April 8, 1890.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



213 



placed in a tight tin can with rock weed or sea salad 

 and kept in a cool place, they will live about as long as 

 other baits. Where the conveniences are at hand a box, 

 say 4ft. square by 18m. in height, should be made and 

 sunk just above" low water mark, so that the tide will 

 ebb and flow over it; fill to within Sin. of the top with 

 the sand in which the worms were found and they can 

 be kept through the whole summer. They will grow in 

 size without attention or feeding, and by placing mussels 

 or soft clams on top of the sand will soon get fat. Such 

 a box will hold 600 without crowding. Think of the ad- 

 vantage of always having your bait lively and ready. 

 The box must have holes in the bottom and sides, covered 

 with line brass wire netting to permit the water to run 

 off as the tide falls. A tolerably tight fitting cover is 

 very necessary, or fish will enter and root out every worm 

 in the box, and those little nuisances of crabs hardly 

 larger than a dime will find then way in and nip the 

 worms as they come up to feed and, of course, kill them. 

 Always use plenty of bait, two worms at least on a book; 

 the larger fish are more likely to be attracted. And then 

 if you have a strike and fail to hook your fish it is reason- 

 able to suppose that there is still some bait remaining; 

 you thus avoid at a critical moment the necessity of reel- 

 ing in to hait up again. In putting on the worm let half 

 of it wriggle, the "plan adopted by some of stringing the 

 worm as they would a lot of beads prevents any move- 

 ment and is therefore less attractive. The price in the 

 city is from twenty to twenty-five cents per dozen, but if 

 you fish anywhere near where they are found, a man 

 can generally be had who will dig them for you at about 

 $1 per hundred. 



In the Shrewsbury, Navesiuk, Shark and Manasquan 

 rivers they are plentiful, so that when possible get them 

 on the spot. A dead bloodworm, or even one nearly so 

 (they seem to die by inches, commencing at the tail), is 

 not only almost useless, but a very rank and disagreeable 

 thing to handle. Look out for those that are freshly dug, 

 they are vicious, and will bite quicker than most people 

 have any idea of, leaving a red spot about the size of a 

 small pin's head, which, with some, rapidly swells and 

 becomes very painful. 



Bait Box. — A crescent-shaped one made of heavy 

 leather is preferable to those of tin as usually sold. Being 

 to a certain extent porous, the worms keep in better 

 shape on a hot day. Always scour well with sand after 

 using. 



Sandwobm (Nereis pelagica). 



The tin squid will often tempt the bass, and there are 

 times when all othrr baits are steadily refused, such 

 as when they are seen breaking water in pursuit of the 

 mullet. The ordinary long, thin trolling squid, such as is 

 used for bluefishing from a moving vessel, is next to use- 

 less for rod and reel fishing, not offering sufficient surface 

 to the water; it sinks too rapidly. The squid most suc- 

 cessfully used on this coast is somewhat flatter and much 

 wider and boatlike in shape: it is made with two hooks 

 set side by side in the tin, the points being about fin. 

 apart. It is in squidding for bluefish more particularly 

 where the advantage of the double hook shows itself, 

 preventing the fish from so easily freeing himself when 

 he jumps, With this arrangement one beaches at least 

 two fish to one with the old style. 



When a bass or bluefish takes your squid there is no 

 time to strike, and to get the fish he must hook himself. 

 With the style of hook used in the squids generally to be 

 found in the tackle stores, the chances are much against 

 the fish doing this; so No. 8 0 Sproats or Limericks are 

 used instead with good results. 



Casting. — To cast ordinarily well is soon learned, and a 

 distance of from 125 to 150ft. is quickly mastered, but to 

 be able to put out your sinker 200ft. and upward, and 

 within a reasonable distance of where it is intended to go, 

 is no child's play. In addition to a certain dexterity ac- 

 quired only after much practice, considerable strength of 

 arm is necessary. It is not done by any sudden move- 

 ment any more than by a long steady swing of the rod, 

 but by a certain unexplainable knack, which when once 

 found is never forgotton. Some cast underhand from 

 the left or from the right side, others overhand, and as 

 the method best adapted is different in almost every one, 

 more is learned in a few minutes by carefully noting the 

 movements of a good caster than can be taught by read- 

 ing volumes. Always remember, however, that if your 

 reel is poor you cannot make long casts. Many make 

 little of distance casting, possibly because of their in- 

 ability to accomplish it, but there are times, and they 

 occur quite frequently, when the long caster alone gets 

 the fish. 



When and Wliere to Fish. — The most favorable time to 

 fish is from sunrise to about 10 A. M. and from about 4 

 P. M. until dark. Night fishing is sometimes attended 

 with good results, but except for the enthusiast it hardly 

 pays. 



