JULY, 1938 TEN CENTS SMALLMOUTHED BASS OFFICIAL STATE JULY, 1938 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER? Vol. 7—No. 7

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PUBLISHED MONTHLY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

by the BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS

111 ft Ten cents a copy — 50 cents a year CHARLES A. FRENCH Commissioner of Fisheries

111 MEMBERS OF BOARD

CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Ellwood City South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. MILTON L. PEEK Radnor

HARRY E. WEBER 111 Philipsburg

SAMUEL J. TRUSCOTT NOTE Dalton Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either Philadelphia by check or money order payable to the Common­ wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. FRED McKEAN Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. New Kensington

H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit will be given to contributors. AH contributions returned if accompanied by first C. R. BULLER class postage. Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte *

K5V ««8*. IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address Please give both old and new addresses Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given Cover Painting by FRED EVERETT

Vol. 7 No. 7 ^ANGLER/ JULY, 1938 EDITORIAL

CONTROL THE WATERSNAKE

HE watersnake today ranks as the major natural foe to fish life on Pennsylvania fishing waters. While not as voracious as that other bulky reptile, the snapping T turtle, watersnakes are far more numerous, and in many of our fishing streams and lakes constitute a serious menace to fish life. Active foragers from the time they emerge from hibernation in the spring until the first severe frost of fall, and adept in taking fish and frogs, these reptiles constitute in Pennsylvania's hard fished waters, a real problem. Our sportsmen, through well organized drives conducted in many sec­ tions of the Commonwealth, have played a major role in solving it.

It has been contended by some naturalists in the past that the presence of water- snakes and other predators on our fishing waters serves as a vital link in nature's bal­ ance, tending to reduce overpopulation of fish life and weeding out diseased indi­ viduals that otherwise might result in serious losses to the various species. While this opinion conceivably has some hard-grained sense back of it, and particularly in the instance of natural balance when our streams were in a virgin state, much of its force is lost when we view the fishing picture here in Pennsylvania today. Under the present intensive fishing to which they are being subjected by our fishermen, there is little danger that overpopulation of the various species of fish life may exist in our Pennsyl­ vania waters. Cunning in its fishing methods and on the increase in some sections, the watersnake ranks as a serious consideration in our efforts to provide good fishing. Its control is mandatory. Any angler who has observed a good sized watersnake slip quietly into a pool in a trout stream, follow a terror-stricken trout beneath a rock or other cover and seize it, or has noticed the cleverness this reptile displays on warm water streams in taking fish or frogs, is certain to be convinced that the best snake is a dead snake. We have en­ deavored, however, in urging watersnake control, not to stress extermination of the species. There is little danger of this, for the habits of this reptile in its foraging, its habitat, the streams or banks of streams, and its prolific production of young fend to offset extermination. While August is an extremely good time in which to stage effective watersnake drives, due to the tendency of the adult females to become sluggish prior to giving

klrfh |0 their living young, successive drives throughout the summer months yield a qood harvest of these reptiles. In a number of instances, organized sportsmen have sponsored drives for children, paying small bounties for snake tails turned in. These have proved highly successful. The sportsmen themselves have staged many intensive snake drives on pet fishing streams, armed with clubs, small calibre rifles and shovels. Often with a shovel, it is possible to kill from 8 to 15 young snakes under one rock during September. We have an opportunity this summer to stage a well-organized campaign against these predators in many counties of the state, and our fishermen themselves may con­ tribute immeasurably to the better fishing cause through their efforts. Sensible conservation calls for sound control of the watersnake, so let's make 1938 an outstanding year in thinning down natural fish enemy number I.

Commissioner of Fisheries PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER THE BLACK BASS Facts Concerning Its Introduction to Pennsylvania Waters

By J. FRED McKEAN Member, Board of Fish Commissioners

EW modern anglers who have known been able to determine, this was the earliest When, in 1873, the Board of Fish Com­ Fthe savage strike of a bass, and its sub­ stocking with bass to be recorded in states missioners, then known as the Board of sequent picturesque breaks from the water on the Eastern seaboard. It was unique in Commissioners of Fisheries, decided to take to shake the hook, will concede that any plan, the fish being carried from the west bass from the Delaware for stocking other game fish in Pennsylvania is superior to in the water tank of a locomotive and ap­ waters of Pennsylvania, a splendid supply this hard-fighting gamester in any respect. parently suffering few if any injuries dur­ was available. Under the distribution plan It ranks, I believe, as the outstanding and ing their long journey. adopted, 2,044 mature bass were taken from perhaps most coveted quarry for thousands Heralded by sportsmen as game fish su­ the Delaware during the first year. Waters of Keystone State fishermen, and deservedly perb, the fame of the Potomac's bass spread stocked with these fish were the Lehigh so. When we consider the comparatively into other states. Six years later, a group River, North Branch and West Branch of brief period of time since its introduction of ardent anglers in the vicinity of Phila­ the Susquehanna River, Juniata River, Yel­ to our streams and lakes, its rise to domi­ delphia, familiar with the game and table low Breeches Creek, Chiquesalonga Creek, nance as a game species is truly remarkable. merits of the fish, raised a sum of $1,300 by Octoraro Creek, Pine Creek and Codorus Our fishermen today find two species of public subscription to purchase bass for Creek. The second years' stocking program bass in many of our outstanding waters, stocking. The fish, taken from the Potomac included Muncy Creek, Swatara Creek, the smallmouth and largemouth. In the at Harper's Ferry, were released in the Conestoga Creek, Mill Creek, Brandywine opinion of the writer, however, the small­ Delaware River at Easton and responded Creek, Pine Creek, Conroy Creek, Canton mouth will always rank at the top, not only favorably to their new environment. An Creek, Buffalo Creek, Penn's Creek, Wissa- as a fighting fish but as the first of the two abundant food supply and ideal spawning- hickon Creek, Little Conewago Creek, Cono- species to be introduced to Pennsylvania conditions were available for Pennsylvania's doguinet Creek, Marsh Creek Big Cone­ streams and lakes. first black bass, and ten years later they wago Creek, Big and Little Chiquesalonga Creeks, Susquehanna River, Allegheny River, The smallmouth bass was first brought to were plentiful in many sections of the Dela­ ware. Encouraged by the success attending and Saylors, Porter and Twelve Mile Lakes our waters in 1863. Prior to this introduc­ in Pike County. This widespread plan of tion, in 1857, to be exact, fifteen adult small- distribution of bass in the Delaware, sports­ men in southeastern Pennsylvania pur­ distribution resulted in an increase of bass mouths had been stocked in the Potomac in practically all waters of Pennsylvania. River in Virginia. These bass found, in the chased more bass for stocking a few years later. These fish, distributed in the Susque­ Almost without exception, when intro­ Potomac, a stream teeming with natural duced, the black bass became abundant. food and ideal in every respect to their hanna and Schuylkill Rivers, were also se­ cured from the Potomac. The original planting was made with the rapid increase in number. So far as we have hope that they would serve as an ideal substitute, from the game fish angle, for the brook trout, which, at that time, was rapidly disappearing from some of our streams. It soon became evident, however, that the stock­ ing of black bass in smaller bodies of water, would develop into a costly experiment. So abundant did they become in waters offering inadequate range, that other favorite spe­ cies of fish were threatened with extinction. In larger water areas, with their greater forage facilities, the bass was regarded as a fine addition to native spe­ cies of fish. Nature's regulation of bal­ ance in Pennsylvania's inland waters was vividly illustrated in the instance of the black bass. The tremendous food supply available for these voracious game fish when they were origi­ nally stocked was sufficient to carry an almost uninterrupted increase in number of bass dur­ ing a period varying from 10 to 20 years. Eventually, however, the vast numbers of bass pres­ ent in smaller waters resulted in a slaughter of other species. ,_ When the food supply dwindled,

A group of adult smallmouthed bass. This species was first to be introduced to streams of Keystone State. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 3 the cannibalism characteristic of bass and other game fishes asserted itself. Small bass necessarily replaced the minnow as a source of forage, and so effective was nature's sys­ tem of restoring natural balance, that with­ in a few years the bass supply had dwindled to or below normal. The following comments on the black bass, taken from the Biennial Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries for 1883-84 fur­ nish a clear idea of the vast number of bass then present in Pennsylvania waters. "While all will admit," the Commissioners said, "that the black bass is one of the most prolific, palatable and gamey of our fresh water fishes, the question has arisen and is being warmly discussed whether its introduction into the waters of eastern Pennsylvania has been a blessing or other­ wise. "Nearly everybody, but especially sports­ men, anticipated great results from their introduction. Anglers were especially de­ lighted, while commercial fishermen, turning their eyes toward the Potomac, which was One of the first streams in Pennsylvania to be stocked with bass was the Allegheny River. Shown is a producing great quantities of bass, looked view of the stream at Tionesta hopefully forward to the time when the streams of our own state would yield a like clamored against the ruthless slaughter of those of the latter water course are steadily harvest. Anticipation ran high and it can­ game fish and other species by commercial declining." not be denied that it was fully warranted fishermen. Typical of the growing sentiment The wave of popularity with fishermen by the almost immediate increase in number for terminating the destruction of fish life that carried the black bass to undisputed and size of the newcomers. in Pennsylvania streams is the following favoritism as a game fish has continued un­ "That those bright anticipations were interesting letter written in 1879 by an abated to the present time. Its surging, pic­ ephemeral and that they were realized but ardent sportsman living on the Susque­ turesque fight when hooked, and the sav­ for a very brief period needs not the say­ hanna River. It constitutes a strong de­ agery of its strike marked it as the ideal ing. In some cases the bass were roundly fense of the black bass. fish from the angler's viewpoint. The de­ denounced as nuisances and among the "There is," he wrote, "a very decided in­ mand for bass and more bass became in­ loudest and most vigorous complaints were crease of the native salmon, pike perch, or creasingly insistent with passage of the from some who, only a little while before, wall-eyed pike in this river. Last year hun­ years. Not until 1914 was the Fish Commis­ had been their most zealous champions. The dreds were taken averaging a foot in length sion able to announce definitely that a suc­ strangers were charged with not merely de­ and about three-fourths of a pound in cessful method had been found for the arti­ vouring other fish too weak to defend them­ weight. This increase is accounted for by ficial propagation of this peer of game selves against such powerful assailants, but the fact that the bass destroyed the small fishes. In its report for that year, the Board when they had exhausted that source of fish that preyed upon the eggs of the pike. asserted that success had been achieved by food supply, with turning upon and devour­ If the laws now on the statute books against permitting the parent fish to spawn natur­ ing their own progeny; that ultimately they fish baskets and nets are enforced, these ally and by teaching the young bass to take would have entire possession of the streams, fish, which grow to a weight of ten pounds, food while in the ponds. and that, eventually failing to find the re­ will naturally increase. Until that is done, The daphnia, or water flea, a tiny form quired supply of animal food, would them­ there is no room for the hope that there of Crustacea, served as the essential link selves become extinct. In proof of the latter ever will be a material improvement in the to successful propagation of the black bass. allegation, the gradual diminutions in the product. Last fall, at the dam below Sun- Efforts to raise bass in Pennsylvania have annual catches in the Potomac and Susque­ bury, there was taken out in a single been confined chiefly to the smallmouth hanna were pointed to. night by one of those infernal machines variety, which is particularly adapted to "Now, all this may be true, and it may and seines, no less than fourteen hundred waters of the Commonwealth. During re­ not. The friends of the black bass while ad­ pounds of bass and salmon. In other parts cent years, however, the largemouth bass, mitting their ravenous disposition, stoutly of the main river, and in the Juniata, the frequenter of more sluggish lakes, ponds deny that the bass are indiscriminate ex­ average catch of each basket at night, when and streams, has attracted enthusiastic sup­ terminators of weaker fish, or that there is the water was about three feet above the port from the angling fraternity. Both spe­ the slightest evidence of diminution in their ordinary height, was at least fifty young cies are now propagated at Pleasant Mount numbers, save such'as can be readily traced salmon, about twelve inches in length." Hatchery, where the annual output of bass, to the deadly fish basket and other illicit Commenting on this drive against illegal ranging in size from one to seven inches, contrivances for catching and killing them. devices, the Board continues in its report is heavy. "They insist that as far as the Susque­ for 1883-84: Spring Creek, Huntsdale, Union City, hanna and Delaware are concerned, the "Another gentleman reported to the board Reynoldsdale and Torresdale also produce minnows destroyed by the bass are those that he has seen two bushels of young bass many bass for stocking. The bass stocking which depredate upon the spawn of the taken from a single fish basket in one program of the Fish Commission has been shad and the perch or wall-eyed pike. More­ night. Another, that a man of his acquain­ a vital factor in the comeback of this splen­ over, they contend that if the rivers were tance fed five bushels of young bass to his did game fish. Hatchery methods and pro­ depopulated of minnows, it would pay the hogs in less than a week." duction of the food supply at Pleasant State handsomely to hatch shad largely for "That whatever fall-off there was in the Mount Hatchery, where at the peak of feed­ the special purpose of supplying food for supply of black bass was due almost en­ ing the young bass, approximately two the bass. tirely to fish-baskets and other illegal de­ bushels of daphnia are consumed in a sin­ vices for catching them, was soon abun­ gle day, have been successfully worked out "From this it will be seen that this fish by our Chief Fish Culturist, C. A. Buller. may not be as black as it is painted. dantly demonstrated. By vigorous measures Stronger evidence than has yet been pre­ the Delaware River was cleared of all fish Under modern day conditions, with in­ sented is wanted by the board before deter­ baskets and traps but such a laudable re­ tensive live bait fishing and a heavy drain mining what course shall be pursued." sult did not follow similar efforts in the upon our bass waters in securing live bait The era of seines, fish baskets, and other Susquehanna. Almost immediately, the for fishing by our growing army of fisher­ illegal devices was rapidly drawing to a catches in the former stream began sensi­ men, I believe that one of the most encour- close. Sportsmen in all sections of the state bly to increase, and do to this day, while (Continued on Page 13) t PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER PICKING YOUR FLYROD LURES FOR BASS By MYRON W. SHOEMAKER

