Mat ig, i$oo.J 
The Maine Opening* 
Boston, May 14. — The New England fishing season of 
1900 is now fully open. A special dispatch from Bemis 
Saturday evening from Capt. F. C. Barker said that the 
steamers would go through to the Upper Dam that night 
without a doubt. But at that time Rangeley Lake was 
still ice bound, though since cleared. This clearing of the 
Rangeleys is three days later than last year, when they 
were clear May 9. The enthusiasm of the rod and reel 
sportsmen was never greater. They have been totally 
unable, some of them, to wait for the telegraph to an- 
nounce the clearing of the Rangeleys and Moosehead. 
When the first steamer got down through from Kineo to 
Greenville Friday there were fifteen or sixteen sports- 
men waiting. Several had been there for days. Some of 
them had indulged in brook fishing where any could be 
found. On Saturday fishing on the lake began in good 
earnest, but there are no reports of catches yet. At 
Bemis Saturday there were more than twenty sportsmen 
waiting to get up the lake. What made it all the more 
tantalizing was that word had come around that Richard- 
son Lake was open — really the objective point of several 
fishermen. Among the early fishermen waiting were Mr. 
and Mrs. C. P. Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Dizer, Mr. 
and Mrs. D. J. Bedding, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Stevens, 
Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Sheriffs, B. J. Ackerman, John G. 
Watkins, W. Gray, R. A. Baxter, D. E. Adams, W. W. 
Lee, G. F. Green, T. O. Rogers and D. E. Thomas. 
These fishermen will be quartered at the Upper Dam and 
other points on the lakes. 
Later there comes a report from Moosehead saying that 
Fred H. Lothrop, of Boston, and Charles K, Gage, of 
Portland, Me., carried off the honors of the first fish. Im- 
mediately on the arrival of the first boat at Kineo, Friday, 
they chartered the steamer George A. and headed for 
Scotean Stream. That evening they returned with a 
dozen speckled trout, the first of the season. A little later 
H. W. T. Steinway, of New York, and W. Rossmassle, of 
Philadelphia, fished near the hotel and took two good 
trout. 
Only small catches are reported from the previously 
opened New England waters. Cold weather and ice seem 
to have cooled the ardor of even the trout and salmon. 
W. C. Harding, Theodore Ripley, Louis Lomes and 
Charles Finley, of Boston, have just returned from a fish- 
ing trip to Lake Cobbosseecontee, Me. They had_ rather 
poor success, for which they believe the weather is alto- 
gether to blame. Every sort of tackle was used, but the 
trout and salmon would not be lured, though the bass 
fishing was all that could be wished. Mr. Ripley suc- 
ceeded in landing a trout of 3 pounds in spite of the 
weather, and both Mr. Harding and Mr. Finley caught a 
trout of 2 pounds. Mr. Harding says that there are 
trout in abundance in Cobbosseecontee. One warm after- 
noon — about the only one — over twenty trout and salmon 
were caught, one or two of 6 pounds each. These were 
taken off the head of Bay Island. Commissioners Carle- 
ton, Stanley and Oak were expected to arrive the day Mr. 
Harding and party left. With them were to be Messrs. 
P. O. Vickery, F. E. Timberlake and Fred Kinsm.an, noted 
Augusta, Me., fishermen. The Felix Tausig party, noted 
m the Forest and Stream last week as going to Wmne- 
peusaukee, found terribly cold weather and hig;h winds, 
making it almost impossible to be out on the lake. They 
fished but little, but did get nine fish— trout and salmon 
from 2''A to S-A pounds. They also saw a salmon of 
9 pounds that "had been taken and two of 7 and 8 pounds, 
They were located at Wolfboro. 
From all parts of the Bangor and Aroostook fishmg 
region comes the report that the season is very backward. 
The guides and camp owners have just started to move 
their belongings in for the summer. In the m.ore northerly 
lake regions there is still 2 or 3 feet of snow m the 
woods, making it almost impossible to get to the lakes, 
some of which are still ice bound. Sebec Lake. Me., 
opened a week ago, and about the best catches are re- 
ported there of any of the earlier waters. Some fair 
ftshing has been had at Grand Lake and Grand Lake 
Stream, but not what it would have been but for the cold 
weather. Ice formed there nearly every night last week. 
The ice has been out of South Twin, Nahamakanta, Am- 
bajejus and all the other lakes of the West Branch of the 
Penobscot for a week, but very little fishing has yet been 
done. The big salmon pool at Bangor is again "m the 
dumps," so far as salmon fishing is concerned, not a fish 
having been taken there for a week. 
