448 



FOREST AND STREAM* 



LMay 12, 1883, 



A CALIFORNIA TROUT STREAM. 



LaBt week we arranged with a party of friends to go 

 trout fishing in a little stream a few miles down the 

 river, they to join us at our home bright and early yester- 

 day morning. At the appointed hour all hands arrived, 

 according to previous arrangements; but the modus 

 operandi had been changed somewhat, as they had con- 

 cluded to go over the foot-hills to Sulphur Creek instead 

 of down the valley. This, we thought, would necessitate 

 a harder drive than we ought to make in one day with 

 our heavy phaeton and one horse, and we begged them to 

 go on without us. But they insisted that we should go, 

 and assured us that the road over the mountains was not 

 nearly so hard to climb as it had been represented; and 

 after much persuasion, with glowing accounts of the 

 magnificent scenery, and lots and lots of trout, we were 

 tempted to go, and we did. The boys (who had been 

 over the route many times) declared that the road was 

 good, just a little steep, but all right after you get "on 

 top." I imagined there was a glimmer of uncertainty in 

 the sparkle of a pair of laughing black eyes that I chanced 

 to gpt a glimpse of while this statement was being mad* 1 : 

 but I wanted the scenery, and R. longed for the trout. 



Off we started in the best of spirits, our guide (two 

 jolly boys, a donkey, and a two- wheeled cart) leading the 

 way, our vehicle next, and Mr. and Mrs. V. in the rear. 



The morning was perfectly clear, just enough breeze 

 to be exhilarating, and sun enough to cheer but not 

 oppress. 



The first few miles weut off swimmingly, the scenery 

 growing more interesting at every turn ; but presently 

 things began to slow up a little, aud we began to climb. 

 The next mile contained 640 rods, according to our cal- 

 culations; the. next 960, and so on, the increment never 

 falling short a solitary rod. This state of affairs lasted 

 about three hours, when we found, ourselves up among 

 the buzzirds. Now and then we caught a glimpse of our 

 guide away in the distance, winding up the rocky steeps, 

 as only a twinkling donkey can; and we held our breath 

 in despair of ever getting "on top." My amiable com- 

 panion declared he'd "settle with those kids" for getting 

 us into such a predicament. Next time he'd keep our 

 lunch basket where he could get hold of it. By the way, 

 the nimble donkey was in possession of the. entire stock 

 of eatables, and he, evidently, meant to go right through 

 without feeding. 



Higher and higher we climbed, until looking backward, 

 we beheld a scene of grandeur and magnificence beyond 

 my powers of description. It was the most extensive 

 panorama I ever beheld. Russian River seemed almost 

 at our feet, although we knew this to be an illusion, as 

 we had been traveling away from it for hours; and the 

 little railway towns, of which we counted four, were 

 surprisingly near. Away to the southeast rugged St. 

 Helena stood out in bold relief against the blue sky, and 

 our view reached almost to its base. The extensive 

 orchards, vineyards, and fields of grain down in the 

 valley appeared in the neatest of little squares and 

 oblongs, forming an attractive landscape. 



At last the donkey came to a standstill, away up there 

 somewhere, and a boyish voice shouted "Come on. 

 We're on top." This was encouraging, and we pushed 

 on with renewed vigor ; but, where was the "on top?" 

 We didn't find it. Another half hour passes and I spy a 

 gate ahead, which I point to exultingly, thinking it must 

 be at the summit. R. sarcastically mutters "Is St. Peter 

 there?" No, he is not; for we pass through, and soon 

 we're headed down a series of break-neck inclines that 

 make our heads swim. The roadway overhangs dark and 

 frightful looking canyons, extending to a depth of many 

 hundred feet. One false move on the part of our animals 

 and we would be precipitated. To one of a suicidal turn 

 of mind, this descent to Sulphur Creek would be a god- 

 send 1 , but people generally might prefer some other route. 



