166 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Arizona. They are genuine “needle points," not equal 
perhaps to Seth Green’s, but still very serviceable, as the 
letter nsserts; and upon the fact that they are so, it may 
be possible to build up testimony in support of the theory 
of the veteran flsh-culturist and fly-tosser. It is evident 
that Mr. Green's views must be correct, for “do not even 
the heathen the same?" There is nothing like going back 
to first principles for proof; and here we have it, from the 
aborigines themselves:— 
Colorado River Indian Eereiivk, A. T., March 25th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Inclosed please and fish hooks used by the Mojave Indiana, made 
from the spine of the cactus. These hookB were exclusively used be¬ 
fore the white man introduced a butler kind, yet tboy answered the pur¬ 
pose very well, 1 had an Indian make them in my presence, so that I 
could describe to yon the process of bending and tempering. In the 
first place the spines are placed in water; then the Indian wraps his 
thumb and forefinger with rags; as soon ns this is done he twists a mus¬ 
lin rag into the form of a heavy cord, and sets fire to it; he then seises 
the spine between the thumb and finger endwise, the butt-end being 
against the thumb, aud by a gentle pressure of the forefinger the spine 
is slightly bent, and at the same time IhB twisted rag, which is now a 
live coal, is applied to the inner side of the curve, and is moved back 
and forth: this heating the inner portion of the Cnrvc really tempers the 
hook, and causes it to retain the bent position. They will take very 
large fish upon this kind of hook—in fact they are expert at angling. I 
also inclose a piece of their fish lino. It is made from the outer bark of 
the India hemp, and is twisted between the hand aud leg, and is quickly 
made. Yoskmite 
Sea. Fish and their Habits. —Lecture before the Massa¬ 
chusetts Angling Association .—One of the most practical, in¬ 
structive and novel lectures that has ever been delivered on 
ichthyology was read by Col. Theodore Lyman before the 
Massachusetts Anglers Association at its meeting in Boston 
last week. “We copy the report as printed in the Boston 
Journal: 
The lecture was illustrated by specimens of food and 
game fish, preserved in glass jars, which have been pre¬ 
sented to tiie Association by Col. Lyman and Prof. Alex¬ 
ander Agassiz, the former in opening his lecture taking oc¬ 
casion to state that ihe collection, which came from the 
Museum of Comparative Zoology, was intended as a nucleus 
to stimulate the members of the Association to present au¬ 
thentic types of other varieties of fish. 
Col. Lyman proceeded to give directions to anglers for 
preserving specimens, which, after being taken, should be 
wrapped in a damp cloth or moss until opportunity offered 
for placing them in weak spirits of whisky or alcohol, 
when they should be allowed to soak until the spirit lias 
thoroughly permeated the fish, which requires several days, 
more or less, the leDgth of time required being governed 
considerably by the weather. They should then be care¬ 
fully spread on a platter and covered with alcohol until the 
fish is hardened, when it can be placed in the jar. Col. 
Lyman then proceeded to describe the fishes, represented 
according to their classification. The first class embraced 
the perch, black bass, striped bass, white perch, rock buss, 
taulog, sea perch and scup, all of which being provided 
with a strong scaly’armor could be trausported long dis¬ 
tances in water without injury, while fishes of the alewife 
class suffer on account of their light scales and thin skin. 
This is a difficult fish to propagate artificially, in contra¬ 
distinction from the trout aud salmon family. 
In the first class of fishes the eggs are retained, while in 
the latter they fall loose into the abdominal cavity when ripe 
and may be easily expressed. The black bass, a noted fish, 
was not indigenous to the waters of Massachusetts, but 
through the efforts of Samuel Tisdale, of Wareham, who 
obtained a quantity from Saratoga Lake, the waters of Ply¬ 
mouth couuty and’from them other pans of the State had 
been stocked with this excellent food fish, which for the 
angler affords capital sport. He is a hardy fellow and will 
hold his own against the pickerel. He has been taken 
weighing as high as seven pounds, frequently at four 
pounds, and commonly at two and a half pounds. 
