98 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



iJAS. 26, 1893. 



WEIGHTS AND SIZES OF FISH. 



"PiSECO" sends iis a copy of a letter written by hini 

 from Lake Pleasant in the Adirondacks and published in 

 the FOKEST AND STREAM in 1876: 



In your issue of June 1 the letter on "Weight of Fish by 

 Measurement" attracted considerable attention, and sev- 

 eral gentlemen jM-esent Tolimteered, or ratlier promised to 

 comply with my request to weigh and measure, that we 

 might prove or disprove the rule. In the following table, 

 No* Ij which was caught by JIi-. LutJier, of Ballston Spa, 

 troUing, excited no little comment, as with a tremendous 

 head he shaded olf like a tadpole, and instead of weigh- 

 ing, as everybody said he otight to, 251bs. , he could barely 

 trim 161bs; A big healed Avound in his jaw showed that 

 at some previous time he had been badly hooked, and 

 stunted. Taking No. 10 as a standard, whose length was 

 lOin. and weight 6oz., or any other you choose, for they 

 were all weighed and measm-ed carefully, any of your 

 readers fond of mathematics can work out the "triplicate 

 ratio of their homologous sides" to suit themselves. I'm 

 not here to "do stuns," but to get clear of them. 



Dimensions and weight of a,n average of 6001bs. of lake aud brook trout 

 taken June 1 to 7, 3876, from Piseeo Lake. 





Brook 



Dimensions. 





Weight. 





No, 



or 

 Lake. 













Caught by, and how. 



Length 



Depth, 

 inches. 



Und's'd 



Dress VI 







inches. 



lbs 



oz. 



lbs. oz. 





1 



Laker., 

 Laker. . 



37 



32M 





16 

 11 



12^ 





John J. Luther, spoon. 

 Mrs. John J. Luther, 

 gang live bait. 



S 



Laker.. 



25^ 



1 



5 



04 



4 10 



Piseco, spoon. 



4 



Laker. . 



25 





6 





.'j 00 



Piseco, anchor. 

 H. L. Green, spoon 



e 



Laker.. 











3 14 



6 



Laker. . 



15 



3 







1 00 



1 'iseco & Co. 





Laker. . 



im 









0 14 



8poou aud anchor. 



8 



Laker. . 



16 





'i 



02 



1 00 



M. W. Don's stm-fishing 















for trout. 



9 



Laker. . 



12^ 



l« 







0 09 



Spoon. 



10 



Laker. . 







'6 



is 





Spoon. 

 Spoon. 



11 



Laker. , 



10 





0 



06 





12 



Brook , 



18 



iii 



s 



m 



'i 13 



Piseco, spoon. 



13 



Brook , 









1 12 



Piseco, rod. 



14 



Brook . 











1 00 



Piseco, i-od. 



15 



Brook . 



15M 









1 01 



Piseco, rod. 

 Piseco, rod. 



16 



Brook , 



rm 









0 11 



17 



Brook . 



12 









0 10 



18 



Brook . 







'6 



14 



0 12 





19 



Brook . 



13M 



0 



13 







20 



Brook . 



\i 





0 



06 









Brook . 



m 



0 



08 







22 



Brook . 



13 



m 



0 



12 



'o 10 





S3 

 24 



Brook , 

 Brook . 



k 



0 

 0 



04 



'6 03 





25 



Brook . 







0 



02 



0 ly 





Editor Forest and Stream: 



It is desirable at times, when a scale is not at hand, to 

 form a close estimate of the weight of a fish. This may 

 be done by measurement and a short calculation. 



Find the extreme length and gu-th of the fish, then 

 multiply the length by the square of the girth and divide 

 by a constant number, determined by previous experiment 

 and the result will be the weight in oimces. 



If we represent the weight by W, the lengtli by L, the 

 girth by G, and the constant by C, the rule may be ex- 

 pressed by the formula: 



To obtain the constant C for a given variety it is neces- 

 sary to measure and weigh a number of fish and find the 

 value of C for each by multiplying the length by the 

 square of the girth and dividing by the weight. The aver- 

 age of these i-esults will be the value of C. 



