New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-05-28
Hook, Line ndSinker

We suppose that We are alone in
our opinion but We have decided
hat We are almost sick Of the rains
that We have been having this past
week. Not that we mind rain-~the
nice muggy rain that makes trout
yearn for the sight Of worm-but
this cold chilly drizzle or the heavy
downpour that only succeeds In
making soup Of the brook and rum
ming down ones spluG doesn't make
US happy at all.
This past week has been very
quiet. probably because the weather
has kept most Of the sporting fra
ternity at their offices. Sunday
brought out fairly good sized
crowd of them but on Monday. Tues
day and Wednesday you could have
paid ten dollars to every man who
went fishing and still have the orig
inal bankroll.
Bob Smith, .one OF the Smith boys
OF Shuttle Meadow lake (the good
looking one. somebody rises to say)
has just returned from nice fish
ing trip up in New Hampshire. Bob
left Wednesday evening and returned
to New Britain on Sunday. He re-
ports four large trout. two land
locked salmon and plenty Of perch
and pickerel. He said that the perch
were so hungry that they would line
up beside the wharf In front Of the
cottage and open their mouths like
fledgllng birds.
Commissioner Titcomb. the oblig-
ing gentleman who has endeared
himself to the sporting portion of
the city by his recent opening OF
Number I Reservoir, has reported
that the present season has been the
best in years. speaking Of trout. Far
be 1t from US to contradict a man
who probably knows more about
trout and other kinds Of FISH than We
ever will know. but as far as We
have been able to find out. good fish,
ing has meant plenty Of small trout
the result Of the promiscuous
activities Of the commission and the
various Fish and Game Associations.
The majority OF fish caught this
spring have been between six and
eight inches long. aside from the
Thousands Of three and four inch
trout which have necessarily had to
be returned.
Personally. We can see no benefits
to be derived from extensive stock
ing OF streams throughout the state
and then. later in the year. pulling
them out again after they have OBJ
tanned their necessary lawful length
and not much more.
OF course big hsh have been
caught-the Blackberry river has
yielded a few wonderful trout--but
the average run OF trout In this
state has been small, very small.
Streams are annually flooded with
small trout: the brooks become con-
gested with fingerlings: the fish do
not have the right feeding possibili-
ties and never attain a very great
size; the early spring fishermen
come along and wipe them out: the
state stocks theH, again with finger.
lings-and so 1t goes.
This sounds pretty pessimistic anil
it might all be Just one Of the Of
fects of the recent heavy rains. We
admit, and freely too. that conditions
are considerably better than they
were, say, five years ago. but we
also claim that there is plenty Of
room for Improvement. One theory
which has been advanced concerns
the prohibition OF fishing on certain
streams for full season, and the
more careful and less generous
stocking Of streams. AS the motto
OF the state fish and game commits
sion has 1t. Not more trout, but
larger trout"
We heard a sad tale recently.
Some young New Britainitc. be-
ginner at the game OF angling, was
fishing on Lake Pocotopaug the
other day. Came a savage strike;
came stirring battle and the young
nimrod was gazing on a four pound
black bass. Now close your ewes
and imagine what you would have
thought and said under the same
circumstances. The month is May
and the little blue book in your
pocket says something about July 1
and black bass which is not easy to
forget. The young man threw him
back Of course. but last reports say
that he will never be quite the
same.
Mike Fitzgerald Of this city. goes
on record as bringing in the largest
trout of the season so far. Mike
l,rnuphf In afripr ~ fro,,t VIM - L., ~