168 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



have never known it to be caught north of Capo May. Ceros 

 of large size, caught off the New Jersey coast, were also ex- 

 hibited. Looking like an exaggerated herring, there was a 

 huge tarpon of t30 pounds, caught of Newport, which was also 

 exhibited, This fish has the largest of scales. We noticed 

 Blso shad, in fine order, which had been taken in Gravesend 

 Bay. The fish looked in prime order. There was also a rare 

 pecimen, a Scewens foctens. 



The Anohovx Si-easing — Editor Forest and Stream: In 

 your issue of Sept. 12, Mr. Goode and I are credited with 

 the identification of the "spearing "of New York mar- 

 ket with one of the anchovies (Engraulis vittatus). The 

 specimens sent to us from that market as "spearing " are, in- 

 deed, Engraulis mttatus; but we would by no means say 

 that all ihe spearing are this species. We have good reason 

 to believe that the common silversides (C/drostoma notata) is 

 also called "spearing," and, perhaps, more generally than the 

 Engraulis. prof. Baird would be glad to have specimens of 

 all the fishes called " spearing " in New York. 



Yours very truly, Tarleton H. Bean. 



Gloucester, Mass., Sept. 13. 



Dr. Bean's request for spearing, or anchovies, might have 

 been fully supplied last week. On the 10th Mr. E. G. Black- 

 ford succeeded in marketing no less than fifty pounds of fine 

 anchovies, -which were distributed next day among the various 

 leading clubs of New York. The fish were caught at Graves- 

 end Bay. Those who partook of the fish— old, experienced 

 gourmands— declared them to be admirable. Thus, little by 

 little, is the whole wealth of our waters being developed ! The 

 fish which we examined resembled very closely the anchovy we 

 have seen caught in the Mediterranean. There is a charming 

 reminiscence of a breakfast taken by us at Capri, where an- 

 chovies were served, like Eves, in fig leaves. A word of ad- 

 vice : In dressing an anchovy, the most delicate of all fish, 

 beware of overcooking it I We are sure Miss Corson will 

 back us up here. The fish ought to be just basted a little and 

 broiled— grilled— over a hot fire. Where is your muddy 

 Thames now, or your blue Sea of Capri ? Whitebait and an- 

 chovies are now within the reach of our fork ! One distin- 

 guishing trait of the Engraulis family is its transparency, and 

 a thin band of quicksilver sheen, which runs lengthwise 



along the fish. 



1— »«, -. 



THE WATCHFUL, TROUT. 



Moosbiiead Lake, Me., September 18, 1878. 

 Editob Foeest and Stbeah: 



I am not altogether ignorant of the character and habits of 

 the speckled trout, having fished for and caught him in 

 various waters , but I have lately made his acquaintance 

 under different circumstances than ever before, and, as I have 

 never seen any mention of him under similar conditions, I 

 have thought that a description (of what is to me a new dis- 

 covery) may not be uninteresting to you and your readers. 



The Outlet Bouse, as is doubtless well knowu to you, 

 though it may not be so to all your readers, is situated on the 

 shore of Moosebead Lake at the point where the Kennebec 

 River flows out from the lake, the outlet being guarded by a 

 dam used for logging purposes. The river— quite a large 

 stream— is for many miles below the dam a succession of 

 swift rapids alternating with deep pools. 



I fish for the trout — with flies always— either in the pools 

 or at the "heads of the pitches," that is, at the points where 

 the swift, smooth water breaks into the ripples of the rapids. 

 The trout caught at these points are large ones, varying in 

 weight from two pounds up to six. I have within a few days 

 past landed a number weighing from three to four pounds 

 each. To fish these waters I make a trip of a mile or two 

 down the river each day in a birch-bark canoe, under the 

 guidance of Henry J. Wilson, the proprietor of the Outlet 

 House, a famous canceman and fisherman. 



