192 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Apeil 7, 1S81 



aquaria; Willett H. Robinson. Patchocue, L. L, small trout; 

 E. B. Rogets & Co., North Stoningtou, Uonn., wild trout, 

 plump; E. B. Sutton, Babylon, L. I.; Thompson Bro's., 

 New Mope, Pa., very nice; C. Valentine, Brcokkaven, L. I.: 

 Beth. Weeks, Corrv, Pa.: E. W. Woodward, Manlius, N. Y., 

 plump, spots yellowish. Messrs. Middleton and Carman also 

 made a display of Long Island trout, live gold fish, and large 

 striped bass flanked by an enormous lobster. 



The fishing tackle dealers were all busy as they have been 

 for weeks past, in fitting out the anglers for the opening of 

 the season. Among the anglers who braved the season on 

 Long Island, to have a east at Hie trout, on that dreary day 

 which appalled all but the thoroughbreds, there went to 

 South Oyster Bay, E Limilz, .Jnscj.li Stanley, of Hoboken, 

 and Mr. Noble, of Brooklyn. To the South Side Club's 

 waters, at Oakdalc, near lslip, went Shcpard F. Knapp, 

 Thomas M. Bissett, Robert S Bunting, John C. Congreve, 

 W. R. Breese, George W. I loll. Charles P. Fearing, iMeg 

 Hall of Newport, Harry Nichols, George H. Palmer, P. 

 Shushard, James Beukard, Henry B. Hollies, Frank John- 

 son, John A. Lowerv, Fred. R. Halsey, Roland Redmoud, 

 Mr. Pollock, H. R. 'Olark, John HaJsey. Alexander Lutz, 

 John Brier, Fred. Do Luce, Mr. Simmons, Mr. Brand, Ed. 

 Heylin, James Flack and Ed. Matthews.' Harry Miuer 

 went to Locust Grove. To C. F. Imbrie's and Mr. Wilbur's 

 Green River preserve, at, Sayville, went Andrew Clerk, 

 James R. Thompson and others. Charles E. Strong, H. S. 

 Fearing, George K. Fearing and many other members of the 

 Suffolk Club enjoyed the day at their preserve near Pat- 

 chogue. 



To our notion the trout fishing will be more enjoyable a 

 few weeks later, when the spring rains have warmed up the 

 streams and started the vegetation. 



BLACK BASS IN TENNESSEE. 



Chattanooga, Tenn. 



Editor Forest ajtd Stream : 



Men are at variance about just the kind of day, some con- 

 tending for bright days, others for partially cloudy : but 

 observation has taught me that a partially cloudy, sultry day 

 is certainly better for very clear water, while a bright day is 

 belter suited for murky water. A south or south « i - lad 

 is the best. The best, time of tlte year for fishing in our 

 waters Cor bass is from the first, of April till the first of June. 

 They arc more abundant at this season than at any other 

 season of the year. They bile well, however, in August, 

 September, October and November. 



One of the finest bass I ever caught, weighing something 

 over live pounds, I caught in the month of January. I was 

 fishing at the mouth of a creek which (lows into the Sequu- 

 chee River, perched on the forks of a box elder tree, when I 

 saw my float disappear and thought the current had - washed 

 my hook against a root or snag. I pulled gently and felt, a 

 fish; slacked ami gave him if me to gorge (lie" bait : struck 

 him and finding that I bad a large one, and my position not 

 admitting of playing him, I was compelled to cast my rod 

 behind me to the shore, through the houghs of the tree, and 

 wind him up hand over hand. He measured two feet from 

 the tip of the under lip to the tip of the tail ,- eight inches 

 across the broadest part, and the tail, when stretched, six 

 inches, and his mouth, when stretched, twelve inches in cir- 

 cumference. 



Last summer I wont down info North Chicamauga gulch 

 on a tour of inspection. 1 had left my faekle in Chattanooga. 

