Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-02-27
THE sPEoKLED BEAUTIES.
A Club Formed In This City For the
Stocking and Protection of the Fa-

Club Formed In This City For the
Stocking and Protection of the Fa-
NOUS Hammonassett River.
1t will be of interest to many to know that
an organization to be called ttThe Hamnon-
asset Fishing association" has been formed
in this city which will secure the rights and
privileges of the we'll known Hammonassett
river. Hereafter those who are members of
this association and are fond of the sport
will have an opportunity of exercising their
skill with very much improved chances of
good results.
The Hammonassett river rises in the town
of Durham, Connecticut, flows in southerly
direction, forming the boundary line of Ne"
Haven county on the west and Middlesex
county on the east, and empties into Long
Island Sound at Clinton. The executive
committee of the association have secured
agreements from nearly all the owners en-
titling them on the payment of specified sums
to the exclusive right of fishing in the main
stream and it's tributaries from its source a
distance of eleven miles on the main river
and more than twice that distance in the
tributaries, SO that the club will own about
thirty-fve miles of water.
The river flows through wild and thinly
settled valley and presents every variety of
water, of which the two extremes are on the
P0ooo
miles in length and on the other an exceed
ingly beautiful fall which retains its old
Indian name of Ninsyeh, where the river
flows through rocky gorge and falls about
one hundred feet in as many yards, 80 that
this preserve offers the choice of open mead
ow, wading and mountain brook fishing.
The Hammonassett has long been famous
for its trout, and though it has been persist
emily fshed each year by pot hunters with
nets and set lines and by anglers in and out
of season, it is still the best unprotected trout
stream in southern Connecticut. It's natural
advantages are many and it is peculiarly
stream which will repay an intelligent effort
to protect and restock.
The present plan of the committee is to put
in large number of trout fry, yearlings and
two year olds, this spring, to esta blish a
hatchery on the stream itself during the sum-
mer, to post the stream according to Connec-
tieut law and to employ one experienced man
as head keeper throughout the year with sew
eral assistants during the season of possible
poaehing.
Considerable work in the way of making
paths along the stream will be necessary,
which, together with the cost of other i'm
provements, it is estimated will amount to
not less than four thousand dollars for the
first year and from fifteen hundred to two
thousand dollars each year thereafter. An
organization has been effected and the mem
bership is rapidly filling out that the
committee is already proceeding with the
work on the lines indicated.
The club expects to put into the stream
this spring one hundred and fifty thousand
young fry and several thousand older trout
and to build a hatchery capable of dealing
with half million spawn. Mr..
Seth Green assures them that this
should be more than sufficient to stock
the stream thoroughly. In the opinion of
those who know the water very great and
immediate benefit ought to result from the
suppression of pot hunters and other persons
who now take from the stream many hun
dreds of pounds of trout yearly. For this
purpose four additional keepers will be re-
quired, whose wages are included in the
above estimate.
The upper waters of the stream, where
meadow and in the tributaries mountain
brook fishing is the rule, are accessible from
Middletewn on the Air Line division of the
N. Y, n. II. and 81. R. r. The lower and
larger water is reached from the Shore Line
division of the same rosd.
A club house conveniently located on the
stream is among the possibilities, but at
present farm houses in the neighborhood will
be stocked with supplies, to be obtained at
cost by those members who may desire to
spend night on the stream. The commit
tee who have the matter in charge are:
Messrs. Daniel c. Eaton, chairman; Mr.. John
z. Beach, secretary and treasurer: Mr.. J.
Mason Hoppin, Hon. Colin N. Agersoll, Mr..
Francis G. Ingersoll, Prof. William P. Trow-
bridge, Mr.. George D. Watrous.
There is no reason why the association
should not become very popular institution
and afford rare pleasure to its members. 1t
will also prove of much benefit to those own
ing land along the banks of the stream, as is
evidenced by the readiness with which they
have agreed to the plans.