88 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I Atcubt SO, 1&63 



the surface of the water. Acting upon the principle that 

 fish are attracted by a brilliant light. Engineer Baird, U. 

 S. N., has succeeded in making an arc lamp which will 

 Withstand the pressure at the depth of 100 fathoms, and it is 

 expected that tine results will be obtained by its use. 



Several trips to the Gulf Stream were made in the early 

 Spring, and during these trips the machinery and apparatus 

 was Sufficiently tested to prove that everytuing is in good 

 condition for the work laid out, for the vessel. On her way 

 from Washington to Wood's Roll, Mass., she set trawls on 

 the grounds where the tile-fish were formerly found in such 

 abundance, but not a single specimen was taken. Prof. 

 Baird intends to investigate" this interesting matter still fur- 

 ther, and has ready seven miles of trawl, which will be set 

 upon these grounds at the earliest possible opportunity. 

 Since that great mass of dead LopAioliititim was found cover- 

 ing the surface of the sea for many miles, not a single living 

 specimen lies been taken. 



Two dredging trips have been made by the Albatross 

 during the month of July, and the scientific "results obtained 

 are almost unparalleled In the history of the Commission. 

 Curious fishes, several of them forming new generic types, 

 were taken, but owing to the agility of the bottom fishes. 

 probably a great many escaped, being frightened by the 

 great black moving mass, which was intended as their cap- 

 turer. As soon as the character of the bottom is found by 

 soundings and dredeings, new methods, now under the con- 

 sideration of the experts, will be employed for the capture 

 of these quick-motioned fishes. The fauna of the bottom in 

 this region was found to be made up chiefly of soft coral 

 and starfishes, and from the immense numbers which came 

 up in the deep-sea trawl, it may be safely said the bottom is 

 literally paved with these animals. Among the most pecu- 

 liar animals taken were many specimens: of a peculiar Holo 

 tinman, or sea-cucumber, which, as they tumbled from the 

 net, resembled pieces of pork, and were a surprise, and at the 

 same time a puzzle to the naturalists. The food of the fishes 

 and other animals, consists of Globcr genua, a low foraminif 

 eroua animal which is extremely abundant at all depths 

 greater than one thousand fathoms. It foims a deposit 

 upon the bottom of the ocean, the depth of which has never 

 bum ascertained. Tiii s animal is closely allied to the forms 

 which caused the chalk deposit in England. 



BLACK BASS IN WEST VIRGINIA. 



I WENT on a very pleasant and successful fishing trip the 

 first of this month w ith my friend J. M. D. We started 

 without, knowing just where we would stop, as we couid 

 get no definite information as to the condition oc the water 

 in the Potomac We bought our tickets for Harper's Perry, 

 intending to fish in the Shenandoah if it was clear, but on ar- 

 riving thei ewe found both livers were very high and muddy. 

 We kept on to Sir Johu's Kun, hoping to find the Potomac at 

 that point clear, but we were doomed to disappoinment. We, 

 however, got from some one the positive assurance that the 

 south branch of the Potomac was clear, so we kept on to 

 French's, a small station on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 

 just south of the junction of the north aud south branches 

 of the Potomac. After getting out our traps and making 

 arrangements with the station agent to hoard us while up 

 there, we donned our blue flannel shirts, old winter pants 

 and wading shoes, and started for a walk of a mile across 

 the mountain for the south bramh. 



The whole scenery in this region is magnificent, but 1 was 

 not prepared for the exquisite view that burst upou me when 

 we reached the mountain top. The whole lovely valley of 

 the Ohio branch, seemed to be at our feet, while directly 

 under us, 1,000 feet below, was the liver winding aud twist- 

 ing like a silver thread. Opposite was a large plateau in a 

 high state of cultivation, with flocks of sheep and herds of 

 cattle dispersed over its surface. The water was so clear 

 below us that, we could see every stone on the bottom, and 

 it did not appear to be more than one or two feet deep, The 

 descent of the almost perpendicular mountain side is accom- 

 plished by a zig-zag path, cut, out of the loose sandstone, by 

 the farmers opposite, whose only outlet to the railroad and 

 store at French's is by a boat to cross the river, and the 

 mountain path. When we reached the water's edge we 

 found thai its depth, instead of being one or two feel, 

 was more like six, and we had to hunt for a place to ford. 

 as we could not fish on the bluff side of the river. We got 

 over at last, and as it was late (o o'clock) we concluded to 

 fish toward the mouth of the river, which was about two 

 miles below where we entered the water. 



