LONG ISLAND TROUT PISHING. 351 



that, as a general rule, the minnow, with spinning or trolling 

 tackle, is found to be more killing than ground bait in the 

 ponds, and vice versa, in the tide streams — probably from the 

 mere fact that the minnow is the rarer in the one water, the 

 red- worm in the other, and that each by its rarity becomes the 

 greater dainty/^ 



Beyond this I have nothing to add, with respect to Trout- 

 fishing, with the exception of a few very general observations 

 on the most likely times, seasons, and places in which to fish 

 for the Trout, since the mode of taking them with the fly is in 

 all respects the same as that already given under the head of 

 Salmon-fishing, the modes of casting for, striking and playing 

 these kindred fishes being in all respects identical. 



In the first place, I am clearly of opinion that for very early 

 fishing in March and April there is no place on this continent 

 at all comparable to Long Island, where all along the south 

 shore they can be taken in numbers almost innumerable, in 

 every pond, stream, and salt creek, until the end of July, 

 when they cease to bite freely. It is worthy of observation 

 that very early in the season the bait is more killing than 

 the fly, but that from May to the end of the season the fly- 

 fisher will fill his creel when the bait-fisher will go empty- 

 handed home. 



In the salt creeks the fish takes the fly far less willingly than 

 the bait; and in Carman's Creek, which is very decidedly the 

 best Trout river on Long Island, it is said there is but one 

 example of a fish being killed with the fly, by an old friend of 

 my own, Mr. Luxford, formerly of H. M.'s Royal Dragoons, in 

 whose eye, should this meet it, these words may awaken not 



