July 36. 1883.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



BOB 



Ohio Game Notes.— Steubcnville, O., July.— We have 

 quite a number of t'en i mi a 111 " who are alive to the en- 

 joyment of sports in the forest and stream. If, is true, 

 game is not very plenty in this locality, Squirrels ore be- 

 ing killed in lair numbers around the wheat fields, and I ain 

 happy lo say that Bob Whites are whistling all around us 

 again, faiw&brooil Of little fellows last week just large 

 enough to fly. and had the exquisite pleasure of putting a 

 load of No. tshol in a hawk which was doing his best to 

 destroy them. With a little care we will have plenty of 



birds here again. Rabbits were never so plenty. The boys 

 are training their dogs with the expectation of tine sport 

 this fall. I have three good dogs, ami about October we 

 will make the fur fly.— A. E. M. 



Iowa Pkaiiue Chicken. — Deeorah. July 18. — 1 must 

 send you a few lines again this year, in regard to tli 



pects'of the coming .shooting 

 have been able to obtain, I think we 

 good chicken shooting; we bovi oad 

 but fortunately the young birds wen 

 them before liiey came, and if (be 

 (which 1 fear is dubious) until the set 

 some good sport in this vicinity. Tin 

 of quail, which 1 am surprised at, o 

 so severe a winter. Pheasants 



From all 



are likely to have some 



some very heavy rains, 



strong enough to stand 



ardsareorlv lefi alone 

 von opens, there will be 

 re seems to be n nice lot 

 ving to our having had 

 >t as good as a bird 



of the past in this part of the world, why 1 cannot say. — 



North Carolina Game. — Belvidere, N. C, —Have never 

 seen old quail more abundant than at this lime. Should the 

 heavy rains not destroy the young, we will have excellent 

 hunting next autumn. 'Our law protects Ihem until Oct. 1. 

 Deer are becoming more plentiful every year, and as we have 

 protection for them from Jan. 1 to Aug. 1, they will prob- 

 ably get a rest.— A. F. R. 



Telegraph Strikers. — Our Philadelphia correspondent 



reports July 21 : Two or three dead woodcock have lately 

 been picked up under the telegraph wires near Norristowu, 

 one last evening by some children of the town. Examination 

 proved them b The telegraph strikers, but the blows in every 

 case were disastrous and ended in dissolution. 



|ua and Miter 



To insure, prompt attention, communications should be ad- 

 dressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., and not to 

 individuals, in whose absence from the office matters of im- 

 portance are liable to delay. 



ANGLING RESORTS.— We shall be glad to have for publi- 

 cation notes of good fishing localities. Will not our corre- 

 spondents faoor us with notes of desirable points for angling 

 excursions? 



CHANNEL BASS. 



Editor Forest ami Stream: 



On several occasions I have referred to the royal sport hi 

 store for fishermen if they would visit Mayport. near the 

 mouth of the St. John's River. In the past our fishermen 

 have been in the habit of capturing these fish with a hand 

 line, and I have repeatedly pointed out to several of my 

 friends the sport to be secured in the capture of these noble 

 fighters with rod and reel. About two weeks since Col. 11., 

 S. and H. made their first essay in rod and reel fishing for 

 large bass. S. hooked a large one, and after playing him 

 forborne time he coaxed him to the side of the boat. The 

 fish disliked the appearance of the excited face of S., gave a 

 flirt with his tail, ran under the boat, and in an instant the 

 rod was converted into match wood. H. (an eminent civil 

 engineer from Gotham), who had learnedly discussed with 

 me the antics and raininess of the "lordly salmon," and 

 ridiculed bass Ashing." hooked a big fellow. 'The bass started 

 on a two-forty gait, and H. thumbed his reel until the cuticle 

 disappeared; and as a dernier eensorl he compressed the line 

 against the rod with his linger; but the pressure lasted but 

 for a moment, for blood followed the line. H. let him run, 

 and as soon as the last coil left the reel, the line parted and 

 the fish departed. Col. II. hooked one which the boatman 

 estimated at fifty pounds; and after a fight of one hour and 

 a half the snood' was cut in twain. 



