Sept. 13, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



147 



Me. Leggett's Quail. — Princeton, N. J., Sept. 7.— Edi- 

 tor Forest and Stream: My experiment with the young 

 quail breeding in captivity has been tine and far above 

 :.jy expectations. Out of the ten hatched seven are liv- 

 ing: tbree died by accident. They require much skill and 

 attention. The mother and father are wonderfully proud 

 of them. I have the parent wild birds in a large wire 

 cage, but the little ones I now let run out on the lawn. 

 The weather has become so rapidly cold I am afraid fur- 

 ther experimenting this year will be of no avail. They 

 are very tame, but the hatching was late, and T have to 

 be verv careful with them. — Wm. II. Leggett. 



Prairie Chickens. — Callaway, Neb., Sept. 4.— Chickens 

 are more numerous this fall than they have been for 

 years, although large numbers were killed before Sept. J. 

 which is the legal period in this State. — H. M. B. 



Candia, N. H., Sept. 5. — Henry A. Wilson, of Candia, 

 N. H.. was fined to-day $50 and costs for killing a deer 

 Aug. 27. The complaint was made by Commissioner E. B. 

 Hodge of Plymouth.— Aureolus. 



Adirondack Deer.— Charles Ayling, of Syracuse, has 

 scored a 2151b. buck, killed on the Beaver River still- 

 water; and "William Poppler, of Jefferson county, has 

 killed one weighing 21 libs. 



The Fish and Came Laws oe Niew York have been 

 compiled by George E. Kent, Esq., under the direction 

 of the Commissioners of Fisheries, by whom they are 

 published. 



Willimantic, Conn.— Ruffed grouse, woodcock and 

 quail prospects are promising now for the coming sea- 

 son.— E. S. G. 



Plymouth, N. H., Sept. 10. — Ruffed grouse are re- 

 ported plenty in this vicinity: gray squirrels scarce. — H. 



\m uni Hj^ivtr fishing. 



IN THE NORTH BAY. 



THE August trout fishing *in the Maine waters was 

 really something after all, if we are to take some of 

 the accounts of catches as the real facts in the case. The 

 record from Lake Mooselucmaguntic was remarkable for 

 the number of fish caught, though perhaps not for the 

 size of the fish. I have not yet heard an account that ap- 

 peared to be authentic of any trout caught up to lOlbs., 

 or even 91bs. Perhaps Capt. Fred C. Barker has a record 

 of gome large fish taken this season. If so he will doubt- 

 less give it to us through the Forest and Stream. At 

 Moosehead the fishing was very dull all the first of 

 August. In fact nothing was being done when Mr. 

 Walter Hill, in company with Judge Wilson of Wash- 

 ington, and his law partner Mr. Shellebarger, reached 

 the Kineo House, on their way to Alligator Lake. 



The Forest and Stream has already had an account of 

 the departure of the gentlemen on this fishing trip, which 

 proved to be rather famous, although it was in the month 

 of August. Mr. Hill was full of misgivings through f ear 

 that the Judge was not to catch a trout on this his special 

 trip to Maine. He had left Washington completely worn 

 down with work, no small part of which had been the 

 engineering of the pure lard measure, now before the 

 House, and in which Mr. Hill, an active individual in the 

 service of John P. Squire & Co., the celebrated pork 

 packing fijm of Boston, is very deeply interested. The 

 measure had at last been reported to the House, and the 

 Judge and Mr. Hill felt that they could go a fishing. 

 Where should they go? The tardy action of the com- 

 mittee had drawn the pure lard measure well out into 

 the hot weather, and the trout had all probably sought 

 the deep waters, cool enough to keep lard from melting. 

 They decided to start for Alligator Lake, and stop on their 

 way at Moosehead. Arrived at the Kineo, Mr. Hill 

 learned from the clerk that the sportsmen were doing 

 next to nothing. But lacking nothing in courage and 

 less in enthusiasm, they secured a guide and decided to 

 try. The guide was instructed by Mr. Hill that Mr. Hill 

 cared very little for the success of Mr. Hill, but that no 

 pains was to be spared in order that Judge Wilson should 

 catch a trout. The next morning they were off for the 

 North Bay. They rowed and rowed till the Judge, an 

 old hand at trout fishing, by the way, noticed some rocks 

 on the shore, which indicated deep water. He directed 

 the guide to row toward them, till all at once he ordered 

 him to cease rowing, remarking that, ' 'If I can't catch a 

 trout here, I can't anywhere." They began fishing and 

 in less than a very short time the Judge had a trout on, 

 which proved to be a fine one. This was soon followed 

 by another, then another, till when they stopped fishing 

 at night they had 27 handsome fish. Not a bad day's 

 work for August trout fishing. The Judge was delighted. 

