This book is included in the Self Reliance Hunting, Skinning & Tanning section.
To The Reader
IN offering this book for the perusal of those who may feel sufficiently interested in the subject to read works on Angling, I deem it an act of courtesy to say a few words in explanation of the motives which prompted me to commence, and then drew me on in the prosecution of a work involving, as it has proved, no small amount of time and labor.
Every true lover of angling knows that the pleasure it brings with it, does not end with the day's sport; that besides being "a calmer of unquiet thoughts" for the time, it impresses happy memories on the mind; and he looks back to many a day, and many a scene, as an oasis by the wayside in the rough journey of life; and like Dogberry's friend Verges, "he will be talking" when he finds an interested hearer, and may be tempted, as the author of these pages has been, to write of it.
Notwithstanding the many books on angling by British authors, but few American works on the subject have yet been offered to the reading public; and this in the face of the fact that we are an angling people, and that our thousands of brooks, creeks, rivers, lakes, bays, and inlets abound in game-fish.
The best informed of those who have written on American fishes, have omitted many important species, and treated slightingly of others which are worthy of a more extended notice. Since the publication of Dr. Bethune's "Walton," and subsequently Frank Forester's "Fish and Fishing," sporting-fish have decreased in some parts of the country where they were once abundant. In the mean while, the opening of new lines of travel has brought within reach of the angler many teeming waters that were then almost inaccessible.
With a view of filling up the blank left by my predecessors, of correcting some erroneous ideas that have been imparted, not only concerning fish, but the adaptation of English rules and theories, without qualification, to our waters; and with the object of making the angler self-reliant, and to encourage him as much as possible to make the best of such resources as may be within his reach, especially as regards his tackle, I have devoted many spare hours to the following pages; in writing which, to use the words of Isaac Walton, "I have made a recreation of a recreation;" and as reminiscences of
my boyhood or maturer years have come back to me, and the mood was on me, I have at times indulged my sense of the ludicrous or the ridiculous; and, again adopting the words of Walton in his address to his readers, "I have in several places mixed not any scurrility, but some innocent harmless mirth, of which, if thou be a severe sour complexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a competent judge, for divines say there are offences given and offences not given, but offences taken." But I am sanguine enough to hope that my simple narrations or allusions to such incidents will touch a chord of sympathy in the breasts of good-natured readers "who love to be quiet and go a-angling."
I had collected most of the matter contained in this book much of it as the reader finds it, but a greater portion in rough notes when the present unhappy rebellion broke out. I then thought it doubtful whether the following pages would ever be printed, but some of my angling friends, one or two of whom had read parts of my manuscript, urged me to publish, and overcame my scruples as to my short-comings as a writer, for I profess to be only an angler. One of these, who regards the author and his project perhaps in too favorable a light, addressed me a letter on the subject. I conceive it to be so strong an argument in favor of angling, and so much more to the point than I could express it myself, that I insert it here.
MY DEAR FRIEND: Several times you have told
me that you entertained the idea of writing a treatise on angling. Let me beg of you not to suffer this "good intention" to be turned into a paving-stone for that locality into which all unfulfilled good intentions are dumped for cobble.
I feel great confidence that if you can impart to beginners but a share of the practical knowledge and insight of the gentle craft which you have obtained by years of patient, observant, and appreciative practice, or can imbue them with a part of that genuine love for the sport which has grown into and with you, then you will be doing the youth of our country a real
service.
Perhaps few people claiming to be civilized have greater need than we Americans to be taught the necessity of innocent out-door recreations, for the healthy development of mind, body, and spirit. To the struggle for wealth, and place, and fame, we devote such unremitting ardor, that we are too apt to overlook the simple and innocent joys which a kind Father has so bountifully placed within our easy reach ; by neglecting which, we miss the natural means for renewing the spring of life, and keeping fresh and green in our memories the happy days of boyhood.
