290 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 5, 1886. 



FISHING ABOUT MT. WHITNEY. 



IN the southeast corner of CaliforDia Mt. Whitnej' looms 

 into the sky. It is the climax and the crown of the 

 Sierras, that in this neighborhood tower in lofty and majes- 

 tic altitudes, reaching, in Whitney, the hi.ehest elevation in 

 the United States. From Yosemite southward for over 100 

 miles the Sierras lift to an average altitude of 13,000 feet; a 

 noble line of luminous mountains, presenting an universal 

 scene of splendor, here and there glorified ty glistening peaks 

 that, wrapped in eternal ice, pierce the lofty heavens. 



As seen from the great Owens Lake Valley, which lies 

 just to the east of the Sierras, these mountains present a 

 panorama of scenery unequalled elsewhere on the continent, 

 ia their might and mass and grandeur. 



The depth of awful canons, the face of mighty cliflfs, the 

 uplift of rugged and unapproachable heights are carved 

 against that western horizon. 



Here, though but a parcel of the region we have spoken 

 of, is a world of beauty and interest, full of attractions for 

 the tourist and the sportsman, more particularly the fisher- 

 man, though he who aspires to larger game may pursue his 

 desire to the full. The indolent tourist to whom the ele- 

 gance of the palace ear is wearisome has no part in this 

 vigorous place, where lofty summits are to be scaled, deep 

 precipices overlooked and the fierce wilderness penetrated. 

 Here each hour calls for exertion and vigor. Yet to him 

 who dares it and overcomes, as he sits down at last on some 

 lofty seat, soaring in the sky and overlooking the world, 

 what splendid exhilaration of the mind and of all the senses 

 fill up his experience as the mountain winds cool the brow 

 and he bares his head in very presence of the sun. 



Looking toward the east, Mt. Whitney peers into the dim 

 reaches of the mighty desert region that culminates in the 

 Great American Desert of the geographers. His eastern 

 face is sheer and swift, lifting in an almost perpendicular 

 wall from the mass of the general range. From the east he 

 is unapproachable. Not so on the west, for here the moun- 

 tains spread into vast spaces, and as they spread become 

 creations of beauty and interest. 



At Whitney's western base are spread out an exquisite 

 area of meadows known as the Monache Meadows— high- 

 land valleys set amid the snowy summits, green with grasses 

 and musical with streams. Through them the Kern River 

 slowly creeps, for these valleys, though upon the very apex 

 of the mountains, are as level as a floor. 



It is impossible to describe the majestic and lovely frame 

 in which these meadows are set. About them in graceful 

 attitudes and eloquent with power rise into the deep blue 

 heavens tlie hoary peaks massed and piled in the skj^ and 

 suggestive of imperishable strength, and there as we look 

 they lead forth in splendid procession into the dim distance, 

 peak rising on peak, gorge linked to gorge, until the distant 

 heavens are crowded with august shapes. But the scene is 

 not all grandeur, for in many a delicious nook grace and 

 beauty find a hiding place, where the deep cool woods lift 

 their shining leaves, delicate flowers paint the earth with 

 exquisite colors, clear waters dash and sing, and the silent 

 pools all day long reflect the bending sky and duplicate the 

 delicate buds that bloom along their rim. 



This is the fisherman's paradise, for stream and pool on 

 every hand aie filled with all varieties of mountain trout, 

 from the swift brook dweller darting like lightning from 

 riffle to riffle to his lazier brother of the pool and lake. 



In the number of streams and lakes within a defined terri- 

 tory, in the numbers of fish inhabiting the waters and in the 

 matter of ease with which they are taken, it is, without 

 doubt, the finest fishing field in America to-day, and so re- 

 markable in every respect that it will well repay even the 

 sportsman of the East to spend a summer here. The brook 

 trout inhabiting the icy streams that rush down the swift 

 mountain slopes do not, as a rule, exceed ten inches in 

 length, but the lake and river trout grow to be of great size 

 and weight in individual instances, though an average string 

 of lake trout would run from one to three pounds each. It 

 needs no especial skill to here land the shining beauties. 

