130 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



the disagreeable flavor generally produced by that pttbu- 

 lum. It is not hunted ris mucli as t lie others, owing to its 

 more aquatic habits and solitary resorts. 



The B. i i a ' Oussin, which reaembles flu ! an 



■[■in gjoose, exi '".'i being darker, is Found from British Co- 

 lumbia to California— sometimes in Bocft? bv itself, and 

 frequently mixed lip Willi its congeners. [|, has a length 

 of almni thirty-five inches, and its weight varies from 

 twelve to sixteen and even eighteen pounds whon In £QOd 

 condition, 



Of the eygnina: we hare two varieties— the American 

 Bad the trumpeter swan. The bill of the former is as long 

 as the head, broad and high at base; feathers ending on 

 the -forehead in a semi-circular OUtlfUe. The anterior ex- 

 tremity of the nostrils is forward of t lie commissure, Jt 

 has a length of 55 inelies when full grown; wings S3, and 

 tarsus 4.05 inches. This beautiful bird is an Inhabitant of 

 the Columbia, Snake, and Lower Willamette rivers. Flocks 

 varying from twenty to one hundred can be seen on he 

 Columbia late In the autumn, and they present a handsome 

 ornithological scene as thev soar over" the bluish green for- 

 ests of firs, or sail gracefully will) the current. Several 

 are captured 01 shot for their feathers, and 1 understand 

 thai some are eaten, i have heard hunters speak of them 

 as good eating, and others say they were tougher thau 

 Innned buffalo' skin; but from personal experience Tarn 

 unable to decide their gastronomic qualities. 



Tin- Cfystnua faieciiuttor, or trumpeting swan, is also quite 

 common. It differs from the preceding in having a bill 

 larger than the head, and the feathers on the forehead end 

 ing in a semi elliptical instead of crescent like outline, 

 while the anterior extremity of the no-lti) is Only half as 



far forward as n M - commissure. This Species derives its 

 name from its peculiar voice, for it forms an exception to 

 the general silence of the family, at least to those in a do- 

 mestic slate. I shot one on Swan Island, in (he Columbia 

 Hiver, to see if I could catch a nolo of thai delicious song 

 which it is said to pour forth when about to bid farewell 

 to the joys of this world, but 1 failed 10 hear il, perhaps 

 because, like the music of the spheres, my sense of boir 

 ing was not acute enough to catch it- enchanting tones. 



THREE MONTHS IN FLORIDA FOR A 

 HUNDRED DOLLARS. 



IT is a [lily that people other than rich, should be afflicted 

 •with sickness or devices that spring from a craving for 

 a change of climate. So wide a difference exists bet ween 

 the climatic conditions of the Northern States and that of 

 the southerinost, that it is quite practicable for one pos- 

 sessed of means to remedy any defect in hi?, constitution, 

 putmonstrily, if this expression be allowable, merely by a 

 change of residence. It is so well known that il needs fto 

 further ShOWlag, that consumption, that, senurue of the 

 f not radically, at least its fatal eon- 

 f the paiii-nt is taken in hand in the 

 • it , ni'l treated to a dose of the 

 wing climate of Florida, it is so 

 well known lhat thousands seek, and gain relief, by a 

 temporary residence in that land of the "Fountain of 

 fowl) 

 Per taps lhat term, "the Land of the Fountain of Youth" 



North, can bo 

 sequences postp 

 early stages of 

 bland and bet 



•al thou 



s phi 



nd times, hie no 

 mid attract ilia attcn- 

 But Florida deserves 

 .nd lhat of the "Laud 

 ?r defamers may say 

 more who would be 

 ; advantages accruing 

 -. but uir.nl it Can- 

 that its 



all such flattering title: 



pi Flowers," no matter how much li 



to the contrary. There are thousand 



but too glad to avail themselves of 111 



I mum a winter's stay there, could th 



sumption is so insidious in its appro 



lulled by a fatal sense of security to postpone the day of 



departure until too late, and he departs only for Hie shadowy 



laud. Any well-informed physician can prognosticate the 



result at a sufficiently early stage of the uisease to warn ihe 



patient", and then — then only, is the time to profit by the 



knowledge, and leave a place of death for a country of 



health. 



