The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Catches Made Best Since
Local Fishing Season
Opened.
SPORT CREATES GOOD FEELING
Water Clear and Just Right for Ex-
cellent Catches-Bass and Perch in
Gcodly EumbeIs-Best Places to Fish
Snagging Shad and Herring.

Snagging Shad and Herring.
Local fishermen were out in full force
yesterday in pursuit Of all members Of
the finny tribes inhabiting Potomac wa
tiers, and the banks of the river from
Lincoln Banks. in the Anacostia River.
above the Jail. TO Great Falls were lined
with eager sportsmen. The catches We're
the best made since the local fishing sea-
son opened.
From the true sportsman. with his ez-
pensive outfit Of rod, lines. and reel, down
through the various grades to tie ragged
negro pot hunter and his homemade
tackle, the disciples of iZaak Walton were
brothers. and no questions of caste were
allowed TO interfere with such courtesies
as the loan Of bait. or honiS or an occa-
sional net, when a good-sized catch was
made.
The principal Sunday crowd around
Washington is always to be found in the
neighborhood of the Chain Bridge. There
was no exception to the rule yestrday.
and scores of anglers spotted the banks
of the upper river from early morning
until sundown.
Water Clear, Weather Right.
The river is now very clear. and the
weather Just about right, old-timers say.
Bass and perch are running freely, the
former Of good size and a number OF such
fish Of respectable proportions were taken
yesterday. Perch also bit we'll and the
catches of this variety were larger than
they have been since the season began
Bass are found principally in the river
above Georgetown, and il is to the rocks
which line both sides of the stream from
the beginning of the ''Carberry Meadows
TO Great Falls that most of the en-
thusiasts go.
After experience local anglers have dis
covered that at this time of the year the
fish bite best on the canal eide of the
river. The shore here is lower than on
the Virginia side, and while the water
is much shallower, 1t is generally true,
probably owing to the bend Of the stream
and the consequent currents, that the fish
are found more pientifully during the
early part Of the season on this side of
the river. This applies only to the vi
cinity OF the Chain Bridge.
There IS a certain date, known only
TO the old-timers upon which with one
nccord. the fishing grounds are changed
TO the Virginia side Of the river. There
is no prearrangement among the sports
men. No date is decided upon, yet it is
true that after a certain time but few
fishermen are found on the low, or Dis
trict side of the stream, and these are
mere amateurs, who know but little of
the ways and means of the sport, and
fish in blissful ignorance of the code.
Changes With Weather.
rrt od, mis- ba
advent OF very hot weather. This is due
TO the fact that the high cliffs of the
Virginia shore afford protection to the
anglers themselves, and make cooler feed
ing grounds for the fishes. The water
under this bank runs deeper and is swift
er More expert fishing is required Sew
eral anglers fished from the Virginia shore
yesterday, but the professionals are not
yet ready to make the change.
The catches of bass yesterday were ex-
cellent. A number of good strings of yell
low perch were also taken, while the Ia
yorite OF the plantation negro-the cat
fish-persisted in being caught with great
regularity The catfish of the upper river
differs from the same fish found lower
down the stream, and while both are OF
the same family, environment has wrought
fits effect.
'.Cats" found in the Eastern Branch
for food II is tradition that the catfish
found in these localities go up in the big
sewers in search of food II is true that
they have Shiny appearance not seen
in the inhabitants of the colder ana
clearer stream above the Aqueduct Bridge.
Catfish taken here are excellent 1000
fish and many were carried away !ester-
day destined for the frying pan.
A unique sport being INDUCED In now,
which lasts only for limited time is
".snagging" herring. The river fairly
teens with this fish, which are coming
up in hordes to spawn. The fish are not
taken with bait, but "snagged" with
eharp hook. The hook fastens into any
mart of the body. not necessarily the
mouth. Ed the fisherman is kept busy.
Hundreds of fish can be taken in a day
In this manner, and the supply is mex
haustible while the fish remain in these
waters.
Snagging Shad and Herring.
A number of shad are ''snagged" also.
and many of this variety were taken yes
terday by the hundreds of fishermen out
for the sport In certain parts OF the
upper river the shad and herring are
SO thick that II is almost Impossible 10
cast a line without "snagging" fish.
Larders Well Filled
The old-timer Scorns abylh' "hiSh
smacks so OF unprofessionalism, but the
darkey has no such scruples, and as
consequence the larder is well supplied
in many humble homes
Among the expert fishermen in Wash
ington are many Senators and Representa-
tjves. Senator Proctor is an enthusias-
tic angler. So are Senators Heitfeld.
Dubois, Quay, Vest, and Representatives
Sulzer. Maynard, Patterson of Pennsylra-
mia, Green of Pennsylvania, Cooper OF
Texas. Blackburn OF North Carolina, and
others.
An of these legislators may be seen
frequently at the favorite fishing grounds,
particularly In the vicinity Of Great Falls.
Major Richard Sylvester, Chief OF Police
is an expert angler and often enjoys the
sport.