Ato. 21, 1897.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
old Wallkill ; it is all right, and has been for a great many 
years. If the planting of this fish will practically ruin the 
stream, it has been ruined a long time, and is wrong lo lay 
BO much blame at the doors of our Legislature, and particu- 
larly the members thereof from this end or rather the middle 
of the stream. 
Our local fishermen have been taking both large and 
small-mouthed bass from the stream for years with bait, fly 
and flat and dip nets. The net fishing has been stopped after 
a hard struggle and several arrests. Flat net fishing ought 
to be prohibited, I saw last April at one time over forty flat 
nettcTs at Phillipshurgh, and everyone was taking bass 
(mostly large-mouthed) at every lift of their nets, some 
weighing as much as 41b3., and none less than lib. 
I saw one man raise fifty-two in less than an hour, and 
many of them were vej-y large fish. I am of the opinion 
that large-mouthed bass spawn earlier than the small- 
mouthed, for the reason that the netters were lifting them 
almost exclusively, three weeks earlier than the small- 
mouth. 
The bass were all returned to the stream, as a strict watch 
was kept upon the fishermen, and they only took suckers and 
perch. 
The pike-perch plant may be a failure; I doubt it, as last 
fall from a planting of 50,000 a young man brought me two 
nearly 6in. long which were taken in bait nets, and this sea- 
son 1 have had one over a foot long; if they will live in the 
Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, they ought to thrive in 
the Wallkill. ^ 
I will let you know the result of tlie planting this fall, 
after they have had a chance for four or five months. 
I hope sometime in the near future to find a good "fishin' 
hole," and will then invite Messrs. Van Cleef and Mather to 
take a whack at it with me, and if, after the day's sport is 
over, we've not had a good one it won't be the fault of. 
John WiLKor. 
MlDDLBTOWN, N. Y., Aug. 7. 
CHICAGO FLY-CASTING TOURNAMENT. 
Chicago, 111., Aug. 1% —Editor Forest and Siream: The 
open tournament of the Chicago Fly-Cas ing Club opened 
to day on the North Lagoon of Garfield Park, with a fair at- 
tendance of local and visiting anglers to take part in the con- 
tests and a crowd of interested spectators. The lagoon, a 
body of water 160ft. in length, affords excellent opportuni- 
ties for the sport, and the club committees had provided 
piers and buoys and marks for the casters, boats for the 
judges, and tents and seats for all. There was a strong 
wind in the earlier part of the work which seemingly handi- 
capped much of the competition. The judges were Messrs. 
Fred A. Coyne, Dr. Chas G. Fuller, Henry L. Stanton, W. 
F. Fames, of St. Louis, and Matt Benner, with G. A. 
Stevens referee. The timekeeper was W. A. Church. I 
inclose from the official programme the full text of the con- 
ditions; from them the character of the requirements may 
be well understood. The work was of a high order of merit 
throughout, and the prize winners earned their rewards. It 
was a subject of frequently expressed regret that the actual 
force of competitors was not so large as the preliminary entry 
list had promised, but it is believed that the Chicago Fly- 
Casting Club may with warrant count this as the beginning 
of a series of interesting and popular annual competitions. 
Rules ^ind Resrulatlons. 
Rule I. —All persons competing for prizes shall pav an en- 
trance fee as follows: One event, $3; two events, $5; ftiree 
events, $7; all events, $10 Entriesto each event close thirty 
minutes before contest commences. 
KuLE Jl.— The captain shall be the executive oflicer of the 
day, and shall examine all tackle used in the events. The 
secretary-treasurer shall receive all entry fees, and issue cards 
to contestants designating their number in the order of com- 
petition. The time-keeper shall start and close all events. 
He shall signal the judges with a flag, and call time to the 
contestants. 
Rule HI.— The contests shall be governed by two judges 
and a referee. In case of disagreement, the referee shall de- 
cide. The deciaon of the referee shall be final, except as to 
a question of intepretation of rules. In such a case, contest- 
ant shall have a right of appeal to the executive committee, 
provided that notice of such appeal is given to the captain 
hefore the close of such contest. 
