272 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Sept. 29, l8f)4. 
FISHING ON THE JERSEY COAST. 
Asbury Park, N. J., Sept. 14.— Editor Forest and 
Stream; I have spent the greater part of two weeks last 
past on the waters of famous old Barnegat, and while the 
fishing is much better than the two previous years, yet 
lacks much of its old time excellence. Weakfish were 
fairly plentiful, but not a kingfish nor a striped bass 
rewarded our earnest efforts. That these fish have almost 
disappeared from our waters is becoming painfully appar- 
ent to all. I was greatly pleased to find at all points 
below Forked River abundance of sea bass. They were 
everywhere and in prodigious numbers. At Beach Haven, 
in two hours' fishing, we took 83, varying in weight from 
i-Ih. to ilb. each. We distributed them among a number 
of hack drivers at that point. While these fish are of not 
much interest to the angler, yet their economic value is 
great and their habits very interesting. 
Little Egg and Great Egg Harbor bays we found swarm- 
ing with porpoises, in fact, we met them as far north as 
Cedar Creek, a very unusual occurrence, by the way, and 
it may account largely for poor fishing at many points, as 
they feed ravenously on the weakfish. All of the last 
named species we took were tide runners, and we met 
with none of the school fish usually so abundant. Our 
best catch for a single day was 46. 
I would advise anglers to confine their efforts to that 
portion of the bay lying between Toms River and Forked 
River, with a decided preference to Cedar Creek Point. 
Shedder crab for bait can be purchased at the drawbridge, 
and it is by all odds the best bait for bay fishing. At the 
present time every point along the coast is being industri- 
ously fished, and a few striped bass have been taken from 
our piers, while at Avon the conditions are somewhat 
better. James Ronan, of Trenton, bas landed several, the 
heaviest 21ilbs., while Judge Wm. B. Guild has followed 
him closely in point of numbers and weight. Bluefishing 
is at best an uncertain quantity. An occasional school 
breaking in near shore has afforded some excellent sport 
to those who were fortunate enough to be on hand at the 
time. 
In seeking to arrive at — if possible — a theory for the 
abundance of sea bass in the bay, I conversed with sev- 
eral captains and fishermen, and in each case they ex- 
plained that the pounds were set later than usual this 
year, and thus the spawning fish were able to enter the 
bay. 
The next four weeks will witness some earnest fishing 
along our coast, if great preparations count. We have 
completed arrangements for several all-night excursions, 
bass fishing at various points, and these should be pro- 
ductive of some results. Snapper fishing in Shark River 
claims hundreds of votaries daily. This truly delightful 
sport is being indulged in now by anglers who a few years 
ago cared nothing for its pleasures. The possibilities are 
great, with proper tackle and the knowledge of where, 
when and ho w to do it. The angling interests of our coasts 
are growing to enormous proportions, and may be classed 
as an important industry of the State. 
Leonard Hulit. 
With Trout in the Blue Ridge. 
It was not yet day, although the silver beams of the 
full moon lit up the country and made the mountains 
discernible a long way off, but I had started for a tramp 
along the country road, my destination being the 
head waters of a certain brook where I knew full well 
there were trout in numbers. 
Soon I am at the foot of the mountain over which I 
must go to reach the stream. Up its steep sides winds 
the road, like a huge serpent, going back and forth to 
make the ascent possible. After a long tiresome climb I 
finally reach the summit; the grandeur of the scene that 
presented itself is beyond description. The sun is just 
beginning to announce the coming of the new day. 
Long rays of light shoot up from the east and bathe the 
few floating clouds in a halo of red and gold and amber, 
most delicate in shading, yet richer and more gorgeous 
than could be the conception of the beautiful to the 
trained artist. Down in the valley the fog rolls away 
before the advance of its regal enemy; like the retreat of 
some phantom army. 
After feasting my eyes on this grand panorama of na- 
ture I made my way down a blind trail to the head of the 
brook. It took me but a short time to get my tackle 
ready and make a cast into a pretty little pool, just below 
where the trail crossed the stream. As the fly settled on 
the water there was a swirl as the first fish rose and took 
the lure. With a deft turn of the wrist I had him hooked, 
and soon in my creel, Down the stream I went, casting 
in riffs and pools. The fish rose well and the unwilling 
occupants of my creel were constantly increasing. Often 
in coming round a bend in the stream I surprised a pheas- 
ant, come down for its morning drink, and away it would 
go with a whirr and soon be lost to sight in the under- 
growth of the virgin forest. Coming to a fall in the 
brook about eight or ten feet in height I crept to the 
brink and cast into the deep pool below. As the fly 
touched the water there was a splash, and before I had 
time to tighten my line the fish was up the fall and had 
passed between my legs. After untangling myself I suc- 
ceeded in landing the plucky fellow. He was the largest 
of my day's catch, weighing more than a pound. 
