178 



FOREST AM)' STREAM. 



■ward some big rocks, where the stream tumbles over in a 

 cascade. 



The young German "gaffer," with landing-net in hand, 

 makes a dash for him as he breaks the surface again, nearly 

 under my very feet by the bank, and falls headlougand nearly 

 tumbles in the stream. I motion him hack, and reel up line 

 a little, as there is too much line out to fairly manage this 

 fighter, who seems to get worse and worse. 



We each had a man with us. Where they came from we 

 didn't know : but they informed us they were sent to wait on 

 U9 and show us where to fish ; and, "as 1 turned my head, 

 Ben's " gaffer " showed by his delight that he had also caught 

 a Tarter and was having a lively "time. My boy, who wa8 

 much excited lest I should lose my fish, made another unex- 

 pected dash with his net from the protruding root of a tree 

 and captured my fish before he was half conquered. A dis- 

 gorge was necessary with this, as with several others. Tbey 

 seemed to be so ravenous as to swallow the fly instantly. 



Around the turn of the stream below the cascade I saw the 

 fish rising in tin minis, some of them large; but, though ex- 

 cited at itie verification of my fondest hopes, I stopped' to ad- 

 mire and caress this beauty. Yes, this is truly a trout— and 

 in Germany. I lay my tape-line on him and he reaches 

 eighteen inches from snout to tip of tail. He is not so deep 

 as an American trout of that length, hut, altogether, built for 

 a long and gamy resistance. As is my custom, I take the time 

 now to see what his diet list consists of, in order to better 

 please his friends whom I hope to interview. I find in his 

 stomach small, very small, black flies, and 1 at once open my 

 fly-book and place a good sample of this kind on my casting- 

 ]ine, in the hope that it will conform to the trout menu of to- 

 day, although I observe only a large, yellow fly fluttering oc- 

 casionally on the water, but the swallows are picking them 

 up in then- flight. I soon find that the diet I present to them 

 in quite as pleasing as any other, for the flies no sooner touch 

 the water before there is a rush and a dash from two or three 

 directions, and at my third cast have the dropper taken while 

 the trout on my leader is making a fine dance at his " surprise 

 party,'' which I have just afforded him. I land them both 

 safely, the "gaffer " getting the larger one into the net, and 

 the smaller l)ne he scrapes out with his big wooden shoe, 

 scolding and talking Dutch all the while, much to my amuse- 

 ment. 



Having made a successful cast or two below the cascade 1 

 now follow up the stream where it winds through a beautiful 

 green meadow, where the hay has just been cut and is still 

 lying on the ground, for half a mile. There is ahawthorne 

 hedge growing on one side, and on the other there is an occa- 

 sional .small tree. What a stream for fly-casting, especially 

 at this" very time. The surface is being momentarily broken 

 by the rising of fine trout. 



Ben has already whipped this part of the stream, and passed 

 on up into the defile in the mountains, from where the stream 

 emerges, but there are plenty more here that are over their 

 scare and gone to feeding again. I cast and strike, losing no 

 time, as the gaffer is now more steady in landing and dis- 

 engaging my fish. The harvest hands leave their work, and 

 come across the field, and are much delighted with the suc- 

 cess with which I am meeting. I move on soon as they come 

 too close to the stream, and frighten the fish away, as they 

 have ceased to rise. 



One of the men, a dark, wild looking fellow, I spied across 

 the stream, beckoning to me ;n:l pointing through the hedge 

 into the stream where he saw fish lying. I paid no attention 

 to him, until finally I observed he had his hand full of big 

 stones, which he was anxious to throw in to drive the trout 

 up to my line. He at last, in spite of me, effected his assist- 

 ance, as he considered it, and I, much amused at his innocence, 

 consequently moved on into the forest, where I overtook Ben. 

 We Lad now been fishing about two hours, and on suggesting 

 that we should see how many fish we had, Beu instructed Ihe 



fitters to show them in a pile. They did so with delight, and 

 will not tell you how many we had already, as it might 

 pardonably be considered a tough trout story ; hut suffice it 

 to say, that 1, with much earnestness, told Ben at once, while 

 my face burned with shame, that we must stop fishing or the 

 Baron would naturally think that we were abusing his courtesy 

 in taking such numbers. We, however, had a good hearty laugh 

 at one another and our droll embarrassment, the gaffers watch- 

 ing our conversation narrowly but not understanding a word 

 we said. Ben instructed them to take a dozen of the finest to 

 the Baron at once, a lot more to the little hostelry where we 

 were stopping to be cooked for our dinner, and to give the 

 rest to the harvesters in the meaaow below. I was unhappy 

 while such a pile of trout lay before me so early in the day. 



