508 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
l-TxmE 26 1897. 
vociferous greeting is answered by Chester, who comes out 
of the cook-house, elbow-deep in flour, and greets us with a 
hearty welcome. 
Our qaarters are pointed out to ua, and we quiclsly divest 
ourselves of our packs. At the suggestion of Chester we 
decide to try the middle pond, which is but a short carry 
after we cross the lake in front ef us. We are soon there. 
I joint my rod and string it, tying my leader and fastening 
my flies under Will's direction. Frank bales out the boat,- 
■We jump in, -and he soon lays us alongside of a bunch of lily 
pads. He tells us that there's a trout hiding under each 
kaf. Will insists that I shall start in, I, on the other hand, 
pieferring to watch and imitate him. Of course I am 
awkward, snare my leader, and commit sundry errors, 
swishing my flies dangerously near Will's and Prank's eyes, 
and finally catching them somewhere near the nape of my 
own neck. But, "there's lot of time," Will says, "so go 
slow, and don't be nervous." I finally lay my line out upon 
the water, droppiog the flies near the lily pads, when presto! 
two of my flies disappear. "Strike!" says Will; but I am 
slow, and the trout spit out the flies before they get a taste 
of the barb. Will now makes a cast, and like a flash his 
flies are taken, the three of them. His wrist turns, the rod 
bends and his line straightens out. Whirr-r-r goes his reel. 
I watch him with open mouth and staring eyes. The fish 
weigh about ^Ib. each, I surmise, as the net is finally lifted 
into the boat^with its flapping burden. I make a try, and 
although still awkward 1 strike a fish and jerk him clear of 
the water and into the boat. "Stop that," says Will, "you 
are not fishing with a bean-pole. You don't want to jerk 
the heads off the bodies of the fish. When your fly strikes 
the water, the instant you see the plighest commotion of the 
water quickly turn the rod with your wrist. Djn't yank. 
All you want to do is to set the barb, but not to pull the fish 
bodily out of the water. To attempt to do that with a 
heavy fish will mean a broken rod." The fish are plentiful, 
and as three fish frequently strike and are hooked, it looks 
as if Will would soun fill the boat. We take oif all but one 
fly and keep only those fish tha.t are hurt badly, returning 
the rest to the water. Will spends most of the "^time coach- 
ing me, occasionally making a cast to Uluslrate a movement. 
What an enjoyable afternoon that was! How vividly the 
lake and its surroundings are impressed upon my memory. 
My first attempt at fly-fishing and the bottom of the boat 
fairly glistening with the rainbow hues of the trout, taste- 
fully arranged by Frank. It's near sunset. We have 
enough fish for all in camp for supper and breakfast. We 
jt)urney back. Some newcomers arrive in camp about 
supper time, hungry as bears. We hear in the adjacent 
cook-house the sizzling of the trout and sniff the aromatic 
flavor of coffee. 
Chester quits his cooking long enough to blow gigantic 
blasts upon his horn, a warning to those out on the lake 
that trout awaits them in the pan. 
It's twenty years ago, but I remember yet how good those 
trout, fresh from the water and fried to a turn, did taste. 
And I can distinctly remember with what inward horror 1 
regarded our guide Frank, when I saw him "pass up" the 
trout, and, reaching over, help himself plentifully to pork 
and beans. Not that Maine pork and beans are not good ; 
oh, no! but it seemed like ordering corned beef and cabbage 
on a bill of fare when canvas back duck can be had for the 
same price. 
We spent three or four days at Chester's camp and en- 
joyed every minute of our stay. We could have stayed 
with much pleasure until frost and ice came, but we were 
on a tramping trip and had to see more of the Maine woods 
before we reiurned. We regretfully parted with Chester 
and marched back to Moscow. We staged it up to the 
Forks of the Kennebec, and there taking a. new guide, 
ti&m, laid in a supply of provisions, had them toted to the 
foot of Lake Moxie, appropriated a boat we found, and 
started for the head of the lake. 
Reaching our destination at sunset we landed, and de- 
cided to pitch our tent alongside a brook. It was hustle and 
hurry to get things in shape before nightfall ; boughs had to 
be cut, bark peeled, wood cut for the night (it was in Stp- 
tember and the nights were cool), and last but not leatt our 
supper was in order for preparation. In due course our 
lean-to was m shape, wood piled up, and we sat down to a 
£upper of bacon, potatoes, coffee and bread. We had to 
catch our trout on the morrow. 
We prepared for the night, wrapped ourselvss in our 
blankets, spreading our rubber blankets first* under the 
layer of boughs and were soon asleep. It was my first 
night m the open air. Bu-r-r- but it is cold and wet. 
About 2 o'clock the rain came down in torrents, the wind 
driving it into our shelter, making things disagreeable in the 
extreme. Sam was up attending the fire, and soon had it 
blazing in spite of the rain. We built no trench around our 
lean-to, and as the ground sloped slightly we found it con- 
venient to get in on our part. 
