390 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



lowed with profit only for a short time—from one to five 

 weeks, during the favorable nights, when various fish are 

 taken, suckers and wall-eyed pike predominating, though 

 whitefish are also captured in paying quantities. Large 

 hauls of these latter fish are made only during the three 

 weeks of the spawning season, as before mentioned, or 

 when they appear in shoals in the Spring, as they often do. 

 For what purpose whitefish thus congregate in the Spring is 

 unknown; but as they have been caught in July with ripe 

 ova, it has led many to believe that they spawn oftener 

 than once a season; this is probably only an exceptional 

 freak of nature. Seines are worked by three or more 

 men, according to size, and a boat; one end is held or 

 fastened to the shore at the point of departure, and the 

 seine folded upon the stern sheets of the boat, is payed out 

 as the rowers make a circular sweep, ending at the start- 

 ing point. The leading line is now fastened to a rude 

 windlass or capstan, and the net drawn into shallow wa- 

 ter. The fish within the expanse of water encircled are 

 gradually drawn by the surrounding wall of net work, and 

 finally captured from the "purse," which the middle por- 

 tion of the net assumes when it impinges upon the shore. 

 These seines are weighted upon the lower and buoyed 

 upon the upper edge, so that they assume the perpendicu- 

 lar while in the water. 



Gill nets are largely used. The season for gilling is from 

 April, or from the time the ice disappears until it again in- 

 terferes. By some, gill nets are used throughout the Win- 

 ter by cutting holes and drawing the nets through them 

 underneath the ice. These nets are buoyed and weighted in 

 the same manner as seines, and are five or six feet in width, 

 and about twenty rods in length and used in "gangs." A 

 "gang" is made by bridling together several nets— from 

 six to twelve. If the nets are designed for trout, four to 

 four and one half inch meshes are used; if for whitefish, 

 three and one-half, and three inches for herring. Gill nets 

 are placed in boats in the same manner as seines, and ta- 

 ken to some favorite resort of the fish — often ten or twelve 

 miles from land. When the ground is reached a stone an- 

 chor is dropped, to which is fastened a buoy and flagstaff. 

 To this is attached a line from the nets of sufficient length 

 to allow the weighted edge of the gang to reach the bot- 

 tom. The boat is now rowed in the desired direction, 

 until the further end of the gang is reached, when it is 

 also anchored and buoyed in the same manner as the first. 

 The nets are now left in the water about three days, when 

 they are lifted, the fish removed, and the nets dried and re- 

 paired for a second setting. Twenty fish to a net is a fair 

 catch, but often four times this number are taken. The 

 first gilling for whitefish is usually in from two to five 

 fathoms, but as the season advances and the fish retire to 

 deeper water, so are the nets carried farther and farther 

 out, until they are often set in fifty to one hundred and fif- 

 ty fathoms; indeed, off the Fox Islands, gill nets have 

 been set with excellent results in water fourteen feet in 

 depth. The largest fish come from deep water. Gill nets 

 destroy great numbers of fish during heavy storms, when 

 Ishermen are unable to visit them for days at a time, 

 two days being sufficient time during the Summer months 

 for fish to die and become tainted. Again, when the nets 

 are lost, as not unfrequently happens, they continue to de- 

 stroy fish by entangling Them, until the floats become 

 water-logged and sink. Nets have been grappled and 

 raised two years after losing, and found full of decayed 

 fish. As a great number of gangs are lost each year 

 through storms, or by leaving until the ice prevents recov- 

 ery, it may be readily believed that the useless destruction 

 of fish by them is considerable. 



Pound, or stake nets and bag nets. The principle is the 

 same in both. Each has a lengthened arm or leader stretch- 

 ing some distance out into the lake, with a trap at the end. 

 The bag net is anchored and buoyed, while, as the name 

 indicates, the stake net is fastened to stakes or spiles. 

 With the latter the leader is often three or more miles in 

 length, and furnished with pounds or traps at intervals. 

