494 
The. rfvers between Loutson and Benjamin are 
small, as are their sea trout. Nepissiguit and Miramichi 
are large rivers and their sea trout are the largest in the 
Province. The intervening rivers, Caraquet, Poke- 
monche, Tracadie and Tabusintac are considerable rivers, 
and in them the sea trout rnn large. Below the Mirami- 
chi the rule still holds. Kouchibouguac, Richibucto and 
Biictouche are all small rivers and their sea trout seldom 
exceed V/z pounds. Cocagne and Shetiiac are still smaller 
streams, and their sea trout seldom reach a pound in 
weight, though in all- other respects they are indistinguish- 
able from their larger brethren. In all the above rivers 
the sea trout meet the smelt in spring, spawn in their 
upper waters and winter principally in the tideways. But 
now comes the crux, which those who believe that we 
have a sea trout distinct from fontinalis must explain or 
revise their theory. Along the whole coast, from Richi-' 
bncto to Dalhousie, salmon nets are set in the very track 
of these trout, which the theorists say come from the sea 
to feed on the smelts as they ascend the rivers to spawn. 
These nets are set from May until the middle of August, 
aiid all have "hooks" or pockets of mesh small enough to 
capture ever}' large trout that enters them. Can the 
theorists explaiii why these nets, set in the estuaries of 
all these rivers, in the very track of the sea trout coming 
from and returning to the sea, rarely capture them? The 
few taken are caught in nets set closest to the mouths of 
rivers. Those set furthest from the rivers seldom or never 
take a trout, but capture on the average as many salmon 
as their neighbors. If, as the theorists assert, these trout 
come from the sea in "countless myriads" — "immense 
schools of thousands of barrels" — is it not amazing that 
so few are catight in salmon nets? Another fact, well 
known to all who have really investigated the question on 
ihe spot, calls for explanation from those who have 
pinned their faith on this mythical sea trout. For the 
last ten years of the writer's official life, mackerel traps 
and purse seines were operated as far up the Bay Chaleur 
as Caraquet — about its narrowest part. As these traps 
were set in the direct track of the sea trout, if they came 
from or returned to the sea, and as purse seines take 
everything they surround, special instructions were given 
to local overseers and wardens to visit the localities daily 
and report to the writer the number of trout taken. So 
far as his memory serves, not a barrel of trout was ever 
taken in either trap or seine. Still another question calls 
for answer from the theorists. If, as they contend, these 
trout follow the smelt from the sea, and return with 
ihcm to the sea — where do they spawn? If- they answer 
■'in the sea," they must give itp their contention that sea 
trout belong to the salmon family, for all the varieties 
of this family — if we can trust the naturalists — require 
fresh water to develop their ova. Nor do Messieurs !cs 
Savants help them any when they call it a char, take it 
out of the salmon class, invent a brand new class for 
it, and give it the euphonious n3.m»—Saivelimis ; for even 
they make it spawn in fresh water. The writer under- 
stands that Mr. Hallock came to his conclusion princi- 
pally from what he saw on the north shore of the St. 
Lawrence and the Labrador coast after he had personally 
inquired into the subject on the north shore of New 
Bi-unswick. Never having been on the Labrador coast, 
nor ever having seen a sea trout from this locality, the 
Old Angler does not presume to express an opinion. 
There may be for aught he knows, mermaids and cen- 
taurs in that mysterious region. But presuming that Mr. 
H. recognized these sea trout as identical with those he 
saw in Ba}'- Chaleur, the inevitable conclusion is that their 
appearance and habits were the same. In that case there 
can be little doubt that their true habitat is the rivers in 
whose mouths they were seen, and that, like all others of 
the famil}'^, they spawn in fresh water, and in that watesr 
their ova hatch and grow. 
