412 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May 25, 1895. 
fly, and to take them at all they must be fished for with 
bait, and about the best bait for them was a piece of sun- 
fish. I cannot at this moment recall just how it came 
about, that it was discovered that when a fire was lighted 
on the shore at night the trout would come into the fire- 
light near the shore, and would then take the fly readily. 
I have heard that Dayton Ball, of Albany — a well-known 
angler who haunts Pharaoh at certain seasons — was the 
man who patented fly-fishing by firelight, but there are 
other legends about the trout and trout fishing of Pha- 
raoh, and I may have the matter wrong in my mind. 
A friend has just returned from Pharaoh, and he tells 
me that during the day bait-fishing was poor except by 
trolling a small spoon with a worm on the hook — a mode 
of fishing introduced by Aleck Taylor, a professional fish- 
erman from Lake George. This is a modification of the 
method of fishing for lake trout when they are 20 to 30ft. 
below the surface, for that is the distance below the sur- 
face at which Pharaoh trout are usually caught with 
bait. 
My friend says that it was far too early for fly-fishing, 
as the ice was only recently out of the lake and the water 
was high and clouded. Upon failing to take during the 
day, except as stated, by trolling below the surface, a fire 
was lighted at night on a big rock sloping into the water. 
This attracted the fish, and by fishing where the fire was 
reflected on the water he caught trout, suckers, bullheads 
and sunfish. The bait was angle worms, and he could 
not tell the species of fish hooked until it was landed. 
Had he tried a fly, I presume he would have taken trout 
as readily as with bait, as the fish came into water that 
was not more than 5 or 6ft. deep. The Pharaoh trout are 
covered with a sheen of purple, as sea-run trout take on a 
silver coating, which shines in the sun as no royal purple 
ever did. In some fish the red spots are almost entirely 
absent, and in others but few red spots show. They have 
been famous for their beauty and flavor as long as I can 
remember, and were once thought to be a different species 
from the fontinalis. 
New Woods for Rods. 
The last issue of Fishing Gazette, London, mentions 
two new woods used in making fish rods. One is called 
pangord, and a correspondent says that he considers it 
superior to any other wood and fully equal to split-bam- 
boo, at about one-half the price, and that it will cast a 
longer fine than the correspondent's split-bamboo. The 
editor is not as enthusiastic about the new wood as the 
correspondent seems to be, for he says: "That it super- 
sedes everything yet introduced in the manufacture of 
fishing rods for strength, lightness and durability com- 
bined — supersedes split cane and green heart. Well, all 
we can say is that we heartily wish anglers had at their 
service such an extraordinary wood for rods." 
The other wood is called steelwood, and is highly 
recommended by Lieut.-Col. Hitcheson, who says: "It is 
lighter, I think stronger, and more resilient than green- 
heart or any other wood. I have frequently put a strain 
on the smaller rod when taking a big fish in an awkward 
place, when I thought something must go — but no; and 
as soon as the strain was off, straight as an arrow again." 
The editor speaks highly of this wood, and of a sample in 
the rough says: "It seems to us to be of an extraordi- 
nary nature, for when broken, after standing a very 
severe strain, it is just as if you had broken a dozen 
strands of very tough fiber which had been cemented 
together. Steelwood rods seem to have a good future 
before them." There is nothing to show in either article 
the specific name of the wood; more's the pity. 
A. ,N. Cheney. 
DO FISH SLEEP? 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I saw an article sometime ago in Forest and Stream 
asking for some light on the subject of fish sleeping, and 
if you will allow me space, I feel satisfied that I can con- 
vince your readers that not only fish but all the rest of 
God's creation that has blood requires sleep. 
During my long journey through life, I have spent 
much of my time in learning the character and habits of 
the dumb creation. I have frequently caught asleep 
many different families of fish that inhabit our waters, 
but as for shell fish that have no blood I know very little 
about them, although I have watched crabs and lobsters 
for hours at a time, and have never yet caught one asleep. 
