MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING
AND OTHER SKETCHES OF SPORT

O

w

H

W
H

MOOSE-HUNTING

SALMON-FISHING

AND

OTHER SKETCHES OF SPORT

BEING THE RECORD OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
OF HUNTING WILD GAME IN CANADA

BY

T. R. PATTILLO

LONDON
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY

LIMITED

&t. Ihmstan's f^otise

FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E.G.
1902

PRINTED BY

WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
LONDON AND BECCLES.

NOTE

ALTHOUGH there are, of course, some things
in this work which are not quite "on all-
fours" with our views of sport, yet I feel
certain that most sportsmen on this side the
Atlantic will read Mr. Pattillo's pages with
great appreciation.

As it was to be printed in London, and
required some little revision and making up
into chapters, I went through the original
manuscript for this purpose, and if the
author's unvarnished but bright, fresh, and
straightforward narrative of his sport gives
other readers as much pleasure as it did me,
there need be no fear as to its success.

If I can get one, I hope to give his portrait,
for Mr. Pattillo writes with such verve and
is such an enthusiast, that reading his pages

vi NOTE

is like listening to the stories of a genial
companion when out on a sporting expedition.

As I think it is quite possible that a second
edition may be called for, I shall be very glad
to receive, on behalf of the author, the notes
of rod and gun sportsmen who may know, as
they are at present, the hunting and shooting
districts and rivers referred to in this work.

Our author certainly had grand sport, and
although it cannot be so good as formerly,
let us hope there is still game enough left to
be worth going for.

The descriptions of salmon-fishing make
one wonder what it would be like if it was
properly preserved.

R. B. MAESTON,

ED. Fishing Gazette.

ST. DUNSTAN'S HOUSE, FETTER LANE,
LONDON, E.G.,

February, 1902.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. MOOSE-CALLING IN NOVA SCOTIA . ... 1

II. MOOSE-CALLING IN NOVA SCOTIA — continued . . 12

III. MOOSE-CALLING IN NOVA SCOTIA— continued . . 19

IV. SALMON AND TKOUT FISHING ON THE MEDWAY,

NOVA SCOTIA . . . . . 24

V. FISHING AT LITTLE SALMON AND ROCKY FALLS . 43

VI. SHOOTING GEESE AND BLUE- WINGS ON THE PORT
JOLI HARBOUR AND LAKES IN QUEEN'S COUNTY,
NOVA SCOTIA .... . . .58

VII. CATCHING THE ALBACORE, OR HORSE-MACKEREL . 82

VIII. A PERILOUS AND EXCITING ADVENTURE ON THE

MEDWAY RIVER AT BANG'S FALLS . . .91

IX. SHOOTING IN THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST . . 98

X. SALMON-FISHING ON THE LA HAVE RIVER, NOVA

SCOTIA . - . . . . . . . 139

XI. GOOSE-SHOOTING AT DERRY ISLAND, Fox HARBOUR,

ON THE NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT, NOVA SCOTIA 175

viii CONTENTS

CHAPTEB PAGE

XII. SALMON-FISHING AT GREENFIELD .... 229

XIII. MOOSE-HUNTING WITH DOGS AND ON SNOW-SHOES . 245

XIV. CONTINUATION OF MOOSE-HUNT ON SNOW-SHOES AND

WITH DOGS AT PORT JOLI, QUEEN'S COUNTY,
NOVA SCOTIA 260

XV. EXCITING OCCURRENCES ON A WEST-INDIAN VOYAGE,

INCLUDING A HURRICANE ADVENTURE, THE CAP-
TURE OF A MAN-EATER SHARK AND DOLPHIN,

CLOSING WITH AN ENCOUNTER AND THE KILLING
OF A FlSH BEARING THE EUPHONIOUS TlTLE OF

" THE DEVIL-FISH," IN A BOAT ON THE GULF OF
PARA . 266

MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING

AND OTHER SKETCHES OF SPORT

'?

CHAPTER I.

MOOSE-CALLING IN NOVA SCOTIA.

SOUTH- WESTEEN Nova Scotia, particularly the
counties of Queen and Shelburne, has always
been noted for its big game — moose, cariboo,
and bear being abundant.

One Monday morning in September, 1870,
a party of three— Jack, Bob, and myself (Tom)
— started for the town of Liverpool, Queen Co.,
on a week's moose -calling expedition, in the
neighbourhood of the Broad River Lakes, the
source of the fine fishing stream of that name.
With a team loaded with all the necessaries,
we drove out on the Shelburne road nine
miles, then taking a mill-and-log road extend-
ing back into the timber lands, we followed

2 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

it seven miles to our intended camping-
grounds.

Having sent our team back to civilization,
we proceeded to make a sharp-peaked tent,
and while Bob and I were getting the forked
uprights and lean-tos, Jack was stripping the
large white birch of their rain-proof bark. It
was not long before it was up and covered,
and such a rain-proof palace as we had might
well be envied by the king, if in the woods on
a similar errand. For bedding we used small
hemlock and spruce boughs. These, laid in
consecutive rows, made a bed good enough to
boast of. After getting a supply of wood for
the night, we loaded our smooth-bores with an
ounce of lead in each, and started for the
calling-ground, three quarters of a mile dis-
tant— a meadow three hundred yards wide
and half a mile long. Situated between our
camp and it was a lake known as " Long
Lake," containing 300 acres of water, from
which flowed a heavy, deep stream into Broad
Kiver. During the afternoon we had con-
stantly heard the quacking of duck, so we
approached the lake very cautiously, and
beheld hundreds of " blue-wings " feeding;

CROSSING A STRINGER 3

but to attempt to shoot any of them was out
of the question. Sneaking round the edge of
the lake, we found that, in order to get near
enough to reach any game on the meadow, it
was necessary to cross the stream, otherwise
the distance was too great for a sure shot ; so
we crept along through the high meadow-
grass, until under cover of the underbrush at
the edge of the stream, which we found to be
so strong and deep as to deter us from
attempting to ford it, so we continued to follow
it down, hoping to find a bridge, and in this
we were successful.

But the crossing-stringer (an old tree) did
not seem over-safe. However, we had to get
over some way, and that speedily, as the time
for calling was getting short — so upon it Jack
started with gun and call, as boldly as a sailor
walking a greased pole over the water, when,
just in the middle, with the words " All right "
on his lips, it collapsed, pitching him into the
water with his feet from under him, one hand
in the air holding the call, the other on the
bottom, clinging to his gun, with his face just
out of water, blowing like a bull for breath,
with the ludicrous expression forced upon our

4 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

ears, " This is a d — 1 of a go ! " We got him
out at last, with clothes completely soaked
and gun full of water. This cooled his and
our ardour so much that we were not inclined
to seek another crossing that night, but de-
cided to retrace our steps, get as near the
edge of the lake as possible, and give a call to
ascertain if there were moose on the ground.
So Jack placed himself behind a spruce-bush
for concealment, while Bob and I crept as
near the edge of the lake as possible, hiding
ourselves with spruce-boughs and meadow-
grass. Presently we heard the call " Mwar ! " *
Jack's trembling adding the additional r.
Before this sound had died away in the dis-
tance, our ears were greeted with the desired
reply, "Bwar!"

"Ah ! " said Jack, " he's there. Look out
now" — Jack speaks again. Nearer came
the answer. " He's coming, boys. I see
him up the meadow, and he's trotting down
fast. He's a rattler! What horns! Oh,
if he were only on the edge of the meadow,
we'd have him sure ! "

* Mwar should be sounded with nostrils closed so as to get the
correct tone.

ANOTHER MONSTER 5

Now he comes in, and I confess I was not
sorry the lake was between us. He walks
for some 50 yards, then stops, wheels round,
showing his side. Oh, what a chance for a
rifle ! Those great ears of his are intently
listening and his eyes glaring. Jack speaks :
not a move ; speaks again, coaxes : not a
budge. What can be the reason ? Now he
is pawing the mud fiercely, and looking in
the same direction.

" Listen, boys," said Jack. " Do you hear
a noise like the breaking of old dead
branches? "

"Why, yes."

" Well, that is another bull coming, and
he is making that racket to frighten any that
may be on the same rounds."

Scarcely had he said this when out of
the woods came another monster, apparently
as fierce and as ready for the fray as the
fellow that was waiting for him. Number
one stands his ground, and number two halts
50 yards away. You can readily imagine,
reader, this was rather an exciting moment
for us. Jack coaxes in faint tones, so as to
help them on, for we were all eager for the

6 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

fray. A bull-moose fight is not often seen.
Presently they marched towards each other,
and when within a few yards, stood on their
hind legs and rushed together, striking with
their fore legs, then receded a few yards
and at it again. Such blows ! We expected
on every encounter to see broken legs. At
the distance they were from us, fully 300
yards, we were confident we saw blood then,
as we did the marks of it the next day when
on the spot. The struggle lasted ten minutes,
when they both got satisfied, and went off on
opposite sides of the meadow. We felt like
caged birds during the contest, for we were
too far, even with a chance shot, to reach
them, yet were aggravated by the fact that
they fought within 60 yards of the very
spot we were aiming for when Jack met his
mishap.

Daylight next morning found us on the
move, Bob cooking breakfast, Jack cutting
wood, and I off to the lake for a mess of blue-
wings. What a sight met my view as I
reached it ! There they were by the hundred —
I might almost say by the thousand, many of
them asleep with their heads under their

A BIG SHOT AT DUCK 7

wings, which gave me an extra chance of
creeping on them. When I reached the
position I wanted, I turned my gun and
whistled, when up went their heads* Oh,
what a shot ! I pulled, and had the extreme
satisfaction of hearing the cap snap. I
worked some powder into the nipple, and
got on a new cap. Then I ranged my gun
again, gave a whistle, so as to make them
raise their heads, and give me a better chance,
as ducks feeding towards one with their heads
down make a bad target, there being so little
of the body to shoot at ; but with their necks
up, every shot tells. Then when they drew
together, suspicious of the whistle, I pulled,
and was greeted with a " bang ! " Then for a
little I thought I must, like Pat, have put
the wrong end of the gun to my shoulder —
such a recoil as she made. When the smoke
cleared away there were eight dead, four
with wings broken, and two others out 100
yards or more, that had fallen out of the flock
as it went over the lake. As soon as I
noticed the wounded ones, I kept concealed,
and watched where they landed, as it is a
peculiar trait of the blue-wing, always to

8 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

take to the shore when hurt, so by walking
along the edge of the lake in less than twenty
minutes I had all four. And then off with
boots and pants, and waded for the dead ones,
making my pile, for it was a pile, numbering
twelve. The other two we got on the opposite
shore of the lake the same afternoon. The
twelve were more than I could carry, so I
took four only, concealing the others from
foxes until later in the day, and went to
camp for breakfast.

In the afternoon we went to the stream
and felled a tree across it, that would cany
over an army, then captured fourteen trout
in a small still water on it. Half an hour's
run found us on the edge of the meadow,
within easy range of the spot where the
contest took place the night before. Jack
spoke: no response, and he repeated the call
again and again, without a reply. Then I
was reminded that the shot at the ducks had
frightened the moose away. Just at dusk,
however, away in the distance we heard a
faint " Bwar ! " To the next call the answer
seemed nearer, but was followed almost
immediately by " Mwar ! " " Mwar ! "

OUR FIRST MOOSE 9

" My goodness ! " Jack says. " Now there
will be trouble ! That is a cow calling him
back."

And it was, for, after coaxing for an hour or
two, we were compelled to give up the idea of
a shot that night, and so resolved to still hunt
them in the morning, if we could not get him
to come. At peep of day we were on the spot,
with a most favourable morning, there being
a heavy white frost. The air was resonant
with the quacking of duck. To Jack's
"Mwar!" came a speedy reply only some
300 yards away. " Now, boys, lay low ! Have
your guns placed, and make sure shots, if I
get him near enough, which I think I shall/'
said Jack. To his second call a fine two-
year-old bull trotted into sight, but stopped
suddenly about 150 yards off, then came
very slowly, as if frightened. Jack puts
his call almost to the ground, and speaks
very low. He walks towards us, but very
cautiously. After much coaxing in this
way, he stood about 75 yards away, facing
us, we with our guns both aimed at him, but
waiting, and hoping he would turn a little
and enlarge our target. In a few minutes he

io MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON FISHING, ETC

did turn a little from us. As previously
arranged, I gave the " One ! two ! " and the
report of our guns echoed through the woods.
He made a jump, wheeled, and started up the
meadow at a furious pace for a little. Well,
well, can it be possible neither of us hit him ?
We rushed to the spot where he had been
standing, to see if there were any evidences
of his being hit. We did not follow his track
20 feet before we saw, from the blood on the
grass, that he was badly hurt, while Jack, who
had been watching him from off a tree, called
out, " He has left the meadow about 250
yards up, and is going very slowly, as if very
hard hit." So we followed his track by the
blood on the grass, which led us to the place
where he took to the woods, and soon we
came to where he had been down, and ap-
parently had only just got up. About 75
yards farther on we found him — a fine fellow
of over 500 Ibs. One bullet, the fatal one,
had gone through his neck just in front of the
shoulder, the other through the upper part of
the neck. That was a proud moment for us,
as it was our first moose. Jack was an old
hunter, and therefore to him it was no novelty.

OUR FIRST MOOSE n

We really had a moose ! After dressing him
where he fell, we procured withes for thongs,
and birch-bark to lay the meat upon, and
each shouldered his load and off to camp.
But this was not all of it. There were two
more similar trips to be made, so that by the
time we had the carcase hung up out of the
reach of foxes and bears, close by the camp,
we were quite ready to rest for a couple of
hours. Then we had moose-steak, tender,
juicy, delicious.

12 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTER II.

MOOSE-CALLING IN NOVA SCOTIA— Continued.

AT the hour of calling we went to the
meadow, but nearer the head of it, and were
not much disappointed that we got no
response, as the neighbourhood had been too
greatly disturbed. Nor were we any more
fortunate the next morning. It was there-
fore decided that we would change our ground
for calling that night, and we went to a bog
on Big Broad River Lake — a distance of over
two miles. This we reached about 4 p.m.,
and as we stepped out on it to reconnoitre
and select spots for calling and concealing,
Jack noticed fresh tracks of an immense
moose, judging by their size, and^ in these
the mtiddy water had not settled, showing
that he had passed there very recently, and
could not be far away ; so we concluded to

AFTER THE MONSTER 13

make a temporary " lean-to " for the night,
which took us till nearly sundown. Then
Jack took up a position on a big boulder at
the very front of the bog, while Bob and I
went up the bog 100 yards or more to meet
him if he came down. We concealed our-
selves behind small spruces, with our guns
resting over them. Jack speaks : no reply.
He speaks again, — all are intently listening.
Presently there came a rejoicing "Bwar!"
but a long way off. Again we call, and again
he answers, nearer than before. Now our
hearts are going " pit-a-pat " at the imaginary
appearance of that monster, and the remem-
brance of those fore legs flying about, as we
had seen them the first night out. We speak
again, and again he answers, but apparently
not much nearer. Then we lost trace of him,
although continually calling in all the wooing,
coaxing tones known to hunters ; but he gave
no response. Yet we were on the qui vive
looking up the bog, our eyes and ears at the
greatest tension, with the guns cocked, ex-
pecting any moment to see our game. Dusk
had come, and we had concluded to give up
for the night, when suddenly, and without

i4 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the slightest warning, we were greeted from a
clump of second-growth birch and maple on
the edge of the bog, with " Bwah ! " We were
prepared for anything in front of us, but
coming so abruptly, and from such an un-
expected quarter, I jumped — well, I won't
attempt to say how high, but high enough to
make me conspicuous to the moose, and con-
vince him that he was on the wrong tack.
On examining the tracks in the morning, we
were certain it was the same moose whose
prints we had seen in the afternoon, and we
found, on further examination, that he had
been in the neighbourhood of the " lean-to "
during the night, had taken our scent, and
gone off again. We concluded to leave that
ground undisturbed that day, and return the
next afternoon. On getting back to camp
during the forenoon, we found that Bruin, in
our absence, had evidently smelt the moose
meat, and had been trying to get at it, but
without success. Knowing his appetite would
not be satisfied without a further attempt to
gratify it, we decided to sleep that night with
our eyes open and lights and fires out, that
we might be ready to receive him.

HUNGRY TROUT 15

During that day Jack went to the lake,
and brought back five ducks, while Bob and
I went down the stream, and each caught
as many beautiful trout of uncommonly large
size as we cared to carry home. The fishing
was just immense. We used, for bait, moose
meat and the white grubs found in old
decayed logs. The spot where we got the
catch was at the head of a pool, 400 yards
below where the tree crossed the stream.
We each cut a pole about 12 feet long,
and took our stand. As soon as we threw
in our bait, the water was literally boiling
with fish, which became so ravenous after a
little while, that they actually jumped out of
the water for the bait before it touched it.
We captured thirty-three, in an amazingly
short time, and from appearances could have
taken three hundred and thirty-three, as they
seemed just as plentiful when we left off
fishing as when we began. These were the
real sea trout, with bright silvery sides and
salmon-coloured flesh, and were as sweet and
delicious when coming from the pan or
broiled on sticks before the fire as are the
ittest salmon. We just feasted on them,

1 6 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

alternating with moose-steak. We went to
the meadow that night and on the following
morning calling, hoping against hope that a
moose might cross on to the ground after it
had been disturbed ; but we had no success.
At night, as we had planned, with the guns
all loaded, the light was put out, and the
fire allowed to smoulder, while Jack took
the first watch from eight to eleven, Bob and
I sleeping with our guns within easy reach.
About ten o'clock Jack touched me and
whispered, "I hear something outside." I
touched Bob, and passed the message on.
" I'll look out quietly." He did, and re-
turned and whispered, " There is a big bear
up against the tree where the fore quarters
of meat are. You creep out first, Tom, and
sit on your haunches ; you go next, Bob, and
do the same, but a little behind Tom; and
I'll go behind you both, and when I say,
< Eeady ! one ! two ! three ! ' blaze away. Aim
for his shoulder, for we are so near, the
bullets will rise." Thus prepared, we slipped
out as planned, and saw the bear, as Jack
had seen him, so intent on that feast he was
never to have, that he had not noticed us.

A MIXED BAG 17

When we had our positions, Jack's " Eeady ! "
a pause, " One ! two I three ! " " Bang-ang-
ang!" all as one report, made Bruin jump,
pitch headlong, never to rise again. The
woods echoed in the stillness of the night
with a sound resembling a man-of-war at big-
gun practice. He was a big fellow, an old
stager, and I doubt not an old offender.
We estimated he would weigh from 350 to
400 Ibs. He had a splendid skin, which I
used several winters on my sleigh, and we
obtained a large quantity of grease ; for he
was very fat.

After all the excitement, you can easily
imagine sleep had fled for a time. Didn't
we feel proud ? We were like " cocks of the
walk.'7 A moose, a bear, duck, and trout ! It
had been many a day since there was such a
successful hunt. " Now, boys," said Jack,
" I fully believe we'll have more luck yet,
unless something goes wrong ; for, do you
know, I think we are going to get a shot at
that big fellow to-morrow night. I don't
expect anything up the meadow in the morn-
ing, as this cannonade to-night would drive
everything off the ground ; but I am very

o

i8 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

hopeful. When we get on the other bog,
we'll change our ground some, and I think
we can fool him.'7

With such pleasant anticipation for the
closing up of our already most successful
trip, we turned in for the night.

CHAPTEE III.

MOOSE-CALLING IN NOVA SCOTIA— continued.

