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FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Oct. 14, 1898. 



Caribou Hunting. 



New York, Oct. 5.— I notice what "Pine Tree" says 

 about caribou in to-day's Forest and Stejsam, I think 

 that where caribou are himted much they are the shyest 

 Animal on earth and the hardest to approach , only equaled 

 by an old black duck; but when undisturbed they are 

 rather tame and stupid and easily bewildered by the noise 

 of a rifle shot. It is strange they do not seem to mind the 

 sharp report of a rifle, but the roar of a shotgun sends 

 them flying. One trouble with hunting caribou is that 

 they never know when to stop. When once they get 

 started tliey go for miles and miles and it is useless to at- 

 tempt to follow them up. They are naturally a very rest- 

 less animal. Some days you cannot get within sight of 

 them, and on others they will trot up to the sportsman, 

 within a very few yards sometimes, exhibiting the great- 

 est curiosity, but once they get the scent they are off like 

 the wind. Wakeman Holberton, 



"That Reminds Me." 



Not a Grizzly. 



When Pete was about 14 years of age, his father brought 

 him from California a beautiful single, breechloading 

 13-bore gun, and a couple of dozen burnished brass shells. 

 Pete had dreamed of that gun for months and had be- 

 come one of the "mighty hunters before the Lord" in his 

 mind, but when he actually grasped the polished stock 

 and rang the glittering shells his joy was unconfined. 

 Over hill and dale he trudged, with a beautiful but un- 

 broken Gordon setter ranging any and everywhere within 

 a half-mile radius, and Jim, his trusty spaniel, at his 

 heels. Chickens were plentiful, but the setter was out 

 for fun and invariably chased them half across the county 

 before his master could get within two gunshots of them. 

 This sort of thing grew to be extremely monotonous, and 

 about all our young sportsman had been able to do was to 

 try his pattern on half the barns in the neighborhood. 



As the season rolled along the father found time to take 

 the lad out for a few lessons, and his frequent habit of 

 "wiping the eye" of his son opened the young man's 

 optics to their widest extent. 



"Oh, dear!" cried Pete, near the close of one very un- 

 profitable day, "if I could only shoot a grizzly bear or — 

 or a rabbit, I'd be happy." 



His father soon after told him to tramp along the edge 

 of a stubble field until he came to the field of standing 

 corn at the far side, where he should wait and shoot at 

 any chickens that flew out, as it was the father's intention 

 to go around to another wheat stubble and return that 

 way. 



Well, Pete plodded along so hot and thirsty that he did 

 not much care what came out, just so he wouldn't be 

 compelled to run. He reached the corn and sat down, 

 wishing from the bottom of his heart that there was a 

 cool, gushing soda water fountain somewhere near, when 

 he was startled by a whirr of wings and— bang! went the 

 gun before he was fairly on his feet., "Just my luck!" he 

 muttered as he drew the shell, and before he had reloaded 

 the covey was half a mile distant. 



Determined to be more alert he cocked his gun and 

 awaited developments. Looking toward the ridge of the 

 plowed field he saw the form of some animal making 

 off to the right and just over the crest of the hill. "Wolf, 

 of course," he thought, so off went the gun once more, 

 and down went tlie quadruped. 



"Whoopee, I've got him!" he shouted, and with an 

 exultant heart up the hill he rushed. But he suddenly 

 halts. What sight is this that fills him with dismay? 

 Where he thought his wolf should be, there lay a mass 

 of glistening white wool. His gun dropped from his 

 hand, and for a moment he stared hard at the motion- 

 less object. Fear seized him, and he turned to run but 

 sat down hard instead. He was pale and nervous, but 

 began to think very hard. "Now I have done it; and 

 here comes the farmer too," he exclaimed, as he saw a 

 burly granger coming across the field. "By ginger, I'm 

 in for it, but I didn't know it was a sheep! Wonder if 

 I'd better make a dlean breast of it or knqw nothing 

 about it! Gee whiz, how fast he comes. Won't he be 

 hot, though, when he sees what I've done." 



He tried to look unconcerned as the farmer drew near; 

 and with trembling fingers he inserted another shell just 

 as the man passed him and without a word marched on 

 straight toward the fateful carcass. Pete dared not turn 

 around, but nervously fingered his gunstock. He seemed 

 to feel himself growing old, and a cold shiver went down 

 his back, while a peculiar sensation as if many crawling 

 things were under his hat made him aware of that phen- 

 omenon known as the "hair standing on end." He had 

 never been so scared since the time he fell off" the wind- 

 mill and landed in the cherry tree. 



