The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22
THE ANGLERS.

Commit SSiOnerS Who Favor the
Planting of Yearling Fishes.
With the exception of few large fish
| which were taken at Point Reyes last Sun
day there is little to chronicle of interest
to midwinter anglers.
Charley Cate lost two large fish because
he used poor tackle. Cate, after disposing
of several yards of rotten line, tried his
luck in spoon casting and landed two
beautiful fish. Al Smith lost fish, also,
because of inferior tackle. Frank Dolli-
yer surprised his friends by appearing on
the banks of the creek with an eight-ounce
greenhart rod. He hooked a fish and for
getting that he had left his club at the ho-
tel he struck savagely and smashed his rod
near the middle Joint.
81 will make that fish sick when we
meet again" said Dolliver to a compan-
ion, as he departed for the hotel where his
31a-pound whale rod was resting at ease
Half an hour later Dolliver who is possi-
bly, better known to the fraternity as Pro-
fessor Leatherback, made his appearance
and baited up for steelheads in the usual
manner.
He did not have long to wait for a tip
that something lively was at the end of his
line, and grasping the club he struck more
savagely than before, and actually raised
the fish clean out of the water The deni-
zen OF the deep had no possible chance for
escape.
According to doc Watts Scottish
tlmekeeper, the fish was landed on terra
tirma 5H seconds after being hooked
Dolliver said that it was game steelhead.
and that he could not remember when he
had such long fight with a fresh water
salmon.
1t is said "Doc'' Watt has hit upon a
new idea IN the way of spoon making, and
that the new spinner will prove a terror to
large and small fish alike.
In the center of the spoon or spinner is
a magnet which will attract all kinds of
things. The Doc was giving the new
lure wetting last Sunday, and he had
not taken more than two casts when he
hooked two-pound trout, but his sur
prise can be imagined when a ten-pound
salmon dashed from under a sunken log
and grabbed up the trout.
The magnet could be plainly seen
shining within the fish," said the ''Doc, !"
land L was having the grandest sport
lma agInable, when q big black hog that
was feeding on the bank near by espied
the brilliant thing, and before | could
make up my mind what was best for me to
do in the premises, the porker plunged
into the river and gobbled up the salmon.
Just give So to know what has become of
that darned hog. Possibly AL Hall has
chewed him up by this time
1T is said that John Gallagher is enjoying
good fishing at San Gregorio. The sport
ing editor received letter from Sonoma
yesterday which states that the day fol-
lowing recent visit OF Deputy Fish
Commissioner to the Sonoma Creek two
men returned from Glen Ellen on the train
with two baskets of trout.
The Gualala Fishing Club, A. Stephens
secretary, will hold its annual outing TO-
dav at Point Bonita. All rockcod, razor
back turtle and softshell crab fishermen
are invited to the clamba on the beach
The first annual report of the Fish and
Game Commissioners of the State of New
York has been issued. The report is
mainly devoted TO the fisheries. In fact, If
| there is any criticism TO be made, it is the
almost total ignoring of the game interests
| OF the State, which leaves an impression
| that the commission and its aids are rich
| in wisdom in relation to the fisheries. but
| remarkably deficient in a knowledge of our
/ game.
The pollution of streams is very ably
treated. 1t is stated that the present law
on this subject is almost imperative. 1t
| is claimed by some that sawdust and
refuse from mills will not injure adult fish.
and the food for young and adult fish are
| destroyed by this cause. Some valuable
| suggestions are made for the utilizing of
refuse matter.
1t is gratifying, says an exchange, to
| note the able manner in which the COM
| mission has met the absurd charge which
has sometimes been made by those ignor-
| ant of the subject that fish culture is more
| for propagating game fishes for the few at
| the expense of many. The commission
says: The angler and the commercial
| fisherman both have their rights, which
we are bound to respect, but our efforts
are directed entirely to the propagation OF
food fishes.''
The policy of the commission in regard
to the planting of fish is Enthusiastically pro-
claimed. 1t has no confidence in the
planting of fry, and includes in the report
| the opinions of many eminent authorities
on this subject. it favors the planting OF
yearlings only.