264 
[Sept. 24, 190* 
fishermen what, in their opinion, was the cause of this 
variation, and while many professed ignorance in the 
matter, most of them said the change was due to the 
bottom over which the cod were feeding. Haddock also 
show this variation, but not in such high degree as the 
other. Pollock do not show much difference in colora- 
tion ; in a hundred of these fish of all sizes, one can detect 
but slight variation. This may be accounted for perhaps 
by the fact that they are mostly surface feeders, and as 
their range is wide their coloration is not affected by the 
character of the bottom any more than is that of mackerel, 
bluefish, squeteague, etc. , 
Apropos of pollock, I find, according to the last Fisheries 
Report, that it ranks third in importance among the com- 
mercial fishes caught last year in the Dominion waters. 
In the preceding Report there is printed the following 
strong, protest against the destruction of pollock by 
dynamite : 
'The methods employed by many avaricious fishermen 
this year on the pollock grounds at Grand Manan have 
been the subject of much sharp and bitter criticism all 
through the Maritime Provinces. I refer to the killing of 
them by exploding dynamite- cartridges in their midst, by 
which means, no doubt, half of the fish are lost to the 
fishermen by their not coming to the surface after the 
explosion. A law should be enacted prohibiting the land- 
ing of fish killed by dynamite, and also the fitting out of 
boats for this unpopular method of fishing. It is the 
unanimous desire that this dynamiting should be stamped 
out completely, and it seems that a law as outlined above 
would be effective." 
Diligent inquiry among fishermen, conducted as quietly 
as possible, seems to lead to the belief that this nefarious, 
method of capturing the pollock still exists. Of course,, 
no one will say outright that, of his own knowledge, it is 
still carried on; but such an inference may readily be 
drawn. If it is continued, there may be a necessity for 
combined efforts on the nart of the American and. 
Dominion governments, for it is a serious menace to one 
of our most valuable food fishes, which, according to the 
report above named, shows in the catch of that year a de- 
crease of about 4,000 quintals less than that of the preced- 
ing year. 
Fishes at the World's Fair. 
The fish tribe have the advantage of having a special 
building devoted to their interests, that of the United 
States Fisheries Commission. There the young of the 
black-spotted trout, brook trout, shad, and other species 
may be seen, and the process of hatching them witnessed. 
Around the building is a covered gallery or closed arcade 
lined with aquaria, those on one side being for fresh water, 
fish, such as trout (black-spotted, rainbow, lake, Dolly 
Varden, brook or speckled, and the imported Loch Leven 
and brown), whitefish, maskinonge, pike-perch, pike, gol- 
den ide, goldfish, catfish, paddle fish, buffalo fish, carp,, 
lake sturgeon, and numerous kinds of gar, bass, catfish,, 
sunfish and perch. Among the brook trout are a number 
of albinos. A portion of this exhibit is by the State of 
Illinois. 
The salt-water aquaria contain the sheepshead, conger 
eel, triggerfish, mullet, sea catfish, pigfish, squirrelfish,, 
coney, channel bass, Nassau grouper, the tautog, with its 
almost human lips ; the winter flounder, flat as a sheet of 
paper, and effacing itself in the sand, from which it 
scarcely differs in color; the curious triangular trunkfish,, 
marked with conventional star-shaped patterns, as if 
dressed in calico; the toadfish, an ugly fellow, bearing a 
striking resemblance to his terrestrial namesake; and the 
angelfish, of the Gulf coast, with its great wing-like fins 
which give it some resemblance to the fallen variety of 
angel at least. There are also lobsters, terrapin,, hermit 
crabs, horseshoe crabs, blue or edible crabs, living conch 
shells, and various other forms of marine life, to say 
nothing of the vitoscopic pictures elsewhere that one can 
hardly believe to be other than living. 
In the middle of the building is a tank belonging to the 
State of New Jersey, in which terrapin swim and crawl 
and a number of seals bask, swim and frolic, to the great 
delight of all visitors, to whom their almost human intelli- 
gence is a constant source of wonder. * 
Somewhat similar, and equally popular, is the tank in 
the Forestry building filled with beavers from Canada, 
who are constantly swimming to and fro with their flat, 
spade-like tails, gnawing sticks, or attempting to build 
them up into dams, delicately washing their food, or 
otherwise making themselves interesting. 
There are several exhibits of living fish in the same 
building, most notable of which are those of Pennsylvania 
and Missouri. The Missouri aquaria illustrate several of 
the brilliant successes of the Government fish propaga- 
tion work. Besides fish native to the State, like the black 
bass, grass pike, croppie, sunfish, bullhead and channel 
catfish, and the imported German mirror and leather carp, 
to say nothing of inedible species like the dogfish and 
gar, there is a fine exhibit of rainbow trout and brook 
trout from the mountain streams of the Ozark region 
which have been successfully stocked. 1 he rainbow trout 
now ascend the Missouri streams every spring. They 
have become abundant in the Niangu River (.including 
Lake Hahatonka), the Merrimac springs and Blue Spring, 
on the Merrimac River, and are frequently found in the 
Currant River. 
