Not. 16, 1888.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



311 



STRIPED BASS CLUBS. 



ON the Atlantic coast tin:- fish known as "stripe- bass" 

 about New York and eastward; or "roclMuli" along the 



ey and southward, is considered tli.e king 



of game fishes by its votaries, who do not even except the 

 sahaba when claiming royaky for their favorite. The fe- 

 males of this species, /,V,''7.-< iimiilMn. sire said to grow to the 

 weight of one tlUntlted pounds, and specimens of seventy 

 pounds are often seen in the market. "We have been una- 

 ble to learn the extreme weight attained by a mule fish, but 

 incliue to believe thai Ihey never exceed twenty-five pounds. 

 The striped-bas? are tntan all along the coast, 'but the vifcin- 

 ity of I Manila's Vineyard is l he favorite ground. A famous 

 has li-liL-r weni down on the coast of North Carolina, to 

 shoot dUcks, and-askeft about the fishing. "Nothing here 

 bul rook and lavlor, and only the niggers fish for them." he 

 (I BS told; "nil not until be loft there did he learn that Ibose 

 names were applied to bis favorite sniped bass and blnelish. 

 which he would rather have fished for than to have shot 

 all thedueks in tin- country-, 



Man;, of the most prominent citizens of New York and 

 other cities are members of the large bass clubs which own 

 property anil fish from it in the waters named. The Now 

 York llrru'd recently gave an account of them, from which 

 we conilensu the following: 



i ISLAND GITUB, 



The island from which this famous bassing club takes its 

 mine is part of Soeonie Point, Newport.'" R. I., ami for 

 twenty years ijs-.i ha-, i ii j,,y....(] the reputation of being l he 

 headquarters of one Of tin, most conservative : sporting or- 

 ganizatSoris in the country. Iu size Hie island covers about 

 live acre*, but the club also owns East Island, one of the 

 West Island clump, whose fertility adapts it, for ".anion 

 purposes. The club, which is restricted to a membership of 

 li i iv gentleman, is composed of many of our most, promi- 

 nent Citizens, among whom arc Mr. Robert, L. (.tutting, .Tr. , 

 Mr. John O'Brien, Mr. Philo T. Buggies, the, prince of bass 

 fishermen; Mr. William Sellers, of Philadelphia, and of 

 Brooklyn Bridge fame; Mr. Frank Thompson, of the Pi 



sylvan. 



George 



Raih 



iv 



William Pe| 



id Cot 

 Ly Wc 



p,iuy;Mr. Charles I,. Tiffany, Ml 

 Drs. S. Weir Milchojl and 



Mr. II. W. Gray, M 



others of the same * 

 Mr. Charles E. St 

 AVilliarn R, Foster. ,Ir, 



of Philadelphia; Mr. Charles J. 0| 



F. 0. Lai robe, of Baltimore, and 

 ading. The officers are: President, 

 ng; Treasurer and Secretary, Mr. 

 ; the executive committee being eurn- 

 posed of Messrs. John Whipple, Kred. D. Tappen. Samuel 

 W. Milbank and the president, treasurer and secretary or 

 officii}. The par slock value is £1,000 per share, but' for 

 years they have commanded a large premium. 



This year the fishing has been unprecedentedly poor, for 

 although the season opens ou the loth of Juue and usually 

 runs al; even course until the middle of October, it, was not 

 l taken, and no large fish were 



•mated from good to bad 



until Julv 3 I bat a lish 

 hooked until August s, 

 gaffed. Thosporl then 



September l<5 a thirl} I svo pi 



be a "high book" of 'the seas 

 19th the next Jarges h 



pnny with several tish 

 Sniriuiing up the seat 

 were landed, whose 

 981 pound, Compa 



iid lish, which turned out to 

 iptured. and on the 

 te pounder, in eom- 

 of hall its WOight, was duly recorded. 

 n's work the score shows t'hal 203 lish 

 ggregttte weight amounted to about 

 d With the Showing of the last three 

 off is found. 



