110 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



pVLuicn 9, 1883. 



table. In case they were too "gamy," have sometimes 

 thrown them away; hut have always found that ducks, part- 

 ridges, etc., keep for a long time during cool weather, say 

 September and October, by simply bleeding and hanging up 

 outside the tent after shooting. — 8. H. T. 



A New Drjcu Retriever. — Mr. Edmond Redmond, of 

 Eochesterj N. Y.. the well known inventor of the diving 

 duck decoys, makes a suggestion in his paper, the Journal, 

 that we leave him to "work up:" "One d;iy lately we were 

 reading about the desirability of a dog that would fetch ducks 

 under all circumstances, when an idea occurred to us that 

 may be worthy of consideration. It was to train hawks to 

 retrieve. There would be no more difficulty in teaching a 

 falcon to fetch than it is to teach them the' old-time art, of 

 hawking. The only question is, would any ordinary' hawk 

 l>e strong enough to carry a four-pound duck or the still 

 heavier wild goose or swan. Here would be a chance to put 

 the national bird to some practical use. The eagle is un- 

 questionably strong enough to carry any ordinary duck, and 

 it would not be a bad idea to employ his storm-daring pinion 

 and sun-gazing eye to recover dead ducks. From accounts 

 we have read about eagles swooping down and going off 

 with decoys, wo infer that the eagle has a penchant for wild 

 duck: and if he could be trained to fetch and carry for the 

 wild fowler, another attraction would be given to a fine 

 sport." 



The CoMbsg of the Snipe.— Philadelphia, March 6, 1882. 

 — Editor Forext and Stream: Everything indicates the early 

 coming of the main Might of snipe with us. Yesterday's 

 rain hastened a few brace, and this forenoon three were killed 

 on the meadows at the foot of Broad street in the city limits. 

 The veteran Mr. John Davis, of Philadelphia, has been out 

 already, but have not heard of his bagging any, although he 

 generally finds many of the early birds. Several local sports- 

 men started for the* wet grounds on the New Jersey side of 

 the Delaware River this morning in hope of finding a few, 

 It is very uncertain yet, for we need a week of mellow 

 spring-like weather. Yet all the migratory birds due about 

 this time of yoar are ahead of their general coming a full 

 week— Home. 



Tee Buffalo Range. —Fort Benton, Montana, Feb. 10, 

 188.3. — The huffalo have made a very remarkable migration 

 lately. Last September the buffalo were all on this (south) 

 side of the line, in fact, nearly all on the south side of the 

 Missouri River. Since that time fully half of them have gone 

 north clear to Battle River and the south fork of the Saskat- 

 chewan. It is truly wonderful how many buffalo are still 

 left. Thousands of Indians and hundreds of white men 

 depend on them for a living. At present nearly all the buf- 

 falo in Montana are between Milk River and the Bear Paw 

 Mountains, there are only a few small bands of them between 

 the Missouri and the Yellowstone. — J. W. S. 



Wlnchendon, Mass., March 2. — On Monday of this week 

 members of the Gun Club went out for a hunt, sides were 

 chosen, the agreement being that the losing side should pay 

 for the suppers. G. Sumner Lord with his party reported 

 the capture of eighteen rabbits, while James Sutherland and 

 party had twenty-two rabbits, two partridges, and one squir- 

 rel. Last evening supper was furnished by the losers at the 

 American House, where rabbits and other good things graced 

 the board. After supper a stirring speech was made by 

 President Brown. 



The Eably Snipe.— Jersey City, March 7, 1882.— Editor 

 Forest and titream: I lulled this Tuesday morning an Eng- 

 lish snipe, weight, 8fozs. This is the earliest I have killed, 

 Seoll&jxix wihonii. In referring to my field-notes, I find the 

 earliest one killed in previous years on the 1.0th of March, 

 1880; last year not until March 31st,— G. L. W. 



