230 



FOREST AND STREAM* 



\_kemi 31, 1881. 



Rochestek Gun Ci/tjb. — The Rochester Gun Club has 

 forty-five members, of whom twelve are lawyers. The offi- 

 cers of the club are: President, M. A. Steams; Vice-Presi- 

 dent, J. W. Butts ; Secretary, L. A. Amsden ; Treasurer, 

 Dr. 0. R. Simmer. Executive Committee — H. L. Ward, M. 

 H. Briggs, George D. Butler. Vigilance Committee— M. H. 

 Briggs, Dr. R. A. Adams, A. Bigelow, Dr. H. S. Miller, F. 

 L King, S G. B.aymoud, J, B. McMurrich. Delegates to 

 the Coney Island Convention will soon be selected. The 

 four clubs of Monroe County propose to have a tent in com- 

 mon at the tournament. 



Suggestion to WoonoHuoK Killkes.— This woodehuck 

 business is " none of my funeral." I take an intererest in it 

 only on the ground of cruelty. There is something utterly 

 revolting to me in the murderous process of chasing an auiu: at 

 to death with dogs, and now that one "Jones" has struck 

 the right chord, give bim your ears. There are undoubtedly 

 many ferrets kept for ratting purposes, at least there were, 

 some years ago. If the owner of one of these animals would 

 take his gun (ferret) and start on a woodehuck tour through 

 the Eastern States, charging each farmer so much a head for 

 the dead "varmints," he would find it a better business than 

 selling whisky at. camp meetings. — Didtmtts. 



^Indiana Notes — Cloverdale, Ind., April 11. — Snipe have 

 made their appearance, but seem to be very wild. Was out 

 a few days ago and managed to get. three on' of perhaps a 

 dozen shots. Our quail are, I think, next thing to exter- 

 minated, caused by the severity of the past winter and by 

 varmints. Rabbits and squirrels are numerous. A few even- 

 ings since I shot a red fox that was being teased by dogs not 

 over two hundred yards from the house. These peats are 

 particularly numerous, one dealer alone handling over fifty 

 pelts the past season. Furs of all kinds have been plentiful 

 and have proved profitable to the handler. — La Brllk. 



Do Foxes Eat Apples ? -Bethel, Me., April, 1881. -One 

 of my boys saw a fox the other morning jump into an apple 

 tree in my orchard and run out on a limb and lake an apple 

 that bad hung on tbe tree, all winter aud jump down again 

 and eat it at "the foot of the tree and then make off. A few 

 mornings after T tracked one from the same tree, which had 

 probably been there to try and find another apple. 



J. G Rioh. 



Webster, Mass,-, April 15. — The Rod and Gun Club have 

 elected tbese officers for the ensuing year: President, Henry 

 Buttcrftcld ; Vice-President, T. F. Bigelow ; Secretary, Vic- 

 tor Conant ; Treasurer, A. E. Klebort. The officers are to 

 constitute the executive committee. They are to have a prac- 

 tice Wednesdays. The club are to plant twenty bushels of 

 wild rice around the lake for the purpose of inducing wild 

 duck to frequent its shores. — J. B. Arld. 



§&r and i§iver ^gishmrj. 



FISH IN SEASON IK AJPIIIL. 



Btook Trout, SoOnii/aAttniCUv. 

 Pickerel, Bum rthmlalus. 

 Pike or Pickerel, Kmx lurtiui. 

 Pike-porch (wall-eyed pike) 



Ktuotelhimn umericamim, S. 



(irincum, etc. 

 Yellow Perch, Perea llvMalUU. 

 Striped Basa, RocHts ttneatw. 



SALT WATER. 



Sea Bass, CentTopriatta-atraritui. | Polloel . PI 'jaehiu» .arbanarivs. 

 Stuped Bass, Sown} lineatus. Tautog or lilaekhsh, Tauloga 



While Perch, ill.;-..,.,- araerictma, | oni'd's, 



White Bass, Romi* chri/mps. 

 Rook Bass, Amhlnplites. (Two 



War-month, Chcenobryttus gulnsUG. 



Crapple, /'»»«p nirfro-ntaiulatiui. 

 Bachelor, PamoxyH annularis. 

