22 
FOREST AND STREAM 
|ta and jf iver ^ishitfg. 
FISH IN SEASON IN'FEBRUARY. 
SOUTHERN WATERS. 
Pompano, Trachynotus carnhnus. Grouper, Fpinephelpus nlgrltus. 
Drum (two species.) Family Hew:- Trout (black bass,) CentropHstis 
Vitim. atrarlm. 
Kingflsh, Mentlclrrus rirhvlns.ua. Striped Bass or Rockfish, Eoccus 
SeaBa w, Scicenops ocellatus. Uneatus. 
SUeepshead, Arctwsargus probate- Tailorflsb, Pomatomns satlatrUe. 
cephalus. Black bass, Micropterus sulnwldesi, 
Snapper, Lutjamts caxus. if, nigricans. 
[Under the head qf "Qame and Fuh in Season" we can only specify in 
general, terms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 
that were we to attempt to particularize we could do no lees than publish 
those entire sections that relate to the hinds of game in question. This 
would require q great amount of our space. In designating game we are 
guided by the laics of nature, upon which all legislation is founded, and 
bur readers would do well to provide themselves with the laws qf their re¬ 
spective States fbr constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist 
them will only create confusion.] 
Fish is Market. —Fish continues in abundant supply, 
and wo note several novelties this week. Turbot, ao call¬ 
ed, have appealed in market from Nova Scotia, and the 
vexed question as to their relationship to the Euglish tur¬ 
bot can now be determined; they sell for 25 cents per 
pound. Bass (striped) are being received from the Miri- 
michi, price 20 to 25 cents; smelts, 15 cents for Eastern 
and 25 cents for Long Island fish; salmon (frozen) 50 cents; 
mackerel, 20 cents each; shad, very line, 50 cents each for 
Savannah’s to $1 25 for North Carolina’s; white-perch, 15 
cents per pound; Spanish mackerel, 45 cents; frost-fish, 8 
cents; halibut, 18 cents; haddock, 8 cents; king-fish, 18 
cents; cod-fish, 8 cents; black-fish, 15 cents; flounders, 
12| cents; sea-bass, 18 cents; eels, 18 cents; sheepshead,30 
cents; white-fish, 20 cents; pickerel, 18 cents; salmon-trout 
20 cents; black-bass, 18 cents; green turtle from Key West, 
20 cents; terrapin, $0 to $12 per dozen; scollops, $1 per 
gallon; soft clams, 40 to GO.centS per 100; hard shell crabs, 
$4 per 100; soft shell do., 75 cents per dozen. 
Smeltb. —The question was asked some time since as to 
the range of the smelt, and we mentioned the fact that 
trout fishermen on Long Island claimed to have taken them 
in the streams contiguous to the Great South Bay. In con¬ 
firmation of this we fiud that large numbers of these deli¬ 
cious fish have been received in inaiket during the past 
week from Long Island, .although we have been unable-to 
ascertain the precise locality in which they were taken. 
THOSE NEEDLE POINTS. 
A ND now Mr. Editor, wo have a lady discoursing on 
needle points. Not Dame Juliana Berners, but Miss 
Sarah McBride, and the most sensible and pliilosopic dis¬ 
course yet. For why has nature given predatory fishes 
those recurved teeth—practically barbed—unless -it be to 
hold their slippery prey. 1 agree with Miss McBride that 
iu fishing with a short stiff rod and sliort line, particularly 
from a boat with a hook without a barb—if the fish are 
taken singly—they may be whipped out pretty effectively. 
But with two or three fish on a line pulling in all direc¬ 
tions, when one or more will be pretty certain to havesome 
slack, did uncle Seth ever try needle points under such' 
circumstances? Let me.giye my experience in such a case. 
One afternoon with two incipient fly-fishers, I visited 
Jerry Comfort’s trout ponds, twelve miles or so from Phil¬ 
adelphia, and as I provided tl)f tackle, in mercy to my 
Jriehd Jerry, I carefully filed pF all the barbs of the hooks 
on which the flies were tied, and when we got to the sides 
of the ponds, made the.-whip of each of the novices of 
three flies without their knowledge of the hooks being 
barbless. The result was as might have been expected. 
