304 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Mat id, 1883. 



^porfstqm ^auriit 



TO THE SPORTSMAN. 

 T OVER of Nature, when the hills are brown 

 -" From frosts, and woods in glimmering gold are clad, 

 What joys are thine ! How often overglad 

 For sleep, at the first peep of day adown 



The dewy path thou goest from the town, 



Eager to taste the pleasures of the field. 

 Sweeter to thee that joy the brown hills yield 



Than to the warrior is his high renown. 

 For thee all seasons charm. When ardent June 



Robs of his ease the toiling citizen, 

 Thou, safe from feverish airs and heats of noon, 



Takest thy ease in some wild shadowy glen 

 On grassy bank of stream, whose witching rune 



Has lured its lover from the haunts of men. . 



Gainesville, Ark. j j;. R. 



BOB, THE ANGLER OF THE SCHOODICS. 



BT LEW VANDEKPOEL. 



IN 1857 our office was in New York. The signjover the 

 doorway read "Blifkins, Shnkins & Jones, Attorneys and 

 Counselors at Law." On the morning of September 1st, we, 

 Blifkins, Simkins and I , the three members of the above firm, 

 met in our office to consider the advantages and propriety of 

 spending a month in the Maine woods. The mercantile' col- 

 lapses of that eventful year had given us over-abundance of 

 work and we needed recreation. 



^ Arrangements made, in a day or two we started for the 

 Schoodic Lakes. A weary journey by rail, another by stage, 

 then a romantic ride in our guide's wagon and we were 

 there. "We reached the lake at sunset and "thought the land- 

 scape the loveliest we had ever looked upon. 



Our guide was the then famous "Schoodic Bob," and his 

 roomy log cabin stood at the water's edge, the forest flanking 

 its other approaches. We had the impression that Bob was 

 unmarried and was his own domestic. Imagine our surprise, 

 then, when he introduced his daughter, a blooming ex-school- 

 ma'am of twenty-five. They had seen better days, and Bob 

 was not always a guide. On the death of his wife, several 

 years ago, Edith, his daughter, left her prosperous school in 

 a Southern city and came home to live with her father in the 

 wilder North, 



How tired we were that first night, and how hungry; and 

 then the supper that was sot before us would have delighted 

 a king. Smoking hot johnny-cake, sweet butter, broiled 

 pheasants, fried fish, baked potatoes, stewed cranberries and 

 fresh ginger-bread. It was over twenty years ago, but I can 

 taste it yet. 



Immediately after supper we climbed up under Bob's 

 eaves and slept until he called us in the morning, the pines 

 and spruces sighing, and the owls, loons and panthers hoot- 

 ing and screeching unnoticed all night. And he had to repeat 

 his call several times before he eould awake us for breakfast, 

 so soundly did we sleep in our beds of downy, yielding goose- 

 feathers. 



Anticipations and the surrouudings gave us splendid appe- 

 tites for breakfast, and the corn cakes, bacon and coffee 

 rapidly disappeared. Breakfast discussed, then to the lake. 



Talk ahout your fishing, nobody ever has such fun nowa- 

 days; we were fairly wild with excitement. We retired 

 from the lake early for dinner; we had captured so many 

 fine fish in an hour that it would have been sheer wastefulness 

 to have prolonged the sport. 



I suppose our fancy sportsmen of to-day would rail at the 

 fishing tackle we used; it was of the most primitive sort. 

 I think even quaint old Izaak Walton, genial lover of "what- 

 soever things are strong" though he was, would have been 

 appalled by the colossal proportions of out- poles, hooks and 

 lines. The former were young saplings cut in the forest, 

 while the latter would have readily held an elephant. We 

 had the consolation of knowing that they were equal to any- 

 thing that gave us a nibble in Schoodic Lake. 



That first week was one of unalloyed happiness. Of course 

 we had some mishaps, but that only added to the enjoyment. 

