Familiar fish

Front matter

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Prefatory note

Author's introduction .... •a lesson in advance of the subject .

■The HATCHING AND PROPAGATION OF FISH The SALMON, and members of that FAMILY

-The ouananiche and the sea trout .

-The bass family

-muskallunge, pike, pickerel, pike perch ■Miscellaneous fresh-water fish .

-Fishing tackle — what to select . -The tackle box and its contents

■How TO catch salmon and trout . ■Ouananiche and sea-trout fishing how muskallunge, pike, pickerel, and pike perch

are caught

Angling for other fresh-water fish . ■Camping — how, when, and where .

Special hints for anglers .

Comprising a chapter on don'ts .

Open fishing seasons in United States

Canada

Scientific names of fish mentioned

xi and

PAGE V

vii

146 158 164 179 194

300 309

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIOJS^S

PAGE

How not to catch fish Frontispiece

" Born beneath the Fish's sign ■" v

Studying angUng vii

Familiar llsh and how to catch them 1

How to learn the rudiments of fishing 3

Trout egg ready to hatch 6

A fish way 9

Trout three days old 14

Just caught 17

Atlantic Salmon 19

Pacific Salmon 19

Brook-Trout 21

Rainbow Trout 25

Brown Trout 27

Lake Trout .27

A bit of Lake St. John 32

A 7i-pound Ouananiche 34

Bass jumping 41

Small-mouth Bass 43

Large-mouth Bass .47

Strawberry Bass 49

Rock Bass 51

White Bass 53

A place for Pickerel 56

Muskallunge 59

Pike .59

Head of Muskallunge, Pike, Pickerel 60

Pickerel C3

Pike Perch 63

Still fishing 67

Yellow Perch 69

Yellow Perch eggs 70

White Perch 72

Scale Carp 74

Leather-back Carp . 76

xiii

XIV FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE

PAGE

Catfish 79

Fresh-water Sheepshead 81

Burbot 83

Necessary tackle 85

Sizes of lines 90

Sizes of hooks 91

Kinds of hooks 92, 98

Snell hooks 93

Sizes of oval spoons 94

Sizes of kidney spoons 94

Tackle box 95

Leader box 96

Drinking cup 98

Cod hook 98

Fish basket 99

Rod case . . . . , 99

Tying gut 101

A well-tied fly .... „ 102

Salmon leaping a fall Ill

Playing a Salmon 113

A Trout stream 117

Angling for Trout 120

Canoeing for Ouananiche 126

Playing a Ouananiche 129

A string of Ouananiche 131

Ouananiche Pool 133

A good string 136

Playing a Black Bass 139

Spinner with Minnow 140

A trolling spoon 146

Double and treble hooks 148

A gang of hooks 149

Above-water tip-up 153

Underwater tip-up 155

Hook disgorger 157

Three Perch at a cast 158

A camp breakfast 164

A bark camp 167

A camp bed ... 169

A tent camp 171

How to cook over a camp fire 177

A fislierman photographer 179

Bass swimming (from life) 183

A releaser 184

Figure of fish, showing the location of parts usually referred to in

descriptions 187

A frog spear • .189

FAMILIAR PISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE

Chapter I A Lesson In Advance Of The Subject

The best advice to give modern seekers after sport is to become fishermen. Study the art a little and practice it much.

Nothing can be more harmless, since only the nobler feelings are aroused. It can only result in complete satisfaction. Seek the wilderness — the farther away from civilization the better it will be.

First of all, it is absolutely necessary to know the " how," " when," and " where " of fishing. To learn this, one must begin at the very beginning — the hatching and breeding of the various game and food fishes, which will give an insight into their nature. A study of their names, distinguishing marks, and habits comes next. When this has been acquired it naturally follows that one should gain a thorough knowledge of tackle — rods, lines, reels, and especially natural and artiiicial bait — and how to arrange and use it. All this comprises the " how." The " when " is learned in connection with it, since in studying it tlie nature and habits of fish become readily known. Thus the proper time to catch them is indicated, and the " where " as well. Any boy at all enthusiastic over angling generally knows where to go "a-fishing." Add to this knowledge that which has been acquired through proper study, and the result is that the beginner soon becomes an adept, successful, fullfledged fisherman. It can be readily understood that the study of fishing is neither a long nor an unpleasant task in any way, but, on the contrary, has a peculiar fascination.

