412 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
[JVIAY 23, 1897. 
That Sebago Salmon. 
PoKTLAND, Me,, May 14.— Just a word about a -wonderful 
(?) salmon caught at Bebago recently. It has been widely 
adveitised as -weighing '-Jlilbs, "the largest ever caught with 
a line," etc. While it is despicable to spoil the story of the 
true angler, the facts of this story ought to be known. The 
salmon was caught in Kettle Cove, Sebago Lake, three da.js 
after our return; was brought to this city, was seen by a 
number of salmon experts, both fishermen and salesmen, 
and I personally lifted the fish. It was not permitted to be 
weighed by anyone It was said to have been 30in. long 
and 9in. deep. (My 111b. salmon, weighed out of the water, 
was 28in. long and Sin. deep.) After being photographed it 
was taken to Davis's gun store here and there carefully 
weighed by reliable men. The true weight was 14ilbs. 
The owners explain— now— the first statement by saying that 
when flrst weighed tbey used the old-fashioned steel yards, 
which, you know, has iwo hooks to hang tbe article to be 
weighed upon. The wrong liooTc was accidentally chosen, 
hence the diJlerence. We get big fish enough up here in 
Maine without the need of such little errors. 
Stanley P. Warbbn, M.D. 
Rockland County, N. IT. 
New York, May 11. — It may be of interest to fishermen 
who anticipate going trout fishing in Cedar Pond Stream, 
in Eockland county, to know that the fishing there this 
season is not good, and a novice will be very apt to go 
home without the smell of fish on his clothes. A party, 
consisting of Messrs. Nelson, Yale and myself, went out 
there last Saturday. We began fishing at the old chemical 
works, and fished down stream all day and caught only 
twenty-five trout; some were small, and some were of fair 
size, many would weigh Jib. Mr. Nelson caught four, I 
caught one, and the rest were caught by Mr. Yale, who 
used the red brick Stony Point fly. J. J. Risdnee. 
Black Bass in Ontario. 
Chael-eston Lake, Ont., May 10 — Editor Forest and 
Stream: 1 inclose the catch of landlocked salmon by several 
gentlemen from New Jersey at Charleston Lake this spring. 
In two days fishing Mr. R B. Reading look 29, Judge 
Woodruflt 13, Mr. Montgomery 9, Mr. Gummere 18, Mr. W. 
S. Hancock 11, Col. Van Oleef 29. The average weight was 
4fibs. 
Mr. R. B. Reading had the pleasure of landing a lOlb. fish, 
a beauty, and in fact all the fish this season were of the 
finest quality. Messrs. Iffland and Wismer, of New Jersey, 
are also making a fine catch. W. fl. Leavitt. 
Trout Torpidity in July and Auguet. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Some years ago I became satisfied that under certain con- 
ditions our brook trout were in the habit of lying torpid, par- 
ticularly during the months of July and August, m waters 
where the bottom consisted of mud or ooze, and from fur- 
ther observations to ascertain how far this habit exists I am 
convinced that I was correct. 
I would be glad to know whether this habit has been ob- 
served by others. X. 
Not Bass Waters. 
Along with the observance of Ihe centennial of the conse- 
cration of Bishop Bass by the Episcopalians will be resur- 
rected some of his wit and humor. He had his fund of 
jokes, and some of these have been preserved. Although 
born in Dorchester, he had some aversion about living there. 
Upon being remonstrated with fcr deserting his native place, 
he simply replied: "The brooks of Dorchester are not large 
enough for Bass to swim in." — Boston Tranm ipt. 
New Jersey Coast Fishing. 
AsBtjEY Paek, N. J., May 15. — The flrst bass of the sea- 
son to be taken from the beach fell to the lot of Dr. G. B. 
Herbert, at Manasquau Inlet, during the past week; weight 
fHlbs. The prediction of two weeks ago is verified in the 
fact that a flood of kingfish has struck the coast and has 
given the angler sport rarely met with thus early. The 
promises for coast fibbing tor June is most excellent, and will 
be responded to by the fraternity with full appreciation. 
Lbonakd Hulit. 
Rhode Island Salt-Water Fishing. 
Pkovidencb, R, I., May 16. — Tautog fishing is growing 
better every day, and from the wharves and bridges in War- 
ren, and on the regular fishing grounds ofE Pawtuxet, Nayatt 
and Warwick, they are being taken quite plentifully, al- 
though no large single catches are reported. With the ad- 
vent of a weetL or so of warm weather, the catches, the fish 
and the stories will be larger. W. H. M. 
Sullivan County (N. Y.) Trout. 
