S62 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Deo. 2, 1886. 



A.adr6m all communimUom to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



LAKE ST. FRANCIS. 



PEOBABLY no river of tlie world is worthier of ad- 

 miration and respect than the St. Lawi'ence. It 

 carries to the sea the flood of waters of the greatest lakes; 

 it bears them deeply and gently from the outlet of Lalce 

 Ontario through a thousand islands; it tumbles and rushes 

 them with the cuiTent of a mill race in white-capped 

 waves down its rapids; it sweeps them along banks lined, 

 on the left, with white cottages and ancient country 

 seats, and on the right with forests and fields; down by 

 the stately cities of rich Montreal and ancient Quebec, 

 flowing them between the lofty and precipitous rocks of 

 the lower river, and pouriag them at length into the 

 broad arm of the ocean. What world-traveled man can 

 ever forget it? It is calm, it is strong, it is mad, it is 

 majestic and it is beautiful. To the writer, in late Octo- 

 ber weather, it seemed doubly enchanting. Set in the 

 russet frame of autumn foliage, the blue of its clear, fresh 

 water came out in deepest hues. It was a worthy path- 

 way for the daring discoverers from la belle France, whose 

 spirits, restless in the old world, longed for lands that 

 were new — for Cartier, Champlain, La Salle, Frontenac, 

 Cliarlevoix and the rest. On its shores the red man — Hu- 

 ron and Iroquois — hunted and lodged long before them, 

 and afterward and now the Briton — ^English, Scotch and 

 Irishman — held and holds a wrested possession, permit- 

 ting to the home-lovmg French their numerous and vested 

 rights. These races, together with the plentiful progeny 

 of their intermarriage — "Canucks" and half breeds — in- 

 habit the river, tilling broad farms, boating and rafting, 

 or engaged in trade in the great cities. In religion, the 

 church of Eome never had more f aitMul children, cling- 

 ing to every ancient superstition, than are found here, and 

 cheek by jowl with these are as sturdy Presbyterians as 

 any in CromweU's time. Such, faintly and briefly indi- 

 cated, is the natm-e, the history and the charm of the St. 

 Lawrence. Add to this that your correspondent was in 

 quest of good hunting ground on the wide territory of the 

 river, seeking it, too, %\'ith all the equipments that serve 

 to furnish success with comfort and even lujxury, and 

 there is no honest sijortsman — and they are all honest — 

 who would not envy his lot, if envy ever found place with 

 such a person. 



Lake St. Francis is a great widening of the St. Law- 

 rence, about foriy-five miles above Montreal. It is, 

 approximately speaking, twenty-five miles long and from 

 six to seven miles broad, very shallow for the most part, 

 with devious deep channels, the lines of the true river, 

 which is navigated by craft of all kinds under the guid- 

 ance of trained pilots. The lake furnishes fat feeding 

 ground for those strong-winged birds whom sportsmen 

 love to pursue — ducks and geese. The people of Lancas- 

 ter, a little village of county Glengarry on the north shore 

 of the lake, will teU you that from the time the migratory 

 flocks of Canada geese, of ducks — redhead, broadbills, 

 bluebills, black duck, wlustlers, widgeons and the rest — 

 lift themselves on the approach of winter from their wild 

 breeding places in Labrador and start away in earnest 

 thousands of miles for the Chesapeake and the Cai'olinas, 

 they rest but once, and then at Lake St. Francis. 



The Ruth, a modern steam yacht of rich and complete 

 appointments, having a small arsenal of gims and ammu- 

 nition aboard, and larder and cellar (?) teeming with sub- 

 sistence and cheer, cook and cabin boy, left the port of 

 Oswego one cloudless morning of last October for this 

 happy hunting groxmd with the owner and two supercar- 

 goes, the happy hunters. After a breezy voyage across 

 Lake Ontario, touching at Cape Vincent, 'we slid through 

 the Thousand Islands, which, with their silent and ten- 

 antless hotels and cottages, were (to paraphi-ase Hood) 

 like "a banquet hall desei-ted, whose guests were fled and 

 garlands dead and all departed." 



