Evening star., 1936-02-06
u. S. Champion Bass Catcher
HauIs in Thousands of Fish,
But T0sses AU But Fe,v Back
BY PERRY MILLER.


A MONG the 2,000-odd delegates
~ to the Wildlife Conference
~ being held in Washington this
week Is the champion BASS
catcher Of the country, who last year
made a record by hooking 4,600 of
these bronze beauties and keeping only
40 or so. He is Jack Lamb of Fort
Worth, Tex, known as the Will Rogers
of Texas, and the likeness is very strik-
ing.
Jack Lamb has fshed in $500 Texas
lakes and in IA Of the Southern States.
He said his largest plymouth bass
tipped the scales at IA pounds 6
ounces. Jack called at The Star YES
terday. Under one arm he had two
big albums filled with pictures of
catches of bass and newspaper write
ups. He fishes for the love of the sport.
returning to the water all but enough
for home consumption.
Game Is on Decrease.
7 AMB said there is no doubt but
that game and fish gradually are
decreasing throughout the United
States, and while some States nave
made feeble effort to replenish the
supply as fast as the hunters and
fishermen absorb it, they have fallen
far short in keeping pace with the
greatly increased number of people
who have taken up the sport in recens
years. 1t has been estimated, he said,
that artificial bait fishing alone has
increased 400 per cent within the past
seven years.
This dyed-in-the-wool angler has
planted over 100000 bass in his ell
deavor to see others enjoy the sport.
One Of Lambs cherished possessions
Is letter he received from the late
viii Rogers in reply to an invitation
to go fishing. The letter said:
Dear Jack Lamb:
Il bet you think I am q fine guy,
not writing, but darn it, I don't even
read mail only on compulsion, much
less answer it, only once year. Yes,
Anon was telling me a lot about you.
I guess you've caught more fish than
anybody In the world, and me less.
I don't fish, and me talking to a fisher
man would be just like conversing with
Einstein. Now I know there is some
thing wrong with a guy that don't
fish, and there is something wrong
with ne, don't fish.
when you are the best in q pro-
fession that takes in everybody then
you are something. and that's what
they all say you are, and I wish you
every success, and hope to run onto
you some time. II I was going to fish
I would get big net, there Is no skill
but more fish.
Yours,
will Rogers"
Urges Universal Permit.
7 AMB says the first important step
to conserve fish is to put into
effect universal fishing permit. which
every person, regardless of residence,
will have to procure before fishing In
any Of the public waters. while
people are willing to pay for every
other privilege under the sun, he said.
they always have looked upon fishing
and hunting as their God-given right,
and often question the sanity OF any
one who would bar them from roaming
the country at will, shooting everything
that gets up. or catching fish by any
means, whether it be fair or foul. What
right has q man to hunt or fish without
paying any more than he plays golf
or follows dozens Of other sports with
out paying"
We invited Lamb to visit Washington
next Summer and try his luck with
the blues In Chesapeake Bay, and he
promised he would do so.