Evening star., 1911-06-03

Wednesday afternoons thunderstorm
dampened the ardor OF many OF the
expert bass anglers.
THE season opens tomorrow said
one OF the disciples OF Sir Izaak Wal
ton "and now we have to have this
storm to muddy the water: but It's just
the luck of a fisherman or circus owner.
Dry weather for weeks and people pray
ing for rain, and when the announce
ment is made that the circus man is
coming, or that the fisherman is going
to try his luck. down comes the water.
Farmers need the rain more than We
need the sport, and I'm only sorry We
did not have more rain"
When the announcement came early
Thursday morning that the Potomac at
Harpers Ferry was clear and the Shenan-
doah was a little muddy the early-season
anglers heaved a sigh OF relief. Some
had braved the storm the night before
to be out with the early birds; others
had waited to make the start for the
up-river section until Thursday morning.
Encouraging reports have been received
from the vicinity Of Harpers Ferry.
Weverton. Knoxville and other points
ported. were apparently as numerous as
they were last year. Many persons had
fished the river during the closed season,
in violation Of the law, and caught some
good strings of them.
Arrangements were made by several
Washingtonians to try their luck near
Harpers Ferry last Sunday. but before
they got started q message came that
Saturdays Star had reached there with
an account of past violations. Then they
decided not to go.
w. Lynch and w. E. Anderson opened
the season with q trip to Point Of Rocks,
Thursday morning. From Point OF Rocks
they went up the canal to Brunswick. a
the river and drifted back the seven
miles.
Sixteen bass were caught during sthe
trip. but none Of them was very large.
Mad toms and smelt were used as bait,
the bass taking the smelt more readily
than they did the other bait
..The water was low and clear" said
Jake Moffett 1T was too clear for the
big fish,
He thinks there are plenty of big ones
to be had, however, q little rain being all
that is necessary to start them moving
1t was thought the storm Wednesday att
ernoon would put the water IN good con-
dition, but the four anglers failed to dis
cover. thai II mao 0necleQ tne wafer dOout
Point of Rocks or Brunswick.
Information comes from E. T. Jenkins.
Gassaway Island. near Leesburg. Va.
that hundreds OF dead fish were found on
the shore of the Potomac river between
Seneca mill and Selden Island this week
"I counted $40 fish on the banks OF the
river" stated Mr.. jenkins. 'and many
more were floating on the water near
the shore"
It is thought by residents OF that sec
tion that the condition of the water
which has produced such results Is due
to pollution up stream
Maj. Richard Sylvester. game warden
of the District of Columbia. who is an
expert angler. thinks 1t possible that the
fish may have been killed by persons US
Ing dynamite some distance from where
the dead fish were found.
"It is possible that pollution OF the
water by some Of the mills Is responsible
for the death of the fish, Maj. Sylvester
said. Where sawdust is In the water,
1t Is difficult for the fish to live
The game warden explained that fish
get a disease of the gills and are killed
off in large numbers. He says that many
fish have been killed by the use OF dyna-
mite by "pothunters." the dead ones
some distance from where the explosive
is used.
Mai. Sylvester favors the strict en-
forcement Of a stringent law against the
use of explosives. He is also opposed TO
the water being polluted by sawdust ana
acids from mills.
Poor Old Robinson Crusoe" was the
song that j. E. Buckingham and Louis
on an island In the Potomac
near Little Falls.
I'VE were without food or drink" said
one of the anglers. although before We
n~f
taste SO bad A sandwich or piece Of
pie would have been q nfe-saver. and
you may rest assured we would not have
asked any questions about the particu-
lar kind of pie We We're getting.
Both men are experts with rod and
line and each has many times made the
remark: I'D rather fish than eat" but
when put to the test. they admit. eating
is very good in time OF hunger.
Early in the morning the anglers went
from Edes' mill to the vicinity Of Little
Falls in a boat. They wanted to get
where they felt reasonably certain of
catching some big fish. and the stony
island just below the falls was the place
they wanted.
"i'n send the launch up for you early.
they were told by one Of their COM
panions, and the anglers made themselves
as comfortable on the rock as possible.
came along. Two hot and tired anglers
climbed into 1t and made quick trip
in the direction of the lunch basket.
agreeing that Robinson Crusoe was well
como to lonely life on an island.
"col." John W. Hurley's many friends
are 9etting in trim for a fish dinner.
The "coloner' had one a few days ago.
and. he says. he enjoyed II so much that
he wants his friends to have one.
mo Joking said Julius Albrecht to
the colonel the other day. what about
the Ash you promised to catch for me7"
Easiest thing you over KNEW" said
the jolly angler. IT'S only q question
OF going where they are. I'm going this
afternoon, and II you will meet me when
/ return the catch Is yours"
Carrying a basket OF soft crabs In one
hand and tackle In the other. the
sscoionep made his way to the fishing
ground up the river. On the Virginia |
side Of the stream was q colored man
with q string Of nsh In his hand. They
looked very large from across the river,