32 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 5, 1885. 



iron or small stone. Melt and rob the cement well in, leave 

 a small streak of the cement over the crack or joint. For 

 mending a hole take a piece of canvas or boot leg large 

 enough to cover the hole with about one inch lap all around. 

 With a hot iron or stone smear over the patch with a good 

 coat of rubber cement, also smear around the edges of the 

 hole, then heat the patch quite hot and press it in place. 

 Then smear over the whole business with cement, usin^ the 

 hot iron or stone. The cement will harden in a short time, 

 when it will require no further looking after. This, of 

 course, is only for cases of emergencies. To fix a hole 

 permanently it should be cut out square or oblong with 

 slightly beveling edges, then neatly fit a piece of wood to 

 the hole, smear the edges of the piece as well as the edges 

 of the hole with rubber cement; have it quite warm, then 

 press the piece in place; if well doue it will neither come out 

 nor leak. "No canoeist's or angler's kit is complete without a 

 roll of rubber cement. It is mvltum in parw; try it. 



Californi an . 



THE MOST KILLING FLY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



My angling experience extending over a great many years 

 in John Brown's tract has been that the most killing flies are 

 the red ibis, the grizzly king and the Montreal, and in the 

 order named. I angled the last two weeks in August of 

 several years ago at Plumadore Pond, a few miles from 

 Malone. I had a, carefully selected stock of flies, including a 

 good many red ibis, which 1 found to be the only ones the 

 trout would take which, as they had a choice, was for me a 

 very fortunate one, as I had no difficulty in pleasing their 

 tastes when my red ibis flies were worn out, by substituting 

 red flannel, which was just as killing as the feathers. 



The B, A. G. is an old friend with a new jacket and no 

 doubt a good fly. At any rate a Utica indorsement is pretty 

 good evidence of its killing qualities. Millard. 



Bear Creek. Wy., Jan. 27, 1885. 



Editor Forest and /Stream: 



"Sport's" interesting letter on the best fly for the Colorado 

 trout was 1he first thins 1 that attracted my attention on open- 

 ing the last Forest and Stream. The fly "Sport" asks me 

 to try on Salmo virginialis is exactly like one I have used a 

 good deal, except that his fly from his description has no 

 wings, but is a hackle. The fly is called by the dealer from 

 whom I get it the black prince, and it has black wings, 

 black hackle, black body with gold twist and a scarlet tail. 

 In referring to my record of trout caught, I tiud that in the 

 "last five season's fishing thirteen per cent, of the trout caught 

 were caught with the black prince, as against fourteen per 

 cent by the black hackle with peacock body, and fifty-three 

 per cent, by the coachman, while all other flies (and a very 

 long list it is) caught the remaining twenty per cent. 

 "Sport's" experience"with the coachman is that of every one 

 who has fished for these trout that I have seen. The coach- 

 man is by far the best fly for the trout in question, no other 

 flies can compare with it. Ctrtonyx. 



Fort Stanton, New Mexico. 



SUNAPEE LAKE. 



IN the autumn of 1882, Dr. I. Duncau Quackenbos, of 

 New York, leased to the Fish Commissioners of New 

 Hampshire, lor twenty years, a portion of land bordering 

 on the largest stream that enters Sunapee Lake in New 

 Hampshire, and on the lake shore, for the purpose of estab- 

 lishing a hatching house for brook trout. Sunapee Lake 

 is the natural home of the Salmo fontinalis, specimens having 

 been taken from its waters that emulate the giants of the 

 Raneseley chain. After the first fall rains, schools of fish 

 running from two to nine pounds in weight formerly rose 

 from the icy depths of the lake and made their way into the 

 shallow streams to spawn ; but it is a piece of neighborhood 

 lore that not one of these monarchs of their race ever found 

 its way back to the deep blue waters. The spear, the club, 

 the net, the rifle, and the revolver, were freely used by 

 poachers and pot-hunters, whose perverted appetites found 

 savory eating in helpless, flavorless fish, exhausted by 

 procreation. But this is all changed now, thanks to the 

 praiseworthy efforts of Col. Elliot B. Hodge, our accomplished 

 Fish Commissioner, the uncompromising foe of snarers of 

 grouse and hunters for market. From Canada to the Isles 

 of Shoals his name is a terror to these gentry, who never 

 know how or when he will strike. And yet the Colonel in 

 his * -hours of ease" is as tender as a woman, as devoted a 

 lover of Dame Juliana's "dysporte of fysshynge with an 

 angle" as "gentle Spenser, Fancy's pleasing son," whose 

 happiest hours sped in the society of the 



"Nymphes of IMulla, who with carefull heed 

 The silver scaly i routs do tend full well"— 

 or laurel-crowned Drayton, so fain to 

 "angle at the brook 

 The freckled trout to take." 