Rule IV. — All casting shall be done single-handeed only. 
Role V. — Competitors may consult their own wishes in 
choice of reel and line, but lines must not be knotted, leaded 
or weighted, and bait-casting reels must be free running. 
Role VI.— The leader shaU be of single gut, and shall not 
be less than 6 nor more than Oft. in length. One fly only 
shall be used, of a size not smaller than No. 12 or larger than 
No. 6. Snell must not exceed 6in. in length. Hooks shall 
be broken off at the bend. Half-ounce rubber frogs used 
in the bait casting events will be furnished by the captain. 
Rule VII.— All ties shall be cast off immediately after the 
contest. 
Rule Vlli.— Contestants or visitors shall not be allowed 
nearer the judges or casting pier than 10ft. ; and any contest- 
ant distracting the attention of the judges, time-keeper or 
coritestant in any manner whatever, shall forfeit all rights or 
claims, and be barred from any future contest of the club. 
Aug. 13, lO A. M. 
rmST EVENT- FLV CASTING— FIXED DISTA1?CE AI^D 
ACCURACY. 
At buoys 50, 55 and 60ft. Rod not to exceed 8iVoz. There 
shall be made five casts at each buoy. One minute shall be 
allowed in which to extend line to 50ft, buoy. When the 
contestant has extended his line and is ready, he shall call 
"score," and the next cast thereafter shall be counted 
When five consecutive casts have been made at 60ft. buoy' 
the judges will announce "next buoy." Contestant, if he so 
desires, can make not to exceed five dry fly casts before 
dropping his fly at the 55ft. buoy. A like procedure shall 
be followed between 55 and 60tt. buoys. If the fly falls 
upon the buoy cast at, the cast shall be considered perfect; 
for each foot or fraction of a foot from such buoy a demerit 
of one shall be made. The sum total of such demerits 
divided by three shall be considered the demerit per cent - 
the demerit per cent, deducted from 100 shall be the percent- 
age. The contestant having the largest percentage shall be 
declared the winner. Should contestant whip off the fly at 
any time after calling ' 'score" at 50ft. buoy, he shall be al- 
lowed one re-entry only, to be taken immediately. His score 
shall not be counted, nor any additional re-entry allowed if 
his fly is lost a second time. ' 
The club diamond medal for this class was won by H. A. 
Newkirk, a club member, with an average of 91^ points." 
Oapt. F. N. Peet came second with a score of 87. Then fol- 
lowed : 
W. D. Mansfield, San Franci8Co,*85f ; B. W. Goodsell 
79t; C A. Linpincott, 79f ; L H Bellows. 761; W. H. Bab- 
cock, 73; J. E. Strong, 64; G. W. Stroll, 63f ; C. G. Lud- 
low, 62i; L. F. Crosby, 59f ; G. A. Murrell, 53f. 
SECOND EVENT— ACCURACY BAIT- CASTlNa. 
At buoys 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100ft. One cast shall be made 
at each buoy with half ounce rubber frog. The order of 
buoys to be announced by the captain. All contestants to 
finish casting at first buoy before the next is announced by 
the captain, and a like procedure throughout the contest. 
If frog falls upon the buoy cast at, it shall be considered 
perfect; for each foot or fraction of a foot from such buoy, a 
demerit of one shall be made; the sum total of such demerits, 
divided by five, shall be considered the demerit percent. ; the 
demerit per cent, deducted from 100 shall be the accuracy 
per cent. Free running reel only allowed. 
Capt. Peet and C. H. Chadwick laid out stints for each 
other at a lively pace and ended with a tie, while others 
were not far behind, Messrs. Hascall and Bellows scoring a 
tie for fourth. On the cast-offs Peet won. The scores- 
F. N. Peet, 95|; C. H. Chadwick, 95f ; G. A. Murrell, 
951; H. G. Hascall, 94|; I. H. Bellows, 94|; C. G. Ludlow 
941; F. Gardner, 94 
After a delay of several hours, caused by the unfavorable 
weather conditions, the third contest was called. 
