FOREST AND STREAM 



227 



numbered ninety-two, and weighed from one quarter of a 

 pound lo upwards of one pound each. 



1 think we must have been the first ones to fish tliat 

 entire meadow for many years. 1 went there again a short 

 lime after, during the summer of 1808, but had no such 

 sport as i he rirstliine, and I have fished the brook many 

 limes since, but it never discounted so handsomely as the 

 first lime. The old genlleman lias, within a couple of 

 years, sold his farm and moved away, so tliat the brook is 

 now open to all, and it lias bad such a "run" upon it that 

 the present, season it is considered worthless as a fishing 

 ground, 1 often see my farmer friend, and- lie seems lo 

 enjoy ft hearty laugh oyer the Confederate bill now as much 

 OS ever. 



Another practical joke, once played upon him by one of 

 our fishermen Will hear repetition here, lie had trespassed 

 like Ihe rest of us, and had been threatened with prosecu- 

 tion. The farmer came down one day and called at the 

 gentleman's office lo see if he would not prefer to settle the 

 mailer without an action. He found the gentleman in his 

 office, who asked him to be seated a few moments while he 

 went to the post office. The fanner took a chair and waited 

 there nearly all day for the gentleman's return, and finally 

 made inquiries where he was, and learned that he had 

 taken the train for New York shortly after he came into 

 the oflioe. 



Such, Mr. Editor, are the not tin frequent experiences of 

 trout fishermen, and while, perhaps, the sportsman may 

 Oftentimes bo at fault, I am of the opinion that if farmers 

 would tie willing to accept a moderate compensation from 

 fishermen for crossing their meadows, they would be doubly 

 paid for all grass that is damaged, and save many hard 

 W0Ms o« both" sides. F. If. 



Biddejord, Maine, Sept. 1, 1874. 



*»+- 



For Forest and Stream. 

 A BEAR HUWT. 



MY friend, Dr. B., and myself, sat on his veranda in 

 I lie afternoon of a glorious Autumn day, lazily 

 smoking long-Stemmed pipes, it was one of those days 

 when The afr is just cool enough to brace up the whole 

 system, and make 'every nerve and fibre in the body thrill 

 with exuberant life. The frost had touched the forest, and 

 the trees, 



"Like the doomed in Aztec story, e're the dreadful racriflce, 



Stood arrayed In vasLbre glowfog with tlie ruiubow's richest dyea." 



■\\ e bad just returned from a deer hunt, and the antlered 

 monarch— liie trophy of the morning's chase — was being 

 relieved of his hide in the back yard. 



"This is getting monotonous," said the doctor: "we have 

 hunted deer uiilifl am tired of it. I move an expedition 

 against 'bruin. 1 " 



Ami even as he was speaking, a clamor amongst the 

 hounds and a rush by them to Ihe front gate, gave evidence 

 l lia> some one was there. Going out we found an adoles- 

 cent Arkansian mounted on a mustang. This youth was 

 of the one "gallus," copperas-breeches" breed, red-headed, 

 and otherwise embellished withacoon skin cap and a brass 

 spur. He opened his mouth and spake thusly : — 



"Doc, dad says he wants you to come down and bring 

 some, help, and all the dogs you can raise, and kill a bar that 

 is about to ruin us. You see,'' he explained, "we planted 

 late and our corn 'aint quite hard; that ar bar took to it by 

 Ihe lime il was just in roasting-ear, and he haint left it yet. 

 lie is about ilie size of this boss, and his track is a durned 

 sight bigger than any nigger's on this plantation. He comes 

 in every night reglar." 



"You are just the boy we wanted to see," said the doctor; 

 "we will bo down to-monow evening." 



