160 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 11, 18» 



My last experience with Micropterus salmoides was 

 while on a summer vacation in the lake region of Minne- 

 sota, the first object in view being to regain health, 

 broken by too constant confinement within the limits of 

 the smoky city, and was limited principally to Schilling's 

 Lake, a beautiful little sheet of water about three-quarters 

 of a mile in length and a half mile in breadth, almost en- 

 tirely hemmed in by trees, and situated near the diminu- 

 tive village of New Auburn, Sibley county. Neither 

 before nor since my visist was it much resorted to by 

 anglers, or farmers, for the alleged reason that the fish, 

 were all frozen out, in regard to which statement being 

 somewhat skeptical, the wise policy of a personal in- 

 vestigation was adopted and the assertion disproved with 

 little difficulty. 



The lake was very well stocked with black bass and 

 some pickerel, the smallest bass caught in the whole 

 season, with one exception, not weighing under lflbs., 

 the largest not over 31bs. 10oz., the smallest pickerel not 

 under 6Ibs., the largest not more than 81bs., so that both 

 bass and pickerel ran very even as to size, although in 

 game qualities the bass is far superior. 



The first attempt at fishing was made upon a cloudy 

 day in early June, with just sufficient wind to slightly 

 agitate the leaden surface of the water without making 

 it difficult to row, the writer seated in the stern of the 

 boat at one end of about 50yds. of small braided silk line, 

 at the other end of which was a spoon. We had made a 

 half circuit of the lake and were coming with the wind 

 down the center, the oarsman skeptical, the writer hope- 

 ful, feeling between the finger ana thumb that pleasant 

 sensation which the spoon, revolving rapidly and swiftly- 

 through the water, produces, when a quick pull, the line 

 veers around to the left, a sudden leap into the air and a 

 black bass, in our eyes a monster, is exposed to view. A 

 taut fine is kept upon the prize, and the fun proceeds, 

 until after many rushes and struggles he is drawn close, 

 lifted into the boat and exhibited in triumph to the oars- 

 man with some inquiry as to whether he did not believe 

 that when the lake froze up solid at least one fish escaped, 

 to wnich in the presence of prima facie evidence he as- 

 sented without argument. The spoon was again cast 

 out; we rowed to the foot of the lake, and proceeding 

 around up the other side, came again to the head, and 

 started down the center, when, as the boat neared the 

 place where we were rewarded by the previous strike, 

 there came suddenly a mighty tug, the line * 'swished" 

 wildly back and forth through the water, and after a 

 savage contest for perhaps five minutes, which several 

 times seemed about to be decided in favor of the combat- 

 ant at the other end, a pickerel was at last coaxed up to 

 the side of the boat, seized by the gills and lifted strug- 

 gling over the side, when he proceeded to try and drown 

 us with about an inch of water, which was in the bot- 

 tom, the spoon dropping from his mouth in the effort. 

 Fairly exultant with our good luck, we again cast forth 

 the spoon and rowed up, down, and around the lake, feel- 

 ing several times jerks at the line, but at no time getting 

 a strike, and remarking what good luck we had when 

 rowing through the scattering weeds, that the hooks did 

 not catch, until at last, concluding there were no more 

 fish in the humor of biting, our course was steered for 

 home, only to find when the bank was neared and the 

 spoon drawn in that it was minus the hooks, which we 

 found upon investigation to have remained in the pick- 

 erel's throat. This explained to us why the line was 

 several times so mysteriously jerked, also the immunity 

 we enjoyed from the weeds; but our succes3 was so great 

 not only in catching two good fish, but also in demon- 

 strating that there were plenty where they came from, 

 we were not disposed to "cuss" our luck. So taking our 

 way to the house, the scales were brought out and the 

 bass was found to weigh just 31bs. loz. , the pickerel ex- 

 actly 71bs. 



The greater part of my fishing in that lake was with 

 the rod, as I could not often get any one to row. Small 

 frogs were found to be the kfiling bait, which, after sun- 

 down, were easily caught in a marsh lying between the 

 lake and the house, and placed in a can with plenty of 

 water, for use on the following morning. The necessity 

 of giving them plenty of water was learned from experi- 

 ence, as the first frogs caught were placed in a can with- 

 out water, and in the morning found shrunk to about 

 two thirds of life size, and very dead. They were hooked 

 through the back for still-fishing, through the mouth for 

 trolling. The fish would also take minnows, but not 

 nearly so freely as frogs; dead bait of any description they 

 would seldom touch, which revealed the cause from which 

 the farmers in the vicinity concluded that there were no 

 fish in the lake, as their ideal bait was beefsteak, liver, 

 fat pork, or, in short, almost anything that would hang 

 on their hooks, except such live bait as the fish would 

 take. The only time they would bite freely, except on 

 cloudy days, seemed to be from daylight until about 7 

 o'clock A. M., when the sun made it too bright for them. 

