Matich 30, igoi.J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
249 
Massachusetts Game "^and Fish. 
Boston, ATarch 25. — Although every lover of the suc- 
culent lobster will regret the action of the Massachusetts 
Legislature in passing a so-called "g-inch law." which 
will practically take away all protection if the b^ll is signed 
by Governor Crane, the fact must be conceded that, gen- 
erally speaking, the fish and game laws of this State have 
been much improved in some particulars this winter. It 
is true that action on several bills yet remains to be 
completed, but it seems opportune to invite attention to 
those wh'ch have become laws, and to indicate the legisla- 
tive status of others. 
Among the first to become law was an amendment to 
the act relative to taking or killing gray squirrels, hares 
and rabbits, so that the season for hunting these opens on 
Oct. I instead of on -Sept. 15, thereby preventing the prob- 
able shooting of game birds by rabbit and squirrel hunters 
before the opening of the bird shooting season. This is 
an important step in the right direction, and will make it 
easier to enforce the game laws.' 
The next act in point of time, and perhaps second to 
none in importance, received the Governor's signature 
March 7, and becomes operative thirty days after that date. 
Section i reads as follows: 
"Whoever takes, catches or has in possession, at any 
time, trout less than 6 inches in length, shall be fined ten 
dollars for each and every such trout taken, caught or held 
in possession: Provided, that this shall not apply to any 
person engaged in breeding or rearing trout, or to any one 
who. on taking such trout, immediately returns it alive 
to the M'ater frorn which it was taken." 
Section 2 provides that "this act shall not apply to the 
county of Berkshire." 
This exception is due to the fact that it is ctaimed that 
the trout in the brooks on the mountains and hillsides of 
Berkshire are small in size, and to prohibit the catching of 
6-inch trout would materially limit fishing in that region. 
It is the opinion of many sportsmen, however, that this 
law will produce beneficial results in other sections of 
the State, for it is well known that the unsportsmanlike 
fish hog is found in Massachusetts as well as elsewhere, 
and well-authenticated stories of "slaughtering the inno- 
cents" are too common. When one hears of brooks being 
depleted by the capture -of from 300 to 900 baby trout it 
is difficult to feel otherwise than ind'gnant with the "hog" 
who will thus rob the wa'ers, nullify the work the State is 
doing and make impossible the fine sport which other- 
wise might be enjoyed by anglers. The porcine fisher in 
search of record strings of iijfant trout will get into 
trouble th's year unless he observes the law. 
By the repeal of Chapter 138. Acts of 1891. the open 
season for trout is made uniform throughout the State — 
from Anril i to Sept. i. 
The limitation of snaring of partridges, hares and rab- 
bits by an owner unon his own land to the two months 
of October and November, which constitute the open 
shooting season, is of large consequence, ^^ince thereby 
there is now no excuse for having partridges in possess'on 
except during the open season, while hares and rabbits 
are protected another month from the destructive influence 
of snaring. This act was approved by the Governor 
March 12. 
On the same date Governor Crane signed the bill en- 
titled "An act to prohibit the taking of shellfish from 
contam'nated waters." 
Con'^idered from several standpo'nts, it may perhaps 
be said that the legislators of this State have seldom en- 
acted a law relating to the commercial fisheries that is 
more far-reaching than this, and it mav justly be a mat- 
ter of pride that Massachusetts has led in this, as .she 
has in many other imnortant matters intended tn benefit 
the health and well-be^'ne: of the public at large. The full 
text of the b'll is as follows: 
Section 1. The Commissioners on Inland Fisheries and Game 
shall, whenever so reauested in writing by the State Board of 
TTealth. prohibit the talcing of ovsters, clams, quahaugs and scal- 
lops from th^e tidal waters or flats of any part of the Common- 
v/ealth, for such period of time as the said Board of Health may 
determine. 
Section 2. The State Board of Health shall have power to ex- 
amine all complaints that mav be brought to its attention in re- 
gard to contamination of tidal waters and flats by sewage or 
other causes, to determine as near as may be the bounds of such 
contamination, .ind mark the same when necessary, and to re- 
quest the Commissioners on Inland Fisheries and Game to pro- 
hibit the taking therefrom of any oysters, clams, quahaugs and 
scallops, as provided in Section 1 of this act. 
