FOREST AND STREAM 
115 
So paddling directly to shore, where they had killed their 
last deer, he stepped out and dragged the carcass into the 
canoe nnd pushed off. 
"Now light up, and when I paddle you up to shore, flro 
your gun into the bushes.” 
I did as requested; blazed away into the bushes, and as 
soon as the canoe touched shore, leaped out with the 
jack; Harvey followed, and after busying ourselves on 
shore for a while, paddled back to the fire. 
"Did you get him?" said Hack. 
"Cotne ana see, ” was the reply. 
"By George I" said Hack, "lie’s bigger than either of 
mine, 'aint he?” 
It being still Dearly three hours before light, we "turned 
in." I was awakened just at light by Harvey, who said 
“we must go and gel the other dear and get ready to start 
for camp." So after getting the one that was In the canoe 
down to the end of the pond nearest the lakes, we started 
for the others, which they had hung up the night before. 
As the enuoe struck shore, Hnck leaped out in a moment, 
"Where's my deer?" 
"By George 1 I guess the bears or wolves have got him," 
Harvey managed to say, and then we could control our- 
selves no longer, and the mountains echoed again with our 
peals of laughter, in which, as soon as he found that his 
deer was safe, Hack joined. 
Half nn hour after Hack was plodding along some dis- 
tance behind the rest, with a saddle of venison on his 
shoulders, which, to make more secure, he had tied on. 
Our trail ran along in one place, just at the foot of a high 
ledge of rocks, at one end of which was a large hornet's 
uest. To avoid this Hack struck up onto the hill, intend- 
ing to go around it, but, after some hard walking, he found 
himself on the edge of this ledge, with the trail thirty feet 
below him. So sitting astride of a fallen tree, he attempted 
to climb and 6lide down. When about bulf of the descent 
was made, his pantaloons caught on a knot, and being of 
stout ma'eriul, suspended him in mid-air, with the venison 
hanging from his shoulders. In this position he huug for 
some moments, when the cloth happily giving way, ho 
reached the bottom with nothing more serious than a few 
bruises; and picking himself up, he soon joined the rest. 
An hour after we were in camp, celebrating our good luck, 
well satisfied with our night's experience on Grassy Pond. 
0. H. F. 
For Forest and Stream. 
FISHING— THE "COMING ROD," AND 
SOMETHING MORE. 
I 
WAS much interested, as doubtless were many others, 
in perusing the article in your recent issue on the " Com- 
ing Bass Rod.” 
It must be coufessed that the pleasure of the sportsman 
consists not more in the quantity of game killed, whether 
of " Fur, Fur or Feather," than in the skill and nicety with 
which the thing is done. The instruments with which a 
man works, must be taken into the account ; siuce, for the 
time being, they become a part of the man himself. We 
know that long companionship with an old rifle, an old rod, 
horse or dog, begets an attachment not easily sundered. 
Natty Bumpo with his Long Tom, is not a solitary excep- 
tion in history or in fact. To reason here, "is treason 
against nature." Your correspondent has a pet rod— his 
companion for more than tweuty years in Summer tramps 
dowu mountain gorges, along meadow strenms, and on riv- 
er banks. It never betrayed a trust. In form, action, reac- 
tion and endurance, it is unrivalled. It was manufactured 
by MoBride, the most expert rodsman I ever knew. His 
humble cottage was ou the banks of the far-famed Culeclo- 
uian Springs. 
It was here I first learned to cast the line— slow process— 
often discouraged— practical teachers. They will ever have 
a warm place in my heart’s memory. Now this rod must 
be our Summer companion till the journey ends. Having 
begun with it, we must end with it. Still, wo would advise 
those in t he initiatory stages of the act to heed the sugges- 
tions of the inventor of the proposed “ bass rod." "Words 
filly spoken"— yes, t'>ere is a “ fitness" in the time, no less 
than in the thing. There is more than a moiety of genuine 
satisfaction arising from the proprietorship of a well fin- 
ished gun or rod. It has much to do with a man’s spirits, 
elevating or depressing, whether he finds an opportunity to 
use them or not. It lightens the journey — quickens the 
vision— assists the hearing and gives intrepidity to the mau. 
