FOREST AND STREAM 
173 
so that when the line is raised, and the rod in motion, both 
will touch the water gently alike. When you unjoint your 
rod take hold of the ferrules with your hands as nearly 
together as possible, and when you draw upon 
them give the parts a slight turn in opposite di¬ 
rections, and the rod will usually separate without diffi¬ 
culty. Many good rods are wrenched or broken through 
ignorance in this single particular. Should the ferrules re- 
’ sist all ordinary efforts, beat them gently. The landingnet 
should be deep and baggy. The most convenient are made 
upon a brass frame with hinges, so as to fold into a very 
small compass. 
Next week we shall give our first lesson in fly-fishing. 
—The St. Lawrence River is still frozen solid at Montreal 
—ice three feet thick, and people are crossing over to St. 
Lambert, very little snow is left on the ground. River 
Richilieu, emptying into Lake St. Peter, an expanse of the 
St. Lawrence River about eighty miles below Montreal, 
is now free of ice. Lake Champlain is open at Burlington. 
No snow at St. John, N. B., at Halifax, N. S., or at 
Toronto. There is snow at Williamstown, Mass. 
—Our regular Portland (Maine) correspondent writes : 
“ The first trout of the season were reported as the fruit of 
a fast day excursion; some forty brook trout by one gentle¬ 
man, and about twice that number by another. The latter 
string was taken from a salt water ereek, the former from 
a rocky bottom, spring brook, running through a maple 
wood lot; brook full of snow water. The streams are in 
general pretty well clear of snow water; and although the 
season is very backward, the trout seem to be on hand as 
early as usual. Our efficient commissioners, Messrs. Still¬ 
well and Stanley, are actively engaged in preparing for the 
distribution of eggs, and in connection with their efforts, 
there is little doubt but the protection afforded to the fish 
themselves by the laws, if properly enforced by the State 
Sportsmen’s Association (as of course they will be), will 
make Maine what it once.was, the “Angler’s Paradise.” 
—The veteran Van Sicklen has made arrangements to 
supply fishermen who visit Coney Island Creek with some 
new boats this season. 
—Flounder fishing is excellent in Canarsie Bay at present 
especially on mild warm days. 
—The popular caterer and sportsman John I. Snediker, 
has resigned his restaurant in Montague street, Brooklyn, 
to Dieter, and last week lie removed with his family to his 
hotel at Coney Island, where he will be happy to see his 
friends. 
—There is quite a scaly kind of warfare now waging in 
Boston between the fishermen and the wholesaie dealers. 
The latter refuse to purchase fish of skippers, who retail 
their catch, while the former declare that their fish may be 
sold to whom they please, and in whatever quantity they 
wish. Such matters are always unfortunate. Custom has, 
however, little to do with it; trade regulates such matters, 
and we have no doubt but that before long fc the Boston fish 
war will be satisfactorily arranged. 
—The Big Spring’s Fishing Club is situated on the west¬ 
ern slope of Laurel Hill Mountain, in Westmoreland Co., 
Penn., and its territory comprises about four hundred and 
fifteen acres, chiefly woodland, long and well known as the 
“Big Springs tract.” The following are the officers of the 
Club:—President, Dr. J. A. Phillips; Vice President, B. 
Biakewell, Jr.; Secretary and Treasurer, John Gay. 
—A correspondent writing from Lynchburg, Virginia, 
says “our State authorities are very indifferent to the inland 
’fishing interests. No fish-ways are required, and trapping, 
netting, and seining is practiced in most streams. The 
James River at this point was formerly a good bass and 
sbad stream, but the dams built to supply the canal to 
Richmond have prevented free passage, and it is now de¬ 
pleted of fish. The head waters are full of trout, and the 
whole river might afford excellent fishing if properly man¬ 
aged.” 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., March 19,1874. 
EWtor Forest and Stream:— 
^ I have noticed an “Advice to Fishermen” from your correspondent 
“Fern Fly,” advising a walk from Rondout via Balsam Rake and the 
Beaverkill to Callicoon, on the Erie Railroad. Unquestionably the dis¬ 
tance is long enough to be a “healthy walk.” This region has been fre¬ 
quented by anglers for many years. Through their persistent efforts and 
those of the worm fishermen who catch by count, the average size of the 
trout that still survive in all the streams has been reduced to a few 
ounces. 
