ISO 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Aug. 1 6, 1902. 
fish which hve on bass spawn are increasing. He told 
about a New Yorker who was in the habit of spending , 
the summer at Point Salubrious, Lake Ontario, who a 
few years ago objected to t)ic use of nets, but had since 
changed his mind, as lie liad been convinced that the 
netting of suckers, bullheads and other coarse fish which 
was conducted itnder the supervision of a State ofilicial in 
Mud Creek and Mud Bay had improved the 1)ass fishing 
in that vicinity. 
Mr. Grant — These coarse fish also cat the muskallonge 
fry which we put in the river. I believe that the white- 
fish is the only fish in Lake Ontario which is a vegetarian. 
All the others arc cannibals. I am not in favor of general 
netting. 
Mr. Skinner — Are not the black bass brave defenders of 
their spawn? 
Mr. Grant — They are, but the coarse fish go on the 
shoals in a great army and devour the spawn. 
Mr. Thompson — My remarks applied to the time when 
there was a law permitting the netting of coarse fish, but 
providing that the game fish must be separated, not to the 
time when promiscuous netting \Vas allowed. Things 
have changed within fifty years. People who cofne here 
now want to cdtch fish. You cinqot have' basB fisliirig and 
have netting. ' ' ' ' ' 
Major C- E. Briltori, of Ganauoquc, Out.— In regard to 
discretion in netting, I am opposed to opening the door 
to netting. I have no faitli in the honesty of the man 
who fishes for a living. He will do just as Mr. Grant's 
man said, tlirow the game fish back tmder tlic seat. 
There were just as iriany rough fish in the river years ago 
as there are now. Much of the talk you hear comes from 
those who want the privilege of selling fish in open mar- 
ket. If you allow netting you arc bound to lose your 
game fish, for they will then have l)oth enemies, their 
natural enemy, the coarse fish, and man as well. I saw 
in a newspaper recently the report that some party in 
Alexandria Bay had caught 125 bass in one day. I never 
fish or eat fish, but am always glad to help the fishing 
interests. Major Britton suggested tliat a .special com- 
mittee be appointed to confer with S. T. Bastedo, Deputy 
Minister of Fislicrics for Ontario, in regard to certain 
fishing matters. 
Protector Joseph Northrttp, of Alexandria Bay, .said 
he had investigated the case referred to by Major Brit- 
ton, where 125 bass were caught in one day. It fre- 
quently happens that some man takes out a party in a 
yacht with several skiffs for a day's fishing. When the 
party comes in the man is credited with the entire catch 
made by five or ten men. 
Hon. C. R. Skinner — I am a good deal like Mr. Britton. 
I would not care about catching aU the fish in the river. 
I live principally xipon scenery while on the river 
[laughter], but there are (jthers who delight to fish and 
there is no mistaking the fact that fishing makes the 
river more popular as a resort. That ^^e now have good 
fishing is due to the efforts of this Association. We 
ought to do all we can to preserve the attractions. If we 
let up one iota we are gone. I have no more faith in 
those who fish for a living than Mr. Britton has, and that 
is nothing at all. They take everything they catch. If 
any netting is done tlie nets should be drawn under the 
supervision of a State officer. The only other way would 
be to have a provision in the Jaw that all men shall be 
. honest. [Laughter.] 
. I Mr. Skinner offered the -following : 
Resolved, That the Anglers' Association is unalterably opposed 
to anj' legislation licensing the netting of cnll fish in tlie water.s, 
bays and creeks of the St. Lawrence River, and wc call upon all 
representatives in the Senate and Assembly representing districts 
bordering upon the St. Lawrence Kivcr to oppose any and' all 
measures permitiing such netting. 
'Resolved, That the secretary of tins Assocjiation be directed to 
procure a supply of petitions for circulars against any modification 
of the present law in this respect. 
Resolved, That the executive comtnittee be instructed to use all 
honorable means to carry out the wishes of this Association. 
■ H. P. Rose, of New York — I do not think there arc very 
good grounds for the belief that suckers and other coarse 
fish should "be netted. 
D. C, McEwan, of Brooklyn — I regard all these stories 
of catching bass here as fish stories, for I have not fished. 
' 1 think the only practical way to preserve bass is to pro- 
hibit netting. 
Mr. Cornwall — I agree with what Secretary Thompson 
has said. I am totally opposed to any legislation allow- 
ing netting in the river excepting with minnow nets. 
Gen, I. B. Van Petten, of Claverack — My .sentiments in 
regard to the matter are well expressed by Mr. Skinnei-. 
I am rather of the opinion we had better keep all the 
legislation we have against netting. 
