' 

ing views,” wriggling himself in and out of the bunk like a 
young eel. When he had repeated this manceuvre several 
times in the most grave and solemn manner, I felt bound to 
follow his example; so the next time the mate bobbed out I 
resolved to bob in. Legs, body, head, all followed in pano- 
ramic order, and making a dive I shot my head through the 
apperture. Unfortunately, at that moment the schooner 
gave a heavy lurch, and my cranium and the vessel’s side 
came in rather rough contact, and with the succeeding lurch 
I was shot out into the old Frenchman’s arms. ‘“ Bravo, 
bravo, essayez encore une fois, Monsieur!” and patting me 
approvingly on the back, the mate incited me to fresh 
“deeds of daring.” By dint of much patience, several 
trials, and a few hard knocks, I at léngth succeeded in 
stowing myself away, and though the atmosphere of my 
“charnel house” was purgatorial, a thick cloud of tobacco 
smoke, delicately perfumed with cod oil, filling the bunk, 
I thought it wiser to remain where I was, and spite of all 
these disagrements, soon dropped off to sleep. When morn- 
ing dawned, we found the gale had driven us far out of our 
course, and as the schooner was somewhere off West Bay, 
we had to beat up for Gaspé Bay. At 2 o’clock we were 
close to the southwest shore, at the entrance, and as the 
wind was falling light, and it was along beat up the bay, 
we lowered the canoe, and paddling some way down the 
coast, landed above Douglastown, whence we walked into 
Gaspé village. It was past 8 o’clock when we started, and 
the distance was sixteen miles, but we were in good train- 
ing, and reached the Gulf House before 7 o’clock, where we 
found welcome faces and kind friends eagerly awaiting our 
arrival. Lieut. W. Hutrcurnson Pos, R. M. L. I. 
[Lhe End. ] 
ee 
A MESS OF STRIPED BASS. 
ais sdote ree 
Eprror FoREST AND STREAM: 
One morning I jumped from my bed just as the sun was 
lifting his head above the Eastern horizon, and having 
hastily swallowed my breakfast, jumpedona horse car and 
arrived at the foot of Court street, in good time. The ‘‘Marie” 
was quickly lowered into her native element, and placing my 
traps aboard, I started for Oyster Island, where I had 
caught a fine lot a few days before. But on getting out in- 
to the North River the wind left me, and I drifted down to 
Robin’s Reef, thinking to sail up on the flood. TI hailed the 
old light-keeper, and he consoled me by saying that there 
were no fish; that even they were affected by the hard 
times and would not bite, no, not they! they knew too much 
now-a-days, ‘‘and then he wanted the loan of two or three 
fishing crabs, which he promised to return ‘‘ the very next 
time [came that way.” 
“Well,” [soliloquized, ‘‘I suppose I must wait,” and as it 
was our dinner-time, (10 o’clock), I let go killock that I 
could just rig out my rods, (I always fish with two), and 
throw my lines over ‘‘ for the fun of the thing.” I did go. 
And now fordinner. I had just reached out for my cold- 
cut, something, by the way, so often obtained when least 
Alesired, when whang, bang, went my short rod against my 
leg ‘*Good gracious, I exclaimed,” what’s up now? a 
confounded dog-fish, I suppose, and I reached out for my 
*sticker” to punch him with. But my rod and line soon 
told me a different story by the sharp and quick dashes that 
they made from one side of the boat to the other; and then 
fifty yards of line ran out like a flash. I seized the rod and 
the sport began; and, after an exciting pull, he rolled over 
alongside, and displayed the proportions of a fine bass. 
But he was hooked only by the tender and fragile part of 
the mouth, and on the least strain I would be sure to lose 
him. It was a nervous minute, I assure you. It is won- 
jerful how electricity or something else does run up your 
line, and down your rod, and all through your arms and 
legs at such a moment. He made another run, but I hauled 
him gently and safely, and soon had him again , alongside. 
In placing my landing net under him he gave one more 
“flirt” for freedom, and broke the hook from his mouth, 
but, luckily, fell into my net, and in another minute I had 
him in the boat; he was a noble fish. The excitement of 
catching this fellow caused me to forget, for the moment, 
that I had another rod and line out; and when I did look 
tor my float, I perceived another fish had hold of the hook, 
and had run off two hundred feet of line. So to work I 
went, with a will, to fetch him in, but before I could do so 
my short rod was again hard at work bumping against my 
legs like mad, And so they kept it upamtil I had my car 
alongside full of fish, and nearly all my boat, too. Now 
and then a common tern would skim over me, stop an in- 
stant, look at me with his black lustrous eyes, and dart 
away again seeming to think, ‘‘ nicking the fins, aint he?” 
Well, kind reader, I: kept nicking them until nature tired, 
and then I left off, and fixed up my fixings, for they were 
really outof gear. My old rod was allsorts of shapes, and 
my reels so wet and full of crab and scales that they jam- 
med. At5o’clock P. M., I had strength enough left to 
set my fore sail, and let the little “Marie” go. She seemed 
to know that I was in a hurry and fairly skipped over the 
waves. I will not tell you of my success that day in num- 

