332 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 17, 1888, 



MOUNTAIN TRAILS AND PARKS IN COLORADO. 



A H! "Bourgeois," I conned the "sketches," 

 Garnered thoughts and mirthful tales, 

 Saw the upper mountains' glories. 



Heard the music of the dales; 

 Roamed the "Parks of Colorado," 



Threaded all the "Mountain Trails." 



Heard the leaping waters thunder. 



Caught the lakelet's flashing waves; 

 And the noontide light, empurpled 

 In the grand cathedral's naves- 

 Heard the timbrels of its chancels- 

 Organs of its chapel caves. 



Symph'nies of its bosky galleries, 



Echos of its crypts profound; 

 And the awful "voice of stillnfess," 



Speaking not in word or sound— 

 Which the seer discerned in Horeb, 



That which hallowed Beth El's ground. 



Saw the mystic pearl-wrought "shallop," 

 Gleaming through its minster gloom; 



By the ever surging torrent, 

 Borne through sunlight, shade and spume, 



Signal back the "Light in Darkness." 

 Past the vortex and the gloom. 



Roamed with all the hours and breezes, 



Where the mists in shadows swim, 

 Where they spread tJieir rainbow timings, 



By the cat'raet's jeweled brim; 

 Watched the camp-fire with thy triad, 



In the starlight weird and dim; 



Till the light of olden summers 



Mingled all its dreamy haze 

 With the torchlight's fitful glimmer. 



With the noonday's torrid blaze— 

 With the splendors of the dawning, 



And the sunset's amber rays. 



TTil the gauzy veils were thickened 



O'er the ports of sense to me, 

 And the gate of dreams stood open, 



Loosened by some marvelous key. 

 Till I passed its charmed threshold 



To the realms of mystery. 



And the mountain world stood present; 



And behold, a wond'rous corps- 

 Well I knew them each, though never 



Had Ave met in life before— 

 Knew thorn by that dream-world knowledge 



All unknown to earthly lore. 



And our voices rose in concert, 



As our noiseless chariots flew 

 From the valley by the canon, 



Gorge and glen and grotto through, 

 To the bastioned parks and highlands, 



To the craggy ridges blue; 



To the ever-reaching ranges. 



To the jagged ledges higher. 

 Whence the glaeial fount emerges. 



Whence the awf ui peaks aspire, 

 Birthplace of the cloud-born missiles 



Scattered in the hailstorm's ire. 



Up and o'er and 'round and downward, 



On our devious course we go, 

 Where the Holy Cross of crystal 



Glows athwart the clouds below, 

 Where those monk-like mountain hierarchy 



Crown their scarlet cowls with snow. 



And the music of the singers 

 Rose in ever rapturous strain; 



Dulcet flow and whelming chorus, 

 Every close a low refrain— 



Every voice ttpbore the concord- 

 Mine alone the sad refrain. 



Rose the song— 



"Awake all things of beauty! 



Unto you doth gladness bring her train; 

 Waters pour libation, blossoms wave your censers; 



Breathe your anthem, mountain, vale aud plain, 

 Spring is in the fields and dells and valleys." 

 Then the sad refrain— 



"Spring is in the fields, the dells, the valieys; 

 Dreary winter only doth to me remain." 



Swift we passed — with flute-note echoes 

 Mountain shelves and grottoes rung- 

 Trees attuned iEolian rebecs, 



Far aloft the forests sung, 

 E'en the willows of the gorges 



Seemed to touch the harps of ancient Salem— 

 Those they bore of old unstrung. 



Rose the song— 



"Oh, hail all living creatures; 



Life and light walk hand in haud agaiu— 

 Field and wilderness lead forth your myriad voices, 



Nature's choirs your minstrelsy regain, 

 Not alone to earth and air and ocean— 

 Unto all of life the springtide comes again." 

 Then my heart's refrain— 



"Spring is on the rocks, the cliffs, the highlands, 

 Dreary cheerless winter only doth to me remain." 



All about the mountain splendors, 



With the glow of sky and cloud made one- 

 Gentle wind, the incense bearers, 



Hastened with all psalmody and odors 

 To the jubilee of the sun— 



Every voice and force and form of nature 

 Poured its tribute to the regal sun. 



