138 
FOREST AND STREAM 
and to wind up, apple fritters browned (to vary the carte) 
in chevaline fat. It does seem to us a little like toujours 
perdrix. We confess to have eaten horse, we admit it, but 
then it was dressed bv a cook called Hunger, and starvation 
was the sauce, and very fair was it under the circumstances. 
To us it was savory, and the grain of the meat was short 
and crisp. Just now, perhaps, more pampered, though we 
should have been glad to have accepted M. Decroix’s in¬ 
vitation, we would have preferred for a change a fowl, 
say, stuffed with truffles. One curious fact noticed is that 
white horses are hard to dispose of, even to those having 
no affectation about eating horse flesh, because of the pecu¬ 
liar color of the meat. Paris, where tastes are cloyed, 
where the impossible is asked for and found, (as we are 
treating of gastronomic subjects) is now indulging in 
omelettes a la Gasaor , the Emus of the Jardin d’Acclima- 
tation having furnished the eggs. What jolly Easter eggs 
the ostriches would have made. To conclude, however, 
this horse eating question, we beg to state that, even 
should Delmonico or Mouquin introduce horse flesh—say a 
. Macedoine de Mustang —on their bills of fare, we should be 
glad to know of it, as we could promise them, even in Hew 
York, quite a number of hippophagists as their guests. 
Some day butchers’ meat, outrageously dear, may drive us 
all to eating horse. 
—Fox hunting in England is now in full blast. We 
notice in the Sportsmans Gazette that on the occasion of 
a run with Sir Watkin Wynn’s hounds, the fox made for a 
cottage in Wrexham town, and had to be ejected with a 
pair of tongs, the kill taking place in the street, much to 
the amusement of the townspeople. We see, too, that 
Lord Napier, of Magdala, came near going to grief at Se¬ 
cunderabad, in India, having fallen with his horse into a 
mullah. The hero of Abyssinia was badly shaken, and it 
will be some time before he will be able to ride again. 
—On the 28th and 29th of this month, near Shrewsbury, 
the Field Trials of Pointers and Setters will take place. 
The president will be Viscount Downe, and the judges 
Viscount Combermere and Sir Vincent Corbet. 
FISH IN SEASON IN APRIL. 
Salmon, Salmo Salar. Salmon trout, Salmo confinis. 
Trout, Salmo fontinalis. Shad, Alosa. 
Land-locked Salmon, Salmo gloveri. 
In our last issue we designated what constitute the essem 
sential qualities of a perfect fly-rod, giving also a few gen¬ 
eral hints as to the selection of trout flies. Possibly in 
future numbers of this journal we may attempt some defi¬ 
nite instruction as to the mode of tying- flies, indicating 
the patterns and sizes suitable for the various species of 
fish on the angler’s list, and the proper times and seasons 
for their use; though this is a subject which we are loth to 
undertake, for we not only expose ourselves to constant 
qriticism, but the field to be covered would fill a volume— 
the specimens of trout flies alone reaching some 800 in 
number! The reader will at once see what a stupendous 
task he imposes upon us when he calls for full written in¬ 
struction in the science of angling. And just here we may 
say that while verbal instruction is. useful to a certain ex¬ 
tent, the art cannot be wholly imparted, but must be ac¬ 
quired by assiduous practice, and a careful study not only 
of the implements of the craft and their use, but of the 
structure and habits of the fish and the localities which 
they inhabit. In a word, the complete angler must be a 
naturalist, just as a physician must be acquainted with the 
origin, nature, and properties of the drugs he administers. 
As to implements, we maintain that there are strictly but 
two distinct classes of fishing rods—the long, slender, taper¬ 
ing, tough, and elastic fly red, and the shorter and stiffer 
trolling rod—iust as there are but two classes of guns, the 
rifled and the smooth bore. Difference in the material 
used constitutes variety, and in the selection and manufacture 
of this material, excellence consists. A rod of hickory, 
ash, lancewood, green heart, iron wood, cane, or mahoe wood 
may be intrinsically better than one of split bamboo, but 
the best made split bamboo is the superior of the best made 
rods of the other material, in our private opinion, for the 
reasons that it combines the qualities of all the rest, and is 
lighter. This quality of lightness is a most appreciable de¬ 
sideratum, especially in a salmon rod, and a not trifling 
advantage to the angler who has a whole day’s work before 
him. As every veteran knows, each additional ounce tells 
painfully in the long run on arms, back, and shoulders. 
