FOREST AND STREAM, 
IMarch ig, 1904. 
AND MVEK mniN 
Fly-Fishing Near New York. 
Fifty years ago sport of any description had small 
place in the thoughts and lives of the American people; 
in fact, the word was seldom used except to express 
something "fast," and not to be encouraged. Now we 
are becoming_^a nation of sportsmen and sportswomen, 
and are all alive to outdoor amusements and recreations. 
The benefit resulting from this change in public sentiment 
is perhaps more marked in the women than in the men, 
as very possibly it was more needed. No one of mature 
years can fail to have marked the increased stature and 
healthfulness of our women. The ideaj heroine nowa- 
days is far removed from the wasp-waisted, die-away crea- 
ture of the early portion of the last century. The girl 
of the twentieth century is a fine upstanding woman, with 
a flat back, large frame, and the limbs of a Juno. This 
article, however, has to do not with angels but with 
sport. The taste for this once acquired becomes inherent 
in the blood, and must be gratified or serious loss to 
health and happiness will result. We have much to be 
thankful for in this country, but it behooves us to look 
to the future, as well as to enjoy the present. We must 
be provident or the outlook for the "coming race" will 
be poor indeed. 
Since the time of Walton, great numbers of the best 
and wisest men have evinced a love of fly-fishing amount- 
ing to a passion, and the increase in the votaries of the 
sport in recent years has been in the nature of a geometri- 
cal progression. There are one hundred fly-fishers now 
where one was found fifty years ago. When the breath 
of spring is in the air a kind of heimweh or homesickness 
seizes them; they must be of¥, if only for a few hours, 
to the fresh, clean, chilly country, where as yet not a leaf 
is to be seen upon the trees. The real season for sport 
comes a little later, but this first rush into troutland is a 
fine thing after a long cold winter like the one we have 
just experienced. It starts the blood in all one's veins, 
shakes up the liver, and is an antidote against spring 
fever. Only a minority of the great army of anglers can 
hie away to the lakes of Maine or the salmon rivers of 
the Dominion; the preserves of Long Island and the 
mountain streams of New York must receive the great 
majority. The demand upon these waters has thus be- 
come very great, and they would long ere this have 
proved inadequate if the genius of modern fishculture had 
not stepped in to fill the breach. 
We have good spring trout fishing within a short dis- 
tance of New York city, but the facilities for sport, and 
the size and number of fish can be largely increased if all 
the natural advantages of the country are fully developed. 
We may even have a season for fly-fishing in the autumn, 
such as we hear of as being enjoyed elsewhere. There 
are many good streams in the East, but for the purposes 
of this article, we will confine our attention to a few near- 
by waters, and perhaps make one or two suggestions in 
regard to them. They are easily reached by two lines of 
rail, and the region through which they flow is visited 
annually by thousands of health and pleasure seekers. 
We refer to five well known historic streams, having al- 
most a common source, but flowing on widely diverging 
courses, three being tributary to the Delaware and two to 
the Hudson River. These are the Esopus and Big In- 
dian, the Neversink, Willowemock, and Beaverkill. The 
first two are practically one, the Esopus being formed by 
the junction of the Big Indian with a small brook called 
Birch Creek, a short distance from Big Indian station. 
The big Indian has its source away up in the mountain of 
the same name, the highest peak in the Catskills, and within 
a few yards is a small trickle of ice cold water which is 
the beginning of the West Branch of the Neversink. The 
East Branch rises a little east and south, and the Wil- 
lowemock north and west, as we remember the points of 
the compass, and the sources of the Beaverkill are not 
far away. All these are ideal trout streams, and will well 
repay the lover of nature as well as the angler. All are 
clear, cold, and pure, the water of the Neversink being as 
limpid as air, the smallest object can be seen distinctly 
at a depth of many feet. 
