The morning call., 1891-10-25
ROD AND LINE.


An Anglers Outing on Eel River-The
Steel-HeRds-
Since the return of party of well known
anglers from the wlds of humboldt County
questions such as, What are "steel-head"
troutP and, What is the definition of the
word Species" as applied to trout and
salmon? have been asked and remain I'M
answered.
Regarding the s;eel-head trout. which,
prior to Professor Jordan's ultimatum, had
been considered distnctively as members of
the salmon family, residents of the Eel
River region stated that at certain seasons
of the year. and especially following the
freShet, th3 run of these handsome fish is so
great that net fishermen have been known
to catch as many as 800 in one haul.
In its run from the ocean the steel-head
is accompanied by two varieties of salmon,
termed the "chub' and "king" salmon by
those who are not versed in archaeological
phrases. The TO rmer, according 10 old resi-
dents who have angled on the Eel RlVer
for years, never exceed eight pounds IN
weight, whereas the latter are frequently
caught by net fishermen ana weigh as mucn
as sixty pounds.
The smaller class of the "salmo gairdneri
Richardson" which averages three-quarters
OF a pound, resembles the white trout which
frequent ths rivers of Scotland and Ireland
IN large NUMBERS uullilS luc ulOullS VI q uiJ
and August. II they are, as alleged, the
young Of tie steel-head trout, anglers are
very much at sea as to tie great difference
in their manner Of fiGhting when hooked.
The large stee-heads, the average weight
OF which may be placed at six pounds, have
not been known TO break water at any time
during their struggle for liberty, whereas
the smaller are constantly out OF water,
making a most obstinate resistance to the
anglers art until landed on terra tirma.
Some famous scientists and Ichthy0logiSts
claim that these fish never exceed more
than two pounds in weight, and further
more it has been said by noted anglers, who
have taken these fish by means OF rod ana
line from several rivers between mere aud
Alaska, that they are of the same formation
and resemble in every particular the gamy
white-trOut of Europe The s0-called
"chub" salmon is very gamy and is dit
ferent FISH in formation and appearance to
the steel-head, specimens of which have not,
as vet, been submitted to tie Fish and Game
Commissioners for classification.
Among the anglers who returned from
Eel River last week are the following dis
cipes of the gentle art, viz: 4. Wilson,
II. Perkins, John Butler and son, f. r.
Swain aud wife, j. Gallagher, Captain
George Cummings, 0. Smith, j. f. BoStick,
Robert HewsOn, \. B. Turner, Thomas IL.
Barney. C. W. Kyle, II. b. Ravens and
wife, j. II. Reed and wife. This year the
run of fish in Eel River is late, and. as a
consequence, the angling, although fairly
good, was not up 10 expectation. \ ma
jorty of The gentlemen remained at For
tuna, a small town situated near the river
and about thirty miles from Eureka.
The first run of FISH arrived some weeks
before the anglers had wet their lines, and
the best fishing was to be had higher up the
river at a place called Scotia, which, IN
fortunately. was not discovered by the
devoteeS of the sport until a few days
before breaking camp" Messrs. Gala
CHER and Swan took flying trip, as an eX-
pertinent TO Scotia from Fortuna on the
day prior to their return home, and had
most excellent sport.
Excepting the small So-called steel-head
trout, the larger fish refused to acknowledge
any description of the fly-tiers' art. They
were taken by means of trolling and bait
fishing. The most successful angler who
tried the iast-uamed system of fishing was
John Butler, and he will not deny that next
10 the net there is no more killing system of
angling than bait fishing with hooks heavily
wadded with bright and tempting Jumps OF
fresh salmon roe.
\ letter that has just been received from
Scotia, which is unQuestionaDly the best re-
sort for anglers on the river, states that
large fish have begun to ascend the stream,
and that the prospects for good sport are
now very brilliant On the strength of the
information received the following gentle
men have made preparations for a trip
north this week: a. Wilson, n. b. Tur-
ner, W. Stone, DR.. YOU Hoffman and John
Ben.