456 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Oct. 12, 1912 
the feeding ground for large numbers of 
“English snipe,” and during the migrations is 
unquestionably occupied by a great multitude 
of shore birds. The wet marsh, the sweet 
water pools and the brackish lakes are resorts 
at the proper seasons of multitudes of fresh 
water ducks and geese. The deep bayous on 
the north side of the island and their brackish 
enlargements are said to abound in wild potato, 
the roots of which are a favorite food of the 
canvasback. 
Thus, the land and the water seem in all re¬ 
spects admirably adapted to the stay of many 
kinds of water birds which are of especial in¬ 
terest to sportsmen. 
There are deer on the island, and many 
were reported killed there during the winter of 
1911 and 1912. 
Mr. Grinnell’s report on the island was alto¬ 
gether favorable, and in due time, after the ques¬ 
tion of title and various other legal details had 
been settled, Mrs. Sage purchased the property. 
Aside from its fitness for a game preserve, 
Marsh Island possesses unusual ornithological in¬ 
terest. It is a stopping and resting place—perhaps 
the first for a long distance—-for birds migrating' 
from the South or the Southwest; and many of 
these migrants reach the island quite exhausted 
by their long flight. Since the island has now 
been purchased as a refuge, it may be well to 
consider the advisability of establishing an or¬ 
nithological station near its west point—• 
Chenier La Croix. It is possible, also, that a 
study of the deep waters of the Southwest Pass 
might be of much interest. 
It seems possible, too, that here is an op¬ 
portunity to establish heronries, where the van¬ 
ishing snowy herons might be preserved for¬ 
ever, and be re-established on a large scale. 
Mr. Mcllhenny’s success at Avery Island en¬ 
courages the belief that similar colonies might 
flourish here. At present there are no trees 
in the middle of the island, but it is quite 
likely that if planted there, they will grow. 
The protection of the Island is of funda¬ 
mental importance. Steps have been taken to 
protect it. It is probable that two or three 
good men would be enough to guard the prop¬ 
erty efficiently. A man on horseback for the 
south side, and one with a gasoline launch on 
the north side could patrol the length of the 
island and return, each day. They could close¬ 
ly watch the mouths of the bayous, and keep 
gunners from penetrating to the waters fre¬ 
quented by the wildfowl. Perhaps a third man 
might be needed; but it is certain that the 
whole work can be done at an expense which 
will be trifling, compared with the importance 
of the matter. The land has already been 
posted as private property, in accordance with 
the new Louisiana game law. 
The details of the island’s administration 
have not yet been determined. The matter is 
at present in the hand of Mr. Mcllhenny, whose 
long experience in such matters especially quali¬ 
fies him to handle it. 
While sportsmen generally are to be con¬ 
gratulated on Mrs. Sage’s noble public spirit 
in giving this great sum of money for the pre¬ 
servation of our wildfowl, it is after all the 
naturalists who should and will be the most 
grateful to her. 
And if the thanks of sportsmen and natur¬ 
alists are due to Mrs. Sage, scarcely less is the 
debt of gratitude due to Messrs. Mcllhenny 
and Ward, who originated the project, and to 
Mr. De Forest, who, though not himself a 
shooter, instantly recognized the importance or 
the matter, and brought it to Mrs. Sage’s at¬ 
tention. 
We regard this as the most important 
movement in wildfowl protection that has ever 
been made in this country. 
Forest and Stream endeavors to “make 
good” to its readers by giving timely news 
stories, and features written by some of the best 
writers of their kind. 
Virginia Notes. 
North, Va., Sept. 25.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Yesterday as I sat on my front porch 
watching some men fishing for gray sea trout 
(weakfish), and they were having fine sport, 
recollections of the past came drifting by. It 
is strange how much pleasure we can get out 
of thoughts if we only will. Some eighteen 
years ago I was in the mercantile business in 
a small country town and had to retire on ac¬ 
count of health, as I could not stand the con¬ 
finement. I used to steal off occasionally to 
take a few hours with gun and dog or rod and 
reel. I am going to tell you of one of my three 
and a half hours’ fishing trips. I was on the 
pond three and one-half hours and away from 
my business about four and one-half hours. 
There was a mill pond about one and a half 
miles long, which had been stocked with chub 
(big-mouth bass) and was literally alive with 
them. I used a silk phantom minnow and light 
bait-casting rod with very fine cuttyhunk linen 
line and ordinary guard reel. 
I have always had trouble to find a good 
paddler on the inland waters of this section. 
While on the salt water every boy is a seaman, 
so I generally handle the boat myself on these 
ponds. I would of course prefer a good man, 
but I can scull and cast at the same time moder¬ 
ately well. There are many old logs, trees and 
windfalls about the edges of all these millponds, 
and as they are landlocked, there is never any 
seaway to speak of. 
Now for the fishing. I started by pulling 
a four and a half-pounder from under the first 
log I cast over, and in a few moments had his 
mate from under the next log, and so it went. 
Literally as fast as the bait touched the water 
there was a rush. The fish seemed frantic. 
Never before or since have I seen fish bite as 
they did that morning, and in three hours and 
thirty minutes I had caught fifty-eight, throw¬ 
ing back everything under thirteen inches as 
fast as I caught them, and when I went home 
had forty very pretty fish, an appetite and a soul 
full of joy. I gave away to my friends nearly 
all of the catch and enjoyed what I kept im¬ 
mensely. This was my red letter fishing day 
and will always remain green in my mind. 
I am extremely fond of all outdoor sports 
and take a great interest in them ; only the lack 
of means keeps me from following them more 
closely. 
The crop of partridges (quail) is very heavy 
this season and the coveys extremely full. Have 
a fair dog and am anxious to put him to work. 
Can hardly wait, but will. Bow Wow. 
A suit, which will attract much interest 
among those who deal in sporting goods, was 
filed recently in the Sangamon county, Illinois, 
circuit court by Edward De Crastos against M. 
V. Troy. It is asserted that Troy sold a gun 
to Smith Hawkins, a youth, who accidentally shot 
and killed Fred De Crastos, son of the complain¬ 
ant. It is claimed that Troy violated the law, 
which prohibits the sale of firearms to minors. 
Damages in the sum of $10,000 are asked. It is 
said that this is the first suit of the kind ever 
filed in Central Illinois. 
Forest and Stream is the gentleman sports¬ 
man’s weekly. 
SNOWY EGRET. 
