A nn I -ft |0, 1883.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



49 



about -riv >'ii up all hope of raising a. trout when u good 

 twelve-inch fish took my stretcher close to the rocks cm (lie 

 fai side, fie leaped clear above the water us [ struck liitu, 

 lowing his beautiful side like a gleam of silver; then he 

 kicked up such a rumpus iu the pool before 1 could land 

 him, that not another lish would rise. By sundown my 

 basket was well tilled, and though 1 had many heartrending 

 losses, I also had many glorious victories.' and captured 

 many a shy old trout. 



Nothing can exc 1 tin- feeling of content that tills the 



heart of an enthusiastic angler, when he trudges home after 

 a successful days s] iort : fatigue and aching wrists are for- 

 gotten as he puffs his fragrant briarvvood and recalls the 

 events of the day. and as he listens to the song of the wood- 

 robin he envies 'uo man. A1 home, I find the others have 

 arrived before me, and all have enjoyed fair success. While 

 the fish are being cleaned, we change our wet duds Tor dry 

 clothing, and by the time that, is accomplished supper is 

 ready. We are too tired even to talk, alter we gather around 

 the, wood fire, which does not. come amiss these cool M;iv 

 evenings in the mountains, but la/.ily burn our tobacco and 

 ihcn to bed. 



I will not tire the reader with further details of our pleas- 

 ant, trio, for one day's fishing is much like .■mother, but 

 when the week is ended, we regretfully packed our belong- 

 ings into the wagon, and drove back to the station, we 1 

 pleased with our trip, and very sorry to leave the cool forests 

 and tumbling brooks. . W. Holberton. 



BASS AT THE ST. CLAIR FLATS. 



FEELING as if a tit of uni'ii was coming on, super- 

 induced by almost what is called "a masterly inactiv- 

 ity," during the" spring and early summer months, owing to 

 th'e tempestuous and generally disagreeable weather, which 

 has been the rule so far in this section. 1 took advantage of 

 the kind offer of a friend, who is a member of a company 

 having a shooting and fishing preserve on the St. Clair Flats, 

 to accompany him thither for a few days' fishing. Taking 

 passage ou board the favorite steamer Idyllw'ild. early on 

 the morning of one of our brightest of summer days, I 

 rapidly proceeded down the St. flair River to my destina- 

 tion; which I reached in about &} hours, and where my 

 friend (Who had preceded me) was anxiously awaiting me. ' 



To those who have never availed themselves of atrip on 

 this most beautiful of rivers, 1 would say. that is a rare en- 

 joyment to take a round trip from Sarnia to Detroit and 

 hack, as you get as it were two different views of it. The 

 scenery on the banks is pretty on both sides, but some parts 

 of the American side are perfectly lovely. Pretty ornamen- 

 tal villas, with lawns sloping to the water's edge and having 

 boat and bath-houses here and there, peep out romantically 

 from among the woods, which line the banks, while boating 

 and fishing parties are moving about in tasty little ctafts, 

 enjoying and reveling in the beauties of the noble stream. 



As you proceed down the river you observe a cluster of 

 neat little summer cottages and a small club-house, built in 

 a pretty grove of oaks. A few miles further on you come to 

 The Oakland*, a tine hotel having mineral baths in eonnec 

 tion with it. This is a very imposing looking building, and 

 is a great place of resort in the hot. summer months, and com- 

 mands a lovely view of the river lor some distance up and 

 down. The owner and occupier of this hotel has also a 

 s5 III. 000 steam yacht, Which is the fastest craft on the St. 