Practically, there is no fetter rod than the West India cane 
»in its crude native state; but as this is inconvenint to carry, 
on account of its great length, ingenuity has contrived a 
jointed rod which occupies a comparatively small space. 
Besides, in any given entire cane there are liable to be 
flaws, which impair its strength and effectiveness; but by 
using its choicest parts, which are sawed out and fitted to¬ 
gether and firmly whipped with silk, the manufacturer is 
enabled to produce an implement as perfect as it is possible 
to make. In trout rods this' quality of lightness is not so 
essential, and it is not unusual to find professional experts 
who prefer a rod made of some other material than bam¬ 
boo. We sometimes use a short stiff rod for bait fishing 
in streams overgrown with alders when we want a mess of 
fish for the pan. 
As we have said, lods are made in joints or sections sim¬ 
ply for convenience; but as the metal ferrules, being stiff 
and unyiel ding, impair the uniform elasticity and play of 
the rod, there is a growing tendency in salmon fishers to 
have as few joints and as few ferrules as possible, Hence 
we find some eighteen feet rods made of only two pieces 
and united by a splice, the parts that join being bevelled 
and firmly lashed together when in use by a waxed end, 
the ferrule being dispensed with altogether. Other rods of 
three joints have the first and middle one connected by a 
ferrule, and the middle and tip by a splice. Some makers 
use a screw T ferrule, a device which renders loop ties unnee- 
, essary, and prevents the rods from becoming shaky at the 
joints by wear. We prefer a salmon rod of not more than 
eighteen feet in length, though rods of twenty-one feet are 
used; but they are ponderous affairs. An expert can make 
a sufficiently long cast and do all necessary execution with 
the former, while the only advantage of extra length is, 
when a fish is hors du combat to lift the line more easily over 
rocks and boulders that may interfere with a clean run. 
Trolling rods are usuall}'- made of undressed bamboo, 
and are about nine feet in length. They are stiff, but have 
elasticitjr enough to enable the angler to feel his fish readily 
when it bites, and to hook him with much more certainty 
than with a hand line. In securing a fish after it has been 
hooked, the trolling rod is all important, for it permits a 
delicate manipulation and handling of the fish; whereas, 
if a hand line were used the hook would very often tear 
out and let the flsli escape. 
The selection of a rod requires a certain keen, acquired 
sense of sight and touch, which adepts only possess—sight 
to detect any variation from a perfect arch, and a touch 
that instinctively determines the nice balance of the rod, 
and any sag or unequal distribution of elasticity through¬ 
out its entire length when it is swajmd backward and for¬ 
ward by the hand and wrist. We would advise all novices 
to let a professional select their rods for them. Discard all 
rods with patent attachments of spikes, and the like, to 
“hold” the rod. If you want a rod holder buy the con¬ 
trivance referred to in a recent number of this journal, 
Also reject any rods that have the but squared off where 
the hand grasps it, where the rod proper joins the handle, 
so to speak. The object of the maker of this kind of rod 
is to secure lightness, but he does it at the expense of 
strength and every other requisite. A proper rod should 
have a suitable bulge of the but to fit the hand, and from it 
taper gradually and uniformly to the tip. 
We think little more can be said by way of instruction 
as to what a perfect rod should be, except that the rings 
should not be too large, and yet large enough to permit the 
line to render freely through them. In our next we shall 
speak of lines and reels, and instruct the novice how to 
prepare a cast of flies. The fourth paper will give instruc¬ 
tions for fly fishing. 
—A letter from Lynchburg, Virginia, says that trout fish¬ 
ing is in order, and the streams have been in good condition 
for three or four weeks. 