Neveesink, Sullivan county, N. Y , May 10. — Two gen- 
tlemen from Brooklyn, stopping with H. W. Dean, caught 
out of the Neversink a very large mess of trout; some of 
them ran l^lbs. They were caught on Monday, May 10. 
Prospects for good fishmg this commg week. 
Heney W. Dean, 
St. Lawrence River Muscallonge. 
Me. G. M. Skinner tells us that 500,000 muscallonge fry 
were received by the Aoglers' Association last week from 
the Caledonia fish hatchery. Part of them were put in the 
river at Clayton and the rest at Alexandria Bay. A Gin. 
specimen seen at Clayton the other day wa3 supx)03ed to be 
of the 1896 output. 
A Reminder of Old Days. 
One of the handsomest salmon ever seen was caught re- 
cently in the Connecticut River at Brockway, in Lyme, in a 
net. It would probably weigh about IBlbs. 
In June ex-Pres. Cleveland will fish in Thirty-one Mile 
Lake up the Gatiaeau (Qaebec) where the Gatineau Fish and 
Game Club owns one ot the finest fishing resorts on the con- 
tinent, Ex-Secretary of War Ijamont spent two weeks last 
year as a guest of the club. 
Stocking New Jersey Waters. J ^ 
The latest report of Charles A. Shriner, State Pish and 
Game Protector, gives this summary of fish stocking in New 
Jersey : 
Arrangements having been completed for the procuring 
of a lot of fish from Lake Erie, a number of wardens started 
for Toledo on April 16, Unfortunately a severe storm pre- 
vented fishing in the lake and there was a delay of several 
days. The wardens started for home on the 22d, and at Port 
Jervis 300 adult channel catfish, weighing from ^ to 2^1bs., 
were released in the Delaware River. At Paterson 100 chan- 
nel catfish and 200 pike-perch were placed temporarily in one 
of the reservoirs of the Passaic Water Company, as it was 
feared that transporting these fish in their somewhat ex- 
hausted condition to distant points in New Jersey would be 
attended with unnecessary risk. These fish will shortly be 
transferred to other waters in the State. The main part of 
the consignment of fish was taken to Greenwood Lake, 
where there were released 700 pike-perch, 100 channel cat- 
fish and 16 white bass. The small number of white bass 
obtained was due to the prevailing cold weather. Of the 
fish removed from Lake Erie only eleven died in transit, and 
the success of the transportation is in a great measure due to 
the cheerful cooperation on the part of the Erie Railroad 
Company, which not only gave the use of a car and trans- 
portation of the wardens free of charge, but also provided 
fresh water and abundant ice wherever wanted. 
In addition to the above stocking, there have been placed 
in Rancocas Creek, Burl' ngton county, 68 black bass, 7 pick- 
erel and 195 perch. 
The work of propagating smelts has also been concluded 
for the season, 36,000,000 fry having been distributed in the 
Hackensack, Raritan and Delaware rivers, and Greenwood 
Lake. 
Under the new law all constables, police oQicers, and all 
members of regularly incorporated societies for the protec- 
tion of fish and game are empowered to make arrests and 
conduct prosecutions. Laws, the violation of which were 
hitherto punishable only in actions of debt, will be enforced 
under the new law. This feature of the law will prove of 
great advantage in the enforcement of the laws protecting 
fishing in Buaegat Bay, where hitherto only civil suils could 
be institut-d for the recovery of penalties. The old law was 
little less than a farce, as violators of the law, as a rule cared 
little how many judgments were obtained against ihem as 
long as their ptrsonai liberty was not endangered. 
Two Tons of Trout— But a Lifetime to Do It. 
Me. Geoegb C. Washbuen, of Hartford, C.)nn., ex- 
hibited a fine string of trout recently which he had caught in 
Green River, Columbia county, N. Y. He brought home 
sixty -four, which weighed I61bs. The largest weighed 
2ilbs. , another 2lbs , and there were several which tipped 
the scales at a pound. Mr. Washburn fished Thursday 
evening, Friday and Friday evening till 9 o'clock, at which 
time he captured the big trout in his private spot in the 
stream. The river is about the size of the Hackanum River, 
and the spring water. dashes over a rocky bed. Where the 
water is deep it looks green, which accounts for the name of 
Green River. Mr. Washburn says the sport there is the 
best for ten j^ears He has fished in the river ever since he 
was five years old, and estimates be has taken from this 
stream about two tons of Hartford Times. 
Whe Mmmt 
FIXTURES. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Sept. 1.— Continental Field Trials Club's chicken trials, Morris, Man 
Sept. 6, - Manitoba Field Trials Club, Jlorris, Man. 
