492 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 18. 1868, 



sitting, caused us to turn our heads in that direction just in 

 time to see hi in land in the boat it huge crab, the size of h 

 soup plate, which, upoi being disengaged from the hook. 

 started at once for the etern, snapping viciously at every 

 boot with which he ciiue in contact. Order whs soon re- 

 stored by it Vigorous kirk, that laid his erubrdnp up for 

 repairs during the remainder of the voyage, and as the 

 biting now became fasi and furious each one soon had his 

 hands full attending to a siugle line I lam led oil' with a 

 silver perch; Bob 'followed with a rock cod. snd George 

 after several unprofitable bites, hauled in a villianuus-look- 

 Jng monstor, w Etta a mouth and gullet like a cattish that had 

 (JwallOwe'd the hook down, by actual measurement, to within 

 three inches of the end of his tail. This livelv work con- 

 tinued about an hour, when we found, as the tide gained 

 strength, the fish began to bite less freely. Although late in 

 December the sun shone so warmly that some of us were in 

 our shirt sleeves, and all began to be thirsty. George, from 

 his breast pocket, produced a dark bottle of 'peculiar shape 

 ind strange device (a feioeiuus-looking eat rampant), which 

 he said contained a superior quality of Florida water. The 

 n-si nf us, remembering the worthy example of glorious old 

 "Kingfisher," refused to Imbibe, and. Dulling in the anchor* 

 started for Ihe shore, intent upon finding one'of those springs 

 so seductively described by him in his '•Camp of the King- 

 fishers." But. alas for good intentions, nary a spring 

 "showed up." Not even a puddle of freshwater rewarded 

 the most diligent search, and we returned to take a dry lunch 

 On board, after satisfying the inner man with an ample sup- 

 ply of ham sandwiches, sardines and French rolls, finishing 

 off with a dessert of oranges. 



We anchored off shore again upon a soft bottom and 

 opened up with flounders, For the benefit of my Nevada 

 friends, who are not acquainted with this marine produc- 

 tion, I will remark that H they can imagine a horned toad, 

 minus its legs, and enlarged to the siiie "of a dinner plate, 

 with its natural caudal appendage replaced by a fish's tail 

 set on hat instead of edgewise, 'they will have a very fair 

 idea of a flounder. A very little flounder fishing served to 

 satisfy us— it was too much like pulling up submerged 

 crockery— and we swept round to the south end or the 

 island, where we found several boats anchored and the fish 

 biting lively. We east anchor and took a hand in the sport 

 for a short time, but finding the fish rnuning much smaller 

 than those at the north end. we soon pulled out and returned 

 to our original position where the rock-cod and sea-peareh 

 of f .v o \ arieties were still biting quite freely. 



While thus peacefully engaged we were suddenly startled 

 by the roar of heavy artillery from Fort Point, near the en- 

 i lie harbor, and as we wen- gazing in wonder and 

 astonishment at the unexpected interruptionTa cloud of smoke 

 burst, from the embrasures of the fort on Aleatraz, only a 

 couple of miles distant, and Ihe thundering reverb, rations 

 from her heavy guns went rumbling oyer the Sancelito hills 

 far to the northeast. A few moments- later and the cause of 

 all this commotion was explained, as the white hull of the 

 British gunboat Comus appeared from behind the island 

 and steamed rapidly to her anchorage, bearing the Princess 

 Louise and the Marquis of Lome on their return trine Van 

 couver. 



\s the sun dipped toward Lone Mountain a. lively breeze 

 sprung up, dashing the S] ray over the boat and culling into 

 requisition our coats that had been discarded early fu the 

 day. A, Bob attempted to pass George's coat, the I ail ac- 

 eitiemly came m violent contact with one of the thwarts, a 

 crash of glass followed, and a stream of vellow liquid cours- 

 ing along the bottom Of the boat proclaimed the fact, thai 

 another deposit of ihe "superior quality of Florida water" 

 had come lo light, Still further investigations revealed a third 

 bottle, in tin- opposite pocket, probably put into balance 

 Well, a (bonanza which George, in disgust at ihe strict tem- 

 perance principles advocated I u the rest of the parly, had 

 determined not to uncover; evidently George knew to a dead 

 certainty before lie started, thai I'here were no springs on 

 Goat Island, 



By three o'clock in the afternoon we hud taken sixty pounds 

 of fine fish, and pulling in our lints, we hoisted sail and 

 went skimming rapidly over the waves toward the city. 

 drawing up to the wharf before sunset, a tired, hungry arid 

 sore-fingered CTOWd, but well satisfied with our day's excur- 

 sion to Goat Island. FOBKRI. DjSER. 

