FOREST / > STREAM. 



63 



on the sand. We soon had the nest out, but it was a small 

 nest, only two or three ov&t a hundred all told. 1 found 

 room for them in my "wallet," and we turned back to the 

 next one. We found this by probing after a short search, 

 and as there were over ten dozen W. took oft' hia trousers 

 and tied up the legs for a wallet. Fancy the figure we 

 must have out promenading up the beach by moonlight, 

 with our trousers over our shoulders instead of where they 

 ought to be. But then we felt sure of not being surprised 

 by any of the fair sex in our dishabille, and luckily, too, 

 for us, there were no mosquitoes, which was quite a con- 

 trast to the way it was the last time 1 was at the "Horse 

 and Chaise." Then as I walked the beach, facias n stifr 

 soulhwestei , the mosquitoes would gather on the back of 

 my neck, under the lee 'of my head, as it were, so thick 

 that when I would strike around there my hands would 

 come away covered with blood. Now, fortunately, there 

 was not a single one about, but had they been as thick as 

 snme years ago w7tnt a time we should have had. 



We did not meet a single turtle on our way back except 

 the one I had turned. We were evidently too late, they 

 were through crawling for that night. The exact, time for 

 them to craw] has not been reduced to a positive rule. 

 Sometimes it is early in the night, and again late, but the 

 majority, 1 sometimes think, crawl with the rising tide. 

 Two o( the crawls we had passed we were obliged to 

 abandon; either the turtle had not laid or the sand was too 

 hard for us to punch a hole through it. Another was rob- 

 bed by the coous before we came back. Not a single egg 

 was left uusucked. This was the-nest of the turtle I had 

 turned. We walked down to him to decide his fate. He 

 was Blill flapping his flippers desperately in his helplessness. 

 What should we dp with him? The three of us would find 

 a hard job to pull him to the boat with a rope the next 

 morning. It would be quite as hard work to take him into 

 a boat on the outer beach, for even in this still time the 

 rollers weie heavy. As to killing him where he lay, as is 

 otten done, that might pay, for we could carry the best 

 pieces of meat and the fat away in buckets, hut W. said they 

 had not salt enough, he thought, to save it, and what htlie 

 they had he wanted to save on the chance of their killing a 

 deer while they were out. it, wouldn't pay to kill him for his 

 eggs as he had laved those which had matured, and the 

 coous had got. them, besides we had as many eggs almost 

 cared to carry. Our trousers were pretty well filled, 

 ami W. whs fearfully long-legged. This practice of kill- 

 ing ike turtle simply for their eggs, 1 am sorry to say, is 

 often resorted to One is sure of getting fresh eggs, it is 

 true. It was at last decided to let him lay where he was 

 uutil morning, and then if Mr. F. had secured any one of 

 us would come back and turn him over. Mrs. Webb had 

 told me that some parties had been down there fromMana. 

 tee, this season, and after turning turtles had gone off and 

 left them to their fate. This outrageous cruelty cannot be 

 too severely condemned; and how a man can abandon an 

 animal to such a fate, in cold blood, is more than I can 

 understand. It is bad enough to keep them on their backs 

 when they are really wanted for use, but to leave them to 

 die by inches in this way has less than no extenuating cir- 

 cumstances. A turtle would live in this way, exposed to 

 the weather, often over a week. 



On coming back to the first crawl we had met, where, it 

 will he remembered, we had both probed in vain, we found 

 the coons had been before us, and they had found the nest 

 also. Just where we had prodded and probed our best, not 

 far from the centre of the sign, they had found it. I pre- 

 sume their sense of smell must guide them, for I notice 

 they never dig iu but one place, and never dig at all unless 

 the turtle haB really laid. At this neat either we must have 

 disturbed them while at their meal or else they had filled 

 up at the nast where I had turned the turtle, for there was 

 only about a dozen empty shells lying on the sand. We 

 soou had the rest of them out. 1 think when I come to 

 live in this country I will try and break a dog to scent out 

 the eggs; but in the first place strichnine must be used 

 among these coon?, and liberally, too, for now there is 

 nothing to kill them oft. The coons that live near salt 

 water, though orten fat, are not usually eatable. A fish 

 diet makes them too high-flavored, and as a consequence 

 they are never hunted. The fur is too light to have any 

 value in this low latitude. 