 Chub, tiematili* corporalis. 



■•'V'--' 



We also meet sometime* with tJie "Spick and /Sj. 

 wlw has a highly varnished rod and a sit perabu v dance of useless 

 tackle; his outfit is the most elaborate kind at regard* its finish. 

 He in a dapper, "well got up " angler in alt his appointments, 

 and 'fishes much in-doors over his claret and poteen when he-has 

 a gotfl listener, llefrcejuently displays bad taste in his tackle, 

 intended for fly fishing, by homing a thirty-dollar multiplying 

 reel, filled with one of Oonroy's very best relaid sea-grass lines 

 strong enough to hold a dolphin, if you meet him on tlieteem- 

 tiig waters of northern New York, the evening's display of his 

 catch depends much on the rough skill ofTcig guide. The Hough 

 and Ready Angler, the opposite of the aforenamed, d'sdains 

 all "tomfoolery," and carries Ms tackle, in an old shot-bag, and 

 Ids files in a tangled mass.—TnAD Norris. 



A CHEAP TRIP TO THE NORTH WOODS. 



I WOULD say to your many readers that parties desiring 

 a pleasant and economical trip into the Wilderness will 

 find it a good plan to buy a ticket to Prospect, on the Utica 

 & Black River R. R. From there they can get conveyance 

 to any point they desire of the liverymen there, or by writ- 

 ing a few days in advance to J. Ei S. Wilkinson or Griff 

 Evans, of Wilmurt, Herkimer County, N Y., either of those 

 gentlemen will meet them at Prospect station and take them 

 right through, and f Ornish guides at reasonable rates to visit 

 any portion of the Wilderness with them. 



Prospect is the best objective point for all tbe lakes mak- 

 ing the West Canada Creek, viz., Jock's, Jones', Deer, Otter, 

 Moose, Little Salmon, Metcalf, Spruce, Little Rock, Big 

 Rock, G. Pine, Morehouse, Wilmurt (private; aud the Cana- 

 da Lakes, six in number ; also North and South Lakes, at the 

 head of the Black River, and many other lakes aud streams. 

 well stocked with the finest brook trout in the world. 



The expenses of a two weeks' trip through this section 

 need not be over five dollars per week after leaving Prospect, 

 including carriage of self and pack as far as horses can travel. 

 This would also pay for guide if the party numbered five or 

 over. All of which goes to show that a fine time may be 

 had in the woods by parties that are not blessed with a large 

 bank account just as well as though they were millionaires. 



This locality is receiving a good deal of attention from 

 State Game Protector Dodge, who resides at Prospect. A. 

 E. Jones and a party, who have just returned from a fishing 

 trip to Jock's, Jones' and Little Salmon lakes, report the 

 fishing good, and not a sign of a deer having been killed in 

 that region during the closed season, which makes the boys 

 believe that next August will open the finest season for deer- 

 hunting known for a~ long time. And the main reason is 

 that, with a few exceptions, the guides and resident hunters 

 are in accord and willing to co-operate with Game Agent 

 Dodge and see that the laws for the protection of fish and 

 game are enforced. Occasionally a "smart Aleck" tries to 

 get the best of the law, but sooner or later they come to 



grief. On the 80th of March Dodge seized a box containing 

 forty-four trout in transit from Morehouseville to Fulton 

 Market, New York. The trout weighed thirty pounds, 

 which you see made them a nice average lot to reach New 

 York April 1 aud bring a fancy price. 



But the " fancy price " will rather be on the other side 

 now, I fear, as the shipper will have to come down with 

 twenty-five dollars for each trout, which is a little higher 

 than the best quotations even on the first day of April. The 

 same week Dodge captured a fellow for "crusting deer" up 

 in the South Lake region, took him before Justice Garlock, 

 of Grant, and "squared him off" to the tune of fifty dollars, 

 which satisfied the young man that he had got deer-hunting 

 enough to last him until tbe season opened. This active and 

 energetic work on the part of the State Game Protector is 

 having a good effect. Many who have been quite indifferent 

 to the game laws now come out strongly in favor of protec- 

 tion and show a willingness to assist in enforcing the law. 

