330 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 25, 1882 



cunningly devised to deceive. The spot is reached. With 

 a quiet movement I send the bait swiftly on shore. It has 

 passed half (he breadth of the great oak's shade, when like 

 the rush of a startled deer one glorious fellow strikes with all 

 his power and the good books strike home. Every one is 

 fast in his huge jaws. Now comes the "tug of war," and 

 the tug of man and fish, too. Our rod is bent almost double 

 as he rushes, maddened with pain, down into the depths of 

 the water, and we have to let him go to the end of the line. 

 Then checked in his headlong career by the strong line and 

 unyielding hooks, he comes as swift as shooting stars across 

 {he blue "bend of Heaven to the top, and springs his full 

 length into the air; endeavors to break the line by a stroke 

 from his powerful tail, as head down he plunges 'again into 

 the water. After a fierce five minutes' struggle be yields to 

 fate, and floats broadside, "a thing of beauty," upon the 

 water. Carefully, warily I lead him up to the boat, hoist in, 

 and bind the captive fast, and shout for joy. Boatman, 

 head for home. Glory enough for one day. It is reached, 

 he is weighed, and tips the Scales at fourteen pounds. 

 Bainbbidge, Georgia. O. G. G. 



"CATTING." 



rfthe "Tennessee Fish Notes," by J. D. H., in the For- 

 est and Stream of May 11, we are told that "Mr. Poole 

 caught a yellow cat out of the river the other day, with or- 

 dinary tackle which weighed sixty-one pounds." 



It is to be regretted that the details of this affair are not 

 given. It would be interesting to know how the cat hap- 

 pened to be in the river— whether by accident or design; and 

 all sportsmen will be eager to know something more about 

 the tackle used by Mr. Poole. It is said to have been the 

 "ordinary tackle which weighed sixty-one pounds," and per- 

 haps the Tennesseeans who devote themselves to this par- 

 ticular sport understand exactly what is meant ; but in the 

 North, where the cats found in the water are generally too 

 stale to entice the angler, the statement cannot fail to excite 

 some speculation. The tackle, weighing only sixty-one 

 pounds, could hardly have been a derrick or a dreclging- 

 machine — although the latter would seem to be well adapted 

 for the purpose — and it was manifestly something heavier 

 than a rake, scoop-shovel, or pair of tongs. 



In view of the well-known predilectiou of cats for live 

 bait, it may have been a big dog on a string or a mouse sus- 

 pended by'a log-chain, according as it is customaryin such 

 cases for the bait to take the game or for the game to take 

 the bait. It certainly seems probable that in a stream well 

 stocked with cats, a small water-spaniel — say a brown hackle 

 — on a light casting line and fly rod would afford excellent 

 sport. Such tackle need not weigh over thirty pounds. Mr. 

 Poole seems to have used a larger dog than was necessary. 

 The smaller sized would be better for casting, and would 

 make the contest more uncertain, and therefore more sports- 

 manlike. 



Just how we are to induce the cats to take to the water in 

 sufficient numbers to make this sport, popular with the fish- 

 ing fraternity may not be clear; but it is evident that the 

 surplus kittens of" our large cities, after being accustomed to 

 city milk, cannot have any serious antipathy to the purer 

 water of the pond and stream. 



Certainly this subject is worthy the careful attention of 

 our fishculturists and sporting clubs. Just as we are begin- 

 ning to realize and mourn over the rapid extermination of 

 our game fish and animals, a new 4 sport with an inexhaustible 

 supply of material is at hand. 



Take, for example, a single block in New York occupied 

 by say one hundred householders. Each one of these would 

 cheerfully spare a hundred cats from his neighborhood. 

 This makes ten thousand cats to the block available for our 

 purpose; and of course there are plenty of dogs out of busi- 

 ness who might thus be furnished with pleasant employment 

 and a reason for existence. 



"We hope to hear further from Mr. Poole on this interest- 

 ing topic. N. 



Chicago, May !£. 



RIPARIAN RIGHTS. 



