438 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



gregste in large herns or corral? ; their tongues are used by 

 the sailots us a -welcome delicacy, and by the Yankee boys 

 frequently worked into mince pieSj the scraps which are lel't 

 after the blubber has been tried out ure employed as fuel with 

 -which the trying-out process is conducted ; their food is sup- 

 posed to consist, chiefly of cuttle fish and sea weed, and the 

 instrument employed in killing them is a sharp lance, -which 

 penetrates the throat and causes them to bleed to death. In 

 sailor parlance the old males are called beach masters and 

 bulls, and the females pupping cows and brown cows. Dur- 

 ing the season of courtship the bulls fight desperately with 

 each other, uttering a kind of roar and inflicting fearful 

 wounds, while the lady elephants in groups of from fifteen to 

 twenty, look on in dignified silence and satisfaction, as if 

 ready, with expanded flippers, to welcome the victor into 

 their mist. The mothers usually remain in charge of their 

 young about two months, and during all that time it is said 

 that the lord of each harem occupies a convenient eminence, 

 ■with his head generally toward the sea, and acts as sentinel to 

 prevent the mothers from abandoning their young, or to pro- 

 tect his favorites from the ungallant assaults of any roving in- 

 dividuals. The number of these animals which annually re- 

 sort to Heard's Island, coming from unknown regions, is truly 

 immense. In former times the men who hunted them invari- 

 ably spared all the cubs they met with, but in these latter 

 days the young and old are slaughtered indiscriminately. We 

 can give no figures as to the total yield of elephant oU in this 

 particular locality, but we know that the men who follow the 

 busiuess lead a most fuliguing and wild life, and well deserve 

 the largest profits they can make. While Kerguelen's Land 

 is the place where the ships of the elephant hunters spend the 

 summer months, which season is literally the '' winter of their 

 discontent," it isuponHeard's Island,that the mammoth game- 

 is chiefly, if not exclusively, found. Then it is that gangs of 

 men have the hardihood to build themselves rude cabins upon 

 the island, and there spend the entire winter. Among those 

 -who first exiled themselves to this land of fogs and snow and 

 stormy winds, was one Captain Henry Rogers, then ser 

 ■first mate, and from his journal, which he kept during this 

 period, we may obtain a realizing sense of the loneliness and 

 hardships of the life to which Americans, for the love of gain, 

 willingly subject themselves in the far off Indian ocean. 



Having taken a glance at the leading men who identified 

 themselves with the Desolation Islands, and also at the 

 physical peculiarities of those islands, we propose to conclude 

 this paper with a running account of Captain Henry Rogers' 

 adventures during his winter on Heard's Island. 



He left New London in the brig Zoe, Captain Jas. Rogers, 

 master, Oct. 36, 1856. and arrived at their place of destination 

 February 18, 1857. For about five weeks after their arrival 

 the crew was kept very busy in rafting to the brig several 

 hundred barrels of oil, which had already been prepared and 

 left over by the crew of a sister vessel, and on the 33d of 

 March the wintering gang, with Capt. Henry Rogers as then- 

 leader, proceeded to move their plunder to the shore, and 

 when that work was completed, the brig sailed for the Cape 

 of Good Hope. The gang consisted of twenty-five men, and 

 after building their house, which was merely a square excava- 

 tion on the ground, covered with boards and made air tight 

 ■with moss and snow, they proceeded to business. Those who 

 were expert with the lance did most of the killing; the 

 coopers hammered away at their barrels ; and, as occasions 

 demanded, all hands participated in skinning the huge sea 

 elephants, or cutting off the blubber in pieces of about fifteen 

 pounds each, and then, on their backs or on rude sledges, 

 transporting it to the trying works, where it was turned into 

 the precious oil. Not a day was permitted to pass withou 

 " bringing to bag " u little game, and the number of elephants 

 killed ranged from three to as high a figure as forty. Accord- 

 ing to the record, if one day out of thirty happened to be 

 bright and pleasant, the men were thankful; for the regularity 

 with which rain followed snow, and the fogn were blown 

 about by high winds, was monotonous beyond conception. 