IN the morning we went to the meadow,
as already stated, having no luck, so after
another trip by Bob to the lake without suc-
cess, and of Jack and I to the trout-pool,
where we caught twenty-five more trout, we
had dinner, secured camp, and moved over
to the Big Bog again. An hour's sun finds
us on it. "Now," says Jack, " there is a
kind of island about a quarter of a mile up ;
it is quite high, with good shelter for you and
me, and we'll go up there." So we went,
and it was the proper spot, apparently made
on purpose for calling moose. It was about
75 yards from each side of the bog, with a
mile of opening above, and 500 yards below.
The island itself was 25 yards across and 70
yards up and down the length of the bog,

20 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the middle being raised some 12 feet, and
this was covered with small trees of birch
and maple. Jack takes the middle, gets on
a boulder, and cuts the tops off the trees
that would shut off his view in every direc-
tion. This done, Bob and I got down to the
very edge, and cleared out tracks for us to
see out easily, while being concealed ourselves.
" Are you all ready, boys ! " said Jack. " Yes,"
we replied, and immediately there rang out
over the woods, " Mwar ! " It was a proper
evening for the business — calm, bright sky,
and a clear sunset ; everything in our favour.
Ere that sound had died on the ear, a re-
sponsive "Bwar!" was coming back. "I'll
bet that's the big fellow," said Jack; "and
he's fierce : I know by the way he answers."
Jack gave a second low call. We spied the
moose rolling along at a rapid rate down the
bog, as though he were "lord of creation,"
not halting until he was within 125 yards
of us. Oh, what a monster ! What eyes !
What horns ! " If we miss, Bob, the Lord
help us! well never see home again." He
stood for a little, as if reconnoitring, then
walked towards us ; he was apparently fidgety,

A 950-LB. MOOSE 21

those big eyes were glaring as if looking into
futurity, and those immense ears listening
intently. Still he kept coming, until he was
only 75 yards away, right head on, and, if
he didn't come any nearer, was within shot.
I can assure you, reader, that was an anxious
time. If he would only come a little closer,
we could scarcely miss him, if our guns were
true. Jack gave a funny little coaxing call.
He started quickly up, and came within 50
yards. " Now, my boy, if nothing happens
as bad as the snapping of our caps, you are
ours!"

I was so excited that it was hard to hold
my gun steady. There he stood, his breath
nearly falling on us, but looking directly, as
we thought, at us. " If he would only turn
quartering, so that we could get his shoulder !
We did not have to wait long before he turned
side-to, as much as to say, "Shoot away 1" "Are
you ready, Bob?" One! two! "Bang-ang-ang!"
all three guns. Our monster, where was he ?
On the ground, kicking his last kick, and we his
captors, having now all the moose we needed,
shouted, hooted, halloaed, sang, whistled, and
danced. What luck ! What luck ! What

22

MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

luck! After we had partly recovered from
our excitement, we went in for examination,
and to bleed him. We found that every
bullet had hit him, and any one of them
would have eventually killed him, while one
had gone through his heart. His antlers were
six feet wide — beauties, and his body weighed
950 Ibs. " There," said Jack, " didn't I
tell you we were going to see this big
fellow, and would get a shot at him ? " We
partly dressed him that night, and finished
him next morning, when Bob at daylight
started out to the Broad Eiver settlement,
for a yoke of oxen and a couple of hands
to help in getting the game to the post-road.
This ox-team, with our own from town with
a span of horses, reached the camp at ten
o'clock. We took the oxen on to the Big Bog,
and up beside the carcase of our big fellow
just where he fell, and loaded him on there.
While doing this, Bob and the town driver
were loading up the other waggon at the
camp, so that when we returned to them,
everything was ready for a good-bye meal,
and a speedy start for home.
At one o'clock we bade the scenes of a

TRIUMPHAL RETURN 23

pleasant week's sport adieu, with three
rousing cheers for the Queen, and Broad
Eiver shooting-grounds, shouldered the guns,
and started on foot for the main post-road,
the teams following. As we expected to see
>artridges on our road home, we loaded
accordingly, and secured thirteen before
reaching town. At 3.45 the teams were out
on the road; the town team was reloaded,
carrying the contents of both, and it was
loaded. Then we continued our homeward
march, all of us riding. We created no little
excitement passing through the settlements
of Broad Eiver, Hunt's Point, and White
Point, while our approach had been heralded
by teams going into town, and we were met
at its entrance by an army of boys, with a
pleasant greeting by scores of friends, as we
passed along to my residence. We disposed
of sufficient game to pay all our expenses,
remembered our hosts of friends with dainty
morsels, had a week of rarely equalled sport,
and without an accident apart from Jack's
wetting. May a trip, as happy in its results
as this, be in store for each and every one of
my sporting readers I

24 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTER IV.

SALMON AND TEOUT FISHING ON THE MED WAY,
NOVA SCOTIA.

FOR a number of years with a companion, I
went to the Medway, the last week in May
and the first in June, for a week's outing. At
this particular time we found the May run
of salmon had worked well up the river, while
the June fish were in the lower pools, so we
were sure of plenty of sport, could we get them
to take. The salmon on this stream are very
variable in their fancies. The fly they would
take fiercely one season they would often
scarcely look at the next ; so that frequently,
when we knew the river was full of fish and
we had an abundance and great variety of
flies to select from, scarcely one was captured
the first day or two. One season we fished
the choicest pools from Monday until

GOOD FISHING PROSPECTS 25

Thursday noon without hooking a fish, and
went home Saturday with seventeen. The
outing or trip narrated here was begun May
28, 1880. Mill Village, a settlement on the
Medway, was reached after a journey of
thirty miles at 7.30 a.m. There we met our
Indian guides, Sol and Peter, who, with their
boats ready and teams engaged to take them
up the stream, were waiting for us. We
were soon away, and at 9.30 had a boat in
the water at the foot of Poltz Falls, and the
other at the head of the same. S. and Peter
were to fish the foot of Poltz, Hemlock Eun,
and little Salmon Pool, while Sol and I were
to try the head of Poltz Shoal Ground, and
Kempton's Eun, with all the intervening
ground. We were so anxious for sport, that
we dumped our outfit on the camping-ground,
put our rods together and started for the
respective locations. The water was just
right for good fishing. Sol and I anchored
above a smooth run on the south-east side of
Poltz — a favourite resting spot for the fish
after having faced the long, heavy waters of
the Falls.

I threw a short line at first with a Durham

26 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Eanger on : but no sign. Then a little longer :
still no sign. Now if he is where he generally
lies, I ought to start him on the next cast,
so I am very expectant. With a 15-yard
line I made the next throw, and as I worked
it coaxingly towards me, I noticed a curl in
the water, like a small wave. " Ah ! old man "
(Sol always calls me this), "he's there all right."
I gave him a rest, as experience has taught
me that the king amongst fish does not like to
be hurried too much, if he fails to be hooked
on the first rush; so, after waiting a few
moments to allow him to settle back to the
spot he started from, I put the fly over him
again, when he rushed and struck at it with
his tail. I saw by this he did not want the
fly, so I changed it for a Yellow-leg (yellow
body, Turkey wing and jungle), and as soon
as this went over him — in fact, before it got
to him, he sailed after it like an albacore,
and was fast. " Well done, old man ! " shouted
Sol. " Now we must work him up the stream
into deeper and smoother water, or he may
take down the river, then our chances of
saving him will be slim." So Sol lifted the
anchor, and poled up several yards, and moored

A LIVELY SALMON 27

again. Meanwhile the salmon was thumping
his nose on the bottom to rub the hook out.
Failing to accomplish this, I knew he would
soon run, and run he did, up the river at
full tilt, then jumped several feet out of the
water, turned and down the stream like a race-
horse. Didn't my reel buzz? Fortunately,
I had 150 yards on it, or it would have been
" good-bye, salmon/' as he did not stop until
he had run off 100 yards. Then he swam
into an eddy and rested. After a little I
began to ply my reel, and while he fought
every inch of the way, jumping out again
and getting back to the eddy, I got him some
30 yards nearer : then he took another scoot
across the Falls, jumped again, and shot into
another eddy. It began to look pretty serious
for saving him. We had him then full twenty-
five minutes without any sign of his giving
in, but we soon after observed that he was
faltering. As he was too far away to hope
to get him up to us against the current, Sol
lifted the anchor and dropped the boat
towards him, while I gathered in every inch
of line, and held him where he was. We
stopped her a little above the first heavy

28 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

run, still holding the fish in the ecldy, but
observed that he was getting very weak, and
would soon give up.

Every salmon sportsman knows that that is
the time to line, hook, and tip, when the fish
ceases to help himself by heading the current,
so that the gear has not only to bear the
weight of the current, but the additional
weight of the fish. We were convinced that
the only way to save him was to drop the boat
down, which was by no means an easy task,
when he was below the first run on the Falls,
a rush of water not to be played with. Fortu-
nately, we had an unusually long rod, and Sol
dropped her very slowly, enabling me to
gather in my line and hold the fish, which
was now nearly drowned in the eddy. The
boat had reached a point where she must be
secured, and Sol and I must change posi-
tions— he to the stern with the gaff, I to the
bow with the rod. This was accomplished,
but the situation was getting exciting. " Look
out ! Look out ! Handle him mighty easy !
The fly is almost out of him ! " exclaimed Sol.
"I am afraid we'll lose him yet.'7 I was
working him up towards the boat with all the

A FIFTY-MINUTE FIGHT 29

tension I dared put on the tip. When I
thought Sol could reach him, I straightened
up niy rod, which brought him to the surface,
and Sol struck at him, but his gaff fell short.
What an anxious moment ! Could I get him
nearer without risking the tip ? The fish was
helpless. The question had to be decided
then and there, so I worked my reel a little,
and threw my rod back of me, and worked him
by that double action a foot or so closer.
" Now, Sol, what you are going to do, do
quickly." The old Indian raised his gaff,
made a sure strike, and soon had him in the
boat. And there were a pair of happy fellows.
Oh, my arm ! how it ached ! I had had him
on fifty minutes, under heavy tension all the
time. While it was sport of the first water,
there was certainly no play about the latter
part of it. The next movement was to get
the boat above the Falls, which was no easy
task, but was accomplished by Sol putting on
the mooring, and I using the pole. Then we
landed and walked down to where S. and Peter
were, a half-mile below. Our fish weighed
lOf Ibs. They had hold of one at Hemlock,
which they lost by his running across the

30 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

river into a snag, fouled the line, jumping
when it brought him up, and cleared himself
by parting the cast.

After having lunch, we proceeded to put up
the tent, then had a couple of hours' nap in
the middle of the day, gathered wood for the
night, and at four o'clock started for the fish-
ing-grounds again. It was a most beautiful
evening. The wind had gone; but, oh, the
black flies and mosquitoes ! weren't they
thick ? We had always on our yearly cruises
put up our own fly-protector, made of three-
quarters sweet oil, with oil-tar, oil of pepper-
mint, and kerosine in equal proportions for the
other quarter; and this we found very effectual,
requiring to be used only twice a day. S. was
induced by some patent medicine-vendor to try
a wonderful preparation he had, that would
prevent a fly coming within smelling distance
of you, to say nothing of their biting, so he
discarded our old standby protector. But we
had not been separated half an hour when
from our boat I spied him coming on the run,
and when in hailing distance he shouted, " For
Heaven's sake, Pat, come ashore, and give
me some of that fly mixture ! That blamed

THE YELLOW-LEG FLY 31

stuff I had is no good. They almost ate me up."
"We had a good laugh at his expense, then
went to him. When back at the anchorage, I
tried for upwards of an hour without seeing a
sign, and during that time had changed more
than a dozen flies. At last I fell back on my
old Yellow-leg, which, my reader will allow
me to say here, I have found by experience
to be the most reliable of all the flies out of
over a hundred in my book. If the Yellow-
leg won't start your fish, whether he takes
or not, you may as well stop fishing seven
times out of eight. I have made this digres-
sion for the benefit of young sportsmen.
With the Yellow-leg on, I made a cast over
the same water I had fished so often, and
had only worked it a few feet towards me,
when my line tightened, and I drew my rod,
but only pricked him, which meant a lost fish
for that afternoon.

As my sporting readers know too well, the
salmon does not favour the prick of the fly,
although I have not unfrequently hooked
him, when by the return cast after the
pricking I threw immediately over him ; but
this I could not accomplish with this one, so

32 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

after fishing a while longer without success, I
went to camp, to find S. there with a fire under
way. They had captured a nine-pounder at
the lead of Little Salmon, which gave them
great sport. He started him four times before
he hooked him, and then he ran and jumped
five times. He caught his with a Silver
Doctor. Supper was eaten with keen appe-
tites, and we felt, out there in the woods by
the river, like being in a new world — a most
delightful one apart from the pesky flies.
We always arranged with Mr. M. at the
village to send for our fish each night, and
put them on ice, so that when on Saturday we
were ready for home, they were packed and in
good order for us.

Tuesday morning very early we had break-
fast, but did not get to fishing till seven
o'clock, on account of river fog, as salmon
will rarely start for a fly when that is on the
water. Sea fog is quite different. We failed
to move any at the pools at the head of Poltz,
so we landed on the west side of the river, and
walked down the shore to a very inviting pool
halfway down the Falls, formed by a ledge
projecting from the shore. Upon the very

!

A LEAP FOR LIBERTY 33

outside of this I stood and cast my fly, which
I had drawn only a few feet towards me when
a fellow sprang for it like a race-horse — so
suddenly and unexpectedly that I did not
hook him. I gave him a rest, then tried
again and again, but could not start him, so I
concluded I must have pricked him, yet I con-
tinued changing flies and fishing, encouraged
only hy the fact that I know he was in the pool.
Perhaps he changed his position to some other
part of the pool, as they often do, when he made
that rush. There was a rock directly below me :
he might be lying at the head of it ; so I moved
my fly above it, working the line across the
stream, when out he came fiercely as at first,
but no longer free — I had him. Then there
was a spree. The scamp rushed out into the
stream and down the stream, made a jump,
then towards the pool and into an eddy, leav-
ing the line slack. I reeled up as fast as
possible, but a little too fast, for, after deve-
lopments— for he took a second race off into
the stream — my line bringing up all standing,
and budge it I could not on the reel. The
salmon felt the sudden check, gave a leap,
parted my cast, and bade me good-bye,

D

34 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

leaving a disgruntled-looking chap on the
shore. Sol consoled me with a sympathetic
" That's too bad altogether ! "

Header, if you are a sportsman of expe-
rience, it is more than probable you know
what the "loop on the reel" means. This
trick is caused by the hasty winding of a slack
line on the reel by forming a loop which is
bound in its parts by different successive
layers on the line, and is often difficult to get
clear when there is no strain on it. I confess
to disappointment in the loss of that fish, but
he kept me busy while we were attached to
each other. Luck seemed against me, but
I never handled a wilder fish. We next
started for Shoal Ground a mile above Poltz.
On the way there a large rock, standing some
12 feet from the shore, is passed, its top
being generally out of the water. The stream
is moderately swift by it, and although I had
often passed there, I had not thought it a spot
where salmon would rest ; nor had Sol. This
morning, as we came to it, Sol stopped the
boat, and I put on a trout fly, thinking some
of those speckled fellows, for which the
Medway in those days was famous, might be

WE HITCHED 35

lurking there. I cast the fly above the rock
and trailed it for a trout, when " Horoosh ! "
saluted my ears. Why, it almost took my
breath ! A salmon, sure enough— and not
a wee one either. Fortunately, I did not
hook him, as I could not have held him.
I put on then a small Butcher, and made
another cast on the same spot. Scarcely had
it come to his first starting-place when he
sailed out, as if meaning business; and we both
did — we hitched. He probably had never
been halter-broken, and was much like the
Prairie bronco, very unwilling to give up his
liberty. So he fought up the stream, down
the stream, and across the stream, evidently
determined to get around every rock, and
hunt every scrag on the bottom, yet never
an attempt at a jump. Sometimes he had
two-thirds of my line out, when we would
have to up killock, and after him ! Then
again he would sulk and lie still, when our
poles and stones would have to be used to
make him move, as I knew he could only be
drowned by keeping him on the go. After
this varied performance had been kept up over
an hour and a half, we got him up alongside.

36 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Wasn't he a bouncer? " Now, Sol, look
out! make sure work of it ! " He raised the
gaff and put it into him. When the salmon
felt it, he jumped towards the boat, and was
clear. As I was holding him with all the
tension my tip would bear when he sprang,
snap went the tip, and snap also went the
cast, while the salmon went floundering away
from us. Was not that hard luck, reader ?

It needs no great flight of imagination to
picture the happiness of the two fellows in
the boat. " Dang the salmon ! I wish I had
not seen him ! " went ruthlessly from my lips.
He was so near, and yet now so far. Old
Sol ejaculated, " Too bad ! too bad ! " We
were so sure of him when he was within gaff-
length, that the thought of losing him never
occurred to us. Had Sol gaffed him from
underneath, which is the proper way, when he
jumped and lifted the gaff, he would still have
had him on it. This taught us both a lesson,
which, if you have not learned it yet, reader,
you had better now, and put it into practice
on each and every fish you get hold of. It
is often said the biggest fish are those the
fishermen lose, but if I ever saw or caught a

DOUBLE v. SINGLE CASTS 37

25-lb. salmon — and I have — that one weighed
every pound of the 25. 'Tis true, I had all
the sport there was to be had in capturing
the fellow, but the end was so disappointing
it took the pleasure out of the sport. After
sighing, groaning, wailing, and biting our
teeth a while, we concluded it was too early
to go back to camp, and would see further
what was in store for us. Sol repaired the
tip, and I the line. But no mere single casts
for me, so long as there are double ones.
That morning single gut had cost me two
salmon, which I have not a doubt would have
been saved with double. Of course I don't
know your ideas of single casts, but mine are
now proven by many years' experience since,
that while4the single make the neater gear
and are less disturbing to the water, the
double capture quite as many, without the
risk of any such disappointment as above
related.

To return to our morning cruise. Our gear
being repaired, we proceeded to fish Shoal
Ground, which is a long, smooth, rather shoal
run of nearly half a mile — a favourite spot
for fishing when the salmon are moving out

38 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

of the deep water between Poltz and it. As
we were not successful in starting any on
these runs, we concluded to try for trout at
the mouth of Dean's Brook, a short distance
below— a famous resort then for large ones.
So, changing my fly for a sea-trout one, and
dropping to the spot named above, I hooked
a noble one on the second cast, and landed
him after a plucky fight. It was only a few
moments when I was fast into another, and
then another, until I had five — none less than
a pound, while two of them were If Ibs.
Then, as we had disturbed the water so much,
we moved nearer the middle of the river,
where, at the very first cast I made, up
rushed a salmon ; but I took the fly from him.
Then I put on the heavy gear, judging he
would take it after being once started; but
not he. I changed flies till I got disgusted
with him, then went back to the trout-gear,
and ran the risk of a capture, if he came,
or add him as No. 3 of lost fish. I had
fished only a short time, when up he came,
but evidently not to take. He had been fished
over too much, so I tried a new dodge to fool
him. I threw a long line, let it sink a little,

A JUMPER 39

then drew it a yard or so very quickly, then
a little quite slowly, and again quickly, until
the line came near where I thought he was ;
then I drew quickly again, and paused, when
he made a furious rush for it, and was fast.
Well, reader, if you ever saw a horse running
away, this fellow started at once on an equally
fast pace down the river, my reel buzzing out
its swiftest. " Sol, for goodness' sake, get
up the killock, and get the pole at work ! "
was my salutation, for I saw the necessity of
speedy and immediate action. The boat was
soon following with all the speed Sol could
get on her, and that was not slow, yet the
fish was going directly from us, and had
two-thirds of the line out. "Hold on, good
fly ! Hold on, good cast ! " The scamp had
jumped four times — the first a double, for as
soon as he touched the water he made a
second scoot and jumped. " Sol, he must be
hooked in the tongue or some equally tender
part to be so unusually wild," said I. " Well,
old man," he replied, "I never saw a wilder
fish. There is no let-up yet." Presently he
began to sail from one side of the river to the
other, as if looking for snags ; then he made

40 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING; ETC

a jump, and merely cleared the water, which
evidently showed he was weakening, and as
the boat was gradually approaching, I got in
most of the line, and was beginning to be
hopeful. Sol proposed our landing, as he had
stopped running, and that would give us a
better chance of gaffing him without so much
strain on our light trout-gear, or danger of
tearing out the fly when getting him to the
boat.

Accordingly, we poled to the shore. I got
out and went up the bank. Sol did also, but
waited with gaff in hand, ready to meet the
salmon when I worked him into shoal water.
To do this I continued walking back from
the shore, drawing the fish very gradually
towards it. Presently I had him where he
began to kick, when Sol sprang into the
water, thrust the gaff into him, and he was
soon kicking in the bushes. Hurrah ! hurrah !
hurrah ! It is not all hard luck. This one
weighed 10^ Ibs., one of those thick, plump
fellows that, when in the pan nicely cooked,
makes a man hungry, whether he was before
or not. He was hooked in the tongue, as I
surmised. In my experience the only other

MAN OVERBOARD! 41

place a fish could be hooked to be so wild,
is the eye.

