2 92 FOREST AND STREAM. [.may 1, ww. 



Alaska Historical Society.— The Alaska Historical 

 Society, of Sitka, has honored Mr. Charles Hallock by- 

 making him an honorary member. Mr. Hallock, for a 

 long time a prominent resident of Brooklyn, is known as 

 the author of a valuable book entitled "Our New Alaska," 

 copiously illustrated, which has reached a second edition, 

 and the friends of Alaska have not been slow to recognize 

 the valuable services done to the Territory by this publi- 

 cation. Hon. Lyman E. Knapp, Governor of the Terri- 

 tory, is president of the society, and the following gen- 

 tlemen are vice-presidents: Rev. Sheldon Jackson, Sitka; 

 John G. Brady, Sitka; John G. Heid, Juneau; Jas. Sheak- 

 ley, Wrangell; Rudolph Newman, Ounalaska, and Wra, 

 Sargent, Kodiak; Recording Secretary, George Kostro 

 Metinoff, Sitka; Treasurer, Orvillo T. Porter, Sitka; Cor- 

 responding Secretaries, C, H. Schaap, Henry E. Haydon 

 and Prof. Wm. A. Kelly, all of Sitka; Librarian, Maurice 

 C. Kenealy, Sitka. This is a strong organization, and if 

 its work is prosecuted on systematic lines can be made of 

 the utmost importance to the Territory and the country 

 at large.— Brooklyn Eagle. 



An Off-hand Shot.— Homerstown, N. J., April 25.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: On Saturday, the 12th inst., 

 while strolling alone the banks of a creek, I espied a 

 hawk on one of the top limbs of a gnarled old tree at 

 least a hundred and twenty-five yards distant. Having 

 my rifle with me I quickly elevated the rear sight one 

 notch, and taking deliberate aim fired, sending the ball 

 through the bird's body, also breaking both wings. I 

 think it was one of the neatest off -hand shots that I ever 

 made. The hawk was a beauty, measuring four feet and 

 three inches from tip to tip of its wing. My rifle is a 

 Winchester, single shot, weighing 8£lbs., .32cal. long. I 

 think one can do better work with a rather heavy rifle 

 than with a light one, at least I have found it so from 

 experience; it may be because I have generally used a 

 heavy piece. One soon gets accustomed to the difference 

 in weight and scarcely notices it. For use in the Eastern 

 States I prefer a Winchester single-shot to a magazine 

 rifle of the same make; of the two the former being so 

 much easier to examine and to keep clea,n, besides being 

 less liable to get out of order.— A. L. L. 



Care in Handling the Gun.— I remember when I 

 was on a woodcock hunt about eighteen years ago in 

 Ulster county, N. Y., that a very unusual thing occurred, 

 but this as it might happen with some one else less pru- 

 dent than myself I frequently relate it, and for the same 

 reason would publish it in the Forest and Stream. I 

 with my friend, E. S. E., had returned from the woods 

 to start homeward by wagon. As usual I removed the 

 caps from the nipples of my gun before getting into the 

 wagon. Upon one of the nipples I discovered a small 

 quantity of the fulminating powder of the cap. I took 

 my knife and scraped it off and then blew sharply to re- 

 move all trace of the powder, and I think also that I 

 brushed it with my finger. But when I let down the 

 hammer with but slight force, to my great astonishment 

 the gun discharged. I would have been willing to wager 

 a thousand dollars that no discbarge could take place; 

 but it did, and I was taught another lesson in carefulness. 

 — N. D. E. 



Broken Bow, Neb.. April 24.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: The Broken Bow Gun Club organized on Mon- 

 day, April 14, with an active membership of fifteen, 

 limited to twenty-five. The following officers were 

 elected for the ensuing vear. ending April 1, 1891: A. H. 

 Stuckey, Pres.; H. E. O'Neill, Vice-Pres. ; C. P. Hubbard, 

 Sec.-Treas.; Executive Board consisting of A, H. Stuckey, 

 H. E. O'Neill, E. C. House, James Preston, and J. M. 

 Stuckey. Object of the club, as set forth in the constitu- 

 tion, "To enforce the game laws and to perfect its mem- 

 bers in the art of wing-shooting." — Hub. 



Fowl in Colorado.— Berthoud, April 21.— Editor For- 

 est and Stream: Ducks and geese are quite plenty here 

 still about our wheat fields and lake, but not much shoot- 

 ing is going on just now. 1 have killed but 4 ducks this 

 spring, and there are hundreds of them on my lake all 

 the time. A great many stay here ail summer and hat ch 

 in the alfalfa. — A. A. K. 



The Maine Winter.— It has been a good winter for 

 deer, though up Parkertown way the snow has been 

 deeper with the usual result: — C. B. S, 



NEW BRUNSWICK LAW. 



