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FOREST AND STREAM. 



(April i4, 1881 



Colorado Game Regions. — Leadville, Colo., April 4. — 

 The building of several lines of railroads through Color- 

 ado, some of which will be completed this summer, make 

 a section of fine hunting country of very easy access and 

 without the discomforts of a two days stage ride and 

 then a further trip of several days on horseback, when 

 everything has to be packed. This gives an unusual op- 

 portunity for Eastern hunting parties to reach a finer 

 limiting and fishing country with no inconvenience. 

 Within two years the large game will have moved on 200 

 or 300 miles further from a mountain range and hunting 

 with any great success will be attended with its old diffi- 

 culties and privations. I should be glad at any time to 

 give information desired or to make any arrangements 

 ahead and secure some good hunters and plan a trip or 

 to do anything to help on a good hunting trip. I have, 

 during the past two seasons, secured guides and planned 

 a month's trip for three parties of well known sportsmen, 

 to whom I can refer. — C. A. Jldkins. 



Arkansas. — Little Eock, April 1, 1887.— The Legisla- 

 ture has adjourned and out game law still stands. The 

 Senate passed a bill prohibiting the export of game or fish 

 and the House killed it. The House repealed the game 

 law and the Senate sat down on the bill like a pile driver. 

 The Senate then amended it so as to make the open season 

 for deer begin August first and theJHouse killed that, so 

 the law stands just as it did, and, so far as I know, every 

 thinking man is satisfied with the result. Colonel Crock- 

 ett and his friends in the Senate made a good fight and 

 headed off the enemies of the bill at every turn. Colonel 

 Crockett will be candidate for Governor next year and 

 from present indications will get there. — Casual. 



Burlington, Iowa, April 6. — Duck shooting is very 

 good with us this spring, notwithstanding the low stage 

 of water in the Mississippi River. The Crystal Lake and 

 Eagle Grove Club own 8,000 acres of the best duck marsh in 

 this vicinity, a fine club house, with 2oft. of water in the 

 lake. We have a limited membership of 75. I hope 

 spring shooting will be abolished before it is too late; if 

 continued it will only be a question of a few years and 

 duck shooting will be a thing of the past. The only ar- 

 gument I hear against it is, ''After us the deluge; if Ave 

 don't kill them some one else will." — Tino. 



titer 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



Woodcock and Geese.— Salem, Mass., April 11. — 

 Black duck aud whistlers were very numerous about 

 Ipswich and Rowley Fast day. Experienced parties say 

 they never saw them thicker. Woodcock have been seen 

 in numbers; some snipe reported, but nothing definite. 

 Kingfishers, white-billed swallows and blue herons are 

 along. A bunch of eight haunted geese (shy ones) have 

 been trying the patience and skill of local Ipswich gun- 

 ners. Thus far the geese have outwitted genus homo. — 

 X. Y. Z. 



Narrows Island Club. — At the annual meeting of the 

 Narrows Island Club of Currituck county, held at the 

 house of Mr. Henry Sampson, 14 West 58th street, on 

 Monday, April 11, the following officers were elected for 

 the ensuing year: President, D. G. Elliot; Vice-President, 

 J. A. Hewlett; Secretary and Treasurer, Chas. T. Barney; 

 Members of the Executive Committee, B. Dominick, 

 W. G. Dominick. and Henry Sampson. 



Detroit. — At the recent annual meeting of the Lake 

 St. Clair Fishing and Shooting Club officers were chosen 

 as follows: President, Win. C. Colburn; first Vice-Presi- 

 dent, M. S. Smith; second Vice-President, Don. M. Dick- 

 inson; Treasurer, Hamilton Dey; Secretary, Geo. S. Hos- 

 mer. Directors, John M. Hinchman, Thomas S. McGraw, 

 Henry C. Wismer, Edgar O. Durfee, George F. Moore, 

 Frank G. Smith, Charles B. Hull. 



Vermont.— Highgate, April 8.— The first robin red- 

 breast of the season made its appearance here yesterday 

 the 7th. To-day bluebirds and song sparrows are here 

 though the snow still covers the face of the country. 

 Wild geese arrived ten days ago, but no open water in 

 Lake Champlain for them. Spring duck shooting has 

 commenced in the open glades of the St. Lawrence 

 above Montreal. — Stanstead. 



