212 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[October 13, 1881. 



•Just hero the rond was too much mixed with water, nnd I 

 •perched by the side of the Jehu, nnd so we weut into this dense 

 forest, beautiful in its solitude. Now I rode and Simon went 

 ahead with dot; and gun, and here and there was an unlucky 

 yellow-hammer, owl or hawk. Then for a time I would lead 

 the van, when all too soon amid this strange delight we were 

 in sight of the village of Six Cabins, one, I he ri Massachu- 

 setts," new this year. We were heartily greeted by about 

 ten old comrades, and there were some fifteen guests 

 strangers to us, but not strangers long. Conventionalities clo 

 not dwell In such a house. 



I tried my flies that evening with only moderate success. 

 The 24th was cloudy nnd the scarlet ibis was a favorite, so 

 were other light colored phantoms— and we took all tlie 

 enticing and enticed swimmers we desired. But as the 

 Weather became fair and hot our delusions would not lure 

 the most solid denizen to the surface— it was but the " aver- 

 age " ones that left the cooler retreats to take our bright 

 lures and gratify our greed. But when we dropped in the 

 cool depths a more substantial morsel, even the wary and 

 more weighty aristocrats yielded to an unwilling rise. For an 

 hour each morning and evening gentlemen and ladies enjoyed 

 the sport, and helped to please our palates at the table— a 

 .good table of agreeable and nourishing food, with much 

 variety, for a forest table— which gave satisfaction to men, 

 women and children; yes, hdies and children graced and 

 gladdened the cabins this year at Tim Pond. During the 

 day they engaged in games, reading, writing, needlework, 

 target shooting, hunting, visiting cascades, places of beauty 

 and places of wonder and admiration, till the week was gone 

 trad Saturday night came. The Sabbath dawned in pro- 

 found stillness, a stillness we never know in our cities or 

 villages. Whit grandeur in the hush of the depths of the 

 woods ! What solemnity of a Sabbath day in the solitude 

 of" unmeasured forest?! 



With Monday, the 29th of August, came a brisk stir in our 

 little community, a colony were to embark for a new terri- 

 tory and new scenes. The promised realm is called "The 

 Seven Ponds." A party had returned from them the 26lh, 

 and had given us glowing accounts of game, and shown us 

 specimens of flue fish — and we were thrilled with the 

 prospect of great sport. Soon after seven o'clock pro- 

 visions, tackle, guns, dogs, horses, boats, bnckboards 

 and men were prepared to start. Simon and 1 

 stepped into our boat and pushed oft', crossing Tim Pond to 

 the point where the new road leaves this lakelet for the 

 Seven Ponds. The new road is in good condition for walk- 

 ing — but though Smith has expended much labor and uioney 

 on it, and still had men at work, it was not in as good con- 

 dition as the road from the Farm House to Tim Pond. The 

 Buck- wagons were in our rear, aud we were at liberty to fall 

 back at any time, and Tide if we chose to do so. But. we so 

 enjoyed the dense forest and ever-changing scenery that we 

 slowly trudged on, resting now and then at the camps by the 

 road. At the half-way camp, on the banks of a branch of 

 Alder Stream, we partook of a light lunch. In seven hours 

 we had put the ten miles behind us, and stood before the 

 camp on the shore of L. Pond — ODe of the so-called Seven 

 Ponds, Though the cook had not expected us so early, in 

 an incredibly short time we were ravenousty satiating an 

 appetite aroused by a long walk, the solvent qualities of fre- 

 quent light draughts from the purest mountain springs ever 

 distilled in Nature's labratory, and an atmosphere full of 

 ozone, and rendered aromatic by the fir tree, the cedar, 

 sprue », hemlock and pine. 



