May 14, 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



311 



crumbs of bread scattered on the surface of the water will 

 attract them. Some use no bait on the net, bnt depend alto- 

 gether on the crumbs scattered over the net. 



With such a net the lone fisherman can catch euough bait 

 in a few minutes to last him lor a few days' fishing, and need 

 not depend on any. one for assistance. The nr-t can be folded 

 up in one minute 'by simply removing the block, and occu- 

 pies less space thaaany other net of the same capacity. The 

 size I use measures thirty -six inches across. 1 used mosquito 

 nettiDg two years, but last year I got a square yard of good, 

 strong netting at a flatting tackle store for which 1 paid 

 ninety cents. This net complete, made up with mosquito 

 netting, Avril cost about twenty cents. E. A. Leopold. 

 Norristown. Pa., May 5, 18S5. 



PROTECTION FOR THE POTOMAC. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The Act of Congress approved March 2, 1885, in reference 

 to fish and fishing in the District of Columbia, is of consid- 

 erable importance more for the moral effect, perhaps, than 

 for the. legal power that may be exercised under it. Here- 

 tofore the Potoinac River has been filhd with the nets de- 

 scribed, and it has been almost impossible for a bass, perch, 

 shad, mackerel, anything, in fact, but an eel or catfish to es- 

 cape being caught." Consequently fishing with rod and line 

 has been of very little consequence for the. past twenty years. 

 Even with the act given, the situation will not be much im- 

 proved, as the territory of the District is very limited, and 

 Maryland and Virginia do not agree in providing suitable 

 enactments in reference to the waters of the Potomac and 

 the tributaries. 



Section 1. That from and after date of passage of this act, 

 for a term of Ave years, it shall not be lawful to risk with fyke- 

 net, pound-net, stake-net, weir, float-net, gill net, haul-seine, 

 or any other contrivance, stationary or floatin<r, in the waters 

 of the Potomac River within the District of Columbia. 



Sec. 3. That any person who shall offend against any of the 

 provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 

 and upon sufficient proof thereof in the police court or other 

 court of the District of Columbia, shall be punished by a fine 

 of not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars 

 for each and every such offense, and shall forfeit to the District 

 his nets, boats, and all other apparatus aud appliances used in 

 violation of law, which shall be sold; and the proceeds of 

 such sales, and all fines accruing under this act shall be paid 

 into the treasury: Provided, That nothing in this act shall be 

 construed to prohibit angling or fishing with the outline, or to 

 prevent the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, 

 or his agents, from taking from said waters of the Potomac 

 River in the District of Columbia, in any manner desired, fish 

 of any kind for scientific purposes or for the purposes of propa- 

 gation. 



It is made unlawful to allow any tav, oil, ammoniacal 

 liquor or other waste products of any gasworks, or of works 

 engaged in using such products or any waste product what- 

 soever of any mechanical, chemical, manufacturing or refin- 

 ing establishment lo How into or be deposited into the Poto- 

 mac River, or any of its tributaries within the District of 

 Columbia. 



This latter clause is important; whether it can be enforced 

 remains to be seen. In any event the step is a step forward. 



J. C. B. 



Washington, April 22. 



THE PIONEER SEA FISH. 



rpo us dwellers by the shore your editorial of some months 

 JL ago upon "Salt- Water Fishing" seemed a good- 

 humored challenge for stories of our favorite amusemeut. 

 We were told that the pursuit of the innumerable variety of 

 denizens of the deep induced a morose, selfish and taciturn 

 disposition. That (he salt-water angler became a solitary, 

 a rogue among the craft, and that he grudged communi- 

 cating to his fellows the localities where he achieved success. 

 The truth of this contrast to the hilarious welcome which 

 the fresh-water brother gives the adventurer who attempts 

 to share his trout stream, or the likely spot which he is try- 

 ing for bass, explains why the challenge for "copy" of the 

 kind sought for has not been accepted. 



