Sept. 14, 1895.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



223 



we Started straight away up a high hill; and in seventy 

 minutes, of which at least thirty were spent in resting 

 and puffing under pine trees, we had gone one and a half 

 miles and ascended about 1,000ft — total above sea level 

 (Webber 6,925, ascent 1,000), 7,925ft. 1 found not only 

 the very pretty little lake set into the mountain top, but 

 as well that climbing at this latitude is hard work. 

 There was also a boat, whose lines indicated that in case 

 of need it 6ould without alteration be used as a wagon 

 box. 



Well, we tried that lake with flies, and we trolled with 

 a Wilson spinner on one side, an femerich on the other, 

 from one end to the other— not a very long pull fortu- 

 nately, for the surface is not over forty acres in extent; 

 but we didn't find a trout. Then Mr. O'Rear suggested a 

 trial at still-fishing with minnows, at a certain spot 

 where there was a break in the encircling shelf, and the 

 water was 10 or 12ft. deep. We did, and in less than a 

 minute I was fast to the largest trout that up to that 

 moment I had ever struck. For a little space he — or she 

 rather — fought, then surrendered; and in less than ten 

 minutes there was alongside, quiet enough to be picked 

 up (for we had forgotten to take a landing net), a female 

 Salmo salvalinus fontinalis, charr, eastern trout, which 

 weighed after bleeding 4£lbs , and this trout was lets 

 than four years old. undoubtedly one of the fry put in in 

 September, 1891. Ten minutes after readjusting I had 

 another strike that promised business. At the first dash 

 fully 30yds. rushed from my reel, so fast that onoe my tip 

 went into the water; then there was a dead stop. I 

 reeled in a little to start business, but there was no re- 

 sponse beyond the dead weight, and I brought that trout 

 alongside, as I might have done a dead one; nor did she 

 show life until Mr. O'Rear missed his clutch, when for a 

 minute or so she was lively. This too, as are all in the 

 lake, was an eastern trout weighing 3tlbs. I have had a 

 fish of not lib. weieht give me in the Adirondacks twice 

 as much work as did the two of combined weight 7flbs., 

 and neither was badly hurt in hooking. My hook was a 

 fly hook, about No. 14, stripped of its feathers, and my 

 rod was a light split-bamboo. There is but one thing to 

 account for the loss of the game qualities: they were 

 overgrown and fat. 



As the shades of night were falling fast, we returried to 

 the hotel, where, through the influence of my two fish, I 

 was accorded great honors and glory as high hook. Said 

 I to the pretty young lady, daughter of my host, who 

 took care of me at the table, "Am I too late for supper?" 

 Said she, "Indeed you are not; after what you have done 

 to-day, you are welcome to be late as you please, you will 

 be looked out for." 



The next day Judge Hunt and I started early for the 

 same lake, carrying our luncheon with us and a hundred 

 or more good minnows. We spent the forenoon in tanta- 

 lization. Right under us, and all around us, coming in 

 out of the gloom and going out again, were many great 

 trout, one at least we were! sure considerably larger than 

 my big one of the day before; but they treated our min- 

 nows with silent disdain.. It was like looking into an 

 aquarium, and a very pretty sight it was. But they had 

 breakfasted; and at noon we left them, and after our 

 lunch waited until 3 P. M., then started to try them 

 again, first with fly and spinner, as on the day before, 

 then with the minnow; and we were soon having sport 

 again. But — there is so often a but — he, accustomed to 

 fly-fishing only, and I to having my boatman look out 

 for my minnows, we had neglected them, and we had 

 but five alive. With them we got five strikes, of which 

 we caught three, weighing from 2 to 31bs., the smaller a 

 male, which just before taking the Judge's hook had 

 taken mine, with so vigorous a dash out from and back 

 under a submerged tree trunk that he took my leader or 

 part of it as well, which the Judge returned to me a few 

 minutes after. It is a disputed point whether the fish in 

 this lake are reproducing. Our females all contained 

 spawn, but there is little if any positive testimony that 

 young trout have been seen in the lake. It is thought 

 that in the only suitable place for spawning — viz., the 

 outlet — the combined effect of the severe cold in winter, 

 together with the great mass of snow that accumulates, 

 freezes the stream to the bottom, and the superimposed 

 snow assists in crushing and killing the spawn. Mr. 

