378 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Gosport). Mr. T. owned the Guinevere for a number of 
years, and with her won a good many channel races; but 
lie does not, I believe, intend to race his new vessel, the 
Boadicea by name. She is 395 tons, the largest schooner 
yacht, if I mistake not, on this side of the water. Her 
launch took place about ten days ago, and she is now pre¬ 
paring for Sea with all dispatch. Her hull alone cost 
$20,000, and by the time she has her spars, sails, and at- 
tings she will stand the owner a good round sum. As his 
income is something like say £40,000 a year, or perhaps 
£200,000,1 suppose he can afford it. Camper & Nicholson 
are fast becoming, if they are not already, the most popu¬ 
lar yacht builders in this country. The Cambria and Li¬ 
vonia, both of which took part in the ocean race some 
years back, were launched by them, and one of the firm 
told me last week that they have as many orders as they 
can fulfill for the next two years., One gentleman has 
commissioned them to build a 500 ton schooner regardless 
of expense. Very truly yours, Lieut. W. H. Foe. 
—We have by telegraph received the announcement that 
Scotland won the Elcho shield at Wimbledon on the 17tli 
of July. England was second; Ireland was third. The 
latter fact may, to use a popular expression, put a little 
more starch into our own men. 
FISH IN SEASON IN JULY. 
Salmon, Salmo Salar. Salmon trout. Salmo eon finis, 
T't*, i ij» ■> i t’U MichiganGrayling, Tkymallus tricolor 
Land-locked Salmon. Salmo gloveri micro/) ter us nigricans. 
Blade Bass, micropterus salmoides, Sea trout, Salmo immaculatus . 
Striped Bass, Roccus linea.tus. Weakfish. 
Bluefish, temnodon saltator. 
■—Weekly arrivals of fully 200 boxes of salmon averag¬ 
ing 150 pounds each, making a handsome total of some 
30,000 pounds, keep up the supply of the big city. 
Whether the physical conditions of the crews at Saratoga, 
or the mental capacities of the visitors at the springs re¬ 
quire this peculiar salmon diet, we are unable to determine. 
The only fact we record, is that the demand for salmon and 
fish in general, is enormous at Saratoga just now. Salmon 
worth only twenty cents a pound. Bass in profusion, com¬ 
ing from Cuttyhunk, a shade cheaper than last week. 
Spanish mackerel arriving more freely from Long Island, 
sixty cents a pound. Now the true mackerel is approach¬ 
ing his prime, coming from Boston to this market, and 
selling at from fifteen to eighteen cents each. Sheepshead 
scarcer than when last noted, worth twenty-five cents. 
Blue fish are coming from everywhere and worth six cents. 
Black fish increasing in size and quantity on the slabs, and 
sold at ten to twelve cents. Halibut not plenty, a tempor¬ 
ary scarcity not exactly accounted f.or. Worth twenty 
cents. Prime Jersey lobsters, some 2,000 pounds a day 
coming in. They will average eight pounds and are selling 
for ten cents. Soft crabs scarce. Worth $2.50 a dozen. 
_Long Island waters both outside and in the Sound 
seem bare of blue fish. A boat from the “Blueliglit” (U. 
S. Fish Commission) went last week outside of Montauk 
Point, nearly to Block Island, starting from New Lon- 
don—day fine, breeze good, but no blue fish. 
A dozen mackerel and a few flounders caught on Sliag- 
wana Beefs while anchored on bar in a calm, was one day’s 
work. The report from Fisher’s Island Pound—drawn next 
afternoon was, ‘‘not. a blue fish.” Bass, “cliequit” (weak 
fish) and flounders were about the stock. 
—A good/haul of mackerel—7,000—was made at Smutty 
Nose island, Isle of Shoals, N. H., on Tuesday of last 
week. 
—Smelts are now beiug caught inside of Black Rock, 
North Cohasset, Mass., with hook, line and pole. The 
bait, shrimp, is at present quite scarce. The catching of 
these fish, which are excellent eating,furnishes hours of sport 
to many an Eastern angler from now through the fail and 
winter months. 
