Maeoh 17, 1892.;] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



2B8 



strike as we cast out into the pool, and had fine sport 

 until long after the usual time for lunch. Finally, very 

 reluctantly, the love of sport yielded to the demands of 

 appetite. 



How good that lunch tasted as we munched it sitting 

 on the grass beside the wagon in tbe shade of the old 

 deserted barn, and how quiet and restful it seemed to us 

 after the rush of the city and the contentions of the 

 court room. 



After luncheon we started upstream, trying tbe waters 

 for a mile or so, casting in the deep pools and occasion- 

 ally taking a bass. The most of these were caught in 

 small pools not more than 5 or 6ft. across, made by the 

 current of the stream under the roots of large trees 

 standing on the banks. The water was clear running 

 spring water. In fact, we were fishing in one of the 

 very few streams of northern Ohio, which were mentioned 

 by Judge Potter in his letter to Forest and Stream 

 some time since. And taking small-mouth bass out of 

 the same pools from which the Judge and the late Dr. 

 Garlick took trout half a century ago. 



The small-mouth bass are not natives of these waters, 

 hut are the result of stock placed in them some years 

 ago by Messrs. Williams and Stranahan, of the village of 

 Chagrin Falls. 



They are not large, the heaviest caught weighing not 

 more than Hlbs., but they make up for size in gaminess, 

 as they are long, slim and very active. 



In form and color these bass differ very much from their 

 brothers which I have caught off the reefs near tbe islands 

 in Lake Erie, the lake bass being much thicker through 

 the shoulders and heavier bodied for their length, and 

 very much darker in color, many of them marked with 

 RtripeB almost iron gray. 



This, is the same difference which, in a late issue of 

 Forest and Stream, was spoken of as being peculiar to 

 wide-mouthed bass caught in different localities. And it 

 has always seemed to me that this difference was the 

 result of the conditions surrounding the fish or nature 

 adapting herself to the situation. In the deep waters of 

 the lake and on the limestone reefs the bass grows stocky, 

 powerful and dark in; color, while in the cool, running 

 spring water of the stream he becomes slim, lithe and 

 active. Still this may be only fancy, for occasionally we 

 caught sight of a big fellow as he moved around in the 

 dark corner of a deep pool, that no amount of coaxing 

 would induce to bite. 



Tbe afternoon passed quickly, and all too soon we had 

 to return to the village to catch the train back to the city, 

 which we did, arriving home in time for a 1 o'clock 

 dinner, thus adding another red-letter day to our list, the 

 memory of which is a pleasure to this day. A. W. L. 



CtTSVELAXC, otrio. 



CONNECTICUT TROUT. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



Possibly trouting yarns may be a little out of season, 

 but surely not out of order, so I wish to ventilate my 

 views on the subject with the rest. As I look over the 

 correspondence in the columns of your valuable journal I 

 notice nearly all the sport with rod and gun is located 

 outside of Connecticut. 



Now, I have a word to say in behalf of our little Nut- 

 meg State, and being withal an ardent disciple of old 

 Izaak Walton, I wish to convince the many readers of 

 Forest and Stream that we are not all novices in the 

 gentle art. I think the account of our big trout given in 

 the New York Sun of July 26, 1890 (a partial list of that 

 season's catch) is a record hard to beat. Our streams 

 abound with genuine Sal-mo foul hut I is. large and gamy 

 enough to satisfy the most exacting angler; in fact, the 

 trout of Connecticut may not be as numerous, but they 

 average larger than any other of the New England States. 

 During the open season from April 1 to July, there are 

 the usual swarm of anglers upon most of our streams, but 

 as tbe experienced fishermen are in the minority, the fish 

 are really more scared than hurt: but still we have our 

 share of good anglers who can get there with the best of 

 them. During the close season our interests are well 

 looked to by our wide awake game and fish warden, 

 Zebulon Bobbins, Esq., but owing to the nature of the 

 country aud the great number of small streams, as a 

 matter of course some illegal fishing is done in the early 

 spring before the open season. 



The old town of Plainfield is the favorite stamping 

 ground for tbe sportsmen of our locality. The country 

 roundabout is intersected by a complete network of 

 natural trout streams, and among the best of these is Mill 

 Brook, always noted for its large trout. Ah, the sport I 

 have had whipping the waters of that grand old stream; 

 sport nearly always shared by my old chum, Fremont D. 

 Palmer, a genial companion and ardent sportsman. How 

 vivid in memory are the events that transpired in our last 

 summer's outing: how pleased to recall that beautiful 

 May morning when sunrise found us upon the banks of 

 our old favorite stream, where we were nearly always 

 sure of a full creel. This day its waters were fairly teem- 

 ing with the beauties; as we entered the woods below the 

 upper meadow we found a veritable playground for them; 

 it being a warm, still morning, the gnats and wood flies 

 were thick upon the water and the trout were busy reap- 

 ing the harvest. 



