BS6 
F^OHESt AND STflfiAM. 
AS 40 33 30 is To lS 10 
AUDAX, YAWL, DESIGNED BY JOHN HYSLOP, ESQ., FOR HENRY W. EATON, ESQ., 1892. 
chirpings of feathered warblers, or the crash of an old- 
time monarch of the forest, as the echoes of its fall were 
thrown on the still air, broke an}' monotony that might 
have existed otherwise — the new home was reached 
safely. Then after lunch, putting my tackle together, and 
selecting a good sized live minnow, I hung it up on the 
mass of hooks, and seating myself in a fairly comfortable 
boat, was pulled out into the lake by the guide. I tried 
to remember all details. A good length of line was let out. 
and then I waited. Suddenly a sharp pull was felt, I 
struck deep and hard, and away went the line, my reel 
singing its joyous whirr. Now, thought I, a big one has 
my minnow. But he never seemed to reach bottom nor 
anywhere else, and most of my line had gone, so I had 
the guide stop rowing, and even then I could not feel any 
decided movement at the end of the line, so began to 
reel in, and after a deal of labor found I had caught 
strongly and well an old water-logged trunk of a tree. 
It took a long time to get free, but I renewed my. bait 
and tried it over again. This time I did get a fish. 
True, he did go to the bottom and hump himself a bit, 
but he was ''dead easy" to reel in, to lift into the boat and, 
to kill. 
I discarded my nightmare of a study in hooks, and 
my guide constructed one of three single hooks, that 
held a live bait securely. I caught togue — had to catch 
them in order to have food supply ; but I never found one 
that gave a decent fight. I grew tired of them; ate all I 
could, began to hate them, and had the guide make pan- 
cakes out of flour, but did have real maple syrup on them. 
Once two togue were taken, from the same minnow, each 
being caught by one of the hooks spoken of, but it was 
only a haul; neither had any nerve, and both were pulled 
by hand into the boat, for I did not trouble to use the 
net. 
So this sort of thing went on. One afternoon a terrific 
thunder storm broke, and most of the rain fell on me, and 
only made my disgust the stronger. It was late in June ; 
the flies never bit better or more smartly. I did' have , 
fifteen minutes' fun with a trout which was kind enough, 
to take my trolling bait.' It was a godsend, and I en-- 
joyed both catching and eating it. But niy hate grew- 
stronger every hour ; every togue sulked, made no decent 
rush, was utterly stupid, and I gave it up and went back 
to my camp, where I could have splendid, glorious trout 
fishing. I vowed I never, never would be fool enough to 
even try any more togue fishing ; and for some time after 
|his, if I Tieard togue or laker spoken of as being in 
such a pond or lake, I rushed elsewhere. Such were my 
introduction and deductions regarding the laker. 
Chapter II.— The Quick. 
Early in springtime, so soon that the water itself to 
the touch seemed as if it ought to be frozen instead of 
being fluid. The air bracing.. The winds strong in their 
blowing. Power, endurance and skill requisite for the 
guide who managed the canoe. A phantom minnow pro- 
vided with only one hook, or a live minnow or strip of 
pork on a single hook, with sometimes a flashing spinner 
just above the bait, served as a taking attraction. Trolling 
with two rods was exciting sport, and while I naturally 
wished for landlocked salmon, I secured many fine lakers. 
But I did not know my old acquaintance. In the chilled 
water he was a fish of a different color and mood. Baits 
were strongly taken, and his rushes resembled those of a 
favorite and noted football hero. Proudly would he 
tear about, at times shaking his head fiercely in his at- 
tempts to get free. He cared less for the bottom than he 
did for the middle of the lake, and equaled the landlocked 
fellows in his wild turnings. If he had only learned in 
his young life to make a leap from the surface it appeared 
to me his gamy battling would have nearly equaled that 
of the "little salmon." So I had to change my mind 
utterly, for now I was perfectly willing to class him with 
game fish; and I believe he is such under the right con- 
ditions I have pictured^ I like him now as much and as 
fervently as once I hated him; but I should not try to 
capture him when the water grows warmer, or the air is 
too balmy ; for then would I be. sure that only the sulky, 
lazy, pulling back, humping capacities would manifest 
themselves, and that I might swear and of a surity lose 
valuable time. "Experencia docet:' 
F. M. Johnson. 
Boston, Mass. 
The Chfistmas Tree and the Forests. 
Sing Sing, Dec. 23. — Editor Forest and Stream: Frorn 
my office window I have an tmobstructed view of ihe 
;;N. Y, C. & H. R. R. :R. tracks. For the last two weeks 
carloads after, carloads of young; spruce, pine and hem- 
lock trees "have been rushing by toward the city to fill 
thousands of 'homes with joy as the little ones dance 
around the Christmas tree. The rooms ordinarily cheer- 
less, the streets bare of a vestige of vegetation, the 
little tree with its fresh resinous smajl permeating the 
atmosphere and with its sparkling decorations puts a 
cheer into the home and into the hearts of the httle 
ones as long as it remains. On the other hand, certain 
lumber has been advanced from $18 to $26 per the; sand 
this year, with the promise of a like advance next year. 
Is this not a terrible destruction of trees? The senti- 
ment is fine, but- can our forest stand this drain? Forty 
years from now these trees would have been far enongh 
advanced in growth to be of use for building purpose. 
You are advocating moderation bags in fishing and 
shooting. Why not take up this matter before it reaches 
the possibility of being the cause of a famine in lumber? 
I have two little boys who annually enjoy their Christ- 
mas tree, so I am able to see both sides of the case. 
ChAS. G. BLANDtmD. 
Florida East Coast Fishing;, 
BiscAYNE Bay, Fla., Dec. 19. — The kingfish seem to 
be a little late this season, but are now being taken in 
large numbers on the reef off Cape Florida, and afford 
excellent sport. Some good catches of Spanish mackerel 
reported from the lower bay opposite Soldier Key. 
Camerambler. 
Fixtures. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
1900. 
Jan. 22.— West Point, Miss.— United States Field Trial Club's 
' annua] trials. W. B. Stafford, Sec'y. 
Feb. 5. — Greenville, Ala. — Alabama Field Trial Club's fourth an- 
nual trial.'!. T. H. Spencer. Sec'y. 
Nov. 18.^Newton, N. C— Eastern Field Trial Club's twenty- 
second annual field trials. S., C, Bradley, Sec'y, Greenfield Hill, 
Conn. 
That Carted Deer/' 
Editor Forest and Stream: _ , 
What are the facts as to the carted deer that is regu- 
'larly "hunted" by "the Queen's buckhounds"? In a 
general way I have the impression that the safety of the 
stag is carefully provided for, and I remember once 
seeing reference to the deer hunted by his name — "Old 
