s 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[July 7, 1894. 
ANGLING NOTES. 
Salmon In the Delaware. 
The report that salmon have been taken with the fly in 
the Delaware River reminds me of something I intended 
to make a note of long ago. In these days, when claims 
are being made for successes in fishculture and in fish 
planting, some of the earlier attempts in the same direc- 
tion are lost sight of, and the earnest effort of pioneers 
get little or no credit. 
Last year Mr. Wm. E. Meehan, associate editor of the 
Philadelphia Public Ledger, compiled for the Pennsylvania 
Pish Commissioners a pamphlet- on the fish, fishing and 
fisheries of the State. From this book I learn that the 
first attempt to stock the Delaware with salmon was 
made in 1871. In that year a number of gentlemen in 
Philadelphia and Easton purchased 10,000 salmon eggs in 
Canada and they were successfully hatched in Dutchess 
county, N. Y., by Mr. Christie, and the fry was taken by 
the late Henry A. King, a conductor on the Central Rail- 
road of New Jersey, to Easton. The day was hot and 
most of the fry perished, but 2,500, in a weak condition 
were planted in tributaries of the Delaware. The next 
year, 1872, 13,000 more eggs were purchased by the same 
gentlemen, and these were taken in charge by Uncle 
Thad. Norris, of glorious memory, and hatched under his 
personal supervision, and 11.000 fry planted in the Dela- 
ware. The next year Prof. Baird presented the State of 
Pennsylvania with 40,000 salmon eggs from the Penob- 
scot, and a like number to the State of New Jersey. Of 
the former Mr. Norris hatched 27,000 and Dr. Slack 
33,000 of the latter, and of the two lots of fry 45,000 were 
planted in tributaries of the Delaware River. As the re- 
sult of these plants a number of adult salmon were taken, 
one weighing as much as 251bs., but the parr and smolts 
were caught and killed as trout, and for this and other 
reasons the Commissioners of that time abandoned the 
experiment of stocking the Delaware with salmon. 
It was not until 1889 that the present Board of Comuv's- 
siouers resumed the experiment, as they believed from 
the success obtained in the Hudson that the Delaware 
might also be made into a salmon stream, and in that 
year 100,000 eggs of the Penobscot salmon were obtained, 
hatched and planted. In 1891 300,000 more eggs were 
hatched and the fry planted, and the result has been most 
gratifying, and there is now every reason to think the 
Delaware will become stocked with this fish. It is re- 
ported that this year and last over fifty adult salmon 
have been taken in the Delaware with the fly. 
Black Bass in Pennsylvania. 
About black bass in Pennsylvania Mr. Meehan says: 
"For the introduction of this magnificent game and table 
fish the people are indebted, primarily, to the genial and 
enthusiastic angler 'Thad.' Norris, and, secondly, a num- 
ber of ardent Easton and Philadelphia fishermen. Early 
in 1870 Mr. Norris, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
the habits, game qualities and table merits of the black 
bass, feeling satisfied that this species would do well in 
the waters of Pennsylvania, broached the subject of intro- 
ducing a number to Messrs. Howard J. Reeder and G. W. 
Stout. These gentlemen entered enthusiastically into the 
project, and a considerable sum of money was speedily 
raised, Mr. Norris collecting about $1,000 and Mr. Stout 
$313. 
"With half the amount collected about 450 black bass 
were purchased at Harper's Ferry. These fish were native 
fish taken from the Potomac. * * * The bass thus 
purchased were taken to the Delaware River, where they 
were deposited Oct. 26, 1870, just below the Lehigh dam 
at Easton. * * * In 1873 fish of 4 and 51bs. weight 
were caught." 
ISalmon Reports from the Hudson. 
It would seem as though friends knew that I was writ- 
ing about salmon in my notes this week, for my mail this 
morning brings me two letters on the subject. Under 
date of J une 15 a friend in Troy writes a letter from 
which I take this extract: "This summer they are catch- 
ing salmon at the State dam here and selling them for 
from $1.25 to $1.50 each, with no game protector to 
interfere." 
I was told, but not from a very reliable source, that 
thirteen were taken there yesterday; another party told 
me that he heard of a number being taken and one had 
spawn the size of your two hands. It is a shame. The 
State dam is what is generally called the Troy dam, and 
in it there was a fishway at one time, but it was carried 
away. 
