482 
FOl=lEST AND STREAM. 
[June g, igoeu 
where they purpose a canoe trip, as earlier mentioned in 
these columns. As these gentlemen try the Au Sable on 
ray recommendation, I am much interested to hear what 
sort of time they will have. If they will only stop long 
enough to fish a bit they will not be disappointed, for the 
Au Sable is just right these days. It is a lovely stream 
in every way. 
Messrs. Fred Gardner, -Jim Clark, Leonard Goodwin, 
O. G. Grady, E. R. Letterman, John Wood and Howard 
Parker all leave to-morrow for a few days at Crystal 
Lake, III. It was at this httle water that Mr. Itha H. 
Bellows three weeks ago had such good sport — thirty- 
two bass in one short day of fishing, seven of them smafl- 
mouths. This party should have good luck, and they arc 
all of them skillful bait-casters and know how to make 
good all their opportunities. 
Mr. Oswald Von Lengerke, of Von Lengerkc & An- 
toine, leaves this week for a long stay at Minocqua, where 
lie will try for muscallunge. Mr. Von Lengerke has been 
quite ill recently, and the trip will do him good. 
The Fred Peet party mentioned earlier as having had 
such good sport on the Pere Marquette, Michigan, was 
composed of Messrs. F. N. Peet, A. C. Smith, H. G. 
Hascal, C. H. Chadwick and C. A. Lippincott, of Chicago: 
Messrs. John Waddell, Asa Stuart, D. Berry and Jim 
Baine, of "Grand Rapids. They were out live days, a few 
of them seven days. They had uniformly good luck. Mr. 
Peet himself, as stated, caught one rainbow that weighed 
5 pounds, and the party had a number that weighed 214 
pounds each. The first day Mr. Peet w'as out he caught 
six rainbows and fifteen brook trout, and the others did 
much the same, Mr. Peet's big fish took him down 
streafn a quarter of a mile, but he says it did not fight 
as hard as the 3l4-pound railbow he got over there last 
year. The whole party was delighted with the sport 
found, and everybody wished he could stay longer, for the 
biggest trout were beginning to rise at the time they came 
away. 
Mr. Chas. F, Lambert, one of the sportsmen who make 
life pleasant at the big shoe town of Lynn, Mass., is in 
Chicago this week, com.pleting a traveling trip in the 
West. Mr. Lambert ought to move out here, and if he 
will come we will make life one glad, sweet dream for 
him; as it is for all Chicago folk. 
Must Have Been Real Diamonds. 
Roll Organ, one of the best known all-round sports- 
men of this city, was this week down at a little tOAvn on 
the Fox River, some forty miles away, and he strolled 
down to the river bank to watch some young fishermen 
who were using throw lines and catching an occasional 
sucker or carp. He engaged the youngsters in conversa- 
tion, after his wont, and they all grew to be great friends. 
"Where do j'ou live?" asked one seven-year-old boy, and 
he was answered that the stranger lived in Chicago. 
"Do you know Carter Harrison?" asked the kid, and 
Mr. Organ said he did. "Of course he does,'-' added a 
ten-year-old girl, reprovingly. "How could he live in 
Chicago and not know Carter Harrison? Why, he's the 
Mayor." By and by the boy said; "Well, I don't know 
Carter Harrison, but I seen his picture in the paper." 
This last with some pride. A bit later the same boy. 
seeing a ring on Mr. Organ's hand, asked : "Is that a 
real di'mon'?" "Why! Benny, hush!" .said the girl, re- 
provingly, again. "If he knows Carter Harrison, why, of 
course, it's a real diamond." E. Hough. 
Haetford Building, Chicago, III. 
Keuka Lake Fishing. 
Corning, N. Y., May 21. — I am much interested in re- 
ports of hunting and fishing trips published from time to 
time in Forest and Stream. Through them I have 
learned of places where I have had pleasant outings after 
fish and game. Any of your readers who are fond of 
lake trout fishing would he well paid by a visit to -Lake 
Keuka, N. Y. t have fished in this lake several years, and 
always with e.xceUent .success. I fished there a day and 
three hours last week and caught seventeen trout of the 
aggregate weight of 65 pounds. July 4 and 5, 1899, I 
caught three which together weighed 3r pounds and 2 
ounces, besides several small ones. The largest tipped the 
beam at 13 pounds and 6 ounces four hours after taken 
from the water, and is said to be the largest one taken in 
two years. The second one in size weighed 10 pounds and 
4 ounces. On one occasion three j^ears ago I caught five 
of an average weight of 4 pounds before breakfast. Of 
course, these are exceptionally good catches, but I have 
always met with gratifying success in this water. The 
trout are caught with what is known as the Scth Green 
rig, which is a No. 4 oiled skin with gut leaders, using 
shiners for bait. W. R. 
