The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03
Is Trout Anglers Success
Indicated by Barometer?
Theory That Instrument to Record Air Pressure Viii
Be Necessary Part of Fishermans Outfit-Use-
LESS Trips May Thus Be Avoided.
by JAMES ". INGHAM.

Permit me to offer you a possible II
not a plausible solution of a problem
which up to the present time remains a
Questio vexata to all trout fishermen,
I refer to the we'll known idiosyncrasy
of all the varieties OF the salmonida,
which at various times manifests itself
by their obstinate and persistent refusal
to take any notice of the most attractive
nies, no matter how lightly dropped by
an expert caster, though the conditions
OF weather and water are apparently
Just the same as those of the day be-
fore, when "the sport was good"
At these times the FISH may be seen
at the bottom OF the pools, apparently
Indifferent to either subjective or OBJ
jective Impressions, and are neither
tempted by curiosity nor Influenced by
hunger to essay the capture of the
strange insects which at times futter on
the surface of the water above them
An experience which had some time
ago on one OF the bert trout streams of
central Pennsylvania furnished me with
a possible answer to the question why
on some days the fishing IL good, very
good, and on others. without any appar-
emit reason. II is bad, very bad.
was camped for several days on the
banks of this stream. and though the
fishing was very good up to the morn
ing OF my arrival. yet on that day no
fish were taken. except few finger
lings. notwithstanding the industrious
whipping Of the stream by a number of
expert fishermen who had fished this
water for years and were thoroughly
familiar with 1t.
Meaning of Falling barometer.
The next day q hard shower muddied
the water, and of course no fish were
taken; but for several days after the
water became clean the fish refused to
rise though the weather remained clear.
This sudden transformation OF an ex-
ceptionally good water into an exceed
ingly bad one. gave rise to many discus
sions among the disappointed fishermen,
and though various reasons were ad-
vanced as to the why and wherefore OF
the change, each one failed to meet the
storm of objections with which 1t was
received.
AS I am at the best but a poor fly
fisherman I would have attributed my
bad luck" 10 my inexpertness had
been alone; but my lack Of skill fur
nished no excuse for the failure Of the
many accomplished and experienced dis
ciples of the gentle art, whose luck was
no better than mine.
While was puzzling over this sudden
| change in the very nature of the trout
and searching for a cause. remembered
that my aneroid barometer had fallen
| half an inch on the morning of my ar
| rival, and after carefully considering the
effects OF a diminished air pressure upon
the surface OF the water the possible
solution of the problem became at once
| apparent
AS It is a fact that all fluids Absorb
gases readily under pressure, and just
as readily part with them when the
pressure is removed. It must follow that
with a diminished air pressure upon the
surface of the water some of the all
which the water has absorbed while
| under a greater pressure or while pass.
| ing through the rapids must leave It.
Eject of Air Pressure on Man.
Now as the fall Of half an inch of tn,
barometer indicates loss of one-fourtl
| Of a pound of pressure on each squar,
| inch OF the surface, some of the air con
( tained in the water must necessarily
escape.
( The deeper water being still under tn,
| greater pressure Of the water above II
| is less affected by this change of all
pressure, and being colder than the sur
face water In accordance with another
we'll known physical fact, further de
pletes the surface water OF its air b.
absorption.
| The recognition OF this condition car
ries with ID the realization of the fac
that the fish must md greater difficult,
IN obtaining the necessary blood AGRA
| ton while swimming In the water neal
| the surface. and consequently they re
main at the bottom of the stream unit
the conditions change. making only sucl
| incursions into the regions of discom
fort as may be required in quest Of food
and only at such times as they will
suffer the least discomfort
An analogous condition Affecting maj
"a found In tho higher attitudes under
| Decreasing air pressure. when the ftfii
cuitiss Of respiration are increased a