FOREST AND STREAM. 



347 



for one or two months, fishing being their principal b«Fln<w. As the™ 

 Iropperis were pontt boatmen, t hired them. They hncl then three or four 

 Mlmou(S) weighing ten or twelve pounds. We b«vc met wliji Bove.rHl 

 trappers here who trap all ihe Winter, and live pretty much like Indians. 

 They have u "coo hoc.," (canoe) some et.eel traps, llsriitie, lines, nets, etc., 

 and a long rule, with n little has for balls, and a coon's skin cop. They 

 live in "SfiObnagV made of plunk, pole?, or reeds, as chance directs, 

 and they "git Ihe ran o' the varmints" in one or two nights. One old 

 fellow was camped on Belle Canton Island, and while we. were there 

 euuqht eleven illustrate and seven coons in one nleht, which was a good 

 night's work, I suppose, lie had a "kinder" (j. c. a more ftnle-i no- 

 tion of goinc tip Little Tennessee, to get a few bear, as their skins are 

 more valuable. 



I rather Taney the life would be much more conducive to piety than 

 engineering. With a good shot, gun and a rifle I could have, the finest, 

 wild game for food. The fishermen 1 hired have a boat, fifty feet long, 

 with a house on it, a cooking stove, two porticos, and a place to keep 

 live fish in all the Lime, also nets, fishing tackle, &c. Altogether Ihey 

 would have a gooil time, if they would only wash occasionally and keep 

 a change of clothes. There were nearly two pounds of ova taken from 

 the. salmon (?) by guess. There were two lohes eight or ten inches long, 

 and fiom one and one half to two Inches wide and about one inch thick. 

 You ciin e.-tim.'ite the number probably. I killed a phea--aut, two hares 

 and a squirrel the other day, atid we have very ortcu as much game at) 

 wo can eat. How would you anil your family like to join ns in an edifice, 

 on the walcr* Sonrs trot}, A. H. G, 



The salmon of the Western rivers is known to us us tile 

 pike-perch. — Ed. 



-*•«- 



Lexisoton, Ky., December SH, 1ST!. 

 KrnToit Forest and Stream; — 



At the animal cleciion of officers, December 38, Tor the Hunter's Club, 

 the following were elected for 187S; 1!. A. Thornton, preside nt; Jlnjor 

 John It. Viley. vice pre-ident: J. M. Taylor, se.-ret.-ey and treamrcr; 

 Horace G. Craig, Proife Waters, Dr. «. W. Dudley, directors. By nnlr, 

 of the president, 1 have notified the members or the Kxecui.ive Commit- 

 tee to meet at Le.vtngton, Ky., on Wednesday, December 3D, to urrange 

 the programme for the meeting of toe Kentucky State Sportsmen.*' As- 

 sociation, the third Tuesday in May, at Paris, Ivy. Numbers lire con- 

 stantly joining the Association, and it promises to bo one of the largest 

 r.r State AssociiilloiiB. Will send programme when published. 



J. M. TATLon, Sec. Ky. S. S. A. 



A HUNTING TRTP. 



New Yoiik, December 31, IBM. 

 Eniron Forest and STnftAM.-— 



Some twenty years ago my two brothers and myself decided to go to 

 Chicago on a hnnting expedition, taking with us ' Sid" Smith, a well 

 known shot who had scoured the Country In qnosl of game ovei a raillus 

 or fifty miles from his home, but Who had never been on the great prai- 

 ries of the West. Fully equipped with all sorts of "shooting irons" and 

 a brace of setters, we left Sew York in December, 1854, via Erie It. I!, , 

 mid reached Chicago in duo time, and having hired a. wagon and noble 

 team of white horses, wo Started out. in fair spirits for the Kinkak'-e 

 River, but In crossing tlie brooks and 6ort places on the prairies had to 

 Bund forward an advanced guard to make depth, of soundings. After 

 prying out the vehicle several tim-is the harness gave way. and we had no 

 aiternativ* bill tauraUc. Tim night wn stopped nt n Ifoosier's house, 

 whose hair was doien his lock, and who said there had not been a barber 

 that way for five years. So Sid Smith, to oblige him, offered to perform 

 the tied;, and a pair of sheep shears having bean produced, a radical 

 chmejc was made in the appearance of the backwoodsman entirely satis- 

 factory to him, hut being cut in furrows, is not the present style of 

 wearing the hair. We dined on raccoon meat, unci our appetites found 

 n ) fault with the fare, We traveled forty miles on foot, and I had just 

 entered a woods Im quail, when I was startled by the snapping of the 

 twigs, and saw a noble deer not. twenty Teet from me . In a mo nent my 

 gun, loaded nith No. It) shot, was discharged in his forcquarters, but he 

 gave a snort and headed off, and was soon out. of sight. Nevertheless, 

 deer were plentiful in the tamarack swamps, and wo took three noble 

 specimens here. Such a thing as going such a distance from home, at 

 that time, was almost unknown, and wc were the objects of much citii- 

 osily wherever we stopped with our game. On our return by Lake Erie 

 wc tooka very larpe, hut very old steamer, and as she was very hem ily 

 loaded, and a severe gale coming on, wc were near going to the bottom. 