careiu all some ten or twelve railed 

 stands, to which the enthusiastic fishermen resort as early 

 in the morning as possible, first having despatched their 

 baiter.- to "chum" the fish up. The most noted stands are 

 High Rock, the Gully and Tlorseshoe: they are protected by 

 iron railings, to which the fishermen cling' for their lives 

 when a heavy sea is breaking. It is a remarkably interest- 

 ing sight to see the fishermen, clad in their oiled canvas 

 jackets, making their casts, and after striking the fish con- 

 centrating all their sk'll and strength to bring it to the gaff, 



while all the time the 

 rocks at their feet compl 

 no child's play to handle 



that dash themselves on" the 

 nvelope them in spray. It is 

 :• sized bass successfully. It 

 nee added to an unusually 

 It _■ slice of patience. The Bah must be watched as a cat 

 d a i mouse j Bvety rush lias to bfl met with quickness, and 

 each attempt to cheek and turn with a steady wrist. Some- 

 times the battle between the angler and Ihe fish lasts many 

 minutes, and it is uot until the gaffer lifts the dripping 

 feeanty on to its bed of seaweed that the victory for the 

 sportsman is won Angling, like every other true sport, is 

 made up of vague uncertainties, and oftentimes after a long 

 and persistent struggle the fish goes bolting ©ff to join it's 

 brethren in freedom, with a farewell flourish of its tail to 

 the tired and crestfallen fisherman on the shore 



In addition to the striped bass in the waters about West 

 Island there are quantities of bluofisUi ranging from four to 

 fifteen pounds in weight, which when hooked by good ang- 

 lers are allowed to cut the hook off sooner than disturb the 

 bass with any attempt to land them. There are also blaek- 

 " fish and occasioned ly a, sea, bass. 

 . Owing tothe non-appearance of menhaden in Narragaiisctt 

 Bay this year all the bait had to be procured of Eugene. G. 

 Blackford, of Full-, n Market, who twice a week shipped 

 several barrels oi ne iihaden to the club. 



CCTTVQ CIVIC ISLAND. 



Guttyhunk island is the most westerly of the Elizabeth 

 Islands, with Buzzard'" Bay on the north and Martha's 

 Vineyard Sound on the southeast , being fourteen utiles from 

 New Bedford, Mass, The island is very rertle, producing 

 corn, oats, rye. hay and all vegetables, besides having fine 

 pislurc for eaitle and sheep. Tne club opens annually about, 

 , i e of June and closes about the Kith to the 15th of 

 October. The bass fishing for the last, year or two has not 

 been good, the scarcity oft he fish being accounted for by 

 disappearance of the menhaden, which is theirnalural food. 

 On this important subject, a member of the club gives the 

 following information. lie says: 'Some years ago the 

 waters around here were alive with menhaden, bul, for the 

 last two vear,:. we, have been unable to obtain them for bait. 

 The 'menhaden sstramers,' as they are called, have not left 

 a trace of these lish, and if they 'are permitied to continue 

 their piratical forays wit) destroy all the food for food fishes. 

 Pounds.seiues, naps, gill and drag nets— in fact, all the 

 devices and inventions of man— are resorted to to capture 

 fish of all kinds, which is very vexatious and annoying to 

 the true sportsman." 



Along the seashore at regular intervals, almost in front of 

 the clubhouse, the stands tor the bass fishermen project out 

 into the water some 100 to 150 feet. All these places have 

 become famous for sport since the club wn,s inaugurated, in 



1670. Bass Rock, a huge round bowlder, is also regarded 

 as one Of the best stands on the island. Fnlike f'a.-qne 

 islaud, Outtyhunk Club is a stag organization, and lit't\ is 

 the limitation of its membership. Its capital of $30,000 is 

 divided no into shares of StfOiJ. and I he general direction and 

 supervision of the affairs of the club are in the bands of the 

 president, subject, to such regulations as the board of di- 

 rectors may from time to time make. Amongthe members 

 are Messrs. Andrew Dougherty, George N Osgood, George 

 C. Chapin, William MeGrorly, William A. Woodhull. 

 William It, Renwiek, James Kenwick, Thomas Patten, T. 

 J. Iiavenievcr and William Spene.c. The ofilcers are; Presi- 

 dent, Mr, W. R. Kenwiek; Treasurer, Mr. W. A. Wood- 

 hull; and Secretary, Mr. Thomas Patten. This year the 

 island of Outtyhunk was bought, by the club. From the 

 following table, which gives the list of bass taken yearly 

 from 1870 to October 6 of this year, inclusive, if, will lie seen 



thai there has been t 



great re 



ll 



ction m the < 



atoll of this 



season and hist comp 



treal will 



f 



jrmer years: 





lOieoiiD or mass t.mcen 



AT OCTTV1 





TO CLTTB SINCE ORGANIZATION. 





