r 
FOREST AND STREAM 
287 
Sept.: 23,' 1905.] 
theory that it was very likely caused by a peculiar 
species of fish, lying deep under the logs. From this 
time the noise has been referred to as Singing Fish, 
however, none were ever seen. Wiser men than they, 
whO' know the river better, and who attach no serious 
thought to the noise, believeing it to^ be, if understood, 
the result of s'ome simple phenomenon, say it is much 
more reasonable to suppose the noise to be caused by 
insects. 
“The rumor of Singing Fish lies dormant in the atmos- 
phere of the vicinity near the river. Every now and 
then, purposely or by some chance conversation, the 
rumor floats out like a cloud, to a stranger or so- 
journer of the neighborhood. The fame of these fish 
has been extended iiilapd. The rumor never varies— 
seems to have been handed down, tradition-like, assum- 
ing such substantiality as never to be doubted; yet on 
account of the absurdity of the name given to the noise, 
the rumor is smiled at queerly, and jested about as if 
it were a inyth. 
“The opportunities for art investigation are very rare. 
Septeniber comes but once a year, and fogless nights 
suitable for an expedition through perilous ways do not 
occur each night Of that month. 
“Art evening irii September several years ago was more 
than favorable for a trip far up the river. The moon 
dispensed a soft twilight which Seemed a tender pre- 
lude to the deeper, fuller tOrteS of a majestic Symphony 
of moonlight, earth and water advancing, streamed 
through and peeped over the straggling pines and oaks 
silhouetted on the hilltops east of town, then swung out 
in a flood of silver light, transfiguring the strips of 
land as if with magic. 
“The river below, a stream of pearl, merged in an. 
ocean of glittering waves of moonlight. There was no 
breath of fog. The atmosphere was warm, intensely 
clear and buoyant as spirit. From under the shadow 
of the mill, a still pile of gloom in the moonlight, a 
boat pushed out to the middle of the stream for the 
boom. To a picnic Spot, on the edge of the river, a 
pleasure party had rowed. Their faces could be seen 
around the glow of a campfire.. With lugubrious song, 
‘Weep no more my lady,’ from this party on the bank, 
sweetly dying with the distance, the boat still .steered 
on up the yet shadowless middle of the river. 
“Moonlight, with its glamour obscures details, render- 
ing all objects unreal and fantastic, producing- a feeling 
of mingled awe and admiration, an emotion often mixed 
with fear — it is noticeable the more remote from human 
habitation, the more fantastic are shapes and forms, 
the more profound the unreality of existing things, until 
One would not be in the least surprised, if a bit startled, 
to push against a fairy each turn of a moonbeam. 
“The goddess of the moonlight realm, had thrown over 
hills, river and sky her wand of enchantment. The hills 
familiar and peacefully atractive in daytime attire were 
now formidable, fascinating walls of blackness ranged 
along the river’s edge, rising in most places abruptly. 
The moonlight 011 the river, how weird! The very 
water, highly phosphorescent illusory. 
“Each dip of the oar left trailing splashes of snowy, 
luminous water. Only the touch of the hand, in the 
cool, flowing liquid could dispel an illusion; then as 
the hand dipped, crushes of sparkling white foam de- 
fied a reality. Soon the stream began to grow notice- 
ably narrower. The dark hills and trees along the 
banks. On opposite sides, to come closer together. 
Long, black shadows from bank to bank streaked the 
water, met and mingled. 
“We were in the dark. Light fog began drifting up 
the river. By a dim reflection of moonlight, the visage 
of the boom was dimly perceptible. The boat was 
pulled through artd tied to a log, in the middle of the 
stream. Struggling Out on . logs, rafted together, float- 
ing over the water, a small party sat to_ investigate the 
noise known as Singing Fish. By the light of a match 
one of the party glanced at the hands of a watch, it was 
already midnight. 
"The unnecessary caution of hush— 'keep still’ — was 
observed. There was breathless silence for what 
seemed a long time. Not a sound to be heard! Still- 
ness, darkness, a reach of forest solitude hung like a 
pall around. Each doubtless combating unconsciously, 
cheerfully any dark imagery, or a possible resurectiqn 
of any old ghost Story from the unused cells of his 
brain. A dark solitude, somewhere along the north of 
the river loomed up in one’s mind unbidden, uncere- 
moniously, but not being petted or encouraged took 
flight. It was a long, inky black, stagnant pool, hid in 
trees and heaps of debris, around which hung a dismal 
mythical story of a woman who over the loss of a hus- 
band by drowning became insane, and was not heard 
of for days afterward until dragged from, this black pit. 
