FOREST AND STREAM? 



5 



liam is an Hudson's Bay post. Its oldest building is one 

 hundred and sixteen years old, built of stone, and loop- 

 holed for musketry. There arc some thirty offices, stores, 

 dwellings and out buildings within the main enclosure. A 

 couple of iron cannon guard the entrance; two antiquated 

 sailing crafts lie at the landing; and a tall flagstaff towers over 

 all Yery neat and well cared for is the ancient post, with 

 its lawns, hot-beds, flower gardens, grainaries and live stock. 

 The old factors who have sojourned here, totally isolated 

 from civilization until recently, neglected none of those 

 appliances that could make their life tolerable. Good 

 old wines stock the cellars, rare pictures hang on the walls, 

 croquet is set on the lawn, and the bird of Juno screams 

 from the white washed paling. There are Guinea fowl, 

 piggeries, henneries, apiaries, dove-cots, and stock-yards; 

 rare plants, redundant vegitablcs forced under glass, and 

 trailing vines in profusion. Indian emplyees and French 

 half -breeds lodge on the premises, and fifty gaunt dogs, 

 long-legged, sharp-eared and wolf -like, stroll at random by 

 day, and make the place hideous by night. The principle 

 store is vast in extent and contains a variety of goods in 

 quantity that would seem to exceed all possible exigencies 

 of demand. In old times, visitors -were few and far be- 

 tween, and the Indians who came in the spring to bring 

 their furs, and returned to their traps in the fall with their 

 winter supplies, were the only society the wilderness afford- 

 ed. As it is, the place is shut out from the world for seven 

 months of the year. But the Canadian Pacific railway sur 

 vey has wrought a great change. The hundreds of survey- 

 ors upon the routes need supplies, and have created a de- 

 mand for transportation, while the prospect of the speedy 

 construction of the road has induced emigration. Last 

 year the steamboat line was established, and the way to this 

 remote region is now made easy. 



Prince Arthur's Landing is three miles east of Fort Wil- 

 liam. It is a frontier slab and canvas town that has grown 

 up within four years in expectation of being made an ob 

 jective point on the railroad route. It contains five hun- 

 dred inhabitants, who are supplied with grog by two tav- 

 erns and shops. Should the road give it the go-by, its 

 rapid depopulation and decline is predicted. There is a 

 route hence to Fort Garry, Manitoba, which has been laid 

 out to compete with the American steamboat and railroad 

 line ma Duluth, Brainard, Moorhead, and the Red River. 

 It is called the " Dawson route. " Patriotism, want of cash, 

 or a concession to the powers that be, have impelled many 

 a poor emigrant to travel four hundred miles over this dis- 

 mal succession of alternate ponds and portages to his land 

 of promise in the far Northwest, when he might have ac- 

 complished the journey by the American route with more 

 comfort in less time. The conveyances over the portages 

 are rude wagons, and little tug-boats tow batteaux through the 

 lakes and frequent reaches of water. There are some forty 

 portages in all, and baggage and freight has to be shifted 

 as many times as there are portages. 



Prince Arthur's Landing lies at the head of Thunder 

 Bay, an expanse of water twenty miles in diameter, encir- 

 cled by an amphitheatre of fantastic hills and guarded at 

 its portal by Thunder Cape, a rugged headland of columnar 

 trap several hundred feet high. In a fog, when the steam- 

 er's whistle sounds, the reverberations leap and re-echo from 

 point to point of the entire circumference of the bay. But 

 when the Titanic voice of the thunder-blast rolls through 

 the broad expanse, it resounds with mighty intonations 

 that shake the cliffs and split the air, and give to cape and 

 bay their most appropriate name. It is the tongue of the Great 

 Spirit ,Nana-bijoo, that speaks. But, alas ! for the reputation 

 of the Indian storm-god! That divinity once upon a time got 

 drunk, and lying down upon the summit of the cliffs, never 

 rose again. His gigantic form can even now be seen plainly 

 limned in the outline of the adjacent mountain ridge. 

 It has been the custom of the Indians to toss him a bit of 

 tobacco, by way of a propitiatory offering, as they pass! 

 but most of them at the present day regard it as a nseles 

 waste of the precious weed— *kawin nisltin — not of much 

 account. 



