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thing unless I catch these lawbreakers on my own premises.

There were a rumber of deer on my own place a short time ago and I did the best I could to leave them undisturbed. They fed at night in my back fields, drank and waded in the little lake in my pasture and slept and rested in a thick second growth patch adjoining my wood lot; but these hogs found my little herd of deer and have killed or frightened them away. I hear shooting every night in some one of the feeding places which are all within half a mile or so of my house.

S. C., Brighton, Me.

I have just returned from a 10 days' hunt in this State and I find grouse have changed their habits entirely since my boyhood days. Then they could be found anywhere, while now they are found only in swamps and thick pine woods. There is no danger of grouse becoming extinct from any but natural causes in this section, for the pines and brambles are so thick it is difficult to see the birds when they flush, and impossible to kill them, except by a chance shot. A hunter can easily start 10 to 30 in a day's hunt; he will be lucky if he sees 5 or 6 of them, and more lucky still if he gets any at all. They are little hunted, and but for the fact that foxes are as thick as house cats in a city, grouse would be exceedingly plentiful. We found a few late fall woodcock, but they are abundant in spring, summer and early fall. Wild turkeys are fairly plentiful, while deer in some counties are a nuisance. They increase rapidly, as the swamps and marshes make it next to impossible to hunt them except with dogs.

E. C. Payne, Richmond, Va.

November 3, 1903, J. C. Kilborn and P. T. Kilborn, of Ralston, Pa., and J. S. Sible and I, of Harrisburg, moved our portable house from Ralston to the head waters of Hagerman's run, where we camped 2 weeks. The house is built of half inch basswood, matched lumber, 8x13 feet and 6 feet to the eaves, with floor of rough boards. It is in sections and is held together by hooks and eyes. We found it a convenient and warm habitation, and, when not in use, easily stored. Our larder was well filled with good things, and our latchstring hung out for all visitors. Four bucks were shot by the party, 2 falling to me. It was my first deer hunt in 23 years, and those 2 were all I saw.

Deer are on the increase in Lycoming county; the vigilance of true sportsmen in their protection and the dense second growth of the country favor them. A large black bear was wounded by F. P. Keys, but got away. Bear are plentiful in that section and several were seen.

J. W. Kilborn, Harrisburg, Pa.

I have been a constant reader of your magazine the last 2 years, and can hardly wait until the next copy of RECREATION comes around. Your manly stand in regard to game protection is what I most admire; also your condemnation of the game hog. There are a few of those animals here on the Pacific slope, but not so many as formerly. I think if you could send each hog a copy of RECREATION he would swear off and be a man; at least no one with any manhood left would slaughter game after reading a few copies of RECREATION. I was re-elected shooting master for 1904 of the Columbia Fistol and Rifle Club of San Francisco. I did intend to buy an automatic shot gun, but after reading your editorial in November issue will get a double barrel. If you ever come to our side of the continent I shall deem it a great honor to help entertain the champion of our fast disappearing game. Frank Knostian, San Francisco, Cal.

With my father and a cousin I camped 2 days last winter at Grassy lake, 10 miles South of here. From one o'clock until dark ducks came in great flocks to rest on the lake. We procured boats and went after them. Before night I had 9 birds and had dropped as many more in thick brush. where I could not find them. Father killed 6, and my cousin, 11. They also lost a number of ducks in the brush. The following morning we secured a few more birds, and then set out for home. Just before we left the bottom a big drove of turkeys crossed the road ahead of us. Father and I hid among the trees, while my cousin drove on, intending to circle the birds and force them toward us. As it happened, they came in my direction and father did not get a shot. I killed one big gobbler on the ground and another on the wing.

J. H. Brannon, Conway, Ark.

Nature is always worth studying, especially near our own homes. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to put my camera in one pocket, my lunch in another, and stroll forth to study my wild neighbors. The camera hunter is fast taking the place of the gun hunter. It is far more interesting and instructive to study nature with a camera than with a gun. The day is not far away when laws will be passed forbidding the killing of any wild animal or game bird. The repeating rifle and shot gun are fast exterminating our forest friends.

There is a miniature forest near my home in which I spend many enjoyable hours. I have found no better place to study nature than there.

Matthew J. Harkins, Brookline, Mass.

FISH AND FISHING.

ALMANAC FOR SALT WATER FISHERMEN.