Penn YiVN, N. Y., May 21.— I am a constant reader of 
Forest and Stream and often see items from nearby 
localities, but scarcely ever anything about the gem lake 
of western New York. Lake Keuka, Few sportsmen, I 
Judge, know what fine sport can be had here, to say 
nothing of the scenery, which i-s the fintst of any of the 
chain of lakes in this part of the State. The trout and 
pike fishing since the opening, especially for the past ten 
days, has been superb. Hundreds have been taken in a 
few days. One party of two took twenty-six in one day 
rfar too many) weighing from to 6y^ pounds, and any 
one who could fish a little bit has been getting all he ought 
to. One market here has handled over 700 pounds of 
trout and pike in the past few days. They were all 
caught with Seth Green rig Avith sawbellies for bait, 
mostly. It is a shame the wav they have taken them for 
market. We have also very fine bass fishing in season — 
as fine as one might reasonably wish. Pickerel and- perch 
can nearly always be taken. E. P. S. 
American FIsheties Society. 
Detroit, Mich. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
American Fisheries Society will hold its annual meeting 
at the Jnited_ States Fish Commission Station, Woods 
Holl, Mass., July 18, 19 and 20, 1900. The society will 
be called to order at 10 o'clock A. M., July 18. 
The opportunities for advancing the objects of the 
society were never better than at the presefit ^ time, and 
the place of meeting pre.sents unusuail facilities for observ- 
ing the practical work of marine fishculture and scientific 
inquiry. 
United States Fish Commissioner Bowers writes: "It 
wiU afford me pleasure to extend such courtesies as are 
possible to the members of the society by placing at their 
disposal for one or two days the steamer Fish Hawk and 
the schooner Grampus, besides the launches and sail 
boats attached to the station." 
The Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries 
cordially invites the society to visit the oyster beds in 
Narragansett Bay and to be the guests of the Commis- 
sion at a Rhode Island clam bake. 
If opportunity is offered without conflicting with the 
reading and discussion of papers, a visit to one of the 
commercial trout hatcheries not far distant from Woods 
Holl will be arranged. 
Many papers have already been promised. To give an 
idea of what may be expected, a partial list of the names 
of those who will present papers is given below: 
John G. Ruge, of Florida, "Sponges." 
J. E. Gunckel, of Ohio, "The Benefit of Fish Exhibits 
at Expositions." 
A. C. Babbitt, of Michigan, "The Michigan Grayling." 
S. W. Downing, of Oregon, "Propagation of the Pa- 
cific Salmon." 
Fred J. Adams, of Michigan. "The Value of Brook 
Trout Planting in Public Waters. 
S. P. Bartlett, Illinois, "The Value of 'the Carp as a 
Food Product of Illinois Waters." 
Jacob Reighard, of Michigan, "The Breeding HaWts of 
Fishes." 
Livingston Stone, of New York, "The Spawning Habits 
of the Sturgeon." 
Some of the above have promised papers conditionally 
upon having time to prepare them, but all are practical 
students of fishculture, the fisheries, biology or science. 
The m^embership fee is now $1 a year. 
John W. Titcomb, Prest., 
St. Johnsbury, Vt 
Seymour Bower, Sec'y, 
Detroit, Mich, 
The Madagascar Queen's Goldfish. 
The mania for introducing ornamental and supposed 
useful species by ignorant people is almost incredible. 