 The stateroom adjoining ours was occupied by two young men, one of 

 whemhad recently married, and he was constantly bemoaning his fate, 

 expecting his wife would aeon be a widow. On our trip to the Snnlt . ste. 

 Marie, the steamer General Jackson, on which we were passengers, ex- 

 ploded her boiler and killed four men, hut we safely got home with a flue 

 lot of venison and game, and kept our neighbors supplied for weeks 

 after our return. F. C. F. 



ANOTHER GUN CHALLENGE. 



Jacksonville, 111.. December 28, 1874. 

 Editoh Forest vnd Stream :— 



I am authorized by the president of the Kit Carson Sportsmens' Club, 

 Macon, Mo., to offer in his behalf a challenge to any club in the United 

 States, for one hundred dollars and upwards in field t hooting, The lo- 

 cality to be mutually agreed upon, either iu Missouri, Illinois, or Kansas, 

 the number not to exceed six or eight, o.i a side, chosen rrom each re- 

 spective club. Thegame to be anything in senson. M. M. B. 



«■» — 



PLAIN QUESTIONS PLAINLY AN- 

 SWERED. 



Portland, Me., December 23, 1374. 

 Eoirnn Forest amd Stream:- 



In your paper of ittll hut. I see that "Check Cord" asks a tew ques- 

 tions or "sportsmen," and as I claim to belong to the brotherhood, will 

 answer them according to my views, hoping others will do likewise. 1st. 

 "Is there tiny real satisfaction iu shooting Wilson (English) snipe during 

 the Spring night!" Don't know, never having tried it. It costs 5111 per 

 snipe to do if. here in Maine, and ought to cost »s much in Shrewsbury. 

 2d. "Arc we not. working against our own interests in shooting wild 

 fowl during the Spring?" I don't think we arc; the case, is not, parallel 

 to that of snipe. Tito eggs in the female are not far towards develop- 

 ment at the time of our Spjrhia coast -hooting of wild fowl. Wood ducks 

 are protected Willi us, and an attempt to prohibit the shooting of other 

 wild fowl during the Spring flight, would cause such an outcry as would 

 endanger all our giinj laws. 3d. "lias not, last Sumner's experience 

 proved to inosl sportsmen Ihe need to abolish Summer woodcock shoot- 

 ing?" No: bnl it has proved to many of them the need to abolish eight 

 snow siorms In April. !th. "Is it sportsmanlike to encourage the trap- 

 ping of wild pigeons during the time they are nesting?'' &c. Trapping 

 birds of any kind, or at any time, is unsportsmanlike; but the only prac- 

 ticable protection for wild pigeons must bo sought through th» Legisla- 

 tures of the States where they breed. Mac. 



To Avoid Wet Ff.et. — Here is another way to prevent 

 wuler from gelling through shoes. The composition also 

 makes 11 good harness dressing. Take neatsfoot oil, one 

 aiid one-half pints; beeswax, one ounce; spirits of turpen- 

 tine, four ounces; and stir until cold. Spread and ruh litis 

 composition over the leather while it is dump-, leather will 

 absorb oil and grease heller when dump than when dry. 

 For the soles, lake pine tar and rub it in before the lire 

 until the soles will absorb no more. Throe or four applica- 

 tions will be needed. The durability of the soles will he 

 ruiieh increased 



ffnchfittg md j§oniin$. 



HICII WATEU. FOR THE WEEK. 



Dale. 



Bostofl . 



Now York. 



CtorUston. 



.lan.r 



ll' 4(i 



a-' as 



i 46 



Jan S 





« 20 



8 S3 



Jim.9 



m 



in 1 



18 



Jau 10 



I IS 



m 45 



10 3 



Jan. 11 ,... 



■: « 



11 » 



10 4b' 



Jau. :&, 



■i m 





:i 2!) 



Jiin.-.a.. 



