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OFFICIAL STATE VOL. XIV-No. 10 PUBLICATION OCTOBER, 1945

OFFICIAL STATE PUBLICATION

db PUBLISHED MONTHLY EDWARD MARTIN by the Governor PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS

Publication Office: J. Horace McFarland Co., CHARLES A. FRENCH Crescent and Mulberry Streets, Harrisburg, Pa. Commissioner of Fisheries Executive and Editorial Offices: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Board of Fish Com­ missioners, Harrisburg, Pa. MEMBERS OF BOARD 10 cents a copy—50 cents a year CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman Ellwood City

JOHN L. NEIGER EDITED BY— Scranton J. ALLEN BARRETT, Lecturer Pennsylvania Fish Commission JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD South Office Building, Harrisburg Confluence

• CLIFFORD J. WELSH Erie NOTE J. FRED McKEAN Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either New Kensington by check or money order payable to the Common­ wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. MILTON L. PEEK Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Radnor

CHARLES A. MENSCH Bellefonte PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper EDGAR W. NICHOLSON credit will be given to contributors. Philadelphia

H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board All contributions returned if accompanied by first class postage. Entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office C. R. BULLER of Harrisburg, Pa., under act of March 3, 1873. Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte Cp

IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address. Please give old and new addresses.

Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

VOL. XIV —No. 10 mm OCTOBER, 1945

— COVER — HUCK FINN By PAUL DEDERER

Third prize winner in nation-wide photo contest conducted by SOUTH BEND BAIT COMPANY, South Bend, Indiana. Photo courtesy of South Bend—A Name Famous In Fishing.

In This Issue:

FISHING THE POCKETS By DICK FORTNEY

FLY-TYING AID FOB THE BEGIN­ OCTOBER—and Autumn leaves are falling. . . NER IN TYING THE DRY FLY By WILLIAM F. BLADES Fall, with its tang of foliage perfume and the sharp coolness of ap­ proaching Winter in the offing, presents a most invigorating season LET'S CO CARP FISHING of the year. A season, this year, free of the blistering Hell of War!

THE LEGEND OF LI'L ABNER Carefree expeditions into the outdoors, into the beauty and splendor By BICHARD ESLER and quietude of a wonderland painted in hues of inspiring magnif­ icence—are calling. A LIVING MEMORIAL TO ANNIE OAKLEY —And, oh yes! The bass are hitt'n! Skipping minnows and swirling By J. W. STUBER waters foretell their mood; while lower water temperatures have in­ cited the lightning lunge of the pickerel and "muskie." These are LITTLE JOUBNEYS INTO indeed fine days along the chill banks of midsummer warm-water YESTEBYEAB streams. By J. ALLEN BARRETT The tang of frost in your nostrils. Lungs expanding with clean, fresh TROUT FISHING ON THE air. Minds free once more to drink to the full, the last fleeting mo­ BIG SCBUBGBASS ments of a season's sport so near and dear to the hearts of us all. By T. BROWNELL Come out! SNAP SHOTS FROM THE REALM OF FISHING Lay aside those worries and cares. Come out for your share of this health and life-inspiring tonic! Forget all else save pitting your wit THE LOWLY CRAWFISH and skill against the elusive bass and pickerel. These are the days of By CHARLES B. REIF nature's own transition from Summer to Winter. The handiwork of the Maker is all about you and invites you to rest and relax. THE GREAT OUTDOORS By HARRIS G. BRETH For it's OCTOBER—

. . . and Autumn leaves are falling. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANGLING? —THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER By JIM HURLEY

FISH COMMISSION HONOR BOLL PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER FISHING THE POCKETS When a Stream is Hish and Swift, Look for Trout in Every Spot Where Current is Broken By DICK FORTNEY

The problem was to get a dry fly to the fish! The next pool fished presented a different It was impossible to wade out into the water problem. > for a straight upstream cast. It would have been In this stretch of water there normally are foolhardy to cross the creek, anyhow, and wade large boulders which stand virtually high and in the very water in which the trout were living. dry, and with the stream high they still pro­ The only way was to cast across and slightly truded a bit above the surface. The current upstream, with the line lying across the swift cur- swirled around them, but nestling against their tent and the fly and leader on the more quiet downstream sides were pockets of quiet water. water along the far shore. The first cast of a dry fly on such a pocket The problem of getting the fly to float without brought a fast rise from a small trout—a response Dick Fortney drag was not so difficult at that, however. The so speedy, as a matter of fact, that the fish cast was made in such a manner that while the "dunked" the fly and disappeared without ever line lay straight across the current, the leader feeling even the faintest prick of the hook. lay on the surface in several large loops. The best Floating the fly on this kind of water was even way to make such a cast was to aim the fly at a more difficult than the shore-line fishing on the "target" a foot or two above the surface of the first pool, because the area of the quiet water in water, and it fell of its own accord in the manner no case was more than a foot and a half wide by- ERE sight of a trout brook in spring, its desired. two feet long, with strong current all around, and waters swollen by April downpours—roaring M The result was the fly floated for a satisfactory drag could be avoided on only about one cast in rapids taking the place of riffles and deep runs distance before the pull of the faster-floating five. where usually placid pools are found—is enough line straightened out the leader and caused the to cause the dry fly angler to shake his head But every boulder in the pool produced action. lure to drag. And about every two feet along the in despair. To float a fly" on such raging water Heavy rains had washed out a large willow at whole far shore of the pool a trout was solidly is all but impossible, it seems, and anyhow it the next hole, and as it fell its tangled roots hooked. does not appear likely trout would be feeding settled down near the head of the pool. But the in the torrent. The biggest trout caught, incidentally, never water flowed like a mill-race agamst the roots, did reach the landing net. It took the fly solidly. and floating a dry fly there was utterly im­ Those conclusions are true—so far as they go! But the fine art of pocket fishing still enables the dry fly angler to enjoy his sport—and, more important, to take fish, and good ones too—even under such seemingly adverse conditions. It is extremely difficult to float a delicate fly on water so swift and broken that the angler hesi­ tates about wading in it. And, too, trout are not to be found feeding there either. But unless the stream is in flood (and the angler would not be out if it were), trout are to be found and will take the fly in those numerous spots in the stream where the force of the current is broken and the fish are able to maintain their positions. Pocket fishing is a good name for the technique of catching such trout. The method can best be illustrated by de­ scribing an early season's trip to a small trout stream in Central Pennsylania during the past season. Large streams in the area were bankfull How two pools produced different fishing problems. At the right of the riffle the trout were lying close to shore among submerged rocks, where the current was less swift. On the right of the riffle the fish were of milk-colored water that afternoon, and the on the downstream sides of rocks which broke the flow of the water. The spots are marked with an X. trout brook itself was a good two feet above what should have been its level at that time. Wading the stream was impossible, although the water darted into the middle of the pool, and put on a possible. Among the roots and branches of the along the l>anks was shallow enough to make it burst of speed downstream that, aided by the fallen tree, however, a bit of debris floated lazily, possible to cast a dry fly despite thick brush and force of the current, easily snapped the leader indicating that there was very little current there, trees. point. Frequently, too, the evil of a dragging fly and it was the logical hiding place of any trout The first pool fished ordinarily is long and was demonstrated, when a trout would flash into that happened to be in that particular vicinity. flat., with plenty of large rocks scattered on the sight for a moment, but refuse the lure that was A sunken dry fly did the trick. bottom and some deeper runs cut by the broad leaving a tiny wake on the surface as the line and It worked this way: The fly was cast a con­ riffle at the head. A dry fly cast in the middle of leader began pulling it. siderable distance upstream, where the pull of the the pool rode downstream like a runaway express You will recall mention that a channel deeper current would quickly drag it under the surface, train. than the rest of the pool was to be found just be­ then it was allowed to float (with the lint On each succeeding cast, the fly was floated a low the riffle at its head. fairly tight) down toward the tree roots. No bit closer to the far shore, and finally once when it The fact that trout could find refuge in this effort was made to stop the fly even when it be­ floated down aboul three feet from the shore line, deeper portion of the water, where its very depth came apparent that it must be deep in the snags. a good trout made a mad slash at it, but missed. would provide relief from the force of the cur­ There was no strike on the first cast, but as the The water in the brook, incidentally, was al­ rent, made it advisable to give this spot a good fly was worked back out of the tree a trout flashed most clear. try. once near it. That first strike was the tip-off. The fish were A dozen times a fly was floated down the A second cast, with exactly the same procedure lying close to shore, where the fcree of the cur­ channel. Then from the depths came a good got action from a fine brook trout, which was rent was not so great and where also, in this trout, swimming on an angle up through and netted largely because once hooked it im­ particular stream, the water was very shallow against the current and meeting the lure head-on. mediately headed upstream into unobstructed normally and quite fisliable even with the This fish, however, was not able to use the swift water instead of fighting for its freedom in the stream in its present condition. water to gain its freedom. tangle of roots and branches. 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER S

Hunting and Fishing to Play Major Parts in Post-War Recreation From The DAILY DISPATCH, New Kensington Outdoorsman's Sports are doesn't need new equipment to sit in the grand $3 Billion Business stand and cheer for the home team. And he doesn't have to pay much for transportation to UNTING and fishing are sports which will and from the ball park. H play a far more prominent part in the "It's a somewhat different story with the recreational picture of the post-war world than hunter or the angler. He is, in a major way, a they have in the past. participator, and in a minor way, a spectator. "These sports," an authority has recently He has to replenish this expendable equipment stated, "are participative sports. One doesn't sit every season, but the anticipation of using his in a grand stand and watch the other fellow hunt new rods, lures or guns makes up for the dent in or fish. If he likes these healthy sports, he does his pocketbook. the pleasant job himself—and definitely does not "His equipment is not the whole story. Travel, want an audience. Companionship? Sure! But food, lodging and many other factors enter the not an audience! picture of his expenditures. Items too numerous Here is how the fly was made to float along the "In peace times more than 20,000,000 Ameri­ to mention—but you can bet that a larger quiet shore pockets in spite of swift current in mid­ cans hunt or fish—or both, according to Na­ stream. The line lies straight, but the leader is annual expenditure by sportsmen in the post-war curled, so that the fly has a bit of time before the tion's Business. A conservative estimate of their period is not too much to expect." current causes it to drag. The fish were lying in the individual annual expenditures in the enjoyment quiet water in the vicinity of submerged rocks. of their favorite sports could be set (for round numbers) at $100. This includes equipment, LOCAL ANGLER CATCHES travel and odds and ends, the description of which 271/2 IN. WALLEYE PIKE So the fishing went all that afternoon. A would require the space of a sporting encyclo­ stream so swollen by spring rains that it looked pedia. Albert Cole of 104 N. 7th St. had a 30-minute fight recently in landing a walleye pike which impossible to fish with a dry fly actually pro­ "Summed up, this means, that in peace times, he caught in the Delaware river above Eddyside duced more action in those few hours than it did the American sportsmen were spending $2,000,- park. in a whole day later in the season, when the 000,000 a year for their favorite sports—and The walleye put up a fight that took Mr. Cole water conditions were normal. liking it. It is my prediction that 'when the boys waist deep into the river. Twenty-seven and one- One final incident is worth mentioning. It come home' they'll want to relax—and hunt and half inches long and weighing nine and one-half seemed not all the trout were huddled in the fish. And they'll also be more than willing to do pounds, it was caught with a jitterbug plug. more quiet waters that dayl their share toward maintaining a goodly supply We were discussing the floating qualities of a of game and fish for this and future generations. Mr. Cole is employed at the Easton Dye certain type of dry fly, and to demonstrate its Works and was taking avantage of the V-J Day "Wildlife has had a rest during the present war. quality I cast it on one of the deepest, fastest holiday. Certain species have increased to such an extent runs in the stream, a V-shaped pocket of almost that control measures have been necessary. white water, with the point of the V downstream. J. Brown of Milton caught a pike perch 29 This, however, is not a normal situation and The fly did float well. When within a foot of inches long—stone catfish was used for bait—in when the 'boys come back' they'll be mighty the river at Camp Level above Terrytown. curling white water it brought action. In the happy to reap the so-called surplus crop. very center of the V a trout darted to the surface, "Some authorities believe that sportsmen and walloped the fly, and then vanished. And it was Sunday, August 12—Fred Nye of Sunbury returning service men eager to enjoy peace-time no accident! Three more times the trout came up caught a small-mouth black bass measuring 20 hunting and fishing, may bring the annual post­ for the fly, but it was not hooked. inches long near Wyalusing—used stone catfish war hunting and fishing expenditure up to as for bait. much as $3,000,000,000. Some information on the tackle used is neces­ "These figures," he continued, "may seem A spinner with a small, thin pork rind attached sary to round out this discussion. Briefly, these rather fantastic to some. The average baseball often is more effective than a fly and spinner as a are the facts: fan spends about $30 a year for his tickets. He fly rod lure for small-mouth bass and pickerel. 1. Any bushy dry fly attracted the trout. Bi- visible patterns proved best. The fly was heavily oiled, and because at the end of each cast it was submerged, false-casting was not enough to dry 't. Instead, I pressed it gently between the folds °f a paper handkerchief, which absorbed the moisture without messing up the hackles. With this procedure one fly was good for a lot of casts. 2. The line also was well greased—and so was the leader. I know a leader is supposed to sink in dry fly fishing, but a greased leader floating on the surface avoided interference with the fly much longer than would one that had sunk into the fast current. The leader, incidentally, was nine feet long and tapered to 4X. 3. Short casts were made—partly because the stream is small and there was no need for dis­ tance and also because a short line gave better control of the tackle in getting the fly on the Water with the leader slack. So you see that pocket fishing in the spring is not so much the matter of tackle as it is learning where trout hide—and feed!—under what ap­ pear to be adverse fishing conditions.

