490 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[June 24, 1899. 
A Fisherman's Story. 
The presiident of the Fishing Club^ to which I have 
the pleasure and privilege of belonging, is a most suc- 
cessful and enthusiastic fisherman, and I regard him as 
one of the greatest fishermen of the present time. His 
success in catching fish is only equaled by his powers of 
description, and he has given me many interesting ac- 
counts of his various experiences. 
The following account I obtained either from our pres- 
ident or from some other source, which I do not recall 
just at present, but of course there are so many interest- 
ing fish stories that it would be unreasonable to expect 
any one to remember just where they all came from. The 
person, however, who had the experience which I refer 
to was fishing from his canoe one bright afternoon in the 
early autumn, but, not meeting with any great success, 
he had settled into a condition of calm and quiet repose. 
His fly was floating idly on the placid waters, and he 
was basking in dreamy delight in the sunshine which fell 
in a golden flood about him, and which is so grateful at 
that season of the year, and was just dimly conscious of 
the beauty of water and sky and hill by which he was 
surrounded. Suddenly there was a break and a splash 
of a huge fish, his fly disappeared beneath the waters, 
and he had a strike of -unusual vigor, which awakened all 
his drowsy senses in an instant. He sprang to his reel 
and in less time than it takes to relate it his line was sing- 
ing through the water, the surface of the lake around his 
canoe was seething and boiling, and those electric thrills 
which are so often referred to by well regulated and 
conventional fishermen were following each other in 
quick siJ^cession up and down the ossified railway of his 
spine', and permeating his whole nervous system. 
Around and around the canoe went the excited fish 
in his mad rush for liberty, and so quickly did the startled 
fisherman have to turn in order to follow him that the 
surrounding hills and lake and sky all seemed to his 
vision to be blended together in one bright mass of col- 
oring. Like a flash it dawned upon him that the fish, 
by its swift rotary course around the canoe, was endeavor- 
ing to overcome him with dizziness, and cause him to 
fall into the water, thus terminating the struggle. 
Fully realizing the seriousness of the situation, with 
great presence of mind the fisherman maintained his 
equilibrium and succeeded in foiling the fell purpose of 
the maddened fish. Finding that it was thus foiled in its 
purpose, with eyes blazing with fury the fish sprang 
from the water and leaped at the throat of the fisherman 
and, narrowly missing him, fell into the water on the 
opposite side of the canoe with a loud splash. Again 
and again did the fish circle around the canoe, and again 
and again did it leap from the water and spring at the 
throat of the-fisherman. But the fisherman, with steady 
nerve and calm courage, born of many desperate en- 
counters with savage fish, evaded the onslaught of the 
fish by gently inclining his head from one side to the 
other as the fish sprang at him, thus allowing it to pass 
by him. 
How long this struggle continued it is impossible to 
say, but the fisherman, realizing that it was an unequal 
contest — ^that the fish was in its native element and that 
he had only a frail canoe beneath him- — decided to go 
ashore and there continue the contest. Skillfully guiding 
his frail craft to the bank, he succeeded in getting upon 
the shore, and by a skillful jerk just in the nick of time 
succeeded in landing the fish upon the shore beside him, 
and was foolish enough to suppose that .the contest was 
ended. He was not long, however, in discovering his 
almost fatal error, for no sooner had the fish reached the 
shore than, renewing its attack, it rushed upon him and 
chased him up a tree. When the fish saw that the fisher- 
man had escaped its rage and anger knew no bounds. 
It lashed the ground furiously with its tail, breaking down 
the bushes and scattering the leaves in every direction, 
and finally, in a paroxysm of fury, it died of rage at the 
foot of the tree. 
The fisherman descended from the tree, and just at 
that moment hearing a couple of his guides coming over 
the portage, he called to them to come and help him in 
carrying the fish into camp. They quickly came to his 
assistance, and, gathering up the fish, it was discovered 
that it weighed just ij^'^lbs. Overcome with astonishment 
at this strange and unaccountable discovery, and being 
much exhausted by the trying experience through which 
he had passed, and in additiion to all this his lips and 
throat being parched, he reached around to his hip pocket 
in a kind of mechanical and, I think I may also say, a 
methodical way, and drew from it his flask. Slowly re- 
moving the stopper he placed the flask to his lips, but, 
to his utmost surprise and disappointment he found that 
it contained nothing. He remembered distinctly that he 
had filled it that very morning before leaving camp, and 
the only way that he could account for its unsatisfactory 
condition of emptiness was that in the whirling and sid- 
long motion which he had gone through in his protracted 
struggle with the fish, the contents had all spilled out. 
