Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-07-06
OF INTEREST TO ANGLERS.
Fish That Make. Things Interesting to
Iyat.r,,,eu Nhen That ukif.

Fish That Make. Things Interesting to
FIshermen when They bite.
The fresh-water sportsrnen hold salt
water fishing in high esteem, but their
ignorance misleads them. In every salt
water inlet of the Chesapeake bay there
is better fishing than there is in any Al
leglieny or Adirondack streams; and
those whose purses will not admit the
expenses Of a trip to the mountain
hemmed haunt of the trout and bass, can
easily prove the truth of this assertion in
the blue Chesapeake. There swim in no
waters on the globe greater variety of
game fish. Sheepshead, rockfish, drum,
perch, taylor, weakfish, trout and mack
erel include the best varieties, while in
oft-times troublesome profusion swarm
the smaller fry-spot, croclis, pike, moe
casin. suniisll, catfish and eels.
The king Of our waters is undoubtedly
the rockiish, or striped bass. 1t isgreatly
the superior of the salmon in beauty and
in gameness it stands it peer. Our
streams contain it in its most perfect
state. Symmetrical in form and beauti-
full in shaIe, il is a sight to make any
lover of the divine sport" grow enthusi-
astie over its charms. 1t is voracious
feeder and quick as lightning in captur-
ing its prey. Take him as you may, his
first dash when hooked is tremendous
and he will make gallant fight for life
that will exhilarate the most hardened
sportsman.
The perch, while not usually regarded
as being very gamey, is yet great favor
ite with anglers. 1t bites assuredly and
fast. 1t winters in the deep salt water
Of the bays, and after the suns of spring
have warmed the water it issues forth on
its foraging expeditions, pushing up the
inlets into fresh and brackish water,
halting about rocky bottoms, old wrecks,
sunken bridge piers and water lily mar
gins. OF the Kent shore, at Betterton,
and in Chester river, is the best perch
fishing. Rare sport at the proper season
from July to September-can be had
on these grounds, il being not unusual
for two or three half-pound perch to be
caught on one line when sufficient
number of hooks are used. Whether for
gameness OF as table luxury the Sleeps
head is superb.
This fish comes from the south. 1t gen
orally arrives in the vicinity of Chin
colleague about the 1st of May, but does
not reach our waters until midsummer.
An inexperienced fisherman will find the
sheepshead not easy of capture. After
it has found the bait, two or three pre-
liminary nibbles announce the fact, and
ten to one the nervous sportsman will
strike and lose it. But if he is patient,
presently there will come steady draw,
and then it is that the fisherman must
strike, and pull hard and fast, keeping a
weather-eye open for the headers which
the sheepshead is sure to make. Very
heavy tackle is necessary for this fish, as
it is very strong and makes vicious re-
sistance.
Years ago diminishing was a great
sport among the fishermen of tidewater
Talbot and of other counties along the
bay, but this fish seems to have been
driven out Of the middle and upper
Chesapeake, whether by the steamboats,
or by the oyster dredges it is difficult to
determine. In those days the signal that
drums were about usually caused ces-
sation of all other occupations and a
general rush was made to the drumming
grounds. An absence of several days
was made often, and the result would be
loads of fish. But that day is numbered
with the past, and the once familiar
drum note of this fish is heard no
more.
The tiercest and greediest fish in our
waters is the taylcr. 1t is predatory and
voracious, and is terror to nearly every
kind of smaller fish. 1t is one of our
most valuble varieties as food fish,
rivaling the shai in exquisiteness of
flavor. Some ally it with the bluefsh
species, but this is denied by many. The
bay mackerel is a 1.-THE, brilliant fellow
when first taken from the water, and
has no equal as a gridiron fish. 1t is a
bashful bitter, but when it does finally
take hold it gives pull that sends the
blood surging through every vein of the
anglers body.-Baltimore American.