Shellac is best for finishing any kind of fishing Inviting scene along the peaceful Tohickon Creek in Bucks County near Quakertown. It is along such lackle. It gives a protective coating as strong as beautiful waters that Wilson D. Charles of Quakertown writes of his unbounding experience and success as a fisherman. Mr. Charles in his paper lauds the fine streams of Bucks County and to say that his recount is varnish, and it will dry almost instantly whereas interesting, only puts it mildly. His interest in boys is quite refreshing and THE ANGLES salutes a real Wrnish requires several hours. booster of the sport provided in the streams of Bucks County. 4 PENNSYLVAMA ANGLER OCTOBER

/ Fly-Tying Aid for the Beginner in Tying the Dry Fly By WILLIAM F. BLADES EFORE explaining the details in making a The lemon sides of the wood duck are used on then wrap the hook down to where the tail will B dry fly I would like to mention several things many of our flies; also teal, mallard and pintail be tied on. Select a few blue-grey hackle fibres; that will greatly assist the beginner in selecting body feathers. The wood duck breast feathers place them in between the thumb and finger tips hooks and materials, and proportions which are make our best fan wings; they are also found on of your left hand and see that the tips are closed; essential in the floating of a dry fly. the teal and mallard. in fact the nails should be together. The next step The single and double upright wings are cut is to put the fibres on top of the hook and bring Before tying a dry fly the beginner should have from the secondary or primary wing quills from the tying silk in between the thumb and finger mastered the making of the wet fly and the most of our ducks. The starling wing quills are tips by opening the ends, seeing to it that you do whip-finish. exceptionally good, and make a very transparent not release the fibres. Now close the finger tips Select a light weight hook with a tapered eye; wing. I also like them for double wings. and come down lightly with the first turn; repeat the regular weight hooks are harder to make Before cutting out the feather sections follow this a second time and pull tying silk tight this float, which necessitates using too much hackle, these simple rules: time. The first finger stops the fibres from slip­ and in as much as the hackle resembles the legs ping around the hook on the far side and the of a fly, one can easily see this does not help to thumb takes care of the near side. The opening imitate the natural fly. •• ".- . • . ^ ..... and closing of these finger tips, and bringing the silk down in the proper place is the secret of all Select your hackles from an old rooster; the well-tied-on-wings and tails ones that are glossy and stiff, and be sure to use the color called for in the particular fly you are Now trim off the ends of tail fibres and tie on a making. small piece of gold wire and the peacock quill; Hackle fibres are the best for the tails of dry bring the tying silk to the centre of the body and flies as they are very durable and if put on in the tie in a fine piece of floss, which I use to make a proper place help to float your fly. level base for my quill body. Tie off the floss at the position you are to tie on the wings. Your fly Select a fine tying silk; use a 4-0 or 5-0 on your will now be the same as illustration No. 1. first fly and if you desire to tie a No. 20 fly use Select a wood duck flank feather and use the an 8-0. I use 10-0 on some small flies. My ad­ V tip as shown in illustration No. 5; 1 believe this is vice is to learn to tie sizes 14 to 10 before attempt­ easier and makes a better looking fly. Tie these ing the very small flies. fibres on top of the hook, using the same method Quill bodies are used on some of our well known as you did to tie in the tail. Now cut off the butts flies such as the Quill Gordon, Ginger Quill, and wind them down neatly; bring your silk in Olive Quill, etc. The peacock eye feather fur­ front of the wing, and raise them upright by nishes us with this quill. To make a neat body winding in front of them; divide the fibres in half care must be taken to remove all the fuzz from and criss-cross the silk in between, which will the quill; this can be done with the thumb nail and first finger, or an eraser. Before winding on the quill, I form the body with very fine white silk floss, then wind on the quills so that each edge touches the other; do not overlap them; this causes humps on the body. Fur bodies are used very much on both dry and wet flies. The fur is taken from seal, opos­ sum, muskrat, water-rat, beaver, mink, hare, etc. To make the dubbin, I lay a piece of fine silk about one foot long, waxed with sticky wax on my knee; then cut off your fur and mix it to­ gether by pulling it apart with your finger tips; now sparsely spread the dubbin on the waxed silk. Double the silk directly on top of the lower silk and press them together; put the thumb of your left hand on the nearest end to you, and the first finger on the other end. Commence to twist with your right -hand thumb and first finger; gradually releasing the twists under the finger, and you will have a piece of fine yarn. I then roll the dubbin between the palms of my hands, one way only; this makes it thinner and easier to handle on the small bodies.

When winding the dubbin on the hook I think Use a pair of wings from the same bird. Now hold the wings apart. Put on a half hitch and put it is much better to use the hackle pliers; it elimi­ take a feather from the same position on each your silk in the thread holder. I then carefully nates the danger of rubbing off the hair when wing, one from the right wing and one from the wind the quill to the right; next wind the gold winding. left wing. Use the lower portion of the feather; wire in the opposite direction; tie off and your Putting on the wings of a dry fly is no easy the top half will split very easily. Be sure these fly will be the same as illustration No. 2. task but with a little patience and practice this sections are the same width and not too wide. For the hackle I use two matched blue-dun can be accomplished. I think hackle tips are the I will explain my method of tying the Quill neck hackles; stroke the fibres carefully so they easiest to put on and make a buoyant and very Gordon. The hook is an Allcock No. 15 light are at right angles to the stem and cut off the durable wing. weight. First, coat the hook with liquid cement, soft base and leave a small amount on the stem; 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 5 this prevents slipping. (See illustration No. 4.) I tie in the hackles both at the same time at the back of the wings and wind two or three turns LET'S GO CARP FISHING also at the back of the wings; then finish off the REPRINT FROM MISSOURI CONSERVATIONIST desired amount in front, finishing off with a whip finish and head cement, and your fly will be HE next time you are fish-hungry, or perhaps A small hook—No. 4 to No. 6—is the rule when same as illustration No. 3. You will notice the Twhen you are looking for a new experience in dough-balls are used. The ball should cover the hackles do not wind the same as each other; one fishing and in fish flavor, try for a carp. It is one bend and point of the hook. If large carp are becomes shorter than the other; this can be over­ of the most abundant fishes in Pennsylvania, known to be around, it is worthwhile using larger come by taking a new grip with your hackle pliers grows to a large size, and puts up a battle of a hooks—but very large fish, weighing thirty after two or three turns. I generally make the kind to astonish game-fish addicts. Properly pounds or more, sometimes straighten out even first few turns with my fingers, then finish with prepared, the flesh is very good eating. the largest common hooks. Line should be from the hackle pliers. Carp are found in practically all the larger 20 to 40 pound test, depending on how optimistic streams, in sloughs and river cut-offs, and in some the fisherman feels. Tying on the Spent Wing lakes. In the fast-water streams, they usually As with other fish, the flavor of carp depends Select two small neck hackles of the same size seek the deep, more quiet pools. In the large a great deal on the nature of the water in which it and color; trim them down to the size desired, rivers, they concentrate in back-waters and was caught. Fish from muddy, stagnant pools leaving the center quill long enough for tying. eddies. During spring floods, they advance with are likely to taste like a section of the bottom on Now put the wings together, glossy side to be the back-waters, working up into fields, ditches, which they have been feeding; carp from clear inside and straddle the hook with the butts; se­ and low spots to feed or spawn. When the water- streams are generally "sweet." Muddy-water cure with three or four turns of thread, then level drops, they fall back with it, heading for the carp should be put through a "sweetening" criss-cross your thread in between the wings deeper channels. In sluggish streams, they like process. This can be done with the live fish if a bringing them to a horizontal position; trim off to nose around drifts and brushpiles, and against spring-hole or tank with running water is handy the butts and conceal the ends with a few turns cut-banks. to keep the fish in for about a week until it is of the silk. For double spent wings use four neck conditioned. If this can't be done, the fish should hackles. be cleaned while fresh, cut into fillets, and soaked Carp fishing is attended with the perversity from six to eight hours in a solution made by and contrariness that accompanies any kind of Tying on the Fan Wing putting a handful of salt and a dash of vinegar in fishing. They can be caught as easily as any a gallon of water. Before use, the fillets should Select two perfectly matched breast feathers other fish, however—when they are biting—by be freshened in several changes of clear water. from the wood duck, mallard or teal and trim anyone who learns to locate their feeding grounds Small carp—less than l^jj pounds—should be them down to the desired size. Trim close to the and to tempt them with the food they like. quill with scissors; this leaves the stem rough deeply scored at about "%, inch intervals with a Experienced fishermen use a variety of baits. sharp knife, and fried crisp, to eliminate trouble and helps to hold the wings in place. Place the Dough-balls are a universal choice, and green convex sides of wings together and straddle the with the many small bones. In large carp, the corn (from the field or from a can) is also a fa­ bones are large enough to see and remove from hook with the butts; take several turns of silk vorite. Soft-shell crayfish and worms sometimes around the butts, also in front and behind and in the cooked fish. If a trace of the muddy flavor work effectively. Carp are generally bottom- still lingers, a hot barbecue sauce or a generous between to bring them in the proper position. feeders, so the usual practice is to let the bait Cut off the butts and conceal them with a few helping of horseradish should cover it and render sink to the bottom where the fish can find it as the basic good flavor really enjoyable.—W. 0. N. turns of thread. they root around the bed of the pool. Sometimes they fool the fishermen by feeding near the sur­ face, but at such times they can be found "roll­ ing," or breaking the surface, and the bait can Sportsmen's Notebook be adjusted accordingly.

Bass, like trout, are sensitive to water tempera­ ture because it largely influences their feeding. In extremely cold water bass become inactive and are able to go without food for a long time, and in water that is unusually warm they become list­ jm less and not interested in baits and lures. The angler can't do much to meet either condition ex­ cept to fish deep water in hot weather and sun­ bathed pools when the days are chilly, as in the autumn season.

Perch or shiner minnows are popular bails for the wall-eyed pike, and lively night crawlers also ore good. The worms may be fished with a spinner. But any kind of bait must gel down deep in the water in order to catch these fine food fish.

