Tm 18, 1905.1 
FOREST AND STRE 
1S0 
Ault^s Landing* 
"Let's go down to Ault's." 
What fond memories the mention of this river landing 
brings to mind. When I was a youngster and lived in 
Leesburg I was a member of the gang that used to fre- 
quent this point on the Potomac. Who of us boys could 
ever forget the happy days spent down there, the roarmg 
great big fires we used to make in the spring of the year 
when suckers were running? How we used to roll the 
big broad scales (that is, if we were lucky enough to 
catch them) up in clay and cook them in the ashes — the 
finest way in the world to cook a fish. In those days we 
kids didn't know a bass from a sucker; but I believe 
since then some of us have found out the difference. 
Ault's Landing has always been a favorite place for Lees- 
burg fishermen. It is the closest point on the river, and 
furnishes excellent bass fishing. I believe I am the only 
one of the old crowd who now visits the place. Some 
have lost their fondness for the sport, while others are 
scattered over the country, probably too far away to 
come back to the scenes of their early exploits. 
Last Fourth of July found me wading the riffles below 
Ault's agam. I could feel the same old familiar rocks 
under my feet, see the same boulders around which I 
had cast in former years, and could almost imagine I 
could feel the tugging of the beauties I used to catch 
along here. Going on down to Red Rock, I ran across 
my old fisherman friend, Uncle Ben Adams, who, it 
would be no exaggeration to say, has fished every foot of 
water from White's Feriy to several miles below Red 
Rock. As usual, he had a nice bunch tied nearby. 
"Boy," he said, "I am glad to see you. I look for you 
every year, for I know you will come. I believe you 
love the place for the days you spent here when a kid. 
I can remember the days very distinctly when you kids 
used to come down here. If I was on the river on Sat- 
urdays, I'd generally look toward Ault's, and if it was 
smoky in the trees I'd know you were there, and if I was 
near enough would always come by to warm up." 
The old man was in reminiscent mood, and talked for 
some time of the big ones he had caught since he saw 
me last. I left him sitting there puffing away at his pipe. 
He is too old now to go it wading, and has to be satisfied 
with bank and boat fishing; but he has seen the day 
when he could wade with the best of them. 
Taking a boat I crossed over to the Maryland side and 
went up the canal. I remember how T used to hate the 
sight of the mules along here, for when I saw them 
coming I knew I had to take all lines up and myself, too, 
to let the towline pass. The old boats along here never 
change. They look just the same now as they did fifteen 
years ago, and the people on them look the same, too. 
On this particular day I was in search of an old ware- 
house that used to stand along the canal some distance 
up, where we used to fish for carp. There was a sort of 
wharf attached to the house, and in loading the boats 
some little grain would fall into the water, making a 
feeding place for the fish. There was always something 
queer about the fish here. They would bite right along 
until you had caught several and then stop, and you 
might as well move on to another place, for the time be- 
ing, any way, for it seemed as if they missed their com- 
rades and got wise. I found the place, and, as usual, 
caught several, when they stopped biting. I had for- 
gotten about the peculiarities of the fish here, and when 
they stopped biting I suddenly remembered this fact. 
Having a right good string of bass and several of those 
peculiar carp, I took the boat and pulled for the other 
.'^hore. I had spent a most pleasant day roaming around 
■ cr places so familiar and which recalled such pleasant 
ovc 
recollections. Reaching the Virginia side I tied the boat 
and sat down awhile to rest. I was soon day-dreaming 
of past events, and it was not until the setting sun m all 
its golden splendor was sinking behind the western hills 
th:it"^I wended my way across the fields home. 
One of the Kids. 
Mountain Hefting: of Fremont Lake. 
The low water at the outlet of Fremont Lake where 
it passes into Pine Creek, is now alive with a little fish 
commonly known as the mountain herring, which have 
come up to spawn. The outlet presents a most scenic 
appearance at this time. The water is open here the year 
around, and the outlet where the fish are spawning is 
rocky and full of boulders forming a beautiful rapids. 
The fish seek the many pools and are so thick at times 
as to force one another high and dry out of the water. 
The sight is a beautiful one. The fish are never seen ex- 
cept during the spawning season. The lake has fathom- 
less depths in places, and it is presumed that the fish only 
come up out of the deep water to spawn. They are from 
six to ten inches long, speckled, and with scales, with a 
mouth like a herring. 
