38 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Delaware. — Dover \ Aug. 24 — One of the best sporting 

 places to be found along the western shore of Delaware 

 Bay is Kitts Hammock, kept by John K. Norris, who dis- 

 penses daily fish, oysters, crabs, terrapins, &c, at a weekly 

 ch ( arge of $8. To reach the place take the Delaware Rail- 

 way from Philadelphia to Dover, not forgetting to call 

 upon our friend William C. Fountain, of the Capitol 

 Hotel, who is a fine caterer and obliging landlord. Weak- 

 flsh (called trout here), take crab bait eagerly now, and as 

 many as fifty to one hundred are taken on a tide to a single 

 line, to say nothing of an occasional bluefish, or dog fish. 



J. E. D. 



— — — «*►.*♦*— — 



HORNBEAM FOR RODS. 



Editor Forest and Stream:-- 



Some weeks ago "Woodup' , wrote in praise of hornbeam for rods, 

 and I heartily agree with him, having used it for many years.. I think, 

 however, tnat he errs when he describes the desirable species as the 

 tupelo. This tree, the American hornbeam, and the hop hornbeam, are 

 often spoken of, general as the hornbeam, and all have local names, as 

 iron wood, betel wood, etc. (See Emerson on the Trees of Massachu- 

 setts.) I have tried all these woods, and have found the hop hornbeam 

 all that is described by your correspondent; but the American hornbeam, 

 as well as the tupelo, seemed to me wanting in the requisite qualities 

 for rods. Though they don't "set" permanently, they want tenacity to 

 prevent their getting out of shape every time they are called upun. I 

 am more inclined to think that "Woodup 11 meant to refer to the hop 

 hornbeam and not to the tupelo, from his stating that the late Chester 

 Harding used the latter wood. I have fished many days, in times gone 

 by, with Mr. H., and together with him have made rods in the intervals 

 of rainy days, and know that the wood he used and so much admired 

 was the hop hornbeam. I still have a fly rod which he and I made 

 twenty years ago, and it is now as straight as on the day it was made. 

 With rods of this wood! have removed from their native element al- 

 most everything, from salmon to bull heads and snapping turtles, and 

 don't remember ever breaking a joint. I send you by express two 

 pieces, the last of a Tot which I got from Chateangay Lake in 1857, 

 through the late Luther Ellis, who was an excellent fisherman, as well 

 as an enthusiastic admirer of this wood. They will make tips which 

 bear abuse without flinching, and I beg you to note its fibre and elas- 

 ticity. Some eight or ten years ago I gave Mr. Seth Green, who was not 

 familiar with the wood, a fly rod made of it after his own pa' tern. He 

 wrote a letter to the Spirit of the Times praising highly the wood and 

 rod, and either in that letter or in a private letter to me, I forget which, 

 pronounced it the best wooden rod he had ever used. He was addicted 

 then, and perhaps is now, to split bamboo. Ruflts. 



[We appreciate most highly the valued gift of our cor- 

 respondent, and shall place the pieces in the hands of the 

 best artificer we know of to manufacture into tips. Wood 

 so well seasoned as eighteen years have made this, must 

 give a good account of itself; but we fear the test will have 

 to be deferred until next Spring. One of these tips we 

 shall fit to an eight ounce split bamboo joint, that we may 

 compare its efficacy with the bamboo tip; the other to an 

 Orvis wooden rod, the gift also of the maker. — Ed.] 

 . -*-*%» ■ 



SMMON FISHTNG EAST AND WEST- 

 HOW THEY TAKE THEM IN CALI- 

 FORNIA. 



> ♦ ■ 



San Francisco, Cat., August 6th, 1875. 

 Editor. Forest and Stream:— 



A constant reader of your valuable paper, T have been much interested 

 in the reports published of salmon fishing in the British Provinces. 

