232 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Ootober 20, 1881: 



scoring, and would lmve eventually lie iten the Colonel had be 

 not commenced to counl two for one. 



A' lasl even tne representative of the U. S. Government 

 was exhausted and cried " quit." The lines were then pulled 

 in. and 'he little sloop headed homeward under a press of all 

 canvas and good southerly wind, which made the "water foam 

 and boil as she rushed through it at ahout nine knots. Doug- 

 las claimed that he beat, all the rest— but with the aid of the 

 lightship man— the matter remained in doubt, still there was 

 good humor all around, us we caught unity-seven mackerel 

 between sunrise and noon. Capt. York was the life of the 

 party. Hi ie table in a roar. lie would have 



discounted Billy jBmer80D bud lie gone on the Stage and. he 

 regretted himself thai Lhe Oapft May Camp Meeting had lost 

 such a "stalwart" exhorter when he first went down into 

 lhe sea in Ships. York's jokes were new, and las wit not 

 destitute of Attic salt, nor was bis cooking, for Dever did 

 bn akfas) bacon taste so sweet as that cooked by " Yorky." 

 e songs was : 



One of his fi 

 ■• \ i -I'. tlvi 

 In spite ol 

 •i jreal 



Well, all ibi 

 lwg pudding h 

 ttsthe "loom! 

 glorious. Do* 

 evening star. fie said he felt like 



styll=n,i 



..-ii i 



Waller Scott said, " a 

 reached Cape May Point 

 :h lire " made the sky 

 ie and thought it was an 

 big suutbwor. Out of 

 ten boats Capt. Foster's Vandtilia led the fleet. J. S. M. 



CANOEING IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. 



It. — F110.M I8ETAN BIVJEB TO CHEBOYGAN. 



A WOKp. as to our fleet.. Captain manages a good-sized 

 but light clinker boat, sixteen feet, long by forty inches 

 beam, painted blue ; and on him we impose our camp-chest, 

 tent, and in fact everything else, we can shed either by fair 

 means or foul : and what Petto and 1 fail to gel in Captain's 

 carryall, we try to work off on Woodrow, who has a flat 

 bottom eauoe, of a duckingpattern, fifteen feet long by about 

 thirty-five inches beam, painted .green; while Petie and I 

 each pr< pel ourselves in a fourteen foot thirty-two inch beam 

 lap sneak canoe, varnished, and a cross between a Shadow 

 and a Pice Laker, very staunch and seaworthy, and easy 

 under paddle, and built to shoot and flsli from as well, con- 

 sequently bus very flit Hues, beam extending well to fore 

 and aft. Our fleet does not, perhaps, move in as systematic 

 order as a well-conducted caime club, but when it comes to 

 fun, downright solid fun, we arc right, on deck. 



In mv last letler we were at Bmiili's Hotel, at the head of 

 Indian River, where we enjoyed ourselves a couple of days 

 shooting and fishing. Our companion, who "-■went out to 

 look for a deer," was just as successful as heretofore, but we 

 commence to think he has considerable sand and, with the 

 stiekivitiuess that he lias thus far shown, we have faith that 

 be will let come out on the top of the heap, and reap his 

 hearl's desire. 



The early morning finds us up and hustling around, as 

 u-ual imposing On Captain, and we all finally get under way 

 in good order. We now have before us Indian River, a 

 stream about sevcu miles long, connecting Burt and Mullett 

 lakes, and although not so crooked nor narrow as Crooked 

 River, slid a beautiful stream, and the acres and acres of 

 wild rice (thanks to the Superintendent of the G. R. & I. 

 i:y. bring the ducks and rail In season in large numbers. 



We slowly paddle along, fishing and shooting as we go, 

 until Mullet Lake looms up, and as a Miff breeze is blowing 

 ad are Off for a run of twelve miles across the 

 take to ,! --' load of Cheboygan River, The lake, covered 

 with white caps, looks a little saucy, but. we all boldly start 

 off, finally bringing around in the lecof a pointof land, where 

 Captain and i wait for our lagging brothers who soon come 

 up in gopd Style, When we cruise along together as near as 

 couple of miles, while the white-capped waves 

 rj.au' kme~ right merrily Bringing up in 



a little c ive we run ashore for dinner. What an appetite ! 

