StABOH 18, 1881] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



129 



Stiii so intimate is the relation of its various parts, so pro- 

 friiiml their sympathy one with the other, that the power of 

 ■etina to receive Riid trausra.it.a perfect image, even were 

 Side formed upon it, may well be doubted duder such circum- 

 stances. 



A gentleman well known in angling circles, and an ac- 

 knowledged authority, told me, when spoken to of the ex- 

 periments on the color of leaders that I intended to try— an 

 account of part of which appeared in your issue of Feb. ?— 

 that it was all useless; that he had "tried it when in swim- 

 mine;; that everything appeared black, and that I could see 

 nothing. 



ii is clear, theref ore, that, in the unusual conditions in 

 which his ey.es wore then placed they refused to act alto- 

 gether. And that the same was the case with "Brooklyn- 

 iteV eyes, though in less degree: and that the same will be 

 tile case with every one's eyes to a greater or less decree 

 under such unusual conditions, 1 cannot doubt. In this 

 view I am sustained by a high medical authority, whom f 

 have consulted on the subject, 



From his experiments "Brooklynite" "doubts thai the 

 human eye can distinguish any gut^ through two or three 

 feet of water." 



If he will again fill his bath tub, immerse a mirror in the 

 water, incline'it at such an angle that it will reflect upward 

 any image received by it— say at an angle approximating 45" 

 — and then insert his leaders in the water and watch for 

 their reflection in the mirror, he will have no difficulty in 

 seeing them at twice two or three feet, if the length of his 

 bath tub will permit them to be so far removed. 



It is absolutely certain that any image which will form in 

 the mirror and be reflected by it, would be even more plainly 

 seen by the human eye if it was located there and acted in 

 its normal manner. And this, because the loss of light due 

 to the reflection would be saved. Nothing can prevent the 

 formation of an image in the mirror but the absorption of 

 the light proceeding from the leader by the water, and noth- 

 ing but this cause can prevent the human eye from perceiv- 

 ing an object so situated. 



That the eye of the trout is different from ours, is a frequent 

 remark. That it is different in size — different in color, is true. 

 But that it is different in function, different in its relation to 

 the reflection and refraction of light, is a mere supposition, 

 resting, I believe, as at present advised, upon no foundation 

 whatever. It may be more sensitive to light than ours. It 

 may render objects visible to them through a stratum of 

 water, which would totally obscure them to us. But even 

 this I know no reason to believe, notwithstanding the fact 

 that will here occur to every one of the incessant rise of 

 trout long after the shades of' evening have fallen, and after 

 we can no longer distinguish our fly upon the water. The 

 difference of background toward which they look sufficiently 

 accounts for this to my mind. 



It may be that some of the rays which compose the beam 

 of ligbt'may be visible to them, which are incompetent to 

 excite our retina, and of the presence of which we only 

 become aware as they evidence their existence by heat, or 

 chemical action. But if we are prepared to grant' this, and 

 I fcr one can see no reason so to do, it but prolongs the spec- 

 trum in one or both directions. It is too improbable even for 

 mere surmise, in the absence of direct proof, that they can 

 see both ends of the spectrum, while the middle is to them a 

 blank. Their every action in reference to the color of flies 

 negatives this. 



Light is light. And by its aid all animated beings see, 

 and in its absence all alike are blind. The laws of nature 

 operate equally and invariably both above and below the 

 surface of the 'water; and, until it is demonstrated to be 

 otherwise, I cannot thiuk trout see in any different manner, 

 or by any different means, than do we. There may be a 

 difference in degree, but I cannot believe iu kind. 



It is to be hoped that not only T will "Brooklynite" continue 

 his experiments, but that others will enter the field as well. 

 Such cannot but be productive of good. Let us relegate the 

 era of guessing to a past age, where it properly belongs, and 

 before the coming season is over know something definite in 

 reference to this matter so important to our interests. 



