m 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



excited him, and filled his breast wita an ardent desire to 

 emulate, perhaps surpass, the Manilaman's prowess. The 

 opportunity at length arrived. One day porpoises appeared 

 and Rodgers did not. It was, moreover, Barney's watch 

 below, and he could therefore do as he liked. Being very 

 busy about some special job, none of the watch on deck 

 paid much attention to his motions except myself, who 

 happened to be on the forecastle when Barney came rush- 

 ing up, iron in hand. Lying on the forecastle was a coil' of 

 entirely new and very strong line. Grabbing one end of 

 this Barney pulled off a turn or two and pitched it to me, 

 requesting me to "make it good fast somewhere," and cap- 

 sizing the coil made the other end fast to the harpoon. I 

 obeyed the direction to make it "good fast" very effectually 

 by catching a turn or two around the forward capstan and 

 hitching the end. Meantime our Irish Triton had tumbled 

 over the bows and down on to the back ropes with all 

 speed, where, finding Rogers' breast line attached to the 

 dolphin striker, he passed it over his own chest, managing 

 in so doing to get three or four turns in it, which, as will 

 be seen, proved a lucky thing for him in the end. Hardly 

 had the amateur harpooner got fairly in position when his 

 game made off to windward at a great rate. The cause of 

 their alarm soon became apparent in the shape of a school 

 of "blackfish," which in a few minutes passed under the 

 bows. These fish are twenty-five feet and upward in 

 length, very thick, and powerful in proportion to their size. 

 Blackfish is the sailor's name for them, but they are, I be- 

 lieve, a small species of whale. Whatever they may be, 

 there they were under the Curlew's bows, and there was 

 Barney on the back ropes, iron in hand, and burning with 

 the desire to "work to windward of Ould Rogers intirely." 

 Here was his chance, and as the leader passed beneath him 

 with his broad back just below the surface, Barney hurled 

 the iron with all the force of his brawny arm, sending it in 

 up to the socket, and accompanying the blow with a yell 

 that would have electrified all Donnybrook Fair. Whether 

 the yell or the blow scared the quarry most may be a ques- 

 tion, but as to the aggregate effect there can be no question 

 whatever; it started him to windward at a rate which would 

 have made a lightning express train turn pale with envy, and 

 passed Harry Bassett on the homestretch as easily as that 

 gallant steed would outstrip a mud turtle. 



The first mate was walking the weather side of the poop 

 deck with that peculiar dignity which marks a first mate, 

 which is sui generis and unattainable by any other created 

 being. Suddenly the weather leaches of the royals flut- 

 tered, then the head sails flapped. "Keep her off," he 

 yelled to the man at the wheel. "Hard up. Are you try- 

 ing to lay her aback?" "Hanged if I know what's the 

 matter with her," growled the injured mariner as he whirled 

 the wheel around. "I believe something has got hold of 

 her forward," lie added, as the craft took another wild 

 shear right against th£ helm. In a dozen bounds the mate 

 gained the forecastle, where he found "something" had 

 "got hold of her" sure enough. Barney's fish, to wit. As 

 soon almost as the harpoon line began to run out it fouled, 

 with the back rope on which Barney stood, the seizing 

 parted, and he would probably have ended his mortal ca- 

 reer there and then had it not been for all the turns he had 

 got in the breast line, which rendered it too tight to slip 

 over his arms easily, but held him jammed against the dol- 

 phin striker long enough for him to clutch some of the 

 gear above his head. And there he hung, unable to climb 

 up. The line held him; he was unable to clear himself 

 from the line, for he needed both hands to retain his hold. 

