May 30, 1903.I 
FOREST AND » STREAM, 
fighters, and the same is true of the tuna. Certain 
male fishes, during the breeding or spawning season, 
arc weak and can be caught by women; indeed, a boy 
has been known to catch such a fish which weighed 
over 150 pounds, and I have seen a boy not over 12 
years of age land a 6-foot tarpon in ten minutes, but 
these fishes were not normal. A tuna weighing 125 
pounds in its best condition, will fight successfully from 
three to five hours, towing a heavy boat from 10 to 20 
miles, and this certainly cannot be said of any tarpon 
of similar size; and after long experience with both 
I consider that one tuna of 125 or 130 pounds, if har- 
nessed to two tarpons of like weight, would drown 
them or toAv them both. There is no surrender to the 
tuna; he fights to the last and often comes in as dead 
as a door nail, dying of heart failure. 
It is not my intention to disparage the splendid tar- 
pon that has no peer in its peculiar field, but physical- 
ly, it is no match for the tuna, pound for pound, the 
latter occupying a field quite as peculiar and distinct. 
In a recent book on tarpon fishing, published by 
an English sportsman, he claims that no skill is neces- 
sary in taking these fishes. I venture the statement 
that this gentleman has yet to meet a tarpon at its 
best, -as such a fish can easily demoralize a tyro. It is 
difficult to tell what the Florida average of rod catches 
is, but Aransas Pass alone claims 178 tarpon, taken 
during the season of 1902. I have not the figures, but 
I doubt if any angler has taken over 17 tunas at Ava- 
lon in any one season or that 100 fish over 100 pounds' 
weight have been taken in any one season. Hundreds 
of tunas are hooked, and they are there by thousands, 
but almost every noAdce loses 10 or 12 to every one 
hooked, and the surface strike and fierce rush, throw- 
ing water high in air, I have seen demoralize an ang- 
ler so thoroughly that he hooked but one in twenty — 
more or less. In taking a number of tarpon, which 
were over 5 feet in length, none towed my boat — a 
very light one — 200 feet. On the other hand, I never 
hooked but one tuna that did not tow me from two to 
ten miles; but there "are others," and doubtless they 
have had quite different experiences with this splendid 
game. Lowhook.. 
Massachusetts Fishing, 
Boston, May 23. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Central Com- 
mittee for Protection of Fish and Game held a meeting on 
Thursday, May 21, those in attendance being H. A. Esta- 
brook, chairman; A. B. F. Kinney, of Worcester; Coun- 
sel Herman S. Fay, of Marlboro; James R. Reed, A. C. 
Sylvester, of North Attleboro; and William B. Phinney, 
of Lynn, the clerk of the Legislative Committee on Fish 
and Game. Mr. Phinney has been president of the Lynn 
Fish and Game Association several years, and a mem- 
ber of the Executive Committee ever since the formation 
of the Centi-al Committee three 3'ears ago. The cause 
of protection has received loyal support from him as a 
legislator, and much credit is due him for the work ac- 
complished the past winter. Chairman Estabrook is not 
only a sportsman of wide experience, but has labored 
earnestly for many years in promoting the interests of 
the devotees of rod and gun. The work of the commit- 
tee under his leadership this year reflects great credit upon 
him and upon the Fitchburg Club of which he has been 
president. Fie was instrumental in securing the co- 
operation of several clubs in the vicinity of his city which 
sent witnesses to the State House at the time of the hear- 
ing on the anti-sale bill, of which the Forest and Stream 
gave a full report. All the other members of the commit- 
Lee have been zealous and efficient in the discharge of 
their duties, and the result is well known. 
On Thursday evening the meeting of the State Associa- 
tion was well attended and the president occupied the 
chair. The proprietor of The Nottingham, Mr. Amos 
Wliipple, a member of the Association, was one of the 
diners. The chairman of the Metropolitan Park Com- 
mission, William B. de las Casas, Esq., spoke about game 
in the parks, and Mr. Kinney on the protective work of 
the Association. Several members spoke of recent fish- 
ing trips. Several candidates were elected members and 
a number of new names were proposed. In the hill sec- 
tions of the State the brooks are now very low, but 
should we have rain before long there will be better fish- 
ing. 
Another State Reservation, 
From Pittsfield comes news that leading citizens of 
Berkshire county are moving to have "Constitution Flill" 
in Lanesboro set apart by the State. The hill is near 
the old homestead of Josh Billings, and about ten miles 
from Greylock. The more such reservations the better 
for the game. 