For example, if by carefully weighing and measuring 

 at least a half dozen trout of various sizes C has been de- 

 termined at, say, 45, and a fish has been caught 12iin. in 

 leng*th and 6f in. in girth, then the weight in ounces equals 

 12i multiplied by 6} squared, divided by 45, or llfoz. Ex- 

 pressed mathematically: 



C 1o 



By maktag note of the lengfa, girth, and weight of a 

 number of specimens of various fishes the constant can be 

 figm-ed for each and recorded with the rule in the fly or 

 tackle book 'to be employed as occasion demands. 



T. H. Grant. 



Bed Bake, N. J. ^ 



THE SCHOHARIE CREEK SALMON. 



Amsterdam, N. Y., Jan. 22. — Editor Forest and Stream: 

 In regard to the salmon seen by Rev. Chas. G. Adams, of 

 New York city, while fishing in the Schoharie Creek, near 

 the village of Prattsvfile, Greene county, there is much 

 doubt to my mind, first, as to its being a salmon. Is 

 there not a chance of Mr. Adams being mistaken in the 

 identity of the fish? Second, there are so many obstruc- 

 tions to such a fish passing from the Hudson to the Mo- 

 hawk River, up over the Gohoes FaUs, the Schenectady 

 Bam. At the mouth of the Schoharie Creek is the State 

 Dam. From here up the creek, at Mill Point and Wells- 

 ville, are small dams. At Burtonville a large one, and at 

 Esperence a still larger one, about 6.1ft. high, with several 

 between this point and Prattsville, how many and how 

 large I do not know. No fishways are on the Schoharie 

 Creek except the so-called one at Fort Hunter, over which 

 salmon and other fish cannot pass. It was supposed that 

 when the fishway was built at Foi-t Hrmter pike would 

 readily pass through it, and so up the creek, making good 

 fishing. But such was not the case. Not a pike, I believe, 

 has been caught above the dam since the fishway was 

 built, showing very plainly that it is not a success by any 

 means. 



Judge Yates does not beheve it necessary for fish to try 

 the Cohoes Falls and the dam at Schenectady when they 

 can readily come up the Erie Canal. It is a well-known 

 fact that many small black bass and perch come down the 

 canal from the lakes; but I have never heard the theory 

 advanced before that they come up as well. It has always 

 been said that oiu- black bass came to the Mohawk River 

 and Schoharie Creek through the canal from the western 

 lakes. I can easily see that fish may be locked through 

 the canal, and if Mr. Adams was correct in identifying his 

 fish I would sooner beheve this theory than the one of 

 swimming the obsti'uctions in the Mohawk and Scho- 

 harie. 



However, I believe Mr, Adams is mistaken in his fish 

 being a salmon, Robt. M. HASTLEYa 



ON THE NORTH SHORE.~lV. 



The Trip Up.— IV. 



[Continued from pnj/e 76.] 



