126 



FOREST "AND STREAM. 



A New Yoke, Sept. 18, 1877. 



Editob Forest and Stream : 



Allow me to call attention, through the columns of your val- 

 uable paper, to the fact that during the past week there have 

 been sent to Fulton Market, from Newcastle, N. B., large 

 quantities of young salmon (grilse), weighing from two to 

 three pounds each. 



Now I believe that this is in violation of the law of the 

 Dominion, and I think that it is only necessary to call the at- 

 tention of the Hon. W. F. Whitcher to the facts, in order that 

 this wholesale destruction of young salmon should be stopped. 



Salmo. 



?m nnd Miver 



FISH IN SEASON IN SEPTEMBER. 



FRESH WATBR. 

 Trent, Salmo fontinalis. 

 Salmon, Salmo salar. 

 Salmon Trout, Salmo confinis, 

 Land-locked Salmon, Salmo gloveri 

 Grayling, Thymallws tricolor. 

 Slack Bass, Micropterus salmoides 



M. nigricans. 

 MasculonKe, Eaixs noUKor. 

 Pike or l'ickerel. E.wx liKins. 

 Yellow Perch, p'erca flaveacem. 



SALT WATER. . 



Sea Bass, Scio&wips occllatiis. 



SJieepshead, Archonargiw probata- 



cephalus. 

 . Striped Bass, Koccus linneattm. 



White l'ercli, Moron* awencana. 

 ■Weakflsli, Cyium-ion regalia 



Bluelisli, 1 •fmiatomu* mltatrix. 



Spanish Mackerel, Cybium macula- 



lll'lll. 



Cero, Cybium regale. 

 BonitO, Sarda pelamys. 

 Klngflsh, Menttcirru-3 nebulosus. 



X 



Fish in Mabket.— We noticed in Fulton Market this week 

 two fine specimens oi the dolphin, one weighing 31 pounds, 

 taken near Sandy Hook. An unusual capture was that of a 

 thirty-three pounds branded corvina, which was caught near 

 Noank, a point much farther north than usually found. "Will 

 Mr. Ferguson, the able fish commissioner of Maryland, tell us 

 why it is that no pompanos have been taken in the Chesapeake 

 this season 2 They were so numerous last year that they were 

 sent to this market and sold as low as ten cents per pound. 

 Our quotations for the week are as follows : 



Striped bass, 18 to 25 cents per pound ; green smelts, 25 

 cents ; bluefish, 10 to 12 cents ; salmon, frozen. 30 cents ; 

 green do., 35 cents; mackerel, 15 cents; white perch, 15 

 cents; wcakfish, 15 cents; Spanish mackerel, 35 cents; 

 green turtle, 15 cents ; terrapin, $15 ; halibut, 15 cents ; 

 haddock, 8 cents; king-fish, 25 cents; codfish, 8 cents; black- 

 fish, 15 cents; native herrings, 7 cents; flounders, 8 to 10 

 cents ; porgies, 10 cents; sea bass, 18 cents ; eels, 18 cents; 

 lobsters, 10 cents ; scollops, §1.50 per gal. ; soft clams, 30 to 

 60 cents per 100 ; Salmon trout, IS cents ; sheepshead, 28 

 cents ; whitefish, 16 cents ; pickerel, 18 cents ; yellow perch, 

 10 cents; hard shell crabs, $3.50 per 100 ; soft crabs, $1.00 

 per dozen ; frogs, 45 cents per pound. 



TROUTING AMONG THE NEW HAMP- 

 SHIRE HILLS. 



Watekvtlle, Aug. 13, 1877. 

 Many and varied are the pursuits in a town situated as is 

 this, among the high hills and mountains of New Hampshire, 

 but especially prominent among them is that of trouting. Water- 

 ville is at the end of the roadwhich, entered upon at .Plymouth, 

 winds for nineteen miles through wood and dale. Moun- 

 tains stretch their lofty peaks and shoulders high above you 

 on either side, while a sonorous bubbling river rushes through 

 the narrow valley. Mad River is of considerable size, and 

 takes its origin from streams flowing from the mountain slopes 

 I lack of Waterville. Many brooks constantly communicate 

 with this "main" from the neighboring mountain sides, so 

 that m point of size it presents quite a formidable appearance. 

