210 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Sept. io, 1898. 
blowing like winter time — a wind too strong to cast a 
line, and making the line between the rings rattle against 
the rod. Then I put on a naked hook and captured 
a big green katydid. I let it float with the stream, and 
by and by got a vigorous pull. I struck, and out of 
the water leaped a big bass. I failed to remark that much 
larger per cent, of bass jump out of the water this year 
than usual, which goes to show they are in good con- 
dition. Nearly every one I have caught has leaped in 
reeling it in. I played this fish until I was reasonably 
sure of bringing it in, for after certain trials of strength 
having been unsuccessful, a bass rarely escapes. But 
a final struggle freed tins bass, and the line slipped 
home. It was very distressing. I have a foolish habit 
of groaning when such a thing happens, and much to 
my disgust I found I had let out a groan that could 
have been heard 100yds.. The hook had broken right 
at the bend. People ought to be careful how they make 
hooks. I had a dozen, and I immediately threw them 
away. I put on a catfish hook and another bait, and got 
fast on the bottom of the. river. It was enough to make 
some people swear. The wind finally died away, and I 
was able to get enough fish for breakfast bv dark, with a 
fly. 
And now I believe I am down to the gist of this tale 
and what caused me to sit down to write about it all 
while it was still fresh in my mind. I have just caught a 
most notable bass, and one that several fishermen have 
seen and lusted after. It was the big bass at the mouth 
of Knapp's Creek. Last Saturday I caught a medium 
sized bass out in the current, and several bass followed 
it out, and among them was a veritable monster of a 
small-mouth bass, that I put down as being 2oin. long, 
water measure. 
I could not get a rise from that bass, and as I had 
fished there all summer, knowing about it, it only caused 
me a momentary pang to see that magnificent fish 
unattached. Since then I had kept my eyes open for 
some nobler bait than I had been using. I wanted a 
mouse particularly. This morning, however, I got a 
linnet. And the way I got the bird was a little peculiar. 
We have had a telephone line recently built, and it is 
still a marvel to us. It has long distance 'phones con- 
nected with it, and the line is right heavily charged. 
Old Harry McDowell, an observant old darky, was 
coming to Marlinton, and he saw a little greenhorn of 
a linnet alight on the telephone wire, and somebody 
rang a bell and the poor little bird dropped down dead. 
Harry brought it into the post-office, and happening 
to be there, he gave it to me. I carried it to my office, 
took it home at noon, put it in the ice box, and about 
4 o'clock I took it down to the mouth of the creek. 
There I fished with it for half an hour or so, and the 
bass left it strictly alone. I went to fishing with fly, and 
got two, and came back to the pool. The water was too 
flush still for good fly-fishing, and I caught a couple 
with grasshoppers and one with a toad. Then I was 
out of bait. I took out the little bird from my fish 
basket and put it on the hook, and sat down on a 
sandbank. I had no joy now in my bird bait. Just 
then a little toad hopped near me, and I turned to 
catch it. Directly I became aware that I had a tremen- 
dous bite. I struck and about 10ft. of line slipped 
through my fingers. I put on* a little strain and the 
big bass shot up at least 3ft. above the water. I landed 
the fish after a few minutes' work, and it was undoubt- 
edly the big bass, but the inches came off cent per cent 
when I came to measure it, but it measured a full i6in. 
to the fork of the tail. I was very well satisfied, hav- 
ing got the fish I fished for, something that is rarely ac- 
complished. 
Andrew Price. 
Marlinton, W. Va. 
Canadian Salmon Rivers. 
New York, Aug. 30. — Editor Forest and Stream: I in- 
close you a copy of a letter of even date concerning the 
salmon question in yet another North Shore river (the 
Jupitagon), which shows pretty clearly the useless reck- 
lessness in view of the natural history of the fish with 
which the question is dealt with at that river. Stupidity 
could not go further than both to exhaust the fish to 
the indicated extent and also drive them away with offal. 
Chas. Stewart Davison. 