The traits of the fish were first discovered by the In- 
dians years ago, and they would face the terrors of any 
storm in order to get here by January 15 and make camp, 
waiting for the fish to arrive. The outlet of the lake is 
a very narrow channel, which they would rock up ex- 
cept for a small opening for the fish to pass through. 1 he 
water below trickled through the rocks, and the only way 
for passage below was to jump the rapids, yery few 
would escape from the trap, when once it was closed. A 
line would be formed across the rapids with clubs, and as 
soon as the outlet had been closed they would advance, 
driving the fish into the hidier water where the nets had 
been set. They would sometimes get as high as a ton 
at one drive. This was their only chance for fish supply, 
and cich catch would be frozen and packed back to the 
rendezvoi-'^. Tn spite of the fact that hundreds of thous- 
ands of the fish were taken out each year, the supply never 
seemed to decrease. . . , , r ^ 
This lake is also well stocked with the finest of trout— 
three species having been found— but they do not spawn 
until later. -Pinedale (Wyo.) Roundup, January 19. 
An Old Man*s Device. 
When a man is growing old and his eyesiglit begins 
10 fail, his ardor for fishing does not diminish, nor does 
he -lose interest in- the sport hfmm it becomes more 
difficult for him to indulge in. For several years I have 
found difficulty in threading the line through the ring, 
or snake guides on my light rods, and a study of this 
phase of the trouble, which comes to us from failing 
eyesight, led me to devise a guide which would enable 
me to line-up the rod without the use of my glasses. 
I made a number of rod guides of sheet-metal and of 
bent wire, all of one general design, which was to 
enable me to thread the line upon the rod without 
pushing the elusive end through ring after ring. 
Last month I took my lightest split-bamboo (a six- 
ounce special of the late C. F. Murphy's rriake) to his 
son, Joseph, in Newark, and, showing him one of the 
guides of this design, asked him to make a full set of 
them as light and stiff as possible and remount the rod. 
He returned the rod last week fully equipped _ with 
the "blind man's guides" and rewrapped and varnished. 
I have since tried it on the snow-covered fields and 
have had no trouble with the guides. It is scarcely 
necessary to explain that the line is laid into one of 
these guides crosswise and then pulled straight. The 
ends of the spiral approach the wrapping so closely that 
there is just room to snap the line in and out. The 
spirals are made of hard German silver wire fastened 
to the plates with medium hard solder. There is no 
patent on this device, and if any one should ask for one 
he would probably be told by the intelligent examiners 
that he could not have it because somebody once made 
a harness terret or a piece of ship hardware upon the 
same plan. 
The smallest guide on my rod will just take a parlor 
match through it, and the lower spiral on the butt is 
three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter and made of 
No. 18 wire. The whole appearence of these mount- 
ings is neat, and I find the "loop the loop" guides far 
more convenient than the rings and keepers which Joe 
Murphy removed. Harrimac. 
Fly and Cast Box. 
In England the G. H. H. fly-box is well known and 
popular. It has recently been improved, however, in a 
way which makes it still more useful. The new box 
has ten fly divisions, a cast holder, and a compartment 
for gut points. The lids of the fly divisions are fitted 
with ingenious hinges, which spring the lid up on 
easing the metal clips, which are easily manipulated. 
This is a decided advantage in cold weather and m 
many other respects. A special feature of the new 
springs is their simplicity. The steels may be re- 
placed at small cost and little trouble by the user. It 
would be a decided improvement if the box were made 
of aluminium in place of tin, as the latter is so heavy 
in comparison. The box costs iis. 6d., and may be 
obtained from Messrs. Carter & Co., Ltd., 137 St John- 
street-road, London, E. C, or any dealer in the United 
States will, order it . 
The Ohio Fish Laws. 
Editor forest and Stream. • 
A very important case tending to sustain the existing 
fish laws of this State was decided a few days ago by 
the Ohio Supreme Court. This was the case of Ohio vs. 
John T. French, and the decision goes to uphold the 
constitutionality of a law passed in April, 1898, under 
which a game warden is given authority to destroy on 
the spot nets and other fishing apparatus taken in illegal 
use Warden David Sutton, of Ottawa county, captured 
and destroyed certain nets which were being used by 
John French in violation of the laws, whereupon trench 
brought suit for the nets so destroyed, and obtained a 
judgment in the lower court. The Supreme Court ruled 
that the State Warden may destroy nets illegally used 
without ceremony, and that the State is not liable to the 
owners for damages. , , . , , , , • t ui 1 
The present Ohio fish laws forbid the taking of black 
bass by any other method than hook and line, and make 
the minimum limit of fish so taken ten inches. This very 
wise restriction has been very generally ignored about 
Toledo till late this fall, when a Lucas county warden 
arrested two well-known amateur fishermen with the 
"goods" in their possession. The statutory penalty is 
$?S for each offense, but it is understood that the culprits 
were allowed to plead guilty to a single fish. 
