March xg, 1898.] 
FORE^ST AND STREAM. 
2S1 
The Sportsmen^s Exposition* 
Boston. Mass., March 14. — The New England Sports- 
men's Exposition opened in Mechanics' liall, with a 
private view given to the members and their friends 
t»,n Saturday evening. The event was made notable 
by the participation in it of Gov. Wolcott and staff in fnll 
uniform. The attendance of the evening nmnbered be- 
tween 8.000 and 10,000. 
The show more than realizes the high expectations 
raised in anticipation of it. It is wonderful in scope, 
variet}- and completeness. Such perfect simulation of 
woo.ds surroundings has never before been seen under 
roof in Boston, nor in America. Suggestions of the 
woods confront one at the very entrance. The odor 
of balsam and pine is so all-pervading, the woodsy 
smell so a 11- predominant, that to close one's e3'es is 
to be actually in the wilderness. And in fact to wander 
about through the Exposition halls with busy eyes wide 
open is not to dispel the illusion. Everything is of 
the trail and camp; and the fish, though in tanks; the 
birds, though in coops, and the deer and moose, though 
behind Page woven wire, are such striking living pic- 
tures of the s])ortsman's realm that they bring vividly 
to one's mind the lake and stream, marsh and cover; 
and so accomplish what is after all the successful end 
of such an affair as this, the realization of nature and 
nature's influences. 
The live game parks are under the personal charge 
of Dr. Heber Bishop, than Avhom in all New England 
no more enthusiastic and capable director could liave 
been found- 
The list of live game mammals shown comprises a 
pg,ir of antelopes, a pair timber wolves, a pair mountain 
Hons, a wild boar and Great Dane boarhound; a collec- 
tion of eight North American deer. Rocky Mountain 
sheep, ewe and ram; a pair of caribou from New Bruns- 
wick; Southern deer. "Our -Pets," with fawn born Jan. 
6. 1898; gray squirrels, pair loup-cerviers, black bear, 
badger, prairie dogs, elk (twelve females, two males), 
trio of moose, cage of foxes (two red, one silver), 
cage of raccoons, wildcats, cage of bears. 
The exhibits of live game bii'ds, imdcr the supervision 
of Mr. O. R. fJickcy, are the result of the Association's 
enterprise extending over many months and reaching 
to the furthest limits of the continent. They include 
an extremely interesting series of land and water birds. 
There are shown mallard, black, sprigtail and canvas- 
back ducks and wood duck, American blue-wing and 
American and European green-wing teal; brant, snow, 
blue snow, white-fronted and Canada geese; Virginia 
(Bob -White) and California ]\Iountain and valley quail; 
prairie .chickens. Of pheasants there are Mongolian, 
Chinese. Japanese, Wallachian, golden, English ring- 
neck, white, silver and Tragopans to be seen. 
A comprehensive exhibit of the principal game fish 
of North America has been rendered possible through 
the valuable co-operation of the Department of Fish and 
Fisheries at Washington, and the Maine and New 
ITampshire State Commissions. The space devoted to 
this exhibit has a frontage of 175ft., showing a long- 
line of 34 glass tanks, a hatchery tray 24ft. long, and 
a natural lake 15x8ft. The glass tanks contain 20 varie- 
ties of fish of all sizes, from the yearling of about 6in. in 
length to the I2lb. landlocked salmon. The United 
States Commission of Fish and Fisheries has furnished 
for these tanks 100 each Atlantic salmon, Quinnat sal- 
mon, steelhead, Swiss Lake and rainbow trout; also a 
cjuantity of large and small-mouth black bass, white 
perch, crappie, green tench, golden tench and golden 
ides, the three latter for ornamental purposes. These 
fish are from the Commission stations at Washington 
and Bucksport, Me., and were transported to Boston 
by- one of the United States Commission cars. The 
Maine Commission has sent from their station at Au- 
burn some very large fish, including specimens of brook 
trout of 3, 4, 6 and 8Ibs. each; also a pair of rainbow 
trout from 8 to lolbs. each, and a pair of landlocked 
salmon of 10 to islbs. each. The New Hampshire 
Commission has furnished several lake trout weighing 
from 3 to 4lbs. each, a number of Western whitefish, 
which are very rare in these waters, also several speci- 
mens of Loch-Leven trout ranging from 3 to 4]bs. each 
• — a hybrid Aurcolis. 