We soon had our casts rigged. I used a silver doctor for 

 my tail fly, and a brown hackle for my dropper. The cur- 

 rent ran "pretty strong, with the water about waist deep, 

 bottom small stones and gravel — just the best kind of 

 wading. I very soon had a rise, aud hooked a splendid 

 gamy pound aud a half bass. He fought hard for five or 

 six minutes, bending my split bamboo nearly double. I held 

 him hard and gave him the butt, as I wanted to thoroughly 

 try my tackle and find out at the start if there were auy 

 weak points in it. Everything stood the test, and when a 

 few minutes later 1 hooked a pair I had no fears of any- 

 thing giving away. We fished on down toward the railroad 

 bridge, first one or the other of us taking a fish. Much of 

 my "time was taken tip in admiring the beautiful, ever- 

 changing scenery of the river and surroundings. When 

 night overtook "us we were more than a mile from out- 

 boarding-house, which we reached by a very disagree- 

 able tramp over a muddy road that ran alongside of the 

 river. 



The result of our afternoon's fish was twenty-one bass, 

 none under a pound in weight and none over two pounds. 



'the second da}- we went over the same mountain road, 

 lorded the river, walked up the banks about two miles and 

 fished down to the mountain path, which took us nearly all 

 day. The day's catch amounted to thirty-seven bass for our 

 two rods. The third day wc procured a horse and buggy 

 and drove about five miles up the river. The road ran along 

 the mountain, in many places being cut into the almost, per- 

 pendicular sides, and 'in no place did it seem wide enough 

 for us to have passed another vehicle, but fortunately we did 

 not meet any. Our objective point was a farmhouse that 

 we knew of, but ou arriving there we found the house de- 

 serted. We took possession of the stable, feeding the horse. 

 on hay which we found in it. We entered the river about a 

 mile above the house aud fished to about a mile beiow. At 

 this point the river is very deep and there a re immense rocks, 

 called the Indian rocks, in the middle of it. This country 

 is very thinly settled, and in our journeyings this day we 

 saw but two human beings besides ourselves. The fish did 

 not rise well, and our catch amounted to only twenty-seven 

 bass. 



We left for home, the next day, having our last ■ I 



nicely packed in mv refrigerator basket. The station ageut's 

 name is Mr. W. N. "Guthrie, and Impost-office South Branch. 

 Hampshire county, W. Va. He and his wife made our stay at 

 their house very pleasant. Wc bad good meals, and a great 

 treat each night at supper m the delicious ice cream that 

 Mrs. G. made for us. The beds were sweet aud clean and 

 luxuriously soft, which is rather an unusual thiug at these 

 out-of-the-way places. Our bass kept nice and fresh until 

 we arrived home, and were enjoyed by our families and 

 friends. E. A. P. 



Baltimore, jSug. S3. 



THE VICE-REGAL ANGLING PARTY. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



Thinking it might interest you to have some authentic 

 account of the number of salmon killed on the Cascapedia 

 River by the Vice-Royal party, by permission of His Excel- 

 lency, the Marquis of Lome. "and Her Royal Highness, the 

 Princess Louise, Captain Joseeliue Bagot has kindly given 



c the inclosed statement, showing how many fish were 

 killed by each member of the party. The whole catch was 

 •y fine, and they enjoyed the sport immensely, notwith- 

 standing the flies, etc. Our rivers have been full of fish, 

 and this has been the best season for llv-fishing since many 

 years. Every one who could go and did go fishing has re- 

 turned delighted. I regret to add that my duties kept me 

 here. Though invited to fish several streams I could not 

 get away : but I hope to console myself by popping away at 

 the woodcock, snipe and ducks in a few days. 



J. U, Gregory. 



Agencv of Dep't of Marine and Fisheries, Quebec, Aug. 20, 1883. 







FISH CACGHr BY HIS EXCELLENCY. 



Total 



Date. 



No. 



Weights. 



Weight 



m 



June 20 



3 



18M,2SJ4«1 



" 23 



•• 25 



1 



1 





m 



" :fi 



3 



2d,'80ji im 



"■'4 



•' 27 



5 



S3K>, MI4, 3--i. s .32 



13B91 



SMALL AN D LARGE-MOUTH BLACK BASS 

 Editor Forest <md Stream; 



As you say that you are glad to have the ijuestfon b-l the 

 relative strength and activity of these two species agitated, 

 I will say that from an acquaintance with loth for more 

 than forty years, from Minnesota to Florida. I have found 

 little or no diffi rence between litem. I have taken them 

 with tiv, spoon a'.itl bait as many as fifty in a day (in early 

 times), and Up to six and a half pounds weight, 



Some writers deny that the big-mouth bass makes a leap 

 from the water when hooked. I have generally Found them 

 do it, in shallow water always, but in deep water f have 

 sometimes had them do their fighting wholly beneath this 

 surface. When 1 took my first black bass in Illinois waters 

 he came eagerly to the hook in 

 f Greek names which were 



some forty odd ye 

 blissful ignorance o 

 impending over bin 

 logical catalogue of 

 style the two sped 

 I for. Henshall, aft 

 mouth 



... 23H 

 . . . . 3? 