ICKING exactly the right lure that will P suit the fancy of the wily bass is a very difficult problem and I seriously doubt if any fisherman can successfully select the lure that will immediately attract the bass sufficiently to bring about successful results and do it consistently. The chances are that some experimenting with different color, size, shape or type of lure will have to be resorted to before the proper lure is found. It is very true that bass sometimes rise to the first cast, and selection of lure made, which leads the fisherman to believe that he has picked the right lure, but after many more casts have been made without results the lure should be changed. I have experienced this on many occasions and when a change of lure was made the de­ sired results were almost immediate and again I found it necessary to exhaust every lure without any results worth mentioning. Under such conditions the only thing to do, when you know the fish are there, is to keep on trying until the bass are in a feeding mood. Bass are very temperamental and demand a change of diet. The lure you use today with success may not be the answer for tomorrow and again it may be. Bass are Pondering "the lure they'll hit" also very selective at times and it is then that the patience of the fisherman comes to experimented and found something that bass The different methods of making the vari­ a test in outwitting the fish. would rise to. ous surface lures as to materials used is These bass feed principally upon crusta­ There probably are more types of surface also a problem which causes plenty of dis­ ceans, other fish, or insect life. In view of lures than any other kind for the fly fisher­ cussion. Some fishermen desire a certain the different types of food both below and man and he is sometimes at a loss to know lure because it was successful on the first on the water's surface it becomes necessary just what to purchase. This no doubt has fishing trip with that particular lure and to use different types of lures to cope with something to do with some fishermen being yet it may be an utter failure the next time existing conditions at the particular time a bit backward in taking up fly fishing be­ it is tried. The chances are that the first you are fishing. When bass are feeding on cause of the many lures they believe they time it was used was when the bass were the water's surface or just under the sur­ must purchase. I have previously stated that really in a feeding or killing mood while face it is easy to see the rise, but when they it is necessary to change lures on some on the second attempt they were a little are feeding nearer the bottom of the stream occasions to bring about the desired results more particular. This is what demands a this rise is not visible and naturally a wet and this changing can be made with just change of lures. fly should be used. Just because bass are a few lures with success just as well as Many fishermen fall for the surface lures not feeding on the water's surface does not the fisherman who has many changes. How­ tied on the large hooks which are mounted mean that they will not take a surface lure. ever, once the fisherman starts a collection on a cork or wooden body to insure the Many bass can be taken on surface lures of lures, he will pay little attention to the lure floating. This type of lure will take because of their desire to kill and they often number he is purchasing. This seems to be bass when they are striking hard and prac­ strike savagely at some moving object on one of the failings of fly fishermen when tically gulp the lure down but when the the water's surface even though they are some lure strikes their fancy. bass are more particular and striking less not feeding. Personally, I have tried practically all viciously the fisherman will have many dis­ The fact that bass will strike so many the lures on the market and have taken appointing moments in attempting to hook different kinds of artificial lures no doubt bass on nearly all of them but I do not a rising bass. This is entirely due to the accounts for the large assortment of lures carry a very large assortment of lures. My foreign substance of cork or wood bodies available. Some of the lures do imitate in­ list consists of two sizes of surface lures being very readily detected by the bass and sect or minnow life while others imitate no with about three assortments as to color spit out before the fisherman can make the insect or living thing but are just crea­ and all of the same type. Three patterns strike with the rod. The lures which are tions brought about by some fisherman who of wet flies such as the Ruben Wood, Lord made of deer hair will float just as well as Baltimore and Cahill should be in­ cluded. This gives a variety of color. The size is a number 6 hook. Three patterns of streamer flies, about two or three patterns of dry flies used in trout fishing and some nymphs are also good. A spinner, single, about the size of the little finger nail, can be used with either the wet fly or the streamer fly. If bass can not be induced to rise to some of these lures then there is little use in having a trunk full to keep experimenting with. Hair Mouse Bass Buger PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 6

of lines. The line may be either level or double tapered but since the torpedo head line has been placed on the market I would recommend one of that type to insure easier and more accurate casting. There is nothing that can compare with this line when it Hair Frog comes to shooting qualities. All of the heavy line is carried on the front with the light the wood or cork bodies and will not be line backing it up. Practically every line spit out as quickly as the other type. The company now offers this torpedo head line which can be purchased just as cheap as deer hair lures will last much longer be­ Float-a-Bug cause of the close tying and they will not the double tapered lines. I am of the opinion cause the wind resistance because of their that this line is here to stay for many years lighter weight. It is almost impossible to and will add many pleasant hours to the of water being fished. In using this lure the sink them as they will not become water­ fisherman's casting. I have one of the first line should not be greased but allowed to logged. ones made and have given it hard use in sink to insure the lure going deeper under While this article will deal primarily every way possible and it certainly simpli­ the surface of the water. If the line and with lures and the methods of fishing them, fies casting more than any line that has lure fail to sink, rub the line with a little there should be some information on the ever been offered to the public. Accuracy is soft mud which is free of sand or grit, as equipment required for fly fishing for bass. more quickly mastered. Less casting effort sand or grit will injure the line. This will I will not attempt to say that my recom­ is necessary and more distance can be se­ make the line sink much deeper if necessary. mendations are infallible because there are cured with less effort if desired. When the bass are really rising to the fly too many fishermen who will not agree on I can not too strongly recommend that and spinner combination, the line will not standard equipment, but it has been my the beginner and those of a little more ex­ have to be submerged so deep. experience over a long period of years in perience keep away from the long casts In fishing swift water I would suggest fly fishing for bass that a rod of not less until they can successfully make a shorter fishing across the current and allowing the than 9 feet in length and a weight of not cast. A cast of thirty feet will take plenty lure to be carried naturally down stream under five and one half ounces be used. of bass and after more experience is gained, while the constant tension of the line is in­ There are fishermen who claim that a casts up to fifty feet can be made with some tact as it flows in the natural circle from four and one half ounce rod of eight feet measure of success although they are not point of cast to the point where it will |n length will stand the strain of bass fish- used very much in actual fishing. Many ar- again be lifted from the water for another jng. This may be true to a certain extent cast. I have also found it very successful by If they are using light lures and catching fishing directly downstream and retrieving bass ten or eleven inches in length in water the lure directly against the current, and at that is not swift, but if they try the heavier other times by allowing the lure to remain lures the light rod will not stand up very motionless, except for the constant motion long. Even with a light lure if a three of the spinner caused by the force of the Pound bass is hooked, and especially in downward current against it, then starting swift water, there will be a terrific strain the lure again. Many times a strike will be °n the rod regardless of the price or qual­ had as the lure lies motionless and at other ity. Personal experience has revealed what times just as it starts to move or after. big bass can do to a rod. Several years ago Practically the same method is employed I hooked a three and one half pound bass Streamline Lure in using the wet fly without the spinner on a nine and one half foot rod which although the line should not be kept so tight. Weighed six and one quarter ounces. This tides have appeared lately in sporting mag­ The object of the tight line with spinner is rod was by no means a cheap rod and had azines relative to the balance of the rod in to insure the action of the spinner. The wet taken many big bass before but the water its relation to the reel. The reel has abso­ fly alone should be allowed to flow along happened to be very swift and when the lutely nothing to do with the balancing of naturally with the current until it reaches battle was over there was a decided set in the maximum limitation down stream ac­ the rod and any type of single action reel cording to the amount of line being used. this rod that remains to this day. I had is all that is necessary unless one desires booked plenty of large bass and had been The strike of the fish may not be detected the automatic. The reel should be equipped as quickly as on a tight line but it will be able to take care of the rod properly but with a spool large enough to accommodate this bass seemed to take advantage of every strong enough for you to know that a fish 90 feet of heavy line to avoid any crowding has hit the lure. opportunity. If the rod had been of the light of the line which will injure the enamel or type I am positive the rod would have been outer dressing. Pishing with the streamer fly seems to Practically ruined. imitate a minnow in action. It may be used Any arguments concerning the balancing alone or with the spinner and fished just Rods up to ten feet in length are alright of the rod with the proper weight reel the same as the wet fly. This is an excellent •f one desires rods that long but the stand­ should be easily settled by referring to the lure and I look for it to be used more ex­ ard length is nine and one half feet with a professional distance fly casters who use no tensively this season. This lure is tied up Weight from six to six and one half ounces. reel at any time. They use the proper line in various color combinations and different This type of rod will handle any of the to balance with the rod without even giving materials. Some are made of bucktail com­ heavier types of bass lures provided the a reel a thought. plete, others part bucktail and feathers, Proper line is fitted to the rod. Leaders are becoming something of a while still others are entirely of feather Since the line is the thing that is really problem as to quality and quantity available material. The popular marabou, which looks being cast it should be selected with some and they are rather expensive at present. like a dry fly until wet, will be an excep­ care. I would suggest that you contact some The synthetic gut which comes in coils in tionally fine lure. °f your fishermen friends who know lines various sizes and pound tests will answer ar>d have them show you the different types as a substitute but will not last over any (Continued on Page 19) long period as they lose their life very read­ ily. A leader from five to six feet is all that is necessary unless one of greater length is desired. Summing up the lures which I have found successful and use regularly, we have the fly and spinner combination, the ordinary wet fly, the streamer fly, the surface lures and the nymph. One of the first successful lures was the fly and spinner combination which is still a Feathered Streamer good bet at any time regardless of the type Marabou 6 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ADD GUSTO TO YOUR SPORT—BUT HOW? (Summer Hazards for the Sportsman and How to Avoid Them)

By H. HURN DILLER

diately wash and re-wash many times in on the alert (the rattler will caution you thick suds of a strong naphtha soap. After with his musical warning) and watch for SIMPLE RULES TO FOLLOW rinsing in clear water rubbing alcohol the second snake (especially copperheads should be applied to the exposed parts and and cotton-mouth moccasins travel in TO AVOID SUMMER then dried with a clean cloth. pairs). ACCIDENTS Treatment: If, however, after taking all Treatment: Remembering that about only these precautions a rash should appear, the ten percent of poisonous snake bites would 1. Drink no strange water unless as­ application of a two percent solution of prove fatal if not treated at all and that sured by a responsible person as to carbolic acid and calamine lotion prepared most victims who do die as a result of its purity. at a drug store is found effective. A wet serpent bites die of shock and not from the poison, we will have to keep cool and calm. 2. Prevent contact with poison ivy re­ Lay the victim down on a blanket, coats, membering that its poison can be etc., tie a restricting band around the limb carried on the clothes and in the above the snake bite just tight enough to wind. hamper circulation (do not use a tourni­ quet), cut across the fang marks deep 3. Carry your walking stick, wear enough to create a generous flow of blood, high-top shoes, watch where you apply suction either with the mouth or a put your hands, when in snake- suction cup to aid in the drawing of the infested areas. blood (the poison sucked into the mouth, if 4. Always dress wounds no matter spit out and not swallowed, will be insuffi­ how slight. cient to cause any ill-effects.)* Call a doctor to the scene, if at all possible. If not, fur­ 5. Cover the head and neck to help ther treatment will be necessary at the prevent sun stroke. scene of accident before the patient can be moved. Cut similar incisions at a small 6. A gradual exposure to the sun's radius around the former and apply suction ray will, after only a few days, de­ as to the former. Keep up treatment for at velop a sufficient tan as insurance least half an hour. Apply iodine to the in­ against sun burn. cisions, bandage with gauze or other clean 7. When suffering with rabies a dog material and transport to the doctor or is not mad but ill and will attack hospital. his best friend. Nausea and vomiting, nervous chills, a pale face, irregular breathing and other 8. PREVENTION OF ACCIDENT IS symptoms of shock will accompany an acci­ THE FIRST LAW OF THE OPEN. dent of this type. Aromatic spirits of am­ 9. A FIRST-AID KIT WILL TAKE monia, a cup of tea or coffee, or drink of UP LITTLE SPACE IN YOUR hot milk or water, a few hot water bottles, POCKET BUT YET IS ESSEN­ plenty of covering over and plenty under TIAL IN TIME OF ACCIDENT. will aid in the treatment, if the patient is lying down. Don't let carelessness spoil that perfect fishing you've planned Whiskey is not only useless as is potas­ sium permanganate but is harmful and SURE way to add gusto to your fishing solution of Epsom Salts made as strong as should never be given a victim. A trip is to plank down your equipment possible in cold water is also found to be near the favorite abode of a rattler or sit WOUNDS: Wounds obtained far away effective. from medical aid should be dressed as soon down on an ivy-covered stump to don your Remembering that the poison of this hip boots. as possible. Apply iodine, a sterile pad and three-leaf ivy plant can be carried to the bandage. Never re-apply iodine nor ban­ Many a trip that a sportsman has looked skin by the wind and can be picked up on dage it before dry. If the area around the forward to for weeks or months or maybe one's shoes and clothing, and USING THE wound begins to get inflamed, swollen, ten­ a year has ended tragically just that way. PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, the sum­ der to the touch and pus appear, a doctoi* Both poison ivy and snake bites form a mer sportsman should have little trouble should be consulted immediately because first-rate hazard yet a cautious sportsman with this type of poison. these are symptoms of infection. need not fall victim to either. Both with a little heedfulness can be avoided as easily SNAKE BITE: Although recent labora­ TETANUS: The tetanus (lock-jaw) as can typhoid-contaminated water that ap­ tory experimentation has resulted in the germ is carried into the wound by the in­ pears clean and bubbling from a contami­ publication of facts that very few snakes strument causing the wound. The germ nated source. that are considered poisonous really con­ finds its most frequent habitat in the in­ tain enough poison in their fangs to cause testines of farm animals, particularly the POISON IVY: The best cure for poison fatality, we must treat each individual rat­ horse and mule. On the street, in the gar­ ivy is prevention of contact with the most tler, copperhead and cotton-mouth moccasin, den, on the farm, and any place where wide-spread poison plant of the East. Its and coral as to the potential deadliness of manure is present, can be found tetanus three glossy leaflets with white berries the most deadly. germs. CONSULT A DOCTOR WHERE make it readily discernible from its non- Preventive measures are good common- THERE IS ANY LIKELIHOOD OF TET­ poisonous family relations. sense rules: carry your walking stick, ANUS INFECTION AS HE WILL GIVE Much pain, discomfort and severe suffer­ avoid when possible favorite haunts of poi­ THE PATIENT A SHOT OF ANTITOXIN- ing can be mitigated by careful scrutiny of sonous snakes, wear high-top shoes in snake- the surroundings but, if one does come into infested areas, watch where you put your ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION: The contact with this plant, they should imme- hands while picking berries, be constantly sportsman should be able to render artifi- PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER cial respiration as its knowledge will some­ Treatment: Hunt the shade, lie down with gradual increase in time of exposure is usu­ day save the life of a drowning victim. A the head slightly elevated, douse entire ally sufficient to put a good tan on the fireman, a policeman, an ambulance driver, body gradually with cold water, apply ice skin. °r any first aider will teach the sportsman bags to the head, stimulate circulation in Treatment: In case of an uncomfortable the accepted form. Inability to swim is not the limbs by brisk rubbing. amount of sunburn, apply cocoa butter, so often the cause of water accidents and The force of a garden hose plunged olive oil, castor oil, or a commercial burn casualties as is cramps. Hyper-sensitivity against the victim of sunstroke is an ideal ointment. In cases of blistering, a sterile of the body to cold causes these cramps. treatment.* pad should cover the blistered area after Hyper-sensitivity can be determined by above applications have been made. There SUN BURN: The author has struck upon is a possibility of infection where the skin immersing the hands in very cold water for an excellent preventive for sun burn.* Be­ five minutes. If swelling of the hand re­ is broken. The victim should be safe-guard­ ing water front instructor in a popular ed against the ravages of this infection by sults, the body is hypersensitive to cold. boys' camp the author sprayed the parts Desensitization can be materially reduced these sterile applications. A fever may de­ of the boys' bodies exposed to the sun's velop, in this case, CALL A DOCTOR. by twice daily immersing the hands over ray with a five percent solution of tannic the wrists in very cold water for one or acid a couple times during the swimming DOG BITES: His dog is the sportsman's two minutes. Or, better yet, a very cold period. The result being: not one serious best friend but can be his deadliest, if ill shower each morning.** or even uncomfortable case of sunburn with the rabies. A dog is never mad, he is ill and will attack anyone in his maniacal SUN STROKE: It is evident that we can among the 123 boys enrolled. We pass this information on to the sportsman adding conniptions. No person should approach a best avoid a sun stroke by avoiding the dog during the summer months, if he ap­ sun's ray. If it is necessary to expose your­ that there are several preparations pur- chaseable at your local drug store that pears sick and nervous. Nervousness and self for any length of time, covering on the disagreeableness are the first symptoms of head and neck will help prevent sun stroke. contain a large percentage of tannic acid in dilute form that are also excellent for this terrible disease in your dog. A veteri­ A headache, oppression and hot, dry skin narian should be called. with a flushed face will precede a stroke this use. °f this type. When any of these symptoms Otherwise, sunburn is prevented by a Treatment: Of the human: Immediately are noticed, hunt a cool, shady place and gradual exposure to the sun's ray. Twenty- wash the wound with soap and water. (This lie down. thirty minutes daily for a few days and a (Continued on Page 17)

