272 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[NnvKAjpRK %, 1881. 



>of "woodpeckers," and are protected by the game laws. 

 Cannot the ball be started rolling in some way against these 

 restaurants ? The majority of them in this city arc continu- 

 ally infringing upon the game laws, and openly at that.— 

 White Stone. 



[The New York city society will be glad to have you give 

 them any information about violation of the game laws. 

 They employ detectives, and have regular counsel retained 

 for the prosecution of such cas«s. Communicate with them. J 



Westminster, Oct. 23.— The greatsquirrel hunt, an annual 

 event in this town, has come off and gone. The hunters 

 were thirteen on ft side. Tho collection which they brought 

 in was a bee one. The game whs of various descriptions all 

 counting in the grand total. II. B. Howe's side counted 

 5,ti00, while E. B. Ly tide's side, his opponent, was 4,000. 

 Upon the return to the village the losing side paid L.r the 

 oyster suppar at Puffers' Hotel. The event was a pleasant 

 one to all, squirrels, perhaps, excepted. 



Tjivb GnovsE Wanted. — A number of pinnated grouse 

 ,ir>' wanted for shipment to Idaho Territory, where they are 

 to be turned Out. Can any of our readers inform us where 

 fifty or a hundred of the birds cau be obtained nud what 

 their probable cost, would be ? 



New Jkuskt Game— New Hampden, Hunterdon Co., N. 

 J., Nov. 1. Quail in abundance — at least seventy per cent., 

 of the usual quantity. Rabbits scarce. Wild ducks none. 

 Pheasants and grouse very scarce. — G. C. A. 



The Lowell Bench Show.— As will be seen by a letter, 

 published elsewhere, the managers of the Lowell bench show 

 have enlarged their premium list, and will offer prizes to all 

 recognized breeds. We are pleased to announce this, and 

 trust that the enterpiisc shown by their action will meet its 

 reward in a large entry and ea'isfactory numbers of visitors. 



The Reason Why.— Arespected correspondent is informed 

 that the reason why we "do not reply to the low slurs on the 

 Forest Aim Strram made by certain journals" is that we 

 have something belter to do. We cannot stop our express 

 train to silence the snarling of curs which run out to bark at 

 lis as we pass. 



gen md §ivtr <gi$hittg. 



FISH IIV SEASON IN NOVKMBEK. 



Black Bass, tliaropUn 

 and Jr. pailHue. 



'Mascalonge, Ekox nobi 

 Pickerel, K»ox rctn-ulai 

 Pike or Mile I 

 Pike-perch (wall-ej 



StizoUXhium amtri 



ffrietum, etc. 



Yellow Perch, Perca ftuvtatilto. 

 Striped Bass, Roccns liiwatus. 

 White Bass, Ruccus cnry&opH. 

 Rock Bass, Ambloplites. (Two 



species). 

 War-mouth, Ch<eru>bryttut< .jtuomu,. 

 Crapple, Panuxeyn nigroma'culatuH. 

 Bachelor, Pomoxys annularis. 



I -n:b, .'■, ,.:.> !,im 



BAM WATER. 



Pea Bass, CentropriMix atrarius. 

 Striped Bass or Roektlsh, Rocctut 



lineabtv. 

 White Perch. Morons amaieana. 

 Bluensh or Taylor, Pamattmus 



aaltatrix. 

 Scup or Porgie. Stsnotonius arav- 



rope. 



Pollock, Poltaehiu* carbonarius. 

 Tautog or BlackOsh, TauKy* 



onitin. 

 Weakflsh or Squetague, Cy-nosci/on 



recjalis, 

 Channel Bass, Spot or Bearish, 



Sciwnojis ocellatus. 