 Finding his run to windward did not clear him of the ter- 

 rible shaft in his vitals, the quarry tried a rush in the op- 

 posite direction, and just as the mate reached the forecastle 

 the harpoon line came in contact with the remaining back 

 rope, carrying it away, and eliciting another yell from poor 

 Barney. A glance showed the officer the situation of af- 

 fairs, and convinced him that this "cutting out work" had 

 better be stopped. "Out the line," he yelled, but Barney 

 had all the line he could attend to twisted around him, and 

 the mate had no knife. I had seen nearly the whole per- 

 formance, having been attracted by Barney's first war- 

 whoop. The whole thing had passed so quickly, and I had 

 been so convulsed with laughter as to be perfectly unable 

 to do anything, but at the mate's order I drew my sheath 

 knife and made a slash at the taut line, and away went the 

 blackfish with our iron in his back and about forty fathoms 

 of line skipping after him, like a remarkably attenuated 

 specimen of the sea serpent. 



Poor Barney! He was pretty well used to being laughed 

 at, but this last exploit so much exceeded all his former 

 feats that every man girded at him afresh, and it was many 

 a long day before he heard the last of his "ironing that 

 blackfish." Well, his blunders and his jokes are over now. 

 The blue waves roll above his bleaching bones — 



"His body's resting under hatches, 

 His soul has gone aloft. " 



Hardy Lee. 





SHOOTING IN THE SOUTH. 



* 



IT is to me a matter of surprise that the Sea or Port Royal 

 Islands, lying just off South Carolina, are not in greater 

 repute among the sportsmen that go South, either for their 

 health or to indulge in their favorite pastime. Two most 

 delightful Winters have I to record, spent there in collect- 

 ing and preserving specimens of birds, hunting deer, and 

 fishing. The climate of these islands in Winter and Spring 

 cannot be too highly recommended. The atmosphere tem- 

 pered by the sea breezes is through these seasons warm 

 and comfortable, and does not possess the debilitating ef- 

 fects of some other localities, being bracing and appetiz- 

 ing. 



The study of character afforded by the negroes, decid- 

 edly the most primitive in manners and speech of the 

 Southern blacks, is extremely interesting. The food is 

 good, and the entire change of scene afforded is most bene- 

 ficial' to the health seeker. Added to these advantages is 

 the ease of reaching any given point by water, and the 

 facilities for shooting water birds. For the sportsman, 

 here is game of every description in haunts wild enough 

 to make its pursuit romantic; sea, beach, marsh, pond and 

 thick woods. Here flock the birds from the North 

 to winter in endless profusion; curlew, plover, duck 

 godwit, peep, yellowlegs, snipe, etc., and in the Spring 

 come from the farther South, herons, nonpareils, gannets, 

 pelicans, etc. ; then there are also many birds that are to 

 be found in all seasons— mocking birds, wild turkeys, 

 cranes, partridges (quail), etc. Deer hunting I am con- 

 vinced is here unexcelled. Wild hogs used to be found, 

 but are now scarce. 



I recall with great pleasure, weighed with regret at the 



slaughter caused, a trip to a little spot in St. Helena Sound, 

 called Egg Bank. This isolated island at high tide is not 

 much more than two acres in extent, but at low tide is 

 made much larger by the uncovering of the sandy shoals 

 around it. At dusk, flock to it countless numbers of sea 

 birds, that have been feeding in the marshes among the 

 larger islands during the day, for nightly shelter. In the 

 breeding season the females deposit their eggs to hatch 

 with the aid of the warm sand. I have been told that in 

 "old times" (before the war) the negroes often used to se- 

 crete themselves on the island before sunset, and after the 

 arrival of the birds, which settled on the beach, sally forth 

 on the , instant, with sticks, killing by simply knocking 

 their victims over. I can believe this, for the confusion 

 produced by such numbers of birds is so great that they 

 are easily approached even now, after so much experience 

 with guns. 



We, my brother of the gun and myself, selected for our 

 excursion a beautiful day in April, at the full of the moon. 