Their splashes resounded in all directions; now close to 

 our rods and then faintly heard further down stream, 

 their playful leaps causing circling waves, which, meet- 

 ing and intermingling and growing larger with each re- 

 ceding wave, at last died away against the banks. Now 

 aud then a larger ripple is seen as a noble trout leap3 

 clear of the water and falls back into the stream with a 

 resounding splash. 



Ye gods, what a sight for a sportsman to benold ! Well, 

 Freezy and I drew a goodly number of these playful fel- 

 lows to land before leaving the woods. 



There is a deep Bilent pool at the edge of these woods, 

 and being a faA r orite spot there is always a friendly 

 rivalry between chum and me as to which shall reach 

 there first. This day we fished it shoulder to shoulder 

 and landed five lusty trout, three for Freezy and two for 

 the scribe. 



These were taken with (now don't turn up your nose, 

 my fancy fly-caster) worms, as the overhanging boughs 

 would not admit of fly-casting. 



Tbe little meadow below furnishes rather indifferent 

 fishing, as the stream runs swift and shallow, but just 

 below where it skirts the edge of an old maple swamp is 

 the very cream of the sport, the stream taking a wind- 

 ing course is a succesion of sharp turns and Bandy shal. 



lows, causing numerous deep holes and eddies, regular 

 trout pockets so to speak, grand lurking places for the 

 big ones. 



Upon entering this angler's paradise we determined to 

 go over the ground slowly and carefully, and what fun 

 we did have, from bend to ripple seldom failing to take 

 at least one good trout from each eddy. 



It was here an incident occurred, which, so to speak, 

 broke me all up. At the last of these little pools Freely 

 at the opposite side hooked a large trout, and as the fun 

 became interesting he yelled "I have something besides a 

 shiner, this time" (this'in reference to an episode that oc- 

 curred on a former visit to this pool). "So have I," 1 

 called back, as I received a vicious tug at my line. We 

 both reeled in together and landed just one trout between 

 us, which, upon investigation, proved to belong to chum, 

 the fish having in one of his desperate rushes in some 

 way became entangled in my tackle. Wasn't he a beauty! 

 14 lbs. My feelings were not a whit relieved upon seeing 

 the provoking grin upon Freezy's face. 



Leaving chum at this pool I crossed the road and 

 walked down to an old willow tree, at the foot of which 

 is an old mossy rock, around which the water sweeps, 

 forming a splendid little eddy, This usually being a 

 lucky spat, I felt sure of my game, and was not disap- 

 pointed, the trout was there. Dropping tbe coachman 

 lightly into the calm water below, I drew it gently up 

 across the ripple once, twice, thrice, when at the third 

 cast a dark streak shot out from behind the rock straight 

 for the fly. With a quick turn of the wrist I planted the 

 hook deep in his jaw and soon brought him exhausted to 

 land, fibs,, and as plump as a partridge. 



It now being near noon and quite warm, we sought a 

 cool, shady spot to eat our luncn, and as we reclined at 

 ease upon the greensward, the murmur of the brook at 

 our feet, the birds flitting among tbe foliage overhead, 

 and the green woods and meadows outlined against the 

 blue hills, never before did I so fully realize the free and 

 joyous life of the sportsman. After an hour's siesta we 

 arose and went at the fun once more. 



From here our objective point was west of the roadbed 

 of the N. & W. P. R., well down toward the mouth of 

 the stream, which ends at the pond in the little village of 

 Packersville. This part of tbe stream widens out into a 

 succession of broad, deep pools, and oh. my, what a 

 record they have gained for large trout ! Just where the 

 stream enters the pond a trout was taken by Hiram Miner 

 last spring that weighed Slbs. 4oz. 



Finding two or three live Dabsons or helgramites in an 

 old can, left there by some fisherman of the day before: 

 by way of experiment I attached one to my hook, and 

 casting into a small pool where I had failed to coax a rise 

 to my coachman, I hooked and brought to land a trout of 

 lib. 6oz, Did any brother angler ever try this bait for 

 trout? Just below where the Chapman Brook forms a 

 junction with the main stream is a deep, black pool, as 

 gamy a looking spot as ever a sportsman beheld. At this 

 place chum took the last and largest trout of the day's 

 catch. Upon hearing an excited exclamation from 

 Freezy, who was busy at the aforesaid pool, I turned and 

 soon realized that he had all the business he could attend 

 to. Surely he had the father of them all. Great Scott ! 

 how that trout did fight; he made a bold rush for the 

 opposite side of the pool, but Freezy turned him and 

 guided him back; then away he went up and down, back 

 and forth, in a series of evolutions that would have sur- 

 prised an acrobat; once he leaped clear from the water, 

 and I thought he was a gone fish that time sure. It was 

 pleasure enough for me to watch the eager sparkle of 

 chum's eye and the varied expression of his countenance 

 as he surged back and forth at the side of that pool bound 

 to win or die. But at last the struggle ended, and with 

 aching arms he drew his fish to his feet, and reaching 

 down gently lifted him from the water. What a beauty! 