The following will be found accurate and val uable for the vicinity of New York City:

Kingfish-Barb, Sea-Mink, Whiting. June to September. Haunts: The surf and deep channels of strong tide streams. Baits: Blood worms, shedder crabs and beach crustaceans. Time and tide: Flood, early morning.

Plaice Fluke, Turbot, Flounder. May 15 to November 30. Haunts: The surf, mouth of tidal streams. Baits: Shedder crabs, killi-fish, sand laut. Time and tide: Ebb, daytime exclusively. Spanish mackerel Haunts: The open sea, July to September. Baits: Menhaden, trolling-metal and cedar squids.

Striped Bass-Rock Fish, Green Head. April to November. Haunts: The surf, bays, estuaries and tidal streams. Baits: Blood worms, shedder crabs, Calico crabs, small eels, menhaden. Time and tide. Night, half flood to flood, to half cbb.

The Drums, Red and Black. June to November. Haunts: The surf and mouths of large bays. Bait: Skinner crab. Time and tide: Day, flood. Blackfish-Tautog, April to November. Haunts: Surf, vicinity of piling and old wrecks in bays. Baits: Sand worm, blood worm, shedder crabs, clams. Time and tide: Daytime, flood.

Lafayette Spot, Goody, Cape May Goody. August to October. Haunts: Channels of tidal streams. Baits: Shedder crabs, sand worms, clams. Time and Tide: Day and night flood.

Croker-July to October. Haunts: Deep channels of bays. Baits: Shedder crabs, mussels. Time and tide: Day, flood.

Snapper Young of Blue Fish. August to November. Haunts: Pivers and all tide ways. Baits: Spearing and menhaden; trolling pearl squid.

Time and tide: Day, all tides. Sheepshead-June to October Haunts: Surf and bays, vicinity of old wrecks. Baits: Clams, mussels, shedder crabs. Time and tide: Day, flood only.

New England Whiting-Winter Weak-fish, Frost-fish. November to May. Haunts: The surf. Baits: Sand laut, spearing. Time and tide: Night, flood.

Hake-Ling. October to June. Haunts: Open sea surf, large bays. Baits: Clams, mussels, fish. Time and tide: Day and night, flood.

Weak-fish-Squeteague, Squit. June to October. Haunts: Surf, all tideways. Baits: Shedder crabs, surf mullet, menhaden, ledge mussels, sand laut, shrimp. Time and tide: Day and night, flood preferred.

Blue Fish-Horse Mackerel. June to November Ist. Haunts: Surf, open sea and large bays. Baits: Menhaden, surf mullet and trolling squid. Time and tide: Daytime; not affected by tides.

CAN A FISH LINE THINK?
C. C. HASKINS.

Jacques Nadeau was the best of company, and the best guide and boatman it was ever my good fortune to employ. Rain or shine, hot or cold, in good or poor luck, Jock was always good natured, jovial, hard working, ready and willing, regardless of the task or the hour. In short, if there is any especially laudable quality which the reader remembers as peculiarly the virtue of some one guide he has known, I doubt if Jock would not equal, if not surpass, him in that particular; and, for that reason, in all my summer vacations I invariably secured Jock's prospective services before

buying my transportation for the trip.

The lake where for years I cast my lines each summer, lies back from the railroad some 15 miles and was comparatively little fished, up to 3 or 4 years ago. Jock always met me at the flag station, with a buckboard of his own contriving, and we arrived at the lake in time for a substantial meal, cooked by Mrs. Nadeau. Usually we had the lake to ourselves, during my stay.

Jock was not without some school education. He had attended a parochial institution in his native town, but he did not like the restrictions of civilization. Moreover, he had fallen in love with his Julie, thereby angering the parents of both.

By the aid of the good father in the church, Julie and Jock were married, and set up for themselves, where I tound them with a nest of little ones, all as good natured as their father, black eyed, and wild as young partridges, until acquainted.

Jock and I had had a hard, irritating day's work; poor luck, a rain storm, a broken oar 10 miles from home, all conspired to desperation. A muskalonge had tipped over our luncheon basket, in his muscular protests, before a severe concussion of the brain quieted him, and the water in the boat materially injured our edibles, so that not until late at night did we get either luncheon, dinner or supper.

Jock was a philosopher, and our misfortunes never ruffled a hair. He paddled the boat home as good naturedly as if he had been a tow behind an electric launch.

