FOREST AND STREAM. 



67 



ing views," wriggling himself in and out of the bunk like a 

 young eel. When he had repeated this manoeuvre several 

 times in the most grave and solemn manner, I felt "bound to 

 follow his example; so the next time the mate bobbed out I 

 resolved to bob in. Legs, body, head, all followed in pano- 

 ramic order, and making a dive I shot my head through the 

 apperture. Unfortunately, at that moment the schooner 

 gave a heavy lurch, and my cranium and the vessel's side 

 came in rather rough contact, and with the succeeding lurch 

 I was shot out into the old Frenchman's arms. "Bravo, 

 bravo, essay ez encore une fois, Monsieur!" and patting me 

 approvingly on the back, the mate incited me to fresh 

 "deeds of daring." By dint of much patience, several 

 trials, and a few hard knocks, I at length succeeded in 

 stowing myself away, and though the atmosphere of my 

 "enamel house" was purgatorial, a thick cloud of tobacco 

 smoke, delicately perfumed with cod oil, filling the bunk, 

 I thought it wiser to remain where I was, and spite of all 

 these dimgreme/its, soon dropped off to sleep. When morn- 

 ing dawned, we found the gale had driven us far out of our 

 course, and as the schooner was somewhere off West Bay, 

 we had to beat up for Gaspe Bay. At 2 o'clock we were 

 close to the southwest shore, at the entrance, and as the 

 wind was falling light, and it was a long beat up the baj, 

 we lowered the canoe, and paddling some way down the 

 coast, landed above Douglastown, whence we walked into 

 Gaspe village. It was past 3 o'clock when we started, and 

 the distance was sixteen miles, but we were in good train- 

 ing, and reached the Gulf House before 7 o'clock, where we 

 found welcome faces and kind friends eagerly awaiting our 

 arrival. Lieut. W. Hutchinson Poe, R. M. L. I. 



[The End,] 



A MESS OF STRIPED BASS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



One morning I jumped from my bed just as the sun was 

 lifting his head above the Eastern horizon, and having 

 hastily swallowed my breakfast, jumped on a horse car and 

 arrived at the foot of Court street, in good time. The ' 'Marie" 

 was quickly lowered into her native element, and placing my 

 traps aboard, I started for Oyster Island, where I had 

 ^caught a fine lot a few days before. But, on getting out in- 

 to the North River the wind left me, and I drifted down to 

 Robin's Reef, thinking to sail up on the flood. I hailed the 

 old light-keeper, and he consoled me by saying that there 

 were no fish \ that even they were affected by the hard 

 times and would not bite, no, not they! they knew too much 

 now-a-days, " and then he wanted the loan of two or three 

 fishing crabs, which he promised to return "the very next 

 time I came that way." 



"Well," I soliloquized, "I suppose I must wait," and as it 

 was our dinner-time, (10 o'clock), I let go killock that I 

 could just rig out my rods, (i always fish with two), and 

 throw my lines over " for the fun of the thing." I did so. 

 And now for dinner. I had just reached out for my cold- 

 cut, something, by the way, so often obtained when least 

 desired, when whang, bang, went my short rod against my 

 leg " Good gracious, I exclaimed," what's up now? a 

 confounded dog-fish, I suppose, and I reached out for my 

 " sticker" to punch him with. But my rod and line soon 

 told me a different story by the sharp and quick dashes that 

 they made from one side of the boat to the other; and then 

 fifty yards of line ran out like a flash. I seized the rod and 

 the sport began* and, after an exciting pull, he rolled over 

 alongside, and displayed the proportions of a fine bass. 

 But he was hooked only by the tender and fragile part of 

 the mouth, and on the least strain I would be sure to lose 

 him. It was a nervous minute, I assure you. It is won- 

 lerful how electricity or something else does run up your 

 line, and down your rod, and all through your arms and 

 legs at such a moment. He made another run, but I hauled 

 him gently and safely, and soon had him again \ alongside. 

