$94 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 12, 1898. 
gravel. The pond was then filled with water and willow 
brush laid in V-shape. the butt ends of the brush being 
crossed at the pointed end of the V, being placed around 
each spawning bed, forming a perfect inclosure. 
Willow brush with the butt ends sharpened and stuck 
in the bottom of the pond was also placed around the 
spawning boxes to afford seclusion for the spawners. 
May 29 the spawners, forty -two in all, about an 
equal number of males and females, were transferred to 
the spawning pond; the temperature in the pond being 
about 66°, a change of u° from the pond from which 
they were transferred; the spawners were put in near the 
inflow pipe, and the change of temperature did not 
seem to affect them in the least, but, as I had expected, 
it caused the ova to ripen rapidlv. and within twentv- 
four hours they began to pair and spawn, and in nine 
days from the time they were placed in the pond the 
last pair had spawned; out of the whole number only 
two pair used the spawning boxes, and one pair spawned 
in open water on fine sand. 
The eggs hatched out in eight days, and when the fry 
were about a month old I transferred what I estimated 
at 20,000 to an adjoining pond, collecting them with a 
>^in. mesh common sense minnow net, the most of them 
being taken about sundown around the inflow pipe. 
In the same pond with the fry I placed a large number 
of eyed carp eggs laid on moss, the earn when hatched 
to serve as food for the young bass. This experiment 
proved a failure, for within a month the carp had 
grown so rapidly that they were as large as the bass 
and were destroying all insect life and making the water 
very muddy. 
Wooden boxes 2ft. square, with slat sides J&m. apart, 
and supported by stakes driven in th- bctu n ci the 
pond, were then placed at different points in the pond, 
and ground crayfish placed in these led for the balance 
of the season; but the carp kept the water so roily that 
the bass did not seem to thrive, and when the poih! wis 
drawn off in September less than 15 per cent, of the 
number placed in the pond were found. 
The original spawning pond was well stocked with 
chubs and shiners, which spawned about the same time 
as the bass. About Aug. 1 I partitioned off about one- 
third of this pond near the inflow nipc with iK mesh 
galvanized wire fencing, supported by stakes driven in 
the bottom of the pond and extending ioin. above the 
surface of the water; this fence being put in to allow 
the young bass to feed on the minnow fry undisturbed by 
the parent bass. The bass in this pond thrived beyond 
my expectations, and when the water was drawn off in 
October I removed over 33.000 young bass of an almost 
uniform length of 3m., not to exceed thirty oversized 
fish being found among the whole number. 
The uniformity in size I attributed entirely to the fact 
that the fry were all hatched at practically the same 
time, and I believe that if bass spawners were held 
in water of a low temperature until about June 1 and 
then placed in spawning ponds where the water is sev- 
eral degrees warmer, so as to ripen the ova rapidly and 
thereby shorten the spawning period, that much ef the 
loss and annoyance caused by oversized fry would be 
avoided. 
Although the experiment in feeding the carp fry to 
the young bass in' the pond proved a failure, yet I am 
convinced it would be possible to keep carp spawners 
in water of a low temperature to prevent them from 
spawning until late in the season, allowing a few pair 
to spawn at intervals as needed; this. I believe, would 
prove a cheap and easy method of feeding bass fry in 
troughs or small ponds where the number of carp fed 
could be completely controlled' by the attendants. 
Mr. Stranahan. — With reference to this matter, I will 
say that experiments have been made in France, also in 
this country by the United States Fish Commission in 
Washington, to retard the growth of carp. It has been 
found very successful. Mr. Ravenel told me that the 
results were very gratifving by withdrawing the food. 
Mr. Clark— From Mr. O'Brien's paper I see that he 
is an advocate of the partial rearing of fish, and that 
brings us back to the old question that Mr. Whitaker, 
Mr. Mather and myself fought over so many years ago; 
the question of yearlings. I think, if I am not mistaken, 
they dubbed me the Father of the Yearling. I wi'l sav 
I don't want to bring that question up now, but I am still 
an advocate of it, but not for bass. If the gentlemen 
that have been raising bass will take the pains to exam- 
ine them minutely with the microscope they will find 
that a young bass one week old is as mature a fish as 
at five years old. For that reason I am an advocate of 
planting the fry of the bass. I think when it is thor- 
oughly investigated it will be found better to plant 
the young bass. I want to put myself on record as an 
advocate of planting bass fry. If you plant them broad- 
cast in lakes and rivers they can spread out more. It 
is a more difficult thing to find artificial food for young 
bass than for other fish. 
