108 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[-Em. g6, 1891. 



MEMORIES OF MACATAWA. 



THIS is the season of the year when there being neither 

 hunting nor fishing, the lover of field sports can curl 

 up before the blazing fire, and in the ascending smoke 

 of the fragrant weed he can see and live over again the 

 experiences of the past. Not only in meoaory does he do 

 this but resorts to some old note book to freshen the in- 

 cidents of the past, and sharpen his appetite for the good 

 things of the future. 



Thus it happened thatlzaak, Jr., turned back the leaves 

 of the years and lived over again the experiences of a 

 vacation taken a number of years ago. And this is what 

 he read: 



From the sooty and sultry atmosphere of Si; Louis to 

 the clear and bracing atmosphere of Lake Michigan was 

 a consummation so devoutly to be desired that I firmly 

 resolved to make the change, and I did it, and that is why 

 these notes written a t that cliarming summer resort, the 

 Macatawa Park Hotel, Bii^iiat.ed on the eastern shore of 

 Lake Michigan, about six miles from the city of Holland. 



The hotel is located on a narrow ridge of land which es- 

 lorids between Lake Michigaii and Matacawa Lake, and 

 is flanked on either hand by high bluflrs covered with 

 pine, hemlock, and oak trees. The summits of these bluffs 

 are delightful spots, as they overlook both of the lakes, 

 and a cool breeze is always blowing. Along the shore of 

 Lake Michisran, and but a few hundred feet from the 

 hotel, stretches a magnificent sandy beach that for bath- 

 ing purposes can not be surpassed in the whole counti-y. 

 The''water is clear and clean, and when the great surf 

 waves roll in it is glorious sport to battle agHinst tl'.ein. 



The sand hills are also objects of attraction, and it is 

 quite tlie thing to climb the steps on the wooden side and 

 slide down the sandy incline on the other. In my youth- 

 ful days I slid down the straw stack, and perhaps the 

 celiar dour, but here was sliding on a grander scale. Tlie 

 young ladies 83i.)rcially delight to glide down the sandy 

 sloyer You olbei'vo a'fair maiden standing out against 

 the clear sky aij'i liien she disappears as suddenly as if 

 the earth had swallowed lier up. You hurry up the steps 

 to see if a fatal accident had not taken place. By the 

 time you anive at the summit another maiden or a bevy 

 of maidens stand expectant on the summit in their white 

 dresses, as if waiting for Ascension Day: but they are not 

 goini? that way, and their dresses, unlike that ancient 

 damsel's, are unprovided with puckering strings. With 

 little hysterical screams the group jump into the sand and 

 down the steep and sandy incline they rush. , You see 

 a gleam of brilliant hose, a shimmering of white dimity, 

 and then there lies a heap of loveliness at the bottom of 

 the blatf, But the sand is soft and clean, and no harm 

 results, except shoes full of sand, and, sitting on the beach, 

 it is the duty of the attentive beaux to remove the dainty 

 shoes and pour out the sand, which they carefully preserve 

 in homeopattuc vials, Down one of the sand hills there 

 is a deep furrow said to have been made by the heels of a 

 Chicago belle as she plowed down the sandy bluff. If 

 any one doubts this story they can have the furrow 

 pointed out to them, as I had, and what proof, to a resi- 

 dent of St. Louis, can be more conclusive. Envious ladies 

 say that the beau Avho emptied her shoes of the sand must 

 have needed a fiat quart bottle to have been equal to the 

 occasion. Sometimes, however, accidents occur. A pro- 

 jecting root or stick may cause a sad disaster, and a steely 

 skeleton remains thereon to serve as a danger signal to 

 other venturesome sand skaters. 



