CARP CAUGHT IN PERKIOMEN CREEK Photo by LaMar Mumbar

Vol.5. No. 10 s OFFICIAL STATE OCTOBER, 1936 PUBLICATION AN G LE fC Vol. 5 No. 10

PUBLISHED MONTHLY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA by the BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS

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Five cents a copy — 50 cents a year OLIVER M. DEIBLER Commissioner of Fisheries

•t 1 1 C. R. BULLER Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte

ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. MEMBERS OF BOARD OLIVER M. DEIBLER, Chairman Greensburg MILTON L. PEEK Devon NOTE CHARLES A. FRENCH Elwood City Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either HARRY E. WEBER by check or money order payable to the Common­ Philipsburg wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. SAMUEL J. TRUSCOTT Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Dalton DAN R. SCHNABEL Johnstown EDGAR W. NICHOLSON PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ Philadelphia tions and photos of catches from its readers. Pro­ KENNETH A. REID per credit will be given to contributors. Connellsville •v All contributions returned if accompanied by first H. R. STACKHOUSE class postage. Secretary to Board

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 Vol. 5 No. 10 OCTOBER, 1936 'ANGLER^

JUST STILL-FISHING how far upstream the sucker run has In the past, I have commented fre­ progressed; his observations on the quently on the various forms of fish­ condition of the water as it affects ing indulged in by our Pennsylvania the feeding of the sucker, on the posi­ fishermen. While a constantly increas­ tion of the baited hooks as they rest ing number of anglers are turning to on the stream bed to be most effective fly fishing for trout, and bait casting and various other features of sucker for bass and warm water game fish, fishing will indicate a striking knowl­ artificial lure fishing, we still have a edge of this phase of angling. He has large group of anglers who derive amassed, during many quiet hours great pleasure in still-fishing for pop­ spent on the banks of a favorite ular pan fish such as the sunfish and sucker fishing hole, many practical catfish, and for suckers and carp. I facts relative to the fish life of the am convinced that no finer cross-sec­ inland waters. In other words, he is a tion of inland water fishing can be true exponent of greater knowledge obtained than this balanced interest of the Waltonian sport. which exists for the various forms of Tolerance is a fine virtue and I am angling. Still-fishing is, after all, the convinced that our great fraternity most elemental type of fishing, and it of fishermen possess it to a marked offers opportunity for restful recrea­ degree. "Each man to his own way of tion not excelled by any other method. fishing" seems to be an accepted creed with anglers, a creed that tends to But we have neglected an angle to develop fellowship of the highest still-fishing that is perhaps most im­ character. , portant. I refer to its appeal to the Still-fishing appeals to the beginner in fishing. beginner in fishing, its appeal par­ In the large group of still-fishermen are many fine sportsmen. It is my be­ ticularly to our sportsmen and sports­ types of angling. Still-fishing, then, lief that each year there is a growing women of tomorrow, the boys and must be reckoned on this score alone tendency to take, not all an anti­ girls who today find healthful recre­ a vital part of modern angling. ation along our inland waterways. quated law permitting the capture of, It must not be supposed, however, For this group, with perhaps a few say, 25 suckers in a day's fishing, that this type of angling requires no exceptions, the appeal of fishing with specifies, but only enough to provide skill. To the contrary, some of our a can of worms, an old cane or cut a good meal for the family. With the most skillful anglers today are still- cooperation of our still-fishermen and pole and other equipment to match fishermen, that is if we take into con­ serves as an opening wedge to the other groups indulging in the various sideration their knowledge of stream forms of angling, we are certain to splendid sport that they may find in conditions and of the habits of the achieve in the years to come the bet­ later years on our streams and lakes. fish they angle for. Take, for instance, ter fishing which we desire. We must not lose sight of the fact a veteran sucker fisherman. Nine that first of all, interest must be times out of ten, if you talk to him, awakened in fishing for the boy or he can give you some angles on the girl. Later in life, of course, that in­ fishing game that may never have terest will probably expand to include occurred to you. He may tell you, for fly fishing and other more intricate example, if it is in early spring, just Commissioner of Fisheries 2 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER BASS STREAM INSECTS by CHAS. M. WETZEL

OST of us know that the majority of it can, the time rapidly approaches when bed. In various localities they are known M our trout flies have a prototype, and it transforms into the winged fly. under different names as Clippers, Dobsons, the question naturally arises whether bass At this period, the insect crawls up the Hell Devils, Hell Divers, Conniption bugs flies, too, were not patterned after natural stems of convenient plants and just above and others, but regardless of what they are insects. From the year 1496, when Dame the water its metamorphosis is effected. Oft called, this insect is an universal favorite Juliana de Berners wrote her "Treatyse of times we can see these cast skins sticking with the live bait fisherman. Fys shynge wyth an Angle," great strides fast to some support, usually in a sprawling The mature larvae (about three inches in have been made in the determination, imita­ attitude close to the water. length) leaves the water in late May or tion and classification of insects on which Now in the perfect stage it becomes an June and pupates in cavities under flat fish feed. Trout stream insects naturally animated creature, darting here and there stones near the stream. The pupae at this received the greatest amount of attention, on swift sure wings in search of its prin­ time especially after the shedding of the for the trout is an inherent surface feeder, cipal food, mosquitoes, gnats and midges. last larval skin, is almost white in color. has always been the most popular fish, and Like an avenging demon bent on swift de­ About a month after the period of emerg­ the majority of aquatic insects fall within struction, it bears down on these luckless ence the metamorphosis is complete and the the range of its diet, Bass on the other hand pests—so swiftly that the eye can scarcely adult insect is commonly observed flying were more or less neglected. We have no follow it, probably later reappearing and over the water after sundown. They are close imitations of natural insects; the flies resting unconcernedly on the tip of our fish more or less crepuscular and are often at­ we use are merely large trout flies or the rod. It is no uncommon sight to see them tracted to lights at night. gaudy creations which arouse the fury of flying around ovipositing in pairs; and the the fish or appeal to its hunger. Bass like male clasping her prothorax with his for­ The male in the adult stage is conspicuous trout have a group of insects on which they ceps, his body sticking straight up in the with his extra long mandibles (over an inch prey—insects, dull of coloration, larger than air, is oft times carried beneath surface of in length), which are used in clasping the the usual run of trout flies and considerably the water as the female descends to insert female while mating. The length of life in more difficult to imitate. With them we shall her eggs thickly in the green stems of the winged insect varies from one to two deal. aquatic plants. weeks, a period strikingly in contrast to the three years spent in the sub-aqueous larva Some of the largest species of dragon stage. Eggs are laid on the rocks under Dragon Flies and Damsel Flies flies have a wing spread in the neighborhood which the larvae live. These egg masses av­ of five to six inches, but damsel flies seldom erage seven-eighths of an inch in length and Among the most ubiquitous of the larger attain the size of the one I pictured. This are covered with a white or cream colored insects are the dragon and damsel flies. In sketch was purposely enlarged almost one secretion. Sometimes they are so abundant our childhood days they were known under and a half times in order that it would fit as to make the rocks look as though some the dreaded names of "snake feeders" and the sheet. one had splashed whitewash upon them "snake doctors," and weird and mystic were By remembering the following simple profusely with a brush. the tales woven around these swift flying facts, the two insects may be readily sep­ creatures. As we grew older, and never hav­ arated and identified. The wings ol dragon For those desirous of securing more in­ ing witnessed aid being given to moribund flies are noticeably different in shape and formation on this insect, insofar as relating reptiles, we came to ridicule these stories venation and are always extended horizon­ to bass fishing is concerned, may I refer and accepted the insect for the harmless tally from the body when the insect is at them to a former article of mine in the creature that it is. rest. Damsel flies on the other hand are November, 1934, issue of the ANGLER. Both the dragon and damsel flies belong much the opposite; the wings are essentially to the order of Odonata and their life his­ alike and are usually closed above the body The Stone Fly during repose. The damsel fly nymph may tories in general are very similar. The The stone fly (order Plecoptera) is gen­ be recognized by its slender body and by nymph is an aquatic insect and is commonly erally regarded as a trout fly, yet it is quite the presence of three leaf like tracheal gills found under stones, among dead leaves and commonly found on our bass streams, espe­ attached to the tip of the abdomen. These other debris on the stream bottom. Preying cially those that flow swiftly over a rocky are not present in the nymph of the dragon on small fish, nymphs and the larvae of bottom. The cast skins of the nymph— other insects, it is a voracious creature, oc­ fly. remarkably like the natural insect and with casionally turning cannibal and eating its From autopsies made on various bass I a gaping slit on the back where the fly own kind. How voracious they are may best killed, I am led to believe that the nymph escaped — are commonly observed on the be illustrated by an experience that oc­ is much preferred as an article of food. rocks bordering the stream. Although stone curred a few years ago. Seldom have I found evidence of a winged flies vary from a half to an inch and a half On the Patapsco River in Maryland, while fly being eaten, nor from a lifetime's expe­ in length, I believe that only certain of the searching for dragon fly nymphs which I rience on our streams, can I recall many larger species of the genera Perla and intended placing in my aquarium, I observed instances where bass rose naturally to the Pteronarcys are favored as food. dragon fly. It has frequently been brought a curious phenomenon. This was a multi­ Bass in general like a large meaty bait. tude of small transparent eels known as to my attention that our Pennsylvania bass are not as active in surface feeding, as are Although we frequently hear of trout six­ elvers, which were making their wiggling teen to eighteen inches long being taken on way in broad daylight, upstream to the some of other states—a fact which no doubt accounts for the presence of a majority of a number twenty fly, yet it is an extremely fresh water. Never before nor since have I rare occurrence when a bass of the same witnessed anything like it! Scooping up nymphs in the stomachs of fish that were examined. size would pay any attention to such a small some twenty, all of which were the same offering. The remedy then would be to con­ size—about two and a half inches long—I struct our imitations of the same size as placed them in the same container with two The Helgramite the natural insect. But it is not so simple as large dragon fly nymphs I had previously The helgramite belongs to the order of all that; the difficulty lies in the size—-many caught. The following morning only two of Megaloptera and is known among ento­ of our insects vary from two to three inches the eels remained living—the rest had all mologists as Corydalis cornuta. Found under in length, and regardless of how closely we been killed by the voracious insects. The the stones in the swift shallow riffles, this imitate them, the deception is still too ap­ two survivors were later presented to the carnivorous insect is so common that a de­ parent. The smaller the fly, the more nat­ Philadelphia Aquarium, and to the best of scription appears unnecessary. ural it appears to the fish—a theory borne my knowledge are still there. It is black in color, vicious in appearance out by the continued successful use of small The above incident fittingly typifies the and equipped with strong, predatory jaws flies for trout when the streams are low and killing lust with which these insects are or mandibles. During the winter they can be clear. And bass are much like trout insofar afflicted. Living thus, and killing whatever found buried some distance below the stream as detecting anything unnatural in appear- D/Z&GON FLY DOBS CM FLY DfiMSEL FLY

