142 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[AtJG. 17, 1895. 



devoted himself more to that other branch of the business 

 to which he has referred. Fisbing brings us into intimate 

 relationship with our mother nature and therefore it is 

 good to spend some time in that pursuit. I am glad that 

 this League was formed and it has been a pleasure to me 

 to be a member. 



Senator Proctor was called up to tell the greatest fish 

 story on record. The Senator got even with Chairman 

 Wilds and said that the seemingly large fish which were 

 suspended around the tent were but minnows as compared 

 with those he had been in the habit of catching in Ver- 

 mont brooks all his life. He thought that the work of 

 this League was of an educational nature. It would make 

 the law understood in all parts of the State, thus adding 

 greatly to our prosperity. 



Congressman Grout was called up as a man who had no 

 embarrassment in telling the truth. Gen. Grout said he 

 wanted to come because it had been promised that there 

 would be no speaking, because he wanted to see how the 

 members of the League would act when surrounded by 

 plenty of water, and finally because he wanted to sit at 

 the feet of these distinguished statesmen and fishermen 

 and learn how to fish, 



Congressman Powers said that the 6in. law drove him 

 out of the fishing business. He did not come over here 

 to tell any fish stories, but to see the good people of Grand 

 Isle county, whom he praised very highly, saying that 

 they remained at home and spent their time in acquiring 

 useful information. These tables show the hospitality of 

 this town and are an indication of what the ladies can do. 

 Judge Powers said that he would like to stay in the 

 country four weeks and get acquainted with the people. 



Ex-Gov. Stewart was the next speaker. He told a 

 humorous story and referred to his experiences in fishing 

 among these islands. He found it an inspiration to come 

 into these waters, drink in the pure air and get ac- 

 quainted with the good people of these islands. 



Gen. J. G. McCullough was the next speaker. He said 

 he was a law-abiding member of the League, and since 

 it had been announced that there was to be no speaking 

 he could not break the rule. He told a salmon story 

 which he obtained from Gov. Stewart, concluding with a 

 humorous account of how the latter was rescued from 

 drowning by being caught by his hair. Gov. Stewart 

 thereupon stood up and showed his bald head, at the 

 same time admitting the truth of Gen. MoCuUough's re- 

 markable story. The latter then called attention to the 

 fact that he alone of all the speakers had had his veracity 

 vouched for. 



Mr. Wilds then called up President Buckham to speak 

 for the other side, the non-liars. President Buckham 

 said he did not remember ever having been in such a 

 distinguished gathering of congressmen, governors, ex- 

 governors and future governors. He felt like a small 

 fish among the great whales, and according to the laws 

 of the State he thought he should be put back. One 

 thing has been passed by on this occasion, that is the 

 preservation of the song birds of our State. They form 

 one of the charms of our State. President Buckham be- 

 lieved that one reason why birds do not sing as many 

 days in this country as they do in England is that their 

 songs are not appreciated. When we respond to a bird's 

 song by whistling the bird seems to know that his song 

 is appreciated. One of the things which we can do to 

 increase the attractiveness of our State is to preserve and 

 encourage our song birds. 



MRS. FARRINGTON'S MUSCALONGE. 



We are indebted to Mr. Wm. R. Farrington, of Pough- 

 keepsie, N. Y., for the admirable photograph, which is 

 here reproduced, of the notable muscalonge captured by 

 Mrs. Farrington in the St. Lawrence River last Septem- 

 ber. In response to our request for particulars of the 

 exploit, Mrs. Farrington sends us the following notes, 

 from which it will appear that the fish should be credited 

 to her as a trophy of skillful handling and presence of 

 mind under conditions which would have flustered many 

 a man playing his first big fish. She writes : 



On Sept. 7, as beautiful a day as one could wish to 

 spend on the St. Lawrence River, my husband and I 

 were trolling in two boats, his guide being L9ander Den- 

 ny, and mine Ed Denny. 



At 4 P. M. Mr. Farrington had killed nine pickerel, five 

 of which weighed 401bs., while I grew weary taking in 

 my lines to remove grass and the smallest pickerel, often 

 called "slinkies" by the guides. 



At half past 4 we were about three miles from Clay- 

 ton, working Blowly over the ground which had just been 

 covered by Mr. F. in his boat. Suddenly the bell attached 

 to the trolling rod gave a very gentle alarm, and I said: 

 "There is another of those little pickerel." But as I lifted 

 the rod free it sprung back, so that I could hardly hold 

 it. Ed with difficulty got the rod in the boat and handed 

 me the line, saying: "Now look sharp, you've got a big 

 fish." 



I had out 200ft. of line and cautiously took in 

 about 90ft., thinking the fish did not feel so very large. 

