68 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
— a —— i Ss 
[Aue. 21, 1884. 
aldermanie aristocracy. Sheepshead are a fine looking fish 
after all, if not as graceful as salmon nor as delicate as trout, 
and deserve their reputation as a table delicacy. 
It was 6 gala day aboard of the Heartsease. Those eleven 
*bunkers had been put to good account, and now the soft 
clams had turned out even more remunerative. It is not 
often you can catch sixty seven bluefish with eleven men- 
haden, and it is still more rare to take twenty-six sheepshead 
under any circumstances. One fact had been demonstrated 
to the benefit of the gentle angler, if not so much to that of 
the professional, that in fishing in a strong tideway in thirty 
feet of water, as good success can be had from a large vessel 
as from 1 small boat, while the comfort of the two methods 
are not to be compared. 
**Well,” said the Superintendent as he recled up his line 
after being satisfied that there were no more fish to be con- 
quered, as the shades of eve had settled down and darkness 
was approaching, ‘“‘you are right about one thing. A single- 
barreled reel isthe proper one for this sort of fishing even if it 
does occasionally catch your thumb when the fish makes a 
sudden tush. A multiplier is unnecessary and makes too 
much work of it,” 
“That being admitted,” replied the Commissioner, off- 
handedly, “let us take our bluefish to Jesse Smith, make him 
a present of them, and keep our sheepshead,”’ 
“No,” answered the Superintendent, “let me teach you 
how to salt down the blucfish so that they will keep, not spoil, 
as I believe once happened.” 
This retort, which had something of truth in it in spite of 
the Commissioner's explanations, closed the sports of a day 
which has not been surpassed in Eastern waters for many a 
revolving moon, and will probably not be equaled for 
many to come. 
THE LARGEST BLACK BASS YET, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Ifindin your issue of Aug, 7, an article with the above 
heading. Now, we will all admit that a black bass weighing 
74 pounds isa beauty, butif our friend Mr. Folsom will 
make us a visit, we will take him to where he can have the 
pleasure of reeling in fish which will bump the beam at 11, 
yes, 12 and 14 pounds, without much trouble. Ido not 
mean by this that. there are no small bass in the waters of 
Florida, nor do I wish any of our Northern friends to think 
that they can be killed with sticks and stones, or caught with 
pitchforks, as have heard people talk of doing, but I do 
claim for Florida as fine fields for piscatorial sport as are to 
be found in this country anywhere. 1am a great lover of 
the rod and reel, and if you can find space in your columns, 
I will give you and our Northern friends a little sketch of 
my last skirmish with the finny tribe. 
The greater portion of fish taken in the fresh-water lakes 
of Florida, are black bass, pickerel or jack, and a goodly 
number of bream and catfish. Some ten weeks ago, I left for 
Altoona, Florida, and from there, in. company with two of 
my piscatorial friends, we started out for a day’s sport. An 
hour’s ride through fragrant floral pines brought our little 
party to one of those clear, crystal streams or bayous, which 
bears the unpoetical name of Niggertown Oreck. 
We were well supplied with good tackle, and the usual 
supply of good things which are required to make up the 
sportsman’s lunch box, and had it not been for a poor affair 
of a boat, our entire outfit might well have been called a 
respectable one, even if we did ride on a mule cart with a 
gentleman of African descent as driver. 
However. a portion of Jones’s underwear was soon put to 
use as caulking for the little home-made plank boat, and 
after our paraphernalia was safely stowed away, with Bird- 
song at the oars, we were soon gliding rapidly to the bait 
grounds, 
A half hour was sufficient to fill our minnow bucket with 
fine silvers, and then away we went across and into 
one of those clear, deep, lily-bound lakes, for which 
Florida is noted. This lake contained, I suppose, 34 
acres, was about 25 to 30 feet deep, and like all 
the other little lakes which surround Niggertown Creek, are 
to be reached only by pushing a boat through high saw 
grass and reeds about three or four rods. This, you may 
think, is too much trouble; well, perhaps so, but if you will 
pive us a little time we will show you how it pays. — 
We soon made our boat fast to the bonnets and began 
work. Joues took the lead with a bass of 6 pounds, I came 
in second with a fine fellow weighing 8} pounds, and Bird- 
song as third with a pickerel of 7 pounds 9 ounces, I again 
with a 3i-pounder. Birdsong took for his second a 123- 
pounder, and Jones for his a 74-pounder. Several others 
were taken, I suppose in all about 60 pounds, when Jones 
proposed we should move to a little cove on the opposite side 
of the lake. We did so, and after partaking of our lunch, 
which we were by this time hungry enough to enjoy, we 
began anew, with our boat at anchor in the shade of some 
wild orange trees and live oaks. 