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ance. All of which, while still not offering The following waters in the different ELK—brown trout, West Clarion Creek, any solution to the problem, nevertheless counties were stocked: tributary West Branch Clarion River; fin- explains the principal reason why bass BEDFORD—brook trout, Cove Creek, gerling brook trout, Little Wolf Lick Creek, stream insects are not more closely approxi­ tributary Raystown Branch Juniata River, Medix Run, tributary Bennetts Branch, mated. Shermans Valley Run, tributary Raystown Moshannock State Forest. Branch Juniata River. ERIE—muskellunge, Edinboro Lake, Lake The Crane Fly LeBoeuf. BLAIR—brown trout, Clover Creek, trib­ Crane flies belong to the order of Diptera, FAYETTE—brook trout, Mill Run, tribu­ family Tipulidae, and are readily distin­ utary Frankstown Branch Juniata River; brook trout, Pine Run, tributary Franks- tary Indian Creek; rainbow trout, Dunbar guishable by their long fragile legs. The Creek, tributary Youghiogheny River. larvae of most species live in the earth, but town Branch Juniata River, Frankstown some exist in the water logged stems of Branch of Juniata River. FRANKLIN—brook trout, Conococheague dead twigs and others in the muck and dead Creek or East Branch Conococheague Creek, BUCKS—brown trout, Pine Creek, tribu­ tributary Potomac River. leaves of the stream bottom. Although the tary North Branch Neshaminy Creek, Mill adult fly is most abundant in the fall, yet FULTON—brook trout, South Brush Creek, tributary Neshaminy Creek; brook Creek, tributary Brush Creek, Roaring Run certain species can be seen flying over the trout, Cooks Creek or Durham Creek, tribu­ water throughout the summer. or Meadow Ground Run, tributary Cove tary Delaware River. Creek, Oregon Creek, tributary Sideling The Fish Fly CAMBRIA—brook trout, Beaverdam Run Hill Creek. or Big Killbuck Creek, tributary Clearfield HUNTINGDON — brook trout, Laurel The larva of Chauloides lunatus, the fish Creek. fly, resembles the helgramite very much in Run, tributary Standing Stone Creek. its general appearance. In fact, it is another CARBON—brown trout, Hayes Creek, INDIANA—brook trout, Little Mahoning of the Corydalidae and like the Dobson tributary Lehigh River, Pohopoco Creek, Creek, tributary Mahoning Creek. makes its home under the stones in the tributary Lehigh River; brook trout, Drakes JUNIATA—brown trout, Licking Creek stream bed. This insect seems to prefer Creek, tributary Lehigh River; rainbow or East Licking Creek, tributary Tuscarora waters of low temperature, especially those trout, Big Bear Creek, tributary Lehigh Creek; brook trout, Licking Creek, tribu­ that are capable of supporting both trout Creek. tary Tuscarora Creek. and bass. I have found it on Pine Creek, CENTRE—brown trout, Spring Creek, LACKAWANNA—brown trout, Lehigh Kettle Creek and the upper Penns Creek— tributary Bald Eagle Creek, Bald Eagle River, tributary Delaware River. all fairly cold streams. Creek, tributary West Branch Susquehan­ LEHIGH—brown trout, Cedar Creek, The adult fly, conspicuous by its light na River, Logan Branch, tributary Spring tributary Little Lehigh River; rainbow brown and black barred wings, appears over Creek, Elk Creek, tributary Pine Creek, Lit­ trout, Mountain Creek, tributary Swabia the water in May and early June. On tle Moshannon or Black Moshannon Creek, Creek, Cedar Creek, tributary Little Lehigh streams where this insect thrives, the larvae tributary Moshannon Creek, Marsh Creek, River. appears to be quite plentiful, but I have tributary Bald Eagle Creek; brook trout, never found the winged fly in great abund­ Six Mile Run, tributary Moshannon Creek; LUZERNE—brown trout, Lehigh River, ance. rainbow trout, Spring Creek, tributary Bald tributary Delaware River; brook trout, Probably the greatest number I have Eagle Creek, Penns Creek, tributary Sus­ Wapwallopen Creek, tributary North seen in the air at one time was a few years quehanna River; catfish, Little Moshannon Branch Susquehanna River. ago on Weiker Run, when I counted fourteen Creek or Black Moshannon Creek, tributary LYCOMING—brown trout, Lycoming that were within the range of my vision. At Moshannon Creek; suckers, Little Moshan­ Creek, tributary West Branch Susquehan­ that time, I procured a number of specimens non Creek or Black Moshannon Creek, trib­ na River. which I later used in fashioning the fish fly utary Moshannon Creek; sunfish, Little —a trout fly that has since proved to rank McKEAN — brown trout, South Branch Moshannon Creek or Black Moshannon Kinzua Creek or Watermill Creek, tributary among the highest. Naturally, the fly is Creek, tributary Moshannon Creek; yellow considerably smaller than its prototype—a Allegheny River; brook trout, Kinzua perch, Little Moshannon Creek or Black Creek, tributary Allegheny River. fact that does not appear to lessen its fish Moshannon Creek, tributary Moshannon taking propensities in the least. On the Creek. MIFFLIN—brook trout, Treaster Valley other hand, I have tried this fly almost to Run, tributary East Branch Kishaeoquillas the exact size of the natural insect, but it CHESTER—b r o w n trout, White Clay Creek. appears to be no more attractive than any Creek, tributary Christiana Creek, rainbow MONROE—brown trout, Brodheads Creek, other creation. trout, White Clay Creek, tributary Chris­ tributary Delaware River, Middle Branch In general, with the exception of the tiana Creek. Brodheads Creek, tributary Brodheads shad and some large caddis flies, insects in­ CLEARFIELD — brown trout, Mosquito Creek, brook trout, Pohopoco Creek, trib­ digenous to certain streams — the flies Creek, tributary West Branch Susquehanna utary Lehigh River; black bass, Pensyl treated above represent the principal nat­ Creek, tributary McMichaels Creek. ural insect food of the bass. We have in River; brook trout, Montgomery Creek, addition the grasshoppers, locust, etc.—-land tributary West Branch Susquehanna River. NORTHAMPTON—brook trout, Bushkill flies that appear on the water only as casu­ CLINTON—brown trout, Left Branch Creek, tributary Delaware River. alties, and in an article of this kind, it is Young Woman's Creek, Young Woman's PIKE—brown trout, Raymondskill Creek, impossible to treat them all in detail. Creek, tributary West Branch Susquehan­ tributary Delaware River. na River, Lick Run, tributary West Branch POTTER—brook trout, West Branch Pine Susquehanna River, Right Branch Young Creek, tributary Pine Creek. JULY STOCKING Woman's Creek, tributary Young Woman's Creek; brook trout, Cedar Run, tributary SCHUYLKILL — brown trout, Locust Creek, tributary Little Schuylkill River. During July, hatcheries of the Fish Com­ Big Fishing Creek, Big Fishing Creek, trib­ mission distributed a total of 51,442 fish utary Bald Eagle Creek; rainbow trout, Big SOMERSET—rainbow trout, Laurel Hill of the various species in Pennsylvania Fishing Creek, tributary Bald Eagle Creek. Creek, tributary Casselman River. waters. Included in the distribution were COLUMBIA—brown trout, Fishing Creek, TIOGA—brown trout, Pine Creek, tribu­ 16,030 brook trout averaging 8 inches in tributary West Branch Susquehanna River. tary West Branch Susquehanna River. length, 6,000 brook trout fingerlings, 24,326 CRAWFORD—brown trout, Little Sugar brown trout from 8 to 14 inches, 3,764 rain­ WARREN — brown trout, Pine Creek, Creek, tributary French Creek, muskellunge, bow trout, 9 to 14 inches, 30 adult bass tributary Caldwell Creek, Tionesta Creek, Conneaut Lake, Drakes Pond. averaging 12 inches, 40 catfish averaging tributary Allegheny River. 7 inches, 374 adult suckers averaging 10 DAUPHIN—brook trout, Stoney Creek, WAYNE—brown trout, Dyberry Creek, inches, 53 adult sunfish averaging 5 inches, tributary Susquehanna River. tributary Lackawaxen River, West Branch 320 adult perch averaging 8 inches and 505 DELAWARE—brown trout, Ridley Creek, Lackawaxen River, tributary Lackawaxen muskellunge from 6 to 12 inches. tributary Delaware River. 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PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MORE ABOUT BUCKTAILS By CLAYTON L. PETERS

