Apbij. 16, 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



223 



dreamily enjoying my smoke, when a shout from down the 

 wood road roused me from my reverie. T answered back, 

 and in a moment the hoy was with me. Was he disap- 

 pointed? If so his countenance did not betray it. He 

 changed the subject by saying that he thought he knew 

 where there were some snipe, not. more than half a mile from 

 tiiere. I knew of no snipe ground in that vicinity, but for 

 the sake of going somewhere, followed him. He took me 

 to a field of winter wheal, well up, and there the old dog 

 pointed and I killed five snipe, and the pups retrieved them; 

 aud strange to me, I had to fairly kick them out of the wheat 

 before they would rise. Here was pleasure and instruction 

 combined.' 1 had shot a great many snipe before, but never 

 looked for them in winter wheat; and seldom will they lie to 

 a dog as they did ihat day. 



It had been a cloudy day, but near the middle of the after 

 noon the clouds broke away and tlie sun shone out bright 

 aud warm, which was all that was needed to make it a lazy 

 day. i had tramped enough, so we took the back track. I 

 noticed my little friend, although very reticent in regard^ to 

 the partridges, kept, working over toward the opening 

 where I bad" bunted in vain for them in the forenoon, al- 

 though it was somewhat out of our way, While I was will- 

 ing to give them another trial, I had' no hopes of finding 

 them, for with the old dog and pups they could not have 

 escaped me in the morning. We had hardly entered the 

 opening, however, when Pard was on a point." There, not 

 over ten feet from the dog and about thirty feet from us, sat 

 the bird on a little rise of ground, its neck stretched, intently 

 watching the dog, and evidently unconscious of our pres- 

 ence, while we. stood silently taking in the picture. The 

 pups having passed to one sitie of the bird aud gone on, now 

 came racing back belter skelter, flushed the grouse, and for- 

 getting that 1 had a gun, 1 allowed it to go without so much 

 as a parting salute. Maybe it was better that the first bird 

 flushed by the pups was not brought to bag; first impres- 

 sions are generally lasting — it seeinsespecially so with pups 

 — and I believe Hammond claims that a bird flushed by a 

 pup should not be shot at. If I was light this time it was 

 more good luck than good conduct. Pushing on in the 

 direction the bird had taken, we had hardly gone five rods 

 when the, lemon and white pup (my favorite, by the way) 

 dropped to a beautiful point, except that the end of his tail 

 was vibrating', lie was not quite certain (it was his first 

 point), but the bird was there. Going in I flushed, and grip- 

 ping my gun the tighter and pulling hard as if to make a 

 surer shot, I brought him down, a beautiful young cock 

 grouse. How proudly the pup retrieved it. This did my 

 heart good; it was worth a long tramp, just this one shot. 

 It was the making of that pup. No old dog could do better 

 from that time than he has done. 



Covering the .same ground over that I had worked iu the 

 morning we found seven or eight birds, bringing two more 

 to bag, making Ihrec grouse and live snipe for the day; a 

 goodly number of feathers, but a small item as compared to 

 the pleasure and profit derived. As we turned loward home 

 late that afternoon, I ventured the Question, "Where could 

 those birds have been this morning V" and was considerably 

 surprised at the quick and, to me, satisfactory reply from my 

 companion, "Well, you we, it looked like rain ibis morning, 

 and young partridges don't like in get wet, so l bey fly up m 

 the. trees and sit on (be big limbs when it's rainy weather. I 

 knew we'd find 'cm when the sun came out."' Here was a 

 conclusion he bad formed upon actual observation of only 

 one summer, while I had never even thought of it. during 

 several years of shooting them aud of studying their habits. 



This was only the beginning of the season for me. Many 

 another pleasant day did I spend with these birds anei an- 

 other brood which we found not half a mile away. Who 

 could have afforded me more pleasure, more instruction, and 

 have been a better companion than my r little friend the 

 farmer's boy. Kancktoxe. 



Lansinw, Midi., Jan. 15. 



ROUGHING IT IN THE NATIONAL PARK. 