We chatted a while under the shade of a stately old elm by 

 he edge of the forest, and ag i eed to go at it again aud to 

 throw the fish back utter catching them. The gaffers came 

 hack at length with the word that we were welcome to catch 

 all we could, and my gaffer was soon after much incensed at 

 me for my determination in throwing them back ; 1 could un- 

 derstand him to be telling me in Dutch that theparticvtlttr fish 

 I had thrown in was a seluena forelUn (pretty trout) and very 

 good to eat, and that if I didn't want them he would take 

 tuem (and I suspected he would sell them, too). Thus the 

 days went on, and happy days tbey were. Our visit was 

 doubtless a boon to many of the honest German peasants, who 

 are never allowed to cast a line into any of these beautiful 

 Streams or interfere with the trout in any way, and through 

 us they had a feast upon them, and we a successful and de- 

 lightfu' time, such as is rarely the lot of a pair of wandering- 

 sportsmen to enjoy. And now, so as I complete this imperfect 

 sketch of our trip in the beautiful and hospitable city of Dub- 

 lin, the metropolis of the gallant aud valorous Irish people, I 

 feel, this beautiful sunny morning, as though the most de- 

 sired spot on earth to me to-day is in the glorious land of 

 the ancient Cheruslriana, the modern Westphalia, where the 

 music of the limpid Hunne rises in a thousand notes from 

 dancing waterfall and cascade, and the gehemafbretien (pretty 

 trout) lie in waiting in the little eddies and shades for the 

 struggling lly, ready even to attack aud struggle themselves 

 with anything coining their way that bears a fair resemblance 

 to their adopted diet. 



A greeting and our thanks again to Baron von Duiker, and 

 our warmest sentiments of regard and lasting friendship to 

 that noble, genial, kind gentleman sportsman, Herr Peter 

 Kiieger, from his grateful friend, the writer. 



.- -«, — , 



REMINISCENCE OF FRANK FORESTER. 



Bbookia-j,', Sept, 2a, 1878. 

 Editor Fokest and Stbbam : 



I rend with great pleasure in the last issue of the Foeest 

 akd Stream a new poem I > y Flank Forester, so kindly ten- 

 dered to the press by his friend, Isaac McLcllan. We may 

 justly feel ourselves under obligations- to this paper and the 

 old "American Sportsman," for information more or less 



copious regarding the literary career of one whose untimely 

 end will always be shrouded in gloom the most melancholy. 

 Beyond the perusal of the " Field Sports," the "Fish and 

 Fishing," etc., very little is known of his versatile genius in 

 other directions. 



I think it is a fact not generally known that his talent as a 

 poet has in some instances equaled his productions in prose 

 writing. He has, however, written a great many poems 

 which have in years past graced the pages of various high 

 standing periodicals, though, all of which, like the gifted 

 author, have long since ceased to be. In all probability the 

 finest of these is a poem eutitled " The Hawking Party," con- 

 taining no less than forty stanzas, from which I have taken 

 the few subjoined verses: 



Dimly gray the dawn is stealing, 



Stealing up the eastern sty ; 



Loud the red-coclc's clarion pealing, 



Telia the world that morn 13 nigh. 



Southerly the wind is sweeping 

 O'er the forest sad and sere ; 

 Heavily the dews are weeping 

 O'er the death of the woodland year. 



Swift the woodcock's wing is gliding 

 Down the vale to his lonely brake, 

 And the tea) her brood is hiding 

 In the reeds by the lilted laKe. 



Id the yellow stnbblee feeding 



Calls the partridge sharp and shrill, 



While Ids hinds the stag is leading 



To ward his halt from the heathy hill. 

 His passion for the autumn covert naturally leaks out from 

 under those heavy matted locks and shaggy eyebrows, as if 

 endowed by his Maker with an inspiration for no other pur- 

 pose than to herald forth the wondrous beauties of an Al- 

 mighty Creator. Among his other poems are two fine pro- 

 ductions framed from the pages of holy writ, entitled, "The 

 Death of Samson " and " The Women Taken In Adultery," 

 both quite lengthy, and are masterpieces. The fact of the 

 matter is, that the man was such an accomplished scholar he 

 could write a faultless article on any subject whatever. He 

 translated two dramas from the Greek "Prometheus" and 

 "Agamemnon," which make one very nice volume. It is 

 said, and I think very truly so, that some of his finest con- 

 tributions lie among the debris in waste-paper cellars, where I 

 have found many. The three stanzas at the head of "Autumn 

 Shooting" in the unparalleled "Field Sports" are his com- 

 position. When the Era was started in New York (I think 

 it was the Era, though now quoting only from memory,) he 

 contributed to that journal a matchless article, "The Triumph 

 of Christianity," and it is quite laughable to think that a man 

 writing on such topics would, and did, on very little provo- 

 cation " bounce " a man clear over the garden hedge at "The 

 Cedars." But such, it is recorded, was the gentleman's style 

 of gel ting rid of unwelcome visitors. W. W. W. 



