Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29

"A been enjoying for some years
4 \ past a fishing that has been
unknown to the ma jority OF the
angling fraternity. The fish caught are
called fall Ash and run from one-half
| TO one pound and over in size. The
writer knew nothing about this fish. but
| from all descriptions 1t resembles the
common wh!teflSh. which IS said u be
one of the most important fresh-water
| fishes in the world.
| The first report 10 reach this column
came from Harry A. Dawson OF Rock
/ Vile, Md, who says he has been catch
/ Ing this Ash for the last 80 years, both
| In Rock Greek and In Seneca Creek.
/ He says his largest one-day catch vas
| 80. but that on one occasion, fishing
with his father and uncle. their COM
! bined catch was IS of these fall fish or
! whitefiSh.
Another report concerning the same
/ fish reached this column last week from
| Donald N. Carpenter. local angler,
VINO asserts he has great sport angling
| for them in Rock Creek above Rock
! Greek Park. Carpenter says he uses q
| ifv rod and fishes for them in the swift
/ running water and has been most sue
| cessful landing them IN the early Spring
months.
Fish Is n Pure White.
Dawson asserts he lands all his fall
hsh during the Summer months, oot
that in the last few years they have
bacone rather scarce in Rock Greek.
but ere very plentiful in Seneca Greek.
Dawson saws that of is of these fish
landed something OF the regularity OF
/ their size may be gathered from the
fact that the lot weighed 10 pounds.
Both these anglers say the fish IS pure
white and when shown picture or tne
/ common whltefish both declared 1t 70
( be practically the same species.
Regarding bait, Dawson says that
most OF the time he uses the Much
! worm. a worm 10 be found in tree
siumps. mostly in apple trees. and that
the worm also Is white. But he Als1
saws the fish will attack small pieces OF
meat and different kinds Of bugs and
grasShoppers.
When the attention Of the Bureau Of
Fisheries was directed TO these FISH ON
rials there were at n loss 70 account
for them being in Rock CreeR They
also said that II must be q member OF
the whitefish family They have no rec
ord Of anv Of these Ash being planted in
Rock Greek or any other creek IN this
section of the country. but assert II IS
species OF extensive propagation by
the Government.
Carpenter plans 10 begin his cam
paign for fall fish next month, and has
promised 10 take the writer on one Of
his trips ana show him how tn land
them. While Dawson asserts he catrhes
most OF his fish in the deep holes, Car
pentcr saws his best results have been
obtained In the swift water after IL
leaves the deep holes. Anglers who are
Interested in angling for fan fSh Will
be kept informed in this column as 70
the time and place TO so after them
Fish in Basin Starved:
Last week this column referred 20 the
dead fish seen Floating III the Tidal
Basin q; times last year. and received
the following letter from one al It's
readers:
when yop began TO write 50 Opt
miStically o! the bright prospects OF
future good bass and crsprie fishing IN
the Basin, nsits resporSlole TOR me
berS Of such Ash placed therein By the
Fish Commission I raised the question
with myself what dependable sources
Of food supply throughout the year
would be available to the large numbers
Of these FISH which were being released
in the Basin.
II Is very probable that instead az
polluted water. caused by the oIn-ch 81
rain water from the drivrwayS arpund
the Basin. bring responsible Tor ths
death OF ttcse bass yen referred to that
these flSh died grcm lack Of Nod
BASS. as Is well known. are very
vuraclous FEEDERS. and can only survive
and flourish where they have an aellu~
dance vi their natural food such IS min
NowS. Smelt, frogs helgran>iteS cray
IiSh and other forms ri small water life
Il seriously doubt the Sugflcieney ~
the food supply IN the Basin, al the
character indicated 20 maintain the bass
and crapplc placed there by the Fish
Commission
III Is Stpuid APPEAR that The natural
food supply for these ti$h Il lacking In
the Basin. could artificial feeding ~
minced animal er fiSh matter. ee at
tempted tSueh as Is dime al the trout
hatchefieS throughout the country to
save these riShe
"Iour consideration, Investigation
and views Ut this question would ee
interesting tn all those who take pleas
are IN r'adtng your column IN The
Evening Star"
The above letter offers some valuable
and constructive criticism when tnr
matter at teed supply was taken up