ber of fish 6, average weight 29 pounds 10 ounces; total 
weight 178 pounds. 
On Monday, 8th, Tuesday, 9th, and Wednesday, 10th, Mr. 
H. A, Pryor engaged in tarpon fishing in the Back Channel, 
near Dames Light, and asa side amusement, to while away 
the time, he devoted a short time cach day to bass fishing. 
On Monday he landed 4; Tuesday, 15: Wednesday, 5; total, 
24; aggregate weight, 744 pounds. 
Since the preceding was penned I haye received a short 
communication from my friend Dr, Quackenbush, of May- 
port, in which he says, ‘Was down Saturday on the South 
Beach in front of Miles Cottage [about three miles south of 
Mayport], and fished in the surf and captured eight large 
bass inside of 40 minutes. One of them would weigh over 
40 pounds; and as I pot him in the last row of breakers, and 
in sieht, a shark captured the tail end, and followed him 
until the water became so shallow that his back fin was 
entirely out of water. Shark not extra large, not over 8 feet 
long.” 
This simply goes to show that fishing is good along the 
beach, as well asin the river. Our fishing is something re- 
markable and should be known and utilized. 
Large scores are made daily, but I merely refer to those 
made by my friends. In May and June the fish are small, 
and will average about twenty pounds. In latter part of 
July, August, September and a portion of October they will 
average about thirty pounds, The fishing season continues 
about five months, but the best fishing appears to be in last 
week of August and the first two weeks of September. The 
bait used is mullet und hard-backed crabs. Bass are gener- 
ally captured on the last of the ebb, slack water and the 
young flood, but the enthusiastic and patient fisherman will 
be rewarded with bites at other stages of tide. The privilege 
of capturing our gamy channel bass costs noihing, and our 
fishing grounds are easily and eheaply reached trom New 
York, and it is surprising that the lovers of piscatorial sport 
do not tuke advantage of our unrivalled fishing. 
AL FREsco. 
JACKSONVILLE, Wla., Sept. 9, 1884. 
HOW A TROUT TAKES THE FLY. 
Aditor Forest and Stream: 
In your issue of Aug. 7, “EF. W. A. C.,” in speaking of trout 
taking the bait by means of the tail, says he hooked a trout 
under the tail fin, and thereforethe question of ‘‘tail bait” is 
conclusively settled, and he claims the honor of being the for- 
tunate discoverer of the ‘popular mystery.” Now really I dis- 
like to disappoint ‘‘F. W. A. C.,” but I always like to hear two 
sides of a question in order that it nay be sifted. I remember 
in the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, I hooked to my cer- 
tain knowledge three fish—two common perch and one catfish 
—unnaturally, yet I claim no honor, and adyalice no new and 
startling theory in connection with the modus operandi of a 
fish enjoying, contrary to Martin Luther, its “diet of worms.” 
In one of the trout streams of the Allegheny Mountains, in 
1883, [remember of having hooked a brook trout in the dorsal 
fin, yet I feel humbly confident that fish did net attempt to 
take his bait with his dorsal fin, or in fact in any other way 
than the natural way, and by natural [ of course mean by the 
mouth, 
I have for many years taken a lively interest in studying 
the brook trout, and after careful observations from not only 
my own eyes, but from those of others who were with me, 
and who agree with me. lam positive the brook trout does 
not take the fly or worm with any artificial assistance’ from 
the tail. It is the lightning-lke rapidity of motion in the 
trout when feeding which induces some to believe in the tail 
theory. Let the observer look-closely wheu the trout strikes 
for the worm or fly, and he will in all probability see that, as 
he nears the book, he does actually “swish” his tail; but it is 
evidently intended to check his onward motion and at the 
sane time to wheel him to the right or left, though I believe 
generally the latter, as he apparently in almost every case 
has a tendency to wheel im that direction, which, of course, 
would haye him strike for the bait a few points to the right 
of it. Cc, A. RB. 
PrrrsauRGH, Pa, 
Bass NEAR Hartrrorp.—Hartford, Conn., Sept. 9.—Last 
week I had the pleasure of witnessing the capture of two 
large bass on a mountain pond not more than thirty miles 
from our city. Mr. R. 8. Gladwin, one of our best anglers, 
aud myself were fishing from a boat with all kinds of con- 
ceivable bait, to cater to the taste of the fastidious bass, and 
haying some good sport, when Mr, G. had a tremendous tug 
at his 7-ounce rod, and after a hard fought battle, 
secured a 44-pound fish. He took an ignoble earth worm. 