 All of which I believe will please tbe many readers of your 

 valuable paper as well as Zaok. 



_«-_ 



THE SPANISH MACKEREL. 

 Wybium Maniktlnm.) 



LOVELY with all their spangled dyes, 

 Fairer than flush'd autumnal skies, 

 With golden drops their sides aglow, 

 Tinted like the rain-cloud's prism; bow, 

 The gorgeous Spanish mackerel roam 

 The rolling, yeasty world of foam j 

 Now, glittering o'er the waves they skim ; 

 Now, lost in deep abysses swim. 



When fields are green and woods of June 

 Are vocal with the song-birds' tune, 

 When weeping willows, a fair gronp, 

 Full foliaged, o'er the meadows droop,— 

 When hazels their pale catkins ope 

 By rivulet edge aud turfy slope, 

 Then swift these rovers of tbe deep 

 O'er all the Northern surges leap. 



Far off the headlands of Montauk, 

 Above the hovering gull and hawk, 

 Far off tho isles oi Orient, 

 Where the Sound's breaking waves are spent, 

 And by tbe rough New England shore. 

 'Where the vexed tides' incessant roar, 

 Then- gleaming schools (lash far and wide, 

 Disporting in the crystal tide. 



Pursuing their erratic way, 

 Keen as a tiger, for its prey, 

 They fallow Fust by isle aid cape 

 Theiish-s.jho.nl that hath no escape,— 

 Follow where'er the blue sea-: roll 

 By sandy spit and pebbled shoal, 

 In open bay and spacious Sound, 

 Where'er the Hying prey abound. 



Most beautiful in shape and hue 

 Of all that haunt the waters blue, 

 Fairer tban plumage, of the bird 

 Or for of the wild forest herd j 

 Koniorseless are they as the grave, 

 To all the tenants of the wave ; 

 No speed or cu nnin g may avail 

 When these marauders shall assail. 



And vet a cruel fate prepares 

 For them its treacherous, wily snares ; 

 The Ushers, with then- fleet of boats, 

 Outspread then meshes and their floats. 

 Tbe yacht sweeps down with bellying sail 

 As stoops the sea hawk in the gale, 

 And glittering squid and trailing line 

 Tear them reluctant from the brine. 



Isaac McLellan, 



THE TARPON. 



" Harness me dowu with bauds, 

 Curb me with hit and retu 

 For I scorn ;he power nf your puny hands 

 As the light niug clues the chain." 



— Cotter. 



YOUR correspondent " Al Fresco," an esteemed personal 

 friend, says I must make contribution to the columus 

 of your wide-spread and valuable paper, as from the mouth 

 of two or more witnesses is tbe truth established. 



Once upon a time, passing along the wharves in the city of 

 Jacksonville, Fla., a schooner in front of the Carleton House 

 attracted my attention. She was getting ready for sea and 

 had a goodly number of passengers for so small a craft, and 

 as I drew near I discerned they were citizens of Jacksonville 

 bound for the " snapper banks." " Al Fresco " was of the 

 number. I was invited to join them. Nothing loth I sped 

 to my boarding house to say good-by to wife and borrow a 

 blanket, and within ten minutes was with them, having pro- 

 cured a proper line on my way from a friend at the '• Club 

 House." 



The party, chiefly landsmen, consisted of the Rev. Mr. 

 Tully, JudgeRandaU, of the Supreme Court, with merchants, 

 lawyers, " Al Fresco" and myself, eighteen in number. We 

 dined while iu the river St. Johns (en route). To meet the 

 steward's requirements we divided iuto three parts, 1, 2 and 

 3 respectively, as the table would only seat six. First meal : 

 No. 1 came to the first table, followed by No. 2, second table; 

 then came No. 3, third table. Our next meal set, No. 3 was 

 entitled to the first table, No. 2 second and No. 1 last. Our 

 third meal, No. 2 was to come to the front, etc.; but the first 

 meal was the only one the order was observed at. Tbe 

 second meal only six of all classes came to the call, and there- 

 after but three maintained their ground and their rations. 

