FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Feb. 21, 1903. 
The Detroit Show. 
This has been a gala week in Detroit for all lovers of 
outdoor life, be it afloat or ashore, speeding the highways 
or lazily reclining in a boat; for the hunter and angler 
alike. Nor have the men proven themselves the whole 
thing in the adaptation of the auto, gun, rifle or rod ; the 
interest manifested in all these things by the gentle sex 
of Detroit proves only more conclusively than ever that 
the sweet environment of home can be taken with us 
afield, afloat or awheel. This, the second annual show of 
its kind here, was a success from the start. Each after- 
noon and evening increasing numbers of patrons appeared 
and reappeared until it became a fad. Tuesday night was 
"Society Night." That is, it was one of them. Society 
began doing the show Tuesday night and Avas still doing 
i^ when I left, notwithstanding the fact that each day ana 
each night provided a different variety of indecent 
weather, and the streets a different hue of mud and slush. 
Of automobiles a lot were shown under the manage- 
ment of Wm. E. Metzgar. All the way from "999," the 
fastest thing in the word, down to the pretty little fellow 
that you would like to keep in your den. 
Under the management of Mr. Seneca G. Lewis, of 
The Fletcher Hardware Company, were gathered together 
m.any exhibits of the requisites for the forest and stream. 
As you entered the door you came face to face with a 
booth of Savage rifles under the guardianship of Mr. J. 
E. French, who at all waking hours worked his "demon- 
strator" to the 'coon-capped Canuck and Jefferson avenue 
resident alike, and a range of samples all the way from 
the squatter to the parlor ornament. Mr. French and the 
Savage rifle both made many new friends here. 
Across the aisle to the left. Missionary Caldwell held 
matinees and evening performances with a handsome case 
of Winchesters. The popularity of the rifle and Mr. 
Caldwell in Detroit made it a busy corner. Then came 
representative William C. Beers on the scene, and the re- 
ceptions increased. Many of Mr. Beers' old friends will 
miss him in his itsual haunts, inasmuch as the Winchester 
Company have changed his territory somewhat, giving 
him Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, 
with headquarters and heartfelt interests at Erie. 
Pushing through a well groomed crowd a bit further 
and becoming one of them yourself, you brought up at 
the Marlin stand, and the word passed through the group, 
"Why, there stands 'Buffalo Bill !' " The urchin at your 
elbow says : "Naw, j'^ou geezer ! Bill haint never cut his 
hair that bad." The gentleman proved to be Mr. John 
D. Bethel, talking Marlin rifles as though he were a part 
of them. There were not chairs enough to go round at 
this exhibit. 
In dodging past "999" when it was snorting and passing 
through tires of the great and little kind, a place of 
refuge was found at the headquarters of the U. M. C. 
Company's generous space. Here stood four pretty white 
columns ten feet apart, forming a square, and looped to- 
gether at the top by a bunch of electric lights. These 
columns contained beautifully arranged samples of the 
U. M. C. output in the American trade line. This was 
presided over by Mr. John S. Cole, Jr., at all times, and 
Mr. Jim Head in the evenings. Everybody in Detroit is 
now wearing the U. M. C. button. 
And then one came to the Hunter Arms Co.'s popular 
gun exhibit, under the supervision of Mr. Jos. Marks, 
whose able assistants explained to all comers the virtues 
of tlie L. C. Smith gun. 
There was no busier man in Michigan than Capt. Jack 
Parker, between the management of the "big shoot at 
Grosse Point and the handling of the Peters Cartridge 
end at the show, besides caring for the Parker guns 
there. He must have needed the "rest cure" when it was 
all over. The Peters exhibit was very attractive and two 
assistants needed their eagle eye at all times to keep 
many pieces of this display in the building. The_ Parker 
gitns attracted much attention; the quality shown war- 
ranted it. Then one came to the Lefever Arms Co.'s 
stand, and stood still in admiration. This attraction was 
in good hands; one could hear Lefever and get gun fever 
easily. 
Drifting about among the launches and engines and 
boats and seeing the Hendrix reel and tackle exhibit, a 
wholesome desire to go fishing possessed one and a long- 
ing for the mild days of May and June stole over one, 
only to be chilled by an atmosphere outdoors that made 
one still willing to pay two prices for coal. 
At this show were seen many new devices for speed on 
the road and on the water — electric, steam, gas, naphtha — 
to be applied to anything that will go. Boats of wood and 
boats of steel; big ones and little ones; canoes and pad- 
dles. Of the latter class The Detroit Boat and Oar 
Works, under the personal direction of Mr. J. N. Dodge 
himself, made the finest showing. The $100 gasoline 
launch also excited much interest. 