 This river you follow the whole journey to Waterville. Here 

 one finds a circular level tract, at the farther end of which on 

 a slight rise in land is situated " Greeley's Mountain House," 

 one or two stray houses and a farm or two make up the town. 

 It seldom happens that one finds a good house situated at a 

 convenient distance from his fishing ground, from which he 

 can sally forth in the morning and return at evening, having 

 had ample time for a good mess, and none of the discomforts 

 of a wearisome tramp. This river which empties itself finally 

 iuto the Pemigewassot contains the largest trout, audnaturally, 

 for here are the most sizable pools. At this point, fully five 

 miles from its source, its appearance is such as to please the 

 angler ; for trees or shrubs do not hang over it in such an irrita- 

 ting way as do those upon some streams, but landing places 

 are plenty. Many handsome messes have been taken here dur- 

 ing this and previous seasons, but still sufficient tish remain to 

 entice the angler, and perhaps worry him some. This being 

 near at hand is fished more man its tributaries, and late in the 

 season is not so attractive. Trout are much quicker of course 

 early in the season, when they first put inan appearance down 

 stream after their winters rest, so that by the end of July they 

 become very shy, especially the larger ones. One must pass 

 now to the emaher streams, but experts often are unwilling to 

 immpa whole day after a large string of small or even average 



rout; they prefer in many eases to select then pools, 

 tish diligently for large ones, and return with them or with 



i all. Not, every one can take the large ones ; it requires 

 a great experience with regard to the nature of the fish, as to 

 llys and the way of throwing them; but especially must one 

 have patience. Only yesterday 1 heard of a gentleman who 

 has been for two years to the same pool, in order to capture 

 a large one which he knew to be there, getting him this his 

 third season, and feeling amply repaid for his trouble by find- 

 ing .t to weigh one pound. A fish of this size may not seem 

 above the average to one accustomed to lake trout, but abrook 

 trout of a pound is rather uncommon. A number of messes 

 of eighty or ninety have been taken from this river lately, 

 very good for this time of year. The west branch taking its 

 rise in the top of the ravine, which separates the slopes of Os- 



frbm those of Tecuruseh, and flowing eastward, is the 

 largest of the branches. It is three or four miles long, is filled 

 With deep pools, roaring cascades, and is ii suable over its whole 

 extent, 'i he upper portion is of course the best for our purposes, 

 for the reason that seldom any one cares to travel the distance. 

 A very pretty path leads through the woods along the banks of 



I am for nearly two miles. This saves that walk over i he 



in the brook, which isso uncomfortable when one is no 



fishing, but whose disagreeableness vanishes so soon with the 

 beginning of the sport. Where the path ends good fishing 

 begins and one can be sure of it here, if those who have tried 

 it are to be believed. No one, as far as I can find, has fished 

 on this stream more than three-quarters of a mile at a time, 

 and all have brought in good messes. Too great care cannot 

 be taken to distinguish the place well, when any doubt is oc- 

 casioned by a fork in the. stream ; for oftentimes persons are 

 misled by their recollections, and taken out of their way. 

 Greeley's Pond, some four miles distant from the house, is 

 another fine spot. The pond is filled with large trout;, but is 

 very little fished. One can hardly get there before ten in the 

 morning, if he wishes to take breakfast in the house, and the 

 best fishing in the day begins just as he is compelled to leave. 

 The only way to secure anything at all is to remain over night, 

 fishing late in the evening and early in the morning. The spot is 

 in a hollow among mountains, whose sides rise perpendicularly 

 round about it, making fishing rather hard without boat or raft. 

 Some, fine fish have been brought from this pond, and I have 

 no doubt that finer fish are in it than have ever been drawn 

 from it. No other kind of fish has ever been seen here, and 

 this alone is sufficient to convince one that large trout must, 

 be in it. The brook leading from this pond, together with 

 that from the "Flume," form the Mad River, though, of 

 course, they are by no means its only tributaries. The Flume, 

 similar to the great flume in the Franconias, though, of 

 course, not so remarkable, is a very interesting spot. High 

 cliffs of solid rock raise themselves to a height of one hun- 

 dred and fifty feet, between which, over shelving rocks and 

 forming itself into beautiful cascades, runs the brook. In 

 length it is fully two hundred feet, (he perpendicular height 

 of the walls gradually diminishing toward the farther end. 

