4^8 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 17, 1894. 
Flaying and Landing a Man-Fish. 
Tampa, Fla., Oct. 18.— Editor Forest and Stream: Some 
time ago I read an account, somewhere, of an angler who 
undertook to play and land an expert swimmer in the 
pool of one of the athletic clubs — in New York, I think — 
but who failed to land his man, though he used a heavy 
striped bass rod, or a salmon fly-rod — I forgot which; at 
all events the swimmer seemed to have it all his own way, 
and eventually smashed the tackle after a long struggle. 
Having often performed this feat successfully, heretofore, 
I again essayed it last week at an entertainment of 
aquatic sports at the Natatorium in this city, an account 
of which from the Tampa Daily Times I inclose. On this 
occasion I used a lOoz. rod (similar to my Little Giant 
rod), a Julius Vom Hofe light striped bass reel and a 
Natchaug braided silk line. The line was tied to a muslin 
band around the neck of Capt. La Penotiere, who, by the 
way, is an excellent and expert swimmer, and has charge 
of the Natatorium. After giving him line to the full 
extent of the pool, I had no difficulty in bringing the 
Captain within reach of the landing-net in ten minutes, 
though he exerted himself in every manner to break 
away by swimming, diving and imitating the motions of 
a hooked fish, to the great delight of the large audience 
assembled. In a private trial the day before, I landed 
him in seven minutes. I invited any expert swimmer in 
the audience, to follow the Captain, but no one offered. 
The pool is 40x80ft., and from 3 to 12ft. deep. In open 
water I should use a Henshall 8oz. rod, Kentucky reel 
and No. 4 silk line — in other words, ordinary black bass 
tackle. J. A. Henshall. 
Squibnocket Bass. 
Philadelphia. — In September, by invitation of Mr. R. 
W. Crocker, of Vineyard Haven, Mass., I spent a few 
days bass fishing with the Providence Club, at Squib- 
nocket. My ca'ch was one bass weighing 17^108., one of 
381bs., one of 29 Jibs., and one of 24flbs. The one weigh- 
ing a9|lbs. was hooked through the socket of the right 
eye. Although he was landed in about the same length 
of time as the others, he hugged the bottom so persist- 
ently that it tested the rod and line to the utmost, and 
only when reeled in under the stand was he made to 
show himself at all. I have stolen other kinds of fish 
before, but to catch a striped bass in that manner seems 
to me to be so unprecedented as to be worthy of being 
recorded. N. H. P. 
Salt-Water Fishing. 
New York, Nov. 7. — Though the salt-water fishing 
season is practically over, and most enthusiasts, with the 
exception of striped bass fishermen, have put up their 
tackle for another year, there is still a little sport to 
be had in the waters about New York. On Election 
Day I spent a couple of hours fishing from a dock at 
Pleasant Plains, which is on the Bay side of Staten 
Island, and took 20 fish, including 4 blackfish and 2 flat- 
fish. The rest were bergalls or cunners, which though 
diminutive, make excellent pan fish. For these small fish 
light tackle is needed, and small hooks. I used sand 
worms for bait. J. B. B. 
^inhtltiltnw mid Jfirfi §ro^ctian. 
The Vermont Commission. 
To His Excellency, Governor Woodbury : 
I hereby tender my resignation as Fish and Game Commis- 
sioner, to take effect when my successor is appointed. As 
yon are aware, this action hus been contemplated, owing to 
the fact that my time is so fully occupied at the St. Johns- 
bury Station of the United States Fish Commission, that T 
cannot give the State work the attention it deserves. 
I shall continue to have the best interests of the State at 
heart, and particularly so with reference to the development 
of its department of fisheries and game. In my position as 
superintendent of the station at this place I shall be ready to 
co-operate with the State Commission in furthering the 
interests of their department, and in making this statement 
I am pleased to say that the offer is made with the advice 
and consent of the United States Fish Commission. 