During the day I had made an unfortunate cast, and my line overran badly on the reel. While recovering my line, a large fish took the bait, and called for line. He was too strong to refuse, and the consequences were obvious. When the fish had claimed all the line down to what Jock called the "slob," the tension on the line drew it down into the under turns of the spool, rendering the reel useless, temporarily. In the meantime, the fish made a final surge, broke the line, and got away.

"Au revoir," said Jock, and quietly proceeded to affix a second reel to the rod. As he put away the disabled spool he broke out into,

"Malbrook he vent down to Nia-ga-ry, to drive de French avay," and added: "Apres diner-ve fix dem slob."

Fifty yards of No. 5 silk line make a tangled slob when a heavy fish helps. While Jock was patiently unsnarling the tangle, he suddenly aired what was to me a new theory, thus:

"Missieu Askin, I believe me, dat string

she got brain like a hog, all time contrary." I said,

"How can you think that, Jock? You're crazy."

"No! What is made of-dat line? Silk, ain't it? Yes. Bien oui. Silk is made by a worm; de worm have life certainment. Where goes dat life, when dat worm she die? Into de silk, to be sure, n'est ce pas? Now dat silk she's twist an' turn an' 'bused like ole diable, and her temper she's ruin pour toujours-always. She's mad when somebody make fishline, and she swear revenge. Look dat slob!"

"But," I said, "Jock, the line was not to blame for that tangle. I made a poor cast. and the fish did the rest. A fishline can't think. It has no brain."

"Ah! mon ami, ecoutez." he retorted. "Ze tree, ze corn, have mind. How de tree know when is de spring come, to put out leaf? How de corn know when you have drop in de groun', which way to sen' de root, which way sen' de top? She make no mistake. De root go en bas ev'ry temps, sure! De silk line, she's en colere, irite, mad, and she make troub' when she get some chance. Yes, sir-r-e. 'S'pose you have big fish on your line. Maybe he run in de wecd. Dat line help tangle in de weed, in de dead branch; get on sharp stone, saw in two, de fish get away. De line say, revanche-revenge, and de fish-gone! 'S'pose you keep him out de weed, den he'll run under de boat. What de line do? Scrape along de bottom of dat boat, huntin' for sliver. Maybe she find one. De line squeeze into dat sliver, and laugh loudyou hear it dis time-squeal kin' o' laugh, an' snap go you line. Fifteen, maybe 30 poun' good fish meat gene, and you' No. 10 skinner spoon-'nother dollar gon', too!

"De silk line hunt up more place for get hitch an' tangle you never see. Nail head in de run' board, row lock; sliver in de oar; handle of de minnow bucket; tackle box cover or some odder t'ing what lies on the thwart. She like best w'en she can get into a tree top an' twis' roun' some lim', too high too reach wid paddle, too old to climb, an' too big to break. Den dat line she's happy."

The sermon was supplemented by Jock's usual hymn, "Malbrook," etc.

DEAD FISH IN WHITE RIVER.

One day in the summer of 1903 a telephone message came to the Indiana State Board of Health office, telling of tons of Idead fish in the old bed of the river near Waverly, a village on White river, about 18 miles below Indianapolis. A deputy State health officer and I were soon on the spot, and beheld a sight and smelled a smell the like of which we had never before known. A little wet weather creek ended

at the old bed of the river, a new bed having been cut through the neck of a great U bend. The old bed was open to the river at its lower arm, and water backed into it when the river was high, making a bayou.

The wet weather creek was dry, and on its bottom, laid in regular order, like the bricks of a paved street, were thousands of fish. They were mostly carp, all of good size, with some suckers and a few bass and sunfish. In the old river bed were great numbers of dead fish, bloated and stinking. floating on the stagnant water.

"What killed them?" was asked by every one. One farmer said it was refuse from the strawboard mills. This theory was untenable, because the nearest mill was 65 miles up the river, and there were no dead fish between. If strawboard mill refuse had caused the slaughter, the fishes up the river above Indianapolis would have suffered. Among the farmers standing near was one who said he had noticed for 10 years that whenever there was a slight rise in the river the fish ran up the creeks and stuck their noses above the water to get air. Many dead fish were always found after a slight rise.

"There was a rise of about 18 inches day before yesterday," said the farmer. "I saw fish below here run up a creek, and I saw some with their noses above the water."

