318 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



ward I could distinctly bear below me in the ravine a bear 

 tearing the bark from a tree in search of worms which are 

 found thereunder. 



< >ri returning to the, same trail I fonnd the bear had made 

 havoc, during my absence, of a tree bv the Bide of the trail, 

 but I had no opportunity of catching even a glimpse of him. 

 That morning I left the trail, hunting in an entirely new sec- 

 tion of (lie con airy, crossing over the roughest ridges. T 

 Caught sight of a duple of >1 Eer, but no chance was afforded 

 of a shot. The day wore on, and in my wanderings a valley 

 of wondrous beauty appeared before me. I descended the 

 hill, coming upon a lovely stream, surrounded Und partially 

 covered by overhanging trees and shrubs of great variety. 

 The minature pools of ' crystal brilliancy were surrounded by 

 beds of the most beautiful "ferns, mosses and grasses, while at 

 intervals lay the massive trunks of giant trees by force torn 

 up by mountain storms and hurled into their last resting- 

 places in the valley beneath. In all my wanderings in the 

 beautiful valleys of California I have nor. seen a rival to t-hat 

 Which I have endeavored to describe. But while deeply ap 

 preciating this scene in Fairylaud the extreme loneliness' and 

 tranquillity of the spot struck me that I had imprudently 

 traveled into unknown regions. I sought to retrace my steps, 

 but no trail was to be seeu, and nothing before me to indicate 

 my position and that of our camp. Time passed on, and I 

 seemed to become more and more entangled among the forest 

 trees. As I ascended each ridge I hoped and expected at the 

 summit to be able to discover my position. Things were 

 looking not a little serious, as I hail never been upwards of 

 five hours lost in the woods. True it, is L had with me my 

 ride and a goody supply of ammunition, and if the wor.'l 

 came to the worst I could have lived on squirrel's meat and 

 Other small game. Towards afternoon T ascend-d a high 

 ridge, and, to my great satisfaction. I discovered far awav on 

 another range of hills the open ground near our camp. On 

 arriving at the tent L was agreeably surprised by a visil from 

 Uncle and our excellent hostess of the North-Fork Inn, wTlo 

 had ascended the hills on horseback. The'many little atten- 

 tions shown by Uncle to the lone widow seemed greatly ap 

 predated by that ; lady, and she must have greatly i-ren-io-'] 

 our departure from under her roof. The following day we 

 broke up camp and returned to the inn, and the next, day the 

 camping party pit (bed their tent on the banks of the stream 

 near the junction with the main river, where we heard after- 

 wards th v killed among th m twelve large deer, and a gival 

 quantity of large trout. Uncle and 1 enjoyed a quiet day oy 

 the creek, taking with us a horse and riding in turns. I did 

 iioexecution with my rifle, but Uncle as usual brought home, a 

 splendid basket of trout, some taken with fly and some by 

 baiting with pieces of chub. Our last day at the inn was spent 

 in complete rest. I took my sketch-book and made a picture 

 of the inn, bridge and stream, and also of a sodti springs situ- 

 ated u mile away, Passing over the same ground on our re- 

 turn home libera is little mora to be added. We arrived safe- 

 ly in San Francisco after an excursion of great and complete en- 

 joyment. P. F, Hooper. 



BAY BIRD SHOOTING IN NEW JERSEY. 



Editob Forest and Stream: 



Three o'clock was the time agreed upon for the " meet " at 

 the depot of the N. J. R. R. Destination, Townsend's Inlet, 

 on the Jer.-ey coast, midway between Atlantic City and Cape 

 May. Object, a week's shorn ing at bay birds. Uponsumming 

 up the number at the appointed time we counted Soule, Fros- 

 ser, Kitchen, Roop and Karsner, six ardent votaries of the rod 

 and gun. A pleasant two hours' ride brought us to Seavfllo 

 faro $1.90. A stage ride of 10 minutes, costing 3.1 cents, 

 luggage included, and we were at Oftpt, Bill Sutton's, who 

 warmly welcomed us in person. Right heartily indeed did 

 we grasp bis proffered hand, for we had been doubly assured 

 that the captain was thoroughly reliably and scrupulously just 

 in all his dealings ; in no manner whatever connected with or 

 related to that bind of pirates so generally found at seaside 

 resorts. The house is a large old-fashioned farm dwelling, 

 having plenty of room, and better than allbesides, an excellent 

 well Of water in the yard. A general air of comfort and 

 pleasure seemed to pervade the very atmosphere in und about 



the old place. We wi 

 Was no dressing for I" 

