360 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



.Oct. 37, 1893. 



the face of which a narrow path zig zagged nearly to the 

 water, with the rocky wall on one side and a sheer 

 descent to the water on the other. Down we went until 

 turning a sharp angle in the rocky wall we found our- 

 selves in a rooky, fir-enah mud ed and fern-carpeted glen, 

 thatopenpd lakeward. "Who'd have thought it!" said 

 Jack. We retraced our steps, tarrying for a while on 

 the bluff nearest camp to try and '-take some of the view 

 in,"' as Jack phrased it. On an island about a mile away 

 we saw tents, and knew that others were enjoying these 

 beauties as well as we. We returned to camp, and while 

 getting supper ready the man from the lighthouse party 

 came over. He said they had caught no fish for a month. 

 Before that they had caught plenty of trout, both lake 

 and brook. But now the lake trout wo re gone aud the 

 creek where the brook trout had been was dry, and the 

 trout gone he knew not where. As be started back he 

 said, "There's going to be a storm; you'd better come into 

 the house." We thanked him, but said we would trust 

 our little tent. It grew dark early. Tde waves began to 

 dash upr>n the rocks in a way that boded no good, and 

 as we went to bed the growl of the thunder could be 

 heard continuously and the flare of the lightning showed 

 rageed-edged clouds skurrying acros? the sky. 

 "Do you hear the waves?" I asked. 

 "Yes," Jack replied. "And I do not like the sound. It 

 makes me nervous." 



I do not know how long I bad been asleep when the 

 storm broke. It was terrific. The very foundations of 

 the island seemed to be shaken. Above, around, out on 

 the lake, the tempest raged while we lay in the tent, 

 which was untouched by the storm save the rain, which 

 came down in ton-entp. We were grandly sheltered. 

 Every moment the tent was lighted by the blinding glare 

 of the lightning, and we felt the earth shake with the 

 deafening crashes of thunder. "I'm going to take a look 

 outside." I said, and getting up I opened the flap of the 

 tent and peered out. All I saw was wind tossed trees, 

 rain coming down in regular sheets of water, black 

 waves, foam-capped, the islands in the bay encircled by 

 a white line of breakers, and towering over lake and 

 shore the white lighthouse, and all this shown by the 

 constant flashes of the weird, blue lightning. This wan 

 all I saw, but it surpassed anything of the kind 1 had 

 seen before. I crawled back into bed and we finally 

 went to sleep, to awake and find the sun shining, but the 

 waves running very high. After breakfast we ascended 

 the lighthouse tower, and standing on the platform out- 

 side the disused lantern had such a view of lake and 

 island that .Jack exclaimed, "It's worth a trip here just 

 to get such a view." I took out my Testament and we 

 read our morning chapter from this vantage point, where 

 we could see so much of God's handiwork. \¥e descended 

 and did nothing but loaf around the whole forenoon. 

 After dinner we regretfully packed up and took our dun- 

 nage to the fishing station. Here we found the party 

 whose tents we had seen on the island, who were also 

 going home. They had been camped there a month but 

 had caught no fish, and were exasperated enough when 

 we told them that we had caught plenty of "lakers" in 

 Coburn Harbor only eight miles away. Promptly on 

 time the steamer came up the channel and lay to at the 

 entrance of the harbor and we went otf to her. On board 

 we found chaos reigned in cabin and stateroom. Men 

 and women were seated and lying everywhere sick, oh, 

 so sick. It was a ^ ery moving sight. 



There was a very heavy sea on and some of the pas- 

 sengers were thoroughly frightened. Two gentlemen 

 came to me as eoon as I came aboard and asked if there 

 was any place where they could get accommodations at 

 the harbor, as Ihey and the members of their oarty did 

 not care to continue the trip while so rough. It was a 

 pretty rough sea, and it seemed to get i-ougher as we 

 went on, passing Chippewa Harbor, Menagerie Light, 

 where the long, cruel reef was a boiling mass of foam, 

 Siskiwit Bay and Fisherman's Home, After leaving this 

 last place, where no stop could me made on account of 

 the storm, it did seem that the steamer would be knocked 

 into pieces by the waves. Now and then a wave came 

 over the bow and dashed clear over the upper cabin. The 

 rolling and pitching was frightful. It was almost impos- 

 Fible to keep a handhold, let alone maintaining a foothold. 