The weather has been exceedingly cold for fishmg on 
all the lakes that are open. At Norway, Me., ice froze 
strong enough to bear the weight of boys, and they put on 
skates, just to say that they skated on May 9. Mr. E. 
Frank Lewis, of Lawrence, Mass., is just in from a fish- 
ing trip to Hartland Lake, Me. He trolled three or four 
days, and did not get a fish. One small salmon was 
taken while he was there. Mr. John G. Wright has gone 
to the same lake, with Mr. Kellen and one or two others. 
With better weather they expect to get good fishing. 
They are quartered at the home of the Commodore Club, 
of which Mr. Wright is an active member. The Grand 
Lake fishermen have suffered severely from cold weather 
and taken but few fish. They say that they will never go 
so early again. Mr. T. G. McDonald, Mrs. McDonald 
Dr. Bates and Mr. Hanson are just in from Newfound 
Lake. The weather was rather cold, but they got some 
fair fishing. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald got five salmon 
and two trout. The fish weighed from 3 to 8 pounds. 
Dr. Bates got two salmon, one of 3 and one of 6 pounds. 
Mr Hanson's catch was two trout, one of 6y2 and the 
other 10 pounds. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are waitmg 
anxiously for the ice to leave the Rangeleys. They are 
10 Ik- quartered at the home of the old Boston Club, just 
bpJovv ttie Upner Dam, with a partv of friends, for several 
week^ Mr- R- 0- Harding and C. F. Danforth are just 
back to Boston from a fishing trip to Dan Hole Pond 
N. H. Thfv foimd the weather severely cold, with ice 
forming nights Thev took two salmon, one of 4. pounds. 
The ice went out of that nond the week before they were 
there, and since the pond wa<^ open fifteen salmon have" 
been taken, frcm 4 to Ji pounds. 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
Tfouting, 
Ashland, Wis.— Editor Forest and Stream: I send 
you a contribution for Forest and Stream, written by my 
son, now at the University of Wisconsin. He sends it to 
me and the young man possessing the initials H. D., re- 
ferred to in the first line. My son and H. D. have made 
numerous fishing trips together in this Lake Superior 
region, and they have had to " 'oof the ties" homeward 
often together, under the circumstances recited therein. I 
think he has put together a very good parody of the 
Kiphng style. I would not say more in praise, as from a 
father's standpoint I might rightfully be accused of 
partiality. I wish to add, in connection with the statement 
that these two young men are often out together trout- 
ing, that last summer tliej'^ both called upon and were 
well entertained by Fred Mather at his place on the 
Brule. As my son has always been a reader of Forest and 
Stream, and especially of the Mather articles, in which 
he took more interest than anythipg else in that line, he 
made the trip to the Brule in part to meet Mr. Mafher. 
As we are ex-residents of Grant county, this State, the 
former home of Mather and the Neavilles, Ben easily in- 
troduced himself to Mn Mather, and had a very interest- 
ing visit with him, being entertained over night and 
given the liberty of the Brule fishing grounds or preserve 
at that point. He and H. D. were among the last prob- 
ably to visit and chat with this popular writer and sports 
man. . J. Cover. 
MARCH, 
Wot makes H. D. so restless like — wot makes him to 
perspire ? 
It isn't poundin' the old masheen, or blowin' up his tire; 
But it's everlastin' waiting for the coming o' the day 
Wen 'e can get 'is traps together an' 'ie 'imself away 
Where the soughin' of the pines makes a music soft and 
low. 
An' the balsam's balmy perfume makes 'is 'eart with 
rapture glow. 
O the trout! O the trout! 
O the 'ustlin'. bustlin' trout! 
'E's a cannibalistic dude. 
But 'e's mighty good to eat; 
%^ So we'll wade the icy river 
An' take a turn about. 
For we've got to have that dandy — 
'E's our meat. 
APRIL. 
Wot makes the angler swear so 'ard, an' fill the air with 
sighs ? 
'Taint because the water's cold, nor 'avin' to 'oof the ties ; 
'Taint because the skeeters bite, nor yet because th-e flies 
Are eatin' up his features an' puttin' out 'is eyes— 
But because 'e 'ad a accident, w'ich 'appened in this way : 
'E was pidlin' in a big 'un, an' "the big 'un»got away!" 
O the trout! O the trout! 
O the spotted, dotted trout! 