 And when night came, and the monotonous suppers were 

 packed away, the stories which followod were monotonous, 

 and as the tired men wrapped themselves in their blankets for 

 the night, there was a monotony in their very dreams— but 

 _ they were of home— of wives and children and friends— far, far 

 away, over illimitable sea — and that was a monotony which 

 they enjoyed. When one of these men chanced to be wakeful 

 at the hour of midnight, and went forth from the pent-up 

 cabin to enjoy the fresh air or to commune alone with himself, 

 how must the blackness of darkness and the wild wailing of 

 the ocean, mingled with the screams of the penguins, or the 

 moon and stars shining in their marvellous beauty on the 

 tranquil deep, have tilled him with awe! The great waves, 

 perhaps, like beasts of prey, came careering out of the abyss 

 of space, and as they dashed and perished against the icy clifft 

 would give an unearthly howl, which the winds carried 

 entirely across the island, only to be welcomed by an answert 

 ing roar from the waves on the opposite shore. 



Month after month passes away, and there is no ces- 

 sation in the labors of the elephant hunters. Mist and 

 snow and slaughter, the packing Of oil, hard bread and sad 

 beef, fatigue and heavy slumbers — these' are the burthen 

 of their song of life. Those who chance to remember 

 with pleasure the sound of Sabbath bells, may cherish a Sab- 

 bath feeling in their hearts, but while their children are in at- 

 tendance at the Sunday-school, in the far-off New England 

 church, stern necessity compels them, with lance in hand, to 



do battle with the 

 of their National Ini 



vote one hour of th( 

 patriotism, notwith- 



,-il.li 



But when the anniversary 

 arrives, they must, needs de- 

 tinae to the bidding of their 

 Fact that their cabin may be 

 torpa raging. With the aid 

 I a hole in a rock for artillery, 



. tin pan for a kettle-drum, 



thy fire a national salul. 



e ■ of wire lor a triangle, they have an abn 



irming themselves into a procession, they 

 march -with stately ■ ■ qi ■■.■. drift, instead of a 



grand hotel; and with the tongue of an elephant for roast 

 Bome ginger pop for Catawba wine, they have a glo- 

 ; and leaving their bunting to flap itself into a wet 

 rag over their island home, they pick up their lances and are 

 5iion busy again among the elephant herds. AnOth 

 haye passed ■■ (ray R be 

 th the latest news 



Good Hope, but wi in r from dear New Boflanj. 



The vessel drops her anchor j in a few weeks she is filled to 

 .. by rafting and boating, with the barrels of oil 

 re been collected during I i i. jus winter 



summer), and ! ■ 



B brig are again UBfurled, and away She ■ 

 ■ the Sd of April, 



mthe'ast, and 

 1 i ig from the DesoJa- 



For Fared and Stream and Mod and Oun. 

 SPORT IN THE SOUTH OF IRELAND. 



WE reached London the last week in August, very well 

 satisfied with our month's sight-seeing through the 

 Continent, and rather pleased that the greater part of the 

 last two weeks of our stay in the Old World was to be spent 

 in Ireland, among some friends of my traveling companion, 

 who were residents of the county where are situated the far- 

 famed Lakes of Killarney. 



We had already devoted two weeks to England and Scot- 

 land; so, when Prod Eaid, " Here's" a letter from my friend, 

 the Doctor ; it has been here a week. What do you say to 

 our starting right away, asking him to meet us at Killarney ?" 

 "Hurrah for Ireland I" was my reply, and forthwith set 

 about completing arrangements to leave for Holyhead that 

 evening. Two days later we reached Killarney. 



