226 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



ance hy stage or team. The ride is charming, good quail 

 n shooting all along the road, and "passable ac- 

 commodations. At the Navara there is an excellent coun- 

 try hotel — neat, clean, and charges moderate, ($3 pet day.) 

 Ten miles above Navara comes Big River, equally good 

 fishing; ten miles further the KoyO, and soon. The sal- 

 mon run in the rivers after the first rain, and remain until 

 tin- heavy rams raise the streams, and that ends the sport; 

 but fur a period of say two months it is the finest salmon 

 fishing in the world. During the Bummer months the 

 head waters of the Sacramento and St. Cloud rivers afford 

 splendid salmon and river trout fishing, easily accessible by 

 rail and stage in eighteen hours. The scenery beautiful", 

 climate delicious, a paradise for the sportsman. Mr. Stone, 

 the United States Pish Commissioner, makes his head- 

 quarters at this point for collecting the spawn which he 

 Ships E&Bt. A visit to his camp is very interesting. At 

 the Soda Springs Hotel, kept by Fry, an enthusiastic sports- 

 man, the accommodations are all that could be desired, 

 and charges very moderate. If you want to camp out, an 

 Indian will pack your blankets, "and you can spread your- 

 self under a big tree, -with no fear of a ducking from a 

 passing shower. In my next I will tell you more of our 

 sports, our fish, and our game. It is jolly to think of, and 

 belter, still, to enjoy. Poddeus. 



San Fruncixco, California, Nov. 3d, 1874. 



For Forest and Stream. 

 TROUTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 



« 



a tutte experience. 



I A LAV ATS read Fokest and STBEA.il with interest, 

 especially the adventures of trout fishermen, and hav- 

 ing been myself a disciple of Walton for the past fifteen 

 years, and during that time met with various adventures, I 

 may be pardoned if 1 relate my experience in "trespassing" 

 on "the meadow of a well-to-do farmer. The farmer re- 

 ferred to, for many years lived in the town of W , 



County of York, State of Maine. From a neighboring 

 mill pond flows a good-sized brook, for years past abound- 

 ing in the "speckled beauties. 11 The first quarter of a mile 

 the brook flows through alternate woods and meadows, and 

 is thoroughly fished every season in this part. After fish- 

 ing this distance, the spo'rtsman comes to a fence, beyond 

 which lies a broad, open meadow of another quarter of a 

 mile in length, the farmer's house standing on elevaled 

 ground some thirty rods from the brook, and overlooking 

 the entire meadow" below. Jumping l he fence the eye of 

 the trouter would at once rest upon a board sign posted 

 uear the brook on which was the following "uotis;"— 

 "Trespasing on this meddow is forbideu." My first 

 visit to thisljrook was some ten years since I had heard 

 of the brook, had seen baskets and "strings" of beautiful 

 trout said to have been caught above, and below, but had 

 never heard of anyone being allowed to fish through the 

 Old man's meadow. The universal story was that "Old 



C ■", as he was familiarly known among fishermen, "was 



at home to-day and drove us out," because forsooth we 

 should "tread down his grass." Many were the devices of 

 neighboring sportsmen to fish that meadow. The tempta- 

 tion was very strong, increased fourfold by the good luck 

 attending us' above and below, as well as at the immediate 

 entrauce"r., the meadow, and what fishermen could resist 

 the temptation to have a quarter of a mile of such Ashing! 

 The old farmer would sometimes be seen in our city, some 

 eighteen miles from home, and in less than half an hotir 

 one or two fishermen would be on their way to the brook, 

 hoping to he able to fish it during his absence, but he in- 

 variably left his son at home to keep guard. 