'E's a gastronomic poem, 
'E's a pictur' all enjoys; 
But — fried in butter an' cornmeal — 
(Take 'im in an' out) 
Laid upon the breakfast platter, 
Then 'e's solid music, boys! 
Ben Cover. 
Newfound Lake Fishing. 
DuNBAETON, N. H., May 7. — Under date of April 25 1 
received word that the Hebron end of the lake was clear 
from ice. The above grounds are easil}' reached from 
here. An hour's ride by rail from Concord, ending with i 
drive of nine miles, and we are there. The fishing so far 
up to the morning of May 5 has been quite good, consider 
ing the weather. Cold and rough hardly describes it. On 
the morning of the 4th the mountains to the east were 
white with freshly fallen snow. The water at times was 
so rough that it was hardly safe to get far out in a boat. 
The fishing began, as I am told, on April 29. A con- 
genial party were quartered at John F. Rogers' within a 
hundred yards of the water. The record of this party 
from the afternoon of April 29 up to 9 o'clock of the 
morning of May 5 is as follows: Eight trout from 6 to 
12% pounds each ; 28 salmon from 3 to g}4 pounds each. 
Of the latter there were 4 of 3 pounds, 11 of from 3^4 to 4 
pounds, 6 of from 4 to 6 pounds, 5 of from 6 to 9 pounds 
and 2 over 9 and under 10 pounds. 
A gentleman staying in a house quite near Rogers' 
was, I think, high rod for the week, taking, as I was 
told, twelve fish, most of them large. The latter are not 
counted in the number given as taken by the Rogers 
party. As Sanborn's, a mile or so from Rogers', about as 
many fish were taken during the same time. 
One of the first fish, a very handsome salmon of 95-4 
pounds, was taken by Miss Mamie, daughter of John F. 
Rogers. This was a fish any veteran angler would 
have been proud of. The young lady hooked, played and 
brought it to net or gaff without any assistance. 
My companion during my three days' stay was a young 
man from this neighborhood — a new hand at such fish- 
ing, never having seen a salmon. Favored by luck, I had 
the first strike. We were running 150 and 200 feet of 
line. As my man was reeling in fast to get out of my 
way, he sang out. "I have one!" I felt almost sure he had 
fouled my line, but almost at once two salmon shot in 
the air. We had our hands full for a time. Our lines 
crossed several times, but luckily did not get tangled. My 
companion's fish gave up first, and I held mine with one 
liand and netted his. I was thankful, however, when both 
were in the bottom of our boat. They were good fish, 
although not large, weighing 4 and 5 pounds each. The 
applause from the surrounding boatt was heartily tendered 
and very acceptable. . . 
Now, as to whether tlie fishing tn Newfound Lakft 
.ssrows poorer year after vear or whether it holds its own 
is a question. I arn only a nansient visitor for a few 
days in the spring, aud i*^ is only of recent years that I 
hare become one. and therefore I cannot give an opinion. 
In om pnirtv at Rogers* were expert and veteran anglexE, 
• 889 
men who have fished for years regularly in Newfound, 
and who are practically able to judge of its resources to- 
day as compared with years past. One of our party, who 
lives quite near the lake (v/e unanimously called him the 
early bird, as he would wake up the rest of us at mOst 
unreasonable hours in the morning), has had for years a 
most intimate acquaintance with the big fish of the 
lake. I do not say that he has been connected by means 
of his line with every big fish. Nevertheless, a great 
many of them have found themselves in trouble owing to 
his presence. Occasionally one of the old grandfathers of 
the present supply of trout or salmon laugh at his at- 
tempts to land them with a light rod and 300 feet of line. 
Most of them, however, after a plucky fi.ght, give up and 
are afterward photographed. The veteran Colonel is a 
practical fisherman of years of experience. To a novice 
come of his sayings may seem theoretical, but just watch 
him when he connects with an old fighter of a trout or 
salmon and he will prove the truth of what he says. The 
genial member of our party who, without any urging, as- 
sumed the hard position of helping the hungry crowd at 
the numerous meals with which Rogers fortified us, knows 
well how to wait patiently for the sometimes long-de- 
ferred strike, and what to do- when it comes. We will 
forgive him, inasmuch as for a time he is earning his 
daily bread (and to all appearances doing it well) in a 
foreign land. His heart is still true to old Newfound, and 
he surely gets there when the seasons opens. 
The opinion of such men as to the fishing conditions, also 
of others competent to judge, is that the stripping of the 
Newfound Lake fish as now carried on should stop. 
