Am. 13, 1885. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



49 



a pleasant row, enlivened witk laughter, song and iest, we 

 were soon anchored over one of the best spots, the poles were 

 jointed, the lines stning, and with a "blessing" the hooks were 

 cast to try our chances in getting fish for supper. Soon a 

 reel began to buzz, the line played him, and then the fish 

 made frantic efforts to escape, now breaking in a brilliant 

 flash of light and water, now diving far under the boat; but 

 all to no avail. But soon he was landed and flapping in the 

 creel hung over the gunwale, and "first blood" was scored 

 for the Wanderer. 



The Lawyer, the Engineer and the Horse Marine each had 

 their share of luck. The Horse Marine succeeded in getting 

 good and wet as he sat in the stern sheets, and a comber 

 came over and nearly fiJled the boat. The Lawyer shared a 

 like fate, as the bovvs caught another as we tui-ned to leave 

 for home; but hunger and "wetness" are both "fisherman's 

 luck," as we all know, and so long as we had the fish we 

 cared little for the concomitants. " As we were fishing for 

 fun and for ' 'gi-ub" and not for count, we were easily satis- 

 fled with our catch; and to dawdle, loaf, smoke, joke and 

 laugh were as fully enjoyable for us as to land the great- 

 est fish or the greatest number. So in the early twilight we 

 hauled up the anchor and pulled away for home, leisurely 

 rowing, too full of enjoyment to hurry or exert ourselves. 

 At home it was a labor of love to cook our own supper. One 

 went for milk, another for water, a third built the fire while 

 the Wanderer cleaned the fish. Each had a finger in the pie ; 

 and from experience gained by other camp fires, we soon 

 had a smoking hot supper, and too many cooks did not 

 spoil the broth. And then, perhaps, the fisherman's hun- 

 ger was not a sauce piquant! Fish, potatoes, pork, bread, 

 coffee and the rest, disappeared as if by magic, leaving the 

 office of bottle washer— to which the Lawyer had been elected 

 by acclamation — a sinecure. Jack Sprat and his illustrious 

 wife could not have outdone us in our efforts. There was 

 nothing left to swear by. Supper over and our shanty righted 

 up. what more enjoyable than to lounge in the moonlight, 

 gently fanned by the cool evening breeze. Not a trouble, 

 not a care, not even a "skeeter" was there to disturb our 

 peace and enjoyment. From afar over the water came the 

 sounds of music from passing pleasure parties, and from be- 

 yond the lights of Fall River glowed and twinkled. 



To salute passing steamers is one of "the things" of sum- 

 mer seaside life. So we brought out oxir cannon, a rehc of 

 the early days of the Wanderer's efforts in the mechanical 

 line. It was loaded and made ready to salute tlie steamer as 

 she passed; and now as we see her light, with a flash and 

 roar we send her our greeting; but the contrary wind i)re- 

 vents her hearing, and we fail to get the usual answering 

 greeting of three short blasts of her whistle. Later the 

 seductive game of "Blue Peter" claimed our attention, the 

 Engineer showing his skill in getting the blue bean the most 

 frequenlly; but cards are a soiry amusement for tired and 

 sleepy fishermen, so we are soon fast asleep, after mature 

 and serious consideration of how, where and with whom 

 each one was to woo the drowsy god. 



The Horse Marine confesses to being a lover of music, and 

 agrees that the "SweetBye and Bye" or "In the Morning" may 

 be veiy lovely under favorable circumstances; he also con- 

 fesses to a love for sleep in the early morning, even though 

 the early reveille has summoned him to life and action day 

 after day in camp or on the march. But to have reveille 

 sounded' on a tin pan, accompanied by the dulcet strains of 

 the Wanderer, whose voice is like a bu?;z saw in a knotty 

 stick, and that too after he had, as he thought, been asleep 

 for only five minutes, was too much. But such was the 

 morning's greeting at the "Narrows." The sun was shining 

 brightly, the breeze blowing softly, the waves dancing 

 merrily, but all was made hideous by the infernal din that 

 awoke us to a new dsy, and fi'ightened everj^ bird within a 

 mile into an awed silence . To chuck a boot at the Wanderer 

 was the first motion, to lazily yawn, stretch and finally dress 

 the nest. 