We had had sport enough for one day, and
were hungry enough to seek the camp, so,
dropping down to our landing-place, we were
soon on the road to camp with our fare. When
it was sighted, we saw the other boat at the
shore, and S. nearly stripped, standing by
the fire. " What in the ' diggens ' does that
mean ? ' ' said Sol. " It looks as if he had been
overboard.'7 Well, sure enough he had fallen
out at the head of Hemlock by making a
miss step, when he was changing his position
with Peter to bow after he had hooked a fish.
The boat was a crank affair; he lost his
balance, and over he went. Fortunately, the
boat was moored, and as he went out he had
seized the gunwale with one hand, and held
the rod with the other, which Peter imme-
diately grabbed, thus keeping the salmon in
check, while he could give him some help to
get into the boat. They had evidently had a
laughable time after they secured the fish, and
^ol and I had the second edition when we
found them in this predicament. The black
flies and mosquitoes were also on the track

42 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

of fun, and had it too, where the preventive
ceased to prevent. After dinner, the events
of the morning were recited, and then all went
in for a nap till four o'clock, when we started
for the evening fishing, exchanging our ground
and boats ; S. and Peter going above, Sol and
I below.

At sundown we met at camp without either
having started a fish, so we concluded the
body of the first run must be above us, and
the last had not reached the ground we were
on ; we therefore decided to have boats and
gear moved some three miles and a half
further up, to Little Salmon Falls and Eocky
Falls, early the next morning.

( 43 )

CHAPTEK V.

FISHING AT LITTLE SALMON AND ROCKY FALLS.

THIS portion of the river has always been the
sportsman's choicest ground, not only for
salmon, but for its superior trouting on the
main river at the foot of the Kocky Falls,
and on Murray's Brook, which empties into
the river at the head of Salmon.

Our ground was reached at 7.30 the next
morning, and we went at once for the morn-
ing's fishing, S. and Peter locating at the
head of Salmon, while Sol and I anchored at
the head of Deep- Pool, some 200 yards
above Eocky. I started with a Durham, and
had not made many casts when I saw the
wave of a fish, but could not move him again,
although trying Butcher, Yellow and Silver
Doctor, Certain Death, Prairie Dog, and
Yellow-leg. Then we went to the head of
Eocky Falls — well named, as it was a long,

44 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

very rough sheet of water, that no boat
ever attempts to run, but is only overcome
by dropping it down near the shore with
ropes. The head of it was divided into two
smooth runs by a big rock just about the
centre. We anchored above the western run,
and with a Grey Doctor made a cast with-
out any response. The next throw my fly
went nearer the shore, in the shadow of a
maple tree. The fly stops : the line draws.
I straightened up the rod, and he was fast,
hooked under water. "Look out, old man,"
said Sol, " that he don't take down the Falls !
Keep a good strain on him, for most likely
he'll try to. I'll work the boat up into
smoother and deeper water, so as to have a
better chance."

By his actions I was convinced he was not
well hooked, and would have to be carefully
handled. Sol had scarcely changed the posi-
tion of the boat, when he started to run the
Falls, and I knew he was lost unless he could
be checked immediately, so I decided to settle
the matter there and then by putting the
brake on my reel, and made it so difficult to
draw out, while it gave a little, that he

MY LARGEST TROUT 45

stopped running and faced the stream, which
at that spot was very swift.

I began to wind up, and gradually got him
coming towards the head of the pool. If I
could get him a few yards further, there would
be some prospect of saving him. Soon he
began to shake his head — usually an ominous
sign — when, very unexpectedly, he started
with a rush up the stream, and stopped opposite
the boat. We changed our position, and soon
he moved up further, but I worked him towards
the boat, and found he was weakening, so
brought him to the surface and dropped him
towards Sol, who soon lifted him into her,
saved as if by chance, for no sooner did he
touch the boat than he unhooked, the hole
had torn so large.

Sol was so delighted at our success that he
kicked up his heels and shouted. Then we
shifted over to fish the eastern run, so with
the same fly I made a cast, and instantly a
fine trout took it. As he was a trout only, I
handled him carelessly, and lost him within
a foot of the boat. It was not long before I
was fast to another, which we saved. Then
another, the largest I ever caught or saw in

46 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

any river — 3 J Ibs. What a beauty ! I thought
at first it was a grisle, as he fought so hard.
Here my morning's sport ended, and we started
for the camping-ground. Before we reached it,
we came to S. and Peter, anchored below Little
Salmon (which Falls can be run without risk)
at the head of a deep pool, and by the posi-
tion of his rod I concluded he must have a fish.
As we approached him he accosted me, " Pat,
come and gaff this salmon for me. He is a
big fellow, and so slightly hooked I dare not
attempt to draw him to the boat/' So we
pushed out until we were right over him,
when Sol cautiously put down the gaff below
him, and soon he was coming up and into
our boat. He weighed 16^ Ibs. — a very pretty
fish. The hook had the merest hold of him,
and it is a wonder to us all that it held him.
He had him over half an hour.

We then went for the camp gear, which was
removed to an island between Little Salmon
and Deep Cove, and erected it there — a most
beautiful place, away from the gaze of
strangers. At our first meal here we feasted
on trout, which Sol knew how to cook to
tempt the appetite. At three o'clock we

TRYING AN UNLIKELY FLY 47

resumed fishing, but found none until nearly
sundown, when I put on the most unattrac-
tive fly and the least likely one in my book to
start a fish. 'The fact was, I had become
disgusted, after having tried at least twenty
flies, any one of which I thought would start
them ; but as soon as this one went over the
water I had been threshing so long, up came
a fellow, fairly rolling out of the water. I
gave him the fly for an instant, then drew it,
and he was fast.

He was a lively fellow, and gave me great
sport, racing and jumping, but he was soon
in the boat — a 9^-lb. fish. After this, we
moved to the head of the run, where the trout
were caught. At the second cast a fish came
which I knew was more than a trout, so, after
giving him a rest, I fished over him again, and
then he came as if meaning business, so, as
we were both that way inclined, we hitched
together, and there was a hustle. No single
cast this time. He was determined not to
come up the stream, and I was disposed to
make him. He was well at the head of the
pool when hooked, so Sol hauled the boat up
into deeper and less swift water, and I reeled

48 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

him. When he jumped, we saw he was
well fastened, consequently I used him more
roughly than usual ; kept shortening him in
until nearly up to the boat, when he made a
run and a jump, and up the river he went,
much above the boat, and there was danger
of his crossing the bow and under the moor-
ing— which he did. I passed the rod to Sol,
who, quick as a flash, passed it under water
between the mooring and the boat, and when
he straightened it, the line was clear with
the fish still fast. It was an anxious moment,
and by just such a trick has many a fisherman
been disappointed of his game. By this time
he was wavering, showing his sides as he
was being reeled towards the boat. We had
changed positions for the final action, and
when he was raised nearly to the surface Sol
had hold of him and into the boat.

This one was llf Ibs. S. secured an eight-
pounder, at the head of Little Salmon, just
as he was leaving for camp, disgusted at
the afternoon's luck. When we had the fish
ready for the team to take to the village, we
were proud fellows. They were a pretty
sight, and we concluded the spell of hard

WHAT WAS TO BE DONE? 49

luck had been broken by changing our
grounds.

The next morning it was raining heavily,
and continued all the forenoon, raising the
water some, while it became very thick, so
much so that the fish would not or could not
see the fly in the afternoon, and I found none
that day. S., however, fared better, and
was into a queer freak with a salmon on
Murray's Brook, where he had gone for trout.
This brook is a large stream, famous in those
days and since for its trout-pools, extending
some distance into the forest, and emptying
into the Medway just at the head of Little
Salmon. Finding no fish on the main river,
he went up this brook for trout. When he
had taken fourteen, up came a salmon, and he
hooked him, but had no hope of saving him
with his trout-gear, as the stream was quite
narrow, the bushes growing out over it. How-
ever, the fish sailed about for a while, jump-
ing three times, but S. held him very loosely,
so he had him still when he swam close to
the banks and amongst the bushes, of course
taking the line with him. Here he stopped.
Now what was to be done ?

E

So MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

There was only one thing which could be
done, which was to cut a track for the boat
and line out, so, holding the rod steadily,
Peter and S. actually cut with their knives
a track out of the bushes and their entangle-
ment, and were out free. Now they raised
the rod, not supposing the salmon was still
on, as there had not been a motion of the
line all the while they were cutting, so we
can well imagine their surprise to find that
they still had him, and a pretty fish at that,
which they soon had in their boat. S., in
telling it, said he never was so proud of
capturing any fish as of this. He was 10| Ibs.

The next morning, by agreement, we
changed boats — S. fishing below, and I
above. It was seven o'clock before going
to the pools, as the river was so dense, but
scarcely had I cast into the western pool
on Little Salmon, when one came and was
hooked. The boat was well above the Palls,
and the water was not very strong in this
part of the pool, so that I had no difficulty
in getting him up above the run without
disturbing the pool, and he was in the boat
in a very short time — a 9-lb. fish. Then I

NINE SALMON 51

threw into the same pool, where there seemed
another waiting for his breakfast, which he
found speedily, for I hooked him on the first
bounce, and captured him with little trouble —
another nine-pounder. Then I fished until
ten o'clock, when there were six in the boat,
and two others somewhere about sulking
with sore mouths, which I lost. Just before
leaving for camp, Sol took the rod, remarking,
" I would not be surprised to find one in
that little eddy, close to the eastern shore."
With that remark he made a cast, and was
startled by such a mad rush that he only
pricked him. The river seemed to be, or
that part of it, literally full of fish that
morning. All our catch was taken with the
homely fly I put on two days before. Sol,
the day before, had made one much like
mine, and with it that morning S. hooked
four, saving three of them, so that when we
were both on the shore, with nine salmon
lying on the moss, it was a sight to gladden
the hearts of the heartless.

Many sportsmen claim that if a salmon
is after flies, he will take any one you give
him ; but they can't make me believe that. If

52 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

you cast the fly he wants, he'll take it with
a rush ; if you don't, you may fish for hours
without seeing a sign, while he may be under
your fly all the while. It is often remarked
that " the salmon is a queer fish ; " and he is.
The fly he will take quickly in the early
morning he will discard by nine o'clock, and
the fisherman, to please his fancy, has to be
changing it every hour in the day. In the
early season you will find him in the eddy
of the rocks ; when the water gets warm,
and the lamprey eels are in the stream, seek
for him and expect to find him usually at
the head of the rocks in the swiftest water.
Then he himself can fish in quietness without
the eels bothering him, which they do in
the eddy.

The salmon-fisherman should be very
patient to be successful. When he is at a
pool in which fish generally rest, and he knows
it, then he should not soon get discouraged
if not successful. Many a time I have
fished more than an hour in one spot without
a sign, when frequently, just in the act of
reeling in my line to move, some peculiar
action of the fly would attract his attention,

DON'T GET DISCOURAGED 53

and up he would come; often with my fly
trailing while hauling up the anchor has
one rushed out and hooked himself. So,
reader, if an inexperienced fisherman, don't
get quickly discouraged. If luck does not
speedily attend you, whistle and keep your
courage up, and he'll come later on. My
general readers will pardon this digression,
which has been made especially for those
who do not know as much about the whims
of salmon as you and I do.

After such wonderful luck in the forenoon,
we started out at four o'clock, thinking there
would be no difficulty in making up the dozen
fish by dusk ; but in this we were sadly dis-
appointed, as I did not see one, while the
only fish S. and Peter got was jigged under
water in the soft part of his belly. He gave
them a big chase, cutting from one side of the
river to the other, and was saved by most
careful handling, as the flesh tore so easily it
was only by a constant and moderate strain
the hook was kept in him. We slept soundly
that night, the last of that outing, and were
early on the ground in the morning for the
final fishing. S. took the head of Salmon

54 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Pool, captured one and lost one; while I
hooked a fine fellow at the head of Eocky,
but lost him on the Falls, as he took down
the stream. At eight o'clock we had taken
breakfast, had the tent down, fish in the boat,
and were at the head of Eocky to drop them
to the foot with the moorings, as to attempt
to run them meant inevitably the loss of boats
and men. This job was accomplished, but
not without much difficulty. The foot of
these Falls was a famous trouting spot, so
S. decided to put in an hour there, while
we went on to Black Eattle — a long, smooth,
deep pool at the head of a heavy fall. We
watched S. for a little time having fine sport
with those big speckled fellows, and then
moved on to our proposed fishing spot. This
was certainly a most attractive pool, and
looked as if there was fun ahead for us. Well,
I fished and continued fishing, my killing fly
seeming to be no better than the others.
The last one I tried was the Crow, jet black
with silver tinsel, but failed to start any,
so I laid my rod down, the fly still trailing,
while Sol was hauling up the anchor. Scarcely
had he drawn the boat a yard when up came

LOST 55

a salmon with a rush. I caught up the rod,
and he was hooked.

I played him fully an hour. He was such
a pretty fish it made me the more anxious to
get him, but when he was nearly up within
reach of the gaff, and quite drowned and
helpless, thereby bringing an immense strain
on the fly, the snood drew out, and he was
free. We watched him being swept down
the Falls, with his tail occasionally showing.
It was a great disappointment, as the reader
may imagine. S. joined us a little later.
He had had glorious fishing, and such famous
trout— those big silvery-sided fellows, that
make the sportsman's eyes sparkle. The day
had so rapidly advanced that we found it
necessary to move along without further
delay, although we all yielded to the necessity
with great reluctance. At two o'clock we had
reached the head of Salmon Falls, where the
boats were to be left, and, the team being there
to take us to the village, we were forced to
take our rods apart, and thus wind up the
pleasantest week's fishing of my life.

At three o'clock we were at Mr. M.'s, where
the salmon were that had been sent down.

56 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

These, with those we had with us, were all
packed in shavings and ice in boxes on our
express, and with the tent, cooking-gear,
rods, and two heavy fellows fattened for a
week on the choicest food in the land, made
a load for old Dobbin that caused him to
stagger in many places on the road home.
Four o'clock found us all ready for a move, so,
bidding our faithful guides adieu, but not till
we had engaged them for the following year,
we jumped into the waggon, and started for
our homeward journey of 30 miles, finishing
it, without a mishap, at midnight.

Of late years the Medway, located on the
south-western part of Nova Scotia, has
become a famous resort for salmon-fishermen.
Many of the choicest pools have been bought,
and club houses erected ; but while the shoals
of fish entering the stream are immense,
beginning in February, the river is so miser-
ably protected that poachers with drag-nets
trap hundreds of them before and after they
reach the first ground.* This, as a matter

* Mr. Pattillo's descriptions of his sport make one long to go out
to Nova Scotia. What a pity such splendid water should be so
poached !— R, B. MARSTON, Ed. Fishing Gazette,

PROTECTION WANTED! 57

of course, makes the fish scarce, and so
frightened that they are slow to move. To
any sportsman thinking of trying this stream,
I would recommend, as first-class guides,
Bernard McKenna, Peter Antony, both white,
and Sol the Indian, all residing at Mill
Village, Queen's County. Their charges are
moderate. In closing this recital of a most
enjoyable week's outing, I do so wishing that
all my readers may have the like good fortune
that was mine.

58 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTER VI.

SHOOTING GEESE AND BLUE-WINGS ON THE
PORT JOLI HARBOUR AND LAKES IN
QUEEN'S COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA.

FOB at least twenty-five years every spring
and autumn found me at the settlement of
Port Joli, for a week's outing and shooting
blue-wings, ducks, and wild geese on its
harbour and lakes. Owing to the tide leaving
the flats bare for miles, it was and is yet
a famous resort for thousands of ducks, and
the winter home of the largest Canadian
goose, as well as the resting-place of
thousands of the ordinary-flight geese on
their way Northward in the spring. There
are numbers of large ledges in the harbour
over which, with favourable winds, the birds
fly from the outer to the inner feeding-
grounds. On such days I went with my

A "TOLLER" 59

punt to some one of these, the wind deciding
the selection. Then, after sending it to the
shore with my yellow tolling retriever, I
concealed myself behind the rocks, and was
ready for business. I did not often have to
wait long if I had been put on the ledge at
the right time of the tide. From my position
I could see them coming hundreds of yards,
and was always ready, whether they went
to windward or to leeward of me, so long as
they were within shot. Sometimes they
would come so directly at me and over me,
that I would be obliged to throw up my gun
to change their course. This was the time
when I generally made the best shot. Eeady,
my faithful old setter, was right after them
when they fell, always going for the wounded
first and killing them, then landing the whole
of them right at my feet. Many a day I have
shot and secured twenty birds and upwards,
not infrequently getting a fine chance at
geese in their season. I spoke above of
Eeady being not only a "retriever" but a
"toller." Now, many of my readers may not
know what kind of a dog that is. I have
met with men who have hunted many years

60 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

whom I could not persuade that a dog would
toll duck up to them, until they have really
seen it.

When Ready was fifteen months old, a
gentleman, whose faith in the tolling powers
of a dog was very weak, offered me $50 for
him, after he and I had stopped and secured
sixteen duck with our double shot out of a
flock the dog had tolled fully 300 yards.
This gentleman had come 150 miles to go
with me on my outing, and during the
journey I spoke of Ready's tolling qualities.
He scouted the idea of a dog bringing birds —
ducks to him. " Why, it is simply ridiculous !
Who ever heard of the like ? You are just
stuffing me. A dog toll duck to him ! I
never saw one yet that the moment the duck,
and particularly a blue-wing, got his eye on,
that wouldn't get up and get quicker than
scat. Now, tell that to the marines, but don't
try to fool an old hunter with such froth ! "
ejaculated my friend. He was so excited
over the ridiculous part of it, that I could not
get in a word by way of explanation, so that
all I could say in reply was, " Wait till we
see some birds, and then I'll open your

AFTER BLUE-WINGS 61

eyes, and show you something you never
dreamed of."

The following morning, after we reached
Port Joli, we started out for a day's tramp
and hunt, Eeady with us, of course. After
an hour's walk we spied a flock of two or
three hundred blue-wings, about 300 yards
from the shore, resting in a body. The
morning was very calm, and there was a
couple of inches of snow on the ground.
When I spied that flock, I thought, " My
old fellow, here is the chance for an eye-
opener ! " Well, by my direction we crept
and sneaked as near to the water as possible,
then concealed ourselves behind spruce trees,
rested our guns over the branches, cocked
and ready for the signal to fire. These
precautions have all to be taken, as the least
movement on the shore when the birds are
close, reconnoitring, is fatal to success. Now
I bade him watch the flock, while I sent Eeady
on to the beach to toll, the edge of the water
being about 10 yards from us. " What do
you see now, Mr. D. ? " " They have all got
their heads up." " What do you see now ? "
" Why, eight of them have left the flock, and

62 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

are coming for the shore as fast as they can
swim." " What do you see now ? " " Well,
I declare, if there aren't about a hundred in
another bunch coming!" By the time this
latter body had come within 100 yards or so
of the shore and stopped, the first eight had
reached the shore, and were swimming up
and down within 10 feet of Eeady, and
specially interested in him. At any time we
could have knocked over a half-dozen of
these, for they were directly under the
muzzle, not 15 yards distant; but I knew
there was something better in store for us, so
I kept Mr. D. back from shooting.

After some ten minutes of moving up and
down the shore, these spies or scouts, or
whatever term suits you best, were satisfied
there was no danger near. They went to the
smaller bunch that was awaiting developments
outside, and, after swimming in amongst them,
evidently talking in duck language, the larger
body was so convinced of the report given,
" no danger," that they all came to the shore.
When these did so, the largest body of the
flock that was outside commenced to come also,
so that it was a string of duck for 150 yards off.

SIXTEEN DUCKS 63

I started Beady in with a lively movement as
they approached the shore, and they were
coming as fast as they could be drawn with a
line, as unconscious of danger, as if all gunners
were miles distant. When within about 20
yards of us, they divided into two bunches,
which drew together. This was the time we
were waiting for. I gave a whistle : up went
their heads. The signal, " One ! two ! " was
given, ' ' Bang-bang-bang-bang ! " Both our
No. 10 double barrels were emptied into them.
As a result, sixteen ducks were soon on the
shore. Then it was he offered me $50 for
my Eeady.