Mr. Wilson hiis more than once told me of a habit the very 

 large trout have of coming to the surface of the water simply 

 fur the. purpose of observation; while I have not wholly dis- 

 ia accounts, I have taken them with those grains of 

 allowance which a little experience at fishing resorts naturally 

 leads to. But yesterday, just at night, his accounts were 

 confirmed by my personal observation and that of Mr. B. F. 

 Barton, of Waterville, Me., who happened to accompany me. 



I had just landed from a pool a trout weighing within a hair 

 of four pounds, and was examining my flies and adjusting 

 them for another cast, when a large trout, weighing certainly 

 six pounds, and probably more, projected his head obliquely 

 out of the water so that his eyes were fully two inches above 

 the surface, and for a full quarter of a minute sailed slowly 

 around the pool, moving no faster than a muskrat swims 

 when nni list orbed, eyeing us intently all the while, and at the 

 end Of his survey dropped as quietly back into the water. Mr. 

 Barton and myself were simply speechless with amazement, 

 which was succeeded by a roar of laughter on the part of both 

 of us, as well as of Mr. Wilson, at the comicality of the sight. 



The laughter had not ceased before another trout, slightly 

 smaller than the first and in a different part of the pool, re- 

 peated the performance. My flies were in a tangle or I should 

 have endeavored to hook this second gymnast foul. Either 

 fish could have been easily killed with a shot-gun. 



Mr. Wilson assures mo that this is not an uncommon thing 

 for the large trout of the Kennebec to do, and that they never 

 do it except when the flies have been thrown over them, their 

 object being, apparently, to ascertain whether the offered 

 food comes without the aid or presence of man. He has known 

 a fish to keep up this sort of observation at short intervals for 

 an hour or more. The incident 1 witnessed was certainly a 

 novel, interesting and amusing thing to me, and it may be so 

 to many of your readers as well as, perhaps, of some scientific 

 value. W. E. S. 



THE BLACK BASS. 



" Like, tat oh ! now different .'" 

 Editoh Forest and Stream : 

 The genus Micropenis, black buss, includes but two species- 

 ua salmotdes (Lac.) Gill, the small mouthed black 

 bass, and Micrepterus pallidus (Baf.) Gill and Jordan, the 

 large mouthed black basa, or, as it is sometimes called, the 

 Oswego bass. Possibly no genus of fishes has been the occa- 

 sion of so much confusion, scientifically and popularly, as the 

 black bass. This is owing, no doubt, to its extensive habitat 

 and wide-spread distribution ; the original habitat of both 



species being the great basin of the St. Lawrence, the whole 

 | Mississippi \ alley, or almost the entire ranueof country lyine 

 between the Alleghany and the Bocky Mountains, and the 

 South Atlantic States from Virginia to Florida. It would 

 naturally be expected, in view of this extraordinary and ex 

 pansive habitat, to find differences of conformation, color and 

 habits; indeed, it is surprising that the variations are not 

 more marked, and the number of species consequently greater 

 when one considers the great natural differences and condi- 

 tions ol the numerous waters and varieties of climate r G which 

 this genus is native. We find, however, that the most strik- 

 ing difference is in color, which will run from almost black 

 through all the shades of slate, green, olive and yellow to almost 

 white, and, indeed, these variations in color can be found in 

 almost any one State, and to a great extent in any one stream 

 or lake, at different seasons of the year. Slight dissimilarities 

 of contour and some diversity of habits also exist. But all of 

 these differences obtain, not only with regard to black bass 

 but to most other genera of fresh water fishes, and depend on 

 well-known natural causes. I lived for ten years in Wiscon- 

 sin, where there were twenty lakes, abounding in black bass 

 within a radius of eight miles of my residence, and from close 

 and constant observation of the characteristics of the black 

 bass in them I could almost invariably tell upon being shown 

 a string of bass in what particular lake thev had been caught. 