THIRD EVENT— DRY FLY CASTING FOR DELICACY AND 
ACCURACY. 
At buoys 35, 40 and 45ft. Rod not to exceed 5foz 
There shall he made five casts at each buov. Contestant al- 
lowed thirty seconds to extend his line by dry fly casting to 
35ft. buoy. Scoring shall begin the first time fly strikes 
water. When contestant has made five casts, judges will 
announce "tiext buoy." Contestant must then lift his line, 
and in not less than one nor more than five dry casts, reach 
the 40ft. buoy, scoring to begin the first time fly strikes the 
water A like procedure shall be followed between 40 and 
45ft. buoys. If the fly falls upon the buoy cast at, tbe accu- 
racy shall be considered perfect; for each foot or fraction of 
a foot from such buoy, a demerit of one shall be made; the 
sum total of- such demerits divided by three shall be consid- 
ered the demerit per cent,, the demerit per cent, deducted 
from 100 shall be the accuracy per cent. In addition there 
shall be kept an account of delicacy, 100 per cent, being con- 
sidered perfect. The delicacy percentage shall be deter- 
mined by the two judges and referee; if ' necessarv to this 
event, more judges shall be appointed, each of whom shall 
mark the per cent, in which, in his opinion, the contest is 
entitled. The sum total of such percentage as so marked, 
divided by three, shall be the delicacy per cent. The deli- 
cacy per cent and accuracy per cent, shall be added together 
and divided by two, and the result shall be the percentage. 
A perfect cast is: 1. Fly to fall by its own weight without 
a splash. 3. On first cast fly must float. 3, Leader to fall 
on the water with no apparent disturbance of surface. 4. 
Retrieve must be made without cutting the water by leader 
or fly. Demerits are: 1. Slash of fly, 5 to 15 off, 2. Fail- 
ure to float fly on first cast, 5 off. 3, Splash by leader, 
2 to 5 off: 4. Bad retrieves, 3 to 10 off. 5 If fly strikes 
water on first cast between buoys, 25 off; two or more de- 
merit charges may be added together on each cast to obtain 
total demerit. In case of loss of fly one re entry shall be 
allowed. Loose line on platform, or coil of line in hand, 
is not permitted in this event. All casting shall be done 
from the reel. 
First, W. D. Mansfield, of San Francisco, 86^ per cent. ; sec- 
ond, F. B. Davidson, 84j% per cent, ; third, B. W. Goodsell, 
83i per cent. ; fourth, F. N. Peet, 82+ per cent. ; fifth, C A 
Lippincott, 82^ per cent.; sixth, W. H. Babcock, 81 J- per 
cent. : seventh. .J. E. Strong, 79^ per cent. 
Saturday, Aug. 14. -The competition was continued to- 
day with perfect weather conditions. The event of to day 
was the casting of W. D. Mansfield, of San Francisco, in the 
long-distance fly-casting. Mr. Mansfleld made a cast of 
114ift., which is believed to be a world record. The day 
opened with contest No. 4. 
Aufir. 14, lO A. M. 
FOURTH E-VENT— ROLL PLY-CASTING FOR ACCURACY. 
At buoys 50, 45 and 40ft. Rod not to exceed 8ioz Five 
casts shall be made at each buoy ; for each foot or fraction 
of a foot from the buoy cast at, a demerit of one shall be 
scored. 
Rules for Roll Casting— One minute shall be allowed to 
extend the line in usual manner of overhead casting to the 
50ft. buoy. The contestant will then announce his readi- 
ness. The line shall then be retrieved to a convenient dis- 
tance without lifting the leader or fly from the water. No 
backward cast to be made in the air. Five roll casts will be 
made at the 50ft. buoy, then five roll casts shall be made at 
the 45ft. buoy, and then five at the 40ft. buoy. 
The winner was W. H. Babcock, who made a record of 
90^- per cent. The place winners were W. D. Mansfield 90 
per cent. ; C. A Lippincott, 89|- per cent. ; I, H. Bellows, 89* 
per cent. ; B. W. Goodsell, 871 per cent. ; G. A. Murrell, 82i 
per cent.; H. A. Newkirk, 79 per cent, 
FIFTH EVENT— BAIT- CASTING FOR DISTAJiCE AND ACCURACY 
COMBINED. 
