488 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



fJAN. 13, 1887. 



North Carolina Shooting.— Salisbury, N. C, Dec. l9. 

 —Last fall I sent you a short communication and gave 

 your readers some information of our country as a qiiail 

 sliooting country. A number of gentlemen'visited this 

 place last winter and returned and spent a month this 

 fall and enjoyed themselves very much; foimd email plen- 

 tiful, occasionally scoring a wild turkey. The Red Irish 

 Kennel Chib selected om- town as the place for their 

 trials, bxxt were prevented by the heavy fall of snow. 

 Th© selected ^oixnds cannot he surpassed, for quail any- 

 where ia the United States. During the late snow the 

 farmers brought quail in by the hundreds and they went 

 begging on the sti'eets at fifty cents per dozen for fine fat 

 birds. It was a sad sight to "see them slaughtered in this 

 way, but tbe farmer would say that what he brought did 

 not decrease them on his land, — M. 



RIFLES AGAIN. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



Refenlng to Mr, Romer's unwarrented and abusive letter In 

 your last issue, would say, that my ignoi-ance of the subject of 

 rifle shooting springs from a lack of education on my part, and his 

 from a lack of education on his part. The denseuess of his ignor- 

 auce is well illustratt d by his last communication, 



NoERiSTOVTN, Pa., Jan, 8. E, A. Leopold. 



$m mid §iver ^inhinq. 



AMrm cHl commiimicatvm^a to the Forest and S(/ream Pub. Co. 



WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FISHING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Some time since there appeared in your columns a com- 

 munication instituting inquiries regarding fishing in 

 western North Carolina. I waited for some resident of 

 the State to reply, and as no response has appeared, I shall 

 briefly give my impressions of that section. Last March 

 I visited Havannah, and on my return I was favored with 

 a severe attack of continued fever, and at one time I was 

 satisfied that I would have to pass in my checks and 

 abandon my favorite amusement of fishing. But a good 

 constitution enabled me to weather the storm, and to re- 

 cuperate I spent three months in wandoring in the 

 mountain region of western North Carolina. 



A majority of the streams of that country head in, or 

 flow through, localities where red clay exists, and as a 

 laile they are very muddy. As might be expected from 

 the character of the water, eels, catflsli and suckers are the 

 principal fish to be fotmd in the larger streams. During 

 my wanderings I noticed many fish trapa, and as a result 

 the more common fish are few and far between. Nearly 

 all the streams heading in the Blue Hidge, Anakies, Black, 

 Smoky and Balsam mountains contain speckled trout! 

 but trout hogs and dynamiters have been operating at so 

 many point's, and in such places trout fishing is a "de- 

 lusion and a snare." At the headwaters of the Yoe, Doe, 

 Watauga and Pigeon rivers fair ti-out fishing will be 

 found in May and the beginning of June. In July and 

 August trout leave the larger streams and ascend the 

 mountain brooks, and at this time trout hogs from the 

 middle and eastern portion of the State apjiear in force; 

 and fingerlings are in demand. On many occasions I 

 have seen trout hogs returning after a day's fishing with 

 fingerlings weighing about ten to the pormd. 



A fisherman accustomed to Northern streams vsdll be 

 disappointed, for as a nile the narrow valleys are densely 

 clothed with rhododendrons and kalmias,'and the only 

 mode of fishing the streams is to wade them. Bushes 

 overhang them to such an extent as to seriously interfere 

 with casting. Old fishermen who visit this section use a 

 light Japanese cane rod about twelve feet in length. In 

 some of the streams large-mouthed black bass and pike 

 exist, but owing to the presence of numberless fish traps 

 they are few and far between. 



I spent several weeks at Estes' place, near Blowing 

 Eock, in Watauga county. His pond covers seven acres, 

 and is well stocked with trout; but they will not rise to a 

 fly after the middle of June. I tried artificial flies of 

 various kmds, but failed to obtain a rise. The pond is 

 overstocked with minnows, and in consequence I found 

 it useless to use worm, grasshopper, or grub bait. I was 

 forced to use live minnows, and was fairly successful. 