Just as we are nearing a more than usually frightful 

 looking place where there has been a landslide, Mr. V. 

 calls to us to "Drive carefully. A man met with an ac- 

 cident here last year. His horse stepped into a hole, 

 stumbled, and threw the entire outfit down the precipice. 

 The driver saved his own life by clinging to a green twig, 

 but the horse went to the bottom of the gorge, breaking 

 every bone in his body." After this cheerful statement, 

 I am all right. 



A sound, as of rushing waters, comes up from below, 

 and soon we're on the bank of one of the loveliest of 

 crystal streams. A grassy plat under some fir trees offers 

 a delightful camping place, and here are the remains of 

 many camp-fires. The donkey stands demurely where 

 he has been tied, the cart containing the lunch basket is 

 also on the spot; but the guide, his mission performed, 

 has vanished. 



The tired animals are quickly made comfortable, and 

 I'm alone. Every soul has disappeared. I feel sorry for 

 the little fishes when an army of cruel invaders turn loose 

 upon the brink of their tranquil home. Too tired to fish, 

 I sit down and study the surroundings. 



A more picturesque spot than this it would be hard to 

 find. Somehow, tne place reminds me of Minnesota's 

 celebrated Minnehaha; though there are no falls here. 

 It is a perfect stream, flowing over the many-colored 

 rocks for a bit— slowly, solemnly ; then, bursting into a 

 merry laugh, it dances away down stream, and disappears 

 in the overhanging foliage. Longfellow's sweet words 

 keep running through my brain as I sit and listen to the 

 murmuring melody. 



"Near thee tlie self-collected scul 

 Knows nought of error or of crime; 

 Thy waters, murmuring as they roll, 

 Transform his musings into rhyme." 



The opposite bank is the base of a rugged mountain 

 which towers to a height of nearly four thousand feet, 

 almost perpendicularly from the edge of the water. The 

 volume of water at this time of year, is perhaps thirty 

 feet in width; and I find, upon walking up stream a few 

 rods, a large pool eight or ten feet in depth. Just above 

 this pool, an immense rock twelve or fifteen feet in dia- 

 meter monopolizes the bed of the creek, forcing the water 

 to flow in two divisions around it. 



Now my watch tells me it is noon; and I proceed to 

 prepare a lunch for the absent fishermen. I pile some 

 rocks in a circle upon the ground, leaving a small open- 

 inr on the windward side, and fill the center with little 

 chip? of bark from the fallen bcdies of fir trees lying 

 near; and touching a match to the pile, I soon have as 

 fine a camp-fire as one need wish. Next, I bring some of 

 the sparkling water from the creek, and— listen to the 



aroma of my Java and Mocha, mixed! It would do your 

 soul good to drink a cup of it! It acted with a charm 

 upon my weary body; for I didn't forget to bring a bottle 

 of the most delicious cream, and the refreshment was 

 complete. I helped myself first, for it was necessary 

 that I should be in condition to administer to the wants 

 of the others. Nor did I do it any too soon; for here 

 comes Mrs. V. with a dreadful headache, she says, and 

 nary a trout. I administer two cups of cffee, and 

 that is the last I hear of the headache. R. is the 

 next arrival; but we don't propose to give him a bite un- 

 til he shows up his catch. After fumbling in his coat 

 pocket a minute or two he throws four speckled fishes 

 broadcast among the eatables. While I am vainly trying 

 to fill him up with roast chicken, boiled eggs, hot coffee, 

 and a lot of other things, Mr. V. comes shambling in and 

 throws himself wearily upon a blanket, completely ex- 

 hausted with the locomotion of his massive gum boots. 

 Again we demand a showing, or no dinner, and he 

 proudly hands out twenty perfectly lovely trout. R. 

 looks quite crestfallen as he looks upon this goodly num- 

 ber; but brightens up considerably when V. tells him 

 there is a big salmon in a pool about half a mile up the 

 creek. Great heads are rapidly set to work to devise 

 some underhanded means by which to take an unfair ad- 

 vantage of the intended prey ; and in a few moments Mr. 