 This picturesque spot is little visited except by old "tramps," 

 because of the difficulty in reaching it. The path, in many 

 places, through neglect, has become overgrown ; trunks of 

 trees and dead leaves have covered it, and the blazes are often 

 very indistinct ; with little trouble, however, it could be made 

 as fine as any of those nearer home. The stream, sinki ng ab- 

 ruptly and rapidly at first, soon takes a gradual descent, and 

 here the fishing begins. The convenient landing places so 

 much sought are missed upon this brook. Trees, in many 

 places, grow close to the edge of the water, and numerous are 

 the logs and sticks scattered" throughout its whole extent. In 

 many cases pools could not be more successfully blocked to 

 the angler. A good temper is not a bad companion on this 

 stream, but the chances are that it will be spoiled. Nothing 

 is more irritating than to catch your fish and lose him, not 

 through any fault of your own, but because of overhanging 

 trees. Often the fish is' of secondary'- importance, your tangled 

 true engaging your attention, especially is it so if one is short 

 of tackle or hooks. Two messes— of two hundred and twenty- 

 six and one hundred and fifty — were taken here last week, and 

 no one knows how many have fished it before this season. 

 The slide brook is another one of the many excellent streams 

 about here. The bed of this stream was greatly widened 

 eight years ago by a torrent which swept down the valley from 

 the side of the mountains, whence it takes its rise. During a 

 thunder-storm a rain cloud Is said to have burst upon the 

 mountains, filling the stream to overflowing, and forcing boul- 

 ders and other obstacles to its progress into a wild, confused 

 mass before its roaring torrent. Great gullies were hollowed 

 from solid rock, so immense was the "force of the water: 

 stones of large size were carried for miles, and every opposing 

 thing was torn up and swept before it. The stream's bed was 

 widened to four times its original size, rocks heaped together 

 and scattered in it and along its banks, many of them forming- 

 splendid hiding places for the fish. The trees being can led 

 away on both sides, the angler has exceptionally fine standing 

 and landing places. This and the Cascade brook below it be- 

 ing the nearest to ths house, are the most fished, but I doubt 

 if one ever had easier trout fishing than is obtained here early 

 in tire season. Many streams back in the mountains are very 

 seldom fished— once a year, perhaps— only few anglers taking 

 the trouble to worry through the dense and untraveled woods" 

 Sawyer's River, rising back of Greeley's Pond, is the least 

 visited. Its course is through a country covered with dense 

 forests, where there are no habitations and where man is sel- 

 dom seen. In this stream there is fine fishing, but few relish 

 the trouble of getting there and back when good messes can 

 be caught about the house. It would be impossible to return 

 the same day, and indeed one wouid not wish to, if he found 

 himself repaid for his tramp. Olhur streams flowing in differ- 

 ent directions take their rise near it, all of them nearly as good 

 as Sawyer's River. A good deal of trouble is often experienc- 

 ed by green hands at the sport in such forests as there are 

 about here. At times the path is excellent, but more often it 

 comes abruptly to an end, three or four blazes suddenly ap- 

 pear in different sections, confusing one badly. It is by no 

 means a pleasant thing to be left iu a dense and trackless 

 wood when night is coming on ; for one is certain to miss the 

 way home, and might go farther from it. A short time ago, 

 a gentleman fishing in this region wandered from his brook to 

 one on the other side of the mountain, appealing after a day 

 or so in some out of the way place far from Waterville. Easy 

 indeed is it when you are interested in your sport, to slip from 

 one side of a ridge to another, and continue down, supposing 

 you are Hearing home, It is a good plan to make sonic mark 

 of your own wdien you leave a stream, or wash to find again a 

 particular spot on it, not trusting to your memory ; for often 

 two or even three places on the same stream resemble one 

 another so closely that it is mere chance if vou choose the 

 right one. These streams which I have mentioned are by no 

 means the only ones in the region. Swift River and many 

 others whose names I know not, are quite celebrated for their 

 trout, not to speak of the very small brooks. Little brooks 

 from one to two feet wide are often prolific in trout. Many 

 persons in search of fishing pass them by in contempt, laugh- 

 ing when you suggest that trout might be caught in them; but 

 before they become good fishermen that notion must depart. 