 In placing iny landing net under him he gave one more 

 " flirt " for freedom, and broke the hook from his mouth, 

 but, luckily, fell into my net, and in another minute I had 

 him in the boat; he was a noble fish. The excitement of 

 catching this fellow caused me to forget, for the moment, 

 that I had another rod and line out; and when I did look 

 for my float, I perceived another fish had hold of the hook, 

 and had run off two hundred feet of line. So to work I 

 went, with a will, to fetch him in, but before I could do so 

 my short rod was again hard at work bumping against my 

 legs like mad. And so they kept it up until I had my car 

 alongside full of fish, and nearly all my boat, too. Now 

 and then a common tern would skim over me, stop an in- 

 stant, look at me with his * black lustrous eyes, and dart 

 away again seeming to think, " nicking the fins, aint he?" 

 Well, kind reader, I kept nicking them until nature tired, 

 and then I left off, and fixed up my fixings, for they were 

 really out of gear. My old rod was all sorts of shapes, and 

 my reels so wet and full of crab and scales that they jam- 

 med. At 5 o'clock P. M. , I had strength enough left to 

 set my fore sail, and let the little "Marie" go. She seemed 

 to know that I was in a hurry and fairly skipped over the 

 waves. I will not tell you of my success that day in num- 

 bers, but I will say that on reaching the landing the news 

 spread around quickly enough, and several families had a 

 good supper on bass and weak fish that evening. 



Now gentle reader, did you ever have some bright and 

 beautiful day fastened on your heart string's memory? If 

 so, perhaps it was when you were a youth and killed your 

 first bird on the wing ; perhaps it was your first string of 

 " Sunnies;" or perhaps it was the first time that you saw 

 Julia's big blue eye looking fully at you, and made you feel 

 "just so," and you went home and tried to sleep but could 



not, but for all that you were " kind of happy" and never 

 forgot that "peculiar" day. So was this day with me; one 

 of the glorious clouds of memory fringed with gold. I 

 think of it over and over again and it always makes me hap- 

 py. I can call back the most minute acts of the fish, how 

 I just saved one big fellow, and how another made me 

 think I had a "rouser," but it was only a one pounder 

 hooked on the outside of his gills; how I sailed home as the 

 sun was throwing his slanting rays over the place " out of 

 the Union," and beginning to grow dim and foggy, I thought 

 all the world was happy because I was. It was a joy of the 

 heart that only a fisherman can experience, for he feels at 

 peace with all the world after " nicking the fins." 



Squeteagije. 

 -*.,«. — 



THE MIRAMICHI FOR SALMON. 



New Haven, Conn., September 0, 1873. 



Editor op Forest and Stream: 



Some weelts ago I promised you notes of my trip to the 

 salmon country. 



Friday, Juty 11, at eight a. m., I took a steamer of the 

 International Steasmhip Company's line, Commercial 

 Wharf, Boston, for St. John, New Brunswick. We 

 reached Portland, Me., at half-past four p. m., leaving 

 again at six, stopping at Eastport at ten the next morning, 

 having time to run about the quaint little town for an hour. 

 Bidding good-by here to a couple of friends bound for the 

 Schoodic lakes, we resumed our trip, reaching St. John at 

 four p. m. The run from Boston was thoroughly enjo3 r - 

 able. We had an excellent boat, well manned and man- 

 aged, officers efficient, without brusqueness or airiness, 

 courteously attentive and obliging to all ; a bright sky, 

 smooth sea, fresh breeze, and much of the way, after leav- 

 ing Eastport, near views of this rugged Eastern coast, bold 

 and picturesque, a constant source of interest and beauty. 



The tourist may pleasantly spend a day or two in St. 

 John, a eity set upon hills of rock, having an aspect quaint, 

 foreign, old; in interesting contrast with the prevailing 

 newness apparent in the cities of "the States." 



Tuesday, the 15th, we took steamer ud the St. John for 

 Fredericton, a noble river, its scenery constantly remind- 

 ing one of the Hudson, though its bordering reliefs are less 

 bold and rugged. The greater part of the distance, a 

 broad intervale, sometimes several miles in width., lies be- 

 tween the river and the high-land border. This vast inter- 

 vale is annually fertilized by spring freshets, and yields 

 many tons of the best hay for the mere labor of cutting it. 

 The sail through this wide, green meadow land, embel- 

 lished by scattered elms and occasional clusters of other 

 trees, was one of* unceasing pleasure. 



We found a fine hotel at Fredericton, the Barker House, 

 which receives its guests with a cordial welcome, and sup- 

 plies every comfort. 



