2:i 



FOREST AND STREAM. 1 



lakes, and they are also very large. The agent told us 

 that once he had in one hour caught 63 salmon, of which 

 the biggest weighed 95 pounds, but the average weight 

 was 52£ pounds. Others told us the same. One day we 

 went to the Kakno river, which flows south of Fort Nich- 

 olas, to a spot where it had last summer overflowed its 

 banks, and there had consequently been pools formed in 

 the low places, and afterward the pools had dried up, and 

 heaps of dead salmon lay there so that it was half up to 

 our knees wading through them. Several of the ship's 

 officers also saw this. * * * The salmon fishing at 

 Kodiak is about as good as at Cook's Inlet, except that the 

 salmon are smaller. In a little while the sailors from the 

 Portsmouth caught over 60 in one of the rivers, and got 

 these by catching them with their hands, or by striking 

 them on the head with a. stick, or by shooting them as they 

 leaped out of the water. There is an abundance of cod- 

 fish and halibut all the year round, and we caught any 

 number of them without a bait fishing from the wharf." 



^\ For suitable tackle to capture striped bass, Genio C. 

 Scott says, in the Spirit of the Times: — 



"The rod should be about eight feet in length, made of 

 two bamboo joints. The guides should be stationary on 

 each side of the rod, so that when the rod gets set or bent 

 by fishing one side up, it may be turned over, and the 

 other side used. The guides should be a quarter of an inch 

 in diameter, so as to cast a knot in the line thiough them 

 if necessary. The edges of the guide should be so smooth- 

 ly polished or burnished as to produce no friction upon 

 the line. Bell metal is the best from which to make guides 

 .and tips; but some prefer settings of agate or other prec- 

 ious stones for the- line to play through. The best line is a 

 linen one of 12 strands, as small as the usual trout line, 

 but60C feet in length, made without taper like the salmon 

 or trout lines. The reel is of German silver or brass. 

 Some affect the combination with gum elastic or gutta 

 percha. The reel should run on sfeel pivots, and multiply 

 twice or thrice. The crank should be as far as convenient 

 from the knuckles of the angler, and not so long or heavy 

 as to produce a momentum difficult to check with the 

 thumb. Of course, the wear of thumbstalls is necessary, 

 or a slip of leather attached to the reel at a convenient 

 place to turn on to the reel under the thumb is preferred 

 by many; but there should be no drag or check to a bass 

 reel, and it should be made of a size sufficient to carry 200 

 yards of line without being perfectly full. Van Hoeff is 

 the best reel maker in the city. He caps the works, so as 

 to protect them from salt water and consequent rust, while 

 they run as regularly, and are as finely-balanced in their 

 running works, as is a first class Geneva watch." 



"But for bass tackle, to fish the waters about the city of 

 New York, a reel to carry 400 feet of fine linen bass line 

 will answer, and be preferable, except for Hell Gate troll- 

 ing, to the large reels used at Cuttyhunk, West Island, 

 and Newport. And while menhaden is the best bait to 

 angle with in the ocean surf, shedder crab is the best bait 

 for still fishing from a boat on our bays and estuaries, and 

 the live squid— cuttle-fish — is the best" bait for trolling; and 

 a rig for trolling includes a baiting needle and the shaped 

 sinker, illustrated in the book on 'Fishing in American 

 Waters.'" 



W— A Newfoundland correspondent estimates that 25 fish- 

 ing vessels have been lost on the Labrador coast the past 

 season. Loss on fish 12,000_quintals, or more. 



Lobstees. — There is considerable inquiry at the eastern 

 ports for lobsters, and the supply is not equal to the de- 

 mand. A large order was received at Gloucester, on 

 Wednesday last, direct from New York, but only half of 

 the quantity oidered could be forwarded, as there is at 

 present a scarcity of these fish. The quality, however, is 

 better than it has been for years, thanks to the law which 

 prohibits the catchiug of the smaller sizes. 