 Clair River. Soon after this you come to Algonac, and then 

 turning the point of Harsou's Island, you coast along Wal- 

 j'ole Island on the Canada shore for a mile or two, till the 

 vast St. Clair Flats open out to view. To I hose who have 

 never seen these celebrated haunts of the wild swan, goose 

 and duck (which on the Canada side are now preserved), 

 these flats will prove an agreeable novelty, and are really 

 most picturesque. The ever varying hues of the rushes and 

 wild rice, and of the color of the waters (of the main stream 

 and the lesser channels which pierce and wind about all 

 through the marsh) caused by the absence or presence of 

 clouds, and the clearness or density of the atmosphere, ex- 

 hibit, a picture pleasant to the eye, and which, together with 

 the interminable lines of steame'rs, schooners, tugs and other 

 craft continually, day and night iu the season, speeding up 

 and dowu this great international highway, from Lake 

 Superior to the 81. Lawrence, the pretty towns, villages and 

 villas on each bank, and the distant woods by which the 

 whole are encircled, forms a most inteiesting living and 

 moving panorama of about thirty miles iu length, extending 

 from the canal at the head of Lake St. Clair to Sarnia, and 

 which, having been once seen, will create an intense desire 

 to visit them often. 



The St. Clair River, from its commencement: at Lake 

 Huron to its mouth at the canal I have mentioned, is a 

 beautiful, clear stream, running at a rati.' of live or six miles 

 an hour. Having reached mv destination, and fishing being 

 the order of the day, the lightest of tlannelsand the smallest 

 of canoe caps were 'donned, rods and bait prepared, and we 

 jump into our boats, paddle off and anchor at a favorite 

 spot on the Bassett Channel, where the nolile bass do con- 

 gregate. As we had uo minnow net, we had to send down 

 to a large hotel, some, distance from the club where 1 was 

 staying, for a supply of these most needful articles. The 

 exorbitant price of from thirty-rive to fifty cents a dozen 

 Was charged us for them. There appears to lie a huge 

 bonanza iu that spot! However, by way of self-protection 

 the. steward of our club made a large minnow net, so that 

 we caught all we afterward wanted, 



My friend B. commenced the fray by capturing, after a 

 short struggle, a line four-pound buss, and then a green or 

 'big-mouth" bass of about the same size. 1 hooked a large 

 black fellow, who came bouncing up to the top when he felt 

 the prick of the hook. He gave a wicked wink with his 

 left eye, an impudent flip with his caudal attachment, re 

 marking to himself as he spattered the wafer considerably 

 aroundrthat it was "time for disappearing." took a. "header" 

 and left for parts unexplored. My next bite was a "whop- 

 per" of some kind, as he took my 'rod — my choice and well- 

 tried fly-rod — and bent, it almost double. I gave more and 

 more Jme. till twenty-five yards of my good 'tapered trout- 

 line extended itself across the stream. Yet slill the same 

 steady and strong pull was maintained. As the stream at 

 this point was exactly seventy feet deep. 1 did not feel it 

 convenient just then to go down myself in search of the 

 great unseen, so shook him oft and my rod resumed its 

 normal position. 



Immediately afterward II had a similar experience, but 

 having a very stiff rod succeeded in getting his friend to the 

 surface, who turned out to be a very large pike, and doubt- 

 less the same brute that so nearly did for my lod. Alter 

 catching several more bass and some pickerel, we adjourned 

 for luneb, and on resuming our places, after refreshing the 



inner man, found that the fish were not inclined to favor us 

 with their company any more that day. 



The mosquitoes are so thick there in the summer that it is 

 necessary to be inside your "mosquito bars" by about 7 P. M., 

 so that you have noeh'auee to fish late in the evening. U. had 

 two of his boys with him and they caught any amount of 

 perch and a pike and a few bass. 



The next day being the 1st. II. thought he would try the 

 mainland for woodcock, but after wandering about nearly 

 the whole day, only saw two birds. Having only a small 

 quantity of bait 1 did not catch much on that day, so 

 amused myself rowdng about the large channels in the maish 

 with one of the boys. Among other things we saw a stur- 

 geon pond, in which were some enormous specimens of 

 that royal fish, where they are being kept previous to being 

 sent to Eastern markets for the' delectation of epicurean pal- 

 ate. Hundreds of these lish are caught everv season on the 

 Flats. As the Flats ou the American side of the river are 

 not preserved, 1 am told that ducks are shot, there all the 

 year round as there is no one to ),, k after the enforcement 

 of the game law, if there is one. 