Photo by La Mar Mumbar Fishing from a rowboat is a good way to secure a tan, but—take it easy at the start 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER SALUTE TO DOLOMIEU, THE SMALLMOUTH By ALEX. P. SWEISART

ILLOWING mist eddied over the shal­ voracious feeding in a stream teeming with the nest was a female bass ready to spawn, B lows of a rock-bedded central Pennsyl­ aquatic life had developed his length of 23 her girth and breadth accentuated by the vania stream as Micropterus Dolomieu, the inches and a girth of 16 inches. Turning eggs which she was about to deposit. As smallmouthed bass, entered a tiny weed and back to his beginning: her eggs dropped in clutches, Dolomieu's lily pad fringed bay in quest of food. On sire hovered close, fertilizing them with that morning of mid-July, the air was cool, deposits of milt. The eggs, adhesive by na­ the sun having just emerged over the pine ture, clung to the clean bed of the nest. crested ridge rising abruptly from the ledge Her part in the spawning act completed pool, and bringing into sharp relief the with dropping of the ova, his mate left, spear - head outlines of the evergreens. It and to the sire was entrusted care of the had been a moonless night, serving to cur­ nest. tail the foraging of the smallmouth clan Unwavering fidelity to his charge charac­ and in many sections of the stream, the terized the big smallmouth during the six bass were now on feed. Harassed and days in which the eggs were hatching and broken, the shiner schools had sought the the ensuing four days when the helpless shoreline. young were absorbing the yolk sac. His fin Dolomieu, lunging in pursuit of a big movements, rapid and constant, seemed ac­ silver shiner that, in its terror-stricken at­ centuated by rapid sway of his body as he tempt to escape, skipped over the water hovered over the nest, keeping a constant surface much as a flat stone hurled by hu­ circulation of life-giving oxygen passing man hand might do, wallowed into the shal­ about the eggs. Savagely he drove away any lows of the tiny bay. As his sharply erect fish that chanced to venture near, minnow, spinous dorsal fin showed above the sur­ sunfish, sucker or catfish. Apparently, how­ face, then the upper portion of his great ever, most other fish in the stream seemed i loath to approach the vigilant guardian of girth was momentarily exposed to view, a bait caster standing near the opposite shore­ the nest. Fortunately for Dolomieu and line gasped with astonishment. And well he others of the brood, no unscrupulous fisher­ might, for not in years had the feeding • man invaded the area in which it was lo­ shallows of this stream known a small- cated. It would have been ridiculously easy mouth of such proportions. with any type of lure to have taken the Eluded by his prey, the big bass wriggled parent bass during his 12 days' vigil and from the shelving shoreline to deeper water. once removed, eggs or young would have An instant later, a nicely timed and immediately fallen victims to the schools of lightly placed cast by the fisherman splat- minnows, sunfish and other species inhabit­ ted a tiny plug into the pocket. Hardly one Aggressiveness is in every line in this frontal head ing the stream. A wise Pennsylvania law foot did this little lure travel on the re­ view of Dolomieu, the smallmouth stood as safeguard, forbidding bass fishing trieve before Dolomieu smashed into it. in the inland waters before July, when, IB There was in his strike at this man-made A hot sun has been beating down on the most instances, bass spawning had been device all of the bulldog tenacity and relent- stream during those days in early June completed. lessness that had characterized, a few brief when the sire of Dolomieu, a four pound After Dolomieu had emerged from the moments before, his pursuit of the minnow. smallmouth, painstakingly prepared the nest egg, he lay beneath the wavering fins of His massive girth, brassy in undercolor upon which the tiny bass was to come into his sire, absorbing the yolk sac. With ab­ and superimposed with greenish bronze being. Before he left the nest to entice a fe­ sorption of the yolk, he and other members mottlings, surged in a maddened swirl on male fish of almost equal size to join him of the brood became increasingly active, the surface as one of the barbs of a double in the spawning act, the big bass had dis­ making short sallies nearer and nearer to hook was driven home in his upper jaw. played constant nervous activity. After se­ the water surface with each succeeding day> Under the impact of the first lunges of lecting the spot for the nest, at the base of and returning to the nest at nightfall. Dui" the great bass to tear away, the slender a rock jutting above the water surface near ing the first few days of his life, the tiny bamboo casting rod arched to what seemed the shoreline, he had removed in his mouth bass bore virtually no resemblance to the all foreign objects, small twigs and current- broadgirthed, husky young fish that would a certain breaking point, but in the hands e of the skillful angler it gradually and sure­ carried litter, and then, over the pebble be taking toll from stream life a short tim ly tired the big fish. Time and again the bed two feet in circumference, had swept later. He was little more than a black- handles of the casting reel spun as Dolomieu clean with the caudal fin or tail a saucer tapering atom at this stage, the prominent shaped bowl. When he left the nest on his egg-shaped yolk sac making him somewhat continued his desperate runs. Pacing his I every move in that memorable battle was courting mission, its bed of pebbles and suggestive of a young tadpole. his consort, a fish possibly 20 inches in sand sparkled spotlessly clean beneath the Before Dolomieu's sire had deserted h's length. To the angler, this other bass seemed penetrating rays of the sun. offspring, to return again and devour them almost as frenzied by the strange turn of It was an ideal year for bass spawning. if he found them, nature had flourished * events as Dolomieu. The big bass fought For several weeks the stream had been run­ wand of abundance in the form of food an underwater fight, unlike that of smaller ning clear and water levels were normal. for the young bass. With the rise of wate1' A gradual rise in stream temperature had members of the smallmouth clan, with their temperature in this unpolluted Pennsylvania spectacular breaks from the surface. Skill hastened, during the past week, ripen­ ing of the eggs in the female fish. This stream, vast swarms of tiny organisms made and cautious playing finally won for the their appearance. Copepoda such as the angler, and a-»six-pound smallmouthed bass condition was in direct contrast to that pre­ vailing two years before when heavy rain­ Cyclops and Cladocera, the water fleas, con' that toppled all records for this stream stituted a good part of this lavish food was rolled, completely exhausted, into the storms had swollen the stream to a brown, r heavily silt-laden torrent that had smoth­ supply, not only for the baby bass but f° shallows that for years had been part of 1 his foraging grounds. ered thousands of eggs of Dolomieu's kind. the young of other species of fish life M Many of the adult males had deserted their the stream. It was upon these minute of nests that year and, generally speaking, the ganisms, many of them hardly visible to There is, in the life story of Dolomieu, bass crop was a failure. the eye, that the young Dolomieu fed in one of the most fascinating chapters in the The male fish did not require much time the early days of his existence. Later, baby lore of the freshwater. Eight seasons of in finding a mate. Returning with him to silver shiners and small insects rounded PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 9

out his diet. As he developed in size, one food that seemingly was his first choice was the crayfish, particularly when it was in the soft stage attendant to molting. A glance at the powerful mandibles of a bass is all that is needed to convince the angler that this spike-finned battler is preemi­ nently fitted to crush and devour crusta­ ceans such as the crayfish. On the day the swarm of young bass broke and left the nest, they scattered out, by twos and threes, curious, questing little fellows, finding in this water world to which they had come many marvelous things. In the luxuriant vegetation of the shallows, they found suitable cover for protection. For a smallmouth fmgerling the growth of Dolomieu in these early stages was rapid. Apparently his voracious hunger knew no In the first stage of his life, Dolomieu was somewhat suggestive of a tiny tadpole appeasing, and in consequence he soon out­ stripped in development his . brothers and season for Dolomieu was somewhat typical a particular fondness for the helgramites, sisters. Then one day he struck another of the first. The dark green mottling of his larva of the giant Dobson flies, that became Young bass and devoured it. That episode sides and back, superimposed on a brassy dislodged occasionally from their beds be­ marked the beginning of his cannibalism. green background, stood out vividly. His neath the riffle stones and were washed, Whenever the opportunity was afforded prominent, wellshaped head merged grace­ rolled up like round dark little balls of thereafter he gorged himself on the rich fully into a compactly knit body, the spiny flesh, by the current to him. flesh of others of his kind. Baby pickerel, rayed front of the dorsal or back fin, with It was a helgramite that almost proved slender, strikingly barred, little fish not ten stiff spines, blending into the large his undoing in the second year of his life. much thicker than matches and living in posterior section of soft rays. All of his One of these tidbits he struck at eagerly back eddies and weedbeds of the stream fins were strong and large, his broad tail on a July afternoon following a shower also served to vary his diet occasionally. giving the appearance of being tipped with when the stream was milky. This was his However, his most stable food supply were black and white. Radiating from and below first experience with the sharp barb of a the forage fishes, the silver shiner and stone the eye to the gill cover were several dark wavy stripes. Small tough scales served as hook. Fortunately for Dolomieu, it was em­ catfish, (the latter were to be found as the bedded lightly and he succeeded in tearing Water was coloring after a heavy rainstorm an armour-like protective covering for his body. The lateral line, following the contour away after the first short run that had °r at night) and the crayfish. By the time of his dorsal surface, was visible, extending terminated in setting the barb. the bass went into their winter period of from the gill cover to the base of the tail. By the time he was ready to go into dormancy in November of that year, Dolo­ Present on each cheek were 17 rows of dormancy that year, Dolomieu had achieved mieu was an exceptionally husky bass, over a length of 11 inches. In contrast with the 7 tiny scales. His jaws terminated at a point inches in length. While preparing for almost directly under the front angles of later amazing girth that he was to develop, the dormant period, he had, in common the eyes. One glance at him identified a he was now a comparatively racy fish in With his kind, gorged himself with food game fish without a peer, adequately ar­ appearance. Girth as well as length seemed during early autumn. When he entered a mored by tough scales and piercing spines to be emphasized in his growth during the hollow submerged log in a deep part of for combat. third year of his life, when he overlapped the pool for the winter, there was an extra the 13 inch stage. There was abundant evi­ supply of tissue and fat upon which to Crayfish, minnows, stone catfish, abun­ dence in his somewhat slower growth that draw. Ravenously hungry, he emerged from dant in this rock bottom stream, and the the mature fish would be unusually heavy dormancy late the following April. young of other species of fish life comprised for this water, length to girth considered. Save for one notable event, the second much of his food as a yearling. He also had That year, he stood over his first nest, mat­ ing with a 12 inch female. More slowly now, the big smallmouth put on length, but afforded an immense supply of live forage, he rounded bulkier in girth and by the end of the fifth year was a pow­ erful fish of nearly 20 inches. During these later years of his life, Dolomieu, in com­ pany with three other big smallmouths, con­ gregated in the deep flat, particularly on sultry mid-summer afternoons. Viewed from the top of an overhanging cliff, they seemed like four lithe shadows in contrast to the bulkier, rounded suckers. As the bot­ tom feeders probed about, their sides occa­ sionally flashing yellow when they turned in the clear water, sometimes tidbits such as the crayfish were disturbed and darting from cover were swiftly seized by the at­ tendant bass. Often, too, on moonlight nights, Dolomieu foraged actively, much of his food consisting on such occasions of stone catfish that had emerged from their lairs when darkness fell and the nocturnal crayfish. Water conditions governed to a major degree his remarkable protective coloration. After a heavy storm, when muddy water swept through the pool and flat, the big bass in an incredibly brief time changed

Dolomieu became a confirmed cannibal (Continued on Page 13) JO PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER "PERFECT TROUTING" WHAT IS SUCCESS? FOR THREE DAYS By DEAN R. L. WATTS, Penn State

