114 
FOREST AND STREAM 
dance a chief usually gets up and makes a speech, in which 
he recounts their exploits on the war path against the Sioux 
or Dacota*, and how many scalps they took. After this an 
Indian jumped up with a pan of dog meat and distributed 
it around. He stood in the centre of the room looking 
around to see who desired some, when he took a piece in 
lus hand and touted it to them. The individual would 
catch h with the skill of n base ball player. The soup and 
nee was pas* cd in large pans, which was drank out of the 
pans or eaten with the hand, with the linger crooked In .a 
peculiar manner to wive as a spoon; then the pan was 
passed to the next until all were served. It is needless to 
say I did not take any. 
A couple of large pipes, with stems about four feet long, 
ami decorated with ribbons and tassels, were filled with to- 
‘'r ed ar Y- J 1,en 10 everyone in the room, 
who took a few whiffs. ’ 
„Ji'fJ? ,he .^ !acei)ipo>and ! he 8“°kine of it indicates 
good fellowship. Hk.vuy AIcAIauan, M. D. 
February 27 th, 1875. ’ 
For Forest and Stream 
“NUMBER FOUR" AND ITS SURROUND- 
INGS. 
A MORE appropriate name for this locality would be 
Ten tons or “No. One.” It has been No. Fourlong 
enough, ami all the time improving. This number means 
nothing m particular, as we never heard of No Three or 
No Six, but No. One moans something, and I think this de- 
lightful resort for the health or pleasure seeker is entitled 
to the distinction. My first acquaintance with it extends us 
lar back as 185(1. There are doubtless those who visited it 
earlier, but I have never found or met them, nor can I now 
name one, unless it be the kind friend who introduced me 
to the favored spot. I have visited it seven times (on three 
occasions a month at a time) during five proprietorships 
Fir-t, in the little red house which still holds its own and 
more, I found the senior Air. Fenton, a most genial man 
the worthy father of the worthy son. We were his only 
guests. The next time the grounds had passed into the 
hands of Mr. J. B. Lewis, who now keeps a hotel en 
route at Beach’s Bridge. Then Alexander Peircev was the 
occupant; Fenton and Green followed; and now Fenton 
& Hinman are the proprietors. The house stands alone in 
its glory; just as an angler’s home, according to my beau ideal 
ought to stand, though one or two dwellings for guides 
have lately been added. Hammond says in recommending 
a visit to the Clinzy, “tarry not a moment at Saratoga- 
there, are people there. Stop not at Whitehall, pleasant 
though it be, there are people there too.” I have never yet 
visited the Cliazy, but have passed by Saratoga and White- 
hall often enough on my way to the lakes to make up for 
it. r enton s large and commodious house commands from 
its rear p„rch and cupola a fine view of Beaver Lake, a vast 
amphitheatre of hills and mountain ranges. On the well is 
inscribed or printed "The beet water in the world.” No 
doubt of it, for this best water is found all through the 
region; but I miss elsewhere the inscription, "The most salu- 
bnous air in all creation.” 
