FOREST AND STREAM. 



363 



liver it. was oh'tnp 

 would yield hTtcei 

 bailed, but this t 

 tbe time the lioat, 

 to th 



SHABKtNG.— A correspondent describing tbe fun to be 

 had at Espcranza, Florida, says that a party went to the 

 beach one day and returned in half an hour with the fol- 

 lowing dainties: — 



"Two bushels of the finest clams, any number of fat 

 mullets, bass and other Baft, a bushel of fat stone-crabs, 

 and any number of fat sea-crabs— small fish in any quantity. 

 Meantime the sea-birds, of every variety, were flying above 

 their heads, and all of the finest on our Southern coast. 

 Some of the party, who had now become weary of such 

 sport, put out a shark line, baited with a mullet, jus! oil 

 the beach of the Inlet, and willfln two hundred yards of tbe 

 house. In fifteen minutes, they had a large shark, whose 

 tod by some of the fishermen present 

 gallons of oil. Again the, line was 

 ne with shark instead of mullet. By 

 ■liich carried out the line, could return 

 ne "Surged" again, and another monster 

 was hauled up, floundering, jerking, and otherwise afford- 

 ing sport to the caplors. Each of these were dispatched, 

 when hauled up, with a rifle. Thus the sport continued, 

 & large shark hauled up about every fifteen minutes, and it 

 is computed that the number actually caught would have 

 yielded, by simply boiling the livers on the spot, about 

 eighty gallons of "oil, worth from seventy-five cents to oue 

 dollar a gallon. 



It is probable that from the 1st of Juno to the 1st of No- 

 vember, each vear, sharks enough could be caught each 

 day to yield at leas! .me hundred gallons of oil, the appara- 

 tus for boiling which could be constructed on the spot, 

 and the oil transferred to barrels, without the need even nf 

 a shed, except for the comfort of the operators. The fish- 

 ermen fhink that sharks can be captured the whole year- 

 round." 



■*«*■ 



QUEE R FISH ING. 



riANVErtsroRT, Mass., December 29, 1SM. 

 Emma F.»u:st ako StiikaM:— 



I hnve bflen Pomswhttl amuse 1 by th« novel way in which ftuundors arc 

 takBl along out shores for ten or twelve days :it this season of the year. 

 T\yo persona proceed to the s&ore, one with a net with a piece of red 



flannel ticl to the mcihw n-:ii- the bott 

 end or which a stria of the fame materi: 

 on the bottom, where it am be seen, v 

 fliumel slowly over the bottom towards 

 ly following, are quickly dipped np. 

 taken, ami I have, seen three taken at 

 numerous correspondents give the n 

 easily enticed by the red tlanncl at this 



is fastened. One holds the nc 



in net, and the llouuders. eager 

 n this way large numbers an 

 single dip.' Will some of you 

 ion why these silly llsh are si 

 ne only ? A. J?. G. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 



Studio, 41 Tremoxt St., Boston, January 8lh, 1875. 

 My Dear Hallock:- 



The Forest and Stream has overwhelmed md. lam more than de- 

 lighted with the history of that salmon. You are the only person who 

 Seems to comprehend what I tried to do in the painting of those pictures. 

 I had really begun to think I had failed to express wliat I felt; but your 

 sympathetic brain has proven that I did at. least surjrjeM something near 

 what I tiled to put upon canvas. I am indebted for the encouragement 

 it gives me to know that there are some pcoplo who can undersland. I 

 congratulate you upon the masterly manner in which you handled that 

 difficult subject. Waltkr M. Brack f.tt. 



^nchtinq and j§ anting. 



HIGH WATER. FOR THR WEEK. 



Dale. 



Bost.ov. 



New York. 



Charlestmi . 











Jan. 14 - 



4 18 



' 5 



18 





5 It 



I 57 



1 11 





6 10 



2 66 



2 10 





7 17 



1 J 



3 17 



Jan. 18., -- 



8 28 



5 11 



4 25 





U 31 



18 



5 31 



Jan. in 



ID 33 



7 18 



6 33 



The Friendship Boat Club has elected tbe following 



officers for the ensuing year: President, James F. Daly; 

 Vice President, J. O'Carroll; Corresponding Secretary, 

 Willliam Ditlmar, Jr.; Recording Secretary, Albert Saner; 

 Treasurer, M. J. Murray; Captain, W. J. Hurley ; Delegates 

 to Aquatic Convention, J. S. Murray, J. McCartney, J. L, 

 McCabill. 