At Alexandria Bay me took in decoys, boats and boat- 

 men Charmcey and George, and steamed on to Ogdens- 

 burgh, arri\4ng there late in the afternoon and spent the 

 night, taking a pilot and drawing a breath, as it were, 

 before taking the rapids. Again the sun rose cloudless, 

 and as we sat at breakfast the craft began her swift run 

 down hiU. In her pilot house an old pilot of the river, 

 Capt. Savage, home ruler and "agin" Sir John Macdonald, 

 had the wheel, and as we swept by islands, beyond shoals 

 and down rapids — the Gallon and'Raiaide du Plan — he dis- 

 coursed volubly on the old "R'yalists," the political dis- 

 contents and wrongs of Canada and amiexation. It was 

 only when the breaiiers of the Long Sault hove ia sight 

 that the maxim of the sea "Do not speak to the ma,n at 

 the wheel" was in force by silent consent. To us who 

 had made the passage— safe enough, but always thrilling 

 — years ago, this seemed like a new experience. The 

 situation commands silence, and, as we shot through the 

 narrow passage of the South Sault between the high, 

 rocky and wooded banks and heard the roar of the mighty 

 current and saw and felt its unleashed power, even the 

 skipper's eyes, accustomed as they were to such surround- 

 ings, lit up with excitement. 



In early af tei-noon we swept into the calm and jjlacid 

 Lake St. Fi-ancis, and as we steamed quietly along lazy 

 ducks, reluctantly taking wing at our intrusion, curved 

 back in long flights upon our wake. By dusk we had a 

 sure anchorage in clay bottom under the lee of the shore 

 and to the musical swish of the light waves along the 

 Euth's sides we discussed dinner and our prospective sport 

 with keen appetites. A short interim of talk and to- 

 bacco precedes an early to bed. 



It was early to rise of course, and while the streaks of 

 dawn first began "to lace the eastern sky" the writer was 

 well on the way to a little island far off on the horizon 

 amid stream. It was hardlj^ large enough for the shoot- 

 ing box, now empty and closely barred, which some en- 

 terprising officials of the Grand Tnink P^ailroad had 

 erected on it. Soon were our decoys out and we wei-e 

 ensconced behind a stone blind topped with bushes. Down 

 the river Point Monie begins to take shape in the dusk of 

 the morning and away to the east the spire of the French 

 village of St. Ancien rises out of the mist. "Mark," 

 whispers Chauncy, to whom a sunrise is no novelty. 

 "Mark," is the reply. "They are swinging." "No." 

 "Yes." "Let them come right on." "Broadbills." "Take 

 them as they hover and then again." 



Bang, bang, bang! The witer in his excitement fails 

 to let off his second barrel, but, notwithstanding, contem- 



plates with swelling breast one of the three victims as his 

 own. Scarcely has Chauncey retrieved the dead and slid 

 the skiff back in its hiding place among the rushes, when, 

 like a bolt from a gun, a whistler shoots down from mid- 

 air and scatters the water right and left as he settles 

 lumself among the decoys. As the form of the gunner 

 rises above the bhnd, in consternation the duck staggers 

 to his wings and is well under way before the tyi-o sees 

 fit to cut loose at him. It is in vain, but Chauncey 's five 

 drams and sure aim drop him like a shot. Here comes a 

 half dozen, fairly dusting the surface of the water in then- 

 rapid flight. They have yellow bills and yellow legs, and 

 as they throw their heads back and tails forward to light 

 one is reminded of a line of soldiers presenting arms. 

 Three fall at the double rejioi-t, and three swerve and get 

 away. They are sawbills, a worthless crew. Now a pair 

 of butterballs, a crested male and the female, bowl into 

 the decoys and are dispatched quicker than one can say 

 "Jack Robinson." Again a swift-flying flock of redheads 

 coming down the wind drop their lofty Une of flight to 

 yiew this feeding ground, and, discovering the Im-king 

 foe, climb into the skies again, all safe but two that have 

 dropped to the guns like clods of earth. 



