304 



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FOEEST AND STREAM. 



and off Labrador. The person who goes to sea in a shallow 

 sloop should forfeit his insurance policy. To say that we 

 use our yachts for other purposes than Englishmen is unfor- 

 tunately too] true, hut we trust the time is not far distant 

 when the same laudable spirit of adventure and love for manly 

 sport which carries Englishmen to sea by the thousand will 

 animate amateurs along our coast as well, and we feel confi- 

 dent that sea-cruising will eventually become not, as now, the 

 exception, but the rule. Every year adds many to the lists 

 of gentlemen who have learned of seamanship and naviga- 

 tion something more than merely trimming a sheet and run. 

 ning for the nearest port. They need a different vessel from 

 the sloop, and they begin to know it. 



"T. C." and others seem to overlook the fact that we do 

 not countenance the substitution of the cutter for the sloop, 

 but rather the addition of the cutter as better adapted to a new 

 phase of the sport hitherto scarcely indulged in on this side of 

 the Atlantic, cruising at sea in yachts of moderate tonnage 

 within the reach of the many. 



CORINTHIAN CRUISERS. 



Binghamton, N. T., Nov. 5, 1878. 

 Editob Fobest ixi Stream : 



In relation to Bmall yachts I am induced to give you my experi- 

 ences aa follows : I began with an oak yacht 25ft. over all, 6ft. 

 beam and 3ft. deep ; drawing 18in. light and 2ft. ballasted, after 

 more vertical keel had been bolted on, which was done to prevent 

 drifting, aa her bottom was almost flat. She was as slow as a 

 brick sloop, for there was timber enough in her to construct a first- 

 olaBB sloop-of-war. It was impossible to get any speed out of her 

 ■When hauled on the wind unless she careened to her beam ends. 

 If we cracked on before the wind she would do very well, but for 

 all that, owing to her builder's well-known vagaries, who made as 

 many mistakes in construction as I had perpetrated in designing, 

 she was about as slow and unBatisf aotory as your correspondent's 

 sloop will be. 



My next attempt was an improvement. It was a 23ft. boat, 5)4 

 ft. beam, Z)4(t deep inside, and drawing about 3ft. of water when 

 ballasted. We had eight 201bs. blocks of iron dovetailed into her 

 keel, and an iron shoe weighing 701bs. under all. Even then she 

 ■was bo cTank that her 13in. of freeboard would not keep the water 

 out in fine weather unless the crew wore up to windward. Bnt 

 sho would saill There was considerable concavity in the latter 

 yacht, and when we changed her to a schooner — she waB at ihrBt a 

 outter — we found we had reduced the angle of sailing, although 

 wo possessed more canvas. Of course , tho philosophy of it waB 

 that the butt of the sail came nearer the deck. But she was 

 always uneasy, because her ballast was Btowed too low and her 

 keel too thick— 2in.—lln. would have answered just as well. While 

 I was yachting off New York, her builder changed her rig again to 

 that of a cutter, and one day, during a heavy squall, she capsized 

 and drowned his father. 



I agree with you that the cutter rig is far better than that of the 

 sloop ; but I go farther, and advocate the sohooner rig for all 

 yachts of 30ft. and over unless they are as wide as a saucer. The 

 Boston yachts are nicely canvaBed, and when they have been 

 lengthened without any increase of beam they never, so far as I 

 know, fail to develop speed and weatherly qualities. The utmost 

 limit for a ship is 86 sq. ft. of plain sail for every square foot of 

 immersed midship Bection. But yachts often carry 100 to 1, and 

 for cruising yachts 75 to 1 is considered very moderate. The 

 reason is at once apparent, and lies in the ooucavity of yachts anU 

 tho absence of it in ships. The latter often drift to leeward, while 

 the former do not. Especially is this true of keel vessels. 



