BASS FISHING AT COHASSET. 



CuHAKSET NAHRO 

 EllITiHt F01VE8T ANIi STREAM: 



Cohasset Narrows He southeast from Boston flJty-Ioor miles, on (he 

 Old Colony mad. Take your regular buss Cookie, which, U ,' 

 should consist of two roils— one short rod, audi as Is used for trolling 

 In Hell Gate; the other should be longer, much more pliant, bat stiil 

 strong. For the stout rod I would recommend the usual large multi- 

 plying reel, carrying 000 feet of cable-laid line for l.ho large bass. The 

 Qther reel, for the lighter rod, should carry 100 yards of good linen 

 line, Bitch as used for school bass on Harlem Rlv^r. Procure several 

 good gut leadtrs six feet long, a dozen brook trout hooks (also on 

 siugle gut), some small brass swivels, some split buck shot, some 

 small copper wire, annealed, and some large trolling liooks, large 

 enough to hold a good-sized moss bunker for bait, so as to be prepai ed 

 for binellJliing. 



To reach Cohasset Narrows from Hew York, any of the Sound boats 

 (Jan be taken. The Fall River Lluu is the most direct, leaving New 

 York at 5 r. ii„ and arriving at the Providence depot at 6 the next 

 morning. For titty oems you take a carriage, with your luggage, to 

 the Old Colony depot, and buy an excursion ticket for Cohasset 

 Narrows for fci.oo. Taking the s A. a. tram— other trains atil a. a. 

 aad 4 v. a,— you arrive at yonr destination 10:1? a. m. At i oini^h-- 

 Narrows yon can usually get comfortable quarters at Parker's, near 

 the depot. At Cohasset Narrows the train breaks up, one part going 

 to Provlucctown, the end of Oape Cod, the other to Wood's Mole, for 

 Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs and Nantucket. 



Yonr ilshing ground is on the railroad bridge, which crosses the 

 Narrows a few rods from your hotel and the railroad depot. Tan tide, 

 going cither way, runB with great rapidity through the bridge, and you 

 lake tish in both tides. On this bridge, which is not high, yon fish 

 from a comfortable standing place. You will notice most ol Lhe Usher- 

 men using a light rod with a six-foot leader attached to the line, with a 

 small bwlvel, and a small hook baited with two shrimps, on omit 

 leaders they have two split shot about two feet apart. Sun hook one 

 shiner from the under, hard part of the tad, through the length of the 

 entire body, covering the shank of the hook ; the other shrimp hooked 

 lroin the middle (under part) of the body through the heau, entirety 

 covering the book and lapping the other snrlmp. You will uud each 

 llaherman provided witn a basiet of shrimp, from which ho occa- 

 sionally takes a handful and drops them over the edge of the bridge, 

 following these bhrimp witlt his nook until it reaches some eddy. 

 After a short lime you ought to strike a bass weighing from one 10 six 

 pounds or upward. The fish once struck, you proceed to walk toward 

 the shore, where you land him, keeping the spring ol the rod on the 

 Ush. Joe Hathaway 's services can be obtained for a dollar a day, 

 wiiioii includes bait ami the fish taken during the day, and the use of 

 his llsh car, keeping the llstx alive. 



Should you wish to fish in any of the ponds that abound In tins vicin- 

 ity, which are fall of black bass and other fish, I think Mr. Hathaway, 

 sr., could be induced for a reasonable consideration to take you to these 

 ponds with his horse and comfortable wagon. 



For the larger striped bass you nae your stout rod and your ttrong 

 hook, baited with an eel or a menhaden. The larger nab are taken 

 ofientr at night, and ran from twenty pounds and upward. When the 

 tide Is going out you can take your stout rod, ana with your strong 

 hook attached to your line, with a swivel and copper, or otherwise 

 baited with any kind of llsh, you try for bluetlsb, and you ilud rare 

 sport; lor a blue llsh of ten pounds weight on a rod, with plenty of 

 room, is aport indeed. Blueilsh are taken every day from three to 

 twelve pounds, and perhaps larger, but 1 took a number or eigut- 

 pounda weight. 



