22 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[July 14, 1900. 
An Ideal Retreat, 
But few American friends across the border have any 
idea of the beauty of our lakes in the Midland counties 
of Ontario or the facilities for reaching them. Of all lo- 
calities, perhaps, Salmon Lake, about two miles from St, 
Ola Station, on the Central Ontario Railway, affords 
the easiest access for a summer retreat. By leaving To- 
ronto by the evening Canadian Pacific or Grand Trunk 
train you can reach your camp or cottage by 10 A. M. 
next morning, and again, by leaving the lake at the same 
hour, you reach Toronto early in the evening. 
The lake is nearly five miles long, and from one to 
two broad, with deep bays and high, rocky promontories 
running away back into respectable mountains, while all 
around the hills rise from the water clothed with primeval 
forests. Not a settler's house or clearing breaks the 
charm of wild solitude. To the north, not a settlement for 
twenty miles; to the east, a wilderness for forty miles or 
so to the Madawaska, and to the west, almost an un- 
broken forest clear to the county of Peterborough. Deer 
abound in all the countrj'- about and may be frequently 
seen standing on the woodland shores trying to make out 
the passing canoeist, or along the marshy inlets nipping 
oflf the bulbs and blossoms of the water lily, standing 
like statues as your boat approaches them until they make 
you out, and then up goes the "white flag," and with grace- 
ful bounds they disappear in the adjoining forest. Mink, 
marten and otter and, until recently, the beaver, emblem 
of Canadian mdustry, lurk in the woody dells, while the 
partridge is heard drumming in the sjdvan shade. In the 
deep crystal waters sport the large lake trout, and on 
rocky bars the gamiest black bass of all our waters await 
to contest the angler's skill. The bass average from 2 to 
4, and not infrequently one of 5 and even 6 pounds, dark 
.green in color, small mouthed, and so gamy they will 
jump three and four times out of the water in their en- 
deavor to release the cruel hook, making you anxious 
for your tackle, and if you land three out of every five 
hooked you may consider you are doing well. 
One consideration of camping on this lake is that you 
are in easy reach of so many waters. Two miles or so 
to the southwest is Bass Lake, famous for its fishing. A 
short mile row or paddle up the channel from the head 
of the lake places you either on the waters of Dark or of 
Devil Lake. These two lakes conjoined are nearly as 
large as Salmon Lake. By following up the channel from 
Dark Lake you reach Dickinson's Lake, and from here 
a short walk over the portage brings one to the Blue 
Lakes, where the bass are plentiful beyond belief, as few 
anglers visit these waters. Here are" three small lakes 
opening out into one another as blue as a whetstone, 
which gives them their name — Ytvy clear water with beds 
of marl. Here you are miles from any habitation, lofty 
pines wave their plumes on the giant hills around you, 
and the charm of the native wild almost makes you envy 
the life of the early redman before inevitable fate brought 
civilization upon them to ruin, to conquer and destroy. 
The beauties of this locality and the facilities it afiforded 
for fishing, hunting and trapping were not unknown to 
the former generation. About thirty-five years or so ago 
Bob Holland, an Englishman, built a cabin upon a lofty 
promontory opposite the outlet commanding a view of 
the whole lake and went into trapping and hunting, which 
yielded him large returns. 
Many of the hunting parties from the front visited these 
localities in those days. Holland was a genial fellow, and 
a hunter not to know Bob Holland was put down as a 
tenderfoot. He had many boon companions, and right 
royally did^he entertain them. 'Many a story of hunting 
exploits, of sportsmen's dinners, of midnight song and 
revel m those days are still told in the settlers' homes or 
by the glowing camp-fire. 
At that time and subsequently a long, tedious journey 
over only the execrable lumbermen's road had to be un- 
dertakne from the village of Madoc, until the building of 
the Central Ontario Railway connecting with the C. P. R. 
and the Grand Trunk, and which lands the visitor at" St." 
Ola Station only two miles from the waters of the lake. 