Col. O. G. Staples — When I go out fisl)ing I take four or 
five oarsmen and never take as many bass as the law 
allows. Unless there is good fishing on the river the great 
n'lass of people will not come here. When I first built 
. - this hotel, nearly every person who came here was a 
fisherman. I indorse Mr. Skinner's resolutions and sug- 
gest that the Secretary send out petition blanks and see 
if we cannot counteract this action regarding netting 
legislation.' 
Mr. Robb — I am in favor of the resolutions and feel 
that I can aid proper legislation in some way. There is 
no doubt fishing is what brings people to the river. 
Major Britton — One of our fishermen says he has seen 
tnore black bass this year than ever before, but they would 
not bite. I think tlie bass can take care of their spawn 
themselves. 
Mr. Skinner-^Perhaps the reason the bass would not 
. bite Avas that they were living on the spawn of the bull- 
"heads. 
^ Walter Fox— I thmk we should hold on to all the laws 
we have ancl'g'et as many more as we can to improve the 
fishing. 
Dr. Cole — I have lived on the river twenty years and 
have been fishing three times. I indorse the resolutions of 
Mr. Skinner and think they should be adopted. 
Vice-President Heath — I am delighted that the news- 
papers are able to report big catches of fish. T think it 
would be a sad day for the river if wc opened up to net- 
ling in any form, if we indorsed anything in the way of 
netting they would liavc everything inside of two years. 
I think the thing is wrong all through. 
The resolutions offered by Mr. Skinner were then 
unanimously adopted by a rising vote. 
Messrs. Cornwall, McEwan and Robb >yere appoiijtetjl 
as a Nominating Comrnittee, 
A letter from S. T. Bastedo, Deputy Minister of Fish- 
eries for Ontario, in regard to angling matters, was read 
by the Secretary. 
The Nominating Committee reported in favor of the 
following officers, and they were duly elected : President, 
W. C. Browning, New York city; First Vice-President, 
Henry R. Heath, Brooklyn; Second Vice-President, Hon. 
Charles R. Skinner, Albany; Secretary, W. H. Thomp- 
son, Alexandria Bay; Treasurer, R. P. Grant, Clayton. 
Executive Committee — A. C. Cornwall, Alexandria Bay; 
Frank H. Taylor, Philadelphia, Pa. ; A. E. Clark, Chicago ; 
C. W, Crossmon, Walter Fox, G. T. Rafferty, Alexandria 
Bay; George C. Boldt, New York; Col. O. G. Staples, 
Washington, D. C. ; T. A. Gillespie, Pittsburg, Pa. ; C. E. 
Britton. Gananoque, Ont. ; Charles G. Emery, New York; 
W. H. Nichols, New York ; T. B. Kerr, New York. 
Mr. Grant — But for the action of Major Britton 
American anglers would have to pay $10 for going into 
Canadian waters to fish. I move that we extend him a 
vote of thanks. Carried. 
Mr. Grant then moved that the Executive Committee 
be empowered to appoint the necessary sub-committees to 
meet Mr. Bastedo or other officials in regard to fishing in 
the International Park. Carried. 
Mr. Kerr offered the following, which was adopted : 
Resolved, That the executive committee take measures to secure 
legislation at the next session of the Legislature prohibiting the 
netting of minnows for bait within 100 feet of any privatfe dock, 
without the consent of the owners of the dock. 
The Association extended a vote of thanks to Vice- 
President Heath for the efficicfnt manner in which he per- 
fortned the duties of presiding officer; to Major J. W. 
Pond for what he has done to regulate the catching of 
minnows, and to Col. O. G. Staples for his courtesy and 
hospitalitv. 
Hon. Charles R. Skinner invited the As.sociation to hold 
its next annual meeting at Central Park, and the invita- 
tion was accepted. 
,A.t the conclusion of the meeting the members of the 
Association enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the Thousand 
Island House, tendered to them by the proprietor, Col. 
O. G. Staples, and subsequently they were taken on a 
trtur among the islands on the latter' s pretty steam yacht 
Nereid. 
The petition which occasioned so much discussion at 
the meeting of the Anglers' Association has the follow- 
ing preamble: 
"Owing to the elimination of the net fishing in the .American 
waters of the River St. Lawrence for the past fifteen years, it has 
increased the numbers and qualities of cull fish to such an extent 
that furtlier efforts of the ronimission to propagate the said 
waters by introducing fry of llie dififerent game fish amount to 
simply the furnishing of food for the cull fish named below, viz.: 
Imllheads, catfish, dogfish, suckers, eels, rock bass, sunfish, perch, 
billfish, chub and menhaden. Wc recommend a law to license 
I he netting of cult fish in the waters, bays and creeks of the 
River St. Lawrence bounding on the county of Jefferson, State 
of New York." 
