428 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 16, 1895. 



ing additional teams they kept on traveling until they had 

 gone about forty-five miles before they found sufficient 

 water. Then they had about a day's run to the club 

 house. 



This is probably about the most unique instance on 

 record of anglers floating down stream on wagons. They 

 feel pretty sore over their adventures, and are not inclined 

 to brag about their great catches. 



The only places where any fish are being caught are the 

 sloughs which connect with the Mississippi and Missouri 

 rivers, and at the mouths of the streams which flow into 

 these larger and turbid bodies of water. 



The clause in the Missouri game law prohibiting shoot- 

 ing by non-residents is a dead letter, and in fact there is 

 little compliance with any parts of the law as it now ex- 

 ists. The game warden has no funds, and is not in a posi- 

 tion to enforce the statutes. Aberdeen. 



St. Louis, Nov. 6. 



A MOUNTAIN LANDSLIDE. 



Me. Geo. L. Potts, of Appleton, Wis. , has returned from 

 wo weeks' outing in the Cascade Mountains of Wash- 

 gton, and the Appleton Crescent gives this account of 

 n experience which comes to few men: "Mr. Potts spent 

 wo weeks in the mountains. While in the mountains 

 they carried no tent, simply rolled up in their blankets 

 and slept comfortably. No rain fell while he was in 

 Washington and the weather was delightful in every way. 

 They lived on the fat of the land, such as salmon, deer, 

 antelope, quail, wild geese, etc. George had some wild 

 goose shooting that was quite exciting and caught half a 

 dozen salmon in fifteen minutes. He used a spoon hook 

 and hand line and hauled out a fish every time he threw 

 in the spoon. The fish ran from 51bs. to 201bs. and were 

 very vigorous fighters. The fish were taken in the Co- 

 lumbia River, near Elkwood,Wash. The river was full of 

 fish, none apparently less than 51bs. in weight. He saw 

 them leap over high falls; all the fish were moving up the 

 river, probably to spawn. Many salmon are netted by 

 hanging nets like hammocks over the falls. The fish 

 endeavor to leap the falls going up and tumble into the 

 nets — a very easy way of taking fish. 



"One of the most wonderful sights that Mr. Potts saw 

 during his trip was a tremendous landslide. The party 

 were one day a couple of miles up the side of a steep 

 mountain, a deep canon divided them from another 

 mountain opposite. They were suddenly startled by a 

 peculiar rumbling, crashing noise which grew louder and 

 louder. The eyes of every one in the party were riveted 

 to the mountain opposite, where they could plainly see 

 immense rocks and boulders larger than any building in 

 Appleton rolling and bounding and crashing down the 

 side of the mountain to the narrow canon below. The 

 point opposite where the rocks were moving was about 

 two miles in a straight air line from where they were 

 standing, and in the clear mountain air small objects were 

 plainly visible. The great rocks would crash into tall 

 trees and shiver them into splinters in an instant and the 

 noise of the crashing was perfectly distinct. Huge boul- 

 ders of many tons weight would strike an obstruction and 

 bound high in the air, or striking rock formation would 

 be broken to atoms, making a report like a cannon. As 

 they stood spellbound watching this play of nature they 

 beheld a sight afforded few men. A part of the side of 

 the mountain, 4J miles in length and nearly 2 miles in 

 width and probably more than 200ft. in depth, slid from 

 its ancient foundations down to the valley below. This 

 great mass moved over a mile before its momentum was 

 stopped in the bottom of the canon. It seemed as if the 

 world were turning inside out. The landslide caused the 

 earth to tremble even where they stood, and the uproar 

 was so deafening they involuntarily held their hands over 

 their ears for protection from the terrific sounds. Mr. 

 Potts says he never heard a thunderstorm cause such 

 deafening sounds. It was a wonderful and most awe in- 

 spiring spectacle and one which they will never forget." 



"That reminds me." 



Fishing- on the Tombigbee. 



Waverly. Miss., Oct. 27. — Editor Forest and Stream: 

 Capt. Billy Young has just got back from a camping 

 trip on the upper Tombigbee River embracing about 200 

 miles distance. He reports a great time and says fishing 

 was so good it was really no sport at all. I will give an 

 extract from his story told us to-day: 



"Dropping down the river, I came to where a cypress 

 tree had fallen into it and a skiff had lodged against the 

 lap of the tree so the gun'ale was just even witn the top 

 of the water. 



"I thro wed in, and my cork no sooner straightened than 

 it went uader, and I pulled out a very ( large white perch, 

 andjso it continued until I had caught seventeen whoppers. 