But the Lawyer, too, appears to be in trouble, and muttered 

 thunder from his direction tells of grief and rage. He had 

 left his clothes out over night to dry after his wetting, and 

 is wondering "why the devil they are wetter now than when 

 he hung 'em up, you know." Had he seen the Engineer 

 take them and dip them in the bay while yet the Lawyer 

 was asleep he would not have looked so anxiously for sign 

 of rain, nor wondered at the heavy dew. And again had he 

 examined his boots before putting them on he would not 

 have run his toes into the jaws of a crab, dropped there over 

 night by the Horse Marine. 



But "every cloud has its silver lining," and the early birds 

 are soon forgiven for their unseemly hours and levity, all 

 wrath being soothed by the smoking hot breakfast that now 

 awaits us all. Our plans for the day are soon made, but 

 while waiting for the tide to serve, other amusements than 

 fishing claim our attention. 



The Engineer is also a maniac on the subject of photo- 

 graphy, and among our plunder are his camera and outfit. 

 So he gets ready for action while we rig lines and hooks 

 and prepare bait for the day's campaign. And now we pose, 

 a lovely group on the porch of our shanty. It is a wonder 

 the glass was not cracked, we are such an array of beauty, 

 but as he shoots us off instantaneously, perhaps there was 

 not time for the plate to get full benefit, and so it escaped 

 annihilation.* Other groups follow, and in one the Lawyer 

 comes up with clam hoe in hand and the look of a fiend in 

 his eye, ready to utterly demolish the Horse Marine, who all 

 unconscious leans on an oar, supported by the Wanderer. 

 Pleasant mementoes these pictures will make, however, so 

 we all gracefully submit to be "took." A target-pistol was 

 also with our plunder, and the Horse Marine having a "craze 

 on the shoot," that weapon of offense on the bullsej^e is 

 brought out, and we try our skill at hitting clam shells, 

 weeds, bottles, etc. The Horse fllarine succeeded in driving 

 the tack at about ten feet, and managed to hit the side of a 

 barn occasionally, but om- ammunition giving out and the 

 tide serving right, we were now off again with a white ash 

 breeze for our fishing ground. 



Good luck awaits us, and whizzing reels, twanging lines 

 and flapping fish, with now and then a dash of spray over 

 all of us by way of variety, make the hours pass quickly, 

 till the Wanderer and the Horse Marine have had enough 

 and are put on shore with clam basket and hoe to dig for 

 clams as the tide goes out, for four himgry fishermen must be 

 filled, and we are going to have clam chowder for dinner. 

 The basket tilled, the two saunter along the beach, leaving 

 the clams for the boat to bring home while the Wanderer 

 and Horse Marine idly saunter toward home. On the way 

 they encounter several pleasant parties, and at last the 

 Ancient Mariner himself, or his first cousin but once 



* This "chestnut" alDout the cracked camera was originally plucked 

 by Daguerre in his youthful days. 



removed, who lives in a hut by the beach and must be over 

 eighty years old. But tough and hearty is he yet, and 

 regales the listener with many a weird yarn of tinaes gone 

 by. And so the day goes by, one long delight of sunshine, 

 breeze, and salt sea air enough to take the histe and flavor of 

 alkali and sage from the Herse Murine ; the sun sinks in a 

 blaze of glory, the pleastire yachts are seen returning to their 

 harbors, and* the four boys are home once more, fish creel 

 full and anchored out, while dinner is discussed and the 

 events of the day talked over. 



Day follows day with but a repetition of delight. No care 

 nor sorrow burdens any one, and pleasure and healthful life 

 are the blessings of aU. But time goes on apace, and all too 

 soon it is time for us once more to don (he garb of civilization 

 and return to our several vocations. 



Our horse has enjoyed his rest as well as we, and stamps 

 impatient to be gone as be is put in harness, and soon we 

 are once more bowling homeward, taking with us renewed 

 vigor for our daily life, as well as pleasant memories of our 

 trip. As we rise over the hill the bay flashes to us a parting 

 glance from sparkling wave, as lovely as was its welcome, 

 as lovely as would be its welcome in time to come, when 

 again we may greet it for another outing. 