—A new boat club has been organized in Hobokcn, with 

 Charles Kabn as President, Benjamin Baptiste, Jr., as 

 Treasurer, and Charles Buck as Secretary. 



The rowing Association of American Colleges held a 



special meeting at the Allyn House, Hartford, Ct., Jan 13, 

 at 10 A. M. 



The Executive Committee of the National Association 



of Amateur Oarsmen held a meeting at the Astor House, 

 this city, January 2. The resignation of Mr. Pinkerlon as 

 Secretary was accepted, and Henry W. Garfield of the Mu- 

 tual Club of Albany, N. Y., was elected to fill the vacancy. 

 It was decided to hold the next annual regatta. on the same 

 water as last year— at Troy, N. Y. 



The Schuylkill Navy held their annual meeting Jan- 

 uary 4th, when Ihe following officers were chosen; Com- 

 modore Jas. M. Ferguson; Vice Commodore, John Hock- 

 ley Jr 'Secretary L'-.f.than ( tllinjiam Treasurer, Frank 

 \V. Murphy; official log-keeper, AY. R. Tucker. 



—At the annual meeting of the Madison Yacht Club held 

 on the nth inst., the following others were elected for the 

 ensuing year: Commodore Chas. G. Mayers; Vice Commo- 

 dore John Gallagher; Recording Secretary, Julius Zehuter; 

 Corresponding Secretary, James E. Fisher; Treasurer, 

 Henry TurvilTc; Measurer, Geo. A. Patterson; Steward, 

 Amos Packer; Regatta Committee, Wm. G. Pitman, Sid- 

 ney Foote Rufus B. Smith; Club House Committee, M. 

 T Bailv, John Coescot, Phil. Dunning. The club is in a 

 flourishing condition, and promises good sport the coming 

 season. Several new boats will be added to the fleet, 



M, T. B. 



Lynn Yuuit Club. — The following are the officers 

 elected at the annual meeting of the Lynn Yacht, Club: 

 Commodore G L Babb; Vice Commodore, C. S. Purin- 

 ton- Fleet Commander, C. H. Clifford; Secretary, WE. 

 Nt-al Treasurer, Henry W, Marks; Measurer, J. M. Tay- 

 lor- Trustees S.J. Roney, Q, A. Townes, S. T. Downs; 

 Regatta Committee. E. C"Neal, G. F. Thomdike, Frank L. 

 Earl, F. U. Hay and C. H. Clifford. 



— Robert Bagnall ami Thomas Winship tried their mettle 

 against W. Lumsdeu and R. W. Boyd in a pair-oared race 

 in England December 21st. The latter were the winners, 

 owing to a certain extent to the action of a steamer that 

 nearly ran down the former. Time of race 2-lm. 35a, 



— To all who know anything about ocean sailing, the 

 advantage of the southern passage across the Atlantic will 

 be patent, while if any doubts are entertained on the ques- 

 tion, perhaps a fact which last Winter supplied would set 

 litem at rest. Some twenty or more ships left England at 

 the Same time for tin American port. Une of flic ships, 

 the Huguenot, being in ballast and somewhat poorly 

 manned, made the southern passage ;i i nl experienced pleas- 

 ant weather, and be: t all the other vessels, which had been 

 detained by the severe gales of the higher parallels of lali- 

 twhi.— J lalij)i.K Importer. 



■*•*■ 



YACHTING IN FLORIDA— NO. 2. 



