£2 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Sept. 17, i8g 
Any Old Way will Catch a Goon, 
Editor Forest and Stream; 
I think the author of the article on "Trapping Coons" 
must have been "just funning," as the boys say, when 
he makes the assertion that there is "only one way to 
catch a coon" in a trap; for if there is any animal wearing 
hair or fur that goes around "hankering to be caught" 
it is a coon of the ring-tailed variety. I have never seen 
a trap of any kind set for one which, if strong enough 
to hold him, wouldn't catch a coon. In my boyhood days 
I have seen them caught in boxes set for rabbits at 
holes in the fence; I have seen them caught by the 
score in log traps set across fallen trees in the swamps, 
and by the way that is the darky's favorite way of trap- 
ping them. I have seen them caught in steel traps set 
several feet from the ground on some fallen tree across 
a stream. They are frequently caught in what is known 
as a deadfall — two slabs or puncheons, one laid flat on 
the ground, the other set above it with an ordinary Fig. 
4 trigger, a weight being attached to the top piece to 
hold the game when once in— the trap being baited with 
either a piece of salt fish or a handful of ripe persim- 
mons. In fact, they are so easily caught that by leaning 
a good stout pole against a persimmon tree, which the 
coon is in the habit of visiting, and setting a log trap 
across the pole, after he has become accustomed to the 
sight, it is no trick to catch him. 
A farmer friend of mine, whose corn in a field adjoin- 
ing a swamp was being destroyed by coons, after exam- 
ining his fence found that most of the marauders en- 
tered the field at one place through a hole in the fence, 
made by a broken rail in the "old Virginia rail fence." 
Knowing the nature of the animal, and trusting to their 
simplicity, he merely removed the broken rail, drove two 
stout stakes on either side of the fence, so that the upper 
and lower rails would come together true and plumb, 
lifted one end of this improvised trap and set it with an 
ordinary Fig. 4, and -for four consecutive mornings took 
a fine fat coon from the fence, and they were not all 
"young and foolish" either, for it comprised the whole 
family. 
■ I have seen coons caught in almost every way except 
the "only way to catch a coon," as laid down by the 
writer referred to above; but do not for a moment doubt 
they can be caught that way, as they certainly can be 
caught almost "any old way." A. F. R. 
Hertford, N. C. 
The Huntsman's Green. 
- With the progress of the deer-hunting season in this 
State come in the usual reports of hunters shot by other 
hunters, who were sufficiently stupid or rattled to mis- 
take them for game. An exchange suggests the wearing 
of a scarlet coat by each sportsman. This, however, 
would be as good a danger signal to a deer as to a 
shooter. 
A colored coat probably would give the best pro- 
tection, but green would be a better selection. It is the 
huntsman's own color, and it seems hardly possible that 
the most verdant gunner would suppose he had spied a 
bright green deer; while the animal "would not be 
alarmed by a glimpse of so familiar a shack. 
If the deer-hunter is looking for a protective uniform 
he would better conclude, with the milkmaid of the 
story, that "green becomes his complexion best, and 
green it shall be." — Syracuse Post. 
Indiana Shooting Outlook. 
Warsaw, Ind., Aug. 20. — The woodcock season has 
proven a failure, these birds being practically extermi- 
nated in this county. The same can be said of pinnated 
grouse, snipe and ducks. There is, however, a promise 
of (sir qwail shooting in November. Monoquet. 
PRIZES FOR AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHS. 
The Forest and Stream offers prizes for meritorious 
work with the camera, under conditions which follow 5 
The prizes will be divided into three series: (1) for 
live wild game; (2) for game in parks; (3) for other sub- 
jects relating to shooting and fishing. 
(1) For live game photographs three prizes are of- 
fered, the first of $50, the second of $25, and the third of 
$10. 
(2) For live game in parks, for the best picture, a 
prize of $10. 
(3) For the best pictures relating to Forest and 
Stream's field 1 — shooting and fishing, the camp, camp- 
ers and camp life, sportsman travel by land and water, 
incidents of field and stream — a first prize of $20, a sec- 
ond of $15, a third of $10, aad for fourth place two prizes 
of $5 each. 
There is no restriction as to the time nor as to where 
the pictures have been made or may be made. 
Pictures will be received up to Dec. 31 this year. 
All work must be original; that is to say, it must not 
have been submitted to any other competition or have 
been published. 
There are no restrictions as to the make or style of 
camera, nor as to size of plate. 
A competitor need not be a subscriber to the Forest 
and Stream. 
All work must be that of amateurs. 
The photographs will be submitted to- a committee, 
who, in making their award, will be instructed to take 
into consideration the technical merits of the work as 
1 photograph, its artistic qualities, and other things be- 
ing equal, the unique and difficult nature of the subject. 