As our time was up for home, we had to draw our visit to 

 a close, and while we were waiting for the steamer to take 

 us back to Sarnia, a sailing yacht arrived containing two 

 ladies and gentlemen who "had been cruising about for a 

 week or so. and they tied up to the dock, and taking their 

 boats, went out to try their luck at the bass. We pointed 

 out the beat place to them and wished them good luck. We 

 hud not time to wail for the results, but I am sure that 

 Mademoiselle Marie, one of the most charming of the many 

 charming American girls I have had the good fortune to 

 meet, prevailed in attracting the largest share of fish to her 

 hook. Trusting that 1 have not wearied you with this 

 lengthy production, 1 would wind up by remarking that 

 about the best bass fishing in Canada is to be had on the St. 

 Clair and the large channels that run through the Marsh. 

 The bass breed in Mitchell's Bay and theu roam through the 

 river, the channels and Lake St. Clair, south of the canal, 

 fill they return again To breed m Mitchell's Bay. 



C. O. T). 

 AroiiST, tana. 



SMALL AND LARGE-MOUTH BLACK BASS 



IT is always pleasant to agree with one's friends, but your 

 editorial comments of Aug. 0, upon the comparative 

 merits of the large and small-mouth black bass are so differ- 

 ent from my experience, I cannot let the opportunity pass 

 without having a word to say on the subject. 



I would like to award the large-mouth equal vigor and 

 fighting qualities that the small-mouth is known to have, but 

 my experience fully confirms the opinion that it has not. It 

 ■so' happened that about the time your issue of Aug. 9 was re- 

 ceived, I had caught with fly a three-pound large-mouth, 

 and I was therefore more fully impressed with the difference 

 in the two than I might otherwise have been, for I had taken 

 both kind. Although of the same genus their form and 

 habits are sufficiently different to easily determine one from 

 the olher. 



The small-mouth, preferring rapid, clear water with rocky 

 bottom, i> longer and more symmetrical than the large- 

 mouth. The large-mouth takes his comfort in quiet coves, 

 near logs or weeds, is slower in action, is not so much a sur- 

 face feeder, and does not so readily take the fly, and when 

 hooked, does not, as a rule, leap from the water, nor has it 

 the endurance of the small mouth. 



It was a question with me for some moments when I 

 caught the large-mouth referred to, whether it was not a 

 large chub, and rarely can I tell the difference until the fish 

 is iu sight. 



There is more tight and more game, more cussed ness and 

 more endurance, in a U-pound small-mouth black bass hav- 

 ing barred sides, than in a 3-pound large-mouth, and both 

 will deceive when first hooked, the first by being less weight 

 and the other being more, and while both are good enough, 

 I prefer the small-mouth every time. SiftAcesE. 



[We are glad to have this question agitated. Our corre- 

 spondent lives in Western New York", and his views are 

 those of most anglers in that vicinity. In fact, we incline 

 to think that the idea of the difference in the fighting quali- 

 ties of the two lish originated there. It may be thai this is 

 the case iu tin: district" named; our remark's were made in 

 reference to the whole Country, and were inrended to cover 

 only fish of the average size, iwo pounds and under. We 

 do not think 8 three-pound bass of either species fights harder 

 i ban inie of two pounds, and the larger they get the more 

 they seem to lose in vigor. It will be seen by reference to 

 our language t lint we did not speak positively on this sub- 

 ject, but that the tenor of our remarks was* that the big- 

 month had generally been underrated.] 



BLACK BASS. 



WITHIN the past two weeks we have heard many good 

 reports of the catch of black bass as to numbers and 

 size, a few ranging as high as four and a quarter pounds 

 each. We are glad to learn that the bass arc every year 

 becoming better known and appreciated in the New England 

 Stales, where so many wafers have been stocked with them. 

 We have nut caught the big ones yet this year, nor lost them. 

 Have tried them in New Hampshire a little, and in Plymouth, 

 Mass.. wilh good success. 



Ou Saturday, Aug. 4, two hooks caught thirty, no whales; 

 but one of three and a half pounds. Fifteen averaged two 

 pounds each, the remainder at a pound average. And they 

 were all what we call high-flyers. We think this the best 

 catch of the season. 