Early Wednesday morning we took stage for Boiestown. 

 forty miles away, on the southwest branch of the Mirami- 

 chi River. For many miles our route was through the 

 beautiful Valley of the Nashwauk, which, to see and trav- 

 erse, is of itself well worth a considerable journey. 



Near Boiestown we had our first view of the famous Mira- 

 michi. Salmon (if we may accept local assertions, a* I do 

 not), do not take the fly below Wilson's, about five miles 

 up the stream. We went on therefore, at once, by private 

 conveyance, to the place of this genial and hearty gentle- 

 man. We found him the proprietor of more than 500 

 acres, much of it under excellent tillage, and surrounded 

 by every appearance of thrift and comfort, For several 

 weeks his house was a real home to us, abounding in com- 

 fort and good cheer for body and spirit. His house is de- 

 lightfully located upon a high terrace, bordering a broad in- 

 tervale, and commanding an extensive river view. About 

 an eighth of a mile from the house and opposite, across the 

 green meadow, is a very fine salmon "pool," never failing, 

 during the proper season, to yield to the fly good returns 

 daily of the gamesome grilse, if not of salmon. 



In regard to salmon fishing in this river, I propose not to 

 withhold the truth, as I think it well for all concerned 

 that it should be known. If there were no other reason, I 

 would not have brother sportsmen misled or disappointed, 

 who, another season, as I was this, may be seeking an at- 

 tractive summer resort, Understand me. 1 have not been 

 disappointed. I came without expectations. I had never 

 seen a live salmon. I have been more than satisfied. The 

 genuine sport I have had with grilse has far surpassed all 

 I have ever had. or seen, or heard of, with trout, But I 

 have only taken a single "salmon." It is but fair to say I 

 have spent but a very few days upon the upper portion of 

 the river, which is the best. I have heard, however, of 

 much dissatisfaction from those who have thoroughly tried 

 it. Gentlemen have come from a distance, and have left 

 disappointed, because of the "poor salmon fishing." The 

 disappointment is the keener because it is universally felt to 

 be so entirely unnecessary. The trouble is in a radically 

 and strangely defective supervision of the river. Of course, 

 the relentless, exterminating slaughter of fish in these 

 waters can be stopped, as it has been elsewhere. It ought 

 to be stopped. The run of large fish this year has been 

 abundant, but a regular system of destructive poaching, with 

 only the most feeble attempts at prevention, has thinned 

 them out terribly. Laws sufficiently stringent have been 

 passed, and wardens appointed to see that they are obeyed, 

 but it is affirmed by honest men on the river that, except 

 in one or two rare instances, no warden has been known 

 voluntarily to perform the first official act, except to draw 

 his pay. The culpable neglect of these wardens is known 

 to their official superiorsjand apparently tolerated. This 



is the honest and simple explanation of the fact that, in the 

 upper and fly-fishing half of the river, the sportsman finds 

 only a straggling and occasional salmon. The lower half 

 is, at every good place, crossed by nets, set in the most 

 open defiance of law. Moreover, every night, through the 

 whole length of the river, torches are seen at ail the good 

 pools' where the brutal spear of the professional poacher 

 picks out the few fish that may have run the gauntlet of 

 the nets below. Is it any wonder that so few salmon re- 

 spond to the fly of the sportsman ? To me it seems strange 

 there are any. Strangers visiting here will continue to be 

 disappointed, until there is a severe reform, either in the 

 system or the method of supervision. Gentlemen of intel- 

 ligence and business efficiency are deeply interested in the 

 thorough protection of the stream. By them it is hoped, 

 and expected that the needful measures will be adopt- 

 ed at the next winter's session of the Legislature. In that 

 event the immediate result will be to admit an abundance 

 of salmon to the whole length of the river. 



Among your readers may be some who need to calculate 

 expenses. A few details for such : 



An " excursion "ticket by steamer from Boston to St. 

