FOREST AND STREAM. 



85 



and got so frightfully bitten by .the digusted flies that his 

 guide (securely smeared with tar) feared he might die be- 

 fore they could reach a settlement. It is unnecessary to 

 state that that species of fly-Oil was a drug in the market 

 thenceforth. There are two ways of keeping free from 

 fly-bites. One is by getting inoculated. It is a well-known 

 fact that inoculation by bees prevents their poison from 

 taking any effect upon man. So it seems to me it is with 

 black flies. The new-comer is dreadfully troubled with 

 them; they bite and poison him perhaps in spite cf oil, 

 but after he has been among the pests a few weeks he will 

 probably scarcely notice them, their bite being only marked 

 by a small red blotch, which leaves no irritation behind. 

 A friend was quite struck by observing a party of guides 

 fast asleep and unvailed, yet unbitten by flies, while their 

 employers were kept awake vigorously scratching by the 

 tormentors. There has always been much disputation 

 about the relative merits of several kinds of fly-oil. The 

 two best, undoubtedly, are tar or oil of cade, mixed with 

 sweet oil; and, second, camphor, sweet oil and penneroyal. 

 Having been where the flies swarmed, and given both a 

 thorough trial, I unhesitatingly pronounce in favor of the 

 last mentioned, which will effectually keep off the flies. 

 Fly-oil is generally considered a disagreeable thing to use, 

 and the oil is of course oily, but it keeps the skin in an ex- 

 cellent state, prevents it from peeling off, and lends it that 

 envied brown. The proper way to use fly-oil is to apply it 

 several times to the features, letting it till all the pores of 

 the skin, as, if my information is correct, it is through 

 these the flies draw blood. If this is properly attended to 

 the black flies become a mere bagatelle. [Here let me 

 address those whom are troubled by sun-burn, never to 

 wash their faces at night, after the day's exposure to the 

 sun, but to wait until morning to perform ablutions.] 

 Mosquitoes are easily disposed of by a smudge (or smoke] 

 before the tent-door. After the 1st of August flies or 

 mosquitoes seldom trouble one; nominally, the flies are 

 supposed to disappear entirely by that date, but the writer 

 never was so badly bitten as in an ungarded, unveiled mo- 

 ment, late in September, while engaged in pulling trout 

 out two at a time from a beautiful stream. 



«♦♦♦« 



A PLEASANT FISHING EPISODE. 



"i Chicago, 111., August 8th. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



We were fishing in the Pike (or Ocossibee) river, a tributary of the 

 Menominee in Northern Wisconsin. The river was too deep for wading 

 so we fished from the bow of a "dug-out" canoe with an Indian in the 

 stern to manage it. I was throwing a fly, or rather flies, on the edge of 

 the rapids, and letting them swing over into the eddy with little success. 

 Behind me was a large patch of foam about ten feet square and an inch 

 thick in among some rocks. In swinging back my rod carelessly my 

 lower fly touched the foam, when instantly a trout "went for it" right 

 up through the foam, making; it fly and leaving a bare place on the water 

 about as big as your hand, which of course at once closed over a»ain. 

 To back the canoe around where I could get a chance was the work of a 

 few seconds, and throwing the flies on the foam I was surprised to see 

 the flsh go for them. I took three good-sized trout, about 6 to 10 ozs., 

 and on another occasion three more. When the flies struck they did 

 not go through the foam at ouce, but the flsh struck right up through, 

 and in drawing the flies across it each fly with the foam on it looked as 

 large as a walnut. The weather was very warm, and the mosquitoes 

 very bad. We did not fish hard for we could not utilize the fish; to one 

 morning I took the canoe, and dropping down a long reach just below 

 the camp, fishing under the banks I took 24 as nice trout as >ou would 

 wish (from 4 to 12 ozs.) in about an hour, and could have taken more 

 but did not want them. They rose beautifully. Of course I have taken 

 more fi=h in other places, but lor comfort in having a clear river and get- 

 ting all we wanted I never si ruck a better place. A thorough fisher like 

 yourself would have enjoyed it. J. L. S. 

 -«-•-»■ 



ANGLING FOR WHITING AND SEA 

 TROUT IN SCOTLAND. 



Liverpool, Eng., August I6th. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Being over here on business I took advantage of the opportunity to 

 pay a visit to my old home in Scotland, from whence I have just re- 

 turned, having had a pleasant time amongmy native iorests and streams. 

