230 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[§e£t. 14, 1895. 



The Editor's Ultimatum. 



Kelpie sends us this from an East Jordan, Mich., 

 paper: "Notice. --No more fish lies will be printed in this 

 paper unless the editor stands in. For every pound of 

 trout brought into the office and left there, we will lie 

 lOlbs. , for every pike left we will lie one muscallongej for 

 every shiner we will lie one large black bass, and for every 

 large black bass we will lie one whale. This is final." 



"Hunting and Fishing along the Northwestern Line" 



is the title of a booklet recently issued by the Chicago & Northwestern 

 Railway. It is profusely illustrated, and gives information in detail 

 M>ncerning the best hunting aDd fishing grounds in the West and 

 Northwest. Copies will be mailed free to any address upon applica- 

 tion to W, B. Kniskeri^ General Passenger and Ticket Agent, Chicago 

 &, Northwestern Railway, Chicago, ill.— Adv. 



LONG PINE TROUT. 



Grand Island, Neb., Aug. 18.— Up in the northwestern 

 part of Nebraska, in the dreary Sand Hill region, is the 

 little town of Long Pine, situated on the banks of Long 

 Pine Creek. It is justly celebrated for its beauty of 

 scenery as well as for the trout that hide in the cool 

 depths of the creek which comes rushing down a pine- 

 clad canon. Clear, cold and sparkling, a welcome relief to 

 the throat parched with the hot sand and alkali dust of 

 the surrounding country, for twenty miles or more it 

 dashes along with many a wind and twist through deep 

 gorges and under overhanging branches, fittingly bear- 

 ing the title of the Yosemite of Nebraska. On the banks 

 is annually held the Chautauqua meeting, and in the 

 waters those in attendance find many a tempting string 

 of brook and rainbow trout, for the stream has been 

 plentifully stocked with both varieties, 

 r There, a short time ago, in company with an Omaha 

 friend I passed a couple of very pleasant days, with 

 thirty-four trout (mostly rainbow) as my share of the 

 spoils, Thirty-four fish are not many for two days' work, 

 to be sure; but every one of them furnished some pleas- 

 ant sport, and I had some of the prettiest scenery in the 

 States on which to feast my eyes. 



Long Pine Creek is not an ideal spot for a lazy man, for 

 each fish taken is the result of much hard climbing and 

 scrambling over rocks and through underbrush. Never 

 in my experience have I met with a more difficult stream 

 to fish. The sides of the canon are very steep and end 

 only at the water's edge; and where the bank is not stand- 

 ing on edge it is covered with a dense and almost impen- 

 etrable mass of scrub oaks and briars, through which one 

 must force his way with imminent peril to tackle and 

 clothes alike. I hope the Recording Angel didn't listen 

 too closely to our remarks at times when our rods and 

 lines got tangled up in those thickets more than usual, 

 and more particularly on one occasion when my line be- 

 came looped on an oak branch and the barb of my hook 

 fastened itself into the ball of my thumb at the same 

 time; for just then my foot slipped and I slid into the 

 creek 10ft. below. I think I understand now why fish 

 make such a fuss over being hooked. Well, I dug the 

 barb, out with my knife and climbed up the bank again 

 and untangled my line and went on, and my companion 

 held my language accountable for a thunder shower that 

 came up about that time. 



Unlike most streams, it is impossible to wade, for the 

 creek has deep holes every few rods that plunge one in 

 over his head, and these generally occur at places where 

 the banks are from 10 to 30ft. above the creek bed, and so 

 straight up in the air that it is impossible to climb them. 

 These same banks render it almost impossible to land 

 many fish, for they have to be hauled up the banks by 

 main force, and many of them drop off; but there seems 

 to be no other way for it. 