Number 



of 



Weight. 



Largest 



Year. 



Bass. 





in Pounds 



Bass. 



fimi 



CIS 





M07SS 



47 



187J 



„ ,S0i 





U,»IS 



43 



IfflS. 



. ...MO 





iMM 



80 



tare 



sua 





8,968 



H7 



itn . . . . 



BOO 





i.\U% 





r>o;-4 



51 



FASQ.UE M,'.5D, 



Pasque Island is the third in success 

 group, which lie between Buzzard's Ba 

 yard Sound, off the coast of Mm 

 square, being about a mile ani 

 quarter broad. It indicates 

 ing degree its glacial origin 

 "moraline'' deposits, and its s 

 boulders ol" granite, gneiss are 

 one of at least one hundred to 

 GhesG proceed down from the i 

 them with huge, rock weed 

 which form a refuge for all tl 

 form the tidbits for the bass. 



During the summer the waters about the island are usually 

 alive with minute fry of the menhaden, spearing, herring 

 and b'uefish, and the" natural result is an abundance of all 

 kinds of bottom fish, bluetish and should be of bass. But 

 for some reason not, positively known this latter — king of 

 game fish of the sea — has become certainly iuucj scarcer 

 jefore. it is supposed by the gentlemen of the 

 ■ warfar 



i half Ion 

 learly and 



being, ii 

 ores filled 



Crustacea, 



of the Elizabeth 

 nd Martha's Vine- 

 dts. It is nearly 

 ;• by a mile an 

 in a most inter' 



fact, a irass of 

 vilh huge traveled 

 a'e carving from 

 t downward. As 

 iges have covered 

 ubmarine grasses. 

 Is, etc., which 



the menhaden has been 

 live agent in producing this result 

 iceeeded in driving the menhaden 

 multaneously with their diminution 

 have also ceased to be plentiful. 

 bass angling on Pasque Island is 

 lober 1-15, and the etch iu good 

 n four to five thousand pounds of 

 y tish a record is kept of. At all 

 luefish, scaup or porgies, blaekfish, 

 s and other sea fishes can be taken. 



club that the steamei 

 a verv positive and a 

 Certainly they have 

 from our waters, and 

 and emigration the ba 

 The usual sea ion ,, 

 from Juue 15-35 l<> C 

 seasons has reaeln d fr 



times any quantity of 

 seabass. sole or tlountl 



The club house is a comfortable collection of building , 

 and the organization is unique in one respect, all of tiie 

 members having the privilege of taking their families, and 

 the result is a degree of refinement and delightful associa- 

 tion peculiar to it. The "highest, hook" since the present 

 organization went into effect still rests with Mr. A. B. Dun- 

 lap, who look a sixty-two pound bass in September, 18G9. 

 Since then the nearest approach was a, sixty and a half 

 pound fish caught by Mr. F. O. Herring in July, 1878. 

 This year, so far, a tish weighing fifty-four pounds is the 

 highest, and unless still exceeded will give the annual prize 

 for the largest fish taken during each season to Mr. 0. P, 

 Casielly, of this city. 



The club at this time numbers forty-two members, two 

 having died within the year. It embraces iu its list many 

 of our first citizens, such as Mr. Solon Humphreys. Mr. 

 Cyrus W. Field, Mr. J. Crosby Brown, Mr. J. L. "Vallotton. 

 Mr. A. Foster Higgins, Mr. Frederick Sturgcs, Mr. Fred- 

 erick Chauneev, Mr. M. I). Carringt on (of Toledo), Mr, II. 

 E. Pellew, Mr.' George A. Robbins, Mr. J. F. Scott, Mr. 

 W.H.Phillips and others of similar class and standing. 

 The officers tire: Mr. J. L. Vallotton, President; Mr. A. F. 

 Higgins, Treasurer, and Mr. J. D. Barrett, Secretary. 



SQCIBNOCKET CLUB. 



The house of this well-known bassing ' club is situated on 

 the southwest point of Martha's Vineyard, and is excelled 

 by none for comfort and good living. The membership is 

 limited to ton gentlemen, «ach of whom has his own room 

 fitted up according to his taste. For this year the follow- 

 ing is the list of officers and members: President, Mr. Chas. 

