FISHES AND FISHING IN THE ADIRONDACK^. 277 



knickerbockers, a linen collar, lived in a caravansary, made "trips," dined in a 

 dress suit and attended "hops," and became another creature altogether. For 

 the old fishing resorts were fast being depleted; the rude camps were supplanted 

 by cottages and hotels; sport became work; fish baskets grew smaller, and too 

 large at that, for they seldom ran over. 



Yet, the genuine sportsman — not the man who fishes to fill' a tub and salts 

 down trout for his winter's food — think of that! — did not regret that women 

 and children and invalids came to his old haunts and drank in the beauty and 

 joy and health that so long had been his own. The "gentle sportsman" sighed for 

 what had departed, but breathed a thanksgiving that these others might now 

 share these blessings — even a goodly portion of his own. 



Still, he of the generous soul clung to his old ideals, the open camp, the 

 hidden lakes and streams, the immediate contact with nature, made his own fight 

 with whatever of hardships of tramp or weather, and gloried in the freedom from 

 the outer world's work and worry — and by and by, came out strong from the 

 old, old toil and fun! 



In the old times we built our rude camps substantially in this wise: First, 

 we laid logs two or three feet high on three sides (sometimes we omitted the 

 logs), leaving an open front; then put up crotches to sustain a pole in front 

 seven or eight feet above ground, on which poles were laid sloping to the logs 

 (or ground) in rear, as a framework for the roof. On these were laid broad 

 sheets of bark peeled from the bodies of spruce trees; on the sides were 

 upright sheets of bark tucked snugly under the roof; the whole structure making 

 an open camp extending in length according to the requirements of the number 

 to be housed. A heap of stones, if obtainable, was placed in front a few feet 

 distant for the fire of logs on which the cooking was done and a fire kept up to 

 warm the camp at night and afford the evening light for the talks, fish stories 

 and the soothing pipe. The bed in camp was composed of the finer twigs of 

 balsam boughs, or hemlock if balsam could not be procured. Sometimes rude 

 bedsteads were constructed on which the boughs were laid, but oftener, especially 

 if the camp was to be used only for a short time, the boughs, well "shingled" 

 and the finest on the top, were laid, six inches or more thick, upon the ground. 

 A single small log laid on the ground at the front of the camp served as a seat 

 before the fire and to keep things snug under cover. Various additions to 

 comfort, by way of stools, rude camp chairs, etc., often were constructed, lines 

 were stretched and nails driven on which to hang clothing and blankets. 



The dining-room (a luxury sometimes indulged in), built separately, consisted 

 simply of a nearly flat bark roof supported by posts set in the ground, and the 