By questioning, we learned that dead fish in considerable numbers were in the river below where we were, and that in time of high floods the fish were not killed. It was evident that some poison had come from up the river, being pushed onward by the rise above. It was almost certain that the poison contained no air, and for this reason the fish pushed their noses above the surface. Gradually working up the river. which is a succession of pools and shallowS of varying lengths and depths, we observed that the water smelled worse as we approached Indianapolis. This smell was plainly due to sewage. When we finally

entered, with our boat, the third pool below the outlet of the Indianapolis sewer. the offense was almost too great to bear. Plainly, this pool and the 2 above, contained thousands of barrels of sour, rotting sewage. This contained great quantities of poison, and the gases from the fermentation had driven out the air. This condition, with the facts noticed by the farmer, furnished a tenable explanation of the wholesale destruction of fish life. The rise of the water pushed the poisonous and airless sewage down the stream and drove the fish before it. The fish, rushing before the flood of sewage, went into the old channel and followed up the creek, then full of flood water. The fish went as far as there was water to carry them and those behind followed, arranging themselves side

by side in regular order. The short piece of old channel must also have been filled with fish, which prevented those in the creek from retiring when the water rapidly went down. Of course, the fish in the old channel would not go back into the main stream. It probably would not take 2 hours for the creek to run out, and when this happened the fish were left. Septic sewage had killed those tons of fish, and the fact illustrates the importance of all cities making proper sanitary disposal of their sewage, instead of befouling streams with it.

Dr. J. N. Hurty, Indianapolis, Ind.

MR. STOVER'S GOOD WORK.

A party from Spokane, Wash., went through here for Priest lake and as they had given game warden Stover trouble last season, he was suspicious of them. He therefore went to the lake the next day, caught one of the party fishing without a license and took him before a justice of the peace. The culprit was fined only $12, which he promptly paid.

This small fine did not discourage Mr. Stover. He went to the lake the next day after another party who were giving him trouble and who also gave him trouble last year. They were Mose Fish, of Farmington, Wash., and his brother Dan Fish, of Oaksdale, Wash. Mose Fish had a resident license, but Mr. Stover proved him a non-resident, and Dan Fish had no license. They were fined $50 each, which they paid. They asked the game warden and the justice of the peace not to make it known, so roast them as they deserve. I am in such a position that I can not sign my name, but if you want any more news concerning this or other similar cases, Mr. W. A. Stover can tell you all the particulars.

A Subscriber, Priest River, Idaho.

I referred this letter to Mr. Stover, and he replied as follows:

The letter you sent me is correct. The persons who gave me trouble last season were Harry Bears and friends, from Spokane. They went through here without license, and I had to follow them to Priest lake.

There were 5 in the party, and only 3 had licenses. They said the other 2 were not going to fish. Bears came this season with a party of 7 and got 3 licenses. I followed these men again and caught one of them fishing without a license. I took him before a justice of the peace, who fined him $12. Bears is supposed to be one of Spokane's best sportsmen, as he is owner or manager of the Couer d'Alene Theatre and saloon.

I am doing all I can to protect the game and fish, but it is not much, as I can only get pay for 90 days. I have made 14 ar

rests in the past year and got conviction in all cases but one.

W. A. Stover, Priest River, Idaho.

FISH PLANTING.

The Ontario Government, in conjunction with the Grand Trunk railway, has inaugurated a vigorous policy of restocking with fish many of the lakes in Northern Ontario, where there was any chance of a depletion, and the success which has attended their efforts has been marked. During the summer season this year no less than 5,305 parent bass were captured and transported from Lake Erie to the several districts that are visited by the angler and the summer tourist. A special fish car was built by the Grand Trunk 3 years ago expressly for the transportation of live fishes for this purpose and it has been used each summer in the propagation of this good work. This year 3 carloads of bass, none less than 12 inches in length, and many weighing 2 to 3 pounds, were planted in the Muskoka lakes, 2 carloads in Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching, one carload in the Lake of Bays region, one carload in Balsam lake (one of the Kawartha group in Victoria county), and a carload in the lakes along the Canada Atlantic railway in Algonquin Park. These carloads contained in each instance 500 to 700 fish. In addition to the planting of the parent fish, a carload of 5.000 black bass fingerlings was placed in the Lake of Bays region. The results of each shipment have been most gratifying, and the summer tourist and the angler have appreciated the movement and look forward to better sport in these waters in the future.

DID NOT TAKE THE LIMIT.

