14S 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 31. 1883. 



jfiv* mid ^Uer ^Mting. 



Open Seasons.— Set tnSk »i - a n saanm I'm game mm /?*// 

 n iatme qf July at). 



FISH IN SEASON IN SEPTEMBER. 



Lake trout, Ordttivmuer 



!ii irillrci. 



,/,.,■/.;,. 

 I. Si\lc?li,iui 



Lanilloel;-i -ahaon. vur. ttbdfiO. 

 Quiuiiat salmon. OncuriiinuUns 



rhouycho. 

 Black bass, Micropterus, two spe- 



Maskinonge. Eno.c nobilior. 



Sea bass, Oenttoprisies utrarius, 

 Stripeil buss, Rochus /on .>/.*-. 

 White perch, Morone americann. 

 Scup or porgie. Stawtotnu* ar- 



Blucflsn 



:<>llt<ltr/.l\ 



Weakfiab or 



■ 



ckflsb. Tmitotju mii- 



taylor, Pomatomus 



sqjietague, 1 •./..•• 



-•».-7>7;ifltm. 



Fellow porch, /'.->■.-,/ tluviatiltx. 

 Striped Imss iKnrkflsli), SoieetM 



/iMCI/tlix. 



Whlto bass. ffopi I*.* vhrynopt 

 Rock b.-iss. -1. •<'•/■;/• /.(,... 1 •■ . .. epe 



ciea. 

 War-mouth, ChcRtuHirgttu.1 gulo- 



Prappie (Strawberry bass, etc.). 



•ui-rtimtiL-utattui. 

 Bachelor, Panto*!/* qwtdaris. 

 BWftw Imilnri.t. 

 WATER, 

 "Sea trout." CyriOBlryon <-tm>7taea- 



Shoepaneod, .irc7..i.wi/ie.- yiroiiei- 



tor.ciihulus. 

 lungffcb or Horn, MeiUicirrus ne- 



Spauish ninekeicl. C'/hium macu- 



lotum. 

 Drimi. Pogoninji (i/trom»#. 

 Ijiifayettc, /,;..«.*.. nm.-. .,'./;.,.<"- 

 Red bass, etc.. .svin «ipibw*i(«». 



B^-This table is general, for special laws in the severa 

 States see table of Open Seasons in ibruo <>f .Inly 20. 



1 concur with those who speak of the pastime of .-meling as n n 

 due, not alone from my own experience, although that may t 

 for something, but from the great number of strong men with « 



of the 



ml II. 





the 



woods; nnihing sn pervading iii its mellowing Influence Upon nerve 

 and brain and spirit as the pleasant umruinr of the flowing river: 

 nothing BO health-giving as the aroma of nature's grand forestlabora- 

 tory; and nothing so exhilarating as the rise and swirl aud rush of 

 trout or salmon. Those whom I have thus known, ui'h scarcely an 

 exception, have preserved the vigor of lusty youth longer and mora 

 uniformly tban their contemporaries who have sought other means 

 of enjoyment— from which 1 infer thai few but those who are l.lest 

 with robust constitutions ever acquire a pa-slon lor angling, Or Hiat 

 the pastime Itself creates the healthful vitality u-htehinsnresa vigor- 



oils old age. But whether the jias.iiine is in.-r.-h preservatit ■ i- 



really curative in its medicinal effects, ii is certainb beneficent, and 

 deserves the high place it holds In the utl •■■ Hon iol its llappj . healthy 

 and enthusiastic votaries. George lin, .,.,,,,. l'l. :,*.,,,- ■■/ .i„.//,„,, 



CAMPING AT LAKE MEGANTIC. 