 These are set in water varying from five to one hundred 

 feet in depth, and the spiles to which the nets are fastened 

 are often ten inches in diameter and placed by a driver. 

 As the fish cannot pass the barrier formed by the leader, 

 and readily avail themselves of the apparent modes of es- 

 cape, it is evident that fishing with pound nets is far more 

 profitable than any other; but the expense entailed for a 

 complete outfit deters many from using this mode of cap- 

 ture." The pounds, or bags, are of the same material as 

 the leader, and the walls kept apart by anchor ropes, guys, 

 and light staves stop. Where the leader joins the bag 

 there are openings upon the mouse-trap principle, narrow- 

 ing as they recede, admitting the fish into the chamber, 

 within which they may reside indefinitely almost, without 

 finding the narrow and now projecting slit by which it en- 

 tered, and to which it constantly presents its broad side as 

 it swims within its prison wall. Night lines, or set lines, 

 are also used, but to no great extent, and a description 

 would be superfluous. 



"Snatching" trout is also practiced, especially in Winter. 

 The apparatus for "snatching" can scarcely be described 

 as a "stick and a string, with a worm at one end, and a fool 

 at the other." A trout hook is made from strong steel 

 wire, of from one-fourth to three-eighths of an inch in di- 

 ameter, and weighted with lead— about two pounds— in 

 the shape of two cones with their bases joined, through 

 which the shank passes lengthwise. The line is a cotton 

 one of nearly, if not quite, the strength of a bed cord, 

 and from three to six hundred feet long. In fishing 

 through the ice, the moment a bite is felt the fisherman 

 throws the line over his shoulder and runs with all his 

 might until the fish is landed upon the ice, giving his cap- 

 tive no time for resistance If in a boat he allows him to 

 run, occasionally feeling the line, until the fish is exhaust- 

 ed, when he is quickly secured. As high as eighteen bar- 

 rels of trout have been snatched by two persons, but four 

 barrels would be considered good fishing. Of trolling, it 

 is unnecessary to say more than that the apparatus must 

 correspond in size and strength to thai for snatching. 



On Saginaw and Green bays, more particularly, fishing 



, is- carried on extensively during the Winter months, ana 



the number of cabins, or shanties, upon the ice, occupied 



by fishermen, is often so numerous as to form quite a city. 

 Saginaw Bay boasts of such a settlement each season. Last 

 Winter the fishing city was nearly thirty miles in length, 

 by twelve in breadth, and possessed a population of up- 

 wards of 2,500 soul?. Two years since the city was regu- 

 larly organized under the name of "Pickerelsville," with a 

 Mayor and Common Council. The shanties, or huts, are of 

 different sizes, the largest last Winter being ten by sixteen, 

 ■and used as a hotel. The ordinary shanty is scarcely more 

 than large enough for the inmate to turn around in, and 

 is cheaply but warmly made, being of culled pine lum- 

 ber, covered with building paper. A bunk at one end an- 

 swers for sleeping purposes, while a shelf at the other 

 comprises the pantry and china (?) closet. At door at one 

 side provides entrance and exit, and light is obtained by a 

 small window at the opposite side, so" arranged as to be 

 readily darkened. A small sheet-iron stove, about a foot and 

 a half in length, and of corresponding height, answers for 

 warmth and culinary purposes. In the floor is a trap-doer, 

 some twenty inches square, which, upon being raised, re- 

 veals an opening through the ice. When fishing, the win- 

 dow is darkened, and the fisherman, seating himself at one 

 side of the opening, lowers into the water, by a string de- 

 pendent from the roof, a wooden lure fish, or a herring 

 prepared for the purpose. Herring are speared only as 

 wanted, and prepared by cramming into its gullet a strip 

 of lead some four inches in length, weighing a quarter of 

 a pound, as a sinker, a slip noose over the head, and all is 

 ready. The operator now lowers his decoy, and manipu- 

 lates it with more or less skill so as to simulate the move- 

 ments of a live fish. If the fisherman is fortunate enough 

 to secure a live herring, all the better, which is fed with 

 lead, and fastened in the same manner. Attached to a 

 second cord is the spear; a nail fixed in the handle allows 

 it to be hung on the trap, so as to be always at hand, and 

 when the fish approaches the decoy there Is a quick dart, 

 and the victim is quickly secured and drawn out, the han- 

 dle passing through a small opening in the roof made for 

 its accommodation. 