The only fly or bait that catches fish is one that is in the water. Fish out every cast, thus Fisherman Trick giving the fish a maximum chance to see the bait Was fishing Bear Crick, °r lure. Also, remember that too frequent cast­ When he came upon two cunning cubs. ing tends to disturb the water and frighten the Trick's score fell to zero— fish. For hours that gay trio In crossing logs on fool keep your eye on the log, Played tag in the laurel shrubs. not on the water or ground beneath it. And if the But mistaken Mr. B log is not newly felled, test it to be sure the bark is Charles Reilly, Pottstown, and 34-inch Carp he tight and firm. caught at Safe Harbor Dam. Lost the beam when he Decided to cub-nap the pair. Spinners of different shapes and sizes must be The equipment used varies, too. Some prefer Bruin's sudden appearance . . . fished at different speeds to make them revolve long cane poles, equipped with a single line and . . . Her unique interference Properly. It pays to take a minute to make a hook, and a sinker and float. Others prefer a cast and try the action of the spinner before using throw-line, which is a heavy line with hooks on Put Trick in a wheel chair. it. lighter stagings dangling from it. CARSTEN AHBENS PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER THE LEGEND OF Lit ABNER By RICHARD ESLER

raucously. Somewhere, far off, a fox barked, and And so, as the morning brightened, we leisurely the world was awake. worked downstream. It was not until the ascend­ So were we. Equipped with all the baits and ing sun had drenched Spring Creek in thin yellow lures known to the trouting brotherhood, the Old warmth that the hatch began. A few yellow Master and I trailed down to the stream's edge. drakes lifted off the water like motes of living Spring Creek is only a few miles long, but, as its sunlight, and a few trout dimpled the surface as name implies, it is fed by a few huge springs which they fed. pump their crystal waters through the limestone I came to a pool where a blasted hemlock had ribs of the hills at an unfailing rate. This heavy fallen astraddle the stream, its lower branches flow in the narrow stream-bed has undercut the trailing in the water. I eased into the tail of the banks, carved deep holes in the smooth gravel, pool. A trout was rising steadily out of the deep and bored tunnels beneath the roots of big wil­ water under a heavy hemlock branch which lows and hemlocks that shade the chill currents forked just below the surface. The fish was suck­ of the creek. ing in his drakes quietly. The surface rolled each Just above the iron bridge a huge willow stood time he threw his heavy tail against it to retreat fair in the middle of the stream, its roots clinging into the shadow of the snag. stubbornly to a little green island flanked by I lengthened my line in the air and finally cocked a pretty fly above the sunken branch. The water was so clear that I could see the fish come for it. I mentally braced myself. This was the first rise of the season to a dry fly, and I didn't want to muff it. My fly disappeared silently. But the silence ended permanently when I set the hook. The big brown ripped the pool wide open, slashing and twisting and rolling on the surface. He beat the water into a patch of white foam above the sunken snag, then dove sullenly into its shadow and anchored there. My leader was too fine to force him into the open pool; I just hung on and hoped. Things had reached just such a stalemate when there was a mighty crashing in the willows Mr. Esler, the Author fishing Spring Creek near me, and then a long horse-like face peered out at me. AKE IT EASY!" The Old Master shuffled Taround the edge of the fight, spouting all The Big Willow kinds of instructions most of which I didn't have time to hear. "Watch him! Keep that right arm up." Li'l Abner was tough. He packed a terrific wallop. I had to admit that he was the cagiest fighter I had ever stood up to. But I was con­ fident. I had hung on to him for ten minutes. I had blocked every blow that he dished out. I followed him easily, crowding him just a little as I felt him weaken. And then, just as I had him Spring Creek Brownies where I wanted him,—then swift tongues of water. The frothing current But maybe we'd better start this story at the dropped into a deep pocket extending under the beginning. roots of the tree, swung over a little gravel bar, The Old Master and I hit Spring Creek early and chattered down a long rocky chute into a one spring morning. Guided by the sight of a broad poo] under the bridge. deserted farmhouse that loomed in the middle "Gosh!" breathed the Old Master. "What a distance, we swung down a country road to an spot!" old iron bridge that spanned the famous stream. He eased into the creek well above the willow island, and a flick of his rod sent his Supervisor We stood on the bridge listening to the water streamer darting into a pocket of dark water under at that strange moment between darkness and the tree. Since the current was swift, the fly dawn when the sharp lines of the hills are still rode just beneath the surface. Its green and blue blurred by the soft half-light. A few broad feathers glinted clearly as the Old Master worked splashes of red streaked the eastern sky. The it past the crooked roots. The water bulged young green leaves of the birches and maples and suddenly, and the streamer disappeared as a the dark hemlock branches hung motionless, the brown trout about a foot long smacked it solidly. dew heavy upon them. There were no bird The Old Master swiftly urged the brownie out sounds, only the low ripple of the stream over its of those strategic waters. After he creeled the smooth water-worn stones, a murmur which fish, he promptly worked the same pocket again seemed a part of the vast slumberous peace of until he had coaxed another trout out from be­ Spring Creek valley. neath the willow. I fished the tail of the chute Then a faint breeze shook the willow leaves where it broke into the bridge pool. There I above the water. A sun as yellow as an Indian picked up an acrobatic rainbow and lost a nice squash pushed its edge above the eastern ridge. brown who had been lightly hooked on a polar A jay power-dived over the creek, screaming bear streamer. 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7

"Mornin', stranger," it said. "How're they dangedest, biggest bruiser of a brown trout that hittin'? Git snagged on a rock, huh?" ever flapped a fin." COMFORTING NEWS! "No," I replied, "I've got hold of a nice one, "Let's sit a spell." I scented a story. "Tell us BY THE "OLD TIMER" but I can't move him." some more about him." "Shucks," said the face, "all you got to do is I was eager to hear the old fellow's tale. Trout- These are a few words of comfort for anglers who reel him in. Hold on a spell, and I'll show you." fishing has wonderful possibilities when it comes have about given up hopeof good bass fishing this "No thanks," I said hastily. "Don't trouble to story-telling. I don't suppose that there is a season. yourself." single sizeable trout stream anywhere in the hills Lamentations are arising on every side. The "Tain't no trouble atall," the face replied but what harbors, or did at some time in the famous North,Branch of the Susquehanna River cheerfully and crashed through the last fringe of misty past, a monster trout. The fame of such a has not been fit to fish, really, since the season willows to emerge complete, body and all. The fish grows quickly among the angling brother­ opened the first of July. The bass have not been old fellow was tall, skinny, and loose-jointed like hood, and even if the old lunker is caught, it lives striking at surface lures at night, and plugs have Ichabod Crane, and he carried a heavy home­ on in the tales which it inspired. They are told not accounted for many fish. made hickory rod as thick as a broom handle at and retold to generations of trouting folk, be­ The weather has been bad, too, with frequent the butt. Despite his age, he slid like an otter come encrusted wilh an incredible amount of rainy spells that have kept some of our bass down the bank to the creek and splashed noisily fact and fancy, and lend to trout-fishing that streams—-Wyalusing and Loyalsock Creeks, for into the shallows. mellow air of tradition and history which no example—at higher than normal stages. The noise of my "helper's" approach must other branch of angling has acquired. Even confirmed bait anglers report tough have aroused all the devils in the big trout's "Well, sir," the old native masticated thought­ angling. nature, for he lunged suddenly against the taut fully," 'twas quite a spell of years ago when the line and cascaded out of his hole in a frenzy of Better Times Coming first can of brown trout was dumped into this foam. here creek. She was a private stream then, you know. But better times are coming! "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!" yelled my unknown An old feller that made his money in oil owned According to the law of averages, the weather friend. "Haul him in. He's a good un." this hull passel of land. Spring Creek was is sure to take a turn for the better. The North "Stand back," I warned, "and give me elbow stocked for him and his pals to fish. I was a Branch and our creeks are just as certain to be in room." young un then, and the old buck hired me to keep good condition one of these days; may even, in At the same time I yelled for the Old Master the brush cut down along the water so as he fact, get as low as they were during the later por­ who was a short distance down the creek. The wouldn't git his fly ketched all the time." tion of the 1944 season. And we have just come fish pounded his great heart out against the tire­ to the time of the summer when the bass should Our narrator squinted at a water-skipper and less bamboo. The Old Master arrived in time to begin surface feeding at night and stuffing them­ expertly drowned it in tobacco juice. scoop up the big brown as he drifted docilely selves with bait during the day. "Well, sir," he continued, "one day I was downstream to the waiting net. What is more, it's still a bit early in the year comin' down an old loggin' trail that cuts across to expect good plug fishing in the comparatively the creek right below this her* pool. I was small waters of Central Pennsylvania, whero it workin' upstream watchin' the trout feedin' takes a tang of frost to make conditions right. on a heavy hatch. But when I come to this here You'll be safe to bet on a considerable improve­ pool, nary a fish was risin'. I reckoned 'twas a ment in the fishing from now until the middle of mite peculiar, so I set me down to watch the October. water." The old fellow paused impressively. "I must We Need Some Pickerel have set there under the willers for an hour afore I seen him." While anglers in this part of the state have "Saw what?" asked the Old Master. little about which to complain when it comes to "Li'l Abner," said our friend, "though he trout and bass fishing, one fine species of game wasn't called by that name then. Fact is, he fish this section does lack is the chain pickerel. didn't have no name. Because"—he wagged his There was a time, of course, when the so-called finger at us—"I was the first human bein' to dis­ pike was so common in our own branch of the cover him. He come a-slidin' up through the clear Susquehanna and in the creeks and ponds here­ water smack in the center of the pool. Long as abouts that many anglers regarded the species a my leg he was, and dark on his back, with spots sort of nuisance. bigger'n quarters plastered all over his sides." It was easy to troll in the river and make good The old native was silent for a moment as if catches of pickerel, and even in recent years an overwhelmed by his memories. angler could pick up a limit catch of nice fish by '"Tweren't long," he continued, "afore every using a fly and spinner in Lycoming or Pine fisherman in the county knew about Li'l Abner, Creeks. as folks begun to call him. A few of them hooked But today the pike is pretty well scattered and him. I was the first, but, shucks, you might as vanishing. well try to stake out a bull with a store-string. And that's too bad. He sure is a buster. Fact is, he's busted more danged tackle than any fish I ever seen." Pike a Good Battler "You mean he's still here, somewhere in this The pickerel is a worthy antagonist for any creek?" I asked. fisherman. It strikes readily at bait and artificial The old native spat scornfully. The Old Master lures, puts up a good battle when hooked, and "You can bet your ding-busted, dad-blasted can be turned into a table delicacy. Even in our life he is," he said. "You'll find out if you ever While I put the tape on his 19 inches and pre­ waters it often grew to a length of better than a hang into him. Hard to raise on a fly, though. foot and a half. pared him for the creel, our noisy stranger helped That big bugger, craves meat. Most times he's himself to a fresh cud of tobacco. Then he The species does best in ponds and lakes, and hefted the trout in his hand and spat emphati­ been hooked on worms or minnies." there are not many such places in the central cally. He unfolded joint by joint, got to his feet, and part of the state. In creeks and rivers the pike started upstream, saying as he crashed through . "Man and boy," he said with an air of author- seems not to thrive as well and to multiply as the willows, "The biggest, bustin'est bruiser that lty, "I've lived round these parts for nigh onto swiftly, which probably is the chief reason for its ever swum this here creek." 60 years. And I'd say this here is a nice trout." decline. Besides, pike are not stocked in any­ "Yes," commented the Old Master, "you The Old Master and I looked at one another. where near the numbers that are trout and bass. don't usually hook this kind with every cast." "Meat," he said, casually snipping the fly off A lot of anglers who have only recently taken his leader and rigging up for minnows. "Right," said our local authority, spitting ex­ up the sport, as a matter of fact, haven't really a pertly over the willows, "but you ain't seen "Pardner," I said, "that old native told a good good idea of what pike fishing is. nothin' yit. Compared to Li'l Abner this here story, but like the rest of the tales you hear in the trout is nawthin' but a minny." trout country, it's only a story, a sort of local BIND THE PEACE WITH 'Little who?" I looked anxiously at the old legend. Of course, there may have been some native. truth in his tale. Maybe Li'l Abner did rule this 'Li'l Abner," he stated, "is the all-firest, (Turn to Page 19) BONDS! 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER A Living Memorial to Annie Oakley By J. W. STUBER

supplies for his family. The mother was left with Years before World War No. 1 when touring eight small children. Annie Oakley, when she Europe, Annie Oakley, at his imperial request, was six years old, helped to support the family shot a cigarette from the mouth of Kaiser Wil- by trapping quail, grouse, rabbits, squirrels and helm II. When World War I broke outshe wrote to other game. She made traps of cornstalks, the the Kaiser saying she was sorry she had hit only only material she had. the cigarette and asked for another shot. He When eight years old she learned to shoot a never replied. History might have been changed Kentucky rifle. She traded a hound pup for a by that event . . . who knows? gun, with which she supplied the game markets She shot before Queen Victoria and her court of Greenville, Dayton and Cincinnati. There with many of the crown heads of European were no laws then against market shooting and countries present. game was plentiful. She became an expert shot Annie Oakley made lots of money but spent because she had to shoot to get food for the most of it in educating relatives or to assist those family, and to keep body and soul together, as in need. She was always helping someone else. her only brother now living, Johnny Moses, 83, at Greenville told the writer a few weeks ago. Shooting was natural for her and at the age of 15 Crippled in a railroad wreck while with Buffalo she was taken to Cincinnati to shoot against Bill's Show, she came back to shoot almost as Frank E. Butler, nationally famous rifleman. well as ever in her later years. Will Rogers was The owner of the hotel who bought Annie's very fond of Annie Oakley. After visiting her game, backed her to win with a wager of $100. while an invalid some time before she died in She shot her first professional event to win the 1926 in Dayton, he wrote: match and also a husband and fame that traveled "Just think of a frail little gray haired woman around the world. She married Frank Butler who spent her life with a wild west show, remain­ after the match. The shooting was done on live ing in your memory as being just about the most pigeons. It was before the days of clay birds. perfect thing you ever saw next to your mother. Whenever I think of Annie Oakley I stop and say to myself, 'It's what you are . . . and not Later Sitting Bull, famous Indian medicine what you are in, that makes you'." man and savage, who was credited with planning As a gray haired woman when they laid away the Custer massacre, saw Annie Oakley shoot in her unfinished embroidery and her needles, before Chicago. The Indian stood up and waved his she died, she still retained her love for her guns. arms shouting "Watanya cicilia" meaning "Little Hour by hour she would relate her experiences Sure Shot," in his language. from a backwoods cabin in Ohio, to Royal Courts Below- • Annie Oakley in her William Tell stunt. She shot apples from the head of her setter and favorite hunting dog, in one of the Buffalo Bill's Show stunts.

