212 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 9, 1893. 



THE BASS OF CROOKED LAKE. 



Fort Meade, Fla. — The individual who first i^romul- 

 gated the doctrine that "all work and no play makes Jack 

 a dull boy" was undoubtedly a benefactor to a certain por- 

 tion of the human race, and has an enthusiastic disciple in 

 myself. Consequently when il; was suggf sted to me by 

 two friends that, after planting my corn, plowing and 

 fertiUzing the grove and getting some land ready for other 

 crops, I really ought to take some recreation, my feelings 

 were completelj^ in accord with the suggestion. 



The recreation decided upon was to take the form of an 

 excursion to a well-known lake about twenty miles off, 

 which is a favorite resort for fishing parties. It is appro- 

 priately named Crooked Lake, for its shape is that of a 

 horseshoe that has been run over by a freight train. 

 From point to point its extreme length is about 11+ miles, 

 and its greatest breadth about 2i miles. Numerous other 

 smaller lakes surround it, ail more or less picturesque and 

 beautifully clear. 



Our two boats were put on the wagons, and stores, tent, 

 fishing tackle, etc., being stowed in them, off we started 

 on a good road, with a nice cool breeze and bright sun. 

 A halt of course was called at noon for refreshment for 

 man and beast. Owing to our late start and a mistake as 

 to the road on the part of our self-constituted guide, we 

 foimd ourselves at sundown on the shores of a small lake 

 aoout tAvo miles north of our intended camp. However, 

 we heard that where we were fish, although small, were 

 plentiful. The spinners were soon at work, two of us 

 undertaking to catch supjier, while the third, assisted by 

 a small negro brought along as general assistant (and 

 scapegoat in case of things going wrong), rigged up the 

 tent and put things into shape generally. In a veiy short 

 time half a dozen bass ranging from a half to three- 

 quarters of a pound were in tiie cook's hands, and a deli- 

 cious meal they made. 



As usual, a good night's rest followed. After a cup of 

 coffee at sunrise, one of the boats was launched and two 

 of us went to obtain brt akfast. During a short ti'ip we 

 secm-ed enough for both that meal and dinner also. As 

 the fish were all about the same size — a large half poxmd — 

 and as we were in search of nobler victims, it was decided 

 after satisfying our hunger to go for our original destina- 

 tion without delay. 



It was a heavy pull our beasts had over the steep, sandy 

 hills between the two lakes, but our tent was again 

 pitched about 11 A. M., and we were soon reposing inside 

 it. Such a comfortable tent really deserves a short 

 description. 



It was impoi-ted from India a couple of years ago and 

 cost pretty heavy — but it's a dandy to borrow. It is 

 double, the outer one being of ducking lined with thin 

 blue cloth, the back part coming down in a semi-cii'cle 

 with flaps to peg down if required, and the front of 

 similar shape without flap forming a verandah. The 

 inner tent is lined with pale yellow and is virtually the 

 ordinary A teut with sides two feet deep. Every avail- 

 able spot is utilized for pockets, and altogether with 

 such a tent one can really enjoy a camp-out most thor- 

 oughly. A painted canvas floorcloth to guard against 

 damp is a great idea, and with the sides triced up for 

 the breeze to circulate, some interesting matter to read, 

 , good tobacco to smoke and — well, what do you think? 

 That evening we were at work again, and we soon 

 found that we had every chance of tiring of a fish diet, 

 for it was literally no trick at ail to catch them. Noth- 

 ing over 2ilbs, resulted from that day's work (we un- 

 fortunately took a spring weigher along, so it's no use 

 lying about it), but the next morning my partner caught 

 one of 6ilbs., which gave us a lot of fun. We were 

 trolling on a dead lee shore, and a very stiff breeze was 

 blowing, which took aR my strength to keep the boat 

 clear of the weeds, which grew around the edge, when 

 my straw hat blew off. After the customary remarks 

 on such a subject I let the boat drop to pick it up. 



Just as my partner had hold of it, whir-r-r-r went his 

 reel, and throwing my hat, full of water, into my face he 

 began to explain forcibly that he wanted that boat kept 

 out of those weeds, and he had his own way of putting it. 

 It was no time for recrimination though, and by sheer 

 hard work I got her a few yards clear and kept her there 

 about fifteen minutes, our fish fighting very game and the 

 tackle being light. He came to gaff' finally and though 

 imquestionably a good fish we, as usual, thought he 

 looked bigger in the water. We lost two more beauties 

 that morning Uirough om- tackle being too light, and to 

 make things worse our supply of spinners (the best bait 

 for bass in these parts) was slim to start with. 



Four most enjoyable days were spent much in the 

 same manner and at last our tackle got down to bedrock. 

