l0|'|N ALDEN KNIGHTS

Story of the SoIunarThe0ry

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Moon Up Up Moon Down

BOOKS BY JOHN JOHN ALDEN KNIGHT BOOKS

The Modern Angler Angler The Modem

The Theory Theory & 81 Technique Technique of F r e s h Water Angling Fresh

O1 Bill Modern Fly Casting Modern Casting

Woodcock
Fl ld Book of Field FreshWater Angling Fresh-Water Anqhng Rufied Grouse Grouse Ruffed - f . _ -I E-_ ' ---:. .. 1

Bas Black Bass

Fnshing for for Trout Trout and Bass Fishing and B as Tecnica del d2] Lamado Lanzado Tecnica

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The Complete Complete Book Book of of The Fly Casting my Casting (with Richard Richard Alden Knight) Kmght) (with

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Moon Up Moon Down

"It is isthe thelate fateof ofall alltruths truthsthat thatthey theybegin beginas ashcresies." heresies." It

BY By
J hfl AMER

CARDINAL RICHELIEU CARDINAL Rxcm-zunu

John Alden Knight

SOLUNAR SALES SALES CO. CO. SOLUNAR MONTOURSVILLE, PA PA 17754 17754 MONTOURSVILLE
1972 1972

Originally published published by by Originally CHARLES S(RIBNER'S SCRIBNER'S SONS SONS CHARLES 1942 Copyright 1942 Copyngh:

edition by by Revised ediucn JACQUELINE E. E. KNIGHT KNIGHT JACQUELINE SOLUNAR SALES SALES CO. CO. SOLUNAR 1972 Copyright 1972 copyngu

To Beth Beth and a n d Dick Dick Tu whose has never wavered wavered w nse faith has

Library of of Clmgtmi Congress Lubmry Catalogue xu-H1, Number: Culslngnc 72793383 72-93383

F O R E W O R D FOREWORD

HE TH E ownership ownership of an inquiring mind often is a a dubious always does it pay pay to be too too is dubious asset. asset. Not Not always does it to be curious. But when an inquiring inquiring mind and an unquenchcurious. able conscience are combined, then indeed does the able conscience owner find nd himself frequently frequently in hot water. First knowledge of what is now called the Solunar Theory was acquired by accident. accident. That would have been all right if the matter had rested there and the knowledge been used in the form in which it first rst was gained. gained. Once having learned, however, however, that this new bit of outdoor lore was even more useful than I had everlasting and ineradicable supposed it could be, the everlasting ''Why?" kept popping up until it could no question, Why? longer be denied. denied. ~ v e nthen no serious serious consequences consequences could have Even arisen if I had been content to keep my findings ndings to myself. That is where the conscience conscience entered the plot. Knowing that other sportsmen and, for that matter, for having mankind in general would be better oPf off for access to what had been learned, there was nothing to access be done but make truthful confession of the entire matter. Then events events followed upon events until we n~atter.
had difficulty in up with with them. had_d51tY in keeping keeping up them. First off, off, do not be dismayed by the highown name high-flown of Formidahle as as it may sound, sound, it it of the the Solunar !Munar Theory. Theory. Formidable it may
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is merely a convenience term, coined in self-defense, self-defense, is so that discussions could be carried on with the miniBriefly, mum of cumbersome verbiage. Brie y, the Solunar way: Theory can be summed up in this way: Other conditions not being unfavorable, fish sh will feed, animals will move about, about, birds will sing and fly feed, y from place to place, in fact, fact, all living things will befrom alive, during Solunar periods come more active, more alive, than at a t other times of apparent equal value. That's all there is to it, all you need to know in order Thats to understand how the Solunar Theory affects you and every day that you live. live. all living things about you every is no attempt to Write write Please understand that this is scientific law. a scienti c treatise on a newly discovered natural law. reverse, it is is merely a recounting, in the Quite the reverse, language of the layman (of which I am one, although I hold a university degree) of the development of the schedule of Solunar activity periods and of how the development of that schedule has warped the destinies of the Knight family. To T o that is added a discussion of the many ways in which the habits, lives and, and, in some cases, the very existence of living creatures are ailected affected cases, by the promptings of a natural law which, for some strange reason, has hitherto escaped identi identification. cation. It is probable that you will not agree with all that is I am sorry. Nevertheless, the contained herein. For that l only way to tell a story is to tell it in full. Half-truths What is said has been said in all are of little value. \Vhat humility and in the sincere sincere belief that the Solunar benefit Theory will, eventually, be of bene t to mankind. JOHN ALDEN ALDENKnrcr-nx KNIGHT. ]onN
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Up Moon llp

Moon Down

C H A P T E R CHAPTER

O N E ONE

HE brown brown waters waters of of Lake Lake I-lelenhlazes Helenblazes TliE lay glassy glassyand and still still under under the the Florida Florida sun sun. It It was was Iuly July lay and the the St. St. Iohns Johns River River marshes marshes fairly fairly quivered quivered with with and the midsummer midsummer heat. heat. Now, Now, at at eleven-thirty, eleven-thirty, we we had had the hken refuge refugein in the the scanty scantyshade shadeof ofa a little little camphor camphor tree tree taken that somehow had found its footing on one of the floatthat somehow had found its footing on one of the oating islands islands that that drift drift about about the the surface surface of of the the lal<etlie lake-the ing only tree tree in in all all that that desolation desolation of of nishes, rushes, reeds reeds, wgtgy water only hy&inths End and swamp swamp water. water. hyrave/inths Y We had been been fishing bass since eha shiri ffor 1large-mouth . 1-lb dawn. Usually Usually tlie the fishing in "Blazes" was excellent, but dawn. shingin9:Blg;ge:'$il;texcellfnlhl:i: throughout the morning, the bass bass had had been been unresi:onunrespon'""8ht the morning. the - - of - fruitlesscasting, casting, we we had had knocked knocked off off fur for sive. Tiring :1!/:a:}i.frUlLlSS an early lunch. looked at his As we sat there, Bob Wall, my guide, Aswesatth ,BbWlI . watch watch and and hllETfl:I.\t then out aocross across the the gllffgii surface of El-le)ll:lfeaT]li: the lake. The h > ~ . ' heat waves had built a mirage that lifted the horizon horizon a iggisogiglilsg Zom rzitge that lifted the above its normal level so that it seemed to hang in midair, 1: l S erned to hangbetween in mid. air, leaving leaving 3 a gap gap of clear clear, shimmering nothing itself and the quiet Wat; l;l'l1[lTg nothing between itself and the quiet water. I could see that Bob was restless. restless. Finally Finally he he spoke spoke. " C0u see that Bob was Come on, Jack," he said."Hurry up with that lunch.

We' iimh3ilaZ;d}eh??1 HTYPW*h""unhWe'll miss the 8 gwd if we sit sit here much longer." Hvvhat mak s lfl if W6, here longer," What makes youfishin' think they'll rise inmuch all this heat?"
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i1aslred asked him. him. as you l they ll use in all this heat?"
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"They'll They'll rise, all right," right, he answered. "Moon's Moons down about noon." noon." "Whats that got to do with it," Whats it, I said. "Never mind about that," said Bob. "Just Never lust take my word for it. These fish sh are goin' on the feed pretty quick now. "You'll that," I 1 You'll have to think up a better one than that," told him, "to to get me out in that heat again. This is the first rst time I've Ive been anywhere near comfortable for the past four hours." hours." Bob shrugged his shoulders and told me the story while I munched sandwiches sandwiches and drank cold tea. His "granpappy" granpappy" had been a market hunter and fisherman sherman in South Georgia when Bob was a youngster. From him Bob learned fishing shing and hunting. Among other things, the old man had told him that the time to go after fish sh or game is when the moon is directly overhead or directly underfoot. The men who made their livelihood selling game and fish, sh, while such things were still legal, legal, all recognized the effect the moon had on the creatures of the wild, and their hunting and fishing shing trips were planned according to daily moon positions. I listened to Bob's Bobs story with more interest than he suspected. Ever since I was a boy, fishing shing for sunnies and chub in the small streams ncar near my home in Pennsylvania, I had wondered about the manner in which sylvania, fish sh would bite ravenously at some times of the day and offerings at other times of that same ignore our choicest oiferings day. As I grew older, the mystery still persisted. I had made it a point to question the older and more expeexpe-

_ ii but could throw no useful throw no useful light light rienced fishermen but the they could fdi,b:$iab0ui all ihat I had gained from many on the subject. About all that I had gained from many out f Shah hourse of such conversations was a rather formidable houfolf) eori icting misinformation. This idea of Bob's mass, of conflicting was the first possibly, vnrjssthe rst useful useful peg upon which one might, possibly, hang his hat. hagizjiiizgiy, I ,choked down the rest of ~~cordinglI y choked down the rest of my my lunch lunch and we went fishing July shing under the broiling rays of the ]uly sun. Never in my wildest dreams have I seen such bass fishing shing as we had that day. day. 1 I remember that my first rst mst was made into the waters of a tiny cove, well cast fringed with reeds and protective water growth. The white plug dropped to the surface surface with a light splash and lay there, motionless, while concentric circles of wavelets spread themselves away from it. After a few few i raised the rod tip to t o tighten the line and seconds, I bring the plug to life. At the first rst twitch of the rod, the plug dipped its nose under the surface and bobbed up again. w i t h that the quiet waters of the cove were With burst asunder by the furious strike of a mighty bass. Surprised, I struck back with the rod, but the weight Surprised, of the big fish from my fingers. sh tore the reel handle from ngers. The spool spun and threw out loops of line that intertwined themselves into a "bird7s bird's nest" nest of magni cent magnificent proportions. Vl/hen When order was restored, the fish, Pmportions. sh, of Course, was gone and the plug floated oated once more on the course, placid placid surface surface of of the cove, just just as as if nothing nothing had haphapPetied. Bob spat, eloquently, over the side. pened. eloquently, side. Now," he said, "mebby you'll settle down and do Now, he said, mebby you'll settle down and do a shin for a change. a little little fishin' for a change."
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That That was was the the beginning beginning of of almost almost three three hours hours of of hysteria. sh, big sh. Some hysteria. We W e hooked hooked fish, big fish. Some we we landed landed and and some some we we lost. lost. We W e broke broke lines, lines, skinned skinned knuckles, knuckles, lost sh lost plugs, plugs, laughed, laughed, yelled yelled and and cursed. cursed. How How many many fish we we caught caught and and released, released, II do do not not know, know, certainly certainly more more than than we we had had ever ever caught caught before. before. That That evening evening we we hung hung on on the the boathousc boathouse scales scales that that part part of of our our catch catch we we had had broughtout outwith with usnine us-nine large-mouth large-mouth bass bass that that totaled totaled brought seventy-eight seventy-eightpounds. pounds. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, II had had forgotten forgotten about about Bobs Bob's moon-up "moon-up was in in my my car car and and -moon-down" theory. theory. Not Not until until II was moon-down on veon my my way way home home did did II remember remember it. it. During During the the fivehour hour drive drive back back to to Orlando, Orlando, II had had plenty plenty of of time time to to reconstruct reconstruct the the whole whole experience. experience. Bob shing would Bob had had predicted predicted that that our our good good fishing would begin begin about noon. Sure enough, thats when we had about noon. Sure enough, that's when we had the the real sh. After real activity, activity, particularly particularly with with the the larger larger fish. After about shing, the about two twohours hours of of superlative superlative fishing, theaction actionbegan began to to slow slowdown down until, until, at at about about three three o'clock, o'clock, things things were were almost almost as as quiet quiet as as they they had had been been during during the the morning. morning. Then, Then, along along toward toward evening, evening, there there had had been been another another flurry flurryof ofactivity activityand and we we had had taken taken an an eight-pounder eight-pounder at at the the inlet inlet of of Lake Lake \Vashington. Washington. II suppose sh will supposethat that fish will linger linger in in my my memory memory always. always. We W ewere werewaiting waitingat atthe the inlet inletfor for the theother otherboat boatto toshow show up up and and Bob Bob suggested suggested that that II cast cast aa plug plug out out over over the the swifter water where the river flowed into the lake. Alswifter water where the river flowed into the lake. Although shing for though II had had done done almost almost enough enough fishing forone oneday, day, II decided to try my luck again, more to help kill time decided to try my luck again, more to help kill time than than with with any any real real angling angling enthusiasm. enthusiasm. Having Having east cast

so sh {T h. sotypical typicalof of a a feeding feeding fish. At rst II could om his is po~t first could not not move move the the heavy heavy bass bass from position in in the the fast fast water. water. He He just just sulked sulked against against the the pull pull gition of ghter feefls of the thehne, line, much much as asa a fighter feelsou}t out h: his gptagortiaiit antagonist in in the first round. Then Then he he bore bore for the rst round. or tthe e bottom, o om, taking mg line, line, where where he he sulked sulked again again in in about about fourteen fourteen feet feet of of DU ' water. Almost Almost with without warning he he changed changed tactics tactics. water. t warning With With a a rush rushhe he charged chargedstraight straight for for the the surface surfaceand and his his t rr'ed him up into the air, where he momentum carried him up into the air, where he 52:35; seemed fdnliaiiag, to hang, lwhile while the the crimson crimson glow glow of of the the sunset sunset tingedhis hissilver silveiside with red. red. It Itwas wasa a picture picture not not easily easily tinged side with forgotten. The The background background of of the the St. St. Iohns Johns marshes marshes forgotten. already were tinted with the exaggerated colors of the the already were tinted with the exaggerated colors of ~lorida sunset and and against against this this exotic exotic backdrop backdrop hung hung Fl 'da sunset the giantbass, bass,both both he heand andthe thesilver silverspray sprayof of his his splash splash tliiengiant touchedwith withthe themagic magicbrush brush of of evening. evening. touched All this thisand andthe thevalidity validityof ofBob's Bob's prediction prediction filled my All lled my mind at miles drovemy my car car homeward homeward across across the the flat miles mindas asII drove of ofcentral centralFlorida. Florida. II wondered wondered if if the the cracker "cracker" market market hunters hunters were were right right about about wild wild life life timing timing its its feeding feeding geriods periodsby by the the moon moon instead instead of of the the sun. sun. II decided decided to to nd out. find out. For For the thenext next few fewyears years II checked, checked,off offand and on, on, Bobs Bob's theory theoryof of moon-up "moon-up and and moon-down. moon-down." At At some sometimes times of the month, the feeding periods arrived right on Bob's of the month, the feeding periods arrived right on Bob's schedule. schedule.At At other other times, times, there there was was considerable considerablevarivari-

, II allowed the plug to quietly the raceway, allowed the plug to drift drift acrosshtliiufiizagefore starting the retrieve. It quietly swung with the current before starting the retrieve. It swung Wlth t .6 - Ole bdqw the boat and, as it nearly comin a a yyidg wide circle below boat and, as it nearly comin ng it was the taken with a quiet, solid strike, P ete llits swing, it. was taken with a quiet, solid strike, Pleted

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ance. Having Having neither neither the the time time nor nor the the opportunity opportunity tr; to ance. make regular observations, not a great deal was learned make regular observations, not a great deal was learned during those those years years and and the the formation formation of of an an accurate accurate during schedule still remained a mystery, although I felt sure sure schedule still remained a mystery, although I felt that lI had had the the key key to to the the problem. problem. that One evening, evening, while while pondering ~ondering on the the variance variance of of One on the moon-upmoon-down" "moon-up-moon-down" theory theory with with the the true true the schedule of of feeding feedingperiods, periods, lI considered considered the the possibility possibility schedule of finding the prompting prompting stimulus stimulus by by the the process process of of of nding the elimination. Accordingly, Accordingly, II made made a a list list of of everything everything lI elimination. could think of that might have its effect upon the feedfeedcould think of that might have its eitect upon the ing habits habits of of both both fresh fresh and and salt salt water water fish. Before II ing sh. Before had finished, I had itemized better than thirty factors had nished, I had itemized better than thirty factors that would, would, perhaps, perhaps, in influence in one one way way or or ananthat uence fish sh in other. Temperature, water condition, availability of other. Temperature, water condition, availability of food, movement movement of of water, water, barometric barometric pressure pressure and and so so food, on down down through through the the whole whole gamut gamut of of possibilities possibilities until until on could think think of of no no more. more. lI could Then, with with the the list list as as complete complete as as II could could make make it, it, Then, each item item in in the the light light of of its its e effect, if any, any, II considered each ect, if upon cyclic cyclicfeeding feeding periods. periods. In In so so doing, doing, it it was was obvious obvious upon that the stimulus must be of an external nature and not that the stimulus must be of an external nature and not immediately and and exclusively exclusivelypresent present in in the the water water itself. itself. immediately This reasoning was based upon the proven fact that This was based upon the proven fact that feeding activity activity occurred in in all all parts parts of of a a stream, stream, lake, lake, feeding ocean, or, for that matter, in several different bodies ocean, or, for matter, in several (Iiitercnt bodies of water at the the same same time. time. If this this stimulus stinlulus were were conconof fined to the the waters waters of one one particular section, section, this this coriconned to currence of of activity would would not be be possible. possible. Viewed in in curreiicc it seemed reasonable to to conclude conclude that thc the this light it

. . nmulus was of a general rather than a Pl-omptlllg orompting 5stimulus was of a general rather than a iocalnafggctoy nature. local of the list was considered and rejected, each factor of the list was considered and rejected, A363 ad nished, all of the it crossed out. When 1 had finished, all of the it :3; cgitiisfliirethuliadrilbdleeiexh factors but three had been kzrldssed crossed oft off as as impossible. impossible. Tae remaining three had question marks The three had question marks after after them, them, indicating doubt with room fornfurthey _exai-nination. indicating doubt with room for further examination. These three were were sun,: "sun," moon "moon" and and "tides." These three tides. h h The sun, of course, is the heavenly body by which time . I t ma es iits appearance pp _ a time is is calculate calculated. makes in :1-gular regular and and well-ordered well-ordered mariner, manner, whereas whereas the the feeding feeding of fish are apt apt to to show showtuip up at at anyittl any time and periods of sh are g lggyt mi-ely 0 days. ay$- I t C 11 rarely at at the the same same time time on on any any two couldn't be the sun. The :35 moon had had already already been been tested tested and and found found wantwantbe?-hf: ingfor for at at least least a a part part of of the the month. month. ii-ig _ 4 Tides-well, there are no measurable tides in a a Tideswell, there are no measurable tides in pond or or a a trout trout stream. stream. pond And was, right right back back where where II had had started. started. And there there II was, Sitting Sitting there, there, looking looking at at the the useless useless list list of of factors, factors, an an idea idea came came to to me. me. Ocean sh time Ocean fish time their their feeding feeding periods periods according according to to tidal tidal phases. phases. Tides Tides are are caused caused by by the the gravitational gravitational pull pull of of the the moon moon and and the the sun. sun. Could Could it it be be possible possible that that esh-water fish sh time freshwater time their their feeding feeding periods periods on on the the same same schedule scheduleas as that that used used by by their their ocean ocean cousins? cousins? The The idea idea was certainly worth investigation. was certainly worth investigation. _ Obviously, if Obvio~sl if ~the the , tidal tidal theory theory were were to to be be investigated, investigated, it it was was necessary necessary for for me me to to learn learn something something about about tides. tides. Tl!!! best place to obtain accurate information is at The best place to obtain accurate information is at the the

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source. source. Accordingly, Accordingly, the next morning morning found found mg me in in the New York oflice office of the United States States Coast and and Geodetic Survey. Survey. At that time, Commander George George D. ce. In re. D. Cowie was was in charge charge of the New York of office. response to my request to have a talk with the gentleman the gentleman in charge, I was shown ice. shown into his private o office. Commander Cowie," I said, I would like learn "Commander said, "I like to to learn something about tides." "Yes," he said said politely, politely, just "just what do do you wish wish to Yes, to learn?" "Assuming that that our our Atlantic Atlantic coast coast line line lay lay in in Illinois Illinois Assuming instead of New Iersey, nd out Jersey, II want want to find out how II can can gure out figure out what time it will will be be low tide tide at at Chicago." Commander Cowie looked looked startled. startled. I "I beg your your pardon?" he he said. said. Then I I started started at at the the beginning and and explained explained my my problem. If fresh-water sh, living in fresh-water fish, in lakes lakes and and streams streams far removed from the Atlantic Ocean, time their feedfar removed from the Atlantic Ocean, time feeding ing periods periods according according to to the the tidal tidal schedule schedule of of the the AtAtlantic tidal basin, then for me to calculate the schedule lantic tidal then me to calculate the schedule of their daily daily feeding feeding periods, periods, lI must must be be able able at at least least to gured out. to understand how tidal tidal times times are are figured out. Knowing Knowing that, that, II should should be be able able to to go go on on from from there there under my my own own steam. steam. Commander Commander Cowie Cowie nodded nodded and and smiled smiled underunderstandingly. standingly.Before Before II realized realizedwhat what had happened,he happened, hewas was saying saying good-bye good-bye to to me me at at his his ofiice office door, door, having having supsupplied plied me me with with tide tide tables, tables, Geodetic Geodetic Survey Survey maps, maps, and and Marmers Marmer's excellent excellent book book on on tides. tides. He He seemed seemed quite quite rerelieved to sec me depart while I was still semi-rational. lieved to see me depart while I was still semi-rational. As As a a matter matter of of fact, fact, when when II came came to to know know him him better, better,

. ' d b'ous as to my comhe admlffedttl admitted that he litdjyairi was a t trifle dubious he o ide. as to my com-

P1,te sanity that first day in his office. P16" "My .water bin uh M ears of salt s g had E ht me _ that M~ years of salt-water fishing had taught me that the the
y ydn time for sh is best feeding for salt-water salt-water fish is at low low tide. tide. That That best fee I ii ld be uali ed somewhat. In bays, statement should be qualified somewhat. In bays, river river Staten}-ientrfd and iiilets inlets, W':ll'll'C where tidal tidal flow flow is is hampered hampered somesomemoutbsyfiatural obstructions such such as as bars bars or or shoals, shoals, the what by natural obsuuctions whgl Y cried is apt to arrive at most any stage feeding period is apt to arrive at most any stage of of tide. tide. feet TVTIEIC the waters are situated so that the tidal But where the waters are so the phases are are those those of of the the true true schedule schedule of of the the Atlantic Atlantic 113-iases the active active tidal basin, then then the the time time of of low low tide tide marks marks the td lbasin, feeding period. This This made made a a rather rather loose loose method of of apapfee ding period. as slack slack water water lasts lasts for for as as long long as as two two proximation, as hours, but at least least it it was was a a place place to to start. start. Assuming Assuming that that hours, SandyHook Hook (at (at the the suggestion suggestion olf of C01' Commander Cowie) Sandy l' :1iIEI' Cow:)l ost likel e true t antic ti a was most likely to to represent represent tthe true Atlantic tidal schedule, unafflected unaffected by by obstructions obstructions to to natural natural flow, $vgis(l-TIIC, ow, to the the Sandy Sandy Hook Hook tidal tidal times times II added ten minutes to (to allow allowfor for the the di difference in longitude longitude between between Sandy Sandy (to erence in Hook and and the the streams streams of of Eastern Eastern New New York York State State and and Hook Eastern Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania) and and this this schedule schedule went went with with me me Eastern when shing trips. when II found found the the chance chance to to go go on on fishing trips. To my great great satisfaction, satisfaction, this this schedule schedule came came closer closer To my to to the the actual actual feeding feeding schedule schedule than than Bob Bob Wall's Wall's moon"moonupmoon<lown up-moon-down" schedule schedule had had done. done. It It was was far far from from perfect perfect but but it it was was close close enough enough to to show show that that lI was was on on the right track. the right track. _ That That summer summer Mrs. Mrs. Knight Knight and and II had had accepted accepted an an ininVltation to sh the waters of a trout stream owned by a to fish the waters of a trout stream owned by a shing club club in in Connecticut. Connecticut. Saturday Saturday was was a a hot, hot, windwind-

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less day and the trout were moving not at all. M y schedschedMy feeding period was due at about ule showed me that a feeding three o'clock that afternoon and my son (a little fellow fellow an ardent angler) and I had gone downstream then, but butan leaving Mrs. Knight in the car, which had been parked interin the shade near the bridge. Her reading was inter. club. rupted by the arrival of another member of the club_ She watched him fish sh the pool under the bridge, the pool above and the one below. Not a single trout came offerings. At last, disgusted, he reeled in his line to his offerings. and came over to the car for a chat. "Too hot and clear today," he said. said. The "The trout won't Too Where's lack? Jack?" move in weather like this. Vt/here's "He and the boy have gone downstream," downstream," she arisansHe wered. "He He said he wanted to be on those lower pools in." when the feeding period came in." "What feeding period?" he asked. VVhat She explained my idea about low tide. The club member had quite a laugh over it. "That's the craziest thing I ever heard," That's heard, he said, said, looking at his watch. But "But it's twenty minutes before hapthree now. I think I'll stick around and see what hap pens." pens. S0 So saying, he sat down in the shade, leaned against a o'clock he arose, arose, tree and lighted a cigarette. At three oclock picked up his rod and walked out on the bridge. His rst cast netted him nothing and he smiled knowingly first as he put the fly y up over the pool again. This time there was a flash of spray, ghting a fourteen-inch spray, and he was fighting trout almost before he realized what had happenedhappened.

. this * fish, 5 h, he h detoured detoured around around the the bridge bridge er landing Aft ia5|*::,lir csarefdlly from the lower end. In ten After ool and entered it carefully from the lower end. In ten P052125 MO more hefty trout trout lay lay in in his creel. Then he P,i,utes, more hefty his creel. Then he m Y two came back to the car. caT:i,gl:_,t;:3tlll;diihk anything to this low-tide low-tide a ~ you o really think there's there's anything to this , _ K ' l t. idea 05 of lack Jack's?" asked 11-rvlrs Mrs. Knight. idea S7 he he asksd lld;1You shed those "Jack is," s she replied. ]ack says there is, e 'reP 16 ~ "You . fished those YY Pools carepuily only forty forty minutes minutes ago with no no results." results. pools carefully only ago with I ? ' E dub club member scratched his head. The mimbcir scwtch ilhls hlfiuli tide feedin "How long," he inquired, "does feeding How long, oes this t is low-tide 0w5 , 7. period last?" "Usually half or two hours, hours," she Pelf lidglly about an hour and a half replied. He nodded thoughtfully and walked up the path along the stream. Some some time later he returned with a fine ne basket of trout. For obvious obvious reasons, I did not talk too much about my new feeding schedule. Radical ideas of this sort are not always always welcome among the more seasoned anglers, and I wanted to be sure of my ground. All of that season I checked my schedule against the actual feeding periods. Not only did I make my own observations but, by judicious questioning, I learned that the experiences ofother of other anglers nearly always coincided with my own. I found that the schedule of low-tide times was close e vugh to be bea enough a great help in planning each day so that the shing would not be the best best fishing would not be missed. missed. That winter threw no new light on the subject. As a matter fact, I did not time on it. After After matter of of fact, I did not put put too too much much time on it. an it was at that time merely merel an interestin side li ht on interesting light Y g g

12 .iz

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Moon Moon Up Up -Moon - Moon Down Down

13 l3

my favorite favorite hobby hobby and and II had had my my regular regular job job to to take takecare care my of. The The following following season season found found me me continuing continuing my my Oi} ob of. servations, however, however, still still using using the the same same method method of of low. lowservations, tide calculation. calculation. It It was was during during this this season season that that II learned learned tide of the the cycle cycle of of intermediate intermediate feeding feeding periods periods that that occur occur of midway between between the the major, major, low-tide "low-tide" activity activity p6l'i0ds_ periods. midway these periods periods seemed seemed to to be be timed timed concurconcurConveniently, these rently with with the the schedule schedule of of Sandy Sandy Hook Hook high-tide high-tide times times rently and II kept kept track track of of these these also. also. More More and and more more II became became and convinced that I was on the right track of what consticonvinced that I was on the right of constinot a natural natural law law of cyclic cyclic activity. activity. While While II did did not tuted a know it at at the the time, science science has has known of this this cycle cycle for for some two two hundred hundred years. years. I I was was to to learn learn more more of that that some later. later. During the the fall fall of that year year II attended attended an an anglers anglers' During V. Connett, Connett, dinner given given by by one one of my my friends. friends. Eugene Eugene V. dinner 111, was was one one of of the the guests guests also. also. At At that that time time he he was was on on III, the board board of of the the magazine, The The Sportsman. Sportsman. During During the cocktails, he he asked asked me if I I was was turning out out any articles articles cocktails, said that that II was was writing one one for the the outdoor outdoor magazines. magazines. II said for and then. now arid "How about about doing one one for for us us on on that loiv-tide low-tide idea idea How he said. said. of yours?" lie and there there we sat sat down down and came came to to an an agreeagreeThen and ment as as to price, price, details, details, etc. etc. The The next day day II started started in earnest. earnest. work in evolving the the theory of inland "inland tides" and and their In evolving rememeffectson on the feeding feeding habits of fish, effects sh, it must be rememrule, bered that this this was was an attempt to work out a law, law, rule, hered starting at the result and, and, by tri trial formula or method by starting l

. my way 'ble cause. essing way back back to to the the possi possible cause. and error, gu$S1l'lgal?hat time was the fact that ocean and error, P All I had to go on at that time was the fact that ocean 0 on All I had tobibl in1;nd sh, time their feeding perwds sh and, PIS wig: Feeling the ow of fi Eh and probably, inland fish, time theirthat feeding concu&ntly with tide] tidal Phases. phases. Feeling that the periods flow of coricurren hymselves was [e5p0nSIl)l in some way for the tides themselves was responsible in some way for the t e on 1I gttempted the ndes phenomenon, attempted to to reconcile reconcile the the tidal tidal

lb: intervalsfslnfllle of the /itlantic Atlantic tidal tidal basin basin with with those those of of t}l:e the m e, coast. This ' was a sad d mistake, as it threw t e mistake, it threw the PQc1 clcO::l11;:E:l;v:v?ys?l'l the states as located in the schedule completely awry in the states located in the whim; central 1; part ofpthe of the country. country. Fortunately Fortunately an an engineer engineer in in cc h's fallacy and bring Indiana was was smart smart enough enough to to spot spot tthis Indiana i fallacy and d bring be it to my attention before too much damage had it to my attention lljeftitrphtoovvrguch damage ha been en ou this is way. . done. It all came about m e theory of "inland was first made public public d'lllli<=IlIl1liel0cI;tldf inland tides" was rst made Property in Ianuary 1935, in the article written ii)! property in January, 1935, in the article written for The The Sportsman. In In it it II explained explained the the fundamental fundamental I<?13 idea :5 of Sportsman. the tidal tidal theory. theory. When When the the Geodeticsurvey Geodetic Survey wisf wishes the es to (Z determine determinethe the tidal tidal intervals intervalsof of a a certain certain section section 0 of coas coast line, line, a a recording recording machine machine is is installed installedwhich which automaticautomatically uctuations at ally keeps keeps a a record record of tidal tidal fluctuations at that that port. port. This machine is operated for one or two years before This machine is for one or two years before tide tide tables tables for for that that particular particular section section are are calculated calculated in in advance. The reason for this preparatory period of obadvance. The reason for this preparatory period of o b servation is s-tion is to to enable enable the the Geodetic Geodetic Othce Office to to determine, determine, without doubt, the tidal lag in those waters-in without doubt, the tidal lag in those waters-in other other words, the interval between the actual time of the words, the interval between the actual time of the paspassage "ge of of the the cause cause of of the the tides tides (tl1'pUll (the pull ofthe of the moon moon and and ihesun) and the arrival of high tide. This tidal lag, the sun) and the arrival of high tide. This tidal lag, ococcasioned by the inertia accompanying the movement of by the inertia accompanying the movement of the ow of the Atlantic tidal tidal wave wave and and the the attendant attendant flow of water water

14

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obstructions, is is known as as the high-ware, "high-Lyater over natural obstructions, interval" or, or, for brevity, brevity, the H. H. W. \V. I. I. of that port, port. The ~b~ interval H. VV. W. I. I. of the Atlantic basin itself is, is, roughly, roughly, six six and and H, hours. That of the Paci Pacific alnlost a half or seven hours. c basin is almost ttlese three times that. Thus, in attempting to graduate these H. VV. W. I.'s for for inland waters across across the COun_ countheoretical H. see how much confusion would \yould try, you can readily see result. result. carefully in that first article. All this was explained carefully rst article given In order to facilitate description, the theory was given a name. Tides being caused by the sun and tlic the moon, moon, "solar" and "lunar." "lunar." Thus was I combined the words solar the Solunar Theory born. article in The Sportsman, The response to the article (which, incidentally, was called Ocean "Ocean Tides and (which, Fresh-Water Fish) Fish") was surprising. Letters carne came in Fresh-VVater from nearly every state in the union, requesting more detailed information. information. I replied to as many of these letamters as I could, and in April, April, 1935, iogg, another article, amJanuary, was published in The SportsSportsplifying that of lanuary, man. Then, to top this off, off, articles on the same subject subject Outwere published in both Field and Stream and Outdoor Life. Without question, the sportsmen of the country were introduced to the Solunar Theory. Slowly at first, rst, but with increasing volume, letters Slowly editors of the three from readers began to come in to the editors magazines. Editors believe believe that fan "fan mail" should he be answered and these letters were forwarded to me i0l' for reply. At first, the best I could with them, but l I reply. rst, I did thc T o have answered all of those was finally nally snowed under. To

l.5 Moon Up -- Moon Down 15 _ . Ci h uired the services of not letters in detail would have required the time services of not letterli in giagltgztgap girfga my full to do the less than five stenographers and my full time to do the H What then, to do about it and still keep tiess ttflzg dictating. - then, to do about it and still keep - W h a t7 --ictal everybodyhappy' evgrylzgiyaharpgglydest one evening with. that staggerig Sitting at my desk one evening with that staggering - of mail '1 before pile before me me, a possible possible solution of the the pro prob P116 of mm ' d After all with a few exceptions, lem came to mind. After all, with a few exceptions, the the liyltsfsni writers of lllidilhlftc-rs the letters wanted to know the Same same thipghthingwhere "Y or how how Could could he he, -or or Shel she, Obtain obtain ll a lchlefxli-heel, schedule of slec? the where feeding periods of fish in the waters of his, or her, secfeeding Periods of sh m next the ldatels O ll fit, riinter g of the country? The ay I o the d P rated country? day went to the printer tion and had some some postcards printed. Ont O n these cards I stated ese car s fs _ t{hat fty cents, that for for the sum sum of fifty cents, to cover cover the the cost o of prink printii-ig, oo ing, mailing, mailing, etc., etc., I I would forward forward to to the sendeaad sender a bookfor eac each day of let listing the Solunar feeding periods for lpydc all parts of the country. Then I had the season in all a a thousandbooks books printed pr-inted and and sat sat back back to to see see whatW0i-113 what would thousand just five ~eeks. happen. The first rst thousand books lasted ]ust ve weeks. Meanwhile my job in the city was not an @5Y easy eone. some special special Work work At that time I was engaged in doing some downtown real-estate real-estate brokerage for for the bank where in downtown I was working. working. That mcant meant long hours and hard work. Up at six-fortyve each morning, I was six-forty-five was on the go until I returned home, usually about seven seven each evening. Not having having too much time for for detail work at homo, home, I made a deal with Beth, my wife. I agreed that if she deal wife. she Would would ll the orders, attend to the mailingand pay for the fill the orders, attend to the mailing and pay for the postpostag age out of of her part of the proceeds, she she could have all all of the actual cash that came in. Checks, money orders of the actual cash that came in. Checks, money orders and and starnps stamps belonged belonged to to me. me. I I can can still still see see her her standing standing

16

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CHAPTER C H A P T E R TWO T W O

on our veranda as the postman handed her the daily daily rattled. We W e had a mail, shaking each letter to see if it rattled. lot of fun that season. becom. The postman, who had reached reached the stage of hecom. "an institution" street, watched the volume ing an institution" on our sheet, of our mail grow, in a short time, from a daily trickle of three thrce or four letters to a twice-daily flood. ood. Eventually his curiosity could stand it no longer. Having unloaded his sack at our door one morning, morning, he removed his hat, scratched his head and said, "Excuse me, Mrs.; I know it's Excuse it's none of my business but I can't A month ago you was gettin7 cant help wonderin'. wonderin'.A gcttin' three-four letters a day and a few mags. All of a sudden, threefour 'till I get round-shouldered round-shouldered mail comes pourin7 pourin in here till carryin' Just what the hell is goin7 carry/in it. Inst goin' on?" on? Beth explained just just what the hell went on. He nodded, scratched his head again, and walked slowly down the walk as though thinking to himself, Now "Now somethin' like that?" that?" why Why can't can't I l think of somethin' After that we had an interestedthird interested third party in business with us. Before he handed over the mail, he shook it rst with some such comment as, Heavy mornin' first "Heavy this rnornin' feels plenty of cash, too"; too"; or, Not -feels like plenty "Not so much this time. Better get him to write another story." story." As the money continued to come in and we had to order more books to be printed, it dawned on us that this in ux of orders might not be a temporary influx temporary thing but an annual cvent. \Vithout realizing it, we were in busievent. Without ness for ourselves; you might say, kicked into it.

