For Forest and Stream, 
FLORIDA AS A SPORTSMAN’S RESORT. 
IT gave me much satisfaction and entertainment to read 
1 the letter upon Fort Capron in a recent issue of your 
paper. I agree with the writer in every particular as to the 
fitness of the place for a hotel, as to the abundance of game 
and fish, and I mentioned in one of my letters to your 
journal that a gentleman contemplated erecting just such a 
house as the hunter upon Indian River needed and found 
not. The crying want of that lagoon is a good hotel. In 
its whole one hundred and forty miles length, there is not 
an establishment, (if we except Titus’ at Sand Point,) 
worthy the name of hotel. The site of the hotel referred 
to was at Taylor’s Creek, about two miles below the site of 
old Fort Capron. In many respects this is a better place 
than at Capron, as the land is higher, the creek banks 
being nearly fifty feet high, and the waters of the creek 
give a never-ending supply of fish. Whether the purpose 
of the projector of the enterprise is likely to be carried out, 
I cannot tell, as no information has reached me since my de¬ 
parture. 
Regarding the abundance of deer and turkeys, no doubt 
things have changed since the troops were there. The 
Indians have hunted the pine barrens back of the river for 
several years past and have pretty effectually exterminated 
them. However, if one will hunt warily and keep both 
eyes open, he may discover a few between the Fort and 
Seven-Mile-Hole. The old Russel plantation, the site of 
the Fort, is now gone to decay. The beautiful oleander 
hedge is broken down, clumps of Cherokee rose straggle 
over the ground in wild luxuriance; guavas and limes, 
lemons and oranges are rapidly being choked out with the 
wild growth, and nature is rapidly assuming sway over the 
old parade ground and gardens. 
The only indication of the occupation by troops is a heap 
of bricks, said to have been the bake oven. One of the 
best results of my letters is the occasional waking up of 
some one of the many veterans of the Indian war. It re¬ 
joices me to see that they are coming forth and telling us 
what we long have wished to know about Florida as it was 
during the war and prior to the late difficulty. It is amus¬ 
ing, the manner in which these old soldiers, who have been 
through such difficult undertakings, treat our comparatively 
tame exploits of the present day. 
Referring to the exploration of Lake Okeechobee, they 
say, “Oh, yes ! that was very good; extremely well done 
—for a boy; but then, we were there years ago.” They 
will persist in affirming that I stated that the lake was un¬ 
explored. How, if they will refer to the number of Forest 
and Stream containing my report, they will see that I said 
the lake had been visited at least twice during the first war, 
and a post established near the northern shore during the 
second; and I presumed the northern shore had been pretty 
thoroughly explored. I cannot recall my exact words, but 
that was their meaning. I think I spoke of this in my 
article, in a November number, upon my attempt of a pre¬ 
vious year to reach the lake. 
Since my return I have received a communication from 
an old army officer who was stationed at Fort Centre, on 
Fish-eating Creek, describing the route via the Carlosahat- 
chce. He says: “The difficulties in reaching the lake by 
this route would be very great to private parties, but it may 
be doubted if they would exceed those so gallantly over¬ 
come by Fred Beverly on the Kissimmee route.” 
That is all very well. I like those honeyed words, and 
they “makes me feel goot,” but I fancy I can detect a sly 
twinkle in the eye as they administer such a bolus, and a 
half-smothered chuckle, as they reflect upon what they 
have endured while hunting Indians, in swamps I would 
not dare to penetrate. Nothing would be more to m}'- lik¬ 
ing than to take these old veterans by the hand and hear 
the story of their adventures from their own lips. They 
have given us a shot now and then and the occasional 
glimpses have been attractive. Let them come out from 
behind their intrenchments and deliver a whole broadside. 
Feed. Beverly. 
NOTES ON TEXAS. 
Galveston, July 10, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Within the last few weeks trout and red fish have been 
extremely scarce in and around our city point, and only 
within a short time since, while on an excursion up the 
bay, was the writer enabled to account for it. On the 
western shore the grass grows in the water some three feet 
in height inside a long reef; the water there maintains a 
depth of two feet always, and it is now the breeding 
grounds for the entire finny tribe. While shoving a skiff 
gently through this immense forest of grass one could see 
stingarees from the size of a silver dime up to five feet in 
diameter; likewise red fish from the tiniest, an inch long, 
up to four feet in length. Trout in vast quantities—all 
sizes; saw some that would measure twenty-six inches in 
length. The favorite mode of getting them is by using- 
grains; an expert hand can grain twenty to thirty per day. 
I saw there in this bed of grass, which is perhaps 100 yards 
wide and twenty-five miles long, some very curious fish; 
among the curious were a toad fish with a horn on top of 
his head similar to a land horned frog. Another kind was 
a fish about four inches in length and two in width and an 
inch thick, no scales. The boys blow wind into its flat 
mouth, inflating it as large as the double fist, then throw 
it down into the bottom of the boat, making a loud report. 