IT was the latter pan of Autiw when m took the :( P, M 

 International train from Slu-i liiouk tot Like Megantic, lo 

 put iu our usual annual vacation, On t )■> train we met some 

 friends on the same errand and bound for the same deatraa 

 tion as ourselves, with whom we formed acoalition, iucreas 



ins our pain to -even, and wilh our guiili . Den Hull, who 



also happened to be on tin- traiu, mafimj just the number 

 requisite for a double euchre Bet, The number of beans which 

 changed hands at draw poker on the trip, would, have led 

 one to believe that -we were carrying thai portion ol ourpro 

 visions in our coat pockets, ami an advance of ten beans 

 better on a small pair was made l>y tie better in a -piri! oi 

 utter recklessness, and in a. manner calculated to bluff the 

 more cautious holder of a flush or three of a kin/1. In fact 

 it was flush times in the beau line, as those who have been 

 there cau testify, 



About 8 o'clock we reached Megantic aud were soon en- 

 joying a substantial supper at Pope's Victoria Hotel with an 

 appetite which only regular habits aud u begone-dull-care 

 soil of feeling can produce. Our old friend, John Boston, 

 was among the first to greet us. John in his capacity of 

 fisheries guardian is trying to bring Lake Megantic and' the 

 Chaudiere River back to tbeir former prestige. Some two 

 years ago a quantity of salmon trout and land-locked salmon 

 fry were placed in the lake, quantities of which are said to 

 have been seen in its tributaries during the past summer. Our 

 party contained some good vocalists, so that with the assist- 

 ance of Billy Lee, who presided at the organ, -lack Smith and 

 other local amateurs, we soon improvised a first-class musi- 

 cal soiree in the upstairs parlor, which was kept up until 

 midnight. We question if many older and largerplaces could 

 at such short notice have got up as good an entertainment. 

 We take the liberty, however, of suggesting to friend Pope 

 the propriety, iu fact the uecessity. of placing a hand rail or 

 two on the -taiiway. a suggestion which will doubtless be 

 appreciated by the 'individual who reached the bottom of 

 that Stairway at one step, a step which had the effect of 

 lowering bis buovaucv of spirits some twelve feet. 



We had arranged with Messrs. Flint to have their steamer 

 on hand at :tn early hour, so by seven o'clock next morning 

 we were on board, and with Boh Dickinson as engineer ree 

 were not long in run ni, i - the twelve mfles through the take, 

 making a brief call at the summer residence of W B, tves 

 Esq., M. P.. near Rocky Point, when- we were well treated 

 by the hospitable proprietor. At the Spider Lake portage 

 we experienced some delaj in getting our traps hauled over. 

 so some of Ihe part\ went into camp some two miles up i lie 

 lake, while the. rest" alieudc.il to the baggage aud joined them 

 iu Ihe evening. The weather was beautiful, and although 

 very hoi was tempered by ihe lake breezes, si, ihal the heal 

 did not seriously inconvenience us. Our party divided up, 

 some trolling for bass on the lake, some trout fisliing and 

 blueberrying up the river, and the rest getting the pot boil- 

 ing and preparing for the evening's reunion in camp. 



Our first night's jack-shooting up the river supplied us 

 with venison; of trout and bass we had abundance, and for a 

 few days we enjoyed ourselves as only those can who are 

 fond of and familiar with an outdoor life. Our camp was 

 christened the "Anglers' Retreat," a sigu in charcoal to that 

 effect placed over the verandah. Our beds made of hay or 

 boughs at the choice of the occupant, friend Sweet prepared 

 the bill of fare and filled it, too, assuming also the control of 

 the culinary department, and although he did tell us repeat, 

 edly to "Go away from that window," we were forced to 

 admit that he was the life and soul of the parly, always 

 good-natured, lively, full of fun, and ready to run his legs 

 nil' to add to the comfort of any one of us. We were sorry 

 to have him leave before, the camp broke up. Another 

 camping party had shot a fine moose, six prongs cm one side 



ami five on the other, making him between seven and eight 

 years old, and we were liberally supplied wit]) moose steak, 

 which for juiciness and flavor surpassed tiny we ever ale. 

 This moose was dropped in his tracks, and consequently the 



iat Was far superior to that taken from animal run down 



killed in the winter. 



After a few days' sport on and around Spider, four of us 

 went across to Hathan Bog. about a couple of miles on the 

 Maine side of the boundary line. The trail is simply a 

 blazed line through the forest, very rough in places. The 

 day was swelteriug hot, not a breath of air could be felt iu 



the woods, and aftei nearly six bouts' walk we readied our 

 camping place about live in the afternoon, our clothes drip- 

 ping woi with perspiration. Ball and 1 took the little boa.1 

 which we had brought through tin- year before, and went 



down Ihe bog fortroul We found the water ray low and 

 densely covered with lih pad-. Till beaver. Ball said, had 

 all been I rapped out last fall. We were rather glad of it, as 

 we were too frequently startled by their giving the alarm 

 while jack-shool ins on our last trip. The tracks of moose 

 and deer around the bog were abundant. Ai the foot of the 

 1 Og and against the beaver dam where we found :i patch of 

 open water, we took out twenty to thirty line trout, and just 

 before dusk returned ttl camp, or rather an apology for one. 

