4B2 
friendship which comes in younger life between men of 
kindred tastes. 
I dined with Jones in his Erooklyn home after the trip 
for pike, and his gun room was to me a marvel of com- 
pleteness. I owned a heavy duck gun and a light gun for 
woodcock, snipe, et al , and thought that a complete outfit, 
hut Fred Jones had thirty-seven guns in the racks of his 
Brooklyn house and showed me each one and described its 
points. I counted the guns as we adjourned to the smok- 
ing room and in a bewildered way wondered when, how 
and where a man could find use for them. All of which 
shows that my gun education was deficient, and made me 
think that a man who only owned two guns was only fit 
to kill two kinds of game. 
Next spring Fred Jones came into the Aquarium, as was 
his daily custom, and announced that he had sold all his 
Pennsylvania property and was going West. He gave a 
dinner at Delmonico's at which the Aquarium staff was 
present, and, in a speech, referred to our trip for pike. To 
this, "Tody" Hamilton, then our press agent, now with 
Barnum & Bailev, replied that the failure to get the giant 
pike was nothing to our failure to telegraph that we had 
caught one of lOOlbs., but that it had been seized by the 
sheriff as an illegal capture; for so we had deprived the 
press of an item. 
Mr. Jones went into the far West to some Indian 
agency, with which he had an official connection, and the 
first news we had of him was that he and a companion 
had been drowned while on a hunting trip. 
Feed Mather. 
CENTRAL NEW YORK WATERS. 
Ithaca, IST. Y , May 28 —Through the kindly cfiEices of 
Mr. A. J. Dollinger, of Redwood, N. Y., it was my good 
fortune to have my name attached to a box that arrived in 
town the 35th inst. containing fourteen noble specimens of 
lake trout, a catch made by Messrs. A. J. and Edward Dol- 
linger during a few hours of easy angling a couple of days 
previous to its arrival here. 
Mr. Dollinger advises me (hat some exceedingly fine creels 
of trout have been taken from the lakes abounijiug in the 
vicinity of Redwood. Mr. Geo. Ballentine recently stopped 
tliree days at Redwood, and in that time took forty three 
trout from adjacent waters. Ex- Senator John H. Selkreg, of 
this city, not unknown to Forest asd Stream readers, lately 
returned from Redwood, where he enjoyed several dajs' 
magnificent fishing. The veteran angler speaks in glowing 
terms of the fishing resources of the Redwood lakes, and 
pronounces the rich and restful locality a veritable angler's 
paradise. 
Plenty of good trout, pike and pickerel fishing is being 
enjoyed there at present, and the opening of the bass season, 
June 15, should find bass and mascalonge biting voraciously. 
Some very flattedng reports are abroad of the fishing now 
being had at the northern extremity of Cayuga Lake. Au- 
burn anglers have been especially lilcky of late in the vicin- 
ity of Cayuga Village, where the pickerel fishing has been 
exceptionally gratifying. A number of big catches have 
been reported within a fortnight. A Seneca Falls lady is 
credited with taking a 15. b. picfeerel recently, but from what 
Mr. A. N. Cheney writes of the pickerel, it may be inferred 
that this 151b. pickerel was in reality a pike, and a pretty 
sturdy pike, too, please note At Union Springs and at Carr's 
Cove, two miles south of the Springs, some goodly creels of 
pike, pickerel and perch are forthcoming. At Carr's Cove, 
notably, some fairly phenomenal catches of perch have been 
made this spring. Some 2,000 perch is the estimated best 
day's catch for the season to date. 
Larger perch, if anything, are taken at the Ithaca end of 
of the lake, but numerically the supply is not so large. Bass 
anglers are putting their tackle in order in anticipation of 
the open season close at hand. At Union Springs, at Canoga 
across the lake, Carr's, Sheldrake, Kidders, Ladoga Park, 
and from the latter named place along the east shore of the 
lake to Ithaca, and thence along Fall Creek to the big falls, 
the lovers of bass fishing may expect to encounter this wily 
and proud fighting game fish. M. Chill. 