As to location, select in preference the bay that always 

 forms on the north side of an inlet, and fish as near along 

 the edge of the bars as you can get. After making the 

 cast raise the tip of your rod, and if the sinker moves 

 heavily repeat the operation until you find that it comes 

 easily toward you. Your bait will now be in one of the 

 many depressions where the bass are likely to be found 

 feeding: your chances for a strike are now much in- 

 creased. Although a trifling matter, this is a point of 

 much importance and known to but few. At times the 

 fish are within 50ft. of the shore, but only when the surf 

 is heavy: more frequently they feed on the inner edge of 

 the out er bar, beyond the reach of the ordinary cast. As 

 an instance of the advantage of a long cast, the following 

 speaks for itself: Three gentlemen, after having fished 

 for some hours with but a solitary "J-pound bass to show 

 for their trouble, were astonished to see a new-comer take 

 five bass in soven casts, and after fishing for about three 

 hours go home with nine from the aame spot and all of 

 them over 31bs. eaoh: he simply cast about 50ft. further 



than they could, reaching the feeding place of the fish. 

 Unless the sea is tolerably heavy, bass fishing is not likely 

 to afford much sport; but just after a northeast storm, 

 when the waters are much agitated and somewhat dis- 

 colored, look out for the big ones, On a bright hot day 

 and smooth sea, the better plan is to go in bathing; the 

 fish are too far out in deep water to be reached. As to 

 the stages of the tides, the last half of the ebb to the first 

 half of the flood are generally the best. 



If unable to fish near an inlet, select a spot on the open 

 beach where a current sets in or out along the edge of a 

 bar, and although the chances of catching many fish are 

 smaller, you may possible fasten on to a 30-pounder. 



As the conditions of a sandy beach are always chang- 

 ing, and the bass follow these changes, so is there always 

 an uncertainty about finding the fish in the same spot on 

 two successive days. Surf fishing, in this respect, is not 

 different from other methods, and as there is no royal 

 road to fortune in fishing, so must we seek in order to 

 find, When annoyed by crabs taking the bait it is a 

 pretty good sign that the bass are not around, but the 

 moment his majesty arrives the^e little plagues disappear 

 as if by magic; therefore, if the crabs do not disturb it is 

 well to persevere, although no signs of fish are apparent, 

 the chances are in favor of bas3 being in the neighbor- 

 hood if you have selected a likely spot. Also, the presence 

 of sea robins, dogfish and skate are signs of the absence 

 of bass. When, finally, alter much waiting and disap- 

 pointment you fa s ten to a large bass, don't be in a hurry 

 to laud him: if well hooked he is reasonably safe, and 

 the sport of lightly playing him will amply repay you; 

 if lightly hooked, forcing will cause the hook to tear out, 

 and you have nothing but regrets for youp pains. After 

 tiring him so that he rolls on the top of each wave it is 

 time to land him; do so as soon as the proper opportunity 

 presents itself. We have now reached the most critical 

 moment, and unless a good deal of care is exercised the 

 loss of the fish is not an improbability. When within 

 about 50ft. of the beach the motion of the sea inust-4>e 

 closely watched, and as he comes nearer line must be 

 gi ven with each receding wave until being near enough, 

 you put on all the strain your tackle will bear and bring 

 the fish in on the incoming breaker. If. as frequently 

 happens, the wave fails to send him up far enough on 

 the beach to be reached with the hand, you must wait 

 for the next one, giving line or holding steady, as the 

 circumstances demand, when, at the proper moment, he 

 will be washed up to your feet. Now put your hand in 

 his gills and drag him out of reach of the sea. Kill your 

 fish as soon as beached, they keep and eat better, then 

 place them in your basket or cover them with the sand 

 away from the weather and flies. 



Eiibber Hip Boots are a necessity, and- be sure to get 

 hip boots. Avoid the red or blue lining, as they are apt 

 to be injurious: ask for and insist upon getting those with 

 gray linine;. 



Snarl Hook.— This is simply a copper nail about Hiu. 

 long, bent close to the end and sharpened to a dull point. 

 It is one of the indispensable things in an outfit. When 

 your reel has overrun and the line becomes tangled, an 

 occurrence that is bound to happen sooner or later, you 

 will at once recognize the great advantage of having 

 something that will pick out the snarl in the shortest 

 time, whereas, with nothing but your fingers, a seat on 

 the beach and plenty of patience are the only remedies. 



Bod Belt. — This is not an absolute necessity, but where 

 the bass are liable to run large it is a great comfort and 

 a preventive against injury to the stomach or groin, 

 something not to be made light of. 



Doivt. — Don't fi3h too near your neighbor. 