One of the Boys. 



Connecticut River Sat^mon in 1730.— The bestfishing 

 grounds in the river in early days were probably at the falls 

 between Suflield and Enfleld. The following record, clipped 

 from proof sheets of Suflield's "Documentary History," 

 seems to disprove the tradition of the superabundance of sal- 

 mon in the Connecticut River at least 150 years ago, the 

 price of salmon per pound being twenty times "that of shad, 

 estimating the latter at four pounds' weight each : "At a 

 legal meeting of ye freeholders and other inhabitants of Suf- 

 field on December ye 4th, 1730. 1st, Capt, John Kent was 

 chosen Moderatour of sd meeting. 2dly. Voted, that the 

 petitioners ye owners of ye fish Dam have ye priveledge they 

 petition for that is to say the Town are willing for it pro- 

 vided ye sd owners sell salmon at five pence pr pound, and 

 shad at a penny apiece, and that they will not barrill up any 

 for a market when any of ye Town appear with any venda- 

 ble pay to take them off for their own use, and that the own- 

 ers put one Hundred pounds security into the Town Treasur- 

 er's hands for the Town's security for the fulfillment of the 

 above sd, when they sd owners have a grant of the G-eneral 

 Court, and ye security to be given to ye Treasurer before 

 nine o'clock to-night. Test, John Kent, Jacob Hatha- 

 way, Samll. Copley, Richard Woolworth, William Halla- 

 day, Nathaniel Hall, non-voter, Samuel Roe, Samll. Hatha- 

 way, Peter Roe, John Roe. Entred their Decents ajcainstye 

 above written Vote, December ye 14th, 1730. Then Received 

 of Eight of ye owners of ye fish Dam a bond of one Hundred 

 pounds according to ye above sd vote, pr me .Joseph King 

 Town Treasurer." — Hartford Courant. 



How TO Catch Cbatfish. — Take thirty to fifty osier 

 twigs, or spUt white ash sticks, according to the size used, 

 and three feet in length, form a bundle of the whole and 

 bind at each end with strong cord or wire, separate the 

 twigs or splints in the center of the bundle by means of 

 sticks, ten, fifteen and twenty inches long, and forked at each 

 end, so when in place the trap will be spindle-like in shape, 

 with the twigs evenly distributed about its circumference 

 and center, and far enou.gh apart to allow easy entrance for 

 the fish, but from which they will not readily escape. 

 Bait the inside with fresh meat of any kind, only see that it 

 is fresh an4 bloody, if possible; set the same with the current 

 in running water; if blood can be procured, pour a pint or 

 so on the bait, it will taint the sti-eam for a long distance, I 

 have watched crayfish in great numbers follow up the track 

 or scent thus made from thirty rods below the trap, and have 

 known six and eight quarts taken at a single lilt. Should 

 one desire a more substantial and comel.y rig, it can be made 

 by driving a smooth, stout stick lengthwise through the cen- 

 ter of the bundle, slide the tied ends down on the stick until 

 the whole bulges to a diameter of twenty inches or more in 

 the center, fasten the tied ends of the "twigs to the center 

 stick, put three hoops of proper size over the whole and 

 fasten with fine copper wire. In order to make hiding places 

 for the crayfish and so retain them in the trap, numbers of 

 the twigs should also trav(!rse it in various directions. — Dr. 

 E, STERLiNa (Cleveland, O.). 



The Paradise Fish.— Mr. Hugo Mulertt, of Cincinnati, 

 writes of this fish to the editor of the Scientific American as 

 follows: "In your paper of July 11. you print an article on 

 the paradise fish. The writer, in praising this really beauti- 

 ful and interesting little fish, goes even so far as to 'hope 

 that they may be introduced into American waters.' Five 

 years ago I imported six pair of two varieties of paradise fish 

 {Macropodiis ■oemtstus and M. viHdi au-raim). I have since 

 that time raised many thousands of young ones from these, 

 and am perfectly acquainted with their habits of nest build- 

 ing, their still more interesting way of rearing thek young, 

 their fighting qualities, and also their diseases. I therefore 

 hope that the Lord may prevent another experiment, which 

 no doubt would prove as fatal to this countiy as that made 

 with the English sparrow. The paradise fish are as fully, if 

 not more, destructive to fish eggs, young fish, and fish food, 

 than our native sticklebacks, darters, and the small varieties 

 of sunfishes; they destroy without any other compensation 

 than their beautiful colors and interesting habits, which, 

 however, are only observable when the fish is kept in a glass 

 vessel. Those interested in this subject I respectfully refer 

 to an illustrated article on the paradise fish, printed Aug. 11, 

 1881, in FottBST and Steeam." 