The Old Angler makes no apology for the perhaps tire- 
some length at which he has dwelt on facts which are 
irrefutable. Had any writer of less note than Mr. Hal- 
lock supported this untenable thesis, he would not have 
v^asted time on its refutation, though the error is so 
widely spread among United States anglers. Mr. Hal- 
lock's .standing as naturalist, scientist and angler, his long 
connection as an indefatigable tield worker with the 
Smithsonian Institution, and the great debt all true sports- 
men owe him, render anything from his able and prolific 
pen worthy of grave consideration. I have not seen all 
he hag written on this subject, but truth compels me to 
say that what I have seen will not bear close examina- 
tion. Had we an opportunity of discussing the question. 
I feel persuaded he would not have committed himself to 
its support. I submit for. his consideration the above 
facts. In my opinion he must either refute them or re- 
vise his conclusions. V. 
[to EE CONTINUED.] 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
The Perie^t Fly Red. 
Chicago, 111., Dec. 6.— I have been very much in- 
terested in a personal communication sent me by Mr. 
C. H. Mitchell, of Dover, N. H., who seems to be 
something of an amateur rod builder, but possessed 
of more than average amateur skill and wisdom in 
matters pertaining to fly-rods. With Mr. Mitchell's 
consent I offer his letter, which is as follows: 
"Like yourself, I chased the perfect fly-rod for sev- 
eral j^ears before I caught up with it. When found it 
was this: Handgrasp, birdseye maple; first joint, 
bethabara wood; second joint and tip, greenheart; 
length, eight feet four inches; w,eight, sH ounces. 
It was built by these fair hands after much reviling by 
rod-makers, who had no conception of their use. I 
had offered several kinds of money for a rod such as 
I wanted; had handled rods by .several celebrated mak- 
ers, but every one had the inevitable 'kick,' which I 
so heartily- despise." • ' 
"I entreated one maker to make me what I wanted, 
but he said," 'I have quite a reputation for rod-build- 
ing, arid would not care to injure it by putting out a 
freak.' That let me- down; I said, -'Will you kindly 
sell me a set of fittings such as I may -select?' He said 
he would,, and /this was my selection: -Metal reel-seat, 
'3^'-ihch diameter; first ferrule, 11-32 inch diameter; tip 
£(srrMle, ineh diameter; which with winding ehsskf 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
rings and keepers, all German silver, cost me $3.15, 
and subjected me to his scorn — as thus: 'I want to 
see that when you get it done.' I replied:. 'If it 
proves what I think it will, I want you to see it. If it 
does not, no one will see it.' Many have seen it, I 
have used it twelve years — almost exclusively — and 
bait-fishing in Onawa Lake one day in '99, I landed five 
trout (square-tails), weighing 11% pounds. So much 
for its work. In its action it is like a high-grade 
whalebone carriage whip, the spring seems exactly 
where needed; it handles a No. 3 line to my perfect 
satisfaction. Fifty to 60 feet is all I can put out with 
accuracy, but within its capacity it is better than the 
best. It could be lightened a bit by using sumach for 
grip, and perhaps a ferrule 10-32 inch diameter in place 
of the ii-3'2. I would have used a §^ reel seat if there 
had been any on the market. 
"I formerly had more opportunity to 'experiment,' 
which aided the successful pursuit of the 'perfect fly- 
rod.' For the last eight years I have been in the 
sporting goods trade, and during that time have never 
been shown a rod whose performance pleased me. It 
may seem egotistic, but I think in the building of my 
little rod I discovered the secret of the universal 
'kick,' which is too large a ferrule at the top of the 
middle joint, in proportion to the first joint ferrule. 
"There should in my opinion be at least S-32 inch 
difference between the two, to give proper spring and 
balance, and eliminate the top-heavy 'kick.' I have 
earnest hope for your success in possession and use 
of the 'perfect fly-rod.' " 
What Mr. Mitchell says in regard to the difference 
in size of the middle joint ferrules to a fly-rod is very 
interesting indeed, and may be of value as suggestive 
to other amateur rod makers. Most rods, as we see 
them, are built upoji a straight taper from butt to tip. 