We saw alligator gars, sword fish, sharks, young jew fish, 
croakers, innumerable young slieepsliead, whiting, and 
trout, and last but not least, young alligators; caught some 
no longer than six inches in length. They probably floated 
down into this brackish water from some fresh water hole 
or inlet near by, as alligators generally select a fresh water 
pond, marsh, or creek to lay their eggs in, a large nest, 
among bullrushes ten or twelve feet high. 1 recoTect a 
good many years ago when a boy, I was coming from a visit 
to a relative’s farm on the bay; among my boy’s traps were 
a couple of specimens of the above described young 
alligators in a not very secure box, and while on the steamer 
during the night the young brutes got out of the box, and 
one finding its way into the ladies’ cabin crawled into tne 
berth of a sleeping beauty; about twelve o’clock the pas¬ 
sengers w T ere startled by some first-class screaming, every 
one imagined the boat was on fire; men, women and chil¬ 
dren ruslied about in all directions, all curiously adorned, 
among whom was the captain. Straightway proceeding to 
where those vehement sounds of “take it away” were 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Issued, there sat the beauty and my little brute fighting 
for the supremacy of the berth. The wind up of the affair 
was quickly terminated by the Captain throwing the cause 
of the alarm overboard, arid all the passengers, and 
especially the ladies, quickly vanished into their staterooms, 
thinking how foolish they were to get so frightened, 
all on account of a young alligator. The cabin boys turned 
out next morning and found my other pet; ruminating in 
the pantry; he also shared the same fate of liis companion, 
much to my sorrow and regret, as my mind was fully bent 
on raisng them in the garden in a quiet nook, all by them¬ 
selves. 
The Captain says to me, “Joe, don’t bring any more 
such pets here,” and after that always cast sly glances at 
my boyish luggage. Our fishermen arc hauling their seines 
near the breeding grounds as near as can be got to the grass 
without going into it, and catch all the wayfarers to and 
from the breeding grounds. I see bunches of young red 
fish, some six inches in length, offered for sale, costing a 
quarter and as much as a small family wants for a meal. 
These fish in three or four months time, in our water, 
develop amazingty, and what breakers of lines they get to 
be by next spring ! Hr is here where protective laws come 
in.force. Much to many sportsmen’s regret we have 
neither laws for fin nor feather in our State, except the 
laws of nature, and more, the laws of trade, but a de¬ 
mand is certainly forthcoming. Some feeble demonstra¬ 
tions have been made by parties trying to have them 
passed before our Texas' Legislature, but I suppose their 
time has been too much engrossed by larger and more im¬ 
portant (as they think,) considerations than to pay any at¬ 
tention to petitions. It is hoped that ere long those im¬ 
portant points will he engrossed and that they will not 
overlook the sportsmen’s document. Towards a little later 
our slieepsliead return and thousands are caught about our 
wharves, nearly every party returning home after a fish 
in the evening of an hour with a hundred or so from six to 
nine inches in length. Since the departure of the fish the 
writer has been consoling himself with a catch of two or 
three times per week of Texas lobsters. Scientists say fish 
make brain. I think so myself; at any rate, after a good meal 
on the above-described fish, I am a first rate talker, and the 
business of the day is gone through with much easier and 
sooner and pleasanter than when beef is eaten. Latter is an 
article that we have abundantly cheap, and much more is 
eaten than I think good for the people ; they eschew fish 
too much. We certainly want more brain, therefore more 
and cheaper fish. A very short time since a party of gen¬ 
tlemen took what might be called a little recreation from 
the cares of business ; leaving our wharf just as one of the 
faintest streaks of daylight was coming—one bright and 
early morn—in a fast sailing yacht, a good breeze 
slightly leading, found us in seventy minutes just thirteen 
miles away from friends, care and home. Sailing into a little 
bayou, we securely fastened our little traveler, and out with 
our hand lines, with the nicest shrimp on some first class 
hooks. Not long ere the party caught sufficient for a 
breakfast, and by a quarter of seven we sat down to fried 
red fish, boiled Texas lobster, sliced ham, old Java, ice and 
milk, musk melon, Hamburg grapes, figs, bananas, seated 
beneath the wild inustang grapes hanging overhead 
within a few feet, a clean spread on a grassy carpet, inhal¬ 
ing some pure air and feeling like other men, each of the 
party exhilarated, and all said : “Texas fine.” 1 noticed it 
was in the neighborhood of ten o’clock before we took our 
tackle and fished with indifferent success. The sun became 
scorching, and a very thin shirt and pair of drawers were 
comfortable, to retire under the tent and pass away the 
hours until dinner time. About four o’clock was cool 
enough to try again our luck with the fin, and with much 
success. Bleeding the trout and red fish alive, and packing 
down in ice, had a most delicious repast next morning. 