There are, however, many grades or hah ere who, irom using the 



hook, c 

 many of us v. 

 notably the 



shoots at eve 



Jens at him ; 



a tangle In his line, o 



iftion of the term " angler," whom 

 care to fish within sight or hearing distance of, 

 ow who has a pistol, or gun, with which he 

 lat passes bis boat, or each squirrel that ckat- 

 noxlously profane fellow whose Impatience at 

 a snag that Ids hook has fouled, of the nnis- 



qultocs, or In fact any of I tie minor anaoyances of Ashing, rinds vent 

 in a continued string of blaspheming which dial urbs the current ot 

 your thoughts, and the enjoyment of silence. Almost anything is 

 preferable to a noisy, nrbaoptDg man lu the woods to one who enjoys 

 the ripple ot the stream, the sighing ol the winds through tic ire ?- 

 nips, and the voices of nature, both animate and Inanimate. -Freu 



IMATBEIt. 



TROLLING ON LAKE SUPERIOR. 



OF the many kinds of field, forest and water sports in 

 which one can participate in the Lake Superior Region, 

 arc none which afford more enjoyment and interest 

 titan trolling for lake trout in the waters of the "big lake." 

 During the months of September and October this fish comes 

 in in immense schools to ihe islands and rocks adjacent to 

 the main laud. Here they remain several weeks, at least 

 while the equinoctial lasts :"aud here they may be caught in 

 large numbers, Wnile they are not generally captured with 

 trolls by fishermen for exportation and trade, as nets are 

 a saving of time and labor and are used principally for that 

 purpose, still many resort, to the line anil spoon for sport and 

 secure enough for family use during the approaching months 

 of winter. 



The writer had the pleasure not long since of accompany- 

 ing a party of old sportsmen to the islands oil Grand Marais and 

 Agate Harbor, six miles in distance from Ihe village of Eagle 

 Harbor. Leaving the last-named place at. a seasonable hour 

 in the morning we were in due time at Silver Islet, and put- 

 ting on shore everything we had brought with us in the shape 

 of eatables and drinkables, pushed off, and, with appropri- 

 ate ceremonies, inaugurated the business of the day. The 

 Silver Islet above named must not be mistaken for Silver 

 Islet on the north shore of Lake Superior, which contains the 

 famed silver mine, as the former lies near the south shore of 

 the lake off Keweenaw peninsula. The nomenclature of the 

 early navigators and explorers of this lake and country was 

 evidently very limited, as the same name is of ten given to 

 several different objects. There is quite a number of Silver 

 Islets, Grand Maurais, Montreal rivers, Agate harbors and 

 Carp rivers, and unless one has lived in this region or studied 

 carefully its geography, he is apt to be confused in ascertain- 

 ing the exact locality of a place or thing. 



We were provided with two boats, in each of which were 

 two of our party and a man who rowed. Our lines were 

 run out to the length of seven ty-five or cighly feet, with two 



strong hooks on each line and a spoon which would twirl 

 With ease. Everything was propitious. A brisk breeze 

 whipped the surface into short, broken breakers. With a 

 light sea, the fishermen tell us, the best results are obtained 

 in trolling, and my own experience coincides with their 

 judgment. The main cause of apprehension and solicitude, 

 however, was the sudden changes in the direction of the 

 wind, which not infnquenily takes place, and which, if 

 sailors ate not particularly vigilant, axe apt to drift thera 

 from shore and to the not over-merciful and tender guardian- 

 ship of this capricious lake. No misfortune of this kind, I 

 am happy to say, afflicted us, and only an indisposition or 

 reluctance on the part of the fish to take the deceptive lure 

 could prevent us from being successful in our efforts. The 

 day was somewhat cloudy, which was also favorable con- 

 ditionally, and the air, although neither "eager" nor "nip- 

 ping," was bracing and sufficiently cool to keep down the 

 temperature of the blood during the animating exercise of 

 catching and drawing in the trout. 