 Without going into a specific and detailed analysis of the 

 two species of black bass, it will be sufficient to say, that as a 

 general rule the small-mouthed bass is more trimly built and 

 of a darker or more sombre hue than the other variety, where 

 they both inhabit the same water ; the large-mouthed bass 

 being rather a coarser looking fish, with a much larger mouth, 

 larger scales, thicker through the shoulders, with more depth 

 of body, more pendulous belly, and growing to a larger size, 

 with the color more inclined to shades of green. The color 

 of the small-mouthed variety sometimes approaches shades of 

 olive or yellow; and there will often be more or less red in 

 the iris of the eye, in some instances shading down to orange 

 or yellow. This latter distinction, however, like the double 

 curve at the base of the caudal fin, and the more forked tail— 

 which have been mentioned as distinguishing characteristics 

 of the small-mouthed variety— cannot be depended on, as one 

 or all of these distinctions are often Jacking. 



The former name of the large-mouthed species, Mkropt-erwt 

 nigricans (C. & V.) Gill, has been very wisely discarded by 

 Profs. Gill and Jordan, who have substituted therefor the 

 more descriptive title of Micropterus pallidum This has been 

 done in justice to Rafinesque, whose priority of description 

 of this species certainly entitles him to this acknowledg- 

 ment. Ichthyologists have, at various times, given to 

 the genus numerous appellatives, and to the species 

 m:;re than thirty specific names, while laymen in different 

 sections of the country have contributed their quota of ver- 

 nacular names, among which may be mentioned : black bass 

 bass, black perch, juming perch, trout, black trout, chub,' 

 green bass, moss bass, Oswego bass, etc. In almost every 

 issue of the Fokkst and Stkeam correspondents write of 

 bass, bass fishing, bass tackle, etc., meaning black bass in 

 each instance, and take it for granted that the legion of read- 

 ers of that widely-circulated journal will understand what 

 particular kind of bass is meant. Now, this is all wrong, and 

 is owing to the culpable carelessness, or perhaps, in some in- 

 stances, to a want of proper information, and is a habit that 

 ought to be reformed. Let us call things by their right 

 names— a spade a spade or a quail a quail. It is just as easy 

 to write th£ distinctive name "black bass" as the general 

 name "bass." Bats is a very vague term at best, meaning 

 one thing in one part of the country and a totally different 

 thing in another. Along the eastern coast it means either a 

 striped bass or a sea bass j in the West it may be either a 

 black bass, a rock bass, a white bass or a silver bass; while in 

 Otsego County, N. Y., it means an Otsego bass, which is not 

 a bass at all. Then again, your correspondents write of the 

 real black bass, meaning generally M. salmoid.es, the small 

 mouthed species, seeming to imply that the other species is 

 not real, or at least is not ihe black bass, but something else— 

 a kind of pseudo variety. Others, in writing of the large- 

 mouthed species, M. pallid us— owing to its former name, M. 

 nigricans— have called it the real black bass, under tie im- 

 pression that, as it was named nigricans— i. e. black — the other 

 variety must be some other color, and was not the simon pure 

 article. Now, one species is not more real than the other ; 

 the small-mouthed variety is regarded us the type species, be- 

 cause it was the first to be described. It is thought by some 

 to be a gamier fish than tho large-mouthed variety— indeed, I 

 have sometimes thought so myself ; but this notion, like the 

 gustatory superiority of the cauvas-back among ducks, the 

 delectable excellence of the brook trout among fish, or the 

 exquisite ambrosial flavor of Veuve CJiquot among wines, 

 exists more in the imagination than in reality. Loth varieties 

 of the black bass are equally good as game fish and equally 

 good for the table. The term " Black Bass," then, is distinc- 

 tive, and should always be used when alluding to the genus 

 generally. In writing of the different species they should be 

 mentioned as the small-mouthed black bass or the large- 

 mouthed black bass, as the case may be, no matter whether 

 the color be black, green or yellow. Every reader will then 

 know exactly what is meant, and much of the confusion and 

 uncertainty that now prevail will be cleared away. 

 " Not, chaos-like, together crusii'd anil bruls'U, 

 But, as the world, harmoniously confus'd, 

 Where order in variety we see, 



And where, though all things differ, all egree. M — Pope. 