We cooked under difficulties, and as the storm kept up 
until noon we roofed our shack witb rubber blankets and 
made the best of it. The rain stopped and out came the 
sun in all its glory. An improvised rack soon served to 
hold our wet blankets, etc., to the rays of the sun. and 
between the fire and sun we soon got over the damp feeling. 
Eating a hasty lunch we started up the brook to try our 
luck. Mine was soon decided, for a back-east snarl on an 
overhanging limb soon snapped my rod at the second joint, 
below the ferule. I wended my way to camp, and having 
no tools I patched the break as best I could, fortifying it 
with a covering of thin wood and black thread industiiouely 
wound around. 1 had enough of brook fishing; I would 
try the lake. So, taking the boat out into about 10ft. of 
water, I dropped the anchor and began to cast. My fly had 
hardly reached the water when it slowly and deliberately 
disappeared. Something took it, but it was taken so slowly 
that 1 was puzzled. In my anxiety I forgot Will's advice, 
and am afraid I "yanked," for instantly my rod went in 
twain at the break, the tip and ferule ol the second joint 
falling in the water. 
I reached for it, laid it in the boat, and then by hand began 
to pull in the rest of the line, never dreaming but that the 
hook was empty. Lo and behold, as I commenced to haul 
in the Oft. kader it pulled taut, I had pulled weakfish and 
sea bass in with a hand-line and I instant y followed the 
same tactics, landing a trout in the bottom of the boat that 
made my eyes bulge, my heart beat, and my hand tremble. 
As it lay before me 1 could hardly believe my eyes. But 
there it was, with the brown hackle fly imbedded in its jaw. 
Elated! 1 was beside myself with excitement. 1 made 
up my mind that there must be more in the lake. I woidd 
return to camp, resplice my rod and try again. 
Reeling in my line 1 weighed anchor and reached the 
shore. Sam, who was busy at the camp, wras elated at my 
luck. I had no scales, but Sam, taking a measure from his 
pocket, measured the length as 21in. 
1 busied myself with my rod and soon had it spliced 
again, much clumsier but far stronger than before. I hur- 
ried out into the lake and cast again — no rise. After several 
attempts down went my fly again. I struck — but carefully 
this time. Whir-r-r- went my reel and away went the fish. 
What with my inexperit-nce about keeping the line taut, 
reeling in and giving line, and in addition the rod, because 
of the splice, bending all kinds of funny shapes, 1 had a 
very bad half hour indeed. My fish was well hooked, and 
after muck struggling and effort on my part I gradually 
drew the fish near enouah to get my net under him, when 
the fight was over. How proud I was I I had played and 
netted my trout in true sportsmanlike manner! He was a 
duplicate of my former one. What would Will say when 
he returned to camp and saw those two giants! It was near 
supper-time; I pulled up anchor and went in, We wanted 
fish for supper, but I would not have these fish disturbed 
until Will had seen them. When Will did return from the 
brook with a couple of dozen fingerlings it was a sight to 
see him stare at my catch, and it was some time before I 
could convince him that 1 had caught them. 
We tried the same spot the next day, but the fates were 
against us. We could do nothing. We broke camp and 
started from the lake, stopping and taking a run up Bald 
Mountain. Returning, we rowed across the lake, hauled up 
our boat, and tramped to Currylunk, a settlement then con- 
sisting of but a few houses. Sam promised us a hospitable 
farmhouse, plenty of good fodder and some fishing. We 
arrived at our journey's end about 2 o'clock, and in half-an- 
hour sat down lo a farm-house dinner, which we long talked 
of. Our early breakfast, followed with our tramp up the 
mountain and our walk to the settlement, put a razor edge 
upon our appetite. 
Near the home was a small lake, called Clear Pond, the 
water being as transparent as crystal and the bottom of the 
lake being of white sand At sunset we tried our luck and 
landed enough trout for our supper and breakfast, witk 
some to spare for the family. Thtj' were beautiful fish, all 
of the same sizs, about 9in., their scales like oxidized silver 
and their spots hardly disctrnible. Their flesh was almost 
as pink as a salmon's. 
Our trip was at an end. The next day we took the stage 
for Moscow, there we once more dived into the recesses of 
our trunk, donned our store clothes, and in due time were 
passing through classic Boston on our way to New York. 
That was over twenty years ago. I have fished much 
since, but I have a vivid remembrance of no such trip as 
my first one in the wilds of Maine, after the fish of fishes — 
the Salmo foniiualis. Charles Crtstadoko. 
THE OPENING OF BEAR BROOK. 
Dtjnbarton, N. H., .June ^.—Editor Forest and Stream: 
At the last annual meeting ol the Hillsboro County (New 
Hampshire) Game and Protective Association, Hon. Wm. 