The 'aw prohibits the drawing of semes m the Maumee 
River above tin- head of the Maumee Bay, but allows 
seinin"- for carp under permits^granted by the tish and 
uame'vardeii of -the -county, 'tluit official has just an- 
iiniDicPfl liiiit l)eref!fter HU more su<;h permits wili ng 
granted, for the , very obvious reason that they simply 
form loopholes through which the law may be violated 
with impunity. Jay Beebe, 
Toledo, O,, Jan. IT. . 
Game Legislation at Albany. 
Bills amending the fish and game law not already noted have 
been introduced as follows: mi yt » 
By Senator Prime (Int. No 98) and Assemblyman Plank (Int. 
No. 158), appropriating S2,140 for continuing the restocking of the 
Adirondack region with wild moose. 
By Assemblyman Hanford (Int. No. 168), amending Section Z3ft 
so as to provide that woodcock shall not be taken in the counties 
of Greene and Tioga from Dec. 1 to Sept. 30, both inclusive. 
Also amending Section 26 so as to jprovide that grouse shall not 
be taken in the counties of Sullivan, Greene and Tioga from Dec 
1 to Sept. 30, both inclusive. o 
By Assemblyman Hanford (Int. 164) amending Section 40 so as 
to provide that trout less than 7 inches in length shall not be 
taken or possessed. The present law makes the length b inches. 
By Assemblyman Reeve (Int. No. 161), amending Section 16 so 
as to fix a penalty of $50 for each black bear taken or possessed 
in violation of Section Ua, and imposing a fine of |25 on any 
person failing to file a report with the State Forest, ttsh and 
and Game Commission of the killing or taking of a wild black 
bear, under the provisions of Section 11a. 
Assemblyman Reeve (Int. No. 115), amending Section 39 as 
regards penalties so as to make the section apply to any person 
buying or selling any game in violation of the law. , . , , 
Assemblyman Foelker (Int. No. 110), making it unlawful for 
any person not a bona fide resident of this State and actually 
dcmiciled therein to hunt, take or kill any deer at any time wUh- 
oufr first having procured a license from the State forest, l^isn 
and Game Commission, at a cost of $25. A violation of the act^s 
to be punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100. 
Senator Burr (Int. No. 65) and Assemblyman Hobbs (Int. No. 
113), amending Section 113 so as to provide that ducks, ^eese and 
swan shall not be taken from April 16 to Sept. 30, both inclusive, 
instead of from Jan. 1, and that they shall not be possessed from 
April 16 to Sept. 30, both inclusive, instead of from April 16. 
Senator Elsberg (Int. No. 76), amending Section 170 so as to 
provide that the State Forest, Fish and Game Commissioti^ shall 
appoint a special assistant oyster protector, a resident .ot_^the 
Borough of Manhattan, at an annual salary of $600. His field ot 
operations shall be confined to the Borough of Manhattan. ^ 
By Assemblyman A. P. Smith (Int. No. 139), amending S.ec- 
tion 43b so as to provide that trout shall not be sold, exposed for 
sale or possessed for the purpose of selling, from Sept. 1 to April 
21, in any year. , , ,. 
By Assemblyman A. P. Smith (Int. No. 137) adding a new sec- 
tion, to be known as Section 28a, and providing that woodcock 
and grouse shall not be sold, exposed for sale or possessed for the 
purpose of selling, from Dec. 6 to Sept. 21, in any year. , 
By Assemblyman A. P. Smith (Int. No. 138), amending Section 
28. so as to provide that quail shall not be sold or possessed 
during the close season, except in the month of December, and 
possession and sale thereof during December shall be presumpUve 
evidence that they were unlawfully taken by the possessor. 