Colorado Trottt.— Topeka, Kan.— Allow me to thank 

 "Kokomo" for his information in regard to Colorado trout 

 streams, and best flies and sizes of hooks. Although I am 

 not quite a novice at fly-fishing, still I am one as "concerns 

 Colorado waters. The streams "Kokomo" mentions, with 

 the addition of Poncha Creek, were fished by myself some 

 nine years ago, but without flies. The leading habit of the 

 trout was to take all he could get, from a bare hook to a 

 small elephant. One half-pound fellow took my grasshopper 

 three different times, and lost it each time before I could 

 land him. At his fourth rush I hooked him hard and ele- 

 vated him with vigor, and last seen of him he was taking an 

 aerial voyage across the mountains toward Saguache.— H. B. 



Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 4.— Fishing is spoiled by the 

 exceedingly hot weather. The flshing law is constantly 

 violated and nets are in every stream and lake. It is such 

 an abortion nobody could be convicted under it. He could 

 always slip out of some loophole made by the exceptions. — 



St. Lawrence River Association.— Clayton. N. Y., 

 Augusts, 1885,— The annual meeting of the" St, Lawrence 

 River Anglers' Association was held at Clayton to-night, 

 and the following oflicers were elected for the coming 

 year: President— .John Flanagan, of Utica. Vice-President- 

 Charles G. Emery, New York. Second Vice-President— 



G. M. Skinner, Clayton. Secretary— W. W. Byington, 

 Albany. Treasurer— W. W. Storry, Albany. Executive 

 Committee- J. H. Quimby, Albany; M. P. Bush, Buffalo; 



H, P. Warren, Rochester; Theodore Butterfield, Utica; J. 

 H. Brownlow. Ogdensburg; C. H. Ballou, Utica; H. S. 

 Chandler. W. C. Harris, A. R. Norton and A. D. Williams, 

 New York; H. E. Morse, Clayton; W. O. Deshler. Colum- 

 bus, Ohio; W. H, Thomson, Alexandria Bay; F. E. Corn- 

 stock, Rome; E, H. Britton, Kingston, Ont, ; James T. 

 Storry. Albany; James Eaton and" 0. Greenman. Utica. 

 F. M, Danaher, of Albany, was elected advisory counsel of 

 the association. The treasurer reported .$1,100 on hand, 

 which it was decided should be used in protecting the river 

 from illegal fishing. The chairman of Ihe executive com- 

 mittee reported eighty-seven nets captured and destroyed by 

 the river game protectors during the year. As a conse- 

 quence there is very little illegal fishing being done this 

 season, and bass fishing is now better than it has been before 

 in five years. The Anglers hold their annual picnic next 

 Tuesday. 



Trout in the Sancho Pogho,— San Luis Obispo, Cal., 

 July 21— Editor Furest and Stream: The Forest and 

 Streaji is more welcome to me now than at any time in the 

 past, as I am compelled to keep close to business and can 

 only follow the chase or cast for trout in recalling the past. 

 Mr, Lawton, C, W. Dana and several others had an outing 

 for a week from this place and captured over two thousand 

 trout seventy miles from here, at a creek called Sancho 

 Pogho. AU their friends had a feast on their return. Of 

 course that fired the other fishermen and another party was 

 organized, with Dr. French as leader and John Gaxiola as 

 high fly manipulator extraordinary, and on their return a 

 big catch was again recorded and all friends again were 

 feasted. The quail are very numerous, and are an injury to 

 the crops in and about twelve miles of this city. Doves are 

 very abundant and I have had plenty presented to me by 

 shooters. Some years ago carp were placed in a body of 

 water at Morro Bay, eight miles from here; they are veiy 

 large now. and before long T intend using a spoon on them. 

