The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-14
Let's Go Fishing
FISH LUCKY TO
LIVE; NATURAL
FOES NUMEROUS
Snakes, Turtles and Many
Other Enemies Take
Heavy Toll.
BY LEFTY LEE
Times Fishing Editor

Inc next IlILe you dIC Az Iu4AoVO
enough to take a big bass that
passes the four pound mark, try to
imagine how many enemies this
beauty has evaded to give you your
thrill. While anglers take vast guam
titles of fish, their efforts are only
secondary to the toll taken by other
enemies
One of the largest detsroyers of
fish life is the water snake. These
reptiles always seem to be hungry,
and they always pick on the small
fry, especially game fish. Snakes
have been found with as many as
a dozen four-inch lingering in
them, in various stages of digestion.
Next comes Mr.. Turtle. This old
slow boy lives on fish. During recent
tests, two giant snapper turtles con-
sumed five pounds each in one day.
Then there is the big bullfrog, which
sits quietly along the bank until
the small fry pass. The huge NAV
then opens, to devour the unsus-
pecting fish. Add to these the craW-
fist that eat the eggs, the water
beetle, dragon fly, and few others
and you will start wondering how
Mr.. Bass ever lived long enough to
attain that size.
Conservation experts will not
commit themselves as to the num-
Der Of fish lost after planting, but
will tell you that if 25 per cent sur
vive they are perfectly satisfied.
More letters telling of pollution of
different streams of the state ar
rive and again we tell you to join
with the United Sportsmen, if you
wish to do more than complain.
Pollution is bad at the present
time, owing to the fact that the can
ming companies, which use our
streams to carry off waste, are in
their busy season. The fact that
they do these things should make
you want to belong to some organl-
cation that has gone on record to
battle this menace until it is
stopped.
After sixteen years, the state OF
Iowa will permit the hunter to shoot
quail this year. This does not mean
that Mr.. Hunter can go out and
pick his own spots, as hunting Will
be restricted to farms where the
farmer agrees to stop all hunting as
soon as the annual surplus has been
taken. They must also have the
consent of the state conservation
department before they are per-
mitted to allow hunting on their
cover.
The farmer further agrees to pro-
vide cover, food and protection from
their natural enemies. The hunter
then will be charged so much per
bird taken, the money going to the
farmer. With the incentive OF
added revenue, it easily will be seen
that the farmer will take more in
terest in the welfare Of the birds.
The same method of protection for
the pheasant has been adopted by
the conservation department of this
state, and the entire conServa-
ton world is watching the results
closely
In the last week. several followers
of the finny tribe have told the
writer that they were finished with
fishing as far as Indiana is con-
cerned. When this statement was
made the sun was beating down.
trying for new records, and With
the same weather conditions pre-
vailing, we do not believe the fish
would have been biting in Canada,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan.
When cooler weather arrives, the
angler again will regain the pep he
had early in the spring, and the
fish also will start swapping at any
food offered them.
Of course if one can afford those
long trips, he will be rewarded with
larger fish, but do not condemn
Indiana fishing just because they
are not biting during dog days.
After the shower Wednesday some
of the boys who play Westlake put
in their appearance, and we know
of three keeper bass that were taken
in short order.
About six weeks ago Walter
Harshman wrote in and asked if we
knew of any way to keep hell
granite alive. At that time we
answered, telling him to place few
stones, handful of grass and a
little water in the container, with
this bait. The following Sunday the
writer made a trip to Cataract
Falls, and returned with about a
dozen hellgranlite, to prove . this
theory.
A look late Wednesday night
found them still in fine shape, de-
spite all the hot weather, and you
confidently may use this method, as