FOREST AND STREAM. 



399 



last house and cleariug we should see for a week. 

 We hero renewed our Btock of potatoes, butter and eggs. 

 Thin place iB used as a hotel during the winter and early 

 spring months by the lumbermen. We found Sawtclle and 

 wife very cheerful aud obliging people. 



Dragging the reluctant Mel. into the canoe, we bade adieu to 

 civilization and turned our faces toward the wilricrnesB in earn- 

 est. Ohesuncook is n bulge of the Penobscot, eighteen miles 

 long and three wide. Far as we could see, to the base of Cari- 

 bou Mountain, its shores are densely wooded. Spence's predic- 

 tion was verified, and we had head winds for the entire dis- 

 tance. Saddling lost its charms and became not only monot- 

 onous, but tiresome. We made good time, however, and 

 Id ua with more than half ihodistnuceaccorhplished. 

 Going ashore we Uad lunch, and Bricktpp Stepped into the 

 woods i) fc « paces aud returned wit* a fine brace of partridge, 

 which proved a valuable acquisition to our larder. 



Paddling was now succeeded by poling, and poling by 

 paddling again, before we got plainly in sight of Mt. Caribou 

 and its stream, the wind still blowing fresh, indicative of a 

 Btorin, &pence and William proved staunch canoemen, and 

 wo made such good progress that our. accomplishing the dis- 

 tance bo quickly was doubted by au old guide whom we found 

 encamped with a party at the falls. We reached the: falls and 

 our second camp in good season, and while the camp was 

 being put in order we tried the trout in the falls, returning 

 witba haudsome string, none weighing less than one and a 

 lunds. Our camp at Chohuncook was a good one in 

 every respect, and, seated about the roaring camp fire, we en- 

 ioyed the quiet night and our wild sense of freedom to our 

 hearts' Content. 



Sunday morning found Us in rain, and raining hard, rather 

 riiscouinhint; to less hardy fellows, particularly as this was to 

 be our first real carry, one and a half miles. Getting on our 

 rubber clothing, aud after taking fourteen drops of Jamaica 

 ginger, wc picked Up our traps" and started. Right here I 

 must express my admiration for the virtues of Jamaica ginger. 

 Nothing in liquid form is one-half as good as a reliable 

 extract of ginger on a journey of this kind. It is much better 

 than anything alcoholic, as you derive all the benefit of one 

 without the it] effects of the other. It is warming after and 

 during a day's work in the raiu, good in case of sickness, and 

 put into pond water makes a wholesome and palatable drink. 

 We bad everything over in two hours and were resting on the 

 Bipogenua Lake, a lovely little sheet of water en- 

 tirely abut in by high wooded hills. A two miles' run across 

 i i, i::,i,t ua to Bipogenua Falls aud carry. Ripogenus Falls, 

 as 1 have said, one of the wildest, moat picturesque spots in 

 the wilderness of Maine, are three miles in length, anil for 

 the entire distance the scenery is most rugged, grand and im- 

 pressive. Rugged cliffs rising perpendicularly nearly One 

 hundred fest ou both sides, now with just room enough for 

 the water td tumble through in fantastic, wild and beautiful 

 shapes, again widening into immense gorges, into and over 

 which the water rushes in myriad forms. In one place these 

 cliff's so nearly approach each other that one could almost 

 jump across, forming an arch. To lie upon its top 

 and look down into the boiling water ninety feet below, re- 

 quires strong nerves and a firm hold upon some friendly root 

 near at hand. Mel., who was good authority, declared that 

 Niagara must pale before Ripogenus. While the guides were 

 toting the canoes and supplies a mile on the carry to Carey 

 Pond, we went down to the falls, catchiug magnificent trout. 