The brook trout are found in the Merrimac, Piney, and 
Gascondy, and even the grayling, which is of very recent 
introduction, is beginning to appear. 
Bequest of a Trout Pocket. 
Denver, Colo., Sept. 8— Last fall, just a little later in 
the season than the present, I was coming up from 
Chama, in the southern part of the State, to Denver. In 
order to make time. I had taken a Denver and Rio 
Grande freight train, which promised to land me in Ala- 
mosa in time for connection with an early north-bound 
passenger. As we approached the summit of Cumbres 
pass, some 10,000 feet in altitude, the drawhead of a flat 
car parted, and I missed that Alamosa train by several 
hours: But I do not regret the delay; it opened up to me 
one of the finest trout streams it has ever been my good 
fortune to visit. I have never said a word about it to 
a soul, promising in my own mind to again visit the spot 
and have a "hack" at those handsome fat fellows. It 
came about this way : 
The delay necessitated the despatch from Chama of a 
wrecking crew. Jack, the jolly conductor, "allowed" that 
this would mean three or four hours waste of time. 
Mike, the witty Irish "brakie," hazarded that we might 
kill the time and a few likely trout for the home folks 
if we only had a piece of string and a few threads of 
colored yarn, there being no flies in the caboose com- 
missary. Luckily, I had half a dozen royal-coachmen 
in my pocketbook, given me by an enthusiastic sportsman 
a few days previous, and Mike scrimmaged, up a few 
yards of coarse wrapping twine. A heavy jack-knife 
soon converted a couple of willow wands into six-foot 
rods, and, with a battery of three royals each, we , were 
soon casting in the narrow little creek a few rods from 
the railroad track. It is Wolf Creek, I think. 
The water was so low that one could stride the, brook 
in many places, but there were some deep holes. The 
cold nights had given the stream a frappe temperature, 
the frosts had killed off most of the flies and bugs, and 
those gentle trout were just lying in wait, for Mike 
and me. 
It was something like taking prize candy from the 
neighbor's baby. Talk about rises. Why, those little 
scamps just fell over each other and broke off fins in 
their efforts to be "next" first. A couple of crocus sacks 
served as creels, and they were in requisition from the 
moment we hit the stream. Approach a deep pool from 
the shady side, drop the flies gently, and start to draw 
them back. There was a rush as of a myriad hungry 
fellows, and, after a short play, in would wriggle three 
little beauties. Not so little, either, as trout go, for some 
of them measured thirteen inches, and very few were 
less than nine. Back into the same pool again, and the 
first operation was repeated. Never saw such avid little 
devils, and yet they were not thin and skinny. Nearly 
every one' was of the native variety, and they fought like 
Japanese soldiers. A strange thing was that in some of 
the pools one would not get a single rise, though the lit- 
tle fellows could be ■ seen swimming about in happy 
abandon, while in the next pool we could not feed 'em 
artificial flies fast enough. Four times within two hours 
I made a three-ply killing, and rested with forty-seven 
to my credit. I am sure that another trout Would have 
run me over the limit, though I did not weigh my catch. 
As to Mike — well, I am constrained to write him down a 
"game hog." He said he was "fishing for the babies' at 
home and the neighbors, too, and that he did not have 
such an opportunity moreen onCe a year, and durned if 
he wasn't goihg to get all that was comin' to him." And 
he did — some ten pounds over the limit. However, he 
had to divide with the conductor and engineer, and his 
claim that they had "fished vicariously," though tie did 
not quite express it that way, had much to do with lull- 
ing my conscience into forgiveness, 
j A ten-year-old freckle-faced boy who could not kill the 
limit in three hours on that stream should be spanked 
and sent to bed without supper. I had intended saving 
this pretty streamlet that flows into Chama River for my 
own and the delectation of a few friends, but I am leav- 
ing Colorado's gold-girt mountains and purling streams 
next week, so I bequeath it to him who will. The place 
•is far away from the usual haunts of man; there is only 
a section house at the summit of the pass, and few, in- 
deed, are they who loiter that way. May my knowledge 
benefit some brother reader: of Forest and Stream. 
DlLWORTH ChOATE. 
Susquehanna River Fishing Notes. 
Saybe, Pa., Sept. 10.— Reports say that for some' time 
past illegal fishing has been daily indulged in on the 
Susquehanna from Ulster to the State line. Tuesday 
evening, September 6, Special Game and Fish Inspector 
W. E; Shoemaker, of Laceyville, assisted by policeman 
Spencer Brougham, of Sayre, rounded up a company of 
illegal anglers consisting of J. Hall, Al. COhn, J. M. 
