May 15, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



333 



fishing in the old stream Skunk River, near Newton, 

 where I squandered a good deal of time when I was a 

 boy. It seems that low water and persistent seining in 

 the past have about done for the fishing in that river. 

 One string of about a dozen bass and wall-eyed pike had 

 been taken near the "Four Forks." I heard of a lake 

 about 17 miles below Newton, which lies on the land of a 

 farmer who has not allowed it to be seined. There were 

 a great many bass there last year, and it is thought that 

 a few favored anglers will have some good fun there this 

 season as soon as the law is out. Small-mouthed bass 

 used to run up the Skunk River in good numbers. Years 

 ago mascallonge were taken there of very large size. 

 These were not caught very often, but were nearly 

 always over 201bs. in weight. Several of these fish were 

 taken in the deep water between Colfax and the old 

 Reed's mill, near the Slaughter coal mines; others were 

 found in the ; 'Hickory Bend," and several were hooked 

 or taken in the Four Forks deep water. The old settlers 

 thought that these big fish all came up together years 

 ago in a season of exceptionally high water. Skunk 

 River would always have been a good fishing stream if it 

 had been treated right, and the Iowa Fish Commission 

 can find no better one to restock with bass and pike, for 

 most of the old lawless practices along it have died of 

 themselves. The stream, indeed, ought to be restocked 

 from Colfax down to Reasnor at least, between the two 

 branches of the Rock Island road. There are no dams 

 now in that reach of water. 



Spirit Lake and Okeboji will this summer claim an 

 unusually large amount of summer tourist and angling 

 travel. Black bass fishing there, I am told, is not so very 

 good. "White bass," perch, pike, wall-eyed pike and the 

 usual run of inland lake fish are still numerous. 



The country through Illinois and Iowa is now beautiful 

 in the extreme. The rolling hills are of a lovely green 

 and the trees along the streams are in full and fragrant 

 blossom. The leaves on the oak trees are "bigger than a 

 squirrel's ear," and that is a sign that bass will bite. 



The other day my father and I wanted to go out fish- 

 ing and couldn't, so we took out the rod3 and. going out 

 on the hill began practicing bait-casting on the grass, 

 using a lead sinker for a bait. My fox-terrier Gem was 

 for some time an interested spectator of this sport, and at 

 length, evidently divining the principle of the thing, she 

 concluded to take a hand in it. Catching up one of the 

 heavy sinkers as it came bumping in over the grass, she 

 made off with it at full speed, holding on with a tenacity 

 which nothing but a fox-terrier can imitate. The "play" 

 that followed was about as severe, I imagine, as that 

 particular bass rod or its handler had ever known. It is 

 now established that water is not in the least essential to 

 fishing. One needs only a good bass rod and a "dead 

 game" fox-terrier, and if the latter is as good a one as 

 mine, he can land a mascallonge about as easily. 



E. Hough. 



ANGLING IN CANADA. 



THE story that I have to tell treats of the grounds of 

 the Tourilli Fish and Game Club of Canada. This 

 club i3 the immediate result of the association of Com- 

 modore J. U. Gregory and Mr. George Van Felson, of 

 Quebec, and of Mr. E. A. Panet, M. P. for St. Raymond, 

 of the Province of Quebec. These gentlemen secured 

 certain grounds, including lakes and rivers, teeming 

 with brook trout and wininisb, and abounding with 

 moose, caribou, ruffed grouse and ducks. The charter 

 members include the following gentlemen: President, 

 J. U. Gregory, Quebec; "Vice-President, E. A. Panet, St. 

 Raymond; Secretary, Geo. Van Felson, Quebec; Treas- 

 urer*, Alex Lauin, Quebec. Committee of Management: 

 Dr. E. A. Lewis, Brooklyn; Hon. Smith P. Glover, Sandy 

 Hook, Conn.; Richard S. Harvey, New York, N.Y. The 

 remaining members being: J. H. Botterill, Quebec: A. 