OUR third day on the little steamer found us among 

 the prairies that lie on cither side of the river below 

 Lake Monroe. They were low plains with groups of trees 

 like islands, and long rows of stately palmettos denning 

 Ilu. curves and ret racings of the idle t'iver, reminding us of 

 the pictures of eastern scenes of desert and palms. Herds 

 of half wild cattle were seen upon them, and -sometimes a 

 wild turkey would seek cover, not, by flight, but by running 

 like lite wind. A little back from the river on wet. places 

 out of rifle range were groups of while herons, the most 

 stately and beautiful of birds, and greal flocks of large 

 curlew, while now and Iheu gannets would spread their 

 huge black und white wings, ami seek quiet further apart, 

 rro'm Ihe river. No bird is so showy and conspicuous as 

 the ganttet, and it was long our ambition to get one for the 

 plumage, but they were very wary, and only settled down 

 in wet places remote from any coyer of trees or brush. 

 Fortune, however, at last did bettor for me than patience 

 and perseverance, (pardon any imputation iu favor of the 

 fickle goddess), for while rowing in a skiff, a Hock alarmed 

 by a steamer, came laboring over the river, urging their way 

 witli powerful pinions against a gale of wind, " They saw us, 

 and fried to sitter clear by turning their course several 

 points inlo the wind, but Ihcy made loo much leeway to 

 save their distance, and one fellow came down before my 

 gun, and sent up a .cloud of spray from the river in his fall 



"Get 'urn quick !" exclaimed old July, my faithful 

 boatman, "or an alligator may carry him flown;" and get 

 'urn quick we did, bringing in as magnificent a mass of 

 green, black and while plumage as nature ever adorned a 

 bird wilh, arousing some speculations as to what a great 

 economy would result, and what a vast amount of envious 

 and toilsome strife and ambition would be saved, had poor 

 bare humanity been as comfortably and superbly clothed, 

 without the toil of tbe needle, "or the costly "fabrics of 

 fashion. These reflections did not impress July, who at 

 once explained his "get 'urn quick" counsel as inspired 

 by an experience that bad impressed him very deeply. A 

 gentleman hunting from Enterprise shot a duck which fell 

 in the water. As' he was about taking it in, a large 'gator 

 appropriated tbe bird. The gentleman in turn gave the 

 beast a peppering of shot for his sauce, enraging him, with- 

 out any serious injury; when he turned on the boat and 

 took out a piece of the side, gunwale and all, so damaging 

 it that they only made their' way home in it by careening the 

 broken side high out of water. These ill-mannered fellows 

 often deprive fhe hunter of game that falls in the water, 

 and the foregoing incident teaches the imprudence of irri- 

 tating them wilh shot. 



The fishing about the outlet of Lake Monroe is very 

 good, but gar and catfish play tbe mischief with trolling 

 gear, and carry away spoons most, annoyingly. Bass are 

 the best fish obtained, here known as trout I13" those who 

 cannot even imagine the rapid motinlaiu streams wherein 

 our northern beauties seize our dainty flies. 



In one of the eddying pools I look bass so rapidly that in 

 less than half an hour the bottom of the skiff was alive 

 with them, wliieh to avoid waste were given to the steward 

 of a steamboat, and abundantly supplied the table for a 

 hungry crowd of tourists. 



In tiie springtime the herons assume, to adorn their sea- 

 son of love-making, a plumage of remarkable beauty. It 

 commences at the base of the neck, and extending back- 

 ward between ami over the wings* the long airy plumes of 

 dainty feathery sprays hang down gracefully behind the 

 bird, and give a very stylish addition, a la •'pannier," to a 

 bird that never saw a fashion plate, and itas no trouble 

 with any laundress, 



To obtain these exquisite decorations for the race so 

 sadly neglected by nature in regard to the adornments so 

 lavished on the inferior creations, these "angel birds" arc 

 assiduously hunted, and are consequently so wild that only 

 by strategy can they be shot on any of the borders of the 

 river. 



From our deck we noticed that numbers of blue, white 

 and lesser herons alighted very constantly upon two isola- 

 ted trees standing at the end of a shallow water way that 

 extended from the river into the prairie; so with the hope 

 of gaining some shots, we ordered a halt. The steamer was 

 tied to a tree, and we launched a skiff and paddled through 

 the water lilies or "bonnets" (as the huge leaves are called), 

 starting flocks of duck, rail and birds, and disturbing the 

 siestas'of numerous alligators and turtles. The only shelter 

 was under some. small water-growing bushes, where we hid 

 ourselves as well as wecould, draping our bats with Spanish 

 moss, and disposing it about, lor concealment. 