 I secured on the mountain a small porch honk and some flax 

 thread, and this, with a fly hook I happened lo have in my 

 pocket, was the extent of my outfit. We descended into the 

 canyon, which is at least 800 feet deep, oyer the most rugged 

 path I ever traversed, which to be appreciated must be ex- 

 perienced. On reaching the water, I found a dry sassafras 

 pole, crooked and knotty, that had been washed down by the 

 high water — for this stream rises in winter and dashes 

 through the gorge with a rapidity and roar which echoed by 

 the mountain sides Teminds one o£ Niagara — and attaching 

 my flax line, upon which 1 had knitted my ljook to this pole, 

 I put an angle worm and caught a large" chub, from whose 

 shiny side I severed a fin witli a, small piece of flesh attached, 

 and with this I made a cast and soon had dangling in the air 

 a beautiful black bass. One of my companions had rigged 

 my fly hook much in the same manner as 1113' own ; and we 

 followed the stream up, crossing bowlders and great slaDi ol 

 stone and broken fragments, and we caught with these rude 

 fixtures in four or live hours over forty black bass, averaging 

 from eight to ten inches long. We saw larger fish than we 

 took, but they were shy of our rude gear some of which 1 

 captured subsequently, when accompanied by Mr. Charles 

 Carpenter, Circuit Clerk of Sequachee, Mr. Pell Brown and 

 Mr. Millsaps, of Waldefc's ridge, »t which time we captured 

 during the day one hundred black bass. 



I mention this incident to show you how abundantly our 

 streams are supplied with fish where they are unmolested, 

 and how successfully fishculture could be carried on in any 

 part of our country: for where they exist in such great 

 numbers naturally, artificially they may be made to increase 

 more largely. IT. II. Skeed. 



Lin.iANes Btackfokiui. — In speaking of the habits and 

 mode of catching the little known " red-snapper," the New 

 Orleans L'emoci'nt says: The red-snapper grounds aTe esti- 

 mated to TOO miles. It is only a question of labor what 

 amount can be caught. They are found in countless myriads 

 at all seasons at ascertain depth of wuttr, say from fifty to 

 eighty feet. They are caught with lines having a number of 

 hooks, which are eagerly seized by the fish. It is pretty hard 

 lo draw up these lines with such a number of these fish at- 

 tached to them. 'Windlasses are frequently used to draw 

 them up. In a very few hours the wells of the smacks are 

 filled with them. "To prevent their floating and keep them 

 alive until the port is reached, it is necessary to reduce their 

 bulk by compressing the large excess of air accumulated in 

 their long passage" from the great depth of water in which 

 they are caught to the surface. This is Hone by a small in- 

 cision just below the gills, which operates as a vent through 

 which the air escapes until the fish is reduced to its natural 

 size, so that it sinks and keeps alive and healthy. It was 

 through this simple suggestion that the red-snapper became a 

 great commercial fish. Previously it was found difficult to 

 bring them to market fresh. Now they can be bought in far 

 greater abundance than any other fish. There is a large fleet 

 and a lrarge number of men engaged in fishery. As the value 

 and cheapness of the red-snapper begins to be generally ap- 

 preciated throughout the West, this industry will be greatly 

 increased. With enterprise and labor, and cheap transporta- 

 tion, we believe that in time this Business will equal in its 

 proportions and extent the cod and mackerel fisheries of Mas- 



sachusctts. The abundance of the 

 equal, if not superior, to that of the 

 foundland. It is a better fish thai 

 labor and expense in filling the dec 



to any of the interior towns. 



l-snapper in the Gulf is 

 doff the coast, of New- 

 ither, and involves less 

 id and in transporting 



Fisuino in run Obwku 

 Fulton, N. Y., sends us ar 

 a fishing record as follows 

 closed it will perhaps inter 

 .1. Van Vaikenburg's fishii 

 The season lias been an u 



Hivurt. — A correspondent from 

 extract from a local paper giving 

 As the fishing season for 1880 has 

 st sportsmen to see the score of 1<\ 

 I in the Oswego River, at Kull.on. 

 ally fine one for this kind of 



sport, a 



nd m, 



ny st 



■atigers have bee 



1 here d 



to try f 



ir the 



first, 



hue their luck 



11 the U 



all of 

 score f 



them 

 >r the 



mad 



> good catches, 

 n will show the 



Mr. A 



•e are fe 



to the t 



iswes 



> Kiv 



tt for good flshi 



iff. He. 



the 



1 Vaikenburg's 

 places superior 

 ag, lie. begins his record 

 on the 20th of May, 1880, and closes it October 30. His 

 fishing has been at odd times— at early morning, at night or 

 evening — just as he could get away from business, and only 

 once, during the entire time has he devoted the entire day to 

 the sport, and generally his fishing has been from one to "two 

 hours only at a lime. 



lie has been out 73 times and at an average of two hours 

 at a time or 144 hours of fishing, or twelve days of twelve 

 hours each. During this time he has made an average catch 

 of about 17 fish each trip out, or 108 fish for each twelve 

 hours fishing. 



