May 6, 1905.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
SB7 
witness, was of the taking of a big sahnon weighing fif- 
teen to eighteen pounds, in the Kenduskeag stream a mile 
from the river, by a small boy who was fishing for suck- 
ers. The youngster had an extra strong line, and sur- 
prised the salmon into giving up a fight it might easily 
have won. The name of the boy could not be learned, 
but the sportsman who told it was certain of his friend's 
veracity. H. W. Rowe. 
New York Lakes and I Rivers. 
BY JOHN N. COBBj AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES FISH 
COMMISSION. 
(Concluded from page 299.) 
. Mill Site Lake. 
This is a small lake in Jefferson county, near the 
town of Redwood. For a number of years a gill-net 
fishery for cisco, or lake herring, has been carried on 
here, but it has never amounted to much. _ Part of the 
catch each season is salted; the remainder is sold fresh. 
Nearly all the fish are disposed of in the immediate 
vicinity. • , ' , .■ ! ; ; :li i a] 
Oneida Lake. 
Oneida is the largest lake wholly within the limits 
of New York, and is in the central part of the State. 
It is about twenty miles long, and its greatest width 
is six miles. As it is completely surrounded by rail- 
roads, and thus is easily accessible, it is much resorted 
to by sportsmen. 
The principal fishing towns on the shore are Brewer- 
ton, at the outlet, Constantia and Cleveland on the 
north side, and Cicero Center, Bridgeport and South 
Bay on the south side of the lake. Trap nets were 
in use at the time of the statistical canvass made by 
the United States Fish Commission in 1895, the com- 
mon fish having become so plentiful as to interfere 
seriously with the game fishing. The use of these nets 
was prohibited after the 1896 season had passed, how- 
ever. In 1902 close to and in the outlet seven seines 
were operated for black suckers, which come into the 
lake from Oneida River in countless numbers in the 
spring, and these operations were considered a great 
benefit to the other fisheries, as the suckers are said 
to consume great quantities of the spawn of other 
species. Set lines, hand lines, and tip-ups were also 
used. 
The tip-up fishery is especially interesting. As in 
other ice fishing in these lakes, the fishermen have port- 
able huts provided with stoves and benches, and some- 
times remain on the lake for weeks. The tip-up is con- 
structed over a hole in the ice, and consists of two 
sticks about eighteen and twenty-four inches long, 
one inch wide, and a half inch thick, firmly 
tied, together with twine in the form of a 
cross. The free end of the line is drawn through 
a hollow lead sinker by means of a loop of 
copper wire, the ends of which are bent at right angles 
for the attachment of the lines, and these, with two 
hooks on each, are suspended about eighteen inches 
below the sinker. The bait is usually live minnows, and 
the line is lowered until close to the bottom. The ends 
of the short cross stick rest on the ice on either side 
of the hole, the short end of the long stick being over 
the center. In order that the weight of the sinker may 
be just sufficient to make the frame lie flat upon the 
ice, the line is caught a number of times around the 
stick. The fish nibbling at the bait causes the end 
of the cross to tip up, whence the name of the ap- 
pliance. When the fish seizes the bait the long arm 
becomes almost perpendicular to the surface of the 
ice and attracts the attention of the fisherman, who 
then removes the fish and rebaits the hook. The usual 
number of tip-ups per hut is about six or eight, rigged 
in as many holes cut in the ice a short distance from 
the hut and a few feet apart. When the fish are biting 
well a fisherman with six holes to attend to is a very 
busy man. 
There are a number of slight variations of the tip- 
up used on the various lakes, but nearly all are built 
in general as described above. In a few cases a short, 
supple sapling is stuck into the ice on the side of the 
hole and the line attached to this. When there is a 
bite the agitation of the sapling is suflicient to attract 
the attention of the fisherman. Sometimes a small flag 
or a sleigh bell is attached to the end of the sapling. 
The most important frog fishery of the State is 
carried on in this lake. In the marshes near the outlet, 
and for a short distance down the Oneida River, are 
to be found large quantities of frogs weighing from 
one-fourth to one and one-half and sometimes three 
pounds each. They are usually hunted at night. The 
fisherman, wearing rubber hip-boots, wades in the shallow 
water, carrying a lighted lantern, a short club, and a 
bag slung over his shoulder. Making his way in the 
-marsh as noiselessly as possible, he dazzles the frog with 
the bright light from the lantern, and kills him with 
a blow of the club. 
