868 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
LMatS, 3897. 
A HOLIDAV in BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
SHAKaHAi, China. — Editor Forest and Stream: Shanghai 
is admittedly the best place to get away from during its two 
months of heat, July and August, and its one treacherous 
month, September; but the qaestion where to go is not so 
readily answered. Chefoo is nearly as hot and is dreadfully 
dull; Pool 00 or the Saddles do not yet possess a family 
kotel; and Japan, except in the hills, is as enervating as 
China. So we must look to America. British Columbia 
affords the most complete change that can be got within 
moderate time, and it also Las the great advantage of giving 
the visitor something to do beyond simple sight-seeing, 
although the sight seeing there is on the grandest scale. 
This "something to do" can consist of fishing or shooting, 
br both, and I now give you a few notes of a sis weeks' 
holiday spent by my wife and myself in the enjoyment of 
bool temperature, grand scenery, a magnificent climate, and 
some fair sport with the rod. What I have written may be 
accepted as supplementing the admirable papers contributed 
to your columns by Prairie Dog. 
The places mentioned are all on the beaten track of the 
Canadian Pacific railway and its branches, most readily 
reached by China residents via the Empress steamers to 
Yanoouver. The only drawback to the Canadian Pacific 
route is that it is somewhat too cold, and, even in July, the 
passenger must be well provided with winter clothing and 
thick rugs. And it is also necessary to prepare the traveler 
in British Columbia for two other serious drawbacks which 
exist there, more or less, every summer; these are the dense 
smoke caused by forest fires and the prevalence of mos- 
quitoes. From Victoria to Banff the whole country was, 
tins summer, enveloped in smoke for at least two months, 
and although residents declared that it was much worse 
than usual, it is an evil that exists each year during July and 
August. As to the mosquitoes they were simpJy terrible 
during these two months at all the places visited, with the 
exception of the Kootenay district and at Vernon, w^hen none 
troubled us, nor did we find any at Vancouver; but the only 
places otherwise free from these pests (and black files also) 
were the different lakes and, for this reason, trolling on the 
lakes afforded the most comfortable sport. Hotel managers 
and residents assured us that this was an exceptional year 
for mosquitoes and I would like to believe them; but even if 
the quantity is usually 50 per cent, less, there would still be 
enough to mortify the flesh and irritate the spirit of the 
flsheiman. 
I give the result of our experiences at each place visited 
and, looking back at the whole trip, give the palm to the 
Kootenay River and Vernon as fishing grounds for trout; 
but, if the mosquitoes could b3 forgotten, I should remember 
with equal pleasui'e the glorious walks, the grand scenery, 
and the tempting pools of the Bow River near Laggan. The 
trip would have been incomplete without the two days' 
salmon trolling at Vancouver, and I only regret not having 
lett more time for that sport. These noble fish are not to be 
tempted with a fly but they afford the changing sensations 
of hope, expectation, exultation, doubt, dread, despair, 
■ failure and— sometimes — victory, after patient trolling with 
a stout salmon rod and a clean spoon 
_ As regards flies, the fisherman will be astonished at the 
size of the favorites for the Kootenay; they are more like 
salmon than ordinary trout flies; but in the streams the 
smallest sizes are good kiflers. Each place has its favorite, 
and local sportsmen will always give useful hints to visitors, 
who can invariably count upon the good-will, assistance 
and friendship of fellow devotees to the gentle art in British 
Columbia. 
Three weeks after leaving Shanghai, on the "Glorious 
Fourth," my notes commence at 
Babff.— Alt. 4,g00ft. The climate at Banff during July 
and August was perfect, and is said not to be severe in win- 
ter, many invalids selecting the place as good for weak lungs. 
The hot sulphur springs have effected many cures of rheu- 
matism and skin diseases, The air is highly rarefied, and 
sometimes causra trouble to those wiih any heart complaint. 