Twenty-two miles east of Prince Arthur's Landing is the 

 far-famed Silver Islet, which yields an annual wealth of 

 revenue to the company of Americans that work it. It for- 

 merly belonged to Canadians, who could not make it pay; 

 but they bite their lips now in rueful disappointment to sec 

 the precious treasures that are constantly unearthed and 

 Snapped away by the hundred barrels at a time. The 

 mines are of untold value and could not be bought, it is 

 said, for less than $18,000,000. Silver Islet— almost of solid 

 silver — was originally a rock but a few yards long that rose 

 from the waves a half mile from the main land. Delving 

 into it, and following the shining lead, the miners sunk 

 their shaft some three hundred feet down into the pyramid, 

 and bringing the debris to the surface have enlarged their 

 insular domain, protected it with massive cribs, and erected 

 their engine houses and other buildings thereon, structures 

 of massive timbers tree-nailed and bolted together, to resist 

 the winds and waves that beat with mighty force upon this 

 roast. The " lead " trends north-east, and the miners are 

 now working under the lake toward the main land, taking 

 the risk of their uncertain roof falling through and letting 

 in the mass of waters that flow overhead. Upon the main 

 land are the company's stores, and other works, and other 

 shafts now being sunk to head off the lead. Steam tugs 

 ply to and from the island and bring over the precious ore 

 and the gangs of laborers employed. So strict are the rules 

 and precautions against pilfering, that each miner is obliged 

 to strip and be searched before he leaves the islet. This 

 discipline he agrees to before he enters the service. 



Now ■ for Nepigon, seventy-four mile* easl v/urd, Ste&OT 



ing for several hours along the coast, we enter the noble 

 Nepigon Bay, the most picturesque and enchanting of all 

 the many localities of Lake Superior. Within its bosom 

 are large high islands, fifteen hundred feet from base to 

 summit, covered with verdure; little islets that scarcely 

 afford a resting place for the trees and shrubbery that make 

 them beautiful; grassy, marshy lowlands that feed and 

 shelter water-fowl innumerable; and away up at its head, 

 and within the embrace of the river, is the famed Rifr> 

 Rock, sacred to the great Manitou and all the other Indian 

 gods, and covered with devices, totems, and hieroglyphics 

 that tradition says were indellibly graven on its face 

 when the rock was formed. This rock is a red slate cliff 

 some 800 feet high, whose face contrasting with the living 

 green of the verdure that envelops it, presents a charming 

 feature and always a prominent landmark from distant 

 points. The Indians manufacture pipes from the stone, 

 and these pipes are always regarded as "good medicine." 



Half a mile above is Red Rock Landing, a Hudson's Bay 

 Company's post and the starting point for our canoe voyage 

 up the river. This letter is already so long that I will only 

 touch salient points that may be of value to sportsmen who 

 contemplate a trip this season. Here can be obtained al- 

 most- everything requisite for camping out; cedar boats, 

 and birch canoes, tents, blankets, woolen shirts, Hudson's 

 Bay overcoats, corduroys, cigars and tobacco, canned 

 fruits, dessicated meats, condensed soups, milk and coffee, 

 pickles, English ale, whisky for medicinal use, new Testa- 

 ments, flour, pork and ham, cutlery, boots, shoe-packs — 

 at ridiculously low prices. Good guides and Indian canoe- 

 men can be had at a dollar per day each. The river is 

 forty-five miles long to the great Nepigon Lake at its head, 

 and is broken by fifteen chutes or falls, at all of which is 

 the best of fishing. It has an average width of two hun- 

 dred yards, and at frequent intervals widens into lakes 

 two miles and more in width, in which the toothsome white- 

 fish and the great lake trout dwell. Camping ground is ex" 

 cellent everywhere, and there is a beaten trail across the 

 portages, over portions of which a wagon might pass with 

 ease; for this has long been a thoroughfare for the Compa- 

 ny's employees, who, once a year at least bring down their 

 furs and carry back their annual supplies to Nepigon 

 House above. There is ample casting room throughout. The 

 depth varies, as I have found by actual soundings of my 

 own, from twenty to two hundred and fifty feet, and the wa- 

 ter is so cold at all times as to benumb the limbs. Its temper- 

 ature is about 88?. In September partridges (ruffed grouse), 

 are thick as bees, and the forests abound in bears, rabbits, 

 and other fur-bearing animals and small game. There are 

 a few cariboo, but no deers or any other species of the 

 genus Cei'dus. By August the flics and punkies will all have 

 disappeared. The trout will have become fat and gamey ; 

 for they spawn later here than in most other localities. 

