44 



FOREST AND STREAM 



sent them hero to tin Christian issed, at Iho rate of one a year, 

 and also because " this is a great free country," you know, 

 and we must, therefore open our bosom to the tilth of the 

 world. 



My first impression of California was that it was a land of 

 solid realities and glittering humbugs, and I have seen little 

 reason to change it. But to the sportsman, the climate 

 seeker and tourist, wlto has sense enough not to squat in 

 the first place he strikes, its realities are all solid and its 

 humbugs very scarce. 



*■» 



For Forest and Stream and Bod and Gun. 

 THE SOURCE OF THE CONNECTICUT. 



THE headwaters of the Connecticut having of late at- 

 tracted some notice as a game region, I take occasion to 

 relate some of my experience during two seasons spent in this 

 locality. One evening in July, 1877, our party of three 

 reached K orth Stratford, the last town on the railroad, staged it 

 to Oolebrook,two and a half hours' ride, that night,and the next 

 afternoon found us at First Lake. At the hotel near the out- 

 let wo acquired some information of the wilderness beyond, 

 and a 34-pound lunge (Saimo confinU, I believe,) was brought 

 in from the lake in company with several of smaller Bize. 

 We were almost induced to stop a day and catch a few our- 

 selves, as we were assured would be easy to do. But speckled 

 trout were the objects of our trip, and. though the big fish 

 made us open our eyes to no Bmall extent, nine o'clock next 

 morning found us at the edge of the forest— a forest extend- 

 ing almost unbroken three hundred miles across Northern 

 Maine and New Brunswick, The four-mile carry to Second 

 Lake was not to be surpassed for mud, stones and fallen trees 

 by any equal distance described in modern literature. Since 

 that time, as I rejoice to know, it has been improved till one 

 is not obliged to make a pack mule of himself, but may send 

 baggage by buck-board and ride himself if he chooses. 



The object of our trip was the exploration of the country 

 with regard to the fishing. Certain indefinite statements as 

 to the deer and moose in these parts had not even influenced 

 us to bring our guns, but we were quite confident of finding 

 trout somewhere. With revolvers, rods and two weeks' sup- 

 plies we proposed to find trout if there were any. If disap- 

 pointed in Connecticut waters, we intended to cross the moun- 

 tains to the head of the Magalloway. These streams in turn 

 proving barren, replenishing our supplies at Parmachene, we 

 would try I he Cupsuptic and Bangeley waters as a last resort. 

 At the last house on the road we were told of a bark camp 

 a mile up the lake. Here we could probably get dinner. 

 And before we got those fifty-pound packs over the five mdes 

 it was quite a fashionable dinner-hour. When at last we 

 dropped the packs in the little clearing, we were surprised to 

 find a "large neat -structure of peeled logs chinked with moss, 

 and a high bark roof with gables. Inside it was just woodsy 

 enough, and really fascinating" in the freshness of its while 

 logs and silvery bark. And Mr. Chester got us up such- a 

 dinner that we almost decided to give up our projected tramp 

 in the woods and Btay at the lake. But after admiring the 

 lake and surrounding mountains awhile, the woods fever being 

 still strong within us, Mr. C. rowed us across and we struck 

 into the pathless woods, following up a quite large brook half 

 a mile before pitching camp. For the week we were on this 

 BtTeam every day was a sort of recreation. Every pool was 

 full of trout With our little white tent beside the 

 best pools, wo were saved the usual long tramps back to 

 camp. A few minutes' fishing usually supplied trout for a 

 meal and with perfect- weather the days seemed charmed. 

 Kroui day to day we shifted camp, continuing our northeast 

 course toward the Magalloway. Our pistols kept us supplied 

 with Canada grouse, lor they were very numerous along the 

 streams, and so tame that H. put his hand within a yard of an 

 old cock before he flew. The ruffed grouse abounds in the 

 highlands. For a distance of three or four miles the stream 

 flowed through alders and was nearly dead water. Along the 

 upper part of this I fished about a mile one day, and found 

 not a pool without moose or caribou tracks bo confused as to 

 be hardly distinguished from each other. Using no caution 

 we saw no largegame, but frequently found the wafer muddy 

 where they had just left, and once 1 heard a caribou trot off 

 through the alders. This part of the stream, as well a3 the 

 best place for trout, has not been visited since that time. 