 Your correspondent, " Al Fresco," was amongthe first to suc- 

 cumb. As for the " Domine," before the vessel crossed the 

 bar he with several others made up a purse of $50, begging 

 aud pleading to be landed; but it was no use — we started "to go 

 rfishiug." Three or four times a day for three days did the 

 •Domiue" poll the party for a return (no majority each 

 time). We reached^the banks at midnight — first day out— and 

 anchored. At daylight every line (save one) awaited the 

 order (a prize purse awaited the captor of the first snapper) to 

 cast, but it was no go. " Al Fresco " was somewhat excited ; 

 he took the lead and made a cast. Iu a moment all was 

 explained ; the schooner had drifted off the banks. We up 

 anchor and by 11 a. m. struck a fine coral reef of thirteen 

 fathoms. < >ur lines were all ready and into the water by the 

 time the anchor was overboard. "Within tho first miuute the 

 deck of our little schooner was covered with the sparkling 

 beauties, with scales of pearl covering a body of carmine, and 

 eyes of purest pink. Such were the snappers, averaging 

 about twenty-five pounds each. It was my good fortune to 

 kill a thirty-pound grouper, a supperior fish for the table. 

 We had snapper chowder at once and black fish in abundance 

 for the fry -pan. It was laughable and amusing to me to see 



"Al Fresco casting up his accounts and hauling up his 

 snappers at one and the same time. He is an expert at both. 



Our sympathies for the landsmeu marred in a measure the 

 full enjoyment of the "fish." 



Mr, Editor, did you ever go iu search of one of those 

 "fabulous gardens of the great deep," where submarine 

 plants grow in magnificent luxuriance and whose avenues are 

 teeming with the " finny tribe ?" Last June we formed a 

 party of four "to go a-fishing" after snappers " Al Fresco" 

 was accorded the leadership by common consent. Says he 

 (to the Captain): "I can put you right on the banks, 5four 

 course lay nor' bynor'east from" the light till you strike fifteen 

 fathoms, distance about twenty-five, miles. At that point 

 the snappers arc very large, aud there is an adundance of 

 submarine plants," says he to us— "tropical seaferu.sea 

 coral, sea fans, etc., etc.; and as I have promised some speci- 

 mens to a friend, will get them there" We were making 

 about eight knots, casting the lead every thirty minutes for 

 character of bo torn as well as depth. ■ Two of us, with six 

 hookB each to our lines, sought for the "marine plants." 

 We kept it up three days and three nights, eight knots and 

 no stops. The "gaTden " (only one-quarter of an acre) was 

 not struck. Went fifty miles seaward and cruised up and 

 down. Thirteen fathoniB was our greatest depth ; still 'twas 

 exhilarating, and we returned pleased with the trip. 



Excuse this divergence. My subject was the Tarpon — 

 king of all game fishes throughout the world. I am indebted 

 to that true lover of the sport, " Al Fresco," for the informa- 

 tion that induced me last August "to go a-fishing" after 

 large game. I was residing temporarily in Jacksonville, and 

 almost daily the doctor would call upon me. As the " mouth 

 gave utterance to the fullness of the heart," the theme most 

 frequent was "the gentle sport." I had frequently made 

 mention of the enjoyment of taking black bass eight and 

 one-half pounds each from my own wharf at Orange Mills, 

 and "Al Fresco's" invariable reply was : " Why, man, you 

 have been catching minnows." 'Twas provoking, to say, the 

 least of it, to thus have my game fish disparaged. " Go 

 down to the mouth of the river and fish," says he. Toward 

 the close of July. I began preparation. " AlFresco" assisted 

 me in making some snoods. He frequently remarked that 

 my hooks were too small (they were the size of butcher hooks 

 and would support a whole beef), and that my lines were too 

 small (I thought they would hold a mad bull). All being 

 ready, I started alone for the steamer to take me to "the 

 fishing" (my friend could not accompany me). Meeting a 

 " sportsman" on the way, I wanted him to join. We reached 

 the mouth of the river St. Johns p. m. The tide being fa- 

 vorable, went immediately to fishing. My hooks were at 

 once broken and my lines were as cotton thread. My com- 

 panion's outfit was very different from mine, and loaned me 

 a duplicate Hue ('twas "like a bed cord, and the hook like an 

 am cm i. Our catch for the evening was four "red bass" — ■ 

 lightest, twenty-three pounds ; heaviest thirty-six pounds. 

