May 14, 1898.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
391 
Opening Day in New York. 
On April 16, which is tlie general opening day for 
trout in New Yorlc, I was at Lake Champlain, where the 
Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission were planting 
a number of millions of smelt fry. There is in this lake 
one of the most delicious of food fishes, known locally 
as ice fish, as they are caught only through the ice. Com- 
plaints having been made that the fishing was not as 
good as formerly, owing perhaps to the increased nuni- 
bers of fishermen to supply the demand caused by the 
fame of the fish having spread abroad, tlie New York 
Fish Commission made a plant of fry from eggs taken in 
Long Island waters. The smelt were planted in the 
morning, and a friend asked me to fish a trout lake up 
in the mountains in the afternoon. The ice had been 
out of the lake only since the Monday of that week, the 
16th falling on Saturday. The day was all that could be 
desired for fishing, and the sun had^ warmed the air 
until an overcoat was tmnecessary, and when we reached 
the little lake T could see an occasional break on the 
surface which indicated the rising of fish to feed. There 
was snow in patches in the woods on the south side of 
the lake, but the north side mountains were bare. The 
poplars were just beginning to show a greenish tinge 
from buds ready to burst, but the birches showed not 
the faintest touch of green. On the road to the lake 
one solitary shadbush had begun to blossom in a field 
under a hill, but at tlie lake the wild cherries, the earliest 
to blossom, gave no evidence that they were ready to 
burst into blossom. 
We soaked a couple of casts of flies and went out in 
a boat as soon as possible after our arrival, but a little 
wind having sprung up, w-e could see no breaks at the 
surface. We had cast over a good stretch of the lake's 
shore without a rise, when suddenly a trout rose at a 
Marston's Fancy, on my cast, with a suddenness that 
startled me; but instinctively I struck and hooked the 
first fish. From that time until night the trout came to 
the flies as frequently as we could desire, for we decided 
that ten would be sufficient for our supper and breakfast, 
and all above that number were unhooked and returned 
uninjured to the w^ater. As the sun went down the 
wind went with it, and then the trout could be seen 
breaking at the surface, not as they will later, but coming 
up and sucking a fiy from the surface, except in the 
case of a caddis fly that had broken from its larval skin 
and was struggling to fly; then the trout would come 
with a rush, often miss, but in the end getting the fly. 
Caddis worms were everywhere at the outlet, and we 
had not expected a rise of the flies, but we saw a con- 
siderable number on the water. The fish that we killed 
were in prime condition without exception, and when 
they were opened their stomachs were stuflied with cad- 
dis Avorm cases, composed of decomposed wood. As 
trout that feed on caddis worms take the cases too (who 
lias not heard of the boy who said that trout took gravel 
into their stomachs for ballast, so they could swim prop- 
erly? He had opened trout that had been feeding on 
caddis w^orms that made their cases of sand and gravel, 
and could not account for the presence of the gravel 
except it was taken for ballast), it is said that their 
flesh tastes of the wood. That night at stipper we could 
not detect any foreign taste to the flesh of our trout. 
Possibly if the trout had been dressed as quickty almost 
as they were Caught the decaying wood and bark of 
which the cases were composed Avould have conve^'^ed a 
flavor to the flesh of the fish. The trout were very 
slimy, as fish are in the spring before they have had a 
run on the gravel, but they were remarkably fat for April 
trout, admitting that the season, was unusually early. 
Never in all my experience in the Adirondack waters 
have I known trout to rise so freely to the fly at such 
an early date. In spite of this I must adhere to what I 
have believed for years, that trout fishing should not 
open in northern New York before May i. Make the 
season for brook and lake trout the same, and not open 
it before May i anywhere in the State except possibly 
on Long Island. 
The lake that I fished on April 16 proves what food 
will do for trout. It has been planted with fresh-water 
shrimp; it contains the caddis worms in such quantities 
that they boil up through a hole cut in the ice, and the 
shores are covered with them. It also contains quanti- 
ties of. other flies, chief of which is the big green drake, 
and last year when I was there the trout were break- 
ing from one end of the pond to the other, feeding 
on insect food. One trout that I caught was as red 
externally as any breeding male that I ever saw. Sev- 
eral were nearly as bright in color, but the one I refer 
to was so highly colored that it seemed as though the 
season must be October instead of April. 
