S46 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
PI^T 1. 1897 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Good Boating Streams. 
Lexdek has the following inquiry and information in 
regard to streams suitable for a canoeing and camping trip: 
"'Will yoa kindly advise me, if you have any information 
upon ihe'subject, as to the character of the Wisconsin Eivta- 
from a point near Eagle River Station, on the Milwaukee, 
Lake Shore & Western, to Merrill or Wausau? 
"I spend one of my vacations, usually in July or August, 
in taking a trip down some river with one or more compan- 
ions, and boats or canoes of light draft, carrying protean 
tent, blankets, provisions and fishing tackle, and making 
three or four or twice as many different camps in the space 
of two or three weeks. We prefer a rather small stream, and 
as our boats draw only a few inches of water, we can start 
pretty well up I have been dovvn the Kalamazoo, the 
Thornapple, the Tippecanoe, the White River and the Kan- 
kakee (from Momence), and like to go down a different 
stream each season. The best trip I ever had was down the 
smallest of these streams, the Thornapple, of Michigan, from 
Thornapple Lake to the mouth of the river. 
"On such trips we rarely use anything but the fly in our 
fishing, as we make it a point to kill no fish which we can- 
not eat; and a fish caught on a fly is only lip-hooked, and not 
injured. 
"I met a man last fall who said the Wisconsin below 
Minoqua is a good bass stream. That he had taken them 
weia-hing 41bs, (small mouths), 
"This year there will be four of us, with three boats and 
two protean tents. We would like to know of a small 
stream where we can have from 100 to 200 miles of boating; 
where the scenery is picturesque; the population not dense, 
but rather the reverse; campers not so numerous as to be in 
each other's way; the stream rather rapid, with riffles, etc., 
and good fly-fishing. 
"This is a larg:e order, but I liave great confidence in 'Chi- 
cago and the West.' " 
The Wisconsin River, even so far up as Eagle Eiver sta- 
tion, is considerable of a stream, deep and with good cur- 
rent, yet very well suited for a boating trip. It has some 
few rapids, but nothing dangerous. It offers fine fishing 
for bass and wall-eyed prke, and yields an occasional mus- 
callonge. It runs through a wild pine country. Near Mer- 
rill, Wis., one strikes good trout streams; among others, I 
think the Prairie River a very good stream indeed. Lower 
down in the State the Wisconsin gets to be a big river, car- 
rjang steamboats and that sort of thing, but between the 
points above mentioned it is not a bad stream for a boating 
trip, and has been run by several p'irties equipped somewhat 
as Mr. Mott describes. The Brule River is a wilder stream, 
with more rapids and more dangers for small boats. This 
trip would not offer the fishing afforded by the Wisconsin 
River, and the navigation would be far more difiicult and 
hazardous. I have tried the Brule rapids once and have not 
lost any more of them. The Flambeau and the Chippewa 
are other considerable streams of the pine countiy and 
offer attractions similar to those of the Wisconsin. The Od- 
tanogan offers a good trip, but gives only trout fishing, For 
a quiet trip through a farming country with good bass fish- 
ing, the Rock River is a good one. All the above streams 
are in Wisconsin. Of course, a rapid and eventful trip 
could be made down the Au Sable River, of Michigan, 
South Peninsula. Here one could get all the trout, grayling, 
risks and rapids he would probably care for. All these 
streams would afford mosquitoes in abundance. I believe I 
would rather have the Wisconsin River for a camping run 
than any of them. 
From the Northwest Coast Country, 
Mr. W. S. Phillips, of Latona, Wash., sends me the fol- 
lowing from the far-off l^Torthwest country of the Coast. In 
regard to the cutting of the trees by beaver at so great a 
distance from the ground, the thing may be strange, but not 
incredible. The snow in these big mountains fall to a very 
great depth. I have seen the face of a drift in the Rockies 
exposed for a height, I should think, of 15 or 20ft. More- 
over, this very winter, as it happens, 1 have seen the trails 
and cuttings of beaver on the top of the snow (near the Two 
Medicine Creek, in Montana). The snow here was probably 
not more than 6 or 8ft. deep, but had it been twice that 
depth the beaver could have gone on top of it just the same. 
They were working out in the woods, a little way from an 
open stretch in the'creek. Mr. Philhps goes on to say: 
"A friend of mine told me of a queer fact the other day. 
He has been with Grovernment Survey outfits working in the 
Cascade Mountain country for several years, oft' and on. 
While working among the Mt. Rainier foothills he found 
trees which had been cut off as high as 20ft. above the 
ground by beaver, Said he saw this in the summer, and 
could only explain it by the theory of the animals work- 
ing on top of the winter snow. Did you ever hear of a 
similar incident? He also tells me that mountain goats are 
very plentiful all around the snow ridges that flank the 
peak. 