_Blue fish are reported to be never so plenty as now, at 
Nantucket and in Buzzard Bay. The fine sport of hauling 
them in is being enjoyed by numerous parties. Many large 
catches are recorded. 
—The membership of the Squidnoket Club is comprised 
in Messrs. J. Baush, W. L. Barker, Ed. Plialon, and James 
L. Flint, all of New York. They own a fine club house 
and fishing stands at Marthas Vineyard. During this 
month they have taken over 600 pounds of striped bass 
with rod and reel. The largest one caught by Mr. Flint, 
weighed thirty-four pounds. The total catch of the club 
last year was about 6,000. 
—A letter from Mr. Fred Mather, who is now attached to 
the United States Fish Commission, dated at Holyoke,Mass., 
9th instant, says:— “Seventy-three shad caught yesterday 
with fly from bridge and many from boats; water down 
now and shad plenty. Now is the time for parties to be 
here. Best fishing from four to seven P. M-” 
-- 
—Here is the latest news from Jersey:— 
Atlantic City, N. J., July 18, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Whether the absence of fish here is due to the constant 
hauling of seines, or to some other cause, one thing is cer¬ 
tain, that, save an occasional flounder, a half dozen sheeps¬ 
head, or a very few very small weak fish, nothing worth 
catching is to be found. On Thursday last several fine 
drum fish were taken, but none since then. “Outside” the 
chances are better. I tried it on Wednesday, Thursday 
and Friday last, each time succeeding in bringing in a fine 
lot of splendid black fish, ranging from three to six pounds, 
a and single sheepshead, all taken with a light line, and a 
light rod. But it is as much as any other than an old salt 
can do to retain liis “vittals” at the wreck where we fish. 
Atlantic City is a nice place for those who like comforta¬ 
ble hotels and first class bathing, but until matters improve, 
to be regarded as an indifferent place for fishing. 
A. M. S. 
\ Waretown, Barnegat Inlet, July 16,1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Blue lishing has been unusually fine here this season; for 
quality and size of the fish beyond anything known for 
years. The season generally begins about the 15th of May, 
but this year the first fish were not caught until the 23d, and 
since then thousands have been thrown a*vay, and still the 
number seems not to diminish. Mr. Kinzey, proprietor of 
the Ashley House, makes this standing offer to his guests, 
that whoever comes to his house for the purpose of fishing 
and does not take a hundred pounds per diem, shall enjojr 
all the hospitalities of the house free gratis, but no one has 
had his board for nothing yet. Wednesday July 8th went 
ahead of any fishing known for years. Old Mermen tell 
me that they never remember any such a time. The chan¬ 
nel runs close to the. shore, about 150 yards from the 
house. This was lined with men, women and boys, all 
throwing the squid from the shore and hauling in fish. 
Over two thousand were taken, averaging seven pounds in 
weight. 
Sheepshead fishing has been fair thus far, but no large 
catch has been reported. Weak fish have commenced 
biting, but this fishing is never good while the blue fish con¬ 
tinue in the bay. One party caught seventy-five yesterday, 
and I hear of their being caught in considerable numbers. 
Black fishing from on old wreck lying in the inlet has 
made considerable sport; this is anew ground, Mr. Gask- 
all, keeper of the light being the discoverer. He caught 
fifty-six one day not long since, one that I saw weighed 
eight pounds. A. Brick. 
- -—■ 
New Smyrna, Fla., July 8d, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Our winter visitors think they have fine sport fishing, 
and I presume they do, but in the summer and early fall 
we have the best sport. Bass are now caught in abundance, 
I was crossing the inlet a few days since and a very large 
pompano jumped into the boat, striking me on the left 
shoulder with such force as to render my arm helpless for 
several days, and it was with the greatest difficulty I sailed 
my boat home. I see you quote pompano for one dollar 
per pound. I doubt not our fishermen would be glad of a 
market at twenty cents per fish. 