In. spite of the savage conflicts which take place be- 
tween the fishermen and the fierce game fish, and which 
we cannot contemplate without some misgivings, there 
are a beauty and tranquillity about the woods, the moun- 
tains and the lakes that are delightful and inspiring. 
I well remember taking a trip in our club territory 
many years ago during the early history of the club to 
a portion of the territory which was then almost unknown 
to the members, but which has since become a very fa- 
miliar spot. The place which we visited was one of the 
larger lakes of the territory. A party had just returned 
from this trip, being the first club members to visit this 
lake, and we heard remarkable tales of the grand scenery 
on the way; of the dark and beetling cliffs which guarded 
the approach to the lake in question, and of the large 
fish that had gotten away from one of the members of 
the party while trolling through one of the lakes through 
which they had passed, all of which stimulated our desire 
to see this same country and other regions beyond. So 
we started without any unnecessary delay, and reaching 
in due time, aboitt nightfall, a large lake adjoining the 
lake we were journeying to, we camped for the night. 
The following day was dark and showery, so that we did 
not break camp that day, but occupied our time in camp 
and fishing between showers on the lake on which we 
were camped. 
Toward evening the clouds began to break away and 
the weather showed signs of clearing, and in order to 
get an early start the next morning, we decided to have 
our canoe taken over to the adjoining lake. There was 
no portage cut between the two lakes, and we had to work 
our way slowly and painfully through the trees and under- 
brush, and partly along the bed Of the stream which 
flowed between the two lakes, it taking us over an hour 
to travel the necessary half mile or so of distance. As 
we emerged from the woods and bushes along the sides 
of the tortuous stream, and came out upon the lake which 
we had been seeking, the sun had broken through the 
clouds and was sinking below the western hills which 
encircled the lake, casting a soft light over the landscape. 
The lengthening shadows of the mountains were cast far 
out upon the still water. Noiselessly the myriad trout 
were rising all over the lake, the tiny ripple spreading out 
in ever widening circles as far as the eye could reach. 
In the calm stillness of the evening hour all nature 
seemed at rest, and as I gazed upon that scene of tran- 
quil beauty far from the abode of man my heart was filled 
with joy and peace. 
It has been my privilege to see much grand and beauti- 
ful natural scenery since that time. I have seen the Alps, 
those eternal hills rearing their snow-clad heights to the 
sky. I have stood upon the summit of Mt. Washington and 
have seen the beautiful landscape beneath spread out like 
a scroll at our feet. I have looked from the highest 
peaks of Mt. Desert upon the beauties of mountain and 
sea; but that scene of peaceful beauty upon the lake, 
amid the solitude of the woods and mountains, which I 
looked upon over twelve years ago, is as fresh in my 
memory as if I had gazed upon it but yesterday, and I 
hope it will not fade as long as memory shall last. 
a p. c. 
Strawberry Bass in New Jersey. 
. In the May report of Fish and Game Protector Charles 
A. Shriner, of New Jersey, record is made of the importa- 
tion and distribution of 82 white bass, 714 pike-perch, 254 
strawberry bass and 30 channel cats. The report says : 
The work of bringing the fish on from the West was 
intrusted to Wardens Riley, Kerr, Snyder and Hawkins, 
and I am satisfied that they did everything in their 
power to make the trip a successful one. Unfortunately, 
at Elmira the drawhead pulled out of the car, necessi- 
tating its being taken from the train and repaired. The 
Erie Railroad Company did everything possible, under 
the circumstances, the repairs being made promptly and 
the car attached to the next express train. The loss of 
fish was consequently far smaller than had been antici- 
pated when the accident occurred. 
On trips of this kind to Lake Erie it is impossible to 
designate the number and kinds of fish to be taken ; the 
catch is affected by numerous circumstances — wind, tem- 
perature, the movements of fish, etc. The fish cannot be 
kept for any length of time, and sometimes several days 
elapse before a catch is made suitable for taking East. 
It will be observed that in the lot brought on during the 
last trip there were considerable numbers of strawberry 
bass, a fish hitherto a stranger to New Jersey waters. 