The "Sandwich Woods" would be an admirable tract to 
be set aside in the same way. Here there probably has 
never been a time since the landing of the Pilgrims when 
there were not quite a good many deer. If placed in tlie 
care of the State they could be better protected from 
fires and the game could be perpetuated. There are 
other tracts scattered over the State that could be pur- 
chased at small expense and rendered more useful in this 
way than in any other. 
From New Hampshire Commissioner Wentworth re- 
ports as follows : "They have had the best stream and 
k'ke fishing in this State this spring we have had for 
years." I. P. Ransom, a well-known guide, casting a 
fly for trout, hooked and landed a loj j-pound salmon 
in Suriapee Lake. The fly was a Parmachene-belle. Sal- 
mon seldom take the fly there, the commissioner declar- 
ing he has not known of more than half a dozen being 
caught on a fly the past ten years. Judge Edgar Aldrich 
had a singular experience with a salmon on Connecticut 
Lake. The fish went to the bottom and sulked — started 
again and went straight for the shore (which was not far 
away), made a leap and landed high and dry seven feet 
from the water, where it was captured by the guide. This 
may sound like a "fish story," but it is vouched for by 
young Judge Shurtleft', of Lancaster. 
The open season on Diamond Pond and Dublin Lake 
commenced May 20. Bass fishing all over the State be- 
gins June I. 
Mr. A. p. Cate |s reported as having taken a salmon 
weighing 10 pounds at Newfound Lake, and many others 
have been caught from four to eight pounds. 
Mr. C. F. Danforth, of Boston, writes me that five 
golden trout (Aiireolus) were taken from Dan Hole 
Pond, New Hampshire, the first part of this month. 
These are familiarly known as Sunapee saibling, and are 
said to be the first which have been taken from this pond 
for three years. This fish is indigenous to Dan Hole, and, 
I am informed, to only three other bodies of water in the 
United States. Mr. W. F. Robinson, of Boston, caught 
one of these fish weighing five pounds. A young lad, 
son of Mr. Joseph Gridley, of Boston, took a salmon 
there weighing pounds recently. Mr. A. T. Sisson, of 
the J. B. Hunter Company, Summer street, took a six- 
pound lake trout on a fly at Newfound Lake, which is a 
rare thing, as lakers seldom rise to a fly. 
From the Rangeleys and Moosehead reports of great 
fishing continue to pour in. If we can credit all the fine 
reports, there has not for many seasons been a month 
of May like this for angling in the big lakes of New Eng- 
land. Details must be deferred to my next letter. 
Central. 
The Devilfish and Some Other Fishes in North 
Carolina* 
Forest and Steeam for April 18 came to hand while 
I had by my side- "Brickell's Natural History of 
North Carolina," published in 1737. The reference to 
Elliott's "Sports of the Carolinas," under the caption, 
"A New Jersey Devil Fish" (p. 310), caused me to turn 
to the older account of the fish given by Brickell in 
the early part of the preceding century. In this the 
record was first published (p. 224) that "the devilfish, 
so-called, is of a monstrous large size and strength, 
for it hath been known to weigh a sloop's anchor, and 
run away with the vessel for a league or two, and to 
bring her back again almost to the same place against 
the tide." 
The proper scientific naiite of the devilfish appears 
to be Maiita birostris, and Mr. Fowler was under a mis- 
apprehension when he declared otherwise. I think he 
would admit now that such was the case. 
But my main purpose in writing is to elicit informa- 
tion respecting several other names current in North 
Carolina in the early part of the eighteenth century 
and recorded by Brickell. Such are: 
"Sea-Tench" (p. 234), evidently applied to the black- 
fish or tautog. 
"Welch-men" (sing. Welchman), described (p. 239) 
as "the largest sort of perches," and as "a very firm, 
white and sweet fish." This is evidently the black bass. 
"Irish-men" (sing. Irishman), mentioned (p. 239) 
as "the fourth sort" of perch, "a more flat fish than any 
of the former, and much resembling a bream, being 
all over speckled or mottled with black and blue spots." 
This is undoubtedly the crappie or calico bass. 
I canitot recall mention of the name Irishman (lor 
the crappie) in any other work, but Tench and Welch- 
man have been repeatedly recorded. Can any of your 
readers give instances of the use of any of those names 
now and specify the exact localities in which they are 
used? 1 am sure others besides myself would be much 
obliged for the information. Theo. Gill. 
Washington, D. C. 
A Stfcker in a Cypress. 
