Oci'. 14, 1899.3 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
303 
I hrce hundred years hereafter. The verses all go to shoWj 
' ith notable unanimity, that the savor of fish and fowl 
I :,t)mewhat profpunder tbau the cuticle thereof. 
With further regard to this problem of assimilation, 
he it known that I deal with the topic understandingly. 
When I was younger than at present writing, and more 
confident than at this time, I was jungle beater and quarry 
jumper for a daily journal in a populated town. I did 
my work so well that, if I could have controlled the con- 
vocation of politic editors who garbled my returns, the 
journal would have attained large and conspicuous repu- 
lation. Those autocrats persistently refused to assimilate 
fresh diet until I lost ambition and began to shrivel to 
conventional dimensions. It was to avoid the assimila- 
tion of which I was conscious, tliat I permitted the jour- 
nal to proceed with clam-like velocity to an obscure des- 
tiny, while I departed at right angles, with zig-zag varia- 
lions. 
riie experience convinced me of the unmistakable ten- 
dency of assimilation to make typical mutton of all sorts 
of slieep, and othei" quadrupeds. This is perhaps the 
natural, or the most comfortable, condition, where the 
ta.'^te for fish, fowl and 'possum has been forgotten or de- 
spaired of. They have an old civilization in the Oriental 
quarter. Thousands of Chinamen came to California with 
no ambition beyond rice and rats; and it has taken these 
renegades half a century to interpolate two or three alter- 
natives, such as shrimps and cats. 
After an interval of reflection, .1 now recall to mind that 
f commenced this writing to contribute some fisher snake 
bistory to the worthy of our day and generation. But I 
fell to thinking, which often interferes with expression, 
and lost confidence in the value of the truthful tilings I 
was about to unwind. I was about to launch the first of a 
.series of careful statements about men I have hunted with, 
when overtaken by thought and very swiftly convinced 
that I was a victim to that magnificent new malady, un- 
conscious assimilation. Mr. Fred Mather hit upon a 
phrase that almost copyrights the entire commonwealth, 
and I shall refrain from sizing up against his w'orks. 
Btit yet I never could control the desire to trample 
grass if there was a trespass sign up, unless some per- 
sonal inconvenience was impendent. And this reminds 
me that apology is due to your several correspondents 
who disagreed with my say about Sportsmen. I sin- 
cerely extend to them my regrets that the editor pre- 
vented me from pulverizing them. However, editors are 
entitled to some discretionary power, for if there is any- 
thing in this unconscious assimilation theory it is a won- 
der they are not all in asjdums, such as are not, neces- 
sarily, sanctimis. Ransacker. 
Shasta Mountains, Cal. 
A Week on the Upper Penobscot. 
■'What is the programme for next week?" asked Hal 
Godwin, meeting me one day about a week before the 
.B. Outing Club went on its summei- oitting. 
"Let you know to-night," I replied. "Come around as 
early as you canl" 
We were four — Hal Godwin, George Morris, Charlie 
Leighton and myself — bound together by a common 
pleasure in outdoor life. It is true Hal's preference was 
canoeing, that Morris and Leighton found more pleasure 
in hunting or fishing, while my special hobby was 
tramping. Yet as each recognized the other's prefer- 
ence as a perfectly sane one, peace and harmony reigned 
among us. 
About three years ago this common interest in out- 
door lift had led to the formation of the B. Outing 
Club. It Avas an exclusive affair, limited to "present 
company." We generally arranged for four outings a 
year — one for the fall hunting, another for the winter 
fishing, a third for the spring salmon fishing, while the 
fourth was a week's camping out in the summer with 
plenty of canoeing and fishing thrown in. 
Each one of these outings was under the entire manage- 
ment of one of the members. He decided where the 
:Club should go, always subject, of course, to the approval 
of the others — an approval which, during the three 
years of our existence, had never once been refused. He 
was also "commodore" during the time away. 
It had fallen to my lot to make arrangements for the 
summer outing on which we were to start the next week, 
and the club was to meet that night to talk over affairs 
and make arrangements about impedimenta. 
"I'll bet it is a canoe trip down the Penobscot," interro- 
gated Hal, as soon as we had gotten together. 
"I hope you don't intend making us tramp it up 
Katahdin," Morris put in. 