I have ever felt grateful that as a boy I imbibed a love for angling, for in my maturer years it continues to afford me a keener enjoyment than any other recreation. Nothing has survived to me of ray boyish days which has the peculiar abandon and charm of boyish joy like this. At each returning season, when the warm breath of spring flushes the maples with the ruddy glow of budding leaves, what can equal the angler's delight, as, rigged out in sober woollen suit and hob-nailed wading shoes,
with creel o'er his shoulder and pliant rod in his grasp, he is permitted to revisit the bright familiar stream (scene of his former triumphs), to listen to the music of its flow, and to try once more if his right hand has lost its cunning, or his flies their attraction.
Though I have always loved angling, I think if I had known you earlier I should have loved it even better. I realize how much I have learned from you in the few years we have fished together, and I look back with a kind of regret that I did not have the benefit of your kindly teaching earlier. Many a one who has the true love of angling in him, comes so far short of the enjoyment he could have, for want of willing and faithful teaching at the commencement, from those whose experience and skill are above his own. Some anglers do not think enough of their duties to their juniors in this respect. I reckon among the chiefest of your qualities as an angler, the sincere sympathy you have always manifested towards any novice who showed that he had a love for the art, and your willingness to teach to such what you knew. Why not manifest this on a more expanded field, and speak through a book to all who are seeking knowledge upon angling, and are disposed to avail themselves of your experience?
There is one department of the school for anglers in which I think you are qualified to speak ex cathedra. I mean the mechanical ; if you will undertake to teach what you know upon this branch, you can enable an angler, who has any aptitude for mechanism and a reasonable facility of manipulation, to manufacture for himself, his own rod, flies, and tackle, of a quality for service and effectiveness, which will not suffer in comparison with those to be procured in any good tackle-store in the country. No one has a better right than I to bear this testimony to your handicraft, for my favorite fly-rod and book of flies are the product of your skill.
We have a good many fishermen in this country, and too few anglers; we are apt to value more a glut than a quiet day's sport, where skill and painstaking will reward us with a moderate sufficiency. Catching fish is not necessarily angling, any more than daubing canvas with paint is paintring. If you write, you could not help giving aid to the attainment of a truer and juster perception of the delights and uses of angling; and aid your reader, if he has a sympathetic soul, in the attainment of that "sweet content" which can be drawn from all the accessories of the art, and the beauties of nature amid which it is practised.
I say, therefore, write. The labor .will not only pleasantly recall many scenes of your piscatorial experience, and memories of the choice spirits with whom you have taken your diversion, but will make you to be remembered with gratitude by those to whom your labor of love will bring an innocent pleasure.
Truly your friend and fellow-angler, J.
Most of the engravings of fish in this book are from nature. The marine species, found in the chapter on salt-water fishing, are reduced copies of those found in Dr. Holbrook's work. The vignettes are the production of the pencil of a good brother of the angle, an amateur, drawn mostly for his own amusement and occasionally for mine, as the subjects have been presented to his appreciative eye during the last ten or twelve years. Many of them are his earlier sketches. He has expressed an unwillingness that I should reproduce them, after finding that I was in earnest in doing so in this work j but I have, in most cases, so intimately associated them with the subjects or topics to which they serve as vignettes, that I cannot oblige him by relinquishing my purpose.
Most of the tackle and diagrams, and a few of the fish, were drawn by the writer; I confess with some labor, for they are purely mechanical productions.
All of the drawings on wood, with the exception of the plate of hooks and Salmon-flies by Mr. Wilhelm, are by D. Gordon Yates, of this city, and were cut by himself or under his supervision.
I have received so many useful hints from Dr. Bethune's notes to his edition of Walton, and from English works on angling during the last fifteen or twenty years, that I am at a loss to whom to accredit any particular item of information ; having so entirely appropriated such knowledge, and stored and mingled it with whatever necessity and some aptness of my own has taught me, as to consider all alike my own property.
