430 
in the diflferent boats closely watched. There have been 
already this season, oddly enough, one or two fines im- 
posed for having undersized hsh m possession, the victnns 
being men who do not intentionally retain anything less 
than 8 inches in length. In such cases the deputy warden 
is at once judge, jury and lord high executioner, the party 
assessed finding it much cheaper and more economical 
of valuable time to pay up rather than to be haled fifteen 
or twenty miles to the nearest justice. It seems al- 
together probable that these instances occur merely 
through carelessness in handling so many fish, and it is 
barely possible that sometimes they may be the result of 
spite work. It would not be a very difficult matter to 
"salt" the well of a fisherman against whom one had a 
grudge with an undersized trout when nobody was look- 
ing. Last season, it is said, a fisherman who had left the 
lower stream and returned to Grayling was fined for hav- 
ing in his well a trout so small that its presence there 
could only be accoun ed for on the assumption that it had 
come in through one of the inch holes bored in the sides 
and bottom of the well. But this case is not cited with the 
intention of casting any reflections on the enforcement of 
the law. 
How long will the Sable River endurfe these enormous 
"drafts of fishes" that are made upon it with steadily in- 
creasing frequency every day of the open season and each 
recurring year? Certainly not for many years. It is the 
concurrent testimony of those who have been famiHar 
with this river that the average size and weight of this 
season's catch is smaller than that of last j^ear, just as that 
of last year wa'^ less than that of its predecessor. A record 
kept by Judge Kenyon of a single day's fishing shows that 
at its close he had retained thirty-two trout over 8 and 
under 10% inches in length, while in the same time he had 
restored to the water seventy-six fish over 6 and under 
8 inches. But all these fish, it will be noticed, were of the 
legal length. The State of Michigan has been lavish in 
stocking the waters of the Sable, which a few years ago 
did not contain a single trout, with the fontinalis and the 
rainbow ; but even its present wondrous wealth cannot long 
withstand the depleting process that is now in operation. 
Only a comparatively few years ago the writer and others 
fished the Sable when it swarmed with grayling, and 
sixty or seven y of tho=e gorgeoits birds of the water was 
not considered a remarkable catch, even after all under 10 
inches had been restored to their native element. Where 
are they now? Out of all the fish taken this season in the 
Sable, so far as heard from, not a single grayling has been 
reported. Last May the sheltered places of the main 
stream and the little spring branches runnmg into it were 
darkened with millions of brook trout fry which had been 
hatched from the natural spawning beds. This year the 
stocks had suffered a marked diminution, in all probabil'.ty 
owing to the fact that there were fewer spawners on the 
beds last fall. It should require no further demonstration 
to convince the people of Michigan that even under a 
compliance with tlie laws, the supply of trout in such 
rivers as the Sable is being cut oflt at both ends. 
Quite naturally, I queried the Judge as to his ideas of 
protecting and preserving the trout supply of the Sable, 
and I gave his suggestions as those not merely of an 
experienced fisherman, but of one who has made a care- 
ful study of the habits of the trout. And these sugges- 
tions are: 
First, to raise the limit of fish that may be legally taken 
to 8 inches. Nearly every 6-inch fontinalis of this spring 
would be a spawner of 8 Or 9 inches next fall, if allowed 
to remain in the water. This would greatly lessen, if it 
would not entire do away with, the necessity of further 
artificial restocking of the river. The Sable has the great- 
est possible advantages for the natural propagation of 
trout, in its extensive gravel beds, and in the fact that its 
Waters run clear during the incubating season. If the 
limit were raided from 6 to 8 inches, the number of breed- 
ing fish would be largely increased, and the river would 
withstand heavy fishing for many years to come. 
Second, impose a lax of from $1 to $5 per rod for the 
season, and employ the funds so obtained for any needed 
restocking and the better protection of the river. As it 
now stands, the Sable is a valuable source of revenue to 
the railroads and the guides upon its waters, while the 
State itself receives nothing. This recommendation is 
not made on the ground that a large number of those who 
enjoy the fine fishing which the river now affords come 
from outside the State : but because those who receive the 
benefit oueht to contribute to its protection.* 
Third, to prohibit, in the taking of fish, the use of any 
but artificial bait or lure. On many of the best private 
waters tliis regulation is enforced to advantage. Many 
of the parties who come on the Sable and talk learnedly 
of flies are abundantly supplied with worms, and use them 
whenever opportunity offers. But while natural bait will 
occasionally secure a larger fish, the average of such 
catches is'usua'ly no better than, if as good as, those 
taken wi^h the flv. Of course, the Judge concedes that 
while such , a regulation might be , desirable, from an 
angler's point of view, the probabilities are very strongly 
aeainst its adoption. , 
Very few of the fi'^h taken on the Sable in May are 
rambows. These fish, being spring spawners, are soft 
and unfit for food in May. and not much better in June. 
