28 
FOREST AND STREAM 
the Bay of Fundy. The number of Bank and La Have ar- 
rivals for (he week has been 23, and the receipts 600,000 lbs. 
halibut and 370,000 lbs. round codfish. There are some sixty 
vessels engaged in the Georges fishery, but the arrivals are 
not yet numerous. Five arrivals have been reported siuce 
our last issue, bringing about 100,000 lbs. round codfish.— 
Cape Ann Advertiser, Feb, 9. 
New Hampshire— Dover, Feb. 10.— A string of over fifty 
pickerel were taken from Bow Lake by two fishermen. Fine 
fish taken this winter. Robert. 
Tennessee— Columbia, Feb. 11.— Although trout (bass) fish- 
ing is in season, the river is too high to make it pleasant or 
successful. Anglers are making preparations to catch large 
creels when the water falls. Some bass and perch in market 
from Swan and Rcelfoot Lakes. Val. 
Missouri — St. Joseph , Feb. 6. — The fishermen of St. Joseph 
are setting their nets and raking in the whiteflsh daily and 
with great success. 
and perhaps as many white fish, lawyers and trout (lake 
trout— our law-abiding citizens would catch no other), it is an 
up-hill business to attempt. We do uot claim to be as utterly 
incompetent as George Washington; but to edit a great family 
journal like the Press requires a breadth and capacity for — for 
this kind of thiDg, to which we make no pretensions.” 
THE BLACK BASS OF VIRGINIA. 
Baltimore, Jao. 22, 1879. 
Murdock Lake Fisuino Club.— We are pleased to note 
the re-election of that genial gentleman and piscator, Mr. D. 
L. Dickinson, to the Presidency of the Murdock Club of St. 
Louis. 
Trout Mining at Lake Bigler, California.— In the 
general freeze Emerald Bay has been frozen solid. It is one 
vast ledge of ice from the surface of its transparent waters to 
the bottom. From some cause the fish, especially the trout, 
have fairly swarmed there. When the great, and sudden 
freezing came it imprisoned them by hundreds of tons all 
over the Bay. There they ore fixed, like a bee in a drop of 
amber. Of course the fishermen of the Rubicon and its 
neighborhood are reaping a rich and novel harvest. The 
present abundance of fish in the Carson market is due to this 
remarkable occurrence Monk says that the Bay presents a 
wonderful appearance, lie says in all truthfulness that Sailor 
Jack and some associates lmve actually suuk a winze in the 
ice between the boat lauding and Captain Dick’s Island, and 
that by dint of tunneling and sloping in the solid ice they are 
actually mining out the imprisoned trout by the cart load. 
Hank says he has uu interest in one of these extraordinary 
“ claims," and that he has every reason to expect prompt and 
numerous dividends. The present state of the weather seems 
to guarantee a continuance of this strange species of mining 
for some days yet to come, if nut, indeed, for the remainder 
of the winter. This class of phenomena occurs only at very 
rare intervals. In 1845, Back Cove, an arm of Casco Bay, 
was a scene of such a freezing as this. All sorts of salt-water 
fish, such as frequent the more shallow bays a id estuaries— 
smelt, tom-cod, eels and flounders— were frozen in and cap- 
tured by the million. The tom-cod, when thus frozen, may 
be tbawed out in cold water and restored to lite. For this 
reason this small member of the finny tribe is known as the 
“frost fish."— The Carson (Cal.) Appeal. 