 Protected as this high region is from intrusion except during 

 the summer months, the fish are as yet unsuspecting of man's 

 intent, and though vigorous and active and on the alert, as 

 is their nature, they are not wild. A quiet fisherman with- 

 out toil can here hook, in the course of a few hours on any 

 day more than he wishes to carry to his camp. 



There is found here a pecuhar variety of trout, found, as 

 we are advised, at no other point in the world, and they have 

 as yet received neither scientific place nor name. They are 

 called the "golden trout," and have their home in the head- 

 waters of Whitney Creek, a cold, wild stream that heads in 

 the ice fields of Mt. Whitney, and dashes and roars and 

 foams over and across the swift slopes, to be lost at last in 

 Kern River. These beautiful fish are seldom more than 

 eight inches in length, and are of a bright golden color, as 

 purely golden as if they were incased in gold foil. They 

 are exceedingly active, swift and hardy, with a flesh white, 

 hard and juicy and of most exquisite flavor. They are more 

 sought for tlian the other varieties here on account of their 

 delicate flesh. 



They are by a most curious and beautifully ordered pro- 

 vision of nature protected in their original species. As we 

 have said, their home is in the headwaters of Whitney Creek. 

 Just below their home are high, precipitous walls, over 

 which the creek leaps with the might and roar of the fall. 

 These falls form an impassable harrier between the fish above 

 and below— at least prevent the fish below from ascending 

 and mingling with those above. Now and then a golden 

 trout escaping down and over the wall has mingled wfth the 

 sijecies below, and frequently there is hooked a fish in whom 

 is mixed the qualities and color's of the speckled and golden 

 trout. 



For some 3^ears past during each summer a number of 

 those who live in the valleys to the etist, more especiafly 

 those in the Owen's Lake valley, have spent a few weeks in 

 this section, and it has a great local fame which is enlarging 

 its circle each year, and we doubt not that from its presence 

 at the base of the highest mountain in the United States it 

 will ere long command as much attention and attract to it 

 as great a number of those to whom mountains are an attrac- 

 tion and the pursuits of the rod and line a delight as 

 losemite and the already famed resorts of California. 



Until within the year just past the remoteness and inac- 

 cessibility of this portion of the State prevented much notice 

 being taken of it, although it had been rumored abroad that 

 there were here great natural wonders and m-auy attractions 

 for the tourist. A two days' and nights' weai V nd« across 

 a tearful and desolate -waste by way of the Mojave Desert 

 closed the gate between the world and these wonders 



'This, has all passed away, for the Carson and Colorado 

 Railroad, which connects by way of the Virginia and 

 Truckee Railroad with the Central Pacifle Railroad at Reno 



Nev., extends to Owens Lake, in the Owens Lake Valley, 

 abreast of Mt. Whitney, and just under its shadow. Leav- 

 ing the Central Pacific Railroad at Reno in the morning, 

 one by way of the Virginia and Tnickee and Carson and 

 Colorado Railroads, can on the morning succeeding be landed 

 at the historic village of Lone Pine, which is distant but 

 fifty miles from the summit of Mt. Whitney and is the point 

 where outfits and guides are to be obtained for atrip into 

 the region we have described. Here at fair rates are to be 

 obtained mules, attendants and guides, and all necessary 

 provisions and necessaries for a camp in the mountains. 

 Starting in the early morning, an advance is leisurely made 

 into the mountains a distance of some twenty-five miles. 

 Though this distance is made whDe the afternoon is still 

 young, it has been the custom for years to here make camp, 

 for wood and water and grass are abundant and the ground 

 just adapted to a pleasant camp. 