Total 



Weight. 



•125% 

 Total 



Weigh!. 



21 



Total 



...21 



490 



Fifteen days, or portions of days. 





FISH CACGHT BY HISS JI'KEILL. Total 



Date. 



No. W 



iights. Weight. 



June 30 



1 



12 



July 2 



8 



" 10 



2 2t"4, 23.... 



tm 



2 29, MJ4-, 



... , 43J^ 



" 13 



1 



SB 



•' 16 



1 



2-1 



Total. 



... 8 



107 



Six days, or portions of days. 





FI«H CAUGHT BY C 



AI'T. THE HON. W. BAOOT. Total 



Date. 



Pool. No. 



Weights. Weight. 



June 21 



Escumiiiae 3 



■M-... ■ 3;a IJ3 



•' 2r> 



Auiaons 10 



I 25, 241/,, jjgii -j] , j;,i.„ -l.U, 2:% 



i2s! -s>-' 2i-i;y 



■■ 20 



Camp and Pieot 10 



1 11, 23, 22. 24%, -III:',, 20, 31. 3-1, 

 r21l.32. ' .,,. 2WM 



" 27 



Aumons 3 



Hm mi -:i 8t 



" 2B 



Four Twenty-five 

 and Camp 7 



| :;i 10 84, S8, 12J$i SOJi, 20 191 



" 2!) 



Almous 4 



3?, 8S B2 ■•':>-, J09»S 



" 30 



Pieot, Camp and 

 Four Twenty-five 7 



ja , 30, 2J, 1% 22, 24^, 26... . 160 



July 2 



Almons 



21, 25, 23. 2(5. 86)4, 15, 2ti, 25, 23, 210^ 



•• 3 



Four Twenty-live 



and Camp 4 

 Lime. Stone 3 



-J 25, 33)4, 2454 28>» UHH 



•' 1 



25, 14J&28W 58 





Ho -k LoJfce 3 



, ■ ■ .: '"■■ .. . iss:„ 



•' 



lame Stone 3 



.'.',,, U&16K E3!4 



•• 7 



Ledge 1 



20^ 



" 



Lime Stone 1 



■'■'■■.■ i'!-. Vi\-., 1-jt ., Ill 



•• 10 



Jack the Sailor 2 



l-lk>,2fi 4014 



" 11 





2'J</, 



•' 13 



Parson's 6 



101 



'• 14 



Lazy Bogan 1 



m 



'• 16 



Captain & Camp 2 



«^,4i;-2 M 



Nineteen days", 'or portions of days. Average weight,. 20 1-1G0 lbs. 



fish ciriiar by MR xoaOBUDSf baoot. Total 



Date. No. Weights, WeigW 



. 1"SU 



. mi 



His F.x 



ell.,l 



HerS ij 



Lord John llervev. 



Miss McNeill 



Mr. Joseeliue lu-.uoi . 

 qapt. W. Bagot., 



Grauu total 



2,S! ,, 



Mi- 



WViglit. 



According to Dr. Henshall's ohrono- 



■.•■!■: K •■-, ii was at that time proper to 

 Euro nigricans and QrysUs saVnumka. 

 an exhaustive study, names the large- 

 the "salmonbkc small tin," 



which seems an unhappy description of a fish which is not 

 Uke a salmon, neither are its fins small. 



The small-mouth he concludes to call Micrnpterut <Mnvti<i>h 

 the specific name being taken in honor of a Frenchman who, 

 as Dr. Henshall himself says, had no more connection with 

 the fish than Victor Hugo. Anil the generic names of the 

 two species being founded on a mutilated specimen. 



These two unlucky Americans have, during this Century, 

 received at, the hands of science each about fifteen or twenty 

 hard names, and the end is not yet. very possibly. 



The question of the value of the carp as a food fish is 



also n 



scarce, so that suckers am 



able, carp may have a ca-t.u 



Prauoia Francis, an Engl 



after describing methods of 



inland districts where lis) are 

 ■ed-horse are considered palat- 

 value, just as bog meat has. 

 i authority on fish and fishing, 

 nghflg fur carp, adds: •■When 

 you have caught him (in England, at least, as far as pny e\- 

 perii ncc goes) he is not worth eating, being a muddy, bony, 

 woolly beast, on whom auy sauce or condiment is simply 

 wasted." 8. C. 0, 



Marietta, Ga., Aug. 20, 18K3. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE ANGLiNC GOSSIP. 



