8B8 
(ApRit 30, 1904. 
followed by the worried face of the mother. • 
"Say, Uncle Ed, didn't you say I could go?" 
"Why yes, Em, let him go ; I'll look out for him, and 
fishing is good for boys." 
But the mother could hardly believe that her baby was 
big enough to go Jishing, and it was only after a fall of 
bitter, but ^ still hopeful tears, that it was arranged that 
the boy might go, but the mother and an aunt were to 
follow to see no harm came to the party. 
While the boy keenlj-^ felt the humiliation of having the 
mother follow, still the fact of going with the other fel- 
lows made him feel quite like a man. 
They followed the main road, down through the pretty 
village, past the blacksmith's shop, where that morning 
the boy had watched a yoke of oxen shod, till they 
reached the brook, which, with numberless turns and 
crooks, winds for nearly a mile down through a long, 
green meadow, without tree or bush, with many a deep 
pool, homes of numberless pickerel, perch, pout and sun- 
fish, and an occasional trout. 
Just below the bridge is a big deep hole, where the 
brook broadens out into a miniature pond, just right for 
boys to fish in. And here, after hooks were baited, four 
corks serenely floated while as many fishers anxiously 
awaited "bites." 
Soon the boy's cork was jerked under, and with a 
mighty pull the line and bare hook whizzed through the 
air. 
"Next time let him have it till he has a chance to swal- 
low the bait," admonished the uncle, but in a minute the 
operation was repeated. Soon, however, when another 
bite came he waited — waited till the cork went down, 
down out of sight, and the boy must pull, or be pulled 
into the brook, it seemed, and then — the boy had caught 
his first fish, a goodly pout. 
Then, perhaps, he wasn't glad to have the mother and 
the aunt smiling down on him from the bridge, and they 
must needs come down to the bank and admire it, and 
"heft" it, which they did after the uncle had strung it 
on a forked stick. 
After the man had shown him how to take a pout off 
the hook without getting "horned," the boy's hook was 
rebaited and he again cast in. 
During this time the others had been successful and the 
water pail boiled with captives. After the boy had caught 
another pout and a kiver, which "horned" him cruelly, 
bringing the tears which would come in spite of him, 
his cork was pulled down stream with such a mighty tug 
that the pole was nearly jerked from his hands. 
With a long, strong pull, he threw, flopping, on the 
bank behind him, the most wonderful fish he had ever 
seen, with mottled back, white belly, red fins edged with 
black and white, and the prettiest red and gold spots on 
its sides, a splendid trout, over a foot long, plump and in 
the best of condition. 
That was twenty-seven years ago, years full of joys 
and sorrow, during which the boy has fished on every 
possible opportunity, has learned much in the school of 
experience, and has taken other boys fishing just as the 
uncle did on that memorable evening so long ago. 
For nearly a decade the uncle has lain in the grave yard 
on the side hill overlooking that same brook. How often 
the boy wonders whether his uncle is now where quiet 
streams run through green meadows, and if the fishing 
is good, and whether they shall not some time wander 
again together through meadows and woods as they did 
so many times in those happy days. W. 
Worcester, Ap ril 11. . 
Fish and Fishing. 
A Backward Spring, . 
Some of my correspondents in the United States have 
been calling me to account for failing to say anything in 
these columns about the spring prospects for trout fish- 
ing in Canada. The fact of the matter is, however, that 
so far there are no prospects here, either of spring or of 
trout fishing. We are within a week of the first of May 
at present writing, and there are still from two to three 
feet of snow in the northern woods, while all the lakes 
and smaller streams are still covered with ice, which also 
extends from shore to shore of the St. Lawrence, within 
ten miles of the city of Quebec. The weatherwise say 
that the prospects are for continued cold weather for 
another week or ten days, and that spring, or rather the 
summer, will be on with a rush at the expiration of that 
period. Local anglers are not overmuch disappointed at 
the lateness of the season, for it is a well-known fact 
that the best fishing is experienced, in northern Canada, 
in those seasons which open the latest, and though the 
law permits trout fishing from the first of May in the 
Dominion, it is generally long past the middle of the 
month before the fishing can be called good. 