"Dr. G. coming along in his boat then, I remarked to 

 him I could shove up my cork and put on a bigger Jmin- 

 now, and fish deeper and get my tackle tore all to pieces, 

 'I would do it sure,' he replied. 



"I shoved up my cork and told Jeff (my boatman) to 

 put on a big minnow, and the cork had scarcely straight- 

 ened before I had a strike. I had a pretty lively time for a 

 few moments and landed a big black bass; then I caught a 

 big grinell, and then two or three more bass, and then two 

 blue cat and a gar, and then I got a strike, and when I 

 fastened whatever it was started right down under the 

 boat. I was fishing with a big stiff bamboo trolling pole, 

 and held it hard on him, thinking the spring of the pole 

 would stop him, but he kept on until 3ft. of my pole 

 was under water, and then about oft. of it broke off; 

 but the line was fastened well down toward the butt of 

 the pole, and I still thought I would get him, but nothing 

 stopped it. It kept right on, breaking my line between 

 hook and sinker. 



"I rigged up what was left, put on another hook, andb o 

 make a long story short, when I quit I had 4ft. of line left, 

 and a piece of pole not much longer than a walking stick." 



W. W. Titus. 



D using the recent blizzard a large bass belonging to Thomas G. 

 Krebs, a saloon keeper of Beading, Pa., was found frozen in a solid 

 mass of ice. The fish was cut out in a block, which was thawed, 

 whereupon the bass recovered and appeared to be as lively as ever.— 

 P. S. A trifle out of season, perhaps, but will do to put away for 

 winter.!' 



The FOREST AND Steeam is put to press each week on Tues- 

 day. Correspondence intended for publication should reach 

 us at the latest by Monday } and as much eortUr as practicable^ 



The Tale of a Rattle. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Seeing that rattlesnakes have been a great topic in your 

 paper for some time, allow me to contribute an experience 

 of mine which, although it is against myself, is too good 

 to keep. At least so a fisherman and brother angler told 

 me to whom I related it some few weeks ago at the fire- 

 side of a well-known fishing inn. "Why don't you send 

 it to Forest and Stream?" exclaimed my listener when I 

 had finished, and so here goes. 



About six years ago, toward the end of April, I 

 journeyed with a friend of mine toward the Bushkill, in 

 Pike county, Pa., in quest of trout, which at that time 

 abounded in that lovely stream. I was then a recent im- 

 portation into this land of the brave; and at the end of 

 our railroad trip, and while waiting at the station inn for 

 the team that was to take us into the mountains, I was 

 told by some well-meaning native to look out for the 

 rattlesnakes. 



I felt a queer sensation at this information and made 

 very careful inquiries about their habits and the best way 

 to avoid them. Up to then I never had heard of rattle- 

 snakes, except through books, and the possibility of hav- 

 ing to face one made me feel somewhat unsettled in mind 

 and rather dampened my ardor after trout. However, 

 my companion, a full-blooded Westerner and not easily 

 troubled by such small matters, reassured me, and after 

 a drive of a couple of hours we arrived at our destination 

 early enough to tackle up, go down to the stream and 

 whip it over for an hour or so before dark. 



On the stream we soon separated, and about 6 o'clock, 

 when I thought I had had enough— not of trout, but of 

 casting— I started back slowly toward the house. Be- 

 tween it and the stream was a small thicket which I had 

 to traverse, and just as I reached it my thoughts involun- 

 tarily reverted to the dreaded rattlesnakes. What if I 

 should meet one now? It was just beginning to get dark, 

 and it would be very difficult for me to see any that hap- 

 pened to lie in my path, and if inadvertently I stepped 

 on it I should certainly be struck. However, there would 

 be the buzzing noise to warn me off. I would walk 

 slowly and keep my ears open. I kept crawling along 

 very cautiously and listening intently, all the while exe- 

 crating the dry leaves that rustled at my every step, and 

 might drown the warning buzz that I expected to hear at 

 any moment. 



HarkI That was a rattle! I stood still, petrified, and 

 listened with all my might. I could hear the beating of 

 my heart, but nothing else. I strained my eyes to see if 

 I could notice any movement on the ground, but nothing 

 was to be seen ; I was sure, however, of having heard the 

 rattle. After waiting I cannot say how long, but what 

 seemed to me an age, I decided to move on again. 



At the first step I took another buzz struck on my ear. 

 It brought me to a second stop as quick as lightning. . I 

 believe my hair stood on end, my blood froze, my tongue 

 and throat were parched, and my breath came in short 

 gasps. It was evident to me that I had stepped into a 

 whole nest of rattlers, that I was surrounded by them, 

 and that there was no way out of it. 



