800 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Oct. 7, 1893. 



liouisiana Tarpon. 



Why is it that so few of the men who visit the South 

 for tarpon do not come along the shore of Louisiana? I 

 am satisfied that the fish can nowhere else be so plentiful 

 as they are all along the coast from "VermiUion Bay to 

 the mouth of the Mississippi. Less than a week since an 

 old oyster fisherman, with whom I have many times 

 been out and upon whose truthfulness I can depend, told 

 me that while he was on Oyster Bayou a "grand ecaille" 

 (tarpon), following a redfish, sprang into his boat and 

 was captured, not, however, hetove he had so frightened 

 the fisherman's son that he jumped overboard. Not 

 being much of a fisherman I have never caught a tarpon, 

 though I have often seen them caught. On our last trip 

 to Last Island we came to anchor at the southern end of 

 Oyster Bayou, and watched them play and capture "the 

 enormous schools of mullet that came down the bayou. 

 They seemed to care very little for our being present, 

 and would swim by after the bait between the sloop and 

 the skifl" in tow. The fishermen dislike them very much, 

 as they often get caught in their seines and are sure to 

 cut them very badly when they do. I have never known 

 of more than one caught in a seine and this was owing 

 to the quantities of other fish that were in the seine when 

 he was caught. They so interfered with his movements 

 that it was impossible for him to break out. I have some 

 of his scales before me now. F. A. F. 



Forest and Stream in the World's Fair. 



Seen by Our Staff Correspondents. 



Whipping Pennsylvania Streams. 



Mr. M. G. Sellers, secretary of the Pennsylvania Fish 

 Protective Association, writes of his 1893 outing: 



My trip consumed nine weeks through Wayne, Pike 

 and Monroe counties; and the results were very satisfac- 

 tory. The general opinion among anglers throughout 

 this section is that this season has not been as good as 

 last. This has been due to many causes, but principally, 

 the natives say, to the ice gorges and heavy freshets in 

 the early spring, which killed many fish. It is worthy of 

 mention, however, that trout were in the pink of condi- 

 tion during June and July, indicating abundance of food. 

 Under these conditions success required that manipula- 

 tion which is generally spoken of in fly-fishing as "hard 

 work." 



It is hardly necessary for me to say that bass are strong 

 customers when hooked for an argument. To those who 

 enjoy a royal dispute with them. Hunter's Range or Ten- 

 Mile Pond, Pike county, offers that opportunity. My suc- 

 cess there in August would, I think, if known, attract 

 many adherents of fly-fishing to those productive waters 

 after the close of the trout season. The majority of the 

 fish creeled ranged from 2 to 31bs. ; quite a good many ran 

 over 31bs. ; and on one occasion the scale registered 41bs. 

 As one must, according to tradition, lose the largest iish, 

 it has no particular business to get hooked. In obedience 

 to this principle, those weighing 5 and 6Ibs. were (gener- 

 alljO returned to the water, but through no fault of 



M. G. Sellers. 



Anglers for Sixty Years. 



Cortland, N. Y., Sept. 39.— I never knew until re- 

 cently that pickerel were found plenty enough in the 

 Tioughnioga Eiver and the east branch that cuts into it 

 northeast of this village to make it worth while fishing 

 for them. But a good many nice sized pickerel have been 

 taken within the last month. I saw an old gentleman, a 

 typical Izaak Walton, take four large pickerel from the 

 east branch recently in less than an hour. The old man 

 fished from the bank, used a long pole, a good bit over 

 18ft. and a No. 5 pickerel spoon. Eai-ly in the afternoon 

 he used minnows, river chub and whitefish for bait. He 

 is a firm believer in big bait for big fish, often using a 

 chub or whitefish 5 or 6in. in length. And he generally 

 catches fish right along when the other fellows are busy 

 trying to prove that good fishing in the river is played 

 out. He has a companion, "Uncle Bula," the boys call 

 him, who is equaUy successful as an angler. Both men are 

 fast approaching 70 years of age, and both declare they 

 have been anglers for 60 years. They are two of the 

 youngest old boys I have hitherto met in Cortland county, 

 and their vigor and vitality prove anew the truth of that 

 oft told yarn "it's not all of fishing to fish," Some very 

 nice black bass are being taken from the Tioughnioga. 



M. C. H. 



Mike Green Still Iiives. 



Portland, Ore. — I cannot understand how or where 

 the story originated that my old Mike is dead. He is 

 about the liveliest dead dog for a ten-year-old in this neck 

 of the woods. He actually caught and killed a big rat 

 out on the common the other day. I have received sev- 

 eral letters regarding his death. While I appreciate these 

 evidences of affection for the old dog, I feel constrained 

 to say that they are r.ather premature. S. H. Greene. 