 Langholm, my native place, is situated in a beautiful valley at the junc- 

 tion of three streams, the principal one being the Esk, into which, the 

 others flow, and which empties itself into the Solway Firth. All three 

 abound with trout. The town is about seven or eight miles from the 

 English border and 20 from Carlisle, one of England's ancient strong- 

 holds, which still retains the old castie crowning a height overlooking 

 the liver Eden, a fine salmon river, which you cross by a long and substan- 

 tial stone bridge entering the town from the north. 1 had some delight- 

 ful days on the Esk, which at this season of the year, if a favorable 

 flood comes to allow them to ascend, and which happily occurred wbile 

 I was there, is full of sea trout and waiting, or as it is sometimes called 

 •■herling," both, 1 believe, local names, and I do not know but that the 

 whiting is peculiar to waters emptying into the Solway; but I may be 

 wrong, asl have no positive information on the subject. Of one thing I 

 am isuie, and that is that for its weiuht, running from a half to one and 

 one-half pounds, it is the games^ fi=h that enters fresh water. The 

 sport with a light fly rod is something fine, and worth going a good ways 

 to enjoy. Tne moment you strike you witness two or three leaps in 

 rapid succession— so rapid you can hardly count them— which leaves no 

 doubt as to which family' he belongs; then the wheel whirls with his 

 rush to be free. You finally bring him to, game to the last £asp, and nis 

 silver sides glisten on the gravelly shore. He has the real salmon lustre, 

 blue back, and silvery sides, with dark specks over the upper parta. 

 The sea trout runs in weight from one and one-half to four pounds and 

 sometimes heavier, and is also a very game fish, but not so beautiful in 

 shape and coloring as the whiting, having a dingy, brown back and dull, 

 white sides, although part of this may occur from being some time in 

 fresh water, they being usually brighter when fresh run from the sea. 

 The Tarras, one of the tributaries of the Esk, into which it flows, 

 about three miles below Langholm, is also a famous trout stream— a gen- 

 uine mountain stieara, flowing over a rough, rocky bed and through a 

 wild moorland district, almost entirely devoted to sheep raising. It 

 takes its rise in the moors, famous from the time.Mary, Queen of Scots, ' 

 rode across them, and in which she nearly lost her life (which would 

 have been a little more romantic than fier real end) to visit Bothwell, 

 lying ill at Hermitage Castle. In the old days when the Borderers 



"Stole the beeves that made their broth 



From England and from Scotland both," 

 this Tarras was a famous retreat for the Scotch mosstroopers returning 

 from a raid over the English border, as no foe unacquainted with its 

 moss holes and devious paths dared follow into its wild fastnesses. But 

 now the scene is all chauged, possibly excepting its brown crags rearing 

 their bare heads fromcit their covering of blooming heather. Have you 

 ever visn ed Scotland? If not do so in July and August, when the heatfi- 

 er is in full bloom, and with rod in hand with some favorite stream as 

 your goal, wander at will through its flowering depths, and if you don't 

 think it the v«ry acme of bliss then I won't believe you the Editor of 

 Fokest and Stream. I think now I see a smile at my exaggeration. 

 Well, I had a nice day at Tarras; walked over the hill in the forenoon 

 an d fished, about three miles up stream, which is very hard work, the 



rapid current carrying the line down stream very quickly, thereby caus- 

 ing a great many casts; the water was also very clear, adding consider- 

 ably to the difficulty, and the trout are very wild, requiring great cau- 

 tion and long casts to secure them. However, I managed to obtain a 

 nice mess, and reached an old friend's about dark, well tired and well 

 pleased with my day's cjoyment. After 14 years' separation a hearty 

 shake of the hand and a good supper and talk over old times, en- 

 livened with a little of the real "mountain dew" are very enjoyable. 

 Now, dear Editor, I will bring my rambling letter to a close by saying 

 that I have often wished I could make some slight return for aM the 

 many good things enjoyed in Forest and Stream, and if there is any- 

 thing bere which you think will interest your readers you have it at com- 

 mand. 



I inclose a couple of flies such as I have been using, and which I know 

 are good and low in price (about 50 cents per dozen), made by an old 

 friend in the business, and if you or any friends would like any dressed 

 to pattern I shall be glad to take care of them and bring on my return. 



Esk. 

