138 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



lauoe was six miles, but aa. this inforniation came from a land- 

 - lubber, I took it oum grano talis. 



Food wan found and oaten ; then followed more paddling, and at 

 last I ran ashore at the poiul , around which the tide doubled and 

 ran out to sea with aatonishini; apeed. From the beaoh I could 

 faintly see through the haze the outlines of the hills at the 

 Narrows, and aa theae landmarks were enough for my purpose, 

 aud a good sailing breeze was now coming in from the southeast, 

 I pushed off, hoisted mainsail, aud with sheet well slacked off, 

 hoaded due north, the boat riding easily and oomfortably over the 

 long swells coming in from the ooean. A ship in tow, some distant 

 sails, and a few tumbling porpoises, were the only objects of in- 

 terest besides the channel buoy a, which the next half hour showed 

 mo ; but at length I caught sight of the Coney Island observatory 

 lookiog, from my lowly Beat in the eanoe, like a far-off buoy ; bo, 

 trimming in a little, I steered for it, the steadily freshening breeze 

 increasing the boat's speed until it reached a point which was de- 

 cidedly exhilarating. 



Arriving at last off Cable's Hotel, looasted along past Brighton 

 and Manhattan Beaches to the eastern end of the Island, where I 

 landed and dined, and then struck and stowed away my maats. 

 preparatory to a passage through the creek, and under the many 

 bridgea which span it. The tide had by this time turned, and was 

 running flood, afact which filled my breast with joy, for on a pre- 

 vious occasion I had been forced at low water to wade through 

 this self-same oreek for about two miles— in water, say three 

 inches ( black mud, one foot ; clam sheila, indefinite quantity, and 

 my feet tingled at the remembrance ; hut now I pasaed quickly 

 through the inlet into Sheepshead Bay, then doubled and twisted 

 and turned through the windings of that creek, ran under bridge 

 after bridge, and presently the low, white house that was my goal 

 peeped out from among the willows, and I lauded. 



No Brooklyn boating man who, hungry, has entered and lingered 

 in Van Bidlen'a low-ceiled dining room ; or, tired, haa stretched 

 himself on the sleep-provoking beda of that time-honored inn, will 

 wonder that it was high noon next day heforo the Rosalind was 

 taken from the stable where she had passed the night, and 

 launched 



A gentle southerly breeze filled her mualin as she glided out of 

 the oreek into Graveaend Bay, homeward bound ; and before it wo 

 ran past Fort Hamilton,then across to Staten Ialand ; back again, 

 and finally tip along the Bay Itidge shore to Gowanns Bay and the 

 boathouae, ending thus pleasantly our short but satisfactory 

 cruise. W. VL C. 



"Wc have taken the liberty of italicizing a portion of the 

 letter, as fraught with interest to canoeists in selecting a 

 canoe for special work. 



fl# and ^iveti 



FISH IN SEASON IN SEPTEMBER. 



:es» water, 



ofoiainalis. 



>no tiutar. 



it, Salnw con/mis. 



I Salmon, Saimogtov 





ieolor 



lln^Kaionge, Jisoz nobilior. 

 1 ike ,>.- PtCKerel, /-.'km Inciun. 

 Yellow Perch, 1'erca ilavcscens. 



balt water. 

 Sea Bas'J, ScianinpH oKllalus. 

 Shecpsliead, Archutargus probato- 



eephdlu& 

 Striped Bass, Rocnia linneatas. 

 White Perch, Mvronc americana. 

 WeaKtiali, Cgiwacion regalis. 

 Blucfi-,11, Poiudtomus xaAtatrix, 

 Spanlsn Mackerel, Cybiummacula- 



Cero, Cybiutii regale. 

 Bonlto, aanla pe-lamys 

 Kingllsli, Mentirirrns ntbuto&ut. 