Should you tire of fishing you can do as I did : take a run down to 

 Provincetown and yon will be paid for your trip. Should you wish to 

 go out in the bay— for Cohasset Narrows is the extension of Buzzards' 

 £ a y_you can get a good boat and skipper for a reasonable pr.ee and 

 llsh for bluedsh, or anchor for squeteague or weakilsh, rock bass, etc. 

 You can get an excellent boat from Mr. Smnlley. Tub Doctor. 



We regret that this letter was not published when written 

 last July, as its appearance then would have been more 

 timely. Its omission was an oversight.— Ed. F. & S. 



$nsn)W to Correspondents. 



No Notice Taken at Annntmo 



> Co 



un'catlo 



A. B., Phlla — See answer to T. C. S. In this column. 



H. J. J., Philadelphia.— We would notadvocate breeding from a dog 

 and bitch of the same Utter. 



H. D. K., Passaic, N. J.— William Perkins, of London, Bug., made 

 one mile In 6:23, in June 1316. 



W. F. P., Lexington, Va.— The prepared food for goldflsh Is a wafer 

 of rice. Can be obtained from Greenwood, 11 14 Collego Place ; Bagot, 

 81 Fulton St., and probably from any drug elore. 



F, H. R., Stouebain, Warren Co , Pa.— What Is the name of the bird 

 I send you 7 Have never seen one like It In thlB vicinity before. Ans, 

 It Is the ordinary Virginia rail (Kalliut vzrginimuu). 



O. s., New Castle, Del.— 1 shot at a 30-lnch circle, 45 yards, with 1% 

 drachms of common powder, Ifi oz, of No. 8 shot, and it put wlthm 

 the circle 240 pellets. Ans. Remarkably good. 



J. P. H., Boston.— Can yon inform mo If any No. 8 cartridges for 

 breech-loaders are made in this country, and If 90 where they are to be 

 procured? Ans. There are none made in this country. 



Catamaban, Mobile, Ala.— Working plans of either a Herreshoff, or 

 homo-mado double-hull boat will be sent you upon receipt of $4 each, 

 or *7 for both. This Includes speclUcations, rig and Instructions. 



N •• k 1 k.— The Remingtons, Parkers, and otters sell an excel- 

 lent gun lor about $45, which we think will answer your purpose. 

 Sometimes a second-hand gun of superior quality can he bought at a 

 low figure. 



,T. W., Le Roy.— Is deer shooting prohibited in Pennsylvania, and for 

 how long 7 Ans. Open season Oct. 1 to Deo. IS. Act passed May, 1878. 

 In Pike County doer Bhoollog is prohibited for three years from 1st day 

 or October, 187-<. 



J. K. S., Pbila.— Can yon let me know the title ot the book written by 

 the Duke Alexis on his return home after his first visit, and where can 

 1 obtain a copy? Ans. We do not bellevo that any suohbuok was 

 written, or, if at all, for general circulation. 



G. F. L., Bridgeport.— Can you give me or refer me to the source 

 from which 1 cau obtain the description of tae operation of removing 

 the ovaries from pups? Ans. You will llnd the information you want 

 in So. SSj Vol. VU1. of this journal, issue of June 23, lSff. 



H. F. T., Concord.— Please give me the name of some cheap book on 

 breech-loading shotguns, and how to load them, etc.? Ans. W.W. 

 Greener's " Modern Chooke Bore" and "Breech-Loaders," by (J loan. 

 are good book3. The first costs 13.6U. Wo can send them to you. 



.tames.— Houghton, Osgood A- 1 n, m Boston, are (he ,„, 

 I ili'fl book on Hie " \uttl .]"_• and Weal' 6t America," 



T. D. McV, f attaaleWWD, 1 1.- Where can 1 get a hunting boot that Is 

 light uud easy to the feet tliar Id waterproof, except rubber ? Ans. W. 

 have heard the huutlng boot made by Thomson & Son, whose adver- 

 tisement appears in another column, spoken highly of. The alligator 

 akin boots, also advertised, are good. 