The thought of a bedraggled body, dripping with black 
inky water flitted around, vaguely somehow associated 
in the mind, as being something intimate in an uncanny 
way with Singing Fish. 
“A cycle of thoughts by each was the end of stillness. 
A broken conversation began, the fish forgotten, when 
a whizzing, whirring sound from everywhere near the 
surface, not very loud, . came- as a shock and a. surprise. 
We were the center of a large circle of low buzzing 
and sizzing. The sound was not in the least like an 
;accented lullaby of frogs or the accents in the whir of 
■insects. •, : . ... 
“It was an unaccented monotonous low whir. Some- 
ithing like the cutting of saws in large mills would sound 
.smothered deep underground. Once wound up nothing 
'(disturbed it. After listening to it some time the investi- 
gation ended. The boat drifted down the stream in 
idamp prosaic reality.’ For fifty or seventy-five yards 
away the fish could still be heard singing. While listen- 
ing to the noise, not a member of the party felt con- 
.vinced as to what it really could be.’’ 
In a footnote the editor says: 
“Since receiving the above, MS. other facts as to the 
fish known as humming or singing fish, have come to 
us. In July and August, of the year 1888, in the Victoria 
arm of the Strait of Georgia or Juan De Fuca, Van- 
eouver, British Columbia, on sultry evenings was heard 
the sound of the humming, or singing fish— a noise 
almost identical with that of the Chinese .musical kite.” 
^atw^ing. * 

American Canoe Association^ 
Regatta Programme, Aog. 4-J8, 1905. 
Sugar Island — St. Lawrence Kiver. 
SAILING RACES. 
Event No. 1 — Trophy sailing race, 9 miles; limit 314 hours;; six; 
times around 1% mile triangle. Sea smooth; wind light. Start 
3 P. M.: 
1. Mab, Geo. W. MacTaggart — ■ 
First. Seco.«d. Third. 
3 16 50 3 33 56 3 52 20 
2. Pioneer IL, VVm. J. Ladd — 
3 18 03 3 36 03 3 66 37 
3.. Bronco, Frank C. Moore — 
3 17 38 3 35 40 3 56 00 
4, Bee, Herman D; Murphy — 
3 19 32 3 37 42 3 57 15 
6, Roc, Dan B. Goodsell — 
3 20 32 3 40 47 4 03 00 
Fourth. 
4 11 25 
Fifth. 
4 29 50 
Finish'., 
. 4. 49,' OQi 
4 16 35 
4 34 30 
E 044 30) 
4 15 15 
4 34 30 
4-1 55- 00) 
4 18 10 
4 41 00 
5)04-001 
4 24 06 
4 46 00 
5 (K35 
Won by Geo. W, MacTaggart, time lli. 41m.; second, Wim. J,. 
Ladd, time lb. 54iti, 30s. 
Event No, 2— Dolphin trophy race, 7^4 miles; time limit 3 houns;; 
five times around IW-mile triangle. Sea smooth; wind fresh,. 
Start, 4:25 P. M. : 
1. Pioneer II., Wm. J. Ladd — ■ 
First. Second. Third. Fourth. Finish.. 
4 48 25 5 09 05 5 29 31 6 61 66 6 17 10; 
2. Bee, Herman D. Murphy — 
4 47 32 5 09 15 5 31 48 5 56 43 6 22 50) 
Bronco, Frank C. Moore, withdrew. 
Mudjikeewis, Carl Moore — 
4 57 25 Withdrew. 
Chiquita, M. Ohlmeyer — 
Canuck, 
4 53 00 
Wm. G. 
4 50 50 
5 20 25 
Harrison — 
5 16 55 
6 67 19 
5 66 63 
6 16 49 Withdrew.. 
6 18 30 Withdrew.. 
Won by Wm. J. Ladd, time Ih 
Murphy, time Ih. 67m. 60s. 
Event No. 3 — .Sailing race, 6 
times around IVo-mile triangle. 
10 A M. : 
First. 