The lecturer remarked that the fishes of Southern and 
Northern waters seemed to have been prevented from visit¬ 
ing the territories of their neighbors by Cape Cod. Striped 
bass liked quiet water, and have a habit like the eel of em¬ 
bedding themselves in mud. The white perch run in 
schools, and weigh from two to three pounds. This is a 
very valuable article of food, and in the opinion of the lec¬ 
turer, demands attention for its preservation. Formerly 
the black bass was not found on the north side of Cape Cod, 
but they were brougnt around from the sound in the well- 
room of vessels, and in the course of time have come to 
populate the bay. The sea perch is a favorite with the 
hoys, aud though a humble member of the finny tribe, 
•when skinned and fried, it makes a very good breakfast. 
The scup is removed from the spiney species, being finer 
made. They were found in the waters of the bay when 
the Pilgrims lauded. In 1621 MaBsasoit offered two of these 
fish to the English, who recognized a resemblance to the 
sea bream of old England. Then Uiese were unknown on 
the south side of Cape Cod. In I860 they were very plen¬ 
tiful, but of late years have become scarce. The blue fish 
is essentially a Southern fish, which pursues the mackerel 
and other schooling fishes, and is very erratic in its move¬ 
ments, Referring to the weak fish or squeteague, Col. 
Lyman said it bore so much resemblauce to the trout that 
iu South Carolina it is called the sea trout. The fish is soft 
and will not bear long transportation. 
The mackerel family was next considered, and the me- 
thuds by which it was taken. The common mackerel has 
the instinct of game and will no longer be captured iu sur¬ 
face seine. The celebrated blue fish was sty led the pickerel 
of the sea, who bus had more to do with changing the fauna 
than any other fish. It was formerly very plenty, then 
disappeared, and again visited our waters iu large numbers, 
driving the mackerel and menhaden like a pack of hounds. 
They were mysterious fellows, aud although a valuable 
fish w r ere very destructive. It was an ill wind, &e., for 
when the blue fish were here lobsters thrived; the mackerel 
were driven off, and but for ibe canning establishments 
this popular article of fund would grow to a marketable 
size. The alewife was so called by Jusslyn because they 
were fatter than herring, the women of England who sell 
ale being likewise distinguished over their more temperate 
sisters. 
Referring to menhaden, Col, Lyman said thut the quantity 
taken annually was enormous aud apparently inexhaustible. 
A single factory at Wood’s Hole uses annually frpm 8,000 
to 11,000 tons, and other factories consume a proportionate 
quantity. The shad was a magnified alewife, only it was a 
finer fish. Although diminished by the destructive engines 
at the mouth of the rivers, shad were now being brought 
hack by wise legislation and propagation so that the price 
was reduced, and oftentimes Ihe New York market was 
glutted. The cod and whiling were illustrated by some 
line specimens. The latter resembles the cod, and is a staple 
article of food in England and the Mediterranean. In this 
country, with that wastefulness which characterizes the 
people, the whiting is not oaten, but is shaken out of the 
nets. 
The last class considered was the familiar family of 
salmon, which was the most difficult to treat of all sea 
animals. It has been studied by naturalists since the time 
of the Romans, and they, have not, agreed in regard to its 
character. Col. Lyman contended there was no distinction 
between the true salmon of the sea and the salmon of fresh 
water. There was no proof that the latter were land locked. 
In conclusion, he elucidated briefly the principles which 
underlie and should govern the preservation of inland fish¬ 
eries, which alone needed protection. 
A vote of thanks was tendered Col-. Lyman for his- 
lecture, and to him aud Prof. Agassiz for the valuable 
donation. 
Wiiebe to 00 in Summer.— Eureka! a correspondent 
has found the place! He describes it below. It seems to 
be just the spot which five hundred of our subscribers are 
looking for aud asking about every season. No doubt 
there will be a rush of anglers there next July, on the 
strength of this letter, which will take the village of Dex¬ 
ter and the denizens of its adjacent waters by surprise. If 
they find everything to their satisfaction they will no 
doubt thank both our correspondent and our paper for the 
information given:— 
New Yoke, April 13th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
About ono year ago I was uskiog myself the qaestion which, I have Ro 
doubt, Is now agitating the minds of some of your readers, “Where can 
1 go for a few weeks or months during the hot weather of summer, and 
Dud a quiet, healthy place where the living will tie fair and the Ashing 
good; a place easily reached by rail, and last, bnt not least, where the 
expense will be so moderate as to come n itbin [he means of a limited 
purse?" Ono day, in conversation with a person who was familiar with 
the country about the eastern end of Lake Ontario, he advised me to go 
to Dexter, a Final] village near the mouth of Black River, Jeiiei'son Co., 
N. Y. He told me that I canid there get good accommodations for a 
country place—bouts, board, and livery—all cheap, and belter flehiug 
than at any other place he knew of. 