 [We thank our correspondent for the flies, which are 

 beautifully made. They are smaller than most flies used 

 in this country, and are dressed on gut so fine that none 

 but an expert could hope to laud a sizeable fish that hap- 

 pened to fasten himself to them. We shall look for an- 

 other letter with interest — Ed.] 



«♦♦♦• 



SPECKLED TROUT IN TENNESSEE. 



^ Knoxville, Tenn., September 5th. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I herewith inclose you some notes relative to the localities in East 

 Tennessee for speckled trout. The head of Coxby's creek some 35 

 miles south of Morristown, and on the west side of Smoky Mountain is 

 the nearest point to Morristown. The fishing here is not so good us 

 across the mountain, iu Big creek, another tributary of Big Pigeou 

 river from the west side. This latter creek is just over the North <"'ar- 

 olina line; IS miles higher up the Pigeon is Catalouche creek, aud eight 

 miles from Catalouche is Jonathan's creek, both tributaries of Pigeon, 

 and both said to be splendid for Sahno fonlmalis. The best mode of 

 reaching this locality is from Morristown, on the East Tennessee and 

 Virginia Kailroad. Take cais for Clifiou (Newport) on Cincinnati Cum- 

 berland Gap and Charle town Kailroad, and from this point 20 miles oy 

 good road to Cosby's creek (central fork) and thence by good turnpike 

 to Big creek, 14 miles to B. P. Hrjpkins, Mt. Sterling, Hay- 

 wood county, N. C. I spent one day and night at Mr. Hopkins's for 50 

 cents. The fishing was not good, as the water was very low, but I 

 should not wonder if an expert could not take as many as he wished. 

 The "Tar Heels" use "stick bait," an insect sticking to the under sur- 

 face of rocks in the creek to take the "speckled beauties," with. 



Gf. H. Uagsdale. 



iHchtmg <mdj§aaiing. 



All communications from Secretaries and friends should be mailed no 

 later than Monday in eac.i week. 



♦ 



HIGH WATER. FOK THE WEEK. 



Date. 



Sep. 14 



Sep. 15 



Sep. IB 



Sep. V7 ,. 



Sep. 18 



Sep. 19 



Sep. 20 



Boston. 



H. M. 



7 50 

 57 



10 

 10 

 11 



3 



42 



24 



eve. 3 

 43 



New York. 



H. 



M. 



5 



42 



6 



39 



7 



26 



8 



7 



8 



48 



9 



m 



10 



10 



Charleston 



H. 



3 

 4 

 6 

 6 



7 



50 

 57 



3 

 42 

 24 



3 

 43 



Seawakiiaka Yacht Club. — The fifth annual regatta of 

 the Seawanhaka Yacht Club will be sailed on Saturday, 

 September 16th, over their home course in the Sound. 

 Tbe yachts of the fleet will be classified in the following 

 order: First and second class schooners, first and second 

 class cabin sloops, and first and second class open sloops. 

 The smaller yachts will be starred at half-past ten, the 

 schooners and both classes of cabin sh>6ps about half an 

 hour later. Ten minutes will be allowed for the larger 

 yachts to cross the line, and any vessel failing to start 

 within the stipulated time will not be ruled out, but will 

 be timed at the expiration of the time allowed for crossing. 

 The course for first and second class opcu sloops will be 

 from the starting point, in Oyster Bay, to aud around Red 

 Buoy No. 2, on Middle Ground; thence to and around Hog 

 Island Buoy, Lloyd's Neck Buoy, lied Buoy No. 2, thence 

 a second time to and around the buoys off Hog Island. 

 All entries must be made in writing to Mr. M. lioosevelt 

 Schuyler, 54 William street, and will be received until 

 noon to morrow. 



DonciiESTBR Yacht Club. — The fourth in the series of 

 regalias of the Dorchester Club for the present season was 

 very finely contested last Saturday afternoon. The regatta 

 w T as for first class center- boards, measuring 25 feet, and 

 upward; second class center-boards, from 25 to 18 feet in 

 length; third class center boards, under 18 feet, and for 

 keel yachts; and the course for all was a distance of nine 

 and a half miles. 



The Eva, W. H. Bangs, Jr., won the prize in the first 

 class, but no prizes were awarded in the second class, for 

 the reason that the crew of the Niagara claimed that the 

 boom of the Wanderer struck buoy No. 6 as she turned. 

 The race among the keels was a oue-sided affair through- 

 out, the Maraquita, Mr. P. Dexter, obtaining at the outset 

 a splendid advantage over the Hornet and the Johnny 

 Sands, and won the prize— a large silver castor — easily. 