Let those who like take the fresh-water brooks for their 

 recreation. It is a matter of taste the scrambling over rocks 

 and through underbrush and fallen timber, and the hard- 

 ships of a life absolutely separated from every comfort or 

 convenience, and stimulated into angry activity by imperti- 

 nent entomology. There are those who love better the 

 breath of ocean, the unvarying brilliancy of sky and sea, the 

 social life of the comfortable hotel or the roving vessel after 

 the day's labors, the almost certain success in the pursuit of 

 the fish, their variety and super-excellence for the table, than 

 the odor of reeking decay, the frequent storms, the veiy 

 many unsuccessful days, the swarming insect pests which 

 make darkness a relief and torment inevitable, not to men- 

 tion the general worthlessness of the rare trophies of the 

 angler's skill. We of the shore have enjoyed the charming 

 stories of camp life told by "Kingfisher" and others as skill- 

 ful literary work; but they are very much like the "Ride to 

 Khiva," good to read, but bad to imitate. The man who 

 tasted his own capacity for enjoyment more keenly than any 

 other, sums up his experience: 



"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, 

 There is a rapture on ihe lonely shore!" 



But I did not intend to ramble into controverted ground. 

 I merely wanted to convey to the fly (and insect) fishers that 

 there are gross and vulgar souls who like to try conclusions 

 with weightier prey. The opening season of sea fishing is 

 upon us. Ten days from this time the drum will enter Del- 

 aware Bay, and the shore opposite the "drum beds," just 

 above Cape May, will be dotted over with the skiffs of the 

 fishermen, ready on "the young flood," to cluster a mile 

 from shore, and await the coming of the "wallowing herds" 

 of their favorite fish. It is a tradition, verified by long ob- 

 servation, that the drum appears with the dogwood blossoms, 

 and outside my window the swelling buds indicate that it is 

 time to overhaul the lines which have served me well these 

 many seasons. 



The drum is a large fish, weighing from twenty to one 

 hundred pounds, the average weight about sixty. They 

 congregate from the middle of May to the middle of June 

 upon the Cape May shore of Delaware Bay from Diamond 

 Beach, which is about four miles above Cape May to Fishing 

 Creek four miles further. About a mile off shore at inter- 

 vals are beds of clams or quahaugs, and upon these the fish 

 feed, crushing the hard shells in their powerful jaws. Par- 

 ties of fishermen come in large vessels from the different har- 

 bors along the bay and anchor on the grounds, and great 

 numbers of small boats put out from shore on the rising tide, 

 and all form a compact cluster so soon as any boat strikes 



the run of the fish. Usually the pursuit requires patience, 

 but at times the bait is taken freely and excitemcut runs 

 high. A sixty-pound drum on a rod and reel requires some 

 skill in manipulation, besides thoroughly testing the muscles. 

 There is not much selfishness in sea fishing, and any one 

 who wishes to try these fish should do so about the middle 

 of May, and no one will begrudge bis presence and compe- 

 tition." He will find good accommodations at the Bay View 

 House, at Pierce's Point, to be reached by stage from Court 

 House Station on the Cape May Railroad, distance four 

 miles. For a large party, probably a better plan would be 

 to go to Port Norris by way of Bridgeton, and engage a 

 boat, there. There is a good' hotel at Port Norris, and the 

 town being the center of the oyster industry, plenty of boats 

 and competent sailors can be procured, in the latter case 

 notice should be given to Mr. Middleton, the landlord. 



F. S. J. C. 



Cape May, May 1, 1885. 



THE WILLEWEMOC CLUB'S WATERS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A gentleman lately negotiated with me to buy one of the 

 twenty shares of Willewemoc Club, par value $250, aud 

 yesterday I received his finale saying, "Inclosed I return 

 you the Willewemoc Club By-Laws. If later on the hotel 

 men and others do not interfere with your rights, and you 

 do not dispose of your stock I will make arrangements to 

 take it." 



