FOREST AND STREAM. 
The Bangor Salmon Pool. 
Interstate Convention. 
Bangor, Me., April 15. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Contrary to the usual experience at the Bangor salmon 
poolj the first week of the season passed without the 
landing of a single salmon, and, indeed, but one salmon 
was taken up to the tith of the month anywhere on the 
river^ that one being caught in a down-fiver weir. How- 
everj on the day mentioned the pool redeemed itself from 
going on record as furnishing no fish whatsoever, for on 
"that day Charles Eugene Tefft, a New York sculptor, 
who is at the home of his parents in Brewer for a rest, 
i caught the first salmon of the season, and the manner 
t of landing the fish was so unusual that it is deserving 
of especial mention. Mr. Tefft, in common with a num- 
' her of other enthusiasts, had been up to the pool for sev- 
eral days, but the muddy water prevented good fishing. 
On the afternoon in question he was casting from the 
shore, and all the other fishermen had left the pool for 
home, except one, who was landing on the Bangor shore, 
Mr. Tefft being on the rocks on trie Brewer side of the 
river. As he Cast there was a rise just a little way be- 
yond his fly. and at the next cast he hooked his fish. 
Here was a dilemma, for with no person handy to help 
him land his fish, and without gaff or landing net, there 
was a good chance for the fish to get away, and a long 
■dash might mean the loss of the fish. At once he began 
to reel the fish in toward the bank, and as the salmon 
came within easy distance from where he stood, a bright 
thought came to him. Incidental to the pleasure of the 
afternoon he had brought along his small target rifle, 
and this lay close at hand. The dorsal fin of the salmon 
was all that showed, and holding the rod with one hand, 
Mr. Tefft stooped, picked up and cocked the rifle with 
the other, aimed and fired, the bullet fortunately passing 
directly through the head of the salmon. It was the 
work of but a few seconds to tow the dead salmon to 
the shore, and when the angler from across the river 
got there, having hurried across to offer his assistance, 
he found the fish already high and dry on the bank. 
When he learned that the whole operation of playing 
and landing the fish had taken but a minute, when he 
has often been kept at the game for an hour and more, 
he was incredulous until told how the fish was "gaft'ed" 
with the rifle. The fish weighed 22 pounds. 
The very muddy water of the first half of the month 
is doubtless responsible for the otherwise lack of results 
at the pool, for the salmon are there, and as soon as the 
water clears there should be some sport for those who 
are patient, for patience is a prominent characteristic of 
those who catch fish in the famous pool of the Penobscot. 
The great topic among the anglers now is the probable 
date of the going of the ice in the lakes and ponds. Se- 
bago Lake, which usually opens very early, in fact, has an 
annual race with the Penobscot River to see which shall 
be clear first, is still locked in the embrace of the ice 
king, and it is predicted may not open before the 25th of 
the month. At all events, the probable date of opening 
is too far ahead to be fixed with any approach to definite- 
ness, and will depend largely upon what kind of days 
intervene between now and the opening day. Sebec, 
which always opens early, perhaps a few days, although 
less than a week, ahead of the big lakes, is already 
partly open, having become clear of ice in the narrows 
this past week. This would indicate an early opening. 
Reports from Moosehead are that the travel on the lake 
has been discontinued entirely, and as this usually takes 
place about three weeks before the final breaking up of 
the ice, it is safe to look for reports that the lake is free 
about May i, barring the approach of a cold snap, which 
might delay it for several days. The essential conditions 
to the larger lakes of Maine becoming clear is not only 
warm suns and soft winds, but unless there is a strong 
southerly breeze to rot out and set the ice in motion, it 
might be a week or ten days longer in so dissolving that 
it would disappear. The writer has been at Greenville 
when, on a sharp night, the ice would be strong enough 
in the cove at the foot of the lake to drive across, and 
by night it would be entirely clear, the sun being hot and 
the wind just right. 
Reports are that the coots have begun to fly on to the 
coast and that Seguin lighthouse is recording quantities 
of the fowl passing into the coast inlets. Careful ob- 
servers say that this is abotjt the average time for the 
arrival of the fowl. Herbert W. Rowe. 