All the morning houi-s the feathered tribe come trail- 

 ing up the river, now so far off on the distant shore, now 

 so low, hitting to all appearances the tilting waves with 

 their wings, that the lure escapes then- observation, but 

 perhaps the thu-d lot, a single, a pair or a bunch, sweep 

 in as though on an invitation to dinner for which they 

 were late. We have thirty or so by 1 o'clock, and having 

 whanged away enough spare the rest and take the long 

 row to the yacht, where dinner is just going on. Hard 

 tack and cold bacon would have been toothsome after so 

 much out of doors, but when it came to ' 'both soup, mate 

 and fish," as a Hibernian once remarked of a dinner, no 

 wonder all hands Avere "floored" at the end. It was mild 

 enough to sit on deck before going to bed to smoke and 

 chat, to watch the stars, "the patins of bright gold," to 

 listen to the loon off in the stream with patient regularity 

 uttering his hquid and prophetic cry, and to feel the cool 

 breath of the wind. 



So the days came and went, this one spent patiently 

 sitting in the skiff amid tall plumes of wUd rice, the next 

 beliind a blind on some rocky point of land; to-day rainy 

 and cold, to-morrow fairer than summer and nearly as 

 soft. An Indian summer seemed abroad much of the 

 time. Far to the east and to the west the river and the 

 sky Avere inseparable; islands embowered with trees los- 

 ing their footing in the stream, floated above its bosom or 

 sank away untU only their leafy crowns Avere Adsible 

 above the surface. The light wind died out and a still- 

 ness so deep pervaded the Av^ater, the islands and the 

 marsh that the paddle dip of some Indian's canoe making 

 the cu'cuit of his muskrat traps on the far distant shore 

 fell on the ear sharp and di.stinct. 



The best day's score for two guns was fifty ducks and 

 \\dth that came an end. The Ruth weighed anchor, took 

 pilot and ttu-ned her prow against the current and toward 

 home. As she ploAved the waters of the lake the feathered 

 broods apparently celebrating her departm-e, rose in 

 clouds before her and settled again in swamp and cove to 

 the business of feeding and visiting, to be unmolested, 

 perhaps, even mitil more nipping frosts and storms of 

 snow should come to urge them on "to sunnier lands 

 Avhere blow the fairer blossoms of a balmier weather." 



G. T, C. 



0SA\rEGO, N. Y. 



J, C. HUGHES. 



A KOTHER good man has gone OA^er to the majority, leaA'. 

 ing behind him a host of sorrowing friends. Josias Ghai'les 

 Hughes died at his residence in New Westminster, Britisli Colum- 

 bia, on the morning of November 8. He was born at Omemee, 

 Ont., on May 15, 1843, and was so only about forty-three years of 

 age. He was one of a party of about twenty Avho left Peterboro, 

 Ont., on March 12, 1862, to seek their fortunes in British Columbia. 

 He reached New Westminster early in May and soon after was 

 employed as express messenger for Deitz & Nelson's express be- 

 tween that city and Yale. This position ho held until 1867, when 

 the firm obtained an interest in Moody's mill at Moodyville, and 

 Mr. Hughes was transferred to that place, where he remained 

 until 1876. "\^'l^ile at Moodyxille he was in 1871 elected as one of 

 the representatives of the district to the first popular l/eglslature 

 and af terAvard received the appointment of Government Agent at 

 New Westminster. This position he held until two years ago. 

 Last, summer he was appointed Indian Agent at Fort Simpson on 

 the NorthAvest coast, near the Alaskan boundary. During a visit 

 to this place the first symptoms of his final illness made their 

 appearance. 



Mr. Hughes was a prominent Mason, being Past Grand Master 

 of the lodges at New Westminster and Moodyville. 