"Spring is on with us here; weather ivarm; birds singing; 
flowers in bloom, and the hills full of prospectors; regular 
'49 rush this spring, which will probably cut a big figure in 
the game question in the mountain country of this State, as 
every man going out carries arms, the .30-30 Marlin being 
about equally in favor with .45-70 Winchester, and they are 
all 'meat' rifles. This fact, coupled to a rush of prospec- 
tors, bodes ill to the peace of Washington game." 
Snowshoe Wear. 
Mr. William Goldthwait asks for the address of the store 
in St. Paul that sells the rubber-soled moccasin, mentioned 
m my letter from there of March 2. I obtained the shoes of 
a local store whose address I do not recall, but I think the 
goods were those of the xlmerican Rubber Company. After 
trying them I found that my theory had not been carried 
out quite successfully. The 'sole of" the shoe is too heavy, 
and the whole foot is too stiff and clumsy for successful use 
as a foot cover for snowshoeing. In this work, as of course 
every snowshoer knows, the foot must not be cramped or 
bound in any particular, and the shoe must yield to every 
movement readily. For snowshoeing in a cold, dry snow, a 
great many are fond of the moccasin. The main trouble 
with the moccasin, aside from its leading, is that when ice 
forms under the ball of the foot it punishes one more than 
when the foot is protected by a rubber sole. The woodsmen 
and trappers of Wisconsin and Michigan, indeed also 
of Montana and the Northwest Coast country, use a 
rubber called the Gold Seal, which, to my notion, is 
about the best snowshoe wear I have found. The sole of 
this is flexible and the top soft enough to serve as a moccasin. 
These rubbers are sold with leather tops at some of the 
Montana towns for instance,'at Kallispel,*but I do not know 
the name of any dealer there. I finally came around to use 
these rubbers on my Rocky Mountain snowshoe trip this 
winter, as we were in a country where the snow was wet 
and very deep. Ordinarily it makes no difference that these 
rubbers have no tops to them, as the snow which gets in 
about the edges will not wet through the heavy socks, but in 
this country I found that the snow was too damp, so I 
sewed some heavy canvas tops to my rubbers, leaving a wide 
lap or fold of the canvas which I could tie closely about tfie 
leg with strings. If Mr. Goldthwait will get a pair of the 
Gold Seal rubbers, wearing them over heav.y German socks, 
and attaching to them heavy canvas tops which will come 
well up to the knee, and tie firmly with thongs from the top 
down to the ankle, he will have what I believe to be the best 
all-around snowshoe wear possible to obtain. We found the 
buckskin uppers soft, but they wet through like paper in the 
damp snow. The rig suggested is altogether superior to the 
heavy and clumsy shoes "mentioned earlier, and the main 
beauty about the latter was that they had a top capable of 
lacing, so that the snow would not get into the rubbers. 
They were not "rubber soled," but were rubber shoes 
with buckskin tops. The Kallispel Gold Seal rubber with 
leather top is far better. These I had not seen when I wrote 
the item cited. The Gold Seal rubber without tops can be 
had of the Goody ear Co. , at Milwaukee, Wis. They are not 
sold in all the city of Chicago, but are handled in towns 
supplying more directly the pine woods trade. 
The Overflowed Districts. 
Mr. Percy F. Stone, of this city, is just back from a busi- 
ness trip in the hardwood lumber districts of the Mississippi 
Delta. He says that nearly all the hunting grounds of that 
country are under water. Large numbers of wild turkeys 
are being killed along the timbered ridges, to which they 
have resorted and where they are comparativelj^ hapless. A 
good many turkeys were being killed by hunters from 
Greenville, Miss., and he was told that it would be no 
trouble to get a gobbler, if he liked, in a short trip by boat. 
Mr. Stone says that the town of Clarksdale, Miss. , eighty 
miles below Memphis, would be under water but for a small 
levee which protected it at last accounts. Captain Bobo's 
plantation, eight miles south of Clarksdale, is now practi- 
cally an island, his ridge being so high that it is never under 
water. Here the redoubtable bear-hunter could, no doubt, 
if be liked, kill abundance of the game which has taken ref- 
uge with him. The country in which we hunted bear last 
winter is now all eight feet under water. 
Tennessee Quail Netting. 
