April 14, 1894.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



817 



close second with two of his fanciful creations, and he 

 also failed to arouse a fin. 



The first dropping of the flies does not always receive a 

 rise, though it may attract some far away trout to the 

 place. Again and again they fall and flutter, until every 

 foot around this huge rock, and every crevice that dis- 

 played a darkened line, had been completely covered. It 

 was futile, for no trout rippled the surface; so we moved 

 along, casting as we went, and not till we had reached a 

 small gravelly beach did our lures attract, and then a half 

 pounder snapped at my stretcher and was caught on the 

 fly. Peter, on taking him out of the landing net, discov- 

 ered several gill-net marks upon him, and that alone told 

 the entire story of their paucity here. The pot-hunting 

 savages had been ahead of us and had captured about all 

 the trout in the neighborhood. 



We fished an horn.' or so more without receiving a 

 response, and then returned to camp with a wind that 

 was fast dying out. Ned, as he stepped from the boat, 

 said in despairing tones, ' 'If we can't catch trout we can 

 take in the exhilarating ozone, and that at least is some 

 solace." 



He thought at one time that it was entirely too early in 

 the season for the trout to rise well to the fly, but now he 

 was positive we were entirely too late, it being simply 

 another instance of the early bird (savage) getting the 

 worm. We had now come about seventy miles and it 

 was evident that the entire coast so far had been about 

 depopulated of the beautiful game fish. Our only hope 

 in striking the quarry was to move ahead and try to find 

 waters that the cunning barbarians had not netted, or 

 fished to death with their set lines. As the weather had 

 been very unpropitious for the angle, the lake being either 

 too smooth, too rough or too foggy, we concluded to re- 

 main another day and try the shore fine westward. 



Ned could hardly comprehend such a total absence of 

 the trout, for this place last year was decidedly the best 

 we had fished. He, however, consoled himself as far as 

 he could, with the idea that the pure water and healthful 

 climate still remained. 



I thought this an opportune time to remind Ned that 

 W. C. Prime, the accomplished author of '"I Go A-Fish- 

 ing," said that "there is always that distinction to be kept 

 in mind between going to get fish and going a-fishing. 

 There is no possibility of convincing the general run of 

 people tbat the old angler has his enjoyment in the going 

 for fish, and that the getting of fish is but a minor part of 

 the day's pleasure." 



"That is exactly the way I look at it, and though I may 

 be somewhat disappointed in returning without the quarry , 

 I always feel as if I had had much real enjoyment from 

 the simple pastime." 



"I am delighted, Ned, that you take such a pleasant 

 view of it, but listen to what he further says: 



" 'But as you grow older, we learn more and more to 

 appreciate the innumerable joys which dwell on the banks 

 and in the waters of the rivers and lakes, and which are 

 surely to be taken when one goes a-fishing. And, there- 

 fore, the old angler always has a successful day, catching 

 that which he went out to catch with great certainty, and 

 coming home with a load of beauty to talk and tell about, 

 though there be not a fish in his creel.' " 



"TUat is delicious, and when I return to civilization 

 again, I shall certainly take infinite pleasure in reading 

 Prime's 'I Gro A- Fishing.'" 



"Do, and you will revel in a book that will recall the 

 delightful memories of the gentle art and fascinate you 

 from its first page to its last." 



After supper, the stiff breezes having fallen to mere 

 zephyrs, we sent the boys over to the main shore to 

 gather some fragrant balsam boughs for our tent, while 

 Ned and I had our usual rubber of "crib." In about an 

 hour the boatmen returned with a liberal supply of the 

 green foliage, which, when spread in the tent, filled it 

 with a fragrance, the inhaling of which was akin to 

 draughts of enlivening tonic. 



The early dawn brought a bright sky and a southeast 

 wind that tossed the water in dancing waves of silver, 

 just ijhe thing for fishing. Ned sang, as sweetly as a lark, 

 while he was putting his tackle in order for the prospec- 

 tive angle, and was so eager for the start that he fairly 

 bolted his breakfast and did not care whether he had hot 

 cakes or not as the fiaal dish. Not satisfied with his own 

 haste, he hurried the boys for the departure, as he was 

 fairly aching to cast his flies, some upon which he had 

 made a slight improvement which he thought no trout 

 with curiosity or appetite would fail to attack with tiger- 

 like ferocity. 



