a canvas strip, D, The 
barrel, A, is telescopic and slips into the breech, B. When 
you think you hear a moose — it may be a man, but don't 
you care — put the butt, G, to your shoulder; take aim in 
the direction from which you think the sound comes from 
through the sights, J J J; then pull the lever, F, for a sec- 
ond and let go of it. If in any case the moose don't jump 
out of the place you aimed at your ears must have de- 
ceived you. In this case, and you are pretty sure you did 
hear a moose, turn the wheel, H, and pull the lever, F, at 
the same time. This way the gun makes a complete cir- 
cle firing at the rate of 100 per minute. If that moose, or 
whatever it happened to be, was within half a mile of 
you, all you have to do is to get up and look for its "car- 
cus." 
This gun can also be used successfully for cutting dow n 
trees. The Slaughterer. 
Boston, May 13. 
' he Mmml 
FIXTURES 
BENCH SHOWS. 
Sept. 7 to 11. — Toronto Exhibition Association's eighth annual show, 
Toronto, Can. C. A Stone, Sec'y of bench show. 
Sept. 22 to 24,— Mil waukee Kennel and Pet Stock Association's second 
annual dog show, Milwaukee. W. W. Weloh, Sec'y. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Sept. 2.— Morris, Man.— Manitoba Field Trials Cluh. John Wootton, 
Sec'y. 
Sept. 7.— Kennedy, Minn.— Continental Field Trial Cluh's chicken 
trials. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 
Oct. 9.— Brunswick Fur Club's annual meet. Bradford S. Turpin, 
Sec'y. 
Oct. 26.— Hempstead, L. I.— Natioonal Beagle Club's trials. Geo. 
W. Rogers, Sec'y, 250 W. Twenty-second street, New York. 
Oct. 28.— Greene county, Pa.— The Monongahela Valley Game and 
Fish Protective Association's second annual trials. S. B. Oummiags 
Sec'y, Pittsburg. 
Nov. 2 — Bicknell, Ind.— Continental Field Trial Club's quail trials. 
P. T. Madison, Sec'y. 
Nov. 2— Oxford, Mass.— New England Beagle Club's trials. W. 8. 
Clark, Sec'y, Linden, Mass. 
Nov. 16.— Newton, N. C— E. F. T. Club's trials. S. C. Bradley, Sec'y, 
Greenfield Hill, Conn. 
Nov. 17.— Chatham, Ont.— International Field Trial Cluh's trials. 
W. B. Wells, Sec'y, Chatham, Ont. 
Nov. 23.— Newton, N. C— U. S. F. T. Club's fall trials. W. B. Staf- 
ford, Sec'y. 
» 