 The smallest trout captured measured 7in., and the largest 

 16^in. in length. Dtuing the latter part of May and the 

 beginidng of June a fly appears; and the sport is said to 

 be excellent if the natural flies are used as bait. About 3 

 P. M. a chrysalis will rise to the stuface; it opens and a 

 brown fly about one inch in length appears. It flutters 

 on the stu-face of the water for a few minutes, when it 

 rises and settles on the fences and bushes near the pond, 

 and the ensuing mornmg it takes its departure for the 

 adjoining hills and mountains. During the afternoon 



f»arties collect the flies and place them in a smtable bos 

 or the ensuing day's fisliing. IMr. Estes assured me that 

 the flies are so numerous that the wind blows the light 

 chrysalis to the shore, where they can be collected in 

 quantities. Parties who have fished the pond informed 

 me that the "water is in a perfect boil from trout while 

 the flies are leaving their homes." As described to me, 

 the body of the fly is small, and from about f to lin. in 

 length: color, liglit brown with dark brown rings; wings 

 brown, and from f to lin. in length. Can an artificial fly 

 answering this description be purchased? Many fisher- 

 men who visit this locahty in May and June would like 

 to obtain a supply. 



Estes' place can be reached via Richmond & Danville 

 Raikoad to Hickory, in Catawba county; thence by 

 narrow gauge railroad to Lenoir, in Caldwell coimty; 

 from there by stage over a good road for 22 miles to 

 Blowing Rock. Fare from Hickory to Lenoii' 80 cents, 

 from Lenoir to Blowing Rock $3.50, including baggage. 

 Board at Estes' $20 per month. 



West from Estes about 13 miles excellent fishing will 

 be foimd in the Banner, Elk and Watauga rivers, and a 

 mountain sti'eam rising on Grandfather Mountain. Many 

 good trout streams wiU be met with near the base of Roan 

 Mountain. 



I cannot close without referring to one of the most 

 delightful summer resorts in the United States which X 

 f otmd in my wanderings. I refer to Cloudland Hotel, 

 Roan Mountain, Mtchell county. The hotel is located on 

 tbe top of the mountain, at an elevation of 6,394ft. above 

 sea level, the liighest humaa habiiteition east of the Rookies. 



It is 200ft. higher than the White Mountains, N. H., ' 

 1,200ft. above Denver, and 4,200ft. higher than the 

 Catskills, At midday dui-ing the summer months the I 

 thermometer ranges from 53' to 70 Fah., with but slight 

 difference in temperature between day and night. 

 Absence of strong winds is a marked feature. Tempera- 

 ture of the spring water is 45 ; soil brown and porous, air 

 aseptic and bracing, sanitation good. The hotel will 

 accommodate about 400 guests; rooms large, beds com- 

 fortable, food ample and well cooked; terms, $35 to $40 

 per month. There is fair trout fishin:^ in streams on the 

 side of the mountain, with opportunities for pedestrian 

 and horseback exercise and good driving. To those who 

 are in search of a temperate, healthy and bracing atmos- 

 phere during the summer months. Roan offers attractions 

 nowhere else to be formd in the United States. Malai'ia 

 and insect pests are absent. 



From rehable information obtained I am satisfied that 

 the air of Roan affords immediate relief for that distress- 

 ing complaint, hay fever. Fi-om my inquiries and in- 

 vestigations I have reason to believe that the cases of 

 pulmonary diseases adapted to tiiis elevated locality dur- 

 ing the summer months are the early catarrhal and quies- 

 cent pneumonic group, especially in persons with a 

 moderate degree of ansemia; cases of threatened con- 

 sumption from hereditary tendency, defective chest 

 formation and capacity, or incomplete recovery from 

 intermittent, remittent and tj^jhoid fevers. This locality 

 seems specially adapted to the treatment of conditions of 

 general debility, whether arising from constitutional 

 tendency, from overwork, or attacks of exhatisting dis- 

 ea.ses. Also in anaemia, malarial cachexia, nervous affec- 

 tions associated with weakness of the cu'culatory organs, 

 insomnia, neurosthenia and derangement of the' digestive 

 organs. Based on extensive opportunities for observation 

 in the United States and a study of the climatic factors of 

 our various health resorts, I am of the opinion that if we 

 consider attractiveness of landscape, altitude, low mid- 

 day and slight diurnal range of temperature, aseptic air, 

 amoimt of ozone, purity and coolness of water, diather- 

 mancy of the atmosphere, good food and accommodations, 

 absence of malaria and insect pests, coupled with accessi- 

 bility, Roan Mountain offers inducements to invalids and 

 those seeking a cool and bracing cUmate not to be found 

 elsewhere in the United States. This point is easily 

 reached by the East Tennessee, Virgima and Georgia 

 Raihoad to Johnson City, thence to Cloudland station 

 (where thei-e is a good summer hotel) by the East Tennes- 

 see and_ West North Carolina Railroad, from Cloudland 

 station in comfortable conveyances over a good road to 

 the top of the mountain, a distance of twelve miles. The 

 top of the mountain is bald, and from it the visitors can 

 see into seven States, Al Fresuo, 



JACKSONViLUi!, Fla., Dec. 30, 



THE COMING TOURNAMENT. 