In New Jersey on the ist I caught a trout with its 
belly distended with food of some sort, but I did not 
stop fishing to open, it until I had returned to my 
friend's house several hours after the fish was placed in 
the creel dead. Its stomach was filled with a species of 
insect new to me, with a hard shell, and one of the bugs 
was alive when I opened the trout. I took it to my room, 
intending to bring it away with me and find out what 
it was, for I was informed that it was one of a number 
of insects sent to the stream b}-- the late Prof. Baird as 
fish food, and that they had multiplied until the stream 
now abounds with them. At another time I will get 
some specimens and find what they are. 
Landlocked Salmon. 
The season for lake trout opens on May i in New 
York, and on that day the trout were at the surface in 
Lake George, and many were caught. Three landlocked 
salmon were also caught weighing 6, sVz and slbs. re- 
spectively. That is, I have heard of three salmon being 
taken; perhaps others were taken or will be taken and 
reported later. The first plant of salmon was made in 
Lake George in October, 1894, and were fingerling fish 
hatched the spring of that year; consequently the oldest 
fish are no more than four years old this spring. It 
has been recorded in Forest and Stream that the first 
salmon, a fish of 6j^lbs,, was caught in the lake last 
season. That three salmon should be taken on the first 
day this year is most encouraging, and promises well 
for future salmon fishing in the lake, if the fish are per- 
mitted to spawn unmolested when they run up the 
streams for that purpose. A. N. Cheney, ■ 
It Might Have Been. 
Old Joe, the guide, with steady stroke 
Rows out beyond the fringe of reeds, 
Across the channel green and deep. 
Between the reef and pick'rel weeds. 
The dimpled waters gleam and flash 
With brightest gold and darkest green, 
Catching the light of evening clouds 
In tender rose and silver sheen. 
The birds afe singing in the pines, 
Far oiT I hear the calling loon; 
With easy hand the rod I hold. 
And feel the thtdbhins of the spoon. 
A sudden strike, a savage tug-, 
And out there leaps with luighty lunge, 
All green and white, with iins of gold, 
The king of fish— a niuskallonge. 
Then comes- tllfe test of rod and line, 
And all the angler's craft and skill, 
As back and forth, with sweep and swirl, 
The -desperate captive has His will. 
Now rushing off with sudden speed. 
He makes the good reel scream with glee, 
Or fiercely shakes his mighty jaws 
In vain to get the tackle free- 
At last he wearies of the fight. 
And slowly turns his flashing sides, 
While, guided by the short'ning line, 
Beside the boat he meekly glides. 
The gaff is neaf his milk-white throat, 
A moment more and he is ours; 
When down he goes beneath the tioat — 
"The line. has. parted, by the powers!" 
* # i * f * tf. : 
The sun has set, the sky is gray, 
The evening wind blows sad and raw; 
I only know that I have lost 
The biggest fish I ever saw. 
Henry J. Sawe. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Gone Fishing. 
Chicago, 111., May 3. — A number of anglers of Grand 
Rapids, Mich., are now absent from their accustomed 
places in town, having gone fishing with the first peep 
of day of the legal season. Dr. Hudson, Messrs. A. D. 
Porter, Harry Sherwood and F. S. Torrey went to the 
Pere Marquette River. Messrs. C. W. Duke, J. E. Pratt 
and F. M. Lee selected the Little Manistee. Others 
starting for dififerent points are Messrs. J. H. Taylor, 
A. B. RichiTiond and Charles Merrifield. 
The Season. 
Eau Claire, Wis., May 5. — In spite of early indica- 
tions the season is turning out backward and cold. No 
very good sport is yet reported. Messrs. Irvin Gray 
and A. W. Shelton, of Rhinelander, Wis., went to Deer 
Brook one day this week and took eighty-four nice 
trout, which is the best catch I have heard of so far. 
