210 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
iSjsrT, 11, 1897, 
we were much interested in peme autographs which Mr. 
Wilbur showed us, as carefully cherished mementoes of 
those exciting days. Among the signatures most highly 
prized were those of Col. Lefferts, Gen. Butler and Col. 
Drake de Kay, whose autograph became so well known 
(during the war; these were attached to the orders car- 
r od by Mr. Wilbur, and setting forth that he was in the 
service of the Government and was to be accorded free 
transportation and subsistence. Another prized relic is a 
two-page letter from Major Anderson to Mr. Wilbur, writ- 
ten from Fort Sumter, and dated a day or two before the 
fort was fired on. 
The launching of Foeest and Stream by Mr. Charles 
Hallock in 1873, naturally attracted the attention of a 
sportsman like Mr. Wilbur; and when Mr. Hallock offered 
a few shares in the new journal— which had a most phe- 
nomenal run in what was then a vacant field — he bought 
some of the stock, and when Mr. Hallock decided to retire 
from the management of the paper, he and a few others 
bought the whole plant, and he is now the treasurer of the 
company. Feed Mather. 
[See announcement in our advertising pages of the pub- 
ication of "Men I Have Fished With" in book form.] 
grand mountain ranges reaching- away, far as the eye can 
see; sky blue as indigo. This is as near paradise as one can 
get and yet remain upon this planet. 
Edwakd G. Taylob. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
HARRY PRITCHARD. 
Potrt4HKEEPSiE, N. Y. — Editor Fovest and Siream: I have 
alieady sent to your company my order for Mr. Fred 
Mather's hook. It seems to me that he has fished with more 
men than any person 1 f ver knew of, and his memory as to 
the occurrences during his trips is simply marvelous. If his 
stock of recollections should happen to run out — and as to 
that there are no present indications — I would suggest that 
he should write another series of articles, entitled "Men 
Whom I Have Not Fished With." 
I have always insisted that I could write a book, which 
would Ve to some extent readable, on black bass, which I 
have tished for, more or less, during the last fifty years ; and 
this book would contain two chapters, the first being a short 
one, and entitled "What I Know About Black Bass," and the 
next being a long one, entitled "What I Do not Know About 
Black Bass " 
One of the best articles written by Mr. Mather is the one 
on Harry Pritchard, and I regret tbat he was not present 
with Pritchard when he visited the Beaverkill a few years 
before his death. Theresas a large number of anglers at 
Murdock's when Pritchard put in an appearance, none of 
whom seemed to know him, and all of whom were disposed 
to enjoy a little fun at his expense on account of his hesitancy 
in £peech, but when Harry Pritchard proposed to fish up 
stream instead of down there was a huge guffaw. 
At that time the Beaverkill had suffered irom one or two 
severe Ireshets, and the ordinary angler was rarely able to 
take more than 6 or Slbs. of trout. Pritchard, in his early 
life, had been employed to catch fish on an estate in Ireland, 
and had there learned the merits of fishing up stream. 
Pritchard carried on this occasion a creel which would con- 
tain 15 or 181bs. of trout, and every night when he came in 
his creel was full of large trout. 
I regret that Mr. Mather never met on his fishing expedi- 
tions that remarkable trio of anglers. Judge Fitch, of Cats- 
kill ; William Adams, of ISTew York, and John Smedburgb, 
of Prattsvilie, and I may possibly one of these days write an 
article for Forest amd Stream: in regard to them. 
J. S. Van Cleep. 
NEAR PARADISE. 
