290 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[OCT. XS«1, 



and the Missouri River bottoms are alive witii snipe. In 

 one afternoon, in company with Mr. Frank Kimball.. Mb 

 brother-in-law, Mr. fcjtone killed 31 quail, while the after- 

 noon following they bagged 64 snix^e and a number of 

 ducks. Oconomowoc has lost its crack shot, as Mr. Stone 

 has removed to Chicago this week to engage in business 

 with his brother, Mr. Percy F. Stone, well known among 

 that city's shooters. 



On Sunday last, with two friends, I visited a tiny lake 

 at the further end of a long drive over heavy roa'ds. I 

 refrain fi'om mentioning any names, as this lake (which 

 is more of a pond than a lake) is a particular favorite of 

 mine. We made a,n early start and arrived at daybreak. 

 An engagemant called us awa,y in season to j-each home 

 at 1 P. M., but before we left we had collected a hand- 

 some bunch of birds, nearly all mallards. Of fifteen 

 birds I knocked down I could secure but ten. 



I have promised myself that when the sun goes down 

 next Saturday night it will find me happily located in- 

 side my Protean tent on the bank of . I came 



very near mentioning the place, which for lack of substi- 

 txite name, we will call — Lake. 



I also know of a very choice bit of anipo marsh, which 

 f hope to have time to run over early next week. It lies 

 up m the west shore of Bark River, some seven miles 

 from town. 



Mr. Dooiittle, of the Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. 

 Co., of Milwaukee, has to-day returned from Koshkonong 

 Lake, where he has been stopping at the Black Hawk 

 Clab House. There are thousands of ducks on the lake, 

 but it will take rough weather to put them in motion. 

 There is a weak spasmodic liight morning and evening, 

 but during the interval the birds bed out in the open 

 water, where they cannot be approached. Mr. Dooiittle 

 brought in some forty ducks, five canvasbacks amon^ 

 the lot. Ex-G-ov. Hoard and son are now spending a few 

 days at the Black Hawk club house. Greenheab. 



OUR MOOSE HUNT UP THE OTTAWA. 



HAA^iNG read in the October Harper'' s Mr. Ralph's 

 charming account of his moose hunt near Mattawa 

 on the Ottawa, we were so badly attacked with the de- 

 sire of going and trying our luck that we fouind there 

 was no cure but to go, so just dropped business and 

 everything else and went, and as our experience may be 

 of interest to the readers of the Forest a^td Stream, we 

 tell the story of the trip, how we went, and what we saw. 



On the evening of Oct. 81, 1890, Mr. E. and the writer 

 took the 9:15 train on the Hudson River R. R. for Morris- 

 town, where we arrived at 10 the next morning: and 

 crossing the St. ILiawrence River bv steam ferry, we 

 reached Brockville, Ont. Canada? Yes, that we knew 

 for there stood the Custom House officer waiting for us. 

 We soon found they had heard of the 3IcKinley bill, for 

 his greeting was, "What have you got, gentlemen?" and 

 upon our answering "Only our guns; just going for a 

 little hunt," he replied, "Any ammunition?'' "Yes: 

 oOlbs."' "Well, gentlemen, fifty per cent, duty on that, 

 and you will have to go up to the Custom House with me 

 and have yom* guns appraised, as you will have to pay 

 duty on them also. New order, just out." We went and 

 found we were the first victims at Brockville under the 

 new rule of collecting twenty per cent, duty on all sport- 

 ing implements brought into the country, and which they 

 keep. Formerly the duty was returned when one re- 

 orossed again. Arguing was of no use, so we paid. After 

 dinner at the Revere House, and meeting its genial pro- 

 prietor, Mr. John Bain, who is a good man to know when 

 up this way, and who did all in his power to start us 

 right, and whom we wish now to thank for his courtesy, 

 we left Brockville at 3 P.M., making close connections 

 at Carlton Junction with through train on Canada Pacific 

 for Mattawa, our object point, where we arrived at 11:50 

 P. M., making tlie run from New York in about twenty- 

 seven hours. The ride was a pleasant one on the C, .1?. 

