35 S 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Frrr Forest and Stream and Hod (WW? 01471. ' 

 A TROUTING PICNIC IN LOUISIANA. 



IT was not, long after my arriyaj En Alexandria before 1 was 

 told some marvellous stories in regard to the trout and 

 bass fishing in the many streams tad lakes abounding in the 

 country. I listened with interest, but gave many of the 

 Stories a large granum salk. During the spring ami early 

 summer I tried several of the streams, and, though finding ex- 

 cellent fishing, taking large baskets, yet nothing that would 

 come up to those immense stories recited. I joked many of 

 the "fish blowers," as I called them, but they insisted they 

 had only stated facts, and in order to convince me a trip to 

 the above locality was projected. Two days before the final 

 "get off "I sent, forward an escort of eight men with our 

 Camp equipage, under Sergeant P., with directions to select a 

 camping grourid, and the sequel will show he did it with 

 much judgment and tact. 



Our party consisted of Mrs. P. and son, the Misses P., 

 Miss S., and Mrs. P., Mr. P., Lieut's, P. and W., and your 

 humble servant. 



The order for an early start was imperative, having a drive 

 of twenty-five miles before us. The young ladies promised 

 implicit obedience, but wc purposely fixed the time one hour 

 earlier than was really necessary, having had some experience 

 in getting the fair sex started on such an occasion, but to 

 their credit be it said they were prompt, to the minute, though 

 some of them had a ride of three miles to join us at the house 

 Of M. L. , Our rendezvous. 



The peep of day found us stirriug; baskets, valises, rods 

 and guns, indeed everything necessary for comfort and 

 Bport was brought out on the balcony ready for packing. The 

 hack, as they call it here, a two-horse wagon, with springs 

 under the scats, was anxiously looked for. At last it came, 

 but to our disappointment, and in disregard of promises, was 

 minus a cover. There was no lime to send it back, and with 

 Some low, but emphatic growls, wo concluded to make the 

 best of it. Soon our things were packed. My wife and son, 

 Lieut. W. and myself jumped in, and a ride of a mile brought 

 US to the hospitable mansion of Mr. L., where we were re- 

 ceived with that whole soul, hearty welcome so characteristic 

 of the southerners. 



Here we found the Misses F. already on the ground full of 

 life and anticipated pleasures. 



A council was held, and it was decided that as my vehicle 

 had no cover, all the ladies were to take scats with the Misses 

 F. Now, we gentlemen did not vote in the affirmative for 

 this arrangement, but we were set down at once as selfish 

 mortals, and told that women had some rights which men 

 must respect, and as the fifteenth amendment is in full force 

 down here, we subsided, with a sly look at each other to the 

 effect that we would get even with them before the day was 

 over. The adjustments being satisfactorily settled, and the 

 packing done to give the ladies the mo;t comfort and room, 

 the effort being acknowledged by one of the fair ones in some 

 complimentary remarks, the w'ord was given (it looked a 

 little QuakeriBh, all the gentlemen iu one wagon, the ladies in 

 the other), and off we started as gay and jovial a party as one 

 needs wish to be in. 



How cum I describe that bright June morning? The sun 

 had not yet shown itself above the horizon, but the brilliant 

 rose-colored hues, with the long spire-shaped rays shooting 

 high into the heavens, showed us in what part of the east to 

 look for his coming. A cool, delightf ul breeze from the south- 

 east, laden with the fragrance of the magnolia and a thousand 

 other flowers, wafted us on our jourue.y. fc>oon the sun in all 

 its glorious refulgenco burst from its eastern bed. Prom tree, 

 shrub, flower and grass the dew drops reflected its rays as 

 from myriads of diamonds. The lovely verdure in all tints 

 of green, from the deep shade of the pine to the lightest of 

 the shrubbery, with the dark brown of the tree trunks as a 

 back ground, gave a variety to the exquisite landscape that 

 met the eye on every side, constantly changing as we moved 

 onward over the undulating country. ' How joyous and light- 

 hearted that party ! The hearty laugh was constantly heard, 

 echoed and re-echoed. Suddenly the joyous song broke forth, 

 led by the fine soprano voice of "Miss P.", soon joined iu by all, 

 making the welkin ring. 