Aug. 30. — Hon. E. E. Tache, Ass't Commissioner 
Lands, Forests and Fisheries, Quebec, Canada. — My 
dear Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of Aug. 24, No. 9957 — 98, and in accordance with your 
assurance that further particulars of the illegal taking of 
salmon in and the conditions of the various salmon rivers 
of the Province will be received with pleasure by your 
department, and be a material help toward prevention 
in the future, I venture to add to the particulars which 
I have already sent you concerning various rivers the 
following in relation to the Jupitagon: 
Jupitagon (otherwise Tchiptagon). — This river, situ- 
ated on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, about op- 
posite the westerly end of Anticosti, is a short stream 
of perhaps ten or twelve miles, and then a succession 
of lakes (eight in number) back to the height of land. It 
was visited in the summer of 1898 by Dr. Alexander B. 
Johnson, of New York city, who writes me in relation 
thereto as • follows : 
"In the summer of 1898 I visited the Jupitagon. This 
small stream debouches at the northeasterly corner of 
a quadrilateral ba} r , at the entrance of which lie two rocky 
islands. The bay is about a quarter to a half mile in 
length and of equal width. The bay is nearly dry at 
low water, except for a shallow channel on the easterly 
side. This channel is perhaps 100ft. in width and less 
than 2ft. deep at low water. The actual entrance to the 
river is over some low falls by a passage less than 50ft. 
wide at the northeasterly angle of the bay. 
"July 2. — At the embouchure two salmon nets were 
in operation, and so remained during my visit. 
"The more westerly of the two nets was set at about 
300ft. from the actual entrance to the river at an oblique 
angle to the shore from the sandy beach stretching 
toward the east. It was an extra long net, and contained 
two pockets, one at each face, so that from whichever 
side salmon might attempt to pass they would be taken. 
The easterly net was set from the rocks on the easterly 
side of the bay, directly across the channel, and at not 
over 150ft. from the actual river mouth. It naturally 
contained but one pocket (on its exterior face), 
"There was less than 100ft. of distance between the ends 
of the two nets. These nets were not raised on either 
of the two Sundays during my stay on the river. They 
belonged to Charles Gerard, who resides at the mouth 
of the river. I am told that in 1897 thirteen barrels of 
salmon were taken in the nets, while in 1898 only eight 
barrels were taken. 
"There were also two stage heads, where codfish were 
headed and gutted — one at either side of the mouth of 
the river. Some of the heads and entrails were allowed 
to fall into the water at the mouth of the river, though 
most of them were removed. (There is no doubt by 
the way that putrid animal matter in the water is a 
deterrent to the entrance of salmon into a river.) 
"The more easterly stage head was about 300ft. from the 
actual mouth of the river, and was directly over (i- e., 
abutted upon) the narrow channel leading to the river 
(mentioned above), through which salmon attempting 
to enter must pass. 
"The westerly stage head was actually at. the mouth of 
the river, not over 100ft. from the first low falls referred 
to above. On ascending the river, I found on one bank 
at a distance of about a mile from the mouth at a pool 
(situated between the first and second falls) a stake 
driven into a cleft in the rock; opposite this stake, on 
the other side of the river, a large stone had been lo- 
cated. This stake and its corresponding stone bore 
evidence of having been used for the purpose of at- 
taching the ends of a barrier net stretching across the 
pool, for which purpose the place was the most favor- 
able in the whole river, as it is the main pool, and one 
where the fish remain at least several days before 
ascending the second falls. 
"If this river is to continue to furnish salmon no nets 
should be allowed within the bay, nor between the 
islands, nor at the two headlands of the bay, for the con- 
figuration of the land and the location of the channel are 
such that even a small net will take almost all the fish 
either seeking to enter or following along the coast. 
There were during this season (1898} but a very smali 
number of fish discoverable in the upper waters of the 
river, though the river was subjected by me to a care- 
ful daily inspection covering a period of a fortnight. 
Also a large proportion of what fish there were in the 
river bore net marks. 
"The conditions at the river are such that it could 
be easily guarded by one diligent person." 
I may add to the above that this river flows through 
the Mingan Seigniory (which I understand is now the 
property of or represented by the Labrador Company, of 
Montreal), and that it would appear not imoossible that 
the Province should communicate with this corporation 
with a view to compelling its preventing the illegal net- 
ting and taking" of salmon in this as well as in all other 
rivers under the jurisdiction of that company. I re- 
main yours very respectfully, 
Chas. Stewart Davison. 
