FOREST AND STREAM. 



115 



TROUT FISHING IN THE DOMINION. 



¥ 



LEFT Boston July 12th at noon in the steamer Alham- 

 bra, and reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, 5 at o'clock on 

 the morning of the 14th. Here we landed many of our 

 passengers, and sailed again at noon, reaching the Strait of 

 Canso at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, and Port 

 Hawksbury at 8 o'clock. This is a thriving yillage on the 

 Cape Breton shore of the strait, with considerable shipping 

 at anchor; mostly Amercan fishermen bound to the Gulf 

 for mackerel. Such handsome vessels have they that I 

 took them for a fleet of New York yachts, which indeed 

 some of them had been. Left at 9 o'clock A. M. in com- 

 pany with half a dozen of the pretty crafts, which having 

 a fair wind, held way with us very well. We left here a 

 party of young fellows from Boston, with guns, rods and 

 camp equipage, who were going into the woods. From 

 Port Hawksbury to Picton, eighty miles, we steam in eight 

 hours. Some thirty sail of vesels there loaded with coal. 

 Leave Picton at 7 o'clock P. M. and arrive at Charlotte- 

 town, Price Edward Island, about 6 o'clock A, M. on the 

 16th. After a slight examination of my trunk, (in Canada 

 a fishing rod or gun helps one easily through the Custom 

 House) I w T ent to the Osborn House, kept by Mr. Davis, an 

 angler, and a good fellow. Davis tells me that in June 

 they catch sea trout, S. Canadensis, at the harbor mouth 

 about three miles off, from a boat by casting with a fly, 

 and this up to three pounds weight. In July they are in 

 the fresh water up the river. 



Friday July ISth.—AX 2 o'clock P. M. this day, Mr. Davis 

 and I started in a buggy for Wilkie's River, about four- 

 teen miles north, or across the Island, The road ran per- 

 fectly straight over a succession of hills and valleys — soil a 

 red clay, quite fertile, with good crops of oats, grass, pota- 

 toes, and some wheat. The road was mostly bordered with 

 farms, houses of wood, and small. No large timber, but a 

 second growth of maple, white birch, and spruce. As well 

 as I could judge, the farms are small, and fairly cultivated. 

 The people we met were in light one- horse buggies, or 

 heavy carts drawn by one horse. I saw no oxen, oi; two 

 horse teams. The principal stock'kept seem to be sheep; 

 few cattle were to be seen. These roads when dry are 

 very good and pleasant to drive upon, like those of the 

 prairies. We crossed two or three small streams in the 

 valleys, and at 4 o'clock P. M. we arrived at our destina- 

 tion. There were a few small houses and a tannery at the 

 bridge which crosses the river. We stopped at a sort of 

 tavern kept by a Mrs. Baens, who seemed to be friendly, 

 though dirty. Here the sea is about four miles away, and 

 the tide ebbs and flows up above the bridge to a mill dam. 

 Davis commenced fishing below the bridge; the river here 

 was at high water, thirty or forty yards wide. I went to- 

 ward the mill, guarded by a boy, who appeared on the scene, 

 and took a lively interest in our movements. There was a 

 mill pond, said to contain trout, but it was full of logs and 

 stumps, so I began to cast in a pool below the dam. My 

 first brace were pounders, then I got five or six of smallcT 

 size — sea trout. I then went down and fished toward the 

 the bridge, where Davis had half a dozen, also taken with 

 the fly. When the sun went down the trout rose more 

 briskly and we got in all twenty-six of fine size— perhaps 

 averaging half a pound. At. Mrs. Baens' we got a line sup- 

 per and turned in, 



Saturday July 19t7i— We rose at 4 o'clock this morning 

 and I went to the pool at the mill, while Davis fished be- 

 low the bridge. The pool seemed full of trout, and I had 

 fine sport for an hour, but when the sun began to shine on 

 the water, they stopped rising. I got twenty-four trout 

 from the pool that morning, and twice I got two at a cast, 

 using three flies. I found the claret fly the most killing, 

 and then a brown hackle; the red ibis, so taken in many 

 waters, they would not touch; my string weighed about 

 eight pounds, or three quarters of a pound each. Davis 

 got six this morning, two of them pounders. Our whole 

 catch numbered fifty-five, averaging three to the pound. 

 We arrived in Charlottetown at 10 o'clock A. M, and the 

 next evening went aboard the steamer Princess of Wales 

 at 7 o'clock P. M. but she did did not start till Tuesday 

 morning at 5 o'clock A. M. 



