472 
FOREST AND ' STREAM. 
[Dbo. 13, 1(990. 
Were planted in waters in Essex and Clinton counties be- 
fore the oar crossed over to New Hampshire. The route 
for the car was arranged by General Passenger Agent J. 
W. Burdiok, of the D. & H. R. R , and free transporta- 
tion was furnished by hts road and the Rutland R R. 
^ Cheney, 
CATCHING THE SlG TROUT. 
*'WBLti, are yOu going down to try for the big fellow 
to-day?'' asked my friend Judge Coppock. Ic was our last 
day on the Catp River in northern Michigan. 
by'''^ou've hit it exactly, Judge," Ireplied, "maybe you're 
going down that way yoursell?" 
The Judge laughed. We had been fishing together al- 
most daily for a month for trout in the streams in north- 
ern Michigan. He was an enthusiastic bait fisherman, and 
had but little faith in the fly-rod, which was my way. A 
few days before we had fished the Maple River, where I 
had the good luck to capture more and better fish than he 
had taken. The question was superfluous. Each of us 
knew the other hoped to basket the big trout before night. 
In a short time we left the hotel for the old beaver dam. 
The river for a mile below was full of fallen trees, under 
and over which rushed the shallow stream. The water 
had washed great holes underneath these submerged 
trees, and in them lurked many speckled beauties. The 
entire distance to the open part of the stream afforded 
excellent opportunities for the bait flsherman, but there 
were few places where a fly-rod could be used success- 
fully. 
There were two ways by which to reach the open 
stream : Over the high ground, which was covered with 
great pine trees and an interminable small growth, called 
*' pin-cangle" by the natives, or directly along the 
stream. The low ground between the river and the 
bluffs on either side is thickly overgrown with bushes 
and small trees, through which it is impossible to make 
any headway. 
I crossed the river and started down along the left 
bank. The judge started in at the dam. 
^No one but he who has been along the Carp can have 
a.u idea of the effort required to get through such a 
place. At many places it was necessary to get down and 
creep underneath large trees that had fallen over the 
stream, blocking the way on both sides. 
At one place where I was compelled to squeeze under 
I noticed a deer track. The animal had crawled through 
the hole, just as I had to do. 
I \I was fully an hour in reaching the open where I could 
do casting. There I put my rod together and began lay- 
ing my flies out on the water. Tbe river for half a mile 
to the bend where the big fish lay was all that a fly-fish- 
erman could desire. The water rushed through between 
grassy banks overhung by bushes. Deep pools, first one 
side, then the other, appeared in view at each bend of the 
circuitous stream. 
i,.iMy basket was heavy with fish when I came in sight of 
the bend where the big fellow had his lair. It was nearly 
noon, so I stopped to rest awhile and eat my lunch, and 
at the same time decide upon the best plan to take the 
big fish, 
A few days before the Judge had hooked him and lost 
him by reason of a weak spot in his line. I had hooked 
him twice and both times my leaders had snapped. 
After lunch I took a leader of extra size and tested it 
inch by inch. I had been using two flies during the 
forenoon, but decided to use but one in trying for the big 
fellow, and that a dark Montreal on a No. 4 hook. 
It was after 1 o'clock when I began to move carefully for- 
ward within casting distance of the big pool, I wadeu 
lowly, lengthening 'out at each cast. 
Here and there I saw a trout jump, but I was after the 
big one and moved forward. 
I cast in the shallow water furthest from the pool 
until I knew I was within reach, when I made a cast 
straight for the spot beneath the overhanging bushes 
under the bluff. 
Tne fly dropped exactly right, and instantly there was 
a great rush, and the big trout curved in the air for his 
plunge. I made a sharp strike, and knew that I had 
nooked him deep. 
He rushed out into the stream, broke water and tried to 
shake himself free from the hook. He kept me busy first 
down stream, then up, breaking the water frequently in 
his mad efforts to escape. 
He kept up a constant fight for fifteen minutes, and 
then rushed under the bank and sulked. I gave several 
hard jerks, and began to think that in some manner he 
had got loose and tnat I was fast on a root. Again and 
again I yanked; there was no response. Finally I gave a 
long, steady pull, and out he came directly at me. I 
made up my mind to laud hjm at once if possible. I 
touched the trigger of my automatic, keeping the line 
taut, and as hd came to me in shallow water I took 
hold of the leader and slid him out on the wet sand. 
