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Rangeley’s Big Trout. 
Boston, Mass., Nov. 6 .—Editor Forest and 
Stream: I recall an interesting discussion in 
your columns on the question of the limit of 
growth of the brook trout, square-tailed trout, 
speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, and I do 
not know of how many more designations, but 
these will serve to make it unmistakable what 
fish I mean; but those discussions were long 
ago and I would like it if the brethren would 
again compare notes on the subject. 
I am moved to make this suggestion by an 
unsigned article in “Maine Woods and Maine 
Sportsman,” from Upper Dam, Me., and dated 
Oct. ii. The letter describes “the fine car of 
fish obtained in the Upper Dam pools, to be 
stripped of spawn for the Oquossoc hatchery.” 
The writer says: “There are five trout weigh¬ 
ing over nine pounds each and one that breaks 
the record, weighing I 2 J 4 pounds. This I 2 j 4 - 
pound spotted trout is the biggest square-tail 
ever weighed. There are sixteen in the car, 
and the smallest weighs over three pounds.” 
It is known to most lovers of this species 
that in the Rangely Lakes it grows to extra¬ 
ordinary size—the reason usually assigned be¬ 
ing that in these waters it has no fish enemies 
and has an unusually abundant supply of its 
favorite food, including, I believe, a fresh-water 
smelt. Almost every year some giant speci¬ 
mens are caught there, and trout of five, six 
and seven pounds’ weight are not at all un¬ 
common, and there are many authentic records 
of trout of eight and nine pounds’ weight and 
even more. The veteran Capt. Barker, of this 
region, once told me that there was a record 
which he considered trustworthy of a trout from 
these waters which weighed twelve pounds and 
two ounces. This is my recollection of his 
statement, made to me many years ago. 
It will surely interest trout fishermen to 
know that there is now at Upper Dam a 12^2- 
pound brook trout in captivity and visible to 
the naked eye, amenable to measurement and 
ready to prove in his own person that at least 
in this case the biggest one did not get away. 
The question is as to whether he is the “biggest 
ever.” I am inclined to think he is, though 
there was a pretty straight story, once told in 
Forest and Stream of a square-tail trout taken 
in a Long Island stream that was credited with 
a weight of sixteen pounds. Can any one 
vouch for it? I have caught not a few trout 
in my day, but never tried for, or achieved, any 
remarkable record, my biggest tipping the scales 
at the modest weight of four pounds four 
ounces. He was a beauty, however, and I was 
a proud fisherman when I landed him, which T 
did after my too-excited efforts had broken my 
tip. In terrible fear of losing him, I had 
dragged him into water only about six inches 
deep, when I threw myself upon him bodily 
and “swarmed” him on to the shore, together 
with much water. This was in what was then 
called Ship Pond Stream, in Maine, not far 
below where the high Canadian Pacific Rail¬ 
way trestle now crosses. It was surely not a 
model of sportsmanlike capture, but I was too 
young to care anything about that, and besides 
I had my trotit! 
I once saw an angler take a trout of between 
five and six pounds’ weight on Richardson 
Lake, and I saw a seven-pounder after its cap¬ 
ture at the same locality. 
Many will recall the story of Senator Frye’s 
success in teaching Professor Louis Agassiz 
something the latter—great ichthyologist though 
he was—did not know about brook trout. 1 
shall give it briefly, for in spite of its age, are 
there not always young people coming on who 
should know these things? 
Senator Frye, of Maine, who for many years 
had had a camp on one of the Rangely Lakes 
and knew all about its giant trout, once told 
Professor Agassiz of the great weight they 
sometimes attained. “Oh! My dear Mr. Frye,” 
gently remonstrated Prof. Agassiz. “You have 
certainly been misinformed about this. I am 
quite familiar with this species, and they never 
grow to the weight you have mentioned.” 
The Senator flushed a little but ventured no 
further statement at the time, but as soon as 
he could he hied him to his camp and went to 
fishing. Fortune favored him and he was at 
length able to express, packed in ice and moss, 
to Professor Agassiz, a trout even larger and 
heavier than any he had told Prof. Agassiz 
about, and interestedly awaited results. They 
came as soon as time permitted in shape of a 
telegram from Professor Agassiz, as follows: 
“My dear Frye: The theory of a lifetime 
smashed by a fact.” 