 We had lots of lines and hooks, but that was all. A 

 happy thought at last struck one of the party and chop- 

 ping up a condensed milk can with a hatchet, punching 

 the requisite holes with a nail, tearing a piece of red 

 cloth off a bed quilt (not his own) and wiring on some 

 hooks, he made a fearful looking thing, which, however, 

 got in some good work and reflected more credit on his 

 ingenuity than on the sense of Crooked Lake fish. 



During the afternoon of the fourth day when resting in 

 the tent we were surprised by two visitors in a buggj^— 

 one a gentleman from Michigan and the other an agent 

 who was taking him round to show him the boundaries of 

 Bope land the former had bought— I believe 1,300 acres— 

 with the intention of starting a town and growing winter 

 vegetables, especially tomatoes. Wa invited them to 

 share our camp, both of them being immensely struck 

 - with our snug quarters. Very pleasant companions we 

 found them. They were anxious to catch a fish or two, 

 so we lent them a boat and one of our patent milk-can- 

 cum-bed-quilt spinners, and they shortly returned, having 

 hooked a good fish, which had broken the line. 



Our Michigan friend was very enthusiastic about the 

 joys of camp life, and we sat up talking tiU well on to 

 midnight on various subjects, when we decided it was 

 time to turn in. His companion was no stranger to a 

 night in the woods and snored lustily as soon as his head 

 touched his pillow (our sack of oats), but no such luck was 

 in store for our Northern friend, who hardly slept a wink 

 all night. I expect he thinks more of civihzation now. 



After breakfast next morning, having bade our guests 

 adieu, we took our last swim in Crooked Lake. We then 

 loaded up our boats and with deep regret turned our 

 horses' heads toward home, arriving without accident 

 soon after dark. 



lean confidently recommend' such a trip to anyone 

 wanting a little change, but as to physical rest I don't 



know that it's a success. My back and arms are still stiff 

 and sore with so much rowing, and I should have got 

 along much better with a cushion on the boat's seat. One 

 of my comrades advises me to warn every one who may 

 read this not to take such a trip in a shirt which buttons 

 up the back. His spine is one long blister. However, we 

 enjoyed ourselves heartily and intend going again — there 

 or elsewhere. R. F. B. 



CANADIAN ANGLING NOTES. 



The letters- of Eugene McCarthy and Kit Clarke, re- 

 cently published in your columns, were read here with 

 deep interest, and are justly considered as acts of justice 

 toward a game fish that has been by othei-s sadly mis- 

 understood or met under most unfavorable circumstances. 

 There is but little time left now to fight the ouananiche 

 this season, which closes, so far as he is concerned, on 

 Sept. 15, but just prior to that date tliere is always 

 splendid fishing in the Metabetchouan. 



A large influx of anglers is expected at Lake Edward, 

 and in fact all through the Lake St. John country during 

 September, when the grandest trout fishing of the entire 

 year may be looked for, and red-bellied specimens of 

 fontinalis in their handsome spawning costume are freely 

 taken in favored localities up to 4 and 51bs. in weight. 



Dr. C. M. Daniels, of Buftalo, N. Y. , and the party of 

 friends that accompanied liim up the Peribonca to Lake 

 Tschotagama, as described in my last letter, haveretvuned 

 home, after luring some very heavy fish in the northern 

 lake. Dr. Daniels also shot a large bear in the neck, but 

 the wounded animal managed to get away among the 

 rocks on the side of a mountain where he could not be 

 followed. 



ilr. J. S, Mason, of Boston, who fiphed the end of 

 July with Dr. H. F. Hamilton, a chain of watei-s con- 

 necting Tschotagama, has returned to Lake St. Jolin, 

 from Boston, accompanied this time by Mr. M. E. Havi- 

 land, of New York, to endeavor to obtain some of the 

 same sport he had on his former trip. This time he has 

 ascended the Little Peribonca, intending to portage thence 

 into Lake Aleck, and down the stream of the same name 

 into the main Peribonca, The waters through which 

 they are passing are reported to be teeming witli trout. 



Messrs. Amos Little and H. C. Butcher, of Philadelphia, 

 have recently arrived from their waters on the Meta- 

 betchouan, where, as usual, they secured a fine catch of 

 large trout. 



Hon. D, A. McMillan, of Buffalo, N. Y. , has shot, under 

 government permit, three caribou at his camp on Lake 

 Edward. 



Sir A. P. Caron, Postmaster General of Canada, has 

 had, recently, some splendid sport upon the trout pre- 

 serves of the Ouiatchouan Club, and the Peribonca has 

 afforded good sport to Dr. Oscar H. Holder, of Boston, 

 Dr. Dickinson, of New York, and ilr. Eobning. 