But I intend to write of my angling experiences at 

 Macatawa Lake, one of the best fishing grounds in Michi- 

 gan, if the fish are in a humor to bite. The only draw- 

 back to this place are the many excursionists who make 

 an angler's life miserable, for I hold that the genuine 

 angler loves solitude. He prefers the company of the 

 loon and heron to that of gum-chewing maidens and 

 cigarette-smoking youths. The wind through the pines 

 and hemlocks is sweeter music to his ear than the bang- 

 ing of the hotel j^iano by the befrizzled summer belle; 

 the lapping of the waves upon the beach gives him greater 

 X)leasure than the gurgling of liquids over the bar; and 

 mosquitoes can be endured with a more patient resigna- 

 tion than the aimless crowd of Sunday school excurs- 

 ionists. 



I arrived at the hotel in tiine for dinner, and having 

 gone through with that formaJity, I at once prepared for 

 a trial angling trip. Mrs. Izaak, Jr , concluded to accom- 

 pany me, and retired to her room to put on her fishing 

 attire. When she returned she was attired in a rubber 

 ulster and carried a parasol, I mildly argued against the 

 propriety of raising an umbrella in a boat while fishing, 

 but to no avail. And then she wanted to know if she had 

 not better take her knitting along, in case the fish did not 

 bite, I replied, "Certainly, by all means," and kindly 

 volunteered to send for the family sewing machine. I 

 think my satire was useful, for the knitting was left 

 behind. 



We finally got safe into the boat, and in the delight of 

 the moment my spirits visibly rose as I rowed away 

 toward the fishing grounds, and I actually smiled to my- 

 self at the pretty figure of Mi's. Izaak, Jr., and her para- 

 sol, as she reclined comfortably in the stern of the boat. 

 Eeaching a spot where I thought we might take fish, 1 

 "heaved" the anchor overboard and prepared the tackle 

 for business. First I had to put the minnow on Mrs. 

 Izaak, Jr.'s, hook, which operation she watched with 

 great anxiety. "Don't it hurt the minnow to put a hook 

 in it that way?" But I answered that it was no time to 

 moralize when one was on a fi.shing excursion, and that 

 if a man had a fish on the end of his line, and stopped to 

 argue about the hook hurting the fish, he would lose the 

 fish, and deservedly, too. No, when one goes a-fishing he 

 must leave his society for the prevention of cruelty to 

 animals at home. 



By this time our lines were cast, and I settled down to 

 the glorious expectancy of getting a bite. I had my back 

 to Mrs. Izaak, .Jr., when suddenly I heard her pole splash 

 in the water, and my heart came inEo_my mouth at the 

 thought that she ha.d the first bite, i turned my head, 

 and, shades of Izaak, Sr., must I say it, she had let her 

 pole fall into the water while attempting to raise her 

 parasol. I groaned inwardly, and fixed a stony glare at 

 mv bobber, whicii obstinately refused to be pulled under 

 water. With the stubbornness born of disgust, 1 sat and 

 sat; the sun was well down in the western sky; the bell 

 at the hotel was ringing for supper; a big frog set up a 

 croak in the bushes by the shore; the— "I've got a bite," 

 oame tbrillingly to my ears. The parasol tumbled into 

 Isi^, tii^ w^g a struggig with tlie pole, a splash 



by the side of the boat, and Mrs. Izaak, Jr., landed a bass 

 at my feet to be unhooked. She looked at me with one 

 of her old-time glances, and asked if I didn't want to 

 borrow her parasol; maybe I might get a bite then. 

 "Parasol be ribbed," I ungraciously murmured, as I im- 

 paled another minnow on the hook. But why prolong 

 the story. My score was a goose egg; Mrs. Izaak's was 

 two bass. We were both tired, and I was told that I 

 might go alone in the mornmg; she "had enough of fish- 

 ing." 



A good supper at the hotel restored our spirits, and as 

 we were strolling on the beach afterward Mrs. Izaak, Jr,, 

 remarked to me, m her sweetest manner, "My dear, I 

 had a delightful time fishing this afternoon, and I think 

 I will go along with you in the morning." But I deter- 

 minedly protested ag'ainst such a course. The morning 

 air was fuU of malarious vapor, and it was a very rash 

 thing for a woman to go out fishing on an empty stomach 

 at 5 A. M. She retorted that she didn't propose to "fish 

 on an empty stomach; she was going to fish from the 

 boat." I saw it was useless to philosophically discuss the 

 matter, so I dropped it. 