Annie Oakley at about the time she won her first shooting event in Cincinnati, defeating her future husband Frank E. Butler.

LIVING memorial to Annie Oakley. Annie A Oakley, "Little Sure Shot," world famous woman shotgun, pistol and rifle shooter of yes­ teryear, known better to the older generation than to shooters of today, is to be honored with a living memorial in the dedication of Coppock Park at Greenville, Ohio, which was deeded to the Archaeological and Historical Society by Fred D. Coppock, Greenville sportsman, during the Treaty Sesquicentennial, August 3d. The beau­ tiful stately oaks, elms, maples and native trees in the park will ever be living reminders of a pioneer daughter of Darke County, Ohio, who shot her way from poverty to riches, and world fame as a headliner for Buffalo Bill's Show during the 1880's and until the early 1900's. Plans are going ahead also by the Annie Oakley Memorial Committee to erect a statue carved in Later Annie Oakley became the star of the the likeness of Annie Oakley in her shooting Buffalo Bill Show. Many of the stunts seen by WITH pride, the ANGLER publishes here­ costume. The statue will be placed near the the older generation, were learned in the woods with a re-print of "A LIVING MEMORIAL Girl Scout camp built by Fred D. Coppock, in the when shooting game. As a girl she would whirl TO ANNIE OAKLEY"—by special permit park, at Greenville, and near the fire-altar where completely around when a grouse flushed and of Oliver Hartley, Editor of the OHIO CON­ the treaty fire burns each year from June 16th to then kill the bird. When a rabbit jumped, she SERVATION BULLETIN: It is indeed, a August 3d, the day the Greenville Treaty was would toss her gun in the air, put it to her shoulder most refreshing revival of one's memory to signed with the Indians bearing the signatures of and kill the rabbit on the run. You who have bring to the readers of the ANGLER this George Washington, General Anthony Wayne seen Annie Oakley in Buffalo Bill's Show will authentic story of the one and only ANNIE and chiefs of many Ohio Indian tribes. recall that she shot glass balls from the back of OAKLEY who inspired and thrilled the world Annie Oakley Moses (Mozee) was born near a galloping horse, shot with blinded sights, and in the days of yesteryear. A great shot, a North Star, Darke County, in the late 60's. Her how she ran and jumped over a table, grabbed a lovable personality—a gentle lady. father died from being nearly frozen to death in a gun and broke glass balls, after the flying target —J. ALLEN BARRETT, Editor blizzard when he went to town to get food and was released and almost never missed. 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Fred D. Coppock, sportsman and public spirited citizen of Greenville, who helped make the Annie Oakley Memorial possible. He is a member of the Sportsman's Association at Greenville and is an ardent conservationist.

Buffalo Bill (center), Annie Oakley, left. The girl on the right is said by greet her audience with a low bow and a broad Mrs. John Moses, Greenville, to be Buffalo Bill's daughter, but positive sweep of a star spangled sombrero. The feature identification was not available on this valuable old picture, the only one of attraction of Buffalo Bill's "Carnival of All its kind in existence. Nations" was on. WHAT BUFFALO BILL is to the Boy of Europe, when talking to old friends who could call your po-lite attention to the c-h-a-m-p—e-e-n Scouts, Annie Oakley will be to the Girl Scouts understand and appreciate. The name Annie king-gun and rifle shot of the w-o-r—1-d, the fea­ according to Fred D. Coppock, donor of the Oakley rides on a Victory Ship launched at a ture ex-tra-ordinaree—"Little Sure Shot" the memorial park. Pacific Port in September, 1944. G-r-e-a-t—one and only—Miss Annie OAKLEY." August 26th the Miami Valley Outdoors Now don't you remember . . . you older A thunder of applause. Necks stretched. The scheduled a big field day at the A.T.A. grounds sportsmen who saw Buffalo Bill's Show in the show crowd on its feet, Indians howling and then at Vandalia. ... It was Annie Oakley day in Gay Nineties or up until 1910 . . . the clear with a roll of drums, Annie Oakley, with a hop, Ohio. voiced announcer and the blare of trumpets and skip and jump, a mass of brown hair falling about To the shooters of yesteryear, our dads and cymbals: "L-a-d-i—e-s and Gentlemen! We now her shoulders, raced to the center of the arena to granddads, Annie Oakley was a "sweetheart."

Charles Bortman; small mouth black bass— 19^ in. 3^ lb. LYKENS-WICONISCO SPORTSMEN John R. Miller; small mouth black bass 18J^ in. Carl Godshall; large mouth black bass—17>£ in. DOING BIG JOB Mrs. Carl Godshall; large mouth black bass— MYi in. "T^HE Lykens & Wiconsico Fish Game and Battling Creek a fresh mountain-spring stream George Creter; small mouth black bass—19 in. •*• Forestry Association with headquarters in which flows through the community will be up Jack Dale; small mouth black bass—18 in. 3}£ lb. Lykens are really up to their neck in a program for vast improvement. Already work has begun Dick Hunsicker; small mouth black bass— the likes of which was never heretofore attempted on the section flowing through the property of 20K in. 3 lb. 6 oz. m the Upper Dauphin Community. With a Dr. Gordon Smith and the plan calk for the From the Canal at Morrisville: membership far in excess of former organizations development of a "Fisherman's Paradise." Howard Hackenberry; large mouth black bass— °f its kind, the club is not only planning but The Committee in charge is headed by Leo 21}/g in. 4 lb. 9 oz. Putting into material existence some of the finest Sholley and includes: Alois Platzer, Web Keen, Fnm Lake Warren: work ever attempted. Walter Shuey and Joseph Faust. William Quintrell; large mouth black bass—20 The Charles Bohner farm west of Lykens and in. 4M lb. 'ving in Wiconisco Township has been leased and From the Neshaminy: will be converted into a game refuge and haven GOOD FISH'N DOWN NORRIS- Herbert Claus; small mouth black bass—19 in. for the uninterrupted propagation of game ani­ TOWN WAY 2 lb. 8 oz. mals and birds. Then too—a memorial to the Schuylkill River: These fine catches were made in (he Perkiomen sportsmen of the vicinity, both fishermen and Carl Bass; small mouth black bass—20 in. \x/i lb- hunters, will be erected. This bids to shape into Creek: . a (An unusual fine specimen) veritable shrine surrounded by a grove of sturdy Lee Kalany; small mouth black bass—203^ in. °aks and will be appropriately symbolized and 3 lb. 4 oz. e mbellished with the .names of the service men Jim Musselman; large mouth black bass—18 in. *ho will not return. 3 lbs. BUY BONDS! 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER Little Journeys into Yesteryear Powell's Valley—

the "Swamp" and out into open country only to on foot, then with a hired "Dayton Wagon" meet up with and receive the cool waters of from "Ben Snyder's" livery or "Bill Heckler's" "Hickory Run" opposite "Boozy-Doo". livery, then came the auto and with it the "Model T" including "Amos Row's" laundry de­ In those days "Hickory Run" too yielded some livery truck, but in the altogether we did provide mighty fine native brook trout and happy was transportation for the recovery of many fine the smile on "Hal Bowman's" face when you met frogs from the "Hunkie Dam". Seems I can him astream of a day when they were "hitt'n". still see and hear them—-"Hal Bowman", "Allen From the Junction the stream headed on down Row", "Dave Herb", "Bob Shreffler", "Ken the Valley, but let us not forget the old standby Snyder", "Dutch Seiders", "Len Kerstetter", for coal oil—remember "Bordners" little store "Ed Klinger" and many others. there near the "Gutschall" place just below "Pinehurst" and opposite "Gord Smith"? Below the dam some mighty fine trout fishing was always to be had, as far down as the "High On down the Valley past the landmarks and J. Allen Barrett Bridge" where the "South Branch" or the scenes one learned to love and forever store away Forkes" emptied. Yes! Crammed-full of de­ in that little attic of memory. You close your eyes light were the trout fishing expeditions into and you see and meet them all over again—there's Powell's Valley in the days of yesteryear. Bill and Harry and Joe, there's Pete and Mike and ACK into the days of yesterday—days Bob, perhaps you may see the thin curl of smoke South of the Valley and across the ridge flowed B crammed full of delightful expeditions into the great outdoors in Pennsylvania. Splutz- wagon tracks with deep ruts in a narrow moun­ tain road lead into the valley at the "Hand Board." "Cat-Tail Run" back of the "Speckti-cup" and back as far as the mouth of "Salada's Gap" was always the natural home of speckled beauties. Not big, but the descendants of the same brook trout which perhaps welcomed the arrival of Columbus. Small, thin water, but cool and protected as it coursed its way down in­ to the Marshes to join up with "Smoke Hole" and head off into the valley as North Branch of "Powell's Creek." On down back of "Round Top" and through the "Swamp" the stream pro­ vided both home and rendezvous for some of the finest "Brookies" that "Jake Grimm", "Ben Ferree", "Jake Ferree", "Wally Wynn", "Hal Shreffler", "Dick Budd", "Willis Hoffman" broth­ ers "Lew" and "Roy", and "Geo. Ramsey" and many others would want to catch. Remember the fallen tree foot-log, just upstream from the washed out "Corduroy Bridge" at "Parke's

Sawmill" and the fine piece of dead water where Robert P. Miller of 221 N. Graham St., Pittsburgh, and fine Brownie he caught in Lynn Run. 27V2 inches those big salmoned-bellied fellows lurked? Yes, long—-weight 5 % lbs. that would be a memory for it has changed and all passed away these long thirty-five years. —But deep in our memory we can close our eyes arising from the smoke stack of "Ike Rutters" the other branch "The Forkes". Draining a and bring it back once more. "Parke's Sawmill"? Cabin and imagine you feel the chill frost of the complete wildwood and entanglement of brush Yes!—But not just "Parke's" for there were lots early Spring morning. You may see such places and timber, the Beaver found and selected it of Parke's all over Pennsylvania in those days. as "Charlie Miller's" then "Dan Hawk" while ideal for home building and many were the big They were to be found wherever timber was cut. not far westward you might hear the early morn­ deep pools formed by the labor of this thrifty Deep in the dark recesses of our mountain coun­ ing quacks from "Ells Ender's Duck Farm". little animal. Reaching it by way of the swamp try here, there and everywhere thruout our great Might be that "Harry Shomper" and "Joe" and back of "Round Top" or by path from "George state. Here then, were place names with which "Nat" will strike you when you reach the Paulus's" or by the "Old Shingle Road" at one always oriented one's self, whether it was "Middle" cross road. Today, you'd surely meet "Boozy-Doo" and the "Ridge Road" at" Ells "Powell's Valley", or Patty's Run in Pfoutz's "Bill Loskowski" current president of the popular Enders", happily rewarded were the days spent Valley, The Shingle Branch, Young Woman's "Whistle Pig" Fishing club, a-standing on the there by many of the fishermen and natives al­ Creek, Spangler's Mill Run, Cedar Run at bridge and surveying his domain. ready mentioned including "Nate Snyder" the Letonia, Jamison City, Cross Fork, New London, watchmaker and his sons, "Charl", "Amnion" and endless other similar places scattered over The stream is getting heavier now and as we and "Walter" the latter of whom built a fine the length and breadth of our domain.—A quiet approach the former home of "Charlie Bordner" cottage along its banks. pool in a babbling mountain stream! A spot we already find the back-waters of the old reser­ which one always holds fronton his mind as he voir more commonly called "The Hunkie Dam" Gone! Are most of the old familiar scenes and treks along hoping to arrive there first and before where the stream hurtles itself into what was places. The wind and the rain and the slow but someone else might disturb it, come the break of once a beautiful artificial lake but which today effective process of erosion have surely exacted dawn or the last faint light of twilight. Here then presents only a mud-sucking "Bog". Frogs? its toll until today it becomes a difficult problem at "Parke's Sawmill" was such a spot, one of In those day, plenty and the frog hunting trips to reconstruct it all. But there is a place, there many along the brushy course of the North of years ago will forever live in the minds of many does remain one lone sentinel of friendliness and Branch of "Powell's Creek" on down through who have survived while we fondly revere the warmth where one may as long as it lasts, still memory of some who have since passed on. First meet up with some of the old "Cronies" and in- 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER II

