Aug. i6, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
ISl 
fourths of the food would be young scup. To-day I 
picked up one and pressed on the belly of the fish and 
found that he was full of them. I have seen the little 
striped smelt (capelin) packed in them and looking like 
a row of pencils." Another witness stated that a blue- 
fish will destroy a thousand fish in a day. When they 
get into a school of menhaden there is a stream of blood 
as far as one can see. They go into them and they will 
destroy the whole school before they hold up. 
All the evidence that was given at the hearing re- 
ported by Prof. Baird, seemed to show that the bluefish 
had decreased very considerably both in size and num- 
bers, and the diminution was attributed to the traps, 
pounds and weirs. 
I have before me the Report of the Massachusetts 
Commissioners of Inland Fisheries jnd Game for 1900, 
and the statistics printed therein are valuable and inter- 
esting, particularly so for the reason that that State 
seems to be at the present time the northern limit of the 
migrations of the bluefish. 
I find that in all the pounds and weirs, traps, fykes 
and seines there were taken in the nineteen years, 1882- 
1900, inclusive, an annual average of 116,000. Approxi- 
mately, the greatest catch, 325,473, having been made in 
T882 and the smallest, 20,325, in 1899, that for igoo be- 
ing 9,650 more than the catch for the preceding year, 
the 1900 catch thus being only about one-fourth of the 
average for 19 years. 
A rather curious fact appears in the tabulated returns 
and that is that fully one-half were taken in the waters 
around Nantucket, and in 1899 of a total catch of 20,325, 
14,170 were also taken at Nantucket. 
Now, the diminution that I have noted- may possibly 
have been caused to some extent by the erratic migra- 
tions of the fish, as some pound owners declare, but as 
the fish was pretty regular in its visits during the years 
I have named, it would seem that the traps and pounds 
have been largely to blame, and no doubt we may look 
for a further decrease in the ranks of this species, which, 
despite its destructiveness, have proved to be not only 
one of the most delicate and valuable of our food fishes, 
but a game fish also of no little importance. Genio C. 
Scott well says of this fact: "Were it not that the elec- 
trical jerk of the bite of a large bluefish has such great 
power in it as to make the angler sometimes feel that 
he, too, is being fished for, and that its teeth are so 
sharp as to make strong and heavy tackle necessary, it 
would be considered incomparably the highest game 
fish of the American coast. 
"When estimating the value of angler's fishes by the 
play they give, and the scenes into which the angler is 
led in search of each kind, the bluefish must occupy a 
foremost rank; and the man who has neither trolled nor 
still-baited for this peculiar fish — the best breakfast fish 
on our coast, except the Spanish mackerel — has two 
treats in store, which, the sooner he improves the earlier 
he will regret that he had not tasted before." 
In trolling for bluefish, an imitation squid made of 
metal, bone, ivory or mother-of-pearl, which is at- 
tached to a very strong line, fifty or more yards in length, 
is used; an eel skin drawn inside out over the heavily 
leaded hook makes also a capital bait; in fact, my best 
fishing had been done with one of these homely lures. 
A bluefish will seize anything that is in motion in 
the water, and almost any bait, therefore, will answer 
provided it is tough enough to withstand the sharp teeth 
of the fish and remain intact on the hook. The eel skin 
meets all requirements, and as it has a peculiar glisten 
when being dragged through the water, it makes as good 
a bait as one can have. 
The lure is trailed astern the swiftly moving yacht, 
which is sailed in different directions over the shoals, 
quartering the water as the trained pointer covers the 
ground until the presence of bluefish is discovered by 
the practiced eye of the skipper, the fact being estab- 
lished by a "slick" of oil, which escapes from the feed- 
ing fish and makes a greasy scum on the water. 
The oil slick, however, is not always to be seen; in 
fact, if menhaden or mackerel are not being eaten there 
is little show of oil. 
In former days we used to get a good many bluefish 
in Dorchester Bay, Mass., and even further in shore in 
the small bay at Quincy. There were no menhaden or 
other oily fish there, and in trolling we had no "signs" 
to depend o^i. We used the eel skin bait and got a 
good many fish. They were not large, a ten-pounder 
being the heaviest that I ever knew of being captured 
there, but they gave most capital sport. I have no doubt 
that they visited that particular piece of water in pursuit 
of smelts, which are very abundant there; an adjacent 
river, the Fore River, being probably the greatest breed- 
ing ground for those dainty little fish on the Atlantic 
coast. 
