Nov. 22, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
41S 
After lunch and a pull at the brier, we again took to the 
water. Dowh Square Lake, through Eagle Lake thor- 
oughfare, across Eagle Lake, then \xp Fish River, aiid 
caiiiped for tjle night at the foot of Lake St. Froid. Hete 
ftga.ih Wil.s tiie coiitage of the tehderfoo.t Sfev^relf tried, 
with atiother iiitrodu.ctioh to till plates aiid camp-fire cddk- 
iiig. While the guides were prepariiig our eveiiing me^I, 
Sam was busy putting in several vigorous kicks from lii.s 
scat on the smoky side of the fire. I shall always think 
that he was communing with the spirit of the departed 
T'oe, for I surely heard him say "Nevermore." Leaving 
him to his own reflections, Billy and I wandered up the 
lake shore and in about half an hour returned with wet 
feet and a dozen pairs of fat frogs' saddles, and this 
was how it happened that oui' bill of fare for breakfast 
was made more temptihg by the addition of frogs' legs, 
d la So.stott. That long- to-be-tciliembereri breakfast oyer, 
a little fishing was iH order. We Were iiot loftg in locating 
the finn}^ beauties that were to furnish oui" midday tiieial, 
and had it not been that we wished to leave a few fdr 
breeding pui^poses. tlie sport might have coritiniied in- 
definitely. 
Going back to camp, a big trout neaidy jumped over 
Frank's paddle. "Feesh ofen jomp in canoe on thi%" 
lak"," said Frank. I glanced backward at his wrinkled 
face, but he gave no sign that the truth was not his 
.specialty. I said nothing, and doubtless Frank concluded 
T bad fi'^hed in other days, for he gave me no further 
information of a similar natttre. 
That night found us back at Square Lake Camp, which, 
the boys h'ad decided, was more comfortable,^ for the 
r.ight in the tent had not been a pleasant one in all re- 
.'^pfeifts.. A friendly oWl, had also camped quite neat Us. 
Sam thought it was a bear. Se sincerely hoped td see; 
its black nose poked under the ca.iivas near where Billy 
was dreaming of a beauty, but no beast. , . , _ . 
Friday was occupied making a trip up the lake to Little 
Goddard Brook. Here words fail to fully describe this 
beautiful stream, with its winding course and ever silent 
.shores. No sound broke the stillness, save the waters 
drip from the glistening paddle. We rounded each bend 
silently, wondering at every turn what new scene would 
present itself on this great panorama of nature; but not 
until the canoe grated on the sand at the trail landing 
was our watchfulness rewarded. There, standing in the 
tall grass, their great dark bodies silhouetted against the 
green foliage, we saw three large moose. This was a 
.sight well worth the paddle of hours, and the entire cost 
of our trip. It is said, a moose is very intelligent, and it 
certainly seemed as though they had read the full text 
of the Maine game laws, and knew we could not harm 
them, for they viewed us with evident curiosity, and 
finally pushed their way into the heavy growth and 
disappeared in the forest. 
Our party continued up the trail some three miles to 
Camp Gilmore, a charming little resting place that one 
must know in order to find. Here was served lunch — 
boiled eggs, sandwiches, fresh blueberries picked en route, 
and a cup of genuine forest-made coffee. Now, a Maine 
guide would as soon forget his dinner as he would his 
after-dinner smoke, and some sports are inclined the same 
way, so our smoker lasted nearly two hours, there amid 
the deep forest. Billy and Sam entertained the circle 
with many fairy tales of unusual interest, some of which 
would have done credit to our old friend Ananias, but 
were vouched for as positively true. Days of this kind 
)>ass all too quickly, and the gathering forest gloom 
warned us back to camp. 
Saturday came too soon — our last day at this delightful 
lakeside home. The day was well im.proved on the water, 
up Big Goddard Stream, around to the pleasant Barstow 
Camp, then over the trail to the head of Eagle Lake, 
where the sparkling water, rippling over the glistening 
"^iinds, gave us a tem.pting invitation for a plunge, which 
was gladly accepted. 
Monday we had prepared for our start to the Hub. The 
morning was chill and misty. The teams had been en- 
gaged, and as all hotel and law business in Boston seemed 
to De at a standstill. Sam and Bi\ly decided they must at 
once return to the haunts of men to put things in motion. 
That was a muddy twelve-mile drive, but no matter, it 
was enjoyed all the same, as well as the sights and 
scenery along the famous Bangor & Aroostook road, to 
Bangor. The mantle of night had fallen when the train 
pulled ont of the Bangor station, and three tired fellows 
sought their berths. 