 When we arrived at the camping ground we fouud that Vose 

 had put in a canoe and gone up the pond. Returning for us, 

 he could hardly speak for excitement; could just ejaculate 

 ' ' Trout 1" and point up the pond, moving m the direction in- 

 dicated, and we soon saw in the perfectly clear water great 

 la.oi trout moving iu every direction. Talk about trout! 

 this was the trout's paradise— nothing but trout, and the 

 water literally alive with them. In this little pond, covering 

 perhaps thirty acres, with no visible outlet, fed by cold springs 

 that find their sources in the high hills that encompass it on 

 every hand, the water of which is so clear we could see the 

 bottom entirely across it, we had trout in abundance, from 

 one quarter of a pound to three and a half in weight. Some 

 of these latter we caught, and what royal sport it was to land 

 those handsome fellows with an eight-ounce rod ! We kept 

 none that weighed less than two pounds, and had trout for 

 breakfast, dinner, lunch and supper— trout to look at and 

 speculate upon, and every specimen larger and handsomer 

 than the first. 



Monday morning was cloudy and warm and we were much 

 troubled by black flies. We remained iu camp until after 

 dinner, when wo started upon our pre-arranged graud expe- 

 dition against the trout. Getting quietly anchored on the 

 beet ground, we were soon gatheriug them in right and left, 

 when, in changing our position, Mel. being perched upon the 

 thwarts in that over-confidence before alluded to, the canoe 

 suddenly rolled over. Hoopla ! a duck apiece, and what a 

 freeziug sensation the ice-cold water gave us. When Vose 

 and Brtcktop reached the shore, what a ludicrous sight we 

 saw: Mel. clinging to the slippery ibottom cf the canoe with 

 all his might, his classic features depicting despair, despera- 

 tion and resignation in varying colors. 



The commotion created by Mel. had frightened the trout 

 beyond Jiope "C further capture, so Tuesday morning early we 

 broke camp and started on the carry. What a back-breaking, 

 Boul-stirring, patiance-provoking carry it proved to be. The 

 day was most uncomfortably warm, but after making many 

 trips ahead with luggage and returning for more, we finally 

 accomplished the distance with the assistance of fourteen 

 d i ops of ginger, taken with due caution at regular intervals 

 about noon. While dinner was being prepared we fished in 

 the falls, and were all greatly surprised at catching small 

 land-locked salmon. Their appearance so far from any possi- 

 ble breeding-ground caused much discussion. We encamped 

 that night, at the head of Amjemackamus Falls and carry. 

 We all assorted that this was the best camp we had had, but 

 the carry at Ripogenus doubtless did much in shaping our 

 opinions. Wednesday was partially clear. Wc should have 

 A l . Katalidin very near us here, but the clouds are shut 

 down close over its sides, entirely obscuring it. This cany 

 Would ordinarily seem pretty rough and bard, but after our 

 pari - : .1 the day before it appeared a pleasant ramble. 

 We were over safely in an hour's time and afloat again. 

 Paddling along through this quiet wilderness was soothing 

 resieul after 80 UMcb wild fernery and excitement at 

 J Bpcgenus. AM (he n riming, until long after noon, we glided 

 gently forward over ai uninterrupted Stretch of water 

 Corning to the mc-U'.h i.f Suurduahunk 6t ream, we entered 

 and passed Op ils oerfeeily clear, cold water as far as the falls. 

 Loin was directly over us, but still heavily enshrouded 

 oris. A short distance below the stream we met, a party 

 oT >;,■ tsroen in four icanoea, all lamenting the 



i BOfblacli flies und their luck, in bring unable to 

 trout, with fancy flies iu tho dead water about thorn. 



We passed the mouth of tho stream with the euphonious 

 title of Aboljackamegus, which runs at the foot of Katalidin, 

 well stocked with gamy trout, and disappointed in making 

 our contemplated trip up the mountaiu, made for the inevitable 

 carry below. Mel., being a little lame, started across and soon 

 returned, reporting good path and distance a half mile. We 

 got easily over if, and pushed forward to Pockwockamua falls, 

 where we were to camp. What a delightful sail it was in the 

 cool twilight, the rlver'openiug up beautiful vistas of shore 

 and bay at every turn. We soon had camp la readiness and 

 enjoyed our supper and our sleep as tired sportsmen can. 

 Thursday morning found us much refreshed, and as it wss 

 still cloudy we were obliged to push on without visiting 

 Katalidin. We pawed this carry safely and a little later on 

 tuoa-s of Debesconcak and Passmagamic. At the foot of the 

 last named falls we went into and up a stream to a beautiful 

 lake, having a remarkable echo, which was fully tested by 

 Vose, Mel. and a scrub chorus. 