Iu 1869 a few gentlemen purchased a tract of land, including a pond 
called Sand Pond, three miles from the Beaverkill, and one of the head 
vvaters of the Willewemoc, organized a club, called the Willewemoc 
lub, ilnder a special act of Legislature, put up a house, re-christened 
>-and Pond “Lake Willewemoc,” and now control by ownership and 
ease Lake Willewemoc, Balsam Lake, Thomas Lake, and the Willewe- 
tuoc stream above De Bruce tannery, except at the saw-mills, which part 
of the stream is protected by others. This organization was formed, not 
only to have a pleasant place of resort, but for the protection of the fish, 
-ley hoped to prevent the destructive fishing and to save a few of the 
ittle trout to grow. It may be interesting to know how they have suc¬ 
ceeded in their four years’ experience. 
About the time of the purchase of Lake Willewemoc a party of men 
jetted the lake and took out a large number of fish. Since that time 
cue has been no illegal fishing that the club knows of, and no difficulty 
w atever in protecting the lake, for the reason that a man and family 
uave resided on the premises at all seasons, and also that those living 
near have respected the ownership. At first considerable opposition 
was experienced from persons owning lands on the Willewemoc stream, 
o the idea of protecting fish, but at present quite a different feeling ex¬ 
ists, and the club have to thank the property owners on the stream for 
heir cordial co-operation In regard to Balsam Lake, some fishing has 
een done without the consent of the owners, but even in regard to that 
ake the ownership has been recognized, and it will be better protected 
m the future. 
Balsam Lake, at the head of the Beaverkill, and Lake Willewemoc are 
'cij, nearly the same size, and are surrounded by the same forest., but 
ey have marked differences in character that has occasioned a marked 
difference in the inhabitants. Balsam Lake is pure spring water, some 
parts are very deep, but a portion shallow enough to support a vigorous 
growth of water weeds filled with the larvae of many varieties of flies. 
It has five spring streams emptying in it, with nice gravelly bottoms, just 
right for propagation, and the result has been that for long periods of 
time, during the past, the fish have increased beyond the capacity of th 
lake to support them, until a habit of growth has been acquired, and now 
a fish is never caught over four ounces, and fish three inches long are 
filled with eggs. They are, however, very abundant. 
Lake Willewemoc has just an opposite character. It has an even 
depth of not over five feet, and the whole bottom covered with a growth 
of chara and weeds,that furnish an almost inexhaustible supply of larvae 
and flies. It.has but one stream tumbling in it over the rocks, almost 
inaccessible to the fish, until the club improved it,and it is fed by stream 
around the margin and in the bottom. When the lake was first exam¬ 
ined the trout spawned along the edge of the lake near the spring holes, 
without much regard to the character of the bottom, and a very few, by 
great effort, went up the stream. The result in the past has been that 
the greater part of the eggs were destroyed, and the young when hatched 
had no refuge. Of course the'natural increase has been very slow, the 
food abundant in proportion to the number of fish, and the fish very 
large. 
The club, on purchase, at once tried to help the fish. They built a 
spawning race parallel to the margin of the lake including the best 
springs; raised the lake to cover them nicely, and have been rewarded 
bp the fish taking possession during the spawning season, and a fine 
young crop appearing in the spring. They also cleaned out the stream, 
and the fish used that as well as the race, and from the report of the man 
in charge, the numbers spawning have largely increased. This is shown 
also by the fact that the catch of 1S72 averaged one pound, the largest 
being two and one-quarter pounds; but the catch of 1873 averaged less 
on account of the accession of small fish; very many large ones, however, 
were caught. 
As far as can be learned from observation the trout have increased in 
weight about a quarter of a pound per year. The fish in the lake live 
mostly during the summer on the flies, hatched and hatching out of the 
larvae grown in the lake, and can be taken only with the artificial fly; 
but it takes a long line and careful fishing to deceive the large ones. 