1. Bee, H. D. Murphy ... .10 14 00 
2. Roc, D. B. Goodsell-... 10 16 00 
3. , H. M, Moore... 10 18 50 
Canuck, W.G. Harrison. 10 22 00 
Mab, G.W. MacTaggart. 10 15 39 
52m. 10s.; second, Herman D.. 
miles; time limit 214 hours; four' 
Sea lively; wind, strong. Start,. 
Second. Third. Finish.. 
10 27 00 10 40 45 10 56 20- 
10 28 15 10 43 00 io 56 25. 
to 31 00 10 45 30 11 00 20 
10 39 00 10 60 15 Withdrew 
Withdrew. 
Won by Herman D. Murphy, time 56m. 20s.; second, Dan B.. 
Gcodsell. time 56m. 25s.; third, Herbert M. Moore, time Ih. 2Cs., 
Only 65ft. sail area, cruising rig, against 106ft. — a magnificent; 
showing. 
Event No. 4 — Novice sailing race, 3 miles; limit l^a hotus; twice: 
around H/Fmile triangle. Sea lively; wind strong. Start. 3.15 P.M.,;: 
Finish.. 
1. Herbert M. Moore 3 53 4fii 
2. J. R, Dickson 4 00 22; 
Winner’s time, 38m. 46s. 
Event No. 5 — Open canoes, sailing around Sugar Islafflid. Sea, 
lively; wind strong. Start, 10:33 A. M..: 
h hiish. 
1. Frank C. Moore 11 05 55. 
2. Geo. W. MacTaggart 11 06 40 
3. Geo. P. Douglass ..11 07 35- 
4. Louis C. Kretzmer 11 08 20 
5. R. P. Nichols 11 12 28. 
6. C. A. Robinson 11 14 33 
7. W. Carraalt ..1118 19' 
Won by Frank C. Moore, time 32m. 66s.; second. Geo. W. Mac- 
Taggart, time 33m. 40s. 
Event No. 6 — Open canoe sailing, IV 2 miles; once around IV2-- 
mile triangle. Wind fresh; sea lively. Start, 3 P.M. : 
Elapsed. 
1. Frank C. Moore 0 21 52 
2. Geo. P. Douglass 0 21 55 
3. C. A. Robinson 0 23 12 
4. W. Carmalt 0 24 16 
W on by Frank C, Moore ; second, Geo. P. Douglass. 
Event No. 7 — Sailing race, cruising class; 85ft. sail area; for 
decked canoes capable of storing complete camp outfit; three: 
times around l^-niile triangle. Sea smooth; wind fresh. Start,, 
2:30 P. M. 
Elapsed. 
1 .Canuck, VVm. G. Plarrison 0 49 53 
2. Mayflower, J. E. Plummer.. .. .. 
'3. Mudjikeewis, Carl Moore 
4. Chiquita, M. Ohlmeyer 
Won by Wm. G. Harrison, time, 49m. 63s.; second, J. E.. 
Plummer. 
PADDLING RACES. 
Event No. 8 — Trophy, 1 mile straightaway. 
11:59 A. M.: 
1. E. B. Nellis 
2. G. L. Borland 
. 3 . Ed. E. Dey 
4 Arthur G. Mather 
;6. N. I. Rouse 
Sea smooth. Start,, 
Elapsed, 
.0 08 55 
.0 08 57 
.0 09 32 
.0 09 45 
.0 09 47 
Event No. 9 — One man, single blade; 14 mile straightaway. 
Start, 4:54: First, Arthur G. Mather, time 4m. 42s.; second, B. 
I. Rouse; third, J. R. Dickson. 
Event No. 10 — One man, double blade, 14 mile straightaway. 
;Start, 4:51: First, Arthur G. Mather, time, 3m. 2s.; second, R. P. 
Nichols; third, J. R. Dickson. 
Event No. 11 — Tandem, single blades; 14 mile straightaway. 
;Start, 10:54 A. M.: First, Arthur G. Mather and Ralph Hunter; 
second, B. I. Rouse and J. R. Dickson. 
Event No. 12 — Tandem, double blades; 14 mile straightaway. 
Start, 6:22:53 P. M,: First, D. S. Pratt and R. P. Nichols, time 
3m. 6s.; second, J. R. Dickson and B. I. Rouse; third, Arthur G. 
