SH441 .H72 % 4 O % ^, y\ °-W^' /%. THE ART OF ANGLING HOW AND WHERE CATCH KISH By WAKEMAN HOLBERTON NEW YORK DICK & FITZGERALD, PUBLISHERS l8 ANN STREET SH V\7^ COPYRICnT 1887 BT DICK & FITZGERALD All rights reserved. u^ PKEFACE. Although there have been many works pub- lished on Anghng in this country, they are all too diffuse in their scope and complex in their directions to be of much use to the beginner. While this little book claims no joretensions to literary merit, the directions given are so simple and concise as to enable the most inex- perienced angler to select jDroj^er tackle and baits for the different kinds of fishing and variety of fish found in our waters. In illustrating this work, the author is in debted to the courtesy of Messrs. Abbey & Imbrie, of New York, for some of the most prominent diagrams and cuts, which materially aid in elucidating the text, and in making it, what it claims to be, a thoroughly practical handbook of instruction in the piscatorial ai't. ^3) CONTENTS. PAGE Hints on Buying Tackle 7 The Salmon 9 The Landlocked Salmon 14 The Speckled or Brook Trout 15 Choice of Flies 39 Hints on Trout-Fishing 34 Sea-Trout 36 Lake-Trout 37 Black Bass 39 Trolling and Still-Fishing for Bass 43 Where to Fish 50 Miscellaneous Hints 55 Black-Bass Fishing on the St. Lawrence River. . . 56 Salt- Water Angling 66 Sheepshead 75 The King-Fish or Barb 76 Hooks, Snells, and Various Hints 79 Camping Out 89 Last Words 95 (5) THE ART OF ANGLING. HINTS ON BUYING TACKLE. I WOULD advise those who are about to pur- chase fishing-tacMe to go to a rehable dealer and buy the best they can afford. There is little, if any, fancy work put on rods or reels ; the difference in price is caused by the dif- • 5=.= == =^ » I ■ !■ I EIGHT-SECTION BAMBOO ELT-KOD. ferent grades of material and workmanship employed in their manufacture. Machine- made rods, with their brilliant nickel-plated mountings and showy silk windings, are often more tempting to the young angler than the 8 UINT8 ON BUYING TACKLE. plainer but more substantial rods made by hand, out of carefully selected wood or bam- boo, particularly as they are much cheaper ; but a hand-made rod, with good German- silver mountings, is far better for service and \vill more than rej)ay the increased outlay. The best way, if he wishes to purchase an outfit and is not well posted, is to mention the sum he wishes to invest, where he intends fishing, and leave it to the dealer to advise him how to select to the best advantage. The higher grades of tackle are warranted by the dealers, but on the cheaper grades the pur- chaser must take his chances. If the angler has to content himself with a low-priced rod and reel, at least let him look to it that his lines, leaders, flies, and snelled hooks are of the very best. He should not be tempted by the wonderfully cheap stuff adver- tised so much in the papers, or he will find his trip spoiled and his temjoer sorely tried by the loss of his heaviest fish. After having purchased good tackle, it THE 8ALM0N. 9 should be fairly treated and kept in good order, directions for wliich will be found in another part of this work. The angler is cautioned against buying a general rod ; if he wants a fly-rod and a bait- rod, he should buy them. It is useless to try and make one rod answer for both purposes. As a rule, it would not answer for either, and be only a delusion and a snare. If he desires to succeed, he should see, above all things, that his reels fit his rods before leaving. Nothing is more provoking than to find that he cannot get his reel-plate into the reel-seat, just as he is ready to com- mence fishing. THE SALMON. This magnificent fish, once so plentiful, has been nearly exterminated in the Eastern States ; though, thanks to the energy of the Fish Commissioners, they are now reappear- ing in a few of our rivers ; still, Canada fur- nishes most of our Salmon-fishing, and our 10 THE SALMON. anglers have to pay many thousands of dollars annuaUy for the privilege of fishing there for this noble specimen of the finny tribe. On the Pacific coast several varieties of Salmon are found in immense numbers, but the canning factories are rapidly diminishing their numbers, and, unless protected by strin- gent laws, they will soon experience the fate of their unfortunate Eastern brethren. The California Salmon do not seem much inclined to take the artificial fly, but prefer a medium-sized spoon. The usual method is to THE SALMON, 11 troll for them with a stiff rod and a multiply- ing reel, filled with a hundred yards of No. 1 or 2 braided-silk line. The best rod for our Eastern Salmon is a two-handed fly-rod, about 16 feet long, with a click reel that wiU carry not less than 100 yards of " Dead Finish " waterproof braided- silk Hne, No. 2 ; a few heavy nine-foot single gut leaders, tested at least to a seven-pound strain, and suitable flies. One fly is used at a time, looped to the end of the leader, first soaking the gut until it is perfectly soft. Never fish with a dry leader, or attempt to tie or loop silkworm gut unless thoroughly soaked. Salmon flies are tied on both double and single hooks, and the angler should have an assortment of aU sizes ; for smaU flies the double hook is better, as it does not tear out so easily as the single, but for flies dressed on hooks larger than No. 4 the single hook is preferred. When the river is high and discolored, 13 THE SALMON. Salmon will only rise to a large fly, such as a Silver-doctor or Jock-Scott, dressed on a 1-0 or 2-0 Sproat-liook ; when the waters are low and clear, try them with smaller flies and ]3lain colors, such as the Fairy, Fiery-brown, Witch, etc. The fishing is generally done from a canoe, but it often happens, after hooking a fish, that the angler will be obliged to go ashore and follow his fighting captive some distance be- fore he can be brought within reach of the gaff. There are certain places in the rivers where Salmon are found, or at least where they only take the fly ; these are called Salmon pools, though not like what the Trout fisher would recognize as pools, but more hke a deep flow- ing current at the head of a pool. The canoe is anchored at the head of one of these and the angler casts his Hne across diagonally, and works his fly by a series of short motions toward the other side, repeating his casts with a little longer line each time, until the whole THE SALMON. 13 water is covered. Should a fish rise and miss the fly, rest him at least ten or fifteen minutes before trying again — and it is generally con- sidered better to try a change of flies. If he takes the fly, strike smai-tly, but not too hard, or the leader may be parted. Your canoe- man will now take in his anchor and prepare for the struggle. Keep a steady strain on the fly, taking in lino at every opportunity, and not yielding an inch unless forced to. When the fish shows signs of being used up, lead him toward the gaffer, who will, at the proper moment, strike the steel gaff into him and land him on the shore. The following is a list of the most killing flies suitable for Salmon in our waters : Fairy, Gypsy, Durham-ranger, Butcher, Silver-grey, Leon, Black-doctor, Dusty-miller, Silver-doc- tor, Wilmot, Wingfield-red, Fiery-brown, Pop- ham, Jock-Scott, Blue-doctor, Witch, Thunder- and-lightning. Black-dose, and Blue-tansy. 14 THE LANDLOCKED 8AL3I0N. THE LANDLOCKED SALMON. This fish is undoubtedly a descendant of the true Atlantic Salmon, deprived by some terrible convulsion of nature from access to the sea. It is one of the gamest as well as one of the most beautiful of our fresh-water fishes, and it is a great pity that its range is so limited, being confined to a few waters in Maine, Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Many of our Eastern waters are now being stocked, however, and in a few years, if properly protected, this noble fish will become quite plentiful. Landlocked Salmon are taken with the artificial fly, either by casting or trolling ; the same tackle being used as when fly-fishing for Black Bass, viz. : a stout flj'-rod ; a click-reel, filled with from thirty-five to fifty yards of dead-finish waterproof braided-silk line. No. 4, and heavy nine or six foot single leaders ; on which should be looped two flies, three feet apart. The flies should be dressed THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. 15 on No. 3 or No. 4 Sproat-hooks, and the gut doubled at the head of the hook. The following is a good list to select from i Beatrice, Brandreth, Ferguson, Silver-doctor, Holberton, Professor, Tinselled-Ibis, Grizzly- king, Silver-fairy, Lottie, Orange, Coachman, Silver-jungle, Jungle -professor. Jungle-grizzly- king, and Jungle-St. Patrick. A good-sized landing net is necessary for landing these fish. THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. With the exception of the Black Bass, there is no fish found over a greater range of coun- try, or one that affords more sport than the Brook Trout ; certainly there is none more prized or is there any that will compare with them for beauty. Living only in the purest and coolest spring- water, the Trout is a prince among fish. They vary in weight from the little finger- lings of an ounce or two, to the royal eight 16 THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. and ten-pound monsters of the Nipegon and Maine waters. The most sportsmanlike way of taking Trout is with the artificial fly, and, notwithstanding the many stories to the contrary, it is also the most killing. Bait-fishing is easier to learn, but it does not give the angler the same pleasure. It is dirty, cruel, and very injurious THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. to the small fish, which, when caught with the fly, are generally hooked in the lips, and can be returned to the water unharmed ; while, nine times out of ten, when taken with bait, they swallow the hook and are killed. Still, there are times when, from the nature of the waters, the use of the artificial fly is impos- sible ; then a lively minnow, worm, or grass- hopper must be used instead. THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. 17 A complete outfit for Trout-fishing should comprise at least three rods — one light, short rod to be employed exclusively for stream fishing ; one of about 10 feet in lengih and from 7 to 8 ounces in weight for river and pond fishing, and one from 11 to 12 feet in length and 9 or 10 ounces in weight for Maine and Canada waters. The latter is also well adapted to Black Bass and Landlocked Salmon. If the angler feels obliged to confine himself to a single rod, let him select one from 10 to 11 feet in length and 7 to 9 ounces in weight. To show the reader what a light rod wiU do in the hands of an experienced angler, we give the following facts : Mr. Herbert E. Clark, of Jersey City, killed during the summer of 1885, at Alexandria Bay, in the presence of a num- ber of witnesses, a Sturgeon weighing 78 pounds. He was using an eight-ounce split- bamboo fly-rod, a fine silk Black-Bass line, and a single-gut leader. The fight lasted an hour and five minutes, and he had to follow the fish over a mile before he was captured. 