252 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



— 



FISH IN SEASON IN NOVEMBER. 



Pompano. 

 Snapper. 

 Grouper. 

 Rockiish. 



SOXJTHEBN WATERS. 



Trout, (Black Bass. ) 

 Drum, (two species.) 



Kingfish. 



Striped Bass, Rockfish. 



Sheepsh»ad. 

 Tailorfish. 

 Sea Bass. 



M 



— I?i the next number of this paper we shall give a very 

 comprehensive article on the fish of southern waters, a 

 subject which the best informed sportsmen and naturalists 

 know little of. Books treating thereof are extremely rare, 

 and with the exception of Holbrook's estimable work, give 

 but limited information. A pleasant and useful book, 

 however, was that of Chas. E. Whitehead, Esq , the worthy 

 and efficient secretary of the "Sportsman's Club" of this 

 city, but it is unfortunately out of print and the angling 

 fraternity is anxiously waiting for the want to be supplied 

 by some authority equally well informed and trust-worthy. 



— The New Orleans Picayune of last week says : — 



Our fish markets were never better supplied than at pre- 

 sent. Eed fish, red snappers, black fish, sheepshead, floun- 

 ders, salt and fresh water trout, brim, striped bass, pompa- 

 no, river cat, shrimps and oysters are abundant, and at 

 reasonable prices. But the market fluctuates and we often 

 find fish scarce and high. The fisheries on the Gulf coast 

 are capable of great development, and the door is open for 

 profitable investment. As far back as 1829"a dozen Span- 

 ish fishermen, living at Charlotte Harbor, paid to the 

 United States Collector at Key West $5000 a year for ton- 

 nage, light money and duties on salt. In 1881 their ex- 

 ports were valued at $30,000. They confined themselves 

 to drying and salting and converting the offal into oil. 

 Another branch of the business — supplying the Havana 

 market with fresh fish— was in the hands of the Yankees. 

 In 1832, thirty smacks, owned chiefly in Connecticut, were 

 engaged in the business, and their annual earnings were es- 

 timated at $120,000. It is a singular fact that no first-class 

 fish pond exists along the northern coast of Cuba, and the 

 supply is obtained on the Florida Keys. The canning of tur- 

 tle, the curing of fish and converting the offal into oil and 

 into fertilizers, all along our C4ulf coast, from Vermillion 

 Light to the Balize, and from the Chandaleurs to Tampa 

 Bay, must become an important industry. 



Fishing through the ice is a pastime that serves to vary 



the monotony of a long and dreary winter, and when the 

 ice is smooth and in good condition for skating, is really 

 enjoyable. With a large bright fire blazing on the ice near 

 at hand, and the body glowing delightfully with vigorous 

 and not too violent exercise, it is exhilirating sport to "tend" 

 the scattered tilts and tip-ups when the fish bite freely. 

 With the blood in freest circulation, one scarcely feels the 

 cold of the freezing water on his hands, and when he has 

 unhooked his fish and tossed it toward the stiff and rigid 

 pile already caught, he cheerily gives his arms a thresh to 

 quicken the warmth, and darts away with lengthening 

 strides to obey the signal that another fish has struck. 

 When the day is calm and without wind, one can get as 

 much amusement out of this pastime as he ever can with 

 his salmon rod and reel. The simplest kind of a tilt is a 

 lath or narrow piece of board, with a hole bored through 

 one end, through which a round stick is run with both ends 

 re^tin? on the sides of the hole in the ice. The line and 

 bait are attached to the short end of the tilt, and when the 

 fish is on his weight tips up the longer end and gives the 

 signal that he is caught. In our last we described an im- 

 proved tip-up invented by A. Mo wry, of Putnam, Ct., 

 which gives better play of line, besides hoisting a signal 

 fla»- easily seen. Another contrivance is to plant supple 

 saplings at the sides of the fishing holes, and when the fish 

 is on he is detected either by the motion of the sapling or 

 by its being bent low by dead weight. 



But neither of these methods compare with that of spear- 

 ihg fish in winter, but the latter requires so much skill and 

 dexterity that it may be included with legitimate sports. 