New Yohr. Henry P. Wells. 



THE DOWEL PIN IN FLY-RODS. 



Editor Forest ami Stream: 



]\Ir. Wells's article on the dowel pin in fly -rods is cer- 

 tainly worthy of notice; and although it is not a new idea, 

 it is by no means a poor one. There are a good many rods 

 made'uow without the dowel (or tenon) and from my own 

 observations, they are every year gaining in favor. 



I will not take room in your paper to write at length on 

 the subject, but will ask for enough space to give in a few 

 pilaiu words my approval of this method of making fly-rods. 



For a long time I have been trying to convince my cus- 

 tomers that the way to construct a light fly-rod to obtain the 

 greatest amount of'strength and uniform elasticity was with 

 short ferrules and without dowels. 



When a rod is ordered from me I always suggest the idea 

 of making it without dowels; sometimes this is looked upon 

 as being a good thing and the rod is so ordered, but others 

 look at it as something new, and they don't wish to try any- 

 thing different from what they have always used. 



I would as soon make a rod with dowels as without, and 

 always try and satisfy any notion a fisherman may have 

 regarding his rods, but for the last seven years I have made 

 all rods for my own use without the dowel joint, and have 

 found a more even spring and fewer fractures the result. 



By parties for whom I have made rods in this manner 1 

 have heard them very highly spoken of, and have had many 

 of their doweled rods brought to me for repairs, and at the 

 same time been instructed to remove the tenons, which 1 do, 

 then plug the socket with hard wood firmly glued and shorten 

 the ferrule. A long ferrule reduces the spring of a light rod 

 to a much greater extent than most fishermen imagine, and 

 unless the. female ferrule is long a dowel is of no use. 



I have had rods brought to my shop for repairs that had 

 the socket for the dowel bored below the female ferrule, 

 which, of course, completely destroyed the strength of the 

 rod. 



Then again, as Mr. Wells says, to repair a rod that has 

 been broken at or near a ferrule, it shortens and stiffens the 

 rod to a degree that is very damaging, and in making repairs 

 of this kind the rod often has to be worked down from butt 

 to tip before it is a fit article for a fly-fisherman's hand. 



As to the strength of a rod, if we take, for instance, a 

 tly-rod of G ounces, or 7 ounces, and make it with dowels, 

 the wood of the tip below the ferrule is worked down to re- 

 ceive the tapering piece of metal until it is about the size of 

 a knitting needle and tapered t© almost a sharp point. Now 

 there is not strength enough in this piece of wood to in any 



way assist in preventing a breakage should the rod spring at 

 the ferrule. 



Most red makers are now making the tenon solid with the 

 male ferrule, and although this is stronger it is heavier, and 

 does hot prevent the necessity of a long female ferrule, 

 wliieh, in a measure, takes the' long even bend from the 

 wood, and having a greater amount of purchase than a short 

 ferrule is much more liable to cause a fracture than to pre- 

 vent it. 



I have made a good many bass rods, after the Dr. Hen- 

 shall and other patterns, and with one exception they have 

 been made without dowels, and I have never known of a 

 ferrule having been bent on a rod broken at the ferrule, al- 

 though some of them have had very rough usage among the 

 Thousand Islands and Lake Ohamplain. 



I think Messrs. Abbey <fc Imbrie, of New York, make the 

 Henshall rod in this manner, and Mr. C. F. Orvis makes 

 his rods without dowels. 



Tbere is another point in rod-making which should be 

 considered, and which I have practiced for a long time, viz. : 

 the fitting of ferrules without cutting away the wood the 

 thickness of the metal. The ferrule should go "over" the 

 joint of a wood rod, the same as on the split bamboo. The 

 enamel of the barnboti is never cut fo fit the ferrule on 

 (I speak of fine rods only), and it is almost as damaging to a 

 wood rod to cut it around to fit a ferrule as It is a bamboo. 