 admissible every whe 

 to come and go," but i 

 minutes' residence, 

 only out of the salt fl 

 action of breech-loa 

 first best), a few ga 



•eablv 



iCe'ii 



formed that there 

 farments being 

 ie were allowed 



1 a iangerif wornal'tera fifteen 

 Bupper on bluefish and oysters, 

 few hours, an argument upon the 

 uns (the ''Lefever" coming out 

 hist, and early to bed. Awakened 

 at.daylight the following morning by the report of a gun in 

 the vaivl, and hastily jumping out of bed we beheld Roop 

 through the open window, alternately hugging and targeting 

 his " Purdy ''(?) "Ain't she a jewel?" "he exclaimed, hold 

 ing up a target! that looked like a tine sieve. Breakfast being 

 soon dispatched, the party paired off for the day. Soule 1> ' 

 very prince of gentlemen sportsmen— one of the best amateur 

 wing shots of our city, together with Howard Hie- M i 

 man and guide, were soon aboard our craft, 

 "Got everything, Howard? lunch, water 

 blind?" inquired "Soule. "Yes, sir, every thi 

 replied as he shoved Centennial off Iran il 



d bushes for 

 leeessarv." he 

 hore. Afloat 



upon the principal thoroughfare, we were soon heading for 

 the lower meadows. Casting our eye upon ihe surrounding 

 scene we beheld a beautiful stretch of waste meadow land. 

 extending eastward miles away, north and south, as far as 

 the eye could reach, t hrough the midst of which ran small 

 creeks or thoroughfares in every conceivable direction, losing 

 themselves upon the wi Id desert waste in the dial 

 the eastern boundary loomed up upon a gentle aeelivnv Ihe 

 white sand of the ocean shore, while beyond, and 

 over, lay old ocean, in all its restlesness and grand. mi,. The 

 intervening meadows were fresh and green. Ilea 

 looking smooth as floors, sloping away to the wa1 rs 

 Hero and there could be seeu remnants of "blinds " relieving 

 by their height and their deeper green the extended surface, 

 it brilliant Sun and cloudless sky beamed brightly over all, 

 i : a a. most beautiful scene, at once soft, gentle and 

 Charming. 



Notwithstanding the picture we could not help thinking 

 how desolate and unattractive would this broad ejp i 

 pear deprived of the presence and tuneful voices of those 

 feathered warblers, the birds. Rightly in Joed do we as sports- 

 men associate these graceful creatures with our sense of 

 beauty ; ever do they seem to us " like flowers, the gratuitous 

 offsprings of nature. " At length a landing was effected at a 

 choice spot, a temporary blind constructed, and stools arranged 

 temptingly Upon the edge of a small salt pond. Scarcely were 

 aied when Howard's acute ear detected a bullhead 



plover's whistle, which he soon succeeded in calling over the 

 decoys from out of the very sky. Now, from the time when 

 that bird appeared to us "no larger tl an a bumble-bee up to 

 the instant of its death, we had silently determiner] i 

 tonish our companions with an artistic exhibition ol OU) kill 

 But alas for " cherished hopes and fond expectations: " the 

 bird Tell to our friend " Scot I," we being a moment too late. 

 A merry twinkle in Howard's eye Wild plainly that he rather 

 enjoyi I our discomfiture. Congratulating our quondam op- 

 ponent with as much grace as possible under the circumstances, 

 wet urn' d our attention to the many flocks of buds now on 

 the wing, alarmed by the report of the gun. 