2 18 THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. Mr. Charles F. Imbrie killed a seventeen- pound Salmon on an eight-ounce round-sec- tion fly-rod ; but the most extraordinary feat was performed on the Cascapedia River by Mr. G B. Adams, of New York, who kiUed, in August, 1886, a thirty-two-pound Salmon on a seven-onnce round-section bamboo fly-rod. Mr. Adams was unprepared for it, as he was fishing for Sea-Trout, and onl}^ had 50 yards of line — he brought the fish to gaff in about thirty minutes. The day previous he killed on the same rod a Salmon weighing 9 pounds. The eight-section round-bamboo rods al- ready mentioned are expensive, but undoubt- edly the strongest rods in the world. Next in quahty, and for less money, come the hex- agonal or six-strip bamboo rods. For those who can onl^ have one rod, " The Holberton " rod is a very useful imple- ment. It is a short and rather stiff fly-rod, but can be used for bait-fishing at a pinch. Having a short butt and a long joint and tip, with only one ferrule between, it makes an THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. 19 unusually strong rod, well-balanced and easy to fish with. The old-fashioned three-j^iece wooden rod, ash butt and lance wood joint and tips, when hand-made, makes a most serviceable rod. Do not make the mistake, however, of select- ing one too weak in the centre ; it sounds very pretty to speak of the tip touching the butt, but it makes a very disagreeable rod to cast with, particularly on a windy day, and it is impossible to guide or control a heavj' fish with it. In fly-fishing, the reel should be underneath, with the handle on the left side. As soon as a fish is hooked, shift the rod to the left hand, bringing the reel on top ; the handle is now convenient to the right hand, and in playing the fish in this manner the strain is reversed and the rod kept straight. The best reel for Trout-fishing is a good single-action click ; the German-silver and hard rubber raised pillar is the best, and will last a lifetime with proper care. The click prevents the necessity of holding 20 THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. the line while casting, and also keeps it from overrunning. It should be stiff enough to hook when striking,^ and yet give before caus- ing a breaking strain on the rod or tackle in case the line should hai^pen to get fast to a snag or branch. The click also makes music dear to the angler when a big fish rushes off with the line. For bait-fishing many people prefer a small multiplying reel ; it should have an adjustable click, so that in case you wish to use it for fly- fishing, it will answer as well. For fly-fishing use the "Dead Finish" braided waterproof silk line — level, not taper- ed. The varnished and tapered lines chip, crack, and soon become tender, particularly in the taper. Fill the reel comfortably^ full, but do not crowd it. The size of the line should be in keeping with the rod — that is, if the rod is stiff and iieavy, the line should be in propor- * Striking is a term used by anglers to designate the action of hooking a fish. A sliglit movement of the hand is all that is necessary to fix the hook firmly. THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. 21 tion, say a No. 4 ; No. 5 is a medium size, and No. 6 is quite light. Any line can be used for bait-fishing, but it is very difficult to cast with any but the water- proof silk lines, and their use also does away with the necessity of um*eeling and drying them every night. A much cheaper line than the " Dead Finish " is the oiled silk. Though not so smooth, it answers the j)urpose for a time ; but it is not safe to trust them too long, as they become tender with age. The angler should provide himself liberally with silk-worm-gut leaders for both fly and bait-fishing ; for the latter, they need not be over three feet in length, and for fly-fishing, six to nine feet — the longer the better, but never quite as long as the rod. They should be single, and stained a ti'ue mist-color. If the angler wishes to stain his own leaders, the safest way is to use clear tea or coffee. Leave them in until dark enough, then rinse them off in cold water. 23 THE SPECKLED OB BROOK TROUT. Leaders should be always tested before using tliem, so as to make sure that the knots are jDerfect and the gut strong. If they wiU stand a strain of two pounds, they are strong enough for ordinary Trout-fishing, but for large Trout or Black Bass, they should stand a test of four pounds. "When the water is stiU and clear, Trout are generally shy, and it will be necessary to use drawn-gut leaders ; they are very delicate, however, and the angler must use great caution in both striking and playing large fish. As I have remarked before, the proper manner of striking a fish is very difficult to leaxn, and re- quires many seasons of careful practice. The majority of anglers strike too hard, and either snap their rods or their leaders. It is better to carry two or three spare leaders in a leader-box between wet leaves of felt ; they will then be soft and ready for in- stant use. Nothing is more provoking than to find a new leader dropping on the water in curls, and spoiling the sport for half an hour. rUE SPECKLED OB BROOK TROUT. 23 We will now suppose the young angler has reached his fishing ground ; the first thing to do is to rub the ferrules of his rod with a piece of paraffine or beeswax ; this will prevent them from sticking together when they are to be taken apart. The rod should be j)ut together firmly with the rings or guides in a line. After adjusting the reel properly and passing the line through the rings, attach the heavier end of the leader by a loop, then select two or three flies, the snells of which should have been well soaked ; loop one to the end of the leader ; this is called the " stretcher," or tail- fly. About two or three feet above, looj^ a second above a knot, so that it cannot slip down, and if a third is desired, loop it the same distance above the second ; these are called the " droppers," and the upper one the " hand-fly." Most leaders are equally divided by shding loops ; these can be drawn apart and the snell inserted, leaving the knot above the loop, then drawn together firmly and the loop cut off above the knot. This is the best way 24 THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. of rigging a " cast," and makes the least pos- sible disturbance in the water when casting. Two flies are all that can be put on a six- foot leader, and for a beginner, the tail-fly is sufiicient ; with more, they will only become tangled, and he discouraged. It is impossible for any one to learn the art of casting a fly from books ; it is far better to take a lesson from an expert friend. It is not half so difficult as most j)eople believe ; the great trouble is that beginners, and even those more advanced, try to cast too long a line. It is rarely necessary to use more than 35 or 40 feet, and 20 feet is amjole in stream fishing. One of the most successful anglers the writer ever met was a countryman up in the moun- tains of Pennsylvania, fishing with a switch cut in the brush, a ten- foot line, and some one's old discarded leader and shabby flies ; he put them on the water in the most masterly way, and brought in fish Avhen others better equipped fished in vain. Another fault which should be avoided is THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. 25 throwing the rod too far back, which causes the cast to drop on the water behind the an- gler ; it is very important that the line should straighten well out behind ; not only is this necessary in order to make a clean cast in front, but also to avoid snapping off the flies. Many a fly-maker is blamed for using bad gut when it is the fault of the fisherman. The following are reliable lists of artificial flies, from which selections may be made : FLIES FOR THE SMALLER STREAMS, ETC., OF THE MIDDLE AND EASTERN STATES. Professor, Cahill, Hooker, Blue -dun, Queen- of - the - Waters, Coachman, Koyal- coachman, Dark- coachman, Orange -coachman, Beaverkill, Grizzly-king, Golden-spinner, Great-dun, Al- der, Stone, Cow- dung, March-brown, White- miller, Orange-miller, Light-Montreal, Dark- Montreal, Claret, Black-gnat, Grey-drake, Yel- low-May, Ginger-palmer, Eed-palmer, Brown- palmer, Grey - j^almer, Coch-y-bon-dhu, and Jungle. Many of the above are more killing by the addition of Jungle-cock shoulders. 26 THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. These flies should be tied on the highest qual- ity sproat-hooks, sizes Nos. 8 to 12. FLIES FOR LONG ISLAND. Cahill, Grizzly - king, Coachman, Orange- coachman, Plum, South-side, Queen-of-the- Waters, Scarlet Ibis, Jungle Ibis, Jungle Griz- zly-king, Black-gnat, Brown-hen, Dark-coach- man, Alder, Claret, Ronald's-Stone, Cow-dung, White-miller, General Hooker, Ginger-palmer, and the different Midges. With the exception of the Midges for very clear and still waters, Nos. 8 to 12 sproat will be found the best sizes. FLIES FOB THE ADIRONDACK REGION. Scarlet Ibis, Coachman, AVhite-miller, Or- ange-miller, Orange-coachman, Plum, Profes- sor, Silver-doctor, Grizzly-king, Jungle, Eube- wood. Jungle, Beatrice, Jungle Ibis, Lottie, Light-Montreal, Dark-Montreal, Great-dun, Queen-of-the-Waters, Brown-hen, Yellow May, Brandreth, McAlpin, and the various Hackles and Palmers. Sizes of hooks, sjjroat Nos. 4 to 8. THE SPECKLED OR BROOK TROUT. 27 FLIES FOR THE WATERS OF CANADA AND MAINE. Scarlet Ibis, Jenny Lind, Canada, Grizzly- king, Toodle-bug, Parmachenee Belle, Profes- sor, Brandreth, Blue - jay, Silver-fairy, St. Patrick Montreal, Beatrice, Silver - doctor, White -miller, Royal- coachman, Rangeley, Gold- en-rod, Silver- jungle, Maine-jungle, Megallo- way, Bemis-stream, Coachman, Orange-miller, Wood, Grey-drake, Yellow moose, and the various Palmers. These should be dressed on sproat-hooks Nos. 3 to 6, and should have " helpers," that is, the gut doubled at the head of the fly. FLIES FOR PENNSYLVANIA STREAMS. Queen-of-the-Waters, Golden spinner, Claret- gnat, Black -gnat, Hawthorne, Cow-dung, Griz- zly-king, Dusty-miller, White-miller, Orange- miller, Professor, General Hooker, Brown-hen, Great-dun, Red- fox, Dark-fox, Bright- fox. Yellow May, Beaverkill, Cahill, Blue-dun, Coch- y-bon-dhu. Ginger-palmer, and the Brown, Red, and Grey Palmers. Sproat-hooks from 10 to 12. 