Col. H. made a second attempt, and be called on me this 

 morning in raptures over his success. Owing to the break- 

 ing of his line and the hook tearing out he "lost two large 

 fish. He weighed bis fish, and in order that I may not be 

 accused of "drawing the long bow,'' I append a printed 

 statement from to-day's Eeening Herald, regarding my 

 friend's second attempt at bass fishing: 



"Our genial and popular fellow citizen. Col. J. E. Hart, 

 is distinguishing himself as a disciple of old lzaak Walton, 

 and bids fair to make as complete a success of himself in I he 

 delightful sport of fishing as he has made of his big grain 

 elevator at the foot of Liberty street. He came up from the 

 bar this morning, where he' has been spending the last few 

 days, bringing with him a twenty -live-pound chaunel bass 

 as 'the trophy of flic rod and reel. Saturday he caught four 

 of these beauties in about an hour's time, the largest weigh- 

 ing thirty-five and the other three I weuly-five pounds each ; 

 and the rod and reel did it all." 



The time has not arrived for the main ran of these fish; 

 but from the middle of August to the middle of September 

 they will enter the river in quantity. In many years' fish- 

 ing in the neighborhood of Mayport, the smallest' one 1 cap- 

 tured weighed 19 lbs. On one occasion with a hand line 1 

 captured between daylight and 7:aO A. M. eleven that aver- 

 aged 45 lbs. My memory may fail me with regard to the 

 fighting and staying qualiiies of the striped bass," but in my 

 opinion channel' bass are their equals, it is lo be regretted 

 that none of your Northern fishermen who are devotees of 

 the rod and reel, and who can enjoy the capture of tish 

 worthy of their steel, do not visit this section in the earlv 

 part of September. If bass ranging from 25 to 50 lbs. are 

 considered unworthy of their daily notice, in the way of 

 variety they can hook on to from five to eight feet of 

 greased lightning — a. tarpon. 



The •,,,- age from New York to Savannah in August and 



geptembei nja pleasant one,- time about fifty-five hours. 



I'Tuin Savannah tp Jacksonville by train six hours, and from 

 Jacksonville to Mayport by steamer less than three hours. 

 At Mayport Burroughs keeps a good hotel, where board 

 C»n be Obtained at $10 per week." The tcuipcraluie is no 

 higher than in the North, (he nights are cool, insect pests 

 are not so bad as on the Jersey coast, ibe healthiness of the 



locality is beyond question, and the sea bathing is Al, 

 Fishing is done from a boat ; and to those who can enjoy 

 right royal sport we will say try channel bass fishing. Eveu 

 friend "Didymus" might find something to interest him. 

 Jacksonville. Via.., July 10, 188S. Al, ITllEBCO, 



I. 



OSSIPEE PARK. 



BV O, W. R. 



-The Heart op the OssiPEES. 



"Tii,. cedar and the mountain pine, 

 The willow on the fountain's hrim, 

 The tulip and the e K lanline, 

 In revereuiw bend to Film. 

 The song hh-ils pom- the sweetest lays. 

 From tower and tree and middle air; 

 The. rushing river murmurs praise- 

 All Nature worships there!" 

 ON the northern shore of Lake Winnepesaukee rise and 

 _ extend from east to west the range of mountains called 

 the Ossipees. The highest peak, Mount Shaw, (named in 

 honor of the owner of* Ossipee Park) is 8,000 feet above the 

 level of the sea, and from the observatory on its top (forty- 

 five feet higher than the mountain's crest) an exceptional ly 

 line view may be had in every direction, and the finest, any- 

 where obtainable, of the White and Pranconia ranges. 



