Evening journal., 1901-04-20
NEWSPAPER OPINION
[he fishing Season

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Ncminally the fishing season opened
Ion Monday. That is, il was legal TO
begin catching trout on that day. Also
while it was permitted before, the
river fishermen with the big nets ar
ranged to cast them for the first time
this year at that time. But nature was
not favorably inclined. The shad fish
ermen did not operate their nets on ac-
count Of the high winds and cold
water, and the trout fisheremen, who
use the artificial fly exclusively, met
with scarcely any success. Even the
angler who uses the homely but al
Turing worm had only a fair measure
Of luck.
In all probability it was the unfavor-
able weather conditions entirely that
are responsible for the poor sport
most Of the trout anglers have met
with this week. The weather has been
cold, disagreeable, chilly rains fell in
many localities, snow descended in
others and the streams i'm the greater
part Of the State were filled with snow
water. or from rains that fell the pre-
yious week. Such conditions, however.
cannot last long sunshine will come.
the snow water disappear. the streams
fall to their normal level and sport be-
gin. But this is Jobs comforter. ."
April IS is regarded by a great army
OF anglers in much the same light as
the child regards Christmas. 1t is look
ed forward to with the same keen an
ticipations of pleasure. Weeks before
rods are taken from their cases, flies.
hooks and other tackle overhauled and
often elaborate preparations made for
the event Proportionately bitter, there
fore, is the disappointment when the
looked for day is ushered in with cold
and stormy weather and unfishable
streams.
Many feared that the unusually pro-
longed drought of last Summer, which
caused the streams to become phe-
nomenally low and subsequent freez.
ina to the bottom OF many waters
Fduring the Winter, resulted in the
death Of thousands of trout These
fears are probably exaggerated, al
though doubtless many fish we're killed
from this cause. Here and there ac-
counts we're given of fishing streams
injured by low water and freezing, but
they ere fewer than might be expected
The indications are that the trout sea-
son. when the weather settles will be
fairly good.
A great run of shad is expected in
the Delaware this year. The incoming
FISH however, are delayed by the cold
weather It is a curious fact that shad
will not ascend the rivers to their
spawning grounds from the sea until
The temperature of the water is over
90 degrees. The Delaware river is now
the greatest shad river in the world
and the value Of the annual catch is
more than a million dollars. This has
been the result OF artificial propaga-
tion. and 1t is, therefore, a matter oi
sincere regret that the State Fish Com
mission has been compelled to an
nounce its inability to open the Bristol
station this year. because OF a lack oi
funds. Fortunately, the United State:
Commission will be able ito perform it'
usual work in the river. While it IL
disappointing to the anglers and com
Smercial fishermen to find the waters il
Ibad condition this week, they shoulC
console themselves with the though
that it is not bad for the future of thu
fish supply