Our boat claimed the honors for that day, but on the next, 
Capt, Andrews anchored near us and secured a fine 5+-pound 
bass on an 8-ounce rod. This one had a taste for a green 
king frog, and took him out some 120 feet before he stopped 
to make a meal of him. Both fish were hooked slightly and 
fought magnificently, breaking the water frequently, The 
rods were of Bethabara, of Capt. Andrews make, 84 feet long. 
Sportsmen who desire to try our mountain ponds this fall 
will be given any information desired, by—ARSENIKOS. 
Brack BAss In Sant WaAtTaR.—A boy fishing at the mouth 
vf the canal in the Hackensack River, on Wednesday even- 
ing, caught a black bass weighing about half a pound. The 
lad was fishing for perch in salt water and was using shrimp 
for bait, This is the firsh black bass ever Known to: have 
been taken from salt. water by hook and line, although both 
large and small mouth bass are frequently found in the nets 
in the bay during the fall.—Newark (NV. J.) Call, Sept. 14. 
A Pavan ReAsrization,—Chicago, [llL, Sept. 8, 1884.— 
Editor Forest and Stream: A recent issue of the Buffalo 
Times says: “An amateur fisherman of Milwaukee was 
drowned while hauling up a realization of one of his bi 
lies.” It seemed so mighty apt and timely that I thought I’d 
forward it and let you laugh, too.—Law YANDERPOBL. 
Fuy-Castmye av Borrato.—We gave the result of the 
contest in single-handed fly-casting, which closed the shoot- 
ing tournament of the New York State Sportsmen’s Asso- 
Glation at Buffalo, in our last issue. Asif has been ayer- 
looked by some of our readers, we will refer them to our 
issue of Sept. 11, page 132, middle of third column, 
Lares WaiTHrrsH.—What we believe to be the largest 
whitefish, Coregonus dbus, lay on Mr, Blackford’s stand in 
Fulton Market, last Saturday, and weighed twenty and one- 
half pounds, It was shipped from Westfield, Chataugna 
county, N. Y., and probably came from Lake Erie, which is 
only a mile or two from that place, 
Back ¥YROM THE Bass Hiystum.—My successin Canada, 
black bass fishing, has been unparalleled. ‘‘Truthful James” 
and [ come liome covered with glory, Wefound the elysium 
of perennial bass,—WawaAyaNnDA, 
M. 
FOREST AND STREA 
Hishculture, 
THE PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION. 
a Pennsylvania Commissioners of Fisheries reorganized 
at Harrisburg on Sept. 9. Mr, John Gay, of Greensbuie, 
was elected president, Mr, H. H. Derr, of Wilkesbarre, record- 
ing secretary, and Mr. James Duffy, of Marietta, treasurer. 
Mr, A. M. Spangler, of Philadelphia, was elected correspond- 
ing secretary, and the president and A, Masinnius, of Monroe 
county, and August Duncan, of Chambersburg, were made the 
executiye committee. Col. James Worrall, of Harrisburg, 
was continued as actuary. Messrs. Maginnius and Derr were 
appointed a committee to prepare for presentation to the 
next Legislature amendments to need laws in relation to 
the extirpation of fish baskets and other illegal ways of taking 
fish; also a proposal to change the time for catching trout te 
the 15th of April; defining accurately what shall be the sige of 
mesh for shad nets in the Delaware River, And making a 
change in the law teferring to the shad in both the Juniata 
and Susquehanna rivers, 
Tt was considered that the Pacific coast salmon could not be 
successfully raised in Hastern xivers, the temperature thereof 
being too warm, 
A committes was constituted for the breaking up of fish 
baskets and weirs, each member to make a report from their 
localities regarding the extent of this illegal fishing. A prop- 
osition was made to secure a quantity of wall-eyed pike for 
stocking the tributaries of the Ohio and Delaware Fa 
oMo. 
PRESENT CONDITION AND FUTURE PROS- 
PECTS OF THE OYSTER INDUSTRY. 
{A paper read before the American Visheultural Association. 