It is very unfortunate that the natural supply of fish is constantly being depleted by two avoidable causes : one, excessive greed — the desire to take more fish than can properly be disposed of ; the other, the ignoring of all game laws by taking fish out of season. The opportunity to make large catches frequently occurs. If the temptation can not be withstood, then remove the fish carefully from the hook and return them to the water, retaining only those badly injured, or a sufficient number to supply actual wants. That certainly should satisfy any inordinate craving to catch fisli. Just remember that there are many other fishermen to follow you in the years to come. They will be equally enthusiastic anglers, and equally desirous of success. Why not leave some fish for them, and for yourself another day as well ? Avoid willful, useless slaughter of any kind.

Too much can not be said against the violation of the game laws — the taking of fish out of season. It is not only an illegal offense, punishable by heavy penalties, but, what is far more important, it prevents their natural increase, which is most necessary. Close seasons were made to protect certain fish during their spawning time, when they are easily taken, especially in the vicinity of the hatching beds. Each fish so caught means tlie loss of hundreds and thousands of young fish about to be hatched out. It is not necessary to caution a good sportsman in regard to this matter, but it is necessary for all to co-operate and prevent others from violating the law. Protect all game and food fish in every way possible.

A few words of caution against carelessness may be spoken here, especially to young anglers. Accidents are to be attributed almost entirely to this cause. As the greater amount of fishing is done from a boat, constant watchfulness should always be practiced. Avoid haste and dangerous places. It is better to lose a fish, or a day's fishing, or even to walk

A LESSON IN ADVANCE OF THE SUBJECT 5

a mile, than to have an accident occur through being too hastj, or attempting a difficult passage. The safest kind of a boat is dangerous when improperly handled. Rapids, falls, and rough waters should be avoided, unless a skilled hand guides the craft. One can not handle a boat properly and fish at the same time. An attempt to do this invites disaster and certainly prevents success.

The angler must be prepared for much disappointment, for fish will not bite constantly, nor every day. They have peculiar, unexplainable moods that continuing favoring conditions of water, wind, and weather can not control. An understanding of their nature and habits, together with a good knowledge of tackle and how to use it, greatly increases the chances of success. At all events, patience must be practiced, and the poor fish should not always be blamed.

Owing to the close similarity of various fish — members of the same family — many errors are made by fishermen in giving them their proper names. To understand their distinguishing marks, consultation of many Fish Commission reports is often necessary. To properly distinguish and name fish is very necessary ; to know how to catch them, al)solutely so. To present this knowledge in an authoritative, compact form is the aim of the following chapters.

CHAPTER II Trout egg ready to hatch

Almost everything material is the result of a very small beginning, and especially is this true of fish. Their beginning is in an egg, and in nearly all cases a particularly small egg — so small, in fact, that usually ten or twelve will cover a space only one inch long. There is absolutely no form of life, either of mammals, birds, or reptiles, that l^atiire has planned to bring forth its kind so numerously as does the fish. That this was a most wise provision will readily be understood when it is known that the enemies that feed upon the eggs and the fish themselves, through all stages of growth to full size, are innumerable. As the season ,of the year for spawning arrives, the female fish will be found to contain a very large number of eggs — a

quantity difiicult to estimate, but usually averaging 6 many thousands. To illustrate, it is well to note that a salmon of 20 pounds will average about 16,000 eggs ; a 5 -pound ouananiche, 4,000 ; a 2- to 4:-pound rainbow trout, 3,000 ; the brook trout averaging somewhat less. The lake trout is estimated to yield 1,000 eggs to each pound of its weight ; a 2i-pound black bass will range from 2,000 to 10,000, the large-mouth variety averaging more. When ripe, the eggs are deposited upon the spawning beds, which vary in location with the nature of the various fish. It can be given as a general rule, however, that a gravel or stony bottom usually forms the bed, although grass and weeds are selected by some varieties. Many fish seek shallow running water for their hatching ground ; others, quite deep waters in lakes and ponds. Many eggs are imperfect or undeveloped, or not milted upon by the male fish.

From the moment the eggs are being dropped the many enemies of the fish commence their attacks, and it really seems strange that a single one should ever hatch out or attain its growth. So-called bottom fish, comprising bullheads, suckers, and carp, are the greatest destroyers of eggs. The bullhead and carp live exclusively upon spawn during the season, and devour it in such quantities that they have often been taken so completely filled as to be absolutely unable to move. It is a great pity that the carp was

S FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE

ever introduced from Germany into American waters. It is not even a fair food fish — not sufficiently fine to compensate for its great destruction of spawn. In confined waters, especially, it will in a few years absolutely exterminate all other fish by destroying their eggs.

