Voices from the Past: A Short Treatise on Conservation (1918)

Sometimes we think that conservation is a modern construct; the truth of the matter, however, is that there were clarion voices in the past concerning over fishing and pollution of our waters. Larry St. John, the fishing columnist for The Chicago Tribune in the 1910s, was one such voice. In his many fishing columns and his book Practical Bait Casting (1918), St. John lamented the sorry state of the American waters. Here is a section from his book illustrating the problem.

When the white man first settled in what is now the United States, the lakes and streams teemed with game fishes of all kinds. For example, up until 1840 trout were plentiful in the Chagrin River, a few miles east of Cleveland, Ohio, and other near-by streams, while to-day there is only one trout stream in the whole state of Ohio, and that an artificially stocked one, the property of a fishing club. In the Elkhorn and other streams of Kentucky, muskellunge and immense pike-perch were common, but these streams know them no more. In practically every lake and stream in the Great Lakes region, black bass were plentiful; now there are hundreds of waters where the black bass is either unknown or very rare unless artificially stocked. What is the reason?

Several causes. Civilization and the consequent, although unnecessary, pollution of water is one; the hoggishness of man is another. Most fishermen, commercial as well as sporting, look upon our State and Fish Commissions,, as a police force to enforce more or less obnoxious laws that are, according to their viewpoint, designed solely to interfere with fishing. As a matter of fact, the enforcement of laws is only incidental; the real purpose of a State commission is to conserve for both present and future generations, the fish and game resources of the state. Due to the shortsightedness of the people most interested, game and fish laws and their enforcement are necessary. In the language of one of the comic newspaper characters: "Them is harsh words," but the situation, to one who has studied the facts, demands harshness.

-- Dr. Todd

Voices from the Past: Larry St. John

The follow-up article to Larry St. John's earlier piece on fishing reels, from the 1916 Chicago Tribune. Again, what I like about these two articles is the recognition that you didn't need to buy a Meek or Talbot to enjoy a good fishing reel. Although clearly it didn't hurt to have a Talbot (in the $3 to $6 class!).

More Reel Facts
by Larry St. John
If one takes the word of most angling writers or listens to the ravings of the tournament "con artists" he would get the idea that $30 reels are as common as weeds in Grass Lake. Our observations, covering many years and extending over quite a bit of these United States and Canada, tells us otherwise. Outside of park casting pools you will find ten or more reels costing less than $10 to one costing more. Not only that; you will find these low cost reels in the hands of mighty good casters too.

There are not many reels in the $3 and $6 class. The [Shakespeare] Standard Professional is an old favorite; there is the German silver [Meisselbach] Takapart; the Milam Rustic and the new Talbot Star. This latter is a dandy, smooth running winch and the lowest priced reel on the market with spiral gears.

At $7.50 the Meek Simplex No. 33 is well liked. It is not a quadruple mulitplier, as the spool makes three and a quarter turns to one of the handle, but it is fast nevertheless, and runs with a smoothness that bespeaks spiral gearing. In the $10 field the Meek No. 25 is a takedown reel of quality--probably the best buy for the man who wants "class" and at the same time insists on a takedown. In the solid frame reels in the $10 class we know of none that equals the Talbot Comet.

When you pass $10 you begin to get in the aristocracy of reeldom. Probably the best known in the more than ten bucks class is the Blue Grass. The regular resale is $16 plain; $2 [more] jeweled. We confess an affection for our jeweled B.G. We have used more expensive reels, but none that we like better. In the same class are the Talbot Meteor and Nianqua, both of them of the highest degree of excellence. Of the higher grade reel we will have little to say further than if you buy a high grade Meek, Milam, or Talbot, it will be still a good reel long after you have hooked your last fish.

When fishing the rapids of the Maumee in Ohio a few years ago we ran across one of these early Kentucky reels--made in 1849--and it was still in fair condition. As we held this old residenter in our hands it brought visions of prairie schooners and red shirted miners. Think of the hundreds of valiant fighters this old forty-niner has prospected for and found.

-- Dr. Todd

Voice from the Past: Larry St. John

No poetry this week, but in honor of the Chicago Tribune's email stating that outdoor coverage will be reinstated, I thought I'd profile Larry St. John, The Tribune's earliest--and some say best--outdoor writer. This article from 1916 is interesting for a number of reasons, but I like it because it busts the myth that inexpensive reels could not be used by casters. Plus it mentions Ans. B. Decker. A second part was published the following week, which I'll post in the coming weeks.

Real Facts about Reels, Part I
by
Larry St. John
Quadruple multiplying reels suitable for casting range from $1 up to $50--you can go higher still if you want extras like aluminum spools.

The $1 reel we refer to is the Shakespeare Uncle Sam. Considering its low cost, it is a remarkable production--you can actually cast with it, which is more than can be said of other winches at a similar price. Ordinarily we do not advise such low cost tackle, but for the youngster, say, who simply must have a reel, the Uncle Sam will do nicely for a starter. The $50 product is the Talbot Nos. 52, 53, and 54. Needless to say, it is a wonderful piece of work, rivaling in mechanical nicety the finest watch, so delicately adjusted, so finely geared that five grains will overcome its inertia.

Between the $1 and $50 reel most casters will find what they want. Beginners are often "scared stiff" by the reckless statements made by some angling writers that a really worth while reel fit for casting is impossible under $10 or $12--bunk, pure bunk. For example, the [Meisselbach] Tri-Part selling in Chicago for $2.65 is a real reel; so is the [Shakespeare] Precision at $2.50, and no doubt others.