Several rules and regulations in regard to the matter are 
also recommended m the petition. 
W. E. WoLCorr. 
UricA, N. Y., Aug. 7. 
Fishing on the Delaware River, 
It was impossible to learn much of the fishing in the 
Delaware between Mast Hope Falls and Pond Eddy, for 
the reason that the river was in flood and rain fell every 
day; but there are many rifts and small fishy-looking 
eddies all the way, while the mountain scenery and the 
surroundings are pleasing to any angler. Lackawaxen 
is one of the best towns at which to stop, as at that 
point the old dam forms a long pool into which the 
Lackawaxen River debouches, and this is a noted place 
for trolling for bass, while they told me the Lackawaxen 
coiitains pickerel and perch as well. Then York Lake 
is within a mile. It is deep and clear and good catches- 
are made there. It is a good place to go if the river is 
muddy. 
Shohola is on the river, and if has its eddies and 
rifts, the latter being more rocky than those further up. 
Washington, Highland and Montgomery lakes, in New 
York, and Walker Lake in Pennsylvania, are all within 
six miles, while Panther and Shohola brooks in Penn- 
sylvania and Little Mill, Half-way, Beaver and Stoiiy 
brooks on the other side are still nearer, and all contain 
trout in season. 
At Parker's Glen, four miles from Shohola, one has a 
choice of the Delaware, Walker and Twin lakes, Samen- 
tine and Parkers Glen bro'bks in Pennsylvania, all with- 
in a few miles and easily accessible, as at all of these 
little towns one can find some one who will take him in a 
conveyance at a moderate charge. 
. Pond Eddy is the nearest point to New York city 
that is on the river, although Mongaup — at the mouth 
of the stream of that name — Mill Rift, Sparrow Btrsh 
and Port Jervis each boasts good fishing. The eddy at 
the twin towns of Pond Eddy is long, wide, deep, and 
some big bass, pickerel and wall-eyed pike have been 
taken there this season. The water clears quickly after 
a freshet, and it is beautifully situated for trolling or cast- 
ing. Small catfish are the best bait, and if one uses 
these the bass cannot resist them. Grasshoppers, 
crickets and live frogs arc also niuch used. There are 
boats and boatmen to be had for a small fee, and there 
is a bridge across the river within a half mile of the 
villages. The rifts, both above and below the eddy, can 
be fished from. shore, where ledges of stone jut out into 
the water. The old towpath follows the New York side 
of the eddy, and when the river is low and clear the 
boulders along that side form clean spots from which 
one may cast into the deep water that is but a few feet 
off shore. Unfortunately there are not very good ac- 
commodations at either village for anglers, but the fish- 
ing will make up for this deficiency. One may camp on 
the shores of the eddy in shady places near the bridge, 
where there is good spring water. One spot is withi'fi 
five hundred yards of the station, and another is at the 
mouth of Carpenter's Brook and just above the suspen- 
sion bridge. We have been at this eddy five days, dur- 
ing which time the river rose, fell and cleared, so that to- 
day trolling in the eddy has been accompanied by re- 
sults in the shape of big small-mouths. One of the 
anglers took a bass of which we had a momentary 
glimpse, and it was a very large one, indeed. 
One who visits this village should by no means fail 
to visit Fish Cabin Brook, on the New York side and 
distant something over a tnile from the station. Take 
the camera along. The brook flow.s through a deep 
gorge and reaches the river after a descent of 1,500 feet ■ 
or thereabout, in beautiful ' cascades. Station Creek is ' 
at the village and Bushkill is two miles distant, both on 1 
the Pike County side, while Middoux and Strassers 
ponds are in New York, distant six and two miles, re- 
spectively. But Carpenter's Brook is of goodly size, 
and it is within a mile, in Sullivan County. It was once ; 
a well-known trout stream, btit the floods of last winter 
were disastrous to these fish, and while some good 
catches have been made this season, better ones will no 1 
doubt be waiting the angler when open time comes next 
year. 
Any angler who contemplates a visit to the Dela- i 
ware this month will do well to write to the postmaster 
or the station agent at the village he intends to visit ' 
and inclose a card for the reply he will receive promptly. 
