The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-10-12
DANGEROUS INFORMATION.
ABOUT GAME FISH.

ABOUT GAME FISH.
It is we'll known that Alaska has
greater fishing resources than any
other part of the country. But very
little has been said or written about
any other than salmon and Goldfish.
A recent number of the Alaskan,
published in Sitka, raises the question
as to what particular fish gives Alaska
it's fame? 1t is admitted that salmon
has given Alaska more reputation
abroad than other fish. "But is salm-
on our best fsh?" enquiries that paper.
"We are tired of salmon" The can
neries OF the territory, as well as else
where, take these fish in nets. Occa-
sionally, in the spring and early sum-
mer, these fish are taken by sports
men with the hook and line in the
smaller streams of California and Or
egon. The related species of salmon
trout are within the limits of what
are called game fish. Probably if no
salmon were taken except with the
hook and line, there would be no
question that this is actually game
fish. But when they are taken in
seines in such numbers as to furnish,
when packed in cans, cargoes for ships,
the sportsman who catches half a
dozen with hook and line where
thousand may be taken with seine,
has little to say about the salmon as n
game fish. The Alaskan has some
thing to say about fish that is at the
head of the list of game fish:
1 -. l.NIla hne, hoo,
said of our very best of fish fish of
which we never tire-black bass?
Though not caught in sufficient guam
titles to export, the fish is plentiful
enough to supply all the tables of AL
aska, even with an increased popula-
ton. Black bass, not only furnishes
our tables with a wholesome food, but
affords excellent sport. Those who
have not had the pleasure of an after
noon among our surrounding islands,
with a good supply of hooks, lines
and bate, have missed something
which they are not aware of. Black
bass being our most "gamey" fish af-
ford a pleasure not known until ex-
perienced.
The black bass, for some reason,
does not seem to be abundant along
the shores OF California. At least, one
never hears much about them. OBJ
servations made in the markets from
time to time confirm the impression
that this game fish is very scarce in
this latitude. Occasionally one is
seen, and the fishermen sometimes
bring in half dozen with hundreds
of other fish.
A writer in the Alaskan describes
black bass fishing in the adjacent
waters:
Our bait consisted of needle-fsh,
| to be obtained only at low tide and
dug from the sand. The hooks had
barely sunk beneath the surface when
both poles were suddenly pulled into
the water by some unseen thing of
apparent great weight and strength.
How they pulled-plunging down,
then drawing the line beneath the
boat, then darting directly from us.
Fighting for life and using their ut
most strength to free themselves from
the hooks which were pulling them
to their death, brought forth from
us no expression of pity. 1t only
tended to increase the pleasure and
excitement. Gradually our victims
weakened-we were drawing them
near the surfce. Our lines had be-
tcome entangled, a most disagreeable
occurrence seemed a revenge; We
at last conquered, and with the two
lines twisted together we pulled into
, the boat two large and beautiful black
bass. Our luck continued
J until late in the evening, when we
J cast the boat loose and pulled for
home. The catch amounted to some
thing over ninety fish, ranging from
, one to six pounds.
. In the Atlantic states the black bass
ranks at the head Of game and edible
fish. They range in weight from one
or two pounds up to ten or twelve
! pounds. They do not ascend rivers
J very far, but feed along the shore line
, OF bays and roadsteads. On that side
) of the country the salmon is even
more esteemed than the black bass
But that is probably because the for.
mer is seldom caught. For the same
reason, perhaps the black bass is rated
higher by this Alaskan authority
{ 1t may interest the gentle craft tC
= know that in Alaska the black bass
, abounds, and even there is placed al
t the head of the list of game fish. II
r is a long way to go for the mild sport
Of fishing with a hook and line. But
as some thousands IN all are now
3 making annual excursions to Alaska
and thousands more are contem,
3 plating such excursions, not the least
attraction in those waters may be
these tempting game fish. Ii the
rivers of northern California and Or.
egon were not swarming with trout,
the best of all the game fish that ever
ascended fresh water stream, Alaska
would very soon become the chosen
!, place for real sportsmen who care
nothing for the commercial side oi
fishing.-S. Il. Bulletin.
A Safe Investment.