I have not heard yet of any American anglers who in- 
tend to be here on their way to their fishing preserves in 
the Lake St. John country before the last week of May, 
and the open fishing for the big trout of Lake Edward 
is scarcely likely to be at its best before the 20th of the 
month, although the fish commence to take bait beneath 
the surface of this body of water as soon as the ice has 
broken up and even before it has altogether disappeared. 
It is understood that the management of the Amabalish, 
the Triton and the Nonamtum clubs expects many of 
their members for the spring fishing this year, and many 
inquiries are being made as to the progress of the season. 
It will not be safe to count upon good ouananiche fish- 
ing in the Grand Discharge before the middle of June, 
and, in fact, it is unlikely that the hoteL there will open 
before the loth or 15th of the month. But in the mouths 
of the rivers flowing into the lake and round about its 
shores, within a few days of the departure of the ice, 
there will be, no doubt, good sport, the ouananiche gen- 
erally rising in these localities from about the 15th or 
20th of May. 
From correspondents in Michigan and Ontario, I learn 
that the season there is also extremely backw;ard. 
A Chicago friend writes very complainingly of the laws 
of some of the Northern States which forbid the visiting 
angler from carrying away his catch, so that my corre- 
spondent says that it detracts from the pleasure of netting 
a two-pound brook trout, to know, when it is landed, that 
you can't send it to the loved ones at hprpe as proof of 
your prowess. The Cam^iap laws are more considerate 
to the , angler, permitting him, as they, do,, , to take away 
with him, the result of a reasonable two .days' catch. 
E. T., D. Chambers. 
When Do Fish Bite Best? 
New York, April 20.— Editor Forest and Stream: I 
read lately in the New York Sun about large game fish 
not feeding early in the morning, and the writer of the 
article mentioned the big bass of Keuka Lake as being ex- 
amples of this alleged fact. I would like to have an 
expression from your readers on the morning feeding of 
trout, pike, bass and pike perch. As to bass, I recall that 
in Schroon Lake the fishermen and their bait had to be 
on the grounds before sunrise or there was no string to 
bring home. Up at Port Henry, men who take the great 
pike perch in the channel between Chimney Point, Vt., 
and Fort Frederick (Crown Point), hie there with their 
pail of shiners, or brook chubs, not later than 4 A. M. 
and never fish after warm sun up. They often make 
great hauls before breakfast— with the lines, of course. 
For three or four years I trolled for pike along the 
Vermont shores, from Chimney Point to Potash Bay, 
using a plain kidney spoon (Bull), and used to have 
splendid success with these huge wolves, just as the sun 
was rising, and also just as it was sinking behind old 
Bald Peak on the west shore back of my home. Either 
time was good, and I confidently expected a strike in 
certain bays and at well known points at these points 
du jour. There were some days when the pike and pick- 
erel bit all day long and I recall my record catch, seven 
pike, total 33 pounds, so heavy that I called for the horse 
and wagon to carry them from the boat house homeward. 
The largest weighed 9 pounds, and there was not a 
really small fish in the string. This luck fell to me one 
holiday afternoon in front of a bunch of bulrushes. I 
fished for about an hour, all in one place, and had a lot 
of sport with the largest fish,- which was hooked merely 
by a piece of loose membrane that kept giving as the line 
was pulled. A lady v/ho watched the fight with a field 
glass told some nice things about the method of capture 
which the angler supposed were unobserved. 
At Eagle Lake, while pike bite somewhat early, it is 
almost unwritten law to begin fishing for bass (small 
mouthed) and perch before about 6 A. M., and people 
mostly ..start out for success even one hour later. To 
begin earlier is considered a waste of time. 