Of conr-^e this statement is not intended to apply to under- 
sized fi=h. In July and later the rainbows are frequently 
found in raid-stream, where they afford excellent snort 
with the fly. The record rainbow of the Sable was taken 
last spring, at-^d is ^aid to hav<= weitrhed 8J/2 potmds. Of 
ho"' it was taken, the less said the better. 
These notes are submitted along the line of the educa- 
tional movpi^nent that is going on _weeklv through the 
Cn1">r.ris of FoT^FST AND STREAM, and it is to be honed may 
aid in bringine nbout =nmp t^pasurei looking to the better 
protection 'of this grand fishing river 
Jay Beebe. 
ToTEno, O . May 23. — iri n H 
*TTi-.rlpr the Mirhi<''"i rnnstHii<-''^-n tlie LpgisTfiftjre has the power 
to enart I'^'^fil ^3"-' -'^--'■^ng the fishing or hunting interests of any 
one portion of the State. ■ ^ - 
Game Laws in Brief. 
The new number of the Game Laws in Brief rtftd Woodcraft 
Magazine contains an attractive list of contents apd several hours 
pf good reading, §pe ^dvertiaement elsewhere, 
Maine Fishing. 
Boston, May 24. — It seems that the court has decided to 
admit a ncAV trial in the case of Elmer bnowman, of 
Rangeley, Me., convicted last year of guiding without a 
license. It is said that the excitement among the other 
guides is renewed. One of them told me tfie otner day 
that all the guides of that section regard the law as a 
mistake, and that the Guides' Association there is con- 
stantly receiving letters expressing the same opinion, as 
u-ell as the hope that Snowman will yet come off vic- 
torious. A reliable correspondent of the Boston Herald 
says that "having talked with a good many of the guides 
in that section, he finds a general feeling of hostility to the 
guidie license law, notwithstanding the Rangeley guides 
have a great deal of interest in the preservation and 
propagation of fish and game, as witness the hatchery 
maintained by them, without a cent of aid from the 
State, from which more than 200,000 young trout are 
annually turned into those waters. Old and experienced 
guides object to the ease wnth which mere boys, who can 
hardly row a boat, can obtain licenses for guiding, and 
are thenceforth, in the eyes of the law, the equals of the 
older men who know every yard of water and every deer 
path in the woods. No man is ever refused a license who 
furnishes the requisite dollar to pay for it. The guide; say 
that they might not feel quite as badly to pay the State a 
dollar a year, if that dollar went toward the propagation 
and protection of fish and game. But they understand 
that the license bureau, with office and clerks, has cost the 
State more than the full amotmt of the license fees. The 
guides seem determined to maintain the fight for what 
they consider to be their right ; to labor in their chosen 
avocation, without being molested by special laws. They 
have retained one of the leading lawyers of the State as 
counsel for Snowman, and if the second trial in the 
Superior Court shall sustain tlie case agaitist hini. they 
will appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. 
"The refusal of the Commissioner.s to give Snowman a 
license, now that they think they have beaten him, and 
since he has regularly applied for the same, is pointed out 
as showing the personal feeling of that body against a 
guide who is a gentleman and an honest, ttpright citizen 
in every way, his only offending being in the defense of 
what he believes to be a personal right. The guides 
believe that the Commissioners arc frequently moved by 
pique rather than by reason and good judgment. This, of 
course, is not true of a Commission made up of gentlemen 
of such standing as those referred to, but to the guides 
their own opinion seems real, and the Commissioners do 
not try to change it by forgiving Snowman and granting 
him a license. The guides mention numerous attempts 
of the Fish and Game Commission to prevent free dis- 
cussion of the guide laws by threatening to withdraw 
licenses from offending parties." 
The Massachusetts Legislature has passed the somewhat 
celebrated bill prohibiting the sale of partridge and quail 
at all seasons, and shortening the open season for killing 
the same birds. The bill passed the tlouse last Satur- 
day and was not opposed seriously by the friends of the 
marketmen. It was on the calendar in the Senate yes- 
terday. Senator Leach, of Bi'istol, opposed the bill. If 
the game birds in question were allowed to be killed, then 
the owner should be allowed to sell what was his own. 
