7 02 
FOREST AND STREAM. [May 2, 1908. 
With the Sea Trout at Bay de L’Eau. 
St. John's, N. F., April 15.— Editor Forest 
and Stream: A gale of southerly wind with 
rain has been blowing all day. The snow has 
got a great cutting, and with the exception of a 
bank here and there in the shady places it has 
almost totally disappeared. My bound volumes 
of Forest and Stream for last year have lately 
arrived from the binders, and 1 have been going 
through them, indexing some articles, and skim¬ 
ming through the others. Many of them will 
bear re-reading, and I know no better method 
of whiling away a spare hour than by renewing 
acquaintance with olcl familiar friends. A Cali¬ 
fornia fish story makes me feel reminiscent, 
and in contrast to the blustery, foggy weather 
outdoors come memories of the pleasantest even¬ 
ing I spent last season with the sea trout in 
Fortune Bay. 
We anchored in the bottom of a deep reach 
about dinner time. It had been raining all day 
and did not look very inviting. After dinner 
it cleared somewhat, and Guill and I got a 
couple of oilcoats from members of the crew 
and started shoreward. There is a river that 
flows into the bay at this place, and as it is far 
from the haunts of man it is not much fre 
quented, so that one is always sure, if the con¬ 
ditions are any way favorable at all, to have a 
good evening’s sport. This was Guill's first 
visit, but I had been there before. I had been 
promising him good sport, and as he was the 
only member of the party who would risk the 
tramp through the wet bushes I was anxious 
that he would not be disappointed. I had been 
bragging of our exploits among the sea trout 
in these waters, and I was anxious to make 
good. Fearing he would be disappointed, I 
warned him not to be too sanguine, as I did not 
know what effect the rain that had been pouring 
the previous night might have on the pool. 
We took the trail at the water’s edge and 
started for the spot where we suspected the fish 
were waiting our coming. The pool is about 
a mile in, the trail fairly level, and not bad 
traveling. The weather brightened up a bit 
when we started, and when we arrived at the 
pool we both confessed that we had an ideal 
evening for trouting. We cast off our rain coats 
and bent our flies. Where the river loses itself 
in the pool it forms a kind of backwater at the 
base of a hill and deepens very considerably. It 
is here the school lies and when the conditions 
favor they are just “crazy for the fly.” Out 
in the mouth of the river there is a large flat 
stone, just large enough for a man to stand on. 
It is about three feet below the surface. An 
angler standing here can throw his flies into the 
likeliest spot for sea trout in North America if 
1 am not mistaken. As I stood sponsor to the 
pool for my companion I felt that the duties 
of host devolved on me; further, I happened to 
have been fitted with waders and Guill had not 
brought his along. As I could travel anywhere 
I pointed out the standing stone to him. Now 
a nice point of angling ethics arose. He re¬ 
fused to take the place of “honor and emolu¬ 
ment,” pointing out it was mine by right of 
discovery. Of course I would not be outdone 
in a small matter of courtesy like that, and in¬ 
sisted that he should take the stone, especially - 
as I could stand beside him with my waders. 
How far the discussion would have gone, or 
how it would have eventually been decided, will 
never be known, because while we were still 
"rising to a point of order” we both absent- 
mindedly dropped our flies in the pool, and in 
the twinkling of an eyelash there was “some¬ 
thing doing.” He had hooked a couple of 
beauties and so had I, and for the next few 
minutes our work was cut out. There was just 
the gentlest of gentle breezes rippling the sur¬ 
face of the pool. Soft summer clouds subdued 
the light to the requisite (angling) intensity, 
the trees whispered their mysterious messages, 
and the river sang its everchanging melodies. 
It was an ideal evening and an ideal spot. The 
fish were plenty and kind. We had splendid 
sport. 
Did you ever find yourself in the woods with 
a “fusser”; that is, a man who only sees the 
disagreeable side of everything, and publishes 
his views early and often ? For such a man 
the trail is frightful; the woods that occas¬ 
ionally slap him playfully across the cheek are 
anathema, the water is too wet, his rod or cast 
or something or other gets broken or lost, his 
shoe pinches one foot. About an hour before 
dark, just at the time when it is worth a king’s 
ransom to be beside the favored waters, he 
wants to get back to the boat, and as you un¬ 
willingly wind up your line to prepare to de¬ 
part, your disgust is too deep and sacred for 
common words. Once or twice I had experience 
of such a character, and it spoiled my sport. 
But Guill was a different kind. He was a thor¬ 
oughbred. and the beautiful summer evening up 
there in God’s green inn sank calmly and peace¬ 
fully into a beautiful summer night, and ours 
was the privilege to witness it under conditions 
that made us grateful and appreciative spectators. 
When if fell dark he at last suggested a start. 
We reeled up and started down the side of the 
pool to where the trail struck it. A glorious 
full moon rose in all its brilliancy just as we 
left the pool and we dodged leisurely out to 
where our boat awaited us. After a few 
minutes’ row we got aboard of our craft, and 
not the least enjoyable part of our day’s sport 
was to see the rest of the company crowd around 
and admire the contents of our well-filled creels 
as we turned them out in the cook’s pans. After 
a wash and a hearty supper we lit our pipes and 
Guill and I reviewed the events of the evening 
and voted our day at Bay de l’Eau as one of 
the very pleasantest in our experience. 
W. J. Carroll. 
Asbury Park Fishing Club. 
