Feb. i, 1002.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
91 
piration of the open season to dispose of their stock. 
This tides them over Christmas and the holidays. 
With regard to the tax as applied to the tag and 
coupon system in the export of game, Mr. Tinsley ex- 
plained that the coupons are attached to hunting licenses 
when issued. It is illegal for railroad companies to 
carry moose, caribou or deer without coupons attached, 
and the express companies decline to accept such ship- 
ments. The law obliges transportation companies to 
cancel coupons at place of shipment. Any game animal 
or portion of such animal found without the coupon at- 
- tached is confiscated. 
Mr. Richards said that under the coupon system every- 
thing worked very smoothly. He added that previous 
to its adoption the club which he represented, which is 
the largest user of coupons in Ontario, had experienced 
much trouble and annoyance, which was now done away 
with. 
Spring Shooting. 
The resolution passed by the Association a year ago 
with regard to spring shooting is as follows: 
"That this Association respectfully petition the Legis- 
lature of the State of New York and of the Province of 
Quebec to enact legislative measures which will pro- 
hibit spring shooting of wildfowl in- that State and 
Province." 
When the resolution came up for discussion, Mr. Wil- 
son said he would like to have it changed, as he under- 
stood the Province of Quebec had practically stopped 
spring shootingv 
Dr. Finnie answered that, while Quebec had legis- 
lated against spring shooting, unfortunately the law had 
been emasculated and the effect destroyed by the per- 
mission given to shoot buffle-headed ducks or divers 
in the spring. The gunners had an excuse to be out 
and shot what they pleased. 
A committee, consisting of Messrs. Smith, Wilson and 
Finnie, was appointed to draft a new resolution, and 
later on reported as follows: 
"Whereas, The governing laws of adjoining States of 
the American Union, except New York, and of the 
, Provinces of Canada, except the Province of Quebec 
(which, having a general law prohibiting spring shoot- 
ing, makes an exception in regard to divers or buffle- 
heads, which practically nullifies the law), and in the 
opinion of the Association it is desirable that such shoot- 
ing and exception be prohibited. Therefore, 
"Resolved, That the Association respectfully petition, 
the legislatures of the State of New York and of the 
Province of Quebec to enact legislative measures which 
will entirely prohibit spring shooting of wildfowl in the 
States and Provinces. 
Mr. Titcomb read a very interesting paper on the red 
trout. - 
Gen. Henry suggested that the fish be named after 
Mr. W. H. Parker, who was the first white man to catch 
them back in 1852. \ 
Afternoon Session. 
Gen. Butterfield presided at the afternoon session, 
which was devoted to a discussion of legislation for the 
prohibition of the sale of game, and to a hearing of 
Col. Gilmour, the additional Fish Commissioner of Ver- 
mont, who wanted to put it on record that he was not 
an advocate of seine fishing in Missisquoi Bay, and that 
his visit to Quebec at the time the netting licenses were 
given was on business of a personal nature and not in his 
capacity as a Fish Commissioner. 
Mr. Joncas, who had been obliged to resign his posi- 
tion of secretary-treasurer, owing to ill-health, was made 
an honorary member of the Association, with power to 
take part in its discussions and exercise his franchise as 
a voter. 
To Forbid the Sale of Game. 
Mr. Wilson moved the adoption of the Forest and 
" Stream plank that the sale of game shall be forbidden 
at all seasons. While there was a strong sentiment in 
favor of the plank, it seemed to be the general opinion 
that Forest and Stream was in advance of the situa- 
tion as it existed, particularly in the Canadian Provinces, 
and after a long discussion Mr. Wilson, with the permis- 
sion of the gentleman who seconded the motion, withdrew 
the resolution, announcing, however, that he should 
again present it at the next meeting of the Association. 
Mr. Dunn, of New Brunswick, thought the resolution 
too sweeping, and said that the natives of his Province 
often sold the carcasses of large game animals shot by 
visiting sportsmen who had taken only the head. A 
moose, for instance, was too large an animal to be eaten 
by one family, and the sale of its meat to neighbors or 
in the towns provided a large amount of wholesome food 
that might otherwise be wasted. 
Mr. Wilson said the Association realized that it had a 
high ideal to attain in its stand for game protection. 