28 THE SPECKLED OM BROOK TBOJTT. FLIES FOR THE NIPEGON AND LAKE SUPEEIOR REGION. Whitney, Lottie, Yellow-moose, Beatrice, Dark-Montreal, Nipegon, Brandreth, Silver- doctor, Grizzly-king, Kangeley, Holberton, Ferguson, and Brown-palmer. Sproat-liooks Nos. 1 to 4, tied with helpers. FLIES FOR THE FAR WEST. Black Prince, Orange-black, Beauty, Profes- sor, Coachman, Cow-dung, Brown-hen, Dark- wing-coachman, Black gnat, White miller, Grey- drake, Abbey, Hawthorne, Golden-s^^inner, Silver-brown, Grizzly-king, Queen - of - the- Waters, Great-dun, Dusty-miller, Brown- palmer, Ginger-palmer, Black-palmer, Grey- palmer, Grasshopper. It is advisable to have a duplicate lot of these flies tied with Jungle- cock-shoulders. They should be tied on sproat-hooks Nos. 6 to 10. For the Yellowstone Kegion, sproat-hooks Nos. 2 to 4 will not be too large. For Michigan, including Grayling fishing, the Coachman, Professor, Brown-hen, Queen- CHOICE OF FLIES. of -the -Waters, Golcleu-spinner, Grizzly-king, Brown and Ginger-j)almers, on sproat-hooks Nos. 8 and 10, are the proper flies. CHOICE OF FLIES. It is impossible to give du-ections how to select flies, but the following general rules can be relied upon : The size of the flies should be regulated somewhat by the size of the fish, but more by the condition of the water. For instance, if you are fishing on a clear stream, rather late in the season, and the water is low, you will find sober-colored flies on No. 10 or 12 hooks will take the best ; if you should happen to have a rain-storm and the water should become discolored and high, use bright flies, such as the Professor, Grizzly-king, Queen-of-the- Waters, etc., on hooks one or two sizes larger. In lakes and ponds, when the surface of the water gets warm (which occurs in August), Trout seek the deep water, and it is then use- 30 CHOICE OF FLIES. less to fish with flies — at such times bait must be used. For very dark days and evening fishing, se- lect flies like the Coachman, Ginger-palmer, Yellow May, Grizzly-king, White-miller, etc. On very rough and windy days, use larger and brighter flies. The author invented some time ago a new way of t^dng a fly, which has proved to be very killing ; he sold the patent to Mr. Charles F. Imbrie, of the firm of Abbey & Imbrie, New York. The cut will illustrate the differ- ence between the old and the new way of dressing the In drawing this fly slowly through the water, stop- ping it every few inches, the anoier produces a fluttering THE FLUTTERING FLY. & 1 fc) Patented May 4th. 1880. niOtiOU tO thC WiUgS aud legs that is very attractive to Trout and Black Bass. The fish also are hooked better with CHOICE OF FLIES. 31 this fly, as the barb is the first thing they swallow. This fly has been in use continually this season, and with the best results. It has also been used by hundreds of anglers, the major- ity of whom praise it exceedingly. For bait-fishing use your stiffest rod, and, for this style of fishing, leaders three feet long will answer. Select sproat-hooks on single mist- color gut snells, and use a split-shot for sinker. If the water is low it is better not to use any lead. Trout will take worms, grubs, grasshoppers, small minnows, both the real and artificial, such as the Fairy or Phantom, but these can only be used when trolling. In the latter pai-t of July and through the month of August, the large Trout retire in the lakes to deep water. The best way to fish for them then is to use a bright and lively min- now. In Maine waters gangs are against the law, so the minnow must be used on a single hook when fishing in that State. For wading wear canvas knee-breeches, 33 CHOICE OF FLIES. heavy woolen stockingSj and canvas shoes with the soles well filled with hob-nails ; without the latter, you are liable to nasty falls. If you cannot stand wading in cold water, use Mcin- tosh wading stockings, with the same style of shoes over them. A woolen shirt, canvas or corduro}^ fishing- jacket, and soft felt hat, will complete your outfit. It is desu^able to carry a light landing-net at a buttonhole of the coat. The following bit of personal experience from the diary of an expert angler, wiU show the beginner how difficult it is to make any fixed rule for the selection of flies : " In fishing one day on Rock Run, a beautiful trout stream in Lycoming County, Pennsyl- vania, where we were in the habit of using very small flies, I came to a magnificent pool under a fall, famous for the number and size of the trout it contained. Wading carefully in, I commenced casting, but not a fish could I raise. I changed my flies over and over again, but not a trout would notice them. Finally, I climbed up the rocks overhanging the pool. CHOICE OF FLIES. 33 and peeped cautiously over ; down at the bot- tom of the pool I counted a couple of dozen large trout, swimming lazily about almost di- rectly under the falls. I managed to whip my cast into the tumbling water, and as it passed over them they SAvam slowly toward the flies a short distance, only to return to their former position. I tried this a number of times with the same result. What to do I did not know ; but, in turning over the leaves of my fly-book, I found a stray, well-worn salmon-fly, large. and gaudy ; in despair I tried that, and to my astonishment, the moment it floated over them, a thirteen-inch fish made a dash at it that startled me. I struck smartly, and he was hooked and landed after a sharp fight. I re- peated the cast and a second took it in the same manner, and was safely brought to my landing-net. The third cast was equally sucr cessful, but, to my sorrow, the snell parted, and that put an end to my sport. Now, I said to myself, I know how to catch trout in this pool ; so a few days after, I tramped four miles to the 3 34 HINTS ON TROUT-FISHING. falls, well supplied with big flies, but it was of no use, they would not look at them." HINTS ON TROUT-FISHING. Most of our Trout Streams have been so thoroughly fished, that the Trout have become exceedingly shy ; to be at all successful the angler must use delicate tacMe, keep well out of sight, and use the greatest precaution not to disturb the fish in any way. When the waters are low and clear, it is better to fish up-stream ; fish always lie with their heads up- stream, and can be api^roached from behind much easier and nearer ; and as Trout, when hooked, generally run down with the current, they ai'e not so apt to disturb the unfished water. After a Trout is hooked do not attempt to bring him to the landing-net too soon. Be- ginners are very apt to lose their large fish by being too anxious to land them. If a fish HINT8 ON TROUT-FISHING. 35 comes to the surfadfe and thrashes about, it is a pretty sure sign that he is not ivell hooked, and you should, therefore, handle him with the greatest care ; in fact, it is always well to treat a good fish that way, and not take any chances, as it will avoid many disappoint- ments. As the season advances and the waters get low and clear, the large Trout seek secluded places under stumps and old logs, and in holes that have been washed out by the spring floods under the banks of the stream ; they rarely come out to feed excepting at night or on dark days. They have frequently been caught when it was too dark to see the tip of the rod, and where, in the daytime, it would be utterly useless to fish. For this work use a stout six- foot leader, and one large bright fly. They take the fly very boldly at night, and can be brought to the creel in short order without much risk of tearing out the hook. Keep your flies in a full-length fly-book of the South-Side or Endicott pattern ; this will 36 SEA-TROUT. also hold your leaders, hooks, file, and scissors. A medium-sized creel of willow or of folding canvas, to be carried by a web-strap, will com- plete the outfit. SEA-TKOUT. I believe it is not yet quite decided whether the so-called Sea-Trout are not the same as the Speckled Trout ; if so, their habits seem to have become changed somewhat from their long residence in salt water, and they are very much brighter in color than the ordinary Brook Trout. They are found in most of the Salmon rivers of Canada, the lower St. Lawrence, Prince Ed- ward's Island, and New Brunswick, making their appearance early in June and disappear- ing in August. Use the same tackle as you would for Can- ada or Maine fishing. The following are very killing flies for this variety of Trout, and should LAKS-TBOUT, 37 be dressed on sproat-hooks Nos. 4 to 6 : Bea- trice, Braudreth, Ferguson, Tinselled - Ibis, Jungle Grizzly-king, Jungle-St. Patrick, Eoose- velt, Lottie, and Silver-fairy. LAKE-TKOUT. Lake-Trout are taken either by trolling or still-fishing at a buoy — the Adirondack and Maine guides are in the habit of baiting certain localities, which they mark with a buoy. The proper rig for Lake-Trout fishing is a stout and rather stiff rod, and a reel filled with a hundred yards of braided linen or silk line, size No. -3 or 4. In trolling, use a good-sized minnow on a gang of treble -hooks, or, if a minnow is not ob- tainable, a piece of chub or sucker will answer. Tlie gang should be attached to a strong leader, either of single or double gut, and the leader and line should be connected by a good double or treble swivel. A new style of gang, 38 LAEE-TBOUT. called the *' St. Lawrence," is more simple and makes less show than the old style. It con- sists of a movable lip-hook and one treble-hook with a baiting-needle attached ; this prevents the minnow from being injured, and keeps it alive a long time. Next to the hve minnow the artificial min- nows, called " Fairy " and " Phantom," are the most kiUing. Sometimes they bite well at a mottled pearl-spoon or a cast of big flies. Early in the Spring they will take bait near the surface, but as the season advances and the water becomes heated, the line must be well weighted for deep trolling. A good plan is to attach the line to a heavy swivel dijisy-sinker which can drag on the bottom ; about eight or nine feet above the sinker fasten a heavy nine- foot single leader with the gang attached by a double swivel ; with this rig a bite can be felt much easier than when the sinker is above the bait. In still-fishing, it is not necessary to use much of a sinker, but you will need the same BLACK BASS. 89 stiff rod used for trolling. A leader is not necessary ; use a large hook, a No. 3-0 to 5-0 sproat on a treble loop will answer, or a Kinsey of the same size, and bait with half a minnow. The Lake-Trout bites rather gingerly, and the angler should strike sharp at the slightest nibble. BLACK BASS. We include under this heading both large and small mouth Black Bass. The large-mouth Bass is sometimes called the Oswego Bass, and in some of the Southern States " Trout," and in others the '^Chub." The Black Bass furnishes more sport to an- glers than any other fish, and they are justly very popular. Their fighting qualities are of a high order, and they are game to the last. The small-mouthed variety is rather the greater favorite, but the " big-mouthed " average con- siderably more in weight. They take every 40 BLACK BASS. variety of bait, and often afford excellent