The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-19
LET'S Go Fishing
DRIVE AGAINST
POLLUTION WILL
DRAW HUNTERS
Mineral Oil Is Destructive
to Fish and Fowls; De-
StrOyS Plants.
BY LEFTY LEE
Times Fishing Editor

Hunters, especially duck hunters,
should become interested actively in
the fight that is being waged 10 stop
pollution of the streams; and in
fact the whole North American con-
tinent. as this condition is one of
the chief reasons that the water
fowl. so plentiful few years ago,
now have become near extinct.
Conservation officials of both the
United States and Canada are be-
coming alarmed, and justly so, as
the areas that formerly held mill
lions Of birds practically are rare
this year. The More Game Birds in
America, a foundation, just has is
sued a bulletin that covers this sub
ject completely. Pollution Of wa
tiers is exceedingly harmful TO our
shore birds. fish and their food
food plants. OF the various pollut-
ing materials mineral oil is the
most destructive, as it means sure
death to the birds that become
coated with il. Such birds are un-
able to fly and die from exposure
or starvation. Floating on the sur
face OF the water, or coating shores,
oil renders the affected areas in
capable Of sustaining life, partly by
communicating food and partly by
interfering with the supply Of oxy-
gen necessary for life.
Small quantities of mineral oil
are sufficient TO destroy plants, nU-
merous creatures and their eggs by
mere contact. Mineral oil is not
dilutable in water, on which 1t
spreads to a thin film until par
ticles Of dust or other polluting mat
ter cause it to sink, thereby extend
ing its harmful effects to fish, oys-
tiers. clans and other water foods.
It also constitutes a serious fire
hazard in rivers, harbors and small
bodies of water. The complete
story that is very interesting to all
lovers of the outdoor sports, is too
long to reproduce here, but the
chief reason this evil continues is
the lack of adequate laws, and their
enforcement. That is the reason
that pollution must be battled from
the individual standpoint, as in this
way only is there a remedy, and
that is civil suits, that will make
the pollution or streams more cost
" to the polluter than the build
ing of plants that will render pol
luting material harmless.
Several years ago this city was
treated to the rare sight of watch
ing a creek burn. Some boys were
playing along Pleasant Run, and
tossed some flaming matches in the
creek that was oil-covered. The
dense smoke from the fire that re-
suited forced people living in that
vicinity to call on the fire depart
ment to extinguish it.
Here We have Pee Wee Van Horns
new fish story. Van Horn hit the
river near Broad Ripple early Mon
day and caught five nice crappie.
When it came time to return home,
Van Horn stopped fishing and pro-
ceeded to dress the fish so they
would be ready for the skillet OH
his arrival. After finishing the sec
ond fish he looked for the first one
cleaned, and thought that spooks
were around, until he happened to
look up and see a cat walking off
with part of his breakfast.
The Blinn-Mathews feud that has
held the attention of the boys from
the Bell Telephone Company must
be settled in Indiana waters, as
their trip to Canadian waters left
the result, as to which one is best
a draw, as the fish in that country
were so thick that they would bite
on any bait and at any time, &C
cording to Blinn, who tells of a
wonderful catch of great northern
pike. wall eye pike and bass. The
largest bass taken was a f1ve-pound-
er, that was landed by Blinn
Trolling was the favorite method, in
this country. and the Hildebrand
No. 2 spinner with a ball of red
worms trailing, the favorite bait.
Carl Roberts. a barber at 2115
West Washington street, spent
week along the Cumberland river,
ten miles from Nashville, Tenn,
and landed some of the big fish that
live in the sunny south. Roberts
prize was a twenty-siX pound yellow
cat. His total catch weighed seven
ty-five pounds. and consisted Of cat
fish and buffalo.
Bob Reagan ST., Bob McDuff and
Harry Ryan found the crappie Bit
ing at Franks lodge, at the mouth
of the Monon and the Tippecanoe
river, and returned with dandy
string, and in addition, had all the
fish they wanted to eat during their
stay. The black bass were not hit
ting so well. but they managed 10
land one of these beauties.
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