The morning call., 1891-01-11

Grilse Fishing-Rainbow and Dolly Var
den Trout.
Many of the most noted anglers of En-
gland attended the annual dinner of the
Fly Fishers Club in London, which took
place on December 10Th and was notable
event in the history of the club, as the
honorary Treasurer-the founder of the club,
H. &. Marston-occupied the chair. Among
those present were also some of the most
noted anglers OF England, ireland and Scot
land, and not few from the land of the
stars and stripes. When Mr.. MarSton was
called upon to address the assemblage OF
sportsmen, he rehearsed what the Fly Fish
ers' Club had done and could do in the fol
lowing words. and said:
We have done some good by advocating fish
culture. That subject is not included In tile
toast list tonight, but think it is matter In
which most OF us take an interest In America
there Is a general feeling that hsh cult nas
not been successful as IL ought to be. and some
people go far TO say that IL Is an utter fali-
ure. But l think we have only to refer to the
work which has been done by one OF the original
members OF this society, who has stocked TWO OF
the largest Islands In the South Pacific
namely, New Zealand and Iasmania-with
splendid trout, many Of which have now at
tanned IS or 20 pound weight do not
think We can call that failure. II is true that
salmon have not yet been acelImatized In the
Southern Ocean, and think that it is perhaps
due TO the fact that the sea is swatming with
to the sea they have no chance OF getting back
But the trout which live in the rivers have done
splenddy. think we need only point 10 those
two successful instances to prove that
fish culture, where it can be carried
our, Is really a splendid thing. With
regard TO angling am inclined 10 fancy that IL
is getting TOO scientific. Only the other day
read an article in the Field, bearing the we'll
known signature OF Southwest" in which The
writer said he thought ny-hshing was becoming
too scientific; in fact, he had heard man say he
could not rise trout. because lie had not allowed
for the deviation OF the compass IN throwing me
ny over the hsh' mat, OF course, IS pltenlhg ~
rather strong; but think IhrTe is great deal
in The idea that we are getting too scientific.
Mr.. Marston Is evidently misinformed re-
gardlng the general feeling in this country
about the results of fish culture, as 1t Is the
very opposite of what he states True 1t is
that one or two prejudiced men-soreheadS
have denounced fish culture as failure,
but the failures have been because OF the
men aud not because of the methods. An
English exchange not many months ago
quoted in one instance at least wall
sent up from one of these disappointed
men, and this wall probably suggested
the ideas MarstOn gave expression to.
The list OF successes in fish culture in this
great country would take too long to emu
merate, as 1t Is comparatively endless: but
the Introduction of Shad and Holsters on
this Coast, where they have been previously
unknown; the cultivation of whitefiSh in
the great lakes and shad in various rivers,
almost impossible TO procure spawning
fish to begin the work; the cult
walton of Goldfish in the sea and the
various species of salmonide in fresh water
everywhere, are or at least should be exam
pies Of marked success III fish culture. The
trouble lies in the race between fish culture
and illegal netting. The latter is carried on
to greet extent on this Coast. but in time
the Lawmakers of THIS State will come to
realize their sense of duty. They Will then
and tile protection Of food fishes from indls-
crminate slaughter.
During the past week several young
Salmon have been caught by anglers who
tried their luck from the wharves. The fish
taken averaged about one and half pounds
in weight Reports from Point Reyes state
that since the recent rain a large run of
salmon has entered the Olema Creek, and that
the residents in the neigh6orhOod are hav-
ing gala sport. The fish average eight
pounds, although some have been landed
that sealed as high as fourteen pounds. Joe
Acton, the wrestler caught two very nice
salmon last Wednesday, which were landed
by Young Mitchell, who is said to be quite
an expert Craftsman"
few extracts from DIR. Beams excellent
and instructive paper on salmon and
Trout Indigenous 10 California Waters
will be of interest to anglers and fish cultur-
lists. He says:
The rcd-spotted brook trout OF California, also
kUONH as NE DOllN ' dIuen, u one OF Tue pest
known aud one OF The most abundant fishes OF
Alaska. Iu the sea-run condition, when its
sides are uniformly silveIy and do not
show the red spots, It is called salmon
trout. Specimens measuring thirty inches In
length and weighing eight or ten pounds are
frequently obtained. Tie Dolly Warden takes
the fly very freely.
Now, so far as DR.. Beams opinion is con-
cerned it has been proven beyoud a doubt
| that the Dolly Warden, which nhabtS the
| rivers adjacent to Mount Shasta, do not
! take the fly freely, and this species of the
! fnny tribe, which is misnamed salmon trout
"a fish that does not exist-will rise to a fly
| only on very exceptional occasions on This
Coast, if at all.
In another extract, which touches on Cali
fornia fishes, the doctor says that ''the rain
bow trout Of California appears to extend
northward into Southeastern Alaska, but is
very little known in the Territory" Call
fornia experts will not agree with DR.. Bean
in this. The rainbow trout Is booked as
being the native California trout, with its
headquarters the klamath River in Siskiyou
GOputY