The hatchery department contains 25,000 young trout 
try and 10,000 eggs in process of hatching. The hatching- 
tray is fitted with the latest appliances of supplying the 
water and the food for these young fishes. The hatcher}^ 
is in charge of Mr. C. C. Woods, superintendent of the 
Plymouth Rock Trout Co., of Plymouth, Mass. This 
department is in charge of Mr. Baj^ard Thayer, assisted 
by Mr. Richard O. Harding. 
Camp life in its various forms of cabin and tent has 
had special attention to present it as much as possible 
in its natural setting, and to present it on as broad a 
scale as possible. The rough cabins are accurate repre- 
sentations of those in use in the forests where the large 
game is the object of the hunter's quest, or near the 
shores of the great lakes when following the teachings 
of the gentle Izaak. There are the Phillips, Dead 
River, Moosehead, and Aroostook camps, each typical 
of its own region, and the total of souvenirs, trophies, 
photographs of shooting and fishing resorts of the vast 
game region of Maine and New Brunswick, embellish- 
ing the different camps and affording practical informa- 
tion, are well worth the seeing and the studying. Nat- 
ural trees and shrubbery, set in natural groupings, add 
much to the wild woods realism of the exhibit, and the 
theme is further carried out by the aid of the artist's 
brush. The cabin, representative of the New Bruns- 
wick wilderness, and the Florida cabin are extremes 
of a region which contains varieties of game sufficient 
for him who loves the rifle, shotgun and reel or all com- 
bined. Representative members of the region of each 
exhibit and famous guides from the different sections, 
give the visitors all the practical information they may 
desire. 
The Indian village and the camps are among the most 
"drawing" features of the show; and after the live game 
comes the display of amateur photographs contributed 
from all parts of the country and comprising many ex- 
quisite gems of outdoor life. 
An artificial lake 60x40ft. in area and 7ft. deep has 
b.een provided for canoe tugs-of-war, swimming com- 
petitions and other aquatic sports. 
While the trade displays are ranked as secondary in 
importance to the other features of the Exposition they 
demand and are receiving a full share of attention. 
Among them are exhibits by the Hazard Powder Co., 
Hunter Arms Co,, J. P. Lovell Arms Co., D. Kirkwood, 
Marlin Fire Arms Co., Page Woven Wire Fence Co,, 
Parker Bros., Peters Cartridge Co., Wm. Read & 
Sons, Wm. R. Scott, Smith & Wesson, and the United 
States Cartridge Co. 
This brief outline of what is to be seen here is suffi- 
cient to demonstrate that the attractions provided supply 
abundant material for study and entertainment for the 
full two weeks during which the Exposition doors will 
remain open. 
Black Bass in Lake George. 
The open season for black bass in Lake George was 
formerly Aug, i to Dec. 31: The law was afterward 
amended to make the season for those waters Uniforiu 
with that of the State at large, June 15 to Dec. 31. .A. 
bill has been introduced by Assemblyman Eldrcdge this 
session to restore the old dates; and the merits of the 
question are Avell set forth in the following corre- 
spondence: 
Hon. TAYtOR J. Eldridge, Assembly Chamber, Al- 
bany, N. Y. — Learning that there is some apposition to 
the Lake George bass bill, which you introduced, I desire 
to give you some information in regard to previous 
legislation, history of the bass in the lake, etc. 
Lake George is one of the few lakes in the State that 
originally contained black bass. It was fished- for years 
during the breeding- season of the fish until the bass 
fishing became very poor. Something over fifteen years 
ago the people realized that something must be done 
to preserve ^iic black bass, and a special law was enacted 
to extend the close season for black bass in this lake 
until Jitly 10. This was found not to cover the breeding 
season of the bass, and the close season was extendecl 
to July 20; and this too failed of its purpose. About 
twelve years ago a law was passed to open the fishing 
in Lake Gorge for black bass Aug. t. It was absolutely 
necessary to enact this law to preserve the fish, and that 
was the law in force until amended last year. 
The habits of black bass are entirely different from 
any other of our so-called game or food fishes. They 
cannot be hatched artificially like shad, trout, whitefish, 
pike-perch, etc., and they will itot spawn naturally until 
the temperature of the Avater approximates 65 degrees 
Fahrenheit for a good portion of the day. 
After they have spawned they watch over the brood 
of young fish for from ten days to three weeks. Lake 
George is made un almost Avholly of spring water, and 
the spring water is cold throughout the summer months. 
I kept a record of the temperature of Lake George one 
summer, and the highest point reached at the surface 
was 74 degrees. In order to preserve the bass fishing 
in Lake George the bass that are now in the lake must 
be protected during the spawning audi breeding seasons. 
xAs a matter of fact, the bass spawn all through the 
month of July, and in one instance I hav-e s.een .kjiss. on 
the spawning beds as late as Aug. 25. 
