The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-16
IonServation-
PROTECTION |: OF
FISH, HURT BY
F. EARLY SEASON
Angling Begins Before End
of Spawning Period;
Eggs Destroyed.
BY WILLIAM F. COLLINS
Times Special Writer

fishing season of 1884, a season that
will be on time so far as the calen-
dar is concerned, but with reference
to the climatic calendar of the state,
about two weeks too early.
The law opening the fishing sea-
son is now inhexible. Nature does
not conform to it about three years
out of five. At the present date.
find that the northern lakes and
streams contain bass and bluegills
that have not finished spawning
Taking fish off the spawning beds
exposes the nests to the predatory
attack of a large number of fish
egg enemies. A parent bass or blue
gill will jealousy guard its spot of
clean gravel on which the eggs are
deposited against almost any form
of water foe.
The unlucky sun fish will be
soundly whipped for venturing near
and the larvae of the giant water
beetle will be killed and its carcass
carried away from the nesting
ground. I have observed the de-
Tense tactics of large parent bass
this year in a number of cases and
experimental with them to discover
just how far they will go in risking
their own lives to save their nests.
Fights Crayfish
The common crayfish seem to be
anathema to nesting bass. Tie
one on string with weight and
lower it over the egg clutch. For.
a moment no bass is visible in the
water below, then suddenly like a
gray green flash the sponsor of
the nest appears, takes the "craw-
daddie" in its mouth and carries
it ten or more feet away to drop it.
Repeat the test. This time the
parent bass is not so decorous. The
pest is seized and sharply bitten.
With a savage side jerk the tail is
severed from the body, and that
ends that.
Try stick lowered into the nest
ing spot. Even this innocent thing
is carefully picked up and carried
away. So long as the fish remains
alive and there are eggs in the nest,
nothing is permitted to remain on
or near the nest, be it living foe or
just a piece of drift.
Any game fish is easily caught
from the nest. Not for the reason,
so far as I can discover that it is
hungry, but because it will take any,
thing it regards as nuisance in
its mouth and carry it away.
That fact brings the statement
that spawning fish should be pro-
tected till the eggs hatch. AS soon
as this occurs, the parent leaves
the nesting site for the year, and
if food is scare will even turn can
nibal and eat the young they have
so carefully guarded in the egg.
Sports and Sportsmen
The season also ushers in two
variety of fishermen, the sport and
the sportsman. There is wide diff
ference between the two. May I
present these differences as they
have come to my attention in the
last twenty years, so that you
will not make the mistake of calling
a sportsman sport.
A sport will angle all day over the
spawning beds where he discovers
game fish have not yet completed
the cycle.
A sport will handle his under
sized fish with dry hands, will jerk
the hook out bodily instead of
threading it out.
A sport will watch the fishing wa
ter until he observes another fisher
man take fish, then will crowd in
as close as he possibly can, with his
boat or by wading out in front of
the unlucky fisherman and then and
there assert his rights
A sport will bawl loudest about
the department of conservation if
he fails to take the limit of fish in
the day. If he does take it, he will
sneak as many more fish home as
he can get away with by some
Shenanigan, then give them away
20 his neighbors who never bought
fishing license in their lives.
A sport will never give brother
fisherman a tip and nine times out
of ten will, in place of advice that
would permit another man to enjoy
his fishing. give some misleading
cue designed to confuse.
On the other hand, observe a
sportsman. He will go out of his
way to tell another man or woman
where to fish and how.
A sportsman will take his fishing
as it comes. content with the beauty
of his surroundings if he fails to
take his fish.
If an unfortunate understood fish
happens to take his bait, he will
spend time to save it for another
day. There will be few fish floating
belly up when he goes ashore at
nightfall.
A sportsman will talk to the own
er of the land fringing the fishing
water, will introduce himself and
set up friendly liason for there will
be another fishing day.
A sportsman will take only the
fish he needs for the meal and quit.
He will not fill his live box at the
dock with the may have in his
possession limit"
He counts on the next days sport
whether fair or foul. The difference
between the two is the difference
between gentleman and a boor.
The difference is never so marked
as when fishing. There is the place
to mark the man. Have confidence
in the sportsman, but keep your eye
on the sport.