"Down, elose! ' whispered Howard,"" here comes a pair of 

 callieo-baeks." Ah, now was oar chance : how finely they 

 Came! what tremendous pare! Hardly an instant elapsed 

 ' are upon us. Glancing hurriedly along our gun 



barrel at one of the birds imagine our chagrin to discover it in 

 the very act of falling to Soule's gun." Changing our aim 

 nervously to the remaining one we. " fouled " in the blind and 

 scored a clean miss. A loud laugh from Howard, mingled 

 with the sharp report of our companion's gun and the splash 

 of a dead bird striking the water, brought us to our feet in- 

 stanter; and turning our "wiped eye" now filled to over- 

 flowing with withering rebuke, upon our convulsed friends, 

 endeavored thus to annihilate them— but, strange as it may ap- 

 pear, they didn't wilt worth a cent. We consoled ourself 

 mentally with a linn resolution to fill the next bird so full of 

 shot that it would sink when it struck the water, and thus by 

 one fell stroke retrieve our lost laurels. At this instant a fusi- 

 lade Opened at our nearest neighbors' "blind" (Burroughs 

 and Florence, of Philadelphia,) which was followed by a 

 a lively cotillion "on the green." as they gathered up the 

 cripples', Being now in a desperate mood, we tried our hand 

 on a wisp of* robin snipe at very long range, which our 

 friend's " Scott " had failed to reaeh, bringing down three 

 with the first a--d two with the second barrel. At last we had 



the key no, ,a - i ,., our possession. Our choke-bore 



Nichols & Lefever was sure papafl the way up to ninety- 

 one yards. So said Howard, wdio retrieved the birds, count- 

 ing the ] aces to the nearest one. With this assurance we 

 proceeded tP "unhook" at all distances the balance of the 

 day. 



Our next fly was a fine flock of bu'l head plover. They 

 made a splendid dart at the decoys, and catching them just sis 

 they bunched, we added largely to our bag ; and a few mo- 

 ments later a remarkably good double shot for both complete- 

 ly restored our equanimity. The different parties of sports- 

 nv u were now all ensconced in their hiding abodes, and the 

 engagement became general, and as the birds came thick and 

 fast how thankful we fit for our extra provision of shells 

 and our easy working breech-loader. "What a splendid hot 

 corner to Wean off one from his old muzzle-loader." remarked 

 Soule, as we hurriedly slipped in shell after shell. MBrrUy 

 spun the time, and grand indeed nas the sport throughout the 

 entire day, and not until the "sun's latest rays" did "we pack 

 up our traps and away to the boat for a delightful sail heme. 

 enjoying all the while the rare beauty of a summer's eve at 

 the seaside with its invigorating bre'eze and refre-hing fra- 

 grance. 



As day succeeded day, we drank to fulness of health and 

 happiness with our every breath. Furiously fast, indeed, did 

 that relentless despot, " Old Father Time." drive his tireless 

 steeds during our sojourn, and now that but one day remained 

 to us, it was unanimously agreed to do the thing " bang up," 

 by pitching in for. high" boat, Captain Bill and your humble 

 ,,, i , a, ; ' ; : ng -'booked" to beat the field. "Accordingly, so 

 be it done," said the Captain, ns we made sail early in' the 

 morning. " It is my will and pleasure," we responded. A 

 short half hour's sail, and we were at I, odium's Sound, where 

 we propose,;! to put in tl pari of the day. Kn route we bagged 

 a jack curlew, together with several grey-backs, A desirable 

 point was selected in the sound, and we were soon banging 

 away as fast as we Could push in fresh shells until noon, when 



ight < - ling. We reached the landing as the moon tower- 

 ed aloft and tinged, the surface of the waters -and meadows 

 with exquisite rays of burnished silver, -ftilR taking a last lin- 

 gering look upoti the many places made familiar during our 

 ii-k, turned our faces homeward. We found our 

 jovial companions all in a state of anxiety concerning Onr bag. 