 The distance from our house, on Ladies Island, to Egg 

 Bank, was about twenty miles. The journey was per- 

 formed entirely by water. We had finished a luxurious 

 game dinner and were enjoying a sociable pipe when a lit- 

 tle darkey popped his head in at the door and said, "He 

 boat, Massa." This was the signal for us to pack our traps 

 and step onto the wharf, projecting into the creek, directly 

 behind our house, an old southern mansion with broad 

 piazzas, large, high studded rooms, and chimneys built 

 out-side, formerly occupied by the plantation overseer, an 

 important personage in those times. Our boat notwith- 

 standing its antiquated appearance, (an old naval gig, I 

 think) was of a comely shap?, and our oarsmen, four lusty 

 blacks, fairly made it hum iJirough the water. The cap- 

 tain of our crew was a negro by the name of Sergeant 

 Parker. He had been in the army I believe, was a kind, 

 obliging fellow who understood his place thoroughly. 

 What servants these colored men are. The art of serving is 

 with them innate. The scenery was enchanting under the 

 mellow rays of the sun which flooded broad marshes, 

 covered with bright green reeds, and the woods bordering 

 them with golden and purple lights. The calm creek, its 

 bosom unbroken, except by the row boat as it surged along 

 under the strokes of our Charons, reflected the soft blue 

 sky and a few snowy-white clouds. Flocks of wild birds 

 flew by, at which we occasionally popped, and in the up- 

 per air soared majestically an eagle. The tide, which here 

 runs strong, being against us, we were obliged to hug the 

 shore to get into a favoring eddy there. We took our seats 

 astern and listened to the songs of our boatmen, sung to 

 the time of their oars. These songs were all religious, (I 

 never recollect hearing but one of an opposite character 

 during my stay among the negroes), introducing solos and 

 choruses with appropriate parts. The effect was beautiful, 

 for the ear of these people for music is truly wonderful. 

 They are certainly a much more musical race than are their 

 white brethren. I have heard boys and girls under twelve, 

 who never saw a note of music, sing alto and other parts 

 without the least discord. Passing an island on our way, 

 where some negro cabins stood in an orange grove near the 

 water, the oarsmen sang a song addressing their friends on 

 shore by name, for instance: — 



"Oh I WaitBrndder William, 



Wait a little while, 



Den well sing de new song." 



It was very pleasant to see matronly dames and comely 

 younger women, dressed in red neat calico and showily 

 turbaned, come to the water's edge and exchange compli- 

 ments, and to see the men wave tlieir hats and say "how- 

 ' d'ye." The sun had not yet set when our boat's keel 

 grazed the beach of Egg iBank, and out we sprang. Ser- 

 geant begged us to leave all arduous duties to him, and be- 

 gan to make a camp. Observing a man near by standing 

 knee-deep in the water, darting a harpoon here and there 

 vigorously, I strode up and accosted him; found he was 

 on a "shoot," like ourselves, and that he was harpooning 

 sting-rays. The sting-ray is a fish in thape like a skate, 

 and derives its name from the barbed, horn-like sting 

 under its tail, which if provoked it doubles up and endeav- 

 ors to dart into the aggressor. The -wound Is sometimes 

 very, dangerous, as the serrated edge of the "sting" tears 

 the flesh terrib ly when extracted. These fish had come 

 into shoal water in myriads to spawn. I have never seen 

 them eaten, although the negroes are said to like them. 

 The spearing was a simple operation, and the rays being 

 small, about a foot in length and about the same breadth, 

 not very exciting. The twilight drawing rapidly on we 

 loaded our guns and held a council of war to decide upon 

 the best place of capturing the game. Our plan of action 

 was as follows: — In the centre of the island for about the 

 space of an acre was a place like the ring of a circus, hol- 

 lowed out in the centre and enclosed by great banks of 

 sand thrown up by storms. These banks were covered 

 with a long growth of grass. As they afforded perfect con- 

 cealment we determined to hide ourselves behind them in 

 the hollow space, ana awaiting the arrival of the birds, 

 fire into them simultaneously. This plan gave all a shot, 

 including he of the harpoon, with whom we joined forces. 