Mr. Walter Brackett, the noted angler and fish artist of 

 Boston, returned about ten days ago from his fishing 

 lodge on the Marguerite, where he has spent the greater 

 part of the summer every year for the last eighteen years. 

 Mr, Brackett reports the salmon growing scarcer every 

 year in his stream, despite the work done by the Ta- 

 doussac hatchery, and much of this decrease is attributed 

 to the netting at the mouth of the river. 



The sardine fishmg has been very abundant this month 

 at St. Andre Kamouraska and the canning factory there 

 is now in full operation. The scarcity of the fish in the 

 early part of the season is by some attributed to the 

 presence at that time in the river of an unusual number 

 of porpoises, and these have, no doubt, had their influence 

 too upon the salmon that usually frequent the rivers 

 emptying into the lower St. Lawrence and Gulf. 



Wmslow Homer, the well-known American artist 

 whose picture of "Fox and Crows" appears in the August 

 Century Magazine, has been fishing the waters of the 

 Tourilli Club with marked success, accompanied by Com. 

 J . U. Gregory, of Quebec. E. T. D. Chambers, 



Quebec, Aug. 81. 



CAMPS OF THE KINGFISHERS. 



Central Lake, Mich,, Aug, 23,— The Camp of the 

 Kingfishers broke up Aug. 23. In Platte Lake, on which 

 we camped, we found the bass fishing better than we ex- 

 pected, as also in Round and Little Platte. We had no 

 difllculty in supplying the camp. Our largest bass weighed 

 4flbs., Mr. Geo. C. Payne of Frankfort, Ky,, being "high 

 hook." Platte River is a fine trout stream, broad, swift 

 and sandy, so far as I have seen it, which is only a mile 

 or two from its mouth (at Platte Lake). It seems to be 

 lished a good deal, but we heard of some good catches of 

 large trout. The north branch of the Platte contains a 

 good many trout, but is much obstructed by timber, and 

 the use of the fly is out of the question, except for cranks. 



A word about canvas boats. We had two, the Ben 

 Harrison, aKalamazco 16ft. canoe, the same we used last 

 year in Canada, I think this a gcoi craft after you get 

 it properly set up; which is not as easily or as rapidly 

 done as one is led to expect from the advertisements. I 

 believe, however, that a 12ft. canoe of the same model 

 would for our uses be much more satisfactory. There 

 should not be more than two persons in a boat for bass 

 fishing, and the 16ft. craft is too large— sits too high on 

 the water with such a load, and is too easily affected by 

 the wind. Its weight is also an objection on portages. 



The Osgood boat was in use for the third season. Its 

 model is good and it is a capital sea-boat, and very steady. 

 The canvas covering however is wretchedly poor, and al- 

 though I am not unusually timid in a boat, I have seen so 

 many holes punched in this craft dming the last three sea- 

 sons, that I vvould not again venture to use it. The brass 

 bands around the gunwale strips amidships are also too 

 weak, and are giving out on both sides. 



I have great faith in good canvas as a material for canoes. 

 I would sooner have trusted myself in the old "Kelpie" 

 than in a wooden boat of any description to run a danger- 

 ous rapid among rocks and snags, but this was because I 

 had thoroughly tested her, and knew that she could be 

 relied on. 



I take great interest in canvas boats, and the more port- 

 able the better, but it seems unwise to sacrifice safety to 

 any ordinary consideration. 



In closing these notes, I beg leave to express my thanks 

 to the officials of the Chicago & West Michigan and the 

 Toledo & Ann Arbor Railroads for courtesies which did 

 juuch to render agreeable and to lessen the discomfort of 

 the journey to and from our camping ground, 



Keu'ie. 



A UTTLE PROSE ABOUT BARNEGAT. 



With all respect to the taste of your correspondent as 

 shown in his "Idyl of Barnegat" published in yom- issue 

 of Sept. 3, and without criticising his literary ability, it 

 seemed to me on reading his article that either he didn't 

 know half or he didn't tell half of the pleasures of that 

 quaint old city by the sea. He was satisfied with a little 

 evening fishing for blues in company with his favorite 

 Captain Peckworth, of the catboat Blinnie. 



Did he never cast in the surf from North Beach for 

 "stripers?" He has yet time, for the next two months 

 will be the best of the year. Let him use shedder crab 

 or beach fleas, and if he does not get a new experience I 

 will have to go down and show him where they hang out. 

 They are there, lots of 'em. I got seven one day last fall, 

 that weighed over 801bs. 



Did he ever think Boston mackerel were worth eating? 

 Lots of them in that quiet little bay between the light 

 house and the surf. He can use his trout tackle and have 

 lots of sport with them some day when he can't get out- 

 side. 



Did he never try chumming for his bluefish? It beats 

 trolling, to my mind, in every way. 