 Next morning at 4 a. m. was again upon the "fishing 

 ground," and as the sun's rays made golden sheen of the 

 ocean swells our fishing began. 



After killing one thirty-seven and one forty-two pound red 

 bass I felt— yes, 'twas touch and go. My hook was set, and, 

 Mr. Kili or, throe hundred feet of my line went out like 

 streaked lightning. My hands were badly burned. My 

 comrade seized my line at theauspicious moment and aided me. 

 Three hundred feet away I witnessed the most magnificent 

 spring (10 feet) into the air that my eyes ever looked upon. 

 "What's that?" I cried out. My comrade knew tho fish. 

 " A tarpon," was his reply ; " watch your line- don't let it 

 snarl — let me play him." Vic reached the water, head fore- 

 most, describing a parabolu,and off again with lightniugspeed. 

 An additional two hundred feet of line, and again that grand 

 acrobatic spring iuto mid-air. With an angry shake of the head 

 again he plunges into the water, aud the maddening rush con- 

 tinues. £ix hundred feet away we see him in bis third spring, 

 and he was checked, aud his return was with like speed, undi- 

 minished, and with the same grand agility and power in his 

 mighty leaps. At his fifth bound he broke my hook. Mr. 

 Editor, words fail me to give adequate description of the 

 might, power, agility, speed and gameness of this grand 

 monarch, whose scales are from two and a half to three and 

 a hall iuches in diameter and of purest pearl. Cutter's 

 " Songof Steam," with which I have headed thiB article, 

 seems* appropriate : 



" Harness me down with Iron bands, 

 Curb me with bit and relu ; 

 I score the power of your puny hands 

 As the lightning scorns the ehatn." 

 Or imagine a pet'son in the wilds of Arabia, with lariat in 

 hand. Making his cast a wild Arabian steed is lassoed. The 

 noose fails to tighten . How puny his efforts to check his 

 victim. Or conceive a party making a cast, and fastening se- 

 curely the rear car ot a lightning express irain. How utterly 

 futile the effort to check the train. A locomotive under a 

 full head of steam, with throttle wide open, on a down grade, 

 is somewhat analogous in power to the grand kiug of game 

 fishes. 



Oh, how I did want a twelve-foot salmon rod made of 

 split bamboo, of double strengih and weight, with a Frank- 

 fort reel that would hold six hundred feet, of 11-thread laid 

 line. Methinks tbe music of the spheres would be discounted 

 in the orchestra of sweet sounds thrilling from that reel. 



Mr. Editor, inform your English sportsman that this great 

 king can be had for the taking, and you can assure, him that 

 he is as far the superior of the salmon as the salmon is the 

 superior of the perch. Here lie is to be found, in this Italy of 

 America, where the orange bloom exhales its perfume aud 

 where the fish most do congregate. "AlFresco" and my- 

 self would take pleasure in adding pleasure to all lovers of 

 the most loveable of sports. 



Within an hour after my return (was gone eight days) 

 " Al Fcesco" called on me. He asked no question, but greeted 

 me with, " Didn't I tell you that you had been catching min- 

 nows?" Yes, Mr. Editor, I acknowledged then and there 

 that my eight-and-a-half-pound black bass were but minnows. 



Putnam Co., Florida. J. P. Pope. 



Bethabara Wood. — In your issue of March 31 I notice 

 an inquiry from R. J. H., Harts Falls, N. Y., regarding the 

 greenheart aud Bethabara woods. Of the former I cau say 

 nothing, but of the latter I can speak with surety. I have a 

 Bethabara wood 10 oz. rod, and have taken several large 

 bass with it— have given it tests that would break any other 

 wood rod I know of, same weight. The best and handsom- 

 est rods I ever saw are made by John McCubbin, Scotland, 

 and I find they are made (with the exception of_ the butt) of 

 this same wood, although' it is known by a different name 

 there. It is very elastic and will bear a great strain, and, if 

 properly kept, will be perfectly straight at the end of the 

 season. — G. P. Kimball. 



It is also used for bows and called " Royal wood." 