Some little time ago I heard of a 211b. fish being taken 
at this dam and wrote to a gentleman to find out about 
it. He said: "The salmon spoken of was given to my 
son, and was undoubtedly caught in one of the ordinary 
small drop nets such as are used about here for catching 
suckers. This is the first that I have seen this year, but 
heard rumors of a number being caught during the past 
four weeks. The number I have no means of findina- 
out." 5 
The second letter received this morning is from Ken- 
nedy Brothers, of Hudson. State Game Protector 
Matthew Kennedy is a member of this firm. The letter 
says: "We caught five salmon this year, the largest 
about 601bs. The others weighed from 20 to 401bs. each. 
The law requires that they shall be returned to the water, 
which was done. Last year we caught eighteen salmon." 
These salmon were caught in shad nets and the 60- 
pound fish is by far the largest salmon taken in the Hud- 
son, and is a large salmon for any river. 
Mr. Kennedy offers the opinion that the Hudson is not 
a salmon stream and the fish will not propagate; his 
reason for so thinking is that no small fish are caught. 
There is good reason to believe that the Hudson will 
prove to be a first-class salmon stream when fishways are 
provided to let the fish up to natural spawning grounds 
in the headwaters. There is abundant evidence that 
salmon have spawned for years in the Hudson below 
Mechanicviile, as parr and smolts have been seen in 
large quantities, but the fish have spawned where the fry 
have had most unfavorable conditions for their future 
growth, and it is for this very reason that fishways are 
desired. The fry planted in the trout brooks above the 
mills and factories have grown finely. The adult 
salmon are not affected by pollutions in the river which 
are almost fatal to the fry and parr, and there is good 
evidence for this statement. If Mr. Kennedy means 
grilse when he says no small fish are taken (and he can- 
not mean smolts, for it is on'y by chance that smolts 
would be caught, as they descena to' the sea, but smolts 
even have been caught), he must remember that in some 
natural salmon streams in the United States grilse do not 
run, and in that respect they differ from the salmon 
streams of Canada and Europe. So far as I have been 
able to observe and learn from applying myself some- 
what closely to the subject for a dozen years, there is no 
good reason to believe that there is any insurmountable 
objection to the Hudson as a salmon river. 
Salmon and Pork Bait. 
Readers of Forest and Stream will remember that last 
year a number of salmon were killed in the Hudson at 
and below Mechanicviile, and that pork bait played an 
important part in the capture of quite a number of the 
fish. At the time I commented npon this style of fishing, 
as it was somewhat unusual for salmon to take bait of 
any kind, and pork bait did not seem to be a delicacy 
that would appeal to the fastidious salmon. Further- 
more, after a visit to Mechanicviile, and hearing from 
men who were well informed about the fishing, I was 
led to believe that the pork on the hook played an unim- 
portant part in the actual capture of the salmon. In 
other words, some of the people declared openly that the 
salmon were really jigged by casting the hooks over the 
fish and hooking them in the body instead of the mouth. 
Within a few days I have had a conversation with a 
gentleman from New York city who happened to be at 
Mechanicviile last year when the salmon were killed 
there. He went out in the boat with the man who origi- 
nated the pork bait scheme, and was witness to the cap- 
ture of three salmon. He says that the fish took the bait 
regularly and were fairly hooked in the mouth, a result 
which surprised him, but he could not criticise the mode 
as being unsportsmanlike for anyone who may like to 
take salmon with bait. He used a fly himself and de- 
clined the pork bait. In explanation he said that the 
originator of this bait was fishing at the point where the 
salmon made their appearance and using live bait for sal- 
mon or anything which came along and desired this sort 
of bait. For lunch he had cold broiled bacon for one 
item, and once threw a piece of the bacon overboard, and 
a salmon rose to the surface and seemed to take the bacon 
in its mouth. With that he baited a hook with bacon 
with the result that while the salmon remained in the 
pool he killed more of the fish than all the other fisher- 
men combined. 
The bacon fisherman offered this explanation: The 
salmon got a taste of the salt in the bacon as it dissolved 
in the water, and was reminded of its food in the sea, and 
thus was moved to take the bait in its mouth. My inform- 
ant said that the bait was moved slowly through the 
water until a slight, very slight, resistance was offered, 
and then the fisherman would strike and hook his fish. I 
am very glad to give this explanation of a mode of fish- 
ing which at the time I criticised. The gentleman who 
gave me this information said that he saw at least 150 
salmon in the Mechanicviile pool. He did not think any 
more of pork bait than I do, but he wished to do justice 
to the inventor of the bait. 
Florida Fishing. 
I am writing where I cannot refer to my notes in previ- 
ous issues of Forest and Stream, and am not sure that I 
referred to an article on ' 'Florida Fishing," which has 
been promised to me for Forest and Stream by Mr. 