A CONVENTION, of representatives of the States bordeP' 
ing the Great Lakes, Vermont and Canada, was held at 
the Great Northern Hotel, Chicago, April 8, at which the 
following members were present : 
Illinois Fish Commission— Nat. H, Cohen, S. F. Bart- 
lettj A. Lenke, 
Michigan Fish Commission— Chas. D. Josylin, Geo. M. 
Brown, Game Warden Chapman, ex-Warden C. E. 
Brewster. Senate Fish Committee — Mills, Wordman, 
Cook and Moffatt. House Committee — Clark, Knight, 
Robinson, Scidtnore, Whelan and Ward. 
Minnesota Game and Fish Commission — Sam F. Ful- 
lerton, Henry Smith. 
Ohio Fish and Game Commission — Paul North. 
Wisconsin — Game Warden IT. Overbeak, Superintend- 
ent of Fisheries James H. Nevin, Senators Wippennan 
and Wright, Assemblymen LeRoy, Everett, Ottman and 
Swineholt. 
United States Bureau of Fisheries — Frank M. Clark 
and S. P. Bartlett. 
Mr. J. N. Whelan, of Michigan, presided, with Mr. E. 
W. LeRoy, of Wisconsin, secretary. On motion of Nat. 
H. Cohen it was voted : 
"Whereas, One of the most serious obstacles to the^ protection 
of fish and game exists in the absence of uniformity in tlie pro- 
visions of the laws in contiguous States, on account of which ab- 
sence of uniformity the territory and markets of the one fre- 
quently become a shield and protection for violators of the law in 
the others; therefore, 
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that general 
luiiformity should be attained in the States herein represented 
and bordering on the Great Lakes, with a view to arresting the 
indiscriminate destruction of the valuable food supplies existing 
in these waters. 
"Resolved, That a committee be appointed by this meeting to 
formulate a uniform bill by original draft, or by codifying existing 
laws, for the purposes herein referred to, and to report such bill 
to the respective legislative bodies of the States and Canadian 
Provinces interested, with a view to its enactment into law at their 
next session." 
The committee named by the chair included: Sam T. Fullerton 
and H. G. Smith, Minnesota, VV. N. Mills and Walter C. 
Robinson, Michigan; Nat H. Cohen and Thomas D.^ Bear, 
Illmois; Paul North, Ohio; IT. Wipperman and James Swineholt, 
Wisconsin; Frank N. Clark and S. P. Bartlett, United States 
Fish Commission; S. T. Batredo. 
The following recommendation? were adopted, for future sub- 
mission to the legislat-ires of all States and Provinces concerned: 
"The closed season for all fish on Lake Erie, Detroit River, 
Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River shall be from Nov. 15 to 
April 15. 
"The closed season for wall-eyed pike on Lake Huron, Lake 
Michigan and all bays and harbors tributary and St. Mary's 
Straits shall be from Jan. 1 to May 15. 
"The closed season on Lakes fluron and Michigan for white- 
fish and lake trout shall be from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15. 
"The open season for black bass shall be from the first day of 
July to the first day of Jaauary for rod and line only. 
"The closed season for sturgeon on the Great Lakes shall be ten 
years from June 1, 1905. 
"Prohibit the sale and export of black bass, maskinonge, brook 
trout, rainbow trout, German brown trout, Scotch trout, steel- 
head trout, grayling, landlocked salmon and bass. 
"All boxes and packages containing fish shall be marked with 
the name of the consignor and consignee, and the name or names 
of the species of fish therein contained." 
The minimum size of the different .fishes was adopted as fol- 
lows, the measurement to be from the tip of the snout to the cen- 
ter of the fork of the tail: Small and large-mouthed black bass, 
12 inches; maskinonge, SO inches; all yellow perch caught and 
offered for tale, 9 inches; wall-eyed pike, 15 inches; blue pike 
and saugers, 10 inches; whitefish and lake trout 2 pounds dressed, 
and 2 pounds -1 ounces round; herring in Lake Erie, 10 inches. 
