April 17, 1909.] FOREST AND STREAM. 621 
Fishing Arannd San Francisco. 
San Francisco, Cal., April 3. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: The open season for steelhead 
trout opened on April i and a large number of 
enthusiactic anglers camped on the various 
streams lured by the prospects of favorable 
weather to enjoy their favorite sport at the 
earliest possible moment. From the news* just 
received from these fishing grounds it would, 
seem that the streams are still a little too high 
for the best results, but still the sport is very 
fair. Next Sunday will witness an exodus to 
all the streams. Steelhead trout are the only 
kind that may be taken during the month of 
April, Governor Gillette having refused to sign 
the law allowing all varieties of trout to be 
taken this month. Anglers from Nevada are 
complaining about some of the provisions of 
the new law that is now in effect in this State 
and especially the provision that has to do with 
the carrying or shipping of trout out of the 
State. Many Nevada fishermen spend their Sun¬ 
days in the sierras on the California side of the 
line, but according to the new regulations they 
will not be allowed to take their catches home 
with them. 
The measure that was introduced in the State 
Legislature opening all streams to the public, 
thus doing away with private preserves, failed 
to pass, but a compromise measure was accepted. 
Any public land that is sold from now on will 
be sold with the distinct understanding that the 
-- rights of the people to fish in the streams run¬ 
ning through it are reserved. The private pre¬ 
serve people introduced a bill making it a mis¬ 
demeanor to fish on private grounds, but this 
was defeated and all that an owner can do to 
a trespasser is to order him off the land. An¬ 
other bill that met with failure was the one 
placing a tax upon sportsmen who use a rod 
and reel. Those who fish for the market, how¬ 
ever, must pay a license. For several years it 
has been against the law' to take golden trout 
from Whitney Creek at all. but this measure has 
been amended and now these fish may be taken 
from June i to Sept, i, but a limit of ten fish 
a day has been imposed. 
The following shows the open fishing seasons 
according to the new laws; 
Steelhead Trout. — In and above tide water, 
April I to Nov. 15; in tide water only, April 
I to Jan. 31; limit catch per day, fifty fish; 
limit size, five inches; limit weight, fifty pounds. 
Striped Bass. — Protected against netting only 
in May and June. Limit size for rod or net, 
three pounds. 
Black Bass. — Open season, June i to Jan. i; 
.limit, fifty fish in one day. 
Salmon. — Above tide water, close season Sept. 
17 to Nov. 15; in tide water. Sept. 17 to Oct. 23. 
It is now unlawful to fish for trout or white- 
fish from one hour after sunset to one hour 
before sunrise. This measure w'as directed solely 
against poachers who used all kinds of devices 
to take game fish at night. The sale of trout 
less than one pound in weight is also prohibited. 
It is unlaw'ful to ship fish or game in con¬ 
cealed packages or without the sender’s name 
and address; unlawful to have in possession 
Sacramento River perch, female crabs or stur¬ 
geon under twenty-five pounds in weight; un¬ 
lawful to take shad or striped bass with a net 
having less than a five and a half inch mesh 
or to use a set net to take game; unlawful to 
extend a net or seine more than one-third across 
the width of a river or slough; and unlawful 
to take fish within fifty feet of a fishway. 
A. P. B. 
Early Trout Fishing. 
PIendersonvili.e, N. C., April 10.— Editor 
Forest and Stream: March 18 a friend and I 
took a train at 8:05 a. m. We felt quite sure 
the rainbow trout were not yet rising to flies, 
so we took only our bait rods and plenty of 
“garden hackles.” When we reached Green 
River, near Zirconia Station, eight miles south 
of this town, we found the water in excellent 
condition. My friend was first ready and had 
C. A. BROWN AND HIS SALMON. 
the satisfaction of hooking and creeling a nice 
trout before I had my hook attached to line. 
I felt quite sure we would return home that 
evening with a good number of trout in our 
creels. We went as far down stream as we 
well could without wading waist deep or swim¬ 
ming, but somehow these trout were not as re¬ 
sponsive as the morning promised and we were 
disappointed. 
We returned, recrossed the railroad, and went 
up stream as far as Jones’ mill dam. In the 
liack water above the dam are numbers of trout, 
but it was slow fishing, and a cold wind sprang 
up. I walked quite gingerly out on the dam 
in water six inches deep to reach a vantage 
point from which to cast into the pool below. 
Mere I caught my best trout for the day, and 
as the pool looked so promising across the river 
I could bear it no longer, so below the dam I 
went and waded , over through the cold water 
above my boot tops, getting thoroughly wet. I 
did not mind that if the trout would respond 
to the compliment thus paid them. They did 
not, and after frequent casts with my garden 
hackles and no results, I recrossed for my fly- 
book and leaders. I then returned and whipped 
the water thoroughly. Results as before. 
A club of one hundred members is being 
formed, taking 85,000 acres or thereabouts of 
Geo. W. Vanderbilt’s estate, part of which lies 
in this county. It covers both game and fish. 
P'ifty dollars a year, the first two years paid 
in advance. The best of trout fishing is found 
there, as well as bear, deer, grouse, etc. A lot 
of good fellows in it. No other but good fel¬ 
lows accepted. Ernest L. Ewbank. 
The Anglers’ Club of New York. 
New York City, April 7. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: At a meeting of the Anglers’ Club 
of New York held April 6, the date for hold¬ 
ing the national tournament was changed, at the 
suggestion of President Perce, of the National 
Association, to Aug. 19, 20 and 21, as this time 
would seem to suit the Western anglers better 
than September. The events decided on are 
quarter-ounce and half-ounce bait distance, 
quarter-ounce and half-ounce bait accuracy, sal¬ 
mon fly, trout fly heavy rods, trout fly five- 
ounce rods, accuracy fly, dry fly accuracy and 
surf-casting. The rules for the last provide 
for single or double handed unlimited rods; free 
running reels without any retarding device; a 
line capable of sustaining a weight of ten 
pounds; a leaden casting weight of two and a 
half ounces; cast to be made in a lane formed 
by diverging lines w'hich shall be sixty feet 
wide at a distance of 200 feet; each contestant 
to make five casts and the average to count. 
Messrs. W. T. Morrispn and Henry Mesa were 
elected captain and assistant captain respectively 
with power to appoint another assistant. 
It was also decided to hold club contests at 
the Pool in Central Park every Thursday at 
3:30 p. M. beginning in May, the events to be 
the same as those at the coming national tour¬ 
nament, and contestants to be handicapped ac¬ 
cording to their records. 
Edward Earniiam Todd, Sec’y. 
The First Chinook of the Season. 
Portland, Oregon, March 31. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: A battle royal took place recently 
near the falls of the Willamette, when C. A. 
Brown with rod and reel captured the first 
Chinook salmon of the season, weighing thirty- 
two pounds. The fish was taken with a spoon. 
I have spent many a day fishing and shoot¬ 
ing with Mr. Brown, who is one of the keen 
true sportsmen in Portland. He is very proud 
of this trophy of his skill and I am glad to be 
able to show the fish and its captor. There is 
a good run of chinook salmon in the river, the 
best in years. Salmon fishing will be at its best 
in April. F. B., Jr. 
Tampico TeLTprin. 
Tampico, Mexico, April 5. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: The largest catch of the season, as 
copied from my record book, is as follows: 
One hundred and thirty-two tarpon landed by 
H. Tunstall Moore, of Stedalt, Ireland; largest, 
6 feet; 72 to 155 pounds; and last day eleven 
tarpon, ranging from 5^2 to 6J/2 feet in length. 
' A. M. Poindexter. 