Acting on this information, myself and wife went to Dexter early in 
Jnno lost, and I must say that 1 found my friend had not overstated Ihe 
advantages of that place. We fonud bo ird in a pleasant private family, 
price six dollars per week. For a few dollars I got the exclusive use of 
a good boat Tor the season, and : or more than three months I enjoyed 
better Ashing than I ever did befotu in lake, river, or ocean. Dexter is 
eight miles west of Watertown, five miles northeast of Saekett's Harbor, 
and seventeen miles from Cape Vincent. It is about one mile from the 
entrance of Black River into the hay, which forms the' eastern portion of 
Saekett's Harbor. At Dexter is found the first dam across the river, and 
the fish ascending from the lake, aod not being able to pass the obstruc¬ 
tion, crowd in in vast numbers, especially in the spring, and immense 
numbers are then taken by simply lifting them out with scoop nets. By 
the first of dune, fishing with hook and line becomes good, and from 
that Lime onward nntii cold weather, a person of ordinary skill need 
never go out fishing willioul capturing a mess of fish. 
I think that perhaps more kinds or varieties of Ash arc found at this 
place than at almost any other one place on onr inland waters. The 
maskalonge seems to be considered as the game fish par excellence of 
the lakes, and his capture in the waters about here is the most priced, 
and the people living here say that more of them are taken about the 
mouth of Black River than at any other place along the shorea of Lake 
Ontario. Pickerel and black bass are quite plenty; the former are fre¬ 
quently taken of eightand ten pounds woighl, and sometimes much lar¬ 
ger. Black bass run from one to fonr pounds, and afforded me mneb 
sport- by their gamy qualities. I think they will fight, harder and escape 
ofiencr than any other fish that lives in fresh water. Most of the above 
mentioned are taken by trolling with spinning bail, or spoon hook. Wall¬ 
eyed pike are plenty, and at limes take the hook freely. In June and 
July they are in fine condition, fat and firm-fieshed, and are excellent for 
the table. They bite best here in the oarly morning or near evenipg. 1 
sometimes went out about sunrise, and returned to breakfast witli eight 
or ten fish, averaging two pounds each. Ot-lier kinds, such as rock bass, 
yellow perch, stinAsh, mullet, eels, bullheads, and catfish, ail the way 
up to thirty pounds, can be taken by those fond of that kind of fishing. 
The surrounding country is pleasant, the roads generally good, and many 
fine drives may be had; one road running close to the shore of the har¬ 
bor aud lake for a dozen miles or more, around Pillar Point, affords one 
of the most pleasant drives I ever enjoyed. 
Parties frequently leave here tor a day's excursion among the Thou¬ 
sand Islands, visiting Cape Vincent, Clayton, and Alexandria Bay, and 
returning before dark. Fare for tbo excursion, $1. 
In short, Mr. Editor, I Teel satisfied that I got more real enjoyment 
and qnlet comfort at Dexter, than I ever did at places of greater note 
and more pretention. There are two hotels in the place, and it is stud 
that they set good tables, and the charges are reasonable. A limited 
number of agreeable persons may find.board, as I did, in private families, 
if they wish to slay some weeks, or for tbo summer; ana 1 think that 
those who like home comforts and good fishing, boating, and bathing, 
will, on trial, do ns your humble servant intends doing, go again. It 
nan be reached by Hudsuu River and Central Railroads to Rome, thence 
by the Romo, Watertown & Ogdensbarg Railroad to Limerick, on the 
Cape Vincent branch; thence by stage ono mile and a hulf to Dexter. 
Any of your readers desiring more particulars are at liberty to call on 
me at No. 804 East Seventeenth Btreet, and 1 win cheerfully givo thorn 
any further information I am possessed of. G. Sweet. 
SPINNER OR SPOON BAITS WANTED. 
^ JAujiBONv ille , FlU., April 8th, 1876. 