 G. Demers, Quebec; C. H. Carrier, Levis; James H. Work, 

 New York; W. S. Downs, Birmingham, Conn.; John W, 

 Masson, New York; Dr. W, H. Thomson, New Haven, 

 Conn.; W. L. Bennett, New Haven, Conn, Last season 

 1 made a trip to these grounds in company with my 

 friend the Commodore, and our journey began in the 

 parlor car of the Quebec & Lake St. John, express train. 

 We were soon on our way to St. Raymond, our destina- 

 tion, thirty-six miles from Quebec. We passed the foam- 

 ing waters of the famed Jacques Cartier River and beau- 

 tiful Lake St. Joseph, twenty-one miles in circumference, 

 and bordered by the Laurentian Range. It is a favorite 

 summer resort. "Very fine black bass are found there," 

 said the Commodore, as we passed a pretty sheet of water 

 called Lake Sergeant. It was a vision only, and soon 

 out of sight. The Commodore having collected his traps 

 now seemed to await some important event, and it came, 

 as a most picturesque spot suddenly attracted our atten- 

 tion. Here are mountains of peculiar shape and distribu- 

 tion; two beautiful streams meander through a pretty 

 mountain village with its neat and cosy cottages and 

 handsome Norman church, all uniting to form a picture 

 never to be forgotten; it was St. Raymond. 



We no sooner reach the platform than the sun-bronzed 

 features of our friend Edward greet us, and after vigor- 

 ous shaking of hands and much talk, we find ourselves 

 perched on the seat of a Canadian buckboard. A pleasant 

 drive over 15 miles of good carriage road is greatly en- 

 joyed and then the last house, that of Ferdinand Godin, 

 is reached. He is the Tourilli F. and G. Club guardian, 

 and having presented our permits, he welcomes us to the 

 limits. At our feet rush the waters of the St. Anne, and 

 a beautiful pool is at a distance of 50ft. from the house. 

 It is well stocked with speckled beauties, the rise fre- 

 quently, making desperate leaps at some insect which 

 tempts their ravenous appetites. The club is to build its 

 club house at this spot. The next morning our provisions, 

 tents, etc., having been stowed away in the Gaspe canoes, 

 we set out for the Upper St. Anne. Paddles are soon dis- 

 carded and poling is the order of the day, as the river is a 

 succession of rapids and short pools. A whoop from the 

 Commodore announces the fact that these pool6 contain 

 numbers of fine trout. His flies have barely touched the 

 water when a splash tells us that a contest with a plucky 

 fish has begun. The gamy victim fights desperately, but 

 in such hands is sure to be landed a prize, the excitement 

 runs high, as at each pool we have a repetition of the 

 scene. 



The best pools we fished to the mouth of the Tourilli 

 River were "Godins," the "Leaning Birch," the "Island," 

 the "Big Rock," the "Spring," the "Grande" and "Car- 

 riers." The latter is certainly one of the most remark- 

 able in Canada and has a record of a 6£lb. Salrno fonti- 



nqlis. Our catch here was most satisfactory, as may be 

 imagined when I say that our catch consisted of 2 fish of 

 51bs., 5 of 4ilbs., 2 of 8|lbs., and a number from 81bs. 

 down, all with a clean fly, no bait being needed on any 

 of these waters of the St. Anne. 



Our next move was to the forks of juncture of the St. 

 Anne and Tourilli. From the latter the club takes its 

 name, it being an Indian name meaning rushing waters. 