Messengers were immediately sent to three gentlemen 

 who lived near, who owned some good bear dogs. The 

 doctor and 1 went to work to get everything in readiness 

 for a start the next day at noon, so as to reach the place 

 where the bear was committing his depredations — fifteen 

 fiiiles below on the river — before night fall. The gentle- 

 men sent word that they would be on hand at the appointed 

 hour, with about twenty-live good dogs that were "up to 

 bear." Punctually at the time agreed upon, we heard their 

 horns, announcing l heir approach. First rode our friend 

 "Col. John," as tine a specimen of vigorous manhood as 

 could he Found; he was mounted on a powerful horse, and 

 his whole "rig" proclaimed him a mighty slayer of the 

 black bear. 



"He was a stalwart knight and keen, 

 And had in many A bailie been," 



-with the bruin family. He was armed with a short, 

 single-barreled rifle, 



"On which deep scats of old wounds did remain— 

 The cruel marks of many a bloody Held.' 1 



T think he called it a yharjer; anyway, it was about the 

 size of an old-fashioned, round, pine' match box. If a ball, 

 driven from it with a small howitzer load of powder, did 

 not make vrmt major his everlasting quietus lake, 

 he then went for him with his knife, and though 

 the stab from it might not be altogether as wide as 

 a church door, nor deep as a well, it was enough to do its 

 Work. The other two gentlemen were armed with double 

 guns, from which (hey shot "buck and ball," and all carried 

 the traditional "looth-pick." The dogs, gaunt and grizzly, 

 were a mongrel breed, a mixture of Scotch terrier, hound 

 and bull dog. They were scarred and mangy, and some of 

 them were as guiltless of hair as any of the "largest Pachy- 

 dennata, except on their flunks. The doctor had eight bear 

 dogs, which increased the pack to over thirty, as ugly and 

 savage brutes as ever gave chase to anything. 



After lunch we were all off, amidst a baying and yelping 

 that was almost ear-splitting, and an hour before suuset 

 reached the place where the granger was disposing of his 

 "crap" without the intervention of a middleman. His 

 cabin stood near the river bank, in a field of some twenty 

 acres. The river made a dolour of ten or fifteen miles, and 

 then back to within a mile of the same place. VVithin 

 this bond the cane grew raukly and thick-set; in many 

 places the ground was covered with drift wood and debris 

 from the overflow. Vines and briars obstructed the way 

 in nil directions. Here bruin had his home, and here we 

 were to hunt him. While the rest fixed for camping, the 

 Colooel and I walked out to the field to reconnoitre." We 

 found signs all over the clearing, and the havoc the beat- 

 had made, in the corn was something amazing. 



"lie is a whopper," said the Colonel, "and will lead us a 

 lively chase to-morrow." 



On our return to the hivouac we found a smoking supper 

 and a pot of coffee, hot enough to curl a moustache, and 

 strong enough to float an iron wedge. We ate as only 



hunters can, then nfler divers puffs at our pipes, some songs 

 and stories, and a cup of potent "mountain dew," by the 

 camp fire's ruddy light we turned in, wrapped in our 

 blankets, on a bed or cane, with only the .starry sky above 



us, but a blazing tire at our feel, and" slept the sleep of the 

 bleSsed. In the niiddle of the night, gelling a little cold, 

 I awoke and found the dogs lying around promiscuously, 

 some comfortably curled Up close to n hunter, but I did 

 not disturb them". Alter replenishing the lire with Sotue 

 dry Cottonwood I lay down. High in air I could hear the 

 rustle of wings of the wild fowl, and the snoring of the 

 doctor and Colonel John mingled soothingly with Ihe puff 

 of a far-away steamboat. Lulled by these sounds I slept 

 again to dream of following stump-tailed plantigrades 

 through interminable swamps, and trying vainly to shoot 

 them with guns that would never tire. A I daybreak we 

 were astir, and afler a hearty breakfast, loaded our guns 

 and prepared for action. 



"There must be no snapping," said the Colonel; "aim 

 close behind the shoulder and Tow down." 



