APRIL 25, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



277 



the idea to a game dealer. Read between the lines, it has 

 the ring of true, unselfish sportsmanship, which no one 

 Avould ever expect to emanate from a game dealer. I 

 suspect the fuels in regard to sportsmen quoted by Mr. II. 

 have been observed by him in his intercourse with the 

 Chicago article. 



In the meantime, until a uniform game law for the 

 whole country can be adopted, the best course for sports- 

 men to follow will be the advocacy of as wise and effec- 

 tive game laws for each State as it is possible to pass 

 and enforce, coupled with an iron-clad non-exporf law, 

 to prevent game being shipped out of their States. 

 Victoria, Tex., April it Guadalupe. 



St. Catharines.— Th e regular meeting of the Penin- 

 sular Gun and Game Club was held in the office of James 

 A. Keyes on April 8, and was largely attended. Five 

 applications for membership were received and accepted. 

 The report of the scouts showed that the members of the 

 club in the vicinity of the Twenty and other ponds were 

 doing splendid work, with the result that not a single 

 duck had been shot there this spring, while along the 

 Niagara River, from Fort Erie to Lake Ontario, ducks 

 were being shot in large numbers by men who know the 

 law, and could have no possible excuse for violating it. 

 Tt was decided to notify the executive committee of the 

 Dominion Gun Alliance of the violations, and the names 

 of the parties so far found out, and render them every 

 assistance in the prosecution of the. parties. The com- 

 mittee on game reported that they had secured 150 Indian 

 Territory quail, which would be turned out in different 

 parts of the country. The club is now in a nourishing 

 condition. 



An Ohio Sportsman,— A correspondent referring to 

 the Sunset Club papers and to the portrait of Judge 

 Potter, of Toledo, which appeared in a recent issue of 

 Forest and Stream, says of Judge Potter: "He was once 

 judge over nine counties in northwest Ohio; has shot 

 ■deer in every ward in Toledo; smoked (when in Congress) 

 with Gen. Jackson; fished on the Potomac with Daniel 

 Webster; played whist with John C. Calhoun, Thomas 

 H. Benton, Silas Wright and others; was with Henry 

 Clay when he died, and on board the Princeton at the 

 time of the bursting of the big gun. And now at 84 past, 

 is still hale and hearty, quick of sight and hearing, clear 

 of mind and memory, entertaining and companionable. 

 These are a few of the facts concerning Judge E. D. Potter, 

 of whom no one will speak ill." 



Michigan Duck Law — "Tt shall be lawful to hunt and 

 kill jacks-nipe, redhead, bluebill, canvasback, widgeon 

 and pintail ducks and wild geese, between the first day 

 of September in each year and the first day of May next 

 following." Approved, March 28, 1889. Unless you have 

 already published the above, it will be of interest to many, 

 as being the substance of the recent Michigan legislation 

 with regard to spring shooting. — EJ3LPIE (Central Lake, 

 April 15). 



Cross Shooting.— Mechanicville. N. Y., April 12.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: In the Forest and Stream, 

 April 4, "Sinkboat" gives his experience in cross shooting. 

 Will some others please give us points under the same 

 head. This is just what has bothered me many a time, 

 how to hold on a fast-moving duck or other bird when 

 we are nearly always obliged Jo take them on cross shots. 

 Will the old gunners take a hand in educating a — Novice. 



New Jersey. — The Chatham Fish and Game Pro- 

 tective Association was organized at Chatham, New Jer- 

 sey, on April 17. The objects of the association are, as its 

 title signifies, the protection of fish and game under the 

 laws of the State; also trap-shooting. Its officers are as 

 follows: Pres., Geo. Shepard Page; Yice-Pres., W. W. 

 Ogden; Sec'y-Tre&s., Win, Elder. 



GAME LEGISLATION AT ALBANY. 



ALBANY, N. Y„ April 19,— The Assembly has ordered to a third 

 reading the bill creating a game commission to modify the 

 game la we. 



