FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May 3, 1902. 
strike, a splash, a bend of the tip of the rod, and an 
exclamation of dismay. "Lost him!" said my friend. 
"Try it again." Another splash, and this time the tip 
stayed down. There were more splashes, more exclama- 
tions, and then the first trout of the season was brought 
to net, a little fellow not more than eight inches long, but 
beautiful, very beautiful, and an object of such innocent 
joy. 
"Now try it again," said the instructor. It was done, 
and once more the accommodating little trout did their 
part in the play. Trout No. 2 was basketed among many 
more exclamations. 
Certainly matters seemed auspicious. My friend started 
in behind us, further up the stream, madame and myself 
wading more or less arm in arm, for she is' still some- 
what afraid of the water, down the pleasant, rippling, in- 
nocent little river. 
The wind was a trifle cold at times, and the surface 
of the pools was unbroken by any rising trout. It was 
still too cold for the fly to hatch, and on the Prairie at 
least the first rising of the trout in the spring is purely a 
business proposition. 
Eagerly we looked around for some sign of insect life, 
but not until 1 o'clock did there come a warm enough 
burst of sunshine or a long enough cessation of the cool 
wind to induce the flies to begin their little journeyings. 
All at once things began to happen. Here and there we 
saw a dark-bodied fly dropping down apparently from 
the branches of the pine trees above us. Then all at 
once we could see little splashes, showing places which 
had known certain flies for a time, and which now knew 
them no more forever. Now our sport was beginning. 
Madame, becoming better skilled in wading and having 
learned that the Prairie River never harmed any one in 
all its life, began really to catch trout upon the fly, trout 
upon flies of her own tying, by the way, which was the 
deepest joy of all; and trout taken upon a brand new and 
elegant fly-rod fit for the hand of any one, even of madame 
herself. Now if this is not pleasure, I wis not what the 
term implies. It was simply a section of paradise, and 
who could blame us if Chicago for the time seemed very 
far away? 
Presently the original and unsatisfied hunger came on 
apace, and we sat down upon a pleasant bank, where we 
were soon joined by our friend, who had fished the 
stream back of us. Here we ate lunch in the sunshine, 
every one of us glad to be alive and on the trout stream 
on opening day. It was at the head of a noisy little rapids, 
below which stretched some deep white-topped water. 
Conceding somewhat to the feminine portion of our con- 
tingent we concluded to allow a worm to be passed 
through this rapid water. Needless to say there was a 
heavy jerk, a startling rush and a general commotion in 
the pool. Madame thought the fish would weigh several 
pounds, so violently did it jiggle away at the little rod in 
the rapid water. In reality, it weighed perhaps half a 
pound, and so did the next one, and yet thi next, and the 
one following. The male contingent naturally stuck to 
the flies. Perhaps in the day the three of us caught fifty 
some trout, of which we retained thirty-five as being 
suitable. We fished until evening, although after 3 o'clock 
the flies disappeared and the trout rose only occasionally. 
It was as pleasant a day as I ever passed on a trout 
stream. Never in my life did I care less to catch trout 
myself or care more to see some one else do so. All of 
which may signify that there is justice in the stricture 
above quoted in regard to advancing years, etc. 
Mrs. Lossie Cone can cook trout a little better than the 
Queen of Sheba herself could, the latter lady, I believe, 
being customarily quoted as excelling in all feminine wis- 
dom. We had trout enough for supper and for breakfast, 
and then had a few left over — which is to say we had 
quite an abundance of trout to satisfy our own modest 
demands. We did not seem to have any ambition about 
bringing back a lot of trout to show our friends, and, in 
fact, when the steaming brown bodies of our victims ap- 
peared upon the platter, we resolved to eat them forth- 
with as rapidly as might be, and show them to 
no one. 