 Blifkius's wig somehow attached itself toSirnkins'shook, and 

 Blifkins was scalped quicker than the most accomplished 

 redskin of the present day could have performed the opera- 

 tion. Simkins retaliated by upsetting the canoe in his frantic 

 efforts to "hook" a supposed monstrous fish, that proved to 

 be only a decayed stump. I did nothing to distinguish my- 

 self, unless it was to climb out of bed on the wrong side one 

 morning and plant both feet squarely on the top of Edith's 

 best bat. She good-naturedly forgave the demolition, and 

 afterward stored her valuables in places not accessible to 

 me. 



We had been there five weeks and they passed all too 

 quickly. Game was at our disposal in plentiful abundance, 

 and we fished or hunted every pleasant day. The weather 

 was mild and storms infrequent, so we spent the most of our 

 time in the open air. But we enjoyed stormy days quite as 

 much as the others, for Bob was an inimitable story teller. 

 The woody freshness of his forest yarns charmed you one 

 moment, and their blood-curdling horridness would raise 

 your hair the next. 



Edith was entertaining also ; observations had finished for her 

 what careful stud)- had begun, and she wa3 very much of a 

 lady. Her efforts to make us "feel ourselves at home," 

 often caused Blifkins, who swore he hated her, to fervently 

 wish he was there. But we caught him nicely one day and 

 this is how it came about. 



We were going up the lake for a bear hunt and made all 

 our preparations the night before. In the morning Blifkins 

 had a terrible toothache so he had to stay at home with 

 Edith. He growled out to Simkins and I that she was about 

 as agreeable as the toothache, but he supposed he would have to 

 make the best of it. 



Bub found a monstrous bear early in the forenoon, and we 

 throe ddapatChed him, starting for home right away after 

 dinner. Our journey to the scene of the bear hunt had been 

 accomplished by waier. so we loaded the dead bear into the 

 canoe and started down the lake. When quite near the 

 cabin we passed a jut of low-lying rock that led to the main- 

 laud, Here Bob's hound became restless, and leaping into the 

 water swam ashore for a run home. A few more strokes of 

 the paddle sent us around another little cape, in full view of 

 our "landing'" which was but a few yards distant. Andhere 

 an unexpected sight awaited us. 



Edith was standing on the very water's edge with Blifkins 

 on his knees at her feet, his arms clasped around her, doing 

 the devoted to the girl he "abhorred." The first glimpse of 

 them had arrested Bob's paddle, and we approached them 

 noiselessly and unperccived 



"Oh! most adorable of her sex, be mine forever!" And 

 Edith's worshipper grovelled still lower before her. 



It was too comical for anything, and in another moment 

 our mirth would have made the lake ring; but an interrup- 

 tion to poor Blif kins' s bliss was destined to come from another 

 quarter. Beaching the top of the knoll behind him, the 

 hound had taken in the whole thing and Blifkins's attitude 

 struck him as a dangerous one to his mistress. Like a 

 thunderbolt he swept down upon the suppliant who was too 

 absorbed in his divinity to be apprehensive of danger in the 

 rear. Edith saw the dog, but her dismay at his evident in- 

 tention instantly gave place to mortification as she also 

 saw us. Blifkins attributed her changing emotions to a 

 successful termination of his love affair, and rose to press 

 the betrothal kiss on her lips as the dog made his last leap. 



"The bear! Look out for the bear!" yelled Simkins, bent 

 on more fun. 



A crash in the underbrush behind Blifkins, a growl of 

 rage, and the monstrous hound was on his back. A scream 

 from Edith, a howl of despair from her adorer, a momentary 

 struggle, and the three disappeared in the lake. Blifkins's 

 hand clutched into the dog's hair as they came to the surface, 

 and still thinking it was a bear bent on his destruction, roared 

 out to us. 



"Why don't you shoot the bear!" 



Simkins, Bob, and 1 responded with such a rod c of laughter 

 as never before broke the silence of Schoodic Lake. Con- 

 vineed that he was somehow the victim of a hideous joke, 

 Blifkins got out of the lake the best way he could and left 

 Edith to the mercy of the dog. The latter was more of a 

 hero than Blifkins and gallantly helped her out. 