A]VIEETING of the National Rod and Reel Association 

 was held in New York in the laboratory of Mr. E. G. 

 Blackford on Saturday last, President Henry P. Wells in 

 the chau". The business before the meeting was the 

 appointment of committees, and the discussion on rules 

 which shotdd govern the tournament next May, as there 

 were differences of opinion concerning the retention of 

 the old rules, which had grown from experiences derived 

 in former contests. It will be remembered that there was 

 no tournament last year, and the committee of arrange- 

 ments of 1885 were all reappointed by the President, and 

 Messrs. Jolm A. Roosevelt, William Dimning and M, M. 

 Backus were added. The following sub-committees were 

 appointed: On grounds: Martin B. Brown, Francis Endi- 

 cott and Hon, Henry P, McGown, On rules, Messrs, 

 John A. Roosevelt, Fred Mather and the Rev, Henry L, 

 Ziegenfuss. On prizes, James L, Vallotton, T, B. Stewart, 

 H. P. McGown and C. G, Levison, 



When it came to a discussion of the proposed rules for 

 the contests, it was evident that there was a wider differ- 

 ence of opinion concerning the advisability of certain 

 changes than had been manifested before. It was notice- 

 able that some of the members who cast in the tourna- 

 ment were rather anxious to have hard and fast rules 

 made, wliich would favor the style of rod or line used by 

 them in the fly-casting contests, or have the weight of 

 sinkers which might be suitable to their respective rods in 

 the bass contests, and tlie president was very lenient in 

 regard to such attempts at special legislation, which, 

 however, carried no points when submitted to a general 

 vote. We give a summary of the decisions of the meet- 

 ing concerning a x-evision of the rules, which, however, 

 are subject to such changes as the committee on rules 

 may approve. No imjjortant changes have been sug- 

 gested imtil we reach rule seven, which said: "Each 

 contestant will be allowed five minutes to cast for distance 

 and will then stand aside untH called in his tnrn to cast 

 for delicacy and acciuacy, when he mil be allowed five 

 minutes for this purpose"." This allowed a contestant to 

 foul his line as often as he pleased, and do almost any- 

 thing except, perhaps, to leave the stand to get a lunch, 

 and claim time to be allowed him. The proposed change, 

 given below, we think will not only save time in the class 

 or classes, but will be more satisfactory all aromid. 



In the old Rule 9, the following sentence is recom- 

 mended to be stricken out: "A c-ontestant may claim 

 time for repairs, which shall be allowed by the judges, or 

 the judges may order the next on the list to cast while 

 repairs are made, in their discretion," as this is provided 

 for under Rule 7. 



Rule 10 provides for the judging of points of delicacy 

 and accuracy, so that both judges and contestants will 

 know exactly how these pomts are to be judged. We 

 doubt, however, the wisdom of the proposed clause which 

 relates to the flies lighting upon the water before the reel 

 line does, as this is not the usual mode of casting, and, as 

 a member of the committee on rules stated lat the meet- 

 ing, that it is more of a trick, which would catch the eye 

 of the non-angling public, but which differs from the 

 general practice of ny-fishers; therefore it is possible that 

 this clause may not be retained. 



In black bass casting it has been recommended that the 

 rod should not be less than 6ft. instead of 8 as before, and 

 the restaiotion to rods weig-hing less than 7oz. lias been 

 removed, as well as the resti'iotion to use only "black 

 bass multiplying reels," and the clause which pertained 

 to clicks, orags, or any other device to control the render- 

 ing of the line, except the thumb, has been removed; in- 

 stead of the longest oast to count, the average of five casts 

 to be ocatstdferedi emd certain dsaages h&-ve been, made 



in the judging of accuracy, by which this point is jstrictly 

 defined, as well as the point for style. 



