FOREST AND STREAM. 



had more than Jerome's "eight hundred" to distribute among 

 our friends- 



I have hurried through our tour, and were my letter not 

 already too long, would be glad to allude to many incidents 

 that occurred, of interest at least to ourselves," and good 

 enough to amuse others perhaps, and also to say something 

 about the country in general which we visited, and hope 

 to see again. JV A. H. 



— - — — — -**♦<*— — 



For Forest and Stream. 

 DOWN AMONG THE BAY BIRDS— GOOD 

 SPORT AT GOOD GROUND. 



IT has always seemed to me that one of the most impor- 

 tant features of your journal has been the seasonable 

 information afforded to gentlemen, who, especially in our 

 cities, are limited by their business to flying trips, and ne- 

 cessarily, in the absence of reliable advices concerning lo- 

 cations and facilities, exposed to grievous disappointment, 

 or to the extortionate demands of native gunners, who fre- 

 quently seem to regard the sportsman as a legitimate prey, 

 and often succeed with bogus information and unwarranted 

 praise of their respective grounds and abilities in implant- 

 ing in the minds of metropolitan Nimrods a wholesome 

 fear of the sport, which of all others should be furthest 

 removed from any suspicion of fraud. 

 •I am led to touch on this subject as T have just returned 

 from a four days' trip, which marked my first, though I 

 trust not my final experience, with the bay bird family. I 

 am confident that nothing "but the information furnished 

 by your obliging staff and our mutual friend, Eaton, of the 

 "Sportsman's Emporium," saved me from joining the noble 

 army of martyrs who were my companions on the home- 

 ward trip, bearing heavy hearts in lieu of heavy bags, and 

 lighter in pocket than in spirit, their mouths, so to speak, 

 filled with the ashes of Sodom's apple, and their hands too 

 often with trophies which reflected more credit on the bay- 

 man's financial acuteness than on the metal of the gun or 

 the skill of its owner. The remedy for all this seems to 

 he the frank indorsement or prompt exposure of men and 

 places — good and bad — by those of your readers who can 

 speak from experience, care being taken that the inspira- 

 tion of success or the bitterness of failure may neither un- 

 duly praise or unjustly condemn. 



My friend S. and daughter, with myself and better half, 

 took the four o'clock train from Hunter's Point Tuesday 

 evening for Good Ground, Long Island, having satisfied 

 the grasping corporation with $2.55 per head and seventv- 

 flve cents in addition for parlor car seats. Here we made 

 a mistake, for we found afterward that we might have ob- 

 tained excursion tickets good till September 15th for $4 

 each, ignorance of which cost our party $2.20. We were 

 headed for Wm. 1ST. Lane's, then a perfect stranger, but 

 now a valued friend, and being deposited at the station 

 after a comfortable but uneventful trip, we negotiated with 

 Sereno Wells to the extent of fifty cents a head for trans- 

 portation over the mile and a half that intervenes between 

 Good Ground and our destination, where good Mrs. Lane 

 endeavored by copious internal applications of clam frit- 

 ters, steak, and bluefish to fill the acting void which a 

 three hours' contemplation of Long Island scenery had 

 helped to create. A short talk with our host convinced us 

 that our chances for a bag on the morrow were none too 

 brilliant, but we had arrived unannounced, and declined to 

 accede to the manifestly fair proposition to charge nothing 

 for our niglit's lodging and meals if we chose to return on 

 the morrow to await advices. The "Duke's Motto" was 

 ours, and we "were thar;" so after loading a few shells we 

 retired in anticipation of a three o'clock breakfast, which 

 came duly to hand or to mouth, promptly, and piping hot, 

 after which we were quickly stowed in a dry, roomy boat, 

 nd standing across the bay with the glowing disk of Shin- 

 necock Light doing duty for the sun. Our worthy host 

 was right in his prediction, and his lips found more em- 

 ployment in the interesting recital of twenty-five years' ex- 

 perience in shooting than in the exercise of his matchless 

 power as a "caller,"" so sweet to the ears of the sportsman, 

 and withal so essential to his success. We kept all that 

 came; to the extent of a dozen, which our disgusted guide 

 said was "just nothiu'." 



Thursday was but a trifle better, and was marked by the 

 return of my friend, whose available time had expired. 

 He took with him about two dozen birds, as our united 

 product for a day and a half, and which formed nine-tenths 

 of all we had seen. A drenching rain spoiled Thursday 

 afternoon, but on Friday fortune seemed to relent a little; 

 ' our stand was more musical and less prosy, and right gladly 

 did I accompany friend Lane's melody with the heavy bass 

 of one of Wm. Powell & Son's ten gauges. 