They were entirely uninjured, but Bob, Simkins and I had 

 to eat supper alone that night, Edith was out of patience with 

 Blifkins, and he was mad at all of us. The next morning 

 he started for home, Simkins and I decided to remain on the 

 lake a few days longer, so he had to go alone. 



To own the truth, we had all three been very favorably 

 impressed with pretty Miss Edith from the first; each of us 

 had determined to win the prize for himself, and each was 

 also in ignorance of the resolves of the others. Blifkins was 

 now in disgrace, and, of course, no longer an obstacle; the 

 coast was clear for Simkins and I. He tried all the persua- 

 sion there was in him, failed and went fishing up the lake. I 

 remained at the cabin busy with my letters. 



She had given me more smiles / than she had the others all 

 along, and to-day she was sunnier than ever. I was unmis- 

 takably the lucky man, and opened the siege for her heart 

 and hand, positive of success. She seemed much surprised, 

 wept a little, said she w T as sorry for me but she was already 

 engaged. I went fishing dozen the lake. 



Somehow Schoodic Lake had lost its charm for Simkins 

 and I, "neglected business," called us home, and in a few 

 days we had followed Blifkins to New York. 



He had been called to Ohio very unexpectedly and would 

 probably be gone until the middle of November. Poor 

 fellow, he laid his disappointment more to heart than Simkins 

 or I ; we sincerely pitied him and cursed that trip to the Maine 

 woods for his sake. 



A couple of days before Thanksgiving, we received invi- 

 tations from Blifkins to come and eat Thanksgiving dinner 

 with him and his bride. Humph! we had wasted our sym- 

 pathy. 



Simkins and I attired ourselves faultlessly, and rang for 

 admittance at the Blifkins mansion on the appointed day. A 

 polite servant ushered us into the drawing-room and we were 

 presented to — 



"My wife: Mrs. Blifkins." 



We raised our eyes to gaze upon his new angel and beheld 

 Edith, the school ma'am! You could have bought Simkins 

 and I for two cents apiece. 



OREGON HILL AND ANSLEYS. 



A PASSING allusion to the flat-iron shaped plateau lying 

 between Big Pine Creek and Little Pine Creek has 

 brought so much inquiry, so many letters, that I feel it due 

 to health-seekers and tourists to give further information. 



The Indian name of this hill signified "Broad Mountain." 

 Almost the entire hill is underlaid by heavy veins of coal of 

 the best quality, and the day is not so far "distant when the 

 barrens of Oregon Hill will be worth more than the best 

 bottom lands in the Connecticut Valley, acre for acre. At 

 present the coal is one of — 



"The gifts there was found no place for, 

 The riches we could not use." 



Standing at Camps Corners, looking southward, you have 

 on the right, miles away, the deep valley of Big Pine Creek. 