THE MAGALLOWAY RIVER COUNTRY. 



Editor Fouest and Stream : 



About a year ago you published a series of articles entitled 

 " The Rangeley Lake Region," and 1 take the liberty to send 

 you a brief sketch of a section contiguous to that, which 

 seems to be ignored almost entirely in the accounts of sports- 

 men who travel in the Lake Kegion. I refer to the Magallo- 

 way River, its tributaries, and especially its source— Parma- 

 cheneeLake. These waters are well supplied with trout, 

 particularly the lake, where they are caught of large size. 

 The forest abounds with deer and small game, and for good 

 camping ground it is unequaled in New England. There can 

 be no more pleasant trip— aud certainly no healthier one — 

 than a journey to Parmachenee Lake, when the sweltering 

 heat and dusty streets of our crowded cities warn us that va- 

 cation time has come. 



How do you get there? Oh, that's easy enough. Select 

 any of the advertised routes to Hmbagog Lake, and taking 

 passage on the steamer Diamond, go up to Magalloway laud- 

 ing, some eight miles up this rivet'. Here teams will be 

 found in waiting to take us over the carry to the head 

 of Aziscoos Falls, about five miles distant, there being 

 a good road nearly the whole distance, though the last mile, or 

 two is somewhat rough now ; but improvements are being 

 made, and there is a prospect, of having a good country road 

 direct to the head of the falls. But if you prefer to fish the 

 tributaries before going to the headwaters, we will stop near 

 the steamboat landiug, at the hotel of Mr. Thomas Flint, aud 

 spend a lew days exploring the mysterious winding of Dead 

 Diamond River. This stream is not much frequented by 

 summer tourists, on account of its being so little known to 

 them as yet, but many pounds of trout have been taken from 

 it the present season. A good logging road has been cut 

 through on its bank for about twelve miles, making it easy 

 for pedestrians, but rather difficult for teams in summer. 



Having become satisfied with our trip up the Diamond, we 

 will proceed to the head of Aziscoos Falls, where we will stop 

 at the "Aziscoos House," kept by Fred Flint, and if we wish 

 to spend a few days in the vicinity of the falls fishing, or to 

 ascend Mount Aziscoos, we cannot do better than accept the 

 hospitality of Mr, Flint, who will readily give all the infor- 

 mation in his power iu regard to the best places for fish, and 

 will guide us to the various points of interest in this vicinity. 

 The ascent of thiB peak (Aziscoos) will be well repaid by the 

 delightful view from the summit, as on a clear day the whole 

 Eangeley Lake country is spread out at our feet like a clearly 

 defined map. 



There is a good path nearly to the summit, and the ascent is 

 by no means difficult. The name, A-zis-co-os, is pronounced 

 by many, Es-co-hos, and is so spelt in some of the guide 

 hooks. But we are now ready to proceed up the river, so en- 

 gaging a competent guide, and bidding adieu to our host, we 

 embark in a rowboat aud enter the wilderness of the Magallo- 

 way. We have passed the last sign of cultivation on our 

 route, and our journey is between thickly wooded banks, 

 where the evergreen, spruce and fir predominate. The cur- 

 rent for a dozen miles is quite sluggish and the water deep. 

 We pass the mouth of several brooks where we shall be likely 

 to reap trout if we sow flies. Beaver Brook, two miles from 

 the Fails, has been a particularly good fishing ground, as has 

 Lincoln Brook, a dozen miles farther up the river. If we do 



not desire to hurry to the lake in one day we bad better stop 

 at "Hunter's Camp" for the night. Wo find no hotel here, 

 only a log cabin, used now andlhen by hunters and trappers, 

 but our guide will soon show us how nice a supper he can get 

 up at short notice, and after eating heartily we stow ourselves 

 away in blankets to revel in the land of dreams. 



Probably it takes a good shaking from our guide to wake us 

 in the morning, and we find the sun up ahead of as, and 

 breakfast waiting, and we wonder how we came to sleep so 

 long. It does not take a great while to pack up, and out 

 boat is once more on the move. Mctalluk's Pond is the first 

 noticeable feature in the landscape. This is quite a large 

 pond close to the river, and having a broad opening into it. 

 In Ihe deer season we must linger here in the evening and 

 watch for these fleet-footed creatures to come down to the 

 pond to feed and drink. The guide books have blundered in 

 naming this pond, setting it down as "Metallic." It was 

 named after an Indian chief Metalluk. There are two ponds, 

 one about five miles above the lower one, and are known as 

 "Metalluk's Upper and Lower Ponds." A short distance . 

 above this lower pond we enter the "Meadows," where the 

 current is quite rapid, and the broad level interval is covered 

 with grass and shrubs, and the spruce and fir give place to 

 elm. The meadows extend for ten miles or more, and the 

 serpentine windings of the river here are quite bewildering. 