The sun rose bright and gloriously as we mounted; a 

 slight wind was blowing from the North, and everything 

 seemed propitions. While the rest were sent to different 

 points to intercept the bear, if possible, Colonel John and 1 

 went to put on the dogs. The hounds soon gave tongue on 

 bruin's trail and worked it up in a brisk, walk. This leads 

 directly away from the field through the "cu-sedest" brake 

 of drifted cane on the river. As we advanced the trail 

 grew warmer, the curs occasionally putting in a yelp; then 

 came a burst of canine noises, yelps, roars and hayings, 

 that made each particular hair on my head stand on end, 

 and every nerve and fibre in my frame thrill with wild ex- 

 citement! "He's up," cried the Colonel, and uttering a 

 yell that would have astonished Shackuasty Jack, he 

 plunged into the thickest of the cane, as if he had been rid- 

 ing through a weed prairie. The bearded straight off, and I 

 followed, as best I could, picking my way through the 

 thinnest cane. 



"The Colonel will have him skinned before we catchup," 

 said Jim, "if he follows on as he was going when be passed 

 me." 



The dogs had never stopped the bear for a moment, and 

 he was leading them a tearing race. 



"Let's renew our spiribul strength," said Jim, "and fake 

 a fresh start after hitn." 



By this time silence had settled deep and still on the 

 forest where wo were, but we followed on in the direction 

 that the chase had swept; finally we heard the hayings of 

 the pack faintly borne to our ears, until it grew loud and 

 boisterous. 



"They are coming right back this way; let us cross that 

 slough," said Jim, "I'll meet him if he comes this side." 



So I rode up to the bank, which was very steep, and tried 

 in vain to urge my horse to take it. I got off and tried to 

 lead him down the bank, but he would not go. The paek 

 was coining nearer and nearer; they were almost opposite, 

 when, suddenly, with a crash, bruin came tearing down 

 the bank on the opposite side; my horse, wild with fright, 

 reared and pulled back, making' it impossible for me to 

 shoot; so bruin, with a right about, rushed back up the 

 bank amidst the dogs. Oh, what a yell was there, ray 

 countrymen ! Charging through the pack he lead off up 

 the river. 



"Why the thunder didn't you shoot?" cried Jim. 



"How the deuce could 1 with this infernal horse dragging 

 n;e backwards through the brush?" said I. 



We'tinally followed on as best we could. Bruin was get- 

 ting tired, and would stop occasionally and fight off "the 

 dogs. We struck a comparatively open ridge, and were 

 riding hard when my horse stepped into a bote, executed 

 some remarkable feats in ground and lofty tumbling, which 

 caused me to leave my seat in the saddle and "wafk off on 

 my ears," and by the time that I could Tepair damages and 

 get about half a pound of the sacred soil of Arkansas out 

 of my gun barrels, the bear, dogs, Jim, and all had gone 

 clear out of hearing. I mounted and rode on desperately, 

 but soon heard the pack coming toward the river, near 

 which I was riding. The bear was now fighting as he 

 went into an almost impenetrable cr.ne brake. Sometime 

 he would stop for several minutes — as I could toll by Ihe 

 baying of the dogs— and then come en in the direction of 

 the water. I rode on towards him until within about a 

 hundred yards. I could tell that he had slopped and was at 

 bay. I waited for him to come nearer, hilt he did not move, 

 and fearing that some of the party would get in first, 1 dis- 

 mounted, and tying my bridle to a limb, walked towards 

 the dogs; as I advanced the cane grew thicker, as it was 

 "drifted" by the groat, overflow, so I found it difficult to 

 make my way through it. Finally, I came near lo where 

 the pursued and pursuers were engaged in a sanguinary 

 fight, for in overy few minutes I could hear some of the 

 pack yell in agony as he got it hot from bruin's paw. 

