July 15, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



31 



THE STORM. 



A^xiGHT'gray scud was flying across the lower sky. 



AboTe great masses of cloud, black as factory smoke, 

 rolled in dense volumes. Far in the west a Ught gray 

 streak was rising, indicating heavy rain. 



Below not a breath of air stirred. B • Lake lay like 



a great mirror, not a motion on its surface save the light 

 ripple made by our boat. 



We were far out on the lake, our boat a mere light shell. 



"John," I said, "we are goiag to haA^e a bad storm." 



"Yes, I think we ai-e," answered John. 



"Well, hadn't we better try to s;et ashore, John? The 

 western shore we can't make, for that would be going 

 right in the face of the storm, but the eastern shore is not 

 over a mile away. Hadn't we better pull for it?" 



"AU right if you say so, Mr. Sherman; but I'll tell you 

 one thing possibly you don't know, and that is. just before 

 a storm every muscallonge in the water starts'out on the 

 rampage, and he'll snap at everything he sees. There's no 

 time Mke just before a storm to catch muscallonge; and 

 a little ways from here there's a bar I have never taken 

 you to yet. If you say so we'll give it a trial and then pull 

 for the shore." 



"But will your boat stand a storm and heavy sea, 

 John?" 



"Ride it like a cork." 



"All right, then, pull for the bar." 



I was fishing with two rods that day and John with one. 

 I fastened fresh minnows on aU the hooks, and placed one 

 of my rods across the boat so it extended out to the right. 

 John's rod was out to the left and my other rod lay across 

 the stern. So the minnows were all far back of the boat 

 and well separated. 



While I was fijcing the lines John was slowly rowing 

 northward. 



"Well, now, isn't that a go?" said Jolm. "Three bites 

 at one time. I'll wager you a day's pay against a dollar 

 that we lose two of them." 



"Done; I'll take it." 



It was no smaU problem, three fish hooked and a storm 

 coming. Fiaally I placed the rods so the reels would work 

 perfectly. I then puUed a part of the line off each reel; 

 fortunately the fish remained quiet while I was fixing the 

 rods. I then placed a separate liae between each of the 

 fingers of the left hand, so that the presence of the fingers 

 would put a strain on the fish. I kept the right hand 

 free so as to catch any line tliat was being pulled too hard. 

 There was no time to be lost. I gave one line a sharp 

 pull with the right hand. Up shot the fish into the air, 

 then away to the right. I let him have his rim, then 

 pulled him in as I far as I dare, coiling the line care- 

 fully in the boat. Then in succession I pulled the other 

 two lines. Each fish jumped out, then had his run, then 

 allowed me to bring in a httle line. I was surjjrised to see 

 that all the fish were large. 



Suddenly the boat began rocking. I looked up— 

 Heavens, what a sight! The lake was a mass of foam, 

 the hollows of the waves were like ink, the full force of 

 the wind struck us and almost lifted us out of the water, 

 the water seethed and boiled about us. It seemed im- 

 possible for a boat to live in such a sea. But with the 

 first motion of the water the oars dipped and now all the 

 force of John's muscular arms was put into rowing 

 against the waves to keep the boat as near as possible in 

 the same place. But in spite of John's best efforts we 

 began drifting, all tliree of the fish beginning to rim at 

 the same time. For ten minutes there was the hveliest 

 sport I have ever experienced. Think of it, three strong, 

 active muscallonge rushing and tearing thi'ough the water, 

 each lield by a light silk thread and the boat drifting 

 before a stonn that was a perfect tornado. Time and 

 again the lines were stretched to then- last limit, time 

 and again the thin silk conquered and the fish yielded. 

 At last they showed signs of exhaustion and seemed 

 willing to follow after the boat, their runs were less fre- 

 quent and less diificvdt to stop; gradually I got them to 

 follow in the wake of the boat. 



"Stop rowing, John," I said, "I think these feUows 

 wiU follow." 



