170 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Saving the Bass. 
Out at Winona, in Minnesota, the anglers are adopting 
the method of saving young fish which was long ago 
instituted by the Illinois Fish Commission. They are 
seining the shallow, receding pools along the bayous and 
bars, and taking out quantities of little bass and other 
game fishes, which would otherwise soon be doomed to 
death by the drying up of the waters. The sportsmen 
have gone at the matter systematically, and have hired 
men to seine every pool along that part of the river 
bed. 
Another Texas Tarpon Club. 
Animated by the .success of the Tarpon .Club at Aran- 
sas Pass, Texas, anglers of Galveston, Texas, are mov- 
ing in the matter or organizing a similar club in the 
city of Galveston. It is stated that the tarpon fishing 
in the vicinity of Galveston is as good as any on 
the Gulf of Mexico. There_ is talk of trying for a club 
of 400 members, with an initiation fee of $20. 
Ben Dicks' Big Bass. 
Mr. Ben Dicks returned this week from a little trip 
to the Eagle River Fishing and Shooting Club, of Wis- 
consin, and he brought with him abundant proof of his 
skill, including a magnificent small-mouth bass, which 
I think was as fine a specimen of that species as I have 
ever seen. This fish was caught in Smoky Lake by 
still fishing with minnow bait, in about 50ft. of water. 
The fish weighed sK'lbs. when taken, and weighed 5lbs. 
2oz. in Chicago. It was 2iin. long and isin. in girth, and 
a very clean, symmetrical fish. It was an unmistakable 
small-mouth, but in this fish I had opportunity to notice 
the great range in markings c>f the bass family. The 
small-mouth of the rivers is entirely different in ap- 
pearance from this fish. The latter had none of the dark 
mottlings which are seen on the back and sides of the 
river small-mouth, but its body color was solid, some- 
thing like that sometimes seen on the big-mouth bass, 
dark grayish green above and pearly white beneath. As 
I have earlier stated in these columns, I have some- 
times caught bass in the Kankakee River which some- 
what filled the above description. They looked like 
big-mouth bass, but were small-mouth bass, and again I 
have caught others which I, for one, was unable to classi- 
fy, whether large or small-mouth. I am one of those 
who believe that nature got here before science did, and 
that nature does not always separate her classes by air- 
tight fences. 
Among others stopping at the Eagle River club this 
week were Mr. Gunnison, Mr. Coyne and wife, Mr. 
Alex. White, Mr. C. D. Gammon, wife and daughter, Mr. 
L. M. Hamline, Mr. Kerr and family. 
E. Hough. 
]2(nt Boyce Building, Chicago, III. 
In Acknowledgment of Flies. 
Union League Club. New York, Aug. 15. — Editor 
Forest and Stream: My wife has just sent me some very 
attractive flies, selected evidently for their beautiful 
coloring. Of their utility I cannot write. I cannot 
acknowledge them in terms commensurate with her de- 
sire to please, nor adequate to the beauty of the gift. 
Nevertheless I must show my appreciation as best I 
can. 
If instincts of beauty, so marked in feminine humanity, 
prevailed with feminine fishes, I fear our fish waters 
would soon be depopulated. If you swell your columns 
with trifles, command the inclosed. H. F. T. 
In acknowledgment of a gift of flies from my wife: 
With pleasant surprise 
The packet of flies 
Came all safely to hand through the mail. 
To say "they are sweet" 
Would be incomplete — 
They're so beautiful — delicate — pale. 
Of this there's no doubt, 
If bass, perch and trout 
Are taken with color like sender, 
I'll take a big string, 
Which homeward I'll bring — 
They'll be of the feminine gender. 
August, 1898. 