HE comment, "as a fisherman my hus­ makes the trip a success. When alone on a T band is more enthusiastic than success­ trout stream, the crystal-clear water rip­ ful", caused me to ponder the question, pling and sparkling, the birds singing inimi­ what is success in the pursuit of piscatorial table carols, and nature dressed in its most pleasures ? Is it determined by the number alluring garb, I find myself nearer the great of fish caught? All real sportsmen will say Creator, the Father of all that is good and NO. The husband referred to, though suc­ beautiful, and I return to my home and cessful in contributing fish for the kitchen family conscious of an enriched life. larder, is an enthusiastic angler. I have There is pleasure in placing a fly in a never discussed fishing with this particular favorable position for a rising fish, a thrill Waltonian but he must have other reasons when you get it to strike, but a much for his enthusiasm than the number of fish greater thrill when you hook and net it. I creeled. am sensitive to the varied pleasures and I consider all my fishing trips successful achievements of stream fishing, but I also because I always get something, though not am convinced that it behooves all of us to This fine 20-inch brown trout was taken in Toby- always fish. An empty creel is often testi­ hanna Creek by E. Mullin Shields, West Chester mony of my lack of skill. However, I always learn the art of making our fishing trips get something. Renewed mental and physi­ so successful that when we return with a cal vigor invariably is the reward of even a light creel we will not feel that our outing From Clarence Miles of West Chester few hours spent on the stream and this has been a disappointment. comes the following report of three days' perfect trout fishing: "Accompanied by E. Mullin Shields and Charles Worth of this city," he writes, TAMAQUA ROD AND GUN "spent April 25 to 29 on the Tobyhanna UNUSUAL CATCH ACTIVE IN FISH WORK Creek at the Pocono Lake Preserve. We had three perfect days at dry fly fishing. Never We've had reports of groundhogs The Tamaqua Rod and Gun Club, located experienced three days as perfect as these and even one weasel being taken on in the Owl Creek Valley, near Tamaqua, and never expect to again. Practically no fishing tackle, but Forest Marble of have practically completed their WPA proj­ wind and a seemingly continuous hatch of Wellsboro has added still another vic­ ect of rebuilding the first trout hatchery flies all three days. We each caught twice tim to the fisherman's strange catch in the United States. The original hatchery- the limit each day, but only killed five list. was built by J. F. Schirner in 1852 on land trout apiece as our daily catch, keeping While fishing in Canada Run, Tioga now owned and farmed by his grandson, A. nothing under 11 inches, brooks, browns county, for trout, using worms for Fred Schirner. and rainbows. The largest trout caught was bait, Forest felt a nibble on the line In 1936, the State took a 20-year lease a 20-inch brown, and was landed by Mullin and pulling in, found to his amaze­ on the land whereon the hatchery is lo­ Shields who, I might add, waded during the ment, that he had hooked and landed cated and the Tamaqua Rod and Gun Club three afternoons in shorts. He has tough­ a Star Nose mole. sponsored the project of rebuilding the ened himself against the cold water until "If any one has any doubts con­ dams and pools which will hold approxi­ he is as hard as nails." cerning this catch," writes Warden mately 500,000 gallons of clear, cold wa­ Leland Cloos, who reported it, "Mr. ter. The source of water supply is large Marble has a witness and at present springs. LANCASTER SPORTSMEN he also has the mole." Recently the Game Commission contract­ ed with Mr. Schirner to make a Game Prop­ HEAR ENGINEERS agation Area and has wired in about 80 acres of the finest game land in the State. H. E. Whitney, construction engineer of BIG TROUT TAKEN IN This area is practically all timber, brush, the Safe Harbor Water and Power Com­ slashings and some swamp land. The local pany, and George Lowry, hydrographical WARREN WATERS engineer at the Holtwood plant, were the club has to date planted 2000 pine trees, 1 500 Russian mulberry and 25 American principal speakers at the monthly meeting Tionesta Creek, Brokenstraw Creek, of the Lancaster County Sportsmen's As­ Hosmer Run and Kinzua Creek in north­ Holly trees as well as many patches of Kaffir corn, millet and the new State Game sociation, held in the German Beneficial western Pennsylvania have all produced Union Hall. their share of big trout this year, accord­ mixture. ing to a report received from Warden R. The area has always been stocked by the The association went on record as sug­ C. Bailey of Youngsville, Warren County. Club with rabbits and this year bob white gesting that brooms and receptacles be placed at the bridges of both dams so that Fishing in Hosmer Run, William Munn quail and California Valley quail have been 1 of Garland caught a 15%-inch brook trout, refuse may be more readily disposed of i' liberated as well as ringnecks, all of which a sanitary manner. while Dick Dahlstrom of Garland landed a seem to be contented in their new sur­ 22-inch brown trout in the same stream. Horace Pyle, fish warden, asked that all Arnot Run yielded an 18-inch two pounds roundings. The stream flowing through the fishermen fishing- on the bridges of the one ounce brown trout to Roy French of valley is suitable for trout. Vermin control dams, who catch wall-eyed pike before the Tiona. The following big trout were taken will be taken care of by two boys who are season opens should return them to the from Tionesta Creek: Gene Hildum, War­ active in club affairs and who have had ex­ water in the same landing nets that are ren, a 19-inch three-pound brown trout; perience in trapping weasels and other used to bring them up to the bridge. He Earl Ebling of Tiona a 15%-inch brook predators. pointed out that a large percentage of the trout weighing two pounds; Arch Brown of The side line sport of the Tamaqua Rod =almon are killed when thrown back into the water from such distances as the Warren a 19%-inch rainbow trout weighing- and Gun Club is skeet shooting and the two pounds 12 ounces, and Frank Little- bridges. shoots held at the end of each month are field of Truemans an 18-inch rainbow trout. Prizes were won by George Wendler, Brokenstraw Creek produced a 20-inch well attended by many crack shots from all Howard Snyder, Arthur Fox, Harry F- brown trout for Glenn Donaldson of Spring parts of the section. The club would like Herr, V. J. Hiemenz and Nelson Hershey- Creek, and a 25%-inch brownie weighing to hear from other skeet shooters in regards Motion pictures in color taken by Walter five pounds one ounce for Arlo Williams to friendly matches. Write to Frank Ulrich, Dill, a member of the association, were of Corry. 127 West Broad Street, Tamaqua, Penna. shown. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11

Third—A. A. Kunkel, Bethlehem, a leader weight, 3 pounds, 8 ounces; caught Oct. 2 FISHING CONTEST box, for a fish 18 inches long; girth, 9% in Pecks Pond, on a shiner. AWARDS ANNOUNCED inches; weight, 2 pounds, 6 ounces; caught Second—James S. Biery, Jr., 321 N. 8th June 14, 1937, in Monocacy creek, on a St., Allentown, a braided silk line, for a Disagreeable weather conditions were ap­ worm. fish 19 inches long; girth 8% inches; weight, parently no great obstacle to 550 sportsmen Small-mouthed Bass 2 pounds, 8 ounces; caught, July 23, in who attended the annual spring smoker of Charles A. Miller, 625 Gordon St., Allen­ Little Mud Pond, on a minnow. the Lehigh County Fish and Game Pro­ town, a creel, for a fish 20 inches long; tective Association, Allentown, held in the girth 11 inches; weight, 3 pounds; caught Sunfish Castle Gardens, Dorney Park. Sept. 5, in the Delaware river, on a worm. Mark R. Wescoe, 23 S. Howard St., Al­ lentown, a rope fish stringer, for a fish Samuel J. Truscott, member of the Penn­ Large-mouthed Bass 9% inches long; girth 8% inches; weight, sylvania Fish Commission, addressed the Rudy Massler, 939 Green St., Allentown, 8 ounces; caught May 31 in Lake Wallen- gathering on the vital necessity of conser­ paupack on a worm. vation practices on both fish and game life a casting rod, for a fish 19 inches long; of the state. In urging the fishermen to girth 12% inches; weight, 4 pounds; caught Sept. 8, in Lake Nipperwein, on a plug. Sucker perpetuate their sport, Mr. Truscott asked Francis D. McCafferty, 841 N. Lumber for the full cooperation of all in the ob­ Pickerel St., Allentown, a casting line, for a fish, servance of the better principles of true First—William M. Snyder, 1001 Hower- 19% inches long; girth not given; weight, sportsmanship. town Rd., Catasauqua, a steel casting rod, 3 pounds, 5 ounces; caught Feb. 15, 1938, in Seth Gordon, executive director for the for a fish 24 inches long; girth, 10% inches; the Delaware river. Pennsylvania Game Commission, explained some of the more debatable subjects of the new game code. Defending the Commission, Mr. Gordon reviewed the history of the controlled shooting ground, the training school, and the organized pack of the fox hunting clubs. Other reports were submitted by Charles W. Wessel, chief of propagation and game farms for the Pennsylvania Game Commis­ sion; Robert L. Plarr, President of the Le­ high County Association; Game Protector William A. Moyer; District Fish Warden C. Joel Young; and George Zimmerman, club secretary. Walter D. Readinger, Presi­ dent of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs in Lehigh County, was introduced. C. Ross Buller, chief fish culturist for the State Fish Commission, who had planned to attend was unable to be present because of the icy highways and fog conditions in the Centre county sector at that time. Additional features of the evening in­ cluded the annual award of fish prizes, Plate lunch served from the choice cuts of a 1200 pound steer, and sound motion pic­ tures on big game hunting in Africa. The fish awards were as follows: Brook Trout (Length, not weight, governs awards of Prizes for all species of trout.) First—Louis R. Albright Jr., 110 N. 8th St., Allentown, a landing net, for a fish *4% inches long; girth, 7% inches, height, one pound; caught in the Little Lehigh on May 10; lure, grey wet fly. Sec­ ond—Charles George, 549 Park St., Allen­ town, leader box, for a fish 13% inches long; girth, 8 inches; weight, 1 pound, 5 ounces; caught Sept. 1, in the Muscenet- cong creek, N. J., on a grey hackle. Third "•--Robert LaFaver, 327% N. Lumber St., AHentown, fly box, for a fish 13 % inches °ng; girth 5% inches; weight 12 ounces; Caught April 28 in the Little Lehigh, on a Worm. Brown Trout First—E. R. Benninger, 18 East North **•> Bethlehem, a fly rod, for a fish 22 nches long; girth, 10% inches; weight, 3 Pounds, 2 ounces; caught April 15, in Lake Photo Courtesy Allentown Morning Call allenpaupack; lure, a spinner. "He was that big," says George Zimmerman, lire secretary for the Lehigh County Fish and Game Second—Howard Gangwer, 730 N. Foun- Protective Association, as he inspects the creel given him at the annual smoker by members. "Oh, m St., Allentown, reel, for a fish 19 inches yeah?" must have been the retort of the group surrounding him. Left to right—Sam Truscott, Fish ng, girth 10% inches; weight 2 pounds, Commission member; Seth Gordon, executive director, Game Commission; Bob Plarr, association oresi- • ounces; caught April 15, on a minnow. dent; F. A. Brown (kneeling), and Harvey Muth 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Question: While talking with some fisher­ and sounder conservation. We have also men friends the other day, I heard an inter­ noted that he has less trouble in getting esting theory advanced. One of the fellows fast on bottom rocks with the hook in this that ranks as a. mighty good fisherman position, and the wriggling action of the claimed you could tell a good bit about the helgramite certainly makes it enticing for feeding habits of a fish by the shape of its bass. mouth and head. How about it? A.D.L. Question: I often fish waters considerable Answer: Your friend certainly has some­ distance from home, and one of my chief We hed one o' the riliest rains here t' thing there. Next time you're fishing, ob­ troubles has been to keep live bait in good other day thet most enny o' us kin rekal- serve the heads of fish you may take or condition on a trip of, say SO miles. Hate to lect, an' our crick wuz shure a mudhole in see taken. They tell most interesting stories have minnows or stone catties die for me, about a shake o' a lamb's tail. Raised rite about the food habits of the fish in question. because I believe that what the Commission smart, so I gits me some gude red worms Take, for instance, the sucker. Note the is doing to save food in our bass streams is down back o' the barn, grabs the pole an' crescent shaped form of its mouth, located a mighty good thing. What is a good way to starts fer the hole whare the medder run on the under surface of the snout. Observe carry them? R.N. comes in. Figgered thet ef ever the catties how it can be extended or withdrawn at an' eels ud bite, they shure wude now, an' will. This suctionlike mouth aids the sucker Answer: An effective way to carry live bait on longer fishing trips is to place a the hunch wuz rite. in securing small organisms on the bed of When I furst throws in, the hook hedn't the stream, as it probes about the bottom good size lump of ice on the top of the minnow bucket. This ice in melting helps more'n hit bottom when I gits a bite. Thet rocks in its foraging. Then, take the long fish hed me stumped, fer the way it tuke somewhat duck-bill shaped jaws of the pick­ to keep the water temperature in the bait pail down and aids in providing a good sup­ aholt, I figgered shore I hed a nice cattie. erel, armed with sharp fangs curving back­ Sted o' thet, I hauls out a rock bass all o' ward. This graceful shaped head with the ply of oxygen. Incidentally, while on the subject, two dozen bait fish in good condi­ 8 inches long. Then the catties starts abitin' capacious mouth is ideally equipped for se­ fer fare, an' in erbout 20 minits I ketched curing other fishes upon which it lives tion should be all needed for a good day's sport. Overcrowding the bait bucket may 3, not one o' 'em under a foot long, an' chiefly. Next time a pickerel strikes for one 15 inches. Then along cums a whoppin' you in clear water, observe how these jaws not only serve to weaken the bait but may result in loss of the whole lot. big eel, an' I'm atellin' ye thet critter kept serve to hold the minnow crosswise for a me bizzy fer five minits. short time, the fangs cutting deeply into Hed all the fish I wanted by then, but I its prey, preparatory to turning and swal­ Question: In keeping minnows in a live box, may two fishermen have in the same jest sorter figgered thet mebbe thet oF snap- lowing the bait fish headfirst. The strong, pin' tortle thet hangs out under the mud fine toothed and heavy jaws of the bass box 100, the number to which the law en­ titles them? J.R.N. bank o' the hole mite be astartin' ter feed. are suggestive of its ability to crush one of So I ketches a fare size minnie an' puts it its favorite foods, the crayfish. Seemingly Answer: If two fishermen have a bait box on the hook. Thet tortle hez shure played poor eyesight on the part of the bullhead in partnership, it is necessary that it be ned with our fish, an' I reckined thet gittin' catfish is compensated for by a wide and partitioned off, and that not more than 50 him outer the crick ud be a gude thing. capacious mouth and sensitive very flexible fish bait or bait fish be retained at any one Well, sir, in erbout 10 minits, off starts antennae or feelers about the mouth and time in each compartment. Each compart­ the line slowlike an' when I pulled durned snout that assist it in locating its food. ment should carry the name of the respec­ ef I didn't figger I wuz fast ter the bottom. Studying the heads of fishes may be made tive owner, his address and the number of Thet tortle jest started down crick like a a fascinating part of the angler's day his fishing license. mule an' all I done wuz ter foller ez best astream. I cude. We must kept up the ruckus fer Question: Some time ago this question half a hour ennyways, an' ef I hedn't hed Question: In fishing helgramites for bass, was put up to me: If two fishermen are a hevy line, I figger he'd a busted off shure. trolling in a rowboat, but only one of them I have been hooking them back of the collar He wuz the ugliest lukin' critter a feller but find that after a few casts a blackish is doing any fishing, must the man rowing the boat Ivave a fishing license? R. McL. cude ketch, an' I reckin' he wayed 25 substance emerges about the liook. It has pounds. Tuk him home an' thrue him inter occurred to me that perhaps this would not Answer: While the man doing the rowing a pot o' boilin' water. We shure did like make the helgramite as effective as it might may not be engaged in fishing with rod and thet snapper supe he made. Shure am glad be otherwise. Do you know of any better line, he is nevertheless assisting, by rowing he's outer our crick fer a tortle thet size way of hooking? J.L. the boat, in the taking of fish, and therefore is jest the slickest fisher thare be. Lays on is required to have a fishing license. the bottom an' thet mossy lukin' shell o' Answer: One of the best helgramite fish­ his sorter makes him luke like a stone. It's ermen we know uses another system of jest tew bad when a fish swims over him, hooking them. About midway back from A Boston man was fishing in Northern fer thet ugly hed cums outer the shell like the shell, on the undersurface, he hooks the Maine recently. He caught a big lake trout, litenin'. He's got the watersnake bete en- helgramite lightly through about two folds the biggest he had ever landed in his long nytime when it cums ter killin' fish. of the skin. This method, he claims, usually and busy life. He was elated. He was so aids him in hooking a bass in its first short delighted that he telegraphed his wife, run with the helgramite, as the fish at "I've got one. Weighs eight pounds and it is Magician (sawing woman in half) : "Now times holds it momentarily sidewise between a beauty! after this lady is severed, her brain will go the jaws. Hooked this way, an undersize He received the following answer: "So to science and the rest thrown to the dogs." bass is usually caught on the tougher part have I. Weigljs nine pounds. Not a beauty, Voice (from the baldheaded circle): of the jaw, which makes for easy release looks like you. Come home." "Woof, woof." PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 13

1 to September 15. The members also fa­ LEHIGH SPORTSMEN vored 8 p. m. (E.S.T.) instead of the pres­ HONOR ZIMMERMAN ent 5 p. m. for the close of the groundhog hunting day.