 Jack and I stood on the upper deck amidship for some 

 time watching the waves and the maneuvers of the boat. 

 Into Grace Harbor we passed at length, then through into 

 Washington Harbor, passing the ieland where Stephens 

 and I had out Stormy Camp a year ago. I pointed the 

 place out to Jack a& well as I could in the gathering 

 darkness. At Washington Harbor several people went 

 ashore, absolutely refusing to go further while the storm 

 lasted. One man connected with the Wendigo Mining 

 Co. at Washington Harbor, expressed a most devout 

 thankfulness to get his feet on land again. "What will 

 you do," I asked, "when you are ready to leave the 

 islandV" "I'll never leave," he replied, "if I have to go 

 in a boat." Soon after leaving the Harbor I went to our 

 stateroom and to bed, and if the boat stood on bow or 

 rudder or rolled completely over I knew it not, as I did 

 not wake up until the first breakfast bell rang. The sun 

 was shining brightly, the lake calm, and as I looked from 

 the window I saw we were a few miles about Manito. 

 Jack was sleeping like a baby, but I awakened him un- 

 ceremoniously, and we dressed and went to breakfast. 

 During the forenoon the steamer made several stops to 

 pick up parties of fishermen along the shore, and all had 

 the same story to tell, "ISTo trout." At Beaver Bay the 

 fishermen came on board who had gotten off at " Two 

 Islands when we went down. They had coasted along 

 up, fishing all the way and had not caught a fish. Had 

 to buy some off the net-fishermen to get ary to eat. The 

 steamer was an hour late in refcching Duluth, and we 

 missed our train, which meant a 24 hours' delay, .Jack 

 and I are never at a Iosf to pass away the time when to- 

 gether, 60 we rather enjoyed the waiting. 



After supper that evening we went down to the end of 

 one of the long docks and sat there watching the small 

 boats and tugs passing and repassing. It grew dark and 

 the red iiahhlight at the harbor entrance was lighted; 

 other lights appeared here and there. A big lake steamer 

 came in, another, and still another, until five had passed 

 us. "I bflieve the whole Jake fleet is coming in for our 

 benefit," I said to ^ack, "It looks like it," he replied. It 

 was a sight, and an evening to be remembered. Off 

 across the bay were tlie long rows of electric lights in 

 Superioy, nearer the stationary lights about the harlaor 

 and the many lights on the vessels, behind us, "from''the 

 ililMae looking dgwn," tbe »a»y lights of Buli^tb. 



Slowly we walked back to our hotel. We went to our 

 room and to bed . As we lay there talking over incidents 

 oe the trio Jack said: " 'Tis our last night together on 

 this trip," "Yes." I replied, "and what a pleasant trip 

 it has been," "One of the most enjoyable of my life. 

 But we must go to sleep. Good night." "Good night." 

 We did not go to sleep for a long time, however, as some 

 new thought or incident would come to mind we would 

 go to talking again. We were like the guests at the 

 "Wayside Inn," as described by Longfellow: 



"And still reluctant to retire. 

 The friends sat. lalkiDg by the fire 

 And watched the .smouldering embers burn 



To ashes and flash up again 

 Into momentary glow, 



Lingering like ihemaelves when foic^d to go, 

 And going when they would remain. 



For on the morrow thpy must turn 

 Their faces homewa' d, and the pain 



Of parting touched witlt its unrest 



A tender nerve in every heart." 

 Detroit Ciiy, Minn. MvRON CoOLEY. 



A DAY ON THE GASCONADE. 



