Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-21


WHAT SHALL WE CALL THE TROUT
The Pacific coast is rich in the number of
species of Sal1nonide, having, according to
the revision of this family by Gill and Jor-
dan, some five species OF salmon and eight
of trout. besides five more varieties of the
latter which may swell the number to ten
or more the lSGfno stoniGs being credited
with three varieties, and the s. ctarka with
two. Some of these trout have been sent
to the Eastern States, and it is possible, in
view OF their rapid growth and general
hardness, that the United States Com
mission on Fisheries may send many of the
eggs of some one Of the species in great
numbers to the East at some future time
a great mistake was made when the quin-
nat salmon was sent East that its name was
not sent with it instead OF allowing it to be
called, as it IS, the California salmon, F"
which is not its name in either Oregon or
California, and would tend to confusion if
any other species had been also sent. Now,
before the trout come, we wish to call at
tentIon to this matter, which IS more I'M
portant than in the case of the salmon,
because we may get several species, and we
now wish to call the attention of Pro-
fessor Baird and Mr.. Stone to this matter,
in which they can do much for the interest
of correct nomenclature. Any name ex-
cept California will do and that is the
name that will certainly be applied unless
they give it one. If California had but
one trout to give us 1t would not be so bad !;
still, it would not tend to make {. name
which would be recognized and understood
in all parts of the country. Let US illns
trate this California has, or was to have,
our common yellow perch. known in the
South as ringed perch, raccoon perch, etc.
They came from New York or New Hamp-
shire. What idea would be conveyed to
an Eastern man in California if the people
spoke of New York perch?" We can
imagine that many persons are Indifferent
to the question of correct nomenclature !;
if So then they surely cannot object to
anything but we consider it of great I'M
portance. Men of science find no diff
Guilty in changing name when shown that
it is wrong, but in the matter of popular
names an appellation once fixed takes root,
even into the affections, as shown by the
story told of an old Eastern fisherman
whom Prof. Baird was questioning about
the habits and seasons of the alewife,
which in his locality was called herring,
without the g said he 60 don't know
nothin' bout them alewives we alters
called them herrin', and if l can't cali 'em
herrin, don't want to eat EN-" Now, in
the matter of this trout which it is pro.
posed to send East, we have no desire to
dictate, but merely suggest that it must
have some local name by which it is known
to the anglers and fishermen which could
be used here or better yet, its specific
name, as irideus spectabllls, etc; or, should
it prove to be the Sdlmo henshdW2, ciarka,
or 5arcl6. could be known as henshaw's,"
"clark's, y or baird's trout" anything
gentlemen, except California trout, F"
which IS in 10 sense a distinctive name.
We ask this, not for the sake of science,
but for the angler, the fishcuiturist, the
marketman, and all who will ever have
occasion to talk or write about our fishes.
-[Chicago Field.
WHEN TO STRIKE IN FLY-FIsHING.
Much of the .fnesse of sportmanship cannot
be taught the novice by written instruc-
ton. There are certain indispensable
points in the successful practice OF the art
of fy-tshing which must come to the ex-
pert only after long experience and discip-
line. We may talk of . the twist of the
wrist" but to make that twist so neatly
and effectively that each repetition OF it
means a fish hooked, is something which
must be learned quite independently Of the
books. There, for instance, is the subject
of striking in hy-fshing for trout or gray
ling Veteran anglers who have tished in
many of the best trout streams of the land,
and who have deity struck the grayling
in Michigan and the salmon in the Can
adian streams, hold and maintain very
different theories on this point. One will tell
you that he strikes as soon as he sees the
fish move and before he feels the touch.
Another claims that the only proper
method is to wait until you feel the touch
of the fish, and then, by movement as
quick as lightning, fasten him. Our own
practice is to strike at sight; we admit
that thereby fish may be missed and scared
away, which perhaps would be captured if
given little more time but the number
80 lost are, we believe, less than the scores
of misses made by the contrary practice.
As rule, the hy-tisherman cannot strike
too quick We should be happy to have
the experience of some of our readers upon
tlllo lOplC. IuCIC Will DO hCCho W
intervene yet before we may actually put
theory into practice; and meanwhile it is
fitting to compare notes, and by discussion
enlighten both ourselves and the novices
who are just learning the rudimentary
lessons in the school of angling Forest
and Stream.
HARE AND HOUNDS On Saturday after
noon the 0roville Coursing Club repaired
to the ranch of P. R. WEIGH, four miles be-
low town, for few hours sport p. 0.
Hundley acted as field director, r. w.
Smith managing the hounds Owing to a
misunderstanding as to the time Of meet
ing majority OF the dogs belonging to the
association were not present. The first
chase was an exciting one, the hare having
200 yards start of the hounds, but the
latter speedily gained upon the feet-footed
game, and after an interesting dash of a
mile or so Bovey's Nell gobbled the prize.
The second, third and fourth hares made
for the fence and succeeded in eluding the
dogs. The fifth hare, however, was jumped
up on the opposite side of the 200-acre
field and made Decline towards the tim
Der. When seen by the hounds the 'iack"
had a start of 500 yards. Then ensued one
OF the DeSL-CONIsSLeu races we nave ever
witnessed Smiths Henry Ward Beecher
led the pack and picked the hare up on a
dead run ere two thirds Of the width of the
field had been crossed. This was the best
catch yet made by the kennel of the Club.
Hare are very plentiful IN that section, and
the Club intends having another bout on
the same grounds in a few weeks, when it
is expected a pack of fifteen or twenty
thoroughbred dogs will be on hand. -[0ro
vile Mercury, February 18th.
HORSE TRorTING AT FARs.-A CORE
spondent of the Maine Farmer, signing
himself ''W. O. b, /" writes to that paper
in defense of trialsof speed at agricult-
ural fairs. 1t appears that last year trials
of speed were excluded at the fair held at
Presque Isle, in Maine, and when the fair
was over the white-cravated managers
wondered howl was that the receipts dur
ing the fair did not amount to half enough
to pay for the premiums and other ex-
penses. Nv. 0. B." enlightens them on
the subiect and tells them moreover that