 Between those hours it was no hard matter to get a string 

 weighing from 20 to 301bs. of as nice fish as any one 

 could desire, and sufficient to keep the neighbors well 

 supplied. 



Adjoining Schilling's Lake lies another lake of the 

 same name as the village on which it borders, and the 

 two lakes have this peculiarity, that the first named is 

 always clear, but the last muddy. Moreover, in the one 

 last mentioned there actually seemed, as far as I was 

 able to determine from the most approved methods of 

 angling of which I was cognizant, to be no fish but "cats" 

 and sunfish. The two lakes are at one part separated by 

 a strip of land not more that 100yds. in width. 



After a summer gloriously spent in fishing and seeking 

 health, and meeting in both pursuits with equally grati- 

 fying results, the writer returned home with the firm 

 resolve that it should not be the last spent among the 

 lakes of Minnesota. 



"Bless'd silent groves, O may you be 

 Forever mirth's best nursery! 

 May pure contents 

 Forever pi tch their tents 

 Upon these downs, these meads, these rocks, these mountains, 

 And peace still slumber by these purling fountains; 

 Which we may every year 

 Meet, when we come a fishing here." 

 MlRATOR. 



New Name for the Croaker.— Dr. H. M. Smith, of 

 "Washington, D. C, informs us that the croaker (Micro- 

 pogon undulattis) is invariably called grumbler by the 

 negroes of the lower Potomac River region. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, 111., Sept. 14.— Mr. J. M. Clark and Mr. 

 Geo. Morell are just back from a ten days' mascal- 

 longe trip in the Manitowish country, where they have 

 had great sport. They caught in all fifty-five mascal- 

 longe, over 6001bs. of fish in all, and a number that 

 weighed 201bs. or just under, as determined by the scales. 

 None ran over 20lbs. They caught fifteen mascallonge 

 in two hours one afternoon. Many of these must have 

 been small, as they were an hour and a quarter in land- 

 ing one fish they struck, an 181bs. one. 



Messrs. Clark and Morell went to Trout Lake via Wood- 

 ruff on the M. L. S. & W., and at Trout Lake they got a 

 boat and a guide, the latter being the old resident guide, 

 Wm. McArthur, probably the best posted man in that 

 country on the fishing waters and thoroughfares. They 

 did not take the north trail to Boulder and the lakes 

 above Trout Lake and so through the upper fork of the 

 Manitowish River, but went west of Trout Lake on the 

 south fork of the Manitowish. Either way, the whole 

 country is a network of wonderful lakes and streams. 

 They passed through Rice, Alder, Manitowish, Star, 

 Island, Stone, Spider, Mud, Clear and Rest lakes and 

 their connecting streams, and finally striking the main 

 Manitowish, came out where it crosses the railway, and 

 thence shipped home. They found good fishing pretty 

 much all along, and the fish seemed to be running in the 

 river, but they thought the last half of September would 

 have been a better time. In Clear Lake they found a 

 water which McArthur said they were the second boat to 

 visit. It was reached by a thoroughfare from Stone 

 Lake, a little reedy passage known to almost no one of 

 that region. 



Of course, the bulk of the fish caught had to be returned 

 at once to the water, only a very small portion being 

 brought down to Chicago. That is a great trouble with 

 that country and that sort of fishing; one hardly knows 

 what to do with so much fish. 



There are one or two interesting features about this 

 trip, which may well be emphasized for the use of other 

 anglers. No hand lines were used, as indeed they never 

 should be used by any one. All the fish were caught on 

 rod and reel, and Mr. Clark took several by casting and 

 on his own bass rod. The first few fish were killed after 

 the fashion I mentioned once before in these columns, 

 the guide at once towing the fish for deep water. After 

 that, I am glad to say, the anglers stopped the boat, went 

 back to the fish which the reel could not pull from their 

 place, and so killed their fiah fair on the rod. This I have 

 said is what I wanted to do on my mascallonge and will 

 do the next time, and it is just what any angler should 

 do. This business of towing a mascallonge around and 

 killing him with the oars is all wrong, and it ought to be 

 stopped. 



On advice of a friend who had studied this fishing, 

 Messrs. Clark and Morell din not use the No. 8 spoon, but 

 the No. 6. Neither lost a single spoon, and every fish was 

 killed on the No. 6. Much to their credit, too, be it said, 

 they took off the gangs from the spoon and used a single 

 hook, an 8° Sproat, ringed. On this they used the "ton- 

 gue," or gullet of the mascallonge. Readers contemplat- 

 ing a trip should note this, as Mr. Clark trolled a whole 

 day with the ordinary Skinner without a rise, while Mr. 