By Senator Drescher (Int. No. 82). adding a new section, to be 
known as Section 180, and providing that three additional game 
prelectors and one additional assistant chief protector shall be 
appointed. They shall be assigned to enforce the law for the 
protection of fish in Jamaica Bay and adjacent waters. Ihe 
salary of the assistant chief protector shall be $1,200 a year, with 
$750 for traveling and other necessary mcidenta expens^, and 
the salaries of the additional game protectors shall be $1,000 each 
a year. • i ■ 
Albany, Feb. 11.— Fish and game matters were rather quiet in 
the Legislature the past week. A bill introduced by senator 
Armstrong, Int. No. 316, adding Article XIV. to the fish and 
game law, providing for licensing non-resident sportsmen, at- 
tracted considerable attention. It requires non-residents who wish 
to hunt in this State to secure licenses from the Forest, Fish and 
Game Commission, approved by the Secretary of State. Ihe bill 
further provides that resident sportsmen must obtain licenses 
from county clerks. _ , , 
The Senate has passed the bill of Assemblyman Cobb (Int. No. 
142) amending Section 48 so as to provide that muskallonge less 
than 24 inches in length shall not be possessed, and if taken shall, 
without injury, be immediately returned to the water where taken. 
The Assembly has passed these bills: 
Assemblyman"^ Wade's (Int. No. 278), relative t° the close sea- 
son for squirrels, grouse and woodcock, and quail in Chautauqua 
Assemblyman Wade's (Int. No. 249) providing for the use of 
nets with ls^-inch meshes in Erie county. 
Assemblyman Beebe's (Int. No. 223 , relative to taking geese, 
.ducks, brant and swan in the county of Monroe. 
The Assembly has advanced to third reading the bill of As- 
semblvman Reeve (Int. No. 305), relative to the protection of 
. land turtles and wild black bears. a^cptyiMv 
The following bills have been introduced in the Assembly. 
B? Assemblyman F. C. Wood (Int. No 427) amending Sec^^^^^ 
13 so as to allow the hunting of hares and rabbits with ferrets m 
^By°Ass°embTyman F. C. Wood (Int. No. 428), amending Section 
172 so as to pS the State Forest, Fish and (5ame Co^im.ss.on 
to increase from $2,500 to $3,000 the annual salary of any chief 
gamrpfotecto°r wfio has served as. «"tom Vioo'to TloHhe 
years. It also provides for increasing from $1,200 to $1.4U0 tne 
annual compensation of the assistant chief protectors. 
'"By Assemblyman West (Int. No.. 469) amending Section 6^ so 
ns to orohibit the plac ng of carp in the waters of Keuka Lake 
fn the^counties of SteubeS and Yates, or in any waters inhabited 
^^Bv' Assemblyman Phillips (Int. No. 466), .amending Section 41 
so as to exempt Alleghany from the provision, placmg the close 
si.;°.,.s,f 'ret if.? isr-i^xtij^^ s lir 
" The° AsSiv Committee on Game, has "ported the bill of 
Assemble Reese (Int. No. 305), with reference to turtles. 
New York Casting Tournament. 
Madison Square Garcfen, Feb. 21 to March % Incltisive 
Tournament Committee: Harold G- H-B'^^^-Velcc'^Mron 
Wainwright. Chancellor G. , Thercrombie. 
H. Smith, Harold De Ri>asloff ^^'f^^^V ^g^^F^^Te Lody Smith, 
_ General Co-m.ttee: Ch^^^^^^ 
^lefD. fmU, J. Alden Weir L Bougle^Robert^Le^f- 
.,Jw''v.''ao'ytL7o^^^^^^ Theo. A. Knapp. Jame. 
Serffha;! b^e^ffir'st prize, gold tnedal; secoad 
prize, silver medal, and third prize, bronze medal. 
GENERAL RULES GOVERNING ALL CONTESTS. 
Rule 1.-A11 contests shall be governed by two mdjes and i 
^"No'o^^e1hfif%^eTrmttS%o'trr llfJ^^U except 
Rule 2.-NO one ^'Jfi i, ^^ifo h^^^^ taught casting for pay; 
^^h-fdlor Heen TJll ^^^^^^ 
^%'le''4-Tl-re' order in which the contestants shall cast shall be 
determined by the judges. The contestants must be ready to cast 
^^'^"V'^f '^ihTTeader^anf flf or lure in each contest must be 
infacl'at"he time^of record \v the judges, and the length and 
6°.-Arirnirents'fh;if be' ma by the judges to accurately 
determine the point at ^yWch the fly or lure fal s. 
]-^ule 7.— Contests shall- be called promptly at o.iQ P. M. ana 
Rufe S^-After the contestant has taken his place on the stand 
.vvhiE',a.plnlforni more than 18 inches above the siirtace oi 
Chas. 
Batten, 
fcrts, r 
Hayes, 