Mr. Benj. C. Mile?, of Brownsville, Tenn., with whom I 
had the pleasure of hunting daring a visit last year at that 
point, states that during the past season he bagged 12.5 birds 
on the same ground over which we hunted, and that he 
thinks at least 500 birds were killed on that same strip of 
country, though abundance were left over for breeding pur- 
poses. Mr. Miles goes on to say : 
"I inclose you copy of our game law as we succeeded in 
having it passed, and we needed it. For the past season it 
is estimated that there was shipped from our county 10,000 
Bob Whites. They were never in such numbers before, and 
the pot-hunters had their inning. Several of the square sports- 
men killed above .500. The writer, though long past his best 
shooting, bagged 485; best score any day, twenty-eight cov- 
eys, thirty -two birds, using my dogs Joe and Cassio. Since 
the close have been surprised to find coveys of fifteen or 
twenty birds, and think will have as many ta breed as last 
year. 
"All our native songsters got through the winter in fine 
shape, and are now preparing to nest; have seen as many as 
twenty bluebirds (last year not one) and my theory that they 
have been forced to the woods by the English sparrows holds 
good ; have not seen any within two miles. Nine miles from 
town oa th.e 8th saw summer and scarlet tanagers, orioles, 
waxwings,? black martins, two or three kinds of warblers 
and sparrows, and wrens galore, all twittering and hopping 
about, proof that summer is not far off. 
"While shooting in December with Drs. Taylor and Gil- 
lespie, the latter gentleman had the misfortune to shoot and 
permanently injure Dr Taylor's Boy, one of the best setters 
I ever saw, and over which you shot when here. 
"The high water has forced our deer and turkeys and. 
wolves to the hills, and they are being hunted in defiance of 
law, some half-dozen deer being killed in the last three 
weeks, all does, and in face of the fact that fawns comefrom 
May 10 to June 10. 
''a few days since Robert Sevier, a fourteen-year old boy, 
and fifth generation descendant of the pioneer, Indian fight- 
ing family of that name, while hunting squirrels, came upon 
a wolf and five whelps; he wounded the dam, though she 
and two whelps escaped, killed two, and captured one of the 
latter. The Sevier family commenced hunting buffalo, elk, 
Indians and wolves in the eastern border of the State 130 
years since, and now a descendant finds a specimen of their 
game within thirty miles of the western border, wild and 
untamed and fierce as at the first. 
"We are trying now to get through a fish law witli a few 
entertaining features." 
The text of the Tennessee law for the county of Haywood 
makes the open season on partridge, quail, woodcock, 
pheasant and wild turkey from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15, and it is 
"also unlawful to kill wild turkey between May 1 and Nov. 
1." It is a misdemeanor to ship or carry from Haywood 
county any of the above birds at any season of the year. 
Netting of birds at any time is forbidden, even upon one s 
own land. It is unlawful to "hunt, kill, net trap or capture 
quail or partridge at any season of the year." The grand 
jury has iuquisitcrial power on all such cases, and the fine 
for'a second offense may run as high as $.50. This is an 
excellent law for each and every county in Tennessee to 
copy, and well might it be for the counties of other States 
should they pass and enforce laws forbidding the netting of 
quail and the taking of them for market by any means 
whatever. 
An Illinois Farmer on Game Laws. 
Mr. Blinn Smith, of Woo Sung, 111., sends me the follow- 
ing interesting budget on game laws and other matters. "Mr. 
Smith does not take qui te the view in regard to the opening 
date of the chicken season which is commonly accepted by 
the sportsmen of Chicago. Here the impression is that the 
later the date and the shorter the season the batter it is for 
the bird; and indeed it is hard to see why, if men are dis- 
posed to break th.e law at all, they will not break it anyhow, 
under one date as much as another. The "sooner" in 
chicken hunting has been one of the institutions of the West, 
and he seems likely to remain a permanent one. Neverthe 
less, ]Mr. Smith's views are well worth attention, especially 
as coming from one of the class most intimately concerned ia 
game law matters, the^ land owners, who have the game 
before them at all seasons of the year and who feed it the 
year round. Mr. Smith says: 
"There will soon be an end to the duck supply. I have 
that Du Pont calendar that Jim Grimes says 'ain't nacher'l,' 
and see that all the ducks left are drakes. 
"A late article on golden plover reminds me of a flight 1 
saw some six years ago. On the nest farm there is a large 
mound of about five acres; th.e birds came from the north- 
east, circled the south side of the mound, and flew north, 
northwest, A flock would be out of sight before another 
came to view. T have always lived here, but nevor saw a 
similar flight. Do these birds take the same course from 
year to year, or are they influenced by currents of air? 
Will some one please rise and explain? 
"There were more chickens in this portion of Illinois than 
there has been for years. South of Dixon and Sterling, in 
the fall of '95 the law was well observed generally; but '97 
Y?as— Oh, what a difference! Each one said; 'I waited for 
the law last year, and found the birds all killed. This time 
I'm with them.' And they were, 
"The principal reason for this is that the season opens 
after our fields (stubble) are not in condition to hold birds. 