 But when he came to get up on to his feet after his long- 

 pull at the trout, he was so cramped that his legs would 

 hardly do service. He had so enjoyed that trout that he 

 was completely oblivious to the discomforts of a small 

 boat on Moosehead in August. They took their trout 

 home to the hotel. The string was the wonder of every 

 guest. ''Where in the world did you get them?" was 

 asked of Mr. Hill on every hand. He had nothing to 

 conceal, and readily answered, "Round in the North 

 Bay." 



The answer was unfortunate, even if it was generous; 

 for they decided to try the same spot the next day, but 

 when they came in sight of the fishing grounds they 

 were alive with boats. They soon put up their tackle in 

 disgust, and returning to the hotel they took the first 

 opportunity for a start toward Alligator Lake. They 

 reached that "Happy Hunting Ground" in due season, 

 only to again meet the salutation, "No trout !" But they 

 were not to be discouraged. They had really good fishing, 

 till last of all the worthy Judge capped the climax by 

 catching a monster, for that lake. In the boat with his 

 guide an enormous thud was felt at one of the rods. The 

 fish was hooked, but it took all the force of the Judge 

 and the strength of the rod to bring him alongside of 

 the boat in ten minutes time. Even when almost brought 

 to the net the big fellow would turn again, and taking 



line, would rush away for a hundred feet, then sulk till 

 the pliant rod, skillfully handled by the Judge, again 

 brought him up to the boat. This was several times re- 

 peated. Mr. Hill says that the face of the Judge was a 

 study. Was he handling a most difficult case before the 

 jury, or was he engineering a very difficult bill into the 

 favor of one of the House committees? Either might have 

 given his face something of the same expression, but just 

 then he was mastering the great trout of his lifetime. At 

 last the big fellow was brought up to the net, but that 

 instrument proved not to be broad enough and it had to 

 be brought up under him in such a way that he could he 

 slid in head foremost. Once the guide failed in this per- 

 formance, and again the Judge's face was a study. The 

 trout took line again, but fortunately the hook held a 

 moment longer. Again he was brought up to the net, and 

 this time he slid in head downward, and the magnificent 

 fish was in the boat: not one moment too quick, for the 

 hook had torn out in the landing. The Judge leaned for- 

 ward and looked with admiring eyes for full three 

 minutes without uttering a word. The trout was a mag- 

 nificent male specimen, a little over 24 inches in length, 

 over 14 inches in girth, and with an enormous tail, 

 measuring 61 inches across the fin. He had the white 

 margin to the fins and the bright carmine spots, so char- 

 acteristic of the true Salmo fouHnalis. The Judge was 

 pleased. He will never forget his trip to Alligator, and 

 that trout. It weighed over seven pounds. They caught 

 other fish during their stay, but the grand object of the 

 excursion was achieved when the Judge landed that big 

 trout. Special. 

 Boston, Mass. 



LAKE EDWARD. 



CAMP TRUTHFUL, Lake Edward, Sept. 10.— Editor 

 Forest and Stream: In my last communication I 

 fear I did injustice to the trout of Lake Edward. I said 

 they would not take the fly in a manner proper to all well 

 regulated trout. Since then my friend and I have ex- 

 plored the lake fully and thoroughly, have coasted its 

 entire shores, and given oiu- minds and time to the ques- 

 tion of fly-fishing, and victory has rewarded us at last. 

 We found that they would take the fly greedily and sav- 

 agely, and showed their mettle as fighters to a degree that 

 surprised us; they proved as gamy a fish as a fisherman 

 could desire. We could not take them in the deep waters, 

 but at the points and outlying rocks, fishing from the 

 shores with a fly we made ourselves, we had great suc- 

 cess. 



We tried all manner of flies that our well-supplied 

 books afforded, but at last hit on the killing fly, namely, 

 red body with plenty of bright tinsel, red hackle wings. 

 We tried the red-ibis, bat it was too much red. but we 

 invaded the work basket of our landlady, and foraging 

 on the hen roost of the master-mechanic, Mr. Rathwell, 

 we captured his big chanticleer, defrauded him of some 

 of his plumage, and having fortunately some gold tinsel 

 in our effects, we made a fly that seemed to suit the fancy 

 of these fastidious gentlemen, and thereafter had glorious 

 fly-fishing. We stood in one spot and took eighty-four 

 fine fish, not very large it is tine, but such fish as a fish- 

 erman would exhibit with pride as his catch in any of 

 our home waters. They ran from a half to a pound, the 

 largest [21bs. But in trolling with a small-sized salmon 

 fly, we took larger ones 3 to 3£lbs. In running water we 

 took two, one 5 and one S^lbs., and could have loaded 

 ourselves down with smaller fish, but in the lake proper 

 the average was, as I say, from one-half to one pound — 

 good enough fishing for any one. I am happy to make 

 the amende honorable, and take back what I formerly 

 stated, that the lake afforded but indifferent fly-fishing. 