In the office of Mr. Champion, the head of the dog 
show, was shown a collection of skins from Alaska, in- 
cluding a monster bear skin. Here Mr. Champion 
also showed his collection of skins, heads and birds. 
Li^nder the galleries, all around the big armory, were taste- 
fully displayed private collections of trophies of the hunt, 
Indian relics and blankets. Their art in basket weaving, 
looms, etc., was in evidence. Everybody helped every- 
body else in making the whole show a whole success. 
Lender the inspiring guidance of Mr. Lewis, what at first 
v.'as looked upon with doubt, has bloomed forth an ex- 
hibition for sportsmen worth much travel and money to 
see; and all lovers of the automobile are under obliga- 
tions to Mr. Metzgar for getting together enough attrac- 
tions to suit any hobby and contract many purses and 
speed one on through life at almost any old gait. 
And then one came to the dogs — that is, if one didn't 
go there first — they were heard first, that's sure. While 
this bench show was not held under the auspices of the 
American Kennel Club, it lacked nothing in the way of 
quality or quantity, particularly' in hunting dogs. The 
setter class was a very wholesome lot, with the pointers a 
close second. In Michigan and Canada they have raised 
the standard of the breeding of these dogs to a high de- 
gree, and many a family pet could go away and get honors 
if they could be spared long enough, or if their indulgent 
owners knew their excellent tj^pe, as was shown by Jessie 
W. winning. It was only by the earnest persuasion of 
Mr. James Glenn, of Grosse Point, that Mr. Webber, of 
Ionia, could be induced to let Jessie stop following his 
buggy long enough to take a bath and come to Detroit 
and secure first in everything. She reminds one of Prima 
Donna, only she is better, being better in a shorter coup- 
ling. A. J. Smith, of Detroit, showed seven youngsters of 
one litter and secured a first, second, third and a first with 
them, beside the combination prize. 
W. B. Wells's Selkirk Simon deserved all he got and 
would have had more if it had been there to get. Geo. 
B. Abel's Nellie would show well in awy company. Among 
the Irish setters there were many good ones, and taxed the 
judge to place them right. 
Mr. John Davidson, that able veteran known to our 
own and an older generation, held court in the ring. No 
one questioned this sage's decisions or advised this lover 
of dogs and manly men, this breeder and handler of 
years agone, this Scotchman who is recalled by all the old 
ones,_ including Lewis, Titus, Avent and Waters. I found 
him in a reminiscent mood and after he had dealt kindly 
with these boys, he praised the dogs he had just judged 
and he proclaimed them a "bonnie lot." 
On Thursday night was held what is termed the An- 
nual "Convulsion" of the Exhibitors. It consists of char- 
tering a big electric car with a seating capacity of fifty 
people and with a refrigeratitig plant in one end. They 
leave Detroit at the close of the show and go north thirty 
miles with the right of way and fair wind to a hotel, when 
a meal is served thit can hardly be called dimier and 
neither can it lay claim to breakfast, the hour being inap- 
propriate for either. However, it is a sumptuous meal at 
which the Jones gun man says the Brown gun is the best 
in the world, and the Brown rifle man says there is no 
rifle like the Jones. The rivalry of trade is forgotten, 
and every fellow wants to take care of the other fellow's 
work next day, while the other fellow gets some deserved 
rest. At two A. M. the toastmaster calls the full ones to 
order (the meal having been eaten), and the speeches be- 
gin — "The great and glorious city of Detroit, from its 
geographical location on this vast and wondrous conti- 
net of ours, stands in the fore rank of cities, as an indus- 
trial center reaching out by railroad and steamboat to the 
South and West and East and North, like arteries from 
a pulsating heart, gleams under a sun in its architectural 
beauty, a gateway to the Great Lakes and all the Canadas ; 
its vast boulevards of magnificent residences, its fine pub- 
he buildings and electric railroad lines, an incomparable 
summer atmosphere (in summer), the home of Pingree, 
Maybury and Gillman" and then — "We have been wel- 
comed to this beautiful city of yours like the return of the 
prodi<?a] son; you have done everything to please us and 
gratify us and all that belong to us; the spirit of you De- 
troiters to welcome us strangers is everywhere manifest- 
in the hotels and in electric lights on your buildings ; 
bcotblacks and white-winged waiters smile on us and we 
are at home ;" and then — "Over this festive board of 
curs now cleaned down to the ribs, the sweetmeats of 
eloquence all devoured by those whose exhibit is bigger 
than mine, I want to say a word of my neighbor over 
there. Of this vast gathering of selected men from the 
centers of industries of our country, it is fair to presume 
that not all who are gathered here to-night will be here 
next year. Some may be gathered together elsewhere ; 
others may become presidents of tlieir concerns and hire 
someone else to sit up for them, but there is one among 
us who will retire to fields of clover by the commands 
of her who rules in a greater or less degree all our des- 
tinies. Will we miss him? Ah, yes. As I feel now 
the tears sneaking down my nose, we will miss him. Yes 
— Hello! No. 1313 Main. Are you on that wire yet?" 