Now is it not a shame that the illogical, and doubtless 

 irrosponsihle person (Best, is thai his name?), who has been 

 writing in a Kingston paper, has been, able to damage me so 

 much, absolutely without cause? No hotel keeper nor other 

 person ever interfered with our rights in ten years past; our 

 neighbors are our friends; we have several thousand dollars 

 worth of property back in that wilderness, and have spent 

 huudreds there yearly; our lake is surrounded by our own 

 1G0 acres of land, bought and paid for; we have never put 

 any State trout in our waters; and if the names and addresses 

 of our members were published it would be admitted at once 

 that no more reputable gentlemen can be found in the whole 

 country. The same is true of the Balsam Lake Club, and, 

 I have no doubt, of the Neversink Club, with some of whose 

 members I am acquainted. The statements of this outrageous 

 person in the Kingston paper are absolutely without founda- 

 tion in fact, as regards the olubs I know about. Nor do 

 the members of these clubs kill, or take away very many 

 fish; all small ones are put back, and in the Willewemoc 

 Club but six can be taken away from the premises by any 

 one at one time, it is true they will run from one pound to 

 two and a half pounds apiece in weight. 



The fact remains that I am damaged $200 cash by this 

 person, and have no redress. Geo. W. Van Stclkn. 



New York, May 7. 



THE TARPOM AS A GAME FISH. 



THE brilliant success of Mr. W. H. Wood in the killing 

 of five specimens of the tarpom on a rod in Florida, 

 shows what can be done by a skillful angler with the proper 

 weapons. I have always believed that this was a possible 

 feat, and it has turned out to be less difficult than I supposed 

 it to be. Less difficult because the fish are killed in much 

 shorter time than I expected. Mr. Wood's five fish averaged 

 100 pounds each, and were killed in the average time of 

 twenty-six minutes, according to the published accounts. 

 This is, I think, less than the average time consumed in the 

 capture of a large salmon, striped bass, or channel bass. 

 That the tarpom is a very active and powerful fish and a 

 furious fighter, 1 think there is no doubt, but he probabfy 

 exhausts his strength by long runs and lofty leaps. I my- 

 self have several time shocked a tarpom at Halifaxlnlet while 

 fishing for channel bass with rod and reel, but my line was 

 instantly cut by the knife-like labial bones, so that there was 

 no contest. 



Some armature of the line is necessary, such as wire or 

 chain, and no doubt something will be devised by the tackle 

 makers for the purpose. 



Mr. Wood's capture is, however, not the first of that kind. 

 A tarpom was kilted in the Indian River, East Florida, with 

 rod and reel, by Mr. S. H. Jones, of Philadelphia, some years 

 ago, I think about 1878. This specimen measured over seven 

 feet in length, 321 inches in circumference at the dorsal fin, 

 and weighed 174 pounds. The contest lasted more than 

 three hours, if I remember right, and was carried on from a 

 boat which was towed some distance by the fish. I heard 

 of this affair in Florida the year after itliappened, and got 

 the dimensions and weight of the tarpom from the boatman 

 who waited on Mr. Jones, who himself gave an account of 

 the capture to an angling friend of mine, so that I have no 

 doubt as to the correctness of the story. 



•'tarpom," and also the pronunciation of the fishermen of the 

 East coast, who call it "tarpom" or "tarpum." S. C. C. 