 O'Rear's son, a bright boy, old enough and experienced 

 enough to know a trout when he sees one, is positive that 

 in the spring he saw young trout in the outlet. There 

 were in the weights of the five fish we caught extremes 

 from 2 to 4£lbs., and we saw one we were sure was larger; 

 is not that too great a difference as between fish of the 

 same age, raised in the same small lake, and subject to the 

 same influences? I am inclined to believe that, while 

 probably many are killed by the winter, yet some escape, 

 and that the stock is increasing. Be this as it may, the 

 fish commissioners have put in a lot of black baes and the 

 chances are now against the trout. 



The flies, which on Webber Lake were the favorites, 

 were the caddis, black ant and coachman. Beside the 

 rainbow and eastern trout there is taken occasionally a 

 McCloud River, differing from the rainbow in that even 

 in the smaller fish the red stripe that marks the large 

 rainbow is also its peculiarity, and the many hued spots 

 which the young rainbow has along its sides are missing. 

 I compared a pair, each about 8in. long. 



Rainbows weighing from 5 to lOlbs. (I was told) have 

 been taken in this lake; the largest I saw was a 2-pound er. 

 If the fishing had not come to an end until September I 

 could have enjoyed a much longer stay at the Webber 

 Lake Hotel. There was a small but select coterie of 

 guests, and our evening reunions were as those of a 

 family. But I did want to catch a few trout without 

 having to climb a thousand feet to do it, and then still- 

 fish. So on Monday, July 29. after dinner, Judge Hunt 

 and I — for both enjoy stream fishing better than from a 

 boat — took our departure for Boca, a most convenient 

 resort on the Truckee River. The guests, the landlord 

 and his family, and I fancy every one from some miles 

 around assembled to bid us good-by and wish us good 

 luck, as at 2 P. M. we started in a comfortable spring 

 wagon, driven by Charlie — I guess that's the only name 

 he's known by— and at 6 P. M. he landed us at the Boca 

 Hotel, where we spent a few days most pleasantly and 

 profitably, as I will tell you next week. PiSECO. 



The Forest and Stream is put to press each week cm Tues- 

 day. Correspondence intended for publication should reach 

 ut at the latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable, 



GAME NOTES WITH PENCIL AND 

 CAMERA.— III. 



[Concluded from page 202.] 



When we reached the head of the north branch of 

 Warderley Brook we got out on the bog for a short tour 

 of inspection. Caribou sign was very abundant and there 

 was plenty of evidence of moose also, but we saw no game 

 in the flesh. Returning to the canoe we headed once 

 nlore for camp. While the stream was still very narrow in 

 turning a sharp bend we came upon deer number ten. 

 This was a magnificent buck whose spreading antlers al- 

 most rivaled those of an elk. He was standing facing 

 away from us and did not change his position when he 

 lifted his head and looked at us, warned of our approach 

 byaslight noise as the canoe slipped through the lilypads. 

 At that moment a fringe of low bushes still intervened in 

 front of the lens of the large camera, and fearing he 

 would not wait I raised the small camera and took a snap 

 shot. Contrary to all precedent the buck never budged, 

 but stcod there gazing at us with calm dignity. Jock waa 

 not slow to take advantage of the opportunity and as if by 



NUMBER TKN. 



magic I felt the canoe move into a better position. There 

 was not a sound and surely no apparent motion in the 

 man who handled the paddle so adroitly. 



The instant the bow was clear of the bushes I pressed 

 the bulb of the large camera, not a moment too soon, 

 however, for the buck had seen enough and was off. For 

 fully five minutes we heard him whistling. 