 Justice bids me chronicle an encounter of the Colonel's 

 with three defiers of our game law, in October last. In 

 comoany with ex-Comissioner Powers and two other assist- 

 ants, he was tending his nets off the gravelly New London 

 beach at Sunapee, when a sudden impulse seized him to 

 return to the tank wherein swam some thirty milters and 

 spawners, waiting to be stripped. As the Colonel drew 

 near, he descried through the rain and darkness three figures 

 on the tank, one dipping out five pound trout with a net and 

 the other two receiving' them. With a yell that would have 

 done credit to a panther, the intrepid Commissioner sprang 

 among the thieves, and utterly regardless of the great 

 personal danger attending such an act, clutched one burly 

 fellow by the throat, and driving his fingers and thumb into 

 the cervical muscles of a second, forced him down into the 

 open tank. With herculean efforts Col. Hodge, who is by 

 no means a Samson, held his prisoners until Powers, physical 

 equal of five ordinary men, hurried to the scene with his 

 lantern and flashed its light into the faces of the crestfallen 

 miscreants. If words could paint expressions, T would 

 attempt to describe their looks. The third man was tracked 

 and apprehended at daylight, aud it took considerably more 

 than $100 apiece to pay the bill. Six of our trout lay in the 

 grass, too much injured to revive; the eggs were taken from 

 the females and the narrator is happy to state that they are 

 numbered among 70,000 at present on the screens in the 

 Sunapee Lake hatching house. Tnese, if hatched, will be 

 placed in the lake next spring. Thousands of landlocked 

 salmon are annually liberated in Sunapee. The writer saw 

 one the other day, taken from the lake, that measured thirty- 

 two inches in length and weighed twelve pounds when fresh 

 from the water. This fish was less than two inches in length 

 in 1877, the first year of the introduction of the Salmo sebdgo 



into Sunapee. It was captured with a live shiner, by Mr. 

 Woodbury of Newport. A seven-pound "black spot" was 

 taken by Moses Gould off Pine Cliff, on July 3; and a nine- 

 pounder was speared in the New London Brook by a poacher 

 in May. Heaven help him if we ever find him out. An 

 unusually large number of brook trout, averaging from four 

 to six pounds, were taken "off the banks" last summer. 

 Anglers had better luck in capturing large fish in Sunapee 

 than at Middle and Upper Dam, Maine. 



Is it not astonishing that there are grumblers opposed to 

 our hatching house because it adds to the burden of their 

 taxes (precisely -^ of 3 cent per annum) and displeased 

 because killing five-pound trout with clubs has become 

 obsolete? Such are kicking against the inevitable. Dr. 

 Quackenbos owns the brook and land, and the State of New 

 Hampshire owns the lake, and they propose to do as they 

 please with their own property. Furthermore, private 

 purses will open, if necessary, to make the Sunapee Lake 

 hatching house a success, and the next man found interfering 

 with its operations will be sure to go behind bars. 



Silver Doctor. 



SIZE AND WEIGHT OF BLACK BASS. 



rN one of your summer issues you published a table on the 

 size and weight of black bass, by "Poke-o'-Moonshine." 

 I clipped this table out aud determined to rest its accuracy. 

 From bass caught last summer I find the following result, 

 the length being from nose to end of tail fin : 

 Lengrth. Weight. Length. Weight. 



15 inches 1 pound 8 ounces 17 inches 2 potrods G ounces 



im " 1 " 12 •' XT " 2 " 8 " 



16>§ " 2 " 1 " 17M " 2 '"' 9 " 



16M " ......2 " 3 " 



These bass were all small-mouthed, and were weighed soon 

 after being taken from the water. If any one interested in 

 the subject will compare the two tables, they will find a vast 

 difference in the results. For example, the smallest bass in 

 my table, length 15 inches, weighed 1 pound 8 ounces, while 

 the largest one in his table, "length 15 inches, weighed 8 

 pounds 8 ounces. I would like to know if "Poke-o'-Moon- 

 shine's" bass weie large or small-mouthed? If they were 

 small-mouthed I don't see how a table can be at all accurate 

 for different sections of the country. Woodcock. 



SOME REMARKABLE CATCHES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have wondered for some time past, why the anglers who 

 read your paper, and each week have seen so much space 

 devoted to "Remarkable Shots," should not record their 

 "remarkable catches," and in your issue of Jan. 15, I was 

 more than gratified to notice for the first time one recorded 

 by Mr. H. Jerolemon, and will add another in the hope of 

 each week seeing more. 



About the 25th of last August, with a friend, I fished in 

 about the center of a large pond, over the ledge of a huge 

 rock, for black bass. We had taken some good ones, and 

 being well satisfied with our luck, were preparing to give 

 up, when I had a bite, only a nibble, then another, and 

 striking, I hooked a fish which, when taken in the landing 

 net, proved to be a bass, and on taking it in my hand to dis- 

 engage the hook, I discovered the entire lip of the upper jaw 

 was gone, which prevented the mouth being perfectly closed. 

