
FOREST AND STREAM? 101 


second barren,-going round a pretty lake, where Gamble 
The sun 
was now but an hour high. As the forests become dark at 
five o'clock, when it is light on the barrens until eight, we 
determined to push on through the third barren as far as 
we could and camp there, so as to'be near the fourth bar- 
After our supper of bread and 
pork, without tea, we wrapped ourselves up in our blankets 
and slept soundly. We were now fully twenty miles from 
camp, as the bird flies, and fully thirty-five by the route we 
had taken, Economy Lake being south of us, and we had 
some two miles yet to make before we could reach the 
fourth barren. It was dark when Gamble quietly awakened 
me. We ate our breakfast quickly, and walked fully two 
As soon as it was light 
The country he said had changed 
Set some otter traps. Still no trace of our game. 
ren early next morning. 
hours before dawn cleared the sky. 
Gamble climbed a tree. 
somewhat, as it had been seven years since he had been at 
this barren. 
his face and the glitter of his eye I felt sure he had seen 
caribou. ‘‘Five of them in the barren, not more nor 2 mile 
off, a feeding, sir.” . That was all. Now, with the utmost 
precaution we traced our steps. Just on the south side of 
the barren we found a distinct trail, which the caribou had 
made through the woods. Their tracks resembled these 
made by cattle, only a little more elongated, for the caribou 
has rather long, low hoofs. The dung was even fresh, and 
not much larger than that voided by sheep. They had 
evidently laid down during the night at this very spot, as 
little bits of hair were visible. We followed the track in 
Indian file, Gamble leading, Tin the middle, and Beese in 
the rear. The gait was a slow one, and: our feet were cau- 
tiously placed on the ground, fearful that even a twig 
should crack. Not a word was spoken. With one hand 
on his gun, the other behind him, Gamble would signal with 
his oustretched fingers which way we should go, or whether 
we should halt, The track was almost 400 yards long, and 
asmall stream had to be crossed. Silently as otters we 
went through it. Just then the barren opened on us. We 
rested for a few moments, then got to the last screen of 
trees, and saw for the first time our caribou. They were 
hidden by a slight fringe of spruce boughs, and were not 
more than 600 yards off. About 400 yards distant in the 
barren there stood a huge boulder, of a greyish white, glis- 
tening in the bright morning sun, and throwing off sparkles 
of light from the quartz crystals in it. Could we reach it 2 
If able to do that there would be the chance of a shot. We 
all dropped to the ground, and crawled slowly on the moss, 
worming our way round smaller boulders until we reached 
it. Looking stealthfully over the top of it; I was now sure 
that the caribou were just within long rifle shot. We waited 
fully five minutes (it seemed to me five hours), hoping the 
caribou would come nearer. When we saw them first the 
herd—made up of two old bucks, two male yearlings, and 
a doe—were playing together; now they were feeding. 
‘Thinking Gamble the better shot, I had given him my Bal- 
lard, reserving the Remington for myself. Every moment 
I expected the caribou would move further off. Though 
they could not wind us, every now and then the nearest 
buck would pause, slowly raise his head, and look around 
him, as if on his guard. Gamble looked inquiringly at me, 
as if asking what to do. I made the motion of firing. 
Indicating the buck I wanted to shoot at, I left Gamble to 
pick out any one he chose. I carefully took a resting shot 
ona sharp edge of the boulder. Presently the furthest 
buck came a trifle quartering towards me, and taking the 
most careful of shots, with a fine bead, aiming at the bris- 
ket, I let him liave it. Almost instantly afterwards Gamble 
fired. My buck fell dead in his tracks. Gamble’s caribou 
gave one single, short leap, and fell dead not ten yards 
from mine. One long, exulting shout sounded through the 
barren as we screamed with excitement. The next moment 
Gamble was down into the barren with gleaming knife in 
hand, and the throats of two noble caribou were cut. The 
buck I had killed was the finest of the two, and would have 
weighed 300 pounds. Gamble’s buck was a trifle lighter. 