spoii with ttie artificial fly. For fly-fishing select the heaviest fly-rod and a click-reel holding not less than thirty yards of dead-finish line No. 4 or 5, a stout mist- color single leader six (or preferably) nine feet in length, with one or two flies attached. BLACK BASS. In fly-casting for Black Bass, allow the flies to sink well before moving them. The favorite l^laces to find these fish are around rocky islands and shoals, or along the banks, particularly in the neighborhood of sunken logs. If fishing from a boat, instruct the boatman to keep within casting distance of the shore ; cast close to the bank and draw the flies toward you. As soon as you hook a fish the boatman ^LACK BASS. 41 sliould move out into deeper water so as not to disturb the others, and he should take great care not to allow the Bass to run under the boat. Black Bass are very fond of following minnows in shoal-water close in shore, particu- larly in the early morning, and again toward night. When feeding in that manner they rarely refuse a fly, but they are a very shy fish, and easily frightened, so let the cast be as long- as possible, but not longer than you can lay out straight. Large Bass like a large fly, but you must be guided somewhat by the depth of water, whether rough or smooth, clear or dis- colored, in making your selection. For streams and ponds, a fly dressed on a No. 3, 4, or 5 sproat-hook will be found large enough ; but for the St. Lawrence and large lakes, and paiiicularly for Western and South- ern waters, use flies tied on sproat-hooks from No. 1-0 to 2. They should be snelled with heavy single gut and doubled at the head. The following list of flies can be relied upon as being most excellent ; Dark-Montreal, Lord 42 ^LACK BASS. Baltimore, Silver-doctor, Hopatcong, Martin, Post, Scarlet-Ibis, White-miller, Orange-mil- ler, Jungle-St. Patrick, Grizzly- king, Governor Alvord, Seth Green, Brandreth, Lottie, Jun- gle-Professor, Beatrice, Tuxedo, Ferguson, Golden-rod, Eube- Wood, Whitney, Page, Yellow May, and the various colored * Palmers and Hackles. Bass take the fly both early and late in the season. In Au- tre "lord BALTI- J 1 j.1 i? £ ry MORE " ARTiFi- gust, whcu thc suriacc oi the water is warm, like the Trout, they seek deeper and cooler water, and will not notice the fly. * A Palmer has the Hackle wound all the way down the body, while the Hackle has it only wound at the head. mOLLlNa AND STTLL-FismWG. 43 TEOLLINO AND STILL-FISHING FOR BASS. For trolling or still-fishing, tlie rod should be short and rather stiff ; the reel, either a LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF IMBRIE'S PATENT REBL. double or quadruple multiplier, with balance- handle and compensating steel points. This latter great improvement in reels was invented 44 TROLLiNG AND STtLL-FISEING. and patented by Mr. Charles F. Imbrie, of New York. It does away with the old bearings which caused so much wear and tear in reels, and substitutes two finely-tempered steel points, h, h (see diagram), which can be adjusted mth a screw-driver (first removing the caps m, m) to a nicety. These reels can be made to run as evenly and smoothly as the famous Frank- fort reels, and at less than half the cost. You will need from fifty to seventy-five yards of No. 5 or 6 braided silk line, and sometimes you may require a light sinker. LIST OF THE BEST BAITS FOR TROLLING. Live Minnows, Fairy-minnow, Phantom- minnow, Celluloid - minnow, Mettled - pearl bait, Sharbot, and the various Metal-spoons and Spinners. In addition to the above, for Florida ^nd OTHER Southern waters, the Florida - pearl Spinner and the Buel metal Spinners are ex- cellent. In the Eastern and Middle States, TROLLING AND STILL-FISHING. 45 a small s^ioon is much more killing than the larger ones, but in the Southern and Western States you will need larger sizes. Attach any one of the above-named baits to your line, using a heavy six or nine-foot leader and plenty of swivels, and it is a good plan to loop on the leader a couple of large bright llies about two feet apart. Another killing and more sportsmanlike way is to troll with a fly-rod and a cast of two or three flies, hooking a small bright minnow through the lips with each fly. Eighty feet of line will be about the right length to have out when trolling. For Still-Fishing use any of the following live baits on sproat-hooks Nos. 1 to 4, and a single-gut leader: Minnows, Dobsons or hell- gramites, frogs, crickets, shrimps, grasshoj)- pers, grubs, worms, and crawfish. Unless th^ current is very strong, a split shot or two will be sinker enough. If of proper quahty, single gut will be abundantly strong for leaders and snells, and you should be able to 46 TROLLING AND STILL-FISHING. kill tlie largest Black Bass, or any two of them for that matter, without endangering your tackle. Floats are now rarely used, and are unnecessary. Casting a minnow or other bait from the reel for Black Bass is a new and very sportsmanlike way of anghng for these fish. Professor Alfred N. Mayer, of the Stevens Institute, of Hoboken, N. J., has designed a very superior rod for this style of angling, and he has been very successful in. killing large Bass by this method, when all others failed. The rod is made of eight sections of. carefully selected Calcutta bamboo, huilt round, and of a perfect taper from butt to tip. It weighs only about 9 ounces, and while it casts perfectly and is stiff enough for trolling, it affords as much sport when playing a Bass as a light fly-rod. It is used single-handed, and with an Imbrie patent compensating reel wiU cast a minnow 135 feet. Professor Mayer has won the first prize in Black Bass casting at a tournament in Qentral Park. TROLLING AND STILL-FISHINQ. 47 ROCK BASS. These fish are taken in the same manner as Black Bass. In most locahties they are so numerous as to be considered a nuisance by the anglers when fisliing for their more aristo- cratic brethi'en. On the St. Lawrence River, where they are named " Goggie-eyes," they grow to a good size, but have no game quali- ties, giving up the fight as soon as hooked. MUSKAXLONGE. This monster of the Pickerel family is taken by trolling with a stout rod and large reel, holding not less than 100 yards of strong braided-silk or linen line ; a large copper, brass, or silver spinner, or a strong gimp- gang, with a Perch or Chub for bait, is attached by means of a stout swivel. The largest-sized Fairy- minnow Js also a killing lure. PICKEREL. The different kinds of Pickerel are taken either by trolling, still-fishing, or skittering. 48 TROLLING AND STILL-FISHING. They require a larger spoon than the Black Bass, and those made of copper are apt to do better than the white-metal baits. They can also be caught by trolling with a live minnow on a good-sized St. Lawrence gang, or with the artificial celluloid minnow. For skittering you will require a long, stiff rod and a short line. Place youi'self in the bow of the boat, which should be rowed or paddled quietly near the shore or river banks, particularly where there is a growth of grass or lily-pods. Hold the rod at a right angle with the boat, so that the spoon will just drag along the surface of the water. The "Allure" or " Salmon-Trout " sj^oons are the best for this style of fishing, as they are much lighter than the others. When a fish takes the bait, get him into the boat as soon as possible. If you do not hap- pen to be provided with a sj^oon, a piece of the belly of a fish, or a strip of white rind of salt pork will answer. Still-fishing is practised in the same manner TROLLING AND STILL-FISHING. 49 as for Black Bass, except that the hooks shouL be snelled on gimp or wire, and should be considerably larger. A lively minnow or frog is the best bait. PIKF-PEKCH, WALL-EYED PIKE, OR GLASS-EYED PIKE. When angling for this beautiful fish, the Salmon of the Western States, use the same tackle as for Black Bass. They are generally caught still-fishing with a small and Hvely bright minnow. Use sproat-hooks on single- gut Nos. 1 to 4, and a very Ught sinker. YELLOW PERCH. Any light rod will do for Perch fishing, either Trout or Black-Bass outfit will answer. They are not particular what bait they take, but a live minnow will generally caj)ture the largest. Sometimes they will rise to a bright fly, and the author has frequently taken a Black Bass on one fly and a Perch on the other. A small spoon-bait is also very killing at times. The Hve baits usually used are min- 4 50 WHERE TO FISff, nows and worms. Sproat-hooks Nos. 5 to 8 are the proper sizes ; they should be snelled on single gut. Use one or two split shot for sinkers. WHITE CHUB, SILVER CHUB OR WIND-FISH. t Though not very gamey, this fish affords excellent practice for the beginner in fly-fish- ing. They wiU rise to any bright fly, dressed on a No. 6 or 8 sproat-hook. In the way of bait they will take grass- hoppers, crickets, grubs, and worms. WHERE TO FISH. It would be impossible in a limited work like this to give a satisfactory list of the many fishing resorts. Mr. W. C. Harris, of the American Angler, has recently published a very complete work devoted to such informa- tion, and anglers seeking new waters cannot do better than to consult it. The pages of the Forest and Stream, American Angler, Spirit of WHEBE TO FISH. 51 the Times, and tlie Turf, Field and Farm, afford weekly lists of fishing grounds, and as far as the author is able, he will always be glad to furnish all the latest news from the different localities with which he is acquainted. On Long Island the localities for Trout- fishing are principally owned by private parties and clubs ; but good Black-Bass fishing can be had at Lake Ronkonkoma. The most cele- brated waters for Black Bass near New York City are as follows : Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Rye Lake, Slaughter Pond, and Lake Mahopac. The Delaware River, from the Water Gap np, furnishes excellent fishing. At a greater distance there is the Susquehanna River and tributaries; Lake Erie and the far- famed St. Lawrence River, including the " Thousand Islands " ; the Mohawk River, Lake Champlain, Lake George, etc. In Canada there is an endless number of lakes and rivers teeming wdth Bass, Wall-eyed Pike, Muskal- longe, Pickerel, and, in some sections, Trout and Salmon. 