The second day was still propitious, although the air of 
the north was yet a little cool. We went up to the dam 
below Dudley's and for a time indulged madame in the 
humor of catching a "big one," albeit upon the deadly 
worm. Below this dam is a rushing deep pool, wherein 
may live, no one may know, how many lusty trout. Our 
companion this time baited madame's hook with a regu- 
lation garden hackle and asking her to go with him, 
tossed the bait into the white water just below the apron 
of the dam. Even before he could pass her the rod there 
was a mighty rush and a tremendous bowing down of the 
little rod. For once in her life madame had the ecstacy of 
playing a "big one" in fair waters, with no particular 
favors upon either side. The fight was short but vigor- 
ous, the feminine methods of fishing being not given to 
circumlocution. The good fish's backbone held until the 
net was passed under him. He weighed perhaps a 
pound and a quarter, and was worth a hundred dollars of 
any map's money that ever was. We did it again, and 
yet again, taking three fish in this base and ignominious 
fashion. Then we decreed that madame had had enough 
of this robbery, and that henceforward the day must be 
devoted to the fly exclusively. Our friend then passed 
on down the stream ahead, and once more the Certain 
Person and myself resumed our friendly, if somewhat 
argumentative, journey down the midstream. 
The sun went under a cloud before noon this day and 
the wind was a little cold, so that nothing appeared in 
the way of bugs or flies, and for a mile of water we could 
have sworn there was not a trout then alive or ever had 
been therein. > At length we came to a long, deep, quiet 
pool, the deepest we had thus far found on the river, so 
deep that it came within a few inches of the top on one's 
hip boots. Madame, being shorter, was obliged to take 
to the bank. Here were some high banks and some pine 
trees and some alders, and other things which go to make 
an ideal setting for a trout pool. Moreover, there came 
fluttering down from the limbs of the big pine trees in 
some mysterious fashion and from some mysterious 
source, not one. but several and several score of light- 
winged flies. Thereupon we saw the placid surface of 
this long pool, broken by a series of deep and wide and 
determined splashes. At last the fish were going on the 
feed. 
Jn the middle of the pooj was one big fellow who 
came up again and again, and this fellow I was resolved 
to have, madame excitedly cautioning me and instructing 
me in the art of fly-fishing. I lengthened the line little 
by little, and at last got the fly directly over the spot 
where the trout had last risen. There came the swiftest 
imaginable commotion, a flash, a tug and a bending of the 
rod. He was not such a very big trout, not over half 
or perhaps three-quarters of a pound, but he was a trout 
fairly outwitted. There was no landing net with us, but 
we fought him alb over the pool and chased him around 
until finally I got him in my hands. 
There was another trout rising at the lower end of the 
pool, above a log. which projected out from the bank, 
and we conceived it an excellent thing to take this one 
also. Not so easily done, for the best I could get was a 
swift rise, which just missed the fly, after which followed 
silence in that part of the world. By this time trout were 
rising again back of me in the pool, and I resolved to get 
out on the bank and wade down once more. Nothing 
happened until I got once more within reaching distance 
of the log where I knew this second trout was lying. 
Cautiously I worked the fly to him. and Once more suc- 
cess crowned our efforts. There was a mighty rush, a 
surge, a splash, a bitter little fight, and our second trout 
found its way into the basket. 
Our friend brought in six or eight trout, if I remember 
correctly, but madame and I felt well satisfied with the 
two for the day, for wc shall not count those taken by her 
upon the worm. Hence, by 2 o'clock we were back at 
Mrs. Lossie's, to work havoc among the eatables once 
more. 
This, of course, ended the fishing proper of the trip. 
The next morning my friend and I fished for a little while 
and caught a half-dozen trout, perhaps. Then came the 
getting ready for the train, which left at 3 130 from 
Gleason station on its deliberate way to Tomahawk, Con- 
ductor Frank Harper, of Tomahawk, told us not to be 
uneasy, as he would blow the whistle for us, and woitld 
not start until we came. It is not often that the road has 
passengers, hence it values them for social if not. financial 
reasons. So we «aid good-by to Mrs. Lossie, to the blue 
cat and the black cat and the yellow cat, and all the 
chickens, and to Chester and all the rest,, and came back 
to the disturbed and dirty city. It is much of comfort to 
know that the sweet green places still exist up there on the 
Prairie. They will be there next year on opening day. 