It I may be allowed the expression, it socializes itself with 
yourself. It keeps whispering how ire could do it, and how 
we will, if tiie opportunity offers. You don’t say anything 
to your real living comrade about these silent correspond- 
ences, for fear be may think there is a speck of vanity un- 
der the belt; but you do respond, unwittingly it may be, 
with au oft-iepealed grip of genuous pride. 
Now, whether a bass-rod can be made in general conform- 
ity to tlmt " typical” or model " rod," remains to be seen. 
We hope it is so; and, for other reasons tlmu those sug- 
gested by the idealizer of the forthcoming rod. Trout ure 
diminishing — bass are multiplying — they are found in al- 
most every latitude, and from the Atlantic to the Pucific 
Ocean. They are a beautiful fish — fond of their native ele- 
ment, and, will struggle to retain a foothold or firm hold 
within the limits of their liquid realm as persistently as 
their more princely relatives. 
Right here the question comes up whether the deeply 
seated prejudice on the part of the euthusiast in troul- 
ing, against other kinds of fishing, does not arise, in part 
at least, from the fact that he must lay aside his " model 
rod" for one of birch, hemlock or bamboo, with as he says, 
" a tow string tied on to the end of it"— a little too great a 
stepping down— a knight of the rod and the reel, to clothe 
himself in the armor of boyhood. Altogether too com- 
mon. Now, if this same man could flourish over river and 
lake a rod equal in everything of grace and beauty to his 
" pet rod," would it not remove a large share of this preju- 
dice? If so, we may indulge the pleasiug reflection, that 
should trout disuppear from all our waters, and the time 
come when we shall be casting our last line, those who 
come after us may participate iu sports os enjoyable as were 
ours. 
We remarked that the pre-heralding of the " comiDgrod" 
was timely. Since 1850 progress in the construction of 
guns, and the art of gunnery, has more than kepi pace 
with implements of art in agriculture and commerce. This 
is owing in part, no doubt, to the fact that these are our 
defences in case of need, and, when all other methods of 
arbitrament have failed— an important part of the muni- I 
tions of war. We may also add. that the opening up, by 
railway extensions, of vast regions of territory unknown 
to our fathers, abounding in large game, has helped to call 
out and practicable the inventive genius of thousands in 
this direction. 
During this same time hut little has been taid and less 
done to etraip the angler for his sport— sport, which to him 
lms all the fascination nnd chulleges the utmost skill of the 
chase. If then, there ia a demand In this line of pleas 
ure, honor to him who shall do anything to meet the exi- 
gencies of the case. Now is the time to agitate the sub- 
ject. T rue, the rivers and buys are now looked fast in fet 
tors of ice; but >f it is true that " the thing that belli been, 
it is that which shall be; and tlmt which Is done, is that 
which shall be done; and tlmt there Is uo new tiling under 
the sun, then may we expect tlmt some unseen power will 
unbar the icy doors and the waters will flow again as freely 
rods' 13 inVUing y 1X3 iu day9 of yore - Get your model 
We would not have the general reader, or gentle reader 
take for granted that rod, reel and line, will of tbcmselvei 
lusure success. 