Tuesday July 22.— We arrived at Summersville, sixty 

 miles down the coast at 10:30. This a thriving town, with 

 a large hotel on the American plan, and many visitors 

 are here from the States. At 11 :30 we cross the straight of 

 Northumberland, to Shediac, where we arrived at 3 o'clock 

 P. M., or rather Point du Chene, two miles from Shediac, 

 where the lines of steamers connect with the railroad to 

 St. John, 108 miles distant. The steamer Miramachi, from 

 Quebec, arrived at 6 o'clock P. M. at the dock, which is 

 the most complete in the Dominion, and at 7 o'clock we 

 started. She is very long and narrow, having been built 

 for a blockade steamer during the war, and in heavy 

 weather must roll badly. The sea to-day was smooth and 

 the night fine. The boat was crowded, but I got a good 

 berth and turned in at 9 o'clock. The Captain, who was a 

 Frenchman, sat playing his violin close by me. I turned 

 out at 4 o'clock; the morning was beautiful, and we were 

 entering the Bay of Miramachi, and arrived at Chaiham at 

 5 o'clock. I went to Mrs. Bowser's, got a room, and after- 

 wards a nice salmon steak for breakfast. 



Thursday July 24fA.— Left Chatham at 7 o'clock A. M 

 in stage wagon for Harris' on the Tabusintac, twenty- 

 nules. Woods most of the way, a fews farms; land poor 

 with a tliin growth of pine and spruce. All this region 

 was burned over many years ago and it seems never to 

 have recovered itself. Road straight and good; crossed 

 three or four streams, tributaries of the Tabusintac on 

 good bridges; at the Ballyboge, the largest stream,' the 

 bridge was gone and we had to ford. I had one compan- 

 ion, a stout Irishman from Prince Edwards Island a tavern 

 keeper there, who was very sociable when he found I was 

 an ; 'American," as men from the States are called. He 

 believed that all Canada must join the stars and stripes be- 

 fore many years. 



I arrived at Harris' (now kept by Goodwin) at 11-30 

 A. M., fare from Chatham $1 75. House tolerable, river 

 quite low. An old man named Kane, who acts as guide to 

 anglers told me the last time he went down the river with 

 two men from New York, they got over a barrel of trout 

 I he river banks are so covered with bushes that there is 

 no beach to fish from, and you go to the pools where the 

 trout are ma heavy dug-out, drawn by a horse who travels 

 intnebedol the stream; this is often used on Canadian 

 rivers, and is called a horse boat 



Friday Jahj 35tf, -Started in the horse boat with Kane 



hltlndW t A - M ' We , i00i \ P° rk ' bread aQd ^a with us, 

 intending to camp at the "big pool," ten miles down 



Most of the way the water was not deep enough to float 

 the canoe, which was dragged over the stones, a rough road, 

 and perhaps good for dyspeptic patients, if there be any 

 such among anglers — river from fifty to one hundred feet 

 wide, with wooded hills down to the bank. Aboat three 

 miles down, coming to the first fishing place, the horse was 

 stopped, and he stopped readily, either from fatigue, or 

 perhaps from an interest in our doings, at any rate this 

 veteran steed seemed to observe our casting with a criti- 

 cal eye, as one familiar with the art. Here the water ran 

 about two feet deep under the bank, leaving on the other 

 side a narrow strip of beach, from which I cast. I rose 

 and killed one small trout here. Before we reached the 

 big pool we stopped at three or four places and got a dozen 

 trout between us, averaging half a pound. About six 

 miles down we came to a beaver dam in process of con- 

 struction, which was a curiosity to me. I had seen many 

 old and abandoned dams all over the States, but not a re- 

 cent one. The leaves of the alders of which this was 

 built, were still green and fresh; it was about two feet 

 high above the water, and woven together in a most in- 

 genious manner, and strengthened with large sticks and cot- 

 ton wood trees from six to eight inches in diameter, which 

 had been cut down by the beavers (the marks of their teeth 

 being visible) and worked into the dam, which was at least 

 one hundred feet long, and three or four feet in thickness, 

 so that a man could cross the river upon it. The water 

 was set back into a pond several hundred yards long, and 

 four feet deep, and Kane said it had all been built since he 

 had passed there a week ago. Old Whitey managed to 

 drag the canoe over the dam, assisted by the current. 

 Kane showed me a place where the beavers had built a 

 dam which he was obliged to pull down when last he en me 

 down the river, in order to get his boat through. They 

 had now rebuilt at another place. He said also that he 

 could show me a place not far off, where the beavers had 

 dug a canal nearly 100 yards long, as described in Morgan's 

 book, "The American Beaver and his Works-" 



We arrived at the "big hole" about 2 o'clock P. M. It is 

 in a bend of the river, where a large tributary comes in, 

 and is some two hundred feet in diameter and six or eight 

 feet deep in the middle. There is a place just below the 

 mouth of the brook where the bushes have been cleared 

 away for a camp ground, with a small beach in front. 

 Here we made our camp, and the trout not being in the 

 humor to rise in the hot noon day, we got our dinner of 

 tried trout. 