Frogs, and some aquatic birds, too, feed upon fish eggs, while wading and swimming birds dislodge them from the beds, and thus cause them to be carried away by the current and lost. Male trout have often been seen upon a spawning bed, catching and devouring the eggs almost as rapidly as they are dropped by the female. This is common practice with other fish as well. But when the eggs that have escaped destruction have in due time hatched out, the enemies multiply. Young fish recently hatched are called fry, and from that stage, during growth until maturity, and even after, they are the natural food of larger fish, even of their own kind.

The fouling and poisoning of streams and rivers by the refuse from mills located upon them have done much to destroy fish generally. This defilement, together with the erection of dams without proper fish ways, absolutely prevents fish from ascending to the spawning beds. So serious had both of these evils become some years ago, that the United States Government, and most of the State governments individually, passed stringent laws against the defiling of streams, even with sawdust, ordering at the same time that all dams should be provided with fish ways. With all the various destroying agents just mentioned interfering with, and in some instances absolutely preventing, the natural hatching of fish, it seems strange that any of the game and food varieties should have been left. Had not artificial hatching and propagating been resorted to, there certainly would not have been. This fact was long since rec-

A fish way.

ognized by the United States and State governments ; hatcheries were built and fish commissions formed to care for them. The first attempt to hatch trout artificially was made in Ohio in 1853, and was very successful. A large number of hatcheries are now located at suitable points all over the country. Immense numbers of fish of many varieties are hatched there and raised to a sufiicient size to insure their reaching their full growth when planted in rivers and lakes. This method prevents the destruction of both eggs and young fish, causing a very much larger proportion to grow to full size than would be possible under natural conditions. To illustrate this it may be stated that those familiar with the subject claim that not even twenty per cent of the eggs deposited in a wild state are hatched out to reach the fry stage, and that but a small proportion of these reach maturity. In artificial hatching ninety -five to ninety-seven per cent are usually hatched out, and nearly that amount can be raised to a proper size to plant in various waters.

The best advice to give a young fislierman is to ascertain the location of the nearest Government or State hatchery, and to visit it at the proper season, allowing ample time to study its workings. Since that is not always possible, however, a description of the artificial batching and propagation of fish will be necessary. The metbods followed with the many varieties would require a volume by tbemselves; therefore it is better to select one representative fish, and explain the process fully. As the details of the work are very similar with all species, suflicient insight will be given into them in thjs way to insure a good general understanding of the whole subject.

The spa^vning season of the different fresh -water fishes varies to such an extent, that nearly every month of the year is represented by some one variety. Again, in different parts of the country, the particular season of a species varies materially. This, of

THE HATCHING AND PROPAGATION OF FISH H

course, is caused entirely by the climate — whether warmer or colder. Then, also, the different temperatures of waters in the same neighborhood make a material difference. Thus, black bass commence to spawn soon after the ice leaves. In large shallow lakes and rivers, where the waters warm rapidly, A pril and early May is their season. In deeper, cooler waters it extends through May, and even into June.

Perhaps the best fish to illustrate the process of artificial hatching and propagating, is the most popular one with all fishermen — the brook trout. The greatest efforts have been directed toward multiplying this member of the salmon family on account of its popularity, and absolute success has been attained. October is the regular spawning season of the trout, although September or November may be the time, in the case of very warm or very cold waters.

Beyond any question the brook trout is absolutely the handsomest and most delicate fish we have in the East. It is found only in the cleanest and purest cold water, the least contamination suflicing to drive it away. Living entirely upon live food, the brook trout rarely, if ever, devours anything dead. As the spawning season approaches, these fish ascend the small streams, seeking shallow spots with a clean gravel bottom, over which a good current flows. Here the female removes the sand with her tail, and, pushing aside the gravel with her nose, forms a shallow nest. In this the eggs are deposited, and, when milted upon by the male, are covered with loose gravel, then left until hatched.