Ten or twelve years ago the native brook trout — 
Salvelinus fontinalis — was master of all the brooks in this 
section, as they met all the requirements of its somewhat 
fastidious fancy, but now— chiefly owing to the wisdom 
and liberality of the State of New York — we have several 
varieties, all beautiful and sport-giving fish. Even at an 
earlier date (i. e., more than ten years since), the rain- 
bow trout of the West (Salmo irideus) had found a 
congenial home in the Esopus and thriven amazingly, 
thus affording good fly-fishing where formerly there was 
little or none. I am referring now to the lower part 
of the river. It is claimed by some fishculturists that the 
rainbow trout can live and grow in water of too high a 
temperature for many other inembers of the salmon 
family. The brown _ trout (Salmo fario) has usurped 
first place in the Big Indian. This is the common 
European species, the trout of the British Isles. It is 
hardy and prolific, and within the last three years has 
greatly increased in the lower Esopus. The rainbow is 
still most abundant in this portion of the river, at least 
until the second falls is reached. Below these the black 
bass has, I an? Jiiforrt^p?!?^,^^^ P^^^^^^^O"- The Beaver- 
kill holds brook, browri, and rainbow trout, but only 
g ffyy- fry pf tli# }as| fiamefi have been released in it The' 
same may be said of the Neversink, and the stock of the 
Willowemock consists, or consisted very recently, almost 
entirely of native brook trout above Livingstone Manor. 
Clubs_ and individuals have released many fry and year- 
lings in these waters, and the Ontario and Western Rail- 
road has carried millions of fry, besides giving transpor- 
tation to parties engaged in carrying young trout from 
the State hatcheries. 
Modern fishculture can satisfy all demands made upon 
It by fair fishing, and the development of the brown trout, 
principally from fry, has been very remarkable. A few 
years ago a pound trout was considered tO' be quite a 
large fish, and in an experience of many years the 
largest native trout we took from any of these streams 
was 16 inches in length and less than two pounds in 
weight. Since the introduction of the brown trout, two 
to three pounds is not uncommon, and many much 
larger fish have been taken. All pure tributaries of the 
Delaware and Hudson should swarm with trout. Brooks 
that have been barren for years may be made productive. 
The lower portions of the Beaverkill and Neversink are 
noble and "beautiful rivers, and should afford more sport 
than they do now. We believe that the rainbow trout 
•v!\ ould do well there, and possibly the European grayling. 
Our own Michigan grayling seems to be a delicate fish, 
and is reported to be almost extinct.- The foreign fish of 
this species must be hardier, as it flourishes in England 
and on the Continent in streams inhabited by large trout 
THE FALLS OF THE ESOPUS. 
and even pike. It is said to seek the lower portions of 
trout streams, and the same is reported of the rainbow 
trout. The latter has certainly done this in the Esopus, 
as it is found where there is plenty of water for a 30- 
pound salmon, and where the temperature rises high in 
.summer. Both these fish are spring spawners (although 
the rainbow seems to be somewhat irregular as to time), 
and if they flourished together delightful sport could be 
enjoyed in the autumn, when weather conditions would 
be most favorable. 
July and August were formerly good months for fly- 
fishing in the streams we have mentioned, as they flow 
at considerable altitudes, but until the season of 1903 
our mountain summers, though very pleasant, have been 
warmer than of yore. Climatic changes are going on all 
over the country, the rainfall is less evenly distributed, 
and the streams get lower and warmer. The last season 
was all that we could desire in the matter of rainfall 
after the first of June, but we have had a number of 
very serious droughts in recent years. In fact, we have 
been experiencing some of the inconveniences felt in the 
United Kingdom from modern drainage, forest destruc- 
tion, and the like. Thirty or forty years ago much of this 
region was a sea of hemlock; more snow fell and it re- 
mained longer, having more protection from the sun. 
Now deciduous trees have replaced the evergreen forest, 
and the appearance of the country is greatly changed. 
It must have looked a wild and savage region one hun- 
dred years ago. 
The fishing has had many ups and downs. In the daj's 
of the first settlers the trout were only too abundant, 
but we believe that sport is better now than it was thirty 
years since. Tanneries were located on nearly all trout 
Vv'aters, and log driving and lumbering were constantly 
going on. There were but few trout below the tanneries, 
and though they fairly swarmed in the small brooks they 
were trifling in size and could have afforded but little 
sport. We have had sufficient experience . of this kind 
of fishing, and have a poor opinion of it. 
