The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-15
MUsKIES GETTING SMALLER.
the Great Fighting Fish Of Fresh water
IN Need Of Protection.

The Great Fighting Fish Of Fresh water
IN Need Of Protection.
One Of the very best Of the muskallonge
scores made in Wisconsin during tho p as,
season IL credited to William Simon OF
Chicago, who on Squirrel Lake In Villas
county took FIVE in one day. They were
fine fish and bit savagely. but were not OF
great weight. The largest OF them weighed
fifteen pounds and the smallest eight pounds.
That score, compared with score made
by Capt. d. l.. Boyd Of Chicago. shows the
rapid decadsnce Of rnuskallonge fishing in
Western waters. Ten yesrs ago on . little lake
just north OF Star Lake, Wisconsin, lake
hidden in the woods and no small that II Ia
not on any map-Boyd captured in ono day
thirteen muskallongs. OF which the smallest
weighed eighteen pounds. The biggest
was q giant old man musky, tipping the
beam at forty-thrce pounds
This 10 the record catch Of the Star Lake
region and has never been approached be-
fore or since, yet in those days the taking
Of FIVE muskallonge. oil Of them larger :han
the Simon specimens. would not have been
thought worthy OF mention anywhere ex-
cept casually around the campfire on the
night of the day Of the catch.
Musksllonge have shrunk In numbers and
sire not 40 much because Of anglers. though
the pursuit OF them IL violent. a. because
build dams 1T the foot Of lakes and midway
OF streams to back the water up so that
they may have Q full headway when they
start to drive their logs.
The fish can not surmount many OF these
dams and thus are kept from their breeding
Il. SnV 10 In,
suitable waters and the spawn il lost.
The muskallonge Ia incomparably the most
valuable f1sh Of tho Western waters and
singularly enough it is tho nsh for which
Western laws nave done least In Wis
consin. for instance, there are laws which
prescribe when bass may be taken and OF
what si,e they may be taken. The laws
protect pike also and half q dozen other
Dishes, but they pay no attention At all to
muskallonge.
II man hooks one six inches long. he is
not forced to throw II back He may eat II
or ship IL II he chooses.
Almost as little attention Ii paid 20 the
preservation Of this shark Of the inland seas
in Minnesota. Wisconsin and Minnesota
are the homes Of the muskallon&e, but the
Legislatures Of those States have never
wsked to the necessity Of preserving them.
kaIlonre In Wisconsin and Minnesota used
TO be all OF fifteen pounds; the average
weight last season did not run above seven
pounds. This season II will be even small
Ter, for the weight and number Of the fish
are constantly decreasing.
There Ia a vast amount OF water which
the muskallonge may inhabit -thousA nds
OF inland lakes and streams al, connected
In some way with the Mississippi. The
n,uskaIlonse is hardy, fecrnd and Of rapid
growth. Il needs only genuine protection
for ten years to reach its former state OF
plenty and girth.
It IL we'll worth the law and the best
efforts OF the wardcns. because there IL no
question Of the fact that IL is the best fight
ing fish in the fresh waters OF America.
The famed ouananiche Of the Ssguenay
does not surpass II in gameness, and the
ouananichc has only a Nth Of It's sine and
power. -.
A mnskallonge Of twenty pounds will
figh, until worn 10 utter exha ustion. and
this requires much time. strength and
science The Ash may be dragged TO death
with the aid Of q guide and pair Of oarr, but
Il the boat Ia STOPPED ffty yards from tho
line Of weeds and wrist Ia put against FISH
muscle and cunning, the greatest possible
fgh. will follow.