3 ait 



is 





A IWonrci, Yacht. — Mr. Jostph E. Van Dcnscn is con- 

 Struoliag nt Williamsburg a centreboard schooner yacht 

 for Mr. William T. Garner, of ihe New York Yacht Club, 

 anil owner of ihe dainty Magic. The new schooner will 

 eclipse Ihe famous Sappho in the matter of dimensions, 

 and will be built after that peculiar principle observed in 

 the Columbia; ami last year perfectly developed in Ihe 

 steam vacht Ideal. She will be 121 feel, on the water line, 

 Ills feet on deck, more than 14(1 feet over nil, 110 feel 4 

 inches hreadlh of beam, !) feet 4 inches depth of hold. Mid 

 about 00O tons burden. Her centreboard will be 30 feel 

 long by 14 feet wide. The vessel is to have a draught of (i 

 feel, but with her centreboard down she will draw about 

 31 feet inches, considerably more limn the load draught 

 of the, larerosl steamship afloat. Her rig will be that of a 

 fore and aft schooner. The spars will Tie as long as it is 

 possible to procure sticks, reaching 100 feet if they cm be 

 procured. The topmasts will be 50 feet in length, so that 

 if tiie Brooklyn Bridge is ever thrown across the East 

 Iliver, and the new yacht is then afloat and wanls to go 

 that way, they will require to be housed. In all details 

 the new yacht will be constructed in the most approved 

 manner. ' Not an improvement which can be satisfactorily 

 introduced will be omitled by her sagacious builder. It i's 

 expected that this craft will be lullv finished and ready to 

 go into commission by the 1st of June next. It has been 

 decided to christen her the Mohawk.— Herald. 



—The Clipper float Club of Pittsburg will have anew 

 house, that will cost $5,000. It will be made out of the 

 steamer Milncr, which has recently been engaged in the 

 trade of the Upper Missouri. 



—The, yacht Tidal Wave, Commodore Wra. Voorhis, 

 sailed on ihe 27th December for St. Thomas from Bermuda. 



—The Pickwick Boat Club of Hobokon have elected A. 

 M. Hopkins, Presideni; M. Dast, Yice President; II, II. 

 Stcr'ck, Treasurer; J. II. Reekie, Captain; Kobort Taylor, 

 Lieutenant. 



—The American yacht Josephine, N. Y\ Y. C, Captain 

 Phoenix, with Messrs. Talbnys and Croker on board, ar- 

 rived at Barbados irom Martinique December 9, remainotl 

 there one week and sailed December 10 for Trinidad. 



— There is now on exhibition at the Rooms of the Mari- 

 time Association, t)ii Beaver street, a most ingenious inven- 

 tion for delecting n leak in vessels. It is the invention of 

 J. D. Leech, and is worthy of a visit from parties interested 

 n marine matters. 



— The sloop lied Jacket has been added to the Brooklyn 



Yacht Club. 



—An international four-oared race for $5,000 and the 

 ehuiiipionship of lite world is to be arranged between a 

 picked lour Rejected by Bernard Biglin of this city and the 

 English champion four. The English four will probably 

 be J. M. Sadler, Robert fiagiriall, Thomas Winship, and 

 James Lnmsden . with Bovd and Taylor for substitute. The 

 Hon. Bernard fiiglin will" select John Biglin of this jity, 

 Thomas EUiolt of Greenpoint, L 1., Josh Ward and Hank 

 Ward of Cornwall, N. 1'., with Evan Morris of Pittsburgh, 

 Pa., for substitute. — JVmcs. 



YACHTING IN FLORIDA.— NO. 1. 



Editou Fokkst AND STREAM: — 



The December wind is busy to-night driving the snow 

 flakes into many a curling drift, and now and then with 



npulse Irving to fo; 

 1 the frozen Korth 



indi 



few of the dainty 

 f the doors and iu at 



the wind 



of the gl 



res ; but, the slor 

 >w within, and 11 



Super, r 

 pleasant 



Ki .i;t:y ;;. bfv 



Nova Scotia a 



ind varied as are 



ly enhances the cheetiness 

 >e bright flames of burning birch 

 is a camp fire, and carries one's 

 uac among the forests of Lake 

 nd Northern New York. But 

 these memories of our northern 

 rugged woodland, we will not not now lull ourselves with 

 associations of the sighing of Ihe wind in the pines and 

 spruces, but turn to recollections of the sunny land, where 

 the huge palmetto leaves rustle even now to gctitleairs, and 

 with swaying moss, and tall, gaunt cypress arms form a 

 scene that lias lit lie in common with the outlines of snow 

 that lie far and wide about us. 