 • ±i'rom the accounts given, the sports there must be attended with un- 

 pleasant circumstances, if not actual hardships, such as great heat, at-' 

 tacks of insect life, remoteness from the conveniences and comforts of 

 civilized life, etc. Doubtless many persons who like the sport are una- 

 able or dislike to. encounter these difficulties. Bor the benefit of such, 

 and of your readers generally, I herewith give some information of 

 salmon fishing to be had in California at various seasons of the year. 



The first run of salmon is found in the mouths of the numerous small 

 rivers acd creeks that flow into the Pacitic Ocean from the coast range 

 of mountains from Carmel River, near Monterey, north to the bounda- 

 ries of Oregon. The grilse make their appearance about the middle of 

 October, followed in November by the adult fish. These remain at tide 

 water, waiting for the rise caused by the heavy rains of December, 

 which enables them to reach their spawning beds at the heads of the 

 streams. While in tide water the fish will bite freely it bait, spoon, and 

 frequently flies. The coast salmou are s-aid to be a distinct variety from 

 those spawning in the Sacramento River and its tributaries, and return 

 to the ocean in March and April. With these salmon comes a large spe- 

 cies of trout, known here as salmon trout, which have similar habits, 

 and return to* the sea about the same time. This last fish is long, round, 

 and comparatively slender, with a small head, and ranging as high as 

 seventeen pounds in weight. One of these weighing only eight pounds, 

 caught in good condition last Spring, measured 321 inches in length. 

 Any salmon of the same length would weigh from twenty to thirty 

 pounds. I am thus particular, as some parties here claim, the fish as a 

 variety of salmon instead of a trout. 



The first run of Sacramento salmon arrive in San Francisco about the 

 first of January. They remain within the influences of tide water until 

 April and May, when the waters of the river having cleared, from the 

 ending of the rains, they proceed to the Upper Sacramento and its trib- 

 utaries to spawn. A second run of salmon comes ia from sea in May, 

 and goes up the Sacramento without remaining in the bay. These fish 

 ascending the river are found in July and August in the vicinity of 

 Mount Shasta in pools, awaiting their time to spawn, and can then be 

 caught with hook and line. During the months of January, February, 

 March, and a portion of April last, salmou were caught in the bay and 

 rivers in unusual numbers, the cause of which I will explain further on. 

 In these months at least ten thousand were caught by hook and line 

 from the railroad pier at Oakland, three miles from this city. An un- 

 known number, but probably half as many more, were taken at other 

 points around the bay. These fish ranged from one to fifteen pounds 

 each. The sport being a hew one, and prosecuted mostly by novices 

 with insufficient tackle and from a pier fifteen feet above the water, the 

 largest fish were almost always lost after being hooked. When you con- 

 sider that the hooks were on single and generally inferior gut, on lines 

 attached to stiff bamboo rods without reels, scores of fishes, almost el- 

 bowing each other, with open piling beneath them coated with mussels, 

 you will readily understand that only the smaller fish were likely to be 

 taken. 



As before stated, the number of salmon in the bay was unusually large 

 during the present year. This came from the close season in 1873 (the 

 first we ever had) from August 1st to November 1st, and the putting into 

 the McCloud River the same year of <100,0f0-young salmon, artificially 

 hatched out by U. S. Fish Commissioner Livingston Stone, under an ar- 

 rangement made with our Fish Commissioners, Messrs. Redding, 

 Throckmorton and Farwell. The Spring run of adult salmon in the 

 Sacramento also was the largest known for many yeaTS to professional 

 fishermen, fish weighing from fifteen to twenty-five pounds, at times in 

 the city market selling from a quarter to half a dollar each. 



The coming season for salmon in our bay promises to be much more 

 favorable than the last, owing to a second close season in 1874, and to 

 one million fish having been hatched out and placed in the. McCldu'd 

 River by Commissioner Stone. Visitors from the Atlantic States will, 

 therefore, find good fishing in San Francisco Day during the coming 

 Winter. The climate has no greater severity than ' \\ bite frosts at night, 



with generally sunny days. There are no flies to annoy, and the fishing 

 can be done at a distance of about three miles from Hotels in San Fran^ 

 Cisco, or Oakland, without any of the discomforts which are common in 

 the British Provinces. In the coast ranges in Autumn, and on the Sac- 

 ramento River in Summer, fishing can be had with all the comforts of 

 the older agricultural States. Hora.ce D. Dunn. 