 The Johnny Sands carried away her topmast off Sculpin 

 ledge. The race between the Tulip and the Virginia, of 

 the third class, over the five and a half mile course was 

 very exciting, the former winning the prize — a salad castor 

 — in the remarkably short time, in such rough weather, of 

 48 minutes and 35 seconds. The judges were W. H. 

 Bangs, Jr., Coolidge Barnard, Col. Nathaniel Wales, 

 Henry S. Mann and W. F. Halsall. 



Quincy Yacht Club.— The tie race for the third class 

 championship of the Quincy Yacht Club was decided on 

 Friday last in favor of the Rocket by the following sum- 

 mary: — 



Actual Corrected" 

 Length. Time. Time. 



Name. Owner. Et. in. H. M. S. H. M. S. 



Kocket— B. E. Bass 16 ii 1 27 31 1 23 34 



Antue-P. B. Turner 16 8 1 27 41 1 24 08 



Fannie— A. Cleverly 1(3 Q 1 38 00 1 34 19 



Canada. — The regatta of the Royal Canadian Yacht 

 Club was sailed at Toronto on the 8th inst. The following 

 are the names of the competing boats: Oriole, owned by 

 W. C. Campbell and outers;' Vixen, owned by M. P. 

 II tyes; Brunette, owned by H Stinson; Gorilla, owned by 

 Vice Commodore Gift'ord;" Geraldine, owned by A. Bos- 



well. There were four prizes to be awarded in this race. 

 The first was the Prince of Wales' Cup, presented to the 

 club by H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, on the occasion of 

 his visit to this country in 1866. The second prize a purse 

 of $50, presented by the club. The third and fourth pri- 

 zes were two cups of. equal value presented by Commo- 

 dore Hodder. The course was 32 miles in length, and 

 there was no restriction for time in the race. The Bru- 

 nette won the Prince of Wales Cup and the center-board 

 prize, the Oriole won the $50 prize, and the Vixen the 

 Commodore cup for keel boats. 



The Schooner that a New Brunswick Farmer built 

 for a Voyage to Australia. — We have examined a queer 

 craft now lying at the foot of Beekman street, this city, 

 built and owned by James Draper, who lives at St. John, 

 N. B. He formed a desire to go to Australia and try cattle 

 farming, but his means were limited. Some of the neigh- 

 bors wished to go, too, and he conceived the idea of build- 

 ing a vessel which would accommodate about 20 persons 

 on the voyage. Although he had never seen a vessel on 

 the stocks, six years ago he commenced building his boat. 

 His farm was on the river about 140 miles above St. John, 

 and there he began work. He felled the trees himself, 

 shaped them, put them together, and completed the boat 

 alone. We take the following quaint description from the 

 Sun: — 



"On the outside she looks like something between Noah's 

 ark and a log house. The bow is fairly sharp, but the 

 stern looks, as one of the sailers expressed it, 'as if she had 

 been made by the mile aud cut off in lengths to suit.' She 

 is schooner rigged, 55 ft. keel, 18 ft. beam, and 8 ft. depth 

 of hold. Rough wooden steps lead below, and the hatch- 

 way is almost large enough to drive a horse and wagon 

 through. She registers 61 tons, but her timbers are strong 

 enough for a vessel of 500 tons. She is built entirely of 

 juniper wood; her sides are 22 inches thick at the keel, ta- 

 pering off gradually to 12 inches at the rail. The 

 mainmast is 40 feet high, the foremast 38 feet, and she 

 carries no topmasts. Her main beam is 30 feet, and her 

 bowsprit 12 feet. She carries a house on deck which looks 

 like a" sportsman's cabin iu the woods, and is fitted up in- 

 side in a manner to correspond. 



"Coming from Providence here, with everything in her 

 favor, the vessel made five knots an hour. Capt. W. H. 

 Moody, an old seaman, has charge of her as sailing mas- 

 ter. He says that, she is the queerest boat he ever managed, 

 but that she is one of the strongest boats he ever saw. On 

 board one is puzzled to know whether he is in an old-fash- 

 ioned farm house or on a vessel, so curiously are the pecu- 

 liarities of the two mixed. She will remain in this port 

 about two weeks, then go to Philadelphia for exhibition. 

 From thence she will return to New Brunswick, there take 

 in stores, and then start J'or Australia. 



