ae 
‘ 
Gen, 80, 1884.1 - FOREST AND STREAM. 268 
‘stones of the beach with boat cushions for mattress and pil- 
low; how we fished and caught many, but no large ones 
until the last day, when the writer held three 3-pounders 
ith his 9-ounce rod at one time and sayed two; how we 
ended an auburn-headed denizen of the isle; how we were 
cessitated to take ship with ungraceful alacrity by reason 
of the coming up of the first fair wind for three days that 
did not blow a gale; how we headed for home and were 
forced away along the eastern shore of the lake, and at dusk, 
beneath a threatening sky and heavy wind, ran in at Big 
Sandy Bay across a booming bar in time to escape a summer 
hurricane that might have ended our promising lives thus 
ignobly; how we found that we had entered into the shel- 
tering arms of the Life-saying Station (No. 1 Ninth District) 
before we knew it; how we lay that night between white 
sheets; how we took ship again at cock crowing, beat seven 
miles to windward against heavy sea until tired of wrestling 
longer, Wolo et Neptuno adwerso, we put about, ran before 
the wind and sought again the hayen of the station; how we 
Wacked across country by slow conveyance and took rail for 
plunged the grains into the next visitor, and in an instant it | flies andin a simple manner, He made the body of ordinary 
Was minus three of its tines. Such an accident is liable to | embroidery worsted, and wings from the feathers of the red 
ruffie the fisherman's temper. Becoming disgusted with | bird, bluebird, bluejay and white crane, Florida fish have 
ready-made grains, I employed a shipsmith, and he made me | not been educated, and will seize anything that moves, be it 
a tool that has “stood the racket.” In fishing in Northern | a bass fly, coachman, hackle, or a home-made bug unlike 
water the loss of an implement is of but little importance, } anything that exists in air or water, As yet but little prac- 
for if can be easily replaced. But when the sportsman takes | tical information has been gleaned with regard to the most 
a Florida trip he should be provided with tools that will not | suitable flies for Florida fishing, and there is a wide field for 
break. The breaking of a rod, grains or gaff, may seriously | experiment. For the benefit of the lovers of the angle, those 
interfere with the results of a fishing trip—more especially | who visit this State should publish their experience. 
when the sportsman is beyond the reach of blacksmiths and} Lrenr Bass Rops.—A Henshall rod will afford the expert 
rod menders. much amusement in the way of capturing black bass, sea 
I have simply and briefly referred to some of the more’ | trout and medium-sized crevalli and channel bass. In time 
common game fish of Florida, and of the many not referred | an adept may wind up the energies of a large sized channel 
to I shall merely give the names of a few: bass or ravallia, but when the feat is accomplished the fisher- 
Mudfish—Améa calva, man will be disposed to have a pull at his meerschaum, In 
Green pike—Hsoz americanus. the hands of Dr. Henshall these rods can accomplish 
Barracuda—Sphyrena picuda. wonders, but it is questionable if they will ever become 
Bonito—Sarda mediteranea. popular for Florida fishing, I own a split bamboo Henshall 
Yellowtail—Chloroscombrus chrysurus, rod, but I look upon it as a “‘thing of beauty and a joy for- 
Warmouth—Chenobrytus gulosus. ever,” The Henshall rod is a beautiful toy, and well 
Spotted bream—Lepomds punctatus, adapted to the capture of small fry, but not suitable for land- 
Blue bream—Lepomis palidus. ing heavy fish. In conclusion I would advise the fisherman 
Blackfish—Serranus atrarius. to supply himself with a heayy and strong sea bass rod, a 
Black grouper—Trisotropis brunneus. light bass red, and a 12-ounce 12-foot fly-rod. The two first 
Buller fish—Bodeanus punctatus. to be made of two joints, the first joint short and the second 
Gray snapper—Luijanus cavis, long. 