 A little streamlet, not a foot wide, running in front of our 

 boarding house, which every one has passed again and again, 

 yielded the best mess in point of size and numbers for the 

 time of fishing that has been seen here this season. Six fish 

 weighing about a quarter of a pound each were taken 

 what seemed to be a small mud hole. These fish had un- 

 doubtedly been there for years, no outlet with the river afford- 

 ing them a chance to swim down. No larger fish are taken 

 from these streams than others in the mountains, but one can 

 be sure of getting always a fair string of average sized ones. 

 To see the wholesale way in which they are caught is discourag- 

 ing to a fisherman who really loves the sport, for it seems 

 almost impossible that any should remain in the course of a 

 few years if the slaughter" is continued. Some bring in fish 

 two inches long and under, instead of throwing them back 

 into the stream and giving them a chance to attain some size. 

 A peculiar personage has been about here fishing for the past 

 two weeks in the shape of a one-armed man. His object is to 

 catch as many as he can to sell, and for this reason all here are 



down on him. Large, or small serve equally well his pur 



ery one helps tip the scale. He is an exceptionally line 

 fisherman, and always manages to bring in a good mess. It 

 has become quite a standing joke among us fishermen when 

 the fish do not take hold well to lay it to the one armed man's 

 having been ahead of us. Worms I find on the whole to be 

 much more acceptable as bait than the fly, though the latter is 

 perhaps fully as good to secure the older ones. I have seldom i 

 seen a place more comfortable as a resort coupled with a 

 region more full of fish than this. The presence of such good 

 fishing is undoubtedly due to the distance of the place from 

 Campton and other surrounding towns. The eleven miles 

 from Gampton are done away with by the position of Greeley's, 

 and reduced to the three or four which we have to tramp from 

 here in order to secure an excellent catch. Many persons 

 also hesitate to come here thinking it too far from the stores 

 and other requirements of a comfortable town, and very for- 

 tunately, for the longer the pleasant points of the place are 

 hidden to them the better will be the fishing. One of course 

 can find plenty of fishing away from civilization, in the Adiron- 

 dacks or in the woods of Maine, but a pleasant summer resort 

 with trout fishing near at hand is an uncommon thing. Even 

 if one does not care to fish a full round of amusements can he 

 found here. Many b autii'ul paths lead through the woods 

 to cascades and waterfalls of uncommon brilliancy. There is 

 plenty of fine and picturesque scenery, and many of the 

 choicest views in this region are. obtained from clearings on 

 the mountain streams. The place is an uncommon one in 

 many particulars, the views from some of the mountains 

 round about are considered remarkably fine. Anglek. 



Movements of toe Fishixg Fleet. — The receipts of Bank 

 fish the past week have been the largest of any week during 

 the season, 24 arrivals having been reported, with an aggre- 

 gate of 345,000 lbs. halibut and a trifle over 2,000,000 lbsr of 

 codfish. 24 arrivals have been reported from Georges, with 

 about 280,000 lbs. codfish and 5,000 lbs. halibut, Only two 

 Vessels arrived from the Bay St. Lawrence, each with .150 

 bbls. mackerel, and there is no news that is very encouraging 

 from that quarter. Some of the shore fleet have met with a ' 

 little better success, and the 20 vessels arriving the past week 

 have landed about 1,000 bbls. Total number of fishing ar- 

 rivals for the past week, 70. — Cape Ann Advertiser, Sept. 14. 



^ Cojsnkotiout— New London, Sept. 13.— We have bad fine 

 blue fishing of late ; parties going to the Race returning with 

 large catches. Ono party caught 90 in two hours, the largest 

 weighing 14 pounds. Missal. 



^Junzey's Ashley House, Barn eg <at Inlet, Sept. 15. — Bluefish | 

 since the storm have been scarce. Blackfish only middling. 