As I 'said before, it was about ten years ago that I had 

 my first experience on the forbidden ground. With three 



others I drove to the town of W , where we divided 



two and two, one party commencing at the mill pond and 

 fi-hino- down stream, and the other two going below and 

 fishing up to the meadow. It was mutually understood 

 that only oue should enter the meadow at a time and each 

 should appear entirely ignorant of the. other's presence, in 

 order that if we could not fish the enclosure, we might 

 gain some satisfaction in seeing the old gentleman travel 

 the length and breadth of his meadow to drive us out. 1 

 1 happened to be one of the party who fished lrom the' mill 

 down (I always prefer fishing a trout brook down instead 

 of up') My companion reached the meadow first anil 

 entered the'foi bidden territory. I remained concealed in 

 the brushes just above, within hearing and seeing distance 

 of what was goiti"- on. He had scarcely bailed his hook 

 and thrown it into the stream when a big, burly man came 

 at full speed across the field from the house, and asked if 

 he did not observe the sign forbidding fishing in his "med- 

 ilotv '■ At the same instant my friend pulled out a trout of 

 enviable size and placed il in his basket. Words did not 

 seem to have the desired effect, so the old gentleman com- 

 mr-nced throwing slicks and stones into the brook, entang- 

 ling the line and of course putting a sudden stop to any 

 farther fishing. This soon convinced my friend that he 

 had better retire, which he did, and related his experience 

 tome. The poor old man had scarcely reached hi-, house 

 when we saw one of our party enter the meadow from be- 

 low and immediately the farmer was seen to rush for the 

 opposite corner of his field to go through similar proceed- 

 in--, which, of course, resulted in Ids being a second time 

 the victor. It was now my turn, and with inconceivable 

 boldness 1 left my hiding place and in a moment more was 

 landing a good-sized trout, having been particular to have 

 my hook baited and in readiness in order to make the most 

 of my allotled time, which, at least, must be Miort. I had 

 scarcely placed a second trout in my basket wdien 1 dis- 

 covered the same burly form making bis way toward me, 

 with vengeance stamped upon his countenance. 



"I allow no fishing here, sir; you are the third one I 

 have driven out to-day." , 



"Ah ! Is that so? Why don't you allow it?" 



"Because you tread down my grass." 



"But if I will pay for all the grass I damage, can I not 



fish'*" 



"No, you can't pay for it, and yon cannot fish. 



"But I will wa le the brook and not touch your grass at 

 all; now can't 1 fish?" 



"No; I won't have any fishing here, anyway; I do not 

 allow even my own boy lo fish here, neither do 1 tiah my- 

 self." 



"Then you are not passionately fond of trout, as some 

 of US are?" . 



"No; 1 would sooner go tip to the mill pond and oatch 

 pickerel." 



"There is no accounting for tastes", said I, and as I slowly 

 retraced my steps to the woods above, I thought to myself 

 what a man be must be, not to fish himself or allow his 

 own boy to fish, and any trout fisherman who reads this 

 can judge of the enviable" feelings 1 had of that, meadow 

 brook, abounding, as it naturally must, with noble titrat 

 that had never been even pricked with a hook or frightened 

 by the approach of a fisherman. What a feast was there, 

 if one could only get at it ! While meditating over the 

 situation, 1 ohserved the fourth man put in an appearance 

 at the opposite side of the meadow, and he, too, was in 

 similar manner deult with. We at once repaired to our 

 teams, and with half-filled baskets, sat down by the road- 

 side near his house and lunched. Presently the old man 

 came along and took notes of each and every one oT us, 

 asking our names (of course we gave our right names,) 

 and endeavoring to fix our countenances su as to remember 

 them a second time. One of the party on giving his name 

 as "James Jenks, of Portland," was rather taken aback by 



hearing the farmer reply: "Now, Mr. E , what is 



the use for you to lie; me and my darter traded nigh forty 



dollars worth at your store in B only last week," 



showing that fictitious names would not work as well near 

 home as they might elsewhere. 



My second adventure with this farmer was the following 

 year. In company with an elderly gentleman, Who has 

 "wonderfully prolonged his love of trout-fishing to very 

 nearly three score years and ten, and with whom I have 

 the present season driven twice from ten to fifteen miles 

 training, and tramped for miles in the broiling sun, a man 

 wdio is to-day as sprightly and youthful as he w-as at twenty; 

 in corapauy with this gentleman I went to the same brook, 

 and after fishing the meadow below, we, together, climbed 

 over the fence and commenced fishing. Scarcely had we 

 thrown a line when I heard a stentorian voice shouting 

 from the neighboring hillside: "Get out of my meadow" 

 My aged friend being quite deaf could not hear the orders. 

 and being disposed myself to "fight it out on that Hue" as 

 long as possible, I paid no attention to his shouting and 

 continued my fishing till his legs took the place of his 

 lungs, and he presently made himself the third member of 

 our parly. My companion pleaded his inability to hear his 

 orders, but somehow inadvertently forgot that his eyesight 

 was good enough to read the "notis" posted at the entrance. 

 I was, of course, recognized as having heen there before, 

 and for me there was only two alternatives; "pay me five 



dollars, Mr. H , or I shall commence an action of 



trespass against you." Having never as yet been party to 

 an action at law, and thinking it might be somewhat of a 

 novelty, I concluded to tell him that he had "belter com- 

 mence his action at once;" and with this we withdrew, aud 

 renewed our fishing on the unforbidden territory of his 

 neighbors, and I may add, we met with fair success. But 

 the "more I went there and was driven away, the more was 

 my curiosity excited lo know and realize the contents of 

 that brook, and I resolved a third time to fish the meadow 

 before the season was over. 