Here at Eau Claire we have a number of trout streams, 
most of them pretty well fished, but still offering good 
sport to those who understand the game, of whom there 
are many in this lovely town. Elk Creek is one of the 
good streams here, and a drive of a dozen miles lands 
•one in good trout fishing on that stream. We had trout 
for breakfast at the Galloway House this morning, and 
the landlord, Mr. Smith, tells me that he and some 
friends caught a few one day this Aveek. He confesses 
that he is forced to buy most of his trout, however, and 
tells me that he sends to Pratt, Wis., for them. At that 
point there are several streams, the Marengo among 
others, where the trout are abundant enough to pay 
market fishermen. If I have time I am to inquire more 
closely into the trout resources of Eau Claire and 
neighborhood. The general belief is that it is still too 
cold. The season here is about a week or ten days be- 
hind what it is at Chicago. 
In the Eau Claire River and in the Chippewa River, 
whose junction is within a short walk from the center of 
the cit}^ bass and pike fishing has been good, and manj^ 
anglers are out each day. At La Crosse, on the Missis- 
sippi River not far from here, the bass fishing has be- 
gun, and good sport has been had. At Wabasha, Minn., 
the anglers are expecting fine sport this year. The 
Father of Waters performed a unique feat this spring. 
Ordinarily high water lasts until midsummer, but this 
year the rise was in March and the fall in April, an 
unheard of thing. 
Pfivate Fishing Waters. 
Attorney-General F. A. Maynard, of Michigan, has 
given the following opinion on the question of private 
fish ponds and the rights of the owners to sell fish from 
them. It is useful to note that he explodes the old 
and dangerous doctrine that a man owning a trout pre- 
serve could sell fish from it at any time he likes. The 
opinion in full follows, as addressed to Warden Chase 
S. Osborne: 
"Dear Sir: In relation to the ciuestion mentioned in 
your letter of Feb. 8, regarding the fishing rights of 
the owner of a private lake or stream, as well as to 
what is meant by 'private lake,' or 'private pond,' or 'pri- 
vate waters,' the particular lake or pond in regard to 
which information is asked is not described, and there- 
fore no opinion can be expressed as to the private lake 
or pond mentioned, but the general rule may be stated 
in reply to the questions asked. 
'"A private lake or pond, or waters, are those which 
are not navigable, and the soil under and on the borders 
of which is owned exclusively^^by the person or persons 
who' claim the water as their private property; and hav- 
ing no connection with other streams_ or waters which 
are public, and through which fish may pass. 
"Second question: What are the fishing rights of the 
owner of a private lake or stream? The owner of a 
private lake or pond is supposed to have so far reduced 
the fish therein to his possession that they have become 
his private property. He may take such fish for his own 
use from such private waters at any time and in any 
manner. He may not sell or ofl^er for sale during the 
closed season, when prohibited, because by doing so he 
interferes with the State in its protection of the fish 
belonging to the public. He may prevent any other 
persons from taking fish from his private waters, and 
may bring an action of trespass in taldng his fish. He 
may make a criminal complaint against one who takes 
any of his fish, under Section 2197 K, Howell's Statutes, 
if he hiniself has first complied with that statute. 
'T herewith inclose list of authorities upon which these 
ftnswers are based, and which may be of value to you in 
the work of your department. F. A. Maynard, 
"Attorney-General," 
Chicago Fly-Casting Clofa. 
The first of the season meets of the Chicago Fly^ 
. Casting Club will be held at Garfield Park next Satur- 
day afternoon, May 7. Other meets will be May 21, 
June 4, June 18, July 9, July 23, Aug. 6, Aug. 20. June 
25 and Aug. 27 are re-entry days. There will be four 
events at each meet, long-distance fly, distance and ac- 
curacy fly, delicacy and accuracy fly, and the anomaly 
of bait casting also, not uninteresting, but under an o'dd 
name. E, Hough. 
1206 BoYGE Bui Ld INC, Chicago. 
Angling in Canada. 
The fishing season has opened here with a rush, 
Probably not for half a century past has the ice gone off 
Canadian water so early in the season. By the com- 
mencement of the present week all the lakes in the Lake 
St. John district were perfectly clear. Ouananiche have 
already taken bait in the Grande Dccharge, and a few 
more days will see them rising to the fly in Lake St. 