Section 3. Whoever takes any oj'sters, clams, quahaugs or scal- 
lops from any part of the tidal waters or flats of the Common- 
■wealth from which the taking of the same is prohibited as above 
provided shall forfeit not less than five nor more than ten dol- 
lars for the first offense, and" not less than fifty tior more than 
one hundred dollars for each subsequent offense: Provided, 
That the Commissioners on Inland Fisheries and Game shall 
cause notice of such prohibition, with a description or bounds 
of the premises concerned, to be given by publication in some 
newspaper published in the town or county in which or adjacent 
to which are situated the tidal waters or flats from which the 
taking of oysters, clams, quahaugs or scallops is prohibited as 
above provided, at least one week before said penalty shall be 
incurred. 
The fact having been scientifically established that shell- 
fish can be and are contaminated by sewage it becomes 
of the highest consequence that public confidence in the 
healthful condition of such articles of food should be 
fully established. In no other way can the trade in such 
food products — among the most delicious we have — be 
promoted to the same extent. When once the fact is 
fixed in the public m'nd that the public welfare is being 
scrupulously looked after in this particular by the State 
government, the shaken confidence of citizens will be re- 
stored and thousands who have doubtingly shaken their 
heads over clams and oysters and reftised to eat them will 
gladly welcome them again to their bill of fare. Thus, 
while the public health is the chief motire of this law. its 
enforcement will incidentally be a blessing to the fish 
trade. 
An act prohibiting for a period of five years all fishing 
in Lake Quinsigamond between Sept. i and April i, and 
prohib'ting the sale of any fish taken in the lake, has 
become a law. 
Among the important bills that have passed both houses 
is the following: 
"Whoever takes or kills a plover, snipe, sandpiper, rail 
or any of the so-called shore, marsh or beach birds be- 
tween the 1st day of May and the 15th day of July, or a 
wild or passenger pigeon, or a gull, or a tern, at any 
time, shall be punished by a fine of ten dollars for every 
hird so taken nr killed." 
The black back gull and herring gull are exempted from 
the provisions of this act, but the protection of the wild 
pigeon, the tern and tlie laughing gull and the kittiwake 
is complete. 
The act relating to shooting or pursuing wildfowl in 
Boston Harbor has been amended so as to define what is 
meant by mechanical means, by specifying that any boat 
or floating device propelled by steam, naphtha, gasoline, 
electricity, compressed air or any other similar motive 
power cannot be used. .This does not, however, exclude 
rowboats or sailboats. 
Fishing in Lewis Bay or its tributaries with drag nets 
or se'nes is prohibited by a bill that recenth' passed the 
Legislature and is now probably before the Governor. A 
similar bill relating to fishing in Pleasant Bay has also 
passed both houses. 
The g-inch lohster bill is now before the Governor. 
It passed by large majorities in both houses, and many 
are_ on the anxious bench in anticipation of executive 
action. Many hope he will follow Governor Wolcott and 
veto the act, and these include lobster dealers and lobster 
fishermen ; but others, of course, believe he will take the 
opposite action. 
The Fish and Game Commissioners hope to get through 
an amendment to the law for the collection of statistics, so 
that they can obtain figures of some pract'ca! value as 
statistical data. The bill has passed its third reading in 
the House, and as there seems to be no objection it will 
probably reach the Governor before long. 
Nothing of importance has yet been done with the 
Sunday laws, but the bill relating to Sunday fishing, which 
has been recommitted, will doubtless be soon brought 
back in a new form. 
I learn that Webster Hart, of Conway, who was before 
the court last fall for killing a deer, and appealed, has 
recently paid his fine without waiting for the decision 
of the higher court. Killing deer in this State has become 
rather too expensive for the average man to indulge in, 
and the influence of the two convictions obtained last fall 
within a few days of each other was far reaching and 
effective. There can be no question about the increase of 
deer in the Old Bay State, and in. some sections it is rea- 
sonably numerous. 
The North Adams Transcript of Jan. 14 makes the 
foll-^wing statement: 
"Deer are becoming remarkably frequent in this sec- 
tion. A herd of eight was recently seen near the Vermont 
line, and this noon passengers on a car from Williamstown 
saw a large buck at the Braytonville crossing. The ani- 
mal was frightened and ran rapidly into the woods to the 
north." 