 Morrell, using the "tongue," killed three fish out of the 

 same boat. After that the single hook "tongue" were 

 used altogether. It is possible that the fish get used to 

 seeing the same old sort of spoon and become educated, 

 if that can be said for such wild waters as these. I am 

 glad that the day of the single hook has begun. The tri- 

 angle gang never did seem quite right, for it don't give 

 the fish a show. I remember 1 once wrote to Mr. Skin- 

 ner and told him I had a notion to try a spoon with a 

 single hook. If this falls under his eye I hope he will 

 debate the question of offering the public some spoons 

 rigged with only one hook. The spoons used by Messrs. 

 Clark and Morrell were gold, half red on the inside. We 

 thought last spring that silver and red was better. And 

 so it goes. There seems variety enough in mascallonge 

 fishing. These gentlemen are to be congratulated on the 

 style in which they fished and the success with which 

 they met. For the sake of others who would like to go 

 up, it may be mentioned that their guide's address is Wm. 

 McArthur, Minocqua, Wis., marked "Forward to Trout 

 Lake." McArthur lives at the lake. 



Mr. J. O. Blake, one of the head hustlers of Spaldings', 

 starts soon on an interesting Western trip with Mr. Geo. 

 J. Charlton, assistant general passenger agent of the 

 Chicago & Alton. Both gentlemen will take their wives, 

 and will travel on a scale of railroad luxury and grandeur. 

 The trip will cover Colorado, Salt Lakes, etc. , and the 

 return will be via Northern Pacific, including the 

 National Park. Some folks are lucky, but no one is ob- 

 jecting to the luck in this case, and the hope is general 

 that the trip may be pleasant throughout. 



E. Hough. 



ANGLING NOTES, 



AS a rule a first-class angler has first-class tackle and 

 keeps it in the best of order. One can always tell 

 an old hand at a glance. His rods and reels are in good 

 shape, and while he does not carry a fishing tackle shop 

 along with him he always has just what he needs and 

 plenty of it. If people would only take the trouble to 

 read the Forest and Stream and pay a little attention to 

 the practical directions that appear from time to time in 

 its columns, they would pick up a deal of useful infor- 

 mation that would tell when they reached the stream. It 

 is folly to suppose that it is only necessary to have fine 

 tackle to be able to catch fish. In fact, this has compara- 

 tively litttle to do with it. An expert is able to do very 

 good fishing with a poor outfit, but it adds very much to 

 his pleasure and comfort to have everything right. The 

 best of tackle will, through neglect, soon become no bet- 

 ter than the poorest. A well-made rod, whether split- 

 bamboo or wood, will last with proper care, at least, ten 

 seasons, but we have seen the very best that money could 

 buy, ruined by one season's careless handling. 



One of the principal causes of deterioration in rods 

 comes from the neglect to straighten the joints after 

 severe work. The best of rods will take a slight set after 

 a hard day's fishing, particularly if the fish run heavy. 

 Before putting the pieces away each joint should be 

 carefully looked over and bent back as straight as possi- 

 ble, then whiped clean and dry and put back into its case. 

 If this is neglected the set will be still greater after the 



next day's fishing, and finally it will grow so crooked] 

 to become almost worthless. Neither should the rod! 

 allowed to remain together too long. At least every t| 

 or three days this straightening process should be g] 

 through with. It does not take five minutes to do tf 

 and the angler will find himself amply repaid for it. ] 

 sportsmen would give one-tenth part of the care to tlf 

 rods that they bestow on their guns, they would have 1 ] 

 more pleasure and profit out of them. It is a good d 

 to go over the rod with an oily rag before going out 

 the rain, and it is very important not to leave the rod 

 long without revarnishing. Once in two years is aba 

 as often as it will be found necessary. 



Mr. E. H. Sanfordhas been so fortunate as to capti 

 a 50-pound striped bass at Narragansett Pier. We beli | 

 this is the first big bass killed at that place this sean 

 Newport has so far carried off the honors in that line* 



It is a disgrace to the New York Association for 1 

 Protection of Game, and also to every sportsman in £ 

 York city, that such restaurants as Delmonico's, 

 Brunswick and others should serve game out of sea 

 year after year without being punished. Of the sr 

 who encourage this state of affairs by ordering game 

 of season we have no words to express our feelij. 

 Game Warden Willett Kidd has been after some of 

 people, and we hope they will be brought up with a rot 

 turn. 



Dr. Bachman's Rod.— The Chattanooga, Tenn., Tii 

 of Aug. 31, gives the report of a graceful incident: << 

 of the most pleasant treats yet enjoyed by Rev. J. 