 21bs. Soz, in weight. How his crimson-spotted sides did 

 glisten as he lay quivering among the leaves and ferns ! 



It being now near dark and having some distance to 

 go, chum and I unjointed our rods and reached the depot 

 in time for the home train, well satisfied with our day's 

 short. E. M. Brown. 



Pkeston, Con n., Feb. 10. 



BOSTON ANGLERS. 



A SHADE of gloom will be cast over the minds of 

 many of the angling fraternity to learn of the death 

 of Mr. Eugene H. Clapp, of Boston Highlands, which 

 took place at his residence on Sunday morning. Mr. 

 Clapp was 48 years of age, and as many happy hours of 

 bis life had been spent at his favorite pastime as usually 

 fall to the lot of an intensely busy man. He has been a 

 regular visitor to the Rangeley Lakes for many years, 

 rarely missing a season altogether, and often paying two 

 visits* in a year. He was a dear lover of the rod and reel, 

 and the capture of the monster trout, for which the 

 Rangeleys are celebrated, was his especial delight. The 

 annual trip of the Eugene Clapp party was one of the 

 regular features of the season, and it has been often 

 recorded in the Forest and Stream. This party has 

 \ many times been made up of Mr. Clapp, Mr. George W. 

 Wadsworth, Mr. C, E. Haskins, Mr. W. Paine and a 

 brother of Mr. Clapp, and these merchants will especially 

 miss the genial Eugene when the ice is out and the trout 

 season is at hand. Mr. Clapp was a lover of angling and 

 a remarkably successful business man. He started with 

 very little of the goods of this world, a country boy, with 

 tbe love of the fish rod as strongly engrafted as that of 

 making to himself a competency, and neither passion has 

 ever been entirely sacrificed to the other. He comes to 

 his grave worth nearly a million dollars, and yet never 

 has the trout season come to hand but what he has yielded 

 to its gentle persuasion, packed up his rigging and 

 started. He has frequently been afishing when his time 

 must have been worth hundreds of dollars a day in his 

 business: but there were the trout to be caught,and they 

 could not be resisted. One peculiarity of his fishing was 

 his utter disregard of his tackle; that is, at times when 

 he was hooking a fish or playing one. His friends say of 

 him that his going afishing was a godsend to the tackle 

 people, and that in later years the selling agent of one or 

 two of the tackle shops has usually followed him on his 

 trips. His success in taking the giant of the Rangeleys 

 has been good at times, while at other times the rigging 

 has had to yield. Mr. Clapp always felt the full advan- 

 tage of his fishing trips to himself, both mentally and 

 bodily; but alas, his periods of rest have been all too 

 short, though coustant each year, and he has fallen a 

 victim to apoplexy, brought on by over work. 



His Excellency Gov. Russell, of Massachusetts, with 

 one or two of his staff, has stolen a few days from the 

 cares of office for a trip to tbe home of the Commodore 

 Club, on Moose Pond, in Hartland, Me. The club house 

 was also visited last week by several members, all prom- 

 inent Boston merchants. Among the number was Mr. 

 John G. Wright, prominent in the wool trade; Mr, E. A. 

 Adams, agent of the White Star and Red Star steamer 

 lines: Mr. W. V. Kellen and Mr. G. W. Hasting, plate 

 glass dealer. Mr. Wright says that this trip was largely 

 to look out for the interests of the Commodore Club in 

 the way of restocking the lake, though they doubtless 

 should set their lines and try ice-fishing. 



I hear that a new fish and game association has been 

 formed in Boston for tbe purpose of leasing and controll- 

 ing lands in New Brunswick, though I have not yet in- 

 vestigated the matter. It is reported that Dr. Heber 

 Bishop is to be president, but only till the club is well on 

 its feet, since he is devoted heart and soul to the interests 

 of the Megantic Club. It is reported that the club is to 

 lease and control for ten years some 10.000 acres, includ- 

 ing lakes and streams. Special,. 

 Boston, Marc h U. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



[From ft Staff Correspondent.') 



pBlCAGO, III., March 0.— Mr. J L. Wilcox of this city 

 V-V is now baving mounted a 16ft. sawfish captured on 

 his late trip in Florida. This is said to be the largest 

 specimen taken in those waters. A number of the young, 

 alive, were found in the body of the fish upon opening 

 it. 



The Chicago Fly- Casting Club now numbers 50 mem- 

 bers. Membership cards will be engraved, entitling 

 bearers to practice in the city parks. 