Being so exceedingly eager the next morning to try the 

 main shore, Ned rose unusually early and routed out the 

 boatmen for an immediate breakfast. The boys, always 

 willing to accommodate, hustled around quite lively and 

 soon had the meal ready. The dawn had opened with a 

 sultry srm, soon obscured with leaden clouds, which in a 

 short time discharged some tinkling drops of rain, and 

 tlien a suggestion of postponement for the present came 

 from the discouraged boatmen. The ijroposition of ad- 

 journment was not entertained at all, but an immediate 

 start for the main shore ordered. Our hear-ts were set on 

 trouting, and raiu or shine would indulge in it. We aU 

 started, however j in good humor j and before reaching the 

 grounds there were indications of a general clear-up. Ned 

 being quite familiar with the shore suggested a commence- 

 ment from a jutting point iiiunediately opposite the 

 islands, as the waters here and for a mile above, as stated, 

 abound in tlie dandies witli the ' 'crimson stars." Arriving 

 at the spot uidicated, I made the first cast^ which at once 

 received a savage response, and wliich, I am sorry to 

 relate, was cleverly missed. Immediately lifting the 

 ihes from the surface with a dogged determination to 

 capture that snapping trout if he again sought the lakes, I 

 sent them within a fraction of the same spot, and once 

 more aroused the hungry fish, who this time was as dogged 

 as I was to catch sometliing, and am pleased to state did, 

 but not the tid-bit he expected, wliich he fully reahzed 

 when he Avent frantically racing around with the cruel 

 steel embedded in his jaw. I had dehghtf ul play of a te^v 

 iiiinut<;s with the strugghng trout, which resorted to every 

 trick he was master of to rid himself of that feathery 

 deceit, a Henshall. Displaying a truce in turning his 

 si)anglod sides to the surface after a gallant battle, I care- 

 fully drew him to the boat, where Peter adroitly netted 

 him. He was my first large trophy of the season, a three- 

 pounder, and as symmetrical a beautj^ as ever poised or 

 sprang for the dancing fly. 



Ned soon aroused one, which he secured at the second 

 rise and killed like a professional. It was a fraction 

 smaller than mine, but handsomer in its rainbow hues. 

 This being all we could capture here, we moved along the 

 rugged shore imder the purplish shadows of gray clouds, 

 sending our iiies into every available place w^e thought 

 harbored one or more of the handsomely mottled beauties 

 that so oft dart at the illusive fly, "as swift as the shaft 

 from the bended bow." Reaching a granite jule of per- 

 pendicular shore line, where the cold water was trickling 

 down its hoary face, we captured two more — one apiece — 

 that made the reels send forth that delicious music which 

 steejis the soul of the ardent angler in unalloyed bliss. 

 Ned said the Wagnerian witchery of weird school of 

 classical melody would bear no favorable comparison at 

 aU with the delightful rhythm a wild and stricken trout 

 can interpret from a revolving reel. It is hke imrolling 

 the hidden soul of harmony. Having reached the limit of 

 the rocks which ran into a sandy beach, and Avhere a rib- 

 bon-like stream flows over the white sands into the great 

 icy lake, we commenced the return fishing with as much 

 ardor as ever. We went some distance ere we awoke an- 

 other savage warrior of the mottled armor, who sprang so 

 fiercely and greedily as to overshoot the tempting &y. It 

 was proffered him a second time by Ned with such dainty 

 aUurement that he started this time with a true aim to 

 rend and devour, but the manipulator of that Mttle jDiece 

 of feathery conceit astonished him to an extent that 

 caused him to throw his entire strength into an effort to 

 let go of that which but a moment ago he so selfishly 

 coveted. He nevertheless held fast to the brilliant colored 

 feast of the feathers until he was repenting in the bottom 

 of the boat his hasty and greedj^ tactics. Satisfied for tlie 

 present with the trout we had caught, which ran from 2 

 to 31bs. , we concluded to return to camp for dinner, it 

 being near that hour, and try it again toward evening. 

 Having somewhat worked the feather edge of om- ardor 

 off, we could now take the spox't in a considerate and con- 

 servative manner, bemg satisfied that we were "where 

 the trout hide," and could capture very readily more than 

 could well be disposed of. 



After dinner the sun shone out brilliantly and the opal 

 clouds gathered around the horizon, forming a lovely 

 framing to the dome of blue which magnificently arched 

 a picture of rippling water, receding hills and forest 

 primeval. Waiting for the waning hours with long 

 shadows ere we took to boat and trout we indulged in the 

 usual game of cards and then went deep down in our 

 books, now revealing the development of character with 

 a tense dramatic vividness, presenting at the same time 

 pictures of emotional interest and matchless beauty. Ned 

 was so really absorbed in his ' 'Sandal Wood Trader" he 

 had been perusing after completing "Ben Hur" that he 

 was loath to put it down when the hour came for sport. 

 Seeing me start for the boat with my rod when turning a 

 page, his enthusiasm for the gentle art at once reasserted 

 itseK, and then the book, with its fascinating pages of life 

 in the Pacific, was immediately consigned to the tent and 

 oblivion, and, snatching his rod, which had been carefuUy 

 placed against a small tree that overshadowed our tent, 

 he quickly joined me. 