" Pray," asked a novice in the aot of painting "Mr 
Optc, with what do you mix your colors?" " with brains 
sir, wits the tart reply — full of meauing — contains volumes 
of detail. Iu point is the old story of 8ir Joshua Rey- 
nolds when solicited by one of the fraternity to look at one 
of Ins pictures. After looking it all over with the mind of 
a finished artist, said he, “capital composition — correct 
drawing— the color, tone, chiaroscuro excellent; hut 
b H l — ~ w,ulls hang it. it wants that!" simp- 
ping his fingers; wanting in "that," it was wanting Iu the 
very Hung which makes the tout of a picture, if it has any 
There is uuity in the two auswers. The thing wanted in 
both cases was tlmt indefinable something, yclept genius, or 
to be a little more specific, an inborn aptitude to the thing 
the man is after. It will be douu all the better, If for the 
lime the mind is untrammcled of rules and theories always 
executed con amore, just ns the thrush sings, and tlic lamb 
frolics, and the eagle mounts towards the sun. Patrick 
Henry lmd genius, as demonstrated iu that one master 
speech, that shook the very foundation of the British 
throne; but whoever else? A merchant Tailed; a farmer 
failed; merchant again failed. A great deal is said of Ins 
sporting propensities; “loitering a.vav time, augling in 
and sleeping upon the banks of streams," in the regions ad- 
jacent to the family home. He iiud an inborn aptness for 
idleness and sleeping, but no one records tlmt be was apt ai 
catching fish. We are almost certain bo was not. Of all 
pursuits, that of the sportsman has nothing cognate to, or 
in fellowship with indolence. If you have ever been so 
unfortunate as to be caught with such a field mate, " woe 
be the day," and " woe” to your patieoce. 
It lms been said, tlmt in the strife of human affairs, two 
qualities are esseuliul to greatness, "power and prompti- 
tude." It will answer our purpose to use instead, presence 
of mind and readme.*# of action. Both are needed, and al- 
most at the same instant ; and that instant is just when the 
unlooked for emergency conies— come It will to the geuend 
in the field, to the pilot ou the sea, and to the sportsman 
oftener than to any other; and when it comes it must be met 
instantly. No time to consult books or charts, or counsel 
your friends— scarcely your own thoughts. In these emer- 
gencies correct logic and prompt action must be co-exist- 
ent and co-operative— either may be, and the other wanting. 
In such cases the result is a failure. All remember in tlmt 
matchless story of “ Roll and His Friends," of the fl-dit 
between the little " Bull Terrier" and " Yarrow," the shop 
herd’s dog. To save poor “ Yarrow" from being throttled 
to death by the game chicken, one cried, " throw on water;" 
another, "bite his tail.” Theu came from the crowd 'a 
ready man— England man too— he "bit the tail;" but "hang 
it," the wrong one— the wrong tail. Action without thought 
—kin to the man, who, ou a .sudden emergency, barred the 
door with a “ boiled carrot/" 
Something more I want to say. Tho opinion Is quite cur- 
rent that fishing is an indolent, luzy sort’ of recreate n, and 
llie only reason why Daniel Webster was so fond of the 
sport was, it was so congenial to his peculiar temperament 
Whereas it was Hie very reverse. While it took his thought- 
from the corroding anxieties of public life, It uroused ull 
his dormant energies— giviug tone, muscle and nerve, bone 
and sinew to the mind. No, no, merely to gratify a consti- 
tutional temperament of the phlegmatic type a man would 
not at sixty-five years of age be out of bed uud on the 
streams before the suu had risen. 
This is a recreation tlmt offers no attractions and proffers 
no compensation to the man hunting for ease, at least of 
bone and muscle — there is uo uuimulisin about it, unless It 
is in the animal you have .sent racing over the bills or glid- 
ing through the waters. It does give rest, appetite und 
sound sleep to the man, long overtaxed with the sturdy re- 
alities and petty annoyances of life. 
Before closing I wish to utter my protest against the no- 
tion quite current that these spoiling expeditions ure mere 
lotteries— wholly a luck and chance business. Hence tiie 
oft-repealed question, at decline of day, as one turns his 
steps homeward orcampward, “ what luck?" stupid! Whv 
not ask the lawyer as he comes from his oliice, or the me- 
chanic from his shop, or the farmer from his farm, after a 
hard day’s toil. What luck? Pluck is a sturdy vii bio- 
whole-hearted— energy— wc know what it means. It means 
be something — do something. Luck is simply, ‘ nans teeth, 
sans eyes, suns taste, sans every thiug.’ " It is nothing— 
never did anything— don’t know anything. Ask rather, 
what success? nineteen coses out of twenty, the true sports- 
man can answer, good. An utfirinative answer does not 
always imply that you have a trout in your creel or a quail 
in your bug; and yet, the day to uu intelligent sportsman 
may have been a success; at some future lime I may un- 
dertake to prove tbe statement true, if any Judge the same 
to be problematical. Therefore, give us the best fish cul- 
turists, the best game protectionists, the best guns, Hip best 
rods, und tho best men to use thorn, and there will yet be 
“a good time coming." M. 