I have learned that a crab that inhabits the water and a 
spider that inhabits the land, are possessed with more 
natural instinct than any of the dumb creatures that have 
come under my notice,neither of which has blood or brains; 
if they have, I have never been able to discover it. 
I have discovered that large fish, as a general rule, sleep 
much sounder than small ones. 
I will tell you a good joke. A few years ago, one beau- 
tiful calm morning about the first of September, I got in 
my little skiff and started out on the Susquehanna flats to 
see if there were any bluewing ducks about, and, while 
standing up in my skiff, pushing her along in shoal water 
as clear as a crystal, I happened to cast my eyes down, and, 
to my utter astonishment I saw a very large rock fish 
which I suppose would have weighed all of thirty pounds, 
lying on his right side on the bottom. I concluded as he 
was so quiet that he was dead, I gave him a punch with 
my paddle, which woke him up and frightened him so bad 
that he came mighty near capsizing my skiff. I was so 
certain that he was dead before I struck him that I guess 
I was frightened as bad as he was. I soon learned that there 
was a whole school of them around me, and I judge that 
they were all asleep, but they were not long in finding the 
deep water. 
After I arrived home, I told one of our fishermen of 
what I had seen and wished for him to have been there with 
his buck net and laid around them as he might have cap- 
tured them all. 
"Oh no," he said. "My friend, I have had an apple out 
of that bag and onee is quite sufficient for me." 
Said I, "What do you mean? I don't understand you." 
"Well," he said, "if you won't say anything about it, I 
will tell you." 
He then told me that he once found a school of rock fish 
in shoal water asleep, and very quietly laid his buck net 
around them and, after he got them surrounded, he sent 
one of his men with a pair of long gum boots on, with an 
oar to splash in the water to wake them up and drive them 
into his net. When they woke up it was a sight. They 
were frightened so bad that they were like a flock of sheep 
when frightened. They made a rush at his net that 
cost him over two hundred^dollars, and^tore it all in 
threads."? They never stopped until they reached deep 
water. They tripped up three or four times the fellow 
that had on the gum boots, and he was frightened a sight 
worse than the fish. This is no fish story but the truth. 
Hatb db Grace. E. B. GALLUP. 
BOSTON AND MAINE. 
Boston, May 16. — Reports from the early fishermen 
who have gone to Maine axe not yet very flattering. Mr. 
F. P. Stevens writes that he has caught a few trout at 
the Narrows, Richardson Lake; one weighing 3£ lbs. 
Unexpectedly he found the water low in that lake, but 
within a day or two Metalic Brook began to come down 
"with a perfect roar;" the result of melting snows. 
Since that time the lake has been rising at the rate of two 
inches a day. A Lewiston gentleman writes me that the 
fishing has continued very good indeed in Lake Auburn. 
H. H, Hanson, president of the Lake Auburn Fish Pro- 
tective Association, took another big salmon from that 
lake the other day. P. G. Buckland and Charles Bolster, 
of Lewiston, took nine trout and one salmon the same 
day. 
Mr. Walter F. Perkins, of Wakefield, well known in the 
Boston shoe trade, will leave Sunday night for Spencer 
Bay, Moosehead Lake. At Old town, Me., he will be joined 
by Capt. Frank Delaney, Henry Portier and Frank J. 
Perkins. They will be quartered at Camp Easy. They 
go for fishing, and expect to find it good, as some of the 
gentlemen are experts in that direction. Mr. Harry B. 
Moore, with his cousin George C. Moore, the North Chelms- 
ford manufacturer, will hardly go to the Inglewood 
preserve for fishing this spring. They sail for Europe on 
the 25th of May. They will visit Scotland, where Mr. 
George C. Moore will look up some manufacturing inter- 
ests, and where the gentlemen both have invitations to 
fish some of the celebrated Scotch Locks. It will be re- 
membered that they have fished the Maine resorts together 
for many seasons. 