In 1886 Col, Lamont, then private secretary for Presi- 
dent^ Cleveland, afterward Secretary of War in Mr. Cleve- 
land s second administration, camped here with a party of 
friends from New York and Syracuse. Subsequetly a 
few cottages, with ample ice houses, have been built upon 
the islands and picturesque spots. Boats and all supplies 
can be obtained at the village, while the best of home- 
made bread, good butter, milk, cream, vegetables and all 
kmds of berries galore can be delivered at camp by set- 
tlers. You are in receipt of your letters and papers daily 
with such easy access to the front you are enjoying 
all the comforts of civdization in the invigorating atmos- 
phere and grateful relaxation which our Canadian wilds 
afford. Here you are about 1,200 feet above the waters 
of Lake Ontario. 
Many people who cannot afford to absent themselves 
from business for a few weeks find relief in short excur- 
sions on our great inland waters, but a large number of 
those who can do so pass a few weeks in expensive sum- 
mer resorts and return home with a small stock of health 
and a jarge hole in their purse. On the contrary our 
Canadian lakes afford that freedom from care, the very 
life of the lotus eater, so attractive to the imagination 
The clear air is redolent with resinous odors from cedar 
thickets or balsam ridges which line almost every shore 
and numerous are the sand beaches where the clear water 
so gently deepens for many, many yards, where even chil- 
dren may learn the art of swimming without danger In 
the morning and evening, boating and canoeing- at all 
times you mav try your luck and skill with rod or troll 
In the noontide heat, with novel and pipe, you enjoy your 
hammock in some breezy shade, and so soon as dusk 
steals over mountain and stream and the great headlands 
ceas_e to cast their image upon the mirrored water a 
glorious carnp-fire. Now and then an excursion and pic- 
nic to ah adjoining lake, with a row home on the moonlit 
waters, vary the daily experience. Such is camp life. 
After four weeks or so of such experience you return 
to /.our homts with 8 stock of health and conscious ^r. 
joyment, and with glowing anticipations of even a hap- 
pier outing the next season. 
Let us hear old Nessmuk sing the praises of his ideal 
camp if you are skeptical of the enjoyment: 
"There is a spot where the plumy pines 
O'erhang the sylvan banks of Otter; 
Where pigeons feed among the vines . 
That hang above the limpid water. 
There wood-ducks build in hollow trees, 
And herons among the matted sedges, 
While drifting on the summer breeze 
Float satin clouds with silver edges. 
*' 'Tis there the bluejay hides her nest. 
In thickest shade of drooping bushes. 
The fish-hawk, statue-like in rest, 
1 Stands guard o'er glassy pools and reaches. 
The trout beneath the grassy brink 
Looks out for shipwrecked flies and midges. 
The red deer comes in search of drink 
From laurel brake and woodland ridges. 
"Beneath a hemlock grim and dark, 
Where shrub and vine are intertwining, 
Our shanty stands well roofed with bark. 
In which a cheerful blaze is shining. 
The smoke ascends in spiral wreaths. 
With upward cxirves the sparks are trending. 
The coflEee kettle sings beneath, 
Where smoke and sparks and leaves are blending." 
E. B. Fe ALECK. 
Belleville Ont. 
The Forests of Spanish Honduras. 
The Spanish Honduras forests are liberally stored with 
game. The Currasaw macaw, partridge and pava are 
among the birds found in those woods, while in the ani- 
mal line are to be found the pisote, a small animal re- 
sembling the raccoon of the Southern States; the peccary 
or wild hog, and several species of monkeys. 
One day last February I started out for a walk of three 
or four leagues into the forest with a friend, a Mr. John 
H. Swart, of Porquin De Copan. It was early in the 
morning when we made the start, carrying with us a 
machete apiece and a shotgun. Swart's Mossa went 
with us also, carrying a sharp machete for the purpose 
of cutting a way through any underbrush which we 
might encounter. 
In traveling, I have passed over many beautiful roads, 
but never have I feasted my eyes upon such paths of 
beauty as I that day looked' upon as we clambered up 
and down the sides of small mountains and over or 
through rippling streams born of the mountains and of 
the dew. Keats' line is here everywhere appropriate: 
"Sleepy paths where shady twilight dreams the summer time away." 
About two miles out of the little town in which we 
were both stopping we came to the Rio Bamayho. This 
we crossed as all streams are usually crossed in Central 
America — on the back of the Mossa. For a new be- 
ginner in this mode of bridging a stream, the first ride 
is A^ery exciting, the Mossa stooping until the rider gets 
well located on his shoulder, and then grasping his legs 
firmly under the knee he starts slowly into the stream, 
feeling along with his feet for any sudden '"sag" in the 
river bed. Each step seems to the nervous rider a sure 
precipitation into the current of the stream, as he sits 
up, his head and shoulders flapping aboA^e the Mossa's 
head as a flag waves on a windy daj'. 