Mr. Oberfelder. — As far as the United States Commis- 
sion is concerned, I. presume it is all right to deliver 
fry, but when the people who pay for this work are sent 
the fry they don't think they are getting any fish. The 
Nebraska Fish Commission are trying to deliver pike 
six months old; I think the people throughout the State 
would be belter satisfied with the delivery of such 
fish to them than the fry. They might not from the 
standpoint of the United States Commission. I know 
the Commissioner of Wyoming told me that they sent 
trout last year in cans, saying "There is 5,000 trout in a 
can," but those who received them said it was the same 
old fish story; we counted them and found there were 
but 850. After this they say we want more yearlings 
and no mere fry. 
Mr. Whitaker. — I don't suppose there is any way by 
which you can guard against misrepresentation as to 
the number of fish that are put in cans. I think it is 
poor policy on the part of a board, and I think they will 
find that misrerresentatiors cf that kind must ultimately 
come back to them injuriously. It is not policy, if you 
want to put it on the ground cf policy. It is not honesty, 
if you want to put it on the ground of honestv. 
So far as not getting results from the distribution of 
the fry is concerned that may be as stated in the State 
of which the gentleman speaks, but it is not so in 
Michigan. The great and successful work of stocking 
there has come solely from plants of fry. There is this 
fo be said, in my opinion, that notwithstanding the fact 
that the planting of fingerling and vearling fish has been 
advocated in this country by some for ten or fifteen years, 
the planting of fingerling fish has not made perceptible 
headway anywhere and the large work of distribution is 
still being done with fry. 
Mr. Clark. — And always will be. 
Mr. O'Brien. — I don't wish to be understood as ad- 
vocating the planting of fingerling or yearling fish. I 
just mentioned the fact that we are rearing our bass 
to an age of six months. It is not done because we 
thought we could transport them with greater safety at 
the age of six months. That is the reason I should put 
out the bass in the fall. We have hot weather in June 
and July, and we are not as well fixed to carry fish as the 
United States Fish Commission. 
Mr. Clark. — I don't wish to prolong this discussion, 
but I want the members of this society to understand 
the point. I don't care to bring in the yearline question, 
but the point is that the black bass is a fish that should 
not be held and reared, because it is not necessary; be- 
cause at the end of a week or two weeks they are just 
as mature as they ever will be, just as well able to take 
care of themselves as they will be in a year. 
Mr. Peabody. — I understand you are in favor of fin- 
gerlings and yearlings as to trout. 
Mr. Clark.— I will say I stand just where I did ten 
or fifteen years ago. In answer to what Mr. Whitaker 
said, and he perhaps didn't wish to be understood just 
exactly as it sounded, that the yearling theory has not 
progressed. I wish to say that arises from the fact we 
cannot raise enough. We can only keep two or three 
hundred thousand at any station. There is no station 
in the country large enough to raise a million yeanings. 
The point is to raise what you can. and as to the 
balance distribute fry. 
Air. Nevin. — Do you mean that in relation to lake 
trout? » 
Mr. Clark.— Yes, I do. 
Mr. Peabody. — I am glad to hear you say that. Last 
winter I talked with the New York people, and they are 
stronglv in favor cf fingerlings. 
Mr. Whitaker. — There is no probability, so far as the 
results are concerned, if you will watch them for the 
next ten years, that you will find any great increase 
in their output of fingerling trout. It is impossible, 
with the multitude of streams we h^ve. taking the great 
comparative cost of planting fingerlings, to stock the 
streams of this country with fingerlings. 
Nets In Oneida Lake. 
Syracuse, N. Y., Nov. 4. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The New York Fish Commissioners having granted 
licenses for netting in Oneida Lake, it is reported that 
the fishing has become general. Here is what is going 
on at Oneida, as told by the Herald this week: 
"It is stated upon unquestionable authority that many 
persons are unconsciously violating the fish laws through 
the resumption of the use of nets in taking fish from the 
waters of Oneida Lake. About two weeks ago press 
dispatches sent out from Albany stated in substance 
that the State Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission 
had adopted a resolution permitting net fishing in Oneida 
Lake, and the general understanding of the announce- 
ment seems to have been that the resolution passed was 
in itself a license for all who desired to engage in fishing 
with nets without restriction for a time. 