Suppose we take an excursion. All ready? A pleasant 
descending walk of half a mile, partly among wild trees 
brings us to the lake and wharf, where boats are ready and 
waiting. Don’t jump in, but he careful. With or without 
guides, as you please, (they are not required here ) let us 
row up to the fish hole, as it is called, the hjge basin of 
waters formed by the rushing Beaver River where it de- 
scends mightily in Spring time down among the rocks 
The noise is like rolling thunder. I have heard the roar 
and seen the foam ut the remote end of the lake. For the 
particular manner of its descent I may refer you respect- 
fully to Soulhcy’s description of the way the waters fall 
at Lodore. He is very full, graphic, and' explicit. From 
the bay, out into the lake, all along the near shores to the 
right, onward and upward. “There are no fish in this 
lukc," but I fish for them nevertheless, and catch them all 
the more. I remember wheu with Air. Lewis, heavy rains 
had swollen the lake aud river very high, and I was wait- 
for the water to subside, he asked me one morning if I felt 
like “taking a turn”; I told him I did, and also that 
I would take mv line along. That, ho said, would be en- 
tirely useless. I took it, however, thinking it would be en- 
tirely useless to fish without it, and two half pound speck- 
led aud oue laker was the result. Afterwards under the 
Peircey administration I had faith to try italone. The day 
was favorable, and hope was inspired. So attaching a 
fresh minnow to my hooks, I struck out and let down for a 
draught. I had not fished ten minutes in deep water before 
a five pounder was on ray line, which in about twenty min- 
utes was on tho shore. As I approached the landing I 
I fouud a party there who were about starling on a cruise 
They surrounded my fish on the green bank, gazed at him 
with surprise, made inquiries, and wished they had brought 
trolling lines! I took my prize to the house and euioved 
the surprise and delight of the landlord and bij wife They 
had uever seen such a fish on their premises, if they bad 
anywhere else, and were pleased to find what No Four 
could pioduce. “What have you been about,” said lie 
The wife took the fish in both hands aud then laugh- 
ed outright in view of its dimensions. Another man 
afterwards caught a similar one, but didn’t meau to 
He Was fishing in shallow water for minnows, where a 
brook sets in, with pole, lino and large hook A l iker 
came lo the same place, at the saute time, and on the same 
errand, fishing for minnows. Suddenly the fisherman 
found his lino running away aud tried to save it He could 
not disengage n from the fish, which accordingly hud to 
come aboard. These it is true are exceptional cases for 
“there ure no fish in this lake.” 
It is do easy tliiug to row too far up stream where the 
tide is strong against you. Boats can go up lull in low 
water, but in early Spring it is polite here to lund H nd go 
across. “Loud from its rocky caverns the deep-voiceil 
neighboring" basin speaks, and— there it is. There with 
us broad deep water, its rocky staircase and wild plunges 
its thunder und its foam, its surrounding forest, and de- 
scending stream, and in their season, its punkies and mos- 
quitoes. I have heard and read that these insects, and all 
the host of them recognise u freshman iu the woods, and 
luittme him wiili t leir peculiar ceremouies into its mysteries 
Aly own experience accords with this opinion. Right here 
n j ob 1 sutTc.ed niore from them ihuu 1 ever have since or 
iS f «V } ‘l :y ‘.'Hiuccd me to change my pluus, und after 
all were a blessing in disguise, tor instead of remaining in 
these parts wuh the natives to bud manners born, I took a 
trip on iliu bt. Lawrence, through the Luclrine rapids, aud 
brought up at Montreal. It was a gala-day there. The 
city was filled with music and triumphal arches to welcome 
home a regiment from the Crimea. 8unday was St. 
I eter s day, and I heard then aud there, in French and 
English, in Roman, nnd in Protestant that "Thou art Petto- 
and on this rock will / build my churc'i” and all because the 
pesky flies in this rotunda wouldn’t let me fish among them 
in peace. I have caught many an elegant trout here since 
among the rocks, and the flies have learned for the most 
part to let me alone. I was boating here once with a 
friend, when Chuuucey Smith and another with his Lout 
put in appearance. We hailed them with the sbibooleth 
what luck, when the old trapper held up an enormous fox 
fresh from tho traD that morring. It is said he is still in 
possession of a rifle, with which alone, he claims to have 
Hhot 1.200 deer, at latest accounts. This is the man who 
figures so extensively in the Perry Smith and Wallace book, 
page loo. Whoever relers to it wild find a specimen of 
his writing, his signature and his advice. The document 
appears to he signed by A Little Whiskey, but it is not. 
