Nov. 23, 1907.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 

') The rod rack E should be four feet high and 
live long by three feet wide, with notches on the 
op bar, to prevent rods being blown over by 
‘the wind. Fig. 2 shows a convénient form: 
‘| H is the notched top bar, against which the 
i}ods lean, while the bar M prevents them from 
lipping. L is another crosspiece for rod forms 
)nd cases. Nails may be driven in the back of 
‘sIhe bar H, on which to hang. coats and hats. 
,}£ therrack is nailed down on shore side of the 
\latform, rods may rest against it securely, with 
‘jeaders in the water, ready for casting. 
| Obviously the most ‘reliable device with 
\vhich to measure fly and bait casts are boards 
lvith feet and inches marked on them; but these 
re costly and unwieldy. Next comes a line 
‘\vith floats, with the distance marked on each, 
jr painted different colors to represent various 
listances. The first device that suggests itself 
3 an upright disc with the figures painted on it, 
jut this is impossible unless the float to which 
is attached turns freely on the line and has 
| weight attached to keep the marker* from 
joppling over. Both are impractical for the 
leason that casting lines foul them and necessi- 
ite the use of a boat to free lines every few 
uinutes. Attaching floats tightly to the line 
esults in turning most of them bottom up 
larough the twisting of the line. There must 
/herefore, be no angle or projection on which 
casting line can catch. 
The simplest line, therefore, is one consisting 
f 225 or 250 feet of 3-16-inch braided cord 
which fishing tackle dealers sell at $1.20 for 
90-yard lengths. A good grade of curtain cord 
3 mearly as serviceable. Either one should 
jrst be waterproofed with pitch, to prevertt 
jhrinking, stretching and decay. At one end 
ittach an iron ring. This is to be attached to 
| hook on a post on the casting platform just 
it the forward edge. . This ring should be placed 
jn last, as will appear further on. Now meas- 
jre off 60 feet and tie a simple knot in the line. 
jlere let us digress for a moment. 
| Experience will prove that one who stands 
jn the platform, occupied with his casting, can- 
ot accurately determine how far he is casting 
fly if the line is equipped with floats painted 
2d, white, or any combination of colors. 
Teither can he see figures on the floats, all of 
hich look alike to him, so busily engaged is 
je in trying to lengthen his casts. Make one 
jark round, another square, and so on, and 
le will at once associate the different forms 
jith their proper distances. Egg-shapped floats 
re the more practical form, but the caster is 
: a disadvantage when they are employed, and 
figures are painted on them, these cannot be 
irely determined if the judges are on shore or 
wv a boat at a distance of, say 50 feet. There- 
ore, if the marks are- five feet apart, which is 
ose enough for a beginning and for practice, 
‘t the first one, at 60 feet, be a six-inch disc 
ainted red, with a big black figure 6 on each 
de (R, Fig. 3). It should be bored as shown, 
ith a quarter-inch bit and the line run through 
, so that the knot tied at 60 feet will rest in 
1e center. Then dip two pine plugs in paint 
id drive them into the hole, one on either side 
atil flush with the edges of disk. The knot be- 
ig between their ends, the disk cannot slip on 
je line, and the fresh paint will hold the 
lugs solidly. No matter which side of the 
sk is up, there is the figure 6, representing 60 
‘et and easily seen by the judges, even at a 
istance. 
Tie another knot five feet from the center of 
ie disk, and attach a three-inch egg-shapped 
dat to it, also with pine plugs (S, Fig 3). 
aint it blue, but add no figures unless small. 
ive feet further on attach another six-inch disk, 
uinted red, and marked with a 7, for 70 feet; 
blue egg-shapped: float at 75, and a white disk 
80, marked 8; a blue float at 85, and a red 
id white striped six-inch disk at 90 feet; a 
ue float at 95, and a square float at 100. feet, 
tinted white with “10” on both sides (T, Fig 3). 
This is as far as the fly-caster can determine 
ie form of floats accurately, unless they are 
mmewhere widely separated. All that is now 
‘cessary is to provide for accurate scoring by 
e judges. White six-inch disks, therefore, 
ill serve for the 110, 120, 130, 140, 160, 170, 
821 

180 and 190 foot marks, with large figures on 
each. At 125, 150, 175 and 200 feet attach square 
floats, for the bait-casters can see these clearly. 
Paint 125 and 175 foot marks red, the 150 and 
200 white. Blue floats mark the odd distances 
throughout the line, except at 125 and 175 feet, 
as noted above. No weights of any sort will 
be required, and if the edges and corners of all 
marks are smoothed off, there will be no point 
on the entire line that a fly or bait casting line 
will foul. 
These markers should all be saturated with 
linseed oil and thoroughly dried before they 
are painted and marked, to prevent warping and 
checking. They should then be given two coats 
of enamel, not paint, and if taken out of the 
water after use, and stored in a dry place, they 

will remain clean and bright, and the figures 
will show distinctly. Such a line will cost about 
$5 and last several seasons. White pine or 
poplar one inch thick is best for the large 
marks. The egg-shapped floats can be bought 
from tackle dealers. 
For tournament use, where more accurate 
measurements are required, egg-shaped fishing 
floats 1% inches in length can be used to mark 
every foot between the 5 and 1o-foot distances. 
Galvanized cable-laid steel wire one-eighth 
inch in diameter is better than braided cord, 
but it cannot, well be knotted, and there seems to 
be no other satisfactory way to attach markers. 
Nails driven through markers and line cause 
trouble in time, and separate cord or wire on 
the outside fouls the casting I'nes. 
For accuracy bait-casting a target is best. 
The simplest form may be made as follows: 
Join two 1x4 inch boards in the center, as 
shown by KK, NN, Fig. 4, and paint them 
green. At their intersection attach a six-inch 
watertight tin can (W), painted red. Encircl- 
ing this, attach to the four bars a %-inch water- 
tight gaspipe ring (P). 30 inches in diameter, 
painted white. Four staples may be used to at- 
tach it to the bars. Wire will catch the lures. 
One foot from this ring attach a similar one 
4% feet in diameter, and so on until five are in 
FIG. Do 