" Well, well, well, I never dreamt of the
like, and really thought you were gassing me ! "
he said. " Do you know what it is in Eeady
that makes them come to him, when I am
sure they would have flown if a black dog had
gone out to the beach ? " he asked. I explain
it in this way, which I think is the correct
one : Nature, represented by its Creator, has
made provision for every living thing. We
are taught that the tiniest insect is fed, so by
observation we know that the red fox — in fact,
any fox — can go to the shore of a lake, where

64 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

there are duck, and, by jumping up and down,
wagging his tail all the time, while he may
even be rolling on the ground, then running
up and down the shore, that he may attract
attention, the inquisitive duck will approach
so close that he can spring on it, and thereby
secure his breakfast. Bather hard, you will
say, on the duck, but all right for the fox !
Now, by acting on this trick of the fox, and
training a yellow dog to similar performances,
which is easily done when one knows how,
results similar to what I have recorded often
follow. Talk about $50 for Eeady! why, I
would not have accepted $150 for him then.
It is not every yellow dog that can be
trained as he was, to toll first, and then
retrieve. The most of them will toll very
well for a time, but soon get so that they want
to go in among the ducks. My dog was a
cross of a thoroughbred English setter bitch
and an Irish setter dog. I kept the old fellow
until he was over twelve years old, and then
he became so enfeebled with rheumatism that
I had him chloroformed. I have shot more
birds in a week at Port Joli by the aid of
Eeady, than all the local gunners have gathered

MY DOG READY 65

the whole season. I might just say here, that
I have learned by experience that diving-fowl,
like whistlers and shell -duck, will not toll
excepting at the mating season, nor will the
larger Canadian goose (known as the winter
goose), but the ordinary-flight geese will,
quite as well as ducks. Whenever in the
future of my gunning cruises my dog is
mentioned, it is Eeady who will be meant. He
was my constant companion, and travelled
thousands of miles with me, even to the foot-
hills of the Rocky Mountains.

Besides the excellent bags made on the
ledges, and the pot-shooting by tolling, the
nearest lakes at times gave me splendid sport.
All sportsmen know that ducks and geese, in
flying to and from the lakes, follow the same
routes daily, so that catching on to these ranges,
I often got fine shots, dropping as many as
half a dozen at a time. Before the tide
drove them off the flats to the lakes, I would
get as close to the shore as ambush would let
me, and thereby often got within 30 yards
as they were rising to go out over the high
trees. I kept a small punt in one of the best
feeding-lakes (Lewis), the general haunt of the

66 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

ducks when they went for fresh water and to
wash and gravel. To catch them there, I had
to be out on the lake with my boat concealed
in rushes before daylight, as at the first ray of
dawn large numbers that only feed on the
harbour at night in September and October
start for the lakes for the day. These went
in large flocks, and, as soon as clear of the
trees, would set their wings and sail down into
the lake with great swiftness. The first
morning there I failed to bring down birds,
although having fine chances, simply because
I misjudged their swiftness of flight, and
stern-shot them ; but I was not long in catch-
ing on. When I gave them from 6 to 8 feet
windage according to distance, they came
tumbling down in exciting numbers, but I
dare not, when the birds were coming, put
Eeady out.

Often of a morning I secured six or eight
shots, although many more flocks came;
but, frequently as I would fire, another
would be within sound of the report, and
turn from me. After the birds were all in
from the harbour, then I would pick up the
dead ones, and send Eeady on the scout for

WATCHING READY AT WORK 67

the wounded. It was one of the most in-
teresting features of the morning's sport to
see him coming out of the rushes (it was a
rush lake, and shoal) with two ducks at a
time. When he captured a wounded bird he
always killed it, and was ready for the next
one. A wounded bird could not get away
from him ; for if it dived, the dog was under
too ; and I have often seen him dive when
the duck did, and come up with it in his
mouth. After he had scoured the lake, I
would put him on the shore. Blue-wings,
wounded, always land and hide in the woods,
so Ready would follow the edge of the shore,
and if a duck had landed he was soon found.
I stopped six once among the lily-ponds,
only one being killed. The five dived and
sneaked ashore from the edge of the bed,
but I sent Ready into the woods, and he
brought me the whole in a very few minutes.

In some of these excursions to Lewis Lake
I have shot so many that it needed three or
more trips to the boat to get them all out.
This lake was only three-quarters of a mile
from the head of the harbour.

The first winter geese reach the harbour

68 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

in early December, and often at dusk and
the early evening fly out into Path Lake,
distant half a mile, to gravel and drink. It
may not be generally known that every twenty-
four hours the wild goose has to have drink
and gravel ; yet it is a fact, and they will
frequent most unaccountable and most un-
likely and exposed places in the winter to
secure these.

One afternoon, just at dusk, I was with a
companion on the western shore of the har-
bour, watching a body of geese that had
arrived the day before, when they rose and
went for Path Lake. That was an eye-
opener for us, so we hurried to the house, and
during the evening took our boat on a waggon
and out to the foot of the lake for service the
next night. We had to do this in a clandes-
tine way, so as not to arouse the curiosity
of local gunners, all of whom would have
visited the lake had they " caught on" to
our movements. The next day I tolled a
fine shot at Maxwell's Brook, stopping and
getting five ducks. Towards night we were
at our boat, and went on to a wooded
island at the head of Path. This lake was

"KAHOUK!" 69

three-quarters of a mile long, from 300 to 700
yards wide. Around this little island the geese
gravelled and watered, then crept up on the
rocks in the water near by to sleep. This
performance we knew from previous visits to
this spot ; so after hauling the boat into the
bushes, and fixing up our blinds where we
expected them to come, we sat down to await
developments. The full moon had come up
over the trees, and it was a charming night,
so we were very hopeful and expectant.
Presently at the lower end of the lake we
heard the goose-call, " Kahouk ! " and knew
that they were coming. My companion, a
great mimic, replied. It was not long before
we heard a great rushing in the water directly
below the island, where they had lit to recon-
noitre before swimming up to the gravel-bed.
In the mean time they amused themselves by
washing. Such a noise as there was con-
vinced us there was a big flock. Right then
we heard another " Kahouk ! " away down the
lake. More were coming. The old gander
in the flock replied, and so did my companion.
Soon they had settled amongst the others.
We were keeping a sharp look-out, as you

70 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

may imagine, when my companion whispered,
" I see them swimming up. Don't you see them
directly in front of us ? " Sure enough there
were as many as a dozen, and many more
joining them. As my companion was the
oldest hand at this business, I had given the
arrangements into his hands to plan, and of
course we both understood the signals. There
they were by this time in front of us, a black
mass, with their heads down under water
after gravel, and their tails in the air, but
working very close together, and only about
35 yards away. Our guns — mine a breech-
loader No. 10, his a muzzle-loader No. 10
— were both loaded with B shot. My com-
panion said, "Be ready. They are so nicely
together we won't get a better chance;
besides, something might start them, so we'll
try them. Wait till I get their heads up."

While they were gravelling, my sporting
readers know there would always be some on
the look-out, so he gave a shrill whistle, and
every head was in the air. They were alarmed,
and drew closer together. " Now give it to
them! 'One! two!'" "Bang! bang! bang!
bang ! " " Kahouk ! Kahouk !— ouk— ouk ! "

"KAHOUK!" 71

"Kahouk!" everywhere; while out where
they were gravelling lay seven, and in different
parts of the lake we continued to hear the
" ouks ! " of our wounded birds. We soon had
the dead ones in the boat, and took after
some of the wounded, swimming with all
their powers to get away. We gathered from
their call there were at least four in the lake,
so while my companion was rowing with all
his strength, I directed him, and soon got up
to one which I knew would have to be shot
before we could hope to get him, as a
pent-up goose will go under the water like a
duck ; so when we were within 25 yards
of him I laid him over with a No. 1 cart-
ridge,— and a beauty he was. We got no
more that night, but expected to find them
in the woods in the morning, with Eeady's
help. He was not with us on the island, so
with our eight geese, a mortal load, we
trudged off to the house.

The next morning found us very early on
the lake-shore ; but during the night a couple
of inches of snow had fallen, which killed their
scent. Nevertheless, the dog scented out one
that had died after landing. The traces of

72 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

three others we found that had taken the hrook
leading from the foot of the lake to the
harbour, and so for a time were lost to us, but
not altogether, as that day we went out into
the harbour and on to the ledges with Eeady
and captured two more there. Eleven birds at
one shot was and is unusual luck. That night
or the one following our shot, the shore of the
lake was lined with gunners who had heard our
cannonade, and I suppose came for our geese ;
but no others came that night, nor for several
after. Our geese were wonderfully fine ones,
none dressing under 8 Ibs., while one weighed
10 and another 11. I have made some remark-
able shots at blue-wings by moonlight, when
they were feeding upon the tide towards the
shore, as at night they huddle very close, each
one being hard against his neighbour, and
with their bills in the mud they make a noise
that is deafening.

On one occasion, between sundown and
dark, with the tide flowing, my companion (a
young man of the settlement) and I observed
some hundreds of birds feeding towards a point
forming a creek, and judged by their move-
ments they would pass close to the point, so

A FIRST-CLASS BLIND 73

we went down on all-fours, and, taking advan-
tage of little obstacles for shelter, were able to
get behind a kind of dyke grown over with
wild-rose-bushes without having been noticed.
This made a first-class blind, and here we
awaited developments. Fortunately, we were
to leeward of them, and were safe in that
respect. Blue- wings are very keen in their
scent, as all sportsmen know, and cannot be
approached to windward.

As they fed towards our blind, others were
joining them constantly, until the body was
immense. Often while they were out of range
they would get their heads up to reconnoitre,
offering such fine chances, if they had been
near enough, and forcing the exclamations
from us, " Oh, if they were only close enough !
couldn't we slaughter them ! " After patient
watching and waiting, we were rewarded at
dusk by their coming within 30 yards, and
as thick as they could feed, but their heads
were down. Our guns were all ready, if they
didn't go back on us, as most sportsmen know
by sad experience they are apt to do. John,
my companion, gave a quack : up went a forest
of necks. "Ready ! One I two ! " " Bang " went

74 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

two barrels, as they were setting ; "bang," went
the other two as they jumped, followed by
dead ones by the dozen, very sick ones a
great number, wing-broken ones not to be
estimated, the whole making a great slaughter.
As the water was not over our waders, we
gathered the dead ones, and left to Keady the
collecting of the wounded, most of which he
got, killing them as he overtook them, and
afterwards landing them. When this was
done we had twenty-eight birds, and the next
morning the dog got five more along the
shore. This is such a large number that my
readers, I fear, may think it exaggerated.
Nevertheless, it is true.

We were only half a mile from the home of
my companion, at which I was staying, but our
game made two back-loads for each of us ; and
they were a pretty sight when they were all
lying on one table. It was the greatest
number ever gathered at Port Joli from one
set of shot ; but I did know of a resident there
in the early settlement of the place, shooting
and getting nineteen winter geese at one shot,
when they were piled into a hole on the ice at
the mouth of a small brook, drinking.

WE TRY THE LAMP DODGE 75

I had often been aggravated at seeing
great bodies of geese and ducks in the harbour,
without being able to get a shot at them by
any device known to me then; so, after
reading in a sporting magazine that they
were in some shooting resorts successfully
approached at night by lights, my companion
and I decided to try it at Port Joli.

Having provided ourselves, at considerable
expense, with a powerful reflector and lamp,
attached to the inside of a box two feet
square, we proceeded to the harbour, and
attached it to the bow of a fisherman's
dory. You will notice we did not want to
take any advantage of our unsuspecting
game, so put the light high, that they might
see it afar. All the necessary preparations
completed, as we supposed for the slaughter
of a dory-load, we sneaked along in the
shadow of the windward shore, until just
opposite where we heard bodies of geese
talking. Then we lit the light, and started
before a fresh breeze down upon them.
Great Scot ! what a noise ! A tornado or a
dust-storm on the prairie only could equal
the noise of the thousands of geese and ducks

76 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

as they rose all over the harbour, and started
seaward with a velocity unequalled, at a
break-wing speed, nor did they stop much
short of the Gulf Stream, judging by the
time they were gone before returning.

The next morning there was not a goose
nor a duck to be seen. When they did come
they sat in one place scarcely five minutes,
acting as though they were expecting a
reappearance of that phenomenon. Our non-
success, we discovered, was from our short-
sightedness. The moon was large and shining
brightly, while we, supposing the light would
be so bright as to place all behind it in
impenetrable darkness — which it would, had
there been no moon — sat bolt upright on our
seats, ready for the devastation which we
were not to commit.

I know now that the light is all right if
used on a dark night — the darker the better ;
but the birds, either geese or ducks, must be
approached slowly and from the leeward, by
poling, not raising the pole out of the water.
This precaution is necessary, as the ducks
wrould smell you if to windward, and be con-
stantly on the wing, thereby alarming the

RIDICULOUS RESULT 77

geese, and making them restive. The other
way I have had my boat poled up so near
that their eyes could be seen — in fact, too
close for big results. The ridiculous results
of our first experience with the lamp afforded
much amusement to the residents of the
place, and many a joke on the strength of
it was cracked at our expense. Whenever
the subject was broached of getting upon
the birds, the lantern experiment was resur-
rected. In another chapter a more successful
hunt with the lamp is told.

I have great reason to remember one of
my goose-hunts on this (Port Joli) harbour.
With a companion from the town of Liverpool,
16 miles distant, we had a shanty built in
the woods, half a mile from the shore and
two miles from the head of the harbour on
the western side, which was and is uninhabited.
This being so near the shooting-grounds,
we were saved much tramping, and were
always near the haunts of the game. One
morning late in March we went on to
Denim's Point, and spied a large body of
geese feeding 300 yards off. We watched
them some time, and found they were inclined

78 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

to feed away, and to scatter; so when a
bunch of nine fed together and in range, we
levelled our rifles, one at 300, the other at
325 yards, and pulled, when over fell three
dead. In my excitement, without giving the
undertaking a thought, I caught up my shot
and started for them. I had no difficulty
in getting to the birds, and securing them,
but in returning, I undertook a shorter way,
which nearly cost me my life. I had pro-
ceeded about 75 yards on my return, when
I slumped into a kind of quicksand, which
let me down above my knees every step
I took; but hoping to worry through it,
I did not turn back, but found ere long
that I was making slow progress, as I could
not step along on account of the depth of
mud, and at the same time was becoming
weary. I saw at this stage it would be im-
possible to reach the shore with the load,
so decided to stick the gun, a $50 one, in the
mud, and leave it ; then I could move with
a little more freedom, but had taken only
a few steps, when one of my waders left me,
and very shortly after, the other, while my
limbs were becoming chilled with that icy

A DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT 79

water. My case was becoming desperate
and alarming, so I was forced to let the geese
go too. To make the matter more serious,
the tide was rising fast. My companion was
on the shore, nearly crazy, and I was still
fully 100 yards away from him. He kept
encouraging me to persevere, or I should
have given up before. At last I found I was
getting so weak that I could not, without
help, reach the shore. I called to him that I
could go no further, so then, with a stick, he
started to my assistance, and when I had
his shoulder to lean upon, I was encouraged,
and could help myself more ; besides, he had
taken a course in getting to me where the
mud was more solid, and when we got to
that I could step better, and finally got on
to firm ground. It was some little time
after I sat down to rest before I could get
strength enough to stand again, my com-
panion rubbing my limbs all the while to
induce circulation. Then after an hour's
walk, leaning on his shoulder, we reached the
hut — the most delightful spot my eyes ever
rested upon. Pat (my companion) was not
long in getting a roasting fire on, and getting

8o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

my frozen socks and clothes off and changed.
Then he started for the settlement to get a
team to convey me there. I went to the
house of the friend with whom I always
stayed, and there remained for three days
before being able to proceed to my home.
My gun was diligently sought after for many
days, but was never found to my knowledge,
nor were the waders. Two of the geese were
picked up by parties who knew they were
mine and very kindly brought them to me.

I could fill a book with the recitals of the
very pleasant as well as perilous adventures I
had in the many years Port Joli was made my
gunning resort ; but these must suffice, with
the addition, further on, of the story of hunt-
ing moose on snow-shoes in March in its back-
woods. Just here I might be permitted to
say that all the neighbouring lakes and brooks
therefrom into the harbour teem with fine
sea trout, of which at every outing I varied
my pleasure by taking large catches. Part-
ing here with the scenes of most pleasant
memory, I would recommend any one wanting
a fortnight's outing, combining fishing and
shooting, to go to Port Joli. Make Simon

A FINE COUNTRY FOR SPORT Si

Douglas's your home, and take his son John
as your guide. In the autumn there are duck,
goose, woodcock, and curlew shooting, besides
a splendid back country filled with moose at
the calling season. With John Douglas as a
guide, you are almost sure of luck. In fact,
I think I would be safe in guaranteeing it.

32 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTER VII.

CATCHING THE ALB AC ORE, OE
HORSE-MA CKEREL.

DURING the summer and autumn large bodies
of herring and mackerel frequent the harbours
of Nova Scotia, pursued thither by their re-
lentless foes the albacores, sometimes called
the horse-mackerel, from their great resem-
blance to the mackerel — in fact, they are con-
sidered to belong to that family. If my
readers have seen a mackerel, and, moreover,
hooked one with a jig and line, they can con-
jecture, from the smartness of the ordinary
mackerel, what kind of sport an over-grown
one of 600 Ibs., fastened to hook and line,
would be likely to afford. Certainly he would
be no plaything. I have helped to capture
them in fish-traps 11 feet long and as big
as a vinegar-cask. When these fish are

AFTER ALBACORE 83

among the shoals of small fish, they rush and
leap out like salmon and pollock, and are so
ravenous they are often dangerous to fisher-
men picking their nets, as they rush from
beneath the boats after the fish falling out
of them. Albacores, though not generally
eaten by Englishmen, yet are very nice eat-
ing, and are more highly prized by Portu-
guese and Spaniards than any other fish
they take, and sell for the highest prices.

Prompted by the desire for a little excite-
ment, a friend and I decided to attempt the
capture of one of them. As we knew the
gear required must be first-class, we procured
two of what in fishing parlance are called
18th hemp cod-lines, each 32 fathoms long.
Then we had a hook made for each out of
steel three-eighths thick, 8 inches wide, with
a 3-inch shank, and long heavy beard. With
our lines attached to swivel-reels to run them
on and off, we felt we were equipped for
the expected spree, so, having secured a stiff
medium low boat, we proceeded one morning
quite early to the netting-ground. There
we found the nets well fished, and knew by
that our game would be on hand.

84 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

We procured a number of herrings with
which to bait them up, and then lay on our
oars, awaiting developments. Presently one
of the fishermen called out, " Halloa, boys !
here's a fellow ! " meaning an albacore,
followed by a shout from another and still
another, that they were about their boats ; so
we slowly moved outside the range of the
boats, throwing over a herring every few
yards to toll them along with us. When we
considered we were far enough away, we took
the precaution to secure the reel to the thwart,
for we were a bit afraid of the fish we expected
to grapple with. Then I threw over a her-
ring, to see if there were any albacores near
us, and to our delight a monster rushed for
it just under the surface, so I threw another
loose one and another attached to the hook.
He rushed for the first one, whirled and took
hold of the other, and we had hold of him.
Then for a few minutes we had a good imita-
tion of the antics of a wild prairie horse when
first haltered. He jumped his full length out
of the water, which gave us a very vivid idea
of the monster we were attached to ; then he
started at an awful pace across the harbour.

CATCHING A TARTAR 85

The line was running out swiftly, so that
we had to move as quickly to get it into the
notch in the stern, which we had wisely
thought to make. Then I seized an oar and
placed it for steering, while we both got posi-
tions to trim the boat. What we feared was
that, when he had run all the line out, if the
boat was motionless, something might break ;
so to obviate that, my friend succeeded in grasp-
ing the line partially, and thereby gradually
starting the boat, while I helped by sculling,
so that by the time it was all off the reel, she
was moving faster than ever she did before,
and it is doubtful if she ever did after. The
fish kept up the pace for at least ten minutes,
towing us directly into the harbour; then
he made a jump, turned, and took us straight
back for the fishing grounds. The men in
their boats had been watching us with great
interest, not supposing fpr a moment they
were to have any part in it, but when they
saw us going directly for them, the shouting
and hooting and swearing that suddenly
started from them would have been laughable
to any disinterested spectators, but we could
see plainly that, if he continued the course he

86 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

was then taking us, nothing short of a collision
with one or more of the boats would follow,
and the most of them were half loaded with
herrings.

The way those fellows were shouting was
as if Pandemonium were let loose, and tended
somewhat to disconcert us. The nearer we
approached them, the greater the peril seemed
of sinking by contact one or both of our boats,
so I jumped with my knife to free him, but
in the rush to do so my foot slipped, and I
went headlong on top of my mate, and my
knife flew out of my hand — confusion worse
confounded. Before we could disengage our-
selves, the boats came together with a heavy
crash, filling the other's and washing a lot of
their herrings overboard. This additional drag
caused the albacore to spring again, when, to
save ourselves from being all thrown overboard,
one of the men cut the line. The first salute
we poor fellows got was, "You d — d fools ! "
followed by language not altogether classical
English, nor yet pure Anglo-Saxon, having a
large percentage of the swear element in it.
After their first ebullition was over, we got
into a hearty laugh over the ridiculousness of

ANOTHER ATTEMPT 87

the affair; then they baled their boat out,
and went on with their work.