I had succeeded. 
As I turned about to pick him up and release him from 
the hook, I heard a yell, and the Judge came sliding 
down the bank and waded across. 
"What do you think of him, Judge? ' said I, as I handed 
the fish to him. 
"He's a whale," he replied, as he lifted him up and 
down. "H^j'll weigh 7lba. if he weighs an ounce." 
Its weighD was SJlbs. 
The Juage had bdat me during the forenoon, except as 
to the big one, and was feelmg good, 
"But 1 say, Judge," I inquired, as we started for the 
hotel an hour later, "how is it that you were up there on 
the bank when I hooked him?" 
"Well, you see," replied he, laughing, "I determined to 
beat you to the pool. I heard you crashing on ahead, but 
knew you would begin fishing at the open. I got through 
the tangle before you had gone half way to the bend. I 
made a detour to get around you, and would have got 
there first if it had not been for a big swamp hole. I saw 
you when you began stretching out. Of course I knew my 
only chance was at the bluff, where 1 could drop the bait 
uirectly into the water. I couldn't have reached him 
from the direction you came. You must have had out 
75ft. of line when you hooked him." 
"I expect I had," I replied, 
"But," he continued, "it was interesting, and next to 
catching him myself I'm glad you got him." 
"And what do you think of fly fishing now ? " 
"WeU," said he, "I'm willing to admit that it has its 
advantages, I shall mix it up hereafter with bait 
fishing." 
We arrived at the hotel in time for supper. The big 
trout was admired by the guests and was served foi" 
breakfast. 
The Judge and I packed up and took the southbound 
train for home, satisfied with our month's vacation. 
E D. Moi'FETT. 
Fish Intrbduction into New Jersey. 
JProm the Monthly Beport of the State Fish and Game Protector 
for isovember, 1896. 
The principal work accomplished during the month 
was the successful removal of adult pike perch or wall- 
eyed pike from Lake Erie to Ureenwood Lake. A great 
deal has been done by a number of the Bbates in the East 
toward the propagation and planting of pike-perch in 
the waters in this part of the country, but in every in- 
stance, as far as I am aware, this work was done by pro- 
curing the eggs from the great lakes, developing them in 
State hptcheries and then distributing the fry. This sys- 
tem of introducing this valuable fish is open to the objec- 
tion that the young fry are frequently devoured by large 
fish indigenous to the waters where the fry are placed; 
there is also danger of the fry succumbing to the effects 
of a change of water, the fry being very sensitive to such 
changes. For the purpose of propagatmg pike-perch by 
distributing the adult fish a number of wardens were 
sent to Toledo, O., the Erie railroad having khidly placed 
a car at my disposal from Jersey City to Marion. At the 
latter place the car was attached to a train on the Hock- 
ing Valley Railroad and taken to Toledo. Here about 
600 adult pike-perch and about a dozen white bass were 
procured and these were removed to Greenwood Lake, 
tne loss being only six fish. About fifteen of the fish 
were placed in the h aritan in Hunterdon county; the 
rest were placed in Greenwood Lake. As the water of 
Greenwood Lake is well adapted to pike-perch, there is 
no apparent reason why that fish should not be added to 
the fauna of that lake. Some few people, evidently 
rendered suspicioiis of the introduction of fish from other 
waters by the unpleasant experience New Jersey has had 
with carp, have expressed opinions that it might have 
been better perhaps if more attention had been paid to 
indigenous fish instead of bringing hither fish with which 
we have had no practical experience. There is, however, 
a vast difference between fish concerning which we know 
little and fish which belong to this country and which 
are highly prized in the localities in which they abound. 
The black bass is not indigenous to New Jersey, still there 
are very few people indeed who would like to see them 
banished from our waters. Where both black bass and 
pike-perch abound the former is considered somewhat 
gamier than the latter, but the pike-perch has the advan- 
tage of being a more prolific breeder and its flesh is far 
superior for the table. It grows to a far larger size and 
takes the hook readily. To these advantages must be 
added the fact that it is an enemy of the carp and ex- 
perience has shown that it has driven this pestiferous fish 
irom waters from which the carp had previously banished 
the bass and the pickerel. The success attending the ex- 
periment of bringing adult pike-perch from a distance 
wiU imdoubtedly be f oUowed by more work of a similar 
nature. 