Tuesday morning we landed in Boston, back again from 
a most delightful trip, and over our breakfast coffee we 
took a vote. Up went six hands, in favor of another 
journey into the forest when business would permit; and 
thus ended safely, a delightful August outing, for Billy, 
Sam and the Guide. Roxbury. 
Fish and Fishing. 
r 
The Weight of Fishing Rods. 
More than the ordinary amount of comment aroused 
■by statements published in Forest and Stream, has fol- 
lowed thp- Vemcirks made a few weeks ago by Mr. Hough, 
relative to the weight of fishing rods. Over and over 
^gaift have I heard references to the matter by anglers 
wAO take a special pride in the qualit}'' of the tools which 
they use. The unanimous opinion of those who have had 
the most experience in experimenting with various styles 
of rods seems to be that Mr. Hough hit the nail squarely 
upon the head when he pointed out that something more 
than lightness is required in a fishing rod. As a well- 
known angler remarked the other day, "a light rod with- 
out heart or backbone is a delusion and a snare." Many 
makers who turn out rods without regard to hardly any- 
thing else than their light weight are responsible for 
nuich discomfort and lack of succes on the part of anglers. 
On the other hand, there is no doubt that a greater meas- 
ure of success in the manufacture of rods uniting light- 
ness with casting and killing power, has been attained 
in America than anywhere else, The superiority of the 
well-balanced split cane rod of American manufacture for 
trout and ounananiche fishing made itself apparent to me 
long ago. and a three and three-quarter-ounce tool has 
been my constant companion on all my inland fishing trips 
of the last four years. Few anglers, I think, will be found 
to begrudge the extra time required to kill a large fish 
ot to $a.y^ a double vyith so delicate and so responsive a 
tool as this, I must confess that when it comes to a. 
stand-up fight with a salmon, 1 have usually preferred 
a Castle Canhell or some other stout rod of the green- 
heart species, because I not only know the dangers which 
threaten the angler's connection with his fish during every 
instant of time, that elapses between the hooking and the 
gaffing of a sahnon, but also because when I go afishing 
for salmon,, it is with the intention of fighting the fish 
that I may be fortunate, enough to hook, and not remain- 
ing passive while they fight me. Wh,at had confirmed me 
in this preference was the experience I had had whh some 
of the split cane salmon rods belonging to conlpattiorts 
with whom I had fished. Last July, however, I found oilt 
that it is possible for a light cane rod to kill a lively sal- 
mon quite as quickly as a heavy Greenheart. My friend, 
Mr. Hart, returning tired to camp, suggested that I should 
try a pool close_by with his new cane rod, while4Te looked 
on. A twenv-six-pound salmon was hooked at alAiost the 
fir.st cast The river was between Mr. Hart and the 
writer, and before one of the guides could cross and bring 
him over to the death in the canoe, the fish had been gaffed 
by the other. _ The rod was. of course, just such a one as 
Mr. Hough describes as desirable for the angler's use, and 
I never want a better orte. What anglers have to guard 
against, however, in buving rods, is that 1ightnes.s of make 
is the main consideration. An expert angler may some- 
times know, or think he knows, just how a rod will act 
by the feel of it when set up In the tackle shop. There 
I.s very much, of course, in a proner balance, and even 
this cannot be well judged unless the reel is on the rod, 
bi<t it is always advisable to have the line run out and to 
take the opportimity of testing the casting power of a rod 
ill some Open space before concluding a purchase. 
^ Change of Opfnion in England, 
. English, vn-iters on sporting topics are now advocating 
the u=.e of lio-.hter fishin.<3r rods, than tho«e hitherto in use, 
^ven in sea P.-^h^ng. .and that -(yell-known fishing expert. 
Mr. F. G.. .A.flalo' t^l's hi^ read^^-rs in a recent number of 
the Field that a light trout rod. which he advocates for 
angling for codling. whitin<r and sea bass in rivers will 
give ten times more sport than the stiff sea rod, which he 
admits is excellent for lifting the heavy skate caught off 
the. British coasts. One of these fish Avas recently taken 
with rod and line at Ballycotton on the Kenmare River, 
weie^hing 120 pounds, and on a handline one of 163 pounds 
has been taken. 