Why do not some of the clubs in New York buy a tract 
of land here, erect a club house, plant an orange grove, and 
have whiter quarters, plenty of game and fish, &c? 
Truly yours, Geo. J. Alden. 
-- 
The Raequette and all the rivers of the northwestern 
part of the State, are bank full, interfering materially with 
the trout fishing this season, but laying up a splendid 
store of fine fish for the next. There will be no first rate 
river fishing until the trout gather around the mouths of 
the cold brooks next month. 
—Mr. W. M. Cole, of the Brooklyn Board of Education, 
one of a party of three gentlemen who took their families 
to Twin Lakes, Ct., last week, upon our recommendation, 
reports having made a basket of 145 good trout in one day’s 
fishihg in the neighboring streams. 
—We are permitted to print the following letter from 
Dr. Frank Clerk, the lessee of the Grand River in Gaspe, 
Canada. Gaspe is the peninsula forme d by the river St. 
Lawrence and the Bay Chaleur. 
Camp ox Grand River, June29th, 1874. 
I feel very glacl that Sunday has arrived. I never felt the wise provis¬ 
ion for man more sensibly before. I was completely tired out; ail my 
body, asms and legs ached from the constant run of salmon. 
To-day I commenced with one opposite the camp before breakfast. I 
found fish in every pool as far as Pool Prince; I caught to-day in all 
about 13 salmon, the largest 21| pounds; in five days 1 fishing L have land¬ 
ed 52 salmon. 
I find the double hooks of great advantage; I certainly save more fish 
after they are hooked than with the single hook. I take fish with ail 
kinds of flies, but the most successful, 1 think, are wild turkey wings, 
with jungle fowl body, black silver tinsel hackle, black, with grey tips 
and golden pheasant top-knot at the tail of the fly. 
Tuesday, 30th, an eagerly storm with rain; fished a short time; caught, 
6 salmon, 3 in the pool at the rock below the camp, and 3 in the pool be¬ 
low the branch stream on 20th. 
Wednesday, 1st July, went up, caught one of 25 pounds in the camp 
pool, one in the branch pool, 4 m the fine pool above the chain of rocks, 
one in the blue ledge pool, three in the ledge opposite the upper camp, 
one in poc l Bruce, none in the Grand Pool, although it was full of sal¬ 
mon. I lost my flics twice with salmon running foul of rocks; eleven in 
all. Up to date, including 1st July, 70 salmon. 
-- 
—At Port Rowan, Canada, July 21st, sixteen persons 
were arraigned before a Bench of Magistrates, and fined for 
violating the Fishery Act during the close season. 
--■ 
FLY-FISHING FOR BASS. 
Boston, Mass., Jane 28th, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Spending last summer near that beautiful lake—Champlain—and often 
catching bass when trolling, the thought occurred to me to try for them 
with a cast of flies. I had some made and sent to me by Mr. Prouty, of 
the celebrated house of Bradford & Anthony of this city. The good peo¬ 
ple with whom I was stopping rather laughed at the idea of catching 
bass with the “rigging” I proposed fishing with (12 oz. rod, and reel 
holding about 300 feet of line). Nevertheless, 1 started early next morn¬ 
ing, before the sun was up, and repairing to the lake launched my light 
Adirondack boat and pushed off. It was a beautiful morning. A light 
haze, with a gentle breath of air from the north—just enough to make a 
little ripple on the water; in fact just such a morning as could be de¬ 
sired for the trial I was about to make. After a short row of perhaps 
twenty minutes I reached a point putting out into the main lake, com¬ 
posed. of slate, which rose abruptly from the water some fifty feet. This 
point, around which I had many times trolled, and always with success, 
had many advantages. The water was deep and the base was composed 
of layers of slate, in whose niches the black bass love' to lurk; the high 
bluff kept off the wind, and the water at the side for some distance was 
as quiet as a mill-pond. I gently pulled out a little distance from the 
recks and up pretty well toward the head of the'point,where I could reach 
the eddy made by the weaves washing by the point, and casting my flies 
brushed the still water close as possible to the wake. I had hardly 
steadied myself to my work when the water broke, and on straightening 
my line I felt that a fish was hooked. No sooner had he felt the hook 
than away he went almost to the end of the line. Fearing for the rod 
yet not willing to lose my fish, I snubbed him gently. He resisted and 
I gave him the but hard, when with a spring he cleared the water a good 
two feet in the air, showing to me the dark back and polished sides of a 
good three pound bass. I was elated and highly pleased with this mode 
of fishing. No sooner had he struck the water again than with a sudden 
turn (peculiar to this fish) he came directly toward the boat. Then came 
work. How I did labor to reel in! My hand seemed as though it was 
incapable of action, so slowly did the slack ot the line seem to take up! 