Wl- believe in Plymouth for black bass; some of its 

 waters were stocked 'by private parties years before the State 

 took any interest in fisheulture. In fact Plymouth has the 

 credit of being first in improvements oner.- before; that's the 

 town where our forefathers first landed after being out on a 

 long fishing trip; and we thought, as the bassvrere flying 

 through the air at the end of sixty feet of line on an eight- 

 ounce rod, what a pity the "old gentlemen" couldn't have 

 seen such fun as this in their day. 



But the landing of pilgrims was not immediately followed 

 by the landing of black bass, for they ->; ere not found indi- 

 genous to these lakes, and had they been, our poor old fore- 

 fathers used and advocated the "heavy rod" that "kills the 

 fish quick." Presumably that they might obtain their break- 

 fast before being discovered by the owner of the land and 

 be pierced with' an arrow, then the only existing penalty for 

 poaching. I am sure no other excuse would tempt me to 

 use a roil heavier than eight ounces on either bass or trout. 



M. 



Boston*, Mass., Aujrust7. 



Fish Seasons. —Stefidl Hit on pages 47 and 48. 



Black Bass nj Wkst YnwimA.— Moorefield, W. Ya., 

 Aug. 6.— You a,sk in your very valued paper for informa- 

 tion as to bass fishing, where to catch them, the time, and 

 also the best bait, and the means of getting there. October 

 is the best, time. Enjoying at the present'" time the pleasure 

 of the sweet mountain air as well as the hospitality of the 

 people, I drop aline to tell the followers of Walton where 

 they can enjoy a good fish and a first-class time. To get 

 there the way is smooth and plain, though not straight, but 

 the stage driver is named Bright. The place i» Moorefield. 

 Hardy county, W. Ya., and is only forty miles from Eevsor 

 on the Baltimore ife Ohio Railroad, and the stream is' the 

 •ranch of the Potomac, In the beautiful, romantic and 

 umnatchahle Trough, a gorge over eight miles long, and as 

 wild to-day as when the natives fir'sl fought the'lndians, 

 over one hundred years ago. A stage line every day takes 

 you to the door of Johnny" Wilson (Mullen Hotel) the pro- 

 prietor, commonly called Moses, about 5 o'clock P, M., 

 where the iunei man is amply satisfied and the paraphernalia, 

 for fishing furnished, if not brought as should be, such as a 

 canvas boat, a tent, a good roil line, and flies, and other 

 articles not necessary to mention Should any one come un- 

 prepared, as often fishermen do. apply to tbe'coinmodore of 

 the South Branch fleet, E. S.Alexander, who though now on 

 a leave Of absence, is slill at home and not on the retired list 

 and able to sec all bands safe on deck and afloat. Up here 

 fishing is no science, and any one who places a minnow on 

 aline "in the water. Or D fly properly made, can take more 

 fish than lie can possibly use or carry home to camp. I ex- 

 cept no place, locality or stream ; and then around (lie camp, 

 deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, or grouse, and you have it in 

 a nutshell, and any one who wants hunting, fisbing, and 

 health had better come and pay the place a visit.— F. Y. I. 



Thie New Fish Akd Oajie Preservative.— In our last 

 issue we referred to some large trout which bad been pre- 

 served by the new process, "Rex Magnus," and had been 



three weeks out of water without ice. A week later, through 

 the kindness of Fairchild Bros., of 00 Pulton street, one ol 

 whom caught the fish, we tested its edible qualities. The. 

 fish was one of six pounds, originallv. and it was boiled aud 

 served with white sauce. It, was exceedingly dry and in 

 flavor much like a fish that had been frozen; but. there was 

 no trace of chemical or oilier strange flavor. This was an 

 extraordinarily severe test ; the process as we understand it 

 is not to preserve Bah forever, and ten davs is as long as 

 most anglers care to preserve fish. The trout had been 

 drawn and soaked iu a solution of the powder, then taken 

 out and wrapped in cloths wet with it, for transportation. 

 At the end of three weeks it was agon immersed in a fresh 

 solution. The fish was not in firstclass table condition, but 

 was eatable, and this we think a great triumph. In this con- 

 nection we print the following b'lor frcsa a gentleman in 

 Pennsylvania to Messrs. Conroy & i.i„ett; 'Gentlemen — 



1 see in Fokk*t and Stream that you have some trout from 

 the Nepigou. I have just returned from lhat region wilh a 

 paity of five others. Our largest trout, weighed six pounds. 