Jolm stopped rowing and the boat drifted fast before 

 the storm. Then followed an interesting feature of this 

 singular fishing. The fish followed after the boat, swim- 

 ming on top of the water. Every few minutes one of the 

 fish would turn his head to the side and try to run off, 

 but a quick, sharp pull would bring him back into Une. 

 There was an odd fascination in watching this disposition 

 to rebel and in quickly checking it. 



I began to thoroughly enjoy it, when suddenly there 

 was a hissing somid and the rain began falling, or rather 

 drifting, blowing, whirling in bhnding, drenching sheets 

 of water. It obscured everything. The air was like a 

 dense cloud or fog, the eye could not penetrate it twenty 

 feet, cloud and foam seemed to mix; the tops of the 

 waves seemed caught by the wind and dashed into our 

 faces. The way we were sitting we had of necessity to 

 face the storm. The water poured from our hats and 

 clothing in streams. It began to fill the boat and soon 

 we were ankle deep in the water. I was forced to drop 

 the lines and abandon the fish to chance, first taking the 

 precaution to fasten the rods to the side of the boat. I 

 then gave all my attention and both- hands to the work 

 of bailing out. In spite of all I could do the water kept 

 gaining on me, every wave adding its portion to it. I 

 worked hard and worked without ceasing, until my arms 

 were niimb and my back stiff. There was no lull, no 

 diminution of the storm; the Avind seemed to increase, 

 the lake to gi-ow ruffer, the Hghtning sharper and the 

 thunder was fairly deafening. 



The boat, half full of water, was becoming heavy. In- 

 stead of ridiug the waves live a cork as John predicted, it 

 mounted tliem with difficulty, it was in danger of being 

 swamped at any moment, our position was beginning to 

 gi'ow alarming. At last I was forced, from sheer ex- 

 haustion to rest, no difference what the result, I could 

 work no more. I dropped the bailer and rose up. I 

 had scarcely got my head up, when — slap — something hit 

 me in the face. 



The blow was so severe that it bewildered me for a 

 moment; I could not realize what had happened. When 

 I recovered from my confusion I found to my surprise a 

 huge black bass splashing about in the boat, evidently be- 

 wildered by the storm, or possibly touched by an oar, he 

 had leaped into the air only to encounter my head. He 

 was a fine fellow and worth saving, so I caught him. and 

 with a piece of twine secured him to the side of the boat. 



This consumed valuable time, and when I took up the 



bailer again I found the water had gained very consider- 

 ably on me. The boat sat very low in the water. It took 

 all John's strength to keep it in place. 



I had just emptied the first bailer, when suddenly I 

 heard behind me a short, sharp snap; I glanced over my 

 shoulder. It was as I feared, an oar had broken. 



Ahnost instantly we were whirled into the trough of 

 waves, and a moment later we were both struggling in 

 the water, eyes, ears and mouth were filled. 



I struck out almost mechanically without considering 

 direction. A few strokes and I struck something hard. I 

 got my hands and knees on it. I then raised my head to 

 look around and was surprised to find myself not 10yds. 

 from shore. I was kneeling on the bottom of the lake in 

 water not 2ft. deep. All this distance we had drifted in 

 the storm. 



A minute later we were on shore, and were fortunate 

 to find shelter from the storm in an old boathouse, two as 

 wretched, dilapidated, miserable looking fishermen as it 

 is possible to imagine. 



When I recovered a little I remarked, "Your boat 

 didn't ride like a cork, John? " 



"No," he answered. "But I told you they'd bite just 

 before a storm." 



At last the rain ceased and we ventured out to see what 

 damage had been done. Far up along the beach we saw 

 our boat right side up apparently iminjured, and as we 

 approached it we saw om- three rods in the places where 

 I had fastened them. We hurried forward as fast as we 

 could in our wet clothes and secured the rods. To our sur- 

 prise there wasn't a line on any one of them; lines, hooks 

 and fish gone. Even the bass I had tied to the side of the 

 boat was gone. 



