
| at their disposal. 
SEPT. 21, 1907.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 

Destruction of Trout by Drouth. 
10.—Editor Forest and Stream: 
has been the 
continued 
Boston, Sept. 
Few persons realize how extensive 
loss of fish life caused by the long 
drouth of the past summer. 
A letter received from a Berkshire sportsman 
graphically describes the situation. He says: 
“Having been concerned in regard to the out- 
come of this dry season I have made a trip of 
investigation and find the greater number of 
streams dry in Cheshire, Lanesboro and Rich- 
mond. The best brooks are without water. The 
only ones having any water are the streams run- 
ning into the Housatonic River, and many of 
these are dry for miles near their heads. 
“Our city engineers tried to obtain water for 
test purposes last week and could find no run- 
ning water in the four brooks on the Hoosic 
Mountain that are intended for an additional 
water supply for Pittsfield. So, between the 
severity of last winter and the present dry sea- 
son, our brooks are as effectually cleaned out 
of trout as is possible.” 
No doubt the description here given applies to 
the upper tributaries of all the rivers and large 
brooks in Massachusetts. The conditions are 
such as to demand immediate attention, and the 
only remedy possible is to be found in restock- 
ing. In this work every sportsman’s club and 
every angler should at once lend a hand. For 
several years the applications received by the 
fish and game commissioners for fingerling trout 
have called for more than double the number 
Last year our association fur- 
individuals with 40,000 for 
nished clubs and 
| October planting at the normal price of $10 per 
| pared to 
This year the association is pre- 
send out lots from 1,000 upward at 
the same price as last year and pay the expense 
of transportation. In this connection our sports- 
men will be interested to learn the present con- 
ditions -relating to trout hatcheries. 
Massachusetts has four stations for fish cul- 
ture located at Winchester, Adams, South Had- 
ley and Sutton. The first two, the late Capt. 
Collins said in his report for 1903, can be used 
only as “developing stations’ where fish eggs in 
the eyed stage may be hatched for distribution 
as fry. At South Hadley the hatching of eggs 
and maintaining a brood stock is all that can 
|be done. In his report for 1904, the captain said, 
'the work of rearing trout to fingerling size was 
|thrown entirely upon the Sutton hatchery and 
'the demand for fingerlings exceeds many times 
the capacity of our rearing ponds. From recent 
interviews with the superintendent of hatcheries 
the writer learns the same condition exists to- 
day. Lack of sufficient water of the proper tem- 
jperature during the summer renders three of 
;our four stations useless so far as the rearing 
lof trout to anything beyond the fry stage is 
jconcerned. That is the condition in which 
‘Massachusetts finds herself after the longest and 
|severest season of drouth known since 1871, a 
‘period of thirty-six years. Such.a_ state of 
ithings is most deplorable when the other New 
|England States, notably Maine and New Hamp- 
|shire, are keeping their trout waters amply 
‘stocked each year. Another New England State 
jis in the market now (or was a few days ago) 
for the purchase of 40,000 trout from private 
\growers. The streams of Massachusetts should 
lreceive at least 200,000 fingerling trout the com- 
jing fall. Last year the streams received from 
ithe State commission less than 40,000 fingerling 
|brook trout. When a single private hatchery in 
ithe State is capable of turning out a million for 
fall planting, which the proprietor assures me 
he can do, what a pitiable showing the four 
stations of the State are making with a paltry 
$0,000. What the sportsmen want to do is to 
see that present conditions are improved upon 
without unnecessary delay, .and meantime see 
that (as far as possible) all the trout of any 
size thrown on the market are purchased for 
Massachusetts streams. 
The duty of meeting the present exigency rests 
upon the sportsmen’s clubs and organizations 
and individual enthusiasts. Those desiring to 
assist shovld communicate promptly with the 
Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Asso- 
ciation. Henry H. Kimpatr. 
thousand. 

Fox River Valley Tournament. 
Exern, Ill., Sept. 9 —Editor Forest and Stream: 
The second tournament in a series of three to 
be given during the present season by the Fox 
River Valley Bait-Casting Club was held here 
yesterday, and the final one will be held at 
Aurora, I[ll., Sept. 29. A cup is given as a trophy 
in each event, and the contestant whose average 
is the best for the season owns the cup. Second 
and third prizes are awarded in each event at 
each of the three tourneys. 
In the half-ounce distance event E. R. Letter- 
man, of Chicago, scored a total of 851 in four 
casts, his line breaking in one cast, which did 
not count. His total, divided by 5, gave him 
an average of 1701-5 feet. His longest single 
cast was 223 feet, which is the record for this 
style of casting. The results: 