THE St. John, N. B., Td< graph, of May 9, publishes in 

 full the judgment of the Supreme Court of Canada in 

 the case of the Queen is. Bobertson, by which the rights of 

 riparian proprietors are defined. It was based on a special 

 case which set out at length the facts admitted, the principal 

 of which were that Mr. Bobertson had leased from the 

 Marine and Fisheries Department as a fishing station for fly 

 fishing the Miramicbi Biver from Price's Bend to its source". 

 Price's Bend was about forty miles above the ebb and flow 

 of the tide and navigable at certain seasons, for canoes, small 

 boats and logs. The land along the part of the river covered 

 by the lease was granted to the'Nova Scotia & New Bruns- 

 wick Land Company, and part of it was conveyed by the 

 company to James Steadman and Edgar Hanson, "who 

 claimed the right to fish in the Miramichl as riparian pro- 

 prietors. Mr. Robertson prevented them from fishing and 

 both brought actions against him and recovered. In the 

 present, case the following questions were submitted to the 

 court : 



"1. Had the Parliament of Canada power to pass the 2nd 

 section of the said Act entitled An Act for the regulation of 

 fishing and the protection of the fisheries? 



"2. Had the Minister of Marine and Fisheries the right to 

 issue the, fishery lease in question? 



"3. Was the" bed of the S. W. Miramicbi within the limits 

 of grant to the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Land Com- 

 pany, and above the grants mentioned and reserved therein, 

 granted to the said company? 



"4. If so, did the exclusive right of fishing in said river 

 thereby pass to the said company* 



"5. If the bed of the river did not pass, had the company, 

 as riparian proprietor, the right of fishing ad filum aqua; 

 and if so, was that right exclusive? 



"0. Have the grantees in grants of lots bounded by said 

 river, or by any part, thereof, and excepted from the said 

 company's grant, any exclusive or other right of fishing in 

 said fiver opposite their respective grants? 



"7. If an exclusive right of fishing in a portion of the 

 Miramicbi Biver passed to said company, or to the grantees 

 in the excepted grants, or any of them, "could the Minister of 

 Marine and Fisheries issue, a valid fishery lease of such por- 

 tion of the river? 



"8. Where the lands (above, tidal water) through which 

 the said river passes arc migrant cd by the Crown, could the 

 Minister of Marine and Fisheries law fully issue a lease of 

 that portion of the river?" 



The result of the decision of Mr. Justice Gwynne, who 

 heard the case in the Exchequer Court, is as follows: 



The first, third, fourth and sixth questions submitted in 



said special case should be answered in the affirmative and 

 the second and seventh questions in the negative. This court 

 doth further declare that it is unnecessary to give any 

 special answer to the fifth question, as this court, is of 

 opinion that the bed of the Southwest Miramichi Biver 

 within the limits of the grants to the Nova Scotia and New 

 Brunswick Land Company and above the grants mentioned 

 and reserved I herein did pass to the said company. 



This court doth further declare with reference to the 

 eighth question that, "if what is meant by this question be 

 whether the Minister of Marine and Fisheries could lawfully 

 issue a lease of the bed of the river where it passes through 

 ungranted lands, this court is of opinion that the said min- 

 ister could lawfully issue a license to fish as a franchise 

 apart from the ownership of the soil in that portion of the 

 river." 



From this decision the Crown has taken the present appeal. 



THE RANGELEY LAKES. 



THOSE who wish to have the first chance at the trout in 

 the Rangeley Lakes, should visit the Middle Dam, by 

 the way of Bethel and Lake Umbagog, as they can reach the 

 fishing grounds by that route from one to two weeks earlier 

 than by any other route. The Upper Dam can also be 

 reached via Bryant's Pond and Andover from one to two 

 weeks earlier than by any other route. There is not as much 

 water in the lakes this spring as usual, and at the present time 

 it is falling in the Bichardson Lakes, and rising in Umbagog. 

 In the other lakes it remains about the same as last fall. 