 How good this grand air and the cxerci-e make one feel. 

 Again we take to the water. Our wind has not abated in 

 the least, anil we are again bobbing around, running along 

 together for several miles, when we again swing around in 

 In shelter of a very handsome point of land, called Dodge's 

 Point, and take temporary possession of Mr. Dodge's spring. 

 Petie and I have a liking for springs, we never let one go by 

 default, if it lies anywhere near tt«, and we know it :'have 

 even been known to walk a mile through the woods to drink 

 from a new spring. We voted Mr. Dodge's spring a grand 

 BuCt ' 3 EU i 1 i"ii ol .Lain. We now have just one mile to 

 the Ik ad of Chi boygan River, and the wind blowing like 

 split. We all get under the string m good order, and, withr 

 out -waiting for instructions to gji, all el lands'kite. Was 

 it dusty ? Well, 1 should think SO; it blew in our ia.ee , all 

 Over our clothes, and cleaned the decking a.s nicelv as could 

 bo. 'Twas "Trim 'er up and let 'er go," which sredid. We 

 brought up in the head of Cheboygan River, all in gcod 

 oiiler— barin' a slight, moisture — and as enthusiastic as it 

 would be possible fOJ.* COUOeiSlS to be after an exciting anil 

 pleasant run. At this point my canoe tried to tsUmb over a 

 boom lo,' side ways, but I finally gol her sail over, and her 

 nation changed I had heretofore believed my canoe to be 

 ■ :,,!. . ii. 1 thought broke to lead, and had no bad 

 . "oil- difference of opinion between what the 

 o do and what J expec ed of her, lead me lo 

 the conelu-ion that canoes, like many honest people, cannot 

 i ; listed entirely alone at all timisto iheirown inclinations. 



We foi m a fine of wmr, and paddle and sail along down 

 BhBBOygan River, the widest and deepest of the rivers ou 

 this inland route, and a very beautiful stream for naviga- 

 tion. It is eight miles long, the greater part of the distance 

 very deep, ami is the outlet to this inland chain of lakes and 

 rivers emptying into the Straits of Mackinac. The lutnlier- 

 iug iiitere ts here are very considerable, thousands and 

 thousands of feet, of logs lying in booms along t lie banks, in 

 back water bays, or being towed by one of the numerous 

 tugs there for that purpose, or as is quite frequently the case 

 cut loose at the head of the river and allowed to float with 

 the current to their destination, wherever it may be on the 

 river, when they arc again safely brought to a standstill by 

 a line of boom logs extended across the river. A jam of 

 this kind we barely eseap <i. filially bringing up at Cheboy- 

 gan at. supper lime, all in good condition, where wc make a 

 raid On. Mr. Spencer, of the Fountain City House, who takes 

 us in and care? for us in the best possible manner. If ever 

 you go to Cheboygan do not, feck the Spencer House, but 

 ascertain where the house kept by Mr. Spencer is, and if you 

 don't get an A No, 1 bed " good, icon and well served table, 



and a piece of beefsteak of the best (broiled over charcoal ), 

 that will just touch the right spot, 1 will be greatly surprised, 

 and your experience will be decidedly opposite to what mine 

 has been. Cheboygan is a. thriving place of three thousand 

 inhabitants, wide awake, and very nicely situated at the 

 mouth of Cheboygan River, on the Straits of Mackinac, 

 with Bois Blanc Island extending along for a number of 

 miles directly opposite, five miles distant across the straits; 

 atid'to the left farther up the straits, a distance of eighteen 

 miles, Mackinac Island can plainly be si en, and the old 

 while fort, and hou6e9 are quite prominent on a clear day. 



We expect to stop here at Cheboygan for a couple of days, 

 perhaps Woodrow "will. go out to look for a deer;" but the 

 way time will generally be put. in would be of little interest — 

 the same old story. I draw the veil, and iu my next look 

 out for a, black bass trip to Black Lake. 



Fkank N. Break. 



WHITEFISII TARE THE HOOK. 



TKOUT BURROW AT THE UO1T0MS. 



OTTAWA, 111., Oct. 11. 