THE BLACK BASS (Continued from Page 2) aging factors for future good bass fishing is the presence in our waters of a good carp population. The young of this species, in the opinion of the writer, furnishes much vital forage to not only our bass but other warm water game fishes. The carp also pro­ vide splendid sport for the average angler, especially the juvenile sportsman of the state. Then too, their food value is of the finest quality when they are properly pre­ pared. Children fishing in Panther Lake at Pittsburgh. Much credit for the popular children's fishing pool should go to Johnny Mock, jovial outdoors editor for the Pittsburgh Press HARRISBURG ANGLERS PLAN CASTING SALUTE TO DOLOMIEU, TOURNAMENT THE SMALLMOUTH The Harrisburg Hunters and Anglers As­ sociation, in co-operation with the Park De­ (Continued from Page 8) partment of the City of Harrisburg, will from the rich bronze-green that distin­ hold its Third Annual Bait and Fly Cast­ guished him in clear water, to a yellowish ing Tournament at Italian Lake, Third and hue in keeping with his suddenly altered Division Streets in the City of Harrisburg, environment. This chameleon-like quality on Saturday, August 6th, 1938. In case was just another way in which nature fa­ of rain the events will be held on Au­ gust 13. vored him and his kind. This year there will be two classes in It was in the month preceding annual each of the four events. Only persons who spawning of the smallmouths that Dolomieu Grand sportsman and a dean of fishermen is have never won a prize in a public casting gorged himself with food, much as he did George Zimmerman tournament will be permitted to enter Class in preparation for the hibernation period. A. This is to encourage the average fisher­ Then the great bass was a swift shadow After 17 years of service, City Controller man, without tournament experience, to get of terror for life in the flat, even pursuing George Zimmerman resigned as secretary of into the casting game. He will not have to fair sized suckers on occasion and devour­ the Lehigh County Fish and Game Protec­ compete with the so-called "professionals." ing them. Always his code called for the tive Association because of ill health. Class B is open to all others. Twenty-four killing of live, moving food. To the scaven­ prizes, having a value of $150.00, will be gers of the stream, the eels, were left dead Accepting the resignation with regret, fish for consumption. Upon striking another the 150 members of the association, meet­ awarded to the high scorers of both classes in each event. The events, as formerly, .in­ fish, he would hold it momentarily cross­ ing' at Castle Garden, Dorney Park, elected wise between his jaws, then turn and swal­ Zimmerman honorary secretary for life. clude accuracy and distance fly and bait casting. low it headfirst. In this way, fins and scales Charles H. Nehf, field sports columnist of his prey offered no obstacle to easy swal­ for the Morning Call, was elected to suc­ All Pennsylvania sportsmen are invited to participate. lowing. ceed Zimmerman. Nehf is the only new offi­ Fathering thousands of young during the cer for the coming year, all others on the years of his maturity, Dolomieu ranked as staff being reelected. one of the best brood bass ever developed The officers that retain their positions a in the stream. These offspring were des­ re: Robert L. Plarr, president; Harvey tined to have stellar roles in harassing the Muth, vice president; Milo M. Miller, treas­ minnow schools and providing outstanding urer. Nehf and Barton Snyder were elected sport for fishermen. delegates to the county federation for three Although the flat on which he was born years and F. A. Brown and George Welty was a favorite foraging ground for the ^ere named alternates.' big smallmouth, his range extended over Feeling that basic breeding stock needs perhaps a mile of the stream. Frequently, replenishing, the association recommended in another shallow, about half a mile up­ that the State Game Commission approve stream, Dolomieu ranged, finding there vast a three-year closed season for grouse and numbers of minnows. Again he was to be a five-year closed season for quail. observed in a deep ledge pool where the It was also decided to recommend an stream cut sharply into the ridge about a °Pen season on doe and antlerless deer for quarter of a mile downstream from the flat 1938. The arrangement of seasons, weight, in which he was taken. That section of the t'ftie and number of days were left to the stream he frequented, however, was teeming "'scretion of the commission. with live forage essential to the welfare The sum of $100 was contributed for the of the smallmouthed bass, a factor that had stream improvement work in the upper more than anything else to do with his ^ittle Lehigh River from Rathbun's bridge amazing growth. t° the Berks County line. It was also voted Perhaps more vividly than does any other 0 purchase a hundred 12-week-old male game fish, Dolomieu, the great bass, typified Pheasants for liberation in the county. the endless struggle for existence in the inland water. In describing him and his , The association also favored a recommen­ The Shenandoah Fish and Game Association wages dation for the curtailing of the groundhog relentless war on watersnakes. Here's Jack Jones, kind, we can find no more appropriate Se ason. The new dates approved were June a member, with two killed in Little Catawissa Creek wording than this: "To live is to destroy". 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

through the swamps on these little brooks. THE LITTLE BROOK Flowers that grow in no other places are to be found in the swamps. You can find By ROBERT J. WHEELER rare orchids, marvelously beautiful ferns, strange swamp grasses, wonderful lichens, grotesque fungi. More bird life can be NLY a few intrepid fishermen whip can reach an arm out from behind a tree seen along the swamps. Here and there the O the "Little Brook". It meanders along and drop a nice, fat, wriggly white worm pileated wood-pecker, with his bright red through cut over land, where berries grow into the den of Mr. Trout. Like a flash he head, hammers on a hard, dry maple, high plentifully and little animals live and rat­ charges out from under a log and disap­ overhead. Just before you came, a bear tlesnakes prey. Tumbling down from the pears again under his protection. You yank lumbered off from where he was digging in higher hills, over rocks, through wind falls him and of course, he jumps over a branch the muck for lily bulbs for breakfast. His and lumbering debris. Flowing through and hangs dangling before your bulging- big, flatfooted tracks, that measure at least swampy places, where the bears dig lily eyes until you can reach your net under a number ten, show you where he went roots and the water elders thickly enclose him and lift your prize safely to shore. ahead of you; or disturbed as he was fish­ it. Now and then it babbles over sand bars Again and again this feat can be duplicated ing in a deep pool, he plunges away through and gravel reaches, under fallen trees and until at last you have all you want and the laurel, leaving a muddy pool with, may­ beneath overhanging banks, fringed with like a good sport you take off your hook, be, a mud strangled trout floating on its long, trailing grasses. Sometimes it seems reel up and try to find your way out of back. not to move at all but just forms deep pools the swamp. amid the hummocks of swamp grass upon You get back to your car, after marching They are better fighters in the little a couple of miles along the ridges, tired which, now and then in the early morning, brooks. Perhaps it is because they are bet­ a big rattler may be found sleeping until out, all scratched up, almost if not quite ter defended; perhaps because they are sure that you will come back again soon and the sun dries the dew, looking for all the wilder; but they do fight you under logs, world like a piece of rich brown or black fish the remaining two or three miles of from beneath overhanging banks and from that little brook. velvet. under hidden branches that lie in the brook Rather forbidding, the country through bottom. Time and again you hook one, only And believe it or not, the writer, after catching nine and throwing three or four which the "Little Brook" flows. Few ven­ to lose him as he blythely leaps over a branch. Because you must work them out legal size trout back in order to be able ture to invade its dismal solitude. to fish a particularly fine pool, deep in the But nice, big trout live in the little brook. from under bushes after hooking them, you catch many small ones that have swallowed swamp, caught a nine inch rainbow as the The fisherman who fears neither bears nor tenth fish and the next time he fishes this snakes; who knows and understands the the hook. The only thing then to do is to take out your pliers and cut your hook off little brook, he intends to begin at the pool swamps, spends a day along the little brook where he caught the rainbow, hoping that and returns with his creel full, invariably. before letting them back into the stream. You lose many hooks, but save many fish this swamp hides a whole family of those Plenty of food for good fish in the little for next year. The good fisherman prides wonderfully beautiful fish that he would go brook. The very uninviting character of the himself that he does not kill an undersized miles to catch. country, the fear of city people of swamps fish. If one wets the hand and holds the One picture seen on this trip will remain and snakes and bears and other harmless fish carefully, while cutting off the hook, long in the writer's mind. Coming around a things, protects the fish in the little brooks. it is possible to return all small fish to the bend in the stream, where the little brook Under no other circumstances can the water with but a small percentage of dan­ tumbled over some rocks and then spread skill and patience of the fisherman be tested ger that they will not live. out in a long, quiet pool, hedged by green to the extreme as in fishing the little brook. Recently, fishing one of these terrible little banks and framed in overhanging branches of bright green trees, the writer stood, spell­ No fancy equipment is required; just an brooks, I caught eleven undersized trout bound by the beauty of the scene. And far old collapsible rod that can be shortened to before I finally hooked my catch of legal suit any situation, enabling one to thrust down the pool, at the water's edge, stood it through a hole in the brush and drop a size. Out of the eleven undersized, six were a single stem of the Cardinal flower, sen­ line into a promising hole behind a tree or hooked in the upper jaw and were easily tinel like, adorning the quiet pool with its a bunch of grass. A fine pole and a fancy released; five were too badly hooked to be brilliant, scarlet beauty. line may be ruined in a day's fishing in the safely taken off. I lost five hooks at a cost From scenes like this, Bryant must have deep swamps. of a few cents. I hope to catch some of those received his inspiration when he wrote: "0 One of these little brooks flows down into little fellows next year. I wish that fate had left me free to wan­ the Lackawaxen River below Hawley. At There are other compensations in fishing der these quiet haunts with thee." first it threads its way quietly through a swampy level, hedged with alder; then, it debouches into an old mill-pond. Leaving the stump and log covered pond, it flows swiftly down a steep hillside and plunges into one of the worst swamps in Pike county. Spruce trees, with their fine, almost in­ visible branch tips stand closely along the brook. Hedges of tall shrubs hide the brook in the open places. Patches of swamp laurel, the most plaguing of all shrubs to a fisher­ man, defend against the entry of all but a bear or an experienced woodsman. Overhanging trees at all times make cast­ ing impossible. In the interior of the swamp, the pools of deep mud and quicksand make fishing precaripus to all but the most ex­ perienced. But when these difficulties are discounted, the fine trout that live in this brook repay all efforts. There is a rare thrill in taking a trout from a hidden pool when you have spent a half hour making your way through a tangled laurel patch to a spot where you PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 16