Canada— Montreal, Feb. 9.— Large quantities of sabno fon- 
tinalis are now being taken through the ice on the lakes 
throughout the eastern townships. February 3d, while some 
workmen were cutting ice in the Coaticook River, near that 
village, several large trout appeared in the water that filled the 
holes, and one of them, a 24 pounder, was thrown out on the 
ice with a shovel and captured. Fishermen here say that this 
season it is a common occurrence for trout to appear in the 
holes that they have cut to fish through. It cannot be hunger 
that caused this, for the fish are in good condition, and I can 
only account for it in this way-that the soft weather has kept 
the water up against the ice, and the trout come into these 
holes after a fresh supply of oxygen. Stanstbad 
Erratio Fish Hooks.— Milwaukee, Wit., Feb. 5.— Your 
readers, many of them no doubt, read the description of a 
curious fish-hook, in a late number of Harper's Weekly, which 
was of a French pattern in use by the fishers along the New- 
foundland coast. This hook had been found in a cod fish 
caught along the New England shores, a distance of 2 000 
miles, The West, not to be outdone, “goes” a thousand miles 
better. Mr. J. Tyrrell, a messenger in the United States 
Court, recently purchased a codfish in this city, in which was 
found one of the hooks referred to. The hook has been ex- 
amined by the dealers of this city, but nothing could be found 
that resembled it. Dr. Foster, of the United States Court 
was unable to find a similar one in a collection of several 
thousands. It is quite evident the hook has made a journey of 
upward of 3,000 miles. J 
Those cute foreigners have a fashion of introducing their 
fish-hooks into foreign countries, which we Yankees don't 
know anything about. Seriously, the hooks were undoubtedly 
used by the French fishermen, at Caraquette, Quirpon (Str. of 
Belle Isle), or some other French fishing station on the 
American coast. If we knew in what locality the codfish 
were caught, the whole thing might be easily made plain. It 
is not at all likely that the codfish have run over to Europe to 
smuggle French fish-hooks into America. We don’t believe 
they are interested in thematter in the slightest degree.— Ed 
F. and S.] 
Tdz Wisconsin Editor Abroad.— We have frequently 
been indebted to the Ashland Press for Wisconsin fishing 
items, and we have never failed, in so far as our own modest 
attainments in the manufacture of fish stories would allow, 
in heartily seconding the efforts of its energetic editor, Mr’ 
Bam. Fifleld, in his efforts to herald abroad tKe piscatorial 
attractions of Wisconsin waters. It j 3 with something akin 
to dismay, therefore, as we open the last number of the Press 
and seek the usual account of a lugger haul than the last big 
haul, that we learn of the absence of that wielder of the pen 
which is mightier than the fishing rod, and read this weak- 
kneed salutatory from the temporary captain of the editorial 
craft : 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Having been an interested uud cutliuslaitlc reader of the artlclea In 
former numbers referring to tho modes of taking bass, I have at last 
concluded to ask you or some of your readers and correspondents for 
an explanation of a phenomenon that has appeared strange to mo 
and for which I have, In vain, sought a satisfactory solution fro'm 
others older and more experienced than myself. 
l have fished exclusively for bass for several years, principally in the 
Great cacapon, the Potomac, and in that portion of tue BoutiPbranch 
of the Potomac which runs through Hampshire County, West Virginia 
Out have only noticed the peculiarity to which I allade in the last-men 
tloued stream. In fishing at the same spots 1 have frequently taken 
two bass, about eqaal In size and weight, nut so different in color as to 
almost seem different species. One would have the regular deep color 
thut Is es 80 ciated with the name black bass, while tho other would bo 
very, very light ; a pale green. In fact. Now, Is It the difference lirsox 
that produces this dissimilarity, or an lrregula.Uy In the time of 
spawning, or can the paler fish be diseased. The fish were taken from 
the same pools, sometimes two at a time, rising to exactly similar nies 
or taking exactly tho same kind of bait I have always fouud the 
darker fish much more game than the other and ufl'ordlng superior sport, 
while the pale flsli after a few dashes comes as naturally to the land- 
ing net as a common chub. Another difference : In stringing bass to 
keep them alive while fishing I nso a leather string with a sharp piece 
of telegraph wire at one end and a stout piece of wood at the ocher 
lustoad of passing the string through the gills of the fish I pierce a hole 
through the membrane below the lower lip and out at the mouth. This 
does not Interfere with respiration, and the dark colored fish will be as 
lively at the expiration of several hours as when caught, but the light 
hued ones do not seem to stand it much over one hour. In examining 
a string of Ufty bass, two hours caught, I fouud every black fellow as 
strong and hearty as ever, while every pale one was stiff and dead. 
Now can you or any of your frlend9 explain these facts to me ? I may 
mention that I have gcuerally noticed this phenomena In July and 
August. 
According to a request In a former issue I would like to give what 
my experience has taught me to be the best weather for fishing lu tho 
waters I have mentioned. For fishing with bait of any kind, min- 
nows, helgramltes, crayfish, etc., a bright, sunshiny day, cloudless and 
with little hreeze Is the best, for bass do not seem to feed as greedily In 
dark, lowering weather as they do when the sun shines. Last summer 
I fished for two hours one July day on the South Branch, daring a 
steady rain, and did not get a nibble, though using minnows, which I re- 
gard as the very best bass bait. I may here stale that the water was 
slightly milky. At the end of two hours the sun came out very bright 
and warm, so I retraced my steps to the place I bad started from ami 
flailed the ground over again. Now, however, I took buss as fast as I 
co^ld land them, all along the places where a short time previous I had 
failed even to get a single bite. But with the Dy there is a differ- 
ence, for though I regard bright weather as best, yet I have had 
very good success with bright files even during a heavy shower, The 
best flies for general use I have found to be large sized, dark colored 
ones made of pheasaut’s feather or mallard. The smaller bass will bite 
equally well at them, while a good sized Individual will hardly notice a 
small fly except occasionally. There should be a slight breeze, Just to 
ripple the surface of tho water and rutile Its glassy transparency. 1 
prefer a common dick reel, with about thirty-five yards of fine water- 
proof sUk line tapered. The click of the real Is sufficient In itself to 
hook the fish without necessitating that turn of the wrist which the 
tyro generally makes too soon or too late, in either case losing the fish 
he has Induced to rise to his cast. 