If we take a piece of hard wood, lancewood, for instance, 

 i inch in diameter at the middle and tapering to -} inch at 

 either end, make a slight iucision around the center of the 

 rod, then fasten one end in a vise and spring the rod until 

 it breaks, and nine times out of ten it will break at the in- 

 cision, although it may not be more than a scratch around 

 the wood. 



1 taper the joints of my rods to the inside diameter of 

 the ferrule, and let the f ei rule go over the whole diametei 

 of the joint, then with a neat wrapping of fine silk, or a ring 

 which can be put at the female ferrule of the butt and 

 second joint; it makes when varnished over fully as nice a 

 finish as to cut the wood away. 



But I will not go into any more details, as I am afraid I 

 have already taken too much room in your paper. 



Geo. F. Alden. 



FISHING IN CARDENAS BAY. 



BEING in Cardenas, and finding that a gentleman whom 

 I wished to see would not be at home for several days, 

 I thought I would make time pass quickly by taking a fish- 

 ing excursion, so I went down to the wharf where the fish- 

 ing smacks, or viceros come in and asked the captain of 

 one of them what he would charge to take me with him on 

 his trip. He said he would not charge me anything, but 

 that I could bring something along to eat and that would he 

 all that was necessary. We went to the Plaza, and for $13 

 paper I bought a large basketful of vegetables, eggs, 

 oranges and four or five pounds of fresh meat, for the kind 

 of fresh fish the fishermen like best is came de mm (beef). I 

 did not forget some cigars and cigarettes. 



At 10 P. M. we set sail to catch the first of the land 

 breeze,- that commences to blow generally at that hour, in 

 company with about eight or ten more inveros, so called 

 from the fact that they have a tank on board where they 

 keep the fish they catch, alive, there being many holes in 

 the bottom of the same so that the sea w r ater circulates cou- 

 tinually r through. We went down the bay, which is about 

 twenty miles long, outside of the lighthouse on Rock Key, 

 to the' open sea, and after fishing all day we would run in 

 behind some key or small island aud anchor for the night, 

 In the morning we would run out again, and so continue 

 until the tank was filled. In our case this took four days. 

 I have been on fishing excursions many times, as you well 

 know, but I never saw so many fish caught in so short a 

 time before. The lines we used were large and strong, with 

 hooks about the size of bed spring wire. Still, many times 

 the fish would get away with the tackle, so you can form 

 some idea of their size. We used live fish about six to ten 

 inches long for bait, hooking them through the back, and 

 seldom would I throw out my Hue with a good, lively bait 

 on the hook, without seeing it snapped up by a ten or twenty- 

 pounder, and then would come a tussle. 1 tell you, they^ 

 fight hard, and it takes some tact to bring to the top of the 

 water so as to get a net under him, a big fellow, three or 

 four feet long, with teeth like a saw. In fact there is a kind 

 of fish they call sierra (saw). I found out one must keep a 

 cool head and not get excited if he wishes to be successful 

 at this sport. 



Many times, after a long struggle, I would get my fish to 

 the side of the boat, and then, before we could get a landing- 

 net under him, away he would go and 1 would have to go 

 through the same maneuvers again before getting him safe 

 in the tank. My hands are sore and cut by the line running 

 through them, and from handling big fish. I won't say hew 

 many fish I caught, but I will say that I fished until I was 

 tired out witn the sport. 



One thing which contributes greatly to the sport is, that 

 the water is so clear that one can see down to a great depth, 

 and so can always see his fish when in the act of taking the 

 bait, which is done like a flash, and away goes the fine aud 

 the fight begins in earnest. One must have blood like water 

 if it does not surge through his veins as a big fish drags the 

 hissing line through the water, now here, now there; perhaps 

 toward you, giving you lots to do to pull in the slack to keep 

 him in hand; then, again, off like a flash down deep in the 

 water, until you begin to think he will never stop, but take 

 all your line, and that you will have to let him go, but just 

 before you reach the end you feel the fish getting weaker. 

