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FISH AND FISHING. 
ALMANAC FOR SALT WATER FISHERMEN. 
The following will be found accurate and val- 
mable 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. JBaits: 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. 
Blackfish—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: Pivers 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—Horse Mackerel. June to November 
1st. Haunts: Surf, open sea and large bays. 
Baits: Menhaden, surf mullet and trolling squid. 
Time and tide: Daytime; not affected by tides. 

SOME FLY FISHING WRINKLES. 
E, E, HICKOK, 
In view of the vast amount that has been 
written about fly fishing, it is surprising 
to find so few anglers who know even the 
first principles of the art. While my lim- 
ited experience does not qualify me as an 
instructor in expert work, I have found in 
practice much that is at variance with the 
books. Many imagine that to practice fly 
casting one must have expensive tackle and 
an instructor; also that no fish except trout, 
bass or salmon will rise to a fly. That is 
all a mistake. An outlay of $2 will procure 
the needful outfit; any one of average intel- 
game fishes will take a fly as well as or 
better than they will take live baits. The 
art may be practiced in any small lake or 
stream in the country, wherever the water 
is not too muddy. 
I have often wondered why fish take an 
artificial fly. The natural answer would be, 
because of its resemblance to the insects on 
which the fish is accustomed to feed; and 
on that theory thousands of patterns have 
been devised to suit any and all fancies. 
Most writers, however, assert that a 
dozen or so different flies may suit all cases. 
I think the fish does not take the fly be- 
cause it thinks it is something good to eat, 
but because it sees something moving, and 
wants to know what it is, and it can find 
out only by taking it in its mouth. 
Many advocate the use of colors in the 
make of flies, from white through pink to 
red, yellow, blue, purple, green and black. 
My experience is that what best attracts the 
fish is the best killer. Therefore, in clear 
water, on a bright day, I use altogether 
dark flies, of small size. On a cloudy day, 
in clear water, a lighter shade, and the same 
on a clear day in dark water. If both day 
and water be dark, or if it be nearing dark 
on a clear day, I use a light colored fly ona 
larger hook. On clear days a dash of red 
may prove attractive, but beyond this I have 
no fancy for colors; nor have I much of an 
opinion of feathers in the make up of flies, 
for the reason that they are harder to make, 
easier to destroy, and no more attractive 
than those made of hair. 
It is in every way desirable that the ang- 
ler should learn to tie his own flies, as he 
will find in this much of that anticipatory 
preparation which is only a slight degree 
removed from actual participation. I once 
saw.a gentleman stop and pick up a bit of 
black fur or hair, which had evidently fal- 
len from the fur cloak of some lady. May- 
be it was a bit of the tail of a marten, but 
whatever it was, he put it in his pocket. 
The proceeding seemed a bit undignified, 
but by it I recognized him as a brother 
chip, and I imagined that this little scrap 
would fill a nook in his tackle box, and at 
some time or other would be worked up into 
a fly. In my own box I have wisps of black 
horse hair, white horse hair, goat hair, dog 
hair, gray squirrel tail, fox squirrel tail, 
red cow’s hair, a buck tail, a bit of old sisal 
rope, a bit of tin foil, some quail feathers, 
blackbird, blue jay, some hackles from the 
necks of white, red, black and dun roosters, 
besides other stuff. 
A scrap of red flannel, some wax, black 
thread, white thread and silk, complete the 
kit. From it I construct some outlandish 
looking things, but they catch fish. 
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