Fleeing a year ago from the cold, your correspondent 

 found himself steaming rapidly away from one of the long 

 St, John on a small impetuous Utile 

 sy, bustling kind, imbued with the 

 ill things usually possess and exhibit, 

 size is not everything, 

 idling, and the rapid puff was not in 

 iver the small bow deck that just held 

 tuirs, Ihe order was given to old Paul, 

 to slow up, and Paul conveyed the 

 when the sharp ripple at the bow lost 

 breathed more comfortably, aTid with 



r seats and determined to abandon 

 ■am laziness in earnesl, in fact to do 

 possible. And the lesson was very 

 iug clouds, the currentless river, the 

 genlle wind, and all about was peaceful and free from sug- 

 gestion of haste, and eomirg fresh from driven clouds and 

 hurrying storms, it was enough to take in sunshine and 

 repose, leaving for another time action and progress. 



The afternoon found us at. Pahilka, Where the larder was 

 reinforced, ice purchased and a boat obtained. Al twilight 

 we pushed on, turning into the narrower and more pictu- 

 resque channels, where the forest crowded out to Ihe 

 water's edge, and sprays of flowering vines hung far over I he 

 flood, lost ill vain jtdminilion of their mirrored beauty and 

 grace. 



wharves of 



the lot 



vet 



yacht, one 



if the 



bt 



rest less spit 



it that 



sin 



to show tin 



1, after 



all 



It was ; 



day 



or 









a bell and t 



wo eas 





the well kit 



own pi 



ot 



same to the 



engiiii 



or, 



its rust le, t. 



ic engi 



ie 



a wide, hi/, 



- wake 



sp 



we laid la 



ck in 





northern hi 



sle, an 



i 1 



nolhing as 



hard 



IS 



easy. The 



slow d 



•ifl 



The water was deep even lo Ihe shore, and we cut the 

 bends of the slream close under the foliage that rustled 

 with Ihe breeze made by our motion, while views of re- 

 markable beautv opened everv moment before us. each in 

 deeper shade arid more mysterious beauty as the rapid dark- 

 ness came on. As later every form on shore was lost i 11 

 I lie dense blackness of night, it became a wonder to us how 

 old Paul could thread the devious and narrow channel, but 

 on we. sped, only hailing inshore once to lei, one of I he 

 great river boats go by. "The. huge thing came panlinglike 

 a leviathan breathing 'flame, and "with wide Open furnaces 

 easi iug broad bars of light, over Ihe. water, and rows of 

 colored signal lamps far above the. bright cabin windows, 

 she made a striking scene ngainsl Ihe nigh! as she sped on, 

 bearing a gay throng of pleasure seekers to ihe upper 

 river. 



We were not anxious, however, to get on There wis a 

 wealth of beauty, by Ihe way, that few on the great slream 

 wotilrl sec, and after feeling our way for a lime, old Paul 

 rang to "stop her !" "back her," and our little boai drilled 

 against a wood wharf, thai no one bnl 011 1 pilot could have 

 found with mi sign to mark il under the forest blackness, 

 and here lied up to a decayed dock, we did not envy Ihe 

 passengers going "on lime." 



Former experience told how there would be a rush for 

 seats, and a scramble for food, and a long cue of tired men 

 and women wailing lo learn ftom apalient.purserih.it 

 there were no mure slate rooms, no more beds on the floor, 

 and no more blankets for a curl up under ihe dining iible.-. 

 We were not at Ihe mercy of negro stewardesses, nor to be 

 snubbed by mngnifiecnl wuttcrs; we went as independctil as 

 chimney sweeps in a crowd. Your correspondent was 

 admiral of the fleet, (steamer .and two skills, failing master, 

 "ho'sttn light and inidshiptnite," and chief of Ordinance, 

 (one Scotland one Remington,) while Madame was in com- 

 mand of our cabin passengers, (maid and one cuild,) ami 

 reiirncd supreme over a ciliti:..y ileparlneml. consisling ( ,f 

 Iwo spirit lamps at night and a lire, oil shore in Ihe day 

 time. 



Just at the lime wc lied up hot. tea was singing on tine 

 lamp, hot soup, (lhauks to LoibL r ,) on the other, and With 

 rolls, devilled meals and canned' luxuries, there was a good 

 suppe-laid away, and ihe events of Ihe day rime in pleasant 

 retrospect through Ihe cheerim: medium of Sparkling wine. 



At dawn we clambered onto the old wharf. A wti.nl 

 road ran back from it through the forest to a settler's home. 