Alfred C. Harmsworth of London, but Mr. Harmsworth 
writes me by the last steamer that he will soon send the 
articles to me, he having been delayed in preparing them. 
I know I did refer to the expedition known as the Jack- 
son-Harmsworth expedition, which Mr. Harmsworth is 
fitting out entirely at his own expense. 
The London Graphic of June 2 devotes considerable 
space to a description of the expedition by Arthur Mont- 
efiore, with portraits of Alfred C. Harmsworth, R.R.G.S , 
F. G. Jackson, F. R. G. S., and the steamer Windward. 
The Graphic says: "The expedition which sails from the 
Thames, is led by an Englishman, and the large sum of 
money which any well equipped Arctic Expedition ab- 
sorbs, is being furnished by an Englishman * * The 
founder of the expedition, Mr. Alfred C. Harmsworth, is 
a gentleman of large private means, which he is now de 
voting to what I regard as a quasi-national use. In his 
desire to contribute to that national prestige which arises 
from individual prowess, and has made England what she 
is. he is now giving not only large sums of money, but 
much careful and anxious thought to the welfare of the 
expedition." 
This is the gentleman who writes so enthusiastically 
of our fishing in this country. He is not only a forceful 
and most agreeable writer about our fishing, but he is 
absolutely independent and notably fair. 
A. N. Cheney. 
A RODSTER MAY W1GWAZ. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
You appeal to me to tell you "whether under any 
circumstances it would be permissible for a true rodster 
* * to give over rodstering and indulge in wigwaz- 
zing for fish on a Sunday night when the law specifically 
forbids that practice?" You desire to be advised before 
the guddlers and ginnilers get by the ears. The in- 
quiry involves grave propositions, and is, withal, a case 
of first impression, at the same time it presents no issue 
to be determined, and answers itself. You may consider 
the last sentence paradoxical, but to do so would be error. 
"Under any circumstances" opens a broad field for the 
wigwazzer, the field may involve a necessity, and, as 
necessity knows no law, the Sunday night inhibition does 
not obtain. The conclusion is unavoidable that the wig- 
wazzer may wigwaz in certain circumstances. 
But the question is not directed specifically, you con- 
tend, to the possible conduct of the wigwazzer, and the 
conclusion in regard to him maybe therefore treated as 
obiter, if you insist, and we will treat directly of the possible 
delinquent, the rodster. You qualify him as a "true rod- 
ster," this is tautological; there are sportsmen and rod- 
sters, and the terms imply everything good and true. 
(See Noctes Amb., vol. III., p. 198.) 
What may be true in regard to the wigwazzer may be 
true in regard to the rodster. If the wigwazzer may, 
why not the rodster? The law, as you state it, is directed 
against the wigwazzer, not the rodster: " Expressio unius 
est exclusio alterius." (Broom, L. M., p. 583, et seq.) 
It would appear, therefore, that the rodster may not 
only wigwaz in certain circumstances, but that the law 
in fact has no application to him as a wigwazzer. The 
question remaining is: Can a rodster wigwaz in any cir- 
cumstances? It is "permissible," as we have shown, but 
is it possible? This is a question of fact rather than of 
law and should have been left to the jury under proper 
instructions. But in view of the probability of another 
trial in the court below it may not be out of place for us 
to intimate our impression upon the point of possibility 
Sunday night is, as a general rule, devoted to other duties 
and pastimes than wigwazzing. The girl becomes in- 
volved, admitting the rodster to be a bachelor. No self- 
respecting, properly constituted rodsteress would for a 
moment countenance any such innovation upon Sunday 
night duties or pleasures. It follows that the girl refus- 
ing to encourage or participate in such a questionable in- 
dulgence, the rodster would find it impossible to tear 
himself away were he either a bachelor or benedict in the 
wooden or golden honeymoon. The cause is therefore 
remanded without reversal or affirmation with leave to 
the guddlers and ginnilers to intervene as they may be 
advised. L. B. France, 
The Honeoye Falls Banquet. 
Saturday night, June 16, at 9:30 P. M., the angle- 
maniacs composing the Honeoye Falls (N. Y.) Anglers' 
Association were in convention at the Wilcox House to 
discuss the banquet provided at the expense of the un- 
lucky Capt. Mather's side, in the annual June fishing con- 
test. Of the forty-two who participated in the dampnes3 
of the day's contest, thirty-six fishermen seated tnem- 
selves around the abundantly laid and tastefully arranged 
tables. 