There has been a considerable falling off in the catch 
of frogs since 1895. In that year 60,000 pounds, valued 
at $5,400, were obtained, while in 1902 only 13,100 pounds, 
valued at $1,220, were taken. The season of 1902 was 
an exceptionally poor one, however, according to the 
fishermen, the water being too high for wading, and 
in 1903 the catch was somewhat larger. The frogs are 
dressed at Brewerton and the hind legs shipped to all 
parts- of the country, the demand being much in excess 
of the' supply. 
During the spring months short set lines are em- 
ployed in catching bullheads-, suckers, and eels. 
Oneida Lake is full of the commoner species of fishes, 
such as ling, suckers, pumpkinseeds, rock bass, etc., 
which, greatly interfere with the game fishing, and it 
would benefit the sportsmen, with whom this lake is a 
favorite resort, could some means be devised for de- 
creasing the number of objectionable species. The use 
of trap nets for a season or two would probably ac- 
complish the purpose. 
Oneida River. 
This river, which is the outlet of Oneida Lake and in 
copjuni^tjoii with the 3eneca River forra^ th^ Og.wego 
River, is about twelve miles long. The only commercial 
fishing on it is at Caughdenhoy, about three miles from 
the_ lake. Here are located fourteen eel traps, or weirs, 
which are valued at about $1,400. The manner of build- 
ing them is as follows: Heavy stakes are driven into the 
shallow bed of the river until about even with the sur- 
face of the water at its medium height, and may be so 
placed as to form the outline of the letter W, extending 
from shore to shore, the open portion facing up stream. 
This form permits the construction of two traps. When 
only one is desired the stakes form a V opening up 
stream. A wall of planks is built upon the stakes, small 
openings being left at the two lower tips of the W to be 
occupied by the traps themselves, which are usually made 
of latticework and are either rectangular or rounded in 
shape, the lower end of a larger diameter than the upper. 
From the inner sides of the mouth long laths run back 
into the trap until they almost meet in the center, leaving 
only a narrow opening about four inches in diameter 
between the ends of the laths. During the fall months 
the eels rnigrate from Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario, and 
it is then that the fishermen set their traps. An eel oji 
its way down stream meeting the side wall of the trap 
swims slowly along it in search of a passage, which it 
seems to find on reaching the mouth of the trap. Wrig- 
gling slowly along the slats to the narrow opening it 
passes through this and drops down to the bottom of the 
lattice box, thus securely captured. The traps are 
visited at certain hours, lifted into a boat, and the .eels 
taken out by means of a small door in the side of the 
trap. 
All the eels caught are smoked, none being sold fresh. 
As soon as landed the body is split from head to vent 
and the viscera removed. The head and skin are then 
taken off, after which the body is immersed in a strong 
brine for twenty-four hours. On removal from the brine 
it is washed with stiff brushes to remove the slime and 
surplus salt, then strung on iron or steel rods and hung 
in a smokehouse. Moisture is removed by means of a 
hot fire of kindlings, then the cooking is done by a fire 
of corncobs, great care being exercised at this stage lest 
the heat become so great as to curl the fish out of shape. 
After the cooking the fire is partially smothered with 
sawdust, making a dense smoke, and the fish is soon 
cured. The total length of time in the smokehouse is 
about four hours. Smoked eels can be kept a shorter 
time than almost any fish so prepared, from five to twelve 
days being about the limit ; hence they must- be marketed 
as soon as possible after being removed from the smoke- 
house. The product is sold in Syracuse and vicinity. 
The smokers are unable to expand their business, as they 
find it increasingly difficult each year to supply the local 
demand. The season of 1902 was very poor, and 1903 
was even worse, owing to- the excessively high water 
which prevailed most of the time, allowing the eels to 
escape over the sides of the traps. 
Several j-ears ago the fishermen came to an agreement 
among themselves to the effect that the whole business 
should ' be carried on in one smokehouse, and with but 
one selling agent to dispose of the Avhole product. This 
has been found much more economical than the former 
method, with each man curing and selling his own catch. 
