Jan. 8, 1891.] 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



497 



Virginia Game. — The quail shooting season, which 

 closed Dec. .25, was one of the most remarkable known 

 for many years. The birds were extremely abundant. 

 Mr. Frank Belt, one of the most successful gunners, 

 killed 300 between Nov. 1 and the close of the season. 

 Many birds are left oyer. Near Berry ville, Clarke county, 

 in going a distance of about three miles along the Shenan- 

 doah River, Dec. 29, Mr. Cannon saw eight coveys of quail 

 while hunting rabbits; the coveys contained about 8 to 

 10 birds each. The same state of things is reported to be 

 general. Pheasants have been more plentiful than usual 

 on the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rabbits are common 

 enough. Mr. Cannon, who was armed with an old mus- 

 ket, killed 17 in one dav. — R. E. Lewis (Washington, 

 D. C). ' 



Side-Hunts. — The game count list of the Palmyra, N.Y., 

 Forest and Stream Club is as follows; Fox, 200; geese, 

 wild, 100; partridge, 50; duck, wild, 50; coon, 50; wood- 

 cock, 40; skunk, 40; hawk, 40; owl, 40; snipe, 30: plover, 

 30; squirrel, black, 20; gray, 20; red, 20: rabbit, 20; wood- 

 chuck, 20; pigeon, wild, 20; weasel, 20: rail, 20; marsh 

 hen, 20: kingfisher, 20: dove, 10.— Alex. P. Milne, Pres. 



TROUT FISHING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



"HPHERE are no trout in North Carolina,'' said a gen- 

 X tleman to a friend of mine in the cars of the R. & 

 D. Railroad. My friend was on his way to try his fortune 

 among the trout up here; the other gentleman was onhis 

 way to Florida to hook a tarpon — if he could. Now a 

 |lb. trout caught in a clear stream with a rapid current 

 rippling over clean gravel and rocks, with rapids and cas- 

 cades at the foot of which the fish lie waiting for a chance 

 fly, and winding through shady woods and groves of rho- 

 dodendrons and laurels, picturesque gorges, and moss- 

 covered rocks which rise in cliffs 100 to 500ft., is worth 

 more than any tarpon taken after a week's waiting on a 

 boat anchored over a mudhole. And when one may haply 

 take a fish of a pound or more or a Salmo iridem of 

 2 or 31bs., and fill a 12lb. basket in half a day's fishing, I 

 should say there are trout in North Carolina. And this 

 is just what may be done here in the northwestern corner 

 of the State, where the Tennessee, the Chattooga and 

 other large rivers have their birthplace. Here the eleva- 

 tion above sea level is about 3,500 to 4,000ft. The water 

 is cold, pure and clear as crystal; there are no mosquitoes 

 or other troublesome flies, and abundant streams. Yes, 

 there are trout in North Carolina, the genuine crimson- 

 spotted brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and the beauty 

 of the mountains through which the streams meander 

 in the bends, or ripple over rapids, or rush down the nu- 

 merous falls adds much to the pleasure of the sportsmen 

 who have found out that there are trout in the South. 

 Just here the three States of North Carolina, South Caro- 

 lina and Georgia corner together, and the waters which 

 flow into the Atlantic rise from the clearest, coldest 

 springs within gunshot of those which flow into the Gulf 

 of Mexico. It is the highest point of the Blue Ridge, 

 which here forms a sort of horseshoe, and rises almost 

 perpendicularly 1 500ft. above the highest portion of the 

 Piedmont country, forming an extensive table land. The 

 rocks are the oldest of the geologic series, the granites and 

 schists, which do not make mud, and from which the 

 copious rivers from the 1 clouds, which often sweep the 

 surface and envelop the high peaks, pour out as pure as 

 they fall. No finer trout are found any where, andalthough 

 the season has as yet hardly begun my friend aforesaid 

 has enjoyed some very fair fishing with the fly. As to 

 quantity let me give doubters a few facts— not fish stories, 

 I have seen a man who had a boy with him to string the 

 fish bring in more than 300 in half a day's work. Yes, 

 it was work, not sport, he was a pot-fisher and a poacher, 

 whose object was to get fish for sale at one cent each, 

 take them as they come on the string. 