Our course lay among and around the islets and rocks, 

 which raised thin cragged heads above the water-line, and 

 also in the neighborhood of the many reefs and shoals which 

 abounded. We were not many rods from the east end of 

 Silver Islet when 1 felt a jerk on my line and, owing to the 

 indifferent manner in which I held it in my hand, it was 

 nearly twitched from me. Uncertain for a moment whether 

 the mischief had been done by a fish or my hook had struck 

 a rock I waited an iustant, when all doubt was dispelled by 

 two short, quick jerks upon tho line. Immediately I arose 

 from my seat and drew the trout rapidly toward me. As 

 soon as he realized that he was captured he struggled vigor- 

 ously for his liberty. At times he would dive fathoms deep 

 apparently ; again he would slacken the line and then with 

 almost lightning rapidity, dart at right angles to the direction 

 in which i was endeavoring to lead him. ~ Once or twice he 

 became apparently disheartened and permitted himself to be 

 drawn along without res : s ance, his head visible above the 

 water, and his large red mouth distended to its utmost ca- 

 pacity, but as I drew him near the boat he determined again 

 to strike for freedom, and darted and struggled with all the 

 energy and spirit he possessed. His plucky exertions of 

 physical strength, however, were futile, and he soon lay se- 

 cure in the bottom of the boat. 



The above experience was repeated time and time again, 

 and at noon when we entered the cove of the island to lunch, 

 1 counted as my catch, twenty fine trout. The others had 

 had equally as good luck and it would have been amusing for 

 one to observe how elated we were, and to hear us, as we sat 

 eating, reciting the many and enlivening incidents of the 

 morning. 



In rowing among the islets and over the reefs, we could 

 not but mark the extreme transparency of the water, where- 

 ever the waves were not rippled by the breezy objects at a 

 great depth were plainly visible. A bright tin-cup which 

 was inadvertently dropped, could be seen as much, we 

 judged, as twelve fathoms from the surface. When the lake 

 is at a dead calm, which souk times occurs, a boat appears 

 suspended almost in mid-air. -Not anly is it very clear, but 

 owing tO its frigoritic coldness and purity, it affords the 

 finest drinking water in the world. Away from the influence 

 of the shore and about ten ur twelve feet from the surface, 

 the temperature is only seven or eight degrees above the 

 freezing point in the month of August. The~great length of 

 the winters and the formation of immense fields of ice re- 

 frigerate to such a degree this body of water that the short 

 season of warm weather in summer is iusuflricient to raise 

 Ihe temperature enough to admit of comfortable bathing. 



We fished an hour or two in the afternoon and then rowed 

 lo Eagle Harbor. On our way we veered from our course 

 slightly to pass under " the arch." This rock is isolated a 

 half mile or so from any other object, and is something of a 

 natural curiosity. It is ten feet or more in height with a 

 passage-way of five or six feet so that a row-boat can easily 

 go through it. It is quite a resort for gulls and as we ap- 

 proached they appeared to resent our encroachment upon 

 their reservations by vigorously flapping their wings and 

 screaming hideously. 



Although we had taken during the day, with trolls only, 

 about one hundred and fifty trout, some of them would 

 weigh as much as twenty pounds, while none would go less' 

 than four pounds. They averaged about ten pounds each. 

 A catch, therefore, of 1,500 pounds of Salmo a-met/tystus, by 

 a party of four in the space of four hours cannot be con- 

 sidered altogether luckless. These fish, when properly 

 dressed and cooked, make delicious eating, and the residents 

 along the shore often salt a barrel of the same for me during 

 the long and dreary winter. Boiled salt lake trout is not by 

 any means unpalatable as mauy a Lake Superiorite can 

 testify. Balsam. 



Pontim, MicJi. 



A MODEL WHALE-BOAT. 



ONE if the most interesting and valuable exhibits recently 

 added to the fisheries collection of the National Museum 

 is a full-sized American whale boat, complete in all its de- 

 tails, embracing all the numerous articles of outfit which are 

 known to the whalemen as boat gear and all the instruments 

 of captuie and death, commonly known as craft, as well as a 

 bomb gun, from which I he explosive lance is discharged. 

 This boat, with its entire outfit, is the gift of Messrs. .T. H. 

 B irtlett & Sons, of New Bedford, Mass. The boat, as it now 

 lies in the museum, building, is fully equipped and ready to 

 " go on to a whale." A whaleman that could not kill a fish 

 with such an outfit had better join the "deck wollopers." 

