May SO, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



827 



DAYS WITH THE BARMECIDE CLUB. 



WHEN the spring with its blight young face is full of 

 curious movements and the vagabond blood of the 

 angler begins to bubble, when the meadows are yellow with 

 buttercups and daisies, and the slightly sweetened tones of 

 the German band are heard on the corners, when violets car- 

 pet the turf and emit their perfume, when the sap is racing 

 and the maple buds are swelling and the returning birds are 

 ravishing the ear with their exquisite notes, and when our 

 acquaintance with all the other multitudinous trademarks of 

 spring which need no copyrighting is renewed, we become 

 exposed to the influence of spring fever and inoculated with 

 the inspiring malady. 



We know the terribly disastrous effect that all work and 

 no play had on poor Jack; so to avoid that danger three of 

 us resolve to expunge the word business from our vocabulary, 

 recover our first identity, and if we must be busy, be busy 

 angling, tramping, rowiog, learning some of the wondrous 

 ways and mysteries of nature, living with no anxious 

 thoughts of the morrow, and rollicking in the exuberance 

 of increasing health and strength. 



After very little discussion between the three individuals 

 who feared the contagion of supineness and who were 

 thoroughly familiar with the sovereign remedy therefor, the 

 old locality was again selected and preparations for a change 

 of air and scene completed. There were no tenderfeet in- 

 cluded in the brotherhood, for all had from many years of 

 practice and experience become familiar if not expert with 

 rod and gun, oar and paddle, inured to long tramps and 

 heavy loads, missing meals and camping where night over- 

 took us. "We were models of good nature and brotherly 

 love, with "malice toward none and charity for all;" but 

 there was a limit to even this kindliness, and we drew the 

 line at burdening ourselves with inexperience. It may 

 not be a judicious admission, but after many years t>f life in 

 the woods, on the plains, on lake and river and sea, I am 

 fain to admit that while my heart goes out in sympathy for 

 the tenderfoot, if he wants it, yet ninety and nine times in 

 the hundred I don't hanker after hirn out of his element. In 

 town he may be the cleverest, brightest and most genial of 

 fellows; but transferred to the woods, subject to dreuchings, 

 duckings, long tramps, mosquitoes, days wheu the fishes' 

 favors are nothing , and the petty discouragements and an- 

 noyances which come "not single spies but in battalions," 

 he's the devil and Tom Walker combined ; and one to quietly 

 endure his complaining must be possessed of more Christian 

 fortitude and resignation than is vested in me. They cer- 

 tainly have to learn, but we claim exemptiom from teaching 

 more of them. We have done our duty without a murmur, 

 and for this trip we do not propose to make ourselves un- 

 comfortable for a sentiment. Out for a day or two, it 

 matters not; but for several weeks outing we must know our 

 man thoroughly. 



All the paraphernalia which goes to make up the outfit of 

 the angler was in fighting condition. Rods, reels, lines and 

 flies had passed a pleasant winter, due to being properly 

 cared for at the finishing of last season's sport and an occa- 

 sional overhauling during the winter evenings. Ferrules 

 had been tested, frayed whippings replaced, lines and 

 leaders carefully examined, reels oiled, and in fact after a 

 careful diagnosis of our fishing tackle every precaution was 

 taken to have it in fighting trim at a moment's notice. 



An accident may occur at any time and place and from 

 innumerable causes and in spite of the greatest precautions, 

 but ailing when avoidable is inexcusable. As well might a 

 parent turn loose a favorite child in the autumn and let her 

 go uncared for until the spring time comes, gentle Annie, as 

 for an angler at the end of the season to loek up his tackle 

 and give it no thought until he needed it for service. Then 

 the keeping it in order is a pleasure and a duty. We went 

 to clean our own gun, repair our own tackle, and not do as 

 most physicians do when they are ailing, send for their 

 brother practitioners. 



Our ride on the railroad was over, and we were met at the 

 station by the big good-natured driver, who had met us for 

 the three previous years and taken us to the last house on 

 the road, from which we foot it to our lake. His turnout 

 was complete and one in which he took great pride, and 

 well he might. His horses, handsome chestnut geldings, 

 standing full fifteen two, with well laid and upright should- 

 ers, powerful hindquarters but not too heavy, broad, fiat 

 legs, barrel closely ribbed, plenty of chest and lung power, 

 thin ears, necks full and crested, and with a look of un- 

 doubted courage and unflinching gameness in their large and 

 sparkling eyes. 



"A roadster good, uot straddling high, 



Nor shuffling low, I find thee; 

 But stepping straight and cheerily, 

 Thou leav'st the miles behind thee." 