C. Clarke. Mayor of Manchester (who is one of the owners 
of the Manchester Mirror and Farmer and edits the depart- 
ment under the heading of "Sportsman's Budget"), spoke 
against the custom of closing certain trout streams in New 
Hampshire for a term of years, saying that no practical ben- 
efit came from so doing, and that i: was simply advertising 
such brooks. He spoke of Bear Brook, in Allenstown 
(which is considered one of the very best natural trout 
streams in the State), and predicted that on the opening of 
this brook (which kas been closed during the past three 
years) on June 1, there would be such a rush of fishermen 
that the supply of trout would soon be exhausted, and that 
before the end of the present season Bear Brook would be in 
a worse condition, as far as the supply of trout were con- 
cerned, than when it was closed three yetirs since. To illus- 
ti-ate the correctness of Mayor Clarke's prediction, I inclose 
this report from the Mirror and Farmer. C M. Stabk 
Tuesday, June 1, marked the "opening" of Bear Brook, 
the Allenstown tributary, which has been closed to the dis- 
ciples of Walton for tnree years, and the brook has seen 
sights since early morning that surprised the natives for 
miles around. The eyes of the fishermen who love and obey 
the law were bulging in anticipation, and the rod devotees 
pictured to themselves the deiiciousness of pulling speckled 
beauties from the dark pools, one after the other, until the 
arm grew tired and the basket would positively hold no more, 
This fantasy would do very well as a pipe dream, but one 
Manchester man who left for the brook at 11 o'clock Monday 
night, and arrived there at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday morning, 
says that nothing but the plain, hard facts will do for 
him. He came back with a dozen trout (which, if the 
figures were ascertainable, cost |3 apiace), and a story. 
When the Manchester fisherman reached the brook, in one 
place he found seventeen teams hitched up to a fence, much 
the same way that the United States cavalrymen would 
tether their horses when camping out for the night. On 
pushing forward to the brook there were at least 600 men 
on both sides of the stream. Men in advanced^ stages of 
drunkenness were numerous. 
Paths were well worn up and down the sides of the brook. 
Men were fishing by the aid of torches, and campflres were 
numerous all along the banks of the stream. The scene 
resembled an enormous gypsy caravan, unlimbered for the 
night. Further up the brook Wf re camps of men who had 
come to remain two or three days. According to all reports 
there was wrangling as well as angling all along the stream, 
and if ever there was a merciless massacre of the beautiful 
trout, it was in this raid of June 1, 1897. 
Furthermore, farmers in the vicinity of the brook state 
that for a month past the law has been unreservedly broken, 
and tkat the fishermen who made early visits Tuesday morn- 
ing had simply the leavings of a gang of poachers who have 
followed the stream for thirty days previous. 
Fishermen from all towns in easy reach of the brook made 
an early rusk for that vicinity, some of the enthusiastic 
anglers arriving as early as Monday afternoon. All that 
night a steady stream of teams kept pouring out to the 
brook. Anglers were there from Concord, Manchester, 
Nashua, Epsom, Suncook, and probably scores of other 
places. 
The fame of the stream had spread even to Boston, and 
fishermen from the Hub sought the Mecca of New Hamp- 
shire fishermen. The enthusiasts who lived too far from 
Bear Brook to reach it in teams flocked to Suncook on the 
cars, and the livery stables did a rushing business transport- 
ing these passengers to their tavern. Nearly aU day Mon- 
day the rush continued, people arriving 'on foot, on bicycleis. 
and in every description of carriages. It is estimated by 
some that about 600 or 700 if not more, knights of the rod 
and line angled for the speckled beauties. Most of those 
returning from the brook reported fair luck, but it is doubt- 
ful if there will be any sport left for future visitors. 
Another account of the opening comes from Suncook as 
follows: The greatest excitement in fishing circles prevailed 
last night and this morning. Bear Brook and its branches 
are located in the town oif Al.enstown *nd Deeifleld, and 
have been closed for the last three years by the laws of the 
State. They have been stocked by small fish during these 
years. Bear Brook has always been the best brook for fii^h- 
ing in this vicinity, and, although it has been protected by 
law, large strings of trout have been . taken from it by those 
who dared run the risk of being caught. 
Nearly every lover of trout fishing" in the State was aware 
of the fact that the law was off to-day, and nearly all made 
plans to be present at the opening. As early as last week 
camps were set up on the banks and since that time fisher- 
men have been constantly arriving. Last night all the 
highways leading in that direction were crowded with teams, 
and remained so all night. All the houses on the roads near 
the brook had the appearance of hotels doing a rushing 
business. The yards were filled with carriages, and the 
barns, skeds and all available buildings furnished shelter for 
the horses. 
Corn barns furnished shelter for the fishermen who were 
unable to obtain better protection from the cold weather dur- 
ing their wait for the morning hours. 