■ couti p vealed the fact thai we weredoomed to another dis- 

 appointment, as we only stood second on the list, Soule and 

 Ulnar beating ns by a score of 71 to 00. Messrs. ' '• i a 

 Paid of Bah., taking third place with a score of 54— 



large birds only counting. Thus euded one of the most pleas- 

 ant" week's sport that has ever fallen I o our good fortune. 

 Having commenced our narrative by stating railroad expenses 

 we .opine that it will not be amiss to savin conclusion, that 

 the rale for board is only $1,50 per day. ' ( barge for boat and 

 man, . ; '.-?, which is customarily efhared by two gentlemen, thus 

 ihaking the individual expense >'2.o0 per diem. Our 8£ lbs. 

 gun, right barrel modified, left, full choke; was deemed by all 

 the party a model weapon for the sport, its massive breeches 

 thoroughly protecting our shoulder from recoil, while its etfi- 

 ■: ' . -and handine-sof action wereall that could be desired. 

 a b1 a, ,f this as a gentle 'hint to brother sporti- 

 1 selection of a gun, as we saw several shoulders 

 badly used up by excessive recoil from light breech guns. 



Doc. 



weather was uncommonly warm for that season of ths year. 

 In consequence-, the watl r was ns warm as it usually is in the 

 middle of summer. Mr. Pierson argues thai the "fish being 

 weak from spawning, easily succumbed to the wan a I, 

 the low watt r. 



» ■«. ■-. 



New Hami'Suike.— Fish Commissioner Hayes of Milton, has 

 slocked Tri Echo Lake in Milan, and Lovewells Pond in 

 Wakefield with land-locked salmon, and Policy Pond in Salem. 

 Wash Pond in Ilamstead, and Province Pond in Wakefield 

 with black bass. And many other lakes and ponds will be 

 stocked this season with the best varieties of fish by the com- 

 missioners. 



Massachusetts. — The long vexed question of the Lawrence 

 fish way has at length been settled, since shad and salmon 

 have been known to ascend above the dam this season, show- 

 ing that there is no mechanical difficulty in the way of their 

 passing in large numbers. 



Tire I'isii Mop.xai.itv in New Jersey.— The fish epidemic 

 Which so fatally affected the fish of the Passaic river, was 

 i , a die reservoir at Cpper Longwood, Lake 

 'I the streams in the various locali- 

 ties, twiniy or thirty miles apart. The bottom fish only 

 seem to have been affected, such as suckers, suufish, perch 

 and catfish. No black bass, pickerel, or trout bavs been af- 

 fected. The cause of the mortality must therefore be sought 

 at the bottom of the river, aud may he due to some fatality 

 • t] - tocea, ia ■ a- etc., on which the fish feed, or 

 to poisonous gases that, have percolated through the earth 

 from beneath. The warmth or turbidiiy would not cause the 

 destruction of the fish. 



The most plausible theory advanced regarding the epidemic 

 is that of Fisli Warden Pierson, ot Morns county. He ex- 

 presses the belief that this unprecedented destruction has 



, id by the peculiarly warm spring. There have 



been lew freshets, and the waters have been unus ale. 

 warm and stagnant. During the early part of Inst month the 



DELAWARE RIVER SALMON. 



L.imbbrtvuj.e, N. J., June 11, 18TT. 

 Editor Forest and Strkam : 



Please mention m your paper the catching ot a nine-pound salrnoB 

 near BordentowS, n. J., on .Time 2, in a stud setae, and presented to 

 Capt. Jog. Yanl, of Trenton, N. J. lie said it graceil bis table, ami was 

 admired and eojored ny lilmself anil friends. From minute descrip- 

 tions glyen Ivy several indiyidnals who saw ii, the decision that a was 

 one of I he California saimon planted in the Delaware was arrived at. 

 This forever sets at rest the question .so often asked, " Will they return 



fn: 



•cdii 



I ha' 



'" ■ ■' l! ' have been caught by troys, -. , I ,- a 



tug with hoot ami iim- r. « i igton, Pa., from six to eight Inches in 

 length, which were of those placed lu the upper Delaware by me for 

 the N. ,1. Coram salon in March lSTB. Doubtless large numbers of them 

 are taken in this way by persons who are ignorant of this species, never 

 having seen them before, thus, in a great measure, frustrating the ef- 

 forts of stocking this river with this variety of BSfi. 