Mr. Mead's concurrent resolution against the squatters in the 

 Adirondack forests has been favorably reported in the Assembly. 



m mjd $j$mr ^flushing. 



FISHING NEAR NEW YORK. 



U.— STATEN ISLAND. 



THE favorite fishing waters for New Yorkers are those 

 which wash the shores of Staten Island. In the height 

 of the season New York anglers go to Staten Island by 

 thousands every Saturday night and Sunday morning. Mr. 

 R. W. Pollock, the general traffic agent of the Staten 

 Island Railway, was unable to give me exact figures of 

 the number of fishermen who use the company's ferry 

 boats and trains during the summer and fall months, but 

 he says there are so many anglers carried to the island 

 and back again that it is a matter of wonder to him that 

 there is a fish of any kind left to catch between St. George 

 and Tottenville. 



The east shore of Staten Island is the fishing ground. 

 The north shore, from St. George to Elm Park, is bounded 

 by the Kill von Kull, and the Standard Oil docks, the 

 Chemical Works and other nuisances on the New Jersey 

 shore fill this stream so full of "sludge acid," petroleum 

 and other nasty compounds that fish can scarcely live 

 there, and if they can be caught they can scarcely be fit 

 "to eat. Where the Kill von Kuil ends, at Newark Bay, 

 there is sometimes good fishing for striped bass, but as 

 this is in Jersey waters it will be considered in another 

 article. At BuckAvheat Island on the Arthur Kill, near 

 the new drawbridge, there is also good fishing at times, 

 but this place is as yet practically inaccessible by way 

 of Staten Island and will be mentioned under New Jersey 

 fishing. In Staten Island Sound, which separates Staten 

 L-land from New Jersey below Elizabethport, there is 

 very good fishing for weak fish in season. Rossville, on 

 Staten Island, is near the best grounds, but it can only 

 be reached by the steamer pljing between New York 

 and New Brunswick, N. J., which leaves its city 

 pier at the foot of Vesey street in the afternoon, so 

 that the fisherman would have to stay over night. He 



can reach the same or better grounds in the Sound, how- 

 ever, by taking the C. R. R. of N. J. to Sewaren. 



The Staten Island Railway is par excellence the angler's 

 road. It carries, for its short distance, more fishermen 

 in one season than any other New York railroad docs in 

 three. Throughout its length, from St. George, where 

 the Staten Island ferry boats land, to Tottenville. at the 

 south end of the island, it passes within easy distance of 

 the whole eastern shore, and at every station below Gar- 

 retson's, stages connect with each train to carry anglers 

 to the beach. At present, both on week days and Sundays, 

 trains run in both directions almost every hour, and in 

 the summer and fall they run much oftene*. The route 

 is by way of Staten Island ferry from the foot of White- 

 hall street to St. George, S. L, where the trains are wait- 

 ing. 



The king of Staten Island waters is the striped bass. 

 Ho comes in small numbers in the spring, is caught in 

 late April, May and June, but the best striped bass fishing 

 is in the fall, September and October being the best 

 months. The Staten Island fishermen are just beginning 

 to troll for striped bass as the Hell Gate fishermen do (see 

 first article of this series), but they prefer still-fishing, 

 which is done inside the sandbar that iollows the eastern 

 shore for a good portion of its extent, in water from 2 to 

 10ft. deep, and they find the best bait to be the white sand 

 worm. The red sandworm ranks next, and after this 

 shedder crabs and shrimp. The last of the ebb tide and 

 first quarter of the flood is the favorite time, giving six 

 hours for fishing. 



Weakfish begin to bite as soon as the fireflies show them- 

 selves, say from May 25 to June 10, and the southern part 

 of the island is the best ground for catching them, al- 

 though there are many caught in the Great Kills. They 

 run in weight from ^lb. to 21 bs. and sometimes larger. 