Quebec, Aug. 24.— Chas. Stewart Davison, Esq.— 
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter to Mr. L. Z. Joncas, our Superintendent of 
Fisheries and Game, dated the 16th of August instant, 
and containing very interesting information as to illegal 
salmon fishing in the Olomonashoboo and Washeecoo- 
tar. Many thanks; and let me assure you any particu- 
lar you could furnish us with regarding illegal salmon 
fishing, either in the rivers or in their estuaries, will 
be always received with pleasure, as this would material- 
ly help us in preventing this illegal fishing. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
E. E. Tache, Asst. Commissioner. 
A Bass Pocket. 
Hudson, New York, Aug. 28. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: "Once a fisher always a liar" is an old proverb, 
and I think the readers of your paper will say this; but. 
I am not a fisher. 
On the morning of the 7th I concluded to take a 
ride, and having heard of a small lake ten miles from 
town thought to visit it, as it was the only one within 
the county that I had not seen. I put the dog in the 
wagon and drove up to John's. Now John and I are not 
only good friends, but there is something else; I can't 
tell you just what it is; but if I want to go fishing, hunt- 
ing or tramping he is always ready. He owns a good dog, 
is a first-class fisher and a good all-round sportsman and 
companion. When I drove up he said, 
"Where now, old man?" 
"I don't know. Go and get Zoe and get in the 
wagon." 
"Got any lunch?" 
"No, but get in the wagon and ask no more ques- 
tions." 
We drove out about five miles, and" as it was very 
warm I thought I had had about enough of the ride 
and told John so. He said, "All right; pull in here to 
Jake's." We drove in, unhitched the horse. John 
walked up to the house, and we were most heartily wel- 
comed. The first thing the good housewife said, "Are 
you going to stay to dinner?" 
"What are we here for?" 
The family consists of Jake and his wift, their son 
Will and his wife, and contrary to the old saying that 
there isn't a house big enough for two women, they ap- 
pear to drive well together. 
. Happening to look across the field I saw a very nice 
cover, and said to John, "Let us take Sneck and Zoe 
and walk over there." 
We did not find anything in the cover, but we followed 
the brook down for half a mile until we came to a pond 
hole of about half an acre, and under the shade of some 
big willows sat down to rest. Three-quarters of this 
pond was full of weeds and covered over with what ap- 
peared to be floating grass. The only place that was free 
of grass and weeds was right in front of us; it was about 
10ft. wide and ran the whole length of the pond. The 
water was about 2ft. deep, clear and cold. We had just 
sat down when I noticed two small sunfish in the water 
very near the bank, and about the same time noticed this 
floating grass moving up and down, and concluded it 
was a muskrat under the grass. I motioned the dogs 
to go in, and they swam through the grass and back, and 
just as they were about in the center I saw a number of 
fish come out in the open, ten of them in a school. I 
could not tell what kind they, were; then out came some 
suckers, and by observing very closely I found this 
open place was alive, with fish. John began to dance 
up and down, and said, "Do see them? Isn't he a lunker? 
But say, pard, what are they?" 
I could not tell him. Oh for some tackle! But wait. 
He went down in his inside pocket, pulled out a trol- 
ling spoon and 5ft. of line (not another inch). He cut 
a sprout from the willow 5ft. long, and with this tackle 
began trolling along the shore. When he had gotten 
about three rods from me I heard him say: "Come in 
here! Come in here!" and he pulled in a good-sized 
black bass. He threw in the spoon again and caught an- 
other, larger than the first. Then he caught a frog and 
put it on the hook, spoon and all, and as the frog struck 
the water I saw the fish leave the grass and strike. There 
was no reel, no split-bamboo, no chances to play him, 
but a steady pull of 10ft, line and willow. He got him 
to shore, reached down to pick him up, the hook broke 
and he was gone. I looked at my watch, and concluded 
it was time for us to start for the house. Just then Will 
put in an appearance and said, "What are you fellows 
fooling around this mud hole for?" 
John said, "For bass." 