 Cynthia, Ey., Aug. 29, 1878. ~ J, A.Henshau., M. D. 

 Wc thank our correspondent for the lucid distinctions he 

 makes between the large and small-mouthed black bass. The 

 confusion arising from carelessness of description is very 

 great, as shown, we must confess, by many of our friends 

 who write to us in regard to black bass fishing. The mouth 

 is the great distinction between the micropten, and a Utile 

 practice makes the difference immediately perceptible. One 

 variation which, we think, can readily be seen is that in the 

 small-mouthed bass the scales of the interperculurn cover only 

 about half the bone, while in the large-mouthed tho entire 

 bone is covered. We might supplement "the list of wrong 

 names given to black bass as follows : *It is called perch, 

 chub, trout, green bass, slough bass, bull bass, and every- 

 thing save the right name. 



§mn$ §zg and §mu 



GAME IN SEASON FOR SEPTEMBER. 



Moose, A kt." 



'-■I-::. . 



Elk or wapiti, Germs canadensis. 



Bed or Va. qi » , 



Squirrels, red, blttCK till, I gray. 



Earns, brown and gray. 



Reed or rice bird, Dattdumyx oryz- 



Witd turkey, Mfltugrte ijallopaio. 

 Pinnated grouse or prairie chick- 

 en, OupiUmia aipido. 



Buffed grouse or pheasant, Bonma 



umheltus. 

 Quail or partridge, Ortyx Virginia- 



New Yoke Hoeticitltural Society.— The Fall Exhibition 

 of the New York Horticultural Society openeil with a brilli- 

 ant display at Gilmore's Garden last evening. The Garden is 

 beautifully decorated, the display a most excellent orje, and 

 Thomas' music addB to the enjoyment. 



Black- bellied plover, ox-eye, Squa- 



Ring plover, ^Criialitia icmipalma- 



Slut, or long-shanl-:-, B n 







Bed-breasted Bnrpe. or dowltchar, 

 Maerorft i 



Ipipar, ornx-ljlrd, 



n,:a,M- 



Sreai hiaruled goctwit, or martin, 



i 



-iilmatiis. 



Tellow-shanks. Jfttanw Jlaripm. 



Bay birds" generally, including various species of plover, Fund 

 piper, snipe, curlew, oyster-catcher, surf l.ir.is, phaiaropes, avocetr 

 etc., coming under the group LimamUvor Shore Birds. 



"" This table does not apply to all the States. It is meimi. to repre- 

 sent, the game which is generally tn season at this time. St 

 tions may prohibit, the Silling of some species of game here mentioned. 



Game in Mabket.— Pinnated grouse (prairie chickens), Bl.SS 

 to 81.50 per pair: partridge (raffed grouse), $1.40 to 81.75 per 

 pair ; mallard ducka, 75 cents per pair ; black do,, 75 cents per 

 pah; widgeon do.. 50 cents per pair; broad bill do., 50 cents per 

 pair; teal do., 50 cents per pair ; WilBonenipe, S3 per do; . ; plover, 

 $3.50 per doz.; bay buds, large, S3 per doz.: do. small 

 per doz.; rails, 31.25 cents per doz.; reed birds, -10 cents to $1 per 

 doz.; Phildelphia equaba, 82.50 to *3 per doz. 



Poultry— Philadelphia and Bucks County dry picked chickens, 

 20 to 22 cents per pound ; do. fowls, 10 to 18 cents ; do. turkeys, 

 18 to 20 cents : do. ducks, IS to 20 cents; do. geese, 16 to 18 

 cents ; State and Western chiokens, 15 to IS cents ; do. turkeys, 

 15 to 18 cents ; do fowls, 13 to 16 cents ; do. ducks, 12 to 15 cents; 

 do. geese, 10 to 13 cents. 