 How it ever managed to get a living in that condition we 

 were unable to decide; but thought it it could it was entitled 

 to its freedom, so after hanging it by the snell of the hook 

 on the scales, which it pulled down to 11 pounds, it was 

 allowed to go. 



Two days after, I was fishing there again, when to my 

 great surprise, I caught at about the same time of day the 

 same bass, which I allowed to go as before, and within ten 

 days causrht it three times more, which made five several 

 times I caught that bass in about fifteen days, and although 

 there were always others with me yet they never caught it. 

 I hope to fish in the same place next summer, and should 1 

 catch it again will let you know. 



"Next." C. G. Levtson. 



Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 20. 



TALK ABOUT TACKLE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I desire to thank Mr. Wells for his prompt and kindly re- 

 sponse to my question about the click and drag. I hope I 

 may some day have the pleasure of giving him a brother 

 angler's hand. 



I think he has given the only reasonable solution that can 

 be offered for the use of the click and the drag. Not long 

 since 1 asked a well-known maker of reels why he used 

 both. His answer was, "Oh, well, people come in and ask 

 for them." This of course is no reason at all. For years 

 past: I have refused to buy such a useless complication at 

 any price, and I know there are others like me. 



1 snail probably be able before long to help Mr. Wells to 

 an answer to his question in regard to alumiuum-bronze. 

 A friend, an intelligent machinist, is engaged in making ex- 

 periments in this direction for use in his business. I will 

 get him to put the results on paper. 



Another question may now be in order. What is the best 

 treatment for a fishing line to preserve it from mildew and 

 decay? This means the whole integrity of the line. 



A few more words on the barbless hook seem to be neces- 

 sary to a proper understanding between "Pete" and "Petra." 

 I was not sure, but supposed "Pete" might refer to the old 

 needle-pointed hook, as it was called, but which is no longer 

 made. "Pete," 1 apprehend, has failed to get the real 

 "savor" of the barbless hook. Let us see what it is like. It 

 is made from a piece of small steel wire, sharpened at both 

 ends. One end has the usual fish-hook bend, while the other, 

 to form the shank, is bent back upon itself and then carried 

 over to an angle to the bend, which it meets near the point, 

 to take the place of the usual barb. It forms, in fact, a sort 

 of a guard, which the fish can easily pass, but which he can- 

 not so easily repass. I fail to see any striking resemblance 

 to the eagle claw, sockdolager, and things of that ilk, which 

 I detest as much as anybody can. Compared with the 

 murderous-looking gangs in common use, it is a harmless 

 affair, and gives the fish an immensely greater chance of 

 getting away. As to skill in handling a fish, if the phrase 

 can be used at all, the barbless hook requires a good deal 

 more of it than the gang, which 1 ceased to use years ago. 



I have used the barbless hook two or three years, off and 

 on, for trolling, and I have used it because it is merciful to 

 the minnow. It harms him as much as a pin hook does, and 

 no more. When you strike a fish, he is, to be sure, pretty 

 securely hooked, but not so much so as when he has the 

 three to twelve hooks of a gang in his month ; and if you are 



tender-hearted, you have the satisfaction of knowing that 

 you are not inflicting unnecessary cruelty. Why do we use 

 barbed hooks at all ? Simply to prevent the fish from getting 

 away. 



I care but little for trolling, and seldom indulge in it ; but 

 when I do, I am sufficiently tender-hearted to prefer the 

 simple barbless hook to the cruel gang. In any case, I want 

 only one hook for trolling, and pfefer to depend upon 

 that and my skill to any gang I have ever seen. I prefer to 

 let a fish have a fair chance to get away from me, if he can, 

 and hence I indulge chiefly in that kind of angling which 

 affords him the chance. When I can get it, I am going to 

 have a hook with only one barb on it. 



A word as to the needle-pointed hook. I think it is under- 

 rated. It is just the hook for all high-toned anglers, and I 

 should not object to using it. As a man, I thiuk I could 

 save as many fish with it as I did with a bent pin when I 

 was a boy. Certainly there is no savor of the pot about 

 that. Petra. 



Mamaronepk, N. V. 



TROUT FLIES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



1 have noticed in several of the recent numbers of the 

 Forest and Stream, communications from anglers alluding 

 to the confusion caused by the careless naming of trout flies. 

 I presume a great deal of this is due to a want of knowledge 

 on the part of some of the dealers, and also to the vanity of 

 both anglers and dealers, who are constantly adding to the 

 list of flies by changing slightly some old style of fly and 

 giving it a new name. I took special pains in the plates of 

 flies you referred to, to get correct patterns, in some cases 

 sending to England for the authentic samples; and I believe 

 they are generally accepted as a standard. To enable anglers 

 to indentify their flies, I give below a list of some of the 

 most prominent, together with a slight description of each. 