This law is demanded not in the interest of summer 
boarders or any other 'visitors to the lake, but in the in- 
terest of the preservation of the fish alone. If the fish 
are exterminated by fishing for black bass during the 
spawning season the supply can be made good only by 
taking adidt fish from other State waters and planting 
them in I_.ake George. There is objection to this 
always by the people interested in the waters from which 
the bass are taken. And therefore T ask you to urge 
the passage of your bill as the only means ol preserving 
black bass in Lake George. Yours respectfully, 
A. N. Cheney, State Fishculturist. 
In the Senate Mr. Hutton, in opposition to the meas- 
ure, said: "Now, in order to be posted as regards the 
spawning season of black bass, I have here a letter from 
DeWitt Clinton, who is librarian of the Young Men's 
Association Lifirary of the city of Tro}^- — a very com- 
plete library. He takes for his authority Charles Hal- 
lock, the editor of the Sportsman, and ex-editor of the 
Forest and Stream: 
" 'Friend Will. — In answer to your favor, I reply: 
Black bass begin to spawn in Lake George the middle 
of May. About a month previous to the spawning sea- 
son they pair, and leave the deep, still water where they 
have spent the winter, and go to the shallow water of 
i8in. or 2ft. deep; the nest is then made [confusion in 
the House and Mr. Button's voice indistinct], and the 
female lays eggs, which are hatched in eight or ten days; 
the female remains to guard them during all the time,' 
"Now, gentlemen, there is the authority, as Mr. 
DeW"itt Clinton tells me, of one of the best authorities 
in the State on fish," 
In comment upon which Mr. Cheney wrotes as fol- 
lows: 
Hon. PIobart .Krum, Senate Chamber. — Flaving 
read the letter written by Mr. Dewitt Clinton to Mr. 
Hutton, and quoted by him on the floor of the House, 
I am obliged to say that Mr. Clinton is incorrect in giv- 
ing the beginning of the spawning season for black bass 
in Lake George as Ma3^ Nor does Mr. Hallock, whom 
he purports to quote from, say so. Mr. Clinton takes 
his information from Hallock's Gazetteer and Guide, 
published twenty years ago. See page 277. What Hal- 
lock does say is that "Black bass begin to spawn about 
the middle of May." The language of the letter is all 
Mr. Hallock's except "Lake George," which was in- 
serted by Mr. Clinton. The only reference to the bass 
of Lake George in the Gazetteer is on the same page, 
and I wrote it. and it does not refer to the spawning- 
season. Mr. Hallock kncAv nothing about the fish in 
Lake George from personal knowledge, and when his 
book was printed little was known about black bass 
by any one. If Mr. Clinton had desired the whole truth 
he had only to turn to "The Book of the Black Bass," 
in his library, and under "Spawning Habits" Dr. Hen- 
shall, the author, says: "The period of spawning extends 
from earlj' spring to midsummer, according to the sec- 
tion of the countr}' and temperature of the water — in 
the Southern States occurring as early as March, and in 
the Northern States from the middle of May to the mid- 
dle of July. Always earlier in shallow water and later in 
deep water. In oite coxinty in Wisconsin I have ob- 
served a difference from one to four weeks in the time of 
spawning in the nnmcrous lakes, owing to a differenccf 
in temperature." 
My letter to Mr. Eldridge will .give the facts as to the 
habits of black bass in Lake George. It was discovered 
only a few years ago that black bass would not spawn 
until the temperature of the water reached about 65 de- 
grees, and it is not yet mentioned in the textbooks. 
Yours respectfully, 
'A. N. Cimmy, State Fishculturist, 
Florida West Coast Fishmgf, 
Fort M^eVEHS, Fla., March 5.— The Merrill Ijrothers, 
Richard and Fred, of Milwaukee, have arrived from up 
the Caloosahatchee, where they had g'one for a day's duck 
shooting. One of the hotel porters was sent down on the 
dock with a hand cart to bring up the game, and when 
he returned the cart was fillea with a pyramid of ducks. 
The brothers had gone for flight .shooting and had lo- 
cated themselves in a blind between two popular feeding 
grounds, securing no birds during the day. On their 
return^ down the river they saw thirteen alligators. 
The following evening Mr. Charles A. Dean, of Bos- 
ton, arrived from the upper Caloosahatchee with several 
deer and an immense wild gobbler, whose coat was like 
burnished bronze. Mr. Dean is an old time visitor here, 
and he is an enthusiastic sportsman. 