ARE SMELT A MENACE? 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
What is the trouble with the Fish Commissioners, that 
they should be so much interested in the breeding of smelt, 
and in favor of introducing them into lake trout and land- 
locked salmon waters? Are there no harmless fish that can 
be used for this purpose? Do these men know what they 
are advocating and doing? How about the introduction of 
the English sparrow ? And how was it sixty years ago, when 
some men one afternoon in the town of Moriah, Essex 
county, JST. Y., went to 'Bullwaggy Bay, near Port Henry, 
and drew a seine, and in a hogshead of water transported 
some pickerel {Esox I'licim) to a small pond that empties into 
the headwaters of Schroou River, where the fish increased 
finely? At the outlet of this pond there was a dam, which 
went out with a spring flood; the pickerel went down stream 
with the flood, and in one season stocked Schroon River, 
Schroon Lake, and also Paradox Lake, People in those 
days thougbt the fish a great institution, so they carried them 
to Lake Sanford, in Newcomb; from here (for revenge) they 
were taken to Long Lake, where they soon destroyed all the 
trout in the Racquette River waters. From here, by way of 
the Indian carry, they were placed in the Saranac system 
of lakes and streams. And the end is not yet. This is the 
result of an afternoon frolic to stock, a little mud pond (Bull- 
pout, or Newport Pond) in the town of Moriah, Essex county, 
N. Y. 
It is a serious matter to disturb the balance of nature. 
Men should consider carefully before venturing to do so. 
I see that the Fish Commissioners congratulate themselves 
that It took them only six years to fully stock two of the 
most beautiful trout and landlocked salmon lakes in New 
England, and that the lake trout there caught are larger and 
falter than common. Just so; the adult trout fatten on the 
smelt and the smelt can fatten on the young trout and land- 
locked salmon; so the wheel goes round. The smelt being 
1,000 to one in the majority, any novice can figure out what 
tbe result will be. 
Let the Fish Commissioners be assured of one thing— they 
have effectually stopped tbe bret ding and increase of troUt 
and landlocked salmon in these lakes for all time to come. 
As an object lesson, look at Lake Champlain from Westpoit 
to Cumberland Head. It is an ideal lake irout water in every 
respect. For the last fifty years there has been once in the 
while a fine lake trout caught, but like angels' visits they are 
few and far Vet ween. Why do they not increase and become 
plenty ? For answer I would say it was this : smelt have free 
access to this lake from the sea, and have partially or prac- 
tically become landlocked, that is, they can be found at all 
times of the year in all the deeper parts of the lake and in 
the identical depth of water that would naturally be inhab- 
ited by the young and adult trout. 
The planting of lake trout and landlocked salmon in 
Champlain, with the idea that they would breed and increase, 
is fallacious in the extreme. It will only result in a waste of 
time and money. 
Although if landlocked salmon could be made to breed in 
the streams running into Champlain, that is above where the 
smelt go, and would stay there till they grew of a size that 
the smelt could not destroy, we might be hopeful of a favor- 
able result 
Young lake trout and landlocked salmon have no more 
chance among smelt than young lambs have in a pack of 
wolves Anyone who has fi hed through the ice for smelt, 
and has seen them dart a yard or more and strike a heavy 
sinker or large bait, can judge whether they are a predatory 
fish or not. The boys catch them without a hook, by simply 
tying a white rag to a line for a bait; the smelt strike this 
and hold on and are drawn out of the water. I have seen 
quite a number caught in this way. The smelt's mouth is 
large and well armed with sharp, hooked teeth. They are 
well equipped for business, and they breed like the plague of 
flif s m Egypt. A pretty style of fish this to introduce into 
lake trout and landlocked salmon waters. Remember, when 
hungry they will attack a fish of nearly their own size and 
weight This I know to be abfolutely true. The most un- 
fortunate part of the whole business is this, that the smelt 
live nearly the whole year round in the identical depth of 
water that the trout, both young and old, frequent. 