The Asbury Park (N. J.) Fishing Club has 
inaugurated its season’s tournament, the closing 
date being Oct. 31. The list of prizes follows: 
First Prize—For the largest striped bass, a first 
quality switch reel or split bamboo rod; to be 
optional with the winner. 
Second Prize—For the secoi d largest striped 
ba'ss, a greenheart rod. 
Third Prize—For the third largest striped 
bass, assorted tackle. 
Fourth Prize—For the greatest, number of 
pounds of striped bass, a German silver reel. 
Fifth Prize—For the largest weakfish, a 200- 
yard 24-thread line. 
Sixth Prize—For the largest bluefish, a rod 
holder or sand spike. 
Seventh Prize—For the largest kingfish, a rod 
belt. 
Eighth Prize—For first bass taken, assorted 
tackle. 
Special Prize—A loving cup, given by Mr. 
Matt Stratton, for the largest striped bass. 
Special Prize—A rod for the largest striped 
bass taken; not limited to club members. 
Consolation Prize—In the event of a tie for 
the largest striped bass, the second to record 
weight to be awarded a light or bait-casting rod. 
Second Consolation Prize—Should a tie occur 
in the greatest number of pounds of striped 
bass, slip number 2 to be awarded a fresh water 
reel. 
Newark Bait and Fly-Casting Club. 
The first of the series of contests arranged 
for the season by the Newark Bait- and Fly- 
Casting Club was held on the lake in Weequahic 
Park, Newark, N. J., April 25. It was open to 
members only. The day was partly cloudy, with 
showers, and the wind changeable. 
The Newark club is composed very largely 
of fresh water anglers who follow the trout 
streams and cast for black bass in the numerous 
lakes of the State. The membership is increas¬ 
ing steadily, and a great deal of interest is taken 
in the contests. 
Weequahic Lake, where the dub contests are 
held, is a beautiful sheet of water, surrounded 
by the park of the same name, one of the system 
maintained by Newark, but kept in a natural 
state. 
The results of the club contest follow: 
EVENT I, DISTANCE BAIT. 
This was cast with half-ounce weights, the 
average of five casts to count. 
E. S. Darling. 
. 145 
163 
140 
145 
160 
150 3-5 
I'red T. Mapes. 
.... 155 
134 
146 
155 
133 
144 3-5 
(ieorge Endersby .... 
.... 145 
*75 
115 
143 
155 
125 3-5 
P. 1. Muldoon. 
.... 141 
*70 
120 
13.8 
140 
121 4-5 
A. T. Neu. 
.... in; 
95 
130 
112 
124 
115 2-5 
C. T. Champion. 
.. *25 
135 
126 
132 
140 
111 -4-5 
< .eorge Moore . 
.... *60 
117 
137 
*77 
100 
98 1-5 
T. Doughty . 
.... 100 
90 
92 
71 
87 
88 
Perry D. Frazer. 
.... 165 
141 
130 
* 
withdrawn 
*Reel overran. 
EVENT 2, ACCURACY BAIT. 
Averages counted, the distances being 60, 80 
and 100 feet, and half-ounce weights were used. 
Total Per 
60ft. 80ft. 100ft. Demerits. Cent. 
E. S. Darling. 
.... 4 
14 
24 
42 
97 3-15 
Fred T. Mapes. 
.... 6 
16 
24 
46 
96 14-15 
A. I. Marsh. 
.... IS 
12 
17 
47 
96 13-15 
P. f. Muldoon. 
.... 15 
25 
14 
54 
96 6-15 
Perry D. Frazer. 
.... S 
17 
30 
55 
96 5-15 
( . T. Champion. 
.... 15 
• 21 
22 
58 
96 2-15 
lohn Doughty. 
99 
22 
30 
74 
95 1-5 
A. 1. Neu . 
.... 10 
2,8 
38 
76 
94 14-15 
(ieorge Fmdcrsbv ... 
.... 21 
14 
43 
78 
94 12-15 
(ieorge Moore . 
.... 35 
25 
39 
99 
93 6-15 
EVENT 3 , DISTANCE FLY. 
This was for single-hand fly-rods, five minutes’ 
time being allowed to cast. Perry Frazer made 
a new record for the club, 104 feet. Rain was 
falling at the time and there was a cross wind. 
The best casts of each man are given: 
Score, feet. 
Perry T). Frazer. 
. 104 
98 
ino 
104 
E. S. Darling. 
. 85 
88 
92 
92 
1 Doughty . 
. 65 
81 
70 
81 
A. E Marsh. 
. 80 
72 
65 
SO 
P. E Muldoon. 
. 75 
79 
79 
Fred T. Mapes. 
. 74 
75 
77 
77 
(ieorge Endersby . 
74 
74 
( . T. Champion. 
..• 53 
57 
58 
58 
A. 1. Neu. 
. 30 
35 
35 
EVENT 4 , 
ACCURACY 
FLY. 
The wind changed during this event, and cut 
the scores down 
materially. 
Lou 
Darling 
won. 
Total 
Per 
50 ft. 
55 ft. 
60 ft. 
1 )emcrits. 
Cent. 
E. S. Darling. 
. 3 
10 
in 
23 
98 7-15 
Perry 1 ). Frazer... 
. 1 
11 
15 
27 
98 3-15 
A. T. Marsh. 
. 5 
14 
25 
44 
97 1-15 
P. 1 , Muldoon. 
. 14 
24 
16 
54 
96 6-15 
I. Doughty . 
. 20 
16 
18 
54 
96 6-15 