Fish in Market— Kutail Prices. — Bass, 20 cents ; smelts, 25; 

 bluefiah, 10 ; salmon, 30 i mackerel, 25 ; weak fish, 12^; Spanish 

 mackerel, GO ; green turtle, 12; terrapin, per doz., 812; halibut, 

 15: haddock, ; king fish, 25 ; codfish, 10 ; black Sab, 15 ; floun- 

 dors, to ; porgiea, 10 ; sea bass, IS ; eels, 18 ; lobsters, 10 ; sheeps- 

 head, 25 ; frogs, 35 ; eoallopa per gallon, $1.50 ; white fish, 15 ; 

 pompano, 75; hard craba, per 100, 4:2.50 ; soft crabs, per dozen, 

 85. 



In quoting prices of fish, it must be remembered that they are 

 retail prices and have nothing to do with wholesale prices. 



A very fine pompano was caught on Monday at Rockaway 

 Inlet, As we wrote in our last issue, this fish is by no means 

 Uncommon in our waters. Very possibly, if fishermen had 

 proper nets, pompano could be captured in quantity along the 

 Long Island and New Jersey coast. 



Ontario— Kingston, Sepit. f).— Fishing tnis season has been 

 i : y good. Surrounding us on all sides are hundreds 

 of small lakes which team with black bass, Oswego bass, pike, 

 pickerel, salmon and numerous smaller fry. Yours truly 

 made a number of excursions on the different lakes, and al- 

 ways succeeded in acquitting himself creditably. Owing, no 

 doubt, to the numerous rain and thunder storms, the fishing 

 lias not been quite so good of late, but as soon as the weather 

 settles the lovers of the rod will find plenty of sport. Ax. 



Massachusetts — Nantucket, Sept. 10. — The fishing season 

 is past, and in a week or two most of the boat will be "kid up. 

 A huge shark was captured by Mr. Barnes from the shore at 

 the south side of the islaud. A number of skipjacks have 

 been caught in nets at Great Point the past week. 



Jack Curlew. 



"New Bedford, September 14. — The past week a few pom- 

 pauo have been taken in the trap at the mouth of Slocum's 

 River ; also a bright-sided diamond-shaped fish, with long 

 filaments extending from the dors.-, i unS. Wind 



east, nud but few striped bass and bluefish caught. 



Concha. 



Movbmekxs Oi Tic . ,-i ■ i.iiji.T. — The fishing arrivals 

 Or the codfish from Grand 



Banks, the total recap siiuj ;(i0,0001bs. Bank halibut 

 have been in moderate receipt, the number of arrivals being 

 0, bringing S75,0001bs. The number of Georges arrivals has 

 usual, 25 vessels, bringing 350,0001bs. cod- 

 fish and but little halibut. The Baymen continue to arrive, 

 Bringing good fares, but the reports are not, considl 

 abloforagdodra.il catch, The number of arrivals for the 

 <(?&&. has been 9 j receipts from the fleet, 6,685 bbls. mack- 

 erel ; by freighter, 050 bbls. The Shore fleet are doing 

 nothing. Arrivals this week, 3; catch, about 

 Whole number of fishing arrivals for the week, 41),— Cape 



New York— Shelter Island, Sept. 12.— The bunker fishing 

 m the waters of PecQtric aud Gardiner's bavs and 

 Long Island coast outside, has been remarkably profitable 

 this season. The fish have been brought in to the factories in 

 millions, and of very good quality, averaging three gallons to 

 the thousand. For the last week the waters have been alive 

 with them, and more of them taken than could be used up by 

 the factories. The surplus supplies are being sold to the 

 farmers at the rate of seventy-five cents per thousand. 



Isaac MoLellan. 



Lake Port, Sept. 10.— Five hundred to sis hundred 

 pounds black bass taken here in Oneida Lake during the last 

 week, the largest weighing about five pounds. 