Photographs should be marked for identification with 
initials or a pseudonym only, and with each photography 
should be given, answering to the initials, the name of 
sender, title of view, locality, date and names of camera, 
and plate or film- 
Proprietors of fishing resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Forest and Stream. 
Where to go. 
One important, useful and considerable part of the Forest and 
Stream's service to the sportsmen's community is the information 
given inquirers for shootmg and fishing resorts. We make it our 
business to know where to send the sportsman for large or small 
game, or in quest of his favorite fish, and this knowledge is freely 
imparted on request. 
On the other hand, we are constantly seeking information of this 
character for the benefit of our patrons, and we invite sportsmen, 
hotel proprietors and others to communicate to us whatever may be 
of advantage to the sportsman tourist. 
Remarkable Rod Fishing, 
Santa Catalina Island, Cal., Aug. 7. — The present 
year has been a remarkable one in the annals of rod and 
reel fishing in southern California. Tuna fishing has 
become a regular pastime, and now the black sea bass 
fishing with rod and reel, which was for a long time 
considered almost impossible, is an every-day affair, and 
almost every catch brought in this season is 
taken with an ordinary tuna or tarpon rod and a 21- 
thread line. 
How remarkable this is may be realized when it is 
known that a fish weighing 324lbs. has been recently 
brought to gaff by Mr. Frank V. Rider, of New York. 
The black sea bass is very plentiful about the island. 
MR, VRANK V. RVDKK'sJ-ja^LBS. IIASS, 
and is in season from April to October. That is, it bites 
best at this time; but if fished for can be found in 
schools in winter. The spawning time is in July and 
August, and at this time the king of the bass tribe 
(Stereolepis gigas) is found in water 20 to 30ft. deep 
within 150ft. of the shores of the rocky island. Here 
Ion the edge of the kelp beds the cast is made. The 
tackle advocated by the Tuna Club is a bass rod or 
any fairly light rod, a 21-thread line and a wire leader 
about 7ft. in length. For bait a live whitefish 4 or 5lbs. 
in weight, or a large piece of yellow rail or barracuda 
is used. The bait is anchored to a buoy, which is taken 
into the boat and held ready to throw over at the strike. 
This is exactly the reverse of that of the tuna. The fish 
fumbles at the bait, takes it up and drops it, finally 
swallowing it. The strike is made when about 10ft. of line 
has slowly gone over, and then the sport begins in a 
tremendous fast rush that will take from 200 to 400ft. 
of line. Then the leather pad brake In the hands of a 
strong man will stop the rush, and for perhaps halt" an 
hour or an hour the play of the fish is a fine exhibi- 
tion of power and cunning. And here is the difference 
between this fish and a tuna or tarpon — for a short time 
it fairly equals them, but it has not the staying powers, 
and is generally killed in from half an hour to an hour, 
while in all probability a tuna of like size (say 25olbs.) 
could not be caught with rod. But fishing for this great 
bass is rare sport, as Mr. Beard can well testify, having 
fought one to the finish off San Clemante, killing it, if 
I am not mistaken, by the light of a lantern. 
The late catches have been remarkable, and the record 
is held by Mr. Rider, who took a 3241b. fish in fifty- 
/i_five minutes; the party comprised Dr. H. K. Macomber, 
) of Pasadena; Frank V. Rider, of New York, and Jim 
Gardner, boatman. They fished with two rods, and 
landed five fish, Mr. Rider's weighing 324 and 2681bs. 
Dr. Macomber's weighed 256 and ioglbs., while another 
fish weighing 2$ilbs, was a joint catch. The bass hav- 
mg'taken both their baits rushed off in a manner t| 
completely deceived them, so that each man thought 
had a fish; but at the end of fifteen minutes they hj 
the same fish at the surface; and the combined effc 
was too much for him. The weight of this catch J 
1,21 ilbs. Mr. Rider landed his 3241b. fish in fiftv-fl 
minutes. It was 6ft. 2in. long, and 4 ft. oin. in gin 
Mr. Rider anded a 1701b. fish in twenty minutes I 
Macomber landed a 1401b. fish in nineteen minutes a 
a 1301b. fish m thirty minutes, these being a catch 
another day. 
I once played a bass for twenty-five minutes, and { 
work was so violent to keep the fish out of the ke 
for which it was heading, about a quarter of a m 
shore, that I was completely exhausted and si 
rendered rather than overstrain myself. Dr. Macontl 
took my rod, but even then could not stop the fish 
reached the kelp bed, towing the heavy boat, and bro 
the line. The largest fish escape, and thev have be 
taken here weighing Soolbs. on a hand line. 
