The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-17
WINTER PERCH FISHING.
Always Good In Conesus IInke-Mnrvellot
LaRaoks, Meccn OF Pickercl Fishermen.

CoNEsus, n. Y, Jan. 16-Conesus Lake, the
gem OF Livingston county lakes. besides con-
tanning bigger pickerel than any OF the neigh
boring lakes. enjoys tho distinction OF being
alone among all the waters OF western New
York. q place where perch fishing through the
ice remains as good as it was fifty years ago.
when such fishing was the leading piscatorial
sport Of all this part Of the State. Fifteen
years ago perch. which were up to that time
abundant in all tho lakes. began to grow
scarce. until in some waters they were rarely
seen or caught. This has bcen particularly
the case in the larger lakes, like Seneca.
Keukn. and Canandnigua. In those lakes
perch have como to be curiosity among fish.
ermen. 1t Is SO rare that ono is caught.
But in Conesus Lake the perch have not
been guilty Of this mysterious and asGravat-
ing conduct In fact. these fish have seemed
to increase in numbers In Conesus as they
disappeared In other waters. Perch fishing
through the Ice is now. as it has been any
time for half century and more. tho favorte
winter sport in this region.
Perch are lshed for in the same way that
pickorel are. with tipups and Live bait, and as
many as 5000 have been taken in day within
a fishing area OF three miles. Some fishermen
use the bait the Indians who once flshed
In these western New York waters always
used. The Iniians taught the first *iiits
settlers how to use it. and no bait is moro KILL
several perch, A perch's eve is a big brilliant.
transparent object. as tough as India rubber.
md the sat taken With aydty by % the G fsl
lows Of the fish from which It was plucked. AS
other PEREZ, are re- caught their eyes are also
way UP the shank They arc so tough that a
string 81 them has boen known to serve for a
wnn,e days mshing. although scores OF perch
S TSs .a psseh on Of pckere grow
Ssyh and fnf 1sS rs S
AN so but NOT until ips the R eo a. aPs
big piIekerel Of con6sus also. make the lake a
favorite of fishermen while the Ice is on
Ton: twelve. and even fifteen Founders are not
summer AND through tho iec.
great waters for lee fishing for pickcrel. The
ter sportsmen. who take home good many
Fl FL nc small lakes q Western Nov, York is
Eohqyler counties. only two miles east Of Lake AXE
q q water; This lake. with its twin. Waneta.
mile long Is the head Of one Of the tribntafie s
z, the Gbhelnnng Myer and hence is on TIE
. half long and a mile wide. .Lamoka ID a
natural pickerel lake, and from 1t wore tattan
th9 PIC ereI from which Keuka was stocked, .
The Lamoka 2iokerel grow larger than the,
tho n shs sste yet tst e
never attained large size. 4 three-pound pick
srel from the latter lake fs an uncommony
large one. Thts dwarting Of the original stock
Seth Green. who spent great part OF hia time
on Lake Keuka during the fishing season,
never ~ RS1nE able to give satisfaetoryek.
From the time Lamoks freezes over. which
Ice breaks up. which is always Very SN late II,
TEes come em a &c sowns w
cities f9r miles around, and nearly every man
enc enos SeId II IyrSnS village near the LAKE 10 IN
thed wellers about the lake during the winter
FISHING season. They stake out Claims on the
ICE. and within the boundary ofany elaitR 20
Each man right to his claim Is held sssred
by every her fisherman: n
f, 1t 70 not the purpose OF holders Of these fish.
Ing limits u prSserye them for their own ds)l-
Ing entirely, The. chief object ~ the pgo1lt
tha latter. who. owing TO the CUSTOM. arg not
obliged to carry bait with them. or to be doth
cred with tackle. or to perform the always dis
agreeable duty OF cutting holes In the leo he I
Simply s Fay St tie sShas san .v asy
tackle, and his bait, and thus hayp their snort
without diSa2reeable alloy. !, .. ..E3
Thousands OF pickerel are taken from
Sp gay as Pg the
yet thore seem to be Just as many fish ON the
lust day OF the season IA ON the first. pr