The eel fishery has been prosecvited for many years, 
and it has been well said that "Caughdenhoy was built 
on eels," as that is, and always has been, the principal 
business of the village. The industry is now in danger 
of destruction, however, as the farmers living on the 
river between the village and Oneida Lake and for 
several miles along the shores of the lake threaten to 
enter suit for damages to their lands from overflows, 
which, they claim, are caused by these eel traps. As 
the traps are rarely more than 15 inches in height, it 
does not seem probable that they could cause the water 
to overflow land several miles up stream. 
Onondaga Lake. 
In 1894 and 1895 there was a considerable gill-net 
fishery for whitefish in this lake, but this ceased soon 
after that time, owing to the almost complete disappear- 
ance of the fish. The fishermen ascribe this disappear-, 
ance to the pollution of the water by refuse from several 
large chemical plants on the shores of the lake. The 
city of Syracuse, which abuts upon the , western shore, 
also runs its sewage into the lake. No commercial fish- 
ing is now carried on. There are said to be large quanti- 
ties of German carp and ling in the lake. 
Otsego Lake. 
This lake, the source of the Susquehanna River, is in 
Otsego county, in the eastern part of the State, and has 
a length of about nine miles and an average width of i^ 
miles. It is quite popular as a summer resort. Coopers- 
town being the principal town on its shores. For some 
years seines were used for catching whitefish, locally 
known as Otsego bass, but in 1901 the Legislature closed 
the lake to. all manner of commercial fishing, except with 
hook and line, until May i, 1906, As a result the com- 
mercial fishing is at present of minor importance. 
Owasco Lake, 
Lying about midway between Cayuga and Skaneateles 
lakes, with a length of ten or eleven miles and a width 
of more than a mile, Owasco Lake empties into the 
Seneca River through Owasco Outlet. It is wholly 
within Cayuga county. The only commercial fishing is 
done by means of tip-ups in the winter time at the upper 
end of the lake. Bullheads, eels, yellow perch and sun- 
fish are the species taken. 
Seaeca Lake. 
Next to Oneida this is the largest lake wholly within 
the borders of the State. It extends almost directly north 
and south, is about thirty-six miles long, from one to 
four miles wide, and with a maximum depth of 500 to 
600 feet, occupying an eroded valley flanked by bold hills, 
and discharging into Cayuga Lake by means of a short 
outlet. It is unique among New York lakes in that 
the surface is never entirely frozen. 
Gill nets, spears, and a few fyke nets and hand-lines 
are used in the commercial fisheries. The gill-nets, 
which average in length about no yards each, with bar 
mesh of not less than two inches, are used principally 
for lake trout, aTJ4 are operated between May i and 
October is of each year. The use of spears is permitted 
from April iS to June 15, inclusive. The principal fishing 
towns are Himrods , Dundee, Hector, North Hector, 
Caywood, Starkey, Dresden and Geneva. 
The sportsmen complain that the lake trout, which are 
very numerous, will not take the hock. It is possible 
that this may be owing tO' the large numbers of alewives 
{Pomolobus psendoharengus) in the lake, upon which 
the trout feed. The fishermen believe quite generally 
that this species was introduced into Seneca Lake by 
Seth Green about 1872 ; but this is not the case, the_ fish 
having been known there a number of years previous. 
It has been a source of great trouble, owing to the annual 
mortality to which it is subject here as in Lake Ontario; 
During the summer large numbers die, and, decaying on 
the shores, cause much annoyance to the inhabitants, 
while doubtless many of the fish sink and pollute the 
waters. The mortality has not been as heavy as usual 
during the last two summers. 
German carp are becoming quite plentiful at the head 
of the lake, but very little use is made of them. 
Seneca River. 
This is the outlet directly or by means of short streams 
of most of the lakes in central New York. It discharges 
into Lake Ontaria through the Oswego River, the latter 
being formed by the junction of Seneca and Onejda 
rivers. There is an immense amount of illegal fishing 
practiced in this river, despite the strenuous efforts of 
the State authorities to suppress it. Owing to the length 
and general inaccessibility of the stream, it is a difficult 
matter to guard it. Almost the only commercial fishing 
concerning which reliable data could be obtained was 
that with hand-lines and traps for fishes and with spears 
for frogs. The principal fishing towns are Weedsport 
and Savannah. Considerable complaint is made by the 
fishermen of the large numbers of ling and German carp 
in the river. Black suckers also are very numerous. 
