234 
FOREST AND STREAM 
dfe# tmd iftier 
FISH IN SEASON 
IN MAY. 
Trout. Salma fontinalls. Shad. Alow. 
Salmon, Salmi talar. Laml-lockcd Salmon, Salmo Cloven. 
Salmon Trout, Salmo cooftnio. 
For list of seasonable trout Hies for May see our issue of April 37th. 
Fish in Market. —Pish continues in abundant supply, 
and prices are without material change. We quote-.— 
Striped bass, 18c. to 20c. per pound; Binells, 15c.; salmon, 
California, BOc., Kennebec do., 90c.; mackerel, 15c. each; 
shad, 35c. to 40c. each; weakSsh, 15c. per pound; white 
perch, 12c.; Spauisk mackerel, 75c.; green turtle, 18c.; 
terrapin, $13 per dozen; halibut, 15c.; kingfish, 25c.; cod¬ 
fish, 8c.; blackfish, 15c.; llounders, 10c.; porgies, 10c.; 
sea bass, 20c.; cels, 18c.; lobsters, 8c.; sheepshead, 25c.; 
soft clams, 40o. to 60c. per 100; whitefish, 18c.; brook 
trout, 50c. for Canada fish, and $1 for Long Island; hard 
shell crabs, $3.50 per 100, soft do., $2 per dozen. 
—The leading article of this week's issue entitled 
“Angling in Nova Scotia,” will prove of value to,those 
who choose to avail themselves of the information it gives. 
CANADIAN FISHING PRIVILEGES. 
Boston, May 13th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream 
In your paper of May fill you state that fishing privileges are granted 
for the sum of one dollar per day on the Dartmouth and Restigoucbe 
Rivers iu Canada. X' desire to correct a mistake which otherwise would 
wake much trouble, both for the lessees of the rivers and parties who 
might take a journey to them with the expectation of being allowed to 
fish. 
Tho Dartmouth Is my own river, and I need only say in reference to it. 
that all the money in America could uot /are a privilege on it. 
The Eestigouche is leased by Canadian gentlemen who feci as I do, 
aud I have just had assurances from them that they would not let a 
privilege on any account whatever. Fked Curtis. 
In reply, as to the Restigouche, wc quote from an 
official paper;— 
“Dee Side, Metapodia, March 13th, 1876. 
“There are seven miles of augling water here, from head of tide-water 
to Metapedia, open, by orders of Marine mid Fisheries Department, to 
Btraugers or others, by permit, at n rate of $1 per day per rod. 
“Joun Mow att, Ifisliory OfficerRestigouche Division.” 
As to the Dartmouth River, Mr. Curtis knows that this 
stream has been available to strangers at $1.75 per rod per 
day, for several years, by permit from overseer John Eden, 
aud, if ho has recently leased it, it would have been a 
mark of propriety to have mentioned the fact in making 
his so-called “correction” of our “error.” We have some 
readers who are ouly happy when they can catch us in 
mis statements, as they think, but we are willing to give 
odds on our uniform accuracy. 
—The Coot Pishing Company caught 800,000 menhaden 
in one haul at Alattituck, Long Island, last week; the seine 
Was a mile and one quarter long. 
—The Canadian Minister of Marine has agreed to change 
the close season for lobster fishing, making it from August 
10th to September 20th. 
—Referring to the appronchiug contest in fly casting at 
the Slate convention, the Rochester Express refers to last 
year's winner in these terms;—“We learn that among other 
crack linesmen the veteran Rube Wood, of Syracuse, who 
has borne off the blue ribbon at the past three conventions, 
- is determined for one to add the Fowler rod to his list of 
prizes won, and it is also said that Monroe Green will try 
his prettiest to secure it for future use in luring the wary 
denizens of Caledonia Creek in the direction of his reel. 
Seth Green, a terror among rod sliugers, has not taken part 
in the exercises for several years, he having been barred 
from participating on the ground of bis being a ‘profes¬ 
sional.”’ 
y Massachusetts — Taunton , May 8 lit .—An immense run 
of herring has filled the Tauntou and Nemasket rivers so 
full that one sweep of the seine filled tho wagons, and left 
thousands on tho ground. The fishways at East Taunton 
are a solid mass of struggling fish. Fishermen are at 
work, but the fish are too numerous for profit. Von G- 
^ Connecticut — Higganum, May 10th .—Shad arc plentiful 
now. Tho nets used arc about sixty rods long, fifty meshes 
deep, (five and a half inch mesh.) They drift a distance 
of from one aud a half to three miles. There are ten or 
twelve nets in this place, and a great number of shad are 
caught every season. Last week about 800 were taken. 
