Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-05-18
The Black Bass of the Potomac. =

The Black Bass Of the Potomac.
The commepc. ment Of The fishing season has
been marked b. the capture Of a number OF black
bass in The vicinity oil The falls Of the Potomac.
The following letter from a veteran spor,smah.
Edward Stabler. Of Montgomery county, Md.
contains an interesting history OF the in,roduc.
ton of these fish into the waters OF the 'foto'
mac i8F
"Af,er much delsy and frequent disappoint-
menls and loss from the lack Of suitable trans
poriaton, have succeeded in taking IN the
Upper Potomac and safely transporting to Bal
tmoTe, fine lot OF "black" b'ss, (Gryslis Nigri-
icans-Agassiz( with which 10 sock Swami
Lake, and also the lakes Of Druid HUI Park,
at Baltimore. As brief history Of the intro
ductIon OF this superior fish into the tribnta les
of the Chesapeake and east OF All'shanes-ter
they are, in my opinion, superior 10 the trout
both for spcrt and able-may not be without IN
,ereSt TO some, il may be stated that some ihlr-
teen wears since my son, A. &. Sabler, then
conductor on the Baltimore ana Ohio Rail'oat,
in connection with two publc-sPliiled men OF
Wheeling MessTs. Forsyth aud Shrver, brought
from v heeng Greek, West Virginia, small
lot of bass IN the wuier-tank OF his tender. They
were placed in the Potomac near Cumbcrland,
and from this stock the Potomac, Tor more than
TWO hundred miles, and all its large tributaries
the Seneca Shenandoah, Cherry Creek, Sleepy
Creek Great and Little Cacapon, PalterSon's
Creek, South snd North Branch, sc c--aford hre
fishing. They are, know, from the Great
Falls 10 a considerable distance west Of Cumber-
land, for have recently 30 taken them, and Of
ten weighing from FIVE TO ten pouDds--irom Tour
10 FIVE pounds is not unusual. No fish that
-, tlr i,..
bait,) or affords finer sport; and they will often
take it freely when halt the stream, II, the cdee',
is covered with ice Their iecundlty and IN
crease is almost incredible, and il poachers are
kept sloof from the lakes, in very few years
not only tha, bot thos in Druid Hill Park will
rival, il they do not suTpass, any IN the county
In piscatOry productions, and where the disciples
OF Old Isaak Walton may have finer sport than
even ne en- Joy ed 50 much and describes so lDin.-
nably. was recently informed by friend, re.
siding on Great Cacapoh, and with whom
have often hunted and fshed, that he has had
finer sport in bas fishing in winter than ever IN
The deer chase; that timselr and few compan-
ions had taken about half barrel IN an alter
noon. This opportunity, however, does no. Of
ten present Itself, Tor 1t Is only when the large
ponds are frozen over firmly with clear, transpa-
near ,he centre of the pond, at which one OF the
party is stationed with "glg" or spear, while
others on their sksies, commencing at the cir
cumference, gradually diminish their ciicl . nn-
Tia the fish come within The reach OF he spears
man. Is is well known that thig, barring
the mpro ement Of the skates, is a fayariio
mode with the Indians in taking salmon trout,
but the addition OF my mountain friends is Do
ridec improvement, both as 10 excitement sud
profit. have not Witnessed the sport, bu that
1t has been successfully pracllsed on Cacapo0,
and may lie on Swami lake, in tine, | have No
doubt. In philosophical, If not In a sanitary
view, it may be question OF interest whether
the iatrod action Of these hsh into the lokes will
not contribute 10 lie sal.brity OF the water d.
ring pro'raelod dLOughts and where che body Is
so large aid cumparat vely stagnant. My IN
preston il, that u VIII p:vve so. II the water
becomes impure from his. or any 9th cause.
its effect will be manifest by the prosperity aud
health Of The fish, or their Otherwise dropping or
isckly state.
Chimerical as this may appear 10 some. my
long experience with fish ponds, on a limif-S
ed scale, has established this theory 70 mysaiie
faction TOSiaeI re and safely lr6nepotf ibss,
fish to III So SGaion has been eteiiesbsuiibL
some rcdhf1sete expense, bpt il the e. lia'eni
is successful, f<sA of which have not tho sash-,,
test doubt il proper attention rs given to thefn.)
shall feel amply repaid by The satisfaction Of hav-
ing contributed to The qualification and innocent
pleasure OF olhefs.'