372 



RECREA TION. 



breech loader in l868, a .50 caliber, and since 

 then I have had Ballard, Remington, Mar- 

 lin, Winchester, and other guns, of all cali- 

 bers. For several years I preferred a large 

 caliber, and a big charge of powder. My 

 best gun is a .25-35 Winchester. Have fired 

 it 1. 000 times, killed 30 bucks and 2 bears, 

 and it shoots as well now as when new. I 

 killed a large buck at 400 yards, the bulle: 

 passing through him. Killed 2 at one shot, 

 200 yards away, with it. 



I killed a cross bear with my Marlin .38- 

 55. Shot him 5 times, at from 5 to 15 yards 

 range, without knocking him down. Three 

 of the balls lodged against the bones of his 

 neck. Then the gun balked, and my old 

 hound took up the fight. He kept me from 

 being chewed up. 



In November, 1896, my hounds treed a 

 black bear. I shot him in the head with 

 the .25-35 Winchester, smashing the bones 

 of the head all to pieces. 



J. J. Duffy and I started for a bear hunt, 

 at early dawn, in November, 1897, at the 

 foot of Mount Shasta, some 4 miles away. 

 Arriving at the first high foothills, and 

 striking a little snow, we saw a huge bear 

 track going toward a large brush field. The 

 dogs followed it until it went below snow 

 line. Soon we heard the old dog baying up 

 the trail, and Punch and Prince joined him. 

 Looking across 2 canyons, I saw, on a rocky 

 ridge half a mile away, the bear, running 

 along the brow of the hill. I crossed one 

 canyon, gaining the top of the next ridge 

 in time to meet the hounds on the bear's 

 trail, and nearly a mile behind him. They 

 passed on out of sight and hearing. I 

 crossed another deep canyon, and stopped 

 to wait for Mr. Duffy. While waiting, I 

 heard the hounds a mile away, at the very 

 foot of Mt. Shasta. 



They were coming down the canyon, to- 

 ward me. I took position on a knoll over- 

 looking as much country as possible. I 

 soon saw the big fellow coming, with 

 Punch 75 yards behind him, Rowdy 50 yards 

 farther back, and Prince bringing up the 

 rear. Bruin was jumping logs amid a wind- 

 break of fallen trees. Seventy-five yards 

 away was a large log, directly in his path. 

 As he came near it, I said to myself, " I 

 long to meet you thus alone." As he rose 

 over the log I fired my first shot. It took 

 effect under the point of the left shoulder, 

 cutting the carotid vessels and making its 

 exit on top of the shoulders. The copper 

 jacket lodged against the skin at point of 

 exit. He ran on as if not touched. Shot 

 No. 2 took effect in the left side, passing 

 through both lungs and out on the oppo- 

 site side, knocking him down. My third 

 shot went through his hips. The fourth 

 went through the massive muscles on the 

 side of the head, striking the bone of the 

 skull where it was an inch thick. He finally 

 quit and we took off his jacket. 



H. M. Smith, M.D 



IN CAMP ON THE ST. ROSE. 



We fellows here in Montreal have gen- 

 erally spent our holidays at the seaside, or 

 taking a trip to England, for most of us hail 

 from that " right little, tight little island." 

 Recreation having for some time paid us 

 regular visits, we became filled with the 

 idea of spending the holidays in forest and 

 by stream, especially the latter. So, early 

 in August we procured 2 tents and provi- 

 sions galore; and a certain Saturday after- 

 noon saw 7 .men and a boy at Dalhousie 

 Station in as happy a frame of mind as pos- 

 sible. 



We had decided to camp on an island on 

 the St. Rose river, about 20 miles North of 

 Montreal. We alighted at St. Rose station 

 and proceeded to get our bags and baggage 

 to our camping ground. Arriving opposite 

 the island we procured 2 batteaux from the 

 habitants who resided thereabouts, and 

 .eventually got across with our commis- 

 sariat. Of course every man wanted to go 

 fishing right away, but the camp had to be 

 set up, and by the time we had finished this 

 it was too late to catch fish. We devoted 

 the evening to the task of dodging mos- 

 quitoes. Alas! next day many of us had 

 mosquito lumps as big as potatoes to at- 

 tend to. We rubbed in salt, we rubbed in 

 baking powder, but no use, the whole thing 

 had to be endured. 



Next day was Sunday, so we did nothing 

 but explore the immediate vicinity, and 

 lounge about waiting for Monday. 



The morning found us up with the lark, 

 a bath first, then out with the boats, out 

 with the trolls. I was one of the lucky boys 

 who held the line. We had not gone 200 

 yards before there came a tug, and 40 yards 

 away up into the air jumped a large bass. 

 He was gamy, but I soon had him in. On 

 we went. Another tug, but no jumping into 

 the air this time. We hauled in a 4 pound 

 pike. Not a move did he make until I had 

 him in the locker, then he more than floun- 

 dered about. After this more bass, more 

 pike. Then back to breakfast, where our 

 noble friend, who acted as cook, had a 

 lovely meal for us. It did us good to eat it 

 and it did him good to see his efforts so well 

 appreciated. 



With the gim of course we could do noth- 

 ing; everything was out of season, and we 

 are not the least afraid of ever being pointed 

 out to your readers as game hogs. The way 

 Recreation roasts game hogs is a treat, 

 and no doubt it does much good. I hate 

 a hog. 



We stayed in camp 2 weeks, during which 

 time we visited the wilds for miles around. 

 1 can assure our American cousins they will 

 find no happier nor prettier hunting 

 grounds than the Northern part of Quebec 

 province. We see many Americans here, 

 and we have yet to meet a disappointed one. 

 A. D. Thornton, Montreal, Can. 