The cabins here are but temporary, and not so good as the 

 comfortable, neat aud convenient ones we left iu the morn- 

 ing. Visitors have crowded upon Smith before he has bad 

 time to fully prepare for them, and we were obi iged to rough i t 

 a little and pack rather thickly iu the three camps. Smith 

 has many laborers, and is preparing to put up a number of 

 first-class cabins, not only for sportsmen but invalid seekers 

 for healih and recreation, on an eminence which commands 

 a view such as artists seek. This high ground is now cov- 

 ered with sightly aud healthful •cos. On one hand at the 

 base, from a mountain side, comes tumbling and laughing a 

 clear, cool brook. Standing with the face about to the 

 north, directly in front is seen the large sheet of water called 

 Big Island Pond, the large green island adds beauty to its 

 appearance. On the right, with towering peaks, is Snow 

 Mountain ; on the left are hills, or smaller mountaius ; away 

 iu the north or northwest is a grand range, ca'lcd by the 

 guides " Line Mountaius," said to be near or on the Canada 

 " line." It is a site of rare beauty to feast the gaze of poet, 

 painter, sportsman, or the worn business man seeking rest. 

 Next year 1 hope the new road and cabins will be completed 

 according to plaus made My comrades and I have spoken 

 for "roi iins." 



But it will take too much space and time to give even an 

 abstract from my journal. So if your readers ask if we 

 found trout, I answer yes, legions. Were they large? Yes, 

 larger than in Tim Pond, but not so large as some found in 

 the large lakes. One morning our cook told us that he 

 should need twelve or fifteen pounds for the table that day. 

 Simon and I went just off an inlet of a cold stream, within 

 six rods of the lauding, and in about an hour returned to 

 camp with thirty-one trout, weighing sixteen pounds. This 

 ia a sample for size and quantity at "L." Pond. We could 

 have caught an equal string by goiug a half mile or a mile 

 distant, at some inlet or feeding ground ; or we could have 

 gouo to Big Island Pond, seventy-live rods to the north, 

 and taken larger trout but less in number. 



"Is there good fly-fishing every day?" No. In August, 

 when the day is bright and the surface is smooth aud warm, 

 all sportsmen know large trout will not " rise," asseverations 

 of proprietors to the contrary notwithstanding. Tim Pond 

 is the most uniform in this regard of any I have found. 1 

 thiuk it may be because it is fed only by small, cold moun- 

 tain streams, aud the surface does not often become warm. 

 Tnere are some ponds to the east of the region of which I 

 am speaking fed, as I am told, by large and more sluggish 

 streams thai furnish good fishing in spriug and autumn, out 

 very poor fishing in the warm seasons. 



Is there game here ? After September 1st all the grouse 

 were brought iu ihui could be eaten. There were " swarms " 

 of theml As my companion said, it was like going out into 

 his farmyard and shooting his chickens, so tame aud plenty 

 were they. I never saw them so numerous: partridge 

 broiled and partridge stewed were.no drug with us. But no 

 one must shoot more than (he table required. As to large 

 game, if being aroused from my morning nap two mornings 

 by the screams of bears, and two other mornings by some 

 animal's howl, that none of us recognized : and if paths 

 hard trodden by deer and caribou, on their way to and from 

 spring, are "indications," then there must he a large yield 

 this year ! Personally I have little knowledge or experience 



in this line. The law was on at the time of which I speatt, 

 but I was told by one of the knowing ones willing to give 

 "points," that a greenback bullet would "bring down '' a 

 guide and a deer most any night, aud from a suspicious 

 looking lump on the shoulder of a guide passing my camp 

 one rainy night, I fear his point was too well "backed." 

 Yes, large game is abundant in this region, and large quan- 

 tities are taken by hunters in the season. 



Your issue of August 1 8th was handed to me while at the 

 Ponds, aud I noticed a sarcastic remark by your corres- 

 pondent " B.," upon some words of mine in your number of 

 August 11th. I trust my reply will be respectful and an 

 aid to those recreation-seekeis who, like myself, desire infor- 

 mation. As "B." says it was a very "short article," and 

 has in general terms to cover what might be amplified to fill 

 a book, and yet, if one had read my previous articles, 1 

 think the words would not mislead. I 'write for the love of 

 it and the rest-seeking public, not for proprietors. I write 

 of resorts I know about, having no reference to other places 

 that may be. different, as good or better. I did not mean to 

 be understood that Indians had not fished in these pouds 

 centuries ago ; that lumbermen and hunters have never 

 gratified a sharp appt tite by taking trout from the ice-locked 

 waters! Nor do 1 deny that a few sturdy, euthusiaslic 

 sportsmen, like our friend T. S. Steele, bad, with brawny 

 guides, penetrated, through much endurance, to some few of 

 these ponds, to spend a day or two at a time. But how 

 much did this deplete the number of trout? This is a 

 wonderful group of lakes or ponds, and received its name 

 when not as well known as now^. Then but seven were 

 known, guides aud huuters and trappers now say eleven, 

 and if small ones are counted, eveu more belong to the 

 group. 