Well seasoned and hard as nails, with an elasticity in their 

 smooth strides, driving up on the bit, reading ten miles an 

 hour without an apparent effort, and pulling up strong 

 finishers, told, so far as a non-professional horseman can 

 judge, that their conformation was nearly perfect. 



We pulled up toward the middle of the afternoon at the 

 great, overgrown public house or tavern. This was the end 

 of our ride, for at this place the road bumped its nose against 

 the stable and disappeared in a stall. At the tavern we 

 found the usual crowd of hangers-on characteristic of such 

 places — boys with letters in the post office and "knowledge- 

 able" men waiting for invitations to drink. We had met the 

 same crowd too often and in too many places to pay much 

 attention to them. Glen, however, disposed of one of them 

 most thoroughly. The fellow remarked to one of his com- 

 panions in a way that Glen should hear, ' 'Here's a lot of 

 dandies, with their horse hair lines, little flies and flimsy 

 rods. Wonder what they'll reckon on ketchin' with sich an 

 outfit of tackle? Six-ounce rods be ding danged! I'll take 

 my old, stiff bamboo an' agree to discount the best man 

 among 'em, or I don't want a cent. Give me the stiff rod, a 

 stout line and a big hook, so I can make 'em come out of the 

 water swish afore they have time to think of flghtin'. I'd 

 make 'em do all their fightin' arter they git in the basket. 

 I'd have little of their nonsense under water arter they once 

 took holt." Glen, in a Chesterfieldian manner, entered into 

 the middle of things immediately by telling the fellow he had 

 better attend to his own affairs, if he had any, and not med- 

 dle with those of strangers. "I'll just be frank with you, 

 and we'll have a distinct understanding between us, that the 

 first one who indulges in any personalities or interferes by 

 word pr sign or look will find it rather unpleasant for him." 



Of course there was a little flurry and a flaring up on the 

 fellow's part at such plain talk, but Glen meant business, 

 which was soon understood and acknowledged; and when 

 this little affair was amicably settled we passed a pleasant 

 evening reviving old acquaintances and forming new ones. 

 It was not absolutely necessary for us to employ a guide, as 

 all of us were fully competent to perform all the duties of 

 cooking, chopping, carrying and the rest, and familiar with 

 the tangled wilderness through many years acquaintance; 

 but then a good guide is handy to have in the house, and we 

 secured one whom we know well. He was always willing to 

 go with us as he had little trouble, knowing we were workers 

 and he could have some sport on his own account, and we 

 were assured that we would not be subjected to extortionate 

 charges. 



Where the Barmecide Club goeth no man knoweth save 

 those directly interested; and 'we plead guilty to a certain 

 amount of selfishness regarding it, which searchers for quiet 

 sport might condemn. Some things are said to be too good 

 to keep. Our lake is not too good but just good enough ; and 

 it's more than twelve miles from a lemon. When one has 

 had to rustle around pretty diligently in search of such a 

 place he doeB not want to divulge it to Tom and his partners. 

 Not even our wives and sweethearts knew of our temporary 

 whereabouts and we told them that no news from us meant 

 all was well, and tbey were reconciled to kissing us good- 

 bye. Guide had arranged for transportation from the hotel 

 to our lake. The distance was about sixteen miles — and miles 

 in the woods at that. None of your common Guuter miles, 

 laid out with mathematical accuracy; but literal ones, where 

 the yards and rods are thrown in with sufficient prodigality 

 to prevent any dispute regarding short measure, and if there 

 is an extra half or three quarters on the last mile there is no 

 charge for it. 



Our traps were loaded on a home made sledge, drawn by 

 a pair of sorry looking bay horses, which resembled the 

 aforesaid miles, inasmuch as there was more to them than 

 appeared at a casual glance, and as our acquaintance with them 

 increased during the day's tramp our respect grew greater. 

 The principal ingredient of their harness was leather, but 

 there was a strong well-defined suspicion of wire and old rope, 

 and altogether the outfit was about as primitive as you could 

 find in a century's searching, but it was far and away better 

 than it looked. The horses were admirably trained for their 

 duties, and it was an interesting caution, the manner in 

 which they handled that sledge through the pathless entan- 

 glemeut of the forest; but they had a sovereign contempt for 

 roads and would climb over logs and go through dense un- 

 derbrush and windfalls without a serious hitch in the pro- 

 ceedings. Our traps were strapped and tied on ; and the 

 only things broken that day were our fast and an iron can- 

 opener, though the sledge was turned over a score of times 

 before we reached our camping ground. This was late in 

 the afternoon, but early enough to give us ample time to un- 

 load, cut the night's wood and atteud to various details con- 

 ducive to comfort. 