I have sent two men a mile down the stream at the end 

 of the season with a box, with small holes in it, to take 

 fish alive to stock a breeding pond with, and in three 

 days more than 1,000 fish have been turned into the pond. 

 This is necessary to keep up the stock, unduly reduced 

 by the poachers aforesaid, who supply the boarding 

 houses and hotels during the summer, and who prefer 

 my portion of the stream because it is near the town. 

 So much for quantity. I should say, however, that for 

 several years past there has not been so much poaching 

 as formerly, and by stocking my pond late in the season 

 the fish are brought up to the headwaters of the river, 

 where they spawn and so keep up the supply, finding 

 their way down again after having spawned. I have 

 taken brook trout, here called mountain trout, 14 to 21in. 

 long. The rainbow trout, of which I put in some hun- 

 dreds of fingerlings three years ago and several thousands 

 of eggs since, have since then reached a weight of 3lbs.; 

 two of that size were caught last summer. This is three 

 years' growth, It is an interesting fact that these fish do 

 well in the streams here, and that they are crossing with 

 the common trout, as I have seen one of them, I should 

 judge a pound or more in weight, on a spawning bed, 

 fiercely driving off the smaller brook trout and keeping 

 the bed to himself. 



The fishing streams are numerous. I have about seven 

 miles of water (the Cullasaja River) on my premises and 

 the fish go down stream at least seven miles below me, 

 until the water is too warm for them. Tn the next county 

 the head branches of the Tuckasegee affords 15 to 20 miles 

 of fishing. The Nautahela River, west of here, is a fine 

 cold stream, in some of the gorges the sun never strikes 

 the water. The headwaters of the French Broad, in 

 Transylvania county, N. C, and of the Chattooga, in 

 Georgia and South Carolina, also afford good sport, but 

 they are not stocked as they should be. Highlands, a 

 small town, mostly populated by Northern people, is the 

 center of the trout district, while the streams in Hay- 

 wood, Mitchell and adjoining counties all have more or 

 less trout, and might have more if the owners would take 

 pains to replenish the stock. But it is not in all human 

 nature to expend time, and trouble and money for the 

 benefit and enjoyment of strangers, and in all but a few 

 instances the fact that trout fishing is to be had. for the 

 asking is not spread abroad. But that there are trout in 

 the South, and fine ones in plenty, to be taken under the 

 most agreeable circumstances, is very well known to at 

 least a few persons who could truthfully certify to the 



fact; and the thirty miles which intervene between this 

 place and the nearest railroad depot will hardly stand in 

 the way of those who enjoy the gentle sport of luriug the 

 trout from the eddies where it loves to lie in wait for the 

 fly. Henry Stewart. 



HiGhiAnds Pahk, Macon county, N. O. 

 [The rainbow trout was probably occupying the nest of 

 the brook trout as a poacher and not as a mate, its 

 spawning season beginning in April or May. The rain- 

 bow has a special weakness for eggs of other members of 

 the salmon family.] 



SALMON FISHING IN WINTER. 



DURING the winter months, especially in March and 

 April, very successful fisheries for the Atlantic sal- 

 mon (Salmo mJar) are carried on with hook and line in 

 the Baltic, along the northern coast of Germany from 

 Rugen to Memel, at depths varying from 16 to 'di fathoms 

 from 6 to 20 miles off shore. On the Pomeranian coast 

 this method of capture seems to have been very general 

 from ancient times, and it is now more common there 

 than on any other part of the German coast. The same 

 style of fishing is practiced in winter in the open sea near 

 Bornholm, Sweden, and off the coast of Blekinge. Off 

 the southeastern coast of Scania, Sweden, there has long 

 been a winter fishery for salmon with hook and line. 