Mr. Douglas, who had his headquarters at Rangeley for 

 some years, and has been guide, hunter and trapper for 

 twenty-eight years in this region, gave me material for a 

 map of these waters that is of much value. It has been 

 inspected by other guides and hunters and "pronounced sub- 

 stantially correct. So far as I visited the region this topo- 

 graphy is virtually right. Coming as I did to L pond first, 

 I will make it a starting point. About sixty or seventy 

 rods north is Big Island Pond; about sixty rods to the east 

 of last named is a small pond called Rock Pond : two miles 

 west of Big Island Pond is Little Island Pond ; seventy- 

 five rods south of this is Beaver Poud ; sixty-five rods south 

 of this is Long Pond. Again, one mile north of Big Island 

 Pond is Northwest Pond number one ; and about sixty rods 

 west of this, Boundary Pond; one hundred rodsfromNorth- 

 west Pond number one is number two ; and so I could go on 

 and enumerate Bixteen ponds that are properly in this one 

 cluster, and only six miles say, northeast of this group, 

 is the first in the group of Chauey Ponds. Now if it 

 is a fact, as I have evidence from several witnesses, that 

 these ponds have said location, but a fraction of them have 

 wet the lines of an occasional sportsman, may I not be par- 

 doned for saying " these ponds are stocked with trout which 

 have enjoyed their homes unmolested since the history of 

 trout began, till now Kennedy Smith has opened a buck- 

 board pathway for sportsmen to the waters where they 

 dwell ?" All agree that all of these ponds arc as full of trout 

 as in primitive years, and all agree that the first buckboard 

 pathway to their shores was built by Kennedy Smith last 

 summer. So far as I know, all interested in the opening of 

 such a medium of sport and health are grateful for the road. 

 I have heard many on the ground and others, in Boston and 

 New York, express their gratitude. 



Some well know that there is a long, hard trail from 

 Rangeley to this remarkable group of ponds, where a stroDg 

 guide can take but a small pack of supplies, tackle, blankets, 

 etc. The stay has been short, with but few comforts. Now 

 the new road is good for walking, and one cau ride ou a 

 rough road a part or all th 3 distance. Even a Boston lady 

 has had the courage to make the attempt this season ; and 

 one or two buckboard wagons can be sent in with supplies 

 euch day, when the road and the cabins are complete, next 

 yen i. 



The " forest cure" is uow prescribed by our best physi- 

 cians ; thousands are seeking such resorts, and do not wish 

 to pass through fatigue, hardships aud peril to gain them. 

 It was a pleasant sight at Tim Pond to see a husband and 

 wdfc in a boat, both gracefully " ousting the fly!" When we 

 take our wives with us ou these excursions correct habits 

 will be practiced aud greater pleasure, enjoyed. We returned 

 to Smith's Farm House, as we went in with a buckboard 

 team as a tender — we alternately rode and walked, shooting 

 many grouse on the way, leaving some at the cabins aud 

 some at the house. September 6 Simon and I bade good-bye 

 to Smith and his family, feeling we owed them a large debt 

 of gratitude for the great pleasure we had enjoyed and 

 health received. They did all for our cornlort and happiness 

 willing minds and hearts could invent. We took the route 

 via the new roads, through Jerusalem and Kingfield. This 

 new road is having a large sum of money expended on it, 

 and is greatly improved. The hotel in KiugQtld was burned 

 last May, causing a great loss to the public and the village. 

 We kept on to AVest New Portland, and passed the night' at 

 a good country hotel, called the Blaisdell House. 



Aud now your readers have learned the way to the Seven 

 Ponds via Tim Poud. I trust you understand the charms 

 that have drawn me thence four limes and Simon five times. 