The following extract from the North Adams Evening 
Herald of Feb. 6 is also of interest in this connection: 
"Ed. C. Barber, who lives on the outskirts of Pownal, 
saw the other day a scene that has not been equaled in 
the«e narts. A short distance from his home on a sloping 
hillside, just as the sun was going down, he saw pass 
along a short distance from him twenty-two deer, all 
followinar in each other's tracks, varying in size from a 
large buck down to the s'ze of a lamp, and were seem- 
inglv tame and the scene was certainly a treat." 
When occtirrences like these on or near the northwest 
boundarv of the State are recorded a"d wild d-^er are 
seen within view of the gilded dome on Beacon Hill, there 
is convincing evidence of thp nossibilities of protection 
even in a thickly populated State. Occasional. 
The Salmon Angling Excursion* 
New York, March 24. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
have received inquiries concerning a projected salmon fish- 
ing excursion to be furnished by the St. Lawrence Steam- 
ship Company this summer. The trip will be a most at- 
tractive one for men who have not been down on the 
North Shore, and there will be abttndant fishing for brook 
trout and sea trout. The excursionists will probably kill 
a few bears and seals, and will enjoy the sight of the 
great nesting grounds of wildfowl, but the salmon fishing 
feature of the trip will not be very important. Let me say 
a word or two about the rivers that are to be fished. The 
Olomano is the best one of the lot and furnishes grand 
salmon fishing for one or two rods during about fourteen 
days of the run. It furnishes fair sport for one rod for 
another week. Any more rods on the river would ruin 
the sport for all. The salmon run into the Olomano about 
the last week in June. The water is usually too high at 
that time. During the first two weeks of Jtily the salmon 
rest in two' pools near the sea. and if carefully fished will 
furnish magnificent sport for not more than two fishermen. 
After that time the salmon ascend the river and stop 
again under the Smoky Falls, about two miles up stream. 
There is only one small resting place a few yards in 
extent behind an island on the eastern side of the falls, and 
the salmon are very shy and not easily approached at that 
sport. After they pass the Smoky Falls they will not 
rise to the tly. There are very few brook trout in the 
Olomano. There is a run of sea trout after the middle 
of July. 
The Wash-she-cootai is the next best river of the lot. 
It is a cold river and salmon will not rise to the fly there 
until after July 15. The salmon remain in the two pools 
near the sea dur'ng July and August, and are very 
capricious. It is a fine bit of salmon water for one rod, if 
the fisherman is very expert, otherwise the river is of no 
account Two fishermen on the Wash-she-cootai would 
probably ruin the fishing a day or two, as the fish rest in 
shallow water and are very shy — an odd lot of salmon 
in that river. Salmon do not take the fly after they 
have passed above the fall at the head of the upner pool. 
Brook trout fishing is inexhaustible in the lakes above the 
fall, and one can catch charrs in deep water in the lakes 
with bait. There is fair sea trout fishing in the Wash- 
she-cootai after the middle of July. 
The Coacoacho is not a salmon river. It abounds in sea 
trotit and would furni.sh sea trout fishing for a dozen 
fishermen at some t'me during the July run. for a couple 
of weeks. The Musquarro is not a salmon river to any 
considerable extent. It is a clay river, and the fish do 
not hke it much. The Etamamion has a h'gh fall about 
two miles from the sea that prevents salmon from ascend- 
ing. Salmon run in and out during the latter part of June 
and early part of July, and one rod will sometimes get 
good sport in a pool beneath the high fall, if the fi.sherman 
is patient and contented with exploring while he is 
waiting for a salmon day. There is a sea trout run in 
July in the Etamamion. 
The St. Augustin I have not fished, because my In- 
dians told me that there was only one resting pool in the 
west entrance, and that was so full of rocks that two 
or three fishermen who had tried the river lost their lives 
promptly. I intended getting a permit and ri.sking some 
old lines there three years ago on my way down from 
the north, but was told that no salmon remained in the 
pool so late in the summer. RobERT T. Morris. 
At the National Capital* 
At the annual meeting of the Game and Fish Protective 
Association of the District of Columbia, March 20, the 
first steps were taken toward the holding in Washington 
of a convention of representative men of the District, 
Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, the object of 
vyhich will be to secure legislation to prevent the pollu- 
tion of the waters of the Potomac. 