Teams had arrived from the neighboring towns, and scores 
of flsheimen from Concord, Manchester, Pittsfield, Lowell, 
Exeter, Boston, Nashua, Lawrence and distant places came 
by train. 
It was estimated that there were more than 500 fishing on 
the main part of Bear Bfook at daylight, to say nothing of 
the smaller branches. The grand total would probably reach 
1,000 or 1,200. 
Good catches were reported and some of the trout would 
tip the scales to 21b3. Only a small portion of those who 
went out have returned to-night. It is doubtful if this sec- 
tion of the State was ever before such a resort for fishermen. 
We quote the news column of our contemporary, the 
Manchester Union, in furnishing the above report of the re- 
opening of Bear Brook to public fishing after a close season 
of three years. In the first instance the account is doubt- 
less a fair statement of the conditions as they existed along 
this brook .June 1, and in the second place the opinion 
expressed, from an outside source, abundantly sustains one 
frequently given by the writer of this department, to wit, 
thai 'the closing of public brooks for an extended period for 
the purpose of restocking them with brook trout fry is- 
entirely wrong and against the judgment of about every 
practical angler I ever met. It means just such a state of 
things as has been shown the past week and which will con- 
tinue for weeks to come — the "fishing to death" in one season 
of one of the best natural trout brocks in New Hampshire, 
placing it at the end of the season in as bad, if not worse, 
condition than when it was closed three years ago. 
The late Commissioner Hodge had the right idea in regard 
to stocking trout brooks. He believed, and we fully agreed 
with him, that the wise and profitable method was to place 
fry in the brooks annually and let the fishing go on in its 
natural course. This method has given general satisfaction 
in the past and promises to. if followed out, in the future, 
but to close a brook for a term of three years, stock it lib- 
erally with fry every season while it is closed and advertise 
it to the world as an angler's paradise means just what is 
taking place at Bear Biook — an army of fishermen gathered 
there with a grim determination to fish the brook seven days 
in a week until every trout in it that can be caught by hook or 
crook is taken out. If there was any evidence lacking 
needed to prove the fallacy of the closing method it has been 
amply supplied by the Bear Brook case and we hope that 
the experiment, so disastrous to the Allenstown stream, will 
never be attempted again in this part of tke State. And we 
do not believe it wiU be. Certainly two at least of the Fish 
Commissioners have expressed to me their disapproval of the 
idea, and as long as the present personnel of the commission 
holds, there need be little fear that the act will be repeated. 
"There may be anglers who want to mingle in such a Wild 
West Show as pitched its tents along Bear Brook June 1, but 
I beg to be excused from any such participation in so-called 
"sport," and sha'l continue to take my chances in the good 
old-fashioned way of fishing brooks that are stocked an- 
nually and fished annualljr in their season. And right here let 
me say that in my opinion the fishermen who have been 
most benefited by the closing and reopening of Bear Brook 
have been the "pot anglers." If they have not already got 
the cream they will have it before the season is over, and 
the business man and taxpayer who seeks occasional recrea- 
tion and pastime in a day a- fishing will find little, if any- 
thing to reward his efforts at Bear Brook this season. There 
will be, of course, some exceptions, but it is good guessing 
that the market fellows have got, or will get, the "long end" 
of the Bear Brook burlesque. 
And writing of market fishermen compels me to remark 
tkat this same gentleman and his brother, the market hunter, 
"ought to go." How quickly 1 cannot say, but none too 
quickly for the good of true sportsmanship and all that \t 
implies. The market hunter and the market fisherman are 
reaping the benefits of the individual States and the United 
States in their efforts to increase and protect the supply of 
game fish, and in eight cases out of ten not one of these 
"potters" pays more than a poll tax and many of them no tax 
at all. How long the intelligent patient public will stand this 
sort of thing in New Hampshire remains to be seen. The 
Hillsborough County Game and Protective Association, at 
its last annuaJ meeting this spring, declared itself arrayed 
against the wholesale slaughter of game and fish as it now 
goes on unmolested at the hands of the marketers, by en- 
dorsing the platform plank of Forest and Stream, "stop 
the Sale of Game," and no doubt this movement on its paru 
will be followed by others having the courage of their 
convictions. If the market hunter and fisherman of New 
Hampshire continues to receive in the future, as he has 
in the past, such generous treatment at the hands of the 
taxpayers of (he State, and such splendid legal encourage- 
ment lo fish and hunt for his own pocketbook, then the bet- 
ter class of sportsmen will either have to hang up their guna 
and fishing rods, or else adopt the advice of Dr. Quackenbos, 
"Hire grounds and pay for what you get." Which shall it 
be? 
Th« Forest and Stream is put to press each week on luesday. 
Correspondence intended for pxiblication should reach us at tha 
atest by Monday, and as much earlier. as practicable. 