But the lake is so extensive that a fisherman cannot 

 strike the best spots to order, nor in a day. If he has but 

 a day to tarry, and is ambitious to take a few large fish to 

 carry back home, he had better go at it with bait in deep 

 water. If the wind is west or southerly just sufficient to 

 ripple the surface, he is pretty sure to get a goodly lot of 

 fine ones embracing some two, three and four-pounders. 



The guides are now pretty well posted as to the best 

 points for this style of fishing. There are some noble 

 streams in the vicinity, where the fly-fishing is something 

 wonderful, but on the principle that the early birds get 

 the best worms, most of these streams have been leased 

 from the Dominion Government within the past few 

 months by small clubs, and hence are unavailable. We 

 were fortunate enough to secure two very nice rivers and 

 the lake, forming their sources, with a view to forming a 

 small club of acceptable gentlemen, and will announce 

 our programme soon through the advertising columns of 

 Forest and Stream. The Dominion Government seems 

 disposed to encourage the formation of clubs, and evinces 

 a liberal spirit in its consideration of applications for 

 leases to American fishermen inland, however much it 

 may stick for its considered principles on the coast fishing 

 question, and if Mr. Cleveland proposes to be belligerent 

 and carries retaliation to extremes, we fly-fishermen will 

 get out a treaty of our own and won't ask the Senate to 

 confirm it either. It is stated that President Cleveland 

 is a worm-fisherman ; can a conscientious fly-fisherman 

 vote for a man to rule this great nation that fishes with 

 worms? We have not as yet ascertained the facts in re- 

 gard to the opposing candidate's skill as a fisherman, but 

 if he is a wormer too, there is danger— there can be no 

 stability in a government with such a man at its head. If 

 we are to have war with our neighbors and capture it, 

 as a matter of course, the undersigned wishes hereby to 

 claim Lake Edward by right of capture, for we have 

 planted the first American flag over its waters. Explora- 

 tion of our fishing bag in search of a missing dishcloth 

 for camp use revealed the fragments of a small Fourth 

 of July flag that we had intended to donate to a wicked 

 small "boy of our acquaintance. In a spirit of proper 

 patriotism we hoisted it over our camp with three cheers, 

 and it waved all night; but next morning patriotism had 

 to give way to practical necessities and we hauled it 

 down to do duty as a dishrag, saying with Shakespeare, 

 "To what base uses do we come at last." But it filled its 

 mission, and we file our claim to Lake Edward "with all 

 its dips, spurs and angles." (Please don't read it angle- 

 worms). 



Finding it rather laborious to row down the lake morn- 

 ings ten or fifteen miles, and to be obliged to start back 

 just at the hour when the fish bite best, we concluded to 

 go into camp. Accordingly we procured tent and camp 

 equipage from Mr. W. E. Hoolihan, the young gentleman 

 in charge of this department, and making up a list of 

 small wants procurable from the grocery store, we dis- 



patched our guide ahead, instructing him as to location 

 in our best French and worst English. We took another 

 boat and pulled down leisurely, stopping to fish en route, 

 arriving at the destination named about sundown. But 

 there was no white tent nor blazing camp-fire to cheer 

 us. There was evidently some mistake, and all we had 

 to do was to continue on down the lake. We pulled and 

 pulled, three miles, four, five, six, at about the seventh, as 

 we rounded a point, we came upon our camp: a big fire 

 blazed out cheerfully and across the waters the breeze 

 waited a most inviting odor of fried bacon and trout, and 

 with such appetites jockey club or sweet violets would 

 be as naught compared. 



We were at the extreme lower end of the lake. 22 

 miles. Where that Frenchman would have continued on 

 to no one could tell, to Quebec most likely if the lake had 

 extended so far. If we had not been so hungry we 

 would have perhaps objurgated but those fried trout and 

 the steaming coffee mollified us. We fell too heartily. 

 How many trout we disposed of we took no account of, 

 but at some future day some scientist will discover a pile 

 of bones and write a learned paper on antediluvian man 

 and extinct fishes. He would be correct as to the fish : 

 we extincted a couple of dozen each. What a glorious 

 bed our Frenchman had provided, two feet deep" of soft 

 ferns and moss with blankets spread over. In better 

 times we have "put up" at $5 a day taverns, but we 

 never got such a supper nor such a bed, "They don't 

 got 'em." 



