March 10, 1892.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



223 



Secretary's room. One day the Secretary's bell rang 

 -violently and on Pettit's making his appearance he said, 

 "Pettit. that man wants a messenger's place, and if he 

 comes in here again he will get it." 



Sir Edward Crampton, British Minister, who got into 

 trouble about the Crimean war, was a fine looking old 

 gentleman, straight, with a military bearing, and was a 

 familiar figure in Washington along in the forties. 

 Many of the boys will remember seeing him, too, about 

 the locks at the foot of I7th street, and along the canal by 

 Cumberland's boat house, accompanied by his big black 

 Newfoundland dog. His favorite sport while here was 

 trout fishing; and in season he made frequent excursions 

 to the Great Falls of the Potomac in his carriage, drawn 

 by two large bob-tail grays. Leaving his team in charge 

 of ' Old Man Dickey," at the falls, he would proceed to 

 Difficult Run, about a mile distant, and seldom failed to 

 return with a good string. . It was from him that I first 

 learned that trout could be caught so close to Washington. 



Dr. Waring, who lived on E near Seventh, was a keen 

 sportsman, and though he used glasses, seldom failed to 

 bag his bird, and he was also fond of fishing. One day 

 going through the Center Market I detected him and his 

 friend Dr. Marron paying twenty-five to fifty cents to 

 the country people for the privilege of pulling a few 

 feathers from the chickens' tails to make flies with. 

 Upon my saying that they could purchase the chicken 

 for what they were paying for the feathers they itnmedi- 

 diately suggested that we go and take something, and 

 we did. The two doctors undertook to cut off my dog 

 Milo's tail in a scientific manner, and after much strug- 

 gling with the poor brute the doctor's coachman per- 

 formed the operation with a sharp hatchet with a prompt- 

 ness that surprised them. 



Here a scratch and a whine at my door aroused me 

 from my reverie, and Dell and myself were soon on the 

 way to Bailey's boat house. Deli for a romp with the 

 dogs and I to discuss the probabilities of a good hunting 

 season for the next year. Tom Marron. 



Washington, D. G. 



WILDFOWL IN TEXAS.-III. 



' [Concluded from page 195.] 



THE next morning Will V. and I procured some shrimp 

 and sunl! minnows, and with our light bass rods 

 and silk lines gave the fish another trial, and by noon we 

 had ten bass ranging from !•§ to lOlbs,, one croaker of 

 about (Jibs,, and six channel cats, the smallest of which I 

 could just readily hold at arm's length— probably SOlbs. 

 in weight, while the largest would reach 35 .at least. 



My luck ran to cats, and when one was hooked no 

 course was open except to tire him down, and frequently 

 this would take a halt' hour or more to accomplish. 



Selecting what fish we could use, the remainder were 

 given to the fishermen who had been seining, and who 

 secured a hundred averaging about 71bs, 



While on the bays, without local knowledge of the 

 proper fishing grounds, it would be surprising if we had 

 caught many fish, and in fact we did not try except when 

 becalmed or in some bayou where we might be camped. 

 In the bay of Espiritu Santo we caught a fine mess of 

 spotted salt-water trout (weak fish), and in Avansas Bay 

 took sixty-three fish in about two hours, mostly silver 

 trout, and the remainder hogfish. This hogfish, so called, 

 has much the shape of a kingfish, but the coloring is dif- 

 ferent; it is an excellent table fish. Crabs we caught in 

 abundance, and turtles abound, both green and terrapin: 

 but we were not fortunate enough to find the winter 

 grounds. 



That silvery reward of patience, plus many good dollars 

 and more or less skill, the tarpon, greatly abounds, but is 

 seldom fished for, and fulfils no apparent purpose except 

 it may be that when some able skipper has a party of 

 tenderf eet on board, taking them to the future deep-water 

 port of the Southwest, and the tarpon are breaking lively, 

 he may with sedate countenance relate the tale of how 

 "one of them fish jumped clean over his sloop, and that 

 close-hauled at the time it went right through the main- 

 sail," or possibly he may aver that it knocked a drummer 

 overboard. It depends somewhat on the skipper and 

 considerably on the class of passengers what the tale will 

 be, for the tarpon in Texas is just as worthy as his brother 

 in Florida to adorn a tale either of fact or fiction. 



We were told at Matagorda that ducks had been scarce 

 for some three weeks before our arrival, but that we 

 would find them in plenty further west. As we neared 

 Trespalacia Point we found many ducks, geese and myr- 

 iads of snipe, in size from the oxeye to the curlew, as 

 well as bittern, quocks, and blue, white and pink herons. 

 We killed a few yellow-shanks in fine condition, and ex- 

 pected a feast; but the flavor was altogether too rank for 

 our palates, probably arising from a too exclusive diet of 

 small shrimp, which cover every flat. We were not sat- 

 isfied with this experience of bay birds. Several brown- 

 backed snipe (Scolopax noveboracensis) were killed and 

 cooked secundum artem (that means we knew how to do 

 it); but they also were a complete failure. 