Sailors’ choice—Pomadasys fulvomaculatus, RvELs.—For Florida fishing the fisherman should provide 
Grunts—Diabasis elegans. himself with a lurge plain brass multiplying reel, carrying 
Porgy—Sparus erysops. 200 yards of 18-thread Cuttyhunk line. A reel with steel 
Drum—Pogonius chromis. pivots should be avoided, for the metal is liable to be injured 
Yellowtail—Seiena chryswra, by sult water. For show, and where fish are few and far 
Croaker—Micrepogon undulatus. between, an expensive reel will pass muster, but for Florida 
Whitings—Mentocirrus alburnus. fishing a useful implement is required and one that will 
Angel fish—Chetodipterus faber. stand rough usage. For light fishing a bass reel without 
Flounder—Paralychthys dentatus, click (costing $4.50) will be found very efficient. This reel 
That accomplished writer and experienced angler, Mr, §. | will receive 100 yards of 9-thread Cuttyhunk line. For fly- 
C, Clarke, remarks: ‘‘Nowhere in our broad country can | fishing I use reel No, 1, costing $3.50. 
the angler find a greater quantity of game, or more or better| As generally constructed, the spools of reels are too wide, 
sport, than on the coasts of Florida, In an experience of | and if the line is long, and the thumb of the left hand not 
more than fifty years as an angler, reaching from Canada to | freely used in distributing the line as it is recovered, it is apt 
Florida and from Massachusetts to Colorado, the writer has | to override, foul the pillars and stop the performance. When 
found no region where fish are so abundant as on this [east] | engaged in playing a heavy and active fish the angler has 
coast.” Of the fishing on the east coast, with the exception | enough to attend to without thumbing and distributing the 
of that at the mouth of the St. John’s River, St. Augustine | line. What is required for Florida fishing is a plain, strong 
and the Halifax River, I haye no personal knowledge. My | and cheap multiplying reel; the spool not to exceed one inch 
experience has been on the southwest coast, from Key West | and a half in width, and of sufficient depth to carry 200 
to Cedar Keys; and I can unhesitatingly assert that at most | yards of 18-thread Cuttyhunk line. A small increase in 
. |.points the water teems with fish in endless variety, For | diameter would compensate for loss of width, and the addi- 
over fifty years I haye wielded the rod, and have fished from | tional weight would not be very objectionable. I never 
the head of Lake Superior to the Gulf, and in my humble | could understand why the handles of reels are made round, 
opinion no section of the United States presents as many | unless it is to tire the muscles of the thumb and two fingers, 
attractions to the hand-liner or rodster as Florida, and to favor the slipping of the handle from the grip of the 
Tackim.—Northern fishing tackle houses advertise a| fisherman. For the capture of small fry, say up to fifteen 
Florida fit-out,” and it is possible that the advertisers may | pounds, a firm hold can be retained of a round handle, but 
haye experience in our fishing, and be competent to deter-| let the fisherman try conclusions with an active 40-pounder 
mine what is required; but I regret. to say that from what [| in a rapid tideway, and he will appreciate the fact that a 
have seen of these ‘‘fit-outs” they are based on theory and | reel-handle should not be too round nor tooshort. To retain 
not on practical experience. Hence I shall take the liberty | an easy and a firm hold of a reel-handle it should be made 
of tendering advice based on a long and varied experience in | squaré, and of sufficient length and thickness. If any of 
Florida fishing, your readers ever had a reel-handle to slip from their fingers 
- Rops.—IJn limine I would earnestly advise the visitor to | when playing a heavy fish, and received a whack over their 
Florida to let alone severely the abortion known as a trunk | knuckles, they will support my position and advocate a 
rod, for such an implement is unfit for any practical pur- | square-handled reel. 1 had better end my criticisms and 
pose. For Florida fishing the angler should be supplied | Suggestions or your readers will denounce me as a chronic 
with at least three rods. For our large fish a stout and | grumbler. AL FREsco, 
strong bass rod, from 8 to 9 feet long, is a necessity. Bass| JAcKsonviuue, Fla. 