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URING the past several years Buck- Cock shoulders have had the trout strike and for this reason it may be necessary D tail fishing has come to the front to on the very first cast. to use as many as six or eight split shot such a degree that one can scarcely spend It is not to be construed that Bucktail placed twelve or sixteen inches up the a day on any of our prominent trout lures are only intended for trout, for large leader. streams without encountering some fisher­ bass are as readily tempted with them. Fol­ Leaders should be moderately heavy for men with a bucktail dangling at the end lowing are descriptions of my three most good casting as the weight of the large of a split-shot laden leader. dependable patterns. lure with the additional lead have a ten­ In 1934, Mr. Knight wrote an article for The pattern used in Figure 1, is as fol­ dency to cast in a jerky uncertain manner "Outdoor Life" entitled, "The Secret of lows: tail a part of red body material; body on a very light tapered leader. Catching Large Browns." This article was red silk floss banded with wide gold tinsel, There is no necessity for using a tapered so interesting and sounded so logical that bucktail on top of hook brown, and on under leader in this type of fishing and if the I decided to spend a goodly part of my side white. Figure 2, tail several fibers from water is slightly discolored, almost any time a-stream experimenting with these a gray Mallard drake feather; body silver heavy weight leader can be used success­ new deceivers of the piscatorial tribe. tinsel, with a barred rock hackle tied pal­ fully. Many types and sizes of Bucktail lures mer along the body, a pair of rock stream­ It would be quite a difficult task to even can be purchased at the sporting goods er hackles on top of hook and on under try to give definite directions as to how stores, but for best results, I believe most side a few strands of white bucktail. Figure to fish bucktails most successfully, as geo- anyone can tie an assortment that will 3, tail is a part of golden brown floss used grahical conditions govern this to a great answer better for various stream conditions. for body which has a gold or silver stripe, extent, but where it is possible, a good bet Several sizes and patterns should be car­ top of hook has pair of brown saddle hack­ is to cast to the far shore of the creek ried and for myself I prefer to carry five les tied over brown bucktail and under side and by quick spasmodic jerks have the cur­ patterns tied on hooks sizes 6 to 10, al­ of hook has white deer hair tied sparsely. rent carry it down stream and when the though three patterns will suffice. Although the illustrations show the use line used in the cast is expended, retrieve The type of Bucktail to be fished depends of Jungle Cock sides, they can be dispensed it up stream as far as possible before lift­ largely on the kind of trout for which you with as they are not as easily secured as ing it out of the water. are fishing, and the type of water. the remainder of the material, although I Very often a fish will strike at the point I have proven to my satisfaction that am very partial to their use. where the line arcs for the retrieve. Rainbow trout are partial to a combination For the head I use either black, red or It is not unusual for a trout to repeatedly of gray and silver, while Brown trout are blue enamel as my fancy strikes me, and follow the Bucktail the entire course of the more easily deceived with brown, red and on the larger sizes an eye may be added case and finally» after having scrutinized blue. by first placing a round spot of ivory it to his satisfaction, striking after as many I always carry these patterns tied with enamel on each side of the head and when as two dozen casts. Jungle Cock shoulders, and without, and this has dried, paint a smaller spot of black With the larger sizes a spinner can be have repeatedly cast over a trout with a in the center of each eye. attached and, skilfully handled under prop­ plain bucktail, and after substituting it For the best results Bucktails should be er conditions, is an effective lure for bass with the same pattern tied with Jungle fished well below the surface of the water or pickerel.

PROMPT ACTION SAVES BASS One morning an attendant noticed the and plug casting attracted much attention and many entries registered for the various AT CORRY bass, snouts extended above the surface, sucking air. The pumps were immediately events. started and the water aerated, with the Anglers present had a gala affair in every Heavy loss in a pond of largemouth bass, result that only 30 of the 4,000 fish in the respect. Marshalled by Herb Watts, one ranging in size from 4 to 7 inches, was pond were killed. of central Pennsylvania's most ardent dev­ averted recently at the Corry hatchery in otees of Izaak Walton, they saw Kenneth Erie County only by the prompt and ef­ HUNTINGDON OUTING ATTRACTS A. Reid, Board Member, give a fine exhibi­ ficient work of attendants. Spawned in early tion of the proper technique to be employed June, the young fish had developed rapidly HUNDREDS in fly casting and bait casting. Mr. Reid in length and girth and apparently every later judged the fly casting and bait casting condition was favorable. However, owing to Hundreds of sportsmen from central contests for distance and accuracy. heavy feeding, it is believed that some par­ Pennsylvania attended the annual field day Maurice Banker, Howd Shilling and the ticles of food not eaten had accumulated of the Huntingdon County Fish, Game and other livewire members and officials of this on the pond bottom and this factor plus Forestry Association, held at the fair rapidly-growing sportsmen's group are to lack of wind and rain evidently resulted grounds near Huntingdon on Saturday, Sep­ be congratulated on one of the most suc­ in an insufficient amount of oxygen in the tember 19. Perfect weather prevailed. Trap cessful central Pennsylvania sportsmen's water. shooting, shooting for turkeys, bait casting outings ever to be staged. 6 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER FUTURE TROUT STOCKING Planting with Bigger Fish Is Imperative for Better Fishing by ALEX P. SWEIGART

One of the Brood Rainbow Trout at Bellefonto Hatchery ACING the facts in the present trout of aquatic organisms vital to the welfare There are so many angles to the trout Fsituation, we are convinced that the year of young trout. stocking problem, that the need for more 1936 will go down in conservation annals as knowledge concerning its various phases the most destructive to our trout waters in Trout Forage Check-Up is increasingly apparent. For instance, in England, where perhaps a more intensive the history of the Pish Commission. A sum­ Just how much damage was caused to mer of drought conditions, reducing the study of trout streams has been made than our trout waters by the March flood? This in any other section of the world, it has flow of many small mountain and meadow puzzler confronted the Fish Commission streams to pitiful trickles, was preceded by been found that the best stream available during the spring, and it was decided to cannot support more than 12 pounds of the March flood, one of the most destructive institute a food checkup on freestone and floods in history. From the angle of trout trout per acre. If we consider many of our limestone trout waters. Two typical smaller trout waters, radically affected this conservation, it was, in every sense of the streams, Spring Creek in Centre county, term a freak year. After heavy snowfall year by drought as to forage production, representative of the limestone group, and and use the English figures for compari­ had blanketed the watersheds of the trout Starrucca Creek in Wayne county, a typi­ streams during the winter, there was reason son, is it not possible that these streams cal freestone trout stream, were selected might be overstocked with trout over legal to hope that gradual melting of the snow in for the work. While results from the trout the spring would serve to restore the vital size? This is just one of the questions that forage checkup on the Starrucca are not comes to mind relative to the present trout underground water table. But a quick thaw yet available, Spring Creek, generally re­ upset this hope and the snow, melting rap­ situation. That drought ana flood this year garded as an outstanding forage producer, have intensified the problem, there is lit­ idly, pushed stream levels to flood stages in has already yielded highly informative tle reason to doubt. March. This rapid run-off, it is believed, pre­ data. cluded to large extent the benefit of the It was found that this Centre County Stocking snowfall to underground streams and stream produced 48 pounds of trout food springs. per acre, or 12 pounds of dehydrated trout At the present time, the trout situation The drought which followed struck an food. Any trout fisherman familiar with in Pennsylvania shapes up something like even more disastrous blow to trout waters. the stream in the past has probably been this. Flood, in at least 75 per cent of our It is a recognized fact in fish culture that impressed with the abundance of aquatic streams, has damaged the stream beds and the capacity of a stream to maintain aquatic life present. Fed by giant limestone springs, curtailed the amount of natural forage life is to be determined only when that Spring Creek varies but slightly in water available. Drought has injured in particu­ stream is at its lowest level. Since many flow during drought periods, and at all lar the smaller feeder streams generally of the streams affected were so-called nur­ times retains levels high enough to insure used by trout as spawning and nursery sery waters, tributary to larger trout the safety of the trout present. During the areas. We must not discount the fact that, streams, their capacity as spawning areas flood, it became extremely high, however, even though autumn rains and snowfall and stream sections in which the young and it is believed that the surge of flood during the coming winter restore water trout can pass''through the early stages water may have severely injured the food levels in drought-affected waters, the dam­ of growth before dropping into heavier supply present. Unfortunately, no data was age to the food supply through exposure water, has been seriously impaired. The available as to forage production, prior to of large sections of the stream beds to sun capacity for forage production of hundreds the flood, with which the forage yield this and air will require at least a period of of small streams has been drastically cur­ year may be compared. Owing to the fact from five to ten years, with normal water tailed by the drought. Pood producing rif­ that the drought had comparatively little flow in these streams, to restore them to fles on these waters during August were ob­ effect on this particular stream, there is their former status as forage producers. served to be reduced in water area from reason to believe that the available sup­ Nature's mending process is slow. one-half to three-quarters of their normal ply of forage will come back fast. In this While many of our larger trout streams width. Exposed to the air and sun as the respect, Spring Creek must be ranked one were also injured by the drought, sufficient stream flow dwindled, the dried- out por­ of a few exceptions in Pennsylvania trout water remained in most of them to insure tions of stream beds sustained heavy loss waters. fairly successful stocking this fall and next PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7 spring. Which brings us to the topic of this trout with which to restock the streams. ing program. Even today, some small, low article, the necessity of planting larger In coloration, girth and activity, these trout temperature tributaries to larger waters are trout if we are to hope for good fishing leave little to be desired. When released holding up well in spite of the drought, during the next few years. in wild waters, they give promise of pro­ and are suitable for stocking with smaller It is generally conceded by the sports­ viding fine sport for the anglers who in­ trout, but generally speaking these waters men that only through the planting of vade our streams next year. are the exception rather than the rule. In fish from legal six-inch size to 14 inches It is becoming increasingly apparent here the meantime, continued stocking with hig­ has the Fish Commission been able to fur­ in Pennsylvania that the sport of trout fish­ her trout must be the answer to continued nish fair trout fishing during the past six ing is a "dollars-and-cents" proposition of good fishing. years of drought conditions. In our heavily fished streams, handicapped as they have been by unfavorable natural factors, it would be assuming a great deal to expect stocking with two and three inch fingerling trout to yield impressive results. Under regular feeding at the hatcheries, it is pos­ sible to produce trout of legal size and over in from 12 to 18 months. At the Hunts- dale hatchery in Cumberland County, high temperature of the water during the winter months permits feeding virtually through­ out the entire year, with resultant rapid growth in the fish. To compare this sys­ tematic feeding of the hatchery fish with the forage possibilities afforded trout in even our better trout waters at the present time would be ridiculous. Ultimately, we must realize that the future of our trout fishing rests in large part with the hatch­ eries that produce the trout for stocking. Under normal natural conditions prevail­ ing on our trout waters, it is fair to say that natural reproduction may be counted upon to furnish annually from five to 10 per cent of the total trout population. But, as we said before, 1936 cannot, in any sense of the word, be termed a normal year in Feeder streams were dangerously low this summer. its effects on trout environment. That heavy loss of young trout in drought-strick­ raising more trout with which to restock Since the fisherman, through his license en streams this year occurred, there is lit­ our heavily fished streams. Pennsylvania fee, pays for the maintenance of his sport, tle reason to doubt. Coupled with deple­ anglers, through their license fund, have a practical, hard headed way of summar­ tion of natural forage have been heavy in­ insured a continuance of their sport through izing the trout fishing situation would be: roads on the trout population by natural the maintenance of a chain of splendid "Plant a thousand trout, legal size and over, predators such as the watersnake. Definite­ hatcheries. This is "fishing insurance" of big trout. If the fishermen succeed in catch­ ly, the chances of wild fish to survive under the best kind and in spite of natural handi­ ing 900 of them or more, so much the conditions prevailing this summer were caps, drought or flood, there will still be better. They're put out to be caught, and mighty slim in many of our streams. trout fishing. it's better to have them nestling in an Possibly, in say ten years, when environ­ angler's creel than providing food for the The Year Ahead mental conditions on our trout streams have watersnake." improved, the planting of fingerling trout Maybe we're all wet on this creed, but While the trout fishing picture as pre­ may again prove a vital asset to the stock- that's how we look at it. sented is a gloomy one, there is a bright­ er side. Recent rainfall has improved stream conditions for stocking, If, as was the case last year, we have heavy autumn rains, the stocking of hundreds of thousands of trout, ranging in size from six to 12 inches and now available at the hatcheries, should be successful. These larger trout, having a surplus of flesh attained while in the hatchery ponds, should soon become accus­ tomed to stream conditions and pull through the winter in good shape, particularly if stocked in larger waters. Most vital of all, however, from the angle of next year's trout fishing, is the con­ templated spring stocking program. We be­ lieve that spring stocking in effectiveness (if we consider the resultant catches made by the fishermen, and after all, this is what counts), is in a class by itself. There al­ ways will be, probably, a group of fisher­ men who deplore the catching of "hatch­ ery fish." The fact remains that without these "hatchery fish" mighty few waters in Pennsylvania would yield sport worthy of the name. Pennsylvania fishermen at their trout hatcheries now have available a magnifi­ cent supply of brook, brown and rainbow Stripping a Brood Rainbow Trout at Bellefonte Hatchery 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER A FISH SURVEY OF PENN'S CREEK by CHARLES T. LONTZ

