124 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



[Skit EMBER 15 1881. 



by an ignoble bird. It baa been long since your red hackle 

 and graceful tail, with its curled green feathers, has greeted 

 our optics, but, as we journey through unfrequented routes, 

 we hope to come upon some settler's cabin where wc may 

 yet behold one of your unpolluted descendants mount the 

 rail fence and announce his challenge to the world. 



Adieu .' The only place we find your picture ia where it 

 heads a column ia a couuiry newspaper announcing a politi- 

 cal victory. There you will be handed down to posterity to 

 be wondered at as a rara mns, for your clumsy follower will 

 1 surely never appeal to an artist's eye as the symbol of victory. 

 ^.». * 



E\stern Fibld Thuls Cum, — This organization will 

 hold a special meeting to-day for the purpose of selecting the 

 judges for the trials. It is full time tbat the names of those 

 who are to judge were made known, and, as the entries close 

 on October 1, the public will receive the information through 

 the sporting press only eight days before that date. This is 

 not time enough. No one should enter a dog either at a 

 bench show or for a field trial without first knowing the 

 names of all the judges. 



Doa Asylums. — Paris is to have a dog shelter, and Bos- 

 ton will follow suit. Some time ago we published the de- 

 tails of the Philadelphia institution of this character, and 

 the Boston asylum will be conducied on the same plan. The 

 Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Crucll3 r to Ani- 

 mals has recently been empowered by the State L- gislature 

 to establish such a home. We understand that Mr. Nathan 

 Appleton is the promoter of the enterprise. He will receive 

 subscriptions at No. !)G Trernont street, Boston. 



"Hopeless Cases."— A note from the Adirondack?, refer- 

 ring to the many deaths of tourists in the Saranac region this 

 year, says that, in almost every instance these were hopeless 

 cases. The invalids had deferred seeking the Adirondack- 

 air until it was too late for them to receive any benefit from it. 

 This sad story is repeated in scores and scores of melancholy 

 instances. 



Tub Portable Boat and Canoe industry is assuming im- 

 portant proportions. Our advertising pages show that the 

 manufacturers are wide-awake to the increasing demands for 

 the craft. Great perfection of construction has been attained 

 and the advance of the small-boat trade is a notable one. It is 

 in a large measure also an instructive example of the wisdom 

 of advertising a good thing in the Forest and Stream. 



Indian Journalism is yet in its infancy. The specimens 

 which find their way to our table are edited and published 

 by the Indian pupils at Carlisle. The editorials and com- 

 munications have a healthy tone, despite their mixed En- 

 glish, and are a pleasing evideucc. that the Carlisle school is 

 doing a good work so far a s it goes. 



Forest Fip.es have devastated the counties of Huron and 

 Sanilac, in Michigan, nearly ten thousand acres of land hav- 

 ing been burned over. Three hundred lives have been lost 

 and fifteen thousand people are left homeless. The country, 

 with ready sympathy aud prompt liberality, is responding 

 with funds to aid the sufferers. 



Saratoga Hotel Pkopkietoks have been interviewed by 

 one of the game protectors of the State, and we understand 

 that one man settled up, a9 the law provides, to the tune of 



hfOOi). Expensive birds out of season. 



Mr. Seobsb Eigowset, of clay-pigeon fame, was on the 

 I Carl Schurtz in the war. Mr. Ligowsky is a Pole. 

 The name is one which seems destined to be become familiar 

 to sportsmen, as the clay-pigeon is being well received. 



A Word to Exchanges. -The Forkst aud Stream always 

 gives credit to its exchanges when copying from their col- 

 umns. Is it too much to ask that a similar courtesy be shown 

 to us by our friends ''. 



Eveijv Don Has His Dav; and every dog swindler his 

 day, too. The Moodus ra cal has come to the end of hi* 

 rope. 



Moiiiktta, Georgia, Sept. i, 1881 

 Editor /■'■ . (riwl S/rton : 



I was gW to see lliu republication of your article on "The 

 Eorestej H ha >i 1 1 Bathos." 



To I! i : i . :- one el' Iho earliest writers ou American Held 

 sport?, wa ire indebted, no donbt. 



Lain writings, particularly those on fishing, contained many 

 , however ; and his style was not the "alrBJglit-i'Xrward 

 English" of later time*. 



Is the much-worn phrase, " speck! °d beauties," to be traced to 

 Herbert '.' He was too well-read a ruan to be responsible for that 

 viler oue, so often seen of late', " Sir Isaac Walton." 



1 have a constant delight and sHrprisa at the variety and excel- 

 lence of your correspondence, Bad it seams to improve regularly 

 tdl Forest AHD Stkka.m now is B treasury of sporting literature, 

 natural history find scientific research. 