The horns on mine were only fair as to size, while Gamble’s 
. were the most magnificent ones as to size and spread I had 
ever seen. My eight hundred miles of travel were amply 
repaid. ‘“‘If my grandsire’ drew a long bow at Hastings,” 
I must plead it as an excuse for entering somewhat into the 
exact distance we fired at these animals. Pacing it off, I 
ound that my buck was killed at a trifle under 186 yards, 
and Gamble’s at 170. We rested for awhile, and, seated 
on our animals, ate and drank as only hungry and excited 
men can, 
Now came the question of how to get them to the lodge, 
some forty miles distant. Gamble’s and Beese’s woodcraft 
then came into play. Ina half hour, with their axes they 
had fashioned a sledge of hackmatack, on which the cari- 
bou were placed. Long withewood traces were made, and, 
like horses, we went in double harness. Awful hard work 
it was. There was a little stream some: three miles off 
which emptied into Economy Lake, and here was where 
our hauling would end and water: transportation begin. 
Seven mortal hours did it take us before we accomplished 
those three miles. At sundown we reached the stream. 
A fire was built, our last bit of pork was devoured, a cup 
of coffee was made, and we all soon went to sleep, thor- 
oughly used up men. Next morning was again fine and 
clear, a trifle cold, but every particle of fatigue had left us. 
There is some peculiarity in this rare mountain air, which 
makes a breath of it send the blood through the lungs | 
with renewed and freshened vigor. Gamble proposed 
making a straight line for camp, and finding Dandy, who 
would walk to Castlereagh, and from thence take the horse 
and buggy to Economy Lake and meet us, It was no 
As he slid down the tree, by the expression of 
| are only too glad that we have on our side such a powerful 

sooner proposed than off he started, going off with that 
splendid swinging gait which only one who treads these 
native wilds can acquire. Beese now built a raft; it was 
but the matter of anhour. The game was loaded on, and we 
were just about pushing off into the stream which emptied 
into the lake, not more than’ half a mile beyond, when a 
pleasant morning breeze sprung up. Here I must confess 
that what nautical knowledge I may have had now came to 
me asif by inspiration. From a large birch tree we took 
some sheets of bark. Under my'direction Beese sewed 
them, a mast and a spar were rigged up, a pennon of birch 
bark was hoisted to the fore, and with a regular latine sail 
we went spinning down the lake, much to Beese’s amuse- 
ment. At the foot of the lake we found a settler’s cabin, 
and here we moored our raft. From the settler we hired a 
span of oxen and a cart, and, loading our caribou, leisurely 
reached Economy. There, sure enough, was Dandy, wait- 
ing for us. 
Iam writing this at Purdy’s, in delightful quarters once 
more. In a week or so I will go for moose, just as soon as 
Gamble has made his crop. I shall take Gamble with me, 
of course, and Beese and Dandy, for better hunters or more 
trustworthy people I never came across. Gamble says we 
may safely call the moose on the next full moon. 
i ANAK oat 
ure and health obtained from’ innocent sport, such a result 
would be really a public calamity. This and the corres- 
ponding destruction of the deer can only be prevented by 
some vigorous public action. We have law enough, but the 
difficulty is in its execution. If the ““Sportsman’s Club” 
—which has already done ‘‘ yeoman service” in preserving 
game—would present a form of an act through their well- 
known counsel, Mr. Whitehead, to the next Legislature, 
creating an office of ‘State Game-keeper,” similar to one 
already existing in Canada, «ind then have him or his assist- 
ant placed in the Adirondack region, the game might yet 
be saved. If there was a question about creating a new 
salaried office, the club would have no difficulty in making 
up the few hundred, dollars necessary, and plenty of bold, 
experienced men could be found in the woods to take. its 
undesirable risks. It is true that the towns have the right 
now to appoint ‘‘game constables,” but they cannot pay 
enough to make any one ready to incur the odium and risk 
of the office. Moreover, a State official would have far more 
authority. Let us save the game in time. 
Athletic Pastimes. 
—The St, George’s Club of New York and the Marion 
Club of Philadelphia, will play a match at cricket on the 
grounds of the former at Hoboken, tomorrow and Saturday. 
The St. George’s eleven will consist of Cashman, Jones, 
Méeran, Sleigh, Smith, Bowman, Lennon, Harcombe, 
Sonter, Talbot, and Ewing. Wickets will be pitched on 
Friday at 2 o’clock, and on Saturday at 10 o’clock. The 
Marion Club have a strong eleven, and an interesting match 
is expected. 






































oe 
THE PEOPLE’S HUNTING GROUND. 