"John," I said, "this must be what chey call 'a water 

 haul'." 



"Yes," he answered, "and a wet one." 



F. I. Sherman. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE WATERS. 



Manchester, N. H., July 1— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: All that is needed to determine the number of 

 people who love to "go-a-fishing," which a place contains 

 is the general opportunity for such love to assert itself. 

 The Foiu-th furnished the"^ chance for such observation in 

 Manchester. Nearly all the mfils and workshops being 

 closed from Saturday night till Wednesday morning, 

 about eveiy pole and piece of tackle of whatever design 

 or age was brought to the light of day and put into the 

 service. Massabesic Lake, as usual, suffered the most 

 from the onslaught. Ponds and brooks within a radius 

 of fifteen miles were each visited by scores of anglers, 

 with mostly indifferent success. I saw two Frenchmen 

 that, liaving failed in getting a mess of fish, came march- 

 ing triumphantly home with a turtle that would weigh 

 SOlbs., hanging between them, and smacking their lips in 

 anticipation of the soup that would come later. A few 

 good strings in count Avere taken and some large bass. 

 Among the latter one of l^lbs. by R. J. Barry, and one of 

 lilbs. by John Scanlon, a boy of fifteen years, who im- 

 doubtecUy passed the happiest Fourth of any person in the 

 city. The fish measured 22in. and was taken at the out- 

 let of Massabesic. 



Many palatable meals, as bony as they were in the 

 main scant, were enjoyed, and with the renewed physical 

 vigor obtained by the participants, they are voting the 

 three days' vacation a success. On the Fourth I visited 

 the Men-imack River, a few miles out, as an experiment, 

 in search of bass, never having tried the stream before, 

 and hearing of very few doing so, but as no boat could be 

 obtained, and the river being high on account of the mills 

 being closed, it was impossible to do any satisfactory 

 work, though I was convinced that bass are there, as I 

 captured samples of the gamiest kind, and with favorable 

 conditions, I have no doubt a good string would have re- 

 sulted. 



Melvin Hall, of the adjoining town of Auburn, a short 

 time since, in that town caught a 71bs. string of thirteen 

 brook trout. The largest weighed 14^1bs. , a size that is very 

 rare in this locaUty, but not a surprise in "Mel's" hands, 

 for if any man can land the big ones he can, and to com- 

 plete one of his characteristics, his friends, Mayor E. J. 

 Knowlton and Chief Engineer T. W. Lane, were remem- 

 bei-ed from his basket. "Mel" is not only a fisherman 

 but an all-round sportsman. Coon hunting is his special 

 delight, and in company with T. W, Lane and the latter's 

 dog Jack, a team is formed that is hard for "coony" to 

 beat. Jack was purchased by the late Hiram P. Young 

 five yeai-s ago, since which time he has added 244 coons 

 to his credit. He is a handsome black and tan beagle, 

 nine years old, and now badly used up with what appears 

 like rheumatism, and although receiving the best of 

 treatment at the hands of his owner, to whom he was 



iven by his close friend Mr. Young, just before his 



eath, I fear he has treed his last coon. "Mel" is also a 

 great stayer in a rabbit swamp or on a fox chase and 

 seldom gets "skunked." 



John H. Andrews and son Harry, W. B. Moore and 

 Will Eames, are enjoying a two weeks' fishing trip at the 

 Connecticut lakes, whence they started the 30th. They 

 write "good luck and lots of fun." 



An ardentjpair, William Stevens and Joseph A. Cham- 

 berlain, who know the business thoroughly, work well 

 together and love the recreation, captured a nice string 

 at Gorham Pond last week. 