"Yes ; don't disturb me now. Mark Anthony is handling 
a friend of mine, and I want to hear the finish." "Can't 
help it. Your two hours are more than up and there is a 
call up there for a doctor." "Hello ! Central, can't I get 
that wire for another hour? Hello!" "Hello! No. 
Wire's engaged." 
By noon all were in their accustomed places of busi- 
ness, glad discoverers of the other fellow's eloquence 
and thankful that he was one of the bunch. 
I was informed that more people attended the show 
the first two nights this week than during the whole week 
last year. This means that in another year the Light 
Guard Armory won't be big enough. 
Detroit, Mich., Feb. 13. X. E. BatTEN. 
Call Docks. 
New York, Feb. 11. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
noticed in your issue of February 7, under heading "Call 
Ducks," an inquiry from M. T. where eggs of such ducks 
can be purchased. I asked an old duck hunter whether he 
had ever heard of such ducks, and he informed me that 
Mr. Elmer Austin — stationed in winter at Zachs Inlet 
Life Saving Station, Long Island, or at his residence, 
Amityville, L. I. — has such ducks, a cross between the 
mallard and black. By writing to him M. T. will likely 
get necessary information. G. A. Orth. 
Waterlily, N. C, Feb. 10. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I notice in your issue of the 7th, M. T. wishes to procure 
some call ducks — gray quackers I call them. I am glad to 
say I can furnish a limited number of eggs or the ducks 
and drakes if preferred. They are a cross between the 
mallard and ordinary mud duck, and almost a perfect imi- 
tation of the mallard. For mallard, black duck, widgeon 
and sprigtail shooting they are the best decoys I ever 
used. When "tied out" _ as decoys they are constantly 
calling at everything in sight — even to blackbirds. 
R. B. White. 
Wildfowl, 
Stockton, Md., Feb. 3. — I have watched the movements 
of our wildfowl for years, and I often think that I have 
ir. down pretty close, yet every now and then they break 
away and do something very different to the law that I 
have laid down. The first week in January, with the 
weather moderate and plenty of feed, the fowl suddenly 
left, and that, too, in one day. There was no apparent 
cause for this, as the bay did not freeze over for at least 
ten days later. After it set in cold, a_ few ducks and brant 
stayed with us among the drifting ice. Now, last week 
it was as warm as spring, and up to Saturday hardly a 
duck to be seen. Monday the whole bay was alive with 
them, thousands and thousands, more than I have ever 
seen here at one time, and, something unusual with us, 
lots of canvasbacks among them. This week the shooting 
is fine, the fowl decoying well like fall birds. Now, where 
all these birds come from I cannot say. It is too early 
for the northern flight to move in such numbers, and 
there has been no storm below to drive them up, or if 
they were north of us there has been no storm to the 
north to drive them back. The movement is a mystery 
to me, as we never look for the biggest flight until the 
latter part of February. It may be we will have a warm 
spring, and the fowl are moving earlier; yet, even then, 
why should they come suddenly in such numbers ? 
O. D. FOULKS. 
— <$> — 
Proprietors of fishing resorts will find it profitable to advertiae 
them in Forest and Stream. 
Trolling for Bass* 
Kalkaska, Mich., Feb. 11. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: The article "Trolling for Bass" in the last 
Forest and Stream fits me exactly; that I mention a few 
remarks. 
Mr. Crugar is right in his conclusions about bait-casting 
for bass. I find, however, that it is a form of sport not 
generally understood. This part of the State boasts of^ 
excellent fishing of all kinds, yet in a town of 1,400 I am 
the only bait-caster. My method caused considerable ex- 
citement a few years ago, when I caught large bass from 
a lake close to toAvn that was supposed to have been 
fished (or speared) dry. 