This is, I suppose, as good a place as any to launch forth 

 in a thrilling description of how the "scintillating beau- 

 ties" flashed and sparkled as they cavorted around and 

 madly rushed with hghtning-like speed for our dancing 

 flies which floated so lifelike on the surface, where they 

 (the aforesaid flies) had been skillfully and delicately cast 

 by ourselves. I know it would sound very pretty if I 

 could tell how, reaching carefully over the brush, I de- 

 livered my cast with unerring aim some fifty or more 

 feet away, just at the exact spot in which a giant Fon- 

 tanalis lurked, and how by artistic manipulation I hooked 

 the "beauty of the crimson sides" and landed the "prince 

 with the rainbow hues" in my creel; but unfortunately I 

 cannot do it, and right here is where my angler readers 

 quit my poor little story "dead cold." For candor com- 

 pels me to state that we caught them with minnows, just 

 plain every-day minnows, and some of them only chubs 

 at that. But the trout seemed to like them. Now I de- 

 light to read about the airy grace with which the fly is 

 dropped upon the waters, how owing to the skill at the 

 rear, L end of the outfit some hoary-headed old sinner 

 of a fish was deceived into' trying to make a 

 lunch of the dainty concoction of steel and feathers, 

 and somewhere not long ago I read a definition of 

 an angler, which described him as a sort of 

 superior being, who would use nothing but an artificial 

 fly. Anyone who would or could use live bait was 

 unworthy of that proud title, and just a common plug 

 fisherman and a club generally whose sordid soul could 

 not soar higher than the level of a bullhead — a no account 

 pot-hunter, anyhow. Now, all that made me feel very 

 bad, and I determined to reform, So when I started on 

 this trip I hunted up my fly book, looked its contents over 

 and invested a few shekels in a new supply, swore a 

 mighty oath on the butt joint of my old fly-rod that I'd be 

 an angler or "bust." And so, filled with an ambition to 

 imitate the deeds of the bright and shining lights of the 

 craft, "I hied me to the stream" (if the editor will permit 

 it). Once there I worked hard and diligently until I 

 nearly wore my rod and tackle out whipping that old 

 stream for the fish that never came. Perhaps I had been 

 a backslider too long and my arm had lost its cunning (if 

 it had ever possessed any), for not a fish would deign to 

 notice my artful lines. I tried every fly in my book and 

 when I wore them out sent for more, but it was no use — 

 they just wouldn't have them at any price. 



About the time I wore out my last fly I spied a grass- 

 hopper on the bank and stuck him on a hook. AlasI for 

 he gentle angler. He was once more transformed into a 



plain, everyday fisher-man, and hooked a Hlb. trout at 

 the first cast. 



On questioning the local fishermen I learned that the 

 trout in that stream positively refuse to be seduced by any 

 known or artificial fly. They tell me that time and again 

 it has been tried with the same unvarying lack of success 

 by every trout fisherman who ever came there. Perhaps 

 the right fly has not yet been tried on that stream. I 

 used, however, over a dozen different varieties and had 

 never a strike. 



The fish in the stream are all of good size. The small- 

 est I caught was 7in. long; and I landed a couple that 

 weighed 21bs. each several hours after being taken out of 

 the water. Most of those I Caught ran from to I2in. 

 long, I am told that further down the stream fish of 3 or 

 4lbs. are sometimes caught. I learned that, however, too 

 late to be of service to me. Some day I mean to go back 

 there and take a look for them, but I have not yet deter- 

 mined whether I will increase my stock of flies or invest 

 in a bright tin minnow bucket. W. R. Hall. 



FROM THE KINGFISHER WHO STAYED 

 HOME. 



Central Lake, Mich,, Aug. 31. — When the Grand Lama 

 asked of George Kennan his reason for believing that 

 the earth is round, he replied about as follows: "There 

 are many reasons, but perhaps the strongest and most 

 convincing iB that I have been around it." 



Naturally somewhat bashful, I have taken no part in 

 the bass controversy, besides it is only some Bixteen or 

 seventeen years since I began to fish in bass-haunted 

 waters, so that I cannot be supposed to have learned 

 everything that is learnable about this fish. Neverthe- 

 less I cannot refuse to respond to the appeal of Samuel, 

 the ancient, and I hereby certify that the Green Lake 

 bass did precisely as Sam has stated in your issue of Aug. 

 31. Ana wherefore not? He wound the line around the 

 snag, just as Sam knew he would do if he could; and had 

 it been possible to prevent him Sam would have done it. 



That bass which we didn't get was the only good thing 

 we found at Green Lake. It was placed there for an all- 

 wise purpose, it was intended doubtless strictly as a cor- 

 roborative bass, and as such the spearmen of Interlochen 

 had passed it by that it might eventually snag Old Sam's 

 tackle and receive honorable mention in Forest and 

 Stream. I hope it is still in Green Lake. 



All the books in all the lama series of Tibet could not 

 convince Kennan that in believing that he had traveled 

 around the globe he was the victim of a delusion, and no 

 authority, anatomical or otherwise, is sufficient to per- 

 suade me that the black bass does not leap and shake its 

 head on occasion. Not exactly for the reasons assigned 

 by the Critic in the play, but nevertheless "as if there 

 was something in it" which he didn't like. That the rest 

 of the creature may be simultaneously agitated does not 



Captain Simon Suggs" : ' 'If Bob Smith kin do it, I kin 

 do it." 



When fast to a black bass it is not usual for me to 

 think of keeping the fish at the top of the water. If I 

 did I should need heavier tackle. I use a pliant rod, and 

 if I think the fish is about to break, move the tip sidewise. 

 I never intentionally give a bass Black line. 



I doubt not that experience of certain waters in which 

 I have never fished might affect my views concerning 

 that which a bass may do under given circumstances, but 

 just at present I may say that I have seen no statement 

 made by Old Sam or Kingfisher which I could call in 

 question. Any tyro in angling who follows their in- 

 structions can hardly go wrong, and I would as soon have 

 them to back me in an angling contest as any two men 

 between the pole and the equator. 