Virginia— Leesbuag, Nov. 1st — Bass fishing good; water 

 clear; weather pleasant; quail shooting on cool days fine- 

 86 birds to a couple of guus in a few hours. T. W. 



Movements of the Fishing Fleet.— The Bank fish- 

 ermen are returning from their fall trips, the number of 

 arrivals the past week being 26, a larger number than for 

 any week since July. The Georges fleet is small, the 

 number of arrivals for the week being 5. There have also 

 been 3 arrivals from the Bay St. Lawrence, making the 

 whole number of fishing arrivals for the week 34. The re- 

 ceipts for the week have been about 800,000 pounds. Bank 

 codfish, 60,000 pounds. Georges cod, 275,000 pounds of 

 halibut, 800 barrels mackerel and 100,000 pounds off shore 

 fish. — Ann Advertiser, Nov. 3d. 



t 



THE CENTENNIAL FLY-CASTING TOUR 

 NAMENT. 



Many gentlemen have inquired anxiously what came of 

 the grand Fly- Casting Contest which was advertised to 

 take place on the Centennial grounds this autumn. The 

 subjoined letter will give the desired information: — 

 Editor Foeest and Stkeam:— 



la compliance with your request I give the following facts in relation 

 to the abortive attempt to get a grand trial of skill in the elegant art of 

 fly-casting by the Centennial authorities. The project was oriiiinatecl 

 by that thorough and accomplished sportsman, Mr. James Geddts, of 

 Syracuse, N. Y., who has done more towards such contests in his of- 

 flcicial capacity as a member of the New York State Sportsman's Asso- 

 ciation, than most any oiber man. He snggested it to Mr. Landreth, 

 Chief of Bureau of Agiiculture, who did all in his power to bring 

 about the desired end. 



At that time I had the care of the minnows that constituted the fish 

 show in an out-of-the-way corner, and was requested to superintend the 

 proposed tournament. We immediately issued circulars to dealers in 

 fishing tackle asking contributions from their stock in the way of rods 

 and other appropriate articles, and obtained promise of some elegant 

 prizes from John Krider, and A. B. Shipley & Soft, Philadelphia; Con- 

 roy, Blssett & Malleson; Eaton & Holberton; Abbey & Imbrie, New 

 York; C. F. Orvis, Manchester, Vermont; S. W. Goodridge, Grafton, 

 Vermont, and Forest and Stream. Thsie were to be three contests, 

 one with single handed trout rods, one with two-handed salmon rods, 

 and (a new feature) throwing the squid or spoon for bass as practiced at 

 Cuttyhunk. 



We made an effort to obtain a cash prize of $100 gold from the Cen- 

 tennial Commission, but failed from the fact that the old ploddin heads 



of that Commission took uo interest in fish or fishing, nor in fact in 

 anything connected wich the Agricultural Department,, in which we were 

 unfortunately placed; and everything that was obtained for the aquarial 

 display was fought for inch by inch. A proceeding distasteful to most 

 men is to have to fight parties to do something entirely for their own 

 interest, and for which, I am free to say, I have no stomach. 



So thoroughly disgusted was every visitor who took an interest in fish' 

 their capture or culture, at the neglect beetowed upon their fancy that I 

 found that those who had offered prizes for the casting did it only out of 

 compliment, to Mr. Geddes, and such personal influence as we could 

 bring to bear, and immediately revoked them upon my resignation. I 

 regretted this, for some one else might have managed it, better, perhaps, 

 than myself; and I now believe that with most of them it was more 

 from their dislike at the way in which the whole matter was treated, and 

 the apathy at headquarters regarding it than from any personal motive. 

 I heard indirectly that an effort was afterward made to obtain the prom- 

 ised prizes and have the contest take place, but know nothing of it. 

 Thus what might have been the finest contest in the most beautiful and 

 delicate of all outdoor sports was allowed to fail through. In my opin- 

 ion the fault lay entirely outside of any one connected with the Bureau 

 of Agriculture, and if I did say "pudding heads" I still think the epi- 

 thet most suitable, if not elegant or in good taste. 