In more recent years the bluefish became more scarce 
there, and now I doubt if there is one to be found in that 
neighborhood; in fact, there has been taken in all the 
pounds, weirs, etc., of Eastern Massachusetts only a few 
scattering fish in the last six or seven years, for example, 
1895: Swampscott, 3; Gloucester, 81; Magnolia, 18. In 
1897, Gloucester, 8. In 1900, Nahant, 7. 
So beggarly a showing as this is hardly worth men- 
tioning, and it shows pretty conclusively that no matter 
how abundant the bluefish was in earlier times above 
Cape Cod, Provincetown now seems to mark its north- 
ern limit. 
As before stated, the course of the yacht is changed 
in various directions in search of a school until finally 
the bait is seized by a voracious fish and the sport be- 
gins. 
The fisherman feeling a sharp tug and heavy pull at 
his line, excitedly begins to "haul in," but he soon finds 
that he has no puny antagonist to deal with, for the blue- 
fish is one of the strongest and quickest moving fish that 
swims. It darts about in every direction, now diving 
down deep in the water and anon leaping clear of it, 
■ind while refusing to yield an inch, attempts in every 
way to shake the hook from its mouth; and the fisher- 
man, to secure his prize, must be strong of hand and 
arm and ready to meet all the feints and artifices of his 
antagonist with coolness and dexterity. A pair of thick 
woolen gloves is a necessity, for the strain is so severe, 
when a large fish is hooked, that unless the hands are 
thus protected, the line is sure to gut them severely. 
The battle continues sometimes for a number of minutes, 
but the fish is at length conquered, and finally, with a 
quick pull, the glistening prize is lifted out of the water 
and swung into the boat. 
And what a beauty it is with its silvery sides and blue 
and green and leaden-colored back! A difi^erent fish 
it seems, indeed, from the specimens which are seen in 
the markets; fish that have been out of their native ele- 
ment for days and weeks and perhaps for months. 
When the bluefish is swung into the boat it jumps 
around in the most energetic manner, apparently anx- 
ious to continue the fight, and the fisherman does well 
who quickly gives the jumping captive its quietus; for 
its sharp teeth and vice-like jaws are capable of inflict- 
ing dangerous wounds, as many a man will testify. 
Many a time have I seen a boot bitten through as cleanly 
as if it had been cut with an axe, and more than once 
have seen feet cut and toes severely injured when they 
were incautiously exposed to the jaws of the bluefish. 
Still-fishing for bluefish is really the most sportsman- 
like method, and when the fish are abundant is an in- 
tensely exciting sport. I was initiated into this mode of 
taking these very gamy fish by my old friend, Charles 
Lovett, Esq., who was for. many years connected with 
the Massachusetts State Government. He was a keen 
sportsman and angler, and a most estimable gentleman. 
He was, I would say, en passant, the only angler with 
whom I ever was acquainted who succeeded in captur- 
ing the shad with the fly and light tackle. He used to 
get considerable sport out of this novel and apparently 
impossible angling, for the shad is a heavy fish with a 
very tender mouth, one that would seem to "break out" 
at the least pull of the hook. 
Mr._ Lovett asked me on one occasion if I would like 
to enjoy a day's bluefishing with rod and reel. Of course 
I answered in the affirmative; and with the proper tackle 
a short time subsequently we found ourselves in a boat 
anchored on the edge of a shoal; the water was hardly 
six feet in depth on one side of us, but on the other 
there was a quick drop of twenty or thirty feet. 
For rods, lines and hooks we had tautog tackle, such 
as was described in my la.st article, but the hooks were 
attached to a fine piano wire for leader, any other leader 
being easily cut through by the sharp teeth of the fish. 
We used a variety of bait, clams, sand worm and cape- 
lins all being greedily taken, and for a quarter of the 
flood and three-quarters of the ebb tide we had most 
capital sport. The fish did not run large, the average 
being not over three pounds, but they were gamy in the 
highest degree. Long runs were frequently made, our 
reels singing right merrily as the lines ran out, and the 
fish often jumped two feet clear of the water. We cap- 
tured eighteen fish in all, and no fish of equal size and 
nurnbers ever excelled them in out and out gaminess. 
Since that time still bait-fishing for bluefish, with rod 
and reel, has become a common recreation, but prior 
to it, it was, I think, never practiced. If one likes an 
abundance of labor in fishing, he can get it by bait- 
casting from the shore. A heavy sinker with hook at- 
tached is fastened to the end of a strong linen line which 
lies coiled up by the side of the fisherman on the beach. 
The hook is baited with a reversed eel skin, and after 
being whirled around the fisherman's head several times, 
in order that sufficient impetus may be obtained, is cast 
out into the ocean as far as possible and then is drawn 
back hand over hand. If a bluefish seizes it he is drawn 
ashore, but if one fails to take it the operation is re- 
peated. 