"This understanding of the situation is declared to be 
erroneous, according to those who profess to be well 
versed in the fish laws, it being meant by the resolution 
that those desiring to fish with nets could again obtain 
license by applying to the commission, a specific license 
being required for each individual fisherman. Hundreds 
of fishermen are reported to have begun the use of nets 
without having obtained the required license, and it is 
said that they stoutly maintain that the resolution re- 
cently passed obviates the license required by the fish 
laws. It is as strongly urged on the other hand that the 
fishermen are making themselves liable to prosecution 
through their ignorance cf the meaning of the resolu- 
tion, in the publication of which there appears to have 
been omissions in the press dispatches." 
They have nets on the bass grounds at lower South 
Bay to my own knowledge; and allowing them the right 
to use 14ft. trap nets, is an outrage to the angler. The 
fishing has been ruined by netting. What will be left for 
hook fishing another season will be very little. The net- 
ting period will run to Dec. 31. 
The opening of the lake to netters is the undoing of 
all that has been done there this year; and will be just 
so many more nets to get and so many more bounties 
to be paid out. It is no question but it is done to get 
votes. Onondaga. 
At a meeting held last week, the Anglers' Association 
of Onondaga adopted resolutions on the subject as fol- 
lows: 
"Whereas, the people of the State of New York spend 
annually thousands of dollars for the propagation and 
protection of fish in the inland waters of the State; and, 
"Whereas, the Commissioners of Fish, Game and For- 
ests has granted licenses to fish with nets in Oneida 
Lake, thereby depriving the public of one of the best 
fishing grounds of the State; therefore, be it 
"Resolved, that the Anglers 'Association of Onondaga 
emphatically protests against this action of the com- 
missioners, and earnestly requests them to revoke all 
licenses at once." 
The text of the resolution adopted by the New York 
League, as noted in our last issue, reads: 
"We. the executive committee of the State Fish and 
Game Protective League, assembled at a regular meet- 
ing, do hereby express an unqualified disapproval of the 
act cf the honorable Commissioners of Fisheries, Game 
and Fores f s in granting licenses for the netting of fish in 
Oneida Lake or other inland waters of the State; and we 
hereby petition and request the immediate cancellation 
and withdrawal of such licenses; that we instruct our 
secretary to forward a copy hereof to each of the said 
commissioners." 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at th,e 
l^est by Mondayi and ?if f>W h earlier as pr^taeshje, 
The Story of a Leader and Three 
Flies, 
"Come in a minute. I've got something I want to 
show you — something you will appreciate." 
"Oh, yes! I know you always have something fine 
and tempting, but you won't catch me this time, for I 
won't buy a thing. I have more tackle now than I 
can ever use, and I am not going to invest in any more — 
you will only waste your time showing it to me." 
"Oh! that's all right! I won't ask you to buy. but I 
want you to see some of the finest flies and leaders and 
lines that ever happened." 
And so I followed my friend into the store and temp- 
tation, and of course fell a victim to the snare. I have 
often thought that if fine fishing tackle is half as at- 
tractive to the fish as it is to an enthusiastic angler it 
is not surprising that they need protective laws. The 
fifes that lure them to the surface have firsi dangled 
before the eyes of the sportsman, and landed him; but 
the experience don't kill him, nor even cure him, and he 
is sure to rise aga : n if the bait is good enough. What a 
good thing he is for the manufacturers and dealers, and 
what a pity 'tis that the fish is denied the privilege of 
being caught again and again! The baits I saw in the 
store that morning were the product of a famous maker 
and bcre a name which bespoke their quality. They wrre 
simply beautiful, and I came away with a cluster of flies 
and half a dozen leaders in spite of my declaration that 
nothing would each me. But those leaders! Who 
could resist them? The gut was round and perfect, the 
knots tied to perfection, the lcops perfectly spaced, and 
they were dyed a peculiar greenish bronze that made 
them lcok like some aquatic thread that mus; appear 
natural in the water. 