Ripen, wis.— Would you lie so kind as to let me know the 

 pi 108 ol WllSOfl snipe on the. 14 tU Inst.? I sent four dozen to Kri app St 

 \nnNn-o.rttmi. They quote them at $1.75 par dozen. Is that correct? 

 Isee that they have been all along quoted In your paper at *8. Ans, 

 We give the telling and not the buying p. lees. 



G. It., Jr., East Orange, N. J— I have a 12 gange gun weighing sk- 

 ills. Will you please Inform me what is the correct load for it In quail 

 shooting, and what, size shot ; also, best way to load for ducks ? A us. 

 For quails, i% drs. powder, m oz. No. o shot, or No. B late in the 

 season ; for ducks, 4 drs. powiier, la oz. No. 4 shot. 



t'. F. T , Landsowne.— 1 have a mastiff pappy aged three months thnt 

 has dew claw:-. Will you kindly Inform me when It Is best to cut thera 

 off and how 7 Ans. it should be done Immediately. Use a pair of 

 sharp scissors ; after dividing the skin draw the dew claw to one side 

 before detaohing ir, so that the akin may afterwards cover the wound. 



13., East .raffrey.— The actions of the two guns mentioned are about 

 equal in durability and safety. A 12-gauge, 30-tn., S)i lbs., right barrel 

 moderate choke, left full choke, would be a serviceable gun for general 

 shooting. Wire cartridges and buck shot should not be used in any- 

 thing except a cylinder bore. Mauy choke-bores have been ruined by 

 forgetting this rule. 



W. H. A., Nt w Bedford.— I want to aik your opinion as to the trap- 

 ping in the Dismal Swamp, and If there are any beaver in the vicinity 

 of Lake Driimmoud, and if it would lie practicable to go from Norfolk 

 In a boat large enough to live in through 1 lie winter ? Ans. Bears, pau- 

 ihi r, deer, coons, otters, etc. We are not sure about beaver. You can 

 fit out at Norfolk with everything you require. 



T. M. G„ Woodstook, Ohio.— 1 want to buy a goodgun: 1. Can T do 

 better, all things considered, than the Parker ; my shooting Is almost 

 exclusively ducks nod quail; am thinking of a 10-11)., No. 10, fnU 

 choke ? 2. Can I do better In choice for my kind of shooting 7 Aus. 1. 

 An excellent gun. 2. a 1% or B-ih , 12-gauge gun would be belter for 

 quail ami general shooting ; 10-boro for duoks. 



J. M. F.— I have a Gordon setter puppy I months old. His forelegs 

 liave become bowed and lhe upper joints seem to turn out, wl.lle the 

 lower joints wobble sideways In a terribly awkward manner. Ans. 

 Your puppy has the " rickets." Yon can do nothing for him. By care- 

 ful feeding aud attention the bending of the legs and the enlarged 

 Juinta may disappear, but the chances are against It 



F. P. R , Princeton, Me.— Where can I purchase a hound suitable for 

 deer hunting in our Maine forests ? What is the best dog for pavtn dge? 

 Ans. Breeders of liound3 from whom you might get what you want 

 are: Isaac WelgUel, Rochester, N. Y. ; L M. Wooden, same place ; 

 Howard St. Bcnham, Glen Cove, N. Y. A small sized setter makes 

 a good partridge (ruffed grouse) dog, but should be broken on these 

 birds. 



G. 11. P., Saginaw, Mich.— For a thousand miles ride what make of 

 saddle Id the best ? An?. The Rureka (Cal.) saddle Is what Texas Jack 

 uses. He says the best man to ask Is Peralto. There Is a most excel- 

 lent saddle made at Austin, Texas. The McLellan saddle Is the best 

 easily available. It depends whether you ride on prairie or moun- 

 tain what, saddle Is the best. Yon waut high horn and oantle for 

 mountain?. 



HiiiKY Hintbb, Providence, H. I.— What Is the proper charge of 

 Dlitmar powder for a 7 pound 14 cal. muzzle-loading Bhot-gun 7 Also 

 for a 10 pound in cal. ditto, and also for a 7 pound 12 cal. breech-loader 

 tor quail and ducks 7 Where and at what price can I obtain it ? A fig, 

 For the No. 11. 8 drs. by measure ; for the No. 12, 3% drs. by measure, 

 and for the No. 10, 4 drs. by measure. The powder can be Had from II. 

