^06 
recoil of both guns was too much, for 6ur nan-ow craft, 
and over we went into the ice-cold water. We both 
popped up at the same time, having lonnd we could touch 
bottom,, and, at least, did not have to swim for it. We 
grabbed the boat, which was drifting off, nearly full of 
water, and then, -as we stood there up to our arm pits, it 
occurred to me that my Greener was somewhere on the 
bottom of the river, and I began feeling for it witli my 
feet. I finally located it. and, as I went after it, with the 
water percolating through my whiskers. Bob became 
conscious of the humorous side of the affair and went off 
into a tit of laughter, standing there in tlic water as if it 
were July instead of Novcniber. which 1 thought would 
continue until there would be no further chance of my 
ever crawling out. for the cold was fast penetrating my 
marrow. Lucky Bob had put bis extra shell boxes into 
a large, tin pail, and it was put to good use bailing the 
boat. Bob bailed away and laughed, while I shivered and 
held the boat, and it seemed to take In'm much longer, to 
laugh than to bail out the boat. 
He finally finished bailing, and the next thing was to 
get into the boat. (I have explained earlier that there 
were no banks that we could wade to short of the club 
house, a full mile away.) Bob held the boat while I 
tried to lift myself over the side. Not having removed 
my hunting coat or the shells in it, together with the 
large, game pockets full of water, the weight was too 
much for me, and I stuck, only half way over. Bob came 
to my rescue, and catching nie by the foot gave me a 
boost which sent me sprawling and drenched in the bot- 
tom of the boat. Then he laughed again, until I thought 
the only way to stop him was by a vigorous use of the 
paddle on him. I was positively freezing stiff. 
He finally decided to board the boat, which he did a 
little more gracefully than I, and we each grabbed a 
paddle, and if Bob had used his as I did mine Ave would 
have been at the club house in short order, but he had 
to stop every minute and laugh, while I had to keep at 
work or freeze up. 
When we caught up with Burt we berated him for not 
answering our distress signals — if Bob's roars of laughter 
could be called such. Burt was rather dubious about let- 
ting the guides know of our accident, for fear of ridicule 
or a dislike to acknowledge that we were not able to 
manage the canoes otrrselves, and finally decided that a 
story to the effect that we had been obliged to wade in 
recovering dead birds would be about the right thing. We 
lost no time in getting into the house and to our rooms, 
leaving a trail of water from our saturated clothing, which 
made every one suspicious of an accident in spite of Burt's 
smooth explanations. 
We made no pause for remarks, but "shot into our 
rooms. As we were getting into dry clothes we could 
hear Burt in the office doing his best to devise likely ex- 
planations — that the boys had been doing some tall wad- 
ing for those rnallards, and got good and wet; that he 
would like to see himself getting into that ice water for 
all the mallards in the country, etc., upon hearing which 
Bob had to go off into another spasm, and, as 1 was feeling 
better on account of the dry clothing, I had to join him, 
for really Burt was doing some artistic lying for us old 
sportsmen, who were too foxy to ever fall overboard. We 
made so much noise that Steve came in to see what it was 
all about, and when he saw us and the piles of wet 
clothing, he went at us, and, finally getting us cornered, 
made us own up that we had been in all over — and Burt 
was still in the office "holding the bag." Strange to say, 
we suffered no ill effect from the ducking, and in half an 
hour after changing our clothes were ready for another 
trip, and feeling simply fine. After dinner we went back 
(with a larger boat) and got more ducks as they came in 
in the evening. 
The next day Ave Avent fishing again, but with small 
minnoAvs, and did not have very good luck, but Avith 
quite a respectable string we started back in time to go 
out on the river for the evening flight of ducks. 
In council that evening it was decided that we Avould 
make another trip to Gum Island, and, profiting by my 
previous experieiice, I determined that I Avould not be 
caught napping if I had another chance at big game. 
Next morning found us upon our way. My old guide Avas 
taken sick on the Avay up, and we decided that it would 
be best for him to return. I felt .sure, however, that I 
could get about alone or keep along with some of the 
others. We started out, Bob and I with his guide, and 
had gone about half the length of the island when the 
guide motioned me to come over his Avay. I walked over 
as carefully as possible, and he whispered that he thought 
he had seen a turkey just ahead of us about a hundred 
and fifty yards. "Presently I, too, thought I could make 
out one. but Avas not sure. The guide then thought he 
had better go over to Bob, and I could Avalk up as care- 
fully as possible, and perhaps one of its would get a shot. 