I do not believe that any rod can have perfect action 
which is so constructed. I have earlier mentioned the 
very comfortable fishing rod made by Asa Stuart, an 
amateur of Grand Rapids. I notice that his rods are 
bellied out in the middle of the joints, slightly, indeed 
almost imperceptibly, yet certainly to some extent. 1 
do not know bj'- what means Mr. Stuart reaches his re- 
sults, but the result itself is apparent in the easy, 
smooth delivery of the line, without kick and without 
excessive wrist or arm movement, which is necessary 
in the use of too many of our fly-rods. I am perfectly 
clear in my own mind that a rod can be powerful with- 
out asking too much muscular strength iti its use; it 
can be easy of action without being weak; it can be 
comfortable to use all day and yet quick enough to 
strike a fish quickly and fight it successfully. I believe 
that our choke-bore fly-rods will be superseded event- 
ually in the shops of many of our best makers. Cer- 
tainly there ought to be a variety of rods, or rather of 
types of rods, offered by any really good class maker. 
If our leading gunmakers made only one type of gun, 
bored in only one way or fitted in accordance to only 
one pattern, they could not stay in business. It is 
something of a paradox, but none the less true in my 
opinion, that the American fly-rod makers make the 
best rods in the world, but still do not make them as 
good as they can and some day will. 
E, Hough. 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
The *'01d An^W 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I am glad that Mr. Venning has been moved to write 
up his river reminiscences. No writer since Capt. Dash- 
wood has ever put pen to paper who can, or does, so 
graphically impart the realism of salmon fishing to the 
reader. I say this without fear of dissent. He had this 
reputation when he contributed his inimitable series of 
angling sketches to Stewart's Quarterly in 1867, and 
thirty-five added years do not seem to have impaired his 
ability to "jerk a quill." 
What a blessing it is to be mentally vigorous at eighty! 
Venning is not only a thorough master of the art, but 
he- seems to understand the idiosyncracies of the fish by 
intuition. And how vivid are his recollections of by- 
gone friends and scenes ! and with what pathetic tenacity 
he holds to those who survive. Let us rejoice that he still 
lives to write! And I would that he was not too obese 
to continue flailing, like Walter M. Brackett, who is but 
four years his junior, and still in the ring. Egad! how 
the old veteran demurs to being laid on the shelf, pas 
capable!. But why should he mourn? Let him betake 
himself to his dory and try sitting, for one of the less 
active of the thirteen varieties of fishes which he enu- 
m.erates as denizens of the Mirimichi and its estuary. 
Let him stick to his rod as of old. F. E. Spinner did at 86; 
and if perchance the last call comes as his did, die in 
the boat with his jumper on! It is the fashion of some 
Indian tribes to bury in canoes; just as it was of the old 
Scandinavian vikings 1,000 years ago. Suppose him bury 
in canoe, eh? Charles Hallock.. 
I was fishing the Aln and standing in the water thigh 
deep, when I felt some heavy body push from behind 
through between my legs. I naturally gave a start on 
looking down to see the head and shoulders of a very 
lar-g-e otter half through. The beast gave a great wriggle, 
almost upsetting me, and then dived up and across the 
pool. A friend was standing about five yards from me 
and Ave both saw him distinctlJ^ [I certainly never 
heard jdI such an incident before, and it is lucky Mr. 
Hardy did not get bitten. I remember once wading 
in the Barle and putting my foot on the head of a 16- 
pound salmon, wliich nearly upset me; it was lying 
with its nose between two stones. I have once or twice, 
had a good trout, which I had hooked when wading, 
bolt down-stream between my legs and smash' me, but 
never got so unpleasantly close to an otter. — Ed.]— Lon- 
don Fishing Gazette, 
."I tell you,", said the Cynical Codger, "the Pre-si- 
dent's message' must have been an. a.wful hard task. 