The hackles and palmers are easily known by their 

 color, and there is little trouble in keeping to their correct 

 names. The principal ones are the "brown," "black," ".uray," 

 "red," "ginger grouse," aud "coch-y-bon-dhu," sometimes 

 known as the "marlow buzz;" the latter is a very killing 

 little hackle, with a peacock nerl body and red furnace 

 hackle. The name "coch-y-bon-dhu" 1 believe is Welsh and 

 refers to the color of the hackle. 



The coachman is one of the best known flies, and is a 

 great favorite both here and in England. It is named after 

 the fancied resemblance to the white rubber cape sometimes 

 worn by coachman. Description: White wings, brown 

 hackle, and peacock body. There is one variety of this fly 

 known as the "dark coachman" a great favorite with the 

 late Thad. Norris, the wings are lead color, otherwise the 

 same; and another variety known as the "royal coachman," 

 the only difference being a red tag or a red band around the 

 body. 



To Prof. Wilson ("Christopher North") we owe the 

 celebrated professor and grizzly king. The first is 

 tied with gray mallard wings, brown hackle, yellow body 

 and red tail, and the latter with the same wings and tail, 

 but gray hackle and green body. 



The Abbey is another fancy fly and a great killer, named 

 by the late L. H. Abbey of the firm of Abbey & Irabrie. 

 Wings of gray widgeon, red body wound with gold brown 

 hackle, and two or three fibers of a golden pheasant tip for 

 tail. 



The Mmlre/d, Canada, and Portland. These three 

 flics came undoubtedly from one pattern, but have been 

 varied by a different reading of the descriptions. They have 

 brown mottled wings, red or claret bodies, red tails and red 

 or brown hackles. The "Montreal" and "Portland" vary 

 only in being of a slightly different shade of claret, but the 

 "Canada" body and tail is tied with red worsted. There is 

 also a variety of the above with gray mallard wings, scarlet 

 body and hackle, and red tail, called the "light Montreal," 

 and another with lead-colored wings, called tlie "claret." 



The scarlet ibis is famous, aud is unlike any known 

 natural fly, but sometimes very taking. It is (as are many 

 others) greatly improved by the addition of a jungle cock 

 feather over each wing. 



The Imbrie. lead-colored wing, brown hackle, yellow 

 body with black ostrich tag: the "queen-of-the-water," 

 gray mallard wings, brown hackle, orange body; the 

 "Rube Wood," same wing and hackle, white body 

 with red tag and brown mallard tail, and the "south-side," 

 are ail good flies. 



These, with the "St. Patrick," "silver brown," "silver 

 black," "orange black" and "beauty" comprise the principal 

 fancy flies, that is, flies not imitations of natural insects. 

 Of the latter there is a very great variety and they should 

 be tied exactly to pattern. Most of them are named after 

 the natural fly, such as the white miller, black gnat, blue 

 bottle, oak, etc., and the different spinners, duns, gnats, and 

 midges. 



While as a rule, trout when feeding will take almost any 

 fly nat is dropped naturally and lightly on the water, yet 

 there are some exceptions, and it is not unusual to have thtm 

 refuse everything but the one particular fly they are feeding 

 on, so that the angler should have a pretty good variety to 

 fall back on; it often happens that the fly that takes the 

 best is the one our book contains the fewest of. 



Since writing the above I have received the last copy of 

 Forest and Stream containing "White Hackle's" letter. 

 Will you permit me to state in answer on what grounds I 

 claim my plates as standaids? In the first place, where 

 possible, 1 obtained the patterns from the gentlemen who 

 originated them, therefore i think my style of "Abbey," 

 "royal coachman," etc, are nearer right than other patterns. 

 I was agent for the celebrated McBride flies tor several 

 years and obtained John McBride's patterns from his 

 daughter. These are so well known that it is unnecessary 

 to speak of them. 



I have been a practical fly-tyer for twenty years, and in 

 the fishing tackle business for ten, and have sold my plates 

 to most of the leading flv-dressers in this country. 



Wakeman Holberton 1 . 



New York, Jan. 29, 1886. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In a recent perusal of your most interesting paper, my 

 attention was attracted to two communications in recent 

 issues, viz., those of "Poke-o'-Moonshine" in number for 

 Jan. 15, and of "White Hackle" in Jan. 29. 



I have always refrained from expressing myself in your 

 columns, fearing that it might be thought that I wrote from 

 selfish motives. 1 frequently sec opinions expressed to which 

 I greatlv desire to add my own. My thoughts for many 

 years having traveled in the direction of fishing implements, 

 it is natural that I should have gathered some ideas, and in 