TY. 



r pHE following day we concluded to move camp nearer 

 JL the deer country. It was a long tramp in the morning, 

 and after hunting all day a long return, so we packed two 

 horses with absolute necessities and a few cooking utensils, 

 leaving all superflous stuff at our old cabin. It was late 

 before w r e started, having to climb over high mountains, fol- 

 lowing an old Indian trail which was partly so steep that we 

 had to tack with our horses like a sailing vessel against con- 

 trary wind before we reached the top. We stopped in a 

 gulch near a running creek, where Charles and Prank estab- 

 lished camp while Tom and I took a hunt to see about our 

 wounded buck, and also to skin the wolverine, which we 

 did, but did not succeed in finding the buck, nor did we 

 start any game whatever. On our way home stormy 

 clouds were gathering around us, and such a sudden dark- 

 ness overtook us, that we were not able to find the place 

 where we left our fawn. We hunted high and low; it was 

 horrible climbing through rocks, ravine and brush, many a 

 fall and nasty scratches, but all in vain. The darkness be- 

 came so intense that we could not distinguish one place from 

 another. We managed to gain camp in rather ill humor 

 and an exhausted condition. Prank and Charles were wait- 

 ing supper for us. They had no venison in camp, thinking 

 we would bring in some on our return. Having canned 

 goods, plenty of bread and fried bacon, and a strong cup of 

 coffee, we satisfied the grumbling inner man, and soon for- 

 got the hardships and rough time we had had in gaining 

 camp. The next, afternoon I took a hunt in the neighboring 

 gulches and started a doe and two fawns, but got nothing. 

 The others also had a blank that day, but they brought along 

 the fawn which we could not find the evening before. Ris- 

 ing early next morning, we went far up the gulch, separating 

 at different points. I hunted very carefully all the forenoon, 

 but to no account. Coming to a meadow-like opening- 

 skirted by high timber, I sat on a ledge for lunch, and while 

 eating I heard a rustling, and not fifty yards from me saw a 

 fine buck just disappearing behind some brush. 



I dropped my lunch and quickly grasped my rifle, know- 

 ing that he would appear at the next opening. The moments 

 he kept me in suspense seemed like hours. Having my hair- 

 trigger set, I nervously awaited his reappearance; but in my 

 excitement, now seeing the deer emerge out of the thicket, 

 this very hair-trigger played me again the same trick it had 

 with the antelope. My' finger must have touched the ex- 

 tremely light trigger and off went my rifle before 1 intended, 

 frightening the buck, who disappeared in the thick timber. 

 Only a person who has experienced the same situation can 

 imagine my feelings; I felt like telling somebody to club me. 

 Tom, who soon joined me, wondered why I was so blue 

 and pensive. In the afternoon we found fresh bear tracks 

 and followed them through a perfect wilderness, but did not 



succeed in getting a glirapsepf Mr. Bruin. 1'celing some- 

 what disappointed, we reached camp jusi as Charles was re 

 turning. He had beeu more successful, as he got three goats 

 out ot a band of five. 



The next day we regained some of our lost spirits, as we 

 managed to bag three deer— a buck, a doe aud a fawn — also 

 several grouse near our camp, which we reached that day 

 quite early. Wednesday we packed the deer out of the tim- 

 ber to the summit neat' the trail, as we concluded to move 

 hack next day to our old camp. Frank killed some grouse 

 with his shotgun , the only shooting that day. Early next 

 morning we pulled up sticks to go back to our old camp, as 

 we expected the return of friend Bill from the mine. Charles 

 and Tom, with the pack animals, took the trail across the 

 mountains, while Frank and I went around the gulch, hunt- 

 ing back through our goat region. We did happen to see 

 one. I tried very hard to get within shooting distance, but 

 without success. Not seeing any more game that day, we 

 got to our old camp by sundown. Friday morning we 

 forded the Boise, hunting to the mountains on the other 

 side of the river. Frank and I carried our breechloaders in 

 search of grouse, while Charh-s and Tom went iu rarest of 

 larger and nobler game. -We had some excellent sport with 

 grouse, making a good bag, also a few white rabbits (mocca- 

 sins). 