Our guides dashed the canoes boldly through the tur- 

 bulent waters, and our rods were laid aside, for we were 

 kept busy helping the canoemen in then 1 efforts to mount 

 the rapids. One mile of the exciting work and we 

 reach the Tourilli Falls, one of the prettiest sights imag- 

 inable. The falls consist of a succession of cascades, at 

 the bottom of which lies a most tempting pool. Our suc- 

 cess here was most satisfactory, and though we did not 

 break its record of a 71b. Salmo fontinalis, we touched 

 the scale at 4£lbs., and friend Edward lost his enameled 

 silk line. Above the falls we did not go, but I know the 

 sport to be good, for some 20 lakes are tributary to this 

 river, and when we make a trail they will be quite acces- 

 sible. A continuous shooting of rapids brought us once 

 more to the St. Aune. The most tempting boulders and 

 each of the 5 or 6 pools have increased our stock of fish 

 considerably, and like true sportsmen we resign our rods 

 and contemplate the scenery as we travel up stream and 

 soon enter the discharge of Lake Cimon. A good trail 

 here brought us to lakes Evangeline and Cimon. We 

 found them to be swarming with trout averaging fib. 

 weight, and my advice to members is to visit these lakes 

 by all means, as every good cast tempts a victim. A 

 chain of lakes known to be excellent are further on, but 

 not yet open, 



Returning to the main river we take the trail to the 

 head of the big rapid, the canoe making good headway 

 by the river with baggage only. As the rise is almost 

 imperceptible the walk is a pleasant one, and one hour 

 brings us to the Mauvaise Riviere. Being well fitted with 

 suitable wading shoes, we tried a little wading to refresh 

 ourselves and while away time, awaiting- the arrival of 

 our canoe; the stream is 25ft. broad and affords good fish- 

 ing. We soon came to a halt, however, as we reached 

 the foot of the mountain, 1,100ft. high, down the side of 

 which dashes the stream in a number of falls and cas- 

 cades. The headwaters of this stream is a chain of five 

 lakes, better reached by Lake Cimon. 



Walking back we were greeted by our guides, who 

 took us across to the Lake Jambon trail A stiff walk of 

 three-quarters of a mile brings us 1,000ft. above the St. 

 Anne; 100ft. below us lies a lovely sheet of water, Lake 

 Jambon, six miles in circumference; the water is of a 

 greenish hue and so remarkably clear as to enable us to 

 see.the bottom at a depth of 30 to 40ft. ; the lake is very 

 deep and cold. 



We found good boats awaiting us, and soon were skim- 

 ming over its waters. One can well imagine the quality 

 of fish we got, and certainly they are not to be surpassed 

 on this continent, as in all these waters nothing but brook 

 trout are found. What sport we enjoyed when alluring 

 these beauties, but on account of the remarkable clear- 

 ness of the water most careful and artistic casting is re- 

 quired ; when a flash of silver was to be seen darting 

 toward the tempting fly, it was visible at 30ft. distant. 

 The cast is not in vain, and quicker than lightning your 

 line is spinning off your reel, the sport has begun, and 

 you imagine a monster has hold of your line, so vigorous 

 is a 21bs. fish in this water. The average for Lake J ambon 

 on this trip was ljlbs. They are known to run as large as 

 4lbs., but none larger have been captured here. 



Our next move was toward Little Jambon, a lake as 

 large but not so deep as the big lake. It is swarming 

 with fish averaging ^lb. weight. It was here that the 

 crowning event of our journey took place when Edward 

 and 1, having imprudently stood up in our birch bark 

 canoe, upset, were immersed rather suddenly and had to 

 swim for our lives. We lost $50 worth of tackle, but did 

 not leave our carcasses for the fish to feed upon. The 

 good old Commodore gave us a jovial lecture that evening 

 about fishing on Sundays. At the head of this lake is a 

 trail leading to seven other lakes running toward the 

 head of the Tourilli. Going back to the St. Anne, with 

 rods mounted, we head up stream. A lovely pool is before 

 us, and I captured a 5-pound trout by casting under the 

 low overhanging boughs which line its banks. Several 

 pools are crossed, when a mountain of great height looms 

 up in the distance. It is the Fale Tourte — Pigeon's 

 Breast— 2,500ft. above the river, and much resembling 

 Cape Trinity of the Saguenay, its perpendicular side of 

 rock overlooking Markham's Pool, which is soon reached, 

 and the most celebrated trout pool in Canada is before 

 us. An inscription on a tree informed us that it had 

 been visited for the first time on July 3, 1859, by Captain 

 Markham, Royal Artillery. His wonderful catch was 

 described, and many other records were there. Though 

 we got nothing that day, our average for twenty-four fish 

 next day was over 3ibs. , and might have continued, but 

 we were satisfied. 