V Bass Frsnraa at Niagara Falls.— The black bass fishing 

 on Niagara River above the Falls has been better this year 

 than ever. These waters are the natural home of the black 

 bass, and it is one of the best, if not the best, black Dass 

 grounds in existence. About the same number of large fish 

 as usual have been taken, but a far greater number of small 

 and medium ones. A great many small fish were takeu with 

 a fly from the shore in July. The season with us extends 

 from July 1 to October, the best fishing being in August and 

 forepart of September, when they are taken at the foot of 

 bars m deep water, in eddies, etc. An unusual number of 

 visitors have availed themselves of the beautiful scenery and 

 splendid fishing on the river above the Falls this season and 

 it is for the information of those who are ignorant of one of 

 the finest places around Niagara, and for those who would 

 like to spend a few hours taking the noble black bass during 

 their stay at this famous watering place, that I write these few 

 lines. A new steam yacht has been placed on the river lor the 

 accommodation of fishing and pleasure parties. Small boats 

 and boatmen in abundance and at reasonable rates. The fish- 

 ing points are but a short distance from the town, and any 

 one who sees fit to investigate the claims of this least known, 

 but one of the best, fishing resorts in the country will be 

 amply repaid. By addressing P. Walker, boatman, boats, 

 bait, guides, and all information may be obtained. 



R. S. C. 

 New Jersey— Barnegat Inlet, Kinsey's Ashley House, 

 Sept. 13.— Easterly storms past week. No fishing of any ac- 

 count except sea bass, of which Col. Post has been taking 20 

 to 75 each slack water. Master Willie Kinsey found a large. 

 specimen of sea turtle on the beach near the Old Manor of 

 Health. It measured fifteen feet long, nine feet wide, and es- 

 timated by competent judges to weigh from 1,500 to 3,000 lbs. 

 Its throat was out. Before parties provided with axes, knives, 

 etc., for the purpose of securing the shell, eould get back, 

 the tide washed the monster away. I have since learned 

 that five others, smaller in size, have washed ashore at differ- 

 ent points on the beach, b. 



Barnegat House, Forked liiver, Sept. 17.— Owing to the re- 

 cent storms on. the coast the fish have not been biting so 

 well the past week. Two of our yachts, Haze, Oapt. Pred- 

 more, and the Vapor, with Oapt. Jos. Holmes and Mr. Hop- 

 kins, of New York, came in to-day with a fine lot of sea bass 

 Very few sheepshead have been taken on the old ground, 

 whore n net was hauled some time ago in the night by parties 

 from Waretown. It was then reported that some GOO fish 

 were taken in one haul. The oysters are finer than usual this 

 season, but not very plenty. Arthur. 



Pennsylvania— Pike County.— Bass fishing in the Dela- 

 ware has been unusually good and many line ones have been 

 caught between Egypt Mills and Buslikill. Mr. E. J. Hen- 

 derson leads the " summer boarders." however, having caught 

 the heaviest fish. Its weight was' ii pounds, length IS 6 

 inches. 



Greenville, Sept. 7.— Professor Roth still continues to haul 

 out occasionally a nice pike. He intends visiting Slippery 

 Rock, Butler County, soon, where black bass and pike are 

 abundant. b. 



Better Times Couma.— Ludlow, Pa., Aug. 30.— Western 

 Pennsylvania stands second to none for good trout fishing. 

 Some five or six years ago a man that had ambition enough 

 to clamber over rocks and logs and brush, and every other 

 sort of rubbish that nature has seen fit to adorn :he trout 

 streams with that flow between the rugged hills and moun- 

 tains of McKean County, Pa., could fill his creel in a very 

 short time with trout weighing^lb. to l§lb. But, alas, what 

 a change! Sportsmen from every part of Western Pennsyl- 

 vania and York State flocked in here (I think I may safely 

 say) by hundreds every season, until in course of time there 

 were more anglers than trout, and for the past two seasoi 

 the catch has been very small, so small indeed that the return 

 from the mountains of a poor fisherman with grief, disap- 

 pointment aud hunger stamped on every feature, is no uncom- 

 mon sight. I met one of those unfortunate mortals some 

 time ago, and on being asked " What luck?" he replied, in a 

 very faint whisper, "Oh, pretty good— I had what I wanted 

 to eat," and almost in the same breath inquired if I could 

 tell him where he could get some dinner Immediately. But 

 there are better times coming. The Ludlow Trout Company 

 have been able, through the good management of their super- 

 intendent, to re-stock some of the neighboring streams about 

 Ludlow, Pa. Last year they planted 100,000 brook trout fry 

 at their own expense, and we have every reason to believe 

 that within a reasonable time— say two yews— our sporting 

 friends with the rod and fly will say: " Better times have 

 come." Skbomiob. 