A thunder stoam came about noon and so hard did it 
rain that I had to seek shelter in the ruins of an old 
"moonshine" distillery that had long been deserted. 
While waiting for the rain to pass I ate lunch and took a 
short nap. When I awoke the storm had passed over 
and left the sun shining and the air much cooled. The 
brook now ran through such rough country that some- 
times there would be a stretch of several hundred yards 
that I could not fish at all. The fish continued to bite, 
when I could find a place where the stream was accessible 
and my creel began to increase enormously in weight, at 
least it seemed to, for the day was growing into twilight. 
Darkness stopped my sport, so I tramped back to the house 
to enjoy for supper some of the fruils of my day's labor. 
Upon counting I found that I had taken during the day 
eighty-seven fine fish, having put back in the stream 
the little fellows. Johnnie. 
New Equipment on the Pennsylvania. 
The celebiated Pennsylvania limited was never so luxurious in all 
its appointments as it is at present with its splendid equipment o£ new 
cars. Every car in the train has just come out of the shops as bright 
and as fresh as a new coin. This is the only perfectly appointed 
Limited train in service between New York and Chicago.— Adv. 
MY TIME AGAINST HIS'N. 
Boston, Mass., Sept, 7. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
After a few days' rest and quiet at the hospitable resi- 
dence of a friend in Jefferson, N. H,, I took a team from 
his well-filled stable and drove about forty miles to Dum- 
mer, a farming and lumber town on the Androscoggin 
River, The road was familiar, every rod of it, for I had 
passed over it many times in company with my old camp- 
ing partner, genial Jack Riedell of Manchester. 
When I pulled up in front of John Chandler's snug 
hostelry I received a cordial welcome from the ladies of 
the family. Inquiry for John elicited the information 
that he had gone up Bog Brook, and Mrs. Chandler in- 
formed me further that John was a good deal like the 
boy who was after the woodcock — he had got to have 
some trout, for in three days there was to be an excursion 
party from Berlin with an annual dinner in which trout 
was to figure to a large extent. As the twilight was rap- 
idly approaching darkness a team was hitched up and Miss 
Adley, the trim young lady who loads the table with good 
things to eat, went after John. Half an hour showed 
that he would be obliged to look elsewhere for his trout. 
While we were having a social smoke, John broke out, 
"Well, Smart, if you'll put your time against mine, I'll 
take one of the boys (from the farm) and we'll go into the 
pond." I knew that it meant a six mile walk, but I also 
knew it meant trout, and I closed with the offer. The 
next afternoon at 4:30 we looked upon the pretty pond 
nestled away up in the hills of Millsfield, and we also 
looked upon trout feeding and jumping in all directions. 
We soon had our rods up with a silver-doctor for stretcher 
and a white-miller for dropper; and as we began to cast 
we found that the trout were simply playing — they could 
hardly be called feeding, as not one in ten that jumped 
would try in the slightest degree to take fly. However, 
we managed once in a while to strike one, and by the 
time Bob had supper ready, I had fourteen from J to fibs, 
each. After doing justice to the "feed," pipes were lit 
and a sense of enjoyment settled down over the snug 
little camp, before which a cheerful fire was kept burning 
far into the night. 
When it was fairly daylight we found the playful 
fish again enjoying their frolic of the night before, 
the surface of the pond, as far as we could see being con- 
tinually broken by their antics. I have been where trout 
were pretty thick — in fact, I have seen this particular 
sheet of water under favorable conditions before, but I 
never saw them so playful as on this bright, clear morn- 
ing. When the sun got over the hills it was bright and 
warm. I shifted my flies, using a Montreal and a 
professor. 
During the forenoon we took it easily, going ashore 
several times, and when we stopped finally for dinner I 
had added twenty-one to my string. Scoring only the 
largest caught, John and Rob had as many more, and the 
trout problem of the Berlin High School alumni dinner 
was solved. Five o'clock found us out of the woods and I 
got away with such a supper as nearly paralyzed Miss 
Ellen. It was a delightful trip and the next day as I 
rode to Jefferson, fully rested from the six mile walk, I 
began to fully realize it. Another day took me to 
Boston, and I surprised Mrs. S, with the handsome results 
of my trip, getting them home in fine condition. 
