Jult 9, 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



4 71 



actually to put my foot on him and take the victim from his 

 mouth" by force. 1 ended his lish poaching by grinding his 

 head out of sight in the mud and sand with my heel, but too 

 late to save the life of the little fish, which was now hmp 

 and lifeless. It was an odd-looking, pretty little fish too, 

 and 1 don't remember to have seen anything like it. 1 put 

 the little fellow in the bucket with the frogs, intending to 

 make a, closer examination when we got back to camp, where 

 I could have the aid of the "specs," but some one of the 

 party very thoughtfully washed the bucket out that evening 

 or next morning and turned it bottom side up to drain, and 

 I never saw him again. KrN<sKBTBHER. 



[to be continued. I 



MUSKOKA. 



SECOND PAPER. 



THE drainage of the Muskoka Lake system leads those 

 waters in a southwesterly direction into Georgian Bay. 

 This fact is sufficient to account for the presence of the 

 noble maskallonge in many of the smaller lakes in the west- 

 ern part of the Muskoka system. These fish have taken ad- 

 vantage of unusual stages of water to urge their way upward, 

 and having found the situation to their liking, have bred 

 and multiplied. 



A great many curious, wonderful and amusing thiugs are 

 told about the maskallonge fishing and the experiences of the 

 fishers. They will hardly bear to be repeated here lest they 

 tax too greatly the credulity of the readers. They should 

 be told in the cool of a starlit evening on the shady side of 

 a tent, when the pipes burn bright, and the swish of the. 

 water along the shore ripples in the ear. Fish stories told 

 amid such surroundings have a flavor like a fresh bottle of 

 champagne, and no brother angler thinks for a moment of 

 casting a doubt upon them. 



One of the guides in dissecting a large fish, found in his 

 stomach a red squirrel in process' of digestion. This brought 

 out the tradition that the maskallonge is so fond of squirrels 

 that he is said frequently to chmb the trees in pursuit of 

 them. The fact that the squirrels are frequently seen swim- 

 ming across the little, channels between the islands ought not 

 to be allowed to interfere with the theory scientifically con- 

 sidered. It was our own fortune to take from the stomach 

 of one of the maskallonge whose capture was narrated in 

 my previous letter, a black bass measuring twelve inches in 

 leugth, and whose estimated weight was put down at one 

 and a half pounds. Indeed, the fondness of the maskallonge 

 for a black bass diet is quite noticeable. Fishing one after- 

 noon at the outlet to Crane Lake, we had taken a string of 

 eight fine bass averaging probably two pounds each. Through 

 a bit of carelessness the string slipped from the hands of the 

 guide while attempting to add another fish, and went down 

 in sixteen feet of water. It was useless to attempt to recover 

 them and we resumed our fishing. Shortly afterward we 

 saw a commotion on the water, and found that a maskallonge 

 only a little shorter than a boat oar had discovered the un- 

 fortunate bass, and had undertaken to swallow them one by 

 one. The bass in the struggle had floundered to the surface 

 and the maskallonge had followed them, so intent upon his 

 work that he did not notice the proximity of the boat. An 

 active campaign ensued, but the gaff hook proved too short, 

 and pursuer and pursued sank out of sight to be seen no 

 more. 



A friend who w T as fishing in Blackstone claims to have 

 fastened a fine maskallonge with a hand line. The fish fought 

 gamely for a time, but was gradually losing ground, when 

 all on a sudden the line stopped coming- in, and no amount 

 of pulling short of the breaking point could bring the fish 

 any nearer. Finally, in looking down through the clear 

 water the fisherman discovered that the fish had simply gone 

 to the bottom of the lake and grasped the limb of a sunken 

 tree in his teeth in such a way as to make his removal well 

 nigh impossible. The stubborn subject was finally pried 

 loose with an oar, and added to the trophies of the day. 



My partner tells of a man who sat in the stern of the boat 

 with him the morning he captured his first maskallonge. 

