544 
FOREST AND STREAM 
not have chosen a better tactical position. Glued to 
the bottom, I studied the situation. Every minute 
it was growing darker and I could not resort to 
Fabian methods. A quick process of elimination 
cleared away all doubt as to proceedure and left 
but one vulnerable point of attack. From directly 
down stream I should have fouled my cast at 
once, and all angles below the log were nearly as 
hopeless, for I could not cover the spot without 
placing the fly altogether too near the tree for 
safety. Of course up stream was out of the ques¬ 
tion, even had I tried to reverse the method of 
dry fly fishing, for the water was perfectly open, 
and I should have frightened the quarry at the 
start. So a position straight out from the log, at 
right angles to the current, was my only point of 
vantage. I crept to that place inch by inch, fear¬ 
ing those lynx eyes would detect me and down 
he would go. The tension was becoming severe, 
the world held but that trout and me. Lowering 
my rod until nearly parallel with the water I paid 
out about thirty-five feet of line and dropped the 
dun a yard above the swirl at the end of the tree 
and well this side of it. That momentous journey 
of the tiny fly brought no response from the dark 
water beneath, though it sailed erect and true past 
the end of the log. I lengthened the line and 
made another attempt, and this time it floated 
sedately past his lair not six inches from the tree, 
but his shy and cunning majesty would not be in¬ 
veigled beyond his stronghold. 
A desperate sense of being defeated, outma¬ 
noeuvred, threw a cold douche over my enthusi¬ 
asm, but I determined upon one last venture. If 
the fly caught on the log or were drawn under it, 
I should be obliged to spoil the game, of course, 
but the same damage would be done if it were 
jerked violently from the water just before col¬ 
liding. However, I accepted the inevitable and 
burned my bridges. 
Down came the gentle wanderer, his yellow 
wings just visible in the twilight, straight for the 
log. Just before the obstruction was reached a 
gentle rise humped the surface and sent my blood 
racing madly. I struck, and hooked. Then for a 
few seconds a baby geyser threw a shower of 
spray into the fast approaching night, and I could 
see the flash of his silver sides. The shadow of 
that log hung close, the bourne of his hopes and 
freedom, and to frustrate its inimicable presence 
the fragile rod bent and strained with the line 
held firmly in my hand. That frenzied fish fairly 
turned somersaults upon the water, ringing out 
the sweetest music an angler’s ears ever heard. 
It was a moment of agony and joy, when every 
nerve tingled in unison with the trembling rod. 
Then the valiant fighter plunged uncontrollably 
into the depths, the reel gave one vain screech 
and all was still. 
Do you think that little episode was not har¬ 
rowing? Can you imagine how often it has lifted 
the tedium and quickened my pulse in gladsome 
dreams? Ah! Foolish layman, cavil if you will, 
but I know no sweeter pleasure than that day 
upon the stream. 
That utterly irresistible rush snapped the chain 
and set the captive free. The fine tapered leader 
had parted a few inches from the dun, doubtless 
through its impact with the log. I had lost the 
fish, and lost my fly, but stamped upon the film 
of memory a picture that was engraven for all 
time. 
And so it was in that short twilight hour three 
years ago, that I too, like the little dun, shed my 
grub-state attire, to emerge, beatified, in the glori¬ 
ous vestments of a true-human. I had learned 
the trick, I had fished the rise, and I was happy. 
THOUSANDS OF GOPHERS. 
The accompanying photograph is from Mr. J. 
F. De Garmo of Early, Iowa, and shows the re¬ 
sult of a one-day gopher hunt by the Early 
Gopher Club, May 7, 1913. One hundred members 
participated in the hunt. They were divided into 
two bodies of fifty each. D. D. Carlton and John 
Engler were the respective captains. 
The two divisions were to strive to bring in the 
greatest number of gophers. The winning side 
was given a banquet at the Early Hotel by the 
losers. It was required that every member 
should report at the hotel by five o’clock in the 
afternoon and the hunt closed. 
The total kill for the day was 2,680 lbs. of 
gophers, or nearly 3,000 head. 
This is an annual event and is looked forward 
to by the citizens of Early with no small degree 
of interest. It is said to be the only organization 
of the kind in the state of Iowa. During the 
eight years since the organization of the club not 
a single accident has occurred. 
DEFENDS GOVERNOR GLYNN. 
Schuylerville, N. Y., April 13, 1914. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
On page 405 Mr. Henry Chase criticizes Gov¬ 
ernor Glynn for his remarks on game protection. 
It is evident that Mr. Chase does not live in New 
York State or, if he does, he must live in a large 
city. Somebody should criticise the commission, 
as it is no longer a conservation commission, but 
a devastation commission. There are three- 
orchards that have been ruined in the last few 
years by the fool game laws; one by deer, and 
two by rabbits, and their owners cannot get a 
cent of damages. Do you think that is fair? If 
the owners had lived in Massachusetts or Ver¬ 
mont they would have been paid for the damage. 
There one is allowed to protect property by kill¬ 
ing the deer or rabbits. Do you know of any 
reason why the farmers are not entitled to as 
good treatment as the farmers in any other state? 
Can you tell me why the state at great expense 
should send speakers through the state telling us 
how to protect trees from damage by insects and 
then pass laws that create a flood of rabbits, and 
laws that forbid us killing them in our own 
orchards? And hire officials at a cost of an aver¬ 
age of $5,000 a county to prosecute us if we kill 
any rabbits in our own orchards. Would you think 
anybody would go to see the Governor or that he 
would get tired of kicks from people who have 
been abused? 
Let me give you my experience. I own the 
largest orchard, I think, in the state, 1,100 acres. 
800 acres set, 100 acres in bearing. I have been 
damaged by rabbits thousands of dollars and 
about $500 by deer. Was damaged about $1,500 
last year and about $1,000 this year. In spite of the 
fact that I had three men making a desperate 
fight, the rabbits chewed more than two thousand 
trees and killed about 500. We probably killed 
one thousand rabbits, and there are rabbits in the 
orchard yet, but very few. They keep coming 
like the locusts of Egypt. It seemed that we 
would never get to the end of them. Then came 
the game protector. I had to pay $26.50 a piece 
for the three of them, about $80. I tried to beg 
off from the commission, but it was no use, their 
hearts were stone. And Nero fiddled while Rome 
burned. What would they care if they ruined 
any industry, their salaries would go on. Now 
every time I see those poor chewed trees I think 
of that $80 and am mad clear through. Then I 
think of $5,ooo-$io,ooo crop that I will probably 
have this fall. They will bring from $1 to $1.50 
more a barrel, on account of the rabbit pest that 
has put the other fellow out, so the consumer 
will pay me, if the state will not, and he will not 
know it. Now do not criticise Governor Glynn; 
he is about all the people have to show for their 
money. He is the only island in sight on the sea 
of graft. 
2,680 Pounds of Gophers. 
C. E. BRISBIN. 