 John, costs $9 in currency ; state-room, $2 ; four meals, 

 $3 50. The leading hotel at St. John is the Victoria ; $3 a 

 day, gold. Others, thoroughlylgood, are the Waverly, the 

 Royal, Barnes', &c.,*at $2 a day. Fare to Fredericton by 

 rail or water, $2 ; to Boiestown, by stage, $2 50 ; to Wil- 

 son's, $1 50. (By addressing William Wilson, Boiestown, 

 N. B., he will meet gentlemen upon arrival at Fredericton, 

 and bring them through to the fishing-ground with expedi- 

 tion and comfort). Guides' "charges are $1 50 a day and 

 found ; also, a charge is made of $2 for each rod, for each 

 day in camp. Dingey Scribner, of St. John, furnishes the 

 best of fishing tackle, at reasonable rates. A salmon rod 

 costs $16 ; a reel, $8 ; line, $8 ; gaff, $2 50 ; flies, $2 50 a 

 dozen. Time from Boston to Fredericton, by rail, about 

 twenty hours. Fare and incidentals about the same as by 

 steam with state-room and meals. 



At William Wilson's gentlemen or ladies, or both, may 

 rely upon finding every essential comfort, with a constant 

 spirit of good cheer that makes daily life there a pleasure. 

 Board, $4 a week. 



Reliable fishing appears to be practically over about the 

 first of August. The best is for about a month, commenc- 

 i% June 20, and the first half of that month is much bet- 

 ter than the last. 



I cannot close these rough notes without expressing the 

 real pleasure with which I remember so many gentlemen 

 who have placed me under grateful obligations, by substan- 

 tial and kindly attention.-,. Mr. C. Robertson, of St, John, 

 one of the principal lessees of the river, received me in the 

 most cordial manner, as I am sure he would do every true 

 sportsman. But for his unexpected kindness and proffer 

 of special facilities, the plan of my summer campaign 

 would have been entirely different, Any one proposing to 

 visit the Miramichi will find it of- material advantage to ad- 

 dress him. 



I must also mention our most estimable and efficient IT. 

 S. Consul at Fredericton, S. Baker, Esq., whose attentions 

 are as cordial as they are considerate and serviceable. It 

 would be difficult to express my sense of his kindness and 

 courtesy. 1 am sure that any " American " visitor at Fred- 

 ericton will find it a pleasure to make his acquaintance. 

 From his establishment may be had complete supplies for 

 camp life, of the best quality. 



T. W. T. C. 



DANBURYANA. 



—An old, prosaic proprietor of a Danbury dirt cart, was 

 once the most romantic of men. When he was married he 

 built a little cottage on a rock close to the river's edge, and 

 one night during a storm, a schooner was driven against 

 the bank, and the bowsprit pierced his house, threw him 

 and his wife out of bed, broke one of her legs, and nearly 

 disemboweled him. Then he moved to an interior city, 

 and rented the fourth floor of a brick building on a back 

 street. 



— The shooting about Danbury is excellent now. You 

 are foolish if you don't take a day from the cares of busi- 

 ness, borrow a hammer, and enjoy the sport. 



— A Danbury boy wants to know if it is right for his 

 folks to pay five hundred dollars for a piano for his sister, 

 and make him pick berries for circus money. 



— The wife of a carpenter loses more time in trying to 

 make a door shut than any other woman. 



Lacustrine Dwellings in Germany.— The remains of 

 ancient habitations raised on poles are of rare occurrence 

 in Germany, and hence the discovery last year of the debris 

 of such structures in the bed of 'the River Elster, near 

 Leipsic, awakened a lively interest. The discovery was 

 made by Herr Jentzsch, of the Geological Institute of Aus- 

 tria, The order of the visible strata at this point is as fol- 

 lows:— At the base is found a layer of sandstone; on this a 

 lacustrine clay. Both of these belong to the upper portions 

 of the quaternary rock. In the clay are two beds contain- 

 ing the remains of plants, and among these are found leaves 

 of the willow and oak, fruit of the Acer, and sundry other 

 vegetable fragments. Above these occurs a layer of roots 

 some inches in depth, which shows that the surface of the 

 soil remained at this level for a considerable period. The 

 uppermost layer, two to three metres thick, was produced 

 by an inundation. The piles discovered by Jentzsch in the 

 bed of the Elster are set in the clay and covered over with 

 this silt. They are arranged in circles, with their lower 

 ends pointed, and their upper extremities connected by hori- 

 zontal ties of oak. Among the animal remains found here 

 are the lower jaw of an ox, with its teeth; stags' heads, the 

 long bones of some mammal yet undetermined, and shells 

 of the unio and anodon. No traces of human remains have 

 been found, though fragments of pottery and charcoal aw 

 met withi also two stQne hatchets, 