A STORY comes from Jeanerette, La., where about thirty 
pounds of fish were recently sawed out of the heart of a 
cypress log. The other day when the larger end of an 
immense cypress log was being passed under the saw of 
the mill of the Jeanerette Cypress Lumber Companj', one 
of the millmen made the discovery that in a hollow of 
the log was some substance that was evidently extraor- 
dinary. Flis examination acquainted him with the fact 
that a large fish had been sawed up with the log. The log 
was one that had been cut about the usual distance from 
the ground, but which had a hollow one one side above 
where it had been cut. The hollow space opened out 
in a hole of a few inches in diameter on the side of the 
tree. The hollow space itself, how^ever, was of ample 
dimensions. Occupying a great proportion of the space 
were the sawed remains of a large sucker, probably a 
"choupique," estimated to have weighed at least thirty 
pounds. The explanation that has been offered for the 
lodgment of the fish in so unexpected a place was that 
in high water when the hole in the side of the tree was 
below the surface of the water, a small fish got titrougli 
the hole into the hollow. The fish failed to swim out of 
the hole before the water fell. Enough water remained 
in the hole at all times to permit the fish to live, and it 
"waxed fat" in its peculiar abode, and at least remainec', 
fresh, if not alive, when the log was being rafted and 
when it was run into the mill. — New Orleans Times- 
Democrat. 
Rhode Island Anglingf Notes. 
Providence, May 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: Salt 
water fishing has superseded the- fresh water sport and 
large catches of tautog are reported all along the bay. 
It is not an unusual occurrence for a party of men — somo 
women, too, enjoy the sport — to bring home fifty pounds 
each of the toothsome fish. Mussels are the popular bait 
in the spring. 
The black bass fishing of this State seems to be travel- 
ing backward for some unknown reason. It is three years 
since any large catches of large bass were made. The law 
is on all fresh water bass waters until July i, except Lakc 
Mosuansicut and Sneachs Pond. 
•Some fine brook trout have been caught in a small pond 
within the city limits this spring. The brooks which form 
this reservoir are known to contain trout, but to catch 
them with a hand line and by a boy twelve years old who 
was fishing for "sunnies." is something unusual. I had 
always supposed that trout Avere in the brooks at this 
season of the year. Is it possible the brooks have been 
limed and the fish driven into the pond by it? The pond 
I refer to is Upper Canada Pond. 
The Providence Journal announced last week the cap- 
ture of a brook trout in a seine set for salt water fish in 
Narragansett Bay, and many fishermen ^rp wondering at 
it. If they had read Forest and Stream a few months 
past they would Icnow from the very best authority thf t 
brook trout are not killed by salt water, and that they will 
live in it. 
Assistant Superintendent Ccstello got after two fisher- 
men last week who were fishing in R. W, Park. They 
left, taking some pickerel "as long as your arm," as 
James says. They abandoned their box of shrimp and 
Mr. Costello threw a handful in the lake, and white perch 
as large as shad grabbed them up eagerly. There will 
be great sport there July i. 
I should like to say to J. L. K. about the trout caught 
in a fyke net in salt water which he mentioned in Forest 
AND Stream of May 23, that I reckon that trout came 
from some brook which connects with the salt water, 
even if said brook was ten miles away. 
Let J. P. T. try some salt water shrimp for that pet 
perch of his. No perch ever refused to bite at shrimp. 
I have found nineteen shrimp in the stomach of one 
perch. Seldom. 
The Sea Trout Discussion, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The only men who are really qualified to decide the 
sea trout "question" are those native anglers for fifty 
years along the waters where the sea trout live, and who 
have watched and studied their haunts and habits at all 
seasons of the 3'ear. 
There are hundreds of such anglers in Nova Scotia, 
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, and Prince 
I'.dward Island, and other North Atlantic Coast points. 
Even those students and anglers who have made occa- 
sional visits to sea trout waters, and have returned to the 
States and written books and articles for many j^eans, are 
not experts to decide or further write about this "ques- 
tion." \ Already they are in the following situation: 
We cannot settle this matter; therefore we must discuss 
it forever. 
Forty years ago the discussion annoyed me. It has 
been continued from time to time. It is about time the 
wranglers showed a disposition to practically dispose of 
it. They express a great desire for truth. Then let them 
file their briefs before men who really know, and accept 
the decision of a commission of anglers who alone arc 
really competent to decide. If they want the truth which 
they cannot find themselves, let them raise the other four 
hundred and fift}- dollars, while I, not interested in the 
"question," but desiring relief from the discussion, con- 
tribute fifty. And until some practical step is taken to 
really solve the "problem," perhaps the three per cent, 
of your readers who are still interested in it will allow a 
respite to the other ninety-seven per cent, who are 
satiated with the long discussion. L. F. Brown. 