Don't cast across his line. 



Don't be in his way when he is fast to a big fish, but 

 reel in and wait until he has him well under control. 



Don't lose your temper if your line becomes entangled 

 with another's. 



Don't keep bass of less than 21bs., but return them to 

 the water at once if uninjured in the gills. 



Don't carry liquid bait when you go surf fishing. 



Don't mind a wetting, sea- water will not give you cold. 



Don't make a noise or move around too frequently; bass 

 are timid and exceedingly quick-sighted. 



Don't take your dog along, he will be a nuisance to 

 everbody, and perhaps some novice in casting may mis- 

 take his ear for space. 



Don't be selfish about what you know but help your 

 neighbor to have a little sport. You won't be giving 

 much away, as the^feying is, for the longer you study 

 the habits of bass when in the sea the less you will seem 

 to know about them. Don't swear at any one who fishes 

 near you, but if you must say naughty words let them be 

 at the seiners, and in that event it would be just as well 

 to say all you know and think the rest. 



It is impossible to obtain all the things mentioned in 

 this article at any one tackle store, but if any reader who 

 has not the time to find out for himself will write me, 

 care of Forest and Stream, I will direct him where 

 certain articles are only to be obtained. 



To conclude, I wish to say that I am looked upon as a 

 '•crank 5 ' by many dealers when I venture to suggest any- 

 thing like an innovation by a little argument and much 

 persistence; they generally end up by complying with 

 my desires. As it is generally the "crank"' (and their 

 number increases apace) who forces many improvements 

 on the manufacturer, which otherwise would not be 

 brought out, so long as a too confiding public would take 

 his goods as he presents them, whether the most suitable 

 for the purpose or not, so I take it that he who helps 

 along the cause in this manner is doing a service to those 

 who have not the time or inclination to trouble them- 

 selves in the matter. Big Reel. 



Tarpon Score from Florida.— We hear from Punta 

 Rassa, Florida, under the date of the 23d alt., that Mr. 

 Thomas J. Falls, one of the subscribers of the Forest and 

 Stream, on board his yacht Gypsy, of New York, has 

 made a score of ten tarpon up to that date. The highest 

 score of any other sportsman was five. 



Trout Fry for Lewis County, N. Y.— The Lewis 

 County Sportsman's Association have sent in an applica- 

 tion for one hundred and fifty thousand brook trout fry, 

 the 6ame to be placed in the natural trout ponds and 

 streams of the county.— Osceola. 



Mbsshs. R. H. MAOV & Co., a firm celebrated fur the law price 

 at which they sell their goods, advertise in this iaaue a lot of fish- 

 ing tackle at prices which axe very low.—J.'Tft 



Sawdust Legislation.— The Massachusetts Legisla- 

 ture has passed a bill to regulate the discharge of saw- 

 dust into brooks or streams. The bill which is a sub- 

 stitute for another and more stringent one will be Chap- 

 ter 129 of the laws of 1890, and reads as follows : '"An act 

 to prevent injury to fish in brooks and streams by saw- 

 dust. Section 1. When the board of commissioners on 

 inland fisheries and game shall decide that the fish of 

 any brook or stream in this Commonwealth are of suffi- 

 cient value to warrant the prohibition or regulation of 

 the discharge of sawdust from saw-mills into such brooks 

 or stream, and that the discharge thereof from any par- 

 ticular saw-mill materially injures such fish, they shall 

 by written order to the owner or tenant of such saw- 

 mill prohibit or regulate the discharge of sawdust from 

 such mill into such brook or stream. Such order may be 

 revoked or modified by the board of commissioners on 

 inland fisheries and game at any time. Sec. 2. Any 

 person so notified who shall discharge, or suffer or per- 

 mit to be discharged from such saw-mill while under hie 

 control, any sawdust into any brook or stream contrary 

 to the order of the board of commissioners on inland 

 fisheries and game, shall be punished by a fine not ex- 

 ceeding twenty -five dollars." Approved March 28, 1890. 



A Pennsylvania Salmon.— Beaver, Pa,, March 30,— 

 A short time ago one Graham, of Beaver Falls, this 

 county, took with wire loop a "white" salmon weighing 

 13lbs. in the race of the mill in which he works. The 

 salmon was a female and very heavy with roe. It was 

 evidently seeking some place to spawn. Fish Warden 

 Hague was notified and came down to arrest the young 

 man, who recognized Hague as he entered the works and 

 made his eecape by virtue of possessing a better pair of 

 legs than the warden. If the young man only knew our 

 warden, be, like Davy Crockett's coon, would come 

 down," for it is onlv a matter of time until he will have 

 to.— G, A. S. 



