The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-05

end to controversy that had con-
tinued for some months between the
scientist and the Senator. But it is
s69teSuuH eul ny lnoI leql eIqgqoLd
range larger than anywhere else in
the world. T. C. Barrows of Mont
pelier fished in the Rangeley region
fifty years but caught few of those
large trout and the catch today will
not average much more in weight
than in other regions. 1t is the belief
of scientists that these large trout
| must be century old or more. If
that Is the case it is no wonder that
none of them are taken today. All
waters within easy reach are so thor
oughly fished that a trout is FORUM
ate If it is allowed to reach the age of
three years The best authority on
fish culture states that under favor
able circumstances an average
growth for the first year is from ga
to one ounce, in two years to 10
ounces, in three years about one
pound" At that rate, under favorable
circumstances, it would take 80 years
for a trout to reach weight of 10
pounds. but as a matter of fact it
would take much longer, for all ami
mails grow more slowly after passing
the first stages of development.
Fly Fishing.
Through the winter, when the wat
er is covered with ice, the trout must
undergo more or less involuntary
fasting, and they are generally thin
when the sping opens, but quickly
gain plumpness when they have &C
cess to surface food. In the streams
of Long Island they take fly as soon
as the ice breaks open and in those of
the western mountains they rise to
the fly in waters so cold that one would
expect them to become sluggish. In
Vermont they do not rise well to the
fly until the waters have become
somewhat warmed. With changing
conditions they may have become a
trfe effeminate. They 90 not take
bait well at the first opening of the
streams
When the ice first goes out trout
will be found basking in the shallow
waters like pickerel, though a ant
, ural instinct of shyness leads them to
seek some concealment. They seem
, to seek the shallow waters for warmth
Sometimes one will be found in the
swift current. so shallow that his dor
sal fin sticks out of water like that
of shark, working his central and
, caudal fins vigorously 20 Keep from
being carried down stream getting
warm and at the same time holding!
himself in readiness for any stray
t morse of food that may be swept
. down by the current.
AS the water grows warmer the
trout seek the deeper places in the
G streams and ponds or the places
! where springs discharge their waters
for the sake of GOODNESS and conceal
ment, so that knowledge of the wat
! err he is fishing is of great advantage
to the angler
Instinct for COneeaIment.
;. The instinct of the trout for con
| cealment is one of it's most remark
able characteristics. A board is usual
ly placed over the lower end of {
Matching trough. and the newly hatch
ed fry at once congregate in its shade
When it is desired to clean III,
trough the board is removed an;
:, placed over the other end and the rr
Immediately follow to hide under it
shadow. When planted in stream
these miniature fish instinctively turf
their heads up stream and then seel
hiding place. In two minutes ate
a dipperful of them has been plante
" in a stream not one can be seer, bu
on lifting small stones or branCbe
from the bottom they may be disco,
cred.
v So the mature trout always seek tn
~ shade. hiding behind boulders, unde
~ old logs and overhanging banks an
70 the roots of trees that grow on tn
O banks, or in the black secluslon c
70 deep pools The man who knows ho'
ri to fish seldom wastes his time in tn
~ shallower stretches unless he see
,r some signs that indicate the presenc
D. o. trout there.
i'd This instinct for concealment is pro
It, badly due as much to desire to b
Is unseen while lying in wait for food a
IS to fear of capture, for the trout
waters that are seldom fished sho
NJ that same instinct
,tI While trout generally spawn in tn
10 fall, and protective laws are based O
IL knowledge of that fact, yet it is prol
~ able that they spawn more or les
w throughout the year, as we'll develop
In ed spawn may be found in the fl
II, males almost every month.
at Use of Other Bait.
id In the small streams about Montp :
IL Ter that furnish the best trout fisnir
ly the fayorite lure is the worm. Gras
IN hoppers crickets and humble bees al
as often used with good results, salt POI
rs rind and a bit of red flannel som
of times prove attractive, and one Mon