ios) 
‘The McCloud River Salmon Fly.” 
With the above unique title, we have re- 
ceived a little journal published at Baird Sta- 
tion, Cal., by E. C. Stone, the young son of 
Livingston Stone, the accomplished fish cul- 
turist in charge of the Government fish 
hatchery at the above named point, which is 
out nearly in the wilderness, as will be seen 
from Mr. Moore’s communication and illustra- 
tions on other pages of this issue. We quote 
a few itemsfrom the Sa/mon Fly to show how 
life is made up in his far-distant mountain 
section. 
Mr. Elbert Bass and Miss Marion Derby 
encountered and killed a young rattlesnake 
just below the seining ground, a few days ago. 
The rattles now adorn Miss Derby’s hat. 
Our mail from Redding comes by an inter- 
esting variety of conveyances. It is carried 
from Redding to Stillwater in a wagon. From 
Stillwater a mule brings it to Pit river. It 
crosses Pit river in a basket rigged on a wire 
cable. From this side of Pit river to the Re- 
servation an Indian brings it up on his back. 
The fly-fishing for trout on the lower Mc- 
Cloud has been very good this season, not- 
withstanding the high water. It improved 
very much after our last issue, and the fisher- 
men were rewarded almost every evening with 
good strings of large fish, all caught with a 
fly. The most extraordinary catch was made 
by Mr. J. R. Moore, of New York, who cap- 
tured three salmon grilse with artificial flies, 
which, by the way, clearly disproves the state- 
ment that the Pacific coast salmon never take 
the fly in the rivers. It is true that they were 
young salmon, but they were sa/mon, all the 
same. 
No Longer a Doubter. 
Since writing you my last I have caught the 
jumping black bass of the Cold Mountain 
streams of Northern Alabama. Right here 
and now I wish to retract all I have ever said 
about black bass not jumping. I know they 
do, for I have seen’em doit. There's nothing 
like experience to make a man change his 
mind, and | have ‘‘ done changed.” 
The fishing is now excellent on the coast 
around Aransas Pass, far better than at any 
time this season, and fully up to the old stand- 
ard, the high water having brought them in. 
We have not given up hopes of seeing you here 
this year, or next spring at the latest. 
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct, 15. Wieser: 
26 | The American Angler 
Pleasant Words. 
When two or three years ago that veteran 
angler, William C. Harris, announced the 
early publication of an elaborate work, pro- 
fusely illustrated with large chromo-litho- 
graphic plates, there were many expressions of 
satisfaction from those interested in piscatorial 
pursuits. 
Mr. Harris’s reputation in all such matters 
stood so high, and his pleasing style of writing 
was so well known, that it was felt the work 
would be of more than ordinary interest and 
value. The publication, in due course, of the 
first and second parts of the announced work, 
fulfilled every expectation and gave promise 
of greater excellence as it progressed. There 
was general regret, therefore, when for various 
causes there was a delay in the issuance of the 
parts, though that regret was softened by the 
statement of the author that the main cause of 
the delay was his dissatisfaction with the col- 
ored plates and his intention to improve them. 
The subscribers of the work have lost nothing 
by the long wait. Part III, which is now in 
their hands, is in every respect superior to its 
predecessors, valuable though they 
The illustrations are masterpieces. The two 
fishes presented, one a pike, commonly called 
hereabouts pickerel, and the other a hybrid 
trout, are exceedingly lifelike in their coloring 
and outlines, and the artist has done his work 
so well that they have the appearance of swim- 
ming in realwater. ‘These illustrations, 12x18 
inches, are well worthy of being framed and 
placed beside other well-known works of art. 
As in the previous number, the text is ex- 
haustive of the natural history of the fishes 
treated upon, and a list of about 250 fresh 
and salt water specimens that may be taken 
with the rod and line in the Atlantic and 
Pacific oceans, off the American coast, and 
from the inland waters between Hudson bay 
and the Gulf of Mexico, is given. 
Besides this, an interesting and exhaustive 
chapter is begun on ‘‘The Qualities of an 
Angler; His Tackle and Outfit,” which gives 
valuable information not only to a disciple of 
Izaak Walton in his novitiate, but to one who 
may long have been received as an expert in 
the full brotherhood of the Order of Anglers. 
Beginning with the next number, it is an- 
nounced that the subject of fishes, serzatzm, 
will be taken up.—Pwélic Ledger, Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 
Parts IX and X of ‘“ 7he Fishes of North 
America” are now ready for delivery. Ad- 
dress, The Harris Publishing Co., 19 Park 
Place, New York. 
Personal. 
Through the stupidity of a servant, a letter 
addressed to the editorial department of our 
magazine found its way to the ash barrel in-- 
stead of the editor’s desk at home. We hope 
this notice will reach the eye of the writer, 
were. | 
