May i8, 1912 
FOREST AND STREAM 
629 
MAm mMiStfi® 
Trout Season in Sullivan and Ulster 
By THEODORE GORDON 
Birds in New Zealand. 
The settlement of New Zealand has resulted 
in the partial disappearance — and in some places 
extinction—of several native birds of New Zea¬ 
land. The native quail has become extinct. The 
settlement of the country destroys the birds' 
natural homes and their natural food, and thus 
exercises a most destructive effect on native 
species even though they may be free from direct 
attacks by man. 
The same thing has been seen in all new coun¬ 
tries where civilization has destroyed natural 
conditions. In early days, New England and the 
Middle States were the homes of such birds as 
the wild turkey, the heath hen and the wild 
pigeon, while multitudes of sea fowl bred along 
the coast and ducks of many species on the in¬ 
land lakes and ponds. The same process of ex¬ 
termination is still going on continually and the 
region of destruction is moving westward with 
the center of population. 
It is an old, old story and one wonders whether 
the efforts to establish game refuges of one sort 
and another, and to put in charge of the Federal 
Government of the United States all species of 
migratory birds, will succeed in time to perm t 
the migratory species, at least, to re-establish 
themselves and to survive. 
Deer Killed by Floods. 
Hundreds of wild deer, as well as much 
smaller game, have been killed by the floods in 
the Mississippi valley, and hundreds more are 
now starving in the overflowed territory, accord¬ 
ing to reports received by the American Game 
Protective and Propagation Association of New 
York. One hundred and seventy deer are 
marooned on two mounds in the submerged Sun¬ 
flower River district a few miles from Vicks¬ 
burg, Miss. 
In response to requests for aid from game 
protectionists in that locality, the association has 
sent one of its special agents, Philip S. Farnham, 
to investigate and to help in the rescue work. 
After leaving Vicksburg, Mr. Farnham will go 
to Texas to assist in the formation of a State 
game protective association. Those interested in 
this will hold a convention at Waco, May 21 
to 24. 
Commendatory. 
New York City, May 3. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: I have just read “A Heart Lake Trip” 
by Walter B. Sheppard in your issue of May 4, 
and I want to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed 
it. It is “chock full” of interesting notes and 
observations, and is one of the many good things 
you are constantly giving your readers. If I 
wrote you every time I wished to express ap¬ 
proval of Forest and Stream articles, I should 
be at it all the time, but this time I have a favor 
to ask as well. 
Where can I get a folding canvas boat? 
Strange to say, I cannot find an ad. concern¬ 
ing them. If you will kindly refer this to your 
information department I shall be greatly in¬ 
debted for any information which may be fur¬ 
nished. DeC. S. 
All the game latvs of the United States and 
Canada, revised to date and now in force, are 
given in the Game Laws in Brief. See adv. 
T housands of anglers in the big cities 
and various parts of the country are keen¬ 
ly interested in the trout streams of Sul¬ 
livan and Ulster counties, in New York State. 
I have had letters from Chicago and the West, 
asking for information in regard to the fishing 
and prospects for sport. Many anglers have 
already taken a week-end or a few days from 
the push of business, while others are waiting 
impatiently for the opportune moment to arrive 
the streams are high. 
when they can board a fast express bound for 
the blessed country with its budding leaves, ten¬ 
der green foliage, homely fare—and trout. The 
season is quite an early one. The streams were 
high on opening day. May i, but perfectly clear, 
and the fish were feeding well. Those I have 
seen were in fair condition, and several anglers 
have mentioned the strength and activity with 
which they fought for freedom. 
Cold, pure water makes lively fish, and in May 
a bad leak in one’s waders reminds one of a 
douche of ice water. At t’mes there has been 
a good hatch of natural flies, and several of 
the duns have killed well, medium to dark shades. 
It is a curious fact that a small royal coachman 
is often an excellent wet fly early in the season. 
I do not use it myself, prefering to stick to 
nature, and a more natural looking fly. 
Baskets of from fifteen to twenty-five good 
trout have been caught by the fly-fishers. I have 
not heard of anything very large, but know of 
a number of fish weighing two pounds or better. 
One of the best anglers among my friends 
killed thirty-five large trout on iMay 2 and 3, 
running up to eighteen inches in length. This 
is surely magnificent sport for hard fished 
waters that are close to the great centers of 
populaf'on. One might not do as well in the 
wilderness. Much interest has been manifested 
in restocking with fingerlings and fry and most 
of the trout received have been fingerlings, which 
are far superior to fry. A friend of mine is 
trying to establish the rainbow trout in the 
Neversink, and the lower reaches would appear 
to be well suited to these fish. 
At one t;me they fairly swarmed in the Esopus 
(Ulster county), and there are a good many 
now. Rainbows sometimes display a tendency 
to run down and go to sea, as is the habit of 
the larger fish in the streams of the coast ranges 
of the Pacific slope. 
I have often wondered if the two high falls 
on the lower Esopus had not a hand in prevent¬ 
ing them from going down to the Hudson. 
Would their instinct keep them from essaying 
the descent of a fall so abrupt and high that 
they could scarcely escape injury? Of course, 
the salmon family of fishes do accomplish some 
astonishing stunts in ascending and descending 
falls. 
The birds are here and all nature smiles when 
the spring sun is shining. We will not think 
of the days when the wind is from the north¬ 
east and chilly. Yesterday I saw two solitary 
snipe. This bird goes to the north of us late 
and yet is the first to return in August. The 
first one we see in that month reminds us that 
the autumn is near at hand. 
The little sandpipers tipped up and down and 
made short flights in their usual style, and most 
of our well known birds were well represented. 
The wind was strong from the east; clouds 
were gathering, but the sun continued to shine 
and we much enjoyed our afternoon as we fol¬ 
lowed the wind'ng stream through dense cover 
as well as open meadows. It is a great privilege 
to have an outing of this sort in the merry month 
of May. I am hopeful of a good season. 
Fishing in California. 
Berkeley, Cal,, April 23.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: The fifth annual picnic and field day 
of the California Anglers’ Association was held 
April 21, at White House Pool on Paper Mill 
Creek in Marin county, this being the time-hon¬ 
ored spot for the annual meeting. The crowd 
that attended was so great no large catches of 
fish were made, but almost every one who 
whipped the stream succeeded in landing a few. 
No entrance fee was charged and many who 