BY LINUT, FRANCIS WINSLOW, U, 8. N, 
I beg that you will bear in mind that in a consideration of 
the oyster industry, present or future, there is opened to 
us so wide a field for investigation thatit is hardly possible in 
afew minutes to treat the subject fully or thoroughly, I 
Shall not attempt to go into minnte details, but confine myself 
to the general principles which, in my opinion, govern siiccess- 
ful oyste reulture. ; 
At the last census, the oyster industry of the United States 
employed nearly 53,000 persons and over $10,500,000 of capital. 
Its production amounted to more than 29,600,000 bushels of 
oysters, yalued at about $13,000,000. While these Hgtires are 
net of astonishing magnitude when compared with those of 
many of the industries of the country, they indicate, never= 
theless, a gratifying yolume of business, and when compared 
with the returns from the other fisheries they show the oyster 
industry to be of more importanée than any. 
I learn from Professor Goode’s paper read at one of the con- 
ferences held in Connection with the late London Exhibition, 
that the entire fishing interest of the country employs 181,426 
persons and nearly $38,000,000 of capital, and produces $43,000-, 
00@ of products. Thus itisseenthat the oyster industry em- 
ploys nearly one-third of the persons, more tian one-fourth of 
the capital, and produces over Gne-third of the income. Its 
product is about six tintes as great as that of the whale, seal, 
the produ¢t Of all the other fiaheries put together. Surely such 
an industry is well worth care and preservation. The question 
is, what degree of care does it receive; is its preservation in 
any way endangered? 
The question is of considerable moment, but that I need not 
impress upon you, Its full discussion would occupy more time 
than either youor I have just now to spare forit. I shall, 
therefore, only touch upon a few of the more important points 
and salient features, 
Oysters are found along the whole coast of the United 
States from Maine to the Rio Grande, and a species also ex- 
ists on the northwest coast. But notwithstanding this wide 
distribution, pointing out the possibilities of the future, the 
greater partof the fishery and business is confined to the 
Chesapeake region; that is, tothe States of Maryland and Vir- 
nia. 
Of the 53,000 persons employed, nearly 40,000 belotig to 
those States; and of the $10,500,000 of Papal over $7,000,000 
is credited to them, while of the 22,000,000 bushels of oysters, 
aore than 17,000,000 come from Chesapeake Bay and its tribu- 
aries. 
That is four-fifths of thé laborers, seven-tenths of the 
capital, and considerably more than three-fourths of the pro- 
duct shuld properly be assigned to the Chesapeake region, 
Eyidently, then, any consideration of the oyster industry must 
be to a great oxtent a consideration of the industry as it exists 
inthe bay. Whatever other localities may produée, hbwéver 
valuable systems and methods in use in other States may be, 
whatever superiority of means of intelligence other fishermen 
may possess, they have not yet succeeded in wresting the 
trade from the Maryland and Wareig people. Superiority in 
intelligence, means, systems and crops, are but as so many 
drops ih the bucket when compared with the natural advyan- 
tages offered by the Chesapeake and enjoyed by those who 
fish in her waters, 
The present condition of the Chesapeake fishery is then, 
practically, the condition of the whole industry, and the 
future prospects of the whole may be largely predicated upon 
the prospect in Maryland and Virginia. What is that condi- 
tion? What are those prospects? Generally speaking, the 
condition is bad; the prospect worse, Itis stated by many 
persons of good judgment and sufficient Inowledge to enable 
them to speak with authority, that not-only has the number 
of oysters on the great natural beds diminished very mutch of 
late, especially during the last five years, but it is stated by 
one of the most eminent and experienced observers and stt- 
dents of this question, Dr. William K. Brooks, of the Johns 
Hopkins : University, chairman of the Maryland Oyster Com- 
mission, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, 
that the oyster property of the State isin imminent danger of 
complete destruction, From time to time during the last de- 
cade notes of warniug have been sounded, but unfortunately, 
have not been heeded. Only within the last few years has 
the public awakened to the gravity of the situation and the 
necessity of taking steps to avert the threatened eyil, 
The vague feeling of alarm which seized the oystermen as 
they discovered toat the apparently exhaustless beds were no 
longer yielding their former returns, became sufficiently con- 
centrated two years ago to calise the appomtment, by the 
State of Maryland, of a commission to investigate the condi- 
tion of the whole oyster industry. The rapid deterioration, 
both in size and quality of the oysters offered in the Baltimore 
markets, together with the frequent failure of the supply 
altogether, roused the packers of the city to set in motion 
under their own auspices, an entirely separate investigation. 