I started ahead slowly and with as httle noise as possible, 
. stopping and listening now and then, and finally could 
* hear the birds scratching in the leaves, but could not see 
them, and as I was starting forward I saw a big gobbler 
pass an opening in the thicket, but out of gunshot; then 
four more, and in a second another bunch, making fully 
a dozen birds in the flock. They had evidently discovered 
me, and were leaving. I hailed Bob and told him to 
keep a sharp lookout, as the birds had gone his way. 
Then I Avent on toward the place where they had been 
feeding and sat on a log near by, thinking Bob and the 
guide might scare them back my way. In about ten min- 
utes I heard the sound of their walking through the 
leaves and knew there was fun ahead if I did not moA'e — 
and I didn't. On they came, and as I caught a glimpse of 
them noAV and then and could make out how they were 
headed, I became fearful least they should not come close 
enough for a shot. Half of the flock had passed before 
the opening, at a distance away which would have made a 
fine shot k»r a rifle, but loo far for a shotgun, and so T 
still Avaited. Finally out of the thicket, about 50 yards 
away, walked a big gobbler, I could wait no longei", and, 
as he stood stretching his neck, evidently looking for trou- 
ble, I gave him a load of BB's. He rolled and fluttered 
like the proverbial "chicken with its head off," then got on 
to his feet, when I gave him the other barrel, and the 
feathers flew again, and I heard him try to fly and then 
crash into the brush, where he no doubt gave up. I 
started for him, loading on the way, and had nearly 
reached the spot where I had first shot at him, when I 
was attracted by the snapping of twigs and the noise of 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
a heavy animal coming through the brush behind and to 
the right of me, I stopped and looked aroinid, and there, 
coming toward me at a dog trot, about :200 yards away, 
Avas a big, full-antlered buck deer. 
Again I stood still, for I had no chance to drop or 
hide, and decided that my chances for a shot lay in my 
ability not to move a muscle. On be came, and I had 
time to note that his tongue was banging out of his mouth 
and that his horns were as fine as any T had ever seen. I 
did not think of it at the time, but T had no, sign of "buck 
fever" Avhich I had lieard so nincli al)out. What was 
worrying me was that 1 had no buck.shot in my gun and 
no chance to get them there. On he cain^ and still 1 
stood, until he had just passed me, and was as near as I 
could get to him and not be discovered, I raised the gun, 
took a careful aim and fired. With a great leap he seemed 
to turn in the air and was heading directly for me, and at 
a gait that promised to run me down. I stood ready, 
however, to get the closest possible shot, when he saw 
me for the first time, and before I could rai.se my gun I 
had nothing but a pair of retreating hams to shoot at, 
Avhi-ch I did as soon as I could get a line on them, and 
again the hair flew, but not as far as the buck. The 
wounded or dead turkey was a side issue now, and I 
took up the trail of the buck, Avhich Avas also badly 
wounded, and followed it to the east end of the island and 
as far out into the swamp as we could go. but finally had 
to give it up. 
I was much downcast when the others came along, and 
Bob took up the trail into the swamp, but he, too. came 
back without having located the buck. I then a'^kcd the 
guide if he could pilot us back to the place where Ave 
first saw the turkeys, but he was not sure, and in trying 
he failed completely, so 1 had nothing to show for the 
best day's sport I had ever bad with anything bigger than 
a duck, never having seen a deer in his native fastn;;ss 
before. Ha\'1ng seen woodcock borings near the edgL- of 
the SAvamp.' the others went back and bagged severa' o' 
these fine birds, and on the way back to the boats we killtd 
quite a bunch of squirrels. At the landing we about de- 
cided to stay on the island over night, the guides to 
remain or go home as they cho-^e. but at the last moment 
we came to the conclusion that as aa'C had no blankets 
and practically no shelter, it Avould be the part of wisdom 
to reconsider the matter, we being no longer young boys 
who could stand any kind of exposure as we once c^ould. 
so we paddled back to the club house in time for supper. 
That night Bob and I put our wits to Avork and pulled 
the No. 6 shot out of several shells and replaced them 
Avith buckshot, and, for want of a crimper, borrowed 
needle and thread and seAved the top Avad in. While it 
Avas not our luck on our next trip to the island to have an 
opportunity to use one of these shells, I turned mine over 
to a gentleman, who killed a fine buck Avith one of them 
the next day after we left, so 1 knOAV the scheme will 
Avork. 