The introduction of smelt into the great lakes would be 
almost a national calamity. The day it is done foretokens 
the extinction of the trout fishing, both commercial and 
sporting. 
Being mvself an old fisherman and something of a student 
naturalist, I call on the Fish Commissioners to rise and ex- 
plain. Bainbridge Bishop. 
STERLING LAKE. 
It will be a matter of interest to the anglers of Greater 
New York to learn that there is big game fishing almost at 
their door. Not forty miles from (Jity Hall, as the crow 
flies, nestling in the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, about 
midway between the well-known Greenwood and Tuxedo 
lakes, lies as pretty a gem of the forest as the State affords. 
Though its neighbors attract scores and hundreds of visitors, 
Sterling Lake modestly plays a Cinderella-like part. The 
angler at Greenwood Lake has a vague impression — born of 
the gossip of the guides — of a big pond five miles over the 
mountains; but few ever wander to its shores, and fewer 
still know aught of its treasures. 
The lake has an area of 1,200 acres or thereabouts, and a 
depth of 300ft. in places. It is fed almost entirely by bot- 
tom springs, there being but two or three small brooks fall- 
ing into it. Thus its pure, crystal waters are always cold. 
With precipitous rock-bound shores and long reaches of 
sand in the deep?, thi^ pond is an ideal home for the lake 
and salmon trout whica, about twenty-five years ago, some 
wise men planted there. For years after the plant was made, 
nothing was heard of it. Later, an occasional small fish 
told that they were there. Up to 1894 probably half a dozen 
fish was the extent of the yield. In May of that year Messrs. 
J. B. Staples and O. L. Marvin, two of tbe best anglers in 
northern New Jersey and full of faith in their skill, 
essayed the waters in which such artists as Seth Green 
had wet lines in vain. Their first day's catch was 
enough to inspire them with a lasting love for this 
beautiful pond. Seven lake and salmon trout weigh- 
ing from 4l\ to 9Jlbs. each, and aggregating 49ilb3., 
were their reward. And they sacredly kept the angling 
tradition by losing their largest fish. This, a laker, which 
they assert positively was larger than their subsequent. 
14-pounder, they fought for over an hour. As he persisted 
in sulking at the bottom and "tugging," they were forced 
to work him into shallow water, when the proximity of the 
boat and the moving oars induced him to keep up a dogged 
sort of motion. To get him into shoal water was a long, 
tedious task, as they wisely refrained from doing anything 
but give direction to his own infrequent changes of position 
In shoal water, when the boat and oars worried him, he at 
length wore out. But the hook had torn a large hole in his 
mouth, and the rather small gaff entered the same, and gaff 
and hook tore out in lifting him from the water, and he 
sank slowly to the bottom. When the ripples had passed, 
they saw him lying on his side there in laft of water, with 
his huge gills expanded to the full and slowly throbbing in 
almost complete exhaustion. 
"If I were able to keep my eyes open under water," says 
Mr. Marvin, in telling of it, "I'd have dived and saved that 
fish. You could have pushed your hand clean through his 
gills." And as the fish doesn't swim that can muss up Mr. 
Slaples's personal appearance, they soon after saw him 
slowly work oft" into the dark depths, leaving them alone 
with their feelings — feeling.'*, which figuratively had been 
through a lusty sausage grinder. 
Upon nlher occasions during that year they took from two 
to five fish per day. In 1895, as recorded in Forest and 
Stream, their rnost enviable catch was on May 15, a 
If pounder to Mr. Staples's rod and an ll^-pounder making 
Mr. Marvin a good second in the race. Other parties took 
fish, but in no case was the first record here mentioned 
equalled. In 1896 the catches were fair, and this year's 
record for the first half of May is as follows: May 1, two 
fish, larger ^Vo^. ; May 3, one" fish, 7^1bs. ; May 8, two fish, 
albs, each; May 14. four fish, largest 6lb3. 