As 1 was not familiar with all the roads, Miss L. assuring us 

 Bhe was, we put ourselves under her guidance, following the 

 road she pointed out. A ride of three mUes brought, us to the 

 Flagon, when I became convinced we were oa the wrong 

 road, but we were on a " lark," and we gentlemen determined 

 to go on. The banks at the crossing were rather steep, and 

 sundry little exclamations from the wagon in rear admonished 

 us of the state of feeling there. We only noticed it bv asking 

 if they did not think a division of the party admirable ; but, 

 being safely over, they only replied, "The" horrible things!" 

 Another three miles, having crossed a small creek by a bridge, 

 we ran into the doorway of a farm-house— the end of that 

 road. "We now requested Miss L. to show us the road out. 

 She was the picture of distress, and we gentlemen only helped 

 her out by saying, in under tones, "Two hours lost; got to 

 go way back; tire the horses out," etc, Wc were now set 

 down by our fair companions as a mean, impolite set. At 

 last after having our own ftm at their expense 1 started off, 

 ■ telling them to follow. Lieut. W. and myself on one of our 

 trips had been there, and knew we were not far out of our 

 way, and as you can drive through the pine woods most any- 

 where, and knowing the direction, we put on a wise face and 

 started. Skirting the fence of the plantation, we drove 

 through the woods, and a couple of miles brought us out on 

 the main road, very much to the gratification of our ladies, 

 especially one. Their anxiety relieved, jollity took the 

 supremacy. 



A ride of twelve miles brought us to Clear Creek, a pretty 

 pebbly-bottomed creek, clear as crystal and cold. The bluffs 

 on one side were quite precipitous some sixty or seventy feet; 

 on the other there was a short stretch of bottom laud then 

 gradually rising to the pine lulls. As it was about, noon a bait 

 Was ordered, and iu a horse shoe bend of the creek, under the 

 Shade, of the Grand de Flora and other trees, we alighted for a 

 rest. As Lieut. W. and myself had visited this spot before 

 and caught some fine bass, while the ladies were arranging 

 things, and I making some very pointed remarkB, we got out our 

 rods and started up stream, which, being very tortuous, soon 

 took us out. of sight, of our fair companions, and as I had surmised 

 I SOOn found out the meaning of these, "remarks," the splash- 

 ing in the water, and sundry exclamations, proved that, 

 throwing off all restraint, the conventionalities and immuni- 

 ties of life, they were girls again. Not finding any fish, we 

 slowly moved back, but on reaching camp were challenged, 

 "Don't come here," admonishing us that they were still play- 

 ing girls. However, wc were not kept waiting long. A silvery 

 voice called us to lunch. Lunch ! Does anyone know what 

 that word means, or how enjoyable it is, that lias not sat 

 down to it under just such circumstances ? It is not necessary 



to say (hat every basket contained everything that was good. 

 An hour's rest and aU refreshed, were ready to resume our 

 journey. 



Three miles further brought, us to Big Creek, which is of 

 considerable size, and one of the best flaking grounds to be 

 found. We made no halt, but , crossing the bridge, pushed 

 on at a brisk pace, the day being cool, the lovely morning 

 breeze having kept up with US. Seven miles further brought 

 US to l.iille ltiver, which is nearly, if not quite as large, as 

 Red ; navigable, and would be all the year were it not for the 

 spreading out, forming Cattahoola Lake. A flat boat was OUT 

 means of crossing, for which we paid the moderate sum of 

 S3. 36 per carriage. On remonstrating at this extortion, the 

 ferryman remarked : "You una are the first that has crossed 

 here in a month, aud how could I live and keep my boat 

 without charging at that rate." This was a knockdown 

 argument, and we growled no more. This is indeed a beauti- 

 ful stream; the banks are slightly bluff, with the trees and 

 shrubbery growing to the very edge. The water looks nearly 

 black, but mirrored with unusual distinctness the surround- 

 ings. Pish w r ere constantly jumping, but we pushed on to 

 reach our final destination three miles further. About 3 P. 

 M. we drove up to what, in ante-bellum times, was the hotel, 

 to impure the direction to our camp. The polite Mr. B., who 

 has a large, well-furnished store at tliis point, came up. 