 The fish proved a gallant fighter, and once when he felt him- 

 self close to the boat gave a stroke with his powerful tail 

 which sent nearly a gallon of water dashing over the man in 

 the stern. The latter never moved a finger, but smiled a 

 peaceful smile of content, too happy in the situation to mind 

 any wetting that did not shut off his breathing, and quite 

 willing to take such a baptism every fifteen minutes in the 

 day if it only came from a similar source. 



Beginning with Lake Simcoe, the first of the lakes reached 

 on the journey northwood from Toronto, good muskallonge 

 fishing is said to be found in Kempenfeldt Bay, near Starva- 

 tion and Grape islands, and at other points. Maskallonge are 

 also found in Lakes Couchiching and St. John, and in Sev- 

 ern River and Sparrow Lake. The Moon River below Bala 

 (one of the points reached by the steamers of the M. & N. 

 Navigation Co.) is also quited noted for its maskallonge fish- 

 ing, aud some excellent scores have been made there. In a 

 word, any man who is a practical fisherman can hardly go 

 amiss in the Muskoka country if, after having entered it he 

 will make a little careful inquiry and exercise a little judg- 

 ment in mapping out his trip. 



A few words about black blass. This superior game fish 

 is indigenous to most of the lakes of the Muskoka country. 

 For his weight and inches he is the equal of any fresh-water 

 fish that swims in his capacity for yielding genuine sport 

 with the rod and line. The small-mouth seems to prefer live 

 or running water, with rocky or gravelly bottom ; while the 

 big-mouth is more of a pond fish, and. seems to thrive in 

 small bodies of water subject to less change, and to be com- 

 paratively well satisfied with soft or muddy bottoms. There 

 may be circumstances under which the latter is as good and 

 as gamy a fish as the former, but I am simply expressing an 

 individual opinion in stating the belief that, under average 

 conditions, the small-mouth is the gamier fish. But after 

 the first frosts of autumn have begun to paint the leaves and 

 chill the waters, a day with either is about as enjoyable fish- 

 ing as can well be conceived, We get so many preconceived 

 notions about fishing (especially about trout fishing) from 

 English authors, who do not know the black bass at all, 

 that people who fish for a living with their pens are always 

 overweighted with traditions and conventionalities about 

 trout fishing which inconsciously shape all our ideas and 

 conceptions about angling. But, thanks to Thad. Norris 

 and Hallock, and Dr. Henshall and later writers, we are 

 getting things pretty well straightened out. 



The black bass of the Muskoka region are mostly of the 

 small-mouth variety, judging from personal observation. 

 You meet them at various points in lakes Simcoe and Couchi- 

 ching along the Muskoka Lake and river, in the Moon River 

 below Bala, in the waters adjacent to Port Corling, in Lake 



Rosseau, and in the waters of both big and little "Joe," or 

 more properly speaking, Joseph. Blackstone and Crane 

 lakes are uncomfortably full of bass, so far as maskallonge 

 fishing goes. It was our experience that the black bass of 

 the latter lake in August were, the gamiest we had ever met. 

 What, they would be in the last half of September and early 

 part of October, should they grow correspondingly lively, it 

 would be hard to determine. A fish of two pounds weight 

 would drive a novice to desperation, and frequently escape 

 the landing net of the older fisherman after having played 

 havoc with his tackle. The bottoms of some of these, smaller 

 lakes, especially about their islands, are strewn with irregular 

 fragments of rock from the size of a cocoanut to a load of 

 hay, and while these make capital hiding places for the fish, 

 they are exceeding destructively on leaders, unless the tackle is 

 carefully handled. But the fish in these waters are so plenti- 

 ful, such free biters and gallant fighters when hooked, that the 

 presence of such obstacles only increase the pleasure and the 

 skill of the fishing. It is not very difficult to take fish in 

 smooth waters, with a thick pole and a trolling line, and cor- 

 respondingly not veiy enjoyable. 