After going half way to the Magalloway we held a council 

 to decide whether to go back to Chester's camp or still for- 

 ward. Sure signs of approaching rain, together with lender 

 memories of the dinner which had attended our stop the week 

 before, decided the question, and just before dark, after a ter- 

 rible tramp of nine hours under the still heavy knapsaoks, we 

 stood on a log at the edge of the lake, each man with a revol- 

 ver The f usilade readied the camp across the lake, but a 

 few minutes after Mr. Chester reached us with the boats the 

 long threatening storm broke. In a few mmutes we were too 

 wef to be any wetter, and could only laugh at each other the 

 rest of the mile and a half. 



We remained a week at the lake, catching an unlimited 

 number of trout, though the larger ones were still in deep 

 water August 10, H. and I returned and spent a month, 



which 1 still remember as the most pleasant of my ex pei 



We hunted little on account of the wet weather, but caught 

 is many trout as could be disposed of, many running from a 

 pound to a pound and a half. The best 1 have heard of being 

 taken in these waters is three pounds. Last summer (1878), 

 1 speut July and August at this lake. Our party secured four 

 deer and might have shot as many more without difficulty. 

 On one occasion a large deer stood for several minutes about 

 fifty yards distant, while my rifle was iu my ham Is. It. was 

 hard to keep from shooting, but there was plenty of meat in 

 camp and 1 let her go. It is a beautiful lake ! The moun- 

 tains inclosing are still covered with the primeval forest. The 

 lumberman— that curse of all the accessible lakes of Maine- 

 has not jet touched my favorite, and the dark belt of ever- 

 rteen forest Burrormdillg it is in striking contrast. With many 

 of the northern lakes. The deer around it s shores have hardly 

 been disturbed as yet, and caribou ami moose, though abund- 

 ant are never systematically hunted. Willi EdwordMorton 

 at the paddle on a dark August night, even a tyro is sure of a 

 fn deer, unless be persist* in pounding the Bides of the 

 bout with his but. Norton paddles from sheer lovedflhe 

 thinp and that he has appreciation his occasional letters in 

 Fobest ano Stbbam from Florida will testify. But Thomas 

 Chester is the true woodsman, as perfect in the knowledge of 

 caribou and moose, bears and otter, as any man his native 



Aroostook ever turned out; and, what is of importance to 

 many of us, ho is not of those who regard the sportsman mere- 

 ly as a subject to bn plucked. Sharing the not uncommon 

 prejudice which exists against making public one's favorite 

 hunting grounds, it is with some hesitation that I have written 

 The. foregoing ; but during the two seasons I have spent in 

 this wilderness I feel that I have become acquainted with but, 

 a small part of the game inhabited localities. Many a stream 

 and beaver pond have I tried but a moment, though Bwarming 

 With trout and with shores trampled by the finest game in this 

 part of the continent. Yet few enough, I know, are the 

 sportsmen who will penetrate these more- secluded places 

 There is room for all. X . 



lay back on their oars and soon landed at Lake Catharine 

 station. "All aboard," sings the conductor as the train 

 rumbles up lo the platform, and we are soon Inn led back to 

 tho smoky city. Long live the ducks, that we may occasion- 

 ally leave the turmoil of business and spend a day on the 

 open prairie to inhale the free salt air and hear the melodious 

 " boom " of the breech-loader echoing through Seven Ponds, 

 Cerridore, Bay Frederic and other grounds too numerous to 

 mention. '!• M. S. 



For Forest and Stream and Bod and Gun. 

 A DAY ON THE PRAIRIE. 



^ TAO you think the wind will shift to the North ?" was 

 xJ the question asked by many sportsmen as they col- 

 lected at the station of the New Orleans and Mobile Kailroad 

 preparatory to starting en route to Chef Mantcnr and Lake 

 Catharine. 



The rain was pouring down in torrents, and from under 

 each umbrella peeped a hopeful face, prophetic of a bright to- 

 morrow. 