Ro3© the strain— 



"O, wretched, worn and fearful, , 



Winter's loss and death are spring's own life and gain- 

 Not alone to lower life terrestrial, 



But to human hearts redeemed from thrall and pain; 

 Comes the springtide of the life transcendent; 



Unto all who dwell in Love's sublime domain." 



Vet that dark refrain— 



"Spring is even on the cold and lonely mountains- 

 Dreary, cheerless, dismal winter only doth to me remain." 



Ah, "Bourgeois," themusic lingers— 

 Through mine ear it swells and trillB, 



As it swept along the mesas, 

 O'er the rock-embattled hills. 



On by Blanea and the Sultan, 

 Through each cragged pass and dale, 



By the Crested Buttes and Yampa, 

 Ethel, Orno and Miguel, 



Waha Toya and the Chieftain— 

 Every mountain park and trail. 



Still it lingers, ever thrilling- 

 Even sweeter to console; 



And the doleful winter passes 

 And the spring-tide fills my soul. Brevier. 



To Bro. L. B. Franc e, with the compliments of an admirer of his 

 delightful book,— H. P. H. Bromweli,. 



THE FLY-CASTING TOURNAMENT. 



ALL prizes for the tournament of the N. R. R, A. , to 

 be held May 23 and 24, wiLl be placed on exhibition 

 as soon as received at the store of Mr. A. D. Fisk. No. 18 

 Dey street, first floor. 



The programme of the fly-casting tournament, to be 

 held at Harlem Mere, in the Central Park, this city, May 

 23-24, is as follows; The first day, May 23, will open at 

 10 A. M. with 



Single-handed Flu-Casting— Judges— (Jen. Rodney C. Ward, Dr. 

 A. Ferber. Rev. H. L. Ziesrenfuss, referee. Open to amateurs, 

 rods not to exceed lift. <5in. Prizes— 1st, gold medal, given by 

 Chios. A. Bryan; 3d, split bamboo fly-rod, given byT. J. Conroy; 3d", 

 trout and salmon Hies, given by J. H. Keene: 4th, automatic reel, 

 given by A. G. Spalding & Bros; 5th, Bray fly-book, given by A. 

 G, Spalding & Bros., and silk line, given by U. S. Net and Twine 

 Co.; 6tb, subscription to Forest and Stream; 7th, subscription, 

 by W. C. Harris; 3th, subscription to Jack, given by Graydon 

 Johnston. Special prize for accuracy, Julius Vom Hofe reel, given 

 by Schoverling, Daly & Gales. 



SwUch 7'\i/-r(is<uif/. —Judges— John A. Roosevelt, A. P. Van 

 Gieson, D.D., Fred Mather. J. L. Vallotton, referee. Open to ail, 

 single-handed rods, not to exceed HJ^t't. Prizes— 1st, gold medal, 

 given by the Association; 2d, cash, given by the Association; 3d, 

 rubber coat, given by the Good:, ear Rubber Co.; 4th, Levison flv- 

 book, given by Win. Mills & Son; 5th, tackle box, given by Levison 

 & Lamb Manufacturing C'u., and Dorsal Fin net rins, 'given by 

 Wm. Mills & Son; 6th, silk line, given by U. S. Net & Twine Co. 



Sainton Fly-Casting— Judges— Dr. A. Ferber, J. L. Vallotton. 

 Capt. Wm. Dunning, referee. Open to all, no limit as to rods. 

 Prizes— 1st, gold medal, given by the Association; 3d, silk hat, 

 given by Messrs. Dunlap & Co.; 1th, 100 cigars, given by E. 

 Eggert; 5th, Gogebic reel, given by A. F. Meisselbach & Bro.,' and 

 silk salmon line, given by U. S. Net & Twine Co.; fith, subscrip- 

 tion to Outing, given by Outing Pub. Co. 



Minnow Casting for Black Bass.— Judges— W. C. Harris. H. P. 

