188 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Afbix 1, 1886. 



of fisbing goes." Tbe camp was deserted when we returned. 

 Tbey had all gone down to the swamp for frogs. We waited 

 for them awhile, but finally grew sleepy and turned in. 



Cbarlie woke me in the morning about dawn. We took 

 our fisbing tackle and left camp without waking tbe boys. 

 The mist, which is so peculiar to the month of August, was 

 floating in vapory folds over the water and even partly ob- 

 scured the mountains. We rowed over below the falls, and 

 anchored near the middle of the river, about ten yards below 

 tbe rocks. Tbe water was from twelve to fifteen feet deep. 

 Then we threw in our hooks, baited with large chubs, and 

 waited. For half an bour we sat in silence. It was very 

 pleasant out on the river so early iu tbe morning. No sound's 

 broke the silence save the singing of the birds and the oc- 

 casional lowing of a cow far up the valley, or now aud then 

 the splash of a fish leaping at some unwary insect. Once 

 Charlie jerked eagerly at his rod. "What was it," I asked. 

 "Oh!" he replied, "only my big chub swimming around." 

 By this time the sun was 'near the mountain top, and soon 

 its first rays began to scatter the mist. We waited in 

 patience. The camp was all astir now. We saw the boys 

 moving around. They were getting breakfast, and the tan- 

 talizing odor of fried potatoes'and fragrant coffee was wafted 

 toward us on the morning breeze. "I can't stand this much 

 longer," exclaimed Charlie, "I'm as hungry as a bear." "AH 

 right, pull in and we'll go to breakfast." I was just about 

 toraise the anchor when whirrrrrrr went my reel. I grasped 

 the rod. It was not the bait this time.' I knew I had 

 hooked a large fish. 



The reel was nearly empty before 1 succeeded in checking 

 the fish at all, and then he made wild darts backward and 

 forward, pulling with such violence that I feared the line 

 would break. Once the water swirled violently as he ap- 

 proached within an inch of the surface, and then he dashed 

 downward with such force that my rod was bent nearly 

 double. For an iustant I thought he was gone, but the line 

 held tirm. "Be careful," shouted Charlie, "don't lose him." 

 The fish still pulled hard, but I had succeeded in checking 

 the reel. And now I began slowly to reel in. Once he 

 darted toward the boat, but 1 was on my guard and allowed 

 him no slack line. 



"How are you ever going to land him out here?" said 

 Charlie. "I don't think~you can do it." He was right. We 

 had no landing net, and here we were auchored out in twelve 

 feet of water. I had reeled up most of the line and the huge 

 fish was coming nearer and nearer, still struggling wildly 

 aud occasionally displaying his speckled sides. "I have it," 

 I exclaimed. "Pull up the anchor, and row slowly down 

 toward that grass bar." 



A short distance below us the water grew swift aud shal- 

 low and a large patch of grass and gravel divided the cur- 

 rent. Cbarlie took, the oars, and while I stood up and guided 

 the fish along, in spite of his struggles, he ran the boatalong 

 side the bar, and leaping out drew the end on shore. I 

 quickly reeled tbe fish in, which had become slightly ex- 

 hausted. He came nearer and nearer the shore. Suddenly 

 Charlie grasped the line and with a couple of vigorous pulls 

 hauled him out on the gravel. And just in time, for the hook 

 slipped out of his mouth just as we both grasped him. We 

 ran part of the anchor rope through his gills and held him 

 up in sight of the fellows on shore who had been eagerly 

 watchiug us. "What a monster!" we exclaimed. By this 

 time we were desperately hungry, and putting our prize in 

 the boat we pulled over to camp. The boys were all in 

 raptures over it, and as soon as breakfa-t was over we went 

 to a farm house, a short distance away, where a pair of scales 

 was produced and our fish was found to weigh just five 

 pouuds three ounces. It was the largest bass that had been 

 caught in the neighborhood for years. Dave helped us to 

 eat it that evening. 