Round trip tickets to the lake region may lie purchased in 

 Boston as soon as the ice leaves Umbagog Lake. There is 

 some reduction in the prices this year, the tickets via 

 Bryant's Pond and Andover, all rail, to Middle Dam and re- 

 turn, being $12; to Upper Dam and return, $13; to Indian 

 Bock, Haines's Landing, or Beinis Stream and return, $14. 

 Tickets to Middle Dam and return, via Bethel and Lake 

 Umbagog, $14.50. There will be a daily mail from Bethel 

 to Upton during June, July, August and September, and the 

 stage will also run daily. The steamers will run on Umba- 

 gog Lake daily excepting Sunday, between Upton, Sunday 

 Cove, Errol Dam, and Magalloway Biver Landing; the trip 

 to Magalloway last year was made only three times a week, 

 and this change to daily trips will serve the Pasmachenee 

 travel much better. The daily mail spoken of above will 

 also be continued to Magalloway during the same four 

 months. 



The stage line between Bryant's Pond and Andover is to 

 be equipped with new Concord coaches this summer, and 

 several extra horses, and quick time will be made. The 

 steamers on the Richardson Lakes will stop at the South 

 Arm over night, and make two trips daily between the Arm, 

 Middle Dam, Upper Dam, and Birch Lodge. 



Charles A. J. Fauuak. 



Andover, Me.. May 7. 



The Rainbow Trout. — Boston, May- 20. — In regard to 

 the appearance of the rainbow trout, which I mentioned in 

 your issue of April 13, and which L. W. G. comments upon 

 in your last issue, I would say: If the only r fish of this species 

 which I saw at Mr. Blackford's trout-opening, were dead 

 ones which had come from California, then, as your corres- 

 pondent says, they might not have appeared to their best ad- 

 vantage. But there were specimens live and dead from the 

 State of New York. One fish of three or four pounds, from 

 the South Side Club, of Long Island, was swimming in a 

 tank of glass, and on this I based my opinion, which I still 

 adhere to, that they are coarse, black, ugly beasts, with a 

 feverish flush on the sides which has a most unwholesome 

 look. While willing to accept L. W. G.'s statement, regard- 

 ing their rapid growth and all things else that he claims for 

 them, I will not agree with him that they are handsome. 

 The scales are as coarse, if not coarser than those of the Eng- 

 lish trout, which by the way is not near as handsome as the 

 small trout, which the English call "charr," and the rainbow 

 trout no more compares with our Eastern brook trout than 

 a mud turtle does to a humming bird. Again, I want no 

 more of them, and hope that they will keep them out of my 

 favorite trout brooks, for they uo not look fit to eat. Mr. 

 James Annin hit the mark when he said at the fishcultural 

 meeting that no man would be as proud to show a creel full 

 of rainbows as of fontinalis. Perhaps the name of "rain- 

 bow" led me to expect beauty, certainly iridea, which means 

 nearly the same as rainbow, would convey the idea of a fish 

 whose iridescent splendor would be beautiful to behold, and 

 I have been disappointed. The famous rainbow trout, as I 

 have seen it, is a black, coarse beast with a hectic flush on its 

 side as though it bad a fever, and I think if anglers generally 

 could see this fish they would be of my opinion. — H. R. G. 



Fishing in the Edisto.— Granite ville, S. C, May 15.— 

 For the past fifty hours the mercury has averaged 5sdesr., an 

 unheard of thing for this time of year in this latitude. Fires 

 are in order, windows are closed, "lightard" is in demand; 

 but we are enjoying the change in the temperature as con- 

 trasted with a few weeks past, as then the mercury was rang- 

 ing up in the nineties. Northern visitors, on account of the 

 cold snap here, in most instances deferred their flitting 

 toward the "ice-bound bays" of the frigid zone, preferring 

 to remain just a trifle nearer the equator; in consequence the 

 heart of ye, hotel and boarding-house keeper is made glad. 

