1 60 
FOREST AND STREAM 
tackle, all anxious to get there first. I counted no less than 
twelve there one morning, comprising sportsmen, prom 
fishers and ground-hog case anglers ; men, boys, whites and 
blacks, all anxious -“to get a bite. ” Although a great many 
trout were taken, I led the score with a creel of eight, weigh- 
ing from one to two pounds each. 1 here are fifty-four trout 
Hues between the city and dam, and how fish manage to 
escape all the hooks on fifty-four trout lines is a mystery 
The largest trout was caught by L. P. P., weighing two and 
one-half pounds. Catfish, suckers and red horse caught 
abundantly. VaL - 
Will Yal please step to the front and explain what a 
“groung-hog case angler” is? 
Spboki.ed Tkout is Texas — The Sportsman's Gazetteer 
Vindicated . — Exception having been taken to a statement of 
Hallock’s “Sportsman’s Gazetteer" that there are speckled 
trout in Texas, we submit the following letter from the 
author of the “Coming Empire; Or, a Thousand Miles 
Through Texas on Horseback” : 
Sr. Halloek—Dtar Sir: I luve yours asking it we have the true 
s eckied trout— SiUmo /<mtinalU-ln Texas. I have never seen It In 
Texas, tyut believe that It may exist in the streams of the elevated 
territory of the northwestern portion of the State. Judge J. F. 
Crojby. who lived several years at El Paso, tells mo that he saw them 
very abundantly In a tributary of the Pecos, called Itlo Bonito; but 
this la in Neiv Mexico. Aa It is not far from the Texas line, I do not 
see whv they may not lie la the same sort of streams In Texas. The 
conntry is the same on both sides of the line, and the streams In all 
respects similar. Judge Crosby Is sure that these were the true 
speckled trout, and thero are few who are better skilled In tlshology 
tuan he. I fully believe that you arj right in your “ Gazetteer," 
though most of Texans may not think so. The Salmo / ’ontinalia cer- 
tainly does not exist In the State outside of that wild, elevated terri- 
fy, N. A. Taylor. 
Oaio—Painesville, March 24. — C. A. Hardway caught four 
black bass in the river the other day. They averaged two 
pounds apiece. Target. 
low K—Potncroy, March 22.— Fishing is prime now. Pike 
are being caught by the load at Twin Lakes, near here. 
Farmers catch them and salt them down for summer use, and 
they are very nice. They are brought up sometimes ns large 
as twenty-five pounds, and one was speared in Coon Creek, at 
Oxenford’s Mills, that kicked the beam at thirty-three pounds. 
How is he for a minnow ? Nothing is taken now but pike, 
the buffalo is not yet running. A large lot of California 
salmon were placed in the lakes about three years since, but 
nothing has been seen of them since, and it is thought they 
have all fallen a prey to the voracity of the pike. 
H. L. Leonard, of New York and Bangor, Me., has do- 
nated as a prize for fly casting one of liis very beautiful six- 
strand split bamboo trout fly rods. 11 licet long, with a re- 
versible handle, so that the reel cau be used above or below 
the hand ; two long tips, one short tip for bait, in a black wal- 
nut grooved case, gotten up expressly for the occasion in ex- 
tra style, to be competed for at the nfixt annual meeeting of 
the New York Sportsmen’s Association, to be held in May at 
Buffalo, under the auspices of the Forester Club. Mr Leon- 
ard’s thirty years’ experience in fly fishrag for trout and 
salmon iu the United States and Canada, have qualified him 
to know what the requisites of a good rod are. He is the first 
person, we believe, who ever made a six-splice bamboo trout 
rod. His six strand salmon and grilse fly rods have an equal- 
ly enviable reputation. The winner of the prize at the 
Buffalo contest will consider himself a fortunate man. 
Emulation in Angling— Mr. Editor : Trout fishing pos- 
sesses peculiar fascination. Amateurs have been at a loss for 
adjectives with which to describe the emotions awakened by 
the first “ strike,” and the ecstacies experienced by their first 
capture. Though ordinarily it i9 all that may be cl aimed for 
ii by even the enthusiast ; yet it is possible to add greater 
zest to the pleasure by the introduction of a little wholesome 
competition. My simple object is to tell of one way in 
which this may be done. It is a plan that was adopted last 
season by several gentlemen residing in Chatham Village, 
Columbia County, New York, and which worked very suc- 
cessfully and happily. 
In pursuance of a previous invitation, these gentlemen, 
eight in number, met together and resolved to form them- 
selves into a club to be known as the “ Field, Flood and For- 
est Fraternity.” They called themselves, in brief, “The 
F's.” They then proceeded to elect a President, Secretary 
and three of their number, whom they called “ Masters of 
the Scales,” to receive and weigh the products of the stream 
as they might be offered by the members, from time to time, 
and to report the result to the Secretary, whose duty it was 
to make and preserve a careful and accurate record of the 
same. 