We fished several mornings after that in the same place, 

 but we were not fortunate enough to catch another five- 

 pounder. As Dave suggested it was an old resident who had 

 robbed many a hook, Out had been caught at last in spite of 

 his cunning. W. M. Graydoi;. 



Harkisbvkg, P a. 



A CLOSE COUNT. 



ON a flue July day of '81 my friend H. and myself started 

 iu to wade the forks of fit River, for a day's sport 



with the wary trout. He took the right branch and I the 

 left, wending our way leisurely down the purling stream, 

 which was at times darkly shaded with overgrowth, again 

 dashing over its pebbly bed in the sunshine, with here and 

 there deeper water and dark pools wheiein the larger of the 

 finny tribe love to linger. It was a halcyon day and an ideal 

 trout stream. Words, or the limner's art, but inadequately 

 depict the glories of a typical stream and its suirouudings, 

 with its lights and shades, its rippling and dashing waters, 

 or recall the trill of the forest bird, aud the perfume from 

 the pines and wild meadows along its course. It was an 

 enchanting scene, and we enjoyed it to the full. 



But all good things must have an end; anrl as the day 

 wanes and we aie but mortal, we must be fed. So we retrace 

 our steps, somewhat hastened by ttie thought t^atthe "other 

 feller" will get to tbe appointed rendezvous and the lunch 

 basket first. Arriving there before my friend, the contents 

 of said basket had oeen largely absorbed when he arrived; 

 as stretched upon the grass, with a post-prandial cigar, my 

 happiness was complete. His first remark was, "Well, B., 

 I have you this time." He had been endeavoring for some 

 time to get even with me. I had my doubts, but simply 

 remarked, "Well, we'll count up." They were counted, and 

 his figured 119. Mine footed up 120. He used four flies, 

 whilel relied on a singie fly and a piebiau worm. He assured 

 me that at one time he had hooked three trout at one cast. B. 



Bass vs. Pickerel.— Hamburg, Conn.— A few years ago 

 the State stocked Rogers Lake and also Hog Lake with black 

 bass and then protected them by laws for three years after. It 

 was at first regarded as an excellent move as it would in- 

 crease the fish and afford those who to a very great extent 

 depend on what these lakes produce better 'opportunities. 

 It has been demonstrated, however, that it was a very dis- 

 astrous step. Previous to that time pickerel and perch were 

 very plentiful and any one could go almost any time and 

 get a nice string of them, but tbe bass have proven very 

 destructive to the original inhabitants of these lakes and 

 seldom can one get many of these. They are admired by 

 professional sportsmen for they are a very game fish and 

 afford much sport when one is fortunate enough to book 

 one. But the poor people regard it differently, as they find 

 more sport in eating the fish than they do in catching them. 

 Jas. A. Bill, one of the fish commissioners, worked hard for 

 their introduction into our lakes, believing as he did that it 

 would be a great benefit; but we regret that such is not the 

 case. — Middktown Herald. 



TIP-UPS FOR PICKEREL. 



IN our issue of March i we gave several illustrations of the 

 contrivances in use to signal the fact that a fish had 

 taken the bait when several lines were set by the fisherman 

 through holes cut in the ice. Here are a few other forms: 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



I send you herewith a model of a pickerel trap which I 

 think the best I have ever seen. It may be a common style 

 but I have only seen four dozen made by a friend and my- 

 self. All that is needed for the construction is a bundle of 

 laths and a pound of brass spring wire. 



To set the trap bend down the flag wire through the brass 

 wire loop ; tken take a loop in line 'the depth you wish the 

 bait to hang. Pas3 tbe loop of line through wire loop over 

 flag wire and it will hold it down until the bait is disturbed 

 when the flag will fly up and Mr. Pickerel will have a lot of 

 spare line to swim round with, giving him time to get the 

 bait well swallowed before his suspicions are aroused? 



