886 
III T rri«jmrTria'nTi7iB--Tin-~^f--iit — i i — - 
Alligfatof Lake. 
The names of Union Camp and Alligator Lake recall 
pleasant memories to many local sportsmen. There is 
hardly a spot in the great pine wilderness of Maine that is 
better known to local people than the little green island 
nestling down on the mirror surface of hill-hung Alli- 
gator Lake. Every one of the past eighteen years has 
seen one or more parties of Springfield men sitting in 
front of John Haynes' camp, with either rods or rifles in 
their hands or at their feet. The shores and waters of 
the lake are a true sportsman's paradise, and OA^er the 
crackling winter fire of Massachusetts birch, trips are 
planned to Alligator Lake for the coming spring, sum- 
mer or fall. During the past week the hearts of all true 
Union campites have been made homesick by the sight of 
the fine black bear skin which Fred Swan has just re- 
ceived from Bangor. This skin last fall was the only 
suit of a big bear, weighing close to 600 pounds, which 
Mr, Swan killed near the shore of the lake, within an 
hour after arrival in camp. The Maine Sportsman prints 
the following: 
The giant bear of Maine was secured last fall, late in the hunting 
season, and the members of one non-resident party covered them- 
selves with glory enough to last them for several seasons, while the 
astonishing crop of "fireside yarns" that will cventudlly grow from 
that wonderful bear hunt will distance any others on record. 
Charle.<! Whipple, Fred Swan, William Bellows and Frank Ricli- 
mond, of Sprmgfield; Fratik Howard, of Pittsfield, and Warner 
Holt, of Boston, made up a party toward the very last of the deer 
season for a trip to John Haynes' camp at Alligator Lake, With 
their other trophies they came out of the woods two weeks later, 
bringing two big bears, the smaller one of which would have sat- 
isfied any ordinary sportsman. But thej' weren't ordinary sports- 
men, for they had with them the dressed carcass of the biggest 
bear on record, at least in these modern days of actual records of 
size and weight of game. ' This bear was discovered as he was 
making his den, and when he ventured forth to investigate the in- 
truder, a rifle ball settled his destiny. Bruin was so heavy that 
it took all eight men of the party "tote" him to the boats, the 
bear being strung on four poles, a man supporting an end of 
each. Between 500 and 600 pounds is the recorded weight, and the 
entire skin, which was of exceptional quality, will be prepared as a 
rug by Crosby, of Bangor, leaving the head with its ferocious, 
wide open mouth on the skin. It will be long before another such 
bear is killed in the Maine woods, as these old fellows are found 
only by accident, their extreme cunning enabling them to suc- 
cessfully elude all pursuers. 
It is a long trip from this city to Alligator Lake. The 
most time-saving way is to leave Boston at 7 at night, 
reaching Bangor at 5 130 the next morning. Then comes, 
to the novice, the hard part of the trip. Teams are taken 
at the Bangor Station and a ten-mile drive to Edding- 
ton for breakfast is begun. From Eddington there is a 
drive of twenty-five miles over first-class, but hilly, roads 
to Great Pond, and from there there is a nice walk of five 
more miles to Alligator Lake. The baggage is taken in 
from Great Pond on ox sledges. When the shore of Alli- 
gator Lake is reached John F. Haynes, the veteran guide 
and owner of Camp Union, is waiting with his big flat- 
bottomed boats and two or three cedar canoes of home 
manufacture. The trip to the camp is but a short one 
and the landing is reached before sunset as a rule. The 
little lake is a beautiful sheet of water about four miles 
long and from half a mile to two miles wide, and the 
island is about three acres in extent. John Haynes ob- 
tains the right to have his camp on it from a large lum- 
ber company which owns all the surrounding forest and in 
return he acts as their fire warden. He is a typical Maine 
guide, and also a warm friend of the Springfield men 
who have been there. He has many admirable qualities, 
is 'thoroughly honest, enterprising, knows his business as 
a guide thoroughly, is an extremely hard worker and does 
not use tobacco or liquor in any form. This abstinence is 
a comparatively unusual feature among Maine guides. He 
has visited Springfield and was entertained at Alligator 
Inn, the cottage owned by Messrs. Whipple, Bellows, 
Swan, Richmond and others, at Calla Shasta, which is 
named for the Maine lake. 
Alligator Lake has been on the map for some time, but 
it was John Towne and Dwight L. Fuller who officially 
put it there for Springfield people. They were the first 
local people to go there, Mr. Towne having heard of it 
during hig business trips through Maine. Charles E. 
Whipple was also one of the pioneers, and has been there 
every year for some time, and killed a number of deer. 