The spearing of fish, which seems simple and easy to the 

 novice, will be found to demand no little skill. The spears 

 used have from three to seven tines, and many possess 

 more than one barb to the tine. The darkening of the 

 apartment operates favorably by allowing the water to fur- 

 nish its own light, and enables the operator to sec to a 

 great depth. In almost every case the bottom may be 

 readily discerned. 



The fish run best in the early morning, and after four 

 o'clock in the evening. Some "use Limps, with reflectors, 

 that they may pursue their occupation at night. As the 

 fish run in schools, the openings are often black from num- 

 bers, and as many as five are sometimes taken with a sin- 

 gle cast. The, catch is principally wali-eycd pike — known 

 as pickerel to the "Kanucks" and "Wolverines"— although 

 a few whitefish and trout are obtained as well. Near the 

 Charity Islands many make a specialty of trout spearing. 

 These "use a small "coop," straw tick and blanket, the 

 shanty being used for living purposes only. The "coop" 

 is made of hoops, something the shape of a skeleton 

 carriage-top, and is placed upon one side of the opening 

 through the ice, while the fisherman reclines at full length 

 upon the mattress opposite, with his head projecting over 

 the hole and under the coop. Now, by drawing his blan- 

 ket over, all light is excluded, except as is reflected through 

 the medium of the water below. 



The yearly catch of all kinds of marketable fish at this 

 fishing city is upwards of two millions of pounds, which 

 is sold at an average of rive cents per pound; never less 

 than three, and often as high as six cents is paid. Each 

 year the ice cracks from shore to shore, and large fields 

 float out into Lake Huron; so it may be readily surmised 

 that this occupation is not without its attendant dangers. 

 Indians ignore shanties, coops, and mattresses, using mere- 

 ly a couch of hemlock boughs, or cedar brush, either of 

 which seem to possess antidotal properties to frost, upon 

 which they recline, and cover the head and opening with 

 the blanket alone. They are very expert at catching stur- 

 geon by this method, and possess seemingly the faculty of 

 ferreting out the haunts of this fish, which, in some locali- 

 ties, is their entire sustenance, or nearly so, during the 

 Winter. The spear used by them for this purpose is of 

 great strength, and usually of one tine only; but with four 

 or five barbs, all of which are on the one side, the handle 

 is thirty or forty feet in length, and of some heavy wood, 

 that it may penetrate the water with case. The spear 

 proper is fastened to it but slightly, being pressed into a 

 mitre at the end, so that the first movement of the fish, 

 when struck, will disengage it, aud allow the handle to re- 

 turn to the thrower; but a stout cord, several fathoms iu 

 length, connects the head of the spear to the shaft. The 

 reason for this is, that the struggles of a fish as large as the 

 sturgeon would snap the strongest handle, while the at- 

 tached cord allows sufficient play, and is the final means 

 of securing the captive. I have been unable to obtain any- 

 thing like the average weight of lake sturgeon, or their 

 size. The largest ever seen by the writer measured a little 

 over seven feet in length. 



The boats used by fishermen are generally square-sterned 

 dories, or Mackinacs. These latter are probably the best 

 small boats made for heavy weather. This Summer the 

 writer, with two others, rode out one of the heaviest storms 

 of the season on Lake Michigan, iu a Mackinac only 

 twenty-two feet in length, and suffered no great inconve- 

 nience. These boats have a good deal of shear, with great- 

 est beam forward of amidships, and sharp at the stern, 

 which prevents the shipping of water aft while running 

 with the sea. I believe them to be unequaled for speed, 

 and the best surf boat known, for with proper handling 

 they may be beached at any time without serious danger. 