During summer mosquitoes abound, and this year they were 
innumerable, and exasperating almost beyond endurance. 
The record of temperature at Banff in July of 1896 shows 
a maximum of 88° and a minimum of 30'^. Snow generally 
falls early in September. 
The scenery at Banii deserves the praise bestowed upon it 
in the guide books, but as regards the fishing it is a disap- 
pointment. The Bow River Fafls, close to the hotel, are 
■very pretty; and the stream then winds through a pic- 
turesque valley for about ten miles, surrounded by high 
peaks, many of which are snow-capped. I found the best 
fishing beiow the "Loops," but the best day's catch with the 
fly did not exceed four trout, the largest lib. and the major- 
ity lib. The fish are brook trout, with white flesh, and 
there are also grayling; both more ready to take a bit of raw 
meat or grasshopper than rise to a fly, but still quite amen- 
able to the latter. 
Devil's Lake (Minnewahka) —A long, narrow and 
winding lake, surrounded by bold, snow-covered peaks, dis- 
tant about nine miles from Banft, whence it is reached by a 
good driving road. A pleasant week was spent here. Good 
trout are to be found in the lake by trolling, and old Joe, the 
boatman, talks of several 16-pounders having been taken, 
while the head of one said to have weighed 40;bs. is shown 
in the museum. It is seldom, if ever, the lot of an angler to 
fish any where at the right time, and our own expeiience ar 
Devil's Lake was to kill only three trout by trolling, of which 
the largest was 31bs., and he did not show much fight. Good 
spoit, however, was afforded by the small-mouthed grayling 
(whitefish?), which were then taking bail freely, and proved 
very lively when hooked to a light rod, most of these weigh- 
ing 31bB. The Cascade River, within walking distance of 
Astley's cottage, has several good pools for brook trout, where, 
after the exercise of much patience, a few good figli were 
secured with a fly. 
Laggan,— Alt. 4,900ft. A small station on the C. P. R., 
about one hour's distance from Banlf, where good accom- 
modation can be had at the railway house. This is an excel- 
lent center for two or three days' good stream fishing on the 
Bow River, which here dashes over many rapids and falls, 
through picturesque gorges, forming many tempting back- 
water pools where small but lively trout rise to the'fly. A 
good deal of scrambling over rocks and fallen trees has to be 
done to get at the pools, but the sport and its surroundings 
well repay the exertion, and almost compensate for the 
mosquitoes. 
Lake Lotjtsk.— Alt. 5,300ft. A small and pretty moun- 
tain lake, about three miles from Laggan, where a few days 
can be comfortably spent. Some good trout can be taken 
Irom the lake with a fly, and still more witli a grasshopper 
and by trolllDg. The upper part of the cutlet creek also 
gives a few flsli wherever room can be found to make a cast, 
but logs and bushes here form serious impeditnenta to fly- 
fishing. 
Gi/ACipR.— Alt 4,133ft. A very pleasant place to stay off 
at for perfect rest, but there is no fishing. 
Nelson, on the Kootenay Lake, ia the best center for the 
Kootenay River fishing. JSTelson is reached by a branch 
railway from Revelstoke to Arrow Head (30 miles), thence 
by steamer to Robson (120 miles) and then by rail (40 miles); 
the total fare being $7.50. The whole journey is very pic- 
turesque, especially the trip down the Arrow Head Lake, if 
one is fortunate enough to have a clear day. The lake at 
Nelson affords fair sport both for fly-fishing and trolling; 
but the place is on the Kootenay River, some fifteen miles 
down stream, at what is known as "Ward's Crossing." The 
only trouble is to get there ; or rather to return in the even- 
ing, as the train does not pass until about midnight every 
second day. The C. P. R. have four "shaks," or log cabins, 
on the river, but these are not at the best spots, nor are they 
now habitable by human beings. At present the only plan 
to fish the Kootenay is to take tent and boat to "Ward's 
Crossing" and there camp out until you are tired of the fish- 
ing. This was the plan we adopted, and found that four 
days' camping were very pleasantly spent, thanks to the C. 