At last, just when it seemed that I must succumb, he suddenly turned 
and dashed away from me and then I breathed easy. In a moment more 
I had him well in hand, and once more began to enjoy the play of this 
splendid fish. What breaks he would make! Several times he was out 
of the water trying to shake loose the hook, but it was of no use. As last 
he began to show signs of exhaustion, and finally rolling over and over, 
he lay comparatively quiet on the water. Gently reeling him in toward 
the boat, I at length got him within easy reach of my gaif, when in stoop¬ 
ing to reach the handle he seemed to realize what was in store for him, 
and the knowledge seemed to awaken him to one more effort for free¬ 
dom. With the quickness of a flash he was away again, with as much 
freshness apparently as ever. Going to the end of the line he cleared 
the water, but with great effort, for as he fell again he gently rolled up 
on his side, and with a motion or two permitted me to reel him toward 
the boat, into which I took him with no effort on his part to escape. 
In lifting him into the boat he never moved, and upon examination I 
found he was dead. He had fought to the death, which I afterward 
found was so in almost every case. For two hours I ca^t with results 
far beyond my expectations. My catch amounted to 12 bass and 3 large 
perch. The bass averaged over 2£ pounds each. 
Many mornings after was I on that ground, and never without success. 
That summer has made me a firm advocate of fly-fishing for black bass, 
and the good people with whom I was stopping no doubt will this sum¬ 
mer use the same tackle in fishing for bass that I did, for at their request 
I left them mine. 
I have a few of the flies left which X used, and would only be too hap- 
oy to send yon a sample from which to desciibe to your numerous pat¬ 
rons the fly which I know to be successful in fishing for bass in our 
northern waters, as several others have used them with success else¬ 
where, I having put myself out to test the reliability of the fly in other 
waters. Should any of your readers desire fur Liter information on this 
- subject I should be pleased to correspond with them, and Mr. Prouty 
will also give his personal attention to the making of these flies for any 
desiring them. “Brack Bass . 11 
--— 
BLACK BASS FISHING AT WEST PORT. 
VEditor Forest and Stream:— 
^ About sixty miles front Whitehall, on Lake Champlain, upon a bluff 
shore, stands the village of WestPort. Nestled in the palms of sur¬ 
rounding mountains with the lake outspreading at its feet, the quiet 
loveliness of its situation has a fertile charm for us “poor fellows,” who 
are ahunt after “broad fields and babbling brooks.” Such, at least, was 
its effect upon the writer, as our party sat upon the hotel porch awaiting 
a private conveyance to take us 20 miles due west into the Adirondacks 
pure. Accident, had delayed the team, and the wait became tedious, 
when we heard, incidentally, that a trout stream was dashing down the 
rocks within a hundred yards of the hotel. In fifteen minutesj had 
jointed rod, adjusted reel, pocketed tty-book, postponed visit west for 24 
hours, and was making lively casts right and left over the wafers of the 
brook’ For an hour, without reward, I patiently whipped the stream, 
until a spot was reached where it poured over its rocky bed into the 
lake. The brook at this point was omy two to three feet deep and about 
seventeen feet wide, with abroad meadow on either side. Standing back 
u D on the right bank I made a cast into the centre of the stream, allow¬ 
ing, fromnegliger.ee due to a loug want of success, my flies to sink be¬ 
low the surface. In an instant a heavy bite was felt, and upon quickly 
withdrawing the line from the water, I fomid that the' leader just below 
the second dropper was carried away. Big trout, these, thought I! The 
two flies lost were a white miller and red hackle. Hastily adjusting a 
new leader (double gut) with sfugle fly (white miller), it being nearly 
dusk, a cast was made and the response was immediate—a heavy thug, 
a surging dash, then three feet into the air, and to my astonishment I 
found in lieu of a trout, a three-pound black bass bad been hooked. An 
active play of ten minutes landed him upon the meadow. In about 30 
mimqes eight black bass were basketed, running from £ to 3£ pounds 
each, with a single fly on a light trout rod. It was glorious sport. Tlius 
did I go a-fishing for trout'and brought home black bass. 