The boys did not see any large game whatsoever, and ar- 

 rived in camp rather late and tired. Having hunted steady 

 every day in the week (which is no easy work in those 

 mountains) we all felt tired and exhausted. 



Saturday, Nov. 8, in the evening, the Ion a; expected wagon 

 arrived from the mine and the next day we pulled up camp, 

 loaded our deer aud skins in the wagon, and set out for- 

 borne. The game killed on this trip consisted of 11 goats, 6 

 deer, 1 wolverine, a number of rabbits, and a gunuysack full 

 of grouse. It was with many regrets, for we were leaving 

 our happy hunting grounds behind us. I cannot call to 

 mind a more enjoyable aud successful trip, and will never 

 forget my first hunt for the Rocky Mountain goat. We ar- 

 rived at our headquarters late, but in excellent spirits, and 

 after partaking of a delicious meal soon retired to our cozy 

 and comfortable quarters. The next morning I was busily 

 Gngaged with my different skins for preservation, In the 

 afternoon Charles aud I rode down to Junction Bar, enjoy- 

 ing a refreshing hath in a comfortable bath house built over 

 a hot sulphur spring. We remained a little while in the tavern 

 of our old friend Billy, wiro had heard that deer were pass- 

 ing through the neighboring mountains, and as he was out 

 of meat, we promised to come down from the mine the next 

 day and enjoy another little hunt. Putting a few camp aud 

 cooking utensils in the wagon, we were soon on our way to 

 Goose Creek. 



Leaving our wagon iu a beautiful park like plateau, we 

 packed the rest of the way on our ponies, following an un- 

 frequented and overgrown trail through a thickly- timbered 

 forest, arid arrived quite late at our camping spot on a creek 

 in a gulch near the head of the mountain. Next day we 

 started out early. Billy was the only lucky one, killing a 

 Pat buck fawn. The deer must have left the mountains for 

 "High Prairie" on the way to their winter range, when they 

 return in spring as soon as the snow begins to leave the 

 mountains. We. saw plenty of fresh xigns, and at some 

 places the ground was literally torn up with their tracks. 

 We held a council the next day, and prepared for our depar- 

 ture out of the mountains, as we were running the risk of a 

 snowstorm, which is equal to imprisonment till spring in 

 these mouutaius. We [racked our camp truck and deer on 

 the ponies, having another hard tussle through brush and 

 windfalls until we gained the grove where we had left our 

 wagon; but before unpacking and harnessing the horses, 

 Frank took a very successful picture of our trailing outfit. 

 Having a fair road from here wc soon reached the mining 

 camp. 



Next day, Friday, Nov. 14, I improved my time mostly 

 with the peaceful and domestic avocation of washing and 

 mending my rather hard-telling clothes. I would have given 

 a good deal if my r wife could have seeu me at the washtub, 

 or admiring my dexterous perfection in mending, darning 

 and sewing. I wouud up my day's work with writing a few 

 letters and reading some Pastern news which had just ar- 

 rived, feeling especially' interested in the presidential elec- 

 tion. 



Waking up late Sunday r morning wc found everything 

 covered with snow. The exceptionally fine weather seems to 

 be at an end, and we began to think in earnest of our home 

 journey. We stirred early the following morning, and after 

 breakfast were ready to depart. 



Tuesday, Nov. 18, after a good night's rest, we hunted in 

 different directions the foothills and gulches sloping toward 

 High Prairie, and managed to secure three fine blacktails, 

 bringing to camp only a small fawn for immediate use, leav- 

 ing the other two, as we intended to move camp next day 

 a little further into the hills, near Lime Creek, they being 

 more accessible from that camp. Moving our camp next 

 day we hunted only a little, and II. killed a two-year old 

 buck. 



Thursday, Nov. 20, we all started in good time, and 

 counted eight fine deer for our day's sport. Friend Frank, 

 who had been exceptionally unfortunate, not having had a 

 glimpse of a deer on this hunt, succeeded in killing a large 

 doe and a fine fawn that day. It took us all next day to 

 pack the game to camp Having hunted the surrounding 

 grounds pretty thoroughly, we decided for the morrow on a 

 hunt to the yet unexplored foothills and gulches of Wood 

 Creek. 