 My heart beat violently, and 1 could feel the blood coursing 

 through the arteries in my nock, as advancing a little 

 further I saw the immense beast, who was on a fallen tree 

 six or eight feet in diameter, slowly walking up and down, 

 with the dogs on each side of him. They could not do 

 much with him as long as he held that position. I stopped 

 a moment to collect myself and get my nerves steady, ami 

 just as I was about to advance, the bear got off the log orj 

 my side and came slowly towards me. He had not seen 

 me, and came on swinging his head from side to side. 1 

 stood at the foot of a lame tree and he came directly to- 

 ward me. When about ten or fifteen feet intervened, he 

 turned a little to the right and made a rush forward at a 

 dog. I stood with both hammers at a cock from the 

 moment he got off the log, and as he turned halt round 

 after a dog behind him, I drew close in near his shoulder 

 and fired. With a snort he reared upon his haunches and 

 struck out wildly with his fore paws. Taking quick aim 

 at the Centre of his breast, 1 pulled trigger again and sent 

 the other charge clean into his chine. At this he doubled 

 up his fore paws and came to the ground. Willi a wild 

 rush the dogs seized him; their savage fury being terrible. 

 They laid hold on every available part of bis body and 

 limbs, but their tierce wrath was spent on a lifeless carcass. 

 After considerable trouble I bear off I lie dogs, and then 

 blew a blast on ray horn, which was answered by Jim, who 

 came up promptly with refreshments. 



The rest had heard the shots, and all were soon on the 

 ground. We had no means of weighing the dead animal, 

 and I will not risk my reputation, as a veracious bear slayer, 

 by saving how much he "cut on the ribs." He, at any 

 rate, came fully up to Cnk-nel John's idea of a "whopper. ' 

 If any man wishes a rough day's sport, let him try a day 

 after Lear in a White Kiver cane brake. C a von. 



Corinth, Miss, October, 1874 



"TO FLORIDA FOR ONE HUNDRED 

 DOLLARS." 



Enrron Forest and Stream :— 



In a recent issue of the Fuuf.st axd Stream I noticed 

 an article descriptive of a $100 trip to Florida, and as 1 

 "have been there" on more than one occasion, 1 am dis- 

 posed to have my say. 



Your correspondent states that the trip to Enterprise 

 from Jacksonville will cost $ 18, ami to return $13; entire 



trip, $34 A large portion of this expenditure can be ad- 

 vantageously saved by the tourists making the trip in a 

 small boat. " If the seeker for pleasure camps nut at a par- 

 ticular point on the river, he will soon tire of h daily view 

 of the same objects and crave for pastures new. A person 

 who proposes spending several months in the State would 

 find a boat journey pleasant. 03 well as instructive. 



Let I wo or three excursionists unite and purchase a 

 second-hand batteau about eighteen feet long, which can 

 bo obtained at from twenty to thirty dollars in any of our 

 Northern cities; supply her with centre-board, rudder, and 

 a sprit or leg of mutton sail, costing in the aggregate from 

 thirty-five to forty-five dollars, We visited Jacksonville a 

 few days since, and made inquiries regarding the price of 

 boats, and we have reason lo believe "thai the boat would 

 prove a safe investment, and bring cost price; if boat WOS 

 even abandoned at end of trip, her purchase would prove a 

 more profitable investment than paying for passage up and 

 down the river. 



From Jacksonville to Pilatka, and at other points along 

 the river, a sail can be used as a means of effecting a change 

 of base; and when old Boreas fails in his attentions, an 

 "ashen breeze" can be used ad libitum, and the river 

 ascended at from two to three miles per hour. With a 

 boat, the tourists could examine the various tributaries and 

 lakes en route, and visit unfrequented localities, where ex- 

 cellent hunting and fishing can be secured. At Enterprise 

 the tourists could secure a stock of provisions, and ascend 

 the river to lakes Winder and Washington, and enjoy 

 hunting aud fishing in localities seldom visited by sports- 

 men. 



Having lived in tenls in moTC than one portion of the 

 world, L flatter myself that I am an authority on nomadic 

 subjects, and must differ with your correspondent regarding 

 the construction of tents, lie recommends one "with 

 walls four feet high," but trampers will find an A-shaped 

 tout seven feet to ridge, nine feci deep and seven feet wide, 

 the most portable, easiest to pitch, best to shed rain, coolest 

 under a hot sun, and last, though not least, the cheapest 

 and easiest to make by the uninitiated. The cost of the 

 material, at eighteen cents per yard, would be about five 

 dollars, aud the trampers could make it on board of vessel 

 before reaching Jacksonville. 