After the banquet President A. A. Mather made some 
very pleasing remarks. Mr. Post Leech of West BlOom- 
field recited a poem entitled "Elder Jones and his Chest- 
nut Mare," which shows that even a clergyman is not 
proof against all kinds of sport. 
Mr. Gates, called upon to explain the club's purpose and 
what it has done, stated that the illegal fishing upon 
Hemlock and Honeoye lakes had been greatly reduced, 
and that upon the Honeoye River it is virtually abolished. 
The next efforts of the club will be devoted to securing 
immunity for the Hundred Acre, Mud and Deep ponds of 
our town of Mendon from the inroads of dynamiters, 
spearers and shooters, who, during the early spawning 
period, make sad havoc. This properly seen to, we will 
have as fine muscalonge, black bass, carp and bullhead 
grounds as any interior town in the State. 
Rev. J. H. Dennis gave us an amusing account of his 
experience on Irondoquoit Bay, and his trip home from 
the same, on that day m June. Elder Dennis was one of 
six in the class for the largest variety of fish caught, the 
second prize, which was a four-in-hand tie; and the other 
five had assigned their interests to him, so he won the 
six-in-hand tie "hands down." He tied up his speech by 
saying that he "would preach at the usual hour at the 
Episcopal Church in the morning, and would wear his 
new tie, and he would guarantee that there would not be 
one of us there to see it." My Lyman gave us some high 
compliments on the good work, and amount of it we had 
done, compared with other vicinity organizations of a like 
nature, and gave us substantial encouragement to con- 
tinue. 
Dr. Flick gave an account of his party's successful trip 
to Honeoye Lake. Squire Robson, a new member, gave a 
talk on the "Unsuccessful Fisherman," and pledged him- 
self to render his services in the prosecution of illegal fish- 
ermen, in behalf of the club, gratis. I suppose this was 
not wholly an unselfish offer on his part, for, like myself, 
he had a zero score this time, and wants the fish thicker 
and more hungry next season. I am sure I do. 
Dr. Otis responded to the toast, "Fisherman's Luck." 
He labored under the impression that luck, not science, 
won the suppers and badge thsi season, as the ones who 
are supposed to possess all the wiles and allurements of 
professionals, were credited with light creels this time. 
The Doctor had the best luck of all, however, as your 
paper, the Forest and Stream, was the prize for the 
smallest score, and for a year he will have the benefit of 
reading it, and the edifying instruction of my communi- 
cations. 
I was on the programme for a poem. "Ye Gods and 
little fishes of the briny deep! " But who with the 
memory of the wetness of that day's fishing, fresh and 
undried, could write a poem dry enough to burn? I con- 
tented myself with a roll call in prose entitled "Scaly 
Scales," in which no little fish were not counted, nor 
large ones overestimated. 
The entertainment closed with the transfer of the largest 
score badge by Champion Lay, of '93, to Champion Shell- 
man of '94, from whom there will be a severe struggle to 
wrest it in '95 "by the whole troupe." May we all be in 
it, and live throug h it. Dr, B. ■ Rowne. 
Grayling 1 of the Au Sable. 
West J3ay City, Mich., June 25.— Jack Zeder and I 
have just returned from a two weeks' trip down the Au 
Sable River, where we found the fishing good. We 
caught about 450 fish, mostly grayling. They have planted 
rainbow trout in the stream and I am afraid the grayling 
fishing will soon be played out. In fishing over the same 
water last season we only got one trout, where this year 
we got thirty. The largest trout we got was 14in. long, 
while we took quite a number of grayling loin. long. We 
used nothing but the fly, the black and gray hackles being 
the best killers. As all of our fishing is done out of a boat 
it is easy work. We kept all of our fish alive, having a 
well in the boat, and transferring them to a crate when 
we got to camp. Double catches were quite frequent, but 
once Jack safely landed three. Any reader of Forest and 
Stream wishing to try his luck with this gamy fish can 
get full particulars by writing to the undersigned. I have 
no axe to grind; this is for sport only. 
Pa xil Zagelmeyer. 
Restigouche Notes. 
June 23.— Big scores here this week and last, from 40 
to 60 boxes going by express every morning to friends. No 
fontinalis here; they don't count, you see. Salmon have 
averaged about 251bs., or from 20 to 351bs, Single rods 
have gone as high as 10 fish in one day, according to 
locality. I think there are only some 35 rods on the 
rivers, and the great majority have done well. Some are 
leaving or will soon leave, 
I expect good fishing all next month if the water holds 
up. It has so far been very good. Will send scores by 
and by if I can get them. John Mowat. 