We started in the morning before daybreak on our long 

 tramp, but not seeing many deer, the two brothers Charles 

 and Billy were the only successful ones, killing three deer. 

 All hands feeling pretty well tired out, soon after supper we 

 turned into our wigwam. Sunday, Nov. 23, Charles and 

 Billy rode over, bringing in tire last victims of our hunt, the 

 total number of fifteen blacktails, considering it sufficient 

 for their winter's supply, and uot being game butchers, we 

 also felt contented with the results of our few days' hunt. 

 After the others had gone back w r e tinkered around camp 

 until supper, after which we rolled up in our blankets. 

 Several days later, while we were at breakfast, a trapper 

 who had camped near by came over to pay us a visit and 

 gain some information. Hearing that we wanted to dispose 

 of our outfit, he made us an offer for our horses, which we 

 declined, as we intended to sell horses, team, in fact the 

 whole camping business iu one bargain. He having no use 

 for a wagon, following mostly trails passable onlv for horses, 

 left us. 



Arrived at Mountain Home Station, we sold our horses 

 and wagons, and exchanged our hunting garments for those 

 of civilization. Frank was to visit San Francisco, while I 

 was bound direct for my Eastern home. 



The next morning, Nov. 30, we had to rise very early, as 

 the train which was to carry me east left Mountain Home at 

 4:30 A. M. Taking a hasty breakfast, Frank, who insisted 

 to see me off, accompanied me to the depot, where the train 

 had just arrived, he intending to take one in the afternoon 

 for the West, One more handshake and a last "au vevoir" 

 and the train had left the station. 



Let me whisper a word of advice to the stay-at homes of 

 the East, who imagine the mole hills near their doors are 

 mountains, their little cascades great waterfalls, and the 

 neighboring gullies and ridges, grand scenery, or if you have 

 traveled in Europe and never seen your own country, take 

 my word for it, the scenery in America eclipses it tenfold in 

 grandeur and magnificence, and I will finish with Horace 

 'Greeley's advice, "Co West." F. B-T. 



T 



THE PUGET SOUND COUNTRY. 



O the lover of the rod and gun, no more inviting field 

 A can be presented than Washington Territory', and espe- 

 cially that portion west of the Cascade Mountains, which is 

 known as the Puget Sound Country. I wish in this article 

 to give to your Eastern readers, as briefly as possible, an idea 

 of the resources in game and fish of this portion of the Ter- 

 ritory. In order that a thorough understanding of the sub- 

 ject may be had, a brief description of the geographical 

 features, climate, etc., will be proper. 



The Territory is divided by the Cascade Range or moun- 

 tains, which traverse the Territory from north to south, into 

 two portions, widely dissimilar in climate and soil, and as a 

 natural sequence, animal and vegetable productions. I shall 

 leave the eastern portion to some future article, and speak 

 here only of the country surrounding Puget Sound. The 

 present winter has made' itself felt in so marked a degree in 

 the Eastern States that the first thing suggesting itself to 

 the average person in the consideration of an unknown 

 country, would Ire the climate. This with us is mild and 

 salubrious. Extremes of heat aud cold are rare. The two 

 winters ending with the present one have been the most 

 severe experienced here in a period of more than twenty 

 years, and in neither winter did the mercury fall below zero. 

 As a rule we have a week or ten days of frosty weather, 

 during which the temperature may fall as low as twenty 

 degrees above zero, but these "cold spells" are i on. „ 



during the winter we have from two to six weeks of uninter- 

 rupted sunshine, the mercury during that time never falling 

 below the freezing point. But little snow falls, and what 

 little we have rarely remains for more than twenty-four 

 hours. 