The capture of a thirty-five pound muacidongo hi Intermediate 

 lisle on a seven and a half ounce rod, rep-jited in your paper of 

 August 26 teem ton e ■< great angling (oat, nearly equal to that 

 of a, iarpmn weighing .140 pounds on U bass rod in the Indian) 

 o - r. Florida, by Mr. Jones, of I '1 . 1 1 .-..i.'l phia, ju lNSO. This 1 had 

 from an eye SvitneHa of the performance, or, knowing well the im- 

 mense strength and activity of the fish, I could hardly have 

 credited the story. Very truly yours, S. 0. Clakk. 



NOTES FKOM LAKE GEORGE. 



WHAT do you think of hunting a bear with a steam- 

 boat? And ycl this was the way one was hunted up 

 here a few days ago. It happened in this way. The little 

 beauty "Horicon" was near Anthony's Nose when the pilot 

 saw something which, on closer examination, proved to be a 

 bear swimming directly across the lake. As the boat neared 

 the object all doubt was dissipated. There, sure enough, 

 was a big black bear making "quick time." A couple of ad- 

 venturous fellows had already siarted out from the steamboat 

 iu a small boat armed with an axe only, intending to intercept 

 the animal. But warned by the shouts of the pilot not to 

 tackle bruin with such a slim weapon they turned back. The 

 boat was then headed directly for the brute with the inten- 

 tion of ruuning him down. As this became manifest to the 

 sagacious animal he turned and put back. The two men who 

 had returned to ttio steamboat again started out to attack 

 him despite the advice not to do so, aud were soon up with 

 bruin. Bear now adopted different measures. Facing his 

 enemies he swam directly for the boat, and tried to climb in. 

 But as no more passengers were wanted, the over-crowding 

 statute was rigidly enforced, aud the beast was saluted with 

 the axe, only a scalp wound being inflicted, however. It was 

 enough to infuriate him, and again he renewed his attack 

 with flashing eyes and foam-dropping mouth. As ho seized 

 the side of the boat with his powerful paws another blow of 

 the axe disabled one of them, and now unable to climb in with 

 one paw he turned bis efforts to capsize the b mt. I The hunt- 

 ers now became the huntecs. It was deemed prudent to 

 beat a retreat, and wilh aorae. diilieuh y the thoroughly fright- 

 ened pair got back to the steamboat. The bear pursued 

 them, and it was "nip aud tuck." Now, the bear gained, 

 then the rowers. At last when they climbed back info the 

 steamboat the bear tried to follow. But one of the boat 

 hands, prepared for this, had a rope arranged with a running 

 noose all ready, and with the first throw he cleverly slipped 

 it over the brute's head, aud quickly drew it tight. The 

 game was up, and bruin was drawn to the stern of the boat, 

 Jashing and tearing the water. Full speed was put on and he 

 was drowned. But to prevent any humbug on the bear's 

 part he was prudently kept iu the water until the boat reach- 

 ed the dock. If anybody wants to hunt bears in this fashion I 

 refer him to Mr. F. A. Johnson, of Gieu's Falls, who witness- 

 ed the hunt, and who can supply particulars as to outfit, etc. 



S ■>, you, see there is a spice of adventure left here notwith- 

 standing the conventionalities of society. A party of us as- 

 cended Black Mountain one afternoon, taking hammocks, 

 water and provi-ions for an all-night slay. After a four- 

 rude walk in the ascent of the 2,(500 feet, we gained the 

 summit, lighted a camp-fire, supped on eggs a la hard, sand- 

 wich a la mustard, hot coffee sans lait it mere, and imag- 

 ined ourselves at Deltnonieo's with real French names for 

 our bill of fare. Kigbt passed joyously, Mentor savagely 

 insisting on sleep for all hands in order to be fresh for the 

 sunrise and the descent in the morning. But, given a girl in 

 a hammock, sleeping out doors, in the night on a mountain 

 top, clouds scudding over the moon, stars glowing almost 

 in her face, so near did they seem, and you get but little 

 sleep. Q, E. D. 



Mentor burnt up fifteen good-sized trees keeping the fire 

 going, furnished hot coffee at half-hour intervals, and roused 

 us all — for sleep claimed its victims at last— in time for the 

 first gleams of sunrise. The glory of the scene, of course, 

 repaid all the labor. 



A few nights after two of the gentlemen essayed another 

 peak. But the results were not as satisfactory. The sum- 

 mit was reached at dusk, no time was left to gather wood 

 for a fire, and the shelter of a raviue was sought from the 

 furious winds. The resort proved to be the shelter also of 

 something else, for while the twain were making earnest ef- 

 forts to light a fire, crash ! crash I scudded by a wildcat, 

 followed by another, before one's wits could be well gathered. 