dulge in memoir conversation. Opposite the old "Etzweiler Blacksmith Shop" or should I say where it stood years ago, remains a landmark as GOOD FISHING AT SAFE HARBOR traditional as "Carsonville" itself. The "Carson- ville Store." As a little fellow many years ago LOWER SUSQUEHANNA—ABOVE I can distinctly remember trudging along on a dusty road, headed for that store and perhaps a CONOWINGO DAM piece of licorice root or gum drops. I can still remember the "Bell" as it chattered upon opening the door to announce the arrival of a customer. The "Bound-Bellied" stove and the benches and the "Spitty Box" and the coal oil lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Here with my father, we would stop, now and then for "Flitch" or "butter", potatoes, lard and of course oil. Here, too, was the gathering point for woodsmen of those days and many were the exciting moments as I listened to the experiences related by men who knew their fishing and hunting. If I recall correctly "Jakie Bordner" was the proprietor then but today I do know that his son "Charlie Bordner" unlocks the door each morning. Modernization has reached its long arm way back into Powell's Valley and some changes have been made with the race of time, but still one can find the same old lingo and hospitality as in the days of yore at Charlie Bordner's. Here on a bench worn with the years and inscribed with countless initials, one can still find conversa­ tion of days that used to be. Conversation of happy recollection as we journey into yesteryear.

MANY FINE CATCHES REPORTED DAILY FROM OFF THE TUBE BRIDGE

(Continued Next Page)

Fishermen on Draft Tube Bridge (Safe Harbor)

Trout fishermen successfully employ the strategy °f offering a trout a smaller fly than one it refuses '° strike. The bass fisherman should do the same, vflen a bass will only look over a plug but will im­ mediately strike one of the same pattern but smaller *n size..

The best time to cast plugs for bass is early morning or late afternoon and night, for those are the periods when the fish move about even in the most shallow water in search of frogs, insects, and ^minnows. Pockets along shore lines are Particularly good spots at these times of the day. 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER THE UNUSUAL REPEATS TT IS "very" unusual to do that once in a life­ time. Here are the details of my second battle with a beaver. I went up the Allegheny on Saturday morning, August 4, but found the water too high for good fishing, so being close to Tionesta creek we de­ cided to fish there. I was accompanied by Mr. Howard Brown and his son Arthur, of Monaca. We had been bait fishing up until about dusk, then we changed to plugs. We were above the Tionesta Dam, where the bridge crosses. There were 20 or more people on the bridge at this time. I was plugging above the bridge about fifty yards when I cast out about 90 or 100 feet. I saw something swimming and when it got in line with my plug I gave a yank on my rod, and the hooks caught him by that big broad tail. Well, when the people heard the splash they all ran to the end of the bridge where I was, thinking I had a big Muskie, he made a great fuss and was under water as much as on top of the water. GOOD TIMBER I put as much pressure as I could to bring him in and after about 20 minutes of a tussle with him The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light, I had him where I could take my hooks from his That stood out in the open plain tail. He went on his way up stream none the And always got its share of rain, worse for the 20 minutes of entertainment he Never became a forest king furnished for twenty or more people. Two But lived and died a scrubby thing. beaver hooked in two years is sure a "Believe it or The man who never had to toil not" for Bob Ripley. By hand or mind 'mid life's turmoil, Who never had to win his share —A. F. PEARSON, Rochester, Pa. Of sun and sky and light and air, Never became a manly man But lived and died as he began. This fine 20 Vi-inch Rainbow was caught in Stoney Creek opposite Ellendale Forge by Ross Crum of Good timber does not grow in ease; 2708 Lexington St., Harrisburg. The stronger wind, the tougher trees. The farther sky, the greater length; The rougher storms, the greater strength. By sun and cold, by rain and snows, In tree or man good timber grows.

Where thickest stands the forest growth We find the patriarchs of both. And they hold converse with the stars Whose broken branches show the scars Of many winds and much of strife— This is the common law of life.

Along the Tailrace at Safe Harbor —UNKNOWN

Record Pike from the Wallenpaupack HAT appears to be one of the largest, if ONE FOR THE BOOK Wnot the VERY LARGEST Pickerel ever caught out of the Wallenpaupack was taken on a The Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, fly rod. The fish measuring 32 ^£ inches in length in a divorce suit brought by a wife against her and tipping the scales at 8 lbs., 14 ounces was husband held: caught by E. F. Miller of 238 E. Broad St., "It is not extreme cruelty for a father to go Tamaqua. Miller used the F-6 orange flatfish fishing and take his 13-year-old son along. lure. The true lover of the 'gentle art', immortalized Miller reports a battle par excellence and we by old Izaak Walton, may not be discreet in can certainly appreciate just what a job to land a selecting the time for going, and may never fish that big with the light tackle he used. John have heard the adage that, 'a day spent in the A. Schadt, State Fish Warden at Lake Ariel and chase is not lost', and yet find solace even while who patrols the Wallenpaupack says-'T have experiencing 'fisherman's luck'." Frielink v. always found Mr. Miller honest in his statements Frielink, 256 Mich. 472. and I don't know of any other pickerel of that size nor have I heard of any taken from Lake Wallenpaupack. I do know of larger Walleyed When in doubt use minnows, because all game Pike but not pickerel." fish are fond of them. 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 13

Trout Fishing on the Big Scrubgrass By T. BROWNELL

T3IG Scrubgrass empties into the Allegheny I recall one night that I arrived there with my then drew it out with short jerks. It seemed to •*-* River some seventy-five miles north of brother-in-law, an ardent sportsman. It was parallel to some extent the action of the larvae Pittsburgh. It is rugged country. Country about an hour before dark. Three or four all-day on which they were evidently feeding. For a time which, a few years back, was great oil producing workers were just leaving. They were obviously it was almost too easy. The trout would strike land and many of the old pumps are yet to be tired and disgruntled. We rigged up our lines. as soon as the fly had settled on the water and it seen about the hills and valleys. A few are still My partner used a badger bi-visible, his own was started in motion. A lot of them were working and a carelessly handled pump along a specialty which he had tied himself. I put on a misses, of course, which made it all the more trout stream raises havoc with the fish. At one black gnat. We oiled our lines well and put on enlivening. We soon had all we felt we could time, at least from appearances, Big Scrubgrass fine leaders. The latter is essential at Scrubgrass. use . . . rainbows with an occasional brown. We had a lot of oil spilled into it and, of course, the The fish just won't touch a fly that is rivalled in fished on for awhile and released all we caught. trout were depleted. In recent years, however, size by the attached leader. It is truly sport at This experience I have related bears out my Wells have run dry or are more carefully han­ its highest to have on a good fish knowing that statement that the more trout fishing I do the dled and the trout are coming back. Large num­ your landing him depends almost entirely on keenest enjoyment is found in using the lightest bers of rainbows and browns have been stock­ your own skill and that with just a little too much tackle possible and pitting your skill against the ed but the stream is not quite cold enough for pressure or a sudden jerk the prize will be gone! battle which the fish puts up. It becomes almost the speckled variety. We fished casually for half an hour. Nothing secondary whether or not the fish winds up in your creel. First you've got to be where there The stream has a fine cover for fish, plenty of are fish. Then it becomes a matter of com­ trees and in places great rocks and boulders which petition . . . even salesmanship. The bait must provide deep pools and eddies. The hardy fisher­ be presented in a manner that the fish cannot re­ man, who wants to be by himself, can go several sist and if you outwit them then, there is real miles inland following the banks with no highway enjoyment to be had. crossings to allow the entry of intruders. One stretch requires the better part of a day to go At other times fishing in Scrubgrass has been from highway to highway. And, unless one knows successful only when using dry flies exclusively »the country, it is best to stick to the stream. It is and generally only in the evening hours . . . that not hard to get lost in the deep woods along the time when so many anglers have tried fruitlessly banks. I recall with some humor that once I was the greater part of the day and are giving up in forced to camp overnight to wait for daylight in despair. One evening, while I was there, I had Order to find my way out. gone through practically my whole box of dry flies as well as trying several wet ones. The trout The unusual feature of Big Scrubgrass, how­ were rising, too, not jumping out of the water ever, is the way the Allegheny at high water but merely nosing the surface. Finally, as a last backs up into the stream's mouth and thus resort, I put on a small bee-like fly which re­ changes the topography. Each spring one is sembled a yellow jacket. I had more or less dis­ greeted by an entirely new and changed land­ dained it, thinking it a kind of novelty fly. scape. Where a deep pool was a year ago there But it got results and I soon had several nice may now be a sturdy bank and a white beach. browns and a couple of rainbows. When I left Big trees are often uprooted from their beds and around ten-thirty I could still hear an occasional will spend a summer along the mouth and be churning of the water out in the darkness. The gone entirely the following year. But for several pools at the mouth have one great advantage. hundred feet from the Allegheny there is always The banks run back some distance before the ad­ a plentiful supply of deep pools of one shape or vent of any trees. Thus one can handle the fly as another. And here, at the right time with the well in complete darkness as one can in daylight. right tackle, is trout fishing par excellence. But, even so, a pocket flashlight was standard Many of the bigger trout come in from the equipment on these expeditions. As to my bee­ river to seek cooler water and perhaps the quiet like fly, it proved worthless a couple of nights contemplation of the little stream. The Alle­ Russell Ace of Emlenton and a nice 15-inch later. A different kind of hatch was on. gheny temperature must be fifteen or twenty Rainbow Trout he caught in the Big Scrubgrass. degrees warmer. In wading with rubber boots, it I can't help but recall another time when we !s comparable to stepping from a cool shower into were down there several evenings in succession a hot one, when one reaches the river. stirred. There were a few rises and we could see and had enjoyed only indifferent success. We had rainbows turning on their sides down in the deep taken a few but were not satisfied. In one back­ But the burden of my song is that these pools water. As dark approached they began to feed. water pool I had repeatedly seen a large brown are jam-packed with trout! It is often like seeing Whatever they were feeding on, they didn't care trout jumping clear of the water. Sometimes he them at a hatchery or in a museum. They are not for black gnats or badger bi-visibles. Time after would waggishly come up not more than ten always there, of course. Perhaps they go out into time they would strike right beside our flies. feet from where I was standing. He seemed en­ the river or go upstream. It is a case of being They weren't vaguely interested. Finally, in tirely unafraid. We got the idea that he knew we there at the right time. desperation, I tried a small grey fly, that I had were there and for us to go ahead with our busi­ ness and he would with his. He ignored flies of For a year I lived within a few miles of Scrub- tied, on a number 22 hook. I had on a nine foot any description . . . both dry and wet. He would grass. I was privileged to get in a lot of this un­ one and a half pound straight leader so there was rise up as close as six inches to what I considered usually fine trout fishing at this time. Occa­ not too much interference. At first it seemed an enticing looking fly. It was exasperating. sionally I went down in the morning . . . the just another fly. No response whatever. It He just seemed too well educated. A night or so middle of the day seldom yielded anything, but was a dry fly but it was soon well soaked and I later, as I was leaving the studio for the evening the favorite time was an hour or so before sunset. tried dragging it along just below the surface of fishing trip, a huge oversized grasshopper sailed Often I have arrived there just at dark and dis­ the stream. You could have knocked me down across my path. On the lookout for new baits, I gusted anglers were packing up to leave, having with a feather. Just like that! A big one hit it grabbed him and later took him on to Scrubgrass tried in vain to hook the wonderful looking trout and soon I had a twelve inch rainbow in my creel. with me. Walking quietly over to the pool that were plainly visible in the pools just a few A few minutes later-1 repeated the performance where the big one usually sported, I put the teet below them. Generally these were worm and this time with a fourteen inch fish of the same grasshopper, still alive, on a number 16 hook with "Shermen. At any rate the trout were not in­ variety. I called to my companion who had been a BB shot sinker on the leader and tossed him out terested. They invariably ignored the fishermen. having no luck at all and told him of my latest some twenty feet. I let it settle a bit and reeled jit if these unsuccessful fishermen could have technique. When I first threw out I let the fly settle on the water for perhaps thirty seconds, Known what sport they were missing! (Turn to Page 19) II PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER SNAP-SHOTS FROM THE REALM OF FISHING I

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Warren Rhinehart of Strasburg and large Walleye he caught at Safe Harbor Dam

Pete Sculleo of Delancy and the 6-lb. 6-oz., 26-in. Brown Trout he caught in the Brookville Reservoir. Pete used a live minnow for lure.