Editor Forebt and Stream:— 
The heading of thie article will probably excite the caehinatory organa 
of spoon and spinner manufacturers; but I can usstire these gentry that 
T have been there, und was forced to exolaitu Mena mene fekcl t tphaninj 
Spinnera and spoon baits, as manufactured and sold by the trade, may 
be adapted to the capture of small fish like the black base and pickerel 
of northern watere, buL are not suitable for holding, playing, and laud¬ 
ing eavalli and redtlsh weighing from twelve to thirty pounds. You, 
Mr. Editor, witnessed a portion of one of my tussels with a specimen of 
the latter fish weighing twenty-four ni$ a half pounds, and you will 
agree with me that ir 1 had used on ordinary trolling line, and the upol- 
ogy for hooka usually attached to spinners, that reilflsh would have been 
a resident of the Gulf of Mexico to day. In some of our streams trout 
(.black bass) weighing from tea to fifteen pounds are occasionally 
hooked, aud if ordinary spinner and spoon baits are nsed they usually 
escape. 
I will admit thut piscatorial experts can capture large cavaUi and red 
fish with light tackle and weak hooks; but this docs not apply to the 
majority Of those who engage in trolling in this Slate. But few who 
visit this section are provided with n golf hook, and m consequence 
strong tackle is reqnired to hold and play tho fish and lift thorn from wai¬ 
ter to boats. In a majority of cases broken or straigliLeued hooka are 
the results of the first fish hooked, followed by exclum/iLions or miitter- 
ings tout Eound badly. The old adage is that. 
“Fur, feathers, and hair 
Make a mau swear. 
But ray experience with ordinary fishing tackle in Florida induces me to 
suggest an alternLion of the couplet, as follows;— 
Spoons, spinners, and hair 
Make many a man swear,” 
and in behalf of morality, and at times Buffering humanity, I appeal to 
tackle manufacturers to supply tackle .adapted to Florida fishing. The 
rapid dash of large cuvalli, und the dogged pall and long-continued fight 
of redlleh soon converts a hook into a barbed needle. For Florida fish¬ 
ing, more especially on the southwost coast, heavy wire, the strongest 
gimp, and books equal in strength and quality to those sold by Shipley 
A Son, of Philadelphia, under the name of caet-stccl sheep-head hooks, 
are alone suitable for the construction of spoons and spinners for Flor¬ 
ida fishing. 
Who will supply the article and obtain a monopoly of the Florida 
trade? Some will ask “Will it pay?” In reply we unhesitatingly assert 
that we believe it will. We have a resident population in the Slate, and 
over >10,000 visitors annually, many of whom engage in fishing, and we 
regret to say that many make water haul? on account of dofectivo 
tackle. I have advised many persons to remove the hooks from pur¬ 
chased spinners and supply them wiih serviceable ones. In conclnsion, 
we will say to spoon makers, manufacture tackle adapted to our State, 
and appoint a competent ageDt for Its sale. Al Fresco. 
[We earnestly endorse the views and statements of our 
experienced correspondent, and commend them to those 
to whom his letter is especially addressed.—E d]. 
WHITEFISH ON THE FLY. 
Keeseyjdle, N. Y., April 7Lh, 1B76. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In your issue of the tithtnsL, 1 have read the letter headed “Bo White- 
fish Take the Fly?” Four years since a friend, in June, passed a fort¬ 
night at Chateaugay Lake. Comparing notes after a trip in the Adiron- 
ducks us to the number of fish taken with a lly, he outwitted me in num¬ 
bers by the information that he had taken a very large number of white- 
fish with the scarlet ibis fly after five P. M., and undoubtedly the wrie- 
gontts albus. During my secoud year’s experience in the Adirondack? I 
have never bui twice seen this species. Last spring a friend caught one 
at Bartlett’s while fishing for minnowB, and it was regarded as “quite a 
sight,” During the full—very late, however—they are taken in large 
uumbers In a net. They are quite palatable, rather dry, aud are no more 
to be compared to a trout than a rile ancker, or a nasty pickerel. R. 
ANGLING FOR SMELTS IN CALIFORNIA. 
San Francisco, Cal., March 25th, 1870. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Smelts are beginning to abonnd in goodly quantities. They visit our 
buy uiinuully in great abundance, especially about the Oakland Long 
Wharf, from February 1st to October, and sometimes the whole year 
round. They are now beginning to blto freely. They are probably of 
the largest species found ou our coast, averaging nine inches in length. 
