FISH AND FISHING. 



211 



catch 4 codfish, one of them weighing 20 

 pounds. Among the fish caught by others 

 were sea bass, blackfish, skates, dogfish, 

 eels and sea-robins. I would like to see, in 

 Recreation, a description of the ocean 

 fishing grounds near New York, and of the 

 fish caught on them at different seasons. 

 S. P. Lazarus, New York. 



I doubt if I could earn the distinction of 

 being even a small hog in this place. I 

 wonder what some of our porcine acquaint- 

 ances would think of fishing from July 4th 

 to the end of the season, for black bass, and 

 catching only 12. If they had to fish with 

 me, they would be cured of hogging it, or 

 become so disgusted they'd never handle 

 tackle again. We handle plenty of big bass 

 — and gamy as ever were hooked — but the 

 most expert of anglers cannot depend on 

 killing one. The chief reason is, I think, 

 that our little lake is superabundantly sup- 

 plied with food, and so the bass are indif- 

 ferent to the angler's lures. 



J. J. Dodds, East Lyme, Ct. 



" Samuel M. Wenger, of Pennsylvania, 

 has secured a patent on a new style of fish- 

 hook, on which the slightest nibble by a fish 

 releases a small spear, which is driven into 

 the fish's head in such a manner that spear 

 and hook make escape impossible." 



The above is from the Boston Sunday 

 Herald. It shows that some fiend's mind 

 has been busy with the problem of finding 

 something more destructive than the elec- 

 tric fish hook, recently described in Rec- 

 reation. The worst game hog here is the 

 Italian. He comes out from Boston and 

 shoots everything he sees. One was lately 

 arrested with 5 robins in his " game " bag. 

 C. O. Z., Milton, Mass. 



Plum lake, Wis. (Gaynor P. O.), is 18 

 miles North of Minocqua and y 2 mile from 

 station on C. M. & St. P. R. R. Hotel 

 room for 25; good table, beds, boats, 

 and fine fishing. Bass, pike and muska- 

 longe. Of the latter our party caught 19 in 

 6 days, largest weighing 47 pounds. A 

 dozen or more lakes in easy walking dis- 

 tance give variety either for a day's trip or 

 camping. Deer are numerous. We saw 

 several, but this was in close season. O. 

 W. Gaynor will give all desired information 

 and furnish sectional maps showing loca- 

 tion of lakes. The maps are official and cost 

 $i- Boyett, Chicago. 



The black bass is one of the smartest and 

 most artful fish in American waters. There 

 is a dignity about him that commands the 

 admiration of all anglers. As a fighter he 

 ias no superior. Sometimes we think we 



know all about him, but no one knows 

 all his tricks. The bass has no faith in the 

 good intentions of man. If you catch him 

 you have accomplished something of which 

 to be proud. In all game qualities he far 

 excels, I think, any other fresh water fish 

 except the brook trout. Fly fishing for 

 small mouth bass is an art few men master 

 thoroughly. 



E. T. Blossom, Otsego, Mich. 



Yours of sixth inst. at hand. In reply 

 would say that on August 31st I went out 

 with 9 friends on Delaware bay, and in 6 

 hours' fishing we caught 416 sea trout, 21 

 sea bass and one drum fish. A few days 

 later, 6 of us went to the same fishing 

 grounds and caught 200 trout, running 2 

 to 5 pounds in weight. It is fine sport for 

 an enthusiastic angler. We are making up 

 another party for this week and hope the 

 fishing will continue good through the 

 month. 



Wilbur Hammond, Milford, Del. 



And you boast of it, eh? Instead of that 

 you should be heartily ashamed of it. — 

 Editor. 



The Lake Mitchell Trout Club, Sharon, 

 Vt., has lately built a handsome and com- 

 modious club house, and is seeking to in- 

 crease its membership. It owns 200 acres 

 of land, has built a dam 23 feet high, across 

 a tributary of White river, forming a lake 

 which covers 60 acres. This has been well 

 stocked with trout and the club is easily 

 reached from the Vermont Central Rail- 

 way. Persons desiring to join such a club 

 may correspond with Mr. C. H. Maxham, 

 at South Pomfret, Vt. 



I wish to correct a statement made in Au- 

 gust Recreation, by R. W. H., of Wau- 

 toma, Wis. He says: " Snells are dry and 

 brittle when taken from the book, espe- 

 cially at the fly's head where shellac has 

 been put on." 



A careful fly-maker will never allow even 

 the slightest drop of varnish to touch the 

 gut at the fly's head; it is a clumsy one 

 who daubs the gut with varnish. 



E. G. Chatfield, Owego, N. Y. 



FINED FOR DYNAMITING. 



Oregon City, September 3d. 

 Rird Lamb, of Molalla, was arraigned before Justice 

 Schuebel this afternoon on a charge of killing fish with 

 dynamite in the Molalla river. He pleaded guilty and was 

 fined $25, which he paid. — Pordand Oregonian. 



Good! I wish we had such justices every- 

 where as Esquire Schuebel. If so the dy- 

 namiters would soon all learn to respect 

 the laws. — Editor. 