Hoose, and J. E. Bliser, and before Justice Murray, of 
Sayre, the first named pair paid a fine and costs amount- 
ing to $30. The last named paid a like sum, and in addi- 
tion the cost of a suit of clothes which officer Shoemaker 
ruined in. effecting the capture of Hoose, who endeavored 
to elude the officer by jumping into the river. Shoemaker 
is made of the right metal, and promptly followed his 
man- into the water, effecting his capture at the point of 
a revolver.- : - 
Later the same evening officer Shoemaker captured Ed- 
ward: A. Cole and his son Claude, who had in their boat 
an illegal gig and two rock bass. Cole and his son plead 
."not guilty," and qualified in the sum of $200 to appear 
before Justice Murray September 13 for. trial. 
If :this , preliminary move against the fish law violators 
•results in the disruption of the notorious combine that 
has for several months operated along the Susquehanna, 
it will be heartily appreciated by all law-abiding anglers. 
Ideal fishing conditions continue to prevail in Susque- 
hanna waters, and the bass are biting plenty good. 
.. ;., -. M. Chill. 
A Pittsfiefd Set Line. 
Emile Jardan, Louis J. Marcelle and Carl Bolzer were 
in the district court of Pittsfield, Mass., the other day, 
reports the Springfield Republican, charged with vio- 
lating the fish and game laws. The complainants were 
Game Warden 1 W. K. Henry and Special Police Officer 
Worth Stearns. The officers found the denfendarits fish- 
ing in Onota Lake Sunday morning at 4 o'clock, using a 
line 1,000 feet long, on which were 200 hooks. 1 The de- 
fendants pleaded guilty. A fine of $20 is the minimum 
in a case of this kind, and the court fixed the fine on 
Marcelle, with the agreement that Jardan should pay half 
the amount, which he did. Bolzer, who had no part in 
setting the line, was fined $2.50. ' ■ 
TRIAL RACES FOR CANADA'S CUP 
CHALLENGER. , 
It is more than probable that American-designed and 
built yachts will participate in two, if not three, inter- 
national events in 1905. The Royal Canadian Y. C. has 
already accepted the Rochester Y. C.'s challenge for the 
Canada's cup; the Oshkosh Y. C. has filed a challenge 
with the Royal St. Lawrence Y. C, and unless a challenge 
is received from an English club, it is likely the former 
will be accepted ; and Sir Thomas Lipton has signified 
a willingness to have another try for the America's cup, 
provided he can find a designer to whom he can intrust 
the work of turning out a worthy challenger. 
Of the three events, the races for the Canada's cup will 
be of the greatest benefit to yachting in general. The rules 
under which the contesting boats are designed are reason- 
ably sure to produce vessels of good speed and permanent 
value, as was exemplified in the cases of Strathcona and 
Irondequoit, the last two contenders for the trophy. 
The challenging and defending clubs have decided on 
smaller boats for the next contest, and the size adopted — 
jo-footers — has met with general approval, and we believe 
the reduction in size was a sensible move for many 
. reasons, principally because. \% wi31'rr)ean. more 'tFiaJ .boats , 
on both sides for the right to compete for final honors. 
Racing boats are excessively expensive in original cost 
and final running, and the size in every case should be 
kept down as small as is compatible with the dignity of 
the event. Up to a certain point it is just as much a test 
of designer's skill, crew's seamanship, and skipper's 
cleverness in small boats as in large, particularly when the 
helmsman is to be an amateur. 
For the benefit of the club and the sport at large, we 
sincerely hope the Rochester organization will see its way 
clear to throw open the trial races for the selection of a 
challenger to all boats enrolled in any recognized yacht 
club in the United States. It is not likely that anv but 
clubs located on the lakes would enter trial horses, but it 
would in no way detract from the club's distinction in the 
event if a yacht from another club were selected as a 
challenger, The challenger would of course sail under 
the Rochester Y. C. burgee. If the club were to do this, 
it would create a very favorable impression among yachts- 
men, and would undoubtedly add to its prestige. 
The Rochester Y. C. won the last races by a very nar- 
row margin, and the result was due to better handling 
rather than to superiority of Irondequoit's design over 
that of Strathcona: The death of Arthur j?ayne/ the emi- 
nent English designer, which gentleman turned out the 
boats for the Canadian club, will make the task easier 
" for the Americans; but granting this to be the case, no 
stone should be left unturned to secure the fastest possible 
boat as a challenger. There is no better way of doing this 
than by permitting outside competition in the trial races. 
There are a number of keen racing men in Detroit who 
would no doubt come to the fore if given an opportunity, 
and the Chicago men would be represented without a 
question by two or three, if not more, boats. Now that 
1 the Chicago Y. C, is offering a thousand dollar trophy for 
boats of the. size selected for the Canada's cup races, a 
good fleet of new craft is doubly certain. 
Aside from the good racing these boats would afford, 
they would prove a better investment for the owner than 
is usual in the case of most racing vessels. They can be 
run economically, one paid hand should suffice, and the un- 
successful boats would make the foundation for a fine class 
of racing cruisers on the Great Lakes. Boats of this, size 
have been extremely popular in the East for racing and 
cruising. No finer vessels cart be found anywhere than 
the Buzzard's Bay 30-footers, or the more recent Bar 
Harbor 30-footers. Keeping such craft in mind, the 
western yachtsmen should profit by the experience gained 