 I could not again consent to such an expedient, as it in- 

 volves too much slaughter. The sun had set and the moon 

 was just peeping above the eastern horizon when we se- 

 creted ourselves. Not a word did we speak. I sat watch- 

 ing the gulls and terns flying gracefully overhead, now and 

 then dipping with a screech into the water in pursuit of 

 food, and looking at the picturesque but lonely land- 

 scape, over which the moon shed her soft light. ]N[ot 

 a living thing but birds was in sight, and but one house 

 that peeked in the distance from among thick foliage. In 

 front lay the open sea as far as eye could reach, its waves 

 breaking furiously on the point of Johnson's Island, both to 

 the right and on several reefs, in a long white line. To the 

 left were beautiful islands scattered about; Morgan's, and 

 the others, with picturesque palmettos dotted along their 

 sandy margins. No vessel was in sight, but the spars of a 

 "square-rigger" loading with phosphate in Bull River, 

 peeped over the trees far away. Not only was this pause 

 romantic, but exciting. Flock after flock of birds, curlew, 

 plover, peep, &c, flew swiftly up as it grew darker, wheel- 

 ing suspiciously around for a minute before alighting on 

 the beach near our stand. It seemed as if the air was full 

 of them, and as if the incoming flood tide drove them more 

 and more into a bunch; it seemed impossible for them to 

 settle without alighting upon each other. My neighbor 

 nudged me. "Are you ready to fire?" he said in a whisper. 

 "Yes." "All ready." All were. Fourteen barrels were 

 aimed at the helpless creatures on the beach. "One, two, 

 three— fire," said our chosen spokesman. A blaze of light 

 followed his words, and we leaped through the dense smoke 



from our hiding place. The scene was one I never can 

 forget. The screams of thousands of the unwounded birds 

 that came between the moon, like a great cloud, filled the air 

 the dead lay in piles upon the beach, while helpless sufferers 

 with broken wings and legs vainly endeavored to escape 

 My first care was to put these out of pain. I chased a 

 marble godwit with broken wing for many rods to see it 

 look forgivingly with its beautiful eyes as I twisted its neck 

 May I afways kill my bird dead. We endeavored to dis- 

 patch all the wounded, but frequently, while strolling; in 

 the dark we came across a poor sufferer crouching down 

 on the sands. Those who had escaped, flew wildlyaround 

 the island, notwithstanding that we picked out the laro-er 

 from among them. Frequently a cloud would obscure the 

 moon and the more romantic of us catching faint glimpses 

 of the the flocks close to where we stood, then not seeino- 

 them at all, but hearing their fatal screams, felt as if on an 

 enchanted island peopled by winged spirits that we had 

 disturbed in their peaceful resting places. We secured 

 two barrels of game. An interesting sight were the birds 

 that composed it, to the greedy taxidermist, as they were 

 laid out, side by side upon the beach, that he might select 

 specimens therefrom. We agreed to desist from any more 

 slaughter, and leaving the birds in possession of the sands 

 now bared by the ebb-tide, sat around the blazing camp 

 fire. The negroes were grouped around their own fire at 

 a respectful distance eating their store of provisions con- 

 tained in one iron kettle, consisting of hominy with the 

 addition of a few birds. We, of the white, or "plain" 

 skins, as our dusky friends are pleased to call us, made 

 an ample meal of a more luxurious character, and chatted 

 merrily till late hours. The next day beheld us returning 

 under sail blown by a favoring breeze. We cannot suf- 

 ficiently praise Sergeant Parker and his men for the able 

 manner in which they administered to our comfort, the 

 modest fellows keeping only a few birds, and charging us 

 nothing for the trip. As for shooting on Egg Bank, the 

 only sportsmanlike way is to scare up your birds and pick 

 them off magnanimously upon the wing. Gene, 



Brookline, "~Mass. 



-♦♦♦~ 



"THE GREAT LONE LAND." 