 Fishing begins in autumn and continues through the 

 winter, subject to interruptions from storms. A descrip- 

 tion of the method of using salmon lines is published in 

 the Bulletin TJ. S. Fish Commission, Vol. IV., page 326, 

 and in Report IT. S. F. G, part XII., page 386, plate I. 

 From these sources we have selected the essential particu- 

 lars. 



The line is 180ft. long and is provided with three hooks, 

 made of galvanized iron wire, and is kept floating near 

 the surface by means of four floats of wood or cork; it is 

 kept in position by an anchor line set in 120 to 180ft. of 

 water. The anchor line has a glass float 6ft. below the 

 surface of the water and a second one from 48 to 72ft. 

 above this. The line is fastened from 4 to 6ft, below the 

 upper float. The hooks, which are Sin. long and l^in. 

 across the bend, are baited with fresh herring. The 

 gangings, or snoods, are represented to be 15ft. long. 

 The fish is cut near the vent, the point of the hook passed 

 through the body and again through the eyes and out at 

 the eide of the head. In the autumn fishery each boat 

 carries four men, with from forty to sixty lines. 



The success of these fisheries greatly depends upon the 

 weather. The salmon also seem in some years to leave 

 one part of the Baltic and go to another. On the south 

 coast of Scania the method of catching salmon with lines 

 has been almost entirely abandoned, because scarcely 

 any were caught. 



In Forest and Stream of Oct, 23, 1879, we find the 

 following statement: -'Eastern salmon spawn in the 

 fall, yet there is a late run which spawn in J anuary and 

 February, and return to the sea as kelts in June. - ' It is 

 l'eally strange that we do not hear more frequently of 

 the capture of Salmo salar in our bays in winter, and we 

 must believe that if the proper investigations were made 

 the fish would be found. Here is a problem worthy of 

 patient effort and scientific study— infinitely more* im- 

 portant than endless discussions about the names of 

 things and the relative values of conflicting opinions. 



CHICAGO FISHING NOTES. 



CiHICAGO, 111., Dec. 23.— Mr. Fred D. Divine, the well- 

 ' known maker of fishing rods, of Utica, N. Y., ia in 

 town to-day, debating whether to sell some more rods or 

 go home and spend Christmas like a white man. Mr. 

 Divine promises a new thing or two in spring styles. 



The ice has formed on the lakes north of us, and the 

 butchery of game fish at Antioch and many other points 

 on the Fox Lake system is going on in a manner perfectly 

 frightful. 



One or two correspondents have lately spoken of 

 "croppie roosts." I wonder if anglers hereabout know 

 that the Fish Commission a year or two ago put down a 

 quantity of brush to make croppie nests in Fox Lake. The 

 work was done at night, so that the locations might not 

 be learned to the destruction of the fish which would in 

 time come to frequent the spots. I never have heard that 

 the locations have been discovered. The brush was sunk 

 largely as a protection to the young fry placed in the lake 

 at that time. 



Dr. W. H. French, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, left on the 

 16th for a tarpon trip in Florida. Mr, Fisk, of this city, 

 had a pair of shark hooks made for him : large steel con- 

 trivances, fastened on dog chains. E. Hough. 



ANGLING NOTES. 



WE receive a good many inquiries from anglers and 

 tourists who are about going south, regarding the 

 proper tackle to take with them for Florida fishing. 



Of course, tarpon require special tackle as described 

 under "Angling Notes" in our issue of Dec. 25. For the 

 ordinary run of fishing such as anglers will be most likely 

 to indulge in, the following outfit is necessary: For 

 channel bass, also called redfish and spot, the same rod, 

 reel, etc., such as we use here for striped bass along the 

 coast should be taken. This rig will answer for any of 

 the large fish found along the coast and in the rivers. 