Accordingly I made a third attempt shortly after, and 

 went alone. Leaving my horse at the mill above, I fished 

 down through the woods till I came to his fence, when I 

 adopted a little strategy, hoping to be more successful than 

 before. The meadow grass was quite high, and I con- 

 cluded rather than lose the anticipated sport, I would crawl 

 through the entire meadow. So lying down flat on my 

 belly, I crawled under the fence, jointed my rod and there 

 lay in the tall grass, working my way along beside the 

 brook, and pulling out the trout one after another. I had 

 this time succeeded in capturing eight beauties and crawled 

 perhaps ten rods, when probably my pole exposed my 

 strategy, for on looking up I saw the old man approaching 

 with a "huge fence rail in his hand, followed by his son, a 

 strapping, great country boy, with a club in his hand also. 

 To me, just about that time, "discretion was the better part 

 of valor," and in less timelhan it takes me to write this, I 

 had my pole unjoinled, and with pole and basket I started 

 for the woods as fast as my legs would carry me. Being a 

 good runner I got quite the start of them, still I could hear 

 them giving chase in the distance. Knowing the woods 

 thoroughly they had the advantage of mc. I ran till I was 

 quite fired out, and then sat down in a thicket beneath 

 some huge brakes, which quite concealed me, and taking 

 out my lunch was quietly enjoying a fisherman's meal 

 when they both passed without discovering me, and I felt 

 quite easy over my supposed escape. Presently, however, 

 they commenced a return, and on the way back struck my 

 trail and discovered my ambuscade. They at once made 

 themselves acquainted. I found I needed no introduction 

 this time. Their threats were entirely with word.s, not 

 with clubs, and I soon ascertained that my bill of damages 

 had suddenly doubled itself, and ten dollars instead of five 

 was the smallest sum on which I could save myself from 

 the clutches of the law. I reasoned With them, and ex- 

 pressed a willingness to pay for all damage to (he grass, land 

 if my memory serves me aright, I thought fifty cculs would 

 liberally pay for the amount I had injured.) Nothing, 

 however, would satisfy them but ten dollars, andhaving 

 but a small portion of that sum with me, I had to submit 

 to his second threat of prosecution. Without any settle- 

 ment I returned to the brook with thern, and with an ex- 

 cessively covetous look at the meadow (in which I fear 

 I broke the tenth commandment,) I a third time "re- 

 treated in good order" to the woods above. As we parted 

 I politely asked the "time o' day," and suggested that if 

 their dinner was about ready I w-ould gladly accept an in- 

 vital ion lo dine with them, since I had lost a large portion 

 ol my lunch in my hasty run through the woods ! This 

 they "considered the" height of impudence; my proposals 

 were not accepted, and we thereupon parted. 



Not hearing ol" the proposed "action," I thought perhaps 

 a fourth trial might be made on the same favorable terms, 

 and perhaps with belter success. This time I decided to 

 try the brook very early in the morning, perhaps before the 

 farmer was up. Accordingly 1 drove one evening eighteen 

 miles after dark, put my horse in a neighboring barn, and 

 camped myself on the hay-mow for a short rest. At two 

 o'clock I turned out in readiness for the, brook, bui found 

 myself in a pouring rain-storm, which had come on during 

 the night, and not being prepared for any such emergency 

 1 abandoned the undertaking and returned home without 

 making the attempt. 



And now comes the sequel to this series of adventures, 

 which I think will be read with more interest than w 'hat I 

 have already written. A few weeks after my fourth unsuc- 

 cessful excursion, I received, through (he mail, a letter 



hearing the postmark W , and, of course, eagerly 



devoured its contents. I have preserved that letter to tuts 

 day as a reminder of by-gone days, and to show to my 



trouting friends. Thinking this curiosity may prove of in- 

 terest la connection with my story, I will copy it. verbatim 

 et literatim, with the exception of the names: — - 



W , June 7, 1807. 



Mr. n , Dear Sir:— I am compelled to either loose 



my hay crop in my meadow or protect it from men who go 

 a fishing, you made a trespass upon it on the 28th of 

 August' last" & another on the 21st of last month after be- 

 ing forbidden both timed, voj are liable to 2 actions on 

 each day besides calling yo"ur name & place of residence 

 that which it was not. I have called at your office to see 

 you twice, but you was gone from home both times I was 

 told. I have made no noise & said nothing to any one 

 about, it did not intend to (PHill I saw you. now all Ihave 

 to say about it Sir is if you wish no prosecution & the 

 thing to stop where it is Just put a 1110.00 bill into a letter 



& direct it to J C , W M.E. & when I get it 



this shall be your receipt in full for both offences, otherwise 

 I shall certain prosecute soon. 



Yours with respect— J C . 