As I have done as much "thumbing the line" as the 
average enthusiast I am firmly of the opinion that this 
method of fishing for bass cannot be beaten. For speckled 
trout, of course, flies should be used, and often bass, 
especially the small mouth variety, may be taken with flies. 
For the following reasons I prefer casting for bass with 
artificial baits : 
1. It is more sportsmanlike to deftly cast a spoon or 
frog fifty to seventy feet and hook your fish in some out- 
of-the-way corner than it is to impale a minnow on a 
hook and wait for a bite. The modern sportsman uses 
skill in fishing or .shooting and has no dealings with the 
game or fish hog. 
2. It is more economical ; especially if one has to buy 
minnows and frogs of the small boy or dealer. The 
caster's outfit of rod, reel, line, net and a few baits will 
cost less than all the paraphernalia of the bait fisherman. 
3. It is more successful ; your fish will average larger, 
and although at times you will not get a long string, you 
will get sufficient to reward j'our patience and skill. The 
big fish is what we are all after, and the caster gets them 
if anyone does. 
4. You are always ready for the lake or river. There 
is no searching here, there and everywhere for hooks and 
sinkers and buckets and anchors. You take your rod and 
t?ckle box from your cabinet and you are ready for the 
companion — that sine qua non for a good outing. 
5. It lessens the tendency to pot-fishing. You get inter- 
ested in the art of casting, such fishing requires skill and 
practice; soon half your pleasure is in putting the baits, 
ai;d you are content to leave a few fish for another day. 
A few hints to those who may wish to try this method 
of fishing for bass may he useful. Get the best outfit your 
purse allows, and it is cheaper in the end and more satis- 
factory. A rod need not be over six feet in length; this 
is the best average length ; the weight about six ounces ; 
a good quadruple, free running reel made especially for 
ca,sting and holding 60 or 80 yards of line; the line should 
be of silk and made expressly for this kind of work; a 
landing net and a few good baits will complete the outfit. 
My own favorite baits are a bucktail with one 4/0 hook 
attached to small spoon, an artificial frog with two good 
hooks, a Payson weedless casting hook. There are hun- 
dreds of other baits on the market, but they are not neces- 
sary. Wm. Childs, 
Artificial Salmon Culture in America 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your issue for 7th inst., Mr. R. B. Marston, editor of 
the Fishing Gazette, of London, England, asks for some 
authentic information as to the results of artificial Salmon 
culture in America. He states that certain Scientific gen- 
tlemen in England deny that Salmon culture, by means of 
Hatching-houses, has been a success anywhere, so far as 
stocking rivers with fish or increasing the catch is con- 
cerned. These scientific gentlemen, he informs us, be- 
ing convinced that the only success achieved in America, 
as in Europe, has been in collecting ova, hatching out fry, 
and planting millions of young Salmon at enormous ex- 
pense, from which no practical results have been obtained, 
are using their influence to prevent any more of the public 
funds being wasted in chasing rainbows, and he wants 
some authentic information that will enable him to com- 
bat the statements of these gentlemen who have looked 
for fish and found only oodles of ova and figures of fry. 
If Mr. Marston will take the trouble to examine the 
words and figures found in the Government Reports of 
Canada since Fish-culture was made a Public Work — 
which Reports he will find in the Canadian High Commis- 
sioner's office in London — he will, if an honest man, side 
with the Scientific gentlemen and lend them his aid to pre- 
vent any further waste of public money. 
In his Report on Salmon-culture for the year 1881, 
after 13 years' costly experiments with Government 
money, Mr. Samuel Wilmot, late Superintendent of Fish- 
culture in Canada, confessed to total failure, so far as 
Ontario was concerned, and gave up hatching any more 
Salmon or Trout ova in the Ontario house. His words 
are given verbatim et literatim in your last issue in Part 
VII. of my Reminiscences. After eight years' costly oper- 
ations in the Hatching-houce on Dunk River, P. E. Island, 
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the planting of over 
6,000,000 young Salmon in the rivers of that island, the 
result was total failure and the house has rotted down 
since it was abandoned in 18S7. Salmon are no longer 
quoted in the fisheries statistics of the island. 
The Departmental Report for 1874 (the year the Hatch- 
ing-houses were built) shows that the Salmon catch in 
New Brunswick waters was 3,214,182 pounds. In 1901, 
the last year for which the figures-are given, the catch had 
fallen to 1,235,350 pounds, and yet in the years between 