EDITOR'S NOTE : In preparing this treatise Sweitzer and Cherry Runs in Union County. fectness of this picture. At several points on the range of species of fishes in Penn's For the most part, Penn's Creek flows along the headwaters of the stream, Creek, Mr. Lonts has made a definite con­ through rocks of the Devonian, Silurian, pollution occurs. Another condition which tribution to the study of fish life in Penn­ and Ordovecian periods. In many places may have some detrimental effect on fish sylvania. We believe that it will prove most through the mountain region the bed rock life is the eroded soil which is carried from interesting to the readers of the ANGLER. is exposed forming natural dams. The large the fields by heavy rainfall. If heavy rain­ boulders in the stream bed, as well as the fall occurs when fish are spawning, it is HE purpose of this survey is to deter­ roots of trees which lie on the banks, form quite probable that many eggs are smoth­ mine the range and distribution of small pools or pockets in which fish may ered by deposits of mud and silt. species of fish common to the Penn's Creek hide. In the upper part and the lower part On the banks of the stream are found region and to establish the fact that this the stream is less filled with rocks, is some­ such plants as the jewel weed, and meadow stream is capable of supporting far more what sluggish, and contains much grass. rue, aster, Joo Pie weed, pickerel weed, and large game fish than it now contains. The summer temperature in the upper part perhaps others not noticed. Some of the In obtaining the necessary data, test is from 76 degrees to 78 degrees Fahren­ more common trees are the black willow, seining was done at representative places. heit; the mountain region is from four to American elm, basswood, and black birch. The seines used were a 16 by 4, and a 35 six degrees lower. This difference in tem­ In the bed of the stream, islands of water by 5 foot drag net, and a three foot scoop perature is accounted for by the spring- willow are quite common. At one point net. Specimen fish were retained, examined fed runs. In the lower part the tempera­ in the lower stream nine-tenths of the and identified in the Bucknell laboratory. ture again rises to as high as 82 degrees. creek is covered with water willow. Poto- Information concerning fish life was ac­ There are several grist mills and three mogeton, elodea, and myriopyllum some­ cepted from reliable sources. electric power plants which use the waters times fill in the creek from bank to bank. The splendid cooperation of the Pennsyl­ of Penn's Creek. In all cases the water At only a few places are there cattail vania Fish Commission, the people owning is returned to the stream a few hundred marshes and pond-lily beds. the land along Penn's Creek, the competent feet below the mill. Over one hundred sum­ Insect life, an important source of food, guidance and direction of Dr. N. H. Stew­ mer camps are located on the banks of is plentiful. At many places thirty to forty art, and the laboratory facilities of Buck­ the stream. Many of these camps are owned damsel flies may be counted on plots of nell University have made this work pos­ by clubs or groups of persons, so that dur­ water willow two rods square. One or two sible. In preparing the list of fishes, refer­ ing the summer several thousand people Dobson fly larvae may be found on every ence has been made to the works of: enjoy the fishing, swimming, and boating imbedded stone the size of a man's head. this stream provides. One point on Samp- Egg clusters of Dobson fly are abundant EGGELING AND EHRENBERG sell's Dam has fifteen camps in less than on overhanging trees and rocks. One oak 1912. Freshwater Aquarium three-fourths of a mile along the stream. tree above Glenn-Iron has several hundred FORBES AND RICHARDSON Few other streams in the state have more white patches on it where it overhangs the 1920. Fishes of Illinois camps per mile; nor are there many other stream. From three to five May, Stone, and HUBBS, CARL L. streams on which more fishing is done. Caddis fly larvae are found on every rock 1926. A Check List of the Fishes of Neiv As a result of this concentration of fish­ the size of a man's hand. York ing, the large fish are becoming rather Animal life along the stream is almost JORDAN, DAVID STARR scarce. as abundant as in the stream. Bull frogs, 1929. Manual of the Vertebrate Animals One unfortunate factor mars the per- green-nosed frogs, pickerel frogs, leopard of North Eastern United States NEEDHAM AND LLOYD 1930. Life of Inland Waters NEW YORK BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE OSWEGO RIVER SYSTEM 1927.

Description of the Stream Penn's Creek has its source in Penn's Cave in Centre County, flows in an easterly direction through Centre, Mifflin, Union, and Snyder Counties, a distance of about fifty miles to Selinsgrove, where it empties into the Susquehanna River. The upper part of its course is through an open valley region to Coburn, Centre County, where it enters the mountains. In this upper part the stream is exposed to the sun, flows rather slowly, and contains numerous deep pools. The mountain region from Coburn to Glenn Iron has few deep pools. The cur­ rent of the stream is rapid; and the banks of the stream are lined with trees which afford considerable shade. The lower part of the stream, from Glenn Iron to the Sus­ quehanna River, flows through an open val­ ley similar to the upper part except that it contains more deep pools, is less shaded, and consequently has a higher temperature. The larger tributaries of Penn's Creek are Sinking, Pine, and Elk Creeks in Centre County; Poe Creek in Mifflin County; and Lick, Panther, and Henstep Runs and Mid­ dle Creek in Snyder County; and Laurel,

A PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER frogs, spring peepers, and wood frogs are 17. Smaller silver fin — Notropus analos- found, green-nosed and bull frogs being tamus Smaller, deeper body, length 3% most numerous. Several species of salaman­ to 3 2-3 times depth, lateral line less ders, the newt, common cave, viscid, red, than 37 scales, 9 rays in anal fin, scales and spotted occur under rocks and in rot­ more rounded. Taken one mile above ted driftwood. Sampsel's dam. Watersnakes abound in some of the old 18. Rosy faced shiner — Notropus rubellus stone and log dams, as many as sixty-seven rubrifrons (Cope) Body long, slender, having been killed by one person in the arrow-shaped, head and cheeks red in course of a week's camping at Sampsell's spring males. Taken in Sweitzer Run Dam, July, 1934. Garter snakes, copper­ and below New Berlin. heads, rattlers, and black snakes are killed 19. Cut lips chub or black chub — Exe- rather commonly in the mountain region. It glossum maxillinque (Le Suer) Lower is quite possible that the number of water lip shaped like capital "W," bluish snakes is decreasing due to the activities black on back and sides, silvery irides­ of fishermen who feel that "the less snakes Pickerel are caught occasionally in Penn's Qreelt. cent, body stout. Plentiful entire length there are, the more fish there will be." of streams. Kingfishers, white, green, blue, and black- from private pond of Charles Grimes 20. Golden shiner •— Notemigenus crysoleu- crowned herons, ospreys, spotted and soli­ cas crysoleucas (Mitchell) Body com­ tary sandpipers are common near the who had them imported from Germany about 1883. pressed, lateral much decurved, sides sil­ water. Other common birds of field and very with golden reflection. (Species not 8. Hornyhead chub •— Nocomis micropogan woods are plentiful. taken but should exist in slow, grassy (Girard) Head of males in spring cov­ Muskrat, mink, raccoon, opossum, and eddies.) Note: The fact that no golden ered with tubercles between eyes and skunks live in holes in the banks or the shiners were taken in Penn's Creek nostrils, caudal fin of young olive or hollow logs near the stream. Squirrels, deer, serves to substantiate data gathered to amber, adults brassy on sides, greenish rabbits, and occasionally a black bear, live this time indicating that the species is brown on top. Common on riffles from in the woods near the edge of the stream. primarily a pond and lake fish. Spring Mills to mouth. List and Description of Fishes 21. Blunt nosed minnow — Huberhynchus 9. Black nosed dace or red fin — Rhinich- notatus (Rafinesque) Snout abruptly In presenting this list of fishes informa­ thys stronasus (Cope) Small fish, black­ tion is used from data gathered principally decurved, head rather long wholly black ish on back, black or brown lateral band, in spring males with 14 large tubercles. during the summer of 1935. Information, spring or cold water males with band however, has been accepted from individuals Taken above Sampsel's Dam, not plenti­ and lower fin crimson, orange in sum­ ful. who have lived along Penn's Creek for per­ mer. Common from source to Glenn Iron. iods of forty years or more. This informa­ 22. Stone roller minnow — Campostema tion is reliable. Some thirty-two species of 10. Long nosed dace or eel pike — Rhinich- anomalum (Rafinesque) Brownish with fish have been taken, carefully examined, thys cataractae (Guvier and Valenci­ a brassy luster above, scale mottled, and identified. ennes) Snout projecting beyond the hor­ males in spring with many rounded tu­ izontal mouth, black on back, dorsal fin bercles on head. Nests of Stone roller 1. Brown trout—Salmo fario (Linneaus) amber. Common on riffles and swift or Horny head plentiful in lower part Large black and red spots, pectoral fin rocky places Coburn to New Berlin. of stream. larger and heavier than brook trout, fins not barred. Common from Weikert to 11. Fall fish or white chub — Leucosomus source. corporalis (Mitchell) Slender silvery fish, bluish above, fins plain. Common 2. Rainbow trout — Salmo irideus irideus from Coburn to Glenn Iron, occasional­ (Gibbons) Colors usually duller, more ly found a short distance above Coburn silvery, head shorter and more pointed and as far down as New Berlin. than brook trout. Stocked in stream in upper part, rarely taken, no indication 12. Horned dace or common chub — Somati- that it reproduces in Penn's Creek. * lus atromaculatus atre,maculatus 3. Brook trout — Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchell) Body robust, ducky, little sil­ (Mitchell) Numerous small red spots, very, black spot at base of dorsal fin in lower fins with bright edgings. Present front. Plentiful in upper part of stream, at mouths of small streams in mountain less common in lower, common in moun­ Comfnon Sucker. region, common above Spring Mills, Cen­ tain region. tre County, and below Coburn, Centre 13. Pearl dace — Margariscus margarita 23. Stone cat — Schiloeodes insignis (Rich­ County, for several miles. Plentiful in margarita (Cope) Belly reddened in ardson) Small catfish, head broad, body Elk Creek. breeding males, sides mottled or speckled not so deep as in Ameiurus. Extremely 4. Common sucker — Catastenus eommer- with dark, mouth small, somewhat abundant from Coburn to mouth. sennii (Lacepede) Head convex above, curved, snout becoming blunt with age. 24. Common bull head — Ameiurus nebu- small scales, silvery on sides, brown or Common in Elk Creek but not taken in losus (Le Suer) No scales, large flat black on back. Common entire length Penn's to date, August, 1935. (Species head, body deep, brown or black on back, of stream. found in drainage) yellow on sides, white on belly, heavier 5. Mullet or Black sucker — Hypentelium 14. Spawn eater or spot tailed minnow — than Schilbeedes. Common from Coburn migricans (Le Suer) Head concave Notropus hudsonus amarus (Clinton) to mouth, occasionally above Coburn.' above, body crossed by oblique bars. Head more pointed than in cornutus, 25. Chain pickerel or pike — Esox Reticu­ Common entire length of stream. body more slender. Taken at Coburn lars. Head long, snout 2 1-3 in. head; and below New Berlin. 6. Chub sucker — Erimyzon oblongus ob- greenish; with many dark narrow limes longus (Mitchell) Lengthwise streaks or 15. Common shiner — Notropus cernutus and streaks. Found from Cherry Run td vertical bars or combination of streaks (Mitchell) Head less pointed, mouth mouth of stream. Not common anywhere; and bars, young striped, mouth sub- more decurved, body stouter than hud­ 26. Eel — Anguilla bostoniensis (Le Suer) inferior. (Not taken but should be pres­ sonus. Common from Coburn to New Long slender snakelike fish, mouth sim­ ent.) Berlin. ilar to common fish, not round like lam­ 7. Carp — Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) 16. Larger silver fin — Notropus splopterus preys ; used to be plentiful entire length' Dorsal and anal fin with strong serrated (Cope) Larger than whipplii, less deep, of stream but is gradually becoming spine, brown color, large scales, upper length is four to five times the depth, extinct. jaw with barbels. Common in deep holes more than thirty seven scales in lateral 27. Top minnow or striped minnow — Fiin- and dams to Coburn. Occasionally found line, 8 rays in anal fin, scales more dia­ dulus diaphemus (Jordan and Copeland) above Coburn. Introduced in Elk Creek, mond shaped. Taken below Sampsel's Body rather slender, sides silvery with June, 1889, by flood which washed them dam and below New Berlin. (Please turn to page 13) ! 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER SMOULD'RIN' SMOKE got its use, when time is kinda short. An outboard motor moves you fast, with all her By KENNETH H. SMITH rip and snort. P YOU love the lonely lakeland, son, and There's one more smell you can't forget— I yearn for the timber tall; if yo.u thrill but 'tain't a pleasant one; that searin' When a bass goes leapin', son, and when the scorchin' hell on earth, a forest fire, 's no wild geese call—then you're sure to get my fun! You can lay your bottom dollar son, meanin' when I try to make my point, and when timber blazes start, they blind your you'll not be judgin' harshly if my reason- eyes, they sting your lungs—they well- in's out of joint. nigh burn your heart! Recall the chilly mornings, son, when your I'm just a-goin' to jump in, son, and tell blanket feels so good; I mind of one (I'd what I got to say, unless you've got some won the toss) and Partner fired the wood work to do—if so, I'll go my way. No? and boiled the pot and fried the trout and Then I'll set and say my piece. It don't cussed my lazy pelt—while I just lay and amount to much. Just an old outdoorsman's soaked it in—how good that breakfast musin's on some smokes and smells an' such. smelt! There's a skad o' smoke a-smould'rin' I'm gettin' old, my fires soon are goin' to underneath this old felt hat, just a-bubblin' cease to burn; but, son, I know you younger and a-boiln' 'til we start to chaw the fat. bucks will never cease to yearn for the And, son, the mem'ries those smokes bring smell and smokes of the outdoors, and I'll would well-nigh fill a book, for they span a be a-steppin' out content to know, it won't lifetime's lovin' of the bullet and the hook! be lost, that smell of sizzlin' trout! I'll just pack my briar full, son, of the Well, lad, my pipe is all puffed out, and I jest got back from a run down ter the necessary weed, an' take a coal to light her I'll be on my way, with a thankee, lad, for big river with Bill Tilfer. We was doin' up—now there's a smoke indeed. A good old list'nin' while I've had my little say. Our some fishin' I never done afore, fishin' fer briar burnin', son, with me it tops 'em all— outdoors smokes are dwindlin', son-—t'will carp, an' boys I'm tellin' ye, I got the sur­ it's a magic smoke that somehow seems to be an uphill fight—but keep 'em smould'rin' prise o' my life. First off, after we got ter bind us, brothers all. for your son. God bless you, and good night. the river, Bill he baits the hooks with dough Now, I'll ask you, son, to go with me, to —The Minnesota Conservationist. bait. We hed some sizable sinkers on our a time of long ago—when I was just a lines an' Bill showed me how ter cast 'em wobbly cub of six or seven or so. I 'member out. my old Daddy, how he'd take his old ca*ne Now Jerry, he sez ter me, jest don't git pole, and with a pail o' shiners, he would a-figgerin' thet these here carp is gonner head for the old bass hole. hit like pike er bass. They does a lot o' An' I'd sit there a-snifflin' and a-tryin' cavortin' around easy-like with the bait to hide my tears, 'cause Ma, she said "No afore they starts off with it. Let thet line go fishin', son, until you add some years." Well, slack at the pole tip, an' jest set quiet. there wasn't much of smell right then, if it Well sir, it was shore nice there along the came to askin' me, 'cause my smeller, it was river so early in the mornin'. We saw a all choked up—an' my throat was too. Aw, flock o' wild ducks go scootin' by, an' I gee! was watchin' a big white heron fishin', when But then, when Daddy'd get back home Bill nudges me an' sez watch yer line. Thet my tears was all forgot, 'cause I'd sniff the line was actin' most all-fired funny. The smell of his fish, his pipe—the whole de­ slack'd stretch out an then ease back, stretch lightful lot; an' son, I'd swear to myself that out an' ease back agin. Thet kept up fer when I'd ceased to be a lad, I was goin' to nigh onter fifteen minutes an' I was startin' go a-fishin' an' a-huntin', just like Dad! ter figger thet if this was carp fishin' I liked Say! 'Member how in autumn time, with sucker fishin' better. Then all to once zing an' thet reel thet Bill hed loant me started bonfires in the air, the magic Indian sum­ ter screech like the dickens. mer smell would sort of make you rare and snort around and paw and prance, 'til Sat­ Sot the hook, yells Bill an' I sot it. I urday would dawn, when you could load the figgered right then, by gorry, thet I was old smoothbore and whistle "Sport! C'mon!" hooked onter the bottom o' the river. Thet thar fish pulled like a span o' mules, an' An' 'member that black powder smoke you once he swirled an' made me think thet he'd don't smell now-a-days How it stuck and go fifty pounds. He's a dandy, sez Bill, an' hung on misty air, a heavenly hunter's if I ain't wrong he's a leatherback. haze? An' you sniffed it in with a canyon Well, sir, thet fish used up better part o* grin, although it stung your nose ? If you'd forty minutes afore I tired him enuf ter a tail, you'd'a' wagged it then, smack dab T. B. Froti of Chambarsburg with a 23-inch, 4-pound 3-ouncs Brown Trout taken this year. bring him in. He weighed jest a leetle better back to your toes! than twenty-two pounds, an' Bill claims The heavy-hangin' wood smoke in the thet thet size o' leatherback is one o' the cabin on the lake—remember? Don't your LANCASTER BOYS KILL WATERSNAKES best fightin' fish a man kin hook inter. old eyes smart when fire's on the make! We ketched four more carp, all o' them Until she sorter starts to draw, with the Ira E. Mellinger, president of the Lan­ scale carp thet day an' I'm sayin' thet my draft exactly rjght, she fills your lungs and caster County Fish and Game Association, eyes sure was opened ter a new kind o' nose an' such, an' you're a smelly sight! reports fine progress in the campaign waged fishin' fer me thet's jest most all-fired good You open up the doors an' all, an' in against the watersnake by the Association fun. comes good fresh air, and in two jerks the this year. Recently, "Uncle Dan" Schnabel, smoke's all gone, and only smell is there. Board Member, approved the applications POLLUTION REPORTS That good old cabin's housed some smells for conservation medals to be awarded by that fairly make me wish that I was goin' the Lancaster sportsmen and the Fish Com­ The law prohibits the pollution of waters there right now, to set an' smoke an' fish! mission to three Lancaster boys, each of of the Commonwealth by substances of any There's another smell that brings 'em whom has killed to date from 10 to 50 wat- kind or character deleterious, destructive, back, those good old lakeland days—I don't ersnakes. The youthful snake hunters are or poisonous to fish. Any cases of pollution refer to the pine-trees' breath, or the frag­ George C. Werntz, R. E. Wissler and Cecil should be reported to the Sanitary Water rant campfire blaze, but to a fume that's Rhoads, all of Lancaster. Board, Department of Health, Harrisburg. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11 REPORT OF POLLUTION STUDY COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY

By TALBOTT DENMEAD, Secretary Since our last meeting in Tulsa, Okla­ homa, a year ago, much polluted water has passed under many bridges, resulting in the death of many fishes; there has been much talk about doing something about it, but like Mark Twain's famous re­ mark about the weather, nobody has done anything. Little progress has been made in actually and permanently removing pol­ lution; true some abandoned mines have been sealed in Pennsylvania and nearby states, a few city disposal plants have been planned, and in some instances completed. Lots of talk about more investigations has been heard—a favorite method of the pol­ luters for delaying action—but as a whole, we are just about where we were a year ago; while we have cleaned up one spot, additional water contamination has occurred in others, while we talk, instead of play­ ing a fiddle, like Nero, the fish die. These fish were picked up on 60 feet of shoreline on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Pollution may be stopped in a way that polluted during the summer. is perfectly satisfactory to health officials, or to a point where it don't destroy cattle; What then? things is the Lonergan Bill. I might also but from the fish viewpoint, it is not so Some control extending beyond the jur­ add, this bill does not conflict with the doc­ good; an industry with every good inten­ isdiction of the locality where pollution oc­ trine of State's rights, for the Federal con­ tion tries to prevent pollution by deposit­ curs, big enough to control an offending trol only extends to navigable waters, and ing its poisonous refuse in vats or other such tributaries as affect navigable waters. receptacles on the land, but an accident, corporation with pull, and covering all the polluted water, whether in one or more Beyond that, a Federal board cannot and an unusual storm, or some ,v*t of man, should not go. suddenly releases a large quantify of poi­ states—something with a punch in it to be son into the stream; it is in concentrated used if and when necessary that can actu­ I quote from another reply: "It seems form, and in bulk—the fish are killed for ally make a polluter stop polluting, when to me that the most important matter in miles down stream. Reports of dead fish reason fails. the pollution situation is the proposed na­ reach the ears of state authorities, in­ The answer. tional legislation ... I am thoroughly con­ vestigation is made, the parties responsible vinced that any legislation which does not are very sorry, and promise not to let it Your committee members have various give authority to initiate action in some happen again, but the fish are all dead, views on the subject; certainly a majority Federal agency will not accomplish the and it will take two or three years to re­ favor Federal control of some kind; many purpose desired .... There are certain place them; and the angler can wait; by favor the Lonergan Bill, as is, or with the time his interest and work and that of fundamental features in the Lonergan Bill, slight amendments. Your secretary does back of which I believe we must stand if the State authorities at considerable expense not mind who knows it, he is in favor of have brought back the fish supply to al­ real accomplishment is to result. There are the LONERGAN BILL, which was favor­ most normal, another "accident" occurs, and other features in wjiich modifications might the angler and the state conservation au­ ably reported by the Senate Committee with well be made to meet objections." thorities can begin all over again. How long, slight amendments at the last session. Let me quote you a few extracts from letters Another: "May I frankly say, that in my Oh, Lord, how long? Is it not time some­ opinion the committee has not discharged thing is done besides investigating, leav­ recently received from members of one com­ mittee. its full duty to the American Fisheries So­ ing it to health departments and inadequate ciety, and to the country in the reports or unenforced state laws to clean up our which have been made. Through outside streams ? "No legislation will be of any value in the move to suppress stream pollution un­ pressure it has shown too much of the weak Someone has said the industries have less it incorporates the following three and foolish policy of pitying the evil doers always polluted our streams and have a principles: First, that it provide a clear­ and neglecting the public rights which have right to continue to dump their refuse into ing house for information, and an oppor­ been violated and public values which have the public waters. They are wrong—a man tunity of cooperation between the Pollution been destroyed .... I would suggest that can obtain title to a piece of .'and by emin­ Board and the polluters; Second, that it pro­ arrangements be made to have the com­ ent domain, or a right of way by pre­ vide means of financing municipal sewage mittee embark at once on an actual study scription, but he cannot obtain a right to and trade waste, disposal plants by loans and discussion of the situation. The work maintain a nuisance. of Federal funds, and so far as municipali­ should begin in September in order that proper progress may be made before the So what? ties are concerned, by a grant of part of the cost, on the theory that it is as much matter is taken up in the coming session The States for years and years have been the concern of the Federal government, to of Congress." continuously trying to stop pollution, with safeguard the quality of the water, as it little success, either the laws were not suf­ In considering this suggestion your sec­ is to dredge our channels; Third, that it ficient, or not enforced, or the polluters retary advises a reorganization of the com­ were too big; fish continue to die off from gives power to the pollution abatement mittee, members to be selected by the in­ Poisons dumped into public waters; Waste. agency to compel polluters, who will not coming officers of the association. Scientists are still investigating, and can cooperate voluntarily, to do so." I might Several members have written in that continue to do so for generations, but their say that the only one of the bills pending they have no suggestions to make in re­ findings alone will not save fish. in Congress incorporating these three gard to a report. 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER AT MEET OF UNITED SPORTSMEN NEAR WILKES-BARRE

Photo Courtesy: Sunday Independent, Wilkes-Barre State officials joined with members of United Sportsmen of Pennsylvania in their annual convention at Harrison's Park. Blakeslee. First row, left to right: Joseph Marcinkus Hazleton; F. E. Haegele, Hazleton; H. S. Smith, Wilkes-Barre; O. M. Deibler, Commissioner of Fisheries, Harrisburg; J. Q. Creveling, Wilkes-Barre; S. J. Truscott, Board of Fish Commissioners, Dalton; Dr. J. F. Bogardus, Sec­ retary of Forests and Waters, Harrisburg; Seth Gordon, Executive Secretary, Board of Game Commissioners, Harrisburg; E F. Smith, Wilkes-Barre; Ray Wootten, Sugar Notch; Steve Emanuel, president of Wilkes-Barre Branch. Second row: Bert Colley, Dr. C. A. Mortimer, Morris Kemmerer, Abe Lewis, P. M. Skierka, Stanley Mesavage, Allen Bacon, Sr., Antonio Petrerio, Greenwood; Joseph Potocki, Greenwood; Harry Nicholson, J. T. Neiger, Scranton; Floyd Baker, Scranton; John Lizstus, Fred Goeringer, Luther Kniffen, Otis Skid. Third row: Paul Milbrodt, Floyd Ramage, West Pittston; Thomas Hewitt, Wilkes-Barre; P. J. Connor, Swoyerville; Joseph Foley, Georgetown; Allen Bacon, Jr., Thomas Bradshaw, Sugar Notch; Joseph Sokolewski, Henry Fassett, Meshoppen Floyd T Sensinbach, White Haven; Michael Ripa, Kingston; Clinton Ide, Dallas; John Chechourak, Duryea; M. F. Terisinski, C. R. Kelchner, Forty Fort.

NURSERY WATERS CLOSED TO mendable record in watersnake killing this Anglers and guards reported the killing FISHING season, according to Warden Leland Cloos. of 114 watersnakes in that section. The Tom has killed 61 snakes so far, most of project was stocked prior to and during Following is a list of nursery trout waters them along Crooked Creek. A great deal the season with brown and rainbow trout closed by the Board at its last meeting, of interest has been aroused in Tioga Coun­ well over six-inch legal size. An interest­ ty sportsmen circles by the vermin contest August 10th, 1936: ing angle to the checkup on catches indi­ of the Tioga Rod and Gun Club this year. Somerset County cates that many anglers fished for the Blue Hole Run, tributary to Laurel Hill sport alone, returning all fish landed to Creek. WISSAHICKON PROJECT POPULAR the stream. Three miles of Brush Creek, tributarv The Wissahickon is a splendid example to Wills Creek. THIS YEAR Butler County of the kind of fishing that can be afforded, Municipal Reservoirs of the Boro of Ze- The picturesque Wissahickon Creek, flow­ even in densely populated sections of the lienople. ing through Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, state, through proper stream management. Luzerne County proved exceedingly popular with trout fish­ Board Member Edgar. W. Nicholson, who About one-third Sugar Notch Dam. ermen in the Quaker City during the past was directly responsible for the improve­ Pike County trout season, according to a report received ment of the Wissahickon as a Public Works Portion of Promised Land Pond. by the ANGLER. Park guards reported Project, is to be highly commended for the counting 3663 anglers during the days spec­ fine showing the project made this year. ified for fishing in the stream, and reported KILLS 61 WATERSNAKES inspecting a total of 951 trout which had been taken. On. the first day, 437 fisher­ Hungry Diner: "Waiter, will the griddle Thomas Baker, 14 years old, of Crooked men tried the improved sections of the cakes be long?" Creek, Tioga County, has established a com­ stream. Waiter: "No, sir, round." PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