Wild Geese Flying North. — East Auburn, Me., 

 April 5.— The wild geese are moving north. The largest 

 flock seen for many years rested on Lake Auburn last 

 night, and were frightened off by gunners this morning. 

 I should think Ehere were from 150 to 200 of them. They 

 found a snowy bod to rest on here. — W. 



High Point, N. C, April 4. — The close season on par- 

 tridge just begun. It should have begun a month or six 

 weeks ago, for birds were scattering and pairing then. 

 They are quite scarce near town. A gun club is talked 

 of and will probably soon be organized. Woodcock are 

 more plentiful than usual, though not even now in 

 abundance. — Point. 



Massachusetts.— Mendon, Mass., April 4.— I have been 

 out several times this spring to see how the birds wintered; 

 have not seen any quail; think the hard winter must have 

 killed them all. Found a few partridges left over. Wood- 

 cock have just commenced to come along. Yesterday 

 we had one of the hardest storms of the season. — C. T. 



FOREST RUNES. 



[From the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Chronicle Telegraph, April J.] 

 A N old trapper who devoted himself to field sports and spent 



much of his time in the unbroken forest, being endowed by- 

 nature with an innate love of poetry, and having, during his 

 roamings through the fastnesses of the forest, fallen into the 

 habit of rhyming, has transferred the poetic thoughts that ran 

 through his head to paper, but many of them, in the first place, 

 ''to white birch bark," when no supply of paper was to be had. 

 He disclaims all intention of setting himself up as a poet, a thing 

 to which his thoughts and ambition do not aspire. Nevertheless 

 he has produced a number of rather entertaining poems, some of 

 which border upon, if they do not altogether come up to, the 

 classical. In sentiment and humor he sometimes awakes the 

 harp of Erin. Though the title is "Forest Runes," or mysteries 

 of the forest, he does not confine himself to the sports of the 

 field, but deals with numerous topics in a very entertaining man- 

 ner, and generally in a quaint style, without offensive pedantry. 



THE BROOK TROUT. 



rpHE beauteous trout, a prince among the fish, 

 -*- The angler's pride aud epicurean joy, 

 1 court the muse and fondly of him sing. 



In boyhood's wanton days I learned his haunts 

 In placid lake high up 'mid mountain peaks, 

 That pierce at eve the golden banks of clouds, 

 Or tremble while the storm's wild echoes ring. 

 Where winter snows, in summer, melt and flow 

 In gurgling rills, swift through the tangled grass 

 To join in romping rivulets, that form 

 The noisy mountain brook, which reckless leaps 

 Adown the rocky gorge, and through the glen, 

 Beneath the shade of cedar, spruce and fir, 

 Whose drooping branches glisten in the spray, 

 Or whispers low the sylvan chant of night, 

 As through the glade the evening zephyrs steal. 



I've sought oft times and found him snug at home 

 In quiet woodland streams, that gleeful run 

 With rippling music over gravelly beds, 

 Then deepen into eddies, which soon form 

 Dark, shady pools beneath green leafy boughs, 

 Which, swaying in the wind, stoop low to kiss 

 Their beck'ning image mirror'd from below; 

 Then gliding off down through the open fields, 

 Where fragrant flowers the grassy meadows grace. 

 And sprouting grain the autumn sheaf foretells, 

 It winds its silvery course 'twixt cress-lined banks, 

 Where sunshine in the day, and moon at night 

 Cast light and shade across the limpid way. 



In early spring, when, clothed with brightest green, 

 Dame Nature decked her brow with blue and gold, 

 When new-born loaves in hedge and woodland move 

 Responsive to the gentle breeze which watts 

 To list'ning ears the happy soDg of birds, 

 When scent of violets, crushed beneath one's feet 

 In early morning hours, perfume the air 

 Like incense from the altars of the gods, 

 I like to take my rod, and wend my way 

 To some familiar stream, whose banks I've trod 

 In days before, when youthful hours sped f&St 

 And lingered not to make a note of time. 

 Save as each dawn in evening melts away, 

 With golden promise that another morn 

 With crimson glow will break the midnight gloom; 

 And crouching there behind some moss-grown log. 

 Some lichen-covered rock, some stunp of tree, 

 Or kneeling in the grass at easy range, 

 Let loose my silken line with skillful cast. 

 And watch the mimic flics sweep quickly down 

 The rippling current, to a deep, dark pool, 

 Where lurk the wary trout in quest of food. 