After a time all the turmoil we had caused ceased. The 

 ducks came one by one, and dodged about under the reeds 

 and lily leaves, while inquisitive blackbirds flitted near 

 with impertinent airs, and chaffed our ideas of conceal- 

 ment with unbounded slang. An alligator that had been 

 out sunning himself where our boat laid, came up without 

 a ripple, and eyed us with long curiosity as interlopers, and 

 drifted almost against the boat; but we w: re after herons, 

 and would only shoot them, after the manner of the west- 

 ern man, who "when he went a cattin' went a catlin'," and 

 Would i.ot accept a bass or pike in lieu of tbe wide-mouthed 

 bullhead. Animal life was abundant all about, with little 

 evidence of fear, and', watching it, it was easy to realize 

 how deeply engrossed such naturalists as Audubon became 

 in thus stiidyiug birds and animals when free in their own 

 haunts. 



Nothing seemed aware of us but the herons. They came 

 from remote points, and seemed about to perch on the old 

 trees, where so many were seen, but swept by and went on 

 to other retreats. It wag hardly possible for them to dis- 

 cover us, ami we could not divine any cause for their wary 



movements unless they were warned by tbe angry scolding 

 of" the blackbirds that hovered about wilh incessant, sharp 

 cries. A shot or two reduced these pests to comparative 

 silence, when a blue heron sailed up, poised for a moment 

 on a bare limb, and then fell lifeless into the pool below. 



Hoping for other shots we did not gather it. in, but it was 

 not long before an alligator slowly swam toward the dead 

 bird, and would probably have carried it awav, but for the 

 arrival of a Mead explosive ball in his head, 'lie churned 

 the water for a. moment like, a propeller wheel, and then 

 Bought the bottom to die among the weeds, and again all 

 WAS quiet. But we waited in vain ; herons sailed about 

 over the marshes, but none came near, until weary and 

 sunburned we poled back to the yacht, glad to get 'claret 

 1 and ice. 



i Our plan was In go above Lake Monroe, but (he water 

 ] was too low on Ihe bar, and our boat could not get over 

 \ We visited Mellonville, where shad were being taken iti 

 enormous quantities; and then anchored abreast Ihe site of 

 j Hit! old Enterprise hotel, and landed, to visit once more 

 ! after several years absence, 1 be Blue Spring, than which 

 I none can be more beautiful. It has been often described 

 I but it is rut easy tc x.uvey an idea of I ha deep -j\ -aq:r_ tin:, 

 1 ot the water, nor of the picturesque effect of ihe round 

 pool, and its overhanging shade of live oak, palmettos and 

 vines. It is about eighty feel, in diameter, and very deep. 

 There is no mol ion to the blue water, but a large stream 

 Hows, away from it, showing the volume of the spring. 

 The water leaves I races of white sulphur along the brook 

 which fulls some twenty or Ihiily feet to the lake, affording 

 a perfect place. for running water and shower balhs. A 

 small lent over (he stream was the only bathing con- 

 venience, but in lime this will undoubtedly be developed 

 into one (if Ihe most beautiful resorts on Ihe river, and 

 prove one of the most healthful and agreeable 



We remained over night at tbe Mellonville wharf, and 

 visited sonur gardens conducted by people of taste and skill, 

 and saw nianv evidences of Ihe capacity of Ibis soil and cli- 

 mate to produce almost every luxury. Potatoes were 

 grown in February for tin- table, oranges ami bananas 

 flourished fret: from danger of frost, and beautiful flowers 

 rewarded very littlecare « ith profuse bloom. The geranium 

 was a. small tree in the open air, anil the oleander made 

 shade for a party. 



Strawberries were ripe while ours were under deep snow, 

 audit was not easy to pui faith in Ihe idea. that. Ihe cold 

 March winds were heaping drifts that would for many a day 

 resist the sun that fell with such force upon us. 