On the mainland shores of the bays are to be found 

 many brackish flats, and on these jacksnipe were ex- 

 tremely plentiful, it being nothing uncommon to spring 

 three or four couples simultaneously, and to see flying 

 wisps containing twenty or upward. 



During our chartless but not aimless cruising, we 

 reached in a thick mist a beautiful motte at the entrance 

 of Carancahua Bay, where we were kept two days on 

 account of a severe norther, 



On the previous night the coons had stolen a nice bunch 

 of ducks, which had been carefully hung out of reach as 

 we supposed, and a reserved piece of bacon, reducing our 

 supply to a few onions and a scanty supply of flour, 



The norther came in at daylight, and we were treated 

 to the grandest exhibition of the flight of wildfowl that I 

 ever expect to see. Swan, geese, duck, snipe and all 

 varieties of shore fowl were on the move, and commenced 

 to raft at the leeward edge of a sedgy marsh about one- 

 half mile from us. Selecting stands, we expected to soon 

 kill all required, and on my own part I wauted a goose 

 for a change, and did not take advantage, of several good 

 shots offered by passing ducks. 



I A sharp appetite dictating a move, and having heard 

 several shots, my steps were directed to camp and break- 

 fast, expecting to find Will V. with plenty of meat. He 

 was at camp, but without the lae&U for hia ambition had 

 also been for a gfcoses and our braakfcjrt, like the preyed, 

 in* mvpw «•»<! dinner, eonsfeM of sjftpjttok? and wffoe, 



After our scanty meal an attempt was made to get our 

 boat afloat, for the water receded at once with the 

 norther, but the mud was unfathomable just beyond the 

 stern, so the continually augmenting raft of birds was 

 safe from any attempts at disturbance. 



Occasional flocks of geese and ducks would fly over 

 the most, but always out of reach, and even a covey of 

 quail kept themselves so well covered in the brush that 

 we could not get a shot at one of them. 



About noon I determined to reach the upland along the 

 north shore of the point, and discovered at the head of 

 the cove some ducks sunning on a sand spit within pos- 

 sible gun shot from shore. The position marked, a long 

 detour was made through mud and water, and on ap- 

 proaching the shore a small shell reef with some scatter- 

 ing sedge gave fair cover, and careful scrutiny showed 

 the ducks undisturbed. With the wind full in my face, 

 and blowing nearly a gale, stalking was an easy matter, 

 and the reef was reached without a duck's suspicions 

 being aroused. 



It was a beautiful sight. A large flock of widgeon, 

 with their white pates and glossy plumage glistening in 

 the sun. Many had heads tucked under wings, others 

 with a leg and wing extended seemed to be absorbing the 

 sunshine, while a few were preening and dressing their 

 feathers. I own up to a pot shot pure and simple, with- 

 out excuse except that we were out of meat, and besides 

 I only shot the 13-gauge once (that is to kill), for I also 

 own up to a miss at the second shot, with the excuse that 

 the smoke from the first blew back so I could not see. 

 What a scurrying, fluttering and whistling commotion 

 as the survivors left the fatal spot, rudely awakened from 

 then- dreaming siesta. Hurrying on the spit I shot three 

 cripples that w r ere making out to deep water, a fourth 

 getting away, and then gathered up my spoils, an even 

 dozen that made a heavy back load before camp was 

 reached. 



Will V. was absent from camp, and when found was 

 industriously gathering oysters, but left his occupation on 

 being told that I had a duck. I purposely allowed him to 

 reach camp first and have time to look around, and was 

 rewarded by his characteristic expression of, "Did you 

 get 'em all?" A "nice" meal followed, according to Will 

 Av., and "nice" describes everything, from merely pretty 

 to the sublime, as used by Will V.'s best girl," so why 

 should I be hunting around" for adjectives. 



The remainder of the day was spent in watchiug the 

 immense raft of wildfowl, and trying to count the swans, 

 which were conspicuous by their whiteness. Over 100 

 could be counted, and probably we did not see one-half, 

 as the raft extended a long distance. 



The next morning a few geese were flying, but we did 

 not secure any, although Will V. made a most beautiful 

 double miss just as I was calling him to breakfast, and 

 afterward excused the shot, as we had plenty of game. 



While at a stand after breakfast enjoying the 

 genial warmth of the sunshine, six swans arose from 

 the raft and started directly toward me. An apparent 

 leader swerved to the right, but the remaining five kept 

 their direct course and presented as fine an overhead shot 

 as could be wished. No pot-shooting this time, for at the 

 instant of explosion 1 was certain the shot was effective, 

 and refrained from a second shot although the range was 

 easy. The beautifid bird, with closed wings, struck the 

 ground with a shock, apparently jarring the whole motte, 

 for it was extremely fat and heavy, life entirely extinct. 