 H. Murray; Yiee-President, Mr. James L. Flint; Secretary 

 and Treasurer, Mr. John M. Armorv; with Messrs. Charles 

 n. Smith, H. C. Ward, K. G. Dun, T. M. ©avis, Elihu 

 Root, S. M. Blatchford and W. Murray. The fishing here 

 this season was a great imprevement over last year's. As 

 on the other islands the casting is done exclusively from 

 stands, which consist of small railed platforms connected 

 with the beach with a broad walk, all the planking being 

 supported by iron rods of three inches in diameter, which 

 are firmly embedded in holes drilled in the rocks. The 

 platforms are located from shore at distances varying from 

 oue hundred and fifty to two hundred feet, and this season 

 eleven different ones' were strung along the two miles of 

 beach leased by the club in localities adapted to all kinds of 

 winds and weather. In connection with the small catch 

 made during (he past few vears. Mr. S M. B.'atchford said 

 to a H, mid reporter: 



"I feel confident, that the menhaden steamers are ruining 

 the fishing. Before they began to cruise up and down our 

 coast enormous schools of menhaden were in the habit of 

 passing between Squibuoeket Point, and No Man's Land, 

 an island to the southward about, five miles away. Now 

 we may watch from morning to uight and never see 

 a school. However, the average weight of the tish we 

 have taken during the past few years compares very favor- 

 ably with that of other clubs, the average of each lish being 

 about ten pounds in weight. This season we used small 

 lobsters, it being impossible to secure menhaden bait. 

 When t went down in June I took five barrels from this 

 city, but the weather being warm most of tbe fish spoiled, 

 The lobster^ however, answer admirably, and ae we have 

 never chummed at Squibnocket we do not miss the menhaden 



bail as much as the other clubs do," At Squilmoeket Presi- 

 dent Arthur often casts his line, and among the residents 

 there he ha? the reputation of being an accomplished and skil- 

 ful angler. The bassing season on these grounds runs from 

 May to the end of October, and the big fish are generally 

 - ,rly and late. 



■d of the bas 



at the •aleh 



Willie. 



T 



he 



>lli. 



Oct 



ffic 



■4 



Mr, 



W 



M 



fish 



We 



• ■-li 



the 







foil 







one- 





lie 



al i 



I Mr, 



ads. Ih. 

 . Bo. 



9 taken from .lune 13 up to 

 mounted to 1,125 pounds, 

 iMayhew each taking one 

 rang the lareesl hoof-.s of 

 u September''-.".', made the 

 14pound m i I pounds, 

 one S. Total. II.' pounds. 



Pismire IS a Fop.— The author of "Life iu Normandy" 

 (a rare book now unfortunately) shows how^ a fog may be a 

 great boon to anglers. He was fishing one day in the river 

 Colum with the. May-fly when a thick fog came on after a 

 bright morning, with the fish rising well. With the foetted 

 the fish and flies. He was about to give up in despair, when 

 he saw an old fellow, whom he knew tube:, desperate 

 poacher, watching him. He gave him a drink, when the 

 old fellow said, "1 could give you a wrinkle that would 

 make \..u stay by the river. 1 ,V half-crown wa-. promised, 

 "The fish are feeding just as fast as ever below, and tbev 

 don't require to rise to the surface. The May-1l ; , be a com- 

 ing out of their cases just now as before. When the sua is 

 blight them creturs is up ami away iu a jiffey; but when 

 the day is dark, one as does come out of hi's case either 

 crawls up the reeds at the :-ide, or if tbev does rise up the 

 stream ih.-v eels oh but slowly, and Ihe lish nabs Ihem afore 

 'In/ . ncl the surface, usi will soon show voir" lb- there- 

 upon proceeded lo collect several flies. Which were clustered 

 round the stalks close to the edge of the water. He then 

 arranged the line in this manner: First he took off the flies, 

 and put on their place two small bail hooks, the on. ...bout, 

 a foot above the other Then he took two large split, shot, 

 out of his own pocket and fastened them on the casting line, 

 three feet above the upper book. The hooks were baited 

 by running them through the tails of a couple of the Mav- 

 flics. and all was ready. He. proceeded to the bead of 'a 

 weir where the stream was very deep, but there was a rush 

 Of water through two or three places where the slliice- 

 boards were drawn, fie, cast the line across one of these 

 small rapids, let it, sink for a minute, and then drew if gently 

 toward him through the rush. No sooner had the line 

 reached the rush than there was a fish hooked, The author 

 adds that he caught more fish by that method on I hat. day 

 than he ever caught before or since in the same river. 