/fcr flwi and WrMin 
AMONG THE SEA ISLANDS OF GEORGIA. 
nnouauTON island. 
Rats. — To baDish rats plant asphodel near the barn or 
stable where they are, or put some in their holes. Rats 
have such an aversion for this plant that they will quit the 
premises where it is. If they are in druius or in cellars, 
scatter sulphate of iron (conperusj into their runs. The 
copperas should not he dissolved; it is our best and cheap- 
est disinfectant. The tulphuric acid burns their feet, and 
they leave In a short time without dying. This will he 
appreciated by every housekeeper thut lias hud to endure 
tbe steneb of a dead rat. 
T HE history of Broughton Island begins with It* cou- 
and * * Thn l< i ,'°V l Joha Howu bv King Gem go of 
and. * he Island was settled uud a portion of it 
planted with indigo about tho yeur 1781 . Daring 1730 It 
was sold by iu owner for fifteen thousand pounds sterling 
Ih iT^ eTsTiffi; U | F Akl “’ P urcb,u * d Brougl.to* 
w IIII Its live or six thousand acres some three years since 
and has thoroughly repaired tho flood-gates, euiouidTmeuts' 
and buildings, puttlug the rice plantation of -ill? acre* of 
(h« neil am 1 dyke.l hmds Into flrsl-cliu* condition, so that 
tlon r,o \ C | Unl f‘ U i PI * y of 1 l ' lbo F un ttVer »Ro crop of oeurly 
W 00° bushels of rice can ho raised. These largo improve- 
ments, together with the erection of a steam rlce-thinahlnv 
ami cleaning mill, ample enclosures for stock, Ac. Ac* 
huvo omit tho present owner some seventy five thousand 
dollars during the past three years. 
Broughton Islam! might well bo called a principality. It 
, U8 1 “ r k'« as a small German duchy, and the burning 
shooting nnd fishing grounds In Its Immediate vicinity 
afford tho greatest variety of sport to the lms pit able 
owner and his guests. lf 0 Is a bachelor and owner of 
sovern properties. Many a Northern man, before a.ul 
since the lale unhappy war, lias partaken or his hospitality 
rue south hruuch ol tho Altfttnuha River forms ihu boundary 
ul one side o( the Island It Is a wide, strong river, which 
allows steamers drawing ten feet of water to approach the 
plantation landing During the Winter suiuor. of the 
Iresheta, the rich sediment from the upper country being 
held in suspension by the river waters is allowed to deposit 
Itself like that of the Nile, and annually fertilize the land. 
The Uood-gates are opened anti the waters from the river 
enter through the omhunkmentH and flood the laud which 
is to yield tho rice crop of the year. During the lovely 
weather of the Winter season in Decomher the stubble of 
Hie last crop ia burned off Hie land. Juuuury Is the plough- 
ing month, while the Northern Stales are covered in n 
mantle of annw. Tho harrow pulverizes the ploughed 
field . The planting of the rice commences in March, prior 
to the firm Spring tides, und planting continues ut Intervals 
until June, the ground being covered by water let in Irmu 
tbe fresh water river to u depth of a foot or two tor six or 
eight days to sprout the seed Four or five days idler tho 
wutcr is drawn off Hie rice sends up Its dellcaie gnuu 
needle-like shoots, Then a second Irrigation follow*, last- 
ing I toil ten to thirty days, which Is called the "sirotcU 
How" bccauHO It stimulates the young shoots to stretch up- 
ward rapidly. The water is drawn off, uud hoeing and 
hand-weeding follow. After two weeding" and hueiii; • 
are finished, the rice flelda being thoroughly cleaned, wut. r 
is again let on to (lie plantation from thu river, and i tie 
crop is irrigated from six to teu weeks, or until the net» 
ripens sufficiently to be cut Tho waters me drawn off and 
the sickle is act at work, the rice bundh d into sheaves and 
piled up Into "ricks," where It goes through, during ten to 
tit teen days, a sweating process, theu hardens uud become# 
flinty. 