Expressions of opinion would be welcomed as to the 

 proper length of fly-rods to be used in amateurs' tourna- 

 ments, also to the weight. A gentleman speaks of using 

 a spinning bait or a "small frog," on a "fly-rod." To me 

 such terms seem incongruous, and a man who would 

 actually so use an actual fly-rod would, it seems to me, be 

 committing a desecration which good angling could not 

 forgive him. The Fly Casting Club should make promi- 

 nent among its rules one prohibiting the use of bait on a 

 fly-rod. Then the novices may learn to catch fish on a 

 fly. 



The cold snap promised may freeze up the lakes again, 

 and permit the old slaughter of bass by ice fishing. Let 

 us hope for an early thaw. During the week the ice has 

 been so rotten that planks were laid out by the market 

 fishers to keep them up as they plied their trade. This is 

 legal after March 1st. One man took 1481bs. of black 

 bass in one day. 



March 12. — The committee on protection, of the Kan- 

 kakee Association, pursuant to earlier plans, yesterday 

 went down to English Lake Club house to meet Hon. 

 W. T. Dennis, the Indiana Fish Commissioner. There 

 were present Messrs. Thos, C. Edwards, W. P. Mussey, 

 A. H, Harryman and E. Hough of the committee, also 

 Mr. Abner Price, president of the association. Mr. Dennis 

 brought with him Mr. Borders, of Winamac, lad., an at- 

 torney and sportsman who has rendered valuable help. 

 A plan of action was at once formulated, and before this 

 appears in print, it is thought, there will have been made 

 an efficient raid on the nets that infest that portion of 

 the Kankakee. Warden F. L. Buck will be sent down to 

 locate the nets and county lines, and should start down 

 the river next Monday night, Mr. Borders will have 

 affidavits ready, sworn out in the circuit courts, and not 

 in the worthless local justices' courts. By Wednesday 

 the deputies will be seizing nets, unless the cold weather 

 holds back the fishing. These operations are all in Indi- 

 ana, and Mr. D;nnis will be the prosecuting witness. 

 The warden sent by the association will merely investi- 

 gate and get facts. Mr. Buck will rnn the river and 

 look after the fishways when done with the net work. 



Mr. Dsnnis we found a very pleasant gentleman, with 

 hair and beard silvered by years that have touched lightly 

 as they passed. And now a bit of information. Who 

 doei not remember the old "Kingfisher" party, and who 

 is there has not followed Dan, Old Knotts, Old Grizzly 

 with pleasure after "Kingfisher's" fluent pen? Yet who 

 knows who ever "Kingfisher" is? I shall tell that. 

 "Kingfisher" is Mr. J. L. Hickman, of the Cincinnati 

 Post Office, and "Old Grizzly," his long-time friend and 

 companion on the Tip|}ecanoe, is none less than Mr. Den- 

 nis himself, Fish Commissioner of Indiana, because he 

 loves bass more than he does money. 



On the 1 st of June, if weather and fate permit, there 

 will be a boat and tent party start from Ora, In d,, on 

 the Tippecanoe, which will follow that lovely stream as 

 far down as Winamac and perhaps on down to Monti- 

 cello. Chief of the party will be Mr. Dennis, State Fish 

 Commissioner, rather let us say "Old Grizzly." Mr. 

 Borders will be another of the party, and myself another, 

 I truly hope. Mr. Dennis will have along a certain curi- 

 ous camp gridiron, of which I hope to find something to 

 say later on. He tells me it is made only for large bass, 

 and insinuates that the bass I may take on the fly will be 

 too small for his gridiron. 



It will be matter of real interest to Chicago anglers to 

 know that the recent efforts of Mr. Dennis along the 

 Tippecanoe have greatly improved tbe fishing, which 

 within the past six years had been practically ruined by 

 nets, spears and dynamite. ^This is naturally the best 

 and most beautiful bass stream of this adjacent region, 

 being swift, clear and rocky. Much less in volume than 

 the Kankakee, it is more suitable for work with the fly, 

 since the angler can wade and swing an unobstructed 

 line. 



It is said that all of the Justices of the Supreme Court 

 of Indiana, Justices Elliott, McBride, Coffee, Olds and 

 Miller, are expert fishermen. E. Hotjoh. 



Texas.— The International Boundary Commission was 

 encamped during the first week of March on the Rio 

 Grande near El Paso, Texas. From Dr. Edgar A. Mearns 

 we have learned that the stream was muddy and almost 

 destitute of fish. The few that they were able to get for 

 specimens were taken from the stomach of a great blue 

 heron. Later on, when the river is in better condition, 

 the fishing will doubtless improve. 



Tributaries of McElhattan Creek, one of the fa- 

 mous trout streams of Clinton county, Pa., received a 

 plant of 40,000 brook trout fry from the hatchery at Corry 

 on March 8. 