 R. R., thanks to the fine service of the road. Every one 

 — engineers, brakemen and conductors — were aU, it 

 seemed, either hunters or fishermen, as we were regaled 

 all the way up with stories of forest and stream. At 

 Mattawa we were met by stage from the Ottawa House, 

 whose proprietor, far-famed (around there) Mr. Peter 

 O'Parrell, had furnished much amusement for Mr. Ralph 

 and Frederic Remington, as set forth in the account of 

 their hunt in Harper's. The stage, like its owner, was 

 an odd affair, the like of which v/e had never seen before 

 —a long, low body with low top of sheet iron, which 

 rattled and banged while riding over the frozen ground 

 like mock thunder in a theater. TJpon asking the' driver 

 why it was made of iron he replied, "Because O'Farrell 

 did not want it to break when the stage turned over, 

 which it did very often." This reply made us cling to 

 our guns the tighter; but we soon reached the Ottawa 

 House without accident, and were glad enough after our 

 long ride. 



Sunday opened cold and raw. Slight fall of snow dur- 

 ing the night gave promise of a good tracking snow. 

 After breakfast, when seated around the stove in the 

 "office," Ave found by listening to the talk that we had 

 made a wise selection by coming, to Mattawa, as several 

 sportsmen had just returned and nearly every one had 

 been successful in getting a moose; and as for deer, they 

 were everywhere. Mr. P., a New York lawyer, had shot 

 a big buck from the steamboat going up the river only a 

 day or so before. Our hopes ran high, and during the 

 day we engaged two Indians, Peter La Clair and Joe, 

 at $10 each per week; and good guides they proved them- 

 selves to be, willing and clean, and they knew their busi- 

 ness. Our tents and supplies were furnished by a firm 

 who make a business of outfitting jjarties in addition to 

 their general store. In doing this we found we had made 

 an error, as they charged us with everything, but on our 

 return only gave credit for a little that was returned; but 

 perhaps it was an error on their part. Camping utensils 

 can be purchased reasonably at Brockville, and the Can- 

 ada Pacific make po charge for sportsmen's baggage. 



We were to go up the Ottawa to a point where Peter 

 said we would be sure to find moose; and Monday morn- 

 ing found us after breakfast waiting on the dock for the 

 engineer to thaw the ice out of the boiler. About nine 

 we got off, with full cargo of supplies and goods, for the 

 lumbering camps up the river and the Hudson's Bay forts, 

 away up in the wilderness, the goodness knows how far! 

 The river is a noble stream with~a swift current and with 

 rapids every few miles. The steep rocky banks 'on each 

 side are covered with small pines and cedars, the timber 

 having been cut o&. years ago. Four miles above Mattawa 



we reached the first rapids, where we leave this steamer 

 for another, and walk across a narrow point to the one in 

 waiting, while freight is run over on a flat car on tram 

 way, a much easier way of making a portage than the old 

 style of carrying everything over in packs. We made 

 four of these portages on the way up: and it was well 

 along toward night when we reached Seven-League Lake, 

 a name given to an expansion of the river where there is 

 little or no current. Going up this lake some 10 miles, 

 with the help of a boat from the steamer and our canoe, 

 we soon reached camp. Just back in the woods a little 

 way from the water we found a logger's shanty, of which 

 we took possession, and soon had a fire going and frying- 

 pan and coffee pot on. 



