FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Oct. 8, 1904. 
Seeing Tarpon. 
Mr. J. C. Hopkins, of New York, has just returned 
from Aransas Pass, Texas, the most enthusiastic tarpon 
fisherman seen this season. "I went out about 12:30 
o'clock," said Mr. Hopkins. "My guide baited my hook, 
and then I waited— just waited until that: tide turned and 
came up through the pass like a race horse, and with it 
came the tarpon." At this point I . asked Mr. Hopkins 
to write his experience for Forest and Stream. "Write 
it," said he, "Write it? Nobody could write it and have 
it believed. Why, say, they not only came in doubles, 
but in droves, just leaping bunches of them — hundreds 
of them; in fact, one of them just missed coming in our 
boat, while another one grabbed my hook, but in the ex- 
citement I forgot to strike. The next one I struck in the 
bony part of his jaw, and broke loose; then I got busy 
and hooked one just right. That one went to the beach, 
with us and measured 5 feet 10 inches. I am having it 
mounted, and it will adorn this street very shortly." 
T. E. B. 
The National Beagle Club of America. 
Camden, N. J., Sept. 28— The Fifteenth Annual Field 
Trials of the National Beagle Club of America will be 
held at Mineola, Long Island, during the week commenc- 
ing October 31, 1904. 
The headquarters of the club during the trials will be 
at Johrens' Hotel, Mineola, L, I., the hotel rates being 
$2 per day. 
During the trials goOd stable accommodations and feed 
for the beagles entered in the trials will be furnished 
free by (he club. 
It is the desire of the club that all beagles entered in 
the trials should arrive at Mineola not later than Satur- 
day evening. Cctcber 29, in order that the necessary 
preparations may be made for an early start on Mon- 
day morning. 
1 he club would deem it a favor if those intending, to 
make_ entries would nolify the secretary as soon as possi- 
ble of their intention to attend the trials, and what num- 
ber of beagles they will enter, so that the committee can 
arrange hotel accommodations for them and accommoda- 
tions for their dogs. 
The club has arrangements for free transportation 
from the club's headquarters to the field trial grounds for 
members of the club and those making entries. 
Charles R. Stevenson, Secretary. 
Cruise of the Neptune. 
BY WILLIAM H. AVIS. 
Hot don't express it ! Despite the fact that it was 9 
A. M., the mercury stood at 90 in the shade. Perhaps 
my language was not any cooler than the weather ! I had 
been stationed at the intersection of four stfeets for an 
hour and a half, vainly looking for an ice man. Major 
had made three or four trips to the Neptune in that time, 
and Sam had hoisted the mainsail and snugged the yacht's 
stem close up to her mooring buoy. Finally I took to 
chasing all kinds of wagons, in all directions, only to 
have them turn out to be laundry teams, butchers' carts, 
and even an undertaker's conveyance — which was not the 
kind of ice wagon I was looking for. But in the course 
of^events the right variety of ice man finally materialized. 
"Will you just drop down to the City Point Yacht Club 
house, and deliver 300 pounds of ice?" 
"No, sir. Can't do it. It's off my route. The feller 
that goes down that way'll be along soon, 'n' '11 sell you 
the hull wagon load, if you want it." 
I was mad, discouraged, and disgusted. We must get 
that ice aboard inside of another hour or the yacht would 
be aground. Just then a dilapidated Israelite, driving 
what was once a horse, which drew a wreck of a wagon, 
attracted my attention. A happy thought struck me. I 
saluted the honest dealer in cast-offs : "Hi, there, Isaac !" 
(that was his front name), "Would you like to earn a 
quarter?" He would, and as the ice man was perfectly 
willing to sell, if not to deliver, the venerable merchant 
and I were soon on our way to the club house with a 
cargo of provision preserver. 