In northern Illinois, by Sept. 15 the stubble is plowed up. 
If the field is seeded to grass stock has been turned in, 
and the birds go to the corn by that time. Those that 
observe the law can get action but no birds, and they have 
given up shooting, protection and all in disgust. This is the 
class of men that would do their best to protect if they could 
get three or four hunts each fall. But this is just what 
makes it so dead easy for the poacher and market hunter- 
no one cares to trouble him. He commences plenty early to 
be before his kind- about July 15, when the birds have yel- 
low dust on their feathers. 
"When the law was Aug. 15, with a good chance to get 
birds, everybody observed it, but they kept making the law 
a little later, putting a premium on crime. It would be wise 
to make every other or every third season a close season. 
"I am a farmer, and see this same old circus, concert and 
all, each year. I think I got five birds in Illinois; what 
others I got were from a Minnesota duck pass, after Oct. IG. 
"If I should come to the June shoot I will tell you about 
the wonderful ways they have of arresting and proseculiug 
persons with birds in their possession." 
The Cave at Castalia. 
All readers of Forest and Stkeam are more or less 
familiar with the characteristics of the wonderful trout 
stream at Castalia, 0., and perhaps know that it is formed 
by enormous springs that burst up through the surface of 
the ground. A vast sheet of water seems to underlie that 
region, for when an artesian well was sunk at the lower club 
it so affected the supply of water in the springs of the upper 
club as to raise a serious question. The daily dispatches of 
April 12 have the following singidar information in regard 
to a vast cavern which purports to have been eliscovered be- 
neath the town of Castalia, and near the big springs which 
make the head of the creek : 
"Castalia, 0., April 12. — The discovery of a vast subter- 
ranean passageway here has caused many visitors to inspect 
a new cave "lately. Sunday visitors come from many sur- 
rounding towns The cave is situated at the source of 
Castalia Creek and extends underneath this town. The 
people of Erie county are much exercised over the explora- 
tions that are being made. The entrance is as yet made 
with difficulty, but the splendor of the interior is marvelous 
when shown by the illumination of torches. The State 
geologist will inspect the cave this week, after which the 
opening will be enlarged. It is believed that this cave is 
connected with Perry's cave at Put-in Bay, and also with 
Flat Rock cave, which would make it extend over an area 
greater than that of Mammoth cave," 
Trout and Elk. 
Mr, John D. Losekamp, of Billings, Mont , writes me as 
follows about trout, elk, etc. : 
"Some time ago 1 wrote in reference to stocking one of our 
finest lakes with trout. What is your opinion as to the best 
way to stock this lake, ^dth native trout or a different va- 
riety from some hatchery? 
' In offering you the following information I do not wish 
lo invite your indignation at my asking you the following 
question, 'Did you Icnow that elk give birth to young in 
months other than Mav and June, which is supposed to be 
their breeding season?' I have reliable information that 
calves are dropped nearly every month. Not far from hero 
there is a little band wherein there are October, November, 
December ('96), January and February ('97; calves." 
While I do not know much about such matters, my per- 
sonal belief is that it is better to stick to native fish in stock- 
ing than to monkey too much with varieties from elsewhere 
that may be thought to be a trifle more gilt-edged, The fish 
commission of lUiaois has done good work because it spent 
its money in planting fish which it knew would do well in 
Illinois waters. I can testify that the native trout of Mr. 
Losekamp's country are good enough for any mortal being, 
although there may be other trout which are almost too 
good to be tiue. 
I take it that Mr. Losekamp's information in regard to the 
young of the elk will be news to a great many, at least it 
was to me, although I do not know a great deal about elk. 
E. Hough, 
1206 BoYCE BciLDiNG, Ciicago. 
Pike County Grouse Shipments. 
Matamoras, Pike county. Pa., April 11.—Editoi' Forest, 
and Stream: In an article appearing in your last issue, signed 
by Mr. L. W. Mazurie, he says- "I know several station 
agents on the line of the D., L & W. R. R. in Pike county, 
Pa. who informed me that they had eacli shipped between 
1,400 and 1,500 ruffed grouse to New York and Philadelphia 
The D., L. & W. R.K does not pass through Pike county; 
its nearest point is miles away, as anyone m-ay see by refer- 
ing to a map. Secondly, all the grouse killed in Pike coun- 
ty last season would not make a number equal to the amount, 
claimed to have been shipped by one agent. We were en- 
abled to make a fair estimate of the game killed, for one 
person was appointed in each township to make a report at 
the end of the season. I. G.. Van Gordon . 
The FoTtBST AND STREAM is put to press eaeh WeeH m Viiesdn ii. 
Correspondence intended far publication nhoxM reaeh ws at ih'-- 
latest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
