Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-01

hers here. the most abundant and valuable
OF which is the white cat or channel cat
Mhich Is good food fish, reaching length
OF TWO feet recent addition to the fam
ny is the spotted cat. which the fish COM
mission has introduced from Illinois II is
an excellent food fish regarded by some as
not inferior to the black bass and has bps,
known to weigh twenty-five mounds Two
I'VE specimens, taken in the Potomac or
the city Few days ago. are now on cNhihi-
ton at the fish commission.
Surgeons mud Pike.
The largest fish that regularly inhapit
our waters are the surgeons. Of which
there are two species. the common and th,
short-nosed. Surgeons were at one time
abundant in the Potomac, but are now
scarce They were generally regarded "a
nuisances. and when caught In seines and
nets II was the regular practice ~ fh, gsh-
ermen 10 knock them in tho head a,d
throw them away. A large sturgeon world
then bring only - or ~ cents: now the
fish commands a high price
In Four-Mile run. Eastern branch TI-tra
river and other similar localities Is found
the gar pike or gar. II Is quite common.
but less hume sous than II was fifteen mr.
more years ago. when t often proved very
Troublesome To the Shad fishermen v-ha
carried little clubs with them 10 kin he
CARS that became entanEleyd in their nets
Everybody knows the or but rVeryh,.ly
'i''-S nor KNOW iNaf II SftaNuS only St.F
water. and that the female is sttupas.d IA
die after having once deposited her ,.ur..
In spring young eels. about three inches
long. That have been halChr,l In salt waller
ascend the river in large scattered schools
and are often observed along the rocky
shores above Georgetown
shad aud Herring.
The herring tribe has five members in
our waters which are the mos, abundant
Of al,
in commercial value and food qualities IS
the shad. which ordinarily reaches ,ha Dis
trict limits about April l. but Was uu-
usually late this season. owing to the low
temperature Of the water. The upper limit
Of the range OF the shad is the Great Fails.
whore numbers are caught 10y means II
long-handled dip nets. the fishermen 'Ini-
ing on the rocks OF IN platforms overlook
ing the rapids The average weight #
females, or "roes,' four and onc-half
pounds.
Two species Of herring. or aleNivcs. worry
similar in appearance, ascend the river IN
spring and early summer
A large hcrrinG-like fish which is sama-
times sold for Shad IS the hickory ~had.
also called the hickory jack. tailor sald,
fresh-water tailor. fan herring, tailor her
ring and mattawacca. 1t comes iU sPrHg
with the branch herring and remains iu th1
upper river through summer anu fail
In former years The brook trout. or spec
killed. trout, inhabited Difficult run and. m
all probability, the cooler waters OF Rock
creek but II was long since eNtermuaipd
aud is not now found wild in the District.
Two species of pike or pickere are not
uncommon.
MummichoGs Are Good Bait
Two species Of kilihshes or mummichog4
are very abundant in the Potomac and most
of its tributaries. They are important IA
food FOR other fishes. and are valuable bats
for bass and perch.
The saltwater gar. locally called the sill
Yer gar and also known as the needle fish
and biiiish, comes regu arlY In spring with
the branch herring and remains through
the summer. II asreudS the river as far AS
the AqueduCt bridge and is usually OH
served swimming at the surface i'm seat
tered schools. At times it proves a uu-
Sance to anglers on account Of lis bait
stealing habits.
Well-known and abundant members ~
the bass family are The long-earcd SuntiSn
and the pumpkin seed both of which arc
locally called sunfish ana tobacco box.
Although the perch family has five rrurr-
SentauNes here, there Is only one species
OF any economic Importance. This il thu
yellow perch. or yellow ned, one uf "a"
most abundant food and game fishes of he
District. Large numbers are caught for
market IN winter and spring and hv an
gers throughout the warmer months
Striped Bass aud white Perch.
The most splendid FISH Of our waters as
regards the combination Of size. glmauess
and food value is undoubtedly the striped
bass popularity and perhaps unfortunate
ly known as the rockiish or rock. Il IS
common in the vicinity of Washington ~
all seasons, ascending the river as FAR Is
the Great Falls: but is most numerous "a
spring and summer. In former years the
Little Falls was faVOrite resort for an
glers in quest Of this fish; there Daniel
Webster, Thaddeus Norris ana other prom
inent people made good catches. STRIPED
bass weighing as much as ninety pounds
have occasionally been taken near WASH
and fish Of twenty to sixty pounds
weight are not uncommon.
The striped bass belongs to the Saa-baS4
family. of which the only other member in
our waters is the white perch. This pop
ular little fish is abundant in the Potomac
and its tributaries Some white perch are
found in the District at all seasons. hur
the principal run occurs in spring. Tho
spawning taking place in April and May.
Assistance of Anglers
The report about to be published is in
tended to be only preliminary. The authors
feel that additional inquiries are desirable
before a comprehensive account Of the Dis
tI!ct fish fauna can tie published. as lhcre
are doubtless other species iuhabitinr our
waters that have not yet been ~dctcctcd.
while concerning even the best known there
are facts to be learned. 1t is therefore con-
tcmplated to issue "a second lis, with illus
trations of all the species and detailed notes
On their habits, abundance, food value.
game properties, etc, as soon rs thu u"ceS-
Sary material can be collected. For tn"
purpose OF making the second edition II
the list complete possible. the co.
operations of students. anglers. fish dealers
and others is asked in furnishing Speci-
mems ana notes. for which fun credit viii
be given. Specimens of fishes for ideuIi-
fiCation will be received at the fish COM
mission building at any time.
No Volunteer Need serve Longer.
Senator Mcbride Of Oregon has received
a letter from the adjutant general saying
that General Otis has been Instructed to
every volunteer soldier in the
L L. - l.