During the prevalence of light airs, when club-topsails, balloon- 

 JibB, jib-topsails and square-headed maintopmast-stayeails are 

 aet, the proportion as per rule is doubled ; and yet yaohts of 

 moderate oapaoily and proper model, like tho Dauntless and Wan- 

 derer, are seldom iujured at sea to any great extent, or capsized 

 in port unless by ignorant or reckless handling. It was, unques- 

 tionably, all of these faulte combined which enabled the Mohawk 

 to turn turtle as she did, and Bince that disaster I am glad to see 

 that oentreboarda have been falling into disfavor, bo that the 

 newest and finest yachts are keel vessels of sharp lines, possess- 

 ing considerable doadrise and increased draught of water, which 

 last does not, to a very great extent, affect unfavorably the im- 

 portant, if not indispensable, item of speed. 



My observation and experience have taught me a great deal, 

 and on tho strength thereof I have ventured to draught a 30ft. 

 yacht, which Mr. A . Cary Smith has approved. Ho saw it last 

 summer, and his worst oriticism was that it would be likely to draw 

 more water than I have indicated. For yachts of 30ft. and less 

 there is, in.my humble opinion, nothing so well adapted as white 

 oedar, with light iron bracing and copper fastenings, for the sim- 

 ple reason that minimum weight is indispensable to maximum 

 speed. Beja Duao. 



J^» md §wei[ <gishing. 



FISH IN SEASON^FOR NOVEMBER. 



PBKSH WATBB. 



BlttOfe Bass, Miervptarus talnuridee; Pike o 



K. palliiui 



Klngflsh, Mtnticirrvt ntbulotus. 



r Pickerel, Etox twins. 



Yellow Perch, JPcrca Itavescme, 

 Moikalonge, Beox nobilior, 



SALT WATBB. 



Sea Bass, Scicenops ocellatui. Oero, Cyiium regale. 



Striped Bass, Raccui linneatut. Bonito, Santo pelamyt 

 Weakhsli, Cyneecum regalis. 

 Bluefish, Pamatemua saltutrix. 



Fish is Mabket.— Bass, 18; smelts, 25 j bluefish, 12 ; salmon, 

 30; mackerel, 18; weakflsb, 15 ; white perch, 15 ; green turtle, 20 ; 

 terrapin, per doz. , $12 to $30 ; frost fish, 8; halibut, 20; haddock, 

 6 ; codliBh, 6; blaokfiah, 12 ; flounders, 8 ; sea baas, 20 ; eels, 18; 

 lobBters, 10; sheepshead, 20 ; frogs, 10 ; Bcallops, $1 per gallon; 

 soft clams, 30 to 75 conts per 100; white-fish, 12^ ; pickerel, 12>£ ; 

 salmon trout, 12H ; red snapper, Bait water, 15 ; hard crabs, $2.50 

 per 100. 



The first arrival of red snappers, Lutfanw Blaokfordii, 

 eame la on Monday from Savannah. The average weight was 



from ten to eighteen pounds. Squid are in active demand for 

 food, at 75 cents per dozen. They are of an India rubber 

 consistency, and have a peculiar flavor disagreeable to most 

 people. The taste for them is an acquired one. We noticed 

 on the slabs seven fresh caught salmon from Halifax, K. S. 

 They are the stragglers which always come in out of season 

 and find a ready sale. Smelts very scarce. Cod have made 

 their appearance in large schools off Long Island shore. Two 

 very line specimens of bluefish weighing 15 pounds each were 

 brought from Martha's Vineyard Sound. 



Movements of the Fibbing Fleet. — The weather has 

 continued unfavorable for fishing operations much of the 

 time the past week, and the Shore fishermen have averaged 

 good prices for the small amount taken. The winter school 

 of codfish are said to have struck in on the Gape Cod shore, 

 and good fishing may be expected soon. The Shore rnacker- 

 elmen have done little the past week, and will Bpoi 

 the stock on board and haul up for the season. The Hay Beet 

 are arriving slowly, but the season will soon close. The 

 number of fishing arrivals reported at this port the past week 

 has been 27, as follows : 7 from the banks, 1 bringing 40,000 

 lbs. codfish and 6 bringing 8f,000ibs. halibut ; 16 from 

 Georges with 2o0,0001bs. codfish ; and 5 from the Bay St. 