 The boat is of that style technically known as a twcnly-eigtd 

 foot boat, and from "the markings, "L. B.," on the irons 

 and other articles of boat-gear, it has evidently seen active 

 service as a larboard boat ou a whaling vessel, while the in- 

 struments themselves show every indication of having been 

 used in lulling whali s. This boat, as is usual in this type, 

 is sharp at both ends, the most remarkable feature being the 

 acuteness of the angle of the stern, which is narrower than 

 ihe head, in order that the boat may be " sterned" when the 

 Whale has been struck, to avoid the bishiog of the ponderous 

 (hikes of the infuriated or frightened animal. The most 

 prominent instruments are the harp ions or irous. which arc 

 employed solely to fasten the "mat to the whale when the 

 hind lances are to be used. The first and second irons are 

 "atrapp 0" and in their proper positions in the boat-crotch. 

 Notwithstanding the poi t has sung, 



Like the hgliUilhe-llaine 

 i 'i. i. '-II [■ a fiponf 'i iteel 



these instruments are not made of steel, but of the toughest 

 and most pliahle of soft iron, and can be bent into the most 

 fantastic shapes but, seldom broken. The hand lances are to 

 be found resting in the glance hooks, ready to be rasped by 



the officer of the boat when he ' ' works upon " a whale. The 

 bomb gun, enveloped in its canvas covering on the starboard 

 side, having inaugurated a more genteel and sportsmanlike 

 method of killing whales, is ready to send a whizzing bomb 

 lance on its aerial flight to a vital spot in ihe -a hale. The 

 whale lines or tow lines are coiled in their respective tubs, 

 which arc known as the large and Small tul is, the former 

 being round and the latter of the impn . ' . vat ; the 



compass, with which a lost boat rnvy find its bearings, ships 

 under the- cuddy; the head and stern knives for cutting 

 afoul line are in their sheaths ; the drag, or drug, to retard 

 the motions of a wounded adult whale through the water, or 

 it may be attached to a baby-whale, in which case the dam, 

 with maternal instinct for the safety of her young, remaining 

 by its side, vainly trying to assist in its escape, may be killed; 

 tLe breaker, holding five gallons of fresh water, and the lan- 

 tern-keg, slung under the cuddy, containing caudles, matches, 

 a lantern, hard bread, pipes and tobacco for the crew . the 

 piggin for bailing the boat : the bucket for wetting a hot 

 line ; the hatchet for cutting iron poles from a deceased 

 whaie, and the waif for locating its whereabouts. The mast, 

 sails, paddles, oars and steering oar brace occupy their ap- 

 propriate places, while the rudder is triced up as is customary 

 when a whale has been struck, to prevent the fouling of the 

 line. The loggerhead, around which the line swiftly glides, 

 the chocks through which the line runs, smoking, out in 

 in the wake of the running or sounding whale ; the clumsy 

 cleat, against which the harpooner braces himself when 

 striking a whale, and the lion's tongue, so called by the 

 Nantucket whalemen, which braces the loggi rhead and stern 

 sheets, are to be found only in a whalcboat. 



A CRUISE ON INDIAN RIYER. 



Nmv Yopk, Oct. SI. 

 Editor "Forest and Stream : 



You printed iast week my letter giving glimpses at, the 

 fishing and shooting in Minnesota. * Below is a diary, 

 received by me since from a nephew, who describes his re- 

 cent trip down Indian River from Theresa, Jefferson County, 

 N. Y., in a boat which he made himself. The account in- 

 terests me very much, as showing that our youngsters, with 

 sporting inclinations, need not go out of Ihe State to find de- 

 lightful routes for pleasant excursions, win re plenty of game 

 is to be had for the seeking. Indian River rises in the north- 

 ernmost corner of Lewis County, and flows northeast into 

 Black Lake, which outlets at Ogdensburg into the Oswe- 

 gatchie River, an affluent of the St. Lawrence. It has a fall 

 of about seventy-five feet at Theresa, arid a sluggish current 

 thence eighteen miles to Ropie Rapids. It was in this stretch 

 I made my debut years ago in quest of h'mi.r. nobilior, fitly 

 named, for a nobler fish th in the roaskanongc, in both garre 

 and table qualities, is not to be found in our inland waters. 