"No. It is neither of those," I hastened to add. "My 
plan is this : Take two canoes Avith camping outfits by 
tram and team up to the West Branch of the Penobscot; 
let Hal and Leighton pole the canoes about five miles 
up. where there is a clearing, Avith three or four houses, 
Morris and myself will relieve them there and pole up to 
a pond about twelve miles above the Fork. I know of an 
ideal camping place at the upper end of the pond close 
under the Falls. There are several trout brooks running 
into the pond, and if these do not satisfy the 'Waltonians' 
wt can gel plenty of pickerel about a half-mile from 
camp. When we break up. we can easily run down to 
< Jidtown, take a train there and come home in style." 
"One moinent," i)rokc in Morris, w'ho was getting sus- 
picious, "You spoke of only two at a time in the canoes — 
one for each. What do you propose to do wnth the other 
two?" 
"Tramp." 
"I thought so," he muttered. "Well, Til have to do 
it. But if I get nervous pi'ostration through over-exercise 
in the hot sun, I'll " 
"Never mind, Morris." Hal broke in. Then, with a 
•dig at Morris' failing, "Just think of the appetite 3'ou will 
have for that supper of fried pickerel, baked potatoes and 
liot coft'ee." 
A growl was the only answer. Morris had started in a 
couple of years ago to make sport of my tramping ex- 
peditions. Since then 1 am inclined to think he has 
become gradually won over, and now takes almost as 
much pleasure in legging it as I do, though he will not 
say so. 
The following Monday morning a lot of camping outfit, 
two stout yet light canoes and four enthusiastic "rttsti- 
caters" were left by the early train at Mattawamkeag. 
They were received into a couple of teams and started 
on the second cJtage of their journey. This was about ten 
miles, and took a couple of hours. It was about 9 in the 
morning when the canoes were launched at Medway and 
the final stage of the journey begun. Leaving Leighton 
and Hal to pole up against the current, Morris and my- 
self started on our six-mile tramp. 
The road we took ran parallel with the river, now along 
the very edge, now turning abruptly away and passing 
over some rocky hill that had rudely brushed aside the 
rushing waters. 
"There is good beginning," Morris said, pointing to 
the leaping waters of the Nickatons Rips, as we came out 
on the river bank a few minutes after seeing the canoes 
start. 
The bed of the river made a decided drop. Here and 
there huge rocks brought down from the quarries above 
by nature's quarrj'men were piled up. In and out among 
these the water dashed, increasing in momentum, till with 
a final splash that would push back some eddy trying 
to escape from its prison into the swifter stream, it woidd 
go on its way, sparkling and foaming from the very 
exuberance of life. 
The boys were ready for their "beginning." Paddles 
were exchanged for the iron-pointed pick-poles. A quick 
succession of strong shoves send the canoes well ahead 
despite the rapid water. Care is taken to keep the canoe 
head pointed directly in the stream. If it but turns so 
that the current strikes on the side, unless the canoeman 
is quick and strong, a wetting, a loss of baggage and 
sometimes a broken canoe is the result. Nothing 
of this sort happens to our comrades. They are accus- 
tomed to this kind of work. A few minutes of hard but 
skillful use of the pole and they "rest from their labors" 
on the quiet water above. 
Leaving them there, we follow the roads into the wood 
on the onward march. 
It is a splendid day for either tramping or canoeing. 
Slow^-moving masses of clouds are an ever-shifting cur- 
tain beneath the sun. Now and then through some rent, 
stray glimpses are caught of the world above. The same 
gentle breeze that rolls on the clouds above reaches 
down and fills the wood with nature's music. 
And the wood ! There is always an inspiration here for 
the seeing and feeling soul. A spirit fills these quiet aisles. 
It speaks to our restless spirit fresh from the hurried 
struggle of competitive life and whispers, "Peace, be 
still." Calmness, peace, joy, fill the soul. Oh ! keep away 
all thought of those days that will come only too soon — 
days of toil and strife. Live for awhile in the present, full 
of nature's presence. 
A deer dashes across the road, frightened and expect- 
ing every moment to hear that report it heard last winter 
when mother was killed. It passes on, the rustle and 
crackle of branches and twigs dying away in the distance. 
The six miles are covered all too quickly. The sight of 
the clearing and the houses brings our thoughts out of the 
skies to the earth. We had to wait about an hour before 
the canoes arrived. After a cold luncheon an exchange 
was effected, Morris and nmelf taking our turns at 
poling, while Leighton and Hal took to the road, ready for 
"whatever may come." 