Tackle-making I have learned as a pleasant recreation. My tactics and rules are based OB- my own experience and upon that of brethren of the rod with whom I have angled. So also is my knowledge of fishing-grounds.
Anglers are all more or less conceited, or, to say the least, self opinioned, and I may at times have given directions or laid down rules contrary to the views or practice of the reader, or may not have expressed myself as plainly as I endeavored to do ; but - " What is writ is writ; Would it were worthier." - And I only ask the same indulgence of opinion I am willing to extend to those who hold opposite notions.
To the living, with whom I have enjoyed long days of unalloyed pleasure in boyhood, by the dear old mill-pond, and in manhood by the mountain stream, on the sylvan lake, or within sound of "the warning off the lee shore, speaking in breakers," I send these pages as a reminder of the past. In reference to those who are no more on earth, I quote as applicable those simply beautiful lines of Walton, and say that my allusion to some of the incidents herein contained, "is, or rather was, a picture of my own disposition, especially in such days as I have laid aside business, and gone a-fishing with honest Nat and R. Roe; but they are gone, and with them most of my pleasant hours, even as a shadow that passeth away and returneth not."
Contents CHAPTER I. - ANGLING. Its harmonizing influences. Recollections of Angling in boyhood, its after influence on manhood. Its social tendency. What and Who is an Angler ? Different kinds of Anglers. The Snob Angler. The Greedy Angler. The Spick-and-Span Angler. The Rough and Ready Angler. The Literary Angler. The Shad-roe Fisherman. The English Admiral, an Angler, The True Angler . CHAPTER II. - GENERAL REMARKS ON FISH. Definition. Origin and order in creation. Natural mode of propagation. Habits as regards maternity. Migration. Vitality. External organs. Internal organization. Ichthyology CHAPTER III. - TACKLE IN GENERAL. Hooks. Sinkers. Swivels. Gut. Leaders. Snoods. Lines. Reels. Rods. Bow Dipsys CHAPTER IV. - THE PERCH FAMILY PERCIDAE. General Remarks on the Percidse. Great number of American genera and species. Paucity of European species. Distinguishing marks. Their abundance and variety in the Valley of the Mississippi. Migratory habits. The Rockfish or Striped Bass, Labrax lineatus. Rockfish Tackle. Rock-fishing on the lower Rappahannock. The White Perch, Labrax pallidus. Perch-fishing. The White Bass of the Lakes, Labrax albidus. White Bass taken with the artificial fly. Fresh water Bass of the South and West, Grystes salmoides. Bass-fishing. Bass Fly-fishing. Black Bass of the Lakes, Grystes nigricans. Trolling for Black Bass with spoon, and with artificial flies. The Striped Bass of the Ohio, Perca chrysops. The Short Striped Bass. Oswego Bass. The Crappie or Sac-a-lai, Pomoxis hexicanthus. The Yellow Barred Perch, Perca flavescens. The Sunfish or Sunny, Pomotis vulgaris. Bream, Ichthylis rubricunda. Bream-fishing on Bayou La Branch. The Pike Perch or Ohio Salmon, Lucioperca Americana. The Buffalo Perch, Ablodon grunniens. CHAPTER V. - THE PIKE FAMILY ESOCIDAE. Remarks on the Pike Family. Mascalonge pictured by Cuvier. European species. American species. The Garfish; manner of taking it. Dr. Bethune's remarks on Pikes. Their introduction into England. Pliny's Pike. Gesner's Pike. The Great Lake Pickerel, Esox lucioides. Trolling from a boat for Pickerel. The Mascalonge, Esox estor. Angling for Mascalonge. The Pond Pike, Esox reticulatus. Pike-fishing. Trolling for Pike with the gorge-hook. Pike-fishing in Eastern Virginia. The Great Blue Pike. The Little Pike of Long Island. The Streaked