860 
FOREST AND STREAM 
The gun clubs are getting into action, the first 
practice shoot of the North Adams club having 
been held last week. A shoot, which will be the 
first of a series for trophies, will be held in the 
near future. 
NET FISHING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
By A. H. Robinson. 
Concord, N. H., May 28, 1914. 
Game fishing sport in New Hampshire is fac¬ 
ing conditions which are peculiarly embarrassing 
and uncomfortable but of acute interest not only 
to dwellers in the state but 'to hundreds of fish¬ 
ermen from cities in various sections of the 
country, who annually become temporary resi¬ 
dents while pursuing the popular angling pas¬ 
time. 
It is now a question of whether the catching 
of game fish in the several lakes in the state can 
legally be continued through the present season 
or must be abandoned until after the next legis¬ 
lature, which assembles in January, has taken 
such action as may afford relief and which it is 
quite certain to do. 
The curious situation arose from the enact¬ 
ment by the legislature in 1901 of a statute pro¬ 
viding that “if any person shall take or kill, in 
any of the fresh waters of this state, any kind 
of fish with seine, weir, gill net or fyke net, he 
shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars or im¬ 
prisoned, not exceeding sixty days, or both such 
fine and imprisonment. But any person may 
take shiners for bait with a seine from the 
waters of this state, if such person shall pro¬ 
cure and pay for the services of some person 
designated by any of the fish and game commis¬ 
sioners to accompany him and assist in such pur¬ 
suit.” 
The more salient of the prohibitive features 
commanded general respect and obedience, but 
the finer shades of distinction in the matter of 
nets was given no especial attention for the 
•dozen years following the passage of the law, 
when some seeker after trouble readily found 
what he sought. 
Several, if not all of the larger lakes, abound 
in smelt, a small fish, ranging from an inch to two 
inches in length. They are seldom seen except 
in the spawning season when they run up small 
tributary streams as soon as the ice in the lakes 
■disappear. Then, in the night time, by the light 
of torches or lanterns they are secured by hun¬ 
dreds with dip or landing nets, by people who 
consider them a delicious pan fish. 
Until this year no objection had ever been 
heard to the use of nets in catching 'them, fish¬ 
ermen believing that in depleting their numbers 
and thus reducing the fast multiplying abund¬ 
ance which serve to supply the demands of the 
appetities of game fish, substantial service was 
contributed to the state’s interests. 
As soon as the smelt season opened at Pena- 
cook lake in Concord this year, the trouble 
seeker was heard from. He raised the question 
of the legality of the fishing methods pursued— 
netting—and a serious contention which followed 
sent the law to the state’s attorney general for 
his opinion. That official’s interpretation was 
unhesitatingly given and was in effect that the 
list of nets, the use of which is inhibited by the 
law'included dip and landing nets, so the fishing 
for smelts, though indulged in by some with a 
hope of prosecution, and thus getting the ques¬ 
tion before the courts, is illegal and offenders 
are subject to fines and imprisonment. 
But the trouble is wider in extent than merely 
covering smelt fishing, as, if the attorney gen¬ 
eral’s interpretation holds and generally accepted 
conclusions are correct, the net taboo makes the 
use of the landing net in catching salmon, trout, 
bass and other game fish a violation of law. 
Many, few, or no prosecutions may develop 
during the present fishing season, but whatever 
may eventuate the legislature next winter will 
see to it that the law is divested of its objection¬ 
able features. 
HOBBLE DISTANCE FLY. 
(Devised by J. W. Bramhall.) 
Five oz. rod shall conform to type of that used 
in light tackles distance fly in all respects, ex¬ 
cept with Vs oz. variation in weight permitted, 
when in the judgment of the weighmaster the Vs 
oz. excess is in the rod handle. Reel unrestricted. 
Line unrestricted, but same must not be knotted 
or weighted. Leader must be of single gut and 
not less than 6 feet long. One fly shall be used, 
not larger than No. 10 with hook broken at the 
bend, single handed overhead casting. Each con¬ 
testant shall be allowed ten minutes to com¬ 
plete his score. Contestant shall cast from 
platform 18 inches above the water and make 
casts about parallel with a buoy line or meas¬ 
uring board, upon which shall be marked ac¬ 
curately the points of distance from the cast¬ 
ing point. Each contestant’s hobble distance 
shall be such distance from the casting point 
as he may select, in case he has no record 
in the event. If he has a hobble record as here¬ 
inafter provided, such record shall be his hobble. 
Each contestant’s hobble distance as determined 
by selection or record, shall be noted on the 
judges score sheet, prior to the contest. 