 Lawrence, with l,000bbls. mackerel. Receipts of Shore 

 mackerel, about 2,500bbls. — Cape Ann Advertiser, Nov. S, 



Wanted— An owner for a 10 lb. striped bass with sis 

 fathom of line attached. The life- saving station crew at Bar- 

 negat Inlet have been very successful with the striped bass, 

 catching from 200 to 600 lbs. per day. In their haul this 

 morning, Nov. 8, with the rest of the fish taken, was one bass 

 weighing 10 lbs. with a cuttyhunk hook iu his mouth with six 

 fathom of blue braded line attached. Should this meet the 

 owner of said line, hook and fish, he is respectfully asked to 

 prove property, pay expenses, etc. For i unher information 

 inquire of G. W. Kinsey, Ashley House, Barnegat Inlet, 

 N. J. 



Makvlano— Baltimore, Not. 9.— We are having a very ex- 

 citing time over the taking of rockfish on the long bridge at 

 Ferry Bar. They have been taken from ten to eighteen 

 inches in length for the past three or four weeks by our ama- 

 t ur fishermen. This is something very unusual for these 

 fishing grounds, and affords rare sport for the disciples of 

 old Izaak. The query with all is where they came from, as 

 they have been a rare fish in our waters for years past. Mr. 

 A. J. Miller and myseif took thirteen on the 5th inst. from 

 ten to seventeen inches. Creases. 



West Virginia— RonceverU, Nov. 8.— Mr. Graham, who 

 has charge of the W. Va. State Hatching Establishment, 

 came here on Tuesday last and placed in the * 

 70,000 California Salmon. He had just put in 90,000 at 

 Howard's Creek, five miles above, aud sent from here 60,000 

 to be put in the Elk River at Charleston. These were a part 

 of the 500,000 obtained from the Government establishment 

 and hatched out at the State concern at Romney. 



Kentucky — Stanford, Nov. 5.— Major Duncan and I spent 

 the last week of October on Hock Casilc Kiver. We took my 

 section boat and equipage for camping, but lodged with our 

 oarsman, and didn't take tent from depot. Had a large lot of 

 excellent minnows, but the baas and salmon took a spoon so 

 greedily that we used scarcely a fifth of our supply. Many 

 large bass and three salmon, weighing 7 to 74 pounds, were 

 taken. Small fry by scores. Water low, but clear and pare ; 

 and the success of our first fall trip determined us, Deo wienie, 

 to make an annual excursion there or elsewhere till 1070, 

 when we shall probably waive the fun for a visit to the " Cen- 

 tennial display," wherever that may be. Kuntuokian. 



Tennebsee — Nashville, Nov. 7. — Our market is overrun with 

 fish, mostly from Keelfoot Lake. We are getting some line 

 northern fish as well. At Hemphill's I saw to-day a lake 

 salmon of about ten pounds weight. Sheepshead and red- 

 snappers from Pensacola are beginning to come in also. Bass 

 and jack are being taken every day in the Cumberland. The 

 river has been rising slowly for a few days, which has put 

 the water in fine condition. Major Burr, a great sportsman 

 of this place, is fond of large game, and is trying bant for a 

 big jack that he thinks is loitering about the head of the 

 island, but he has not hooked him yet. J. D. H. 



Missouri — St. Louis, Nov. 2. — Fishing is fine. A party 

 went up the Illinois River last week aud brought home their 

 catch, amounting to about 700 pounds of bass and croppie. 

 Several bass weighed from five to seven pounds each. 



J. W. M. 



Michigan— Detroit, Nov. 9.— Whitefish business poor this 

 year and not profitable. 



California— Los Angeles, Nov. 2.— Frank Crittenden 

 caught, at the South Monica Wharf last week, a Jewfish 

 weighing 320 pounds. Sea trout, bonito, mackerel and hali- 

 but are abundant. 



Fish Dying or Cold.— We were much struck on the oc- 

 casion of a visit to Shinnecock Bay a few days since with the 

 fact that the migratory fish, such as the bluefish, which had 

 come into the Bay at the time when the Inlet was open, were 

 all dying. The Inlet having closed, the fish were unable to 

 find their way to the sea, and the water becoming rapidly 

 fresh from evaporation and the supply from the streams, they 

 became so benumbed with the cold as to be perfectly helpless. 