We paddled across this lake two miles with the Intention of 

 entering the lake above, in which we were told trout Could be 

 found of fabulous size, but having found the route impracti- 

 cable we started on our return considerably disappointed ; but 

 Bricktop covered himself with glory by his well directed 

 shots at ducks, otte r and caribou. The latter he only suc- 

 ceeded in hutfying into the woods, but the others succumbed 

 to his fatal aim amid the plaudits of tho entire party. Reach- 

 ing the river again we made Ambejejus Falls. Passing these 

 by the carry we made a rush in a wild sweep of water into 

 Ambejejus lake. Now_ we could plainly see Katahdin — its 

 aides bare and rugged, its summit only enveloped in sunset 

 clouds, glorious iu shifting colors. We pushed on three miles 

 across the lake, passing the " Brown House " used bylumber- 

 men, and sailed into the dying sunlight to Millinoket carry. 

 We had only twilight to make the carry in, and before wc 

 were afloat again the moon yvas shedding its soft radiance 

 upon the still waters of the lake. Tired, hungry and wet, we 

 started for camp. The shores proved low and wet ao we 

 pushed out into the lake and skirted the shores of numerous 

 rocky islands looking for earth enough to sleep on. In des- 

 peration we clambered up the rooky sides of one of them, 

 and getting our traps ashore with no little difficulty, we soon 

 had a fire and supper. No use in looking for boughs ; even 

 if we bad found them we could not find a level spot among 

 the rocks to spread them. Wrapping our blankets about us 

 we lay down upon the rocks with nothing over us but the 

 stars, aud, with the pines sighing about us, slept sound. 

 Friday morning broke clear, cool and beautiful. Before us 

 lay the loveliest lake in Maine, and on our left stood old 

 Katahdin alone. The clouds that had covered it so long were 

 now entirely dispelled, and we had a grand uninterrupted 

 view of it. Its top sharply outlined in the early light seemed 

 but a short distance away, and we regretted much the neces- 

 sity that compelled us to forego the rough enjoyment of 

 climbing its ragged sides. We were afloat early, and passing 

 the eastern extremity of our island were all forcibly reminded 

 of Mark Twain's description of getting lost iu the snow with 

 a house ten rods from him, for there right before us was one 

 of the most charming camping spots we had seen. 



Five miles of paddling brought us to the mouth of Sandy 

 stream, up which we poled against the rapid current for two 

 miles. Making camp for the day and night, we passed the 

 day in catching handsome trout, in hunting, and fighting black 

 flies. We saw recent deer tracks, but no deer. The flies dis- 

 appeared at sunset, and when we gathered about the Are from 

 our several expeditions we passed the evening in solid com- 

 fort. Saturday morning gave promise of another bright day, 

 and breaking camp we made the lake again in a few moments. 

 Leaving Katahdin behind us, and after catching immense 

 pickerel iu Mud stream, we made for the outlet, which we 

 reached about ten o'clock. Now -began our descent, going 

 down hill, as Mel expressed it, at the rate of twelve inches to 

 the foot, and this proved to be the hardest day's work we had 

 encountered. Twelve miles of rapids and falls more boister- 

 ous than many of those we had carried by, over which wc 

 must go in some way. In many places the guides were 

 obliged to get into the water waist deep and lift the canoes 

 over ledges by which there was no other passage. We ran 

 many of them together and enjoyed the wild excitement 

 much, but at last began to wilt in sight of bo much rushing 

 water ahead. So we all walked around the rapids in solemn 

 procession, while brave old Spence came boldly to the front 

 and ran canoes and supplies safely over. We reached the 

 end of them for the day as we must reach the end of every- 

 thing else, and getting aboard the canoes at the foot of Island 

 Falls, were borne swiftly along in the smooth, rapid current 

 until we reached " Fowler's " about dusk. This was the first 

 clearing and building we had seen since leaving Ghesuncook 

 before. Procuring fresh eggs and milk, wc made a royal 

 repast, and, seated about the cheerful fire, recovered our spirits 

 with our drying clothes, Sunday was bright and warm, and 

 getting under way early, made good time, with the current to 

 aid us. Passing several rapids during the morning we ar- 

 rived at Medway about noon. Stopping only long enough to 

 get dinner, we proceeded without further incident to Matta- 

 wamkeag, where we arrived sound and well at the end of our 

 memorable journey in canoes. 