P,ise. Things had not been going too" well the Knight PriseiTl3\1;ZRSi$) ttheeig cgash thefor shrinkage in
family. What with falT1iY~

H Myd."P""ilPSwiiiEJZiiirol$i'<i.rgrr
HAVING sourcle of Ofdllli0!1'l AVING a a new new source income . prac-

tically dumped in our laps was a timely and pleasant surthe '29 "crash," the shrinkage in cur-ityvalues (go;/]pEtol\:;r; values and the complete ctpillapse collapse tit of downtown New Yo& real-estate brokerage, the family New Y'l< l"l*te brokerage}! f 8 33} yrexchequer h all to had dwindled rapidly. W We rnove from romd es c ef 1 e moved Westchester to Orange, New New Jersey, Iersey, and and hied trred to to cut cut down ow? on or1dari-irly Orange, family job overhead. That's That's pretty pretty hard to do. I had found oun a yo wit one of the big banks but that meant long and with regular zo per cent of the money I had regu ar hours at about 20 earned formerly. Magazine articles helped somewhat, eamed but the going was still fairly tough. That summer, with the aid of checks from the magazines and the sale of Solunar Tables, we traded in our old car and bought a new one. With the advent of fall, we found that we had turned in quite a respectable inoome. Accordingly, we sat ourselves down and made come. plans. Beth and I made another deal. After all, most of my tirne time was taken up with my work in the city. On the other other hand, hand, this looked like a chance to to get back on on an an independent basis again. She agreed to handle all the independent basis again. She agreed to handle all the detail in connection with the the sale of the booksdetail work work in connection with sale of the bookslnailing, les, desk work, etc. To my lot lot fell fell p pubmailing, card card files, desk work, etc. T o my ub

17

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licity, correspondence, advertising and finances. nances. It looked like a busy winter ahead. In order to sell sell anything, no matter what it may be, the more you know about it the more chance you have That's just plain common sense. to sell it. it. Thats sense. I made up my mind that if the sales sales of Solunar Tables were going to amount to anything of importance, it was up to me to find nd out about the formation of a more accurate schedule. More important, it was my job to discover, discover, if possible, just why this phenomenon should take place. Correlations are dangerous things to play with if you are serious serious about the job in hand. The Sophists found that out some thousands of years ago. For instance, day in and day out you may have dinner at six each evening. I t does not necessarily follow It follow that, just because it hapliappens to be six oclock, o'clock, you will, without fail, sit down to pcns dinner. Some years Some ycars ago a senior in one of our universities chose as the subject of his senior thesis the topic of correlations. Perhaps the most lasting portion of that work lie termed "the the straw-hat straw-hat correlation." is what he correlation." Through dint of thorough and painstaking investigation he built up a conclusive and bullet-proof relationship between nd their way each year the number of straw hats that find into the garbage cans of New York City and the number of pneumonia cases cases that show up in the New York hospitals. After a year of research, he set up a beautiful equation that showed a set, mathematical ratio between these two unrelated annual totals. As one number increased, the other increased in proportion and vice versa.

Obviously, the contributing fact0rsthe factors-the catalyzers-are Obviously, catalyzersare those of temperature fluctuations uctuations and weather changes. ~~t But these need not be considered in order to have his correlation stand the test, year after year. Thinking about thcsc these things, it seemed to mc me to be just as far-fetched to believe that ocean tides, of tl\<;lmthemjust as far-fctchcdto believe that ocean tides, of possibly have any direct effect upon the selves, selves, could possibly ie lives and habits of fresh-water fish in streams and lakes lives fresh-water sh streams far far removed from the ocean. ocean. Carried a step farther, it seemed almost as inconclusive that the rise and fall fall of seemed controlling factor govthe tides could be the complete eompleie controgilipggpctor gov' e in c ic e o sa t-water s . ow can a erning the feeding cycle of salt-water fish. How bluefish, for instance, swimming ten miles off shore with fiiii?X1it3I%CC, offshore half a mile of water underhim, under him, detect a change of depth halfa of three or four feet and thereby regulate his entire daily routine? Could it be possible that the correlation by which salt-water fishermen shermen have planned their days since the year one-the one-the belicff f belief glrgt that certaiin certain stalgeshof stages of tlg tide s is, also, a so, a high-grade ig -gra 6 control the feeding habits 0 of fish-is, sophistry? bit of sophistry? From knowledge gained on past fishing shing trips and from questioning several ardent salt-water anglers, I from learned the stages of tide at which the fish sh bite best at nearly all of the well-known angling concentration points on the Long Island and New Jersey jersey coastsMoncoasts-Montaul< Point, Moriches Bay, Fire Island Inlet, Toms tauk River, Haven and and so on. Then, Then, from from the the tide River, Beach Beach Haven so on. tide tables, I set set down the actual actual tiriies that the thc critical critical phase phase tables, I down the times that Of of tide arrived at thcse these key points on one particular day. Plotted on a a sheet sheet of of graph paper, the curve of tidal Plotted on graph paper, the curve of tidal

2 zo

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- Moon Down Moon Up -

21 21

phases made no sense at all. all. But the curve of the times times of arrival of those tidal phases tumed turned out to be almost a straight line. In other words, these good fishing shing times at the various bays, passes, rivers and inlets inlets arrived all all at same time. time. the same If the best time to fish sh at Montauk Point P.M. on a certain day, then 2.30 happened to be 2.30 i>.M. P.M. was the best time to fish sh at Beach Haven or Toms River on that same same day, regardless regardless of the fact that the stage of tide differed in all three places. Salt-water Salt-waterfisherstage shermen have been guiding their efforts eltorts for hundreds of years by a rule that is substantially as groundless as the "straw-hat correlation." straw-hat correlation. The timing of the feeding feeding cycle for both fresh and salt-water fish salt-water sh being synchronized with that of tidal irl natural sequence, sequence, fluctuation, uctuation, the next possibility, in was a closer look at the conditions conditions that are the cause cause of of the tides-the gravitational pull of the moon and the tidesthe gravitational sun. sun. In terms of actual work done, the moon is boss man in that combination, combination, exerting, does, approximately exerting, as it does, approximately twice the amount of influence influence exerted exerted by the sun, sun. ]ust Just twice to see Solusee how it would work out, I tried making up a Solunar schedule schedule by determining determining the resultant of the two forces-the forces-the pull of the moon and the pull of the sun sunand using as as the Solunar Solunar period period the time that this this resulresultant force force was directly directly applied applied to our particular particular longilongitudeeither tude-either overhead or underfoot. underfoot. The minor periods were Solunar were placed midway between these these major Solunar periods because that is where I had learned, from obserperiods because I observation, nd them. This schedule vation, to expect to find schedule proved to

concocted from the be more satisfactory satisfactory than the one concocted use of tidal times, although it still far from from being being use of tidal times, although it still was was far exact. exact. shortly after the publication publication of the four articles articles introintroShortly Solunar Theory, Theory, I I was was approached approached by by the the ducing the the Solunar ducing head of a publishing house that specializes in textbooks. head a publishing specializes textbooks. business to pubpubHe had an idea that it would be good business lish a series series of textbooks dealing with the finer points of lish ner points the various outdoor sports, sports, such such as fresh-water fresh-water angling, angling, angling (if you can call call it angling) angling) ,,yachting, yachting, salt-water angling waterfowl shooting, upland shooting, fox hunting, ridwaterfowl shooting, shooting, fox ridso on. on. These works were were not to be in any sense sense ing and so elememtary; in fact, they were to be postgraduate courses elementary; fact, postgraduate courses selected sports. sports. I-Ie He wanted me to do the book on in the selected and, just to complicate complicate fresh-water angling. angling. I agreed and, fresh-water comprematters completely, completely, I found myself writing a comprematters hensive manuscript for a fishing Meanwhile we hensive manuscript shing book. Meanwhile Solunar gone ahead ahead with the second edition of the Solunar had gone Tables. Work grew heavier for both of us and bedtime Tables. \V0rk moved from midnight to one or two o'clock. The The textbook textbook publisher changed changed his his mind mind about the publication publication of his his series series of works on on the outdoor outdoor sports, sports, so the manuscript was reshaped somewhat and, in SO the manuscript reshaped somewhat and, in April, April, 1936, 1936, was was published by Charles Charles Scribners Scribner7sSons Sons under title The The Modem Modern Angler. Angler. To To get the the book oit off to to a a the title flying flying start, start, the the publicity publicity department at Scribner's Scribner's ararranged for for me me to to speak speak at at the the Headliners "Headliner's Luncheon," held each each week at the Downtown Downtown Athletic Athletic Club Club in New York City. City. II had never addressed addressed a gathering gathering of more more a few few people people and the prospect prospect of speaking speaking to to an an than H

22 zz

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Up -- Moon Moon Down Down Moon Up Moon

23 23

assemblage assemblage of over over four four hundred persons persons had had me me just about scared to death. Going up in the elevator about scared to death. Going up in the elevator to to the the big big dining dining hall, hall, my my knees knees fairly fairly trembled, trembled. At At the the Speakspeaker's moist, my my collar collar tight tight and and my my er's table table my my palms palms were were moist, mouth mouth dry. dry.Although Although II had had prepared prepared my my notes notes carefully, carefully, they they had little little or or no no meaning meaning as as II looked looked at at them them on on the the table bcfore me. Then, in desperation, I gave myself table before me. Then, in desperation, I gave myself aa pcp pep talk. talk. These These people, people, II told told myself, myself, probably probably don't don't know as much about shing as you do and nothing know as much about fishing as you do and nothing at at all Solunar Theory. Theory. Talk Talk to to the the smartest smartest man man all about about the the Solunar in in the the room. room. You You know know rnorc more than than he he does does about about your your subject subject matter. matter. Scll Sellhim him on on the theidea idea that that you you know know what what youre you're talking talking about about and and you you wont won't have have any any trouble trouble with with the the rest rest of of them. them. \Vhen When II was was introduced introduced and and found found myself myself standing standing before before the the microphone microphone of of the the loudspeaker was fairly fairly cool cool and and loudspeaker system, system, II found found that that II was collected. collected. My My talk talk was was scheduled scheduled for for thirty thirty minutes. minutes. It It must have gone over all right as they had me on my feet must have gone over all right as they had me on my feet for for about about an an hour hour and and forty fortyminutes. minutes. II never never did did get get aa chance to eat my lunch. chance to eat my lunch. That That summer summer found found me me feeling feeling pretty pretty rocky rocky physiphysically. cally. II suppose suppose that that the the ycars years of of the the depression, depression, with with the the attendant attendant loss loss of of money money and and reduction reduction of of income, income, combined combined with with recent recent loss loss of of sleep sleepand and too too much much work, work, all my all united united to to take take their their toll toll on 011 my physical physicalrescrvc. reserve.The The bank bank doctors doctorslooked lookedme meovcr, over,as asdid didmy myown owndoctor doctorand and aa couple couple of of specialists. specialists.All All agreed agreed that that there there was was nothnothing waswell wellrun run down downand and ingwrong wrongorganically organicallybut but that that II was needed needed aarcst. rest.Accordingly, Accordingly,Beth, Beth,my myson sonand and II climbed climbed into into our our car car and and headed headed for for Maine Maine with with instructions instructions from from the the doctor doctor to to come "come back back when when you you fcel feel well well

to go go back back to to work." work." II returned in September, September, enough to feeling geatly refreshed and went back into the old old feeling greatly refreshed and went back into the again. tine a ain. During the the spring spring and and summer summer II had had had had only only an an {alluring occasional opportunity opportunity to to make make personal personal observations observations g(;35i0r'l2ll on the the accuracy accuracy of of the the Solunar Solunar schedule. schedule. Obviously, Obviously, on this was a tremendous handicap. In order to form any any this was a tremendous handicap. In order to form conclusive ideas, ideas, the the schedule schedule should should be be checked checked each each mnclusive day throughout the fishing season. Having a living to day throughout the shing season. Having a living to earn and and a a job job to to earn earn it it with, with, II had had to to stick stick to to that that earn job and work on the Solunar schedule when I found the job and work on the Solunar schedule when I found the chance. I tried to to enlist enlist the the aid aid of of others others in in making making observaobservaItried tion?for for me, me, but but that that proved proved unsatisfactory. unsatisfactory. For For some some tions reason, only about one man in a hundred-is mentallv reason, only about one man in a hundred is mentally equipped to to see see things things intelligently. intelligently. II received received many man; equipped reports and tried to coach volunteer observers in what reports and tried to coach volunteer observers in what a to do do and and what what to to watch watch for. for. Finally Finally II gave gave it it up up as as a to bad job, as the reports received were, in the great bad job, as the reports received were, in the great majority, practically practically useless. useless. II could could see see plainly ~ l a i n l that y that II majority, would have have to to do do the the job job for for myself. myself. Men Men who who were were would scienti cally trained scientifically trained had had their their own own axes axes to to grind grind and and those thosewithout without that that training training were were of of little little or or no no help. help. Looking Lookingback, back, II can can see seethat that this this inability inability to to be be on on the stream every day retarded the development of an the stream every day retarded the development of an accurate accurate schedule schedule more more than than II realized. realized. At At that that time, time, however, nothing could be done about it. We just made however, nothing could be done about it. W e just made the.best the best of of it it and and went went ahead ahead building building our our little little business businessas aswell well as asWe we could. could. Then, Then, out out of of aa clear clear sky, sky, loomed eld loomed some someinformation information that that opened opened up up aa new new field Of ofresearch research.

C H A P T E R CHAPTER

T H R E E THREE

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IT T IS a strange strange thing, in working on a phenomenon of this kind, how items of information, which mean little or nothing at a t the time they are gathered, sooner or later fit t themselves into the big jigsaw puzzle. Having learned this from experience, I have become what Beth calls a mental pack rat. Every week I receive letters from users of the Solunar Tables here and there about the country. country. Frequently, there are odd bits of information in these letters. While these may have little or no significance serve a signi cance at the time, most of them serve purpose eventually. Take, for instance, the effects effects of the trend of the barometer on the behavior of wild life. life. In 1925, 1925, while F. G. G. Shaw's book, The Complete Science Science of reading F. Fly Fishing and Spinning, I saw therein a statement to the effect effect that the dry Hy ective on clear, fly was more e effective days, while in wet or threatening weather a wet sunny days, y, shed fly, fished deep, was preferable. There it wasone was-one mans man's observation of the types of flies flies to use during good and weather. That bit was stored away away in in my mental bad Weather. filing future reference. ling cabinet for future Some Some years years later, I began to wonder about the reputed eftect sh. For effectof wind direction on the habits of fish. the life sh could life of me I I couldnt couldn't understand how a fish know~or know-or why it would care-which care-which way the wind haphap

Pened ened to to be be blowing. blowing. One One day, day, just just for for the the fun fun of of it, it, I I gm];/zed the old saw that has been used by fishermen shermen for countless years to forecast their luck. You know it, for I'm sure. sure. It goes something like this. ]m
East, fish Wind in the East, sh bite least. Wind in the West, fish sh bite best. When the wind is in the North goes not forth. The prudent angler goes When the wind is in the South blows the hook in the fish's mouth. It blows shs mouth. Ijeliefs of this sort which, like like many of the old home Beliefs remkdies, have stood the test of time, often have more remedies, Let's take a to them than may appear on the surface. Lets doggerel in the light of barometric trends look at this doggerel "Wind in the East"harEast"-harand weather conditions. VVind falling glass glass and bad weather along along our binger of a falling seaboard. The fish Atlantic seaboard. sh take to cover and are not food for the time being. \Vind "Wind in the interested in food West"-good weather with a a fresh breeze and a high West"go0d glass, probably ~ r o b a bindicating indicating l~ "Wind or rising glass, good fishing. shing. \Vind in the South"warm, South"-warm, gentle gentle breezes breezes and and good weather, with a sh go a steady steady barometer. No wonder the the fish go on the feed. feed. Wind "Wind in in the North"as North"-as a a rule this is is a strong, strong, cold wind, shifting to the east. That means adverse cold shifting the east. means adverse temperatures and a a falling glass. glass. Obviously bad weather for shing, for fishing. T o carry this thought farther, I I kept track of the the T0 barometer and its eltects on shing for a year or two. effects fishing for a

14

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It ies to I t all all tied in in with with Shaw's Shaw's idea idea about about the the best flies to use use in in good good and and bad weather. weather. II found found that a a drop drop of of as as little little as as one one one-hundredth one-hundredth of of an an inch inch in in the the level level of of the the barometer shing. Not barometer \vould would often often ruin ruin the the fishing. Not having having a a pocket , pocket barometer barometer (they (they were were pretty pretty expensive expensive then) then), I used instead some of the old country signs to tell I used instead some of the old country "signs" to tell me me what what the the glass glass was was doing. doing. Leaves Leaves turning turning upside upside down moredown in in a a light light breeze, breeze, the the rain "rain song song" of of a a robin, robin, morethan-usual than-usual noise noise and and activity activity among among the the bluc blue jays-all jays-all of of those those things things would would tell tell me me when when the the glass glass was was falling, falling. Checked Checked against against my my barometer barometer and and the the government government weather weather reports, reports, the the signs "signs" proved proved to to be be accurate accurate enough for practical everyday use. Even the behavior enough for practical everyday use. Even the behavior of of the sh was the fish was a a good good indication. indication. A A hurried, hurried, smashing smashing strike sh that strikeusually usually denotes d e ~ o t eaa s fish that is is not not feeding feedingactively. actively. A sh will dent, unA feeding feeding fish will generally generally take take with with aa con confident, unhurried hurried rise rise that that is is unmistakable. unmistakable. Before Before two two seasons seasons had had passed, passed, the the effects effects of of the the barometer barometer were were proven proven beyond beyond doubt, doubt, at at least least to to me. me. In In the the May May issue, issue, 1935, 1935, of of Outdoor Outdoor Life, Life, an an article article of of mine mine was was published published under under the the name name of of Fish "Fish Know Know Their ects of Their \Veather," Weather." In In this this article article the the e effects of barobarometric sh were metric trends trends on on the the feeding feeding habits habits of of fish were disdiscussed. At that time I attached no particular imporcussed. At that time I attached no particular importance tance to to the the barometric "barometric theory," theory," as as it it is is now now called, called, feeling that it was more or less common knowledge. feeling that it was more or less common knowledge. That That was was aa mistake. mistake. Two Two years years later later II received received from from aa gentleman gentleman who who was was connected connected with with one one of of the the MidMidwestern western univcrsitics universities aa rather rather exhaustive exhaustive report, report, comcomplete plete with with graphs graphs and and tables, tables, showing showing that that the the level level

of the the barometer barometer actually actually does does have have its its eltect effect on on the the of feeding habits habits of fish. Incidentally, this this gentleman gentleman feeding sh. Incidentally, explained, in in that that same same letter, letter, just just why why the the Solunar Solunar explained, Theory is a fallacy and of no practical value. Theory is a fallacy and of no practical value. In 1939 1939 II received received a a letter letter from from an an editor editor of of one one of of In the outdoor magazines calling to my attention an the outdoor magazines calling to my attention an that was was being being published published in in his his magazine magazine in in the the article that coming issue. He thought I would like to know about coming issue. He thought I would like to know about it as as it it dealt dealt with with the the new "new" theory theory of of the the eftccts effects of of the the it barometer on the feeding habits of fish. All this, mind barometer on the feeding habits of sh. All this, mind you,after afterthis thisvery verything thinghad had been been included included in in the the introintroyou, duction of of the the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables since since january, January, 1936. 1936. In In duction The Modern Angler, published in April, 1936, there The Modern Angler, published in April, 1936, there wad,\acomplete complete discussion discussion of of the the same same phenomenon. phenomenon. II wasa couldn't help help smiling smilingwhen when II considered considered that that II had had sent sent couldnt to that that editor editor aa pre-publication pre-pubIication copy copy of of The The Modern Modern to Angler.He He must must have haveenjoyed enjoyed every every word word of of it. it. Angler. This may may seem seem fairly fairly far far removed removed from from the the Solunar Solunar This Theory.That That is iswhat what II thought thought at at the the time time the the data data on on Theory. the ts the barometer barometer were were being being collected. collected. Instead, Instead, it it all all fits into into the the pattern pattern very very nicely. nicely. About the the time time that that these these things things were were happening, happening, II About chanced chanced upon upon the the condensed condensed version version of of an an article article in in One oneof ofthe themonthly monthlymagazines. magazines. \Vithout Without quoting quoting from from it, the substance of it is this: it, the substance of it is this: Surrounding Surrounding us us in in the the atmosphere atmosphere at at all all times times are are tiny electrical particles called ions. These may be atelectrical particles called ions. These may be attached tached to tomicroscopic microscopicbits bits of ofdust, dust,to todroplets dropletsof of water, water, t0 each other or they may be in the free state. each other or they may be in the free state. Also, Also, all matter matter that that surrounds surrounds usthe us-the earth, earth, trees, trees, houses, houses,

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water-absorbs, to to its its complete complete capacity, capacity, these these tiny tiny waterabsorbs, electrical particles. particles. They They are are divided divided primarily primarily into into two two electrical classes-those that thatare arepositively positivelycharged charged and andthose those that that classesthose are negatively negatively charged. charged. Each Each class class is is subdivided subdivided into into are severalgroups groupsaccording according to to size, size, intensity intensity and and mobility_ mobility. several Our main main interest interest in in these these ions ions lies lies in in their their effects effects Our upon us as individuals. I t has been shown, rather conupon us as individuals. It has been shown, rather conclusively, in in the the experimental experimental laboratory laboratory of of one one of of our our clusively, large manufacturing corporations, that these little ions large manufacturing corporations, that these little ions play their their daily daily parts parts in in the the state state of of our our well-being. well-being. ReReplay peated experiments experimentshavc have shown shown that that negatively negativelycharged charged peated ions have a beneficial effect on living things, while posiions have a bene cial eitect on living things, while positively charged charged ions ions are are deleterious. deleterious. tively Being interested in this phase of of the the article, article, II drove drove Being interested in this phase to the the city city where where the the main main plant plant of of this this corporation corporation is is to located and, through letters of introduction from our located and, through letters of introduction from our bank, had had a a talk talk with with the the scientist scientist in in charge charge of of the the exexbank, perimental laboratory. I found his description of these perimental laboratory. I found his description of these experiments fascinating. fascinating. experiments Two insulated insulated rooms rooms were were constructed constructed in in the the laboralaboraTwo tory. To T o make make sure sure that the the results results of of the the experiments experiments tory. would be be both both rapid rapid and and obvious, obvious, the the atmosphere atmosphere in in would these rooms rooms was was charged charged with with a a supply supply of of ions ions one one milmilthese lion times times that that of ordinary air. air. One One of of the the rooms rooms was was lion charged with negative ions, the other with positive ions. charged with negative ions, the other with positive ions. plants and and flowers were placed in in the the rooms rooms for for At first, rst, plants owers were varying lengths of time. Those placed in the room varying lengths of time. Those in the room charged with positive positive ions ions soon soon withered withered while while those those charged in the negatively charged room seemed to benefit from in the negatively room seemed to bene t from the experience. experience. Next, Next, small small animals animals such such as as mice mice and and the

guinea ,inea Pigs pigs were were subjected subjected to to the the same same treatment. treatment. g Those Thoseplaced placed in in the thepositively positivelycharged charged room room seemed seemedto to suffer unpleasant reactions from this overdose of posi3|_| CI unpleasant reactions from this overdose of positive ions, ions, while while those those placed placed in in the the negative negative room room give &owed signs of stimulation. showed signs of stimulation. Oneof ofthe thejunior junior engineers engineers in inthe thelaboratory, laboratory,aahusky husky One youngster in good physical condition, volunteered his youngster in good physical condition, volunteered his servicesas as aa human human guinea guinea pig. pig. He He was was placed laced in in the the services positively charged room for about twenty minutes. At positively charged room for about twenty minutes. At the end end of of that that time time he he came came out, out, described described his his sensasensathe tions, and and was was looked looked over over quite quite thoroughly. thoroughly. His His head head tions, ached, his temperature had gone up nearly two degrees, ached, his temperature had gone up nearly two degrees, his heart action action was was accelerated accelerated to to a a pace pace above above normal normal hisheart an$ an old joint injury, sustained in football, throbbed and an old joint injury, sustained in football, throbbed anmercifully. After After he he had had been been given given time time to to recover recover unmercitully. and was was back back once once more more to to his his normal normal state state of of good good and health, he he was was placed placed in in the the negatively negatively charged charged room room health, fortwenty twenty minutes. minutes. He He came came out out declaring declaring that that he he felt felt for like a a millon like millon dollars. dollars. A A checkup checkup showed showed that that he he was was functioning functioning normally normally although although unquestionably unquestionably stimustimulated, lated, much much as as though though he he had had had had a a highball highball or or two. two. Similar Similar experiments experiments were were conducted conducted until until the the effects effects of of the the two two types types of of ions ions were were clearly clearly established. established. Everyday manifestations of these reactions Everyday manifestations of these reactions are are comcommon mon enough. enough. Consider, Consider, by by way way of of illustration, illustration, how how you you feel on a sparkling, spring day when the sun is shining, feel on a sparkling, spring day when the sun is shining, the the air air smells smellsclean clean and and fresh fresh and and the the barometer barometer is is high high or rising. You just cant help feeling good on a day or rising. You just can't help feeling good on a day like like that. that- But But what what is is taking taking place place from from the the standpoint standpoint of of terrestrial magnetism? As atmospheric pressure interrestrial magnetism? As atmospheric pressure in-

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creases, creases, the absorption capacity of all all the things about about you increases and ions are taken up by the earth, trees, trees, houses and so ions so on. on. Because of the fact that negative ions are more activepossess higher mobilitythey soon active-possess mobility-they soon unite with positive ions ions and no no longer remain in in their free, bene cial state. beneficial state. Positive ions, ions, on on the other hand, are of lower degrees degrees of mobility and remain free free for for longer periods of time. time. Thus, Thus, they are always always available available in their free form to be taken in by all living things. in free form be in all living things. On On a day such as there are are fewer fewer of these as II have described, there harmful harmful ions ions in in the the atmosphere to to be absorbed, conseconsequently we ne and the world seems we feel feel fine seems a a good place place in in which to to live. live. On On the the other hand, hand, what happens when the the barometer starts starts to fall? fall? As atmospheric pressure decreases, decreases, so so also does the absorption capacity of the things that also does the things surround us. us. This This results in in ions ions being being given given off off into into the the atmosphere. The The negative ions ions are are soon soon taken taken out out of circulation but but the the harmful, positive positive ions ions remain remain in in their free free state, state, either either singly singly or or in in groups, groups, ready ready to to be be taken taken up up by all all living living things. things. Thus, Thus, when when wet weather is is approaching, its its coming is is announced by by the the ache ache of of your pet pet corn corn or or your your rheumatic elbow elbow or or knee. knee. On O n wet, wet, foggy littIe foggy days days you usually usually feel feel below below par par and and there there is is little energy or enthusiasm in you. Its a perfectly natural energy enthusiasm in you. It's a natural reaction. reaction. As As soon soon as as the the sun sun goes goes down, down, positive positive ions ions in in the the atmosphere atmosphere become larger larger and and more more active active and and in in this this form form they they are are capable capable of of doing doing more more harm. harm. Years Years ago, ago, people people not not in in the the best of of health health were were cautioned cautioned against against

keptdosed air" was was reputed to to be be harmharmkept closed because "night night air a sleeping sleeping person. person. Viewed in in the light of terresterresful to a ful or atmospheric magnetism, our ancestors were were not trial or trial far from being right about night air. It wasn't so long far from air. so ago that pneumonia patients were were kept in cold rooms rooms ago the windows open. This treatment was adopted with open. This was adopted after the harmful-night "harmful-night air" theory had been exploded. after NOW pneumonia patients are are kept in in warm rooms rooms with with Now the windows windows closed. closed. People People suffering suffering from from colds colds or or the gippe are are advised advised to to sleep sleep in in warm warm rooms. rooms. It It has has been grippe learned that in in this this Way way they they get get better faster. faster. Night Night air air learned feelhas a a certain quality about about it, it, a a different different smell smell or or feel~ has an intangible 'btangible something something that you you do do not notice in in the the an daylight hours. And nobody has has yet explained to to me, me, daylight satisfactorily, just why why it it is is that my my car car runs runs so so much much satisfactorily, after dark. dark. Neither Neither has has it it been been explained explained why why better after sound travels travels farther or or why why odors odors are are more more perceptible perceptible sound at at night than than they they are are in in the the daytime. daytime. This also also may may seem seem to to be be rather rather far far a afield from the the This eld from puzzle puzzle of the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory and and its its cause. cause. But But it it isn't, isn't, really; quite the contrary. really; quite the contrary. In In our our primary correlation, correlation, we we have have leamed learned that that the the Solunar Solunar schedule schedule times times itself itself according according to to the the movemovements ments of of the the moon moon and and the the sun. sun. Some Someattempt attempt has has been been made to attribute this timing to changes in atmospheric made to attribute this timing to changes in atmospheric pressure. quick look look at at that that side side of of the the Pressure. Let's Let's take take a a quick picture. picture. More More or or less less recently recently it it has has been been learned learned that that there there are atmospheric tides just as there are ocwn tides. They are atmospheric tides just as there are ocean tides. They

going out in in the night "night windows were were 'n E out gvl r, . air." . .,Bedroom windows

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closely, their movemovefollow the moon and the sun more closely, ment being hampered by less less inertia than that of of variations water. However, these tides cause pressure variations so minute that they can be detected only only by the more so sensitive barographs. An average average aneroid barometer is is sensitive so far far as the eye can perceive. perceive. The The unaffected by them, so effects of barometric fluctuations on fish have been effects uctuations sh se. A change of atmo~ atmoattributed to pressure change, per se. spheric pressure pressure theoretically registers itself on the balslightly, specific ance or speci c gravity of a fish sh by altering slightly, compression or decompression, decompression, the size size of its its through compression "swim sac" (the (the bladder, filled gas, that lies lies next swim lled with gas, is pretty to the backbone) ..The nervous system of a fish sh is don't think that it can be as as accuaccuhighly tuned, but I dont rate as all that. For purposes of discussion, discussion, consider a trout in a pool. Suppose he has taken up his position five ve feet below the surface. surface. Assume, also, also, that the barometer has fallen one full inch in the glass. glass. To T o compensate for pressure, all that the trout this change of atmospheric pressure, 1 . I 3 3 3 feet needs to do is to move his resting station 1.13;; closer to the bottom of the pool and he has offset this barometric change completely. T o compensate for a completely. To drop of one one-hundredth of an inch, all the trout need do is to alter the depth of his position a little less Yet a drop of one or two hunthan an eighth of an inch. Yeta dredths of an inch in the level of the glass glass often will dredtbs seen it happen ruin completely a day's days fishing. shing. I have seen many times. Even the wave motion at the surface, surface, caused either by wind or the flow ow of the current, will

reduce a a continual continual fluctuation of pressure pressure equivalent equivalent produce uctuation of P as much as as a quarter or a a half an inch in the glass, glass, to as but that has no effect on the feeding habits of the fish but fish that live live in in the the water water directly directly beneath beneath these these waves. waves. that TOgo a step step farther, farther, suppose this same same trout rises To to the surface surface to tal<e take a a fly. fly. Throughout thevjourney the journey through five feet of of water, water, the the pressure pressure on on its its sides sides through ve feet undergoes a change of 2.16 pounds per square inch undergoes 2.16 square inch of surface. That That is is equivalent equivalent to to a a change change of of a a little little over over surface. five inches in the level of the glass or over one fifth ve inches in glass one fth of atmosphere. Of Of course, course, it may be be argued that it it is is an atmosphere. possible to hear a clap clap of thunder and, and, immediately possible afterward, the sound sound of a pin dropping to to the the floor. afterward, oor. 0* the other hand, hand, animals animals and birds birds have have no no sensitive sensitive On gas-filled as aneroid barometers, yet gaslled bladders to act as feel the effects effects of changes in atmospheric they too feel pressure. It seems seems unlikely that absolute pressure pressure pressure. changes, of. of themselves, can constitute the true catalyzcatalyzchanges, ing agent either in the effects effects of barometric changes or the effects effectsof sun and moon positions upon the habits of wild life. life. Thus it was that my pack-rat "pack-rat brain" seized seized upon the description of the effects effects of ions upon living living things and stored it away for future reference. reference. It seems seems feasible feasible to put the idea to work in this way. Put way. Existing between the earth and the sun and the earth and the moon are lines lines of force. force. Gravitational pull 15 is the way this force is described described when applied to tides. Molecular attraction is Molecular attraction is another another name name for for it. it. Call Call it it by by Whatever whatever name you like, like, this attraction of one one body to

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another another unquestionably is is electrical. electrical. It I t is is the the nature nature of of electrical electrical lines lines of force force to to have have surrounding surrounding them them their their own magnetic elds. A magnetic eld either attracts magnetic fields. magnetic field attracts or or repelsit cannot be neutral insofar as anything else repels-it cannot neutral insofar as anything else electrical electrical is is concerned. concerned. just Just keep keep that that in in mind mind for for a a moment. moment. From From outer outer space, space, this this old old world world on on which which we we live live sustains sustains a a continual continual bombardment bombardment of tiny tiny electrical electrical parparticles ticles known known under the the general general name name of of cosmic cosmic rays. rays. These These tiny tiny bits bits of of electrical electrical energy energy travel travel at at speeds speeds incomprehensible to us in our conception of the incomprehensible to us in our conception of the term term speeds. speeds." They They come come pounding pounding in in from from outer outer space, space, through through the the Heaviside Heaviside layer, layer, the the stratosphere, stratosphere, our our atmosphere nally atmosphere and and then then into into the the earth earth itself itself where where finally they they are are stopped stopped and and absorbed. absorbed. Thus Thus is is our our storage storage batbattery kept charged. As these high-speed ions come teartery kept charged. As these high-speed ions come tearing ing through through outer outer space space toward toward the the earth, earth, they they collide collide with and break up the magnetic set-up of the various with and break up the magnetic set-up of the various layers layers that that surround surround us, us, keeping keeping our our terrestrial terrestrial magnemagnetism ux. VVhen tism in in a a constant constant state state of of flux. When they they come come in in contact contact with with a a molecule, molecule, they they burst burst it it asunder, asunder, making making available, cial available, at a t least least for for the the time time being, being, the the bene beneficial negative negative ions. ions. It It seems seems to to be be highly highly possible possible that that the the cosmic cosmic rays rays may be attracted and concentrated by the magnetic may be attracted and concentrated by the magnetic elds surrounding fields surrounding the the lines lines of of force force between between the the earth earth and the moon and the earth and the sun, inst as and the moon and the earth and the sun, just as rainraindrops drops would would be be collected collected and and concentrated concentrated by by a a large large funnel. funnel. Thus, Thus, during during Solunar Solunar periods, periods, they they are are showshowered ered upon upon us us more more densely densely than than at a t other other times, times, concon44

hibufjng bibuting their stimulating stimulating effect effectand and causing causing the the activactivity is so so typical typical of those those times. times. ity that is 1 I was was having having lunch lunch one one day day with with a a scientist scientist whose whose business it it is is to to conduct conduct systematic systematic research research in in the the field b|_\5inS5 eld of terrestrial terrestrial magnetism. magnetism. To T o him him II explained explained my my theory theory of of cosmic cosmic rays rays being being condensed condensed and and showered showered upon upon us us of more liberally during Solunar periods than at other more liberally during Solunar periods than at other intentIy for for a a moment moment and and then then times. He He regarded regarded me me intently timS. smiled. smiled. "Ten years years ago," ago," he he said, said, if "if you you had had told told me me that, that, Ten I would have grabbed my hat and headed for the door. Iwould have grabbed my hat and headed for the door. don't relish relish the the idea idea of of having having lunch lunch with with a a lunatic. lunatic. I1 dont Today, all I can say is that you may be right. From the Today, all I can say is that you may be right. From the inf&mation that that we we have have now, now, it it would would be be diflicult difficult to to information My advice advice would would be be to to go go prove that that you you are are Wrong. wrong. My prove ahead as as you you are are going. going. At At least least you you are are on on the the right right ahead track. Stick Stick to to your your guns guns and and don't don't be be influenced influenced by by track. any criticism. criticism. After After you you fuss fuss around around with with it it long long any enough, nd the enough, I'm I'm sure sure you you will will find the answer answer and, and, more more important, be be able able to to prove prove it." it." important, As As we we have have noted noted earlier, earlier, it it seems seems unlikely unlikely that that the the phenomena phenomena with with which which we we are are familiar familiar such such as as prespressure gavitational attraction, attraction, can can be be the the sure changcs changes and and gravitational true uctuatrue causes causes of of the the effects effects of of both both barometric barometric fluctuations tions and and Solunar Solunar iiilliience influence on on the the lives lives and and habits habits of of all living creatures. Ions and their known effects very all living creatures. Ions and their known effects very probably are are the the solution. solution. Certainly Certainly they they furnish furnish ananPI0l>8b_ly swers to questions that have gone unanswered for genswers questions that have gone unanswered for generations. erations.Now, Now, all all we we have have to to do do is is to to prove prove our our theory. theory. It looks like a big job. It looks like a big job.