The wear of the first day's ride usually enables the rider to 

 give his ready assent to an early camp, and when one dis- 

 mounts and from his high platform looks off across the vast 

 sweep of the mighty eastern deserts below him and the awful 

 ranges of bare and burning desert mountains and turns to 

 the west to catch the rosy light from off the summits of the 

 Sierras, in whose presence he is, and hears the dash of the 

 mountain stream, he leans upon the mountain slope filled 

 with wonder and delight as he is informed by his guide that 

 what he now sees is not even a suggestion of 'the splendors to 

 be disclosed on the moriow. A second day by steady climb 

 ever upward,, upward as if you were to reach the very door 

 of heaven, until in the early afternoon you scale the summit 

 and dive into the wonderful region about Whitney's base, 

 choosing where you may establish your camp, from which 

 day after day, without tire or weariness, you go forth to ad- 

 venture and sport. Each day is so full of delight, the senses 

 ravished with scenes of such glorious and indescribable 

 grandeur and beauty, the frame nourished by the sweetness 

 of the high, pure airs and the mind freed from care left to 

 drift with the influences of the place, that we scarce take 

 note of time Hntil the waning summer warns us that we must 

 away. 



It is impossible to more than hint at and suggest the 

 reaUties of so great a region, and here is just the quarrel with 

 o\iT powers, for if we could but sketch it as it exists, its 

 mountain slopes and heights and canons and woods would 

 he crowded with astonished yet delighted thousands, crowd- 

 ing all the avenues of this wild and grand pleasure ground 

 of the West. 



We have traveled through all the Pacific States and visited 

 the many noted and really wonderful sceneries to be found 

 there, and we can truly say that at no point have we found 

 one that in itself combines so much of all the elements of 

 interest as found here around the base and foot of Mt. 

 Whitney. Geo. T, Mills. 



Carson City, Nevada. 



BLACK BASS FLY-FISHING. 



I WAS much iDtere,sted and pleased with an article by 

 "Percyval," under the above heading, in the Fueest 

 AND Stream of Oct. 33, and 1 quite agree'with him that it 

 would be well to exchange ideas on the subject. I, for one, 

 would be glad to hear what some of the more skilled and ex- 

 perienced anglers have to say in regard to fly-fishing for 

 bass. , 



For some time past I have given considerable attention to 

 the manufacture of my own bass flies, and have experimented 

 with them every season for the past ten years on the Bay of 

 Quinte, Ontario. The waters of this beautiful bay are ad- 

 mirably adapted to the propagation of this noble fish, with 

 which it is abundantly supplied, thanks to the vigilant and 

 energetic inspector, Mr. Charles Wilkins. I have angled in 

 the Bay of Quinte every year, say, since 1875, for two or 

 three weeks at a time, and during that period have used bait 

 on three or four occasions only, for the reason that I do not 

 care for bait-fishing when 1 can getfly shing, and 1 have met 

 with such success with the fly that this alone was sufficient 

 to induce me to continue with what I knew from experience 

 to be the most satisfactory method of angling for black bass. 

 At any rate, I would prefer to catch six bass with a fly to 

 two dozen with bait, and what true angler would not? 1 use 

 my own made flies ou all occasions, and may say that I have 

 fished with gentlemen who were acknowledged to be good 

 fishermen, and who used the best bass flies they could ob- 

 tain, and I do not know of many instances when they were 

 more successful than I was. This may sound like "blowing 

 your own horn," but 1 assure you I am not saying it with 

 that intention. I wish merely to establish the fact that there 

 seems to be no settled or fixed rule for fly-fishing for bass, 

 so far as the particular color and style of fly is concerned. 

 This may be said, at all events, as regards the Bay of Quinte 

 and Sharbot Lake, where I fished last season. 



I make my flies somewhat roughly and according to no 

 pattern. The most killing bass flies that I use are composed 

 of green bodies with yeflow wings; red bodies, gold tinsel 

 and brown wings; yellow bodies with black wings; red 

 bodies, silver thread and scarlet and dark brown wings. 

 These flies are tied on No. 6 sproat hooks for casting and 

 on No. 4 hooks for trolling; in the latter case I use also pea- 

 cock hackle. I have known fishermen laugh when they first 

 saw my flies, and heard them remark, "You surely do not 

 expect to catch anything with those flies. Here, try some of 

 mine; these are from New York," etc., etc. I have repUed, 

 "No, thank you; not at present. Until I see that yours take 

 better than mine I prefer to stick to my own." And I have 

 generally managed to make quite as good a haul as my 

 skilled friend with his celebrated New York, Boston or 

 Chicago flies, neatly tied and certainly far better made flies 

 than mine. 