The judges shall announce contestant’s hob¬ 
ble record, when the contestant has his turn to 
cast, and shall notify contestant aloud, and 
clearly, about the distance his fly is short of his 
hobble as contestant advances his line, when 
nearing his hobble distance. Contestant shall ad¬ 
vance his fly as near to his hobble as he can, so 
that he does not exceed it, and then, when he is 
ready, lift his line and make the best “shoot” or 
drive he can beyond his hobble. The judges shall 
score the distance the fly alights from the cast¬ 
ing point and shall score such distance, each time 
the fly alights beyond the contestant’s hobble. 
The total of five such casts shall be averaged 
and from such average cast shall be deducted 
the contestant’s hobble distance, the remainder 
being contestant’s average “shoots” beyond his 
hobble and shall constitute his score, the inten¬ 
tion being to record the longest average “shoot.” 
If each instance when a contestant’s average 
“shoot” is ten feet or more, the judges shall ad¬ 
vance the contestant’s hobble five feet, and that 
shall constitute contestant’s hobble for his next 
consecutive five scoring “shoots,” whether it be 
in the same or succeeding like meet, and the 
judges shall so announce. 
The contestant making the longest average 
“shoot” shall be declared the victor. The long¬ 
est cast of each contestant, measured from the 
casting point, shall also be made a matter of 
record. 
No time allowance shall be made for lost fly, ac¬ 
cidents, or fouls, except from outside interfer¬ 
ence. No cast shall be scored without a fly on 
the leader. 
A record shall be made of each contestant’s 
hobble distance as well as his longest average 
“shoot” and longest cast. Such hobble distance 
record is to be contestant’s hobble distance un¬ 
til same is advanced as herein provided. 
General Average Degree 
95 
per 
cent. . 
.. Proficiency Bait Caster 
97 
per 
cent. . 
.. Expert Bait Caster 
98 
per 
cent. . 
.. Master Bait Caster 
98% per 
cent. . 
.. Senior Master Bait Caster 
99 
per 
cent. . 
.. Artist Bait Caster 
The member making the highest general aver¬ 
age of both the above events shall be awarded 
the High Average Bait Award and token. The 
member making the highest average for the sea¬ 
son in % oz. distance bait shall be awarded the 
high score token. The member making the high¬ 
est average for the season in V2 oz. distance bait 
shall be awarded the high score token. 
To each new member not having completed a 
season’s score will be awarded a trophy. One 
each to be given in either of the Accuracy Bait 
or Fly events in which his score is highest. 
Perfect Score Rule; 
Any member making a perfect score in any of 
the bait or fly events, other than distance events, 
in this club’s contests, in amateur club contests, 
in amateur tournaments of the N. A. C. A. or in 
any amateur contests, where the score is credited 
to this club, will be awarded a suitable trophy, 
to be known as The Perfect Score Trophy of the 
Washington Park Amateur Casting Club. 
In the accuracy bait events the number of casts 
in each contest will be limited to 10. 
Any member not casting his score on a regular 
day may cast same the day following. 
Statement for annual dues is enclosed here¬ 
with. Charter membership list is still open, it 
being deemed best for the present to waive the 
initiation fee. 
First Event—May 2nd. V2 oz. Accuracy Bait, 
L. T. Accuracy Fly, L. T. Distance Fly, V2 oz. 
Distance Bait. 
Hoping that this is the beginning of a very suc¬ 
cessful season and wishing to meet you and your 
friends at the casting pool Saturday, May 2nd. 
Fraternally, 
E. M. ELLIS, Secretary. 
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FISHING. 
Catskill, June 8.—The Catskill mountain 
streams are fairly abundant with trout this 
season. During the past three years nearly 
every stream, lake and pond of any. importance 
has been stocked with millions of fry. In the 
fast-running Cauterskill, hundreds of trout, aver¬ 
aging from three-quarters of a pound to two 
pounds have been taken during the present sea¬ 
son. Local fishermen who “know the ropes,” 
and who from long and varied experience are 
familiar with the ways of the crafty King of the 
creek, declare that not in twenty years has the 
sport been so good. Even the city brother, who 
has to depend largely upon guides to lead him to 
the best fishing grounds, is having success. Last 
week, in one of the litle tributaries of Cauters¬ 
kill Creek, Conrad J. Hammer, took a splendid 
specimen, which weighed, after being dressed, 
nearly three pounds. 
It is at Vaughn Lake that trout fishermen are 
having their greatest success. Here, in the very 