Som.e of the birds which are thought to be valuable by 
our bird protection societies have been, fortunately for 
the colonists, interdicted in Western Austraha. Thus 
they have tabooed the starling and other species. The 
thoughtless acclimatization of birds is still continued, and 
it is said that a thousand rooks have been in the last two 
years liberated in Rhodesia, where in all probability they 
will do greater damage than they even effect in Eng- 
land. But perhaps the most amusing, although by no 
nieans the most injurious, example of ill-considered in- 
jurious acclimatization was related by Mr. Boulenger in 
his lecture om the fresh water fishes of Africa, delivered 
recently at the Zoological Society. He stated that before 
the occupation of Madagascar by the French the Queen 
of that coimtry took a fancj^ to the goldfish so well known 
in this country. This fish is a native of the warmer parts 
of China and Japan, being in its wild state of a black or 
brown color, and it is only the variety that is kept in con- 
finement which is of the well-known golden yellow, or, as 
may be seen sometimes, perfectly white. The golden 
varieties were, after introduction by the Queen, turned 
into several of the rivers of Madagascar, where they have 
bred freely, reverting to their native brown color, and 
have demonstrated the absurdity of ill-considered accli- 
matization by feeding on the spawn of the eatable native 
fishes, several species of which they have almost exter- 
minated. As they Vireed freely in these warm waters their 
removal will, in a1I probability, never be accomplished. 
During the long period of its domestication, varieties of 
the goldfish, many being hideous monstrosities, liave been 
produced. These have been carefully propagated by fan- 
ciers. Thus we have the telescope fish, in which the eyes, 
instead of being confined to the skull, protrude at a con- 
siderable length from the front of the head, hence the 
name; and in this variety the tail has been developed so 
as to be actually as brod as the whole length of the ani- 
mal, producing a monstrosity which in ugliness and use- 
lessness even a prize bulldog could not rival. The gold- 
fish, tlie Cyprinus auratus of zoologists, was introduced 
into England more than 300 years ago, but, fortunately 
for us, it does not breed freely unless turned out in water 
which is prevented from freezing, so that its introduction 
in this country has not been as injurious as in Madagas- 
car. — London Field. 
Weakfish Near New York. 
Prince's Bay, Staten Island, N. Y., June 4. — Editor 
Eorcst and Stream: The first weakfish of the season 
were caught in Prince's Bay Saturda}^ June 2, by Isaac 
Smith. He hooked five or six. but only succeeded in 
landing one. The fish were not so weak but that they 
demoralized Smith's tackle to the extent that it made him 
feel deeply grieved. These yellow-finned tide runners that 
come in here on the "flats" have to be handled on the 
give-and-take plan ; if not they generally take all 
but rod and reel. The same day further up the bay at 
Ward's Point, Wm. Hartman, of Perth Aniboy, caught 
another large weakfish. All fish were caught on flood 
tide with shedder crabs. ** 
Pearls from Fish Scales. 
CoT^STCri. John C. Covert writes from Lyons, France, to 
the State Department: "I have had an interview with 
Mr. Leuret, the manufacturer of artificial pearls from fish 
scales. He will go to the United States and erect works 
there as soon as he hears of a locality where the right 
kind of scales can be had in large quantities. I suggest 
that a suitable place might be found on the St. Lawrence 
River, among the Thousand Islands, Some years ago 
the State or National authorities cast quantities of spawn 
into Lake Ontario, among which was the spawn of some 
salt-water fish. The latter die before maturity, as soon' 
as the . water becomes warm. Every summer many 
thousands of them are cast upon the shores of the river 
and islands. They are called by two names— menhaden 
and alewjves. If these "arere tried and fotsnd suitable. 
works could be built and put in operation in a short time. 
A ^sample sent me will .receive prompt attention. 
"The scales should be small and have a silvery sheen. 
The brighter they are the higher price they will com- 
mand. The scales should be removed while the fish 
are alive if possible. They should be packed with slime, 
very little salt being used (about S grams per pound 
of scales). All organic matter that may cause decay 
should be removed, and the scales left suspended in a 
mosquito netting until the surplus slime oozes off, then 
packed in a zinc can of 10 or 12 pounds capacity. Tin 
oxidizes where zinc will not. Scales will rust tin, but not 
zinc. The opening in the top of the can should not be 
larger than a half dollar. If larger the scales will suffer 
from the heat of the soldering iron. 
"Twenty-five thousand pounds of these scales can be 
used per year. It is anticipated that twice that quantity 
may be used in a few years. The price paid will be 80 
cents to $1.25 per pound, according to quality and the 
amount of shiny matter on the scales. The present sup- 
ply is from a fish called the bleak or blay. Mr. Leuret 
thinks that a child twelve years old can easily remove 
4 or 5 pounds of scales per day." 
New Jersey Coast Fishing. 
AsBURY Park, N. J., May 26.— Manasquan has been 
favored the past week with most welcome visitors. Blue- 
fish have been in the surf in abundance and of large size.. 
