New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-27
THE THOUSAND ISLES.
John PAUL GOES A-FIsHING.


CLAYTON. July 23.-Why did they not call this
land-locked archipelago the Fiffeen-Hundred and
Fiye-Islands. and be precise about it ? An ancient
fisherman tells that this is the exact number
and that he has counted them But as he also tells
me hat some two years since he took l2j black
bass 10 eels AZ picserel. II muscal0nge and
snapping-turtle in one day with fly, take the
statement as / do his fsh-with very many grains
of salt Certainly there may quite well be fifteen
hundred as a thousand for when they duSting
them down-from a sort Of pepper-box kept espe-
cialy on hand for the purpose. probably few
hundred islands more or less could make particu-
lar difference, fancy in fact the only reason
have for doubling chat there are fifteen hundred
of them is that Captain Johnston says so. He
has deceived in many important
particulars especially to his own
skill with is, that now. before taking his word
for the number Of fish in a school. Of ducks in
flock. OF of islands in any body Of water whatever,
Pd ike to know under what circumstances he made
his count Now, as 20 just how much water there IS
in the river on any given day I'd take his word IN
minute for no one bus himself knows how much he
has lowered it III the fifty years that he has lived at
CLAYTON.
THE BEAUTY OF THE ISLANDS.
But that this ia irrespective of number the love
lest lot of islands in the world, you may take my
word for IT, Equal in beauty If inferior in size, to
any island group Of the Pacific, you are not at the
disadvantage here Of being eaten up by cannibals
all the eating you do yourself Lying where the
st. Lawrence issuing from Lake Ontario. Itself
brOadens into n lake, like emerads on the brow of
o Gueen-or is il on the bosom : / never did par
tcularly notice where the royal ladies Of
my acquaintance wore their emeralds-they offer a
subject for the painter OF which wonder that more
painters have not ayailed themselves. As 1t Is,
painters cone here only TO ashland don't catch
many at that We're l but artist Pd cover
yards of canvas with their beauty the poets
gift mine, an epic should embalm them.' This Is
what Captain Johnston says. and say so, too.
Gliding over the clear, blue water hecked
only by the fleece Of reflected clouds and an occa-
sional dead bu-pout, one eau readily imagine him
self translated spirit floating in illimitable ether
among the Isles OF the Biest-only that the facil-
ties for frying fish are greater here than there,
fancy. Yet time when you could buy these
islands for a cent aDiecel Now you probably
couldn't get a decent island eigibly located, with
anything of a house on 1t, much short OF
So. Indeed, a Mr.. Lawrence, after whom
the river Is named-quite n Spectator in islands
has given up selling them by the piece or by the
dozen, and now sells them only by the acre. The
imitation of the times has extended TO islands
but unless l am mIsinformed, bear movement is
afoot which will very soon lower their price mate
rally; then will be the time to buy. In the mean
while excellent accommodations and unvarying
good treatment are to be had at the Walton
House-kept by the worthy disciple of good old
Isaak before referred to- Captain JOhnston-on
terms which are not tall unreasonable, considering
the proDinquity to the brass band.
FISH STORIES.
WI hoo -,
on the circular which states that hy-fishing for
bass begins about June 10 and continues until Sep
tember or 15v you will be disappointed For quite
small consideration I'd undertake TO eat
all the bass taken with fly before June 20 and
after August 1. without either salt or pepper. SO
far rs my experience goes, from about the 2OCh OF
June to the 10th OF July Is the right time for
raising these noble fish with a Hy-and no other
way of taking them can lie called sport Stll-ish-
ing is brutalzng, giving, as 1t does, so much time
TO take drinks between bites trolling Is demOral-
zlng inasmuch as it leaves the mind unOccupIed,
and one Is apt to think of mschlef but 10 land
fly and then land your fish furnishes employment
tor both brain and body. improves the morals,
elevates the mind and prepares one TO attend
Summer School of Philosophy at Concord. Aud to
have a three or tour pound bass on SIX ounce rod
IS TO taste beforehand of the joys prepared in the
future iOr those VINO avoid bait and eschew spoons.
Ny biggest bass this season weighed two pounds
and thirteen ounces, nor have ! heard, as yet, of
any larger being taken by casting. Generally the
bass run from one to two pounds, though you occa-
siOnallY pick up whale that turns the scale at
plump four. But this year the fish seem
10 run small, nor do they rise to a hY with the
avidlty which has characterized them III other
visits To some extent this NAV be accounted tor
by tie abundance of food just now, Lake Ontario
and the river hereabOut being covered with the
Young of some fsh-shad, thInk-which seem 70
have persisted by the million. Were bass. I'd
rather take the risk OF being choked by fly hooks
than by shad bones, but there's no accounting Tor
tastes Certain 10 tnat the bass do not rise this
wear with that alacty 80 pleasing to the fisher
Abyf yyn 81 a
tempting to cast a Fly, gave 70 up IN despair. and
threw his rod across the boat. declaring that he
never could get the knack of IT, While his flies thus
Law iiggng On the water with the boats motion, not
SIX feet from the boat two bass arose TO them and
he landed BOTH This encouraged him to that ex-
tent that he picked up his rod, went 70 thrashlng
the water vigorously, and went In with box full.
WORD ABOUT FLIES.
Very fanciful are the bass in the matter of flies,
taking one year a fly which they will refuse the
next The scarlet ibis once a favorite
on this river the bass turn up their nose at it,
but take a turkey-wing as though they loved
It As dark horses have been winners IN political
conventions this year, dark flies seem to be in
favor in these less troubled waters. Nevertheless.
a wood duck is killing and late in the evening l
generally obtain good results with n white hy.
Some of nv friends greatly affect what they call
the Seth Green 1y." but it never seemed to do
well with me. Green flies fancy work best with
green fish ripe don't rise to 1t. If 1T fell to me
to make a green hy-that is to say, fly of a Sage
green, | think I'd make the body of Wabash. the
hackle Of Hannibal and st. 10, and the wings
of Pacific Mail Then If q fish rose TO it he'd de-
serve ms fate, and I'd land him without mercy.
Apropos OF flies, wish to remark right here that
/ am using tie Ho berton clip hy book invented by
the artist of that name with great deal Of salts
faction To the old-fashioned hy book it compares
about as the stem winding watch to a key-windmg
one.
There are many resorts at the Thousand Islands.
Fashion and frIvolity 90 10 Alexandra Bay, where
there Is a large hotel and music and dancing of
evenings: the seriously inclined go TO islands where
there are camp-meetlngs aud rules against swear
ing the fishermen come TO Clayton. There are
here at the present moment the vice president of
one of your most prominent National banks-un-
equaled he is in swinging syndlcates and throwing
n hy-and his two SONS the great SPECTATOR III
islands before mentioned and his charming