This time we took a different route, going along a shore 

 that ran at right angles with the main coast into a httle 

 bay that seemed to sleep and dream, so quietly did it rest 

 in fancied security behind a higli, ragged bluff that 

 silently and solemnly stood as a sentinel o'er its unruffled 

 waters. It was suggestive of the place — 



"\^^^ere the boy shaped his arrows and where the shy maid 

 Wove her many-hued baskets and bright wampum braid." 



On my way over I changed my stretcher, substituting a 

 gray-hackle for the silver-doctor, while Ned followed suit 

 with a fly of his own creation, the component parts being 

 deep red and snowy white. It was, however, nameless, 

 and rather than see it go courting the radiant waters so 

 luminously arrayed and so proverty-stricken in title I 

 suggested to apply a blue feather and call it the "red, 

 white and blue." The fancy tickled him so amazingly he 

 said he would modify it one-third and call it the ' 'red and 

 white/' and so it sailed on its piratical mission under that 

 distinctive name. 



"Here we go," said Ned, on reaching the grounds, and 

 away went the red and white to its chi-istening with a 

 royal-coachman for its companion. It struck the water 

 lightly, danced awhile, and then was quickly lifted from 

 the flashing surface, and again it went curving through 



air to once more kiss and dance over the sparkling wave- 

 lets. Tliis sportive exercise, with a heart of deep expect- 

 ancy, he kept up tUl he finally struck a goodly trout, 

 which made his eyes sparkle, his nerves tingle with ex- 

 citement, and his reel sweetly sing. It was a gallant bat- 

 tle between the twain, wherein the crafty skill of the 

 rodster proudly triumphed over the dashing vigor and 

 subtle strategy of the spangled rover of the reef. In the 

 meantime my rod had been quite busy^ and but a moment 

 after Ned had slain his shapely trout I also sxicceeded in 

 capturing one that overmatched his by half a poimd, it 

 weighing 2flbs. Two more were caught at the next two 

 successive catches, and that satisfying our aspirations for 

 the day we retiumed to camp, with the lake in a golden 

 sparkle, and the sinking sun that spread a mantle of royal 

 purjile and blushing red o'er the distant hihs. 



We are now having a surfeit of trout in camp and the 

 question arises as to their cure. Emery suggests smoking 

 them, and as we acquiesced he soon had them all cleaned 

 and placed on some crotches five feet or thereabouts 

 above the fu'e. The camp began to look like the abode of 

 native Alaskans, which, in seaaoii) is liberally ornamented 

 with drying lish. This was simply an introductory, for it 

 was not long before the racks assumed a commercial ap- 

 pearance, so numerous were the mottled waixiors dangling 

 over clouds of smoke. 



We were very tu-ed that evening Avhen we sought our 

 downy beds so fragrant with balsam, and it was not long, 

 I assure you, before we wandered into the El Dorado of 

 golden dreams. 



Ned, when he stepped from the tent in the early morn, 

 reported a southeast wind and gentle rain, which confined 

 us almost exclusively within the flapping canvas. This 

 gave us considerable time for readmg, as well as cards, 

 they alternating the entire morning. Ned saw the con- 

 cluding page of his "Sandal Wood Trader" during this 

 imprisonment and then took to "Lucie's Mistake," while 

 I waded into '"Ben Hur" with avidity. It clearing up 

 some before noon we took our rods, and, caUing to tlie 

 boys, started for the mam shore in hopes of decoying a 

 trout or two. Succeeding to the extent of a couple we 

 returned to camp quite satisfied with the sportive change. 