I hope we may hear more about the biggest 
brook trout. 
In a note just received, J. W. Brackett, editor 
and publisher of “Maine Woods,” says in con¬ 
firmation of the article in his paper, to which I 
referred above: 
“Our Upper Dam item about the big trout 
was all true. Write Charles Grant, Upper 
Dam, and C. E. Heyford, Oquossoc, as to 
whether he has been liberated.” 
I will write at once to the two referred to 
by Mr. Brackett and let you know at the 
earliest moment what I hear from them. It 
may be that the responses from them will 
contain data of interest. C. H. Ames. 
Rodmaking in England. 
One of our English correspondents whose 
hobby is bait-casting, admits that he owns sixty- 
six reels and eighty casting rods. About half 
of the reels are of American make, and nearly 
all of the rods were made by their owner, who 
was one of the first of the English anglers to 
read “Rodmaking for Beginners.” This book 
has enjoyed a large sale in Great Britain, and 
has been commented on very favorably by the 
angling papers of that country and the conti¬ 
nent. 
/ 
Catalina Prizes Awarded. 
a 
Los Angeles, Cal., Nov. 1 .—Editor Forest and 
Stream: After the busiest angling season in the 
history of the island, the Catalina angling clubs 
have terminated their season with the annual 
awarding of prizes won in the various classes. 
The winter tournament, inaugurated by the 
Tuna Club, is now in progress, and much the 
same outlay of trophies is offered as for the 
midsummer fixture. To attempt a tournament 
in the off season is something of a venture. 
Phil. S. O’Mara, with a 153-pound tuna on 
standard tackle, took the Banning and Mont¬ 
gomery cups and the Tuna Club medal for the 
largest .fish of the season. 
A. C. Brode, whose 126-pound tuna taken 
Aug. 19 was the first of the season, was awarded 
the Pfluger prize reel. 
The Rider-Macomber medal for the largest 
black sea bass was won by R. C. Baird, of San 
Francisco, his fish weighing 394 pounds. The 
record, made by Jewfish Murphy, stands at 436 
pounds. 
Professor Holder’s swordfish medal was cap¬ 
tured by C. G. Conn, who landed a fine speci¬ 
men of 339 pounds. Conn also caught the 
largest number of tuna, fifteen, and the second 
largest number ever weighed in during a single 
season by one angler. 
The John F. Francis medal for the largest 
yellowtail went to C. E. Ellis, of Spokane; 
weight, 48^4 pounds. This same fish 'also cap- , 
tured the Eddy Light Tackle cup and got for 
the boatman, Billy Mathews, a prize camera. 
For the largest yellowtail taken by a woman, 
the Nordlinger cup was won by Mrs. Harry W. 
Robinson, the fish weighing 43% pounds. 
The Streeter medal for the largest albacore , 
over forty pounds went to S. A. Gray, of 
Shreveport, La. 
Alfred L. Beebe landed the largest white sea 
bass and got a special prize rod offered for the 
largest fish on the lightest tackle, Mr. Beebe 
having used Three Six. His fish weighed 46^ 
pounds. 
Congressman Conn was so impressed with 
tuna fishing as conducted at Catalina that be¬ 
fore leaving for his annual fishing and hunt¬ 
ing cruise down the Lower California and gulf 
coast he authorized the announcement of certain 
additional trophies to be donated by him to 
angler and boatman catching the largest tuna 
of the season, the cup to be engraved with the 
name of the angler and remain the club’s prop¬ 
erty, while the boatman is to receive a medal 
valued at $50. Blue button specifications govern 
in both cases. 
The Banning Company has put up a silver 
cup upon which names of anglers taking the 
three largest albacore of the season will be en¬ 
graved. In addition to these, gold, silver and 
bronze medallions are to be given the anglers 
catching the first, second and third largest tuna, 
blue button rules, and duplicated for the red 
button competition, the same inducements being 
held out to those who seek albacore, bonita, 