Lake Superior Fish Notes. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
At intervals comments have been made in your paper 
concerning the size and weight of whitefish, and the 
differences in the dimensions and weight of the fish have 
been so contradictory to my own experience that I 
have taken some pleasure in collecting data establishing 
the weights of such fish, and the points where they 
have been caught. The first record is of two large fish 
taken off Point Betsy, on Lake Michigan, which weighed 
respectively 22 and 25 lbs. These were genuine hump- 
backed whitefish, such as have been caught in that lake 
for the past fifty years* 
My records say further, in 1897: Three whitefish 
caught off Lutsen P. O., on Lake Superior, in one haul 
of nets, weighing 49lbs. At Isle Royale, three whitefish 
were caught in nets weighing respectively 23, 22 and 
24lbs. each. During the summer of 1897 a fine white- 
fish was caught off Encampment Island, on the Minne- 
sota shores of Lake Superior, weighing 23lbs., by a 
Duluth fisherman in his nets. These are not troy weight 
pounds, but regular store scales weighed- them. In 
June of the same year a large lake trout (namaycush) 
was caught up along the north shore of Lake Superior 
near' to Thunder Bay, weighing 75lbs., and was just 
about all that a fisherman could haul from his shoulder. 
The days of large fish are not gone! nor are the white- 
fish getting scarce, for the fishermen report that there 
are more fine whitefish caught this season than they 
have seen for years. 
During the summer of 1896 I had occasion in my 
correspondence to report to Commissioner Brice that 
an influx of blue, black fin, or long jaw, whichever they 
were, had seemed to have invaded Lake Superior, and 
were caught by the ton; so plentiful had they become 
that the fish dealers did not desire them; they were a 
drug on the market, yet nets set for other fish were 
crowded with these wanderers. 
Recent reports from fishermen have come in saying 
that scarce any bluefins were caught this season, but that 
instead larger numbers of whitefish of good size and 
weight had been found in the nets and caught on the 
grounds that years ago used to be considered as prime 
feeding grounds for the Lake Superior whitefish. 
It seems that these bluefins are a wandering race of 
deep water fish, and it is possible that the whitefish re- 
cede from the millions of them that have appeared all 
along the clayey grounds, shelving into the deeper water 
where formerly the whitefish fed. 
Professor Woohnan, of the Biological and Natural 
History Department of the Duluth High School, is 
preparing for the U. S. Fish Commission the result of 
his researches on the feeding grounds in Lake Superior 
of the whitefish, and is trying to learn if possible if the 
cause of the receding of the whitefish has been the in- 
troduction of so much deleterious matter from the cities 
tip at the head of the lakes. This paper will be full of 
interest to both the student, the biological sharp and the 
common fisherman whose dollars come from the prod- 
ucts of the depths of Lake Superior. 
W. D. Tomltn. 
[The bluefin or blackfin is Corcgonus nigripinnis, a 
whitefish closely resembling the lake herring, but much 
larger. It is usually regarded as a rare species.] 
North-Eastern Angling. 
Boston, Aug. 22. — Mr. D. H. Blanchard has returned 
from his salmon river, the southeast branch of the St. 
Marguerite. The season has not been a very favorable 
one at that river, the same as with other streams in that 
part of the Province, though Mr. Blanchard, with his 
party, succeeded in landing about twenty salmon. The 
fish were all large, rather than a general run of small 
fish. Mr. Walter M. Brackett, on the same river below, 
also notes rather poor success. Mr. John Fottler has re- 
turned from his salmon preserve, the St. John, at Gaspe, 
P. Q. He also had indifferent success, the weather be- 
ing unfavorable. 
The trout and salmon fishermen are still departing to 
some extent, though generally the more noted Maine 
fishing resorts are now given over to the vacationists. 
But these vacationists all now take fishing tackle with 
them, and if the quality is not quite as fine as that 
taken by the devotee and expert angler, why, it answers 
the purpose, and doubtless is fully equal to the skill of 
the person behind it. The season has been a most re- 
markable one. even if not another fish is taken from the 
Maine and New Hampshire waters. There have been 
more anglers than ever, and certainly they have taken 
more fish than ever before. The lover of angling can 
only ask if the supply is to hold out. Angling is in- 
creasing wonderfully in popularity,, and the task of fish 
commissioners and protectors and propagators is a 
great one, that the supply may be made sufficient to pre- 
vent this great interest from flagging. 
At the' Rangeleys the noted fishing hostelries are full 
of guests. The Rangeley Lake House is full. At the 
Mountain View they have been crowded. The Moose- 
lucmaguntic House has been_ well patronized. The 
Birches cannot take another guest at present, while 
Bemis is quartering all the guests possible. At Billy 
Soule's guests have to wait their turn to get in. At 
the Upper Dam there has been a full quota of fishermen 
all summer. The Middle Dam has been well patronized. 
