332 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[OCT. 27, 1900, 
An Enemy of Trout. 
Boston, Mass.— Editor Forest and Stream: Among 
the interesting incidents of our lishcultural work this year 
is the supposed discovery of a new enemy to trout fry. 
This is a fresh-water form (Gammartis fasciatus) resem- 
bling in general appearance and size that common species 
of marine crustacean found along our sea beaches, and 
usually known as "sea flea" or "sand flea." 
Last spring some trout fry were put into the waters 
controlled by the Water Commissioners of Newburyporl, 
Mass. Not long thereafter the secretary of the Water 
Board, Mr. Harry S. Noyes, informed me that the 
fry had been attacked by a small animal, which destroyed 
a considerable number of the young fish. 
T immediately wrote for specimens, which were prompt- 
ly obtained. These were identified as Gammarus fasciatus 
by the scientists of the U. S. Fish Commission, who, how- 
ever, were of the opinion that probably a mistake in 
observation had been made, since it was not thought C 
THE (;ammarus. 
S7 
fasciatus would attack living fish, though it was deemed 
quiti^ probable it would promptly devour fish wbfich had 
died from any cause. 
In order, therefore, to obtain fuller information on this 
interesting subject, I wrote to Mr. Noyes for details. 
In his reply he makes the following statements : 
"The only information I can give you in regard to the 
Gammarus comes from the engineer at the works, who 
spent some time watching the trout. He reported that if 
the fish remained motionless in the water the insects would 
attack them ; the trout in most cases were able to dis- 
lodge them by rapid swimming, but not always. I think 
he sav»? them have three dead ones one day. 
"At the present time the trout are doing fintely, some 
being over 3 inches long, and they seem to be eating the 
Gammarus, as they are not near as numerouis as they 
were." 
If the observations of fishculturists in other States, or 
future studies determine beyond question that irout fry 
are liable to be destro5red by G. fasciatus, and likewise 
that the latter is eagerly eaten by fingerling fish, then the 
advocates of artificially rearing trout to the size of finger- 
lings, before depositing them in brooks or ponsd to 
look out for themselves, will have additional reason for 
their belief. J. W. Collins. 
Bullheads. 
It may be of interest to your readers and at the same 
time chance to serve for the more careful protection of 
our angling waters to describe in your columns a couple 
of fish hogs whom I came face to face with while angling 
for bass at Prior Lake, Minn., last fall. 
One evening just as the sun was setting I left Mc- 
Kennett's place at the foot of the lake and started for a 
favorite fishing spot some half-mile distant, and, reach- 
ing it after a pleasant paddle, landed my canoe and 
started casting off shore. At twilight, when winding in 
my line preparatory to gathering a oouple of bass I'd 
staked out close by me and starting on my homeward 
journey, the sounds of footsteps attracted my attention, 
and gazing behind, I spied two men, lugging a large sack, 
approaching me. Not being in a hurry, I thought I'd 
wait for them to come up, as the sack had aroused my 
suspicion and set me to wondering what was in it. When 
they came up I inquired, "What have you in the sack, 
partners? Made a big haul of something, I surmise." 
"Bullheads!" they answered. "Reckon you think we've 
got our share of 'em, eh?" And sure enough the large 
vSack contained an immense number of the fish mentioned, 
seemingljr thousands of them. 
"What are you going to do with them?" I queried, 
after satisfying myself the}^ were bullheads. 
"Take 'em back to the house and feed 'em to the hogs," 
they replied. Seeing my native State fish slaughtered 
in the manner mentioned was too much for me to bear 
to keep quiet, and I couldn't refrain from lecturing them 
severely. My talk, I guess, put the idea into their heads 
that I was a game warden, and after some hot words had 
been exchanged among us, they picked up their sack and 
walked briskly away. 
I hurriedly gathered the two bass, which I didn't want 
darkness to prevent my finding, then started in pur.'^uit 
of the fish hogs, but when I came to look for them they 
M'ere no longer following the lake edge. They had dis- 
appeared in the woods and were gone. Where they 
came from or where they went to I was never able to 
learn afterward, but I knew they had made their haul 
from the water I was fishing, and it Avas my opinion 
they had made similar ones numerous times before. It 
seems a pity some check can't be put on such fellows. 
What will become of our fishes if they continue to be 
slaughtered in numbers like the one described? 