Out from the canal-like harbor, between the two islands, 

 we shot into the green waters with a balmy air as exhila- 

 rating as new wine. It was but a short time before we 

 reached the main shore and commenced the work of en- 

 ticement. Every moment I looked to see some beauty of 

 the. deep pounce upon a lure, but it was a full hour before 

 I aroused and fortunately hung one, but unfortunately he 

 released himself after being indulged in the most careful 

 and delicate handling. The fates evidently seemed to be 

 "forninst" us, for we had now been on the pursuit for the 

 past five days and had not caught over that many fish. 

 It was a case of do or die with us, and, as time was not to 

 be considered, we became more earnest than ever in our 

 search for the redcoats. Again the strife is continued, 

 and the flies from bow and stern fell upon the water with 

 an unflagging industry and patience deserving generous 

 reward. At last one small trout, under a half pound, was 

 the victim; and then satisfied that further advance would 

 be profitless, concluded to return, break camp at once and 

 go to Aguawa, some five miles ahead, where we were con- 

 fident of meeting with better success. Word was accord- 

 ingly given the half-breeds to head for camp, and in less 

 than half an hour the boat entered the narrow channel to 

 our quarters and the work of dismantling and loading im- 

 mediately commenced. 



Once more we are off, with a gentle breeze that about 

 filled the sails and started a tender and tuneful cadence 

 from the bow as we slid o'er the silver surface with a 

 silvery blue sky above. The wind held till we reached 

 the river, for which the boys were duly thankful, as row- 

 ing on a hot day, which this was, was not a very 

 agreeable occupation. On landing, the tents were at once 

 pitched and dinner prepared, which was partaken of with 

 keen appetites, it being far beyond the noon hour. 



On making arrangements for the trip up the river, Ned 

 discovered that he had left his Frankfort reel at the 

 island, and the result of it was the boys had to return for 

 it, which going and coming consumed the remainder oj. 

 the af ternoon. We reluctantly abandoned the trip tin 



the morrow and then concluded to make a day of it on 

 the famous river. 



After supper I caught a fine trout in front of the camp, 

 in an arm of the river that extended some distance 

 parallel with the lake. He was a crimson warrior that 

 fought fiercely for his freedom, but his brave efforts were 

 in vain. After his first fierce dash he suddenly leaped 

 from the water shaking the diamond drops from his 

 spangled sides, and then plunged violently to the bottom 

 where he struggled till his vital forces were sadly de- 

 moralized. Having no landing net with me just then, I 

 worried him till I was satisfied I could safely land him on 

 the beach. Carefully I drag him along, and so completely 

 subdued and exhausted was he that when his scarlet side 

 pressed the shining sand there was not a quiver in him 

 that was perceptible. He was a royal beauty, "in 

 vestures of silver and azure and gold, just out of the swirl 

 of the veering stream," and justly proved the dish de 

 resistance at the matutinal meal. 



This raised our hopes to a high degree and led us to 

 believe that after all the rippling river would yield us an 

 abundance of exciting sport. With this feeling, we re- 

 tired that night to dream of the prospective pleasures of 

 the gentle art, and the beauties of wood and dell through 

 which we would have to tramp en route to the famous 

 pools. 



The morning for which we were so impatient came at 

 last, with a cloudless sky and with the amber sunways 



- ! 



BILLY BOWLBSE, 



glinting and spreading on all sides, and everyone astir and 

 eager for the departure. 



As we were to make a day of it at the first big pool, we 

 had a lunch prepared in which was included the inevitable 

 tea, which of course necessitated the taking of pot and 

 kettle, and as the boys suggested that a fish fry would be 

 agreeable, a frying-pan was also included. These, with the 

 lunch, were put in a sack for convenience of carrying, as 

 we would probably have some fallen timber to climb over 

 as well as thickets to breast through. 