I have never found an hour too early to catch brook 
trout, and they will bite until dark. They are night 
feeders, for I have, caught them, in wild mountain streams 
early in the day when their craws were literally packed 
with big "June bugs." I have often wondered how bass 
could be caught after dark. A celebrated New York fur- 
rier told me of his success in New Jersey anchoring out 
and casting in toward shore, using an imitation mouse 
as a lure.- Pie said he had excellent luck last year. 
While trolling with a spoon I have taken at various 
times a chub, several clams, perch without number, 
pumpkin seeds, one bullhead, two or three pike perch, 
one of those white spine-rayed fish that we call "sheeps- 
head," on Champlain. and considerable pickerel weed. 
I would like to hear what the brothers have had strike 
their "spoons." Peter Flint. 
New York Fish and Game Legislation. 
Albany, April.— The following bills introduced in the Legisla- 
ture amending the forest, fish and game law have been signed 
thus far by Governor Odell: 
Assemblyman Coutant's (889—979), providing that set-lines and 
tip-ups may be used in fishing through the ice in Ulster county 
in waters not inhabited by trout. 
Assemblyman Reeve's (376— 15S7), providing that the possession 
of wild deer or venison between Aug. 31 and the first Wednesday 
after the first Tuesday in November, and between the second 
I'Viday after the first Tuesday and Nov. 20, shall be conclusive evi- 
dence of a violation of this section, unless it appeal that the 
same was lawfully killed within this State, or was killed without 
the State. 
Senate Committee's (611—730), providing for the creation of a 
State park m the Catskill Mountains, to be located in Ulster, Sul- 
livan and Delaware counties, and giving the public the right to 
use it at all times. 
Assemblyman J. T. Smith's (293—771), relative to the close 
season for deer in Dutchess county. 
Assemblyman G. H. Whitney's (741—876), relative to perch 
fishing in Saratoga Lake. 
Senator Barnes' (410—987), forbidding the sale of trout caught 
in the waters of Rensselaer and Essex counties. 
Assemblyman Simpson's (1140—1527), authorizing the sale of 
the building on the abandoned Beaver Kill hatchery in Sullivan 
county. 
Senate Committee's (630— 800), defining the boundaries of the 
Adirondack Park. . 
Assemblyman C. R. Matthews' (687—807), making the close sea- 
son for lake trout from Oct. 1 to April 15, both inclusive, with 
certain exceptions. 
In addition to the preceding bills amending the forest, fish 
and game law, signed by the Governor, the following bills passed 
the Legislature and are before the Governor awaiting his action: 
Assemblyman Harvey's (482—848), providing that the close 
season for black bass in Seneca Lake shall be from Jan. 1 to 
Sept. 15, both inclusive. 
Assemblyman Robmscn's (1090—1416), providing that carp shall 
not be placed in Conesus and Hemlock lakes, Livingston county. 
Senate Committee's (783—1013), concurrent resolution proposing 
an amendment to the Constitution authorizing the Legislature to 
direct the removal of dead timber on burned areas in the forest 
preserve so far as necessary for the purposes of reforestation. 
Senator Eton R. Brown's (472— 852), providing for the acquisition 
of sites for fish hatcheries. 
Senate Committee's (611—730), creating the Catskill State Park. 
Senate Committee's (630 — 800), defining the boundaries of the 
Adirondack Park. 
Senate Committee's (818—1126), providing for continuing the 
acquisition of land in the Adirondack and Catskill parks. 
Assemblyman Cocks' (1178 — 1594), providing that gray squirrels 
shall not be taken or killed or possessed at any time in Nassau 
ccunty. 
Assemblyman F. C. Wood's (950 — 1182), increasing the annual 
compensation of game protectors- from $500 to $600, and increasing 
their yearly allowance for expenses from .$450 to $600. 
Assemblyman , Reeve's (438 — 477), allo\\jj£ig leases . of oyster 
lands to be renewed for terms of fifteen years. 
Assemblyman Cowan's (518 — ^1297), providing that there shall 
be no open season for Mongolian ring-necked , pheasants, and 
that they shall not be killed or possessed, except in Suffolk 
county, prior to 1910. 