Tes; the scenery of Killarney is wondrously beautiful, and 

 we enjoyed it to our heart's content— but I must remember 

 that this is to be an account of our sport in Ireland, so I will 

 not attempt a description of Irish scenery just now, but move 

 right on to the scene of our exploits. 



A ride on an outside jaunting car for about thirty miles 

 brought us to the village of Ballyherlihy, the Doctor's home ; 

 and the genuine, hearty welcome we received made us feel 

 that our host was a real old Irish gentlemon— one of the good 

 old style. During the last five miles of our ride, 

 the river Scone three times, and my nerves fairly tingled 

 with delight at the prospect of soon throwing a line over 

 pools that looked the beau-ideal haunts of trout and salmon. 

 However, there were visits to be made that would occupy the 

 next day— and then for some fishing, But I am very much 

 afraid, when Fred and I retired on the first night of our visit, 

 it was with a decided mental reservation, that if next day's 

 jollities among our newly-made friends were to equal those we 

 had just experienced, fishing would by mutual consent be in- 

 definitely postponed. 



My anxiety to have a chat with a real, simon-pure, unso- 

 phisticated Irishman of the laboring class, who, I felt certain, 

 would be found in his most unadulterated state in this wild 

 locality, induced me to up and out very early next morning. 

 A short walk brought mo ou two, who were at work near the. 

 road. They looked the very game I was after— knee-breeches 

 and old hat, and, without doubt, the two coats on the fence 

 near by were swallow-tails of ye ancient pattern. 



" The lop of the morning to your honor," greeted me the 

 moment I came up. I returned the compliment, and immedi- 

 ately set my Yankee inquisitiveness to work The simple 

 question "What are you sowing here?" I intended as an 

 opener on their agricultural pursuits, but was a little non- 

 plussed wheu I was told that it was caraway seeds. I had to 

 undergo some moments of mental agony to recall what I 

 knew about caraway seeds, with the hope of being able to 

 disguise my ignorance of agriculture in general, and especially 

 of the plant mentioned. Though the name was as familiar 

 as oats, I felt that I was entirely innocent of how they grew 

 or ranked as an article of commerce ; so I thought I had bet- 

 ter change the subject, though my informant looked the very 

 picture of willingness to impart information. A house some 

 little distance up the road attracted my notice, from its pecu- 

 liar situation. It was built so that its end faced a pretty 

 view of the river and its ivy-clad bridge, while the front 

 looked od a rather dismal piece of dwarfed woodland. There 

 appeared no justifiable excuse for such want of taste, and to 

 my remark to that effect, was answered " that he was a quare 

 gintleman that built it. But he was dead and gone — Lord 

 rest hissowll— and now the priest lived there; so mc and 

 the boys, as soon as the turf was cut, were going up there to 

 twist it around." To show that this matter was fully settled 

 on, he turned to his companion, saying : " Isn't that so, Jim f" 

 and was answered, "It's threw for you, Mickey." As the 

 house happened to be of good size and built of stone, the ap- 

 parent ease with which Mickey and the boys went to twist it 

 around, made me think, among other things, that perhaps it 

 was about time for breakfast; so 1 wished my two unsophisti- 

 cated friends good-day, and was about to retrace my steps, 

 when it was mildly suggested that if I went across the fields 

 it would be a short cut to tho Doctor's. I accepted the ad- 

 vice, and was hardly in the field when Mickey, hat in hand, 

 came up and asked if my honor wouldn't pay his footing. I 

 saw that I was caught, so I complied ; yet the expression on 

 the face of the recipient caused very grave doubts in my mind 

 as to Mickey's being quite up to ideas of the unsophisticated 

 Irishman. 



At breakfast I was tempted to rind out to what extent cara- 

 way seeds were used as an article of commerce in Ireland. 

 The astonishment of my friends was at last relieved by a 

 shout of laughter when they discovered my reasons for ask- 

 ing. The description of the men i interviewed left little dif- 

 ficulty in recognizing who they were. The Doctor simply 

 remarked that "Mickey Bawn was a prime boy, and would 

 never die in his bed." I must say that any information from 

 Mickey and his eo-freres I received with a largo pinch of salt, 

 somewhat flavored with caraway seed. 