Mr. L, Dana Chapman has just returned from his trip 
for landlocked salmon. Five of the party of seven came 
home to-day. They have visited Weld Pond, where they 
fished for salmon, in company with Fish Commissioner 
Henry O. Stanley, a part of the time. They struck most 
terrible weather. Sunday it rained, and Monday it rained 
— rained in fact about every day they were absent. They 
got only a salmon or two at Weld Pond, and after a day or 
two with but little success they gave up and went by rail 
to Mechanic Falls, after being delayed one train at 
Dixfield by a river full of logs, and seeing the train they 
intended to take whiz by without them. At Mechanic 
Falls they went across the country with teams to Sebago, 
"for landlocked salmon fullv bent." They had a glorious 
ride across the country. But at Sebago the water was 
high and the weather was cold and rainy, and the "first 
run of salmon" was over. In all, the party had four sal- 
mon when the five broke camp — leaving two men to try 
their luck still further. The largest salmon taken weighed 
3ilbs. They also got six red-spot trout. Mr. Chapman did 
not get a single salmon, and has the courage to say so. 
About the only strike he got, however, was on the Stanley 
Smelt he was trying. 
Dr. Jefferson Scales, of New Brighton, S. I., called on 
me yesterday. He is on his way to some fishing resort in 
Maine; thinks strongly of going to Round Mountain Lake. 
He is troubled with asthma, and, as of old, he expects 
relief from the higher altitudes of Maine. He is alone this 
time. His old friend Hempstead, with whom he fished so 
many years at the Middle Dam, is at home sick with rheu- 
matism. Mr. Hempstead visited the Middle Dam annually 
for a good many years, and was always one of the most 
genial and companionable of anglers. At that time there 
were several records and diagrams of the big trout he had 
caught on the inner walls of the Middle Dam camp. 
Mr. F. B. Stevens, of Boston, and Dr. Hilton, of Lowell, 
have made a fishing trip to a protected brook on the 
Cape, in the vicinity of Marshpee River. They found fair 
fishing. Mr. Stevens mentions landing eight trout from 
under one bank. But he is not pleased with ' 'bog wading" 
for trout fishing, though the trout that come up from the 
salt water are gamy and nice. One fish of good size was 
taken. Later they intend to make a genuine trout fishing 
trip and will doubtless try some of the brooks on the line 
of the Phillips and Rangeley Railroad, where [the little 
train very kindly stops for the trout fishermen to get on 
and off. 
May 17.— The latest reports from the Maine trout lakes 
speak of more high water, with the streams very full. 
The last rain seems to have been a regular downpour in 
the vicinity of the Rangeleys. Brook fishing has been a 
failure for several days; but not so some of the lake 
fishing. Reports begin to be better. A special to the Bos- 
ton Herald yesterday, from Haines's Landing, Mooseluc- 
maguntic Lake, says that the fishing is the best for years. 
Miss Grace Hobart, daughter of Henry Hobart, of East 
Bridgewater, Mass., in two hours from the Mooselucma- 
guntic House yesterday took five trout, weighing respect- 
ively 6lb3., 4tlb3., 3jrlbs., 2lbs. and lllbs. Mr. E. B. 
WhoTff, proprietor of the Mooselucmaguntic House, is 
much pleased with this record, and doubtless the young 
lady is also pleased. Mr. Hobart is a veteran fisherman at 
the Rangeleys. 
Mr. Clarence Hayes and wife are at the Upper Dam on 
a fishing trip. A card from Mr. Hayes yesterday says that 
the fishing is good. Mr. Hayes is manager of the Atlas 
Insurance Co. here. While mentioning the insurance 
people it is in order to say that the "Insurance Party" of 
former seasons to the Upper Dam is badly broken up. 
