254 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



| Ma3RCH 33, 1898. 



m Htfd §w^r fishing. 



The JP%7i Laws of the United States and Canada, in the 

 'Game Laws in Brief,' ^ S5 cents. In the "Book of the 

 ' Game Laws" {full text), 50 cents. 



CROOKED LAKE, MICHIGAN.-II. 



It was in the suuimez- of 1893 that I &-st took my wife 

 troiitiag. I had. promised her tlie trip on the next pi-oioi- 

 tious day, and not many mornings thereafter, having 

 done foR justice to a hearty camp breakfast, I walked 

 down on our little dock to size up the situation. The sky 

 was overcast with dull leaden clouds, and the wind was 

 coming in gusts from the southwest. Not being satisfied 

 altogetlier witli the outlook, I referred the matter to my 

 wife, who, being anxious to make the trial, decided that 

 we should go. So we invited our friend and fellow 

 camper, John, to accompany us, and gathering up our 

 tackle and rubber coats, were shortly puUing away at a 

 lively rate toward our favorite place to seek the "speckled 

 tribe"— the Minnehaha. On owr way down the wind 

 freshened considerably, but as it was assisting us on our 

 course we would not have been concerned about it had 

 we not plainljr seen that it was also rapidly roUing up 

 heavier and more threatening-looking clouds. 



I mentally decided that we were iu for it, but said 

 nothing, taking some comfort in the fact that we had our 

 rubber coats along. Just after we had passed through the 

 reeds at the mouth of the creek, a hght ram began to f aU, 

 and John suggested that I troll going up, while he re- 

 mained at the oars. His suggestion to niy mind being a 

 very good one, m short order I had out a long hne, on the 

 end of which was a "professor," made more attractive by 

 a pair of "angel's wings." My wife followed suit, but 

 shortly the ram becoming harder, she desisted. Not so 

 myself, however, and before we had reached our particu- 

 lar bend, I had landed three of the "spotted beauties." 

 As I was reeling in the last one, the rain commenced to 

 descend in torrents, and yet John stayed manfuUy by his 

 oars. I always knev/ he was a gentleman, but that day 

 lie gave me a most positive proof of the fact, because he 

 would rather catch a trout than eat a square meal, and I 

 know when he saw me land those three trout in such 

 quick succession that he was fairly wild to have his share 

 of the sport— yet never a word said he. 



By the time my last trout was landed it became evident 

 that we must go ashore, as the rain was bhnding and our 

 boat was rapidly filhng with water. Hastily rowing to 

 about the only landing place thereabouts we beached our 

 waterlogged craft as high as possible, scampered ashore 

 and took shelter underneath some hemlock trees. My, 

 how it poured, and how those sturdy forest trees bowed 

 before the majesty of the storm! Peal after peal of heavy 

 thunder rolled across the heavens, followed by bolts of 

 lightning that were bewilderkig. There we stood like 

 "BabesS in the Woods," and, as the water from the 

 g-utters formed by the rims of our felt hats commenced 

 to run down the backs of our necks, we tmanimously 

 agreed that this was one of the storms there was no 

 getting away from. John philosophically creased the 

 front of his hat rim to drain the water forward and man- 

 aged to fill and light his "Missouri meerschaum," from 

 which he apparently derived so much comfort that I 

 promptly followed his lead. I then asked my wife as to 

 her opinion of trout lishing. She thought "'twas great," 

 was not the least bit discouraged and prophesied that 

 it would clear up shortly. Sure enough in about half an 

 hour the wind shifted to the northwest, and the rain, 

 after giving us a few parting shots, left altogether. 



Thereupon we bailed out om- skiff, turned up the dry 

 sides of the cushions, embarked and dropped down to the 

 Big Bend, at the upper end of which we tied up at the 

 bank. Luck was with us still, and particularly ^.vith my 

 wife, who in short order had landed an even half dozen. 