—Bass fishing has commenced in the Schuylkill and Del¬ 
aware rivers—in the former above the falls of the Schuyl¬ 
kill, and in the latter from a few miles below Trenton 
northward. The success, as far as reported, has been 
moderate, a result, we are inclined to think, due rather to 
the inexperience of the fishermen than to any scarcity of 
fish. The shad catch in the Delaware up to the beginning 
of the present week has been small, but is daily improv¬ 
ing, and with the advent of warm weather the fishermen 
hope for better luck than last season. The fish thus far 
taken have been of good size and in good condition. In 
the former particular there have been some splendid fel¬ 
lows in the market, and they of course commanded high 
prices. 
—From Lovelton, Wyoming Co., Pa., we have received 
the following information which may be interesting to those 
of our readers who may be de’sirous of making hunting and 
fishing explorations in this almost virgin section of country 
this coming season: Trout in Potter, McKean, Camero,n 
and Clinton Counties are still found in fair quantity in the 
small tributaries of the large streams, such as Pine, Kettle 
and Driftwood Creeks, which are near the head waters of 
the Connimalioning River. Emporium would be a good 
point to start from, and the route would by the Philadelphia 
and Erie Railroad. Possibly the best fishing would be 
somewhere on the head waters of the west fork of Pine 
Creek. Here there is a settlement enjoying the delicate 
name of Youngwomanstown, which might be the place to 
start from. Elk County, if not abounding with fish, has 
plenty of deer and bear. In Sullivan and Wyoming, and a 
part of Luzerne, trout are not very abundant, though good 
sport is possible when the streams are in good order. The 
liauks of the streams in this part of the State are hard to 
get tnrough, and the waters seem to run to all the points of 
the compass. Fishing is in a perfect wilderness. The best 
time for fishermen to try this section would be early in 
May, and Dushore, in Luzerne County, would be the place 
to make the centre of such expeditions. Our informant is 
not however very certain in regard to big catches of trout, 
but states that pigeons abound. Should any of the Forest 
and Stream readers like to work up this most interesting 
country, quite as much of a wilderness as the Adirondacks, 
we can recommend them to Mr. F. A. Maxfield, a thorough 
guide and hunter. He may be addressed at Lovelton, 
Wyoming Co., Pa. Guides, $1.50 to $3 per day. 
> —The sealing season of the Newfoundlanders begins in 
the middle of March and continues until the 1st of May. 
Some idea of the value of the fishery may be gathered 
from the fact that in the spring of 1872 the steamship 
Commodore brought in seals to the number of 32,000, val¬ 
ued at about £24,000 sterling, one third of which, £8,000, 
was divided among the sealers, say 200, giving to each 
man £40, a sum realized in six weeks 
Massachusetts Anglers’ Association. —The incorpor* 
ators named under the act passed by the present Legislature 
and approved by the Governor, met at the Parker House 
Boston, Monday evening, 30th ult., and organized under the 
same. A constitution and code of by-laws was adopted 
and a resolution was passed electing all the members of the 
old association, members of the new, upon their signing the 
roll of membership. 
The following gentlemen are the incorporators :Wohn 
P. Ordway, C. Warren Gordon, Charles Stanwood, Elnath- 
an Delano, James Walker, A. F. Squier, James P. Richard¬ 
son, Walter M. Brackett. Baylies Sanford, John F. Mills 
their associates and successors. 
The objects of the association, as defined in the act, are 
to secure and enforce proper restrictions upon the taking 
and killing of fish, sliell-fisli and bivalves; to promote fislu 
culture; to introduce new species and varieties of fish, and 
to disseminate information relating thereto. The said cor¬ 
poration shall have power to make by-laws, not inconsistent 
with the laws of the commonwealth, for the regulation of 
the association and the management of the same and of its 
concerns; to receive donations, bequests and devises for 
promoting the objects of said association; to lay and collect 
assessments upon the members, not exceeding five dollars 
per annum; to enforce the payment of such assessments by 
action for the same; to purchase and hold real estate to the 
amount of fifty thousand dollars, and personal estate to the 
amount of twenty-five thousand dollars; to elect officers 
&c. 
At the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Anglers’ 
Association, held in Boston April 3d, the following gentle 
men were elected officers for the ensuing year.-—President 
John P. Ordway; Yice Presidents, Lion. Thomas Talbot^ 
John F. Mills, S. W. Hatheway, Charles Levi Woodbmy’ 
C. Warren Gordon; Treasurer, Charles Stanwood; Record¬ 
ing Secretary, Charles W.. Gordon, Jr.; Corresponding 
Secretary, Hon. Bayiies Sanford; Librarian, William F. 