I can see in my mind's eye just about how my King- 

 fisher brethren looked when seated in the old camp chairs 

 around the fire on the banks of the Manistique, with the 

 white tents gleaming against the dark foliage in the 

 background, and the Colonel's old "sunflower" hat loom- 

 ing threugh the smoke; and can easily believe that there 

 was little difference of opinion among them on that bass 

 question. Had it been practicable I too should have been 

 there, sitting in the chair marked "K.," but — . Well, 

 we shall see what the summer of '96 may have in store 

 for us. Kelpie. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Have noticed with much interest the controversy on the 

 leaping bass question and am sure Old Sam has it about 

 right in your issue of Aug. 31. Now, if bass do not shake 

 themselves when in the air can Simpson or some one else 

 explain how last week, when fishing with small frog for bait. 

 I had a strike from a small bass (about 21bs. should think), 

 he came out of water on the strike, and not being securely 

 hooked threw bait and hook at least 4ft. sideways from him? 

 If that was not a true shake, I never saw one. It has been 

 my experience to have a bass when hooked keep up a most 

 decided shaking both in and out of water. How do you 

 account for that zigzagging of a hooked bass when in the 

 water? his course is about the shape of chain lightning; 

 the same as in the air, a continual shake and struggle to* 

 free himself. As to the leaping question the highest leap 

 that I am sure of was on the Assibet River below Rock- 

 bottom, Mass., where a 3lb. bass leaped into a boat con- 

 taining a man and two ladies gathering water lilies. It 

 made things quite lively for a few moments, but the bass 

 lost his life by that leap. 



For the benefit of Boston fishermen and others, let me 

 say tbat very good bass fishing can be had now at Boon's 

 Pond, Whitman's crossing, on Marlboro branch of Fitch- 

 burg R. R. I have got a number this season of 41bs. and 

 over. 



As Old Sam asks, can not somebody explain satis- 

 factorily why bass bite in such an erratic manner? As the 

 old French guide says, "Some days they will, some days 

 they won't, by gosh I don't know." F. H. M. 



Marlboro, Mass. 



Boston Anglers. 



Sept. 7.— Mr. C. A. Rogers speaks in the best of terms 

 of Castleton River, Vermont, for trout fishing. He had 

 good sport there recently, taking twenty or thirty trout, 

 the largest running up to a pound and even a little above. 

 He says that the river is easily reached from Boston, and 

 that it is a swift-running stream in the early season, but 

 that now it is mostly pools. Mr. E. B. Haskell, of the 

 Boston Herald, is just back from an extended trip into 

 Maine with his family. They visited the camp, Allerton 

 Lodge, on the east shore of Mooselucmaguntic, and found 

 some good fly-fishing. His son Hal is still there, where 

 he will remain till the legal shooting season. There are 

 reports of good fly-fishing at the Upper Dam. Mr. Patrick 

 Kelley, of Cambridge, who has fished the pools there for 

 so many years with good success, is about starting for the 

 old fishing grounds. There are few men more in love 

 with fly-casting than he. His outfit is also of the best, 

 and his neighbor shares it, if needed. Mr. Kelley fished 

 in the South two years ago, and it : is worth hearing his 

 account of the Southern fisherman "and his rig. 



Special. 



Steel River Trout. 



Port Arthur, Ont., Sept. 2.— Messrs. L. H. & M. Smith, 

 of Strathroy, Ont., have been spending a week trout fish- 

 ing in Steel River, near Jackfish Bay, Lake Superior. 

 They had splendid sport, the largest fish- taken by them 

 weighing over 5lbs. They have now left for a month's 

 shooting around Quappelle, Manitoba. They had their 

 famous English Better bitches Nimo and Rheabe with 

 them and expect to have good shooting on prairie 

 chickens, which are reported to be plentiful. 



J. E. Newsome. 



%mm and ^islf ^ivie^imu 



New York Protectors. 



Albany, N. Y., Sept. 7.— Editor Forest and Stream: The 

 inclosed is a list of the protectors and the districts assigned 

 them by the Commission at their meeting held last Wednes- 

 day. John Liberty. 

 J. Warren Pond (Albany), Chief Protector. 

 Mannister C. Worts (Oswego), John E. LeAvitt (Johns- 

 town), assistants. 

 Districts. 



1. Egbert R. Benjamin (Bay Shore), Suffolk,"Queens, Kings 



and Richmond. 



2. Harry Lippman (Washington Market), New York and 



Westchester. 



3. Willet Kid (Newburgh), Orange, Rockland and Put- 



nam. 



4. Matthew Kennedy (Hudson), Columbia, Rensselaer and 



Dutchess. 