The expansion of the puerilla-like depredations of the dredg- 
ing vessels upon the beds reserved to the tongers, into lirst, a 
systematic onslaught of periodic occurrence; and second, into 
open, defiant and serions warfare with, not only the tongers, 
but also the civil, military and nayal forces of Virginia and 
Maryland, lead to a more thorough and thoughtful discussion 
of the whole oyster subject, by both press and people. The 
results of the discussions and investigations are not hecessary 
that I should review them in detail. It will suffice if [mention 
but a few of the many indications of deterioration. 
. The report of the commission created by Maryland and Vir- 
ginia in 1858 shows that the production ot the Chesapeake 
was, in that year, 21,500,000 bushels, Possibly, says a writer 
in Lippineotls Magazine, tt wentas high as 25,000,000,000 bush- 
els. It these figures are trustworthy, in spite of the improye- 
ments in implements, boats and general apparatus of the fish- 
or menhaden fisheries, and considerably more than one-half of | 
(Szrr. i8, 1884 ~ 
ery. fhe production has fallen off rather than increased during 
the last fifteen years. Indeed, the testimony of all the oyster- 
men is to the same effeet. According to them, from three to 
seven times as Many oysters could haye been taken twenty 
years agoas at present, and a larger number actually were 
taken, some five years back. I am inclined to doubt the accu- 
racy of the figures quoted for 1868. I am father of the im- 
pression that the yield at that timewas considerably less than 
itisnow. Possibly not half so great, But there are very safe 
indications of a decrease within the last few years, even if the 
yield was an absolutely essential factor in determining the con- 
dition of the beds, But it is not essential by any means. An 
abnormally large production is quite as alarming, if not more 
80, than an abnormally small one, paradoxical as the state- 
ment may seem. j ‘ ‘ ¢ : 
According to Mx, Edmunds, the gentleman who iivestigated 
the condition of the Chesapeake beds for the census, idt only 
has the trade in raw oysters been greatly Hamipéred, but, dur- 
ing the year of 1882, the packers were frequently conipelled 
to quit steaming oysters on accotint of a deficiency in the sup- 
ply. My own investigation in 1888 confirin this statement. 
One of the most prominent and well-known Baltimore packers 
stated to me that he was compelled to take stock at 25 cents 
per bushel which three years back he could have purchased at 
5 or 10 cents per bushel, and five years back would not have 
had at any price at all, 
I might continue quoting opinions indefinitely with the same 
result, but the decision of the matter is based upon sounder 
postulates than opinions. 
In 1878-79 1 made an examination of certain beds of the 
Chesapeake and found them to be in a much impaired condi- 
tion, Comparing my results with the results obtained by 
bimself in 1883, Dr, Brooks states that the beds have decreased 
in yalue more than 89 per cent. This statement is based upon 
the following data: My examination in 1878-9 showed that in 
Tangier Sound there was about one oyster to every 2,3 square 
yards, Dr. Brooks, after examining the whole of the Mary 
Jand beds, states that in 1888 there was only one oyster to 
each 4,2 square yards. That is, the deterioration equalled 
nearly 40 per cent, 
In 1876 Mr, Otto Lugger visited most of the Chesapeake beds 
and measured the quantity of shells and oysters obtained by 
dredging. He found 3.7 bushels of oysters for each bushel of 
shells. , 
Tn 1879 T wiade an exAmination of seventeen beds and found 
1.9 bushels of oysters for each bushel of shells, “A decrease of 
1,8 bushels in three years; ms 
In 1882 Dr; Brooks found 1,8 bushels to each biishel of ahells; 
a decrease of 0.5 bushelsin three years, showing that the deter- 
jeration Was continuous. If is quite evident that an intrease 
in the nnmber of shells.and a decrease in the number of oys+ 
ters obtained at each haul of the dredge, is an indication of 
impairment, and combining that indication with the decréass 
in the number to the square yard, as shown by my own and 
Dr. Brooks’s measurements, the impoverishment of the Heds 
is apparent to the most superficial pbseryer, Bub other byi= 
dence is not wanting. The principal test of the decredse of & 
commodity is the mcrease in its price; and it is well known 
among all oyster dealers of this region that oysters have been 
not only much more difficult to obtain, but much more expen- 
sive than they were a few years back. Fully twice and three 
times as man are now paid per bushel as was customary ten 
and fifteen years ago, 
Tn 1861, oysters in the Chesapeake were worth, according to 