We launched our boats, which had been cached in a thick 

 growth of young hemlocks some little distance above the 

 shanty. We found them in good order with seats and oars, 

 just as they had been left a year before. The shanty had 

 evidently been tenantless since the previous summer, save 

 for the presence of the hedgehogs which, being unable to 

 write, had made their marks in the old bed of browse car- 

 peting the front and only room in the house. We took the 

 carpet up and laid a new one, so they'll not make their 

 mark on us. That was the only repairing we found neces- 

 sary, and then we prepared to enjoy our existence and solve 

 the problem of "is life worth living?" Millard. 



THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. 



ON Friday, May 7, at. the. close of a meeting of the Ladies' 

 Christian Union of New York, held at the Home of the 

 Society, 27 Washington Square, the subject of bird preser- 

 vation was introduced by the president of the Association, 

 Mrs. Thompson H. Hollisttr. Mrs. Frank Bottome made a 

 stirring address, calling attention to the wholesale destruc- 

 tion of North American bird life, aud to the responsibility 

 incurred by women in regard to this destruction. Her re- 

 marks excited great interest. Mrs. G. B. Grinnell gave an 

 account of the methods of the Audubon Society, and spoke 

 of the great work which it had accomplished, and pointed 

 out the benefits which would result from the spreading of 

 its doctrines among all classes of our people. The addresses 

 evoked great enthusiasm, and Mrs. Skidmore, the vice pres- 

 ident, moved that the Association in a body join the Audu- 

 bon Society, and do what it can to assist its work. The 

 motion was adopted unanimously. 



At the founding of the Audubon Society we had in 

 contemplation comprehensive measures for concentrated 

 efforts for the diffusion of the movement in New York, Bos- 

 ton, Philadelphia and other great cities of the Union, but 

 have not yet been able. to take the first steps in this direction. 

 Our preliminary measures consisted in inviting the opinions 

 of leading minds in every department of thought, the diffu- 

 sion of economic facts, bearing on the rapid extinction of 

 our once familiar birds; the publication of Our methods and 

 aims through the columns of our own widely diffused peri- 

 odical,*and in an appeal to the press to give publicity and 

 aid to the movement. The press has responded nobly— not 

 with the fiery zeal which characterizes political discussions, 

 nor with the energy with which it is wont to enforce one 

 side of a question which has undoubtedly another side with 

 a strong partisanship, but with the quiet assurance that it 

 was propagating important economic facts which were being 

 universally although thoughtlessly ignored, and a movement 

 designed to arrest an impending evil by an appeal to the pub- 

 lic intelligence and sense of social duty. 



As a consequence the seed thus sown broadcast over the 

 land, and cropping up in patches everywhere, has given 

 birth to a seemingly spontaneous growth of the movement, 

 involving a demand, for circulars, pledges and certificates of 

 membership, creating a current daily routine of correspond- 

 ence and registration which taxes all the energies of the gen- 

 eral secretary of the Society and his assistants to keep level 

 with, and renders it impossible to carry out the plan of 

 action originally contemplated. The movement is spreading 

 in second and third-class towns with a rapidity altogether 

 unparalleled by the great cities. This is only what might 

 have been foreseen. Wherever a few leading minds in the 

 smaller towns have grasped the movement, and thrown them- 

 selves energetically into it, they have been able to appeal to 



their whole community, while in the larger cities the efforts 

 of individuals who are not in a position to appeal to large 

 audiences from the pulpit or the platform, command but 

 little attention ; hence it is that neither New York, Philadel- 

 phia nor Boston contribute as large a membership as many 

 of the smaller towns in these States. Happily the obstacles 

 in the way of concentrated effort carry their remedy with 

 them. They are simply imposed by the rapidity of provin- 

 cial growth, which, receiving its first impulse from the cen- 

 ter, is now spreading outward from a thousand isolated cen- 

 ters with an energy which will not fail to include the great 

 cities in its spread. 



The leading branch societies, the membership of which has 

 come into the hundreds within the week, are Le Roy and 

 Utica in New York, Orange, N. J., and Davenport in Iowa. 

 Buffalo, too, has afforded very gratifying results, as have in- 

 numerable towns in Massachusetts," yielding a collective 

 whole perhaps equal to New York State. For the past three 

 weeks we have been issuing an average of a hundred and 

 fifty certificates daily, and the current correspondence de- 

 mands our attention so closely that to our extreme regret we 

 are unable to spare the time necessary to go over the pledges 

 received before the certificates were ready, and ascertain 

 where certificates are due. We should, consequently, be very 

 glad if all our secretaries and isolated members who sent 

 their pledges direct to us, would now send in their applica- 

 tions for certificates; in all cases furnishing a list of the 

 members for whom they claim. In some cases this is abso- 

 lutely necessary, as we have many pledges which afford no 

 clue to the local secretary who sent them, and in all cases it 

 would save us a great amount of labor. 