 Sak Francisco, Dec, 3(1, 188% 



had most excellent spoit. My friends took about the same and refitted throughout, painted both inside and out in 

 number of hsh that I did, hut I kept the record of none, shades of olive, witli searlettrimmin.'s- two laree fl'-e-olaVes 

 except those which 1 caught. For the benefit of those ' 

 enjoy such reading or may wish to go and do liken 

 WHl give my experience of one. and the best 



,vho | in the sitting rooms, 



THREE WEEKS IN THE MAINE WOODS. 



SEPTEMBER is. 1888, was the lime .-.et 0, meet friends at 

 Worcester, Mass., to go thence Iodic Maine woods, and 

 us I walked into the Union Depot at I'M A. M., 1 was 

 greeted by three gentlemen, who. with one exception, 1 had 

 never Ugl before. This trio v a., headed !>v one of the oldest 

 and most successful anglers in the States. Tall, broad- 

 shouldered and of great muscular powers, bill noted for his 

 kindly Christian qualities at bis home in Ridgewood, N. J. 

 Nest in line was a medium-sized gentleman of modest 

 mien, hut with a merry twinkle hi his ey.', which .speaks 

 volumes to one who loves jollity and good" humor in camp, 

 and knowing he was an editor, and from Goshen, N. Y., I at 

 once put myself on my best behavior for fear of a "whack" 

 per. Last, but uot least, was an aged veteran from 

 the same town, who, being endowed with great command of 

 language and much experience, was requested to take 

 charge of the party, he (modestly) accepted the title oi Col 

 onel lied field, and we were at once ordered to lake the ears 

 then in waiting. 



dust as were entering the cars, Mr. 0. A. Waitc. general 

 ticket agent of Worcester et Nashiui H. R., stepped up and 



invited us to take Beat 

 land, Maine. We lead a 

 until we arrived at Brva 

 Trunk R. R,, then a dr 

 Concord coach, drawn b 

 Tultle & Perkins, 



: palace cur through to Port- 

 st pleasant and enjoyable time 

 fond Station, on the Grand 

 of twenty-one miles in a new 

 nil' splendid I'oadeis. owned by 

 . s good whips as ever drew rein. 

 At 6' P.M. we were safely landed at Andover, Maine. 

 After a good night's rest and a most excellent breakfast, 

 such as Mrs. A . Thomas well knows how to prepare, we 

 then took a buekboard for the twelve mile ride to the foot 

 of Wilokennebacnok Lake, where we found one of the, small 

 steamers, owned by the Union Steamboat Company, in 

 waiting for passengers troin Audover. This company are 

 de ervinggreat credit for their endcsuvOTS to please, and 



accommodate ihe traveling public After steaming across 

 two of those fine lakes and up through the narrows, we at 

 last step ashore, near ihe Upper Dam camp landing fox a 

 few weeks' stay. 



After a day of preparation, and looking oni tl 

 grounds, we settled down to business, In. two or three days 

 the trout commenced to iim up, and for a week or so we 



.... best day's i 



for heavy trout, and at the same time, state that all tin' fish 

 1 took in two weeks time were caught with a large dftrk- 

 Vloutteal" salmon fly, "grisley king.'' and ".loik 

 Scot." and [esteem them the liest killing flies for the Rangele; 

 Lake waters, in the month of September. 



Tr was on Ihe morning of the 15th thai I eaivfnlh anchored 

 my boat, midway ol' a long pool, mid on one side of ihe 

 rapid water that ran through it in ihe Androscoggin River, 

 just below the Upper flam Gamp. Mr. Reynolds soon put 

 in an appearance, and dropped anchor some sixty feel below 

 me, on the same side. Immediately after Mr. Eli Cutting, 

 the Audover guide, dropped anchor fifty feet directly 

 opposite, on the other side of the poo). 