Neptune is 28ft. over all, and but little less on the 
waterline. Her beam is 14ft., and she. draws 4ft. without 
her board. Pier cabin is very roomy, with good head- 
room; yet her house is not out of proportion in height 
above the deck for a craft of her class. There are three 
comfortable berths, plenty of lockers, and an abundance 
of comfortable bedding. A small cook-stove was used for 
cooking purposes. And right here I wish to say that 
no oil-stove ever invented is the equal of an ordinary, 
every-day cook-stove. In her inventory the yacht con- 
tained everything necessary for cruising. The cockpit is 
the largest and roomiest I ever saw on a boat of Nep- 
tune's class. It contains the ice-box, which has a capacity 
of 500 pounds. While the boat is full sloop rigged, we 
used only the mainsail and jib on our three days' cruise. 
Halliards and sheets all lead to the cockpit, and, with 
the exception of reefing, the handling of sails while under 
way is all done from that point. Originally Neptune was 
built for a Noank lobster boat. 
Judged_ from a point of beauty, Neptune is a failure. 
Symmetrically she is about as handsome as a bowl of 
mush ; but for comfort, seaworthiness, and motherliness — 
ah ! that's another story. Off the wind she can sail a 
good, stiff clip; and she did very well on the wind when 
the sea was smooth. But in a steady pound to windward 
in a nasty tumble, she is about as fast as a hearse. My! 
how she can rear, thresh, pound, and stand still under 
such conditions ! But she is staunch and able as a light- 
ship, and safe as a boat can very well be. 
At the time of our little cruise, Neptune belonged to 
Captain Geo. E. Albee, of the Regular Army, retired, and 
Mr. Clarence Eaton — better known as Cap Eaton. She 
was then enrolled in the City Point Y. C, of New Haven. 
Since our cruise she has been sold. Samuel Chard and 
I were the fortunate guests of the genial captain, whose 
title of Major, which will be used in this article, was 
gained through services in the Connecticut militia. So 
much for introductions. 
The ice and provisions properly stored, the tender was 
made fast astern, mooring dropped, and the jib run up. 
The southwest wind necessitated a beat out of the harbor, 
so the yacht was headed for Morris Cove, on the star- 
board tack. Before reaching the cove, the wind died to a 
zephyr; but the tide was with us, though our progress 
was slow. We drifted by the bark St. Mary's, which was 
said to be loaded with powder. Then a sharp-visaged 
lady, of uncertain summers, aboard of a vessel attracted 
our attention. She was industriously retrieving among 
the frowzy curls of a red-headed girl with a fine-toothed 
comb. 
Once by the Sperry Light, which marks, the - eastern 
end of one of the new breakwaters, we found a little 
more wind. Then Major decided it was about time to 
feed Sairi and I, not to mention himself. Before starting, 
he had impressed it upon our minds that we were to do 
the work — that he wouldn't work. Before we got home 
he did most of the work himself, and unconsciously 
proved that he was not a lazy man at all. A portion of 
the contents of a bottle of "Hunter's," reinforced with the 
proper proportion of lemon, sugar, and not too much 
water, added fuel to appetites already ravenous. Then 
Major prepared a most substantial dinner of fried steak, 
hardtack, and hot coffee. 
After dinner — yes, while the meal was under way — ■ 
there was very decided evidence of a breeze of wind in 
the southeast. Far down in that quarter yachts could 
be seen shortening sail, and the darkening hue of the sea 
in that direction prophesied more propelling power than 
we would need. It was advancing rapidly in our direc- 
tion, so we tied in a reef as a precautionary measure. 
For a while we enjoyed a bit of snappy sailing, with just 
a trifle of sheet lifted. Then, the wind gradually headed 
us, and it became a vicious, pound, to windward. Off the 
mouth of the Housatonic River we-'began to meet the full 
force of the outrunning tide, and when we made Strat- 
ford Point, it was like butting into a stone wall. This 
. butting into wind, sea and tide, mingled with a deter- 
mination to learn to smoke, which I have persistently 
stuck to for the past twenty-five years, compelled me to 
lower my colors to an uncompromising Neptune. So I 
reluctantly gave up my dinner. 
Finally it became a hopeless game of thump, tumble and 
smash against an increasing tide and a diminishing wind. 
Long Beach was a proposition we could not overcome. 