«*•♦■ ■ 



CRUISING ALOJSG THE FLORIDA COAST. 



vX St. Augustine, Fla. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Some time ago two of us si ar ted on a trip to South Florida to hunt 

 fish and soe the scenery. We fitted up a 27 feet boat with provisions 

 and sailed from here on May 24th, reaching Mautanzas in a few hours, 

 and came to an anchor to await a favouible wind. On the morning of 

 the 26th we ventured into the broad Atlantic coasting to Mosquito Inlet. 

 When we had gone about half the distance we encountered three devil- 

 fish, two of them close together and directly ahead of us. As we neared 

 them they parted, allowing the boat to pass between them at a distance 

 of about 15 feet, and no sooner had the boat cleared them than they 

 closed in aud followed us for nearly 100 yards, keeping about 25 feet 

 astern of us. We considered them bad company and were quite re- 

 joiced when they disappeared from view. 



Early on the morning of the 27th we entered Mosquito Inlet. About 

 30 miles south of the bar we reached the canal where boats pass from 

 Mosquito Lagoon into Indian river. It will admit a boat of about eight 

 feet beam, but of very light draft, say ten or fifteen inches. There is no 

 cuirent except that made by the wind, consequently one always finds 

 plenty of water on one side and very little on the other. It is but a 

 short distance through the canal— only a quarter of a mile. Indian river 

 is broad and beautiful (with the exception of the narrows, which is only 

 100 yards wide). It is from three to ten miles bioad and about 200 in 

 length. At Jupiter we went outside to Lake Worth, 12 miles. The 

 ocean there is very smooth; the Gulf Stieam runs within a mile of the 

 coast; steamships running between New York and New Orleans pass 

 very near the shore. We saw them three times a week regular. Lake 

 Worth is about 25 miles long, and from one-half to two miles wide. It 

 is but a short walk fiom the beach. On its shores are some very fine 

 places, and especially Mr. Moore's, on which we saw some 20 cocoanut 

 trees, each said to yield about 300 nuts annually. They had at the time 

 we saw them the blossom, half-ripe and ripe fruit on their branches* 

 Mr. Moore had also a large grove of banana trees. Sugar cane and pota- 

 toes grow here the whole year, and in many cases are planted but once 

 in ten or twelve years. Two crops of corn can be raised per annum. 



Sportsmen can find game in ertat number from Cape Canararel south, 

 consisting of bears, deer, panthers, and smaller game. Fish are in great 

 quantities from Mosquito Inlet to Lake Worth; drum, sbeepshead, 

 trout, bass, etc., can be seen and caught at any time feeding in shoal 

 water. At Fort Capron there were two manatees— a cow and calf; they 

 were caught by a Mr. Enters at the mouth of the St. Lucie river; the 

 cow was said to weigh fifteen and the calf six hundred pounds. Mr. 

 Estes expects to reaiize $1,500 from them. 



The trreat drawbacks here are the mosqnitos and the mail communica- 

 tions, which are very poor, especially as one goes south. Papers were 

 sent to us every week, also some letters; out of the whole we only re- 

 ceived one letter. Parties visiting South Florida can obtain good board 

 at Fort Capron, Capt. Payne having prepared everything in his house 

 for i he convenience of tourists. His terms are reasonable — very much 

 so wben one takes into consideration the inconvenience in obtaining 

 provisions. Mr. Moore has built himself anew residence ©n Lake Worth, 

 and will be prepared to accommndate a few boarders by next winter. 

 Those wishing to see a fine collection of tropical trees and fruit should 

 visit Mr. Moore' s place. L. C. C. 

 -*♦-*. . 



Columbian Boat Club.— The Columbian Boat Club, of 

 Brooklyn, held the continuation of their fall regattas on 

 Wednesday evening, 6th inst. There were two races on 

 the boards, the first fdr senior sculls, the other for juniors, 

 both of these having been "laid over" from regatta day 

 on account of rough water. Both races were one mile 

 straightaway. The entries for the senior sculls were 

 Messrs. Purss, Bleeker, Butler and Lippett. They crossed 

 the line in the order named, after a prettily rowed race, 

 Purss winning by about one-half length, Butler a good 

 third. The entries for the junior sculls were Messrs. Boyd, 

 Harrison, O'Connor and Oakey. Boyd won by about three 

 lengths, Harrison second, the others in the order named. 

 The prizes in both races were cups, appropriately en- 