Woodmont Rod and Gun Club.— At the annual meet- 

 ing of this organization, held last evening, the following 

 named officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, 

 Curtis J. Hillyer; Vice-President, William Lee; Secretary and 

 Treasurer, B. E. J. Eils; Auditor, W. C. Woods; Executive 

 Committee, C. C. Glover, S. H. Kauffmann, Andrew McCal- 

 lum and the President and Treasurer. The report of the 

 retiring president showed the club to be in good condition, 

 financially and otherwise, with a highly satisfactory outlook 

 for the future, in every respect, and only four vacancies ex- 

 isting. There is, by the way, good reasons to believe that 

 gunning and angling on the estate of the club will alike be 

 better the coming season than ever before, as both fish and 

 game seem to be rapidly increasing in that locality. Ground 

 for this belief as to the last named recreation was afforded 

 by the experience of a party of members and guests who 

 went up to the club house on Saturday. The party num- 

 bered ten, but only six really indulged in the fascinating 

 diversion, and their catch, extending a little over two days, 

 aggregated one hundred and sixteen fine bass, weighing from 

 a half pound to three pounds and a quarter. Of these about 

 twenty were taken with the fly. This result was regarded 

 as very satisfactory, considering the backwardness of the 

 season and the coldness of the water in the upper Potomac. 

 Especially does it apply to fly-fishing, as experience gener- 

 ally shows that bass will not rise to the artificial lure until 

 the weather is hot and the water warm. The champion of 

 the party for this visit, it may be added, was Mr, Levi Wood- 

 bury, who took not only the heaviest fish but the greatest 

 number,— Washington Evening Star, Mag 1. 



Nets Seized and Burned.— The ice has only been out 

 of the St. Lawrence River a few days, but the fish thieves 

 have been at work already with their nets at various points. 

 Tuesday, General Sherman, of the State Commission, placed 

 State Game Protector Schwartz, of Rochester, Special Pro- 

 tector Drew, of Washington Mills, at the service of the offi- 

 cers of the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River 

 for a tour of inspection. They had an assistant from this 

 section and made a trip along the lines. The water in the 

 river is very high, but the pirates were found getting ready 

 for their unlawful work. Nothing was heard of the State 

 officials until 4 F. M. yesterday, when the following tele- 

 gram was received by the President of the Association in this 

 city : "Clayton, May 1.— Wc have just returned from Chip- 

 pewa Bay with two large gill-nets, one 40 rods long and the 

 other 50 rods. We had the steam yacht Junita, Captain 

 Elliott. The river was very roush, and it was very difficult 

 to get them. A northeast wind made things lively. The 

 nets are now burning at the dock. — Schwartz and Drew." 

 Gill nets measuring over a quarter of a mile in length are 

 liable to draw in a large number of fish that belong to the 

 State and the taxpayers thereof. It is not known thus far 

 who the owners of the nets arc, but it is known that some of 

 the pirates who operated successfully in Oneida Lake for a 

 long time have been stealing fish at Chippewa Bay and other 

 points. These fellows know State Protectors Steele and 

 Leonard, of the St. Lawrence and Jefferson districts so well, 

 that it is difficult for them to get within sight or reach of a 

 net; this is why the agents from other districts were sent 

 out. This good work will be kept up until every fish pirate 

 on the river is exterminated and his nets destroyed. Pro- 

 tector Schwartz captured and burned twenty three nets iR 

 his district last week, and Protector Drew has been doing 

 excellent special work at various points. Both are trusty 

 and intelligent men, and they fear no one. Other reports 

 are expected from them before they leave the St. Lawrence, 

 although the weather is unfavorable for stretching or cap- 

 turing nets.— JJtica {N. T) Observer. 



June Anticipations —Boston. — 1 have been counting 

 the days and weeks looking forward to the approach of June, 

 that month of all the year the best for trout fishing and 

 woodland recreation. And just now I recall the fact it is 

 the month in which T first saw the lisrht of day, how many 

 years ago 1 will not state. I wonder if for that reason the 

 month and its sports, its rose-perfumed and health-giving 

 air, have for me auy special influence. Perhaps so, perhaps 

 not; for 1 love the lakes in July, and I love the fore>ts 

 always. Be that as it may, at the approach of June I always 

 have, a presentiment that to retain my present vigorous 

 health aud fit myself for battling through the heated term 

 soon to follow, I must go a fishing, ramble and row, paddle 

 and pack, and so develop and harden the muscles and 

 strengthen the brain. 1 always have many excuses for going 

 trout fishing, but the most important and potent is that 1 like 

 it. Now we are admonished that the season is near at hand, 

 and that we may be ready, wc must begin to overhaul last 

 year's duffle. The rods must be repaired, the lines and reels 

 tested, this stock of well-worn flies and leaders renewed, get 

 a new net, and don't forget the blackfly cream. What's this? 