 The gleam of triumph tliat flashed from her eyes when 

 she first netted ntunber one plainly told me that she had 

 the fever sure enough, and by the airs she assumed when 

 she had number six safely on board, both John and my- 

 self were made to feel om- utter insig-nificance, and that 

 we knew very little about catching trout anyway. 



Presently we espied another boat coming up stream, 

 which contained two elderly gentlemen. We exchanged 

 friendly greetings as they passed us and watched their 

 httle craft until it disappeared around the bend above. 

 Shortly after the wind increased and it grew quite cold, 

 so cold, in fact, that I found myself holding the rod alter- 

 nately,.first in one hand and then in the other, in order 

 that I might pocket the benumbed fingers of the unused 

 member. The wind being favorable I made my best 

 record in casting that morning, so far could I place my 

 fly up stream. Suffice it to say we had great sport until 

 noon, when, as we had no lunch with us, we were obhged 

 to discontinue operations and start for camp, so we rowed 

 down stream and passing out into the lake were met by a 

 furious head wind that was lasliing the waters into veri- 

 table seas. 



We at once decided if we made camp at aU against 

 such odds it could only be done by skirting the shores 

 along the bays that lay between us and our dock, some 

 three miles away. The only obstacle in the way of this 

 was a raft of logs that projected into the lake a short 

 distance to our left, making it necessary to first stand out 

 into deep water in order to avoid a coUision with, and 

 possible wreck upon, said raft. AU this was sized up in 

 less time than it requires to relate it, and amid the howl- 

 ing wind and dasliing spray I held her head on while 

 John shifted the anolior and everything else of weight to 

 the stern; then he resumed his seat, grabbed his oars 

 and we made a, desperate effort to get beyond that raft 

 without going into it. 



All went well mitil we got abreast of the legs and about 

 30yds. outside of them, when John reached for the water 

 where it was not, caught a crab, and before he could re- 

 cover himself we were weh nigh upon them. My wife 

 clung desperately to her seat, waiting for the shock which 

 seemed inevitable, when just in the very nick of time, 

 Jtohn got in a stroke and we pulled as we never pulled be- 

 fore. The only thing we could do for the moment was to 

 hold our own; not one inch could we gain. I saw some- 

 thing must be done quickly, and yeUed to John to head 

 her back toward the creek. 'Twas our only chance, and 

 in doing so we at once got into the trough and an im- 

 mense wave broke over om- side, well nigh swamping us, 



but when the next one caught us we had cleared the raft 

 and took it quartering. 



We hastily retraced our course and sought refuge in the 

 quieter waters of the creek, where we rested on om- oars, 

 having fully determined we must stay there until the set- 

 ting sun had caused the wind to subside. Accordingly we 

 returned to the Big Bend and resumed, from necessity, 

 the fishing we were so loath to leave a short time before. 

 The knowledge of tlie anxiety which we knew would be 

 felt at camp by our non -arrival, together with the cold 

 wind and prospects of no lunch (my wife would not hear 

 of cooking the trout caught in the forenoon) detracted 

 somewhat fi-om the interest in the sport which we would 

 otherwise have felt. However, our fair luck continued 

 until 8 o'clock, when we saw coming down stream the 

 boat containing the two elderly gentlemen which had 

 passed up several hours before. 



As they ca,nie abreast of us I espied a lunch basket in 

 the bow of their boat, and, forgetting all pride, I haUfed 

 them, stated our predicament, adding that we were raven- 

 ously htmgry a^id would be extremely grateful for a por- 

 tion of the contents of their basket. They replied that they 

 had dined and there was but httle left, but we were most 

 welcome to such as it was. We needed no second bidding, 

 and it took but a moment for tis to run along-side, secm-e 

 the basket and pull for the landing place just above, where 

 we went ashore and at once set about starting a fire, but 

 as everything was so wet this was not an easy matter. 