 V. has dispatched his lunch, and a stampede follows. 

 Three large hooks had been resurrected from R.'s ever 

 inexhaustible store, and tied together so as to form a 

 murderous looking machine; while a savage pocket-knife 

 was fastened to the end of a green sapling, and with these 

 formidable weapons they tackled the salmon in his 

 retreat. 



While they are gone I make another supply of coffee 

 for the guide: but he fails to materialize. After a while 

 1 hear a shout that proclaims victory, and sure enough 

 here they come with the unfortunate salmon. He 

 measures thirty inches in length. While taking a rest 

 of a few moments, they tell me how it was done. The 

 knife answered the purpose of a spear, and the hooks 

 were used as a grappling-iron ; and with much strategy 

 on the part of all three of them, the capture was made. 



Presently I notice R. meandering off down stream ac- 

 companied by a pair of laughing eyes beneath a big 

 straw hat, and thinking perhaps a word of caution will 

 be in order, I call to him: "Don't stay long. You know 

 we must start home at three o'clock." "All right," he 

 answers, "we'll be back in a little bit." 



I found one copy each of Puck, Judge, and Wasp 

 (thanks to the literary taste of our guide) in the cart: and 

 after reading them carefully through, looked at my 

 watch, and found that one hour had passed. This was 

 the hour to start, and that "little bit" wasn't up yet. I 

 turned backhand read the papers through again, trying to 

 find something to read ; but gave up in despair and again 

 consulted my faithful timepiece. Four o'clock this time; 

 and I'm getting a little out of sorts. Just as I catch the 

 glimmer of a blue dress through a green foliage, I am 

 prepared to administer something besides hot coffee; but, 

 like most good folks, while counting my one-hundred, 

 my mind takes a retrospective turn, and I recall a pair 

 a pair of laughing blue eyes that could turn a whole long 

 summer day into a "little bit" when at my side; and I 

 smile beautifully as the truants confront me. 



Six more trout are added to our store, and Mr. V. 

 comes in and we prepare to leave. No guide yet, how- 

 ever. We start up the steep incline by ourselves, leaving 

 the others to wait for the boys. 



Just as we arrive at the "on top," of the morning, we 

 are overtaken by the rest of the party— donkey and all. 

 The boys shout that they caught 150 speckled beauties; 

 but, of course, we don't take their word for it. How- 

 ever, Mr. and Mrs. V. were present at the count, and 

 they say it is correct. The boys arrived at the camp in 

 time to dispatch the remaining eatables with a relish ; as 

 they had fasted since a six- o'clock breakfast. 



We are all in the best of spirits on the way home; even 

 my companion could join in the laughter at the recollec- 

 tion of the day's exploits; in spite of the fact that he had 

 survived the livelong day without a smoke. He even for- 

 got to "settle with those kids." The footing up of 180 

 trout, and a big salmon, in one day, had a soothing in- 

 fluence upon us all. 



One of the wheels of our phaeton was tied with a strap 

 so that it could not turn, and we went down the moun- 

 tains with a great deal more speed than we had toiled 

 our weary way up in the morning. 



Thirty speckled fishes and the salmon, fell to our lot; 

 and we've been living sumptuously to-day Makion, 



Geysekville, Cal . April 12. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



[From a Staff Cm-respondent.'] 



DES MOINES, Iowa, May 6.— Crossing Iowa earlier in 

 the week, the appearance of the country was that 

 of a vast lake. The rainfall in Illinois and Iowa for the 

 past few days has been unprecedented. What the 

 effect on the shooting will be is of little consequence, but 

 the fishing should be good this summer, for dams, nets 

 and all obstructions are swept away in the floods now 

 pouring down the streams. 



At this point the Des Moines River is very high and 

 still rising. Skunk River, 20 miles east, is out of its 

 banks and flooding the country, the highest it has been 

 for 10 years. Tbey have been having good snipe shoot- 

 ing near Metz, on that stream, 30, 40 and 50 birds a day, 

 but the flood will stop that. The Iowa and the Cedar 

 rivers, still further east, are boiling full. 