 foi the real of the parly, too tired to (mild " camp, had lain 

 down on the moss airai'.ist a knoll, and so did we. as soon as 

 w( bad. made tea andcooked. enough, trout for supper. On 

 our return we saw a line cow moose walking ai rather a 

 rapid gait across the head of the bog. Sin- had not ~t-n us, 

 and by paddUng behind a dump of bushes we tried to inter 

 cop! her; bu1 she -abed tie- woods ahead of tis, 



Aboul nine O'elock Hall and 1 -billed our jack light and 



weni down the bog, Soon aftei starting a deer whistled or 

 snorted on ihe other ,idc. bid we wettl through the bog and 

 a mil.' or two down the river without seeing Or hearing an.'i 

 thing else. I was tired and sleepy, and Own- with difn- 

 oultj [could manage to keep a.wa.ke.. in returning a d'eer 

 whistled on the bank above me, and I opened toy eyes just 

 in lime to see his while ne ck as he bounded into tin- 'bushes, 

 lie Was more startled than I was. as for fully India mile wc 

 could hear him whistling every few seconds. This kepi me 

 awake for a v. bile, bui when we got back to the bog 1 began 

 to dor.e aarain. and as we were ] assing a place which we had 

 pa.-sed mi our down nip 1 »;s fairly asleep. | folt a poke 

 from Ball's paddle-, and roused up to see something dark 

 and indistinct just ahead, and without waiting to take pa* 

 ticular aim, discharged my rifle, and immediately saw as 

 [•ii 1 1 \ a specimen of buck-jumping :•- one co'fJd wiah to 



see. 1 i-. not likely I bit him, OS Mure was no SJgnOf blood 

 to be seen next morning. Ball had his double-barreled gun 

 loaded with ball and buekshol, and if he had Used I bnl in 

 stead of playing poker on my buck, he probably wouldn't 



have been obliged III pass ihe bilel- .; IL-ll I have 



always used a light Frank Wesson sporting rifle. I am con 

 viiieed ib. ii for nighi shooting, i>- one iiiways gets ennrparn 

 lK> game, the weapon to use i- a double barrel- 

 one barrel Loaded with buckshot for .leer ami the other with 

 ball foi iDiiosci caribou. Ii is difficult, unless veuiy close 

 or the light \ • i s bright and your position sueli Ihal Ihi 

 light <- distinctly risible to shoot accurately with a rifle, I 

 have oiih uiccceded •■un- in jack-shooting in hittiugtlie 

 exact plate I thought 1 was aiming at, and t lint fetched un 



first tllOOse 



Ne.\t evening from a spring hob in the river 1 look aboui 

 forty trout, running from one-hnll to one pound oach, as 

 Pastas 1 could* cast Thai evening it rained, but about mid 

 bigl'l Boll and anotheo oi ihe party went out shooting, with- 

 out success, 



The vicinity of llathan Bog Is not i pleasant place to 

 camp, Nothing is to be seen around i In- bog except stunted 

 tamaracks. Some high mountains ne.n the Chain ui Ponds 

 hud some grandeur to the view in that direction. Perhaps 

 if one were -'up in a balloon," so as to get a view of the five 

 lakes and ponds, which a circle ol a mile in diameter would 

 strike, he mighl see something more attractive than Hainan 

 Bogsceuerv,' Orosby Pond is attractive, lying, as it does, 

 euibosomecl in mouniains. wliich the setting sun illumines 

 on the one side, and throws into the most sombre shade on 

 the of her, while its swiftly running outlet creates a minia- 

 ture Minnehaha in the evening stillness. 



After two nights ul the bog," we took an early start, and 

 our packs being considerably lighter, we reached the Upper 

 Spider at noon. It was another sweltering day. and we 

 drank considerable water at the three or four watering 

 places on the trail, so that the bottle oi Fletcher's ale which 

 we had left at the laudina, in anticipation of the fetiguing 

 effect of the trip, was very acceptable. A couple of miles 

 row, a pannikin of strong tea, :ome dinner anil an hour's 

 rest, and we were all right again. Our Australian experi- 

 ence has taught us that nothing overcomes fatigue like a cup 

 of strong tea. 



That night Ball and I went up the river, but as there were 

 no less tban five boats out, it is not surprising that no game 

 was to be seen. Deer had been seen newly every day on 

 the lake shore within a quarter of a mile of camp, aud as we 

 passed through, we saw one feeding ou the lily pads, and 

 ran down on him. Knowine lhat an object looks nearer on 

 lie waterthan it Is really, I had elevated the -ight of my 

 rifle to 300 yards, bui in this case 1 had overshot the mark. 