It was the intention on this trip to also secure some 
adult channel catfish to add to the food fish of the Dela- 
ware, but unfortunately the high winds prevailing in 
Lake Erie at the time of the presence there of the wardens 
prevented the taking of any of these fish; there is, how- 
ever, no doubt that this fish can also be brought hither in 
a similar manner. 
An attempt was made during the month to remove 
some of the pickerel and bass from the reservoirs of the 
East Jersey Water Company for the purpose of infusing 
iresh blood into the pickerel and perch of Greenwood 
Lake, but unfortunately this attempt proved a failure, 
owing perhaps to tbe cold weather having sent these fish 
to the deeper portions of the reservoirs, where they could 
not be reached by the nets. It is to be hoped that a re- 
newal of this attempt in the early spring will meet with 
success. 
The work of distributing trout was completed during 
the month. 
Protector William H. Burnett. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have read with much interest in your last week's issue 
the communication over Mr. Cheney's name in reference 
to Mr. William H. Burnett. I am a resident of Bolton, 
Warren county, N, Y., and am one of the owners of the 
Sagamore Hotel on Lake George. I have known Mr. 
Burnett personally for fifteen years, and I consider him 
one of the most reliable and conscientious men on the 
lake. He is in every respect a most suitable person for 
the position he has so honestly filled for many years, that 
of game constable. I know he is fearless, and should any 
of his friends break the law he would be the first man to 
prosecute them. 
His reputation in our county is Al, and knowing the 
man so well I cannot refrain from doing what I consider 
my duty to give you my opinion of this man upon whom 
is now cast a most unjust imputation. You are at liberty 
to publish this over my name, and if I can do anything 
to advance Mr. Burnett's interest I would consider it my 
duty to do so. John Boulton Simpson. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In Forest and Stream of Nov. 28, under the head of 
Angling Notes, I read a notice to the Grand Jury recom- 
mending them the game warden be removed from all 
public olfioe in the county of Warren. 
Of little consequence as the foreman of this Grand 
Jury may be or his opinion, it is right that, representing 
the Lake George Fish and Game Society, I should reiterate 
all that Mr. Cheney and H, A. Howard, ex-district attor- 
ney of Warren county, say of this official. His record 
for years is on.n of honesty and faithfulness, and it will be 
a great loss to the lake of very valuable services if he is 
interfered with. Robert Lenox Banks, 
Society for the Preservation of Fish and Game. 
Albany, N. T. 
Onondaga Anglers. 
At the monthly meeting of the Onondaga Anglers' As- 
sociation, of Syracuse, last Tuesday evening. State Fish- 
culturist A. N. Cheney read a paper on the "Beginning 
and Development of Artificial Fish Propagation. 
THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 
CIn Thursday of this week, Dec. 10, the Aquarium was 
opened to the public, though the galleries are not yet in 
n'adiness and will be closed to the public for some weeks 
till the tanks are stocked and other arrangements of 
them are completed. The hours for the public are from 
10 A. M. to 4c o'clock P. M., excepting Sundays and Mon- 
days. There are no extra assistants to conduct an open 
Aquarium on Sunday, and Monday will be set apart for 
the workmen engaged in finishing the interior. Never- 
theless there is now much of interest available to the 
public. 
The interior has undergone a thorough reconstruction. 
The windows are so arranged as to admit an even, sub- 
dued light. Around the main floor the salt-water tanks 
are arranged, following the circle of the wall, their deli- 
cate green coloring, the effect of the sea water, making a 
most pleasing effect. 
Altogether there are now 125 forms of animal life in the 
Aquarium, of which 78 are fish; the rest being seals, tur- 
tles, frogs, shellfish of various kinds, lobsters, crabs and 
other crustaceans, the corals, anemones and tube worms. 
The water supply is so arranged that either salt or fresh 
water, as may be desired, can be used in every exhibition 
tank, and the laboratory is also supplied with both fresh 
and salt water. Labels printed lu bold type will be 
placed on each tank. Besides giving the names and ac- 
curate portraits of the fish, they will give a succinct his- 
tory and description of them. Both the common and 
scientific names are given, and the origin of tbe common 
names so far as known; also they mention the waters in 
which the fish may be found, and the places they prefer 
in such waters, the maximum size they attain, Labits, 
whether permanent or migratory, spawning season, de- 
scription of the fry, the food they prefer and whether or 
not they are esteemed .as food. 