This model is about one-quarter size. A lath cut in two 

 being what we have used. They are easy of transportation 

 and easy to set, just laid flat on the ice. The way that little 

 flag will get in its work when anything touches the bait will 

 move a heavy pair of overshoes with a fat man in them over 

 the ice at an astounding rate. A. A. D. 



Boston, Feb. '27. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I send you a drawing of tip-up and reel which 1 think 

 your correspondents will like. It is made of either pine or 

 white wood, 20 inches long and ^ inch thick; wire of iron or 

 brass of an inch ; balls 15 to the pound. 



The drawing shows the position when set and also when 

 sprung. F. H. K. 



West Gardiner, Mass. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



I fish through the ice occasionally, and have tried differ- 

 ent ways to tell when a fish tonk hold. First I tried tying 

 the line to an oak bush, expecting to see it move up to the 

 hole when a fish was on. This did very well on a still day, 

 but when the wind blew, the buih would travel off and take 

 the minnow out on the ice. I then tried the most common 

 method in use at the present time, called a tip up, made of a 

 piece of shingle or thin board, with a hole through it near 

 the end, to which the line was fastened. Then putting a rod 

 through the hole in the tip and laying the rod across the hole 

 iu the ice did very well, but 1 have often, in going around 

 to the lines, taken off a 5-pound pickerel and the tip would 

 lie down just as it was when the first bait was put on. When 

 a bait was taken off down went the tip, and unless you saw 

 it tip just the moment the fish bit, you would not know any- 

 thing about it. I bought a dozsn small bells and tied one to 

 the end of a line. That worked like a charm, and it was 

 really exciting to hear the bells tinkle along up to a stick 

 over the hole; but my novel idea was soon frustrated. The 

 first snow that came filled the bells, and I heard no more of 

 the merry jingle of the misused sleigh bell. Then I made 

 a set of sticks, and when Mr. Pickerel ran off with the min- 

 now the little flag went to the top of the stick, and there it 

 stayed until I took off a pickerel or put on a new bait, as the 

 case might be. 



L 



3 



This is the way I now fix mv lines: Take of any tough 

 elastic wood a piece 3 feet long, 1 inch wide by i inch thick 

 at one end by £ inch wide by i inch at top. Make a small 

 hole through the top and a saw cut iu top and bottom, 1 inch 

 in depth to wind the line on when not in use. Stand this 

 stick upright, near a hole cut in the ice to fish through. 



Take an axe and strike a few blows in the ice, put the butt 

 end of the stick in the cut thus made, scrape in snow and 

 ice and pack down with foot. Then tie on, or do it before 

 you leave home, a strip of black or red cloth on one end of 

 the line, put on a good lively minnow, and let it down under 

 the ice. Put the end of line through the hole at top of stick 

 and put the cloth at bottom of the stick and when you see it 

 at the top, run for a pickerel. T. F. 6. 



Davisbcrg, Mien. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I send you by mail a sample of the kind of "tip-up" that 

 I use in fishing through the ice, a sport I very much enjoy. 

 They are the best for all round kinds of weather of any I 

 have ever seen or used. They are simple, durable and can- 

 not get out of order. The loop on the hook enables one to 



take the hook off the line when through fishing, and thereby 

 to wind up the line without rusting the same by contact with 

 the hook. After finding the depth of water with the sound- 

 ing lead, the loop on the line is affixed, thus bringing the 

 bait at the right distance from the bottom, and always show- 

 ing just how deep the water is. A'. Fen. 

 Providence, R. I. 