"Did you say bass? Why, there isn't a bass within ten 
miles of here, and you might as well rake for oysters or 
clams as to expect to catch a bass here." 
John showed him the fish, when he said, "Durn me 
if there is any one around here knows this. I would 
just as soon expect to catch shad running up that barb- 
wire fence as to look for bass here." - 
We went to the house and weighed the fish. The 
larger weighed 3lbs. and the smaller one lib., and we had 
hard work to convince the family that they were not fisn 
that we had brought from town for them. 
We sat down to dinner, and such a dinner! How we 
did enjoy it! After dinner we had a cigar and visited, 
and I lay down for a nap. Soon after John and Will 
were missing, and they didn't put in an appearance until 
5 o'clock, when they came in with a package of tansy 
or some others herbs. When this was opened, out rolled 
two bass and two bullheads. ' The larger bass weighed 
3lbs. and the smaller one 2lbs. They said that on their 
way clown the creek they had caught three frogs, and 
Will had found three hooks at the house before they 
started. John put a frog on a very nice looking Aber- 
deen hook, and threw it in. and as soon as it struck the 
water he saw a big fish start for it and take it. He 
pulled him in. and had him within about 2ft. of the shore 
when he made one grand effort, straightened the hook 
out and went for the grass. He put on another hook, 
and with each of the other frogs he caught the other two 
bass, and with a frog leg he caught the two bullheads. 
The total weight of the four bass was gibs., and they 
were caught on a 5ft. line, on a 5ft. willow stick, in 2ft. 
of water, and less than 10ft. from shore. We talked 
it over, and not one of the family have ever known of this 
place being stocked, but here were bass, suckers, bull- 
heads and sunfish. After a good bowl of bread and 
milk we started for home well pleased with the day and 
knowing that we had not only found a good place to fish 
for bass, but the most hospitable, kind-hearted, make- 
you-welcome family in the county. H 
That Boy in the Adirondack^. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
My boy friend in the Adirondacks has turned up again. 
He used to write a good deal oftener when he was at 
school "with nothing to do," but now he is in North- 
wood, and has guns and fish rods, pack baskets and 
bicycles to exercise, which just about keeps him en- 
tirely busy. Indirectly I have heard from him once 
or twice since he went down to see the war ships at Key 
West, but only in a vague though not indefinite sort of 
way. 
"* * * He went fishing the other day and got 
some fish; enough for two meals." "* * * His boat 
upset and he had to swim ashore. He got the boat down 
at the island." "* * * He keeps teasing me to let 
him go camping alone. But I don't like to. It don't 
seem safe. He wants to go with Will Hamblin next 
week." 
They went. That is sure. His letter of triumph says 
so, and some other things as well. The place they went 
to is the reservoir on Little Black Creek, nine miles 
from Northwood. Years ago lumbermen slashed over 
the woods there, took out all the spruce and hemlock 
and left a tangled mass of dead tops, which in a couple 
of years grew up to blackberry briers, and now is a 
healthy second growth, through which a man can force 
his way only with extreme difficulty. There are a few 
trails, old and new, leading to Black Creek Lake, to the 
North Branch Reservoir, to old skidways and a good one 
down the creek to the settlements. 
There are three or four old lumber camps, rapidly 
going to decay. Their boards are now used to make 
little lean-to camps for hunters and fishermen, and of 
these there is a plenty. 
The reservoir was a Stillwater, winding through the 
woods and widening out into the great bed of quaking 
moss which floors a swamp whose recesses are deep 
and black. When the lumbermen were doing their worst 
they built a dam near the foot of the Stillwater, of thick 
planking and hewed logs, and a mass of gravel heaped 
on either side to confine the water. The planking had 
a sluiceway, and water was turned loose in the spring to 
flood the logs a-roaring down the creek to the saw mills. 
The dam has now been partially burned away. The 
alders that lined the Stillwater are dead and gray, and 
rattle dryly when the wind blows hard. The trees in 
the swamp were half of them killed^ and the moss is 
bottomed - in soft black ooze with a skeleton of tree 
roots. Blue herons lift their grating voices here. The 
lizards wiggle about, and frogs whistle at night and 
grunt at dusk and dawn 
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