* Bass Biting. 
Chicago, 111., April 26. — The bass are beginning to 
bite, so comes the news, and it needs hardly be said 
that the waiting anglers are not sorry to hear it, for the 
advice has been expected for several days. The sein- 
ing operations at Cedar Lake, Ind., have surely not dis- 
turbed the bass in that popular little sheet of water^ for 
definite news comes to-day from N. D. Soper, who has 
a cottage there, that on Thursday he caught seventeen 
nice bass in Cedar Lake, the first of the season. The run 
came with a rush, and the fish took the bait with vigor 
and determination, which showed that they had cast off 
the winter torpor and were out for the spring season with 
no reservations. This is the biggest early catch from 
Cedar Lake. 
At Duck Lake, near Fox Lake, 111., the bass were 
reported to be biting very keenly on last Friday. This 
water is one not commonly patronized by our bait casters, 
but is worth remembering. 
On Friday Ed. Howard, of Fox Lake, sent down a 
telephone message to the effect that he could give any- 
one the bass fish of his life if he would only get up there 
right away. 
On Friday Ben Stilling, of Pistakee Bay, also sent in 
word that the bass were running in numbers, and taking 
bait well. He advised all Chicago fishers to get up there 
right away. 
At Bass Lake, Ind., the early fishing is now supposed 
to be well under way. Itha H. Bellows, of the Chicago 
fly-casting club, leaves to-day for a run down to that 
pleasant locality. 
Trout. 
Word just at hand from Charlie Antoine and Charlie 
Lester, who are on the Prairie River trout fishing, states 
that they caught forty-five trout on their first day on 
the river, so that it would seem that the weather is wai'm- 
ing up there and the trout beginning to take the fly. 
The members of the Kinne Creek Club of Michigan 
open the season at the club house with a goodly party 
May 1. The Saginaw party earlier mentioned will make 
their trip May 5 and a few days following, going further 
north than Kinne Creek. 
Tarpon. 
Mr. Fred Roach, of Chicago, this week sent up for 
mounting a fine specimen of tarpon which he took at the 
Boca Grande Pass in Florida, the fish weighing 184 
pounds. This was the best fish taken this spring at that 
point. The tarpon were coming in nicely when Mr. 
Roach wrote, one boat bringing in seven good fish as the 
result of one day's sport. 
E. Hough, 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
Tfout and Cyclones. 
Wissahickon, Pa. — Editor Forest and Stream: In 
the description of Mr. Charles Cristadoro's about "Trout 
and Cyclones" is mentioned the fact of the "bark being 
stripped from the trees standing in the path of the storm. 
The author attributes the rasping effect of the sand 
as only cause of this denudation, 
The writer thinks that the rotary motion of the wind, 
twisting the tree in one direction, has much more effect on 
splitting and peeling off the bark than any other cause. 
The moist fibers of the tree possess more adhesive- 
ness, and consequently can withstand more torsion than 
drag, and not so homogenous bark, which will be twisted 
and peeled off and subsequently carried by the wind. 
The writer suggests this explanation as one more in 
accordance with the laws of mechanics than natural emery 
\yheel, which cap act only as an aid. 
A, 2. Drozdor, 
Neighborhood Angling.T " 
Striped Bass. 
Salt-water fishermen will welcome the news of the ar- 
rival of striped bass in the waters around New York. '< 
The striped bass is held in highest esteem by salt-water j 
anglers, although there are some who would give the ! 
weakfish first place, and the news of their presence in 1 
nearby waters is always hailed with joy by local fisher- J 
men. 
The bass have appeared in considerable numbers in the 
waters around the Statue of Liberty in New York 1 
Harbor. This is a point where shad are taken, and the '■ 
bass have followed the shad into the harbor. Since the \ 
appearance of the bass the local anglers have had good 
sport at this place. The' fish are caught by trolling, and 
weigh from two to six pounds each. 