To those who are suffering; who are hesitating, dreading 

 the annoyance and expense incident to a vovasrc to Florida: 

 feeling thai they would i 



anoii' r winlei 

 class of 



at the North, I I 



Uil) 



de 



:;d that I 



of I 



5 to fu 



upta 



to read, Ihe 

 d health and 

 ime region of 

 sportsmen are 

 '.mey, and any 

 lpply of game 

 o Ihi.-m, then, 

 >tes mav be ot 

 1, the invalid 

 sports- 



at slight expenditure will be a 

 as well as to the invalid, tit 

 service; though, in fact, as may b« 

 will drop his role of sick man and assume that of 

 man, at an early period of his slay in a land whose 

 climate is so gloriously rejuvenating as that of Florida. 

 Since the writing of this paper was begun a letter has been 

 received by me, "one of many of like tone, which was writ- 

 ten, evidently by neither invalid or sportsman, and as it il 

 lustrates the wide-spread desire to wing the way south with 

 He ■ lie .,, SB common to US all at this season, il is given 



in rbaliin & literatim.; 



September 34th, 



r "De.ui Sue— 1 have red of some of your work in FOHIST 

 A.SD BTttfiAM with grate iiitresl, as I take quite an inlrcst in 

 Florida 1 should like to know if you are going out again 

 this winter, and if so, if yon imploy 

 way to go with yon, as I wish In go 

 OUt an expense to myself If 1 could 

 nation to go in I should like it, if \\ 

 tuuitv oleiing will pleas to let n 

 would oblidge me very mutch." 



Il pains me very much that 1 cannot afford the writer of 

 the alio-, e epistle an "opcrlunily" to luxuriate 'ueath the 

 i : ,ii ' trees of the Flowery Land, but I can tell him how- 

 to do it by a small outlay of hid funds, and that's what 



this loug introduction is intended for. To Fulfil the expec- 

 tations aroused hy my announcement at the head of this 

 paper to neat one to a three months' trip to FlOi ■ E ir I 

 hundred dollars, I must assume that the lourisl, be tolerably 

 i ■ , ,■■ u.'l able to endure a sea voyage ill a .-ailing vessel. 

 Tliali you may say, is rather rough I ' Well, one can't get a 

 dinner al Delmonico's or the Parker House I'm fifty cents, 

 no more can he make the trip to Florida in a palace car 

 for $15. 



I lo go 



t as:t- 

 / oper- 

 id you 



Fifteen dollars will cover the cost of a "cabin" passage 

 from Now York to Jacksonville, in Florida. Fifteen 

 dollars and two weeks time. Perhaps three weeks; may 

 not consume but eight days; but two weeks is a fair aver- 

 age Assume, then, that, $15 is expended for passage 

 dOwn, twice fifteen (coming hack! makes thirty dollars, 

 leaving a balance of seventy dollars for other expenses for 

 I wo mouths, (one month supposed to have been passed on 

 the briny deep. Regarding the jOvs and delights of an 

 ocean voyage in winter, I remain silent; that is a matter of 

 taste, and individual taste does not conic within the scope 

 of this article. 



There arc people who revel in the beauties of an ocean 

 storm; who climb out upon the bow-sprit as the vessel 

 rises and falls lo get the full benefit of the plunge. To 

 such, a trip to Florida in a schooner would he unalloyed 

 bliss, provided cabin accommodations were good, and 

 "grub" well cooked and varied. Again, there are those to 

 whom the dreary monotony of sailing on and on is hor- 

 rible, and lo whom a slorm'but represents so much racking 

 of bones, and so many dinners lost forever. These seek 

 consolation Within themselves, and draw upon their reserve 

 fund Of vitality fearfully. 