 It was my first and only swan, and with its capture alone 

 I felt full content, taking considerable pride in the 

 achievement, feeling excusable for the hour spent in ex- 

 amination and admiration of its snow-white plumage a.nd 

 graceful proportions. 



Unfortunately it was impossible to ship the sppcimen 

 to where it could be mounted, and an attempt on my 

 part to take off the skin was a dismal failure, for the 

 whole body was covered with fat at least one-half inch 

 thick, impossible to remove from the skin without soil- 

 ing the down and feathers. The flesh was good eating, 

 free from any strong taste, for this fowl at least had 

 been a strict vegetarian, as proved by a rigid examina- 

 tion. 



During the trip we saw many swan, notably at Cedar 

 Bayou and Black Jack Peninsula, and could liave killed 

 several of them, but it seemed like wanton destruction to 

 slay such majestic objects of creation unless compelled 

 by necessity or with a laudable desire for investigation. 



Thewdnd lulled somewhat during the afternoon, and 

 after unloading our boat completely, we carried it across 

 the point and started up Carancahua Bay, but did not 

 reach a ranch until nearly noon the next day, being im- 

 peded by a head wind, and finding our camp-fire so com- 

 fortable in the morning that an early start was out of the 

 question. 



At a ranch we found only the foreman, who, being 

 lonesome, would gladly have kept us for a day or two; 

 but after a chat— in which he told us of the fine sport 

 with ducks earlier in the season, verified by two wool- 

 sacks filled with feathers — we exchanged some of our 

 ducks for flour, syrup and salt and embarked. 



The foreman also told us of a neighbor, who, having 

 killed some seventy odd ducks which he thought would 

 not justify taking time to market, had dressed and dry- 

 salted them, as is usually done with bacon. They were 

 pronounced very fine eating by our informant who had 

 tried them. 



A splendid sail down the bay followed, enlivened by 

 driving up large flocks of sprigtails and widgeon and 

 many white and Canada geese. Bluebills, here called 

 black duck, would allow us to approach within a few 

 yards, but they escaped unharmed, for while they are 

 very fat, ducks of better quality were too abundant. 



Night overtaking us, we encamped at a motte of salt 

 cedars on the long sandy point dividing Matagorda and 

 Lavaca bays, well protected from the cold wind blowing, 

 and piling the drift wood high tried to rival the beacon 

 light shining out bright and clear at intervals from the 

 lighthouse broad before us. 



In a morning ramble we found a freshwater pond 

 whers good shooting was had, where some reader of For- 

 est and Stream has probably visited, for I found on the 

 bank of the pond a first-class waterproof canvas coat, 

 practically new, with a dozen or more 12-g. Elv gas-tight 

 and Kynoch shells, loaded by Yon L. & D., of N. Y. s with 

 E.C. powder, also several 80-g. shells in the pockets, The 

 shells and a box of safety matches were in pGrfecfc condi- 

 tion, although a rain had fallen since the ooafc was left, 

 lam greatly indebted to ihh loser and return him mv 

 Sittoero thank*, hm it tUU article should reach im eyo f 



hope he will have the kindness to explain why he cut the 

 buttons from a new coat, for every button was wanting, 

 even to the back button supporting the game pockets. 



On Dec. 18 we arrived at Port Lavaca and remained 

 until the next morning, bestowing our valuable patron- 

 age at supper and breakfast at a restaurant where the 

 meals where at a stipulated price, and although the holi- 

 days were at hand with increased trade, there is no 

 doubt that the month of December would show a deficit 

 at that establishment, for these were the only shore meals 

 we had taken during the trip, and our previous gorman- 

 dizing on ducks, oysters, fish, etc., had only improved 

 our capacity for home-made bread and beef. 



During the winter several paragraphs have appeared in 

 Forest and Stream concerning shooting and shipment 

 of large numbers of canvasbacks from this point. The 

 shipments have been large and the shooting may have 

 been extraordinary, but instead of the ducks being all 

 canvasbacks it is questionable if 3 per cent, were of that 

 variety. 



Port Lavaca is probably one of the best points reached 

 by rail on the coast for the sportsman, but the hunting 

 facilities offered are very scanty. A good sailboat can 

 be secured, but nothing better than a boat's yawl and a 

 few battered decoys for a ducking outfit. All the suc- 

 cessful shooting is done at fresh-water ponds, which 

 are to be found at several places well known to the local 

 boatmen. 



Leaving Port Lavaca, fully provisioned, we forced our 

 little boat against a heavy wind and sea down the bay, 

 passing the old town of Indianola, which was destroyed 

 by an overflow some years ago, and about 4 P.M. reached 

 Broad Bayou and passed into the Bay of Espiritu Santo, 

 rejoiced to find ourselves in quiet waters after the rough 

 buffeting we had received, for the day had been miserably 

 chilly and the salt spray could not be avoided. 