AN act in further amendment of the laws for the protection of 

 certain birds and animals. Be it enacted by I ho Lieutenant- 

 Governor, Legislative Council and Assembly as follows- 



1. No person shall take, hunt, wound, chase, attempt to kill or 

 chase, catch, or attempt to catch with dogs, or shoot or attempt 

 to shoot or otherwise destroy or attempt, to destroy within the 

 Province of New Brunswick between the fifteenth day of Janu- 

 ary and the thirty-first day of August in each year, any moose 

 caribou, deer or red deer under a penalty Of a sum not exceeding 

 two hundred dollars and not less than one hundred dollars fm- 

 each and every offense. s 1U1 



2. No person shall hunt, take, kill, wound, chase, attempt to 

 kill, or chase catch or attempt to catch with dogs, or shoot or at- 

 tempt to shoot or otherwise destroy within the said Province 'it, 

 any Mine or season hereafter any cow moose under a penalty not 

 exceeding five hundred dollars and not less than two hundred 

 dollars . 



3. No person shall kill, catch or destroy in any one year more 

 than one moose, two caribou, three deer and three red d'eer under 

 a penalty of a sum .not exceeding two hundred dollars, aid not 

 less than one hundred dollars lor each and every offense 



4. The penalties imposed by this act shall in all cases he re- 

 covered and applied as provided for by act of Assembly fist Vic- 

 SMhnalf* 1 ^^^^ ^Protection ^fU& 

 hereby repealed.* 16 ° f Assembl y< ®*t Victoria, chapter 12, is 



5. The Governor in Council may by order in Council authorise 

 the expenditure out of the public moneys in the nfifiSS 

 a sum not exceeding four hundred dollars in any one year for the 

 enforcement of the game laws of the Province. Passed April 23* 



years 0 " 11 51St Viotoria P roaiDit ed killing moose or deer for three 



A Book About Inbians.— The Fokkst anh Stream will mail 

 tree on application a descriptive circular of Mr. GrhaneU'* bSok 

 "Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk-Tales," giving a table of contents 

 and specimen illustrations from the volume.-kd/ contents 



FLY-FISHING ON WILLIAMSON'S RIVER. 



THE stream which was the scene of our sport is per- 

 haps the most important feeder of Big Klamath 

 Lake — the Winnipisiogee of lower Oregon — and rejoices 

 in the philistinic title of Williamson's River. Other 

 streams are incident to the region which have a fly-fish- 

 ing vogue, but none to the extent of the one named, as it 

 is exceptionally well stocked with black-spotted trout— 

 the common trout of these latitudes— and likewise favors 

 the use of the fly to an unusual extent. The reader of 

 course need not be apprised that the black-spotted trout, 

 viewed as a subject on which the fly-fisher's enticements 

 are to be tried, is of a signally amenable disposition. If 

 there are other fishes more ready to give themselves 

 a way on this point, the list is a small one. 



For want of space we will pass over the preliminaries 

 through which, on one of the afternoons of the past July, 

 we had been landed at one of the points in question, 

 where we were to begin opera tions. But here we were 

 under the guidance and leadership of Billy Crawford, a 

 Klamath half-breed of notable prominence in these parts, 

 whose kind offices to us during our trip were unfailing, 

 and to whom our acknowledgments for the same are 

 duly tendered. 



The year just passed was marked by a serious drought 

 in Oregon, in consequence of which the river was ab- 

 normally low and clear. In the matter of the use of flies 

 here we were in the main governed by the rules applica- 

 ble to this class of fishing throughout the continent, 

 choosing the darker flies for the earlier part of the day 

 and the lighter ones for the afternoon and evening. But 

 in the way of size the flies proving the most effective 

 were the larger ones. In this respect, and indeed in 

 every other, the general run of black bass flies were 

 found to serve our turn to the greatest advantage. 



As will be understood, by reason of the condition of the 

 water, fishing in the middle of the day was impracti- 

 cable; that is to say, with the average angler. For mem- 

 bers of the fraternity coming under this head, only the 

 earlier and later portions of the day at all requited the 

 exercise of his gear. As it happened, however, our num- 

 ber included a fisherman in every sense a first-class ex- 

 pert. This was Billy. He was shown to be superior to 

 the limitations which the man of ordinary capacity is 

 forced to reckon with. He fished totally indifferent as 

 to the hour and invariably to some purpose. 



Considered in its relation to the requirements of the 

 fly-fisher's art, the stream, or at least such parts of it as 

 came under our direct observation, is a jewel. Averag- 

 ing from 70 to 100ft. in width, it affords ample casting 

 room in any direction. Beyond a few willow clumps 

 fringing its banks in places, they are entirely clear of 

 trees, and, therefore, the backward swing of one's 

 leader may be made without fear of leaving it in the 

 grip of some twig or spray. Rapid and pool alternate in 

 it in the happiest juxtaposition. And, lastly, at whatso- 

 ever stage of water, good and secure wading is to be had 

 in it. I have said that the river was a bnormally low. 