Story; Executive Committee, S. M Johnson, WalterM. 
Brackett, James Walker, George W. Clarke, James P. 
Richardson; Committee on Membership, D. T. Curtis, E. 
Delano, Id. M. Forestall. Messrs II. T. Rockwell, Baylies 
Sanford, and T. M. Johnson were appointed a committee 
to consider and report on the expediency of taking mea¬ 
sures to secure the passage, by the municipal authorities of 
Boston and other cities and towns of Massachusetts, of 
such ordinances as shall carry into effect existing laws for 
the protection of fish, especially with a view of prevent¬ 
ing the sale of fish during the period when it is unlawful 
to take them from the water. Measures were also taken to 
enforce the existing smelt laws, which were reported as 
being violated in Quincy, Wejunouth, and Milton. The 
association will be pleased to receive for their library any 
reports or works appertaining to fish and angling, which 
they will promptly acknowledge. 
—The Game and Inland Fishery-Protection Society of 
Halifax, Nova Scotia is now fully organized, and comprises 
some thirty members. At its meeting the last week in 
March, Mr. C. J. Stewart, President, took the chair. The 
following were elected by ballot a council of twelve:— 
Messrs. E. C. Stayner, Robert Morrow, M. Daly, Captain 
Todd, 87tli Regiment; Dr. Jennings, Benjamin Smith, 
Kentville; E. J. Tobin, F. D. Corbett, C. B. Bullock, F. 
II. D. Veitli, Lewis P. Fairbanks, J. W. Jackson, New 
Glasgow. 
The following resolution, moved by E. J. Tobin, at last 
meeting, was read:— 
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is highly 
desirable that the prayer of the petition now in circulation, 
praying for the total prohibition of moose killing for three 
years, be granted. 
Carried by a vote of twelve to six. 
The following resolutions were moved by Mr. E. G. 
Stayner, and seconded by Dr. Jennings, and passed:— 
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Society that the 
matter of the Inland Fisheries of this Province has not re¬ 
ceived from the Dominion Government that consideration 
that so impoitant a branch of the resources of this country 
demands, inasmuch that many of our streams and rivers 
are illicitly netted and speared, numbers of our mill dams 
are not provided with fish-ways, and many others with 
quite inefficient contrivances for the free passage of fish. 
And it is further resolved, That this Society deem it neces¬ 
sary that the protective system should be largely improved, 
and that it is of vital importance to the welfare of our In¬ 
land Fisheries that a General Superintendent for this Prov¬ 
ince, separate and distinct from any Province, be immedi¬ 
ately appointed, and that it is essential that he should 
reside in Halifax. 
V FLY FISHING FOR SHAD. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
My knowledge of taking shad with the fly is confined to 
the results of a single day’s experience, but as ah anglers 
owe to their brethren every possible aid, I cheerfully ac¬ 
cede to your request, and tell you what I did. From this 
others may get some hints, and I trust that the present sea¬ 
son will enable us to know more about a sport which I am 
confident is to rank very high hereafter in America. 
Trumbull (the artist) and myself went to Holyoke, on die 
Connecticut, last summer, on the morning of the 1st ot 
July. This was very late for shad; the run was nearly 
over. It was a dark, showery day. We had gone there to 
learn something about the reports that shad had been taken 
with the fly. On enquiry we were assured that they were 
so taken, but only in the early morning and evening. p ie 
fly which was shown us by several gentlemen as the kill¬ 
ing fly was a dark woodcock wing, body of the same color, 
and size larger than the largest sized trout fly; in fact, a 
small salmon fly. Another authority, however, told us 
that a large wdiite moth was the best fly, and yet anothei 
showed us a large nondescript, with a glaring, golden 
pheasant wing. It is worth while to note these various 
statements, because they appeared to come from angler 
who had used the various flies successfully in the mornm a 
and evening fishing. We had only midday experience. 
The Connecticut River, after falling over the great dam, 
rushes down rocky rapids for nearly a half mile, P a ® s ® 
under a high bridge in several channels of various depths? 
and subsides into a broad bay of still water on the ea - 