Mr. George H. Gerard, of Brooklyn, N. Y,, who accom- 
panied Mr. C. E. Ackerman, of the same city, for a number 
of seasons, seems to have given up the Rangeleys. He is 
now on a trip to Port Medway, Nova Scotia. He is accom- 
panied by Mrs. Gerard, his physician and lady, and a Mrs. 
Meserole, all of Brooklyn. Later the ladies are coming 
home — after the trout and salmon fishing season is over 
at that point— and Mr. Gerard is to be joined by Mr. E. E. 
Patridge, vice-president of the North American Insur- 
ance Co. , this city. They will go to a salmon river in New 
Brunswick, in which Mr. Gerard is interested. Mr. Ack- 
erman will not be with them this year. He also has tired 
of the Rangeleys, or has found better fishing. He is in- 
terested in his cottage on the shores of Lake George, where 
he can have his horses and carriages and more of the 
comforts of life. His early success at the Upper Dam 
was phenomenal, as well as that of Mrs. Ackerman. 
But later the trout seemed to go back on them. 
Mr. Gerard is a great lover of fishing, and his outfit of 
salmon flies is something to delight the heart of the de- 
votee of that sport. His book boasts many a fly that cost 
much money, time, patience and skill. He also wears a 
charm that was truly made«for an angler. On one side 
there is a perfect fac-simile of a Jock Scot salmon fly cut 
in enamel. The workmanship is perfect. On the other 
side, in raised gold, is a representation of water, and, just 
leaping to the fly , is a trout done in colors. Anglers here, 
who have seen the charm, are "wild over it." It was 
done by Tiffany, of New York, though designed by an 
angler. 
Mr. E. E. Patridge, with Mr. Wm. G. Peck, president 
of the Arlington Savings Bank, and one of the directors of 
the North American Insurance Co. , and Mr. H. S. Paine, 
another director, is about starting on a trout fishing trip 
to Passaconaway, N. H. They know of some good fishing 
in the Conway region. Doubtless it is the brooks that are 
to be fished. 
Another party of fishermen from the leather trade is off 
for the Rangeleys. In the party are Messrs. H. A. Phinney, 
Harry H. Baldwin, Warren Page and James Gormley. 
They left Boston last evening by boat for Portland, 
thence to Rumford Falls by rail, where they will be met 
by J. A. French's teams and carried to the South Arm. 
From thence Tom French's steamer will carry them to 
the Upper Dam. Mr. Phinney says that the first trout he 
ever caught at the Upper Dam, on his first trip there, 
weighed six pounds. That made him a convert, and he 
has visited that resort regularly about every year since. 
Mr. J. Parker Whitney, owner of those beautiful camps 
at Mosquito Brook, who has written so instructively con- 
cerning salmon fishing in salt water in the winter in the 
Forest and Stream, is still at his other home in California. 
He is expected some time next month, however, on his 
way to his home at Richardson Lake. He calls his camp 
his home, and a most delightful one it is. He will doubt- 
less spend the most of the summer and autumn there. 
May 18. — More reports of better fishing at the Range- 
leys are coming in. A private letter from Mr. E. A. Dow, 
dated at Camp Stewart, Tuesday evening, says that Mr. 
Dow caught trout weighing 4^1bs. that morning. Doubt- 
less he has obtained many smaller ones. Mr. Harry Dut- 
ton, with a younger Mr. Houghton, of the celebrated 
Boston dry goods house, are now at Mr. Dutton's camp 
on the island in Lake Cupsuptic. They are reported to 
have taken several large trout. Mr. Morrison, of Boston, 
has taken six good trout from the Big Lake: one of 4Albs., 
one of 4, 3 J, 3, If and l|lbs. , with a lot of smaller ones. 
Some of the sportsmen put those little fellows back into 
the lake. Another party has taken twelve trout from the 
Big Lake, weighing 241bs. Judge Whitehouse, of Augusta, 
Me., is reported to be on his usual spring fishing trip. He 
is the guest of his friend, Mr. Wilbur, at Camp Chatauqua, 
Another sporting paper is talked of in Maine. It is 
hinted that it will be published at Rangeley. It is one 
thing to go a-fishing and another thing to tell of it. How 
would it do to fit a small printing office right in the boat? 
