Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-12
UP-RIVER WATERS.

Special Dispatch to The Stdr
HARPERS FERRY, w. Va,
April I2.-Potomac and Shenan-
doah rivers both very muddy this
morning.
Soft crabs at 30 cents a dozen and
angleworms at 10 cents can are in
great demand by white perch fishermen
at this season. both crabs and worms
proving attractive bait for the fish. This
morning the demand for soft crabs was
not especially great, because the heavy
rams of last night will deter many fisher
men from venturing out tomorrow.
Baltimore anglers who have been on
the Potomac this week brought supplies
of live shrimp with them, and the shrimp
proved the best bait that has yet been
found, the anglers say. and an effort is
going to be made to have shipments OF
shrimp sent here from Baltimore or some
point on the Chesapeake bay to take
the place of the more expensive soft
crabs.
Soft crabs have been cheaper this
season than heretofore remarked one
of the enthusiasts this morning Many
times in the past year l have paid as
high as $3.50 for dozen crabs that
nlnQe not more tHdu SiA onil " q SioO'
but this season / have paid not more
than "a cents, and on one occasion they
were only % cents dozen. the lowest
price ever known for them
This season many large catches of big
fish have been made with angleworms,
and their use makes the fishing trips
inexpensive Were 1t not for the de-
mand for crabs for bait. 1t is stated.
local dealers would be unable to handle
many of the soft crabs early in the sea-
son, when they are SO small.
Since April I. when the bass season
closed. the wall about the tidal basin
has been deserted and the park Watchmen
find their hours longer than When tnev
had so much company.
But what's the use of closed sea-
SOM" queried one Of the bass f1shermen
today.
the fish in the entire Potomac were pro-
tected,' he added, 'it would be an en-
tirely different proposition, but 1t Is
condition similar to some nearby closed
are not permitted to catch few fish
with hook and line. but just across the
District line thousands Of them are being
caught in seines."
being made at points below Alexandria
He heard that the fish are being shipped
through this city to Philadelphia and
New York and If they are taken from
the river DN the WHOLESALE 50 near tHc
city he stated, he does not understand
how the catching of few fish in the
basin is going to deplete the stock.
Last Sunday the cold weather and
high winds served to reduce the number
Of anglers on the river. Some of the
more faithful ones We're on hand, how
ever. wrapped in heavy overcoats. and
many of them were well rewarded for
their efforts, they stated
when the fish are biting one of the
chilled anglers remarked when ne re-
turned ashore" one never thinks of the
cold. There is excitement enough to the
sport to keep the blood boiling. but when
there is lull the weather conditions are
felt.
minds the weather..
Mack 'Sparrough and Warren Reed
probably made the best catch Sunday.
They fished in the .'parlor'' above Fletch-
ers and Mack Sparrough's coverings
gave him the appearance of. d nativerof a
far north country.
"A little chilly he admitted, but lots
of sport
The two anglers landed sixty-five large
perch and no claim was made that the
largest fish of the day got away.
THAT yarn does not go always Mack
said. e4s .ss =...,,,< pss sa-
John F. Murrel and Dr.. Randall Par.
sons were among the more enthusiastic
OHeS WllO were WI1liuS W 80 Ou Tie river
Sunday. but they did not take kindly to
the high winds and rough water outside.
They were on hand bright and early in
the morning with supply of bait that
was calculated to tempt anything in the
shape of fish.
And tempt was about all the bait did"
said Mack Sparrough. exhibiting a string
of big fish he had caught. when a
fisherman gets cold feet and will not
face the wind and rough water, his bait
90 n n
But he smilingly added, they did
catch four fish
The two anglers have not the slightest
idea Of giving up the game because of
and others are willing to risk catching
cold, they say. they are not and in the
near future they will give the expert an
exhibition of catching big ones.
John W. Hurley was one Of the cold
weather enthusiasts on the river Sunday
He did not make a day of it. however
but was content with about two hours Of
the sport.
II got fifty big ones in two hours" he
said. land If 1 had remained out all day
it is difficult to imagine what luck 1
would have had.
THE big ones are on hand now he
added, land it's only a question of know
ing where to get them. Go to the right
place and have almost any kind of bait
and you will get the fish,
Having experienced such good luck the
short time he was OH the river Sunday
the veteran angler returned to the par
lor' Wednesday and demonstrated his
ability to catch perch. He returned with
a split basket well filled with fish and
many Of them were big ones. Jim Roots.
who fished only a short distance from
the ''parlor.' declined to answer ques
tons about his success.
Charlie Porter has not fully recovered
from the shock he received when the
biggest fish he ever hung got away from
him. The loss of the big fish did not
dampen his ardor nor did it make him
say anything he should not have said, as
the surprise and excitement robbed him
Of all suggestions of disappointment.
Really" SAYS the angler, lit was the
biggest thing I've ever seen in this river.
1t was Mississippi catfish, and I'm sure
it weighed-well, l don't like to say what
think, but when it was brought, to- the
surface 1t looked as big as sturgeon.
But it got away, he sighed.
That afternoon the angler landed a
number of smaller fish and promptly re-
turned them to the river. much to the
surprise and disgust of an angler who
was nearby.
III you don't want the little ones"
shouted his neighbor. give them to me. :"
Il expect to return here next year."
| replied Porter, land perhaps they may
be big enough to catch by that time
Charlie Porter, Hugh A. Kane, and
Frank P. Madigan are making extensive
preparations for fishing trip In the near
future. The first named knows every
fishing place in this section. but the
| fv1fn nod Sarnd