Persons desirous of having really good bass fishing would 

 do well to pay a visit to the Bay of Quinte, at almost any 

 time from the end of May to the end of September. They 

 will find good hotel accommodations at Belleville (quarter of 

 a mile from the bay) and can hire capital boats and men at 

 a reasonable figure to take them to the favorite spots for 

 fishing— in fact, the fishing is good almost anywhere in the 

 bay. I have several times secured tliree bass at a cast. 1 

 should think the bass average about one pound in weight. 

 They are frequently caught from three to four pounds, and 

 1 believe much larger; but I have not myself caught any 

 that exceeded four pounds. 



I hope to see several articles on this subiect from more 

 experienced and skilled anglers, Wvltpr G 



Toronto, Ont., Oct. S7. >vAi.Ui.KU^. 



ttALNTiSTON. Tcx , Oct. 26.— Fishing has been veiy good 

 here for some time, as proved by the numerous strings of 

 sheepshead, redflsh, trout, etc, which have been brought in. 

 — Redbreast, 



Rhode Island Waters. —With a friend I left the largest 

 city in the smallest State on a late train for bass. We 

 had been told by another friend who lives within five miles 

 of the pond that one of our fish commissioners had lately 

 taken from this same pond twelve or fifteen bass, weighing 

 about thirty-five pounds. We had unbounded confidence in 

 our friend's veracity at that time, and should have to this 

 day probably had we reached the depot thirty seconds later 

 than we did. But we happened to catch the train, and our 

 confidence in our friend is shaken badly. We set out for the 

 waters before the sun had thought of showing himself. We 

 were not well acquainted with the best places in the pond 

 for bass, and so rowed around trying a number of hkely 

 looking spots, but not a bass could be got to notice our baits. 

 After catching less than a bushel of sun fish about as large as 

 a Forest and Stream folded in the center, we decided to 

 try trolling. The sun had risen and everything indicated a 

 pleasant day, when suddenly a heavy, wet-looking cloud 

 formed a little way before the sun, and shortly hid the latter 

 from view. Since that day, whenever either of us see the 

 sun rise clear in the morning and then go under a cloud we 

 always take an umbrella, waterproof coat, and, if convenient, 

 a pump. I doubt if ever since rain was first discovered did 

 more fall in one day than then. Imagine a figure in the stern 

 of the boat, with no protection from the rain other than light 

 summer clothing and an old straw hat, and the drops falling 

 from his nose, ears, whiskers, and in fact everywhere, while 

 from under liis shaggy eyebrows two bright eyes beaming 

 with fun and good nature; and two other men, one rowing 

 and the other shivering, and you have the picture as it 

 looked to me that day. It was a cold rain. We threw 

 rather than packed our traps in the wagon and started for 

 the train, caught it and went flying home. How the drum- 

 mers looked at us and smiled a pitying sort of a smile as we 

 drew ourselves in the car. But they didn't know what a 

 good time we had been having, for they don't sit in a swing- 

 ing chair all day; and add, subtract and multiply and divide, 

 and write, "My Dear Sir," and "Yours truly" from morning 

 till night. — Drugs. 



Menhaden. — Roslyn, L. I., Oct. 30. — For several days 

 past Roslyn Harbor has been almost literally packed with 

 menhaden. The flsh lie quite near the water's surface, with 

 the npper point of the caudal fin visible above the water. 

 They appear to be logy, or as if chilled, and will scarcely 

 move out of the way of a boat rowing amongthem. During 

 a twenty years' residence in this place I have never seen such 

 great numbers of these fish in the harbor. — Thos. Clapham. 



Address all communications io the Forest and Stream Pvhlish- 

 ing Oo. 



