418 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 5, 1893. 



BASS FISHING IN THE SAN ANTONIO. 



DID any brother angler ever visit San Antonio, Texas? 

 Of course many of them have, but I wonder how 

 many, when they stood on one of the numerous bridges 

 and looked down into the uninviting waters of the creek 

 which flows through the heart of the town, were aware 

 of the glorious sport these waters had in store for them. 

 The little river does not look very inspiring, washing as 

 it does with its flood the back yards and walls of houses 

 and of factories, but don't mind that. Its swift current 

 will soon carry you beyond the town, through blooming 

 fields, past towering rocks, and under arching boughs 

 fragrant with leaves and flowers. Its foaming rapids 

 and its deep, dark pools are the home of many a broad- 

 shouldered, silver-sided and generally hungry black bass, 

 ready to bite, and as gamy as any quarry that ever sent 

 a thrill through hand and heart of an eager sportsman. 

 Try the stream if you can. A trip down its rushing 

 waters (for the other way it is out of the question) will 

 send your blood tingling through the veins, and will take 

 your mind off your business troubles. I warrant you it is 

 "big medicine" for "that tired feeling." I know it for I 

 was there and tried it. 



Some time ago I had read in Forest and Stream that 

 the San Antonio was teeming with black bass; and know- 

 ing that my professional tour would take me that way I 

 determined at once to try that stream. In Houston I met 

 a gentleman who is also fond of the sport and he kindly 

 gave me an introduction to a friend in San Antonio. 

 This friend, Mr, Guessay, the editor of the Texas Field, I 

 met surrounded by difficulties. He had just been burned 

 out and was in the work of putting up his new machinery 

 and. trying to get into shape for the next publication of 

 his journal. So a fishing trip in his company was out of 

 the question; but he in turn introduced me to a friend of 

 his, Mr. A. Thiele, a dealer in guns and tackle and a 

 sportsman. I found him a splendid companion and a 

 gentleman, quite ready to do all in his power to give me 

 a good day's sport. To his kindness and endeavors I am 

 indebted for the pleasures of our trip. He proposed at 

 once to bring his boats down, and we arranged to meet 

 in the morning at 6 o'clock for a trip down the river, 

 which passes about a block from his house. I had two 

 companions, Nat H, and Charles P., whom we asked to 

 accompany us, and who eagerly grasped the opportunity. 

 Nat wanted to fish and Charles went for the sake bf 

 good fellowship. 



In the afternoon Nat and I tried the creek right in the 

 heart of the town and we caught six bass, ranging from 

 half-pound to a pound. This of course only whetted our 

 appetite for more, especially Nat's, whose first experience 

 in fishing this was. So in the morning Nat, Charley and 

 myself got up before daybreak and went down to the 

 store, where we found Mr. Thiele employed in putting up 

 his canvas boat. Through our united efforts the boat 

 was ready in a short time, and after a hasty breakfast at 

 the market we shouldered the canoe and reached the 

 river just as the sun sent its first rays over the house tops 

 of San Antonio. Mr. Thiele and I took the canvas boat, 

 while Charles and Nat had a wooden one The plan was 

 to fish down the river as far as the grounds of the Kiver- 

 side Gun Club, which we thought we would reach at 

 about two o'clock and then have some trap shooting 

 there. 



Down the river we started, Nat and Charley ahead, 

 until we reached a dam below the city, where we hauled 

 our boats out and carried them down ; and now we began 

 to fish. We had not been able to procure any live bait, 

 so we used phantom minnows. They hardly seemed very 

 sportsmanlike to me with their nine hooks. But it was 

 either phantom or no fish. So I decided for the phantom 

 by a very large majority and did not regret it, for they 

 proved a splendid lure indeed. 



The river was steaming in the crisp morning air, and 

 small clouds of mist arose from the swift current of its 

 waters. We went down as slowly as the rapid flow would 

 allow us to, and cast out to the right and left. For about 

 half an hour or so there was no response from the deep. 

 FinaUy we reached a place where the river widens out a 

 little, and seeing the other boat ahead we inquired after 

 their luck. Nat had caught one half-pounder. This did 

 not seem very encouraging. I cast out toward the bushes 

 on the left bank and reeling in my line, felt a strike; I 

 had no sooner begun playing my fish than Mr. Thiele 

 cried out: "I've got one," and after a few seconds each 

 lifted out a bass of three-quarters. We left the boat drift 

 now, and carefully fishing each nook and corner, especi- 

 ally the eddies near the banks, landed several bass of the 

 same Bize and a little undpr. Seeing a bass break water 

 about 80ft. from our canoe, I cast out and hooked and 

 landed a fellow of about l^lbs. Almost at the same time 

 my companion caught one of the same size; and soon 

 after that I landed a third one. Those three fish were as 

 much alike as anything one can find in creation. 