It was near the hour of five p. m. when the train was 

 brought before the station, the locomotive puffing, ringing 

 and blowing as they backed to attach the different coaches, 

 prominent among which was that appropriated to the men of 

 the field. The dusky suits of corduroys were bobbing about 

 here, there and everywhere, looking after the dogs, guns, 

 baggage, etc. At last, as the station clock strikes live, the 

 long chain of coaches is gradually moved off, the church 

 steeples, domes and spires of ISew Orleans grow dim in haze, 

 and a few moments later all is lost to view of the distant city, 

 and the train speeds through the hoary cypress forest, next 

 moment emerging into a prairie almost like a sea of yellow 

 grass. Bayous, coules and swamps are passed, and then in 

 the midst of a sweeping prairie, far reaching beyond the scope 

 of the human eye, three or fom solitary huts are passed. 

 These are the houses of the professional hunter. At intervals 

 of half or three-quarters of an jour the whistle blowB and the 

 train is checked beside some wo-begone road-side house in the 

 open prairie. These are section, or station-houses. After 

 several hours' ride the brakeman opens the coach-door and 

 cries "Chef Manteur;'' four miles further he sings out " Lake 

 Catharine." Then there is a general stir, and as the train 

 moves on there is nothing left in the sportsman's coach save 

 ihe volumes of smoke from the meerschaum, cigar and Creole 

 cigarette. The hunters are all busy looking for Tom and 

 Jerry on the banks of Miller's Bayou. Later on there may be 

 seen a light large skiff steadily moving down the bayou filled 

 with men, dogs and guns. By the glint of the lantern may 

 occasionally be seen the flash of some polished weapon, and 

 breaking the stillness of the night is heard a merry laugh or 

 a snatch from some familiar song. A brisk row of several 

 miles brings the little craft before Mrs. Miller's wharf, and 

 very soon -men, dogs and guns all disappear in the well 

 warmed cabins— the hunter's retreat. 



During some recent year the more devoted have combined 

 and built what is known as the club room, a small cabin a 

 trifle better than that built by the late good Miller. The 

 houBesare built on a small island of a few acres in area, prin- 

 cipally composed of shell and sand, with an occasional tree 

 dotted about the grounds. This island is not more than three 

 or four feet above the level of the sea marsh that surrounds it 

 for many miles. In the rear of the house, about a quarter- 

 mile distant, lies in all its ripples the beautiful sheet of water 

 known as " Lake Catharine," about fifteen or twenty miles 

 in length and about half its length in breadth. Into this 

 lake empty a great number of bayous, which drain the lower 

 sea-marsh country. These waters abound in a variety of 

 fish, the most prominent of which is the bass (commonly, 

 but erroneously, known here as "green trout"). Miller's 

 Bayou and Bayou Frederic are the most noted of the bayous 

 through the prairie, and they furnish a fair channel to all 

 small streams confluent. Situated on Miller's Bayou, on the 

 side nearest Bayou Frederic, stands the "Ketreat" described 

 above. We will now take a peep into the "club room," the 

 centre of attraction at the lodge. In the centre of the room is 

 a large table, around which arc collected the sportsmen. 



The room is hung about with hunting suits, guns and such 

 things as are common to a sportsman's hall. Presently the 

 several occupations of the party are interrupted by Mrs. Mil- 

 ler entering with her arms full of plates, dishes, and etc. 

 Cards, pipes, etc., are rapidly removed, and the delicious 

 coffee, fish, ducks and eggs soon take their places as Mrs. M. 

 arranges them before her guests. All have good appetites, 

 and as they quaff the " rosy bowl " many jokes and repartees 

 are exchanged across the table. Supper finished, games are 

 resumed until some voice, a few hours later, exclaims, "Lights 

 out, boys," and in less time than it takes a turtle to roll off a 

 log all are in bed and dreaming of happy hunting grounds 

 where ducks fly like chart' before the winds. 



"Gemmeu, it's time to git up," roars Tom at the door at 

 half-past three o'clock ; " de boats is ready, and I'se just wait- 

 ing for you gemmen to speak de word." 