He was a keen and untiring sportsman and an ardent lover of 

 nature as Avell as a close observer. He Avas a frequent contributor 

 to FOBEST AND Stkwaai, and in years gone by his pseudonym 

 ''Mowitch" was well known to all our readers. Of late years he 

 has Avritten over his own name. He was, we believe, the first to 

 suggest the explanation of the AveU-knoAvn fact that a deer killed 

 in Avater while wearing the summer coat Avill always sink, AvMle 

 one wearing the autumnal coat will float. Mr. Hughes explained 

 that this difference was due to the greater amoimt and buoyancy 

 of the longer and thicker hair. His fondness for outdoor life gave 

 him exceptional opportunities for observation and study, and he 

 made many interesting additions to our knowledge of the habits 

 of the birds and mammals of tlie Northwest coast. Long associa- 

 tion with Indians had given Mr. Hughes a thorough knowledge of 

 these people, and it is most nntortimate for the Canadian Indian 

 Service that he Avas not spared to carry out his work at Fort 

 Simpson. He had returned from his place to get his family and 

 got as far as Victoria on his return journey Avhen his illness be- 

 came so severe that he Avas obliged to return to Victoria, Avhere he 

 died. 



It is Avith a sense of personal bereavement that we pen these 

 lines, for it was our good fortime to knoAV Mr. Hughes in- 

 timately and to have taken part with him in more than one suc- 

 cessful hunt. He was a man of most genial nature and was every- 

 Avhere populai', and not only this, but he Avas admired, respected 

 and loved by all who siTieAV him. He leaves a Avife and three chil- 

 di'en. 



IzAAK Walton's Clock. — The London Fishing Gazette 

 says that at the late sale of the jsroperty of Mr. Maas, a 

 clock, which had belonged to Izaak Walton, fetched 

 nearly $350, It was marked "I, W.," with inlaid letters, 

 and was bought by ftlr. Maas some time ago for $125. 

 Documentary evidence is said to exist A\'hich proves that 

 the clock once belonged to Walton. 



Aai/ress all eorrmmiicatlons to the Forest and Stream Pm6. Co. 



BUFFALO HYBRIDS. 



MR. C. GOODNIGHT, of the cattle firm of Adair & ■ 

 Goodnight, Palodura, Armstrong coimty, Texas, 

 has written to Mr. William King, of tliis city (of trap- 

 shooting fame), the following, in reply to Mr. King's in- 

 qiuries on the subject, and we are indebted to Mr. King's 

 courtesy for permission to publish them: 



I have been among the buffalo for thirty years. When 

 I first came to this country they Avere here by thousands, 

 so numerous that we had to keep them back to secure 

 feed for oiur cattle. In 1878-79, the years of greatest 

 slaughter in this part of the western cotmtry, they Avere 

 so thinned out that their ultimate disappearance was then 

 clearly foreseen. 



In the spring of 1879, at the suggestion of Mrs. Good- 

 night, I roped and brought in a few calves to domesticate 

 and preserve as mementoes of the past. We have now 

 nine in our little herd, being the largest number I know 

 of anywhere. They were not gathered up for profit, but 

 merely to experiment Avdth and for the amusement of 

 ourselves and others Avho might chance to come here. I 

 hope, hoAvever, to make some experiments with them, 

 and am trying some at present with rather poor success. 

 The buffalo avlII not breed to the domestic cow imless 

 they are reared together, when they readily cross. My 

 obseiwation is that the dun cows ai-e" more likely to meet 

 his fancy than red ones. Out of hundreds of trials, how- 

 ever, we have never succeeded in having more than one 

 hybrid. Tliat was a cow calf, the offspring of a buffalo 

 bull and a domestic cow. When grown it was bred to a 

 Hereford, but without issue. Bred to a buffalo it gave 

 birth to a bull calf, which, in appearance, closely re- 

 sembles a pure buffalo; so near is it that only an expert 

 judge could detect any distinction. This only proves tlie 

 purity of the buffalo blood, which we knew before, 



Tlie domestic brdl will take no notice of buffalo cows, 

 unless it be raised Avith them; and this is difficult to accoin- 

 plish, for the buffalo will not regard any yoimg but their 

 own. Their own they defend Avith the "ferocity of a griz- 

 zly bear. 