 However, by the aid of a plentiful supply of birch bark 

 and much fanning, we at last had a merry blaze going, 

 and whfle John and I were thus engaged my wife un- 

 covered the basket and sjjread its contents upon a fallen 

 tree close at hand. 



Then we aU took account of stock and found three 

 slices of raw bacon, two boiled potatoes, one onion, smaU 

 package of tea, bread, butter, crackers, knives and forks, 

 salt, empty tomato can and skillet. In short order we 

 had a lump of butter iu that skillet, which was placed on 

 the burning embers, then into it went the bacon, sliced 

 j)otatoes and onions, and while the whole was frying and 

 sending forth an aroma that drove us half frantic, my 

 wife made tea in the tomato can. Lunch being ready, 

 we fell to like cannibals, for we were nearly famished. 

 Truly, none bu!j -wi^nd-boimd fishermen can appreciate the 

 rehsh with which we devom-ed the meal, which we one 

 and aU declared was the finest we had ever liad. It 

 mattered not to us if we burned om- fingers and tongues, 

 and got eyes fuU of smoke; we were in the humor to be 

 satisfied with most anything, and were at peace with all 

 mankind. 



We ate every morsel of those dehcacies, restored the 

 utensils to the basket, loaded our boat, and agaia dropping 

 down stream, returned the basket, Avith many thanks, to 

 its rightful owners, who then took occasion to mention 

 that they had fished years enough to learn one thing: 

 ' 'Alwaj-'s take a lunch along, even if you only go for min- 

 nows." In the light of our experience of that day, I be- 

 lieve their idea is correct, and I shall always follow it 

 hereafter. We deemed it wise not to ofl'er those gentle- 

 men any pay for our lunch, but in parting left with them 

 several of our favorite flies as souvenirs of the occasion. 

 We proceeded on down stream and continued om- fisliing 

 until about 5 o'clock, when who shovild be seen rowing 

 toward us but Dave, our "camp man Friday. ' Om- 

 friends at camp becoming imeasy at our prolonged stay, 

 had sent him to us with wraps, lunch and a bottle of Ken- 

 tucky's best. 



The wraps were at once donned, the lunch we did not 

 need, but the bourbon was indeed appreciated. Dave 

 stated that in coming from camp he had made wonder- 

 ful time, both wind and wave being in his favor. He 

 thought, however, that by hugging the shore and with 

 the assistance of his brawny arms we could make camp 

 aU right. We decided to make the attempt at any rate, 

 so we loaded aU the jjlunder into our boat and took Dave 

 on board, he havmg first beached the other boat. John 

 took a seat in the stern by my wife, while Dave and I 

 manned the oars. We were soon in the lake, and then 

 came the tug. We rounded that raft in safety, however, 

 and after a hard puU we at last reached camp, where we 

 were given a royal welcome by the Avhole part}-, who we 

 found assembled on the dock. Then- welcome was 

 changed to enthusiastic admiration when they beheld the 

 string of trout which we exhibited. - 



Yes, we were a httle tired, but we are not prepared to 

 exchange that day's experience for a good, round sum. 

 One more thought presents itself; we had not been in 

 camp twenty minutes when the wind died down and the 

 lake became as smooth as glass. Strange, is it not, how 

 the wind and waves most always are against us ? 



Cincinnati, O., Feb. 8. EdwiN C, GlBBS. 



GOVERNMENT EXHIBIT AT CHICAGO. 



The office of the Board of Management and Control of 

 U, S. Government exhibits at the World's Fair, was 

 moved from Washington to Chicago on Saturday, al- 

 though Chairman WiUits and most of the other members 

 of the Board are still in Washington. 



U. S. Fish Commissioner McDonald, accoinpanied car 

 No. 1 on Saturday night on its way to Chicago, with a 

 large consignment of tench, golden ide, carp, gold fish 

 and aquatic plants raised in the fish i)onds for the World's 

 Fair Aquarium. The Commissioner whl personally super- 

 intend the iostaUation of fresh-water and marine animals 

 and plants in the great tanks. 