On all sides of us, and extending into the dark, Avaxen 
looking forests as far as the eye can see, were the great 
palms, which so beautify and typify all tropical land- 
scapes. Along the road that day I noticed ferns growing 
to the size of large trees and vines, Avith exquisite floAV- 
ers on them like morning glories blooming in the broad 
sunlight, throwing off a most delightful tuberose-like 
odor. 
The smaller streams of Central America are generally 
bridged Avith fallen trees, Avhich are throAvn across the 
strearn so as to permit of their limbs interlocking and 
allowing one by skillful climbing to escape across it 
with seldom more than three wettings. I know of no 
more pleasing sight to the eye than the vista stretching 
along the bank of some Central American river. Beau- 
tiful trees groAV on either side, casting their shadows in 
the clear Avaters of the bending slream. The low moun- 
tains back irom the river, carpeted with green and 
pinnacled Avith palms, form a pleasing background to 
the stream. 
About six miles out on this road we began entering 
by a Avinding trail or path the palm forests. AVhen once 
well into the forest Ave found that the shadows were 
"perpetual shade," with only an occasional ray of sun- 
shine glimmering here and there upon the palm-lined 
pathway. The trees found here, other than palms, were 
almost ahvays weighted doAvn with orchids of great 
beauty and fragrance. Wherever the palms gave Avay 
to trees of other varieties the sunlight Avould have the 
effect of draAving quantities of macaws to their branches, 
feeding on the leaves, bark and nuts. I shot one in one 
of the trees that measured several feet from tip to tip 
of wings. They are of beautiful colors, being bright 
red, green, yelloAv and blue, with a Avhite face, Avhich 
gives them an odd appearance. Among the densest 
palms I saAV a small drove of Avild hogs or peccary, 
Avhich scurried away in the gloom of the further forests! 
The constant chattering of monkeys and different vari- 
eties of birds Avas heard continually through the forest, 
and evidently from the sound they were high up in the 
larger trees. 
In almost every damp, shady place one will find grow- 
ing a flower called the wild "plantinao." Avhich bears the 
most exquisitely shaded and mottled floAver I have ever 
seen. _ It looks so much like an artificial floAver that 
one will take it in his hand without discovering the de- 
ception. The plant is very much like the canna lily, and 
I imagine would thrive in the Southern United States 
out doors under very much the same conditions, and 
perhaps in Northern conservatories, well Avatered, with 
plenty of reduced sunlight. Wild caladiums of elephant 
ears groAV e-^ery where, and it is a common sight to see 
a barefooted native walking calmly alon.g in a heavy 
rain gtprm pj- in the glaring sunlight under one of these 
leaves, using it as an immense umbrella. A tree rom- 
monly seen in Central America is the yellow levei tree, 
which has a graceful drooping habit, and long handsome 
green leaves. It derives its name from a pod which it 
bears and which the natives think properly boiled and 
kept about Avill conjure yelloAv fever, as they say, and 
render it a harmless malady. 
_ The people one meets in a forest ramble are very 
sirnple people, and are generally very lightly clad. A 
bright-colored shawl and a yard or two of fancy ribbon 
would make ample covering for several large families. 
On no country of our earth are the beauties of nature 
more prodigally lavished. Mighty inland seas, up to the 
present time mighty solitudes, save for the presence of 
bird, fish or beast; mountains gorgeously wrapped in 
green from base to summit; valleys fertile with the fer- 
tility of land that has never been tilled by human hands; 
unsearched and unsearchable forests of mahogany, ebony 
and dyewoods, and teeming with game, from the small 
pisote to the Central American tiger and lion; skies 
touched with all the soft rosy tracery known only to the 
Master Hand, and air balmy as a Florida April day. 
To-day an unkncAvn and unfathomed wilderness, but ere 
long the Mecca of many tourists, who Avill go there to 
revivify themselves in the balmy breezes, listening to 
strange sounds and amusing theraseh^es seeing strange 
sights nowhere to be equaled for quaintness or queer- 
ness on the face of the globe. Paul Ward. 