J ames McGregor, one of Manchester's oldest and best 

 known sportsmen, died of liver trouble, this afternoon, 

 at his home, a road house on the way to Massabesic Lake, 

 aged 73 years. This State has few men who have given 

 as much time to the successful use of the rod, dog and 

 gun as "Jim." He had lived, him ted and fished around 

 this city, and particularly the lake, for more than fifty 

 years. Sport he followed because he loved it, and the 

 effects of his free outdoor life was amply shown in his 

 well preserved frame, steady neiwe and quick eye. Gene- 

 rous, jovial and true he will be missed and mourned by 



many. Payson. 



A NEW-SUBSCRIBER OFFER. 



A bona fide new subscriber sending us ^ wlU receive for that sum 

 the Forest aud Strkaw one year (price ^) and a set of Zimmerman's 

 famous '-Duckmg Scenes" (advertised on another page, price $5)— a 

 ?9 value for J6. 



Tliis offer is to new subscribers only. It does not apply to renewals. 



For g3 a bona fide new subscriber for six months will receive tha 

 FoRKST AM) Stream during that time and a copy of Dr. Van Fleet's 

 handsome work, "Bird Portraits for the Young" (the price of which 

 IB »3). 



"POEEST AND STREAM" PISHINQ POSTALS 



Send us a postal card report of your own luck, your partner'' s luck, 

 your neighbor'' s luck, your father-in-law's luck, ^nd— her luck. 



Cape Vincent, N. Y., July 3.— The bass fishing here is 

 in full swing, and not for years have the catches been so 

 large. Saturday, among others, were the following 

 catches, each by one boat: 117, 115, 80, 67, etc. Two large 

 boat liveries furnish beautiful and safe boats, and experi- 

 enced guides can be had at reasonable rates. 



RoBT. S. Fowler. 



Cape Vincent, N. Y., June 80.— I think the following 

 list of some of the catches of black bass made by gentle- 

 men here in the past two days will be of interest to some 

 of yom- readers. Mr. Esterbrook, New Jersey, June 29, 

 91; June 30, 81. Mr. Kepler. New York, June 29, 75: June 

 30, 48. Mr. Weekes, New York, June 29, 42; June 30, 68. 



C. T. Saoket. 



Barnegat, N. J., July 2.— Fishing poor in the bay but 

 large catches outside. Yesterdy Peterson, Cox and Ridg- 

 way caught about 6001bs. of sea bass, porgies, etc., out to 

 sea. No fish in bay whatever. Cannot say anything for 

 the coming week. W. C. Inman, Je. 



Kennebago Lake, Me., June 29.— C. W. Whitney and 

 O. C. Whitcomb of New Hampshire, in four days ending 

 June 29 have caught 519 trout, the largest 2ilbs. Monday, 

 26th, Charles Staples, Jr., of Maine, caught 100 trout. 



Capt. G. a. Royal 



Clayton, N. Y.— Jack Gordon, of Texas; Harry Crosby, 

 of Chicago, caught 5 pickerel and 155 black bass in four 

 and a half hours on July 3. A Guide. 



Redwood, N. Y., July 7.— Wm. Comstock, of Evans 

 Mills, caught July 6 in Mill Sight Lake, at Redwood, 45 

 bass, 30 small and 15 large-mouths; the largest smaU- 

 mouth weighed Sjlbs. , largest big-mouth ^\bs. Oarsman 

 John DoUinger. Fishing is of the best and DoUinger 

 House guarantees a catch of fish, if not, board bill free. 



ZoLLER & Springer. ' 



SCHROON Lake, N. Y., July 6.— Trout fishing at Schroon 

 Lake is very good. Mr. F. L. Cross has made some very 

 nice catches, ranging in number from 76 to 210. On 

 Saturday last Messrs. Wood and Locke caught 123 of the 

 speckled beauties in Schroon River; largest 31bs. 7oz. 

 Messi-s. Knox and Bruce caught 23 weighing Sllbs. Bass 

 fishing has just commenced. Mr. Tompkins, of New 

 York, caught five to-day, one weighing 4i^lbs. 



