Evening star., 1933-01-07

ME Potomac River IS muddy and
anglers seeking large mouth
black bass will be compelled to
i wait until it clears around
Washington and in Piscataway
Creek and GurEton Cove.
There is one fish, however, that does
not demand clear water to take bait,
and that is the catfish. As matter
Of fact these fish sort of thrive in
muddy water, and at a time when the
water is badly discolored they seem
to bite best. Usually after the ice
meltS in the river the catfish commence
TO get active. It is at this time that
the large fish are hooked. Strange as
1t may seem, the big "fellerS' weighing
as much as 20 odd pounds are caught
curing the months of January and
February; Catfish abound in the Po-
tomac River. They are caught every
where from the end of Hams Point to
Chain Bridge and, beyond. And con-
trary to the general opinion, catfish
really are fine to eat. They are harder
to prepare for the table, but when
properly prepared are good table fish.
The Mississippi catfish which is a
cross between a trout and a catfish, is
good clean fish, and when hooked
in rather swift water, on light tackle,
runs much like bass. have hooked
them IN the Potomac back of Sycamore
Island and was sure u had bass on the
end of my line untilI got my fish close
to the boat.
HUNTERS have until January IS TO
l. shoot ducks. These birds have been
very plentiful this Fall and Win
ter along Chesapeake Bay and its trib-
utarles. George Knight at Leonardtown
informs us that duck hunters are having
plenty Of sport in the lower Potomac.
Knight says, however, that few mallard
or canvasbackS have put in their ap-
pearance. These birds, he says, are not
scheduled to make their appearance
until late this month.
Knight informs us that Capt. Thomas
Trott of Palmers. Md; Capt. Frank
Faunce of River Springs, game warden
of st. Marys County; william F. Her.
bert, Grason McWilliar1s of Dynard,
Nd, and Thomas A. Mckay and john
son Swami of Leonardtown have en-
loyed good shooting this season.
Concentration of birds Which flock to
partly cleared rural roads after snow
storms are caused by thek, desire to
obtain grit with which to digest their
food, according to a bulletin Feeding
Birds in Winter" prepared by the State
Board of Fisheries and Game of Con-
necticut.
Supplying grit is just as important
as supplying food" the bulletin states.
A bird may Starve to death with full
crop unless it has grit with which to
make that food available. Birds of all
kinds need extra food during periods
Of extreme cold when ice and snow
cover much of their natural food sup
ply, and nature lovers are reminded
to add 10 per cent of small and medium
size commercial grit to all grain mix
lures, or a quantity of sand and gravel
separately, In all Winter FEEDING op-
erations.
An Official of the Claiborne -Annap-
ellis Ferry Co. told the writer recently
that a reduction will shortly be made
in the cost of transporting machines
across the bay. He said reduction OF
so cents each way practically has been
agreed upon. This news will be most
pleasing to the hundreds of anglers
who visit the Eastern Shore many times
during the fishing season.
A N additional revenue for salt water
"A boat captains Will be offered next
fishing season through their abil-
ity to have a good supply Of alewiveS
on hand for anglers. Last year Rod
and Stream tried hard to have all boat