Florida. — Maitland, Orange County, Feb., 1882. — Quail 

 shooting has been very good the past season up to within two 

 or three weeks. I have had a party of New York gentlemen 

 here all winter and they have had' good sport. Our table is 

 supplied with venison all shot within a few miles from here. 



State Parks. — The reservation of a portion of the Adir- 

 ondacks as a State park and the reclaiming of Niagara Falls 

 are two projects now exciting deserved public interest, There 

 can be no question of the ultimate advantage which will ac- 

 crue from such action of the State. 



Rochester. — At the annual meeting the Monroe County 

 Sportsmen's Club elected the following officers : President. 

 M. ML Hollister; Vice-President, J. H.Brown; Secretary and 

 Treasurer, L. A. Pratt. There are $676.26 in the treasury 

 and no debts. 



Dv'Cks on Long Island. — Port Jefferson, March 3. — Old 

 squaws, coots and sheldrakes are very plenty here. — W. 



NOTES FROM FOREIGN EXCHANGES. 



THE Revista degli Sports of Rome has this notice, which, 

 we presume, refers to Judge Caton: " Un ricco signore 

 degl Stati-Unfti si presento al Ministro d'agrieoltura e com- 

 mercio proponendo raceliraatazione del yak in Prancia. 11 

 yak e una specie di bufalo con coda da ciwallo; da un latte 

 eccelente e con la sua lana si fanno abiti.per contadini. La 

 stessa lana, mediante un operato, dicono che irniti molto bene 

 il capello umano." 



La nu.itracion Vcnatoria of Madrid tells us that the out- 

 rages of the dynamite fishing fiend are not confined to this 

 country. It reports: "Cuatro j6vene.s muy conocidos en la 

 citada villa, aneionados en extreme A la pesca, y con la samt. 

 mala 6 buena intencion de hacer abundante c'osec.ha con el 

 destrozador elemento de la nitroglicerina 6 dinamita, y al en- 

 cender, para arrojarlo al agna, uno de los varios cartuchos que 

 llevaban en su bote 6 embarcaeion, se les inflamo el resto de 

 de los demos, siendo vfctimas todos ellos, recogiendo al uno 

 cadaver y a los otros tres en un estado muy grave-" 



La Chasse Ilhtstrt-e of Paris has this, which we commend 

 to our game law makers: '.' D'apres le chiffre considerable des 

 peraiis de chasse delivres chaques annee dans nos prefectures, 

 e'est, evidemment, en France que Ton compte le plus de chas- 

 seurs, ou qui se disent tels. sur tons les degres de l'echelle 

 sociale: depuis le racommodeur de savates fuscni'au president 

 de la Republique, toutle monde chasse. C'est le eontraire on 

 Angleterre et en Allemagne. 11 resulte de cette mosaique 

 humaine des abus nombreux qui nous conduitent fatalement 

 a la destruction radieale du gibier. Ou cherehe un remfede an 

 mal, et l'espoir nous reste. Le depute 1 qui aurait le courage de 

 monter a la tribune pom - proposer une loi couservatrice severe 

 contre le braconnage, risquerait de perdre sa popularity et 

 deplairait auz masses." 



$m nnd §iver ^ishinq. 



Hauling fish through the surf is better than wasting time in the 

 Senate.— Daniel Webster. 



THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF. 



BY X. 



"When the wind is in the north, 



The prudent angler goes not forth. 



When the Wind is in the south, 



It blows the bate (fly) in the fishe's mouth. 



When the wind is in the east, 



Then the fish will bite the least. 



When the wind is in the west, 



Then the fish will bite the best." 



"When the moon is shining bright, 



Seek other days for fish to bite."' 



IF signs are the mere fictions of the brain and void of truth 

 or sense, then that is the end of them among sensible 

 people. Boys may repeat them to kUl time while spitting 

 on their bait. But if they have sprung up out of the experi- 

 ence of some and the observations of others at all times and 

 places, or at different times and localities, and from their 

 truthfulness grown into proverbs sacred in the eyes of grand 

 old Izaac Walton and his followers to this day, then it may 

 be worth while to elaborate them a little and find out, if 

 possible, what they mean. 



