338 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 10, 1889. 



THE ANGLING TOURNAMENT. 



THE fly-casting tournament will be held at Harlem 

 Mere in Central Park (the upper end), next week 

 Thursday and Friday. May 28 and 24, beginning promptly 

 ut 9 A. M. each day. Weprinted the rules in our issue of 

 March 21. The programme will he as follows, the prizes 

 in each class being gold, silver and bronze medals: 



First Day. — Single-handed fly-casting by amateurs. 

 Judges: Rev. H. L. Ziegenfuss," Dr. A. Ferber: C. Van 

 Brunt, referee. 



Salmon fly-casting. Judges: Jno. A. Roosevelt, J, S. 

 Van Cleef ; W. J. Cassard, referee. 



Minnow casting for black bass. Judges: A. N. Cheney, 

 Jas. L. Valloton; Jno. A. Roosevelt, referee. 



Single-handed fly-casting by experts, Judges: Fred 

 Mather, Dr. Geo. Trowbridge: A. P. Van Giesen, D.D., 

 referee. 



Second Day. — Singled-hauded fly -casting by amateurs. 

 Judges! E. G. Blackford. Francis Endicott; Hon. Dan 

 O'Reilly, referee. 



single-handed fly-casting, light rod contest. Judges: 

 W. H. Wood, Wm. J. Cassard; D. Chauncey, referee. 



Heavy bass casting. Judges: Hon. H. P. McGown, Dr. 

 Geo. Trowbridge; Capt. Wm. Dunning, referee. 



Fly-casting for black bass. Judges: A. P. Van Giesen, 

 D.D., L. Dinwiddle Smith; Wm. C. Harris, referee. 



Tiie secretary's address is G. Poey, 114 Wall street, 

 Ne \v York. 



THE SUNSET CLUB.-1II. 



IT was an hour after sunset when the heavy footsteps 

 of the President had an echoing sound through the 

 deserted hall. The club rooms were dark. Standing on 

 tiptoe he took a large key from the casing above the door. 

 Unlocking, he walked in. After lighting the gas he 

 seated himself in front of the whitewashed stove; elevat- 

 ing li s feet above the rim, he gave way to meditation 

 and revery as he watched the cm-ling smoke from his 

 cigar slowly drifting from him. It was not long until a 

 noted worm- fisher from Chicago entered the room, quickly 

 followed by an expert fly-caster from Castalia. Then 

 came a black bass angler from Dayton, O.; a catfish jug- 

 ger from St. Louis; several enthusiastic yachtsmen, in- 

 cluding a noted commodore, and when the President 

 called the club to order the room was well filled. 



• 'veeper of the Keys," said the chair, "are you satis- 

 I ■ill present are entitled to seats in this chamber?" 

 "Mr. President," replied the official, "as near as lean 

 .v . the brethren are true and worthy disciples of Izaak 

 walton and are qualified to wear the regalia," 

 "'lis well. Brethren, salute the chair." 

 The secret signs were given, after which the minutes 

 of the last meeting were read and approved. 



"I would like to make an announcement before we 

 proceed to the regular business, for fear that I might for- 

 l> t it," s tid the President, holding in his hand a dozen 

 letters, "i t is as to who are are eligible to become active 

 members of tlris club. I have here letters of inquiry from 

 different parts of the. United States touching tins subject, 

 and will say for their information and others, that all 

 lovers of outdoor exercise and sport who can satisfy us 

 they are truthful men and that they have never told a 

 he, or, if wanting in this respect, are willing to reform 

 by taking upon themselves an obligation, followed by 

 frying d egrees and mysterious ordeals, as prescribed in 

 our ritual, and paying to the treasury the initiation fee: 

 uch we extend a hearty hand of fellowship." 

 The regular business of the club was resumed, and 

 ; : re being no committees ready to report, the members 

 i ed into a discussion touching the instinct of birds of 

 e, relative to their being good weather prophets. 