1 Ills is oniy part of his advice. The last time I met him 
he seemed very happy, going homo with a single trout, 
which he had caught "for the old woman." There comes 
in Sunday Creek, so called, it may be, because there is 
good fishing iu it on Sunday’s, or becuuse that is the favor- 
ite day for visiting it. Who knows? I ounce fished it on 
a week Guy, and caught about 150 with flies, two or three 
at a time, with the design «f pickling them, which I also 
did. N B. — Trout well spiced aud pickled arc very good 
for the table. 
Descending the river from the lake we pass a large island 
on the right, and soon after u spot on the left where 1 tiave 
been accustomed to look out for deer, having seen them 
there, a brace at a time. The first place of iutcrest ut 
winch we arrive, at the point where Aide- Creek comes in, 
is called “The Bridge." No bridge is there, or sign of any,' 
unless it be a submerged beam, which suggests Unit there 
might have been a bridge there formerly, and the beam-ends 
ot u 1 Ins wuter-logged timber is very annoying to ang- 
lers lying transversely just where they want to fish, and 
with the aid of the current hooking their hooks. I always 
wish to speak within hounds, but it is no exaggeration to 
say that there must be less than 200 hooks now fastened in 
that one log. I have seen the water there boiling with the 
springs of the salmo fontinalis, but not lately. Last Alay 
on the evening of my arrival at the house, a gentleman 
came in with a good suing of trout numerically, caught 
there and elsewhere, hut I was sadly disappointed to see 
their contrast in size with those caught ten years ugo. Fur- 
ther on there is a graceful bend or curve in the stream 
around a rocky island, where I have often been very suc- 
cessful with the fly, and felt myself the happiest of the 
happy. With good health, leisure and means to improve 
it, m such a charming pool at evening, reeling in one large 
trout alter another, j envied no one, nor coveted anything 
hut— another rise! After this there is a succession of fulls 
on the Beaver for a mile or two, varied, yet always interest- 
! D S- 4 11 H ^ ur| g Iriend and Air. Fenton I visited them 
iu 72. Arrived at the first we disembarked, anil Air. Feu- 
ton attaching one end of a very long rope to the boat, and 
holding fast the other, let the bout gently take its course. 
U, royal sight,’ as Alurray would explain, to see that 
ahell, stern foremost and nobody iu it, tossed on the raging 
waters among the rocks, making it safe descent to the river 
below. 
“All aboard for second falls," and soon we were gliding 
pleasimtly along, and continued so to do, till we came tb 
ubrupt twists and turns, where the river was condensed in 
its channel, when friend and myself took the shore, aud 
steadfastly pursued our way through the adjoining woods, 
till after a while turning a point, we were surprised to dis- 
cover Air Fenton in the boat hovering on the verge of a 
heavy fall, preparing this time to go over it. He used his 
oars as a hawk would his wings when about to make u 
swoop. Steadily, steadily, till his position was just as he 
desired, wheu instantly he curved his forward way, and at 
the loot of the falls commenced a series of nolens volens cir- 
cumgyrations which were not in his programme. Involun- 
tarilv be described circles one after another very amusin' 
to behold, and constituting again a “royal sight to see.” 
Below this point the river soon becomes impassable for 
boats, being condensed into a narrow channel of solid stone 
and rushing with mad impetuosity to leap a precipice. So 
securing our boat, we all proceeded afoot over a stone pave- 
meut, aud among branches of wild trees to the High Falls 
I he prospect there is very circumscribed. Iu no direction 
except vertically, can the eye see fa. ; hut what is seen is 
sublimely picturesque. The walls on the farther side are 
very high, aud the tails are very deep, hut I cannot give 
the dimensions of the depth and height. Air. Fenton ex- 
tended himself back upward on a rocky shelf just large 
enough to hold him, which overhung the chasm, and ad- 
dressed a hue to the inhabitants below, if any were there- 
but there was no response. No progeny bewailed the loss 
ot tlieir progenitors, nor anxious mother knew that her 
juvenile was out. 