I trust that the increased interest throughout the State in 
matters pertaining to fish and game legislation will not re- 
receive any set back owing to past errors, but that its devel- 
opment -will continue as its importance becomes more and 
more apparent from results already obtained. 
I trust you will pardon me if I take this opportunity to 
make some recommendations which could not be placed in 
the recent biennial report to you without feeling that per- 
sonal motives might be ascribed. It is a fact that at the 
present time the work being done by the two Commissioners 
i,s frequently enough to keep one man thoroughly occupied. 
$111 there are many bodies of water which have never been 
examined by any one who is competent to judge as to their 
needs. Under the present system the appropriation is too 
small to warrant its being expended in such work. It has 
for a long time been demonstrated that almost any given 
acreage of water can be made to yield more productively than 
the same acreage of farm land. Under our present system 
many such bodies of water are unproductive, simply because 
it is necessary to have strict legislation covering all waters 
alike. If a Commissioner could give his undivided attention 
to the department of fisheries and game, more liberal laws 
could be made, a license system could be inaugurated where- 
by whitefish, ciscoes, suckers, mullet and pan fish, not cared 
for by the sportsmen, might be of commercial value to the 
State, and at the same time better enforcement of the laws 
protecting both fish and game would ensue. To sum up the 
whole matter, I would say that the predominating interests 
in Vermont are those of the sportsman and farmer, because 
it is their interests which attract most money to the State. 
If we can have but a meager appropriation, let it all go to that 
interest to obtain the best returns for money invested. If, 
however, the Legislature should at some future time feel 
like making a more liberal appropriation, I would make the 
following suggestions, based upon previous remarks: 
Employ one Commissioner at a salary of not less than 
$1,500 per annum. Have him reside at the State hatchery 
and be its superintendent. All time not occupied there 
could be devoted to investigating the needs of our forests and 
streams, and supervising the work of restocking them; in- 
vestigating and presenting for prosecution cases in violation 
of the game laws; educating the people to a proper respect 
for the laws in rural communities where they are now dis- 
regarded. The enforcement of the game laws is not difficult 
in communities where the necessity for them is understood; 
licensi commercial fishing in waters where game fishing 
would not br- injured, etc. There should be one or two more 
commissioners to act in an advisory capacity, and render 
services for nominal expenses and actual time expended by 
them. 
For such a system I estimate that, aside from the expenses 
of constructions, an annual appropriation of $7,500 would be 
adequate to do the work. This is not a large sum, when the 
returns from such an investment are considered. The State 
pays in bounties on obnoxious animals an average of over 
$4,000 per year. The returns from commercial fishing under 
proper restrictions can be estimated at $25,000 per annum to 
citizens of the State. The returns from the development of 
the farmer's and sportsman's side of this question have been 
fully discussed, and are beyond power of fair estimation. 
They are to be considered first, however. 
I do not say this because I am a sportsman and the pleas- 
ures of hunting and fishing are as dear to me as to all my 
brotherhood, but from a practical, business standpoint. 
The money brought into the State is very thoroughly distri- 
buted among all classes and trades. 
These suggestions are supplementary to the recommenda- 
tions for legislation contained in the 12th biennial report of 
the Fish and Game Commissioners, and no more liberal laws 
than are now existing will be beneficial to the greatest num- 
ber unless more liberal appropriations accompany such 
legislation. J. W. Titcomb. 
St. Johnsbuby, Vt, Nov. 8, 1894. 
John W. Titcomb, Esq: 
Your favor of the 3d instant, covering your resignation as 
Fish Commissioner, is received and carefully noted. I quite 
agree with most of your views relative to the work of the 
Commission in the future, and trust that the State may be 
further benefitted by your experience and ability. 
You have brought to the work a great deal of enthusiasm 
and knowledge, and your retirement will be a loss to the 
Commission and to the State. 
I accept your resignation, which some two months since 
you informed me you intended to tender me, upon the terms 
stated in your letter. U. A. Woodbury. 
Montpelieb, Vt., Nov. 5, 1894. 
lennel 
FIXTURES. 