Fred Mather, New York Aquarium. 



[No doubt the Commission or Bureau of Agriculture had 

 plenty of other business on hand which they considered of 

 more importance, though we doubt not that a contest of 

 this character would have attracted considerable attention 

 and paid for itself by putting money into the Centennial 

 exc equer. — Ed.] 



Inditing xnd^miing. 



All communications from Secretaires and frimds should be mailed m 

 later than Monday in each week. 



« , 



HIGH WATER. FOR THE WEEK. 



Date. 



Nov. 9.. 

 Nov. 10.. 

 Nov. It. 



Nov.ltf.. 

 Nov. IS.. 

 Nov.M.. 

 Nov. 15., 



Boston. 



H. M. 



5 7 



6 7 



7 5 

 B9 



51 

 38 

 23 



7 

 8 

 9 

 10 



New York. 



u. 



M. 



o 



50 



3 



50 



4 



41 



5 



36 



6 



34 



7 



9 



7 



48 



Charleston 



H. 



l 

 2 



8 



a 



4 

 5 



Ttt 



7 

 7 

 5 

 59 

 51 

 38 

 23 



A New Work for Yachtsmen.— Mr. Dixon Kemp, a 

 celebrated naval architect of England, has. just issued a 

 most elaborate work on "Yacht Designing." This work 

 will be found of special interest and value to American 

 yachtsmen on account of the drawings it contains of the 

 most celebrated English yachts, and all these drawings are 

 on what are called "working scales," and are accurate. At 

 the present moment the Vol au- Vent and Kriemhilda are 

 the fastest* 1 and more weatherly of the large English 

 cutters, a class corresponding with our sloops, and the 

 lines of both these famous craft are given. The work is 

 illustrated with numerous drawings of celebrated yachts, 

 some of them being nearly four feet in length. The lines 

 of the most famous English schooners are also given in- 

 cluding the Sea Belle and Cambria, as also those of the 

 Sappho, the latter being taken off with great care when 

 that vessel was in dock at Cowes. The Sappho's qualities 

 for speed aud stability are compared with those of the 

 Guinevere, the best large vessel ever built in the United 

 Kingdom. Not only are these plates of great value to the 

 designer, but the woik contains a great amount of infor- 

 mation upon the practical application of the results of 

 modern investigations and experiences to yacht designing 

 and building, together with most elaborate calculations to 

 assist in determining the questions of buoyar-cy, stability 

 speed, etc., with regard to any particular model or scale.' 

 The book is issued from the Field office, but can be had of 

 any English bookseller. Price £3 3s. 



Dorchester Yacht Club.— For a long time there has 

 been a system of rivalry between center-board and keel 

 yachts of the above Club, the different owners claiming; 

 their boa's to be the most powerful or the fastest in a fresh 

 breeze and rough water. Frank Weston, Esq., of Boston 

 therefore started a subscription paper to raise the neces- 

 sary prizes, and a regatta to settle the question was sailed 

 October 14th, under the auspices of the Dorchester Yacht 

 Club. Although it was demonstnted that in this par- 

 ticular race the center boards were decidedly the best it 

 did not settle their superiority over keel boats in rough 

 water, a portion of this course being in smooth water 

 Two mistakes were made, therefore, in the beginning" 