P. R agent, who kindly lent two large tents, and to Mr. 
and Mrs. Stutter, who acted as our guide and cook. 
It may be noted en passant that a skunk stole our 
ham on the second day and that our supply of 
meat was thus exhausted; but, with the exception of 
field mice, no other animals disturbed our comfort nor were 
we troubled with mosquitoes. The fishing on the Koote- 
nay River is best done from a boat in the eddies formed by 
the rapid current, which after passing over grand waterfalls, 
flows turbulently round many rocks before forming the com- 
paratively placid water known as Ward's Crossing. The 
scene is a very grand one; the falls above are not unlike 
those of the Rhine at Schaffhausen, the volume of water is 
great, and clouds of spray bear witness to its force. High 
mountains on each side, all densely wooded, complete a very 
striking picture. And then the fishing is all that could be 
desired; the trout are of good size, often 21bs. and seldom 
much under lib. in weight; they rise readily to the fly to- 
ward evening, and are to be taken throughout the day by 
trolling. Many of the fish are rainbow trout, lively to a de- 
gree, and when caught on a light rod give all the sport a 
fisherman can desire— struggling hard to escape the landing 
net, sometimes doing so, and exciting constant admiration 
by their brilliant color and rapid motion. Our best day's 
catch to one rod was twenty-six fine trout, and the only 
trouble on the Kootenay is to know what to do with the fisli 
after they have been caught- During three and a half days' 
fishing our two rods killed 109 good trout. The temperature 
on the Kootenay was high, ranging 85° Fahr. during the 
day, but the nights were very cool. After finishing the Koo- 
tenay a return journey has to be made to the C. P. R main 
line at Revelstoke, whence two hours by rail bring us to 
Sicamous, on the Shuswap lakes, the junction of the 
branch line to A^ernon. One day's trol'ing on the Shuswap 
did not afford us any sport, but others testify to there being 
fair fishing in that water. I can only bear witness to the 
quantity and virulence of its mosquitoes. 
Vebnon, forty miles by rail from Sicamous, is a very 
quiet English town, well laid out — but sadly devoid of life. 
The Kalemalka Hotel is, however, the best one between 
Banff and Vancouver, and a week can be spent here very 
comfortably with trips to three good fishing grounds in its 
immediate neighborhood; Okanagan Lake, Long Lake and 
Swan Lake. Our experience gives the preference to Long 
Lake, where in two days' trolling our two rods killed fifteen 
good trout, running from 1 to Sibs. in weight, the fish being 
very game and often jumping clear of the water before final 
capture. This district consists of rolling prairie land, suit- 
able for wheat and fruit, and is of an entirely different char- 
acter from the mountain scenpry we have hitherto beeii- in. 
Vernon is also a good center for shooting trips for big game 
as well as grouse and duck. 
Vancouvek — Good trout fishing can be had at several 
places in the neighborhood, but our experience was limited 
1o salmon trolling in the "Narrows," which affords capital 
8port from late in August until the first week in October. 
The best fishing is done during the last of the ebb and the 
first of the flood; salmon are then jumping in all directions, 
and many of them come to the numerous spoons that are re- 
volving in their neighborhood. Prom six to ten fish a day 
are sometimes caught, and although there are same blank 
days, most of the boats generally biing back a fish or two. 
The sport is grand when trolling" with a stout rod. and the 
excitement from the moment a good fish is hooked until it is 
safely gaffed info the boat is a sensation to remember. My 
own catch during six hours' trolling consisted of three 
salmon, weighing 6, 8 and lOlbs. respectively; but there yet 
remains on my mind the rtcollection of grief at losing a 
much larger fish, which rushed my line and jumped itself off 
the hook before I could reel in and recover the strain on the 
rod. The disappointment was perhaps increased by seeing 
a distinguished member of the British Consular Service suc- 
cessfully capture a 15 pounder from another boat. 