We poor disgruntled fellows rowed around
among the other boats, finishing up the first
part of the spree with roars of laughter. Of
course, after the danger was over, the whole
affair appeared so funny that we all had to
shout and halloa or burst.

Our freed albacore paraded himself all over
the harbour, jumping dozens of times, with the
line still attached to him, all through that day.
In the course of an hour, by seeing these big
fellows rushing about us in the bay, the
sporting temperature rose again, and we
decided to try our other line on another
fellow. The fishermen hesitated to supply
us with bait, fearing a repetition of the same
peril, if we got fast into another. After a
little coaxing, we got what we wanted, and
started off shore, occasionally throwing a
herring as we went. When we thought our-
selves out of danger limit, we stopped, got
the gear into shape for immediate action, if
necessary, not knowing then if there were
any fish near.

This was soon decided when I stood up and

88 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

threw over a herring, for it scarcely struck
the water before it was grabbed. Then I
threw over the baited hook, and he seized
it just as fiercely ; and this second fellow was
fast, rushing and jumping even more fiercely
than the first. He began towing us directly
away from the boats for some time. To make
his speed less rapid, we crossed our oars and
held back water, which acted like a drag.
Suddenly, like his predecessor, he turned at
right angles to the current he had been
following, and led us in that direction fully
ten minutes, then took a range leading
directly for the boats. Up to this time we
did not feel at all anxious — apart from the
long row that seemed before us when he was
leading off shore. Now, however, there
appeared to be evil in his eye, and if he
should take us up there this time, the results
might be much more serious than before, for
the boats were all deeply loaded.

What was to be done? While we were
trying to plan some feasible way out of it, and
at the same time save our fish, he made a leap
out, and fell very heavily, thus showing he
was weakening, and from that time we found

A 600-LB. FISH 89

the boat was moving more slowly, and we
therefore became very hopeful. As we looked
in shore, the men had their hats off, and were
gesticulating fiercely, giving us to understand
we ought to cut him free, which we would
probably have done had we not noticed his
faltering. The speed of the boat kept slacken-
ing very fast, so much so that in a short time
we were able to gather in the line to within
a few fathoms of him. He had towed us to
within 150 yards of the fishermen, when
suddenly he stopped short. We hauled up
the line, and the fish with it. What a beauty !
Ten feet long, weighing 600 Ibs. We soon
had a rope through his gills, and towed him
to the shore in through the boats. The men
and boys came to see him after their nets
were picked, and helped us haul him on the
beach, and finished by giving three cheers,
which made us feel like heroes. Our cranky
friends of the collision had long ere this got
over their pet, and all enjoyed a hearty laugh
over the exciting time. " Hang it ! " said an
old chap//' we were getting worked up when
you were coming right for us again, as we
would have been in a bad plight, with our

9o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

boats all loaded down, if the scamp had got
you there." We had had all the sport there
was to be obtained out of the fish, so we gave
his body to the men who had lost their herrings
through us, thus reimbursing them well, as
the fish was worth at least $20. If any
of my readers are at any time on our Nova
Scotian shore, and are seeking sport, they
can have it equal to that enjoyed on the
Pacific Coast in the capture of the albacore.
This fish is so voracious that it is no trouble to
bait him up, but see that your gear is good,
and don't fear he will eat you, if by chance
he should haul you overboard. He does not
fight long, but he means business while at it.*

* I have not the slightest doubt that Mr. Pattillo's very exciting
account of his albacore-fishing in this chapter will induce anglers
to visit Nova Scotia, to fight the albacore with rod and line ; just
as they go now to Catalina Island to catch tuna, a fish of the same
species. — R. B. M.

CHAPTEE VIII.

A PERILOUS AND EXCITING ADVENTURE ON THE
MED WAT RIVER AT BANG'S FALLS.

I HAD been having one of those successful
and enjoyable experiences on the head waters
of the Medway, at the foot of Ponhook Lake,
in the third week in June, elsewhere related
in this book, when business required me to go,
one afternoon, to a small settlement four
miles below Greenfield, known to all fisher-
men on that river as Bang's Falls. The pool
which gives this place its name is amongst the
choicest of the many excellent ones on that
stream. The water is deep, the river not
wide, and there are many resting-places for
salmon after facing the long heavy rapids just
before. The Falls themselves may be said to
be double, the water dropping furiously over a
first reef on to a lap-reef below, then rushing

92 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

on over a second reef, and forming a surging,
boiling mass below.

But one boat up to the time of the incident
here related had been known to successfully
run these Falls. Thinking I could probably
hook some salmon in the pool, I took my rod
with me, with the view of fishing after the
work was completed. So about five o'clock,
the man with whom my business was, knowing
I wished to fish, sent his hired man, who was
accustomed to go in the boat with sportsmen,
to pole her on to the ground, and also his son,
a lad of twelve years, to attend the killock.
Thus equipped, the prospects for good sport
were very promising, but I was soon reminded
that — " the best-laid plans of mice and men
gang aft aglee." I found on the shore, about
75 yards above the Falls, an unusually large
boat for a river-boat — in fact, she was an old
discarded ship's boat, and altogether out of
place to be poled about on such a stream.
However, she was daily used in this way,
and the question in my mind was, why
not now? So I stepped on board with my
assistant, and we were soon moving toward
the pool.

DRIFTING INTO DANGER 93

Upon the shore, just below where we
started, I noticed three Indians and three
white men, also a canoe in front of them.
The wind was blowing heavily down the river ;
in fact, that appeared to be the only drawback
to getting fish, as it would make it difficult
to cast my fly. But eager fishermen wink at
such obstacles, and are always hopeful, so we
continued towards what I was made to believe
was the best part of the pool, but approaching
the head of the Falls too closely for my idea of
the best fishing spot, so I remarked two or
three times, " I think the killock should be
dropped," but was met with the reply, " We
want to go a little further yet." At last I got
desperate, and told the boy to throw it over,
and at once began fishing, my whole thought
being riveted on the fly, supposing, as a
matter of course, the boat was all right, as
there were two to look after her. Presently
my attention was called to a shout from the
shore, " Your boat is dragging over the Falls ! "
I was not long taking in the whole situation,
for at that moment we were dangerously near
them, almost at the head of the receding
rushing waters. The young man was using

94 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the pole to force the boat up the stream, or
hold her where she was, but without avail,
and the killock was still down.

The thought flashed over me that we were
in a fair way of repeating, with our lives, a
very sad occurrence which had happened three
weeks before at Baiter's Falls, four miles above
Mill Village, on this river, by which a merchant
of Halifax, N.S., who had come up for a few
days' fishing, had lost his life. He was staying
at a house near this fishing-pool, and had
on Saturday afternoon started several salmon
that would not take. So early on Sunday
morning, when the wind was blowing down
strongly, he got up and went out to fish.
The boat was found under the dam, held there
by her killock, which was above it, and his
body some distance below. He had evidently
been fishing, and so intently that, like myself,
he did not know his danger until it was right
upon him, and, being inexperienced, did not
know how to act. His boat had dragged, like
ours, went stern first over the capping of the
Falls, and dropped, held by the killock, under
the falling water until she filled and he was
swept out.

A MOMENT OF PERIL 95

Now, my reader, you can imagine some-
what my state of mind at that moment of
such peril in my own case, when the sad
experience just related was fresh before me.
Fortunately for us all, I was self-possessed,
took the situation in, and knew and saw what
was to be done if it could be done. The
first thought was that mooring-rope. How I
got my knife out, opened, and cut the rope,
I shall never know ; but it was done, and the
knife was found open in the bottom of the
boat afterwards. Then I jumped aft, caught
the pole from the young man, who was com-
pletely dazed with fear and had stopped
working, put it over the stern at an angle
which checked the boat's sternway somewhat,
and made her bow fall off, thus bringing her
partly across the stream. By this time we
were just above the heavy rolling water, and
I shouted, " Jump to windward and seize the
gunwale, and hold on for your lives ! " doing
the same thing myself. And not one instant
too soon was it done ; for if our weight had
not been there to counterbalance that of the
boat as she was swept off the crest of the Falls,
she would have overturned, and probably we

96 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

should all have been drowned. Instead of
this, she fell on her side again at the lap cliff
at the foot of the first fall, splitting her, as
sailors say, fore and aft ; for she was split from
the fore thwart to the stern, but, fortunately
for us, righted at once before filling entirely.
In the mean time, as we were approaching
rapidly the second fall, I made good use
of the pole, and got her squarely across the
stream, so that the whole of the boat would
tumble at once. The second drop, not being
nearly so great, strengthened our courage;
besides, the men on the shore were en-
couraging us, and the Indians with their
canoe were running down with it to where
they could get off to us the readiest if it
became necessary. Well, we went down
over the second fall, which completed the
splitting, and filled her with water. I was
able to get her in this condition to a little
island about 75 yards distant, when the
Indians came and took us to the shore. I
heard afterwards the old boat was so com-
pletely shattered that she was not again used.
This was my first experience at Bang's Falls,
and it was my last ; and even now, after a lapse

A NARROW ESCAPE 97

of twenty years, the scene comes up so vividly
before me as to cause a shudder. I sat on
the shore for fully an hour, taking in the
exceedingly perilous position from which we
had escaped, and while doing so, the residents
of the settlement, hearing of the mishap,
came to the shore. It was freely expressed
that the same thing might occur very many
times there without its ending so favourably,
and I felt the truthfulness of the statement
myself, feeling grateful we had escaped with
our lives.

98 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTEE IX.

SHOOTING IN THE CANADIAN NORTH- WEST.

IT was my good fortune to be located at
Calgary, N.W.T., in the years 1890 and 1891.
At that time game of all kinds was so abun-
dant that it was conceded to be the " Sports-
man's Paradise," which title was by no means
a misnomer. Canadian and wavy geese by
the tens of thousands made the stubble-fields
their feeding-ground, and the lakes their
resting-places. Myriads of ducks in endless
variety fed in the pond-holes and lakes, as
well as on the prairie, while prairie-chickens
in large flocks abounded in every direction.
Then the jack-rabbit was so plentiful that he
became a nuisance to the hunter after better
game. Those in pursuit of larger game could
find it in the shape of antelope, prairie wolf,
at least three different kinds of deer, elk,

AFTER GEESE 99

bear, etc. ; so that any one starting on an
outing was reasonably sure of securing a
good-sized bag, even if he shut both eyes
when he fired.

On Monday, September 28, 1891, I left
Calgary for a week's shooting at Bed Deer
Lake and vicinity. This was 12 miles from
the town, and not much frequented by
sportsmen on account of its distance. When
approaching the house of the friend with
whom I was to stay, I noticed in a field, a
few hundred yards away, a large flock of wavy
(white) geese, and a larger one of Canadian,
feeding on the dropped wheat; so I rushed
my horse into the yard, scarcely taking time
to unharness him, and, having persuaded my
country friend to take his gun and accompany
me, we moved off in quick-march pace towards
the game.

The ground being very level, as is a very
large portion of the prairie, to get within shot
of them we had to go down on all-fours and
creep. There is a great knack in this per-
formance which unskilled hands know not of.
Most hunters, and many of them old ones at
that, are so anxious to see how successful

ioo MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

they are in approaching the game, that they
raise their heads while creeping, which almost
always causes alarm. I found by experience
the best way was to take marks on the line
on which you wished to creep before starting,
having a special^one where you wanted to stop,
then creep for your first mark, head down,
but steady, carrying your gun along with each
movement of the right or left arm, then from
the first to the next, and so on to the last.
Now, if there has been no sound of rising
birds, you may be reasonably sure of being
within shot, as geese and ducks have great
curiosity when they see any undefined thing
approaching them, and will sit with their
heads erect even within danger-limit. Now,
to raise one's head at such a time means
certain failure, as they would be up and off.
Instead of doing so, at this juncture I cock
both barrels — presuming, of course, my gun
is a double one — sometimes lowering myself
and shooting from full length, as at rifle-
target practice, or, sitting on my haunches,
open fire from that position. My reader will
pardon this digression, and we will return to
the start off after those geese.

AN ECCENTRIC NEIGHBOUR 101

I was clad in a hunting suit of dry grass
colour, while my companion's was not unlike
it, so, after sneaking along, with a fence
between us and the game, for a couple of
hundred yards, we gradually settled on to all-
fours, and crept up to the fence without dis-
turbing them ; but we were then fully 80 yards
away — too far for a successful shot, so we lay
stretched out at full length, awaiting develop-
ments, hoping, of course, they would feed
towards us. Now, my friend had a very
eccentric neighbour, an old country bachelor,
who thought he owned all creation, or, at
least, had a claim on it, and was unwilling
that others should have what he could not.
He had evidently seen those geese as soon
as I did, for they were on his property, and
he had been watching our movements, as
we noticed him going towards his house
shortly after we started. By the time we had
reached the fence, we looked up the field and
saw a steer coming towards the geese, and
could see that old scamp — pardon me for the
contemptuous term, but it is the correct one —
walking alongside of him, but concealed from
the birds, thus hoping, as he did, to start

102 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

them and spoil our shot. Wasn't he a generous
soul ? I know what every sportsman will say
if he puts himself where I was. Well, did he
succeed? We'll see. He got so near with
his cattle-blind that, had he been generous
enough to own a gun, and not too cowardly to
fire it, he would have had a splendid chance,
as he got within 35 yards of them before
they stopped feeding and raised their heads.
How I wanted, just then, to be standing where
he was ; but he kept the steer moving, and so
they had to raise, and circled right towards us.
" Look out now ! Be ready ! They are coming
too close." So just as they cleared the fence
about 10 feet above it and about 15 yards
distant, I threw up my gun and shouted, when
they turned from us and huddled together,
not suspecting any danger till then. This
was our time, and we embraced it, unloading
the four No. 10 barrels into them. Down
fell seven shot, and within 200 yards four
more, while still another 100 yards further
away was added twelve birds, four white and
eight Canadian or grey geese.

Weren't we proud ? The old bach had done
us the greatest favour possible, of which we

FINE FAT GEESE 103

showed our appreciation by dangling some of
the birds at him as we walked abreast of him
on his way back. We got him so mad, he
left his steer and took a different route, so as
to escape our serenading. The geese were
beauties, and so heavy and fat, we were forced
to make a second trip to get them to the
house. You can readily understand that
geese fed for weeks and months on the fallen
wheat they find among the stubble could not
be otherwise than fat, and to be at all present-
able and attractive for market, must be picked
when warm. After they are cold, every
feather drawn takes the fat with it, and they
present the appearance of having had small-
pox. To have these keep till the end of my
outing, they were picked and drawn, then
filled with charcoal and pepper. With this
precaution I have kept game sweet for a
month.

To show how bitter our bachelor neighbour
was, the next morning I shot a chicken on
the wing, that fell just inside his fence, and
he forbade me going after it, nor would he
allow the dog, but picked it up himself, and
took it to his house. I spoke of his using a

io4 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

steer as a blind to get to the geese, which is
the method used by all the farmers. They
will not allow a horse to approach them, but
a cow or ox can walk up to and in among
them, and this fact is taken advantage of by
training an animal, which is soon done, and
then having a suit the colour of it ; the farmers
can thus have all the geese they want. The
geese leave the lakes at the first appearance
of daylight for the fields, and sometimes fly
10 and even 15 miles to their usual feeding-
grounds. About ten o'clock they return to
the lakes to wash and sleep ; then again at
four o'clock they start for their evening meal,
returning at dusk. In their flight they take
the same route continuously until disturbed,
so that the sportsman, taking advantage of
this habit, and using proper precaution, has
many an hour's splendid shooting.

When they go to the lakes in the forenoon,
they wash, then seek the shore, where, with
their heads under their wings, they sleep,
while the sentinels of the flocks, the ganders,
do the watching, and yet with all their pre-
caution, many of them bite the dust. This
digression has been made in order that my

I

PECULIARITY OF DUCKS OUT WEST 105

general readers may the better understand,
not only the wild geese, but the hunter's
methods of capturing them.

The next morning after our field exploit,
I persuaded my country friend to go with me
to the lake (Eed Deer), a shoal, rush lake, a
mile and a half long, and half a mile wide,
located three quarters of a mile from his house.
What a sight met our eyes ! It was literally
full of ducks of many kinds— the beautiful
mallard and plump little teal being very con-
spicuous, while my old Nova Scotian friend,
the blue- wing, held quite an important place.
There was a peculiarity about all the ducks out
West, that I never found in any other place
— their apparent indifference to the report of
the gun. There, the more gunners on a
lake, the better the sport, as it does not drive
them away, but merely keeps them moving,
while ordinarily in other countries, after the
report, every duck leaves the neighbourhood
as fast as feathers can carry him. The border
of this lake at each end was covered with
rushes eight feet or more high, and as stout
as corn, and quite impenetrable, so that to
use them for shelter and to shoot from them

106 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

successfully, tracks had to be cut, which we
discovered others before us, on shooting bent,
had done. Now, to get any shooting, it was
necessary to have those fowl on the wing, so
I procured something that might in inex-
perienced parlance be called a punt. It
had neither form nor comeliness, nor yet any
beariugs, as I found by sad experience; was
about eight feet long ; had probably been
planned by a person who had read about but
never seen the thing called a boat. It would
not carry two, and scarcely float one, but I
made bold to venture in it, from the know-
ledge that the water in this lake was not over
Beady's back. When I was on it the water
was only five inches clear, so that all my
movements had to be like sitting on eggs.
Well, eventually I got off into the lake, and
began bombarding the birds, as they went up
and down by me, while my friend, whom I
had left on the shore among the rushes, was
having a full share of the good things. After
a time, I landed in a bunch of rushes about
the middle of the lake, and hauled the punt's
bow into it. The water amongst these rushes
was about 8 inches deep, and the bottom

I THREW UP MY GUN 107

quite hard, so that with my rubber waders I
could kneel down and be concealed. In this
way I secured several fine shots at passing
birds. Eeady was on the shore with my
friend, and I could and did use the punt to
pick up mine.

I had just returned to my concealment,
when I saw a flock of mallards flying up the
lake, so I squatted in the boat, but they
turned from me, so I kept still, waiting for
a chance. Without any warning, I heard a
"Kahouk!" behind me, and knew, by the
direction of the sound, they were coming
directly over me. " Oh, my ! if I were only
out of this thing !" came involuntarily from
my lips ; but there was no time for regrets.
I gradually raised my head, so as to get a
glimpse of them and their whereabouts.
What a sight ! Fully two hundred grey geese
coming right over me, about 25 yards up, with
their wings set for lighting. I cocked both
barrels, and just as I saw their shadow pass
me, I threw up my gun. What consternation
it produced ! Evidently, with their eyes fixed
on where they were going to light, they had
not taken me in, and the motion of raising

io8 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

my gun was the first intimation of danger.
Then they all got in a heap, going in and out
through one another, and all had apparently
found their voices, judging by their noise.
This kind of a chance I had often talked
about and longed for, and here it was right
before me. Besides my friend on shore, others
had arrived after my leaving, and all were
watching to hear my gun, and to see the
geese tumbling by the dozen. Well, why
didn't they ? Don't be impatient, and I will
give you the secret. When I threw up my
gun, I had to lean back a little to line up the
sight, in doing which I lost my equilibrium,
and over the old trap (punt) went, landing me
in the water on the broad of my back, with
both barrels full of water, while the geese,
poor rescued things I were making good their
escape. On the shore they were puzzled to
know why I didn't fire. " What a chance !
What a chance ! Why don't he fire ? Well,
well, well ! What is the matter ? His gun
must be all right, for he has been shooting
right along." While all this wondering was
going on, could they have seen me flounder-
ing around, trying to get my big waders out

WHY DIDN'T I FIRE? 109

of that trap, so that I could turn over and
get myself and gun out of the water, they
would have had merriment to their hearts*
content, as they did afterwards, when I was
telling the mishap. I could do nothing but
laugh at the ridiculousness of my position,
and am inclined to laugh now, as I see my-
self kicking about there in the water on Red
Deer Lake. I hope, gentle reader, you will
be sufficiently considerate to not even smile
at my mishap. Just think of my unenviable
position and condition there and then, and
heave me a sigh of sympathy. Oh, do, like
the generous soul that I know you are !

Well, I got out of that dilemma and got to
the shore as quickly as it was possible in my
unworkable apparel, not even stopping, after
landing, to bid the old mischief-maker a final
adieu, but left her, hoping the next fellow that
sailed in her might have a similar happy
experience to mine. You see, I was not even
inclined to be selfish ! Well, to end up this
morning's sport I was forced to do penance by
walking in my stockinged feet from the shore
of the lake to the house, with my back heavily
laden with thirteen ducks, six mallards, four

no MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

teals, and three blue-wings, with the waders
added. My friend was also loaded, having
secured as many as he could carry. The road
was much longer returning to the house, and
I wished for my pony a great many times to
help me out, for I was completely done up.
After a change of apparel, followed hy a roasted
wild-goose dinner, and a couple of hours' sleep,
I was as good as new, and ready for the lake
again ; but we had planned in the morning to
be on the route of the geese from the lakes in
the afternoon, so, with the horse and waggon,
we started at three o'clock, taking a spade
and shovel to dig pits for the following morn-
ing's use.