Thu warm weather last Saturday aud Sunday—May Gth 
and 7th—with rain, caused the river to rise, the muddy 
water giving the fishermen a chance to fish during the day 
as well"as night, and yesterday aud to day each net is tak¬ 
ing from twenty to sixty a drift, and as they make about 
four drills a day you may suppose the river to he pretty 
full of shad, although in a clay or two they may not take 
half of that number, as the fish go in schools, or “spurts,” 
as we call it. The fishing is mostly done at night, as the 
water has to he very muddy for day fishing. Most of the 
shad are sent to Hartford, aud sold at $16 per hundred; 
for the season’s catch last year they were $18 and $20. 
Chas. O. G. 
V Alabama — Huntsville, May 2 d.— I was invited to join the 
fishing club of this place on a trip to Wood’s Mill, on Fliut 
River, fifteen miles from here. We arrived at the fishing 
grounds about noon last Monday, and remained until Wed¬ 
nesday. The water was most too clear and too low, al¬ 
though we had pretty fair luck, catching as many as we 
could eat, and each man (there were twelve of us) brought 
home about two aud a half or three pouuds of fish. The 
largest fish caught was a black bass, seventeen inches long, 
ana weighed three pounds. I measured and weighed an¬ 
other, eleven inches long and three quarter pounds weight. 
According to the table published iu Forest and Stream 
April 13th, showing the weight of English fisli to a given 
length, the large bass was heavier than either the trout, 
grayling, or pike. The smaller one compared very well. 
There are some fine fishing streams in this State. Flint 
River, Short Creek, above Guntersville, Swan Lake, just 
opposite Decatur, and others, which I hope I may have a 
chance of reporting upou from personal experience. 
W. G. W. 
Nova Scotia— Chester , May 0th. —A catch of forty-two 
trout was taken at Hubley’s Lake, St. MargarelVBay, Sat¬ 
urday last by three gentlemen, who report the lake to be 
absolutely swarming with trout. They “fished till they 
were tired.” The fish ranged iu weight from one to three 
pounds. K. 
Movements of tite Fishing Fleet. —Tbe number of 
fishing arrivals the past week lias been 46, 39 from Georges 
and 7 from the Banks. Receipts, 1,092,000 pounds GeOrges 
codfish, 124,000 pounds Georges halibut, 510.000 Bank hali¬ 
but, and one salt fare from Grand Bank. Fresh halibut 
has sold readily at 24 and 3 cents per pound for Bank and 
Georges white, and 11 cents for gray. There is a better 
feeling iu the codfish trade, and prices reached bottom at 
$4.50 per qtl. for Georges, and $3.50 for Bank. None are 
now offering at these prices, and it would be difficult to fill 
an order below $4.75 and $3.75. The Shore fleet have had 
unfavorable weather and a light catch, and fares have sold 
readily. We notice sales yesterday at $1.75 per hundred 
pouucl for cod, and $1 for haddock.— Cape Ann Advertiser, 
May 12th. 
Lobsters —It is to be hoped that tbe Minister of Marine 
and Fisheries, who is now in the city, will see bis way clear 
to the repeal of the law respecting 1 lobsters. Tbe proper 
plan would be to have no law at all this year. In the 
meantime let the fishery officers along ihe coast institute 
close investigation into the habits of the lobsters—into the 
time when the soft shell lobster first puts iu an appearance. 
The Challenger, in the course of her investigations on this 
coast, found that just outside the harbor of Halifax a very 
cold polar stream flows from the north and east past the 
Atlantic shores of Nova Scotia—not more than eighty 
fathoms below the surface. As the ocean becomes warmer, 
this polar stream of ice cold water becomes healed, the 
warming process beginning at the western end and ruuuing 
along east. This fact points to the presumption that one 
close season for Nova Scotia will be an absurdity. The 
proper plan would evidently be to divide the coast into 
sections, having a different close season for each. It is 
well known that the soft shell lobster does not make its 
appearance on the Cape Breton shore till some time after 
it shows itself in Halifax county. Bo that when the time 
is suitable for a close season in this countythe lobsters of 
Cape Breton are just iu their prime.— Halifax (A! 8.) Be 
■porter. May 10th. 