In the north of England, where this first proverb probably 

 originated, about the time in the spring when the flies begin 

 to be plenty and the trout begin to jump for them, should" a 

 cold north wind set in the flies will all disappear from the 

 waters, hiding away in warm cover until there be a change 

 of wind and temperature. The trout, discovering the disap- 

 pearance of their food, seek their hiding places in deep pools 

 and under banks and logs. Occasionally one may be found 

 in their usual haunts ready to take the proffered' fly of the 

 unbelieving angler in the "sign, "but the "prudent angler" in 

 the localities where such a state of things may occur "goes 

 not forth." 



On any stream in any country north of the equator, in the 

 spring and fall especially, the south wind would naturally be 

 a warm wind, the flies would dance merrily over the water, 

 the wary trout would be on the watch and keep up that half 

 metallic splashing sound so delightful to the angler, and 

 when he steals up cautiously and makes his cast "It blows 

 the bate in the fishes mouth." 



The northern part of England, when the east wind sweeps 

 down from the North Sea and the cold Baltic, or in Maine, 

 New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova. Scotia, and Quebec, 

 from the cold icebergs floating off the Southern coast of La- 

 brador, across the trout streams, in the spring and fall, (as 

 the east winds are dry and cold) the flies on the streams dis- 

 appear, the trout slink away to their hiding-places, and the 

 incredulous angler too late discovers that— "Then the fish 

 wdllbite the least," 



But when the vitalizing west winds sweep up from the 

 warm currents of the Gulf Stream ou the shores of England 

 and North America, the flies swarm in myriads, the fish (trout, 

 especially) are alive to the proffered chance for a good dinner 

 and leap to every lure— "Then the fish will bite the best," 



Exceptions may be found in the heat of summer, when all 

 winds are warm, or in streams so protected by mountains or 

 forests as to be little affected by any winds* but this only 

 proves the truth of the signs. 



Although "O. T. D." may have fallen into the trap set by 

 the Fokest and Stream on the "worm question" he is 

 sound on the "moon question." Fish do hite best in the 

 "dark of the moon." 



When the moon shines bright during the night, minnows 

 come to the surf ace near the shore and huddle together in 

 swarms; then the trout, bass, pike and pickerel strike for 

 this bonanza and gorge themselves to repletion. Being full, 

 the fish retire to their hiding places, and remain there until 

 the process of digestion is completed and hunger drives them 

 forth to seek more food. This may occur in eight or ten 

 hours. 



Hence it is idle to fish for trout or bass when the moon 

 shines at night, until about three or four o'clock in the after- 

 noon, with any assurance of getting more than an occasional 

 rise. When there is no moonlight at night the fish do not 

 feed, and if the days be cloudy, rainy or windy, the "signs" 

 are right, and the chances are largely* in your favor for a good 

 day's sport and a full creel. 



To "spit on the bait" is not a sign, but a fact; so with 

 anise seed and assafcetida (recommended by our patron saint, 

 the great and good Walton), and if these won't "fetch 'em," 

 no extraneous application will. Let the boys spit on their 

 bate — just as good as assafcetida. 



RANGELEY NOTES. 



SINCE the season closed, the proprietors of Forest Retreat, 

 Messrs. Richardson and Grant, Lake Kenebago, have 

 enlarged their main camp, and will erect a still larger one 

 adjoining before the season opens, doubling the capacity of 

 last year. This has become necessary to accommodate the 

 constantly increasing patronage. Though less easy of access 

 than most others, once here the sportsman finds it the loveliest 

 of all lakes, with fly-fishing all the season. During the past 

 year a partially new trail was swamped out to Seven Ponds, 

 lessening the distance two miles or more, and with less hill. 