All are dressed in less than no time. Mrs. Miller's coffee 

 is hastily swallowed ; there in a busy hum of voices and a 

 flitting Of lights at the wharf as each huntsman adjusts his 

 chattels in his respective piroque ; one by one in different 

 directions the boats vanish iu the dim morning light. And 

 then all is sLlenl at Miller's. In due time each sportsman 

 reaches his grounds and anchors his decoys, places himself in 

 his boat securely in his blind to await the dawn. Slowly the 

 sky grows gray and the first " boom" is heard afar down on 

 "Bavou Barbe "; the second and the third as the sky becomes 

 streaked with red ■ and ere the sun is risen it seems as though 

 there was a lively skirmish going on. The ducks whirl iu 

 every direction BO confused that they seem at a loss to know 

 where to alight. This skirmishing is kept up until one or two 

 r m., and, tired out, each one instinctively turns the prow of 

 his peroque homeward. One after another arrives with his 

 phuw of luck, some with two and some with twenty ducks. 

 Thcd, hungry and sleepy, prepared for a rest, a good repast a 

 a nap; and while each in turn is being enjoyed 

 Tom, Jerry and Philip are busy cleaning the game and guns 

 for the respective gentlemen they have accompanied. After a 

 nap has refreshed all they are. ready to enjoy a good dinner 

 about three o'clock. A siesta follows and is prolonged until 

 the summons comes to prepare for the train. At half-past 

 seven night is again upon a'l, and at this hour Tom and Jerry 



A TROPHY OF THE CHASE. 



Editoe Fobbst and Stream : 



On the 3d of January I killed a large mountain ram, or big- 

 horn, on the Bridger Mountains. I send the measurement of 

 his head thinking it might interest some of your readers. 

 As you are aware, the base of horns occupies the full width of 

 head on top, there being no interval between horns as in the 

 domestic ram : Width of head across eyes, Sin. ; width across 

 both horns at base, 8in.; circumference of each horn at. base, 

 Klin.; diameter of each horn ut base— largest diameter, 

 •5Jin.'; smallest diameter, ^in.; circumference of each horn 

 at. their half length (Win. from base), Win.: length of horn, 

 measuring around the curve, 34m.; distance between horns at 

 lip ('across nose), IGHn.; from outside to outside of bonis at 

 widest point (acrosss forehead) 21;;in.; each horn makes a 

 complete turn excepting 2in.; measuring from centre, of base 

 of each horn to the tip each horn flares outward (>lin. ; in mak- 

 ing the complete turn the flare being mathematically regular ; 

 length of head from the crown to muzzle, 13iin. ; length of 

 ear on lower side, 6in.: length of ear on upper side, 4in.; cir- 

 cumference of neck just back of ears, 22iu.; forefeet, Sfitt. 

 long by2iin. wide.; fund feet, smaller, 2$in. by 2in. Judg- 

 ing from the rings on the horns his age was eleven years. 

 His head, with small portion of neck, would weigh from (55 to 

 76 pounds (estimated). Estimated weight of animal in hiB 

 present poor condition, 200 t pounds ; had he been fat, 800 



He was killed at an elevation of 6,000 feet above tide, with 

 snow eighteen inches deep on the mountain side, with a tem- 

 perature of zero at 12 o'clock M., and bad to be dragged down 

 the mountain side 400 yards to a point that could be reached 

 by pack horse, where he was skinned, quartered and packed 

 in. The above dimensions were taken after being brought 

 Dto camp. The surroundings were so disagreeable that 1 

 .ailed to" take the dimensions of carcass before being skinned, 

 In spite of this labor and fatigue and the previous labor of 

 climbing 1,200 feet vertically from the valley below to got a 

 favorable shot, I felt well repaid in the possession of such a 

 trophy. At the same time my hunting companion killed 

 another ram of about the same size, the diameter of horns 

 being a little less, but their length being a little longer, 35* 

 inches. Estimated age, 12 years, by rings on horn. 