 C. Squires, No. 1 Cortlandt St., this city ; price $1 per cau. 



L. R. R., Lebanon, Ot.— 1. Is a gun, 12 gauge 30 Inch barrels 8X lbs , 

 left barrel choke and right barrel modified choke, adapted forshooting 

 quail, ducts, squirrel, hare, etc. 7 2. What food Is best for young dogs? 



3. Of what does the "Sportsmen's Gazetteer" treat? 4. WlilSturte- 

 vant's moveable-auvil shell fit the Parker gun 7 Ans. 1. Yes. 2. 

 Scraps from the table. 3, it is an encyclopedia of sport, treating of 

 shooting, fishing, natural history, dogs, resorts for sportsmen, etc., etc. 

 4 YeB. 



A. W., "Nashua, N. H.-on the second day of Joly last, at Lake Win- 

 nlptssaukee, N. H., we put an eel weighing about three pounds Into a 

 box sunk in the lake, size 30 Inches long, 24 deep, 20 wide, with jost 

 opening enough to let lhe water In. On Oct. 4 we found the eel alive 

 and lu good condition. It had not one particle of food in the time. 

 Ans. Your eel might live to be a V ethu'alah among his kindred, under 

 such attentive care. No doubt he found plonty of food In the water 

 that flowed through the box. 



X. C. D., Attioa, N. Y.— I. I have a Moore A Co. 10 bore gun, 30m. 

 barrels, 9JJ lbs., Damascus steel, etc. Is the make a good one ? 2. 

 I have made the following targets, using 314 drs. powder, la oz. No. 10 

 shot, at It 801n. circle. Are they fair targets? 3. What would be 

 a good target at 40jds.7 What loading woold give the best results ? 

 Ans. 1. Yes, If lhe gun Is a genuine one. 2. As there are 1,027 pellets 

 In IX oz. No. 10 shot the targets ere fair. s. About 600 pellets. 



4. 4 drs. powdtr, \% oz. shot. 



T. W. 11., Danville, Pa.— I am the owner of a white Gordon gyp, very 

 finely bred, and of pure blood. A friend of mine owns a black and tan 

 Gordon dog, and claims there are no Gordon dogs except the bla'dc and 

 tan with strip of white down the breast. How is it? Ans. Your friend 

 is wrong. There are "Gordon" dogs with even a preponderance of 

 white. At English dog shows there is no classification for "Gordon" 

 dogs, but one for •' black and tans," aud a pure Gordon might have to 

 go In the English setter class. 



A. W. W., Toledo.— Yacht racing Is governed In England by a regu- 

 lar official set of rules devised by the Yacht Racing Association, au or- 

 ganization similar to our National Association of Amateur Oarsmen. 

 In America each club issues its own rules ; but with trifling exceptions 

 they correspond to those abroad and to the Rules of the Road of the 

 government. You will llnd the pith of these in " Hallock's Club List," 

 trice 00 cents, for sale at this office; or cau order you a book 1 the 

 Y'aoht Racing Association from Bngland upon receipt of 75 cents. 



G. I.. ,1 , Ausable Forks, Essex Co., N. Y.— 1. Is the Moore (Loudon) 

 ninzzle-loadlng shotgun (D. B.) reliable 7 2. What is the proper load 

 tor said gun, 12 bore? 3. Is the following a fair pattern with above 

 gun : With 3 drs. powder, 1 oz. No. S s! ot ; distance 40yds., 101 pellets 



sum. target? Ans. 1. When Moore was alive Ins guns were second 

 to none. It Is the custom now to stamp many trade guns with his 

 name. 2. Y'on do nut give the weight ol yonr gun. It may bo anything 

 fromBix pounds to ten, and the charge would vary accordingly. 3. Yes 

 bettor than fair. 