Three miles further up the river we come to the St. 

 Anne, or Seven Falls. A sudden bend of the river and 

 they are before you, the stream tumbling down 2,500ft. 

 of almost perpendicular mountain in a sticeession of falls, 

 varying from 70 to 120ft. in height and about 30ft. wide. 

 A wall of rock, void of all vegetation, rises on either side 

 and a pool 5ft. in diameter ends these falls, it is almost 

 round and is the work of centuries; two enormous pillars 

 of rock 200ft, high and barely 6ft. apart form the en- 

 trance, and are called the "Gates." Between them is an 

 enormous boulder, against which the water dashes with 

 tremendous force. 



Under the ledges of rock in the small pool we caught 

 five fish, one, weighing 71bs., was the prize of friend Ed- 

 ward, and on account of the tremendous current, it re- 

 quired careful handling and took out 75yds. of line be- 

 fore it was landed in a small pool outside the Gates. 

 Col. John Panet, my friend's father, has a record of a 

 91bs. Salmo fontinalis taken here. 



A short distance below we found the trail to the head 

 of the falls, here a chain of 15 lakes were crossed in birch 

 bark canoes. All these lakes were full of trout, giving us 

 much sport. The largest of these lakes, St. Anne, is 34 

 miles long, the carries between them being short. 



This being the height of land , it is level for several 

 miles. It is a good hunting ground and abounds in large 

 game. It is the watershed from which flow the Chicou- 

 timi, Metabetchouan, Batiscan, Jacques Cartier, Little 

 Saguenay. Tourilli and St. Anne rivers, each Tunning in 

 a different direction. It is the feeding ground of moose, 



caribou and other game, the bush being low and marshy. 

 Game was seen all over the limits that we crossed and we 

 ascertained that many a fine buck has ended his days 

 quite close to the guardian's house. 



Our return trip now commenced in earnest. Our desti- 

 nation was Lake St. John, the home of the winninish, the 

 king of the game fish, a fresh water salmon that yields 

 not to his salt-water brother in his fierceness of play. The 

 train speeds on towards the Peribonca. At Lake Edward 

 a long stop is called. A pleasant time may be had here 

 by a fisherman who does not care for hardships, as the 

 lake is not 20ft. from the hotel, and good sport is generally 

 to be had with the fly, and always with bait or troll. At 

 Date St. John we make preparations to cross the lake to 

 the mouth of the Grand Peribonca. It, as well as the 

 Little Peribonca, have become Tourilli Club's limits 1 , and 

 so we have made up our minds to go over them and find 

 what we have and what we have not. As we expect to 

 have some grand sport with the landlocked salmon, the 

 Commodore good-naturedly entertains us with his experi- 

 ence at the Grande Decharge, of which he was formerly 

 a part owner. 



The mouth of the Grand Peribonca being entered, a 

 short sail of one mile distance brings us to the mouth of 

 the Little Peribonca, a stream a half mile wide at this 

 point. To give an idea of the extent of this Peribonca I 

 will merely state that it is nearly two miles broad at its 

 mouth, 50 miles up it is fully one mile wide, and con- 

 tinues so for over 150 miles, the entire length being about 

 300 miles. We found these rivers to be very grand as far 

 as sight-seeiug is concerned, and as for fly-fishing, why 

 we got enough of it to satisfy the most ardent angler. 

 Our guides informed us that fly-fishing is good on the 

 river's whole length, as well as all its tributaries and 

 lakes. This fact leads me to believe the Peribonca to be 

 the feeder of Lake St. John's enormous supply of winni- 

 nish. A hatching station is to be placed at the mouth of 

 the river. F-: i:-;tinaus. 