The day's visiting and sight-seeing was over— a most agree- 

 able day in every way, and one that made us decidedly feel 

 that we were enjoying Irish hospitality. Arrangements were 

 made for an early start up the river next moraine 

 were ready at the time appointed. The day was rather bright 

 For salmon fishing ; so we went prepared for salmon 

 and trout. Whan we reached 

 trout fishing was to be the order of the day. 1 > 

 were kindly allowed to take- the lead ; the Doctor and Jerry— 

 who was the crack fisherman of the place — foUowet : 



0) distance between each. The river looked all that 

 an angler could wish it to be: splendid pools at tl 

 miniature cascades, and not a tree to impede the full sweep 

 of the line. I had fished tor at least an hour, and bad experi- 

 enced to its utmost that delicious feeling ol 

 each pool suggested. I might possibly have continued "some 

 more " in that happy state, if it was uot but too true " that 

 hope deferred makes the heart grow sick." I had not a trout 

 that could turn the scale at six ounces, and only I 



ttflt looked at all respectable. I thought it was 



tf the fair 



1 would wait tflj tip, VV'hun he did 



lat he was fish' 



ss that betokened a want of confidence in his ability 



to promote a nearer acquiantauco with the bright d 



for in reply to my " What luck t" 1 received the emphatic re- 

 ply, " Damn the luck !" We a and wait till 

 the Doctor and Jerry came along. We filled oar pipes, and 

 as we lay there on the sweef heather of Ireland, dear old 

 Raugeley and the Schoodies were not for _ 



When our friends arrived we did feel rather crest-fallen, for 

 their baskets contained some fine trout, many of them fully 

 two pounds weight. We could not understand how this could 

 be, for our flies were about the same that they were using, 

 We flattered ourselves that we did know something about 

 fishing ; but alas ! the experience we had gained from many 

 visits to the streams and lakes of New England, where we 

 counted our day's spoils by the dozen, was not all sufficient 

 for the successful fishing of an Irish river. We had to sub- 

 mit with the best grace possible to a lesson from Jerry, and 

 then found out that it was absolutely necessary to keep as far 

 as possible from the bank, and throw the line with a 

 lightness that only the leader would fall on the water. 

 Our rather nonchalent manner of fishing might do very 

 well in the. wilds of Maine, but it evidently was uot 

 the ticket in this old-fashioned country. We had every 

 reason to be satisfied with our tackle. It was extreme!., 

 and finely made, and impressed one with the feeling that very 

 careful action would be required in a struggle with a two- 

 pouuder. 



The flask was passed round, and with renewed spirits and 

 hopes for betterluck we resumed our old positions. Wheu 

 we next came to a halt we had a very different story to tell. 

 Fred and I held our own very fairly with our friends | indeed 

 before we reached the rendezvous for lunch I had to transfer 

 my basket]to the "gorsoon" who acted as ray henchman. Dur- 

 ing the afternoon a breeze, sprung up, and as we had renewed 

 OUT strength to its utmo.,1. enpurHy, we were glad to find that 

 the "gig" that carried the hamper also contained the salmon 

 rods, BO we decided to try our luck, as some celebrated pools 

 were close by, During the hours that followed Fred secured 

 an eight-pounder. The Doctor gave a stirring account of a 

 short struggle he had, but unfortunately the prize escaped, 

 and it was it pity, for I have little doubt from the description 

 he gave of the fish, it well dese] red to be stuffed, and hold an 

 honored place among the heavy weights of the Saimoi 

 family. Jerry and 1 had to act as audience. We had hoi 

 to relate, and could only show a few additional good trout. 