GiiORTETA, ISTew Mexico, Aug. 17. — For the past two weeks 
we have been fishing for the black-spotted mountain trout 
along the line of the Santa Fe Railroad, and our great expec- 
tations have been more than realized. Just think of two 
anglers capturing over 400 trout in one day. We played our 
trout until we had extracted full measirre of a game fight 
from each one, then unhooked our captives and allowed 
them to return to their lovely habitat, for we were only 
angling for the pure sport, and a dozen small trout answered 
all purposes for food. This great catch was made in Cow 
Creek, a stream which can be reached in a three hours' drive 
from Glorieta, New Mexico. Over a dozen good streams, 
swarming with trout, can be reached in a crive of from three 
to seven hours from Glorieta, which is a small station on the 
line of the Santa Fe Railroad. We are camping at present 
on the Pecos River, on the south side of Glorieta Mountain, 
The southern spurs of the Rocky Mountains extends some 
distance down into New Mexico, and every gorge and caiion 
contains its trout stream. The Pecos River is a fine stream 
to fish in, being just right for wading, with a current which 
flows at the rale of about seven miles an hour; it heads up 
seventy miles above Glorieta, and flows southeast through 
New Mexico and the northern portion of Texas, emptying 
into the Rio Grande. This river waters thousands of farms 
throughout the entire Pecos River Valley, a distance of over 
500 miles. The upper waters of the Pecos are full of trout, 
while the lower waters contain small-mouth black bass. 
When the waters are clear the fishing is very good, but it 
has rained every afternoon for the past week, and the waters 
have been very roiliy, and the trout will not rise well in 
muudy water. These mountain trout are very cunning, 
and the largest ones will not rise to a fly until almost dark, 
but between tbe hours of 5 and 7 P. M, I have hooked some 
very large fish, and they are very game fighters. I took 
three trout from one pool just before dark one evening, 
whose combined weight was Slbs. 
The Pecos River flows over a rocky bed, amid towering 
ledges of solid rock, then through a beautiful meadow, and 
when the water is right one can fill a basket with trout from 
almost any of the pools. 
This is a great country for sunshine and rain. Every 
morning the sun shines bright, and every afternoon, as regu- 
lar as can be, it rains for an hour or more. The air is very 
clear and pure; we can hang a trout or a piece of meat in the 
sun for a day, and it will keep for a year, so pure is the air. 
The variety of fruits, grains and grasses grown in New 
Mexico is really surprising^ Apples, grapes, nectarines, 
plums, peaches, apricots and pears grow in great profusion, 
and the flavor of all the fruit grown in New Mexico is far 
superior to that grown in California. 
The natives live in the river valleys, and each family 
seems to own a herd of goats and sheep, They drink the 
goats' milk, make butter from it, and eat both sheep and 
goat8._ The Spanish language is largely spoken by the 
"Mexicans," who are mostly descendants from Indians, 
Eviiry night it is cool enough to sleep comfortably under 
two blankets, not a mosquito or black fly to annoy,, and the 
The Best Tarpon Grounds on Earth. 
Chicago, 111,, Aug. ^8. — Lpresume that without doubt the 
finest tarpon fishing in the world is to be found at Aransas 
Pass, near Rockport, Tex., that now famous sporting ground 
to which attention was first called in Forest'and Stream. 
To-day I am in position to give some interesting details of 
this tarpon fishing, by courtesy of Mr. .Joseph Irwin, of 
Little Rock, Ark., who has just returned from that country. 
Mr. Irwin says: "I can't imagine why people who really 
want to catch tarpon go to Florida, where they have to wait 
so long for a strike, while at Aransas Pass, Mr. Galbreth, of 
the Cotton Belt railroad, got nineteen strikes in one day. I 
wish you would go there and try it yourself, for it is the 
finest sport with rod and reel imaginable." Mr. Irwin is 
good enough to prepare a little story of his experience at 
Aransas Pass, which I send you. 
Aransas Pass Tarpon Record. 