Quebec, April 20. 



ANGLING NOTES. 



THE time has now arrived when the fly-fisherman will 

 have his inning. The cold, rainy weather and high 

 water, such as we usually have during the first few 

 weeks of the trouting season, and which are so favorable 

 to those who use the slimy crawling worm, have de- 

 parted, and the soft balmy air, laden with the sweetest 

 perfume of thousands of wild flowers and apple blossoms 

 wooes the angler to the wild mountain stream, where he 

 can forget the noise and turmoil of the dusty city and 

 cast his flies with a good chance of success. 



Making all due allowance for "fish stories," the reports 

 of the catches of trout throughout the county is most 

 encouraging: the trout seem to be very plentiful and of 

 excellent size, shownng the wisdom of the G-inch law in 

 those States where it obtains. 



The slaughter of baby trout for count is out of fashion, 

 and now the man who brags of killing his hundreds of 

 fingerlings in so many hours and minutes is no longer a 

 subject of admiration, but rather finds himself pounced 

 upon by all true anglers. The killing of half a dozen big 

 trout is much more creditable to the fisherman, and it is 

 the eize and not the number that marks the expert. 



We are often asked what combination of flies is best to 

 use at this season of the year. This is a difficult question 

 to answer, unless one can first see the stream and note 

 the color and conditions of the water. In a general way 

 we would advise the use of three flies entirely different, 

 say, for instance, a brown-hen, a queen-of-the-water and 

 a Cahill. If the trout show a preference for one or the 

 other, the angler can fish with two or three alike. The 

 sizes used on the streams of the Middle States are Nos. 

 8, 10 and 12 Sproat. Should the water happen to be high 

 and discolored, bright flies on a No. 8 hook will do the 

 best work; but if low and clear, 10 or 12 will be found 

 the better sizes and they should be quiet in color. With 

 the latter size the lightest weight leaders obtainable and 

 as long as the rod will allow. That i» with a rod 10ft. in 

 length or over, one should fish with a 9ft. leader, but if 

 the rod is shorter, use leaders in proportion. It is better 

 to carry a small short-handled landing net hung on a 

 button under the back of one's collar; many a good fish is 

 lost for want of this precaution and many a good rod 

 ruined by trying to lift out a big fish. 



The angler should take care of his fish after he has 

 caught them. It is discreditable to fetch back a lot of 

 sun and wind dried trout, all curled up and stiff. Put a 

 handful of grass or ferns in the bottom of the creel and 

 kill the fish as soon as caught, by hitting them a sharp 

 blow on the back of the head. If the weather is hot, 

 clean the morning's catch at noon, and every few hours 

 dip the creel in the stream. The best way to keep trout 

 to take home is as follows: Clean them thoroughly, 

 taking care to remove the gills and the blood under the 

 back bone, wipe dry inside and out, but do not wash 

 them, sprinkle them inside with black pepper, but on no 

 account use salt. Pack in cool, fresh grass and keep 

 them in the shade. If ice is used it should be put in a tin 

 can or at least at the bottom of the creel, for it spoils the 

 flavor of trout to have them soaking in water. 



The best stream fishing we know of is to be found at 

 White Cloud, Mich. Easily reached by railroad from 

 Grand Rapids. Excellent trout and grayling fishing can 

 be obtained here with fair accommodations. 



Col. Alfred J. Hobbs, of Bridgeport, Conn., recently 

 caught a female trout full of ripe spawn, which flowed 

 freely when he took the fish off of the fly. 



A lOlbs. salmon was taken in the Hackensack River, 

 N. J. , last week, with a net unfortunately. Some seven 

 or eight years ago a lucky angler killed one in the upper 

 waters of this river while fly-fishing for black bass. 



Weakfish have made their appearance at Gifford's. 



Early Weakfish.— At Fitzgerald's, Giffords, Staten 

 Island, the first weakfish were taken May 4. The aver- 

 age weight of the fish caught was lib. 