A short distance below we paddled right up to a doe in 

 plain sight and secured a photograph. She ran back and 

 whistled and protested if anything more vociferously than 

 the buck. No copyrighted actress ever made more fuss 

 over a similar occurrence. This was our eleventh and 

 last deer for the day. Dusk was fast approaching and 

 with it the air, for the first time since we had been in the 

 woods, had died away. This I think accounted for our 

 luck with the two last deer. 



Further down the stream we saw a muskrat swimming 

 close in the shadow of the darkest shore. Recollecting 

 that Jock had told me that muskrats have more than one 

 rutting season (though the last was probably over), I 

 suggested to him to try this rat and see if he could call 

 him. 



Jock pursued his lips together and forcing the air out a 

 little to one side made a whimpering sound, on hearing 

 which the muskrat changed his course and swam directly 

 toward the canoe. We both Bat motionless till he came 

 within perhaps 15ft. , when suddenly Jock raised his pad- 

 dle, and with a splash and ludicrous haste the rat had 

 changed ends and disappeared. "The beaver," com- 

 mented Jock, "makes two distinct splasheB when he 

 dives." 



We resolved to take advantage of the calm and try a 

 little flashlight photography that night, but it soon began 

 raining and the wind came up again, and we were obliged 

 to give up our plan. The following morning, however, 

 was an ideal day of the kind we had long been awaiting. 

 The sky was cloudy and low, and ithe air was perfectly 

 still. We got an early start and at 5 A. M. were already 

 some distance from camp. It was about this time that we 

 spied, far up the bank of the stream, three very dark- 

 colored creatures coming toward us at a jog trot, looking 

 not unlike mules on a towpath. At first we thought them 

 moose, but Jock goon saw they were not, and in a low 



tone conveyed the ^information that they were caribou. 

 Meanwhile he had been paddling swiftly toward them, 

 reversing the tactics adopted! with deer, which called for 

 a stealthy approach. 



The caribou were now plainly visible. Neither of the 

 three had horns, and from their size we judged them to 

 be a cow and yearling calves. They were quite black in 

 color as seen from in front, and they trotted alo^g with 

 the peculiar mincing step of circus ponies. Whether they 

 saw us or not at first I cannot say, but if so, they did not 

 pay the slightest attention to us. 



When about 100ft. distant two swerved as if to go 

 back on the bog, while the third stopped. Fearing to 

 wait any longer I made an exposure with the large 

 camera, which, it may be as well to state at once, did not 

 materialize, owing to the insufficient light. At this the 

 large caribou trotted over to the other two and together 

 they moved back on the bog. 



We could now see that their rumps and under parts 

 were white. 



Hoping to get another picture where I eould use a 

 slower exposure, I got Jock to put me ashore on the bog. 

 I intended to reload the large camera, but before I could 

 take any action the largest caribou came running back to 

 have another look at us. She came up to within 50. or 

 60ft. and looked us over critically as if to inquire our 

 business on the bog, and I recollect an impulse to throw 

 a stone at her. I refrained, however, and instead tried a 

 picture with the small camera. 



Hoping she would still stand, I then began preparations 

 for reloading the large camera, but she had other business 

 to attend to and left almost immediately, without how- 

 ever exhibiting any symptoms of alarm. 



I followed the three caribou for some distance, sighting 

 them occasionally, but they were going too fast, and I 

 soon had to give up the pursuit. When last sighted they 

 were traveling at about the same speed as when we had 

 first seen them. 



Our first deer for the day was the fiftieth seen since 

 entering the woods. We saw its back above a tussock at 

 the side of the stream, and approached till it was. within 

 the dead line of 100ft.. but bushes intervened, and the 

 deer, a doe, was off without presenting a good shot. 



Jock was standing up in the canoe looking over the bog 

 when I saw our fifty-first deer. This was a spike buck 

 that popped up his head from among the thick growth of a 

 swamp 60ft. to our left. I swung the large camera 

 around to cover him, but he had withdrawn his head. 