Turning northward, wc give ourselves to Ihe current, 

 and went rapidly on. At times we would tie to a tree, and 

 leaving Ihe yacht, row quietly up some of Ihe small anil 

 unfrequented slreams that, join ihe river. Here all was as 

 wild as when the Indians pursued game with their 

 stone arrow heads, and took llsh wilh bone spears, and 

 nature seemed to revel in her own power and beauty and 

 cast her glories of golden sunlight and varied foliage on 

 every hand. The huge serried leaves of the palmettos 

 swayed and glistened like shields hitting a woodland host. 

 Cypress trees held their light, foliage high against the sky 

 and graceful vines hung in long curves from them to the 

 dense undergrowth of novel form. Creeping plants held 

 their bloom over the water on dead trunks, and air plants 

 and ferns found resting places on the old oaks, in whose 

 upper bn:,i;::lus balls rf mistletoe shone with llnir r< lish -d 

 leaves. All this would be doubled in reflection, while the 

 dividing line between the beautiful reality and fhc no less 

 beautiful image below, was so bidden by trailing vines aud 

 acuatic plants thai the vistas of the narrow streams be- 

 came dreamy and indistinct as they extended far away into 

 an uncerlaiiily of waving moss and deceptive shadows. 



Again we would go on miles in advance of the yacht 

 drilling noiselessly with the stream, of fen stealing upon 

 game, aud frequently getting a few lish. When tired, we 

 could wait until overtaken, tie our skiff behind .the 

 steamer, and enter the snug cabin to find shelter, rest and 

 all I he com forts needful. No life could be more enjoyable 

 We were not confined to a limited district as when in 

 camp, aud yet there was the same freedom, and the same 

 opportunities for seeing and sharing wildwood pursuits. 

 There was variety iu every day, fresh scenes each hour, 

 ami new temptations and anticipations leading on and 011 

 from one point lo another, all with little or no fatigue 



This steam yachting must develop as one of the most 

 popular ot till indulgences. AVil h our greal lakes, connect- 

 ed by safe and navigable routes, and rivers of endless ex- 

 lent and unlimited variety, through which one may wander 

 from the tropics to the far north, and find all climates and 

 tne fruits and game of each, there are unparalleled oppor- 

 tunities for this luxurious life. Whatever taste or fancy 

 may impel one to wandering, in a yacht all the com forts 

 and conveniences can be carried. The botanist can at 

 leisure and undisturbed, Unfold his cases of plants- the. 

 artist can sketch and not have lo gather up the disorder of 

 easel and studio; Die geologist may ballast his craft with 

 stone, and the ichuologist gather relics and form a museum 

 en route. For the naturalist: and sportsman it is perfection. 

 His rods need not be unjoint.ed, or his guns uncased. He 

 can stuff his specimens, load shells, and tie dainty flies bv 

 a window before which new and varied scenes are passing"- 

 and after a hard day's tramping come back to abundant 

 comforts. As yet there are but, few of these dainty craft 

 afloat, aud few are aware of the charming life they offer 

 The fleet and lUuniy private yacht Falcon, on the St 

 John's, was a pleasant exponent of a sportsman's craft, and 

 in time many more will follow in hi-r wake. 



Of course there is a good deal of expense inseparable from 

 steam yachting, but very complete launches and small 

 yachts are now" put afloat 'in perfect trim for hardly any 

 greater cost fur purchase or maintenance than is represented 

 by each of hundreds of fine carriages lhat are to be met 

 with on the fashionable avenues of our great cities, and the 

 writer is confident from personal experience, that abandon- 

 ing all ambition for the luxuries of cuisine, and seeking 

 only plain and needful arrangements, a small family or a 

 ':e summer or winter trips with no 

 L-tl by hundreds of pleasure parties 

 aifort and independence than they 

 r own yacht and their own move- 



A man of as much skill as is required to make a success- 

 ful sportsman, can do a great deal in attending to his own 

 boat, so that the cost ami annoyance 01 having too many 

 men may be avoided ; bul unless our inspection laws are 

 mad,; niore liberal, he must provide himself and his men 

 "with expensive licenses, and be sometimes compelled lo 

 take his men from a guild or uuion commanding needlessly 

 high wages. All this, however, is in course of revisal, and 



few gentlemen 1 

 more cost than is inci 

 who find far less of 

 would commanding I 

 men 