I hope yon will give me a solution of my problem. 
Yours, etc., Greysteel, 
Commenting upon “ Greysteelss" atements, our obliging 
correspondent at Leesburg, Virginia, remarks : 
Leesburg, Jan.‘ 24, 1678. 
I have noticed the two different looking bass ho describes; one a 
dusky black with broad linger murk* ranging In Intensity of coloring 
almost mottled in bands ; the other pale-green tending to a whitish- 
yellow, each kind whiter on belly than on back; the dusky one thick 
and chunky, the pale-green slender and rather slim. The dusky is 
more vigorous, longer lived, and more gam»y. I believe they are male 
and female. I have never to my recollection seen but one Unsky 
mottled bass smaller than a pound Osh, though anglers here say they 
have noticed the two kinds of all sizes. I think at first they are ail 
alike of an almost uniform color, pale-green ; as they grow older the 
males show the mottled bands and dusky look ; the females get darker 
but not mottled. This is only conjecture, Dut I shall examine next 
season so as to determine, if possible, the true state of the case. 
I have always been most successful In pleasant weather whether I 
used the fly or minnow. Brightness no drawback In minnow Ashing If 
the water be clear ; and, when the water Is not clear, the brighter the 
belter. In fly-fishing, the water being clear and the sun bright, I cast 
where shadows fall ; If the water 1 b clear and the sun not bright I cast 
anywhere. I hardly ever take a flsh in a sunny part of tho stream 
when the water is clear and sun very bright. I believe they see me 
under such circumstances. I believe In moderate sized flies, of a size 
rather large for Irout, but much smaller than the bass fllesof the stores 
Hike the fly to look large but the hook to be rather small for a bass 
Nos. 4 and b Sprout bend are large enough , t, \y 
lunded at the mouth of tho St. Marguerite (having taken a small sail, 
boat In tow from Tudousac, a distance of 12 miles, on which we stepped 
to go ashore). On landing we fired a double gun, tho usuul slgnul to 
call out the trusty guardian, Johnny Jourdan, and wo were soon taken 
to his house, and eutlng an early breakfast of fresh laid eggs and fried 
salmon prepared by hi* good wife, he, meanwhile, not being Idle, ae the 
little pony and cart at the door ready to carry our “ traps " gave ample 
proof. After a drive, of sLx miles we arrived ut tho Homo Tool and 
•‘Our Little Cottage Home,” a neat and tasty frame dwelling of six 
rooms, and furnished with whatever Is necessary to make one comfort- 
able, not excepting bed curtains to keep out black files aud mosquitoes. 
Here on the piazza one can sit and watch the salmon leaping in >he 
pool in front of the door. From this pool the travelling Is by canoe, 
and the stations are from three to six miles apart up to the Upper Fonts 1 
and at each station you find the same style of cottage, there being six 
In all on the river. 
Our two first days’ fishing gave ub eleven salmon weighing 180^ 
pounds, and more lively or gamy fish we never saw. The weather 
now soon changed and became excessively hot, the mercury showing 
90 deg., and even 92 deg. la the shade, and the water stood at 70 and 71 
degrees, a heat never before known lu this region, causing both salmon 
and trout to desert the pools and gather around the springs and the 
mouth of spring brooks In large numbers. In several places we saw as 
many as loo and 200 salmon, aud In one place we estimated tho num- 
ber at between 500 and G00 salmon and quite as large a number of largo 
trout. These fish lay like sticks of cord wood, their heads to the cool 
spring water, aud tho majority motionless. 