those covering the Spring Creek project, ANNUAL BANQUET "KIDDIES* FISHING POOL" were drawn up: FOR NORTH BUTLER OPENING BIG SUCCESS 1. Open season from May 30 to Septem­ ber 5, both days inclusive. North Butler County Hunting and Fish­ The children's fishing pool at New Ken­ 2. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays ing Club members enjoyed their annual sington was opened on Memorial Day and from 2 until 5 p. m. D.S.T., or until siren banquet, held at the Epworth Methodist proclaimed as an outstanding success. By is sounded. Committee reserves right to Episcopal Church in Petrolia with a capac­ 2 p. m. 875 permits to fish had been issued cancel fishing on rainy days. Open on holi­ ity crowd in attendance. Frank G. Norris and a minute later, it is believed at least days but not on next regular day. of Butler was toastmaster. 800 enthusiastic juvenile anglers were en­ 3. Only barbless hooks may be used. Following the ham dinner which was joying the sport in the lagoon at Memorial 4. Daily limit. Six fish may be caught Park. served the sportsmen, George Hobaugh, but only two may be killed by any individ­ president of the North Butler County Hunt­ It was a merry day for all concerned— ual. Those not killed must be returned to ing and Fishing Club, told of the work parents as well as youngsters. Of the 2,400 water immediately. All anglers must stop which had been started a year ago and of fish known to have been placed in the pool fishing when two have been killed. the steady increase which had been shown during the week preceding, about 400 met 5. Open to all boys and girls of this dis­ in the membership. He urged a continuance their doom on opening day. The lagoon will trict. of this support of the sports groups and be open for fishing on Wednesdays, Satur­ G. License fee five cents, for which re­ climaxed his address with a drive for mem­ days and holidays until Labor Day for three ceipt and button bearing insignia "New bers for the coming year. hours during the afternoon. The project, Kensington Junior Sportsman—1938" will Introduced as the toastmaster, Frank be provided. Norris spoke on the work being done by the 7. No fish may be cleaned on premises. sportsmen's clubs in the county and urged 8. No wading in lagoon permitted for closer cooperation between the clubs. any purpose. Introduced as the first speaker of the 9. Violation of any rule will result in evening was Homer Patten, secretary of withdrawal of privileges during remainder the Butler Hunting and Fishing Club, who of year. spoke of the work that was being done Ten local sportsmen were on hand to throughout the district. register and otherwise aid and supervise the youngsters during the opening day. Clifford Iman, county fish warden, told The five - cent license fee was adopted sportsmen of the work which was being done after some discussion upon the suggestion for the county anglers and of the stocking of Commissioner McKean and Councilman program which had been carried on this Hartman. year. "Experience in these projects down east Stressing true sportsmanship, Dr. W. D. and in Pittsburgh have proven that the Imbrie of Harrisville, state representative youngsters appreciate the project more if from this district, told of how laws were the nominal fee is charged," Mr. McKean made in Harrisburg and of the procedure declared. "It really duplicates the standards which was followed in the study of fish­ set up for adult fishermen and gives the ing and hunting bills. youngster a greater sense of responsibil­ Sunday fishing was also discussed by Dr. ity." Imbrie, who pointed out that farmers in Mr. Hartman agreed, saying: many sections were closing their streams on "After all, we want more than the catch­ Sunday to fishermen and pointed out that ing of a few fish. We want to inculcate that in the Petrolia and Bruin districts this sense of responsibility and we want to teach would be the rule this season. real sportsmanship." Troy C. Burns, game protector of But­ ter County, spoke of deer and small game hunting in this district, pointing out what was being done to further the interests of FINED FOR TAKING the sportsmen. UNDERSIZE TROUT Following Burns' address, the meeting was turned back to President Hobaugh, who Lewis Auer of Mt. Pleasant, Frank Ko- in turn introduced the master of ceremo­ sack, also of Mt. Pleasant, and Joseph Haas of Connellsville were arrested on the Cou- nies for the hour-long entertainment. dersport Pike in Lycoming County by State Included in the entertainment were Mrs. Fish Warden George Cross, assisted by Lanchester and her daughter playing the Special Wardens Brooks and Smith, for e 'ectric guitars; Bud Hoover, saxophone An ardent anglerette is Eisie Ramsey of Harris­ fishing law violations. At hearings before solo; Red McCloskey, vocal solo, accompa­ burg, shown here with a nice trout taken on the Justice of the Peace Kurt Cloud at Jersey Shore Auer was fined $30 and costs for nied by Mrs. Reep; Vera and Allen Reep in Yellow Breeches novelty numbers; tenor solo by Joe Evans, short trout. Kosack was fined $80 and costs accompanied by Dorothy Kradel; and a fea­ for short trout and Haas $90 and costs for the same offense. ture number, "Two Six Shooters," by acclaimed as one of the outstanding things of its kind in recent years, is sponsored by Warden George Cross of Hammersley *Ioyer and McGinnis of Harrisville. Forks also made the following arrests: Following the entertainment, pictures of Fred McKean, fish commission member; w; Mayor Dick Reeser, and Councilman R. V. George O. Pfaff, St. Marys, was arrested ld life were shown by Troy C. Burns, and fined $60 and costs for six short trout c Hartman, representing the city, and by °Unty game protector. at a hearing before Justice of the Peace the New Kensington Chapter, Izaak Wal­ Invocation was pronounced by Rev. C. W. B. Nunemacher. F ton League, with Bill Spisak and Russ Edward Nelson, Renova, was arrested - W. Brecht of Chicora. Grove, Co-chairmen. Police and Junior Pa­ Decorations for the event were furnished April 30 in the headwaters of Big Run and trol leaders gave invaluable aid in super­ at a hearing before Justice of the Peace ~y C. O. Emery and Norman Miller of vising the project. J. A. Clonan was fined $50 and costs for "Utler, R. D. Foss and Frank Fuhrer of Pe- five short trout. trolia. Officer Bill Fowler was in charge of the public address system loaned by the Stand­ L. D. Kime, Renova, was arrested the The banquet, one of the most successful same day and at a hearing before Justice °£ the season in the county, will be held ard Radio Shop of Arnold. of the Peace Clonan was also fined $50 for Annually. The following set of rules, similar to five short trout. 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

grabbed it. He could see that it was grip­ URGES SNAKE CONTROL LYCOMING ANGLER ping the smaller trout by the tail and was The interest which boys are taking in TAKES "TWO ON ONE" not hooked. It released its hold, then again control of the watersnake and matters con­ attacked the smaller trout and started shak­ cerning conservation is well set forth in The average angler thinks that a trout ing it "like a bulldog shakes a rat." Riley the following letter from Special Warden which measures close to 10 inches is a at first thought it futile to attempt to net William Everman of Norwood. rather nice fish—although those who have the double catch, but when the big trout the skill or the luck to catch the "big ones" persisted in its hold he succeeded in getting The idea of wholesale elimination of our may say of such fish that "we use that size it in position to use his net. The larger trout fish predator, the snake, has often entered for bait." measured 14 inches.—Williamsport Sun. my mind. Having been reappointed Special Fish Warden for the third consecutive year, Dan Knerr, of near Cogan Station, can I devote a portion of my duties to address­ say just that and mean it—for he ha~ had ing Boy Scout troops and Boys' Clubs. At an experience to prove it. one meeting of the Scouts in Norwood last Fishing with a dry fly, Knerr was whip­ FINED FOR TAKING month, the boys had invited two neighbor­ ping the waters of Lycoming Creek, near TROUT WITH LIME ing troops to visit them. At this meeting I Bodines, when he hooked a brown trout spoke to the boys about the various laws, just under 10 inches in lsngth. Charged with placing lime in Wills Creek, creel limits, seasons, removal of hooks, etc. While he was playing it, something dark near Fairhope, for the purpose of killing- Also the need for planting willow trees darted out from deeper water and struck fish, Ralph Shaffer, 50, and Leo Emerick, along the meadow streams, with the permis­ it. Knerr thought it was a water dog, or 24, both of Fairhope, were sentenced to sion of the owner, of course. Then the boys hellbender—one of those giant salamanders pay fines of $100 and costs each. were told of the damage done to our fish which river fishermen used to call alligators In default of the fines and costs, amount­ by water snakes, and were also told of the •—but when he got a better view of it he ing to $105 each, the two defendants were State medal, awarded boys under 16 years recognized it as a large brown trout. committed to the Somerset County jail for of age, for the killing of 10 or more water Calling his brother, Elwood, who was 105 days by Justice of the Peace Charles snakes. The boys were informed necessary J. Harrison. proof would be required in applying for fishing nearby, Knerr decided to see if he these medals. At this meeting Blair Davis, could succeed in landing the big trout. He Shaffer and Emerick, however, appealed Delaware County Game Protector, accom­ was able to maneuver it into such a position their commitment and were released from panied me, and gave the boys a very inter­ that his brother netted it—catching two jail after posting $250 bail each. Their ap­ esting lecture on fire prevention. He then trout at one time. peals will be heard later by the Somerset spoke about Pennsylvania and its deer herd, The smaller trout had been grabbed court. and the story of the antlers. He brought headfirst and was lodged in the big trout's Arrest of the two defendants was made many fine specimens of antlers with him, mouth in such manner that the strain of by Fish Warden Harry Moore of Bedford which aroused much interest with the boys. the leader "locked" it so securely that it County, following a complaint lodged could not be disgorged. Examination dis­ against four persons by Junior Baker, a What I am trying to put over is this: closed that the small hook on the fly had youth who had been fishing in Wills Creek. My warden number is 245. Assuming we not penetrated the big trout's throat. have only 250 special wardens in the state, Baker said he noticed the two men place if each one spoke to at least five different Knerr's prize measured just under 20 something in the stream and that he went scout troops and boys' clubs they would inches. to a nearby hill and went into hiding. About address approximately some 25,000 boys. Early in the trout season, Ray Riley of an hour later, he said, the same men re­ Now, let's assume only 10 per cent of these Williamsport, fishing on the Larry's Creek turned and several fish were floating on boys took the idea seriously enough to kill Fish and Game Club property, had a similar top of the water. Young Baker obtained his quota of 10 snakes. That would be 25,- experience. He had hooked an 8-inch trout two of the dead trout after the men had 000 snakes removed from our streams in on a fly and was "fooling" with it, not left and reported the matter to Warden a very short period of time. If we removed caring if it got away, when a larger trout Moore, who started an investigation. 25,000 snakes from our streams in this manner in one season, I wonder how many fish would be saved for the sportsmen. It's worth some consideration. The Norwood troop is out to make a name for themselves, and if they can boast of every member of their troop earning a medal, what an en­ viable record for other troops throughout the state to shoot at. Come on, fellows, talk it up, and maybe some sort of a record can be compiled and shown monthly in the ANGLER for the benefit of our fishermen, showing the prog­ ress being made.

REVOKE LICENSES In accordance with the Act of May 2, 1925, P. L. 448, and amendments thereto, the licenses of the following persons were revoked for one year by action of the board at a meeting held May 10, 1938, at Spring Creek: -V Milton Sweigart, Stevens, Pa. (Trout in closed season). Thos. E. Letts, Danville, Pa. (Fishing in nursery waters and short trout). Merrel Phillips, Wellsboro, Pa. (Trout in closed season). Photo by La Mar Mumbar Adolph Pietsch, Millvale, Pa. (Trout and Picturesque water, this section of Perkiomen Creek, near Pennsburg, Montgomery County. It is owned bass in closed season). by Judge Harold Knight, prominent sportsman, and is a pet haven for fishermen PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 17

BIG FISHING CONTEST The Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen's Asso­ ciation of Schwenksville will again sponsor a big fishing contest. The purpose being to have members become acquainted with methods and ways of catching fish for sport and pleasure, and to encourage sportsman­ ship in fishing. Rules 1. The contest is open to all Junior and Senior members in good standing at the time of the catch. 2. The contest will open April 14th and close November 30th. 3. All fish entered must be taken with rod, reel and line in waters of Pennsylvania. 4. Prizes will be awarded in each of the following species: Large mouth bass, Small mouth bass, Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Pickerel, Carp, Catfish, Wall­ eye Pike. 5. The number and size of entries will be the determining factor in awarding the number and quality of prizes. 6. Contest to be run on point basis. The reason being to create more interest in having more fish entered, and building up of more points. Total number of points will be the determining factor in awarding prizes in each species. Every fish entered above the following minimum listing will receive the number of points opposite the Sportsmen respect this sign on the lake owned by Dr. Perkins of Coatesville, who enjoys seeing others length in each species. take fish

Contest for Junior Members Only Form for Reporting "Big Fish" up little space and be of no great incon­ There will be a suitable prize given to the Fish Committee venience. Contents: razor blade, needle, Junior members catching the largest Sun- Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen's tooth picks, matches, handkerchief, roller fish. The report must be made on the same Association bandage, adhesive tape, aromatic spirits of basis as for the adult members. Schwenksville, Pennsylvania ammonia ampules, iodine, castor oil, cotton, I hereby swear that the following state­ sterile pads and flat paper cups. Often one Point Basis for Big Fish Contest ments are the truth:— can purchase a pocket-size first-aid kit which will answer the purpose of a home­ Large and Small Mouth Bass Kind of Fish:— Weight:— made one. Length:— Girth:— 14 ins 1 point 20 ins 18 points When Caught:— Where caught:— A hot water bottle or chemical pads, 15 ins 2 points 21 ins 24 points Rod Used:— Reel:— Line:— splints, blankets, flash light, etc., together 16 ins 3 points 22 ins 32 points Lure or bait:— Caught by:—(Signed) with a complete first-aid kit should be in your automobile and camping quarters. Hot 17 ins 5 points 23 ins 44 points Address:— (Seal) water can be secured from the radiator 18 ins 8 points 24 ins 60 points Sworn to before me this, .day of of any automobile which has been recently 19 ins 12 points Notary's Signature Carp, Rainbow and Brown Trout Fish witnessed and weight and measure­ ments verified by:—(Signatures and ad­ Let's enjoy our journeys afield and afloat. 12 ins 1 point 21 ins.. , 44 points dresses. )- Let's enter into the game with the spirit 13 ins.... 2 points 22 ins.. , 60 points of sport remembering that any accident hap­ 14 ins.... 3 points 23 ins.. , 80 points 1. 2. pening to us will dampen the ardor or 15 ins.... 5 points 24 ins.. 100 points probably ruin the enjoyment of ourselves 16 ns.... 8 points 25 ins.. ,120 points. as well as our comrades. 17 ins. ... 12 points 26 ins.. ,140 points ADD GUSTO TO YOUR SPORT- We will play the sport, always doing, al­ 18 ins.... 18 points '27 ins.. .160 points ways daring, but never exposing ourselves 19 ins.... 24 points 28 ins.. ,180 points BUT HOW? to unnecessary hazards that will mark our 20 ins.... 32 points 29 ins.. .200 points (Continued from Page 6) sport as a dangerous pursuit and black­ ball it as a perilous pleasure. Pickerel and Walleye Pike is the only type wound that is washed in water). Luckily the germ takes many •Advanced by: Dr. L. M. Thompson. Start 18 ins..., 1 point 25 ins.. . 24 points days to incubate in the victim's body, giv­ Instructor of the American Red Cross. ••Advanced by: The Mayo Clinic. 19 ins..., 2 points 26 ins.. . 32 points ing the doctor sufficient time to commence Note—All other methods, treatments and 20 ins... 3 points 27 ins.. . 44 points Pasteur treatment, a 100 percent sure cure. processes recommended herein are authorized and recommended as safe applications by the 21 ins... 5 points 28 ins.. . 60 points Treatment: Of the dog: PEN HIM UP. American Red Cross, the recognized author­ 22 ins... 8 points 29 ins.. . 80 points This is important as to insure his security. ity on first aid in this country. 23 ins..., 12 points 30 ins.. ,100 points The doctor will probably want to observe 24 ins..., 18 points him for several days so as to be certain of his having or not having the dread HOW TRUE! Brook Trout and Catfish Commented the Philadelphia Evening 8 ins 1 point 14 ins 18 points Remember: CONSULT THE DOCTOR Bulletin just prior to the opening of the 9 ins 2 points 15 ins 24 points IN ALL CASES OF DOG BITES. 1938 trout season: 10 ins 3 points 16 ins 32 points FIRST-AID TOOLS: A very convenient The trout season opens Friday and 11 ins 5 points 17 ins 44 points and compact first aid kit can be assembled there's every reason to believe it will be a 12 ins 8 points 18 ins.. ...60 points in a small tobacco can. The tobacco can, streamlined affair. 13 ins 12 points being tucked away in your pocket, will take Extremely well put, we'd say. 18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