We wish that all Eastern anglers could have good 
fishing for ' the rainbow trout, as there appears to be a 
slight pre jiidke against this fish. We know of no bet- 
ter game, fisli. It leaps again at?d again when hoolced? 
and rushes madly down stream. Lying usually in heavy, 
swift water, it takes every advantage of the situation, 
and requires all the angler's skill to land. Mr. Fred 
Mather had a high opinion of the rainbow for sport, and 
also as a table fish, and Herr Jaffe, the well-known Ger- 
man fishculturist, has expressed himself strongly in its 
favor. It has been established in some of the rivers of 
New Zealand, where it reaches a weight of six pounds, 
and the fishermen in that country are enthusiastic in its 
favor. We think it resembles the Atlantic salmon more 
closely than any other trout. The head is small, body 
round and plump and very silvery when in good condi- 
tion, as it almost always is. We never saw any traces 
of spawning in the month of May except in fish of 15 
inches and oyer. A few of the large fish were thin and 
the vent a trifle pronounced, but the great majority were 
in good shape. We have taken them in August as hard 
and solid as blocks of marble. With this fish and the 
European grayling in the lower portions of our trout 
streams and native and brown trout in the upper and 
middle reaches, sport would be vastly increased. 
On first consideration some objections will appear to a 
fly-fishing season in the autumn months, but these will be 
found to be more sentimental than real. The brown and 
brook trout will be working up into the small brooks and 
on to the spawning beds, and the few taken would be 
promptly returned. They could not be exposed, and but 
few persons would care to retain them for food, as, being 
out of condition, they would soon after death become 
slimy and unpleasant objects. The rainbows and the 
grayling- would be in the highest possible condition and 
afford the very best of sport. The season in Colorado 
runs to October 31, and there are many brown trout and 
some brook trout in that State now. In Oregon it is said 
that the big rainbow trout do not come up from the sea 
until the month of July. 
Grayling were introduced into the Scottish Tweed and 
Clyde from England years ago, and have become 
abundant in those rivers. We should consider all pro- 
posals or suggestions bearing upon an increased supply 
of game fish, and there are miles of the Beaverkill and 
Neversink that might be greatly improved. The European 
grayling and the trout -do well together, or in the same 
river, and there is no good reason why our season for fly- 
fishing should be so short. With scientific fishculture 
and good management there is no need to fear that our 
streams will be depleted by any amount of fair fishing. 
Dry summers, ice jams, and great floods in winter and 
fall are the dangerous features in the situation. All good 
members of the brotherhood of anglers who love to be 
quiet and to go a-fishing, do all that they can to increase 
the stock of game fish in our streams and lakes — par- 
ticularl.v those species which will rise to the artificial fly. 
There are many other streams besides those mentioned 
which are easily accessible from New York city, and we 
know of no pleasanter- way of spending the summer 
vacation than rambling from one to another, casting one's 
flies as the spirit moveth. It is easy to travel cheaply all 
over the region we have referred to. You can go in by 
way of the Ulster and Delaware and return by the 
Ontario and Western Railroad. If not in a great hurry, 
one can travel by the mail hacks which run from Big 
Indian to Claryville, and thence to Liberty. In fact, these 
mail hacks will be found making their daily pilgrimages 
in every valley, and up and down nearly all these rivers. 
Claryville is on the Neversink, at the junction of the 
East and West Branches; over the next divide is the 
Willowemock, and in the valley beyond flows the beauti- 
ful Beaverkill, which many people consider one of the 
most perfect trout rivers in this country. A large portion 
of the water is posted, but by staying at various farm- 
houses and summer resorts, enough fishing can be had to 
satisfy a reasonable person. In the early season good 
sport is had in the lower reaches in free water. In July 
and August the angler must seek cooler water far up 
the stream. Good luck. Theodore Gordon. 
The Rod in Picture. 
Perhaps many of the readers of Forest and Stream 
have seen a painting by a German artist depicting a 
studio, a full-length portrait, boots and all, of Bismarck, 
on the easel, the artist with palette and brush in hand 
standing by, and squatted in front of the painting study- 
ing the boots with a look of grave perplexity is the 
village cobbler, who has just returned the mended boots 
of the artist, which he holds in his hand. 
There is something about those boots in the painting 
that no doubt interest and apparently surprise the cobbler. 
He has seen and mended many pairs of footwear during 
his long lifetime, but never, evidently, had he seen a pair 
of boots just like the ones in the painting. And the artist, 
because of the demeanor of the cobbler, shows both inter- 
est and irritation- — interest to know why the boots so 
exclusively interest the man, and irritation because the 
cobbler can see nothing but the boots in the painting. 
Now, it is fair to presume if that artist was a wise man, 
and not pig-headed and conceited, that he found out 
about those boots, and received and followed some advice 
that he was wise enough to follow, so that when the 
cobbler again saw that painting exposed in public he paid 
|T0 further attention to the boots, because they ¥/ere now, 
