Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-17
WHERE GOOD FISHING IS FOUND.
Fine Sport In the Waters OF Kent
County, Md.


Rock Fish and Perch Abound--Betterton
Is the Famous Resort Where the
Anglers Paradise is Found.
Correspondence Baltimore Sun.
CuEsTERrowN, Mp, Aug. 0.--Though
the present season has been scarcely up
to the average for hook and line fishing
along the upper eastern shore OF the
Chesapeake some royal sport has been
enjoyed and nearly all of the frequent
crs Of the fishing grounds have collected,
even during a bad season, startling
budget of fish stories, calculated to send
the blood coursing with unusual vigor
through the veins of the city Isaac Wal
tons who make annual pilgrims TO the
happy fishing grounds of their fathers.
Among many historic wrecks, oyster
rocks and swirling eddies the toothsome
sheepshead, the massive drum, the
sparkling perch or that ganest of Ches-
apeake game fish and Adonis among the
fishing tribes, the rock, have been caught.
The sheepshead is rarely if ever a fire.
auenter of the Kent county fishing
grounds, nor does the speckled sides of
the lower bay trout ever gladden. the
eyes of the angler along our shores, but
what care we SO long as the rock and
perch, those choicest of line fish, make
their summer abode with us. Not eN-
cepting the sea trout, or the gamey tar
pom, those great lusty fellows which are
the delight of the Florida fisherman, the
rock stands the ne plus ultra OF splendid
| fish. The charming characteristics OF
the sleek looking fellows extends not
alone to the table, but to the heart of the
angler Possibly no place along the
bav shore offers more favorite resort
| for rock and rock fishermen than is
found at Kent Island narrows, The
water rushes through like mill-race,
separating the mainland Of Queen
Anne's county from her island posses
sion, Kent Island. The narrows con-
meet at the waters of Chester river and
Eastern bay, and for years have been a
| favorlte passage way for rock ranging
from one and a-half pounds, or
dainty "panners" TO those great
line-testcrs of from 40 or 80. Postmaster
johnson Of Baltimore last year hooked
some of these big fellows, and during
the present season a boy landed 10 hand
some fellows of from z to 10 pounds
Long, strong lines, hooks well tempered
and an abundance of soft crab, that
daintiest of morsels to the rock anC
perch, are used. Sinkers almost amount
ing in weight to anchors for small
boat in still water is found necessary Il
keep the hooks below the surface Of the
swirling, eddylng current 1t often be
comes necessary to play the larger isl
until they are exhausted before the.
can be landed. Nothing could be more
fascinating than one of these experiences
The rock fish during the winter an
spring are in the deeper waters Of tn
bay, near the bottom, and at that seaso
by means Of sink-nets vast numbers c
splendid fish are secured. The nets, b.
means of heavy weights, are sunk
the bottom, and as much as $500 wort
of fish have been taken by one boat
crew in a day.
, Then, too, the massive drum fish
! game worthy of the skill of the most ca
2 pert fisherman, and often rewards til
! quest of the older watermen, who kno
7 where to watch for them. Three ,
! these big fellows were caught off Roc
!, Hall last week by one fisherman.
But of all the Edens for the 1isherma
: along the shores of the Chesapeake pi'
turesque Betterton is the summer pari
disc and ideal dream. Here is the favori
!. perch. Three or four barrels Of gre
', black fellows have been hooked in OF
Il day on these fishing-grounds, as mar
: as three being brought up on one line
. one time. No finer sport could be il
agined than to strike one of the sever
~ \ old wrecks on good tide and have
y, "bout" with these handsome fellow
|. which fairly swarm at the bay. Phil
Nv delphians have long ago become ava
of the charms of Betterton, and cat
season hosts Of fishermen spend fro
~ several days to several weeks on L
y, fishing-grounds. Soft crabs are the b.
"a bait, and the favorite boat is the ski
~ These bouts are safe, commodious al
y swift sailers. Then, too, the Sassafr
he river has fishing grounds offering me
o y, Inducements. Many fish caught a
~ consumed in the county, but gre
quantities find their way 10 the markt
w of Baltimore and Philadelphia.
~ Betterton is abundantly supplied wi
~ fishermen with splendid boats who
~ not fish for fun, but at moderate pIit
~ carry out fishing parties to the haul
~ of the tinny tribes. The height of I
ny fishing season in the upper bay sets
ns about August LIST and continues ur
ny well into the fall.
'n The sport is expected to be well on
a. the course of few days, and alrca
". many fishermen are on the grounds a
see have had fair success. The veterans
the fishing corps at Betterton are
familiar with the habits of the PEI
and the general topography of the b
ty, tom of the bay as is the farmer with
al. habits of his stock and the general