The wardens had been instructed 'to obtain these fish, if 
possible, in order to secure their introduction into the 
waters of New Jersey. Hitherto more attention has been 
paid to superior or larger kinds of fish, and the work 
would have been continued on these lines for some time 
had it not been that the last Legislature refused to make 
an appropriation for stocking purposes. Consequently the 
trip just made will probably be the last for some time to 
come, and to this the determination to bring on as' man}' 
strawberry bass as possible was due. 
I regret exceedingly that I was not able to fill all the 
applications made for fresh-water fish, as I had been in 
the hope of doing, and as T feel confident I should have 
done had it not been for the accident to the car en route- 
As it was, the fish were sent to points most easy of access, 
many of the fish, on account of the delay, being in any- 
thing but a good condition for further extensive traveling. 
The strawberri^ bass is known throughout the West by 
a number of different names. It is frequently called the 
calico bass, and this name is more appropriate than any 
other, when the appearance of the fish is considered. It 
is also known in the West as grass bass, bitterhead, lamp- 
lighter and bank lick bass ; in Lake Michigan it is in- 
variably called the barfish, and in the southern part of 
the West it is referred to as goggle-eye or goggle-eyed 
perch. As a matter of fact, the strawberry bass, like the 
rock bass, the crappie and other similar fish, belongs to 
the sunfish family. The strawberry bass is of a bright 
gold and black, with numerous varying sliades, being one 
of the most beautiful of fish. It is fond of grassy bottoms 
and quiet and clear water, and objects to mud. Although 
specimens w^eighing 2lbs. have been found, it is seldom 
that the fish attains a size of more than lib. It is very 
gamy on the hook, and rises readily to the fly. It is fre- 
quently confounded with the crappie, a fish it very much 
resembles in general appearance and structure, the prin- 
cipal differences being that in the crappie the white pre- 
dominates where the gold is found in the strawberry, and 
that tlie latter is not fond of muddy bottoms, as is the 
crappie. Profes-sor Kirtland, in George Brown Goode's 
"Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States," 
speaks as follows concerning the strawberry bass: 
"The grass bass has not hitherto been deemed worthy of 
consideration by fishculturists ; yet, from a long and inti- 
mate acquaintnace M'ith its merits, I hesitate not to pro- 
nounce it the fish for the million. It is a native of our 
Western rivers and lakes, where it usually resorts to deep 
and sluggish waters ; yet in several instances, where it has 
found its way into cold and rapid streams, and even small 
sized brooks, it has adapted itself to the change, and in 
two or three years stocked to overflowing these new 
locations. As a panfish for the table it is surpassed by 
few other fresh-water species. For endurance and rapidity 
of increase it is unequaled. The grass bass is perfectly 
adapted to stocking ponds. It will thrive without care in 
very small ponds of sufficient depth. It will in no way 
interfere with the cultivation of any number of species, 
large or small, in the same waters. It will live har- 
moniousty with all others, and while its structure and dis- 
position restrain it from attacking any other but verj'- 
small fry, its formidable armature of spinous raj's in the 
dorsal and abdominal fins will guard it against the at- 
tacks of even the voracious pike." 
To numerous inq_uirie5 in relation to the prospects of 
a distribution of black bass during the coming season, I 
will say that in view of the expenses recently incurred 
by the purchase of quail, and the recent trip West after 
fish, the appropriation for stocking purposes is nearly ex- 
hausted, and it is doubtful whether enough will be left in 
the fall of the year to warrant resuming the work of net- 
ting the canals. In order to make the disappointments as 
few as possible, I made an application to the United States 
Fish Commissioner for a supply of these fish, and I am 
glad to say that a liberal allotment has been promised to 
New Jersey, this end having been attained through the 
influence of former Governor John W. Griggs, 
The most important arrest of the month was that of 
Toni Poligino by Warden Pheasant. The warden had for 
some time tried to break up a custom of some Italians 
of throwing lime into brooks, and thus securing fish. His 
watching finally resulted in his catching the defendant, 
who was promptly convicted. Upon being sentenced he 
refused to pay the fine imposed, preferring to spend the 
money he had in securing counsel who had advised him 
that the law was unconstitutional, and that he would be 
released on habeas corpus proceedings. Counsel sued out 
a writ and gave four different reasons why his client 
should be released. The writ was returnable before Su- 
preme Court Justice Van Syckel. After an exhaustive 
argument the judge sustained the law on every point, the 
result of which is that the defendant is now serving a 
sentence of ninety days in the county jail at Elizabeth, h*" 
having exhausted all his funds in legal proceedings. 