We also proved the old adage, that “Salmon will never rise to a fly 
unless In swift water," erroneous. In casting one day for a very large 
trout, apparently a six-pounder (myself and others having taken several 
exceeding that weight In this river), the smaller trout would chase the fly 
and we were compelled to raise It to prevent their getting It, we noticed 
a noble salmon start suddenly In thnt direction. I immediately returned 
the fly in front of the large body of salmon, when three started fur It 
and ono captured It, which, after a half hour we landed and It proved a 
20-poond flsh. These brooks are generally near a level part of the 
river and distant from any pool, which made it much more difficult to 
capture our flsn after hooking them. We both used over 160 yards 
line on our reels, and each lost salmon by their getting ont all our line 
aud breaking loose, and we ran them with a canoo when necessary. 
On our last day's fishing we left camp taking bat one rod between us, • 
and fished alternately at the same pool, and at 0 a. m. we had secured 
four salmon besides losing three more with files, one of which look 
out my whole line before be broke loose. Our whole trip, which 
Included not over 11 days’ actual fishing, gave ob 36 salmon, weighing 
4S9 pounds, an average of 18 7-12 pounds each. The removing of tho 
nets proved to us that the river Is the home of large salmon, und as 
the le-sees are putting 100,000 young salmon yearly In the river It must 
continue to be so. Had the weather continued cool and comfortable as 
when we first arrived or as on our last day’s fishing, we are satisfied our 
catch could only have been told by the amount of onr endurance, for 
on the last morning’s fishing at no time was It necessary to cast five 
minutes to hook a salmon. 
I hope that on your next trip for salmon you may have as good sport 
aud enjoy It as well ns did your friend, Samuel Stkeit. 

A STRANGE PUZZLE. 
hook. 
SALMON 
FISHING ON THE 
GUERITE. 
ST. MAR- 
" We caDnot conceive of a more trying ordeal thnn i n h» 
suddenly called from the paths of virtue and honesty to the 
editorship of a paper which has achieved a national celebrity 
for the magnificence of ita fish stories, and the impressiveness 
wihwhtch they are told. If as we undoubted^ Sail we 
fall behind what is expected of us in the way of sustaining th* 
reputation which this leading authority on matters pictorial 
has achieved, we will say to our readers that our life habit K 
been to confine ourself strict y to the truth in -it . 1 . 
and that with no more foundation to £2 f IS 
a few thousand tons, more or less of hiSfno?! fac \ that 
caught through the ice on our bay within the last thr5 weSSJ 
31 Liberty Street, New York, Feb. 4, 1878 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Having made an engagement with my friend, E. A. Green, Esq , of 
Newark. N. J., who by the way Is the original Inventor uud maker of 
onr present split bamboo trout ami salmon rod, we met at the St. Louis 
Hotel, Quebec, on the llth of last July, I having preceded him a couple 
of days, and selected our provisions for tho “ trip," and had all placed 
on board the steamer leaving that day for the Saguenay River, of which 
the St. Marguerite is a branch. I here learned that we had lout at least 
three weeks or the very best time, salmon having been abundant In the 
river on the $oth of June, and all old anglers know fresh run fish 
always take the Dy much the best. 
We also learned that the lessees, Willis Rnssell, Esq., of St. Louis 
Hotel, Quebec, and Robert Ilarc Powell, Esq., of Philadelphia, had 
made arrangements with the leasees ? f the net fisheries near Tadou- 
sac, where all salmon have to pass In reaching this river, to have those 
nets all raised two days each week, which gave us almost a guarantee 
of still having good sport. 
Our steamer left Quebec at 7 a. m., and ol daylight next morning W e 
xr .i • , Boston, Jan. 1. 
Your mathematical puzzle seemed to interest your readers. 
I enclose another which ,s simple, but puzzling. Tlie point 
of it is that a square of eight inches, say, can be cut up into 
C< t l “ b , G pUt t ? gether 80 as t0 make a parallel- 
l^riuL, i’ mt 19 t0 say ,arger l, y one square inch than 
T- T T as ’ 88 a 8quare of eight inches contains 
sixty-four inches, whereas a parallelogram of 5x13 contains 
sixty-five. This seems an absurdity, but tlie accompanying 
outline wil show that it can be done. It will be seen that he 
1, 2, 3 and 4, which figures can be arranged as in the second 
22 ??®’ Ti“ kiDfi a P ar,,1 Jel <> P ram 5x13. Wherein lies the fal- 
EL 0U L llne ia ? n }y t0 sI '°w how to place the 
Ko 1 . ey have becn c,ll t but the way to do the prob- 
iuTit i nTs In 8qUnre ,° fe1 ^ 1 * ncL,3 > 0 ne-hnlf, or one-fourth, 
cut it up as shown aud see than it does fit into the parallelo- 
p 
