May 28. 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



361 



I am at the stream again. It is running Very rapidly, and 

 t can see by the formation of land that there must he rapids 

 or a fall here somewhere. It is beginning to rain now. 

 What a good thing it did not come on while I was in the 

 aiders. Ho chance to fish yet. Alders and rock and rapids, 

 but only for a few hundred yards, and now a fall, or rather 

 a steep 'incline) almost like a pair of stairs, and about fifteen 

 feet high. There is a deep hole at the foot oi it, and a large 

 rock stands out from the low cliff on the other side. The 

 pond is about twelve feet across, and. best of all, some low 

 alder bushes are growing on my side near the edge of this 

 stony basin. I am in just the place I want to be to fish that 

 pool. Send your hook over by the rock. It has g'oue, and 

 from behind my alder screen I see two fish come to the sur- 

 face, and one of them has the bait, and now 1 have him, a 

 t>*-iuch trout. I cast again, and now I have one a little 

 larger. Must try again. Quite a large fish comes to the sur- 

 face now and pushes his nose against the bait, and then goes 

 down. I can see his brown form just as I saw the forms of 

 the others as they came up to the surface. The water, dark 

 and black over that side, is the reason ; and I see this in spite 

 of the rain drops that are falling on the pool. But I have 

 no time to see much: I must put on a fly — two of them, a 

 white miller and a coachman. I cast them. There is a swirl 

 on the water, the top of my rod bends down, and I know I 

 have a fish. He is a nice one, too; not large as some men 

 count size, not one where we speak of pounds, but the largest 

 that I have caught in Skinned Stream yet, 11 inches long 

 and plump and round as possible. 



Of course I try again and again aud again ; but no more. 

 My, how it rains. And now I am coining to a succession of 

 meadow lands where there is not an alder bush, it appears 

 to me, for a quarter of a mile. Once I had too much of 

 alders to-day, now I have not euough. It seems a pity 

 though, that the farmers of Connecticut could not leave a 

 few bushes here and there along a trout stream. But I 

 suppose such a thing would not agree with their ideas of 

 thrift. But I try and try for some distance. I am now 

 within half a mile of the house, and know perfectly where I 

 am. That is a relief. But I get no fish and now is the very 

 time to take trout if they are here. I change from fly to 

 grasshopper and then worm, and no fish. Splendid holes I 

 have tried too. How I get the bite of a redfin or a chub. I 

 have caught one chub. He was a good sized one and the 

 redfin too was large. I am tired trying and it is now half- 

 past twelve, and yet I make one more cast, just below where 

 the water runs so close under the bank. I have forty feet of 

 line out. My! That was really a bite. I have him. Why, 

 he is lively. He jumps out of the water way down there. 

 Here he comes though, a nice fisb, nearly nine inches. This 

 was the last trout I caught. I tried most carefully at the 

 next branch of the stream and in all the deep holes until I 

 came in sight of Maple Grove House. Nothing but redfins 

 and chubs rewarded me, even when I promised myself I 

 would certainly catch a fish. 



But I must end here. It leaked out in some way that I 

 had caught trout in Skinned Stream, and almost every day 

 fishermen were seen pass-ing up and down the brook. One 

 of the boarders, I understood, sent to New York to get an 

 outfit. He gave every one to understand that he could catch 

 them too. 1 never heard of his getting any, nor any other 

 person, while we were in the neighborhood. Nor can I 

 wonder at it. If I succeeded myself it was by dint of more 

 labor and painstaking than 1 ever expect again to spend 

 upon any fish. And I would only say to men who really 

 want to catch trout not to go to a skinned stream for them. 



Stillaboy. 



JOINING GUT LENGTHS. 