Mr. Whipple tells an interesting story about the number 
of trout in the lake. He paddled into Fuller's Cove, 
named for Dwight Fuller, one fall and saw the dorsal 
fins of hundreds of trout protruding from the shallow 
water of the spawning beds. When he sent his canoe in 
among them the water fairly boiled as the trout swam 
for the deep water. Of course it is the spring fishing 
that is the best, and some good strings have been caught 
there. It is one of the last lakes in Maine in which the 
ice breaks up in, as the lake is fed by springs, and so is 
one of the last to freeze over in the fall. The record trout 
- is one weighing 734 pounds but this fish was not killed by 
a Springfield man. Mr. Haynes has stocked the lake with 
rainbow trout and salmon, and some salmon weighing 
close to TO pounds have been taken. There is also some 
good fishing in the outlet, called Alligator Stream, and 
one local man on his last trip there caught a string of 
thirty-two, weighing about 11 pounds, one aftenioon in a 
few hours. And not the least pleasant part of the fun is 
to return from a day's sport to the comfortable camp at 
night. There have been three camps built there in the 
history of the place. The first one was of rough logs, a 
small place, and not the most comfortable shelter in the 
world. .The second camp was built on a somewhat better 
plan, but was not large enough, so the present camp was 
intilt a few years ago. This is a two-story structure of 
rough-hewn _ timber outside, with a broad piazza and 
. sheathed inside matched boards. On the first floor is a 
big lounging room and a kitchen, and on the second are 
four comfortable sleeping roonis. 
^ The shooting is the chief attraction of Alligator, and 
it is as good as can be found anywhere. The deer are 
very plentiful, and the local parties always bring one or 
two home with them. Never has there been a party 
there in the shooting season that has not had a shot at 
least, and the men who go there are apt to have something 
to show for the powder burned. Mr. Flagg. a former 
clothier in this city, had a novel experience with a deer 
at the camp a number of years ago. One had been cap- 
tured alive, and was tied to a free with a rope. Mr. 
Flagg carelessly untied the rope from the tree, thinking 
he was -a match for the deer in strength. He was soon 
uvideceived on this point, and after being yanked over 
FOREST AND STHEAM. 
cyefything and through everything on the island, found 
hirnself in the lake, still holding the rope behind the 
swimming deer. Of late there have been signs of moose 
seen near the lake, and one was killed at Nicatous Lake a 
few n:iles aawy. That there are bear there is proved 
by Mr. Swan's fine rug, and there have been several 
others seen there during the past year. Mr. Haynes had a 
trying experience with one a few years ago, when Dr. J. 
K. Wiley and his son, of this city, were in camp. Haynes 
ran across a bear cub and killed it by a shot from his 
rifle. Then the she-bear made her appearance and at- 
tacked Haynes, naturally. He could not extract the empty 
shell from his rifle, and w-as obliged to take to a tree for 
safety, the bear grabbing hold of his boots in his ascent. 
Haynes" dog probably saved him from injurj', if not from 
death, by harassing the bear, and the bear finally became 
so incensed by the dog's attacks that she left the foot of 
the tree where Mr. Haynes was abiding and chased her 
animal foe. Haynes then took advantage of the welcome 
opportunity to make a bee-line for the lake and his boat. 
Among the local hunters who have visited Camp Union 
are Charles E. Whipple, E. A. Carter, Horace F. Clement, 
William H. Sargeant, Charles C. Morgan, Frank B. Rich- 
mond, Arthur Berry, William H. Richards, Warner Holt, 
W. S. Bellows, Herbert B. Handy, J. L. Strong, George 
B. Clark, E. C. Dumbleton, Fred R. Swan, Frank D. 
Foot, James W. Kirkham. Joseph H. Wesson, L. H. 
Mayott, Dr. J. K. Wiley, O. W. Niles, Dr. S. F. Pomeroy, 
Tom Hill, H. W. McGregory, E. L. McGregory, F. W. 
Westcrvelt. The late Horace L. Niles brought home a 
live deer several years ago, which was placed in Forest 
Park. — Springfield Republican. 
ISpring Shooting and the Game 
Supply. 
Seattle, Wash., May 7. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have followed the discussion in your publication re- 
gardmg the spring shooting of ducks, and it is amusing to 
note liOAv those who favor it use every possible excuse to 
bolster up their arguments. The fact remains, however, 
and one cannot controvert it, that if we expect a»y species 
to at least perpetuate its race, it must be allowed to breed, 
and spring shooting or anything else calculated to disturb 
or destroy a species imtnediately prior to or during its 
breeding period operates against this and must in time 
diminish the race. The excuse so often advanced, "If 
we do not shoot during the spring we get little if any 
shooting," is a purely selfish one, and cannot be defended, 
and this excuse is the basis pure and simple of every 
argument ever advanced in favor of shooting during 
that season of the year. 