I bad taken one fish of three pounds weight when the sun 

 came creeping up and over the mountain tops, its bright 

 rays glimmering on the water. Hardly expecting a very 

 heavy lish to rise in tin brighl sun, I became careless and 

 was leisurely casting down and across the current when my 

 stretcher fly was gobbled, and with sueh a "yank" that the 

 rod was doubled to a half circle before I raised my finger 

 from the line. Theu, with a mighty rush, like nn arrow 

 from a cross how. he stalled down stream. The old click 

 reel sung out its peculiar whir-r-r-r-r-r so pleasant to the 

 angler's ear; but the ledges and Ihe boat below; they must 

 not lie reached. Now for a lest of my new ten-ounce split 

 bamboo. Will it stop him'.' The pte'ssure is put on; both 

 hands now grasp the butt, and, as the fearful strain comes 

 on, it creaks and quivers like a ship in a heavy gale of wind. 

 But the trout, has for once found his match, and he is com- 

 pelled to turn aside and head up stream just in time to clear 

 the boat below. He sticks to the rapid water yet, and the 

 mottled line fairly hisses when it cuts through the rushing 

 current as he flies across and toward the boat opposite. 

 The noble rod is good for it, and he is once more 

 foiled. Now for a rest of five minutes; well, rest 

 away, old brave, lor the rush that is sure to come, but 

 I feel that with proper care I am master of the situation. 

 Ha! What trick is this! A dive for my anchor rope! I will 

 not he caught so, audi pull up anchor with one hand, and 

 hold it with my teeth. as he passes under the boat. Now for 

 the first time 1 see t he monster, as the rod forces him to- 

 ward the surface on the opposite side. The tension on rod 

 and line is so great, that Ihe boat swings half around, as 

 die fish Hies across the pool into deep water. Another sulk 

 is attempted, but a few vigerous laps with my knuckles on 

 the butt of the rod. and another "circus" is started. My 

 friends in the boat see his Utile game and generously give 

 me room, when I force the light" for the next ten minutes, 

 and his tront.ship is "winded," and lays gasping on toped' 

 the wider. Mr. Gutting passes the landing net under him, 

 and he lays in the boat. What a beauty! A male fish. 

 twenty-seven inches lone, and pulls the settles down almost 

 lo the eight pound notch. 1 time the fight, and find just;tweul y- 

 six minutes taken to kill ray fish. I view with pride my 

 new rod, and mutter to myself. "Yes lost!" with a ligutrori; 

 as it is, his spotted hide will grace my office, and just over 

 it shall hang the pliant rod that won 'the victo'rj . 



Later in the day, in the same place, 1 fought - another bat- 

 tle of the same character, the result of which was the land- 

 ing of another male Irout, Hint pulled Hie scales down below 

 the six-pound notch, and us I looked into my fish cur and 

 viewed their great golden sides, I said: "Three ifcieeklcd 

 trout in one day of .seventeen pounds wight in enough," 

 and shouldered my rod and started for camp. 



A few days later my friends found it necessary to return 

 home, and with a fine lot of trout, tanging h> weight from 

 two lo six pounds each, they bid adieu to the fraternity in 

 camp and started for New York, wilb the avowed intention 

 of returning again next June to have another season of 

 pleasure wii h i he tinny tribe that abound ill the headwaters of 

 the Androscoggin River. Soon all er their departure there 

 appeared in camp two young men, both genuine sports of the 

 rod and real persuasion, that had been camping at Kenebago 

 Lake for two weeks, but had now come down to occupy a 

 small log camp near the upper dam landing, thai was par- 

 tially built for our benefit by some warm-hearted friends 

 from Now -Jersey. These young men, one a, "sprig of the 

 law." the other "young Ni'mrod,'' and both "eighteen karat 

 line" fellows, -reported plenty of small trout at "the Ceneha- 

 goes, and the finest mountaiu scenery around the Rnngeley 



Lake country 

 In two or three days we had an addition to our party of a 



gentleman about fifty years of age, wdio answered readily to 

 the name of "Esq."' In passing if may he proper to Say 

 that he is a better lawyer than fly -fisherman, but. a h.-uide'-i 

 or jollier man never" camped in" the Maiue woods. Soon 

 after the Esq. came into camp, he and the writer had occa- 

 sion to visit a neighboring camp in the evening. As we were 

 on our return home, travelinea narrow, rocky path in the 

 woods, au episode occurred that I never -shall forget He was 

 "on his walk," he said. OS he struck a tremendous pace, when, 

 "Ugh!" was all 1 heard; ami peering ahead in the darkness 



1 discovered the "Esq." standing iiolt upright on his head 

 with feet playing like drumsticks in the air. The seem- was 

 so ludicrous. "and the idea of his showing off to an audience 

 of one completely upset me. and I dropped in my tracks 

 and roared until 1 could hardly hold myself together. 