The Landing Net in Pennsylvania. 
Philadelphia, June 14. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Replying to your inquiry concerning the case in Monroe 
county, where parties were fined for use of landing nets 
in landing trout. Sec. i, act of May 22, 1889, does not 
specifically permit the use of same, and the question must 
naturally hinge upon when a fish is actually caught. If 
not caught until landed, the words "any other appliances 
for the catching of fish except rod, hook and line" would 
bar use of the landing net; though the intent of the law 
was not to prohibit the landing net in common usage as 
its name implies, and its use in any other manner would 
be clearly illegal in trout waters except for the catching 
of bait fish for angling purposes, as provided in Sec. 6 
of same act. 
It is the consensus of opinion among anglers that the 
higher courts will permit its use for landing purposes 
after a game fish is actually hooked. The only solution 
of the problem pending decision is for anglers generally to 
avoid (as they should always do) any friction whatever 
with natives or residents of fishing localities ; for it is not 
to be expected that anglers, one to another, would make 
use of this apparent oversight in the law except for 
spite. 
I do not think the landing net will be discarded to any 
extent for the present, as this particular case takes its in- 
ception from motives prompted by local differences 
directly due to the unpopular practice of leasing waters, 
the exclusion of the public from fishing therein being, of 
course, a logical result of the lease. 
Happily for those depending on public waters for 
angling recreation, a condition of affairs exists in mos* 
of the counties of the State different from that in Mom ae 
and Pike. Public waters there have vanished like 
buffalo from the plains, or supposedly so, and differen 
over technicalities may be expected to arise. 
These other sections of the State continue to m~ 
anglers as well as to value the expenditures Ihey le: 
All are welcome, and I feel safe in saying the use of 
landing net for landing purposes would be unquestioned. 
If the higher courts should decide against the use of 
the net, it must revolutionize tackle in this State until 
the next session of the Legislature, in that rods will 
need be pitched over ferrules ordinarily used in sea rods 
in order to "yank 'em" up the bank, all sizes, to keep 
within the letter and spirit of "rod, hook and line." 
The gaff being technically "rod and hook," may come 
within the latter meaning as a last, resort for the angler 
and a tip for the tackle dealer, since it is free from the 
word net, but I fear this is heaping sarcasm upon the 
salmon. M. G. Sellers. 
Long Island Fishing. 
QuEENSWATER, L. I., Juue IQ; — The smaller weakfish 
have either left the bay or have all been caught by the net 
fishermen. The second run of large fish have, however, 
arrived, and have furnished fine sport for the experienced 
angler who knows how to catch them. One party consist- 
ing of Dr. Ruter, of New York City, and two other gentle- 
men, caught 392 weakfish in one day, averaging 2j^lbs. 
each. Fluke are biting freely, both in the bay and off to 
the fishing banks. Sea bass are also plenty at the banks. 
Crabs are getting more and more plentiful, and there is 
every prospect of their being caught in large quantities 
before the season is over. A large number of fishermen 
came down on Sunday. The largest catch to a boat was 
ninety fish, including an assortment of weakfish, bass 
and fluke. 
Exterminating the Fish, 
East Rockaway, L. L, June 19. — ^There is serious com- 
plaint made by the line fishermen over the methods 
adopted by the professional net fishermen. During the 
past two or three weeks we had a great run of weakfish. 
They come into the bay by a narrow inlet several miles 
from the bay proper, and run up into the bay and adjacent 
channels. When the fish get up into these comparatively 
narrow channels they are easily caught by the nets of the 
fishermen, and are soon all taken. There are three gangs 
of net fishermen from Atlantic Dock; they fish almost 
every tide, and have been averaging from 800 to i,20olbs. 
of fish a day for each gang. It is safe to say that at least a 
ton of fish have been taken each day during the past 
month in the narrow channels and creeks at Hemp- 
stead Bay by the net fishermen, The line fishermen 
have good sport for the first few days after the fish arrive, 
but as soon as the fish work up the channels they are 
captured by the nets, and there is nothing left btlt strug- 
gling fish, mostly fluke and blackfish. 