Number fifty-two was a small buck that we came upon 

 while rounding a bend in the stream. He was standing 

 erect fronting us, and his clean-cut limbs could be seen 

 down to the water's edge, which just covered his feet. He 

 was a little beyond camera range when I snapped. He 

 ran back out of sight and began whistling. 



In reloading, as luck would have it, I made more noise 

 than usual. Incidentally I caught my sleeve in the stem 

 of a bough which was a part of our blind, and the result 

 was a loud bang that I felt sure would alarm any other 

 game in our neighborhood. Meanwhile the small buck 

 was still whistling. 



Despite all this, however, when we came in sight of the 

 bank 100ft. below, there stood a magnificent buck await- 

 ing our approach. 



Numbers fifty-four, fifty-five and fifty-six were to- 

 gether, a doe and two fawns. I took one picture with 

 the large camera, which shows the doe and one fawn, 

 and a second with the kodak immediately after in which 

 both fawns appear standing close together at their 

 mother's side, with ears cocked in imitation of her; but 

 unfortunately the motion of the canoe shows in both- 

 these plates. 



Fifty-seven was a doe, who saw us a long way off. She 

 stood at the water's edge and watched us, and when we 

 were distant about 125yds. began to paw the mud with 

 one foot, and soon after to whistle. She let us come within 

 200 ft., however, before running. 



Fifty-eight was a spike buck that we came upon around 

 a corner in tbe stream. He fed unconcernedly while we 

 paddled up through the lilypads inshore, though he 

 looked us over now and then. When distant about 

 150ft., however, he began to grow nervous, and I made 

 the exposure, having more plates than pictures. 



Fifty-nine and sixty were bucks. We came within 

 50ft. of the first, which was standing gazing intently at 

 the other a couple of hundred feet further on. As fifty- 

 nine turned his head and caught our eyes I released the 

 shutter. 



It was now 8 o'clock and we had reason to expect an 

 unusually successful day, for we had already seen eleven 

 deer and three caribou. We had ascended the North 

 Branch as far as navigable, and were back at its juncture 

 with the South Branch. This latter was destined to be 

 still more prolific of deer. 



Hardly bad we turned our canoe into this stream when 

 we saw bounding away over the bog four large deer, which 

 we took to be bucks, while a short distance above a fifth 

 — an enormous old fellow — stood on a point watching us. 

 He evidently did not like our appearance, for he soon 

 followed the others. Presumably we had broken up a 

 "stag party." This was 8:35 A. M., and we had seen six- 

 teen deer that day. Two bends further in the stream we 

 came upon a doe and yearling fawn, which latter was of 

 a deep red color — almost brown. We took a photograph, 

 though the deer were hardly within range. The two 

 stood back on the bog within eaBy gun shot for some 

 time before their curiosity was fully satisfied. It was 

 then 8:40 A. M. and our record for the day was eighteen 

 deer, or sixty-six in all. 



Number sixty-seven was sighted at 8:50 A. M. This 

 was a doe, standing on a point. She heard our approach, 

 the canoe making considerable noise going through the 

 lilypads, and was off when we were still 100yds. away. 

 This branch of the stream wag in places nearly choked 

 with pads, which hindered our progress and made it dif- 

 ficult to get close to a deer without being heard. 



Number sixty-eight was a doe that stood behind some 

 bushes on the bog. She was running when we saw her. 

 At 8:58 we saw two more deer, a buck and yearling, some 

 distance back on the bog. This made a total of twenty- 

 two deer before 9 A. M., or seventy deer in all seen in the 

 last six days. 



Number seventy-one was a spike buck seen at 9:05. He 

 turned and looked over his shoulder when a hundred feet 

 back from the stream. I reached for the kodak, but he 

 was gone. 



Number seventy-two. 9:10. Jock standing up saw 

 another deer disappear among the trees, 