A few days before my arrival here Miss O'Neill, of 
New York, caught a large tarpon, of which she was justly 
proud. Slic was down with a party headed by her 
father, Mr. Hugh O'Neill, and had been fishing persist- 
ently, but like many others she appeared to have no luck 
in that line. Some persons fish an entire seasoa without 
securing a fish, and Miss O'Neill was beginning to fear 
that such was to be her fate. 
J. R. Valentine, of New York; J. Fallert, B. Fallert, 
J. Straub and Mr. Webber, of Brooklyn, have been en- 
joying the tarpon fishing at Captive Pass. Mr. Valen- 
tine caught two fine specimens, and it is understood that 
each of the other gentlemen catlght one apiece. At all 
events there were six captured by the party. This 
place is between Punta Rassa and Punta Gorda. It 
is simply an inlet, and the only place of abode there is 
a house boat which aflords ample accdnmiodation for 
the sportsman. Previous to this season this convenience 
was not there, but the pass was just as popular because 
the sport was to be found there, and the angler was con- 
tent with a tent or a shack of any kind. 
.At Punta Gorda there are a number of anglers, most 
of them old-timers, who are now enjoying excellent 
sport. The clipper schooner yacht Whim, belonging to 
Mrs. A. M. MacGregor, of New York, has a merry party 
on board who are plying the rod in the waters of San 
Carlos Bay and its immediate vicinity. 
The auxiliary yawl-rigged yacht Tarpon, the property 
of Mrs. Geo. F. Sta.gg, of Louisville, Ky., is riding 
peacefully at anchor in a bight at Captive Pass, while 
her party are finding all kinds of fishing and shooting 
on Captive Key. ^ 
The schooner yacht Armeda with a party of Boston- 
ians on board, headed by Mr. George Mixter, and Ches- 
ter W. Chapin's (New York) new sloop yacht the Sap- 
pho, are both at Punta Gorda. 
The large schooner-rigged sfeara j^acht Penelope left 
Port Tampa to-day for a six weeks' cruise along the 
northern coast of South America and an exploring trip 
up the Orinoco River. The party on board of her con- 
sisted of Mr. and Mrs. John Shcphard; Mr. and Mrs. 
B. W. Currier, of Boston; Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Raeder, 
Miss Raeder, Landon Raeder, J. Trowbridge Bailey 
and Dr. Kellogg, of New York, and John Ashe Hay- 
ward, of Charleston, S. C. Forest Waters. 
Green Turtles of Florida. 
Pasadena, Cal., Feb. 24. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I note in the last issue of Forest and Stream an in- 
teresting paper by Mr. R. M. Monroe on the green tur- 
tles, in\vhich he states that there is some doubt as to 
where the females of the Gulf Coast deposit their eggs. 
While some of the Florida turtles may cross the stream 
to nest, a very easy matter for the fast-swimming ani- 
mals, I venture the belief that most of the turtles with 
which Mr. Monroe is familiar nest on the outer keys 
of the Florida Reef; at least nui-nbers did from i860 to 
1866, during my time on the reef, and as those islands 
have been less frequented since the war, in all proba- 
bility the nesting turtles have not decreased in numbers. 
1866, during my time on the reef; and as those islands 
During these years I took scores of loggerhead and 
green turtles, turning them as they were laying, or after 
the process. Green turtles were particularly fond of 
the east and middle keys of the Tortugas group, while 
the loggerheads seemed to have an especial fondness 
for Loggerhead Key. We took them on the beach in 
May and June, and they may have migrated down the 
coast for that purpose. 
The suggestion of Mr. Monroe that they could be 
raised artificially is wefl made, and it can be done. I 
have often dug up turtle eggs and "replanted" them in 
the sand to observe the hatching process. The young- 
came out, and were kept within a fence which was 
built out into the w^ater. On a large scale this might be 
carried on to advantage, and many turtles saved, as the 
majority of every brood -is eaten by gtflls or predatory 
fish. C. F. FIolder. 
The Forest and Stream is the recognized medium of entertain- 
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Subscriptions may begin at any time. Terms: For single 
copies, $4 per year, 1S2 for six months. For club rates and full 
particulars respecting subscriptions, see prospectus on page iv. 
For S.OlLE. — Hunting and fishing preserve in Adirondacks. 
12,000 acres forest land; several fine lakes, 15 miles trout streams. 
Deer in plenty. 14 miles from railroad. A. A. Leonard, Knicker- 
bocker Athletic Ckibj New York. 