52 WHERE TO FI8K , Clayton, on tlie St. Lawrence River, is an excellent place for headquarters, and affords fine fishing for Black Bass, Pickerel, Wall-eyed Pike, and Muskallonge ; it is easily reached by railroad from New York City, and com- bines all the comforts of civilization with the freedom of the wilderness. With your guide and boat you start from the house after a comfortable breakfast, provided with a good lunch, and follow your own sweet will among the lovely islands and around the rocky shoals. At noon you go ashore and your boatman cooks your fish to add to the dinner, while you rest under the cool shade of the big trees. After a rest of an hour or two, you continue your fishing with renewed zest. The lakes and rivers in the West furnish grand sport, and some, like Lake Gogebic in Michigan, f aii'ly swarm with fish. There is yet fine Speckled-Trout fishing to be had in the Adirondack region, but to find it you must have a first-rate guide, and not be afraid of a tramp and some rough work. Still nearer in WHERE TO FISH. ^P, Pennsylvania there are some very good streams Starting at Heni'y\'ille on the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & "Western Eaih'oad, the angler will find fair Trout-fishing all the way up to Toby- hanna. Williamsport, Pa., is the centre of ::. good Trout-fishing region ; in the neighborhood are the following streams : Loyal Sock, Young Woman's Creek, Sinnamahoning, Kettle Creek, Trout Kun, Lycoming Kiver, Pleasant Stream, Rock Eun, etc. The best time to visit this section is from May 15th to June 15th. The lower part of the Neversink (it is preserved by the Neversink Club above Claryville), the Beaverkill, and the Willowemock, are famous Trout streams in SulHvan and Ulster Counties, N.Y. For the large Speckled-Trout the angler must visit the north shore of Lake Superior, Maine, or the Canadian Eivers emptying into the Lower St. Lawrence. June, July, and September are the best months, but in June the black flies and punkies make the angler's 54 WHERE TO FISK life a burden unless protected by bead-nets, gloves, and Ferguson's "Repellene." Tim- ponds, the Bangeley lakes, and Mooseliead are good starting-points. If you visit Mooseliead Lake, try the Outlet, Spencer Bay, Table Rock, and Sarcadian River, making the Mount Kinneo House your headquarters, and if you are ambitious for " big " fishing select a good Indian guide, and strike off to the outlying ponds and camp out. You will then get your fill of Trout-fishing. The Upper Potomac fur- nishes fine Black-Bass fishing, easily reached from Washington, D. C, while all the waters of the Southern States abound in Black Bass of the big-mouth variety. Florida in par- ticular affords magnificent fishing ; the angler must not forget that the Southern fishing re- quires larger flies and baits, and heavier tackle than those used in the North. Dr. Kenworthy, of Jacksonville, a famous angler, will always be glad to furnish those who visit Florida with valuable advice as to when and where to go. MISGELLANEO US BINTS. 55 MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. Before starting on a fishing trip, the angler should make out a list of such things as he in- tends taking with him, so that nothing shall be overlooked. If going into the woods, cut down the list as much as possible and reduce the luggage to the smallest compass. If you are going up to the Adirondacks or Maine woods for a two-weeks' trip, the following list may assist you in your selection : 2 Kods, or one with extra joint and tips ; 3 dozen flies ; 2 reels ; 2 lines ; 1 dozen leaders ; 2 dozen bait-hooks ; a few sj)oons and Fairy- minnows for bait ; 1 pair extra trowsers ; 3 pairs woolen socks ; 1 extra paii' of shoes ; 2 suits flannel underclothing ; 1 extra flannel- shirt ; 1 rubber coat or blanket ; toilet articles, thread, buttons, needles, and pins. Flask, compass, arnica plaster, Allcock's Porous Plas- ter, Rochelle Salts, Brandreth Pills, Jamaica Ginger, and matches. Do not take cigars, but rely on your pipe. Wear a warm gi'ey woolen 56 BLACK-MSS FISHING Norfolk jacket and Knickerbockers, woolen stockings and a grey felt hat. You will not need a " Bowie " or a revolver, as the Indians are not dangerous now ; but if you go late in the season, you may be able to use a Winchester Kifle to advantage. The guides usually provide tents and cooking uten- sils, but you must furnish blankets for your- self, and stores for all hands. These can be obtained at the hotels from which you start. In Maine it is unlawful to use any spoon or bait with more than one hook ; gangs are forbid- den. BLACK -BASS FISHING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER. Perhaps there is no better way of giving the young angler an idea of the pleasures of a day among the " Thousand Islands " than to quote the following from the author's diary, prefaced by a short description of his favorite fishing ground. ON THE ST. LAWRENCE IIIVEB. 57 The " Thousand Islands," so called, num- ber really about seventeen or eighteen hun- dred, commencing a little below Cape Vin- cent and extending to Alexandria Bay. Clay- ton is the most central location and the best place for the angler to make his headquarters. These islands vary very much in size ; some are but a clump of rocks, while others are sev- eral miles in extent and contain large and well- cultivated farms. Many of them are still wild and beautiful, covered with hemlock and pine ; but now the majority are occupied with hand- some cottages, and so much " improved " that the old anglers hardly recognize them. " I have just finished breakfast and am watching John, my boatman, getting our traps together to take down to the boat. M}^ rod is jointed, a new nine-foot single-gut leader at- tached to the line, and with a big Grizzly-king for the tail-fly and a Turkey-brown for a dropper, I am ready for business. The lunch is carefully packed by mine host of the ' West End HoteV (and he knoAVS how to provide a 58 BLACK-BASS FISHINQ good one,) not forgetting a goodly piece of ice and a bottle of claret. At last everything is carefully stowed amidships. I take my place in the comfortable chair-backed seat in the stern, and John shoves off. " These St. Lawrence boats are marvels of comfort and beauty, and their owners take great pride in their appearance. Well coated with shellac, with all the trimmings and mountings silver-plated, they are dainty enough for a lady in full dress. " We are not the only ones who think it a good day for the Bass ; a number of boats are gliding off in different directions, and there goes a little steam-launch bound up the river, with a string of half a dozen or more boats fastened to her stern like a tail to a kite. They are going to St. John's Island or HoUiday's Point to try for the savage Muskallonge. " ' Well, John, where shall we go to-day ? ' I ask. ' Oh, I guess we'll try the shoals and take a cast around Powder Horn and Shot Bag/ thereby meaning two small islands in front of ON TBE ST. LA WHENCE RIVER 50 Clayton. These we soon reach, and John slows up as we get within casting distance. I grad- ually lengthen out my Hne and soon my two big flies are dropping forty feet away. Allow- ing the flies to sink well out of sight in the clear water, so clear that the rocks are plainly visible at the bottom, the cast is moved a foot at a time until near enough, and then away they go again." (When lifting the line from the water care must be taken not to strike a fish too hard, for this is a critical moment. Bass are very apt to rise as they see the flies leaving, and the rod being at such a sharp an- gle to the line, cannot yield, and disaster is the natural result.) " For some time I do not receive much en- couragement, still I enjoy the charming scene- ry, the sense of freedom, and the bracing air. Suddenly there is a big swirl and instantly I strike. As soon as the Bass feels the book he is off like an arrow, and the reel buzzes like a lo- cust ; his inish ends with a leap for freedom, the rod follows his motion, and he falls back with 60 BLACK-BASS FISHING a splash. Another rush, and another jump — now he sees the shadow of the boat, and makes a dart for that place of refuge, but a splash of John's oar sends him off on another tack. A few minutes of this exciting work, and the fish begins to tire. John gets out the long-handled landing-net, and the next time he passes near the boat, deftly slips the net under him, knocks him on the head with a stick, and drops him in the box with the remark, ' That beats trollin' all holler.' " Then I catch a couple of small ones, which we return to the water to grow ; then a larger one, big enough, as John remarks, to make the pan fizz ; then a wretched ' Goggle- eye ' is hooked, and as I reel him in with his big, gaping mouth and enormous eyes, he looks as if he intended to swallow boat and all. " After an hour or two of fair sport we start for Eel Bay, past Robbin's Island, and the many cool and shady nooks along its shore, past lily-padded bays, whence we start a big grey heron that goes off with its long legs ON THE ST. LAWRENCE HIVER. 61 stretched behind. I make an occasional lazy cast, not expecting anything in the channel, when suddenly as I attempt to lift my hne I find I am fast. ' Stop, John ! back her ! I am caught ! ' but evidently not to a log, as I ex- pected ; instead of which, it appears to be a fish. We could not make out for some time what it was, it acted so strangely ; finally, John saw, as it passed the boat, that it was a big Pickerel hooked foul. It took some time to kill this rascal on such Hght tackle and hooked in such a manner, but he was also soon added to our glistening prey. " It is now approaching lunch-time, and we look around for a good spot ; this we have not long to wait for, as charming camp sites are plentiful. John turns into a Httle cove, scat- tering a brood of wild ducks as he pulls up to the shore. We jump out, glad to stretch our legs after four hours in such close quarters. John puts a smooth log under his boat so as not to scratch the varnish, and hauls her up high and dry, then starts a bright fire. From 62 BLA CK-BASS FlSHlNa some mysterious comers in his boat, he pro- duces a folding-table and chair, spreads a snow- white table-cloth, and proceeds to get lunch, or dinner as the guides term it. He then se- lects a couple of Black Bass, skins them, re- moves the bones, and fries them with a little salt pork or bacon ; these, with a steaming dish of potatoes, make a valuable addition to the cold chicken, hard-boiled eggs, etc., furnished by my friend Smith. " In half an hour the dinner-bell (spoon and tinpan) calls me to lunch ; nothing loath, I make a savage attack on the various good things, and while I am smoking my pipe over a cup of cofifee, John transacts a little of the same business on his own account. Here we spend a couple of delightful lazy hours, stretched on the greensward under the cool shade of the hemlocks, and thinking with compassion of our friends in the hot, dusty, and noisy city. " John, who rather begrudges every minute not spent in fishing, thinks it is time to be off. ON THE ST. LA WRENCE RIVER. 