 This is true in a sense. It was- some 2 or 3ft. iower than 

 usual. At the same time pools over one's head in depth 

 were to be found in it in plenty. It was more particu- 

 larly the clearness of the water'that made the fishing the 

 affair for the discreet handling that it was. 



It is not to be supposed that we had got entirely be- 

 yond humanity's reach, as we were on the reservation of 

 the Klamath Indians, a civilized tribe, not yet, in the un- 

 restricted exercise of Caucasian brotherliness and good 

 will, wholly improved off the face of the earth. On our 

 way here we had passed through two or three hamlets of 

 these people, all of which were passably neat and com- 

 fortable looking. 



Our stay in the place where we first struck the river 

 and began fishing lasted a day and a half. We should 

 doubtless one and all have had tolerably fair sport here 

 but for certain competition that we encountered on the 



their appearance at the point on the river where we were 

 stationed on both afternoons during our sojourn here, 

 and what with their superior knowledge of the best places 

 to fish in and their numerical strength, they crowded us 

 two hopelessly to the wall. 



Not so, however, with Billy, who was not to be left 

 behind through anybody's contriving. Doubtless antici- 

 pating these incursionary raids, he laid his plans accord- 

 ingly. Appropriating, while the coast was yet clear, a 

 certain pool of whose excellence he was aware, he never 

 permitted himself to leave it till he knew he could return 

 to it unopposed, or until night put an end to his sport. 

 Backed as he was by the knowledge of every possible 

 dodge calculated to make his flies do their work, his 

 mode of procedure netted him handsome results, his 

 catch first and last numbering some two dozen fish, 

 mostly medium small size, and therefore prizes for the 

 board. 



As it was so plain a case that we were over-matched by 

 the Indians at this point, we concluded when discussing 

 the matter at supper on the second evening after our ar- 

 rival to make a break for another place further up the 

 river, where we hoped we should be less liable to suffer 

 from the infliction in question. On the following morn- 

 ing, therefore, Billy carted us to this new goal, w^hieh 

 was some six miles further up stream. The river proved 

 to be somewhat wider here than below, and its average 

 depth was also somewhat greater. Otherwise its features 

 were the same in both places. We found, ultimately, 

 that we were to reckon with Mr. Lo on this new ground 

 to a certain degree, but as the role assumed by him now 

 was mainly that of a good-natured and perfectly unoffend- 

 ing Paul Pry, his presence on the scene counted for little 

 more than nothing. 



Everything was ready for us to begin business in this 

 new field of enterprise at about 2 o'clock or a little after, 

 and Billy accordingly opened the ball promptly at the 

 time stated. Eph was also moved to take part in the 

 proceedings a little later. The writer, however, was 

 somewhat more tardy in getting to work, holding it to 

 be his best policy to wait an horn- or bo to get the advan- 

 tage of a lower sun before following the example of his 

 associates. In his choice of places where he sought his 

 prey each was guided by his own fancy. Eph and I, 

 with the feeling that this course of procedure ought to 



result well for us, as it partook of a more enterprising 

 stamp and had its difficult side, entered the water bodily 

 »and tried several mid-river pools, only to be reached by 

 this maneuver. Billy, on the other hand, remained on 

 the bank and contented himself with taking his chances 

 in such places as were to be reached by casting from this 

 standpoint; and really he did not need to be so particular 

 in this matter, as the rank and file would be. Each one 

 of us let out all there was in him in the way of industry 

 and perseverance, and none quit the field till darkness 

 forced him to do so. 



On counting up our spoils at the tent door when the 

 contest was over, the tale reached thirty-three fish. Most 

 of these were one and two pound fish. A few would go 

 as high as three pounds, and one was a good five-pounder. 

 Ten of the lot were taken by the spoon hook by Billy, who 

 closed his day's performance by an interval of practice 

 with this implement, as a matter of experiment. With 

 this record to his credit, Billy's commanding skill cer- 

 tainly speaks for itself. AVhat he could have done fur- 

 ther in the way of j>roving his proficiency was a problem 

 that was not to be solved, as with his supper finished he 

 took his leave cf us, and we saw him no more till he re- 

 turned a few days later to wagon us off the reservation. 

 It is to be explained in relation to this act on his part that 

 his home was but some eight or ten miles away, where 

 his presence was needed at this juncture to look after his 

 hay harvest. 



We now come to a new deal, as it might be called, in- 

 stituted by us. It had been a common experience with 

 all three of us during our bout with the trout here to meet 

 with repeated losses of tackle by forcible disruption. 