Did he ever find a day when there was not wind 

 enough for sailing? Let him try drifting for weakfish 

 just south of the bar. He will find them bigger there 

 than they used to be when he was a fish hog and caught 

 400 in one day in the bay. 



He is right in loving that quiet, lonely village, but did 

 he ever see it when he could walk from there across the 

 bay on the ice? I staid a week on tlie "Clam Island" last 

 winter gunning. He can see the "Sedgmoor Hotel" if he 

 will row over, and if he will look I think he will see the 

 row of nails where we hung tip from day to day about 

 sixty fine ducks. I also bore away in triumph thtit trip 

 a magnificent Asiatic gull 5ft, 2ui. from tip to tip, and I 

 have it mounted and it hangs in my library now. 



Even now, if he guns, he can bury in the sand on Sea 

 Dog shoal, and find excellent sport with the willet and 

 longlegs. 



One thing more, if he wants to make another bluefish 

 match, let him say so. I am going there again this 

 season and will go with Captain Moree, and we'll catch 

 two bluefish to his one, trolling or chumming, or treat. 



Billy. 



"FOREST AND STREAM" PISHING POSTALS 



Send us a postal card report of your own luck, your partner's lucl; 

 your neighbor'a luck, your fatTier-in-law's luck, ^nd— her luck. 



MORRISTOWN, N, Y., Aug. 22.— Geo. Gerard, of Ogdens- 

 burg, and Dr. Finnegan, of Edwards ville, caught 15 

 black bass and 4 waU-eyed pike in one hom-'s time in Black 

 Lake. Total weight 471bs, Olato Caeron. 



Attean Lake Reserve, Attean, Me., Aug. 31— Dr. 

 Louis L. Seaman, of New York city, has taken 15 brook 

 trout, largest B^lLs. Dr. F. W. Halsey, Boston, 100, larg- 

 est 3flbs. J. M. Bassett, Boston, 30, largest 4ilbs. Mrs. 

 J, M. Bassett's largest brook trout 41bs, M. H. Camp's 

 largest brook trout 6lbs. Ithamar Howe, 



Steamer Al Foster, New York, Sept, 3.— We beg to 

 bring to your notice the extraordinary good fishing we 

 have had the past Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the 

 Cholera, Angler and S. W. banks. Sea bass from 2^ to 

 G^rlbs. and sea porgies from i to 41bs, Average per hook , 

 about 20 fish; largest number caught on Thursday, 48; 

 Friday, 36, Capt, Al Foster. 



Nets in Lake Champlain. 



Syracuse, N, Y,, Aug. 26, — Last month I took an out- 

 ing at the north end of Lake Champlain, on the east side 

 of the lake called Mississquoi Bay, a part of the lake 

 where fishing used to be excellent, and I believe would 

 still be good and continue to improve if net fishing were 

 prohibited. The bay referred to extends into the Province 

 of Quebec, north probably five miles, and these waters as 

 well as those extending along the Vermont State side of 

 the line are the natural spawning grounds of the lake fish. 

 I understand that net-fishing has been carried on for a 

 number of yeai-s on the Canadian side of the lake, with 

 the knowledge and consent of the Dominion Government; 

 and I was told by a friend in St. Albans, that their State 

 Legislature granted licenses last season to certain parties 

 to take fish in Vermont waters with nets, and that during 

 the months of March and April this season, there were 

 taken through the ice with nets by these parties, and 

 shipped to Boston and New York markets, from seventy- 

 five to eighty barrels of all kinds of lake fish every day 

 for a period of about six weeks. I was told that one 

 fisherman cleared |1,500 in four weeks. C. R. W. 



Two Fish on One Hook. 



ScHKOON Lake, N. Y., Aug. 31.— Mr. Geo. W. Robin- 

 son, Jr., of Albany, N. Y., caught one bass S^-lba., and one 

 pickerel 31bs. on same fine and on same spoon-hook at 

 same time last Tuesday. O'Connor Bros. 



California. Salmon. 



U. S. Commission oe Fish and Fisheries, Baird, Shasta 

 County, Cal., Aug. 22.— Editor Forest and Stream: The 

 salmon spawning season opened here to-day with the taking 

 of 1(M,000 eggs. The eggs are very large and fine looking, 

 and the salmon are more numerous below the rack than 

 they have been for ten years. We have made several hauls 

 of three or four toas of salmon each. One striking peculi- 

 arity of the fishing this year is the unusual number of 

 enormously large male salmon. We have caught great 

 (juantities of males weighing between 40 andoOlbs., which 

 is a heavy weight for spawning fish of the Sacramento. 



Livingston Stone. 



The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tues- 

 day. Correspondence intended for publication should reach 

 us at the latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 