-*-M*- ■ 



i 



ANGLING IN KENTUCKY. 



Frankfort, Ky,, August 3d, 1875. 

 Editor Fokest and Stream: — 



Black's Pond, four miles from Frankfort, covers a space of eleven 

 acres, and rises almost to the dignity of a lake. I s principal product is 

 a hybrid perch weighing less than a half pound, of dark gray color, rather 

 squarely built and very strong, but not wary. Immense numbers of sil- 

 ver perch of small size are also taken at certain seasons. A few weigh- 

 ing as much as three pounds have been hooked, but these are rare, as are 

 also large bass. Last year a bass weighing four and 'a half pounds was 

 landed by a gentleman from this city. Small minnows are used for sil- 

 ver perch and bass, and the soft or ''peeler" crayfish for the lake perch. 

 I have seen as many as a thousand silver perch, taken from this pond in 

 one afternoon. It has been a favorite resort for many years, but I have 

 never heard of any effort to stock it with fine fish, though it is fed by 

 strong ana tireless springs. 



At Versailles, the county seat of Woodford, about twelve miles from 

 Frankfort, a successful attempt has been made at propagating trout, 

 though the stock has been killed several times by malicious persons, 

 who have thrown unslaked lime in the pools. I have seen brook trout 

 more than twelve inches long grown in these pools. A popular fallacy 

 is that they cannot exist in limestone streams, but this experiment ought 

 to remove such an idea. I do not know what effect the forty days of 

 rain will have on our Fall fishing, but I believe it will work to great dis- 

 advantage. The advance and recession of the waters will destroy large 

 numbers of the small fish by leaving them in the shallows, where they 

 seek' refuge from the currents, and by carrying them out to the uncharit- 

 able Ohio and Mississippi. 



We have here a minnow which I have never seen in any other part of 

 the world, and my experience is that it is more inviting to the small 

 game fish, salmon, bass and silver perch than any other. We call it a 

 "steel back," because of its resemblance to the iiopular minnow of that 

 name, but it is not of that erenus; on the contrary, it resembles the brook 

 trout much more. It is generally found in the most secluded creeks, in 

 shady pools, and under masses of flags, lilies and rhododendron. It has 

 on its side a crimson stripe like the spots of the trout, a dark blue streak 

 on its back, and a grayish white underneath. It has microscopic scales, 

 like those of the brook trout, and is full of life and activity. To my 

 mind a fish who would refuse him deseives to be netted or trapped, if 

 that species of barbarous^etribution is ever justifiable in any country. 



Immense quantities of blue and yellow catfish— a common market ar- 

 ticle—are taken here by regular fishermen, some of them weighing as 

 much as 100 pounds. They are cut into steaks and sold as other coarse 

 fish in the East. I will give you my experience with the pike in Red 

 River if you care for au article of that kind, and maybe I can furnish 

 you some deer and bear statistics from last Winter's experience in the 

 mountains, but I am more of a rod than a ramrod. Trout. 



[We should be pleased to hear frequently from our cor- 

 respondent. — Ed. ] 



\nUonnl §j[<i$Ume8. 



-^♦•*- 



0< 



TROUTING IN MICHIGAN. 



Ukand Rapids, August 1st, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream .— 



The morning of July 21st found your correspondent in company with 

 three friends seated in the comfort-able cars of the Grand Rapids and 

 Indiana Railroad en route for the trout streams of Northern Michigan. 