either routes are al the disposal of one not confined lo a 

 limited amount of cash, and for thirty-live dollars he can 

 reach Florida bv one of the many steamers that ply be- 

 tween New York and the South. These steamers run to 

 Charleston and Savannah, and connect with other steamers 

 that enter Florida. The accommodations are very good 

 upon Ihe majority of them, and the time consumed in the 

 entire trip generally less than live davs. All rail roules, 

 there are. for those who dread the ocean, which make the 

 distance in about a day less, and at a cost, of about forty- 

 five dollars. If the railroad building between Jacksonville 

 and Savannah is completed in season for this winter's 

 tourists, a. saving in time of some twelve hours and much 



be avoided. The, most preferable route, in my opinion, is 

 by steamer to Savannah and thence by the new road direct 

 to Jacksonville. Provided that is not opened and time is 

 not an object, the "inside route," among the sea islands 

 of Georgia, is very pleasant. 



WHERE TO GO. 



There are but I lirce ports directly accessible by sailing 

 vessel upon the east coast of Florida. Commencing with 

 the northernmost, these are, Fernandina, Jacksonville and 

 New Smyrna. The two first named have a 1111™ lumber 

 trade with the forth, and frequent opportunities arc offered 

 for passage and freight, upon the vessels. engaged in the 

 business. They go down light, in ballast, and are but too 

 glad to receive any quantity of freight. This is why Jack- 

 sonville can furnish provisions and nearly everything else 

 at New York prices. 



Fernandina has many inducements to offer in the matter 

 of out-door life. It has a magnificent ocean beach, pure 

 air and delightful bays, harbors, creeks and rivers to sail 

 ami tish, close at home, in many things it outranks its 

 lower neighbors, hut. in the way of game it cannot approach 

 some places on the lower coast and St. John's. It has 

 direct rail communication with the west coast, at Cedar 

 Keys, fare about $7, and steamboat communication with 

 Savannah and Charleston by both the inside and out- 

 side lines. The towu itself "is orderly, pleasant and well 

 supplied with markets and stores. 



As a place from which one may reach the most attractive 

 portions of the State', Jacksonville should be selected. 

 Situated upon the St. John's, it has steam communication 

 with every settlement upon that interesting river, and with 

 St. Augu.stivc, New Smyrna and Indian River, upon the 

 coast. It has direct rail connection with Tallahassee, the 

 capital of the State, with Cedar Keys upon the west coast, 

 and thence with all the gulf ports, ihe keys and Cuba, and 

 with Savannah, via the old circuituous route, and a more 

 direel new one. Being naturally so centrally and com- 

 mandiuglv situated, drawing the trade anil productions of 

 the St. Jo'hn's with its countless tributaries and lakes, it is 

 the place of all places to obtain a first glimpse of Florida 

 in its most flourishing condition. The climate of Jackson- 

 ville is not all that could be desired, for it does not possess 

 lhat remarkable softness, ami warmth generally supposed to 

 belong to Florida. It U subject to extremes of temper- 

 ature, and in winter will chill a sensitive invalid to the 

 bones With its nocturnal frosts. It has much that is desir- 

 able, however, in its bright warm days, and possesses a 

 grand birthright in the St. John's alone. Here the eamper- 

 o-it. had better procure his outfit, except tent and personal 

 effects. 



From Jacksonville to Enterprise, 200 miles up the St. 

 John's, the fare by steamer is $12, and of proportionable 

 price to intervening landings. To Salt Lake, the farthest 

 point reached by steamers, (curious stern-wheelers,) it is 

 about £0 more; all freight at the rate of about $1 per bar- 

 rel; a small boat up the St.. John's pays ,$5 for passage upon 

 the steamers. Indian Hiver, the great game section, is 

 reached Via Salt Lake, from the St. John's, the distance 

 across laud at that point being but six miles. 



"New Smyrna, one hundred miles south of the mouth of 

 the St. John's, has more inducements in tish and game, and 

 real eujovable camping life, but lacks the many conven- 

 iences of'dict and travel that the other places possess. Few 

 vessels visit il, and these for lumber, chartered by live oak 

 contractors. For a party in good health, witll plentiful 

 supplies, it. is the best point one can choose for a few 

 months slay, when the object is merely to gain flesh and 



id til 



shi 



id lis 



Tv 



: la 



ldi 



claim 





tlention fro 



nitsdelight- 



est. alt 





1 to its rub 



s, is not GS- 



it bci 



lg 1 



1, direel cot 



liuunication 



mall s 





g vessels, a 



s well as has 



the south or Mosquib 

 Indian River. 