McKean—Fly Brook, trib. Willow Creek Tioga—All of Blue Run 1937 NURSERY WATERS —2% miles 1936 Jameson Creek down as far as the The following streams or sections of Wintergreen Run, trib. Kinzua Creek State owns —2 miles streams have been set aside as nursery Tioga—All tributaries to Pine Creek, Brown Valley, trib. N. Fork Sugar waters by the Board of Fish Commissioners. as follows: 1938 Run—1% miles Date Little Slate Run—1% miles Right Hand Branch of W. Br. Tuna County Name of Stream or Water Closed Little Four Mile Run—1% miles Creek—1 mile Berks—Tributary to Furnace Creek, Colton Branch of Four Mile Run— Blind Robin, trib. Main Sugar Run— % mile Heidelberg Township, Berks County, 2 miles for a distance of one mile, starting Four Mile Run, above highway bridge at headwaters of dam located on trib­ Game Refuge No. 61 2% miles utary. Request of Robesonia Fish and Montgomery—2 ponds on Howard Beid- Painter Run, above highway bridge— Game Association, Robesonia 1938 ler Property at Abrams 1937 1 mile Bucks-—Warren Lake, to be closed 3 1 pond on Frank Henkins Property at Mill Run above forks—3 miles years, or until opening of warm water Collegeville Lick Run, above Deerlick Hollow— season, July 1, 1940, New Lake, WPA 1 pond on G. B. French Property at 2 miles Project 1937 Graterford Steele Run—1 mile 2 ponds on Joseph Hippel Property Little Asaph or Right Branch—1% Butler—Municipal Reservoirs of Boro at Norwood miles of Zelienople 1936 Pike—Portion of Pecks Lake—above Schambacher Hollow Run—1 mile Cameron—Craoked Run-—Entire length. 1936 wire on E. Br. inlet 1936 Right Branch of Straight Run — 1% Finley Run—2 miles Egypt Mill Dam miles Cameron—Fishing Creek, trib. to Drift­ Portion of Promised Land Pond Elk Run, above CCC Camp—1 mile wood Branch 1937 Potter—Game Refuge No. 59 1936 Warren—Fourmile Run, trib. Tionesta Big Spring Draft, trib. to Wykoff Schuylkill—Nursery Pools on the old Creek, all tributaries and Long Run, Run Schimer Farm, Schuylkill County— also Ludlow Br. of same Stream. Centre—Game Refuge No. 33 1936 Request of Tamaqua Rod & Gun Club, Farnsworth Run, trib. Tionesta Clearfield—Game Refuge No. 93 1936 Tamaqua 1938 Creek, from source to point 1 mile Clearfield—All Tributaries of Hazlett Somerset—Blue Hole Run, trib. Laurel below Hermit Spring, also Crisswell Run 1937 Hill Creek 1936 Branch 1936 All Tributaries of Curry Run Three Miles of Brush Creek, trib. Warren—Headwaters of Brown Run, Clinton & Centre—Beach Creek from Wills Creek including all of Hook Run, Fluent Dam at Beech Cr. to Orviston 1936 Tioga—Hills Creek—1V2 miles 1936 Branch and upper W2 miles of Brown Clinton—Following tributaries of Ket­ Norris Brook—1% miles Run 1937 tle Creek: 1937 Trout Run—from the Fork up stream Walthers Run—entire length Bearfield Run—entire length Hevner or Hebner Run—entire length Spicewood Run—entire length Crawford—Pymatuning Sanctuary . . . 1936 Game Refuge No. 10 Crawford—Northern end Shenango River below Dam at Pymatuning Lake 1937 Elk—Rochy Run—from source 2 miles. 1936 Windfall or Cherry Run 2% miles from mouth to source Clear Creek—from source 3% miles Smith Run or Rocky Run—entire length Hyvic Run or Spring Run—entire length Falls Shanty or Auman Hollow—en­ tire length Elk & Forest—Maple Run, trib. Bear Creek—3 miles Cherry Mill Run, trib. Big Mill Creek —2% miles Elk—Fallshanty —• three miles flowing into the E. Branch of Kersey Run.. 1937 Spring Run, from what is known as "Bony Gerg's Bridge" to source This is head waters of Spring Run and about 5 miles in length All tributaries of Mill Creek All tributaries of Bear Creek Lancaster — Stream running through Public Park at Lititz (Exhib.) 1936 Lebanon—Game Refuge No. 80 1936 Luzerne—Suga* Notch Dam—about one third 1936 Luzerne—Approximately 4 acres of Harveys Lake 1937 Lycoming—Pleasant Stream & all trib­ utaries 1936 Lycoming — All tributaries of Pine Creek 1937 Photo Courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures All tributaries of Lycoming Creek An ardent disciple oi Izaak Walton is Miss Myrna Loy, screen star, as attested by this picture PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 19

PICKING YOUR FLYROD LURES in those theories but it has been my experi­ ence that the best time to go fishing is when PLAN SNAKE HUNT FOR BASS you feel like it. You are bound to hit the The Mount Joy Sportsmen's Association (Contined from Page 4) bass at some time or other on some of your met in the Mount Joy Council Chamber for their monthly meeting. AH officers were In water that is not too swift or alto­ trips regardless of the theories which I have seen fail so many times. present. gether dead, the fly and spinner combina­ The fish committee reported receiving a tion must be retrieved to insure the action I would suggest using plenty of fishing sense in locating likely places where bass stocking of yellow perch on May 4, which of the spinner. It may be started to be re­ was placed in both "Big" and "Little Chick- trieved the instant it strikes the water or will be during different seasons of the year. Observe their feeding habits. This has ies Creeks." may be allowed to sink to the desired depth A motion vas made that the secretary before retrieving. This is likewise true of proved very successful, and I have been able to take bass on practically every attempt, write to the Fish Commissioners requesting the wet fly or the streamer fly. When the catfish and bass to be stocked in the "Lit­ lure is being retrieved, it should be done although there have been times when hardly a rise could be secured. The fisherman who tle Chickies Creek." with the assistance of the left hand, gath­ Charles Vogle reported he had received ering the line in a coil bit by bit, and when passes up the shallow water, whether swift or slower, in the early season, is missing word from the state saying they had ap­ the forward cast is made the coil of line is proved the association's application for day- released to shoot through the guides. some good chances to take a few bass. The swiftest water will sometimes produce the old chicks and, barring all accidents, the Surface lures for bass fishing are becom­ most bass and again the slow water may association will receive 500, which is the ing more popular every year and should prove the best. Watch for the bass chasing number they desire. soon take their place along with the dry fly minnows to shore and when they are doing Two applications for membership were for trout in popularity although there are this, discard the surface lure and use the received and accepted. not so many different patterns. Some of the fly and spinner combination or the wet fly A motion was made and passed for a vol­ best surface lures I have ever used are pic­ or streamer fly. This usually happens in unteer committee to hold a Snake Hunt in tured herein. The bass buger which is tied swift water and may happen at any time the Donegal and Charles Run, which was on number 1 and 4 hooks in its various of the day. held Saturday, May 14. color combinations is exceptionally good. The smaller lure is much better than the It is not uncommon to see bass rising in larger ones at times and again just the re­ the middle of the day to the surface. In UNUSUAL EXHIBIT verse situation prevails. This lure is always such a case use the surface lure and the fished on the surface of the water and the chances are that some success will follow. An exhibit that was of interest to sports­ line and leader should be greased to insure It is not always necessary to wait for eve­ men was put on display by Rev. L. Zak- floating as it is very difficult to hook a ris­ ning to bring bass to the top for food. They revsky at his home in Mt. Carmel, for eight ing fish when the line is submerged. It also rise when the food is there regardless of days beginning June 20. is very difficult to pick the line from the the time of day or night. There may be The exhibit included 5,000 various types *ater unless the line is greased. A line that times when bass are rising to the surface and makes of fish hooks, flies, spinners, floats will help a lot to simplify your cast­ and you will exhaust every surface lure and bucktails, tackle and rods made by practi­ ing for bass with any other surface lure. attempt to catch them with wet flies and cally every manufacturer. Also included in have both fail. If this happens just try a the exhibit were 200 clocks of unique de­ The surface lure should be fished across nymph ordinarily used for trout fishing and sign, a number of expensive and beautiful­ the current or directly up stream and al­ grease all of the leader except two or three ly made rifles and several types of shot­ lowed to float perfectly naturally with the inches next to the fly. This will allow the guns. One of the hooks which Rev. Zak- current until it reaches its limit according nymph to go just under the water's surface revsky has—a size 22—is the smallest hook to the amount of line being used. It also and may be the answer to successful fishing made. ttiay be cast directly downstream although at that time. One bass taken on a trout fly Collecting fishing gear and guns is a hob­ there will be but very little time for it to is something to write home about and you by with Rev. Zakrevsky and the poosses- float before there will be a decided drag and will be in for plenty of fun on many fishing v trips. f sions which he exhibited rank only with ery few bass will hit a lure under such his stamp collection. conditions although I have seen it happen The priest, an ardent sportsman, has been on rare occasions. fishing for over 30 years, having enjoyed A surface lure that does create some ac­ What is the difference between a gardener the sport at the lakes of Wisconsin and tion on the water and will raise bass is the and a Chinaman? The gardener keeps the Minnesota before being transferred to Car- hair frog, and this lure calls for action lawn wet and the Chinaman keeps the bondale where he made his first acquaint­ which will give it a life-like appearance. laundry. ance with Pennsylvania trout. This can be accomplished by a slight flick °f the rod and by continuous flicks of the rod tip. Another lure that will cause plenty of disturbance on the water is the one that Will throw up a spray of water. This type of lure seems to arouse the curiosity of the °ass and in their vicious desire to kill, they strike with a vengeance which is the thrill °f a lifetime. No fisherman can tell just ^hen this kind of lure will be successful out when it is some big bass may be taken. *he float-a-bug is numbered with this type ?t lure and will work very successfully dur- Ing the day as well as at night. . No fisherman can tell when a bass is go- lng to strike or when it is in a feeding ^°od. I have fished when they would hit any kind of lure offered but when they quit 'sing no kind of lure would tempt them, "lany different theories are offered by fish- rttien who claim that fish have certain Wiles that they will be sure to feed. Among /tese theories are the tide conditions, the f?°on conditions, wind direction, signs in ,.e almanacs and many others. I do not 'Scredit any of the fishermen who believe "Dare you to bite," suggests this expression on the face of Billy Noerr, 10, of Lewistown. He's fishing in Jacks Creek, a popular stream with the children of the community 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER CARBON SPORTSMEN The young lady walked boldly up to a His car had taken fire, and was destroy­ woman whom she took to be the matron of ed. It being insured, he went at once to DISCUSS VITAL PROBLEMS the hospital. the insurance office and demanded his The executive committee of the Carbon "May I see Lt. Barker, please?" she money. County Sportsmen's Association held an im­ asked. He was given a form to fill out, and was portant meeting at Mauch Chunk. "May I ask who you are?" told he could not get the money, but the car would be replaced. Stocking trout streams, deer season and "Certainly, I am his sister." unlicensed dogs were the major items dis­ "Oh", said he, "if that's the way you do cussed. "Well, well. I'm glad to meet you. I'm business, give me back the premium I paid J. Macintosh of Easton, dog law enforce­ his mother." the other day on my wife's policy." ment officer, was present and agreed to visit each township and borough in his district and discuss with the authorities the matter of unlicensed dogs. It is the duty of these officials to enforce the law, which compels every dog owner to procure a license for his dog. In many sections these dogs have been reported as chasing game and when captured or shot it is difficult to establish ownership of the dog. The dates for opening and closing of the deer hunting season were recommended to be left in the hands of the State Game Com­ mission with the Sportsmen's Association cooperating to the fullest extent. W. Custard, Stroudsburg, fish warden of the district, was in attendance and advised that Mud Run would be stocked with fish this fall from a point near the Swamp Creek to the Federal Park. Brown trout and rainbow trout were to be put in this stream. To take care of food for these fish several truckloads of minnows would be placed in these waters this fall. The meeting was advised by Mr. Macin­ tosh that the counties of Lehigh and North­ ampton would be quarantined for 90 days due to 70 people having been bitten with dogs supposed to have rabies.

SPECIAL WARDENS MEET IN CARBON A meeting of the Special Fish Wardens of Carbon County was held May 15th at the Lehighton Sportsmen's Club grounds as an aid to settling any questions of doubt concerning some of the new law changes. The meeting was in charge of Harry P. Custard, Warden for Monroe and Carbon Counties. Following a luncheon served by an en­ tertainment committee composed of George Rehrig and Howard Flick, a general forum discussion of the New Fish Laws—Rules —and Regulations ensued. Joel Young, Lehigh County Warden, spoke on law enforcement, courtesy to the fishermen and creel limit changes. He urged a "friendly spirit" between the warden and the fishermen. Mr. Custard urged that a "rather close cooperative spirit" be existent between reg­ ular and special wardens—further stress­ ing the points in which they can be of most value to the commission. Several others, including County Game Warden William Ackey and Special Warden Robert Stevenson also responded. There were 14 present, the special wardens in attendance being Gerald Ed­ munds, Palmerton; George Rehrig, Harold Koch, George Hager and Howard Flick, Lehighton; Thomas Gallon and Robert Stevenson, Nesquehoning; Robert Lennon and Donald Lennon, Mauch Chunk; and Kenneth Walck, Weissport. Others present included Joel Young, Le­ high County warden; and William Ackey, game protector of Carbon County. View of Penn's Creek near Weikert, Union County, a fine stream for smallmouth bass PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 21

leaping into the water at all hours of the STOCKED TROUT DUMB? day. As soon as a fly is cast in their di­ MONTGOMERY WILLOW CERTAINLY NOT BROWNIES rection, however, they go to the bottom PLANTING UNDER WAY and stay there. Occasionally one mouths the Some of Schuylkill County's best fly fish­ fly but only rarely does the angler hook one. Sucker fishing in my district was quite varying this season. Quite early in the sea­ ermen are tearing out their hair these days One of the things that drives an angler trying to catch brown trout that have been son some splendid catches were made in to desperation is the fact that he may match the Delaware River and in the Perkiomen stocked in nearby streams, comments Jack perfectly the fly that is on the creek at the Richards of Pottsville. Creek, reports Warden Harry Cole of Nor- time, watch these trout feeding on that very ristown. But since then the suckers were They are sorry they ever made the state­ insect as it comes out of the water, and running very irregularly. They do not seem ment that stocked trout are dumb and can then have the trout absolutely refuse to to run in schools in the manner that they be taken on almost any kind of fly. touch the artificial imitation he casts to usually do. There have been many suckers The trout, some of them a foot and more them. taken but most of them were taken only a in length, have pools literally boiling as Some anglers have resorted to worms, few at a time. I attribute this condition to they leap into the air in pursuit of some others have used grasshoppers, crickets, one or two reasons, either the sucker is insect, but try as anglers will, and change helgramites and every known bait under becoming conservation minded or it is due flies until they use up every pattern in the the sun, but the trout are still in the pools, to the fact that there were practically no box, the trout cannot be taken. leaping wildly with glee, while chagrined rains sufficient to raise the streams which Occasionally an angler gets one or two, anglers bite their fingernails in desperation. is the time when they run best. But there'll come a day . . . but if he struck the fly or nymph upon The streams were in such splendid con­ which the trout are feeding he could fill dition on the opening of the trout season his basket without stirring from the spot. in my district that the catches were very In Clark's Creek, near Tower City, there He: "What part of the car causes the light. This was due to the fact that the are a number of pools which contain up most accidents?" average fisherman failed to remember some to a half-hundred trout which may be seen She: "The nut that holds the wheel." of the precautions necessary to observe when fishing for trout in a stream that has a normal flow and in which the water is very clear. There will be trout in the streams during the entire season for those who were not in a position to be on the streams during the opening of the season. I have just finished distributing thirteen thousand willow cuttings among the various sportsmen's clubs in my district who in turn will plant these cuttings along the streams in their section. This is the third year we have been carrying on this program. Last year I distributed fifteen thousand and the year before twelve thousand. These cuttings are secured from the nursery of Mr. Adolf Muller, Norristown. There is one specimen over seven feet tall that grew from a cutting set out last year.