 A ride through the pine forests and lively villages for a distance of one 

 hundred and thirty miles found us shaking hands with our old friend 

 mine host Dawdy, of the Dawdy House, at May field. Traverse county, 

 who knows just how to keep a hotel. Next morning after a good night's 

 rest and breakfast on trout we started for our camping ground on the 

 Boardman River, a distance of about ten miles, by team. We took this 

 route, as we preferred camping out, still it is not necessary, as good fish- 

 ing can be had one mile from Mayfield, on East Creek. Pitching our 

 tent we struck water for trout, and on empting our baskets in the even- 

 ing, found that three of us could muster one hundred as handsome fish 

 as are rarely scrii together. Our total catch in five days was four hun- 

 dred and eighty-eight, not to mention one grayling. Northern Michigan 

 being now well supplied with hotel and i ailroad conveniences must for 

 some time be the favorite resort for sportsmen, as good fishing for trout 

 and bass can always be had, and for the gunner deer and partridges are 

 quite abundant. The Boaidman River was stocked by the State Fish 

 Commissioners in the Spring of 1874 with 10,000 land locked salmon, and 

 this season several have been taken with a fly from six to seven inches 

 in length. They will in a short time make fine sport for the experts with 

 the rod and fly. Valley City. 



_ -«-•*» . 



THIS HOOK OR THAT. 



v( New York, August Gib, 1875. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



A recent article in your paper touches upon "This Fly or That." 1 

 tie my own salmon flies, and have experienced the necessity of harmo- 

 niously selected colors as well as the predominating subdued or more 

 gaudy tints that the nature of the water of the different rivers require; 

 but of greater importance is "This Hook or That." It is one part of the 

 play to "get fast" on a salmon, but quite another to successfully lead the 

 fish to the gaff . With some years' experience I decide in favor of the 

 "Limerick bend" as most effective, being a fair hooker, and generally 

 brings its game home. Next stands'-the "O'Shaughnessey" with its one 

 objection— the point stands inward toward the shank slightly too much, 

 consequently not so certain a hooker, but when fast the Salmo solar may 

 prepare to leave its pool. Lastly comes the "sprout or sproat" round bend. 

 This hook would rank with me as -first, aud the acme of perfection for 

 flies. Woe be to the salmon that rises m even a playful mood with no 

 intent; if not in the mouth it is very liable to fasten on him "foul," but 

 the objections overbalance its good qualities. They can be easily reme- 

 died if the manufacturer will listen to practical experience. They are 

 made too stint of n.etal, aud, although perfectly tempered, yet in cutting 

 the barb the material is in many cases so weakened in the small size 

 hooks that a twenty or twenty-five pound salmon bids you good by after 

 a short struggle. I have lost many heavy fish with this hook, and it is 

 rather tantalizing after thirty or fifty minutes' experienced exertion, the 

 fish nearly exhausted, making its death throes in shallow water, almost 

 within reach of the gaff, to draw home your fly minus the barb and your 

 silvery prize that you had every reason toexyect slowly, (and with every 

 symptom of a victory over,) wending its way to its usual haunts. No 

 more sproats for me until the fault be remedied, after which I use no 



other. Novice. 



■ ••■♦♦■ 



Warren, Penn., August 18lh, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I am directed to inform you that a number of gentlemen, residents 

 of the borough ol Warren, Penn., and vicinity, met last week to form a 

 club, to be called the Warren Sportsmen's Club. Its leading purposes 

 are the preservation of game and certain varieties of fish, the advocacy 

 of proper game laws, the enforcement of such laws when passed, and 

 the promotion of healthy public sentiment in relation thereto. A con- 

 stitution was adopted, and the following officers were elected for the en- 

 suing year: President, Myron Waters; Vice President, F. II. Rockwell; 

 Secretary, E. Cowan; Tteasurer, Robert Der.ni^on; Counsel, j|. K. 

 Brown; Executive CunuuitUe, E. B. Eklred, C. A Bondman, A. J. 

 Rockwell. 



By publishing tiiis \ on u ill g;ea;ly oblige the leaders of the Forest 

 and Stream in this section. Truly 'yours, jj f (X., 



Scottish Games at Philadelphia, — The Quaker City- 

 was all astir on the 16th over the seventeenth annual cele- 

 bration of Scotch games by the Caledonian Club* of that 

 city. The members of the club and a considerable num- 

 ber of visitors met at the club room at an early hour in the 

 morning. Many of them were in full Highland costume. 