rods, as generally constructed, have the second joint made SS EEE 
of ash, and as a rule it fractures at the upper ferrule. A + 
Aatuyal History, 
PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 
three-jointed rod is portable, but the greater the number of 
joints the weaker the rod and the greater the liability to 
fracture, I would advise the fisherman to supply himself 
with a two-joint bass rod, made of split bamboo, bethabara, 
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, 
a hey student of nature has to deal with some problems 
which seem to become more difficult of solution as the 
amount of knowledge bearing upon them is increased, or he 
greenheart, lancewood, Japanese cane or bamboo. First 
may find, as frequently happens, that increased knowledge 
Joint, 2 feet 2 inches, and the second joint 6 feet 4 inches, 
with banded ferrule and arched guides. I have used 
serves to show the incorrectness of a solution already arrived 
at. Both these statements may be made concerning the 
with great satisfaction a split bamboo rod, 8 feet 4 inches 
problem of drawing the line between the vegetable and 
long, two joints, weight 25 ounces, The best rod that 
animal kingdoms. A century ago this was thought to be a 
I have thus far used for heavy fishing was a rod made 
for me for tarpon fishing by B. F. Nicholls, of Boston. It 
very easy matter, and all the living organisms known in that 
day were given a place in the one kingdom or the other, 
consists of two joints, the first of lancewood and the second 
split bamboo. Although very powerful, this rod possesses 
with very little doubt as to the correctness of the classifica- 
tion, But later observers haye found that the standards of 
ome. 
Near by Stony Island lie others—Calf and Gallon islands. 
Mar away on the western horizon are the Duck Islands, the 
tiue and the ‘false ducks.” Bass can be taken in abundance 
ou any of their shores. To the east, off the shores of the 
Mainland, in Henderson Harbor and about Six Town Point, 
ave famous fishing grounds, It is safe to direct fishermen to 
this vicinity. It is surer ground than the widely-known 
‘Thousand Islands and of smaller compass. 
Guo. T. CLARK, 
OcToEER 20, 1884, 
FLORIDA AGAIN--IV. 
i EVIL FISH.—In my preyious remarks I merely re- 
ferred to a few of the more attractive fish of the State; 
those who can enjoy the capture of large ones, I would 
recommend to provide themselves with a lilly iron (harpoon), 
100 yards of half inch braided sash cord, and one or two 
ances similar to those used by whalemen. In ihe gulf off 
asota, Bay and more especially Charlotte Harbor, devil 
(Manta birostris) from fifteen to twenty feet in width, 
ll be seen cruising or sporting on the surface. If caution 
exercised they can be approached and harpooned. If 
larpooned, the performance will commence, and a cheap 
y secured. After the fish is somewhat exhausted he can 
tild be obtained on the boat, the fish started, the line tight- 
ed, and if it had not parted, the bits would have been 
ed out, When harpooned, these fish are apt to take a 
seaward, As the coast is very shallow, the ten fathom 
é being about forty miles from shore, and as the gulf is as 
[Tule as calm and smooth as a mill-pond, the ardent fisher- 
n would enjoy a tow in a twenty or twenty-five foot 
ae al provided there was a supply of food and water 
board. 
ARKS.—Blue, white, man-eater, sharp-nosed, hammer- 
aded and shovel-nosed sharks haunt the waters in endless 
bers in the channels, inlets and passes; and if heayy 
hing is desired, it can be enjoyed ad libitum, A shark 
ten to fifleen feet in length is a difficult antagonist to 
nage, The shark fisher should firmly plant in the sand 
1¢ beach a four or six-inch snubbing post. A large hook 
Id be baited with a fresh fish, or, what is better, a fish 
Dait that is somewhat tainted. With a boat the hook 
Ould be carried twenty or fifty yards from shore and 
Wwnh Overboard, Very soon a bite will be felt, and if the 
pr is rewarded with a lusty yank, the performance will 
mence and the utility of the snubbing-post discovered, 
Can proves a valuable addition, for it makes a service- 
float and materially retards the moyements of a captive. 
Ww Fise.—Another fish worthy of the notice of the ath- 
fishermen is the jew fish (Hpinephelus nigritus). They 
occasionally captured weighing four hundred pounds, 
in form and color resemble a black bass, They frequent 
holes and docks, and can be captured with a strong 
arge hook and mullet bait. These fish are not plenti- 
and if the fisherman is anxious to try conclusions with 
Bue should institute inquiries of residents regarding 
hhannis, 
sufficient elasticity. The prime consideration for heayy 
fishing in tuis State should be a powerful rod. When fish- 
ing for bass and grouper, a shark or ray may be hooked, and 
unless the rod possesses strength combined with elasticity, 
rod or tackle will be destroyed, To successfully play a large 
channel bass or cavalleo in a rapid tideway, a proper rod is a 
necessity- 
In this connection I must enter my protest against the 
common arrangement of solid reel-seats and reel-bands. 
