CASTING THE MINNOW. 183 



;iii(l a quarter feet in length, and this must be my excuse 

 for alludinij; to them here. 



The introduction of this rod has no doubt done more than 

 any thing else to popularize tliis style of fishings and we 

 may now consider minnow-casting as not onl}^ firmly es- 

 tablished, but as an orio-inal and American method of ang- 

 ling that is peculiarly adapted to bait-fishing in our varied 

 and extensive waters. 



As an instance of its popularity I might add that, during 

 the past five years, I have seen it employed in the waters 

 tributary to the Red river of the North, in the Northern 

 Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin, in nearly all the 

 Provinces of Canada, and in Florida, and in many waters 

 between. I have also seen it in numerous instances made 

 to apply as well to estuary or coast fishing. 



While minnow-casting for Black Bass is the most popu- 

 lar method in vogue in the West, it is very gratifying to 

 me to see the favor with which it has been received in the 

 Eastern States, and the remarkable progress that has been 

 made in that best of all modes of bait-fishing; for it must 

 be remembered that Black Bass fishing north of the Poto- 

 mac and east of the Alleghany mountains is of compara- 

 tively recent origin, as it has not been many years since the 

 Black Bass was introduced into eastern waters. 



As a member of the Committee of Arransrements of the 

 tournaments of the National Rod and Reel Association, I 

 succeeded in having a special contest for " casting the 

 minnow for Black Bass " admitted in the programme of 

 events at the tournament of 1884, when the longest cast, 

 with a half-ounce sinker, was made by Professor Alfred M. 

 Mayer, the same being 97 feet. 



At the subsequent tournaments the casting continually 



