The midland journal., 1914-07-17
ROCK FISHING.
Conditions Past and Present On
the SusQueIlanna, AS Seen
BY True Sportsman.

Mr.. Frank Shepherd Of Wilmington,
whose boyhood home was in Rising Sun.
in personal letter describes past and
present conditions in the rare sport of
rock fishing on the Susquehanaa
| / do not know whether or not 1t would be of
interest to any one to know that the writer
was fortunate enough to have the honor to
land with rod and reel, a few days ago, at
Octoraro. with Steve Gillespie as guide. an
eighteen pound rock fish measuring exactly
one yard in length.
The fish appeared heavier but only showed
up for eighteen pounds on the scales. or
course you know others have caught them
larger. had the honor myself, some years
ago, to land twenty-ohe pound fish, but the
fish taken last week deserves medal for
pluck. He got into swift water and stayed
there, and it made me wonder If even at my
young age were not losing something of my
youthful vigor.
Rock fishing at Octoraro has undergone
some changes in late years. Formerly the
only bait known was salted eel tail, which was
rapidly trolled through the water. Then came
blood worms. used in the same manner but
trolled slower. The live eel was used with
one or more hooks, but ithe last year or so Mr..
Rock has shown desire for fresh herring.
and now his preference is very decidedly in
favor of soft shell crab. Sometimes a whole
crab is put on the hook, and instead of trolling
Izaak puts out about hundred feet of line
and sits and waits, and acaits When it hap
pens it is . SO sudden and many are the ex-
plantations and exclsmations with regard to
the "big one that got away.a
It is 70 be regretted that this fish is becom-
ing scarcer and scarcer. This is due. it is
claimed. to the great numbers netted before
they get up to their spawning grounds, the
best of which is the iewer fifteen miles of the
Susquehanna.
Rock fish travel in large schools when COM
ing up into the river and play and disport
t. emselves in very gay and festive manner.
They come to the surface. and turning over
make large swirls. and swim at times with
their back fins entirely out of water.
1t is very easy therefore for one who is in
the business to detect school moving slowly
up to its summer quarters, and the wiley met
fisherman" is quick to get in his deadly work
by surrounding the whole colony mothers,
fathers, babies and all, leaving nothing to tell
the tale except the newspaper notice that
so and SO last week shipped six tons of rock
uSu W tiAO CAby AudERSOS. OuQ0r pr0S6uO COu-
ditions it is likely that within a few years the
determination of the rock fish will be COM
plete and he will exist only in momory. or in
small colonies, as is now the case with the
American baffalo.
No material depreciation Of fish was ever
caused by the hook and line fisherman, for
although his intent may be for large catchesit
is more in the breach than the observance
Providence has seen to 1t that fish If left to
their natural inclination will rapidly multiply
and perpetuate their species, and at the same
time go great way in the support of the
human race. their motto apparently being
that which we have emblazoned upon the
proud banner of our State of Maryland
9Crescite ct Multiplicamini.'
It's noted with satisfaction that the MID
LAND JOURNAL has always stood for those
things making for the good of humanity, In
'cluding conservation Of the natural resources
of our country-not the least of which is the
grand old rock fish.