 Five very fair trout streams "head" in springs on the hill, 

 and work their Vay tortuously and swiftly down the Big 

 Pine. The first is "Big Bun, a cold, brawling stream, pro- 

 lific of small, dark, fine flavored trout. It heads within two 

 or three furlongs of the Corners, and there is quite enough of 

 it to afford a day's tramp and sport. The next stream is 

 Trout Bun, a few furlongs further south, It is an excellent 

 trout stream. There is a mile and a half of good fishing for 

 small trout, when the stream tumbles and foams over a 

 rocky cascade into a pond forty rods long. There is a mill 

 and a boarding house at the pond, but deserted and fated to 

 rot down, as thousands of like establishments have done and 

 are doing now. The house is in good repair now, however, 

 and anyone is free to camp there. There are trout in the 

 pond eighteen inches long for those who can coax them to 

 strike, but they are shy. Below the dam there is about two 

 miles of excellent fishing for trout of six to eight inches in 

 length below the pond. It is three miles from the Corners to 

 the pond, andH. G. Matoon, P.M. and country store-keeper, 

 will drive parties to any fishing ground within five miles of 

 his house, every morning, free of charge, said parties, of 

 course, being his guests. He will also fit up bunks of hem- 

 lock browse at the old boarding house by the pond, and for- 

 ward the wishes of health-seekers and sportsmen to the best 

 of his ability. His prices are not exhaustive — four to five 

 dollars per week. Matoon can make comfortable eight to 

 ten guests. The neat little hotel at the Corners is kept by 

 G. L. Dodd, who can take good care of twenty to thirty 

 tourists, and will treat them to about the same terms and 

 accommodations as above. In addition several farmers and 

 lumbermen will take boarders, and about 100 summer 

 "outers" can find quarters on the "Hill." 



The next stream south of Trout Bun is Sherman Fork, 

 another brawling, icy, mountain brook, well stocked with 

 small trout. Next, Brown's Pork, a mile further off, and 

 about the same in all points. Then comes Jacob's Bun, a 

 larger stream, and to be struck at the fishing point by a 

 seven-mile ride from the Corners. At the mouth of this 

 stream is the settlement of Cedar Bun or Big Pine, wtiere 

 there is a fair hotel and bass-fishing. It is an all-day job to 



work down from the Corners to Cedar Bun. And you want 

 a team to go back again, but it is interesting and worth the \ 

 trouble. 



Still looking southward, on the left, some three miles dis- 

 tant, you have the deep valley through which runs the Little 

 Pine Creek. Heading in cold, clear springs, four rattling 

 trout streams "ripple away in shade and sun," to the south 

 and east, as the five on the other side, to the south and west. 

 The names are: First, Hughes' Run; second, Bunnell Run; 

 third, Otter Bun. The latter is the largest, has a dam with j 

 the usual mouldy ruins of a disused lumber camp, but there 

 are large trout there, which may be taken by the expert 

 angler. I ought to add that the main stream, Little Pine, is 

 the best for the fly-fisherman, but it includes a steep descent 

 of three miles with a corresponding climb for return, though 

 one may find comfortable quarters on the stream, cither at ] 

 Texas or Englishtown, and climb back in the cool of the j 

 following morning. I have omitted English Run, which 

 should be third on the list. It is a rapid brook, well stocked 

 with small trout. On the whole, there are ten trout streams 

 Within reasonable distance of Camps Corners. 



In the open season Oregon Hill is the best place we have I 

 left for grouse, and as good as any for deer. It is reached I 

 by Erie Railway to Corning, and from Corning to Antrim by j 

 rail. From Antrim to the Corners is nine miles, rough, but 

 romantic route. Matoon or Dodd will meet parlies at 

 Antrim with good spring wagons if notified in time. 

 Charges very low. 



In another direction, up Big Pine Creek, the Harrington 

 House, Izaak Walton House, and Ausley House all have 

 claims of weight with the average tourist as regards health, 

 rest and sport. At each and all of these points fair wood- 

 cock-shooting may be found in the season, and usually 

 pigeons. There is some fair trout-fishing, and the hotels are 

 apt to have a moderate supply of high flavored mutton as 

 soon as deer are in the red coat. 



These resorts are easily reached by rail to Corning, to 

 Wellsboro', and thence by stage any point on Pine Creek, 

 Any one contemplating a visit to this region will do well to 

 WTite a few days ahead, directing to individuals, hotels, etc. 



If there is a class of people to whom my heart goes out, it 

 is that of the weary and overworked, who are looking for- 

 ward for eleven months to a few weeks' outing for the much 

 needed rest and recreation that they so well have earned. It, 

 is a bitter truth that these men are usually swindled out of a 

 dollar for every ten cents' worth of recreation, rest and sport 

 that they get back. I am not clear that this may be rem- 

 edied at once; but it may be modified and ameliorated por-> 

 haps. Nessmtjk. 



SOME WISCONSIN RESORTS. 



