The daily gazette., 1879-08-19
Fishing for Bass.
DAY ON THE BLACK BASS GROUNDS OF
THE sUsQUEHANNA RIvkR
n ~ PoRT DHPOsir. Cecil Ce. Nd,
lf.I.s August IS, 1879,

DAY ON THE BLACK BASS GROUNDS OF
THE sUsQUEHANNA RIvER
n ~ PoRT DBPOsir, Cecii Ce. Nd,
Lob Cd .ia August 18, 1879.
Special correspondence of The Gazetteer.
Black bass fishing is at Its height at
this place about this time Of the year,
and will continue until the latter part of
October. lt has only been during the
past two or three years that angling for
this 1sh, in the waters OF the Middle
States, las been atteuded with any huc-
cess. Bass are not natives of the streams
OF Delaware, Pennsylvania and Mary
land aud were introduced into many OF
them about four years ago bv the United
States Fishing G mniission Being n
hsh that propoga rs rapidly and soon
a'tains its gre with .a1d having no natural
enemies in the streams in which they
were Introduced, IL WAS not long before
the waters were filed with large Quanti-
ties Of this noble fish.
This was specially the case with the
Brandywine uD by your city, and also
with the Susqueharna river. Both of
these streams are specially adapted AZ
homes for this fish. In the former, they
do not frequent the lever waters in
great numbers and hence are out Ct the
reach Of Wilmington anglers; ;but further
up, IN the oiRhbvrhoOd pf West Chess
ter they are said to be large aud more
plentiful Probably their ab.ense from
the lower waters of the Brandy wine is
caused by the poisonous dye s,uifs.
But In the Susquehauna river, which
at this point flows by a broad and noble
stream, bearing along tue tribute waters
of hundreds OF various sized branches
IN the three States through which II
passes, the ca y ID different. Never in
their native northwestern element were
the black hass more at home. The Sus-
quehsnna is peculiar stream; only five
miles below 1t empties into the head
or up than this place navigation doe. not
extend. On either side the Hartford
and Cecil county hills rise high and
green. Clear up the river from Port
Denost tho stream Is shallow and rocky.
The current is swift, coming down be-
tween the boulters and swirls and ed
dies are thick, hui not violent. This L.
the nature of the stream clear up to
Fites' Eddy twenty miles above, and be-
tween here III the best fish, ny ground im-
aginable. 1t is particular ly good for
eight miles up, although the stream is
stocAed with bass from head wa ers to
he mouth.
On Saturday GAZETTE reporter
stepped into Mr.. Sam Browns little
boat, that he has built specially for bass
fishing, and with the owner at the oars
procee'ied up to the rapids. Sam (every
body calls him that, aud so why not the
writer p used to live in Wilmington and
many people there know him. Presently
the lower end OF the rocky part of the
river was reached. "Throw over that
line and play it out fIst," said the oars
man, as he bent to his task and sent The
little craft up through the roaring water,
| 'ths bass are thick here" The injunc-
ton was Obeyed, and in a few minutes
the artificial bait was floating o the rip
pies far behiud. The tackle used was the
common trolling spoon with large bait
made of fracments Of eaudy coiored
feathers, Which was fastened close tt
the hook This was tached to line o
sixty feet long, that the writer held il
his hand as he stood in the stern of til,
craft
Tho bait had not been long cast or
the water when there came u sharp tug
at the line and sudden splash in the
water as a large fish flushed into view
and back again, and then rushed away
In wide circle, carrying the line around
toward the bow of the boat. "Be care
| ful with him and don't let him break the
| hne," was the Injunction of the oarsman.
| The fish was tuggipg tiercely, darting
| irst to one side aud then tn she other IN
| his efforts to get at liberty. In moment
or two lie was landed in tho bottom of
| the boaf-a fine large f low more than
foot long, and weighing nearly three
| pounds.
A repetition of such exciting sport rs
this was desirable, anu as soon as the
hook was free it was cast overheard and
in n short time the bait whirllng along
| the surface had tempted another to seize
| it and he also was in the tolls. Thus d,.r-
| ing the whole day, with intervals of var
| iO,is length between the "catches," was
| the sport kept up and fl III after fish vas
snat ched from its native element, des-
pite their resistance, until by the time
the sun was hiding behind the clouds
over the western hills, dozen fine spec
imeus of the black bass species had been
| taken, and the fisher men, tired, Yet sat-
istied with their days sport returned to
land. tAI
1t is quite likely that the bass fishing
here Is the finest In the Middle States. Ii
| Is becoming famous and number OF
| sportsmeu from distance have come
| and tried it, and speak OF it in terms OF
high praise. No one goes our, using the
right kind of bait, but who returns with
| lus labOrs amply reWa arded. Mr.. John
| Bond, n leading man here and repre-
| sentative SPORTSMAN. has had the best
| luck of all the fishermen. The other at
tcrnoon he caught torty-eight fine ones.
| The fish have not been in the river long
| enough to attain their full growth, but
are large enough for rare sport. The
| average weight ranges from one to three
pounds. Wilmington sportsraen, who go
hundreds of miles to the I,les Of Shoals
after imaginary cod fish and to the
Adfiondacks after finger length trout
might come home wit less depleted
pocket book and IN D better humor If
they would try the bass in the Su que
hanna at this point or abJve.
One thing TO be regretted Is that the
stocking OF streams with bass results IN
the destroying of nearly all otherikind of
fishing The bass either eat up the other
fish or make them seek other waters ont
of harm way. Thel scarcity of shad and
herring in The head waters of the Chesa
peake Is attributed by some to The pres
snce of the bass in the river here. 1t Is
charged that they eat up the small f'h
Just after the spawn has hatch d,and b.
fore they can reach salt water. While
this is unfortunate ii true, (and l am in
clined tu question the aathenticity ofthe
charge,) the excellent sport which the
bass afford will in great measure palli.
ate the result of their unprofitahe greed
Effects of the Great Storm.
A. r. ~