Following is the record of tarpon landed with rod and reel 
at Aransas Pass, Tex., head of Mustang Island, from April 
10 :o Aug. 14, 1897, inclusive: 
J. S. Ingram , Arkansas 76 
William KeUehor. i , .Texas i . 4 .... 35 
C. H. Booth Texas 21 
A. W. Houston Texas., ■ Vi 
Bryan Heara Texas , , 18 
Dr. R Smith Colorado 9 
Thos. H. Franklin Texas , 7 
C. C. Higgins..,. Texas 6 
J. E. Colter Texas i.. .....»....„.,, 6 
Dr. H. C. Black Texas 5 
S. T. Weyman Georgia .,,.<..i.v.,... 5 
W. D Jenkins. , Texas h 
B. S McLure W. Virginia 4 
Dr. H H. Frothingham Illinois 5 
Perry J. Lewis , Texas o..*.i»i»». ■ 4 
W, C. Bradbury , , Colorado . . . i , , i , ; , i.,! , i i , . 4 
H. M. Garwood Texas... ....... 5 
Bryan Houston Texas ,,.,V,V'^..,V,tt>i- 5 
W. Y Sedam Texas .....i....,.,,... 3 
J. A L. Wadaell Missouri 3 
J. T. Mason i.,,,.. Colorado ; 3 
Gus A Kampmann. Texas ..,.«..■■,.... 1.,. . ... 3 
Jos. Irwin , . Arkansas ....«.•.).•••• 2 
E. H. R. Green ,, Texas ^..^o.^...... . 2 
John Parker . . . , , , . . , Texas 1 .. . 2 
il. J. Morgan ....n....,'.,. Missouri a 
John Abbott Georgia 2 
George Brock...., n Georgia 3 
H F. Speer Texas.............. 3 
J A. Edson..... Texas ,,,*.4ii4 a 
liouis Sarazan . Texas ., 3 
E. U. Smith. .China , 1 
John A. Sea Missouri 1 
W. A Pickering Missouri,........,.,.,.......,.,,. 1 
Mrs. H. H. Froihingham Illinois 1 
J. S. Lockwood .Texas , , 1 
H. M. Dodd .....Missouri. , 1 
I. H Lionberger Missouri...,.,,,,.,, , 1 
.E Barrett Colorado 1 
Howard Bland.,.,. Texas 1 
A. W. Houston, Jr.,.. Texas.................. 1 
John Miller .Texas 1 
W. C. Conner. t.. ».,...•* . ..Texas ..,,••*■ i i a. ...... 1 
J. M. Boykih. Texas ii;.,-, 1 
R y^. Waddelt - Colorado 1 
Master Everett Waddell Missouri 1 
Jffaster Leonard Waddell.,.,,.... .Missouri. 1 
Mrs. J. A. L. Waddell .....Mi.ssoui-i 1 
G. W. Jalonick ...Texas 1 
Capt. W. L. Staniforth... ...... ...Bricish Royal Navy.,.,.ji:.T,i^.. 1 
P. L.Richardson .Texas ij 1 
H. Henke Texas ,,,, ...i.i.i.r 1 
S. G. Warner ..Texas.. . . , . i..; . ^ ..i^^ . ^.i t . 1 
L. G. Denman .i,,.,,;.,. Texas... 1 
JudgeR R. Gaines.,,, ...... ..f Texa.s 1 
W. T. .Johns England 1 
W. P. Hard wick I'fxas , 1 
E. D. Robbins Connecticut.,.. ; 1 
Total 
DISTBIBITTION. 
Month of April, lf9T 3 
Month of May, 1897 , 59 
Month of June, 189' , us 
Month of July, 1897 , eu 
Fourteen days in August, 1807 1 . ^ 34 
Total 2L0 
IN CONNECTICUT WATERS. 
Editm' Forest and Stream: 
Having told you during the open season that trout were 
unusually plenty in this section, there remains only to he said 
that owing to the abundance of water in the streams during 
the entire summer, the fry and young trout have had good 
protection from their merciless foe, the voracioiLS and persis- 
tent water snakes, which, during low stages of water, when 
the trout have been forced to huddle in the shallow pools, 
can and do gather them in very rapidly; so it seems to me 
that the season has been very favorable for the growth of 
young trout, and I hope the 13,000 fry I helped to plant have 
got a good start, and in a few years will afford sport for some 
good fellow. The perpetuity of trout in our streams depends 
upon the stock being replenished, as surely as the farmer's 
crop of potatoes depends upon his planting the seed at the 
proper time. If you want trout, plant and protect them, and 
they will yield a harvest. 