 But there are many fish like the spotted weakfish, com- 

 monly called sea trout, the sheepshead, which run small 

 in Florida, the ponipano, etc., that do not require such 

 stout tackle, and to obtain good sport it is better to take 

 along a lighter bait-rod, which will also answer for the 

 big-mouth bass. With this rod, a multiplying reel should 

 be used, filled with from 50 to 100yds. of No. 9 or 12 

 Cuttyhunk line. 



Great sport can be had with a heavy fly-rod. There are 

 many of the smaller varieties of the salt-water fishes that 

 take the fly in addition to the fresh-water bass, but the 

 flies must be large and finished off with wire at the head 

 or they will not last long. A few stout leaders, both 

 double and single, will be needed and the usual assort- 

 ment of sinkers and. swivels. 



The following hooks will be necessary: No. 7-0,8 0 and 

 9-0 knotted O'Shaughnessy for heavy fishing. No. 4-0, 

 3 0 and 2-0 Sproat on double gut snells on loops for weak- 

 fish, black bass, etc. No. 4 Sproat on single gut or double 

 loops for pompano, etc. 



The best artificial baits for black bass are the fairy and 

 phantom minnows No. 4 to 6, and the plain meted spin- 



ners No. 2 or 3. Spanish mackerel take pearl or bone 

 squids and the bluefish will take these also as well as the 

 tin squids. A good gaff and landing net are indispens- 

 able. Scarlet-Ibis. 



A Curious Habit of Sua p. - ffldp&r Forest and 

 Stream: It may be of interest to know of a peculiar 

 habit of shad in the town of Steuben, Maine. The fish 

 arrive in June and are taken in brush weirs set for her- 

 ring as late as October. At times they go into Dyer's 

 Bay at high tide and remain on the flats when the tide 

 recedes. The fishermen do not think that the shad are 

 stranded, but are inclined to believe tbat the habit is due 

 to a dislike to return to salt water. It is observed that 

 the fish make holes in the soft mud and sand, in which 

 they remain until the water again covers the flats. 

 From conversations with the fishermen it would appear 

 that during some seasons large numbers of shad are seen 

 at the the head of the bay and are easily taken with the 

 band. The annual number reported to have been thus 

 caught in 1888, 1889 and 1890 was between 150 and 200, 

 although many more could no doubt be secured were the 

 fishermen so disposed. This habit of the shad was not 

 learned of elsewhere in Maine and appears to be unique. 

 — Hugh M. Smith. 



Dynamiting Sheepshead, — Somers Point, N. J.— The 

 report of killing sheepshead with dynamite is correct. It 

 was done one morning about sunrise and quite a number 

 of fish were caught, but it was impossible to find out full 

 particulars. This is often done under pretense of work- 

 ing on wrecks. There was some talk about the thing at 

 the time. The place where the explosion took place was 

 long known as a favorite locality for sheepshead. This 

 was the only time I knew dynamiting to be done inside 

 of the beach. The winter fishing for white perch is poor 

 at pi'esent on account of the great scarcity of the fish. 

 Mud hens, or clapper rails, were plentiful this fall. There 

 are some ducks now in Great Egg Harbor Bay.— B. 



Pennsylvania Fish Protection.— A reunion of the 

 members of the Pennsylvania Fish Protective Associa tion 

 will be held at the rooms, No. 1020 Arch street, Philadel- 

 phia, Pa., at 8 o'clock, P. M., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 1891. 

 Invitations to members have been issued by a committee 

 of the association, of which Mr. A. M. Spangler, of 529 

 Commerce street, is the chairman. 



'The Wolf of the Waters."— This sketch, of which 

 a part was given last week, will be continued in our next 

 issue. 



CONNECTICUT FISH CULTURE. 



'T^HE twenty-fourth report of_ the Fish Commissioners of 

 X Connecticut begins the first of a biennial series and 

 covers the period from June 30, 1888, to J une 30, 1S90. 