- bers, but I will say that on reaching the landing the news 
spread around quickly enough, and several families had a 
good supper on bass and weak fish that evening. 
Now gentle reader, did youever have some bright and 
beautiful day fastened on your heart string’s memory? If 
so, perliaps it was when you were a youth and killed your 
first bird on the wing; perhaps it was your first string of 
** Sunuies;” or perhaps it was the first time that you saw 
Julias big blne eye looking fully at you, and made you feel 
“just so,” and you went liome and tried to sleep but could 




FOREST AND STREAM. 
67 

not, but for all that you were ‘ kind of happy” and, never 
forgot that ‘‘peculiar” day. So was this day with me; one 
vf the glorious clouds of memory fringed with gold. I 
think of it over and over again and it always makes me hap- 
py. Ican call back the most minute acts of the fish, how 
I just saved one big fellow, and how another made me 
think I had a “‘rouser,” but it was only a one. pounder 
hooked on the outside of his gills; how I sailed home as the 
sun was throwing his slanting rays over the place ‘out of 
the Union,” and beginning to grow dim and foggy, I thought 
all the world was happy because I was. It was a joy of the 
heart that only a fisherman can experience, for he feels at 
peace with all the world after ‘‘ nicking the fins.” 
SQUETEAGUE. 

ho 
THE MIRAMICHI FOR SALMON. 
eee RD 
Nrw Haven, Conn., September 6, 1873. 
Eprror or Forest AND STREAM: 
Some weeks ago I promised you notes of my trip to the 
salmon country. 
Friday, July 11, at eight a. m., I took a steamer of the 
International Steasmhip Company’s line, Commercial 
Wharf, Boston, for St. John, New Brunswick. We 
reached Portland, Me., at half-past four p. ., leaving 
again at six, stopping at Eastport at ten the next morning, 
having time to run about the quaint little town for an hour. 
Bidding good-by here to a couple of friends bound for the 
Schoodic lakes, we resumed our trip, reaching St, John at 
fourP. M. Therun from Boston was thoroughly enjoy- 
able. We had an excellent boat, well manned and man- 
aged, officers efficient, without brusqueness or airiness, 
courteously attentive and obliging to all; a bright sky, 
smooth sea, fresh breeze, and much of the way, after leav- 
ing Eastport, near views of this rugged Eastern coast, bold 
and picturesque, a constant source of interest and beauty. 
The tourist may pleasantly spend a day-or two in St. 
John, a city set upon hills of rock, having an aspect quaint, 
foreign, old; in interesting contrast with the prevailing 
newness apparent in the cities of ‘‘the States.” 
Tuesday, the 15th, we took steamer up the St. John for 
Fredericton, a noble river, its scenery constantly remind- 
ing one of the Hudson, though its bordering reliefs are less 
bold and rugged. The greater part of the distance, a 
broad intervale, sometimes sevéral miles in width, lies be- 
tween the river and the high-land border. This vast inter- 
vale is annually fertilized by spring freshets, and yields 
many tons of the best hay for the mere labor of cutting it. 
The sail through this wide, green meadow land, embel- 
lished by scattered elms and occasional clusters of other 