 After a short march through some of the principal streets 

 the cars were taken at the depot on Ninth and Green 

 streets, and the entire body of Caledonians, along with 

 several thousand spectators, proceeded to Schuetzen Park, 

 near East Falls. The parade appeared to create a consid- 

 erable amount of interest, and in the early part of the af- 

 ternoon not, less than eight thousand people were present 

 on the ground. The names of tlu successful competitors 

 and the feats they accomplished are detailed in the follow- 

 ing prize list : — 



Patting the Light Stone— First, W. Robertson, 41 ft. 2 in. ; 

 second, John Anderson, 40 ft. G$ in.; third, Hugh McKin- 

 non, 40 ft. 



Standing High Jump— -First, Alex. McKay, 9 ft. 11 in,; 

 second, John 'Greenan, 9 ft. 8i in. ; third, J. S. Crossley, 9 

 ft. 4£ in. 



Throwing Heavy Hammer — First, Hugh McKinnon, 101 

 ft. 6$ in.; second, H. McKay, 100 ft, 11 in.; third, John 

 Anderson, 94 ft. 



Running Jump — First, J. S. Crosslev, 19 ft-. 11 in.; sec- 

 ond. A. O. Reid, 19 ft,' 6 in.; third, John Maloney., 19 feet. 

 Putting the Heavy Stone — First, John Anderson, 34 ft. 2 

 in. ; second, Hugh. McKinnon, 33 ft. ; third, W. Robertson, 

 35 ft. 10 in. " 



Short Race (150 yards)— First, Johu Maloney; second, J. 

 S. Crossley; third, Wm. Barnes. 



Short Pace [boys under 14 years) — First, John Spotty; sec- 

 ond, John Bunn; third, Thomas Somerville. 



Throwing the Light Hammer — First, H. McKinnon, 115 

 ft, 2 in.; second, A. McKay, 113 ft. 7 in. ; third, John An- 

 derson, 105 ft. 6 in. 



Broadsword Dance — First, James Kennedy; second, John 

 West; third, L. D. Robertson. 



Punning High Leap — First, John West, 5 ft, 10 in.; sec- 

 ond, W. Robertson, 5 ft. 9 in.; third, Crossley and Elder, 

 5 ft. 8 in. (tie.) 



Hi ch and Kick — First, A. C. Reid, 8 ft. 5 in. ; second, Wm. 

 Elder, 8 ft. 3 in ; third, John Maloney, 8 ft. 3 in. (tie.) 



Running Hop, Step and Jump — First, John Maloney, 40 

 ft.; second, C. Rae, 89 ft.- 5 in.; third, A. McKay, 37 ft; 

 3 in. 



Tossing the Caber — First, II. McKinnon, 36 ft. 2 in. ; sec- 

 ond, A. McKay, 35 ft. 3 in.; third, W. Robertson, 34 ft. 

 3 in. 



Highland Fling— First, James Kennedy; second, James 

 McLaren; third, L. D. Robertson. 



Long Race {one mile) — First, Ed. Wilson; second, James 

 Freeman; third, Wm. Coates. 



Vaulting with the Pole — First, J. S. Crossley and Wm. 

 Robertson, 10 ft. 6£ in. (tie;) third, Wm. Elder, 9 ft. 10 in. 

 Back Race (over hurdles 18 in. high)— First, W. Robertson; 

 second, J. S. Crossley; third, Colin Rae. 



Standing High Leap— First. Wm, Elder, 4 ft. 10 in. ; sec- 

 ond, John Greenan, 4 ft. 9 in. ; third, John Maloney, 4 ft. 

 8 in. 



Hurdle Pace (boys under 14)— First, Harvey Lynch; fcec- 

 ond, James Bunn; third, John Spotty. 