 Or moody silence in the heat of day. 



Oft breathless have I stood with eager eyes 

 To catch the silvery gleam, that, splashing breaks 

 The languid surface of the limpid stream. 

 As from his lair with savage rush he'd seize 

 The dainty morsel, down the tide which floats, 

 As if with life the ilutt'ring wings were fraught. 



And as I feel the magic thrill that creeps 



Swift down the rod, and tingles through my arm, 



When in his mouth the barbed hook sticks fast, 



Responsive to the gentle strike, I know 



That only angler's skill and steady nerve 



Can bring to net the gamy, struggling fish. 



1 like to feel him tugging at the hook, 

 And hear the lively clicking of the reel 

 As, dashing to and fro about the pool, 

 He seeks to rid him of the fatal lure 

 That clings intently to his horny jaw, 

 And checks his flight from danger's threat'ning mien. 



I like to see the pliant tip of rod 

 Meet gracefully the fish's mad'ning lunge 

 With modest bow, as if to kiss the hand 

 That holds with firmest grip the sturdy butt, 

 Well shaped of choicest flinty wood that grows, 

 And girded "round with silver'd bands of steel. 



And when at last, by human skill out-matched, 

 His nimble strength gives out, his last device 

 For liberty is foiled, the fighting done, 

 The handy net has swept him from his realm, 

 And on the grassy bank he panting lies, 

 1 like to look upon his gleaming sides, 

 Resplendent with the sunset's crimson blush, 

 And dotted o'er with spots of red and pear], 

 Rich strewd along as with a lavish hand. 

 Dame Nature paints determined to adorn; 

 In happy contrast, creeping o'er his back, 

 Dark mottled bands blend with the brightest hues'- 

 While gaily-colored fins bedeck his form, 

 And poise him in his native element. 

 His shapely head, and brilliant, flashing oyeH, 

 His comely tail, with muscle strength well set, 

 Completes the picture I would fairly paint 

 Upon a tablet in my memory's hall. 



I like to taste right well his broiled flesh, 

 Of bones so free, so juicy, rich and sweet, 

 So delicate of tint— delicious food! 

 More toothsome, too, than any fish that bears 

 Upon his shiny sides the glitt'ring scales, 

 From out the frozen North or balmy South, 

 Whose waters, warm or cold, yield up to man 

 The fruits of net or spear, of rod and line, 

 As plied for sport or hunger's cruel need. 

 The providence of Him who made them all 

 To grace the common tables of our land. 

 Canandaigua, N. Y. Chas. T. Meeohel, M. D.. 



NEW ENGLAND TROUT STREAMS. 



THE opening of the trout season in Massachusetts, 

 April 1, was not a very propitious one this year. 

 There was probably never more snow on the ground at 

 the time, especially in the extreme western and northern 

 parts of the State. The streams were generally locked in 

 ice, and since then they have been filled with snow water, 

 which, as every trout fisherman is well aware, is anything 

 but conducive to fun with rod and line. It is a very 

 significant fact that trout have been unusually scarce in 

 the markets up to the present time, and it would indicate 

 that even the market fishermen had not found it easy to 

 fill his orders. But warm weather appears to have set in 

 in good earnest, and with it comes up the sportsman's 

 hopes. Some of the streams on the Cape are being tried, 

 but with rather indifferent success. The display of culti- 

 vated trout in the markets has been good this year, and 

 Appleton & Litchfield have made their window display 

 even better than a year ago. They have shown over 70 

 mature trout in their window-lake and the tank beyond, 

 besides the trout in embryo in a glass jar. Among the 

 mature trout was one of the Sunapee variety, concerning 

 which the Forest and Stream has given several valua- 

 ble communications. This trout weighs 4jlbs., and was 

 a rare sight to those who have always been accustomed 

 to the little hngerlings of the country streams. That dis- 

 play probably helps Messrs. Appleton & Litchfield to sell 

 fishing tackle, but it certainly has afforded the thousands 

 of people who have peered into the window a wholesome 

 and. an interesting sight. 