A first-class trout rod was procured, for which the members 
should compete, subject to the following conditions : 
The trout mu9t oe caught with hook and line, during 
the season of 1877, between the 10th of April and the 9th of 
September, in any of the streams alike accessible to all the 
members, within a radius of 60 miles from Chatham Village. 
This excluded all lakes and private ponds. The member 
who first takes a trout weighing eight or more ounces to have 
charge of the rod. Any member taking a heavier trout than 
this shall receive the rod into his custody, and so on, the 
heaviest weight taking the rod. The member who thus holds 
the rod at the end of the season shall retain the rod as his 
own personal property. 
The members were required to go a fishing on the last dav 
of the season, and on the evening of that day or the day fol- 
lowing they were to assemble at such time and place as should 
be determined upon, to partake of the trout on hand, the 
successful competitor for the rod furnishing the et cetera 
for the dinner, aDd the members of the fraternity, relying 
upon the inspiration of the occasion, to suggest suitable 
toasts. The members put themselves upon their honor in 
this declaration : 
“We are a fraternity of gentlemen, and each is placed 
upon his honor in respect to his strict adherence to the fore- 
going rules and regulations, and any member who may, by 
falsification, prevarication or deception of any kind, compro- 
mise his honor and betray the confidence of his fellow-mem- 
bers, shall apologize for the same and purchase for the next 
season's competition the prize, to be worth not less than $10, 
dot more than $100.” 
The nearest approach to a violation of the compact hap- 
pened in this way; A member of the club received one 
morning, from a friend, five or six nice trout from the New 
York market. That same day this gentleman and another 
member went together to whip “ Indian Creek " a stream 
about two miles distant. “Indian Creek" was once quite 
celebrated for its trout ; but, like many other streams in 
neighborhoods which have become populous, it is now only 
occasionally that you have the good fortune to take a fish. 
In an incredibly short time they returned from their excur- 
sion with three fine specimens. The largest lacked only a 
fraction of an ounce of weighing enough to take the rod, 
and sufficient shot was introduced into its stomach to make it 
outweigh the champion trout. That afternoon the news 
reached the ears of the custodian that his fourteen-ouncer 
had been beaten by a fraction over. There were symptoms 
of great uneasiness in that man's bosom. His peace was 
gone. His rest was broken, until a day or two afterward, 
when he was ofllcially informed that the whole affair was a 
hoax. 
The trout which took the rod at the close of the season 
weighed 14-J oqnces. The whole number caught by the 
club was 1,028, weighing about 100 pounds. Ninety-one 
were taken the last day, affording a bountiful supply for the 
final dinner of the season, which formed a fitting conclusion 
to a season made ten-fold more interesting by a little compe- 
tition. Hix. 
[The suggestion of our friend is a happy one. — E d.] 
INSTRUCTIONS IN BASS FISHING. 
No. 1. 
Chicago, March 12, 1878. 
Dear Editor — This warm spring day the spirit of the fisher- 
man is upon me, and, neglecting my labors and forgetful of 
the cares of life, I have sat by my table for an hour, dream- 
ing over and over again my last season’s sport. I want to 
talk to some one of the delights of bass fishing, and I propose 
to talk to you awhile about it, and to your readers, if it shall 
please you to introduce me to them. 
Do you know how to take black bass secundum a/rtemf 
Now V ■ Editor, this question is not addressed to you, be- 
cause you are supposed to know everything, especially every- 
thing perlaioing to the arts of fishing and hunting, and if one 
may judge from a perusal of your “ Answers to Correspond 
euts” upon all conceivable subjects, you either do know 
everything or you have a most wonderful encyclopedia. 
No, this question is addressed to an imaginary reader, who is 
not supposed to know anything, and of course he replies no. 
Now, I do not profess to know all about it, but something, 
and that something I propose to inflict upon said imaginary 
reader. And, first, I wish to define what is not bass fishiug. 
It i 9 not bass fishing to sit in the stern of a boat with a big 
line in your hand and a tablespoon at the end of it, trolling 
about at your ease to the great disgust of your boatman, and 
to pull in your fish hand over hand, by mam strength, as you 
would a log of wood. I once saw a gentleman trolling for 
bass upon a lake in Wisconsin, with three lines astern with 
spoon-hooks, and a fourth line, attached to a rod, also trolling, 
while he sat in the stern of the boat with an umbrella attach- 
ment over his head to keep off the sud, while his boatman 
pulled him about the lake a whole blessed day. As I was 
fishing the same lake I watched him, as I would the actions of 
some monstrosity. Whenever a fish struck the hook connect- 
ed with the rod he would give a yank, then throw the rod 
into the boat, grab the line and come the hand-over-hand 
operation. 1 wished then that some big fish would haul him 
overboard and drown him. Such ought to be the fate of all 
who try to murder bass in that way. There is another class 
of men who should never receive “benefit of clergy" from 
me — to wit, those who destroy bass with set lines. I find 
that I have not patience nor time to detail all the ways of 
killing fish without fishing, but every fisherman knows them. 