After an all-day's ride on the river, plain, old-fashioned 

 fried pork and coffee was not so very bad. We had a 

 call from an Indian, and to judge from the jabbering of 

 French-Canadian-Indian carried on between him and 

 Peter, they must have been old- friends. Peter said the 

 man told him that he had b^en hunting, but had aeen no 

 moose, so the best thing for us would be to go further 

 up the river. By getting an early start in the morning 

 we could reach the end of the Long Sault at the head of 

 the lake, where we could take the narrow-gauge road 

 that runs up some ten miles to Lake Temiscaming, an- 

 other expansion of the river, as near there he knew of a 

 place where we would be sure of finding moose. As our 

 canoe was too small to carry us all and om- duffie, we en- 

 gaged the Indian to come at 4 the next morning and take 

 Mr. E. and the sci"ibe up in his canoe. What a night we 

 put in at that place when the fire got low! It was cold 

 enough to freeze one. and besides it was the first on the 

 trip in the woods. We were glad when we saw Peter 

 putting on the teapot and getting ready for breakfast, 

 even if it was half -past 3— a little earlier than we had 

 been getting breakfast of late. On turning out and go- 

 ing to the door of the shanty we seemed to be looking at 

 a picture of bygone ages: for at our feet a few rods off 

 on the shore of the lake we could see in the dim light one 

 of the Indians bending over his canoe, turned bottom up, 

 stopping a leak, with a birch bark torch to warm the 

 pitch, which he then pressed into place again with his 

 thumb. Soon everything was packed and loaded in the 

 canoe, for these Indians move quickly, and we were off 

 up the lake. It was a nasty morning, cold and foggy, 

 and it was very uncomfortable being cramped up in the 

 bow; but it almost made a fellow feel warm to see that 

 Indian paddle, he only stopxnng once in about five miles 

 to give us a shot at a muskrat swimming along shore. 

 But even the longest and coldest rides have an end. 

 At a little past 7 o'clock we could hear the roar of the 

 Long Satxlt, and soon were at the landing. We were told 

 that there was good deer and partridge shooting just 

 across the river; and in fact we learned that deer can be 

 found all along the river with little trouble. About 10 

 o'clock our train started. The freight comprised barrels 

 of pork, beans and beef, axes, pikes and poles for the 

 himbering ca,mp8, bags of shot and supiDlies of all kinds 

 for the Hudson's Bay forts, hundreds of miles up the river, 

 some we saw even going to the fort on Lake Abittibe, 

 just south of James Bay. This freight was being rushed 

 up for fear the river would freeze and travel cease. On 

 leaving the end of the Sault the road follows the river, 

 and the views from the car were very fine even in win- 

 ter; it must be charming in the sj>ring and fall. 



The road is built on a very narrow gauge, the oars 

 look almost like playthings and are pulled by a funny 

 little dummy engine, which at times is not strong 

 enough to pull the train over the grades; a conductor 

 said it was a common thing to get stuck on a grade and 

 then have to fill the boiler with a pail from the river. 

 But we made tho trip in safety and arrived on time, if 

 there was any stated time of arrival, for by 11:30 we 

 were at Gordon Creek, the last stop on the road. The 

 ' 'town" consists of freight shed and tavern ; but it is a place 

 of much importance, as it is at th6 foot of Lake Temis- 

 carning, another expansion of the river, at the head of 

 which, some sixty miles up, are located some very prom- 

 ising silver mines, reached by steamboats from this point. 

 Good muskalonge, bass and pickerel fishing may be found 

 in the lake. 



Stopping only long enough here to arrange the packs, 

 we were soon pushing our way up the river bank and 

 back into the woods to the spot where Jloe said we were 

 to find the moose. Reaching the top of the hill, a fire 

 was stai'ted at the foot of a dry stub and dinner was soon 

 under way. While the guides were busy with this we 

 had a chance to look about. And such a view as lay be- 

 fore us, Tho sun was shining brightly on the snow, 

 making it a dazzling white, covering the mountains as 

 far as the eye could reach, while at om- feet rolled 

 the noble river, which we could see for miles winding in 

 and out. Rapids foam-crested, glassy pools and eddies 

 followed each other in regular order, rushing on and on 

 until the river was lost in the St, Lawrence many hund- 

 reds of miles below, a wild stream, but used as the 

 highway for the great stretch of coimtry away to the 

 north and west. 