Mr. A. T. Waite, of the Boston Herald staff, with Mrs. 
Waite and their son, are off for Billy Soule's. They will 
try the fishing every day, and hope for success nights and 
mornings. Mr. E. B. Haskell, with a party of ladies, 
will make a tour of the Rangeleys tins month, coming 
out via Dixville Notch. Mr. Rodney P. Woodman is 
determined to try the landlocked salmon again before the 
season ends. He will go to Sebec Lake. Me., about the 
first of September. He has an idea that salmon may be 
taken on the fly near the entrances to the streams about 
that time. A little later the fish are to be found in the 
streams. Mr. Woodman's idea is that the salmon will 
rise as they come from the deep water to the streams. 
Special. 
Lake Champlain Fishing. 
Essex, N. Y., Aug. 19. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The water in Lake Champlain is lower than in recent 
years. The wall-eye pike fishing -is very good at pres- 
ent. Messrs. Leaning and Kirk, of Albany, fished an 
hour the other afternoon, off Split Rock Point, and 
caught four, the largest weighing 4lbs. Near by was 
a boat which reported a catch of forty-seven since morn- 
ing. This was still-fishing in 60ft. of water, using min- 
nows as bait. The pike is a bottom fish. Mr. Kirk has 
introduced to this part of the lake a method of deep 
trolling with heavy sinker similar to that used for taking 
lake trout. I fished in Wisconsin once for pike with an 
Indian who wrapped around his line sheet lead pounded 
out from bullets. South of Thompson's Point is a good 
locality for deep-water trolling, and also along the reef 
between Diamond Island and Split Rock Mountain. Off 
Ball's Point, near the Little Otter, a pickerel (pike) was 
recently taken by trolling, weighing I4lbs. 
Put Back the Small Ones. 
Camp oe the Trout Cranks. Wolf Creek (near Wild- 
cat), Mich., Aug. 12. — This is an offshoot of the King- 
fisher Camp, at Hubbard Lake, and we are just break- 
ing up, with a record of 453 trout, and only six wasted. 
We put back the little fellers. Kkt.ttk. 
Woman — "Caught anythink?" 
Young Fisher — "Duniiu— ain't been 'onie yet." — Illus- 
trated Sporting and Dramatic News. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable, 
Chicago Fly-Casting. 
At the contest held on Saturday, Aug. 20, by the 
Chicago Fly-Casting Club, the scores made were as 
follows: 
Long 
Distance 
Accurac}' 
and Del'cy, 
Bait 
Distance 
and Acc'y, 
Casting, 
W. H. Babcock.. 
Fly, Feet. 
Per Cent. 
Per Cent. 
Per Cent 
82 1-3 
90 1-2 
L. I. Blackman.. 
86 2-3 
71 
89 2-3 
87 2-3 
C. H. Chadwick. . 
88 2-5 
B. VV. Goodsell 
! !iio 
89 2-3 
95 1-6 
93 1-5 
..109 
87 2-3 
94 
97 2-5 
E. P. Letterman. 
81 2-3 
90 5-6 
85 3-5 
C. A. Lippincott. 
90 
94 2-3 
92 1-5 
Tl08 
90 1-3 
97 5-6 
80 2-5 
G. A. Murrell 
88 
93 2-3 
93 2-5 
Pi N. Peet 
118 
94 2-3 
96 
95 
E. A. Renwick... 
.. 99 
91 2-3 
88 2-3 
90 
G W. Salter 
75 1-3 
93 3-5 
A. C. Smith 
85 1-3 
95 5-6 
91 3-5 
Holders of medals are: Long distance fly, F. N. 
Peet; distance and accuracy, F. N. Peet; accuracy and 
delicacy, C. G. Ludlow; bait casting, H. G. Hascal. 
The occasion was one of much interest. 
G. A. Murrell, Sec'y.- 
he Mmnel 
Fixtures. 
Sept. 7.— Manitoba Field Trials Club trials. William C. Lee, 
Sec'y, Winnipeg, Man. 
