June, 1 913 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



203 



Planking fish is another method often used. When this 

 is done, hunt up a good-sized piece of wood that is smooth 

 on the inside and wide enough to hold the fish laid out 

 flat. Split the fish as you would for broiling, tack it to the 

 plank, the skin side down, and on top skewer it with small 

 twigs and strips of bacon and stand it before the hot fire. 

 Don't forget to put a large piece of bacon on the head of 

 the fish, so that when cooking the drippings will baste the 

 fish. When done, the thickest part of the flesh will be soft 

 and it can be tested by thrusting a sliver into it. Put salt, pep- 

 per and butter, if you have the last ingredient, on the fish 

 before eating. 



Fish is also very palatable and is easily cooked by sharp- 

 ening a small straight stick, stripping it of bark and thrusting 

 it through the fish and bacon alternately. The stick is then 

 held over the hot coals and care must be taken not to drop it 

 into the fire. This method is often used when there is no 

 frying pan in the camp. 



There are so many varieties of ways for cooking fish 

 that there seems no excuse for not doing so. It can be 

 baked, broiled and roasted, in almost every thinkable way. 

 With some campers a common way for its cooking is to bake 

 it between layers of brass. 



A leg of lamb, if it can be carried, has a particularly 

 delicious flavor if it can be hung to a pole by a long wire 

 and turned constantly, a. tin pan being placed underneath 

 for the drippings. It has to be turned constantly, however, 

 otherwise the outside will be burned and the inside raw. 

 The drippings can be utilized afterwards to pour over the 

 meat when serving, so care should be used to keep them hot. 



If bread is desired, a small box of baking powder may be 

 carried and a little flour in a salt bag which can be sewed up 

 or tied securely. With these, biscuits can be made of a quart 

 of flour, four teaspoonsful of baking powder and a teaspoon- 

 ful of salt; work in a little butter with the hands or mixing- 

 spoon and make it the right consistency with water. Mold 

 with the hands into small round biscuits and bake on the hot 

 stones in front of the fire. Bread can also be cooked in a 

 frying pan by mixing a pint of wheat flour, one teaspoonful 

 of salt and two of baking powder. Grease the frying pan 

 and turn in the batter, baking very slowly over the fire. Be 

 sure to loosen the pan with a thin knife as soon as a crust 

 forms, so that it can be turned over and baked on the op- 

 posite side. 



Tea and coffee may be made in the usual way, for the best 

 drink for the camper is a good cup of coffee to begin work 

 on, and a good cup of tea to rest one after it. 



The person who wishes to make his vacation a camping 

 trip need not go hungry, for in these enlightened days there 

 are plenty of things that may be taken along which occupy 

 small space and are of little weight. And there is no more 

 enjoyable vacation in the world than a tramping trip through 

 the woods or mountains, or a fishing trip made by canoe, 

 spending the days in the open air, and sleeping either under 

 a tent cover, or under the stars, covered only with a blanket. 

 It gives one fresh nerve and fresh courage for their return 

 to work — therefore it is a vacation which more people 

 should try to take. In addition to their health and rest 

 from "brain fag," it offers an opportunity for a very careful 

 study of nature and its belongings which is truly invaluable. 



■HHua 



If the camp is near a stream or lake stocked with fish the food supply may be more varied than otherwise 