Saturday morning' i breakfast was "graced" by the re- 

 mark, "If them snipe don't fly today I'll go hang my- 

 self," and as if to avert so dire a catastrophe, our stools 

 were scarcely in position when a bunch of three dowitches 

 stopped on their westward way to listen to a pretty tune, 

 and accepted the bluff invitation of Mr. Powell's handi- 

 work to stay. Or six big yellow legs that followed closely 

 four became fixtures, while a pathetic solo by the melli- 

 fluous Lane so worked on the feelings of a plump little 

 robin that he turned from his earthly migration to join the 

 "innumerable caravan." 



"JSTow's your time, and mind my head!" whispered my 

 companion, as eight yellow legs, distrustful of their wooden 

 prototypes, settled on a bog directly back of our blind. 



prefaced the double report of Lane's fourteen-pound muz- 

 zle loader, to which three birds bowed submissively as ho 

 resumed his plaintive harmony, which the departing four 

 heard and hesitated, and turned in time to catch the con- 

 tents of two fresh shells, leaving a pair with wisdom taught 

 by experience, who hurried westward, nor tarried to the 

 furious whistling of a Quogue gunner ensconced half a 

 mile to windward. 



Ah! had we been able to "whistle in" the historical old 

 party with wings and scythe I should be spared the pain of 

 telling how we started awav in the heat of the fun, about 

 half-past ten, leaving Will Lane, Jr., "a worthy scion of a 

 noble sire," to occupy our stand. As the reports of his 

 gun came to our retreating boat it awakened just a tinge of 

 rebellion against so unkind a fate, but this was somewhat 

 allayed when, with our neat little bundle of fifty-three, we 

 deposited ourselves in the cars to hear the owners of a 

 couple of blanketed breech loaders hold converse thus: 

 "Thunder and lightning, Bob! here we've been for over a 

 week just to the eastward of that chap," at the same time 



regarding a box about the size of a cigar box, whose damp- 

 ened sides betokened at least as much ice as game. Nor 

 was our pride decreased when we met a party from Great 

 South at Jamaica, who, after "nudging" each other, broke 

 out with : 



"Where in blazes did you get these birds! We haven't 

 seen more than that all told, and our gunner couldn't stop 

 over a quarter of them." 



We told them where and how we got them, then, as now, 

 bearing willing testimony to Mr. Lane's qualities as a gen- 

 tleman, and the kindness of his worthy wife. While it 

 certainly seems one proof of his ability and judgment as a 

 gunner in that despite an unaccountably poor flight, 

 (which, however, we believe now to have fairly com- 

 menced,) we came back "at the top of the heap," with 

 money left. Ten Gauge. 

 — — .+«». , 



For Forest and Stream. 



A "WINTER ON THE ROUSSEAU RIVER. 



IN the Winter of 1872, while serving with Her Majesty's 

 North American Boundary Commission, I was ordered, 

 to my infinite disgust, to take charge for the Winter months 

 of a depot situated on the Rousseau River, some forty miles 

 east of Pembina. When I say infinite disgust, it is not 

 pleasant when you think you are settled in snug Winter 

 quarters, (snug, at least, for such an atrocious climate as 

 Manitoba,) to find yourself suddenly called on to face a 

 Winter — that gave early symptoms of being most severe — 

 in such a blighted spot as I knew by hearsay the banks of 

 the said river must be. I was up in the same direction 

 during the Autumn, when we were compelled to make a 

 detour of some one hundred miles to avoid the exact spot 

 on which my Winter habitation was to be located, it being 

 at that time under water, and had been so during the en- 

 tire Summer, being only approachable in the Winter. 



One fine Winter's morning, I think about the 15th or 

 16th of December, 1872, (I shall never forget it, as the cold 

 was about 24°,) I was summoned at about 6 A. M. At this 

 time daylight proper had not begun, but the daylight, (and 

 I speak correctly,) of the glorious night still lingered in the 

 heaven, and was informed that the teams I was to go in 

 charge of were ready to start. I had a lot of provisions 

 with which to keep the survey parties of the N. A. B. 0. 

 (North American Boundary Commission) in as good fettle 

 as possible during their laborious Winter's work. A terri- 

 ble survey it was, and performed in the teeth of a terrible 

 Winter, and reflected credit on those engaged on both sides 

 of the "line," English and American. I was summoned, 

 as I say, by the man who was told off as my cook and gen- 

 eral assistant, and full of the reverse of pleasing anticipa- 

 tions, turned out of my warm blankets and proceeded to 

 roll them into a more portable shape, first taking my satchel 

 in hand, and throwing my bag to my faithful retainer, I 

 sought the train which was to bear "Coesar and his for- 

 tunes" to his unknown home. 