It is hard work. I have tried it and can speak under- 
standingly. I have pulled in several September fifteen- 
pounders, and they gave me all the work I wanted, but 
I am not yearning to pull in any more in that way. 
Edward A. Samuels, 
[to be continued.] 
New England Waters in August. 
Boston, Aug. 11. — Mr. George Loud and Mr. A. I. 
McLauthlin, of Boston, with wives and children, have 
gone on a fishing and vacation trip to Clearwater Lake, 
near Farmington. The fishing is said to be moderately 
good there, even in hot weather. They will occupy 
Camp Runaviay, the property of the F. E. Whiting party, 
of which Mr. Loud is a member. This camp was built 
last year, and is said to be a model of convenience and 
comfort. Mr. Walter L. Hill, of Arlington, will start this 
week for a fishing trip to Pond-in-the-River, below the 
Middle Dam, Richardson Lake. Later he will take his 
two boys, aged 10 and 12 years, to the Richardson Ponds 
region, at the head of the same lake. They will camp 
there; a great treat for the boys. Mr. Prentis Cummings, 
of Boston, is at Bemis, for his usual summer fishing 
trip. Mr. John S. Doane, of Boston, has made another 
trip to the Upper Dam. This time he has caught a sal- 
mon of 5 pounds and 7 ounces, one of 3 pounds and 7 
ounces, and a trout of 3 pounds. Mr. L. H. Witherell, 
o£ Boston, stopping at Pleasant Island camps, spent one 
day at the Upper Dam last week and landed a salmon 
of 7 pounds. S. _G. Hamilton, of Boston, also got a 
salmon of 3 pounds 14 ounces. These record fish were all 
caught on the fly. At Haines Landing considerable fish- 
ing is yet being doxie, with the women making the best 
catches. Miss Alice M. Nelson, of Maiden, Mass., has 
lately made a catch of three salmon, weighing 2, 2, and 
3^ pounds. Mrs. R. H. Chandler, of Thompsonville, 
Conn., has landed a salmon of syi pounds. It took 30 
minutes of close work to conquer this fish. Miss Rob- 
inson, of Maiden, has taken a salmon of 4j4 pounds. 
Hon. Millard Voorhees, of New Brunswick, N. J., has 
made a catch of three salmon in one day, weighing 3, 
4 and 5 pounds. At the Birches all is summer gayety, 
with little fishing being done, though a number of Bos- 
ton anglers are there. At Kineo, Moosehead Lake, the 
summer vacationist is in the ascendency, but side trips 
for fishing and camping continue to be in order. In the 
neighborhood of Rangeley Lake, Kennebago Lake, Loon 
Lake. Quimby Pond, Seven Ponds and Rcddington, the 
fly-fishing is reported to be excellent by a number of 
Boston sportsmen, who are there or have recently re- 
turned. At Belgrade Lake trout fishing has not been 
very good of late, though Otto von Kimbusch, of New 
Yorkj has lately taken one of 4^4 pounds. Fly-fishing, 
for bass is said to be remarkably good thele. Dr. I. H. 
Hartman, of Baltimore, caught a bass there last week 
that weighed 3 pounds and 13 ounces. The law does 
make close time on trout in the northern New Hamp- 
.shire waters on Aug. i, though it does on the waters of 
the southern counties of that State. Grafton, Carroll 
and Coos counties are still legally open, and a good deal 
of trout fishing is being done. Col. IT. C. Fisher, of Bos- 
ton, is^ at his estate, Woodstock Road, and is taking 
some fine strings of trout. In the towns of Hoiderness 
and Campton the brooks are being fished with good suc- 
cess. The wet summer and high water have been particu- 
larly favorable to trout fishing. A salmon weighing S 
pounds has been taken at Tufts Pond, Kingfield, Me.; 
another instance of the rapid growth of landlocked sal^ 
mon, that pond having first been stocked only five years 
ago. Row Ponds, Bingham, Me., are famous for the late 
tly-fishing, and this year is no exception. Brook trout 
of two and three pounds are on the late record. 
Secretary L. Dana Chapman continues to receive word 
. . of remarkable fishing on the Megantic preserve, espe- 
r qially near the Megantic club house. D. D. Clapp, of 
Boston, recently caught 114 trout of good size, in one 
afternoon, from Spider River, not far from the club 
hoitjSe,;; P. W- Lea.vitt, of Cambridge, has alsp made a 
, catch of seventy-five in a few hours. The steward -writes 
that other fishermen are also doing about as well, but 
are too modest to say much about it. Fishing has con- 
t-nued to be the best ever known at the preseiwe, and it is 
a matter of great satisfaction, both to members and 
officers, since the rule is to kill no fish not needed for 
food at the camps. Hence the good fishing is being con- 
served, and will continue to be good. A new fly is the 
latest invention in tackle that has been brought out. 