St. Augustine, thot 

 fill climate ami the i> 

 pccially referred to, a 

 with the north. L h 



New Smyrna, connecting it with Jacksonville, and a rail 

 connection with the St. John's, but is a dear place to visit. 



Mil EN TO GO 



depends upon so many things that it is not an easy matter 

 to advise correctly. If one wished merely to get rici of 

 cold weather, theii the first of December would be the 

 time, being sullieieully early, and in season to catch a part- 

 ino- touch ° of tiie. hot season. The months of January, 

 February and .March are probably Ihe best to Spend In 

 Florida;" being the pleasuntest there., as well as the most 

 trying to the invalid at the North. 



Pernaps a few facts as to climate will be pertinent to the 

 subjcot, and are accordingly produced. By reference to 



my note book of three years ago I find that the temperature, 

 in January ranged from 38, to~80 deg.; was more equable in 

 February and March, with less extremes, though growing 

 warmer. The menu temperature of January was about 00 

 degrees, According lo the only tables al present n 

 the mean temperature in Jacksonville, for January, for 20 

 years, was 55 degrees, for February, 159 degrees, and for 

 March, 03 degrees. In SI. Augustine, for the same time 

 and months, the means were, respectively, 57, 59 and 63 

 degrees, thirty degrees warmer than the mean temperature 

 of West Point during the same period and months. At 

 Key West, the extreme southern port of Florida and our 

 Union, the range of the thermometer was nine degrees 

 higher. At New Smyrna the temperature is essentially 

 modified, and on Indian Fiver the change is much greater, 

 temperature being several degrees warmer. 



CAJLF1XG OUTFIT. 



Willi the object in view of spending two or three months 

 in Florida at an expenditure of no more than a hundred 

 dollars, the only mode of living practicable will be in the 

 open air. To many of the readers of this paper, whose 

 camp fires have gleamed in every corner of the Union, the 

 proposition to camp in such a wild and delightful climate 

 as that of Florida, would be hailed as likely to give the 

 "substance of things hoped for." Let those who wish, 

 patronize the hotels at a monthly expense exceeding our 

 total outlay for the winter's trip. Camping out, then, is to 

 be the manner of living, and to do that successfully a teat 

 is needed. If desired, this luxury can be dispensed with, 

 and a shelter constructed with the" stalks and leaves of the 

 palmetto. To one "handy" with an axe and knife, and an 

 old campaigner, this house-building would be a small 

 matter. It is assumed, however, thai the parly he ignorant 

 of all that pertains to camp life and needs to go provided 

 B id.!, .shelter from the elements. Now tents can be bought 

 in any variety, bill what is really needed is— first, strength 

 to withstand the weather, and the greatest amount of room 

 consistent with weight and bulk. A tent, largeenough for 

 a party of four, with room for "traps," and provisions for 

 two months, can he made, at an expense of about $15, if 

 made by the party, and of light, waterproof drilling. It 

 should be about twelve feet long, with walls about four 

 feet high, and slanting roof, with ridge pole six or seven 

 feet from the ground Should be made so that it can be 

 tightly closed" al limes. Fifteen dollars for a tent and 

 thirty dollars for passage down amount to forty-live dollars 

 already expended. Can we provision and provide for the 

 welfare of the party With the remainder? Let us see. 



After the tent poles are cut, at the place of camping, 

 which should be upon fresh ground, in a rather airy situa- 

 tion and tolerably near wood and water, the tent is pitched, 

 and we have a habitation. If a party of four start together 

 something is saved to each individual, as the labor and ex- 

 pense ol freight, etc., is much less borne individually. 