Eventually, however, we began to leave it,, but in the op- 
posite direction to the one we wished. . But, personally, 
I was feeling fine. I had paid the penalty for the full 
enjoyment of the good things of the sea, and was deter- 
mined to. get my fill. The art of learning to smoke was 
deferred to the future, on terra firma. The, salt-seasoned 
oxygen was superb in quality and unlimited in quantity, 
and free for the taking. The sun shone with a lustre 
that was never surpassed. The waves flashed and 
sparkled like diamonds strewn, oyer a world of fire. Dis- 
tance touched the dingiest of sails with the soft tint of 
pearls, and graceful yachts drifted silently over the sea 
like zephyr-blown thistledown. ; Great banks of cotton- 
like clouds lifted out of the west, and over land and sea 
stretched the wings of freedom aiad rest. 
Our intention had been to reach; either Oyster Bay or 
Greenwich that day; but under the conditions we decided 
that Black Rock Harbor would be good "enough for us. 
Late in the afternoon, when we had lost fully three miles 
in drifting, the ■ tide, turned in our favor and we got a 
nice breeze. At the same time those, "cotton-like clouds" 
in the west began to demonstrate that- they w^re designed 
for something else beside beauty. As they amalgamated 
into' one dark mass, charged with electricity, they served 
indisputable evidence that it was not to be Black Rock 
Harbor for us that day. And for a while it was even 
doubtful if we would be able to reach Bridgeport before 
the. squall. The race was a close one, and caused the 
sporting blood to tingle with excitement in our brush with 
the elements, but we were the victors by a neck! The^ 
anchor was hardly down and sails furled when the storm 
broke. 
If one has a clear conscience, or no conscience at all, 
then he can thoroughly enjoy a thunderstorm. ' I don't 
know which class I'm in, but, really, I like 'em! In dura- 
tion this storm was but a small matter ; but it needed no 
reinforcement in strength. The hail and rain roared 
down like an express train ; the lightning snapped and 
flashed like monster rapid-fire guns, and the thunder 
cracked and boomed in deafening crashes. The wind blew 
so hard that a small excursion steamer coming into the 
harbor could make no headway against it whatever fOr 
fully five minutes, and we thought she would surely go 
ashore. In twenty minutes, however, the storm had be- 
gun and ended ; the setting sun was flashing over a newly 
bathed world resplendent in sparkling purity; and a great 
double rainbow arched the Sound from north to south 
in the east, and its mysterious glory faded only with the 
sinking of the sun and the silent advance of night. 
After supper we dropped a couple of lines into the 
water for eels, while we talked in the cockpit. We got no 
eels, but there in the rays of our riding lights, surrounded 
by anchored vessels which looked phantorn-like in the 
darkness,_ Major told us many interesting stories con- 
nected with war and the hunting trail. It was a great 
treat to listen to him, for his experience has been wide. 
Enlisting as a private in the 36th Wisconsin, in the 
Civil War, he followed the vocation of a soldier up to the 
time of his retirement from the Regular Army, a few 
years ago, when he was retired as brevet captain. He is 
the proud possessor of a medal struck by : Congress 'for 
him for conspicuous gallantry in action against the In- 
dians; and he has a valuable collection- of Indian- and 
other war relics, which it is worth while going a long 
way to see. A friend of Miles, Lawton, Shaffer, Buffalo 
Bill, and many other soldiers and men whose names are 
connected with our nation, and especially the West, 
Major Albee cannot be otherwise than an interesting per- 
son tc be privileged to listen to. Add to all this his 
excellent qualities of hospitality as a host, and you have a 
combination hard to beat. Beside being a soldier, the 
Major is an expert shot. In 1882 he won the "Rapidity" 
matches for the Lorillard gold medal at Creedmore, using 
at the time a Plotchkiss rifle. He has also killed much 
large game in his time. At the present time he is con- 
nected with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. 