As to bait, Iu all seasons, for bright or cloudy days, 

 clear or dark waters, nothing in my own experience has 

 proved equal to a live minnow for black bass. A fresh, act- 

 ive minnow, hooked through the nose with a No. 1 or 1-0 

 sproat hook, is a temptation which the average black base 

 can scarcely resist, whether he is hungry or not, and one 

 which, having accepted, he can scarcely escape if properly 

 handled. Next to the minnow come the frog, the crayfish, 

 and the angle worm in the order named. Frogs and crayfish 

 are easily transported, if there is likely to be serious difficulty 

 in procuring bait on the fishing grounds; but in all the Mus- 

 koka waters I have visited miunows are plentiful and easily 

 obtained with either net or fly -hook. Every submerged tree- 

 top forms a hiding place in which they may retreat from 

 their cannibal acquaintances, and where they may be picked 

 out by the hundreds. 



A friend informs me that the arrangements of the Northern 

 & Northwestern Railway Company, running northward from 

 Toronto to Muskoka Wharf, Collingwood, Meafford and 

 Penetang, aud of the Muskoka & Nipissing Navigation Com- 

 pany, from the first-named place to Bracebridge, Rosseau, 

 Port Cockburn, and all the points on the Muskoka lakes will 

 be more complete and extensive this season than ever before. 

 All the trains, both going and coming, are met by steamers 

 'at Muskoka wharf, and tourists destined to any point on the 

 lakes or contemplating a trip arouDd all of them, can ar- 

 range their time schedule with entire certainty. I hope to 

 hear of an increasing current of travel from the middle 

 Western States into the Muskoka country this coming season. 



Jay Bebe. 



Toledo, O., June 37, I8S5. 



THE FIRST TARPOM ON A ROD. 



Editor Fwest and Stream: 



In 1881, on the east coast of Florida, I heard that a very 

 large tarpom had been taken the year before by a Philadel- 

 phia angler with rod and reel, and I mentioned the fact in 

 print more than once. 



When the claim was made a few months ago for Mr. 

 Wood of New York, that he was the first to kill a tarpom 

 in this way, I wrote to Mr. S. H. Jones of Philadelphia, who 

 had been named as the successful angler, to inquire into the 

 particulars. 



Mr. Jones's death had occurred in the interim, and the 

 reply came from his son, Samuel H. Jones, of 315 Walnut 

 street, Philadelphia, stating that he was with his father aud 

 witnessed the capture, which occurred March 11, 1880, at 

 Fort Pierce Cut, Indian River Inlet, East Florida; time 

 occupied, two hours ; dimensions of fish, 6 feet 4$ inches 

 long, 41 inches girth, 21 inches length of tail; weight, 171 

 pounds; tackle used, an 18-thread line on a Moot rod with 

 a Buel spinner. The tarpom was taken from a boat, which 

 it towed some distance, and was finally secured with a pair 

 of grains. Thos. L. Paine, of St. Lucie, was the boatman, 

 whose affidavit as to the fact, as well as that of Mr. Jones, 

 can be procured if necessary. 



Now the record stands thus : 



Samuel H. Jones, of Philadelphia, March 11, 1880, Indian 

 River, one tarpom, weight 171 pounds. 



Matthew Quay, of Philadelphia, 1882, one tarpom weigh- 

 ing 38 pounds, taken at Charlotte Harbor, Fla. 



W. H. Wood, of New York, March, 1885, took on the 

 west coast of Florida, five tarpom, of average weight 101 

 pounds. 



So that Mr. Jones's fish was taken five years before Mr. 

 Wood's, and outweighed his largest specimen by 54 pounds. 



This is the old story which history constantly repeats, of 

 fame withheld or misapplied. Columbus discovers a new 

 world and the name of Amerigo is given to it. 



Fitch in 1788 propels a vessel by steam on the Delaware ; 

 in 1807 Fulton does the same thing on the Hudson, and 

 reaps the honor and profit of the invention. 



Dr. Long, of Georgia, used in 1842 sulphuric ether to pre- 

 vent pain in surgical operations. In 1846, Drs. Morton and 

 Jackson, of Boston, did the same thing, and got the credit 

 of being the discoverers of that beneficent process. 