It is more pleasant to describe the genuine article. 
FIRST — THE PREPARATION. 
The rod should be light, about eight ounces ; short, two 
joints, and about 15-inch but, with a pretty stiff tip. I pre- 
fer the bamboo, the spHt of course is the best, but the other 
will do well enough. The reel should be placed at least ten 
inches from the end, in order that the but may be held against 
thejiody when necessary, and at the same time the reel 
easily managed- 1 notice that Mr. Hallock places the reel at 
the extreme end of the rod. That is all right for light fish, 
but not for the strong black bass. [Remark— Except for a 
two-handed rod, weighing two pounds and upward, we ad- 
vocate shipping the reel near the end of the but, and not 
above the grasp of the hand. It is absolutely necessary that 
the same hand which holds the rod shall be able to manipu- 
late the line in casting. — E d.] I once bought a rod with the 
reel rings at the end because it looked so pretty, but at the 
close of ray first day’s bass fishing with it I applied my knife 
to it, and the next day the reel was where it ought to be. To 
control bass all day with ease, with the reel at the end of the 
rod, requires a stronger left arm than many fishermen are 
blessed with. Besides, it is difficult to cast with a rod rigged 
in that way. Join the rod so that the line guides will be on 
the lower side, as the line then runs more readily and is not 
liable to stick or be caught on the rod or rings ; by the way, 
have large riDg guides [we prefer standing guides. — E d.], and 
have the first ring at least eighteen inches from the reel. 
Have the line pass from the reel to the rings under the rod by 
the right-hand side. 
THE REEL. 
The best, by all odds, in my opinion, is the “Meek." I 
lately read in your paper the article by George A. Shufeldt in 
which he throws discredit upon the “Meek ’’ and prefers the 
common double multiplier. I disagree with him in toto, 
however much respect I have for liis abilities as a fisherman. 
In passing I would say that I have fished many a time and 
oft with Mr. Shufeldt, and can vouch for his skill, and I venture 
to believe that the Kentucky gentleman who seems to think 
that Shufeldt needs some lessons in the art of casting would 
find upon trial that he could teach him nothing. I admit that 
it requires more care to cast with the Meek reel than with the 
others ; it pays out the line just twice as fast, and if the bait 
does not carry it off far enough the line is apt to overrun and 
foul badly on the reel, and unless checked promptly when the* 
bait strikes the water, it will then overrun also, but by a little 
care and experience in the use of this reel you will readily 
overcome this disadvantage unless you are a very impatient 
man. On the other hand the powers of this reel are so vastly 
superior to all others after you have hooked your fish as to 
greatly counterbalance its disadvantages iu making the cast. 
The great rapidity with which the line cau lie taken up or let 
out renders it the prince of reels. Another thing of not so 
much importance, it saves just half the labor required by other 
reels, as with one turn it does the work of two. 
THE LINE. 
This should be of the lightest description. Capt. Fitzgib- 
bon, of Indianapolis (bless bis old soul), than whom a more 
skillful fisherman does not exist in the Northwest, is reputed 
to have caught innumerable bass with a liueu thread, but 1 
never saw him do it. A twisted or cable-laid linen, or a sea 
grass line is the best — the lightest you can find. Avoid 
braided silk, as after a while it will flatten and pack on your 
reel. Don’t look at oiled silk, eveu the best English make, as 
they will tell you at the shop. If you take sea grass, which 
I think is the best in the long run, get the kinks out of it by 
towing it loose for a while behind your boat. Have at least 
125 to 150 feet of line. 
THE HOOK. 