But the next morning, at the first peep of day, I silently 

 dressed and stole from my room to the boat house, and 

 was soon gliding through' the smooth water alone. I 

 may be mistaken, but I liold that the true anfi;ler wants 

 no company but himself and his bait, and, finding myself 

 in that position, I was content witli all the world. In 

 front of me rose the bhie surface of Lake Michigan, while 

 the prow of my boat was pointed up Macatawa Lake, 

 toward the fishing grounds. The l>ig, round, red sun was 

 just peeping from the eastern horizon, and the smooth 

 surface of the water was broken here and there as some 

 fish rose to gather in a helpless fly returning from an all- 

 night spree. The whole scene was a delightful one, and 

 if the fish would only bite— aye, there's the rub. But the 

 fish would not bite. For two hours I strove to lure one to 

 take a nice fat minnOAv, but all in vain. I tried trolling 

 with spoon bait, but with no hotter success. The fish 

 appeared to be all "independent bolters." and seemed de- 

 termined not vote the regular ticket. About three miles 

 up the lake, however, i had a littJu better luck, and suc- 

 ceeded in catching about a dozf ii bnss, none of them of 

 large size, but still large enough to afford considerable 

 sport. 



I had taken no lunch with me, and my inner man began 

 to assert his rights in so marked a manner that I turned 

 my boat, and a vigorous twenty minutes' row brought me 

 back, when I reduced the profits of the hotel considerably. 

 To my great surprise, Mrs. Izaak, Jr., met me in a smil- 

 ing manner, and inquired how I liked to "fi-h on an 

 ernpty stomach," Then and there we compromised, and 

 hoisted a flag of truce. On my future excursions she 

 always accompanied me, but I struck the line at the 

 parasol, which was left at home. We took considerable 

 fish, but the largest did not Aveigh over two pounds, and 

 the smallest— well, we did not weigh them. I am aware 

 this is a strange story for a fisherman to relate, but it is 

 a true one, and therein lies its virtue. As the youthful 

 pa of his country rema:rked, "I cannot tell a he— unless 

 there is money in it." 



But all the anglers were not as unsuccessful as myself, I 

 saw black bass weighing six pounds taken from the very 

 spots where I had fished. On the day I left the lake a 

 little gul hooked a twenty-pound muskallonge, which 

 was safely landed with the aid of her father. 



And thus the days passed on— eating, sleeping, fishing, 

 bathing, and taking siestas on the summit of the pme- 

 covered bluffs. What a place it is to recreate the weary 

 man from the hurried and unrestful city. From the sum- 

 mit of Prospect Point I see the sim go down on the land 

 of the badgers; away out on Lake Michigan I discern the 

 white sail of some grain-laden vessel: on the edge of the 

 horizon a thin line of smoke shows where some steamer 

 is making straight for her port; a dim haze is creeping 

 over the "lake aird the bluff, the songs and shouts of the 

 campers in the valley below are faintly borne to my ears; 

 the bright light from the lighthouse shoots otrt over the 

 rippling waters; the last whistle of the about departing 

 steamer is heard, and, with a deep sigh of regret, there 

 comes to an end the vacation of Izaak, Je, 



St. Louis, Mo. 



ANGLING NOTES. 



NOW is the time for the amateur to lay in a stock of 

 feathers for next season's fiy dressing. The best 

 hackles obtainable come from the necks of the capons 

 which are now to be found in great abundance in the 

 markets. Of course the hackles of game cocks are more 

 desirable, but they can rarely be had excepting by those 

 who breed these birds, or who are so fortunate as to have 

 friends who do so. 



Hackles should be narrow, tapering to a point, and firm 

 without feeling harsh when drawn through the fingers. 