We arrived at the equipages destined to convey us there 

 securely muffled in wraps of every description, and the 

 march commenced. Oh, the dreadful cold of that Winter's 

 morning, freezing one to the marrow; nothing ahead but 

 snow, nothing but the "pure and beautiful snow," which 

 I most certainly cursed in a lively manner. A dazzling 

 gleam of it shot from the ground, was reflected in the air, 

 and caught up and played with by the sunbeams, which 

 tried to shine in a Winter's aimless sort of manner. Enough 

 to know that we were nearing the primeval forests of 

 pine that crown the river's heights, and until that same 

 Winter, untouched by the axe of the lumberer. When we 

 camped for the night and had lighted a rousing fire, I am 

 not romancing when I say that the part of your person not 

 actually exposed to that enormous blaze was literally freez- 

 ing while the reverse was roasting. I even heard a man 

 assert that he could not dry a pair of wet socks, for they 

 froze one side while they dried on the other. I will not, how- 

 ever, vouch for the truth of this. After three days of this 

 pleasant sort of work, making very slow progress, as no 

 track had yet been made through the snow, we at length 

 arrived at our destination. I. chose a spot, according to 

 directions received, on which to build a dwelling hut and 

 store, and in the meantime had a tent pitched, in which my 

 man and myself were to live till their erection— an erec- 

 tion which was to be effected by a gang of axemen, who 

 were to be sent after me. In due time they arrived— in 

 fact, two days after we did; and under a foreman, (who 

 was destined to be my future companion for that lonely 

 Winter,) commenced to build my future abode. Right well 

 they worked, and soon under the strokes of their ringing 

 axes a space was cleared, logs were cut, the hut commenced, 

 and in due course was finished, plastered, stoves erected, a 

 fireplace made in one corner, and, in fact, was an accom- 

 plished ditto. 



This work concluded, the men departed, and left me and 

 my worthy "henchman" alone and in our Winter's glory, 

 like flies in amber. The day after they had left we were 

 very agreeably surprised by the apparition of a train of 

 wagons, and the arrival of the chief astronomer and his 

 party on a tour of inspection. More welcome still, I am 

 afraid, was the cadeau he brought us, consisting of a ham- 

 per of delicacies for our Christmas dinner, together with a 

 couple of bottles of the "right sort" to make our cheer 

 with. The commisariat officer who accompanied the chief 

 astronomer having the next day to visit a surveying party, 

 who were working a few miles from my depot, asked me 

 to accompany him. This was the day before Christmas, 

 and was registered by the chief astronomer's thermometer 

 34°. We had to plunge through heavy drifts of snow, and 

 there was a fair chance of frozen feet. However, we at- 

 tained the camp we sought, and were warmly welcomed, 

 dined, and liquored by the hospitable commandant. After 

 having transacted our business we decided to return by the 

 river. The distance we had traversed in coming was not 

 more than one mile from our camp, but by the river, owing 

 to its tortuous course, it was good three, or even four. We 

 started about three P. M., (it gets dark about four that time 

 of year,) and on borrowed snow shoes; we went swimmingly 

 for some miles, when we came to a regular facer; there 

 were several channels to choose from, and we had not much 

 time to choose in. "Right," I shouted, and right we went. 

 We had not gone far when "halt!" was sounded by my 

 companion, and far in the distance was pointed out to me 

 the blue flag which marks the boundary line, and which in 

 that case was a flag of salvation to us; for had we been out 

 that bitter, black night, "enshrouded in winding sheets of 

 snow" would the morning have found us. However, being 

 put on the right scent we rattled merrily home, our joy on 

 reaching which was somewhat dampened on finding that 



the chief astronomer, who had started to visit a party east 

 of us, had not returned. Parties were organized to search 

 for him, but before they were underway he quietly saun- 

 tered into camp, casually inquiring what the row was 

 about, and was rather indignant when informed it was for 

 his personal benefit. By no means a backswoodman, but a 

 delicately nurtured gentleman, alone with the stars which 

 he studied and loved so w r ell, he was as much at home on 

 the tractless prairie as is the skipper of a ship at sea sur- 

 rounded with his charts and all appliances that science can 

 bring to assist him. After a convivial tea we retired for 

 the night, I having first received instructions from the chief 

 astronomer as to providing rations for his immediate party 

 and some others that were expected. I cannot resist here 

 paying my slight tribute of respect to the untiring energy, 

 patience, and pluck shown by the officer I have mentioned, 

 (I mean the chief astronomer,) who was at the same time 

 commanding officer of the detachment of Royal Engineers 

 sent from England for the purpose of making the survey. 

 His uniform equanimity under the most trying circum- 

 stances; his courtesy to those under him at the time, and 

 the talent which he brought to bear on the work he was 

 engaged in, were beyond praise, and I think all engaged in 

 the survey so allowed it. I have somewhat digressed, and 

 must haste back to my original subject. 