IN reply to a corrrespondent's inquiry, Mr. Leopold writes 

 as follows : The knot is tied as follows : The two ends 

 •of the gut required to be tied are laid side by side for the 

 space of three inches. Then a circle of these is formed 

 and the right hand end is passed through twice. The knot 

 is then drawn tight, I -will try to explain more fully. The 

 two gut lengths are laid together with the ends overlapping 

 each other three inches, just as two sticks would be laid 

 together for splicing. Now, the knot is to be tied in the part 

 that is double, the part which constitutes the splice. In 

 making the tie, handle this double part exactly as though it 

 were a single strand. In fact it could be whipped together 

 with thread aud the tie made afterward. A knot is tied in 

 the middle of the splice, not a single knot but a double knot. 

 The single knot I speak of is the simplest form of knot that 

 can be tied ia a single strand of gut, and is formed by mak- 

 ing a ring and passing one end through. The double knot 

 is formed by making a ring and passing one end through 

 twice, then drawing tight. Of course I do not advocate 

 whipping the splice before the knot is tied, because in that 

 case the knot could not be drawn, into a neat and compact 

 shape. 



To tie a loop on the end of a snood or leader, double the 

 end of the gut back two inches. Then treat this a^ble part 

 as a single gut, tying a double knot in it. To draw w«wt, 

 put the forefinger" of' the left hand through the loop, hola 

 the long end of the gut ia the right hand, grasp the short 

 end of gut between the teeth and see-saw. 



E, A. Leopold. 



Norbistown, Pa., May 32. 



HOME-MADE MINNOW NETS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I was much interested in E. A. Leopold's article in May 

 14 number of Forest and Stream, on "Home- Made Min- 

 now Nets," but either I am particularly stupid in compre- 

 hension, or his explanation of its construction is too meagre 

 for me to grasp the idea fully. What does he refer to as the 

 "upper ends" of the bows to be attached? The outer points 

 <6r the ends attached to the handle? How long is the three- 

 inch diameter wooden block to be made, aud is it inserted 

 hetween the netting and the tube? How does he strengthen 

 the outer rim of the netting? Please ask him to give a fuller 

 and more lucid description. C. 



jEditor Forest and Stream: 



By "upper ends" of bows I meant the ends fastened to the 

 handle. The extreme length of the block is about four and 

 one half inches. Its length depends somewhat upon the 

 length of the tube to which the bows are hinged. I find it 

 difficult to describe the exact shape of the block without the 

 use of a diagram. It is something like an umbrella turned 

 wrong side out by the force of the wind, or like a mush- 

 room with the top amputated, inverted, and replaced on the 

 stem. It can be made on a lathe by turning a hard wood 

 block down to three inches diameter. Then turn one end 

 . down, making a straight stem or handle small enough to fit 



loosely in the tube. The stem and shoulder should form an 

 obtuse angle of about 130 degrees. The block is inserted 

 between the net and tube, the head of the block spreading 

 the bows apart and stretching the net, If mosquito netting 

 is used, run a stout cord around the lower ends of the bows, 

 attaching it firmly to each bow, and sew the netting to this 

 cord. If heavy, strong netting is U3ed, no cord is needed. 

 After catching your minnows let your net dry thoroughly 

 before folding. ' To fold the net remove the block, grasp the 

 net in the center and raise it slowly. This folds the net in- 

 side the bows. There are several other ways of doiug it but 

 they lead to much profanity. Mental profanity is the kiud 

 alluded to. E. A. Leopold. 



Norristown, Pa,, May 82. 



TO ATTACH THE DROPPER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your correspondent, "M.," is at a loss as to the manner of 

 attaching a short looped fly, as a "dropper," to his leader. 

 These flies are not only tied so as to be used for stretchers, 

 and to use them as droppers he simply needs to take a spare 

 length of gut, tie a loop m each end, as described by Mr. 

 Cheney, and then loop one end to the fly and the other to 

 the leader. It is a very simple operation, and I wonder he 

 has not seen it himself. He can readily knot up a dozen or 

 two lengths of gut into these bookless snells, and carry them 

 in his fly-book, all ready for use. 