 The wriggling by of a large snake completed the discomfiture 

 and the rocky top of the mountain became the only safe spot. 

 Morning enabled the chilled pair to fiud a path down, and 

 mountain climbing suddenly fell below par. One of oar 

 best pianists tore his hands so badly in this venture that for 

 a while Orpheus politely declined" all invitations to play. 

 But he is all right again, aud the noble fellow is none the 

 worse for the trip. Thus adventure very agreeably breaks 

 into the monotony of "cake walks," "germans," "com- 

 merce parties," "hops" aud the inevitable rut of young so- 

 ciety men, and while these last are kept under by the rugged 

 nature yet left around the lake there is more variety to be 

 fouud here in the way of holiday amusement than in any 

 place in the State. Of course the fishing cannot amount to 

 much where there is a man for .every minnow, but never- 

 theless from fifteen to thirty pounds of black bass, pickerel, 

 yellow perch, ( tc, can be taken by a good angler in half a 

 day, and this is enough for anybody. 



September is the most churming month in the year for a 

 Visit to this place, and the summer boarders leave so rapidly 

 that landlords reduce their prices to seven dollars per week. 

 There is nothing to complain of iu regard to the price of 

 board at auy icason. Good fare aud comfortable rooms can 

 bo had at from eight to twelve dollars per week, and at these 

 rates all are well satisfied ; the guests are merry and the 

 landlords make a nice profit. But, where you are cbarged 

 more than this, you get less in proportion, and are unfairly 

 dealt with. And the. fare at the crack hotel is. worse than at 

 the cheapest place, and is charged at three times the price. 



The day is rapidly coming when the lake will be one vast 

 boarding house — more is Ihe pity ! Now, you can go to the 

 table with an ordinary flannel shirt, but as your snobby New 

 Yorker begins to flock here, with or without his snobbier 

 wife, the old set fade away. The men and women make a 

 brave stand at some of the houses for the old-fasliioned plain 

 style, but shoddy will have her full dress votaries, aud the 

 " lah-dah-dah" cla r -s generally triumphs. Thus, prices go 

 up and comfort goes down, the flannel shirt succumbs to the 

 "german," aud Mr. and Mrs. Plaingoer give way to Mr. 

 and Mrs. Flasher. There is one remedy ; get the Btsto ; 

 sell the islands which, at present, are occupied n.ainly by 

 squatters in litter disregard of the people's rights, and settle 

 upon tbem in your own way of living. Bun a railroad from 

 (den's Falls to the lake, supplanting the present stage 

 monopoly, which is a fantastic burlesque on comfort aud con- 

 venience and about one hundred years behind the age, and 

 the lake will hold its own, otherwise newer and less conven- 

 tional resorts will be sought year after year, and after the 

 birds of fashion gel tired of this place, Lake George will 

 have had its day. i you want any items as to fishing- 



grounds, etc., up here, let inn know and 1 will give you 

 ranges and " points," so that you might fish in the dark. 

 Lake George, Sept. 1. One Hondued Islands. 



ADIRONDACK NOTES. 



Editor Forest and 8treo.ru ; 



Allow me a word from the Adirondacks. I am pleased to 

 know that the Adirondack guides have received a good word 

 through your columns within the past three weeks, aud justly 

 thus. Ia connection with Parker as a guide, they may have 

 suffered somewhat from outside influences, but no further, 

 for all, who are conversant with and know the Adirondack 

 guides, cannot recognize him as a link. Parker was never 

 recognized as a guide, speaking in a professional manner, 

 and was only required under urgent circumstances. A mys- 

 tery enshrouds the entire trouble, and there allow it to rest. 



The Saranac guides suffer the opprobrium as Adirondack 

 guides in connec ion with the transaction, and in their be- 

 half one word. I have known them intimately for many, 

 very many years. Their character for honesty and faithful- 

 ness, in every respect, is without reproach. I would trust 

 them anywhere, and with any amount. And I add for refer- 

 ence, Dr. J. R. Romeyn, of Keeseville, N. Y., who has em- 

 ployed them for thirty years: Col. T. ,T. Hoyt, of New York, 

 for twenty years ; Mr. J. M. Winant, of Bergen Point, N. 

 J., for nine years, and many others; but the 'above gentle- 

 men, well known, I take the liberty to refer to. 



The Adirondacks for the past season have been over- 

 crowded. No such rush was anticipated, or preparation 

 would have been made. Another year and every house will 

 be prepared to meet every emergency aud every demand 

 made for satisfaction, in every respect. 