But A^iews and rivers were forgotten when dinner w^as 

 announced, even though it only consisted of fried pork, 

 bread and tea. With pipes alight we again took the 

 packs and struck into the woods, this time following an 

 old logging road. As we left the river behind we found 

 more snow, some six inches, so walking was not'jbad and 

 we had enough snow for tracking. ^To me that walk 

 was one of the most interesting I had ever had, for at 

 every few yards would be seen tracks of deer, martin or 

 fisher. The woods seemed to be alive with game, but 

 never a thing did we see, save one lonely red squirrel. 

 Following this road for some two miles we came out on 

 a beaver meadow, (Peter says "Shantyman'die turn into 

 old beaver and makes meadow.") ;A little back from this 

 we made camp, as Joe said we were close enough to the 

 brule, where we were to hunt. 



Leaving the guides to make camp we took a fish line 

 and went to find a trout stream they said was near, in 

 the hope we could change the pork diet to one of fish. 

 We found the stream, but no trout; but along the banks 

 saw many tracks of deer; and some much larger than the 

 rest we i>ut down as being made by a moose: so we re- 

 turned to camp with bright hopes for the morrow. The 

 men had up two tents, ours heated by a small folding 

 sheet-iron stove, which we found worth its weight in 

 gold. 



After an early breakfast the next morning we were 

 away into the woods, Joe leading, followed by the scribe 

 armed with a Winchester .45-60 carbine, Mr. E. and 



Peter following, the former carrying a .44-70 half maga- 

 zine Winchester, the guides only carrying their axes and 

 the lunch. The day was one in a hundred for our purpose, 

 high wind and a melting snow, so we made no noise. We 

 had not left the camp but a mile or so behind when we 

 came to a track of moose, but made the day before; and 

 we decided to look for a fresher one. Soon we came to 

 where the snow was all mashed down flat and much cut 

 up with tracks, and around which were some fresh 

 droppings. Then the fun commenced. The guides acted 

 like a pair of setters, working back and forth, and in 

 whispers reported that three moose had made a bed tJaere 

 last night and must be very near by. Joe and I oiicled 

 off to the left, and the others to the right; and we had 

 hardly lost sight of them when crack, crack went Mr. 

 E.'s Winchester. .Joe shouted, "Moose, moose, shoot, 

 shoot!" but just then my foot went into a hole and I went 

 into the snow. Recovering myself and running a few 

 yards, I caught sight of a streak of something going 

 through the trees: and let drive, but the "something" did 

 not stop. AU this time I could hear a regular Fourth of 

 July over Mr. E.'s way, and running up a few yards more 

 I saw my first moose standing perfectly still. "l could see 

 all but the head, which was behind a tree. As I was 

 within lOOyds. I stopped and. aiming just behind the 

 shoulder, fired. It gave a jump and went out of sight. 

 Slipping in another shell, I ran up to where it liad been 

 and found quite a lot of blood on the snow. All hands 

 coming up, we followed the trail and within a few yards 

 cams to a big buck down in the snow. Looking him 

 over, we fountl that one ball had cut a furrow across his 

 nose and another had gone through his heart; but, much 

 to my regret, this last shot was on the right side; and as 

 I had shot from the left I knew it was not my bullet. 