Mather and Ralph Hunter. 
Event No. 13 — Mixed tandem, 14 mile: First, Miss Card and 
J. R. Dickson; second, Mrs. .Parsons, and B. I. Rouse; third, 
Mrs. Harvey and Geo. W. MacTaggart; fourth, Miss Reichert and 
W. G. Harrison. 
TILTING. 
Event No. 14 — First bout: D. S. Pratt and J. R. Dickson won 
from M. Ohlmeyer and G. P. Douglass. 
Second Bout — PI. Lansing Quick and Win. G. Harrison bear 
R. P. Nichols and B. I. Rouse. 
Finals — H. Lansing Quick, tilter, and Wm. G. Harrison,' pad- 
dler, won from J. R. Dickson, tilter, and D. S. Pratt, paddler. 
Event No. 15— Special race, one man, single blade; around Sugar 
Island; 1501bs. of ballast to represent cruising outfit. Start and 
finish off headquarters. Start, 4:38:05 P. M. Island to port: 
First, Arthur G. Mather, time 15m. 7s.; second, J. R. Dickson; 
third, B. I. Rouse; fourth, D. S. Pratt. 
Event No. 16 — Special race, tandem, single blades; around Sugar 
Island; 2001bs. ballast to represent cruising outfit. Start and 
finish off headquarters. Island to starboard. Start, 4:45 P. M. : 
Elapsed. 
1. Herman D. Murphy and Wm. J. Ladd 0 15 22 
2. H, L. Quick and Geo. P. Douglass 0 15 24 
3. Wm. G. Harrison and Perry D. Frazer 0 15 26 
4. Chas. PI. Parsons and Clifton Sparks 0 16 36 
An all-cruisers’ event, the most interesting in the series. 
Event No. 17 — Special race, decked cruisers, capable of stowing 
complete camp outfit; with 86ft. sail area limit; around Sugar 
Island. Start and finish off headquarters. Island to port. Start, 
2:56 P. M.: 
p'inish. 
1. Wm. G. Harrison 3 23 00 
2. Mat. Ohlmeyer 3 28 12 
3. J. E. Plummer 3 31 00 
Won by Wm. G. Harrison, time 28m. 
Judge, Geo. P. Douglass. Starter, Wm. W. Crosby. 
Regatta Committee— Mat. Ohlmeyer, Chairman; Wm. G, Hav- 
riscp, Arthur G. Mather, Ralph Hunter. 
Red Dragon C. C 
The Red Dragon Canoe Club of Philadelphia closed its. 
twenty-second racing season Saturday, Sept. 16. On that 
date the fall regatta was held on the Delaware River off^ 
the club house, Wissinoming, Pa. The day was an ideal! 
one for water sports, and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed, 
the races, some of which were very close and exciting. 
Man}^ guests were present from out of town clubs, in- 
cluding members of the Park Island Canoe Association,. 
Yonkers Canoe Club, Beverly Y. C. and Monte Cristo 
Canoe Club, Delanco. The Red Dragons were pleased to 
have with them Baron Theodor Quasebart, of the Royal 
Canoe Club, Frankfort, Germany; W. A. Furman, of 
■Trenton, N. J., Vice-Commodore of the Atlantic Division, 
A. C. A., and cheerful James K. Hand, of the Yonkers 
Canoe Club, Yonkers, N. Y. Commodore Clifton T. 
Mitchell did the honors in entertaining the out of town 
visitors at his pretty bungalow, and there were many 
urgent calls at the telephone. 
The races were well contested, the Red Dragon C. C. 
men ably holding up their reputation as skillful handlers 
of the paddle. In the evening the prizes were presented 
to the fortunate winners, Mr. Edward Flemingway adding 
a few facetious remarks as each recipient came forth 
and accepted a handsome cup. 
There was less of the tedious delay between races than 
usual owing to the manner in which the Regatta Com- 
mittee — Messrs. F. W. Noyes, E. D. Flemingway, Ed- 
ward K. Merrill, M. D. Wilt and Alfred Belfield — 
handled the affair and hustled the crews to positions. 
The winners of the various races follow ; 
No. I — Club Trophy, paddling, double blades, >4 mile: 
Edward K. Merrill, R. D. C. C., first; Julius Schmitz, 
R. D. C. C., second ; T. L. ITammersley, Monte Cristo, 
third. 