This 6-lb., 26-inch L. M. Black Bass was taken from Twin Lakes, Pike Co. by Mrs. George Stears.

HIGHSPIRE WOMAN GETS 4-POUND* LANDS 4-POUND BASS BLACK BASS A four-pound, 19-inch small-mouthed black Mrs. M. A. Schaeffer of Highspire, caught five bass was caught in the Susquehanna River op­ black bass while fishing in the Susquehanna posite Speeceville after a 20-minute fight by River recently. The largest one weighed four Joseph M. Starr, 1327 Fulton Street, Harrisburg. pounds and was 22}4 inches in length.

Starr used stone catfish as bait. He caught three • • other bass measuring 12 inches. Fred Dodson of Kunkle, Luzerne County and fine Brownie he caught in Bowman's Creek, Wyoming County. 23% inches, 4 lbs. 13 Vi ounces.

Paula Marie Reigart of York proudly poses with Sgt. Harry F. Carson, Lancaster and his 26-in., 6-lb. some mighty fine Rainbows caught by Byron Gresh Walleye he caught at Safe Harbor Dam of Long Level. 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15 MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S FISHING FRONT

Three dandy Brown Trout caught in Stoney Creek near Shanksville by Wm. R. Lohr of Stoystown

Two Walleyes taken from Pymatuning by H. C. Sutherland, Game Protector, are proudly displayed Two consecutive casts at the Tionesta Spillway by the Protector's grandson. and John Jordan (above) landed these fine Muskies. 36Vi inches, 11 lbs. and 33 inches, 9Y2 lbs. respec­ tively. Jordan hails from Dayton, R. D. 3, Pa.

From the Slippery Rook, this fine Brownie, 26 inches long and weighing 6 lbs., caught by David R. Baker of Ellwood City. 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER Squalls from Lee Run Bay By JAN DREWS OLD TOM, THE BLIND MUSKELLUNGE

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REV. A. J. KIMMEL LANDS BIG MUSKIE Any sudden increase in the size of the con­ gregation of First Evangelical Church of Oil City, may be attributed to an influx of those members of the fishing gentry who don't catch fish because they "just don't live right." "Yeah—I took that funny-looking bait from Fortney—summer of'45 it was—'Rocky' and I were down The pastor, Rev. A. J. Kimmel, a veteran by the round rock in the Lee Eddy, when he and Barrett came drifting down the creek. They were gassing sportsman, has a very persuasive argument in off about invisible bi-visibles, and weren't paying attention." favor of the upright life to present to this group of fishermen—namely a 43-inch muskellunge. Fall is here with its fragrance of new-mown hay, sweet clover, juniper and angostura. The Reverend was doing some solo fishing at Walnut Bend recently and was walking the The John at Dick's cottage is being enlarged to accommodate the entire Quartet. shoreline as he flipped out a jitterburg lure in an attempt to snag into some member of the game A stranger from Ellwood City was rescued from two mosquitoes back of Elliot's cottage last Monday. fish family. The big 'lunge hit about 30 feet off­ He was lucky. They would have carried him across to the Sandbank if they hadn't thought a big shore and was landed after a five-minute battle. mosquito would take him away from them. Rev. Kimmel said he was without a gaff hook and came in for some trouble when the leader was It was so windy last Saturday that the B-29 Herons had to walk from McWilliams Hill down to the cut while the tail of the big battler was still in the creek. water. However, the lucky fisherman wasn't los­ ing his prize catch at that stage of the game and It is rumored in the Lee Eddy that Old Tom, the blind Muskellunge, and his female "Seeing Eye" succeeded in shoving the fish to a place where he Rock Bass will gather little pebbles in the spring. could be handled more easily. The muskie is the largest reported taken here­ That big Salmon bit one of the stenographers who swim in the Aikon Eddy. While she is recuperating about this season. standing up, she is reading up on how to swim without looking like a Flatfish.

over the method of digging employed by the animals until someone saw a crawfish carrying THE LOWLY CRAWFISH pellets of wet soil from its burrow with its big pin­ By CHARLES B. REIF cers, so the idea that the abdomen was used passed into discard. Certain forms of the craw­ Courtesy Conservation Volunteer fish extend their tunnels deeper and deeper as the water table subsides. Many of them plug the must be shed and the new one expanded while it is FIRST came to know the crawfish in Ohio. openings during extreme drought and resort to a yet soft. The hardening of the new skeleton is IThere my father and I often used them for bait. modified type of aestivation, or dormancy. We would spend a whole afternoon in turning the effected by calcium which the animal has pre­ In the fall and spring, we commonly catch flat stones of the Miami river that we might be viously stored in its body in the form of smooth female crawfish with eggs attached beneath their well supplied with "peeler craws" for bass fishing white cupshaped discs of calcium carbonate abdomens. While in such a condition the females next day. about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. are spoken of as being "in the berry." They It was quite a trick to catch these elusive These are called "lucky stones." remain motionless through long periods except for animals as they scooted rapidly backwards into In field work, I often discover crawfish chim­ the swinging back and forth of the egg masses. muddy water or darted about among the stones. neys. These turrets, nine inches or so high, are Generally the eggs are an opaque black color but We preferred "soft craws," but the peeler craws common along sluggish streams and in lowlands. occasionally a female is found with reddish, kept better and could be peeled to soft craws The burrowing crawfish dig down until their translucent eggs. The females do not moult when when they were needed. tunnels are below the water table and there they in the berry and being handicapped in swimming, stay except when feeding. A peeler crawfish is one that is about to moult. seek to remain well hidden. All crawfish (or crayfish as they are called in some Naturalists have long speculated about these Since the younger individuals are colorful and places), in common with lobsters and crabs, have chimneys. Some persons see a purpose in them; interesting pets, we often introduce them into our their skeletons on the outside of their bodies. others hold that they are merely incidental to the Thus for the animals to grow, the old skeleton excavation. There had also been much dispute (Turn to Page 20) 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 17

large-mouth, are here to stay, and anglers need not lie awake wondering about the future of this particular gamefish. GREAT OUTDOORS While bass fishing usually catches the spot­ light after the big game fishing season opens, and Pennsylvania Plays Big Part in Growth of Bass Fishing holds it, there are a great many anglers who have By HARRIS G. BRETH learned the wall-eyed pike makes for great sport, too. Wall-eyes aren't as smart and tem­ peramental as the bass or muskie, nor do they ASS fishing as a sport has won itself thousands ing, finally succeeded. With the cooperation of a excite the angler with as many antics and acro­ B upon thousands of devotees these days. In a railway conductor, he caught 30 small bass from batics when hooked and struggling to get away. jaunt across the state recently it was not sur­ the Ohio, placed them in a perforated pail im­ Yet they are no dummies, and the fisherman who prising to travel the highway along good bass mersed in the locomotive's water tank, and the isn't wise to their moods and ways is out of luck. streams and observe anglers dotting the big little fellows made the long trip lively and kick­ A great deal can be said of the game qualities eddies in boats and waders wielding their rods ing. They were stocked in the Cumberland of the wall-eye, although, once snared, he per­ from the shallow shore waters. Canal, and in less than a decade bass were found forms sluggishly, and, unless of fair size, can be Up in the northeastern section of the state, for 200 miles along the Potomac. brought carefully to the net without too much which has dozens of small lakes and ponds within Eastern Pennsylvania received its first bass fuss. But game fishing, and gamey qualities, in a few miles of each other, you could see even more from the Potomac, and they were stocked in many instances do not depend on the fish but on Susquehanna at Harrisburg by a few individual the tackle and equipment used to handle them. Even a five-pound small-mouth bass, which .•£•-••:? sportsmen about 1871, and by 1873 the State Fish Commission had obtained and stocked them grabbed a soft shelled crab or a plug viciously and in the Delaware. Water conditions were so ideal with murderous intent, hard enough to set the it was not long until the fighting bronzeback hooks deep and well, has no chance a.cainst the (they were mostly small-mouths) had found their sturdy casting rod and an extra-heavy line, if the way into the far reaches of both watersheds. angler has any experience at all. But this isn't From that very small beginning comes the great intended to cause a round table argument about numbers found today, and the fine sport en­ gaminess, or the "pound for pound and inch for joyed by ye average bass angler. inch" stuff. It is merely to say present and future angling and anglers will do well to cast an eye at Hatching Improved the opalescent optics of the pike-perch. However, while the bass did thrive when caught in its natural habitats and stocked else­ Wall-Eye's History where, it was not until around 1930 they could The wall-eye doesn't ask too much to thrive be successfully hatched and reared in quantities and multiply, and never did. He came originally and kept to desirable size in hatchery ponds. from the Finger Lakes of New York, and, after Much of the credit for this discovery, and it was a being dumped into the upper reaches of the discovery, must go to the Pennsylvania Fish Susquehanna River, was forgetten for years. He Commission. State fish culturists found ways to finally appeared all over the Susquehanna and its grow the right kind of natural food required by branches, from Harrisburg up to the Juniata and newly hatched bass, which must have live food west branches. He was a stranger, and natives for the first crucial weeks of life. This food is promptly dubbed him "Susquehanna Salmon." daphnia, or the common water flea. And in the No salmon, but a member of the perch family, he past several years, even during the war, other was no less tasty and early fishermen, modern bass rearing problems have been solved. fishermen, too, contend he is the best eating fish It is no wild prediction that Pennsylvania, in a of all. (Maybe, I'll take natiye brook trout!) matter of a few years, will be rearing bass to But over the years the wall-eye has made good stock the same as it does trout, legal size and fishing in many lakes and big streams in the larger, and in almost the same huge quantities. state, including the Allegheny, if you know their Rex Vosburg and 21-inch, 6-lb., 4-oz. Black Bass he The fighting bronzeback and his brother, the habits and routine. Wall-eyes hang to the deep caught in Quaker Lake, Susquehanna County. water and lie most of the time directly on the bot­ Postmaster E. R. Sparks of Indianhead, Pa. and tom. The best method to take them is the bot­ 18%-in., 43J/2-oz. B. Bass he caught in Indian Creek fishermen. Probably because most of the waters tom-bumping trolling rig, with a red and white there contain good bass fishing, also pickerel fish­ spinner ahead of a worm, crab or minnow. They ing, and the area attracts large numbers of fish- will take plugs also, if retrieved close to the bot­ minded vacationers. However, residents' con­ tom. But they are slow to hit, and often like to versation always includes plenty of talk about follow for some distances. Therefore the slowest, the "big ones that got away," too. possible speed in retrieving or trolling is most pro­ This great interest is comparatively recent. ductive, except during those times when they are Pew of us realize bass were unknown, never on a feeding spree. Then they come in out of the heard of, all along the Middle Atlantic Eastern deep, to the shoals or shorelines, and feed as Seaboard and the New England states less than viciously and savagely as a foraging bass, hitting 100 years ago. Records show it was not until hard and fast, even surface plugs. Usually they after 1850 when the first bass, and mighty few of will be in schools of larger size peditions occur them, were carried overland from the Ohio River generally in the fall, just about cold eather time. Watershed and placed in some of today's finest and best known waters. The Potomac, the Sus­ Stocking a Problem quehanna, the Hudson and all the lakes and One thing prevents the wall-eye from being P°nds draining into them contained none of stocked in numbers like bass and trout. They can these fighting game fish prior to that time. be hatched from the egg at a hatchery, but can­ not be kept more than a few days, because the New England Stocked day they begin to eat they like live food and will In 1854 bass finally were taken into New Eng­ grab the wiggling tails of their tiny brethren and land from northern areas, likely the St. Lawrence must be stocked at once. Once this obstacle is °r Great Lakes, but it wasn't until 1869 they were surmounted and wall-eyes can be reared to de­ Put into the Potomac River. It makes an odd sirable stocking size anglers will find new sport story. Efforts had been made for some years v.' -** "4 " and enjoyment, and good eating, taking them. Previously, but the fish died on the overland trip, This means plenty of experimentation and re­ then the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad line search, but since other fish culture obstacles have r°m Cumberland to Wheeling was completed, been removed, as in the rearing of bass and trout, ^d a sportsman, Gen. W. W. Shriver, of Wheel­ *.*8&!&i8!!2&8P-'.*~- " -.. • 1undoubtedl y the wall-eyed problem will be also. lit PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OCTOBER