 You hold on a little, restraining him, and little by little begin 

 to pull in. Perhaps you will get Mm to the top of the 

 water, but it is much more likely that you will see him dart 

 off apain to renew the fight, and sometimes with a grand 

 leap clear from the water, he will let you see what a mag- 

 nificent prize you have hooked. Then after all is over, and 

 he is swimming in the tank, you would say, as I did, that 

 you never knew what it was to fish until you had played a 

 big thirty-pounder, and after a half hour's fight brought him 

 safe to hand. 



There are a lot of sharks after the boat, great, wicked-look- 

 ing objects, who would make short work of one in no time. 

 We would often throw over dead fish, which they would 

 snap up in a flash, fighting among themselves for the prize, 

 and then 1 would give it to them with my revolver. There 

 was one which I wounded three times in the head, and still 

 he would keep on after the boat and look up with his wicked 

 eyes, as much as to say, "Oh! I am here yet," 



If I go again I intend to take a shark hook along for 

 them. They would often take our bait, but of course we 

 could do nothing but let them break our lines. The rirero 



on which I went was about the size of the clam sloops which 

 come up the Hudson. The captain was a young Cuban only 

 three months married, and as nice and kind a person as one 

 would wish to see. He could not do too much to make my 

 trip pleasant, briuging dishes and other conveniences from 

 his house on purpose for me. I did not have a good appetite 

 for some time before I went on this trip, and it has done me 

 inueh good. I see 1 have made quite a long letter of this, 

 and as I want to say a word or two on other sutuYets I will 

 stop. 0. II. Gallup. 



THE LENGTH OF FLY-RODS, 



Editor Fount and Stream: 



In your issue of Feb. 14, Mr. R. H. Dixon had a brief 

 article upon "Fly-Rods, Long vs. Short," I was glad I 

 it, because the superior success attending the use of long rods 

 has been mentioned to mc more than once. I confess that I 

 am totally unable to see why a. long rod should have any ad- 

 vantage over a short one, provided the user of the short one 

 can make long easts, and 1 do see many reasons wby a short 

 rod is always a more convenient and manageable thing thai? 

 a Ions one. Then, too, the constant tendency to shorten 

 rods, for all uses except fly-fishing, which has been very 

 manifest for sonic years past' and the repeated declaration of 

 those who have used both kinds that the short rods are better, 

 would seem to lie decisive against the long rods. I can easily 

 see that, if the angler can only cast a line twice as loi 

 rod, he who uses the longest rod will have the most success, 

 for it is a general rule that the longer the cast the greater the 

 likelihood of taking fish; but the users of short rods are gen- 

 erally expert casters and in no way limited by the length of 

 their rods. Still, let us have the experience of the users of 

 both kinds of rods; let us have the matter discussed; good 

 will come of it, Mr. Henry P. Wells, in his recent most ex- 

 cellent article, said; "The anglers have fallen, or are fall- 

 ing, into a rut, and arethree-quaiters asleep besides." Let us 

 wake up; let us get out of our rut. The way to do this is 

 to discuss aud compare our various practices. 



I have, in a brief way, ehampioued the short rod, but I am 

 willing, nay, anxious to learn the intent and value of a long 

 one, or of any other appliance or practice in use by my 

 brethren of the angle. I want to be taught anything that 

 will enhance my enjoyment of my favorite recreation. 



In conclusion, let me call attention to the last paragraph 

 of Mr. Wells's letter, so that anglers may be roused to the 

 use of the pen: "A comparison of the correspondence in 

 your paper in reference to the art and implements of the 

 angler with that in reference to other sports, is a standing 

 shame and reproach to every man who handles a rod." 



M. 



STURGEON FISHING. 



Editor Forest a,id Stream: 



Mr. Clayton Von Culin desires me to explain. Permit me 

 to do so. 



