Evening star., 1897-01-05
SEEMING A SUCCESS
Over a Thousand Bass Taken From
Canal to River.
some WEIGHED FIVE POUNDS
Big Break Hole Rroves Fish Con-
vention Place.
OF THE PROGRESS
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence of The Evening Star
HARPER'S FERRY. w. Va, Jan. 5, 1897.
The second days record of the work of
seining the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
and removing the bass and food fish to the
Potomac river was extremely satisfactory
to all the gentlemen sportsmen interested
in the project. The wading suits of rubber
which were found Sunday to be absolutely
necessary for the seiners. on account Of
the depth Of the water, were sent up from
Washington yesterday morning, arriving
here at noon, and the wisdom of securing
them was shown during the afternoon,
when several holes and pools, which it had
been impossible to seine Sunday, were sue
cessfully relieved Of their flnny denizens.
Particularly gratifying results were secured
at the Big Break hole. a mile and a half
above Harper's Ferry. This pool gets its
name from the fact that the canal broke
through its banks at this point during the
great flood some years age, and in rebuild
ing the bank a great deal Of clay
taken out of the canal bed for the pur-
pose. This excavation left a deep hole in
the canal which the water collects in when
the canal Is otherwise emptied, and fish
naturally run to it for life and protection.
When DR.. Massamore and Capt. Harron
was large crowd present. Only one haul
was made, as the hour was late, but the
catch resulting was tremendous Over 400
bass were taken, several of them being CT
great size, and three weighed five pounds.
These bass were Immediately carried in
the big tin buckets of the United States
fish commission to the Potomac and re-
leased in its waters within five minutes OF
their capture, not being out OF water a
minute Of that time.
A large number Of carp were also caught
and destroyed while the suckers and catfish
were like the carp, distributed among the
crowd, SO that fish suppers and breakfasts
were enjoyed IN probably two-thirds of the
houses in Harper's Ferry and vicinity.
Many of the carp weighed several pounds.
A large quantity Of white perch and chuD
were also put in the Potomac, and min
ncws and sinners the two chief food fish
es for bass, were transferred in great num-
hers. The hole will be seined again this
morning, the men having departed for the
purpose and it is confidently expected that
a thousand more bass will be taken out of
it before dinner.
Mr.. John F. Smith and Mr.. w. B. Cross,
" no know every inch of the canal between
Point of Rocks and WilliamSport, declare
that the best results will be secured in the
vicinity of Shepherdstown. The result in
the Big Break hole verified the opinion of
Captain Harron, the United States fish
commission expert. whose assistance has
been of incalcuable value to DR.. Massa-
more Sunday evening Captain Harron said
prove 1t when the wading suits came. He
is indefatigable in the direction of his men
ard works as hard as any of them. The
mode followed is well adapted to good re-
suits. The seine Is hauled by two men
who hold the poles at either end. Two 9TH
er men with pronged sticks agitate the
water In front of the seine On either side
of Its path. Captain -Harron wades behind
the seine, releasing it when caught by
snag or rock and frequently running his
arm over the cork line into the seine and
pulling out a good sized bass that is trying
to escape. His men are tireess workers
and obey orders with the alacrity of able
DR.. Massamore said last night that he
felt very much encouraged over the result
of the seining so far, and hoped anglers
generally would be made acquainted with
the fact that the expenses are heavy, and
additional funds would be necessary to
push the project to final completion. The
party which went in the direction of Wash
ington had excellent luck In the locks and
pools. and was particularly fortunate near
Weverton DR.. Massa more, when he re-
ceived reports last night, stated that at
least 10000 food fish had been put In the
Potomac during the day, of which eleven
hundred were bass. About three hundred
carp were destroyed. All these fish, except
the carp. would have been killed by the
cold or the drying up of the canal this win
ter. 1t is estimated that a thousand of the
bass already transferred to the Potomac
will help to swell the population by breed
Ing in the coming spring.
Another Account.
The Baltimore Sun this morning con-
tains the following special dispatch from
Harper's Ferry, dated yesterday:
The waist boots for the canal seiners ar
rived at noon today, and the parties which
are transferring the black bass into the Po-
tomac river did wonderful work this after
noon. Eleven hundred bass were caught
re frryh{ oh, q
Many big carp, weighing from three to
six pounds, were taken, and there was
great scrambling as they were thrown on
the banks Of the canal to the crowd
Every locker on went home laden down
with carp. suckers and catfish. and the
boys had great time grabbing for eels.
1t Is impossible to estimate the number Of
rood 1sh for bass that were put into the
river. but 10000 would be low estimate.
The banner haul was made in a deep pool
caught. Only one haul was made, covering
about half the pool, and 1t was too late in
the day to make another. It is believed
that thousand bass will be taken from it
tomorrow.
DR.. Massamore says the scheme will be a
great success Il the ground to be gone over
Yields anything near as many fish as that
of today did.
The party going south made their best
haul about night, Just above Weverton
Dr; Massanfore is indefatigable. and is
right IN the mud and water pulling in the
lead line, picking up the bass and seeing
that they are put into the river.
He says he will not be able to do the work
as thoroughly as he would like on account
Of lack Of funds. Now that the scheme
seems to be a great success, Dr. w. s.
Harbon and Clusky Cromwell have gone to
Washington to raise more money among the
anglers, and DR.. Massamore says the Balti-
more fishermen, and, in fact, anglers all
ever the state, ought to make contribu-
THE LONG DfSfANCE RIDERS.
Participants in the Recent Race Are
Dep43ting.