Forest and Stream, he said, had had this resolution 
for its plank for a number of years. By the adoption of 
the plank the North American Association would not 
only honor itself, but also put brawn and muscle into 
every effort that is being made and will be made in the 
future for the highest ideals of game protection. 
Mr. Tinsley said that the non-sale of game was one 
of the most powerful factors for game protection, and 
cited the great increase of quail and partridge since their 
export had been forbidden. 
Dr. Finney said the motion was too sweeping; that he 
believed in stopping the sale of game in instances where 
the supply was running low, but not otherwise, and that 
if passed the law would hurt the cause of protection in 
Quebec. 
Mr. Smith also spoke against the resolution, and as 
a matter of policy, it was withdrawn. 
Mr. E. T. D. Chambers moved the thanks of the As- 
sociation to Forest and Stream for sending a repre- 
sentative to the present meeting, and to the local press 
for the care with which they had reported and pub- 
lished its proceedings. One of them had referred to 
the bunches of violets worn by the Canadian members 
as being the colors of the Association. Nothing would 
perhaps have made a more appropriate emblem for it 
than the modest flowers which were so generally worn 
at the Eastertide approach of nature's resurrection from 
the white pall of winter to the beautiful new life of 
spring. The newspaper reference to the bouquets of 
these flowers, worn by some of the members of the As- 
sociation yesterday, to mark the first anniversary of the 
death of Queen Victoria, recalled the. exquisite tribute 
paid to Her Majesty's memory at the last annual meeting 
of the Association by one of the American members, 
Mr. Shurtleff, of New Hampshire, when he described her 
as "one of the brightest stars in the firmament of 
heaven." This graceful reference could never be ef- 
faced from the memory of the subjects of the dead 
sovereign, who were privileged to hear it. Since that 
meeting the whole civilized world had been horrified by 
the dastardly act of the assassin, which bereaved the 
people of this great Republic of its late revered Presi- 
dent. The death of President McKinley had been 
mourned perhaps as sincerely throughout the British 
Empire as in the United States, and especially was this 
the case in Canada, where elaborate functions, prepared 
in both Montreal and Quebec for the reception of the 
present heir to the British throne, for a few days after 
the sad event were canceled as an emblem of mourning 
for Mr. McKinley's death. He added that if the modest 
flowers which they wore typified, as they were intended 
to do, the fragrance of the dead Queen's niemory, they 
were equally appropriate to the purity of both the public 
and private life of the late President of the United States. 
The motion was seconded by Mr. Wilson and carried. 
The Banquet. 
Three hundred and thirty members of the Vermont 
League and of the North American Association sat 
down to the banquet at 8 o'clock in the large dining hall 
of the Van Ness House. It was a thoroughly repre- 
sentative gathering of Vermonters and representatives 
of the game interests of the North. With its forty new 
members elected just previous to the banquet, the Ver- 
mont League has now a total membership of more than 
eight hundred, and is one of the livest and strongest 
organizations of its kind in the world. 
To take the place of game, Belgian hare was served as 
a feature of the menu. The tables were tastefully deco- 
rated with palms and cut flowers, and at each plate was 
a small bouquet for the coat lapel. 
During a lull between the courses President Titcomb 
read letters of regret, and telegrams from prominent 
men, including a telegram from President Roosevelt, 
who, it will be remembered, received notification of the 
assassin's attack on President McKinley while a guest of 
the League at its summer outing on Isle La Motte. The 
latter was sent from the White House, Jan. 20, and read: 
"John W. Titcomb, President Vermont Fish and Game 
League : 
"I have received, through the courtesy of Senator 
Proctor, your cordial invitation to be the guest of the 
League at its banquet Thursday evening. I thank you 
heartily, and regret that my engagements make it im- 
possible for me to accept. Please extend to those pres- 
ent my cordial greetings and good wishes. I shall al- 
ways cherish a warm remembrance of your League. 