As the road through the woods to the pool would save 

 us at least two miles, we wisely, as we thought, concluded 

 to take it. But here was a dilemma, for not one in the en- 

 tire party knew it, though Kenosh said he was confident he 

 could pilot us to the place. Placing confidence in his 

 statement, we took up the line of march, single file, and 

 entered the deep wood just back of the Indian settlement 

 called Aguawa, and which, strange to say, did not that 

 day contain a single inhabitant, as they were all at Mai- 

 mase engaged in the fisheries. We here struck a narrow 

 path which was well denned for about a mile and a half, 

 and then it suddenly ended. Here we went into an un- 

 trodden forest, making detours here and there, around 

 fallen timber and through tangled thickets. It was hard 

 work now, for when we were not circling around the dead 

 timber we were climbing over or crawling under it. In 

 addition to this, the black flies were very numerous and 

 pestered us not a little. At last the half breeds called a 

 halt and suggested that we remain where we were and 

 they would go ahead and endeavor to find the trail that 

 led to the pool. This satisfied us that our guides were all 

 at sea relative to the correct route, but as the suggestion 

 was a sage one, were satisfied with it and told them to go 

 ahead, and then we sat down upon a fallen tree and com- 

 menced fighting the multitude of flies and mosquitoes 

 with some foliaged branches. 



We were somewhat fatigued, not with the tramp, but 

 the constant climbing and creeping, and began to think 

 after all that the sylvan beauties we anticipated were not 

 a bit entertaining. Discomfort and admiration are not 

 harmonious companions at all. If we became enthused 

 with the brilliant plumage of some forest warbler as he 

 came in view, the feast of the flies upon our exposed 

 anatomy would soon recall us to protective duties. Anon, 



a red squirrel would race along, and just as soon as we 

 began to take interest in its graceful movements, a fly or 

 two with venomous fangs would alight upon our nose or 

 some other tender spot, and make the blood trickle and 

 the flesh tingle. Here we sat for at least two hours, 

 listening to the hum of our tormentors, with the agree- 

 able variation of a bird's sweet note, awaiting the return 

 of our guides, until at last we began to think that they, 

 too, had lost themselves in their wanderings. Ned sug- 

 gested a return to camp, and here another embarrassment 

 struck us very forcibly. It was a disagreement about the 

 correct direction to our quarters, Ned insisting that it was 

 to the right of us, while I claimed it was to the left. 

 While we were thus arguing the points of the compass 

 and looking for the trail we had come over, a shout was 

 heard from our boys, to which we gladly responded. On 

 joining us they gave the lamentable information that 

 they could not find the path, though they had found the 

 river and dipped from it one small trout. 



As we did not ieel like tramping all day in the sultry 

 insect-infested woods, we returned to camp somewhat 

 disgusted with the morning's venture. 



Immediately after dinner we took the boat and went 

 up to the river to the first shallows, where we got ashore 

 and commenced casting. I picked up two or three small 

 trout here, and not being satisfied took Kenosh and 

 walked up the river about a mile, fishing each pool as we 

 came to it, from the bank, and with very good results. 

 The last pool, and the best, required considerable wading 

 to properly fish it. I really did not feel like getting wet, 

 but as I gazed into the sheet of limpid water I saw several 

 trout leap from it in sportive play, and that determined 

 me to venture, though a case of rheumatics immediately 

 ensued as the result. Kenosh smiled encouragingly as he 

 saw me wade in, and remarked, "Now we get 'em." 

 And sure enough, we did "get 'em," for at nearly every 

 cast a trout sprang for the lure. 



At the upper end of the pool where the ripples ran 

 merrily, I was fortunate enough to hang two at once, 

 both of which Kenosh succeeded in adroitly netting. My 

 next cast brought a half-pounder, and then the next vic- 

 tim just about reached the legal limit. There was then 

 a cessation of the sport for a few minutes, but when I 

 cast by a submerged tree near the opposite shore, I re- 

 ceived a savage response, but being a little off my guard, 

 missed him by about the fiftieth part of a second. 