About 4 o'clock P. M. I tried a cast from the canoe while 

 Kane waded the stream. Presently the trout began to rise 

 and we had fine sport for an hour, killing in that time 

 about twenty-five fish from one to two ponds weight. 

 I used a claret fly for tail and brown hackle for dropper, 

 and hooked at one cast two trout of two pounds each. 

 This was on my Scribner spliced rod, which worked beau- 

 tifully, and in about ten minutes brought the pair well 

 tired to the landing net, but Kane managed to lose one of 

 them in getting them in. After this they stopped rising 

 for a while, and Kane went down the river to a rapid, 

 while I continued to fish from the canoe. Presently I rose 

 and hooked a two pounder on the tail fly and as he rushed 

 about the pool, one of one pound seized the dropper, and 

 after about ten minutes play I succeeded in landing both 

 f.sh without assistance on the beach. I got no more till 

 about sunset, when I killed three good ones, and Kane, 

 w ho waded far into the pool, continued to fish till alter 

 dark. Then we built a large fire which banished the mos- 

 quitoes, and we had a good night's rest. 



Saturday July, 2$th — At daylight (in this latitude about 

 3:30,) Kane waded out and began to cast, getting two or 

 three of two pounds each, but I waited half an hour later, 

 till I could see my tackle, and only raised one trout which 

 did not fasten. They would not rise, though the pool was 

 full of them. After breakfast we started up the river. 

 When we came to the beaver dam, we found it built a foot 

 higher than we left it the day before. There must have 

 been a large working force to do so much in a short Sum- 

 mer night, for the animals do not work by day. It was 

 with difficulty that the old horse could drag the boat over 

 the dam. We fished the various pools and rapids as we 

 went along, but although in several pools we could see 

 great trout covering the bottom in schools, they would 

 neither take fly or bait. We got only a dozen in returning, 

 and arrived at the bridge about 1 o'clock P. M. with fifiy- 

 six^ trout from two and a half pounds to four ounces in 

 weight; about forty pounds or an average of three-quarter 

 pounds each. I packed a claret box of the best, hoping 

 to take them to my landlady at Chatnam, but as they have 

 no ice here in Summer, though they are frozen up two 

 thirds of the year, I did not succeed in getting "them 

 through in an eatable condition, the weather being very 

 hot. Kane said that in twenty years in which he had 

 fished this river, he had only known the trout to refuse to 

 rise twice before this, and then it was before heavv thunder 

 storms, and he predicted one within twenty-four hours. In 

 fact, the next day as I returned to Chatham in the stage 

 the storm came, with torrents of rain, and great electrical 

 disturbance. 



Most people who have been to the Tabusintac have 

 wonderful stories to tell of the number and size of the 

 trout they have taken; and probably they tell the trouth. 

 I give my own experience only. 



Monday July 28th.— At Chatham, Mrs. Bowser's board- 

 ing house— a very comfortable place— board one dollar per 

 day. 



Tuesday July 29th.— Left in the steamer Rothsay Castle 

 for Shediac, many anglers onboard, returning from salmon 

 rivers. Arrived at Point dn Chene about 7 o'clock; train 

 for St. John gone and we all had to pass the night here, 

 quite filling all the hotels in the place, which, perhaps was 

 the object in the delay. If so, our host of the Waverly 

 was not equal to the occasion, for he only charged me for 

 a good bed and breakfast next morning the a~bsurd sum 

 of thirty-five cents. 



Wednesday July 30t7i— Started at 7 o'clock, and arrived 

 at St. John at noon— at Park Hotel till next morning, when 

 I left in steamer New Brunswick for Boston July 3ist and 

 arrived there the next day at 3 o'clock P. M. 



This trip consumed three weeks and cost $75 00, 



S. C. C. 



4S&H §&$%%&■ 



* 



For Forest and Stream. 

 CARP IN CALIFORNIA. 



t —To estimate the quantity of shelled corn on the cobs 

 m any given space, level them, and measure the length 

 breadth and depth; then multiply these dimensions together' 

 and the product by four. Cut off the last figure, -end the 

 result will be the number of bushels of shelled corn and 

 the decimal of a bushel. 



OBSERVING in your issue of the 2d instant, some en- 

 quiries from a correspondent signing himself "Doc- 

 tor," concerning the importation of carp into this country, 

 and your mentioning my name as being likely to give some 

 information concerning their importation into California, 

 I take pleasure in sending you all the information in my 

 power concerning this fish here, although I fear what I can 

 tell- you about this matter at present is somewhat meagre. 