The following is a record of fish killed by my own rod 
(principally with a fl)), during the holiday now completed; 
but it will encourage ladies who enjoy the sport if I add that 
my wife also killed eighty -nine fish on the same trip. 
Banff July 87-30 4 daj s 11 trout. 
Devil's Lake Aug. 2-8.... .,..7 days.. .. 7 trout. 
Lake Louise Aug. 11-lS ...2 days ....13 trout. 
Laggan Aug. 1.3-14. , .2 days .24 trout. 
Neison ....Aug. 19-^3 4 days ....10 trout. 
Kootenay Aug. -ic-iS days 55 trout. 
Long Lake Sepc. 8-9 2 days 1 1 1 rout. 
Vancouver Sept. 12-13 2 days 3 salmon. 
iifii'i days. 
m fish. 
H. Q. 
Probably a Golden Carp. 
J. L. Cbtder, druffgist, of Huntington, W. Va., has a 
fish in his aquarium, caught in a net in the Ohio Ri^er, 
which, has all the appearance of a genuine gold-fish, so far as 
shape and color are considered; the mouth, however, is 
formed very much like that of the sucker. Mr. Crider has a 
considerable number of small genuine goldfish in his aqua- 
rium, none of them being finer, if as fine, in color as this 
one. In size it equals a dozen of the others. It will weigh 
about lib. Its color is a deep, brilliant orange throughout. 
I did not examine it closely enough to give details of fins, 
tail, etc. Can the Forest and Stream tell us whether or 
not it is the golden carp of a certain variety, or a freak of 
natm*e? D. Elting. 
THAT BIG TROUT. 
Editor F&rest and Stream: 
Referring to Mr. A. N". Cheney's article, under the head- 
ine: "The Big Trout at the Show," in your issue of April 
24, as the owner of the fish referred to, and knowing a 
little something aliout it, I trust you will give space to the 
following, as I believe that Mr. Cheney's remarks may have 
a tendency to create a wrong impression. 
The owner of the fish has never objected to anyone doubt* 
ing its being a brook trout. Owing to the conflicting testi- 
mony of supposed experts, lie has some doubts in the matter 
himself. He does object, however, to Mr. Chenej's insin- 
uations that the fish has been "fixed," or so mounted as to 
intentionally deceive anybody. 
There is no mystery about the fish. It was caught in a 
small brook in Montana, the exact location of which I am 
not able td give. It was sent to Chicago, and was carefully 
examined, measured and weighed by a number of gentlemen 
who know a brook trout when they see one, although they 
may not be able to recognize its picture in a book, or to spell 
its Latin name. These gentlemen found the fish to measure 
just scant -SSin. in length, and to weigh iS^lbs. ; and it had 
spots on both sides, and had a square tail. 
A number of gentlemen who have caught brook trout all 
their lives, and two or three others who are generally ac- 
cepted as experts in such matters, all of whom saw the fish 
before it was mounted, pronounced it a brook trout (Salveli- 
nus fontinalis), and the owner had every reason to have 
confidence in theh opinion. The fish was mounted to look 
as nearly as possible as nature had made it, and it was exhi- 
bited as a brook trout, in perfect good faith. Neither the 
man who owned it, nor the taxidermist who mounted it had 
any desire to fool anybody. As soon as it was seriously 
questioned that the fish was not a brook trout, the owner 
exhibited it simply as a big trout, and waited for somebody 
to name it correctly. A peculiar thing about the matter ia, 
that of all the people who say that the fish is not a brook 
trout, no two of them agree as to what it really is. 
Mr, Cheney knows that there never has been the slightest 
attempt to deceive anybody in the exhibition of this trout. 