On motion of Mr. Clark, it was 
"Resolved, Th^t the propagation and sale of speckled and 
rainbow trout by private persons or companies in private waters 
be permitted vmder such regtilations and restrictions as shall 
be recommended by the fish commissions in the various States." 
On motion of Mr. Chapman, of Michigan: 
"Resolved, That having in possession any green fresh fish 
three days after the closed season shall be prima facie evidence 
of the violation of the law." 
On motion of Mr. Hoyt it was resolved to recommend to the 
various States bordering on the Great Lakes a law licensing 
commercial fishermen; also the licensing of the rod for trout and 
grayling fishing. 
On motion of Mr. Fullerton it was 
"Resolved, That this convention recommend to the Legislatures 
of the States represented that they memorialize Congress to take 
jurisdiction of the international and interstate waters for the 
purpose of propagating and protecting fish in said waters, and 
that said States express their willingness to cede to the Federal 
Government all jurisdiction that rests in said States." 
Other recommendations were that resident hunters be per- 
mitted to take home two deer, and non-residents one; that the 
Lacey Act be enlarged to include all game shipped from any 
State; that the work of Dr. Palmer be heartily commended; 
that the sale of game, the cold storage of game and spring 
shooting be prohibited. 
Chicago Castiof Towiiament* 
Ak international fly and bait-casting tournament will 
be held under the auspices of the Chicago Fly- 
Casting Club on the North Lagoon, Garfield Park, 
Chicago, 111., Friday and Saturday, Aug. i8 and 19, 
1905. Fly and bait-casters throughout the world are 
earnestly invited to attend this tournament and com- 
pete, as it is intended to make it of as wide a scope 
as possible, covering all such forms of casting as may 
be deemed advisable and found feasible. 
Contestants from other parts of the world will find 
every effort made to arrange contests in conformity 
with those forms of casting with which they are 
familiar. 
Among the events scheduled will be long distance 
fly, delicacy fly, and distance and accuracy fly, together 
with long distance bait (14 oz. weight), distance and 
accuracy bait oz. weight), and delicacy and accuracy 
bait oz. weight). Team contests and other inter- 
esting features are contemplated. 
Diamond trophies will be provided for all leading 
events, and a large number of attractive, valuable and 
appropriate prizes will be awarded. 
Naturally, the rules of the Chicago Fly-Casting Club 
will prevail, but exceptions will be made where deerned 
advisable, in behalf of visiting anglers — the desire being 
to make this tournament as nearly representative as 
possible of expert angling at large, and suggestions 
frdm anglers contemplating attendance at the tourna- 
ment are earnestly requested and will receive careful 
consideration if received in time. 
The tournament is open to either representatives of 
clubs or unattached individuals. A nominal entrance 
fee will be charged in each event. Handsome souvenir, 
illustrated, historical programmes will be provided, and 
no expense will be spared to make this the most suc- 
cessful tournament in angling annals. 
Special arrangements will be made for the comfort 
and enjoyment of ladies, and social features of an en- 
joyable nature will contribute to the pleasure of guests. 
All anglers contemplating entering the tournament 
and all clubs proposing to send representatives, are 
urged to communicate at the earliest moment with the 
secretary, who will also furnish anyone with further 
information, programmes, etc. 
B. J. Kellenbei^ger, Sec'y. 
52 St. Clair St., Chicago, 111. 
A Sttttgeon Hatchery. 
Washington, April 5. — The Fish Commission has es- 
tablished a hatchery on Winyah Bay at the mouth of the 
Pedee River, near Georgetown, North Carolina, where 
sturgeon will he artificially hatched. The scarcity of the 
sturgeon has resulted in the practical abandonment of 
the caviar establishments along the Atlantic coast. In 
past years sturgeon was so abundant in the Potomac, 
James and Delaware rivers as to be a great annoyance 
to the fishermen whose nets were badly broken by the 
monster fish in efforts to escape. 