The pocket of the reel-seat and the fixed band are usually 
placed toward the but. In playing a heavy fish for a length 
of time, the reel-band (when above the seat) is liable to work 
loose and an embarrassing condition arises. The pocket of 
the reel-seat and the fixed reel-band should be placed at 
upper portion of reel-seat and displacement of reel obviated. 
I speak out in meeting, for I have found myself in trouble 
by displacement of reel. 
Fiy-Rops.—To the fly-fisher Florida presents unequalled 
attractions, both for number and size of fish that will take 
the fly. As yet fly-fishing in the State is in its infancy, but 
it has been ascertained that fourteen distinct species of fish 
will take the feathery lure, and they are not mere finger- 
lings, but game fish of proportions that will test the art and 
tackle of rodsters. Fishermen visiting Florida should leaye 
their five and six-ounce rods at home and provide themselves 
with a ten or, what is better, a twelve-ounce rod twelve feet 
long. A ravallia, cayalleo or channel bass weighing from 
twelve to twenty pounds will test the strength of eyen a 
twelve-foot rod. 1 am prepared to admit that a large fish 
can be finished on an eight-ounce rod and will answer a good 
purpose when fish are few and far between, but when fish 
are plentiful the fisherman is not disposed to deyote an hour 
or more to the capture of an eight or ten-pounder. If the 
fisherman uses. an eight-ounce rod and hooksa ravallia, he 
will agree with the Rev. Mr. Prime that a twelve-ounce or 
even a grilse rod would not proye objectionable. To the 
expert 1 would say, provide a split bamboo, but if too ex- 
pensive, a bethabara, lancewood, or greenheart rod. I own 
a twelve-ounce twelve-foot greenheart, and I have found it 
very useful. Ordinary bass flies will answera good purpose, 
but the fly-fisher had better lay in an assortment of rather 
gaudy flies mounted on large-sized and strong hooks, and it 
would be found advantageous to have some of his flies 
mounted on fine steel wire, as ravallia and other fish are apt 
tocutagutsnood. One suceessful fly-fisher made his own 
classification used by their predecessors were in some cases 
wrong, and quite a number of organisms relegated by them 
to one kingdom are now known by more scientific standards 
to belong to the other. But while the naturalists of to-day 
have thus shown the errors of those who lived before them, 
they have by no means been able to solve the problem for 
themselves. The difficulties haye become greater and greater, 
as, by the aid of better instruments of discovery and obser- 
vation, new organisms have been brought to light. Indeed, 
it has been proposed by one of our ablest zoologists to form 
an intermediate kingdom in which may be placed all organ- 
isms of a doubtful character. 
To a casual observer it might seem remarkable that this 
should be so difficult a matter. And it is true that, in the 
case of the higher members of the two kingdoms, it is very 
easy to point out their differences. Take a horse and a tree, 
forexample. One would hardly think of making a compar- 
ison between them, they are so unlike. In size and form, 
the first characteristics to strike the eye, there is no resem- 
blance whateyer. It might next be observed that. the one 
moves about at will, has the power of locomotion, while the 
other remains fixed in one place, Then the horse is pos- 
sessed with the organs of sense—can see, heat, feel, taste 
and smell, and has the power of performing other functions 
connected with the possession of a nervous system, thinking, 
remembering, etc.—while the tree is incapable of perform- 
ing any of these functions. Again, the animal is provided 
with an internal cavity for the reception and digestion of 
solid food, while the food of the plant is wholly fluid or 
gaseous, and is not received into an internal cavity. These 
are differences which are apparent to the most casual ob- 
server. 
There are others which might be enumerated, such as 
differences in the chemical constituents of their bodies, 
differences in the foods by which they are nourished, etc., 
but these we may pass as being beyond the reach of easy ob- 
servation. But when we descend to the lower forms of life 
‘We cannot separate them by any of these distinctions. In 
the matter of size and form we find that many of the lower 
plauts, either in the earlier stages of their existence er when 
le s The last ready-made one I used was 
let tackle house in New York. I was fishing 
channel bass, and had several taken from the side 
at by large sharks. Watching my opportunity, I 