It was sent to the last Exposition at considerable trouble, 
and was taken out of the case (simply mounted on a board), 
so that anyone interested could examine it closely. Nothing 
was claimed for it, and it was simply shown as a big fish. 
The thanks that a sportsman receives for all this trouble is a 
lot of uncalled for abuse and unfair insinuations from fel- 
lows who never saw such a big trout before, and whose 
brains are not built to conceive of anything out of the 
ordinary run. 
The established facts in connection with this big trout are 
as follows: 
First — The trout was caught in Montana. 
Second — It measured just scant 33in. In length. 
Third— It weighed fully IS^lbs. 
Fourth— It had spots on the sides. 
Fifth — It had a square tail. 
Sixth — It is mounted to look as it did in life. 
Mr. Cheney is "not sure as to what the legend over the 
fish read" when last exhibited at the Sportsmen's Show. 
After the very careful {'I) examination which he made of it 
at that time, he may be surprised to learn that there was no 
label nor legend of any kind whatsoever attached to the fish, 
and no claim was made regarding it. 
Mr. Cheney is sure that the fish is not a brook trout, He 
may be correct in this, for all of us are bound to be right 
once in a while. He has in the past guessed three or four 
different names for the fish, and now confesses that he really 
don't know what it is— which has been exactly my idea of 
his knowledge in the matter ever since he first wrote on the 
subject, 
Dr. Bean, though not quite surfe, thinks that the fish is a 
Dolly Varden {8. malma), and that it is not remarkable in 
size. 1 do not pretend to be competent to take issue with 
Dr. Bean, whose opinion I very much respect, but after 
looking up the Dolly Varden, 1 should certainly guess that 
this trout was something else. 
'There are two or three other expert opinions in the matter, 
one of them being that the fish is papier-mache. I wonder 
if this latter possibility has occurred to Mr. Cheney? 
In view of all the conflicting testimony, the owner himself 
confesses that he does not know what the fish really is, 
unless it is a brook trout. He cannot find two people who 
will tell him what it is if it is not a brook trcut, although a 
number have made some hard guesses. Mr. Cheney first 
said it was a lake trout - an opinion which was laughable in 
its absurdity. 
1 am far from being the oldest and most experienced trout 
crank extant, but have seen one or two trout in my day, and 
have yet to see one that in any way approaches the weight 
and length of the specimen referred to. I am not suflici- 
ently expert intelligently to consider such details as teeth, 
ears, side whiskers, etc., in estabhshing the family status of 
this fish; but as an ordinary, every-day crank, and judging 
this fish from his fins and general appearance, I think "that 
he is a brook trout {Salmlimis fontinalis) — a freak in size, 
and on that account, perhaps, possessing some peculiarities 
not characteristic of the rest of the family. 
So much for what I think. I know that the fish is a trout 
of some kind, and that it is not a lake trout, a rainbow 
trout, a black trout, or a brown trout. I also know that 
it is mounted to look as nearly as possible as it looked ia 
life, and that whatever it is. It is the biggest thing of the 
kind ever shown. 
But whether it is a brook trout, or a land locked buU- 
head, or a sea robin, it is "a blamed big fish," and there is 
a good price waiting for another one just like it. 
If the fish is not a brook trout, I am more anxious than 
anybody else to know what it really is. It is perfectly fair 
to express a doubt as to its being a brook trout, but Mr. 
Cheney is unfair in insinuating that the fish has been exhi- 
bited under false colors. 
"And that is not half what I know about experts that are 
not experts. Charles H. Meigs. 
[The Exposition catalogue described this as a brook trout. 
The dimensions of the fish exceed any authentic recorded 
measurements of a brook trout, hence if this is a brook trout 
its identity should be determined, since it would be the 
record fish. If Mr! Meigs will send his fish to the Forest 
AND Stream we will undertake to tell him what it is,] 
The Forest and Stream ia put to press each week on, Tuesday 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach ua at the 
''atest by Monday, and as much earlier as pracUodble. 