Wm. B. Smart. 
At Artist Lake. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
A few weeks ago D. W. Phillips, S. L. Johns and myself 
went for a Hay's outing at Artist Lake in the middle of 
the Island, and the good time we had more than paid for 
our time and expense. After we reached the lake we got 
our tackle in order and started in our boat, and after a 
few casts the fish began to strike at the fly in a manner 
which made our hearts beat. 
Before long I heard Mr. Johns say, "Oh, I have got him 
this time," and sure enough, he had a beauty hooked, and 
then came a battle which made Johns hustle before he 
landed his fish. Then came Mr. Phillips's turn, and he 
likewise had a nice one hooked, and it made him laugh 
with excitement to see the line cut through the water, 
first one way and then another , 
I did not have to wait long before I was kept busy for_ 
a while with a nice 4-pounder. After landing my fish I 
tried to coax another to take the fly, but met with poor 
success; but in the mean time Phillips and Johns were 
having a lot of sport, so I tried a different fly, which met 
with better luck, and when we got through we had about 
forty fish in all. 
Artist Lake is a pretty sheet of water, but it is so far 
out of the way tbat it is not troubled much by anglers. 
Perch and black bass are the only fish that abide there, 
but the baBs fishing is as good as you may find anywhere. 
Arrived at home we had a great deal to tell about our 
luck. I have been once since then, and hope to go again 
before long. ' F. B. R. 
The King Rainbow of the Gunnison. 
Denver, Col., Sept. 20. — Editor Forest amd Stream: 
In yours of Sept. 15 1 notice an article on the large rain- 
bow trout recently taken on the Gunnison River, Colo- 
rado, and being a party in this act I beg leave to correct 
the statement as made and give you facts. 
On Aug. 29 Mayor Shove of Gunnison took with a fly 
the king of the rainbows. To quote from a letter which 
I received from Mr, Butters, who was with him: "One 
caught by Shove actually weighed lOlbs., and in forty-five 
minutes he landed him." With this letter in my pocket 
I left, Saturday evening, Aug, 31, for the Gunnison, as 
has been my custom for several years, getting Sunday and 
Labor Day for an outing. About noon on Sunday I got 
two Hflbs, fish and shortly after another of 5£lbs,, both 
with a No. 6 coachman and a 7£oz. rod. 
The next morning the two fish were sent to Denver to 
be mounted. From the larger one I had some plaster 
casts made, and by the bye would be glad to send you 
one if you would like it. On the same day Mr. Shove 
sent the skin of his big fish to the taxidermist, where the 
three of them now repose peacefully side by side. 
I ask for no commiseration from ' 'my brothers of the 
craft," as I am not entitled to it. I got the biggest fish 
there was left in the river at the time I fished it — at least 
as far as heard from. Since then there has been another 
taken that weighed 8|lbs., and I believe that within two 
years we will get them up to 12 and 151bs. From the 
fact that they were placed in the Gunnison only about 
six years ago the growth is remarkable. 
H. M. BOSTWICK, 
A New Phantom for Black Bass. 
My attention was called this summer to an improve- 
ment on the artificial minnow bait known as the phantom, 
and largely used by bass fishermen all over the country. 
The old sort in present use, sold at all tackle stores, are of 
oiled silk, very handsomely colored, and have metal fit- 
tings at head and for propelling fins. The weight of these 
brass trimmings is so great in proportion to the lightness 
of the rest of the fish, that these lures sink easily and be- 
come very annoying when trolling among thick grass or 
weeds, the tops of which may be only six inches below the 
surface. In open work, trolling or casting in clear, deep 
water, there is no objection to them whatever, though the 
white coat of the new home-made sort described below is 
much more conspicuous for twilight fishing. 
The new pattern used by the backwoods fishermen and 
guides, and which I saw accomplish great results at Lake 
Hopatcong this season, where the fishing was the poorest 
known for years, is larger than most of the silk minnows, 
being five or six inches long and three quarters of an inch 
at its greatest diamete It is whittled out of light wood, 
and tapered nicely to resemble the general contour of a 
minnow, but being rounder — more like a pike in shape 
than any other fish. There is no tail and no fin, save the 
two flanges of brass bound to the head, which act as 
revolving propellers. To a ring at the tail a gang of 
hooks is hung, and two other gangs hang from the sides, 
one of them being at the head. The whole is painted 
white and striped either with red or gray or black, with a 
dash of scarlet at the side to counterfeit the red fin of the 
striped perch, a favorite food of the bass. A swivel at the 
head allows the minnow to revolve easily and swiftly. 