The round “ Carlisle ” is the prince for bas9, No. 4. The 
sprout-bend comes next. Avoid the Limerick and all crooked 
books — use hooks with gimp attachment. Don’t lead your 
line, but attach the hook to it by a swivel. Have about 50 good- 
sized live minnows in your bucket. Shiners are the most at- 
tractive, but chubs will stand the racket better. Take a land- 
ing net, a basket of lunch, your pipe, a dry boat, a good boat- 
man who knows the points of the lake, and upon the whole 1 
think you are well fixed for the day. Now for the fishing. It 
is necessary that you start right. Don’t put on any airs 
with your boatman. You can’t keep them up ; he will find 
you out at the first pop. Take him into your confidence at 
once. Tell him that you don’t know anything about bass-fish- 
ing ; have never tried it on, though, in order to preserve his 
respect, it is best to give him to understand that a good share 
of your life has been spent in salmon fishing in the wilds of 
Canada, diversified by an occasional run into the Adirondacks 
for trout. Y'ou may casually speak of the glorious sport ex- 
perienced in landing a thirty-five pound salmon or four-pound 
trout, but you must be careful to tell him that in salmon and 
trout fishing you have always used a heavy rod with a slender 
tip (don’t give yourself away by calling it a “pole”), and 
have always fished with a fly. Tell him that salmon and 
trout are very dainty and require different flies for different 
hours of the day, or different weathers, but that your experi- 
ence has been that they will rise oftener to a brown hackle 
than any other. A little of this style of conversation will 
place you upon a seeming equality with him, which may last 
an hour or two. Be sure and tell him that you have never 
tried these light rods or cast from a reel, and you want him 
to teach you. This will flatter him and he will help you all 
he can. Pass your flask to him once in a while with the re- 
mark that it is pretty hot work for him, and he will think 
you a “ good fellow ” and take you to all the good places. 
If you do not have good success after awhile tell him that 
you are rather f ired of standing and would enjoy the variety 
of rowing. Change places with him and let him have your 
rod, and if there are any fish around he will get you . • .o-N 
for a show at home. 
Now, Mr. Editor, I find that it has taken me a loDg time to 
get my imaginary bass-fisher fairly started upon the lake, 
and if I undertake to tell him what to do, now ho is there 
my chapter will be so long that you will never publish it for 
his benefit. I bate to stop, now that 1 have got to where I 
intended to commence, and if you will give me another hear- 
ing, I will be glad to-continue my lessons. Yours, G. C. 
to ^ovreBpotidetttR. 
No Notice Tokeo of Anonrmoun Communlcatlouii. 
rr A number of anonymous correspondents will understand wby 
their queries are not answered, when they read the lines at the head of 
his column. 
Fly Rod, New York.— Letter for yon at this office. 
G. H. M., Troy.— Pedigree all right and reliable In every way. 
G. E. 8.— Is a $60 gun considered a good one ? Ans. Yea— 
for the price. 
C. P. S., Richmond.— Your method of testing the pull of your trigger 
is a good one. 
F. N. B., Newton Centre, Mass.— You must apply to Col. Schermer- 
horn for a copy of a report. It Is Just Issued. 
Jacobstaff.— See “Al. Fresco’s” description of weatherly boat suit- 
able for Florida waters In our issue of March 28. 
C. H. W., Or., St. Louis.— All the marks you give are Tower proof 
marks. Never heard of the maker you ask about. 
J. B., Chester.— Why don’t you communicate with Baird & Ilnston, 
yacht builders, of Philadelphia. See their advertisement In our paper. 
A. H. C,, Canandaigua.— You can buy a copy of *• Kedge Anohor 
from J. L. Donnfr, Columbia, Tolland county, Connecticut. Address 
P. O. Box *0. 
Subscriber, Hyannls, Mass.— My young setter kll's hens. Would be 
quite valuable If cured of this bad habit. Ads. Thrash him severely 
when caught at It. 
Dr. S., Sandy Falls, Mo.— Does Dr. Carver shooting glass balls with a 
ride use a hair trigger, or a three pound pull ? Ans. Not a Hair trig- 
ger, but do not know the pull. 
Misal, New London, Conn,— Can you give address of parties who 
bny old and valuable works ? Ans. Address Mr. Wright, care Loavett 
Bros., Clinton Place, New York city. 
J. R. A., Petersburg, 111.— Please give me, through Correspondents' 
oolumn, the address of some dealer In aqnurlum goods at Chicago. 
Ans. Fred Kaempfer, 127 Clark street. 
S. J. M., Baltimore.— Please give me prescription for a tonic pill for 
general use ? Ans. Nothing better than a pill made of two gralus of . 
quinine taken three times a day, If a tonic Is wanted. 
Sub, Tenafly, N. J.— We have not on hand Moffat’s ‘‘Secrets of 
Angling." but can Import from England la six weeks' time. Price 
$3.76. Please advise ns If you wish lis to obtain it. 
Plankerb, Hudson, N. Y.— The address you wish Is W. H. Daly, M. 
D., Pittsburg, Pa.— Send your letter to this office at once, as tlio Dootor 
Is bound for Europe and will call upon us on his way. 
Ice Kino, Catsklll, N. Y.— 1. How much capital Is Invested In the Ice 
business? 2. Does this country ship lco abroad ? Ans. 1. Belweeu 
thirty and forty millions of dollars. 2. Yes, to South America. 