The next day was Christmas, and among the many cu- 

 rious places in which I have spent that day, (I was once off 

 Cape Horn, once on the banks of the River Morrumbridge, 

 in Australia, and once alone in a mosquito camp at Cawn- 

 pore, in India, being unfortunately on duly that day,) I do 

 not remember a funnier place to celebrate it in than the 

 place we were in . However, we did our best; we ate as 

 much as we could, and drank, I fear, more than was good 

 for us; toasted sweethearts and wives, and tried to be as 

 merry as circumstances permitted. From after this I may 

 date the commencement of our solitude— a solitude which 

 lasted from the 26th of December till the 15th of March, 

 as all the parties left next day. Occasionally the desola- 

 tion we were plunged in was broken by some party send 

 ing for supplies, always accompanied by complaints 

 about anything and everything. So I did not much care 

 for that, and sometimes — and days to be marked with the 

 whitest of stones — a mail would come with a dog train and 

 Indian runners. How the time dragged; books I had but 

 few — Thackeray's "Newcombs," andMacaulay's "Essays" 

 — I got to know them by heart, and few men could pass a 

 better examination in the essays of Thomas Babbington 

 than myself. I had read both, of course, but never quite 

 so much. My worthy assistant not being a literary char- 

 acter, fouud time still more heavy on his hands. He would 

 sit for hours with his head buried in his hands, occasion- 

 ally emitting deep groans, as of one in great pain and per- 

 turbation of mind, and would hardly open his mouth for a 

 week at a stretch sometimes. When a storm was raging 

 he would look out and remark on the genial climate in 

 which we found ourselves. At other times, on a fine night, 

 for instance — a still, solemn night, as bright as day, yet 

 sad and silent as the grave, beautiful though in its awful 

 majesty, the calm, cold moon shining down in pitiless. 

 splendor on the earth, asleep and shrouded in its spotless 

 robes of snowy white, the aurora's opening and shutting 

 with flare and glitter like the clashing of gigantic cymbals 

 — on such nights as these he would look abroad, shake his 

 head, and shut the door, saying, "'Tis the blasted silence 

 that fetches me," and again subside into melancholy and a 

 pipe. I used to go out every day to see what I could shoot; 

 there were lots of prairie chickens and partridges; the lat- 

 ter were very wild, and as you had to follow them up on 

 snow shoes through the great depth of snow which lay in 

 drifts in the woods, and consequently was much harder 

 traveling than the open country, it was very trying work. 

 Partridges you could get lots of, and sometimes I found 

 them very acceptable when out of fresh meat, (which I 

 had in store, frozen hard.) I also tried a little trapping, in 

 which I was not very successful. I got one mink and sev- 

 eral weasels (ermine) in the course of the Winter; also a 

 few rabbits. I will give a more detailed description of 

 such sport as I got, in my next. 



: — *+•+■ 



For Forest and Stream. 



GAME yvND FISH NOTES FROM KEN- 

 „ TUCKY. " 



"K ■ — ♦ — ■ 



YOUR enterprise seems to be recognized with favor in 

 all parts of the country, and I observe a disposition 

 to encourage it, even in this game-deserted and fish aban- 

 doned State. ' The time was, and not very long ago, when 

 Kentucky of right might have claimed rank with any of 

 the old States in the matter of small game and game fish, 

 but of late years, the great latitude given to slaughterers 

 with shot guns, traps, and nets, and vandals with seines 

 and baskets, has almost been the means of depriving the 

 real sportsman of every source of enjoyment. Very re- 

 cently, however, the General Assembly of Kentucky has 

 taken the matter in hand, and we have some assurance ot 

 protection, through sensible game laws. I am not, much 

 of a shot, but very fond of the rag weed in the Fall, and 

 have managed some-seasons to knock down a fair propor- 

 tion. The grounds generally throughout the State are 

 good, and in the Fall we have a very fair show of quad. 

 Snipe and plover are not abundant, except in a few locali- 

 ties and woodcock are rare. In the mountains a tramp 

 after the pheasants (ruffed grouse) is nearly always suc- 

 cessful. Turkeys, geese and ducks usually appear m the 

 tributaries of the main rivers, and occasionally the blue 



seen any white backs or teal . 



My forte, if I have any, is with the fins and scales, l 

 have had perhaps as large an experience as any man ot 



reel," is manufactured, and I venture to say there is hard- 

 lv a twP.We-vear old bov in Franklin county who is not tlie 



lv a twelve-year old boy - 

 owner in fee simple of one or more of these instruments 

 Even the colored brothers, who live by sweat and go haii- 

 clad, are not willing to forego this luxury. The Kentucky 

 River winds through the cliffs at this place, and any day, 

 when the water is in condition, its banks are clouded witn 

 dark gentry for five miles above and below the city. I hey 

 are not always verv particular about the kind of fish they 

 catch, it is true; "but they are nevertheless tricked out 

 with all the superior accoutrements ot a true fisherman. 

 The river affords a small black bass, seldom weighing over 



