Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-01

William ]. Sturbitts and col" John
w. Hurley made the first catch Of small
mouth black bass reported to have been
caught in the Potomac this season. They
made the catch in the vicinity of Knox
vile, Md, about one mile from Viewer
ton, last Sunday.
Eight live bass were brought from the
fishing grounds by the two anglers as a
result Of the days outing. and SO proud
were the sportsmen that no friend was
other anglers to know there were bass
being caught. Weather conditions were
not just what the anglers wanted.
Had the weather been fine all day"
stated one of them, I'VE would have had
two dozen fish instead Of eight
Col" Hurley got the ha-ha when he
told Of the biggest fish having been
missed.
1T was a whopper,'' he said. and I'm
going back next Sunday to get it,
The Colonel said he had gone ashore
to enjoy something to eat, leaving his
lines in the boat with the bait over
board. He was about to enjoy a cup of
coffee. he stated, when the clicking of
the reel made him forget the coffee and
he thought it jumped several feet out OF
the water, took the hook and disap-
peared.
John B. Peyton. his son Jack" George
Barr and Marion Tolson enjoyed a three
day outing on the river last week. going
as far as the head waters of Nanjemoy
creek. Jack" Peyton and George Barr
We're the anglers in the party, while John
B. Peyton, captain Of the York Spit. took
for in, NJ
any ducks. Tolson played the part Of
chef and the result of his efforts proved
so tempting that his friends regretted
they had to return.
Near the head Of the creek the two
anglers spooned for pike and they were
rewarded with long string Of big fish.
The fish We're caught in water not more
than four feet deep and in branches Of
the creek that were not any too wide for
their bateau.
-'It was fine sport" said the captain Of
the gasoline launch. I'VE had. long
thought there were fish near the head OF
the creek, but last week was the first
time we had given the place a trial.
Blackheads and mallard ducks were
unusually plentiful on Nanjemoy creek,
stated the gunner Of the party. and he
was confident he could have killed hun
dreds Of them had he been supplied with
ammunition enough. He killed twenty
one Of them in less than one hour.
Yesterday was the closing day of the
Small-mouth bass season in the District
OF Columbia, while up the river The sea-
son will not close until the 18th OF this
month. giving. anglers two weeks longer
to enjoy the sport in Maryland, although
1t is against the law to bring bass into
the District during the closed season
here.
Col Hurley says he thinks the bass
are as plentiful this season as they were
last year and the year before. They took
the bait Sunday altogether differently from
the way they usually take ii, he says.
taking hold of the tail first, instead OF
the head.
1t was found that many Of the bass last
Sunday made more than two runs with
the bait, and still were able to keep from
getting hooked, and 1t was not until the
anglers saw that parts of the bait had
been taken they they understood why
they had SO many unsuccessful strikes.
The largest of the fish caught Sunday
was landed by ". ]. Sturbitts. 1t weigh
ed three and one-half pounds. His COM
panion caught the greater number.
Mississippi catfish are still furnishing
splendid sport to local anglers. The fish
are more plentiful this year than ever
before. 1t is stated. and also much larger.
DICK Muliet, who has made some record
catches this season, caught more than
forty pounds Of fish Sunday morning. and
1t is reported that two anglers fashed
near the outlet lock Sunday and caught
nearly 100 pounds.
Many of the Mississippi catfish that are
hooked, anglers say, are entirely too
large to handle, and scores Of lines and
a number OF rods have been lost this
season above the Aqueduct bridge. Bait
for the fish Is easy to obtain. refuse from
poultry and shad dealers being used.
Some residents Of the vicinity OF Glen
Echo recently found new form Of
catching fish which proved great sport
The sport consists of spearing big cat
fish and carp at night
Those who have enjoyed the sport have
landed some big fish. At night they go
on the river in a small motorboat or ca
noe. using an acetylene lamp to throw
light enough to locate the fish for them.
And" said one Of the sportsmen, Its
enough to make fellow sick to go out
at night and see the number OF black
bass that are in the river. but there is
not the slightest possible chance for get
ting one Of them"
Jesse Middleton, Henry Talbot and
George Bailey gave brook trout a trial
last Sunday, going to a small Virginia
stream not many miles from the city.
The stream is on protected property. how
ever. and only invited guests are per-
mitted to fish 1t.
The three anglers succeeded in land