After I had sufficiently recovered from this second 

 shock I again looked around very carefully — of course 

 without stirring from the. spot to which I was rooted. I 

 tried to find out where the reptiles lay; and if I discovered 

 their position I intended to make a sudden dash for free- 

 dom in the opposite direction. I could not see anything 

 in the twilight — at least I could not distinguish any objects 

 on the ground— and this of course made my position all 

 the more gruesome, as it was impossible to tell on which 

 side the danger lurked. In my despair I decided to take 

 an extreme step. In my left hand I was carrying my 

 fishing rod. If I poked the butt into the leaves in front 

 of me the snakes would undoubtedly move or make a dart 

 at it, and this would give me an opportunity to locate 

 them and to make off in an opposite direction. I felt I 

 was taking desperate chances in so doing; but it would 

 also be my only hope of salvation, 



I braced myself well for the ordeal, set my teeth and 

 moved the rod forward. The same buzzing noise struck 

 on my ears again, but at the same time I felt a tightening 

 of the line, which told me that it had caught in the brush; 

 and in an instant the whole truth flashed through my 

 mind. In walking through the brush my line had caught 

 and pulled on the click-reel. It was this which in my 

 nervous state of mind I had failed to recognize, and taken 

 for the rattling of a snake; and of course each forward 

 movement would produce a repetition of the dreaded 

 sound. 



The mystery was solved. I loosened the line and pro- 

 ceeded on my way to the house very much ashamed of 

 myself, but at the same time mightily glad that it had 

 not been snakes. 



Since then I have spent each succeeding spring from four 

 to fourteen days on theBushkill,and although I have tried to 

 find rattlesnakes and looked for them in their dens I have 

 never come across one alive, though the country undoubt- 

 edly harbors quite a few. In fact, two years ago a native 

 took me to a spot where the day before he had killed 

 three. I saw them there, 4 to 4£ft. long and around the 

 body nearly as thick as my wrist, and when I looked at 

 them I felt extremely grateful that it had been my reel 

 and not real live rattlers that had frightened me on that 

 memorable evening. C. B. 



New York. 



A Stray Shinplaster 



Comes to us once in a while for a copy 

 of "Game Laws in « Brief;" but shin= 

 plasters nowadays are scarcer than Moose 

 in New York; and 25 cents in postage 

 stamps will do just as well. 



FIXTURES. 



BENCH 8HOW8. 

 1896. 



Feb. 19 to 22.— Westminster Kennel Club's twentieth annual dog 

 show, Madison Square Garden. New York. James Mortimer, Supt. 



March 10 to 13.— Chicago.— Mascoutah Kennel Club's bench 8how. 

 John L. Lincoln, Sec'y. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Nov. 18— Eastern F. T. Club, at Newton, N. C. W. A. Coster, 

 Sec'y, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 



Dec. 2 to 4.-High Point, N. C.-Irish Setter Club's trials. Geo. H 

 Thompson, Sec'y. 



1896. 



Jan. 20.— Bakersfleld, Cal.— Pacific Coast Field Trial Club. J. M. 

 Kilgarif, Sec'y. 



Jan. 20.— West Point, Miss.— U. S. F. T. C. trials. W. B. Stafford, 



Feb. 3.— West Point, Miss.— Southern F. T. C. seventh annual trials. 

 T. M. Brumby, Sec'y. 



M.V. G. AND F. P. ASSOCIATION'STRIALS 



The inaugural trials of the Monongahela Valley Game 

 and Fish Protective Association were held on their grounds 

 in Greene county, Pa., beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 

 and concluding Friday, Nov. 1, 1895. 



The Derby had four starters. This small number no 

 doubt was the result of the late announcement of the 

 club to hold trials this fall, there not being sufficient time 

 to prepare young dogs, those starting not showing much 

 preparation. 



The All- Age Stake had thirteen starters and proved a 

 much better stake, requiring some time to run, owing to 

 the scarcity of birds. The grounds had been stocked in 

 the spring, but owing to the continued dry weather cover 

 was very light; in fact, not enough to shelter the birds, 

 and they were found mostly in the woods and thickets. 

 This made work for dogs quite difficult. 



Roger O'Mara won first in the Derby, and deservedly 

 so, proving himself best; Tick of Kent second, and Whyte 

 third. 



In the All-Age Stake Nellie Bly was clearly first, 

 Galert C. and George Croxteth dividing second honors, 

 while Mex got third place. 



The awards were well received and heartily indorsed 

 by those in attendance. W. S. Bell, of Pittsburg, judged 

 the trials. 