"I'll let you go fishing, papa," said my three year old tot 

 of a girl as we sat in the attic fixing up tackle, in which 

 pleasurable business my little girl is as deeply interested 

 as I am. She knows everything in my outfit by name, 

 and as a fisherman has a record of a half-pound peich, 

 the catching of which was an "episode" to her as "King- 

 fisher'" would say ; but her after remark of "poor little 

 fishy" was in the nature of a reaction. 



Five hours ride from St. Louis on the 'Frisco road 

 brings one to Arlington on the Gasconade River, as fine 

 a stream as ever wet the angler's line. Clear, cold 

 water, swift rapids, deep pools, and great rocky bluffs on 

 the river's bank are the pleasing things which the angler 

 finds. In fact the scenery on the GaEconade is of the 

 most romantic kind and well worthy a trip for itself by 

 any lover of nature. 



It was on this stream that Izaak. Jr. , and .Jacob — solid 

 names thefe — took in a day's outing, and took out some 

 tine fish. Early morning fishing on the Gaeconade is of 

 no accotmt, so we did not embark on our boat for the trip 

 down the river until the eun was over an hour high and 

 all fogs had dissipated, Jacob took the oars, for he said 

 he liked to row down stream for the exercipe it gave him. 

 The morning- was clear and cool, and the seen' ry charm- 

 ing as we sped down with the swift current, A mud hen 

 passed us going down the river. "Look at that loon," 

 said Jacob. "Loon indeed," replied Tzaak, "that is 

 nothing but a mud ben: whoever heaid of a loon in this 

 section of the country." But Jacob stuck to the loon 

 theory, and no doubt told his children on bis return of 

 the immense bird which actually flew faster than he could 

 row the boat down stream. 



When one has no gun what things he can see. Right 

 over tis, clearly outlined against the deep blue of the 

 morning sky, sails a huge hawk: a little later a flock of 

 teal ducks rushes swiftly by; out of that grass by the 

 bank rises a couple of wood ducks; as we round the point 

 a blue heron sees us and makes frantic efforts to get up 

 high out of reach. All these events are hugely enjoy- 

 able to one shut up long in the city, and in fact we 

 wanted no noise of gun to destroy the calm which per- 

 vaded everything. 



By this time we had reached a place where we con- 

 cluded to try our luck and anchored our boats near a 

 point, around which potu-ed a stiff deep current. Izaac 

 first got his line into the water and Jacob scon followed. 

 He said, "We will stay here fifteen minutes, and if no 

 bites, move on,'" Agreed, izaak got the first blood, a 

 little bass about Sin. long, whereat Jacob grinned, and 

 wanted to know where I got that big minnow. But I 

 answered not, for there was nothing to answer. Our 

 fifteen minutes ran into twenly, when we concluded to 

 try another place abovit a mile below. 



Down we went, and the spot did look likely. A pile 

 of drift extending into deep water: a swift current and 

 some eddies made up the place. We anchored close to 

 the drift and again began operations. Owing to the 

 rrcks and logs at the bottom we had to use floats, which 

 the current would carry down a hundred feet or more if 

 we desired. While watching my float go down stream, I 

 heard Jacob say something and turning my head saw 

 him yank his rod, and by the way it bent T knew he had 

 at least a pounder on his hook. I watched to see him 

 reel in and play his fish, when, shades of Izaak, Sr., 

 must I say it, he threw his rod back on his shoulder, 

 grabbed the line with his hands and began hauling in 

 hand over hand as thought his life depended on it. T 

 w^as so astonished I could not speak for a whole minute, 

 but then said : 

 "What in thunder are you doing?'" 

 "Why that is the way 1 always pull 'em in,'" said Jacob, 

 and he continued hauling until a jack salmon, or pike- 

 perch, was landed in the boat. 



Then Izaak epoke his piece. "That's what you call 

 angling, ia it: , To drag a fish in like pulling a log up an 

 incline, Wha't in blazes have you got that $7.50 fine 

 quadruple reel for, and that silk line and lancewoad rod? 