In my story entitled "Gaffing a Sturgeon," which ap- 

 peared in a recent number of Forest and Stream, I had 

 no intention of descanting on the size of the fish taken, 

 knowing w T ell that sturgeons reach enormous size and weight. 



As to the modus operandi, let me say that sturgeon lines 

 proper, range from 100 to 1.000 yards in length. These are 

 anchored securely at both ends, and buoyed at certain dis- 

 tances from the shore. This thh line proper, has suspended 

 from it at regular distances of three feet or so, smaller lines 

 of about two feet in length, each of which is hooked and 

 baited with perch cut up"in small pieces. The position of 

 the line proper is thus suspended from buoy to buoy, and so 

 the hooks will be, some off the bottom at different distances, 

 and those in the middle will lie on the bottom. 



The fisherman stands in the bow of his boat, because the 

 stern of it would fill if presented to a heavy sea. A com- 

 mencement is made at the leemost buoy, aud the line proper 

 is passed along hand over hand — hooks whose baits are de- 

 stroyed are rebaited, those having taken fish are removed 

 from the line proper by jerking the slip knot that fastens the 

 small line to the line proper as soon us the captive fish is 

 safely gaffed. A fresh small line and baited hook then re- 

 places the one just removed, and so on till the whole line 

 proper has been overhauled. The boat then returns to shore, 

 the fish are cared for by being cut up, smoked, etc., and the 

 hooks then taken out of their niouths. 



Pouud nets are also used, but not in the places where the 

 aforesaid lines are the only means of sturgeon taking. 



The condition of the water as to roughness makes all the 

 difference to the labor of gaffing, not only because it. is more 

 difficult to stand and work in the boat, hut because there is 

 nearly always a greater catch by reason of the fish both 

 biting better and the time being longer since the lines were 

 last gone to after a blow. Verax. 



Port Howan, Ont. 



THE FISH QUESTION IN MAINE. 



rpHE Norway, Me., Advertiser prints the following from 

 X an Oxford correspondent who signs himself "Mark 



Tapley :" 



There are many rumors afloat iu regard to the little disturbances 

 of last week caused by the visit of one of the State Commissioner's 

 emissaries to our villages. The truth as near as we can ascertain. 

 sterns to be that Leander Wardwell pleaded guilty to a charge of 

 catching one spotted trout, for which crime he made satisfactory 

 amends. The other -fish, a kind of mongrel, known as togue or Thom- 

 son Pond trout, don't come under any of the statutes. Mr. Wardwell 

 is one of our most respectable and worthy citizens , nud we have no 

 idea he was conscious of violating any law at the time. Neither had 

 the Advertiser's correspondent any evil intention in making the 

 thing public. The law as it exists, is strongly disapproved by almost 

 the entire community . Still as it is the law let us obey. AVe hope 

 our next Legislature 'will be asked to modify this law so as to give 

 our own people the privilege of catching a few fish now and then, aud 

 not give to a set of city grandees all the preference, who hang around 

 our hotels at a time when the working people are so busy they can't 

 attend to it. 



The "togue" is the fish known in New York and elsewhere 

 as lake trout, and is not a "mongrel," nor a fish peculiar to 

 any pond. Commenting on this one of our correspondents 

 writes : 

 Editor Forest ami Stream: 



I inclose you a little slip, cut from Norway Adrertiser. 

 See bow they go for our hotel guests. I am trying to learn 

 who wrote that article, but am unable. I was in hopes to 

 sec some of our Commissioners come out on this last week in 

 answer to that article from Oxford about the trout, by which 

 1 learn there is more truth than poetry in the charges. 

 Nevertheless this poaching ought to be stopped at once. It 

 is a shame to destroy the fish as they do. They say they 

 don't catch the speckled trout, only togue, or lake trout. 

 The law is the same in both cases, if I understand it cor- 

 rectly. 



I talked with Wardwell the other day. He will give 