 Bachman, D.D., who is preparing to leave on a jour 

 to the Holy Land, occurred last evening at the Chair 

 of Commerce. As a fisher of fish, as well as "fishes 

 man," Dr. Bachman is renowned in this section, anc 

 now has fishing tackle with which he may tackle 

 river Jordan to his heart's content. When Dr. Bachi 

 was ushered into the Chamber of Commerce, ostens 

 to look at a guide to London, he was met by a delega' 

 of friends. Major Chas. D. McGuffey, who headed 

 delegation, presented the doctor with a costly jointed 1 

 ing rod, tackle, etc., and read the following neat 

 brief letter from the donors: To Dr. Bachman: * • 

 * "That you may, in the classic Orient, not forget 

 recreations of our Western continent, we beg to hand > 

 herewith, as a parting gift from some of your legio! 

 friends, this fishing-rod and tackle, with which an Ait , 

 can fisherman may show the denizens of the old w< 

 the skill of our artisans as well as the prowess of I 

 disciples of Izaak Walton. In this community any til 

 you may vouch for, even a fishing story, will pass curr 

 but you may be captured by the insatiable reporter 

 your stories given in print where irreverent strangers i 

 smile incredulously. As a safeguard in such events 

 are glad to know that you can have the corroboratioi' 

 the comrade of your journey, Mr. John C. Grifnss, a f 

 tleman so versatile that while building up and sustain 

 the reputation of one of our foremost business men 

 financiers, he could yet become familiar with fisl 

 circles, from the bass of northern Michigan to 

 stingarees and turtles of the Georgia coast and the hati 

 of the Florida alligators; could sustain a membershi 

 both the Chattanooga fishing clubs, and win from 

 lamented gentleman whose name the General Mc 

 Club bears, the admiring comment: 'That fine-dre! 

 gentleman; he can fall overboard oftener, go down dec 

 and come up wetter than any man I ever knew.' V 

 such a comrade to vouch for your fish stories, they h 

 fear no discount, even among strangers. Jesting ap 

 our friend, when you throw your line in classic or sac 

 waters, when your eyes see no land to bound the ■ 

 Atlantic, when your feet tread the storied soil of Eur* 

 or your brow is fanned by the breezes of the Mediterran 

 or the sultry zephyrs of the Nile, or while you war 

 among the hallowed scenes of the Holy Land, may 

 feel ever how warmly our heart's best wishes follow yij 

 Dr. Bachman replied that he had always found he-, 

 and strength in fishing, as be stood on the shore and i 

 the fly or gave the minnow. He said he looked forw 

 with pleasant anticipations to the day when he will st 

 where the great fisher of men stood, and view the sac* 

 scenes of the Holy Land. 



Lake Champlain "Swagos."— Sept. 8.— In yourissu 

 Aug. 31, I see a very interesting article, "A Few Remal 

 on Bass," by Dexter. He says: "Frequently I have B 

 a native hook a fish, and heard him call out 'swk 

 (meaning, I suppose, Oswego or large-mouth bass) bei 

 he had seen the fish at all." I have fished in that n 

 charming body of water for 20 years, have taken on 

 good many black bass, but in all that time I have ne 

 seen or caught an Oswego. Will Dexter kindly state 

 what portions of the lake the Oswego are found, or w 

 found, for I want to steer clear of such places and stl 

 to my old haunts, where only the small-mouths (tl 

 grand fighters) are found and known.— H. N. F. 



Three op a Kind.— Many years ago in] western C 

 necticut I snared a good fat pike with a wire loop, i 

 was somewhat surprised upon cutting him open to 3 

 a smaller pike in its stomach. Noticing that the sec 

 pike was also plump and apparently well fed I made 

 incision into its belly, and my astonishment was gret 

 increased to find that it had likewise made a meal of 

 of its brethren. There was a scarcity of food in 

 stream and the pike were necessarily driven to wh 

 sale cannibalism. — J. E. B. 



Mechanicsborg, Pa., Sept. 14.— The bass fishing 

 not been the "howling success" that was anticipatec 

 the opening of the season, on occount of the high 

 muddy condition of the streams. Only one string of ( 

 importance was caught, and that by the village exp 

 Doc Hade, seventeen in number, one weighing 51bs. , al 

 which were taken on a fly.— Minnie Mingo. 



Pompano in Long Island Waters. — Mr. E. R. "V 

 bur, of this city, took in the Great South Bay of Li 

 Island, last week, a young specimen of the ovate p. 

 pano (Traehynotm ovatus). This is a rare fish in th 

 waters. It is one of many unusual specimens caught 

 the northern coast this year. 