A little higher in the scale we have the [Meisselbach] Takapart and the [Shakespeare] Service, selling at about $3.50--Ans.Decker, one of the best casters in the country, uses a Takapart. At $4.50 you can get a Shakespeare Perfect--a German silver, take down, jeweled reel that is a "darb." We have one that has had hard use for seven years and it is still in good condition.

True, these low priced tools will not last for generation, like the high grade ones do, but they are good, serviceable reels, regardless of what the high brow angling writers say. The average once in a while caster will never feel the need of a better one, although the high grade reels are desirable if you can possibly raise the price, especially if you fish often and hard.

-- Dr. Todd

Voices from the Past: Larry St. John, Part II

Woods and Waters
by Larry St. John

Catalina Record Fish, Part II
Mr. Spalding took two the same day, but came under the weights taken by his wife, his tunas weighing 108 3/4 and 92 3/4 pounds. Two 100 pound fish in one day is a feat that no other woman has accomplished, even in Catalina waters.

However, Mrs. Spalding was after larger game and a few days later landed the largest tuna brought to gaff on rod and reel by any angler in ten years. when officially weighed on the Tuna club's scales, it flipped them at 165 pounds. Proudly she slept on her record that night, as well she might. The whole little island city of Avalon talked about the remarkable catch.

The next morning Mrs. Spalding was told at breakfast that her record had already been broken. Capt. George Farensworth, near midnight, had brought in a 198 1/2 pound tuna and captured a twenty year record.

But Mrs. Spalding kept on fishing and her record includes four blue ribbon tuna. Mr. Spalding achieved the rare feat of winning in one season the Tuna club button for tuna, marlin, and broadbill.


Mrs. Keith Spalding showing off a record marlin in Feb. 1922 (sorry for poor quality--it is a scan of a terrible 20-year old photocopy)

Then, to set a fair example to the members of the Tuna club, the president of the club, J.A. Coxe, set out fishing one bright day. He brought in seven button winning tunas and a 372 pound marlin swordfish--a new world's record marlin.

Another notable catch made during the season was a twenty-five pound yellow tail, caught by a dainty Chicago bride, Mrs. Harold Pixley.

All button winning fishes caught at Catalina are weighed by officials of the club and are caught on regulation tackle. Yellow tail of twenty pounds, caught on regulation light takle--rods with six ounce tips and line testing not over 18 pounds--are awarded bronze buttons, while thirty and forty pounders get silver and gold buttons, respectively. The club also award buttons for tuna over 100 pounds.

The record blue-fin or leaping tuna is a 251 pound fish, caught more than twenty years ago. The second largest was a 216 pounder, also taken many years ago by an anglerette, but Mrs. Spalding's tuna is probably the second largest ever landed by a woman.

--Dr. Todd

Voice from the Past: Larry St. John Part I

Careful readers have already been introduced to Larry St. John, a pioneering fishing writer for The Chicago Tribune for a number of years in the early twentieth century and the author of several important works on fishing. A good sample of the kind of writings that made him popular is found in this article from his "Woods and Waters" column from April, 1921. To save space I have divided the article into two parts, to run concurrently today and tomorrow.

Woods and Waters
by Larry St. John

Catalina Record Fish, Part I

Chicago anglers and anglerettes have taken some unusually large fish at Catalina Island during the past season, among them some record and near record specimens.

A swordfish weighing in the neighborhood of 200 pounds caught on rod and reel by Finley Barrell was said by Keith Spalding to be "pretty good for bait."



And just to prove his argument, Mr. Spalding landed a broadbill swordfish, known as the fiercest monster of the sea, that weighed 258 pounds. His catch, made by hook and line from the Spaldling yacht, Good Will, took one hour and six minutes to land.

This fish gave Mr. Spalding the record for the season as well as the honor of landing the largest broadbill in three years--until Zane Grey, the author, took a look at the catch. Mr. Grey said nothing, but day after day "stalked the deep" in quest of a fin. When he brought in his tropy, his king of the sea weigned 418 pounds--the largest taken on rod and reel in several years.

Then Mrs. Spalding decided that angling honors could be captured by the fair sex as well. The remarkable catch of a 225-pound marlin swordfish made at Catalina last season by Mrs. Marshall Field III, had decreed Chicago anglerettes peculiarly favored by fishermen's luck. Mrs. Spalding started after tuna and the beautiful blue-fin took the count. Her first day's catch was a 111 pounder and a 108 pounder.

-- Dr. Todd

The Perfect $10 Fishing Outfit Ca. 1915

Larry St. John was an early (and often forgotten) fishing writer who served as the outdoor editor of The Chicago Tribune for a number of years in the early decades of the twentieth century. He is probably best remembered for authoring the books Practical Fly Fishing and Practical Bait Casting.

His weekly Woods and Waters column was a virtual "who's who" of midwestern fishing, and he often took queries from the public in his column. The following missive from May 1915 is typical of his knowledgable style.

Q: What is the best bait casting outfit I can buy for $10?

Answer: We submit the following: One number two and a half Heddon five foot rod, $2.50; one eighty yard Shakespeare "Precision" reel, $2.50; fifty yards "Chicago Expert" number five silk line, 60 cents; Decker plug (surface), 50 cents; Woodpecker (luminous), 60 cents; Coaxer, 50 cents; Dowagiac rainbow, 60 cents; South Bend combination, green back, 60 cents; fluted wobbler, 65 cents; two dozen assorted hooks, 10 cents; double pork and frog hook, 10 cents; Slim Eli spinner, number three and a half, 15 cents; Little Wonder spinner, tandem, 20 cents; red fly, 20 cents; two snap swivels, 10 cents; dispey sinkers, 10 cents.

The beauty of this outfit is that it was both affordable and useful. Does anyone think they could put together this outfit today for under $500? It would make for a fascinating display...

--Dr. Todd