 First, the Committee determined that the keels were en- 

 titled to two feet extra allowance. Second, that the race 

 must be started upon the flats in Dorchester Bay 



The course was from the judges yacht, moored off the 

 new Bquantum House down the Bay to buoy No 7 east 

 of Fort independence, passing out the ship channel 'leav- 



pes 

 -, Point Allentou 

 on starboard had, to Bell buoy off the Harding's leavino- 

 on port hand; back, leaving Point Alleutown and Toddy 

 Rocks buoys on port, through Hull Gut to judge's boat 

 passing between her and flag boat, each yacht to weigh 

 anchor and carry boat, ana be in crusing trim.- Ten 

 10 o'clock a. m. was the hour set, but it was noon before 

 the preparatory gun was fired. The wind was blowing in 

 fitful puffs off shore, from the southwest, and there was 

 strong indications of a fresh breeze. Many of the smaller 

 yachts were glad to take in topsail, and some of the larger 

 ones thought things were going to be lively. Tne center 

 boards turned out in strong numbers. I am sorry to say 

 the keels either were afraid or lacked energy. The own- 

 ers might at least have taken part, out of respect to the 

 hard work Mr, Weston put himself to for their pleasure 

 At 13:30 m. the gun to start was fired, and our little craft 

 (keel sloop Sunbeam) was the first to draw out from the 

 crowd. Anticipating a strong breeze, we set only -jib and 

 mainsail, booming out the former. We saw our mistake 

 at once, but too late to remedy it. One alter another 

 passed us, with their topsails and balloon jibs set and 

 instead of first, we became the eighth or nintn at buoy 7 

 the boats ahead being the Effie May, Shadow Gauntlet' 



Kelpie, Triton, Saxon, Tebie endLtda, all center W) 

 The rest of the tleet were lar in the rear. UJ *m. 



Rounding No. 7 we had to flatten in the sheets and ti 

 the weather qualities of our little boat began to tell on n 

 light draft ceEter boards around us. We picked them 

 one by one, until the four large yachts, Effie May ShJw 

 Gauntlet and Kelpie only, stood between us and the nrl? ' 

 Trying to set a topssil we lost much time, and ao-ai hi 

 to take back water from those already passed Aft 

 fussing away ten minutes we took it in, and then w 

 made up lost ground. The distance to the goal was now 

 too short to make on the larger yachts, but we st rugo-] a 

 hard for position. Many had come too and reefed but th 

 little Sunbeam carried her 173 yards of ten ounce 'duck i 

 gallant style, her dimensions being 24-6 feet water lin!? 

 28-7 feet over all, 10 feet beam, and 5 6 feet draft* Th 

 EDglish cuUcr Saxon (40 feet or more in length) ^ 

 enough of the little Yaukee craft that day. To make 

 long story short, the prize for No. 1 was awarded to th! 

 Shadow, 38 feet; for No. 2 to the Kffie May; Gaunlet 35 

 feet, 3d ; Kelpi, 4th, 35 feet, the Kelpie beating the Sun 

 beam 10 seconds in a twenty mile run. Yacutsaiak. 



_ — , — <+««*> "— — « . 



Greenwood Lake — Newark, November -lsjf. — Tn additicn 

 to those printed last week, we have received the following 

 letter commendatory of Greenwood Lake as a regatta 

 course: 



Your favor of October 17th is just at hand, asking my 

 opinion as regards Greenwood Lake for a regatta course 

 In reply, I take pleasure in stating, that having visited 

 almost all the prominent courses in this vicinity, I would 

 unhesitatingly pronounce the one in question, decidedly 

 the finest, combining, as it does in my opinion, all the 

 principal requirements, viz.: still water, straightaway, ur> 

 obstructed course, almost unlimited width, and a tine view 

 for spectators the entire length, on either side of the lake. 

 These points taken in connection with the superior facili- 

 ties for moving and accommodating boats and crews 

 and the gentlemanly, generous and courteous management' 

 will undoubtedly combine to make this course the favorite 

 resort among boating men of America, if not the wond. 



A.B.Hill. 

 Capt. Vikiko, B. 0. 

 ■ -.«♦> ». 