Our trousers were well-filled by this last nest, for there 

 were over ten dozen in it, and we were glad that it wasn't 

 very far to the camp fire. As this had been blazing up 

 brightly ia the distance for some time past it told ub that 

 F. had retunrcd from his search. We were soon with him, 

 well tired with our loads and only too glad to find that he 

 had been thoughtful enough to get the coffee ready against 

 our arrival. We did not bother to count out what we had, 

 but from the reckoning we had kept at the nests we had 

 over a thousand eggs to turn into the bottom of the boat. 



Mi. F. had met with excellent luck too. He had turned 

 three huge turtle, two ol' them before they had layed, and 

 brought in two back loads of eggs. He did not think he 

 could carry quite as many in the bag as we could in our 

 trousers, as the bag was too square aud could not be rigged 

 wallet fashion, bm he thought he had over eight hundred. 

 He reported finding thirteen places where turtle had been 

 killed and cut up on the beach tliis season, besides finding 

 two which had been turned and abandoned as I have de- 

 scribed, As they were still alive he turned them right side 

 Up, hut it was some time before they could realize it suf- 

 fieieuily to know the way to the water. I forgot to men- 

 tion that we passed several places in our walk where they 

 had been slaughtered, but the north beach ib the favorite 

 for that, as the meat has to be carried only one or two 

 hundred yards at most across the island to where the boat 



can come on the inside. After comparing notes it was de- 

 cided to turn my turtle back into the sea, and also the one 

 of F.'s which had layed, while the other two we would 

 drag across the island alive and come up alongside of them 

 with the boat. This would give them a turtle apiece to 

 take home. I did not care for one, eggs were all I was 

 after. 



After drinking somewhere in the vicinity of a quart ol 

 strong coffee — aud, by the way, it is perfectly astonishing 

 what a quantity of strong coffee one can use who is in the 

 open air in Florida and experience nothing but pleasant 

 results— and eating two or three "hard lack," I felt so 

 rested that I went back to my turtle and relieved him from 

 the anxiety and uneasiness he must have experienced at his 

 strange position. The poor fellow had thrown his eyes 

 full of sand, but for all that he knew which way water 

 was, and 1 could almost fancy I Baw by the dim light of 

 the moon a smile of gratitude pass across his counteuance 

 as he paddled off. I returned to the tire. It lacked only 

 an hour or less of daylight, but I joined the others, who 

 were taking a nap on the sand with a tussock of grass for 

 a pillow. 



We were stirring again before sunrise, and after another 

 cup of coffee and "hard lack" went down to the boat. A 

 hundred and fifty d izen eggs make a pretty good show, 

 and we had that number surely. There is scarcely any 

 limit to the quantity that can be procured, especially if 

 some one will lake the slight trouble to poison off the 

 coons and foxes. A few pieces of poisoned fish scattered 

 along the beach aud ou the nests would do the business for 

 them, and there is no danger of the poison doing any harm 

 to domestic auimals. 



There was little or no wind, so a "white ash breeze" was 

 started, and we were soon opposite where F. thought the 

 first turtle was, and landing found he was out of the way 

 some two hundred yards. It didn't take long to rectify the 

 mistake, and with rope made fast around him we managed 

 after a good deal of struggling by all of us, turtle included, 

 to get him safely stowed away and lashed belly up under 

 the thwarts. F. said he would walk up the beach to the 

 next one, and cross over and signal us so that we would hit 

 the right place without bother, as he couldn't fix upon any 

 landmark tl e night before. We pulled along slowly, stop- 

 ping once on the way to gather and eat oysters at a bar we 

 passed. Little Sarasota Bay abounds with oysters of the 

 finest quality throughout its whole length, and in that 

 period, "bel'o' the war," which has become almost as myth- 

 ical as the "good old tinier," was the chief source of supply 

 for Key West. 



Our next turtle was a heavy fellow, a strong 450 pounds, 

 while the other was ouly about 250, the ordinary size. 

 Luckily the island was very narrow here, and there was no 

 mangrove bushes to obstruct our progress, and adopting 

 the same method of operations, with the addition of levers, 

 he was tumbled on board and secured. Then we palled 

 our best for Mr. Webb's place, stopping once to load up 

 with some extra large oysters from what used to be one of 

 my favorite b.irs. .Even this late in the season they were 

 in excellent order, and I have always been able to find them 

 good somewhere in this hay all through the warm weather. 