What was that farmer doing behind him? What made 

 him take so long to reach that bunch of wool? He had 

 seemed to come across the rest of the wide field so very 

 rapidly, but was it yesterday or last week that he had 

 passed him? Had more than one sheep fallen at that un- 

 lucky shot? What if— but why try to think ; it was all up 

 with him the minute that sheep was found. His dear 

 father would return and find him dead, his little life 

 stamped out by the angry man whose prize ewe he had 

 slain. How bright life had been to him, and now all was 

 over. Confound it! what made that fellow so stiU? Why 

 didn't he burst out in a torrent of curses at him? Any- 

 thing was better than this awful quiet. Perhaps he liad 

 seen his mutilated pet, and was even now creeping up 

 behind to strangle liim whUe he sat there unmoved await- 

 ing his doom. Ah, father! He thought he felt his 

 clammy fingers about his throat. Horrible thought! He 

 almost shrieked. But it was only Jim licking his sun- 

 burned neck. He turned his head quickly and rose to his 

 feet, his trembling limbs almost refusing to support him. 

 His mouth and eyes vied with each other in the extent to 

 which they opened. What was this thing the farmer held 

 aloft and examined so critically? So long and thin; gray 

 above, snow-white beneath, and ears! O, such ears! 

 Sm-ely not a sheep. He took a step nearer, and the farmer 

 turning to him, said: "Purty consid'rable of a jack rabbit 

 you've shot, sonny." 



"Ye-yes, sir," was all Pete could reply, as his legs nearly 

 gave way again from sheer joy. John Pea body. 



Visitors to our Exhibit in the Anghng- Pavilion at 

 the World's Fair sliould not fail to examine the 

 stoclt of " Forest and Stream " books which will 

 be shown by the attendant. 



A SEPTEMBER OUTING IN CANADA. 



"Two 4-POUNDERS had taken my two lower flies at 

 the very first cast, and it required my utmost efforts to 

 prevent the ujiper dropper from being seized by a 6 or 

 71bs. fish that made desperate efforts to secure it." This 

 was part of a recital by Col. A. L. Light, of Quebec, of 

 some of his experiences in September, 1893, upon the pre- 

 serves of the Triton Fish and Game Club, situated about 

 midway between Quebec and Lake St. John, and only 

 four hours' journey by rail from the former place. I had 

 long contemplated a visit to this magnificent territory, so 

 extensive in its area, yet so complete a tei^ra incognita 

 except to a few guides and to Superintendent Seaton, who 

 within the last two years have explored a few of its 

 woods and waters. And so when Col. Light, in pressing 

 upon me his previous invitation to rim uj) to his splendid 

 preserve, described the pool where he found it necessary 

 to employ his guide in driving away a 6 or 71bs. fish that 

 was insisting upon impaling himself on his hook despite 

 all his efforts to the contrary, though his tackle and his 

 ingenuity were already taxed to the utmost, I concluded 

 that Triton was a good enough fishing ground for me, and 

 so Saturday, Sept. 38, found me on board the Lake St. 

 John railway train, bound for Skroeder, the nearest sta- 

 tion to the preserve. 



This territory includes some 100 square mUes of virgin 

 wilderness, and when the whole of the immense tract is 

 opened up to civilization it is proposed to extend the 

 membership of the club to 300. The present membership 

 and the list of those who have made application for shares 

 or have visited the tract preparatory to so doing, includes 

 the names of some of the best known and most noted 

 sportsmen both in the United States and Canada. Among 

 them may be mentioned the Rev. Dr. Henry Van Dyke 

 and Mrs. Van Dyke, of the New York Brick Presbyterian 

 Church, who enjoyed splendid sport here a week or two 

 ago; Mr. Eugene McCarthy, of Syracuse, and his friends; 

 Messrs. Dean and Curtis, of New York, wlio made marvel- 

 ous catches of trout at Lake Trois Cariboux and elsewhere 

 during their stay of a week on the tract last July, and Mr. 

 James B. Townsend, a well known New York journalist 

 and Secretary of the State League of Republican Clubs, 

 who is also a vice-president of the Triton Club. The pres- 

 ident of the club is A. L. Light, Esq. , and the secretary 

 and superintendent is Wm. C. Seaton, Esq. The position 

 of superintendent of such a preserve is no sinecure, but 

 to a gentleman of the natural and educational refinement 

 of Mr. Seaton, must afford during the summer months a 

 vast amount of the pleasure that is derived from the con- 

 templation of nature's charms when wooed in her inner- 

 most recesses. One would naturally suppose from glanc- 

 ing at a map of the territory in question, or from visiting 

 a small portion of the preserve, tliat yeai-s must be con- 

 sumed in becoming acquainted with its leading topogra- 

 phical features, and in the main this is probably correct. 

 There are, doubtless, ' hundreds of lakes and connecting 

 streams within the limits of the Triton Tract that no 

 white man has ever yet seen. From fifty to a hundred 

 lakes are already marked and designated on the club 

 map, apart from rivers, rapids, ponds and purling 

 brooks — and this map, which only covers one-third of 

 Mr. Light's territory, and that part most adjacent to the 

 line of railway, is in large part nothing but a blank. 