 Just then he leaped out of the water, shook the spoon, 

 took a header into the water, and was out of sight. 

 Then came a shout of "Muscalonge!" from Mr. F.'s boat, 

 and I realized that the monster would be mine if I handled 

 him according to previous instructions. 



He seemed quite willing to follow up my coaxing for a 

 moment, then quite as determined to take everything his 

 way. And so we played a most exciting game of give 

 and take for twenty minutes. Then he came to the sur- 

 face and was quite near the boat. I said, "Ed, did you 

 ever see such a beautiful big fish?" Ed's voice sounded 

 far off and tremulous as he said, "Now, don't get excited, 

 Mrs. Farrington." But I did not intend to lose my head 

 nor my fish either. » 



I finally succeeded in getting him close to the boat, and 

 as Ed raised his club to strike, the muscalonge gave a 

 plunge right under the boat, and we both thought he was 

 off, But no! I felt of my fine and he was there, but too 

 tired to resist the strain of the line. As he came to the 

 surface Ed killed him with a blow and lifted him into the 

 boat. 



About fifteen minutes later Mr. Farrington killed a 

 muscalonge which weighed 151bs. We sailed into Clayton 

 with two white flags floating^causing great excitement, 

 owing to the fact that my fish was the largest muscalonge 

 ever killed by a woman. 



Mrs. William R. Farrington. 



Clayton, Thousand Islands, N. Y., Aug. 6.— Mr. W. R. 



Farrington, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., a guest of the Hub- 

 bard House, while fishing here yesterday landed a 33ilb. 

 muskallonge, the handsomest as well as the largest 

 brought in this season and measuring 4ft. lin. in length. 

 Leander Denny was the guide. Mr. and Mrs. Farrington 

 are among the most enthusiastic anglers visiting Clayton, 

 and have had great success this last week with the black 

 bass. Mr. Farrington also landed, on tbe 3d inst., a very 

 fine specimen of a pickerel, viz., a 16-pounder. 



That black bass fishing was never better on this part of 

 the St. Lawrence River than this season is the verdict of 

 a large number of anglers here, the sport afforded so far 

 this year being excellent, and is doubtless due to a great 

 extent to the splendid work accomplished by the Angler's 

 Association in the suppression of netting and the enforce- 

 ment of a strictly close season. J. G.. F. 



SEA, LAKE AND RIVER FISHING. 



Boston, Aug. 10.— Baker's Island, off Salem Harbor, is 

 an interesting place for those who like salt air and the 

 sea in all its natural beauty. There is pretty good cunner 

 fishing from its rocky shores, and Mr. E. S. Thayer, of 

 Salem, who has fished nearly everywhere along the main- 

 land coast, is very certain that good tautog fishing can 

 be had, having demonstrated that fact on a visit to the 

 island a few days ago, when he captured five tautog, the 

 largest weighing 51bs. He is going again, and the next 

 time hopes to find some striped bass fishing also, as he 

 feels sure they are in these waters. 



There is no one who is summering along the south 

 shore this season having a better time at the fishing than 



Boston, visiting the sportsmen of the Hub, with whom 

 they have a large acquaintance. 



W. J. Reynolds, of Boston, has gone to the Upper Dam, 

 Rangeley Lakes. He is an old pioneer in that region, this 

 being his twenty-second consecutive year of fishing in the 

 old and famous pool. Oct. 1 is the date of his return, 

 and I hope his usual good luck will favor him with dupli- 

 cates of some of the big trout he has caught in past years. 



Herbert Dumaresq and Dr. Cecil P. Wilson, of Boston, 

 have gone to the club house of the Sebago Club, at the 

 lake of that name in Maine. Mr. Dumaresq is a member 

 of the club, and during their stay of a few days will try 

 by deep-water trolling to catch a salmon that will exceed 

 in weight the 11 -pounder captured by him last spring. 

 Dr. Wilson will go on from there to the Megantic Preserve, 

 where he will make quite a trip before returning to 

 Boston. 



Samuel Wax and Hugo Pinksohn, of Boston, have left 

 for the Rangeleys, hoping to get some big trout during 

 their three weeks' stay. On the way back they will atop 

 for a few days at Belgrade Mills to enjoy the bass fishing. 

 Mr. Wax was very successful there last year, and thinks 

 it one of the pleasantest spots in Maine to visit. 



Connecticut lakes is the destination and September the 

 time planned for the trip of Dr. N. R. Hall, of Warren, 

 R. I. The Doctor visited this region last year, and was 

 so well pleased that he made up Ms, mind to repeat the 

 experience. This year he will spend most of his time at 

 Second Lake, and contemplates making a camping trip 

 from there to Camel's Rump Bog, where he hopes to get 

 some good shooting. At all events, he declares he will 

 not return until he gets a deer, and starting out with 



ST. LAWRENCE RIVER MUSCALONGE. 