Vermont.— Burlington.— The prospect for the fall shoot- 

 ing promises to be very fine. I have never known such an 

 abundance of ruffed grouse. The woodcock have also been 

 plentiful since the season opened. On the 

 lake the ruffed grouse are not only to be found in large mini 

 bers, but very tame ; the only drawback to shouting time is 

 the density of the undergrowth, which almost prevents one 

 from following a dog. Through the kindness of Col Le 

 Grand B. Cannon, I have twice used bis line red setter, Guv, 

 given hitn by Dr. Goldsmith. Guy completed his education 

 last fall out West, in the hands of Mr. T. D. Gladstone, of 

 Boonton, N. J., and has prove,! to be in the field a splendid 

 representative of his sire and dam, Plunket and Carrie. 



V. S. F. 



Massachusetts— Cohassct, Sept. 18. — The cootln 

 has opened with us very well, and some good bags of 13 and 

 14 to a man have been made. At present the weathei 

 warm. Bay bird shooting has been very good, bell 

 for some years, as high as 25 black breasts to a man have 

 been taken. Partridge quite plenty, but woods too thick as 

 yet to do much. Woodcock scarce and wild. I got 

 other day, best I have got this year. S. K. Jit. 



Deek in Pennsylvania. — By the omission of n word of 

 three letters in an answer to a correspondent last week, our 

 information was made mis-information. Deer hunting in 

 Pennsylvania is not prohibited this year. 



Pottstilk, Sept. 23.— Game of every description (excepting 

 deer) in this section is in great abundance, though several 

 varieties have been bunted down before in season. ""An Officer 

 of the lav; has succeeded in securing the names of these ma- 

 rauders, and our " Game Protection Association " have taken 

 the matter in charge for a proper adjustment. 



Dom Peuko. 



On, Cheek Game and Fisn Association.— This organiza- 

 tion, of Titusville, Pa., is now in its second year, and lias a 

 numerous list of members. Its object is to enforce obediuuee 

 to the laws us they exist, trusting to increase thereby the field 

 sports of the country. The president is David Emery, Esq., 

 and the vice-president M. W. Quick. In their O 

 and by-laws, which we beg to acknowledge, they adopt the 

 excellent plan of putting on the outside cover of Ihe little 

 pamphlet, the close season for birds, beasts and fish in Penn- 

 sylvania. We strongly advise all game protection at 

 throughout the country to thus make public the game laws of 

 their respective States. 



Tennessee — Columbia, Sept. 19. — The season opened 13th, 

 and sport bids fair to be immense. As 15th come on ; umJay 

 the more eager took Saturday for first day ate 1 returned wt.il 

 pleased. 



The weather is too warm and weeds and grass too thick for 

 much pleasure in the field. 



Williermsporl, Sept. 23.— Although we have ,, 

 sportsman's club here, we have lots of boys that b 

 to handle a gun. We boyB have had comparatively no prac- 

 '.■," but we have killed birds a few. A trial at the 

 balls the other day, Bogardus traps and rules, resulted in 

 these totals: Tinsman, 14 ; Tallman, 16; Lucas, 18; Post, 

 16; Kent, 10; Koch. A., 10; Koch, E. G., 16; Mo 

 Heavy, 7; Emory, 15; Wunderwehr, 1. I would have sent 

 you a full score, but I had to act the traitor to sem, - 



BOBQLlRK, 



. — CliJUm Forge, Sept. 37.— The season for deer 

 opened on the 1st iust., and bids fair to be a good one. There 

 is plenty of mast and the mountains are well tilled v • 

 Hunters are beginning to flock in, and in a few d 

 be bard to be out of hearing of the yelp of a hound or (he 

 toot of a horn. A party camped in North Mountain, near 

 Dagger's Springs, have had hne success. T. R. G. 



Spoet in Louisiana.— The following notes of an excellent 

 game region in Louisiana are especially timely at this season. 

 Before many weeks have passed scores of sportsmen and 

 pleasure seekers will have turned their faces southward, some, 

 who have " done " Florida, to seek new Bel 

 One such held is to be found at Opel 

 dition to a great abundance and variety of g 

 ity of the people is extended to the stranger as a not unim. 