 McGown. Dr. Geo. Trowbridge, referee. Open to all. Prizes— 

 1st, gold medal, given by the Association; 2d, minnow casting 

 reel, given by E. Vom Hofe; 3d, black bass reel, given bv Von 

 Lengerke & Decmold; 4th, luminous baits, given by Enterprise 

 Manufacturing Co., and artificial baits, given by Chas. Plath & 

 Son: 5th, Gogebic reel, given by A. F. Meisselbach & Bro., and 

 silk line, given by U. S. Net & Twine Co.; 6th, tackle box, given 

 by Levison & Lamb Manufacturing Co., and subscription, given 

 by Wm. C. Harris. Distance casting to follow for reel given by 

 Dukchart & Co. 



SECOND DAY. 



Amateur Single-hunded Fly-Casting.— J udges— E. G. Blackford, 

 W. G. Cassard. L. B. Wright, referee. Open to amateurs who 

 have not made an association record of over 70ft. Prizes— 1st, 

 Leonard split bamboo fly-rod, independent Fitch handle, given 

 by Wm. Mills & Son; 2d, split bamboo fly-rod and Orvis patent 

 reel plate, given by C. F. Orvis; amateur photographic outfit, 

 given by A. D. Fisk; 4th. flies, given by J. H. Keene; 5th, tackle 

 box, given by Levison & Lamb Manufacturing Co,, and subscrip- 

 tion to Forest and Stream; 6th, silk line, given by U. S. Net & 

 Twine Co., and subscription, by W. 0. Harris; 7th, subscription to 

 Jack, given by G. Johnston. 



Single-handed Fly-Casting.— lAghi rod contest.— Judges— W. H. 

 Wood. Rev. H, L. Ziegenfuss. Dr. H. Ferber, referee. Open to 

 all. Rods not to exceed ooz. in weight , nor llj^ft. in length. All 

 rods with solid reel seats will be allowed J^oz. Prizes— 1st. gold 

 medal, given by the Association; 2d, casn iSlO) given by the 

 Association; 3d, cash given by the Association; 4th, tackle 

 box, given by the Levison & Lamb Manufacturing Co., and rod 

 case, given by the Syracuse Split Bamboo Fish Rod Co.; 5th, 

 Gogebic reel, given by A. F. Meisselbach & Bro., and silk line, 

 given by U. S. Net & Twine Co.; 6th, one year's subscription to 

 Outing, given by the Outing Pub. Co. 



Heavy Bays GaSLmQ.— Judges— H. P. McGown, J. S. Van Cleef. 

 Capt. Ws Dunning, i eferea. Prizes— 1st, gold medal, given by the 

 Association; 2d, split bamboo bass rod, given by Jas. F. Marsters. 

 3d, rubber coat, given by the Goodyear Rubber Co.: 4th, flask, 

 given by G. B. Appleton & Co.. and tackle box, given by the 

 Levison '& Lamb Manufacturing Co.: 5th, Gogebic salt water reel, 

 given by A. F. Meisselbach & Bro., and line, given by the U. S. 

 Net & Twine Co.; 6th, one year's subscription to Outing, given bv 

 the Outing Pub. Co. 



Flu-Casting fur Black Bass- Judges— J. Rice, Dr. J. A.Henshall. 

 F. S. Pinckiiey, referee. Open to amateurs. Single-handed rods 

 not to exceed UJ^ft. in length. Only one fly required, to be fur- 

 nished by the committee, and to be tied on No. 2 sproat hooks. 

 1st, gold medal, given by the Association; 2d, pair of boots, given 

 by D. Harris: 3d, split bamboo fly-rod, given by A. G. Spalding & 

 Bro.; 4th, reel, given by T. J. Conroy, and set guides and tip, given 

 by Chas. Koehler; 5th, luminous baits, given by Enterprise 

 Manufacturing Co., and artificial baits, given by Chas. Plath & 

 Son; 6th, Gogebic reel, given by Messrs. A. S. Meisselbach & Bro., 

 and subscription to Forest and Stream; 7th, Gogebic reel, given 

 bv Messrs. A. S. Meisselbach & Bro., one year's subscription, 

 given by W. C. Harris, and line, given by the U. S. Net & Twine 

 Co.; 8th, subscription to Jack, given bv G. Johnston. 