Indian Terhitout— Fort Sill, $ept. 9.— The bass fishing 

 has developed this year in the streams upon which this fort 

 is situated. Capt. Anderson, who used to correspond with 

 you, thought in '73 and '74 that if he caught a dozen bass 

 during the ^season a half pound weight he was doing well. 

 It has not been uncommon to draw out dozens daily of two 

 and a half to three pounds weight this season. Y. W. D. 



For Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun. 

 v 1 ANGLING IN THE SOUTH. 



DO not, brother of the rod, think that I am to give you 

 miraculous stories of immense trout, "monarch;? of the 

 flood," which I have inveigled from their native element. 

 The elegant equipment, the long, pliable rod, the burnished 

 reel, the casting line, are here, all out of place. In their 

 stead we have a long, light cane (the longer and lighter the 

 better), a fight silk line and a small salmon trout hook. Thus 

 equipped, we go forth, like all you gentlemen anglers of the 

 rarying fortune. I will venture to say that there ia 



iu the South in which the reel can be used 

 vantage. Imagine a deep, dark, gently flowing 

 stream, whoso banks are covered with a dense growth of vines, 

 trees and weeds, whose bottoms are filled With logs, brush 

 and stumps. Here and there open places can be found in 

 which you can fish all day without fouling your line, but 

 these places are not such good fishing as the " hangy " ground. 

 Thus you hive the picture of nine out of ten Southern 

 streams. AVhat would a genuine disciple of old Izaak do in 

 such waters? Assuredly, he would lose his fish, his line, and 

 eke his rod. 



Our main reliance must be, then, upon skill in keeping our 

 fish from the logs and brush afterwe have hooked them. And 

 they always hunt for them ; hunt for them with a persistence 

 that puts a speckled trout to shame. We have 

 ' i tii upon which wc depend for our angling. 

 The bream, the red perch aud the speckled perch . Of course' 

 M. sabnoides jack fish, raw mouth perch, and, m some streams', 

 true perch, help to while away the rosy hours. The true 

 perch are only found in Little Pedee, Great Pedee, and a few 

 other Southern streams. They are called " red tin trout" in 

 most localities. They attain to a large size, for I have caught 

 them weighing fully four pounds. 



First, as to the red perch. This very splendid game fish is 

 found no farther North than the New River, in Onslow coun- 

 ty, North Carolina. He ia found thence south in all the 

 streams that empty into the Atlantic. Strange to say, he is 

 not found in any southern streams that empty into the Gulf 

 of Mexico except in the Ohattahooche, the Flint and their 

 tributaries, weighing, under favorable circumstances, as 

 much as two pounds. Muscular, active and intrepid, he gives 

 one all the fight there can be in a fish of bis size. Cautious 

 and a delicate feeder, he is, except the bream, the most diffi- 

 cult of all fish to capture. 



During the spawning season he loses much uf that caution 

 which is his safety at other seasons, and will bite ravenously 

 at any kind of worm, even if it bo accompanied by a line 

 large enough and strong enough to catch a twenty-pound 

 blue cat. The gravid fish, called vellow perch, are not near 

 so large as the males, yet they too afford fine sport. They 

 cannot be found, I am sure, in any northern stream ; his con- 

 gener, thesunfish, taking his place. By the by, Mr. Alexan- 

 der, in his "Fish and Fishing," states that the sunfish never 

 weighs over half a pound. I have caught them weighing over 

 three times that much. In all the Western lakes they crow 

 even larger. The red perch thrives, contrary to the eeneral 

 opinion, in mill ponds. The finest that I ever caught in my 

 life made their home in a large mill pond in Lump 

 Georgia. Their favorite feeding ground was near a large 

 sweet, gum that had fallen into the pond. The pond was very 

 blear, but by using a rod twenty feet long, a very fine silk 

 line, and no sinker, you could capture in a da 

 say twenty-five of the scarlet gentlemen; arid a fine string It 

 was, for none of them weighed under a pound and a half, and 

 some over that weight. Of course, it was lazy tishins com- 

 pared to whipping for trout, but I enjoyed it more than 1 ever 

 did fly-fishing. This may sound heretical, but it is true. 