In the heavy bass casting, rods may not exceed lOft., 

 instead of 9ft., as heretofore, and no 'reinforcements by 

 means of a heavier line next the sinker is allowed, it 

 having been claimed that by this means a muscular man 

 coidd make tremendous casts without danger of parting 

 his line while straightening his sinker, as all the casts in 

 this class must be made from the reel, there being no 

 contest in which the line is cast from a coil at the man's 

 feet, as is done in certain classes in England, tbat style 

 being practically unused in America. And the rules in 

 both black bass and striped bass casting require that all 

 casts shall be made from the reel, without any specifica- 

 tion that they shall be made by the under-hand or over- 

 hand methods. The following are the rules, as sug- 

 gested by the association to the committee: 



PROPOSED EUMS FOR THE CONTESTS. 

 _ Rule 1. All persons competing for prizes shall pay an entrance 

 tee in each contest as follows: Members, 5f'-; non-mcmbevs, f 5. 

 Membership may be obtained on the giounds from the Secretary. 



Rule 2. No one shall be permitted to e;ilei- an amateur contest 

 who has ever fislxed for a living ; who Jias ever been a guide, or 

 has been engaged in either the manufacture or salo of fishing 

 tackle. The iurlKes in the different classes slia 11 appoint a mem- 

 ber to see that the taciile is at all times in accoraance witli the 

 rides and requirements of tlie Association during the contests. 

 The judges in any particular class, on appeal, .shall have po^\■e^ tb 

 decide in all mattei-s relating thereto, and their decision shall be 

 final. 



Rule S. No trout rod shall exceed lift. Bin., in length, and it shall 

 be used with a single hand. 



Rule 4, In single-handed fly-casting any style of reel or lino will 

 be allowed, but a leader or casting line of single gut must be used 

 of not less than 8ft. in length, to which three flies, one stretcher 

 and two droppers, shall be attached. 



Rule 5. No allowance of distance shall be made for dilTei-ence in 

 length of rods. 



Kule 6. Pei-sons entering these contests shall draw lots to deter- 

 mine the order in wliich they will cast and will be ready to cast 

 when called by the judges. 



Rule 7. Each contestant will be allowed Bf teen minutes in which 

 to cast for distancOj and v.'M then sttmd aside until called in his 

 turn to cast for delicacy and accuracy. In casting for distance, 

 each contestant shall inform the judges of the contest when ho 

 intends to begin to compete. His time alloAvance cf fifteen min- 

 ntes ehall then begin to run, and shall continue to rim without 

 interruption until its expiration, or -intil the contestant \ olun- 

 tarily wi':hdl•a^vs from the stand. Should, liowever, ihe contest- 

 ant's rod break, time to replace the i;roken joint shall bo given 

 him. No allowance of time shall be made to any contestant for 

 any other reason whatever, it being tl<e intent and purpose of this 

 rule that each contestant shall abide by his o wu accidents, except 

 as hereinbefore specilied. 



Rules. The distance shall be measiu'ed by ;i line with marked 

 buoys Btretciied on the water; said line to lie niea-.iir(_-d and vorilied 

 by tae judges at least once each day of U:c casting:. A ir,ark shall 

 be made from tlic stand from which the bnny line slutll in; meae- 

 ured, and the caster may siand with his toes toucliing tliismark, 

 but may not ad/ance neyond it. Should lie atep hack of it. unless 

 directed so to do by the judges, the loss in distance shall bo his. 



Rule 9, The stretcher fly must remain at the end of the casting 

 line in all casts. The others are not deemed so important. 



Rule 10, Delicacy and accuracy shall be contested and adjudged 

 as follows and at tJie same time. Each contestant snail bo al- 

 lowed twenty-flvo casts at an object in or on the w'ater 40ft. dis- 

 tant from him. For the purpose of tliis tnurnament absolute deli- 

 cacy in casting the fly shall be considered to he, casting the fly or 

 flies upon th.e water witli a straight line in sucn a manner as to 

 disturb its surface to the least possible extent, and so that the fly 

 or flies shall be upon the water before any part of the reel lino 

 touches its surface. He who most nearly anproache.s this shall 

 he adjudged the superior in delicacy. He shall be adjudged to be 

 the superior in accuracy, who on average of all his casis, places 

 his flies nearest to the marlj. Touching tlie mark with either of 

 the three flies used shall he considered a hit, and tha t of tl>e three 

 flie.s wliich f.all nearest the mark shall determine tlie disiance of 

 that cast from the mark. Tw enty-five points shall iie credited to 

 him who is adjudged the superior m delicacy and twenty-five 

 points to him who is adjudged the superior in accuracy. The other 

 contestants shall be awarded lower scores, in accordance with, 

 their comparative excellence. 