The supply of salt water mentioned in. our issue of 

 March 9 has arrived in Chicago, and will soon be enlivened 

 by the presence of schools of marine fish and colonies of 

 invertebrates and alga3. 



The collection of subtropical plants obtained by Theodor 

 Holm in Lake county, Florida, has been completed and 

 Mr. Holm is back in Washington,. The county is ex- 

 tremely rich in water-plants and has fm-nished ample 

 quantities and many sbowy forms. 



The Government Building is a busy hive at present. In 

 several of the Departments the work of installation of ex- 

 hibits is well advanced. The Interior, Smithsonian, Agri- 

 culture and Fish Commission are pushing ahead with 

 great vigor and there is great activity all along the hne. 

 The Fish Commission sent out eighteen car-loads of 

 materials, and its cases are ready to receive their contents. 

 Chief Special Agent Ravenel is at work with a force of 

 skilled assistants, and the Commission's representative. Dr. 

 Bean, wiU go to Chicago and take i^ersonal charge of the 

 exhibit as soon as the preparation of labels and catalogues 

 jn Washiugton can be finished. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



[M-om a Staff Correspondent] 



Chicago, March 18.— Lovers of the angle and lovers of 

 old literature will be pleased to see, when they come to 

 the World's Fair, a quaint building, square hke a tower, 

 whose hke and whose origin they may recog-nize if they 

 look in the early pages of some of the editions of the 

 "Compleat Angler" — the angler's lodge of imperishable 

 fame. The reproduction of this, as an angler's rendez- 

 vous at the Fair, was the original idea of Dr. Henshall, 

 Chief of the Angling Exhibit. It avIU be given form by 

 the generous and active spirit of the Chicago Fly-Casting 

 Club, who took further action in the matter at the meet- 

 ing of last Friday evening. A^'arious figures have been 

 submitted by firms on the specifications prepared by Dr. 

 Henshall all the way from |500 to $2,000. The structm-e 

 will not be expensive if made of the imitation stone which 

 is the material of all the beautiful buildings of the Fair, 

 and an order rightly placed would soon result in a build- 

 ing which for visiting anglers would be sm-passed in in- 

 terest by but few. Both Capt. CoUins and Dr, Henshall 

 are in thorough accord with the plans of the club. 



The "Forest and Stream" Exhibit. 



FOEEST AND Stkeam wiU have an exhibit at the Fair. 

 It wiU be as good as the paper, and that is mighty good. 

 Just what it is going to be it is not wise to say as yet, 

 though all the arrangements are now made, the FOREST 

 AND Stream space all partitioned off; in fact, all the pre- 

 liminaries concluded for sometbing a trifle unique in the 

 journalism of sport. The Forest and Stream space is in 

 the best place in the Anglers' Pavilion, just to the right 

 of the main entrance. It wfll be one of the brightest, 

 cosiest and most interesting cornei-s of the Fair, and 

 many and many a hundred sportsmen from all over the 

 Avorld wiU visit it with pleasure. The success of this 

 exhibit was assm-ed when Forest and Stkeam deter- 

 mined on it, but much of the smoothness and rapidity of 

 the intervening work is the result of the personal super- 

 vision of Mr, C, B, Reynolds, the editor of Forest and 

 Stream, to whom so much of the general smoothness and 

 rapidity of Forest and STiiEAM as a paper is directly 

 attributable. Mr. Reynolds has but just returned to New 

 York after a busy visit of a week in what he was once 

 pleased to call the Windy City. He is now another one 

 of the array of New York men who have come and been 

 convinced that the World's Fair is to be an event of sur- 

 passing greatness and surj)assing interest to all classes of 

 men. To none will it be this more so than to those who 

 read Forest and Stream, These journalistic exigencies 

 Forest and Stream wiU meet with journalistic fore- 

 thought and do it thoroughly and well. 