Late in the season numberless brown dragon flies in pairs dip about 
over the surface of the water, depositing their ova, as their usual flight 
is ten to twelve inches above the surface, touching only at intervals, and 
that quickly. The trout need to be active to catch them, and during the 
appearance of these flies, trout of a pound and over may be seen spring¬ 
ing out of the water, several often at the same time in different parts of 
the lake, and they usually catch the flies. Strange to ?ay, however, the 
trout are then very difficult to catch with an artificial fly. There are 
other times when the whole lake will be in commotion from the jumping 
fish; whether after a particular fly, or only for sport it is difficult to tell, 
for the same flies will be upon the water when the fish do not [jump. 
During these exhibitions they are not very catchable. 
A southern breeze, a dark sky, a shower, or a good ripple, just as 
everywhere else, brings them up to the angler’s invitation. 
In conclusion, lest anyone may be misled, it would not be amiss to 
say that the Willewemoc Lake and Stream are reserved for the members 
of the Club, and that Balsam and Thomas Lakes may be fished only by 
their consent, obtained by application. C. Van Brunt, 
Secretary and Treasurer Willewemoc Club. 
—Oar correspondent at New Smyrna, Florida, sends the 
following nates: 
New Smyrna, E. Florida, April 1,1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Bass or redfish, Ooj'vina ocellata, are now plenty, and may be found 
coming in from the sea at young flood, feeding along the shore in rather 
shallow water. The fisherman here make the following distinction: 
They call the fish of 15 pounds and over “channel bass, ” under that 
simply “bass.” They give good sport on a rod, biting fiercely and fight¬ 
ing strongly; their first nible is violent and long,but they Go not, I think, 
fight as stubbornly as the striped bass. 
Pigfish, Micropogan undulatus —Cuvier— I am not certain about the 
scientific name of this fish. They have made their appearance here this 
year in great numbers. We get two or three dozen in a tide. It is 
shaped something like a sheepshead, though not quite so deep through 
weight about one pound, and it is the richest and best flavored fish we 
have here, next to the pompano. The pigfish takes a mullet bait, on the 
bottom, and fights strongly when hooked. On a light rod they give fine 
sport. Color, bluish above,' with diagonal lines of yellow, silvery be¬ 
neath. Whiting, or kingfish of two species, are also abundant, and are 
highly valued as a table fish. Umbrina nebulosa— Storer—and Umbrina 
alba , the latter more numerous, a very handsome, game and delicious- 
fish. As the warm weather comes on we are much annoyed by large cat 
fish, sharks and rays, the former of which insist on being caught to the 
exclusion of better fish, and the sharks and rays carry off lines and 
hooks in abundance. 
April 1—Three anglers in the boat, took 4 bass, 20 whiting, 28 pigfish, 
18 blackfish or sea bass, 10 scup, 1 flounder in one tide, besides many 
catfish. 
April 2—Three anglers took in one tide, 5 groupers, from 1 lb. to 4 lbs. 
2 snappers, 2 lbs. each, 1 bass, 5 lbs., 24 whiting, 27 pigfish, 8 scup, 12 
blackfish, 2 sharks. Lost many hooks and one line by sharks. Took 11 
species of fish one day and 10 the next. ' S. C. C. 
■--■ 
’ ^etv §$ubJimfion8. 
[.Publications sent to this office, treating upon subjects that come within 
the scope of the paper , will receive special attention. The receip t of all 
books delivered at our Editorial Rooms will be promptly acknowledged 
in the next issue. Publishers will confer a favor by promptly advising 
us of any omission in this respect' m Prices of books inserted when 
desired. 1 
ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
Harper & Brothers’ recent issue of a very finely illustra¬ 
ted work, .under the title of the “Land of the White Elephant,” a per¬ 
sonal narrative of travel and adventure in farther India and adjacent 
countries. This work is instructive and very entertaining, a handsome 
octavo containing sixty illustrations. It comes to us in the usual tasty 
style of the Messrs. Harpers. We shall notice this valuable work again. 
Appleton & Co. have just published Florence Marryatt’s 
last work—“No Intentions”—which has the reputation of being quite 
equal, if not superior, to “Poison of Asps,” and Dr. Edward Smith’s 
new book on “Health.” Also a work of great value to students upon 
the “Expanse of Heaven” by Mr. Proctor. This last work was never 
before issued in this country. 
Carleton & Co. have just pubHshed “The Story of a 
Summer; or, Leaves from Chapaqua.” By the niece of Horace Greeley, 
Cecelia Cleveland. Price $1.50. 