Homemade Fishing Boat?.— The Agriculturist U Is 

 how to make a serviceable fishing boat or scow at a cost of 

 five dollars or less :— 



Procure five three-quarter or half inch' clear pine boards, 

 12 feet in length, and 8 inches wide; four boards 10 feet 

 long, 1 inch thick, and 1 foot wide, and three strips 10 feet 

 long, 1^-inch thick, and three inches wide. Plane all these 

 smoothly on both sides, and have them all free from loose 

 knots or shakes. Cut two of the 1-inch boards for side 

 boards, sloping each end to a straight line for two feet, 

 and then slightly rounding the middle of the boards. Cut 

 two pieces ot the 1£ inch strips into lengths 2 feet 10 inches, 

 and nail them to the ends of the sideboards. If ships 

 of soft brown paper are dipped into tar and placed between 

 the joints, they will be made closer and more watertight. 

 Cut the 8-inch boards into 3 feet lengths, and nail them 

 across the bottom where the bevel ends, the 

 two bottom boards must be beveled slightly upon one 

 of their edges, so as to make a close joint. Then take two 

 of the 1£ inch strips, and make cuts in each on one side 

 with the saw, one inch deep, as follows: measuring from. 

 one end, mark with a pencil across the strip 3 feet l> inches 

 from the end; then mark again across the strip l£ inch 

 with an m. Then measure 3 inches and make another 

 mark, and then an inch and a half and make still another 

 mark, and score us before between these last two with an 

 m . Then do precisely the same on the same side of the 

 strip, measuring from the other end. Then on the edges 

 of the board score with guage or make a line with a pencil 

 exactly one inch from the marked side. Then make the 

 cuts on the pencil lines down to the score on the edge, just 

 one inch deep, but no more. Cut away the wood in the 

 places that were marked with « , leaving four slots \\ inch 

 wide, 1 inch deep, and with three inches between them 

 upon each strip. Nail these strips with the cut side in- 

 wards, to the upper edge of the side-board, on the outside 

 of the boat. The spaces left in the gunwale are for the row- 

 locks. The strips should be well nailed near the rowlocks, 

 and if a quarter-inch fiat headed counter-sunk carriage bolt 

 were used on each side of them, it would be very much bet- 

 ter than so many nails. A thin washer, or burr, should be 

 used beneath me nut of each bolt. The row-lock pins 

 should be made of hard maple or oak. They are one inch 

 thick, one and a half inch wide at the lower part, 

 which fits into the slot, with a shoulder of half an inch, 

 and the top is beveled off neatly. The peats, of which 

 there are two, are made 10 inches wide. The cleats for the 

 seats, one inch thick, one and a half inch wide, and 10 

 inches long, are nailed 3 inches below the upper edge of 

 the side board. The middle seat goes exactly in the center 

 of the boat, with each edge 4 feet 7 inches from the end of 

 the boat. The end seats are placed with the backs 2 feet 

 from the ends of the boat, leaving 8 inches between each 

 seat and the edge of the row-lock nearest to it. There are 

 cleats for three seats, but only two seats are used at once. 

 When one seat is used, the rower sits in the center, and he 

 can use either of the row-locks, the" boat being double- 

 bowed. When two seats are used, one person only rows 

 at one time, but either can row without changing seats, and 

 one always faces to the direction in which the boat moves. 

 This arrangement of seats is very convenient. Eighteen 

 inches of each end is closed in, and makes a locker lor 

 holding fish-lines, hooks, or the "painter," which is a light 

 rope lor tying up the boat when not in use. This may be 

 fattened to a ring-bolt or a hole bored in one of the 

 locker covers. The long bottom-board, 8 inches wide 

 and half an inch thick, is nailed by wrought nails 

 driven from the outside and clinched on the inside. 

 The seat cleats are nailed in the same manner, as are also 

 the side strips. Every nail is counter-sunk and the hole 

 filled up with putty. Tne searms are puttied or filled with 

 a strip of cotton sheeting psshed in with the the blade 01 a 

 dinner knife. If the joints are made as well as they may 

 be, this is not needed, but two coats of paint will make 

 all tight. The inside should be painted lead color, made 

 by mixing lamp-black with white paint to a proper shade- 

 The outside may be painted white or a light-green, wita 

 the gunwale of a light blue. A few days will be required 

 to harden the paint before using the boat. None but sea- 

 soned boards should be used. 