Jones was the lucky one again, and took for his first a 
beauty weighing 182 pounds, then I with one of 44 pounds 
and Jones again with a §4-pound pickerel. Birdsong had in 
the meantime made fast toa huge mudfish, which occupied 
his time for about half an hour, very much to his disgust 
and our yery great pleasure, but he soon came to the front 
with a fine one of 124 pounds. At about this time our bait 
was exhausted, with the exception of a large bream, which 
was, I suppose, 64 inches long, and as a matter of experi- 
ment I proposed to Jones that I try it. My pole was a very 
light, one, only 8 ounces, and the bream made my little float 
bob around lively until he became worried down a little, 
We were about to go home satistied, when suddenly my float 
sank and away went my line at lightning speed, fairly heat- 
ing my reel in its whirl. Jones and Birdsong reeled in ex- 
citedly, supposing I had made fast to an alligator or some 
other hideous monster of the deep, and both sat silent and 
awe-stricken, intently watching my trembling limbs and 
quivering pole, ’ 
‘his monster was a black bass which I finally succeded in 
landing after about forty minutes of hard sport. He was 
374 inches long from tip of nose to tip of fail, measured in 
circurmference at girth 294 inches, and weighed 284 pounds. 
J have in a rough way preserved his head, and have taken 
the liberty of sending it to you by express, for the inspec- 
tioa of any that may doubt the veracity of this statement. 
Having no preservatives with me at the time. I was obliged 
to hang it oul in the sun todry, and it is badly shrunk and 
withered, but it will give you an idea of the size which he 
must-have been. ' 
Now, if any of our Northern friends can beat this record 
of five and a half hours, which footed up 128 pounds of 
black bass and pickerel, please let us know and we will try 
again, but will not ugree to catch another black bass weigh- 
ing 284 pounds, for it is the largest one I have ever seen, 
” 
and I had no idea that they ever grew to beso large, His 
flesh was sweet and delicious, and seemed to have retained 
all the fine flavors of the younger black bass. This fish 
was laken in about 22 feet of water with the minnow, about 
12 feet from surface of water when hooked. He made a 
straight shoot for the center of the lake, and it was with 
the greatest trouble and care that I succeeded in getting him 
toward shore. He did not show himself above the surface 
at any time, and when finally pulled to the boat he came 
with his mouth full open and to all appearances dead, and 
after being landed I think he made but one fiop. 
H. W. Ross. 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. 
THE BROOK TROUT. 
BHAUTIFUL child of the fountain stream! 
Thou seemest Horn of a naiad’s dream, 
Child of the water and child of the light, 
Shining in rainbow colors bright. 
Dissolved from the flashing sunbeams sent 
Down into thy erystal element— 
Resplendent in mantle of silvery fold, 
Sparkling with rubies and pearls and gold! 
Not in coralline depths of tropical seas 
Do fishes glitter in hues like these, 
Nor winged forms of the burning zone 
Th dyes more gorgeous than thine own— 
Of all the eveatuves of wave or air 
The most alluring and most fair! 
Roaming mid Nature’s loy’liest scenes, 
Through meadows, glades and wild ravines; 
In clear, deep races, where mirrored lie 
The feathery clouds and azure sky; 
Where the cataract leaps with 1mpetuous might 
Like molten emerald down the height, 
And white and soft as the wild swan’s throat 
On the basin’s margin the foam-drifts float, 
Or dancing and whirling the snowy spray, 
To the rippling musieé glides away, 
Loitering under the grassy eaves, 
Hiding under the lily leaves, 
*Neath mossy boulder and shelving stone, 
And trunks by tempests overthrown; 
By gnarled roots and boughs concealed, 
Tn odorous wood and flowery field: 
Basking lazily in the sun, 
Leaping at insects bright and dun; 
Sporting the shining gravel in; 
Darting swift as a javelin! 
In and out; now here, now there, 
A gleam of sunlight everywhere; 
Shunning with instinet quick and sure 
All things tainted or impure; 
Started with violent affright 
If sudden danger meet thy sight, 
Or but a shadow or motion rude 
Disturb thy wonted solitude. 
Beautiful nymph of the fountain streant] 
So long as its sparkling waters gleam, 
Or darksome flow where the shadows slant 
Be fair Montsweag thy favorite haunt, 
That ardent lovers, each blooming year, 
May seek and softly woo thee here, 
Thine are the roseate summer hours, 
For thee the fountains, dews and showers, 
When the earth is smiling, and woods and leas 
Ave yocal with sweetest melodies, 
And myriad bright, ephemeral things 
Skip o’er the waters on gauzy wings— 
When nature all is warm and rife 
With happy, sportive, bounding life, 
But ah! when cease the founts to flow, 
When for the showers falls the snow, 
When the tender flowers die, and still 
Is the insects’ hum and song birds’ tril— 
Bleeping under the fleecy folds, 
With lilies, pinks and marigolds, 
Thou liest, in icy fetters bound, 
Til the brooks shall melt anew to sound 
And gentle zephyrs and vernal rain 
Wake thee and them to life again! 