 A correspondent whose knowledge of baGkwoods devices 

 seems unlimited, sends us a sketch from his own ex- 

 perience of a primitive mode of spearing. He, with two 

 friends, is fishing at a lake near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. 



He writes: 



We were arranging our tip-ups one forenoon, when C. 

 said, "I wonder how the 'Injun' method would work here? 

 Let's try it." We proceeded to the blacksmith shop and or- 

 dered a" three tined spear, which under C.'s direction was 

 constructed so that the spear part was loosely fitted in the 

 socket of the shaft, and also attached to the same by strong 

 cord o-iving about a foot or more of play to the tines when 

 it was displaced. I did not see the object of this until he 

 explained that if we struck a 80-pounder or so we would 

 be more apt to hold him that by the simple strength of 

 the staff. While the spear was being made, C. whittled out 

 a decoy from the handle of a broomstick, which after being 

 blacked, and loaded with lead, and with tin fins, eyes and 

 tail attached, looked not a little like a small shiner. When 

 tied with a string about a yard in length to a short stick, 

 and the stick jerked up and down the minnow would play 

 in the water beautifully. We then got a sugar hogshead, 

 sawed out a hole on one side large enough for. one of us to 

 crawl in and out, rolled it on the ice a short distance from 

 a point in the lake where C. said the big fish cruised round, 

 cut a hole in the ice about two-thirds the diameter of the 

 cask, and turned over it our impromptu obscura. I crawled 

 in, ancr* placed my back to the hole, thus shutting out the 

 light, and the effect was magical. Away down through the 

 depth of the clear water, I could seethe weeds and mosses, 

 with here and there a shell or bright pebble on the bottom. 



Placing a foot on each side of the hole with my spear in my 

 right hand, I commenced playing my minnow for my first 

 mnscalonge. I don't know how long I had been at work, it 

 could not have been long after quiet was restored, when 

 something came in view athwart the hole beneath me, and 

 made a lazy nip at my moving bait. It looked so large, so 

 monstrous, (full four inches across the head,) that I never 

 once thought of my spear or my business, but sat with open 

 mouth and staring eyes. Of course my bait stopped play- 

 ing, and with a whirl and flash he was gone. "By jingo," 

 thought I, "that was a fish; just let him try that trick 

 again," and I commenced to twirl the decoy once more, It 

 was certainly not more than two minutes before either the 

 same fish or his brother shot athwart my vision. I drove 

 the spear at him, but in my excitement only tore off a few 

 large scales, and put one of my legs into the water up above 

 my knee, coming very near going in all over myself, and 

 my second prize was gone. I began to get mad, and pro- 

 posed, should such another opportunity present itself, to be 

 as cool as said water had felt about my pedal extremities. 

 I had not long to wait before in came a bouncer, into whose 

 back just behind the head I put the three tines of that spear. 

 Then stooping close clown I backed out of the hogshead 

 dragging my prize after me. And he was a beauty, a sev- 

 enteen pounder, not an ounce less. I tried it again, and in 

 fifteen minutes I had another. It was enough. With one 

 in each hand by the gills I dragged them to the village, and 

 at the grocery thc}^ were weighed, and they brought the 

 scales down to thirty-three pounds, and I think four ounces. 



After that we made it a business for several days. We 

 built a small movable house on the ice, in which we rigged 

 up a small stove, had cushioned seats, and other things com- 

 fortable, and the way we did slaughter those muscalonge 

 was a sin and a shame. Thus were we the first, I believe, 

 to introduce on Beaver lake that style of fishing. Others 

 followed us, and I heard after I left that the destruction 

 was so great that the citizens had to interfere and put an 

 end to the practice entirely. 



You will probably say that that was not a sportsmanlike 

 way of taking a game fish, but I tell you it was exceedingly 

 exciting, and a two or three pound fish brought out the 

 science, for they came in and were gone like a streak of 

 lightning, and one had to be especially quick to secure them. 

 The big ones seemed too logy or lazy for a quick motion. 



Jacobstaff ■ 



— There is another interested correspondent who wishes 

 to add his experience in fly-fishing for black bass ; — 

 ^ Albany, November 15th. 



Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I have fished in the Mohawk for a number of years, and 

 have never yet been able to take a black bass with the 

 fly. I have repeatedly taken them by ti oiling with a fly of 

 my own manufacture, said fly having grey body, white 

 wings and two small rouftd porcelain buttons for eyes. I 

 have tried time after time to get a rise from a cast, but never 

 yet succeeded even when the bass were jumping all around 

 after small white bugs, which swarm in myriads at certain 

 times of the season. At such times chances for getting a 

 mess of fish are rather slim. I think the black bass of the 

 Mokawk is far more dainty than his brother of the lakes, 

 and possesses more game qualities. He is not as black in 

 color or as thick in body, but is certainly longer. I sup- 

 pose being in swift water causes the difference. A few 

 years ago while in New York making purchase of fishing 

 tackle, I was presented with a blue fly by that finished 

 fisherman, Andrew Clerk, which he was anxious I should 

 try, as I had informed him I was not able to take a bass 

 from casting; but I was no more successful with that fly 

 than with my other. Next season I shall try the cast again 

 and if successful will drop you a line. I have not among 

 any of your many correspondents seen a word of the noble 

 Mohawk, a river which is increasing every year in the num- 

 ber and size of its black bass; we hear of their being caught 

 of four and five pounds weight, although the largest that I 

 have caught weighed two pounds and thirteen ounces. As 

 a general thing a string of seven or eight will average ten 

 to twelve pounds. 



As I have mentioned before, the Mohawk black bass is 

 a dainty chap, and you must have a variety of bait for him, 

 We use grasshoppers, crickets, small frogs, grubs, minnow^, 

 firesh water crabs, as they are called, although they are 

 shaped like lobsters, and above all the dobsell. I don't 

 know the scientifie name for it, but if you do you can give 

 it, They arc obtained in the river under the stones, and 

 are sold by the boys for from three to five dollars a hun- 

 dred according to supply and demand. I have caught bass 

 on young bullheads about the size of my finger when I have 

 been out of all other bait. W. K. 



—Spencer F. Baird Esq., of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission, in a letter to the New York Times, acknowledges 

 the receipt of some rare specimens of fish received from 

 New York. Mr. Baird writes as follows : — 



These fish sent are respectively the EpMppus Gigas, or 

 angel fish; the Balistes Capriscus, the trigger fish, and the 

 Pepritus Gardenii, or harvest fish; the first mentioned being 

 the very large, broad, and silvery specimen; the second, the 

 still larger, dark colored, rough scaled species, and the 

 third, the smaller one, looking something like the young 

 pompano. 



Very little is known of the habits of these fish or their 

 distribution, the first mentioned, or angel fish, occurring 

 over considerable extent of the American coast, and in the 

 summer season very abundant on the coast of South Caro- 

 lina and Georgia. The trigger fish is very widely distrib- 

 uted, occurring both in the Pacific and Atlantic, and very 

 common in the Mediterranean Sea, though less frequently 

 found on the American coast. 



The smallest species is a native of the Atlantic .coast of 



tropical America, but has never been found further north 

 than New. York. It is figured on page 75 of De Kay's 

 Fishes of New York, as- " Mhombus longiirinnis" and it is 

 quite closely allied to what is called the harvest fish, J , 

 otus Tdacauthus, and very common along our coast from 

 New York to Penobscot Bay. 



HEP"* Secretaries of University and College Athletic Clubs will jrtememai 

 their reports not later than. Monday in each iveek. 

 » 



—The Billiard Tourney at Chicago, which has been in 



progress for the past week, terminated on the 22d instant, 



and the full score below shows who won and lost the games 



played: — 

















§ 







Name. 



§ 





•^ 



1 



"3 



1 







S-. 



5 





•05 



>o 



tt) 



t> . 



s 



QQ 



K) 



*? 



&. 