 Greeting most of the party whom he had known before, and 

 being introduced to the rest, he jumped on his horse and 

 guided us to camp. A mile further brought us to Trout 

 Creek; at this point a clear, pebbly stream, some thirty leet 

 wide and from six to twelve inches deep. As we drove into 

 it exclamations were on every lip. There were the trout, 

 sure enough, from the fingerling to the three-pounder, and, 

 what's more, in countless numbers, darting in all directions ; 

 but we bad to restrain our longing to cast a line, and moved 

 to camp a quarter of a mile further on. Coming to the bluff, 

 which the water reaches when high, we ascended, and a 

 beautiful picture met the eye. At the further end of an open 

 flat, covered with a luxuriant growth of long grass, under the 

 shade of tall pines, stood a large hospital tent, the flaps at 

 both ends thrown back showing the interior — the neat little 

 iron bedsteads, with their pure white coverlids, standing on 

 a white paulin, which was in place of a carpet ; the two rows 

 of white A tents on either side, not forgetting the kitchen 

 tent, a little to the right and rear, all nestling under the 

 shade of lovely trees, the rays of the now almost setting sun 

 throwing long shadows diagonally across the camp. It was 

 a sight that drew exclamations from every one. 



Soon everything was unpacked and in its place, when cook 

 comes up and wants to know when wc will have dinner. As 

 it was all ready he gets a sharp retort, and is asked if he did 

 not know wc came there to eat fish. No dinner until the fish 

 came. He chuckled to himself, and we, with rod in hand, a 

 man for each rod to catch bait, started for the creek, and a 

 strife as to who would get there first ensued. Lieut, P., 

 being about 200 avordupois, stood little chance, and Lieut, 

 W. and myself took the lead and arrived about the same 

 time. My rod was together in a jiffy, and my man handed 

 me a " top-water" minnow. Away went the line, Lieut. W. 

 following closely. I cast for some large ones I saw T , but they 

 were not as quick as some of their younger associates, and 

 away went the line with a wdiiz, and up comes a fine bass of 

 about a pound weight. At the same time Lieut. W. sings 

 out, "I've got him," and landed one of about the sama 

 size. Just now came along, puffing and blowing, our 200- 

 pound companion, with the remark, "You might wait for a 

 fellow," but we were too busy to bandy words ; too much ex- 

 cited over the royal sport we saw in store for us. Fish after 

 fish came up about as fast as we could cast, until " Hold on," 

 was cried; "we have got more than we want," and this in 

 less than an hour (it must be recollected there were seventeen 

 all told in the party). With our strings thrown over our 

 shoulders we wended our way to camp, stopping on the way 

 for a good drink of the cool sulphur water which came 

 bubbling up from a dozen springs. Arrived, we found our 

 ladies refreshed, bright and happy, sitting under the fly which 

 was Btretuhed in front of the big tent, awaiting our return. 

 Of course each string of fish was counted and commented on, 

 during which time cook stood waiting, ready and anxious, as 

 we had caught them, to show us how he could cook them; 

 and he did know how, sure. A wash and a Utile fix up, and 

 we were made presentable, when we sat down to as royal a 

 dinner as ever did king in his palace. How sweet and en- 

 joyable that meal I The long ride had given every one a 

 good appetite (cook said if we bad not stopped just as we did 

 another trip to the creek would have to be made). A con- 

 stant flow of wit and fun was indulged in, and the meal was 

 prolonged to some time after dark. The bright moon came 

 sailing up into the heavens, casting its silvery rays through 

 the tall pines, from which were cast long shadows that it 

 would not require a very imaginative mind to conjure into 

 most anything, creating one of those still loveable quiets. 

 Music was called for, and those woods were Boon echoing 

 sounds seldom, if ever, heard before. And so an hour was 

 spent, when an early retirement being considered best, the 

 "Good nights," ' TIappy dreams," etc., passed around, and soon 

 all were in that sound sleep pre-induced by a long ride and late 

 hearty dinner, and nothing was heard but the occasional step 

 of the sentinel, and a singular noise made by the 800-pounder, 

 to which was given various names. Plume del Eoba, 



(To be continued.) 



VIRGINIA'S VALLEY OF ROSES. 



