The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28

SOMEWHAT RAMBLING.
About this time of the year ii Is a COM
mon occurrence TO see on the Broad Rip
pie or other north-bound street cars sew
eral persons who do not seem to be hurry
ing towards business. They have a sort of
satisfied look as IL they were temporarily
released from work or care and were in
tent on some kind OF recreation. Their
equipment does not include any of the ordi-
nary tools of labor or signs of business.
In short. 1t consists of fishing tackle, and
they are going out to try their luck" No
person who goes fishing ever admits in adj
vance that he expects TO catch any. AS the
fond parent who takes his child to the cir
Gus doesn't care anything for it himself,
but goes just TO please the little one, so
the man who goes fishing always says he
does not expect to catch anything. but he
just goes for fun. All the same, however,
deep down in his heart there is the hope
which springs eternal in the human breast
that he may be successful. 1t is the pleas
ure of the chase which forgets failures and
always anticipates success. Really, how
ever, a days outing at this season of the
year is inducement and motive enough for
one who goes fishing, whether he catches
anything or not. Nature in the open has a
different aspect from the little bits of her
that are seen framed in the city. Forest
trees are more Independent and have more
individuality than those which have been
transplanted and are kept trimmed. Coun-
try birds, besides being much more numer-
Gus and of greater variety than town birds.
fly with more freedom and seem more at
home in their environments. Water rum
ming over a mill dam has a different sound
from that which plays in the monument
fountains. and if the fisherman puts him
self in sympathy with It's music he will get
pleasure enough out of 1t to compensate
him for his trip, whether he gets, "a bite"
or not.
Indiana fishermen are watching the law
pretty closely this year. The old law. which
is still in force. makes May and June closed
months against any Kind of fishing in lndi-
ana streams. The backward season has
given but little opportunity for fishing dur
ing April. and on May l the season will
close. until the new law goes into effect,
which will not be till we'll towards the end
of the month. The new law does not make
any closed season for hook and line fish
ing, so that fishermen will doubtless get
the whole of June. which was barred under
the old law. Other changes in the law are
believed TO make it much more effective
and easier Of enforcement than IL was for
merly. The new law recognizes there is lit
tie need of protection against hook and line
fishing, but it is very severe against brutal
and illegitimate methods of killing or cap
turing fish. 1t is these methods and the
reckless destruction of fish life which at
tends them that have so largely despoiled
Indiana streams of fish. There are eco
nomic as well as Humanitarian reasons why
fish should be protected. and it should be
the aim of everybody TO assist in enforc-
ing laws 10 that end. The United States
Fish Commission has done and is still doing
great work in the way OF restocking lakes
and streams with fish, both of their origi-
nal varieties and new ones. Any local So
ciety in Indiana that desires TO stock a
stream or lake with any particular kind of
fish will find the United States Fish Com
mission very ready 10 cooperate in the
work. The commission, as now organized,
consists of George NJ. Bowers commission
er. three assistants and a chief clerk. No
branch of the government is doing better
work in a special field tina this commits
sion. and while it is striving so hard to
promote fish culture and fish protection it
should have the cooperation of the people.