But I wish while returning to tell you something about 
G rooked Lake, the trail of which commences at First Fulls 
W e read iu •'Babes iu the Woods," page 2G3 that ‘This 
lake ls straight as an arrow; hence its very appropriate 
name. I am surprised at this statement. The lake is 
straight as an arrow as first seen fro.,, the landing, and as 
the shank of a hook is straight. But would you cull the 
bend of a hook straight? The lake is thus shaped, very 
much like a hook, long, straight aud crook ed, i. e. like a 
crook— und “hence its appropriate name." O, I have had 
choice sport in this lit le lake, so competcly secluded and 
isolated from the world. I was first piloted lo if by the 
senior Mr. Fenton; but this visit being lute in June served 
chiefly as an introduction. It was too late for good fish- 
mg. But I have since visited it often, aud never without 
reward. One morning with Air. Agau, Mr. Lewis, aud 
others, m May 00 I visited it. The boats then were dug- 
outs, and the party filled the two which the lake contained 
1 recollect several incidents connected with that excursion. 
Air. Eewis with his men had taken a very different direc- 
tion from Danfred, (the guide) with his. As he approached 
us afterwards, he called out reproachfully to Danfred for 
takiug us to that part of ilie lake, asking wliut lie meant 
A large trout imii.ediut-ly pulled in was his ouly reply. 
•Mr. Lewis paddled faster towards us, and it was iu that 
part of the lake tkul we all had best luck. At lime of 
lira cli we drew up to the island. Mr. Lew.s’ boat first ar- 
rived, and his meu called lo us to kuow how maiiy We 
answered “ten." Promptly they responded "eleven.” 
But we were not In yet, and they were. Another moment 
and we too bad eleyeu, aud so were even, though the largest 
were with us. We returned home that day with sixty 
weighing forty pounds, thus averaging two thirds of i 
pound each. This was great success for that lake, and to 
the best of my knowledge and belief has never been sur- 
passed— since at least, though I know not what may have 
happened long before. The next day some returned and 
cuuglit. thirty-five. Unless re-stocked, it is not likely that 
the lake will ever do as well again, os the fishing there has 
greatly degenerated in latter years. 
After this I revisited the lake with Air. Lewis, when it 
was two late to fish, but we had memorable sport with a 
deer. Alem. No gun. We espied him in broad day at a 
distance of a quarter of a mile. Immediately I laid down 
my rod. took posit iou, and became a statue. No sound 
was to he heard, or motion observed as we made for him. 
When the deer raised his head Air. Lewis did not even 
paddle; when the head was down, that was all he did. 
In this way we gained steadily on him till I could have 
reached him with my rod, for he was not a rod away. 
We gazed at him, and he ut us, for several minutes. He 
even approached us. A blackbird in the bushes disturbed 
him more than we; till at lenglit when we were satisfied 
lie npi ailed and skedaddled In ’70 with Air. Fenton I 
visited the lake with gun, and we returned loaded down 
with ninety pounds of venison, having shot at night a 
uolde buck. Last Spring it was my good fortune to take from 
this lake the largest trout on record ever caught from it, 
weighing two and three eights of a pound. I have caught 
far larger ones often elsewhere. The next fish caught 
there may weigh more Still I do not object as an amder 
to hold so innocent a belt, or sprig of laurel, till some bro- 
ther of the angle takes it fairly away. My daughter being 
with me this time, at Number Four, a lady biddiug her 
good night hoped she would rest well, and iu the morning 
"catch one biqyer than your father.” So I rejoice with 
trembling aLteo n. 
Utica, February 1875. 
For Forest and Stream. 
DEER HUNTING ON GRASbY POND. 
I VENTURE to send you a few incidents connected with 
a trip through Northern New York during the Sum- 
mer of 1873. 