DOG- SHOWB. 
A Greenwood Lake Poacher Taken In. 
One of the most notorious poachers at Greenwood Lake, 
Leonard McCloud, is in the Passaic county jail in Paterson, 
N. J., with every probability of his remaining' there for an 
indefinite period. McCloud formerly resided at the New 
Jersey end of the lake, and here he carried on his violations 
of the law in an open and defiant manner. Game Warden 
Charles A. Shriner prosecuted him on a number of occa- 
sions, but McCloud always managed to raise enough funds 
to pay his fine. In the spring of 1893 it got too hot for him, 
for Warden Shriner had two warrants out for his arrest on 
two complaints. A number of attempts were made to cap- 
ture him, but McCloud had skipped out of New Jersey and 
taken up his dwelling in New York, where the land company 
which owns one side of the lake and depends on lovers of the 
rod to buy its property, kindly permitted him the use of the 
abandoned Warwick Woodlands Hotel as a domicile. Mc- 
Cloud continued in New York as he had been doing in New 
Jersey, until Game Protector Kidd got after him and made 
complaints against him. Seeing imprisonment staring him 
in the face be communicated with Game Warden Shriner 
offering to turn state's evidence against some New Jersey 
violators of the law if the warden would permit him to re- 
turn to New Jersey. Warden Shriner paid no attention to 
these overtures, knowing that it was only a question of time 
before McCloud would necessarily put his neck into the 
halter. Tbis time came a little sooner than had been antici- 
pated. 
On Friday night of last week Leonard McCloud and John 
Prall, the latter of whom has been in the employ of William 
C. DeGraw, the proprietor of the Willow Point Hotel at 
Greenwood Lake, for some time, took a wagon and a team of 
horses and drove to Echo Lake, a beautiful sheet of water in 
Passaic county. In the wagon were a number of gill nets. 
McCloud and Prall worked faithfully during the night, and 
when each had secured a large bag of black bass, pickerel 
and perch proceeded to get back home. They got but a 
short distance from the lake when they ran into Constable 
Frank C. Williams and three confederates who had been 
watching for them for some time, as this was not the first 
visit of these poachers to Echo Lake. They were at once 
taken to Paterson and there arraigned on complaints made 
by Warden Shriner. The violation of the law being flagrant, 
and McCloud having been convicted before, Justice Senior 
fined them each $100 and costs. This was more money than 
they could raise and so they were committed to jail. Before 
oeing sent there on the complaint charging them with net- 
ting in Echo Lake, McCloud pleaded guilty to the two com- 
plaints made against him by Warden Shriner in the spring 
of 1893. He will be sentenced on these whenever such a 
course is deemed advisable. 
The team of horses and wagon were placed in a barn near 
Echo Lake, and their owner, Mr. William C. DeGraw, pro- 
prietor of the Willow Point Hotel at Greenwood Lake, was 
notified to come and get them. McCloud and Prall say they 
were employed by DeGraw to net the fish on a promise of a 
share in the proceeds, and that the gill-nets used belong to 
DeGraw. The latter declares that he knew nothing of what 
was being done, that he was away from Greenwood Lake at 
the time, and that the team and wagon were taken with- 
out his consent, but it does not appear that he has preferred 
any charges of the larceny of his property against Prall and 
McCloud. DeGraw is the individual against whom two 
charges of having shot ducks from his steam launch are 
pending in Paterson, and who acted as guide for the j udicial 
party who were recently arraigned on a similar charge, and 
who are now trying to wriggle out of it by means of the 
law's delays and technicalities. 
To Florida and the South. 
The popular route is the Southern Railway, "Piedmont Air Line" 
via Washington. This great system comprises nearly 5,000 miles of 
railway, and extends from Washington, D C, reaching all prominent 
Southern cities and winter resorts. Operates the only solid Pullman 
vestibule train from New York to the South. Through Pullman 
service from New York to Atlanta, Ga. ; Montgomery, Ala.; New 
Orleans, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Asheville, N. O. ; 
Hot Springs, N. C; Savannah, Ga.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; 
Augusta, Ga., and Aiken, S. G. If you are going to any point, South, 
Southeast or Southwest, to get quick time, sure connections and the 
comforts of first-class travel, see that your tickets read via ''Southern 
Railway." For rates, map of route, etc., call on or address R. D. 