Striped bass have also begun to take the bait at South ' 
Beach, Staten Island, where the fish are taken from the 
surf. Surf casting is the most exciting and satisfactory - 
manner of taking this game fish, and it is no tame sport ' 
to land a good-sized bass from the surf. 
Shad. 
The run of shad in New York Harbor and the Hudson ] 
River is increasing. In the harbor they are now plenti- , 
ful, and the net fishermen are making very satisfactory , 
catches. A net fisherman, who takes shad for the local ' 
markets, has been taking from 300 to 500 fish at one haul 
in Gravesend Bay. 
Troot in the Catskifls. 
The Catskill trout streams, which usually yield poor 
results, are this season furnishing good sport. " The fish- 
ing in the Neversink and the Beaverkill, in Ulster coun- < 
ty, is now good. A trout fisherman from New York I 
fished these streams last week and took some fine trout. ! 
lie reports the streams to be clear and in good condition. I 
G. F. Diehl. 
A Declaration of Principles. 
Declaration of principles of the Chase County (Kan- 
sas) Izaak Walton Fish and Game Protective Associa- 
tion : 
Preamble. 
Whereas, The continually growing scarcity of game 
fish in our streams, and of game and game birds, in this, 
Chase county, Kansas, is conclusive evidence that they 
will be entirely exterminated in a very few years unless 
an earnest effort is made for their better protection and 
preservation : 
Therefore, for our guidance in this matter we adopt for 
the platform of principles of our Association the follow- 
ing resolutions, to wit: 
1st. _ That the sale of game and game fish should be 
prohibited at all times and seasons. 
2d. That no black bass should be taken of a size less 
than ten inches in length, nor crappies less than eight 
inches in length. 
3d. That the catching of all game fish should be pro- 
hibited during the spawning season. 
4th. That every person should be prohibited from 
taking more than fifteen black bass or twenty crappies for 
one day's fishing. 
5th. That all spring shooting at game or migratory 
wildfowl should be prohibited. 
6th. That every member of this Association pledges 
that this platform shall be his guide "in field and on or 
by stream," and that he will at once notify the warden 
and county prosecuting attorney of every violation of the 
laws for the protection of birds, game and fish that may 
come to his knowledge. 
(Signed by twenty-eight business and sportsmen of 
Cottonwood Falls, Kan.) 
Attest : 
J. P. Kuhl, President. 
W. F. Rightmire, Secretary. 
(Sheriff) S. W. Beach, Treasurer. 
Newfound Lake. 
Newfound Lake, Bristol, N. H. — The fishing season 
commenced two weeks earlier this year than usual. 
Trolling for landlocked salmon and trout are on in 
earnest; in fact, a few salmon have already been taken in 
open water near shore. The hatchery on the shore of the 
lake is in a flourishing condition. It contains in embryo 
fish 500,000 lake trout, 400,000 brook trout and about 
65,000 landlocked salmon. The eggs have had the watch- 
ful attention and care of the veteran superintendent, J. 
Randall Sleeper, whose diligence through the long 
winter days and nights gives us such a small percentage 
of lost eggs. 
We think the best trolling is after May 1; then we 
get quieter water and more sunshine. S. H. 
Bristol, N. II., April 26. — Fish and Game Commis- 
sioner Nathaniel Wentworth, of this State, who is ever 
alert to investigate violations of the fish and game laws, 
brought to book two men for having in possession deer 
meat during the closed season. Silas P. Thompson and 
son, Luther C, were brought before Justice Fling at 
Bristol tin the above charge, to which they pleaded guilty 
and were promptly fined $25 each. 
The fishing at "Newfound Lake for landlocked salmon 
and trout is now in full swing, most of the fishermen 
reporting good catches. 
The largest trout taken this season thus far went a 
strong 17 pounds, caught by James S. Farnham, of Bos- 
ton, Mass.; to Paul Lang, of Oxford, N. H, three trout, 
6J/2, loyi and 5 pounds, six salmon, 5, 5, 8, 6j4, 3 and 6 
pounds respectively. Other anglers from Massachusetts 
are doing nearly as well. S. H. 
Address all communications to the Forest and 
Stream Publishing Company, 