It may be possible that a few persons, and probably 
a great number might say: "Well, what if those nasty, 
slimy bullheads were run out of existence? They're not 
good to eat or for anything else, save to prick one's 
hands severely, that I can see." But ask the old angler 
who has caught and saten most every kind of fish what he 
thinks of the bullhead as a table fish, and the greater odds 
are that he'll say: "Doubt if I ever tasted a better 
fish. I've eaten all kinds, and bullheads, when properly 
cooked, seem as good as the next to me." Although the 
bullhead is rarely, if ever, fished for by the experienced 
angler, it is surprising what an exciting battle a fair sized 
fish of the bullhead family can afford. Some five years 
sijice, while fishing a little Western lake — Prairie Lake, 
Minn. — I saw a whopper bullhead landed, and the fight it 
put up did rne much good to see. 
One morning when about to push my boat off shore for 
a long- row to an island in the distance, an old farmer 
came up and begged me take him to a particular portion 
of the w ater, and wishing to grant his desire, . I 
gladly ushered him in for the ride. He had a tree branch 
for a. rod, to which was attached a stout cord, on the 
water end of which was a curved nail for a hook, and 
with that arrangement he was going off "Fer a mess fer 
breakfast," he told me. When nearing the farmer's 
"favored spot a large fish splattered noisily by the boat's 
■side, then my friend said, anxiously, "Slow up, partner, 
and, ril try ter fetch 'im." A moment after he had 
lowfercd a large hunk of meat over the boat side his rod 
was carried several inches tmder water and the wrestle 
that then followed was very excitable and laughable in- 
ifleed. After a long struggle the captive was flopped into 
the boat between us, and such a large and mean looking 
bullhead neither the farmer nor I had before seen. The 
farmer thought, according to his judgment, that it was a 
5-pounder, but I knew it -vyould lack well 2 pounds, and 
probably more from the figure he stated to me. When 
we reached the shore a few moments later and I held the 
Ijig fish up to attach to its death string, I couldn't help 
Ibut regret the fact that it hadn't started its fight against 
my slender rod and afforded my reel some music instead 
of yielding its last attempt at struggling to the old far- 
mer's seeming crowbar and clothes line. 
Shee-roo-kee. 
St. Lawrence Fishing. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The majestic St. Lawrence River and its enchanting 
Thousand Islands are becoming more popular as a sum- 
mer resort year by year and ever gaining a warmer place 
in the hearts of the American people as time rolls on. The 
grand old river which links the great fresh water seas on 
the northern border of our nation with the greater At- 
lantic, and along whose course runs the boundary line 
between two powerful countries, is in itself one of the most 
beautiful streams on the globe. For many miles after 
leaving Lake Ontario it moves with scarcely perceptible 
current, and it is not until the Thousand Islands have 
been left far behind and the city of Prescott has been 
passed that the hitherto sedate river exhibits a new 
phase of character and becomes boi,sterously active in the 
famous rapids known as the Gallops, Long Sault, Coteau, 
Cedar, Cascade and Lachine. Calmly and peacefully it 
flows on undisturbed for the most part, even by the violent 
.storms which sometimes visit the lake region. Safe in 
the inexhaustible reservoirs which nature has so gener- 
ously provided to supply it, the St. Lawrence pursues the 
even tenor of its way with unchanged volume in drought 
:imd deluge alike, unmindful of and unaffected by the 
•causes which ordinarily occasion a diminution or in- 
■crease of flow in other less dignified streams. The river 
varies in width from one mile or less in some places to 
ten miles in others, and in depth from a few inches on the . 
shoals, marshes and sand beaches to over a 00 feet in 
■certain localities. Its waters are of such crystalline purity 
that the river bottom can be discerned in all places save 
where the depth is exceptionally great, and they are 
•characterized by a soft azure tint sometimes merging into 
a delicate green, which lends a wonderful charm and 
beauty to the river. It is at the Thousand Island, how- 
ever, where the most abundant and .striking evidences are 
found of the great and increasing popularity of the river 
as a summer resort. The manner in which the island 
region has been developed during the past few years by 
people in quest of health, rest and recreation is little 
short of marvelous. A quarter of a century ago or even 
less the Thousand Islands were comparatively unknown, 
excepting as an excellent locality for fishing, and land 
could be had there at a nominal figure. Since then, how- 
ever, and especially within the past decade, palatial sum- ' 
mer hotels have sprung up on the islands and both the 
American and Canadian shores, magnificent summer resi- 
dences, many of which cost fabulous sums, have been 
erected on the islands, and everywhere smaller and less 
pretentious, but nevertheless comfortable and cozy, cot- 
tages have been built in .such numbers in several places 
as to create veritable villages. Naturally there has been 
a corresponding increase in real estate values, and this 
is fairly illustrated by the fact the Governor's Lsland, near 
Clayton, which was once bought for $170, was sold a few 
years ago for $5,000, and it is not long since an offer 
of $10,000 was refused for an i.sland near Alexandria 
Bay which had been bought for $100. The number of 
summer visitors at the islands is annually on the in- 
crease, and the past sea,son was the best ever known. 