ROM the New York Zimes we copy in full an admirable 
F article with the above caption. In a late number 
appeared a communication entitled ‘‘ Stocking Trout Waters 
with Bass,” addressed to us by one of the first sportsmen 
in the United States, which exactly covers one portion of 
the ground taken by our distinguished contemporary. We 

—The Prospect Park Club have resumed their practice, 
having ceased to play for thirty days in consequence 
of the death of their, late Vice President, George T. Keil- 
ler. 
—The Germantown Club of Philadelphia, have. challeng- 
ed the St. George’s Club of this city to play a match at Ho- 
boken on October 3d. and 4th. 
—The following professional players have made engage- 
ments with clubs for 1874:—Hicks, Malone, McVey, Clapp, 
Allison, Cummings, Zettlein, Spaulding, McBride, Mat- 
thews, Mack, Barnes, Fisher, Carey, Ferguson, Meyerle, 
Sutton, Fulmer, Force, Burdock, Radcliffe, George Wright, 
Henry Wright, Cuthbert, Leonard, Remsen, York, Pike, 
White, Fisher, Gedney, McMullin, Hines, Eggler, McGeary, 
and Glenn. 
—The return match between the Excelsior Quoit Club of 
Dartmouth and the Komos Club of Halifax, Nova Scotia, 
was played on September 17th, on the grounds of the latter 
club, and resulted in favor of the Komos who won hanc- 
somely in both innings. Many of the best players of both 
clubs were conspicious by their absence. The substitutes 
played remarkably well. ‘The rest of the day was spent in 
lunching; toasting and speech making. 
—The annual fall game of the New York Athletic Club, 
will be held Oetober the 4th, on their grounds foot of 133d. 
St. Harlem. 
—The Atlantics were defeated by the Baltimores in Balti- 
more on Friday, the 19th, by a score of 14 to 5, 
—On Saturday, the 20th, the Athletics beat the Atlantics 
at Philadelphia, by a score of 11 to 5. The batting and 
fielding of Anson was the most noticeable feature of the 
Athletics’ general good play, Burdock bearing off the palm 
for the Atlantics in fielding. The game was impartially 
umpired by Fulmer. 
advocate as the 7%mes, and trust it will continue to advocate’ 
the better preservation, of not only our forests and streams, 
but of their inmates. 
“We hear nothing as yet from the Commission appointed 
by the last Legislature to report on the subject of making 
the Adirondack forest and mountain region a grand public 
park and hunting-ground forever. The project. is one which 
deeply interests our citizens. It is worthy of the dignity of 
modern democracy that the people should have its hunting- 
ground preserved, and cared for, as Princes have had theirs. 
The cost and sacrifice to New York State would be no more 
than the grand act of the comparatively poor State of Cali- 
fornia was to its people, in reserving the Yosemite Valley 
as a public pleasure ground. The public are favorable to 
the scheme, and are waiting eagerly for the report of the 
Committee. But whatever these gentlemen intend doing 
should be done quickly. If some energetic measures are 
not taken speedily, before the Adirondacks become a public 
hunting ground, there will be no game left to hunt. The 
extraordinarily healthful and invigorating atmosphere, as 
well as the taste for wild life offered so conveniently in this 
region, are attracting crowds of tourists and sportsmen, 
Every traveler must have, if possible, venison and trout for 
his meals, and the inn-keepers strain every nerve to supply 
the want. Each new fledged or experienced sportsman 
must kill his two or more deer, or catch his basket of trout. 
The consequence is that every nook and corner of the woods 
is scoured for venison, and every pond and streamlet whip- 
ped for fish. We have known an inn-keeper have eighteen 
hounds out at once for any unfortunate deer that might be 
in the neighborhood, The present law—if we are not mis- 
taken—permits ‘‘ hounding,” but allows no killing of deer 
before the middle of August, or the first of September. 
Yet it is well known that an indiscriminate massacre of 
these beautiful creatures begins early in June. During the 
present year does were killed in that month, and we know 
one instance where a doe was shot, with two fawns within 
her, while neither her flesh nor skin wete of the slightest 
value. “Fawns and mothers are murdered without mercy all 
through the early summer. Parties were in remote ponds 
and lakes of the Adirondacks even during July of this year, 
who hounded or killed by ‘‘jack-light,” fifteen or eighteen 
deer. We believe, from careful consideration, that some- 
thing like a thousand. deer are killed each year in the Adi 
rondack forests. It will be seen that with such a merciless 
and inconsiderate slaughter, it will not need a long time 
before the supply of deer will be exhausted. In fact, we 
have no doubt that, if this killing be allowed to continue, 
within three years a red deer will be as scarce in the North 
Woods of New York, as he is now in those of Connecticut. 