A FISH SURVEY OF PENN'S CREEK *Document No. 1007, Department of (Continued -from page 9) Commerce, Bulletin of the Bureau of Fish­ "SHOE HORN" BAIT 15 to 25 narrow dark vertical bands, eries, Volume XLII, 1926, page 183. fins plain. Taken at Bishop's and Cidei "In November, 1922, twenty 6 to 8-inch George Zimmerman, genial secre­ mill below New Berlin. Rare (see Map), suckers were collected directly over the tary of the Lehigh County Fish and 28. Y e 11 o w perch — Perca flavescens newly made nests of brook trout, where Game Protective Association, offers (Mitchell) Body deep, compressed fins eggs were doubtless abundant in the gravel. the following proof that anglers are spiny, scales tough, body olive yellow As not a single fish egg was found in these among the most ingenious of people. with dark transverse bands. Taken from or in over 200 other sucker stomachs exam­ Writes George: Glenn Iron to New Berlin, rare, becom­ ined it seems safe to assume that fish eggs "Necessity has always been and will ing extinct. are rarely taken by this species." continue to be the mother of invention. 29. Shielded darter — Hadropterus peltatus If you don't believe it, ask Fred Bitt- Similar to Johnny darter (No. 30) but ner, assistant chief of the Bureau of more distinct vertical bars and definite Sanitary Sewers of Allentown, and get black stripe through first dorsal fin. TULPEHOCKEN CATCHES the story first hand. Bittner was fish­ Taken at New Berlin, Glenn Iron, and ing in Georgian Bay, Canada, with me Coburn. Scarce. early in July, and the favorite lure for SO. Johnny darter — Boieosoma nigrum great northern pike was a shiny nickel olmstedi (Storer) Body slender, snout spoon popularly known as the dare­ somewhat decurved, mouth small sub-in­ devil and purchaseable at any good ferior, light sandy brown color, back sporting goods house. But the pike bit speckled with brown. Abundant entire so savagely and frequently that the length of stream. losses of daredevils were extraordi­ 31. Small mouth bass — Micropterus dolo- narily heavy, with the result that to­ mieu (Lacepede) Upper jaw extending ward the latter end of the trip, the beyond middle of pupil but to high mar­ supply was exhausted. The situation gin of eye. Common Coburn to mouth. called for some ingenuity, in fact, a 32. Eastern long eared sunfish — Lepomis lot of it, but Bittner was not to be so auritur (Hubbs) Operculum much elon­ easily thwarted in his quest for gated, bluish purple in color. Common "Northerns," so what did he do but Coburn to mouth. grab a silver shoe horn that Friend 33. Common sunfish or pumpkin seed — Wife had thrown in his grip just be­ Eupomotis gibbosis (Linnaeus) No ex­ fore Friend Husband started on his tension but tip of operculum with con­ trip, bore a hole in each end, attach spicuous red spot. Forehead steeper than three hooks and resume his fishing. Do blue gill or long eared, body stouter than pike take to silver shoe horns? Well, long eared. Common Coburn to mouth. the fact that Bittner caught his largest 34. Rock bass or goggle eye — Ambloplites fish, a twelve-pounder, is the answer." rupestris (Rafinesque) Very large red eye, sides brassy, olive green, young more mottled with dark. Common Co- burn to mouth. CANOEING INSTRUCTOR LANDb 35. Gruntling or miller's thumb — Cottus Harry Peifer of Reading has been having TWO NICE BASS cognatus (Richardson) Large headed, great sport with the bass on Tulpehocken spiny, reddish brown or green phases, Creek, Berks County, this season. Using fly dark bars, usually much broken. Glenn and spinner, he recently caught the 18-inch Jack Kelberg, 17 years old, of Camp Hill, Iron to source, common. smallmouth bass which he is shown holding who is canoeist instructor for the Harris- This survey indicates the economic value in the accompanying picture. He informs us burg Area Boy Scout Council, is develop­ of Penn's Creek as a commercial and rec­ that on another trip he scored with two ing into quite a plug caster. Recently while reational item. The recreational advantages smallmouths, 14 and 11 inches in length casting at Loysville on Sherman's Creek he can be improved without interference with respectively. Another catch comprised two landed two fine smallmouth bass, reports the commercial interests by: largemouth bass, one 10 inches and the other Norman Wood, Game Commission lecturer. 1. Stream improvement 16 inches. The 18-inch bass landed recently One of the bass measured 17 inches in a. Building of retards and current de­ weighed 2V2 pounds. length, the other 12 inches. flectors, particularly in upper part and mountain part of stream. b. Increased stocking of game fish 1. Suggested list of fish Source to Spring Mills Brook trout Source to Weikert Brown trout Fallfish or white chub * Suckers Weikert to mouth Large mouth bass Small mouth bass Rock bass Sunfish Yellow perch Catfish *Suckers 2. Prevention of pollution a. Increased fine, $5,000 instead of $100. b. More effective laws prohibiting dis­ posal of junk and garbage by dump­ ing along stream. c. Enforcement of city sewage disposal Anglers Gough and Gardner of Washington, D. C, with their catches of Trout taken this year laws. at the Spring Creek project. 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

FRENCH BEAGLES WIN AT THE WESTMORELAND SPORTSMEN STAGE a fishing contest in which 25 fishermen MONTGOMERY MEET ANNUAL OUTING competed, featured the fourth annual pic­ nic of the Westmoreland County Sports­ men's Association held in Idlewild Park on With 150 members in attendance, the A varied program of events, including August 29. Angler Ray of West Newton Montgomery County Fish, Game and For­ scored the catch of the largest bass, an estry Association enjoyed an unusually suc­ SOFTBALL 18-inch fish, in the contest and was award­ cessful annual summer outing on the farm Hunter's team captained by Lloyd Heeb­ ed a fine casting rod. All of the fish were of J. Wayne Heebner last month. ner. taken on barbless hooks in the novel con­ Featuring the annual event was a pro­ QUOITS test, and immediately returned to the water gram of sports events which included a J. Warren Ziegler and C. H. Alderfer. unharmed. Bait casting also attracted many dog show, plug casting, tug-of-war, soft- of the fishermen present. ball, quoits and trapshooting. TRAPSHOOTING J. Hansell French, of Collegeville, Sec­ 50-Target Trophy Event Commissioner of Fisheries O. M. Deibler retary of Agriculture, was the heaviest Charles Todd 25 24 49 was presented with a plaque at the pic­ scorer in the dog show, making a clean Eugene Muller 24 24 48 nic by President Harry Soles of the Asso­ sweep in the beagle hound class. B. C. Carroll 23 23 46 ciation. In his response, Mr. Deibler spoke Washington's "Nip" and "Tuck" swept the Ringler 23 22 45 commending the interest the sportsmen are Gordon setter class. Twenty dogs were Gordon 23 21 44 taking in their cooperative trout nursery, benched in the canine show, judged by Pursell 22 21 43 and said that at the present time there Harry Steinbach. Leon Kohl 21 22 43 are only eight of these nurseries in the In trapshooting, Charles Todd, of Con- Ulmer 17 22 39 state. shohocken, captured the 50-target trophy E. Smith 19 17 36 The nail driving contest was one of the event, by breaking 49 targets, one better G. Smith 17 17 34 most interesting in the sports contests. It than the 48 cracked by Eugene Muller. 100-Target Event took Mrs. Bilby of Derry nine seconds to Muller who has been scoring well in recent Gene Muller 95, Tom Carroll 92, Leon drive three nails in medium soft wood. She shoots, won the honors in 100-target com­ Kohl 90, R. Gill 89. won in the women's contest. petition with a 95 tally. 25-Target Event W. L. Campbell, of Latrobe, won the Frank Bertolette scored 24 in the 25- F. Bertolette 24, Judge Knight 22, N. men's nail driving contest. It took him 18 target event in which Judge Harold G. Wood 21, N. Washington 21, J. Tunsberger seconds to drive three nails into hard wood Knight outscored his son, Harold, Jr., 22 21, Adolf Muller 20, G. Uhrin 20, N. Weber using a small hammer. to 19. 20, Harold Knight, Jr. 19, R. Miller 19, R. With the exception of the prone and Leon Nester won the plug-casting con­ Tingley 18, V. Harting 18, W. Hannaway bench shooting, the baseball game between test for accuracy while Harry Fratt won 17, Dr. Miller 17, J. Walton 17, F. Rom- the Ligonier Merchants and Madison nines, the laurels for distance. berger 17, J. Seipt 17, F. Brown 17, F. Jen­ and the awarding of the Trout Nursery kins 16, J. Over 16, D. Myers 15, J. Har- J. Warren Ziegler and C. H. Alderfer cash prizes, the entire program was run tongue 15, F. Schultz 15, R. Whitaker and through, although some of the events were won the quoit tournament; the hunters' H. Jowett 14, R. Middleton 13. team, captained by Jim Mullen won the later in starting than scheduled. tug-of-war from the fishermens' squad and the hunters' team, led by Lloyd Heebner, won the Softball game by a one-side mar­ gin. Judge Knight made the presentation of prizes. A feature was the playing of Noah's Jolly Germans, a band from Quakertown. The sport summaries: DOG SHOW English Setters Bitches—W. R. Gordon's "Nannuck." Dog—Samuel Cope's "Boy." Irish Setters Bitches—Harry Walton entry. Fox Terrier Martin L. Horn's entry. Gordon Setter Dog—B. C. Washington's "Nip." Bitches—B. C. Washington's "Tuck." Cocker Spaniel Entry of John Keyser. 16-INCH SNAKE KILLS 8-INCH TROUT dead when I killed the snake but too far Beagle Hounds gone to revive. Dog—J. Hansell French's "Delmont "When I first saw the trout it had its Scout." The following incident which occurred head under a stone and was turned on its Puppy male—J. H. French's "Perkiomen above Cross Fork, Potter County, serves as side. I first thought that the trout was Lad." a good illustration of the destructive ten­ dead, but when I got closer to it I found Puppy bitch-*J. H. French's "Perkiomen dencies of watersnakes in our trout waters. that it was still alive and trying to get Lass." Warden Wright Rumsey of Roulette writes: away. When I raised the stone which the Pointers "I am enclosing a picture of a watersnake, snake was under, it released the trout and Best bitch—C. W. Brendle's "Carolina's and a brown trout that it killed. The back­ swam- off. I followed the snake and shot it. Honey Girl." ground of the picture was too light and I then returned to the trout and here is the Best dog—R. T. Schall's "Trigger." the subjects do not show up like I was in picture. PLUG CASTING hopes they would. But maybe you can get "This instance may not be of as much in­ For accuracy—Leon Nester. an idea of it. terest to you as it was me, as you hear so For distance—Harry Fratt. "The snake was sixteen and one-quarter much about watersnakes. But the thing that TUG-OF-WAR inches long, and the trout was eight and impressed me so much was the comparison one-eighth inches long. The trout was not in size of the two." Hunter's team captained by Jim Mullen. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15