Ln regard to the great number of deaths in the Saranac 

 region, 1 would add that in nearly every case they were 

 hopeless ones, and it was a last resort— and it proved" thus ; 

 aud, as it was anticipated in every case before they left home, 

 therefore no blame can be attached to Doctors Trudo, Ro- 

 meyn. Loomis aud o'.hers to whom advice was applied for 



S. S. N. 



SEYMOUR'S ISLAND. 



I SAW iu your columns Inquiries as to the best' way to 

 reach the fishing and hunting in this part of the world. 

 From Saratoga go to North Creek, thence to Blue Mt. Lake, 

 where you will put up at John Holland's. A more genial, 

 kind and accommodating landlord is not known iu the Adi- 

 rondack Mountains. Mr. Frost, his head clerk, is composed 

 of kindness, and that in no small quantity, for he weighs 250 

 avoirdupois, and many a tourist, tired ami hungry after a ride 

 of thirty miles over a rough road from North Creek, has i> o 

 comforted by his cheerful smile and hearty welcome, and af- 

 aer such a supper as is to be found there and the refreshing 

 sleep one enjoys in the mountains he will be prepared to en- 

 joy a ride on the lake, and comment on its surroundings. 



About half a mile from Holland's is Thatcher's Island oc- 

 cupied by Mr. Boyd and family. A little further down and 

 to ihe right is Col. Seymour's Island, occupied Ibis season by 

 Mr. Hawk (proprietor of the Windsor Hotel, New York, ) and 

 his family, and there let us stop and look around us. The 

 island is one of nature's choicest productions, with its bold 

 front to the south aud sloping gradually down to the water's 

 edge on the north. It is heavily limbered with balsam, 

 spruce, hemlock, pine and cedar, also while maple, birch and 

 mountain ash in abundance, with foliage so dense you are 

 protected from the rays of the sun at mid-day. Down the 

 centre of this island is arowof tents fitted with every convet . 

 ience for comfort and health, even to windows of rope cordage 

 opposite every sleeping apartment, through which steal the 

 zephrys of morning, that freighted wilh the perfume of the 

 Nymphia odorata, mingled with the odor of the balsam, and 

 aided by the ozone of the mountains, heightens the glow of 

 health on the checks of the unconscious sleepers At the 

 landing is a natural flower garden, where the cardinal flower 

 and the wild rose grow in profusion on the shore, while the 

 arrowhead grows at the margin of the water, and the white 

 water lily pillows its snowy head on the heaving waters of 

 the lake, whence they are "daintily plucked by the ladies of 

 the island and transferred to vases, and bloom for days in all 

 their loveliness owing to the gentleness with which they were 

 handled. 



But those tents are not closed as early as the lily, neither do 

 the inmates rise with the lark, but are sure to be singing with 

 the nightingale in the evening. An amusing event occurred 

 on the last evening in July, when all were gathered around 

 the camp and soug was at its best. Miss Davis was just fin- 

 ishing one of her choicest selection, with bell-like clearness, 

 or as when a tiny silver cord is touched by the hand of some 

 unseen fairy, the sweel melody dying away into far-off 

 dieam-land. The spell was broken by noise in the lake and, 

 looking through the trees, we saw three boats from the new 

 Prospect House. This house is filled with guests, some of 

 whom were out with tlicir guid.es fur an evening boat ride 

 aud were attracted to Seymour's Island by the full, rich 

 strains of music floating from it on the evening air. When 

 thc-y neared the island aud saw so many tents and heard so 

 mauy voices they concluded they had come upon an island 

 camp-meeting. One old gentleman, who sat with solemn 

 face and uncovered head, not knowing whether the music 

 was human or divine, was soon undeceived by VV'm. Pren 

 tis, who never cauld keep still for any length "of time, strik- 

 ing in and singing, in his clear, full voice, •' I love my love, 

 I care not what the world may say." The transformation 

 was sudden in the old man's countenance, which quickly 

 changed from devotion to disappointment, and the last we 

 saw or heard of that party they were turning the point of 

 Thatcher's Island and singing at the top of their voices— 



The choir broke up for the night, but not before they had 

 planned to ascend old Blue Mountain in the morning. 



The morning was odd and rainy, but the ladies are- ladies 

 of decision and the gentlemen could not say no, so takij g ;o 

 early breakfast, they started at half-past six iu the morning, 

 prepared for the ascent, having for guides .Lames McClelland, 

 Jr., and Bert, Proctor. 



No accident occurred and all " went merry as a marriage 

 bell," but, as they neared the top of the mountain, they were 

 met by parties who were on their way back to !! .Hand's, 

 perfectly disgusted with Blue Mountain, as all they could 

 see was clouds and rain. A gentleman of the parly was not 

 long in telling his Story, as the rain was dripping from his 