After driving about three miles, we spied a
flock on the wing crossing over a fence some
400 yards away, so we halted and tethered
the horse, then concealed ourselves under the
waggon, for we knew the flock we had seen
was the precursor of others, as was afterwards
proved. As many as fifteen flocks within half
an hour passed on the same course. When
we were assured the ground was clear for work,
we approached the range, and dug two pits,
60 yards apart, the one a little to the east of

A GRAND DETECTIVE in

the other, as the birds came from the west.
The pits had to be large enough to allow us to
sit down, and we had to be more than cautious
that we left no new ground in sight, as the
grey goose is a grand detective, and will not
come within range of anything strange to
him. In order the better to deceive them,
we went some distance away and pulled
stubble, placing it around and about the pits.
This done, we felt satisfied there was some fun
ahead for us.

The next morning, some time before day-
light, Dobbin was harnessed and we were on
the move, leaving Eeady behind, as we had no
way of concealing him. The horse was left
some distance away, tethered, and we were in
our blinds just at the peep of day. We were
scarcely placed when I saw a flock on the
horizon sailing towards us. " Look out,
Harry ! " (that was my companion's name).
" There is a flock coming direct for us." As
they approached they were so low and so near,
only about 25 yards away, we could not make
an effectual shot, so I threw up my gun and
they rushed together, swerving towards Harry.
When they were quartering, my trusty old gun

ii2 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

saluted them, arid down came four. The shot
sent them right over Harry's pit, so that he
hadn't an extra chance, yet he stopped the
" houk ! " of the old gander, which saluted him
as he went over, and also landed low a goose
for a company-keeper. " Harry, here comes
another flock ! Get ready ! " Scarcely had he
got the word when eleven came along, but
turned to the north when 45 yards distant.
They drew together, and I fired, dropping one
dead and wing-breaking another. Eight birds
were down out of two flocks, which was extra
luck. By the time I was ready, three flocks
were heading for us, all unsuspicious of danger,
but, as they came within 150 yards, seemed in-
clined to edge off, probably had seen the geese
lying on the ground. But our wing-broken
friend had heard the "houk!" and, wanting
companionship, answered. This turned the
first flock right upon us, and they went along
between us, three more biting the dust, while a
fourth one which had left the flock, by which
we knew he was badly hurt, went tumbling
headlong to the ground, 350 yards distant.
Harry was not satisfied with the result of his
shot, so kept watching the flock, to see if any

"HOUK!" 113

others would fall. " By Jove ! " I heard him ex-
claim; " another one has just fallen short out of
the flock, and I have got him marked." When
we fired the last shots, the flocks accompanying
that fired at turned short to the north and
continued their course a long way off. The
next flock also flew shy of us, but presently I
spied five on the range for us, so I gave the
alarm. Peeping over the edge of the pit, I
noticed the wounded one had walked up beside
one of the dead geese, and was lying with his
neck stretched out along the ground, as if
caving in. No sooner, however, did he hear
the familiar " Houk! " than he replied, standing
bolt upright, when the five made straight for
him, and would have settled, but just as they
were in the act, the chance was so tempting
that I had to let them know I was there, and
did so at the expense of three of them. As
they did not see me, for they were on the right
some 30 yards, the two remaining flew a short
distance away, then circled and started to
come back to their dead companions, passing
within a perilously short distance of that hard-
hearted Harry, who actually stopped my
chance of another shot at them by dropping

I

ii4 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

one with each barrel. This was such wonder-
ful luck that we had to halloa — couldn't help it.
Such special luck was making us drunk with
excitement. Neither of us had ever even
approached it. The ground all about was
dotted with dead and crippled geese, and the
poor old broken-winged chap hopped about
when he saw the five geese coming so near him,
as though able to get up and go along with
them ; yet he didn't.

Nor was this the end of our morning's
sport — not at all. There were several more
fat fellows on which we had a mortgage to
foreclose, and I spied them in the distance
coming right for us, but they evidently saw
our dead geese lying round, and became sus-
picious, turning or changing their direction
of flight from us. Our old gander was on
hand, however, to help them into the scrape.
When he saw them, he spoke, and the leader
of the flock answered, at the same time
turning towards him ; but, whether from his
high position he saw any movement of mine
in the pit, which caused him again to change
his course, I know not, but something did.
Yet while he led the flock by, out of my

WHEN TO STOP? 115

range, he was only about 50 yards away from
Harry, who drew a bead on him, and down
came Number 4 in the flock, righting every
inch of the way to keep up ; but his body was
too heavy for him. His second barrel knocked
out the old "houker" completely, and he
struck the ground with a thud. We found
afterwards a double " B " had gone up through
his brain and another into his gizzard.

This, we expected, would bring the battle
to an end, for the sun was coming up ; but we
had noticed that all the birds we had yet seen
were grey geese, while in the flight the after-
noon before were several flocks of wavies, so
we were encouraged to think there were still
more in reserve for us. Eight now I seem to
hear some of my over-scrupulous readers say,
" Those chaps weren't sportsmen; they were
slaughterers. Such shooting as that wasn't
sport — nothing but slaughter ! " Well, I once
heard a crank talk in that strain, who was
with me afterwards plover-shooting, and when
we had bagged nearly a hundred, I suggested
we ought to stop, as we had enough, but his
" crankship " had not had enough. The
sport was too keen and exciting. While he

n6 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

was a participator, a cart-load was not too
many; but when he heard of others having
equally good luck, then it was slaughter ?
You have met such people, I presume. Don't
you be one of them.

Now, after this digression let us go back to
the pits before the wavies get along, as they
are very restive in the lakes now, and we may
expect to see them soon. Harry hailed me,
" Had we not, while the horizon is clear,
better gather up some of the birds, and put
them in the pits ? " As it seemed wisdom to
do so, we were soon stowing them out of
sight, at the same time keeping our eyes in
the distance, so as not to be taken by surprise,
if there were others to come. We left one
goose with our wounded tollers, and got back
into the pits. All this while not a sign of a
goose was seen, and we had about concluded
to go home when Harry called out, " There
they come, a big flock of wavies, a little to
the west of the course of the greys, but they
are making in this direction, and we may get
a shot." Now, a wavy goose is not nearly so
keen in sight nor so shy as his neighbour
the grey, consequently he oftener gets into

TOO-CURIOUS GEESE 117

trouble. This flock came along without a
call, and in fine range for a shot for each of
us, when the toller spied them and spoke, in
his misery wanting company, and he soon
had it. In answer to the call they set their
wings, and would have actually lit alongside
of him had I allowed them. They came
where Harry had a poor chance, for the
wounded goose was to the left of me, having
walked some distance in that direction after
we placed him, and the wavies inclined
towards him, so that unless the unforeseen
happened, he would not have been in it. They
were now within 30 yards of me, with wings
set and feet down ready to light. This
brought them so low, I had to rise above the
pit. In doing so I gave a shout which pro-
duced "bedlum and hoodlum" too, for they
were so startled at the unexpected, they got
terribly mixed up, which my shooting did not
help, for I sent both charges through them
at a 35-yards' range, and counted seven lying
on the ground as the result, with three others
within a short distance that had fallen.

Now, those foolish fellows were not satisfied
with my reception, but evidently were curious

u8 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

to know what those that had fallen to the
ground were doing. They had flown some
200 yards away when they circled and came
around within range of Harry, when he
tumbled two more. This seemed to satisfy
them, and they continued their flight to the
fields. Harry spoke, " Hie ! Lookout! There
are a lot more coming." And sure enough,
there must have been three hundred wavies in
sight, in different flocks. We watched them
anxiously, and they were coming for us splen-
didly, when all of a sudden the leading flock
must have seen the dead birds, for they turned
at right angles directly across the flight of all
the others, which also turned and passed by us
more than 200 yards distant. " Good for you,
old chaps ! " we were forced to say, and although
I was disappointed in a shot, yet from my
heart I was glad. We waited some time
longer without any more appearing, then
gathered up those on the ground, got the
horse, and went for those we saw fall in the
distance, which we found with two others that
had fallen unobserved. Then we loaded up
the waggon — and it was loaded — thirty-three
greys and thirteen wavies. A most wonderful

WONDERFUL SPORT 119

morning's sport. Only once in all my shoot-
ing did I have as great success, and that was at
Fox Harbour, Nova Scotia, when a companion
and myself, in separate ice-boats, shot on the
wing thirty-eight Canadian geese in an after-
noon. This incident will be found in the
recital of a week's outing at Wallace Harbour,
Nova Scotia, elsewhere in the volume.

With our waggon-load we returned to the
house, well satisfied to give the birds and
ourselves a rest the remainder of the day.
The farmers in the neighbourhood heard of
our wonderful success, and came to see them,
and as most of these had no appliances for
getting game, we presented each of them
with a goose, which was very pleasing to
them, as well as most gratifying to us.

Harry knew a lagoon some five miles
distant, celebrated for duck-shooting at sun-
down, so we decided to vary the programme,
and drive to it the next afternoon. We
reached the spot shortly before dusk, and
found some thirteen others ahead of us. From
one of these, an old attendant there and a
genial fellow, I found what had to be done to
have the best sport. Advised by him, I went

120 MOOSE HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

out about 40 yards from the shore, where
the water was a foot deep, and the wild rice
and rushes abound, forming quite a shelter.
He also supplied me with an old soap-box,
with legs attached, so that I could sit when I
wished. Eeady was left on the shore with
Harry, and from there gathered up the birds.
As sundown approached, the others distributed
themselves up and down the lagoon, and
evidently, from the amount of shooting that
night, those we had met were only a modicum
of the number. There was a complete fusillade
from the time the ball opened till quite dark.
A continuous " Pop ! pop ! pop ! pop ! pop ! pop ! "
the whole length of the water, and, judging
by our success, hundreds of ducks must have
fallen that evening. As fast as we could load
the birds were there for us to shoot at, but we
made quite a few misses, arising from ducks of
different flight coming. I think every mallard
I levelled on came down, but not always short,
while the swift little teal and the blue-wing
escaped me several times.

What I noticed that surprised me was the
indifference of the birds to the reports. Those
we missed, as well as those that got past when

WE HAVE ENOUGH AND TO SPARE 121

we were loading, would fly a few yards distant,
and drop into the rice-beds like the English
snipe. I was told that these birds which we
had been shooting at singly came from the
prairie every evening at the same time as on
that night, starting from wherever they were.
They feed on the plains all day on grass-
hoppers, beetles, and bugs of all kinds, then
start for the water in the lagoon and surround-
ing lakes at that time of day. During the
night they gather into flocks, and those that
had the shooting then generally had fine sport,
as we were told. Dusk had come upon us,
and still the air was full of birds, but it had
become a chance shooting, and therefore no
pleasure, so I picked up the box and sought
the shore. I found Harry had nineteen, while
my pile panned out sixteen, most of them
mallards, with a sprinkling of teal and blue-
wing. At nine o'clock we were back at the
house, greatly delighted with the afternoon's
excitement. The game was accumulating so
fast that Harry proposed, and I appreciated it,
that, in addition to the geese already given to
his neighbours, we should send them each a
pair of ducks, which was done the next

122 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

morning, not even overlooking the old country
bach.

We were not very early on the move next
day, but about nine o'clock walked to the
lake, largely with the view of trying for a shot
at the geese when on the shore. It was
apparently just as full of ducks as on the first
morning we were there, but we were getting
so satiated with ducks we did not make any
effort to get them, until a flock of blue-wings
settled in the water directly in front of where
Harry and I were sitting at the edge of the
bushes. In these I became greatly interested
to know if they would toll in the North- West
as well as in Nova Scotia, so, without taking
any precaution to conceal ourselves if they
did, I sent Eeady to the shore. Even before
he got there, and he went with a bound, their
heads were up. So soon as he began his
antics they moved towards him until within
five feet of the shore. This placed me in a
nice predicament, for there were the birds, and
here was the gunner fully 80 yards away.
I should have felt badly had our previous luck
been less favourable, so I concluded to try an
experiment in creeping on them. The first

WHAT A JAR! 123

great difficulty was to get from the sitting
position to that of all-fours without being
noticed, as the least motion was sure to be
seen.

Before attempting this change, four marks
were selected to creep to, the last one being a
large cluster of rushes, and it was understood
that Harry was to whistle in case the conditions
changed on my way down to these. Thus
fortified, I began to settle from my seat, so
slowly as to be unnoticed, then, with my gun
in my right hand, I moved straight upon the
first mark, then to the next, and finally brought
up to the last without any warning signal
from Harry. Thus assured the birds were
there and within shot, I cocked both barrels,
settled out at full length, resting on my
elbows. When I sighted them, they were
uneasy and moving together, the most of
them looking at me. By that I knew they
would soon jump, so, as they were below me,
I ranged for the outside birds, calculating the
nearest ones would either jump into the shot,
or be stopped by the dropping ones and pulled.
" My ! my ! what a jar ! " It was my intention
to give them the right barrel sitting, and the

i24 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

left when they jumped ; but the recoil gave me
such a shock that, for a little, nothing but my
cheek and nose were in my thoughts. They
pained as from ague. By the time I recovered
my feet Harry ran by me to the shore,
shouting, " You made a great shot; five are
dead, and another has fallen outside.'1
Ordinarily I would have been all excitement
at this, but my pain just then was too severe
to think much about birds. Upon examination
I discovered the concussion in the first barrel
set off the second, so that I had the recoil of
both barrels at once. My position prevented
me holding her very firm, while it brought my
face directly over the shock, giving me the
full force of the set-back. Fortunately, the
pain did not last long, or my hunting would
have been over for that day. The soreness,
however, did not leave so readily.

" Pat," said Harry, " do you see Eeady
out after that wounded bird ? He is having
some fun with him." Just as I looked, Eeady
was close upon him, when the duck went under,
leaving the dog on the qui vive for his appear-
ance. He came up behind him, having turned
under water, and thus got a start away before

READY AT WORK 125

he was seen. Beady spied him, and soon got
up to him, when the bird tried his diving
game again, but this time he had company.
When he went under, so did the dog, bringing
the duck with him when he came up. All
this time the five were lying quietly on the
water in front of us, as we thought, dead.
Presently, however, one began to show signs
of life, and was soon very lively, moving off
from us. " Give him a shot, Harry, or we'll
lose him before Keady can get to the shore."
" I don't like to : we'll shoot him all to pieces ;
but Eeady will get him all right."

We noticed the dog was inclined to land
with his bird on the shore below us, and
beyond the range of the wounded one working
off, so I walked up the shore until he and the
wounded bird were in range, when I spoke to
him, and he turned towards me. Eight then
he spied the fellow swimming, when he gave
the one in his mouth an extra bite, dropped
him, and started in pursuit. The other saw
him coming, went under, and came up with
his bill just above the surface. This is a
peculiarity of wild birds, that they have the
power of weighting or sinking their bodies, so

126 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

as to leave only their bills out of the water.
When pursued by an enemy, it is surprising
to see how fast they can swim in this way.
There was an exciting race, which Beady won
after a little, capturing him under water, as
the previous one.

This was the last shot at ducks on my
outing, and the longest remembered by me.
Harry, having] to return home, took the birds
along with him, while Eeady and I went to
try our luck on prairie chickens. We came
to a ravine, the banks of which, some 25
feet high, were covered with small poplars.
As I walked along the bottom of it, I noticed
at the foot of quite a tree, what had the
appearance of a pile of beach-stones, which I
thought most singular. It was about 20 feet
from the path, but my eyes were on the
look out for chickens, so I did not examine this
closely, and Ready was on the opposite side,
working the bank. After I had passed it, I
was not satisfied, as it seemed such an
unusual occurrence for beach-stones to be
there, and I returned to further investigate.
I had no difficulty in reaching the spot, and as
the ground had just been hunted over, knew

"MORE HASTE, WORSE SPEED" 127

there were no chickens near, and was not so
careful about the noise. So soon, therefore,
as I turned off the path to go to these stones,
they became invested with life. A veritable
cayote (prairie wolf) sprang up and started
for the upper bank, with a surprised hunter
after him. The old adage was never truer,
" The more haste the worse speed," than
when I was trying to find a cartridge of large
shot. Every other kind but the one wanted
came to my hand. In the mean time the
cayote was making the most of the delay, so
that when I was ready to speak to him he was
80 yards away, going like a streak. I did not
expect to stop him, and didn't, but merely let
him know he had been seen. Had Harry been
with me, that cayote would have been ours, as
he would have known at once what my pile
of stones was, and stopped him right there.

Beady flushed several chickens before leav-
ing the ravine, of which I shot a brace.
Another cover was in sight, to which I went,
and there found the game abundant, Eeady
starting birds in all directions.

I had fired five shots, securing as many
birds, when suddenly my attention was aroused

128 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

by a stentorian voice wanting to know who
gave me authority to shoot his birds.
" Your birds ! " I replied. " This is the first
time I knew or heard the fowl on the North-
West prairies belonged to any particular
individual until they were shot." "Well,
sir," he replied very moderately, "I claim
that any and all birds that are found within the
limits of my lines belong to me." " Are you
a sportsman yourself ? If so, I will not shoot
at any more." " No," he replied, " I never
fired a gun, but preserve the birds for my
sporting friends from Calgary." " Well, then,
have a brace of my chickens for your dinner.
I'll have all I want by the time I get home."
This generosity on my part struck the right
chord, and was in line with the sentiment,
" Throw a sprat to catch a mackerel," for the
English gentleman, for such he was, persuaded
me to go to his house and partake of lunch —
a most generous repast, which my appetite,
then keen, fully appreciated. He then showed
me round the place, and we separated with
the wish that I might have fine sport in the
afternoon, and the assurance that I was
always welcome to shoot on his grounds, so I

A CURIOUS OLD GANDER 129

returned to the grove, feeling much stronger
for the repast and happier for such a pleasant
termination to this peculiar acquaintance. I
secured ten on the same ground I got the five
in the morning within a couple of hours.

These prairie chickens are larger than the
birch partridges ; but the meat, which is very
delicious, is as dark as the spruce partridge.
The darkness of the flesh gave me a great
sell before I knew this characteristic of it.
Just before freezing weather I shot several
of them, which were frozen for winter. Some
weeks later I plucked a pair for dinner, but
noticing this dark colour, concluded they were
spoiled, and threw them away. My neigh-
bours, when they heard of the sell, had a
hearty laugh at my expense. On my way
homeward, I swerved towards the lower end
of Eed Deer Lake, expecting to find the
geese back from the feeding-grounds. I was
desirous of testing their tolling qualities,
especially the wavies, as they had never
been in sight of Beady. There were some
hundreds sleeping, washing, and swimming
about, so, with the dog at my heels, I crept
as near to those in the water as I could

K

130 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

safely do, then put Eeady out. For some
time they took apparently no notice of him,
but a curious old gander, a very large one,
began to investigate these movements by
swimming around in a large circle, a long
distance out of harm's way. He continued
this circling, each time drawing nearer, and
each time being joined by some of the geese,
until there were upwards of twenty curious
ones. When he approached within 40 yards,
he appeared to hesitate, so I concluded to
"draw a bead " on him, and try a shot.
When he had passed a little beyond a direct
front shot, several of the geese with the old
fellow were under the line of my eye. Then
I pulled, and laid over two geese and wing-
broke the gander with the left barrel, and
tumbled another with the right, which was
not dead, so Eeady took after him, and
soon brought him to the shore. Then he
spied the wing-broken gander, now fully 80
yards away, and working off shore very fast
with the aid of his legs and wings. The
water was not deep enough for the dog to
swim, as it was only up to his back ; therefore
he had to plunge constantly to make any

DOG v. GANDER 131

headway. His eye was on that gander, and
the farther he went the fiercer he became,
until he fairly whined with eagerness. Not
till they were 300 yards distant could it be
decided how the struggle would terminate,
for neither seemed to falter, nor did the dog
gain any, and I feared that exhausting effort
of plunging with no solid bottom to jump
from would eventually tire him out, and the
bird escape. However, after a time it was
very noticeable that the distance between
them was lessening rapidly, and that Ready
would be the winner. When within 15
yards of him, the gander spread himself on
the water and faced the dog, making a vicious
plunge at him with his beak as he came to
him, which sealed his doom, for Eeady jumped,
seized him by the neck and soon despatched
him.