The condition that confronts us. we who love good, 
honest sport, is no theory; we simply are against the cold, 
hard facts. Game everywhere is decreasing rapidly, and 
we must simply meet the condition. The game laws gen- 
erally regarding water fowl are pretty generous, and give 
the sportsman a good chance to get a fair amount of 
sport, but the trouble is a few wish it all. A man 
cannot be blamed for shooting during any open sea- 
son, only simply have that open season when it does not 
conflict with the mating and nesting period, and even 
go a little further — give the young a chance to become 
sufficiently mature to provide for and protect themselves. 
I have been surprised that spring shooting has con- 
tinued so long in a State like New York, and never 
could quite understand it, unless it has been a question 
with which perhaps politics has intermingled. Out here 
we are in advance of that State. Our season on ducks 
closes, as for a number of years, with February. 
Now, I recall that when I was a boy and living in 
New Y©rk State, quite a few ducks bred in central New 
York. In the spring of 1875 I found a nest of the black 
duck (Anas obscura) with eleven eggs at the foot of 
Owasco Lake, on what was called "The Island." The 
bird hatched the eggs and I saw her a number of times 
with the brood of young. During that same period and 
for a number of years a pair of the beautiful wood ducks 
{Aix sponsa) always nested each year in a dead stub 
about 2}4 feet in diameter that overhung the Owasco 
outlet, and about a mile below the island. These birds 
were finally shot or driven away. Wood ducks always 
bred each year along Blind Sodus Creek, flowing into 
Blind Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario, near North Fair Haven, 
and also along Sterling Creek, near the same town, up to 
about 1885, to my certain knowledge. I often saw the 
birds with their broods, and knew the species well, and 
there are many just such places in that part of central and 
northern central New York that even to-day would be 
used by the_ above-named species as breeding grounds if 
they were given the chance; but the spring shooter seems 
to be so afraid some one else may get them if he does not 
that he at least tries to head off the whole affair. 
I noted what your correspondent from Long Island 
says. Well, if he cannot get any fall shooting there, let 
h'm move and go to some locality where he can, the same 
as many another good fellow has who loved sport; but 
the idea that that locality must have a special game law 
allowing them to shoot during the spring is preposterous. 
If the prohibition of spring shooting cuts them off and 
works good Jor the sportsmen as a whole, why they 
should stand it or move out. The law should be based on 
the facts, the greatest good for the greatest number, and 
no interference with nature's laws regarding the perpetua- 
tion of the species. 
The stand you have taken is right. No spring shooting 
and no market, the time having gone by when a man can 
expect to make a 1 iving by the gun. and by the exercise of 
a little self-restraint on the part of all of us we will be 
able to have some little sport in the days to come ; other- 
wise it takes no prophet to predict for the future. 
I wish the Jefferson county outfit the greatest success 
in their fight for the abolishment of spring shooting. 
Good luck to them ! S. F. Rathbun. 
Like Picking Up Money, 
_ In every city, town and village in the United States where there 
IS shooting or fishing or yachting 'we want agents to canvass for 
subscriptions for Forest and Stream. Every sportsman is deeply 
interested in its subjects, and every sportsman is glad to discuss 
his domgs afield and to hear of the adventures of other sportsmen. 
Money is to be made by canvassers for Forest and Stream, 
and those who wish to take advantage of the opportunity we offer 
should send for premium list and circular. — Forest and Stream 
Publishing Company, 346 Broadway, Nev9 York. 
[May i^, tgot. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
At the Wishininne Glob. 
At the Wishininne Club to-day,' Mr. Graham H. Har- 
ris, president of the board of education of this city, was 
prevailed upon to tell, with becoming modesty, a story 
of how he killed the mountain lion whose skin adorns 
his boudoir. 
"I do not claim," said Mr. Harris, "to be so much a 
hunter as I am a fisherman, and I make no boast regard- 
ing my personal prowess. All I say is that a man often 
does things under the impulse of a wish to protect his 
fellow man, which, under cal-p deliberation, he would 
not attempt for himself. In regard to this mountain lion, 
I did not kill it because I had lost any lion, but simply 
to save the life of my friend Bill Haskell. I heard a loud 
shout, and looking up saw Bill come flying down the 
mountain side, only touching the ground in the high 
places, while behind him, only semi-occasionally landing 
upon even the elevated portions of the landscape, there 
was an enormous mountain lion, upon whose exposed 
fangs the raj^s of the rising sun glittered ominously. You. 
will observe that under the circumstances I did not be- 
come excited. The lion was gaining on Bill, but I saw 
that it would not catch him until they got within gun- 
shot. At the distance of a hundred yards, I raised my 
rifle and drew a close bead upon the heart of the lion 
as it was sailing midair with its deadly paws extended 
and abottt to sink into the quivering flesh of my dear 
friend Bill Haskell, whose terrified shrieks meantime 
rent the air. At the report of the rifle the lion fell dead 
almost at Mr. Haskell's feet. The latter came to me 
with tears in his eyes and thanked me as his benefactor. 