Down the stream we went again, alternately casting 

 and trolling, and soon had a dozen fish from a half-pound 

 to a pound, the three mentioned being the largest. All 

 the smaller fish, of which we caught quite a number, we 

 returned. The other boys also had good luck. Oh, what 

 a glorious river the San Antonio is, to be sure. The 

 water is as clear as crystal; and it is as swift as a mill 

 race in some places, alternating with deep quiet pools. 

 The trees were just beginning to put on their summer 

 dress, and our light boats were carried beneath their 

 fragrant arches, leaping and dancing upon the foaming 

 waters. After a little while we reached a sort of pond 

 above the dam of an ice factory and here we let our boats 

 drift again, and fished carefully. 



I had landed a small bass, which I returned, and was 

 just putting my line in order, which had become some- 

 what snarled, when Mr. Thiele, who had observed a rise 

 down the river, rose and proceeded to cast that way. It 

 seemed too far away to attempt the cast, but T. is an ex- 

 pert, and after a splendid cast of seventy-five feet or 

 more he began to reel in. The fish struck almost in- 

 stantly, and now you ought to have seen the fun. The 

 bass never showed above the water, but from the way he 

 fought and the strain he put upon the rod we concluded 

 that he was a whopper. We had all stopped fishing and 

 watched the struggle. Firat he tried to run, but Thiele 

 soon turned him, and now he rushed toward the boat. 

 He did not succeed, however, in getting any slack; the 

 hand at the other end of the line was too quick for that, 



But he was an intelligent fish and quite a strategist. 

 Around the boat he circled and then dashed right under 

 it; the rod passed over to the other side as quickly, and 

 now he made for the weeds at the bottom, causing the 

 little rod to tremble at his rush. This time he was more 

 successful, for suddenly Mr. Thiele cried out, "He has 

 me," and sure enough the line was fast, I paddled the 

 boat slowly toward the spot, and with a few careful jerks 

 he managed to free his line. The fish made a last strug- 

 gle for liberty, but his force was spent, and after a few 

 seconds he turned on his side and was lifted into the 

 boat, a conquered hero, for he was one of the sturdiest 

 fighters that ever sculled the limpid water of the San 

 Antonio. What a beauty he proved; a three-pounder if 

 he weighed an ounce. 



Now the boats were hauled out above the dam and 

 carried below, and after a lunch we rested by the side of 

 the rushing falls, fanned by the soft southern breeze, and 

 watched the smoke of our pipes circle and rise toward 

 the clear blue sky. We had procured a block of ice from 

 the factory, and on it we laid our catch. Outside of the 

 large one there were twenty-three bass, four of them 

 weighing 1-Jlbs each, several "of a pound and the rest un- 

 der, but none less than a half pound. 



We now proceeded down the river, but soon concluded 

 that it would be useless to try any more fishing. The 

 water had become so rapid that we had difficulty in 

 managing our boats, Besides, our rods and lines got 

 caught by the overhanging branches which were becom- 

 ing more frequent, and which we could not always avoid 

 owing to the swiftness of the current. Moreover, it was 

 2 o'clock, and if we wanted any shooting at the club we 

 had to make haste. So we un jointed the rods and the 

 last act of the drama was began. Oh, how jolly we were, 

 proud of our catch, and our boats went shooting down the 

 winding rapids like two race horses. The air was warm 

 and balmy, the trees radiant with the first bloom of the 

 Southern spring, the stream leaping and foaming under- 

 neath, and the red cardinal birds sang and flitted through 

 the branches overhead. We plied our paddles vigorously 

 and soon found that our canoes needed all our attention, 

 for the stream had become almost a torrent at this point, 

 and its many windings, hidden rocks, and most of all the 

 trees hanging down to the water's edge in many places, 

 made their management a very difficult matter iudeed. 

 For a while every thing went smoothly. We were car- 

 ried down as if by magic, and if there is a sport more ex- 

 hilarating than fishing, it is being carried down a rapid, 

 foaming river with nothing between you and the water 

 below but the frail bottom of your canoe, your eye look- 

 ing constantly for the difficulties ahead, every nerve and 

 muscle strained and ready to meet instantly with the 

 blade of your paddle the varying forces of the waves. 

 Charley and Nat were ahead, and whenever we saw them 

 rounding a curve or shooling a rapid, a shout went up, 

 and on we dashed through the sparkling swirl. But 

 Waterloo was ahead. Shooting around a projecting point 

 with the current of the stream, I saw about fifty yards 

 ahead of us a tangled mass of boughs and brush hanging 

 down to the water's edge and below it, on the right of the 

 stream. To the left there was a deep channel, not wider 

 than a couple of yards, through which we would have to 

 go. 