Lee & . Shepard have nearly ready a new novel, “The 
Italian Girl.” . By Catharine Sedgwick Valerio, who is a niece of Miss 
C. M. Sedgwick, the author of “Ina.” It is the history of the startling 
life of a young circus rider, her eventful career as a famous actress, mar¬ 
riage, &c. 
Dodd & Mead will shortly issue “Gerda; or, The Chil¬ 
dren of Work,.” the new novel by Madame Schwartz, of whom our read¬ 
ers need not be told that a most charming story will make their hearts 
glad. It is said to be a work founded on fact—in a word, a life expe 
rience. 
Appleton & Co. will soon give to the public, in their ac¬ 
customed good style, a work bearing the title of “A Daughter of Bohe¬ 
mia.” Also Dr. Maudsley’s highly important work upon “Responsibility 
in Mental Disease.” 
Macmillian & Co., New York, will shortly issue “Cave 
Hunting,” researches on the evidence of caves of the early inhabitants 
of Europe. By W. Boyd Dawkins, F. R. S. Illustrated. Royal, 8vo. 
Macmillian & Co., New York, have nearly ready the 
“Physiology of the Circulation in Plants in Animals and in Man.” By 
J. Bell Pettigrew. 100 engravings on wood. 8vo. 
In the Days of My Youth. By Amelia B. Edwards 
Philadelphia: Porter & Coates. 
An autobiography, or the stirring adventures of a young surgeon. 
Since the great popularity of a work entitled the “Diary of a Physician, ’ 
we have read no work of the kind that has interested us more than the 
one before us. The plot of this work is laid in France, and is what may 
be termed a well written story. The story, though not without some 
slight imperfections, upon the whole would be called a very clever effort 
for an author’s first attempt. 
D. Appleton & Co.’s last work of the “International 
Scientific Series,” is entitled “Animal Locomotion; or Walking, Swim 
ming and Flying.” To this is added a dissertation on aeronautics. This 
last is written by J. Bell Pettigrew, and is alone a valuable addition to 
this work. This one of the good fruits of our publishers is simple, com¬ 
prehensive and plainly written, nothing obscure or complex can be found 
in the whole work. The illustrations, of which there are one hundred, 
are well calculated to make the subject matter of the text thoroughly 
and easily understood. We know of no more appropriate work for our 
young men than this last of the International Series. 
Frank Forester’s Shooting Box. T. B. Peterson & 
Bro. Philadelphia. 
This work, perhaps well known to many of our older readers, recalls 
Frank Forester in his most amusing style. It belongs to that period of 
our literature when pointers and fair ladies were mixed up according to 
the cruise of the story-teller, and when a hundred or so of woodcocks 
could be had almost anywhere with the least possible outlay of trouble. 
An interesting love episode worked into the hunting,details of the 
“Shooting Box” makes the story a capital one, and recalls the. happy 
times of twenty or thirty years ago, which was during the golden age of 
the American sportsman. 
Setters and Pointers^ Their rearing, Training and Hy¬ 
giene. By Elbert H. Carman. Published for the Ahaodah Society by 
D. Appleton & Co. New York. 
Mr. Carman’s book, we feel certain, has done a great deal of good. It 
inculcates those certain fixed principles of humanity towards dogs which 
are unfortunately too frequently overlooked, and besides, treats of that 
important subject of breaking a dog, and how best to do it oneself, 
which latter point, we believe, if more fully carried out, would add im¬ 
measurably .to the pleasure all sportsmen derive when hunting It is 
then, a most agreeable task to review, even in a rapid way, a work ema¬ 
nating from a gentleman and written for his fellows, which varies in 
many ways from the cut and dried text of the many authorities, all con¬ 
sidered ex-cathedra exponents of dog breaking. The basis of the theory 
of teaching the young pointer or setter his duties, as detailed at length 
in the book, is founded on that of engendering a feeling of love and obe¬ 
dience between the animal and his master, and of using punishment as 
rarely as possible, but that when such punishment has to be administered 
it must be given in a most thorough manner, and a perfect mastery must 
be gained at that time and forever by the man. The quantity of patience 
necessary either to teach a child or a dog is called for in inexhaustible 
quantity, only measured by the peculiar idyosyncracy of the individual 
who is to learn. There are good and bad puppies. Some who instantly 
respond to the call made on their intelligence; others that remain re¬ 
fractory under any amount of punishment. There is your good-natured 
dog, who takes his hiding with resignation, and will love you after it, 
and his brother who, when you thrash him for a fault, will hate you 
from that time on. We are not disposed to give any dog a bad name, 
but are inclined to side with the optimist about children, who declared 
that all children were born good, and that there never was a bad child 
We think, then, with the author, that the majority of dogs can be better 
and more easily broken by kind treatment than by the opposite. Mr. 