 Why don't you go out Into the woodsandcut a pole, take 

 a chalk line, tie a hook, and then your method might be 

 in keeping. Now the next fish you hook you reel him in 

 like a civilized angler or there will be trouble,"' 



Having thus delivered myself I feJt better and resumed 

 work. But a minute later .Jacob had another bite, and 

 actually reeled the fish so near the boat that he could see 

 him. i was ready with my landing net, but the grabbing 

 instinct was loo strong, and again the line was taken and 

 another jack salmon dragrgetl ignominiousty into the 

 boat, "I'did not want to lose him,'" pleaded .Jacob. *-But 

 that is just the way to lose them," I replied. "You try 

 that trick on black bass and you will loee more than you 

 get in.'" "That'rf so," he answered, "J always lose more 

 than I save," While thus conveisine; our lines were again 

 put to work, and while Izaak may know more about fish- 

 ing, the luck was with Jacob, for he soon has another 

 fish on hig hook, which he actually reeled in, and allowed 

 to be lifted with the landing net. It was a tine 21b. Jack 

 salmon by the ecales. 



T.^.aak, .Jr., had also made Kome oatchea, hut the fish^ 

 ran small, not over half a pound, and most of them were 

 returned to the water. Their being a lull in the biting 

 ' ^Ye txied a^iother place but -vnthout miioh success, anrl 



after an hour's absence we returned to the favorite loca- 

 tion, and then occurred the event of the day. -lacob had 

 floated out about 75ft. of line when he had a strike and 

 hooked his fish, which he said felt "like a whale," and 

 sure enough it was a big one, judging from the way the 

 rod bent, .Jacob stood up to handle the rod, and Izaak 

 did the bossing. "Don't be in a hurry, now: play him 

 and tire him out. Don't pull him to the surface or he 

 will break loose: let him stay down. Swing your rod 

 out; keep him away from the drift pile. Look out there, 

 he is going under the boat. That is right: let him run 

 up and down, that will tire him out." In the meanwhile 

 the fish was reeled near to the boat, and near enough 

 to the surface of the water to show that it was a 

 very large black bass: " a 3-pounder at least," said 

 the holder of the rod, who became greatly excited 

 and tried his old tactics of lifting the fish out by main 

 strength. "Stop that!" I yelled; "play him till he is tired 

 and then reel him up to the boat, and 1 will net him ' 

 "All right, I will do as you say," and thus the fun went 

 on till the bass began to wabble, and coming near the 

 boat I slipped the net under him and he was safe. That 

 five minutes was a revelation to Jacob, who realized what 

 real angling was, and as he sat down in a state of ex- 

 haustion and exultation he exclaimed: "Whew, but that 

 was lots of fun, wasn't if?" The bass weighed albs, and 

 was a beautifully marked specimen. Then came the 

 irreverent remark, "Say, Ike, why don't you catch some 

 fish?" "Oh, 1 have more fun coaching you," and verily 

 it was true, for Jacob caught all the big fish. He hooked 

 another la,rge one, so large that he broke his rod, which, 

 by the way, contained one joint of cross-grained wood, a 

 crime which ought to send the maker to the penitentiary. 



But I have given enough of the events of our trip to 

 show how successful was the day spent on the Gasconade. 

 Jacob and Izaak are going again, and if he does not Hih 

 like a civilized angler, I see but one way to settle the 

 matter, and that will be to throw him overboard ; but I 

 have hopes for him as he has promieed to do the tquare 

 thing. Now if he would read Forest a>:d &tke^m regu- 

 larly he would develop into a first-class angler, for he has 

 the stuff in him for the transformation. Having started 

 him on the right road however, X feel the joy of a mission- 

 ary who makes a new convert, Izamv, Jr. 

 St. LoTitS, Mo, 



SOME PENNSYLVANIA SUGGESTIONS. 