63 So, as soon as the things are put away, we make another start. Our luck varies — some- times we meet with a heart-rending loss, such as losing a big fellow that is not well hooked ; but this only gives more zest to our angling, and makes us feel all the better when after a hard struggle a good fish is netted. "Late in the afternoon, when the sun seemed setting in a sea of gold, as we were i^assing a small island, I noticed in a little cove the swirl of a big Bass ; John stopped the boat and backed it to within easy casting distance. I quickly dropped my flies over the spot where yet the bubbles were floating ; as I started to draw them towards me the fish made a rush for it, and the Hne fairly twanged like a bow-string as I struck him. John backed quietly away in deep water, and I played the Bass with my ut- most skill. After a lively fight of several min- utes, he seemed to get heavier and stronger instead of giving up, and I soon discovered that a second one had taken the dropper ; there was a Uvely time for a few minutes, but they 64 BLACK-BASS FISHING. helped kill one another, and John soon had the satisfaction of landing them both. " ' Now, John, put me back there again/ " One or two casts, and there is another swii'l, and a second almost at the same moment ; and again I have two. These are also safely played and landed. Once more, and three times in succession, I have two good Bass. To make a long story short, we capture around that httle island thirty-five small-mouthed Bass, running from one to over 2^ pounds in weight, but not again two at a time. Our box was now full to overflowing, and feeUng more than satisfied with our wonderful evening's sport, I tell my boatman to start for Clayton. " When we arrive, many others are landing, and various are the catches, — Black Bass, Pick- erel, Wall-eyed Pike, and one lucky man has an immense 34-pound Muskallonge. But I envy no one ; my forty odd Bass, none under a pound, make a brave showing, all taken on a fly-rod with artificial flies, to say nothing of a seven-pound Pickerel." \ SALT-WATER ANGLING. Unfortunately of late years, the fisliing along our coast and harbors has been going from bad to worse every season. Some think the oil factories are to blame, "while others think that pound-nets, garbage scows, and the poison from gas and chemical works, etc., do the mis- chief. Probably all do their share towards the wholesale destruction now going on. It is a great shame, for there should be fish enough in our bays and rivers, and along our coast, to furnish food and sport for aU who are willing to take the trouble to go fishing. But in our eagerness for wealth, we have no time to bother with these things — and " after us, the deluge." For salt-water fishing, the angler should provide himself with at least two rods — one short and stiff for heavy fishing — such as Sheepshead, large Striped-Bass and Blue-Fish, • «'65) 66 SALT- WA TER ANOLINQ. — tlie other lighter, longer, and more flexible, for small Striped-Bass, AVeak-fish, King-fisli, etc. The first-named rod should be made in two pieces, of bamboo or noibwood, about 8 feet long — a rod made of one piece is better, but is inconvenient to carry. The lighter rod for inside fishing should be nine or ten feet in length and more flexible. For the heavy rod, a reel holding 200 yards of Cuttyhunk or Tarj^on line is necessary ; while, for the Hghter, one capable of holding 100 yards will be sufficient. The above-named lines should be made of linen, as silk lines soon rot in salt water. The reels used for Striped-Bass and heavy fish generally, should be of the finest desciip' tion, as they have to stand heavy work. A first-class hard-rubber and German -silver reel costs from 35 to 40 dollars, but will last a life- time ; these run on steel pivots with j)atent compensating steel points, and are beautiful specimens of workmanship ; but a very ser- SALT-WATSR AmLING. 67 viceable reel made of brass and nickel-plated, and furnished with the patent compensating steel points, can be bought for about 16 dol- lars. For the smaller fish any good multiplyin g reel will answer, but as those furnished with t--^'-k STKIPED-BASS, OR ROCK-FISH, the patent compensating steel points cost but little more than the ordinary old-fashioned reels, the angler should give them the prefer- ence. STRIPED-BASS, OE ROCK-FISH. Tliis noble fish, is highly prized by the ang- 68 SALT-WATER ANOLtm. Hng fraternity, and affords sport along the whole coast of the Atlantic from Florida to Maine. The larger fish, sometimes running up to the enormous weight of sixty and seven- t}^ pounds, are caught off the rocky coast of New England by casting the menhaden or lobster-tail in the .boiling surf, with a stiff rod and 200 -yard reel as described in a previous chapter. The smaller ones are found in every creek, bay, and river where they have not been driven out by the foul discharges from oil and gas works. Chesapeake Bay now fui'nishes the best Striped-Bass fishing convenient to get at ; the fish vary from two to twenty pounds. The baits used for outside fishing, are the menhaden and lobster. A knobbed O'Shaugh- nessey from 7-0 to 9-0 is looped on the line (no leader), but if Blue-fish are running, it is better to use a needle-eyed hook with a foot or two of fine piano wire between the hook and line. The angler will have to get some friend SALT-WATEM ANGLING. 69 to instruct him in the rather difficult art of casting, as the bait must reach the fish outside of the breakers, generally a distance of sixty or eighty feet. The fish are usually attracted by chumming, which consists in throAving out small bits of bait, making an oily scum on the water, and attracting the fish from long dis- tances. The chummer also handles the gaff and fixes the bait. For the smaller fish in the inlets, bays, and rivers, the baits are numerous — the best, however, are shedder-crabs, sand- worms, and shrimp ; the sproat-hook from 2-0 to 4-0 on a heavy double-gut three-foot leader is the proper rig, with as light a sinker as jdos- sible. The best line for all this kind of fishing is a flax line called the " Tarj^on " line, next to that the " Cuttyhunk " line. These lines are of great strength, and a number 12 is heavy enough for anything the angler will run across in these waters, unless he haj^pens to strike a shark or a drum. Some prefer a No. 15 or 18, as they will stand more wear. The smaller Striped-Bass (School-Bass), run- 70 SALT-}VATEB ANGLING. ning from j of a pound to 2 lbs., will often take a fly in brackish waters. Use a single-gut nine-foot leader with a No. 6 sproat-hook, at tlie bottom baited with a single shrimp, and loop on three flies at equal distances above ; the Professor and Orange-Miller take the best. Cast as you would for Trout, and it is not un- usual to take three and four fish at a time. The last of the flood-tide is the best time to fish in this manner. Good-sized Bass are often caught by troll- ing with a treble-hook baited with three sand- worms ; hook them securely near the head, and allow them to drag behind the hook. The Bass will follow them, nibbling at the tails, and presently bolt the whole bait. A knitted linen thumb-staU should be used on the thumb of the right hand to prevent the line from cutting the skin. THE CHANNEL BASS, RED-BASS OE SPOT, of the Southern States, is caught with the same tackle as our Striped-Bass, using mullet for SALT-WATER ANGLING. 71 bait. They average in weight from 4 to G lbs., with occasional specimens in the channels weighing from 20 to 40 lbs. They are free biters and game to the backbone. Gut-snells are not necessary, and are too easily cut by shells on the bottom. BLUE-FTSH. THE BLUE-FISH. Formerly Blue-fish were taken almost alto- gether by troUing with a hand line and artifi- cial squid, or casting the squid by hand from the shore ; of late years " chumming " hac 73 SALT-WATER liNGLING. been more successful, and is also a more sports- man-like v/ay of fishing. For the former, all that is necessary, is a stout braided cotton hand-line with a tin or wooden squid attached, while for the latter the tackle used for heavy Stripe d-Bass fishing is the proper rig. In trolling, the boat is kept in motion, and the fisherman hunts up the fish ; in chumming, the boat is anchored, and the fish hunt up the fish- erman, being attracted by the " chum," or small bits of menhaden, which are chopped up and thrown on the water by the skipper. The oil from the menhaden floats on the surface, and produces a " slick," which attracts the Blue-fish from a long distance. The hooks used are fastened to the line -by a piece of piano wu^e ; otherwise, the Blue-fish would cut them off with their sharj) teeth as fast as they could be put on. For the smaller run of fish, a 7-0 eyed O'Shaughnessey is the proj^er hook ; for the larger, or " outside " fish, use sizes Nos. 9-0 or 10-0. Sinkers are not nec- essary. SALT-WATER ANGLING. T^ WEAK-FISH, SQUETEAGUE, YELLOW-FIN. These beautiful fish are caught in immense numbers along our coast, and are a great favorite with salt-water anglers. The smaller size come in with the tide in large schools, and WEAK-FISH. are caught at half flood in comparatively shallow water. It is not necessary to use heavy tackle ; the most sport wiU be had with a rather long and limber rod — say, 10 feet in length, and weighing about 10 ounces. A multiplying reel, filled with 50 to 100 yards of 74 SALT-WATER ANGLING. 12-thread Cuttyhunk line, and a few heavy double-gut leaders, will be about all that is needed. The hooks, si)roat Nos. 4-0 to 6-0, should be snelled on double-gut looj^s, and as little sinker as possible used ; but this must be regulated by the tide. The best baits are shedder-crabs and shrimp. The small, pearl Weak-fish squids are in great favor, and re- quire very little bait, and they will often take fish when the plain hook will not. In deeper water, at the edges of the chan- nels, the angler will sometimes strike the large AVeak-fish, called "tide runners"; these occa- sionally reach the weight of 8 and 10 lbs. The "Southern Weak-fish," also called "Salt- water Trout," or "Spotted Weak-fish," and which somewhat resembles our Weak-fish, with the addition of a number of black spots scattered over its sides, is caught with the same tackle, using pieces of mullet for bait. They will also take a small spoon, end sometimes afford good sport with a bright fly. SHEEPSHEAD, 75 SHEEPSHEAD. This excellent table fish is considered a great jn-ize with fishermen. It is found around old wi'ecks and mussel beds, and owing to its powerful jaws and teeth must be fished with heavy tackle. A short stiff rod, the same as used in heavy Striped-Bass fishing ; in short, the same tackle will do all throughout, except- ing the hooks — these should be the best " Vir- ginia," snelled in pairs on braided Hnen line — sizes from 1-0 to 2. They must be fished for close to the bottom, and therefor a heavy sinker is necessary. Bait, hard clams. Black-Fish, or Tantog, are caught with the 76 TUE KING-TISU, same tacMe as the Sheepsliead, using smaller hooks — Virginia Nos. 4, 5, 6. Best bait, soft clams and fiddlers. Sea Bass are often found in company with the Black -fish. Use same tackle and clam bait. Both of the above can be taken with