I have been minute and doubtless tedious in description, yet the ex¬ 
cuse lies in the fact that my short half-hour’s bass experience on that 
summer evening has opened for this section a new delight—to wit: 
black bass fly-fishing. The minnow has been used here exclusively,' and 
deep water fishing only followed, and the lively interest and thorough 
astonishment of the resident fishermen at the sight of my fine string of 
fish was only equalled by their looks of incredulity when informed that 
they were caught with said white miller and the rod before them. Of 
course these remarks apply exclusively to the waters adjacent to West 
Port, where a fly has never been used, and a .brace of bass was consid¬ 
ered good luck m a morning’s fishing. 
The waters abound in pickerel and perch, as well as black bass, and 
afford most excellent sport for tbe general fishermen, but it is especially 
virgin ground to the fly caster for black bass, and as sneli he may expect 
noble sport, not forgetting bodily comforts at a good'hotel, the landlord 
of which, Mr. Nichols,, will extend a cordial greeting and every facility 
to the sportsmen who visit this section. 
The route to West Port from New York is via Albany and Saratoga to 
Whitehall, thence by steamer to West Port. Time, 14 hours; fare, 
W. C Harris. 
*■»» ■ • — ■ —— 
—W. Holberton, tlie trout painter, sends the following 
notes of a summer jaunt in Pennsylvania;— 
“One day last June 1 happened to take up a book on a table in tite 
parlor of the Ralston House, which turned out to be the map of Lycom¬ 
ing county. In looking over it I saw that a stream, the lower part of 
which I had often fished, headed a few miles back among the mountains 
and could be reached by a tramp up the hills quicker than by going down 
tbe valley eight miles to the mouth, then five or six more to the fork's 
near the head. I soon found a companion to join me and a u - at, t 
we started on our trip. . 
We left the house before sunrise, and while tbe inmates of the house 
were yet asleep. We were prepared for a two day’s trip if it were neces¬ 
sary to stay that long, for there was no path, and none had ever gone 
that way before ns. An hour’s sharp climb brought us to the top of the 
mountain, where we met the first rays of the sun. The view was charm- 
ino", the valley lay in shadow, with here and there the blue mist floating 
about. A thin column of smoke rising from the houses was the only 
siom of life. We rested under the‘tall hemlocks for a few moments ad¬ 
ding the scene. We started again on our route, which lay through an 
old, deserted clearing, with here and there a tumbled down log cabin. 
Once it was a busy place, when in old times tbe mines were working, 
but now it is a famous runway for deer, rarely visited, excepting by 
hunters. 
We kept on across the mountain down to a little valley, over a tum¬ 
bling stream, tip again tbe other side, and after three hours of hard work 
we overlooked the valley of Gray’s Run. We came entirely by the com¬ 
pass, and proved the map to be correct, excepting, as my companion re¬ 
marked, “the scale ought to read five miles to the inch instead of one.” 
We started several families of ruffed grouse, saw several signs of deer 
and a couple of porcupines, and going down the last mountain followed 
a rather too fresh bear track for several hundred yards. W e were right 
glad to reach the stream, and were soon at work. The trout were plenty 