We were away bright and early next morning, in order 
to take all advantage possible of the tide. Going out of 
the harbor it was against us ; but there was a nice breeze, 
with promise of more. The morning was bright and 
clear, and not a cloud in the sky. Once clear of the 
harbor, the S.-S.W. wind 'allowed us to head a course 
for Eaton's Neck Light, with sheets well in. Every indi- 
cation pointed to a pleasant run at first, but as the morn- 
ing advanced, the wind hauled more and more into the 
west, and died in strength as well. When off the Norwalk 
Islands, however, the wind freshened so suddenly and 
rapidly that we tied in a reef. Before coming up with 
Green's Ledge Light there was a grand lump of a sea 
running. The sky became overcast with swiftly scudding, 
fluffy clouds, and the wind came diagonally off the land 
in hard, spiteful puffs. One moment we would be sailing 
along bolt upright, to be flattened down almost rail under 
the next minute. But despite the fierceness and sudden- 
ness of the squalls, Neptune's ample draft and excessive 
beam held her lee rail above the surface. After a hard 
and stubborn reach right into the wind's eye, we finally 
anchored under the lee of Shippan Point, in Prescott's 
Cove, for dinner. 
Before proceeding on our way, we tied another reef in 
the mainsail, and reefed the jib. Our delay of nearly two 
hours had cost us the last of the flood tide, and as the 
wmd had steadily increased in strength, we fully realized 
that we were in for a good dusting before we could reach 
our destination — Greenwich. As we cleared Shippan 
Point, all hands made haste to don storm coats and oilers. 
The sea was one confused jumble of hard, white-crested 
lumps, and the way in which they jolted Neptune and 
caused that motherly craft to rear, plunge, and stand still, 
was a caution. Wind, sea and tide being against us, we 
were in an almost constant smother of flying spume. To 
beat to Stamford Light under the existing conditions 
seemed a hopeless proposition'; so Sam, who always does 
the right thing in the right time aboard a boat, clawed his 
way out on the bowsprit and shook the reef out of the 
jib. We made better headway, and there is riot a shadow 
of a doubt that we would have done better still had we 
shook out both reefs in the mainsail. The yacht was so 
short and heavy for her beam that under the conditions 
that existed she hadn't propelling power enough to drive 
her through it. She was so able that, under Sam's skill- 
ful handling, she could easily have carried full mainsail 
and jib and made better weather of it. But we were in 
no hurry, and were enjoying the fight immensely. 
Greenwich Point proved a most difficult proposition. 
We did not average 100 yards' gain to the tack, and it 
seemed that we never would open up the harbor suffi- 
ciently to weather the red spar buoy at its entrance. But 
the job was finally done, and under the squally puffs we 
enjoyed an exhilarating tussle to windward in the smooth 
water of the harbor to the anchorage off the Greenwich 
Y. C. house. 
After things had been made shipshape, and while Major 
was doing his favorite stunt of preparing supper— as 
Major only can— I snapped a few shots with the camera. 
While, supper was under way, Mr. Stanley Chard, Sam's 
brother, who is also my brother-in-law, came aboard. 
Then after the dishes were washed, we visited friends and 
acquaintances afloat and ashore. We returned aboard 
early, however, and were lulled into sweet dreams by the 
strains of an orchestra, which was dispensing mellow 
music at a hop in the club house. We had worked hard, 
were thoroughly tired, and our comfortable berths 
furnished welcome relief. 
Next morning found the sun streaming through the 
cabin windows in a flood of light. A soft westerly wind 
ruffled the surface of the Sound, and there was promise 
of an ideal day ahead. And, hard to relate, this was to 
be our last day, as our time would expire with its. 
ending. 
We ate breakfast in the cockpit, and watched the crews 
of the fleet, of handsome yachts as they washed down 
decks, aired sails, etc. And right here, in Greenwich 
Harbor, is where abundant opportunity exists for a lover 
of yachts to feast his eyes on the best productions that 
■exist in that line. In the yachting season there is always 
a big fleet here, sail and steam, and from the smallest to 
the largest. A 50ft. power launch, with a speed of nearly 
20 knots an hour, shot by while we were eating, leaving a 
wake like an ocean liner. She was bound for New York 
with her owner, who is a business man of that city. This 
yacht carried its owner to and from business every bust- 
