FOREST AND STREAM. 



277 



irom the sale of tie food yielded by her waters. That 

 iishways can be constructed bo that salmon can and will pass 

 through them, has been practically demonstrated in Maine. 

 Eykrbtt Smith. 

 Rbmauks. —We suppose that a sheer fall of even six feet is 

 practically impassable for salmon or trout. The force of the 

 water falling in unbroken volume over a ledge or dam cannot 

 be overcome by the impetus of the most energetic leap. In 

 most] uore properly cascades, the face of the 



ledge is broken by protruding rucks, which aiford the fish a 

 temporary holding-ground, and serve as stepping-stones to 

 aid their ascent. The momentary pause in passing is so tri- 

 flin as to be imperceptible, yet the relief afforded is suf- 

 fiaent to insure success. Investigation will show that where- 

 ever the passage is effectually barred, the obstruction has a 

 truly perpendicular face, or more frequently a jutting es- 

 carpment. Should the pressure of water above be too great, 

 however, as in case of a freshet, that the overflow is project- 

 ed obliquely in the character of a chute, then the ascent 

 would be practicable and accomplished with comparative 

 ease, the angle of resistance actually aiding instead of retard- 

 ing the leap. This can be easily accounted for on philosophi- 

 cal principles. 



For Forest and Stream and Bod and Oun, 

 OUR HOBBY. 



YES, we have a hobby ! and we are far from being ashamed 

 to acknowledge what our hobby is. Any one could 

 easily discern its nature had they observed us taking from its 

 winter resting-place, thus early in the season, the case of rods 

 and the "kit," and examining them carefully to learn the 

 needed amount of repairs to put them in trim for the coming 

 season of sport. How the angler's heart will warm, and how 

 the slumbering recollections of the happy— oh, how happy ! — 

 hours spent last season by the brook, by the river, by the lake; of 

 Hie pleasant acquaintances formed with those whose generous 

 natures brought them to the same fields in pursuit of thesamo 

 joys ; how all these memories throng and cluster around that 

 worn and ancient rod-case as we handle it fondly and draw 

 from its recesses the agents of our pleasure. What a history 

 is connected with each individual rod ! This is the one with 

 which we fought and captured the forty-pounder ; this other 

 was the weapon which made us conqueror of our first, which 

 carried with it, if it were possible, more joy than all others 

 which paid tribute to our skill and gaff. And thus, as each 

 rod is marshalled, memories arc touched which all the wealth 

 of penurious misers cannot purchase from us. Prominent 

 upon "memory's tablet" are emblazoned also the names of 

 the friends who accompanied us ; and poor though we may 

 be in that which constitutes wealth in the eyes of the world, 

 we feel we are the possessors of another wealth, which money, 

 without the heart, can never possess. 



But our subject is " Our Hobby," and although it may be a 

 simple matter to guess what our hobby is, yet it was our in- 

 tention to touch not wholly upon ours, but upon the class of 

 " anti-hobbists " (?) and prove if possible their inconsistency. 

 Have you not, among your acquaintances, and perhaps your 

 friends, some one person, who, the moment you become en- 

 thusiastic in the slightest degree upon the subject of angling, 

 immediately ejaculates, " Hobby!" who insists upon the ea 

 parte evidence of his own feelings and inclinations being the 

 only proper guide for pleasures of any kind ? Have you not 

 even had a " mild species " in camp with you? We have. 

 He never has a hobby himself, but how he gulps and strangles 

 When, in the course of an argument you discover one — which 

 may be the manufacture of butter from soap, or the sending 

 of heathen missionaries to AVashington, or some other equally 

 amusing subject. Who is there, in possession of his full 

 senses, who has not a hobby ? Sooner or later the unpoetic 

 souls of these " anti-hobbi " will make their arguments ridicu- 

 lous by their unwilling confessions. We have been told by 

 one that nothing but the fact of " its being fashionable " would 

 ever lead us to endure the hardship (?) of a four-weeks' trip. 

