The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-23
seryative Convention Of 1867. It will no
doubt also furnish US with copy OF tne
accession ordinance Of 1861.
New Books.

New Books.
Tho following new publications have been
laid upon our table by Messrs. A. Fl. CHRIS
rrAYe& Co..:
Fishing in American Waters By GEsIo e.
scoTr. New York: HARPER & BRO
THEIRS.
We,have not had the heart, in the pros
trate condition Of our good old mother Vir-
pin;a. TO wet line. Since the war We have
laid by the angle, and thus denied ourselves
what is to MS one Of the dearest earthly en-
;ovments. But we shall soon take in hand
the precious emblems Of this delicious
sport. II the people Of Virginia triumph,
by adopting the expurgated constitution, we
mean to celebrate the event with an excur-
sion to some fine angling water; and should
we fail to triumph over the bloody proacrip-
.icnists, we will do the same thing, as last
solace to escape despair! Mr.. scoTT's book
then, is in good time, and we shall brush
no our art somewhat in time for the coming
event!
The author Of this work he's passed his
hours of fishing chiefly in salt waters. De
understands fully coast and estuary tshlng'
and is also pretty well acquainted with the
lakes and the St. Lawrence, and with the
respectable Finian families which lnhaoit
them. But he does not understand, nor
does he give us on account Of, the sport in
southern ponds and rivers and in the trout
! streams of the mountains. he does not
name that superbly game fsh-the silver
perch-nor the club, called south of James
river. "southern club" (negro :" sullen
chub") nor the true pike of our waters,
nor the Dream of the Carolinas, nor the
pompino of the Louisiana bayous, etc., etc.
SCOTT should take lesson from Commo-
dore PORTER, and GEORGE GILLIAN, and
Colonel BIGGER. They could add much to
his store Of piscatory information, while
he might get touch or two in this sanctum ;
50 that, all combined, he would be able to
swell out his book with chapter or two
very much to its advantage
With regard to saltwater fishing, and
tackle, and I" fishermen's finding" in all its
comprehensiveness, SCOTT has done up
things very artistically. So he has Of sport
on the Northern lakes. No book we have
seen is so perfect in the matter Of machinery
for catching fish with the rod. Besides, it
contains great deal Of valuable informa-
ton relative to breeding fish by artificial
means, plans for enabling fish to scale
dams, and the whole matter Of police to pre-
vent wanton destruction. So also is there
much in the way of fact touching the hshe-
ries and commerce in fish. Still, when we
have glanced over the pages Of this ample
volume We cannot avoid sigh for our dear
old friend, IzAAK WALTON. He had not SO
much art, but he had more soul-he knew
but little Of "progress," but he had gen.
tie spirit and fsherman's deep piety,
which secured to him hours Of earthly in
nocence and bliss not excelled in Eden
We extract the following story-partly
fish, partly amphibian-from this book:
"On recent occasion, while with Matte
son the artist, he Informed me Of the expe-
rience of DIR. White one of the principal ply
sicians in the central part of New York State,
in fishing for horned pout, known throughout
the country as bullheads. The Doctor having
q taste for angling, which he INDUCED When-
ever the condition of his patients permitted,
was OH his return homeWard from visiting 4
patient, when a summer shower reminded
him thatit would sharpen the appetite OF the
bullheads in the river which he was approach.
ing, and he therefore reined up under shed
near the river, hitched his horse cut an ash
pole, found 4 line armed with hook and
sinker in his pocket, dug some angie worms,
and forthwith went Il fishing. There was a
chored to the side of the stream, he stepped
into it and began to fish. The buliheads
put in an appearance Immediately, SO
that within half IN hour he had taken
some two dozen fish, and as fast as
he took them he cast them on the grassy
bank of the shore. Having a pretty good
mess, he cut switch and went TO string them,
when not one was TO be found This surprised
the Doctor, and he at once concluded TO solve
the my stery, and SO commenced fishing again,
and throwing the fish on the shore as he had
before done, but keeping sly wath of them.
After be had cast the fourth one, large DULL
frog leaped from the water, took hold OF the
bullhead, and rolled into the water with IL (;
leaping out Immediately, and taking another
fish, he rolled in as before, and so continued
until he had returned the four to the water.
The Doctor con tinued fishing, and rs fastas he
had cast three or four fish on shore the bull
frog returned and helped them back into the
river. AS DIR. White is an educated gentle
man, who enjoys the confidence of 4 very wide
professional and in tellectual connection, l feel
assured of the truth OF the foregoing incident /,
and therefore report the case for Professor
AgassiZ or some other naturalist, with the
view to q learned decision as to the nature of
the link which connects the buIlhead and
frog" 3.
We doubt whether the Enquirer will be-
ieve this story! The fact is, the Enquirer
believes little but its own writings, which
shows, after sll, how gullible people are.
If they are excessively cautious in one d.
rection, they are likely to be deluded on
the other hand by something more mon
strous than what they had discredited
Just like the bull who, afraid of danger on
one side Of bridge, backed off into the
river on the other!
Notes Critical, Explanatory, and Practical
on the Book of Psalms. By ALBERT
BARNES. New York: HARPER s. Bro
THEIRS. .. -
4