Billy and I got up early, secured camp supplies and fishing tackle, and started for Martin's run, a long tramp over the hills. We reached the stream all right, and fished it several miles, but had no luck. All the fish we caught were too small to keep. Billy would not give up, and suggested that we go over to Crane run. That was another long tramp, and, to make it worse, I blistered my feet with a new pair of shoes. At Crane run we made camp, and a bed with hemlock boughs. Billy went fishing, and I stayed in camp to get supper. The chief feature of this was 4 large trout which Billy brought in. Supper over, Billy tried it again, getting one 12 inch trout and sev eral smaller ones.

The next morning I went out to try my luck, and my first catch was a 9 inch trout. Later, I caught one 8 inches long and several over 7 inches. We went back to town with 10 fish, 7 to 111⁄2 inches in length. We had a good time, were not ashamed of our

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North

There is a stream 12 miles of Elkhorn which is equally noted for the bigness and the scarcity of its trout. On the 15th day of April I caught 3 that weighed 31⁄2 pounds. This so fired the ambition of my 8-year-old that he wrung a promise from me to let him go on the next trip. Accordingly we made an early start on the morning of the 22d, and in spite of all my boasted prowess and the hardest kind of work I couldn't raise a trout. Meantime the boy landed 2 beautiful trout, the largest one weighing one pound and 13 ounces. It's a question which was the prouder, father or son.

RECREATION has converted more than one Walworth county fish and game hog.

G. D. Harrington, Elkhorn, Wis.

Western sportsmen who may be seeking for new fishing grounds would do well to visit Lake Chetek, Wisconsin. It is about 40 miles North of Eau Claire and is reached by the C. & N. W. Ry. The lake is well stocked with black bass, pike, pickerel, crappies, sunfish and perch, and occasionally an angler gets a dogfish by way of variety. These latter are not good to eat but they kick up a big muss for a time.

There are a number of summer cottages and a good hotel on the lake shore and sportsmen visiting there are sure to meet many pleasant people. I spent 4 weeks there during the past summer and had excellent sport almost every day.

'D. A. Kneeland, Elroy, Wis.

George L. Brown, of Seaford, Del., and S. P. Shellen, Jr., of Philadelphia, caught 30 pike and 18 yellowheads in 3 hours, near Seaford, September 12th, 1903, with a troll. This is the largest catch of pike ever made in Delaware in that length of time.

If you will print this information you will oblige me, and it will, I think, be of some benefit to you in regard to signers for RECREATION.

W. L. Barns, New York.

Brown's number in the fish hog book is 1.049 and Skellen's is 1.050. If this will do you any good in the matter of "signers for RECREATION" you are welcome to it.-EDITOR.

When I was a boy the old men used to fish with cypress poles 2 inches in diameter. big white cotton lines, and the corks used

would give you a pain, or any one else who regards angling as an art. The old men used the big flat corks that came in pickle bottles, and when a big bass jerked one under suddenly, it would make a pop like the swan song of a bottle of root beer. In those days the fish were not particular what the bait was attached to, but we have to be more careful now.

Yesterday morning I landed 6 big bass with the Bristol rod you sent me.

C. O. Moseley, Limona, Fla.

I have received a novel and unique message. It is written on a scale of a tarpon. On one side are my name and address, a one cent stamp and the postmark. On the other side is this legend:

Pass Christian, Miss., 9-12-'04

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. I have read the article "How to String Fish," by C. C. Haskins, in March RECREATION, with much interest. The method described is practiced by the market fishermen on the St. Lawrence river. They string through the lower jaw, but use a short stringer for each fish. This stringer is attached to a heavier cord, the fish being spaced at regular intervals. It is the custom of these men to row slowly when the fish are trailed, in order that the fish may not drown. This is important, since shipment is usually made twice a week and the fish must be fresh killed for shipment.

M. H. Kinsley, Hoboken, N. J.

The lack of rain last summer has made poor salmon fishing, but the river was alive with grilse. These little fellows make good sport on a trout rod, but it is a shame to kill too many of them. They run from 3 to 4 pounds weight in our river, larger in the Restigouche. There is magnificent trout fishing on the Caraguet, Pokemonche, Lacadie and Inbucintae. large sea trout frequent the last 3 rivers after July 1, and they afford the best trout fishing I know of, except in the lakes and at the head of the Nepisiquit.

The

Edward Hickson, Bathurst, N. B. RECREATION'S 9th Annual Photo Competition closes November 30.. All who have participated in previous competitions should be represented in this one. A number of prizes are offered, and in addition to these all photos used will hereafter be paid for at the rate of 50 cents to $1 each.

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