 The hotels in Aiken have been fairly patronized the past 

 winter. Aiken is a sort of half-way house between points 

 North and Florida; many people bound ultimately for Flori- 

 da come South in the early season, say November, stay a few 

 weeks, and go on to the "land of flowers, returning in early 

 spring to Aiken; many remain until from the 1st to the 

 middle of May. There are, of course, people who stay in 

 Aiken the whole winter. Why tins is I am unable to say, 

 unless, indeed, it is becan.se they are in the habit of spending 

 their winters there— there are so many other places far more 

 attractive now opened to the average visitor, and as healthy. 

 To the sportsman Aiken has no attractions, that is, in the 

 immediate vicinity. Should he find himself there, though, 

 and make the acquaintance of the local sportsmen, he may 

 be able to make a trip to the Edisto country for deer, and at 

 thistime of year will find good fishing in the Edisto. Just 

 now fishing is nil. Early last week Mr, S. Giles and party 

 made an excursion to Wise's Pond, and in about eight hours 

 took seventeen black bass, the largest weighing only seven 

 pounds, a small fish for these waters; the Whole catch was 

 considered poor, taking into consideration the time employed 

 and the number (four) engaged. Mr. Giles is a believer in 

 the moon, and says the moon was not right; at any rate, the 

 windwas high, which of course intertered with" the sport. 

 The gentlemen of this party j»re for the most part expert 



black bass fishers. Main-strength tackle is used; the numer- 

 dus snags and brush in these waters will not; admit of the 

 finer play of the reel and bass-rod proper, but still, with the j 

 tackle here used, a certain amount of play is necessary to ] 

 bring these ten and twelve pounders to gaff. 



Dick Swivelleb. 



Don't Do It. — Burlington, Iowa. — I wish to call the at- 

 tention of my brother anglers to what may appear to some | 

 of them a, small matter, but when fairly considered it is a 

 large one. This is a correct nomenclature of the tools and 

 accessories of their craft. It is next in importance to having 

 correct names for their fishes. Brother anglers, don't, 3 

 beseech ymi. don't call your rod a "pole." Don't call your . 

 creel a "fish basket." if you carry one. Don't degrade the 

 lily pads by calling thern by the vile name of "splatter 

 docks," nor a reel a "spool." These terms are often used 

 by men who know better, but retain them from early associa- 

 tions. As a gentleman is known by his speech so is an 

 angler, and no matter how finished an angler yon are, you 

 will make a, bad impression upon a stranger who hears you 

 speak in these outlandish terms, thesameasif you saw a w II- 

 dressed man, who looks as though he ought to know better, 

 eating off his knife, or committing some other outrageous 

 breach of manners. It is the small things which go to make 

 up the life of an angler as of any other man, and too much 

 importance cannot be attached to his naming of his tools. 

 When the rural editor speaks of "some fellow with a I en 

 dollar fish pole who didn't catch any fish," we at once know 

 that the line was written by some one who makes no pre- 

 tentions to being an angler, for if he did he would never 

 apply the obnoxious word to anything but a sapling fit to 

 thrash beans with. I notice with regret: that some tackle 

 dealers, who certainly must, know better, advertise "fish 

 baskets" when they mean creels. Every trade and profes- 

 sion has names for its tools and implements, and the. angler j 

 is not behind in this matter. Therefore let us use the rigBj 

 names, and don't, 0! don't, use the wrong ones. — Pete a 

 Simple. 



Fish Laws of South Cabolina. — The General Statutes, 

 Chap. LIL, provides that at no time of the year shall there 

 be any permanent obstructions of any kind or nature what- 

 ever In any of the inland creeks, streams or water, to the free 

 migration of fish. A close time, from the setting of the sun < 

 each Thursday to its rising each Tuesday, during which 

 time all seines, nets, or any plan or device for slopping or 

 taking fish other than dams for manufacturing purposes 

 shall be removed. All persons owning dams which prevent 1 

 fish migration must erect fisbways. No poisonous impurities • 

 must be cast, into streams. The Commissioner of Agricul-!' 