 Yet we, at this moment, find him deeply imbued with the 



conviction that he willfind gold on Nan Well, wehave too 



much reverence for hobbies ourselves to expose him. We 

 would rather watch with a friendly interest the progress or 

 failure of his hobby — will he ever pardon us for calling it 

 ttiat, ? — and by a sympathy with him in either result, lead him 

 to the path we poor mortals tread, and the full power of en- 

 joying a sensible hobby. 



Now there are "business hobbies " and "pleasure bobbies.'' 

 Allowing that, the possession of wealth is the natural hobby 

 of every man, and business of some nature the path to his 

 hobby, it must be conceded that everybody has " one of them 

 things in the house," the anti-hobbi to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. We will therefore consider the " business hobby " 

 as disposed of. Now who wouldn't have a pleasure hobby of 

 some kind if he could, though its nature may differ from ours. 

 Please do not consider us egotistical because we speak mainly 

 upon angling, for, though that be our choice, out of the long 

 list of "pleasure hobbies " we do not desire to claim any su- 

 periority of judgment, and we frankly own that each must 

 choose tor himself. But we ask again, who would not have 

 one if he could f We pass upon the street the man of wealth, 

 distorted with rheumatism and sighing for that comfort and 

 pleasure which his money is powerless to procure ; we meet 

 the friend whose feeble wife or mother demands his whole at- 

 tention at home ; we recall to mind the man whose hardened 

 heart forbids the entrance of those softening feelings to which 

 the gentle angler must hold title; we think of these, and then 

 we realize the great gift of health and heart, which enable us 

 to go forth in the beautiful spring, when the air is heavy with 

 the perfume of the peach and apple blossoms, and the spring 

 of nature's turfy carpet adds to the buoyancy, of our spirits 

 and hopes. Yes, wehave a hobby! and when old age steals 

 noiselessly upon us, may tho kind Father above, who has car- 

 ried us safely through so many of our favorite excursions, 

 keep the heart within us green to its inspirations, and the flesh 

 strong to continue its enjoyments. 



For Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun. 

 THE STRIPED BASS. 

 /■ 



THEEE is to a lover of the pursuit of this fish a charm not 

 found in that of others of its species, more especially, 

 perhaps, because it includes fife on the seashore, which in 

 wildness, owing to a rocky coast, upon which bass are gener- 

 ally found, is incomparably interesting. This most truly ap- 

 plies to Massachusetts' more remotely located islands, where 

 are presented all the attractions of a sea voyage without its in- 

 conveniences. An incident in this sort of life is illustrated 

 by an extract from tho " log " of a club there located, to wit : 



" A large full-rigged bark foundered in front of the club- 

 house, lost her way in the fog ; heard her signal, but could 

 not see her— look for her to break up before morning— crew 

 saved." This is but incidental to a pastime which affords 

 greater diversity than does the pursuit of any other fish. 



Striped bass are found along the coast from the Potomac 

 to Maine, and even among the salmon in Canada. But, like 

 those of allotber inhabitants of the sea, its habits are much a 

 matter of conjecture, though it. seems to be conceded that it 

 principally subsists near the mouths of rivers, up which it 

 runs as high as possible. At the approach of winter, instead 

 01 seeking the deep water of the open ocean, the bass seek 

 the still arms of the sea, where, if undisturbed, they remain 

 until the return of spring. But here the fishermen find them 

 and make great hauls. Prom the Potomac, where they are 

 called "rock fish," they have been taken weighing 140 pounds. 