The following is the score: Black bass, 5!S2; Stranbury 

 bass, IP,; silver bass, 10; rock bass, 405; pike, 10: pickerel, 

 5 : catfish, 20; chubb, 209. Total, 1,213. 



These fish were all taken, with the exception of 100, in the 

 corporation limits. Of these 803 were taken by legitimate 

 flyfishing. The balance of 3o0 were taken by bait. Those 

 taken by bait were taken early in the spring and late in the 

 fall. The bait used was the dobson or helgrainite and no 

 other. The best fly fishing is in the months of July and 

 August. 



A New Bait.— Putnam, Conn. — As many of your readers 

 are preparing their lines and would like to learn anything 

 that would contribute to their success in fronting, and I have 

 laid aside my rod and reel, I wid impart a secret I have kept 

 ior years, and when tishinn beside others they have wandered 

 how it was that 1 was the most successful. 



You have perhaps noticed the bright, shiny silvery hairs 

 on a hen's neck after the feathers were plucked oil'. To 

 make this bait, pluck off the feathers, but be careful not to 

 pull out those hairs. Then cut round the neck up next the 

 head, and also down next the breast. Then slip off lire skin, 

 and jus! when you want to fix the huh on the hook, cut off a 

 strip the size of a good-sized worm, and double it on over the 

 book, and you will see it is the most tempting bait you ever 

 used, and it being tough, will hold ou for an hour. I used 

 to secure the neck skin Whenever I eould and salt them a 

 little, and keep them moist until I wanted to use them. Try 

 it, and see if it is not the best bait you ever saw 1 r used - 

 G. K. W. 



Fishing in Tenxb-i see.— Savannah, Tenn., March 21.— 

 Fishing has begun this season several weeks earlier than last 

 year. "The bass bit well last week, and several fine strings 

 were caught, the fish being large and in line condition. No 

 pike, perch or black perch have been caught yet. The fishing 

 wiih nets and trot lines in the river has been almost nothing 

 for the past two years. The fishermen i,„: beginning to see 

 that their habit of setting nets in the nioullis of the creeks 

 and catching all the fish that run up them to spawn has ex- 

 terminated the supply. One of the mpst successful Of the 

 fishermen in past years has Sold his nets and stopped fishing. 

 The fish caught now are small, and so few in number as to 

 make fishing a losing business. The supply of buffalo, drum 

 aud catfish, thought by many to be exhaust less, five or six 

 years ago, now seems entirely destroyed. What we need is a 

 good law, well enforced, for the protection of fish, or in a 

 few years this portion of the State will be entirely deprived 

 of this valuable and cheap supply of food. — W11X 



No Tj:outin.g IIrrr— The Reading (Pa.) Times liva the 

 following: "The streams in the vicinity of Berkley, six 

 miles north of Reading, have for sonic years been favorite 

 resorts for trout-fishing by lovers of the sport residing in 

 this city. In anticipation of the usual advent of fishermen 

 on the 1st of April next, when the season for (routing will 

 open, the farmers residing along the Maiden and Willow 

 Creeks have been signing a notice this week, prohibiting all 

 outsiders from coming Oli their lands to fish, Trespassers 

 will be severely dealt with. 



TnuPu- Castino Touhkamknt.— Mr. Fred. B. Divine, of 

 Ftica, N. Y., writes to the prize committee of the New York 

 State Association as follows-, "fwill donate two rods, a 

 trout and a bass rod, all hmcewood, silver mountings. Each 

 rod to consist of one butt, two second joints (different 

 weights), and three tips; also, extra bamboo tip case, making 

 four different weights and hanging rods. The rods are piit 

 up in a handsome black walnut case, lined with velvet, and 

 bound with four bauds of silver, as a prize, in fly casting." 