 Birds were singing gaily, among them our familiar Summer 

 friends ; but many strange notes came from the low 

 growth. Following what seemed to be Ihe sound of an 

 axe, a woodpecker was found, an earlier workman than 

 the lazy crackers. Il was one of Ihe large follows that 

 are some! i nuts seen on southern irees ; as large as a teal 

 duck, a gay handsome bird, with a bill like iron, and a head 

 that enables them lo exercise the feat long considered im- 

 possible, of sawing wood with a hammer. Ducks, herons, 

 walcr turkeys, osprcys, and other birds followed the nar- 

 row water in ihe their flight, shying above the live tops 

 as Ihey found us occupying liieir soiitudo, ami saying 

 hard things Of US in their own way, while, high Up on a 

 venerable cypress limb sat several ducks, rather an unusual 

 sight, and there they sal while we made a Are and eooLed 

 our breakfast, and only moved off when a ball went very 

 near I hem. 



Nothing can equal this mode of enjoying the southern 

 rivers. From Ihe lofty docks of Ihe sit-inners a gioat ileal 

 is seen, but every moment one is hurried ruthlessly away 

 from some spot Where there is every temptation lo linger, 

 and then left to while away hours al some binding where p re- 

 ceding crowds have gathered every flower, and alarmed 

 every bird with pistols and parasols.' 



After a leisurely breakfast on shore, as free from care as 

 gypsies, wc went on board, pul easy chairs on deck, and 

 laid our guns before us, and sleamed on through scenes of 

 great beauty ami variety, now and Ihen gelling a thick 

 Which was picked up and enjoyed by our men who cooked 

 them in the furnace under ihe boiler. 



About noon we reached Lake George and found it very 

 rough, but leaving the channel we followed an unusual 

 route through Ihe isl indsand ventured out, our yacht rolling 

 a good deali but wc soon came under Ihe west shore anil 

 found shelter. About midway on the shore is one of the 

 wonderful springs ileti are so beautiful. Leaving 1 be yacht, 

 we pole.l in a Hat Skiff Over a shallow bar, and lip ihe 

 stream that Hows from the spring. It passes through. 

 water lilies, and they were SWarratng wiih duck and rail. 

 while in the water that was as clear as air were sho.d.s of 

 tish, bass, mullet, long savftgfl looking pvrtiah and huge 

 catfish. They would not bite, bill were easily punched 

 with an oar, and wilh a spear numbers could have been 

 obtained, llalf a mile from the hike the stream ended in 

 a curve under a high bank, and here by hard rowing we 

 found Ihe spring, and looked down into a white walled 

 chasm through water that seemed loo ethereal lo support 

 ourskilt. li was a dizzy overlook down into thisdeeppool, 

 where long weeds writhed and swayed forty or filly feet 

 below us in Ihe swell of Ihe currci, a „d where shoals of 

 huge lisit would sweep out from under rocks and be swept 

 rapidly about like shadows. The walcr rose wilh such 

 force as lo make a high boiling center, where skillful row- 

 ing could poise a boat, only io slide away with a rapid 

 balloon-like motion ihat was not ai all pleasant. Fine pal- 

 meltoshad surrounded this wonderful pool wilh a lit and 

 beautiful shade, but Ihey were just then it heapof smoul- 

 dering ashes, having been cut away for cotton ground that, 

 might'betler have been laken from the unlimited for,-; 

 beyond Ihe small clearing. Vandal hands have rarely 

 marred a more weird scene, nor ignorance more surely 

 damaged ihe value of a rare possession; but so il is in 

 Florida; all bauds from the jewelled one 1 hat wrote its 

 owner's name in njin,t at St. Auguslinc, to the cracker's 

 horny palm, are against the ancient, the curious and the 

 beautiful, and ere long the cliffs will bear quack medicine 

 names, and the old walls will fall before want of laste, 

 and give way to pine feiuSet as ftrtd ihe old and mysterious 

 "Treasury wall" at St. Au-usiinc. I A disgraceful fad). 



Full of regret at Ihe useless loss of these trees we let. our 

 boat drift down the slreum, startling u;;ain the water fowl 

 and ihe rjsil, A pale laced cracker bov came alongside in 

 a du- out and tried hard lo .-ell a wild lurkey for a price 

 Ihat fell very rapidly, but we left it with bint, as hardly to 

 lie cooked over a spirit lamp, or to be safely done by'lbe 

 tin-man under ihe boiler. 



Steaming on we found the mouth of the upper St. John, 

 now a narrow rivet, flowing with some current through 

 dense forest, where new lorms of vegetable lire abound, 

 and seem to strive to cover over the river with plants that 

 Boai in miniature island* with the stream, and vfn.es 