Fishing with a broom handle, with nothing but fresh air as bait, 
is something new in this vicinity, but it is practiced in the 
River Rouge district, and in the canals running through the 
Ecorse marshes. The canal was closed up when the 
shipyard was built on the river front, and thousands of fish had 
no opportunity to escape. Last winter the canals were frozen 
from end to end and not an air hole was visible. Men in the 
neighborhood have discovered the fish need fresh air, and provide 
breathing places by cutting through the ice. The unsuspecting 
fish poke their noses about half an inch above the water, and 
the fisherman's broom handle strikes them on the snout, knock- 
ing them unconscious. Several big hauls are made in this way 
every day. — Detroit Free Press. 
The beauty of earth, except for some spots that our sordid 
industries have ravaged, has altered but little since the days of 
Augustus and Pericles.' The sea is infinite still, still inviolate. 
The forest, the plain, the harvest, the villages, rivers and streams, 
the mountains, the dawn and the evening, stars and the sky, 
vary as these all may according to climate and latitude, offer us 
still the same spectacles of grandeur and tenderness, the same 
soft, profound harmonies, the same fairy-like scenes of changing 
complexity, that they gave to the Athenian citizens and the 
people of Rome. Nature remains more or less as it was; and 
besides, we have grown more sensitive, and to-day can admire 
more freely.— Maurice Maeterlinck in the April Critic. 
REVIVE THE CATBOAT. 
In a measure fashion regulates styles in boats very 
much the same as it does in architecture, literature and 
dress. To those who have watched the development of 
the different types of yachts during the past decade this 
fact has been made very plain. 
After the public at large has had a try at anything 
and it has become indulged in by the numbers, its popu- 
larity soon wanes and it is abandoned, not owing to 
faults or shortcomings, but because the great majority 
desire something new or better or more expensive. No 
matter what the reason is, the desire for a change exists, 
and it is eventually brought about. In these progressive 
days changes are usually improvements, and the desire 
for change is generally a healthy inclination for something 
better. There are soine things, however, which are aban- 
doned mainly because soinething new has come into the 
field, and oftentimes the merit of the thing neglected is 
seen and appreciated after a short time and the wise 
ones return to their first loyet 
When the boats that were forerunners of the modern 
raceabout made their appearance some years ago, the ma- 
jority of small boat cruising and racing men in the East 
did their sailing in catboats. These boats had been 
brought to a reasonably high state of perfection, and the 
average craft of this type was a very smart and weather- 
ly vessel. The builders on Cape Cod put their best ener- 
gies into the modeling of catboats, and .their products 
were highly creditable. The plumb stem and square 
stern Cape catboat is known the world over, and partic- 
ularly the creations of that peerless builder, Hanley. Al- 
though the catboat proved to be a fine craft for ordinary 
sailing and cruising, the knockabout grew so fast in favor 
that the catboat was overlooked for the moment and 
then almost forgotten except by a loyal few who clung 
to old boats and traditions, and who to-day are more en- 
thusiastic than they were fifteen years ago. The average 
catboat was the product of the rule of thumb builder, and 
while it answered every purpose, we venture to assert 
that had our Isest naval architects expended as much 
time and scientific knowledge in the designing of the 
catboat as they have in the raceabout and the knockabout, 
a very perfect type of vessel would have resulted. Cat- 
boats were popular when yacht designers were not so 
numerous nor so well versed in their profession as they 
are to-day, and this is one reason why these craft did 
not receive all the attention due them. 
The knockabout and the raceabout not only brought 
many new men into the sport, but they thinned out the 
ranks of the catboat sailors. Each year saw the 
knockabout improved in various ways and the new craft 
proved slightly faster than the old ones. This slight in- 
crease in speed was gained at the cost of some comfort 
and greatly increased expense. In order to win races 
new boats were necessary nearly every year, while to-day 
the raceabout of twenty-one feet waterline length costs 
upward of $2,000 when turned out by any one of the first- 
class builders of the East. This excessively high cost 
greatly restricts the number of boats built, as the price 
is prohibitive, and few men can afford to indulge them- 