Special. 
Boston, May 18. — A Boston man lately removed to 
Calais, Me., tells me that the fishing at Grand Lake this 
year has been exceptionally good. Many salmon have 
been caught, quite a number over 61bs. in weight. This 
little city (by the way) is one of the most accessible places 
in the State to a good fishing country. It is only 20 miles 
to Princeton, then a very short distance to Big Lake, and 
from there but 2£ miles of that noted Grand Lake Stream 
to Grand Lake itself. Across the St. Croix River lies that 
noted sporting county, New Brunswick. A short journey 
on the Shore Line Railroad from St. Stephens brings one 
to the celebrated MacDdugall and Didgeguash lakes, and 
Bonney River region, all a splendid section for trout. 
Tom Sullivan's house at Bonney River, and his camps at 
the other interesting points, are the main stopping places 
for sportsmen, and the worthy Thomas iB noted far and. 
wide for his genial hospitality. Few men are better ac- 
quainted with this region than Charles F. Beard, of St. 
Stephens, N. B. This gentleman will leave with quite a 
party on May 25, to spend two or three weeks in the 
vicinity of Mr. Sullivan's domain. Another party, some 
of whom have visited the Bonney River region before, 
will leave Boston on May 19 to spend four weeks there. 
The gentlemen who will go are H. F. Hanson, John A. 
Ordway, Jr., Frank H. Babcock, George D. Loud and 
Frederick Parker, of Boston, and James H. Higgins and 
Mr. Jacoby, of Newburyport, Mass. Forest and Stream 
is promised some of the results of the trip on their return. 
Mr. Edward Boynton, of Boston, owner of the yacht 
Magnolia, with quite a party of others, has just returned 
from Grand Lake. They report a good time and splendid 
fishing. 
O. A. Benoit, Mr. Pierce, Harry Morse and Mr. Sibley, 
all of Worcester, and known to sportsmen of that city as 
the Nessmuk Club, brought in twenty nice trout as the re- 
sult of an afternoon's fishing at Bumbo Brook. This stream 
was recently mentioned in Forest and Stream as one of 
the brooks near Worcester on which very good fishing 
could be obtained by those who knew how. That the 
"Nessmuks" are posted in this respect is certain. Messrs. 
Benoit and Morse are particularly expert at brook fishing, 
and can generally get trout where none are supposed to 
be. O. A. Benoit's knowledge is not confined to fishing 
alone, but extends to the manufacture of rods and even 
reels made strictly for his own use, and occasionally for 
an intimate friend. Although engaged in another busi- 
ness,, and in a sense but an amateur in tackle making, 
some of his split bamboo rods are marvels in construction 
and equal to any I have seen. 
Dr. Greene, his brother from New York city, and one 
other gentleman, will on Monday next go to Long 
Island, Lake Winnepesaukee, N.,H., to spend a week at 
trout fishing. Dr. Greene has a summer nome on Long 
Island, where he spends much time during the fishing 
season. He is especially fond of black bass fishing, and 
generally has some friends up from the city to help him 
enjoy the sport. A number of heavy lakers have 
been caught this spring almost from the piazza of his 
house, so near the water is it situated. 
Mr. Archibald Mitchell, of Norwich, Conn., stopped over 
in Boston for a few hours last week on his way home 
from Bangor, where he has been devoting a few days to 
salmon fishing. He succeeded in capturing two fish, one 
weighing 281bs. and the other about 211bs. The large one 
was unusually heavy for a Penobscot salmon, the aver- 
age of these fish generally scoring much less than that 
figure. Mr. Mitchell has been an annual visitor at the 
Bangor pool forborne years, and has also enjoyed some 
