APPENDIX. V 145 



The pond is of the same character with those which I have described 

 heretofore, and can be fished only from boats. It is open to all anglers, 

 but the number of lish to be basketed by each person in one day is 

 limited to a dozen. In the stream there is no limit, nor indeed can there 

 be, as the tide-waters cannot be preserved, or the free right of fishing 

 them prohibited. The trout here are not only very numerous and of the 

 first quality of excellence— their flesh being redder than that of the 

 salmon — but very large ; the average probably exceeds a pound, and fish 

 of two and two and a half pounds' weight are taken so frequently as to 

 be no rarity. 



The outlet of this pond, after running a few hundred yards, opens upon 

 the salt meadows, where there is no obstacle whatever to throwing a long 

 line. It is broader and longer than any stream we have hitherto encoun- 

 tered, and is incomparably the best, containing fish even larger than 

 those of the pond above, and in my opinion of a finer flavor. I believe 

 it, indeed, to be an indisputable fact, that trout, which have access to 

 salt water, are invariably more highly colored and flavored than those 

 which are confined to fresh streams by natural or artificial obstacles. 



There is no distinction, of which I am aware, in favor of pond or 

 stream, for the use of the fly, the fish taking it readily in either, although 

 as a general rule they will rise to it earlier in the fresh, than in the tide 

 water. 



At some distance down this stream there is a range of willows on the 

 bank, nearly opposite to a place owned by Mrs. Ludlow, and under the 

 trees are some holes famous for being the resorts of the largest fish, 

 which affect here the deepest water and the principal channel. "Here, as 

 in the pond, fish of two and a half pounds are no rarity, and, in fact, 

 such are taken here more frequently than above. I should say that one 

 would rarely hook a trout in this stream under one and a half pounds ; 

 and the true angler well knows that a well conditioned fresh-run fish, 

 from this size to a pound larger, on the finest and most delicate tackle, 

 will give him nothing of which to complain in the way of exercise or 

 excitement. 



At a short distance from Snedecor's is another stream, known as 

 Green's Creek, which contains a peculiar and distinct variety of trout, 

 which is called in that district the silver trout. I have not seen this 

 fish, but learn from good sportsmen that it is of a much lighter and 

 more pearly hue than the common trout, the bright and silvery lustre 

 of the scales prevailing over the back and shoulders. It is crimson 

 spotted, but the fins are less strongly yellow, and it is perhaps a slenderer 

 fish in form. The flesh is said to be firm and well flavored. The silver 

 trout is rarely taken much over or much under a poimd in weight, and 

 rises to the fly or takes the bait indiscriminately. This stream has, I 

 know not wherefore, of late years lost much of its celebrity, and is 

 rarely visited by the best sportsmen. 



At Patchogue, yet a few miles further, there is a very large pond, 

 which was formerly perhaps the most famous on the island, both for the 

 abundance and the size of the fish which it contained. They have, 

 however, become latterly so scarce, that few persons from a distance 



PART II. 7 