Editor Foir.it and Stream: 



Your favor of the 8th inst. in reference to my article from 

 Escauaba, published in the previous number of FOREST, and 

 Stream, is just received. I observe in this letter as well as 

 in the editorial note at the foot of the article that the editor 

 understood me to state that the whitefisli took the fly. This 

 is an important mistake. If you willexamine the article again 

 you will see that 1 staled that the whitefisli took the book 

 baited with a minnow when resting on the bottom. 



I take the liberty of inclosing a letter from Capt. A. P. 

 Young, a geutleman of much intelligence and observation, in 

 confirmation of the fact that the whitefisli take the hook 

 halted with a minnow when lyiug ou the bottom. Capt. 

 Youug also corrects my mistake as to the size of Trout Lake. 

 As I had never visited the lake I derived my information 

 from others, hence my mistake. 



Capt. Young states a fact as to the habits of the trout in 

 this lake, which 1 have repeatedly heard from others, and 

 that is that the trout there when alarmed secrete themselves 

 or burrow in the light sediment at the bottom of the lake. 

 This habit was so new to me that I did not venture to repeat 

 it lest your readers might refuse to believe the other fish 

 story. Now, when it comes with this additional indorse- 

 ment I will not longer withhold my credence. It maybe 

 that, it is only my ignorance on the subject that made me 

 skeptical, and hence I would like to inquire if there is any 

 record showing that the brook trout are in rl e habit of secre- 

 ting themselves iu the mud or sedementary deposit. 



J. D. Caton. 



Esoaxaba, Mich., Oct. 9. 

 Hon. J. D. Caton : 



I see iu Forest and Stckam of Sept. 29 an article from 

 you about, E-canaba, etc. 1 would say i hut you have got 

 Trout Lake a good deal too large, ll is only r one and one- 

 hall miles long by, not to exceed, sixty rods wide. I have 

 seen the trout hide, as described by you, only they do not go 

 into the white substance. The places where they congregate 

 are in the deeper water of the lake. These pools are sur- 

 rouuded by banks of soft sediment, and when the trout become 

 alarmed they dart into it at once, on the same level. You 

 can plainly see ine track of each trout by the air bubbles 

 arising through the sediment, This sediment is softer and 

 not so white than the more solid part, and it may become 

 the same in time. There is not anything like sand about it. 

 It feels like paste when you rub it iu your bond. 



In October, 1869, 1 took an eight-pound whitefisli near the 

 one dock. I had been fishing Tor bass and had got out of 

 minnOWS, except two small ones, which 1 put on the hook, 

 and laid down the rod while I fished with another one for 

 pickerel with a spoon honk. Soon after f saw the lip of the 

 rod going down and took it up and soon had a fine fat white- 

 fish in the boat. Since then I have known the crew of the 

 barge Frdd Kclley 10 take many of them at the end of Dock 

 Nbi 1, when all was quiet, f don't think the fish arc about 

 the docks looking for food. I think thcy r arc on their way lo 

 their spawning beds up the bay, and that they follow the 

 banks looking along for gravel. 



Young Hart can get ail the small minnows be wants now. 

 I see the water is full of them -or was on the oth— about the 

 docks. I hope the whitefisli arc not coming iu yet. If they 

 are, look out for winter rather early. 

 tii, of Green Bay, on 



Mr. Pi 



to Trout Lake- with Jud 

 there the Judge took a tr 



pounds aflc, he was, Ire.-, 



I regret very much that. 



you went home. Now 



the banks, say four, five a 



told mc that he went 

 e Lord, of St. Louis, and while 

 ulwiih a fly that weighed nine 

 1 and brought out. 

 you did not get up here before 

 s the lime for large black bass on 

 d sometimes six pounds each. 

 A. P. Yotj.no. 



[We can assure Judge Caton that he is not alone in his ig- 

 norance of this unbit of trout hiding in the bottom, after the 

 manner of the Hal fishes and the spotted codling of salt water. 