 As in past years, George Huntoon will perform mail service 

 tri-wcekly, and haul supplies daily. John A. Burke, Range- 

 lev Lake House; George Oaks, Oquossac House, Rangefej 

 City; H. J, Kimbal, Mountain View House, Rangeley Out- 

 let; I. N. Packard, Camp Kenebago, Indian Rock; Maj. C. 

 T. Richardson, Hains' Landing, at the head; and Capt. Fred 

 C. Barker, Bemis, at the foot of Mooseluemaguntic, will 

 manage and control their respective hotels and camps as in 

 past years, Captain Barker at present is in Boston, lecturing 

 —talking, he modestly styles it— before schools and angling 

 associations, describing and illustrating by diagrams the 

 localities and methods of enjoying sport. Those' fortunate 

 enough to visit this region will find all he promises fully veri- 

 fied. His steamers, Oquossac and Mooseluemaguntic, will 

 ply as usual. Old-timers will be pleased to learn that Captain 

 C. W. Howard will resume charge of his steamer, Molly- 

 chuncamunk, on the Rangeley next season. 



At the last session of the Maine Legislature an act was 

 passed prohibiting residents from taking certain fish during 

 a portion of the close season for their own use — a privilege 

 heretofore allowed them. So far as can be ascertained, the 

 law has been duly obeyed, though public sentiment is, and 

 for a while longer, no doubt, will be, against it j but eventu- 



ally it will he discerned to be in conformity with self-interest, 

 which admonishes us not to kill the goose, etc. It seems 

 quite probable that early in the summer this place and 

 Phillips will have phonographic communication. This ac- 

 complished, a greater number of sportsmen will give this 

 region the preference. Warfield. 



Rangeley, Maine, February, 1382, 



NIGHT SPEARING. 



AMONG the fine sports of the boys of fifty years ago, that 

 of "night spearing" must be included. 



The stream that we frequented was quite wide, but gener- 

 ally shallow, say from six inches to three feet deep," With 

 occasional holes too deep for us to wade. The fish were inostl v 

 trout and suckers, but the former were seldom captured, a's 

 they never lie close to the bottom, while the latter were often 

 taken in large quantities and frequently of large size. Our 

 parties varied from three to six, each armed with rude spears 

 and grain bag in which to carry his fish. For a light, we at 

 first used a faggot of pitebpine splinters, four or five inches in 

 diameter, and eight or nine feet long, bound together every 

 foot or so with grccu bands or wire. Two such torches were 

 required for a night's spearing, covering about a mile of the 

 stream and occupying about three hours. 



In later times we made an improvement in our lights. 

 Necessity is said ever to be the mother of invention, so instead 

 of the cumbersome and unwieldly faggot, we constructed 

 an open work basket of old barrel hoops and wire. This was 

 tied to one end of a long pole and a corn basket to the other, 

 in which a supply of pine knots were carried, and from which 

 the light in the iron basket was kept glowing. This proved 

 a great success, and except when the bearer slipped on a 

 smooth stone and boy- and light together disappeared beneath 

 the water, lighted the stream from bank to bank. 



We found that a cloudy and moonless night with no wind 

 was the most favorable time for our sport, there being no 

 ripple on the water and the light more searching, so that a 

 fish was readily distinguished" from a root or sunken slick. 

 Spearing, like "bobbing for bullheads," may not be considered 

 very scientific, but let a greenhorn try it, and if he don't miss 

 his game, it will be because the fish 'is about as long as his 

 arm and as logy as a sucker. J. H. D. 



TROUT FLIES. 



THE warm weather of the past few days has turned our 

 thoughts towards the trout season. The bluebirds, 

 robins aud blackbirds are on in great numbers. English 

 snipe have put in an appearance, and even the peepers have 

 been heard in the marshes. 



Thinking that the. following items about trout flies are 

 therefore in season I take the liberty of sending the inclosed 

 lists. I have, for convenience, divided the flies into three- 

 classes, and, while I know from experience that such lists are 

 not absolutely perfect, I can only say that they arc the result 

 of twenty years' fly fishing in our waters, and to a certain ex- 

 tent verified by many other anglers. Class A represents the 

 flies that have proved most Mliing; class B, those not quite 

 so good, and class C, those thai are occasional]} 7 good. 