 I understand a few parties use small steam craft and 

 schooners in their fishing operations. It is said that one 

 firm alone in Milwaukee employs 1,000 men. This is un- 

 doubtedly a gross exaggeration. Archer. 



ANGLING FOR EASTERN SALMON {Salmo 

 salar) IN CALIFORNIA WATERS. 



San Francisco, January fst, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Angling for young salmon on the Oakland long wharf, opposite this 

 city, commenced about eix weeks since. The^e grilse have began biting 

 about a month earlier than they did last year. They have not yet, how- 

 ever, come so plentifully into our bay (ultimately bound for their spawn- 

 ing ground up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers) the present 

 season. Consequently, few a* yet, in comparison with last winter, 

 have been taken. The average size of tho^ wln>h have been captured 



is greater by about two pounds than last year. This was to be ex- 

 pected, as they are, of course, a year older. Most of the fish creeled 

 are from two to three and a half pounds in weight. The more I and some 

 others have examined these fish, and looked into the subject, the more 

 are we of the opinion that these beautiful and delicious fish are those, or 

 the proceeds of those Eastern young salmon from the Penobscot or 

 Kennebec rivers, the eggs of which were brought here by Seth Green 

 and hatched at the Company's breeding ponds on the McCloud River 

 and the infant fry placed in the Sacramento River. Nearly all intelli- 

 gent jadges agree that these young salmon, with which we are now 

 having such good sport, are not of the same species as our common 

 Sacramento salmon, but are longer and slimmer in body, of a rather 

 blue tint on their backs, and their flesh is much lighter in color aud 

 more delicate in its tissues and flavor. Some ignorant parties here 

 still persist in calling them salmon-trout, meaning, probably, identical 

 with, or a kind of what is called here by fish dealers a salmon trout, 

 a few of which are now to be seen in our markets and which first ap- 

 pear on our southern coast about Monterey, and gradually make their 

 way northward— a fish having a square tail, a long body, and a very 

 small head. This salmon-trout, as it is termed, is esteemed by our fish- 

 ermen yet as superior to common Sacramento salmon, and sells higher 

 iu the ratio of one fourth at least, but is not quite so good as our young 

 bay salmon alluded to above, and which we are now taking. Our young 

 salmon have, like all the salmon family, a forked tail, unless our salmon- 

 trout just spoken of, and which, as I have observed have square tails, 

 are to be classed as true salmon, which I, for one, cannot suppose, as I 

 have told you in some of my former letters, these young salmon now iu 

 our bay take for bait our mussel-worm, or small fish, or a piece of a 

 smelt, either alive or dead, or both put on the hook at the same time, by 

 threading on the worm first over the shank and putting the small fish, or 

 slice of a smelt, just on the very point of the hook. 

 ^.,^» 



Batfield, Wis., January 10th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Your corre-pondent "Archer, 1 ' in Forest and Stream of Dec. 23d, 

 1875, speaking of the fishes cf the great lakes, states that, "siskowit 

 stands at the head of the list of fishes inhabitating these waters." I 

 would state for the information of "Archer," and all others interested 

 in trie matter, that the inhabitants on the shores of Lake Superior pro- 

 nounce the white San far superior to either the siskowit or lake trout, 

 and we also consider the lake trout a better fish for the (able, while fresh, 

 than the siskowit. The siskowit is a very fat, oily fish, and is considered 

 much better salted and smoked than when fresh. Our citizens never 

 eat siskowit or lake trout when whitefish can be had in the market. We 

 also have in the waters of Lake Superior a hybrid of the siskowit and 

 lake trout, and one not accustomed to seeing tin se flsh together would 

 not mark the difference in the fish. K. 



GAME 



Hares, brown and gray. 



