Current Comments. 



l^i^S 



the skippers. It will be a good while 

 before such a scene is witnessed again. 



Charles B. Nite, of Philadelphia, has 

 been the chief promoter in the organiz- 

 ing of a new fishing club in the Quaker 

 City. Obtaining first an option on all 

 ■the fishing and shooting privileges on a 

 large island lying on the coast of 

 Virginia, and known as Cedar Island. 

 Having obtained this option at a rather 

 low figure, it was a very easy matter 

 for him to induce others to become 

 members of the proposed club. The 

 'fishing thereabouts is said to be some- 

 thing superb, and the variety some- 

 • thing wonderful. Blue fish, sea bass, 

 striped bass, and the gigantic drum are 

 to be found in large numbers. The 

 option was replaced by a lease at once. 

 Not alone does the sport consist of 

 angling. The lease carries with it the 

 privilege of shooting on the beaches 

 and in the interior. Of course, bay- 

 birds and plover are a-plenty on the 

 sands, while the waters off shore teem 

 with aquatic fowl, brent especially 

 being found in large numbers in the 

 spring flight. Altogether, the lease 

 "was a good one to have. Plans have 

 already been drawn for the club house, 

 which it is intended to have ready and 

 'fully equipped by the time the shooting 

 season is at its height. 



Glen Island, one of the favorite out- 

 ing resorts of the city, has been in 

 mourning for some time back. Among 

 the other attractions provided for the 

 pleasure of visitors was quite a big lot 

 of the common seal, the fellow who 

 shows himself almost every winter 

 season in waters close to this city. By 

 some negligence on the part of the at- 

 tendants, the gates which separated 

 the pool in which they were confined 



from the waters of Long Island Sound 

 were manipulated in such careless 

 fashion while admitting a fresh supply 

 of sea water, that nine of the seals es- 

 caped. Among the nine was one known 

 as Minnie. The loss of Minnie was far 

 greater than the loss of the other eight. 

 Minnie had been taught several little 

 tricks — to come when she was told, to 

 titrn a somersault, back into the water 

 when ordered — all of which was to the 

 intense delight of the mothers and the 

 delectation of the "kids" accompany- 

 ing them. As soon as the loss became 

 known water scouts were sent out on 

 a hunting eApedition for the missing- 

 ones, but up to this writing without 

 success. 



That reminds the writer of his first 

 experience with a seal. He was on a 

 duck hunting expedition in the waters 

 of Great Peconic Bay, eastern end of 

 Long Island, in company with a 

 thorough bayman. Captain Ira B. Tut- 

 hill, of New Suffolk, Suffolk County, 

 when the incident occurred. To the 

 writer it was rather startling; to the 

 Captain, familiar as he was with every- 

 thing that relates to the sea and its 

 occupants, it was a ludicrous incident. 

 The wind was blowing a half gale from 

 the north-west, the weather as cold as 

 Greenland, for it was late December. 

 When the spray dashed upon the decks 

 of our little sailing craft, it frozie 

 wherever it struck. We had been sail- 

 ing down upon a bunch of " whistlers^" 

 local name for the duck known to 

 naturalists as the golden eye — had go-t 

 in a shot or two with excellent result. 

 Of course the balance of the birds got 

 away as the shots were fired. It was 

 too rough a wind for them to fly fair, 

 hence we marked them down, and, 

 tacking about, were soon afte4' them^, 