The other boat shot ahead, hit the channel and passed 

 safely. We also strained our paddles to bring our craft 

 to the left, but without avail; the boat hit the obstruction 

 broadside on. For a moment it seemed as if we would be 

 able to break through the boughs, but for a moment only, 

 the force of the water was too strong, it leaped up on our 

 left and began pouring in and in another moment we 

 were both struggling in the surging flood. Mr. Thiele 

 caught bottom and held the boat, while I, who had struck 

 the deeper water, reached the shore on the right and 

 pulled myself up the steep bank on some branches con- 

 venient to earth. Thiele managed to right the boat and 

 jumped in, but did not get far before the boat capsized 

 again. Well, he did not mind it so much this time, 

 but made another attempt which was more successful; 

 and there we were, standing on the shore, minus an oar, 

 a paddle and our rods; wet from head to foot, two knights 

 of the rueful visage. We now shouted for our com- 

 panions, and soon I beheld Nat's white shirt sleeves 

 through the trees. "What is the matter?" he shouted. 

 "We upset," was the short but expressive answer. 

 "Hurrah!" he exclaimed; and a moment later there came 

 Charley's cry from the river, "Thank God!" Well, we 

 were shocked at this want of sympathy, but soon found 

 out the cause. They had met the same fate as we, and 

 now came up dripping and limping, Charley without his 

 hat, which was taking a swim on its own account. Their 

 boat bad met a worse fate than ours, for it was useless 

 for that day at least. We proceeded to rescue our fish; 

 the larger part was lost, but when we saw that our biggest 

 bass wap saved we gave three cheers and forgot our other 

 losses, which were quite heavy. The only one who had 

 no loss to deplore was Nat, he got away with a wet- 

 ting. 



We set out, Nat and Thiele in the remaining boat, 

 Charley and I afoot. On our way to the club Charley 

 and I met a gentleman in a carriage whom we asked for 

 directions. He proved to be one of the members and 

 kindly gave us seats in his trap, and we reached the 

 grounds without any further mishaps. Thiele and Nat 

 got there half an hour later than we, and a sorry look- 

 ing lot we were. Charley had bought a hat from a little 

 negro boy in which he was a sight, indeed, but I sup- 

 pose the rest of us did not look very handsome either, at 

 least Charley said so, and I believe him. 



The members of the club received us like true sports- 

 men and gentlemen, the large bass was duly admired; 

 our adventure, of course, was the source of much 

 hilarity, in which we were only too ready to join, and 

 after an hour or so of shooting at the trap we drove away 

 toward home and dry clothes. Taking it altogether the 

 day was one of those that we do not easily forget, and 

 barring the loss of my split bamboo it was a day of the 

 most enjoyable sport I ever had. The little unpleasant- 

 ness only gave zest to the pleasure. My only regret was 

 that we had lost half of the fish. 



Brother angler, if you visit San Antonio try the creek. 

 You will find royal good fellows to keep you company 

 and from whom you will part with regret. The bass are 

 there in the pools, in the rapids, among the rushes, 

 everywhere I have found them. So go and do likewise, 

 and give my greetings to the fellow sportsmen in the 

 sunny South. ALBERT Brttning. 



The Players', New York. 



CAMP CRANKS. 



WE have all read of the necessity of having congenial 

 fellows in the party when going a-hunting. Fel- 

 lows who will be cheerful under all circumstances and 

 lend a helping hand on every occasion; and most heartily 

 we indorse it all, but there is one side of the question 

 that seems to me has not received its proper Bhare of at- 

 tention. 



We will take it for granted that your party has been 

 properly selected, and that your first camp has been 

 made. The hour arrives for turning in, and soon the fire 

 is burning and snapping by itself; no poking or re- 

 arranging of its glowing embers is going on; the boys are 

 under the blankets, and only the noises of nature hold the 

 attention of the listening woods. 



As I sit here contentedly pulling away at my pipe one 

 of the boys tunes up his instrument and starts a "snore." 

 As the resonant tones float out on the still air, at regular 

 intervals, I muse, and my musings rpsult in a determina- 

 tion to place the matter before your readers in a series of 

 questions, and right glad I should be to hear their ideas 

 on the subject. Some wise fellow has said we are all 

 more or less "cranks." So be it. Now, what shall we do 

 with the "camp cranks?" 



What shall we do with the "gun-cleaning crank" who 

 always forgets to bring his oil, rags, etc.? 



What shall we do with the crank who don't see why 

 he missedThat bird, and lays the blame on gun, cartridge 

 or anything but himself? 