Casting to be on a lawn within a court 30ft. wide. Tape 
line extending down the center. Five casts shall be made 
with half-ounce rubber frcg; for every foot or fraction of a 
foot the frog first strikes the ground from tape line a demerit 
of one shall be scored from the distance cast. Free running 
reel required. No limit to rod cr line. 
F. B. Davidson won with a record of 98ft. fin. in four 
casts. This was a remarkably good showing considering the 
fact that it was made in four casts. The fifth landed on the 
outside of the court and was not scored. The place winners 
were: E. D. Letterman, 93ffc. 4in. ; G. A. Bluhm, 89ft f-in - 
H. G. Hascall, 84ft. ll^in.; C. A. Lippincott, 84tt. 9i-in -m' 
D. Smith, 79ft. lOf in. ; G. A. Murrell. 79ft. S^m. 
SIXTH EVENT— LONG DISTANCE FLT CASTING. 
No limit to rod or line. Ten minutes shall be allowed to 
extend line to greatest possible distance. Oaly those casts 
where the line haa been retrieved shall be recorded. In this 
event it is permitted that in case the contestant cannot exe- 
cute a full back cast, a retrieve shaU consist in a back cast 
that will lift the fly clear of the water from the point where 
it first strikes to any point between first buoy and casting 
platform. Automatic reels harred in this event. 
W. D. Mansfield, of San Francisco, won, with a record of 
lllift,, beating the world's record of 102|ft., which has 
stood for seven years. The place winners were: F, N, Peet 
92ft. ; L H. Bellows, 87ft. ; B. W. Goodsell, 83ft. ; W. H. 
Babcock, 81ft ; 0. G. Ludlow, 78ft. ; G. A. Murrell, 77ft, 
From the programme of tbe tournament we take this in- 
teresting outline of the history and work of the club: 
"The Chicago Fly-Casting Club was organized in 1891. 
Its objects are to encourage the art of angling in a scientific 
manner, the use of artificial lures in the capture of game fish, 
to promote good-fellowshio and social intercourse among its 
members and the angling fraternity generally, and to assist 
in the protection and propagation of fish. In February, 
1892, the club was incorporated. Weekly contests were held 
during the year, and it was noticeable that an interest was 
awakening in fly-casting. As bait casting was much in vogue 
in bass fishing, and to cast bait correctly and accurately con- 
siderable practice and the application of set principles were 
found to be neces'sary, the club decided to include bait-casting 
as one of the events of the club contests. This was done in 
1893. 
"Interest in fly and bait-casting had grown apace, and 
the contests for supremacy at the weekly meetings was keen. 
The club then decided to invite anglers from any part of the 
world to a contest of skill in scientific angling. 
"An open-to-the-world tournament was decided upon, and 
it proved to be the largest open tournament ever held. Hand- 
some gold championship medals were awarded by the club, 
one in each event, as well as many other valuable prizes. All 
the events, with the exception of the long-distance fly cast- 
ing, were original with the club, and were operated the same 
as at present. There being no previous records to base skill 
on in the events, outside of the long-distance fly-casting, 
those established at the Chicago Fly-casting Club's Colum- 
bian Exposition tournament are the only open records on 
which to base calculations. 
"The best score in the amateur distance and accuracy fly- 
casting event was 87 per cent., made by H. G. Leavitt, of 
Grand Island, Neb. The best in the dry fly-casting event was 
103i per cent., made by W. H. Babcock, of Chicago. The 
best in the amateur bait- casting for distance and accuracy 
combined was 106^, best average made by F. B, Davidson, 
of Chicago. His longest cast was 152ft. perfect, and stands 
to-day as the best on record in an open event. The best 
scores in the expert events, and which stand as records, were 
as follows: Long distance fly-caating, R. C. Leonard, of New 
"York, 96ift, ; accuracy fly-easting at 75, 80 and 85ft., R. C. 