 Yet there have already been discovered and made access- 

 ible to sportsmen by means of well made connecting 

 portages, etc., trout waters to afford ample sport for 

 hundreds of anglers at one and the same time. Several 

 of the lakes are from one to four and even five miles in 

 length, and would accommodate parties containing scores 

 of anglers. The rivers swarm with trout as well as the 

 lakes, and contain a succession of the most beautiful 

 pools. The remarkable catch of Messrs. McCarthy, Curtis 

 and Dean last July was noted in Forest and Stream 

 at the time. The writer enjoyed splendid sport in many 

 of these waters little less than a week ago, and as proof 

 of the size to which the speckled trout run in them, may 

 instance a catch made by Mr. Seaton in his presence, 

 when three fish killed by him in succession and all in the 

 space of twenty minutes in a pool at the head of one of 

 the rapids of the east branch of the Batiscan — the outlet 

 of Lake Traverse — ran from 3 to 41bs. each. It may 

 interest anglers to know that aU these fish, and indeed 

 the majority of those taken of late on the tract, rose to 

 the Parmachenee belle, the second best killing fly having 

 proved to be the professor, though the queen of the 

 water was also well taken, the color of the water, in 

 view of so much recent rain, being very dark. But Mr. 

 Seaton's catch was as nothing compared with one made 

 on Sept. 19, 1892, by Mr. Light in the outlet of Lake 

 Luna, when in the space of one hour, fourteen trout 

 weighing 45lbs. fell to a single rod. 



Indications are not wanting of the great profusion of 

 all kinds of game. State Senator Daniel H. JIcMillan, of 

 Buft'alo, succeeded i-ecently in killing three caribou here, 

 and the writer saw the tracks of several upon some of 

 the portages over which he passed. Moose are frequently 

 met with, and ducks, partridges and small fur-bearing 

 animals are plentiful. 



In the handwriting of a well-known New York sports- 

 man I found inscribed just within the entrance of the 

 pretty log camp on Lac Trois Cariboux the following appro- 

 priate lines: "This camp is like a river of water in a dry 

 place, Kke the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 

 God bless the men who built it, and damned be he — with 

 accents loud and deep — whose hand is raised to mar it.' 

 Above the entrance is "the sportsman's lucky bone" — a 

 piece of caribou vertebrae, with the face of a hunter de- 

 lineated upon the skull-shaped knob next the spinal 

 cavity. Trois Cariboux is a beautiful lake, containing some 

 richly wooded islets, looking quite ablaze in their glorious 

 livery of crimson and gold, tipped with the bm-nishing 

 rays of a September sun. But one other lake that I vis- 

 ited struck me as being imbedded among more beautiful 

 smToimding than this. The solitary exception was Lake 

 Stonewall Jackson, a crystal gem set in a framework of 

 magnificent mountains, and producing some of the most 

 gaudy -colored trout seen during our ti'ip. 



At Ski-oeder's Station is a comfortable camp house, and 

 others are to be built at various points throughout the 

 tracts. The portages are for the most part short and 

 easily traveled, our Huron guides, two brothers named 

 Maxime and Maurice Sioui, carrying the birch bai'k 

 canoes and our tents, baggage and provisions over them. 

 They were equally good in camp and in canoe and are 

 capital cooks. Yet all we paid them was $1.35 per day 

 each. The waters through which we passed being less 

 turbulent than those of the rivers flowing into Lake St. 

 John, we took but one guide each. He sat and steered 

 in the stern of the canoe and each of us in our own canoe 

 took charge of the bow paddle when traveling, and fished 

 the pools from the same position. Much inconvenience 

 and previous preparation Avas avoided by taking our 

 canoes, tents and supplies from the club store at Skroeder's 

 Station. As an instance of the facility with which sport 

 may be obtained close at hand, it may be mentioned that 

 we left Skroeder for the bush at 4 P. M, of the day of our 

 arx-ival there, after lunching upon partridges shot close by, 

 and when we camped at Lake Caribou at 5:30 P. M., liad 

 secured more speckled trout than we and our guides could 

 use for supper, although we had made no less than three 

 portages. There is little doubt that the immense number 

 and size of the fontinalis in these watei-s are largely due 

 to the absence of all members of the pike family and even 

 of the large lake trout, the lunge, touladi or namaycush, 

 which in many lakes feeds largely upon its smaller, thougli 

 prettier and far gamer and more toothsome cousin, Salmo 

 salvelinus. 



Much of mountain, lake, river and forest scenery of the 

 tract, especially at this season of the sere and yellow leaf 

 of the birch, and of the crimson of the sumach and the 

 maple, \yith the dark green background of fir-clad moun- 

 tain is beautiful beyond compare. In its condition of vir- 

 gin wilderness this territory— if natural attractions count 

 for anything — is one of the most delightful of this higldy 

 favored northern land. E. T. D. Chambers. 