trees, was one of unceasing pleasure. 
We found a fine hotel at Fredericton, the Barker House, 
which receives its guests with a cordial welcome, and sup- 
plies every comfort. 
Early Wednesday morning we took stage for Boiestown, 
forty miles away, on the southwest branch of the Mirami- 
chi River. For many miles our route was through the 
beautiful Valley of the Nashwauk, which, to see and trav- 
erse, is of itself well worth a considerable journey. 
Near Boiestown we had our first view of the famous Mira- 
michi. Salmon (if we may accept local assertions, as I do 
not), do not take the fly below Wilson’s, about five miles 
up the stream. We went on therefore, at once, by private 
conveyance, to the place of this genial and hearty gentle- 
man. We found him the proprietor of more than 500 
acres, much of it under excellent tillage, and surrounded 
by every appearance of thrift and comfort. For several 
weeks his house was a real home to us, abounding in com- 
furt and good cheer for body and spirit. His house is de- 
lightfully located upon a high terrace, bordering a broad in- 
tervale, and commanding an extensive river view. About 
an eighth of a mile from the house and opposite, across the 
green meadow, is a very fine salmon “ pool,” never failing, 
during the proper season, to yield to the fly good returns 
daily of the gamesome grilse, if not of salmon. 
In regard to salmon fishing in this river, I propose not to 
| withhold the truth, as I think it well for all concerned 
that it should be known. If there were no other reason, I 
would not have brother sportsmen misled or disappointed, 
who, another season, as I was ‘this, may be seeking an at- 
tractive summer resort. Understand me. I have not been 
disappointed. Icame without expectations. I had never 
seen a live salmon. Ihave been more than satisfied. The 
genuine sport I have had with grilse has far surpassed all 
Ihave ever had, or seen, or heard of, with trout. But I 
have only taken a single ‘‘salmon.” It is but fair to say I 
have spent but a very few days upon the upper portion of 
the river, which is the best. I have heard, however, of 
much dissatisfaction from those who have thoroughly tried 
it. Gentlemen have come from a distance, and have left 
disappointed, because of the ‘poor salmon fishing.” The 
disappointment is the keener because it is universally felt to 
be so entirely unnecessary. The trouble is in a radically 
and strangely defective supervision of theriver. Of course, 
the relentless, exterminating slaughter of fish in these 
waters can be stopped, as it has been elsewhere. It ought 
to be stopped. The run of large fish this year has been 
abundant, but a regular system of destructive poaching, with 
only the most feeble attempts at prevention, has thinned 
them out terribly. Laws sufficiently stringent have been 
passed, and wardens appointed to see that they are obeyed, 
but it is affirmed by honest men on the river that, except 
in one or two rare instances, no warden has been known 
voluntarily to perform the first official act, except to draw 
his pay. The culpable neglect of these wardens is known 
to their official superiors,jand apparently tolerated. This 