Our next fish for consideration is t&e bream. The habitat 

 of this noble fish on the Atlantic side is from the Neuse River, 

 in North Carolina, to the St. John's River, in Florida. He is 

 found in all the streams emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, 

 and as far North and West, aa the Green River in Kentucky, 

 and in some tributaries of the Mississippi on the North. Hav- 

 ing such a wide geographical range, he necessarily differs, as 

 do all fish, in size, markings and color. The bream, for ex- 

 ample, of the Ohio River lakes are no more like the bream of 

 South Carolina than a sunfish is like a perch. But he is a 

 bream, nevertheless. Those of the lakes mentioned 

 ceed in weight three-quarters of a pound; they are- dark, 

 short and thick. But it is of the bream of the Carolinas and 

 of Georgia that we now propose to write. Bream so largo, so 

 stately, and so toothsome, that Lord Cornwallis, in one of 

 his letters written home during the Revolutionary War, said 

 that South Carolina was worth conquering for her bream 

 alone. 



Red perch are very shy and wary ; but there is no com- 

 parison between tbemand the bream, for the bream i 

 water fish What the sheepshead is to salt water fish. There is 

 no fish so capricious and such a delicate fi 

 that is very killing to-day will to-morrow be disdainfully re- 

 jected. They feed on worms of every kind, but chiefly upon 

 the caterpillar of the catalpa tree, generally called "c 

 in the south. 



It is October. No frosts have as yet fallen in our latitude, 

 but many delicate trees have shed their leaves, and 

 arable glare of the aun at midday is softened byagn 

 haze that hangs over all, seeming to touch the v( 

 The giant cypress Stands with naked arms pointing to the 

 sky, like grim skeletons forever at their 

 mass of vines and creepers, once s . 

 of flame heaped against the dark wat 

 still save the angry bairfc of the gray squirrel or i 

 splash of some predatory Jack as he chases the minnows for 

 his morning meal. This is the season for bream, the time 

 when you can catch them, if you know how, to your heart's 

 content. Go with mo on this beautiful day to some Southern 

 stream. Do you see that green bush which bends over the 

 water, and whose boughs are kept in constant motion by the 

 gentle, current. Now drop your line very gently above the 

 bush, stick your rod in the bank and sit down, e 

 down. And here, Mr. Roosevelt, I will propoTUl 

 eonumdnim for your especial benefit. Why is it thi 

 ers, bream, perch, and, in fact, all bottom' 

 not bite as well when you hold the rod in your hand 

 do when you stick it in the bank ? With all due humility I 

 would suggest one reason : the magnetic 

 body extending down the rod and line. You may I 

 there must be some truth in it. 



But to our bream. At first you see a tremulous motion of 

 the line, then a tug, then a rush far down the stream 

 convulsive leap in the air, if you have hooked him 

 commence a battle with a "bald bream." No child 

 gling this, but angling which requires all that you 

 the gentle art ; for your tackle is so very fine ami 

 iish so heavy and active, that, to capture" the largest bream, 

 with your surroundings of logs and brush, is aoj 



the capture of a ten-pound salmon. If any one 

 doubts this. I that in fishing for sail 



have a large double-handed rod, large silk fines, perh 

 hundred yards in lei .1 and No. 1 he 



fishing for bream I use a single strand of black Sill 

 salmon trout hook, and a rod delicate enough 

 My word for it, if any enthusiastic salmon fisherm;, 



i> Ida I have nan 

 bream" that he hool 

 a rushing tide, and he would feel that old futmlmr I 