He spoke in the interest of the farmer and his boy, who 
turned many an honest penny by selling game in tlie legal 
open season. The bill was ably defended, however, and 
was ordered to a third reading by a vote of 14 to 11. This 
is equivalent to a passage, and the measure will un- 
doubtedly be signed by the Governor. This is the first 
bill ever passed in Massachusetts prohibiting the sale of 
any game at all seasons, and is regarded in the light of a 
victory by the best friends of fish and game. 
In fishing and fishing resorts the interest is unabated. 
Indeed, it seems to be on the increase. Railway ticket 
ofiicials tell me that they have sold more tickets for 
Maine fishing resorts this week than last, and last week 
was one of "the largest in the history of that business. 
Large parties are quite the order of the day from this 
city. A party of seven or eight, including John E. Toul- 
miii, George W. Brown, W. J. Leckie, W. J. Follett, J. L. 
Richards and William Flanders, leave to-night for the 
upper waters of the Penobscot. Their camps are near the 
Sourdnehunk Stream. I am not sure about the spelling 
of the name, but the party, some of them, have had great 
fishing there in previous seasons, and expect it this year, 
though fearing the ic-e and snow water, which is still 
rampant in the waters of northern Maine. Another party 
of about a dozen was off for the Rangeley waters this 
morning. Fishing in the Rangeleys is "spurty"— that 
is, good now and then, but poor most of the time, F. H. 
Stevens, of Campe Vine Vale, Narrows, Richardson Lake, 
came out Wednesdav, with Mrs. Stevens and Mr. and 
Mrs. E. J. Shattuck. Fishing was very poor. The brooks 
were still pouring snow water into the lake when they left. 
Mr. Stevens caught but five fish in a stay of about two 
weeks. Mr. C. P. Stevens, with Mrs. Stevens and Mr. 
and Mrs. Bedding, still remain in camp. They reason- 
ably expect better fishing when the snow water is done 
running. G. F. Richardson and E, H. Tilton, of Newton 
Centre, with their wives, spent a few days at Newfound 
Lake, N. H. Thev caught but three fish, though they had 
"qauntities of strikes." The gentlemen are a part of a 
party going to Nova Scotia the first of June, with J. B. 
Baxter, of Dame, Stoddard & Co. Mr. Henry Chatman 
is planning an extended fishing trip to Ashland. Aroostook 
connty. Me., and thence to Portage Lake and the lakes 
above. The waters of that part of Maine are yet un- 
frequented bv the crowd of fishermen that throngs the 
Rangeleys, Moosehead and other waters. . 
Boston. May 25.— The H. A. Phinny party were off 
for Upper Dam Fridav morning. In the party were 
Messrs. W. J. Fallon, Tames Gormley. Harry H. Bald- 
win Charles W. Allen. Theodore Allen, Arthur A. Law- 
son.' G. S. Cushmaii, W. P. Yerfington. W. O'Hara and 
A: H. Phmny. mostly Boston merchants. If they have 
the usual Phinnv .party success, several 5, 6. 7 and 8 pound 
trout will he taken. The Moodv party went into Gamp 
Stewart. Richardson Lake, Fridav for a week. In the 
nartv are Prof. J. F. Moodv. Miss Maidie Mo^dv. Mr. and 
Airs' Dav. of Atthurn, Me.": Dr. Jenkins, of Philadelphia; 
Mis^ Katie Sheehap, and Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Moody, 
of Boston, 
Fishermen who cannot get time for long trips have to be 
satisfied with local hshing. N. B. Jjann, who sells 
sportsman tickets for Maine and New Hampshire resorts, 
and R. D. Jones, of the same office, with W. H. Price, of 
the Intercolonial line, spent Thursday on a pond in Wil- 
mington, Mass. They caught all the perch they cared 
for "cavies" by the bushel. Special. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Dukand, of Newark, N. J., 
left home on May 24 for a fishing trip in the Maine woods. 
They expect to remain about a month. It is expected that 
they will bring home some good scqres, as Mr. Durand 
has taken some very large fish in Maine. 
Massachusetts in A. D. 1900. 
Dtvcrging Paths. 
Well, it is just this way. You know, Massachusetts 
has the only "blarney stone" in America. It got its 
reputation some centuries back by the landing there- 
about, thereat or thereupon of a most wonderful people, 
who brought with them all the virtues of all the ages, 
and also rare and valuable curios and heirlooms from 
England and the factory villages of Holland, where they 
worked in the woolen mills — sufficient at this distant day 
to make several ship loads. 