tb

CHAPTER C H A P T E R

FOUR F O U R

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INCORPORATING I N C O R P O R A T I N G this new theory theory of of absolute absolute cause cause into into the calculation of the Solunar schedule occupied about two two years. years. After all, all, the SoluSolunar Tables were selling fairly well and they functioned satisfactorily enough to to give give a man his his money's worth when he he bought one one of them. them. Not having an an opportuopportunity to to make daily observations, II felt that it was was Wiser wiser to proceed slowly than to make any drastic changes to slowly to any changes in the Solunar Tables, Tables, with the the possible possible result of monetary loss loss because because of errors errors either in in theory or or in in the the new new method of calculation. calculation. Shortly after after the the idea idea of magnetic influence came came to me, I was invited to speak at a luncheon of a sportsto me, I was to speak a a sportsmens men's group group in Baltimore. Baltimore. For some some time II had been corresponding Hopcorresponding with one one of of the the doctors doctors at at Iohns Johns Hopkins kins Hospital in in Baltimore. Baltimore. He H e happened happened to to be be interinterested ested in in the the study study of cyclic cyclic activity and and he he attended attended the the luncheon. That That evening, evening, he he was was kind kind enough enough to to invite invite me me to to an an informal informal dinner dinner at at his his club, club, where where he he had had assembled assembled such such of his his colleagues colleagues and and friends friends as as might might be be interested interested in in what what II had to to say. say. The The dinner was was delidelicious and the small talk about the table was entertaincious and the small about the table was entertaining. ing. After After dinner we we moved into into the the club club lounge lounge and, and, after a few preliminaries, three of those doctors went after a few preliminaries, three of those doctors went to picto work work on on me me to to see see if if they couldn't couldn't get get a a clearer clearer pic36

ture of of both both the the pros pros and and cons cons of of the the Solunar Solunar Theory. Theory. mre does not become associated with with Iohns Johns A doctor does Hopkins unless he is is an exceptional man in in his his branch H0pl<inS of the profession. profession. These These men were were keen, keen, intelligent and well welI read. read. Meeting any any one one of them in a a mental tilt and on purely neutral neutral territory would be an an ordeal ordeal I1should on not care care to to face. face. In In this instance, instance, however, however, lI had a a disdisI was was familiar with the the topic in tinct advantage in that I hand, whereas they were not. I later learned that one one hand, whereas were not. I that of them them spent his his entire entire time time investigating investigating medical medicaI of theories for for the the protection of the the profession profession against theories unsound remedies remedies and and cures. cures. unsound After the the inquisition had had been been going going on on for for perperAfter haps an an hour or or more, more, two two friends friends of mine, mine, one one of haps was my host while while II was was visiting the the city, city, dropped whom was me up up and and take take me me home home with into the the club club to to pick pick me into them. Both Both of of them are are laymen but but they are are ardent ardent them. sportsmen and and for for several severalyears years had had been been keen keen followers followers sportsmen of the the Solunar of Solunar Theory. Theory. After After listening listening to to the the conversaconversation nding out tion for for a a while while and and finding out which which way way the the wind wind was blowing, blowing, the the more more hot-headed hot-headed of of the the two two spoke spoke up. up. was tt Now Now you you listcn listen to to me," me," he he said said to to my my main main inquisiinquisitor, rst name. tor, calling calling him him by by his his first name. I "I know know nothing nothing of of the scienti c as ects of acl<'s theory and I don't care the scientific aspects of Jack's theory and I don't care a a damn damn about about tliit that part part ol of it. it. Hels He's doing doing the the job on on that and that's for him to worry about. This much and that's for him to worry about. This much II do do know. know. Any Any man man who who will will take take the the trouble trouble to to check check up up On O n the the Solunar Solunar periods ~ e r i o dfor s for a a year, year, and and keep keep a a record record of of his his observations, observations, has has a a big big surprise surprise in in store store for for him. him. If If he nd that he doesn't doesn't find that the the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables will will do do all all that that

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Jackclaims claimsfor forthem themand andmore morebesides, besides,then thenIIlabel labelhim him Iack as too too big big aa fool fool to to be be allowed allowed loose loose in in the the outdoors outdoors as with a fishing rod or a shotgun." with a shing rod or a shotgun." Up to to that that time, time, lI really really do do not not believe believe that that these these Up men realized that they had been making the going men realized that they had been making the going 3a little rough. rough. They, They,being being actively activelyengaged engaged in in the the same same little general work work that that II had had been been doing, doing, naturally naturally had had general doubts about about my my findings-somewhat different from from doubts ndings-somewhat dillerent their ownand own-and they they were weremaking making the thebest best of of the theopporopportheir by asking questions. We tunity to clear up their doubts tunity to clear up their doubts by asking questions. We all laughed laughed at at my my friend's friend's defense defense of of my my eltorts efforts and and all the party settled down to its earlier status of pleasant the party settled down to its earlier status of pleasant enjoyed all all of of it, it, even even and congenial congenial conversation. conversation. II enjoyed and though they they kept kept me me fairly fairlybusy busy for for aa while. while. though That winter my speaking engagements piled up up in in That winter my speaking engagements piled earnest. Throughout Throughout the the metropolitan metropolitan area area there there are are earnest. hundreds of sportsmen's clubs and these are always on hundreds of sportsmens clubs and these are always on watch for for speakers speakers who who will will help help liven liven up up their their meetmeetwatch the 1st of December until the ings and dinners. From ings and dinners. From the ist of December until the 1st of of May, May, II spoke spoke on on an an average average of of three three and and aa half half ist times a a week. week.This, This, combined combined with with the the work work at at my my desk desk times -which seemed seemed to to pile pile up up faster faster than than II could could take take care care which of itand it-and my my regular regular job job in in the the city, city, kept kept me me on on the the of jump about twenty hours a day. Week-ends were jump about twenty hours a day. \Veek-ends were devoted to to catching catching up up on on my my work work at at home. home. Sleep Sleep devoted became both a luxury and a novelty. I suppose that became both a luxury and a novelty. I suppose that burning the the candle candleat at both both cnds ends consumed consumed more more energy energy burning than realized because, because, by by the the time time spring spring arrived, arrived, II than II realized ~ l a y e d out. was about was about played out. The doctors doctors at at the the bank bank looked looked me me over over and and shook shook The

their heads. heads. Nothing Nothing organically organically wrong, wrong, but but decided decided gheir debilitation and and slated slated for for aa breakdown breakdown unless unless somesomedebilitation thingwere weredone doneabout aboutit. it.One Oneday daythe thesenior seniorphysician physician thing called me me on on the the phone phone and and asked asked me me to to come come to to his his called o ice. He Hetold told me methat that it itwas washis hisopinion, opinion,as asmy my physiphysician, that that it it would would be be to to my my best best interests interests to to Find find cian, employment that that would would keep keep me me outdoors. outdoors. He He imimsmployment pressedupon upon me me the the fact fact that that my myrun-down run-down condition condition pressed was far more serious than I realized and that if I1conconwas far more serious than I realized and that if tinued to towork work indoors indoors II probably probably would would not not live livemore more tinued than three or four years more. than three or four years more. That evening evening Beth Beth and and II had had aa long long talk. talk. II told told her her That what the the doctor doctor had had told told me me and and we we debated debated about about what wab and and means means of of earning earning aa living. living. Finally Finally she she said, said, ways "There's really reallyno nouse usetalking talkingabout aboutit itany anymore morebecause because There's there isn't isn't anything anything to to decide. decide. It I t has has been been decided decided for for there us. us. You You hand hand in in your your resignation resignation tomorrow. tomorrow. \Ve'll We'll get get along, along, somehow." somehow." The The next next morning, morning, bright bright and and early, early, II turned turned in in my my resignation by noon noon II was was no no longer longer an an employee employee resignation and and by of of the the bank. bank. Having Having more more free free time time than than formerly, formerly, II went to work on the Solunar Theory in earnest. went to work on the Solunar Theory in earnest. After After all, all, the the sale sale of of Solunar Solunar Tables Tables and and articles articles for for the the outoutdoor magazines constituted my sole source of income. door magazines constituted my sole source of income. It It was was up up to to me me to to pin pin down down the the Solunar Solunar schedule schedule so so that it couldn't miss. that it couldn't miss. II learned learned quite quite a a lot lot about about the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory that that Summer. \Vithout question, the method I had been summer. Without question, the method I had been using using to to calculate calculate the the schedule schedule was was not not entirely entirely satissatisfactory, In revamping the method, still working factory. In revamping the method, still working from from

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observed effect back to possible cause, it was necessary We for me to make daily observations. W e were still living in Orange, New Jersey, Iersey, and it is a long drive from there to the good fishing shing grounds of the Catskills or the Poconos. Not being able to use fish "proving sh as my proving ground," I adopted the expedient of observing all wild lifesongbirds, squirrels, rabbits and so on. life-songbirds, on. trees A large vacant lot, liberally covered with huge trees and heavily overgrown with underbrush, lay directly directly behind our house. Its area was about that of two full city blocks. blocks. This lot was a concentration point for the wild life of that section. I never knew, when I roamed along its overgrown overgrown pathways, just what sort of wild creature I would see next. Quail and dove nested there to my de nite knowledge. I definite I have flushed pheasant and woodeock woodcock from its thickets, right in the heart of the thickly populated suburb. And the songbirds abounded, literally by the thousands. ed, From our screened veranda, I could keep track of what went on in the lot," and the activity among the "the lot,?' wild life was as indicative as that in a trout stream or a lake. Not until the damage had been done did I learn I that this method of observation was not practical if I wished to obtain the key to the true schedule. schedule. Reaction to Solunar in uence (whatever that may influence be) is is peculiar in that all all creatures do not react to it in be) the same same manner. Promptness of reaction seems seems to vary in direct proportion to the order of development. To TO be more speci c, the higher the degree of developspecific, develop-

stimument, the slower that creature is to react to the stimulus. An ~n excellent example of this variance in response jug, "come in" in a pool of a is to {Q watch a Solunar period come trout g-out stream. An hour before the activity period is scheduled to arrive, the surface of the pool is is usually quiet, unbroken by the dimples "dimples7' of feeding fish. quiet, sh. Another of the peculiarities of the activity cycle cycle is that the time immediately preceding the arrival of a Solunar period is generally marked by a term of pronounced inactivity. If you are careful to take your position beinactivity. side the pool so so that the light comes from over your side shoulder, you can see the bottom of the pool directly in front of you almost as though the water were not therk. there. is among the insect life on The first rst sign of activity is Stream-bottom nymphs will be in evidence the bottom. Stream-bottom top of the stones where none were some some few few minon to earlier. Even hellgrammites, usually to be found utes BPEIIIICI. movonly on the under sides of the stones, can be seen movfood. Next come the little freshing about in search of food. water cray shcrawdads," the bass shermen call crayfish-"crawdads," bass fishermen themand them-and they too move about over over the stream stream bottom. lled with tom. Soon Soon the shallows shallows along shore shore will he be filled Schools schools of minnows, these same same shallows shallows having having been before. A glance glance empty of visible life not half an hour before. over the placid lac id surface of the pool shows shows a a drifting insect or two. sh. two. Then comes comes the dimple dimple of a feeding fish. Another, and another! another! Gradually the pool comes comes to to life. The trout are moving now. There was the rise of life. The trout are moving now. There was the rise of a big fellow abig fellow over over by by the the far far bank. bank. Time Time to to unlimber unlimber the the

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work. The high spot of the day has fly rod and get to worl<. has arrived. arrived. With birds and small animals, the delay is even sh. Dogs, cows, deer, larger longer than with game fish. deer, the larger predatory animals and, finally, nally, humans react even on a more delayed schedule than the lesser creatures such as birds and small game. game. Thus, in setting up a schedule of Solunar Solu~lar periods, definite de nite consideration must be given to the order of development of the creatures to which the schedule is to be applied. Between the schedule that would apply to insects, for instance, and the one dedesigned for application to humans there is a difference of about two hours in the time of arrival of each activity period. Thus, by timing the schedule with observations period. of activity among birds, the times calculated for the Solunar periods were sometimes an hour late so far as activity among fish sh was concerned. It pays to make malre haste slowly. slowly. During the first summer of my forced semi-retirement rstsurnrner from active business, I naturally looked about for some means of augmenting a none-too-adequate income. While pondering on the subject, it occurred to me that a lecture course in one of our metropolitan universities might be an excellent idea both for the university and for me. Armed with a letter of introduction, I journeyed to Morningsidc hlorningside lleights Heights and had a brief brief chat with one of the top executives University, And executives of Columbia University. when I say "brief," brief, I l mean just that. My suggestion to include in the university curriculum a lecture course on fresh-water angling was met with a polite smile and

raised eyebrows. knew it, the interview raised eyebrows. Almost before before I lcnew talk to another one was over and I was on my way to tall< ,f the university authorities. Eventually pf Eventually I found myself office James C. C . Egbert, Director of in the of ce of Professor Iames university Extension. Realizing that it was now or University never, I presented my case to Professor Egbert rather strongly. I strongly. l argued that students were being trained in the art of earning a living in one way or anothcr. another. They work. The Department of were being taught how to worlz. Physical Education instructs them in the more active Physical sports, few few if any of which are useful to competitive sports, the average average man after he has been out of college - for years.-~n ten years. In other words, students are being given onesided training. W h a t I proposed to do was to make sided What available a lecture course which would, through the available rnedium graduacd stumedium of fresh-water angling, aid the graduated dent in his more thorough appreciation of the outdoors in his leisure hours. I would teach him how to play intelligently. intelligently. After giving the matter consideration, Professor Egbert decided to install my lecture course in the Department of University Extension. When he announced his intention, intcntion, he met with stubbon resistance on Pu the part of some of the university authorities. authorities. Others joined him in championing my cause. For several llHd weeks the battle waged back and forth, undecided. Weeks Finally Professor Egbert and I Finally 1 won out and the course was for the coming winter. The newspapeIs WIS announced for newspapers seized led upon the announcement and made a great to-do todo Over V@l it. Cartoonists lampooned us in good-natured

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kidding, columnists took us over the hurdles and the box, staid New York Times ran an announcement in a "box," if you please, in the upper portion of the front page I don't don't suppose that ever again I will make the front page The of T h e New York Times. Lowell Thomas, number one news broadcaster and an ardent angler in his oft off time, some time to the course in one of his broad. broaddevoted sonic casts. casts. All-in-all, we kicked up quite a lot of excitement. T h e course was given, not in a classroom but in an The auditorium that seats one hundred and sixty sixtv persons. T h e forty-eight enrolled students "students" Attendance varied. The came regularly enough to the fifteen canie fteen weekly weeldy lectures, expect. For two of but I never knew how many more to expect. the lectures seat was filled, overflorv sitlccturcs every cvery scat lled, with the over ow sitting on the steps in the aisles. \Vith Tiith the aid of blackboard sketches, articles of equipment, motion pictures and a casting eshibition exhibition in the gymnasium, I tried to keep my talks lively and interesting. I must have been succcssful, because off. At the successful, hccausc attendance did not fall oft. close of the course, all of the enrolled students received receix ed "diplomas" and I was given a contract for a repetition diplomas of the course the following year. lvas shortened to halt half an an hour and T h e final The nal lecture was "comn~enccn~ent exthen the commencement exercises" were held. I explained plainecl to the class that II was fully aware that a valecuston~arilyis chosen because of his excelexceldictorian customarily lence in scholastic standing. In this case, however, there examination, I had no means of telling being no final nal examination, standing. Therefore, lacking this who had the highest standing. information, II explained that I I had gone to the other information,

fitreme. W e were were fortunate, fortunate, in in a a way, way, in in having having among among extreme. We us a 3 man who was notorious among the anglers who knew him. His claim to to fame lay in in the undisputed fact fact knew him. His claim fame lay the undisputed if ever, ever, did did he catch a a fish any kind. kind. Thus, Thus, thatrarely, if he catch sh of of any in 3pp0it'lti1'|g appointing him as valedictorian, I felt sure that nobody's feelings would he be hurt except, except, perhaps, those of bQdys the valcdictorian valedictorian himself. himself. The victim of this plot accepted the appointment in the right spirit and proceeded to give a remarkably amusing T h e diplomas were amusing and well-chosen address. The given out by the attractive daughter of one of the members of the class and the course came to an end. end. The next season it was repeated. repeated. In addition, I conThe ducted a similar course in the Adult Educational Group School. Almost one hundred mcn men at the Orange High School. and women were enrolled in the latter. & Harcourt, Bracc Brace & Meanwhile one of the editors of Ilarcourt, Co., book publishers in New York City, City, wrote to me there ought to be a a pretty good advancing the idea that thcrc fishing shing book hidden in the lecture notes of my course Columbia. \Vc W e had lunch togcthcr together in town and hc he at Columbia. "borrowed" me from Scribners Scribner's to do the book then "borrowed" for for him. The T h e following spring and summer found found me busy busy with that manuscript. manuscript. One of the the big oil oil companies engaged me to do a a One shing folder for them to use in their advertising, fishing advertising. \Vhat TVhat With with the proceeds from from this, an advance advance royalty checl: check 011 on the book, income from from the two angling courses courses and my regular business at home, the the Knight cxchcqucr exchequer once more took on a more healthy aspect. on a aspect.

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Meanwhile my real job, perfecting and refining re ning the Solunar Theory, was sufferings suffering.War \Var had broken out in China and in Europe and affairs affairs looked e x t r e n ~ e rm. unl~ extremely certain. With the increase in war news in the papers and on the radio, our business began to tall fall oft off alarm alarmingly. don't take time to read the advertising in ingly. Folks dont the magazines when each day brings more and more e held a ghastly news of international depredations. W \Vc ways-and-means committee, consisting meeting of the ways-and-means of Beth and myself. In V\/illiamsport, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, there was the house Why where I lived when I was a boy. I still owned Owned it. VVhy not put it in comfortable condition and live in it? it? Almost overnight we decided decidcd to move, and in September, 1940, 1940, we were installed in our new quarters in my old home. Williamsport was, I feel sure, the smartThe move to Vl/illiamsport smartest thing we had done since we started our new business. At first rst we were somewhat apprehensive over the possible effect that such a change might have on our income. Fortunately, we need not have worried. Our income. first rst year in new quarters showed an adequate sale of Solunar Tables, Tables. This and reduced living expenses helped to take up the slacl< slack occasioned by the loss of income from various outside sources such as the two lecture courses in angling. The new book, titled the same as the course at Co COlurnbia, lumbia, The Theory and Technique of Fresh Water September, 1940, 1940. During Angling, was published in September, the next ten months I completed the manuscripts of

two two more books, together with several articles for the outdoor outdoor magazines. magazines, TVhereas \Vhereas I had been working top speed in the metropolitan section, Speed section, life now slowed to a pleasant, leis~irely pace. I had time to devote to the 3 leisurely interest lay. things wherein my greatest intcrcst lay.

CHAPTER C H A P T E R

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ONCE NCE established in our new quarters, I hired a secretary to relieve me of the drudgery drudgery in the office oi ce and began the renewal of my acquaintance with in. the streams I had fished shed when I was a boy. Inquiry in. dicated that there was no fishing shing to speak of, but I thought I'd look it over just the same. More in the mellow mood of reminiscence than for any other reason, I drove up to a bass pool that had been a favorite thirty- ve years ago. A new concrete road had of mine thirty-five been stretched out across the fields, elds, but the old road still wound its way along the bank of the stream. stream. Facing the pool were several summer cottages, but they were closed and I felt that I had things pretty much to myself. T The h e water not being suitable for bass bug, I screened a supply of hellgrammites out of the riffle. ri le. For a stream that was heavily fished, shed, I noticed that there seemed to be plenty of bait left in the fast water. I came home that evening with half a dozen fat bass. Not bad a stream that was fished out. for a shed out. There being so so much to do at home that fall, getting was the house in living condition, my time for fishing shing was limited. limited. In the fcw few trips I I took, however, the story was always the same. There seemed to be enough enough bass in ~ l e a s a n toccupied. l~ the neighborhood to keep me pleasantly The hunting that fall was another surprise. The surprise. For many 48

ears the conservation department of the state, workyear-5 Y ing in conjunction with the sportsmen's groups, had been stocking ring-necked pheasants in the surroundsurround"ringneck" is a big bird, easy to ing mg country. Now, a ringneck hit, beautiful to display to the family and neighbors and excellent on the table. He makes a great trophy trophv for and farmers (who (who clont don't fancy wasting shells) shells) and for the farmers the once-in-a-while hunters. I found that the hills and woods were practically deserted and my grouse grouse shootshootwoods guning was done almost without meeting any other gunverv high ners. Almost everybody hunted pheasants. A very percentage of the hunters in this section don't don't- know what a woodcock iganp is and are noilineglested not interested in finding whatlagxgoodcock nding 1 had an exceedingly enjoyable fall. out. out. - a excee mg y enioya e a . I worked more or less less diligently. During the winter I When spring rolled around, I had the decks fairly well VVhen for action and the coming of trout season found cleared for every day. day. I did not lack for trout me on the stream everv water. VVithin Within two hours hours' drive of my house are no water. less than fifty fty good trout streams. rst trip was streams. My hiv first taken with only a little of the usual, opening-day" "opening-day7' enthusiasm, shing. enthusiasm, as II had bccn been told to expect poor fishing. TOmy delight, I took an even twenty twentv trout within the the To space space of four hours. Most of them \vcrc were returned to the the water, water, but I brought in in six six that varied in length from fourteen fourteen to eighteen inches. inches. And II had been givcn given to to understand that our streams were pretty wcll shed out. uvell fished out. The The most astonishing part of tlic the whole uvkole affair, affair, howhowever, was the lack of competition I met on our streams. ever, was the lack of competition I met on our streams. Being Being used to the crowded crokvded condition of the the Catskills Catskills

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and the the Poconos, Poconos, II couldn't couldn't become become accustomed accustomed to to and having so so much much outdoors outdoors all all to to myself, myself. During During the the having week, mile mile after after mile mile of of beautiful beautiful trout trout water water would would week, lie there there before before me, me, totally totally deserted. deserted. Only Only on on four four or or lie five occasionswas wasmy my fishing disturbedby by other other fisherve occasions shing disturbed sher. men. men. At first was unable unable to to account account for for the the laclt lack of of conconAt rst II was supply gestion on the larger streams and the plentiful gestion on the larger streams and the plentiful supply of fish in them. them. Now Now the the answer answer seems seemsclear. clear. Not Not very very of sh in many men understand how to fish "big water." water." There There many men understand how to sh big being so somany many small small streams streams in in this this country, country, these these are are being thewaters waters that thatreceive receive most most of of the the attention attention of of the the lo lothe cal anglers. In addition, "big-water" fishing is an uncercal anglers. In addition, big-water shing is an uncertain thing. thing. You You are are just just as as apt apt as as not not to to spend spend aa fishless tain shless day on a big stream and little can be done about it. day on a big stream and little can be done about it. For the the man man who who has has only only aa few few days days for for fishing, the For shing, the had plenty plenty of of elbow elbow small sneam stream is is a a safer safer bet. bet. Thus, Thus, II had small room. room. A set-up set-up of of this this sort sort is is ideal ideal for for the the purposes purposes of of the the A Solunar Theory. Theory. For For observations observations to to be be of of any any value, value, Solunar they must must be be made made of of undisturbed undisturbed fish. Day after after day day they sh. Day Loyalsock were the placid waters of the big pools on the the placid waters of the big pools on the L0yalS0cl< were untouched by by intruders. intruders. Such Suchis isthe theperversity perversityof of human human untouched I found myself resenting the very sight of nature that nature that I found myself resenting the very sight of another fisherman, instead of of being being grateful grateful for for the the another sherman, instead God-given solitude solitude that that II enjoyed enjoyed most most of of the the time. time. God-given learned a a lot lot about about the the river, river, the the fish, the insect insect life life II learned sh, the and the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory that that spring spring and and summer. summer. AS ASI1 and had suspected, the timing of my schedule was decidedly had suspected, the timing of my schedule was decidedly the true true schedule schedule of aquatic aquatic activity. activity. II soon soon behind the

learnedto to adapt adapt it it to to actual actual conditions, conditions, however, however, so so leamed that II had had an an absolute absolute checlt check for for future future reference. reference. On On that my return each evening, I entered in my diary a careful my return each evening, I entered in my diary a careful recordof of the the day's day's experiences. experiences. That That record record is is valuvalurecord able.Also, Also,it itis isthe the first contiguousrecord recordI1had hadhad hadthe the able, rst contiguous opportunityto toassemble. assemble. opportunity Anglingis isaacontemplative contemplative sport. sport.Spending Spendingas asmuch much Angling time as I did in watching the behavior and movements time as I did in watching the behavior and movements of fish, it is is not not strange strange that that whilc while doing doing so so II found found gt sh, it ample time to consider and digest my findings. Havample time to consider and digest my ndings. Having rnade made serious serious mistakes mistakes in in the the past, past, II chccl<cd checked and and ing rechecked my my observations, observations, so so that, that, before before the the season season recheclced came to to aa close, close, II felt felt certain certain that that my my findings were came ndings were correct.It It is isunfortunate unfortunate that that never neverbefore before had had II found found correct. the opportunity opportunity to to do do any any intensive intensiveand and uninterrupted uninterrupted the work on on the the activity activity schedule, schedule,but but from from the the foregoing, foregoing, worl< you can can see seethat that it it was was out out of of the the question. question. you Solunar Theory Theory With the the various various changes changes in in the the Solunar With since its its inception; inception; miscalculations nliscalculations and and revised revised methmethsince Solunarschedule, schedule,with with the theresultresultods odsof ofcomputing computing the the Solunar ant inaccuracies, it may seem strange that any credence ant inaccuracies, it may seem strange that any credence is is placed placed in in it it at at this this time time by by anybody. anybody. On O n second second thought, however, the reason is obvious. In the rst thought, however, the reason is obvious. I11 the first place, Solunar period period is is about about an an hour hour and and place, the the average average Solunar 8 a half half or or two two hours hours in in duration. duration. That That fact fact in in itself itself leaves leaves a a certain certain amount amount of of latitude latitude for for miscalculation. miscalculation. Then, Then, too, too, adverse adverse temperatures, temperatures, unsettled unsettled barometric barometric conditions, conditions, lo\v low water, water, high high water water and and many many other other facfacI0rs ccts upon tors all all havc have their their c effects upon the the timing timing of of thc the schedschedule. On an ideal day, the sh respond early and conule. On an ideal day, the fish respond early and con-

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tinue tinue their activity activity for for as as much much as as three three and and a a half half hours. hours. VVith With unfavorable unfavorable conditions, conditions, the the activity activity pe. period ned to riod may may be be con confined to a a sharp sharp Hurry flurry of of feeding, feeding, last_ lasting variable ing only only twenty twenty minutes. minutes. It It is is an an extremely extremely variable thing; one that cannot be pinned down to a set thing; one that cannot be pinned down to a set schedschedule ule of of absolute absolute minutes. minutes. Thus Solunar Tables Tables can can be be Thus the the times times shown shown in in the the Solunar regarded rst regarded merely merely as as averages averages at at best. best. Not Not since since the the first year year of of their their publication publication have have my my mistalres mistakes made made a a difdifference ference of of more more than than an an hour. hour. This This much much diiierencc difference in in the the time time of of arrival arrival may may be be and and frequently frequently is is offset offset by by a variation of weather conditions from one day to the a variation of weather conditions from one day to the next. next. Considering Considering these these things, things, the the schedule schedule has has at at no no time the true true activity activity time been been at at radical radical difference difference with with the cycle. cycle. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, those those anglers anglers who who have have had had the the breadth breadth of of vision vision to to follow follow the the schedule, schedule, have have found found that shing of that it it is is aa guide guide to to the the best best fishing of each each day, day, and and the the quality quality of of their their sport sport has has improved improved in in spite spite of of the the fact factthat that the thewhole whole thing thing was, was,and and still still is, is, in in the the process process of of experimentation. experimentation. \Vhen When one one takes takes into into consideration consideration the the offsetting offsetting effects of advcrsc conditions upon the true schedule effects of adverse conditions upon the true schedule of of activity why activity periods, periods, it it can can be be seen seen quite quite readily readily just just why it it is is impractical impractical to to trust trust too too much much in in the the observations observations of of others. others.All Alltoo too often oftendo dothey they fail failto to tal<e takeinto intoaccount account all allof of the theconditions conditionsthat thatcxist existfrom from day dayto today. day.Lacking Lacking the the knowledge knowledge to to do do this, this, information information received received frorn from them onlyis is uselesstoo useless-too often often it it is is extremely extremely m1s misthem not not only leading. About the only fcllow I can trust completell leading. About the only fellow I can trust completely

with this this job is is my my son son Dick. Dick. Having Having grown grown up up in in the the with very atmosphere atmosphere of of the the Solunar Solunar Theory, Theory, he he knows knows the the very whole game game and and II can can believe believe what what he he tells tells me. me. It It whole seems too bad that more intelligent and uninterrupted seems too bad that more intelligent and uninterrupted work cannot cannot be be done done on on the the full full solution solution of of research work the the problem, problem, hut but that that takes takes both both time time and and moueyand money-and I havea a living livingto to carn. earn. So So II guess guess that that it it must must be be worl<ed worked Ihave out on on a a gradual, gradual, year-to-year year-to-year basis. basis. At At least, least, we we are are out gaining on it annually. gaining on it annually. As research research progresses, progresses, II find find that that the the moon-up"moon-upAs moon-down" method of the old Southern market huntmoon-down method of the old Southern market hunters comcs comes close close to to hitting hitting the the mark mark only only part part of of the the ers "hjoon up and moon down" does not tell the time. timc. "Moon up and moon down does not tell the whole story story by by any any means, means. \Vith With the the exception exception of of a a whole few days, this method does not conform to the true few days, this method does not conform to the true schedule. And And the the fact fact that that there there is is a a shorter, shorter, but but schedule. equally well well de defined, feeding period period midway midway between between equally ned, feeding the two two main main feeding feeding periods periods seems seems to to have have escaped escaped the those old old fellows fellows completely. completely. those In addition, addition, II can can find noevidence evidence that that they theyhad had any any In nd no knowledgeof of physical "physical lag lag7'in in the the effects effects of of the the SoluSoluknowledge nar uence on nar in influence on creatures creatures of of dilferent differentdegrees degrees of of dedevelopment. They They just just adopted adopted aa method method of of loose loose apapvelopment. proximationand andapplied applied it itto toall allcreatures creaturesalike. alike.Taking proximation Taking all allthese these things things into into consideration, consideration, perhaps perhaps it it is is just just as as well well that that II decided decided to tohew hewout out my myown owntrail. trail.The Thegoing going has has been been dil'T1cult difficult in in spots, spots, but but we we have have leamed learned aa lot lot through the actual surmounting of dif culties. through the actual surnlounting of difficulties. II feel feelsurc sure that that about about as as close close as as we we are are going going to to be be "le to get get to to the tlle absolute absolute schedule schedule through through the the trialtrialblc to

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and-error method is is the way the schedule is is being a1. ca1culated at present. At the the times of full full moon and dark dark of the moon, the moon and the sun are functioning in in unison, they, at those times, being approximately in "in line." line." That being the case, case, the resultant of the dircc. directions of pull of the two heavenly bodics bodies comes pretty close As the month close to being the true Solunar period. As progresses, of progresses, the directions of pull of the moon and of the sun sun move move farther apart each each day so so that, that, at the the times times of first rst quarter and and third quarter, they are are approximately approximately at right angles to each each other. At these times, the the moon moon at can can be considered to be the the complete complete control. These are are the the times when thc the moon-up-moon-clown" "moon-up-moon-down" system system seems seems to to he be the the correct method of timing. In setting setting up the the schedule, schedule, thesc these four times of the the month are are used as as key points. just Just at what time of the month the sun ceases ceases to to act act in in conjunction with the moon moon and just at what point the the moon becomes the the full full control, lI cannot say say with any authority. authority. This much II do do know. know. By averaging in in the the times of the the Solunar Solunar periods periods bebetween these four four key key points, so so that that the the progression progression from day day to to day day is is smooth, smooth, the the resultant schedule schedule comes comes about as as close close to to the the true schedule schedule as as it it is is possible possible to to come come without knowing the the absolute absolute cause. cause. VVhen When and and if the the actual actual cause cause of these activity periods periods is is known known de nitely, so that it it can can be be isolated, isolated, measured and and definitely, so that timed, timed, then then the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory can can be be reduced reduced to to the the enviable status status of an an absolute absolute science. science. It It can can be be simplisimplied to the point where two and two equal four. \Vhen fied to the point where two and two equal four. When that time time comes, comes, II have have no no doubt doubt that that these these pages pages will will

make pretty funny funny reading. Until that time does does come, make these same pages will guide you to a lot more good fishthese same pages will guide you to a lot more good shby ing and good shooting than you ever ever can can find ing nd gopddshooting nd just by trusting to luck. trus mg o ii . times II have been asked if II can can account for Many timcs the existence existence of of thc the minor "minor" feeding feeding periods that occur midway between the two major "major" periods. II am sorry sorry midway say that I I cannot. cannot. II can conjecture, but anybody's to say guess is is as as good good as as mine. mine. When When the the moon moon is is in in the the firstguess rstor the thirdquarter third-quarter position, the the pull pull of of the the quarter or sun is is at right angles to to the the pull of the the moon. moon. That That sun would surely surely establish the the minor "minor" period for for those would two days days and, and, possibly, possibly, for for one one or or two two days days before before and and two aftel them, making a a possible of ten ten' days days of of each each after possible total of month. What What about the the remaining remaining days days of of each each lunar lunar month. period? Why does does the minor "minor" feeding period continue continue period? to manifest manifest itzelf itself on on those days, days, midway midway between between the the to "major" periods? It ma may he be that habit, habit, created created b by stimstimmajor crio s? It ulated ulated fesding feeding on on thoseytcn those ten days, days, carrics carries througli through until until the actual stimulus once once more more establishes establishes these these mi"mitl1"3Ch17:lldSliI;1lLlF nor s. The e fact act remains nor7'perio periods. remains that that there there they they are are and and that wild life life responds to to them, them, joftenemphatically. often emphatically. Elli: The true answer will have have to to wait wait until until we we find out nswer Wlll nd out more more of of the the actual actual cause cause of of the the entire entire activity activity cycle. cycle. Until Until then, then, take take my my word word for for it it and and keep keep them them in in mind. mind. You shing if You will will have have better better fishing if you you do. do. $0 So rnucli much for for the the SolunarTheorv, Solunar Theory, as as a a theory theory; its its hishistory and its gradual, labored formation. Working from hgfly and its gradual, labored formation. \Vorkifig from in effect back back to to cause cause is is apt apt to to be be a a slow slow job. job. Surely Surely it it is is in this case, whcre where the the cause cause is is so so wcll well hidden hidden and, and, at at 11$ case,

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indefinite. present at least, so intangible and inde nite. It might be more interesting to talre take a look at a t the manner in stimulus of Solunar in influence affects the vavawhich the stimulus uence affects rious classes classes of living creatures. You don't have to be a a fairly imimfisherman sherman to have the Solunar Theory play a fairly portant part in your life.