Assemblyman Denisons' (1100—1455), providing that wildfowl 
shall not , be taken in the night in Black River Bay, Jefferson 
county, from sunset until daylight. 
Assemblyman Wolf's (383-^886), relative to fishing in Jamaica 
Bay and adjacent waters. 
Assemblyman G. H. Whitney's (552—1794), relative to fish and 
game in Saratoga county. 
Assemblyitian Graeff's (1267—1761), prtsvidiisg that no fish shall 
be caught through the ice in Lake Champlain less than five 
inches in length. 
Assemblyman Dickinson's (16^—883), relative to the close sea- 
sons for hares, rabbits, foxes, trout, etc., in Cortland county.'"" 
Assemblyman F. C. Wood's (1202— 2032), providing for re- 
stocking the Adirondack i-egion with moose and elk. 
Senator Malby's (538—1049), relative to -fishing in certain waters 
in St". Lawrence county. 
Assemblyman Cook's (115— 1470), relative to the close season fo*- 
trout, in - Erie county. ' - ' . 
Senator Le Fevre's (326—10,41), relative to the close season for 
grouse, woodcock and quail in Orange and Ulster counties. 
Senate Committee's (481—754), amending the game law generally. 
Sena'for Townsend',-? (266— 281), . providing that trout caught in 
the forest preserve shall not be offered for sale or Sold. 
Senate Committee's (951 — 1363), to prevent waste of the timber 
ill the forest preserves killed by forest fires. 
Senator Townsend's (12 — 853), providing for the protection sf 
wild black bear. 
. Senate Committee's (668 — ^1014), relative to the prevention of 
forest fires. ' 
Senator Malby's (758 — 980), relative to the proceeds of actions 
brought by the, people for violations of the forest, fish and game 
law. 
San Ffancisco Fly-Castingf Club. 
Medal Contests— Contest No. 4, held at Stow Lake, 
April 9. Wind, east; weather, fair. 
Event 
Event 
Event 
No. 1, 
No. 2, 
No. 4, 
Distance, Accuracy, 
, Event No. 8.- 
Feet 
Per cent. 
Acc. < 
"Del < Net < Casting < 
c. 
...sgy. 
90.8 
93.8 
85,10 
89.9 
88.1 
T. 
W. Brotherton .. 
84 
89.4 
91.8 
90.6 
96.3 
A. 
F. Mocker. . 
..981/2 
88.8 
94.8 
79.2 
86.11 
G. 
C. Edwards. 
.. 93 
89 
93 
95 
94 
83.7 
C. 
89 
92. 8 
92 
93.4 
92.8 
98.3 
T. 
C. Kierulff 
, 73 
89 ■ 
88.4 
85.10 
87.1 
96.7 
F. 
93.8 
94.4 
84.2 
89.3 
96.7 
G. 
91.4 
88.4 
89.10 
F. 
H. Reed 
80 
90.4 
97 
90.10 
93.11 
*E. A. Mocker.. 
..100 
Re-entry. 
Contest No. 4, held at Stow Lake, April 10. Wind, 
northeast; weather, clear. 
C. G. Young.. 
. 83 
88.12 
88.8 
87.6 
88.1 
F. H. Reed... 
. 87 
91.4 
93 
95 
94 
J. 0. Harron. . 
83.4 
73.8 
77.6 
75.7 
H. B. Sperrv.. 
'. 87 
84 
. 87.4 
90 
88.8 
T. B. Kenniff.. 
.1123/2 
91.4 
93.8 
89.2 
91.5 
"C. R. Kenniff. 
. 93 
91.4 
87.8 
96.8 
92.2 
G. W. Lane.... 
94.4 
95 
94.8 
Chas. Huyck.. 
