May 9, 1908.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
74i 
Fishing Around San Francisco. 
San Francisco, Cal., April 18.— Editor Forest 
and Stream: Last Sunday the Anglers’ Asso¬ 
ciation held its outing on the banks of Paper 
Mill Creek, near Point Reyes. Everybody was 
invited and a large and jolly crowd attended, 
though no record catches were made. Some 300 
enthusiasts were on hand, and the banks of the 
Whitehouse pool were crowded. The fish, how¬ 
ever, declared a holiday. Thirty prizes were 
offered for the five best average baskets of 
trout, the five best baskets of trout in number, 
the five largest trout, the best catch of trout, the 
best basket taken by a woman, the best catch 
of striped bass, largest striped bass, largest fish 
other than trout and bass, etc. J. B. Kenniff, 
champion long distance caster, entertained the 
crowd by casting 133 feet at a time, but even he 
landed few fish. At noon a barbecue was held 
on the banks of the stream, and this, with Presi¬ 
dent Watts’ speeches, was the most enjoyable 
feature of the occasion. H. Sangerstack won 
the first prize for the best average basket of 
trout. Among the other winners were Nat. Lin- 
field, F. Smith, Sam Wells, L. Peterson, W. 
Sweet, R. Schliff, Joe Myers, Dr. Leafhead, W. 
Chambers, A. Silverfoot, M. Post, D. Tallant, 
Mrs. M. G. Bludon, Miss Uri, A. Krantz, Chas. 
Lessick, Miss McGregor, Frank Marcus and E. 
Artzberger. 
The preceding Sunday, just after the opening 
of the season, the steelhead offered good sport 
in many of the tidewater streams. Fishing in 
the San Gregorio lagoon was especially fine, 
though the fish will not bite except under most 
favorable conditions. Dave Sachs landed two 
big fellows, weighing four and one-halt and five 
pounds, on a No. 10 royal coachman. 
The Truckee River is already being fished 
from the Nevada side, and many rainbow trout 
are being taken both by anglers on that side and 
by Indians. This is not likely to leave much for 
the California angler after the season opens on 
May 1. 
Judging from the conditions which are likely 
to prevail during May, anglers here are not hop¬ 
ing for any great measure of success in coast 
stream fishing that is within a day’s journey of 
San Francisco. As it is now, the creeks are 
lower than they have been during August and 
September of past seasons, and the trout are 
likely to have gone down to tidewater before 
the season opens. A good many anglers are 
planning trips to the upper Sacramento River 
and Big Meadows, as the latter place especially 
is said to show prospects for good fishing. 
A. P. B. 
Fish Hooks. 
Angling writers never tire of praising 
the good qualities of their favorite hooks. 
Emphasis is always given to the form of the 
hook, the shape and angle of the point, and its 
tendency to hold when struck by a fish. To-day 
the sproat hook is highly prized. Perhaps 't 
may be said to be a general favorite; at least 
it is one of the standard forms, and in all lists 
of hooks given by angling writers the sproat is 
placed near the top. 
These facts are recalled by a statement made 
by the late David Foster a quarter of a century 
ago. In a list of favorite hooks he adds: 
“Sproat’s, too, have now about gone out. Those 
in general use at the present day are the sneck 
or Kendal, the Limerick and Carlisle, or round 
bend.” 
Kirby hooks, originally made by Charles 
Kirby prior to 1700, were, according to an old 
advertisement, sold by Will Browne in Black 
Llorse alley near Fleet bridge, in London. He 
set forth that “Kirby’s hooks are known by the 
fineness of the Wyer and Strength, and many 
shops sell Counterfeit for his, which prive to 
be prejudicial to the User. The true Kirby s 
are to be sold by Will Browne and nowhere 
Else.” 
Trout in Rensselaer County. 
Berlin, N. Y., May 1. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: The trout season in Rensselaer opened 
two weeks earlier than usual under the new law, 
and only a small number of out-of-town sports¬ 
men have visited us. 