 Shedder crab is the best bait, and the same conditions of 

 tide hold good as for bass; indeed, the same may be said 

 for all fish caught in these waters. 



Kingfish make their appearance in the neighborhood of 

 the Great Kills about Aug. 1. Use shedder crabs or 

 shrimp for bait, and fish close to the bottom. These fish 

 may be "chummed" for, in the same manner as bluefish 

 or sea bass, but the Staten Islanders haven't yet tried it. 

 In Raritan Bay I have found it a very successful way. 

 Collect at low tide a big basketful of the little mussels 

 that cling to the muddy banks of a creek; break their 

 shells and cast them overboard freely, shells and all, 

 when anchored for fishing. Then bait your hooks with 

 mussel, if large enough, or with a piece of shedder crab 

 the same color as the mussel. 



Bluefish, or "snappers," are caught after the middle of 

 May, principally at the southern end of the island. Fish 

 for them as for weakfish, except that hooks must be tied 

 on gimp instead of gut snells. Strips of white flesh and 

 skin cut from the belly of a porgie or other fish are good 

 bait. 



Large plaice or "flukes" are sometimes caught along the 

 island's shores, and so are flounders, an occasional drum, 

 a blackfish (tautog) now and then, and sometimes sheeps- 

 head. 



The nearest fishing resort of consequence is at Elm Tree 

 Beacon or Cedar Grove Beach. Fare to New Dorp and 

 return, 40 cents; stage to the beach, 10 cents each way. 

 It is about a mile from each station to the beach all along 

 the railroad. Excursion tickets are good three days. J. 

 C. Swaini is the keeper of the Elm Tree Light, and has 

 ten boats for hire at $1 a day. He cannot furnish bait, 

 but it can always be had at Peteler's Hotel, near by. 

 Last autumn a Mr. Dill, who lives in the vicinity, caught 

 a striped bass here weighing (Ulbs. Swaim and a com- 

 panion set fyke nets, and they claim to have caught bass 

 in them running as high as 241os. in weight. 



Cedar Grove Beach is just below the Beacon, and is 

 reached from New Dorp station. At this place is Petel- 

 er's Hotel, a large house with a reputation for good cook- 

 ery and excellent accommodations for families. Board 

 at the hotel can be had (including room) for from $2.50 

 to $% a day. Fifteen boats are for hire at $1 a day, and 

 bait is always to be had. 



The Great Kills is a favorite fishing ground for weak- 

 fish in the summer and bass in the fall. Get off at Gif- 

 f ord's station (round trip fare 50 cents) and take sta'ge to 

 any of the three resorts (fare 10 cents). Boats can be 

 hired at any of the resorts for $1 a day. 



At Fitzgerald's Excelsior Hotel here there are sixty 

 boats for hire, and shrimp and crab bait is always kept 

 on hand, but no sand worms. Tackle can be hired if de- 

 sired, and a boatman at $1 a day. Lodgings 50 cents. 

 Fitzgerald says last year the weakfishing began May 17, 

 and kingfishing about three weeks later. Plenty of 

 flounders may be caught now. 



At Collins's Hotel there are forty boats, and shrimp and 

 crab bait can always be had. Meals may be had a la carte. 



The Bay View House (Charles M. Wolff, proprietor) 

 will open May 1 for the season. There are eight boats 

 for hire, and rooms and meals (European plan) may be 

 had. None of the Great Kills hotels are family resorts 

 like the Captain's Villa at Eltingville and Peteler's Hotel 

 at Cedar Grove Beach. 



At Eltingville station (round trip fare 50 cents) stage 

 may be taken for "The Captain's Villa," a resort kept by 

 Capt. H. Lowenstein, who has fifteen nice Whitehall 

 boats to hire at $1 a day. Bait must be brought from 

 New York, as the captain isn't always supplied. This is 

 one of the famous fishing grounds along the shore, 

 especially for bass. There are a number of rocks 

 scattered about which are uncovered at low tide, and if 

 the fisherman trolls among and just outside of these 

 during the young flood with 50ft. ot line and a fat white 

 sandworm on the hook he is pretty sure of success. 