A few nights later I get terribly stirred up again. Early 

 in the morning hours we were, aroused from our slumbers 

 by loud growls and a "swish" around our camp, with a 

 clatter on the roof and a heavy tumble to the ground of 

 some heavy animal. "Sprig of the law" whispers in bated 

 breath, "For heaven's sake what's that'.'" All is still, but, 

 "(I my!' "What a smudge," "Whew!" and suchlike expres- 

 sions eanie in smolhcreri tones froin under the bed quilts. 

 As soon as it was light we discovered our friend Mop, a 

 spaniel dog belonging to the Upper Dam camp, had come 

 down on a visit, and had chased" a polecat around and on 

 to our Camp roof, tumbled off himself, but the "eat" stayed, 

 long enough to make it sure that lie had "been there." 



These are specimen bricks of eight days' time spent. 

 sandwiched in with fair fishing, and, to sum up as a whole, 

 we voted it a good time. "Sprig of the law" took several 

 good-sized trout, the "Esq." took one of four and one of 

 five pounds, and "Nimrod" several heavy fish . the largest 

 tipped the scales at six pounds. 



I intended to spend one day with Gapt. Kred Barker mi 

 end at Camp Lena's, felt the great blow of three 

 days, duration prevented my enjoying that pleasure, but most 

 of the very stormy weather was' spent at Upper Dam camp, 

 or hotel, arid tost here I must say a few words about this 

 pleasantpla.ee. The buildings have been greatly enlarged. 



I started 

 ished to 



large fire-places 



handsoine tiles, and 



coxy anncnairs, very suggestive of comfort -anda broad piazza 



extends across Ihe whole frontage, making it oneol the finest, 

 and most desirable camps in the Maine wooda 



Whilcin camp it was in v good fortune to make the ac- 

 quaintance of several gentlemen sportsmen, among whom 

 wen- Messrs. Ames and Law fence of Boston; State Senator 

 R09S0X WillimanticCl,. Mr Cotton ofLewiston, Me. andlav 

 partner of I. S. Senator Writ. P. Frye; Stewart and Rosen- 

 berg of New York, and other genial good fellows. What a 

 pleasure ii is lo meet gentlemen and sportsmen of the highest 

 class in Ihe dark forests, and on the pearly 



The time having come when T must return ho 

 out one day before m v ehun is broke camp, as 

 spend one day near Andover before making the tin 

 So on the 29th of September some fifteen ladies and gentle- 

 men hoarded the little si earner and started down the lakes. 

 As we beared the landing. Gapl. A. ,1. Farr.tr inquired if 

 "- '"'-' ished lor dinner at the hotel, which had 

 just been completed at the arm of the lake. Nine answers 

 in the affirmative produced the same number of whistles 

 from the steamer as signals to the hotel, and judging from 

 the most excellent dinner, the soft hair malic- i 



abundance of trout in that vicinity, and with such a pleas 

 ant landlady as Mrs. Farm e i think it Bafe to recommend 

 il as ■'- capital place to spend a few weeks' time. 



Coming out on the buekboard it was my good luck to 

 ride out with Mr. Gi'brge Woodbury, a conductor on the 

 Knox & Lincoln Railroad. Maine. H took me just two min- 

 utes to cipher it out that he was "my man"' for a tug a! 

 brook fishing the next day, and our plans -were soon laid. 

 The next morning we might have been seen bouncing out of 

 Andover on buekboard headed toward the mountains. Five 

 miles' drive brought us to a halt, us the road ended h.-iv. 



Slipping on light rubber boots, we took our fish baskets 

 and pllinged into the forest. Our instructions were to go 

 northwest until we got tired, then go a few miles further; 

 but the party that told us so did hoi know his men. Gn 

 and on we traveled Until we struck a tiny Utile stream, 

 which we concluded must be the one. as it was the only one 

 through the "notch" in the mountains. We 

 arc that we. went to within a mile or so of C. 

 m miles further than we should have gone. 



ps to the gorge between the mountains 



heading dov 

 learned afte 

 Pond, and three mi 

 We retract d om 



and began to fish. 