 ture is charged with designating the fish Sluices and with 

 laying them out. No person must keep any 7 fish trap or J 

 other device for taking fish, or fish with a net within eighty^ 

 yards of any dam erected by the State in which there" is aj 

 fish sluice. No person shall take fish from the net of an- 

 other with intent to defraud. In the counties of Horry, 

 Marion, Darlington, Clarendon, Chesterfield, Georgetown, 

 Marlboro, Williamsburg and Bichland it; is unlawful to fishj 

 with gigs or set traps, or to shoot, fish with a gun in any of i 

 the fresh waters between May 1 and Sept. 1. No person 

 shaJl fish in any private pond where fish or oysters have been 

 planted, without permission of the owner, nor damage them in 

 any way. No person shall take trout by impregnating the 

 waters with poisonous or deleterious substances. Heavy 

 penalties are attached to all these offences. 



TBOTjTnw on tub Bocky Saugeen. — A Canadian local 

 paper says: "Mr. Buchanan, of the Bank of British North 

 America, has received from Mr. J. A. Munro, of Durham, a 

 speckled trout, caught by him in the Bocky Saugccn, weighing 

 three pounds eight "ounces. The speckled beauty was ad- 

 mired by many to-day. This catch augurs well for the ex- 

 cellence" of the fishing at the Saugeen this season, and fisher- 

 men who patronise W. E. McAllister's hotel will find a genial 

 host, and a skillful guide to the pools where these patriarchs 

 lurk." A correspondent writes us from Brantford, Orit,, 

 that he spent a week at the Saugeen last year, and "had all the 

 sport that; I wanted, having filled my basket on two different, 

 occasions during that time. Of course I did not get any as 

 large as the one referred to m the paragraph, but 1 got quite 

 a number that weighed from one to two pounds. The Sail 

 geen is in the county of Grey, Ont., and has now railway* 

 communication. The hotel accommodation is good, and 

 the landlord, W. E. McAllister, a veteran sportsman, is ODly. 1 

 too happy to devote all his spare moments to guiding his 

 guests to aU the best fishing places." 



Meacuam: Lake.— Messrs. James Gcddes and Bcubeu" 

 Woou have returned from Mcachim Lake, Franklin county, 

 N. Y., whither they went to take some rainbow fcri 

 to Mr. Fuller, the fishculturisf there, and to fish. TheraJ 

 was ice on the lake May 3d, and an average nightly tempera 

 ture of twenty-five degrees, but bright sunny days. In the 

 outlet each rod took about twenty-live trout per day, mostly 

 with the fly. One day they fished in deep wafer with the 

 minnow and took thirteen lake trout. Mr. Fuller begins to 

 see the results of his plantings in this lake, and his hotel is. 

 reaping the reward of his sowing. The fishing was quit»" 

 good when they left there on the 17th. Their trip was made 

 a little earlier "than usual on acccount of the ti< 

 which had begun to hatch when they left. 



Salmon on the Coast. — On the 12th a salmon weighing! 

 nine pounds was taken in the trap at Magnolia, EssS 

 county, Mass.. and sold at fifty cents per pound at, the trap. 

 A few" days after they were taken in considerable numbers.' 

 about C:re Cod, as many as twenty-five in one day, neat- 

 North Truro. These salmon are exceptionally fine onea .and 

 weigh from six to twenty pounds. Mr. "f'lackford has 

 received many of them at Fulton Market and they sell 

 readily at onedollar per pound. It would be interesting to 

 know if these fish are from those planted in the Connecticut ' 

 Biver and are now going south preparatory to their summer i 

 ascent into fresh water" or if they belong in Maine and are* 

 going north. 



Devijl-Fish. — The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune says parties from 

 that place last week capured a monstrous devil-fish in the bay 

 altera six hours' chase, The head and tail were brought, up 

 to town. The mouth is three feet wide and the captors say 

 the flesh was eighteen or twenty feet across. It was their 

 intention to skin him, but, before the flesh could be towed to 

 shore the sharks had fed so ravenously on it as to defeat that 

 purpose. Its estimated weight was between 3,01)0 and ii.OM 