[Mike had always liad a part in previous stories of Mo- 

 lalla outings; but in one of 1892 there was not a word 

 about him. What other conclusion than that he was dead 

 could be drawn by readers of those delightful chronicles? 

 No wonder folks wrote to the Judge about it.] 



Five Days to be Remembered. 



Mr. W. B. Mershon, of East Saginaw, Mich., writes of 

 a Quebec outing early in September: "I had five days' 

 trout fishing that I hardly ever equalled. My three large 

 fish weighed 5i, 4f and 4ilbs. 1 had a number running 

 from \\ to 3^1bs. Took ten fish one evening that weighed 

 251bs. These were all caught between 7 and 10 o'clock of 

 a nice, moonlight night, using a small silver-doctor; I 

 think any light fly would do. I found that I could get 

 the big trout in clear, still water by using a long, fine 

 leader and a small fly, the best one I found to be the in- 

 imitable May-fly, tied on a No. 8 hook. With this I took 

 mo»t of my large fish." 



St. Lawrence Fishing. 



Clayton, N. Y., Sept. 23.— Dr. J. Livmgston-Eeese, of 

 New York city, has had a most successful week's fishing 

 here this week, having taken three muskallonge, weigh- 

 ing 251bs., 331bs. and 421bs., the latter being an exception- 

 ally fine specimen. Besides these, the Doctor has had some 

 good catches of black bass and pickerel, and, taking the 

 season through, has undoubtedly made the best average 

 9,t Thousand Islands. J. G. Feaser, 



It Is a Dolly Varden. 



Sept. ii'.— The following from Dr. Bean, of the U. S, 

 Commission, should settle any remaining doubts as to the 

 true name and natui-e of Mr. La Rue's big trout, exhibited 

 through his courtesy in the FOREST and Stream display. 

 Dr. Bean writes me: 



"I have examined the large mounted trout presented 

 to Mr. La Eue by Mr. F. M. Smith, of Chicago, and now 

 exhibited at the World's Fair by Forest and Stream. 

 There is no doubt in my mind that the fish is a Dolly 

 Varden or bull trout. 



"The brook trout is not a native of Montana, where 

 Mr. La Rue's fish was taken. Furthermore, the brook 

 trout in fresh water always has the back and the dorsal 

 and caudal fins covered with dark mottling as on a 

 mackerel. These marks are wanting in the Dolly Varden. 

 The size and shape of the mounted specimen furnish 

 additional reasons for my conclusion. 



"T. H. Bean, Representative U. S. F. C." 



A Pair of Jacks. 



This week there has joined the group of pleasant sport- 

 ing pictures in the Forest and Stream exhibit, a Uttle 

 one, smaller than any of the othei-s, but doubtless to be- 

 come more popular, because it is in aristocratic oil colors, 

 whereas the others are in colder black and white. It is 

 the work of Miss Edith Farrell, of Leavenworth, Kansas, 

 without doubt the most talented artist of the Sunfiower 

 State. It deals with no less Kansan a subject than a pair 

 of jack rabbits, and I wish that a great many artists who 

 make attempts at painting game pieces would come and 

 look at this one. The pair of jacks look large, as if they 

 were indeed 36in. from heel to head, and eveiy hair and 

 wrinkle in the wise old faces are there in absolute faith- 

 fulness. These two particular jack rabbits got into the 

 parlor of Mr. W. W. Carney's ranch, near Great Bend, 

 Kansas, after the close of the meet of the American 

 Coursing Club in 1890, before there was much idea of a 

 World's Fair. They being then and there dead and hung 

 by the heels, the artist limned them to pass away an idle 

 day. Through Mr. Carney's intercession and the kind- 

 ness of the artist, they have come all this way to the very 

 place where they belong, so any one can see what the 

 American coursing hare looks like. One is a rusty colored 

 fellow, and the other a plump pepper and s£Jt, and I 

 remember both so well that I bespeak all to share my 

 enthusiasm for their /ac simile. You will not soon find so 

 good a bit of dead game as these two lanky-legged and 

 lop-eared Forest and Stream hares. 



Sept. 2S. — Tliere are several people in the world, and if 

 you don't believe it, go to the Forest and Stream place 

 at the Fair and sit down a while. I looked at the register 

 a moment the other day, and found names of visitors 

 from New York, Hartford, Conn., DaUas, Tex., Portland, 

 Ore., Columbus, Ga., Duluth, Minn., Seattle, Wash., and 

 Rome, Italy; the rest scattering. If you wish to find a 

 distant friend, it is cheaper and surer to come right in 

 here and sit down. 



Place aux Dames. 