THE SOLES DIED. — In our last issue we announced that 

 five hundred live soles were expected to arrive from England 

 this week, as a present from the National Fishculture Associ- 

 ation of England, to the U. S. Fish Comixiission. The Cunard 

 steamer C-rallia came to the wharf on Tuesday morning, and 

 we boarded her at once and found Mr. William Little, the 

 agent of the Association, who told us that on the first night 

 out of Queenstown, very rough weather killed aU tke fish but 

 eighteen, which died within a day or two after. We found 

 the casks on a hurricane deck, near the bridge. They all lay 

 upon the bilge and had square openings at top, with a curb 

 dropping a few inches to prevent splashing. In the bottom of 

 some of the casks was a perforated wooden platform for the 

 flsh to lie upon, and in others a perforated iron pipe to which 

 an air pump could be attached. There was no sand for the 

 fish to bury in, and this we think caused the bruised condition 

 of the dead fish shown us. Under proper condition, tanks 

 hung on gimbals and small suspended ones, with plenty of 

 sand to bed in, these fish caxi be brought over safely. It has 

 already been done in small glass globes, as reported in our 

 columns, by Capt. Mortimer and others, 'and can be. done 

 again. The sole is a fish that may be acclimated on the sandy 

 portions of our coast and is superior to any of our flat fishes. 



RUSSIA AWAKES.— The Imperial Russian Society of Ac-' 

 climatisation, Moscow, has recently elected our correspondent 

 Mr. Hugo Mulertt, of Cincmnati, to be a corresponding mem- 

 ber of the Society. This is, as far as we know, the first Amer- 

 ican fishculturist who has been thus honored. 



THE NEVADA COMMISSION.— Mr. W. M. Cary, of Carson 

 City, Nev., has recently been appointed Commissioner of Fish- 

 eries in place of Hon. H. G. Parker, 



Address all communications to the Forest and Utream Fubtish- 

 ing Co. 



FIXTURES. 



BF.NCH SHOWS. 

 Dec. 15, 16, 17 and 18 —First Annual Dok Show of the Western Con- 

 necticut Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association. Frank D. Hal- 

 let, Superintendent, Winsted, Conn. 



March 16. 17, 18 and 19, 1866.— Western Pennsylvania Poultry Soci- 

 ety's Dog Show, at Pittsburgh. Pa. U. B. Elben, Secretary. 



April 6, 7. 8 and 9, 1886.— Second Annual Dog Show of tbe New Eng- 

 land Kennel Club. Jean Grosvenor, Secretary, Boston, Mass. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Nov 9.— Second Annual Field Trials of the Fisher's Island Club, for 

 members only. Max Wenzel, Secretary, Hoboken, N. J. 



Nov. 9.— I'irst Annual Trials of the Western Field Trials Associa- 

 tion, at Abilene, Kan. Entries close Oct. 15. A. A, Whipple, Secre- 

 tary, Kansas City, Mo. 



Nov. 13 — New Jersey Kennel and Field Trials Club. Field trials for 

 members only at Fisher's Inland. A. P. Vredenburgh, Secretary, 

 Bergen Point, N. J. 



Nov. 16, 1885.— Seventh Annual Field Trials of the Eastern Field 

 Trials Club, High Point, N. C. Entries for All-Aged Stakes close 

 Nov. 1. ^y. A. Coster, Secretary. Flatbnsh, L. I. 



Nov. 17. 18 and 19.— Second Annual Field Trials of the Philadelphia 

 Kennel Club at Bio Grande, N. J., for members only. Entries close 

 Nov. 1. 



Pec. 7.— Seventh Annual Field Trials of the National Field Trials- 

 Club, Grand Junction, Tenn. Entries for Derby close April 1. B, M, 

 Stephenson, La Grange, Tenn., Secretary. 



A. K. R.-SPECIAL NOTICE. 

 rpHE AaiERICAN KENNEL REGISTER, for the registration of 

 pedigrees, etc. (with prize lists of all shows and tna)s), is pub- 

 lished every month. Entries close on the 1st. Should be in oarly. 

 Enti-y blanks sent on receipt of stamped and addressed envelope. 

 Registration fee (.50 cents) must accompany each entry. No entries 

 inserted unless paid in advance. Yearly subscription 81.50. Address 

 "AmeTican Kennel Register," P. O. Box 3833, New York. Number 

 of entries already printed 87^4, 