Of the salt water species the life cycle of the eel LET'S GO OUTDOORS and the salmon are most interesting. Some scientists contend that all eels on the western hemisphere journey eastward to and through the . With Slim Atlantic to a nebulous spot in the sea of Sar­ By RALPH SIDES gasso, to spawn. The spawn works its way on a two-year trip back to America. European eels journey westward for the same purpose. Don't FISH as big as a row boat weighing as much monster were thrilled and scared. What a ask us how eels in our West Coast states cross the as a man, seen last week threshing about on A chance, they thought, to hook into a giant which Rocky Mountains, the desert or the prairies! the surface of the Susquehanna river below Cono- could tow a boat. Then on the other hand there wingo dam, is the latest sensational fish story was the fearful possibility of the enormous crea­ Both the East and West Coast salmon spawn authenticated by several local anglers who wit­ ture flipping his tail too close and upsetting them in fresh water by going up rivers to do so. Adult nessed the appearance. in the treacherous waters. Tense moments of salmon come back to spawn—just like shad do— One chap described it as acting like a dolphin suspense had everyone tingling with excitement in the river in which they were born. All West bouncing up and down under the water, showing mingled with apprehension. Coast salmon die after they spawn, and the first its broad back with huge dorsal fin and tail two Nothing happened however and old rivermen food of the young is the disintegrating bodies of feet wide. concluded that it was a stray sturgeon which had their parents. East Coast salmon do not die after All occupants of crafts within range of the ventured from the sea. spawning, but return to the Atlantic.

What D'You Know About She Angles for Fish Angling? Meet Only Woman President By JIM HURLEY of Fly Fishers Club ERIE DISPATCH HERALD By ADELAIDE KERR

The word angle comes from the Indo-European Ramble down Willowemac river in New York root word Ajnk, meaning to bend, and has nothing and you may meet the only woman in the United at all to do with "angles" the Broadway boys are States who is president of a fly fishers club. always looking for. She is Mrs. B. Tappen Fairchild, of Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Pause to watch, as she stands hip-deep in waders and you may get a Angling represents man's earliest quest of wild few casting points, as her line cuts the air with a things—even antedates hunting—when, even as swish, and her fly (hand-made by her husband) now, he had to eat to live. Early in the earth's drops on icy bubbles at the spot where she last history water covered most of the globe's surface. saw a rise. Watch a few minutes longer and you may see her net a trout. One season she netted 199 salmon in four weeks (though she returned These waters were alive with creeping, crawl­ most of them to the water). ing, swimming things and to them man turned Mrs. Fairchild, member of a well known New for his food supply. His weapons were rough, a York family, wife of a sportsman and mother of crude spear and sharpened flint head made his two servicemen, began to fish twenty-five years first harpoon. It was hard for man to get close to ago when her husband came home from World his quarry with these clumsy weapons so about War I. Few women fished in those days. the time of the Stone Age man got "smart" and A decade later she helped found the Woman began making his first "fishing hooks." Flyfishers Club, believed to be the only organiza­ tion of its kind in the country. Today the club numbers 60 women and has its own clubhouse on Joseph Bogle and son display two nice Trout caught The first hook or angle was not a hook at all on Nymphs at Fisherman's Paradise. The Bogles the. Willowemac. Husbands may go on their but a gorge, made of stone, wood or bone, with a reside at 328 Hepburn St., Milton. fishing outings, but they can't fish. groove in the center. Around this groove a thong "Few women are dyed-in-the-wool fishermen," was wound and the gorge was impaled hi the bait. generally supposed. The first complete treatise she said with a smile. "Most women fish because It was swallowed or lodged in the throat of the on fishing is a Greek poem of five books. they want to get along with their men. That's fish and the Stone Age fishermen yanked his fish Fly fishing was practiced thousands of years why I think more women will fish after the war onto the land. ago according to a book written by a Greek in the when many men now in service will want to do third century A.D., which tells of the Macedon­ more hunting and fishing." Fishing is often mentioned in the Bible but ians taking fish in their rivers. Mrs. Fairchild thinks women make first class they were commercial men; fishing was done for These Macedonians, according to the early fishermen. food in those days and not for pleasure. Greek writer, captured a spotted fish by using a "They have delicacy of touch and patience," lure made of wool and feathers. The spotted she said. "And both these qualities are import­ First sports fishermen apparently were the fish undoubtedly was a brown trout and the wool ant. Incidentally, fishing is a wonderful fatigue Egyptians. In some of their hieroglyphics and and feathers constituted what we'd call today a antidote for business women." permanent carvings we find substantial citizens of streamer fly. Right now the Fairchild family interest in their days pretty much caparisoned for fishing as sports is playing second fiddle to work in behalf the modern sports angler is with rod and line. Old Ike Walton was undoubtedly the father of of service men. Mrs. Fairchild is active in several No reels show up in the hieroglyphics. modern angling. In his immortal work "The committees which arrange for entertainment of Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's convalescent service men from Santini hospital, The Greek must have had a word for it, be­ Recreation" he gives advice to his contemporaries Sea Gate Naval hospital and Mason General cause many of their early historians—notably which is as applicable today as it was in the early hospital. About twenty-five of the men spend Plutarch—wrote about fishing. Old Piute did an 1600's. Sunday as lunch and dinner guests of Cold Spring item on a fishing match between Antony and His hints on fishing for trout can be well fol­ Harbor families, who arrange golf, swims, coun­ Cleopatra, but he doesn't say who was doing the lowed ljy modern fishermen, and he gives a try club dance and box suppers for them. During fishing and for what. Anyway, Bill Shakespeare recipe for a bait for carp which you'd think came the week Mrs. Fairchild entertains hospitalized utilized this contest in this great (they were all from a modern angler. You guessed it, a dough- soldiers with a musical program in which she great, weren't they?) play, "Antony and Cleo­ ball! whistles like a bird to her own accompaniment. patra." Fish are not found all over the ocean as many Mr. Fairchild teaches flytying at Mason General people imagine. Mostly they aren't found far off hospital. Izaak Walton (this is Jus birth month, by the the continental shelf of each continent as it goes Mrs. Fairchild is a member of the Planning way; he was bom Aug. 9, 1593, at Stafford, out from a mile to 15 or farther before sloping off Board of Huntington Township and an ardent England) was not the father of angling as is into great depths of 1,000 feet or more. stamp collector. 1945 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 19

LI'L ABNER happened. My white streamer was easy to see, as his lower jaw was twisted considerably. I am and I was watching it idly as I retrieved it. sure he had been a party to some epic struggle {Continued from Page 7) Suddenly I saw the flash of a fish behind it. before, and won. This particular trout went into creek some years ago, but now he's only a As I gave the fly an extra twitch, I felt a slight a waiting washtub covered with netting and was legend." tug. A huge trout swirled in the water beside my hurried back to our private pool. (Concerning "Professor," said the Old Master, "legend or streamer. I saw his broad flank gleam as he the building of these trout pools I'd like to write not, I always hankered to meet up with a trout turned and glided back under a log. He had at a later date. They can make a fisherman's that was twenty years old or better. You never barely bumped my fly and refused it. backyard a paradise.) can tell—" "Li'l Abner," I breathed. All in all for the true nature lover the mouth of I laughed, but nevertheless, as we worked I cast again and again without raising the big Scrubgrass offers one of the most beautiful set­ down the creek, I put my flies away and tried trout before I decided to sit down, smoke a tings for trout fishing I have ever seen. Young w-orms for a while. Although the water was cigarette, and think the situation over. The Old mountains on all sides and the broad Allegheny clear, it was cold, and the trout were bottom- Master came down from the big pool, and I told cutting through them, and in the distance a feeding. I picked up a few fish on worms, and him about the fish. spider-like bridge spanning the river. Often, too. the Old Master, after he had discarded his "What did you raise him on?" he asked. in the evening the church bells from the village minnow rig, hit the jackpot when he took four below ring out melodiously on the breeze. Also "The black and white streamer. You know— rainbows out of a tongue of fast water on skil­ at times I have seen deer swimming the river the one that looks like a minnow in the water. fully presented worms. and it is a good three hundred yards in width at But I can't raise him again." We reached a beautiful pool where the creek this point. And almost always there are plenty both narrowed and deepened and where the "There's your answer," said the Old Master, of trout . . . sometimes in one pool, sometimes moderate current hugged an undercut bank, an "a minnow. Why don't you try a real minnow?" in another, sometimes in none of them. Often ideal set-up. We were worming the pool care­ "Pardner," I said producing a double hook and they are out on the edge of the big river, feeding, fully when a familiar figure emerged from the old a bait needle, "you've got something there." but not getting too far away from the colder trail that flanked the creek. He did. I hooked the minnow so that its tail water. It is real adventure to find them and hook "Morning, boys," said Ross Bailey. "How're was curved, and the first time it spun past Li'l them and land them. As to size, they are both they hitting?" Abner, the big trout nailed it. When he felt the large and small. From the sound of the clunking Ross is the Chief Fish Warden for that corner barbs, he cleared the water in a slashing leap, and splashing on a still summer night one can of the state, and as such, he is a real fishermen's scattering spray all over the creek. easily imagine that they are three or four feet in length. But an experienced angler knows that a fish warden. Known throughout the hills for his The Old Master's eyes popped. good sportsmanship, he is a keen and experienced trout gets to be quite a fish long before he at­ outdoorsman. "Wow!" he yelled. "You've hooked him. tains that length. Take it easy! Watch him! Keep that rod up!" "It looks," said Ross smiling, "as if you might be after Li'l Abner." Li'l Abner was tough. He packed a terrific wallop. I had to admit that he was the cagiest There was that name again. The Old Master fighter I had ever stood up to. But I was con­ looked at me with an I-told-you-so air. fident. So far I had him under control. He ham­ Littlestown Sportsmen Hold "Why?" I asked. mered around the little pool for ten minutes. I "He's supposed to range this section of the followed liim easily, keeping a tight line. As I Outing creek," replied the warden, "and he's more likely felt him weaken, I crowded him a little. And to take a worm or a'minnow than a fly, unless it's then, just as I had him where I wanted him,— HE Littlestown Fish and Game Association a big bucktail or streamer." then— Tenjoyed a corn bake, recently, in the grove at St. John's Lutheran church. Guests were mem­ "Have you ever seen Li'l Abner?" asked the Li'l Abner, as if he suddenly remembered ur­ bers of Boy Scout Troop No. 84, their scout­ Old Master. gent business elsewhere, gave one mighty flip master, Alton Bowers, and L. D. Snyder and "Oh, yes. In fact, a pardner of mine hooked of his broad tail and swam steadily and ir­ Paul E. King, members of the troop committee. him one evening. He's broken more tackle than resistibly away under the log jam. Almost im­ President Bernard Dillman presided at a short any trout I know of." mediately the leader fouled on an underwater business meeting. The group decided not to "How big is the fish?" I asked. snag, the line twanged like a bow string, and the conduct a formal flag raising at the honor roll as Ross grinned. "Local authorities aren't rod sprang backward in my hand. Li'l Abner had had been planned. The flag has been placed on agreed as to whether the trout is three or four won another round. I sat down and lit a cigarette the pole and is flown each day. Members of the feet long. I don't want to hazard a guess, but with shaking fingers. scout troop will be in charge of the flag. The "6 is an exceptional fish, both for length and "Too bad," said the Old Master, "but we'll Association voted to make application to the girth." hook him again some time." State and Federal Government for fish with which With a friendly so-long, Ross ambled up­ "Yes," I said, "he's still here to fish for." to stock the streams. They stated that the dam at the farm of Irvin Baughman, near St. James stream. Yes, Spring Creek with its chill crystal waters church, is in bad condition and the association "So it was just a legend," said the Old Master. is still the home of Li'l Abner. Each time I fish decided to make the necessary repairs. A com­ "What do you say now? the stream, with every cast I make, I half expect mittee, composed of Paul Snyder, W. E. Stites that big brown bruiser to roll up out of the "I say we're going to do some serious fishing," and Edward DeGroft, was appointed to have 1 replied. mysterious depths and engulf my lure. Li'l Ab­ charge of the repairs. It was announced that at ner is a legend among the folk of the trout coun­ I had tired of worm-dunking and, after we had the next meeting a representative from the Game forked the big pool, went back to my bucktails try, but a legend come to life. an Commission of Pennsylvania would be present d streamers. to show the farmers and trappers in this section "Li'l Abner," I said, "if you're looking for a how to trap a fox. This meeting will be open to •nouthful, here's something that should tickle BIG SCRUBGRASS the public due to its interest to the many trappers >'°Ur appetite." (Continued front Page 13) in this locality. L. D. Snyder gave an account of I chose a big black and white streamer with a in slowly . . . tin; current carrying it oif some­ the recent Boy Scout hike from Caledonia to "lick polar bear body and a pair of popping glass Pine Grove Furnace over the Appalachian Trail. c what to my left. Practically all the line came yes. In the water it was a very lifelike lure. in . . . almost to the nine foot leader and I could The association will hold a rabbit feed at a date Spring Creek left the big pool with a rush, see the grasshopper coming up to the surface. to be announced later. The following com­ '-'luckled down a long flat gravel chute, and piled There was a sudden swirl and there was the big mittees were appointed by President Dillman to up against the bank which swung sharply to the brown almost at my feet taking the bait! I arrange for the affair:Banquet, WalterB. Crouse, pgnt. At this elbow in the creek a number of big could see the whole performance. He didn't Richard Knipple and Charles M. Weikert; Food, °gs had jammed crosswise in the streambed and John Bloom, George Cool, Henry Storm, William la tarry, either, for even as I set the hook he d formed a natural dam which slowed the started fast for the Allegheny, running out at H. Renner, Charles Snyder, Edward Leister, ^ater up momentarily and created a deep pocket least sixty feet of the ninety feet on my reel. It Clarence Hall, Robert Stover, Harry Harner and lull 0f cross-currents. was a royal battle but he was tired when I Kenneth Olinger; Games, Carl Bankert, Charles J stood so that my casts quartered downstream, finally pulled him up over the edge of the landing W. Weikert, John F. Feeser, Irvin L. Baughman n and Herman Kaler. The committee to arrange *j d my fly was carried through the swift riffle net. That kind can't be hurried when one has on . °*n into the restless pocket of water among the a light leader. He measured just over twenty the program for next month's meeting is com­ inches which is nice trout in any fisherman's posed of William Wherley, Paul E. Hilterbrick and W. E. Stite . must have made a dozen casts before it language. He bore the mark of previous battles 20 PENNSYLVANIA AN CL E R OCTOBER