Of the seventy-eight kinds of fish, twelve belong to the 
trout and salmon family. And they are a collection of 
rare excellence. There are landlocked salmon from 
Maine and New Hampshire, and of the trout there are 
brook, brown, steelhead, rainbow, Lake' Tahoe (Califor- 
nia), Swiss lake, hybrid lake and brook, and hybrid brook 
and brown, lake trout, and Suhapee Lake trout, the latter 
arriving in rather hopeless condition, but they are bright, 
clean and healthy now. There are live whitefish from 
Canandaigua Lake, and of the game fishes there are 
black and striped bass (a fine collection), and crappie, 
drum, pickerel, sea bass, tautog or blackfish, weak- 
fish and white perch; and of the curious fish, the an- 
gler, box fish, Bermuda chub, spotted codling, conger 
eel, bony gar, silver perch, sea ravens, sea horse, sand 
shark, dog shark, barndoor skate, sturgeon, etc. 
The tanks are models of neatness and artistic arrange- 
ment, as indeed is every detail of the interior. 
A Williamson. 
Mr. Charles Hallock has left with the Forest and 
Stream an interesting example of work by A. William- 
son, whose paintings hold an esteemed place among col- 
lectors. The scene is of a trout stream, and the canvas 
has added value because of the rarity of Williamsons 
now to be had. The price is $35. 
An KXCKPTioNAii CHANCE oflers for purchasing one of Canada's 
famous salmon angling rivers, the Moisie, This celebrated stream 
has (urniahed excellent sport to a club of six American gentlemen for 
some years past. The owners are now offering the preserves lor sale 
outright. Property Includes the land on both sides of stream, inclos- 
ing pools, two large buildings, ice houses, men's lodgings, boats, etc. 
The river ranks next to the Cascapedia for number and size of fish, is 
easy of access, being but twenty hours from Bimouakl on the Inter- 
colonial B. R., and in regular communication by passenger and mall 
steamer and telegraph. We would refer our readers to advertise- 
ment on fourth page. — Adv. 
he Mermt 
FIXTURES. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
Dec. 16 to 18.— Central Michigan Poultry and Pet Stock Associa- 
tlon'B Btaow, Lansing, Mich. G. H. Crane, Seo'y. 
1897. 
Feb. 8 to 5.— New England Kennel Club's annual show, Boston. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Dec. 14.— Athens, Ala.— Dixie Red Fox Club's second annual trials 
J. H. Wallace, Sec'y, Huntsville, Ala. 
1897. 
Jan. 11.— Tupela, Miss.— Continental Field Trial Club's quail trials. 
P. T. Madison, Sec'y. 
Jan. 18.— West Point, Miss.— U. S. F. T. 0. winter trials. W. B. 
Stafford, Sec'y, Trenton, Tenn. 
Nov. 8.— Carlisle, lud.— Union Field Trials Club second aiuraal 
trials. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 
THE IRISH SETTER AS A FIELD DOG, 
PAST AND PRESENT.— i- 
Little Valley, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
origm and past history of the Irish setter are so well known 
to its admirers that no comment thereon is needed here. 
Suffice it to say that the Irish setter is one of the oldest and 
purest of the breeds of setters. 
Its color and general race oharactoristics admit of very 
little, if any, crossing with other breeds of setters. The 
standard of color for this breed calls for a dark mahogany 
red, a small patch of white on the chest only being ad- 
missible. 
While this standard of color has kept the race pure and 
developed a lot of show Irish setters, let us see what it has 
done for the field quality of the dog. 
With the advent of dog shows came the craze for the 
dark mahogany red, the dark eye, the long and lean head, 
etc., of the modern Irish setter. All else in breeding was 
thrown aside, and color and show form were alone bred 
for. The fi^ld quality of the dog was lost sight of, and he 
came down in nis working grade almost to the lowest 
bench shows, and the craze for color were the nails driven 
in che coffin of this once powerful breed of sporting 
dogs. 
The early history of field trials shows that this setter held 
his own with the other breeds of setters and pointers. As an 
instance of this, Biz defeated Count Noble once; and others, 
which I do not now recall, were winners. Their owner- 
ship also was a wide and powerful one. Many sportsmen 
preferred this setter for their private use. Indeed, some 