Protectinc4 Jamaica Bay.— The bill to prohibit net 

 fishing in Jamaica Bay has been passed to a third reading 

 in the Senate. This will be welcome news to a large 

 class of people who depend for recreation on angling in 

 these waters. It is reported that the prospects are good 

 for the passage of the bill. 



NEW SHAD-HATCHING STATION, 



\ T Gloucester, N. J., the U. S. Fish Commission hopes 

 x\ to have a new shad-hatching station equipped and 

 ready for work during the coming season if an appropria 

 tion is made in time. Mr, W. J, Thompson has agreed to 

 furnish gratis a suitable building and the necessary water- 

 supply for a period of five years, with the privilege of re- 

 newal if desired. The station will be provided with 200 

 McDonald jars, having a capacity of 20,000,000 shad eggs at 

 one hatching and making it practical to develop 100,000,000 

 eggs in a siugle season. Arrangements have been made in 

 connection with the Pennsylvania Fish Commission to 

 transport fry to the upper waters of the Delaware, and if 

 necessary to the Susquehanna. Plans and specifications for 

 the Gloucester station are now in course of preparation. 



LOBSTER CULTURE.— We omitted to state in our re- 

 marks on lobster culture, March 20, that the hatching appa- 

 ratus employed in Newfoundland was copied from that in 

 use by the U. S. Fish Commission at Woods Holl, Mass., 

 and the fisheulture expert engaged in this lobster work was 

 trained at the Woods Holl station while in the employment 

 of the U. S. Fish Commission. 



SALMON TROUT FRY FOR COOPEKSTOWN.-Mr. 

 Elihu Phinney, of this place, has received from the U. S. 

 Fish Commission through State Fish Commission Black- 

 ford, 50,000 salmon trout fry, — (Cooperstown, N. Y.). 



fye Mennet 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



April 1 to 4.— Sixth Annual Dog Show of the New England 

 Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. J . W. Newman, Secretary. 



April 15 to IS.— Show of the Buffalo Kennel Club, Buffalo, 

 N. Y. A. W. Smith. Secretary. 



May B to 9.— Second Annual Dog Show of the Southern Cali- 

 fornia Kennel Club, at Los Angeles, Cal. H.W.Wilson, Super- 

 intendent. 



Sept. 9 to 12 —Second Annual I)rg Show of the Toledo Kennel 

 Company, at Toledo, O. C. E. Rowland, Secretary. 



Oct. 8 10 11.— Ninth Annual Dog Show of the Danbury Agricul- 

 tural Society, at Danbury, Conn. B. C. Lynes, Secretary. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Nov. 17— Twelfth Annual Field Trials of the Eastern Field 

 Trials Club, at Otterburn Springs, Va. W. A. Coster, Saratogo 

 Springs, N. Y., Secretary. 



Dec. 1.— Second Annual Field Trials of the Central Field Trials 

 Club, at Lexington, N. C. C. H. Odell, Mills Building, New York, 

 Secretary. 



1891. 



Jan. 19.— Eighth Annual Field Trials of the Pacific Kennel Club, 

 at Bakersfield, Cal. H. H. Briggs, Secretary. 



Feb. 3.— Third Annual Field Trials of the Southern Field Trials 

 Club. T. M. Brunby, Secretary, Marietta, Ga. 



MASTIFFS AT THE CHICAGO SHOW. -Editor For- 

 est and Stream: In your issue of this week, under the 

 heading of ''Mastiffs at the Chicago Show," I notice my 

 good friend, Wm. Wade, of Hulton, Pa., mentions Duke of 

 Connaught' and gives his sire as Mr. Amidon's Ashmont 

 Nero (Hero II.— Lorna Doone). This is a mistake. Ash- 

 mont Nero, sire of Connaught, is a brindle dog of 1701bs. 

 weight, owned by Mr. Bernard Stroh, a banker and brewer 

 of Detroit, Mich., and won vhc. at the Detroit bench show 

 in 1887. He is by champion Bford Cromwell and out of 

 Ashmont Queen, and I believe has never been registered. 

 Kinloeh, the dam of Connaught, is a brindle, owned by Dr. 

 Edward L. Kimball, of Jackson, Mich. She is by champion 

 Uf ord Cromwell out of Ashmont Vera, bred by Dr. Perry 

 ("Ashmont") and presented by him to Dr. Kimball. It is 

 only another iustance of mistakes occurring from the un- 

 fortunate habit of giving more than one dog the same 

 name. I purchased Duke of Connaught at the late Chicago 

 snow, where he took third prise in the open class, and as he 

 is rather a promising dog I am anxious that no question 

 shall arise regarding; his breeding.— Geo. B. Aybbs (Omaha, 

 Neb.), 