CHESTER SPORTSMEN PLAN TWO-DAY RALLY

Fourteen conservation associations of Chester County are combining to stage a two days' sportsmen's rally, Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, on the site of the Philadelphia Y.M.C. A. Outing Camp, a mile south of Downingtown. The swim­ ming pools, three of them, will be used for fly and plug casting. The revenue derived from the meet will be used to purchase food for fish and game, to buy direct from the farmers, to purchase game and fish and re­ forestation in Chester County. Some of the activities comprise band con­ certs afternoon and night; pony show, bird dog, beagle and coon trials, archery, quoits, tennis and volley ball matches, rifle, trap Stream improvement work on Cherry Creek, Monroe County. and revolver shooting, exhibits from the Fish, Game and Forest and Waters Depart­ SMALL-MOUTH BASS PUT IN Canada," through the courtesy of the Ca­ ment, speaking, old-fashioned square dances, nadian National Railways. etc. Governor George H. Earle and other SKIPPACK CREEK eminent speakers will attend. CORYDON FISHERMEN MAKE Four years ago the plan suggested itself Eighty Quail Released In Different Townships of to Norman M. Wood, who was chosen as Montgomery County. HEAVY CATCHES president of the Countywide Association. The first meet proved a huge success. This Reports of the game released during the George Black, Leo Russell, John Tim­ year sportsmen requested that the rally be past month was announced at the regular pano, Mrs. John Timpano, Herbert Wil­ liams, Louis Kinney, Charles White, and repeated. Meetings have been held in va­ meeting of the Perkiomen Valley Sports­ Francis Rodgers, all of Corydon, Warren rious sections of the county and much in­ men's Association, held in the Borough Hall, county, made fine catches of brook trout terest is being manifested. John Evans, here, last Thursday evening. According to Ambrose Gerhart, game on opening day of the season in streams of Avondale, president of the Southern Chester that section, according to Warden R. C. County Izaak Walton League, and Dr. Frank warden of this section, he released eighty quail in this county. These quail were ten Bailey, Youngsville. C. Hanna, Oxford, well known bird dog lover Elmer Elmquist, residing at Sheffield, and trap shooter, are the vice-presidents; weeks old and were placed in the following townships: 20 in Limerick; 20 in Worcester; Pa., caught a brownie' from the South E. G. Henderson, Downingtown, secretary, Branch of Tionesta Creek which measured and John Baldwin, secretary of the gun club 20 in Uper Providence, and 20 in Perkio­ men. 21 inches in length and weighed 3 pounds at Atglen. dressed. Fly and plug casting on a swimming pool, Mr. Gerhart also reported that he trapped 40x70 feet, with Hon. Kenneth Reid, mem­ numerous pheasants and released them in MUSKIE ber of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, other sections where this bird is not so as judge of the contests, and who will give plentiful. Charles Grode of Erie recently scored an exhibition of the art of handling rod and He also helped to transfer at least a thou­ with the catching of a fine muskelhinge in line, will be one of the big features of the sand fish, taken from a stone quarry at Tel­ Presque Isle Bay near Erie. The muskie great sportsmen's rally and farmers' picnic, ford, to the Branch Creek. The species in­ measured 42 inches in length and weighed Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, on cluded catfish, sunfish and minnows. 17 pounds. ' the 300 acre farm of the Philadelphia Y. M. Russell Krupp, chairman of the fish com­ C. A., a half mile south of Downingtown. mittee of this Association, reported that six 22-INCH PICKEREL hundred small-mouth bass averaging be­ tween 6 and 7 inches, were placed in the A pickerel measuring 22 inches in length BERKS WALTONIANS STAGE Skippack Creek. There were also sixty-five and weighing 2 pounds 9 ounces was taken BIG OUTING cans of bass placed in the Perkiomen, aver­ in Crooked Creek, a small stream in Tioga aging about 4 inches, during the past month. County in August, reports Leland Cloos, One of southeastern Pennsylvania's fea­ The members of this Association enjoyed fish warden at Middlebury Center. Gordon ture sports events, the annual field day four reels of motion pictures after the busi­ Goodwin of Middlebury Center made the and sportsmen's picnic of the Berks County ness meeting, entitled "Fishing Across catch. Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, was held on Sunday, September 20, at the Cedar Top Gun Club grounds near Shillington, Berks County. BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS Of particular interest to fishermen pres­ HARRISBURG, PA. ent was an exhibition of fly and bait casting SUBSCRIPTION BLANK by Board Member Kenneth A. Reid. Keen competition marked the fly and bait casting Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENN­ events for accuracy and distance. John D. SYLVANIA ANGLER. (Two years for One Dollar.) Rothermel scored a clean sweep in winning these events. In spite of cloudy weather and a drizzle of rain, a large turnout of Name. Berks County sportsmen enjoyed the pro­ (Print Name) gram. Street and Number. Other listed features of the day included trap shooting, running bear shoot with high power rifles, pistol shoot, archery, bingo City. and other games. 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

HERE AN„ THERE N ANGLERDOM

LaMar Mumbar of Pennsburg, Montgom­ reserved for women anglers, yielded a creel ery county, reports some splendid catches of 15 brook trout to Mrs. John Repine of of bass from the PerWomen Creek this sea­ Bradford. The same stream yielded a catch son. He informs us that Charles Nase of of 13 on the opening day to Mary Orze- Perkiomenville has landed 21 bass so far chowski of Bradford. this season, all from Kratz's Dam at Kratz's Station on the Perkiomen. The fish, ranging A sucker fisherman, John Werst of Al- in length to 21% inches, were taken on burtis, caught one of the largest brown artificial lures. trout taken in the Little Lehigh this year. Werst was still-fishing, his favorite sport, Fishing near Duncannon, Perry county, on with nothing but suckers anticipated, when the Susquehanna River on August 22, Wil­ a violent strike just about ripped his rod liam Dean of Harrisburg caught 10 bass, the into the creek. After a hefty tussle he largest measuring 18% inches in length and landed a brown trout weighing 5 pounds 2 weighing 3% pounds. His fishing trip came ounces. The fish was 26 inches long and had to an end, when he hooked into a giant bass a girth of 11 inches. that smashed his rod. Returning to the same 'place next day, he caught 7 more bass. The Juniata River in the vicinity of i Thompsontown, Juniata county, provided some interesting bass fishing for J. W. M. Cumberland county fishermen scored heav­ Burns of Mifflintown. Seven smallmouth ily on big brook trout during the past sea­ bass comprised his catch, the smallest son, writes Warden Frank Kirchner of Mc- measuring 11% inches, and the other fish in Connellsburg. Following are some of the his creel from 14 to 18% inches. catches: F.'. Herman, Carlisle, 4 brookies, each 14 inches in length; Harry Young, Writes Charlie Stambaugh of the Game Newville, 15 inch brook trout; Wilbur Get­ Commission office, Harrisburg: "Early in ter, Newville, 5 brookies, 14, 15, 15, 12 and the trout season I caught what I thought was 12% inches; Wilbur Getter, Sr., Newville, 2 an 8-inch brook trout, but which, when I got brookies, each 15 inches; John Neff, New­ it home, measured just about 7% inches ville, brook trout, 17 inches; A. F. Frank- (From Trindle Springs, Cumberland county). houser, Newville, two brookies 15 and 16 Being somewhat of an amateur scientist, I inches; Paul Motter, Newville, 16-inch Harold Bailey, 14, of Emporium, with a 3-pound like to snoop into things, so I examined 9-ounce Brown Trout he caught this year on carefully the stomach contents of this brook brookie; Paul Thompson, Newville, 15 inch Portage Creek. brook trout; Paul Prosser, Newville, two trout. I found in the fish, in addition to a large full-sized earthworm and half another, brook trout, 12% and 13i/2 inches; Doyle Warden George Cross of Hammersley Reed, Newville, 15% inch brook trout; Ben Fork writes that Game Protector Harry a small brook trout about 2% inches long. Weidler, Carlisle, 14 inch brookie; Leslie Rickert holds the record for smallmouth This fish had been skinned but I base my Over, Newville, 13 inch brookie; Charles bass caught to date this year in Clinton identification upon the tail, which had the Eby, two, 14 inch; S. Johnson, one 13% county. The fish measured 19% inches in black curved striping similar to the larger inch; Isaac Johnson, one 15'/2 inch; William length. Jane Rickert, 7 years old, Mr. Rick- fish I was cleaning. Apparently the brown Wagner, two, one 16 and one 18 inches; ert's daughter, caught five legal bass the trout are not the only cannibals in the Rev. P. Curffman, two brookies 16% and same morning, the largest bass measuring trout family." 14'/2 inches; Harold Patterson, two 18 inch 12 inches. brookies, and William Chronister, one 14 A 23-inch pickerel, taken by Frank inches and another 13% inches. All of the Stutsman, was found when opened to con­ last named anglers are from Newville. Four Clarion anglers made a fine catch tain an 8-inch bass. I Mark Micdella of Carlisle caught a brookie of smallmouth bass one evening this season Fishing on the Upper Delaware has also measuring 17% inches. Six-year-old Har­ on the upper Allegheny River. Casting plug been good for bass. Ten smallmouths, old Keep of Newville was right in the run- after dark, they succeeded in landing 24 three of them 15 inches, comprised a day's 'ning, taking a brook trout measuring 15% bass, the largest just verging on 20 inches catch for John Supplee of Milford. The I inches. Speaking of brook trout, its hard in length. Comprising the party were Ken catch was made in two hours. i to equal this list of catches. Taylor, Bill Geist, Les Weidner and Ken­ neth Keefer. Taylor caught the largest bass. SNAKE KILLERS Warden Robert Chrisman of Kushequa , D. B. Fretz of Chambersburg, according reports some good catches of brook trout Ira Mellinger, president of the Lancaster to Kirchner, has an excellent claim to the from waters in the McKean section this County Fish and Game Association, and M. trout fishing championship of Franklin year. Fishing in Watermill Run, James Bur- I. Lane, member, are enthusiastic water- county. Fishing in the Falling Spring, dett of Dayton, scored with 15 on April 27. snake hunters. One day they tied up traf­ Angler Fretz landed a brown trout measur­ Watermill is a tributary to the Kinzua fic on the Eden-Landis Valley road while ing 23 inches in length and weighing 4 Creek. Fred Petruzzi of East Smethport they killed a nest of watersnakes. Ira pounds 3 ounces. A nightcrawler was the caught 15 on opening day in Cooks Run. tossed them to the road and Lane finished bait used. Two hours fishing in Fuller Brook, a stream them. i r-r) — iw u i-> I I 9~H)M

View of Safe Harbor Dam on the Lower Susquehanna River. Excellent Bass and Wall-Eyed Pike water. i. PAUL L. SWANSON, R. D. NO.2. POLK, PA. P-A

Brother Angler

OREST

INISH ISHING