hand-lines, but afford much more sport with the rod and reel. THE KING-FISH or BARB. This is decidedly a game fish and a great favorite, but unfortunately rather scarce. It prefers clean sandy bottoms, and is a free biter and hard fighter. For these qualities as well as its excellence on the table^ the King- fish is highly prized by anglers. The tackle used is the same as for "Weak-fish, excejDting hooks ; these should be smaller, about Nos. 1 to 4 sproat are the best. Baits, shrimp and shed- der-crab. Besides the fish already enumerated, there are a number of others which are cau^fht in TUE KING-FI8U. 77 our waters, sucli as : Porgies, Lafayette-fisli, Flounders, Eels, White-Percli, Tom cods (Frost- fisli), etc. ; all of wliicli afford good sport with young anglers, tliough tliey can hardly be called game fish. The bait generally used is the tough part of the soft clam, though White - Perch prefer shrimp. Any small hook will answer, with sinkers adjusted to- the strength of the tide. Those who are fortunate enough to vieit our Southern waters, particularly the coast of Flor- ida, will find salt-water fishing in perfection. The following is a partial list, directions for fishing having been already given in most in- stances : Channel-Bass, Sheepshead, Spotted Weak- fish or Sea-Trout, "Whiting, Cavalli, Pompano, Ked - Snapper, Mongrove - Snapper, Tarpum, etc., etc. The Tarpum is an immense herring, and is well named the Silver-king. Its scales are very large, and have the appearance of having been dipped in silver. There have been a 18 THE KtNG-FISH. number caught wifcli the rod and reel of late years — running in weight from 60 to 150 lbs. They can only be caught by means of special tackle, which should be composed of an outfit as follows: The rod should be of the best quality, noibwood, or greenheart preferred, not over 1^ or 8 feet long, very stiff, and made of not more than two pieces ; the reel should hold at least 600 feet of No. 18 or 21 tarpum- line, and be made in the best manner. Im- brie's patent compensating, hai'd-rubber, and German-silver reel is the best ; no leaders, but a 10-0 forged O'Shaughnessey hook, mounted on linked piano wire, with a heavy brass swivel ; the wire to be 3 feet long. For bait, half a mullet. The great secret in tarpum -fishing is not to strike until the fish has gorged the bait ; then, with proper skill on your part, the fish is yours. The mouth and cheeks are so thin and tender, that if hooked in those places, it is im- possible to prevent them from tearing out, for they fight and jump terribly. The angler going South should provide himself with plenty VARIO JJS HIIiTS. 79 of hooks, particularly Virginia hooks, for Snap- pers, Drum, Sheepshead, etc. — sizes from Nos. 3 to 1-0. Also, a few small-ringed Limericks for the pui'pose of catching Mullet, and other small fish for bait. HOOKS, SNELLS, AND VAEIOUS HINTS. Mr. Henry P.Welles, in his excellent work en- titled " Fly-Rod and Fly-Tackle," has explained at great length the advantages of the various- shaped hooks, how made, etc., and to those who wish to make a thorough study of this sub- ject, this book is recommended as being valu- able. At the same time, a work of this kind would not be complete without some simple directions as to how to snell hooks, make leaders, and repair broken rods. Without going into scienti£.c reasons, there is no doubt from the exjDerience of the major- ity of anglers, after many years of thorough trial, that a straight hook is better than one bent or kirbed. In the smaller sizes, and for 80 VABI0TI8 HINTS. smaller, delicate -mouthed fish, this difference is not so marked, and it is comparatively easy to drive the point of the hook through and through ; but, when it comes to large fish, like the Salmon, big Striped-Bass, or even large Speckled-Trout, and Black-Bass, an angler would be considered of small account if he w^ere to attempt to fish with a kirbed hook. A man might just as well use bradawls, or nails with their points bent to one side, as to make fish-hooks in that manner. Of all the straight hooks the sproat is the best ; its bend is as near perfect as can be, and the small, keen barb will penetrate where no other hook will. I discovered this fact in the following manner. I was invited by a friend '^ to go out on Canandaigua Lake fly-fishing for Black-Bass ; it was my first experience in ang- hng for this fish. I had provided myself with some of McBride's best flies (on O'Shaughnessey hooks), and great were my expectations. We went out bright and early, and the fish were in the humor to be cau^fht. But alas ! I could VABIOUS HINTS. 83 not keep tliem on my liook ; out of eleven fisli that I struck that morning, two only were saved ! My friend, an old angler, looked over my flies, and told me at once that my fly-rod could not diive such big barbs through the tough mouth of a bass ; so that day, he tied some for me on the sproat, to me then an un- known hook. The next morning we tried them again. / hooked and saved nine fine Bass in suc- cession, and then lost one. Since that time I use only sproat-hooks of the highest quality. So universally are they in favor, that dealers now use them altogether for dressing flies. Messrs. Abbey & Imbrie have kindly furnished a plate of these hooks, of which they make a special " Highest Quality," for fastidious ang- lers, giving the sizes most used in angling. The reader will find under their various head- ings, the proper sizes to be used for the differ- ent localities and varieties of fish. Every angler should carry in his kit a small and very smooth file. All hooks should be touched up before using, as the japan is apt to dull them, U VARIO V8 HINT8. and the points often get injured by striking stones, or even the bones in a fish's mouth. Attention to tliesp. small details marks the good angler. There is very httle economy in snelling your own hooks, and still less in making your own leaders, particularly if you are very choice in selecting gut. At the same time, it is a satis- faction to feel that you know how to do it if necessary, and it may afford some amusement during a stormy day. If you intend using leaders, it is more economical and convenient to snell your hooks with a short loop, which should be of stout single gut for Black-Bass, and lighter gut for Trout-fishing. All you re- quu'e for snelling hooks is some silk, well waxed with shoemaker's wax ; or, better still, a mix- ture of the above with a little beeswax. Bite your gut at the end to roughen it, take a iew turns around the bare hook with the silk, lay the gut against the shank and underneath, now wrap the silk evenly and firmly, and finish with the hidden knot. Any angler will show VARIOUS HINTS. 85 you how this is made, and it is almost impos- sible to describe it. If you will varnish the wrapping with a little sliellac, it will last much longer. The great secret of having weU-snelled hooks is to wind the silk tightly ; it is quite a knack, and requires considerable j)ractice to keep the steady, even tension without breaking the silk. When dry, put in envelopes, and mark with the size of the hooks. Making leaders is more troublesome, and requires the closest attention and great care; and even then, you will be sorely tried by knots slipping and giving out. Still, practice will overcome all difficulties, and the only way to avoid disaster, is to try your leader care- fully before attaching it to your line. After dyeing your gut in clear tea or coffee, trim off the rough ends, and sort into three different sizes, so that the leaders can be taj)ered evenly. The gut should be well washed both before and after dyeing. Now, let the gut soak well, in warm water, keej)ing each size separate. If you wish to m%ke a leader nine feet in 86 VARIOUS HINT8. length, make a three-foot leader out of each size of the gut, leaving a loop in each end ; when all three are finished, loop them together — the largest gut at one end, and the smallest at the other. Pull the loops tight together while soft, and hang the leader up to dry with a weight to straighten it. When dry, rub clean with a bit of soft paper. The loojis should not be over half an inch long. The knot used in t;Ndng leaders is very simple; lay the strands of gut together, and tie a simple knot, only pass the ends through a second time before drawing tight. Trim the ends aff close to the knot. The loop is tied by turning over sufficient gut to allow for the knot, and then tying it as you would a piece of string. There are other and more complicated methods, but these are very simple, and answer every purpose. Your leader is now complete, and with two sliding knots in which to insert the flies. It is astonishing how many anglers are ut- terly helpless, if the slightest accident happens to their tackle. It is almost impossible to VARIOUS HINTS. 87 break a rod so badly that it is useless, or can- not be patched up sufficiently at least to last the day out. I have met with some bad breaks, and am myself a very poor hand at any work that requires the use of carpenter's tools, but still I have never let anything of the kind spoil a day's anghng. The nearest I ever came to giving up, was one day on a Pennsylvania stream, when, on hooking a fine Trout, I found the handle of my reel gone. Still, I saved the fish, and whittled out a substitute with my pen- knife. With a spool of well- waxed thread in his pocket, and a sharp knife, an angler ought to feel quite able to repair even a serious break. Beginners should learn from some angling friend, how to burn out ferrules, splice broken joints, etc., as it may be of great helj) to them on the stream. Do not forget that a bent pin makes an excellent guide or tip ring, though it is better to carry a few spare ones along in your fly-book. On a long trip it is well to carry a few small and simple tools — they can be put in a small box 88 VARIOUS HINTS. that will take up very little room ; I have one that can be carried in a small side-pocket ; it should contain screw-driver, both wood and metal files, scissors, pHers, bradawl, a little glue, wax, a small bottle of shellac, a little wire, and thread in plenty. Even a piece of lance 'vood turned, or better, planed down to the size of your joint, if you carry but one, will take up but little room, though it is better to carry- either a spare joint or an extra rod. There is but little that can be done to a reel on the stream. The angler should see that it is always well oiled and in good condition before starting, and by all means carry a spare one. The best protection against accidents to tackle is to buy only the best, and to take good care of it ; above aU, do not lose your temper, even if you do get caught up a tree with the first cast of a new leader and your pet flies. Loss of temper is the cause of many broken rods, as I know to my soitow, but I have re- formed, and I can now say with commendable pride that