 The following is a synopsis of the arguments presented as 

 recorded on the secretary's book: "It is instructive to 

 compare with our modes of life those of the lower animals 

 e actions and habits are directly prompted and regu- 

 lated by the Creator, by means of their instincts. Tbat 

 birds have long been guides to sailors is well known. Mem- 

 bers of the guests who sailed on the schooner yacht Sper- 

 a.nza in her famous cruise from the Atlantic to Lake 

 Erie testified that when the cormorants flew landward, 

 wind was sure to follow; and when the gannets collected 

 in flocks and followed the yacht, rain was certain to fall 

 within a few hours, and when seagulls soared to lofty 

 heights, and, circling round, uttered shrill cries, a storm 

 was approaching, the smaller the gull the surer the storm. 

 Hunters arc close observers of the habits of birds. 



"If birds in autumn grow tame 

 The winter will be cold for game. 



"A member from Michigan stated that he would never 

 leave the camp if he saw a solitary buzzard at a great al- 

 titude, for it indicated rain; but if theyflew liigh together 

 f a r weather followed. A brother from Missouri said, 

 there would ho no rain the day the crane flies down the 

 creek. Florida's representative said the direction the 

 loon flies in the morning the wind will follow the next 

 day. Dakota swears by the wild geese, 



"The weather it will spill 

 If they fly to the hill. 



"If ducks and geese fly to the south, the weather it will 

 be cold, if to the north, warm," 



After the subject was well discussed, the chair said that 

 the committee appointed relative to admitting Hon. 

 Charles Foster as an honorary member was ready to re- 

 port. 



The committee stated that they had seen Hon. Joseph 

 W. Co turnings, and that he admitted the fact as stated in 

 the last meeting, but he was proud to say that he knew 

 the Governor had cast aside his $2.85 fishing tackle and 

 now was the happy owner of as fine an outfit as ever was 

 manufactured, and to show that'he is awakening to the 

 inspiration of the true angler, it is recorded at Middle 

 Bass Island, Lake Erie, that he caught last fall two large 

 black bass at one time." 



"Yes, Mr. President." said a gentleman from Ken- 

 tucky, "I can testify that the Governor did some scien- 

 tific fishing. It is also true that he made two double 

 catches on a spreader; but, my brethren," and he low- 

 ered his voice to a whisper, "his fine showed a little trace 

 of tar, conclusive evidence that he had been fishing in a 

 pound." 



This statement created quite a sensation, and the Presi- 



dent shook his head. As the chair was favorably inclined 

 toward the Governor, he called a recess for ten minutes, 

 after which the committee concluded the report by 

 recommending his admission, without debate, in the 

 Cypronoid degree. This was unanimously agreed to. 



"In conferring upon Governor Foster this degree," 

 said t he President, "it may be well to explain to him that 

 to become a bright member— for it must be remembered 

 that the novice is entering on a career that inquires 

 study, perseverance and experience to become an expert— 

 we expect members to so pursue this profession as to add 

 honor to the club and the ancient and honorable art of 

 angling. This degree entitles him to all the privileges 

 and emoluments of this club, and confers upon the re- 

 cipient the right to fish with angle worms, which he can 

 spit on if he finds it necessary, and with such pole, Line, 

 bobber and sinker as best suits his inebriation. As he 

 advances in the art he may use his $85 outfit, and we 

 hope to hear a good report from the Governor by next 

 fall. Judge Cummings will instruct Governor Foster in 

 the secret works of the club, and will see that he does 

 not fish in pounds. We consider it a great honor to 

 place his name upon the roll of membership. Is the name 

 recorded?" 



"It is," replied the secretary. 



"We will now listen to the report from the trout fish- 

 ing grounds at Castalia, as the season opened on the 15th 

 of March." 



Commodore George W. Bills, the most enthusiastic 

 and persevering member of the club, was called upon. 

 His reputation is known along the. chain of lakes. 