 The first one that struck the rude spoon (of my own making) 

 at the end of my 100 foot stern trolling line, elicited the 

 "Hold on, Beu, I'm hitched I" which my comrade, Dr. 

 James Davison, pelted me with for many a" year afterward. 

 Imagine my surpri-e to see ihe cq 'ive, when hallway to the 

 boat, pop straight out of the water about two-thirds his 

 length, stand on his tail and shake his head with great vio- 

 lence to get rid of the hook. This is a fart, ;J' hough, for a 

 fish story, not up to the mark of Mr. Beman's statement in 

 your columns that " it is not unusual for this monarch of the 



streams, when trying to free him Fi ;•:. to leap ten 



or fifteen feet above the water and shake his head like a mad 

 bull." 



The boys may be proud of their catch of seven maska- 

 nonge. A. H. Thompson. 



11IARY OP A TRIP DOWS INDIAN 1UVKR AND THROUGH BLAOK 

 LAKE. 



W. A. Fisher and myse'f started for a trip down Indian 

 River Friday, September 9. We left Theresa at 7 a. m., 

 with a slight breeze, enabling us to sail down to False Outlet. 

 Thence we rode to Ropie Rapids, reaching them at .2:30 v 

 m. Had some trouble iu running the rapids on account of 

 low water, but passed over all right and made ready for our 

 first carry — no trouble but a little head work. At, live made 

 our last carry at Ropie, and went on into Black Lake at 6:30. 

 Until we are done with boats and boating we shall never 

 forget the sport we had lhat day. We made Tea Island our 

 Camping ground, and soon had a tent pitched, a good fire 

 burning and supper cooking. You can imagine our appe- 

 tites and enjoyment of a night's rest on the houghs after such 

 a day's work. We took three maskcmotigi. and one bass on 

 our way down. 



Saturday, 10ZA. — Went out to hunt ruffed grouse after break- 

 fast. A stray hungry dog came to us, and provcil a good 

 help in hunting. Got back to camp at three r. m. with three 

 grouse, and had a royal supper of fish and fowl. While we 

 sat in the open air afler the meal a flock of ducks settled 

 down in a bay across from our camp. We took after them 

 and got two. 



Monday, 12i/<. — Had an early breakfast, broke camp and 

 started for the foot of the lake with a slight wind. Passed 

 Edwardsville, a small place with two hotels and one store, 

 at noon, aud reached our destination, twenty-eight miles 

 from Tea Island, at 4:30, killing three boss and three wood- 

 ducks on the way. Pitched tent, and got supper before 

 dark. 



Tuesday, VAth..— Started at 9 for Hcnvclron, on the Oswe- 

 gatch'e Rivir, five miles from camp, where we got a supply 

 of provisions. We rowed back iu an hour and a half, taking 

 in out of the wet one pike. 



Wfdnesdiy, lith. — Went out. hunting, and although it was 

 a very hot day and the ground new to both we returned to 

 camp at 5:30 p. m. with thirteen gray squirrels and one 

 grouse. 



Thursday, lof/i. — Hunted most <>f the day, bringing in at 

 6 p. m. only fou ■ grouse. 



F'riday, 1GZA. — Went to Ogdensburg, seven miles from 

 camp, on the St. Lawrence River. It is forty miles below 

 Alexandria Bay, which is only twelve miles from Theresa, 

 our point of departure. We rowed to Eel Weir Rapids, aud 

 walked the rest of the way. We could easily have carried 

 around the rapids, rowed to Ogdensburg, sailed up the St. 

 Lawrence to the bay and had OU1 boat Wheeled to Til ■■■: .-. 

 But We preferred to return through the lakes and rivers. 



Saturday, \lt/i.— Made a trip to Ilenveltoii, catching two 

 pike and three pickerel. 



Monday, Vith.— Broke camp and started tip the lake with 

 a slrong north wind which fell at noon, and we rested until 

 4 p. tt,, when a south wind sprung up enabling us to tack 

 up to Tea Island 



Tuesday, 20th.— Started out early for a call on another 

 camping parly, and on our return found twomen from Ther, sa 

 waiting for us as the dog would not let them laud on the 

 is! and — good dog that. 