LOWLY CRAWFISH Crawfish may be taken with a baited dip- basket: some persons also use crawfish "pots." (Continued from Page 16) Nets of various sorts are employed and a good aquaria. They are omnivorous so feeding them many are taken by hand. When the animals are is quite simple. However, they may cause un­ boiled their skeletons turn a deep, red color and balanced conditions in aquaria by uprooting they smell exactly like boiled lobster, having a vegetation and eating of everything they are sweet, musty, calcium-like odor. The taste of able to catch. boiled crawfish is a cross between lobster and Once long ago we put some peeler craws into shrimp. With the proper sauce and when the horse trough. Though we ourselves were un­ properly chilled it cannot be told from fresh able to see them in the water, the horses refused shrimp. Some persons prefer the delicious taste to drink from the trough. They shied away when of boiled crawfish fried in a butter sauce. their noses came within a foot or so of the water. That at least a few accept this view of the Possibly the crawfish gave off some odor which crawfish as an article of cuisine is supported by the. horses were able to detect. the commercial reports. The Federal Fish and Wildlife Service lists the 1937 crop in Wisconsin All of the crawfish east of the Rocky Moun­ at 41,500 pounds, worth $4,150, and that in the tains are placed in the taxonomic genus of state of Oregon for 1936 at 86.900 pounds Cambarus. Four species occur in Minnesota, valued at $9,559. The commissioner's report for two of which are common. Cambarus virilis is Louisiana estimates the catch there to be over found in streams where it is more frequent on 2.193,000 pounds which brings in a revenue of rocky, boulder or gravel bottoms. 1 have seen about $175,000 annually. as many as 20 of them gathered together under an especially suitable rock. Cambarus immunis The crawfish, however, is also frowned upon, prefers still waters. It is the species which builds for several reasons. Its burrows often appear in chimneys and burrows extensively. Cambarus undesirable places. They cause damage in the diogenes and Cambarus blandingi are less fre­ walls of rearing ponds and more seriously weaken the Mississippi levees where great areas might Mr. Bond of Matamoras, and this beautiful Brown quently encountered. Trout he caught in the Sawkill Creek. 24-in., 5 lbs. consequently be flooded. Sometimes their chim­ These animals mate in the early fall and ap­ neys in low grass meadows damage mowing ma­ parently are very promiscuous. The sperms are William Quintell of Quakertown and 20-inch chines. Freshwater fishermen are often bothered long, HVi-lb. B. Bass he took from Lake Warren. held in a packet by the female outside of her by hordes of crawfish which get into the gill nets. Quintell used a plug. body until the time of egg-laying, when they are There they not only eat the fish but become so released and fertilization effected. Just before entangled themselves that it requires many the eggs are to be laid the female hides herself hours work to rid the nets of their bodies. securely and carefully cleans her swimmerets, or Cambarus also harbors certain uninvited small abdominal appendages. The eggs are then guests. It is the intermediate host to certain attached to the swimmerets by means of a glue­ parasites of the mammals which feed upon it. like secretion and remain thus until hatching This fact gives the crawfish an importance in the takes place in the spring. The young animals eyes of the fur industry. If the crawfish is reach a length of several inches during their first properly cooked, these guests in no way make the year, and usually die in their third or fourth year. crawfish less desirable for human consumption. The food of crawfish is more varied than one One person, we may be sure, will always value might suspect. Individuals kept in captivity the crawfish. The humble bait fishermen (though have been seen to eat bananas, angleworms, his tribe has decreased) who still-fishes for bass smoked herring, lettuce and a variety of other with a cork and line, will never forsake the soft foods. Under natural conditions they catch fish, craw. insects and worms, browse on algae and aquatic- flowering plants. Certain forms prowl about on land at night during rainy weather and eat tender WORMS ON THE WING shoots of grass. Their huge craws often contain Instead of crawling, the worm has taken to an assortment of indigestible materials which flying, according to the Air Express Division must ultimately be regurgitated. of Railway Express Agency. The crawfish appears in many places in the At Carrollton, Mo., an air-minded chap de­ economy of conservation. It is primarily thought cided his friend in Long Beach, Calif., could of as an important fishing bait. Food studies of tetter his fishing record by using improved fishes show that it does form a large part of the bait. Resorting to air express, he had a ship­ food taken by bass and sunfish. As a forage ment of "oomphy" Missouri worms flown animal in rearing ponds the crawfish has proven out to the coast. successful. The young animals which live in the aquatic vegetation supply many meals for the demanding bass and crappie fry. Cambarus im­ munis in Daphnia rearing ponds has been found to produce populations weighing from 50 to 250 BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS pounds per acre annually. Under these con­ ditions, much of this weight represents the eon- HARRISBURG, PA. version into crawfish bodies of food otherwise SUBSCRIPTION BLANK not available to the game fish. Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to the Crawfish have long been used as food by man­ "Pennsylvania Angler." kind. In the past, various authors have de­ scribed the methods of taking the creatures and different ways of preparing them for the table. N ame The French Bureau of Fisheries, has studied the (Print Name) propagation and distribution of crawfish to re­ stock "overfished" waters. Travelers say that it Street and Number is not an uncommon sight in Louisiana and Georgia, where the crawfish grow as big as lob­ PLEASE CHECK ster "shorts," to see them for sale along the road. • New City_ Whereas in Ohio I used to watch the Negroes, with some aloofness, as they caught crawfish to • Renewal eat, I have since come to know what a delectable dish 1 disdained. DO SOT SEND STAMPS State- Honor Roll PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION ft ft ft ft

Employes of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission Now in the Service of Our Country

*FRED E. BLANEY ANDREW SAVAGE *ROLLAND D. CRONK CYRIL REGAN WARREN HAMMER NEVIN LeDANE DALE ARNER GEORGE FOX WILLIAM E. McILNAY THEODORE J. DINGLE, JR. ROY SMITH BUDD BROOKS MAHLON BREON ROBERT BROWN CHARLES EGLINGER WESLEY BECKWITH GEORGE MAGARGEL JAMES PETERS C. W. SHEARER JOHN ALSPAUGH DONALD L. HOUSER CHAS. KUSTANBAUTER JOHN C. LOCKHART BUDD SAMPSELL CHARLES E. STARK HAROLD STITZER NORMAN L. BLUM LEROY SORENSON ALBERT E. BESECKER MELBOURNE O. SORENSON EARL HENRY MARSH PAUL POORMAN GEORGE W. CROSS SAMUEL C. GRIFFEY RICHARD E. HEFFERAN NORMAN SICKLES ALBERT BRUNGART SPENCER POTTER GORDON C. BURDICK KENNETH ALEY JAMES A. MAY BENJAMIN DONLEY JOHN F. G. RIEDEL JACK ELWOOD SAXION PAUL PECHART ALTON J. JONES RAY E. LAIR ARTHUR D. BRADFORD CLARENCE S. HUTCHINSON GERALD PARKER JAMES F. HANNA

*Made Supreme Sacrifice

// // I Came Through and I Shall Return —GENERAL MacARTHUR MAILED IN CONFORMITY WITH P. O. D. ORDER Nos. 27856-19687

I'D LIKE TO GO A FISHIN' 1 ain't got long to stiek around, I've had my day and know it An' when one gits nigh eighty years they're just most bound to show it. But if a feller has the will to wish, and "Keep on wishin', He ain't so old, for instance me, I'd like to go a iishin'. Course I don't fish like most folks do, hut that don't mean I'm savin' That what 1 do or think is best, fer 1 ain't trouble layin', But I dare say just fer myself, course now you didn't ask it The things I like 'bout Iishin' most, don't come home in a basket. An' you can laugh, say 1 dunno, but you can't hurt my feelin' Fer in my day, they's folks 'nil say, I fished and done some reelin', An got my share and some to spare before I found that iishin' Meant somethin' else sides ketchin' fish an that's just what I'm wishin'. That something else I can't explain, it's somethin' that gets in you An you can't never git it out, seems everythin's again you, Them birds and bees and (lowers and trees and little streams keep callin', An gosh some times they call so hard I jest most feel like bawlin', An I suppose thats cause I'm old and doin' too much thinkin' But you can see 'twant. do fer me to keep on with my blinkin', An a longin' fer them things 1 knew there's someway I must, make it I've got to get my old fishpole I don't know where I'll take it. But somewhere there's a little stream where I can fish and wander An look around and see them things that He made way up yonder, An hear the ripplin' of the stream and waterfalls a rumblin' An watch the trout scoot in an out down where the water's tumblin,' An mebbe find a beaver dam and see the beaver splashin' Or watch jest how they cut them trees, gosh that takes lots of gnashin', An mebbe too along the stream I'll see a spot of yeller An find a fawn a hiding, jest a little spotted feller. An way oil' yonder in the woods I'll hear a grouse a drununin' An all around that peaceful sound of old ma nature's hummin' An gosh, they's lots a things like that, that have a silver linin', When you're all alone a fishin and the sun is up there shinin' If the fish ain't jest a bitin' ain't no use to be a freltin', Take your time and look around you, tain't the fish you'll be a gettin' That U'll live fer years and years and you can have fer your own pleasure It's that somethin' deep down in you, that you get your mostly treasure; An gosh, 1 wish you'd try my way, they's things that make you wonder If you take your time to see 'em, you're jest bound to sit and ponder, 'Bout the one who makes them tilings, you see I always get the feelin' That someone's near and tain't jest fear that makes me feel like kneelin' When I'm all alone a fishin'—Seems like most fer what I'm wishin' Is to walk with Him jest once agin, I'd like to go a fishin.' —HARRY A. FISHLER, Williamsport, Pa.