 Wu never knew of it, before, and can only account for it by 

 supposing that there are no weeds, loots or other hiding 

 places to secrete in. We regard his communication, as well 

 as the one of Ciptaiu Young, of great value as contributions 

 to our knowledge of the habits "of fishes. The fact that 

 whitefisli take the hook is also a new one, and may lead to 

 their being angled for in oilier places. This fish is not gen- 

 erally known as a feeder upon minnows, and the formation 

 of its mouth would not lead one to suspect it. They are gen- 

 erally credited with feeding entirely upon small crustaceans 

 and bisect larva. J 



Tub Bi.rEFi.su Season.— During Ike early part of the P re 

 sent summer the bluefish were comparatively scarce, but *'"i 

 the past month they have been plenty and of large size au - 

 along the coast, from Cape May to Buzzard's Buy. They 

 were particularly scarce in June and July on i he coast of 

 New Jersey, and did not come in numbers until the present 

 month. On the 18th the Deal Beach fishing crew took over 

 six thousand pounds of bluefish at one haul, the large--! cap- 

 ture olf New Jersey this year. Reports from Fire Island 

 also say that the fishing has been excellent. Weakflsh and 

 other fish have, been quite plenty, as well as bluefish. 



Bass w tub Potomac. — Camden Station, Baltimore, Oct. 

 14. — In answer to your correspondent's inquiry, would state 

 that, ou two days' notice, I can furnish boat, guide and 

 fresh live bail, in uuliniited quantity. I would also state for 



your information that the fishing at, Point of Rocks was 

 ni ver better than at present, I myself leu ing caught, in two 

 and one-half hours, fishing ihis a. m, one b-iss, weighing 

 five pounds; one, four and one-half, and one, four and one 

 quarter, besides a number of smaller fish. Any further in 

 formal ion upon the subject will be cheerfully furnished by 

 addressing Frank Tucker, care of MoClinb ek's Express, 

 Camden Station, Baltimore, Md. 



BASS FISHING ON BEAR LAKE, MICHIGAN. 



WE had been lazily swinging in the hammock at the 

 tent of the G. R. & I. R. R. at, Pcl.oskey, improvised 

 as a reading room by our genial friend Holabird, the traveling 

 Passenger Agent of this road. By-the-bye, this tent was. the 

 headquarters of all sportsmen visiting that region during the 

 summer. We were fagged out, the intense hi-at in the city, 

 with the thermometer reaching to 100 (leg. in the shade, had 

 just about exhausted us, aud we were enjoying that sweet 

 do-nothing so easily found up in this rcjion. 



We must have been half asleep, when the voice of our 

 friend aroused us from our reveries* 



"Say, T., Philoisiu, and was inquiring for you. He is 

 coming up here soon, and wants you to go to Bear Lake with 

 him in the morning for some bass fishing." 



This was enough to arouse us. Of all the men we wished 

 to see, and feel his kindly greeting, was Uncle Philo, aud 

 the invitation to visit tics beautiful lake mused the blood to 

 bound through our veins. Dreams of a strugale with a, mighty 

 bass or a giant "long-nose," flitted through our brain in. its 

 midnight wanderings. This lake contained both, and we 

 knew it. 



Accompanied by the wife and " a el ip of the old block " we 

 were scurrying past the Cusbinan House just as the conductor 

 gave the signal " All aboard " for the early morning train ; 

 we swung on to the steps as ii pulled out. Met Uncle Philo 

 on the train and found quite a pal ty goi : to Beat Lake. 



A ten miles' ride and we pulled up at Melrose, .starting off 

 through a beautiful forest roadway to the lake. How re- 

 freshing this cool morning air to one just away from the hot 

 city. It soon brought out all lite good elements in ourlarge 

 party. Did we not just shout ami sina like a lot. of young- 

 sters out for a lark ? Did not those old woods ring again V 

 Yet I am fain to confess some of us were grey-haired. 

 Laugh who may. We had drunk at the fountain of eternal 

 youth— the Fates had favored us — we were going bass fishing 

 on Bear Lake ! 



A mile and a half walk brought us to a mi nature landing 

 and a still smaller steamer owned by Uncle Philo. Where 

 to put us all was the question. Some of us were towed in 

 boats behind, while the Uiil ; !s ,, ! i he steamer. 



A part of our company was left at Mc I "e went 



to Eagle Island, certainly one of the lovely spots in tics 

 beautiful gem of the woods, aud, securing some minnows of 

 Frank Davis, we were soon Casting our lines after the bass. 