Pike of the Ohio. Story told about a Pike taken in the Kanawha CHAPTER VI. - THE CARP FAMILY CYPRINIDAE. Remarks on the Cyprinidae. The Sucker, Catostomus commums. Buffalo Fish, Catostomus babulus. Buffalo Fish as an article of diet. The Chub or Falltish, Leucosomus nothus. Errors of American writers in regard to the size of the Chub. Chub an annoyance to fly-fishers. Chub-fishing on the Brandywine. Umbrella invented by a Chub Fisherman. Roach, and Roach-fishing. CHAPTER VII. - THE HERRING FAMILY CLUPEIDAE. Remarks on the Herring Family, from the "Iconographic Encyclopaedia." Their abundance in the waters of the United States. Great numbers of them taken in the Potomac. Herring-fishing with the artificial fly. The Shad, Alosa prcestatilis. Its delicacy and value as food. Migratory habits. Shad taken with the minnow. Shad-roe as bait. CHAPTER VIII. - CATFISH AND EELS. Cattish, Siluridce. Extract from Iconographic Encyclopaedia. Catfish of the Atlantic States and Western waters. Eels. Observations on the Petromyzontidce (Lamprey Eels), on the Murcenidce (Common Eels), and on the Gymnotidce (Electric Eels). The Common Eel, Anguilla vulgaris. Fishing for Eels. Migratory habits. Young Eels as bait. Eels not hermaphrodites. CHAPTER IX. - THE SALMON FAMILY. SALMONIDAE. Remarks on the Salmonidae. The Brook Trout. Scientific description. Habits and manner of breeding. Growth. Difference in size between Trout of still waters and those of brisk streams. Effect of light and shade, and bright or dark water, on the color of Trout. Errors as regards new species. Food of the Trout. Its greediness. Its geographical range. Former abundance and causes of decrease. Size of Trout in the regions of Lake Superior and State of Maine. Size in the preserved waters of England, and size the angler is restricted to in rented waters. The Salmon. Former abundance in the rivers of New York and the Eastern States. Great numbers in California, Oregon, and British Possessions. Decline of the Salmon-fisheries in British Provinces. Scientific description. Natural process of propagation. Their growth. Parr, Smolt, and Grilse. Mature Salmon. Size of Salmon. Instinct. Restocking depleted rivers, and introducing Salmon into new waters. Their migration from sea to fresh rivers, and gradual preparation for their change of habitat. Salmon-leaps. Food of Salmon at sea. The Canadian Trout, or Sea Trout, Salmo Canadensis. Error in referring it to the species Salmo trutta of Europe ; their dissimilarity. Its affinity to Salmo fontinalis (Brook Trout). Sea-Trout fishing in the Tabbisintac. Mr. Perley's and Dr. Adamson's account of Sea-Trout fishing. Their abundance in the rivers falling into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and annoyance to Salmon-fishers. The Schoodic Trout, or Dwarf Salmon of the St. Croix, Salmo Gloveri. Account of three summers' fishing in the Schoodic Lakes. The Great Lake Trout, Salmo namaycush. Manner of taking them. The Lesser Lake Trout, Salmo Adirondakus. Trolling for Lake Trout. Back's Grayling, Thymallus signifer. Dr. Richardson's remarks on the Grayling. The Smelt, Osmerus viridiscens. Their great numbers along the northern part of our coast. Smelt in the Schuylkill. Quantity sent south from Boston. Smelt used as a fertilizer. The Capelin, Mallotus villosus.The Whitefish, Coregonus albus. Trout Bait-fishing. CHAPTER X. - SALT-WATER FISH AND FISHING. Introductory Remarks. The Sheepshead. The Weakfish, or Salt-Water Trout. The Barb, or Kingfish. The Spot, Pigfish, or Goody. The Croaker. The Redfish of the Gulf of Mexico. The Bluefish, or Snapping Mackerel. The Spanish Mackerel. The Pompano (Southern). The Drumfish. The Flounder. The Sea-Bass. The