Carpenter, General Agent, or Alex S. Thweatt, Eastern Passenger 
Agent; W. A, Turk, General Passenger Agent, Washington, D. C. — 
Adv. 
Appreciation. 
Boston, Mass., Oct. SO.— Editor Forest and Stream: Under date of 
Aug. 22, you mailed me a recipe for my dog, which I gave it, and am 
happy to say that he recovered and became as he should be. I take 
this opportunity to thank you for your kindness and promptness, and 
I also must apologize for such a tardy report, but I have been away 
from home and this caused the delay. W. L. Schlegelimlch. 
CHAINED 
to Business? 
Can't go Shooting? 
Do the next best thing- 
Read the 
Irprest and Stream, 
1895. 
Feb. 19 to 22.— Westminster Kennel Club's nineteenth annual show, 
at New York. James Mortimer, Supt. 
Feb. 26 to March 1.— Mascoutah Kennel Club, at Chicago. J. L. 
Lincoln, Sec'y. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Nov. 19.— Eastern Field Trials Club, at Newton. N. C. All-Aged. 
Eastern Subscription and Selling Stakes. Entries close Oct. 1. W. A. 
Coster, Saratoga Springs, N, Y.. Sec'y. 
Dec. 17.— Southern Field Trials, at New Albany, Miss. T. M. Brumby, 
Sec'y, Marietta, Ga. 
THE U. S. FIELD TRIALS. 
Trials A of the United States Field Trials Club com- 
menced on Nov. 5 at Bicknell, Ind. They were not quite the 
success anticipated, owing to poor grounds, though they 
were far removed from a failure. 
In reference to the quality of the competition, it was of an 
inferior order, taken all in all, as compared with that of 
previous years, particularlv in the Setter and Pointer Derby. 
Undoubtedly to this condition the early date on which the 
trials were held contributed largely, since the vegetation was 
still rank and in many places heavy. 
The -weather, too, had been hot, which prevented the 
handlers giving their dogs the necessary experience and 
training. Then again, the grounds greatly aggravated the 
defective work. There were but few places where a consecu- 
tive course could be followed for a few minutes at a time. 
The fields where the dogs could work were generally small, 
and were nearly always adjacent to great cornfields, dense 
weeds or woods wherein the birds could seek shelter. Wire 
fences or hf-ary rail fences were obstructions met every few 
minutes. Some fences could be crossed, but in many in- 
stances, where there were wire fences, it wafe necessary to 
dismount and send the horses around to points where the 
judges could mount again. The owners of some fields ob- 
jected to the horses being brought in, so in those fields the 
judges walked. 
The work was often exceedingly difficult to see, owing to 
the heavy cover, which had not suffered much from frost, 
and nothing from heavy storms. 
It will be noticed that the point work was much less than 
that of previous years. This is explained by the fact that 
the bevies when flushed went to cornfields or to cover where 
no satisfactory work could be gotten with the dogs. The 
available grounds for work were so limited that the same 
ground was worked more or less each day. "What with wire 
fences, small fields, little corners and pockets, heavy cover 
and the almost constant necessity of turning back and forth, 
it could not be expected that any dog could make a good 
showing. Some delay, too, was caused on the first days by 
not knowing precisely all the club grounds. It seems that 
the matter of grounds had not been properly arranged be- 
fore the trials began. 
As the whole section was largely planted in corn, with 
here and there small tracts of weed fields which could best 
be used for the trials, the available ground was limited. In 
short, while the grounds never were proper grounds for a 
large field trial, this year they were worse than ever. 
The judges were Major J. M. Taylor and Messrs. J. M. 