 That it has thrived well here in some localities I can, how- 

 ever, speak with confidence, and that for some four or five 

 years. I know that in some good sized ponds, supplied 

 with fine spring water, near. the town of Sonoma, in Sono- 

 ma Valley, on General Valiejo's estate, they have done, 

 and are still doing very well. I can also speak from occu- 

 lar demonstration that this same species of the most valua- 

 ble European carp, are in fine health, and have enjoyed it 

 for these two years in a compartment of the aquarium at 

 Woodward's Garden, in this city. They have grown there 

 to a good size — about four pounds in weight I recollect 

 well the circumstance you mention of Mr. J. A. Pappe, of 

 San Francisco, bringing from Hamburgh, Germany, to 

 Santa Rosa, Sonoma Valley, in this State, some good sized 

 carp. These I have heard have succeeded well in some 

 ponds, if not in Sonoma Creek. The Valley of Sonoma is 

 noted for the mildness, and in Summer, the warmth of its 

 climate, causing its waters to be of sufficiently grateful 

 warmth, particularly in its ponds, for this fish, which does 

 best in water not too cold . 



I understand that Mr. Rudolph Hessel, the German pis- 

 ciculturist, has been sent to Germany this year by Prof. 

 Baird, to bring over to this country the two more import- 

 ant and favorite kinds of German carp. I do not know 

 whether they have yet arrived. This kind are known, I 

 am informed, as the karpfen-Imnig, or carp king, and the 

 sgiegel-karppe, which. , is called in England, the mirror or 

 leather carp. My informant states that "the carp is as 

 near a complete vegetarian as any fish we know of," and 

 the Germans call it a fine fish, but they spice it so, and 

 serve it with a wine-sauce in such a manner, as, to quote 

 Frank Forester, "would make a kid glove palatable." I 

 might here, perhaps, name another thing which is certainly 

 very favorable for the flavor and relish of all fish, namely, 

 that it is well known that the Germans keep all theif fish 

 in tanks before they offer them for sale, which makes them 

 always fresh for the table. At any rate the carp is very 

 highly esteemed among European nations for his edible 

 qualities. This fish will not have a delicious flavor in still 

 or stagnant ponds, where it is often found in England, as, 

 probably, on the continent of Europe, but those fish are 

 best, both in color and flavor, which are taken out of lakes 

 and ponds of pure limpid water, which is continually 

 changed by a placid current perpetually running through 

 them, and the bottoms of which are covered with fine sand 

 or pebbles instead of mud, as in Sonoma Valley, and in 

 General Valiejo's grounds. The carp is certainly a very 

 handsome fish. It lives to a great age, and in favorable 

 situations will attain a very large size. Monsieur- Pesson- 

 Maisonneure, a high authority, thinks their size varies ac- 

 cording to the places they inhabit, and the food they live 

 upon. "In France," says he, "they reach ten or twelve 

 pounds; in Germany, they become monstrous. They are 

 taken in Ponerania, thirty or forty pounds in weight; and 

 in Prussia, fifty pounds is not an uncommon size." I hope 

 as we, in California boast, and with reason, of raising every 

 thing, whether vegetable or animal, big and even mon- 

 strous, that I shall see some of these fish ere long as large 

 as above stated, and I don't know why I shall not be as 

 fortunate. 



It is certain that the carp multiplies prodigiously — 

 to use an expression which was more in vogue when I was 

 a youth than it is now. A fish of half a pound in weight 

 has been found on examination to contain 270,000 

 eggs; one of a pound and a half weight, 342,000, and one 

 of ^ne pounds, the enormous number of 621,000 eggs. 

 The carp is also very tenacious of life. In France it is said 

 to be no uncommon thing to transport them to. great dis- 

 tances, wrapping them in fresh grass and dipping them 

 every twelve hours in fresh water for a few minutes. 



The flesh of this fish is certainly soft, as are all the cypri- 

 noids, but it is nourishing and should be eaten as fresh as 

 possible. The head is preferred on account of its excellent 

 flavor. Much depends, of course, on the cooking. I will 

 make it one of my objects to learn more soon about this 

 fish in California, and write you concerning it again, if ac- 

 ceptable. E. J. Hooper. 

 \ ' -*•♦• 



Gratifying Returns prom Fish Culture in Rhode 

 Island. — A correspondent whose official position is well 

 known, sends the following pleasing letter from Providence, 

 R. L, dated September 19th:— 



ditor Forest and Stream .— 



I would like to gi> e publicity through the Forest and Stream to the 

 fact that the work of the Rhode Island Fish Commissioners in stocking 

 our ponds and reservoirs with black bass is beginning to be r< aliztd m 

 large catches and flue sport. As an instance I would mention that three 

 of the members of our Fish and Game Protective Association— Messrs. 

 Root, McCormick, and Hemperley— started for the northern part of the 

 State last Friday evening for the purpose of dropping a line to the bass 

 in one of the stocked ponds. They were hospitably entertained by fcfcl t 

 genial gentleman, Mr. Bellows, of Pascoag, and on Saturday morning, 

 bright and early, with a cold northeast wind blowing quite hard, the 

 party set out for the scene of operations. The result of the fishing, 