Getting a'good supper at the hotel, and goiug to bed the 

 first time for two weeks, wo were in readiness at an early 

 hour for the train which was to convey us to our several des- 

 tinations. F. C. P. 



For Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun. 

 A TRIP TO MARYLAND. 



ON the 2Mb ult., Drs. L. and C. and Capt. J., all mem- 

 bers of the Jersey Oitv Heights Gun Club, with your 

 correspondent, took the 10 p. u. train for Washington, our 

 objective point being some place down the Potomac, on the 

 Maryland side, in pursuit of wild fowl. Big stories had been 

 retailed in the club room of the farmers in that region being 

 unable to sleep o' nights on account of the noise made by the 

 myriads of the aquatics flying over their houses. 



We reached Washington in due time, and took the steamer 

 J. W. Thompson down the Potomac. We found the captain 

 and purser both gentlemen, who did all they could in the 

 way of information in regard to the couutry, game localities, 

 etc., to make our trip pleasant. The purBer seemed an old 

 friend of tho Fokbst add Stream, and was especially pleased 

 to meet one of your correspondents. We expected the 

 Thompson would land us at Abel's Wharf, and then we were 

 to ride some three or four miles to Belvidere farm, the reai- 

 dence of one Abel Hatnmett, but, unluckily for us, the 

 steamer stops at that particular wharf only every other trip, 

 and this was not the other. So we got off at Colton's, some 

 ten miles lower down the bay, where we engaged a colored 

 man to take ua over in hU iG^tnttUoivBail caaoa. 



Wo arrived at the farm early in the evening, and were most 

 heartily welcomed by Mr. Hammett. Belvidere farm ia 

 owned by one of our Jersey City Heights citizens— Mr. Du- 

 bois — and m rented to the present occupant. It ia a fine farm, 

 of some -120 acres, very satisfactorily located on the Potomac 

 River. About 200 acrea are under cultivation in com, wheat 

 tobacco, etc. 



Wc were much disappointed in regard to the wild fowl. 

 As it proved, we had come too early, owing to the mildness 

 of tho season. We saw quantities of swan and geese at a dis- 

 tance on the bosom of the placid Potomac, but even a Parker 

 gun could not reach them. Later in the season the birds 

 come up the bays and creeks and furnish some good shooting. 

 But the quail shooting (partridge. Ihey call them there) was 

 simply superb. The ravines (branches they are denominated 

 by the residents), which run up into the farming lands from 

 the river front, being more or less covered with small trees 

 aud underbrush, were just alive with quail. Wc took with 

 us several hundred of the new Winchester paper shells and 

 were much pleaded with them. They seem strong and com- 

 pact and can be readily reloaded. We had not a single miss- 

 fire. These, with the new pink edge wad from Schuyler, 

 Hartley & Graham's and the tinned shot from the same place, 

 proved very satisfactory. We found the tinned shot, an ex- 

 ceptionally good article, and we prophecy it to be the shot for 

 the future. It prevents all leading of the gun, and no matter 

 how often, apparently, you may have discharged your piece, 

 one or two wipes of your field-cleaner will remove every par- 

 ticle of foulness. 



The first two days after our arrival— owiug, as the boys say 

 to the presence of Br. L.— proved wet and rainy. Itaeems to 

 amount almost to a moral certainty that whenever our accom- 

 plished druggist goes with any of us he is the Jonah of the 

 party, and the fountains of the great deep are broken up ; but 

 his universal good nature, together with hi3 conversational 

 and vocal powers, make him a very desirable companion. 



We found M* Hammett, the occupant of Belvidere fawn, 

 a very intelligent gentleman, and by himself and family were 

 welcomed with true Southern hospitality, We had heard ere 

 now of Southern chivalry and Southern openheartedness as- 

 well, but it was for us to feci on this trip the warm feeling of 

 heart coming out to us from the citizens of St. Mary's Coutaty. 