We found every person we met willing and ready to tell I 
us all they knew concerning the fishing, and they are 
courteous and thoughtful of the welfare of others who 
come to their vicinity. They do not all fish as anglers 
do. and. as a consequence, they .sometimes believe the 
fishing, is not so good as it really is, because they will > 
not go to the trouble or expense of procuring the ' 
proper bait and lure. But they are familiar with all 
(he best places for fishing, and in this respect we found 
them reliable. As the Delaware rises and falls rapidly ' 
and is affected by countless smaller streams that find an ' 
outlet in it, it is well to ask for information as to the ' 
condition of the river as late as possible before starting ' 
from home. There are so many lakes, however, near 
all the stations, and streams as well, that one can go to ' 
one of these for a day or two if the river is high or col- \ 
ored from freshets. It should be low all of this ] 
month, but there has been a great deal of rain this sea- ij 
son in the region it drains, and may be iiiorc, so the 
lakes are well to remember. 
Perry D. Frazer. 
Pond Eddy, Pa., Aug. 6. 
Random Notes of an Angler. 
TtolHog for Bluefish. 
Yiis, one may obtain capital sport in trolling for blue- 
fish, provided the essential conditions obtain, such as a 
good yacht or sail boat, an experienced skipper and a-plenty 
of free-biting fish. The invigorating sea breeze, the 
swiftly gliding boat upon the bright and rippling waves, 
the unclouded sky and a number of jolly comrades along 
all make an environment that is truly exhilarating, and 
added to this the sport of capturing one of the mo,st 
gamy of fish affords a recreation that is alinost unsur- 
passed. 
My reminiscences of this sport are -many and varied 
and they are always pleasaiit in their recalling. While 
it may not be a strictly sportsmanlike method, it has a 
special fascination, and there are many who make if their 
chief salt-water fishing, provided the fish are to be 
found, but this is not always the case, for the bluefish 
is a wanderer and one so capricious in its migrations 
that it has been known to visit a given locality by 
myriads in one year and perhaps will not return to it ' 
for several succeeding seasons. ' 
It is a well known species on the Atlantic coast from 
New England to Georgia, and is known by a multiplicity 
of names, such as horse mackerel, skip-jack, green fish, 
etc. So wide are its, wanderings, it has been found on 
the coast of Brazil and British Guiana, at the Canary 
Islands, in the Mediterranean Sea, and is a common 
market fish in Australia and even at the Cape of Good 
Hope. • ■ .j 
In its spring migration it appears on the South Caro- ' 
lina coast in March or early in April, and moves stead- 
ily northward, its arrival in Vineyard Sound being about 
the last of May. Until the middle of June it is chiefly 
a bottom feeding fish, but after that period and until it 
leaves for the South late in the autumn, it is a higher- 
moving species and takes the troll or other bait near or 
at the surface. My bluefishing has been done entirely 
in New England waters, and consequently, I cannot 
speak of my own knowledge regarding the best locali- 
ties near New • York. ■ 
Scott, in his "Fishing in American Waters," says: 
"The best grounds for large bluefish are outside and , 
near the inlets of Fire Island. These- inlets are formed 
by the tides of the Atlantic passing through Fire Island 
into the south bay; the principal ones are opposite Islip 
and South Oyster Bay, but late in the fall the best trolling 
is off Rockaway and Jamaica Bay, the grounds extend-- 
ing from the Highlands, off the Jersey shore, to some 
ten miles below the light-ship." 
In New England it is now rarely found north of Cape 
Cod, and it is most abundant in the waters around Nan- 
tucket and as far east as Provincetown. 
The bluefish is undoubtedly the most destructive spe- 
cies that we have; it kills, absolutely for the sake of kill^ 
ing. Rushing into a school of mackered, or menhaden, ' 
it cuts a swath as wide as it can reach, its path being 
marked by a trail of blood and by the pieces of fish that 
it mangles and scatters around. The statement has j 
been frequently made that it destroys more than twice 
its own weight, daily, of other. f|§hy ,and il-i-s.. e.Q' glutton- 
ous that it eats to repletioiti and tHe^.-disgorgG.s j«i order 
that it may again be filled. 
A hand-line fisherman states in the 1871-1872 Report 
of the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries that 
he has taken forty-two scup about two inches long out' 
of the stomach of one bluefish. The scup referred to is- 
tlie scuppaug of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode 
-Island, and is identical with the porgie of New York, 
New Jersey and localities fiirther south. 
- Another fisherman states that he has seen hundreds 
of little scup in them, and when no other food is' to be 
obtained crabs and siuall shellfish are eaten by them. 1 
Lieut.-Gov. Stevens said: "I have found bluefish with' 
young scup in them; when taken in gill nets we almost' 
always find scup in them. Bluefish caught with a drail: 
ofteti vomit up the {cod in them. Sometimes thre«' 