 The deer was within 160 yards, and the ball went over and 

 -ii ink a log on the bank beyond him. He pranced round a 

 few times, looked at the log, and commenced feeding again 

 a few fed away. Another shot "hit him in the same place 

 it missed him before," and he was off. Ball insinuated thai 

 he could have put a bullei lliro ilu |, a deer's head at lhat 



distance. 



Nc\i mor nin g he had the chance. I ran him down within 



100 yards of one, at which lie fired and missed. As there 

 was some ripple on the water he was excusable. We ran 

 ihe boat near the shore al ihe place wbere he went, into the 

 bushes, and there he stood some loriv v.-trds off, looking at 

 us. Another shot failed to drop him. and as Ball was con- 

 lid.nl he had lib him he got out of the boat to look for signs 

 of blood, which lie said he found. While there another 

 deer, a doe. came out to the lake s„mc 000 yard.- away. 

 Ball got into the boat aud I ran him down within sixty 

 yards before he tired. Knowing him to be a good shot aud 

 accustomed lo my rifle 1 counted thai deer in, but it wasn't 

 to be. The ball' struck * boulder just over the deer, und 

 Ball's ball scored a miBS, The conversation between us for 

 then si of the fsrenoou was only started at long intervals 

 and was ol a ven brief eharacler. He fell wor.-e over his 

 failure than I did. 



lini time is up. Reluctantly' we break camp, pack our 

 traps, cross the carry, and are steaming down Lake Megan- 

 lie in time, for tea ' We change the clothes we have slept in, 

 during our camping out An obliging friend puts a ten-cent 



shine on our boots, stands the cigars on the strength of the 



ten cents, and as we sit on the 

 ing a cloud, contemplating the 



lab of the Victoria blow- 

 brilliancy of the 

 shine on those hoots, aiufconversine, with John Boston, we 

 forget that we were only that morning 'oul of the woods." 

 Kext morning, al. 6:80, we take the train, nod at ten we are 

 back in Sherbrooke. D. Thomas. 



SnEiumooKE, r. Q,, Sept,, 188S. 



SEVEN PONDS AND DEAD RIVER. 



HAVING seen several articles al t this wild section. 

 none of which correspond exactly with my own expe 

 perience. and having al.-o received many inquiries concern 



log the same, 1 will, with your penmasiqn, give a running 

 account of a recent trip there, in the hope ol conveying to 

 your readers a clearer Idea of the region and its capacities 

 for sport . 



My first visit was iu the spring of 'Si, and having derived 

 groat benetil and enjoyment therefrom. 1 could not resist 

 the temptation to repeat it this season 



Ourpartv left Boston June 11 ou tin 8 SO \ M Crom ihe 

 Eastern Depot, and arrived in Portli ml about 12 M. Hut 

 lug our wait here of twenty Bve minilb ■ we tried in vain lo 

 learn of the employes of the Maine Central which uain we 

 should take for North Anson All but one insisted tb I we 

 should take the Pkrrwbftg nti m, bui asti 



doubt, we. CODchlded iie"sife-l way would be to follow our 



baggage, which wu did. One of our number, however, 

 being in poor health, lock the drawing f oar En m Bos 



id 



\\, 



id oitic 



Is He- Moine Central - >ot that ii i anno! afford 



.•I this point even tolerably intelligent cm] 



from Portland we took the train to West Wn.rvdk 



thence on the Somerset road to North Ansntj thence b,\ 

 stage (nine mileB) to North New Portland, arriving i 

 where we remained all night. Wishing 

 start the next morning ior Kennodj Smith's i'.i;m. Euafis, 

 I lie gentlemanly and obligin nil Dilson, 



accommodated us, and had us uader way at r, A. M -hup. 

 We now entered upon a drive of ihoty-siv miles over an 

 excellent road— a rare luxury in the Maine backw 

 livened all tha w;:.l.<- -ecu::,- n:l: and la !iiii::;l hey:;i:ci 

 any power of description. Mountains, rocks and ravines 

 presented thi mselves in almost unbroken variety, with grand 

 old .Mount Bigelow overlooking all. till w< forgot the kngth 



of Ihe ride and Were- nol son v to know thai our return trip 

 would take us through I he same he elv re-ion. 