 Others weighed from four and one-half to two pounds. Lisa 

 wonderful river for the size and abundance of its fish. Ours 

 were all taken with the fly, aud on rods from six to eight 

 ounces. The rod you rcpaiicd did good service, although 

 my largest fish was tour and one-half pounds. Please add 

 my testimonial to the value of Rex Magnus. The two 

 largest fish were preserved in it and reached their destina- 

 tion in excellent condition ten days after their capture." 



Weakfishino.— Tin- catches of weakfish near New York 

 are now very large. The season has been universally good. 

 and the fish of above the average size. A favorite ground 

 has been in Raritan Bay. between the Raritan River and 

 Sandy Hook, as well as in lower New York Bay and the 

 Rills' A party consisting of Messrs. L. Drake, J. Smith, 

 aud J. Bissell, took 405 in one day last, week, and the catch 

 weighed over R00 lbs. They used sheddcr cr..b for brut. 

 This bait is expensive and. therefore, many content them- 

 selves with sandworms. Other catches in' Prince's Bay as 

 reported are: S. Marshall. 79 fish;T. Sprag-ue. 1: 0; C. 

 Flynn. 74; J. Welsh, 85; 0. Watts, 78: and A. Ward, 

 To. Many kiuglish were also taken. Our Philadelphia 

 correspondent "Homo" writes under date of Aug. 11: 

 "Tlie largest catch of weakfish of the season was made 

 at Baruegat, Aug. 7. by Messrs. SDpath and Farner and four 

 friends of Burlington, N. J. These gentlemen caught 8fi0 

 between 8 A. M. and noon. The lish were all utilized, being 

 barreled up and shipped to their friends at Burlington by 



2 P. M., where they arrived in good condition at 6 P. M." ' 



The T.vRprjjr as Food. — Manchester, N. TL, Aug. 10.— 

 I am pleased to notice in your issue of the !)lh an article 

 regarding the edible qualities of the tarpum from "AJ 

 Fresco." 1 have In en making an effort for some time to 

 interest anglers for big fish in the capture of the tarpum 

 with rod and reel. Its garni ness is conceded by all who 

 have ever come in contact, with it, by line, and its value as 

 a food fish I have urged as a reason for experiments tending 

 toward its capture with similar tackle to liial used For large 

 striped bass, witn from BOO to 800 feet of line, and casting 

 from a boat. 1 believe their capture would be a little more 

 JifiU'ult than that of .- hug.; salnr n with fly-rod from shore. 

 And now that its value a- a food ftsu has been so favorably 

 commented upon by such a well-known authority, 1 trust 

 (hat some of our heavy-weight seekers may lie tempted to 

 try them this coming winter. — A. B. Dodge. 



Barnegat Bay.— Toms River, X. J.. August 3.— The. 

 fishing is very good for weakfish and sheepshead, one boat 

 lasl week bringing in 43s of the former, averaging, 1 should 

 judge, one pound to one aud a half pounds a piece. By the 

 way. these lish are, not all "weak." Try them wilh a ten- 

 ounce rod and light tinkle and vou will find their Southern 

 name, "trout," no misnomer as regards fighting qualities. 

 The best fishing is near the inlet at Cedar Point or down as 

 far as Harvey's Cedar-. The latter place is also good for 

 sheepshead. I saw one caught there that weighed twelve 

 and a half pounds. — Escopeta. 



Sawfish A^gliwg.— Dr. L. R. Quackeubush, the port, 

 physician of Jacksonville, Fla., while oul fishiug with an 

 ordinary bass line, oil' Mavpoi t, near the mom li of the St. 

 John's River, August 10. had quite, a beely tight with an im 

 meiise sawfish, "'the fish, after taking the- line, at once 

 made violent resistance, hut the Doctor, after playlj 

 about half an hour, succeeded in drawing it up to the boat, 

 where il was securely fastened and towed ashore. The fish 

 proved to be sixteen'feet in length, and before it would con- 

 sent to be taken knocked a portion of the stern of the boat 

 out. 