History has omitted to tell us who killed the first salmon 

 on a rod; but in these days everything is made public, and 

 so let us give credit to whom credit is due, and admit that 

 Mr. S. H. Jones, of Philadelphia, killed the first and largest 

 tarpom that ever was captured with rod and reel, probably 

 also the largest and strongest fish ever taken in that way. 

 S. C. C. 



THE FISHERMAN'S SONG. 



[From the Italian, in San Francisco Wasp.] 

 VT7"E catena da salm* a da Sacarament, 



* * We eatcha da rock cod too ; 

 Da big wind blow on da Farraleon, 



No cara da fisherman crew. 



We sella da feesh, we geta da mon,t 



An 1 Shiga da song so jolly; 

 Sometima we eatcha da leefcj: sea gull 



To makea da chicken taraale. 



Da sturgeon he swinia da net a da reev, § 



He kicka da tail, I gass.|| 

 We eatcha da sturg' we sella da sturg— 



He makea da fine sea bass. 



Italino he geta no show sometime ; 



He makea da mon no plent;! 

 But he havea da fun, you betcher da life, 



When he fisha da Sacarament. 



♦Salmon. tMoney. ^Little. §The net in the river. IIQuess. TlP|enty. 



GANGING HOOKS. 



Editor Forest and StPeami: 



"J. W. T." asks if the expression "ganging hooks" is 

 "good form," aud with your permission f will say that it is, 

 and the result of the operation is a "gang" which is quite a 

 different bird from a snelled or snooded hook. As a gang 

 of elk or brant means more than one, so also a gang of hooks 

 means several, generally from seven to thirteen in a group. 

 In ganging hooks one, to use the more common expression, 

 makes a gang. When made, a gang is not to be trifled with 

 by fish or man. I once made about two dozen and put 

 three together in a wooden box and started on my an- 

 nual trip for lake trout. Theflrst time I had occasion to open 

 the box was after 1 had been traveling for several hours one 

 day, and in spite of a seal skin vest, greatcoat and rubber 

 coat was as cold as a brass image. I had caught a trout that 

 had broken the gang and went to the box for another. All 

 anglers have seen a box of angle worms in a solid mass — 1 

 say all anglers, for even those who "fish only with the fly" 

 were, at some period, boys— and that is the way those gangs 

 appeared to me. The box was unlike Pandora's, for there 

 was no hope left that I could straighten them out until there 

 was a change iu the weather or 1 found a hat store. I men- 

 tion this for the benefit of anglers who propose to engage in 

 "ganging hooks," 



1 can readily understand that "J. W. T." derives much 

 pleasure from snelling hooks in the manner that he describes, 

 but it strikes me that his process is too elaborate. At one 

 time I thought it necessary to heat the shank of a hook iu a 

 gas jet before whipping it, and I sometimes took the temper 

 from the steel in so doing. Besides, it was inconvenient to 

 take portable gas works into the woods or in a boat, in both 

 of which places I have tied many hooks. During the winter 

 I sncll a quantity of hooks, and as time is no object, I do 

 them as neatly as possible. When I am in a boat on the 

 water I tie a hook in much less time aud with scant cere- 

 mony, but the whipping is not a whit less strong. I use 

 nothing but tapered-shauk hooks, and when on the water I 

 find it necessary to snell a hook or make a gang, I tie 

 the gut in a dry state and often without denting or crimping 

 it, and I will warrant that a hook so tied will give way by 

 the breaking of gut or hook before the whipping will yield. 

 The few turns of silk around the bare shank answers the 

 purpose of the marked hooks; the dry gut swells a little when 

 soaked, making the whipping still more secure, for 1 use no 

 shellac to finish hooks tied in an emergency. 