I make nothing of this feat and admit that I could not 
have done it had it not been for the immitlent peril of 
my friend" 
It was nearlj^ thirty minutes after this before Bill Has- 
kel himself came in. "Fellows," said he. as he sat down 
and fastened his napkin with a half-Nelson about his 
neck, "j'ou aught to see the lion skin that Harris and I 
bought while we were out West. I will bet any man at 
this table' that it measures over nine feet." 
The party looked in silence at Mr. Haskell. There 
were no tears in his eyes. 
"I wish yo.u would wait. Bill," said Mr. Harris, "until 
after I go away. Yoit are always spoiling a good story." 
Wrinkles About Rifles. 
I was speaking the other day about sighting of rifles, 
and believe I had occasion to mention the fact tha,t the low- 
leafed Winchester Express rear sight, when placed on a 
.30-40 rifle, brings one's eye so close down to the metal 
breech that it catches a glimmer which makes it difficult 
to draw a fine sight. Billy Hofer and I were going to 
rust the top of the receiver band on our .30-40, but I con- 
ceived a better idea. I took the rifle over to Mr. Stannard, 
the gun repairer of Montgomery Ward & Co., and told 
him I wanted him to file the top of that breech band off 
square and then put something on the cut surface so that 
it would not shine. I thought I was the discoverer of 
this notion, but Mr. Stannard told me he had done the 
same thing for others. He took my rifle and screwed it 
into a big thing that looked like a cook stove, and after 
turning certain bands and cranks set the thing going. 
The result was that he planed a little streak off the top of 
the projecting breech, so that 1 found I could see into 
the hindsight with perfect plainness. Then he turned 
some more cranks and milled the top of the cut just 
as one does a shotgun rib. Then he took some 
kind of black stuff and painted the milling* and lo! 
I had a rifle which comes up very nicely, in which the 
e3'-e hugs the barrel close, but which has no glimmer what- 
ever. It is astonishing how much more confidence this 
little trick gave me in the gun. I do not know whether 
the factory likes to put on this Winchester Express sight 
with the .30-40. The trifling cut made in the breech band 
did not weaken it in the least, and it is practically a 
necessity if one uses the Express sight on that arm. 
I learned some more things about the .30-40 while talk- 
ing -with Mr. Stannard. He has put on for several gentle- 
men in Chicago a milled rib, like a shotgun rib, on top of 
the .30-40 barrel. This makes the gun look better and 
handle better, and it saves that awkward appearance of the 
foresight sticking up into the air. Dr. H. A. Frothing- 
ham, Mr. Phil Woodford and others have tried this rib, 
and they say that it adds a hundred per cent, to the 
quickness of catching sight. They would not have the 
gun without a rib now for anything. 
Now it may not be wise for everybody to hasten to put 
a rib on his .30-40 unless he hsrs it done by some one who 
understand the job. Nor should one leave the gun in this 
way without an entire new sighting. For some mysterious 
reason, it is said that the rib causes the rifle to shoot just 
a little lower than it does without it. The .30-40 rib seems 
to be the coming thing here, but it is just as well to have 
the gun carefully sighted after the rib is put on. 
E. Hough. 
Hartford BuituiNG, Chicago, 111. 
Ptotection in Montana* 
Lodge Pole, Mont., May 7.— Editor Forest and Strewtn: 
I am glad to see that we are going to have the game 
protected out here. A short time ago one of the game 
wardens arrested two men at Havre for using giant pow- 
der in Beaver Creek and killing a lot of trout. I 
understand that they were sentenced to pay a fine of 
$100 each and to ninety days in jail. 
If the game wardens can only catch a bunch of tliose 
Cree half-breeds hunting deer with hounds, and send 
them over the road for a while, it will soon put a stop 
to such business. 
I see by the papers that the authorities are going to 
take all the Crees back to Canada and put them over the 
line, and if they come back after that to imprison them. 
This will be a good thing, for the Crees kill a great deal 
of game, as well as many cattle, and the blame for killing 
both is put on Indians in our State. W. L. A. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier aa practicable. 