Skaneateles Lake. 
This lake lies almost midway between Oneida and 
Cayuga, and, like most of the, other lakes of the State, 
is long and narrow, being afemit fifteen, miles in length 
and miles in width at the widest part, with a depth 
of 320 feet. Through a short outlet it discharges into 
Seneca River. Its commercial fisheries are insignificant, 
hand and set-lines being the only apparatus permitted. 
Lake tj . lit is the principal fish caught with the hand- 
lines, b ilheads and suckers the only species taken on 
■ the set-lines. 
Statistics of the Interior Fisheries of New York. 
In 1895 the number of fishermen was 543, in 1902 it 
was 804, a gain of 261. Seneca Lake shows the greatest 
increase. The total investment in 1895 amounted to 
$19,745; in 1902 to $25,291, a gain of $5,546. Seneca 
Lake leads in total investment, with Oneida and Cham- 
plain lakes second and third respectively. In 1895 the 
total catch was 754,730 pounds, valued at $60,068, while 
in 1902 it amounted to 1,530,918 pounds, valued at 
$87,897, a gain of 776,188 pounds and $27,811. Oneida 
Lake leads in the quantity secured, and the value of the 
catch is exceeded only in Chautauqua Lake, by a very 
narrow margin. Keuka Lake is third. The interior 
waters of New York produce more maskinonge and 
smelt than the waters of any other State in the Union, 
and they lead all others, except the Great Lakes, in the 
catch of bullheads, pickerel, wall-eyed pike (except Min- 
nesota), yellow perch and suckers. 
While the seine catch is the greatest in quantity, it is 
exceeded in value by that with hand-lines. The tip-up 
catch is third. The only species taken iii seines was 
suckers, while with gill-nets the leading species were lake 
trout, yellow perch, and lake herring. Fyke nets were in 
use in but two lakes, and the catch ifi the aggregate does 
not amount to much, the bullhead being the principal 
species captured. With set lines bullheads and suckers, 
and with tip-ups pickerel, bullheads, wall-eyed pike, and 
yellow perch were the chief species taken. Maskinonge 
and yellow perch predominate in the spear catch. 
Fly-Casters at Banquet. 
Fram the San Francisco Breeder and Sportsman. 
Dr. Henry Van Dyke, of Princeton, was guest o£ 
honor at a banquet of the San Francisco Fly-Casting 
Club last Wednesday evening. 
After the disposal of a good dinner President Ed. 
Everett introduced Judge John Hunt as the toastmaster 
for the evening. The Judge was in his happiest humor, 
during the course of his introductory remarks he referred 
to Dr. Van Dyke as the author of two popular angling 
classics, "Fisherrnen's Luck" and "Little Rivers," He ex- 
tolled him as an enthusiastic sportsman and skilled angler, 
a student of books, a student of nature and a writer of 
graceful verse. 
Dr. Van Dyke, when he arose to respond, received a 
most cordial greeting. The Doctor's remarks were inter- 
esting and entertaining and colored at times with a bit of 
sterling humor given with unction. Among other mat- 
ters dwelt upon the Doctor proudly said that during a 
recent visit to the McCloud River he had occasion to 
wade a portion of that famous stream. The experience 
when linked with others he had since met with had con- 
vinced him that there is nothing colder than California 
water and nothing warmer than a California welcome. 
.He complimented the fly-casters on the fact that the 
world's record in that department of sport is held here, 
and he characterized angling as a lofty and ennobling 
pursuit. It could scarcely be described as a cheap 
pastime, as he estimated that every pound of trout 
brought to basket by an angler cost about five dollars. 
He spoke of fly-fishing as a lofty, ennobling occupation. 
He said some people looked upon it as a mild form of 
lunacy, but he had found it dainty, charming and pleas- 
ant to the finer sensibilities. 
He instanced that only classic in sporting literature 
that had to do with fishing, namely: "The Complete 
Angler" and he described glowingly the beauties of the 
McCloud River and its surroundings — an ideal stream, 
the realization of an angler's dream. 
Dr, Van Dyke told several stories and preached a 4ainty 