place. 
awash, with the red bullseye only showing dis- 
As all parts of the target must be just 
tinctly, regulating devices are necessary. Four 
three-gallon paint or oil cans, attached solidly 
to the bars, will serve, provided they have screw 
caps that will keep water out. If the target 
floats too high, a little water is let into each 
can, and vice versa. (See X, Fig. 4.) 
If the target must be carried any distance 
from where it is to be used, it should be made 
in sections, as shown at Fig. 5, and the four at- 
tached by means of bolts through two of the 
bars Z. In this case all ends of the tubes must 
be plugged to keep out water. The bullseye and 
air cylinders can be attached in various ways. 
Under the target W, (Fig. 4) attach a large 
screweye, and make the center of a suitable line 
fast to it. Attach iron rings to one part of the line, 
say 60, 80 and roo feet f om center of target. If the 
60-foot ring is made fast to the hook on the 
platform, the other end of the line is made fast 
to a stake or on shore. After all contestants 
have cast at 60 feet, the ring is cast off, the 8o- 
foot ring made fast, and the line stretched and 
made fast again, and so on for 100 feet, or any 
other set of distances. 
In casting at this target, if the lure falls on or 
within the 30-inch circle, the cast is scored 0, 
or perfect; if it falls within the next ring, 1 de- 
merit; just outside the largest ring, 5; two feet 
away, 6, etc., casts outside being of course esti- 
mated. For example, if one scores a total of 
50 demerits in five casts at each distance 60, 
80 and 100 feet, divide it by 15, the total num- 
ber of casts, which gives 3 5-15. This deducted 
from 100 gives a percentage of 96 10-15. 
For accuracy and delicacy fly-casting three 
30-inch wood hoops, such as children. play with, 
are excellent. Thes@¢ can be lashed on the 
distance marking line or attached to a separate 
line at 40, 50 and 60 feet or other distances, 
with a 3-inch disk for a center. In practice one 
works out his line to the first mark, calls 
“ready, makes five casts at it, then extends his 
line and casts five times at the next mark, and 
so on. 

Asbury Park Fishing Club. 
Asspury Park, N. J., Nov. 17.—Editor Forest 
and Stream: Noy. I sees the close of the contest 
season of the Asbury Park Fishing Club, Inc., 
for striped bass. 
That the season has not been a successful one 
is witnessed by the fact that within the past few 
years a single member in one season took more 
than double the number of fish caught the pres- 
ent season by the entire club of 160 members. 
On the evening of the roth inst. the prize com- 
mittee met and awarded the prizes offered by 
the club, as well as three individual prizes which 
were held under club rules. 
First Prize—A 3-0 Vom Hofe switch reel or 
a Seger greenheart rod, optional with winner, to 
Wim. H. Schwartz, Newark, N. J., 20% pounds. 
Second Prize—A Seger greenheart rod to A. 
J. Detsch, of Philadelphia, on a draw with War- 
ren S. Conklin, of Ocean Grove, both men taking 
bass of 11% pounds each. Mr. Conklin was 
awarded a fine tackle book and set of tackle. 
Third Prize—The greatest number of pounds 
of striped bass. A banded German silver reel 
to Hoffman Allen, of Baltimore, Md., 28% 
pounds; four fish. 
Fourth Prize—Third largest striped bass re- 
sulted in a tie between William Applegate and 
Leonard Hulit; weight, 11 pounds. As the gov- 
erning rules were somewhat confusing and really 
admitted of two interpretations, the committee 



awarded, to each a handsome tackle book and 
set of tackle. ‘ 
Fifth Prize—A 200 yard special 24-thread line 
for the largest weakfish taken from the beach 
or piers (boat catches eliminated) was awarded 
to Winfield Scott, of Ocean Grove; weight, 6% 
pounds. 
Sixth Prize—A leather rod belt for the largest 
kingfish was awarded to John F. Seger; weight, 
24 pounds. 
Seventh Prize—Half dozen leaders, one dozen 
bass hooks and a dozen swivels for the first bass 
of the season went to Warren S. Conklin, of 
Ocean Grove. 
This ended the club offerings. The committee 
then took up the awards of individual prizes. 
A magnificent Tobin bronze loving cup, offered 
by Matthew S: Stratton, of New York, for 
largest bass to Wm. H. Schwartz, Newark, for 
his 29% beauty. A handsome silver-mounted 
fountain pen, offered by Geo. H. Savage, of Mt. 
Holly, N. J., for the greatest number of striped 
bass, went to Schwartz also after a draw on a 
tie with Hoffman Allen; four fish. 
The Seger greenheart rod, offered to anyone 
catching the largest bass on one of his make of 
rods, irrespective of club membership, was tied 
between Warren Conklin and A. J. Detsch, and 
on the draw was awarded to Conklin. 
Considering the small number of bass taken 
the ties were most remarkable, and will lead to 
a complete revision of the rules governing future 
contests. 
The effusion of our esteemed club member, 
Jos. B. Cawthorne, in the current number of 
‘ ForEST AND STREAM, pretty clearly expresses the 