This fly is called the William F. Beal, the name of the 
inventor, a man prominent in real estate circles and a 
fisherman, who has invented the fly for his own amuse- 
ment. The fly is made on a body wound with tinsel, and 
the wings are all tinsel, curled in such a manner as to 
give a good deal of realistic motion in the water. They 
are made in both silver and gold tinsel, with no feathers 
whatever. 
Boston gunners are not doing much at shore bird shoot- 
ing, although the open season begun immediately after 
July 15. The season has been unusually cold and wet, 
and very few flights of what are termed "big birds" have 
been seen. C. H. Tarbox and Senator Bailey, of Byfield. 
went down to their blinds on the beach the last day of 
July. They spent a part of the day in the blinds and shot 
about eighty peep, but saw no yellowlegs or plover. They 
account for the lack of "big" birds, under the theory 
that the birds are late in rearing their broods north, and 
hence the flights southward have not begun. Gentlemen 
interested in gunning, and summering down on the Cape, 
say that there have been no flights yet of summer yellow- 
legs, though these birds are due. One gentleman spent 
part of the day Thursday off shore in the neighborhood 
of Brant Rock, but saw no "big birds." Peep are un- 
usually plenty. Special. 
American Fisheries Society. 
The thirty-first annual meeting of this national asso- 
ciation of fishculturists and other persons interested in 
fish, fishery and allied subjects, was held at Put-in-Bay, 
O., Aug. 5-7, and the sessions were notable on account 
of the attendance and the practical value of the papers 
read and discussed. 
Put-in-Bay is not readily accessible on account of its 
isolated situation, and yet the attendance represented the 
fish commissions of the United States, of Connecticut, 
Rhode Island, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. The meai- 
bers present during the sessions were from fifteen States 
and the District of Columbia. Among the new members 
elected at Put-in-Bay were persons from five additional 
States. This will serve to show the wide distribution of 
the membership of the Fisheries Society and its capacity 
for influencing public opinion. 
A portion of the first day was devoted to routine busi- 
ness — reports of officers and committees — and to the elec- 
tion of officers for the ensuing year. The officers elected 
are as follows : 
President— Hon. Geo. M. Bowers, U. S. Commissioner 
of Fish and Fisheries. 
Vice-President— Prof. H. B. Ward, University of 
Nebraska, Lincoln. 
Recording Secretary— Geo. F. Peabody, Appleton, Wis. 
Corresponding Secretary— J. E. Gunckel, Toledo, O. 
Treasurer— C. W. Willard, Westerly, R. I. 
Executive Committee— G. T. Mathewsou, Enfield, 
Conn.; W. H. Boardman, Central Falls, R. I.; Prof. E. 
A. Birge, Madison, Wis.; J. J. Stranahan, Bullochville, 
Ga. ; Dwight Lydell, Mill Creek, Mich.; Tarleton H. 
Bean, New York city. 
A committee was appointed to urge upon Congress the 
desirability of estabHshing a biological station at Put-in- 
Bay for the study of natural history problems related to 
fishculture and the fisheries. 
The report of the Treasurer showed the prosperous con- 
dition of the finances of the Society, and the character of 
the papers read and discussed indicated its ability to con- 
tribute materially to the discovery of important facts and 
to make them known. 
The following is a complete list oi' the articles pre- 
sented : 
"The Role of the Larger Aquatic Plants in tlie Bioloev 
of Fresh Water," R. H. Pond. .-4:,/^°"'" 
"A Successful Year in the Propagatioiuol .the' White- 
fish," Frank N. Clark. 
"The Brook Trout Disease and Cement Ponds " M C 
Marsh. 
"Some Remarks on the Time of Planting and Habits 
of the Rainbow Trout. ' Geo. A. Seagle. 
"Fishculture on the Farm," J. J. Stranahan. 
"The Habits and Ciflture of the Black Bass," Dwight 
Lydell. 
"Discouragements in the Culture of Black Bass," H. D. 
Dean. 
"A Few Points on the Black Bass," J. B. Lamkin. 
"Food and Game Fishes of the Rocky Mountain Re- 
gion," J. A. Henshall. 
"Feeding : Its Effects on Growth and Egg Production " 
W. T. Thompson. - ^ 
