500 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[March 27, 1909. 
fish. Hundreds of salmon were seen last season 
from Dery’s Bridge during the June, July and 
late August runs. One hundred and thirty-five 
fish were hooked by anglers, fifteen to one rod 
one day. The river was not closely fished last 
season owing to the tercentenary celebration in 
Quebec. 
Thousands of young fry were seen, differing 
in size and appearance from the young fish from 
Tadousac hatchery. These smaller fry were ap¬ 
parently fry actually spawned in the river, and 
the river should soon be self sustaining. Many 
of the fish taken last season by me—I had not 
fished the river for the previous ten years—ap¬ 
peared to be salmon from the transplanted fry. 
Several specimens were placed side by side as 
caught and marked differences were readily 
noticed. The greater number of fish caught 
were deeper and more -heavily built, with the 
eye further forward than in others, which were 
slighter and longer, and these slighter salmon 
are believed to be fish actually spawned in the 
Jacques Cartier. 
Edmond Dery, whose family has lived at 
Dery’s Bridge for over one hundred years, is 
of the same opinion. He also claims that the 
slim, long fish are typical Jacques Cartier sal¬ 
mon from fry actually born in the river, and 
that the deeper, thicker fish have only appeared 
since the Tadousac fry were put in the river 
several years ago. These stouter fish seem even 
more plentiful than the slimmer fish, supposed 
to be spawned in the river. All salmon return 
to the river from which they first go to sea, just 
as surely as if actually spawned in its waters. 
The loss during transportation of young fry 
is usually small, but as these fish have so many 
enemies, both in fresh and in salt water, it is 
advisable to stock as heavily as possible every 
year until the salmon are plentifully established 
in the river. 
The convincing evidence, secured on the 
Jacques Cartier, should encourage parties who 
have waters favorable to salmon to stock heavily 
with young fry, from their own or a distant 
hatchery. This proceeding appears all the more 
necessary, as the rivers which now provide good 
salmon fishing are almost unattainable. They 
are mostly owned by private clubs, individual 
sportsmen or by the Government. The latter 
only leases salmon rivers for short terms at very 
high and constantly increasing rentals, there¬ 
fore stock your rivers whenever possible, as it 
takes time to establish salmon in any river. 
A Quebec Sportsman. 
Southern California Fishing. 
Los Angeles, Cal., March 17. —Editor Forest 
and Stream: At the present rate of weather 
there will be little or no fishing until May. The 
season is proving a replica of last year, when 
northwesters blew frequently all through March 
and the fore part of April; in fact, continuing 
until into May at intervals. 
The wind spoiled the sporting features of the 
club’s barbecue. It blew squarely across the 
course in fitful gusts of great velocity, baffling 
anything like intelligent calculation. Charlie 
Garr. who won the previous tournament with a 
splendid average, lost three long casts just out¬ 
side bounds, and nobody performed up to his 
average. 
Duke Miles, of Long Beach, who lost a leg 
some years ago, is an enthusiastic and expert 
fisherman, and made his appearance in the cast¬ 
ing course, equipped with an up-to-date outfit, 
with which he did some very remarkable work, 
considering the physical handicap under which 
he has to compete. Miles has a sort of seat 
fitted to his crutch, and takes a brace with it, 
casting with an easy, graceful swing. Two 
years ago the single-handed surf casters here¬ 
abouts could be counted on one’s fingers, but 
now there are dozens using this method. Ihe 
direction of the competition, excepting in so far 
as the association rules cover it, is to be de¬ 
termined by a committee which will render a 
report of additional rules required, so that the 
event can be included in the National Associa¬ 
tion’s lists. 
The committee appointed to look into the 
Three-Six rules matter, composed 'of Messrs. 
Smith Warren, Roy F. B. Shaver and the 
writer, has agreed upon conditions similar to 
those governing at Catalina, but including other 
fish than yellowtail. The scheme is to offer a 
card emblematic of membership in the division 
to all who catch a yellowtail, white sea bass or 
albacore of eighteen pounds, and a button to 
the captors of fish of these kinds of twice that 
weight. For corbina, the weights for card and 
button are five and eight pounds; for croakers, 
eight and ten pounds, thus giving alongshore 
anglers some inducement to fish with lighter 
tackle. It was decided to limit the lines to a 
breaking strength of fourteen pounds, that be¬ 
ing about the limit of the best six-strand lines 
unless made larger than the standard calibre by 
selecting extra stout flax, in which case the 
object of the Three-Six idea is defeated. Six- 
foot rods, six ounces in weight with metal reel- 
seats are insisted upon, which practically limits 
the competition to a split-bamboo rod. 
