FOREST AND STREAM. 
Sept. 5, 1908.] 
1 ' 
: than all the rest of the closed season. For in- 
^stance, in Minnesota the closed season for black 
bass is from March 1 to May 29 (Sec. 40) and 
in Ohio it is from May 1 to May 31 (Sec. 41). 
1 In Minnesota the trout closed season is from 
, Sept. 1 to April 15 (Sec. 40), and in Ohio it 
is from Sept. 15 to April 15 (Sec. 43). This 
is only one of many cases where it seems as 
though no thought had been placed upon lati¬ 
tudinal conditions, for it is very obvious that 
if one is right the other is certainly wrong. 
This causes the committee to declare for the 
harmonizing of the laws of the different States 
and getting as close as possible to latitudinal 
closed seasons; later as they go north from 
zone to zone. 
Another point under this head is the planting 
of foreign fishes in waters already inhabited by 
the same species and thereby causing a diver- 
I sity of spawning seasons for the same fishes 
with only protection for the earlier ones. 
3d. Sale of game fishes in the market. 
Under this head we come to one ,of the most 
flagrant causes of the deterioration of our fish¬ 
ing waters, and one which must have a great 
deal of thoughtful, patient and diplomatic work- 
put upon it. It may seem to some that those 
who, for themselves, cannot obtain these deh- 
1 cacies should in some way be able to obtain 
them by purchase, but we do not think that they 
have a right to obtain them when they have 
been procured by the wholesale, outrageous and 
miserable means which are used. 
There are kinds of game which cannot now 
be obtained under any circumstances, which 
were in the past easily purchased without break¬ 
ing the law. When it was found that exter¬ 
mination was only a matter of a few years they 
were protected in the vain hope that the species 
jl would be renewed, but the dismal failure so 
to do can be cited in more than one case. So 
we take the stand that we should not wait until 
the end is upon us, but forestall such a lament¬ 
able finale and leave for those who would buy 
i fish, the many rough fishes and reserve for those 
; who have enough life to go out and procure 
them by their skill, the very few game fishes 
which inhabit our waters and which the Gov- 
S ernment and various States are striving so hard 
t to perpetuate, and even those who thus go should 
j be restricted to a reasonable exercising of their 
i rights. 
The prohibition of the sale of trout and hlack 
bass is found in the laws of the States of Maine 
(Public Laws of 1907, Chapter 181) and Michi¬ 
gan (Compiler’s Section 43). Black bass in 
Ohio (Sec. 42) and trout in Wisconsin (Sec. 
88 (c) ). These States see the inevitable end 
by doing otherwise. Why not all the other 
States? 
4th. Wholesale slaughter of game fishes. 
In taking up this head we do not refer to the 
above subject, but to the nefarious practice of 
netting of all kinds of fishes, large, small, game 
and rough, and allowing them to rot in order 
j to make oil or fertilizer from the remains. 
There are fishes which might be used for this 
purpose, but as for the game fishes we wish 
them a more glorious end. This point is taken 
| up in the New Jersey laws (page 45) in regard 
■ to game sea fishes. 
5th. The size limit of game fishes. 
This varies quite considerably in the different 
states, the trout ranging from 5 inches to 
i 
7 inches and the black bass from 9 inches to 
11 inches with but little or no notice taken to 
the “muskie,” pike-perch or salmon. 
The committee takes the stand that this is an 
important question for settlement and feels that 
there should be a large enough limit placed upon 
all game fishes to adequately protect against too 
generous a guess as to the length of the fish 
caught, which, we are all fully aware, is very 
often, at least, a trifle more than the fish really 
is. 
6th. Angler’s license. 
In taking up this question there can be no es¬ 
tablished precedent cited, as not one of the nine 
States referred to has such a provision. They 
have in a great many cases been very careful 
to establish a hunter’s license, and sportsmen 
throughout the country accept it as a fair propo¬ 
sition. Why then is there no angler’s license? 
As near as can be ascertained the one great 
reason is the apathy on the part of those in¬ 
terested. 
An angler’s license, if properly framed, would 
work no hardship toward anyone, as the ques¬ 
tion of angling in waters within or abutting 
one’s own property, and similar questions, could 
be met and settled satisfactorily to all, and the 
revenue from such licenses would be of great 
assistance toward the carrying out of the fish 
laws. 
7th. Sale of unsportsmanlike bait. 