I noAv have some half polled Angus cows with the 

 buffalo, and hope in the course of a year or two to have 

 some results. The half-breed coav above alluded to is a 

 rather pecuMar appearing beast, resembling domestic cow 

 very little, and buffalo not A^ery much. She is a striped 

 brindle, and is more docile than the others. If home 

 reared buffalo beef be ever eaten it Avill be a long way in 

 the future, and then more a matter of luxtury and curios- 

 ity than as a staple. It will be very expensive. Buffalo 

 are liard to breed, breed more slowly than common cattle, 

 are difficult to handle, and are dangerous pets. One can- 

 not go afoot among them when they have young any 

 more than one could go into a bear's den. When in 

 season they are very savage. At no time are they very 

 safe for strangers or women. The wild buffalo is a thing 

 of the past on this continent. C. GooDNiaHT. 



A Golden Eagle in Connecticut.— Stamford, Conn., 

 Nov. 9. — Editor Forest and Stream: I recently heard a 

 rumor of the capture of an eagle near this place. On 

 further inquiiy I learned that the bird had been pur- 

 chased by Mr^ J. Schaler, a taxidermist of this place. 

 On Sunday the 6th inst. I called on Sir-. Schaler and in- 

 quired as to tlie tiaith of the report. I found him at home 

 and quite AviUing to exldbit his prize, Avhich is alive, the 

 only injury received being a broken Aving. The bird is a 

 very large golden eagle {A. chrij.^aetus) in full plumage. 

 The head is golden broAvn, breast black, legs feathered to 

 base of toes, claws large, eyes dark brown, bill hooked 

 and of a dark color the same as claws, feet yellow, tail of 

 a grayish white bounded by a dark band at end of feath- 

 ers, back dark color. Could not obtain measurements, but 

 should tliink height betAveen 2 and 3ft. Mr. S. says that 

 its spread of Aving is nearly 6ft. Since captm-e has been 

 fed on young chickens and sparrows. — Inquirek. 



"Coon" Cats.— Editor Forest and Stream: Your cor- 

 respondent, "G. D. C," of Hartford, Coim., wants to 

 knoAv the origin of the Maine coon cats. I can teU him 

 in a few words: For years the Maine sailing ships traded 

 in the Levant, and many of the officers and men brought 

 Angora cats home with them. These cats interbred with 

 the common cats and hence the variety of color and 

 marking. The coast inliabitants, ignorant of the tme 

 name of the new cat, naturally called it after the animal 

 it most nearly resembled. Rockland, Me., is overrun 

 with these cats, and if "G. D. C." wiU write to Shipping 

 Commissioner Randlett, of that place, he can get any 

 number for two dollars a piece. 1 have a fine tortoise 

 shell Angora I bought from Mr. Eandlett last year, and 

 having been in Rockland a few weeks since am sure he 

 can furnish more at short notice. — A. C. H. (New York, 

 Nov. 25). 



The Audubon Society.— Minier, 111.— ^diYor Forest 

 and Stream: In looking over the names of the eminent 

 men who have sent in their approval of the Audubon 

 Society, none has given me more pleasure than the name 

 of John G. Whittier. As president of the Forestry Con- 

 gress of America his remark on ' 'om- forests and birds" 

 delighted me. I regret he had not left out the second and 

 third words in his second paragraph. Please ask him to 

 eliminate them, and then let me take out all the poetical 

 fancy, and let all "the shooters of bicds, the taxidermists, 

 and the fashionable wearers of their feathers" really feel 

 what the poet imagines. — Geo. W. Miniek. 



Buffalo Extebmination.— The La Moure (Dakota) 

 Progress, of Nov, 21, says: "A herd of five buffalo have 

 been seen by several persons in the hills in the western 

 part of the county, and numerous parties have come 

 across their traU. We shall probably hear of the ca,pture 

 of some of these rather scarce animals this Avtnter, as two 

 or three himting parties are ahready making preparations 

 to that end," So it goes. Whenever a sirrviving buffalo 

 makes his appearance in any locality the whole region 

 tm-ns out to try to kill it. What a shame it is that these 

 animals have 'had no protection, imtil now they are as 

 rare as the aur ochs of Europe, and like that species ar^ 

 found only in preserves. 