 Select those which are as near as possible of the same 

 color on both sides. The most useful colors are brown, 

 black, brown and gray furnace, that is, brown or white 

 with a black streak down the center, and white. The 

 latter are used for dying. The gray and brown mallard, 

 teal, widgeon and readhead feathers can also be obtained. 

 They are found just under the wing and on the back just 

 above the butt of the wing. These are used in <li-essing 

 the Abbey, professor, grizzly-king, queen-of-the-waters, 

 etc. The various colored pigeon wings are also very use- 

 ful and the poultry stalls are full of them. If the angler 

 keeps a sharp lookout he will occasionally find a blue 

 heron or crow hanging among the poultry, the wing 

 feathers of which are very necessary. 



The wood duck side feathers are very useful, but ex- 

 ceedingly hard to obtain; still, now and then they can be 

 found, particularly among boxes of birds shipped from 

 the South. 



With the above list, including a few turkey tails, one 

 can tie the majority of the flies used for trout fishing. 



There are dyes sold in the drug stores that are very 

 easily used; "they have the directions printed on them 

 and any one can 3ye their own hackles with little trouble. 

 The only thing to look out for is the natural grease on 

 the feathers. This can be removed by washing in soap 

 and warm water or alum water. Fix the colors by add- 

 ing a little vinegar to the dye and rinse in cold water. 

 The hackles should be tied by the stems in loose bunches 

 of a dozen, first stripping off the down. 



An angling friend sends us a few speciiiiGna of close 

 imitations of ©ativrai Sies. Tlaey air© dreised by hm^eU 



and would do credit to an expert. He had great success 

 with these flies on the Willowemoc acd Neversink, where 

 he found the originals, and believes it due to their use, 

 though the writer has a suspicion that a great deal of it 

 was owing to his being a superb fly-fisherman and using 

 fine tackle. Several of the imitations are almost identi- 

 cal with the golden-spinner, great-dun, oak-fly, beaver- 

 kill, bro«Ta-hen and brown and gray palmers, so much so 

 that we are inclined to doubt whether even the most 

 educated trout would notice the difference. 



It is reported that a few striped bass tempted by the 

 mild weather have been taken on the hook in the Hudson 

 River. 



The spotted weakfish or so-called "sea trout" have 

 developed a great fondness for large-sized phantom min- 

 nows. They also take large bass flies, and afford good 

 sport on a stout fly-rod. 



Channel bass sometimes can be seduced by these big 

 flies, and when a good-sized "spot" is hooked the owner 

 of a fly-rod has his hands full, and thinks there is more 

 sport in it than catching tarpon on a bean pole. 



Scarlet-Ibis. 



THE NEW YORK TROUT LAW. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



For nearly forty years I have been an annual visitor all 

 over the Adirondacks, and during that time have seen 

 more or less unprofitable tinkermg with the game laws. 

 Every section of the State wants its jjeculiar privilege, 

 and the present new codification is fearfully "under fire." 

 In the main, the laws submitted are good ones; but still I, 

 too, have my suggtstious. Make the law all over the 

 State the same lor Irout nsliiug. Why discriminate for 

 Long Island? We of the north don't expect to get trout- 

 ing in April, but should like to if we cordd. We are as 

 much entitled to it as Now York city sportsmen and are 

 equally as fond of it, and I think know as much about it 

 as they do and enjoy it as much. Another lame ])oint in 

 the game law: Trout in the Adirondacks spawn about 

 Sept. 1, I mean brook trout. The season is extended to 

 the 15th, which is an error. Lake trout spawn later. 



As to transportation; had I my way, I would not allow 

 a trout or any venison to be taken out of the woods in 

 any shape for the next five years, Such a law, with 

 strong restrictions in fine, would increase materially this 

 kind of game in the woods. Make a law for the State 

 entire; not section out here and there with certain privi- 

 leges. Also stop buoy fishing as strongly as set-line fish- 

 ing. One is as bad as the other; and both ought to be put 

 under the same restriction, doubling fines for any infringe- 

 ment. 