It happened that this week Mr. Reynolds, the editor of 

 Forest and Stream (and he being absent from his post of 

 duty perhaps cannot prevent my saying he is the best 

 editor in this business, or Forest and StreamwouM never 

 be what it is), was in Chicago visiting the Fair, and of this 

 fact that old Forest AND Stream standby, "Kingfisher," 

 of Cincinnati, became in some occult way advised, and 

 therefore wrote the following letter: 



Fr iend Reyjiolds, or whoever is in charge of the "S'orest and Stream" 

 exhibit: 



This will introduce my daughter Kit, whom Itiust you will allow 

 the privilege of "ineanderia' round" through your "show," so that in 

 case I don't get to put in an appearance before you "break camp, "she 

 can tell me all about it when sbe gets back home. 



It might be well to regale her with a few well-chosen and plausible 

 "fish lies" — fresh ones, mind you, for she has been fed on old ones of 

 mine for so manv years that 1 am afraid they seem a trifle stale 



She won't bother you much; she just wants to "look 'round" and 

 "hive a few p'inters" to astonish her father with on her return. 



Knowing the visit to Forest and Stream headquarters will be a 

 pleasure to her, I will heartily appreciate any courtesies shown, and 

 will try and thank you in person before the Fair closes. Very sin- 

 cerely yours, Kl.VGFI.SHEK. 



In due time the junior Kingfisher arrived, and then we 

 all did have a great time. It so happened that Mr. F. H. 

 Thurston, far better kpown as "Kelpie," and as one of the 

 essential ingredients of a Kingfisher camp, was in town 

 also, accompanied by Mrs. Thurston. So the local Forest 

 AND Stream family, and the visiting ranking ofificer, and 

 Mr. and Mrs. Kelpie and the junior Kingfisher (whom 

 "Kelpie" just calls "Kit"), all meandered together for a 

 while, and drank some coffee of the Guatemala and Bra- 

 zilian sort, and enjoyed the thought that they all were 

 ever boi-n. No pleasanter party has met on this enchanted 

 8]jot. At this writing Miss Kingfisher is receiving a gradual 

 and gentle education in angling lore, although the large 

 stories are being saved for her respected sire, who is due 

 here about Oct. 13. 



Another lady to call at the Forest and Stream space 

 was Mrs. J. H. Rushton, wife of the famous canoe man. 

 NaturaUy she looked with interest on the tiny Sairey 

 Gamp, and so will Mr. Rushton, who will soon be here 

 also. 



In General. 



Prof. George Shepard Ellis, of Bethany College, a stu- 

 dent not more of books than of Forest and Stream, 

 called on his way east to Old Vix-ginia. 



Mr, Eugene C. Reilly, a friend of the paper, left his 

 card. 



Mr. Sam J. Ryan, of Appleton, Wis. , found time to come 

 in for a moment or so and talk fish. 



Mr. John M. Stotsenberg, Sixth U, S. Cavalry, comes 

 and departs without saying where he can be found, which 

 isn't a very charitable thing to do. 



Mr. John Grenville Mott, of Michigan City, Ind., stopped 

 long enough to tell me that the fiy-fishing for bass in the 

 Thomapple River, Michigan south peninsula, is tlie best 

 of any which he knows, and good enough for a king. 



Mr. Geo. A. West, of Milwaukee, Wis., trod the Forest 

 and Stream carpet all too briefly. 



Mr. J. F. Layson, of Sal<^m, Neb., came in and sat 

 down and said he had known Forest and Stream a long 

 time and never had known it to go back on itself or on a 

 friend. 



Mr. R. W. Boyle, of Toronto, Canada, got away before 

 we could learn all about the fishing in the big province. 



Mr. E. T. Allen, of the E. T. Allen Co., San Francisco, 

 Cal., a household word in the sporting trade of the coast, 

 tarried a while and told aboiit the coming big mid-winter 

 fair in his city. 



i\Ir. F. D. Kelsey, of East Aurora, N. Y., one of the 

 steadiest of tournament shooters and a dealer in guns 

 and ammunition, paused and left a card to show his pass- 

 ing. 



Mr. H. S. Wells, of Mohne, 111., signs himself a "Friend 

 of Forest and Stream." He canst not, then, do wrong to 

 any man. 



To Sharpen Up. 



At this point one pauses to sharpen up his, Iqad pencil, 

 but they are still coming. 



Dr. W. O. Blaisdell, of Macomb, lU,, the "wicked doc- 

 tor," whose rapacious Mongolian pheasants met the veto 

 of the "good governor," his nibs Johnnie Altgeld, tarried 

 here for a few moments and departed to concoct further 

 schemes of evil. 