The prospects of the opening of the trout season in 

 Maine is gloomy, to say the least. A letter from the 

 Androscoggin Lake region of Saturday states that there 

 was then f our or five feet of snow on the ice and fully as 

 much in the woods. Warm weather, like that of the 

 XJast two days, will work wonders on snowbanks, but at 

 the best the season in that part of the country must be 

 late. It is, however, very funny as it always is, to hear 

 the old guides talk. Several of them are already on 

 record, in spite of the vast quantity of snow, as predict- 

 ing an early departure of the ice. Their theory is that 

 so much snow "rots away the ice." But it seems a little 

 more reasonable to conclude that in this case the wish is 

 father to the thought. The earlier the ice leaves the lake 

 the earlier will the work of these guides begin. It is dol- 

 lars in their pockets. But they are not the only people 

 who are already watching the news concerning the de- 

 departure of the iee from the Maine lakes. Boston mer- 

 chants and professional men are interested, though they 

 are aware that the average time of the breaking up of 

 the ice in the Androscoggin Lakes is not earlier than 

 May 13, though that event begun on the 4th last year 

 and the last lake was clear by the 1 0th. 



The. unusually deep snows have worked advantage- 

 ously in one way this year. They have, in a measure, 

 prevented the spring fishing through the ice, which the 

 law allows to inhabitants of the State during March and 

 April. Thus far but very little of such fishing has been 

 reported. To say the least, this permission of the law to 

 inhabitants of the State to take trout through the ice for 

 then- own use is one which has been much abused. Some 

 of those guides, who are, of course, inhabitants of the 

 State, have had in times gone by the holes all cut and the 

 bait ready — yes, they have had the lines all in the water — 

 when a sleigh would drive up, bringing Boston sports- 

 men; and they have helped catch the trout for the poor 

 inhabitants of the State of Maine. How is that for an 

 evasion of the trout law? Well, it will be lawful for any- 

 body to catch trout in Maine and New Hampshire on May 

 1, and, to say the least, the prospects for high water are 

 good. It is also contended by those who have given the 

 subject much study, that high water in the fall and spring- 

 is conducive to good trout fishing, when the floods do 

 subside. They reason that new feeding grounds and 

 abundance of food are in such a manner put in reach of 

 the fish. Special. 



"FARMER BROWN'S TROUT." 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I was reminded when I read "Farmer Brown's Trout," 

 of a story told me some years ago by an old gentleman 

 who was considered by many an oracle in all things per- 

 taining to field sports. His story was of how he and a 

 friend got into the good graces of an old farmer who had 

 a stock of pet quail that he had wintered at his barn, and 

 wished to keep on his farm just for the simple pleasure 

 of having them there. He was foolish enough to tell 

 these honorable sportsmen, as he took them to be, where 

 these quail kept in his orchard. I think, though, that he 

 added: "Don't ye shoot one on 'em!" Then one of them 

 slipped into the orchard by a roundabout way and drove 

 the quail into a piece of woods, Avhere the other marked 

 them down, and the two went in and had great sport in 

 killing them all. The teller of the story thought it a very 

 nice thing to do, and no doubt it was smart; but it seemed 

 to me a mean and contemptible act. How does it seem 

 to you? B- 



A Large Trout.— A gentleman has. just caught a 

 brown trout on Lough Derg weighing 191bs,, length along- 

 side 2ft. lOin., over back 3ft., and girth lft. 8£in,— Oxford 

 (Eng.) Chronicle. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I arose from reading the communication in the last 

 issue of your journal, entitled "Farmer Brown's Trout," 

 with the feeling that no one could properly congratulate 

 any of the actors in the tragedy which is there detailed 

 with such singular satisfaction. That a full measure of 

 sympathy is due to some of them no true sportsman is 

 likely to deny. Probably it is that I retain some old- 

 fashioned ideas, but I could not without loss of self-re- 

 spect steal a pet canary or a pet trout; and just at present 

 my sympathies are divided between the trout, the farmer, 

 and the bull-pup, with a balance in favor of the pup. I 

 cannot express my regret at the disappointment of that 

 pup. Kelpie. 

 Central Lake, Mich. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of March 31 appeared an article entitled 

 "Farmer Brown's Trout." Allow me to say for one that 

 such conduct as is therein narrated does more than any- 

 thing else to prejudice one large and influential class of 

 the community upon which sportsmen are dependent for 

 many pleasures of the field. I hope some of your con- 

 tributors who write a vigorous style will take up and 

 criticise the actions related in the account in the manner 

 they deserve. C. P. W. 



Atjbitbn, Mass. 