The attendance was large, and as the dogs had to be 

 followed on foot it was surprising to see how many fol- 

 lowed the entire running, exhibiting a keen interest to 

 the end. Next year's trials sliould bring out an increased 

 attendance, and from expressions of handlers and owners 

 we predict a much improved stake. 



Those in attendance were Chas. H. Ganier, A. Wallace 

 and F. S. Hawkins, of Waynesburg, Pa. ; Henry Christ, 

 Belmont, Ohio; G. O. Smith, Wheeling, W. Va.; J. Shaw 

 Margerum, Washington, Pa. ; George Battison, Youngs- 

 town, Ohio; Wm. Frew, Massilon, Ohio; A, Cummins, 

 Louis McGrew, G. W. Lang, W. D. Henry, Chas. H. Mc- 

 Ilvaine, W. McKennan, Jr., W. S. Bell, S. B. Cummings, 

 R. S. D. Hartuck, W. Pontefract. Richard Bpnnett, Major 

 Hammer, H. Straub and A. L. Peterson, Pittsburg, Pa.; 

 F. D. West, Wm. Daugherty, W. J, Fisher, F. Crawford 

 and W. V. Winans, of Brownsville, Pa.; Jack Bell, Car- 

 michaels, Pa.; Wm. Harrison, Monongahela City, Pa. ; A. 

 C. Peterson, R. C. Stenger, J. Baird, of Homestead, Pa. ; 

 Dr. S. W, Hart and C. Schramm, of McKeesport, Pa. ; 

 with quite a following of those living in the vicinity. 



Nelli« Bly, winner of first in the All- Age Stake, is a grand 

 bitch, with good pace and range, going to her game 

 promptly and in good style; very staunch and obedient, 

 and her winning in the class of dogs that ran stamps her 

 as a high class bitch. All four dogs placed in this stake are 

 good dogs; to mention each one would take more time 

 than 1 now have at my disposal. 



The Association did not offer a stipulated list of prizes, 

 but ran a sweepstake event, dividing the entrance fees in 

 50, 30 and 20 per cent., thus making three prizes. 



The Derby. 



This stake had four starters as follows: Roger O'Mara 

 with Spot, Whyte with Tick of Kent. The day was warm, 

 with liKhtwmd and very dry. 



G. W. Lang's black, white and tan English setter dog 

 Roger O'Mara (Roger Boy — Nana Mahoning), handled by 

 George Battison, and Lewis McGrew's liver and white 

 pointer dog Spot (McDowell's Spot — Flirt Hessen), han- 

 dled by owner, were cast off at 8:20, Both started at 

 goodjspeed, but in a short time Spot narrowed down, while 

 Roger O'Mara kept out at bis work, neither dog having an 

 opportunity on birds. As the ground hunted over proved 

 barren, dogs were ordered up at 9:10 — to go down on game. 



G. O. Smith's black and white setter dog Whyte (Whyte 

 B. — More's Clara), handled by owner, and S. B. Cumming's 

 liver and white pointer dog Tick of Kent (Spot of Kent — 

 Bows Fly), handled by J. W. Phillips, were cast off at 

 9:20. After a run of about an hour a bevy of birds, was 

 flushed by the judge which were marked down in the 

 woods. The dogs were ordered on the single birds, but 

 owing to the very dry weather they would not lie, flush- 

 ing wild. Tick pointed; no bird found. Tick again 

 pointed, moved on, when two birds flashed, the balance 

 of the bevy flushing wild. The dogs were worked in the 

 direction the birds had flown, but neither found; ordered 

 up at 10:40. 



A move was now made to other grounds, and the first 

 brace of the All- Age Stake was put down and ran from 

 11:20 until 12 o'clock without finding, when they were 

 ordered up and the party went to lunch — this brace being 

 run to give the Derby dogs time to rest. After lunch the 

 judge announced the second series. 



Roger O'Mara and Tick of Kent were cast off at 12:27 

 and ran until 12:55, when they were taken up and a move 

 made to other grounds. Cast off at 1:15, hunting through 

 stubble and a thicket; the judge again flushed a bevy, 

 which both dogs passed. Marked down in the edge of 

 woods, the dogs were ordered on the single birds. Roger 

 flushed, steady to wing. Roger pointed, backed by 

 Tick. Tick pointed; no bird found, it having flushed a 

 moment before. Ordered up at 1: 55. Both had fair speed 

 and range; Roger the better. 



Whyte and Spot were cast off at 2:03 in open stubble. 

 Crossing a ravine they worked in briars and through corn- 

 fields. A bevy of birds being flushed and marked down 

 in woods, the dogs sent on; Whyte pointed one indiffer- 

 ently, moving on to a flush; Spot flushing twice. Ordered 