 Bring your tackle with you. Include trolling tackle, a 

 stout rod, and red and brown hackles, and you are well pre- 

 pared for business. Do not permit habit or education to 

 induce you to doub'. my instructions, or think the season 

 too far advanced. August and September are the glorious 

 harvest months for trout. 



And now, beware how you shake hands with old Bob 

 Crawford, the jovial, genial agent of the Company's post, 

 for he has a heart as warm as mush and a grip like a steel 

 trap. I'll tell you all about it in my next. 



Don't forget your warm clothing, for the nights are cold. 



Havblock. 



STUPENDOUS ENGLISH BETTING. 



PON the Derby of 1867 Lord Hastings lost by far the 

 heaviest sum that was ever lost on a race. It seems but 

 the other day that the air was vocal with the enthusiastic 

 cheers that greeted his appearance on the course at Ascot, af- 

 ter paying away through his comissioners about £100,000 on 

 the Derby settling. In many a little race at Newmarket Lord 

 Hastings 'backed his horse to win £10,000. It made no dif- 

 ference to him whether the bookmakers asked him to stake 

 £2,000 or £5,000 against their £10,000. Whatever they off- 

 ered in the way of odds, so long as the sum was large 

 enough, he was content to book ; and during his short ca- 

 reer on the Turf the odds laid were shorter^ and the gains 

 won by the bookmakers larger than during any three years 

 of the present century. He often paid away £40,000 or 

 £50,000 upon a settlement after a Houghton or Second Oc- 

 tober meeting ; and since Lord Basting's time high bets 

 have been the rule at Tattersall's and the Ring. Mr. J. B. 

 Morris, the bookmaker, has been known to lay £40,000 Xo 

 £600 against each of five of Sir Joseph Hawley's horses, 

 against each of six of the Duke of Newcastle's horses, and 

 against a horse of Mr. Chaplin's. Again, £1,000 to £10 has 

 been laid that a certain horse would win the Liverpool Cup, 

 and £1,000 to £10 that Sir Frederick Johnstone Avould ride 

 the winner ; and Mr. Chaplin has been known to win 

 £140,000 upon the Derby, and Captain Machell, his confed- 

 erate, £60,000. A year or two ago Mr. Chaplin won a levi- 

 athan bet of £50,000 that The Hermit would beat The Pal- 

 mer the first time they met, and £10,000 that The Hermit 

 beat Marksman. You may meet men by the dozen at Tatter- 

 sall's who, if they choose to tell you their secrets Avould tell you 

 that their wits are worth £10,000 to £20,000 a year to them. 

 Reduced to a system, nothing is safer than " business on the 

 Turf." Lord George Bentinck for years kept up his mag- 

 nificent stud by his book ; and Mr. Harry Hill, his chief 

 Ring commissioner, could, I fancy, tell us some piquant 

 stories if he were to turn to his notebooks. It is said that in 

 a single year Lord George netted nearly £50,000 upon a 

 couple of horses alone. — Gentlemen's Magazine. 



.**+, 



Quite an interesting pigeon shoot came off Aug. 12th at 

 Ditmar'sfarm, Flatlands, L. I., among a few gentlemen from 

 Brooklyn. The birds were only middling, and the most of 

 them did not fly direct from the trap. There were 140 birds 

 shot at, Dr. W. killed eighteen out of twenty, and Mr. 

 Raclin'seventeen out of twenty. Several gentlemen pract iced 

 at thirty and forty yards with varied su.. < 



tuml ]§iHtot%. 



AMERICAN SARDINE AND ANCHOVY. 



IE minor fisheries of our coasts have as yet been en- 

 tirely neglected and overlooked, though affording a 

 sure and unfailing return for the capital invested in them. 

 For instance, Ave import sardines and anchovies Avhile count- 

 less millions of them are playing along our coasts. The 

 sardine of Europe is the young of a species of herring, 

 knoAvn, when full grown, as the Pilchard. They are 

 found from the Mediterranean to the English Channel, are 

 easily captured, and are preserved in sweet oil or pickled. 

 On [the St. Lawrence river, beloAv Quebec, the French 

 liabilans put up quantities of young herring in. this last- 

 mentioned Avay, and thus prepare to meet the long Avinter 

 and supplement their scanty and often failing crops of 

 potatoes and barley. Any young herring can be thus pre- 

 served, and would meet Avith a ready sale everywhere. 

 We cannot yet furnish the olive oil for the second men- 

 tioned method of preserving them, though it is to be 

 hoped that the olive may be planted on the southern Al- 

 leghanies, Avhere it would thrive admirably, as Avell as the 

 cork oak. We ought not to be dependent upon Europe 

 for such easily-raised products. 