The lake is owned by a well-known mining company and 
is not open to the public. Shadwood. 
The Nepigon. 
Port Akthuk, Can., May 23 — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Trout fishing has commenced on the Ncpigon River. Some 
of our local spoilsmen have already wet their lines and 
caught a few ot the speckled beauties. I think this will he 
a good season for trout fishing, as the water in the Nepigou 
is lower than other seasons. Two parties of Americans have 
made arrangements for guides, canoes and outfits. They aie 
expected here about the first week in June, Mr. McKirdy is 
making grrat preparations for the usual number of tourists 
who visit the Nepigon season after season, and also forsome 
who have not been here, and readers of Forest and Stream 
who may r< quire information can gel it by applying to Mr. 
Mf'Kirdy, wlio has a Circular printed for that purpose. 
John E. Newsome. 
Ihe St. Johnsbury Hatchery. 
From Fish and Game Commissionsr John W. Titcomb, of 
Vermont, we have received the illustration of the United 
States hatchery at St. Johnsbury, a=< published in the Ver- 
mont League's year-book of 1897. The hatchery is situated 
two miles from St. Johnsbury depot. The product of the 
institution is distributed under the direction of the U. S 
Commissioner. It is in charge of John W. Titcomb, Supt. 
he Mmmt 
F I XT U RES. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Sept. 1.— Continental Field Trials Club's otiicken trials, Morris, Man 
, Sept, 6, Manitoba Field Trials Club, itorris, Man. 
Nov. 2.— Monongahela Valley Granie and Fish Protective AHSOci' 
ation's trials, Greene county. Pa. 
Nov. 8. - CJnion Field Trials Club's trial?, Carlisle, Ind. 
Nov. 15.-E F. T. Club's trials, Newton, N. C. 
Nov. 16.— International Field Trials Club's eighth annual trials, 
Chatham, Ont. 
Nov. 22.— U. S. F. T. Club's autumn trials. 
1898. 
Jan. 10.— U. S. F. T Club's winter trials, West Point, Miss. 
Jan. 17. — Continental F. T. Club's trials, New Albany, Miss. 
SCHOOLING THE DOG.— II. 
Tkaintncj and breaking, the terms in common use to de- 
note the education of the dog, are both misleading in their 
implication, since, firit, they differ from the terms which 
are used to denote the acquiring of an education; and, 
seconi, because the terms,, up to within a not very distant 
period of time, were associated with a more or less violent 
manner of treating the dog under the name of training him, 
so that the schooling of the dog was generally considered as 
something apart from all other schooling. The whip or 
boot or gun was considered the direct medium for instilling 
linowledge and obedience. 
Many of the old-time trainers were also market-shooters, 
both„occupations being followed to secure the desired profit. 
An old, trained dog was relied upon for steady work to the 
gun, thus assisting the shooting, while the young dog was 
permitted to fit in as unimportant opportunity offered; that 
is to say such opportunity as would not Interfere with the 
shooting. The green dog. if he did not assist the older dog, 
at all events must not obstruct him nor spoil a shot, for that 
was a material loss. Thi quickest way to correct faulty 
doing?, under the old system, was to soundly thrash the 
puppy. If he flushed, it made him wary of flushing; if he 
chased, or refused to obey, or did not know how to obey, or 
went in the wrong place, or went too fast, punishment was 
in order, and if that did not intimidate him or check his 
ardor with the desired promptness, a charge of bird shot 
was considered as being most efficacious 
The markert-shooter and old-time trainer bawled his orders 
out in a loud, harsh voice, gave labored signals, and when 
not shouting orders he was blowing his whistle, so that all 
the birds in the vicinity could not fail to know there was a 
dangerous, fearsome party near at hand. The puppy, if he 
heeded all that was said and signaled to him, had little time 
for anything in the way of learning about birds. What he 