— t — 
Yachting: Fixtures for J 903. 
Members of race committee will confer a favor by sending notice 
of errors or omissions in the following list, and also changes which 
may be made in the future. 
MAY. 
3ft. Rqyal Canadian, club, Toronto. 
30. Seawanhaka Corinthian, club, Oyster Bay. 
30. Harlem, Y. R. A. of L. I. Sound, annual, City Island. 
30. Indian Harbor, Y. R. A. of L. I. Sound, special, Greenwich. 
30. Bridgeport, Y. R. A. of L. I. S., special, Bridgeport. 
30. .Southern, annual, New Orleans. 
30. Keystone, club, Woodmere, L. I. 
30. South Boston, Y. R. A., open. City Point. . 
30. Columbia, open, Chicago, Lake Michigan. 
30. Chicago, cruise to Indian Harbor. 
30. Williamsburg, open, spring regatta. 
30. Atlantic, club, Sea Gate. 
SO. Riverton, club, Delaware River. 
30. Toledo Y. A., Monroe Piers. 
JUNE. 
1. Atlantic, ocean race; Sea Gate around Fire Island and North- 
east End Lightships back to Sea Gate. 
6. Seawanhaka Corinthian, club. Oyster Bay. 
6. Columbia, eleventh annual Michigan City race. 
6. Chicago, handicap race, Lake Michigan. 
6. Royal Canadian, chib, Toronto. 
6 Marine and Field, Y. R. A. of G. B. 
6 Knickerbocker, Y. R. A. of L. I. Sound, annual. 
8. Pavonia, open, Bayonne. 
8- 12. New York special races, 90-footers, Sandy Hook. 
9- Atlantic, annual. Sea Gate. 
10. Atlantic, 90-footers, Sandy Hook. 
10. South Boston, club, City Point. 
10-12-13-15-16. Manchester, trial races for selection of challenger for 
Seawanhaka cup, Manchester Harbor. 
11. New York, fifty-seventh annual, all classes, off Sandy Hook. 
13. Chicago, special, Lake Michigan. 
13. Boston, ckib. South Boston. 
13. Royal Canadian, club, Toronto. 
13. Seawanhalca Corinthian, club, Oyster Bay, 
13. Larchmont, spring regatta, Larchmont. 
13. Bever!}-, club, Monument Beach. 
14. Jamaica Bay, club, Jamaica Bay. 
15. "New York, Glen Cove cups, Glen Cove. 
17. Beverly, open sweepstake, Monument Beach. 
17. Larchmont, races for 90-footers, Larchmont. 
17. Boston, Y. R. A., off Point Allerton, open. 
17. Dorchester, open, Dorchester Bav. 
lS-19. New Rochelle, club, New Rochelle. 
19. Eastern, special, open. Marblehead. 
19. Indian I-Iarbor, 90-footers, Greenwich. 
20. Southern, Baldwin and Walker cups, New C)rleans. 
20. Beverly, club, Monument Beach. 
20. Keystone, club, Woodmere, L. I. 
20. Brooklyn, Y. R. A. of Gravesend Bay. 
20. Corinthian, first championship, Marblehead. 
20. Seawanhaka Corinthian, 90-footers, Oyster Bay. 
20. Atlantic, club. Sea Gate. 
20. Columbia, motor boat race. Am. P. B. A., Hudson River. 
20. N'ew Rochelle, Y. R. A. of L. 1. Sound, annual. 
20. Chicago, handicap, Lake Michigan. 
20. Royal Canadian, club, Toronto. 
21. Old Mill, club, Jamaica Bay. 
21. Gloucester, N. J., annual, Delaware River. 
25-26-27. Seawanhaka Corinthian, Y. R. A. of L. L Sound, annua! 
and specials. 
27. South Boston, club, Citj' Point. 
27 New York, special race for 90-footers, Newport. 
27 Boston, club, Marblehead. 
27. Beverly, club, Monument Beach. 
27. St. Paul, cruise, rendezvous St. Paul, Minn. 
27. Chicago, special. Lake Michigan. 
27. Royal Canadian, club, Toronto. 
27. New York C. C, Y. R. A. of Gravesend Bay. 
30. New York, speci.il race for 90-footers, Newport. 
30. Royal Canadian, L. S. S. A. regatta, Oakville. 
29-July 2. Manhasset Bay cup races, L. I. Sound, 
JULY. 
1. Royal Canadian, Queen's cup rac?, Toronto and L. S, f!. A. 
reeratta, OaVvillr; , i, ., , ' .. ' , . ii 