Nov. 2.— Monongahela Valley Game and Fish Protective Associ- 
ation's trials, Greene county. Pa. 
Nov. 8.— Union Field Trials Club's trial?, Carlisle, Ind. 
Nov. 15.— E. F. T. Club's trials, Newton, N. C. 
Nov. 16.— Internal ional Field Trials Club's eighth annual trials, 
Chatham, One. 
Nov. S2.— U. S F. T. Club's autumn trials. 
1898. 
Jan. 10.— U. S. F. T Club's winter trials, West Point, Mias. 
J an. 17.— Continental F. T. Club's trials, New Albany, Miss. 
INSTINCT VS. REASONING. 
RossviLLE, S. l.^Editor Forest and Stream: Mr, Wade 
is right — so long as the essential is not involved — when he says 
that "we all admit that there is a wide difEerence between the 
mentalities of man and the lower animals." Nor am I much 
disposed to question that, as he says: "There are acts involv- 
ing reasoning so low in reasoning requirements as to be 
within the compass of the mentalities of the most degraded 
human beings, and yet are entirely beyond the powers of the 
most intelligent animals." I doubt it, however. It seems 
to me that it would be more nearly true to say that the high- 
est lower animals would most likely see dim'y what the 
lowest human beings see clearly — if the lowest human beings 
see anything involving reason clearly. 
The human mother is quieted quite as certainly by soaae- 
thing which strongly reminds her of her lost child as is the 
cow, in the illustration aiduced by Mr. Wade, by the skin 
of her calf stufl'ed with hay. Suppose that what strongly 
reminds the mother of her dead child is a book, she at once 
begins reading the boak, which she may have scolded her 
child for tearing or soiling, as certainly as the cow will "pro- 
ceed to eat the nay with which the skin was stuffed." 
I have enough evidence to fill an issue of Forest and 
Steeam to prove that the lower animal knows the difference 
between a dead person and one living. It seems to me that 
in the cases mentioned both the human and the bovine 
mothers are appeased through the imagination — the object 
bringing the loved one back so vividly that it is for the time 
a real subjective presence, and as that subjective presence 
gradually fades away the contents of the object takes the 
mother's attention— in one case the hay, in the other the 
words 
The monkey has intelligence enough to take advantage of 
the fire which man starts. Bat Mr. Wade seems to doubt 
that a monkey has reason enough to start a fire. Here is an 
instance which proves that he is wrong. A gentleman 
owned a monkey, who hated the hired man. This man one 
day left his window open. The monkey entered the man's 
room, unscrewed the top from a lamp, poured the kerosene 
oil with which the lamp was filled over ihe man's bed, struck 
a match, set tire to the oil and so nearly burned the barn, in 
w.hich the room was, that it was only saved by the accident 
of the master's seeing smoke as lie xetumed from a drive 
with a clerical friend. The scamp of a monkey had taken 
advantage of a general absence of the male portions of the 
family and the help to wreak its vengeance. It seems to me 
that that monkey knew a good deal about lighting a fire and 
also about the combustibility of a certain fuel. 
Mr. Wade may say that the monkey could never have 
thought far enough to invent the match, and that it must 
have been taught to strike the match. As to Ihe first objec- 
tion, among men there are not many inventors, and tney 
generally come accidentally upon their most impottanf dis- 
coveries As to the monkey's being taught to strike the 
match, I doubt that any one would teach so mischievous a 
creature to do so dangerous a thing. Suppose, though, that 
the monkfy was taught to both strike a match and to un- 
screw the top of a lamp, it must have discovered the com- 
bustibility of the oil for itself. Or, admitting that it was 
shown the combustibility of kerosene oil — admit, which can 
hardly be, that it was taught severally every element of its 
act ot incendiarism — still it must have put those elements to- 
gether under the influence of hatred. And I submit that in 
so doing it reasoned as essentially as did Edison when he 
put the things that be knew together and produced the pho- 
nograph. It is not the question of how much a lower ani- 
mal reasons, nor of in what sphere it reasons, that I am dis- 
coursing, but as to whether it reasons. 
In a letter in the same column witli that of Mr. Wade, in 
the last issue of Fouest and Stream, Von W. expressed 
the hope that all the correspondents of Forest and Stream 
may meet in the body as they do from week to week in 
spirit. That wish I heartily reciprocate. 
Charles JosrAn Adams. 