The -color of these big-horns was a dark granite gray, brick 

 color) on head, neck and sides. Kump marked like the elk, 

 except the color was almost pure white, with a gray streak on 

 top of rump, connecting the gray color of back with tail- 

 Muzzle white. They were of the largest class that range the 

 Kocky Mountains. There are a few larger, but not many. If, is 

 only during the heavy snows of winter that they are forced 

 so low down the mountain sides in search of food, and it is 

 then the most favorable time to kill them. The ewes are 

 still fat. p - 



Montana, Jan. 10, 1879. 



FIRE HUNTING IN TEXAS. 



BitEsniM, Texas, .Tan. 18, 1879. 

 Editoe Fobbbt asp Stream : 



some Unle ago onr Jolly little crowd of live met again lor die purpose 

 of niaklug arrangement* Ior a camp mint above the ao-ealted Yegnti 

 Bottom, aoout eighteen miles from our home. No permission v. as 

 neeeBsary, as all of ub were very fond of tills noble -port, imil we at 

 once, made up our minds to start tho coming Saturday night and lay 

 over Sunday. The time came on. E. A. if. and old John U. of our 

 party, the more experienced, especially the Erst ,_ 

 of the crack shotB, aa he alone knocked eleven deer in onr two last 

 bunts, went In the afternoon well prepaied with all necessaries for our 

 pleasure trip. We were determined to 1008 more for oar old time fun 

 than for a large quantity of game, la the evening about 7 o'clock 

 after business released the balance of us, we followed on horseback to 

 join the hunt, and reached camp about 10>£ o'olock. Form 

 two friends that left at noon were just In camp when we anived, ami 

 I hey at once showed ns a fine lot of ducks whle.li they had shut late m 

 the evening in a pond about Shipyards from us. We then stirred np the 

 lire and made a good enp of coffee, and got away with some of our 

 Victuals. As usual, all the boys bad a good appetite, and still old John 

 eriod out: "1 can't eat anything on the whole trip 1" While silting 

 here on the ground a la maaiiere ri'im vhattmr, we heard at least eight. 

 Bhota fired doe eonth from us, bo that one of ua remarked, '• Boys, let's 

 ap and start for deer, or else the fellows above will get Che best of as I' 

 Old John, though, 5aid : "There are no doer where they BhOC 

 poBC they are raccoon hunting !" We again perceived Deal 

 wtiicnled old John to believe that the parties muBt ba Wiling stock, as 

 tbere 18 plenty of it there. We all laughed for passu 

 those boys. At last we got up and Btarled out for some game, G, d. 

 and I went together, bat had Been during the whole night only one 

 pair of eyes— on the ground, too. I shot, and waa surprised i i, g 

 large sfcnnk. It was rather windy all night, nn that the llgJl 

 open, old-fashioned lamp was most of the time blown aside, and 



see any distance in front of ua. . ■ 

 and old John also returned lo camp. We had all bean tei 



hear the result of thjalr night's work. They gave us •:. 



brief story : " Toward morning, after having passed the bew cob ■ 



we s 



finally got up 



e pair of eyes about fifteen yards ahead of us. 'i 



Ills eyei 



id stretched hi. 

 re's oid Jack !' 

 sly old Jack down here!' 



'Hal 



el. mm 



which 



ill, while E. A. F, turusd around and 

 .ughiDgiy repliet Mi 



k!' De quickly 6U0I . i 



loibercd, laid Dim Ami 

 ad niui hung up it was nearly 

 out Friend, 

 J turkeys, ol which 



83 bi 



ihebiggeatklnd of a buck. After we ha 

 daylight. Snli not t , 



t ih,s rerj ib) : ■■■■ »epi 



we only got live large gobblers, as they 



i IS and went southward lor the creeks. Wo I 

 eluded to leave and go for theiu at once, Si 



Ulypsfl of the ranrning, and were certain not lo 



Be disappointed, In a Ml '" I ' 



oix-aMiwt. Mr, Cenrcm wa^ tetoneo, and everything placed m ttie 



i three and «. baft miles ride we crossed H i 

 soon reached our dee ' 



i that was not at all a pleasant one lor 

 ua— a line mare and colt lying right close together dead, both of thcui 

 killed wltti baokBhot, as ttie wonnda showed. Ton may imagine tlia 