 Bouncing big fish were, of course, chargeable with the 

 mischief, the fact being that this particular part of the 

 river constituted a famed rendezvous for trout of the 

 character referred to. In some three or four instances we 

 had succeeded in locating the lairs, if the expression may 

 be held applicable, of these terrors, and with the posses- 

 session of this knowledge, both Eph and I concluded 

 that we had no further call to concern ourselves with 

 small fish in a more serious way, but that our business 

 was with the leviathans in question. We panted for 

 glory, in other words, and possible mention in the sport- 

 ing journals under the head of a flaring fly-fishing title in 

 double capitals. 



The admission must be made, however, that so far as 

 Eph was concerned there were occasional lapses from 

 this rule. Necessity notoriously acknowledges no binding 

 contracts, and, as it was Eph's function to keep our table 

 going, he was forced from time to time to lay the river 

 under contribution and take what it could be made to 

 yield him of the commoner sort. But the writer stuck 

 faithfully to his agreement, and never once during our 

 three or four days' stay here bothered with meaner game. 



These bouncers, as we found, responded to our ad- 

 vances with the readiest alacrity during the earlier stages 

 of twilight, and this being the case, the interval in ques- 

 tion was of course duly taken advantage of by us to seek 

 to compass their undoing. Naturally their preference 

 ran for the paler flies, the grizzly-king being perhaps the 

 most fetching one with them. Upon no one of these 

 occasions on which we sought an encounter with them 

 was our invitation wbolly neglected, the cartel of one or 

 the other of us being invariably honored with acceptance. 



The scrimmage opened by the freezing of what seemed 

 to be a heavy chunk of lead to the hook, at which stage 

 matters rested for some three or four seconds with no 

 perceptible change. Next following this demonstration 

 the seeming plumbeous body became suddenly instinct 

 with cyclonic life, and took to plunging up and down in 

 the true spirit of the kind of vitality animating it; during 

 which round of performances one* realized the fact that 

 he was fast to a trout magnifico of a good yard's length 

 or more. It is to be observed that the lunges of the fish 

 all assumed a vertical direction, thus making the task of 

 the angler, in his attempt to keep Ms line evenly taut, as 

 arduous as it possibly could be made. So far as we two 

 were concerned anyway, the task was beyond us. Why 

 trick with the denouement ? The finish was as our con- 

 testants would have had it every time. 



We Avere to bo written down then as having failed in 

 the main objret of our ambition. The realization of this 

 by us brought its season of depression of course. But 

 our engulfment in this slough was but temporary. The 

 never-failing salve which humanity characteristically 

 turns to in the hours of its failure and set-back we duly 

 made use of; that is to say, we cheapened success in 

 whatsoever form and shape, and declared it to be in 

 reality an evil snare. More particularly as we took care 

 to point out, ore rotunda, it was apt to conduce to the 

 enlargement of the human cerebellum to an extent 

 grievously repellant to the general multitude. 



In this sublime attitude we left the reservation, as the 

 time came for Billy to put in an. appearance with his 

 team and cart us back to our original starting point. All 

 the same, as we reached the confines of civilization and 

 chanced to see an angler of the petticoated sex, the nervy 

 wife of a lumberman, who had lately, after a tussle last- 

 ing over an hour, succeeded in subduing a 17^1b3. trout, 

 I know of one party, sure, in whose mind she "was lifted 

 to the top of the tallest kind of pedestal, and so far as 

 this experience was concerned, anyway, would have 

 liked mightily to have stood in her shoes.' 



W. L. Tiffany. 



CHANGED MASSACHUSETTS TROUT LAW. 



CHAPTER 193. An act to limit the time within which front, 

 land-locked salmon and lake trout may be taken in Berk- 

 shire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. 

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 

 Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, asfoltoivs: 

 Section 1. Chapter one hundred and seventy-one of the acts of 

 the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four is hereby amended by 

 adding at the end of the first section xhe words: except in the 

 counties of Berkshire, Fraul.lin, Hampshire and Hampd' n, where 

 such time shall be between the first day of August and the first 

 day of April, under a penalty of not lees than ten and more than 

 twenty-five dollars for each md every violation thereof, so that 

 the. section shall read as fallows: Section 1. The time within 

 which any person is forbidden to taki', sell, offer for s^Ie, or to 

 have in his posse ssion, a trout, landlocked salmon or lake trout, 

 by section* fifty-one and fifty-rhree of chapter ninety-'ine of the 

 Public Statutes, shall be between the first day of September and 

 the first day of April, except in the counties of Berkshire, Frank- 

 lin, Hampshire and Hampden, where such time shall be between 

 the first day of August and the first day of April, under a penalty 

 of not less than ten and not more than twenty-five dollars for 

 each and every violation thereof. 



Sec- 2. Chapter two hundred and seventy-six of the acts of the 

 year eighteen nnndred and eighty-eight is hereby repealed. 

 Sec. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 

 Approved April 18, 1890. 