: Just., think how hard it must have been to resist the 
temptation of .putting in several, of his bearihuntingr 
stQries and experjene€§«"^BalsimQ.r« H«raJ4« 
[Dec 20, 1902, 
— t — - 
Canine Elegies and Epitaphs, 
XXIX.— Moustache. 
In 1779 a young dog, who apparently had no master, came, no 
one knows how, to Caen, France, and met there a regiment of 
grenadiers starting for Italy, Urged on, apparently by destiny, 
he followed them. He was to all appearances a regular street cur. 
dirty and ugly, but he had such a bright expression and seemed 
so mtelligent that they did not hesitate to take him. His new 
companions forced him to act as sentinel, to obey orders, to 
keep step, to become accustomed to the sound of fireairms, to obey 
roll call, and all other duties the soldiers were called upon to 
perform. He received and ate his rations with them, and lived in 
every respect as his regiment was commanded to do. In going to 
Italy Moustache crossed Saint Bernard at the cost of unknown 
hardships, and encamped with the res^imcnt above Alexandria. 
It was here that he was to accomplish his lirst great feat of arms. 
A detachment of Austrians hidden in the A'alley of Balbo ad- 
vanced in the night to surprise the grenadiers, and was heard 
by this vigilant dog as he was making" his rounds. The soldiets. 
were awakened by his barking. In a moment every one was on 
foot, and the enemy dislodged. To reward Moustache, the colonel 
had his name inscribed on the regimental roll, and ordered that 
he should have every day the ration of a soldier. He ordered 
that there should be put on his neck a collar bearing the name 
of the regiment, and the barber was ordered to wash and comb 
him every week. 
Some time afterward there was a slight ensagement, in which 
Moustache conducted himself very bravely. He here received his 
first woimd — a bavonet thrust in the shoulder. It must be said 
here that Moustache was never wounded except in front. About 
this time he quarreled with the grenadiers, and deserted because 
they had left him tied in the garrison. Taking refuge with a 
c-^mp-nv n{ chasseurs, he saw a disPnised Atistr'an spy enter 
the French camp. Moustache, forgetting the insult he had re- 
ceived, welcomed the stranger by springing at his throat with 
much fierceness. This action astonished all at first, but they had 
time for reflection, and then remembered the sagacity of the faith- 
ful dog. The stranger was arested, seai-ched and found to be a 
Spv, 
Moustache continued the series of his exploits. At the battle 
of Austerlitz, seeing the color-bearer surrounded by enera-es, he 
flew to his rescue, defended him as well as he could, and when 
the soldier fell pierced with bullets, enveloped in his colors. 
Moustache, seizing with his teeth that part of the glorious flag 
whirh he could get, fairlv flew past the enemy, and brought back 
to his company the blood-stained reranans. It must be said here 
that a charge of musketry had taken off one of his legs. This 
beautiful action 'merited honor. Thev took off the collar he wore, 
and Marshal Lannes ordered that they put on him a red ribbon 
with a copper medal bearing- this inscription on one s'de: "He 
lost a leg at the battle of Austerlitz, and sa-^'ed the colors of his 
regiment." On the other side it read: "Moustache should be 
loved and honored as a brave French dog." As it was easy to 
recogn;7e him bv his ribbon and medal, they dec'ded that, in what- 
ever regiment he should present himself, he should receive the 
portion of a soldier He took nart vet in several battles, and 
among others that of Essling (lSf9). He inade witli the dragoons 
two campaigns, and the brave dog fought every time he had the 
opportunitv. He alwavs walked in front, on the alert, barking 
when he heard any noise, and could not fmd out the cause. In 
the Sierra Morena Mountains he brought back to camp the horse 
of a dragoon who had been killed. It is said that at several 
times he showed this sam.e act of intelligence. He had his last 
campaign with Ihe artillery, and was killed at the battle of 
Badajoz, March 11, 1811, at the age of twelve years. They buried 
him on the spot where he fell with his medal and ribbon. On 
the stone which served as his monument they wrote: 
"Here lies Moustache." 
