Evening star., 1915-02-06

will wynkoop cleaned up the fisher
men last week with a catch of 165
pounds" said Mack Sparrough. He
was on the river when most anglers
were seated about a fire discussing the
prospects for the spring season.
And not only did he make a big
catch,"s added Sparrough, but he
caught the largest fish that has been
landed this season.. Mississippi cat
fish that weighed sixteen pounds"
Two ten-pound fish enabled Mack
Sparrough to treat his friends to a
chowder Saturday night.
Wynkoop and Sparrough were on the
river together Sunday. Inclement
weather the past several Sundays made
them believe that the ground hog was
preparing to see his shadow, and, fear
ing a continuance of the bad weather.
the anglers braved the storm and cast
their lines.
Before entering big bateau at
Fletcher's. the two fishermen started
a fire in a large iron pot, took the pot
aboard the craft and went to deep
water.
"And during the two hours we were
on the river said Sparrough. I'VE
could hardly tell our lines from icicles.
joyed the novel experience of making
coffee and cooking sausage"
Two hours on the water without any
evidence of fish. said the anglers,
proved enough for them, and they re-
turned ashore
Will White and AL Warner did not
brave Sundays storm. They enjoyed
the warm room at Will Reynolds. heard
stories of the big fish that got away
last season and of what they expect
to catch the coming season.
Little did either angler think there
was any Washington sportsman who
would go on the river such a day, and
expressed surprise when they learned
that Sparrough and Wynkoop had
White and Warner were on the river
Monday. They felt certain that the
high and muddy water would bring
Mississippi catfish to the deep water
above Aqueduct bridge, and in an ef-
fort to protect themselves from the
cold weather they took charcoal fire
aboard the boat with them.
I'VE managed to keep one side warm,
said one of the anglers. but the fish
did not provide sport enough to keep
up a lively circulation on the other"
But they did get fish," said Will
Reynolds. for I saw half-pound cat
fish in their boat when they came
ashore
Al Warner tried his luck Wednesday,
and, he said. ii was truly case of
''fisherman's luck.
January 81 brought the cunning sea
son to a close. Reports from the lower
Potomac tell OF the large numbers of
ducks and geese that are in evidence.
but under the provisions of law gunnerS
are prohibited from shooting them.
The law provides penalty for shoot
ing the ducks and geese" said a sports
man early this week. but suspicious
noises heard in the direction of ducking
ners are not familiar with the law"
\ number of Washington sportsmen
are formulating a plan that has for its
object the enactment Of an amendment
to the federal law to change the ducking
season.
1.-THE best ducking season in this sec
ton is during the months of January and
February" said W. P. Bowie, who thinks
the law should be amended so as 10
permit shooting during the months of
December, January and February.
Under the present law" he said.
shooting is permitted in November,
when the weather usually is too warm
for cunning and the birds TOO poor to
shoot, and a delay OF month in the
opening of the eason and extending it
a similar period would benefit both birds
and gunnerS.
=.
Kenneath $. Legare were the only Wash
who enjoyed ducking on the
Wicomico river at Rock Point the last
day of the ducking season They made
an early start from Stonestreet's and
soon satisfied themselves that ducks
and geese were plentiful.
Before returning ashore the sunners
got four geese from one flock. two from
another and ducks enough to fill their
Their only regret is that the
Z hay 1.a.I
The days outing.
w P. Bowie says he expects the
spottsmen will have good bass season
he stated. have been such that ''pothunt-
ers'' were unable to do much, and the
fish were thereby protected.
The sportsman received d message from
C. H. Ardinger, Wiliamsport, Md. sew
eral days ago telling of the river condi-
tons and expressing the belief that
anglers will find plenty OF fish in the
river the approaching season.
Heretofore. it is stated. anglers were
unable to get supplies of Inadtoms early
i'll the season, but this year dealers
promise to be able TO supply the de-
lnand. Some dealers have large guam
titles OF bait saved from last season,
especially Smelts.
Many persons who fish from the sea
wall and who AXE an interest in gun
ming are frequently heard making in
duiries as TO how the rabbits got into
Potomac Park. During the past TWEEN
ty years or more. it is stated, rabbits
have been unusually plentiful on the
lower end of the park. formerly the
fats. and how they got there has been
a mystery.
Lieut.. Russell Dean, in charge of the
ha rbor precinct, satisfied the curiosity
of the sportsmen a few days ago. He
explained that the late Henry F. Bos-
well. who was an enthusiastic gunner.
had a number of live rabbits shipped
to him about twenty years ago. and he
turned them loose on the flats.
The rabbits multiplied very rapidly.
sa id the lieutenant. and many per
sons enjoyed the sport of killing them.
It was against the law. and
many arrests were made
1t is stated that many boys engaged
in the practice of killing the rabbits
with sticks. the law making no provi-
sion against such killing in season.