Mr, .John W, Hague, of Pittsburgh, Pa., has sent us 

 the following extracts from the Pittsburgh Post, setting 

 forth his views as to needed game and fish legislation: 



When the State Legislattire convenes next January the 

 crack tisherman of Pittsbttrgh and vicinity will etnd 

 representatives to Harri?burg with copies of a new bill 

 they want eritered among the laws of the commonwealth. 

 There is much dissatisfaction now on account of the many 

 loose places in the present fish laws. The local men i 

 want the statutes changed to eliminate these points. 

 They want the wardens' salaries raised so that each can i 

 devote his time to prosecuting violators of the law ; they ' 

 want out-line fishing free to all, and the heaviest of fines j 

 levied on those who explode dynamite in the rivers, and i 

 those who run alkali and sawdust into the streamp. They 

 will also recommend that the trout catching season be ex- 

 tended from April 1 to August 1, instead of April 15 to 

 July 15. 



In this connection Fish Warden John W. Hague, the 

 attorney, gave a Post man some interesting information. 

 He favors the proposed changes in the laws, and in fact i 

 it is through his efforts that the plan whs first mentioned^ 

 He isweli informed on everything connected with fishing, , 

 and suggestions from him always receive the most re-' 

 spectful attention from the sportsman. In this interest- . 

 ing talk Mr. Hague said: " The fishermen have been con- 

 sidering several plans to protect the fisheries, and they ■ 

 think the best possible way to go about it is to take it to i 

 the Legi-slalure. They are now considering a bill which 

 will be submitted to every sportsman for his approval and 

 suggestions, and then the combined influence of the club • 

 will be used to pass it. There are several important 

 things contemplated, but they are not settled upon yet. 



"One thing is this: I do not think it would be amiss 

 to permit out-line fishing in July, August and September 

 of each year, and possibly during October. During the 

 warm weather the fish will not bite in daytime, and if 

 lines could be stretched across the stream at night, fish 

 could be caught in good numbers that wouldn't bite under 

 other circumstances, For instance, perch are seldom 

 caught on a line, and their time for biting is at night. 

 Cattish are also taken by outlines better than by hook. 

 Another reason is that men who would scorn to use a 

 seine or any other illegal means would delight in using an 

 out-line. It would make these men part protectors, as 

 they would help the commissioners and wardens to suc- 

 cessfully prosecute the law violators. 



"My worst trouble is to detect those who explode dyna- 

 mite in the water and slaughter all kinds of fish. Oitly 

 the common species come to the top. The black bass and 

 salmon go to the bottom and float away, so they do no 

 good to the shooters. The spawn of the year is also 

 killed. To provide against this I desire to see the law so 

 changed as to forbid the explosion of dynamite in any 

 stream in the State and to provide a very heavy tine for 

 it. 



"I would also like to see the law changed to peimiti 

 angling with rod and line held in the hands all the year 

 round, as I believe it would be the means of maiiing 

 every angler a fish protector. If he did not himselfl 

 cause an illegal fisher's arrest, he would at least fuinishl 

 some information to the nearest warden. And there isl 

 another thuig. I want prohibited the putting intoslreamsl 

 of alkali, acid, sawdust, garbage and all such ^lulf wel 

 know is destructive to fish fife. I am constantly iu re-l 

 ceipt of letters telling me that sawdust is^lestruying suchJ 

 and such a trout stream, and that steel works are runuingl 

 their acid into the river, and that oil wells run their aniiM 

 water there, too. Now, while I believe they tell tin 

 truth, I want (o know who writes to me, ajid as they 

 mostly anonymous, I haven t any idea. If they wr uloB 

 tell me their names I would not use them in prosecuting 

 I only want to know who they are. The practice of put 

 ting sawdust in trout streams is especially haimful. 



"There ought to be a complete separation of the Hsb 

 and game laws, and acta passed governing each one. 

 Separate peDaltif.s should be imposed. The trout law 

 might well be extended to in force from April 1 tc 

 Aug. 1, instead Ajml 15 to July 15. I don't know that 