Back in Illinois matters are worse yet, as would appear 

 by the despatches. 



Kansas City, Mo., May 7,— The great flood demands 

 even a longer story. Yesterday the country between 

 Des Moines and this point was just beginning to show 

 above the water. Little branches had become rivers. 

 The Missouri River here has risen 4ft. in two days. 

 Should the "June rise" follow upon this stage, earlier 

 than usual, the flood will be hard to estimate. The Kaw 

 River rose with fearful rapidity yesterday and the day 

 before. 



At Keokuk, la., the Mississippi River is close to its ex- 

 treme high water mark. Prom our familiar shooting and 

 fishing grounds near Chicago comes the following word 

 by wire: "Ths floods of northern and central Illinois, 

 northern Indiana and Michigan are playing sad havoc in 

 every direction and it is estimated that millions of dol- 

 lars damage has been done, while probably several lives 



have been lost. The rains came down with undiminished 

 force last night and all the streams in the stricken regions 

 are vast resistless torrents which are hourly adding to 

 the ruin already done. The dyke of the marsh drainage 

 district south of Peoria gave way last night, flooding a 

 region five miles long by two and a half wide, alt under 

 cultivation and occupied by twenty families. The flood 

 came with terrible suddenness and force and soon a 

 breach 600 feet long was made and in a few minutes the 

 whole section was under water. Rescuing parties were 

 at once formed in both Peoria and Pekin and these 

 spent the entire night searching for the people who lived 

 in the devastated region. They went all over the section 

 and found only six of the twenty families. It is not 

 known whether the remaining families are safe or not. 

 The destruction is complete and there is a scene of the 

 veriest desolation, live stock, houses and barns all being 

 swept away and crops ruined." 



A fine prospect, this, for sport along our streams! 



May 8.— The State fish hatchery at Keosho, Mo., is a 

 notable one. It has 13 acres of land and 13 ponds, and the 

 appliances are good— or were before the deluge of this 

 week. The plain channel cat is more in demand than 

 any fish the hatchery supplies. 



Bass and croppies are reported biting well at Bear 

 Lake — or were before the flood. 



Kansas City anglers are discussing _the advisability of 

 organizing a fly-casting club for tournament purposes. 



Apropos of flv-caating clubs is the following commu- 

 nication from Mr. F. B. Davidson, secretary of the Chi- 

 cago Fly-casting Club, bearing date of May 4: "At a 

 meeting of the executive and entertainment committees 

 of the Chicago Fly-casting Club, Tuesday, May 3, it was 

 decided to hold an informal fly-casting meeting at Wash- 

 ington Park, on Thursday, May 19, at 3 p. M., at which 

 time several members of the club will give an exhibition 

 of fly-casting, which will be followed by a lunch. The 

 object of the meeting being mutual improvement and in- 

 struction in fly-casting, and the better acquaintance of 

 the members. It is earnestly desired that a large num- 

 ber be present and make the first outing of the club a 

 success. A short business meeting will also be held at 

 the same time. Members who desire to be present, will 

 kindly notify the secretary so that the committpes may 

 make complete arrangements for their entertainment." 



The woolly commonwealth of Utah are planning to 

 make a good, vigorous Wild West show a part of her ex- 

 hibit at the World's Fair. If only this be made typical, 

 I can imagine nothing more interesting. It is part of 

 the plan to take a band of Ute Indians to the exposition. 



I deem it my duty to state that Mr. George Larkin, 

 who lives 8 miles south of Marshall, Mo., has plowed up 

 220 snakes, 4» of them rattlers, on a piece of ground 27 

 acres in extent. He killed all the snakes. This is all I 

 know about the weather and snakes. 