Mr. Wm. Dean Howells, Jr., nephew of the novelist 

 Wm. Dean Howells, paused and looked over the Forest 

 AND Stream pure literature. There is a good deal of go 

 in some of the Forest and Stream books. No man can 

 be responsible for his uncle, and we will not lay up any- 

 thing against this nephew. 



Mr. A. Clinton Wilinerding, of New York city, signs 

 "Bow-Wow" after his name. Mr, Wilmerding is just 

 back from Toronto show, wliere he judged the spaniels. 

 He attends the Y. W. C. A. meeting here, and will then 

 devote some time to pleasure in the White City. He is 

 accompanied by his uncle, Mr. Chas. W. Clinton, of New 

 York city. 



. Mr. Robert M, Hartley, of Amsterdam, N. Y., is here 

 for a week or two, and we have met him often pleasur- 

 ably at the sign of the Forest and Stream. Our latch 

 string always hangs out. Indeed, there isn't any, neither 

 are there strings to anything the paper says. 



Mi. E. R. Vedder, of Rome, Italy, a late visitor, is a 

 nephew of Mr. A. N. Cheney, who nearly always writes 

 just what you were wanting to read about on angling 

 matters. Is the fishing about Rome, then, any better 

 than it is in New England? 



Mr. W. T. Den, of Brownville, Neb., paused at the en- 

 chanted spot for a few moments. Mr. Den is just on his 

 way back after a visit to Scotland, and he wore a sprig 

 of heather in his coat lapel. This rugged Caledonian 

 may be remembered by old-time shooters as the cham- 

 pion of Nebraska, and he carries a medal to that eft'ect. 

 He goes on West for a hunting trip into Montana. 



Mr. M. L. Williamson, who was the Forest and Stream 

 bookkeeper in 1884 and 1885, came in and announced 

 himself and registered. Ex-officio he might be called 

 still one of the famil}^. The books are bigger now. 



Mr. John H. Madden, of the Plaiiiwell, Midi., Enter- 

 prise, subscribes himself "an. enthusiastic Forest and 

 Stream man." He is one of many. They cawn't help 

 it, y' know. 



Col. W. H. Jacoby, of Minneapolis, Minn., made his 

 escape in a sinful manner before he was surprised. 

 In the same building with him in his city is the Pioneer 

 news depot. Which I should like to ask, "What is 

 wrong about Forest and Stream, and if so, how much?" 



Sharpened Up Again. 



And still they come. All sorts. From all over. A great 

 Fair. Also, a great paper. 



M. Henri de Verigny, Charge de Mission du Ministere 

 de I'lnstruction Publique et des Beaux Arts,T)elegue du 

 Ministere du Commerce, etc., etc., of 7 Rue Sfax, Paris, 

 came in for no more formidable an errand than to get 

 a book catalogue, which latter is a plenty good thing, 

 if he learns how to run it. 



Mr. C. CosteUo, of Pennsylvania, silent a few moments 

 at the tabernacle of the g. p. o. e. Yachts make his 

 main love, but he found other things also. 



Mr. F. A. De Muth, of Lancaster, Pa. , told me of his 

 son, a youngster Avho this summer caught his first trout 

 and had to climb a tree for it. None the less, the trout 

 was 13in. long and the record fish of the trip. Doubtless 

 it looked as big and glorious to the boy as the Forest 

 AND Streaju record tarpon. 



Mr. Robert W. Huntington, Jr., of Hartford, Conn., 

 made a very pleasant call. ' 'Speaking of our Atlantic 

 coast storms making a good flight of shore birds," said 

 he, "you may care to hear what Mr. Gurdon Trumbull, 

 of our city, says about that. He does not think the birds 

 come ashore because driven by the wind, but because 

 their feathers get wet. They come in to dry off, not 

 because they can not withstand the wind." 



Mr. Thomas B. Mills, of Wm. Mills & Son, New York 

 city, in company with Mr. Reuben C. Leonard, was here 

 long enough to see the winning of the Leonard rod in 

 the long-distance work. Mr. ]\Iills is an enthusiastic 

 amateur photographer and carried a camera that looked 

 like a lunch basket. He showed me some beautiful 

 views made by himself along the Neversink, where he 

 fishes trout sometimes. 



Mr. F. S. Howd came in to examine the Sairey Gamp. 

 "I used to know Nessmuk," said he, "and I saw the 

 model of this boat before she was ever built." 



Mr. Stratford J. CuUen, of Newark, N. J., stood before 

 one of the Forest and Stream fowling pictures. "I 

 know the man sitting in the stern of the boat, with the 

 string of geese," said he. "It is my friend Fred Huasey." 

 This is a very small world. 



Mr. Will C. Pai'sons, associate news editor of the Cin- 

 cinnati Post, writes on his card that be wished to see the 

 writer and "thank him for the many good things he has 