Blackfish. The Mullet. The Tom Cod, or Frostfish. The Porgy CHAPTER XI. - TROUT FLY-FISHING. OUTFIT AND TACKLE. Wading-Jacket. Trousers. Boots. Creel or Basket. Landing-Net. Rods. Reels. Lines. Leaders. Flies. The Whip CHAPTER XII. - TROUT FLY-FISHING. THE STREAM. Casting the Fly. Theory of strict imitation. Striking and killing a Fish. Likely places, how to fish them. CHAPTER XIII. - SALMON-FISHING. Tackle used in Salmon-Fishing. Rods. Reels. Reel-lines. Casting-lines. Salmon-flies. Materials required for Salmon- flies for American rivers. Salmon-flies for the rivers of New Brunswick and Canada. Theory and practice of Salmon- fishing. Salmon fishing compared with Trout-fishing. Casting the fly. The straightforward cast, casting over the left shoulder, casting in difficult places, explained by diagrams. Casting in an unfavorable wind. Striking. Playing a Salmon. What a Salmon will do or may do. Gaffing. Camping on the river. Camp equipage. Protection against mosquitoes, black-flies, and midges. Clothing, etc. Cooking utensils. Stores. Cooking Salmon on the river. To boil a Salmon. To broil a Salmon. Cold Salmon. Soused Salmon. To bake or steam a Grilse under the coals and ashes. Kippered Salmon. Smoked Salmon, Law and Custom on the river. CHAPTER XIV. - SALMON-RIVERS OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES. Salmon-rivers of Lower Canada. Salmon-rivers emptying into or tributary to rivers flowing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Salmonrivers of New Brunswick. Mirimichi. Ristigouche. Metapediac. Cascapediacs. Bonaventure. Tittigouche. Nipissiguit. CHAPTER XV. - REPAIRS, KNOTS, LOOPS, AND RECEIPTS. Repairs. To wax silk, thread, or twine. Tying on hooks and making loops, illustrated. Splicing a line and splicing a rod, illustrated. Knots. The angler's single and double knot, and knot used in tying on drop-flies, illustrated. A gang of hooks, illustrated. Receipts. For making wax. For dyeing gut. For dyeing feathers and dubbing. CHAPTER XVI. - FLY-MAKING. Implements. Hand-Vice, Spring-Pliers, etc. Book for holding materials. Materials. Hooks. Gut. Tinsel. Dubbing. Hackles. Wings. To tie a plain Hackle. To tie a Palmer. To make a fly with wings. CHAPTER XVII. - ROD-MAKING. Woods used in making rods. Wood and Malacca cane for fly-rods. Materials used by amateur rod-makers. To make a fly-rod of three pieces. To make a tip. To stain a rod. Oiling and varnishing. Wrapping splices and putting on rings. To make a " rent and glued," or quarter-sectioned tip. Draw-plate and V tool illustrated and explained. Manner of splitting cane and joining the pieces of a quarter-sectioned tip described by diagram. Making middle pieces and tips without splices. Manner of making a fly-rod to be adjusted to light or heavy fishing. Ferule-making. CHAPTER XVIII. - FISH-BREEDING. Causes of the decrease of Salmon and Trout. Remarks on fish-ponds and the manner of stocking them. Artificial Fish-Breeding with illustrations, showing the manner of expressing the ova and milt, the arrangement of hatching- troughs, and the growth of the fish; from " A Complete Treatise on Artificial Fish-Breeding," by W. H. Fry, Esq., with some remarks of the author of this work. The Aquarium its appropriate size and form, and manner of stocking it with fish and introducing suitable aquatic plants DIES PISCATORIAE. THE " HOUSELESS ANGLERS" THE NOONDAY ROAST First Nooning Trout-fishing in Hamilton County, New York Second Nooning Trout-fishing in New Hampshire Third Nooning Trout-fishing in the regions of Lake Superior Fourth Nooning Trout-fishing in the Adirondacks FLY-FISHING ALONE THE ANGLER'S SABBATH CONCLUSION
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