Gamier 



1 



1 



■ 1 

 1 



1 



n 



1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



7 



Ubassy 



fj 



G. Dion 





 







n 



n 



l 



1 

 1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



1 



5 



Daly 



4 



Joe Dion 





 

 





 

 





 

 





 

 





 



1 

 



1 

 1 



1 

 1 

 1 



3 



Slosson 



•i 



Bessunger r 



1 



Snyder 

































U 



Total 



1 1 



1 



I 2 





4 



5 



6 



" 



28 



— The last game of the Chicago Billiard Tournament 

 came off on November 22d between Ubassy and Gamier, 

 was won by the latter in the forty-first inning. The score 

 was as follows :— Gamier, 400; Ubassy, 293. On the twenty 

 first inning, when the score stood 156 for Gamier and 184 

 for Ubassy, the umpire, A Smith, decided there was no 

 count for Ubassy, though a majority of the witnesses said 

 it was a plain count. Ubassy was vexed, and threatened to 

 end the game, but after a moment's reflection decided to go 

 on. Subsequently Ubassy claimed "no count" on Gamier, 

 which the umpire allowed against the general opinion. 

 Ubassy became so angry that he refuse:! to shake hands 

 with Gamier after the game. The largest runs were :— 

 Gamier, 68, 71, 31; Ubassy, 21, 38, 42. The averages were: 

 — Gamier, 9 81-41 ; Ubassj^, 7 6-41. Gamier takes the first 

 prize, Ubassy the second, C. Dion the third, Daly the 

 fourth, J. Dion the fifth. 



— The Chess Tournament of the Brooklyn Club is rapidly 

 approaching its termination. Thus far over a hundred 

 games have been played, and the meetings on Wednesdays 

 and Saturdays are largely attended by members. Up to 

 November 24th the record of games won and lost stood as 

 follows : — 



Name. 









P 



-j 





o 



3 





: 

 1 



5 



a 



o 



p 



hi 



5 



5 



o 



s 



3 

 § 



oi 



3 

 ~- 

 < 



o 







a 



3 



Turner 



Merian 







2 



1 



1 



l 



2 



2 



8 



1 

 1 

 1 

 1 



1 

 2 

 2 



1 



1 

 

 2 



1 



1 



1 



2 

 1 



1 

 1 



1 



1 



1 



•• 

 1 



l 



" 



2 

 1 

 1 



1 



2 



a 



i 



1 



1 



1 



1 



4 



Perrin 





<j 



Dill 





14 



Barnett 



Scaver 



1 



o 



Worth 













(J 



Elwell 







1 

 2 



1 

 1 



1 



1 

 1 



l 

 l 



l 





7 



Phillip , 



J. Munoz 



1 



1 



13' 



5 



Delmar . 





1 



9 



Gilher? 





II 



M. Munoz 



















1 



1 

 1 



1 



1 



1 



Thayer 







1 



1 







1 



o 



8 



Davis 







1 



Abraham. . ... 







1 



1 









1 





5 











"" ,1 f 



6 



10 



6 14 



% 



■i 



14 



8 



8 



4 



2 14 Jo 5 



4 



67 



PIGEON SHOOTING. 



- — There were three pigeon matches shot at Babylon, L. 

 I. , on Saturday, November 22. The clay was most beautiful 

 and the shooting excellent. The birds were of the usual 

 kind. The first match for $100 a side, between Ira Paine 

 and Mr. Deforest, 15 birds each, 21 yards rise; Mr. Deforest 

 shooting at 21 yards, Ira Paine at 25 yards. 



Paine— 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1— Killed, 10. 



Deforest— 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0— Killed, 

 9. 



The second match between Ryan and Deforest, 30 birds 

 each, 21 yards for $500 a side. This match was a tie and 

 they agreed to draw the stakes. Killed, 28. 



Ryan— 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 

 0,1,1,0,1,1,1,1,0,0. 



Deforest— 1, 1, 1, 1. 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 

 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1. 



The third match between Mr. Livingston and Mr. Lamson 

 for $25 a side, 25 birds each, 21 yards; Livingston shooting 

 at 21 yards, Lamson at 22 yards. 



Livingston— 1, 1, 1,1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1. 1/0, 1, 

 1, 1,1— Killed, 20. 



Lamson— 1, 1, 0, 1, 1. 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 

 0-^Kjlled, 14. .... 



bbqbhhbB 