Coming back we hardly fared so well as going, having a 
dead beat, and the little waters rose in angry swells. To 
say we were wet is using it mildly—a little deluge ; using 
a pump and bucket to keep her free. With a double reef 
we made five miles an hour to windward, and arrived safe. 
More anon. Yours, truly, J. L. 
For Forest and Stream. 
^ NOTES ON BLUE FISHING. 
I T has been intimated that “A1 Fresco” is in some way in¬ 
terested “in writing up Barnegat,” but I can assure 
your readers that such is not the case. I own no land 
there, have no stock or interest in the railroads leading to 
that point, and have no friends there, except those whose 
acquaintance I have made on my fishing excursions. It 
was by a mere accident that I discovered this piscatorial 
resort, and I have enjoyed so much sport during my 
visits to B. that I deem it but just that the disciples of Old 
Isaac should be posted. 
Fishing for blue fish entails the necessity of the fisher¬ 
man unhooking his captures; for if the boat is of sufficient 
size to render the sport enjoyable, the boatman will have 
ample employment in managing the craft without usurping 
the duties and privileges of the piscator. The “animated 
chopping machines,” (as they are appropriately termed 
by the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution,; are sup¬ 
plied with a dental outfit of utilitarian character, and due 
and proper care must be observed to keep fingers at a re¬ 
spectable distance from their dental developments, for they 
will lacerate a finger with greater celerity than the most 
accomplished surgeon. 
Blue fishing is exciting sport, and when lliey are in a 
biting mood, the fisherman becomes careless of his unmen¬ 
tionables, If the novice intends engaging in it, w r e would 
recommend him to provide a worn-out suit of clothing to 
be abandoned at the end of the sport. I keep at Barnegat 
an outfit for fishing purposes, consisting of an old felt liat, 
brown flannel shirt, old vest, thick cassimere pants, and a 
pair of stout soldier’s brogans. This utilitarian and at¬ 
tractive outfit is put on in the boat and changed before the 
landing is reached in the evening. Captain Joel Ridgway 
gave me an amusing description of the condition of . the 
unmentionables of one of your celebrated Brooklyn pastors 
who visited Barnegat to prove or disprove the “fish 
stories” of “A1 Fresco.” He thought the picture was too 
highly colored, and that my statements should be received 
cum gramo salts. Soon after leaving Barnegat Creek he be¬ 
came busily engaged landing large fish, and through excite¬ 
ment forgot that lie wore a pair of black cloth pants, “for 
which he had paid $80 but a few weeks before. ” After 
the expiration of an hour or two he found his fingers sore 
and bleeding, and stopped to survey damages; he took a 
look at his clerical unmentionables, and his surprise can 
be imagined wheu lie realized the fact that they were wet 
and covered with blood, slime and fish scales. A word of 
advice from the initiated would have enabled him to re 
turn home in a presentable condition. 
When catching large fish, or when small fish bite rapidly 
the thumb and first and second fingers of each hand are 
liable to suffer from the friction of the line; and we would 
advise the intending blue-fisher to provide himself with 
“India Rubber Finger Stalls.” These can be purchased at 
any of the stores dealing in rubber goods, and at many 
drug stores. Price per dozen from $1 to $1.25 cents. The 
purchaser should select them of proper sizes to fit thumbs 
and fingers snugly; for if too tight they constrict and be¬ 
numb the fingers, and if too loose they cannot he kept in 
position.. One of my piscatorial friends ridiculed the idea 
of wearing such “nonsensical things,” hut he became a 
convert to India rubber. Last Septemberlintroduced him 
to the attention of a school of large aud hungry fish 
averaging twelve pounds. At the end of one hour and a 
quarter we had landed sixty-eight, and he found himself 
hors cle combat. On his return home he ornamented his 
thumbs and fingers with rags and healing ointment, and 
tlie ornamentation occupied a period of two weeks. Dur¬ 
ing one of my recent fishing trips I landed 677 large fish in 
17 hours, and abandoned the sport with my fingers in tact, 
not an abrasion of skin visible, thanks to a full supply of 
finger stalls. 
With regard to lines, all that is required is" a well laid 
cotton line, which can he purchased at any twine store for 
fifty cents per pound. This description of line is stron 
soft to the fingers and not liable to kink. Sometimes blue 
fish snap at the line between where it comes in contact 
with the water and the squid, and occasionally through the 
struggles of a fish to escape the lines are fouled, and one of 
the number is apt to pass into the mouth of the hooked fish. 