1 CANNOT get time myself to go fishing or gunning, but. 

 occasionally when out on a business trip I see so much 

 promising land and water that I interview the natives, and 

 vow that in the sweet bye-and-bye I will tear away from 

 work and enjoy myself. Within twenty-five miles of this 

 city is Long Lake, a sizeable body of water, in the depths of 

 which lurk, according to the assurauee of a competent: 

 angler, fine gamy bass and sizeable pickerel. A few of outJ 

 citizens resort there during a portion of the summer, but the. 

 place is never crowded, although is is the most extensively 

 patronized of our resorts. Water fowl visit; the lake in con-< 

 siderable numbers in the fall. At present this city is the 

 nearest railway point, but the Chippewa Falls and Northern 

 road, building northwest to a junction with the North Wis- 

 consin, will by August 1, take passeugers within three miles 

 of the lake. 



This same railway line passes on through a comparatively 

 little settled country, and at a distance of about thirty-six. 

 miles from here brings one to the little village of Chetek, situ- 

 ated on the west shore of a lake of the same name, which is 

 connected with others in the vicinity, offering a grand, 

 opportunity for the angler, hunter or eanoeiat. Business: 

 called me hero a few days since, and of course I had to talk 

 fish and hunt, with a view to the previously-mentioned sweet 

 bye-and-bye. A gentleman who had lived at Chetek somei 

 years furnished the particulars following. Within an area 

 of twenty miles from the village are fully fifty — he said, 

 seventy at first — lakes, in any of which good fishing may be.t 

 had. In Chetek Lake bass, pickerel and perch abound. 

 About twenty-five miles northeast of Chetek is another, Long 

 Lake — I believe Wisconsin contains a dozen or more long 

 lakes. This is a grand fishing ground, and in it are taken 

 musealonge, whitefish, black bass, pike, pickerel and 

 perch. V cry many of the streams contain trout in good 

 numbers, though 1 am told that good trout- fishing cannot bo 

 had within less than six to eight miles. 



Of course such a system of lakes and water-courses must 

 attract the attention of water fowl, and duck -shooting is said 

 to be in the proper season "simply immense." Right at the 

 village, or at best a short paddle of half an hour, is obtained 

 as fine shooting as one can wish for. Of other game 1 am 

 told there are ruffed grouse, a few quail, snipe and wood- 

 cock, ducks and geese galore, deer abundant — one was killed 

 a few weeks since in the village lumber -yard, on the lake 

 shore. Bear, lynx, wild cats and wolves are quite numerous, 

 and foxes abundant. 



Chetek has two or three houses which furnish "entertain- 

 ment for man and beast" of the average country quality. 

 Guides, good, practical woodsmen, are to be had on demand, 

 and rigs may generally be obtained for driving out. Most 

 supplies can also be procured here, including Winchester 

 ammunition, but I judge the shotgun man had best curry his 

 own shells. Powder and shot may be bought here, quality 

 unknown. 



I propose to personally investigate this section the coming 

 fall, even if I have, to'wear the same old ulster another 

 winter, and in the meantime if I can furnish the Forest asd 

 BtrbAM brotherhood further information, he is at liberty to 

 thaw on me ttf sight. 



Twelve miles'further north is another lively village— Rice 

 Lake — on a lake bearing the same name, which is doubtless 

 equally prolific of fish and fowl. Badger. 



Chippewa Falls, Wis. 



FtsHtNo for Lake Trout. — In a pri rate letter from Mr. 

 James 8. Plumb, of Syracuse, N. Y., he tells how he is going 

 to try for lake trout this year, and at the risk of his dis- 

 pleasm'e we give what he'says of it. He writes: "I expect 

 in a few days to try the lake trout of Skuneateles Lake. I 

 caught some fine trout last spring in this lake, the largest 

 weighing nine and one-fourth pounds, the smallest two and 

 a half pounds. The line used was 500 feet long, depth of 

 water seventy-five feet. I shall try a new mode, use but 150 

 feet in same depth of water, and am confident of goof 1 

 success," 



