The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-17
THE BLACK BASS.

From long article in the New York Herald
of June 4th. on the Black Bass, we make the
following extracts which will be interesting
hercabouts. The article is timely in New
York, where the law does not allow bass to be
taken before June LIST:
OF all the discoveries of game fish 1t can be
unhesilatingly said that that OF the black bass
is the greatest Trout fishing appeals to all
that Is aesthetic in our nature. Not only does
the trout itself by its symmetry OF form ana
brillancy of color easily take precedence over
all other fish in beauty, but its home Is gener.
ally of Arcade loneliness. Sporting In the
rocky rills, ever shaded by woody bowers that
dress the mountain sides, or else appearing as
vision of light from the bosom OF those
streams which trace their way through peace
tul pasture lands the steps OF the angler are
led where Nature in her youthful freshness
has already uod causing the blood of the
disciple of the rod to flow quickly through his
veins and gladden. his whole nature. In a
word, trout fishing and its numerous pleasant
accessories fill want which none but the
weary, overworked angler knows of or knows
how to crafty. All these things make trout
| fishing what IT is and even almost what poets
picture it to be- But there is IN every strong
man feeling which is but slightly aroused
by trout fishing or any of Its accompanying
pleasures. One may love to play with beau
tIful child may gam much good from the
contemplation of Its innocence and harmless
mirth, but such a pastime is only play. The
strength of full manhood demands work even
IN its sport The black bass is like powerful
ana skilfu boxer TO capture HIM one needs
every characteristic which goes to make up
perfect man. Patience, perseverance, endur'
| ulsll or nrfh a
QUALITIES of the successful black bass fisherman
Trout fishing is the crOquet of anging-black
bass fishing the polo.
A few years ago black bass fishing, though
of course thoroughly enjoyed by all true
anglers was not really considered worthy OF
comparison with trout fishing. To-day nearly
every state has laws protecting this faVorite
fish, and many states have made appropriations
for its propagation in their waters. Our own
state, thanks to Mr.. Seth Green and MIR. Robert
B. Roosevelt, has been as pre-eminent in black
bass culture as in all other piscatorial work
1t IS astonishing what these gentlemen have
DONE considering the immense difficulties
with which they have had to contend. A
want of space prevents the recapitulatlon OF
the MANY trying obstacles which have been
great natural difficulties which are patent tC
any one who will consider the subject. The
great size of the state of New York makes {
law which is almost perfect for its great north
ern limits, but nearly as bad law for it,
southern territory. The difficulty Is vastly
increased by the fact that many fish producing
waters are on the boundary lines between 0ul
state and those adjoining. 1t, therefore, come:
to this, that no law can be framed that viii
adequately provide for the varying circum
stances of even one state, much less grouI
of states Another general difficulty which
rarely seems to present itself to our legislator!
arises from the wide variations OF weather
different years. Even last year the month o
May will be distinctly remembered as being {
first class July, while this year 1t has hardly
been respectable April. Therefore we have
in one year what is really climatic difficult.
of at least sixty days. Black bass are conceded
to be highly intelligent fish, but their methods
of life are not regulated by the calendar
They do not take off their spring overcoat
because it Is the LIST of May. Strong natura
tendencies certainly do accelerate the repro
ductlvc functions of animals and fish in back
ward seasons and retaru them IN forward
ones so that there are possibly not over tw'
or three weeks IN the spawning time OF bacl
bass, though there may be sixty days Difference
IN climatic influences II will therefore b.
seen, as has been said above, that 1t is not onl.
impossible to frame Il general law tor q stat
or group of states, out even impossible t
make perfect law tor single locality.
A third general difficulty arises from III
lnexplicable indifference of those who nigh
be expected not only to know the lmportanc
of this subject but also to act lntelligently il
the premises. Happily this indifference
rapidly disappearing before the well directe'
energy of the New York Association for tn
Protection of Game and the vast array of SOLE
facts which they have to show for their labors
The fourth and last difficulty is that it i
one thing to make a law, even if nearly correC
IN theory and another matter to insure il
enforcement. This has always been sourc
OF considerable trouble to every one who ha
attempted legislation and the drafting an,
execution Of game laws.
The black bass law this year in New Iorl
and New Jersey was what anglers call sup
on the lst of June. 1t seems strange that il
neither of these states none Of the legislator
remember that Decoration Day came on MAY
Goth; for Decoration Day to every black has
angler is what the Fourth of July is to every
, youthful aspiranttO the presidency. St course
the licensed lawmakers know 1t is the proper
thing to go black bass fishing on Decoration
Day, but it may nc true that they do not know
the date or the month set aside for the genera
= holiday-just as boys don't know what day o
the month the Fourth of July comes on, bu
for all that they are sure to let the sweet note
of the cracker be heart in the !" l.
i WHEN TO 90 -" ALl.lEa OF WATER.
To every law.uJldlng citizen it is needles:
to say that one must not go black bassinl
untl! the law is "up'-that is on June /. IL
the northern part of the state the best fishing
usually begins June 10. BY the best fishing
is meant the best honest angling, not capturing
through their maternal instincts the blacl
-, bass when they are watching their young will
tender sollcitudc exhibits. THIS season III,
best fishing Will not be had before June %
unless we have continued warm weather fo
the next fortnight The fly is the most taking
devise during the first three weeks; thei
comes trolling little ont from the shoals an,
over rocky bottoms. Later on still fishIn!
, with live mlnnow about the suuken rocky
= Ilslanls VIII take many Of the larresi fsll