4 so 
FOREST AND STi^£:AM, 
[Juke 9^ igoo. 
Leaving orders to be called_ at 3 o'clock sharp, we at 
once retired, killed to sleep with the music of the rain on 
the roof directly over txs. When w-e met in the hall avc 
foijnd it \vas- 2:30 o'clock, and at once began making 
prepai^iations to get out on the lake. It had ceased 
raining, but was pitch dark. As we were groping aroimd 
I remarked to the Jvidge, "Tlit- early bird catches the 
worm." " 
"Well," says he, "the early bird will get the nicest 
bait," and he began to scoop out the largest minnows in 
Riker's box. 
■ In a few. minutes we were in our boat and rowing 
toward the upper end of the lake, and found that we had 
time to spare, as it seemed to be useless to expect any 
results before dawn. As we were rowing along, the 
Judge was posting me how to act and handle the big 
bass, and naturally had me at that stage of anxiety which 
it Would be impossible to term anything but "buck 
fever," if we could apply the term to fishing. . , .; ^ / 
We had both our lines out about 100 feet, baited with 
fine live minnows, and finally the Judge said, "I<foW-, .we 
ought to soon be .on the ground." By watching the 
shore carefully, w-e found that a' few moments would 
bring us on his favorite ground. As we started across 
a small- Inlet, I received an awful tug at my line, and 
without thinking, immediately tried to hook hini without 
allowing the fish time to take the bait. The J,u<lge of 
course saw my niove, and at once began to reprimand 
me for prematurely trying to hook my fish, and of course 
to avoid his censure I claimed to have been fast to some 
grass. At that moment he dropped his oars and said. 
."I will show you what kind of grass you were fast to," 
and began to pull the line off his reel. After giving about 
10 or 15 yards of line, he said, "Guess he has about 
enough," and then .gave the fatal strike. The effect of 
that strike seemed to me to act like touching tiie button 
to a submarine mine, for immediately there was ?m awful 
commotion 150 feet from the boat, as the bass rose .1 feet 
out of the w^ater. 
After playing the iash ten minutes, we landed him, and 
he weighed pounds. The Judge then caught tlirec 
more before 7 o'clock, and I began to feel as if my 
"luck" would again be repeated; but my companion 
kept my spirits up by s.nyin.g the}' would come my way 
soon. About 8 o'clock the long-expected strike came, 
and I immediately began giving line, and when T gave 
him the rod I experienced my first battle with a black 
bass. The Judge can possiblv describe my actions better 
than I; but after he had netted the fish he complimented 
me by . sajnng, " V er}^ well done, indeed." 
The next bass I caught gave me more pleasure and 
satisfaction. A strong w'ind began blowing, and about 9 
o'clock the Judge desired to go ashore. He was rowdng, 
and reeled in his line and began rowing ashore. When 
the boat reached shore 1 began reeling in my line also, 
and when within 5 yards of the boat there was a strike. 
After calling the Judge, who was in the act of stepping 
off the boat. I began to give the fish line, and gave him 
nearly all I had, and still he, did not make the usual halt. 
Finding that he w-as not going to stop, I gave hijtn the 
rod. and the battle began. The Judge immediately rowed 
into deep water, and we played him to a finish. The 
weight was zYa pounds. 
We left the lake at 4:30 with eight black baSs, the 
smallest a little less than 3 pounds. We could have 
taken many more, but Judge Huston is a thorougn and 
conscientious sportsman, and refused to do any fishing 
over or near the beds. We discovered that May 30 last 
year found hundreds of black bass spawning. The Judge 
insisted upon my bringing five of the bass to Newark, 
and I found three of them to be full of spawn. 
A. C. Ebie. 
Angling in Canada. 
The American anglers who returned frofli their spring 
fishing upon Canadian waters in the early part of last 
Aveek, confirm all previous reports of the backwardness 
of the season, and admit that they were too early upon 
their preserves for the best of the fishing. With the 
exception of the few days that were really warm during 
their stay in the woods, there was but very little insect 
life upon the surface of the water, and the fish did but a 
small amount of surface feeding. Some very large fish 
have been taken by trolling in Lakes Edward and 
Batiscan, and on some of the Triton and Stadacona 
waters fish of 4 pounds and upward have already fallen 
to fly rods. 
The waters of the Metabetchouan Fish and Game Club 
have yielded good sport to a party of American anglers 
who left for home last week. Included in the party were 
Messrs. S. Dodds, Jno. W. Coe, Clarence Bradley and 
William Hall, of Meriden, and C. Bury Peet. of New 
Hav-en. 
' Dr. , Geo. H. Clarke, of Germantown. Pa., who -v^as 
up here on a fishing expedition some days ago, had it 
unfortunately cut short by news of illness in his family. 
A party consisting of Messrs. J. M. Harmon, W. B. 