S EXPLAINED previously, previously, aquatic ininAS sects seem seem to react promptly and characteristically to the urge ofa of a Solunar period. period. In the matter of hatches, "hatches," a term term with with which which every every trout trout fisherman is familiar, familiar, this this a sherman is is often quite noticeable. Here, as in most reaction as in cases, there are other factors that play an important cases, part. We W e know that temperatures constitute a vital vital facfacpart. tor in the development of insect hatches. For those who may be unfamiliar with the term, a hatch "hatch" is is that who time at which the members of a certain group group or famfamtime ily of stream-bottom larvae larvze cut loose from the bottom stones and rise to the surface, surface, where they break their stones duns. If tempercases and emerge as winged insects or duns. atures are unfav0rableto0 unfavorable-too cold or, or, for that matter, too hotthe hot-the hatch will be retarded and, and, in some cases, completely stopped. If weather conditions are unfavorable rain, -rain, storms and the lil<eagain like-again the progress progress of the hatch may be retarded. But if other conditions are fafavorable, vorable, then the big hatches-those hatches-those times when the air is filled lled with thousands upon thousands of epheephemerathese mera-these huge hatches, morc more oftcn often than not, occur concurrently with the major Solunar periods. Aquatic insects that hatch nocturnally (and (and there are many of them) make their way to the rocks, many of them) make their way to the rocks, trees trees nd bushes along shore, there to emerge from their and
57

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nymphal cases and await the auspicious time to fly y from the sheltering foliage and engage in their nuptial Sodance over the stream. stream. Here again the effects effects of a SQlunar period are quite evident in the determination of the time for the nuptial flight, ight, providing, of course, that there is no offsetting factor. This does not mean that there will be no hatches at other times, when Solunar periods are not in progress. pcriods progress. Far from it. But, under equal conditions, the intensity of the hatch seems to be governed by its proximity to a major Solunar period. often called the seventeen-year "seventeen-year locusts, locusts," Cicadas, oftcn make their presence known on hot summer days by givgiving vent to their "song" song from their perches high in the trees. Usually this song is most prevalent during the days. Yet, not hottest midday hours of our summer days. once but many times, have I heard the song of these insects on summer evenings after dark while a major Solunar period has been in progress. progress. There is an evident increase in honey-gathering activity among the bees during Solunar periods. Between times, a good share of a colony will fuss around the hive, but the arrival of a Solunar period will put them to work in real earnest. Fish furnish perhaps the most satisfactory proving ground for the observation of the effects of Solunar influence. in uence. It was because of fish sh that the experiments were first rst begun, and for that reason most of my time has been spent in the observation and study of the effects of Solunar influence suppose that I effects in uence on them. I suppose have seen literally thousands of Solunar periods come "come

inv in while I have been on lake or stream. As might be expected, there have been some unusual and interestExpected, ing ing reactions. There is neither time, space nor necessity to recount many of them here. But there are a few happenings that will serve serve to illustrate how completely the cycle of feeding periods and rest periods influence in uence not only the habits but the very existence of all fish. sh. Some years ago, as an educational measure, the Some pennsylvania oard Pennsylvania ~ Board of Fish Commissioners took over a section of Spring Creek near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. They fenced in the area they wished to control, gave this section of stream an elaborate manicure of stream improvement to provide the last word in furfurnished homes for the trout, and proceeded to stock the stream heavily with large fish. stream sh. The grounds were landscaped, gravel gravel walks and liberal parking spaces spaces were scaped, "club house" was erected and every measure built, a club was taken to make things pleasant for the fishermen shermen of Fishermen's the state. They named this project the Fishermerfs Paradise. Any holder of a Pennsylvania Pennsylvania fishing Paradise. shing license is entitled to come there and fish, sh, not more than five ve times a season and subject to the rules laid down by the Commission. About two years after its completion, they were kind enough 1'l0\1gh to invite me to speak at the dinner that is held each year on the evening before the annual grand open3h ing of the Paradise. As might be expected, I talked IE about flb0ut the Solunar Theory. I explained what it is, how It Works works and extolled its advantages. advantages. They listened attentively, tentively.

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The next next day day dawned dawned cold, cold, foggy, foggy, with with now now and and The then aa spit spitof of rain. rain. It It was was the the sort sortof of day daythat that calls callsfor for then wet-fly fishing with the fly fished as close to the stream wet- y shing with the y shed as close to the Stream outside bottom as aspossible. possible.Anglers Anglershad had been been lined lined up up outside bottom the gates gates of of the the Paradise Paradise since since well well before before dawn dawn and, and, the bythe thetime timethe theeight-o'clock eight-o'clocksignal signalsounded, sounded,there there\vcre were by severalthousand thousand fishermen distributedalong alongthe thebanks banks several shermen distributed of the stream. of the stream. At the the eight-o'clock eight-o'clock signal, signal, every every one one of of the the fisherAt sherfly into the heavily stocked waters. men present cast his men present cast his y into the heavily stocked waters. About half half of of them them hooked hooked trout-big trout-big trout-immcditrout-immediAbout ately and and the the commotion commotion kicked kicked up up while while those those fish ately sh were being landed or lost fairly lashed the waters of the were being landed or lost fairly lashed the waters of the littletrout trout stream stream into intoaalather. lather. little T h e Solunar period that day was was scheduled scheduled to to arrive arrive The Solunar period that day a t about about eleven eleven oclock. o'clock. Between Between eight eight and and eleven eleven the the at section of Spring Creek that lies within the boundaries section of Spring Creek that lies within the boundaries of the the paradise paradise was was literally literally hammered hammered flat by the the earearof at by nest and continuous casting of the fly fishermen standnest and continuous casting of the y shermen standingalmost almostshoulder shoulder to to shoulder shoulder on on its its banks, banks. It It seemed seemed ing should fish, especially durdurto be be expected expected of of me me that that II should to sh, especially Solunar Period. Period. II looked looked at at the the disturbed disturbed water, water, ing the the Solunar ing the crowds crowds and and the the weather weather and and my my heart heart sank. sank. Then, Then, the too, I could not overlook the fact that these were too, I could not overlook the fact that these were hatchery-reared trout, trout, recently recently stocked stocked and and not not yet yet acachatchery-reared customed to their new environment. In the hatchery customed to their new environment. In the hatchery theyhad had been been fed fed at a t approximately approximately the the same same time time each each they day, regardless of Solunar periods, and I wondered if day, regardless of Solunar periods, and I wondered if these hatchery hatchery fish had been been in in natural natural surroundings surroundings these sh had long enough to have learned to respond to Solunar pepelong enough to have learned to respond to Solunar riods. The The outlook outlook seemed seemed pretty pretty hopeless. hopeless. riods.

~t ten-thirty, ten-thirty,although althoughaalight, light,misty mistyrain rain was wasfalling falling At

andthe theair airwas wascold, cold, IIwent went to tomy mycar carand andset setup upaa fly grid y
rod.Having Havingremoved removed the thebarbs barbs from fromhalf half aadozen dozen flies 10 ies with regulations), I tried to find a spot on (to (tocomply with regulations), I tried to nd a spot on the bank bank where where there there would would be be room room to to cast. cast. After After the somesearching, searching, IIlocated located aa place placewhere where the thecrowd crowd was was some not too thick. It wasn't a choice location by any means, not too thick. It wasn't a choice location by any means, butat atleast leastIIhad had elbow elbowroom. room. but Instead of fishing, I stood on the the bank bank and and watched watched Instead of shing, I stood on thewater. water.All Allseemed seemed to to be be quiet quiet and and the the man man next next to to the me gumbled to himself about the fishing being, as he me grumbled to himself about the shing being, as he termed it, it, lousy. "lousy." Then, Then, out out of of the the corner corner of of my my eye, eye, termed I thought I detected a movement under the surface. I thought I detected a movement under the surface. II watched more more carefully. carefully. Sure Sure enough, enough, tlic the slow, slow, con confiwatched dent roll of a feeding trout. I t was a long cast but dent roll of a feeding trout. It was a long cast but II thought IImight might reach reach him. him.As As II unlimbered unlimbered my my tackle, tackle, thought another trout rolled under the surface. Then another another trout rolled under the surface. Then another and another. another. Contrary Contrary to to my my expectations, expectations, the the fish acand sh actually Solunar period period and and going going tuallywere were responding responding to to the the Solunar on onthe thefeed. feed. On my On my second second cast cast II hooked hooked a a trout. trout. II played played him him halfway halfwayto to the the bank bank before before lowering lowering my my rod rod so so that that he he COLIICI shake the barbless y from his mouth. But that could shake the barbless fly from his mouth. But that was just just the the start, start. During During the the next next twenty twenty minutes minutes II W35 h00ked and released ten more large sh. After hooked and released ten more large fish. After the the secsecd or ond or third, third, a a crowd crowd began began to to gather. gather. Three Three of of them them walked walked into into my my back back cast cast and and were were hooked, hooked, not not seriseriouslyas asluck luck wouldlhave would have it. it. After After twenty twenty minutes, minutes, II had had gllilly had my fill of exhibition exhibition fishing. Eleven trout trout and and three three a my ll of shing. Eleven shermen in fishermen in twenty twenty minutesa minutes-a record record that that will will stand stand f" for $0l'ne some time time at at the the Paradise. Paradise.

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Eleven trout in twenty minutes is not at all unusual if the trout are feeding. The remarkable aspect of this affair is that hatchery-reared trout, freshly stocked, should respond so completely to the feeding urge of a Solunar period, even under the worst imaginable conditions of bad weather and disturbed water. Since then a supply of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission secures 2 Solunar Tables each year. During the second ;ear year of publication of the Solunar Greenfield, Tables, George Green eld, at that time rod-and-gun editor of The New York Times, decided to conduct a test to find readers-if the S0Sond out for himself-and himselfand his readersif lunar Theory were all it should be. Accordingly, he arranged to receive reports of a week-end's week-ends fishing-from shing from men who planned to fish the trout streams of Pennsylsh Jersey and Connecticut. Each vania, New York, New Iersey aiked tto o keep track of the time one of these men was asked during which he experienced the best fishing shing on that particular Saturday. The following Monday Greenfield Green eld published his findings ndings in his column. In all of the four states named, his spotters had found the trout to be most active at approximately the same time on the preceding Saturday afternoon-right afternoonright during the major Solunar period. The response of trout to the urge of a Solunar period can be, and often is, a tricky and deceptive thing, particularly to the eye of the untrained observer. Generally speaking, trout will feed when there is a supply of food present. When VVhen a hatch of insects comes on the water, the fish sh usually respond with a flurry urry of feeding

that lasts as long as the insects are drifting, regardless of case, but it hapSolunar periods. This is not always the case, pens often. The effects effects of Solunar in influence P5115 often. uence in cases of this kind kind evidence evidence themselves themselves in in the the behavior behavior of of the the this fish at the time. When trout are feeding to a "betweensh betweenperiodv hatch, the charactergof character of the rise is quite typical. periocl" ~nstead of taking up convenient feeding stations in the Instead current, just under the line of drift of the insects floatoating on the surface, surface, the fish are more apt to feed from sh their resting stations on the stream bottom. They rise sporadically, with a characteristic, hurried strike, and the haste with which they take their food shows clearly that they are apprehensive of showing themselves to th;ir many natural enemies. It their lt is at these times that the fish "selective." They will sh become what anglers call "selective." feed on one particular type of fly y and ignore all-other all other Artificial forms of food. Arti cial flies, ies, in order to interest them "selective rise," during the course of such a selective rise, must bear cloHe a resemblance to the natural insect as it is posas close sible to make them. Fishing during a "selective selective rise" is exasperating bit of business. more apt than not to be an exasperiting Many times a between-periods" "between-periods" hatch will be allowed to drift away untouched by the trout. But, in fiffteen years of careful observation, I have never seen a hatch of insects ignored if it matures during a major Solunar period. ueriod. During a Solunar period, the behavior of the trout is quite different from from what it is at other times. They seem to lose much of their natural caution and evidently have tolose no fear of exposing themselves. Instead lnstead of feeding feeding from from
L

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their resting stations, they move to feeding positions in the current, frequently in clear view, and they take their food with the "tip-up" tip-up" rise that consists merely of eleelevating the head to the surface and sucking in the flies ies with the minimum of effort. Rarely are they at all se. selective at these times and they are prone to sample food, be it natural or arti artificial. almost any type of food, cial. Every fisherman sherman knows that the regular daily feedfeedsh, are at dawn ing periods, particularly of fresh-water fish, and dusk. dusk. These two times of day generally represent the high spots of the average fishing shing day. Not infreinfrequently, sh will fail completely at these quently, however, the fish times to respond to the most tempting olferings offerings of the angler's art. Should the glass be falling, the trout will be art. unresponsive, regardless regardless of the fact that it is evening and that they generally feed at that time. One of the more common causes of failure to indulge in the evening "evening rise" is one that is not taken into conSosideration by the majority of fishermen. shermen. When a Soevelunar period has occurred just prior to the normal evening feeding period, almost always the fish sh will have had their supper early and their activity will be at an end by the time dusk arrives. arrives. I have seen this happen literally countless times. Yet, where water conditions are anywhere anywhere near normal, I have never seen the fish sh fail to "go go on the feed" when the evening feeding period and a major Solunar period arrive concurrently. Bass, Bass, both the large-mouth and small-mouth variety, variety, shape. In Chapter respond to Solunar periods in great shape. One, I have already told you of my experience on Lake

I-Ielenblazes, Florida. That same type of thing I have duplicated hundreds of times. I don't dont think that I ever will bring out as large a catch as we did that day, will day, but, in numbers and general activity, the experience was not unusual. AS As a matter of fact, I know of no variety of fish sh that saltdoes not respond to Solunar periods. Certainly saltwater fish sh feed according to the Solunar schedule. In 1938 1938 I had the pleasure of being the guest of the Nova Scotia government at the International Tuna Scotia. The first Tournament at Liverpool, Nova Scotia. rst day of the tournament, I rode as an observer in the boat of Tom Wheeler, one of the four British contestants. contestants. Torn ~ r o r n dawn until eight o'clock in the morning of the From first rst day of the tournament, a time of day when one would expect the fishing shing to be good, there was little activity. activity. One of the Cuban team hooked a huge shark near one of the herring nets but, aside from that, there was nothing to disturb the tranquillity of the bay. The Solunar period was scheduled for eight-thirty eight-thirty and I watched the water about the mouth of the bay with interest. Sure enough, right on schedule, I saw the surface broken by the dorsal fin n of a feeding tuna. Then surface Came a second and a third and, within fifteen fteen minutes, came the bay was fairly alive with huge feeding tuna, slashing through the schools of of herring. herring. For three days I checked carefully the times at which tuna tuna were were hooked hooked by by the various members members of the three Cllmpeting teams of Cuba, Great Britain and the competing sh was United States. States. VVith With one exception, every fish

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hooked during during a Solunar Solunar period. That That EXCpti0n exception was was foul-hooked through the n by the the dorsal dorsal fin the late late Paul Paul Townsend, Townsend, captain captain of the United States States team. team. Sebastian nest Sebastian lnlet, Inlet, Florida, is, perhaps, one one of of the the finest places places to to observe observe the the workings workings of the the Solunar Solunar Theory, Theory. This inlet is an arti cial one, created by the This is an artificial one, by the governgovern-

Experience has has taught them them that they they will will have have ten Experience hours in in which which to to clean clean and and ice ice their fish, tend to to their hours sh, tend tackle and and kill kill time until until the the next next active active feeding feeding period tackle rives. AS with with other other creatures, creatures, the the effect effect of of Solunar Solunar influinfluax A5 ence is not always evident with individual fish. Where ence is not always evident with individual sh. Where there is is a a school school of of fish, however, the the increase increase in in activity activity there sh, however, is nearly always clear. There seems to be a group reacis nearly always clear. There seems to be a group reaction, wherein wherein the the increased increased activity activity on on the the part of of the the tion, more susceptible susceptible members members is is transmitted or or infused infused more among the remainder of the school. among the remainder of the school. Solunar in influence on Another characteristic characteristic effect effect of of Solunar Another uence on fish is the marked tendency to "surface" during Solunar sh is the marked tendency to surface during Solunar ~ e r k d sEven Even . goldfish in a a bowl bowl on on your your library library table table periods. gold sh in will rise to the surface and swim about, blowing bubwill rise to the surface and swim about, blowing bubSolunar periods. periods. Bass Bass leave leave the the deep deep water water bles, during during Solunar bles, and cruise about in the shallows. Fish seem to lose their and cruise about in the shallows. Fish seem to lose their natural caution and have no objection to exposing themselves to view at these times. . Anglers find n that a surface surfacelures lures are are usually usually more more eltective effective than than the the underunderSolunar periods. periods. water varieties varieties during during Solunar water Already the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory is is developing developing its its comcomAlready mercial mercial uses. uses. lI have have been been reliably reliably informed, informed, by by a a man man who who is is in in a a position position to to know, know, that that many many of of the the comcommercial sheries oft mercial fisheries off the the New New ]ersey Jerseycoast coast schedule schedule their their dory dorylaunchings launchings according according to to the the Solunar Solunar Tables. Tables. They They have have found found that that they they make make better better catches catches that that way. way. A A man who breeds and raises tropical sh, for sale to the man who breeds and raises tropical fish, for sale to the pet Sl10pS shops of of New New York York City, City, makes makes it it aa point point to to feed feed Pet his tiny charges during Solunar periods. He has learned his tiny charges during Solunar periods. He has learned

ment so sh can so that ocean ocean fish can have have access access to to the the quieter quieter waters waters of Indian and and Banana Rivers. Rivers. Along Along this this part part of of the (H. W. W. I.) I.) is is such such the coast, coast, the the high-water interval (H. that low low tide tide approximately coincides coincides with with the the major major Solunar Solunar periods. periods. With With the the exception exception of of a a mild mild flurry flurry of of feeding feeding at at the the high-tide point (the minor Solunar period) the inlet high-tide point (the minor Solunar period) the inlet ows like sh for flows like a a raceway, raceway, empty empty of of fish for at at least least eighteen eighteen hours of the twenty-four. As the feeding period hours of the twenty-four. As the feeding period apapproaches, proaches, however, however, schools schoolsof of mullet mullet appear appear in in the the shalshallows. lows. Careful Careful watch watch of of the the breakers breakers out out on on the the bar bar often shbig onesoutlined often will will detect detect game game fish-big ones-outlined in in the the transparent transparent tops tops of of the the waves waves as as they they curl curl up up to to crash crash over shing in over the the bar. bar. Then, Then, and and only only then, then, the the fishing in the the inlet cult to inlet is is beyond beyond belief. belief. It It is is dif difficult to cast cast a a lure lure of of any any description into those racing waters without having description into those racing waters without having a a sh strike fish strike it it savagely. savagely. This This activity activity continues continues for for an an hour hour or or more. more. The The commercial shermen ply commercial fishermen ply their their trade trade with with homemade homemade rods rods and and lures, lures, stout stout lines lines and and heavy heavy reels reels. At At the the close close of of the the feeding feeding period, period, the the activity activity tapers tapers oft. off. Fewer Fewer and and fewer sh are fewer fish arecaught. caught.The The commercial commercial men men reel reel in in their their lines, motors and and sail sail their their catches catches acr0S5 across lines, start start up up their their motors the sh houses the river river to to the the little little fish houses that that dot dot the the shore. shore.

$Iii$1"if'iividaihiisi'ZlTei' Xii

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less that by so doing more of the food is consumed and less is allowed to accumulate on the bottoms of the tanks. tanks, His fish sh grow faster and he has to clean the tanks less less frequently. Party-boat captains, operating from ports along the New Iersey Jersey and Long Island coasts, and some some of the Florida "Gulf-stream" Gulf-stream" captains, find nd that they get better results and their patrons get better fishing shing if each day is planned according to the Solunar schedule. schedule. shing grounds during Solunar periods By being on the fishing and spending the intervening time with sailing and meals, the best of each day's sport is made available for the fishermen shermen who ride their boats. For my own part, my copy of the Solunar Tables is just as much a standard item of equipment in my fishshing kit as are my fly rods or my reels. Having planned shing days by them for fifteen fteen years, I know I can my fishing depend on them to keep me from missing the best that each day has to offer. otter. Activity among aquatic life is not con confined ned to fish sh and alone. Salt-water crabs respond to a Solunar insects alone. period just as enthusiastically as any of the other aquatic creatures. creatures. When \Vhcn we lived in Florida, now and then we would go crabbing on the shoals of Daytona Beach near Bctween Solunar periods, the sand Mosquito Inlet. Inlet. Between flats ats would be almost deserted, with only an odd crab now and then, buried up to his eyes in the sand. sand. As AS the Solunar periods came in, the crabs would leave the deep waters of the inlet and come up on the flats to feed-big, blue fellows that certainly made fine eating. feedbig, ne eating. Armed with long-handled nets and burlap bags, we had

no trouble, during the first rst half-hour or so of the activity period, capturing all we could use. Only recently it has been brought to my attention that oysters, packed in barrels for shipment, shipment, open their and "smack their lips" when the Solunar periods shells smack lips arrive. The noise is clearly clearly audible and they make quite arrive. a fuss. 3 fuss. Scientists, to the attention of whom I have brought this reaction, attribute it to habit "habit behavior behavior" rather than to the response to any definite de nite stimulus. unfortunately, oysters kept in captivity live for only a Unfortunately, few weeks, so that the cause cause of their behavior is still subject to argument. Some day I hope to settle the matter by conducting observations over the period of a coqclusive space of time with clams, oysters conclusive oysters and mussels in the controlled waters of a tidal pool where they will live in their natural environment. Then we shall see.

C H A P T E R CHAPTER

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T IS IS an an absorbing absorbing study study to to observe observe the the efef[T fects of Solunar influence on birds. Not all of them fects of Solunar influence on birds. all of them respond alike alike and and care care should should be be exercised exercised in in form. formrespond ing conclusions. conclusions. Nevertheless, Nevertheless, the the effects effects do do manifest manifest ing themselves and and the the careful careful observer observer will will have have no no diffidiffithemselves culty in in spotting spotting them. them. culty When II resigned resigned from from the the bank, bank, my first thought \Vhen rst thought was to to bring my health health back to to normal normal if possible. possible. The The was doctors prescribed rest-rest in large doses. Thus, a good doctors restrest in large doses. Thus, a good share of that summer summer was was spent spent in in a a steamer steamer chair chair on on share the screened screened veranda of our our house house in in Orange. Orange. From From this this the vantage point, II could could both both see see and and hear what what went went on on vantage in the the large large lot that lay lay directly directly behind behind our our house. house. in It was was not dif difficult to know know when when a a Solunar Solunar period period It cult to was in in progress. progress. The The whistle whistle of of a a quail quail and and the the familiar familiar was "ka-woo, whoo, whoo" of the ring-necked dove would ka-woo, whoo the ring-necked dove would all but drowned drowned out by the the music music of hundreds hundreds of of be all songbirds. Many Many times times Beth would come come to to the the porch porch songbirds. and say, say, and "You don't need a a trout stream stream to to check up up on on your You Solunar Tables. Tables. Iust Just listen listen to to the birds, birds, singing singing their Solunar little heads heads off." little This bird song song was was always always accompanied by a a great great This about. Our lawn would amount of fluttering and flying ying about. be covered with feeding birds and now and then a a
70

rabbit or or two two would would come come over over and and sample sample our our garden. garden. rabbit One winter winter we we set set up up a a feeding feeding shelf shelf outside outside our our One dining-room window. window. It It was was interesting interesting to to note note the the dining-room manner in in which which this this shelf shelf was was patronized. patronized. If If food food manner should be be put put out out first thing in in the the morning, morning, it it was was all all should rst thing gone within the hour. That was to be expected. Early gone the hour. That was to be expected. Early morning is is a a normal, normal, daily daily feeding feeding period period with with birds birds morning just as as it it is is with with fish. On the the other other hand, hand, if if we we allowed allowed just sh. On the shelf shelf to to remain remain empty empty until until the the morning morning was was well well the advanced, then then the the food food stayed stayed there, there, untouched, untouched, until until advanced, the next next Solunar Solunar period period arrived. arrived. Very Very seldom seldom did did a a the Solunar period period pass pass without without having having the the shelf shelf picked picked Solunar clean of every every crumb. crumb. clean In several several letters letters from from users users of of the the Solunar Solunar Tables, Tables, In mention has has been been made made of of the the coincidence coincidence of of bird bird acacmention tivity tivity and and the the Solunar Solunar periods. periods. The The writers writers have have disdiscovered covered that that the the birds birds show show up up on on schedule schedule as as II had had said said they they would. would. One One man man in in Baltimore Baltimore writes: writes: "Its "It's a a mighty nice nice thing thing to to be be able able to to announce announce to to dinner guests 2 : 30 30 that that Sunday Sunday afternoon afternoon seven seven guests that at 2: pairs pairs of cardinals cardinals would would be be on on the the feeding feeding shelf shelf and and then be thereall there-all fourteen fourteen of themat them-at then to to have have them be the ed time." the speci specified Every sherman will Every saltwater salt-water fisherman will tell tell you you that that the the sea sea gulls nd the gulls are are a a tremendous tremendous aid aid in in helping helping them them to to find the schools sh. lI often schools of fccding feeding fish. often wonder wonder if it it has has occurred occurred (0 to any any of these men to wonder how the the gulls gulls happen happen to know when the schools will be active in deep to know when the schools will be active in deep water water Several several miles miles offshore. offshore. Every Every one one who who has has spent spent much time ocks time at at the the seashore seashore knows knows the the familiar familiar sight sight of of flocks

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of sea gulls, gulls, sitting on the rocks, sandspits and pilings, pilings, preening their feathers or dozing in the sun, evidently with never a thought of food. Some day, just for the fun of it, watch a colony of resting gulls when a Solunar period is scheduled to arrive. arrive. For no reason evident to the observer, the birds will take o off in small groups of two, three, five ve or ten and head for the open sea. sea. AlAlshore, where hundreds of most before you realize it, the shore, gulls had been but a few few minutes before, will be comcomgulls pletely deserted. Nature, Solunar in uencecall it what influence-call you liketells like-tells them that the feeding period has arrived arrived and that the predatory fish sh will be slashing through the schools of menhaden, herring and mullet offshore. off shore. That means food for the gulls and they clean up the bits of fish sh drifting on the surface while they follow follow the daily slaughter. Some of the waterfowl hunters are learning that the Solunar Tables are helpful in planning a day's duck T o be sure, the best times to shoot duck, day shooting. To in and day out, are early morning and late evening. The present-day four-o'clock rule precludes any shooting during the evening flight. ight. Nevertheless, these two times times extremes of activity activity among the ducks. of day mark the extremes ducks. Unless you happen to have a good point-shooting blind, these two flights ights often are not very productive, particularly if the weather is is clear and the ducks are ying high. They do flying do not decoy as readily then as they do during the day. day. It is when you find the ducks tradtraddo nd the ing restlessly back and forth forth all all day day that you are apt to find nd the most productive shooting.

AS a general rule, even though it happens to be a As ~'bluebird7' bluebird day, there is a certain amount of activity ~eriod.Small among the ducks during a Solunar period. bunches will break off from the "ricks" that are resting "ricks" in deep water and these decoy readily during Solunar periods. Like all wild life, life, ducks seem to lose lose much of Periods. their sense of caution during the activity periods and decoys more readily and less they will come to your decoys critically than at other times. Knowing this in advance, critically the day can be planned so that the activity periods $hall not be missed. shall Ring-necked pheasants have an unpleasant habit of qending spending a good share of their time in the swamps, briar T o hunt them patches and thick cover of the lowlands. To difficult places is a tiresome and heartbreaking in these dif cult places piece of business. During Solunar periods, however, swamps and the heavy cover and the birds leave the swamps move to higher ground in search of food. Then they are "lie for the dog," instead of runeasy to find; nd; they will lie several seaseaning, and furnish excellent shooting. For several sons I checked the habits of pheasants before, during Soris and after Solunar periods. periods. It is is seldom that they do do not follow schedule. Even though the upland follow the Solunar schedule. cover cover may have been hunted just prior to to a Solunar period, the birds will leave leave the protection of the swamps swamps Period, and head for for higher ground as as soon soon as as the feeding period arrives. arrives. During the fall fall of 1941, 1941, grouse hunters throughout this this section of central Pennsylvania did a lot of comcomplaining about the low level to which our grouse shootlevel to grouse shoot-

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ing had had fallen. fallen. That That spring spring had had shown shown us us an an excellent excellent ing nesting season. season. One One game game warden warden told told me me that that he he had had nesting seen a a hen hen grouse grousewith with a a brood brood of of fourteen fourteenchicks. chicks. II saw saw seen two broods broods of eight eight chicks chicks each each and and others others reported reported an an two abundance of of birds. birds. VVe MJe had had high high hopes hopes for for the the fall fall abundance shooting. shooting. When September September rolled rolled around, around, disturbing disturbing reports reports VVhen had began to come in. The annual grouse field trials began to come in. The annual grouse eld trials had difficulty in locating locating enough enough birds birds to to enable enable the the dogs dogs to to dil culty in show their worth. worth. Men Men who who live live on on the the outskirts outskirts of the the show "Black Forest"that Forestm-that vast vast wilderness wilderness of second-growth second-growth Black lies to to the the Northwest of of WilliamsportWilliamsporttimber that lies a decided decided scarcity scarcity of birds. birds. Famous Famous concenconcenreported a tration point_scovers points-covers that have have yielded yielded thousands thousands tration upon thousands thousands of grouse grouse in in past past yearsproved years-proved to to be be nearly deserted. deserted. With With the the nesting season season that we we had had nearly had and and the the large large number number of birds birds reported reported in in the the didn't make make any any spring months, months, the the scarcity scarcity in in the the fall fall didn't spring sense. The The birds birds must must be be there, there, somewhere. somewhere. sense. walking countless countless miles miles through through the the big woods woods After walking and finding comparatively few few birds, my son son and II held held and nding comparatively a conference. conference. It has has always always been been my contention that a the old-time old-time grouse grouse hunters of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania actually actually the know very little little about about grouse grouse hunting. hunting. True, True, they they are, are, know for the the most part, part, excellent excellent shots, shots, but they they learned their for grouse shooting when it was not uncommon to flush grouse shooting to ush seventy-five a hundred grouse grouse in in a a single single day, day. Now seventy~ ve and a so plentiful, these same same old-timers old-timers that the birds are not so I have trouble trouble finding all. My son son and I have nding any game at all. discard what we had learned of the the Black decided to discard

Forest and and other other deep-woods" "deep-woods" shooting shooting and and do do aa bit bit Forest of private pivate research. research. of Because of of the the size size of of our our deer deer herd, herd, and and also also the the Because present height height of of our our second-growth second-growth timber, timber, the the natunatupresent food in in the the deep deep woods woods is is scarce. scarce. Grouse, Grouse, in in order order ral food 1-31 to live, live, have havehad had to to find their food food elsewhere. elsewhere.Thus Thus they they to nd their have taken taken to to the the woodlots, woodlots, the the clearings clearings and, and, frefrehave quently, to to the the open open fields. Aspen and and alder alder thickets, thickets, quently, elds. Aspen formerly associated associated only only with with woodeock, woodcock, now now hold hold fonnerly grouse in in surprising surprising abundance. abundance. Reasoning Reasoning that that the the grouse birds had had left left the the deep deep woods, woods, we we hunted hunted the the woodlots woodlots birds of the the semi-open semi-open farm farm lands lands in in the the rolling rolling hills hills of of this this of vicinity. We W e began began to to turn turn up up more more birds birds than than formerly. formerly. vicinity. Oneday, on one one of our our woodlot woodlot tours, tours, we we chanced chanced One day, on upon a promising-looking spot. Rolling hills with open upon a promising-looking spot. Rolling hills with open elds and fields and bushy bushy hedge hedge rows, rows, with with a a woodlotpart woodlot-part hemhemlock and part hardwoodthat lay in a fold in the hills. lock and part hardwood-that lay in a fold in the hills. We W e parked parked the the car, car, obtained obtained permission permission to to hunt hunt from from t.he the farmer farmerand and set set out. out. It It was was fairly fairlylate late in in the the afternoon afternoon and and we we had had only only a a little more more than than an an hour before before the the ve-o'clock deadline. five-o'clock deadline. We W e hunted hunted through through the the hemhemlock rstno birds. lock grove grove first-no birds. Then, Then, at at the the top top of the the hill, hill, We we found found a a clearing, clearing, strewn strewn with with piles piles of of lopped-off lopped-off branches branches (slashing" ("slashing" is is the the term term for for it it in in these these parts) parts) .. As AS we we entered entered the the clearing, clearing, a a grouse grouse flushed flushed out out of range, range, then another another and and another. another. In In all, all, we we put put twelve twelve birds birds out of that clearing, clearing, all all of them out of range range and wilder than hawks. hawks. Two days later, later, two two friends friends of mine mine came came up up from from Two days Baltimore Baltimore to to hunt with me. me. Thus Thus my son son was was left left to to his his

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own own devices devices for for his day out out of of school. school. While While we we shot shot some coveys that had been located earlier in the yea, some coveys earlier in the year, my boy, boy, Dick, Dick, took one one of his his friends friends to to the the woodlot woodlot we we had found. found. Our party of four four guns, guns, with with two two good good dog; dogs and and not less less than than sixteen sixteen miles miles of of hard hard going going behind behind us, us, showed ushed twenty showed up up that that evening evening having having flushed twenty birds birds

II thqugllli g thought this this over over for for a a minute. what ll\Nhattime time of of day day were were they they there?" there?" II asked asked him. him. dlyesterday afternoon, afternoon, from from two two until until about about fourfourYesterday mlftgjgked 1 picked up up a a copy COPY of of the the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables from from my my desk deskand and looked looked up up the the day day under discussion. discussion.

thirty.'7

during the the day. day. Dick and and his his friend friend hunted not quite quite two ushed thirtyve birds two hours, hours, without without a a dog, dog, and and flushed thirty-five birds right in in our "our" woodlot woodlot that that is is not not more more than than a a mile mile in in extent by by the the longest longest possible possible measurement. measurement. A few few days days later, later, Dick Dick and and II visited visited the the woodlot woodlot A again. again. Our Our high high hopes hopes for for top-notch top-notch shooting, shooting, with with plenty of of birds, birds, were were soon soon blasted. blasted. Search Search as as we we would, would, we we found found only only three three birds birds and and these these so so wild wild that that we we could birdcould get get nowhere nowhere near near them. them. We W e returned returned home, home, birdless and a little puzzled. less and a little puzzled. It It so so happened happened that that neither neither of of us us had had found found the the opopportunity to hunt this woodlot during a Solunar period. portunity to hunt this woodlot during a Solunar period. II had had been been unusually unusually busy busy at at my my desk desk and and the the boy boy had had been, for the most part, occupied in school. been, for the most part, occupied in school. The The day day before before the the season season closed, closed, Dick Dick burst burst into into my my office, office, his his eyes eyes shining shining with with excitement. excitement. "Dad," "Dad," he he shouted, shouted, guess "guess what what happened. happened. Bill Bill and and a a friend friend of of his his went went over over to to our our woodlot woodlot yesterday. yesterday.Now Now you you know know how how those those fellows fellows shoot. shoot. They They both both came came back back with with their their limits limits of of birds birds and and Bill Bill told told me me that that they they could could have have killed killed as as many many more more without without any any trouble. trouble. Ile He said said the the birds birds weren't weren't wild wild and and wouldnt wouldn't flush until they had almost stepped on them. They flush until they had almost stepped on them. They put put up fty in up nearly nearly fifty in less less than than three three hours. hours."