1 once told you of hooking a black bass "as big as a shad, " 
and losing him by the parting of my leader; well, I caught 
him this summer, or one very much like him. Trolling with 
live minnow, and having out about 300ft. of line, I had tele- 
graphic communication that .something was at the other end, 
and after a short wait and a strike, discovered 1 had him 
hooked; when to shake the hook loose, or to show me what 
he was, or to see who was at the other end of the line, or for 
some other reason best known to himself, he came out of the 
water fully 3ft., and he looked very large. My son (who 
thinks he is quite a fisherman) and the man pulling the boat 
both began with their advice and exclamations of "Look 
out!" "Give him more line!" etc, etc., until 1 quietly in- 
quired, "Who is catching this fish V" and on being assured 
laat I was, I suggested to the boatman to pull his boat out 
into the lake away from the lily-pads, and to the other fel- 
low that he "lay low" and see the fight. Well, I got him, 
and three hours after he was killed he weighed plump- 4^1bs. 
of sinall mouth bass. 
This would not be much of a story to tell of the Wiscon- 
sin and other Western lakes, but you must bear in mind that 
this is a very small State, and you will see the bass is fully 
up to the relative proportion, A. 
Haddam, Conn, 
MORE FISHERMAN'S LUCK. 
The long, cold, dreary winter days were of the past, spring 
time had come and gone and vacation days were at hand. 
Piofessor B. was happy, his plans for pleasure afield with 
rod and gun were now to be realized. It would he several 
weeks before the shooting season was open, but in the mean- 
time, there were certain deep holes in a little prailie stream, 
to he investigated for pickerel and other members of the 
finny tribe. Monday dawned, a splendid day for fishing. 
After a hasty breakfast, the Professor decided that he 
would take his setter, Polly, along, as the exercise would 
help to harden her muscles, which, from her being chained 
up so long, must be decidedly soft. And then Polly was 
getting too fleshy for the chicken hunting, in which she 
would soon be expected to take a leading rdle. 
Frank, the fourteen-year-old fishing companion of the 
Professor, soon put in appearance, and, Professor, boy and 
dog, set off up the creek in the direction of the pickerel 
holes. It might be well to state, that the Professor's choice 
of a fourteen-year-old hoy for his companion, was for the 
reason that Frank, besides being a genial companion, always 
performed the unpleasant task of securing minnows and 
frogs for bait. 
Noon time found the trio about four miles from home, 
rather hot and tired and with but few fish. It was decided 
that they would take their lunch in the shade of the willow 
hedge, and then after a couple of hours' rest turn homeward. 
Polly, tired with chasing rabbits, digging for squirrels, and 
other canine amusements, had already found a comfortable 
resting place some rods away from the hedge, beside a stack 
of new hay. The two hours for rest and lunch were soon 
passed, and the Professor announced it time to go home 
Stringing their fish on a forked willow twig they were ready 
for the homeward journey. The Professor whistled for 
Polly, waited a few minutes, then whistled again and again, 
but no I^olly appeared. "Come Polly, comePolly," called the 
Professor, and whistled again This time a distressed 
whine sounded from the stack, and Frank and the Professor 
went in that direction to ascertain the source of Polly's ap- 
parent trouble. Nestled down in the hay close to the stack, 
was Polly, busily lapping two little black and white puppies. 
The Professor was thunderstruck, he had not had the least 
intimation that Polly was maternally inclined. Polly looked 
up with a pleased expression in her brown eyes, and wagged 
her tail as the Professor at last found voice and gave vent to 
his feelings in lamentations at his ill-luck in acquiring such 
an increase at such an inopportune time and phice. Frank 
• was as much pleased as Polly. "How in the name of Cfcsar 
am I going to get the pups home?" exclaimed the Profetsor, 
Many plans were suggested and in tm-n rejected, until Frank 
finally said: "Tie 'em up in your handkerchief, as you and 
pa did the fish and fiowers that Sunday, when Mrs. K. went 
to smell the flowers, and spilled the fish out on the ground 
and then hollered so loud." 