is the honest and simple explanation of the fact that, in the 
upper and fly-fishing half of the river, the sportsman finds 
only a straggling and occasional salmon. The lower half 
is, at every good place, crossed by nets, set in the most 
open defiance of law. Moreover, every night, through the 
whole length of the river, torches are seen at all the good 
pools, where the brutal spear of the professional poacher 
picks out the few fish that may have run the gauntlet of 
the nets below. Is it any wonder that so few salmon re- 
spond to the fly of the sportsman ? Tome it seems strange 
there are any. Strangers visiting here will continue to be 
disappointed, until there is a severe reform, either in the 
system or the method of supervision. Gentlemen of intel- 
ligence and business efficiency are deeply interested in the 
thorough protection of the stream. By them it is hoped, 
and expected that the needfal measures will be adopt- 
ed at the next winter’s session of the Legislature. In that 
event the immediate result will be to admit an abundance 
of salmon to the whole length of the river. 
Among your readers may be some who need to calculate 
expenses. A few details for such : 
An ‘excursion ” ticket by steamer from Boston to St. 
John, costs $9 in currency ; state-room, $2; four meals, 
$3 50. The leading hotel at St. John isthe Victoria ; $3 4a 
day, gold. Others, thoroughlyigood, are the Waverly, the 
Royal, Barnes’, &c., at $2 a day. Fare to Fredericton by 
rail or water, $2 ; to Boiestown, by stage, $2 50; to Wil- 
son’s, $1 50. (By addressing William Wilson, Boiestown, 
N. B., he will meet gentlemen upon arrival at Fredericton, 
and bring them through to the fishing-ground with expedi- 
tion and comfort). Guides’ ‘charges are $1 50a day and 
found ; also, a charge is made of $2 for each rod, for each 
day incamp. Dingey Scribner, of St. John, furnishes the 
best of fishing tackle, at reasonable rates. A salmon rod 
costs $16 ; a reel, $8; line, $8; gaff, $2 50; flies, $2 50a 
dozen. Time from Boston to Fredericton, by rail, about 
twenty hours. Fare and incidentals about the same as by 
steam with state-room and meals. 
At William Wilson’s gentlemen or ladies, or both, may 
rely upon finding every essential comfort, with a constant 
spirit of good cheer that makes daily life there a pleasure. 
Board, $4 a week. 
Reliable fishing appears to be practically over about the 
first of August. The best is for about a month, commenc- 
ing June 20, and the first half of that month is much bet- 
ter than the last. 
I cannot close these rough notes without expressing the 
real pleasure with which I remember so many gentlemen 
who have placed me under grateful obligations, by substan- 
tial and kindly attentions. Mr. ©. Robertson, of St. John, 
one of the principal lessees of the river, received me in the 
most cordial manner, as Iam sure he would do every true 
sportsman. But for his unexpected kindness and proffer 
of special facilities, the plan of my summer campaign 
would have been entirely different. Any one proposing to 
visit the Miramichi will find it of material advantage to ad- 
dress him. 
I must also mention our most estimable and efficient U. 
5. Consul at Fredericton, 8. Baker, Esq., whose attentions 
are as cordial as they are considerate and serviceable. It 
would be difficult to express my sense of his kindness and 
courtesy. Jam surethat any ‘“‘ American” visitor at Fred- 
ericton will find it a pleasure to make his acquaintance. 
From his establishment may be had complete supplies for 
camp life, of the best quality. 
Le Wisk Cl 


DANBURYANA. 
fg 
—An old, prosaic proprietor of a Danbury dirt cart, was 
once the most romantic of men. When he was married he 
built a little cottage on a rock close to the river’s edge, and 
one night during a storm, a schooner was driven against 
the bank, and the bowsprit pierced his house, threw him 
and his wife out of bed, broke one of her legs, and nearly 
disemboweled him. Then he moved to an interior city, 
and rented the fourth floor of a brick building on a back 
street. 
—The shooting about Danbury is excellent now. You 
are foolish if you don’t take a day from the cares of busi- 
ness, borrow a hammer, and enjoy the sport. 
—A Danbury boy wants to know if it is right for his 
folks to pay five hundred dollars for a piano for his sister, 
and make him pick berries for circus money. 
—The wife of a carpenter loses more time in trying to 
make a door shut than any other woman. 
ro 
LAcustrinE DwELLInGs IN GrrMany.—The remains of 
ancient habitations raised on poles are of rare occurrence 
in Germany, and hence the discovery last year of the debris 
of such structures in the bed of the River Elster, near 
Leipsic, awakened a lively interest. The discovery was 
made by Herr Jentzsch, of the Geological Institute of Aus- 
tria. The order of the visible strata at this point is as fol- 
lows :—At the base is found a layer of sandstone; on this a 
lacustrine clay. Both of these belong to the upper portions 
of the quaternary rock. In the clay are two beds contain- 
ing the remains of plants, and among these are found leaves 
of the willow and oak, fruit of the Acer, and sundry other 
vegetable fragments. Above these occurs a layer of roots 
some inches in depth, which shows that the surface of the 
soil remained at this level for a considerable period. The 
uppermost layer, two to three metres thick, was produced 
by an inundation. The piles discovered by Jentzsch in the 
bed of the Elster are set in the clay and covered over with 
this silt. They are arranged in circles, with their lower 
ends pointed, and their upper extremities connected by hori- 
zontal ties of oak. Among the animal remains found here 
are the lower jaw of an ox, with its teeth; stags’ heads, the 
long bones of some mammal yet undetermined, and shells 
of the unio and anodon. No traces of human remains have 
been found, though fragments of pottery and chareoal are 
met with; also two stone hatchets. 