"There's the the answer," II told told him. him. Those "Those two twofellows fellows There's
hunted buntedright right through through a a major major Solunar Solunar period. period. The The birds birds were in in the the hardwood hardwood and and the the clearing, clearing, feeding feeding and and were unwillingto to leave leave the the feeding feeding cover. cover. That's That's why why they they unwilling didn't flush until they they were were almost almost kicked kicked out. out." didn't ush until We looked looked at at each each other other and and smiled smiled with with mutual mutual We understanding. understanding. "I wonder," wonder," said said Dick, Dick, when "when you're you're going going to to leam learn I how to use your own Solunar Tables." how to use our own Solunar Tables. This expelfience experience is is not not by by any any means means an an isolated isolated ininThis stance. Many Many times times II have have hunted hunted covers covers that that II know know stance. onIy to to find an odd odd bird bird or or two. two. hold plenty plenty of of grouse, grouse, only hold nd an feeding Later II have have retumed returned to to that that cover cover during during aa feeding Later period nd all period to to find all the the grouse grousea a man man could could wish wish for. for. The ruffed ouse of our Pennsylvania woods The ruffed grouse of our Pennsylvania woods is, is, perperhaps, haps, the the wildgelst, wildest, smartest smartest and and most most cautious cautious of of all all of of our game birds, even including our wild turkey. Yet, our game birds, even including our wild turkey. Yet, smart smartas ashe he is, is,he he seems seems to to lose losea a great great share shareof of his his natunatural caution during a Solunar period. Without question, ral caution during a Solunar period. Without question, Y o u can can get get much much closer closer to to him him during during Solunar Solunar periods periods Y0 than at other times. In this, he is not unusual, &an at other times. In this, he is not unusual, as as the the time holds holdstrue true of of all all of of the thewild wild creaturesat creatures-at least, least,all all f which I have any rst-hand knowledge. Between which I have any first-hand knowledge. Between S0ll1nar Solunarperiods, periods, grouse grousewill willusually usuallybe be in in the the safe safecover cover

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of the hemlock groves groves or, on occasion, dusting them t]-,@m_ selves in sunny clearings. clearings. Then it is difficult, selves di ieult, if not next to impossible, impossible, to get within gunshot of them. During During however, when they are in their feed. feedSolunar periods, however, ing cover, cover, they will lie close for the dog and furnish furnish wing shooting that you will never forget. forget. Quail seem to govern their daily feeding habits ac. cording to the Solunar cycle. Like pheasants, they spend a good share of their time in or near the protection of tangled swamp growth, briar patches or those well-nigh well-nigh impenetrable jungles that are known in Florida as "bay bay heads." There they are safe from most of their natural enemies and they quickly take cover when danger threatens. threatens. During Solunar periods, however, these little game birds move into the feed patches and the open fields. elds. dog and are readily There they will lie close for the (log found. Upland cover that is "used" "used" by a known number coveys often will be completely empty of birds, while of coveys a t other times birds will be ~lentiful. at plentiful. In the winter of 1941, 1941, my son and I hunted quail and the lowlands of South Carolina. W e were guests dove in thclowlands Carolina. \Ve at one of the large plantations in the vicinity of Charleston and had ten thousand acres of good cover at our disposal. disposal. While ~lantation \Vhile our host uses the plantation only as a winter home, the multitudinous details of its management are, in effect, eitect, of the same importance and volume as though he were conducting a small, private business venture. Consequently, Consequently, each morning found him at his desk desl<

&ile Dick and I busied ourselves while ourselves in one or another of his several dove fields, elds, where we joyfully fired red an abundance of ammunition, the result of which was a tremendous commotion with relatively little damage. The afternoons were spent in quail shooting, or, to be more explicit, quail hunting. Our host is bountifully supplied with dogs and those which we used are all field-trial eld-trial champions-the championsthe finest nest of the breed. A quail hunt at the plantation was nothing short of a fivevealarm fire. re. A station wagon carried two brace of dogs, in suitable wire cages, together with sundry dog tack and a few members of ot the party. Another car carried the $antation superintendent, the dog handler and such plantation other dogs as might be brought along. At an appointed spot, the head hostler and one of his assistants awaited the party with horses equipped with saddles, saddle holsters for the guns, saddlebags, etc. h e whole affair holsters ete. T The impressive, all in the best tradition, and needwas quite impressive, ful of not a little staff work. At the time of our visit, it so happened that the major Solunar periods arrived during the mornings, so that, by the time our entourage reached the cover chosen for that day, the quail already had .fed ted and retired to the safety of the briar patches and overgrown thickets among the live oaks. In four of these excurexcursions, using experienced dogs of proven ability, we sions, quailthi$, managed to turn up exactly three eovies covies of quail-this, mind you, in covers that were used by not less than twentyve or thirty coveys, to the definite de nite knowledge twenty-five Of the men who spent their days in those very covers. of covers.

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It pays to consult the Solunar Tables before going quail hunting. I spoke of this to my host but he would have none of the suggestion. In the first plantation routine rst place, planmtion should not be disrupted. In the second place, my concon. tention was not scienti cally proven and may or may scientifically not be true, true. So we covered miles of unproductive unprochlctive territerri_ tory which, two or three hours earlier, earlier, could and prob. prob. ably would have furnished excellent shooting. Offsetting our experience was that of the dog hanhan. dler who made it his daily routine to train the younger require dogs each morning. Youngsters in the field eld require T o attempt to close attention and frequent correction. To train them from horseback only complicates matters. O n foot, the handler can reach them more quickly and On correct their mistakes at the time of their happening. happening. This same dog handler, who accompanied us on our afternoon hunts, found, found, on foot, from four to six coveys of birds each morning of our stay at the plantation. While VVhile my contention that quail are more easily found during Solunar periods may not be scientifically scienti cally proven, it stands to reason that where there thcrc is that much smoke there is bound to be a little fire. re. Meanwhile, Dick and I put the Solunar periods to the clove dove fields. good use in thc elds. When the dove are not disposed to feed, no amount of shooing about, on the part of Negroes hired for the purpose, will drive the elds. They merely fly around birds into the feeding fields. among the trees and ignore their man-made cafeterias. cafeterias. \Vhcn, however, a feeding feeding period is in progress, a minor When,

matter such as shooting and general commotion will not keep them out of the feeding fields. elds. I asked one of the Negroes if the fuss we made wouldn't wouldn't keep the birds away. His reply was enlightening. enlightening. birds "Noh suh," Nob suh," he answered. "When Vt/hen a dove want to fly, he fly. y. Don't Don't make no di unce wheah you is." diffunce And that about sums it up. When a Solunar period is in progress and a dove makes up his mind to feed, feed he will, come hell or high water. Chase him out feed of one field eld and he will fly to another. But when the feeding period is ended and he has filled lled his crop, you may as Well well unload your gun and go home. Your dove shooting is over until the next feeding period arrives. Confihning Con rming my observation of the effect of Solunar influence in uence on birds are many letters in my files les from users of the Solunar Tables. These include reports of owners of feeding shelves, shelves, dog trainers (who must, of necessity, sity, find nd birds in order to work their dogs), hunters and amateur naturalists. Unfortunately, little has been done, at least to my knowledge, in observing the e ects effects of Solunar periods on the behavior of migratory birds, sup insofar as actual migration flights ights are concerned. I suppose that will have to come later, time and facilities pemiitting. No contiguous, day-by-day record of bird permitting. activity has been made by me. But Hut the hundreds, yes thousands, of unrelated observations that have been made, not only by myself but by the many individuals ndings, cannot help but point who write to me of their findings, lt is not my contention that the in the right direction. It Solunar Theory is "scienti cally" proven in its relation "scientifically"

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to birds. birds. However, However, the the coincidence coincidence of of bird bird activity activitv and and to Solunar periods is entirely too common to be hisreSolunar periods is entirely too common to be disregarded. Knowing Knowing that that these these things things do do happen happen with with garded. regularity, it seems short-sighted not to put this knowlregularity, it seems short-sighted not to put this l;ngw1. edge to to good good use use when when opportunity opportunity presents presents itself, itself. edge

REPTILES EPTILES respond respond to to Solunar Solunar periods, periods, much the creatures. On On a a sunny sunny day, day, turturthe same same as as other other creatures. es climb oating logs tles climb up up on on floating logs to to sun sun themselves, themselves, but but they are are baclc back in in the the water water again again when when a a Solunar Solunar period period they arrives, answering answering the the promptings promptings of of nature nature in in their their arrives, search for food. search for food. The owner owner of of a a large large collection collection of of snakes snakes puts puts the the The SolunarTables Tables to to good good use use in in the the care care of of her her pets. pets. One One Solunar of the the problems problems in in maintaining maintaining a a collection collection of of caged caged of A caged caged snake snake is is lethargic lethargic at at reptiles is is that that of of feeding. feeding. A reptiles best and and it it bakes takes its its food food infrequently infrequently and and reluctantly. reluctantly. best By placing placing fooclusually food-usually live live birds, birds, mice, mice, rats rats or or insects insects By Solunar pepe-in the the cages cages at at the the beginning beginning of of a a major major Solunar -in riod, riod, the the owner owner of of the the collection collection has has found found that that the the snakes feed feed more more readily readily and and stay stay in in better better physical physical snakes condition than than if they they are are fed fed more more or or less less at at random. random. condition Animals Solunar influence influence variously, variously, Animals respond respond to to Solunar according according to to thc the habits habits of of the the animal animal and and its its degree degree of of development. development. Mice Mice and and rats, rats, although although nocturnal nocturnal feedfeeders Solunar periods periods during during ers for for the the most most part, respond to to Solunar the the daylight daylight hours hours as as well well as as at at night. night. in In our our house house in in Orange Orange the the openings openings in in the the cellar cellar all all had had been been screened screened with with heavy heavy wire wire as as a a preventive preventive measure. measure. One One spring, spring, a a family family of rats rats took took up up their abode abode under our our side side Porch. porch. The The entrance entrance to to their warrcn warren was was only only a a few few feet feet

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from the the garbage garbage can. can. Although Although this this can can was was equipped equipped from with a heavy metal cover, the rats remained optimistic with a mctal cover, the rats remained optimistic and showed showed profound interest in in the the can can and and its its conconand tents, even even though though they they were were unable unable to to avail avail themselves themselves its luxuries. luxuries. Because Because of of thc the screening, screening, lI knew knew that that of its I said said they could could not not find their way way into into the the cellar, cellar, so so I they nd tlicir nothing about them to Beth. Unfortunately, she disnothing about them to Beth. Unfortunately, she disthey had had been been there there a a week. week. covered our our visitors visitors before before they covered She was all out for immediate extermination but I perperShe was all out for immcdiatc extermination but I suaded her her to to hold oi? off for for a a while, while, to to the the delight delight of of my mv suaded big setter setter Bill, Bill, who who fairly fairly haunted the the entrance entrance to to their the$ home. His His first duty each each day day was was to to poke poke his his nose nose under under home. rst duty the porch as far as possible, sniff his lungs full of the as far as possible, sniff his lungs full of delectable rat smclls smells and and then blow blow huge huge gusts gusts of delectable sniffed-in air back at the rats. sniffed-in air back at the rats. had an an excellent excellent view view of their their passageway passageway and and of II had by concealing concealing myself behind behind the the curcurthe garbage garbage can can by the tains of our kitchen window. Against Beth's wishes, tains of our kitchen window. Against Beths wishes, II would often often place place choice choice tidbits tidbits just just outside outside their their front front would door, first making sure that this food was made available door, rst making sure that this food was available between Solunar Solunar periods. Now and then the food food only between only would disappear disappear soon soon after after it it was was placed placed there. there. It It may may have been been taken taken by one one of of the the many neighborhood neighborhood dogs dogs have that called called every every day to to romp romp with with Bill Bill or or it it may may have have been taken taken by the the rats. rats. More More often, often, however, however, it it \v0uld would been stay whcrc where I I had placed placed it it until until the the arrival arrival ofa of a Solunar Solunar stay period, remaining there sometimes as long as an period, remaining there sometimes as long as an hour Solunar period period come come to to a a close close with with or two. two. Never did did a a Solunar or any of the food uneaten. any thc food uncaten. In common common with with all all of of the the creatures creatures that that lI have have In

observed, these rats rats seemed seemed to to lose lose a a good good share share of of their their observed, caution during during Solunar Solunar periods. ~eriods. I t was was not unusual unusual to to caution It see two or three of them investigating the possibilities see two or three them investigating the possibilities of the the garbage garbage can can at at these these times, times, but but not not once, once, in in the the of entire month that I watched them, did I so much as entire month that l watched them, did I so much as catch a a glimpse glimpse of of a a rat rat unless unless a a Solunar Solunar period period was was in in catch disprogress. After a month of rat observation, they progress. a month observation, they dis~ l a y e d the bad judgment to raise a family family of of youngsters youngsters played the bad judgment to raise a and the the worse worse luck luck to to have have Beth Beth spot spot one one or or two two of of the the and little ones from the kitchen window. The investigation little ones from the kitchen window. The investigation of rats rats and and their their habits habits came came to to a a sudden sudden and and catascatasof trophic close that same day despite my protests. She trophic close same day despite my protests. She would stand stand just just so so much much but but there there were were limits. limits, would A friend of mine in Philadelphia, who is an engineer engineer A friend mine in who is an and scienti scientifically minded, became became involved involved in in bossing bossing and cally minded, the job of reallocating the machinery in the plant where the reallocating the machinery in the where he was was employed. employed. It I t was was necessary necessary to to do do this this work work he slowly and and at at night night because because the the machines machines were were used used slowly in the manufacture of woolen goods in the daytime and in the manufacture woolen goods in the daytime and had to to be be in in running running order order each each moming. morning. The The building, building, had an old wooden structure, had its quota of rats and mice, an old structure, its quota of rats and mice, and my my friend friend had had plenty plenty of of time time to to check check up up on on their their and activities. activities. He found found that both the the rats rats and and the the mice mice reacted to to He the Solunar periods, regardless of the noise of the work the Solunar periods, regardless of the noise of the work going on on in in the the factory. factory. The The mice mice would would come come out out of of going hiding at at the the beginning beginning of the the periods and, and, as as a a rule, rule, would be be in in evidence evidence for for the the full full hour hour and and a a half or or two two would hours. They They seemed seemed to to lose lose most most of of their their caution caution and and hours. ran about the floor quite boldly, only scooting for cover ran about the floor quite boldly, only scooting for cover

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if they they were weredisturbed disturbedby by one oneof of the theworkmen. workmen.The Therats, rats, if on the the other other hand, hand, were were more more reluctant reluctant to to show show themthemon selves. Only after the feeding period had been in progselves. Only after the feeding period had been in progress for for some some time time would would they they emerge emerge from from their their holes holes ress and then for not more than twenty minutes or so at at and then for not more than twenty minutes or so most. most. Wintertime is is the the best best time time to to get get clean-cut clean-cut observaobserva\Vintertime tions of of animals, animals, particularly particularly if if the the weather weather be be cold. cold. tions Duringthe the severe severeweather, weather,animals animalsspend spend much much of of their their During time in their dens, warrens or burrows, where they can time in their dens, warrens or burrows, where they can keep warm. warm. Only Only when when they they are are in in search search of of food food do do keep they venture into the cold outdoors. Shortly after the they venture into the cold outdoors. Shortly after the Solunar Tables Tables were were first published, a a man man in in PennsylPennsylSolunar rst published, vania wrote wrote me me an an interesting interesting letter. letter. He He said said that that his his vania house was was several several miles miles from from his his little little boy's boy's school. school. house Thus, it it was was necessary necessary for for him him to to call call at at the the school school in in Thus, his automobile automobile several several times times each each day day to to pick pick up up the the his youngster. The The school school was was surrounded surrounded by by ball tall oak oak trees trees youngster. and the acorns attracted the squirrels in the neighand the acorns attracted the squirrels in the neighborhood. borhood. While waiting waiting for for the the boy, boy, this this man man noticed noticed that that \Vhile sometimes the the trees trees were were alive alive with with squirrels, squirrels, while while at at sometimes other times there wouldn't be a squirrel in sight. Finally, other times there wouldn't be a squirrel in sight. Finally, out of of curiosity, curiosity, he he checked checked the the squirrel squirrel activity activity against against out the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables and and found found that that about about the the only only time time the he would see see squirrels squirrels in in any any quantity quantity would be be that he during the the major Solunar Solunar periods. periods. during contracted a a bad case case of of flu "flu" The following following winter II contracted The and was was con confined to the the house for for almost almost a a month. month. and ned to During the several weeks of conr~alesce~~ce, I had ample During the several wccks convalescence, I had ample

opportunity to to investigate investigate the the effects effects of of Solunar Solunar in influopportunity uence on a colony of squirrels that overran the two large ence on a colony of squirrels that overran the two large oak trees trees on on our our lavim. lawn. My My observations observations were were the the same same oak as the other fellow's. During the major Solunar periods as the other fellow's. During the major Solunar periods of that that intensely intenselycold cold Ianuary, January, our our trees trees would would be be alive alive of with squirrels for half an hour or an hour. Then they with squirrels for half an hour or an hour. Then they would disappear disappear and and no no more more would would be be seen seen of of them them would until the the next next activity activity period period arrived. arrived. until The same same rule rule holds holds good good for for rabbits, rabbits, foxes foxes or or any any The of the the burrowing burrowing animals animals during during the the winter winter months. months. of Between Solunar Solunarperiods, periods, they they usually usually spend spend their their time time Between in the the warm warm interiors interiors of of their their warrens warrens but, but, with with the the in Solunar period, period, they they generally generallyare areout out in in the the arrival of of a a Solunar arrival o p h in in search search of of food. food. open Many Many times times during during the the hunting hunting season, season, II have have found found rabbits almost almost everywhere everywhere in in certain certain feeding feeding covers covers rabbits during a major Solunar period. Several days later, a during a major Solunar period. Several days later, a search search of of the the same same covers covers between between Solunar Solunar periods periods would reveal revealnot not a a single singlerabbit. rabbit. There Thereare are many many letters letters would in les that in my my files that support support my my own own observations observations in in this this regard. regard. The The larger largeranimals animals also alsoare areapt apt to tobe be on on the the move move durduring Solunar periods, Deer, bear and so on are in ing Solunar periods. Deer, bear and so on are in evievidence dence at at these these times times because because it it is is then then that that they they move move about about in in search search of of food. food. Bear, Bear, of of course, course, hibernate hibernate in in the the winter winter months, months, but but during during the the spring, spring, summer summer and and fall fall they they are are much much in in evidence evidence during during the the activity activity periods. periods. Even Even cows cows in in a a meadow meadow show show some some indications indications of of activity activity during during Solunar Solunar periods. periods. Although Although it it is is dithdifficult cult to to associate associate the the word word "activity" "activity" with with cows cows in in a a

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meadow, there is, nevertheless, a noticeable difference dilterence in their behavior from time to time. For a while, I had occasion several several times each week to drive by a dent. "demonstration farm" of one of the large milk companies. companies. In the field that bordered the road was a herd of about eld thirty thoroughbred Guernseys watch on Cuernseys and I l kept \vatch their behavior whenever I passed the field. eld. Between Solunar periods, most of the herd would be lying down in the shade or standing about, absorbed in rumination, as cows are apt to be. During Solunar periods, most of them would be grazing or moving about the field. eld. In the months that I watched them, I did not see a single single cow lying down during one of the activity periods. In observing cows, cows, it seems to be more important to take note of what they do not do, as their movements are somewhat too leisurely to provide positive results in so far as activity is concerned. Dogs provide interesting subjects for observation. While VVhile it is never wholly satisfactory to consider the class, dogs dogs movements of any individual creature of any class, have certain characteristics that will show positive or negative clearly. W e have had three dogs ncgative results quite clearly. \Ve and a puppy since the Solunar idea first rst came to light and the reactions of thcsc these four have been identical. Our first rst one (after the birth of the Solunar Theory) Theory) was a little wire-haired fox terrier who adopted Beth and Dick one day when she was bringing the boy home from school. The day was bitterly cold and she and the youngster were hurrying home as fast as they could. could, Dick was the first rst to notice the little dog that trotted

along behind them. An hour after they reached the house, house, the little beast was still shivering against our front door, so Beth brought him in and fed him some front thaw him out a bit. Knowing that he must warm milk to thawhim be lost, she looked at his license tag and found that it had been issued in a town away. to\vn at least fifteen fteen miles away. W e notified We noti ed the police and five ve days later the dog's owner showed up, found that Barney had picked out a good home and presented him to us. before turning in, we would let Barney out At night, beiore for his evening run. Usually he would be back, scratchscratchfor ing at the door, within fifteen fteen minutes. Two or three times each month, however, Barney would fail to show up. No amount of whistling or calling made any di differerence, so we would retire without him. Our bedroom was at the rear of the house and Barney, instead of barking at the front door where nobody would hear him, would come and bark under my window, usually at about two in the morning. Not until he heard me moving about would he trot back to the front door and be waiting there for me. He knew he was wrong and acted very penitcnt penitent when I scolded him, but Wrong he kept on making his midnight forays as long as he lived. lived. At that time, I didn't know why he was so persistent about them but I found out later. The next official ot cial Knight dog was a big English setter named Bill. Throughout his puppy years, Bill was turned out in his run in the evening, but when he arrived at the age of discretion \ve we would let him out at the front door each night for his pre-bedtime jaunt. Like front

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Barney, Bill would disappear two or three times a month and we would find nd him curled up at the back door the next morning. \Vith With his heavy coat, weather didi didn't bother him in the least and his guilty conscience kept him from barking to wake us up. He was very guilty about his misbehavior but he did not mend his ways. ways_ Beth and I were talking one night about the similarity of the behavior of the two dogs, so so we checked over Bill's past indiscretions and compared the dates with Tables. W e found that when a major the Solunar Tables. \Ve Solunar period was scheduled to arrive near midnight, that was the time when Bill would fail to show up until morning. After that I would fasten his collar to the chain that slid along an overhead wire. This allowed allowed Bill free run of the yard but no more. I took the trouble to leash him for his evening runs only during the twicetwicemonthly times when major Solunar periods arrived between eleven and one. The rest of the month, Bill was free. Not once after we took the Solunar allowed to run free. periods into account did Bill fail to show up in time to go to bed. The answer to the mysterious midnight runs is evident. The arrival of a Solunar period is nature's nature's notificanoti cation that the time for activity and feeding has come. Dogs have enough of their wild traits left so that they respond to Solunar periods by going "on on the prowl" for the two-hour interval. Iust Just as your dog will turn around before lying down on the living-room two or three times before living-room rug (a heritage from his wild forebears that thus made their beds in the long grass) grass) so he will, as you will learn

you watch him, go on his appointed rounds when a if you solunar progress. Solunar period is in progress. Some dogs are quite restless if they are con confined ned to the house during Solunar periods. With young dogs \Vith particularly this is noticeable. Leafing through my diary the other day, I found this entry: 30th~1941 .-The Solunar period Sunday, April goth, 1941.The (major) came in the morning about 9.30. (major) 9.30. Never Joe, so since we have had him have I seen our puppy, Ioe, filled ambition. Finally, I had to banish him to lled with ambition. the back yard until the activity period had passed and his excess spirits could be worked off. off. Now, at 1 1 2.15, 2 . 1 5, he is sound asleep at my feet and peace is once more restored. Offsetting Oifsetting this, probably will be the criticism that morning is the normal time for puppies to play anyway. anyway. I know that I had it in mind at the time, so I watched Iknow Joe days as the Solunar periIce carefully for a week or ten days nally movods arrived later and later in the morning, finally moving over into the afternoon. afternoon, Watching \\/atching Ioe Joe is not diffidifficult. He and his uncle, Pete-two Petetwo little lemon-and-white lemon-and-white cocker spaniels-practically spanielspraetieally live in my lap. No matter where I go about the house, these two are on my heels like two little shadows. shadows. Only at mealtime (for them) dcsert me in favor of Beth, who feeds them. do they desert Once fed, they are under my feet again for the rest of the day. Ioe carefully for the next week said, I watched Joe As I saitl, or ten days. rst thing in the days. Of course, he was lively first morning as are all healthy youngsters. But as the SoluSolu-

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-he often was nar periods arrived later in the morning, .he sound asleep on the floor oor beside my chair in the office o ice as early as nine or nine-thirty. And that's thats another thing about dogs and the Solunar Theory. My two dogs will curl up on the mg rug near my desk almost any time that I am there. Often they both quietly will go sound asleep so that I actually can walk quietly out of the room without waking them. But I have yet to They see either of them asleep during an activity period. They shut, but they are both alert may be lying down, eyes shut, and quick to detect any move that I make, no matter how quiet I am about it. year. One Two men that I know train bird dogs each year. of them is a professional and he handles as many as seventy-five seventy- ve or a hundred dogs in a season. season. The other is an amateur who trains hunting dogs as a hobby. Usually he has a kennel of five six young dogs to train ve or six each fall. Each of these men has learned that not only are more birds turned up during Solunar periods but the dogs themselves seem to be more alert and on the job than they are at other times. One One day, day, while I was having lunch with a friend at one of our local local clubs, a man sat down at our table and joined the conversation. conversation. I "I thought you might be interested, interested," he said, said, in "in a new way to put the Solunar Tables to use. use. We W e have have been conducting a rather informal campaign for the cats that we find extermination of hunting cats nd along the I carry carry a game "game getter" in the back of my roads at night. I

car and when I find Car nd a cat hunting in the ditch along cat." the road, it's too bad for that eat." "At first At rst I noticed that I would find nd a lot more cats some evenings than I would on other evenings, although there seemed to belittle be little choice so so far as as the weather was Solunar concerned. Then I happened to think of your Solunar
Tables and I began checking up. Offhand, I suppose, I find as many cats during Solunar periods as I I nd five ve times as do at other times. As a matter of fact, with the help of do your little book, I'm running up quite a score of dead cats this spring." I can see, see, before this thing is is done, done, that I will will have for. quite a lot to answer for. atEach year, for the past five years, I have atve or six years, Sportsmen's Show that is held in tended the annual Sportsmens February in the Grand Central Palace on Lexington City. The first floors of Avenue, New York City. rst and second floors devoted, largely, to the display of sportsportthe building are devoted, cages ing goods but on the third floor oor are dozens of cages kinds. holding wild creatures of all kinds. I do not know, but for How I happened on the idea I the past few surprising many of my few years years II have been surprising friends friends with a a rather conclusive demonstration demonstration of how the completely the creatures of the wild respond to the stimulus Solunar influence. stimulus of Solunar all of the the creatures creatures on on For the majority of the time, all the third floor spend their time lying lying on on the the floors floors of of their cages, cages, either asleep asleep or looking bored to death. death. The The only only time to look at the menagerie with any satisfaction

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a t all all is is during during the the course course oi of a a Solunar Solunar period, period, prefera. preferaat blya amajor major period. period. Then Then the theanimals, animals,birds birds and andreptiles reptiles bly are awake awake and and moving moving about about and and it it is is possible possible to to see see are them.Most Most people people will willnot notbelieve believe me me when when II tell tell them them them. the exact time to visit the third floor if they would see the exact time to visit the third oor it they would see the menagerie menagerie at at its its best. best. Never Never do do they they fail fail to to evince evince the surprise when they find that I am right and that the surprise when they nd that I am right and that the animals and and birds birds are are alert alert and and active active just just when when II said said animals they would would be. be. How How those those unhappy, unhappy, caged caged creatures creatures they know that a Solunar period has arrived is more than I1 know that a Solunar period has arrived is more than can say. say. The The Grand Grand Central Central Palace Palace is is built built of of steel steel and and can concrete. All day long, the aisles are jammed with concrete. All day long, the aisles are jammed with thousands of of people, people, and and the the noise, noise, confusion confusionand and dust dust thousands must be most unpleasant for the menagerie. But, in must be most unpleasant for the menageric. But, in spite of of all all these these handicaps, handicaps, there there can can be be no no doubt doubt that that spite every last one of them knows when a Solunar period is in in every last one them knows when a Solunar period is progress, as as their their behavior behavior at at these these times times is is unmistakunmistakprogress, able. able. When observing observing animals, animals, it it must must be be kept kept in in mind mind When that only only the the small small fry, fry, such such as as mice, mice, react react with with anyanythat thing like like the the promptness promptness of of fish or insects. insects. The The larger larger thing sh or animals may may not not show show signs signs oiactivity of activity for for as as much much as as an an animals hour after the fish begin to feed. Solunar influence hour aiter the sh begin to teed. Solunar influence seems to to be be a a cumulative cumulative thing thing and and the the greater greater the the creacreaseems ture's capacity capacity for for thought, thought, the the slower slower it it is is to to react. react. It If this varying varying response "response lag" lag" is is disregarded, disregarded, it it is is often often this difficult to reconcile the results of observations of differdii cult to reconcile the results observations of ditterent lzinds kinds of creatures. creatures. ent

IT rst to ect T IS IS not not easy easy at at first to detect detect any any e effect Solunar periods periods exert exert upon upon normal normal human human beings. beings. that Solunar that Being creatures capable of thought, we have regulated Being creatures capable of thought, we have regulated our lives livesaccording according to to the the way way we we thinlc think they they should should be, be, our entirely independent independent of of any any dictates dictates that that nature nature may may entirely haveset setup upfor forus us prior prior to to our ourpresent present developed "developed" state. state. have Compared with with those those oi of an an animal animal or or a a bird, bird, our our senses senses Compared are dulled dulled so so that that they they are are almost almost useless. useless. By By the the same same are token, our our perceptions perceptions are are so soblunted blunted that that it it is isamazing amazing token, that nature's nature's prornptings promptings can can register register sut sufficiently to that ciently to exert any any in influence upon our our behavior, behavior, one one way way or or the the exert uence upon other. Yet Yet register register they they do, do, in in spite spite of of all all we we have have done done other. or or can can do do to to prevent prevent it. it. To To attempt attempt to to check check the-reaction the.reaction of of an an individual individual against the the Solunar Solunarperiods, periods, from fromhour hour to to hour hour throughthroughagainst out out the the (lay, day, is is a a hopeless hopeless process process that that seldom seldom will will bring bring results results of of any any kind. kind. Too Too many many disturbing disturbing factors factors are are present constantly to permit satisfactory observations present constantly to permit satisfactory observations in in this this way. way. Even Even the the psychological psychological eliect effect of of knowing knowing that we are being watched is enough to render that we are being watched is enough to render such such observations observations completely completely valueless. valueless. However, However, there there are are ways ways in in which which the the behavior behavior of of an an individual individual can can be be shown shown to to have have been been guided guided by by the the stimulus stimulus of of Solunar Solunar in uence. influence. Our exes or Our re reflexes or states states of being being over over which which we we can can 95

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exercise little littleor or no no control control are are the the chinks chinks in in our our armor armor exercise that leave leave us us vulnerable vulnerable to to Solunar Solunar in influence. For in. inthat uence. For stance, if if we we are are sleepy sleepy or or if if we we are are wakeful, wakeful, there there is is stance, little we we can can do do to to alter alter the the situation situation without without the the aid aid of of little medicine or or arti artificial stimulation. If If we we are are cheerful, cheerful, so so medicine cial stimulation. much the better. But if we are not, it is difficult to stimumuch the better. But if we are not, it is di icult to stimulatean anarti artificial stateof of good goodhumor. humor.To T obe be sure, sure,aa cockcocklate cial state tail or two will tend to bring on a more pleasant state of tail or two will tend to bring on a more pleasant state of mind, but but such such treatment treatment is is mechanical mechanical and and not not emaemamind, nating from from within. within. nating Solunar in influence plays its its In the the matter matter of of sleeping, sleeping, Solunar In uence plays part. We W e all all know know that that sometimes sometimes we we fall fall asleep asleep almost almost part. as soon as our heads touch the pillow. Other times, we as soon as our heads touch the pillow. Other times, we are wakeful wakeful and and restless restless and and sleep sleep refuses refuses to to come. come. are These things seem to happen no matter how active we These things seem to happen no matter how active we may have have been been during during a a normal normal day. day. Of Of course, course, where where may some form of activity has been indulged in that is outsome form of activity has been indulged in that is outside the theusual usual routine, routine, then then physical physicalexhaustion exhaustion plays plays its its side part so so that that the the ordinary ordinary rules rules of of behavior behavior are are broken. broken. part But where where we we have have been been living living our our normal normal lives, lives, then, then, But arrives, we we are are sleepy sleepy or or wakeful wakeful accordaccordwhen bedtime arrives, ing to to the the decision decision of of old old Mother Mother Nature. Nature. ing T h e way way its its Works works out out is is this. this. Suppose Suppose your your normal normal The time for turning in happens to be between eleven and time for turning in happens to be between eleven and Solunar period period has has been been in in progress progress for for midnight. If If a a Solunar midnight. the two hours immediately preceding your retirement, the two hours preceding your retirement, you will will find you will will have have di difficulty getting to to you nd that you iculty getting sleep. T h e stimulation of Solunar in influence to which which sleep. The stimulation of Solunar uence to you have have just been been subjected subjected tones tones up up your system system to to you

the point point where where your your body body does does not not need need or or demand demand the restand andsleep. sleep.Of O fcourse, course,the thebehavior behavior of of the thebarometer barometer rest at at the the time time will will play play its its part part in in the thedetermination determination of of the the intensity of of this this stimulation, stimulation, just just as as it it shows shows its its effect effect intensity in the the behavior behavior of of animals animals or or fish, but, by by and and large, large,if if in sh, but, other conditions conditions are are not not too too unfavorable, unfavorable, then then you you Wlll will other be sleepy sleepy or or wakeful wakeful just just as as the the Solunar Solunar schedule schedule haphapbe pens to to decide decide the the matter matter for for you. you. pens _ _ The quality quality of of your your sleepwhether sleep-whether 1t it is is restful restful sleep sleep The or fitful and productive of little genuine rest-seems to or tful and productive of little genuine restseems to Solunar schedule schedule and and the the bebedepend both both upon upon the the Solunar depend havior of of the the barometer barometer (with (with its its accompanying accompanying ararhavior rangement of of atmospheric atmospheric magnetism). magnetism). To T o illustrate, illustrate, rangement assume that that your your alarm alarm clock clock is is set set each each morning morning for for assume seven-thirty. Some Some mornings mornings you you will will awake awake refreshed refreshed seven-thirty. and glad glad to to greet greet aa new new day. day. Other Other mornings mornings will will find and nd you you lethargic, lethargic, slow slow to to awaken awaken and and as as tired tired as as you you were were when nd when you you went went to to bed. bed. As As a a general general rule, rule, you you will will find that when when a a Solunar that Solunar period period has has been been in in progress progress for for an an hour hour or or so so before before you you awake, awake, you you will will wake wake up up feeling feeling completely rested and ready for work. Vt/hen sevencompletely rested and ready for work. When seventhirty thirty arrives arrives just just before before the the beginning beginning of of a a Solunar Solunar period, nd it period, then then it it is is that that you you will will find it both both unpleasant unpleasant and and difficult difficult to to get get out out of of bed. bed. Animals ts of Animals and and birds birds do do not not disregard disregard the the bene benefits of the the Solunar Solunar schedule. schedule. They They take take advantage advantage of of what what nature nature provides provides for for them them and, and, consequently, consequently, are are all all the the better Of course, course, there there is is always always a a certain certain amount amount better for for it. it. Of of of activity activity among among wild wild life life at at dawn dawn and and again again at at dusk. dusk.