 Dinner may he had at 75 cents, other meals 50 

 cents at the "Villa," if desired, and lodging at 50 

 cents. Board by the day, $2; by the week, $». The 

 house and grounds are very pretty, and this is one of the 

 most charming spots on the island. The "tough" ele- 

 ment is discouraged by the Captain. 



At Annadale, the next station south of Eltingville 

 (round trip fare 50 cents), stage may be taken to 

 Smith's or Pollion's, where boats may be hired at the 

 i egular rate. Bring your own bait. Weakfish are caught 

 here, the natives say, earlier than at any place along the 

 shore. No hotel accommodations. 



There are two places where boats may be hired 

 at Huguenot station (fare, round trip, 55 cents), and 

 stages connect with all trains. Andrew Beasley's "Fish- 

 ermen's Retreat" is one of the best known places on the 

 beach. He has twenty-five good boats for hire at $1 a 



day, and if one wishes to stay over night Andrew will 

 let him have a cot for 25 cents, or a whole room 

 to himself for $ I. Meals can be had a t reasonable rates. 

 The other resort is kept by Charles Neumann, who, has 

 good boats to let at the prevailing rate. Bait may be had 

 at Beasley's, but in all cases it is best for the fisherman 

 to bring his own bait if possible. 



Between Beasley's and Neumann's are the houses and 

 grounds of the Columbia Fishing Club, one of the most 

 prosperous of the several clubs on the island. It has 

 thirty members, most of them New York business men, 

 who bring their families down for a summer stay. Most 

 of the fishing clubs are "stag" affairs, but bachelorhood is 

 frowned upon in the Columbia Club. They own exten- 

 sive grounds and have a large club house with dining- 

 room, bedrooms, etc., and a two-story boat house nicely 

 fitted with lockers, cots, etc., and containing many fine 

 boats. Just at the rear of their club house is a large 

 fresh-water pond which the club stocked two or three 

 years ago with Mack bass, but up to date no fish except 

 cattish have been taken in it. The officers of the club 

 are: Jacob Hatzel, President; Albert Lorey, Correspond- 

 ing Secretary; Charles Eppleur, financial Secretary: and 

 Frederick Moore, Treasurer. The members are all enthu- 

 siastic fishermen, and what they do not know about 

 Staten Island fishing is hardly worth learning. The fish- 

 ing here for weakfish and bass is excellent, and the angler 

 who goes to Huguenot will probably do as well as lie can 

 anywhere on the island. 



The oldest fishing club on Staten Island is reached from 

 Huguenot station. This is the Excelsior Fishing Club, 

 which was founded twenty- two years ago, and which has 

 a fine house and stable and thiity-eight acres of land, 

 situated on the old Aspinwall estate, the house, set back 

 from the shore, commanding a magnificent view of the 

 bay. The New York Fishing Club at Richmond Valley 

 and the Colunibia Club at Huguenot are both offshoots 

 of the old Excelsiors, and two other clubs have been 

 founded by its members which have since become ex- 

 tinct. The officers of the club at present are: Leonard 

 R. Kerr, President; Daniel Kuhn, Jr., Vice-President; 

 William Glaser, Secretary ; Charles McK. Loeser, Treas- 

 urer; Daniel Kuhn, Jr., William Glaser, George Hatzel, 

 William D. Bruns, Jr., Otto Burkart, Charles C. Heydt, 

 G. Mundorf , Trustees. 



At Prince's Bay station (fare, round trip, 60 cents) 

 the stage will take you for a dime to Isaac B. Smith's 

 place. Prince's Bay is the great resort for weakfish, and 

 they are said to run larger here than elsewhere along the 

 shore. Smith has thirty-two first-class boats for hire at 

 $1 a day. and he always keeps bait. He can also accom- 

 modate fi-hermen with meals and lodging at reasonable 

 rates. His post office address is Richmond Valley, S. I, 



Carl Schopp also rents boats here, and can give valua- 

 ble information as to the best places for weakfishing. 