As for the anchovy, another of the herring family, we 

 have it on our coast — a different species from the Euro- 

 pean one, to be sure, and perhaps smaller in size, but 

 equally good for use. It is described in DeKay's < 'Fish of 

 NeAV York" as the Clupea Viitata, or satin-striped herring,* 

 and is a Avell-marked fish, easily knoAvn by its projecting 

 upper jaAV, long gills and the bright silver stripe along its 

 sides. It averages two and a half inches in length, but 

 another species, found on the coast of California, h 

 much larger. It is found at sea, near the coast, in count- 

 less myriads, and is a favorite prey of the blue fish. Only 

 a feAV days since, while trolling for these ravenous pirates 

 of the deep near the New York light ship, every bluefish 

 we captured was gorged with the American anchovy. This 

 delicate little herring is generally preserved by salting, or 

 by grinding them up into a fine paste with salt. They 

 are caught with fine purse nets, and would repay the small 

 labor and capital required to go into the business in one 

 season. 



If the feAV remarks we have jotted doAvn should prove 

 interesting, Ave may continue the subject and describe the 

 proper mode of harvesting these valuable but entirely neg- 

 lected sources of wealth. J. Carson Brevoort. 



*It is a trite Engraulis, or anchovy, aad was recognized as eucli by 

 Baird and Girard. No figure of it has been published. 



•*-•+- 



CARRIER PIGEONS. 



SINCE the siege of Paris, where only balloons and car- 

 rier pigeons escaped the vigilance of the Prussians, 

 much attention lias been directed towards this most inter- 

 esting representative of the Columbidw. Very few people 

 Avhose tastes run toAvards pigeons are aware how many really 

 bitter feuds have been fought out among ornithologists as 

 to the exact classification of this well-known bird. Linmeus 

 insisted that they should be classed with the Passers. Cuvier 

 placed them in the category of gallinaceous birds ; Avhile 

 Buffon gave to them the dignity of a distinct order. An- 

 other fact but little known is, that the Dodo, an extinct 

 bird, whose fancy form is the constant illustration of most 

 books of natural history, Avas the colossal bird of this fam- 

 ily. Why is it, then, that the Dodo should be held in such 

 ridicule by those having little respect for the sacred charac- 

 ter of ornithology ? Perhaps it is on account of his name, or 

 because of his ludicrous form. If not too late, the propri- 

 etors of the Graphic, who are doing such wonders" in a jour 

 nalistic way, might add a Dodo or so to their; list of profes- 

 sors and carrier pigeons, to go in the balloon! There is no 

 reason to suppose that the Dodo would not be true to the 

 instincts of his race. Instead of being limited, however 

 to a tiny note, written on the flimsiest of tissue paper, 

 like his diminutive congener, the Carrier Pigeon, he might 

 tug along a whole United States mail bag, padlock and all, 

 from the upper regions of air to the earth, 10,000 feet below., 

 To be sure there might be this trouble in the way : it is pos- 

 sible he Avould lay his course for the Island of Mauritius, 

 where alone he was once born and bred, and it is a long way 

 from Mauritius to New York ; but then as all things are pos- 

 sible for the Graphic, a special cable might be laid from 

 thence hither, to transmit the news. As to the carrier 

 pigeons to, be used in the coming ballon voyage, if they are 

 dropped at sea, Ave doubt whether any of them will ever 

 reach their homes. We speak seriously now. The question 

 of hoAV the earner pigeon finds its way home, must always 

 be a puzzling one. Mr. O. S. Hubbell, an amateur breeder 

 of these birds, who Avill furnish carrier pigeons for the 

 GrapTdc balloon, writes as follows to that paper in regard tc 

 them : 



" I go to my farm next Thursday, and will take in hand training the bird* 

 for you myself, and will deliver to you a dozen birds that yon may depend 

 upon, and you shall have proof of their ability in a few days, when I wil 

 send a basket of them, and you 'shall liberate them, each with a mes 

 sage, which I will transmit by mail to you as proof of their usefulness. 



" These birds never find their way over long distances unless they have 

 been trained by gradual stages. 



" Their power of vision is very acute, and at the altitude in which thej 

 fly they have a view of the earth 'beneath, with its great land marks anc 

 recognizable features. 



"At 400 feet, the boundary of vision js a radial line of twenty-five 

 milee, 



" Ai they rise, the prospect widens In apiazing proportion?, and they flj 