Joe, George, Lyme, my brother Hack nnd myself, were 
in camp on the 2d of August, about six miles north of tho 
junction of the Cedar and North rivers, on the shore of 
the third and the largest of a chain of beautiful lakes 
seven in i umber (Chain Lakes.) Our guide Ilarvey was a 
jewel, a thorough woodsman, and no matter how much we 
required of him, his face always wore the same genial 
smile. We had had glorious luck fishing in all the ponds 
and streams in the vicinity, and had" killed numberless 
partridges, hut had failed, as yet, to get a deer, though we 
had hunted every night for a week. But one night ns 
George ana I came in from a fishing excursion Harvey 
said to me, “Hack and I are going to try Grassy Pond to- 
night; I saw to-day that lots of the ‘critters’ hud been in 
. there. Don’t you want to go along?” 
Tired as I was, I threw down my basket of fish and 
began to prepare to accompany them. Just at. dusk we 
got into our canoe, nnd paddled down through third and 
second lakes; then shouldering our guns we struck into the 
densest, darkest forest you c-an imagine. After a tramp of 
about two miles, through what seemed a succession of 
wind-falls, we suddenly came to a beautiful little sheet of 
water as smooth as glass. Creeping carefully down to the 
shore, we stepped into the canoe and pushed noiselessly 
out. Hack was to have the first half of the night and T 
t he second; so paddling across to an ol 1 camping ground I 
stepped out, and after starting a little smudge, I lit my pipe 
and sat down to await events. * v v 
The night was bright enough so that I could discern quite 
plainly the whole surlace of the little lake. I could see 
the dark object, which I knew to be the canoe gliding 
Slowly along. I lay there watching and listening for nearly 
an hour, and being tired with my day’s tramp was just 
dozing off, when I was brought back to conciousness bv a 
slight noise on a point which jutted out about sixty rods 
Irom me, and in a few moments a noble buck stepped out 
into the full moonlight, I observed the canoe, which was 
just, opposite me, stop, and in a moment the jack was 
lighted. The buck saw it instantly, up went his stately 
old head, and he stood there like a statue, hut instead of 
coming toward me and the deer, they moved in exactly the 
opposite direction. Presently came a stream of fire^ and 
the loud report echoed away among the mountain’s- a 
splash iu the water, and all was still. The canoe’s head 
was gradually swung to one side, presently "snap" went a 
cap; a moment’s pause, “snap" went another; then a dark 
figure rises iu the canoe and a voice exclaims 
“Ilarve ! shall I throw my gun at him?" 
“No ! sit down and load up; we’ve got one anyway. By 
George I if I had a pike-pole I could have run it through 
that little ‘cuss.’" ° 
Then all is stillness again. I afterward found out the 
meaning of these performances. The first discharge drop- 
ped a buck just in the edge of the water, while two others 
stood in {Jain sight, and waited until two caps were snap- 
ped at them, and Hack spoke before they took alarm. The 
next that, I knew was about au hour after, when I was 
awakened out of a sound sleep by a second report. I 
leaped to my feet and saw the canoe just striking shore 
nearly in the same place as before. Some one jumped out 
with the jack and I could restrain my impatience no longer 
aud called out, “Have you got him?" “Got him I Of 
course we have,” and iu twenty minutes they were back 
where I sat. 
“Well! I’ve got two ; now you go and try your luck,” said 
1 1 HC K • 
So picking up my gun, I tvas soon in the canoe closely 
scamuug the shores nnd listening for the slightest sound. 
We had proceeded in this way a short distance when 
“crackle ” “crackle"— “crash !" went something, and turn- 
ing quickly, a sight met my eyes that, I think I never 
shall forget. Hack was evidently endeavoring to get 
warm, as he had a flic started that threatened soon to 
assume forminable proportions, and he, himself was just 
coming rato sight staggering under nearly a whole tree-top. 
By tins time the fire had blazed up so that the whole pond 
was ns light as day I fell the canoe begin to tremble, and 
glancing around, I saw Harvey nearly convulsed with 
laughter. 
“There be comes with another snag— ha ! ha 1 ha 1 We 
might os well give up hunting now— he I he ! he ! but we’ll 
pay him off.” 