"Look out for the logs ahead," shouted Morris, who 
was a little in advance, shortly after getting under way. 
A drive that for some reason or other had been held 
back too long Avas "hung up" on the rips just ahead. 
Logs, telegraph poles, ties had drifted together, forming 
all sorts of fantastic figures. Had it been a "jam" .some 
carrying would have been necessary. As it "was, there 
were openings here and there through which the deeper 
Wi-iter flowed, where we could pole up. 
There is an excitement in pushing a canoe up against 
the swift water. That element of danger which gives a 
zest to ^all sport is wanting to some extent here, it is 
true. Yet sufficient damage will result from the lack of 
skill and judgment to make it an interesting under- 
taking. 
I had an experience on these very rips that came near 
being exciting enough. 
Shortly after Morris had warned me about the logs, I 
heard him shout again. Looking up. I saw him juinp 
for a rock. Reaching it safelj% he let his canoe drop down 
and around, bringing it up on the other side of the rock 
on which he stood. 
A large log had succeeded in getting afloat and came 
down, sweeping the whole channel; now floating cross- 
ways, then one end striking some obstacle the other would 
swing around and lead the w-ay till it in its turn met a 
rock, when the first would take precedence. 
I realized in a moment if that log struck my canot it 
was "all wet" with me and everything else there. Yet 
I was helpless. The channel was free from rocks. 
Nothmg to break the onward sweep of that "demon of 
destruction." 
A moment and it was all over— not the water, but the 
danger. For some unknowable reason, just before the log 
reached the canoe, it swung around end "foremost. And 
m that position it swept harmlessly by the side of the 
canoe. 
A short, hard struggle of the kind that makes this sort 
of thing disagreeable to the lazy man, and we were 
paddling quietly along in the smooth water above. 
Another ten minutes of hard "picking" about a half- 
hour later was rewarded by the sight of the pond ahead. 
We found our comrades waiting near the mouth. Taking 
them in, we started on the last half-mile of our journey. 
The pond is formed by the West Branch,' suddenly 
widening to a half-mile for about a mile. On the right 
as j-ou enter the Millinockett stream flows in, with large 
masses of grass at its mouth, Avhere the pickerel like to lie 
m wait. Further upon the other side several brooks add 
their waters. These furnish splendid grounds for both 
trout and pickerel. The latter especially are quite plenty. 
MoreoA^er. these are favorite places for deer. Go there 
any CA^ening at sunset or any morning just before sunrise 
and you Avill see some "beauties." Especially at sunset, 
they like to loiter around the open feeding groimds at the' 
mouth of the brooks. 
As we paddled up. enjoying the quiet beauty of wood 
and water, a breaking of twigs on the left told us we Avere 
not alone. The glimpse of a Avhite brush told the AA'hole 
story. Here Avas hunting in plenty. Everything Avas 
faA'orable for bagging game — everything but the law. It 
Avas close time, and I believe those deer knew it too. Dur- 
ing the few days we remained, Ave saw no less than twenty 
of them at different times. 
We pitched our camp in an old field about a hundred 
feet from the Falls, that mark the upper end of the 
pond. 
"NoAV you have us here at last," yawned Morris, stretch- 
ing lazily back after finishing half a pound of steak that 
night; "what are you going to do?" 
"Take you down to the brooks to catch some pickerel.^' 
"All aboard/ior the banks," came the cry. 
We all obeyed the summons willingly. Our efforts at 
first among the lilypads and grass at the brooks were not 
very satisfactory. A paddle across to the other side was 
more successful. We took back a dozen splendid fellows. 
The paddle back in the earlj^ evening was a fitting close 
to our first day. The clouds that had been so welcome 
earlier, had dissolved ; a few torn remnants in the west — 
that was ah of that huge gray curtain of the morning. 
And these seemed to belong to some other creation. 
Georgeous gold, deep crimson, deep purple — all thrown 
together recklessly, yet maldng a harmonious grouping. 
Trees and Avater took on the same hues, while on Old 
Katahdin rested a crown of ' glory rivaling in beauty the 
exquisite coloring of St. Mark's. 
HoAv quiet nature's performances are! The stillness of 
the dead perA^ades the abode of the living. 
Only a few moments and it Avas OA^er — and we were at 
the camp. 