Some of tile other rod catches for this season ar£ 
follows: Dr. W. R. Bently, Seattle, black sea h 
weighing 252lbs., in two hours; rod noz. ; line I 
strand cuttyhunk. As this is written Dr. H.' H Pej 
has brought in a 3741b. bass, caught on the same\acl< 
111 one hour. Other catches are: Gail Borden 1 
\ork, i681b. bass; C. A. P. Tarbutt, London, 268 a 
f93lb. bass; F. V. Rider, New York, bass as folloM 
208. 326, 253, 251. 109. Dr. F. Stattuck, San Francis 
190. 180. 2o81bs.; all taken on 21-thread lines, and usue 
within one hour. Senor % 
Colorado Fishing the Best* 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, Aug. 29.— I wish to rel 
to the readers of Forest and Stream a brief story of - 
recent trouting experience in Colorado. 
Last October I spent nine days wandering along" 
Rio Grande River, in Colorado. I caught large trc 
usmg small gray and brown hackle flies as a lure, ? 
I lost many large trout through the small hook tear 
out of the fishes' mouths. 
From the Rio Grande River I went to hunt quail ale 
the Morion Route in Indiana. From Indiana I went 
Georgia. Mississippi and Louisana, fishing for anythi 
Ironi "green trout" (our common large-mouth ba 
to sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, redfish, red and sn 
per. and even tackled tarpon in the "passes" of Lot 
iana. From Louisiana 1 sped back to Lake Marie, 
the line of the Wisconsin Central R. R., -in north) 
Illinois, where the large-mouth bass run riot in ea 
April, just after the ice breaks up. I captured twen 
six bass in Lake Marie one sunny afternoon, tisinj 
phantom minnow as a lure. I stood up in my be 
drifted with the wind and cast from 20 to 50ft. av 
from the boat. From Lake Marie I went to Pra 
River, Wis., which is one of the most beautiful of tr 
streams. I have fished this stream year after year w 
several members of the Chicago Fly-Casting Club, i 
as an "early" trout stream it is unsurpassed. In 
relate in some future article the peculiarities, the chai 
ing (and other) traits of character of some of th 
men with whom I have fished. For it must be so 
occult thing that hovers over and about a tr 
stream which uncovers and lays bare the soul of m 
I f you would know a man just spend a few days v\ 
him fishing on some trout stream, and I'll guaran 
I hat you will learn more about his innermost nat 
l hau years of ordinary intercourse would reveal, ' 
requires (to become a successful angler for trout) 
hence, humility and many fine qualities not posses 
by the ordinary man. 
But to return to our trout fishing. Wisconsin, Mil 
gan and Minnesota afford good trout fishing, ye 
ahv&ya fftiss the mountains. Prairie River in Wiscor. 
is a thing of beauty, and its waters teem with the f\ 
spotted trout. The woods surrounding the Michigan 
Wisconsin trout streams are dense, dark with pine, h 
lock and spruce trees, while here and there the slentf, 
graceful birches are silhouetted against the darker ba 
ground of the pine forest; ever and anon a silver jj 
gleams through the shadows of the forest; the ail 
fragrant with the breath of trailing arbutus, early spr 
flowers, fresh ferns and the ozone from the pines 
we wander slowly through these Michigan or Wisconj 
woods our lungs are filled with the bracing air, our m| 
cles rebound with the elasticity of rubber, and our spr 
seem to be lifted up in grateful ecstasy — it seems g<,j 
to be alive. 
Yet with all their beauty and attractions, the wo> 
of these States lack the charm and grandeur of 
mountains. I always arrange to spend my last trout 
days among the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado. Th 
mountains mother countless beautiful trout streams, 
Gunnison, the Juanita. the Saguache, the Platte, So 
Platte, Deer Creek and hundreds of others, yet the ] 
Grande River, which flows along the Creede branch 
the Denver & Rio Grande R. R., is mv first and o 
love among trout streams. And so we (Mr. Fdwarrjl 
Linnen, of Santa Fe. New Mexico, and myself) pitel 
our camp on the left bank of this lovely stream, wh 
leaps into life away up in the heart of the Rocky Mo 
tains, and away it dashes over titan rocks, around sh 
bends, through canons, out again into broad reac 
of quieter water, ever rippling and singing; sometir 
after a violent storm its waters become suddenly mud 
but a few hours ciuickly clears it again, and its he, 
waters are a paradise for the trout angler, more parti 
larlv the fly-caster. 
We waded the waters of the -Rio Grande River s 
by side for miles, dailv, casting our flies afar out over 
shining waters, now hooking a large trout, nlaving 1 
a while, and losing more fish than we saved, beta 
of our using small flies — : No. 10 being our cho 
Down the river we wardered, now reeline in a trd 
now laughing at one another, as a foot would sho 1 
a fall would result. Now our f?aze wonM rivpt our t 
ant eves uoon some extraordinary sicht. Mounta 
all about us. range uoon range, reaching awav inti 
dim and far-away eternity. Mists, like nurole ro: 
enfolding the distant peaks, and giant summits lean 
over toward # the fiver, thr eaten iner- to fall and enculf 
Gentle slopes, covered with wild flowprs. frail and dair 
Over all a sky of deepest blue, with here and then 