What with the crank who tells you just why and how 

 you missed such and such shots? 



With the man who tucks his edge of the blanket under 

 him. and presently turns over, hauling the rest of it with 

 him? 7 



The fellow that rouses all hands at midnight to eat 

 watermelon? If a good melon better help him? 



What with the practical joker? Kill him! 



With the man who snores, or the awful man who 

 grinds his teeth and utters horrible groans in his sleep? 



But after all these are the spices which add so much to 

 the fun and flavor of camp life. If you cannot accustom 

 your=elf to them, stay at home or do as the boys did in 

 the North Woods one time — say nothing. 



The tale runs in this wise: "Pea soup had formed the 

 foundation and capstone of so manv meals during their 

 stay that a mild suggestion was offered the attendant 

 that a change would be acceptable. This being repeated 

 to the proprietor of the hostelry, much incensed that indi- 

 vidual, who took the first opportunity, when they were 

 all at table, to thrust his bullet head in at the door and 

 say in a very decided and deliberate manner, 'Anybody 

 don't like pea soup 's a liar.' " So if you don't like these 

 little incidents to camp life you are at liberty to stay at 

 home. W. Town send. 



WOODS LIFE. 



IN CAMP, Aroostook County, Me., April 10.— From my 

 earliest recollection I was interested in what was 

 going on about me in the woods, and a close observance 

 of the nature and habits of animals has helped me as a 

 hunter and trapper. I have found some discrepancies 

 between the things seen and those read of, written by 

 men of erudition, and think it safe to say — though it 

 smacks of vanity — that one who is brought in actual and 

 frequent contact with the denizens of the woods gets 

 nearer the truth than the learned writers, who are often 

 theorists. 



I left my hunting camp several weeks ago, where I 

 passed six monthB in comparative happiness. My sup- 

 plies were exhausted and I had no means of getting a re- 

 cruit without too much hard labor. But a return to the 

 settlement has its compensations. I was enabled to ' 'spruce 

 up" somewhat in my habilaments and to indulge a taste 

 for the good things in the way of gastronomy; and more 

 and better than all, to receive the greetings of my many 

 kind friends, But after a little I again grew uneasy in 

 my surroundings and I sighed for the woods life. For 

 many years until the last I have put in my summers on 

 the Allagash and other tributaries of the St. John, of 

 which I never tired; but the infirmities of old age make 

 it too tiresome to sit in a dugout; and as I was not brought 

 up in one it is unsafe to use the setting pole for a rest, 

 especially as I am very weak in the legs. Last summer, 

 for a change, I watched a depot lumber camp at the 

 head of Fish River, where the incident referred to above 

 came under my observation. This year I am not so far 

 from a settlement, although practically it amounts to the 

 same. I came in three weeks ago; a few hands were and 

 still are here putting the driving tools in order, and in 

 the course of a few days about a hundred men will be 

 here to start the logs as soon as the pitch is favorable. It 

 will be unpleasant for a week or two with their presence, 

 not only because they will be a rough lot, but the camp 

 will be crowded to suffocation. I shall avoid them by 

 night by spreading my quilts in one of the hovels. After 

 they leave, my pard (an old man and hunter) and myself 

 will begin a life for the summer Avhich I anticipate will 

 be one of enjoyment. We will spade up plots here and 

 there about the camp and put in seeds of summer vegeta- 

 bles, set a few bear traps and occasionally take a mess of 

 brook trout from a stream that is but a few rods from 

 the camp. Our duties are to keep an eye out for tramps 

 lest they steal supplies, guard against their fires, and 

 keep pickle in the pork, and turn over the salt fish and 

 oats occasionally. 



My pard, who is fairly strong on his pegs, will occa- 

 sionally go to the nearest settlement, ten or a dozen 

 miles, to get my mail and such articles in the line of 

 supplies as are desired to vary the monotony of pork, 

 beans and codfish. Most of all will I appreciate my 

 mail, among which is always dear old Forest and 

 Stream, 



Now, the cook has been joggling the table preparatory 

 for dinner and needs space for serving the same, else 

 perhaps I might bore you much longer. Pine Tree. 



Wild Pigeons.— Grand Forks, N. D., April 14.— 0to 

 March 26 a large flock of wild pigeons made their ap- 

 pearance at Larimore, ^n the same spot where on April 

 22 last year a flock of 500 or more stopped to feed, they 

 were the first ever noted in this country. I would like to 

 know if any one else saw any others on their way North. 

 These were the first I have seen since a boy in Sullivan 

 county, N. Y. Then it was fine sport hunting them. I 

 would like to know if they are on the increase, or are 

 becoming more rare, as so many other things that have 

 contributed to mankind, —Taxi. 