Our Frenchman proved a prize. There are people who 

 wonder what Frenchmen were made for and what they 

 are good for. Cooks, nothing else in the world. To the 

 Canadian Frenchman's accomplishments you can add 

 paddling a canoe and camp work; beyond that there is a 

 blank demnition void. Podgers. 



A GIANT TROUT. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In a late copy of my home paper— that is, published at 

 my old home in Manchester, England— the Hampshire 

 Chronicle, of July 28, I find this record of the capture of 

 "a big one": 



"The monarch of the Itchen, probably the largest trout 

 ever caught in this county, if we except one or two in 

 Arlesford Pond, was caught in the river, between Mr. 

 Dance's and Mr. Crate's mill, during Thursday night, by 

 a man named Turpin. Turpin states that he secured the 

 monster with a minnow, on a gut cast, a small hook and 

 a hazel rod, and it was not brought to bank till two hours 

 and a half after being hooked. This fish has for a very 

 long time excited the envy of anglers, many of whom 

 have for two years past from time to time seen it in its 

 native element. It had many narrow escapes during its 

 career, but had always hitherto succeeded in escaping 

 before being landed. As it lay on the slab at Mr. Z. Z. 

 Butcher's shop yesterday morning, the cast with which 

 it was killed being placed on the fish, it was eagerly 

 viewed by hundreds of persons. The fish was in capital 

 condition, and, like most old trout, its lower jaw was 

 crooked, but not to the extent seen in most cases with 

 aged trout. It measured 32-pn. in length, 21in. in girth, 

 was 9in. wide in the largest part, and weighed no less 

 than 161bs. 2oz. We understand that Mr. Dance has 

 become the possessor of the fish, and has since handed it 

 over to our local taxidermist, Mr. W. Chalkley, with a 

 view to preservation. Cutlets have, we believe, been 

 presented to several of our most ardent local anglers, who 

 will, no doubt, pronounce them excellent eating. We 

 trust that when stuffed the fish, which was yesterday 

 photographed by Mr. Rider, may find a final resting- 

 place in our City Museum." 



This Itchen is a famous trout water. Here at Manches- 

 ter it is protected all along, which prevents the poaching 

 net, and there is much vegetable growth, which forbids 

 fly-fishing in many parts. The trout find plenty to eat, 

 for they have among other supplies the kitchen refuse 

 from a school pf boys. There have always been big fish 

 here. I remember distinctly the taking of an 11-pounder, 

 in the year 1860 or 1861. We boys had often seen him, 

 and fed him, too; but spite of all wiles and devices he 

 could not be taken fairly. Finally one day a Volunteer 

 shot him with a military rifle; the ball entering the back 

 and coming out from one side. Y. 



New York. 



A Fish Exhibition.— The board of managers df the 

 coming annual exhibition of the American Institute have 

 set apart a portion of the main exhibition hall to be used 

 for a display of live fish in tanks and the operation of fish 

 hatching, etc. , so far as can be done at this season of the 

 year. This part of the exhibition will be conducted by 

 the management under the advice, direction and super- 

 vision of Mr. Eugene G. Blackford, of this city, president 

 of the New York Fishery Commission, under whose 

 auspices it is expected to be a novel and interesting 

 feature. In connection with and akin to this feature of 

 the exhibition the management desire to have added a 

 display of fishing rods, reels, and all things used in the 

 catching, handling and keeping of fish, both in its in- 

 dustrial and sporting relations, also a display of fish in 

 cans and products made from fish. 



Black Bass in the Delaware. — The bass fishing in 

 the upper Delaware has been very good this season and 

 the fish have been of fair size. A gentleman from Phila- 

 delphia took four in one day whose aggregate weight was 

 18 Jibs., the smallest weighing 41bs. and the two largest 

 5| each. Last week two New Yorkers fishing near Port 

 Jervice captured twelve bass in two days that weighed 

 371bs.. besides several smaller ones. 



Onondaga Lake, N. Y.— State Game Protector H. C. 

 Carr, of Union Springs, recently visited this lake, cap- 

 tured a large number of nets and sunk many others. 

 Vast quantities of fish, principally black bass and white- 

 fish, were liberated from captivity. Protector Carr was 

 invited to visit the lake by the Onondaga County Sports- 

 men's Club. _____ 



Librarian Griswold's Bass Score. — Albany, Aug. 

 29. — Mr. Oriswold, who is the Librarian of the State Law 

 Library in Albany, claims that he has made the highest 

 figures on bass fishing in Lake George this summer. 

 Here is the series: 3, 31, 3|, 4, 4£, 5, 6£lbs. Can anybody 

 beat this record? — G. 