IL s , t>le, Pn^-JOnes all Dlttmar powder lose It3 strength after being 

 loaded a whl!u7 1 loaded Rome shells wlili it hist .Tunc ■ in shooiln-' 

 thcniiiiM ■•■■■: tabic ' the shot would raltto oil like hail 



making no penetration. Ann. H you had re-teamed your x hoi Is tney 

 wonld probably have done as well as at first. w,th this pnwder cvery- 

 thlng depends npou loading; the wad must fit snug upon the powder 

 and In old shells they very likely work loose. Remove the shot front 

 some of your cartridges, nress the wads tlrrnly down, aud try them and 

 lotus know the result: 



.T. W. B., Boston, Mass.— PleaBe tell me how to tan buckskin so It will 

 be siiir-a Sle for clothing? Aus. BuekHklns are raado by rubbing off 

 lire hair while the skin Is fresh, or after soaking In a weak lye ; then 

 dresj with the brains of any animal, by mashing them Into a paste with 

 hot water, which rub thoroughly into the flesh side, and then hang up 

 the skin to dry. A'uru and salt are very good, though care should be 

 taken not to use too much salt, as It causeB the skin afterward to ah- 

 Borb moia'urc too readily. Smoking the akin after dres.lcg Elves 

 It a line velvet finish. 



M B. P., Montgomery, Ala.-I have a pointer pnp 12 mos. old whose 

 eyes arc inflamed and running water; he also has a breaking oat of 

 yellow splotches on his nelly on the right side next to his hind leg- his 

 appetite continues good up till now. Ans. Your description of the 

 symptoms is too Indefinite. The dog probably wants an alterative 

 We should give him a pill composed of podophyllln, s gr. ; compound 

 rhubaihpilisgrs. Mix and give onco or twice a week, It' tho break- 

 ing out extends, give him six drop3 Fowler's Solution of Arsenic twice 

 a day for a week or ten days. 



T. W. A., Knoxvllle, Tenn -What Is the proper distance to hanilicnn 

 a No. 10 gun over a No. 12 at glass balls from single trap ar. is v.mis 

 rise? The Long Island ru:es at birds, If I am not mistaken, handicap 

 three yards at 21 yards rise. Soma of our shots here claim that if i,oth 

 guns are loaded with m oz. shot each, that tho No. 111 gnu has no ad 

 vantage. Ans. Where equal charges of both powiier and shot are used 

 the 10-gange gnn has no advantage, and should not be handicapped 

 W'neii the charge ot powder la unlimited the 10 gauge gun, being pre- 

 sumably heavier, should be put back three yards. It is assumed that 

 the charge of shot Is limited to 1& oz. 



E. L. F., Baton Ronge, La.-l. Where oan I get shells for a huntlne- 

 rifle loaded with Dlttmar powder. Can such shells be bought loaded 

 with Dlttmar, and do they cost any more than the black powder shell 7 

 2. There is a cartridge made for a sporting rifle 50 cal. 100 grs. powder 

 and 473 lead. What make of rifle takes this cartridge 7 It is the hett 

 charge and cal. l>e seen In an American ride for killing game, hut 

 would you not consider the recoil tremendous? Ans, t. You wlll'have 

 to load them yourself. Cost somewhat more. 2. The heavy cartridges 

 are no doubt for the Sharps bnffalo rifle. With a weight of 111 pounds 

 lu the rifle the recoil Is not very great. 



A. M. a, 7th Regt.— What game Is to be fonnd In the vicinity „f 

 Laramie, Wyoming Territory, sry around the waters of the Laramie 

 and Little Laramie rivers 7 I Intend to settle there in the spring, and 

 wish to know what guns to choose 7 Ans. Deer of two kinds,' elk- 

 anlelope, bears, mountain sheep, mountain lions, geese, sandhill cranes' 

 ducks, snipe, curlew, trout in the Black Hills Hreams, pike, perch, cat- 

 fish, suckers, ball heads, are all contained within the Hums of Laramie 

 County. For full hints on mountain shooting, choice of guns, game 

 Tesorts, etc , sec Hallock's "Sportsman's Gazetteer." 