The matter was brought before the meeting in the 
annual report of Major 5^ichard Sylvester, chairman of the 
Association Committee on Legislation, and was referred 
to the Executive Committee to make the necessary ar- 
rangements. The Executive Committee reported a plan 
by which it is hoped to enlarge the Association's field 
of vfork. It is proposed to have the officers of the Asso- 
ciation consist of a president, secretary and treasurer, a 
vice-president from the District and "from each of the 
three States named, and an honorary vice-president from 
each State and Territory in the Union. There is also 
to be a large list of committees, the members of which, 
numbering about sixty, with the officers, will constitute 
the Executive Committee. The object of this proposed 
reorganiza;ion is to actively enlist a large number in the 
Association's work, instead of having it all fall on the 
shoulders of a dozen or so, as has been ihe case here- 
tofore. 
The plan of proposed reorganization was offered in the 
form of an amendment to the Constitution, and that it 
niay be acted upon at once the meeting was ad- 
journed for two weeks. In the meantime the proposed 
amendment will be printed and circulated by the secre- 
tary among the members. With this in view, the annual 
election of officers was deferred until the next meeting. 
Major Sylvester's report was the first business to come 
before the meeting. He dealt first with the history of 
early efforts to prevent the ruthless destruction of game 
before the Association had been formed and secured the 
enactment of penal laws. "Since the inception of this 
Association," he said, "new game and fish laws have been 
enacted, and it is a pleasure to note that they are gener- 
ally respected. Now and then a seine is drawn in the Dis- 
trict waters contrary to law, but not many examples of 
the law's violation have been cited, and the education 
carried on through your eflforts has had a most wonderful 
and beneficial effect. You live to look upon the greatest 
protected spawning grounds in the country. So it should 
he. Here at the National Capital, with its headquarters 
of the Fish Comm.ission, exists a wonderful basin wherein 
hundreds of species are fostered. It was once said that 
when you find a man with a rod on his shoulder, no 
matter what his appearance may be, there's something 
good in him. So in the fishermen who work for a living 
along the lower Potomac. They love the work; they 
appreciate any effort for improving and multiplying the 
fish, and to-day they have joined in this laudable under- 
taking of ours and condemn and reproach him who would 
bring short fish into the market for sale. 
"Here hard work'ng people send for copies of the laws 
and give orders to have them respected. The common 
carriers eagerly watch for the close of game and fish 
seasons, in order to be within the scope of the legitimate. 
The merchant dealers, with few exceptions, do not keep 
game out of season. 
"It is remarkable what an army of boys, youths, middle- 
aged and old men and women prompted by the health, 
recreation and skill which attach to use of the rod and 
reel, has sprung into existence through the agitation due 
to your Association, individually and collectively. They 
study the weather, the water, the forests and mountains, 
and have learned the Potomac. They know its beautiful 
features and can intelligently talk of its pollution, 
"Now we want Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia 
to join us, that concerted action may be had which will 
result in the condemnat'on and eradication of some of 
the impure and disagreeable features of the Potomac which 
filtration will not relieve. No clearer, more Ir^gical or 
more scientific paper was ever presented on the subject 
of the P'^tomac's n'-lhition than that read bv H' nr^- ■ -<1- 
bott, of this Association, which was authorized printed by 
Congress. 
"Dtiring the last session of that body I have to report 
the amendments recommended by this Association, both 
fish and game, became law. Up to the present time Con- 
gress has granted every request made by your chairman 
on legislation in the way of legislation, and as your war- 
den I have endeavored to enforce these laws. I do not 
care to multiply words on the subject. Members of the 
Association who are not familiar with the laws as they 
now prevail will obtain them in new books, which. I pre- 
sume, will be authorized to be isstted at another meeting 
of the Executive Committee. 
"During the year there were sixteen cases prosecuted 
for violation of the fish law and seven cases prosecuted 
for violation of the game law, and in all except one con- 
viction resulted. I have here the names of those who 
were charged with such violations. As they have paid 
their penalties, it is not necessary perhaps to make public 
their names, but the list is with the secretary for perusal." 
Following Major Sylvester's report. Mr. Henry Talbott 
read a very able and scientific paper dealing with the 
pollution of water in general and Potomac River water in 
particular. He contended that the emptying of sewage 
and the refuse of mills and factories into rivers is not 
only a menace to public health but it is destructive of 
fish. Although this pollution of water may not in all 
cases be sufficient to kill the fish directly, he said it de- 
stroys the smaller plant arid animal life in the water 
and leaves the river uninhabitable for fish. The Assoc'a- 
tion will have Mr. Talbott's paper printed for general 
distribution. 
As a concluding number on the evening's programtne, 