 Not only were their lands thrown open to us for free shooting, 

 but we were cordially invited to their hearthstones and made 

 glad by tho cordiality of their greeting. After tho first day 

 or two, when they had learned who wo were— sportsmen 

 from the North on a shooting trip— they could not do enough 

 for us. They got up fox hunts, possum hunts and c->on 

 fights, to say nothing of tho oyster roasts— and Potomac bi- 

 valves are not to be sneezed at. 



This fox-hunting business is a big thing down there, and the 

 excitement is heavy; but we had to be counted out, as our ex- 

 perience in the pig skin is not of a very flattering character. 

 But the Lokers, the Bontons and the Beans of that neighbor- 

 hood are famous iu the business, and we were told that Loker, 

 one of the hardest and most pertinacious riders of that section, 

 has been in at the death of no less than thirty reynards in one 

 season. I need not say that to shoot a fox ahead of the hounds 

 would be almost an unpardonable sin. The fellow who did 

 it could not stretch his feet under any table down in that 

 region. 



I need not try to detail to you the various incidents of our 

 ten-days' sojourn. We lived on turkey (Mrs. If, feeds only 

 about 100), geese, ducks and possum, and such corn cakes as 

 must be tasted to be appreciated. The corn cakes down there 

 are a decidedly different article from any we have been in the 

 habit of disposing of. In the first place they are made from 

 white, sweet corn, and somehow Bettieand Tennie (daughter 

 and niece of Mr. H.) know just how to get them up every 

 time. So light and fresh, with that sweet home-made butter, 

 how they vanished before us. It is an unsettled question, 

 even now, whether Dr. C. or Capt. J. quietly put away the 

 largest number of an evening after a hunt. 



It is enough to say that we had a right royal good time, 

 that we made some acquaintances down there in Dixie land 

 whom we shall not soon forget ; that the cordial invitation, 

 from so many of its citizens to come down again next fall 

 Bhall remain fresh with us until the November frosts turn the 

 leaves again, when we hope to meet at. Hammett's hearthstone 

 his trusty boys, Tom, Spencer, Dau and Edmund, who made 

 our days in the field so pleasant, and the girls who, with their 

 songs and chat, caused the evenings to slip by so enjoyable. 



Jaoobstajf. 



The Eel's Eogb. — The long- vexed question of the eel's 

 mode of reproduction has now been set at rest. Mr. Fred 

 Mather has reduced the evidence to the form of a "mathema- 

 tical certainty," by actually counting the eggs in a Bpecimen. 

 Happening to be in Mr. Blackford's office a short time ago 

 when a six-pound eel with spawn was brought for examina- 

 tion, Mr. Mather proposed a computation of the egg*. He 

 took the ovary home. Under the microscope the eggs appear 

 to be of an octagonal form, but this is due wholly to their 

 pressing upon one another ; when separated they assume the 

 globular- form. The use of the micrometer failed to give satis 

 factory results because the eggs varied greatly in size. Mr 

 Mather therefore placed a number iu line, measured and 

 counted them and found them to average 80 to the inch. Then 

 he took thewhole mass of eggs, halved, quartered, and further 

 divided, seventeen times in all, until the section small enough 

 to count represented 1-131,072 of the total number. The 

 count showed 08 eggs, or 8,912,896 in the whole. A second 

 computation in the same way showed 77 eggs in the counted 

 mass, or 10,092,544 altogether. And to make the computation 

 Btill more certain, a third count was made, which showed 71 

 eggs in the last division, or 9,306,112 in the whole ovaries. 

 From these results Mr. Mather Axes the number of cKTs ifi 

 this particular eel at fully 9,000,000. 



Fish Planting in Mabbaohusktxb— BaUm, Dee. It.— Last 

 Saturday I placed 10,000 California salmon in Milk River, at 

 Wenham Neck. This makes 17,000 in the past your at dif- 

 ferent points on this Btream. In June, 77, I placed £,000 

 iSalnw aeltago iu Wenham Lake. J intend the boys shall hf»ve 

 gome good sport after \ am goae, Huvu bad »y Share, evte 

 though I gel mo nwtt. J , jf . £, 