 While one is driving tent pins aud another cutiing wood 

 for lire, another can be preparing the food for cooking, 

 while the fourth is hunting for the long "Spanish Moss," 

 (Tillamlsia,") for bedding. Provisions demand the first at- 

 tention, and in this matter alone, much will depend upon 

 lie- tastesof Ihe camper-out. Having but fifty odd dollars, 

 and having many wants to supply, some very close skir- 

 mishing must ensue between actual and imaginary wants. 

 It will be admitted that we must have pork. ' Without that 

 the camper-out could hardly exist. It fries his potatoes, 

 (provided there be a fire,) cooks his flapjacks, (if he has 

 any,) and spatters and sizzles over a "light-wood" fire in a 

 way that, in itself, is refreshing to a hungry hunter. Pork, 

 then, must be taken, say fifty pounds; this may he enough 

 and it may not; there may be an abundance of venison, 

 when the pork will, of course, be consigned temporarily lo 

 solitary confinement; but the chances arc, that pork will 

 appear upon the table, or palmetto leaf, three times and 

 rnorcyi day. Pork $5; dry salted is best for transportation, 

 and a course bag, denominated "gunny-bag," the best re- 

 Cep table for it. 



Flour, some persons may need to he told, is sometimes 

 called the staff of life. That depends wholly where it is. 

 In some places it is made of secondary importance to 

 .whiskey, and the true Floridian regards the fluid that 

 cheers, likewise inebriates, as the real staff and mainstay 

 of his existence When the whiskey is gone he is gone. 

 When the popularly known "staff" is gone, he can repair 

 to the nearest hammock and cut a "palmeeter cabbage;" 

 but no satislacieiy substitute exists indigenous to Florida 

 for the much loved whiskey. Flour for one person, two 

 months, sixty pounds. Letter take the self-raising flour, 

 either lleekers or Jewell Brothers', being in convenient 

 packages, and ready for use b} r the addition of a little 

 water and a stick, (not the metaphorical "stick,") it is much 

 prized, and saves a great deal of labor. With the flour 

 costing about $3, and a box ol good crackers, (better than 

 flour, because always ready cooked,) costing as much nvjrc, 

 one will be prepared with all the farinaceous food he needs 

 during his stay. A few pounds of meal, costiug nothing 

 worth calculating, should be added. A bushel or a barret 

 of good potatoes is necessary, and if those give out, sweet 

 potatoes can be purchased at a dollar per bushel or less. 

 Out upon the man who would exclude the potato as a 

 luxury dispcusihie. We can afford it in the quantity 

 desired, even with so small a balance remaining of our 

 hundred dollars. Who does not remember the delicious, 

 delicate, fragile, conceptions of potatoes sliced and pre- 

 pared at the higher class restaurants:'' At least, who does 

 not remember reading of them? Two dollars fifty for po 

 tatoes, aud as much more for coffee. Nothing so helps to 

 strengthen one after a heavy tramp, or Jong hunt,' as a cup 

 of good coffee. Carry it. whole, brown it ill the frying pan 

 aud pouud it in a snot-bag with an axe. Thus it will be 

 kept until needed, of refreshing strength and aroma. The 

 condensed coffee is liked by some, anil it it suits the taste, 

 should be taken, as it saves much in bulk and preparation. 

 A dollar more needs to be added for this substitute. A 

 little sugar, of course, unless one prefers "long sweeten- 

 ing," winch latter is more liable to loss, being uu-pick-up- 

 ahte when spilt. A dozen cans of condensed milk, Costing 

 about three dollars, wilt last a single person a long time. 

 If this is taken the sugar niaj be dispensed with; if it is 

 not, then take three dollars worth ot cut. loaf sugar. In a 

 land of sugar cane one need not be without sweetening for 

 his coffee. Salt and pepper, a few pickles, or pickled 

 onions, and a little Condensed beef, in all not exceeding 

 three dollars; to which may be added, very gratefully, a 

 choice list of -delicacies, but they will nol be allowed in 

 this bill, as we haven't got any luri'her than the. larder, and 

 have upended sixty-eight dollars already. The indiapen- 

 sihle cooking utensds are few. Fir»t, as the chief friend of 