 I have beena-flsl 

 1 never had a bertc 

 in all my life than i 

 and the "trout were 

 ranging ft 

 hours did 



id on fr, 



r s spo 



ll'UUI 1! 



some thirty years, but 

 r a more genial companion 

 lay. The stream was low 

 gat In red in long clear pools, their size 

 nn two to five ounces. For three and one-half 

 we transfer the red and golden sided little 

 nn this cold spring brook to our baskets, and 

 re look ten we left a hundred. As the sun was fast 

 sinking behind the lofty rugged mountains through which 

 we had just passed, 1 said, "George, how long do you pro- 

 pose to Keep this thing up?" Said he. "You jus! wail a 

 minute, until i take these two large ones out. See here, look 

 off in there; there are hundreds of them; how can We leave 

 them?" But we at last reluctantly leave" the brook ami 



speed on our way homeward. What' was the number of oui 

 catch, did you say? Well, two hundred and forty-three trout 

 and many very small ones thrown back into the stream 

 again when first taken; and this day's sport is registered as 

 the best of all toy life for brook fishing. 



As we drove up to Ihe hotel at Andover that night in high 

 glee, we found the teams just coming in from' the lakes, 

 bringing the "Esq.," "Sprig of the law." "Young Kimrod," 

 of Putnam. Conn.; Mr. Hatch and daughter, of Boston; 

 the Old veterans Powell and Blood, of Chelsea; the Hon. 

 Mr. Parrish. of Norwich, Gonn., and several other friends, 

 who gave us a hearty greeting as with a spanking gait and 

 colors' flying we swung around to the hotel- Stables ami 

 unloaded basket after basket of our spotted treasures 

 The' nest morning two stage loads of ladies and gentle- 

 men left the quiet little village of Audover , 



homes in several different States, and all with the feeling 

 that it pays to spend a few weeks on the clear streams 

 that abound in the old Pine Tree State. 



1-,. 1\ Willi. Mom;. 

 PUTNAM, Conn., .tun. 5, 1883. 



HOOPSNAKES AND TROUT. 



SOME weeks ago 1 was much interested andami 

 the lioopsnakc. snaik. or sneak question -o spi 

 can ied on in the columns of FOREST AND Stueam. 

 of business at the time prevented me from whi 



;.)k at the 



cd pi 



, think y 



daine any great effort to mm 

 sneak, with a sting in the tale 

 has -aid tlic animal kingdom. \ 

 have then prototv lie in some 01 

 A few evenings ago, in com 

 trooper, who has seen much ,se 

 srsation turning to 



seal at, 

 •itedly 

 Press 

 When 



mated nature, with 

 it would- cost the old 

 on the world a hoop- 

 Some one (I forget who) 

 eft, er crawlers or walkers, 

 of the human fan i 

 nv with a retired British 

 ice in the East Indies, the 

 , my friend related some 

 wonderful stories of hairbreadth escapes and miraculous 

 Cures of persons squeezed, twisted, bitten ami stung by the 



many different species ot tie- venomous reptili 

 which he was familiar with, having had them for comrades, 

 in the bivouac, in the holly contested field and on the silent 

 uiglit march. 

 To me tin- incidents related; when not horrifying, 



Were interesting and instructive : one in particular got 

 attached to the point of my pencil, which 1 will now fry and 

 rub off. It referred lo the double-headed snake, i sug 

 gested that nature might have got. off one of her practical 

 jokes, and turned ott a monster, solitary ami alone. The 

 trooper stoutly asserted they were a Separate SpSCieS, a' 

 though not; very numerous; he had frequently heard of 

 them bv natives* and comrade troopers: be had himSelf seen 

 and killed two of them, at different time-, and p 

 natives showing great honor and tear at the deed. lie. 

 specimens lelerred to were about twelve iuchee long. With a 



head at either end pi the body. They arc considi 

 classed with i'ne most deadly of the snake- family. 



vim-. Mi-. Editor, does it no! seem strange to you, in thai 

 far-off land of Shade and darkness, they have all these rep- 

 tile blessings spread broadcast, over the land, and here in our 

 own America some of your euiies.ponileuts, aided and abet 

 tedbvvoui natural history man, will not allow us a con 



temptible little hoopsneak, with a spike it 



we know tln.-y arc io be loimd even here iu Ma-saehu.sct.o-, 



under the. shadow of our own Mount Tom e 



it? Nevertheless true. They are particularly fond Dj brook- 