Stories from the Woods. 
Being Notes from Memoranda of Talks Avith the Guides 
at the Boston Show. 
Beaver Increasing in Maine. 
The A'laine guides from various parts of the State report 
that beaver are increasing in numbers to a marked extent. 
John Cushman thinks there are seventy- five beaver on 
Snake Brook, a stream flowing into Third Lake, well up 
the East Branch of the Penobscot. Ten years ago Joseph 
Mitchell, of Patten, went to Third Lake with John 
Francis to look up the beaver, and estimated that there 
were then thirty-six in that neighborhood. 
Cushman says there is a family of beaver within half a 
mile 01 his camps on Katahdin Lake, and that last fall 
one of the guides found a second family two miles away. 
Warren Wing, of Flagstaff, says there are a great many 
beaver in his neighborhood, and that they are causing 
some damage by floAving loAv-lying timber lands. Popple 
and birch, Avhich constitute a large portion of their food, 
have gained a commercial valuation of late years, and 
trees up to 14 inches at the butt are cut by the beavers. 
The guides are unanimous in saying that the law pro- 
tecting beaver has been well observed, and that few, if 
any, beaver skins have been sent out of the State. 
Locked Antlers. 
Howard H. McAdam, of Calais, Me., exhibited the 
heads of tAvo buck deer with the antlers locked. These 
were the property of Henry F. Eaton, of Calais, who 
secured them from a hunter Avho came upon the deer 
while still alive, though very Aveak. It was supposed 
that the deer had been locked by their antlers three or four 
days when found. 
Both were large deer. One had a very symmetrical set 
of antlers, Avith four points to a side, while the other had 
eight points on one side and nine on the other. The 
four-point buck had had decidedly the best of the fight, 
having put out one of the other deer's eyes before be- 
coming locked, and having also inflicted a number of 
wounds on the head and neck of the other. His left antler 
eventually slipped around under the larger deer's throat 
just behind the jaw, and the tines on the other horn be- 
coming interlaced Avith those of his opponent, the two 
bucks were locked so securely that it Avas impossible to 
separate them. 
Was it murder or suicide, or simply accidental death? 
In the second set of locked antlers one of the bucks had 
driven his antler 2 inches into the eye of the other. 
When Bear Cubs Are Born, 
Mr. McAdam has mounted some of the tiniest bear cubs 
that Avere ever so perpetuated. These cubs Avere secured 
by Charles F. Keef, a lumberman, of Vanceboro, Me., about 
the middle of January. George W. Ross, who represents 
the New Washington County Railroad, and who is also 
chief warden for the county, gave the following particu- 
lars of the capture: 
One of the teamsters at Keefs camn came in and com- 
plained to Mr. Trafton, the boss, that there was some- 
thing near Avhere they were yarding that scared the hor-es. 
Trafton went to the place with an axe, and found that 
a bear had denned under a stump nearby. The bear was 
persuaded to come part way out, and Trafton hit her on 
the nose Avith the axe, but the bloAv Avas ineffective and the 
bear retreated into the den. Mr. Keef was then sum- 
moned, and on his arriA*al Avith a Winchester the bear was 
shot and killed. After receiving the first shot and before 
dying, the bear gave birth to one of the cubs. The other 
had been born preAnously, and they Avere found in the 
den. An unsuccessful attempt was made to raise the cubs 
on the bottle. It is added that George H. Boardman. the 
Forest and Stream correspondent in Calais, denies the 
truth of the statement relating to the birth of a cub after 
the bear Avas shot. The matter is interesting as throwing 
hght upon the time bear cubs are born. 
The Horns "Wilhout the Head. 
The antlers of deer and other game animals are some- 
times hit by rifle balls, and not infrequently fine trophies 
are ruined as a result. To secure a set of antlers with a 
gun Avithout injuring the animal that carried them is a 
far different matter, and a feat not likely to be duplicated 
upon short notice. 
,,rM, J^^? rxzm&d Churchill, who was hunting a^ 
Will Atkms OxboAv camp, has succeeded in accomplishing 
It however He AA^as out with a guide by the name of 
McKmny, from Auburn, Me., nn the first snoAv last No- 
vember, and started a moose. The trail was followed and 
eventually the hunters came up with the moose standing 
with its head exposed, but the r^si- 9f its body cont 
\ 