"Theodore Roosevelt/'' 
Ex-Governor Fisk introduced a resolution indorsing 
the action of the North American Association with ref- 
erence to the seining in Missisquoi Bay, which received 
the unanimons approval of the League, enforced with 
hearty cheers. The resolution was "that, while the 
Vermont Fish and Game League is in hearty sympathy 
with all the objects and aims of the North American Fish 
and Game Protective Association, its members here 
assembled desire to especially indorse a resolution passed 
by the aforesaid association to-day: That all net fishing 
be prohibited in Lake Champlain in the spring of the 
vear in New York, Vermont and the Province of 
Quebec." 
It was after ten o'clock when President Titcomb called 
the gathering to order with words of welcome to the 
guests, and particularly the Canadian members of the 
North American Association. He referred to the resolu- 
tion relating to the prohibition of net fishing in Missis- 
quoi Bay, and said that he hoped for a hearty co-opera- 
tion of the influential political members of the league and 
of the association. 
Mr. Titcomb urged the appointment of a salaried war- 
den whose time should be ' entirely devc/ted to the en- 
forcement of the game laws. He said that -deer were 
being killed at the present time, and that it was difficult 
to secure evidence to convict the pot-hunters, and that 
one good, salaried officer would do more to save the 
game from poachers than all the volunteer wardens in 
the State. 
Mr. Titcomb introditced as toastmaster Dr. Hawley, 
Mayor of the city of Burlington, who, he said, was the 
safest doctor in these parts, as he was almost always 
off fishing when wanted. Mayor Hawley said that it 
would appear from the introduction given by the League's 
honored president that he was a noted fisherman, but that 
though he plead guilty of the possession of piscatorial 
tastes, when it came to the supreme test of lying about 
the catch he had been ruled Out of the craft. "However," 
he continued, "we have with us to-night a large number 
of gentlemen who are past grand masters in the art, and 
I promise to call upon them before the evening is over." 
Toastmaster Hawley welcomed the guests of the occa- 
sion, and with special reference to the Canadian delega- 
tion said that he trusted their visit to Burlington might 
be another revelation of the .good will, the fellowship, 
and the kinship which exists and must ever exist between 
those who read in the Union Jack liberty, progress and 
triumphant leadership, and those who read the same in 
the Stars and Stripes. He ended by stating that while 
he would not dwell upon the objects of the siter associa- 
tions represented, he would say that the protection of the 
wild game of the forests and the protection and propaga- 
tion of fish in the streams and lakes of Vermont was a 
most worthy object, and a matter of vast importance to 
the State's industrial interests. 
Mr. L. Z. Joncas, the first speaker introduced by 
Toastmaster Hawley, made a graceful little speech in 
which, though hampered to some extent by a lack of 
freedom with the English language, he made amends by 
his naive tact and good breeding, and his thanks for 
hospitality received and proffer of a warm welcome by 
the. Canadians to the visitors from the United States on 
the occasion of the next meeting of the North American 
Association was warmly received and applauded by the 
banqueters. 
Mr. M. P. Maurice, of Montgomery, Vt, who was in- 
troduced as a fishing lawyer, eulogized his native State, 
and wound up with a toast to the North American Asso- 
ciation and all kindred organizations. 
Dr. W. H. Drummond, author of "The Habitant" and 
"Johnnie Courteau," gave recitations from his poems 
which brought forth such a storm of applause that it was 
difficult for the toastmaster to continue his programme. 
Finally, on the assurance of President Titcomb that Dr. 
Drummond would be heard again later in the evening, he 
was allowed to sit down. Dr. Drummond is a man of 
fine presence, 48 years old, an Irishman by birth, and a 
Canadian by adoption. He is a sportsman and many of 
his poems, which are just now very much in vogue, judg- 
ing by the large sales of his books, have to do with 
shooting and fishing. One of his best poems is "Bateese 
and His Little Decoys," which tells of an old duck hunter 
on his sick bed just before his death who has his live 
decoy ducks brought in so that he can lecture them and 
soliloquize on the past. 
"Wall, I'm mebbe stayin' long enough, 
For eighty-four I see it on de spring, 
Dough ma fadder he was feelin' pretty etough, 
An' at ninety year can do mos' ev'ry t'ing. 
But I never knew de feller, 
Don't care how old he come, 
Dat isn't sure to t'ink he's got anoder year, ba gum!" 