Of three -fished hooked at almost every cast only one was 
landed; sometimes none, for the fish even on the stretcher 
fly would frequently get some slack iu the leader and of 
course get away. 
I had let Jerry into the secret and it was near supper 
timo when we had not half enough trout for a fry. So 
with a knowing wink, he said he would call his son Rob., 
a lad of twelve years; perhaps hiB hooks would hold bet¬ 
ter. Rob. came with his barbed hooked flies, and landed 
three at a time; and so did my young city friends vi'Hh 
Rcb.’s tackle. After supper, driving home, I told them of 
the joke 1 had played on them. Thad’s Norris. 
i . •* Eoohestee, January 15th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
1 sob hy your last issue thut Mr. Bracket thinks he conta not kill a 
salmon with a barbless hook. I don’t know that he could; 1 know that 
J could. Now we will suppose a case: Suppose I hah a salmon rott and 
three hundred feet of line with a good sized needle hook, all in good 
order; and suppose I was skillful, knew how to reel in and lot Out, and 
keep s steady strain, such as a skillful angler knows how to keep, ani 
I had that hook hooked Into the button-hole of Mr. Brackett’s coat; 
could he get away without putting his hands to thu lino or the hook? 
No; he could not get away. He might jnmp, and run. and rare, and 
pitch, and flounder, turn somersets, and hand sprinjs, and tnrn himself 
inside out, or lie and sulk, bat he could not got away, and I would land 
him without a gall. 
I will say, for Mr. Brackett’s edification, that I have taken nearly ail 
kinds of fresh water fish that take a hook, and many kinds of salt water 
fish, including the enimon, with horde and hue, and no one but a bungler 
will ever let any flthget slack enough to nnbook himself, even if there 
is no barb on the hook. SETH Green. 
When Uncle Seth bundles a fish, he plays to win. Nev¬ 
ertheless, a lively salmon will sometimes run back on his 
track so swiftly that a doable multnplying reel could not 
take in the slack fast’, enough to prevent his unhooking 
himself. By the way, how exhilarating it would be to 
watch the old veteran play such i\ lively chub as Walter 
Brackett! We would bet one of the latier’s best pictures 
against a patent hatching box, that Brackett wonld break 
away. 
In a subsequent letter Mr. Green writes:— 
“t am getting little slaps all around through the press on needle point 
hooks, bet them come. The great thing iB to be equal to any emer¬ 
gencies that' may arise in whatever yon undertake to do. When I 
stocked the Caledonia Tront Ponds 1 took all the trout from Caledonia 
Creek with a fly. I found that I killed some by using a hook with a 
beard, i broke the beards off and killed less; then I made tbe needle 
point, and could lake one-third more fish tban I could with any other, 
and never kill any, unless they were hooked in the gills, f 
Sktit Green.” 
Massachusetts Angler's Association.—A meeting of 
this association was held at its rooms in Boston on the 
eveniug of the 0th inst-., the President, Dr. Ordway, in the 
chair. Several new members were proposed, and among 
those elected to membership were lion. J. K. BUker, of 
the Governor’s Council, and Dr. E. Lewis Sturtervant, of 
Framingham. Letters were read from the Fish Commis¬ 
sioners of Main and Vermont, requesting that the associa¬ 
tion use their influence with the Massachusetts Legislature 
to have a law passed giving a close time to trout from Oc¬ 
tober 1st to March 1st of each year, which were referred to 
the Special Committee on the subject of Trout Laws, ap¬ 
pointed at a previous meeting. 
A committee was appointed, consisting of 8. W. Hath¬ 
away, Franklin Williams, and F. R. Bhattuck, to petition 
the Legislature, in the name of the association, for a close 
time for lobsters. 
A valuable contribution was made to the library by Dr. 
D. Humphrey Storer, a copy of a work on “Tbe Fislies of 
Massachusetts,” of which he is the author; also, by Dr. 