These simple words are more eloquent thaft the most gompous 
epitaph. — D^oit Tribune. 
The Long Island Kennel Club, a bench stioW club, was 
organized in Brooklyn recently, with officers as followb': 
Tresident, Dwight Rloore ; Vice-President, F. B. Thoma- 
son; Sec-Treas., Jos. M. Dale. The club issued a call 
for a meeting to be held on Wednesday of this week, for 
the purpose of adopting a constitution and by-laws. 
Miss Edith Ranson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. 
J. Ranson, of New York, who is visiting Ihe Misses Cora 
and Alice Graham at Lake Hopatcong, on Saturday and 
Sunday shot thirty-five wild ducks sitting in a rowbooat 
floating on the rough water. 
Samoa 'Uma. 
From the Literary World, 
"Samoa 'Uma," that is to say "All Samoa,"' the whole of it. 
Scenery, history, people, customs, manners. Jaws, h.ibits and 
"local color" in abundance thickly laid on; all is here in a book 
which, apart from its illustrations, appeals almost if not quite as 
much to the eye as to any other organ of sense, so pictorial is it 
in its descriptions and effects. 
The author has "been there!" 
Mrs. Chin-chill lets us slightly into the secret of her intimacy 
with this distant new possession of the United States in the blue 
depths of the Pacific, and that she has seen with _ her own eyes 
and knows with familiprity that of which she writes is evident 
from the first page to the last. 
Here is the Samoa of Stevenson in all its nakedness, its -torrid 
beauty, its savage gentleness, its artistic shapes and tints and 
fascinating naturalness; the girls in their dances, the men in their 
war paint and feathers, the cottages in their enveloping foliage, 
the breakers as they roll -upon the shore, the palms and the 
brightly plumaged birds, the feasts and the formalities, the 
wrecks on the rocks of vessels from afar, and the liideous wrongs 
perpetrated by the white "Christians" on their dusky and help- 
less brothers of the sea. 
Twenty-four chapters there are of as close and fond delineation 
as one could ask for, with just as many vivid pictures from 
photograplis obtained with great difficulty amid the lights and 
shy conditions of the islands which rise like bunches of green 
from the expanse of blue. 
Life is the keynote of the book. The landscape is there, and 
the hunts, and the creeping things and flying things, reminis- 
cences of the disastrous tidal wave of 18SD, glimpses of political 
complications, and wrangles that have helijed on historj', bits of 
romance, studies of rude arts and embryonic sc'ence, but most of 
all life, the life of the islanders in its primitive artlessness and 
serene simplicity, before it was -vexed by the contaminatijig. the 
disturbing, the disheartening influences of what is called "civiliza- 
tion." 
Mrs. Churchill has given us a true book about a remote and 
hidden corner of the globe, and a fascinating one. Read it. You 
-will find it deeply and strangely interesting. 
A Sare Cure for PneemoDia. 
Boston. — ^Take six to ten onions, according to size, and cliop 
them fine; place over a hot fire; and about the sam.e quantity of 
rye meal, and vinegar enough to form a thick paste, Stir thor- 
oughly, letting it simmer from five to ten minutes. Then put 
the mass in a cotton bag large enough to cover the lungs, and 
apply to the chest as hot as the patient can bear it. Before this 
gets cokl apnly another, and then continue reheating the poul- 
tices. In a few hours the patient will be out of danger. Usually 
three or four applications will be suflic^ent, but continue treat- 
ment until perspiration starts from the chest. 
.This simple rented v was form.ulated many years ago by one of 
:th? best ph-ysiciatis New England has ever 'known, and who never 
-lost a patient by this disease. 
Of the' mahy cases I. have known -where; this i'ejTiedy tias 1)6611 
tiijed it k?is.5fneve!: /ailed, even .after the best local ^ talent has 
.l-iniccd'the ek-se liop?less. One of the best 'physiciSns' in this 
vicinity say« He has tiBSd this remedy for several years with suc- 
in every case. Geougb Bftow*,- 
