FISH AND FISHING. 



ALMANAC FOR SALT WATER FISHERMEN. 



The following will be found accurate and val- 

 uable for the vicinity of New York City: 



Kingfish — Barb, Sea-Mink, Whiting. June to 

 September. Haunts: The surf and deep channels 

 of strong tide streams. Baits: Blood worms, 

 shedder crabs and beach crustaceans. Time and 

 tide: Flood, early morning. 



Plaice — Fluke, Turbot, Flounder. May 15 to 

 November 30. Haunts: The surf, mouth of tidal 

 streams. Baits: Shedder crabs, killi-fish, sand 

 laut. Time and tide: Ebb, daytime exclusively. 



Spanish mackerel — Haunts: The open sea, July 

 to September. Baits: Menhaden, trolling — metal 

 and cedar squids. 



Striped Bass — Rock Fish, Green Head. April to 

 November. Haunts: The surf, bays, estuaries and 

 tidal streams. Baits: Blood worms, shedder crabs, 

 Calico crabs, small eels, menhaden. Time and 

 tide. Night, half flood to flood, to half ebb. 



The Drums, Red and Black. June to Novem- 

 ber. Haunts: The surf and mouths of large bays. 

 Bait: Skinner crab. Time and tide: Day, flood. 



Biackfish — Tautog, April to November. Haunts: 

 Surf, vicinity of piling and old wrecks in bays. 

 Baits: Sand worm, blood worm, shedder crabs, 

 clams. Time and tide: Daytime, flood. 



Lafayette — Spot, Goody, Cape May Goody. 

 August to October. Haunts: Channels of tidal 

 streams. Baits: Shedder crabs, sand worms, clams. • 

 Time and Tide: Day and night flood. 



Croker — July to October. Haunts: Deep chan- 

 nels of bays. Baits: Shedder crabs, mussels. 

 Time and tide: Day, flood. 



Snapper — Young of Blue Fish. _ August to No- 

 vember. Haunts: Rivers and all tide ways. Baits: 

 Spearing and menhaden; trolling pearl squid. 

 Time and tide: Day, all tides. 



Sheepshead — June to October Haunts: Surf 



and bays, vicinity of old wrecks. Baits: Clams, 

 mussels, shedder crabs. Time and tide: Day, 

 flood only. 



New England Whiting — Winter Weak-fish, 

 Frost-fish. November to May. Haunts: The 

 surf. Baits: Sand laut, spearing. Time and tide: 

 Night, flood. 



Hake — Ling. October to June. Haunts: Open 

 sea surf, large bays. Baits: Clams, mussels, fish. 

 Time and tide: Day and night, flood. 



Weak-fish — Squeteague, Squit. June to October. 

 Haunts: Surf, all tideways. Baits: Shedder 

 crabs, surf mullet, menhaden, ledge mussels, sand 

 laut, shrimp. Time and tide: Day and night, 

 flood preferred. 



Blue Fish — Horss Mackerel. June to November 

 1 st. Haunts: Surf, open sea and large bays. 

 Baits: Menhaden, surf mullet and trolling squid. 

 Time and tide: Daytime; not affected by tides. 



BROWN TROUT. 



THEODORE GORDON. 



For some years after its introduction 

 into many of our waters, a strong 

 prejudice existed against the European 

 trout (Salmo fario), commonly known 

 as the brown trout. It was said 

 that it destroyed the native trout ; that it 

 was not equal to it as a table fish or as 

 affording sport for the angler ; that it was 

 dull, stupid and lazy, and always a cannibal 

 after reaching a certain size. Lately, how- 

 ever, I have heard but few complaints, and 



289 



I know men who admire this fish and 

 dispute all assertions to its discredit. They 

 claim that it is a free riser to the fly, less 

 shy than the brook trout and that it gives 

 great sport when hooked ; also that if a 

 brown and a brook trout of the same size 

 are cooked and served in the same dish, an 

 epicure, if blindfolded, can not detect any 

 appreciable difference in their flesh. 



It would be interesting to hear from 

 various parts of the country where these 

 foreigners have become numerous. They 

 are now found as far West as Colorado, 

 in Michigan and in many other States. In 

 New York they are abundant and have 

 certainly taken the place formerly occupied 

 by the brook trout in some of our brooks. 

 In other waters the 2 species exist to- 

 gether, but I doubt if this state of affairs 

 can be continued, as the brown trout grows 

 much more rapidly than the native fish, 

 and where food is plentiful attains great 

 size. It can endure a higher temperature 

 than any of our native trout except the 

 rainbow (Iridius), and I know of good, 

 spring fishing in rivers where 20 years ago 

 no trout were found, except in the upper 

 and colder portions. Ten or 15 years ago a 

 pound trout was a large fish in many of our 

 best streams. Since the introduction of 

 brown trout 2 pounders have become com- 

 mon and much larger fish are taken. Trout 

 up to 5 pounds have been caught with fly, 

 and fish up to 8 or 9 pounds reported as 

 taken with bait, though I think most of 

 those big fish have been unfairly dealt 

 with. I saw one of 6 pounds with a small 

 hole through its shoulder, and I afterward 

 heard it had been speared with a pitchfork. 

 Big fish are hooked every season with 

 small flies, but usually escape, owing to 

 the light tackle employed by expert an- 

 glers. The probability or chance of strik- 

 ing one of these Jumbos adds decidedly 

 to the interest of flv fishing; but a 4-ounce 

 rod and a gossamer gut line put the angler 

 at a great disadvantage. He hooks his fish 

 and plays it, perhaps, half a mile down 

 stream. The fish stops now and then for 

 rest or recreation, maybe, close enough to 

 stare his would-be captor out of counte- 

 nance. Finally the gut is worn through by 

 friction, cut by the sharp teeth or pulled 

 apart, as one friend says, and fish and man 

 part company, greatly to the disgust of the 

 latter, who is probably trembling with ex- 

 citement. This is not a fancy sketch. 



With_ modern fish culture there is no 

 great difficulty in keeping up a good stock 

 of trout in free water, though this is be- 