"I'll guarantee these leaders to be the best you ever 
had, and if you break one of them in any legitimate 
way, so that you say the leader is at fault, you shall 
have two in it's place." and I felt that the statement was 
a safe one for him to make. 
Not long after this a party of kindred spirits met at 
the house of the Mastigouche Club. Not a chance meet- 
ing by any means, for the agreement to be there was one 
of long standing, and the event was one to which all 
had looked forward with anticipation of a genuine good 
time, and an outing in the most attractive part of Can- 
ada's domain. About a hundred miles from Montreal, on 
the shore of a beautiful lake, stands the big club house. 
Numberless other lakes are tributary to the li tie river 
which flows through this valley in the Laurentian hills, 
filling to the utmost the ideal of one who loves forest 
and stream, is fond of canoeing and tramping, and en- 
joys out-of-door life and the deligh's of enticing Salmo 
fontinalis to join in the game. At least twenty of these 
lakes are within two hours by canoe and trail from the 
club house, so that no one need go into camp unless he 
desires to visit the distant parts of the tract. The after- 
noon of our arrival was devoted to visiting among our- 
selves, and with the guides — those sturdy examples of 
French-Canadian habitant — unpacking of luggage, etc., 
preparatory to commencing business next day. My 
guide was one I had known before, and never want a 
better, a thorough woodsman, strong, tireless, devoted 
to his patron, and the best man in a bark canoe that I 
have ever seen, and withal a good cook. Next morning 
everything was ready for a start long before we finished 
a good breakfast, and we were soon afloat. ■ 
"Well, George, where shall we go to-day?" 
"If no want to go veree far, Ah t'ink Lac au Cap 
bes' place for fly-feesh, prob'ly. Ah see some trouts 
jompeeng dere yes'day, me." 
Crossing Lac Seymour, and paddling up the river 
about a mile, a short carry, then through Lac Crescent, 
another portage of about half a mile brought us to 
our fishing water for the day. It was in August, a per- 
fect summer day, wi'h the water like a mirror, except 
for now and then a bit of ripple, but too warm and too 
still to hope for great sport in the way of fly-fishing. So 
I was not looking for anything unusual either in the size 
or number of the day's catch. 
"What do you think of it, George, shall we have any. 
luck here to-day?" 
"Sometam can't tell notting 'bout feesh; one day 
jomp, jomp, all tarn, all round; an'udder day no jomp 
tall. Ah'll see two, t'ree now ove' dere. me. We get 
some sure, prob'ly, p'r'aps note so manee; wataire ver' 
warm an' feesh no raise ver' mooch." 
The rod was jointed, and with one of those brand new 
leaders, decorated with a Reuben Wood, Montreal and 
a "Cheeney Belle" for a stretcher, the game was opened. 
If I had tested that leader as I almost invariably do. this 
story would have had no beginning or ending, but hav- 
ing unlimited confidence in its maker, this precaution 
was neglected. A few minutes of casting yielded a few 
small fish, and then a good one rose a few rods ahead of 
the canoe, and in a few moments the flies were over 
him. He came up like a rocket, landed on that R. W. 
with a rush, and I struck for keeps, expecting to set the 
hook for a good tussle, but alas! for that big expectation. 
The next instant the line and about 2ft. of leader came 
back, a clean break at the upper loop, and away went 
Mr. Goodone with the remainder of the leader and 
three flies. 
"Bah gosh! dat too bad! good feesh too! He got 
hook in hees mouth an run all roun' with leader an two 
fly. T'ink he got all fly he want for one tarn." 
With no little disgust another new leader was well 
tested and bent on, and with a fresh display of feathers 
we went on. The sport was fairly good, and we were 
just about to quit for luncheon, when suddenly the 
canoe was brought about with a whirl and a shout of 
laughter, and paddling as if in a race away we went up 
the lake toward our starting point. As soon as we 
swung around I saw at quite a distance a gcod sized 
trout flopping on the surface, ar.d there we were going 
as fast as George could drive us. 
"Ah been look' for heem all tarn since he run way wiz 
dem fly. Dat feesh ver' good kine. He catch heemself 
an' now come up top and ask for net, an' — Look at 
dat! He been fly-feesh too, an' have good luck; catch 
two more. Ver' smart trouts in dis lac." 
,\nd so it proved, for on netting the big fellow, which 
