New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-09
GAME FISH OF THE SOUTH.
FINE WINTER SPORT ON THE GULF AND
SOUTH ATLANTIC COASTS.

| ton Even the constant restocking OF the larger
rivers at great expense to the State falls to
counteract the effects of growing love for out
door sports and the production of cheap fishing
! tackle. The older anglers and those others who
| can afford to do 50 now seek the wdernesses OF
Canada for their summers play and right worthy
OF their hooks the trout bass. muscallonge.
ouananiche and salmon of Northern Quebec ana
Ontario But of late years a new and happier
hunting ground has been found The men who
are chained to business life In the city during the
summer days have learned that their vacations
are still far from lost for when snow and ice and
sush prevail hereabout they can pack rod. reel
and line. and start off for the waters or the South
| More and more fishermen are following this prac-
| tice each year. The trip is not long and the rail-
roads offer low fares and comfortable accommoda-
| lions. The notion long cherished that the South
Is region, difficult of access. is fast fading
away.
1t safely be asserted that nowhere on the
| whole continent be found in small an area
so many varieties OF really game fish. In a circle
OF less than two miles one may catch tarpon,
channel-bass groupers reddish. sea trout, croakers
bonito. mulet, caval black bass Cknown in Dixie
land ''trout'), gaspergon and crappies, and any
OF these fellows will give you fierce and persistent
battle for his life. Besides these such aquatic
freaks garpke. cats and stngarees poor in
edible qualities, but rich and wonderful in ugly
combativeness.
priced board fairly we'll kept taverns and. above
ALL cheap and respectful guide service the
rule. In the North Woods one pays from 81 to 50 a
day for guide. and only too often is made sub
ject of rustic practical jokes the butt OF back
woods wit. In Sambo, however. you have
helper willing strong, competent in that he knows
every pigpath in the county and every likely pool
In the bay or gulf The habits of birds. beasts
and fish are as well known to him as your own
alphabet: his one strong. unconquerabe, race-born
fault is lazness. Fifty cents ('four bits') day
is a prncely wage and will secure you the services
OF the best darky in the district
one general outfit will suffice for all the fishing
you can do though 1t may be trne clumsy In an
Cling for the smaller Fry. 1t need not be very costly
II bought with discretion, or best Of all under the
supervision OF old experienced fisher. while
many novice wealthy and whimsical man pays
500 or for equipment. most seiviceabe
one may be had for one-quarter OF that amount
For the rod 81 to SIS will get you a solid. we'll
made. carefully fitted split bamboo. the best OF all
for wear and service 1t should be short and stout
not clumsy, with Just enough sprIngy backbone 10
hold and Kill big FISH. Seven feet is good length
and eighteen TO twenty ounces the proper weight.
The strongest Iattern is made with short butt
eighteen inches long. and one tip joint OF hve ana
haif feet Double raised guides are used. and double
funnel top agltc-lined. TO prevent frayng the line
when being OF at lightning rate. Whether one
has nickcl-p plate German silver trimmings mat
tiers little tho latter VIII survive the corrodng
action ~ salt water much longer. even though the
former be treated with unusual care Frequent oil
ing will save the plate. and careful fisherman
should begrudge the few moments thus spent IN
preserving his tools. At least one extra TIP must
d. taken along for emergency, and loose guides
silks for wrapping. and vial OF shellac may All OF
them prove useful. For those who want n cheaper
rod. either greenheart or lancewood makes good
material and 4 durable one Do not think OF buying
a chelp split bamboo. for they are worthless
The line mus; be 4 heavy one preferably OF SILK.
braided so tna IL VIII no, kink easily and at least
90 wards in length Linen lines are cheaper JUST as
strong but 80 not so well Withstand the decaying
influence, OF salt water. The size the dealers call
&C." ~ A satisfactory for all-around Southern
fishing The fact that several varieties of hsh. his
and little. haunt the same waters and feed on
nearly the bait IL a warning 10 b" prepared
Tor giants even while you angle for pygmles such
a line will require n big reel Beautiful Hight ones
NJ aluminium are made nov but they are expensive.
and hrass ones arc Just useful. far less costly
and rather stronger. \ we.-madc brass multiply
Ing reel nIckelcd sycrcd. Will cost from s. to 80
II mus; have the patent click and drag attachments
for they give restful help IN killing big FISH An out
~ ~ assorted sizes or "sproat" hooks. snelled on
heavy gu, single for the small sizes and double for
tho larger. some hig trolling spoons. few salmon
and bass ncs AMI stout ganhook complete your
rig
And now n word M to the subjects Of your quest
list Of Southern fishes. lie Is the biggest. hand
soonest and gamcst filmed creature OF this Western
world. He 81 coy well. and on many sunny
day the fisher will him and his fellows in
troops Of score or more drift along with the tide
rolling idly and leapng in wanton play. their gilt
tering armor flashing In great silver crescents
Yet not even a spt-mullct. his favorite food will
lure him 10 snap at hook. ON the next day
every lure thrown out viii barely touch the tide
before a massive pair Of jaws seize and bear II
away. The popular mode Of catching them IL to
foat out In a skin into the tdeways or channels
whore the current is strong. Here the big hook
shank is tossed over. and the long lire IS paid
grating bite is easy detect; but when once he
mas swallowed the morsel and the barb IS driven
pictures that portray the leaps Of the hooked taFpon
do justice to the Wild spray -lnsinS reality, NO
hun fred -and-odd pound tarpon Will ever forget the
Then when the silver king Is unapproachable
there is tho reddish. brave and sturdy hghter
mud II. Is YOU Will find him feeding when the hood
tide nrst begins To bend the algae and sea kale
Bait with biz shrimp or Bit Of mnllet and LEI
or two the line gathers sudden Roadway. and be
gins to make the reel handle dane This iish must
on the danty. and after few moments give him a
il a douehnut to Dutch dollar that ne will weigh
flesh either. lie is a chunk, built chap, all muscle
and bone and nerve and VIII never yisd TO ncle
Nfds gan I'LL you nave CnOkcd ana drowned MN
In a long hard tusslc Time and again. you
lead him TO the boat. and the old negro bends over
10 ply the steel hook the victim rallies and Is of
again another mad burst OF a hundred yards.
When wrist and shoulder ache from encountering
the big chaps. drift of the shoa oyster reefs and
take the young reds. only three or four pounds in
weight. but ugly az many pink-c.ad devils.
And on the same bait on these same reefs you VIII
find the swift. graceful cavalli and the bright,
spotted sca-trout. both savage villains. quick and
eager. \ lighter rod is handy for these latter game.
but at any moment "A stray tarpon or big red may
grab the bait and your rod Will grow wonirous
light all At
The cool. fresh-water bayous and lakes are we
come change from the stn-bcdten waters or the
Gulf its inlets. and many peasant day YOU
may pass inland casting fly stilshing, while
Uncle Ned aZily poles the dugout. The beauty
OF these sluggish southern creeks IL impressive with
their dark shade Of ovcrhanging gum and cypress
and their weedy shores fringed with water crow
foot and sagitaria. The black waters wind and coil
Ike any serpent. In whose sinuous folds lie many a
dreamy monster. The moccasn and the copper
head that haunt the rank growth the margin.