But this story is a different tale. What I w^ant to say is 
that Massachusetts has been peopled nigh on to 300 years 
and has now a population of over 2,000,000 upon her 
7,800 square miles of territory. Men of hasty judgment 
might therefore conclude, in view of this long period of 
settlement, limited area and dense population, that the 
sportsman could find but little enjoyment with bird dog, 
gun and rod, but little to tempt his effort or reward his 
skill — but here again syllogistic reasoning would be at 
fault and such conclusions far from the truth. 
It is true that large game is no longer found within 
her boundaries, nor is the lordly salmon taken in the 
waters of the State; but the smaller varieties of game — 
fur, fin and feather — still abound in large variety and 
generous in quantity throughout the State. 
i\Iore fox pelts are taken annually than any but the 
initiated would believe. Coons' furnish keenest zest for 
another large contingent. Hares, rabbits and gray squir- 
rels allure many. Others pursue the mink, muskrat and 
sable, and occasionally an otter gives up his valuable 
coat fur to a more fortunate hunter, who becomes an 
envied one in the guild of sportsmen. 
For ruffed grouse, the king of game birds, no State in 
the Union furnishes better coverts, and as for food, no 
succession of varied mast or more generous in quantity 
exists elsewhere. 
Birch, apple, poplar and other buds for midwinter food, 
partridge berries, buch berries, blueberries, huckleber- 
ries, blackberries, wild grapes, apples, thorn apples, 
chestnuts, acorns and other food in abundance through- 
out the year. Water there is also in the numerous rivers, 
brooks, ]3onds and reservoirs, and dense growths of scrub 
oak, chestnut, pine and other deciduous and coniferous 
trees and-shrubs for isolation and protection, furnish an 
ideal environment, in which thej- rapidly propagate and 
multiply, and whete. despite the great slaughter wrought 
by the pot-hunter and the snares of the grangers' sons, 
they are yet found iji large numbers. 
Then there are the upland plover, woodcock, quail, 
snipe and all the tribe of marsh and shore birds, besides 
tlic migrating sea fowl, to lend variety and charm and to 
well reward an outing with dog and gun. 
But I set out to tell of a day with rod and creel, but 
a short time ago. which, with a couple of friends, I spent 
beside a babbling trout brook not far distant from the 
heart of the Commonwealth in the goold Old Bay State, 
and here I am again straying off in another diverging 
path. 
Well, these varied paths are alluring, but time will not 
permit us to journey further in them now, so let us get 
back upon the trail which leads to the _ active little 
brook whither I must take you, and let the joyous music 
of its liquid melody regale your ear, as it hurries along in , 
its winding course in the meadow. 
The snow banks of March had disappeared, and they 
look their chilling winds with them. The breath of 
spring is in the land. There is a hollow resonance in 
the air and scudding clouds, driven by a gentle south 
wind, suggest refreshing showers. 
The catkins upon the willows have burst from their 
restraining bonds, and their aments clothe the slender 
branches with a wealth of pleasing green. The maples 
make sharp contrast and glory in a dress of fiery red. 
Robins hop about in a social way and make love in the 
pastures. The red-wing blackbird flits about in the white 
birches, now laden with a wealth of plumules and waving 
plumes. Purple grackles sing their raucous songs in the 
towering elms, and lazy crows preen their plumage on 
the distant pine. The early flowers of spring carpet the 
earth beneath our feet, but in our haste we heed them 
not. 
The convalescent member of the party is directed to a 
spot midway in the length of the brook, where the rapids 
terminate in a deep whirlpool, and where former eft'orts 
have been rewarded with many trout of more than 
average size. 
He is told to make his best, effort and cantent himsel? 
thereat while the other members of the part>' essay their 
skill on the balance of the brook, and that they would 
return to him at noon time for lunch, it then being 9 
o'clock. The brook was indu.striously whipped, and not 
without success, until the nooning hour. A goodly show- 
ing of the superlatively beautiful trout were displayed 
upon the grass when all gathered at the pool, to which 
our convalescent friend contributed a generous number 
as his reward for three hours' patient fishing. 
Being somewhat tired after my tramp and effort, I sat 
down upon the opposite bank, and more to while away 
the time and to appear social than with any expectation 
of capturing a prize, I cast into the pool, and soon 
landed a trout which measured 14 inches an'd weighed 
T pound 2 ounces. After eating our lunch and spending 
a half hour in recounting the pleasures and adventures 
of the dav. I again ess.ayed the pool, and to my surprise 
and delight soon landed my record -trout for the broofcR- 
oi Massachusetts, He measured inphes \xx length an<| 