CLASS A. 



Coachman, Great Dun. Black, Brown. Red and Ginger 

 Hackles, Cech-y-hon-dhu, Shoemaker, Abbey, Grizly Ling. 

 Blue Dun, Black Gnat, Cow Dung, Red and Dark Fox, Yel- 

 low Sally, Ronald Stone, Brown Hen, Dusty Miller, White 

 Miller, Scarlet Ibis. 



CLASS B. 



Queen of the Water, Plum, Grouse and Gray Hackle. 

 Scarlet, Gray and Olive Gnats. Professor Beaverklll, Cahill. 

 Iron Blue Dun, Bright Fox, Canada, Montreal, Jungle Cock, 

 Prime Gnat, Cinnamon Dun, Jenny Spinner, Gray Collin, 

 Brown Coflin, Blue Blow. 



CLASS C. 



Green Hackle, Brown Stone, Golden Spinner, Red Spin- 

 ner, Raven, Green and Gray Drake. Hawthorne, Hooker, 

 Golden Monkev, Alder, Shad Flv, Sand Fly, Brandreth 

 Wood Duck, Bee. 



Best flies for the Adirondacks, Maine and Canada: — 

 Brandreth, Holberton, Saranac, Rangeley, Moose, Iron Spjn- 

 ner, Canada and Montreal, Abbey, Coachman, White Miller, 

 Jungle Cock. Silver Doctor, the Hackles. W. Holp.ehtos. 



TROUT IN NEW JERSEY. 



IT is not generally known, save by a few Philadelphians 

 and the natives of the locality of which I will make 

 reference, that within fifteen miles of the Quaker City there- 

 are, in the vicinity of White Horse, on the Camden and At- 

 lantic Railroad, two or three streams at this writing fairly 

 abounding with trout. Trout Run, the main brook of the 

 three, (the names of the others I have forgotten) is a stream 

 thickly bordered and overgrown with an almost impenetra- 

 ble labyrinth of alders, blackberry bushes, etc., which in 

 spring time, unless it be very early, renders it impossible to 

 fish with bait even, and never' with the fly. The trout 

 caught are small, scarcely ever measuring more than four or 

 five "inches, yet I have seen some that would reach six or 

 eight. 



Some years ago the existence of trout in these New Jersey 

 brooks was kept a profound secret by those that displayed 

 their catch on their return. I remember at one time offering 

 one dollar apiece for six live trout that would measure six 

 inches each, to be furnished die in good condition in twenty- 

 four hours, not thinking I could po.-isibly get them, for it was 

 in the month of February. In less than twelve hours, to my 

 great amazement, 1 had them swimming in my aquarium pro- 

 vided with ranting water and in full view Of the passers by 

 of my store, situated on Chestnut street, near Fourth, in 

 Philadelphia, These fish were taken by r Mr. Chas. Vogel 

 from Trout Run while the snow was yet on the ground. 

 They lived until June, when the temperature of the water 

 becoming too high, they one by one died. 



I hare often seen catches of fifty and seventy-five brought 

 from the stream, but the season in which they were taken 

 was always in late February or early March, and I learned 

 that it required the most active, weazel movement on the 

 part of the angler (if you can call it angling) and a use of rod 

 tip only 1o find one's way to water enough and room enough 

 where a bait could be dropped. Thest? A* 11 were native trout, 

 the streani had then never been stocked nor the communicat- 

 ing ponds, as I understand, but I was told by a Major Lewis, 

 of Philadelphia, who used to visit the locality often, there 

 are one or two dams situated on Trout Rim or one of the 

 neighboring small creeks, where he had at times finer fishing 

 and larger trout could be caught, Trout Run was always re- 

 ported to me as a terrible place for rattlesnakes after the. sea- 