 The natives were taking large fish, weighing six or seven 

 pounds, from the shallow water with their hands and with 

 pitchforks, and of the smaller fish, or "snappers," there were 

 immense quantities. The fish were very fat and iu excellent 

 condition for the table. 



We may add that very large bluefish, 18 pounds or so, have 

 been taken off Nantucket within a week. Usually bluefish 

 go South with the first frost. 



^Bardless Hooks.— Chicago, Nov. 2.— Mr. Editor: I 

 noticed in the Fobest and Stream some comments on 

 the Edgar barbless hooks. While fishing this season up 

 north with Mr. Holabird we used ihem for trout and 

 bass. I prefer them in the brush covered streams of Northern 

 Michigan, where one must be quick as a flash to pull out your 

 fish. I sent one of them soelled to Mr. Orvis, asking him if 

 it was possible to tie them to make good flies. He sent me 

 four handsome flies which I think would decievo even the 



very elect of the salmo tribe. I intend having some made up 

 to try them for fly fishing if spared another season. Mr. 

 Holabird has my sample or I would send to you for your 

 opinion. W. David Tonus. 



Shaeks and Tokpedoks.— English naval officers find much 

 sport in firing explosive bullets at the sharks which follow in 

 the wake of their ships. One good quality of this submarine 

 target is that he is not frightened by the crack of the rifle, but 

 follows on undisturbed until the bullet strikes him. Then he 

 disappears — down the maws of his fellow-sharks. A new 

 mode of sport is to bait a hook with a good-sized piece of 

 pork, in which is incased a torpedo. This is then carefully 

 lowered and instantly snapped up by the expectant man-eater. 

 The effect is iustantaneous. The head and jaws of the mon- 

 ster are blown into fragments, and a bubbling circle iu the 

 water marks the spot where, a few seconds before, his dorsal 

 fin was shown above the waves. 



The Helgramite— Decatur, 111., Nov. 2.— The helgramite 

 described by "Isaak,"of Dayton, Ohio, on pa^e 388 of the 

 Forkbt and Stream as "the most killing bait for black 

 lass," is the larval state of the homed corydalis (Curydulis 

 cornula), an insect belonging to the sub-order, A 

 The males, in the winged state, are provided with long horns, 

 whence the insect receives its specific and common names. 

 As it exists several years in the larval state before taking on 

 its winged form " Isaak " may readily have found different 

 sizes at the same time. If he will take the trouble to search 

 for them early next spring, under stones just above the 

 water's edge, he may find them, as I have done, undergoing 

 their transformations. Both forms, larva and adult, are 

 figured in "Tenney's Elements of Zoology," p. 338. 



A Naturalist. 



We have given the history of the helgramite a great many 

 times in the past few years ; but there is nothing like refresh- 

 ing the memory, and we thank our correspondent who has 

 just favored us. But ten to one, some innocent inquirer will 

 ask us next week what the dobson is, and whether it is any 

 relation to the clipper, helgramite, etc., and whether it might 

 not prove a likely bait for some kinds of fish.— Ed. F. & S. 



Ballots and Bait Boxes. — When the angler, casting his 

 fly just there in the pool where he knows that famous big 

 trout is lurkiDg, is suddenly disturbed from his repose 

 by the headlong onslaught of Sir Surly Proprietor with 

 shot-gun and bull- dog, prudence suggests that with all speed 

 he take to his heels. But let him rest content when the fence 

 is between him and the dog, nor vex his spirit with needless 

 wrath. There is a surer and sweeter revenge than reviling 

 the man or shooting the dog. The mills of the Gods grind 

 slowly, but for those who bide their time they grind exceed- 

 ing fine. It iB the unlocked for that always happens. Surly 

 Proprietor may run for Congress some day. Upon the road 

 from his farm with its trout brooks to that coveted seat in 

 Washington he will come unexpectedly upon a man with a 

 fish-pole in his hand, a bait-box in his pocket and a smile of 

 triumph on his face. He goes no farther. The bull dog wel- 

 comes him home and the old trout still reposes in the pool. 