While Mr, E. and I were looking him over the guides 

 had discovered that there had been three in the bunch 

 and all had been hit. And sure enough, for there were 

 two tracks leading away, and both leaving blood marks 

 behind. Following them up a ways we saw a yearling 

 calf going hke a streak, and -as it had stopped bleeding we 

 did not shoot but let it g©, for the Indians said it would 

 no doubt get well as it was not hit hard. Though we fol- 

 lowed the other track until late in the afternoon we could 

 not get a sight of the moose again. Talking it over on 

 the return to the dead bull, the guides said we had come 

 upon a bull, cow and yearling calf all lying down and 

 perhaps asleep: that Mr. E. had killed the bull and hit the 

 calf, while I had shot the cow through the hump on the 

 back. How did they know that? Because they usaw 

 where she had brushed against a tree and there was blood 

 on both sides of the trail. Am glad I did aim a little 

 high, as knowingly I would not kill a cow moose. On 

 returning to the bull the guides set to work cutting him 

 up, and we wished for a Kodak that we might get that 

 picture, the gxeat wicked looking beast, the Indians and 

 the two cold and tired, but happy hunters, for now the 

 excitement was over, we soon found how cold and tired 

 we were. Cutting off the hindciuarters, head, hide and 

 tongue, the former we left hanging to a tree, and were 

 off for camp, which seemed much further than it was in 

 the morning. But a good supper of moose steak put us 

 iu shape in short order and we thouglit it was the very 

 best meat we had ever tasted even if Joe did put on 

 enough pepper nearly to take the roof of one's mouth off". 



After supper we turned in and knew nothing until 

 morning, though the fire went out and it must have been 

 very cold in the night, as we found everything frozen 

 stiff, even my boots. This made still-hunting out of the 

 question, had we desired to hunt; we therefore decided 

 to pull out for home. The guides went out to bring in 

 the meat, and by the time they returned we had every- 

 thing ready to start. The return to the river was with- 

 out interest, and just as night fell we wore again at Gor- 

 don Creek, where we passed the night at the tavern, 

 price per day. Friday we found it raining when we 

 turned out and it continued all day. Train came along 

 about seven and we were soon again on the steamer 

 going down the river. On board we met Mr. and Mrs. 

 McDonald, of Ottawa, who had been on a farm up on 

 Lake Temiscaming for a month fishing and shooting, and 

 they promised us, should we come again next year, a 

 deer every day, and trout and partridges without num- ■ 

 her, cream, fresh eggs and butter from the farm, and a 

 good time all around. We live in hope that the day will 

 come when we can enjoy these good things with them. 



Though we kept a sharp lookout all the way down for 

 deer, we saw none. The captain of the steamer we met 

 at the diimer or middle stop said one swam across the 

 river as he came up, but as they had no gun on board 

 they did not get it. We reached Mattawa at dark, left 

 again at 3:30 Saturday morning, and arrived at Brock- 

 ville at 1:30; and takine' the train again at Morristown at 

 3:30, arrived at Grand Central Depot at 7 A. M. Sunday, 

 and our moose meat with us also. 



The trip was a very pleasant one, the people we met 

 did all they could to help us out, and without doubt we 

 were lucky in finding the game so soon; but we are con- 

 vinced that this is a great game country, and another 

 could have nearly as good luck. As for expense, there is 

 very little outside of railroad fares, and for about §60 one 

 could get a two-weeks' fciip. As to being easy of access 

 there is no question, for I do not believe we had to walk 

 five miles from the time we left New Y^ork until we 

 reached camp. A party of four or five can make very 

 liberal terms with the (Canadian Pacific Rafiroad, and it 

 is indeed a pleasure to travel on that road. Niagara. 



A STORY OF WOLVES 



" r^TD you ever see a woir?" asks a friend of mine. Y'es, 

 1-J more times than once. The first time was in this 



this 



wise. We were boys together, Johnson and myself, born 

 in the same neighborhood, strapped v^dththe same piece of 

 leather in the red schoolhouse that topped the hill, behind 

 which was a pond in which we bathed and swam together: 

 gathered beechnuts into the same basket, shot partiidges 

 in the same woods, and last, but not least, trapped wolves 

 and other game, honestly dividing the proceeds between 

 us. It was winter, the snow 2ft. deep in our settlement, 

 which was in the Province of New Brunswick, Wolves 

 were plenty, and Johnson and myself were doing a good 

 business trapping them. On each was a bounty of $10 

 and each skin was worth $3 more. 



One Sunday morning after Johnson had made himself 

 ready for church he thought he would examine one of his 

 traps set in the edge of the woods neai- his father's field. 

 Putting on his heavy boots, and without gun or axe, he 



