The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-30
COUNTRY CLUB ANGLERS,
How They Catch New Hamp-
shire Trout in Lake and
Stream.
A Device Planned by a Keeper for
the Capture of Poach-
erS.

The Tamalpais Sportsmen's Club is now
figuring on stocking its preserve with
Eastern quail and grouse. When the club
first took possession by lease of the
Throckmorton estate it imported num-
Der of Monaghan pheasants, which were
liberated in the preserve, but owing to the
large mum ers of wildcats, coons, foxes,
ETC., that inhabited the woods and can
yons, the foreign game birds were quickly
disposed of. During the past winter not a
single bird nor feather of a pheasant has
been seen on the grounds, and the keepers
are of the opinion that unless the vermin
which prey upon game are gotten rid of,
there will be very little hope entertained
for the success of any game birds except
ing the native quail-a bird that is cunning
and crafty enough to look out for its own
welfare under the most adverse conditions
and circumstances.
The officers of the Tamalpais Club are:
J. w. Sperry, president; c. NJ. Osborn,
vice-president; Major II. A. Cobb Jr.,
Secretary and treasurer. The directors
have scheme on hand which they be-
lieve will materially increase the pleasures
of the anglers, viz: the stocking of
Throckmorton Lagoon with Eastern trout,
commonly known as New Hampshires.
Many sportsmen contend that the East
ern trout, as well as the native steelhead,
Will return to the sea when the winter
rains have ceased. This may be so, still
there are experienced anglers in the
Tamalpais Club who strongly believe that
a large number of New Hampshires will
remain in or near the headwaters of the
creek at all seasons of the year, and afford
the Waltonians of the club good sport.
1t is a well-known fact that in Bear
Creek-a small stream which meanders
through the Country Clubs demesne-
there are many trout of nice size which
have the beautiful vermilioni spots of
the Eastern trout on their sides. They
are New Hampshires, but the members of
the club who love 10 angle are keeping this
matter a secret because If made public
they fear that some of 1.-The outside refuse"
might by mistake, as it were, happen into
the preserve and fill their baskets with
choice trout. OF course the clubs lake,
which is closely guarded, contains New
HampShlreS OF from one pound to three
pounds in weight, and it requires no great
skill on the part of an angler to catch a
nice mess of those well-fed and brilliantly
spotted beauties.
Anglers who belong to the good old DAYS
need not be reminded of a sheet of water
which lies distant about two miles west of
Menlo Park, and which is known as
Floods Lake. Several years ago this large
pond was stocked with small-mouth black
bass and trout, and when the fish had
grown to size fitting for pan use, several
nocturnal raids were made upon them by
anglers who reside in Redwood City and
other towns situated near Menlo Park.
The keeper of the lake finally hit upon a
plan to catch poachers when the latter
least expected visit from the bailiff.
wire was sunk in the water close to the
bank, and an electric battery, which was
placed in the keepers sleeping apartment,
connected with the sunken wire so that
the slightest touch to the latter conveyed
notice TO the keeper that something was
wrong on the outside.
Three evenings passed after the plans
had been laid before the alarm gave the
slightest indication of disturbance, but on
the fourth evening the alarm struck out
with all its night and the keeper made a
Decline for the pond. Slowly and eau
tiously he crawled on his marrow bones to
the spot where his trap was set, and there
he discovered two of his most particular
friends engaged in a fruitless attempt to
extricate their lines from what they had
considered to be sunken log. The pulling
on the wire, which was firmly fastened to
the bottom of the lake, started the bat
terry in the house. and as result two able
bodied poachers were bagged at a time
when they firmly believed every good
Christian was enjoying the sleep OF right
eousness.
The secret spread, and now the keeper
is seldom annoyed by poachers from the
surrounding country. The bass.in Floods
Lake average half pound to four pounds
IN weight, but those who are in the swim,
so to speak, will not have an opportunity
to angle for them until after July 1, when
permission can be obtained by permit only.
| The State Sportsmen's annual pigeon
shooting tournament will take place at the
Oakland track, commencing on Friday,
May 3, and ending on Sunday, May 5.
The Pacific Kennel Clubs benchshow
will open on May s, and it promises to be
the most successful exhibition of dogs ever
held in this city.