Here, Mr. Editor, was a subject for thought, for rejec- 

 tion, and for careful consideration. I consulted our "He- 

 vised Statutes" of Maine, and received such consolation as 

 I could from reading the following sections-.— 



"Whoever willfully commits any trespass by entering 

 the garden, orchard, pasture or improved land of another 

 with intent to take, carry away, destroy or injure the trees, 

 shrubs, grain, grass, hay, fruit, turf or soil thereon, shall 

 be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty dollars, aud im- 

 prisonment hot more than thirty days. 



"Whoever willfully enters and passes over any garden, 

 yard or other improved field, after being expressly forbidden 

 'no to do hi/ the owner thereof, shall be punished by fine not 

 exceeding five dollars, or imprisonment not more than ten 

 days." 



Heading the first section above I felt clear as to my in- 

 tention not being to injure or destroy his grass, and reading 

 the second section, I (bought the "fine" could not kill me, 

 and as to the "imprisonment," I concluded if the judge 

 should think I could serve the county better for ten days 

 than I could my own private interests, I would accept the 

 situation. I therefore resolved to let the action begin at 

 once, if lie saw fit lo commence jt. I read and re-read his 

 letter, showed it .o my trouting friends, who seemed to 

 enjoy it with me, and all expressed a desire to have the 

 matter tested, even if I was to be the victim of circum- 

 stances. All at once a novel thought struck me, and I con- 

 cluded to have some sport out of it, if nothing more. I 

 had in my possession a lot of Confederate money, bills, 

 scrip, bonds, etc., which had heen given me as relics of the 

 late war. It occurred to me to enclose to his address, as 

 above, a ten dollar bill of this kind and sec how it would 

 strike the old gentleman. I did so, directing it as requested, 

 without word or comment. The result of this was not 

 known to me until a year afterward. Suffice it to say, that 

 no prosecution was ever begun against me. The following 

 season I was asked by a distinguished citizen, not now liv- 

 ing, to accompany him on a trouting excursion the next 

 day. I accepted his invitation, aud before four o'clock in 

 the morning were on our way into the country. Inquiring 

 of my friend, 1 learned (hat' his destination was the very 

 brook tin which 1 had so often tried so unsuccessfully to 

 fish He said he was going to fish "right through the 

 meadow." I related to him my previous experience there, 

 and said of course I must not be caught there again. He 

 replied: "I have a little understanding with this man, aud 

 he has recently told me I could fish his meadow." "13ut 

 of course he will not allow me to fish, with our old matter 

 as yet unsettled." "I think I can fix it so you can," was 

 my friend's reply. When we reached (he brook it was 

 decided that I should remain in the meadow below, fishing, 

 while my friend drove directly to the old farmer's door and 

 put his horse in his barn. I afterward learned that the fol- 

 lowing conversation ensued between fanner and fisher- 

 man; — 



>cj[ r , (j , I have come up this morning to accept your 



invitation to fish this brook." 



"You know I told you if von would come alone some- 

 lime you might lish a little while in the meadow after my 

 grass was cut. Are you alone?" _ 



"No; Ihave not come alone; I have a friend with me; 

 he is down below, fishing." 



"Who is he?" 



"MvfrieiidMr.il ." 



"What, the one I have driven out from my meadow three 

 times?" , ,, , 



"Yes Mr. C , he is the very same Icllow, and you 



need lie uo more afraid of having him lish here than of 

 having me." 



It required a good deal of persuasion on the pait of my 

 companion lo gain consent for me to enter the meadow, 

 but it was finally arranged (just how 1 never knew,) that, we 

 should both enjov a Utile sporl in a brook never before 

 fished. When iold that I was to lish the meadow, I could 

 hardly believe my own eyes when 1 saw mysell climbing 

 the fence, this time without fear of molestation. We 

 jointed our rods, and decided to make thorough work of it, 

 and thorough work I think we did make. Never before or 

 since have, I enjoyed such downright sport Weti-hed 

 till noon when our baskets were more than lull, and then, 

 at the call of the farmer's horn, we went to the house, 

 where I once more stood face, to lace with my old friend, 

 the farmer himself ! We shook hands cordially, I remark- 

 ing: "I think I have met you, Mr C , on one or two 



"">'Ves"\ t 'i,i M k your face is familiar, and I believe I have 

 a little note in toy pocket-book which I lake it you seut 

 inc." 



"Well 'Mr. C , you did not say what kind of anote 



I must send, so I sent a Confederate note, thinking it might 

 be a curiosity, if nothing more." 



"!v,w Mr II ■, whenever you want to Ash, come 



right hero and put up your horse and fish, only be careful 

 who you bring with you; now come into dinner, wife is 



* To dinner we went, and seldom have I sat down to abet- 

 ter meal than was given us there. After dinner we renewed 

 our fishing.aud again filled our baskets, and again the born 

 was blown.and we were invited to supper, and atter supper 

 started for home, bringing with us the handsomest string 

 of trout ever brought into the City of B :. They 