Under this head we point with pride to the 
fish laws of New Jersey (which laws we would 
here say are, as a whole, the most complete and 
sane aggregation of sensible clauses of any of 
the laws of the States mentioned) which in Sec¬ 
tion 36 states, “It shall be unlawful at all times 
to use, have in possession, or offer or expose 
for sale, any artificial bait with more than three- 
hooks or more than one burr of three hooks 
attached thereto, under a penalty of $25 for each 
offense.” 
All honor to New Jersey! May all the other 
States emulate her example in this grand step 
toward relegating the unsportsmanlike bait 10 
oblivion. 
8th. Night fishing. 
This, if used properly, would work no evil, 
but it i$, in the opinion of your committee, too 
great a temptation for the unscrupulous to profit 
by the cloak of darkness which hides their deeds 
from the outside world. 
Here is another case where New Jersey shows 
her progressiveness and puts her stamp of ap¬ 
proval upon its abolishment. 
9th. Number of fishes allowed in one day. 
Here is another point upon which there seems 
to be a wide diversity of opinion in the different 
laws, as the number ranges all the way from 
15 to 50, and when we stop to think that very 
seldom are there less than two fishing together, 
it would seem to your committee that 50 is a 
pretty liberal allowance, as it is not often pos¬ 
sible to make proper use of as many as 100 
fishes in one day if two, or even more are camp¬ 
ing or fishing in one party. 
10th. Fishing near fishways. 
This is a question which is governed by only 
four of the nine States named, and the distance 
ranges from 50 feet to 50 rods. Obviously this 
should be legislated upon, as it is by no means 
sportsmanlike, to say nothing of right, to take 
any fish at such a disadvantage. 
nth. Shipping fishes from State to State. 
379 
This is a question which should have the at¬ 
tention of the committee. It should be allowed 
under closely restricted conditions, but care 
would be necessary in framing any law on this 
point, as it could be so easily abused. This is 
covered by prohibitory and restrictionary laws 
in four of the nine States. 
12th. Federal laws to govern points of equal 
interest to all States. 
Your committee can see no reason why ques¬ 
tions, which are vital to all States alike, should 
not be under federal law, and this condition is 
one of the hoped for goals of your committee. 
In view of the fact that there have been game 
laws passed by Congress (reference is made to 
what is known as the Lacey law of 1900) we 
see no reason why Congress should not see the 
need of a federal fish law. 
In summing up, it must be understood that 
we have aimed high, and if there are any imma¬ 
ture parts in our report, or if any points have 
been omitted which seem to you to be important, 
you must remember and consider the extreme 
youthfulness of your committee and the exceed 
ing short space of time at its disposal to compile 
and sort out and consider the immense questions 
it has before it. 
The questions of dynamiting, seining and the 
restriction to the proper use of the hook and 
line, have not been considered, as all three points 
are quite carefully covered in the laws of all 
the States named. 
Doubtless many more questions will appear as 
time goes on, and you committee realizes this, 
but, on the other hand, it is sure that should 
the points herein considered, or even a part of 
them, be successfully handled, then this com¬ 
mittee, whoever they may be, can be said to 
have placed the question of propagation and 
protection of and legislation for game fishes far 
above the position it has ever before occupied, 
and the now barren angling waters will be alive 
with the finny beauties and there would be 
enough and more than enough for all. 
Your committee for the ensuing year has a 
g'reat work laid out for it, and we, your retii 
ing committee, wish them a grand success in 
the bringing about of at least a few of the re¬ 
forms herein mentioned. 
Respectfully submitted, 
E. P. Sperry, Chairman. 
The Big Sea Bass Got Away. 
Avat.on, Cal., Aug. 20 . —Editor Forest and 
Stream: Simon Spier, one of our enthusiastic 
Rod and Reel Club members, set out with Shorty, 
the boatman, one day, taking out his light tackle 
rod. Shorty promptly put him on a good sized 
“Ikey,” as the sea was growing tough outside in 
the Clemente channel. After Spier had lifted 
his arms nearly off for an hour, the fish de¬ 
cided to hike for Clemente. He led them about 
four miles, and after about three and a half 
hours Spier finally got him coming. The great 
creature was worked up close enough to sec 
him plainly, and Shorty figured him well over 
300 pounds. All at once he began striking the 
line with his tail, and the third or fourth stroke 
parted it. As Spier had a five-foot piano wire 
leader, he has proof that the fish was consider¬ 
ably longer than that. E. L. Hed,derly. 