John, from which the ice went out at the end of last 
week. When the trout season opened here on the ist 
inst. a perfect throng of local fishermen went out to 
Lakes St. Charles and Beauport, fully a fortnight earlier 
than usual. The result in the majority of cases was 
quite satisfactory. A number of good fish were taken, 
but the best of the lot fell to the catch of Gen. Henry, of 
Vermont, the present U. S. Consul here. This specimen 
weighed a short 3lbs., and the General is particularly 
proud of catching it upon the very day of the great 
victory of his old schoolboy friend. Commodore Dewey. 
Lake Edward has been clear of ice for over a week past, 
and several 4 and slb. fish were taken there yesterday. A 
large party of Burlington fishermen is expected here 
next week en route for Lake Edward. A number of 
Quebecers left for the lake yesterday. The Messrs. 
McCormick, of Biscayne Bay, Fla., left on Thursday for 
Lake Edward with a party of ladies and a large retinue 
of servants. Several parties of American anglers are 
booked for Lake St. John for the latter end of this 
month, and the opening of the Hotel Roberval is fixed 
. for about the 20th inst Gen. Henry and Mr. Laird, the 
U. S. Commissioner of Immigration here, and a number 
of friends leave to-day for his preserve on the St Ber- 
nard Club preserve in the rear of Louisville, and will 
no doubt make a big catch, as the trout are reported 
rising freely to the fly. Mr. Charles Simpson, of New 
York, and the Hon. G. W. Stephens, of_ Montreal, left 
yesterday for the lakes in the same district There are 
a number of members of the Triton Club booked for 
their preserve next week, most of them coming from 
Syracuse. E. T. D. Chambers. 
Quebec, May 7. 
The Record Tarpon, 
C/vptiva Pass, Fla., May 3. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Mr. Edward Vom Hofe, of New York' city, 
killed on Captiva Pass on April 30 the largest tarpon on 
record taken with rod and reel. The weight, two hours 
after the fish was taken, was 2iolbs.; the girth 4Sin.; 
length 6ft. iiin. The fishing was by moonlight, and Ihc 
fish carried Mr. Vom Hofe out into the breakers on 
the strong ebb tide running at the time and was gaffed 
from the boat by John Bain in a very rough sea. The 
following people were present and can testify as to the 
size andVeight of the fish, viz.: Mr. and, Mrs. C. C. M. 
Hunt, of Palmyra, N. Y.; Mr. Frank D. Livermore, 
Sir Peter Walker, Lord Elphcnstone, J. T. Powers, 
and the writer, of Providence, R, I. 
Geo. L. Shipley. 
[The record for a tarpon taken with rod and reel has 
up to this date been held by Mrs. George T. Stagg, of 
Kentucky, with a fish of 205lbs., taken in May, 1891.] 
Chicago Fly-Casting Clwb. 
Chic.\go. May 7. — Editor Forest and Stream: The first 
contest of the year was held to-day. Owing to the high 
wind the scores are low, and t^iere were but few entries. 
These are the records: 
Long-distance Fly. Bait-casting. 
Feet. Per cent. 
I. H. BelloAvs 95 96 
B. W. Goodsell 93 941-5 
E. D. Letterman 93 2-5 
G. A. Murrell 94 
F. H. Peak 104 93 r- 5 
J. E. Strong 884-5 
J. M. Rogers. Sr 74 
L. I. Blackman 86 
H. G. Hascall 95 i-5 
E. L. Caldwell 86 4-S 
The holders of medals are: For long-distance fly, F. 
N. Peet; for bait-casting, I. H. Bellows. 
Fishing Near New York. 
Wreck Lead, L. I., May 0. — Easterly winds and low 
temperature interfered seriously with the pleasure of the 
few fishermen who came down last week. A heavy sea 
has prevented the larger boats from getting out of the 
inlet even if fishermen had cared to go off to the banks. 
Fluke and flounders have been plenty in the bay. They 
may be caught in the channels in the bay near Nick's 
Beach or in Wreck Lead. A few sheepshead have been 
caught, and it is hoped that they will be plentiful later 
in the season. They have been very scarce for several 
years. 