I WISH 1 could spare the time to accompany "Ncssmuk" on 

 .some of his cruises, hut I fear that my fathom and odd of 

 longitude; averaging thirty pounds to the foot, would be 

 too much lor a ten-pound Rushton canoe. Since my return 

 from the Connecticut Lakes, I have "laid oil" a few days at, 

 the beautiful villageuf Cbarlestown. andahhoUgfi I did" not 

 care much about taking up the trolling spoon after laving 

 down the split bamboo, have rather enjoyed loolsiog at" the 

 pike which one or two of the local fishermen have been 

 Dringing in from the Connecticut River. I saw one ten- 

 pounder brought in three weeks since, and have seen a, num- 

 ber ranging anywhere from two to five pounds. These are 

 the genuine pike iEao.r hi.civ.s), originally from Lake ( 'liiiin 

 plain, and not the pickerel i / ,,.-,,, ■u.-, which isa native 



ot the Connecticut. 



Although 1 have said that ••Frank Forester" was not the 

 best authority on mutter* pertaining torflshing, he knew what 

 he was about" m his sketch of this*"fumily in his hook on 

 "Fish and l' ishiug," and I wish the writers u ho mix up pike 

 and pickerel so continually could study it. and see the ad- 

 mirable cuts, which show'clearly the difference between the 

 two atoreauid varieties and tluit'ol cither from the masca- 

 lunge, or '■maskiijonge,"as some people spell itnOW — though 

 for what reason puzzles deponent. 



And, by the way, a vicious habit prevails in Northern 

 New Hampshire and Vermont, a* well as Canada, of calling 

 the lake trout (Salmn miwayryx/i), lunge, a misnomer evi- 

 dently taken from some of the Canadian habitants, who, SO 

 long as the fish was a big one, neither knew nor cured 

 whether it belonged to the pike or salmon family. 



Mi, Hodge reports the frequent capture during the sum 

 mer at Sunapee Lake, of veiy large trout, as well as laud- 

 locked salmon, by fishing with live bait, and a long line 

 in sixty feet of water, and as you ask for data in regard to 

 fishing resorts, you had belter make a note of Ibis lake, for 

 the use of your readers next summer. 



It is a beautiful sheet of the purest water, some nine miles 

 long, and from one to three miles wide, lying between the 

 towns of Sunapee, Newbury, ami New London, N. II., on 

 the height of land between the Connecticut and Merrimack 

 rivers. It is a natural trout lake, and I have seen specimens 

 of the genuine brook ttout, weighing three pounds, taken 

 from it nearly fifty year* ago, but it' ha* been stocked by 

 successive hoards" of fish commissioners, with fresh-water 

 smelt, black bass, laud-locked salmon, and St. Johns River 

 trout. The smelt have increased aud multiplied cm 

 and furnish plenty of food for the three other varieties of 

 imported fish, as wall as the native trout, which are the 

 Scdmo fontinaUs, not the naw«-ycunh, and which, all four of 

 them, 'aic now being taken, weighing a* high as six pounds 

 per fish. It is getting to be the best fishing water in tne 

 State, and is easily aocissible. The Concord and Claremout 

 Railroad touches "it at Newbury Station at the extreme south 

 end, and a pretty little steamer pjies from there all over the 

 lake in the summer. There are tw o good lintels at Sunapee 

 Harbor at the outlet, and it is ouly lour miles to Newport, 

 where there arc two very good houses, it being the shire 

 town of the county. 



Kshermen from New York, and thai direction, taking 

 the New Haven A Hartford and Connecticut River roads, 

 can reach Claremont at (5 I'. M.. and a morning train over 

 the Concord & Claremout road will land them at the fool of 

 the lake in less than an hour, or they can stop at Newport 

 ami drive out to the hotels at the outlet. 



Visitors from Boston and that way should take the Lowell 

 road, and can be dropped at Newlmiy Station in five bonis. 

 Lei whoever reads this "salt it down" for nexi summer, lor 

 i it will be time to lay down the rod for this 



tv in speaking of Ihe pike in the Connecticut 



u'tly 



olht 



year and tak 

 1 omitted t 



River, that 1 partly uUribute'tbeir great increase in the part 

 of the river of wind i i spoke, to the raising of the dam at 

 Bellows Falls by the paper mills there, thus formings pond 

 ten miles longs, in part- of which there ispleulyof eel grass, 

 and pickerel weed, growing on a gravelly bottom, and fur- 

 nishing shelter for a multitude of small fi*h. minnows, young 

 dace, bass and perch, which furnish Sufficient food for the 

 bigger buss and the pike. 



But I shall weary \ou with this soil of gazetteer work, 

 aud the clock says bed-timel Peace be with you. The de 

 ceuuial number" was a great success, and I hear it highly 