Good luck is his. The speckled beauties rise 

 Where'er he fishes, nor can he well surmise 

 Why the largest trout avoid his well-cast Hies, 

 Save by the logic, age has made them wise. 



"Mr. President," said the Commodore, "I shall be very 

 brief. The waters of Cold Creek, at Castalia, are literally 

 alive with young trout. In the shadows of the rafts 

 we have seen trout weighing upward of 41bs. fanning 

 themselves and winking at our flies. We placed in the 

 stream this spring of our own hatching 70,000 young fish, 

 which are doing well. The Government put in 7,000 

 yearlings and they are all at home. The fishing season 

 opened on the 15th of last month. I have taken particu- 

 lar pains to give you a correct report of that day's catch. 

 Col. John W. Oswald caught 18 trout, with a total 

 weight of 91bs. KJoz. Mr. Baker, of Cleveland. 14, weight 

 81bs. lloz. Mr. Zollinger, of Sandusky, O., 9, weight ?lbs. 

 Mr. John Sweeney of Detroit, who walks on Iris toes along 

 the bank, caught the largest trout, 2J4bs." A description 

 of how the fish took the fly and the trouble the angler 

 experienced in landing him, would fill several columns 

 of any Michigan paper. Com. Geo. W. Bills caught 11 

 trout, weighing lOlbs. lloz. As this was lloz. more than 

 the laws of the club permit in one day's catch, his trial 

 will come off some time during the summer. 



"Are there any other reports?" asked the chair. 



"Sir. President," said Major Wm. R. Leflet of Ohio, 

 "you may talk of the pleasures experienced with the fly 

 at Castalia, and of going to some far away land from the 

 friendly influences of civilization, but I tell you, gentle- 

 men, the western end of Lake Erie and her romantic 

 tributaries offer attractions to the sportsman seldom 

 found in any waters of the United States. Her rock- 

 bound, vine-clad islands, her lily-circled bays and inlets, 

 in the size, the great variety and gamy qualities of her 

 fishes, she may justly claim rare distinction. Amid the 

 marine forests and gardens of mosses of a hundred hues 

 of green, woven into unnumbered fantastic shapes of 

 beauty, grace and elegance, there in his pride and 

 strength sports the lordly black bass, the stately pike, 

 the matchless speckled bass, the sunfish and the perch. 