Rule 11. The ultimate scores of the various contestants shall he 

 determined as follows: To the distance in feet each has been ad- 

 judged to have cast, shall bo added the scores assigned for deli- 

 cacy and accuracy, and prizes snaU be assigned in accordance 

 with, this aggregate. 



Rule 12. '1 o prevent fouling the measuring line and accidents to 

 spectators in the fly-casting contests, the points of all fly hooks 

 shaU be broken off. But aucli breaks shall only remove the point 

 down to and including the barb. 



Rule 13. In the absence of an appointed judge the President or 

 Secretary will flU the vacancy. 



Ride 14. Salmon Fly-Casting.— The foregoing rules shall govern, 

 except that the rods shall not exceed 18ft. In longtn, and maybe 

 used with both hands, and that only one fly will be ronmred. The 

 distance to be cast for delicacy and accuracy eliall be (Oft. 



Rule 1-5. Black Bass Casting.— All general rules which do not 

 conflict with tlie following special rules shall govern. No rod 

 shall be less than Cft. nor more than 10ft. in length, nor more than 

 10o7,. in weight. Any reel may be nsed, and all casta i.iiall be 

 made from the reel. Lines shall not be of less ca'iiher than No, 6 

 (letter H), braided silk), or No. 1 sea-grass, or corre.«ponding siaes 

 of other material. The sveights of the sinker shah not exceed 

 >io?.., the same to be furnished by the contestant. In casting but 

 a single hand .?hall be n.^ed. Each contestant shall be allowed 

 five easts, tbe averaire of them to count, and then will be allowed 

 five minutes to cast for stvlc and accuracy; tlie latter point to be 

 ascertained bv casts made at a stake 60ft. distant fi'om the caster, 

 the judges to' give points in accordance wnth the nearness with 

 which the sinker or the reel-line approache-s the -aid stake. .Style 

 or form to be determined i^y the ease and .^race of the caster. 

 The scale of points shall be the same as in fly-casting, viz.: Dis- 

 tance, the average of his easts in feet, style and accuracy, 35 

 points each. 



Rule 16. Heavv Bass Casting,— Rods shall not exceed lOft-. ta 

 length; any reel mav be used, but the line shall be of linen, No, 9, 

 of at least twelve threads throughout its entire length. The casts 

 shall be made from the reel, with sinkers weighing 2)4 ounces, 

 (These will be furnislied by (he committee.) Eac-li contestant wiU 

 be allowed five casts. His casts shall be measui-ed, added, and 

 divided by five, and tiie result shall consJtute his score. 



THE SIX-INCH TROUT LAW. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I note what ''A New York Fisherman" says in your 

 last issue on this question, and will say in reply: Except 

 in small mountain streams, where insect larvje find little 

 vegetation to feed upon, and are therefore scarce, a trout 

 shoitld reach the length of 6in, in a year and a half, at 

 least. This is presuming a fan- supply of food and water 

 enough to swim in. My experience as a fishcultm-ist has 

 been that we cannot get the gro^i;h in trotxt fry kept in 

 the shallow water of a hatching trough that we do_ ia 

 pools of two feet deep, 1 have this year, in the rearing 

 ponds of the N. Y. Fish Commission, on Long Island, frv 

 of brook trout which were hatched last March and April, 

 some of which are 7in, long, and from a few of the males 

 we have taken milt and impregnated the eggs of larger 

 females with it in November last. 



There is no way to tell the age of a wild fish, but I 

 should say that a stream in which trout of three years 

 old do not exceed 6in. was poorly off for ti'out food or for 

 depth of water to grow in, or both. A trout of 6in. 

 which is tlu-ee years old is a dwarf, and might never 

 grow larger, for it is a rule that a fish wliich is stunted 

 in its first few months of life by lack of food will never 

 catch up with its better fed fellows, and this rule apphes 

 to all young animals. My personal opinion is that baby 

 taroui of 6in. should not be killed, and whea I seo mm 