No, Mr. Editor, strike at the root of the matter. There 

 is too much tinkering and child's play in this whole mat- 

 ter. As "J. H, R.," of Canton, writes in your last issue, 

 "Treat all alike;" and as suggested in your "Angling 

 Notes" by "Scarlet-Ibis," the best laws always are those 

 that are reasonably easy to enforce and so simple that all 

 can understand. We want no technicalities and no 

 doubts, but a law equally to be respected over the entire 

 State, and to be enforced Avithout partiality and no dis- 

 criminations, whether on Long Island or in the dense 

 woods. D. T. 



AniBONnACKS. 



TARPON AT PUNTA GORDA. 



53UNTA GORDA HOTEL, Punta Gorda, Fla., Feb. 16. 

 — Editor Forest and Stream: The season here is 

 some two or three weeks later than usual. The fishing 

 season has been rather slow in coming. The first tarpon 

 taken on the Gulf coast (so far as I have heard) was taken 

 here in Charlotte Harbor near the Punta Gorda Hotel. 

 A little way up the harbor the Peace River comes into 

 the harbor, and there on the 12th inst. the tarpon was 

 captured. Mr. C, F, Goodnow, of South Sudbm-y, Mass,, 

 was the fortunate angler. He went for tarpon on two 

 days. On the fu'st day he took a shark; on the next day 

 he' killed a splendid tarpon with the usual bass rod, line 

 and reel, with mullet for bait, on a large hook with 

 fourth-inch cotton cord If t. long for snell. The fish drew 

 line and his cedar boat and guide nearly two miles up the 

 river, not going all the time straight, frequently giving 

 some slack line, but much of the way taking about 300ft. 

 from the reel, the river not being deep nor wide, and 

 there being more tide inward than current outward. His 

 first leap into the air was terrible, taking up with him a 

 very large mass of water. After thirteen leaps and a 

 fierce battle lasting one hour and five minutes, he slowly 

 yielded to the gaft', but came near upsettinsf the boat, 

 ills length was Ci£t., girth 3ft. Sin., weight I621bs. The 

 taxidermist here has him in hand, and one of his sides 

 may ornament New England and the other the Punta 

 Gorda Hotel. 



A Spanish mackerel was killed here yesterday, it being 

 early for that fish, which does not appear here usually 

 before March. 



We liave now taken here about one-half of the various 

 kinds of Florida fish mentioned and so well illustrated in 

 one of your issues of the Forest and Steeam about a 

 year ago. Nelson Meiiiull. 



"A Big Catch qp Trotjt.— Portland, Me., Feb. 20.— 



Editor Forest and Stream: Inclosed is item cut from 

 the Portland Advertiser: "The Greeley explorers rettumed 

 to Bangor il'mi-ay night, from Randall's Camp above the 

 Katahdin Iron AVorks, where they have been the last ten 

 days, in addition to George Greeley and party there 

 were two gentlemen from Jersey City, Landlord Bemis, 

 of the Crosbv Inn, Belfast, and Caterer Robinson, Messrs. 

 •James JliUer and S. Bourne, of Portland. This pai'ty 

 fished eight days in all, and in addition to the fish eaten, 

 brought home 2,706 speckled trout, none of wMch weighed 

 a pound, averaging from one-quarter to one-half a pound. 

 This is probably the largest catch of trout ever recorded." 

 This is an illustration of om- beautiful law which allows 

 "inhabitants of the State" to catch ti-out through the ice 

 for their own use after Feb. 1. This party goes in every 

 year, and in their case hog should be spelled in capitals. 

 — D. 



Thb Deforest Angling Association held its ninth 

 annual meeting on Feb. 16, at the Arena, No. 41 West 

 31st street, this city. The association was organized and 

 received its charter in 1S8S, owns two hundred acres of 

 4aa46ituate4 eismii-^s e^^t Qi Boonvilie, on tk^ Utica <S^ 