The Three B.'s had about reached the end of their 
string; the sands of their vacation time were running 
loAv ; enough time, however, remained before their train 
left for them to take a short trip over on to Panther 
Island to get one or two of those wild turkeys that, ac- 
cording to Steve, had been "using" about a certain clear- 
ing not more than a half mile from the club house. They 
found the clearing, which contained corn, cotton and 
cockleburs. and the Three B.'s went flitting about from 
plant to plant, accumulating cockleburs and cotton, instead 
of honey, and trying hard to see, through the rapidly 
increasing load, a specimen of the wild turkey family. 
Avhich doubtless Avere there somewhere, for Steve had 
said so. The first cocklebur patch covered their clothes 
with a very complete layer, and the cotton patch covered 
the layer of burs, to which Avas added, directly, another 
I'aver of cotton, and the burs stuck to that just beauti- 
fuUv, and soon it was a puzzle picture of three enlarged 
cotton bales liberally studded Avith cockleburs, to find 
that number of turkey hunters. No turkeys were to be 
found, however, and there is no doubt whatever that if 
ever a turkey went there it Avas only for once — and he 
never went there any more. 
The Three B.'s— especially one of them— Avere very 
anxious to get a wild turkey, and they Avandered back to 
the club house in such a frame of mind that when they 
came across a native lying in utter abandon by the road- 
side with a jug by his side, and, being invited to come 
and have something by the individual, who was then 
able to raise his head without assistance, as he volunteered 
the information that he was drunk "last night," it re- 
quired their united efforts to prevent Chch other from 
accepting the invitation. Turkey.s were .scarce and hard 
to get. The natives couldn't geem to get any, and the 
Three B.'s couldn't even buy one, so they went rolling 
homeward singing something like— 
It is, most surely, a very liard lot, 
When, after a trip, speculation is rife 
■ As to what's best excuse for the boys and the wife, 
Since no turks have been killed and none can lie bonglit. 
It was enough to make men of even the Three B.'s 
known character get into the condition the man was last 
night. 
A short trip was made to a neighboring saw mill to 
investigate the methods of changing a tree into merchant- 
able material, and for the purpose, evidently, of testing 
the sensations connected with falling down stairs when a 
soft cushion in the *hape of a pile of saAvdust is at the 
bottom to save the bones. One of them tried it — it is pre- 
sumed it Avas the one who wanted the turkey the most, he 
having had considerable sorrow in this connection to put 
under the overflow. 
With nothing but the return trip to recount, the sooner 
this narrative is closed the better, for the only unpleasant 
part of a hunting trip is the part Avhere it ends; it would, 
perhaps, be better not to have any end, but just continue 
the reality on into an imaginary one to bridge the gulf 
between the one ended and the one Avhich is in prepara- 
tiQn for next falL Bill. 
Notice. 
All communications intended for Forest ahd Stkam should 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., and 
Dot to any individual connected with the paper. 
[Sew. 14, 1901. 
Recollections of an Old Hunter 
and Trapper. 
Mr,_ E. C. Barnard, of Bloomfield, Conn., probably hal 
the distinction of being the oldest hunter and trapper ii; 
active service in the State. On Feb. 5, last, he completer 
bis eighty-first year, and during last winter he covered 
about fifteen miles daily, in making the rounds of his 
traps, and his catch of minks, and other fur-bearing ani- 
mals, has been the largest and ntost profitable he has had 
in several seasons. On a recent visit, the writer found 
the old trapper in a reminiscent mood, and in the cours< 
of conversation he related many interesting incidents o 
his long career Iti hunting and trapping. 
"From early boyhood," said Mr. Barnard, "I have had 
a strong liking for the sports of field and forest, espe- 
cially that of trapping, and I used to .spend my fcAV leisure 
hours in studying the habits of the birds and animals 
about ine, trying, in boyish fashion, to capture them ir 
rudely constructed traps; but. as my father was a plain 
hard-working farmer, who needed all the assistance I 
could lend him, I found but little time to devote to 
favorite pastime. In this emergency I set and visited my 
traps on moonlight nights, after my day's Avork on the 
farm was done. ' Qtiails and partridges were plentiful in 
tho.se days, and there being no game laws, I constructed! 
long hedges and set man3' snares, often catching in a; 
s'ngle round more birds than I could carry home at one 
time. These I disposed of in the near-by tOAvns, at prices 
A'arying from 25 cents to -50 cents each; realizing thus 
early that my trapping propensity could be turned to gooc 
pecuniary account. When I was about fourteen years 
old. I caught my first mink in a' trap I had set for a wood 
chuck. At that time I did not ev-en know the name o: 
the animal I had captured, but Avas delighted with iti 
beautiful, thick fur, and from that time to the present '. 