Ordway, a volume entitled “Hints on Augiing in Euglish, 
Scottish, and Irish Waters,” together with a valuable speci¬ 
men of a “South Sea Spinning Trawl," for the cabinet, 
from Dr. B. H. Mann, to eacli of whom a vote of thanks 
was passed. 
After the adjournment the members partook of a ban¬ 
quet in which fish,, both scaly and shell, formed a promi¬ 
nent feature. 
ARE THERE NO TROUT IN THE NORTH 
PLATTE RIVER? 
\& Fishing Notes from East Florida.— Smyrna, Feb. 5th. 
—Fishing remarkably good this winter in these waters. 
Many large bass, groupers, snappers, and some jew fish 
taken every day. At Enterprize on the St. John’s, anglers 
are taking many black bass with the fly, and several shad 
have been taken in the same way. The river is so low 
that boats cannot go up to Salt,.Lake at present. At New 
Smyrna, Messrs. Jones, Falls,' Leonard, Iiibbens, Cum¬ 
mings, Anderson, Winslow, Benson, Clarke, and Dr. Et- 
ling arc fishing. Deer, hears, and wildcats are plenty near 
New Smyrna. S. C. C. 
Movements of the Fishing Fleet.— A busy time Ihe 
past week among the fishermen, and a large fleet have been 
on the wing bound for Georges and the Banks. The sea¬ 
son has fully commenced, and another week should bring 
along several of the Georgesmen from their first trips of 
the season, which will give quite an impetus to business. 
There is a fair demand, and the approaciug Lenten season 
bids fair of making the market quite brisk. There' have 
been 5 arrivals tbe past week with herring, and 11 from 
the Banks. The receipts are 210,000 pounds of cod-fish, 
and 171,000 pounds of halibut. The latter lias been sold 
at 5 and 24 for white and grey. There are 95 vessels now 
absent on Georges and at the Banks. 
The fresh fish fleet have done, a good stroke of business 
this week, landing as handsome lots of cod-fish as were 
ever brought into this port. One vessel caught 32,000 
pounds in four days’ fishing, Bind others have done equally 
as well. The catch has been so large that they could not 
be disposed of fresh. One concern has bought nearly 50,- 
000 pounds for salting . — Cape Ann Advertiser, Feb. tUh. 
— We are indebted to Mr. E. B. Paxton, of Detroit, far 
two fine stuffed specimens of the whitefish, taken from 
the Detroit River at that place. 
TROUTING IN NOVA SCOTIA. 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, Feb. Tth, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In yonr issue of Jan. 20th, 1876,1 notice the question is asked, "Why 
are there no trout in the waters of the North Plat te Rivcrt” The wri¬ 
ter refers the question to Prof. Baird, and remarks that if the Prof, 
cannot solve it, it may he Bet down as a thing that “a fellah never can Bnd 
out,” The first thing to be solved in relation to the above question is, 
is it a fact that there are no tront in tbe waters of the North Platte 
River? If it be true that there are no tront to be found in that stream 
er its tnbntaries, then it would he proper to look for the reason therefor; 
but it there are trout in the North Platte River-then no reason could bo 
given for their not being there. * v 
I say there are trout in the North Plalte River, and in at least one of 
its tributaries. I make this assertion, not from personal knowledge, but 
upon the authority of A. C. Graham ami M. D. Hardin, two respecta¬ 
ble and worthy citizens of this city. Air. Graham informs me I hat he 
caught several very flne trout in the first stream emptying into the North : 
Platte above Red Rock, and Mr. Hardin says that he has ) 
canght them in the main river; and I have heard several persona 1 
speak of catching trout in Deer Creek, which rlyin’ into the North 
Platte. Mr. Graham says that he has found no tront in Sweetwater River, 
and I suppose that from the fact that your correspondent of .(he 3d ult. 
did not find them in that stream he concludes that there arc no trout in 
the North Platte River or Us tributaries; but the testimony of Messrs. 