After some vicissitudes, the club’s campaign 
for protection to surf fish (otherwise corbina), 
croakers and yellowfins, has succeeded. The 
State Assembly finally passed the bill limiting 
the taking of these varieties to hook and line 
methods only. Enforcing this law is the next 
order, and arrangements looking toward this 
end, which practically will put a stop to the 
wastefully destructive practice of shore seining, 
now are being made. The alongshore game fish of 
this section have suffered sorely in the past. 
They already show a startling decrease. 
The bill to license fishermen has passed also. 
Its provisions apply only to those who do not 
hold hunting licenses, and wish to fish for va¬ 
rieties mentioned in the game law, excluding 
all unprotected sea fish. This comprises all but 
the anadromous varieties, and the three kinds 
to which protection has just been extended by 
the hook and line bill, but as the cost is only a 
dollar a year, local anglers felt willing to con¬ 
tribute it if their favorite game could have pro¬ 
tection. 
Assemblyman Polsley’s efforts to investigate 
the State Fish Commission, which he alleged 
was using money raised by the sale of hunting 
licenses for political purposes, came to naught. 
The matter was buried by reference to the com¬ 
mittee on fish and game. 
Edwin L. Hedderly. 
The Forest and Stream may be obtained from any 
newsdealer on order. Ask your dealer to supply you 
regularly. 
Old Questions in Dispute. 
Sullivan County, N. Y., March 20. —Editor 
Forest and Stream: Ever since I began fishing 
at the age of six years with a hook stuck on 
to a piece of twine with red sealing wax, certain 
questions have been debated by anglers, or have 
been discussed in the sporting press of this 
country and Great Britain. They seem to be 
possessed of a perennial interest and many wise 
men and good fishermen have answered them 
to their own satisfaction. Yet the main points 
in dispute are still unsettled and possibly will 
always remain in that delightful condition. The 
fact is that every man’s opinion or point of 
view is governed by his personal experience on 
the waters with which he is most familiar, and 
the conditions differ greatly. • Each stream that 
we know has its own peculiarities and is to a 
certain extent a law unto itself, yet an angler 
of considerable experience will quickly adapt 
his methods to unfamiliar waters and in a few 
days is able to hold up his end with the best 
local talent. 
I wish to repeat a few of the old questions 
I have in mind and voice, if I can, the experi¬ 
ence of the majority of thoughtful anglers in 
answering them. 
Shall we use a dark fly on a dark day and 
a light colored fly on a bright day, or the re¬ 
verse? 
Shall we fish up stream or down stream? 
Shall we try to imitate nature in making or 
selecting our trout flies, or is it quite unnecessary 
and a waste of time to do so? 
Many years ago the light colored fly for the 
dark day had rather the best of it. Uncle Thad 
Norris, for instance, always dressed his coach¬ 
man with this principle in mind. The wings 
were of four colors or shades, from pure white 
to dark lead color. The white wings were for 
dark days and evening fishing, with a yellow 
bodied ginger hackle on the cast after sunset. 
Alders, black hackles and similar flies were 
favorites of his in bright weather. 
As time rolled on the practice of many sports¬ 
men gradually changed and we frequently heard 
the assertion that a dark fly for a dark day was 
the only safe medicine. For sunny days, bright 
weather and water, a bright fly, even unto a 
silver body, was necessary, and there were good 
men and true who fished a black fly in the even¬ 
ing or at night. 
The trout did not seem to mind at all, and 
as for myself I was off on another tack and 
never thought about harmonizing my flies with 
the weather or the time of day. I was hot foot 
after the natural insect, and if I saw or secured 
on or near the water a single specimen of the 
ephemera during an entire day’s fishing I was 
apt to be guided in my selection by the color¬ 
ing of that solitary insect. I think, however, 
that I would have cast in my fortunes and flies 
with the dark day, dark fly men. This theory 
is apt to harmonize with one’s feelings in gloomy 
weather. Overcast skies may be very favorable 
at times, but some of the best sport I have ever 
had has been in bright weather. Think of the 
delights of a sunny morning in May or June 
on a fine trout stream! It is the real spring 
time for all growing things, plants, animals and 
men. All anglers renew their youth at this 
merry season. 
I have spent the night at a farm house right 