 This, of course, with the net ; while by the primitive line 

 method, or as it is called, "heaving and hauling," which con- 

 sists of a stout line, not attached to a rod, hastily drawn 

 through the water, they have been caught weighiug nearly 

 100 pounds. Its pursuit with rod and reel, however, is the 

 growth of but recent years, perhaps not more than thirty-five, 

 and the pleasure of this method is greatly augmented by the 

 delicacy of the tackle used. In selecting a rod, one of plain 

 bamboo of about 13 ounces is the best, and, if possible, it 

 should be quite round, though this is a mere whim, yet still a 

 part of some bass fishermen's creed. Not too lung, as should 

 it be the reel is thrown too high and makes it awkward to 

 handle. The reel must be of the best, as it would bo if 

 selected by a bass fisherman ; for herein is centred his affec- 

 tion ; and though expensive, the delight experienced by its 

 perfect and reliable working ia compensation. It should be 

 large enough to hold six hundred feet rf lintn line, twelve 

 thread is fine enough, but should it be fifteen, more security 

 wiU be felt with a large fish. But iu reeling it on have a care 

 for the kinks, and wind it through the fingers' ends, ruuning 

 the last one hundred and fifty feet through the grass. No. 

 9° hooks, in size, are the. best, though some use them smaller, 

 but the risk of not hooking the fish is increased by too small a 

 hook. With a leathern belt to rest the butt of the rod in after 

 securing a fish, and a pair of thumbstalls, knitted and of 

 heavy worsted, by which the thumbs are protected in regulat- 

 ing the revolutions of the reel, by which the course of the fish 

 to some extent is controlled, equipment is complete. 



That portion of the coast where bass are generally found is 

 very rocky, beyond which it is well to cast. Casting can't be 

 taught, it being rather a knack suddenly acquired, and its ob- 

 ject (that is, " to get out ") is only necessary to be remem- 

 bered. Avoid loo much strength," for it causes the reel to re 

 volve with greater rapidity than the bait is projected, causing 

 it to overrun and producing a snarl, which weakens the line, 

 frequently breaking it. But rather continue its practice and 

 avoid long casts, for the fish in search of food are to be found 

 in very shallow water. 



So great has been the development of a fondness for this 

 pastime, that the most desirable points in Eastern waters are 

 now occupied by clubs, the more westerly and earlier of 

 which — " West Island," not far from Newport — was formed 

 about thirty years ago. Though before this innovation (?) 

 under King Wilbur, many pioneers in this sport used there to 

 assemble and enjoy an abundance of it. Some years later — 

 about twelve — Cultyhunk, the more westerly of the chain of 

 Elizabeth Islands in Vineyard Sound, became the rendezvous 

 of a number of gentlemen, whose good cheer has made this 

 perhaps the best known of all the clubs. Out of this grew 

 the purchase, some three years later, of Pasque Island, com- 

 prising about one thousand acres, one more easterly of the 

 same chain, where much sport has been found. In one in- 

 stance by a single rod, on the early tide before breakfast, two 

 hundred and eighty-six pounds were taken, the largest weigh- 

 ing forty-four pounds. But the search for new fields dis- 

 covered Squibuocket Point, the southern extremity of Mar- 

 tha's Vineyard, which name was assumed by an association of 

 ten New York gentlemen, thorough lovers of the sport and 

 successful fishermen, whose record shows, as the result of one 

 week's fishing by two rods, fourteen hundred and forty sis 

 pounds, which perhaps has never been excelled. There are 

 many places, however, where but little fishing is done, and of 

 these No Man's Land is less visited, owing to its inaccessibility, 

 though there Ihe largest fish are found, of which one caught 

 last summer, weighing seventy-six pounds, was the largest 

 ever taken by rod and reel. Occasionally such large ones are 

 hooked that everything is carried away. The inhabitants of 

 this island are sponsors for the story in which a native, who, 

 in " heaving and hauling," fastened one end of his line around 

 his waist, leaving the other in the water, and fell asleep, from 

 which, however, he was suddenly startled by being hurried 

 over the sand, until his progress was stayed by coming in con- 

 tact with a rock, which enabled him to cut the line and thus 

 escape. 



While fishing last summer just at nightfall, the tide having 

 already made, perhaps a little on the ebb, while the receding 

 rays of tho sun creeping over the hills were caught by the 

 breakers and cast a reflection upon the water, which arouses 

 always the enthusiasm of a fisherman, for under such condi- 

 tions the presence of fish is always felt, my line became sud- 

 denly drawn out. and as the alack was exhausted by a sud- 

 den and strong effort, I felt that I had hooked a large fish. 