Where to Catch Bass in Pennsylvania .—Mr. Jobu 
A. Freas, of the Germantown Telegraph , has obliged us 
with a concise auswer to our question, where to catch bass 
in Pennsylvania. As some of our readers may desire to 
wet a line when tlley visit the exposition, they will feel 
grateful for the information:— 
Germantown, J’unueylvuuia, Mav 8th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In reply to some inquiry, X would say that the majority of our readers 
belli;; within easy reaching distance of the Schuylkill, go to that river 
when they desire to fish for black bass. According to the law now in 
force the close season ends Jane 1st, and the fish can be legally taken 
during the summer and fall in any river or this State, with rod and line. 
The beBt points, perhaps, along the Schuylkill for bass are the vicinities 
of Oousliohochen, Norristown, PhoaniSville, and Rottstown. Trains on 
the Reading Railroad go direct to these places several times dally from 
the Centennial grounds as well ns from the regular depots. During 
warm weather the bass feeds at snnrisc aud sunset. When engaged in 
the pursuit of minnows, say from fonr to six in the morning amt from 
six to eight iu the evening, are the host times for the angler. Many are 
taken with the fly, and artificial minnow and eel. Live crawfish and 
minnow, however, are generally the most attractive bgil in the Schuyl¬ 
kill aud upper Delaware. 
The vicinity of Easton, whore the bass wero originally introduced 
into tho Delaware in 1870, is oue of the best localities on lhat river to 
take iheni. There are several trains dally from this city for Easton 
over Nortii Pennsylvania Railroad. There is fair fishing In llie Susque¬ 
hanna at Harrisburg, Duucannon, and other points, but tho bass as yet 
arc not as numerous In lhat river as in the upper Delaware. 
Perch fishing in the Deluware, near this city, is not the pleasant spott 
it was twenty years ago. The almost constant seining of tho river 
during the spring has sadly decreased the nnmber of this gamy flail, 
and it is but rarely of late years that a specimen is taken weighing as 
much as a pound. Many, however, indulge in angling for them at 
Gloucester, fonr miles below the city, and at Pridesbnrg, Bix miles above, 
where bal toans are kept for hire. Earth worms arc always used for 
bait. Small Limerick hooks are considered the best. 
ANGLING RECOLLECTIONS. 
Jf - Piuladeltuia, April 2411), 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The fishing season is here, and the hands that so lately wielded thepun 
in defence of inside or outside enamel, or to uphold pet theories as to 
strength and elasticity, will now grasp the bamboo or greeuiieait and 
find pleasanter occupation in putting a trout at the end or every tine, than 
distributing commas or periods. To those who cannot get away early in 
the season is left the choice of anticipating inimagiuation the sport they 
shall have later, when time can be spared to cut loose frpm business, or 
going over with memory’s help the exploits of former years. The latter 
is to me tho more profitable of the two, as the ono seems at the least 
only idle speculation about what may end eventually in disappointment, 
while the other brings back by-gone reality, and I can see in the mistakes 
of the past what to avoid in the iutnre. There are people to whom the 
actual llshiog is the smallest part of tho pleasure, of which the greatest 
is found in looking over their tackle, inspecting now rods and patent 
reels, andarranging fly-books. Give a poor workman, the best of tools 
and lie will make but a notch of his job at best; but give a real lisher- 
mau—one who has the natural gift, a fisherman born, not made—any 
sort of tools or chance, and if trout are to be had he will have them. 
In fishing, as in many other pnrsuits, whether work or play, a little 
common sense goes a long way, and this I have more than once demon¬ 
strated practically, at least to my own satisfaction. 
Some years ago 1 spent a few weeks of the warm weather at a little 
village in Western Now York. There were several small streams in the 
neighborhood, and I asked oue of the natives oue day if there wure any 
trout about. 
“Not now,” he said: “there'B tront ittthe run early in the season. 
Sometimes folks catches pretty good strings, but, dear me!'taint any 
use to go there now; the fish have all been caught aotlongago. There 
ain’t less Ibautwo or three parties up there every day as long as there’s a 
treat in the water." 