 We, and the large number 4 from different, cities and States 

 that were around the camp fires the chill evenings, said we 

 would meet here again and renew those friendships next year. 

 Slowly and carefully I put in order and packed away my 

 gun that had done so good service. As carefully did I un- 

 joinlniy rod, that had been the admiration of so many and 

 had given me such true pleasure — gentlv 1 folded it in its 

 case J. W. T. 



New Britain, Conn , Oct. 3, 1881. 



»-*»,- — . 



A Ten-Podnd Ma.ske.i.lonoe.— We received from Mr. G. 

 M. Skinner, of Clayton, Jefferson county, N. Y., whose ad- 

 vertisement will be found in another place, a fine maskel- 

 longe of ton pounds weight, packed in ice. He writes as 

 follows: "Thte' afternoon I scud you a ten-pound mokcl- 

 longe, caught by myself on a spoon hook yesterday after- 

 noon. Please accept it with my compliments. Day before 

 yesterday I caught one of twenty pounds weight, which I 

 sent to Boston, and the oarsman who was with me, John 

 Pureed, ou both days caught one of eighteen pounds, the 

 day previous, Saturday, fishing with a Mr. Tittle, of New 

 York city, quite a good score for one boat ; one 'Maskey' 

 a day for three days in succession, and, on one day, thirteen 

 pickerel as well. I hope to be in the city the first of next 

 I week, and trust 1 shall have the pleasure of meeting you in 

 | the office. While regretting this fish is not larger, I can 



assure you that we consider such sized ones as choice tabW- 

 fish." 



A B( m IG I N AL FLY-FISHING. 



San Fran oisco, Cal., Oct. 1..B 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



Yours of the 19th nil., duly received, I have just beflfc 

 writing for the Califvrnian, to be published probably next 

 month, a description or the various ingenious methods 

 adopted by the California Indians before their contact with, 

 white men, for the capture of fish and game, and I answer 

 your question by making the following extract from it : 1 



" The Indians of Kern River made use of an artificial fly 

 for the capture of trout, and probably used it for ages befool 

 Europeans invented, it for the same purpose. The hook of 

 the "sproat" form, but without a barb, was made from ther 

 shin bone of a deer. On the legs of the California deer, OaiiT 

 acus eolumbianus, corresponding to the chestnuts or warts 

 on a horse's legs, are also warts but covered with stiff lontf" 

 hairs of a darker color than those on the other parts of th?? 

 animal. These warls and the hairs growing on them haves? 

 strong and peculiar scent of the deer, which is not easily rete 

 moved or washed away. A small bundle of these hairs is 

 neatly fastened at one end around the shaft of the hook, tligc 

 loose" ends pointing to the eye of the hook. With a neatly'^ 

 made line of Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) andijj 

 willow rod and the fly hook, he combined sport and businesaj 

 The fly was thrown on the water and kept as near the sum 

 face as possible by continuous short jerka. Every motion c 

 the hook in the water caused the loose ends of the hairs fas 

 ened to it to open and shut. At a short distance it WOi 

 resemble the motions of a caterpillar in the water, that b 

 dropped from an alder and was struggling to reach the slv 

 The Indians say that the trout can smell and are attracted 

 the scent of the deer hairs. This kind of fly is still used, l 

 the hook is now made of telegraph or other iron wire." 



I send you one of the warts with the black hairs upon i 

 I have no doubt it will retain its peculiar deer scent 

 years. B. B. ReddiM 



CANOEING IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. 



FROM TOH ITEAD OF 0ROKED LAKE TO INDIAN RIVER. 



IT has been but one short week since I returned fromj 

 seven weeks' trip in Northern Michigan, and if ever 1 

 did have a severe case of Northern Michigan heretofore, I 

 now have an utterly hopeless relapse. 



My friend Frazer, who writes to you asking " if a fishtaffl 

 man can be a Christiau," was tempted to do so by the fishy™ 

 stories which I told him of some bass fishing in Black Lakfljj 

 all of which I will relate at its proper place, and all of whidW 

 1, as a matter of course, am willing to affirm. I can only 

 return the compliment to him by asking about what the 

 chances of a canoeist would be, who, on his maiden cruiadB 

 "paddles forty miles up a rapid current and against a hea# 

 Wind in one day." 