 All of which is not fancy ; thuB saith the daily paper ; 



It was urged as a fatal fault in a Congressional candidate in 

 Virginia that he had prevented the people from taking ' ■ the 

 free and vagrant fish of the Chickabominy," where that river 

 flows through his estate. 



» ■■ « 



TENTING ON KING'S LAKE. 



^A St. Lona, Mo., Oct. 17, lass. 



Editor Forest and Stbkam : 



Our party, constating ot Judd Baraa ana John Shoekey, assistant en- 

 gineers o£ Fire Department; Geo. TennlUe, Sec. ; Jno. Groas, Broad- 

 way Bank ; John Winner, our ox-mayoi'a Bon ; Messrs. John Kuuftrle, 

 John Furber and Theo. Scheele, with T. Shoekey and Edw. Tuorue, of 

 the tire Department, left St. Louts, per steamer Lake Superior, for 

 Asking grounds north. We found ttte midnight hours on tlie river de- 

 cidedly cool. Landed at Buctianan'a warehouse at 1:30 i\ m., on oven 

 100 nulea from St. LouiB np the Mississippi Hlver. Several years ago 

 the river, at the point opposite OlarkaviUe, Mo., tnunaated valuable 

 lands, doing great damage, partlcnlarly In high water seasons ; ami to 

 order io redeem this land a levee was buitt; called the Luy Levee. 

 This levee, la turn, caused another overflow In tho opposite country. 

 The citlzenB ol Calhoun County, Ills., remonstrated ugaiusl the con- 

 tinuance, so a connecUon was made between the waters of the Luy 

 and those of King's Lake. Since that time these waters have held 

 great attraction, and been the favorite resort for fishermen of itie 

 Isaac Walton school. 



Hired an old man to haul our things to the lake, about one-half mile 

 from the river ; bnt when he brought a sway-back home of fourteen 

 hands high, and a Utile mare no bigger than a half a minute, v. e felt 

 rising doubts as to the ability of the team to draw our heavy load. 

 The doubts flndrag expression, they were met by the old mac, wco 

 inrew a knowing look into his dlsagured face, saying, " Neever wind j 

 these yere kin pull any thing thet'a loose at both sends." When 

 harnessed it looked aa impossible a feat aa for kids to dtuw our Court 

 House down the levee. But with a aargon to do duty at lice-jerking, 

 accompanied with a aeriea ef vocal explosions from the old Governor, 

 they performed their perilous journey, and " BUI " and " Fan " landed 

 our dunnage on lhe camp ground. Pitched our lenta soine a,x;y leei 

 from the bank of the lake; had a large wall tent, IteUtt., and a Uy 

 tent ; slept lu the former and dined In the latter, wl.ere we erected 

 a table which performed dual service for food and cards. It raited 

 hard Monday, and lcaring tt would extinguish our camp hre, Bame ap- 

 plied a torch to an old hollow sycamore tree that stoi 

 from the tent. Although green it burned healthily, and in the wee 

 hours we were aroaBed from our placid slumbers by the announcement 

 that the tree would soon fall and we were in danger. A little assist- 

 ance from the ax soon tumbled the monster, but, like a mule, if yon 

 express a desire lor an eastward course he will take a decided paih for 

 the west; so this old "muley" tree fell toward tho lake, sinking two 

 of our boats, the Undine and Dollie, two minnow buckets, a small net, 

 and breaking some fancy rods Into rather inconvenient lengths. 



Onr Ashing at King's Lake, corpulent with disappointment, re- 

 minded us of a sage's aennitlon of nailing— "A pole, with 

 one end aud a fool at the other." But some flahera had been there be- 

 fore ua with net*, wbioh rather damaged our sport. About a mile 

 east ot oar camp was a body of water, harmonionaly oamj 

 Head Slough," and thither we wended onr way In search of piscatory 

 aport. We took Bome fine ones there, bnt the place, supertlne, was 

 some distance to the south. Our Informant was the old Governor, 

 president of th« transfer. He acted as golds to the small basin named 