The rainfall averages about forty-five inches at most points 

 on the Sound, though there arc spots where it is much 

 greater, notably at JNeah Bay, near the mouth of the Straits 

 of Juan de Fuca, where they have had as high as one hund- 

 red and thirty inches in one year. Our climate is tempered 

 like that of England, by a warm ocean current coming from 

 the south, ours being the Japan current. It strikes full 

 against the shores of the Territory, and the winds which 

 come commonly from the southwest in the winter season, 

 come laden with warmth and moisture. Striking the colder- 

 si rat urn of air which hangs over the land, this moisture con- 

 denses and falls in gentle rains over the country. As Iheard 

 a gentleman remark a short time ago, this is a fine climate. 

 There is nothing changeable about it. It rains all the time. 

 Our climate-, however^ has been much slandered. The usual 

 idea abroad is that we are perpetually water-soaked here and 

 that the old Puget Sounder, like (he old resident of Oregon, 

 has webbed feet. The fact is, however, that we have little, 

 if any, more rain than the average of the Eastern States. 

 The water of the Sound is of about the same temperature all 

 the year, about fifty- two degrees. 



Our summers are equalled not even by those of California 

 lor beauty. Commencing about the first of May, they ex- 

 tend far into the months which are winter on the Atlantic 

 coast. Extreme heat is as rare as extreme cold. The tem- 

 perature is commonly during the day about seventy, while 

 as soon as the sun goes down a refreshing coolness pervades 

 the atmosphere. Sultry, oppressive nights are unknown. 

 There are few nights during the year when one is not com- 

 fortable under a good heavy pair of blankets. Occasional 

 showers fall in the summer months. Thunder storms in the 

 eastern acceptance of the term are unknown, though when a 

 shower 1 chances to be passing over on a warm day, occasional 

 low rumblings of thunder axe sometimes heard. Under these 

 climatic conditions it will be seen that an out-of-door life is 

 enjoyable during most of the year. 



Puget Sound, one of the great island seas of America, 

 enters the land at about 48° 20' north latitude, with a 

 breadth of some twenty miles, and sweeping easterly for 

 about seventy -five miles, expands into a body of water hav- 

 ing a diameter of about thirty miles. It is known from its 

 entrance to this point as the Straits of Juan de Fuca, From 

 the Straits a passage runs northerly and expands into the 

 Gulf of Georgia. On the south, Admiralty Inlet commences 

 and runs south for about sixty miles, with a width of from 

 five to fifteen miles, and then expands into Puget Sound 

 proper, although all of the waters south of the Straights arc 

 in local parlance termed Puget Sound. Inlets and bay r s in- 

 numerable indent the coast line, and at short intervals beau- 

 tiful clear streams flow from the mountains on either side 

 through their rich valleys into the Sound. 



Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound taken together have a 

 shore line of about 500 miles. The waters are deep, the 

 shores bold. There are numerous fine harbors affording; 

 good anchorage. From the shores of the Sound the country 

 rises gently to the foothills of the cascades on the east. From 

 there to the summit, fifty or sixty miles from the Sound, the 

 rise is more abrupt. On the west the Olympic range of 

 mountains commences at the water's edge and fills the whole 

 of the country between the Sound and the Pacific. These 

 mountains cover a wild region which has been but little ex- 

 plored. The soil in all of the river bottoms is rich, and most 

 of the valleys are well settled. On the uplands the soil is 

 not so good and is more difficult to clear, owing to the char- 

 acter of the timber, which on the high lauds is almost entirely 

 fir. The entire country is covered with a thick growth of 

 timber, with the exception of a few small prairies, which arc 

 mere dots on the vast expanse of timber. Fir- is the predom- 

 inating growth, and it covers the land in vast illimitable for- 

 ests and grows to a great size. There is also a great deal of 

 cedar, as well as pine, tamarack, hemlock, spruce, ash, alder 

 and maple. The bottom lands are covered with a dense 

 growth of ash, maple, Cottonwood aud aider, but the clear- 

 ing of them is not difficult. 



The towns of this region are not numerous. Seattle, the 



chief town of the Territory, has a population of twelve 



thousand, nine thousand of which has been added since 



! 18T8. It has many line buildings, among them many fine 