Bass Fisuino in the Poto.mao. — We are now about to 

 commence our spring fishing. We have the black bass in 

 the POtomac, which affords us good angling; we, have taken 

 as much as IIS pounds in one da v — myseif nn<{ Companion. 

 It was in the fall of the year 1880, at Muddy Brunch, in Ihe 

 Potomac. The best fishing is at the great falls Ot the l'oto- 



and there liiev stay in eddies, as they cannot gel, over the 

 falls. Any one. wanting to have a good bass fish had better 

 strike the falls. There is a good hotel, kept by .John W. 

 Carroll, who will take great pleasure in showing his guest 

 how fo catch large bass. This is a great resort for the 

 anglers of Washington, TJ. 0. It is only ten miles from the 

 latter.— W. H. R. 



Trout Taixb Strike Flies. — OhafleStoWu, N. H. March 

 21. —Alluding to the quite extended discussion in your 

 columns some time ago concerning the trout's use of its tail 

 in sulking the bail presented tQ it- by the lly fisherman, al- 

 io-,',' me to say that there is no longer auy doubt thai (he 

 California trout at least (.Salmo rridea) uses Us tail inten- 

 tionally for the purpose of disturbing and examining any 

 unusual kind of food which it finds in the water. Long 

 continued observation has confirmed this fact beyond a 

 doubt. Very truly yours, Livinoston St"m:. 



Bravwiuile Glob.— Two or three gentlemen will lie ad- 

 mitted, upon introduction, into the Beaverhill Club, which 



this year has obtained sole control of the trout fishing in the 

 famous Balsam Lake, and a conliuuous four miles of the 

 headwaters of the stream. Inquiries should be addressed to 

 Mr. George W. Van Siclen, 09 Nassau St., N. Y. 



S§h &nltme. 



. Seth Green on 

 is followed by a 

 oter when the ponds were 



THE AMEBICAN FISCULTUJiAL ASSOCIATION, 



r PHE tenth annual meetiug of the association took place at Fish 

 Monger's Hall, Fulton Market, New York, on Wednesday and 

 Thursday. March 30 and 81. TB6 weather on the first day was 

 cold, rainy and disagreeable, and the attendance was small, not 

 over twenty-iive persons being present, but an improvement in mo- 

 terological conditions on the second day brought out about seven- 

 ty-live. President Booaovelt was in the chair. Letters were read 

 from Yice-PreBident Page, now iu England, on the importance of 

 introducing shad into that country, and from Prof. Baird regret- 

 ting inability to attend. While (he shad question was before the 

 house Mr. Mather was called (jojdetail his experience in eating the 

 German substitute for it, the nmiliseh, and Prof. Goode was asked 

 for the specific differences. Mr. Mather then proposed an amend- 

 ment to the constitution lo permit honorary members to be elected 

 by a two-thirds vote — carried. The same member then proposed 

 for honorary membership Dr. Theodatus Garlick, of Bedford, O., 

 the first American nsheulturist, which was also uuanimonsly car- 

 ried. The President then read a paper 1 

 " Hybridizing Fish" and other matters, w 

 discussion about the death of fish in 1 

 closed by iee, in which several members took pait. 



A paper on the habits of the German carp was then read by Mr. 

 H. D. McGovern, which was followed by a discussion as to whether 

 the so-called carp of the Hudson was a true carp or not, which 

 was negatively decided. Dr. Hudson described the three varieties 

 of the German carp. The Secretary then read " A Contribution 

 to tbc Biography of the Commercial Cod of Alaska," by Dr. Tarle- 

 tonH. Bean. Prof. G. Drown Goodo followed with "Epochs in 

 the History of Fishcnlture," it; all lands, down to the present 

 time. Mr. Phillips gave some statistics of the value of the Btnr- 

 geon fisheries aud the amount, consumed iu New York- The Treas- 

 urer's report was read and iicccopted and the following gentlemen 

 were appointed a committee on nomination of officers for the year : 

 Messrs. Hudson, Wilbur mid Miller. . Mr. Wilbur having left a 

 few momenta before, Mr. Evarts was substituted and the sooiety 

 adjourned for the day to eat Hackcnsaek smelts at Mr. Blackford's 

 invitation. 



