The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-18

THE opening Of the Indiana fish
l. ing season on June IS is we'll
on the way to becoming a rite and
a ceremony.
Our ancestors not so many years
ago used to burn incense, dance
about the altar and offer up fat
/ pigs on the day the sun crossed the
| equator to usher in a new spring and
summer, and savage tribes today
break out into all sorts of powwows,
Iecstasies and other forms Of mumbo-
Jumbo to insure good crops or to
celebrate the appearance of the
first seal on the crumbling ice-foes
or the sighting of the first Of the
salmon run.
So there we're plenty Of precedent
for the manifestations apparent in
the northern lake districts last Sat-
urday night. Though daddy must
no longer of necessity hustle out
each day with a crude club and
primitive hook and line to feed
mama and the kiddies, the urge re-
mains a potent part of the normal
male. Ask any rod or gun widow.
AT Monticello, stragetically stu
ated between Lakes Shafer and Free
man, two of Indiana's prize angling
retreats, the streets were crowded
early in the evening with more than
1000 of the fraternity. The hysteria
took the form of torchlight parade,
street dance and band concert.
II OCAL business organizations
IL and civic clubs rugged floats for
the parade. Side acts included cast
ink demonstrations, placing of
wagerS on the size, variety and
number of the expected hauls and
a general outpouring Of enthusiasm
and goodfellowship.
Hundreds lined the lakes await
ing the midnight bombs that
marked the opening of the season.
In the memory of oldtimers there
never have been so many fishermen
on hand at midnight.
At Cicott Lake at least 30 boats
we're straining at the leash as mid
night approached. Anglers had
been counting the minutes and try
ing to make them pass faster by last
moment examination of tackle and
swapping of fish stories.
At II sharp fireworks were
touched off and colored flares and
rockets revealed each oarsman pull
ing hard in an effort to place his
craft first in some favored spot.
AT Rochester the gray dawn of
the opening day showed a record
number of boats on nearby lakes.
Nearly all had been af1oat since
midnight. All boats had been en-
gagged weeks in advance.
4 BOVE Winamac in the Tippe-
L n canoe River there were anglers
every few feet and scores of boats
we're loaded into trucks and placed
in the water at varying distances
above town for the float down.
The same conditions existed, in
greater or lesser degree, at every
Indiana fishing center. Never has
there been so much interest shown
on opening day.
It's fine sign. too; one at which
every conservationist will rejoice.
There are fish aplenty for every one
who wants to try for them. It's
seldom anglers hurt the sport if
they are moderate in their prac-
tees.
When we reach the point where
there is a great public interest in
Our lakes and streams the fish hog,
seiner, dynamiter and stream pol
luter will go; blasted out of exist
ence by the scorn and ridicule of
decent people.
The more the merrier. In the
long run it will help the sport. Grab
pole and join the brotherhood.
D EPORTS vary as to size and ex-
IN tent of catches on Sunday.
Most that we have heard to date
are not so good Rain fell off and
on all day in the northern sections,
the wind rising to near hurricane
force at places.
Nearly every one who tried got
their limit of silver bass on Shafer
and Freeman, we understand.
Crappies and bluegills we're likewise