On the Iowa side of the Mississippi a hot fight is raging 

 between the market fishers and anglers, though it seems 

 still largely a war of words. Representative Shields in- 

 troduced a bill in the Legislature looking to the protec- 

 tion of the fish along the Mississippi. This brought out 

 the marketmen in a circular calling for organization and 

 funds. The writer of the circular has the following in- 

 teresting remarks : "I shall call on our houses that we 

 deal with, who helped us liberally in our last trouble, and 

 who I hope have been bountifully repaid by our patron- 

 age in return. I have my plans, but of course it would 

 be unwise to put them in print, as more or less of these 

 circulars are bound to fall into the hands of the enemy." 

 The circular did fall into the hands of the enemy, and a 

 correspondent of the Dubuque Times had the following 

 in comment: 



The Mississippi River fishermen are not satisfied to confine 

 their fishing to that stream alone, hut hy the use of wing nets 

 spread across the mouths of the streams emptying into the Mis- 

 sissippi prevent the fish from passing up these streams, which is 

 their custom in the spring, thus spoiling the fishing here, which 

 would otherwise he good. It is the habit of game fish to pass 

 down the inland stream again in the fall seeking the deep waters 

 of the Mississippi for their winter resort, and fishermen take ad- 

 vantage of this navigation by building dams and traps through 

 which it, is impossible for a fish of any size to pass, and then be- 

 gins a ruthless and terrible destruction. I have seen fish caught 

 in this manner placed in overcrowded live-boxes which caused 

 hundreds to perish, and these are then thrown out on the banks 

 and a smell arises from decayed fish which it is impossible to 

 stand in the near vicinity. Many more fish are caught in this 

 manner than can ever he sold bv the man making the catch and 

 thus hundreds more are destroyed. 



Last fall I was not so observant, but in the fall of 1890 there 

 were on the Volga River, between Elkport and Littlfport, a dis- 

 tance of seven miles, not less than seven traps which took large 

 catches every favorable night. About one mile above Elkport 

 on the Turkey River, a trap is put in every year which is scienti- 

 fically built, and through which it is utterly impossible for a fish 

 to pass. I was told by the builder and owner of this trap that an 

 employee of the State Fish Commissioner' s office, whose duty it 

 is to look up violaters of the law and punish them, sat by and 

 saw him take fish out of his trap and excepted him from the law 

 as it was the means of gaining his livelihood. 



This manner of fishing and wholesale destruction of fish is a 

 sham« and disgrace to the State in which it is tolerated, and it 

 the above story of fishing illegally by the consent of the Commis- 

 sioner is true he is very lax in the discharge of his dtities and 

 should he made to remedy the evil of this miscarriage of .iuatice 

 emanating from his office. 



It is no secret that seining is being carried on iu the Turkey 

 and Volga rivers every year. It is true that dynamite is used 

 in these streams frequently. It is open talk along these streams 

 that it will be resorted to again. 



Is there not a remedy? Every lover of legal fishing should take 

 up this matter and keep the question agitated until the laws are 

 enforced to the letter, and then, and not until then, can the 

 angler have the assurance of a good catch with his rod when he 

 desires to have a little sport with the finny tribe as in the days 

 gone by, when game fish still existed in large numbers. Anglers, 

 stir up the question and never rest until your efforts have been 

 erowned by success. 



In short, they are beginning to need an Iowa State 

 Fish League. 



But let me offer, before leaving this topic, the stalwart 

 comment of the able editor of the aforesaid Dubuque 

 Times. This able editor must be a sandful man, and not 

 afraid of anything. He says: 



"The Times is not overly interested in this matter, only 

 that, if the charges made against some of the fiphermen 

 are true the law would be just, if not true it is a personal 

 matter between those who fish with seines and those who 

 do not, and we will watch the contest with interest." 



A fence is a good place from which to watch a contest. 

 I trust the able editor may not fall off and hurt himself. 



The sportsmen's papers are too few. When will the 

 dailies come to look upon these matters as news? When 

 will they put their great shoulders to the wheel? 



E Hough. 



Hare-Hunting.— "Did you ever hunt rabbits, Count? 

 "Non, madame," said the Parisian. "But in ze war with 

 Geairmany I haf shot sousands of herrs."— Harper's Bazar. 