 He rushed toward deeper water ; onward he sped, 

 to reach the open ocean being gently checked by the pressure 

 of my thumb upon the reel, the rapidity of the revolutions of 

 which assured me that he was a large one, and filled me with 

 anxiety lest I should lose him, or thai, he should seek a rock. 

 Turning now to the right, when being caught by a breaker, 

 he was carried near the surface, and as his progress was thus 

 stayed, I obtained a gh'nipse of him, proving that ho was a 

 large one. With anxiety intense I shudderedfor the result of 

 the Black occasioned by this resistance to his efforts, but I had 

 underestimated his strength fl again, and with 



hopes raised by a turn in his course, which revealed his grow- 

 ing weakness, but which were as suddenly depressed by his 

 renewed determination to continue, I gently whispered a 

 prayer that he might not escape. The rapidity of his flight 

 was fast carrying away my six hundred feet of line, and as I 

 saw less than one hundred feet of it remaining, I began to 



despair. But his struggle had been an exhausting one, and as 

 the visible portion of my line in turn increased, I knew that 

 he had abandoned his intention of seeking deep water and 

 was fast approaching the surface, where, as he broke, by re- 

 lieving my line from the strain and placing it upon the rod, I 

 turned him toward shore. Slowly he came along, my fears 

 being much allayed by my making more line, until he was 

 within a few feet of tho strand, when upon seeing me his ex- 

 hausted strength aroused itself for another effort, which cul- 

 minated in a short run of about fifty feel. He then submit- 

 ted, and without further resistance was gaffed and landed, and 

 turned the scales at fifty pounds. There can be no more 

 pleasurable excitement than this pastime affords, and an in- 

 dulgence in it produces a beneficial recreation. 



D. M.,Jr. 



»—•>—• 



TROUT AND SALMON SEASON IN CAL- 

 IFORNIA. 



San Francisco, April 19, 18VJ. 

 Editob Fobbst and Stbbam : 



Trout fishing generally, as far as toe open time lias advanced, la 

 good. THere was plenty of rain during the greater part, of the breed- 

 ing months, which enabled the flsh to ascend the rivers and creeks in 

 abundance, and although the rains have been very unusually late and 

 made many of the Btreamsvery roily, the showers being gentle and not 

 very copious, the majority of the creeks have been pretty clear. 



The sportsman's Club of Calttbraia Initiated the season by offering 

 excellent young salmon ashing in Lake Merced, within an honr'8 

 drive of this city. This fine lake, of about 2,000 acres, has been leased 

 by the clnb for ten years. The great abundance of grilse which It 

 now contains were bred by the association and placed in the lftke 

 twelve months ago when they were very small. Their average weight 

 Is now three-quarters of a ponnd each, which in a preity good growth,' 

 considering that this ia a fresh-water lake. On the 12th of April, the 

 opening day, 165 Bah were captured, bait angling, by twelve members; 

 of the club, " Your humble servant to command " bagged fourteen.. 

 since that time up to date, upward of TOO of these healthy, game and 

 silvery beauties have fallen captives to the anglers' alluring baits of 

 either worms, boiled shrimpB, or pieces of the Bmall cattish or "bnll- 

 heads" to be taken in the Ialse. A few of the old Lake Tahoe ttont, 

 which were planted In these waters some fonr or Ave years since, are 

 occasionally takeD, weighing from three to seven pounds. 