After crossing a primitive ferry (which was managedno 

 bv (he ten vu,an bui by bis ' 'gude wif e") our way for Dearly six 

 miles lag along the beck-,.; thi south brauch of !n< Dead 

 River, and leading directly totheold "jnagSi iff ." renowned 

 (W the camping ground oi Benedict Arnold in his perilotu 



mai 



' V ■ 



Leaving historic ground, our attention Is ftalli d lo ., peeri 

 Uurity of the road over w)hich we an pawing. !• Is bilill 

 along the ridge of u low lyingrange-of hills, with, in many 

 cases, barely width sutlhieiii for Ihe road, while on eilher 



side v,.u look into ravines, some of them full seynnty feel iu 

 depth. Wc . ujbj everj mill oi this journey so full Is ,i 

 ,.i i.u,,, i. but end it at last ai Smith's b'arra aboui 1:80 

 P M » hen- we dine and t. fivsh ouriHilvBS for the twentv 

 mih - ride on a buckboard thrpupli ihe wilderness to Smith's 



i ; el .-■ ,eti Pi 



Al.o.ii tWO mih - ol ihis mad mav be passed with lolerable 

 comfort, when we cnlci upon what mav Intlv be ealled a 



■i.uikboard road." I will not attempt to deseribe it, as 

 doubtless your readm-s are familiar with the traro, and know 

 what ii implies. I was an easy und promable passenger 

 to take, for 1 greatly preferred walking to the diftieuh task 

 of keeping my seat, Nothing but a Maine buckboard could 

 hold together: "Adirondack Murray's, ' or any common 

 vehicle would be utterly demolished in a short -pace of time. 

 b'.i, pasmnt, if you enjoy the company of black flies and mos- 

 quitoes, you w'ill have no reason lo complain of your recep- 

 tion here. 



Tim Pond, the first stoppim: place, we reached with sound 

 limbs at 5 :30 P. M. Here Smith has six nicely kept aud 

 well arranged camps, which were our headquarters last 

 season. Remembering my good success at t! at "time, I could 

 not resist the temptation "to east the fly to tin speckled 

 beauties, and for a half hour's labor was rewarded willi a 

 catch of thirty-six. The trout in this pond are small, aver- 

 aging not more than a quarter of a pound, but are of 

 excellent flavor, and contain more magnetism than any fish 

 1 ever saw. We frequently, last season, took two and three 

 at a time, my largest weighing 2i pound-. II is exeitintr 

 sport to see them leap to the fly, clearing the water in many 

 instances, but, wishing to encounter larger gaTou, and having 

 started for Seven Ponds, w i- pushed on next morning for 

 those waters thirteen miles distant. 



Our driver informed us that this half of the road was bet- 

 ter, but not caring openly to question his veracity, we came 

 to the conclusion, mentally, that bis understanding, in more 

 than one way. was calloused by his frequent drives over the 

 road in question, Eight hours of ibis experience brought us 

 to camp on the shore.- ol Big Island Pond. Th secaropsare 

 well fitted up, and well kept by the man and v. jo to i harge; 

 who are the "light persons in the right plat B.' 



For the firel two days we did not meci « ith 5 ittcring suc- 

 cess. Owing to the high winds, combined with the back- 

 ward season, the trout wool.: not rise well to the Sy. bui lac 

 rest of our day Was more satisfactory. 



The pond is full of trout, averaging about a po und. though 

 several were caii'jhl weighing from ; wo to three. One lucky 

 fellow, ou his seven-ounce rod. captured two trout at one 

 throw, that tipped thcscule.-, respectively at ^ end l^poufti - 

 The large trout are readily taken by trolling, and quantities 

 of chubs can be obtained around the island. We did little 

 of ihis, however, preferring always to lake our trout with 

 the fly. " 



This is the largest of the Seven Ponds, and here 

 the most of our time, though a day tit L Pond gave good re- 

 sults. Trout plenty— eager for the fly— and averaging half 

 the size of those of 'its larger sister. 



At the upper end of Big Island Pond a small stream con- 

 nect- with Hock Pond. At its outlet a family of heaver had 

 built, tbefr house and dam, while aboui half wax between 

 ihe rwo ponds a iccenth constructed dam, sixty or more 



feci in length, had ilowcci Rock Pond at least tWO feel. 

 These were of peculiar interest to the writer, being ihetirst 

 he had ever -,:i. 



The forests in this region abound in deer, moose, caribou, 

 bear, and a countless number of partridge, so That the sports 