Tours very respectfully, A. A. Anderson. 



HATCHING APPARATUS FOR AQUA- 

 RIA, PONDS AND STREAMS. 



New Tokk, May 29, 1877. 

 Editor Forest and SjIssam: 



Will you please give the subscribers of your interesting 

 Journal a simple diagram of a trough by which laymen will 

 be able to hatch the eggs of different varieties of fish. 



The eggs can be procured by the thousand, with little ex- 

 pense, and, with proper information, our small and large 

 streams and lakes or ponds will be sufficiently stocked so this 

 generation will receive some benefit. The present slow mode 

 of stocking a lake of 500 acres with 50 to 100 black bass is 

 discouraging. Yours, etc., T. E. Pobteb. 



We would be much pleased to favor our correspondent by 

 reproducing for his own and others' instruction a series of 

 articles which were prepared for this paper in the year 1875 

 by Dr. Xahum E. Ballou, of Sandwich, III., giving full 

 instructions, with designs of hatching apparatus and dia- 

 grams for laying out ponds and constructing hatching houses; 

 but the matter is too voluminous, and unless given in full 

 would fail to give the information necessary to accomplish 

 the object desired. Besides these, we have published dia- 

 grams of hatching apparatus for aquaria, prepared by T. B. 

 Ferguson, Esq., one of the Fish Commissioners of Maryland. 

 The entire subject matter can be found in the following num- 

 bers of this paper, to wit: March, 11 ; April, 8; Sept., 9: 

 Sept., 23, aud Oct. 7 and 14. 



PilOGRBss of Fish CfLiruK in North Carolina.— The 

 new bill to protect fish and encourage fish culture is given 

 herewith : 



Section 1. — The General Assembly of North Carolina do 

 enact : That no person shall place or allow to remain in the 

 Catawba River, between the South Carolina line and that 

 point on said river nearest to Old Fort in McDowell County 

 nor in the Yadkin (or Pee Dee) river from the South Carolina 

 line to Patterson's factory in Caldwell County, any obstruc- 

 tion whatever to the free passage of fish (unless such ob- 

 struction shall leave a free and open passage for fish of not 

 more than seventy-five nor less than thirty feet at any one 

 point, or in case it may be necessary to have more than one 

 such pass-way in the same dam, then all openings not to ex- 

 ceed one hundred feet; and where there may be such ob- 

 struction on both sides of any island or shoal belonging to the 

 same or different persons, then the opening of said dams or 

 shoals shall be as above prescribed in both channels) under a 

 penalty of $50 for every day that, such obstruction is allowed 

 to remain ; one-half to the party suing and the other to the 

 school fund of the couuly where suit is brought. 



Bee. 2. The owner or owners of any dam shall construct 

 such fish-way as may be described and required by the county 

 commissioners, and on failure lo comply with such require- 

 ment the said owner or owners shall be guilty of a misde- 

 meanor, and on conviction shall be fined $100 per day for 

 every day that said, dam or obstruction is permitted to remain 

 without such flsll-way. 



That if any person or persons shall place any im- 

 pediment in or near such fish-way that may hinder or obstruct 

 the free passage of fish, such person or persons so offending 

 shall i>e Seemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on o 



i ■ ,ii 0. lined Dot lees than $100, nor exceeding $500, or may 

 be imprisoned not exceeding thirty days, or both, in discre- 

 tion of the court for each offence. 



See. 4. That any person or persons who shall take any 

 scaled fish from the waters of sa'id rivers, by any a 

 cept hook aDd line during the Spawning seas, hi , to wit i From 

 the Hist day of Slay to the tenth day ol Juneof each and every 

 year for the period of two years, shall be deemed 5 

 misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined not less than 

 ?100 nor more than $300, or may be imprisoned not exceed- 

 ing thirty days, or both in the discretion of the court, for each 

 offence. ' 

 Sec. 5. That whenever any person shall decline to remove 