Half ounce, long-distance, 5 casts, avcrage: 
Feet. 
C. Lingerfelter . 189 4-5 Dr: '€;, EF. - Brownes. 
De EA Beattyrasacse 171 3-5 A. Winteringham... 14! 
E. R. Letterman... 170 1-5 Js Ey Joneste chen: 146 45 
Hoste (Peetic.s ewscs 166 4-5 G. A. Hinterleitner ie 1 ) 
OE: -Becker:.cc.. 161 A. D. Whitby..... 1282-5 
Longest cast: E. R. Letterman, 223 feet. 
Half ounce, distance and accuracy: 
Di lS Beatty y-2 0 - 98 6-10 HieG: Hascalloenn. 97 4-10 
Wm. Stanley ...... 98 5-10 C, Lingerfelter .... 97 3-10 
B. Py Naylor.... 20. 98 4-10 M. H. Cooley...... 97 1-10 
L. E. De Garmo... 98 4-10 Dr. C. F. Brown.. 96 8-10 
H.W. Perce... «ives 98 3-10 CanG? Eliott). e200. 96 5-10 
OVE. “Becker:ncope 98 2-10 W. E. Bordeau..... 96 2-10 
A. D. Whitby...... 98 2-10 a. Ele Bellowsen one 95 9-Lu 
Bx OND Peetetscscons 98 1-10 Cele Provost 95 
G. A. Hinterleitner 97 7-10 OF (GooWrehleteeses 94 7-10 
W. N. McFarland. 97 4-10 C. N. Blodgett..... 93 6-10 
A Winteringham.. 97 410 Vig tt LOREgSa one oe 92 
E. Letterman... 97 4-10 “ 
Quarter ounce, delicacy and accuracy, bait, per cent.: 
E. K. Letterman... 98 8-10 HP Naylor ces. 97 4-10 
Wm: Stanley ...... 98 4-10 Ae Dy Whither 97 1-10 
Peper EVASCAI a oe 98 4-10 W. N. McFarland. 96 7-10 
Ble Ws PegTee?. vane 98 3-10 Dr. C. F. Brown... 96 6-10 
DoE. Beatty ..00.- 98 3-10 A. Winteringham... 96 5-10 
Be IN Ss Peeton ras a. 97 9-10 CicCe Elliott 34 ue 96 5-10 
O. E. Becker...... 97 8-10 ila JONES sc uscveme 96 2-10 
L. E. De Garmo,.. 97 8-10 W. E. Bordeau.... 95 9-10 
I. H. Bellows...... 97 7-10 C. Lingerfelter..... 93 
M. H. Cooley...... 97 5-10 G. A. Hinterleitner 97 5-10 
Distance and,accuracy, fly, per cent.: 
Hy-G. Hascall....i 99 9-15 Dr. C. F. Brown.. 98 12-15 
Pe ea beet. hanes 99 6-15 H. W. Perce...... 98 10-15 
foots Bellows..... 99 3-15 A. Winteringham. 98 §$-15 
E. R. “setterman.. 98 14-15 G. A. Hinterieitner 98 3-15 
Coo ser olt aces ac 98 14-15 y 
CHARLES C, EL.iorr. 

Anglers’ Club of New York. 
A storM caused the postponement of the club 
contest set for Sept. 11. So heavy was the 
downpour that the water in the Pool in Central 
Park, where the contests are held, rose nearly 
a foot, leaving the casting platform almost level 
with the water. 
On the 14th the postponed fly events were 
cast off; and also an event for bait rods, distance 
only. This was won by W. J. Ehrich, who tock 
the first prize cup, and Perry D. Frazer, second 
trophy. The surface of the water was very 
foul, as the lake was “working,” and backlashes 
were the rule. The scores, with handicaps: 
Best Allow- 
Cast. ance. Total. 
We Jie Bhrich...2.110° 143° 0105 S128" . 1489) 6 158 
Perry D. Frazer... * .165 * 7 110 156 0 1£5 
Geo. La Branche.147 144 110 * 138 147 {6 151 6 
Edward Cave ....135 * 90 110 * 1385 4146 1496 
MH. Smith. .... 120 132. 120 120 137 187 3 140 
Harry Friedman. * * 100 124 e124) 412 136 
In the five-ounce rod fly-casting event, George 
La Branche, with a handicap of 2 feet, tied 
scratch man, V. R. Grimwood. As it was too 
late to cast off the tie, they decided places by 
tossing a coin, Mr. La Branche taking the first 
prize cup and Mr. Grimwood second. The re- 
sults: 
Best Cast. Allowance. Total. 
Ga M. iL. La’ Branchers..%: 81 2 83 
A. Bee) Gorinawoodesd .oestce at 83 0 83 
WU Wind EGR IGHN, cites tte. aucaa 74 59 79 9 
Perey” DD Seager cow a es 76 3 6 79 6 
Walter McGuckin oubeSe ota. 63 93 q2 3 
In the final- contest, for unlimited fly-rods, 
Perry D. Frazer, scratch, won the first cup with 
a cast of 93 feet. George La Branche taking 
second prize with a total of 92 feet 6 inches. 
The scores 
Best Cast. Allowance, Tota’. 
Berry Dry Peazericee seek. 93 0 93 
George La Branche......... 91 16 92 6 
Walter .McGuckin .......... if 15 6 89 6 
Wit Ja NGIChe, apres cesseo se. 87 16 SS 6 