the writer in Lippincott’s whom I have already quoted, 15 and 
20 cents per bushel, In 1868, they had adyanced to 25 and 30 
cents. 187), the average price of the crop of 17,000,000 from 
Maryland and Virginia was over 40 cents per bushel, and at 
the present time it is nearer 50 cents than 40, and occasionally 
ismuch higher, And this in¢rease in price is not wholly due 
to increase i demand, There has been an actual diminution 
in thé number of oysters prodticed. The number of oysters 
passing through the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, the con- 
netting link between Chesapeake and Delaware hays, is 4 
pretty fair indication af the prodtction of the Chesapeake 
beds: Tn 1870, in round numbers, 940,000 bushels passed 
through. In 1883, only 550,000, That is, the reduction was 
about forty per cent. of the amount in 1879, And it is worthy 
of notice how close this restilt agrees with Dr. Brooks’s stalte= 
ment, that the dyster beds had fallen off thirfy-nine per cent 
in value; since the éxaminatiin niade by niyself in 1879. é 
The facts I have recited certainly should be sufficient to con- 
vince any one that the oyster industry in the Chesapeake is m 
avery bad way; and, asI have explained, the condition of 
the Chesapeake fishery is yirtually the condition of the whole. 
In other words, the present offers but little encouragement, 
Does the future offer more? 
A correct answer to the question necessitates the examina- 
tion of the.seyeral causes which may have operated in bring- 
jig abotit the present Staté of things: W86 initish detide upon 
the agency which has been at work, and haviiig dischvered 
it, consider how it can be precluded from further operation, 
It may be confidently asserted that no natural canse has had 
any considerable deleterious influence. 
The natural influences and conditions to which the oysters 
were exposed in the past and under which they increased and 
multiplied so greatly, have in no way changed. ‘Temperature 
and density of the water haye been no more yarious than in 
the past. Channels and bottoms have remaitjed stable, Fac- 
tories and mills with their polluting excrement have not been 
erected, Organic lifeofany kind has neither inereased nor 
diminished to any noticeable extent. In fact, the environ- 
ment has remained exactly as it has always been—with one 
exception, Continnous and exhaustive fishery has sprung up 
with allits attendant evils, To that and to that alone is the 
condition of the beds due. The prophecy so often made is at 
last coming true. The demand has outgrown the stipply, and 
in the effort toward equalization the beds, the source of 
wealth, are fast becoming a total sacrifice, _ 
Allthe facts, all the opinions, all the evidence, was before 
the legislatures of the two States, and they did nothing he- 
yond building a few more police boats. The infinence of the 
oyster men was too strong to be overcome. They either 
would not or could not submit to aily restriction of their 
privileges, and the influence so strong in thé present is not 
likely to be diminished in the future, unless it is shown that it _ 
is for the best interest of the fishermen that a change of policy 
radical and entire, is absolutely necessary for the pieseryation 
of the industry. y : 
Look at the facts. The natural beds in the Chesapeake like 
the natural beds in the Northern States, are no longer capable 
of returning an adequatesupply. Whathas been done to rem- 
edy the evil? An increase of the police force! In other words, a 
more perfect restriction of the fishery—a more extensive di- 
minution of the supply. Surely, that is not what we want! 
We do not care to have a valuable food product diminished, 
That is no real remedy, What should be done is to tollow 
the course of the Northern States and endeavor, by artificial 
means, to cultivate the oyster and increase the productive area 
and supply, 
Task you but to look at the charts of the oyster beds ex- 
hibited in the fisheries section and you will see a marked dif. _ 
ference between the region north and south of the old Mason 
and Dixon line. Inthe northern portion the preponderance 
of the artificial over the natural beds is as marked as the re- 
verse in the southern portion. Years ago the natural beds of 
Long Island; Sound returned a sufficient supply to satisty the: 
demands of the consumers. Gradually those demands in- 
creased and with them the disposition toward the inordinate 
fishing of the beds, The natural consequence followed. The 
beds were overworked, became depleted, were exhausted. 
But the demand still existed and had to be satisfied. New 
beds were created; new methods introduced, and to-day Rhode 
(sland has some 10,000 and Connecticut some 100,000 acres a, — 
= 
+ 