Half a mile south from Smith's place, but reached from 

 Prince's Bay station, is the Manhattan Fishing Club. 

 There are seventy-two members, who occupy a comfort- 

 able house set back some distance from shore, overlook- 

 ing the bay. They own a considerable tract of ground 

 and are building a new house. The officers are: H. Mc- 

 Fadden, President; Edward Coppers, Vice-President; 

 John Conlan, Secretary. 



The last of the east and south shore fishing resorts are 

 reached from Richmond Valley station (round trip, 60 

 cents). J. J. Butler's stages, fare 15 cents each way, 

 connect with the shore. Henry Laforge has 25 good 

 boats for hire at the prevailing rate, and Fred Bradell 

 has about the same number. The latter says he will have 

 bait this season. From this place it is only a short pull to 

 the famous weakfish grounds at Buoy 10 and on the 

 Raritan Bay oyster beds. Post office address, Tottenville, 

 S. I. 



The New York Fishing Club, the largest club on the 

 islaud, has its houses here. It has a large membership, 

 well cared for houses and grounds, and many handsome 

 boats. Nicholas W. Morrell, of 253 East Fifty-second 

 street, is president, and Conrad Platte, of Second avenue 

 and Forty-fifth street, is secretary. Seneca. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



C1HICAGO, April 19.— A convention of the fishing 

 ■ ; clubs of Chicago has been ca lled to meet in Chicago 

 at the same time as the State Sportsmen's Association, 

 in view of cooperation between the State organizations 

 in the matter of general fish and game protection. This 

 is a move in the right direction. Mention has already 

 been made in these columns of the work of the Fox River 

 Fish and Game Protective Association, and of the back- 

 ing it had received among other fishing clubs. It is to be 

 hoped that the Fox River Association will show up in 

 full force and bring other clubs in with it. Now is a good 

 time for a gathering of the clans. E. Hough. 



Cakp Fishing.— Oblige a couple of anglers by telling 

 them whereabouts in the Passaic River in New Jersey 

 we can fish for carp, what bait to use; what trains to 

 take and whether it is necessary to have a boat. Also if 

 a float or sinker is needed, also what kind of hooks is 

 required, and what time of the year is the proper time to 

 go. Having read so much about carp recently, we have 

 decided to ask you to give us a day's sport at them as far 

 as your information goes. — E. H. Tt. [We advise you 

 not to catch carp at this time of the year, because it is 

 their spawning season and they are not fit to be eaten. 

 In the months or September and October they will be in 

 good condition, and you will have a better return for 

 your trouble. Use comparatively small hooks, about 

 such as you would take for black bass. The carp ought 

 to be pretty generally distributed in the Passaic by this 

 time and you might take the New York, Lake Erie and 

 Western road to Garfield or Singac, or the Delaware, 

 Lackawana and Western to Lyndhurst. Any of these 

 places will furnish good fishing for bass and other fishes 

 from June to September. Read Forest and Stream of 

 Aug. 19, 1886, for description of carp fishing with a 

 fluttering fly, and the number for Sept. 23, 1886, will tell 

 you that grasshoppers have been successfully used on the 

 surface, while the usual bait is cornbread or wheat bread 

 crumbs. Sometimes bread dough is mixed with cotton 

 for carp bait. In the winter of 1887-88 a gentleman in 

 Troup county, Georgia, caught 100 pounds of carp with 

 hook and line in a hole baited for suckers.] 



Philadelphia, July 20, 1888. — United Stntes Cartridge Co., Low- 

 ell, Mass.: Your new Climax paper shexls with strong primers 

 are the best shells made yet. (Signed) Ansts UAkijet (Little 

 Sure Shot).— Adv. 