 Weight, 411be. LeDgth, 4ft. Sin. Caught Sept. 17. 1894, by Mrs. Wm. R. Farrington, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Edward Denny, Guide. 



Dr. Maurice H. Richardson and A. G. Weeks, Jr., of 

 Boston. Dr. Richardson is at it early and late, and has 

 taken many bluefish and a number of small striped bass and 

 Bqueteague. His son, a lad of 16 years, captured a 701bs. 

 shark the other day, an achievement over which he was 

 naturally very proud. Good bass ponds are found a few 

 miles inland, and Mr. Weeks visits them quite often. 

 When ready to go the boat is placed on a wagon, and a 

 drive of ten miles brings him to Sniptuit Pond. Four 

 bass weighing 121bs. and several of less weight was the 

 result of a day's visit to that place recently, and nearly 

 every trip is equally as fruitful. Nearly everybody who 

 has fished at Buzzard's Bay has had good luck, and the 

 season of '95 will be recorded as one of the best for years. 



A party of five Western men made a day's record to be 

 proud of a week ago while fishing off Great Point across 

 Caydis Light, Nantucket. Seven sharks, the largest 

 measuring 17ft., and ninety-one bluefish was the sum 

 total of their prowess. The fun was fast and furious 

 while shark fishing, with just enough danger to make it 

 exciting. A strong breeze obliging them to sail under 

 three reefs most of the time added largely to their pleas- 

 ure, and they all want to know how much more fun 

 could be crowded into one day than they had on that 

 trip. 



F. H. Talcott, of Boston, has fished in many waters, but 

 he made the strangest capture of his life while trying for 

 bass in Lake Pearl, Wrentham, Mass., a few days ago. It 

 was a 251b. turtle that accepted his tempting bait, and 

 Mr. Talcott wants to know if any one has ever measured 

 or weighed the amount of vitality in one of these fellows. 

 He was as full of fight as a Corbett, and even after his 

 head bad been cut off so that it hung by a shred he still 

 wanted to bite off a whole hand from his captors. Mock 

 turtle soup has been voted a pleasant dish by Mr. T. in the 

 past, but after cleaning the meat out of this fellow he 

 concluded the shell was trophy enough this time. 



The noted guide and trapper, Spof. Flint, of Colebrook, 

 N. H., and his brother Fred Flint, proprietor of the Hell 

 Gate Camps on the Dead Diamond, made so famous by the 

 late Amasa Ward, have been spending a few days in 



that determination goes a long way toward fulfilling the 

 promise. 



Many Western sportsmen en route to Eastern fishing 

 waters stop over in Boston for a few days to put the finish- 

 ing touches on their outfits of flies, leaders, etc. While 

 engaged in this pleasant occupation it was my good for- 

 tune to run across three of about as genial types of the 

 Western angler as one could possibly meet. They were 

 William O. and J. C. Davie, of Cincinnati, and Chalmers 

 Brown, of Indianapolis. Prince Edward Island was their 

 destination, going first to Charlottetown, and from there 

 into the country for stream fishing. Mr. Brown has been 

 there before and guarantees to thoroughly initiate his two 

 friends into the mysteries of the fishing of that region dur- 

 ing the three weeks of their stay. 



Chas. H. Tyler and R. M. Saltonstall, well-known Bos- 

 ton lawyers, left on Aug. 9 for a two weeks' camping and 

 canoe trip. They will go to Moosehead, and from there 

 to Chesuncook Lake, devoting the entire time to trout 

 fishing. 



G. E. Blackmur, of Auburndale, Mass., has gone on a 

 three weeks' trip to Randall's Camps, located on the West 

 Branch Ponds, head waters of the Penobscot. They say 

 the trout actually tumble over each other there, so anxious 

 are they to take the fly, and Mr. Blackmur intends to find 

 out the truth of this assertion. 



W. S. Baines, of Boston, one of the old fishing veterans 

 in the region about J ackson in the White Mountains, has 

 been quite steadily fishing the streams near there this sea- 

 son, but does not find his luck up to the usual standard of 

 other years. He has heard of good fishing on the east 

 branch of the Pemigewasset, and has gone back to the 

 mountains intending to go there after it. Six or seven 

 miles of the hardest kind of tramping through the woods 

 each way might deter some men from such an under- 

 taking, but Mr. Baines thinks little of that when visions 

 of good trout fishing loom up before him. 



While fishing in the Concord River, near Boston, a few 

 days ago, M. Abbott Frazer and C. S. Burke captured 

 eleven bass, the two largest weighing respectively 5f and 

 3fglbs. In one instance, while the bait was lying still on 