THE AUTOMATIC REEL. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



For the last week or two, I have been waiting to hear 

 a little testimony on the subject of the automatic reel, 

 but the ground seems already pretty well covered. My 

 own experience with [that ingenious novelty was not 

 particularly felicitous, and some years ago I laid my 

 automatic on a high shelf where it woidd out be of the 

 way and out of sight. The automatic reel works well — 

 theoretically, when it is not attached to a line run 

 through the guides of a pliant rod and fastened at the 

 further end to a good fish in a piece of lively water. 

 Under these circumstances it is about as inconvenient 

 and cumbersome a piece of mechanism as one could 

 well be blessed with. The pull of a moderately heavy 

 fish on a pliant rod in water with any sort of "current 

 will bring the "automatic" to a standstill, unless the 

 fish accommodatingly swims up to your boat, and this he 

 seldom is kind enough to do. If not, the fish will have 

 to be hauled in by that humiliating process known as 

 "stripping the line," with the thumb and fingers. In 

 minnow casting, as has already been broadly intimated, 

 the automatic reel is not at all available; and whde it 

 may possibly be used in fly- casting, it is open to all the 

 objections which exist against it in landing any fish after 

 it is once hooked. It is, of course, simply impossible to 

 adjust any spring to the ever-varying resistance at the 

 end of the line, and because of this impossibility the auto- 

 matic reel can never replace the trained judgment and 

 deft touch of the experienced angler. 



For all-round fishing, in the humble opinion of the 

 writer, no reel is equal to a good multiplier, with an ad- i 

 justable click. No drag, no stop, no "thumb lever" to ' 



destroy the delicate touch which regulates the amount of 

 resistance necessary to keep the fish in check. I have in 

 my kit a quadruplex steel pi vot reel of this description , 

 which is always kept well oiled, and which has a click so 

 delicate as scarcely to interfere with the free running of 

 the reel. But for minnow casting, fly-fishing and troll- 

 ing it is equally serviceable, and only the slightest touch 

 is required to change it from a click reel to a free running 

 one. And though I have generally carried four reels in 

 my tackle box, this one is always my favorite for trout, 

 black bass and maskallonge. Jay Beebe. 



Toledo, O., May 7. 



Editor Forest and. Stream: 



I am very sorry that Mr. Plummer does not admire the 

 automatic reel. Tbere is no accounting for tastes, but 

 as his reasons for refusing to acknowledge its many good 

 points may deter some one, I wish to protest. He must 

 be exceptional if in his experience his line never tangled 

 or acted as if the d— 1 was in it on a crank reel. He must 

 be a happy man who never lost a large fish for some 

 cause on the best windlass ever made. Mr. Plummer, to 

 be consistent, should refuse to use that king of rods, the 

 split bamboo, because of its elasticity and happy facility 

 in taking up slack when the loved crank is not on duty 

 soon enough to meet an impending calamity. It may be 

 that if our friend would take along a small boy to grind 

 on the click while he is playing his fish on the "automatic" 

 his musical taste would be gratified, while there would be 

 added to his pleasure the consciousness of using the only 

 reel fit for an artist. As to "Pesca," he undoubtedly 

 throws his rod behind him and works his fish by hand. 

 Forgive me for thinking it a pesky poor way. 



Now if anything in these remarks may not seem in 

 good taste I beg leave to apologize. We angle for 

 pleasure. Let each one use that which most conduces to 

 his enjoyment. In my boyhood we used a pole and strong 

 cotton line, and our ecstacy was high in exact proportion 

 to the length of our string of fish and the physical 

 strength required to extricate them from the "circumam- 

 bient." But we haye passed from the alphabet to the 

 primer and are sure that the crank reel was in the alpha- 

 bet, not in the primer. H. E. Stoddard. 



Syracuse, N. V. 



BOSTON ANGLERS IN MAINE. 