The great beauty of this minnow is its buoyancy. For 
casting among lily pads and pickerel weed it is without an 
equal. Your long reach of heavy, wet line does not drag 
it more than an inch or so below the surface, and as you 
reel in a cast, it struggles along the top for all the world 
like a real live, gasping, wounded or frightened fish. 
Late in the afternoon its coloring renders it a valuable 
tempter, for it can be seen so clearly. Without the shadow 
of a doubt it is the greatest casting rig for universal use 
ever devised. H. Prescott Beach. 
Bullheads vs. Bass. 
My first experience in bullhead fishing occurred on the 
evening of Sept. 13, 1894. We had been staying at our 
summer cottage, situated at South Bav, Oneida Lake, 
since July 19; and had had very poor fishing. Our 
largest catch being fifty-one perch, one bass and one 
pickerel. 
We waited very patiently for the bass to show up; but 
they wouldn't. When Sept. 13 arrived we thought they 
surely would appear, for a year ago on that date my 
parents and oarsman captured fifty-one beauties; but they 
still refused, so we concluded to forsake them and turn 
our thoughts toward bullheads. So, shortly after supper 
one evening, we started to try our luck. 
The evening was rather cool and cloudy, and the wind 
kept shifting from the south to the east. There was only 
enough wind to cause a slight ripple on the water. Bull- 
heads will not bite on a windy evening as the boat moves 
too much, causing the bait to move also. 
The way to fish for bullheads is to use a stiff pole,, 
angle worms for bait; and let your line reach within 
2 or 3in, of the bottom. Keep your line as still as you 
can and when you have a bite pull it in. 
We had no sooner got our anchor out than we began to 
pull them in. Oh! how fast they did bite. We had 
twenty-six in no time and lost as many more through 
lack of practice in that line of fishing. I tell you they 
made music for a little while. It was more than sport to 
see them flop around. They seemed almost as gamy as, 
our friends the bass. 
After a while they stopped biting. We waited some 
time for them to commence again, but in vain, so we 
started for home about 9:30 P. M., and arrived just in 
time to escape the rain, with twenty-six bullheads instead 
of fifty-one bass. We had had a lovely time and had 
made no mistake in making friends with the bullheads. 
"A Little Fishermaiden," Mamie Loftie. 
Oil in the Delaware. 
Hancock, Delaware County, N. Y.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Will you kindly pall the attention of the State 
Fish Commissioner to the flagrant violation of law by the 
Standard Oil Co, at this point? At the pumping station 
on the west branch of the Delaware, half a mile above 
the village of Hancock, the waste oil is allowed to flow 
into the river, where it forms a disgusting scum, pollut- 
ing the stream for more than a mile and certainly poison- 
ous to the fish, for large numbers of them are seen with 
ulcers upon them, and dead fish on the bottom are not an 
infrequent sight. Oil waste could be burned if a pit were 
provided for the purpose, and there is no excuse for the 
present state of affairs. The local fish and game constable 
is very much on hand if a poor devil is seen with a five- 
inch trout, or has taken one out of season, but for reasons 
best known to himself has permitted this illegal pollution 
of the river to pass uncensured. The Delaware swarms; 
with bass and wall-eyed pike, but a season or two of con- 
version of its channel into a sewer ior the Standard Oil. 
Co. will make it barren of fish as a pipe line. Hackxe. 
Cast of Rainbow Trout. 
Messrs, William Mills & Son, of 7 Warren street, 
have on exhibition in their window a fine plaster cast of 
an 8flb. rainbow trout caught in the Gunnison River, 
Colorado, bv Mr. Harry M. Bostwick, of Denver. It was 
taken on a No. 6 coachman fly and a lioz. Leonard fly rod. 
Good for Everybody. 
New York, Sept. 20.— Forest and Stream Pub. Co.: It is our inten- 
tion to withdraw our advertisement from several other sporting 
papers and double our space in the Forest and Stream. Out tax- 
idermy business has increased so materially within the past year, and 
while no doubt much of it is due to our superior work, reasonable 
prices and general satisfaction to customers, we can trace without 
question that your paper briDgs us far better returns than any other 
advertising medium we can employ. 
Kindly have your representative call in reference to enlarging our 
space and oblige W. W. Hart & Co. 
A Beautiful Book 
is "Iudianland and Wonderland," published by the Northern Pacific- 
Railroad, It costs only 6 cents in stamps Send them and I will send 
you the oook. Chas. S. Fee, General Passenger Agent Northern Pacific 
Railroad, St. Paul, Minn.— Adv. 