Being, as Is well known, ranked as one of the sal mo genus, they partake 
of its gamflness, aud one of about one to two pounds weight, which is 
sometimes but very raicly taken, makes a pretty lively fight. They aTC 
much relished for the table by many persons, but I think they are rather 
too firm and dry; but melted or druwn butter, or olive oil served up 
with them helps them a good deal in my opinion. 1 observe in your last 
number of the nlsvays improving Forest and Stream, a short, letter on 
smelts from a correspondent— John A. Thomas. I agree with him that 
the yoong yearlings are the "best. lie observes that you take great inter¬ 
est in smelts. I will, theu, give von some account or oue method of 
fishing for them in our bay. The plan is to use a cane, bamboo, or oth¬ 
er good long rod from fifteen to eighteen feel in length, made either 
wither without joints, and a light bnt strong line, either fastened to 
Ihe top of the pole, or connected with a good largo four-fold multiplying 
reel, at the end of which line there is rattier a heavy lead or sinker, 
above which are tied three or four small hooks about a foot apart, baited 
With pieces of worms, found among the mussels which attach themselves 
to the piles of the wharf or bridge. The smelts come up and return 
with each tide to cost their spawn or melt on those shorea or fiat* or the 
bay which are either sandy or muddy. Dt the full season, which Ivts not 
yet arrived, these species of salmonia corao up from the ocean through 
the Golden Gate in cnormbns qnanLilies, and bite geaernpy so ravenous¬ 
ly at the bait offered them that it often happens that the angler hooks 
and lands three, or even fonr of them at one time, and when three or four 
of them weigh each—which they sometimes do—over half or three- 
quarters of a pound, the angler has his hands Tull to secure tlmrn all on 
terra Jlrm In the height of the “take,” when there are a hundred rods 
plying at once, the scene ie a very lively and interesting one, 1 ussure 
you. Sometimes, but very seldom, yenng palmou of two or three pounds 
are hooked in this way, when there are any about. Yon angle Tor these 
ganiey fish, the smelts, about three feet from the anrface of the water, 
moving your bait to aud Tro to entice their natural avidity for food. A 
few angle with the float, in which case ihey hook themHclves, j Their 
form, us is well known by those who have any knowledge of fish, is Jong 
aud sharp, like the model of a soiling ciilter, and their scales urn of a 
silvery brightness and brilliant vhitcncss. Their flesh, asl have before 
observed, is rather tough and dry, but they are pretty general fuVoriti’S 
with fwh-efflers. They ure good with mauy, fried with eggs and corn- 
meal, or pounded crnckers. They are particularly prized asaoreakfaet 
dish, and possess a flavor peculiarly their own. But they do not have iliu 
cucumber flavor which they possess in the East, or in Europe. Widlo 
fishing Tor them, large bite perch, called Sucramcnto Kiver perch, from 
one to fonr pounds weight, arc often token. E. J. Uoornu. 
-■# * » - - — 
Movements of the Fishing Fleet. —It has proved a 
busy week around the wharves aud on ihe railways, as 
the Southern mackerel fleet are getting underway for the 
early schools of mackerel. Sonie forty sail are now being 
put in readiness, and will sail next week. There is no dif¬ 
ficulty whatever in getting plenty of first-class fishermen to 
man ibis fleet, and green bands do not stand much of a 
chance tills Centennial year of the nation. 
There have been 34 urrivals of the fishiug fleet the past 
week, 32 from Georges, and 2 from the Grand Bank. The 
receipts have been l,2b0,000 pounds cod-fish, 40,000 Georges 
halibut and 100,000 pounds of Bank halibut. Shore cod¬ 
fish and haddock have been in light receipt, selling for 
$1.50 per quintal for cod and $1.25 for haddock .—(hqm 
Ann Advertiser, April 1 bth. 
Hash is Hash. — For genuine hash three ingredients, 
aside from the seasoning, are required: Hiee corned beef — 
if home prepared, sweet, tender, und red, nil Ihe better; 
good potatoes, boiled “on purpose;” aud—fidehly. The 
last is Ihe most necessary, for it ensures that the meat shall 
be carefully looked over, aud chopped fine; that the pota¬ 
toes shul l lie lrented separately with equal care; mix to¬ 
gether thoroughly in the chopping-bowl, with the knife* 
Cook slowly, moisten with milk, aud season with butter, 
pepper, ami salt. Pack it snugly in a covered dish. When 
dune, it you want an extra finish, pul in the ovcti and critp 
over the top tq a delicate brown. Always serve hot.— 
Golden Utile. 