THE ice lingers in the Maine lakes, and the conclusion 

 of the angler is that the season is late. Still, a few 

 of the earlier sportsmen have already departed. The 

 Tuttle party, made up of Mr. Tuttle, of Boston, with his 

 friends in this city and in Connecticut, left last week for 

 Lake Point Cottage, on Rangeley Lake. They have met 

 a good deal of snow and ice — so much between Phillips 

 and Rangeley that a huckboard had hard work to get 

 through. The ice was in the lake solid and fast up to 

 Saturday. But time only can tell when it will go out. 

 Heavy rains and a flood of snow water has raised the 

 lakes, but the ice goes up with the water, breaking away 

 at the shores, but not moving out of the lake till worn out 

 by the sun above and the warmer water below. The 

 latest reports from Andover, at the other end of the 

 Rangeley s — a letter from J. A. French on Saturday — says 

 that there is still a great amount of snow in the' woods, 

 and that the ice in the lake is still strong and will not go 

 out before the 20th. A number of sportsmen from this 

 city will start on the going out of the ice. 



A new feature in the way of reaching Parmacheene 

 Lake is to he put in operation by the Androscoggin Lake 

 Transportation Company this summer. They have built 

 a new steamer the past winter, the Aziscohos, which is to 

 ply between Cambridge, on the Umbagog Lake, and the 

 Magallaway River Landing. Capt. Farrar, the pioneer 

 of the enterprise, says that the arrangements will permit 

 of leaving Lake Side, Cambridge, at 7 o'clock and arriv- 

 ing at Parmacheene in good season for supper. This is an 

 enterprise that the Captain has been for a long time in- 

 terested in, and yet no more so than a great many sports- 

 men who would like to make a trip to Parmacheene but 

 for the length of time it has heretofore required. 



Salmon fishing at Bangor is again at a low ebb, or 

 rather the water is at full, freshet flood. The recent 

 rains and warm weather has brought the river up to full 

 banks and no salmon are being taken. 



Mr. Wm. Weld, with a party of Somerville friends, are 

 to start next week for the Sebec Lakes, Maine, for land- 

 locked salmon fisliing. According to last reports the 

 landlocked salmon fisning at Sebago had not commenced. 



Special. 



Rangeley Lakes Excursions. — The Boston & Maine 

 Railroad Company are arranging to send six personally 

 conducted excursion parties through the Rangeley Lakes 

 Region this summer, each party going in and out by a 

 different route. The parties will be in charge of Capt. 

 Charles A. J. Farrar, who is personally known to many 

 of the readers of Forest and Stream, and who with his 

 intimate knowledge of, and long experience in , the lake 

 country, will be a charming companion to those fortunate 

 enough to travel with one of these parties. Each excur- 

 sion will be ten or eleven days, and the price for all ex- 

 penses from Boston to Boston will be only $50.00, Itine- 

 raries and full information may be obtained from the 

 passenger department of the Boston & Maine Railroad. 

 The first excursion is arranged 4o leave Boston Tuesday 

 July 3, and the others will follow at intervals of about 

 two weeks. ' The trips are not only to include all the 

 large lakes in the chain, but the lower and upper Magal- 

 loway Rixers. and Dixville Notch, and must prove very 

 enjoyable. 



Washington, D. C— The report of Gwynne Harris, in- 

 spector of marine products, for the month of April, 

 shows the arrivals at the river front as follows: 5,195,500 

 herring, 186,373 shad, 2,990 bunches of rockfish, 1,068 

 bunches of eels, 17 sturgeon, 636 bunches of pike, 1,607 

 bunches of yellow perch, a, 329 white perch, 4,852 bunches 

 of mullets, 660 bunches of catfish, 1 bass, 2 carp, 20,150 

 bushels of oysters. The supply of herring and shad is 

 remarkable; of shad, unprecedented. The single bass 

 was a fresh-water Micropterus, such as are caught in the 

 river above tidewater. Little Falls is a favorite locality 

 for anglers, and sometimes two or three have been caught 

 to a rod the present season, but herring have swarmed 

 so as to practically prevent any use of fly or minnow. 

 , The water is very clear at present. The variety of fish 

 ' visiting the Potomac is an interesting study.— O. H. 