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Butthe theintensity intensityof of this thisactivity activityvaries variesin in direct directproper;-_ proporBut tion with with the the favorable favorable or or unfavorable unfavorable status status of of the the tion Solunarschedule. schedule. Solunar If you youplan plan to tocheck checkup upon onyour your personal personalreactions reactions so so If far as sleep and the Solunar periods are concerned, don't far as sleep and the Solunar periods are concerned, don't Solunarperiods periodsbebemake the themistake mistakeof of looking lookingup upthe theSolunar make forehand. If you do, you will influence your conclusions forehand. If you do, you will influence your conclusions in spite spite of of all all you you can can do do to to prevent prevent it. it. Keep Keep aa record record in of your reactions and check them against the Solunar of your reactions and check them against the Solunar schedule afterward. afterward.Also, Also, in in forming formingyour your conclusions, conclusions, schedule do not not neglect neglect to to take take all all other other factors factors into into considconsiddo eration. Artificial stimulation (such as too much coferation. Artificial stimulation (such as too much coffee), the the trend trend of of the the barometer, barometer, the the condition condition of of the the fee), weather, your state of mind (worried or calm)-all weather, your state of mind (worried or calm)--all these things things have have their their effects. effects. If If you you plan plan to to keep keep a a thesc record of your findings about yourself, be sure to conrecord of your ndings about yourself, be sure to consider all all of of these these factors factorsand and make make suitable suitable allowances. allowances. sider Being busy busy during during most most of of my my waking waking hours, hours, about about Being the only only chance chance II have have to to do doany any reading reading is is after after II turn turn the in. Some Somenights nights II find find that that lI can can read read inde indefinitely-right in. nitely-right through to breakfast, if I were foolish enough to do do so. so. through to breakfast, if I were foolish enough to Other nights nights II have have dif difficulty reading more more than than aa page page Other culty reading or two before growing sleepy. Now, I lead a fairly wellor two before growing sleepy. Now, I lead a fairly wellordered existence. existence. During During the the winter winter months months my my mornmornordered ings are taken up with my mail and attention to office ings are taken up with my mail and attention to 0iiiC6 work. If If II must must go go downtown, downtown, II usually usually do do so so immediimmediwork. ately after lunch. Then I work on manuscripts until ately after lunch. Then I work on manuscripts until about four, four, sign sign my my mail mail and and take take a a nap nap for for an an hour hour or or about so, to to be be fresh fresh for for work work in in the the evening. evening. From From two two to to five so, ve hours each each evening evening are are spent spent on on manuscripts. manuscripts. That That corcerhours tainly is is a a quiet quiet existence existence and and a a regular regular one, one, with with just just tainly

about the ort being the same same amount amount of of e effort being expended expended on on the work of each day. Yet the variation in my bodily the work of each day. Yet the variation in my bodily need for for sleep sleep and and rest rest is is astonishing astonishing when when aa careful careful need checkon onit itis iskept. kept. check Beth is is even even more more Solunar "Solunar conscious conscious" than than II am. am. Beth She Sheresponds responds to to aa major major Solunar Solunarperiod period as as completely completely as as any any trout trout in in rriy my pet pet Loyalsoek Loyalsock Creek. Creek. Unless Unless she she takessleeping sleeping potions potions out outof of all allproportion proportion to t oher her size, size, takes she just can not go to sleep after a S0lunar_per_iod has she just can not go to sleep after a Solunar period has been in in progress progress for for aa couple coupleof of hours. hours. Again, Again, if if aa _SolSolbeen iinar unar period period has has not not been been in in progress progressfor for seven sevenor or eight eight hours prior prior to tothe thetime timeshe shetums turns in in (Im (I'm talking talkingabout about hours major then nothing nothing short shortof of an an outright outright major periods periods now) now) , ,then calamity will willkeep keepher her awake. awake.Her Herlife lifeis isas aswell wellordered ordered calamity as mine mine and, and, try try as as II will, will, II can can find no other other possible possible as nd no explanation explanationof of her her pronounced pronounced tendency tendency to tosleep sleepor ornot not to Sleep, sleep,as asthe the case casehappens happens to tobe. be. to You You know know that that you you feel feelbetter, better, more more alive, alive,keen keen and and alert alert on on some some days days than than you you do do on on others. others. Have Have you you ever ever noticed noticed that that this this state stateof of alertness alertnessvaries variesas asthe the day day progresses? progresses?Some Somemornings mornings you you can can turn turn out out an an inordiinordinate nate amount amount of of work work at at your your desk. desk. Complex Complex matters matters that that have have been been bothering bothering you you for for days days seem seem to to clarify clarify themselves themselves so so easily easily that that you you wonder wonder why why the the solution solution had had not not come come to to you you long long ago. ago. Then Then you you go go to to lunch. lunch. Regardless Regardless of of what what you you have have eaten, eaten, you you return return to to your your desk desk with with little little zest zest and and the the afternoon afternoon drags drags interinterminably. minably. Conversely, Conversely, you you will will have have trouble trouble getting getting under under way way on on other othermornings. mornings. Your Your secretary, secretary, whom whom you you regard regard sesecretly as a pearl without price, seems dull and inattencretly as a pearl without price, seems dull and inatten-

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tive. tive. Your employees employees or associates associates bother you with with stupid stupid questions and nothing goes goes the the way way it should. should. As As often as as not, not, this this upset condition condition wears wears itself out out as as the the day nish the day progresses progresses and and you you finish the afternoon afternoon as as fresh fresh as as a daisy and nd that, instead of being content to settle a daisy and find that, of being content to settle in in your your easy easy chair chair for for the the evening, you you feel feel more more like like going going places places and and doings doings things. things. When When some some of these these extreme a note note of of them, them, as as to to extreme days days come come along, along, make make a time and and behavior, and and check them them later later against against the the Solunar Solunar schedule. schedule. Some Some individuals individuals are are extremely extremely sensitive sensitive to to Solunar Solunar influence. In a building where I once had my influence. In a building where I once had my office, office, there there was was an an elevator elevator man man who who was was just just about about as as dedependable Solunar Tables. Tables. Over Over the the pendable as as a a copy copy of of the the Solunar months months and and years years that that II rode rode up up and and down down in in his his car, car, II found found that that by by speaking speaking to to him, him, observing observing the the manner manner and and tone tone of of his his replies replies and and his his general general behavior, behavior, II could could come come fairly fairly close close to to telling telling just just how how the the Solunar Solunar schedschedule ule stood stood at atthe the moment moment without without consulting consulting the the Solunar Solunar Tables. Tables. This This man, man, of of course, course, was was unusual. unusual. As As a a matter matter of fact, he is the only individual I have known of fact, he is the only individual I have known who who shows shows clean-cut clean-cut reactions reactions from from hour hour to to hour. hour. \Ve are W e know know that that insane insane people ~eople are affected affected by by the the moon moon in in its its monthly monthly phases, phases, at at least least that that is is the the view view of of many many who who are are in in a a position position to to know know what what they they are are talktalking ing about. about. Our Our word word lunacy "lunacy" is is derived derived from from this this phenomenon. phenomenon. Recent Recent experiments experiments seem seem to to indicate indicate that the insane react to the day-to-day cycle of that the insane react to the day-to-day cycle of activity activity periods periods and and rest rest periods periods just just as as do do the the creatures creatures of of the the wild. Unfortunately, little work of any real value has wild. Unfortunately, little work of any real value has

done on on this this particular application application of the the Solunar Solunar been done Theory. It It should make make an an interesting interesting study. study. Theory. Solunar influence influence on on phase of the the effect effect of of Solunar Another phase an individual lies lies in in the the variation variation of the the muscular muscular cocoan ordination of that that individual individual before, before, during during and and after after ordination Solunar periods. People, after all, are highly developed Solunar periods. People, after all, are highly developed mammals and and there there is is no no physical physical reason reason why why they they mammals Solunar stimulus just as other should not respond to should not respond to Solunar stimulus just as other mammals do, do, always always making making allowance allowance for for the the fact fact that that mammals the senses of the average human are dulled in comparithe senses of the average human are dulled in comparison with with those those of of animals. animals. This This intensi intensification of cocoson cation of ordination shows shows up up in in skeet skeet scores, scores, golf golf scores, scores,batting batting ordination averages, and, and, for for that that matter, matter, all all athletic athletic events. events. Your Your averages, own experience experience will will tell tell you you how how your your golf golf game gameor or your your own tennis will will vary vary from from day day to to day. dzy. Fortunately Fortunately the the games games tennis of your your opponents opponents are are similarly similarly affected. affected. of With groups groups of of people people or or with with large large gatherings gatherings such such With as luncheons, luncheons, meetings, meetings, theatre theatre audiences audiences and and so so on, on, as Solunar effects are definitely noticeable. In the Real Solunar e ects are de nitely noticeable. In the Real Estate Department Department of of the the bank bank where where II was was employed, employed, Estate there were at one time one hundred and thirty-seven there were at one time one hundred and thirty-seven people. Most Most of of these these employees employees worked worked together together in in a a people. large, open office that occupied an entire floor of the large, open office that occupied an entire floor of the building. tempo of of building. The The collective collective mental mental attitude attitude or or tempo that department varied concurrently with the Solunar that department varied concurrently with the Solunar schedule. schedule. Being Being a a member member of of the the department, department, and and also also interested in their reactions from a Solunar standpoint, interested in their reactions from a Solunar standpoint, l1had hadample ampleopportunity opportunityto towatch watch them them every everyday dayof of the the week for several years. Whcn a Solunar period had been week for several years. When a Solunar period had been in progress progress for for an an hour hour or or two, two, everybody everybodywore wore aa smile smile in

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and the hum and bustle indicated that an extraordinary extraordinary amount of work was being done. done. Between Solunar Solunar periods, the activity would settle down to normal. settle normal. There There would be few few smiles smiles and little little going going about from from desk desk to to desk. desk. Sometimes, Sometimes, if the weather were were bad and the barometer falling, falling, the group would be almost silent, silent, with only a mild flurry urry of activity and joviality during the Solunar periods. periods. Theatrical Theatrical people people know of this group reaction, reaction, alalthough I I do do not recall recall ever ever having having seen seen it accounted accounted for for in any way. way. Actors Actors are are content content to identify identify the the two two extremes as warm house" and cold house, meanextremes as "warm and "cold house," meaning, ing, of course, course, responsive responsive and and unresponsive audiences. Solunar uence will Solunar in influence will keep keep an an audience audience on on its its mental toes. toes. Laughs Laughs are are frequent and and applause applause is is ready ready and and sustained. sh, response sustained. lust Just as as it is is with with a a school school of fish, response to uence seems to Solunar Solunar in influence seems to to be contagious contagious among among people. people. Even Even the the actors actors themselves themselves feel feel it it and and the the perperformance ash that formance comes comes o off with a a snap snap and and flash that would would be be impossible impossible under the the adverse adverse conditions conditions of of bad bad weather weather and and unfavorable allocation of Solunar Solunar periods. periods. Theatrical Theatrical producers producers might do do well well to to take take this this reaction into into account account when when scheduling scheduling their their opening "opening nights." A A new play play starts starts on on its its precarious precarious way way with with enough enough handicaps, goodness knows, without the added handicaps, goodness knows, without the added hazard hazard of exposing rst night exposing it it to to a a cold "cold house" on on the the first night of of its its existence. existence. II have have seen seen the the same same cycle cycle work work for for and and against against mc me on on the the lccture lecture platform. platform. Knowing Knowing about about it it in in advance advance is is a a help, help, of of course, course, but but it it is is much much easier easier to to talk talk to to a a stimustimu-

lated audience audience than to to a sluggish sluggish one. one. Some Some years years ago ago Iated I was scheduled to address the Kiwanis Club of Orange, I was the Kiwanis Club Jersey. While While we were were eating eating our our lunch, lunch, II noticed New Iersey. that there was was a a tremendous tremendous amount amount of joviality and and calling back and and forth forth between tables. tables. When the the time calling for singing arrived, they fairly made the ceiling for singing arrived, fairly ceiling bulge with the the exuberance exuberance of their chorus. chorus. I I spoke spoke of this this to to with their president, president, who sat next to to me. me. they always always sing sing like like that? that?" "Do they "They're pretty good as a rule," he said, said, but "but lI don't They're good as a he know when II have have heard heard them them sing sing like like they they have have know today." And there there you have have it. it. Prior Prior to to that meeting, meeting, a a major major And had been in in progress progress for for about about two two Solunar period had hours. VVeather Weather and and barometric barometric conditions conditions had been been hours. ideal and and the the time of the the month month was was the the dark dark of of the the ideal moon when when Solunar moon uence is Solunar in influence is at at its its strongest. strongest. No No wonder the the Kiwanis Kiwanis Club Club was was all all good good fellowship fellowship and and wonder sang its its collective collective head head 05. off. And And I, I, ungrateful ungrateful creature creature sang that II am, am, sat sat there there and and thought thought of of the the trout trout in in the the pools pools that and runs runs of of the the Brodhead, Brodhead, wishing wishing that that II could could be and be wading y rod wading thosc those cool cool and and friendly friendly waters, waters, fly rod in in hand, hand, instead instead of of talking talking to to a a lot lot of of men men who who might might or or might might not not he be intcrcsted interested in in what what II had had to to say say about about the the SolunarTheory. Solunar Theory. A A few fewyears years before before this this was was written, written, a a doctor doctor in in Ohio Ohio conducted an interesting bit of research. In his work conducted an interesting bit of research. In his work as as an an obstetrician, obstetrician, he he had had ample ample opportunity opportunity to to collect collect his his data. data. On O n the the premise premise that that the the human human animal animal functions functions more more thoroughly thoroughly and and efficiently efficientlyduring during Solunar Solunar periods periods

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than at at other times, he he conducted a a survey survey of of some some two two thousand thousand maternity maternity cases cases to which he he had access. access. Of Of course, course, there there are are far far too too many intervening factors factors to to have have the actual actual time time of birth birth mean much from from a a Solunar Solunar standpoint. standpoint. But he he reasoned reasoned that there there should should be be a a relarelationship there somewhere, so he made inquiry and kept there somewhere, so he made inquiry and kept a a record record of the the time time of the the onset onset of of labor labor in in each each of the the two thousand cases. His ndings showed that, in two cases. His findings showed that, in 56 56 per cent cent of these maternity cases, cases, labor labor had had begun begun durduring rst glance, Solunar period. period. At first glance, that that seems seems like like a a ing a a Solunar small small margin, margin, but when when you you consider consider that that this this 56 56 per per cent cent is is included included in in only only six sixhours hours out out of of the the twenty-four, twenty-four, it it begins begins to to look look more more convincing. convincing. Reduced Reduced to to the the simsimplest terms, Solunar periods periods an an efficiency efficiency terms, it it shows shows for for Solunar ratio 33 to 9.33 to 2.44almost 2.44-almost four four to to one. one. ratio of of 9. Salesmen, Salesmen, at at least least a a few few of of them, them, are are learning learning that that Solunar in uence seems to have its effect upon Solunar influence seems to have its effect upon the the receptivity receptivity of of a a prospect. prospect. Drop Drop into into any any motion-picture motion-picture theatre theatre in in New New York York City City on on a a rainy rainy afternoon afternoon and and you you will will see see that that a a large large percentage percentage of of the the audience audience is is comcomposed posed of of mensalesmen, men-salesmen, for for the the most most part, part, who who have have learned learned that that it it does does not not pay pay to to call call on on aa prospect prospect when when weather weather conditions conditions are are bad. bad. One One insurance insurance salesman salesman of of my my acquaintanccan acquaintance-an ardent ardent anglcrcarries angler-carries a a copy copy of of the the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables in in his his brief brief case case as as an an integral integral part part of of his his equipment. equipment. Ile He assures assures me me that that he he gets gets better better results results if if he he plans plans his his important important calls calls in in conformance conformance with with the the Solunar Solunar schedule. schedule. Some received an an amusing amusing letter letter from from aa Some years years ago ago II received man in Philadelphia. Isle is employed as sales manager man in Philadelphia. He is employed as sales manager

of a a concern concern that manufactures envelopes. envelopes. There There was was of one accounta account-a mail-order mail-order housethat house-that had had given given his his one company no no end end of of trouble trouble for for many many years. years. The The buyer buyer eompany was a cross-grained individual who seemed to take great was a cross-grained individual who seemed to take great in throwing throwing salesmen salesmen out out of of his his o office. No shipment shipment joy in ice. No ever was received without some criticism from him and and ever was received without some criticism from him the account, account, a a large large one, one, carried carried with with it it a a headache headache of of the equal magnitude. equal magnitude. The sales salesmanager, manager, being being an an angler angler and and familiar familiar with with The the Solunar Theory, issued orders to his staff that this the Solunar Theory, issued orders to his staff that this particular account account was was not not to to be be called called upon, upon, teleteleparticular phoned to to or or in in any any way way touched touched without without clearance clearance phoned Solunar Tables Tables being granted. granted. Then Then he he consulted consulted his his Solunar being and permitted permitted a a salesman salesman to to call call on on this this buyer buyer only only and after a a major major Solunar Solunar period period had had been been in in progress progress for for after about an an hour, hour, and and on on days days that that fell fell during during the the dark dark of of about the moon moon and and the the first quarter. After After a a test test period period of of the rst quarter. nearly a a year, year, the the record record showed showed that that not not only only had had this this nearly account given given them them no no trouble trouble during during that that period; period; his his account salesmen had had been been well well received, received, and and the the size size of of the the salesmen orders had had increased. increased. orders It is is unfortunate unfortunate that that reactions reactions to to Solunar Solunar influence influence It arenot not prccise, precise,measurable measurable things things that that take take place placealways always are with the the same same intensity intensity and and identical identical characteristics. characteristics. with Uncomplicated by by fluctuations in atmospheric atmospheric prespresUncomplicated uctuations in sure, sure, individual individual temperament, temperament, temperature, temperature, condition condition of of health health and and a a thousand thousand and and one one things things that that go go to to make the the problem problem complex, complex, our our investigations investigations would would make probably be be much much more more conclusive, conclusive, from from the the standstandprobably point of of physics, physics,than than they they are areat at present. present. However, However, we we point

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have the advantage of knowing most of the disturbing factors and thus can make allowances for them. In your factors own observations, providing you are interested enough to make any, always always keep these complicating factors in mind. Only in that way waj7 can satisfactory results be obtained.

LE proof of the pudding is in the eating. IHE So I have confined con ned this account almost entirely to So far, l man's opinion-my own. Perhaps it might be just one man's opinionmy own. as well to see what some other people think about the Solunar Theory. At the risk of having this chapter sound like a patentmedicine catalogue, catalogue, these are some of the many hundreds of letters in my "fan-mail7' fan-mail" file le that might be both amusing and interesting. As I understand the term fan "fan mail," "fan7' "fanatic." If that is mail," fan is an abbreviation of fanatic. the case, then fan "fan mail" most certainly applies to letters about the Solunar Theory. People evidently can't can't stay lukewarm about it. They denounce it or praise it with all the fervor that can be embraced by the words at their command. Fan mail seems to vary in length in direct proportion to the writer's temperament and the amount of work he has on hand at the moment. Individually, these letters prove very little: collectively, collectively, they add up to such a preponderant mass of con rmatory testimony that confirmatory thcir vcry weight of numbers renders them irrefutable, irrefutable. their very Most of them are but a lirre line or two and it is a rare mail indeed that does not contain at least one or two of variety. Leafing at random through the stack of this variety.
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nd such things as letters on my desk beside me, I find thesethese. . ,. .. have fished shed every day for ten weeks by your guide, and find nd that it works perfect. I might as well leave my rods at home as go vacationvacationing without the tables. tables. dissatisfaction than I ever .. . . ..have more sport and less dissatisfaction did before I used it. Have followed it for three years and I have as much sport with less time than I would have had without Wit.hout it. . . . a great help to the man whose fishing ... shing hours are limited. Used one last year. Found it right to the minnet. Will bye one every year from now on. . . .. . . they bite better on the Solunar time table than at other times. I use them religiously and they work. haven't missed once when They sure work out fine. ne. I havent the air pressure was O.K. OK. . general guide to get all there is out of fishing .. . .. best general shing ever conceived. conceived. ,. . .. . I told them in a more or less spirit of fun that I could tell them exactly what time they caught their fish sh and incidentally did. did. Every quail that we killed in three days of hunting was killed during Solunar periods. periods. I could write all day about the experiences I have had following water. folIowing the tables for both salt and fresh water. It is needless for me to remind you of their remarkable accuracy, accuracy. THEY VVORK1ooi'r! [This one was a telegram.] telegram] WORK-loo%! [This . 200 small go% of . .. . . taking over zoo sninll mouth ruouth bass on plugs. 90% them were caught on Book "Book Time," Time." If rnorc more sportsmen used these tables, they would have disappointn~ents. fewer disappointments. I do not know how I could get along without it.

And so on, indefinitely. inde nitely. There are hundreds in my file le and many more that have been thrown away, reluctantly, in the interests of conservation of filing ling space. Some of the writers are classi classified ed in the I-knew-it-alll-knew-it-allthe-time department. Like this for instance:

. .. .. . they sure are a wonderful book, for that's that's the way I l always fish but I would always have to figure always sh gure it our for myself. myself.
There is nothing new under the sun. Not all of these letters are confined con ned to fishing. shing. Here are two that apply to hunting.
Two of my friends went rabbit hunting Christmas day with a very good hound. They went to a very good : jo in the morning. They huntplace, arriving about I 11 1:30 ed over a good piece of country without seeing a rabbit and were returning about 2:15 r>.M. P.M. over the same same ground when suddenly the rabbits appeared. They got o'clock. I made a little bet that ten in all before j:oo 3:00 oclock. the tables would show a major period then. You can imagine my satisfaction on arriving home and checking the time. It was a bulls-eye. bulls-eye.

This man's comment is interesting in that it describes so completely the behavior of rabbits during the cold weather. As I have remarked earlier, they stay in their warm warrens most of the time, only coming out to feed with the arrival of a Solunar period. Here flere is another one that deals with hunting.
Since Since the first rst of the year (this (this letter was dated January setter has routed two deer on differdifferIanuary 15th) 15th) my scttcr ent days. days. They were feeding feeding high on the hill above the

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creek bottom where they yard. As soon as I got my new copy of the Solunar Tables, I checked back on the times. One deer was feeding on the minor period and the other on the major. The following is a letter that was written by an angler who is well known in salt-water circles circles tor for his exploits off ]ersey Jersey and Block Island. In with tuna and broadbill oft the spring he does some trout fishing, shing, I imagine to fill ll in the time until the big fellows are running o offshore. shore. A sporting-goods dealer, wishing to have an impartial and reliable opinion on the Solunar Tables, wrote to this man, asking what he thought ot of them. This is what he answered: I am completely sold on Solunar Tables and I have kept track of every fresh and salt-water fish sh I have caught for three years. Every trout was taken on the table and 95% of the salt-water salt-water stutt. stuff. T h e Commercial saltwater salt-water o5% The fishermen shermen I know arrange their dory launchings launehings so as to be on the grounds on the zero hour and are thoroughly sold.

A good share of ot my letters are of the business-letter type7-terse type, terse and to the point. Now and then, however, I receive one that has been written by a man who knows what he wants to say and how to go about saying it.
Dear Mr. Knight, I suppose this is pretty much old stu stuff to you, but your Solunar Tables work just as well on Texas Bass as they do on Eastern trout. I have used your Solunar tables for the past three years, and a check shows me that over 90% go% of my fish sh were caught during Solunar Periods.

One day last Summer when the local fishing shing seemed to have gone definitely to the bow-wows, and no fish de nitely sh were being caught by anybody, I discovered that the Solunar Tables showed that the fish sh would bite between 12:30 noon and 2: jo that at-ternoon, afternoon, and as I could get 12:30 2:30 offat that time, I grabbed my rod oft rocl and made inade for the local away. lake, only a short drive away. When I arrived at the lake a bunch of the boys were V\7hen panting-it was Mid-Summer and lying in the shade panting~it hot enough to bake your brains out-and outand when they saw me assembling my rod and getting ready to go fishshing, they gasped in amazement. They knew me well "book fisherman," enough to know that I was no book sherman," but a hard-headed hardheaded guy who could out and get his fish sh with any of them, and they didn't didnt know what to make of it. They had been out at daybreak, throwing everything but a quarter's worth of pork chops at the bass, and had no luck whatever, and were waiting to see if it the durn things would bite at sundown. And when they saw I proposed to go out in the middle of a blazing, cloudless day, when the fish anyway, well, they sh weren't werent biting anyway, quite frankly opined that the heat had finally nally gotten me, and I had blown my topper. I rowed out to a weed bed a short distance away and started casting. It was so hot that I was sousing my head with water, and as I was wearing canvas sneakers, I had to keep sticking my feet over the side to cool them o . Yet in less than an hour I was back at the dock with off. three beautiful bass, and you should have seen the expressions on the faces faces of those \vise wise guys. And to add nishing touches to their ignominy, the complete and finishing two old ladies who had been anchored to a stump, dunking minnows for crappie not tar far from where I had been casting, both landed a bass weighing better than two pounds while I was casting.

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Naturally they asked me how come, and I showed them my Solunar Tables, and explained what you said about the fish sometimes biting during the middle of sh sometimes the day during the dark of the Moon, and I made some Solunar converts converts then and there. After all, all, you can't quarrel with results. results.
The T h e receipt of a letter like that makes up for quite a few hard knocks from other sources. Not all fan mail is sent to me, particularly if it hapshare of that sort pens to be of a critical nature. A good share goes to the newspaper columnists or to the editors of the outdoor magazines. One fellow from Sterling, Kansas, had a lot of fun writing to the editor of Outdoor Life, kidding him, and me, about one of my articles on the Solunar Theory. Theory. Neither the editor nor I did anything about that letter. We didn't have to. A champion W e didn't of the Solunar Theory read the critic's critics letter when it outdoor Life and he took up the was published in Outdoor cudgels in my defense. They had quite a time of it, calling names in the pages of each edition of the magazine for some time afterward. There is still another class class of fan mail, one that is designed to make my life miserable. That they do not succeed is perhaps the most favorable commentary of all on the reliability of the Solunar Theory. Beth and I refer to them as guess-when "guess-when" letters. In their milder form, the guess-when" "guess-when" letters are like this one.
1937, at 7 A.M. A.M. (Daylight Saving Time), Time), (Daylight Saving On ]uly July 28, 1937, I caught a 28 [He had 28 pound striped bass from the sea. [He

given me his fishing shing location previously in the letter.] Could you inform me as to the time you recorded the major Solunar period for that day? day? I replied that the major period for that day was from 5.5; A.M. 1r.1vr. to 7.55 A.M., 5.55 A.M.,daylight time, showing that the bass was caught on schedule. h e gentleman was kind schedule. T The enough to order a copy of the Solunar Tables. T h e more formidable "guess-when" The guess-when letters are not as liberal with information as the one about the striped ihea bass. The T h e following one is more true to type, the idea being to put me "on on the spot" good and solid before telling me how wrong I am about fish habits. sh and their habits. I am quoting this series in toto, all but the name and address.
Dear Sir:SiriNot wanting to buy a pig in a poke I would like to test your Solunar Tables on actual fishing shing trips. On ]uly July 1st, st, 1939, 1939, I fished shed nearly all day and got the 1Y2 hours. most fish, sh, in fact all the fish sh in 11/2 July 4th all were caught in about 1 1 hour. Can On Iuly you tell me the time this happened. If your book tallies with these days I will buy one. I happened to be away on an extended vacation when this letter arrived, but my secretary, who had seen quite a few of these letters, took it upon herself to answer it. 3 This is the reply that we received after he had read her letter.

Dear Sir: Sir: days I ask about, the first On the two days rst and fourth sh, small mouth bass, of ]uly. July. The actual time the fish,

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started to to hit was was 1:30 1: 30 RM. P.M. The The Solunar Solunar Tables Tables said said 1:40 erence. 1 :40 P.M., P.M., ten ten minutes minutes di difference. On [4th] they they hit hit at at 3:00 3:00 P.M. P.M. the the table table said said On Iuly July [4th] 3:20 sher3:20 RM. P.M. Very Very close, close, close close enough enough that that every every fisherman 5ocin in the the book. book. man should should invest invest 50 Written across the top of this Written across the top of this last last is is a a note note from from my mv secretary. secretary. Boy! "Boy! Am Am II relieved. relieved. II sent sent the the right right times. times. Missy. Missy." Of the the many many guess-when" "guess-when" letters letters that that II have have rereceived, have been been able able to to state state the the times times ceived, II think think that that II have of shing at 95 per per cent cent of of the the cases cases of the the best best fishing a t least least in in 9; presented, I'll miss, miss, but but not not often often and and presented. Now Now and and then then I'll usually by a reasonably narrow margin. More frequentusually by a reasonably narrow margin. More frequently nd that that the the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables are are exactly exactlyright. right. ly II find The reason for this high percentage of accuracy T h e reason for this high percentage of accuracy is is not a m called called upon upon to to indicate indicate the the not obscure. obscure. Usually Usually II am time sh were caughttime of of day day when when large large numbers numbers of of fish were caughtrecord record catches. catches. For For a a man man to to make make a a record record catch catch of of sh, he fish, he must must have have record record conditions conditions existing existing at at the the timefavorable time-favorable weather, weather, temperatures, temperatures, water water condiconditions tions and and so so on. on. Moreover, Moreover, included included in in these these other other adadvanhageous i.e., that that vantageous conditions conditions must must be be that that vital vital one, one, i.e., the sh are the fish are disposed disposed to to feed. feed. Other Other conditions conditions not not bebeing unfavorable, the sh will feed during Solunar periing unfavorable, the fish will feed during Solunar periods odsand, and, as as aa rule, rule, II can't can't miss. miss. Only once have I had a to Only once have I had a guess-when "guess-when" letter letter sent sent to an aneditor. editor.The T h ewriter writer was wasnot not acquainted acquainted with with the theSoluSolunar narTables, Tables,but buthe hehad had read readan anarticle articleabout aboutthe theSolunar Solunar Theory, Theory, so sohe hewrote wrote to to the theeditor editorof ofOutdoor OutdoorLife, Life, statstating his case and requesting that it be passed along ing his case and requesting that it be passed along to to me. me. His Hisletter, letter, in inpart, part, was wasas asfollows: follows:

o f

Here is is one one II wonder wonder if if he he could could answer. answer. \Vas Was hunthuntHere ing deer deer last last fall fall in in Northern Northern Michigan. Michigan. Hunted Hunted conconing tinuously without without success successfrom from Nov. Nov. 11gth 5th until until ThanksThankstinuously killed a a zoo zoo pound pound buck. buck. giving. On On Thanksgiving Thanksgiving II killed giving. There was was no no other other hunter hunter in in the the neighborhood, neighborhood, and and There the buck buck was was just sauntering sauntering around. around. What What time time of of day day the did II kill kill him? him? did That is is a a rather rather tough tough assignment. assignment. It I t is is not not dilheult difficult That to predict predict what what a a large large group group of of animals animals or or fish will be be to sh will doing a t a certain time of a certain day. Group reaction doing at a certain time of a certain day, Group reaction is quite quite clean-cut clean-cut and and nearly nearly always always runs runs true true to to form. form. is But the the behavior behavior of of one one animal animal alone, alone, and and that that animal animal But a deer deer that that has has lived lived through through two two weeks weeks of of the the hunting hunting a by many many season, is is more more than than likely likely to to be be in influenced season, uenced by extraordinary factors. factors. However, However, the the writer writer of of the the letter letter extraordinary stated that thathe he was was the theonly onlyhunter hunter in inthe theneighborhood. neighborhood. stated Alsohe hesaid saidthat thatthe thebuck buck was wasjust "just sauntering saunteringaround." around." Also Evidently the the animal animal had had not not been been disturbed disturbed or or frightfrightEvidently ened and was going about his ordinary daily business. ened and was going about his ordinary daily business. wrote to to At all all events, events, II had had to to assume assume that that he he was. was. II wrote At Solunar Tables, and said the man, after consulting my the man, after consulting my Solunar Tables, and said that he he should should have have killed killed his his buck buck at at about about eight eight that o'clock in the morning, Standard time. This is the reo'clock in the morning, Standard time. This is the reply, again again in in part: part: ply, want to tocongratulate congratulateyou. you.The The Yousure suredid didit. it.And And IIwant You 9:oo A.M., A.M.,daylight daylight saving saving time time [which, [which, of of time \vas was ozoo time course,is is 8:00 8:00a.M., A.M., Standard time]. time]. II could couldhardly hardlybebecourse, Standard opened your yourletter. letter. lievemy myeyes eyeswhen when II opened lieve Fanmail mailhas hastaught taughtme meaanumber numberof ofimportant importantthings things Fan and and it it has has found found many many friends friends for for me me in in various various parts parts of of the the globe. globe. Before Before this this beastly beastly war war broke broke out, out, II had had

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active correspondents in England, Scotland, France, Chile, Peru, Panama, Hawaii, Norway, Finland, Iceland, China, the Philippines, North Africa, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. From fan mail I have become acquainted with the huchen and the grayling of the mountain torrents of Austria and Bavaria or what used to be Austria and Bavaria before Schickelgriiber and his Third Reich took over. over. I have learned of the habits and phenomenal growth of the brown trout and the rainbow of Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Peru. les are snapshots of monster catfish, cat sh, Goliath In my files and Nile perch from the waters of the upper Nile in shing trips in North Africa. I have taken imaginary fishing quest of crayfish off British cray sh and stone crabs on the reefs oil Honduras; for exotic salt-water denizens with my Chinese friend from Penang, Straits Settlements; Settlements; for hognosed mullet in the picturesque mountain streams of the island of Jamaica. Iamaica. Some day, when the world is once more a fit t place in which to live, I may visit these places. Until then these fish sh will live in the bright waters of my imagination where their pictures have been painted by the writers of my ever-growing ever-growing file le of fan mail. It is extremely gratifying now and then to find nd a man who can appreciate the full use of the Solunar Tables. This letter came one day, all unannounced, and I have treasured it ever since. A man must love and understand the outdoors to be able to write a letter like this one.
so much to say to you about my experiences I have so

~roblem with the Solunar Tables that the biggest problem will be boiling it down. I've slipped into a patch of woods and sat down when seemingly there wasn't a living thing in the woods. This breathless silence would continue until the Solunar ~eriod period would come in. Then rather gradually the whole woods would come to life. life. Birds would begin to sing eviand move around, around. squirrels would go on the move, evidentally in search of food. North of us in Kiscinsko County lies Wawasee V\'awasee Lake, the largest in the state. Around this large lake at various points, canals or slips "slips" have been constructed, serving as passageways for boats from cottages located back a ways from the lake. These canals are shallow and the bass move into them in the Spring. Spring. \Vl-ren When the water rises to a certain temperature, they will strike a top-water bait after dark. ve of us went up to one of these canals One night five P.M. on Wawasee, VVawasee, arriving there about seven-thirty r=.M. W e fished from then until about eleven P.M. P.M. beWe shed hard from r>.r\r. the major fore any of us got a strike. At eleven P.M. Solunar period came in and the bass began to strike furiously until about one A.M. A.M. Had I not known about Solunar periods we would undoubtedly have quit and in. come home before the period came in. O n April 16th 3 bass on a DarOn 16th this year, I landed 1 1; devle Imp during Solunar time. Thrcc Three of these fish sh went home with me and the rest went back in the water so they'd there rrcxt next time, maybe. O n this particular tlrcyd be thcre On day there were a lot of ducks on orr the lake and I remarked to my partner that when the Solunar period came in, the air sccrrrcd seemed full full of flying ducks. ducks. Before this time they had all been sitting on the water. I have noticed from time to time that during a Solunar period ducks are nrove. restless and on the move.