We have a few more letters on this subject which it will 

 not be necessary to publish, as they describe apparatus 

 already illustrated. ' 



The Hopatcong Lake Outr age.— In answer to a politely- 

 worded petition, signed by a large number of residents and 

 interested persons at Lake Hoptacong, President De Castro, 

 of the American Forcite Company, has written a letter in 

 which he claims that the escape of acid into the lake was the 

 result due to floods and heavy rains. He says that precau- 

 tions have been taken to prevent its recurrence, and that any 

 suggestions made by those interested in the lake will be ac- 

 ceptable to the. company. The Dover Iron Era takes a 

 queer stand on the subject of the pollution of Lake Hopat- 

 cong by the Forcite Company. The gist of the argument 

 appears to be that the powder company pays more wages 

 and spends more money in the vicinity than the anglers do, 

 and it contends that the poor man is not benefited by the fish 

 in the lake. Perhaps the soulless coporation employs 500 

 men throughout the year, and pays them each $600 per 

 aunum, which is highly improbable, but will do as a figure 

 of comparison. Now, the money spent by the people who 

 go to Hopatcong every season, attracted by the angling, 

 cannot fall short of twice or thrice that amount. Even if t the 

 anglers only spent $10,000 at the lake, is there any reason 

 that the powder manufacturers should be allowed to openly 

 violate the laws, with the tacit indorsement of the news- 

 papers'? Why cannot the company continue to pay its 100 

 men and yet give the anglers, as well as the poor men of the 

 n< ighborhood. a chance to catch bass and pickerel? What 

 it to prevent the construction of cesspools or cisterns to ab- 

 sorb the waste of acid. It certainly would be cheaper to do 

 this than to pay a few fines such as the law provides for 

 the offense that they are said to be committing daily. — New- 

 ark (K J) Gall. 



Massachusetts Smelts. — The fish aud game protective 

 laws are not all well obeyed. March 15 is close time on 

 smelts in Massachusetts waters, aud yet the Fish and Game 

 Protective Association of this city has a complaint from 

 reliable sources setting forth that 10 tons of these fish were 

 dipped, by means of a purse seine, from Weymouth River 

 recently— since the close season— and have been shipped to 

 New York by the Old Colony Railroad. The State does 

 not appear to have any money to enforce the fish laws, but 

 Deputy Shattuck has put detectives at work upon the case. 

 They "report the smelt seiners a hard lot to catch. There 

 is little chance to lie in ambush, and the law-breakers 

 threaten violence upon any one caught watching their 

 operations. Recent letters from the Maine wardens state 

 that the short lobster stealers have taken alarm, and have 

 given Boston the "go-by," and are taking their illegal booty 

 to New York for a market. That State also has a 101-inch 

 law, but only poor enforcement is rife there. But a few 

 detectives will be put to work in that city. The Maine 

 commissioners have information against two or three 

 smacks and schooners which have sailed either for Boston 

 or New York with short lobsters. Close watch is being 

 kept here, and any such lobsters attempted to be forwarded 

 to New York via this port will be seized.— Boston Herald. 



Chatham, N. H., March 24.— One day last week Mr. E. 

 B. Hodge, Commissioner of Fisheries, was here and in Con- 

 way and bad three men arrested and fined for catching trout 

 out of season. One was fined five dollars, one twenty dol- 

 lars and one twenty-five dollars. This makes some twelve 

 or fourteen convictions which Mr. Hodge has made in Con- 

 way and Chatham within the past four weeks. 



The Song of Rqt.axd. — We have heard with interest 

 Mr. B. Robert's unpublished song descriptive of Roland and 

 Olivier in the pass of Roucevalles — a composition of much 

 merit. The words are by Auguste Barbier. The subject 

 whiGh Mr. Robert has chosen is a grand one and the treat- 

 ment of the theme skillful and finished. The martial pre- 

 lude and opening movement carry us into the rugged and 

 forest-clad mountains, and lead us gradually through more 

 stirring passages to the noble finale. The composition brings 

 out effectively all the energy and fire of the incident, and 

 yet a half-hidden strain of sadness seems to run through all 

 the theme, prophetic of the melancholy sequel to the story. 

 The composer has thoroughly entered into the spirit of his 

 subject, and as we listen to its music we 6eem to hear the 

 horn of Roland echoing through the glens of Roucevalles. 