A good camp-fire, a lemon tempered with water, sugar 

 and spirits and a hearty supper soon equalized tempera- 

 tures, and with pipes aglow we laughed at the wiseacres 

 who had predicted we could not make it down the bay 

 with our little craft and advised us to take a tow, as a 

 schooner was going our way. 



A week of exploration followed, visiting the numerous 

 islands, reefs, bays, coves and dugouts of Espiritu Santo 

 and San Antonio bays. Swan, geese and ducks were 

 very abundant and bay birds of all varieties swarmed on 

 the flats, while fish and oysters were plenty. On some 

 of the islands, especially Matagorda and St. Joseph, deer 

 and turkey are found, but while we Saw numerous 

 tracks we did not come up with any of them. 



These bays being shallow and full of feed, are unques- 

 tionably the best ducking grounds on the coast, and being 

 a long distance, from any shipping point are little dis- 

 turbed by market-hunters. We were, of course, lost in 

 the maze of islands and reefs, but really that was the 

 most enjoyable part of the whole, for we had plenty of 

 provisions and any place that looked inviting we visited, 

 and if time had not to be considered, would have been 

 pleased to remain lost all winter. 



Ou the day before Christmas we entered Aransas Bay, 

 making a camp within sight of the town of Rockport and 

 near a raft of untold thousands of sprigtails, which we 

 had a desire to sample. 



During a part of the night the wind blew a promising 

 gale from the S.E., but Christmas morning opened dead 

 calm; and on attempting to leave we did not get two 

 hundred yards from shore, but lay becalmed under a sun 

 fervent as August. About 10 A. M. a roaring was heard, 

 at first supposed to be caused by a railroad train ; but we 

 were soon aware of what was coming, and lowering sail 

 were pulling lustily for a sheltering point, which we 

 reached before the norther broke on us. 



It was a glorious sight; the water, which had been like 

 a mirror, was in a few minutes white with foam, and 

 huge waves were breaking like the surf on the windward 

 side of the point. The raft of ducks was instantly scat- 

 tered, and the air was filled with the flying squadrons 

 seeking shelter. Gulls went screaming and laughing 

 before the gale, and even the sedate pelicans, which had 

 been guarding a sandy spit, were forced to spread their 

 snowy pinions and seek some quiet haven. 



A genuine Texas norther is extremely vivifying and 

 exhilarating, especially to persons in good health ; but we 

 had experienced too many of them since commencing 

 our trip to enjoy it as a novelty, particularly in such an 

 exposed situation. 



Happily the norther only last twenty-four hours, and we 

 arrived at Rockport the next day in season to purchase a 

 few necessary articles and get a good start down the bay, 

 for we were curious to view the great deep-water port 

 of the Southwest before finishing our trip. 



Nothing need be said in regard to deep-water projects, 

 for the Boards of Trade at Rockport and Corpus Christi will 

 give all the data required by any one, as well as full in- 

 formation regarding the resources and prospects of this 

 country: but we carried out and proved correct a long- 

 formed idea of mine, that good fishing could be had in the 

 deep water, for we had glorious sport with silver trout, 

 caught where probably no one had ever fished before. 



On the return trip to Rockport we stopped on an island 

 which is being put into cultivation, and formed the ac- 

 quaintance of Professor H. P. Attwater, who happened to 

 be visiting there, and were invited to meet him at his 

 museum, for he has now a large collection, and is con- 

 stantly adding to it, of the products and curiosities of this 

 section , ultimately intended for the World's Fair. All 

 the cereals, grasses, fruits, vegetables, soils, clays, sands, 

 etc., as well as the game— beast, fowl and fish — will have 

 their appropriate places showing the vast range of pro- 

 duction and possibilities of this famed section of country. 



The Professor was pleased with our boat, and as we 

 were desirous of taking some visible remembrance of our 

 trip back to the interior, an exchange for some unique 

 and valuable curiosities in the way of shells, corals, etc., 

 was effected, and our trip by water was at an end. 



Prof. Attwater is a sportsman as well as a collector, 

 affable and desirous of pleasing, and any person desirous 

 of trying a shooting or fishing trip to Texas waters will 

 find him ready to answer any reasonable inquiries, if he 

 can spare time, and the recipient is assured he will not be 

 grinding any little private axe, for the Professor is en*- 

 gaged under the auspices of the S, A. & A. P. R. R, and 

 has no connection with any hotel, boatman or guide. 



Our personal appearance after a six weeks' cruise in a 

 email boat was disreputable so say the least of it; bufc a 

 . valise of clothing received by express provided change of 

 raiment, wnd a bath &nd, gfcAVR wojflffft wonders, so much 