Graham and Hardin settles that question against him. L. W. B. 
v\ Greenfield, Mass., Feb, Uth, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
To the true lover of tho beauties and attractions of nature, what sport 
is more seductive than I routing? And what recreation tones up the worn- 
out nerves and depleted muscles of an office-weary man, like the exer¬ 
cise and excitement of a few weeks spent in lolling along the banks of a 
gaod trout stream? But the avidity with which the sport lias been fol¬ 
lowed in ami near the more thickly settled portions of our New England 
make the expectations with which a man starts out-on his trip iu the 
morning, Tar exceed the realities which he is able to produce at night, 
and he sighs for tho time and means to visit some of tho far-famed re¬ 
gions described by some of youreorrespondents. 
For two or three years ill health has been tho exsose to convinco mo 
that my means would afford a trip to Nova Scotia, rhtnor than a doctor’s 
bill (and how much more agreeaiile the prescription (), so 1 have learned 
the ins and outs of the St. Alary’s District and the region about Sher¬ 
brooke, aud passed many happy hours with the rod and fly iu the forests 
and streams which abound therein, and excepting at the head waters of 
the Columbia river, 1 have never found so attractive a region for the 
sportsman. The expenses of the trip are not heavy, the fare from Bos¬ 
ton out and back being only $26, and charges in tbe provinces quite low, 
when compared with those in the Moosehead aud Aloosetncmaguntic 
countries. Last sum mer, tn company with three friends, and under the 
guidance and care of that veteran of tbe rod, Newell Snow, Esq., man- 
amir and pait owner of the Sherbrooke gold mines, we had some days 
of fine fishing on the Liscomb and on Indian River. We packed out of 
the Liscomb woods at least 120 pounds of line trout, many of them three 
pounders, as the result of a halfday’s fishing, mostly caught by two 
f °l will not fell the story of our two day’s tramp in tho Indian River 
Swamp; owing to the waut of knowledge of our guide, or perhaps more 
to the trail being completely blocked and destroyed by a whirlwind In 
1673; but if ever there were four tired and hungry, yet happy reflows, 
wew ere the ones, when we discovereda settler’s cabin, near night of the 
second day, and the bread and milk set berore us by that settler’s wife 
was, 10 ail appearances, as well appreciated as was ever a meal at Del- 
monlco’s by the roost fastidious of the race. 
Good accommodations ate furnished at the Sherbrpoke House .by 
Capt. John McDaniels, (himself no mean sportsman), at prices within 
the reach of all. Teams and boats can be had at all times, and attend¬ 
ants, if wanted, at the (most reasonable charges. 
The season for trout fishing is from tbe middle of August to (he middle 
of September, wnilo those who go for salmon should be on hand in 
June. An English gentleman, a resident of Sherbrooke, by 1 lie name 
of Fainter, takes in iny salmon every season wtth tbe rod arid lly, but 
the streams are so thoroughly netted that these dsh arc not so abundant 
as they were forinei Ly. E: Af. Thompson, 
Yachting and §dating . 
8 arid friends should be mailed n 
HIGH WATER. FOR THE WEEK. 
Feb. 17.. 
Feb. 18.. 
Feb. 19.. 
Fed. 20.. 
Feb. 21.. 
Feb. 22.. 
Feb. 28.. 
Philadelphia Yacht Club— The Quaker City Yacht 
Club of Philadelphia was organized on Thursday-evening, 
February 10th, 1870, by the election of the following of¬ 
ficers: Commodore, Thus. T. Wills, yacht, Stella; Vice- 
Commodore, A. Bancroft, yacht, Lillie; Rear Commodore, 
Samuel Taylor, yacht, Wm. Tell; President, Jas. L. Wills, 
yacht, Kingston Goddard; Secretary, Chits. 8. Salin, yacht, 
Phantom; Assistant Secretary, Wm. Summers, yacht, Lil¬ 
lie; Treasurer, L. B. Boyd, yacht, Ella. The movement is 
in the hands of gentlemen qualified to lend character 10 
the project, and by their zeal and skill insure for Phila¬ 
delphia new attractions for the Centennial year. The club 
is to be composed of cabin yachts only, not under twenty 
feet in length. There are now enrolled in the fleet thir¬ 
teen yachts, as follows:— 
Length. Beam. Depth. 