Food is an important item, and a proper fit out in the 

 way of fishing tackle, and sporting appliances would add 

 to the culinary department as well as curl ad expenditure 

 for eatables. "If unsupplied with strong jointed rods, we 

 would advise the excursionists to provide themselves, before 

 leaving the North, with four strong Japan bane' rods, (not 

 bamboo,) a few spinners and spoons, and some strong lines 

 and Virginia, Limerick or Chestertown hooks. A mess of 

 trout (bass) can be captured at any time by trolling with a 

 spinner and line from 60 to 120 feet in length, in open 

 water. But as lily pads exist in many lakes, ponds and 

 rivers, a bob must be used. A very useful bob can be made 

 by tying a few scarlet feathers to a strong hook. Line lo 

 be about three feet in length, and attached to the end of a 

 long and stout pole. One must cautiously row the boat, 

 aud" another skitter the open places between the lily pads. 

 When a fish is hooked the fisherman must haul in 'his rod 

 hand over hand, for if a large fish is allowed to play among 

 the lily pads and foul the line the excursionists will be apt 

 to retire to roost supperless. The above has not been 

 written for the benefit of experts; but for those whose 

 larder may require replenishing. The artistic mode of 

 fishing for' trout fbass) is with rod, reel, float, and minnow 

 in open water. The uninitiated will ask how am 1 to cap- 

 ture minnows in the wilderness, where earth-worms cannot 

 be secured for bait. I am disposed to aid the greenhorn, 

 and would advise him to examine the stems of the lily pads, 

 and in many of ihem he will discover a small hole. If the 

 stem is split open a borer will be discovered; and if these, 

 with small hooks, are used in shallow water, a supply of 

 minnows can be captured. But by using a bob, a spinner, 

 or spoon, a supply of fish can be secured at almost any 

 point above Pilatka. 



If three should unite in an excursion to Florida the cost 

 of trip by sailing vessel aud return would be $00, (and as a 

 majority' of vessels go out light, transportation could be 

 secured for boat, free of charge.) Expense Of boat. $40; 

 small stove and cooking utensils. $10; fishing rods and 

 tackle, $8; ammunition, $13; tent $<fc Leaving $134 for 

 provisions and incidental expenses. We haye reason to 

 believe that the boat would bring $20, if nol prime cost, 

 which could be placed to Ihe credit of the provision ac- 

 count. By Ihe use of a boat (lie trip can be made lor much 

 less than * the sum indicated by Fred Beverly. 



Al Fresco. 



A Good Bifle.— We will not charge for the following 

 notice, though we cannot help thinking it will benefit the 

 Bille Company more than the Forest .vxn Stream. Il is 

 from J. H. Batty, who is now in Minnesota on his return 

 from the Northern Boundary survey. He is collecting 

 deer heads for mounting. He says : 



Perhaps it would not be out of place here to speak of the 

 merits of the improved Winchester rifle for the benefit 

 of. spo.-tsmen. 1 have used one of them ibis fall, and 1 find 

 it to be Ihe best shooting breech loading rifle for short 

 range (from 50 to b'00 yards'] ihat I have ever used. In ad- 

 dition to its shootina; qualities, it, is easily and rapidly re- 

 loaded, and I have never known of one of the Winchester 

 guns (model of '78j, to become leaded, or have the shells 

 stick in the barrel when the gnu becomes very dirty. The 

 sights are decidedly an improvement on those of I lie rifles 

 pfsome makers, and 1 have heard many old hunters say 

 that the whole gun. is "just dead medicine." In fact, the 

 " Winchester" is the favorite gun for limber hunting, par- 

 ticularly in an Indian country, and some of the Montana 

 buffalo 'hunters have already got Ihem to use while running 

 buffaloes. 



■♦•♦■ 



— The New Bedford Standard announces the capture of 

 138 black bass at Cuttyhunk with a rod and line . 