 I can well remember the time when I was laughed at for 

 casting for bass with a fly in Minnesota, and again on the 

 Columbia River trolhng with a spoon for salmon. But it is 

 an old story now. I am confident that, with all things 

 favorable, I can capture carp with, a spoon. — W. P. C. 



The Mountain Home Club.— At a meeting held in New 

 York on Friday last this club was organized. The following 

 officers were elected : .President. Hon. Warner Miller ; Vice- 

 Presidents, Hon. William M. Evarts and Charles A. Dana; 

 Secretary, Fred Mather: Treasurer, Clarence M. Roof. The 

 Board of Directors for the first year will consist of the above 

 named officers and Gen. R. U. Sherman, of the N. Y. Fish 

 Commission. The club will purchase all the real estate and 

 personal property of Hon. O. B. Matteson in Herkimer 

 county, N. Y., including Wilmurt and part of Big Rock 

 lakes, the large club house, the furniture, horses, carriages, 

 boats, icehouses and lodge, and about 3,500 acres of timber 

 land. It will also buy the "Ballou tract" of about 3,400 acres, 

 including part of Pine Lake and several miles of the east 

 branch of West Canada Creek, and will control by lease the 

 whole of township No. 30, including about 15,000 acres and 

 some dozen more lakes. AX the start the membership will 

 be limited to twenty with privilege of increasing to thirty. 

 The region is well stocked with fish and game and is very 

 easy to protect, as access to the territory is only possible 

 through Wilmurt Lake. Several gentlemen have applied 

 for membership and it is expected that the club will soon fill. 

 The membership fee is $3,500, and assessments are limited 

 to $100 per year. 



The Canada Suntjay Fishino Case.— Montreal, Aug. 8. 

 — Sir Roderick Cameron has not submitted tamely to the fine 

 imposed upon him by one of the inspectors of the Marine and 

 Fishery Department for "killing salmon on Sunday," and 

 has presumably by the advice of his fellow-transgressor. 

 Judge Henry, appealed from the fine of |10. The grounds 

 of the appeal are that the prohibitory provision is merely an 

 economic one, covering the Sabbath day for the convenience 

 and protection of the fishermen who are emploj'ed working 

 the nets on the lower St. Lawrence, and has no reference 

 whatever to Sabbath observance, and that it is founded in 

 the public interest, as it slackens the severe strain of con- 

 tinuous netting. An ex-Minister of Fisheries has written a 

 letter to the press on the question in which h.e says: "Sir 

 Roderick Cameron's defense in appeal should not only acquit 

 him of the fine and reproof, and exonerate the narrowly es- 

 caping Judge, but it should also occasion the immediate re- 

 peal of the obnoxious and unlawful regulation. Even if it 

 was legal, the power of a fishery guardian or warden does 

 not extend to inflicting fines for its enforcement." — Evening 

 Post. 



Minnesota Bass. — Hastings, Iowa, Aug. 5. — Will Mr. H. 

 P. Ufford kindly give the dimensions of the Bethabara rod 

 he mentioned in last week's issue, length of second joint and 

 tip and size at ferrules and oblige. I spent three weeks of 

 June bass fishing in Minnesota at Lake Madison and adjoin- 

 ing lakes in Blue Earth county. Had good success with 

 frogs, also took some with fly-rod. The grizzly king seemed 

 to be their favorite as they were feeding on dragon flies. — 

 HoLLOw^ Rib. 



Address all communioations to the Forest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Co. 



THE SHAD. 



IN the repoi't of the Pennsylvania Msh Commission for 1883- 

 '84 we find the following paper on the shad, by D. W. 

 Seller, Esq., of Harrisbm-g, secretary of the State Agricultural 

 Society: 



•'Tins, of all other fish is one, the supply of which for years 

 has not equalled the demand. How to increase the catch and 

 supply cheap food is a question of the greatest importance to 

 the people, and one that the Commission is doubtless most 

 anxious to accomplish. 



"To discuss this question properly it is necessary to go back 

 I to the times when there were no obstructions in om- rivers, 

 I and when the farmers and others for a distance of fifty miles 



