208 



RECREATION. 



landing net; but we are after sport, and 

 love fair play. We won the battle this time, 

 but do not flatter yourself that it will al- 

 ways prove so easy. 



W. W. Gallaher, Mound City, Mo. 



CAMPING AND FISHING IN WASHINGTON. 



In the early part of June, 1900, my moth- 

 er, brother Pete and I decided to spend a 

 few days camping near some stream or lake 

 where we could get enough fish for our 

 own use while in camp. After consulta- 

 tion we decided on Chomokane creek, and 

 if not satisfactory to move elsewhere. 



The morning we left home was bright 

 and sunny. 



We stopped at the Spokane river for 

 lunch at 11.30 a. m. At 1.30 p. m. we began 

 our journey again, and arrived at the creek 

 at 6.20, after a hot ride. Just before we 

 reached the creek we met a man who told 

 us a good place to camp. It proved to be 

 an ideal camping ground in a small grove. 



While we were eating supper a man came 

 to our camp to see who we were, and we 

 asked him how the fishing was. He held 

 up 2 small fish, the result of several hours' 

 hard work, he said. 



After supper we took our rods, Pete 

 went down the creek and I followed the 

 creek up, but the fish did not bite well, and 

 becoming impatient, I decided to cross and 

 try my luck on the opposite side. The only 

 means of crossing was a small poplar which 

 had been blown down, so that it struck the 

 water about a foot from the bank, makings 

 good spring pole, the roots being the only 

 thing that held it up. I climbed on it and 

 started across. It was all right until I got 

 near the end, when it began to sway up and 

 down. As the tree sloped so much I could 

 not go back, I was obliged to go ahead. 

 That I succeeded in doing until I reached a 

 place where the water had been running 

 over the log and had made it slippery. 

 Then I began to slide like a boy on an icy 

 hill. I tried to jump across the remaining 

 space, but my feet slipped from under me 

 and I fell into the ice-cold water. It only 

 came up to my waist, but it was so cold that 

 I picked up my rod and started for camp at 

 a smart trot. I had enough for the first 

 night. 



Pete came in soon after, and we were 

 glad to see that he was carrying a large 

 trout that would weigh i l / 2 to 2 ounces. 

 He said he had a few bites, but by the 

 looks of things we were not going to get 

 enough fish to eat. 



The next morning we had breakfast early 

 and started down the creek, intending to 

 walk as far as the falls and fish back; but 

 about half a mile down the creek we came 

 on a stretch of water that looked a likely 



place for fish, and we threw in our rods. 

 For a while the fish took our flies the mo- 

 ment they struck water. We fished slowly 

 down the creek until noon, when we had 

 caught 18, ranging in size from 6 to 9 

 inches. We had them for dinner, and that 

 was the first time I had all the fish I could 

 eat. 



In the afternoon we fished the same water 

 with the same success. At 6 p. m. we 

 stopped fishing and found that we had 21 

 between us, just enough for supper and 

 breakfast. 



On our way back Pete wanted to cross 

 the creek again, but the only tree we could 

 find was a small one. He was determined 

 to cross anyway. When about the middle 

 he. thought to try the strength of the tree, 

 so began to sway up and down. At about 

 the second move the tree broke and down 

 he went, right to the neck in the cold water. 

 We had forgotten to take any extra clothes 

 with us, so Pete had to eat supper that night 

 dressed in his overcoat and hat. Next 

 morning we broke camp and started for 

 home. 



J. Dewar, Reardan, Wash. 



DR. BENDER'S EXPLOIT. 



The trout season opened in this State Thurs- 

 day, and a number of fishermen from this city- 

 visited the numerous streams in this vicinity. 

 Only a few catches have been made, many of 

 those who went out returning without a single 

 fish. 



Dr. R. Bender was more fortunate than the 

 rest, for he reports a catch of 97 trout, ranging 

 from 7 inches to a foot in length. A number of 

 his friends called at his home yesterday to view 

 the fine collection, and the genial Doctor remem- 

 bered many of his acquaintances with samples of 

 his catch. — Jamestown, N. Y., paper. 



In answer to my request for confirmation 

 of above report, I received the following 

 letters : 



The report is true. April 15th I drove 

 15 miles and stopped over night with a 

 friend on whose farm the stream heads. 

 As soon as it was light enough to see I was 

 on the stream, giving the early trout a 

 chance to catch the worm, which they did 

 nicely until dark that evening. Consider- 

 ing the scarcity of trout here, I always get 

 my share, perhaps 5 times as many as any 

 other fisherman in this section. My best 

 catch averaged 7 to 12 inches. I expect to 

 be able to report some more good catches 

 later. 



Dr. R. Bender, Jamestown, N. Y. 



Since writing to you yesterday, I have 

 been told that the object of your inquiry is 

 to give me a roast in your magazine. 

 Should such be the case, you can have my 

 picture to go with it. I will also give you 

 a little more information in regard to the 