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Recently I purchased one one of the new barometers barometers and I believe believe with the aid of this instrument and and the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables I will have have most of the answers. answers. There There is is no doubt that this this man drains drains to its its dregs dregs his cup of enjoyment in in the the outdoors. outdoors. Surely, Surely, he gets his moneys Tables. SongSongmoney's worth out of his Solunar Tables. birds, animals, duclcs sh, all ducks and and fish, all in one one letter! letter! EviEvidently to him has been given given the priceless priceless gift of the power to to observe. observe. All A11 too too few few of us have have it. it. Even Even though I fteen years I have have schooled myself in observation observation for fifteen years or better, I My young son son I often often miss miss important things. things. My taught me me that the character of the the windthe wind-the way in in which it blows, not the the direction-changes direction-changes with with alteraalterations in barometric pressure. It was a nice day, Dad," tions pressure. "It was a nice day, he he said, said, with "with the wind high high in in the the trees," trees." The The di'lferdifference ence in winds had not been been evident to to me me before, before, even even though had known known for for years years that leaves leaves turning over over though lI had in in the the wind are are sure sure indications indications of lowering lowering atmospheric atmospheric pressure pressure with with probable rain rain to to follow. follow. Then Then the the wind wind is low, next to to the the ground, ground, but but II had had never never noticed. is low, Without doubt, we all look at things, but very doubt, we all look at things, very few few of of us us see see them. them. And, I, And, while while we we are are at at it, it, here here is is another another admission. admission. I, who who thought lI had covered covered about about all all of of the the physical physical manifestations of Solunar uence, have Solunar in influence, have been been taught taught one one more more aspect aspect of of it it by by a a man man who who must must have have keener keener powers ever can can hope hope to to possess. possess. powers of observation observation than than II ever This This is is his his letter: letter: II believe fth year believe this this is is the the fourth fourth or or fifth year that that II am am getting getting this this little little book, book, and and II am am leaming learning more more about about

I wish wish lI had time time to tell tell you you of of all all of the the every year. I it everypyear. interesting experiences experiences that II have have had with with that little little interesting I am am a a night man man in in a a garage, garage, and and there there are are hours hours book. I gook. during night when I I havepnothing have nothing to to do do except except unng the night watch watch the activity activity of the public, public, the the dogs, dogs, the the birds birds even the wind, wind. No matter how calm calm the the waters waters and even I when the time time comes comes for for an an active active period period, I may be, when can always always win myself a a lunch lunch from from anyone anyone tliat that waiits wants can on a a breeze breeze for for a a short short time time by the the clock clock. to bet with me on

This is is the the first intimation that II have have had had that the the Tl1i$ rst intimation Solunar periods and and atmospheric atmospheric mcvemgnts movements are are in in Solunar any way way connected. connected. any stopped being surprised surprised at a t the the things things that that Long ago, ago, II Sf Long pped being up in in my fan fan mail. mail. Surprise Surprise has has given given way way to to curicuriturn up osity, wondering wondering what the the next next mail mail will will bring. bring. osity,

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W H E N the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory was was first WHEN rst made public, public, we we were were somewhat somewhat surprised surprised at at the the way way made in which which it it was was received. received. Perhaps Perhaps it it would would be be more more in accurate to to say say that that the the real real surprise surprise lay lay in in the the way way in in accurate which it it was was not not received received in in certain certain quarters. quarters. Here Here and and which there, self-appointed self-appointed critics critics turned turned up up who who seemed seemed to to there, take a a great great deal deal of of pleasure pleasure in in ridiculing ridiculing the the whole whole take idea. Most of these skeptics in the vicinity of New York idea. Most of these skeptics in the vicinity of New York City developed developed from from the the ranks ranks of of those those II had had known known City and with whom I had fished for years-my friends. A and with whom I had shed for years-my friends. A prophet is is not not without without honor, honor, save save in in his his own own country. country. prophet These men were glad to have flies tied by me in pretprefThese men were glad to have ies tied by me in erence to to those those available available at at the the tackle tackle shops. shops. Many Many of of erence them sought sought my my advice advice in in matters matters of of equipment equipment and and them came to to me me with with their their casting casting troubles. troubles. But But they they smiled smiled came indulgently at at the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory and and refused refused to to have have indulgently any part part of it, it, much much less less give give it it a a fair fair trial. trial. II couldnt couldn't any understand it it then then and and lI can't now. now. understand For many many years years II was was a a member member of of one one of of the the oldest oldest For sportsmen's clubs clubs in in New York York City. City. For For a a while while II sat sat sportsmens on its its Board Board of Directors Directors and and for for five years was was chairchairon ve years man of its its House House Committee, Committee, worrying worrying myself over over man servants, furnishings, food and so on. There were only servants, furnishings, food and so on. There were only a few few of its its several several hundred members members whom whom II did did not a know by their first names. Naturally, when 1 had spent know by their rst names. Naturally, I had spent
120

enough Solunar Theory Theory to to know know that that it it enough time time on on the the Solunar was II assumed ~ractical, assumed that that II could could was both both sound sound and and practical, depend upon upon my my fellow fellow club club members members to to lend lend aa hand hand depend in bringing bringing the the Solunar Solunar schedule schedule up up to to aa state state of of perperin fection in inaahurry. hurry. It Itwas wasthis thisvery verygroup groupthat that formed formedthe the fection most rst year most solid solid wall wall of of resistance resistance during during the the first year or or so so that II strove strove to to break break down down the the barriers barriers of of unbelief unbelief in in that what II knew knew to tobe be the the truth. truth. what One of of my my most most outright outright critics critics was was a a man man with with One whom II had whom shed for had fished for many many years. years. Being Being an an angler angler of of national reputation reputation in in his his own own right, right, it it may may have have been been national that he disliked having me advance a theory that would that he disliked having me advance a theory that would leave its its lasting lasting mark mark on on angling angling history, history, once once it it bebeleave came established. established. II may may be be doing doing him him a a grave grave injustice injustice came in this this belief, belief, but, but, try try as as II will, will, II can can find no other other reareain nd no son. Eventually, Eventually, he he set set out out to to disprove disprove it, it, once once and and for for son. all time. time. He Hearrived arrived at at his his final decision after after two two rather rather all nal decision amusing reversals reversals of of attitude. attitude. amusing Before making making the the Solunar SolunarTheory Theory public public property, property, lI Before decided to to spend spend one one more more season season checking checking it it against against decided the behavior behavior of of the the trout trout and and bass bass in in the the streams streams that that the II fished-when shed-when II found shing. found the the opportunity opportunity to to go go fishing. Feeling that that two two hcads heads always alwaysare arebetter better than than one, one, II told told Feeling this man what was was in in my my mind mind and and asked asked him him to to help this help me. He He listened listened until until II had had finished. me. nished. "The whole whole idea idea is is crazy," crazy," he he said. said. There "There is is no no posposThe sible phenomenon known known to to science science that that could could cause cause sible a feeding-and-rest feeding-and-rest cycle cycle like like that. that. Trout Trout feed feed when when a there's a a hatch hatch drifting. drifting. No No hatch-no hatch-no feeding. feeding. Forget Forget there's it and and go go to to work on on something something practical." practical." it

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Evidently II would would get get no no help help from from that that source, source, so so Evidently said no no more more about about it it and and made made what what observations observations II II said could. could. Solunar Theory Theory was was ininThe following following Ianuary January the the Solunar The troduced and and the the first Solunar Tables Tables were were printed printed in in troduced rst Solunar gave one one of of them them to to my my friend, friend. Early Early in in May May April. I1gave April. we met met at at an an appointed appointed spot spot to to spend spend two two days days totoWe gether, trout fishing. He had arrived the day before gether, trout shing. He had arrived the day before drove up up the the and was was at at work work with with his his fly fly rod rod when when II drove and next morning. He greeted me with a broad smile. next morning. I-Ie greeted me with a broad smile. "Your books book's no no good," good," he he said. said. The "The trout trout have have Your been five minutes behind schedule for the past two been ve minutes behind schedule for the past two days." da s." Solunar periperi"Have you been been checking checking up up on on the the Solunar XI-lave you ods?" II asked. asked. ]oking "Joking aside, aside, how how close close do do they they come come ods?" to being being right?" right?" to "I've checked checked them them "They're pretty pretty good," good," he he said. said. I've Theyre fairly regularly regularly since since the the first of the the season season and and darned darned fairly rst of you've got got something." if II don't think you've Two weeks weeks later later another another friend friend of mine mine met met him him Two while trout trout fishing. He asked asked him him what what he he thought thought of of while shing. He Solunar Tables. Tables. the Solunar the "They're all all right," right," was was the the reply. reply. "We've "We've just just about about They're got this this thing thing licked. licked." got "we'7 business went went on on for for about about another That That "we" business Solunar Tables Tables still still were were mentioned mentioned as as month, but the the Solunar month, Solunar Tables." The strain was too '"Jack Knight's lack Solunar The strain was too great. One One day, day, after after the the trout trout season season was was well well adadgreat. vanced, he came storming into the club and started to vanced, he came storming into the club started to take me me to to task almost almost before he he was was inside inside the the door. door. take

There There were were about about twenty twenty men men present present but but that that didn't didn't discouragehim him any. any. discourage "Jack," he said, "that book bookof of yours yoursis isno nodamn damn good. good. lack, he said, that I've checked checked it it nearly nearly every every day day of of the the season season and and it it I've doesn't mean mean aa thing." thing." doesnt Then he he proceeded proceeded to to make make aa speech speech to to the the entire entire Then assembly. He He recounted recounted his his experiences, experiences, told told them them assembly. how wrong wrong II was was and and wound wound up up by by showing showing how how the the how t 5 per per cent cent law of of averages averageswould would make make me me guess guessright right 25 law of the the time time anyway, anyway, regardless regardless of of any any calculations calculations II of might make. make. II suppose suppose he he expected expected me me to to rise rise in in the the might I smiled, expressed defense of my pet theory. Instead, defense of my pet theory. Instead, I smiled, expressed surprise and and went went on on eating eating my my lunch. lunch. And And there there the the surprise matter died, died, at atleast least for for the the time timebeing. being. matter As the the years years passed passed and and the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory became became As more firmly established, his his tirades tirades grew grew less less scathing. scathing. more rmly established, T o this this day day II am am not not sure surewhether whether or or not not he he knows knows that that To Solunar schedule schedule is is all all that that II claim claim it it to to be. be. the Solunar the As might might be be expected, expected, the the Solunar As Solunar Theory Theory was was not not taken taken seriously seriously by by the the various various angling angling clubs clubs of of the the Catskills,the the Poconos Poconosand and the theAdirondacks. Adirondacks.To T obe be sure, sure, Catskills, it was was the the basis basis of many many a a fireside argument during during the the it reside argument trout I 93 5 and and 1936. 1936.However, However, most most of of those those trout seasons seasonsof of 1935 anglers held held it it to to be be outright outright nonsense nonsense and and would would have have anglers nothing nothing to to do do with with it. it. But But there there were were some some men men in in each each of of these these clubs clubs who who were were open-minded open-minded enough enough to to give Solunar Theory Theory became became give it it a a trial. trial. Gradually, Gradually, the the Solunar less and and less less funny. funny. Now Now many many of these these clubs clubs keep keep a a less Solunar Tables Tables tacked tacked to to the the bulletin bulletin board board copy of of the the Solunar copy the season. season. To T o be be sure, sure, there there are are still still some some throughout the

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of their members who will not take the trouble to find nd out the times of the Solunar periods from day to day, fewer in number as the years pass. but these are fewer pass. It takes time to convince everybody. The columnists and outdoor writers of the country have, by and large, large, been eminently fair in their recep recep~ tion of the Solunar Theory. Only in a few cases has it been ridiculed in print by any of these professional writers. They have made it known to their readers, largely as a matter of news, and have given it .an an unbiased presentation. Many of their readers, however, have not behaved as well. Some Some of their letters have been rather strident, condemning it for utter damn nonsense and taking the columnist to task for printing an account of it. A goodly share of these letters are sent to me for reply and I l try to handle them as tactfully as possible. Often it is a bit difficult dif cult to write an even-tempered answer to a man who has just called you an idiot and a nature-faker. I used to get all upset over some of them. Fortunately they do not arrive very frequently these days. days. Now and then I find nd a man who declines to use the Solunar Tables because he goes fishing shing when he can nd the time and fishes shes all day every time he goes out. find That strikes me as rather faulty reasoning. If an angler -or a huntercan hunter-can know in advance what time to expect ~or the day's best fishing shing or when the birds will be in the feeding cover, surely it is possible for him to plan his days days in the open more intelligently than if he just trusts to luck. A glance at the Solunar Tables will tell him

whether the fish sh will be in the shallows shallows or in deep water. Most men think that they fish sh all day when they go shing, but the truth of the matter is that they don't. fishing, don't. They are bound to spend some time going from place to place. They take time out for lunch, have a spare tire repaired, go to the nearest store for cigarettes-there cigarettesthere sherman away from are many things that will take a fisherman his fishing, shing, at least for a little while. How much more sensible it is to get these odd jobs done when you know that you are not apt to miss the high spot of the day by doing them at just the wrong time. nd it possible to have a little fun Now and then I find with one of my critics by showing him how he has been using the Solunar Theory for years without knowing it. There are two fellows who live in the metropolitan dis dis"night-fishermen." trict who are ardent nightshermen." One day I happened to meet both of them at the club and they joined in a little mild kidding about the "Solunatic Solunatie Theory." Theory." When they had about run down, I asked the older of Vl/hen the two: two: "What time is best for fishing \Vhat shing at night? How do you know when to start out?" Are you joking?" joking?" he asked. "Are Not at all," I said. I "Not "I just like to compare notes, that's all." "Well," "I don't don't know Well, he said, after a little thought, I what the experience of you two fellows has been, but darkwhen I go nightnight-fishing, shing, I l want the night to be dark dark as possible, with no moon in the sky. sky. I usually get to the stream about eleven o'clock and fish sh until three

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or four in the morning. That's when I seem to have the best luck." The other man said that his experience had been about the same. I waited until they had agreed upon the night- shing; then I dropped my little best time for night-fishing; surprise into their laps. You "You fellows seem to agree that dark nights, with no sky, between the hours of eleven and four, moon in the sky, furnish the best conditions. Let's see just how that works out. Dark nights-no nightsn0 moon in the sky-the skythe only time you get those nights is during the dark of the moon. At that time of the month the major Solunar periods arrive at some time between the hours of eleven and four." (I (I showed them the Solunar Tables to prove my point.) "What What you two have been doing all these shing so that you made years has been to plan your fishing full use of the midnight Solunar periods. In other words, you have been stanch advocates of the Solu'Solunatic Theory' Isn't Theory all these years without realizing it. Isn't it about time that you look into the matter a little more thoroughly?" 1940, I ran across across a man whom I had In the winter of 1940, years. W VVe known for years. e were at the annual Sportsmen's Show and I was watching the contests in the tank when somebody slapped me on the shoulder. I was glad to see him after losing track of him for so many years, s0 so we found a quiet corner and sat down to talk over old times. During the war, we had been stationed at Pensacola, Florida, where we had shot quail and dove, fished shed for bass and cruised about the bays and inlets,

casting plugs for sea trout and channel bass. VVhen When the war was over, I met him again in New York, York, where, at one time, we worked for the same company. W \Ve e spent many week-ends weekends together, fishing shing for trout in the Spring and shooting ducks on Long Island Sound in the Fall. Then the depression came and he disappeared. It developed that he owned and operated a game farm up in Connecticut where he provided railbird and duck He said shooting together with upland game shooting. I-Ie that he had been reading my things in the outdoor magazines, had intended to write but somehow never got around to it. "what's all this Solunar Tables By the way," he said, what's "By business of yours? yours? Is there anything to it?" I explained it to him briefly brie y and how it worked out, both for fishing shing and hunting. "Do you really think that it works out with ducks?" Do he asked. asked. "Certainly," I answered. "I Certainly, I have been watching ducks respond to Solunar periods for several several years down in Chesapeake Bay. Bay." Up the ducks fly on a Up our way," way," said my friend, "the always try to have my gunners certain stage of tide. I always in the blinds so that they can take advantage of those shooting.'? tidal flights. ights. That's when they get the real shooting." He told me what stage of tide he had in mind, so, just for curiosity, we went to one of the booths that sponsored salt-water fishing shing and secured a copy of the tide tables for Long Island Sound. Sound. Sure enough, the particular stage of tide during which the ducks were
41

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active in his locality coincided with the major Solunar periods. The refusal rcfusal by many skeptical anglers to have any faith in the Solunar Theory has always been a mystery to me. Every angler wants to know when the fish sh are going to feed. All of them are anxious to catch big fish. sh. If only they would listen to reason, they could have so much more fun than they do. Big fish sh are hard to hook and, once hooked, they are hard to land, because they are stronger than the smaller fish sh and are capable of breaking tackle or tearing free. There is a clean-cut reason why whv big fish sh feed less often difficult offer and are di eult to interest in what you have to o er them. The matter explains itself about in this way. When a fish \Vhen sh is small, nature prompts him to eat plenty of food so that he can grow, gro\v, put on weight and be of proper size when he reaches maturity. Like all young things, he has a good appetite and is fairly active most of the time. A young trout, to gain a pound in weight, must consume about ten pounds of the food that is available in a trout stream-usually streamusually insects. It takes a lot of insects to make ten pounds of food, and a youngster must hustle to find nd enough to satisfy his insatiable appetite. Thus, with reasonably satisfactory weather and conditions, we can catch small trout almost any time. Once a trout has arrived at maturity-four maturity-four to five ve age-and has attained his weight, his habits years of ageand change. Instead of insects being the major portion of his diet, he turns cannibalistic and preys on smaller fish, sh,

o p u l a opinr crustaceans, frogs and so on. Contrary to ~ popular 0pin~ ion, however, it is seldom that an adult trout will make the effort to capture and eat one of his own species. It is riffle much easier for him to catch a ri le chub or minnow. It requires about one ~ ound pound of food per year to support ~ound and keep healthy a 21 pound of trout. Thus, an adult trout can cut down his activity and his feeding to lo per cent of what it was when he was growing about 10 up. In other words, it is ten times as di eult to hook difficult a large trout as it is to hook a small one. The use of flies builds up the odds against you even higher, because an adult trout is not usually interested in flies. ies. The one time of the day when a big trout is apt to feed is during a Solunar period. Then is the time that Nature tells him there will be hellgrammites crawling es, cray sh will come out of on the rocks in the rif riffles, crayfish hiding and minnows will be moving about in the shallows. Then he can obtain a meal with a minimum of effort and, naturally, he will feed at these times if he effort is going to feed at all that day. VVhy, sh for Why, then, not fish him when he is most apt to be in a receptive mood? All you have to do is look up the time in your tables before you start out in the morning. Several men have gone to considerable trouble to disprove the Solunar Theory in articles that have been published in magazines from time to time. There was one fellow who published his findings ndings in some research he did while fishing shing the Au Sable of Michigan. He kept a record, day by day, for an entire month, and I must say that the score looked unfavorable for me at

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first rst glance. glance. Then I read the article more carefully and the answer was clear. He had conducted his campaign during the month of july. July. The trout that he caught were small trout, little ngerlings, and he had done no nightshbetter than fingerlings, night-fishing, at least he did not speak of it in his report. Those three items are all important. shed the very waters As luck would have it, I have fished whereon this experiment was made. Moreover, I have fished July. I have talked to many shed them in the month of ]uly. of the Michigan anglers who fish Sable and I sh the Au Sable have gossiped with the local fishermen shermen and am acquainted with their methods. The Au Sable Sable is a shallow, flat-bottomed stream at this point. It flows flows through short riffles ri les and long quiet pools, exposed without cover to the hot July sun. DurIuly sun. ing the day and well into the evening, water temperatures of 72" 72 to 76' 76 are not uncommon. I have fished shed for trout for over forty years, but I have never seen Eastern adult trout active and feeding in that temperature range. In addition, the state has conducted a stream-imstream-improvement project there and the waters are bountifully supplied with stocked trout, ranging in size from four to seven inches. These little fellows are busy all the time and activity on their part does not mean a whole lot. I found them as active as could be when my stream 73" Fahrenheit. thermometer registered 7;" Through July Iuly the local anglers fish sh only at night. Then the water cools off so that the trout can move and

feed in comfort. W We e went to the Au Sable intending to spend a week or two. When we found out what the shing conditions were, we left the day after our arfishing pro ted by doing likewise. rival. My critic might have profited Perhaps the most active group of critics of the Solunar Theory is composed of the members of one of the oldest angling clubs in Great Britain. Why they should go to such lengths to discredit fifteen fteen years of work on the part of a fellow angler, I am not prepared to say. The fact remains that they have made repeated attacks on the Solunar Theory, all of them not only unwarranted but unsound. T o give you some idea, their most comprehensive To day-to-day record condemnation was the review of the day-to-day of a salmon fisherman sherman who logged in a notebook the

exact time that he hooked each fish sh that he caught. This log was meticulously kept for two complete fishing shing seasons. The man who wrote the article was kind enough to send me the original log. I prepared a chart, showing the twenty-four-hour span, extending over the number of days covered by the two fishing shing seasons. seasons. Across this chart, I plotted colored bands, to show the progress of the Solunar periods from day to day, and then I set in the time that each separate fish sh was hooked. AccordAcccxding to my findings, ndings, ;4 54 per cent of those salmon were hooked during Solunar periods. Then I sent the log and the chart to London. grievous faults Beth tells me that one of my most grievous (among the many that she can point out from time to

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always take take too too much much for for granted. granted. CerCertime) is is that that II always time) tainly, she she was was right right about about that that in in this this case. case. II assumed assumed tainly, that the the record record would speak speak for for itself itself and and that that my my corcorwhen writing writing his his article, article, would would present present all all respondent, when of the the facts. facts. Not being being content content to to accept accept my my figures, he replotted replotted Not gures, he the chart and showed that approximately 48 per cent of of the chart and showed that approximately 48 per cent the salmon salmon were were hooked during during Solunar Solunar periods. periods. Then Then the he went on on to to say say that, that, as as he he had suspected suspected all all along, along, he Solunar Theory Theory was was only only one one more more of the the fanciful fanciful the Solunar the ideas about about angling that would would not not bear bear too too close close ininideas spection. The The editor editor of the the club club bulletin, bulletin, in in which this this spection. article was was published, wrote a a rather rather scathing scathing editorial editorial article wherein he he said said that that the the writer writer of the the article article had had wherein "scotched this this snake snake" so so that that it could could be be buried buried and and scotched forgotten as as all all such such carrion carrion should should be. be. Well-1,111 content to accept accept my critics critic's figures 48 \VellIm gures of 48 cent. Let's take take a a look at the way in which his his calcalper cent. culations actually actually work out. out. culations the first place, six six hours of the the twenty-four (ap(apIn the rst place, proximately) are are included in in the Solunar periods. periods. FigFigproximately) uring that 48 48 per cent of the the salmon salmon were were hooked uring during these six six hours hours as as against against 52 52 per cent in in the the during remaining 18 18 hours, hours, this reduces reduces to an an c efficiency ratio remaining cieney ratio of 8 8 to z.S8 2.88 in in favor favor of Solunar Solunar periods periods as as compared of times. with other tiines. More simply, simply, the likelihood of hooking a a salmon salmon in stream, at least least during those two two seasons, seasons, was was 2% 2% that stream, as probable during Solunar periods as as it was was at at times as times. Those odds, it seems seems to me, me, would make other times.

the Solunar Solunar Tables Tables a a worth-while worth-while little little book book to to have have in in the your shing. your kit kit when when you you go go fishing. Now, Now, let let us us take take the the matter matter a a step step farther. farther. It I t must must be be remembered remembered that that this this is is the the record record of of one one rod. rod. Once Once a a salmon salmon is is hooked hooked it it takes takes anywhere anywhere from from twenty twenty minminutes to an hour to bring him to net or gaff, depending utes to an hour to bring him to net or gaff, depending on his his size sizeand and fighting ability. Suppose Suppose we we assume assume that that on ghting ability. this this angler angler was was both both powerful powerful and and adroit adroit and and that that he he landed sh in landed his his fish in an an average average time time of of twenty twenty minutes. minutes. reduces itself itself to to an an e efficiency ratio of of 10.9 That reduces iciency ratio 10.9 to to 3.1 3.1 in in favor favor of the the Solunar Solunar periods, periods, a a little little better better than than three three and a a half half to to one. one. My My suggestion suggestion is is that that they they unscotch" "unscotch" and that that "snake" "snake" and and adopt adopt it it as as a a club club mascot. mascot. II had had a a letter letter from from a a member member of this this club club that that exexpresses presses their their attitude attitude better better than than anything anything II could could say. say. The letter letter speaks speaks for for itself. itself. He He said, said, in in part: part: The seems inconceivable inconceivable to to rne me that that such such a a cycle cycle of It seems feeding periods should exist. If it did exist, I feel sure feeding periods should exist. it did exist, I feel sure that one one of our our members members would would have have discovered discovered it it long long since. since. The crowning crowning achievement achievement of that that group, however, however, The 1937, of of the the was the the publication, in in their bulletin bulletin in in 1937, was account of a a "discovery" on on the the part part of of one one of their their account members. a members. This This man man is, is, or or was was then, then, a a member member of of a well-known salmonsalmon-fishing club. On O n the the table table in the the well-known shing club. club club lounge lounge stood stood a a bowl of water in which swam swam some some goldfish. He discovered "discovered7' that when these these little little fish gold sh. I-le sh were active active and and swimming swimming about about in their glass glass bowl, bowl, were the salmon in the the river also also would be active active and and that thc was the the time when fishing was at a t its its best. best. This This identical identical was shing was

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reaction reaction or or similarity similarity of of behavior behavior was was discussed discussed in in the the April, 5, issue April, 19; 1935, issue of of the the Sportsmanthe Sportsman-the issue issue in in which which the the second second installment installment of the the article article introducing introducing the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory was was pubIishedand published-and II dont don't remember remember how how many many times times it it has has been been mentioned mentioned since sincethen, then, both both in in books books and and magazine magazine articles. articles. I've I've stopped stopped worrying worrying about about my my fellow fellow anglers anglers in in London. London. It It produces produces too too little little return return for for the the effort effort involved. involved. A A friend friend of of mine mine in in Canadaa Canada-a feature feature writer writer for for one one of the newspapers-is an amateur naturalist in his of the newspapers-is an amateur naturalist in his off off time. time. He He is is a a good good newspaperman newspaperman and and just just as as good good a a naturalist. He knows the trees and the flowers by their naturalist. He knows the trees and the flowers by their generic generic names names and and the the song song of of a a bird bird brings brings to to him him the the same cation that same degree degree of of identi identification that aa friends friend's name, name, adaddress shes dress and and telephone telephone number number brings brings to to me. me. He He fishes and sh that and hunts hunts enthusiastically, enthusiastically, not not so somuch much for forthe the fish that he he may may catch catch or or the the game game he he may may kill-although kill-although he he enjoys enjoys that that toobut too-but for for the the joy joy of of being being in in the the out-ofout-ofdoors and of partaking of the bounties Nature has doors and of partaking of the bounties Nature has to to offer offer us. us. He He maintainsand maintains-and II agree agree with with him-that him-that aa man shing rod man who who takes takes with with him him aa fishing rod or or aa gun gun will will learn learn more more of of nature nature and and its its creatures creatures in in one one day day than than aa man man who who merely merely goes goes for for aa walk walk in in the the woods woods will will learn learn in inaaycar. year. One One sparkling sparkling spring spring morning, morning, he he and and two two of of his his friends shing. Beside friendswent went trout trout fishing. Besidethe thestream, stream, my myfriend friend found, found, nestled nestled among among the the rocks rocks on on aa hillside, hillside, aa bed bed of of Canadian Canadian anemones. anemones. He He stopped stopped to to look look at at them them and, and, as y rod as he he did did so, so, an an idea idea came came to to him. him. \Vhile While his his fly rod rested safely among the protecting branches of a saprested safely among the protecting branches of a sap-

ling, he he knelt knelt beside beside that that glorious glorious little littleblanket blanket of of green green ling, and white white and and counted counted the the blooms. blooms. He H e counted counted them them and carefully and and his his reckoning showed showed 217 217 blooms blooms open open carefully 76 blooms blooms partly partly open. open. That That was was at at seven-thirty seven-thirty and 76 and in the the morning. morning. in The major major Solunar Solunar period period that that day day came came at at elevenelevenThe thirty. Inst Just before before eleven-thirty eleven-thirty he he counted counted the the blooms blooms thirty. again. There There were were 234 234 fully fully open open and and 81 81 partly partly open open again. -an increase of 17 mature blooms and 5 immature ones. an increase of 17 mature blooms and 5 immature ones. Solunar period, period, he he Two hours hours later, later, at at the the close close of of the the Solunar Two counted them them a a third third time. time. This This time time there there were were 304 304 counted fully open open and and 130 130partly partly openan open-an increase increase of of 70 70 and and fully 49 respectively. respectively.At At six six that that evening evening he he counted counted them them a a 49 fourth time time and and found found that that the the warm warm spring spring afternoon afternoon fourth 22 more more blooms blooms fully fullywhile while 1; 13more more were were had opened opened 22 had partlyopen. open. partly Elated over over his his findings, he related related his his experience experience to to Elated ndings, he a professional naturalist. The naturalist laughed scorna professional naturalist. The naturalist laughed scornfully,and and said, said, fully, "Don't you realize realize that that at at high high noon, noon, most most buds buds Dont you would open open to to bloom?" bloom?" would Sohe hesought soughtout outpromptly promptlyaasecond secondpractical practical naturalnaturalSo ist in in his hisof office in aa great great university. university.To T o him him he he related related ist ce in hisexperience, experience, only only this this time time he helied lied and and said said that that the the his largeincrease increase in inblooms bloomshad had happened happened at a t eight eighto'clock o'clock large in the themorning. morning. This Thisman man laughed laughedtoo tooand and patted patted him him in onthe theshoulder. shoulder. on "Don't you you realize," realize," he he said, said, that "that at a t eight eight in in the the Dont morning,by bywhich which time time the theday dayis isfull, full, most most plants plants do do morning, their most most active activeblooming? blooming?" their

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Still to a third naturalist he told the story, this time till fixing o'clock in the eveiixing the active blooming at seven oclock ing. This man smiled tolerantly and shook his head, ing. head. Don t you realize that at evening, when the day's "Don't heat is done, most plants bloom most actively?" One thing that every outdoor person does know is that there are noons as still and motionless as there are noons full of life: that these hours of activity in nature have no set time from day to day, as we figure gure time by the rising and setting of the sun. sun But on days much alike in all else, else, these hours of activity, of intensity, joy and awareness, come without evident cause and cease We as abruptly and inexplicably as they have come. We may or may not have found the cause of these things. That remains to be seen. Now, at least, we We can tell you in advance when to expect them.

~ I N C the E beginning of man, the moon SINCE has been credited with being the cause of countless phenomena. So many happenings in nature are timed in its rhythm that it is not surprising that the moon should be held responsible for their very existence. A beliefs regarding the moon not discussion of all of the beliefs only would be impracticable here but impossible as well, oi them for that. Besides, well. There are tar far too many of Besides, there are excellent books that are devoted entirely to that subject. subiect. But there are some beliefs about the moon that seem to fit t into this discussion quite properly. properlyi So far as we know, the moon, of itself, is responsible for none of the manv many phenomena with which it has been credited. Even 'the the ocean tides are not directly attributable to the moon, and the sun. sun. The direct cause of the tides is the gravitational attraction exerted by these heavenly bodies, they, in reality, functioning only sense. Viewed in as catalyzing agents in the more liberal sense. this light, it is entirely possible that the moon may have more to do with some of the things that go on about us from day to day than might be expected at first rst glance. Since the time of the ancient Romans, the moon has been held responsible for the growth of living things. A waxing moon (from the dark of the moon to the
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full moon) has always always been considered to be beneficial bene cial to growth. A waning moon (from full moon until dark gowth. Things of the moon) moon) was supposed to retard growth. ~lanted born or planted during a waxing moon were thought to be healthy, while the reverse was true of those planted or born during a waning moon. Palladius, a Roman authority on farming, advised planting during a waxing moon and reaping during a waning moon. Pliny, in his writings, mentions the moon's moons effects, calling attention to the fact that the Emperor Tiberius would have his hair cut only during a waxing moon. The old fellow's fellows hair was getting a little thin and he wanted to stimulate growth if possible. Sheep were shorn during a waxing eece would grow again rapidly. Chilmoon so that their fleece were born during the waxing moon dren and animals that thatwere thewaxing were considered superior and possessed of excellent prospects for healthy growth and robust maturity. Long ago there was a law in France that prohibited the felling of trees except during a waning moon, the theory being that timber cut during a waxing moon would soon rot and not give good service. ]ust Just about this single phase of the matter alone-that alone-that of growththere growth-there were hundreds of similar rules and superstitions. A surprisingly large number of these rules of the moon regarding growth have persisted down through the ages. ages. Much like the old home remedies, they exist today and are given as much credence as they were in the days of the Roman emperors. As late as 1928, 1928, railroad ties in Cuba had to be cut during a waning moon No doubt the same rule holds good to qualify for use. N0

today. Only last month I had a talk with a foreman of one of the lumber crews that used to drive logs down the Susquehanna River while there was still timber on our mountains forty or fifty He gave me an fty years ago. l-Ie old red-oak "wedge'' wedge (the sharpened peg that was driven into a log so that it could be tied to a raft) . . This wedge is forty years old at least and even now is as hard as 1l'Ol't; iron. Theres a trick about making wedges so they'll last, "There's last," he said. "Red Red oak is best but it must be cut two days before the dark of the moon. moon, Otherwise it will rot inside of a year." _ This rule of the Pennsylvania lumberman agrees with the old French law and the stipulation for Cuban railroad ties. g Many farmers to this day follow the rules of planting and reaping laid down by Palladius when the world was much younger. Today the rule is not con confined ned merely to crops and farming but has been extended and is used in business as well. I know, personally, two Wall Vi/all Street bankers who would not dream of entering a new business venture during a waning moon. An associate of mine assured zssured me that he knows many more-men moremen who hold highly paid executive positions in banking houses Street"who feel the same way about it. it. Imin the "the Streetv'-who portant bond issues, formations of new corporations, any transaction requiring keen judgment judgment or extensive nancing is always carried over and completed during financing the waxing moon. rst scienti c attempt of any consequence (at The first scientific (at least, so far as I can discover) discover) to learn more of the

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actualeffects effectsof of the themoon moon on onliving livingthings thingswas wasmade madeby by actual a Swedish Swedishscientist scientist named named Svante Svante Arrhenius Arrhenius about about fifty a fty years ago. ago. After After some some years years of of experimentation, experimentation, ArAryears rhenius put put his his finger right on on the the pulse pulse of of the the whole whole rhenius nger right thing. He found that atmospheric electricity varies in thing. He found that atmospheric electricity varies in quantityin in a arhythmical rhythmical manner, manner, timed timed with with the the moon, moon, quantity and that the maximum amount occurs at the dark of and that the maximum amount occurs at the dark of the moon moon or, or, more more aptly, aptly, at at the the start start of of the the waxing waxing the moon. moon. The findings of Arrhenius Arrhenius have have been been contested contested in in The ndings of viewof ofmore more recent recent discoveries discoveriesof of the the e effects of the the sun sun view ects of upon atmospheric atmospheric and and terrestrial terrestrial magnetism. magnetism. The The upon rhythmical variation variation that that Arrhenius Arrhenius attributed attributed to to the the rhythmical 27Vrday period period of of the the moons moon's journey journey around around the the earth earth 27%-day is now now accounted accounted for, for, at at least least in in some some quarters, quarters, by by the the is 27-day rotation period of the sun. Be that as it may, 27-day rotation period of the sun. Be that as it may, is a a rhythmical rhythmical there appears appears to to be be no no doubt doubt that that there there is there variation in magnetism. variation in magnetism. In 1938, 1938,a a report report was was published in in London London that that listed listed In the results of a number of experiments with the results of a number of experiments with plant growth. The The experimenter, experimenter,Mr. Mr. L. L. Kolisko, Kolisko,shows showsrather rather growth, conclusively that crops crops planted two two days days before before the the conclusively full moon moon (at (at the the close close of the the waxing waxing period) period) grow grow full faster and and are are productive productive of better harvests harvests than crops crops faster planted two two days days later later or, or, for for that matter, matter, in in any any other other phase of the the moon. moon. A A Kenya Kenya farmer farmer reports reports an an increase increase phase of 30 to to 40 40 per cent cent in in his his crops crops by using using this this method. method. Now, despite despite the the war, war, the the British British Government Government and and the the Now, Royal Horticultural Society are conducting extensive Royal Horticultural Society are extensive experiments along this this line. line. experiments

These These things, things, of of course, course,are areall all second-handed" "second-handed" obobservations, in in aa manner manner of of speaking. speaking. II have have not not seen seen servations, them them in in operation operation and, and, therefore, therefore, must must be be content content to to accept the the findings of others. others. Sometimes Sometimes that that is is satissatisaccept ndings of factory; just as frequently it is not. factory; just as frequently it is not. Thereare areinstances instancesof of the theeffects effectsof of lunar lunarcycles cyclesupon upon There living things things of of which which II feel feel quali qualified to speak speak with with living ed to authority. Having Having watched watched them them in in opop"first-handed" rst-handed" authority. I am familiar with their eration for a number of years, eration for a number of years, I am familiar with their aspects and and their their peculiarities. peculiarities. aspects General opinion opinion among among anglers anglers seems seems to to be be reasonreasonGeneral ably unanimous unanimous (as (as much much so so as as is is possible possible among among the the ably followersof of a a sport sport that that is is noted noted for for its its lack lack of of unanimunanimfollowers ity) that that better better fishing will be be found found during during the the dark dark ity) shing will of the the moon moon and and the the first quarter than than at at other other times times of of of rst quarter themonth. month.Then Then the themoon moon and and the the sun sunare areboth both on on the the the same side side of of the the earth earth and, and, being being more more or or less less in in line, line, same they exert their influence in conjunction rather than in they exert their influence in conjunction rather than in opposition.Thus, Thus, during during this this phase phase of of the the moon, moon, SoluSoluopposition, nar in influence seems to to be be at at its its maximum. maximum. Not Not knowing knowing nar uence seems what Solunar "Solunar influence" influence" is is or or of of what what it it is is composed, composed, what there is is no no way way to to measure measure it. it. The The only only gauge gauge of of its its ininthere tensity lies lies in in the the results results of of this this intensity, intensity, as as evidenced evidenced tensity by the the behavior behavior of fish and (observed (observed more more recently) recently) by sh and animals, birds, birds, reptiles, reptiles, plants, plants, ete. etc. There There is is no no doubt doubt animals, that activity activity increases increases during during the the dark dark of the the moon and and that the first quarter. Response Response to to Solunar Solunar periods periods is is more more the rst quarter. emphatic and and the the activity activity lasts lasts longer longer than than it it does does durduremphatic ing Solunar Solunarperiods periodsat at other other tiines. times. ing From time time to to time, time, reports reports of of record record catches catches are are sent sent

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to me, either either as as a matter of interest or or as as a a challenge challenge to the Solunar Theory. Theory. Other reports reports of record catches are are found found in the outdoor magazines magazines and, and, when possible, possible, the times of their taking are are noted carefully. carefully. I I suppose suppose that I have checked up on hundreds of them. them. These These rereports do do not all run true to torm form ancl and there are are exceptions now and then that ncither or make any neither prove prove the rule or sense sense at at all all in the the light of what we we have have learned of the the great great majority of similar similar cases. cases. Be Be that as as it it may, may, almost all of the record catches of sh have three all the catches fish have three common characteristics. They are are taken during during the the dark dark of the moon. They are taken during the middle of moon. They are during the middle the the day, day, between the hours of 11 1 1 A.M. A.M. and and 4 4 PM. P.M. Last but not least, least, they are are taken during major Solunar Solunar periods, periods. Nothing No thing in nature nature happens happens without a reasonat reason - a t least, it it does does not continue to to happen happen with any any degree degree of regularity sh of all regularity. These These phenomenal catches catches of fish all kinds kinds would not continue continue to to be be taken taken at at the the same same times times day and and month, month, year year after after year, year, unless unless there there were were a a of day sound, sound, basic reason reason for for it. it. And here here is is another another surprissurprising ing fact fact about about these these record record catches. catches. During During the the months months of ]une, June, Iuly July and and August, August, when most of the the record record catches are made, a large majority of the shermen catches are made, a large of the fishermen knock knock oil offabout about noon noon and and are are content content to to sit sit in in the the shade, shade, eat eat lunch, lunch, take take a a nap nap or or whatnot whatnot until until the the day's day's heat heat is is past. past. Consequently, Consequently, only only a a small small percentage percentage of of the the available shing at available anglers anglers are are actually actually fishing at the the time time these these record record catches catches are are made. made. By By the the law law of of averages, averages, more more record record catches catches should should be be made made in in the the early early morning morning or or in shin the the evening, evening, when when all all of of the the available available rods rods are are fish-

ing. ing. This, This, however, however, is is not the case. case. Astonishingly few few catches are are made in in the the early early morning morning or or after after record catches sundown, even even though these these very times times are are generally generally sundown, considered to to be the the high high spots spots of each each day. day. My atatconsidered an explanation of this is is merely merely to to say say that fish tempt at an sh Solunar are more more active active and respond more more completely to to Solunar are influence time. Until we we know know what in uence at this particular time, Solunar in influence really is, is, of what it it is is composed composed and and Solunar uence really how it it can can be be measured, II am am afraid afraid that that the the full full exexwill be be impossible. impossible. planation will There is is a a decided decided similarity similarity in in the the cyclic cyclicphenomena phenomena There of the the moon that has has been been well well established. established. The T h e annual annual of Palolo worm in in the the waters waters off Samoa Samoa appearance of the the Palolo appearance and is and Fiji Fiji at at the the last last quarter quarter of of the the November moon is an established established fact fact and and its its cycle cycle is, is, without without doubt, doubt, in in an rhythm with with the the moon, moon, yet yet this this rhythmic rhythmic behavior behavior has has never been been explained, explained. The The increase increase and and decrease decrease in in never the bulk bulk of of the the sea sea urchin of of the the Gulf Gulf of of Suez, Suez, this this varivarithe ance in in absolute absolute rhythm rhythm with with the the lunar lunar month, month, has has ance admitted but but not not explainedr explained. These These and and other other simsimbeen admitted ilar ilar happenings happenings continue continue to to go go their their mysterious mysterious ways, ways, year after after year, year, but but the the solution solution of of the the riddle riddle has has yet yet to to year be found. found. Lacking Lacking the the explanation explanation and and the the knowledge knowledge be of the the exact exact cause, cause, it it is is dil difficult to know know where where to to draw draw of cult to the the line line between between the the probable probable and and the the improbable. improbable. Common sense sense tells tells us us that that beliefs beliefs concerning concerning natural natural Common phenomena-home remedies remedies and and cures, cures, etiects effects of of the the phenomenahome moon, prognostication prognostication of of weather weather changes changes and and so so 0n onmoon, that have havebeen been handed handed down down from from father fatherto to son son through through that the centuries, centuries, would would long long since since have have been been lost lost in in obthe ob-

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scurity if there were not at least some virtue in them. effect the desired Surely, a home remedy that does not eitect cure soon will be discarded by succeeding generations. T o last for hundreds of years it must, of necessity, To necessity, be effective. effective. As much as time and opportunity will allow, allow, I have been attempting for the last few years to secure and read the various reports of the work of scientists scientists about the world, dealing with the effects liveffects of the moon on living things. Also, I have tried to keep in touch with the progress of research in terrestrial and atmospheric magnetism. One thing that impresses impresses me as we go along is the pronounced lack of agreement among scientists scientists To who are occupied in the same fields elds of endeavor. endeavor. To illustrate, I have today read the opinion of one scientist on the possibility of the minds of insane patients being affected by different phases of the moon. He expresses doubt about the actuality of any such relationship and says in part: says [note the use of the .. . . . . whatever influence in uence there be [note subjunctive, subjunctive, implying implying doubt] doubt] would depend on the cycle. phases of the Moon, that is, is, on a very short cycle. There is thus no opportunity for an accumulation accumulation of sufficient su icient length to permit infinitesimal in nitesimal influences in uences to tangible. become tangible.
That certainly is a direct statement if I ever saw one. Yet, right here in my file le is a letter from the head of one of our large institutions for the insane. insane. This is what he has to say on the same subject.