Quebec, Sept. .30. 



TARPON AT $T. ANDREWS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Fishing for tarpon with rod and reel being a sport of 

 such comparatively recent origin, there are doubtless 

 many places in which it might be followed, still unknown 

 to the craft, and when found they should naturally reach 

 the piscatorial public through Forest and Stream. 



A dozen yeai's ago it was little known, though speci- 

 mens had occasionally before then been taken with hand- 

 lines. The first of which I ever heard was captured near 

 Mississippi City, on the Gulf of Mexico, by Joseph W. 

 Allen, Esq. , now of Nashvflle, Tenn. , who then resided 

 in New Orleans. He had a hand-line out baited for 

 shark, and was fishing with a float in 5 or 6ft. of water. 

 This was on Sept. 1, 1858, and the fish when taken was 

 5ft. Bin. long, some of the scales of which with the date 

 of capture he still retains, and the silver part of the scale 

 is undimmed. 



This fish is found in its season doubtless in all suitable 

 places along the Gulf coast from Galveston to Charlotte 

 Harbor, and many places will yet be developed to add to 

 the pleasm-e of the fraternity. St. Andrews Bay, Florida, 

 is on the northern margin of the Gulf of Mexico, between 

 Pensacola and Apalachicola, and is a most beautiful body 

 of water extending back into the country fifteen or 

 twenty miles, in divisions known as East, West and North 

 Bays. Its width varies from a mile to six or eight miles, 

 and its depth in many parts f rom 30 to 40ft. The pass or 

 entrance to the bay is about 15 to 17ft. deep, consequently 

 vessels of large size do not enter. It may be reached 

 from Pensacola by schooner, generally twice a week, a 

 distance of 100 miles, or by hack from Chipley, on the L. 

 & N. R. R., by a delightful drive over level sandy roads 

 through the pine woods. The di.stance by this route is 

 fifty miles, with good hotel accommodations on the way. 



Arrived at the town of St. Andrews, board may be ob- 

 tained of good quality and at moderate rates. Sailing 

 vessels and rowboals, with good, experienced and safe 

 sailors, are there and at prices entirely reasonable. The 

 town has a population of 300 or 400 and some very good 

 supply stores, two or three churches, but no saloons. 



Several visits to this place during the winter season en- 

 abled me to ascertain that from May until November the 

 tarpon, or as they are here invariably called, the silver- 

 fish, are present in great numbers. They are destrixctive 

 to seines and a nuisance to hook fishers when angling for 

 trout or mackerel, as they invariably break their tackle if 

 they touch it. No one had fished for them with rod and 

 reel, and no one of the local fishermen beUeved they 

 could be so taken. There are several small towns on the 

 bay, and the principal industry of the inhabitants is fish- 

 ing. Mullet, sea trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pora- 

 pano, and in fact aU the fishes native to Florida waters 

 are most abundant. The snapper banks are twelve or 

 fifteen miles outside the pass, where the water is generally 

 ten or twelve fathoms in depth. Oysters are also plenti- 

 ful and of excellent quality, and from the vast beds of 

 shells found at several points (in some places 10 or 13ft. in 

 depth), the prehistoric man must have imderstood their 

 food value. 



About the middle of May, accompanied by A. B. Ewing 

 and John B. Oliffe, a trip to the above place was projected 

 for the express purpose of catching tarpon. So, supply- 

 ing ourselves with what was supposed to be the regulation 

 tackle we left on the L. & N. R. R. for Chipley, where 

 the cars were exchanged for a hack and after a pleasant 

 trip of 48 hours from home, found ourselves at the town 

 of St. Andrews. 



Securing a small sailing vessel and two rowboats, we 

 visited a part of the bay called the Lagoon, a notch in the 

 bay half a mile wide and running back three or four 

 miles, with the water ranging from shallow up to 20 or 

 30ft. deep. 



Bait was easily obtained, as our sailor with a cast-net 

 could secure enough mullet at two or three throws to last 

 all day. We fished in water 10 or 13ft. deep, and gene- 

 rally a clean or sandy bottom, with i to lib, of mullet on 

 the hooks. We had no difficulty in getting strikes, rarely 

 missing a day in having two or thi'ee each from tarpon, 

 sometimes hooking one, but often er liaving them disgorge 

 the bait, hook and aU, after coming up magnificently two 

 or three times. This experience continued dming the 

 entire trip of ten days, and we left without the scalp of a 

 single silver fish dangling at our belts. 



Many of the fish were apparently over 6ft. in length, 

 and oftentimes the bait was taken quite close to the boats, 

 of which they did not seem to be in fear. Large numbers 