I came up here a day or two since, hoping to try some of 

 my old haunts along the mountain brooks, but find myself 

 rather too early. However, we are getting a soaking rain 

 to-day, and after it clears and the brooks get settled I hope 

 to get a few small trout; but the glory of this region is de- 

 parted. The advent of railways, and the clearing of the 

 forests for sleepers and fuel, has dried up nearly all the 

 brooks in the summer and exterminated the trout, and it is 

 yet too early for black bass in the Connecticut River. 



I propose next week to try a fly on some of the largest 

 and more open streams, where I do not believe a fly was 

 ever cast, and where the "small boys" do not fish with 

 "wurrums." Should I have any success will advise you. 



Charlestow, N. H., May 23. VON W. 



Editor Forest aud Stream: 



In last issue of Forest and Stream "M." asks how to 

 fasten the looped flies to his leader. The most common way 

 is to tie two loops in either end of a length of gut; one small 

 loop simply large enough to fasten the gut length to the leader, 

 as in the case of an ordinary fly. The other loop large 

 enough to admit of passing the looped fly through it. First 

 fasten the double-looped gut length to the leader by the small 

 loop which leaves the large looped end free as though it were 

 the end of the leader. If the fly is first fastened it will not 

 pass through the small loop. This is the way to fasten bass 

 flies; but for looped trout flies a length of gut with a hard 

 knot in either end may be used, and the fly fastened as the 

 reel line is fastened to the leader, and then fasten the other 

 end of the gut to the leader with a simple knot. A. N. C. 



<3m;ns Falls, N". T. 



FLORIDA FISHING REMINISCENCES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As I read from week to week the interesting account of 

 "Nessmuk's" experiences in Florida, memory brings pictures 

 of like experiences during some years of residence there. 

 How often, while watching for ducks, or fishing, or in camp, 

 have I seen the upper half of a sail gliding over the prairie, 

 the hull that it propelled hidden by the rushes as it turned 

 this way and that, following the devious ways of the typical 

 Florida stream ; and how often have I been in that boat on 

 that crooked stream, wanting badly to go somewhere when 

 the wind couldn't accommodate itself to the twist of the 

 channel, or the bushes or palmettoes acted as a barrier to the 

 breeze, and an ash breeze had to be substituted, with the sun 

 blazing furiously, and none but brackish water to quench 

 an unsatisfied thirst. But how good it was when the day 

 drew to a close to run in to shore, where the cabbage palms 

 in close array lined the bluff, and make camp beneath the 

 ample canopy that rustled soothingly in the dying breeze. 

 A fire is easily kindled with dead fans and bloom stalks, the 

 old coffee pot is put on, while a few casts with the whirling 

 spoon or minnow secures the necessary bass. With what 

 enjoyment the apppetizing meal is attacked, while darkness 

 thickens and shadows dauce on the palm tree's netted bole, 

 the overhanging leaves or on the surface of the smoothly 

 flowing river. Then follow pipes, jest and story until the 

 luxurious beds of soft moss invite repose. 



Yet it was not always thus. I have laid me down to 

 sleep with a good fire at my feet, and awoke to find the coals 

 just dying, a wild wind raging, rain falling and weather 

 cold enough to freeze the marrow. Then how pleasant it 

 was to turn out, hunt the axe and skirmish for dry wood, 

 while the wind blew the rubber off the nest and wet it 

 thoroughly. 



"Nessmuk's" account of the shooting of the squirrel and 

 lla filing into the water, brings to mind many such occur- 

 rences Wi^in hunting in the hamaks bordering on bayous, 

 the little fellows getting their death while jumping about on 

 hmbs overhanging the water. And what forlorn lookinsr 

 objects they were, all bedraggled. I think "Nessmuk" errs 

 when he says "they u-e identical in all polDts"-with the gray 

 squirrel from the North, I never saw one as large q S the 

 average gray squirrel of Kew York, and I have shot inanj- 

 hundreds, if not thousands, of each. In every other respect 

 I believe them to be identical. The fox-squirrel of Florida is 

 a tine fellow, both in size a-4d coloring. 1 have shot them 

 weighing over two and one-h^lf pounds. They are very 

 wary and inhabit only the op'ea woods, while the gray or 

 "cat" squirrel chooses the hamaks almost exclusively. Not 

 only gray squirrels, but quail, ra'wbits, deer, native cattle 

 and horses are smaller in Florida. 