JANUARY. 



Wild drick, geese, brant, &c. 



FOR FLOKtDA. 



Deer, Wild Turkey .Woodcock, Quail, Snipe, Ducks, and Wild Fow 



Game in Market.— The continued mild weather and 

 absence of snow, renders Western game very scarce in the 

 market, and we still quote pinnated grouse (prairie chick- 

 ens) at the unprecedented price for this season of the year, 

 of $1.25 to $1.50 per pair; ruffed grouse are worth $1 lo 

 $1.20; quails, very scarce at $5.50 per dozen; canvas-back 

 ducks, $3 to $3.50 per pair; red-heads, $1.50; mallard. $1 

 to $1.25; brant, scarce, $1.25 to $1.50; widgeon, 75 cents 

 to $1; black ducks the same price ;also sprig-tails; broad- 

 bills, 75 cents; teal, 75 cents to $1; wild geese, $1 to $1.50; 

 rabbits, 40 to 50 cents per pair; hares, 30 to 40 cents; veni- 

 son, 20 to 25 cents per pound. The wild ducks aud geese 

 are being received principally from the South, there being 

 but few Long Island birds in market. 



— The Hazard Powder Company have an Agency in Jack- 

 sonville, Florida, whereat sportsmen can replenish their 

 supplies without having to send North. 



—It is said that ten years ago a gentleman imported a 

 number of the eastern "Bob White 1 ' quail, and placed them 

 on an island near Walla Walla, W. T., and now they swarm 

 by the thousands, affording excellent hunting. The attempts 

 to acclimatize California quail on this side of the Rocky 

 Mountains have not been so successful. 



Wild Turkeys Wanted.— The West Jersey Game Pro- 

 tective Society want abont two dozen wild turkeys for 

 breeders. Can any of our Western readers supply them V 



Long Island Shooting Club. — At the annual meeting 

 of the Long Island Shooting Club, held in Brooklyn on 

 the 19th inst., the following officers were elected for the 

 ensuing year: — For President, W. M. Parks; Vice-Presi- 

 dent, Dr. H. F. Aten; Secretary, W. V. Baylis; Treasurer, 

 R. Robinson, and for Board of Directors, J.J. Walton, 

 Chas. A. Eddy, W. W. Wynn. The report of the Board of 

 Directors for the past year, through its chairman, Capt. A. 

 Elmeudorf, was very encouraging to the club, showing a 

 prosperous condition; also showing the shooting grounds 

 to be the most complete in all its details for the comfort 

 and pleasure of its members of any association in the 

 State; and the following resolution was proposed by the 

 Board and unanimously carried, to wit:— "That the mutila- 

 tion of birds shall not be allowed under any circumstances 

 on the grounds of the Long Island Shooting Club by any 

 person whatsoever, and that this resolution shall be con- 

 spicuously placed on the club grounds." 



Speingfield, Mass.— The Beaver Biver Sportsmen's 

 Club has been formed. The officers are:— President, A. 

 L. Bassett, of Pittsfield; Vice-President, H. K. Cooley; 

 Secretary and Treasurer, Frank Bolles, Jr.; Executive 

 Committee, Walter Clark, E. P. Doolittle, J. A. Bryan, F. 

 E. Cooley, C. J. Lyman, E. W. Ely, of Chester, A. L. 

 Goodrich, of Hartford, and N. P. Wills, of New Haven. 



Massachusetts— Sa 7 em t January 24&h. — Gunning still 

 very quiet. Ducks are scarce in our harbor just now, 

 owing to the open w r eather, keeping out in the bay. Pine 

 grosbeaks are very numerous this winter, but shore larks 

 aud snow buutiniis scarce. Herring and saddle -back gulls 

 numerous-. Smelting t hrough I he ice at Rowley has begun. 

 The Grant Rifle Club take advantage of the weather, and 

 have some good shots. I have asked for some of their 

 scores, and hope to get them for you. Teal, 