Hurdle Race (300 yards)— First, John Maloney; second, 

 J. S. Crossley; third, A. C. Reid- 



Quoits^- First, Fred.Emerick; second, John Elliott; third, 

 Robt, Millar. 

 Best Dressed Highlander — William B. Smith. 

 Games in Brooklyn. — The ninth annual meeting of the 

 Brooklyn Caledonian club took place at Myrtle Avenue 

 Park ou the 18th and 19th August, occupying tlie unusual 

 time of two days. The weather was decidedly unfavor- 

 able, and detracted considerably from the success that 

 might otherwise have attached to the exhibition, allhough 

 we question the policy of again trying to keep up the in- 

 terest in the sports for such length of time. In order to 

 occupy fully the two days the intervals between the games 

 were necessarily made very lengthy and wearisome. The 

 first day's sport was sadly marred by the rain, but Thurs- 

 day was delightful, and the spc ctators numbered about five 

 thousand. The athletes present included most of the men 

 who are considered adepts in this branch of athletics. 

 Their names and the record of distances are detailed in 

 the prize list, as follows: — 



Most Appropriately Dressed Athlete — 1st, John West; 2d, 

 G. K. Giiluly. 



Patting the Heavy Stone (21 pounds) — 1st, John Anderson, 

 35 ft. 3Un.; 2d, W. Robertson, 33 ft. 8$ in.; 3d, H. Mc- 

 Kinnon, 32 ft. 5 in. 



Standing Jump— -1st, J. T. Crossley, 9 ft, U in.; 2d, An- 

 drew Rennie, 9 ft. 6 in.; 3d, W. Robertson, 9 ft. G in. 



Short Race— -1st, J. T. Crossley; 2d, A. C. Reid; 3d, W. 

 Robertson. 

 Boys 1 Highland Fling — Only competitor, James S. Knox. 

 Panning Hop, Step and Jump-c-lbt, G. T. Addison, 38 ft. 

 4f in. ; 2d, John T. Crossley, 38 ft. 3 in. ; 3d, Wm. Rob- 

 ertson, 30 ft. 7 in. 



Boys' Short Race— -1st, Robt. J. Forfar; 2d, Charles Pol- 

 lock; 3d, E. P.Edgar. 



Hitch and Kick— -1st, A. C. Reid, 9 ft. ; 2d, John West, 8 

 ft. 0,111.; 3d, G. T. Addison, 8 ft. 3 in. 



Throwing Heavy Hammer — 1st, Hugh McKinnon, 88 ft. 

 8-1- in. ; 2d, John Anderson, 84 ft. ; 3d, W. Robertson, 75 ft. 

 H in. 



Walking Match (one mili)— 1st, John Henderson; 2d, W. 

 J. Hume. 



Old Men's Race (over 50 years of age)— 1st, James Faulk- 

 ner; 2d, S. H. McAdam; 3d, Colin Campbell. 



Broadsword Dance— 1st, J. W. Adams; 2d, James Ken- 

 nedy: 3d. Wm- Summers. 



Running High Leap — 1st, Wm. Robertson, 5 ft. 2 in. ; 2d, 

 J. T. Crossley, 5 ft. 1 in; 3d. John West, 5 ft. 



Wheelbarrow Race— 1st, Robert Forfar; 2d, A. Mcintosh 

 Talmie; 3d, Jas. Artchison. 



Hurdle Race— 1st, J. S. Crossley; 2d, A. C. Reid; del, 

 Wm. Robertson. 



SECOND DAY. 



Putting Light Stone— 1st, J. Anderson, 43 ft, 4. in.; 2d, 

 W. Ivoutrston, 89 ft. 7 in; Hugh McKinnon, 39 ft. 5. in. 



Punning Jump— J. T. Crossley, 19 ft. 9 in.; Andrew 

 kLiinie, lb ft. bin.; A. C. Keid, 18 ft. 6 in. 



Long Pace— ht, J. T. Crossley; 2d, Andrew Rennie. 



Peel Dancing— 1st, James McLaran; 2d, Wm. ^Robert- 

 son, 