TROUT "MEASLES" One of the best fish stories to be received during the present trout sea­ son is that submitted by Dr. Alvie R. Livermore of Smethport. He writes: "I feel that I must send the follow­ ing 'true story' concerning fish and fishing. This really took place here one day last week. One of our local barbers, Paul Denning, by name, has a fifteen year old son, Glenn, who caught a fourteen inch brown trout out of Marvin Creek. Of course, the lad was very proud of his catch and hurried right home to show saime to the family. We have had an epidemic of measles here and one of the vic­ tims was Glenn's five year old brother Larry. In fact the quarantine had just been taken down the day big brother caught the trout. Little brother Larry looked at the big brown trout with all its spots and in all seriousness said, 'I wouldn't eat that fish, Glenn. ••«:*•' It has the measles'." Photo by La Mar Mumbar A typical fishing scene on the Little Lehigh, popular Lehigh County trout water 22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER WOULD INCREASE TROUT SIZE LIMIT, REDUCE CREEL LIMIT Members of the Crawford County Branch, Pennsylvania Sportsman's Council, favor increasing the size of legal trout from six to eight inches and a five-a-day creel. Action to that effect was taken at a monthly meeting at Cambridge Springs. About 250 members from every section of the county attended the session, held at the Odd Fellows Hall. Considerable other business was trans­ acted, various reports received and matters of interest discussed. In connection with trout fishing, the council also passed a mo­ tion that no trout under three inches in length be stocked by the fish commission. Several talks were given, one of consid­ erable interest being presented by County Game Protector George Keppler who said that an open season on does is necessary in his opinion. He reported that a recent survey indicates the deer population of the T state is 500,000 and that many deer died ',«rie during the past winter because of insuf­ i Vi Tunkhannock Creek, in Susquehanna County is one of Pennsylvania's major trout waters ! ficient and improper feed. sior Keppler, whose residence now is at 255 *U] Locust Stre°t, said that he has 70 ringneck FISHING "EPIDEMIC" and putting his instructions across in an I <*< chicks available for distribution in the telligent manner. 'he Springboro area. A total of 1,150 chicks is RIFE IN DUBOIS He spent half an hour demonstrating 9 ''fib available, also, for persons who have made 11 The piscatorial fever that had been flour­ right and wrong ways of whipping a fishi' the proper application throughout the line out upon the water and many of his 'lift! county and 2,195 eggs are to be given to ishing in DuBois with each warm draft, waS't^si those who applied. spread into epidemic proportions under the dience never knew there were so many impetus given by two demonstrations of to do the trick. More of them thought tbj ion Fish Warden Gerald Munson reported was only one way and they were convinc that buoys are ready for placing on the fly-casting by "Fly Rod Bill" Cook, famed fly caster, and observers were of the opinion that the way they knew was wrong. HJ| bars at Conneaut Lake. He urged all sports­ ever, after watching the expert in act> men to inform "those who might not know" that the disease would continue to grow e and listening to his running fire of comm 'j Jiti, that crappie bass cannot be legally caught more intense until the legal barriers were and instructions, they were inspired v^1,, %e until July 1. lowered on the trout season, April 15, to Hij, give the piscators an opportunity to blow new hope of being convinced that it can off steam. done. And if it should happen that any ° . or all of a certain several hundred pers<^ TWO FINED FOR Large numbers of interested fishermen afflicted by the piscatorial disease should ILLEGAL FISHING and spectators were at the Elks Hall when tlijjhea Mr. Cook gave his demonstrations under a fishing with all of the intensity they Pyi)e , Two Columbia fishermen were arrested the auspices of the Nature Club of DuBois themselves to a regular trout stream, *JQ along the Susquehanna River, near Colum­ High School. The afternoon audience was incongruity of the situation can be oVe j bia, on charges of violating the State Fish composed largely of high school boys, mem­ looked, for they will be only practicing ' I V Laws. bers of the Nature Study Class, who gave things the expert told them. °fti Laverne Lucas, 847 Houston Street, unmistakable evidence of being just as charged with having fish in his possession deeply afflicted by the piscatorial strepto­ \ during closed season, was fined $10 and cocci as their older brothers, their dads and costs. James Vera, 249 Perry Street, uncles and grandfathers who attended the charged with fishing without a license and evening demonstration. s having fish in his possession during closed SO HANDY season, was jailed for 57 days in default of And they had an opportunity to learn a s lot about the art of laying a fly out there There was a Negro, an employe oV $45 fines and costs imposed by Alderman Georgia plantation who loved ease Burkhart. over the nose of a trout, or a bass, in a man­ «4C ner so natural that the finny beauties may fishing. When he wasn't fishing, he Prosecution was brought by C. V. Long loafing, and when he was tired of loafi,lf and Anthony J. Lech, State Fish Wardens, not suspect that a murderous hook is bur­ he would go fishing. who testified Lucas and Vera had three ied in the fuzz of the fly. For "Fly Rod wall-eyed pike in their possession when they Bill" is an accomplished fly-caster and he One night it rained, almost heavy eno 4 were taken into custodv. has the knack of telling others how to cast to be called a cloudburst, and the n<* V morning all of the low places on the P H•o , tation were flooded with water. r I, BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS Passing his tenant's cabin, the boss f° ,K , * t 1 HARRISBURS, PA. him seated m an easy chair just ovoutsf ,&, * u the * SUBSCRIPTION BLANK the kitchen door, fishing in a small V of water. Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENNSYLVANIA ley "Henry, you old fool," exclaimed the b" ANGLER. "what are you doing there?" Please Check Name "Boss," replied Henry, "I'se jes' - . (Print Name) fishi"! »„'; • New "Well, don't you know that there cou" Street and Number be any fish in that little puddle?" 1 Renewal _., "Yessuh," said Henry, "Ah knows A City but dis yere place am so handy." PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 23 CONSIDER ACTION 3. Proper closed seasons during spawning he may fish. This system is now being fol­ periods. lowed in Canada, and it is with reference TO SAVE FISHING to this practice that number four is incor­ 4. Authority (by a representative com­ porated in the above plan. ON GREAT LAKES mittee) to regulate the amount and kinds of gear. The licensing of a fisherman to operate , Uniting at the call of the Council of State from a given port, or within the confines of 5. Authority to control movements of a well established area, is referred to in governments, seventy delegates represent- fishermen. n& the Federal and Canadian governments section five of the nine point program. Con­ ar*d the eight states bordering the Great 6. Enforcement and observation of regu­ servation officials are of the opinion that the pkes, met in a Great Lakes Fisheries Con- lations. continual and relentless pursuit of the fish erence at Detroit, Mich., to consider the er 7. Complete statistics. in all parts of the Great Lakes by roving j ious condition of the Lake fisheries and fishermen is detrimental to the fish supply ,° Plan a course of action that will tend to 8. Well organized research. and unfair to the average producer who re­ "ftprove conditions within the industry. 9. Rigid control of marketing conditions. mains in one port the year around regard­ The conference was given a general idea Most of the nine points considered are less of high or low fish production. ?* the depletion of the Great Lakes fisheries y self explanatory. Number four and five, The proposals presented in a two day con­ i Dr. John Van Oosten, who graphically however, are undoubtedly new to many ference cannot possibly be considered in a I Resented facts and figures that traced the producers and may need further comment. Gradual decline of practically all the com- single issue of the Journal and future is­ i ?ei"cially important species of fish in the In an effort to reduce fishing intensity sues will carry futher accounts of the De­ akes. Dr. Van Oosten's testimony was sub­ the states, or the Federal government, who­ troit Conference along with information as stantiated by representatives of each of the ever may administer the fishery laws of the to the progress being made in carrying out I 'Sht lake states, who in turn spoke of their lakes in the future, may find it necessary to the recommendations of the convention. . *n particular depletion problems. limit each producer as to the number of nets —The Great Lakes Journal I . .he reasons for the depletion of the fish- • r'es was brought out in an interesting ad- f ,VeSs by Elmer Higgins, Chief of the Divi- j!.011 of Scientific Inquiry, U. S. Bureau of 'sheries. Mr. Higgins pointed to the lack 3 Uniformity in fishing regulations among S® Lake states as one of the largest con­ futing factors in the depletion problem. JJ commenting upon the part that fishermen "lid etriselves have played in bringing the in- f ti try to 'ts Present state, he called atten- l6(4 fi- °n *° t*le introduction of more efficient lC.L6ar» the pursuit of the fish to more distant Un 1*J4 ° ds through the use of modern boats, ,0J ^.increase in fishing intensity by the ad- l0n of more fishermen and more gear, and ,4 % taking of immature fish. In closing, Mr. \ S ins again called attention to the fact at M t the states had failed in their adminis l0 ation of the fisheries and tnat if !'(fe the con- K( *nr6nce in session failed to provide some 1< to6ailS for improving conditions the next 1 n ere 1I ne f nce to be called would sit as a coro- *"' fv* s jUry for the fishing industry of the A Ureat Lakes. $• V • v Co arious plans for aiding the fisheries were »sidered, and in order to open the way for HSitig Sotiaregulationt ions wits h iCanadan adjoinin, fogr uniforwatersm , fish-the ^"terence adopted a resolution providing a 12 man board to cooperate with the ,°Per Federal authorities in an effort to % 6c , . tj0 t a treaty with Canada for the protec- 11 a Qr °' commercial species of fish in the tf^Sp^t Lakes. Another resolution urging the a a V- w !" te states to transfer the power of l^'ating the Lake fisheries from the legis- Ve d c0 department of their government to a A Cs?rvation commission, and to work to- 121" Mo a set °f uniform regulations, was also Pted. .iji'Vof .attempting to classify the various evils gimkn. ,e industry as practised today and to L* do A$\ tt|6 J°*n regulations for their elimination, • followinollowing ninnine poinpoint prograprogram wawas concon - HM^reJ edr and recommended to the states for ion

The Nine Points tw, Uniform methods of mesh measure-

r of ' ^ oper size mesh to prevent the taking Fishing promising trout water in the Pohopoco Creek, Carbon County. La Mar Mumbar caught this uri(iersized fish. angler unaware that the picture was being taken 24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

A HERE ND THERE 'H ANGLERDOM

In addition to furnishing some of the Two 11-year old Williamsport lads were finest bass fishing in the state, the upper mighty proud disciples of Izaak Walton re­ Allegheny River annually provides some cently when they caught an 8-pound carp great sucker fishing. The past spring, ac­ in the Susquehanna River, reports Warden cording to Warden J. Albert Johnson of Carl Bidelspacher of Williamsport. Bobby Bradford, was no exception to this rule. Yost and Davey Bogart had quite a tussle Among those anglers scoring good catches before they landed the fish. were Mrs. B. Salaski and S. A. McWilliams of Custer City. Each scored with a catch One of the nicest rainbow trout reported of ten suckers, ranging in length from 12 to date was that caught in Spring Creek, to 18 inches. Centre county, on opening day by Charles Johnson, postmaster at Woolrich. He was The outstanding trout taken from Boyds assisted in landing the trout, a 21-inch rain­ Run in Erie county on opening day of the bow, by Mrs. Johnson, who is also an en­ season, writes Warden W. E. Briggs was thusiastic disciple of Izaak Walton. a 15% inch brook trout. It was caught by Kenneth Patchen of Waterford. Fishing Creek in Clinton county yielded a fine specimen of the rainbow trout family to Fred Laird of Lock Haven. Weighing four pounds, Laird's catch measured 21% Early season catches of trout in streams inches in length. It was said to be the larg­ of the Butler county area were good, re­ est rainbow to be taken in recent years in ports Warden Clifton Iman of Evans City. Clinton county, according to Warden A. Schreckengost of Karns City caught a George Cross of Renovo who reported the brown trout 20 inches in length, and A. catch. Durnel of Bruin scored with a 12% inch rainbow in Bear Creek. Both catches were made on worms. Warden Dave Dahlgren, of Philipsburg, reports fine catches of trout from Centre county waters. The catches were made on Among those anglers scoring exception­ the Black Moshannon. Wallace Bumgardner ally good opening day catches of trout on of Munson caught two brown trout and 8 Cooks Run, Driftwood Branch, Straight rainbows ranging in size from 7 to 15 Creek and Elk Fork in McKean county inches, G. O. Baumgardner, Alport, 6 rain­ were the following, reports Warden Robert bows, 9 to 12 inches, Charles Horn, Barns- J. Chrisman: Glenn Lewis, Rich Valley, boro, 7 rainbow trout, 9 to 14 inches, Allen Joe Zider, R. M. Housler, and Harry Wit- Huston, Philipsburg, RFD., 10 rainbows, 9 Bob Kaler of Hatfield with a catch of brown trout, comb, Emporium, Earl Dippold, Ralph Dip- to 16 inches and William Fenton, Philips­ 19'/2 to 23 inches, from Lake Wallenpaupack pold, Pat Fleming, Jr., Shine Emmert and burg, RFD., 10 browns and rainbows, 11 Clem Pontzer, all of St. Mary's. to 15 inches in length. John Ammerman, known to many of his friends in Bellefonte as "Moose", has a habit of connecting with and landing big trout from Spring Creek in Centre county- Recently he scored with a 25 inch, five and one half pound rainbow trout, which he landed in Spring Creek on the outskirts of Bellefonte. Lure used, a minnow.

Dry flies accounted for fine catches of trout by Dr. John Clay, Minersville, Joe Clay and Guy Eroh of Pottsville, accord­ ing to Jack Richards of Pottsville. The three anglers scored their catches in streams of the Poconos and their creels ranged i" j length from 12 to 16 inches.

a Landing a 22 V2 inch brown trout on light tippet and number 14 fly is an acconv plishment of which any angler may be proud, and that distinction goes this yeai' I to Charles Shaffer of Johnstown. While [ fishing in Three Spring Run, Shaffer took C. F. Sturgis, West Lawn, Ton Sturgis and Charles Adesso, Wyomissing, with their catch of trout, 20 the fish, which weighed, dressed, three to 25 inches in length, r sde this season in Lake Wallenpaupack, Pike and Wayne Counties and a half pounds. "Oh, going fishing, eh? Are you sure you're not going to keep a date with some pretty mermaid?" Sec. 562, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270

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