HIGH up among the Alleghany Mountains, in the western 

 part, of the State of West Virginia, is an earthly para- 

 dise but little known and less appreciated by the sportsmen of 

 the North and East. Porte Crayon, in a series of articles in 

 Harper's Monthly in 1872,gavc a good description of this region 

 but there was more humor, romafcee and love-making than des- 

 criptive hints of value to thoss seeking knowledge of the coun 

 try in these sketches. I will endeavor to give my brethren of 

 the rod and gun a brief sketch of the country, its inhabitants, 

 its game and fish, and the maimer and cost of getting thither. 



In a valley that has but few equals for beauty or fertility in 

 this broad land of ours, there nestles the charming little town 

 Of Petersburg, &ran1 county, W. Va. It is the very beau ideal 

 of a headquarters for one who loves— and what true sports- 

 man does not — nature in all her softened, chastened loveliness, 

 connected with really first class gunning and fishing. 



It is a little town of five hundred inhabitants ; a broad, 

 shady street with pretty white collages and more pretentious 

 brick mansions clustering on either side, each house surround- 

 ed by trees aud gardens, aud having a croquet aud flirtation 

 ground beside it, well shaded by apple, peach or pear trees. 

 Well kept flower beds are scattered here and there in pictur- 

 esque confusion. 



Roses bloom in great thickets along the road sides ,- they 



clamber in odorous festcons over the porches and around the 

 windows. They are of almost every color, and their,- . , 

 is endless. Everybody wears them in the afternoon andeveri- 

 ng; Ihey glow amongst the tresse of the daughters of Peters- 

 burg In dainty little clusters, from whence they are frequently 

 transferred to the lapped of some youth's c at, to the envy of bis 

 less fortunate brethren. Ther seems to lie something pe 

 ly favorable to the growth of bis queen of the floral kin 

 here, and their prolusion is truly wouderful. 



About, half way down the street I have mentioned is one of 

 the comfortable looking hotels, once so common iu Virginia 

 Its very exterior is suggestive of something good (or dinner- 

 say chicken fried in true Virginia style, with cream but- 

 ter. Mine host, Mr. J. D. Gum, receives you with a Country 

 politeness that will astonish you if you are a stranger to the 

 manners of Virginians. 



from) no clerk 

 i sfilnatea its 

 week without a 



ill' mentioned 

 dollsraaweek 

 iveand ratter), 



ire or when 

 of 



fir. 



e some 

 s form- 



ind not. 



tie and 



untry 



Virginians. 



No one asks who you 

 takes a mental invent oi 

 probable value. Yon can st 

 particle of baggage, and not 

 until you ask tor it yourself 

 is the price of board. The bill rjf fare i, 

 each article being well cooked and the t 



Pruit is grown here in groat abundance aud variety, apples, 

 peaches, pears, plums, grapes, etc., are cultivated upon nearly 

 every farm in th« neighborhood ; as there is but a small mar- 

 ket for them, Ihey are almost given away. 



The inhabitants of Petersburg and of Mooreficld ( which is 

 eleven miles from the former place), and of the vicinity of 

 each, areas charming a people as can be found m, . i 

 Many of them are graduates of the fust colleges in the country, 

 and before the war were wealthy. I think that whoever visits 

 this .section will say that the proportion of pretty and talented 

 girls is greater than in any place in the land. The great pas- 

 time here is croquet, and both sexes enter into it with enthus- 

 iasm. 



Petersburg is about forty miles from the Baltimore & Ohio 

 Rail Road. To the west is a well cultivated valley running 

 at right angles with that in which the town is located, extend- 

 ing tlurty miles toward the railroad ; on the east the moun- 

 tains Slope nearly to the village, while lo the south they are 

 much farther off, and through a magnificent gap in them", the 

 South Branch of the Potomac glides through into the meadows 

 and by the town into another and far more picturesque gap 

 about two miles north of Petersburg. This latter ravine is 

 famous for a "fox and ox" which, through some freak of na- 

 ture, are plainly visible on the face, of a rocky prccq 

 four or five hundred feet high. Both of the figures i 

 ed of yellow stone, and are as natural as though man 

 chance, was the artist. The roads art broad and srnootl 

 as horses aud carriages are to be had for a trifle, the rx 

 for miles can be explored to your satisfaction and pie 



The south branch of the Potomac, which I have just, re- 

 ferred to, originated in the couuties of Highland and Pendle- 

 ton, where also rise the .North and Middle Porks. They flow 

 in a north-easterly direction and unite near Petersburg" from 

 whence it flows past Moorefield, through Hardy and Hamp- 

 shire counties and joins the North Branch of the Potomac 

 about fifteen miles below Cumberland. 