Mr. Leopold very kindly sent me sample of his wax, and 

 very good wax it is. It is clearer and softer than such as I. 

 use, but I do not find it more adhesive. Fly-tyers do not 

 soak gut lengths before tying a fly, and really t do not see 

 the need of it. I soak the gut and loop it and then I twitch 

 it until dry, when I put it iu my tackle book for use on the. 

 water or into my drawer for use at home. I used a small 

 hand vise for years when I snelled hooks, but now I only 

 use it to hold the hooks while I sharpen the points with a 

 fine file, and when whipping the hook hold it with thumb 

 and finger of one hand. My work may be summed up thus: 

 The hooks I tie at home are tied for grandeur and to catch 

 fish, those I tie while fishing are tied simply to catch fish. 

 While not quite so handsome the last have all the business 

 qualifications of the first. If one does not object to handling 

 fish, "craws," dobson, frogs or other bait, a little wax on the 

 fingers that can easily be removed ought not to be a serious 

 objection to using fly-tyers wax, which is certainly effective. 



A. N. C. 



Glens Falls, N. Y. 



FISHING FOR STRIPED BASS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In reply to the inquiry as to the method employed to catch 

 the striped bass or rockfish, in the New Jersey bays: As 

 these fish run in from the sea and take to the deep channels, 

 and never come out on what is known as "the flats" to feed, 

 they are angled for in the evenings when a full tide occurs, 

 which will allow them to come fe&o the holes near to a sedge 

 bank in search of soft crabs, which have come there to shed. 

 A clear, sandy spot is chosen free from weeds, and the fish- 

 erman having pushed his boat well into the grass, casts his 

 bait into the hole, and with a stout rod and reel holding fifty 

 yards of line, patiently awaits the bass. If many fish have 

 come into the bay, it will not be long before their approach 

 will be known by a vigorous tug at his line, and then the fun 

 begins. No float is used, but a slight sinker is attached to 

 the line to hold the bait on the bottom in places where the 

 tide runs swift. One drawback to this sort of fishing is the 

 continual biting of eels, and when soft crabs are scarce they 

 become a nuisance. Old Dad Parker, at Barnegat City, is 

 a good hand to secure to pilot one in this sort of fishing, and 

 John Marshall or Sammy Smith, at Beach Haven, will do 

 like work. The writer has taken several ten-pounders with 

 Johu Marshall at Parker's Sedge at the latter place. Late in 

 August is the best time, although I learn that some have 

 already been taken at Barnegat Bay. Homo. 



Philadelphia, June 28. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



If there is any tide in the pond to be fished, let the angler 

 try squids, if he can obtain them. Use hooks from 6-0 to 

 10-0, according to the size of the fish to be caught. Ar- 

 range two hooks on a leader, either gut or common linen 

 line, say 12 or 15 thread; have the hooks about 4 inches 

 apart, both on the same leader. Enter the lower hook an 

 inch back from the tail of the squid and the other hook iu 

 whatever place it comes on the squid. If the squid ex- 

 ceeds 6 inches in length the hooks should be spread further 

 apart, or else use three hooks and tie the head of the squid 

 down to the line. For a line and reel he will find a 12 or 15 

 thread of 600 to 900 feet a good all-round line for bass fish- 

 ing. 1 find 15-thread the most serviceable. Use reel by any 

 good maker with capacity for the line, and select a rod of 

 from 8-J to 9£ feet. I would suggest one capable of lifting 

 6 pounds dead weight. 1 have used quite a number of rods 

 of different lengths during the past eighteen years, costing 

 from f 6 to $30, made of most of the wood used in rod 

 making, and of various lengths and weights, and I have 

 found that for a rod for general bass fishing one made of a 

 bamboo without any joint (for a whole rod) 7 feet 8 inches 

 in length and capable of lifting 8 pounds dead weight suits 

 me the best. Many would call this a club, but I find that 

 when fast to a bass of from 25 to 40, pounds it is' none too 

 stiff to handle well. Last season I took 243 bass weighing 

 from 3 to 56 pounds, and I used the rod mentioned. Its 

 cost was $2.63. 1 make my rods myself. 



After paying out twenty-five to thirty feet of line the fish- 

 erman should impart a darting motiou to his bait, by drop- 

 ping the point of his rod to within about a foot of the water 