Not wanting the dog to retrace the long
distance he had gone, I met him at the
shore opposite where he captured the gander,
and left it there, then went after the dead
ones still in the water. When they were all
collected and tied together — chickens and
geese — the prospect of having to carry that

132 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

load a mile and a quarter was by no means
an enticing one, yet it had to be done.
Before it was lifted to my shoulders a whistle
startled me. Turning to ascertain the cause
of it, I saw Harry coming laden with a basket
of lunch for his supposed half-starved com-
panion. This would have been most accept-
able, had not my English friend been ahead
of him. I assured him, however, that he had
come at a most opportune time, and his
thoughtfulness was fully appreciated. To
prove this and my thorough unselfishness, he
was allowed to carry the heaviest half of my
load all the way to the house. On the road
there he informed me he had been visited
that afternoon by a neighbour two miles away,
who came especially to tell us that a large
body of geese were feeding on his 320-acre
wheat-stubble field, and we might get a
chance at them in the evening, as there was
nothing to disturb them. Had such informa-
tion come to us three days before, it would
have greatly excited me, but hunting, creep-
ing, walking, running, crouching, rowing,
paddling, wading, tumbling, and all the other
" -ings " concomitant of a sporting trip, to say

ENOUGH! 133

nothing of the prolonged excitement over such
varied and wonderful success, had taken so
much out of me that I confess to being tired.
I had what sportsmen in another line of
business call " enough," and would have been
very willing to stop at my last shot at the
lake, telling Harry so. " Oh, that will never
do ! — never do ! After his taking the trouble
to come two miles to tell us. We'll hitch up
the horse and drive over. Then the hunting
will be easy." So after resting a couple of
hours, about four o'clock we started.

To get to their proper feeding-ground, as
directed by the farmer, the main road, which
led along the edge of the open field fully
300 yards, had to be followed. It was
decided to walk the horse, very slowly passing
there, and not to move in the slightest while
in sight. Just before reaching the exposed
spot, a large flock of greys flew over the road
on to the field, and, while watching to see
them light — the horse guiding himself —
Harry gave me a pinch without moving his
head, but whispering, "By gracious, Pat,
just look a little to your left ! Do you see
those fellows feeding?" I saw them, and

i34 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the sight started all the tired feeling. There
were eighty or a hundred of those old settlers,
the real Canadian goose, feeding within an
easy shot of quite a knoll for the North- West.
As I was on the seat farthest from them, I
told him to keep the horse moving, so as
to attract their attention, and I would try
to drop out on the distant side. This was
accomplished — })u\ how, I don't know. When
on the ground, I found I was completely
hidden, and there was Ready crouching.
He had seen the birds as quickly as we, and
sneaked along under the waggon. The knoll
between me and the geese made it compara-
tively easy creeping. When as near as it
was possible to get without exposure, I peeped
over the natural blind. What a sight was
there 1 They were watching the horse, and
were inclined to fear him, apparently ready
for a start, as they had walked much closer
together than when first seen. Directly in
front of me were eight or ten standing in a
line, covering about a foot, with others a little
outside this range. The left barrel of No. 10
was loaded with " B," and the right with
" buck,'; so I concluded to try the left sitting,

I PULLED— SHE SNAPPED 135

and the other on the wing. I levelled.
" Now my hitherto trusty friend, do your
duty " — pulled. " Bang ! " was the response.
But where were the birds ? Every one jumped.
Before I had time to wonder, I saw one
tumbling, then another and another, yet still
another — four down, but every one on a new
kind of wild-goose chase, in which Eeady was
a lively participant.

While this was going on, the flock, having
to rise to windward, came towards me, till
they were started ; then circled, and, reader,
if you know anything about shooting, there
was the sportsman's chance. Every " buck "
ought to bring a bird. Did it? Not it.
Listen! Did you hear the "bang"? I
didn't — not when I wanted to. I pulled — she
snapped. No time to change cartridge now,
so must try again. She may go the second
time. All this while, bear in mind, they
were rushing away, for they got a view of me
when they circled, so when she was ranged
the second time, they were more than
80 yards off, and considerably scattered.
Expecting her to refuse again, I was careless
in my range, and, when she responded, was

136 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

not disappointed that none came down. I
watched them, however, for a little, when
one was noticed to lag behind, and to sheer
from the others, but was able to join them
when they settled. This fellow we found
afterwards in that very spot, dead.

Let us return to the scene of the first shot,
to see what Eeady has been about. He has
the four that were in the chase captured,
and in a pile behind the knoll. Oh, what
beauties ! what beauties ! what beauties !
All very large ones, and so clean and pretty.
Where is that tired feeling now? Echo
answers, "Where?" Not there, not it —
must have evaporated. At the first shot
Harry had stopped the horse, and came to
my assistance, so that we soon had the birds
in the waggon, and ready for more. The
flock we fired at, and the one that crossed
the road, were the only ones that arrived up
to the time of the shooting ; but soon there
were three more arrivals, making three or
four hundred geese altogether. Apart from
the knoll, which made such an excellent
blind, the rest of the field was comparatively
level, so that approaching them near enough

LAST OF RED DEER LAKE 137

for a shot we found an impossibility, as their
detectives, the old ganders, had as keen eyes
as we. As fast as we creeped, so fast they
walked, and they were well schooled in the
safety line. We thought, when it became dusk,
we might get upon them, forgetting that the
ganders' heads and eyes were always in the air,
and they had the advantage of the light back-
ground, while we, creeping, had a dark one.
By this they were able to lead the geese out of
harm's way every time we attempted to ap-
proach them; so we had to give in, acknowledg-
ing ourselves beaten at the heel of the hunt.

Five geese such as we had in the carriage
would have been, and are, a very respectable
afternoon's sport for ordinary mortals, but for
sportsmen that had been gathering them by
the dozen, it seemed a great come-down.
The knoll-shot finished the week's shooting,
and the next morning I bade my friend Harry
and his genial partner a regretful good-bye,
as it was likely to be, and was, the last cruise
made by me to the Bed Deer Lake. After
Harry had taken all the game he wished, the
waggon was literally packed with geese, ducks,
and chickens — tied in. My approach to

138 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Calgary drew many inquisitive eyes upon me,
as well as ejaculations at the attractive
appearance of the waggon.

When reading these stories, some may be
inclined to think them exaggerated. Yet
they are not. Shooting or fishing ten, fifteen,
or twenty years ago was very different from
that of 1902. Then there was scarcely a
sportsman, where now they are met by the
score. Then, where pools were full of trout
and salmon, and lakes the feeding-ground of
tens of thousands of ducks and geese, now
the fish are caught as soon as spawned, if any
are left to spawn, while the birds are shot, in
many places, as soon as they attempt to fly.
So that there are many localities now, where
game used to be abundant and hunting a
pleasure, in which it has become laborious,
and the fun has gone out of it. While
finishing the shooting-cruise, with its wonder-
ful success, it may be gratifying to my readers
to tell them that, the year after the scene
described here took place, a party of English
sportsmen in Western Assiniboin, goose-
hunting, secured over seven hundred. What
do you think of that ?

( 139 )

CHAPTEE X.

SALMON-FISHINa ON THE LA HAVE RIVER,
NOVA SCOTIA.

THIS river (La Have), known and recognized
by all strangers who have been so fortunate as
to have been on its waters or its banks, as
the Khine of America, extends 15 miles from
the North Atlantic to the head of the tide, as
it is navigable to the town of Bridgewater,
14 miles from the ocean. The picturesque
appearance of its banks, studded with farms
cultivated to the water's edge, and houses
neatly built and nicely planted with numerous
thriving villages at the river's side, all tend
to give it a most prosperous and charming
appearance.

In the early settlement of the country its
waters teemed with salmon, shad, sea-trout,
and aleuwen ; so abundant were they in that

140 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

season that they have been represented as
having been captured in cart-loads. In late
years, owing to hindrances to the direct ap-
proach to their spawning-grounds, together
with the drag-nets of the night-prowlers,
salmon have become so scarce that in some
seasons scarcely any are taken. The close
season for salmon rod-fishing ends February 1,
when, if that day be mild, some are almost
sure to be taken. This run of fish is small in
numbers and size, not more than fifteen being
captured in February, any season, varying in
size from 6 to 8 Ibs., a 10-pounder being a
rarity. The rods have to be specially prepared
for winter fishing, with permanent wire rings,
through which the icy lines move without
clogging. Apart from the money inducement,
from 50 to 75 cents per lb., there is no actual
sport in this fishing. He will take the fly as
well as in May, but rarely runs or jumps, and if
fairly well hooked the fisherman is almost sure
of him. After the run is over no others come
to the river until April 20, when the regular
spring fish put in an appearance, and continue
coming till the 20th of June, when they are
followed by the grilse.

"HAWK-BILL" SALMON 141

I was fishing one afternoon in June, 1886,

between the Davison's Mills, located within

a mile of the tide. This pool was, and is, one

of the best on the river. There were fully

fifty fish in sight, playing in the runs, rolling

out their big backs, and wagging their immense

tails here, there, and everywhere, catching the

little eels that were dropping down with the

current. Although I tried at least twenty

flies of every imaginable make and size, and

would place them alongside their heads, yet

they would take the eel, ignoring me and my

fly. These were hawk-bills, large male fish,

and their indifference to the fly was caused

largely by the lowness of the stream and the

warmth of the water, which made them

sluggish. As there was likely to be a heavy

sea-fog that night, which would cool the

surface of the water some, I decided to try

them early in the morning, as I did want to

get fast to one of those big fellows. So just

at daylight the anchor was dropped at the

head of the deepest pool, at the eastern end of

the first reef. It was still so dark that a light

fly had to be used, so I selected a White

Admiral, an inch long. Anything longer

142 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

would have been useless. With a double cast
and this double hook, success was fairly assured
if he came for it.

A fine fellow had been having a grand
rolling time the afternoon before at the head
of a rock near the foot of the pool, and thinking
he was there yet, I cast my fly below it, and
gradually worked it up over the spot. Was
that a salmon ? or was it my imagination ?
There surely was a wave made by the rush of
a fish. Well, if that was a fish, he was not
pricked. After waiting a few minutes — oh,
what long ones! — the line was cast again below
where the agitation was, and worked up over
the same spot, without the rush expected.
Sometimes these old settlers, yea, and many
young ones too, follow your line, moving as
fast as the fly. When this is observed, by
stopping the fly, he often seizes it. So this
game was tried, and the moment the Admiral
stopped, Mr. Hawk-bill took possession of
him, and was harnessed. Then came the tug
of war. I was not long discovering he was
not a greyling by any means, but an old-time
fellow, that had steered clear of nets and traps,
and hitherto ignored all the enticements of

A SULKY SALMON 143

rod fishermen. He settled on the bottom
and sulked as soon as he was hooked —
a characteristic of big, overgrown fellows.
He would not run, nor could he be drawn to
me, although all the tension the tip would
bear was on him. After half an hour, he had
worked into the deepest water in the pool, but
hung back, as much as to say, " I am at one
end and you at the other, and well see what
we'll see." Well, I kept nagging at him, with
little prospect of success. When, by raising
the kellock, the boat dropped nearly to him,
and was stopped, the use of the pole suggested
itself, and was tried. He evidently did not ap-
prove of the new treatment, for on the second
thrust he started at railroad speed down and
across the river, in a direct course for a
stranded mill log. Unless stopped short of
that, it would be " good-bye salmon," so, put-
ting my thumb on the running line, I made the
drag-out heavier. He had 90 yards now, and
was only a few yards from the log, but near him
was an eddy. He must be stopped there and
then, and worked into it or be lost; so I
decided to try this, by making the drag of the
line still heavier, almost stopping it. This

144 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

made him jump, and when his great body
struck the water, he shied into the eddy, and
quieted down.

After seeing the immense size of him, it
made me the more anxious to save him. I
knew he was much the largest fish that had
ever tested my skill, so, slacking the line, the
kellock was raised, and as the boat, or rather
punt, dropped down towards him, my line was
gathered in, until we were only 20 yards
apart. By the strain kept upon him, and his
heavy fall when he jumped, it was evident he
was weakening. Had there been any one
with me, the punt could have been moved
over him then, and he would have gaffed him ;
but that other fellow wasn't there, so the best
had to be made of a trying encounter with the
means at command. His stubbornness con-
vinced me that nothing ordinary would move
him, so I unreeled several yards of line and
put the rod down, up kellock, and poled the
punt towards the shore, stopping at the head
of an eddy, then raised the rod and reeled up
the slack, putting such a purchase on him
that I felt he would not and could not long
resist. Nor did he, for in a few minutes the

A LONG FIGHT 145

line began to slacken, and he sailed out of the
one eddy into the other, and was now only
40 yards from the shore. Here he kept me
another hour — a fighting monster at one end
of the line, and a persistent, patient, hopeful,
and hungry fisherman at the other : no
apparent yielding of either — a sort of diamond-
cut-diamond performance.

I was becoming desperate : time was going,
the sun was well up, the fog had disappeared,
the workmen were going to their labour, and
very little headway apparently was being made
towards ending the struggle. Again the line
was unreeled, and again the punt was moved
nearer the shore, in line with a rock that had
deep water beneath it. This brought me
within 20 yards of terra jirma. After the
slack line was again reeled, and the tension
put on him, I threw a stone into the eddy,
which started him towards the shore, and
behind the very rock wished. This was a
success, but the use of the gaff seemed a
distance off. It was now 7.30, and yet no
one had been near me to witness the sport,
although the mill hands seemed to be paying
more attention to me and the fish than to

146 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Messrs. Davison's work. Just then a lad of
sixteen came to the shore, and I offered him
fifty cents to wade off to the punt and pole her
in shore, which he objected to doing, although
the water where she was kellocked was only a
foot deep. This annoyed me, so I pulled off
a few yards of line, laid down the rod, up
kellock, and poled her myself to the shore,
then walked up the bank, and reeled my fish
so tightly that, in his weakened condition, he
could not long resist, and moved in behind
another rock 8 or 10 yards off. Now I
handed the rod to the boy, with instructions
to keep the line tight, took the gaff, and
sneaked off towards the fish, put it under him
and lifted him. Then there was a commotion !
Great Scot ! What kicking and flouncing !
It required all my strength even then to
handle and hold him, but he was soon over-
come, and the long battle ended. He weighed
27! Ibs. — a beauty, one of those thick, plump
fellows, the largest fish ever captured in that
river before or since, and the largest but one
I have ever seen.

To say that I was tired only faintly conveys
my weariness. The muscles of my right arm

ADVANTAGE OF DOUBLE HOOKS 147

were as sore as if beaten. Fully three hours
were occupied in capturing him. As he lay
before me, his appearance made me a proud
fisherman. A great deal of the successful
issue of that struggle was due to the double
cast and double hooks, both of which were
under his jaw, and could not break or tear out.
A single cast and hook would have stood a
slim chance in such a stubborn fight.

A fortnight prior to the event just narrated,
a young friend with Lew Labrador, his Indian
guide, in one boat, and myself alone in
another, went to the pool at the head of the
tide opposite and below Davison's Lower
Mill. In those days the pools were much
finer resting-places for salmon than now, and
many more of them, so that two or even three
boats could have equally good sport, by one
fishing the upper, another the centre, and the
third the lower pools. It was Monday morn-
ing at 7.30 when we started, not expecting
even ordinary luck, as on the Saturday before
only one fish was seen. We were, therefore,
more than surprised to find that a new run of
famous fish had come into the pool on that
tide. We started in with Cock Robins,

148 MOOSE HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

changing later to Yellow Doctors, and had
seven fish when we landed at noon, losing
four others. He secured five, and lost two ; I
got two, and lost two. I had fished this
stream several years, and noted the peculiar-
ities of the different runs of salmon that
frequented it, yet never saw fish like these.
They were apparently very fierce for the fly,
but only rushed once. If he were struck,
then, well ; if not, time would be saved by not
trying him again. A number were started
that were not hooked nor pricked, yet they
could not be tempted to come again in that
pool at that time, although we both changed
flies by the score. We found they were very
gamey — fought hard. They were direct from
the sea, so bright and beautiful, and resented
such treatment, thus affording us clear sport.
One that my friend hooked, a 17-lb. fish,
ran out every yard of his line down stream,
and had to be followed. He jumped and ran,
ran and jumped and flounced — went directly
under their boat once. After a lapse of three-
quarters of an hour, he began to give in.
When they had him almost to the boat, a
drift log was spied coming down across their

AN OLD ANGLER'S DODGE 149

bow, which started them dragging. Scarcely
were they freed from this when they dis-
covered that the salmon, with the slack line
they had given him when working at the log,
had dragged it under a sunken slab, and left it
foul there. Fortunately, the fish was now so
nearly drowned that he did not attempt to
rush, but lay quiet. How to get it out was
the question. Old Lew said, " Trouble never
comes single. Hold on, S., I've got a way
am going to try." " What's that ? " " Am
going to tie this piece of board to the rod to
keep it up, then fasten the line so it won't run
out and throw the rod over." As it seemed
feasible, S. accepted the plan, and they did
it. So soon as the rod was directly below the
slab, it held for a moment, then swung down
the stream in line where they knew the fish
must be, so, taking up the rod and freeing it
from its encumbrances, he began to reel up
the line, and found the salmon all right. So,
without any further mishap, they soon had him
in the boat. I had been a witness of all this
manoeuvring, but was fast to a wild and stubborn
fellow my self, so could not go to their assistance.
S., in telling me about the spree, remarked

ISO MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

there was more fun and sport in the capturing
of that one than in all the others combined.
There was nothing out of the common with
the others, but with that fellow there was
something new cropping up all the time,
requiring the exercise of one's wits to
straighten out. I spoke of being fast to a
fifteen-pounder at the same time that S. was
having his fun. My fish took under water,
and, as soon as he found himself fast, began
racing. Sometimes he would come so close,
my gaff was in my hand to use, then he
would sail away 60 or 70 yards, with the
reel buzzing, and follow this by working
up stream above the boat, worrying me with
the prospect of shooting under the mooring.
Then down he would come, aiming right
for me, but fighting shy so soon as he
sighted the boat. However, I knew he could
not keep the racing up long with the tension
upon him, and must soon give in, which he
did, after running 20 yards or so across the
stream. For a person alone in the boat,
much the safest and easiest way is to work
the fish up the stream above yourself, then,
by throwing the rod behind your shoulder,

"JENNY LIND" 'S THE FLY 151

you can raise him, and keep him headed to
you, so that with the gaff within reach of
your hand, he soon becomes yours. When
he headed the stream, I found he was so
weak that he could not work above me, so
the mooring was paid out, and the line as
well, which placed me below him. From
this new position he was brought near the
boat with his head quite out of water, and
was soon gaffed. I sat down for a rest, with
a very pleasant picture to entertain me.

We secured two others in the afternoon,
each of us losing one, after being fast some
time. But the only really exciting sport
was with the last one that S. hooked. It was
nearly dusk, and we had landed from our
boats. Lew and I were seated on the bank,
when S. said, " I'm going to try a Jenny
Lind — a very bright fellow ;•" so we noticed
he had thrown out his fly standing on the
shore, not supposing for a minute he would
start a fish, when he shouted, " By Jove !
I've got one ! Come quick ! He's started down
the stream." At such a command as that
we were soon into my boat, and following him.

We had started from opposite the mill, but

152 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

found it was so dark that we could not see
to gaff him from the boat. It was therefore
decided he must be worked into water so
shallow, he would have to flounce, and there-
by direct us to him. So when he struck a
deep pool, we let him rest, and all landed on
the mill side, where the water was quite
shoal some little distance off the shore. S.
with his rod marched up the bank straight
away from the shore, thus leading the fish,
and forcing him to run himself into the
shallow. Lew and I were standing with gaffs,
waiting for the splash, for by this time the
line was invisible. Very soon, directly in
front of Lew, came the looked-for flounce and
splash. He made a jump with his gaff, but
missed at the first attempt, only striking the
side of the fish. He soon made a second
thrust, and got him into the boat. This was
later in the day than I ever knew a fish
caught with a fly. He was 17 Ibs. This was
the best single day's sport known on this
river. Some seasons my companion and I
have fished from Monday morning until
Saturday evening, only capturing as many
as we did that afternoon.

A FISH ON THE BLACK DOCTOR 153

Hitherto the sport has been of one kind
only. I propose varying it in this narrative,
by introducing scenes of an exciting character,
in which larger game than the ordinary salmon
enter.