The leases to the society of two other large and beautiful lakes with- 

 in twenty -five miles of this city— San Andreas and Piiarcltos— have ex- 

 pired. These fine sheets of water belong to the Spring Valley Water 

 Company. The first lake above named Is now literally swarming with: 

 yonng salmon (mingled with a few brook trout) from three-quarters to 

 two and a half pounds weight. These can generally be most succese- 

 f ully captured by trolling for them from a boat with a small stiver or 

 copper spoon. The last lake mentioned above is well supplied with 

 brook trout, weighing from one to four pounds. These, late In the sea- 

 son, take the fly freely, or can be had by trolling from a boat as well as 

 by bait fishing. The water company are quite liberal in giving permis- 

 sion to fish in these lakes to the membeis of the club and other 

 friends, although I am told It is probable that in a short time they may 

 charge something for ashing tickets. 



This year, and also last, but few yonng salmon have come into our 

 bay, or np the rivers a short distance above or below the city (three 

 years before that they were very plentiful), consequently there has been 

 no grilse fishing on Oakland Long Wharf, three miles lrom, and oppo- 

 site, the city. 



Last summer, in August, I enjoyed some capital fly fishing asd 

 troUlng in Lake Webber, in the Sierras. The fleh there are a splendid 

 species ot brook trout, put in the lake from a branch of the Feather 

 Elver. Their weight ia from a pound and a half to two pounds and a 

 half. This email but lovely lake, surrounded by pines and shrub- 

 bery, is distant twenty-seven miles from the city of Tructee 

 twelve hours' journey from here. Webber Lake is reached 

 from Truckee by stage, which runs three times a week. There 

 Is a neat hotel close to the water, well kept by A. Jay Anderson, 

 who, with his amiable and Industrious wife, ia incessant in his en- 

 deavors to make visitors feel at home and comfortable. Here can be 

 had penty of the richest cream ad libitum and the sweetest and purest 

 of milk and butter. They milk eight or tea cows, which feed on the 

 rich and most abundant grasses in the vicinity. The boats, Ashing 

 tackle, saddle horses and wagons are furnished tho guests free of 

 charge. The trout in this lake are of the finest flavor, and the flesh Is 

 of a light pink color. They are very game also. 



%ew JUMiqxtwif?. 



Bbentano'b Aquatic Montiilx and Sporting Gazettebb.— 

 The first number of the new aeries of this magazine has mado its 

 appearance. It is neatly printed, and contains records of the 

 turf , base ball, pedeatrianism, and also boating. Mr. Teverelly, 

 the Editor, brings large experience to the arduous task of floating 

 this new sporting chronicle, and will certainly attract a portion of 

 tho public at the outset by the similarity of the title adopted with 

 that of the standard work for sportsmen— Hallock's "Sportsman's 

 Gazetteer"— of which the Editor of Fouest and Stbeau ia the 

 author. 



—"The New Long Island: A. Handbook of Summer 

 Travel " is the title of u, superbly illustrated pamphlet prepared 

 by the Loug Island Railroad, as a guide to the summer resorts 

 within access to New Yorkers. The score and more of illustra- 

 tions which are taken from recent issues of LippincoH's and Serity 

 net's, are gems of magazine illustrative art. There are descrip- 

 tions of places, prices, means of coming and going, and all the other 

 information sought by the thousands who turn their faces from the 

 heated streets of New York. To such the Long Island shore 

 offers superior attractions. 



—A Granger residing near Morris, came up to Chicago the 

 other day and purchased a 38-calibre revolver, and two or 

 three boxes of cartridges, The latter were wrapped up in a 

 paper. When he got to his room in Burke's Hotel, he 

 opened it and gave the boxes a careful inspection. On each 

 he read '38 short.' 'The d-d thieves '.' he ejaculated, 

 lumping up and sturtiue off at a pace that would have done 

 credit to Ennis or Kowell for the store where he purchased 

 the ammunition. Entering it, he shouted out, ' Damit, some 

 of you has tried to cheat me out of 114 cartridges. I paid 

 $1.50 for these cartridges, and I find that each box is 38 

 short ' I won't be cheated. You'll have to make- up the 

 number or, damit, I'll see if the law won't make you." 

 The cartridges in each box had to be counted over, and ex 

 planation given as to the " 38" meaning calibre, and ', auoft 

 3ize before that.Granger would be satisfied.— .Eb. 