Much of my cruise this year was over water traversed by 

 me many times before, but little of it, however, in a candM 

 nnd after my craft was safely launched at the head uf 

 Crooked Lake and duly filled fore and aft with what to mqF 

 were necessities, I hoist myself in and feel like a frisky young| 

 kitten. At any rate, I doubt not but that I acted as such, 

 while my companions, Henry C. Lonnis and E. R.Woodro'M 

 from Columbus, and our old hero from Cheboygan, Michij 

 Capt. David Smith, seem as pert as schoolboys. We start 

 out with the understanding that we will stop at any point on 

 our route that we may desire and as long as we wish, and let 

 the distance traversed, or to traverse, be a secondary conaiqH 

 eration. Paddling down Crooked Lake for a couple of miles;. 

 1 call a halt at one of the grandest, coldest springs Northern^ 

 Michigan boasts, and while spending a short time here II 

 slight breeze'springs up, taking advantage of which we hoist 

 sail and start for Pickerel Lake, about a mile and a half din 

 tant, directly across Crooked Lake, and then through a nafl 

 row little stream, where the beautifully clear water and the 

 handsome large white pond-lilies, there in profusion 

 of which we each pluck a good, large-sized bund™ 

 to ornament the forepart of our cockpit, togethiB 

 with the pure bracing air, compel us to slide down 

 in our canoes and hang our shoulders and elbows over the 

 coaming and give expression to a lazy and half-emphatiW 

 but at the same time appreciative, exclamation of de- 

 light. Finally, paddling on through this delightful 

 little outlet, we enter the foot of Crooked Lake and with sail 

 set and a good strong wind to push us, we in a short time 

 run the couple of miles we have to make, and pull up at ou» 

 old camping ground, where we find springB enough and of 

 different characters to suit the most fastidious. I gave this 

 place, special mention iu a letter of mine to Forest asIL 

 Stukam of May 15, 1879. We make camp, get up our tefll 

 .— some of my brother canoeists prefer their small canoe tents, 

 I do not, but hi ve one of good comfortable size for foui 

 persons and all tl,..ir traps — and then we live sociably uiJE 

 good, comfortably sized room, and while Capt. (David Smitffl 

 volunteers to get us something warm, Petie (ti. C. Lounis) 

 hies himself out for ye gentle bass, in which he is soon fol- 

 lowed by your humble servant, while Woodrow girds up his 

 loins, and "goos out to look for a deer," all returning empffl 

 handed, but ready for something to eat, very prompt at I 

 summons from Capt. Night is now upon us, and we ail 

 stretch ourselves out upon our blankets with a glowing litJ 

 in front of our tent which soon sends us off to dreaming. ■ 



Up bright and early we all (with the exception of WooS 

 row, who "goes out to loolt for a deer") adjust our rods, aoi i 

 start for fish for breakfast, there being not a fresh bit of,, 

 meat in the house. We fish on the right side and on the left 

 side with the greatest of care and attention. Try them witlp 

 frogs, minnows, worms and flies and all to no purpose, until | 

 finally Petie succeeds in inveigling one poor fellow of ahoiill 

 two pounds, when all beat a hasty retreat for broakf ast, aftW 

 which camp is broken and a return Is made to Crooked Lak*< 

 crossing which to the head of Crooked River, we enter upon, 

 oue of the handsomest streams, I doubt not, iu America for 

 a canoeist. The only drawback is that length is onffl 

 about seven miles. The banks are lined to the water's edge 

 with trees or high water reeds, dotted here and there witt 

 the handsomest cardinal flowers; lovely and fragrant large; 

 white water lilies, and the wa'er so clear that we cau see the 

 tish of many varieties darting hither and thither aroused by 

 the commotion c tused by our little fleet. Many of them \1tP 

 catch as we lazily float and easily paddle along. Paddling (Bt 

 through this properly named Crooked stre.im we amuse ourt, 

 setvts by occasionally shooting a duck or catching fish, liunL 

 we reluctantly find ourselves at the mouth of the river attft' 