The next contest will be held Saturday, Sept. 
a5. at 2): M., it having been decided to hold 
the remaining contests of the season on Satur- 
day instead Wednesday afternoons. 
Anglers’ Conference. 
A CONFERENCE of anglers is to be held in 
New York city at the National History Museum 
on Nov. 11, at 8:15 P. M. Dr. Henry Van Dyke 
will preside at the meeting, when general dis 
cussion will be invited upon topics of mutual 
interest, particulary existiug conditions unsatis 
lactory to fshermen which can be best remedied 
by concerted action. Lhe vicious use of nets 
and spears, pollution of streams, inadequate 
game laws, unsportsmanlike tackle, etc., will be 
given attention. Papers will be read by Dy. 
Van Dyke, author of “Little Rivers’; Dr. David 
S. Jordan, President of Leland Stanford, Jr., 
University, California; Prof. Barton W. Ever 
mann, U. S. Fisheries Bureau; Prof. Chas. F. 
Holder, President Santa Madero Island ‘luna 
Club, of California; Mr. Chas. Hallock, founder 
AND aa 
general are invited to attend and 
should find the proceedings interesting and 
profitable. Among the prominent clubs sup- 
porting the movement are the Santa Catalina 
Island Tuna Club, the National Association of 
Scientific Angling Clubs, Aransas Pass Varpon 
Club, several State fish and game protective 
associations, etc. 
FOREST 
Anglers in 
of 
Bass in Ohio Streams. 
Mito, Ohio, Sept. 9.—Editor Forest and 
Stream: The fly and fly spoon fishermen have 
been having great sport the last month. One 
of my friends showed me one of the finest ercels 
of bass I have ever laid eyes on. Yes, I got the 
fever. He had seven bass of about 1% pounds 
each average. He caught thein on a spinner with 
a jarge black gnat fly attached. This year 
the first year he has used any kind of artificial 
bait, and as he said Saturday, it is the only way 
1s 
to fish. I think he has been pleased with his 
success while using these baits. 
Our streams are very low and clear now. We 
have not had good rain for five weeks. The 
fish are confined in the best pools in the streams 
and are easy to catch, food being very scarce. 
This is the first time in five years that the 
streams have been so low. I have not used a 
fly on our streams for almost a year. Have 
been using a spinner and have had more success 
with it than with any fly I have ever used. One 
of the reasons that I like this bait is that it is 
just about the right weight to use on a fly-rod, 
casts well and is not so big as to scare the fish. 
At least seventy-five per cent. of the fly-casters 
use this bait now in this part of the State. 
M. P. KeErre. 

Virginia Field Trials Association. 
RicHMonpD, Va., Sept. 9.—Editor Forest and 
Stream: We beg to notify you that the com 
mittee appointed to secure judges for the Vir- 
ginia-Carolina Field Trials Association, to be 
held at Spray, North Carolina, the week of Novy. 
18, has selected as judges Mr. Simon C. Brad- 
ley, of Fairfield, Conn., and Mr. John Jackson, 
of Richmond, Virginia. 30th of these gentle- 
men have accepted our invitation and will be 
present at our meeting. Mr. Bradley is too well 
known for any further introduction to the field 
trial public. Mr. John Jackson is one of the 
old-school in the field trial business, having at- 
tended many trials in North Carolina in years 
past, and has kept up his devotion to the sport- 
ing dog and is thoroughly posted on the latter 
day dog and winners. From recent reports re 
ceived birds will be very plentiful this fall in 
parts of the country there were none at all last 
year, Cuas. B, Cooke, Sec’y 
Captain E. O. Hurp, Plainville, Hamilton 
County, Ohio, has lost one of his gray English 
seiter dogs, blue belton in color. He has black 
ears, black spot on rump extending over three- 
quarters of tail, blaze in face with three black 
spots in it, tan eyes, and white is much ticked. 