. . .. .. recently I have noted that her mental condition has become markedly aggravated during that phase [the full of the moon]. Modern psychiatrists, psychiatrists, so far as I know, are apt to smile smile cornpassionately compassionately at such notions but have never taken the trouble to check them up.
And there is the other side of the picture. I suppose that in any matter that is as vague and inuence on the insane, there is bound tangible as lunar in influence to be disagreement. By the same token, research in atmospheric and terrestrial magnetism is progressing at at such a rapid rate that some confusion is inevitable before the final nal establishment of basic facts. It is all very interesting but not very helpful in working out my own particular problem, problem. In the past, we, Beth and I, were hopeful that one of the universities or scientific scienti c institutions would lend a hand in finding the cause of the reaction to Solunar nding periods. It may be that this will happen sometime in the future. So So far, however, they seem to have their own axes to grind. At the present writing, a large share of them are encumbered with governmental work in addition to their own particular brands of research, so we suppose that we must be content to wait until matters clarify somewhat. W e know that quite a clarify themselves somewhat. We few executives, executives, doctors and professors, who are connected with these institutions, use the Solunar Tables anshing. Some day our turn is nually as an aid in their fishing. bound to come. For the past few years, one of the men in the Department of Biology of one of our Pennsylvania universities

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has been interested in the Solunar Theory. He is an sherman, one who ties his own flies, and ardent trout fisherman, he has found that the Solunar Tables actually do predict, more or less accurately, the feeding periods of trout. Last fall (1941) (1941) while talking to one of his asso,~ associates, a non-angler, he explained the function of the Solunar Tables and the theory upon which they are based. He is familiar with my belief belief that living things are stimulated electrically during Solunar periods and the idea had occurred to him that it might be possible nd out something definite de nite about it. to find It so happens that his friend has perfected an instrument that is a valuable aid to him in his forestry work. With this device, he is able to obtain a reading of the potential gradient of a living organism at any particular time. Perhaps that might do with a bit of clari clarification. cation. Living things have the capacity to store up within themselves the power to produce small electric currents, much the same as a storage battery holds within itself potential voltage or current to be called upon when needed by your car. This "potential" "potential" varies in intensity, according to the size size and activity of the organism. Thus, with an instrument that is sensitive enough to measure this force, an experimenter can apply it to one tree after another of a grove. grove. He knows what the potential of a be, even before he tests it. Trees healthy tree should he, that are not healthy, either because of disease disease or attack by insects, will show a lower-than-normal potential readinsects,will showalower-than-normal ing-just ingjust the reverse of what your physician usually

looks for when he takes your temperature. The instrument is an accurate diagnostician for sick trees in addiaddition to being a great time-saver. Having learned that his friend would be interested in looking into the matter of Solunar periods more thoroughly, Biologist A wrote to me and asked me if I would object to having Biologist B investigate the Solunar Tables with the aid of his new measuring device. It so happens that Biologist B had kept a fairly contiguous, hourly record of laboratory readings during 1938 1938 and, if I were agreeable, it would be interesting to check this record against the Solunar Tables for that year. Naturally, I was elated over the prospect. I am always more than willing to have the Solunar Theory tested out in any fashion. Not only do I learn more of what to expect-and expect-from it; outside exexpectand what not to expectfrom perimentation serves as a counterbalance against any possibility that I may develop to deviate slightly in my own obse:vations, observations, purely because of the fact that I am doing most of the work single-handed. single-handed. In this case, I was particularly interested because I had no substantiating evidence to support my belief that reactions to Solunar periods are prompted by variations in electricity or magnetism. Accordingly, I wrote to Biologist B, sending him all necessary data and thanking him for his interest in the work that I had been doing. For over two weeks I anxiously watched the mails and, eventually, patience was rewarded by a letter from Biologist B, telling me of his investigations. He H e and one of his colleagues had checked through several several months

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of laboratory laboratory readings readings taken from from germinating germinating corn corn of seeds and, and, also, also, from from live live salamanders. salamanders. While While the the readreadseeds ings were not completely in agreement with the Solunar ings were not completely in agreement with the Solunar periods, in in 75 75 per cent cent of of the the comparisons comparisons there there was was an an periods, Solunar pepeincrease in in potential potential gradient gradient at at the the time time a a Solunar increase riod was was in in progress, progress. He He went went on on to to say say that that the the coincicoinciriod dence, while while not not conclusive, conclusive, was was su sufficient to be be dence, cicnt to quite interesting interesting and and deserving deserving of of further further investigation investigation quite through experimentation. That was was decidedly good good news. news. Viewed in in the the light light cold, hard hard percentages, percentages, the the results results of of this this investigainvestigaof cold, tion are, are, as as he he stated, stated, not conclusive. conclusive. However, However, in in judgjudging these these figures there are are several several aspects aspects of the the matter matter ing gures there should be taken into into consideration. consideration. In In the the first that should rst place, the the tabulations were were made made by by two two reputable reputable scisciplace, entists who who are are associated associated with one one of the the foremost foremost uniunientists versities of New England. England. Neither of them was was familiar versities Solunar Tables Tables prior to to the the investigation; investigation; thus, thus, with the Solunar there was was no possibility possibility of any unconscious unconscious interferinterference by preconceived ideas ideas or conclusions. conclusions. The The Solunar Solunar ence Tables for that year had been prepared and printed long Tables for long before I I had heard of their experiments. experiments. ln In other words, words, before only possible possible connection connection or relationship relationship that one one the only set of figures could have with the other is is the the common common set gures could the phenomenon under investigainvestigamedium furnished by the tion. Also, it must be remembered that the intensity of of Also, influence always is subject to to variation, evieviSolunar in uence always in atmospheric atmospheric pressure. pressure. dently caused by fluctuations in accomW e have already seen that such fluctuations are We such uctuations are accom-

panied panied by by variations variations or, or, at at least, least, a a reassorting reassorting of of the the electrical electrical status status of of the the atmosphere. atmosphere. My My own own observaobservations tions of of activity activity of of wild wild life life often often show show negative negative results results during during adverse adverse weather weather conditions. conditions. With With these these things things in in mind, mind, the the results results of of that that recent recent investigation investigation take take on on a rosier rosier hue hue than than they they might might have have at at first glance through through a rst glance the microscope microscope of of cold, cold, impartial impartial percentages. percentages. the As As you you may may well well imagine, imagine, we we are are hoping hoping that that this this may may be be the the entering entering wedge wedge in in the the solution solution of of our our probproblem. it is is a a start start in in the the right direction. direction. lem. At At least, least, it

CHAPTER C H A P T E R

THIRTEEN T H I R T E E N

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VVE E FIND F I N D it it interesting interesting sometimes to to - sometimes conjecture about the various ways in which the Solunar conjecture about the various ways in which the Solunar Theory Theory may may be be applied applied in in future future years. years. Of Of course, course, there there is no way of knowing de nitely what its scope may is no way of knowing definitely what its scope may be, be, for for the the simple simple reason reason that that we we do do not, not, at at present, present, know know why why it it operates operates and and of of what what it it is is composed. composed. The The total total of of our our exact exact knowledge knowledge of of it it today today is is that that the the activity activity cycle cycle does does exist exist and and is is followed, followed, to to a a greater greater or or less less dedegree, gree,by by all all living living things; things; that that this this activity activity cycle cycle is is timed timed in in the the same same rhythm rhythm as as the the moon; moon; and and that that it it quite quite probprobably is linked in some way with terrestrial or atmosably is linked in some way with terrestrial or atmosphcric pheric magnetism magnetism or or both. both. It It is is not not improbable, improbable, howhowever, that the Solunar Theory will have fairly wide comever, that the Solunar Theory will have fairly wide commercial ting mercial application application with with the the added added virtue virtue of of bene benefiting mankind, from the standpoints of both health and genmankind, from the standpoints of both health and general eral comfort. comfort. \Ve W e have have already already seen seen that that it it has has its its commercial commercial uses. sheries have uses. The The commercial commercial fisheries have found found that that its its use use improves improves their their daily daily catches. catches. Aquarium Aquarium owners owners have have learned to save food and labor in raising tropical sh learned to save food and labor in raising tropical fish by by following followingthe the feeding feeding schedule. schedule. A A collection collection of of repreptiles is kept healthy through the timing of its feeding tdes is kept healthy through the timing of its feeding schedule, schedule, and and salesmen salesmen have have found found that that their their prosprospects pects seem seem to to be be more more receptive receptive if if approached approached at at the the
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proper times. times. But But that that does does not not exhaust exhaust the the possibilipossibiliproper ties by any means. ties by any means. noW e know know that that groups groups of of people people are are stimulated stimulated noWe ticeably during during Solunar Solunar periods. periods. Why Why not not put put that that ticeably knowledge to to good good use use later later on? on? Today Today we we can can conconknowledge dition the the atmosphere atmosphere in in an an enclosure enclosure so so that that temperatemperadition ture and and humidity humidity may may be be maintained maintained at a t constant, constant, fafature vorable levels. levels. Once Once it it has has been been determined determined just just what what vorable constitutes Solunar influence, it is reasonable to supconstitutes Solunar in uence, it is reasonable to suppose that that the the conditions conditions that that exist exist during during a a Solunar Solunar pose period can can be be reproduced reproduced arti artificially. The atmosphere atmosphere period cially. The in our our hospitals, hospitals, theatres, theatres, public public buildings buildings and and ot offices in ces could then then be be conditioned conditioned so so that that the the occupants occupants of of could these buildings buildings would would be be subjected subjected to to Solunar Solunar condicondithese tions so solong long as as they they remained remained therein. therein. tions In our hospitals, we know that the majority majority of of deaths deaths In our hospitals, we know that the occur between between midnight midnight and and dawn, dawn. This This has has been been acacoccur bodiIy resistance resistance is is counted for forby by the theexplanation explanationthat that bodily counted a tits itslowest lowestebb ebbduring duringthe thesmall smallhours hoursof of the themorning. morning. at That is isno no doubt doubt true, true, but but it it doesn't doesn't mean mean very very much; much; That much less less does does it it suggest suggest aa remedy, remedy, so so that that this this conconmuch centration of of mortality mortality might might be be distributed distributed over over the the centration full twenty-four hours of the day instead of having borfull twenty-four hours of the day instead of having border-line cases casessubjected subjected without without protection protection to to the the hazhazder-line ard of the early hours of the morning. In addition, who ard of the early hours of the morning. In addition, who knowsbut butwhat whatthe thereproduction reproduction of ofSolunar Solunarconditions conditions knows mayhave haveits itsown ownpeculiar peculiartherapeutic therapeuticquality? quality?At Atleast, least, may itwill willbe beworth worthwhile whileto to find outabout aboutit, it,once oncewe weknow know it nd out where to tobegin. begin. where In our our ofhce officebuildings, buildings, it it is isprobable probable that that Solunar "Solunar In

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conditioning ciency considerably. conditioning" would would step step up up ef efficiency considerably. Certainly, Certainly, the the observations observations that that II made made of of our our realrealestate estate department department over over a a period period of of four four years years would would bear bear out out that that statement. statement. No No longer longer would would there there be be a a variance variance in in activity activity throughout throughout the the day. day. It It might might well well be ce hours be that that the the eventual eventual result result would would be be shorter shorter of office hours with with no no loss loss in in work work accomplished. accomplished. A was giving giving a a talk talk on on the the Solunar Solunar A few few years years ago, ago, II was Theory Theory to to a a group group of of sportsmen sportsmen in in a a small small town town in in New New Jersey. ne talks Jersey. As As a a general general rule, rule, II con confine talks of of this this kind kind to to a a general general discussion discussion of of the the application application of of the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory to to the the outdoor outdoor sports, sports, and and let let it it go go at at that. that. On On this particular evening, however, there was only a small this particular evening, however, there was only a small group group present present and and they they were were interested interested enough enough to to ask ask questions nished my questions after after II had had finished my talk. talk. Eventually, Eventually, the the discussion discussion worked worked around around to to the the effects effects of of Solunar Solunar ininuence on fluence on people. people. During During a a lull lull in in the the proceedings, proceedings, aa man man in in the the back back of of the the room room rose rose to to his his feet. feet. I'm "I'm aamine mineoperator," operator," he hesaid. said.Over "Over near near Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, our our mines minesemploy employfrom from one onehundred hundred and and fty to fifty to two two hundred hundred miners, miners, foreigners foreigners mostlyunnatmostly-unnaturalized uralized immigrants immigrantsfrom fromthe thepeasant peasantclasses classesof of Europe. Europe. A good share of them are completely uneducated; A good share of them are completely uneducated; in in fact, fact,they they are are closer closerto to being being highly highly developed developed animals animals than than they they are are people, people, at at least least as as we we think think of of people people in in this this country. country. When "When aa certain certain number number of of these these men men is is working working in in the the mines, mines, we we know know just just about about what what output output to to exexpect pect from from aa day's day's work. work. A A good good share share of of the the time, time, the the

men turn turn out out coal coal as as we we expect expect them them to to and and everything everything men moves along along according according to to schedule. schedule. But But that that is is not not alalmoves ways the the case. case. ways "Once in in a a while, while, usually usually when when the the weather weather is is fine Once ne and the the men men are are feeling feeling good, good, this this crew crew will will send send up up and coal faster faster than than we we can can handle handle it. it. This This doesn't doesn't happen happen coal often-just every every now now and and then. then. Then, Then, on on other other days, days, oftenjust don't feel so when the weather is gloomy and the men when the weather is gloomy and the men dont feel so lively, we we have have trouble trouble getting getting up up enough enough coal coal to to fill lively, ll our orders. orders. Empty Empty cars carsstand stand on on the the sidings sidingsand and demurdemurour rage charges charges pile pile up. up. Often Often we we try try to to hurry hurry the the men men by by rage speeding up up the the fans fans and and forcing forcing more more air air into into the the speeding mines,but but it it doesn't doesn't seem seemto to do domuch much good. good. We W e either either mines, get coal coal or or we we dont don't get get it, it, depending depending on on how how those those get fellows happen to be feeling from day to day. It costs fellows happen to be feeling from day to day. It costs money for for power power to to operate operate those those big big nine-foot nine-foot fans fans money and it costs money to be late in getting out orders. I'm and it costs money to be late in getting out orders. I'm wondering if if your your Solunar Solunar Theory Theory won't won't be be the the evenevenwondering tual solution." solution." tual Itwould would be bean an absorbing absorbingbit bit of of research research to tocheck check the the It production sheets sheets of of those those mines mines against against Solunar Solunar pepeproduction riodsand and fluctuations fluctuations in in barometric barometric pressure. pressure. But But that that riods kind of of work work requires requires time time and, and, possibly, possibly, equipment. equipment. kind In the theevent eventthat thatit itshould shoulddevelop developthat thatcoal coalproduction production In actually does does vary vary directly directly as as the the Solunar Solunar periods periods and and actually the barograph (as it quite probably does) , we still lack the barograph (as it quite probably does) , we still lack the remedy remedy until until we we know know enough enough about about reproducing reproducing the favorable barometric and Solunarconditions. conditions. favorable barometric and Solunar This unexplained unexplainedvariance variance in in group group ef efficiency isnot not This creney is confined tocoal coalmines. mines.The Thesame samefluctuation fluctuation in inoutput output con ned to

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is evident in every form of manufacture not entirely dependent upon machinery. Some years ago, I gave a luncheon talk to the Rotary Michigan. At the close close of the session, Club at Flint, Michigani session, a man came up to the speakers' speakers table and introduced himself. He explained that he was the superintendent of the assembly line of one of the automobile-manuautomobile-manw facturing plants in Flint. "You probably know," You l<now," he said, "that that we try to maintain standard working conditions in assembly-line assemblyline work clay to day. from day day. Each man has his regular job to do. He does just that one job, in the same place, with the same tools, time after time, day e try to clay after day. W We possiblehave conditions in the plant as uniform as possiblelight, heat and so so on. Yet, try as we will, we cant can't maintain an even production rate. rate. Some days we speed up the line until cars cars roll off off faster than the loading crew can handle them. Other days, days, we have to slow down the assembly line, sometimes stopping it until some of the men can catch up, while the loading crew stands around, waiting for something to do. "As you might imagine, a graph of our production As from day to day over a period of months is far from being the straight line that we should like to see. see. We We never change a man on the assembly line if we can help crew working on the good clays days and it. It's the same crcw the bad days. days. But the variance in production persists in orts to eliminate it. it. I tell you, it keeps me spite of our e efforts awake nights sometimes." awal<c sometimes," That seems sccms to sum up the need for a remedy for vari-

ance in production. The autonlobile automobile industry is noted for having the last word in factory arrangement, manufacturing methods and e efficient icient tools. Yet, when dealing with the unknown quantity of manual elhciency, efficiency, production schedules can and often do, go completely awry. Were Vl/ere it possible to condition a modern manufacturing plant so that, in addition to light, heat and humidity, the other variable working conditions-those conditionsthose of atmospheric pressure and Solunar influence, in uence, with their fluctuations-could be kept at a attendant magnetic lluctuationscould standard level, level, it undoubtedly would result in more uniform production with its resultant economies. Pending the time, however, that the fund of human information will permit such a stabilization of conditions, the Solunar Theory may not be without some practical value, just as it stands today. Only recently, I received a letter from a man who is a prominent surgeon following: in the Middle West. \Vest. In this letter is the following;
May I hope that our correspondence correspondence will continue as I have a kindred interest so far as human beings bcings are animals. I am sure concerned as you have liavc in animals. surc you can see at once the great forecast of grcat value valuc it [the [the accurate accurate forecast Solunar periods] Solunar periods] would have, havc, when crystallized, in timfore-warning of heart failure, asthmatic ing surgery, surgery, a fore-Warning hcart failure, attacks and so forth, if presented on a practical basis.

My reply to this letter lctter was to the effect that, lacking definite de nite knowledge as to cause, our only method of determining Solunar periods is through observation of known lrnown effects and their correlation with the known rhythms of the moon and sun. True, this is far from

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F O U R T E E N FOURTEEN

being a satisfactory method of calculation, but it is the at best one we have a t present. On O n the other hand, diagnosis and surgery are carried on today with no thought of the Solunar Theory or the possible effects effects of the Solunar periods. ~eriods. Surely there is baker! into little to be lost if the Solunar Theory were taken consideration when plans for operations are being made and when border-line cases are under observation and treatment. The fact remains, however, that the effects effects of Solunar influence scores, golf scores, scores, etc. in uence do show up in skeet scores, With this in mind, it could do no possible harm if any form of human endeavor, co-ordination endeavor, requiring keen coordination or judgment, were planned to take advantage of the stimulation of the Solunar p1iOdS. periods. Directors' Directors meetings, conferences, surgical operations, theatrical business conferences, nitely, might, just as performances and so on, inde indefinitely, well as not, profit from the beneficial pro t bene cial results of Solunar influence. It is there to be used by those who want ititinfluence. any school of trout or covey of quail will tell you that. Why, then, not take advantage of what nature has to VVl1y, offer? offer? It may be that the calendar on your desk ten years from the time that this is written will include not only the days of the month but the daily Solunar periods as well, with such additional related data as may be dedeveloped in the meanwhile. That time is probably a long way oft, off, but it's wav its fun to think about it, anyway. anyway.

L o o u N G back over the years, the thought LOOKING is brought home to me that so often it is the small small things in the experience of most of us that tilt the balance of our lives one way or the other. That memorable shing trip with Bob VVall fishing Wall in the labyrinthian maze of fteen years ago most the St. St. Iohns Johns marshes in Florida fifteen certainly has left its mark on my life and that of my family. One thing leads to another, inevitably. What What was once an interesting side light of my hobby of fishshing has changed the entire course of our lives, without doubt. doubt. Had it not been for the extra work that I imposed upon myself, working out the complexities of the Solunar Theory and, later, developing the sale of SoluSolunar Tables into a full-time business, I probably would still be working in the Real Estate Department in a large New York bank or, for all that I know, I might be dead and buried by this time. Thank Irleaven, Heaven, and I f speak in all reverence, Bob Wall's Walls rule of fishing, shing, as taught to him by his granpappy" "granpappy" many years ago in "Emancipation ProclamaGeorgia, proved to be my Emancipation tion, whereby I was freed from a life of secure drudgery tion,?' and boredom. N0 No longer is it incumbent upon me to punch the clock each morning at an exact time if I would continue to hold my job. W We e live our own lives now, and that alone is worth much sacrifice. sacri ce.
157

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Before we branched out on our own, such a thing as contiguous observation of wild life was out of the quesshing trips only tion. My duties at the bank permitted fishing every other week-end week-end and my hunting trips were limseason. Now, living in the heart of a fishited to two a season. shing and hunting country, country, I can, if I choose, spend part 15th of or all of each day in the outdoors. From the 15th April until the close close of the bird season at the end of November, I live live most of my life in the open. Beth no longer is held down to routine household duties, purely because we make a point of having no routine. Meals are eaten when we want them, not when the clock tells us to have them. Even with my boy Dick life goes goes on more pleasantly than before. Being far removed from the hazards of metropolitan congestion, congestion, he is allowed more freedom than he could have enjoyed under the old regime. In view of the fact that he has planned his schooling to fit t the work that we are doing, we have been able to arrange for time off from school without truant penfaculty, knowing that fishing shing and shooting alties. The faculty, are essential in his future work as an outdoor writer, accept my explanation that a day's days absence now and then falls falls within the all-inclusive cation of genall-inclusive classi classification eral education.\Ve education./e find nd that we spend much more time together under the present arrangement than ever could have been possible under the regimented rcgirnented existencz. existence. Of course, we don't expect ever to be wealthy as a result of our efforts in bringing the Solunar Theory up to what possible stage of development it may eventually

attain. attain. Anything as intangible as response to Solunar in uence is going to be difficult dif cult to sell to any appreinfluence appreciable number of people. Folks like to see things for themselves and often this is not possible with response to Solunar periods. Too many things can happen that will upset the fine ne balance of natural conditions to expect anything like 100 l loo per cent visible visible perfonnance. performance. I write about the Solunar Theory and its effects effects and preach its gospel from the lecture platform, knowing full well that many of my audiences take what I have to say with a grain of salt. salt. To T o those who have not had experience with the workings, all of the things set Solunar Theory and its workings, some instances, instances, down herein may sound strange and, in some fanciful. That is not surprising. surprising. The phenomena of fanciful. nature with which we are not familiar and which we do not understand always always sound implausible implausible when first rst we O n my own part, I recall recall not a little hear about them. On skepticism that day fifteen fteen years ago when I sat in the shade of a camphor tree and listened to Bob Wall unfold the lore of the Georgia market hunters. The story sounded strange to me then and I labeled it, mentally, backwoods sophistry. It took a few a colorful piece of backwoods years of personal investigation for me to convince myself that the fundamental idea is sound. sound. How, then, can I expect, expect, through the medium of mere words, to convince others that what I tell them is true? But money is not all there is to be had in this world ours. \Ve W e have had moneyplenty money-plenty of it-twice of ours. ittwice in our lives, lives, and we were none the happier for it. True, we

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could do more, gratify more whims and live on a more grandiose scale, but the fact remains that we are happier now than we were then. W e are in the process of \Ve doing what we hope will be an important task of cree are interested, actively and keenly, keeniy, ative endeavor. W \Ve in what each day has in store for us and, as time passes, the rewards of accomplishment are enough to satisfy satisfy us. W h a t more of life can a man ask than to be happy with What his family, interested to the point of absorption in his daily work and content in the knowledge that with his passing the world may be slightly better for his having lived upon it for a while? Although we can never hope to repay in kind the fun that we have had and will have a t least we can try. out of life, at Now and then, some of our reward comes to us, perhaps, a little ahead of time. Some time ago, I received a letter from Arizona. I t needs no explanation and I It reproduce it here, in part, just as we received it. This is the letter. I've pretty well done my bit of fishing shing too-but toobut one enough. For the past two and one-half one-halt years, never gets gets enough. bum lungs have made an armchair angler of me. I have read everything I could get my hands on for a good many years and quite naturally I met you and your Solunar theory in the outdoor magazines. After my illness I found that an hour or so would be rather long for me to fish, "Well, I'm sh, so I thought, Well, Im going to try out this fellow's Solunar Theory." I ordered the Tables and started checking and studying them. Finally came trout season. season. My wife drove me the hundred miles to the little

W e arrived during a Major Period. The wind stream. We was blowing hard and the water was high and milky, but in approximately one hundred yards I raised sevenseventeen trout. This was on hard-fished hard- shed public waters and a small stream at that. This looked pretty good to me but I thought, Well, "Well, maybe it just happened." happened." Next morning I went out on a Minor Period and caught three rather small rainbows. Back to the house, for I must rest. While waiting for the Major Period on a cot on the Vt/hile farmhouse porch-asleep porchasleep in fact-I tactI was awakened by songbirds, domestic fowls and turkeys. turkeys. the activity of songbirds, "How do you I called to my wife. "It's It's time to go." How know?" she answered, answered. "Listen Listen to the birds," birds," I said. said. "See how active they are-the See arethe squirrels squirrels too." I looked e at my watch and the Major Period had just started. W We humed to the stream and I caught during the Major hurried Period, twenty-six trout. trout, Not bad for a man who was limited to two hours a day. day. My health did not permit me to fish sh again last year except twice for bass near home and the Tables stood me in good stead again. I have carefully checked my Tables against various animals and birds which are songbirds and around my house. There are hundreds of songbirds I could tell when the Solunar Period started and ended by their activity. I am really trying to show you just how valuable your Table is to a man who, on account of his health, can only fish sh an hour or so a day and must make the most of that time. There must be several several thousand men in the same condition who would be able to get the most from their hunting and fishing shing if they but knew. To a non-angler this would sound extremely foolish but, to a man who has always been active and hunted and fished shed hard all his life, lite, giving up these things is just about the

162 162

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hardest of all-no all-no wonder wonder then then the the hour hour or or two two is is pricepricehardest less. ess. Every once once in in a a while, while, when when my my calculations calculations have have Every led me me astray astray or or my my plans plans have have gone gone wrong, wrong, as as they they led often do, I take this letter out of my file and read it often do, I take this letter out my le and read it again. The The gratitude gratitude and and appreciation appreciation of of this this one one man man again. can more more than than offset offset the the frustrations frustrations and and disappointdisappointcan ments that must be be incidental incidental to to a a job of this this sort. sort. ments listenersUnfortunately, not not all all of my my readersand readers-and listenersUnfortunately, are as charitable as this man is. A few years ago, are as charitable as this is. A few years ago, II had the dubious dubious pleasure pleasure of addressing addressing a a fly-casting fly-casting club club in in the one of our larger cities. It is a large organization and in one our larger cities. It is a large organization and in its membership are are several several nationally nationally known known figures in its gures in did my my best to to give give an an interesting the angling angling world. world. II did the and convincing convincing talk, talk, and and they listened listened attentively. attentively. Not and two years years later did did II learn learn how how my talk talk really really had until two been received. received. two years years had passed, passed, II received received a a note note After the two from entertainment committee of from the chairman of the entertainment same club, club, asking asking me to to address address the the club club again at that same its annual annual dinner. dinner. The The writer of that note never never will will its be hanged for for his his diplomacy or or tact. tact. be "Of course," he he said, said, most "most of the boys boys think that Of your stuff is is a lot of boloney, but I'd like like to to have you you come Over over and give give them a talk anyway." come My first first impulse was to accept the invitation and go go over to their dinner and give give them a talk that they'd over discretion-and Bethstcpped Beth-stepped really remember. Then discrction~and declined the invitation and let it go go at that. that. in and I declined I say say that I account, believe believe me when I In writing this account,

have have tried tried to to treat treat the the matter matter of of the the Solunar Solunar Theory Theory fairly fairly and and impartially. impartially. Throughout Throughout II have have endeavored endeavored to to separate separate fact fact from from theory. theory. Some Some things things II know know are are true and those I have labeled as the truth. Other things true and those I have labeled as the truth. Other things are theory theory only only and and there there is is no no hesitancy hesitancy on on my my part part are that they they are are unproven unproven anrl, and, possibly, possibly, unprovunprovto admit admit that to able. In In all all things, things, however, however, II have have tried tried to to convey convey the the able. impression that the the work work we we are are doing doing and and hope hope to to do do impression is both both serious serious and and sincere. sincere. It It is is not, not, as as that diplomat diplomat is phrased it, it, a "a lot lot of of boloney." boloney." A A man man does does not devote devote phrased the the useful useful years years of his his life life to to the the creation creation of what what he he believes to to be be a a fallacy. fallacy. himself believes And And so, so, as as II write write these these things, things, memory takes takes me me back to to the the luncheon luncheon II had had with with the the scientist scientist who who is is back in the the field of research research in in terrestrial terrestrial magmagprominent in eld of netism. netism. "Go ahead ahead as as you you are are going, going," he he said. said. At "At least, least, you you Co are on on the the right track. track. Stick Stick to to your guns guns and and dont don't be be are influenced by by any any criticism. criticism. After After you you fuss fuss around around with long enough, enough, I'm sure sure you you will will find the answer answer and, and, it long nd the more important, important, be be able able to to prove prove it." it.'' more I think Ill 1'11 muddle muddle through through for for a a while while longer. longer. \Vho Who I knows what may may develop? develop? knows

AFTERWORD AFTERWORD
During the thirty years that have passed since the preceding book was published, much has happened with - and through - the Solunar Theory. Theory.

John Alden Knight, who died in 1966 1966 during his annual fishing shing trip to his favorite Florida Bay waters, lived to see his belief in the old market hunters hunters' timetable vindicated. He, and thousands of others, demonstrated time and time again again the efficiency of the Tables he printed annually. (One of his records stdl stands as of this writing; the Metropolitan Miami still Tournament all-time sea trout record on fly, 8 Toumament y, an 8 pound 13 13 oz. fish sh taken on the dark of the moon Major Period.) Period.) The Tables are printed in major Westem Western languages languages - French and Spanish as well as English and are available available from the Australian sub-continent throughout the Western world. They are distributed 150 newspapers in the United States and to over 150 Canada (and have been since 1947) by the Register & Tribune Syndicate of Des Moines, Iowa. They are also printed editorially in Field and Stream, Stream, a magazine whlch identification. which certainly needs no further identi cation. One of my late father-in-law's father-in-1aws predictions as to the availability of the Solunar Tables came true in 1964 10 he had hopefully 1964 (20 years, rather than the 10 projected) when the Vemon Vernon Calendar Company first rst

introduced their Sportsman's Sp0rtsmans calendars, incorporating the Solunar times on each day's days block.
There are major fishing shing tournaments whose committees annually consult the Solunar Tables office of ce here in Pennsylvania for the scheduling of their competitions. These tournaments toumaments are timed for the dark of the moon to assure assure (as much as is possible in such a variable sport as fishing) shing) the best catches for the most successful competitions. In re-reading rereading the correspondence the originator of the Tables had with the midwestern surgeon that he writes of on page 155, 155, it is interesting to note that there is at least one prominent surgeon who, to my definite de nite knowledge, does successfully utilize the Solunar times when medical conditions permit. He frequently uses hypnosis as an anesthesia for patients with tricky hearts, and has found that they are more readily conditioned to the technique during the Periods. Also, when conditions permit, he prefers to schedule major surgery around the Periods, giving the benefit o be patient the added bene t of what he feels t to exquicker recovery. While only one surgeon's surgeons experiences with a necessarily limited group of patients ofpatients can hardly be claimed as a scienti c proof, it scientific certainly is at least an indication that humans react to the times perhaps more then we origmally originally felt. I957 John Alden Knight was honored with In 1957 election to the Fishing Hall of Fame in recognition of

his contribution through the development of the Solunar Tables, sportsmanship and fishing shing ability. o in this book, was When Dick, the son referred t to elected to the same group a few years later, they F-he) were the only father-son combination in a most disdistinguished group. While Dick lived only two years longer than his father, during his lifetime he did much to ne the original formula and t o help his father re refine prove its value in many parts of the world, both hunting and fishing. shing. It was by these two dedicated men that I was trained in the Solunar Theory and the computation of the annual Tables. Ten years ago I had 111) my first m boss' in figuring was 3 a lesson from 'the the boss gunng the times. He W85 firm rm and fine ne teacher - and patient! -- a att the desk as with a fly y rod or shotgun.
I feel I have learned well; trophy elk and antelope, International Game Fish and antelope, and pending Intemational International Spin Fishing records for a 64 pound white marlin on 6 pound line, all taken on Solunar Periods, show that, I I think.

influence which constitutes constitutes the Solunar in uence Yet that whlch is still nut not de definitely nitely and truly scientifically scienti cally known. Work is still continuing, trying to pin it down, in Such such diverse places as Colorado and New England. This is, diverse however, the work of a few lone individuals whose inquiring minds prod them further down the road.

Perhaps one of these days one of them will come to the end of the road and we can say this "this is it". it. muddling Until that day, day, though, I shall shall continue "muddling through", through", as the book has it, knowing that more and more people throughout the world have seen seen the evidence of the Solunar Periods, even if they dont evidence don't know why. 'why'. Montoursville, Mon toursville , Pa. November 1,1972 l, I972

Jacqueline E. Knight (Mrs. Richard Alden Knight)

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