Ives and Francis Stevenson, of Meriden, Conn., and F. 
N. Benham and Robert J. Fisher, of Washington, re- 
turned on Wednesday from a ten days' visit to Lake Kis- 
kissink. During the early days of their stay the weather 
was somewhat cold and the sport was not lively, but 
tow'ard the end it brightened up wonderfully and they 
made splendid catches, being thoroughly 'satisfied with 
their trip. . 
The Rev. Messrs. P. R. Converse, of Rochester, Tif, Y.. 
and Alex. Mackey-Smith, of Washington, have just re- 
turned from the Triton tract, where they have had more 
than the average amount of "fisherman's luck." 
It is understood that at last the organization for the 
largest fish and game club in Canada has been perfected. 
Its name is the Roberval Fish and Game Association 
and, its promoters claim that it is to be the -biggest thing 
of the kind on earth. Its prospectus is ready and M'ill 
be issued by the time that th^is letter appears in print. 
His Excellency the Earl of Mmto, Governor-General of 
Canada, . in -the patron of the club, Sir Wilfred Laurier 
has been enrolled as its first member, and a large and 
influential membership has already been secured without 
any solicitation. The Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council of 
the Province of Quebec has incorporated the club, and 
its constitution and by-laws have been approved by the 
^otiorfiWe Cotiiraissioner of Lan.iJsi,, Forest,? and Fisher^ 
ies of the Go-<^ernii£ent of Quebec. The Governni'^nf, by 
order-in-council, signed' by His Honor the Lieutenant- 
Governor, has confided to Mr. Beemer, the founder of the 
Association, the fishing rights in 30,000 square miles of 
territory, north and northwest of Lake St. John and the 
Saguenay, and man}- pri\ate rights have already been 
secured by him. The cluli lias acquired these rights from 
Mr. Beemer in cxchango for a certain amount of the 
company's stock. As soon as the membership of the new 
Association is large enough to warrant it, its waters will 
be closed to all but members and their friends, aird the 
system of protection and hatcheries that will be main- 
tained will insure a maintenance of the present fish sup- 
ply. So niuch good work has been accomplished already 
m the preservation of Canadian fish and game by the 
existing clubs that it is altriost impossible to estimate 
the benefit that will accrue to the country from an organ- 
ization of the magnitude of the Robefval Fish and Game 
Association. 
A number of Ameri&iit salmon fishermen, including 
A'lr. A. N Cheney, of Glens Falls, are going to the Risti- 
gouclie next week for salmon fishing. 
E. T. D. Chambers. 
yuiJiiKC, Canada, Jimt; 2. 
The Maine Waters. 
Boston, June 4. — The first body of early sportsmen to 
Maine waters is returning. Never before has that body 
been as great. The number is remarkable. Saturday 
brought ;i. great many fishermen liome. There came 
down by morning train from Bemis that da\' over .sixty 
people, and every one had been a-fishing. This beats the 
record lor any one train bearing sportsmen from that 
section. Railway men say that there "has never been 
anything like it." Yet this is the outlet of b"t i,>ue .Main" 
fishing section. Other routes are equally well patronized. 
The movement toward Moosehcad, Penobscot and Aroos- 
took waters lias been equally great. On board the trains 
every man and boy has fishing rods, and many of tne 
woihen. All talk fish and fishing. Trout and satmon are 
the, words most heard, while the conversation turns upon 
their capture, size, weight and the precise spot where 
taken. .A bright young lady, coming into Boston by Fly- 
ing Yankee, Saturday evening, says: "I heard' nothing 
but trout, trout, all the way from Portland. I concluded 
that everybody had been a-fishing." 
Best 0/ ail. the returning sportsmen are reasonably 
satisfied. At the Rangeleys the number of trout taken 
has been greater than ever before, although the size is 
hardly up to former seasons. There has been an increase 
in the number of salmon taken and the size is fully uj) to. 
ttie tormer seasons. For a w'eek the weather has been 
reniarkalily fine, alid there has been one or two days of 
u-iost remarkable fishing. Over 100 pounds of trout and 
salmon were brought in at the Upper Dam one day last 
week, while at the Middle Dam the fishing begins to 
be good. Big catches are reported at Haines' Landing. 
At Billy Soule's there have been many happy anglers. 
Right off the wharves at Beinis good catches by troitt 
continue to be made, with occasionally a salmon. Trolling 
and bait-fishing will soon give way to fl5'-fishing in the 
Rangeleys. Alread}' some good fiy -fishing is reported at 
^ifuusehcad, where trolling and baith-fishing has been 
excellent. The togue taken there have not been as large 
as usual, but the number has been greater. More salmon 
tlian ever I'lefore are reported, with the size generally a 
little larger than a j'ear ago. Salmtm up to 4 and 4^4 
pounds are reported. At the Rangeleys they run larger, 
though many small ones are taken. The record this year 
includes the lo-pound salmon, taken at the Upper Dam, by 
Mr. SufYern, of New York, of which the Fore.st anu 
Stueam has already had an accounlf, and a record-breaker 
taken last week, from Rangelej^ Lake, by Mr. ,C. F. 