T. O. S.— My pup three months old throws np food as soon as eaten. 

 Waat Is the matter ? Nose good and does not get overfed ; is getting 

 thin. If he has worms what is the dose of areca nut to give him ? Ans 

 Probably worms. The dose ot areca nut Is 2 grs. for each pound the 

 dog wclghB, to be given fasting and followed In a few hours by a dose 

 of castor oil. We should prefer, however, giving him one grain of 

 santonin* for three successive days. It Is possible your puppy has 

 slight Inttammatlou of the stomach. A teaspoouful of castor oil with 

 three of four drops of laudanum In It might relieve him. 



F. F. F., N. Y.— 1. Will tine powder In shot-gnn Bcatter the shot more 

 than coarser powder when the shot Is propelled oy latter with same 

 force? 2. Hiving proved the proper quantity of fine powder to use does 

 It require more of coarse grain to get the same penetration? 3. Ls 

 there less Teooil with coarse powder where equal penetration is ob- 

 tained? Ans. 1. We are Inollned to think that from the quicker igni- 

 tion the shot would be scattered nioro with fine powder than with 

 coarse. The fact could be easily determined by experiment. 2. It would 

 probably require more by measure. 3. Yes, owlngto the Ignition being 

 more gradual; or rather the recoil would probably be felt less. 



A. A., N. Y'.— We can only infer from yonr description that yonr dog 

 has something like paralysis, caosed perhaps by overfeeding. We 

 wou'd suggest to you to bathe his legs with a liniment composed of 

 laudanum, liquid ammonia, spirits of turpentine and Loup liniment, of 

 each a oz., mixed. The only internal Ireatment we can auggfst is the 

 following somewhat eaipirical one, but which has been found eitlea- 

 ciousin many cases: Hcore a red herring with a knife, and well rub 

 In 2 drs. nitre ; give every morning on au empty stomach, and keep the 

 dog without other food for two hours after. Vigorous hand robbing 

 may relievo him. 



I. \V. P., Chlllicothe, O.-l. Is Win. Moore, London, considered 

 a reliable maker of double-barreled breech-loaders? 2. What Is the 

 reputation of Francotte and other French makers? 3 Of the uames 

 just mentioned whose gun would you choose, everything considered ,' 

 1. Would an 8 lbs., 12 bore be suitable for upland shooting and an occa- 

 sional duck shot ? Ans. l. As Win. Moore died about the time breech- 

 loaders came In vogue, he cau hardly be considered a good maker of 

 them at tae present day. 2 We have had no experience with French 

 breech-loaders. The old Lefauchaux was father of them ail, i.ut, we no 

 not know if they are at present made. 3. We should prefer an Rngliah 

 maker. 4. Yes. 



Tab Heel, Wilmington, N. C,— ,1V Will the use of Fowler's Solution 

 (5 to 10 drops three times a day) so affect a dog as to lessen his capacity 

 for work during time medicine is given? 2, Would yon advise the use 

 of any external remedy lu connection with tho solution for surfeit or 

 mange? 8. Will 10 drops three limes s day produce nausea and con- 

 gestion of the eyes? Ans. 1. Probably not, but a dog requiring medi- 

 cine of any kind should not bo worked hard, but given only moderate 

 exio else. 2. For mange we would, but not for surfeit beyond a good 

 washing with Spratt's soap. 3. Y'ea, and is altogether loo much; for 

 an ordinary dog 8 drops twice a day la plenty ; In a bad case it could be 

 gradually Increased to 10 or even 12. 



ISyniKEB, Huntingdon, Tenn.— 1. What variety of foxes are natives 

 of Europe? 2. When and by whom were the first red foxes imported 

 into America? s. Is the common gray fox a native of America? 4. 

 How many d fferent species of the fox have we in America ? 5. Where 

 is the black and where ls the sUver fox to be found ? Ans. 1. The red 

 fox ( Vuljien vuliiaria) and the Arctic fox (Vulpes laooputi). 2. If intro- 

 duced at all— a matter about which there seems to be some doubt— 

 about the middle of the eighteenth century. 3. Yes. 4. Six species. 

 besides several varieties. 5. Black fox and Bilver fox are synonymous 

 terms, The black fox ls a variety of the red fox, und may ba found 

 wherever that species abounds. It is perhaps most often taken lu the 

 Arctic roglons, but IB, of course, extremely rare. 