As the subject has come before us whether or not the 
brutes have reason, I ask an attempt to convince some that 
they must not be too sure that they have not We may ask, 
in the outset, just when the reasoning faculty begins to act 
in man. I will not attempt to answer this question^ but 
leave it with your readers. But let us take the infant of a 
few days. It puts its hand into the fire and weeps from 
pain. If it is not removed from the cause of its suffering it 
will put its hand into the fire again and again. Why? Be 
cause, as we express it, it has not sense (reason) to define lire 
cimse of its suffering and conclude to refrain from the action 
that brought its hand in contact with thefire. But wait a few- 
months. It again feels the pain from heat. . It cannot hi 
induced to touch the fire again. Why? Because, as we say, 
it has sense (reason) to define the cause and refrain from 
touching fire. Its thoughts, expressed by words, would be: 
Now 1 must not put my hand into that flame or I shall be 
burned, as 1 was before. There has been an inference drawu 
from premises. If I understand it, instinct implies no logical 
deduction, being entirely distinct from reason in that the latter 
alone forms conclusions from premises. 1 now turn to the 
brute. He feels the pain from heat and learns to shun the 
cause of his pain. Has he not reasoned that a repetition of 
an act that gave him distress will pain him again? 
I wish to teach my dog to jump over my arm, I give the 
command. He does not obey. I then put some meat on the 
floor. He dodges under my arm to get it; but I prevent, and 
reprove him. I try again. He attempts to run under my 
arm and I thwart his purpose by lowering my arm, and he 
has to jump over it to get what he desires; and he gets it. 
He soon learns that I mean he shall jump, and that by jump- 
ing he may have hia food. He has learned a lesson. VV hat- 
ever view others may have, I cannot do otherwise than re- 
gard teachableness as implying tbe existence of reason, be it 
in greater or lesser degree. 
The difference our Creator has made between man and 
beast I regard to be this: Man has a high order of the ftcutty 
of ratiocination; the brute has a low order of reason. Man 
has a sense of moral obligation ; the brute is devoid of it, i. e , 
he cannot be made to understand the moral wrong of an act; 
he is incapable of moral conscientiousness. 
N. D. Elting. 
A LOUISIANA FOX HUNT. 
Norwood, La. — Editor Forest and Stream: Our fox hunt- 
ing and quail shooting are very fine, and I want to describe 
one of our hunts to your family of readers. We seldom 
hunt foxes until the latter part of December, as the cover 'is 
very heavy and the mornings too hot for the dogs. 
We had an ideal morning in February; there was a splen- 
did while frost covering everything, while the ground was 
just slightly frozen, with just enough spice in the air to 
bring a tinge of red to your nose and ears, while the moon 
and stars vied with one another in their brightness. Truly, 
it was a glorious morning. 
We were to meet at 5 o'clock at a trysting place agreed 
the evening before; so, after a cup of coffee 1 mount my 
horse, and as the sharp sound from the froz n ground as it 
is struck by his feet rings out in the crisp morning air, you 
can feel the blood surge to your finger tips, 
I was first at the tryst, biit soon I could hear the shrill 
notes of Mr. James's horn winding through the distance, 
answered by the melodious voices of the hounds, and scarcely 
had he joined us before the deep bass of Mr. Palmer's horn 
was heard as he approached us from the opposite direction, 
and as our course lays in his direction we turn to meet him. 
Scarcely had we gone 300yds. before the quiet of the morn- 
ing is broken by the musical voice of one of the younger 
hounds, and then we are all on the qui vim; for should it be 
a fox soon we will hear Rambler or Dixie, who never give 
voice unless it be a fox. Yes, there they go, both of them, 
and he can't be far ahead, for they are going rapidly, and we 
follow in a brisk gallop. Oae by one the other dogs drop in 
until the invigorating music burst forth with such volume 
trom the pack of thirty hounds, that it raises the hair on one's 
head, and try as you may, you just can't keep from cheer- 
ing. On we go through open fields and pine woods. The 
increased spied of the pack tells us that the fox is up now. 
Your horse becomes enthused with the pleasure and champs 
the bit and tugs at the reins for his head, but you are fain to 
let him loose since you must husband his wind so as to be in 
at the catch. Faster and faster we go as the music swells 
with increasing volume. Day is just breaking and the red 
of the approaching sun lights up the land in all of its beauty. 
'Tis a splendid sight as the sun glistens on the tops of the 
pines covered with frost. 
Now we strike a broad roadway, and for about a mile the 
clatter of the horses' feet reminds one of the finish on some of 
our large race tracks. The dogs are nearly out of hearing, 
and we all stop to listen, with the horses pawing and im- 
patient of the delay. The dogs are circling and we must beat 
them to a certain point, for now is the time to get the first 