While it is not unusual to take them in Barnegat Bay at 
this season of the year, it is quite out of the ordinary 
to take them in the surf with the squid. The fish were 
of large size, from 5 pounds to 9 pounds each, and very 
well conditioned. As many as twenty-five were taken on 
one rod in two hours' fishing. That should satisfy the 
most exacting. Plaice are taking the hook freely at that 
point, and some kingfish also have been taken. Just why 
all manner of fish are always to be had at least three 
weeks earlier at that point than at Shark River Inlet, with 
oiily a difference of eight miles, has never been deter- 
mined. Bass are unusually and unaccountably scarce 
all along the coast. While rumor gives us a few catches 
■ at different points, in no case has a single report been 
verified. One weakfish was taken Wednesday evening 
from our pier, but it appears , it was only a stray, as none 
of his fellows pxit in appearance. The whiting still con- 
tinue quite abundant, and when the surf is quiet, each 
evening many are taken, and ling are to be had for the 
taking in almost countless numbers. We are looking for 
the bluefish to break in at this point any day ; they would 
doubtless have done so only for the pound net obstruc- 
tion, as myriads of menhaden are to be seen when the 
.surf is quiet. 
AsBURY Park, N. J., June 2.— The fourth largest bass 
ever taken along the coast with rod and reel was landed 
at Deal Beach on the 30th ult., weighing 385^ pounds^ 
Our popular caterer, William Rollins, was the lucky man, 
and to say he was. and is, a proud angler is putting it 
mild. It seems a fitting conclusion that it should fall into 
the hands of one who knows so well how to prepare an 
appetizing dish. His striped majesty was duly baked and 
ser\-ed the following evening to a most appreciative crowd 
of the faithful. While bass are not at all plentiful as 
yet, still the most of what are taken are of good size. The 
next largest for the week was Bartine Brown's 12-pounder. 
Kingfish are moAing inshore and are taking the hook 
fairly well, and we look forward to a heavy run during 
the next two weeks, as the pounds are taking them in 
abundance, one pound lifting fourteen barrels this morn- 
ing. The recent blow has apparently sent the bluefish off 
shore, as none have been taken the past few days, but 
with pleasant weather they will soon put in appearance. 
The menhaden pirates have again begun their nefarious 
trade, and that may account for the absence of the blues 
to some degree. Lf.onaru Hui.tt. 
Suckers and Trout Spawn. 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., May 24.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Some two or three years ago I wrote an article 
which was published in Fore.st and Stream in regard to 
.suckers as trout destroyers, and the impressions I then 
had have been confirmed by later observations. 
That provision of the fish law which has prohibited the 
taking of suckers in streams inhabited bj- trout is proving 
to be an injury rather than a benefit to our trout streams, 
and the fact may as well be acknowledged and some 
effort made to check the evil. 
Where suckers abound in a trout stream the3' are very 
destructive of the trout spawn. Wc made a practical 
test in regard to this on the Rondout, and found that 
where suckers had access to the spawn beds the eggs were 
almost entirely destroyed. 
The remedy which I liave proposed is to permit the ■ 
catching of suckers in our trout streams under such* re- 
strictions that the trout cannot be taken, and .this might 
he done, especially during the spawning season of the 
suckers, under the supervision of a game director, or per- 
sons or clubs owning trout waters might be permitted to 
take out the suckers with nets upon giving a bond to the 
effect that if any trout are taken they shall be returned 
alive. J. S. Van Cleef. 
De Tour as a Fishing Center. 
The Sault Ste. Marie News says of De Tour, Mich., 
M'hich is on the St. Mary's River, near the head of Lake 
Huron: 
"The waters around these islands abound in gamy fish, 
such as black bass, maskinonge and pike, making it doubly 
pleasant for lovers of this much sought for sport. Boats 
and guides are always in attendance and can be had at 
reasonable rates. Belated couples have no difficulty in 
returning should darkness overtake them. They have not 
only the moon for their guidance, but also three light- 
houses, which throw their beacon light far out into the 
darkness. The illumination of the electric lights can also 
be seen at a great distance. In the surrounding country 
on the west, vast tracts of forest can be seen almost in 
their primeval state. The^' are inhabited by bruin, _the 
wily deer and smaller game too numerous^ to mention. 
Rivers and rivulets running in various directions, abound- 
ing with brook trout, greet the eyes of the a:d venturous 