have made the trapping of minks a specialty. As soor 
as my time became my own, I began to devote the thret 
last months of each year to hunting and trapping, ofteri 
realizing better financial returns from my game and furs 
than from all the care and labor of the other months com-! 
bined ; for in those days all furs brought high pricesl 
Beginning in t86o. and lasting for a number of years, 
prime mink pelts Avere Avorth $15 each. As late as 1870 
I sold seven mink skins, the product of four days' trap- 
ping, for $80. Since then the price has gradually depre-j 
ciated, until to-day prime pelts bring about $3 each. The 
largest catch of minks I ever made in one season was iri 
1895, Avhen I captured forty marketable skins. Th'ii 
catch, though large, only brought an average price of $3} 
less than half their value twenty years ago. It may be 
of interest to knoAV that in trapping for minks I neveij 
use bait, my traps beiiig concealed in the runs the ani- 
mals use in making their journeys up and down thd 
streams they frequent. "Minks live mostly upon fish; ari< 
the fact that they are very fond of trout goes to show that 
they are somewhat epicttrean in their tastes. Trottt an 
peculiar, in that they deposit their spawn in the fall in^ 
stead of in the spring, going for that purpose to the heac 
Avaters of the .smaller streams and brooks. This habit thi 
minks are well aware of, and they follow the trout, kill^ 
ing and eating as they go. Minks are voracious creatures 
often catching at one tinte more fish tlian they can possi^ 
bly eat; these they place in little heaps by the side of thi 
stream for futitre consumption, and the trapper wh( 
chances upon one of these improvised storehouses know 
that its OAvner will surely return. Then if his trap ii 
properly placed, and cunningly concealed, the trapper wit 
be richer by one mink pelt in the morning. 
"The female mink is not particiflar about her nest, o, 
breeding place, and the young are generally born in i 
hole beneath the bank of a stream, or in a crevice of : 
trap-rock ledge. Almost as soon as they are able to wall 
the little fellows leaA'e the nest and take upon themselve' 
the responsibilities of life, catching their own fish anc 
looking out for their natural enemies, of which man M 
most to be feared. * 
"Beside minks I have trapped all kinds of fur-bearin| 
animals known to this section of country, including foxe^ 
coons, skunks, muskrats, and an occasional otter. I shal 
never forget the experience I bad in catching my firs' 
otter, of which I have taken only four in all my years o 
trapping. I was making a little prospecting tour alonj 
the banks of the Farmiitgton River, one winter day, whei; 
I came across a narrow path in the snow, leading fron 
the top of the bank to the river. The track was hard anc 
smooth, and looked a,s if it might have been made by i 
boy with a barrel stave for a sled, such as 1 have ofte^ 
used myself in my boyhood days. A closer examinatiot 
revealed the fact that the creature, or creatures, that usee 
the slide, returned to the top of the bank by a differen' 
route; the tracks in the snow were those of some ani- 
mal I was not acquainted with, and very much mystified 
I reported my find to a fellow-trapper, a man older that 
myself, who had had experience in Northern waters. H« 
informed me that the tracks I had discovered were thos 
of an otter, and that the path in the snow was an otte; 
slide, it being the custom of that animal to amuse himsel; 
by Sliding headforemost down the embankment into tin 
Avater, repeating the performaiace indefinitely if undLs^ 
turbed. My trapper friend lent me some traps whidt 
were made to catch large game, and in.structed me how tc 
set them, but my best efforts were unsuccessful, and in 
a fcAv days I returned the traps, having come to the con-J 
elusion that the otter had departed, it being Avell-knowi 
that the}' are of migratory habits. In a few days, how; 
ever, I cliscovered fresh tracks in the snow near the slide 
and determined to make one more attempt to capture th( 
prize. Going to the nearest town, I procured a strong 
dottble spring trap, with a chain twelve or fifteen fee 
long, attached. Choosing the spot where the ottei 
emerged from the water, in returm'ng to the top of th« 
bank, I set the trap in such a way as I hoped would catcl 
him by the hind leg as he came out ; then carefully con 
cealing the trap with dead leaves and bits of driftwood, '. 
fastened the chain to a stout sapling near by, and de- 
parted for home with high hopes. Next morning I wa! 
early on hand, but found everything undisturbed. Thre^ 
times in succession I A'isited the trap, only to be disap- 
pointed, but on the fourth m.orning, as I approached thi 
.spot. I saw that a great commotion had taken place, aa< 
my heart beat fast with anticipation. Every bush an( 
sapling within a certain radius had been cut down by tl^i 
I 