Leonard, 88 per cent. ; bait-casting for distance and accuracy 
combined, E. E. Wilkinson, 134Kt-: average largest cast, 
139ft. perfect. In long distance fly casting there was a 
world's record of 102ift , made by R, C, Leonard, of New 
York, at Harlem Mere. The club offered a special $25 prize 
if this record was broken, but it was not, and 10211 1. stands 
to-day as the best open record. 
"President W. D. Mansfield, of the San Francisco Fly- 
Casting Club, in a contest at Stow Lake, San Francisco, on 
Feb. 14, 1897, made a record of lOS^ft,, but as this was not 
done in an open-to-all tournament and under the same rules 
and restrictions the other records were made, it does not 
stand as a world's record. The Chicago Fly Casting Club 
did much ia 1893 to arouse enthusiasm in fly and bait cast- 
ing in a scientific manner. The club reproduced on the 
shores of the lagoon near the Art Palace in the Columbian 
Exposition grounds the Isaac Walton Lodge, and here every 
day during the exposition anglers assembled, and from the 
pier built in front of the house members gave exhibitions- of 
fly and bait casting. The World's Columbian Exposition 
Scientific Angling Tournament was such a pronounced suc- 
cess that the club may well look back to it for all time with 
gratification and pride. The succeeding years, '94, '95 and 
'96, were uneventful outside of club contests. This year, 
1897, the club decided to give a second Open to the World 
Scientific Angling Tournament and to add two more events 
than were given in 1893, viz. : Roll fly-casting and bait cast- 
ing at buoys in the water, of which this official programme 
will give full particulars. 
"Tne Chicago Fly Casting Club feels that its labors have 
not been in vain, that the sport of angling has received an 
impetus which is lasting, and that the gentle art is becoming 
better understood every day. It is the hope of the club that 
this, its second open to the world scientific angling tourna- 
ment, will induce a large attendance, for the prize list is the 
most liberal ever given by any club of its kind, and that it 
will be the forerunner of many similar tournaments in other 
sections of the world." 
Netting- in Barnegat Bay. 
From State Protector Shriner'a Eeport for June and July. 
Considerable attention has been paid during the past two 
months to violations of the law in Barnegat Bay, but despite 
the vigilance of wardens who were sent to the bay from other 
parts of the State, no prosecutions have resulted. A number 
of nets have been confiscated, and there is reason to believe 
that the violations of law have not been as numerous as 
in past years. That violations of the law still continue 
cannot be gainsaid, and this is due principally to a deter- 
mination on the part of the lawless element to net fish and 
to evade the wardens, and I regret very much to say 
that they meet with considerable support on the part 
of hotel proprietors and others whose interest lies in 
a proper enforcement of the law. In one case a hotel 
proprietor complained of frequent violations near his 
place; he, however, not only refused to indicate who the vio- 
lators were, or where they plied their unlawful business, but 
declai ed that they were men in his employ, as he supplied 
them with ice and bought fish from them ; he did not want 
the men punished, and refused to assist the wardens in any 
way. Another hotel proprietor, having become acquainted 
with the fact that wardens were in the vicinity, coolly 
warned violators of the law to that purpose, and thus 
thwarted the efforts of the wardens. The boatmen who 
are employed in taking anglers out on the bay are in league 
with the violators of the law, and on several occasions war- 
dens have found it imoossible to secure boats lor the pur- 
pose of putting a stop to netting. It will be seen that under 
such circumstances the enforcement of the law is attended 
with great difficulty. It is hoped, however, that continual 
vigilance will result in the proper protection of the bay. 
A Rainbo-w-Brown Trout Hybrid. 
South Side Club, Long Island, Aug. 11.— Editor Forest 
and Stream: The fi-h about which you inquire was a rain- 
bow and blown trout cross, taken in our waters. It weighed 
lOflbs , and was 2oin. in length, with a girth of 7in. We 
have preserved it in alcohol. Jajies Riley. 
The Forest aud Stream is put to press each week on luesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach tts at tli« 
atett by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