Carman expresses it briefly in this sentence: “If we desire compan¬ 
ions in our dogs we cannot begin their social education nor engage their 
affections too early with loving, kindly intercourse. * * * If, however 
we have no friendship for the dog as an associate and retain him solely as 
he is serviceable in the field, we do not question but that without any so¬ 
cial education he may be broken by sheer brute force.” The views, 
then, of the Ahaodah Society respecting setters and pointers may be re¬ 
garded as a spirited protest against the harsh treatment too much in 
vogue in breaking dogs, and explains how the individual may, with gen¬ 
tleness and discretion, make his pointer or setter not only an object of 
pride as to his ability in the field, but how at the same time both man 
and dog will mutually care for and love one another. Alas! that human 
nature is so far from perfection, for it seems to us that before breaking 
either dogs or horses, almost all mankind should themselves first be 
taught how to keep their tempers and learn what is obedience, before en¬ 
deavoring to make animals submissive to their will. We cheerfully rec¬ 
ommend the book to those who love their four-footed friends, as the 
author undoubtedly has great experience in the subject he treats, and re¬ 
gards the dog from a much higher standpoint than do most people. 
History of the Grange Movement; Or, The Farmers’ 
War against Monopolies. By Edward Winslow Martin, lilustrated 
with 60 fine engravings, portraits, &c. Nationaal Publishing Com¬ 
pany, Philadelphia. 
From the advance sheets of this work we can safely promise our read¬ 
ers a work of great interest upon the subject of the times. Coming as it 
does, at a time when “consciences” are almost as plenty as frontier scalps 
in times of our border wars, and not half as valuable, we think this vig¬ 
orously written work will have a ready sale, as it will find many readers. 
The agricultural classes are, we are happy to state, beginning to take a 
fair estimate of the value of a man of true integrity of character and sin¬ 
gleness of purpose. As an honest man he cannot afford to throw away 
his character. Knowing that monopolies are his enemies, he has at 
length cast about him, and now dare look full in the face the grimmest 
of all the old monarch locomotives. In this huge machine he beholds 
embodied in a single word high rates of freight for his grains and cereals, 
his corn and his wheat, and he fears if something is not speedily done 
to arrest the progress of this wide-spreading disease, starvation alone 
remains for him and his family. Hence, acting upon the great principles 
of self-preservation, we have .he rise, organization and progress of that 
formidable party called the Grangers, Patrons of Husbandry, &c., and 
this is a party that is destined to command the oldest of the “whistlers,” 
•the “big buffalo” of locomotion, to stand still while the people argue for 
a while the question of high and low freights. A full knowledge (start¬ 
ling indeed) will be obtained from this work. We have only time to 
give this outline at present of a work of intense value to every 
person, whether he is a western farmer, dealing in cereals, or an eastern 
shoe manufacturer, selling his home manufactures. Each and all should 
read this book of the times, for he will, befere long, find himself one of 
the “ins” or “outs” of the Granger policy, 
A Popular Key to the Birds, Batrachians and Fishes of 
the northern United States east of the Mississippi River. By Prof. D. 
S. Jordan and B.H. Van Vleck. Appletons. Wisconsin. 
This little book supplies the want often felt by collectors and natural¬ 
ists for a convenient pocket key for identifying birds, rqptiles, fishes, 
&c. It is just the handy volume lor a field naturalist, with whom use¬ 
fulness and compactness are great items. The key to reptiles, batrach¬ 
ians and fishes will be found of great value to students, enabling them 
to identify specimens with great facility, who had not the means of pro¬ 
curing voluminous works of reference. 