Hutchins. of Boston. This salmon weighed ioJ4 pounds, 
and was a beautiful specimen. The fish was all game, and 
came to the net onlj- after a hard fight. The best part 
of this story is that Mr. Hutchins is reported to have 
turned the fish loose for some other fellow to catch, after 
having weighed him. A salmon of 10 pounds is also 
credited to Mr. W. H. Y'oung, of the Allerton Lodge 
partv. Moo.selucmaguntic Lake. In that party this vear 
were Col. E. B. Haskell, e.x-Mavor Edwin U. Curtis, Col 
H. T. Rockwell, John A. Lovell. Fred Fehon, tl. A 
Priest and Frank A. Chase. The gentlemen, most of 
Ihem, haA^e visited the same camp for many seasons. 
They I'lave had good sport this year. 
Talking with a prominent Maine politician the other 
day, he freely expressed the opinion that at the coming 
biennial session of the State Legislature something more 
must be done to keep up the supply of fish to be taken in 
Maine waters. Trout and salmon arc being taken by 
the tons, and without great restocking no waters in the 
world can continue to furnish so many fish. The interest 
in fishing is rapidly increasing, wdiile it is certahi that the 
supply of fish is growing less. While it is admitted the 
siqjply of fish taken each j^ear has not j-et greatly fallen 
oft", it must also be granted that great improvements in 
tackle and devices have been made, and that these im- 
provements in tackle are required to. keep up tlie supply 
of fish taken. Tlie supply is being too greatly taxed, and 
only a few years will be required to put the celebrated 
Maine triuit and salmon waters where the Adirondack 
waters are to-day. with the fishing exhausted.. The only 
salvation Hes in'restocking and in doing much more in 
that direction than the State has ever done. Some method 
must be adopted to pay for this restocking. The farmers 
and manufacturers of the State w-ill take alarm at the 
bare mention of any increase in taxation, and will oppose 
it to the bitter end. "If the sportsmen want to fish, let 
them pay for it," say the fanners and those not interested 
in tliat sport. Already some sort of a tax on sportsmen 
from out of the State is proposed, the revenue to go to- 
Avard restocking Maine Avaters. But the gentleman is also 
reasonable enougli to admit that such a tax will carrj' 
some difficulties Avith it. In the first place, the increase 
in rod and line sporting is greater in Maine than outside 
the State, if such a thing is possible. A tax on every man . 
Avlio fishes is suggested. , ■ 
A Jackman. Me., special to fke Boston Herald says 
that the Birch Island sporting camps, at Birch Island 
Holeb Pond, which for ten years have: been managed bv 
Ty, ?, Ki'nhe, pass this seasOTi into the hgncls o{ <C^ •%, 
Cook, of Boston. Mr. Cook has beert, a guest at these 
camps for years. The preserve is one of the best. It in- 
cludes four townships—Holeb, DennistoAvn, Lowell Town 
and_ Township No. 6 — each six miles square. In this 
territory are some twenty back ponds and streams AA'hich 
furnisli fishing and hunting, with sixteen branch camps 
located at ten different places. Forty miles of trail con- 
nect them. From the island the headwaters of Moose 
River are reached, and from that point sixtj^-five miles 
of canoeing with few carries lies before the sportsman. 
One may follow the riA^er to Attean Lake and return to 
Holeb, or continue on down the river through Wood. 
Long and Brassua lakes,, to Moosehead Lake, fishing 
and hunting along the line. Associated with Mr. Cook 
are a number of prominent men, including Judge Henry 
Baldwin, S. E. Hyde and A. T. Maynard. In all the 
members of this party, together with their families and 
friend.?, make up a company of about fifty. Messrs. Cook. 
Baldwin and Hyde have built cabins on Birch Island. 
These cabins have priA'ate wharfs. 
Mr. Cook has renamed the camps Boston Ranch, and 
the public will be admitted during the present season at 
least. 
Mr, Charles L. Bly writes from Round Mountain Lake 
that the trout have been A-erv lively e\'er since the ice 
Avent out. Several parties are. there, and have been hav- 
ing rai-e spoi't. .A feature of this lake is that trout rise to 
the Hy at .all seaspiis. Sri-x'i vi.. 
Winds for Anglers. 
"VVhek the wind is in the north," etc.. is an adage 
which applies sO' very palpably to the particular class of 
persons who can peregiinate riyerwards only when the 
weather is" exactly' right that we-^that is, most of us who 
! ave to make little prearrangewi'Uts for a day's fishing — 
are beginning to leave it out of Our ordinary quotations. 