5. Ira B. Elmendorf (Brodhead), Ulster, Greene and Al- 



bany. 



6. J. D. Lawrence (Bloonmlle), Delaware and Sullivan. 



7. Lester S. Emmons (Oneonta), Otsego, Schoharie and 



Chenango. 



8. Wm. A. Ten Eyck (Ballston Spa), Saratoga and Schenec- 



tady. 



9. Seneca N. Prouty (Whitehall), Washington and all the 



lake shore towns in Essex except Chesterfield. 



10. ALVIN Winslow (Stony Creek), Warren and the southern 



tier of towns in Essex. 



11. , Hamilton and all of Essex except that covered by 



the 9th, 10th and 12th Districts. 



12. Bentley S. Morrill (Plattsburgh), Clinton and the 



northern tier of towns in Essex. 



13. JAS. W. Littlejohn (Loon Lake), Franklin county. 



14. Emmet J. Lobdell (Northville), Fulton and Montgom- 



ery and southern tier of Hamilton to and including 

 Lake Pleasant. 



15. Austin B. Klock (Herkimer), Herkimer county. 



16. Eugene Hathaway (Harrisville), Lewis county. 



17. Archibald Muri (Fine), St. Lawrence except the town 



of Hammond. 



18. Jos. North up (Alexandria Bay), Jefferson and town of 



Hammond in St. Lawrence. 



19. Riley M. Rush (Camden), Oneida and Madison. 



20. Orla S. Potter (Sandy Creek), Oswego county. 



21. Spencer Hawn (Cicero), Onondaga county. 



23. James H. Lamphere (Weedsport), Cayuga and all of Sen- 

 eca north of Auburn branch of N. Y. C. R. R. 



23. Moses E. Sawyer (Waverly), Tioga, Broome and Cort- 



land. 



24. Geo. B. Smith (Horseheads), Chemung, Tompkins, Schuy- 



ler and all of Seneca south of Auburn branch of N. Y. 

 C. R. R. 



25. John L. Ackley (Penn Yan), Yates and Steuben. 



26. Geo. Carver (Lyons), Wayne. 



27. Wallace L. Reed (Canandaigua), Ontario and Living- 



ston. 



28. Edgar I. Brooks (Rochester), Monroeand Orleans. 



29. Daniel N. Pomeroy (Lockport), Niagara and Erie. 



30. Barnard Salisbury (Ellicottville), Cattaraugus and 



Chatauqua. 



31. T. H. Donnelly (Perry), Wyoming, Genesee and Alle- 



ghany. 



Sebastian Herbach (Woodhaven) to have entire charge of 



oyster region. 

 Edgar Hicks and John Ferguson, assistants. 



'he Mmml 



FIXTURES. 



Wisconsin Maskalonge. 



Three Lakes, Wis.— Messrs. W . W. and E. M. Mossman, 

 of Omaha, Neb., oaught in three days on the Eagle chain 

 of lakes five maskalonge, two largest 301bs. each. Fishing 

 is good. F. R. French. 



BENCH SHOWS. 



Sept. 17 to 30.— Rhode Island State Fair Association's third annual 

 bench show, Narragansett Park, Providence, R. I. 



Sept. 17 to 20.— Orange county Fair Bench Show, Newburgh, N. Y. 

 Robert Johnson, Sec'y. 



Sept. 17 to 20.— Montreal Kennel Association's show, Montreal, Can. 

 Geo. K. Lanigan, Hon Sec'y-Treas. 



Sept. 17 to 20.— Milwaukee Kennel and Pet Stock Association's first 

 annual bench show, Milwaukee, Wis. F. S. Morrison, Sec'y. 



Sept. 18 to 20,— Omaha Kennel Club's second annual show, Omaha, 

 Neb. E. L. Marston, Sec'y. 



Oct. 8 to 11.— Danbury, Conn.— Danbury Agricultural Society. G. L. 

 Rundle, Sec'y. 



1896. 



Feb. 19 to 22.— Westminster Kennel Club'B twentieth annual dog 

 show, Madison Square Garden, New York. James Mortimer, Supt. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Oct. 22 —Columbus, Wis.— Northwestern Beagle Club's third annual 

 trials. Louis Steflen, Sec'y, Milwaukee. 



Oct. 29.— Assonet Neck, Mass.— New England Field Trial Clnb's 

 fourth annual trials. Arthur R. Sharp, Sec'y, Taunton, Mass. 



— . Morris, Man.— Northwestern Field Trials Club's Champion Stake. 

 Thos. Johnson, Sec'y, Winnipeg. 



Oct. 30 31.— Monongahela Valley Association Trials, Greene county, 

 Pa. W. H. Beazell, Sec'y, Homestead. 



Nov. 5.— Chatham, Ont— International F. T. Club. W. B.Wells, Sec'y. 