 Bites came fast and furious, taking lhe minnows before we 



rucgoud- 

 rd. Wc 

 fully uu- 

 lin. We 

 one and 

 lew they 

 mds, and 

 his lake, 

 ambling, 

 bravely, 



He 



of the 



't handle 

 boat. II o 



could book the cunning fellows. Wc soon catlgl 

 sized ones, but they did not come up to our sL 

 wanted something more than oue-pouuders, so 

 booking them we slipped them into 

 could catch all the fish wc wanted that run I 

 two pounds, but wo wanted bigger fellows. V\ 

 were there, for we had seen buss weighing torn 

 pickerel that ran up to ten pounds taken frc 

 Soon our youngster made a strike and begat 

 He bad hooked a. big one, and was hting 

 when the fellow began the acrob 

 bass. He jumped out of the water, and 

 iu his mad endeavor to rid himself of the i cue! 

 piercing his mouth, and plunged for the furth 

 boat. The youngster was h 

 play him longer, 'and was shontlne, "Papa, I 

 him," and was vainly dying to yank him into tl 

 reached over, gave his rod to rue, but 1 lis and a strug- 



gling fish we managed to let. him slip into the [j ' ■• u, 

 The biggest, fish caught that day. Isn't if funny V The big- 

 gest fish always get, away 1 



We had some jitea ones in oui '. ii. These Mr. Davis 

 came to get for dinner while wc fished on ; but a storm was 

 gathering, dark clouds had been rolling around us, I ie ni 

 terings of thunder could be heard in tie distance, vivid 

 flashes of lightning lit up the darkening skies, and the clouds 

 seemed to come rolling over the hill-tops; down toward the 

 lake. Wc pulled in our anchor ami pnL for the bouse just, in 

 time to miss the drenching storm Of twin. Wc-srt down to a 

 fish dinner prepared by Mrs. Davis. In a few minutes the 

 darkened heavens gave out blasts of lurid fire. You seemed 

 to almost hear the "snap " of the Ughtulpg, while the roar of 

 the thunder following almost instantly vrm deafening. The 

 winds howled, the woods moaned, the rain came down iu 

 torrents and a wild scud skimmed the lake's surface, when 

 suddenly the ivind shifted, the blackened clouds unrolled, a 

 dazzling ray of sunshine shot athwart, the skies and over lhe 



blue-misted Mlli 



of promise " such 



tc mind Ilii. eft tr: 

 pot of gold full of 

 Did ibis storm c 

 g0 down ; the 

 we wer 



the tlai 



i of the 



before 



t d 



{ground "a bow 



end of the 



.', bringing E ireibly 



B] i '."'.i j from the 

 ted jewels. 



nddenly ? So as suddenly did it 

 s and' sunshine dried olf the moisture, and 

 oors enjoying the cool air. The storm 

 had been terrifying while it lasted, but it showed the lake in 

 its wilder moods, [lie beauty of iis light and shades, the 

 varying tints coming o'er its surface from I t forest-crowned 

 hill-tops, the voices of nature in lhe storm as well as iu the 

 calm, and above all the voice of its Creator. 



It was a day well spent— one of solid enjoyment, one of 

 reflection anil adoration. We returned from the lake re- 

 freshed and invigorated, and incttbc reihabiderof our party at 

 the steamboat landing, some of them haying Rood strings of 

 fish. Twenty minutes of brisk walking brought us to the 

 railroad, but no train came ; the shadows lengthened, the 

 s came out and night set 1 led down upon us. The air 

 ed and became nipping— the result of the storm. 

 i • :, uidil all the bread, butter and 

 he section boss's wife had In the house. We 

 andenjiycd ourselves. Wo sa 



wisilily 



milk wb 

 made I w 

 the i Id a 

 "The 1! 

 conipai 



■el m 



id Fly" 

 We had i 



so we had a grand chorus. How tin; 



out the refrain of these soul-sl in 



we waited the coming of lhat tn 



had been a big fire away down lhe line that even burned up 



the railroad ties and warped the steel rails so Uiat new ones 



bad to be put iu, aud we will guarantee that ibu railroad 



lies, 

 eudc 



love 





uid even 

 ntific ac- 



those 



any a 

 old 



bout te 



n ladies, 

 rees rang 

 vc hours 



i, am 



I Una 





led there 