So the handkerchief was again brought into use to carry 
the new-born pups, while Polly trotted along keeping an 
anxious eye on the handkerchief and its precious burden. 
The fisning party with its odd assortment of fish and pups, 
reached home in due time. The story of the Professor's luck 
at fishing spread swiftly through the village, and it was 
many a day before the Professor heard the last of his "catch 
of pups." . John C. Bbiggs. 
Nevada, la. 
NEW JERSEY'S SEA FISHING. 
AsBORY Park, N, J., Sept. 1.— The acme of perfection 
of surf fishing at present is ours; never has the sport attained 
the magnitude of the past ten days. Bluefish and weakflsh 
are in the surf in multitudes and are takirg the hook raven- 
ously, and as if to suit all conditions of men, day fishing for 
the blues and night fishing for the weakfish is the order of 
affairs. 
A visit to either of our piers any night now is a rare sight. 
The staid jurist, the eloquent divine, the up-to-date angler 
with all the paraphernaha that goes to make his outfit com- 
plete, as well as the less pretentious hand-line man, all in 
eager pursuit of the finny tribe, go to make a picture never 
to be forgotten, and long until after midnight is the battle 
waged. What though lines tangle, and an occasional thump 
from a heavy sinker reminds the one not thoroughly alert of 
his laxity, still all goes on as merrily as a marriage bell, and 
great good humor is the order of the day. 
.The exceptionally good fishing in Barnegat calls trainloads 
of anglers to that point daily; in consequence the yacht men 
are happy and the bait men have their hands full to supply 
the demands. I would advise all parties going there to pro- 
vide themselves with a liberal supply, as there is always an 
uncertainty in procuring the shedder crab, which is far and 
away the best all-around bait for those waters. Of course, 
when bass trolling around the sedges is practiced the blood 
worm, or white worm, as it is sometimes termed, is the proper 
article; still, the finest bass I have ever taken there have been 
on the shedder crab; but in this there are as many opinions 
as there are men. 
In answer to many inquiries io relation to snapper fishing, 
I will say the season is a trifle early yet, although they are 
with us in abundance. They are yet very small; two weeks 
will find them much improved in size and condition. The 
growth of the snapper, which is the young of the bluafish, 
is simply marvelous. They will nearly or quite double their 
size each succeeding two weeks, from Aug. 1,5 to Oct 15, 
which is something that can be said of no other variety witli 
which I am familiar. Partaking thus early of the nattire of 
his progenitor, he is very nomadic, and in strong tidal waters 
a chum is frequently necessary to successfully efiiect his cap- 
ture. The following method I have found very effective : 
chop or mash five or six good-sized menhaden, enclose in a 
coarse muslin or burlap bag and hang over the side of the 
boat, occasionally squeezing or shaking the same; the exud- 
ing oil creates a slick on the water which will be followed up 
by the snapper no matter how great the distance, and once 
they are around the boat the sport at once begins, provided 
the proper bait is used, which should be the spearing. 
And now, as to tackle: I use a very light rod 6ift. long-, 
lancewood stock and split bamboo tip, a very small multiply- 
ing reel, and the finest procurable linen line; to a 3-0 Carlisle 
hook I attach a 6in, section of hair wire ending with a 
swivel into which the line is fastened; for a float I secure two 
bottle corks, cement the ends together, passing a strip of 
bamboo through, leaving about lin. of same projecting at 
either end, then with a very sharp knife and sandymper 1 re- 
duce the diameter to about the size of an ordinary lead-pen- 
cil; this will carry the spht shot sinker and offer little resist- 
ance when the strike is made. liEONAKD Htjlit, 