In either case the line is liable to be stranded, and unless 
knotted, may be parted by the next fish. If an expensive 
line is used, the fisherman will request the boatman to knot 
it. If knotted, the ends unravel and an attractive bait is 
presented, which hungry fish are apt to seize. If a cheap 
line sustains an injury, it can be cheaply replaced by a new 
one. With reference to the length of line to be used, I can 
but state that it must vary to suit tlie mood of the fish. If 
the fish are plenty, and in a biting humor, from forty to 
sixty feet will he ample; but if fish are scarce and dainty, 
from eighty to one hundred and thirty feet will he re¬ 
quired. 
For large fish—in spring and fall—I would recommend a 
well-laid cotton line seven-sixteenths of an inch in circum¬ 
ference. For summer fish from one to three pounds. I 
use a line five-sixteenths of an inch in circumference. FoV 
small lines, I prefer cotton-braided ones, which I purchase 
* at Traver’s twine store in Beekman, below Nassau street, 
New York. I find 1 that the braidedTines are less apt to 
tangle than small laid ones, and are more pleasant to the 
fingers of the fisherman. 
It is amusing to inspect the various squids purchased by 
the uninitiated—spobns and spinners of all kinds, sizes and 
shapes, many of them ornamented with paint or feathers, 
metalic fishes of various forms and sizes, some with wide 
spreading tails to prevent the fish from being hooked, and 
a large proportion cast so as to represent scales. Blue fish 
will bite at a spoon or spinner, but to unhook the snappish 
customers is the rub; for if fingers come near their mouths, 
one or more are apt to suffer. When landed in the boat, 
they display gymnastic feats, and a spoon or spinner may 
undergo a change of form—presenting at the end anything 
but the lines of beauty. , At various times I have tried 
spoons, spinners, artificial fish and squids of all kinds, sizes 
and shapes, and have arrived at the conclusion that noth¬ 
ing can equal a plain, round, white, bone squid for 
large fish, aud for the first run, when even small 
fish are ravenous, I use a round hone squid five and a 
half inches long and two and a half inches in circumfer¬ 
ence at the thickest portion. For small or summer fish, 
my favorite squids are four and a half inches long and one 
and a half in circumference at the thickest point. 
Hooks should he strong and reliable. For large fish, I 
use first quality Virginia hooks, (made by Job Johnson, of 
Brooklyn,) measuring in width one and three-eighths inches 
at point; and for small or summer fish, a Cliestertownhook 
seven-eighths wide at point. I may remark that the good 
qualities of the Cliestertown hook are not generally known 
or appreciated. I consider it one of the best and strongest 
hooks made. Last summer I presented Captain Joel Ridg- 
way with a number of these hooks of the size referred to, 
and this spring questioned him .regarding their quality. 
He assured me that they were unequalled for sheep head 
and striped bass, and that in February last lie used them 
for cod fishing outside, and experienced no difficulty in 
landing fish weighing from eighteen to twenty-three 
pounds with these apparently slender and small hooks. 
With the exception of Virginia hooks for large blue fish, I 
use the Cliestertown for all kinds of fishing, considering 
them the strongest and best hook made. 
A difficulty to he encountered in using a bone squid is 
the tendency of the hook to slip—at one time leaving tlie 
bone in contact with the bend of the hook, and at another 
the shaft of the hook slipping entirely out of the squid. 
To render the hook immoveable, 1 attach a shoulder of 
solder to the shaft of the hook at point where it comes in 
contact with end of squid. To prevent the hook from be¬ 
ing moved out of the squid, I use several tight-fitting white 
pine wedges at side of shaft of hook as well as a Iqng and 
tightly-fitting plug where the line passes out of the base of 
squid. When wet the pine swells, and generally renders 
the hook immovable. 
I sometimes adopt another and more perfect method. 
I take a piece of No. 12 iron wire, and bend 
it so as to form a loop to receive the line. The wire 
is passed through the squid and cut off three-quarters of 
an inch beyond the end of same. 1 tin the shaft of the 
hook as well as the wire, after which I place them in posi¬ 
tion, and to prevent movement, bind the end of wire and 
shaft of hook together with fine copper or brass wire. 
Having some melted solder in a ladle, I pour it into the 
end of the squid so as to fill the entire cavity. I then apply 
solder to end of wire and shaft of hook, at end of bone, so 
as to make an angular shoulder about three-quarters ot an 
inch in length—base of aiigle in contact with bone. The 
solder is dressed down by a file, and a useful and reliable 
squid is the result. Some of the readers of the Forest 
and Stream will exciaim, cut bonof — why all this care and 
measured arrangement to catch blue fish? These fish can 
be caught with a piece of rag or wood, or a squid of any 
kind; but for successful fishing, proper appliances are all 
important. When fish are biting and the hook escapes 