L. R. & E. D. L. 



Kennebago Lake, Me., July 6.— Mr. S. C. Deyer, of 

 Boston, caught on July 3d 83 trout, 4th 103, 5th 104, 6th 

 50, a total of 340. Dr. E. P. George, of Thomaston, caught 

 on July 4 250 trout; Dr. Nathaniel Jewett, of Ashburnham, 

 on the 6th 50. All were taken with the fly. G. A. R. 



Bewitched Rods. 



A correspondent, "Sancho Panza," writes of a recent 

 fishing trip to a lake, which on their arrival was found to 

 have been ditched dry: Determined to have a pike fish, 

 we drove over into Licking Creek to the old tan factory 

 dam. An old man named Kinder had charge of a saw- 

 mill at the dam, and he told us that the owner of the dam 

 would allow no one to fish. We told him we had driven 

 twenty miles to have a fish, and that we were all ac- 

 quainted with the owner of the dam and would run all 

 risk, and fish. The old man did not like it, but said no 

 more, so we started in to fish. After an hour's fishing 

 without any luck, we invited the old man to partake of 

 our refreshments. After that he began to have a better 

 feeling toward us; and at last said in broken English: "I 

 am sorry vor what I done to you men." "What was that, 

 pap?" "I pud a speU on you." "Can't you take it off' ?" 

 "Nod till the sun goes down." And so we discovered why 

 we were having such hard luck. He assured us we would 

 not get a pike if we should fish aU day. He told us that 

 a party of hunters had incurred his displeasure, and that 

 he had put a spell on their guns, so that they were unable 

 to kill any game. However, toward evening his spell did 

 not work, for one of us succeeded in getting several nice 

 pike. The old man does not know till this day that liis 

 spell did not work. 



The Chicago Fly-Casting Club 



Held its weekly meeting and quarrel yesterday, July 6, 

 at Washington Park. Petty jealousies and quarrels have 

 come up at nearly every meeting. At the last meeting 

 the special quarrel was on Montgomery Ward & Co.'s em- 

 ploying an expert, who also is a member of the club, and 

 who ' 'hogs" (fly-casting vernactilar) the medal. Mr. Isgrigg, 

 the party objected to, declined to participate. The objec- 

 tion was peculiar in that those who objected were em- 

 ployed by(dealers in sportsmen's goods. Still it might as 

 well be one thing as another. But it seems that out of a 

 club of about eighty members there should be a larger 

 attendance. E. E. Wilkmson cast 70.Vft. , B. W. Goodsell 

 70ft.. G. W. Strell 63ft., W. E. Davidson 64ift. Best per- 

 centage for long distance, by W. E. Davidson. Meet- 

 ings each week will be held at Washington Park till fur- 

 ther notice. B. Waters. 



Off for the Kiamichis. 



Sherman, Tex. , July 7. — A party of six sportsmen left 

 yesterday for the Eaamichi Mountains, Choctaw Nation, 

 Indian Territory, for a two weeks' hunting and fishing 

 trip. Great sport is expected, as reports from this section 

 say that bass, trout and otlier game and fish have been 

 taken in large numbers. The route is to Stringtown, I. 

 T., where they will have two wagons in readiness to con- 

 vey them to the camp, about 20 miles east. In the party 

 are Thos. Bass, John Myers, Ed. Hildebrand, Chas. Dick- 

 erman and Dupon Lyon, and two or three others. The 

 "boys" are all old fishermen and expect great sport. 



Adirondacks . 



The attention of sportsmen is called to the advertisement printed 

 elsewhere in our columns of an Adirondack preserve, embracing a 

 beautiful lake surrounded by ^ii-gin forest, and affording good trout 

 fishing and hunting. The owners offer one-half interest in this pre- 

 sei^e for sale, and the opportunity is certainly worth investigation — 

 Adv. 