 But these are not alone. Here, there, glancing, darting 

 everywhere, are the sun-tinted golden shiners and min- 

 nows and other small fishes of all varieties and by the 

 millions; while near by, lurking in shades of deeper 

 waters, are the sauger or jack salmon, eagerfor the hook, 

 and one of the finest fish tha t ever graced the table of the 

 epicure; the pickerel, the rock bass and other varieties of 

 game fish common to the northern lakes. Who that hath 

 floated upon these transparent waters, inhaling the sweet 

 fragrance of the lovely water lily, charmed by the splen- 

 did beauty of the Egyptian lotus, and drank to his soul's 

 content the health-giving, soul-inspiring, balmy breezes 

 of a summer morning, as they were wafted across bloom- 

 laden marshes, gardens and fields, or still floatmgthere in 

 autumn, after the hand of God had painted pictures upon 

 islands, forest, marsh, leaf and flower, grander, fairer 

 and more stately than artists' touch ever gave to canvas, 

 and with a beauty more of heaven than earth, gently 

 caresting the souls of men from earth to heaven — who that 

 hath seen these pictures and drank of this beauty shall 

 fail to treasure their memories and the memory of these 

 radiant summer days while life lasts, and not be haunted 

 by them as we are haunted by the recollection of sweet 

 dreams? Can you wonder why President Harrison loved 

 to linger among these historic islands of Lake Erie, or 

 that Robert Lincoln. Gov. Foster, Major Bickham and a 

 score of lovers of the rod and line can spend weeks at a 

 time upon the reefs and shoals patiently waiting the 

 strike of a black bass? But, brethren, I arose to report 

 the result of my first fish this spring. Ohio fishermen 

 are familiar with Ottawa River, whose waters are often 

 so transparent that minute objects can be seen at the 

 depth of 10 or loft. This arm or bay ot Lake Erie is 

 teeming with life since the laws have been rigidly 

 enforced. Last fall thousands of bass and pike were 

 taken, and the anglers every afternoon were rewarded 

 with strings of from ten to forty, each string weighing 

 from 20 to 1251bs. On the afternoon of March 23 with a 

 truthful member of this club we caught seventy perch 

 and pike. As the sun was disappearing below the'leafless 

 forest, and my friend had returned home, I had occasion 

 to go to the boat house. I put a large minnow upon the 

 hook and cast it into the incoming current and laid my 

 rod upon the float. Upon my return twenty minutes 

 after I found the rod gone. The thoughts of a large fish 

 first ran through my mind,' for you know nothing sur- 

 prises an angler; looking up stream I saw the rod about a 

 quarter of a mile distant, and still going at a rate of 

 forty-two knots an horn*. Leaping into a boat I made the 

 quickest time on record, and found that every inch of 

 line was off the reel. I raised the rod. The line was 

 taut in a moment, My rod, the best bethabara, was tied 

 in a knot. Fearing to trust it too far and after straining 

 every nerve to turn the fish on a curve, for the sake of 



my hands I was compelled to loop the line over the oar- 

 | lock; this was a mistake, the fish came near upsetting 



the boat. Slowly and noiselessly I rowed the boat toward 

 i the monster, taking in the slack line; to my surprise he 



lay perfectly quiet, like a summer evening just before a 

 I storm. Without a word I gently got my hands around 



his thick neck, behind the gills, and before he knew who 



had captured him he was in the bottom of the boat." 

 "Brother Leflet, what was the weight of this pike?" 

 "As to its weight," replied the Major without a smile, 



"it will suffice to say that if placed in the balance against 



a season's catch at Castalia the scale would tip in my 



favor." 



Some of the members of the Cold Creek Trout Club 

 made an attempt to reply to this reflection, but the chair- 

 asked the secretary, "Are there any applications for mem- 

 bership?" The secretary read the'following: 



Chicago, 111., April, 1889.— Presidei it of the Sunset Club: Desiring 

 to become active membtrs of your valuable organization and to 

 learn the arts of tistiitig, hunting and yachting, we inclose here- 

 with the initiation fees. We solemnly promise a cheerful obedi- 

 ence to the requirements of your afsociation and will readily 

 obey all mandates during our initiation or wiiile connected with 

 the club, so long as they do not conflict with tne late amendment 

 to t tie Inter-State Commerce Law. Advise us, by railroad mall, 

 when wanted. Respectfully vour obedient, servants, 



A. G. Shkakman, T. P. A. U. P, R. R. 



W. S. Brown, T. P. A. "L. S. & M. S. R. R. 



R. McC. Smith, T. P. A. C. B. & Q. R. R. 



"Brethren, what shall be done with the applications?" 



"Mr. President, I move you that they be instructed to 

 appear in the ante room of this club at early candle light 

 next meeting." The motion was unanimously carritd. 



"The keeper of the goat will see that he is fed upon 

 ginger and other West India plants." 



The club adjourned. J. E. Gunceel. 



REMINISCENCES OF TROUT FISHING. 



1 DESIRE to express my gratitude for the salmon and 

 trout supplement in your issue of April 4. As yet, I 

 have not found time to give it much attention, but I can 

 see tbat it is destined to be in the future of great assist- 

 ance to many of us in determining species, and conse- 

 quently will be of much value to science. The article by 

 ••Penn," on "Wnite Mountain Trout," is interesting to 

 me, as that region was long ago one of my old "stamping 

 grounds," and I am glad to learn that some of the trout 

 are still there. I wish "Penn," who seems to know that 

 country well, would tell me if the trail from Waterville 

 to the Notch has been kept open. I was the first traveler 

 to pass that way, and at the time I went through (sum- 

 mer of 1860), the men had made a road as far as the forks 

 of Sawyer's River (about six miles I think), where I left 

 them encamped, and went through on my own hook. 