How well I remember fishing the quiet reach of water 

 overhung with moss-draped cypresses where Soldier Creek 

 empties into Lake Jesup, the counterpart oi the one described 

 by "Nessmuk," and of which there are so niwiy in Florida. 

 My last fishing excursion was made to that spot vith a friend 

 in an Osgood canoe. It rained at intervals all the forenoon 

 and we got pretty damp, but what sport we had with the 

 pickerel and bass; seventeen of the former ranging from t w0 

 to four pounds, and a goodly number of the latter accom- 

 panied us home. I always lpved to visit that spot. When 

 the waves were rolling on the lake it was still and quiet there. 

 Speaking of fishing for bass, reminds me of Mr. Ira Wood's 

 article on "Fly -Fishing," in your issue of May 7. My expe- 

 rience has taught me that the open water, regardless of depth, 

 just outside a bank of weeds, is a first-rate place to cast the 

 fly for bass. They lie in wait and cover there waiting for a 



good morsel. How often while sitting in my boat in such a 

 bank of weeds have I seen great (and small) fellows glide 

 through the grass, on the lookout for stray minnows, and 

 this where the grass is so dense that it would seem folly to 

 expect bass to harbor there. One of my favorite methods of 

 flyfishing was to let the fly sink to quite a depth, and then 

 by little jerks draw it to the surface. If a bass took it, it 

 was almost invariably just as the fly reached the surface, 

 and sometimes by a ieap after it left the water. I have re- 

 peatedly seen bass allow the fly to pass them under water 

 without apparently noticing it, and when the fly was about to 

 disappear, turn like a flash and seize it; the disposition being 

 apparently, as Mr. Wood says, that of a cat with a mouse — 

 as long as the mouse is in no danger of escaping, all right. 

 but let the mouse make for cover and the paw comes down. 

 Many times have I, while casting the spoon or niinnow on 

 the banks of the St. Johns, seen bass follow the bait (which 

 was some six inches beneath the surface) for a good many 

 feet leisurely, and only seize it when with slightly acceler- 

 ated motion it was about to leave the water. The sense of 

 satiety seems to have been omitted in bass, the instinct being 

 strong not to let anything good escape, for I have caught 

 them under conditions mentioned, when their maw was so 

 full that it seemed impossible to introduce anything more. 



Speaking of fishing, can any of your readers inform me 

 where, within a few hours' ride, in the mountains of Penn- 

 sylvania, I can enjoy tolerable trout fishing? I should be 

 greatly obliged lor such information. S. 



Chester County, Pa. 



FISH LAWS OF NEW YORK. 



THE following is the last bit of tinkering done by the 

 New York Legislature. It will be seen that under the 

 plea of protecting "bullheads" (cathSb) in Lake George, it 

 is forbidden to take any fish until July 1, except pickerel, 

 of which none exist in the lake. It is said that the bill was 

 amended in the interest of the hotel keepers, who wish to 

 prevent, all fishing until their guests arrive. The original 

 bill was one to protect fish on theh' spawning beds, but in 

 its passage this clause was stricken out and the time limit 

 smuggled in. We give the law in full : 