It mav not Drove uninteresting, in connection with the 
si7.e and weieht of salmon rods made in England to de- 
.scnbe one which has passed into my possession It is 
made of whole cane, mottled black and vellow \n color 
and bears on a -brass date arotmd the butt, the name of 
a famous London rod maker. It consists of four joints 
and there is a hollow gaff or net handle, containing the 
-snare tips. All these parts fit into a hollow cane case 
thrpp and a half inches in diameter, and surrounded by 
=ix heavv brass hands, headed by a screw-plate of the 
same material. When nut together the rod weighs four 
r-onnds and a nnarter and measures nearly twentv-three 
fe<;-t _m length. It almost reouires a giant to Avield it Its 
o-smal owner was a Philadelnhia man of large stature 
who used It on the Ste. Marguerite and other Canadian 
.salmon streams several years ago- T am told that it cost 
t^Om £t^ to £20 sterling-, and the beautv of the finish 
shows j.n evident determinat-'on to turn out an exquisite 
piece of work. In its original shape it is better suited for 
a musenin of ano-lino- apnliances or for a fisherman's li- 
brarv tl.an for anvthinP^ else, but T have rendered its' un- 
n^r half useful bv waking a short butt, which takes the 
n\3re of th^ onprmal two lowest joints. As ctt^tomarv 
wifh msnv British rods, the ferrules are colored black to 
prevenMhe reflection of a bright .sun on clear metal frieht- 
emnsT ibe fi.sh in clear water, and probablv the mottled 
color of the cane was contrived fo- a similar purpose. ' 
E. D. T. Chamber.s. 
A Ffsherman Cawg-fat. 
Asrir ^^^'jl^- of the Stagg Street Station, 
William.sbura;h. in an effort to capture a thief who per- 
sistently visited a tailor shop in Graham Street, hid a 
patrolman m the plnce last ni.ght. Shortly after 2 o'clock 
thi.s morning the officer saw a young man open a window 
m the rear of the shop and pass in a lon^ pole to which 
a fish hook and line was attached, which, by swingin<^ 
around, he was ab e to secure some dress goods valued at 
about $30. The thief repeated the trick five times and 
then the policeman from the inside caught the thief's arm 
the noi.se of the struggle brought the tailor, who went 
to the yard and secured a grip on the thief until the offi- 
cer was able to come out. The bov Avas held on a charge 
of burglary.— New York Evening Post ^ 
Mmml 
Ftstttfes, 
BENCH SHOWS. 
sW • S'^Cviilf'stcy --^^ ^''^^ Association's 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Nov. 24.— Glasgow, Ky.--American Championship Field Trial 
A.ssociatinn's second annual trials. C. B. Cooke Sec'y 
ei^Yth -niTaT'trlds.'""'' ^-Co-t-ental Field Trial Club's 
Nov. 24.— Glascow, Kv.— American Championshio Field Trial 
Club s second annua trials. Chas. B. Cooke, Sec'y. Richmond, Va 
* .t. • ^5.-Huntsv:ne, A a.-AIabama Field Trial Club's (member 
of the American Chamjjionship Club) third annual trials. John 
t . b letcher. bee y, Birmingham, Ala. 
''A Vermont Mode/' 
Springfield, Vt., Nov. 6.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
I am the man who described the New England fox 
hunt printed in your issue of Nov. i under the title 
"A Vermont Mode." 
I have read in your issue of Nov. 8. under the same 
caption, a most beautiful "roast" by Mr. Albert Con- 
verse, of Philadelphia, Pa. If Mr. Converse had been 
present when T finished, yoii probably would have lost a 
subscriber. I was stunned, I, % gjime warden of my 
State, a hater of game hogs. I, who had worked so 
ardently for the protection of all kinds of game, was, 
after all, nothing but a pot hunter, a contemiptihile kllow 
who deserved this scathing rebuke. But the friore I 
think about it the better 1 feel. 
From the point of view of the humamitaria'n, the New- 
England method is the better of the two. It lacks all 
the elements of savagefy loftnd in the English or South- 
crn hunt, where the hunters, who are well enough 
mounted, arrive in tim'e fo see an eJchausted fox torm 
to shreds by the wolfish pack. 
From the point of view of the spoft««iafi=ye8. But 
there is no point; there are as many points of view 
as there are kinds and conditions of men. 
I can readily Understand how Mr. Converse, perhaps 
bred of a long line of fox-hunting ancestors, shoulcl 
look upon our hunt as a sacrilege, breaking, as it did, all 
the treasured traditions, 
The New England fox hunter regards with the same 
aversion any man who would trap a fox. Although 
our miethods are tabooed in England and in the South, 
we still entertain much the same regard for our qtlafry, 
A New England fox hunter will not allow his dog t0 
follow a she fox during the early springy, and woulcl- 
see the last of his young chickens or turkeys disappear 
before he would shoot -one in the summer. 
With m if is a question of the present method or 
none at all. Hounds cannot be followed in our roUghi 
country 6n horseback of in carriages, and the people 
up here are too mtich occttpied with the hunt for a 
hving, to sport a pack of hounds, even if they could be 
used. 