Freeman, J. B. Stoddard and G. T. Kerr. Mr. Stoddard 
took the place of Mr. Royal Robinson, who had important 
business matters to look after. Mr. Kerr judged in the 
All-Age Setter, and All- Age Pointer Stake in which Mr. 
Stoddard had an entry. Thev attended to their duties con- 
scientiously and skillfuly. Their work was uncommonly 
difficult owing to the unfavorable grounds and conditions, 
but they got through with credit. It is worthy of mention 
that it is incomparably more difficult to place five winners 
in a stake than to place three. Their decisions too, were 
generally well received. 
The following sportsmen were present: Messrs. P. T. Madi- 
son, G. T. Kerr, Indianapolis; St. Mark M, M. Mundy, Louis- 
ville; Ed. S. Shultz, St. Louis; J. E. Isgrigg, of Montgomery 
Ward & Co., Chicago; Joseph H. Hunter, Washington; W. 
H. Wright, Indianapolis; Arthur W. du Bray, Cincinnati; 
Norvin T. Harris, St. MatthewB, Ky ; J. L. Barker, Racine, 
Wis.; G. H Reed.Washingtpn, Ind.; R. Merrill, Milwaukee; 
L. Rausch, St. Louis; F. S. Harris, Cairo, 111.; E. F. Bock, 
Battle Creek, Mich.: John Hunter, Bloomington, Ind.; Mr. 
E. A. Burdette, Chicago; H. Hulman, Jr., Thomas G. Beggs, 
Albert Baker, Will Parrott, Terre Haut, Ind,; D. P. Ritchey, 
John M. Lily, H. S. Humphrey, C. E. Gilbert, Indianapolis; 
J. L. Adams, Louisville; Geo. G. Wharton, Marion, Ind.; E. 
H. Bisby, Chicago, and others. 
The grounds were infested with rabbits, which were a 
great hindrance to the work on quail of some dogs. In some 
fields it was not uncommon to start a rabbit at every few 
steps. 
Fairly good weather for field work prevailed during the 
week. 
The meeting passed off pleasantly. 
The number of starters might have been greater, but con- 
sidering the hard times the showing was passably good. 
MONDAY. 
The Pointer Derby. 
The trials began with this stake. The competition in it 
was hard ly up to commonplace. Much of it was decidedly 
poor. No doubt the unfavorable weather conditions which 
prevailed before the trials and the unfavorable grounds 
during the trials, had much to do with the poor showing. 
The exceedingly dry weather had made the preparatory 
work difficult. The handlers assured me that nearly all the 
preparation of their dogs was done after the recent rains, 
about a week before the commencement of the trials. 
The cover is still partially green and heavy. There have 
been no frosts sufficiently hard to kill the heavy weeds and 
no heavy storms to beat them down. No dog does his best 
under such conditions. 
A large part of the field grounds are taken up with great 
cornfields which afford excellent shelter for the birds. Any 
attempt at work in such cover is most unsatisfactory, both, 
.because it is extremely difficult for the dogs to do good work 
under such conditions, and difficult for the judges to see it 
when done. The fields are small. There is hardly enough 
ground anywhere in one body wherein a dog of fair range 
could much more than get started before he would be out of 
it. Instead of good opportunity for consecutive effort, the 
dogs are held down to working in nooks and corners. Wire 
fences are plenitf ul; ground on which horses are not allowed 
is by no means scarce and good cover for the birds to hide in 
is within easy reach everywhere. The grounds are of such 
a peculiar nature that they do not afford a scope for a really 
good dog nor do they afford much opportunity for a display 
of what is called bird sense. A compromise dog of the 
mousehunter sort with fair ability in point work would fit 
the grounds well. 
There were ten starters drawn to run in the following 
order: 
John T. Mayfield's liver and white bitch Belle (King Don 
— Vinny's Tribulation), owner, handler, with W. B. Staf- 
ford's liver and white bitch Dell S. (Manitou — Pride), owner, 
handler. 
H. K. Devereaux's liver and white dog Tamarack, Jr. 