The fortunate people who can go.out-to'fish Avhen they 
like and stop at home through the same inlpulse are pre- 
sumably as numerous as they used to {be-. Some rash- 
minded critics are wOnt to audibly discount the sporting- 
value of a bag of fish made under coiiditituis which arc 
exactly favorable to success; but justice must be done to 
those wljose time is their own, e\'en at the cost of all the 
others who haA'e not such a possessloJT. It may, after 
all, only he the natural envy of the' great multitude oT 
anglers who have to sit at work in an ol'fice thinking of 
Ihe lovely fislting days that pass, and letting their mitids 
wander away to the trout and their haunts;. btit if it is, it 
is a .sympathetic envy. .,V north wind doe's not by any 
means deserve the cold reception that the old saying con- 
demns it to. . Any Avitid at all is better -than the calm, 
staring" clear Avafej' of a breezless day. 'A nortJr wind 
may bloAV up stream, although it A'ery rarely doe.s, or it 
may be dellected \>y the deep valleys and blow any Avay; 
but .still it is a breeze, and a helpful one. 
We wnjre out the other day in half a gale from the 
northwest, the whole concentration of wind blowing 
straight rlown stream. EA^ery now and tlieii the line 
would be Avrenehed out of the water and dashed doAvn 
again with force enough to startle every fish near it. 
Then a gust w'ould catch it as it AA-as sent across the 
stream and hurry it back again, hitching it on beautifully 
.secure in a twig on our bank. Sometimes the fiies would 
go in with such a splash as no development of energy 
•could have acconi]il'shed. But Ave had rare sport, never- 
theless. We .got nearly forty trout, and real good ones. 
In all the grand pi>ols. which in calm weather are left 
severely alone, heavy w.aves chased each other over the 
stirface, and trout came and took the fly as if they had 
been Avaiting for Aveeks lor the opportunity. As we 
drove back that evening, buried in rugs and OA'ercoats. 
we decided, ncm. con., that the man Avho said the skillful 
fisher goes not forth when the wind is in the north did 
not know cv-erything. 
Then this same gentleman's unsparing condemnation of 
.'in east wind wants considerable toning down. An east 
wind blaAving Over a river that has a course toward that 
maligned point is, in summer at least, an unquestionable 
ble.ssing, and by no. means to be caviled at in spring. 
Half of any breeze is better than no w ind. 
On a certain day in April, high up a Cornish stream, 
we were fishing under circtmistances that the go-when- 
you-please fisher would have unhesitatingly condemned as 
of the vilest most vile. Snow showers in gusts of keen 
wind blew right up stream and chilled every part of us 
but our determination. W e had to go, of course, for had 
not the owner in his generosity given us this day, Avhicb 
we had- asked for and prepared for a fortnight before? 
Yet AVC caught trout — each of us nearly a basketful. 
And when the snow stopped, and the. wind too, so did 
the sport. 'V^'e Avanted snow, and never left the river for 
a moment when it came. What tlies could have been 
moving about then we did not stop to inquire. The trout 
wanted ours, and they had them. No; an east wind, if 
the fisher will steel himself against the discomfort of it. 
is not to be placed in tlie category of conditions for stay- 
ing at home. We know- more now than when the nearh 
defunct axiom was accepted that fish will sport the ver^ 
least when the wind is in the east. You A\nll not, be it 
acknowledged, always' get a good ba.g in an east Avind: 
but at times and in places it is a most charitable friend. 
Stay at home becau.se of it? Forsooth!. 
The Gonvicition that a south Avitid will bloAV the bait 
.into the fish's mouth is pure and sirnple superstition. N.^ 
man — that is, no sportsrnan — ^in this Avorld depends on 
sport at an3'' time, even althou.gh all, the conditions ac- 
cording to laid doAvn and ancient principles are in his 
•favor. If either of us were asked to choose his day, h;- 
would probably pick out that time Avhen there were fleec: 
clouds, a light occasional shower and a warm breeze 
But how many of us have gone out rubbing our hands in 
certain expectation of rare tim.es and have come bad-: 
wondering whv on earth trout do not take and our basket 
IS so Hght? 'liiofeatids of flies are eA'ery-where, and fish 
are rising. Perhaps, we argue, it is because of ]this 
plethora, or because they are already well fed, and-can 
afford to pick out the tit-bits; perhaps the water is. -too 
bright, or — well, we are- always fortified Avith excuses: 
but to-day we know not what solid reason to giA^e for 
our bad luck. 
From a sequence of reasoning to Avhich the old couplet 
, .draws us on. it follows that if the wind is in the west 
om eatch fiiraan^ iisli as we like, .From a 1e.ngth?neci 