 Sea bass plenty and running good size. Bart bite Blow. A 

 party of ten ladies and gentlemen from the yacht Sans Soucie 

 took some 50 odd sea bass in one slack water off the stone- 

 piles in front of the house. The venerable enthusiastic sports- . 

 man, Col. E. P., N. Y., took 17 sea bass and bart, averaging 

 T, lbs., one slack water, from this place. As I am writing I 

 can see his rod bend reefing them in ; and from his actions his 

 score Jo-day will be heavy. 15. 



* Omo— Sandusky, Sep. 11.— This is an excellent place for 

 black bass fishing, spring and fall, and the lovers of that sport 

 may be benefited to know where, at no very great expense, 

 they can have any amount. Kelley's and Put-in-Bay Islands, 

 distant 12 and 20 miles respectively from the city, arc the best 

 points to operate from, as they are well provided with hotel 

 accommodations, boats, minnows, etc.; beskles, the fishing in 

 their immediate vicinity is superior. The past spring has fat 

 exceeded any previous season, and the catches during fa 

 ble weather have been astounding. The fishing season at the 

 Islands has just opened, and we hear of several good hauls. 

 In about ten days it will be in full blast and continue until 

 the last of October. JSimkod. 



Canada — Ontario, MuzJcoka, Sept. 13.— Fishing improving 

 this month. During August but few maskelonge were caught, 

 and bass fishing not tempting. Nevertheless, the many .small 

 lakes and rivers have been visited during almost the entire 

 summer by numerous camping parties. This district is be- 

 coming a provincial pleasure ground. 



Anoiext Atletioism.— In Maomillan's Magazine, Pro! 

 Mahufly gives an account of Greek athletics, which might be 

 read with pleasure by a fighting publican. At least, most men 

 of that kind would' be lather interested to know that the 

 Greeks, with their wonderful forms and their devotion to the 

 arena, missed the secret, of training, as they missed to a 

 degree the secret of medicine. They fancied, being a. South- 

 ern people, with the habit of feeding temperately, that ihcy 

 could train best on huge meals of meat : — " '1 he 

 Dromeus was adopted by Greek athletes ever alter, and' we 

 hear of their compulsory meals of large quantities of meat, 

 and their consequent sleepiness and sluggishness in ord 

 life in such a way as to make- us i the Greeks had 



missed the real secret of ti. il that 



the more strong nutriment a man could absorb the stronger he 

 would become. The quantity eaten by athletes is universally 

 spoken of as far exceeding the quantity eaten by ordinary 

 men, not considering its heavier 1 quality." It follows, of 

 course, that Greek athletes did not perform very wonderful 

 feats, as feats are considered in modern times. It is probable 

 that their running was very bad, foi tin ' ! > the course 



only 125 yards long, and were accustomed to cover that dis- 

 tance with their arms going like the sails of a windmill, and 

 shouting as they ran— two actions which a modern trainer 

 would pronounce fatal to speed. Their wrestling was rather 

 fighting, i'or it was allowable in the wrestler to break his op- 

 ponent's lingers, and one man made a practice of it ; while 

 their jumping was probably "standing jumping," and they 

 carried dumb-bells in their hands. The 'most extraordinary 

 stories are related of these jumps, but they are probably exag- 

 gerations, and one, the celebrated jump of Phayllus of K I 

 certainly is. He is said to have jumped fifty feet on level 

 ground, double the longest leap ever recorded of a horse, and 

 absolutely impossible. The boxing was really fighting with 

 knuckle-dusters, or wi'h weights carried in the hand, and it 

 seems certain that the blows were given downward or round 

 from the shoulder, as little boys give them, for " a boxer 

 was not known as a man with his cose broken, but as a man 

 with his cars crushed." The violent probability is that Tom 

 Bayers would have thrashed any Greek boxer in five rain 

 that Captain Webb would have drowned him in an hour or 

 two, and that O'Leary would have beaten him in any walk or 

 run, though the specialty of the Greek runner was endurance. 

 The human frame has not degenerated, but improved ; and 

 scientific medicine has taught us how to train, though it has 

 not yet taught us all the secrets of endui 

 lower races. A Turkish hamal lifts weights thu 

 an English porter, and a Peruvian would, we imagine. 

 out training, but with cocoa, outwui 