"Big fellow, that," says Kenosh, looking somewhat 

 disappointed at my failure to connect with the greedy 

 trout. 



"Yes, big and active; but I will change my tactics on 

 him," I replied. And then I waded ashore and put on a 

 larger fly for my stretcher, and also increased the size of 

 my dropper. I had been using a No. 9 sproat, not expect- 

 ing to find such a large fish at this part of the river. A 

 No. 4 gilt-coachman was now on my dropper and a No. 3 

 silver-doctor on my stretcher; and with these I again 

 waded in and sent them to the very spot the inquisitive 

 trout had so suddenly disturbed. There was no response 

 to this invitation, so I sent another with an R. S. Y. P., 

 and this time the gilt-edge allurement was accepted with 

 an impolite but fatal greediness. The little Chubb rod 

 gracefully bent and the reel hummed as the gameful 

 trout dashed down the stream with a rapidity born of 

 desperation. 



"Full well was strained the silken braid, 



By swift retreat and sudden tack; 

 At last one furious lunge was made, 

 And then the line lay slack." 



I saw a golden gleam, and then it appeared to me very 

 much like an entrancing dream. He was gone, and a 

 bird on a swaying limb caroled a note of serene joy, 

 while Kenosh and I looked at one another so despairingly 

 and so hopelessly that words were unnecessary to picture 

 our great disappointment. It was already graphically 

 expressed; the handwriting was on the wall. 



Without a word between us, I commenced casting 

 again, and after a few droppings of the lures I had 

 another proposition, which I accepted, and had the 

 infinite satisfaction of seeing the dotted darling safely in 

 the net. He was a half-pounder, and was a victim to the 

 coachman in gilt. 



Again and again the flies dance on the crystal pool, but 

 no trout breaks the rimpling water. I move along to 

 some shelving rocks tinted by the rays of the sinking sun, 

 and here I snatch four more lovely lOin. trout from their 

 secluded lurking-places. A tempting spot a few yards 

 ahead, where some clustered cedars were casting their 

 fanciful shadows on the quiet waters, now attracted my 

 attention, Wading carefully and quietly up the stream, 

 I soon have my lures dropping amid the lines of sun and 

 shade, and was duly rewarded with the capture of three 

 more of the pretty specimens that gleam in gold and 

 scarlet, crimson and purple. Changing my base once 

 more, I tramp silently on till I reach the head of some 

 rapids whose tossing waters are running over the shallow 

 beds of glistening pebbles to as merry a tune as the wood- 

 land piper plays. It is the same old story of the success- 

 ful angler's pursuit, and so it continued as we wandered 

 along the banks of this sinuous stream to the evening 

 hymn of sweet-throated birds. 



I fished for about an hour more in this lengthy and 

 translucent pool, and having caught sufficient during that 

 time for the entire camp for a day, I concluded before 

 retmning to reel up and rest on a fallen tree that had 

 been undermined by the rapid current. Now that my 

 pleasures of the angle had been fully satisfied, I became 

 an enraptured admirer of the picturesque landscape, 

 which surrounded me on all sides. The very water at 

 my feet rippled in tinkling tones over glistening beds of 

 gravel and along banks bordered by ferns and flowers, 

 shadowed by birch and balsam, and rife in evergreens 

 and sedgy grass. It is impossible to write in terms which 

 will not seem extravagant, of the unbroken forests 

 which cover the sugar loaf mountains on the immediate 

 west of this racing river. Here we see familiar 

 shrubs grown to stately trees; towering pines piercing the 

 upper air, tapering cedare in strange confusion, somber 

 hemlocks with their spreading arms, while beneath, the 

 lesser growth of birches and tangled thickets hide the 

 flinty rocks among which they grow. Beautiful berries 

 gleam, strange wild flowers shine like stars, ferns run 

 riot in luxuriance, velvet-like mosses cover every Tock 

 and fallen timber. Innumerable rills, clear as crystal 

 and cold as ice, drop into the parent stream in musical 

 whisper, while at infrequent intervals small lakes sleep in 

 silent beauty on the level plains. It is an Arcadia of an 

 icy region serenely and peacefully reposing in the long 