By THE BROOKSIDE, WiscAssEer, Me. B. F.S. 
BASS FISHING 
Hadiior Forest and Stream: 
Mrs. Partington remarked that comparisons are ‘‘odorous,” 
and having noticed in your issue of July 7, the reports from 
Cuttyhunk, I cannot refrain from giving you some reliable 
data regarding bass fishing near the mouth of the St. Johns 
River. On several occasions I have referred to the sport 
obtainable during July and August in this section, and as 
evidence that I did not exaggerate, I will append a few 
scores made by friends within one month. 
My friend General Ledwith commenced fishing on July 9, 
and his score is as follows, the fish beg channsl hass: July 
9, 8; July 11, 8; July 14, 5; July 16, 3; July 20, 12; July 23, 
9; July 2%, 11; Aug. 2, 12; Aug 8, 11; Aug. 6, 12; Aug. 9, 
3; Aug. 10,3. Total 94, Smallest, 20 pounds; largest, 46 
Ibs. Average, 26 pounds; aggregate 2,444 pounds. 
On Aug, 4, my friend Mr. Marrin and party fished trom 
one bout with fullowing result, the fish being channel bass; 
IN THE ST. JOHNS. 
Mr. Marrin 8, Mrs. Marrin 6, Miss Thornton 5, Miss Palmer 
4, Mr. T. W. Palmer 4. Total 82, Average weight, 82 
pounds; total weight, 1,024 pounds. 
Aug 8—Mr. Marrin, 3 channel bass; Mrs. Marrin, 2; Mr. 
Thornton, 4; Miss Palmer, 2; Miss Barnard, 2. Total for 
boat, 13; average weight, 35 pounds; aggregate weight, 405 
pounds, ’ 
Aug. 9—Mr. Marrin, 7 channelbass; Mr. Palmer, 2; Mrs. 
Marrin, 1. Total for boat, 10; average weight, 34 pounds; 
aggregate weight, 340 pounds. 4 
My friend Mr, Wall and boatman fished two days, with 
followivg result: Aug. 5—Mr. Wall, 8 channel bass; Boat- 
man, 12; Aug. 6—Mr. Wall, 18. Total, 33; average weight, 
30 pounds; aggregate weight, 993 pounds. 
My frieud, Mr. H, M. Pryor, visited the Back Channel and 
Mile Point to fish for turpon, and as a side amusement he en- 
gaged in bass fishing with the following result: July 20, vi 
channel bass; Aug, 5, 8; Aug, 6, 11; Aug, 7, 17; Aug. 8, 3. 
Total, 36; average, 31 pounds; aggregate, 1,147 pounds. Mr. 
P, informed me that Mr. Sullivan, of this city, fished near 
him on the 5th, 6th and 8th, and captured 20 channel bass, 
averaging 80 pounds: aggregate, 600 pounds. 
On Aug, 7 George Degolia and Hartley Williams landed 
12 channel bass; average weight, 30 pounds; aggregate 
weight, 360 pounds, 
My friends, Cols. Forbes and Hart, fished with rods and 
reels, with the follwing result: Ool. Forbes—Aug. 8, 3 
channel bass; Aug, 9, 4 channel bass. Smallest, 25 pounds; 
average, 30 pounds; aggregate weight, 210 pounds. Col. 
Hari—Aug. 8, 1 channel bass; lost 4 by tackle breaking; Aug. 
9, 8 channel bass. Average, 30 pounds; ageregate weight, 
120 pounds, 
Col Forbes informed me that on the 9th he examined over 
100 channel bass that had been captured during the day and 
that the smallest weighed 24 pounds. Taking the aggregate 
we find these parties captured 251 fish; average weight about 
30 pounds; total weight 7,340 pounds, or over three tons and 
and a third. 
Bass visiting this river during July, August and Septem- 
ber range from 20 to 45 pounds. We are or the opinion that 
some of your Cuttyhunkers msy visit this section with ad- 
vantage, By taking the mail train from New York early in 
the morning they would reach this city the next day at 12:3) 
P, M. By taking steamboat at 8 P. M. they would arrive 
at Mayport at 6 P. M., orin about forty hours from New 
York. By steamship from New York to Savannah or 
Fernandina they would arrive in this, city in from 65 
to 85 hours. Cost of boatman and bait $2.50 per day; 
boarding, with good tuble and fair beds at Burough’s 
Hotel, Mayport, or at Gilbert’s, at Pilot Town, $10 
per weck. If fishermen are desirous of paddling their own 
canoes, Whitehall boats can be hired at Jones’s boatyard in 
this city at $1 per day. AL Prusco. 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 9, 1884. 