The park is, par ea-celUnce, a natural one, and the desire 

 and purpose of the owner is to keep it so; to preserve and 

 foster its pristine beauty, and the hand of art (not 

 always a soft or deft one, as associated with natural scen- 

 ery) i's only used to make accessible the rare loveliness of 

 Nature's handiwork so lavishly spread throughout this 

 lordly domain of 41)0 acres. The Hall, situated on a plateau 

 on the mountain side, surrounded by a lawu of about seven 

 acres, is 800 feet above the level of the lake, and for elegance 

 of design and finish is a model. It is thoroughly built and 

 not thrown together hap-ha/.ard for the short "season, "but is 

 comfortable for a long sojourn in the fall, when the moun- 

 tains aud meadows are ablaze with glory. It is well sup- 

 plied with fire-places, and in their construction the useful 

 and beautiful have joined hands, and the result is pleasant 

 to more than one sense. I am sure that every sportsman 

 will recall to mind the comfort of stretching before a blaz- 

 ing fire on the hearth after a hard day's tramp over the hills 

 and by browling stream. "With or without "accessories," a 

 wood-lire is a rare good thing of a rainy day or a chilly 

 gloaming. Every modern convenience, and, thank God! 

 several good, old-fashioned ones, arc to be found within the 

 Hall, so' that pleasure and comfort are not wholly dependent 

 upon the state of the weather. Aside from the extensive 

 and incomparable views to be had from the Hall and from 

 the observatory on Crow's Nest — a height near the lawn — 

 there is a marvel of beauty in the shape of a brook running 

 through the domain, the falls and cascades and rapids of 

 which are notable for peerless and peaceful beauty and pic- 

 turesqueness. The Park is reached via Center Harbor, 

 thence by tally-ho coach to Moultonborough Corner, where 

 the Park carriage will meet expected guests. For the pres- 

 ent season only a dozen guests can be comfortably accom- 

 modated at a time, as the Hall was erected for its owner's 

 summer occupancy and not for a hotel. The whole prop- 

 erty is owned by Mr. B. F. Shaw, of the Shaw Stocking 

 Company of Lowell, and is fitted and managed very like an 

 Englishman's lodge in the Scottish Highlands, which it re- 

 sembles more' than aught else American ever brought to my 

 noticed. It is a place designed and eminently fitted for the 

 cultured taste, for the refined and for those who love the 

 beauty and peace of nature rather than the fashion and 

 worry of "society," as found at most country resorts. It has 

 been 'called "the most beautiful place in .New England," 

 and I think it cannot be denied. For good aud sufficient 

 reasons shooting and fishing, within the domain, are strictly 

 forbidden, but even the most ardent sportsman must forget, 

 or hold in abeyance, bis favorite pastime within the confines 

 of this beautiful and peaceful spot — hung, as it were, be- 

 tween earth and heaven and deluged with "loveliness de- 

 void of art.'.' 



Those who love Nature, rest, freedom from turmoil and a 

 free enjoyment of all creature comforts, will find here the 

 acme of reasonable desire, and a revelation of wonderful 

 beauty and magnificence. 



I purpose to note some rambles and views taken here- 

 abouts, yet though written about the place can never he fitly 

 described. Of it may it be truly writ — 



u And in some calm, sequestered spot, 

 While UsteuinR to thy choral strain, 



Past griefs shall he awhile forgot 

 And pleasures bloom again." 

 The Hall, July 17, 1883. 



THE COMING TOURNAMENT. 



XN" accordance with a resolution passed at the last meeting 

 of the National Rod aud Keel Association. President 

 Enclicott has appointed the following gentlemen as a com- 

 mittee of arrangements for the tournament to take place 

 next October: 



Chairman, Mr. James Beukard, President South Side 

 Club, Long Island. 



Francis Eudicott, President National Rod and Reel Asso- 

 ciation, em. officio, 



Eugene O. Blackford, Commissioner of Fisheries, New 

 York. 



Samuel M. Blatchford, Sqtiibnooket Club. 



Dr. E. Bradley, President Bloomingdale Park Association. 