Rig. Tons. ft. iu. ft. tn. ft. in. 
.Sloop.... 9 25 10 8 8 
.Sloop_16 US - 12 4 
.Sloop.... 9 25 10 8 8 
Sloop....14 30 13 4 
Sloop....23 -it 14 4 
.Sloop_IS S3 13 4 6 
.Sloop ...10 S3 10 4 
Sloop.... 8 23 8 8 
Sloop... 20 37 B 13 4 ft 
. Sloop.... 15 32 12 3 9 
Sloop....13 29 G 11 9 4 
.Sloop .. . T9 37 12 6 4 8 
White Wing .Sloop. ...15 32 12 4 
We are indebted to the Secretary, Chas. S. Salin, Esq., for 
the above. 
Name. 
Chas. Austin... 
Columbia. 
Ella. 
Fawn. 
Ciideon Clark. 
Kingston Goddard.. 
Lillie.. 
Lerves. 
Phantom. 
Samuel Josepns. 
Stella. 
1 . Tell.. 
INTERNATIONAL ROWING REGATTA. 
MONG the athletic sports that will be held during (he 
A' CenTennial exhibition will be a series of boat races 
on the Schuvlkiil River, a broad, beautiful stream, acknowl¬ 
edged among rowing men as one of the finest rowing courses 
in America, having high banks on each side, and in lull view 
of the Exhibition Buildings. 
Tbe races, while under control of the United States Cen¬ 
tennial Commission, will be under the local management 
of the Schuylkill Navy, a boating organization composed 
of nine clubs, whose boat houses are on the east bank of 
the river within Fairmnunt Park. The leading boating as¬ 
sociations of tho country have consented to co&peralc. 
The Schuylkill Navy has been in existence since 1858, 
and lias given a uumber of open regattas; and from its 
past record anil the cxpeiicncc of its members in conduct¬ 
ing races, we have abundant guarantee that this series of 
regattas in 1871! will be most successful. 
The Schuylkill Navy, besides furnishing quarters for the 
boats for the visiting crews in their own boat houses, pro¬ 
pose erecting temporary boat houses in the park, and w ill 
thus he enabled to accommonate all who may accept this 
invitation to take part in. the races. 
Arrangement have been made to hold tho following 
races:— 
First —An International Race will be bold, open to all regularly 
"anized boat clubs throughout tbe world, to be rowed in accordance with 
tile rules of the National Amateur Rowing Association of the Limed 
Slates' tbe prizes to be a piece of plate each for roars, for pairs, for 
doubles, and for sinfle sculls, and in addition, medals to be presented to 
each man rowing in tho race, to be of. gold for tho winning crew, for tin: 
second crew of silver, and the remainder of bronze. 
Second —An International Celiege Race for fonr-oared sheila wilt he hold, 
toe prize to be a piece of plate, with a gold medal tq each of the w- 
ning crew; open only to nnder graduate-. .. 
Third—A u International Graduates’ Race wilt bo he'd for four-oared 
shells, open only to Colleges or Universities; the prize being a piece of 
plate, ami a gold medal to each member of the winning crew. 
No person will be allowed to row in both International College Race, 
and International Graduates’ Race, 
Fourth —Professional Races will be held, open to all crows thronghon 
tho world, for fonr-oared. pair-oared, and single scull shells lor parses, 
tbe amounts of which will be announced bo 111'- 1st of May, 1876. 
• The races will be held between the 20lli of August and 
theloihof September, and the entries shall be closed or 
July 15th. 
An entrance fee of $25 will be charged for fours; $15 
for pairs and doubles, and $10 for singles. The fee will 
be returned to all boats stalling in the races, and is tie 
manded as a guarantee of good faith in making the entry 
and to justify the committee in making the necessary ar¬ 
rangements for properly housing the boats of the euteriu, 
The Amateur Rices will be rowed in lira ts one aud a ha 