For a couple of days we lived quietly on — just enjoyed 
living. An occasional trip down the pond after fish or for 
a paddle— this was about all that broke the existence of 
those days. 
It Avas the third or fourth day, I have forgotten just 
which, that brotight a most effectual stirring up. The 
day Avas a little dull overhead, and we had gone down 
after some fish. A nice string rewarded us. On the 
Ava3- back Leighton offered to show us a spring of fresh, 
cool Avater. Running the canoes ashore, he and I stepped 
out to fill a small can we always carried for water. A 
few steps brought us face to face with a bear. 
It is difficult to say who Avas the most taken aback. 
Leighton was the first to get his wits together. Stepping 
quickly iiackward, he took the rifle from the canoe — and 
Bruin was ours. 
For a few moments we could scarcely believe our good 
fortune. But there was the bear. And that speedily con- 
Adnced us. 
Our good fortune brought the evil with it. It was now 
necessary for us to brealc camp as soon as possible in order 
to keep our game fresh. Much as we disliked to, Ave 
pulled up stakes early the next morning. Everything was 
packed snug, the canoe nicely trimmed for running, and 
bidding good-by to "Bear Camp," Ave pushed off. 
The run doAvn Avas an unexciting one. Down over the 
Rocky Rips, through the "hang-up," using a pole here to 
snub, a paddle there to guide. A little after noon we 
pulled into town, sorry to get back, and with plans all 
laid for the fall hunting. A. B. Hunt 
Yukon Notes. 
{Continued from ^age 286.) 
Patching Hose. 
"It Avas^ so extreame cold that the fire almost cast 
no heate, for as we put our feet to the fire Ave burnt our 
hose before avc could feele the heate, so that we had work 
mough to do to patch our hose." So writes Gerrit de 
Veer, chronicler of the polar voyages of Barentz the 
Dutchman, who lost his life while trying to find the 
Northeast Passage to India in the latter part of the six- 
teenth century. 
The sock question is a bond of union for all men who 
have been in cold countries. The returning Klondikers 
could sympathize Avith the difficulties of Barentz's party 
drying and patching their hose. Most men on the Yukon 
made no alloAvance for loss by burning, Avhich is sure 
to result even Avhen the greatest care is exercised in dry- 
ing- socks at loAV temperatures, and as a consequence 
Avere reduced to straits for footgear. 
The demand for moccasins in Dawson raised the 
price early in the winter to $7 a pair, and the kind sold 
had bedticking uppers, and further up the river men 
Avere glad to get socks for $5 a pair. 
Mac and I had eight or ten pairs of good socks 
apiece on leaving Fort Selkirk, but by the time the Big 
Salmon was reached there Avas scarcely a Avhole sock in 
the lot. The night after leaAdng the police post Ave hap- 
pened on a deserted cabin at the foot of the Seminow^ 
Mountains, and took adA-antage of the shelter for re- 
pairing our footgear. We built a fire on the dirt floor 
of the cabin, but as there was only a small stOA^epipe 
hole in the roof the place smoked abominally. VVe 
Avere obliged to leave the door Avide open to get "any re- 
lief, and even then Ave could not stand upright without 
danger of suffocating. The only clear strata of air was 
next the floor, and on the floor accordingly Mac and 1 
took up our positions, squatting Indian fashion on our 
haunches. 
The draft from tlie door 'made the candle flicker and 
burn lopsided. . Often entire heels or toes were raiss- 
king. It taxed our ingenuity to repair such holes, and 
the matter generally ended by cutting the sock short 
oft' at the burned place and scAving it up Avithout regard 
to the fit. 
It was midnight before w^e finished, and we Avere 
ready to admit, Avith the old naA'igator. that Ave had 
"work inough to do to patch our hose." 
Cassiar Baf. 
We made the distance from, the Big Salmon to the 
Hootalinqua River in a little more than two days. By 
the map it is thirty-one miles. The traveling was 
better than any we had prcA'iously encountered, and 
our load Avas reduced to one sled, with the extra man 
pushing behind on a 6ft. pole. 
Eighteen miles from the Hootalinqua we passed the 
historic cabins Avhere the pioneers of 1886 lived while 
Avorking Cas.siar Bar. The total output of this 'bar is 
stated to have been as high as $40,000. Ogilvie says that 
four men working thirty days cleaned up $6,600. Its 
richness only lasted a year, and in T887 $10 a; da^ to the 