 Pennsylvania, 



Martin B. Brown, Wnywayauda Club. 



I). VV. Cross, Audubon Club, Uhio, 



Chas. B. Evarts, American Fish, ultural Association. 



Hon. James Getldes. Onondaga Club. Syracuse. 



Wm. O. Harris. New York. 



I)i. James A. Henshall, Cyuthiana, Ky 



Dr. C, J. lveuworthy. Jacksonville, Fla. 



Robert B. Lawrence', Union Club, New York. 



William Blair Lord, Washington, D. C. 



Hon. Henry P. McGown. Cut! vlnmk Chili. 



Thatcher Magoun, Jr.. Boston. 



Fred Mather, Adirondack Club. 



Prof. A. M. Mayer, Stevens Institute, Ilobokeu. 



Barnct Phillips, American Fishculiural Association. 



Hon. R. B. Roosevelt, President Game and Fish Pro- 

 tective Society, i 



James L. Vallotton, President Pasque Island Club. 



O. Van Brunt, Willewemoe Club. 



K Van Vleck. ichthyophagous Club. 



Edward Weston, President Greenwood Lake Association. 



Locke W. Winchester, President Kestigouehe Salmon 

 Club. 



Louis B. Wright, Westminster Kennel Club. 



Rev. Henry L". Ziegcufuss, Poughkeepsie. N. Y. 



The committee will be divided into sub -committees on 

 grounds, rules for the different contests, etc. 



BLACK. BASS IN TROUT WATERS. 



BY DR. ,T. Jl. HENBH-U.l., 



IN the discussion following the reading of my paper "On 

 the Distribution of the Black Bass" at, lite last mooting 

 of the American Fishcultural Association, and published in 

 FoiticsT and Stream of July 18, I am placet) in a false 

 position in regard to the introduction of black bass into 

 trout waters, which I hasten to correct. 1 am utterly op 

 posed to the introduction of black bass into waters in which 

 there is the remotest chance for the brook trout or rainbow 

 trout to thrive. I vield to no one in love and admiration for 

 the brook trout. I was perfectly familiar with him before 

 1 ever saw a black bass, 'but 1 am rot so Winded by pivpi- 

 dice but that I can share that love with the black bass, which 

 for several reasons is destined to become the favorite game 

 fish of America. "My offending hath this extent, no more. " 



Let us look this thing squarely in the face. 1 do not wish 

 to disturb any one's preference, but I do want to disabuse 

 the minds Of anglers of all prejudice in the matter. The 

 brook troUt must go. It has already gone from many 

 streams, and is fast disappearing from others. It is sad to 

 contemplate the extinction of the "anglers' pride" in public 

 waters, but the stern fact remains that in this utilitarian age 

 its flays are numbered and its fate irrevocably sealed. As 

 the red man disappears before the tread of the white man, 

 the "living arrow" of the mountain streams goes with him. 



The trout is essentially a creature of the pine forests. Its 

 natural home is in waters shaded by pine, balsam, spruce 

 and hemlock, where the cold mountain brooks retain their 

 low temperature, and Ibe air is redolent, with balsamic frag- 

 rance; where (lie natural food of the trout is produced in the 

 greatest abundance, and where its breeding grounds are un- 

 disturbed. 



But the iron has entered its soul. As the buffalo disap- 

 pears before the iron horse, the brook trout vanishes before 

 the axe of the lumberman. As the giants of the forest are 

 laid low. and the rank and file decimated, and the wooden 

 walls of the streams battered down, the hoi, fiery sun leaps 

 through the breaches, disclosing the most, secret "recesses of 

 forest and stream to the bright glare of mid-day. The tnois 

 tare of the earth is dissipated, the mosses ami' ferns become 

 shriveled and dry, the wintergreen and partridge berry, the 

 ground pine and trailing arbutus struggle feebly for exis- 

 tence; the waters decrease iu size and increase in tempera- 

 ture, the conditions of the food supply aud of the breeding 

 grounds of the brook trout, are changed; it deteriorates in 

 size and numbers and vitality, until finally, in accordance 

 with the immutable laws of nature and the great principle of 

 the "survival of the fittest" (not the fittest 'from the angler's 

 point of view, but the fittest to survive the changes and 

 mutations consequent on the march of civilization)] it dis- 

 appears altogether. 