I thanked him for his in formation, aud a day or two artor started for 
Ihe rnn, about rout miles from Lite village. I had a bait rod and curried 
soma bait with me besides my flies. Tne day was a perfectly clear and 
hot day in July; warm even at 8 in the morning, when t began fishing. 
The run was a small stream, and at the point X struck it ran into a utill- 
pond, below which were no fish, so that I had either to fish up stream, or 
walk up aud fish down. I chese to fish up stream, and began work with 
flies. I soon found that there wero trout iu tho stream, but vary wild, 
and had to persuade. The stream ran mostly through open fluids, so-1 
that there was neither shade nor cover. I fished along with varying suc¬ 
cess, ttBing sometimes flics, then occasionally buit, either worm or grass¬ 
hopper, aud begun to have a respectable show in my basket, when I 
came to a place where the run ran through quite a patch or brush, and 
the banks were so thickly set that it looked Lite a very doubtful sort of 
operation to followthe streamnp, let alone the fishing. 1 Mopped anti 
thought a little before 1 went on. Here was probably where the tront 
were. The natives would fish along where tho hanks were open until 
they came to the brush, then walk around that, get beyond it, aud no on 
fishing, eo that here ought to be an undisturbed piece of water. White 
I was thinking this over I heard net far above a sudden plunge, evident¬ 
ly a tront taking a grasshopper, and apparently, to judge from the 
sound, a big trout, too. I jumped up and started to look up LUis active 
fellow. A little way up stream l parted the bu -hes, aud peering through 
the interlaced limbs, I saw a pool surrounded by an impenetrable wail 
of brash. At the lower end of this pool, which was smooth, and had 
not much current, was a log square across the slream, and on the dark 
surface of the water, as It rippled against tho upper side, floated u few 
foam flukes and babbles. A delightful retreat for a big reliovv tiled of 
the worry aud excitement of the constant whipping of the stream be¬ 
low. I looked a moment aud drawback. The trout lhat lived in that 
pool must be an aristocrat, and eo had he secluded himself that 1 con¬ 
cluded tie would move oniy at such otters ns suited him, so 1 cast about 
me to find a bait that might please him—tvhat tho old Greiksusedas 
the emblem of Ids class—the grasshopper. I soon taught one, pui.it 
on ahook, and using only the tipper two joints of my rod, I held them as 
high as 1 could over my ^ad, keeping thrui at the same time nearly hor¬ 
izontal, while with the other hand I cast the grasshopper over tile brash, 
aud as luck wonld have It jnst in the proper spot. As it touched the « a- 
ter there was a rush, a swirl in the water, aud a stroke of a broad mil as 
I struck and hooked a good fish. There was little room for play with 
this fellow. I was holding my rod up at arm’s length over the top of 
the brush, and could not see very much of the water, although close to 
it. The fish tired of it before X did, and I put him in the basket. Ho 
weighed a pound that afternoou when I got back to the village aud pal 
him oil the scales. TUenatives were very much astonished at ihe sight 
of such a basket of fish as I took home lhat day, caught so laic in the 
season. Where had I been? Ilowhad I ttshedt What bait did 1 itsuf 
etc. 1 was asked fifty questions about it. Several parties forthwith 
started up to the run to fish, but I dul not hear of much success, fouha 
bly because, setting aside themodc of fishing, they most likely outillrieu. 
their fishing to the open banks und easy work, whereas a little common, 
sense would have led them to look iu the shade and cover lor trout uL 
that season of the year aud Bucb a day. 
1 went several times to this ruu While 1 was in the vicinity, and always 
caught a good basket of fish by fishing" where Hie fisti were, and not 
wasting lime in idle whipping of the empty water. 
A few days after my first expedition! drove over lo pike Creek, some 
fifteen miles off, taking with me a young cousin, a novice in Hie art or 
trout fishing. The hotel landlord where I put tip my horse, talked 
learnedly about flics, etc., anrl was auxious to advise me, Imt 1 paid 
litilu attention to him. Tills creek was a much larger and bn ter stream 
that tho other run, and had some good tront iu it. By hard labor, and 
carefully working one or two pieces of woodluird through -which the 
stream ruu, as tv«U as changing Hies cont-Lautly, and From iliusc Lo bail, 
we caught 9G fair trout, a result at which 1 confess I was Mirpriscd my¬ 
self, when we came lo turn them oul of our baskets for the liiuiil&fd'd 
inspection. We could not convince lijm that v>c hud not bought some 
of them—X, Y, and Z had all fished there, and used this and I hat ily, 
bnt no such mess of fish had been caught that season, I tried hard lo 
convince him that more common sense und pp lic&tien would be bet,lei' 
than bo inncli implicit belief in particular kinds of Hies or mokes of rbda. 