During the spawning season large quantities of eggs are secured from wild fish by the hatcheries at the natural beds. Many trout are also taken in nets throughout the year and kept in ponds until ripe, but as the facilities for keeping a quantity of fish are limited, an additional amount of spawn must be secured. The beds are easily found, and when the trout arrive, they are taken, a few at a time, in small nets. An expert employe can note in a moment if a fish is ripe ; if not, it is returned to the water. "When the fish is held by the tail the eggs will move toward the head, leaving the stomach shrunken ; if it is unripe this will not occur. The eggs and milt from the females and males are dropped separately into pans and at once gently mixed with a feather. After standing a few moments, they are carefully and constantly washed in pure running water until absolutely clean. The eggs, heretofore adhering, separate in an hour or less, and are then placed in gravel-bottom troughs, and left alone for some thirty days. After that period eye spots begin to appear, whereupon the eggs are placed in gauze-covered trays, in troughs of running water, there to remain until hatched out.

During the first month the eggs can be packed in especially prepared boxes, and sent without injury to any part of the world. After being placed in troughs or hatching boxes, through which a stream of cold water constantly flows, they must be examined frequently, and all imperfect ones removed. A few bad ones mingled with the others would soon cause all to be covered with a fungus-like growth that would spoil the entire number in the trough. Usually about three months are required to hatch out the eggs, dependent entirely upon the coldness of the water. If it is very cold — 35° to 40° — four or five months will be necessary.

Gi^eat care must be taken in handling the eggs, to avoid shaking or jarring them, as any violent or sudden motion is liable to divide the yolks and destroy the germs. Incidentally, it may be mentioned here that the famous double-tailed goldfish frequently seen are raised in Japan, and are produced by violently shaking the eggs in a pan. This causes the hatching of many monstrosities, some with double heads or double bodies, others with double tails, but generally only the latter survive. With the exercise of the greatest care quite a large number of odd fish are hatched out, some having several heads or tails, many double bodies, or are distorted in some strange way. The most peculiar are preserved in alcohol, and can be seen at any of the hatcheries.

As soon as they are hatched out, the young iish, or fry, as they are called, require great care and attention. Quite a number die, and must be carefully removed for the same reason that prescribes the removal

Trout three days' old.

of imperfect eggs. During the first three or four weeks a small sac remains attached to the stomach of the fish, which l^ature provides as its source of nourishment. At this stage their growth is quite rapid, and it is at this time that the young fry can be safely shipped in cans to a distance, to be used in stocking streams. No artificial food is needed, and if the water in the cans is properly aerated by changing it or putting in pieces of ice, but few die during the journey.

When the sacs begin to disappear, artificial feeding must be resorted to, raw liver only being used. This is mashed up in water to the consistence of pudding, and passed through a fine sieve. A little of it is dipped out at a time on a feather and floated in the troughs, the process being repeated six or eight times a day. The fish eagerly take it. As they grow in size the liver is fed in larger quantities, much coarser, but less frequently. It is necessary also, as they become larger, to reduce the number of fish in each trough, to avoid overcrowding and suffocation. Fish hatched in the winter or early spring will grow from three to six inches in length (fingerlings) by E^ovember, but previous to this they have been taken from the troughs and placed in ponds or large tanks. During the summer of the following year they have become yearlings from 6 to 8 inches long, and are ready to spawn in the fall.

It is well to state in connection with hatching that the black bass has been found to be one of the most difficult of fish to propagate artificially, and only within a few years has success been attained. It was w^ith great difficulty that the female could be stripped of her eggs, and it was found necessary to kill and open the male to secure the milt. On this account the fish are now placed in specially built ponds, properly prepared, the hatching out of the fry thus progressing naturally without any artificial aid whatever. As soon as possible the young fish are separated from the older ones, which prevents the latter from eating them, and enables a much larger number to grow to full size than would under natural surroundings.

With all other fresh-water fishes but little difficulty is found in reaching full success, the methods followed being in general quite similar to those followed in the hatching of trout as just described. The United States Fish Commission is also engaged extensively in hatching out a number of salt-water fish, including cod, mackerel, flounder, tautog, haddock, weakfish, sheepshead, and herring. In addition, special attention is being given to the propagation of the oyster and lobster, since both, the latter particularly, are being rapidly exterminated.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the artificial hatching of fish is very successful, and that without it, and the attendant stocking of the streams with young fish in various stages of growth, many of our best fish would by this time have almost disappeared. The continuation of this good work will prevent the occurrence of this calamity. Any of the fish can be had without cost from the various hatcheries upon proper application to the State Fish Commissioners. It is the duty of all fishermen to see that young fish are supplied to their nearby waters — that is, the proper kind adapted to them. With an allotment planted each year, the fishing will continue uniformly good.