Mr. Converse's idea of the facility with which foxes 
are "potted" is erroneous. Wm'. Everett Cram, in his 
book, "Little Beasts of Field and Wood,"' says: "From 
what I can learn, fox-hunting, as it is practiced in this5 
part of the country, is a science that requires a great 
deal of study to make it a success. And the novice, 
though his dogs are of the best, may not even get a 
shot for the first season of two.'' This is true, and T 
can assure Mr. Converse that it feqQife* both leg and 
head work to follow the hounds afoot. Our red 
foxes are so large, so crafty and their powers of endur- 
ance IS so great, that no hounds can catch them among- 
our hills. Therefore, the gun is the only means which 
gives hope of an occasional success, that eleffient with- 
out which no sport can long survive. We like to heaf 
the music of the hounds, none the less, becatf-se we 
only run two or three together. 
Shall the nut-broWn Vermont tad t><l 4enied the de- 
light of enticing the big tfouf from the p6ot tinder the 
bridge because he has' a cut pole and baits with the 
humble earth worfti, while the ffiafi from Fliifadelphia 
throws his flies with a 6-ounce split bamboo'? 'The Som^ 
parison is fair. 
If Mr. Converse or any Oiie else cSti show Us a bet- 
ter method for use in our country under' ^l^isting condf- 
tions, he will be the most welcomed of men" tft'd We wiff 
not even insist on the use of the term "fox-i*U'nting-," 
which, however, appears to rtie a proper Use of the £ng-- 
lish language. As to the use of .sfrioke in the hunt de- 
scribed, this was an experiment tried iii the hope of 
giving us another run. I do not for a moment deny 
Its irregularity. The result was entirely Itnexpected.. 
the other m.embers of this hunt (I have ftothing to 
say for myself and will leave Mr. Converse to draw his 
own conclusions) are gentlemen who would motn to 
shoot a hare in her form or a treed grouse or mtch 
short trout; in fact, they are sportsmen of as true a 
type as any other, and I know they will be as sur- 
prised as I was at Mr. Converse's bitter criticism. In 
the British Isles the deer was formerly htinted with 
horse and hounds, but the sportsmen o'f the State of 
- Pennsylvania "pot" them with guns, and Mr Cofl- 
verse has no more right to "jump on" me than a mart 
who has followed the stag hounds in Scotland has tc 
attack the sportsmen of Pennsylvania for shooting d€€/V 
It all depends on the point of view, and if Mr. Converse 
will give me his address I will send him an invitation" 
to come up to old Vermont, and he will find, much to 
his surprise, perhaps, that we have our own code of 
shooting ethics, possibly as rigid as his own; and I 
can assure him that he will find among our sportsmen 
a generous consideration for the beliefs and opinions 
of others, which is one of the most admirable qualities 
a gentleman can possess. I hope I shall some day 
have the pleasure of meeting the enemy face to face 
for between you and me, Mr. Editor, I don't believe this 
man Converse is such a bad fellow, after all. 
W, W. Brown. 
Rabbits in North Carolina. 
Forest and Stream's readers have knocked "around 
and about, to use a darky phrase, with the writer in this 
southern country, in quest of the 'possum and the 'coon 
the squirrel and the partridge, and the snipe, and now 
they are to be told about a little excursion after the darky's 
"winter friend," to wit: "Bre'r Rabbit." The rabbit is to 
the darky m cold weather what the "watermillion" is in 
summer; namely, a thing to be sought for and eaten with 
the greatest relish. The 'possum is more prized, it is true 
but is scarcer, while "Bre'r Rabbit is ter be had fur de 
lookin'," as a darky sportsman sententiously remarked 
The writer must have enjoyed a thousand rabbit hunts 
j^et they never lose their zest and infinite variety. Each 
rabbit presents a new situation. The dog.s.and the negroes 
are of course as much a feature as the rabbit himself. A 
rabbit hunt lets out all the unctuous joy of the negro, his 
talk, his laughter, his shouts, and meanwhile the dogs 
make music which rings in the glades, romps over the 
hills, is returned in clangorous echoes bv the woods, while 
the heart beats quicker and the legs run faster after that 
httle bit of flesh and fur than they do after an5^thing else 
_ The country around Raleigh is not exactly a paradise 
lor rabbits. A negro once said to me, "De rabbit heaven 
IS up in Chatham county. Up dere rabbits is so thick dat 
dey's two or three un 'em ter every brier heap." A slang 
term for the rabbit is "sand hprse." The writer never 
heard it u.sed save in this particular section. Chatham 
county is really full of them. They are so numerous as to 
be an article of trade, nearly approaching a staple. 
HoNvever, the rabbits in the vicinity Qf RMeigh are nu- 