Sept. 12.— Northwestern Field Trials Club's Champion Stake, 
near Winnipeg. Thos. Johnson, Sec'y. 
Nov. 1-5. — Fourth annual field trials of the Monongahela Valley 
Game and Fish Protective Association, Greene county, Pa. S. B. 
Cummings, Sec'y, Pittsburg. 
Nov. 7.— Indiana Field Trials Club's trials, Bicknell, Ind. S. 
H. Socvvell, Sec'y. 
Nov. 11,— Eastern Field Trials Club's trials, Newton, N. C. 
S. C. Bradley, Sec'y. 
Nov. 15.— International Field Trial Club's trials, Chatham, Ont. 
W. B. Wells, Sec'y. 
Nov. 15-17. — Central Beagle Club's annual trials. L. O. Seidel, 
Sec'v. 
Dec. 5-6.— Missouri Valley Field Trial Club's trials. C. H. 
W erner, Sec'y. 
Dec. 5. — Continental Field Trial Club's trials. Lexington, N. 
C. W. B. Meares, Sec'y. 
Field Trials for the East. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I was much pleased to note in your issue 
of Aug. 13 an article from the pen of Mr. F. 
A. Spooner. pleading for the establishment of an 
Eastern club whose trials should be run in -the East, 
under rules adapted to our grounds, game and con- 
ditions, and especially so as I have for the past eight 
months been using my efforts among our local sports- 
men toward the attainment of the same end, and have 
gone so far as to put myself in communication with 
many others, in order to ascertain their views and make 
an estimate of the material available for such an enter- 
prise. The information gathered goes to show that 
while there are very many who would,give their hearty 
support and patronage to such a movement, there are 
hut few who would care to take the initiative in an un- 
dertaking that would require a great deal of work and 
no mean executive ability. 
The sportsmen — that class who love the "rough and 
tumble" of mixed shooting, and honest competition for 
sport's sake, and manly, healthful recreation — are grow- 
ing weary of modern field trials and self-constituted pro- 
fessional judges and handlers, and long for a time and 
trials where merit stands above mercenary motives, and 
where well-bred, well-trained shooting dogs are rated 
above greyhounds and coyotes. 
1 do not deny that field trials of to-day have their 
uses as well as abuses; their virtues as well as their 
vices; but I do claim that, as they are at present con- 
ducted, they are tending more and more toward race 
track and gambling methods, and that any effort to put 
them back to their old-time prestige should receive the 
most hearty support of all lovers of honest, legitimate 
sport, whether East, West, North or South, through- 
out the length and breadth of the land. While I most 
heartily indorse Mr. Spooner's views in general, I can- 
not but believe that a club organized on a broader scale 
than any one State would meet with more general ap- 
probation and a much heartier support, and therefore 
beg that not only Pennsylvania, but all the Eastern and 
Middle States be let into the brotherhood, with a cordial 
invitation to sportsmen South and West as well. Give 
us field trials by all means, and while the time is too 
short to run a Derby let us have an all-age stake for 1898, 
with modified rules and judging, where well -broken, in- 
telligent hunting dogs and fair-minded sportsmen, under 
impartial judges, can meet in friendly rivalry and feel 
assured of "justice to all and favor to none." 
For the trials of 1898 Gardiner's Island or some other 
available preserve would be most acceptable; but after 
that give us grounds selected by a committee chosen 
by the club in the rural districts, where we could enjoy 
the charm and excitement of autumn scenery and mixed 
shooting; where the wary grouse, the quail and the 
woodcock give variety and zest to the sport, and de- 
mand of the winners all those qualities (including re- 
trieving) that go to make an invaluable shooting dog 
and companion. Such grounds could be had at almost 
a nominal sum, and the game supply maintained by in- 
telligent methods and a small annual outlay in money. 
In the absence of something more enticing, sports- 
men of the East will to a greater or lesser degree pa- 
tronize trials South and West; but give them home trials, 
conducted and judged as we measure a day's sport 
afield, and note what a wave of enthusiasm will sweep 
away the cloud of apathy which has hung like a pall over 
Held trials since the good old days gone by. 
VV. W. McCain. 
S (i:\ K isviLi.E, la., Aug. 14. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended tor publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