A New Thing in Angling. 



I suppose all bass fishermen have learned that bass love 

 weeds, reeds and rushes, and that bait-casting for them ui 

 that sort of water means frequent entanglements and un- 

 told profanity. To get over this trouble numerous "weed- 

 less" spoons and hooks have been invented. To the man 

 who wishes to troll or cast with minnow or frog, and to 

 do so right where the bass live, and to do so witJi ease and 

 success and without profanity, I know of no invention 

 which "will appeal more irresistibly than the device this 

 spring put on the market by the Payson Manufactm-ing 

 Co. of Chicago. This hook guard is in the shape of an 

 elongated spoon, and its brightness makes it sei-ve as a 

 lure, though it does not revolve, but only wobbles. It is 

 heavier than a spoon, but sraaUer, and is an aid to casting, 

 and not a deta-iment. The guard does not cover up, but 

 protects, the point of the hook, so that you cannot engage 

 the hook with a thread drawn over the guard. It can be 

 trolled over the heaviest bed of weeds, so I was told by 

 the inventor, Mr. J. R. Payson, without the lead fouhng, 

 and yet a fish striking at the bait is hooked at once. Mr. 

 Payson told me that he cast in the weediest parts of Twin 

 Lakes, Wis., and hooked and landed 13 bass out of 13 

 strikes. That is far above the average of the frog caster 

 who uses the naked hook. The fact that Mr. Payson is 

 an old and practical bass fisherman, and thoroughly 

 familiar with ah the weedy lakes of northern Illinois and 

 southern Wisconsin, where most of our bass fishing is, 

 inclines me to believe that he has struck something hei-e 

 which wfll be of extreme usefulness to our friends, the 

 bait-casters, whether for apphcation to frog or minnow 

 bait, E. HotJaH. 



1V5 Monroe Street, Chicago. 



Before the Buds Break. 



Juniata County, Pa., March 13. — By the calling of the. 

 robins, by the whistling of the blackbirds, by our own 

 instinct, we believe this to be our first day of siJi-ing; the 

 treble note-call of the sweet robin is music to om- ears, 

 while we can not appreciate the one and two-note ditty 

 of the saucy blackbird that comes to us from the tijjtop 

 of the old apple tree, still it serves to awake pleasant old 

 memories of early springtimes gone before. These are 

 the days that most vividly of all things bring back the 

 hours of our boyhood, when with om- chum we sneaked 

 off from the rest of the boys to get the auger from the 

 old blacksmith shop, and from there to betake ourselves 

 to that "sweetest" tree of the sugar maple colony or, like 

 "the barefoot boy" with our favorite "butty," eager with 

 anticipations, we Avent off to the pools of the rushing^ 

 creek or to the banks of the muddy river, there to angle 

 for suckers in then- icy waters. While our mountain is 

 still covered Avith a sheet of white the valley is but 

 slightly flecked with snow. The frost is fast disappear- 

 ing and vegetation wfll soon be ready for the awakening. 



In passing aromid the ice pond to-day, in the open 

 water near the inlet, and standing motionless, I was sur- 

 prised to see an 18-inch carp, evidently not long on the 

 scene of action, ' Onyjutta. 



Black Bass in Lake Champlain. 



Mr. H. L. Samson is wrong in his letter which appears 

 in yom- last issue, wherein he states that black bass may 

 legaUy be caught with hook and line in the waters of 

 Lake Champlain at any season of the year. The law 

 plainly reads, "A person who between the first day of 

 January and the fifteenth day of June in any year, takes 

 or catches a black bass in any of the waters of this State, 

 or has in his possession any black bass taken in this State, 

 etc., shaU pay a fine of $5 for each fish so taken, caught or 

 liossessed." This is as lAain as A B G; you may take with 

 hook and line, wall-eyed pike, white pei'ch and maski- 

 nonge, at any season of the year in the lake, but not black 

 bass. Stanstead. 