On Thursday at the opening of the session the nominating com- 

 mittee reported the following officers who. after a ballot, were 

 elected: President, Bobcrt B. ftoosevelt ; Vice-President, Geo. 

 Hhepard Page : Treasurer, B. G. Blackford ; Corresponding 

 Secretary, Burnet Phillips ; Recording Secretary, James Annin, 

 Jr. Executive Committee : Fred Mather, G. Brown Goode, 

 Samuel Wilmot, Benjamin West, Thomas B. Ferguson, James 

 Benkard, John B. Morgan. 



The following now members joined : Bobert T. Morris, David T. 

 White, W. A. W1C6S, Charles Barrett, Charles Hewlett, Prof, 

 A. 0. Atwater, G. N.Woodruff, .John 1>. flick*, Samuel Whit- 

 ney, Frank Eudicott, Geo. H. Shafer, Abel Crook. 



Mr. Baruet Phillips read a paper on the value uf our edible fishes 

 aud included some statistics by Mr. George LampliaSl, Mr. 

 Mather read one ou fishes which live iu both salt and fresh water. 

 Mr. James Annin, Jr., read a paper on " Poachers," including 

 those wearing feathers, fur and clothing. Mr Blackford called at- 

 tention to some specimens of viviparous perch Bent by Mr. B. B. 

 Bedding, of San Francisco, and Mr. Mather opened one and found 

 uo young, although he found them in another specimen alter the 



Association had adjourned and the trout show h 

 hole: -p.emieus of Salmo pnrpnratu.1, fromAlasls 

 Beardslcy and Dr. T. H. Beau, were also shown 

 Goode read: " Some further light from Europe 

 tion." This started the usual argument, Mr. Boo 

 old ground that th 



spa 



pla. 



id closed. Alco- 

 1, by Capt. L. A. 

 and then Prof. 

 On the eel ques- 

 levelt taking his 

 sh water and the young go 

 Long Island, Mr. Hewlitt 



iluwn Mtroam, at least on hi 

 tiddng the oppor-itc view. 



After this a messenger brought in a large package for Mr, 

 Mather, which ou opening, proved to be a diploma from Berlin 

 recording the fact that a gold medal had been awarded him at the 

 International Fishery Exhibition at Berlin, for his invention of the 

 conical shad hatcher. It had been sent by Prof. Baird, whose 

 letter announced the arrival of the medals and their readiness for 

 distribution. A valuable paper was then read by Prof Atwater en- 

 titled : "The chemical composition and nutritive value of fish." 

 Mr. PhiBipa then offered the following : Bcaolved : That the 

 American Fish Cultural Association heartily appreciate the im- 

 portance of the investigations upon the nutrive value of fish, now 

 being carried on by Professor Atwater, the results of which have 

 been in part communicated by him at its meetings in lS80and 

 1881, aud that, in the opinion of tl 

 the importance of these research 

 United States can scarcely be over 

 urge upon the United Suites ( 

 importance of encouraging these 

 teut possible. Carried. Mr. Crook, President Sew York State 

 Association for Protection of Fish and C me, then requested the 

 members to send communications ou subjects of interest in time 

 for their June meeting, papers to be ready by the middle of May. 

 Resolutions thanking the Fish Mongers Association for the use of 

 the room were passed, and the meeting adjourned. 



We wall publish the papers, debates and proceedings in full in 

 our succeeding issues. 



f the Association, 

 industries of (he 



.alod. We 



■strati. 



s If) Hi,' fullest t- 



SMELTS IS FUr.SII WATER.- 

 vour cobimne an inquiry relative 

 "•• rrostjish" hi fre.-h water. The b 

 several lakes of tho Fulton chain, i. 

 Most visitors to that region 

 of the old wooden weirt or "pic 

 These fish run up (he tfjioal iulc-U la 



1 I observed 1 



- Tr.. ■:." 



•od at tho sight 



" set up tho inlets. 

 ise lalie.- hi October, 

 whence the peculiar 

 title at which time they are taken auu salted down iu considera- 

 ble numbers l.\ iin yiief - !■■; h,,:c i>--, and 11: ,:,..-ionally sent out 

 to thq adjoining settleaients. The fish is a iv;udar habitant of 

 Second, Fourth and Eighth Bason of the Fulton chain, and also 