Tutc JuuTSDicrtoN ok Lonu Island Sound. — By 

 the Legislatures of New Vork and Connecticut the 

 of Long Island Sound are divided between the two 

 for the purpose of determining fishing right* ami | 

 questions of jurisdiction. In the United Si out 



suit brought against Ihe Providence Sleainboal OoHTI 

 a survivor of the Narragau-elt steamer, a decision li 

 rendered, which, if sustained, will invalidate lieu 

 the, bouudry agreement entered into between the tw< 

 relating tothe division of the Sound. The judge 

 that Long Island Sound is a part of the Atlantic I ti- 

 ll Slate waler, and that its navigation is not goveri 

 the provisions of the Federal act regulating hiLieil 

 Should this decision be maintained neither New Yo 

 Connecticut could exercise proprietary rights in the 

 fisheries. 



ets of 

 waters 

 States 

 issible 

 , in. a 

 ny bv 



■k nor 

 Sound 



"Speckled Beauty. "—Elegantly gotten-«p angler, com- 

 ing to a trout pool where freckled boy is fishing with b, op. 

 pole and cotton cord: "Ah! Here is the haunt of the 

 speckled beauty!'' 



Freckled Boy: "IIoup! Guess I'm 's babnsome 's you 

 be! Nose looks julluk ripe tomarter!" 



Tennessee Fisu Notes.— The Cumberland River is being 

 thoroughly fished at present, from source to Hiouth, but no"t 

 by pot-fishers or seiners. The genuine "Waltoniaus" have 

 come futile front and driven Uiose peMs from the charming 

 stream, and now angle the "gallant" jack and gamy bass 

 with tackle as should be used.— J. D. II. 



Lump Fish are eaten by the Oguuqutl, York couuly. Me., 

 fishermen, who fry the fish. 



^[isltculture* 



GEORGIA FISHCULTURE. 



THE following extracts from the report of J. T. Henderson, 

 Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia, 

 show the fisbcultural work done in that State for the years 

 li581-'83: 



The following is the full test of the Act which contains all 

 the general legtslati -u on the Subject of Fish and Fisheries in 

 this State, though local Acts affecting particular streams 

 and counties abomud: 



An Act to encourage the propagation »f Fish in the ivatcrs 

 if the State of Oeorgiit, and for the prtite'ctiun of the same. 



Section- I. Bo it enacted. Thatfrom and after the passage of 

 this Act, the Commissioner of Agriculture, in addition to his 

 present duties, shall have specially in charge the propagation 

 Of ee i-i ory Bsh in the waters of this State, and is hereby au- 

 thorized to employ a Superintendent of Fisheries, who, under 

 the directions of the Commissioner, shall have charge of the 

 propagation of lish, under the provisions of this Act. 



Sec. U. Beit further enacted. That tie- Commission er of 

 Agriculture shall proceed at once to secure the artificial propa- 

 gation in the various rivers of this State of the T^riueiptd uii- 

 gratory food tish adapted to our waters and climate. 



Sec. III. Bo it further enacted, That the sum of five hun- 

 dred dollars is hereby appropriated tor the payment of all 

 necessary employes, and for other necessary exp-i;-, , , , , n 

 rying out the provisions of this Act, which sum shall be paid 

 out of the annual appropriation heretofore made, under an 

 Act, approved February 3S, 1874, for the Department of Agri- 

 culture, as a part of the expense of said Department; Pro- 

 vided, nothing contained in this section shall be so construed 

 as to constitute I his appropriation as an additional appropria- 

 tion tt> Said Department: but the same is hereby declared to be 

 a part of said appropriation, and this section "is to be so con- 

 strued as to direei Hie application of said five hundred dollars 

 of said appropriation to the purpose of the bill. 



SEC. IV. Be it further enacted, That from and after the. 

 passage of this Act there shall be a "closed time" i). all i,he 

 rivers of Georgia in which shad ore caught, of tort; '-' , 

 hours, commencing at sunrise ou Saturday morning of each 

 week, and ending at sunrine on Morning of the next week. 