MONSTERS OF FLORIDA WATERS. 
Editor Horest and Stream: 
As one of your Correspondents appears anxious to secure 
some information regarding the pleasures and disappoint- 
ments of salt-water fishing, 1 will favor him with some of 
my experiences. 
Some years since the steamer Lizzie Baker was wrecked in 
the north channel at the mouth of the St. Johns River. 
Within a short period but little of her was left except the 
bottom, boiler, engine and the walking-beam frame. Some 
months after she was wrecked, G., B., “Al Fresco” and a 
representative of the colored persuasion proceeded to the 
wieck for the purpose of capturing sheepshead and channel 
bass. B. was provided with 600 feet of 72-thread cable laid 
cotton line. He used a piece of a pine board for a float, and 
allowed his line to float seaward with the ebb tide until the 
float was some 400 feet astern. The float disappeared, B, 
yanked, but felt no fishy response. I advised to haul in his 
line, and he exclaimed, ‘I have hooked bim,.” As soon as 
the line tightened the fish started up stream, and B. hastily 
hauled in slack line. When the slack was all hauled in, B. 
attempted to arrest the onward progress of the fish, but failed, 
and the Fifteenth Amendment joined in the fray, but the fish 
kept on its way, and G, lent a hand At the time I was a 
cripple, seated in the stern of the boat and could merely 
make suggestions. After the fish had passed some distance 
up stream, 1 noticed the float near the boat, and I suggested 
that No, 15 should seizeit. He did so, and held on like death 
to a defunct darky, but his end of the line parted. The 
three bent on the other end of the line, and after a half hour’s 
hard struggle they brought the unknown to a point beneath 
the boat. As the question was, ‘‘What is it,” they pulled 
away, and there appeared at the side of the boat the end of 
a saw belonging to a sawfish fully sixteen feet in length. As 
we were in a Jight' clinker-built boat, the three deemed dis- 
eretion the better part of valor, and instantly gave the fish 
slack line. I requested them to hand me the Jine, the Fif- 
teenth Amendment to cut the painter, and B. and G. to man 
the oars and pull away from the wreck and up stream. B, 
objected to the loss of his painter, and as a consequence the 
boat was pulled to the wreck and the painter untied, The 
fish made a sudden dart for the machinery, and the line 
fouled and paried. . 
Last summer I was fishing for channel bass with a hand 
line at Mile Point, and was rewarded with a iusty bite. I 
soon found that I had hooked an elephant, and from its mo- 
tions I could not determine what was at the other end. 
After a long tussle I brought the game to the surface, and 
with a strong steel gaff and the line I landed in the cockpit 
of the boat a loggerhead turtle weighing ninety-five pounds, 
As soon as the turtle landed I left the cockpit, for 1 instantly 
discovered that there was room for but one. After the 
crawler had quieted down I put him in harness and resumed 
my fishing. 
Two years since I was fishing at Mile Point, and during 
the forenoon I captured six bass, from twenty-two to forty 
pounds. To keep the fish alive I tied them with short, 
stout cords and allowed them to swim by the side of the 
boat. I retired disgusted, for all I had left was six bass 
heads. Sharks had appropriated all the rest. 
A short time after this experience I was fishing at the 
same place, with MeMullen as my boatman, I was after bass 
and obtained a bite. I yanked and found something more 
at the other end than 1 had bargained for, After a lon 
fight I brought to the surface a shark, which I had hooke 
iu the forward fin. I told Mac to strike hira with the grains, 
He complied, and struck him in the head, but the grains did 
not enter. Instantly the fish turned on its side, rushed at 
and seized the bow of the boat and tore off the false stem, 
Resolved that the brute should die and that brute force 
should yield to tact, I determined to tire out the fish, Atter 
a fight of three hours the shark was beached on the mud in 
shallow water, | plunged the grains in his back, and with 
the fishing line and line attached to the grains we hauled the 
capture into shallow water and I dispatched him with a fish 
knife. He measured nine feet in length, and was played 
with a bass line and a Job Johnston’s hook. 
On one occasion last summer I anchored at Mile Point, 
and engaged in tarpon fishing, and in a short time landed © 
four sharks, each from six to seven feet in length. Ati P. 
M., I had two lines out, one of my floats disappeared, and I 
hooked a shark. I commenced playing bim, and very soon 
float No. 2 went under, and to my disgust lL ascertamed that 
I had a brace of sharks to conquer. 1 gave No. 2 four hun- 
dred feet of line, and allowed him to circumnavigate until T 
dispatched No.1. Disgusted with this description of fishing, 
linstructed my Fifteenth Amendment associate to haul in 
the shark, and when he neared the boat 1 despatched him 
with my rifle, and we found himto measure seven feet. 
After a long fight between No, 2 and my Filteenth Amend: 
iment, ihe monster was favored with three rifle balls. He 