 I took on board the idle Hour what eggs I coaid use, and 

 so ended our turtle egging. 



We returned to Big Sarasota the same evening, our only 

 adventure being caught in a series of rain squalls, between 

 each of which was a calm, just after we had crossed the 

 bar and before we were inside. The tide ran out so strong 

 that 1 was forced to anchor three times during the calms to 

 avoid being carried on to the breakers. 



Major Sarabota. 



For Foretf and Stream. 

 UP THE ANDROSCOGGIN. 



\* t 



FAR up among among the mountains skirting the banks 

 of Ihe Androscoggin river is a lovely little lake sur- 

 rounded by lofty peaks of mountains and the rich prime- 

 val forest. The lake can ouly be reached by canoe, or 

 a long, weary tramp of many miles through the woods by 

 following the river, as it is far from railroad or highway, 



Ou a cool, pleasant September morning, a party of four 

 men, accompanied by two guides, might have been seen 

 embarking in a large, flat-bottomed "batteau," such as 

 lumbermen use on all our northern rivers, on the rapid 

 waters of the Androscoggin. After a long day's work with 

 paddle aud pole, we came to our first camp, having shot on 

 our way ten or twelve grouse treed by our little canine 

 friend, Scot. On reaching camp and carrying out luggage 

 ou shore the guides began at, once to prepare camp by 

 pitching tent, gelling wood, clearing away uuderbrush, 

 etc, John, our head man ; with Pete, his brother, kind and 

 modest, make the best pair of guides to be found for 

 miles. While standing ou the margin of the shore admir- 

 ing the beauty of the scenery, aud watching the witter 

 tumble over a Email ledge in front of the camp, just at a 

 bend in the river, 1 hear Pete close behind me say, "Well, 

 aiu't you going to catch any fish for supper lo-nigb.lt" 

 "Why, to be sure I am," and away I go to unpack my 

 light bamooo rod and flies, aud try my luck. 



On reaching the opening in the forest where our camp 

 waa to be made, I stood utterly dumbfoimdetl at the chaBge 

 during the lew moments of my absence. Here stood a 

 snow-white tent with a roaring fire just before the en- 

 trance; over which* was a pot of boiling potatoes, while 

 the blue smoke curled up through the hemlocks into the 

 clear twilight air above. Dip nets, rods and guns were 

 leaning against the giant trees, and boxes, bags and other 

 articles were strewn over the ground in the rear. The 



party had just completed their labors, and were enjoying 

 a good smoke. Altogether it is as pretty a picture as one 

 need see. Taking my rod and line I returned to the river 

 and began to tempt the trout I knew were there iu abund- 

 ance. After trying two or three places I was at last re- 

 warded by a strike, and soon a beautiful fellow was land- 

 ed, and good luck favoring, a dozen were kicking in my 

 basket in a short time, and ou the way to the tire. Then 

 followed a most delightful meal of fried trout, broiled 

 partridge and boiled potatoes, with bread and maple syiup. 



Shall I ever forget that, first night in the woods so far 

 from civilization? I trust not. Hid you ever lie at full 

 length before a good warm fire in the heart of the forest, 

 with no sound to disturb you but the sighing of the wind 

 through the tops of the tall trees, and the merry voice of 

 "many waters" hurrying onward to the ocean? And as 

 you reposed thus have you seen the silvery light from the 

 rising moon touch each little ripple on the surging river, 

 and light up each little leaf of the tree above? 1 could 

 just make out the outline of my rod against the trees, and 

 remembering I had a long day's work before me, and the 

 others having one by one fallen asleep, I also slumbered 

 Lilt daylight unmolested, when we awoke fresh and happy. 



Breakfast was soon cleared away, tent struck, and bag- 

 gage on board, and bidding adieu to ou r camp, we began 

 our onward journey. The guides poled the boat over the 

 swift water, while the rest walked with the dogs along the 

 margin of the stream. We bagged mauy grouse on that 

 long walk— enough to last us two or three days. At length 

 we reached our next camping place, situated at a bend in 

 the river not many miles from Lake Uinbagog, at the foot 

 of a mountain, and near the beautiful little lake before 

 mentioned. Here we spent the balance of the aiternoon 

 fishing, and mceiiug wiih but poor sport were glad when 

 John's loud whistle announced supper as ready. We 

 missed the trout, but were fully conieuled as we sat round 

 the fire on boxes and logs, with broiled partridge, potatoes 

 and roast, green corn, which wc borrowed in a farmer's 

 field as we came along. 