The money appropriated for the use of the Commission is 

 devoted to the artificial propagation of shad and the pur- 

 chase and distribution of trout for stocking the brooks and 

 streams of the, State. The hatching of shad in 1889 at 

 Birmingham, on the Housatonie "River, was under the charge 

 of Mr. Henry J. Fenton: 8,282,000 shad fry were planted in 

 the Connecticut, Quinnipiac and Housatonie rivers. Mr. 

 Fenton notes that nne shad of good size were abundant at 

 the hatching grounds, while in the lower part of the river 

 the catch was 30 per cent, less than in 1888. The next season's 

 operations with shad were under the supervision of Mr. 

 Robert A. Chalker: 4,309,000 shad were placed in the rivers 

 already mentioned. The falling off this season was due to 

 cold and high water in the early part of the run. The total 

 catch of shad in the Conneticut in 1889 was 42,325, and in 1890 

 it fell to 34.318. 



While the results of shad propagation have been discour- 

 aging the trout distribution has been profitable. "Accord 

 ing to the many reports received by the Commissioners from 

 persons who have fished in the various streams throughout 

 the State during the past two years, it is clear that the stock- 

 ing of such streams has been decidedly successful, for no 

 single brook in Connecticut was ever so thickly pop alated 

 with trout m that period." 339,000 brook trout "were distri- 

 buted in 1889, and 336,000 in 1890. These were divided among 

 numerous applicants, over a large area, of territory suitable 

 for trout. 



Reports indicate a decided increase in the number of sal- 

 mon in the Connecticut River and we take pleasure in quot- 

 ing the following notice of the praiseworthy example set by 

 one of the pound owners: "During the past summer Capt. 

 Fred Ostman has released from his fish pound 27' salmon 

 weighing from 3 to 41bs. each. This he has done in order to 

 allow the fish to breed in the waters adjacent to this place, 

 and thus stock the Pawcatuk River with these fish. If other 



Earties throughout the State would emulate the exampleset 

 y Mr. Ostman we could soon gratify our epicurean t astes 

 by feasting upon Atlantic, salmon fresh, from the water*." 

 The salmon now caught are the result of artificial introdtic- 

 tion dating some years back. 



We regret to find that Connecticut has lost by resignation 

 two of its oldest Commissioners, Hon. R. G. Pike and Dr. 

 William M. Hudson, both of whom were appointed by 

 Governor Jewell, in 1869. Mr. Pike served until January, 

 1889, and Doctor Hudson until 1890. The services of these 

 eminent men have been of extreme value to the State, and 

 it is to be hoped that they will continue to interest them- 

 selves in Connecticut fishculture even though their official 

 relation to it has ceased. 



RAINBOW TROUT IN MEXICO.-In our issue of 

 Aug. 21, 1890, we referred to the rapid growth of rainbow 

 trout in. Mexico. Senor Chazari has recently communicated 

 to Col. John Gay, of the U. S. Fish Commission, some addi- 

 tional details of his experiment with this species. He writes 

 that although very sensitive to the temperature of the water 

 during incubation and the first four months of its life, after 

 that time he has succeeded in rearing the trout in water 

 having a temperature of 82 deg. Fahr., losing only a few 

 individuals in summer. The food given to them consists at 

 first of earth worms and later of ox meat, usually the heart. 

 The development of the rainbows with this kind of food has 

 been very satisfactory. Some individuals thirty months old 

 weighed more than 3lbs., and a few which escaped into a 

 stream containing a plentiful supply of good water nourished 

 wonderfully. Senor Chazari recently found one, whose death 

 was caused by an abnormal development of the stomach, 

 which measured 32m, in length and weighed more than 

 51bs., its age being not over 32 months. The lake trout has 

 proved much more delicate than the rainbow and grows more 

 slowly, as does also the brook trout. The California salmon 

 presented to Mexico by the U. S. Fish Commission arrived 

 in perfect condition, and are greatly cherished by the Mexi- 

 can Commissioner. 