 a flask, and full, left over from last year's trip? How unlike 

 a flask, and yet, how like some men to remain "full" during 

 the entire trip. We took it along as a preventive; we love 

 old friends proved by age and experience, so we will put it 

 in and give it another opportunity to render service. The 

 box is packed, aud right bere let us thank "Nessmuk" for 

 that word "duffle." We have for years insulted good guns 

 and rods and the various gems of artistic workmanship that 

 comprise the outfit of the shooter or fisnerman by calling 

 them "traps," "stuff" or "tackle," and have often felt the 

 need of a name. So now the duffle is packed and ready.— M. 



Eastern Pennsylvania.— Philadelphia, May 9 — At the 

 monthly meeting of the Anglers' Association of Eastern 

 Pennsylvania, last evening, Mr. Penrose Collins, the corres- 

 ponding secretary, stated that arrangements -had been made 

 for bringing several hundred rock bass from Lake Erie and 

 putting them in the Schuylkill and other streams in the 

 vicinity of Philadelphia. The Association will pay all the 

 expenses. This is a good move and one your correspondent 

 has long advocated, as the rock bass will take the fly readily 

 and furnish excellent sport. Shawmont Dam should be 

 selected as one place in which to liberate the fish and the 

 water of this part of the river will be suitable for them. The 

 sunfish in Shawmont Dam rise to artificial flies. How much 

 better it will be then for practice when the rock bass increase 

 in these waters. — Homo. 



Making Tapered Hooks.— Several of your correspond- 

 ents have said they did not know why tapered hooks were 

 not marked. I wrote it had been suggested to me that it 

 was because their shanks are too slender. Now, Mr. AUcock 

 shouts from across the stormy Atlantic that the suggestion is 

 an error. Before he snoods hooks he marks them. I think 

 he is wise. 1 do tho same but I wish the manufacturer to 

 do it for me. If marked tapered hooks are not too good for 

 him and me, they are right for other sportsmen. If it does 

 not cost too much to mark straight hooks it does not tapered 

 ones. If straight ones need to be marked, tapered ones need 

 it more. If Englishmen can afford to purchase them, Amer- 

 icans can and will. By all means let us have them now 

 before August.— J. W. T. 



Spliced Leaders. — We have received a patent spliced 

 salmon leader from Messrs. Samuel Atlcock & Co., Red- 

 ditch, England, the well-known makers of hooks and fishing 

 tackle. The ends of the gut are indented and placed side 

 by side, and bound firmly together, making a knotless cast. 

 A loop at eech end is also made without a knot. Tbe whip- 

 ping of joints appears to be done with sUk covered with 

 some sort of varnish, and it makes a neat finish and a hand- 

 some leader. 



The Rangeleys.— Richardson, Me., May 7.— The Range- 

 ley Lakes will probably all be clear of ice by the 12th or 

 15th of the month. The first trout of the season was taken 

 by Capt. Crosby from the wharf in front of the Mooselook- 

 meguntic House. It weighed 6f pounds — a pretty good one 

 for a starter. — Capt. F. C. Barker. 



Meacham Lake.— Duane, N. Y., May 7.— The ice is out 

 at last and the fishing begins good. Yesterday four rods 

 took 312 trout; weight, 106 pounds. To-day four rods took 

 2i5 trout in half the day; weight, 74 pounds. The water in 

 the lake is not unusually high, and everything indicates good 

 spring flshjng.— A. R. Fuller. 