I have not met with any serious CAMPINQ OUT. 89 accident to my tackle during the past eight years. There are books by the dozen that contain elaborate directions for dressing artificial flies, but my advice is, if you wish to acquire this delightful art, go to some expert friend and take a few lessons. You will learn more in ten minutes watching him, than aU the books in the world can teach in ten years. CAMPING OUT. It is rarely necessary, in these modern times, for the angler to camp out. Steamboats go puffing through the lakes of Maine and the Adirondacks, to the horror of good sportsmen, and hotels have sprung up over the whole country from Florida to New Brunswick, wherever there is the slightest attraction or chance to bring people together. Still, there are a few out-of-the-way spots, choice locaHties known only to a few good guides and old ang- 90 CAMPING OUT. lers. To get to these, it is necessary to do some rough tramping and camping ; and, per- haps, these few hints may enable those that are new to this kind of life, to enjoy it with some little comfort. At any rate, it is an experience that every sportsman should have, though, after the romance of the thing has passed off, and excepting under the most favorable cir- cumstances, a good bed in a well-kept inn, or farm-house, is good enough for your humble servant. The first thing is to make up your mind where you are going, and how long you intend to stay away from your headquarters. What you can take with you depends on the means of transportation ; if you take a boat or canoe, and the carrying distances are short, you may be able to go quite comfortably. About this, consult your guide. If you intend tramping it, make your load as light as pos- sible. I have started off with only the clothes on my back — a pair of socks and slippers done up in a blanket, and carried diagonally across my shoulders — a hatchet, and in my creel, some CAMPING OUT. 91 salt, pepper, crackers, a small piece of salt pork, a bottle of coffee, a tin cup and a tin plate. Of coui'se, with this simple outfit, I have only stayed away from the hotel for a couple of nights or so ; but as long as the weather re- CAMPINQ OUT. mained favorable, I could be very comfortable. My plan, after arriving at the place where I « desired to spend the night, was to select a clear spot near good water, and make a good " Lean to " as follows : Erect two forked sticks about 6 feet high, and about 5 feet apart ; lay a ridge- pole across, then Qut some long poles for raft- 93 CAMPING OUT ers, and cover the sides and top with boughs, or bark. Get a good-sized log for a back-log, and collect a goodly supply of firewood for the night. It is no joke hunting for wood after dark. This done, gather a good bed of boughs to sleep on, and see that there are no big or crooked limbs to make your night uncomfort- able. If possible, finish off with about 6 inches deep of the tips of hemlock or fir ; these make the softest and best bed of all. Now that your work is accomplished, you may fish, or get supper, as you please. If you intend camping out any length of time, you will require a tent or a good bark shanty. In the Maine woods the guides fur- nish tents and cooking utensils ; but a good bark shanty is more comfortable than the small' A tents they provide. Your personal effects are best earned in a knapsack ; the guide car- ries the provisions in his pack-basket. The sportsman ought to be able to keep him- self and guide supplied with his rod and gun, but it is well to know that a pound of hard- CAMPING OUT. 93 tack, and tlie same weight of pork or bacon, will support you for 24 hours. A bag made of blankets is the warmest thing to sleep in ; it should be 6 feet long, and wide enough to creep into easily. Under this should be spread a rubber blanket ; your knapsack will answer for a pillow. If you intend to do much campmg out, I would advise you to take some lessons at home in the simple ways of cooking, so as not to be entirely helpless when thrown on your own resources. Guides are generally good cooks, and many of them not only good, but excellent. Coffee, however, seems to be a stumbling-block ; they seldom make it well. I therefore give a simjDle and most excellent recipe : For each person, put one tablespoonful of ground coffee in a sauce -pan, and one for the pot ; hold over the fire until the grounds are thoroughly heated. Then add one cupful of boiling water for each person. Let it stand fifteen or twenty minutes where it will be kept hot, but do not allow it to boil ; then, strain into the cup, add sugar and 94 CAMPING OUT. a spoonful of condensed milk. This makes the best coffee in the world, providing the coffee itself is good and the water boiling. One of the best ways of cooking small fish is as follows : Clean and scale a few fish, season well, and wrap in buttered paper, dip into water, and place them in the ashes, over which heap live coals. In ten minutes or more, according to the size of the fish, they will be ready. Trout are particularly nice this way, only care must be taken that they do not get smoked. To prevent this, see that the fire is well burnt down first. Birds can be cooked very nicely in the fol- lowing primitive manner : Clean, but do not pick them ; after cleaning them insert a few little pieces of salt pork, well peppered, into the opening made by cleaning them. Make a paste of mud or clay, which knead well into the feathers, covering them thoroughly ; place this ball into the hot ashes, and cover well with coals. After baking for twenty minutes, crack LAST WORDS. 95 this open, and you will find the hard clay will peel off with the feathers, leaving a kernel of delicious, juicy meat. LAST WOKDS. Do not catch or kill more fish or game than you can use ; do not keep fingerhngs, or fish for numbers, or descend to poaching in any shape ; treat the farmers civilly, and respect their rights ; by so doing, you will find that your anghng trips will be a joy forever. On long excursions, it is better to carry a spare rod, reel, and line ; also, plenty of waxed silk and thread ; a small file for sharpening hooks should be kept in the fly -book. After returning from a day's fishing, take your rod apart, wipe it dry, and then go over it with an oiled rag ; see that the joints and tips are straight before putting into the case — never put any of your tackle away wet. As a rule, people are very careless about these little 96 LAST WOUDS. matters, and are apt to blame the dealers for mishaps that are caused by their own neglect. If the ferrules fit too tight, oil slightly ; if too loose, rub them well with beeswax or paraf- fine ; if by any accident they should become fastened together so that you cannot pull them apart, do not use too much force, or you will be apt to injure the joints ; heat the ferrules thoroughly, and they will sejDarate without ^ny trouble. A. G. SPALDING & BROS., DEALERS IN FlsMng Tackle of a Hlgli Grade SPA'D'MG'S C^VEBRATED SERRATED WATER- PRDDF fERRULE SPLIT-BAMBOO F.OD. Send for Illustrated Catalogue, containing our many specialties in the way of Fishing Tackle. 241 Broadway, N. Y. • 108 Madison St., Chicago. Abbey & Iivtbrib, MANUFACTURERS OF Fine Fisliing Tscckle^ 18 VESEY STRKET, NEW YORK:. On receipt of 50 cents we will send by mail, postage-paid, our new 120 double-page Catalogue, containing over 1,400 illustrations. Also a 40 double -page Price-List, which includes every article requisite for an angler's complete outfit. Pkck & Snyder, 124, 126, AWD 128 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK, DEALERS IN Fine Fishing Tacliie. Fine all-Lancewood, 3-Piece Fly-Rod, with Extra Tip, Nickel-Plated Mountings, Nickel-Plated Click Reel, and 25 Yards of Braided Oil-Silk Line. Price, ----- $7.00 Fine Greenheart 3-Piece Fly-Rod, with Extia Tip, Nickel-Plated Mountings, Nickel- Plated Click Reel, and 25 Yards Waterproof Silk Line. Price, ----- $8.00 3-Piece Black Bass Rod, Extra Tip, Nickel-Plated Mountings, and Nickel-Plated Multiplying Click Reel, with 200 Feet of Linen Line. Price, $5.50 3-Piece Split-Bamboo Fly or Bass Rods, Plated Mountings. Price, _ _ _ $10.00 3-Piece Split-Bamboo Fly or Bass Rods, German Silver Mountings. Price, - - $16.00 3-Piece Split-Bamboo Fly or Bass Rods, Patent Ferrules and German Silver Mountings. Price, ------ I25.00 Send for our 1887 Catalogue, just out, 356 large pages, over 5,500 illustrations ; covers printed in 16 colors. Sent by mail, postage paid, 25 cents. ' DICK & FITZGERALD, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. The Publishers, upon receipt of the price, will send any of the /al- lowing books, postage /ree, to any part of the United States. In srdering books, the full name, post-office, county and State, should be plainly written. The American Hoyle ; or, Gentleman's Hand- Book ot Games. Containing all the Games played in the United States, with rules, debcriptions and technicalities, adapted to the American methods of playing. By Trumps. Thirteenth Edition; Illustrated with numerous diagrams and engravings. This work is designed and acknowledged as an authority on all games as played in America, being a guide to the correct methods of playing, and an arbiter on all disputed points. In each of the previous editions, the work was subjected to careful revision and correction ; but this, the Thirteenth Edition, is Entirely Mew, and re-written from the latest reliable sources It includes an exhaustive treatise on Whist, with all the latest essays on the modern game, by Clay, Pole, Dray- son, &c., &c. Also, a ucid description of all the games now 'vol vogue in America, with the laws that govern them, revised and cor- rected to conform to present usages ; and embraces an elaboiate and practical analysis of the Doctrine of Chances. i2mo., cloth, 536 pages. Price . |2 00 The Complete Poker Player. A practical Guide- Book to the American National Game ; containing mathematical and experimental analyses of the probabilities at Draw Poker. By JoHU Blackbridge, Actuary and Counsellor-at-Law. This, as its title implies, is an exhaustive treatise on Draw Poker, giving minute, and detailed information on the various" chances, expectations, possibilities and probabilities that can occur in all stages of the game* with directions and advice for successful play, deduced from actual practice and experience, and founded on precise mathematical data. Small quarto, 142 pages, paper cover 50 cts. Bound in full cloth $1 00 American Card-player. Containing clear and comprehensive directions for playing the Games of Euchre, Whist, Bezique, All-Fours, French Fours, Cribbage, Cassino, Straight and Draw Poker, Whiskey Poker and Commercial Pitch, together with all the laws of those games. This work is abridged from "The American Hoyle," our Larger Book of Games. 150 pages. Bound in boards, with cloth back, price 5° (>ts. Bound in cloth, gilt side 75 cts. •v^ / -M^x %.^* •* -^^0^