 There was no child's play about that performance, and 

 the caution of "Penn" to those who seek these forests is 

 not misgiven. 



When 1 feel like writing, which is but seldom now- 

 adays, I may tell the story of that trip. 



The funniest (that's the proper word) thing in that 

 number of your paper was the note by "Awahsoose." I 

 have a strong fellow-feeling for that gentleman, and sup- 

 posed that like myself, he was a trout fisher from 'way 

 back in the forties. Until within the list ten years I 

 had never caught a bass, and seldom fished except for 

 trout, unless when on salt water. I am now somewhat 

 noted, I believe, as a local bass fisher, but what I know 

 of that art has been acquired without instruction, and as 

 my experience leads me to differ from some of the recog- 

 nized authorities on certain points, I am slow to say 

 much about it. 



As to trout, bless 'em, I have been their friend and ad- 

 mirer since the day when, a boy, I lifted six sparkling 

 gems of that species from a little brook, with the aid of 

 an appletree wand. I have since taken them in many 

 ways, as dictated by preference or necessity. I have 

 speared, shot and "griddled" them in my time, but hope 

 to be forgiven, as it was but for food, and in such num- 

 bers only as justified my hunger, and the absence of all 

 Christian-like appliances. For food also, I have lifted on 

 a four-pound salmon trout at one end of a small clothes 

 line, till the stout smoke-dried juniper pole bent almost 

 double to the desperate strain of the sur 6 ing fish. 



That was on Fuss Pond, in Maine, and you fellows 

 know where that if*, and if you don't, the course is easy, 

 to a woodman. You just start from Kingsbery, and 

 strike east and by south till you hit the old "New Eng- 

 land Road;" follow this about four miles, or till you see 

 two stumps and a big canoe birch with a good deal of 

 bear sign around, then hold north, watch the leaves for 

 last year's moccasin tracks, follow your nose about three 

 miles and if you don't get there I am sorry for you, as it 

 will indicate that you have, in Western parlance, bitten 

 off somewhat more than you can chaw; and those woods 

 are not good for tenderf eet to camp in without guides. 



In Foss Pond and its outlet we were accustomed to 

 catch four kinds of trout— the little black fellows of the 

 brook, the large speckled trout, the magnificent red 

 salmon trout, and the lakers, or "crotch-tailB" as they 

 were called. There were likewise eels in the pond, but I 

 never caught any. 



As I was saying; I have caught trout with the roughest 

 tackle and with no tackle; with chunks of pork and 

 hunks of squirrel; with delicately scoured and carefully 

 disposed worms: with gaudy ibis or jay flies and stoutest 

 single leaders; with delicate midge or miller and gossamer 

 gut; and it saddens me to think that my prejudice 

 against fishing in a cedar swamp are strong enough to 

 prevent me for the most part from fishing for trout in 

 the waters of this region. There is too much pure cussed- 

 ness in a cedar swamp to accord with my ideas of trout 

 fishing. So, generally, when I fish, I fish for bass. 



When I fished in the streams of Vermont (mostly be- 

 tween Woodstock and 'old 'Cntney," as Mount Ascutney 

 is often called), there was good fiohmg there. I am sorry 

 that the experience of "Awahsoose" is derived only from 

 depleted brooks. 



But if I were ever to revisit his State, it would please 

 me to take him to a spot where I have reason to think 

 that a few two pounders are still left, and hear his opinion 

 of the sport when he had succeeded in capturing one of 

 them and was lost in contemplation of its beauty. 



Perhaps, as I have adinuied the taking of trout by 

 means which nothing but dire necessity will ever justify 

 to a true sportsmen, I ought in justice to myself to say 

 that you have the extent of my misdeeds. I never jig- 

 gered, poisoned or blew up the fish with explosives. And 

 there are other methods which I have learned from the 