The man haa more to do with it than the tool. A eood fisherman will- 
catch fish. with almost any thins you can give him; bat a poor one can 
do n»lking, no matter where he has the enamel on his split bamboo. I 
ihink 1 may safely say M you know how 11 la yourBulf. 77 0. C. 
THE FROST FISH OF BROWN’S TRACT. 
\ Boonville, May 1st, 187(1. 
Editoh Forest and Stream.:— 
Noticing in April 8th issue an allusion to the so culled frost fish of 
Brown’s Tract. I will give you a description of them: They am found 
in lakes contributing to ihe St. Lawrence River; length, from ten to rix- 
lecn inches; weight, from eight to 18 ounces; hcud small; month Very 
small; lips long and too'hless; eyes protuberant; scales round; second 
dorsal rayless, aa in salmon family; llesh white and firm; food snoot- 
lent. A row of black spots on each side, not noticeable until the tculea 
are removed. Do not take bait or fly; caught on spawning beds with 
seine or net. Spawn from November 1st, to November 80th. 
Jack Shbppkku. 
Little Falls, N. Y., May 4tl), 1376. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Tho "frost fish" you spunk of is, I believe, common to all onr north- 
era lakes. Those I have seen are usually fiom one-half to three-quartets 
of o ponntl in weight, though X picket! up one on Pfeeco Lake Uostiog 
dead on thesurface, which weighed one and a half pounds. They are of 
the Salmoiddiz, and are very similar to the Otsego (not Oswego) buss, 
and to the common whitefish or rite great lakes. The only place, s-o far 
as I know, where they have been taken in any quantity, is nu rite "Ful¬ 
ton Chain," in the stream connecting Fourth and Fifth lakes aud Sixth 
and Seventh lakes. There they used to be taken in weirs built out into 
the stream. “Old." Arnold used to catch them ami care them liku Inu¬ 
ring fur winter's use. I have seen them at his house in the spring strung 
on sticks, salted, dried, and I believe smoked. They archlghly esteemed, 
preferred above trout, by those who know them, and as they never take tt' 
hnulr, either bait or fly, aud are never soon oxccpt late iu the full, wlmn 
they rnn np the streams to spawn, very few persons, other than old resi¬ 
dents, have seen them. They are a very near relative of the Otsego buss 
aud whitefish, if uot identical with. them. The general build, the col¬ 
ors and markings of tbe three are quite similar. 
_ Watt T. Loomis. 
An Intelligent Point.—A correspondent writes that 
lie lincl a pointer bitch fourteen months old iu the fluid w ilit 
Her own pup, four months aud one day old. Tiie mother 
dog pointed a covey of birds, the pup came up on a line 
with bis mother, and was in the act of advancing on the 
birds when the bitch ran back suddenly to attract bis at¬ 
tention and arrest his advance. The mother then returned 
and pointed again; the pup again promptly advanced lo 
the side of the mother, aud was in the act of going in on tho 
birds, when the moiber turned iter head arresting the pup 
in the bend made by her head and neck. The pup tin ding 
himself stopped reared with his fore feet on his mother’s 
shoulder and got wind of the birds, when both stood in 
that position for some time. The bitch, which 1 still uwn, 
is a medium sized while ami liver, vety aclive, nervous 
aud with muscles like iron. Sim whs whelped December 
15lh, 1808, and ihe pup on October :l4llt, 1869. The lalior 
mude his first point February l&th, 1870. Mother got by a 
Baltimore dog oul of a Luzerne Couuty, Va., bitch. I 
Impoi .tart.— Cbirosb&ald lie taken, m buy tug .Fishingor U tailing Suita, 
lo get a genuine JUtlabit-d Bnit, aud nut one of tho Worthless ImUotloni 
which are being put on the market. The best la the uhMiwat.—Ailr- 