Sec. 21. No person shall catch or kill any black bass in 

 the waters of Lake Mahopac or of Columbia county (or in 

 the waters or Schroon Lake or river or Paradox Lake, in the 

 counties of Essex or Wan-en, or in the waters of Friend's 

 Lake, in Warren county, between the first day of January 

 and the first day of July), or in Lake George, or in Brant 

 Lake, in Warren county, between the first day of January 

 and the twentieth day of July, or catch or kill any black 

 bass, Oswego bass, or muscalonge in any other waters of the 

 State between the first day of January and the first day of 

 June, unless alive for artificial propagation, or the stocking 

 of other waters, except that bass and muscalonge may be 

 caught in the St. Lawrence, Clyde, Seneca and Oswego 

 rivers, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Conesus and Niagara 

 River, above Niagara Falls, on the American side, between 

 the twentieth day of May and the first day of January. No 

 person shall catch, kill o"r expose for sale, or have in his or 

 her possession after the same has been killed, any black bass 

 or striped bass weighing less than one-half pound, or less 

 than eight inches in length from end of snout to end of 

 caudal fin, at any time. No person shall expose for sale, or 

 have in his or her possession after the same has been 

 killed, any black bass, Oswego bass, striped bass 

 or muscalonge, save only from the twentieth day of 

 May to the first day of January. Nor shall any 

 person catch or kill, or attempt to catch or kill, any 

 bullheads or other fish in the waters of Lake George or 

 in the waters of any of the inlets or creeks emptying in said 

 lake, between the first day of April and the first day of July 

 in any year. Nor shall any person catch or kill, or attempt 

 to catch or kill, in the waters of Lake George or in the 

 waters of the inlets or creeks emptying into the same, any 

 fish with any set line, or with any device whatever except 

 that of angling with hook and line held in the hand. Nor 

 shall any person catch or kill any pickerel in the waters of 

 Lake George between the fifteenth day of February and the 

 fifteenth day of June, in any year. Nor shall any person 

 expose for sale, or have in his or her possession, any bull- 

 heads or other fish caught or killed in the waters of Lake 

 George, or in the waters of the inlets or creeks emptying into 

 the same, between the first day of April and the first day of 

 July in any year, or any pickerel caught or killed in the 

 waters of said Lake George between the fifteenth day of 

 February and the fifteenth day of June, in any year. Any 

 person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be 

 deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and in addition thereto 

 shall be liable to a penalty of ten dollars for each fish. 



Sec. 24. Any person having in his or her possession upon 

 any of the waters of this State, or upon the shores of or 

 islands in any waters of this State, inhabited by salmon, 

 salmon trout, lake trout, black bass, Oswego bass, striped 

 bass or muscalonge, without the permission of the Commis- 

 sioners of Fisheries, any snares, nets, stake poles or other 

 device used in unlawfully taking such fish, shall be deemed 

 guilty of a misdemeanor, and in addition thereto shall be 

 liable to a penalty of twenty-five 'dollars, but nothing herein 

 contained shall apply to that portion of the Hudson River 

 south of the dam at Troy, or to Lake Ontario, or to the 

 waters of the Walkill River in Ulster county. 



Sec. i>. This act shall take effect immediately. 



^•i.rNu 

 cast ot tn. 



Flies. — Editor Forest and Stream: I inclose a 

 which, under certain conditions of water and 

 atmosphere,-! ha^ found "most killing." They are dupli- 

 cates of a cast with which I killed 42 trout, averaging four 

 to the pound, or>o hri f rht s mii day last August; water low, 

 clear and still; while my two c6 uii ™x. iwii0< CQUa ]i Y expert 

 but using larger flies and coarser tackle, only got about 

 thirty between them. Try them under same conditions, and 

 I feel confident the result will prove satisfactory.— H. [The 

 flies are egg, claret gnat, and Montreal dresr^d as midges. 

 We will try the cast, but do not know the eruditions of 

 water, etc., hinted at.] 



Food op Trotjt.— Paterson, N. J., May 19.— While a». 

 secting the stomachs of trout recently caught, I find that 

 their food consists chiefly of dobson, crayfish and shells con- 

 taining insects about five-eighths inches long, one-eighth 

 inch in diameter. I have found them in brooks clinging to 

 locks. Tbe shell is composed of sand- like material. What 

 is this insect called? [It is the caddis worm.] 



Game Law Changes.— Will correspondents favor us with 

 a memorandum of whatever changes may have been made in 

 their State and local game laws. 