Next morning, after lying the dogs in camp, we trudged 

 through the woods to the lake, arriving just after sunrise, 

 and were soon on some rudely constructed rafts, and all 

 trying to catch the first trout, for which a dollar had been 

 offered. Mr. C. soon had him, and bore off ihe piize. 

 Now the sport began in earnest, and in an hour we had 

 some noble fish. Our fried George B. hooked a monster, 

 but lost him after a long struggle, during which we all 

 suspended operations to w atch the sport. The breeze dy- 

 ing out and the rays of the sun getting unendurable we 

 adjourntd to the woods, ate our lunch, and enjoyed a good 

 smoke. Again we tried the trout, but with no success, the 

 water being too warm aud still to make them Ie*el like ris- 

 ing to the lly. While on the raft quietly fishing Mr. O. 

 saw a bear walking leisurely along the margin of the lake, 

 but as our guns were all ou shore, the old fellow was per- 

 fectly safe. 



We spent two days at this lovely spot, obtaining all the 

 sport we wanted, killing plenty of giouse, wild pigeons 

 and wood ducks, though the fishing was not prime; still, 

 we thoroughly enjoyed every minute, and were sorry when 

 the order tu pack up for good was given. We had a most 

 delightful trip down stream, and at some places rather ex- 

 citing sport, as we dashed over the rapids, the water being 

 so low that it was with great difficulty that we were kept 

 from being dashed on the rocks. We were only an after- 

 noon traversing the distance it had taken two who'.e days 

 to come. Wh reached our starting point tired aud hungry, 

 and "turned in" immediately after a good supper at the 

 hotel. Next night found us at home, and though I've been 

 in the woods often since then, and have had far better 

 luck, I always look back with pleasure to my first camp- 

 ing trip on the beautiful Androscogaiu. Canoe. 



Classification of Clouds.— Whenever, on account of 

 some topographic circumstances, the sun heats any locality 

 on the surface of the earth more than the surrounding 

 region, a geutle current or column of heated air rises, and 

 its invisible moisture is condensed into small masses of 

 cloud called cumuli, which spread aud produce the mottled 

 appearance commonly known as "mackerel sky." 



But when, as it is frequently the «ase iu summer, a 

 valley or plain, or islauii, or any other place, is much 

 more highly heated than the surrounding region, the 

 healed air over such locality rises more rapidly and with 

 more ascensional momentum; and, as it reaches the higher 

 and cooler regions of the atmosphere, its m-oisture is con- 

 densed into large rounded volumes or mountain-like masses 

 of cumulus clouds. Such cumulus clouds always precede 

 and characterize a local summer storm or shower. When 

 the warm horizontal ourreut, from the gouth, as in winter, 

 meets with the cold curreut from the north, it slopes up- 

 ward over the cooler current aud forms stripes or bands of 

 stratus olouds along the horizon. 



These stratus clouds indicate to the observer that a 

 warm current is coming northward. When in summer a 

 cool current is moving southward, il encounters the warm 

 equatorial or tropical current, which again glides upward 

 and over it and forms horizontal bands of stratus clouds 

 along the upper line of contact, as in winter storms; but, in 

 addition, the denser cold air from the north, moving with 

 momentum, will lift up the warm and saturated air from 

 tha tropics and ils moisture will be condensed into masses 

 of cumulus olouds banked np against the top t>f ihe cold 

 current and arranged over ihe horizontal stratus clouds. 

 Thus is produced the combination of cumulo stratus cloud, 

 which is characteristic of progressive summer storms. 



To the tornado cloud produced in a whirl of air and re- 

 sembling an inverted cone, Professor blusius gives the 

 name of conus, which is both descriptive aud appropriate. 



These four typical claspes of clouds, viz., cumulus, 

 stratas, cumulo-stratus and conus, indicate and characterise 

 the four different classes of storms.— Blatiut't Theory of 

 Stormt, 



