THE SMELTS 27 1 
the winter, especially in the latter part of the season, fishing through ice was prac- 
ticed by some. 
The best time is when the tide begins to flow to about three-quarters full, and then at the 
finish of the ebb. (Chambers, 1893.) 
CATCHES 
1874 ■ — July 23: “Large numbers are being caught.” (Forest and Stream, 
1874.) 
1876. — September 11: “Smelts are now plenty, and as high as 40 dozen to a 
boat have been taken at Black Rock.” (“S. K., jr.,” 1876.) 
1886. — “Mystic River in years past was a famous place, but in later years very 
few were caught there.” (Cutter, 1S85.) 
October 31: “From 10 to 20 dozen, the average catch by an angler.” (Cutter, 
1885.) 
1894 - — October 20: “Good catches have been made in all directions.” (Smart, 
1894.) 
1895. — November 2: “Smelt fishing around Boston is booming just now, and 
both the sportsmen and regular market fishermen are getting great numbers 
* * *. They are averaging larger this year than for seasons past, * * *. 
One of the best catches, as regards quantity, which I have heard about was made 
by two market fishermen on one day last week. In a little less than three hours’ 
time they captured 533 fish, weighing 72% pounds.” (“Hackle,” 1895.) 
1896. — February 8: A few days prior to February 8 a young man caught 40 
pounds in a very short time, and “ they were beauties as to size and quality. The 
anchorage of the Nantasket steamers at Nantasket has also provided good sport 
during the past week. An aquaintance took 80 pounds there on the turn of the 
tide a few mornings ago, and he estimates that fully 700 pounds were taken that 
day at this place by all the fishermen present.” (“Hackle,” 1896.) 
1899. — July 22: One boy took several dozen each trip off Cohasset. (“Special,” 
1899b.) 
July 29: “Smelt fishing is reported fair at several points along the south shore. 
In the vicinity of Cohasset and Falmouth many dozens are being taken by the 
summer boarders. * * *. Smelt fishing continues to improve. The boys are 
getting a good many dozen off the ‘Punkins’ and at other points near Falmouth.” 
(“Special,” 1899c.) 
1900. — February 24: “Bucky Holmes and I have caught as high as 50 dozen in 
a day, using two rods each; another day three of us caught 70 dozen, and I have 
known market fishermen to go about a hundred dozen in a day.” (“Grif,” 1900.) 
At Freeport, in the old days, several dozen smelts taken by one fishermen in a 
few hours were not an uncommon catch. In later years smelts appeared to be scarcer, 
and where the present writer used to fish as a boy, now no one fishes. In recent 
years he tried the fishing occasionally, but has caught none since 1893. On November 
8, 1893, he caught 9 smelts, 6 to 7% inches long. On November 9 he caught 17, 
and on the 10th 7 smelts, using “ minnies ” for bait. 