 Though the number we secured would not. at Rangel 

 considered a good day's sport, yet the extreme fineness of the 

 tackle made each capture look' a | 



When we reached the Doctor's that evening we were 

 pleased to hear that a foxhunt was to take place two days 

 later, and that the meet was to be at the Coomasahru Pass, 

 the very wildest part of this very wild district. A feE 

 feeling brought me in close intimacy with a most enthusiastic 

 young fisherman, who confided to me the secret that he had an 

 otter, with which he could catch twenty . rind 



that, if I would go with him on the morning of the hunl 

 could have two or three hours' fishing before the "meet" took 

 place. Well, I did go. Master Will was at my window a 

 i.r daylight. I do not think he was aware that our 

 party attended Donuy brook Fair the day previous, and that 

 curiosity had induced some individuals of the party to investi- 

 gate those canvas-covered abodes — 



" Where people went, la to upend Uulf-a-crown, 

 To meet wfto a friend aud for love Knock aim (town 

 is sprig of slilllelali ami slmoirock so greeu." 



I felt that it was useless to pretend that I did not hear him, 

 as I could easily aee that his gentle tapping at mv window 

 lattice would very soon be louder than betoie. Ho I jumped 

 up to ask a respite, but Will's salutation, " It's a glorious 

 morning, don't delay: Rattleaway is harnessed," put ex- 

 cuses at an end. I could only say, " All right," and hope 

 that the bright, fresh morning air would banish from my 

 mind the absurd idea that some friend's sprig of shillelah had 

 been playing about my head, Rattleaway did credit to his 

 name that morning, and spun over the five miles in 

 time | and now, while breakfast is being prepared at the 

 farmer's house at. the foot of the mountain, I will describe 

 Master Will's "otter" as he is about to rig it here, to save time. 

 It is a slate-colored painted board two feet and a half long, 

 eight inches wide and one inch thick, beveled at the ends in 

 opposite directions, and with a leaded keel on its length, so 

 that the board will float upright, leaving about three lncbffl 

 over the water. Three inches from each end are twi i 

 through which run two endless cords— called the belly-hands 

 — which are held in position by pegs ; these b. b. when pa 

 tight extend about six inches from the board. To this band 

 is fastened a line of 10 feet, to which are attached SO flies on 

 gut a foot long and working on swivels, so that when the line- 

 is held taut they hang straight and are not liable to foul. 



Our breakfast of eggs and milk I enjoyed, and must say, 

 though the house was a very humble one indeed, I was struck 

 with the natural courtesy and kindness of the people and the 

 good looks of the charming little Nora Crena who attended 

 the table. 



After a pretty stiff walk up the mountain we reached the lake. 

 The "otter " was placed in the water, head against the wind, 

 and immediately started out, wiien the line was held tight. 

 As soon as the fly line was played out its end was al 

 a line on a strong fishing rod, and Master Will, walking along 

 the shore, guided the " otter's" movements, though 

 fully 40 yards out. In less than 30 minutes he wi n 

 and almost every fly was furnished with a trout. By- the time 

 he had made four hauls I was uot. surprised when he said he 

 ■h me to say anything to Mr. 8. about our morn- 

 ing's fishing, as I have some idea that that gentleman was 

 officially concerned in the welfare of the fish of the county. 



MaJter Will had just put his"ol hen, down 



the far end of the gleu, came the dogs in full 

 glorious nob 



over again till the whole valley was full of music. The run 

 was not a very long one, as it was only a hare that wi 



i ramp up lull and down for ovc I 

 the next "Hark away " was sounded ; but the interest, wag 

 kept up by the varied grandeur of the scenery that e 

 ingin the hills displayed, SVe had ip hope of 



having another run, whefi 



young herder who happened to com i !.ed if he 



saw any foxes around here. The youngster urbanely answer- 

 eil, " Is it any foxes, BUT? They does be b " 



, !>ot held in high repute, for 1 heard 

 it distinct! ' he was a "notorious" liar, and in 