The friends of the movement will learn with pleasure that 

 it promises every assurance of ultimate success. Feather 

 millinery is beginning to be regarded as in questionable taste, 

 and the ultra devotees of fashion who asserted roundly that 

 they would not discard feathers as long as they remained in 

 vogue, have no longer the same satisfaction in their display, 

 now that every second or third person looks askance at them. 



EAGLES BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY. 



\ VERY interesting case of the breeding in confinement of 

 J\. the white-headed eagle (Halimtus kucocephalus) has re- 

 cently come under our notice and the facts and details are 

 certainly worth recording. The birds are a pair taken from the 

 nest when quite young by Mr. Henry Hulce of Toledo, O., 

 nearly six years ago, and ever since in his possession. Their 

 owner writes us as follows : 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



There has been at Eagle Point, five miles above the city 

 proper, a nest or family of eagles as long as the oldest inhab- 

 itants can remember, and they are there still. They are 

 what we call the true American eagle. Their principal food 

 is fresh fish or muskrats, but occasionally they pick up a 

 lamb or small pig. 



On June 6, 1880, I captured a pair of young eagles from 

 the nest in the top of a white oak tree, eighty-five feet from 

 the ground. They were probably about four weeks old at the 

 time. 



The first year their heads were dark in color; the second 

 year their heads began to turn white. At the end of six 

 years their heads are entirely white. Some people call 

 them the bald eagle, but I claim there are no bald eagles in 

 North America. 



On April 6, 1885, the female laid one egg, but it did not 

 hatch. 



On March 20, 1886, there were two eggs in the nest, and 

 April 26 one bird was hatched, which is eleven days old to-day. 

 It shows no sign of feathers, but is covered with a sort of 

 yellow down. 



I have handled the parent birds ever since they were 

 caught, but they are too proud and saucy now and I dare not 

 go inside the cage. 



The male bird measures, from tip to tip, six feet eight 

 inches; the female exactly seven feet. Henry Hulce. 



East Toledo, May 3, 18S6. 



Another and more full account is given by our Toledo cor- 

 respondent, "JayBebe": 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



In June, 1880, Mr. Henry Hulce, of the sixth ward, in this 

 city, took from a nest at Eagle Point, some five miles above 

 Toledo, a pair of eaglets, then about four or five weeks old. 

 These birds were the American bald or white headed eagle 

 {HaMmtus leucocephalus), and are now splendid specimens of 

 their kind, having matured greatly both in form and plumage 

 since I first made their acquaintance, some three years ago. 



For a long time Mr. Hulce kept them in a large cage made 

 of heavy wire, but about two years ago he fitted up in a 

 porch in the rear of his house where he had an eastern ex- 

 posure, a slatted inclosure some six by eight feet square and 

 eight feet high. Near the top of this he placed a box a foot 

 deep and three feet square, to serve as a nest. Last spring 

 for the first time the hen laid a single egg, and though she 

 sat upon it the full time it failed to hatch. 



Last March the female laid two eggs, and on the 5d6th of 

 April one of them hatched, the other proving infertile. It 

 is worthy of note that, according to Mr. Hulce's statement, 

 the period of incubation was just five weeks or thirty-five 

 days. This appears to be one week longer than the period 

 given by Wilson, who places it at four weeks. It is evident, 

 however, that a single instance could hardly affect the general 

 rule. During all the five weeks the female remained con- 

 stantly on the nest, where she was regularly supplied with 

 food by her male companion. 



When I saw the eaglet to-day, through the kindness of Mr. 

 Hulce, it had entered upon its second week with every pros- 

 pect of a prolonged existence. The mother remains closely 

 in the nest, and when she was persuaded to rise for a moment 

 I saw a mass of straw-colored down about the size of one's 

 clenched fish, and resembling .nothing so much as a very 

 young gosling. The only food of the newcomer thus far has 

 been raw fresh fish, which the mother tears into fragments 

 small enough for its purpose. 



A newspaper item recently published here speaks of the 

 hatching of two birds. The facts, however, are as herein 

 stated, and what I have written is the result of personal in- 

 vestigation made to-day in accordance with your suggestion. 



Jay Bebe. 



Toledo, O., May 3, 1886. 



Crawfish.— Woodfords, Me.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I have never found the crawfish in Maine, but think he must 

 be a resident here. If not, would he be a valuable or other- 

 wise addition to our trout streams? Is he, as I suspect, an 

 eater of trout spawn, and how destructive is he to small 

 trout? Years ago I found him abounding in a small stream 