In the afternoon the heavy southeast wind and a dense 

 fog prevented us from pui-suing the ever-beautiful fish, 

 and so we remained on the island and explored its plant 

 life. We discovered vari-colored masses of the most deli- 

 cate texture, a very few ferns, cranberries which had 

 perished from the great drought, a few juniper berries 

 aud some bushes of strawbeiTies with the diminutive 

 fruit as dry as dust. As to the geological formation of 

 the island it was entirely composed of granite and trap- 

 rock, much of which presented an exceedingly smooth 

 surface, with here and there a few depressions formed 

 into miniatm-e lakes. In tlie muddy margin of one we 

 saw a large bullfrog, speckled and spotted, which was 

 croaking his doleful music as if attempting the basso 

 notes of the weird Wagner. Ned, on espying him, said, 

 '•What a bait for a monster trout," and at once laid plans 

 for his capture, but the dweller of that muddy marge had 

 his larboard eye on the stealthy approach of Ids would-be 

 capturer, and, as he came within grasping distance, 

 winked his watchful eye as much as to say, "See you 

 later," and then quickly sank beneath the miry muck. 



On returning to camp Ned commenced overhaiding his 

 tackle with a view to repairs, while 1 took my rod and 

 thrashed around the shores without as much as receiving 

 a single rise. We concluded that evening to break camp 

 in the morning and go to "Jackson's Cove," provided the 

 weather and the report of the Signal Service officer were 

 aU o k. 



The dawn came in gorgeous splendor, with the golden 

 arrows of Aurora painting the quivering surface of the 

 lake in one broad blaze of radiant glow. 



"It is right ijrecious to behold 



The first long sm'f of climbing light 



Flood all the thii-sty east with red." 



Being eager for the change that morning, we aU lent a 

 willing hand after breakfast and soon had the boat ready 

 for the trip. A light breeze kisses the lake as om' bark 

 emerges from the narrow channel into the bi-oadened 

 waters that are lost in fight; and as the sail is flung to the 

 zephyrs we slide along, only sensible of the balmy, caress- 

 ing atmosphere and of the gentle swelhng of the waves. 

 It was deficious saihng by the picturesque shore in the 

 pomp of purjjle and gold, the woods in "banners bright 

 with every martial hue." 



Ned was melodiously inspired with the dreamy waves 

 of beauty, and though he did not exactly give the lilting 

 airs the glorious scenes demanded, for such choruses as 

 "Whack, for all, for addy i day, and with my rorum, 

 kinkarum, kinkoren, whack, fol de riddle, diddle di, for 

 addy i day," and so on, were sent in harmony with pearly 

 clouds, silvery lakes, crimson woods and zephyr breezes, 

 but for a' that laughter long and loud went echoeing o'er 

 the waters to their response. 



Singing, talking and dreaming in the bright sunshine, 

 with a balsamic incense in the gentle breeze, becoming 

 somewhat monotonous, Ned suggested for a change, as 

 we had reaclied Aquawa Harbor — the islands — that the 

 troll be put over as a decoy for some foolish fish. Acting 

 on the advice, I dropped the polished silver into the rip- 

 pling lake and then waited for a scaly denizen of the deep 

 to toy with the rapidly revolving spoon. On reaching 

 waters where the Mackinac trout are usually found, I had 

 a most terrific yank at the deceit, and then a floundering 

 fish was endeavoring to rid himself of the cruel steel; but 

 as I kept the Mackinac— which I supposed it to be— so 

 swiftly coming to the boat with my hand-over-hand work 

 he found it impossible to get either the desired curve in 

 his tail or the bend at his shoiflders wherewith to attempt 

 a shake out of the fatal spoon. I allowed him the acro- 

 batic features when he was safely in the boat and where 

 he got in a twinkle or two. Releasing the capering cap- 

 tive, I again threw the deceptive troU overboard in hopes 

 of soon securing a companion for the initial prize. 



Emery not ha-ving brouglit his profound prophecies to 

 our notice for some days, now vouchsafed one which was 

 to giA^e him some toil, and that A\'as an expiring bree/.e. 

 It came, as he foretold, in a very brief time, and then the 

 antediluvian canvas of patchwork was taken down and 

 the ashen blades substituted. The lake soon became mo- 

 tionless and glittered like a plate of polished steel, while 

 the sun shone from a violet sky with a warmth that made 

 us lay aside our heavj^ coats. In the distance the hills 

 rose one above another and spread out as luminous and -is 

 soft as clouds, while the great granite walls of the islanda, 