The selections were mostly humorous, but through all 
there was a note of pathos and the regret of the exile 
or of changed conditions. The last verse of "Le"etle 
Lac Greuier [pronounced Green yay], which is a gem in 
its way, illustrates this: 
"Oh, let me go; don't spik no more, 
For your voice is strong lak de rapid roar 
An' you know you'se'f I'm too far away 
For visit you now, leetle Lac Greenyay!" 
Toastmaster Hawley told the story of the recipe of 
his boatman on St. Alban's Bay for cooking a mud fish: 
"Oh, yes," Joe said, "dat var' nice fish. You want scale 
him an' clean him, and be var' pertic' how you do it. 
Den you put him in de water an' you parboil just one 
and a half hour. You take him out and split him up de 
back and put in de salt an' de pep', an' den you fry him 
just forty-five minute. You want to be var' partic' not to 
fry him more dan forty-five minute, if he was to been 
delicat' an' joost right. Den you put him in de drip-pan 
and put him in da hot hofen and bake him joost one an' 
one quaiter hour. You mus' be var' partic' to. get him 
joost right. Den you take him out and if you know what 
you vos doin' you want to gif him to your pig right hof, 
for he don't worse a dam." 
Hon. D. G. Smith, of New Brunswick, made a happy 
speech in which he said that he should go home feeling 
amply repaid for his journey of 1,500 miles by the suc- 
cess of the meeting and the kindly hospitality he had 
received. 
.Dr. Brainerd, of Quebec, prophesied more abundant 
game for Vermont in the future as a result of an enlight- 
ened policy of stocking and game protection, and sug- 
gested that he would not be satisfied until Lake Cham- 
plain was not only swarming with pike-perch but also 
stocked with muscallonge and gray trout, and the Green 
Mountains once more the home of moose and caribou 
as well as the red deer. With such natural advantages 
as the State possessed, the doctor said the famous words 
"may God have mercy on your souls" would be applica- 
ble if the people of Vermont did not improve their fish 
and game resources. 
Mr. Joncas, upon request, sang "The Brigadier," being 
assisted in the chorus by the entire Canadian contingent, 
and then Mr. E. T. D. Chambers wound up the cere- 
monies with an apt speech of congratulation to the Ver- 
mont League and an invitation to the next meeting of the 
North American Association in Ottawa, of which city, 
though not a citizen himself, he knew the spirit so well 
that he had no hesitancy in promising the visitors a right 
royal welcome. 
J. B. Burnham. 
Striped Bass near New York* 
New York, Jan. 25. — I notice in your issue of Jan. 25 
by Biedinger, under the caption of striped bass fishing, 
he has failed to mention one of the finest bass fishing 
grounds on the Atlantic coast, and that is Allenhurst, 
N. J., at the flume at the foot of Deal Lake. Here the 
fresh water is always rushing out from the overflow of 
the lake, and mingling with the, salt water, forms a 
brackish pool of considerable area. In this pool a natural 
bed of sea clams (skimmers) have grown, and the bass 
find it a great feeding ground. The fishing is done' either 
from the flume pier or from the beach, and is generally 
opened by one of the old-timers catching a big one. Last 
year the season was opened by a 16-pounder being caught 
cn Decoration Day, and from then until the middle of 
July the fishing was fast and furious. The bait used was 
exclusively skimmers, which were procured either by 
raking or treading at low tide or else picked up along- 
high water mark. It is best, if going from the city, to 
take them with you, then you are sure of your bait any- 
way. The pyramid sinker is used generally, as it will 
hold ground better than any other shape. 
The fish run very large and a goodly number are caught 
every season, running from 15 to 47^ pounds. Very few 
bass are ever caught under 5 pounds. 
Savage holds the record, with a 48^-pounder, caught , in 
1900; Brummacher next, with a 46J4-pound beauty. 
Lou H. Johnson. 
> Chicago Fly-Casting Club. 
The Chicago Fly-Casting Club held its mid-winter din- 
ner Jan. 14. The members and guests of the club were 
highly entertained with stories by Thos. W. Nash, H. 
Greenwood and J. F. Robertson; songs and burlesque 
by H. Wheeler Perce, and . an address by President 
Church, of the club. The annual meeting of the club and 
election of officers for' the ensing year will' take place 
Feb, 10, N, C. Heston, Secretary, 