No. 2 — Tandem Broom Race, (brooms used for 
paddles) ; Merrill and Wilson, R. D. C. C., first; V. 
Davis and Conard,. Beverley Y. C., second; Schmitz and 
Hammersley, R. D. and M. C., third ; Scott and H. Davis, 
R. D. C. C., fourth. 
No. 3 — Tandem Single Blade, j/2 mile : Merrill and 
Wilson, R. D. C. C, first; Conard and V. Davis, Beverly, 
second ; Hammersley and Thompkins, Monte Cristo, 
third. 
No. 4 — .Mixed Tandem, Double Blade, % mile: Mr. 
Conard and Miss Jones, Beverly Y. C., first; Mr. Merrill 
and Miss Longmore, R. D. C. C., .second; Mr. Schmitz 
and Miss Powell, R. D. C. C., third; Mr. and Mrs. Park, 
R. D. C. C., fourth. This was the most exciting race of 
the day, the winners pulling out ahead by three feet at 
the finish. 
No. 5 — Tilting Tournament: H. Davis and Blumner, 
R. D. C. C., beat Thompkins and Hammersley, Monte 
Gristo ; V. Davis and Haines, Beverly Y. C., beat Merrill 
.and Wilson, R. D. C. C. Finals — Haines and V. Davis, 
Beverly Y. C., first, beat H. Davis and Blumner, R. D. 
'C. C., second. 
No. 6 — Swimming Race, 100 yards :- Owing to the well 
known ability of Julius Schmitz, R. D. C. C., only one 
contestant was willing to compete with him. “Jimmie” 
Longmore, known as the “human frog,” surprised the 
assemblage by swimming a splendid race and winning by 
loft. W. K. Park, Cor. R. D. C. C. 
A« C. A. Amendments. 
JEdit-or Forest and Stream: 
Notice is hereby given that I desire to offer for dis- 
cussion and adoption if approved at the , executive meet- 
ing of the A. C. A. in October next, the following amend- 
.nient : 
That^ Article 2, Section 2, Chapter i of the By-Laws 
read : “The entrance fees and dues shall be received by 
the treasurer, 50 per cent, for the Division and 50 per 
cent, for the A. C. A. treasury;” The balance of the 
article to remain as previously adopted. 
Frank C. Hoyt, A. C. A. 4194. 
New York, Sept. 11. 
A. C. A. Membership. 
NEW LIFE MEMBERS. 
48, Dr. William B. Breck, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 49, Louis 
C. Kretzmer, New York city; 50^ Henry M. Dater, New 
York city; 51, C. Bowyer Vaux, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
NPW MEMBERS PROPOSED. 
Atlantic Division — Julius W. Muller, New York city, 
by H. M. Dater; d . Owen Brown, New York city, by R. 
J. Wilkin. Frederic G. Mather, Treas. 
CANOEING NEWS NOTES. 
Following the annual meeting of the Executive Com- 
mittee of^ the American Canoe Association on Saturday, 
Oct. 14. pn New York city, a dinner, complimentary to 
the visiting officers, executive and other committees, will 
he given by the Atlantic Division at the Hotel Astor, 
Saturday evening, Oct. 14, at 7 o’clock. A record-break- 
ing outturn of the Division is earnestly hoped for. Cir- 
culars will be mailed each member, and details will follow 
in next issue. The following is the dinner committee: 
Messrs: H. C. Ward, chairman; P. F. Hogan, W. Car- 
malt, W. A. Furman, F. W. Noyes, L. C. Kretzmer, W. 
R. Simpson, J. K. Eland. 
The current edition of the Game Lazes in Brief, sold 
everywhere, contains all the fish and game laws a sports- 
man ought to know. It is complete, accurate and uo-to- 
date. 
To sit four hours, in an office shaded 
By awnings striped, and not invaded . 
By sun or flies, with a faithful clerk 
To do his bidding in all — that’s work. 
To sit and fish, with the hot sun blist’ring 
His neck, with the glare on the-water glist’ring 
No ice— mosquitoes, canned ham to stay' ’ 
His appetite, nothing more— that’s play 
THE MANY USE Oil. 
Brushed on dis 9 records, prevents metallic tone; 2oz. bottle, l()c, 