Strictly prohibit all fishing in all tributaries of the lake. 
Let the salmon and trout spawn as nature intended. Let 
all fry so produced remain in Newfound. This is the 
verdict of men who surely are competent judges. Their 
views are not goverened by selfish motives. Even under 
present conditions the supply of fish now in the lake will 
to a certain extent last their time. ^ Can Newfound Lake 
stand the modern methods of stripping its fish and supply- 
ing with spawn or fry other waters? The Fish Commis- 
sioners (as I am. told) say yes. Others who are fully as 
well posted say No. C. M. Stark. 
The IVfigrations of Grilse. 
Mr. Dean Sage, of Albany, writes in the London Fish- 
ing Gazette: One of the strangest phenomeiia that has 
come before my notice in this country is the difference in 
the migrations of grilse in different rivers, not only with 
regard to the times of their leaving the salt water, but 
also as to their relative numbers compared with the 
salmon. 
For instance, on the Ristigouche and Metapedias no 
grilse are seen in the rivers until about July i ; the salmon 
begin running from May 20 to June i, and then the num- 
bers of grilse bear but a small proportion to those of sal- 
mon, and I do not think will average 3^ pounds in 
weight. I have never heard of a female grilse being 
taken in these rivers, and have had hundreds of them 
examined during the past twenty-five years for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining the sex. There must be a large pro- 
'Dortion of the fish which are hatched in these rivers that 
remain in the sea during this period of their lives, or 
ascend some other rivers, as there should naturally be a 
large excess in the numbers of grilse over those of salmon, 
while in these rivers and some others in Canada which 
furnish fish of a large average size, the grilse which 
ascend do not compare at all in numbers with the salm.on 
There are some rivers along the Bay of Chaleurs which 
yield smaller salmon, the Nepisiguit and Miramichi, for 
instance, which are later rivers than the Ristigouche. In 
these the grilse come along with the early runs of salmon, 
atia in m.uch greater numbers. On the Nepisiguit, which 
\ fished for two years in July, I found that we took about 
thr**? grilse for one salmon, and I should say that the 
grilse of the Nepisiguit would average heavier than those 
of the Ristigouche. As to their being confined to the 
male sex, I cannot tell from, my own observation, but am. 
informed by two Indians who have fished them a good 
deal that such is the fact, 
So far as I know, on the Canadian rivers which yield 
fish of a large average weight, say about 20 pounds, there 
is but a very light run of grilse, and on such as yield small 
fish, say an average of 8 or 10 pounds, the gxilse are very 
much more plentiful. 
There may be a run of grilse up the large rivers, 
though thev are not always the rivers that give the largest 
fish in the winter, as I am sure, from reliable information, 
that there is a run up the Ristigouche in November or 
December, after the ice has formed, and I believe this 
run furnishes the kelts which go to the sea in late May 
and in early June, as those fish which spawned in October 
must have descended the river long before. At any rate, 
there are three or four problems for solution in all this, 
none of which I had any idea of offering when I sat down. 
I have a vague recollection of reading in that excellent 
book. Bund's "Salmon Problems," something concerning 
the sexual differences in the grilse of Britain, and it may 
be that I am only strengthening your knowledge of a gen- 
eral rule which regulates salmon life on both sides of the 
Atlantic. The "grilse of Britain are, however, much 
larger in average size than those of this country, the 
largest one I have ever seen being 6 pounds. 
New Jersey Coast Fishing/ 
AsBURY Park, N. J., May 12.— One bass only is the 
stor\- of the past week, and this was to the credit of 
Prof. AV. S. Ryder. Other and unusual matters have 
claimed the anglers' attention. Myriads ^of New England 
whiting, or, as they are locally termed, "frost fish," have 
crowded into the surf and are taking the bait in a most 
voracious manner. While these fish are ordinarily quite 
plentiful during the winter months, their presence at this 
sea'^on of the vear is unnrecedented and their size is quite 
beyond the ordinary. Fishing three hours last evening I 
took seventy, rnanv of which would weigh 3 to 4 pounds 
each, The unusual sight brought multitudes to the pier, 
and the fish were no sooner caught than given to ready 
recipients. I think it no exaggeration to say that at least 
a ton of fish was taken on the hook on the one tide. Just 
what has sent them in shore at this period is one of the 
problems which ever present themseJv^s to the devotee of 
surf fishing. Ltonard Htjltt. 