Much has been said about the "trout hog" in connection 

 with the decrease of the trout. But while' he deserves all 

 the odium and contempt heaped upon him by the honest 

 angler, the result would be the same were the trout allowed 

 undisturbed and peaceable possession of the streams, so far 



the fish-hook is concerned, while the ax-e of the lumber- 

 man continues to ring its dettth knell. 



Let us, then, cherish and foster and protect the crimson- 

 spotted favorite of our youthful days as Jong as possible in 

 public waters, and introduce the rainbow trout, or the Dolly 

 Varden, or some of the Pacific black-spotted trout when he 

 has disappeared; and when all these succumb, then, and not 

 till then, introduce the black bass. But let us give these 

 cousins of the brook trout a fair trial first, and without pre- 

 judice. There are plenty of lakes, ponds and large streams 

 in the Eastern States into which the bass tain be introduced 

 .. ithout interfering with trout waters, and this is what I 

 meant by saying, "If, then, there are waters in which the 

 brook trout or rainbow trout will not thrive, do not hesitate 

 to aid in the.further distribution of the black bass by intro- 

 ducing that desirable species," 



For many years to come brook trout will be artificially 

 cultivated, and the supply thus kept up in preserved waters 

 by wealthy angling clubs; but by the alterations of the 

 natural conditions of their existence they will gradually de- 

 crease in size and quality, until finally they will either cease 

 to be or degenerate to such a degree as to forfeit even this 

 praiseworthy protection. 



I must dissent from Mr. Endicott's statement that the 

 black bass is the bluetts!, of fresh waters. The black oass is 

 voracious — so are all game fishes— but not more so than the 

 brook trout. The character of a fish's teeth determines the 

 nature, of its food and the manner of its feeding. The- blue- 

 fish has the most formidable array of teeth of tiny fish of its 

 size— compressed, lancet-shaped, covered with enamel, 'and 

 exceedingly strong and sharp, in fact, miniature shark teeth 

 —while The black"" bass has soft, small, brush-like teeth, in- 

 capable of wounding, and intended only for holding its 

 prey, which is swallowed whole. The brook trout has 

 longer, stronger and sharper teeth than the bass, and a large, 

 long mouth, capable of swallowing a bigger fish than a 

 black bass of equal weight. The mouth of the bass is very 

 wide, for the purpose of taking in crawfish with their long 

 and aggressive claws, and not, as supposed by some, for the 

 swallowing of large fishes. The black bass gets the best of 

 other game fishes, not by devouring the lishes themselves, 

 hut by devouring their 'food. For this reason, more I ban 

 any other, they should not, lie introduced into the same 

 waters with brook trout. The pike or pickerel is the blue- 

 fish of fresh waters, and in dental capacity aud destructive 

 possibilities is not far behind him. 



I regret the placing of black bass in Raquette Lake fully 

 US natch as Mr. Endicoft, and although the trout were said 

 to be nearly extinct iu that, lake at that time, in does not 

 excuse the'aet. Such waters should be kept for the salmon 

 tribe, until it is fullv demonstrated that they will no longer 

 live in ,them. The vandal who planted black bass in the 

 Raquette Lake should have been dumped in with them. 



1 thank Mr. Endicott very heartily for the statement that 

 he Was annoyed by the continued rise aud capture of black 

 baSS when fishing for trout in that lake. Perhaps this state- 

 meut from one who calls the black bass the . "bhu-fish of 

 fresh waters,'' will tend to convince soma of the doubting 

 ones that the hlaek bass will rise to the fly. 



Cyothiaiu, Ky.. July, 18S3. 