There have been some good catches, however, 
and one of the best baskets was shown by a 
A GOOD ONE. 
Brooklyn man, a former resident, who was here 
for a day’s sport. He displayed thirty-two trout 
whose combined weight must have been over ten 
pounds. A great deal of surprise was evoked 
by his phenomenal success, because he had al¬ 
ways been regarded as an unsuccessful fisher¬ 
man. 
A few days after his departure Ike Moon 
dropped into the village store and bought fifty 
cents worth of salt pork and twenty-five cents 
worth of tobacco. He was in no hurry, and 
after giving his views on the weather remarked: 
“That there paint man is a mighty good 
feller. We went fishin’ and he caught a couple 
and I got quite a mess. I giv’ ’em to him and 
he giv’ me a dollar. I wanter know why he 
says, ‘Don’t say nothin’.’ Anyway, he’s a mighty 
nice feller.” 
The largest trout so far reported was caught 
near Stephentown, about eight miles south of 
us and weighed one and three-quarter pounds. 
A. 
All the fish laws of the United States and Can¬ 
ada, revised to date and now in force, are given 
in the Game Laws in Brief. See adv. 
Fishing at Sunapee Lake. 
Springfield, Mass., May 1.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: I went up to Lake Sunapee, N. H., April 
14, and learned that quite a number of large 
squaretail trout were being taken from around the 
shore and docks where the ice was out. The 
lake was clearing up in places, a.t Bay Point, 
Lake Station and between the Great and Small 
islands the ice was all out. I landed a trout 
that weighed four pounds. . 
Smelt were not running, but the fish were 
taken with shiners. 
The fishermen are planning on having some 
royal sport with the chinook salmon this year. 
1 understand that the New Hampshire fish com¬ 
missioners have been planting fingerling chinook 
salmon for the last four years, and last summer 
two were taken that weighed 8j<j and 9 pounds. 
These fish grow to weigh 60 and 80 pounds when 
on the Pacific coast, and while it is not yet 
known how large they will grow when con¬ 
fined to inland lakes it is certain they will reach 
a large size and we are all anxious to- have an¬ 
other try at them. The New Hampshire and 
United States commissions are to plant a large 
number of this species in the lake again this 
year. 
The steamboat company will run its boats to 
meet the trains. The hotel at Blodgett’s Land¬ 
ing was opened April 30, to accommodate early 
fishermen. 
Some of the best fishing in New England is 
to be found at Lake Sunapee, and I often 
wonder why your correspondent in Boston 
never mentions Lake Sunapee. I am sure that 
many of your readers are interested in Sunapee. 
Geo. H. Graham. 
Fishing. 
A youth beside the water sits. 
The noonday sun is warmly beaming; 
His nose and neck are turkey red, 
His eye with radiant hope is gleaming. 
He watches close the bobbing cork 
Advance upon the tiny billows; 
A jerk, a swish, and high above 
He lands a sucker in the willows. 
That’s fishing. 
A fair maid trips the tennis court, 
A dozen eyes adtpire her going; 
Her black-and-yellow hat band burns 
A hole right through the sunset’s glowing; 
She drives the ball across the net 
And into hearts consumed with wishing 
She drives a dart from Cupid’s bow, 
She’ll land a sucker, too. 
She’s fishing. 
My little wife beside me stands 
And steals a dimpled arm around me, 
A kiss upon my lips—that’s bait— 
Some information to astound me; 
Her bonnet is quite out of style, 
Her summer wrap quite past the using. 
That lovely one—so cheap at Brown’s 
Is just the one she would be choosing. 
That’s fishing. 
So, whether the game be fish or men. 
The bait be kisses, worms or blushes, 
The place at home by sunny pool. 
Or tennis ground at evening’s hushes, 
’Tis the old game the serpent played 
With Mother Eve in Eden’s bowers. 
And Adam’s sons and daughters all 
Will love the sport to time’s last hours. 
That’s fishing. 
—The Asian. 
The Forest and Stream may be obtained from 
any newsdealer on order. Ask your dealer to 
supply you regularly. 