Tbe same thing is true of the trout. It is well under- 
stood by all anglers that mere rod-fishing in the season will 
never destroy this delicious fish in any given stream or lake. 
A remarkable instance has been given of this recently in 
Scotland. The best fishing-ground in the United Kingdom 
is considered to be Lock Leven, in Kinross-shire. This lake 
is only three anda half miles long, by two and a half 
broad, and open to the world, on the payment of a certainsum 
per hour, during the months of May, June, J uly and August. 
For the rest of the year the lake is closed to fishing, and 
ihe spawning-beds are carefully watched. There are in the 
lake the pike and perch, bitter enemies of the trout, but 
these are kept down by the use of the net. For fitteen 
years the catch has been increasing, giving immense sport 
to the anglers, and a handsome profit to the proprietor. 
Last year upward of 17,000 trout were taken there by the 
fly, and during May and June of this year about 9,000, the 
average weight being the remarkable size of nearly one 
pound. 
The truth is that man’s angling is the least destructive 
agency which diminishes the increase of fish. The fatal 
agency is whatever destroys the small fry or injures the 
female fish before spawning. Inthe Adirondack waters mil- 
lions of future trout are destroyed by fishing on the spawn- 
ing-beds, and much havoc is occasioned by “set lines.” To 
add to the destruction, some guide has introduced into Long 
Lake and the Raquette waters that ‘ fresh-water shark,” 
the pickerel, or, perhaps, the muscalonge, and in Raquette 
Lake, the Fish Commissioner himself is said to have put 
the black bass, which will make terrific havoc with the 
best fish of American waters. Even at the present time, 
the sporting parties find it extremely ditficult to take any 
trout, and if this goes on, it will need ouly two or three 
years to make ‘‘speckled trout” a tradition in the Adiron- 
dack lakes. When one thinks of the vast amount of pleas- 
_—The eighth game of the champion series between the 
Bostons and Mutuals, took place at Boston, September 20th, 
The play was anything but good on the part of the Mutuals 
who ohly scored in three innings, they being virtually beat- 
en on the sixth inning. Nelson played second base finely 
and Eggler excelled in the field. The score, Bostons 7. 
Mutual 1. 
—Ata meeting held in Baltimore last week $4,900 was 
subscribed towards securing a nine for that city for the sea- 
son of 1874. 
————$—$ 
SAGACITY or Brrps.—A great mental quality which birds 
seem to have in excess of other animals isa very fine cal - 
culation of distance, and this, too, in direct subordination 
to their own well-being. It has been shown again and 
again—and Mr. Leith Adams refers to some facts in sup 
port of it in this essay—that as new weapons of offence are 
invented many species of birds narrowly observe the range 
of the new bows or guns, and keep out of range, not even 
troubling themselves to go atall farther than is necessary 
to be out of range. Quite recently we have read, though 
we cannot verify the reference at present, of some birds 
that adapted themselves, within a few days, to the increased 
range of the rifle, directly after they had learned its range 
for the first time, having been previously accustomed only 
to the fowling piece, and kept just outside the 2,000 yards’ 
range, or whatever range it was, retaining their composure 
at that distance. We suppose the ‘wonderful accuracy of 
the traveling birds in striking the exact point for which 
they are bound, of which Mr. Leith. Adams gives us 
wonderful illustrations, is a. still greater proof of the 
same power. Mr. Adams tells us of swifts which af. 
ter eight month’s absence in the South, at a distance of 
some 1,800 or 1,900 miles, return not merely to the same 
region, butto the same nests, which they had deserted, 
and that, too, year after year, the individnals having been 
marked so that there could be no mistake as to their iden- 
tity, unless indeed there is such creatures as claimants ” to 
abandoned nests even in the ornithological world. Again, 
the delicate adaptation of the power of geometrical meas- 
urement to the welfare of its species, seems to be shown 
by the weaver-bird of India, which hangs its ‘ elaborately- 
constructed, purse-shaped nest” from the tops of branches 
overhanging deep: wells, in order to render it particularly 
dificult for enemies to get at the nest without running 
great risk of falling into the well:—The Spectator, 
oe . 
Brute speech—Deer-stalking, 