The Thousand Islands, so-called, althsugh there are 
more than 1,500 of them, planted in the broad expanse of 
the St. Lawrence, form one of the most beautiful archi- 
pelagoes in the world. The islands proper begin &t Cape 
Vincent and extend to Morristown and Brockville, about 
thrity-eight miles below, and vary in size from a small 
pile of rocks covered by a few small trees to others of 
large proportions, one of them Wellsley Island, containing 
nearly 10,000 acres of arable land. The scenery on and 
among the islands is picturesque and charming, the air 
is pure, clear and invigorating, and the facilities for boat- 
ing are unsurpassed. Joseph Octave Cremizie, the Cana- 
dian poet, in writing of the islands, said : 
"When Eve plucked death from the Tree of Life and 
brought tears and sorrow upon earth, Adam was driven 
out into the world to mourn with her, and taste from 
the bitter spring that we drink to-day. Then angels on 
their wings bore the silent Eden to the eternal spheres on 
high, and placed it in the heavens, but in passing through 
space they dropped along the way to mark their course 
some flowers from the Divine Garden. These flowers, of 
changing hues, falling into the great river, became the 
Thousand Isles^ — the paradise of the St. Lawrence. The 
Thousand Isles — magnificent necklace of diamond and 
sapphire that those of the ancient wOrld Avould have pre- 
ferred to the bright gold of Ophir ! Sublime and beauti- 
ful crown that rests upon the ample brow of the St. 
Lawrence, on her throne of the vast lakes that display the 
tinted rainbow, and return the echoes of thundering 
Niagara! The Thousand Isles — charming wonder- 
oases on the sleeping waves — that which might be thought 
a flower basket borne by a lover's hand! In thy pic- 
turesque retreats I find naught but peace and happiness, 
and spend the tranquil days in singing the lays of a heart 
content ! Not proud Andalusia— nor the banks of Cadiz, 
nor the kingdom of the Moors sparkling-like rubies, 
nor the poetic scenes of Florence and Milan, nor Rome 
with its ancient splendors, nor Naples with its volcano, 
nor that charmed sea where Stamboul lifts its towers, 
nor the Vales of Sorrow where the fierce Giaours dwell, 
nor India in its native wealth, where Para-Brahma 
shines, nor the seas of verdure that Kalidsa celebrate, nor 
all the treasures of Memphis, nor the rapids of the Nile, 
where we seek and admire Osiris — shall ever thy echoes 
repeat from the notes of this lyre which is tuned amid 
these charming scenes." 
Taking into consideration the entrancing beauty of the 
region with the many natural advantages it possesses and 
the fact that practically all the comforts and luxuries of 
modern civilization are obtainable there, it is not strange 
that it has become one of the most popular summer re- 
sorts on the American continent. This portion of the 
river also has many places of historic interest, and in- 
numerable legends and tales of romantic adventure are 
associated with its i^ilands, bays and channels. In addi- 
tion to all its other attractions is an ihiportant feature 
which must not be overlooked, and that is the fishing. 
The river contains the muskallonge {Esox nobilor), the 
pike proper or St. Lawrence pickerel {Esox Indus), the 
black bass (Micropterus dolomiei) and several other 
varieties of less gamy fresh-water fish, including the wall- 
eyed pike, perch, rock bass, catfish, etc. 