." 88 
93.4 
89.8 
85.10 
87.9 
Ed. Everett 
. 981/2 
92.8 
92.4 
90.10 
91.7 
F. M. Haieht. 
. 78 
91 
79.8 
79.2 
79.5 
H. C. Golcher.lll 
91.8 
86.8 
91.8 
89.2 
74 
84.8 
85.4 
88.4 
86.10 
G. H. Fculks. 
. 83 
85 
87.8 
87.6 
87.7 
T. C. Kierulff. 
. 80 
92.8 
90 
88.4 
89.3 
*F. H. Reed.. 
. 82 
Re-entries. 
F. H. Reed... 
. 82 
F. M. Haight. 
. 70 
88.4 
89 
85.8 
87.10 
T. 0. Harron.. 
77.4 
70.10 
74.1 
"G. H. Foulks. 
! 81 . 
88.8 
92.4 
85 
88.8 
T. C. Kierulff. 74% 
90 
86 
90 
88 
Ed. Everett. . . 
90 
H. C. Golcher 
89.4 
H. B. Sperry.. 
88.8 
A. S. Sperry.. 
83.4 
C. R. Kenniff.. 94 .. .. .. .. .. 
Judges, H. B. Sperry, J. B. Kenniff. Refe«-ee, G«p. 
W. Lane. Clerk, F. M. Haight. 
Hints and Wrinkles. 
Readers are invited to send for publication under this head 
hints and wrinkles drawn from practical experience, and 
pertaining to shooting, fishing, camping and outdoor life. 
A Rubber "Wriofele. 
Now that cameras of some sort are so oiten carried 
into the woods by shooters, anglers and canoeists, anything 
lhat will make their use less complicated is generally read 
with interest; hence I hazard mentioning a wrinkle which, 
Vvhile not original, is very handy, and has saved me no 
end of trouble during the four or five years I have used 
it. This is a substitute for a focusing cloth. It consists 
cf a heavy rubber band that will fit snugly aijound the 
camera, and a bit of rubber cloth sewed round the band. 
In form it exactly resembles the elastic cuffs sometimes 
worn by stenographers of the weaker sex. The rubber 
band should be a half-inch wide, and long enough so that 
it will merely fit the back of the camera snugly, yet not 
so tight as to jar the box while it is being removed for 
inserting the plate-holder. The rubber cloth should be 
long enough to encircle the camera easily. The ends are 
sewed together., leaving the form like that of a bag with- 
out a bottom. One end is then turned over enough to 
take in the band, then hemmed. The other end is 
trimmed, leaving the bag a foot or fourteen inches in 
length. Any woman can sew this bag in ten minutes, on 
a machine o,r by hand. 
In use this bag is slipped over the back of the camera 
after the latter has been set up on its tripod, and the rub- 
ber band in the forward end will keep it in place, no mat- 
ter how hard the wind blows, and at the same time 
exclude the light, which is the object sought in the use 
cf any sort of screen. You poke your head into the rear 
end, and both hands are free to manipulate the instru- 
ment instead of making apparently insane motions every 
second in order to. keep a focusing cloth within reach. 
With a box camera it will be necessary to remove the 
heed before inserting the plate-holder, but with the cycle 
STyle camera so generally used now the hood can be left 
in place, which gives it additional value. A hood of this 
5ort is so compact it can be crushed in a. wad, or folded, 
and stowed away in the camera, where it will occupy no 
mere space than a silk handkerchief. 
Perry D. Frazer. 
Jifr. Plane (who is fond of dogs) — "Miss Waite, don't 
you think you ought to have an intelligent animal about 
(he house that wotdd protect you and • " Miss 
Waite— "Oh, Mr. Plane! This is so sudden."— Philadel- 
phia Press. ^ 
Mrs. Simple Newleywed — "I want you to send around' 
a gallon of midnight oil." Grocer — -"Midnight oil? Never 
heard of it." Mrs. Simple Newleywed— "Why, I'm sure 
that's the kind my husband's mother said he alwa3's 
burned."— Brookljm Life. 
All communications for Forest and Stream «n<^f he 
diidcted to Forest and Stream Pub. Co., Ne^ York, to> 
receive attention. We. <^fA'. 