ESSRS. J. G. BAKER & CO- have a trading post 

 on Old Man's River, situated 200 miles northwest 

 from Fort Benton, Montana, and near Fort McLeod, the 

 headquarters of the mounted police of the Northwest Ter- 

 ritory (British Possessions,) of w r hich several descriptive 

 letters have appeared in this journal from a member of the 

 force. Messrs. Adams, Stevenson & Co., of Toronto, Can- 

 ada, have published a volume descriptive of this territory, 

 under the title of "The Great Lone Land," which gives 

 fullest information of the most interesting character. Now, 

 Fokest and Stream has several subscribers in this far-off 

 locality, one of whom, Mr. A. B. Keeler, formerly a resi- 

 dent of Brooklyn, has sent us occasional letters from the 

 Benton and Belknap Agencies, where he has been era- 

 ployeci for some years. Only recently he removed to Fort 

 McLeod, and in a letter dated August 28th, and but lately 

 at hand, he writes to this paper: — 



"The Rocky Mountains loom up grandly about fifty 

 miles from here, and the Porcupine Hills smile down on us 

 twelve miles distant. This portion of the country, and for 

 a distance of 300 miles north, has been made famous by 

 Butler in his "Great Lone Land" and "Wild North Land;' 

 also by Lord Milton in a work whose title I have forgotten, 

 The latter gentleman spent several years in traveling about 

 here, and I am informed that, Lady Milton, a dusky maiden, 

 still resides at Fort Edmonton, 800 miles north of us 

 From all that I can learn, the history of this almost un 

 known country reads like a romance. The streams here 

 about are running with fresh mountain water all the yeat 

 round, and nearer the mountains the festive trout disport! 

 himself with none to molest or make afraid. In the rnoun 

 tains the wild grizzly, cinnamon, and black bear cavon 

 around in the wildest manner; there is game within thirty 

 miles of here till you can't rest. This region is far prefer 

 able for a temporary sojourn to the Milk River country 

 where I have been/ Here we have finer prairie views anc 

 finer mountain views. All the rivers join the South Sas 

 catchewan; from thence they flow into Hudson's Bay. W< 

 can take a boat from this point and reach Hudson's Baj 

 by making two or three portages. As soon as I aca.uain 

 myself more fully with the country I will give the Fores'! 

 and Stkeam a letter as interesting as I can make it. 



You have written of some one seeing me at Fort Bel 

 knap; it must have been J. H. Batty. He was out witl 

 the Boundary Survey last year. I inclose with this a drat 

 of a mountain trout which I caught in Old Man's River 

 thirty miles from here, a few days since. It is no trick t( 

 catch them in these mountain streams. They snap at |\ 

 bait at once. All a fisheiman need do is to sit on the bant 

 and haul them in. There was a large pike caught abou 

 100 yards from the fort to-day. It measured thirty-mm 

 inches in length, and weighed 14£ pound*. I send a drat 

 of it. The prettiest fish caught in the mountains is callec 

 the salmon trout bv people out here. It is spotted like oui 

 Eastern brook trout, and the flesh is of a rich salmon color 

 They grow quite large, so I am told. We caught severa 

 small ones. I am going to Chief Mountain in a few day 

 for a little fishing and hunting. Elk are plenty out here 

 and the fishing in St. Mary's River, they say, "cant ^ 

 beat." On my return I will send you a letter." 



The Value op Minnesota Ckops.— The State of Mm 

 nesota produced this last year, after all deductions are mm 

 for losses in consequence of the wet harvest, not less tna 

 28,000,000 bushels of wheat, 15,000,000 bushels ot oats 

 12,000,000 bushels of corn, with considerable amounts o 

 barley, potatoes, hay, beans, pork, beef, mutton, buuer ., 

 cheese, etc., in addition to these more prominent stap . w ■ 

 After deducting the quantity reserved for seed, 25,UUU,w ■ 

 bushels remain for export and home consumption, or aoo 

 22,000,000 bushels for export alone. Allowing for daniag ,« f 

 to quality, her farmers will realize from their wheat croi , 

 not less than $20,000,000, while it is safe to estimate u> 

 cash proceeds of all other farm products, which are JJSA 

 consumed in feeding working animals, at not less t - 

 $10,000,000. Here are $30,000,000 scattered, or to be isca * 

 tered, within the ten months from September 1st, a ^°S 

 the farmers of Minnesota as the avails of a single crop, wv 

 more than $50 for every man, woman, and child m w ; ; 