The south branch is famous, as you are well aware, for its 

 splendid bass fishing, and nowhere in its course is it so fine as 

 in the neighborhood of Petersburg. You enter the stream, 

 which at this point is about, a hundred and fifty feet wide, 

 aud abounding in deep pools on either side,, some "two hundred 

 yards below your hotel, and the fishing begins ai once. For 

 nearly a mile there are no trees on the river banks and you 

 could not. have a finer stream for fly fishing, but when it en- 

 ters the mountain gorge it. deepens and a boat is necessary. 

 If it is a fa\ orable day and the fish bite well, you will not need 

 to fish more than a couple of miles, for in that distance you 

 will take from fifty to one hundred and fifty bass— 

 a good load for three men to carry. There is no exag- 

 geration about this statement, for one of the best fishermen 

 here, Mr. George D. Lee (a nephew of the General) with two 

 friends, caught eighty odd in two hours, and did not go a 

 quarter of a mile. When the water is clear, in September— 

 which is, by the way, the bast time to fish here— the bass can 

 be seen in apparently solid masses of eight or ten feet square, 

 and when your minnow makes its appearance, the rush is tre- 

 mendous. Ply fishing for bass has not been tried to any ex- 

 tent, and therefore the trial by some one who knows what he 

 is about would be of great interest to himself and others, who, 

 though novices, are enthusiastic ones. Trout streams are 

 plenty, four or five miles away from here, and trout arc 

 abundant, as the waters are not much troubled by fishermen. 

 The streams are not very large, and the trout are 'generally of 

 rather small size. 



In the way of game these mountains and valleys are singu- 

 larly favored. The meadows and corn fields arc alive with 

 quail, and from personal knowledge I can say that they are as 

 numerous as iu the* moit famous "quail counties" of New 

 Xorlc. There is no cover to bother you, and one can hunt for 

 twenty or thirty miles, if he be inclined to, through corn and 

 wheat, stubble or level meadows. Pheas.ints (ruffed grouse) 

 gray squirrels, wild turkeys and rabbits are on all the moun- 

 tains by thousands, while woodcock and snipe arc found in 

 the marshes; ducks in small flocks come to the river in the 

 spring and fall. Wild pigeons in millions are here, every year , 

 deer, bears, and "sick" are thick in the wilderness, which 

 extends for seventy or eighty miles cast of here, beginning 

 some seven or eight miles away. The best time to come here 

 is iu the latter part of September, when the gunning and bass 



fishing will beat its hi 

 And now as to the 

 ticket to Keyser, a flo 

 Ohio Railroad, 200 n 

 line of stages runs ih.i 

 arriving at , ■ 

 is .$5.50. Prom Mooi 

 go in a buggy. If rou 

 back, the charge 



ight. 



manner of getting here. Purchase a 

 risliing station on the Baltimore and 

 les from Baltimore. From Keyser a 

 y to Mooreficld, leaving at 8 a. m., and 

 ■ -i. The fare to the latter place 

 , Id to Petersburg (11 miles) you can 

 aye much baggage, or if not, on horse- 



If anybody desires to learn more of this lovely region," let 

 him write to either G. D. Lee, A. S. Norment, J", D. Gum, 

 Petersburg, Grant. Co., W, Va., and they will answer all in- 

 quiries. If any one coming here is fond of horseback ridintr, 

 1 should advise them to visit Greenland Gap while in this vi- 

 cinity. It is a lovely little village on the road to K, 

 is most romantically situated. One of the most famous 

 sportsmen in the State fives here, and 1 can testify to his great 

 hospitality. He is known far and near as "Uncle Abe" 

 Smith, and celebrated for his humor aud eccentricity. 



[We will run the risk of incurring our correspondent's dis- 

 ploasuro by stating that he is the nephew of Elwood Walters, 

 Esq., our lamented late President of the New York Board of 

 Underwriters. His statements are wholly reliable, and we 

 trust that the four score of friends who have been asking us 

 for some cool retreat from the coming summer beats wi 1 1 evince 

 their faith in them by going to Petersburg. — Ed.] 