Tho Broughton Island plantation possesses a fine new 
steam thrashing and cleaning mill, through whltn the nco 
paws before it is 111 for market. 
Tho wages of field hands are $20 per month with rations. 
Homo room Is furnished to Ills hands by the planter with- 
out cliurgu. The averugo crop of rice Is forty bushel-, to 
the acre A good crop will amount t . fifty, and even to 
sixty bushels per acre On a well improved plantation Hie 
cost of cultivating and making u crop of rice is about $;J(J 
per acre. 
Having examined the books of tho Broughton Island 
plantation I find that the profits on the crop* raised aro 
about one hundred per cent on the capital Invested in 
making the crop. Most planters pay for the mouey they 
borrow twenty per cent per annum, uud unless excellent 
managers, find it impossible to make the business yield 
anything more than a living. Whore u plainer ia not com- 
pelled lo borrow nt higher rates tbun seven per ceui, it he 
is uu enterprising man and possesses a first clu** plantation, 
in good order, even with the demoralized luhor of the 
Southern States, he finds rice plautiug still a very profitable 
business. 
Near Broughton, AUumulia 8ound, and the rlvora nnd 
creeks which empty Into It, furnish most excellent Ibhing 
grounds througuout the year. You can take your choice 
in the matter of Halt or fresh water sport. Iu the Sound 
are immense numbers of sea buss, spotted bom, drum, 
sheepsbeud, "young drum," whiting, croaker, weak fish, 
yellow tails, besides oysters, clams, cruhs, shrimp, prawn, 
terrapin, Ac , Ac. 
On the wide rivers which form tho boundary lino of 
Broughton, you will And terrapin, soft shelled turtles, 
brunm, trout, rock fish, perch, (three or four species,) and 
matijt other kinds in their scumoii. Tho uplands in tho 
vicinity of the island offer excellent sport in the way of 
doer, coon and fox hunting. Ducks and other wild fowl 
frequent the sounds und rivers, Wild turkeys, partridges, 
English snipe, woodcock, turtle doves, with hares in 
ubundunce, must not he forgotten in making up u list of 
the shooting resources of this part of the Georgia coast. 
The time is uot distant when Northern men possessed of 
capital will no longer cross the ocean iinuually to e-capo 
a severe Northern Winter, but will purchase a Winter 
house In their own country among these lovely sen islands 
where land is cheap, uud u good living can be obtained at 
u very reasonable coat. An estate like Broughton Island, 
with ull Its Improvements, can bo purchased at one Hurd of 
its real value before the war, while abandoned estates ure 
considered worth hut very little mouey. 
N. II. Bi*uot>. 
—Tho national debt of France Is $1,000,000,000; of 
Great Britain, $3, 000, 000, 000; United Slates, $2,2UU 000 000 
I till v, $1,050,000,000; Spain, $1,875,000,000; Austria $t ’ 
750,000,000; Russia, $1,700,000,000; German Empire’ *1 ’ 
000,000,000; Turkey, $075,000,000; India, $650,000,00(1. 
Great Britain, Russia and the German Empire huv*. de- 
creased their debt within the lost two years. Tire nett in- 
crease of the debts of the above powers within the same 
period amounts to $1,735,000,000. 
—On tho 15th March the icc ull went out of the Schuyl- 
kill River, uud on the dav following Mr. Gillingham, (ho 
Secretary of tho Schulklil Navy, oujoyed Hie Oral row of 
tbe wason. 