 A short distance before reaching the "Little Magalloway," 

 we come to the " Great Rips." Here we are obliged to gqt 

 out and wade, dragging our boat along, though if the water 

 be high enough we may pole it along without wading. 



The rapids extend but a short distance, however, and wo 

 are consoled with the thought that o>vr river journey is about 

 ended for the present, as we laud a little way beyond the 

 mouth of the Little Maga'loway. A good forest path leads 

 from this landing to Parmachenee Lake, which is three and a 

 half miles distant. Half a mile from the landing on Ihe carry 

 road is the camp hotel of Mr. T. S. Flint, or, as he is more 

 familiarly known, Spoff. Flint. Before going to the lake we 

 shall tie likely to stop a day or two at this camp and enjoy 

 the fishing in the several ponds, from which Spoil, holds the 

 exclusive right to fish. All parties stopping with bim are al- 

 lowed to catch from these ponds all the trout they may need, 

 without extra charge. The time spent here will not be lost, 

 as Spoff. is an excellent guide and can show us where to get 

 trout, partridges, or deer. In the camp we shall flpd 

 commodalious, and, best of all, a good label, well provided 

 with excellent food and good taste. Mr. Flint's private ponds 

 are constantly receiving new acquisitions, more than a thousand 

 trout having been placed in one of them the present season. 



A party fishing in this region in Juns of the present year 

 caught in one of these ponds, one evening after fj o'clock, up- 

 ward of forty pounds of trout, the number of fish being ten, 

 malting an average weight of over four pounds each. Artifi- 

 cial flies were used entirely. This party consisted of D. H. 

 Buell, Hartford, Conn.; E. 0. Fitch, N. Y. ; C. T. Sloan, 

 Newark, N. J. This is only one instance nmong the many 

 good strings caught here the present season ; and for good air 

 and healthy living this region is unequaled, aa Parmachenee 

 Lake hns nu elevation of some 2,000 feet above the level of 

 the sea. . C. T. W. 



THE REPORT OF THE NEW YORK 

 FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



THE Commissioners of the Slate of New York seem to 

 have taken this year a novel course of research. These 

 gentlemen having a right to consider that, with the present 

 advance in American lish culture, the question of the taking 

 of the eggs and their hatching had been fairly solved, have 

 devoted their attention more particularly to the food of fish. 

 It is believed that much can be gained in the future by a more 

 thorough acquaintance with the various forms of life which 

 the fish can eat. There are waters which are barren, or fruit- 

 ful with fish. There is nothing abnormal in the water. How 

 account, then, for the absence of fish ? The reason is that 

 the food fitting for the fish is wanting. The endeavors of 

 the commissioners have beeu, then, to study all the vegetable, 

 insect and other forms of animal existence which arc found in 

 streams where fish abound. It has heen well known that cer- 

 tain waters— notably the springs and creek at Caledonia- 

 swarmed with trout, and Mr. Linter has carefully studied the 

 vertebrata, articulate and tMlUSW, with the moss and vege- 

 table growth found there. It being taken for granted that fish 

 life thrives especially when these elements are present, the 

 question arises : Can the kinds of animal and vegetable life 

 which exist in one water be transferred to other waters where 

 they will live and multiply? Arguing from higher 1ypes to 

 lower ones, or inversely, there is no possible reason to sup- 

 pose that transplantation of all kindscannot be successfully car- 

 ried out. There can he no check on the propagation ol' either 

 plants, vertebrates, articulates or molluscs. The commiss'on- 

 ers advise that what seems to he a sound theory should be 

 carried into practice, and that such transfer of plants and in- 

 sects should be made. It is the purpose, then, of the Com- 

 missioners to follow up their experiments in this ■!' 

 to learn more about the sources and varieties of life which 

 feed our fishes, and to distribute them in various parts of I in- 

 state when they forward the young fry from their hatching- 

 house in Caledonia. It seems, then, to be a most happy 

 thought to send with the nurselings the exact food on which 

 theirfuture existence must depend. In proof of the advant- 

 ages of this food distribution, the commissioners bring ill 

 evidence the fact that the Erie Caual, binding together vari- 

 ous rivers of the State, and bearing iu its waters the germs of 

 life, have caused certain rivers— notably the Mohawk— to 

 abound with fish, when a hundred years ago such fish weie 

 comparatively rare. Professor J. A. Liuler, in hi 

 insects and other animal forms, with Professor Peck on the 

 plants iu Caledonia Creek, have given a must thorough clas- 

 sification of the little-heeded life which exists in the 

 To fishculcunsts this appendix must be of the most valuable 

 character, all the Coleoptera, Diptera, Hempstera, Ncuroptcra 