The Thousand Island region was a favorite resort for 
. anglers long before it was ever thought of as a popular 
summer resort in the present acceptation of the term. In 
those early days the river teemed with game fish, and 
the labors of the angler were abundantly rewarded.- Then 
came a period, however, when the greed for money 
proved disastrous to the finny tribe, and net fishermen 
held unmolested sway over the waters, shipping their 
great catches to market, until at last there were few fish 
left for those who angled with rod and line. This state 
of affairs existed until 1883, when the organization known 
as the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River 
■was formed, its aim being the preservation, protection 
and perpetuation of game fishing in the river. Through 
the energy and activity of the members and their agents, 
net fishing was stopped within a few years, and since 
then the fishing has been constantly improving. The 
Anglers' Association is now one of the most powerful 
organizations of its kind in the State, having in its ranks 
all of the wealthy men from different parts of the country 
who annually visit the islands, as well as many of the 
most prominent citizens of the river towns. The im- 
portance of the work which has been accomplished by the 
Anglers' Association, and which it is still doing in the 
interests of the Thousand Island region, cannot be over- 
estimated. 
Some very large muskallonge are caught in the St. 
Lawrence River, specimens weighing 40 pounds or per- 
haps a little more being taken occasionally, while not a 
season passes without a number weighing from 20 to 30 
pounds being captured. It is a pretty good muskallonge, 
however, that tips the .scales at 15 pounds, and from that 
point to 20 pounds, and such prizes are quite often 
brought in. The average weight of the St. Lawrence 
River pickerel or pike proper is somewhere from 3 to 8 
pounds, and anything above the latter figure may be con- 
sidered a good catch. The.se fish are quite often captured, 
however, weighing as much as 15 pounds, and now and 
then one is taken which weighs a few pounds more than 
that. The black bass which are brought in average from 
I to 2 pounds in weight, and one that weighs 3 pounds is 
conceded to be a fine specimen. Sometimes, however, 
they are caught weighing as much as 4 pounds or even 
a little more than that, and the.sc are the fellows that 
the anglers like to talk about. 
Taken as a whole, the past season has been a remark- 
ably good one for fishing on the St. Lawrence. June was 
a very fair month, and some nice fish were taken, but 
July was very windy, and the fishing was not so good. In 
August and September, however, the weather was beauti- 
ful and the fishing superb. It has also averaged pretty 
well during the present month. One experienced angler 
says that in the fifteen summers he has spent on the 
river he never before saw such splendid bass fishing as 
there has been this year. A record of the best catches 
made on the St. Lawrence during the past season makes 
this showing: 
On June 29, J. S. Cox, John Muller and R. C, Fisher, 
who were stopping in Clayton, captured 75 pounds of 
black bass in three hours' fi.shing, The fish ranged in 
weight from to 4 pounds. 
On July 6; B. French, E. Lowe and John Lavoncher, of 
Alexandria Bay, caught forty-eight bass in the Lake of 
the Isles, which ranged from iJ-< to 4 pounds. 
S. R, Shear. Superintendent of Schools of White Plains, 
with Albert Marshall as guide or oarsman, had good 
success, catching pickerel on July 13. Their catch in- 
cluded one weighing 12 pounds, one weighing 8 and three 
which tipped the scales at 6 pounds each. 
Artist Russell, who went out from Clayton fishing on 
July g, caught a 3>4-pound black bass. On or about the 
same date Wm. Eastern and Harry Hanson, of New York 
citj-, with Louis Minnoe as guide, landed a t3}4-pound 
pickerel and several smaller ones. 
Mrs. Nora Bender, of Utica, and Mrs. H. J. Kilbourn, 
of Grinnell Island, on July 13 captured seventy-two bass 
and perch, the largest bass weighing 3^4 pounds. 
At Fisher's Landing on July 27 a muskallonge weighing 
21 pounds was caught by Melzer Prime. 
On Aug. 3 the Smith party, stopping at Clayton, with 
Geo. Lalonde, Sr.. as oarsman, caught the limit of twenty- 
four black bass for the sixth consectftive day's fishing. 
About this time Mrs. Smith caught a 7J^-pound muskal- 
longe with a light rod and single hook. 
Fred Dickinson captured a muskallonge weighing 18 
pounds at Fisher's Landing on Aug. 4. 
On Aug. 8 Artist C. W. Russell, of Clayton it is said, 
captured twenty-seven strawberry or calico bass, the 
smallest weighing over a pound. The catch was made in 
the upper bay. But few of this species of fish have been 
seen in these waters for several years. 
In Simcoe Bay early in August a party consisting of 
Messrs. King. Alexander, Coin and Vandergrief, with 
their guides, Riley Allen, Stephen Leyare and Chas. Gard- 
ner, in two or three days' fishing took 240 pounds of 
black bass, some weighing as high as 4 pounds. The 
p,1.rty went out. fnim Clayton in a yachi 