During the month of May, with two young
companions, sturdy fellows, we were found
fishing on this La Have pool recently
described. We had occupied the boats
unmolested, and with the consent of Messrs.
Davison, who controlled them for two days,
having had more than ordinarily good luck.
One Wednesday afternoon I walked with a
lady friend to the mill, hoping to see the
boys capture a fish. While there, F. was in
the boat on the upper pool with old Lew the
Indian, and I was to use the lower one with
Tom the Indian. My lady companion and
I sat on a lumber pile near a pool, and just
opposite F.'s boat, when up came a fish in
the pool close by. My rod was at Lew's
house near by, so I got it, and began fishing
from the end of a pile, which brought me
within easy reach of the pool. After making
a few casts with a Black Doctor, up came
the fish. I gave him the fly for an instant,

154 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

then drew it, and he was fast. He proved
a wild fellow, and sailed out into the strong
current, jumping and running ; but it was not
long before he was back into the pool. My
lady friend had become greatly excited over
the sport, and watched every movement. I
knew, unless some help came, she would have
to take the rod, while I gaffed the fish. He
had become helpless, so I ranged him near
the breastwork, where he could be reached
with the gaff, then handed her the rod, leaned
down, and brought the fellow out, 8J Ibs.
She was more delighted with her part in it
than seeing a dozen caught. While I was
playing my fish, F. had one on for some time,
but lost him.

We were admiring our catch and rehears-
ing the different scenes in his capture, still
holding the rod, when we were approached by
a tall, rather powerful-looking man, accom-
panied by two ladies. I bade them good
afternoon, when he accosted me, " We fisher-
men who come from a distance think you
local fellows ought to stay at home, and let us
have the ground." " Indeed; that's strange
logic," said I. "Are you a fisherman?"

NOT MADE THAT WAY 155

"Yaas. I'm Captain C 1 from Haali-

fax." "Ah! indeed. Well, those young
men in the boats have come 75 miles
further away, and have been here two days
ahead of you. It is not likely they will
make way for you at your demand, and I
am sure I am not going to do so. But see
here, sir, why do you come here at this
particular season ? " " To fish for salmon."
" I thought so. Why don't you come in
March?" " Oh, there are no salmon then,
and it is too cold." " Exactly so. According
to your idea, I infer you think it is great sport
for local fishermen to stand on these banks
in March and thresh the water, that they
may give place to such men as you when-
ever, in the fishing season, you may choose to
come on the scene and order them home?
Oh no, my dear sir, you have made a great
mistake in thinking sportsmen in this country
are made that way. At any rate, this one is
not. When a gentleman, however, comes
where I am fishing, it is a very great pleasure
to give place to him, and a still greater one
to see him hook a fish and land him." Out
of supreme contempt for this " fellah," I

156 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

continued fishing, not to catch a fish, but to
hold my ground. After making a few casts, I
reeled up the line, and gave my place to him,
then moved off some distance with my lady
friend, to watch his style of fishing. The
ladies with him we discovered later were his
wife and sister-in-law — English ladies.

When he began casting, they sat down a
few yards from him, on the lumber-pile, and
were intently watching him, not supposing, of
course, he would try his skill on anything but
a "sarmon." His style of fishing was most
amusing, reminding me of old country-women
driving their horses with little jerks — a kind
of " get up and get " motion. His second
cast was so ridiculous and different from any-
thing seen by me that I was in the midst of a
hearty laugh, when my attention was attracted
by a most alarming screech, followed by a great
commotion on the lumber-pile, which caused
me to hasten there, and to find his fly fast
into a strange fish — nothing less than his wife.
This wonderful " fellah," who was going to
show local fishermen how to do it, was showing
his skill by fastening a fly into the back of
his wife's neck. Fortunately, it hooked just

HOOKING HIS WIFE 157

inside the skin, so we were able to remove it
without assistance. This act closed scene
number one.

He was quieting down and ready to start
in for further practice, when he saw F. hook
one, which seemed to make him wild, for he
reeled up his line, and started to go across
the river, as it was near the opposite side of
the mill that the boat was anchored. To get
there it was necessary to go up the river
75 yards, and walk over a boom formed
by pairs of logs treenailed together and
covered with boards. Without the slightest
thought of his lady companions, he started at
a quick march, leaving them to follow him
as best they could. I remained on the
mill side, watching F. play his fish, which
proved to be a wild, stubborn fellow, and
occupied half an hour or more to capture.
In the mean time the officer had reached
the other side, and forded a channel of very
swift water into a rocky shoal some 25
yards below F.'s boat, on which he took his
stand and commenced fishing up, and con-
sequently against, the stream, nearly causing
the loss of F.'s salmon, by tangling the lines.

158 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Those of my readers who are fishermen know
that fishing etiquette prevents a second per-
son casting a fly on a pool already occupied.
There was no possible chance of his rising,
even if the pool had not been fished, as his
fly was flowing away from them constantly.
Not satisfied with the fruits of that perform-
ance, he waded ashore again, and after a time
appeared in a boat with a white guide. Prior
to his doing this, another boat with two other
officers, a major and another captain — who
had come to the neighbourhood with the
Conqueror — came with their guide from the
tidal waters, and were fishing on one of
the lower pools, when the first sportman pufc
in a second appearance. To show his envy
or jealousy of F.'s luck, and to annoy him, he
caused his guide to pole the boat between
where F. was casting and the stern of F.'s
boat. Would not such rascality (that term
covers it) as that rouse all your fightability ?
You may laugh at this recent coinage, but the
pith is there, and conveys the idea. He com-
pletely circled F.'s boat, to do which he was
forced to place his pole on the bottom of the
pool ; but even this failed to drive F. off. I

ENVY OR JEALOUSY 159

shall leave him here for a time, still further
to thresh water and disturb the pool, and bear
my readers to a spot which appeared at one
time that afternoon as if it might be the
scene of very exciting fishing.

I mentioned that he had left his lady com-
panions on the other side of the river, and
at the spot where he first fished, expecting
them to join him on the opposite bank through
their own skill. My lady friend had returned
to Bridgewater by the main road, while I pro-
posed crossing over the boom with my rod
and salmon to Lew Labrador's house. The
English ladies had come to the breastwork,
from which they would have to get down
three feet to be on the boom, and were look-
ing most anxiously across the water, as if
undecided what to do. My services were here
proffered as their guide, and gladly accepted.
This boom or track was situated a very short
distance above the dam, and through the
midst of the strongest current, beginning at
the breastwork mentioned and terminating
abruptly at the entrance of a large fish-pass,
over which the bank was approached by walk-
ing up a plank, one end of which rested on

160 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

a boom, the other at an angle of 25° or 30°,
resting on the bank. To one used to it, there
were no attractions, and I never used it when
it could be avoided.

After they were upon the boom, I led the
way, to assure and give them confidence, as
they were evidently very nervous. The end
next the pass was reached safely. Here I
stopped a little past the end of the plank,
standing on the very end of the boom to allow
them to walk ahead of me. Had Mrs. C., who
had been walking next me, done this, probably
there would have been no trouble, but step-
ping aside to allow her sister to proceed
nearly cost her her life. Above the boom
here and near the end was an accumulation
of numberless little pieces of floating wood-
ends and boards from the upper mill, mixed
in with sawdust, that, to an inexperienced eye
like Mrs. C.'s, would give it the appearance
of solidity ; and such she thought it was, for
she stepped back upon it to let her sister
proceed, and back she went. Fortunately
for us all, I was near enough to grasp her
by the neck of her dress as she fell, and
thus kept her head above water, although

LIFE OR DEATH 161

perilously near being drawn by her off the
boom.

No assistance could be obtained by shout-
ing, as the roar of the Falls drowned all other
sounds, nor could I send her sister, who was
so terrified I feared she would fall off herself,
so I bade her sit down on the boom, where she
was standing. By this time my thoughts,
which had fled for the moment, returned, and
the situation was taken in and acted upon.
The necessity of drawing her body out from
under the boom was so apparent that I acted
upon it at once, by drawing her head towards
the end of it and the shore. At the same
time, I encouraged Mrs. C. to help me with
her hands on the boom. By this concerted
action we soon freed her body, so that her
head could be raised under the plank, and
farther out of water. Thus emboldened by
our success, I decided her head and body had
to be passed under that plank before she could
be got out, as the suction was too great to be
overcome without more help. By my holding
on with my right hand, assisted by Mrs. C.
clinging to the upper edge of the plank, I
was enabled to lie down on it, and pass my

M

i62 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

left hand under so as to grip her other
shoulder. Then by releasing one hand from
above and grasping the lower edge with it,
we succeeded in safely getting her under it.
At this juncture Mrs. C. had become quite
composed, and spoke to her sister, who up to
that time was so nervous and frightened that
she clung to the boom with a maniacal grip,
unable to move. The next movement brought
her to the boom and the end of the plank,
and between us she was raised on to them.
" Saved ! saved ! " I could not but exclaim.

Had they been alone when this happened,
as they were likely to have been, doubtless
both would have been drowned, for the
suction, which is very strong the whole length
of the boom, was doubly so here, as I found
by this experience. They would have been
swept by it into the fish-pass eddies, and
against the rocks there by the rolling, tum-
bling, eddying billows. It was some time
before they gathered confidence sufficient to
complete the crossing. In the mean time I
ran up on the bank and obtained the assistance
of two men off the road, which materially
assisted me by getting a second plank for the

SAVED ! 163

ladies to walk up on. Mrs, C. exhibited
3, very different spirit from her lord, as she
specially requested that nothing should be
said about the occurrence that their men
could hear, until the afternoon's fishing was
over. There was a short direct road to Fair-
view Hotel, at which they were stopping, and
thither I directed them, so that they could
reach it without being exposed to the public
eye. Their gratitude knew no bounds. It is
fifteen years since this occurred, and the very
recalling of it at this distant day makes me
shudder. When I grasped after Mrs. C. my
rod was in one hand and the salmon in the
other, but what became of them I know not,
nor had I thought of them until those men
arrived on the scene. The rod I found
resting with a butt in a link of the boom-
chain, with the tip on an old log, safe and
sound. But the salmon was never seen again.
As this was all the excitement wanted for one
afternoon, I left my rod at Lew's, and sought
repose in the tent. This ended scene the
second.

The next morning we were all on the ground
— S. and F. occupying the pool of the day

1 64 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

before. As the officers could only procure
two boats, and very indifferent guides, S.,
generous soul that he was, gave Captain C.
his boat and guide, with the pool which he
could claim by possession, and until six of
that afternoon, paying himself for the boat
and guide, the understanding being that the
captain would hand her back then. In the
mean time he took the cook from the tent, and
went several miles up the river, exploring
the pools there. At the appointed hour we
came for the boat, and it was handed over.
By the aid of the guide the officers had
hold of three fish and lost them all, proving,
as we all concluded before, that they were
novices at the business. F. had captured two
during the day, and I got one off the shore,
opposite the tent.

Now, my reader would naturally suppose
that any man, let alone one claiming to be a
fisherman, who had been so generously treated,
would have been satisfied, and have left the
pool to S. that day at least unmolested. Did
he? Not so, but went off to that same
rocky shoal of the day before, and repeated
his programme. This is mentioned here that

AN IGNORAMUS 165

you may the better understand what kind of
men — no, not men, but " fellahs " — some of
them were, so that what is related farther on
may be the better understood by you. It
must be readily seen that such actions were
not tending to gender the friendly feelings
which should exist among sportsmen. He
hesitated not to tell S. that he was determined
to have that particular pool the next day, let
what might happen. F.'s or Lew's boat was
landed every night on the shore of the pool,
so that the pool could be occupied with little
effort or commotion. To carry into effect his
declaration, he secured one of the other officer's
boats, had it poled up to and on the head of
the pool, remaining in it alone all night.
When daylight came, instead of holding the
ground with his boat, which was the only way
it could be done, the ignoramus of fishing laws
poled his out of and away from it 50 yards or
more, leaving it open for anybody else.

At this juncture, F. and Lew, who had been
resting at the latter' s house, put in an appear-
ance, intending and expecting to go to a
lower pool, but finding the old one unoccupied,
pushed off their boat, anchored and began

1 66 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

fishing. Shortly after the captain's guide
came, when they dropped their boat down
against F.'s, and he began fishing also, throw-
ing his line wherever F. did. Eight here permit
me to say that if the officer's boat had been
occupying the pool when F. went down the
shore to his boat, it would have been his by
occupation. As he was not, however, his
absence cancelled any prior claim, even had
he been in possession a week before vacating
it. The moment he moved outside the limits
of the pool, that moment he forfeited his
claim. My readers, experienced fishermen, I
am positive, will endorse the view as being the
recognized law among anglers. It becomes
necessary here, for explicitness, to introduce
some other characters in the shape of " order-
lies " — private soldiers — in this case the
officers' servants, mainly employed in looking
after their horses. The other men, the major
and captain, with these servants, were at the
hotel over night, and at this particular stage
in the morning's fun, the last three appeared
on the bank, the latter moving down to the
shore nearest the boats.

That morning I was early at the mill-side,

A DANGEROUS MANCEUVRE 167

fishing the pool out of which my capture came
the previous afternoon. Seeing that trouble
was brewing, and lively times might be the
result, I reeled up my line and crossed over.
The bank opposite the boats, and where the
officers stood, was very abrupt, the ground
10 feet from the river, being 20 or more
feet above it. When Captain 0. noticed his
companions at hand, he cut the mooring of
F.'s boat, necessitating his guide Lew poling
her to the shore. As she landed, an orderly
at the edge seized his pole, and pushed her
again into the stream. Fortunately, there
was a spare pole, with which she was checked.
That was a dangerous manoeuvre for that man,
as when old giant Lew took up that second
one, all the buried ugly of the Indian stood
out in bold relief, when he said, " D — n you !
Touch this, if you dare, and it will go through
you I Kemember ! " Fred, noticing this, and
knowing the terrible temper of his guide when
aroused, had his boat moved across to the
mill breastwork. In the mean time S. and
his guide, who were fishing a lower pool, see-
ing unusual commotion in F.'s neighbourhood,
had gone there also. As soon as F. left the

1 68 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

disputed ground and crossed over, the cap-
tain's boat came ashore, and took the second
one off. When this was done, and done with
such an exhibition of delight, the ugly in my
composition became roused, and considering
them interlopers, I hurled a good-sized stone
into the pool, concluding it would be some
time before a salmon would be seen there.
They evidently thought so too, for they at
once came to the shore, and marched straight
up to me. A moment or two before the major
came on the scene, and was talking to me,
when the captain thus accosted me —

" Did you throw that stone into the pool ? "

"Yes."

" Thanks."

" Oh, you are entirely welcome to that one."

At that reply he seized my rod, and I as
quickly seized him by the throat, and thus
addressed him : " Don't think, sir, because
you are an officer, you can do as you please
with Nova Scotians, for you will be greatly
mistaken with this crowd. I have always
been taught to think of army officers as
gentlemen, but have found at least two that
are not. Give up that rod at once, or take

TO HAVE IT OUT 169

the punishment ; " and I stood with my right
drawn d la Jeffries, ready to follow the word
by the deed. Eight here the gentlemanly
major stepped between us, took the rod from
him, and passed it to me, with the remark,
" Captain, this is most disgraceful." My as-
sailant showed his approval of my defending
myself by the remark, " At any rate, you are a
plucky old fellow," as he had reason a little
later on to substantiate. Thus ended scene
three.

The major entered into conversation with
me, while the captains mustered their servants,
and, after a short consultation, started for the
boom to cross to the mill-side, where S. and
F. and their guides still were. When they
had reached the fish-pass, three of them con-
tinued crossing, while Captain C. returned to
the major, accosting him thus : " Major, we
are going over to fight this out with these
fellahs, and want you to come over." " No,
no ! Captain C., don't be so foolish. You are
disgracing your rank. Let the thing drop
here." " No, we are going to have it out." So
off he started again. Now, I concluded, if
there was to be a skirmish, the boys were not

i;o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

going to fight those burly Englishmen alone.
I would have a hand in it somewhere, so by
the time he was on the boom this reciter was
there too, and we landed in the mill yard
together. Without any prevarication, and as
if all planned, the four of them seized S., the
orderlies holding him by the shoulders, while
the officers grabbed his gaff, which he was
holding, and attempted to wrest it from him
and did so — throwing it into the river. Now,
four on one is rather unfair fighting ; so an
opening came for me. So soon as they took
hold of him, up went the butt of my gaff, no
mean stick, and hard wood at that, and down
it came on the head and arm of one Mr.
Orderly, placing him hors de combat. Then
they left S. and made at me, seizing my gaff,
which caused a desperate encounter, in which
the handle was broken, but not till our
pugilistic captain had the marks of it fastened
in his hands.

Things were getting lively and well mixed.

They were determined to have that gaff,
and its owner was just as much so the other
way. My boxing lessons came nicely into
play just here, and straight away from my

NO TEMPER, BUT FULL OF FIGHT 171

right shoulder, a la Corbett, hooked on the
jaw, and made the claret appear lively. Then
they pressed me so closely that, seeing danger
for me so imminent, I concluded discretion
the better part of valour, and down I went on
the sawdust on all-fours, still clinging to my
broken gaff. In this position I knew they
could not injure rne very much, if they did
not use their feet.

While in this position Captain C. was
working around, trying to get a return rap
at me, and in doing so brought his great
muscular calf close by me. In all this fray
there was no temper on my part, only I was
full of fight, so, with a nice target within
reach, and so inviting, I took a pin out of
my coat, and gave him a prod. Great Scot !
what a jump ! He never took such a stride
before in so short a time, I'll guarantee. Well,
before he had time to ascertain what hurt
him, eight or ten mill hands came rushing to
my assistance, and raised me to my feet.
What was that puffing and blowing off to my
right? What was it? do you ask. It was
F. pummelling that other orderly, whom he
had pulled off me a few minutes before. The

172 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

squall had passed over, and, like so many cats,
they stood looking at each other. Just then
the major, walking over at his leisure, appeared
on the scene, and viewed the disgruntled
crowd. I don't know whether the combatants
looked as if they had lost all their friends, but
their appearance evidently affected the major
in that way, as his face became as long as the
moral law. If it was fighting our braves
were after, they had been satisfied, and
carried, or at least some of them did, suffi-
cient scars to remember the battle by until
they would reach home. Thus ended scene
four.

The major was chosen by his companions
as peace representative, and S. by F. and
myself. At first the major was disposed to
censure our party for the trouble, judging by
the statements made to him by the captain.
After hearing our version, he saw that it had
been misrepresented by them, and that the
fault lay with them in thinking that Nova
Scotia regulations and Nova Scotians were
like the fishing laws and some people in the
old country, so that when they came to a
stream, and said, " Move off! " they expected

AN APOLOGY 173

us to do it, but we did not and would not.
Then, to strengthen his sympathy with them,
and make them the fiercer against us, they
represented to him that F. said they had
no business on the pools, when what he
really did say was, "You," referring to C.
the first afternoon when he had his boat
poled through F.'s pool, between his boat
and fly, " have no business there." Until this
the major, who was a fisherman, did not
know that Captain C. had been guilty of such
a mean act.

Sundry other explanations were made,
which cleared the way for an assembling
of us outside the immediate limits of the
battle-ground. Then the major made an
apology for his friends, requesting us to over-
look what had been annoying, attributing it
to the ignorance of local customs, they having
only been a month or so out here. Here we
buried the hatchet, and shook hands heartily,
and were always afterwards good friends.
Thus ended scene five.

When we understood they planned to go the
following day on the Greenfield, the salmon
head water on the Medway, for a few days'

174 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

longer fishing, we placed all our boats and
guides at their disposal for the day, which
were received in the same friendly spirit as
proffered. We shall close scene six by direct-
ing attention to our boats on the pools occu-
pied by the officers, with an additional view of
the major, with his rod bent, fighting a wild
scamp which he had just hooked, and which
he captured that day. Several others were
hooked, but they handled them too roughly,
and lost them.

It is due to Captain C. to tell my readers,
before closing this adventure, that he thanked
me most heartily, before we separated, for
rescuing his lady from drowning. These
officers visited the La Have several times
after, but in such a way as to be welcomed,
and our boats to be placed at their service.
We closed our week's outing with nineteen
salmon, and must have had as many more
hooked that were lost. Such fishing, I fear,
will never be witnessed on the stream again,
as they get no protection from officials now,
and the prowlers seemed determined to scoop
in all.

CHAPTBE XI.

GOOSE-SHOOTINa AT DERBY ISLAND, FOX HAR-
BOUR, ON THE NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT,
NOVA SCOTIA.

THIS strait lies between Prince Edward Island
and Nova Scotia North, and extends far up
into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The harbours
on each of its shores are numerous, and many
of them in deep indentures, varying from three
to five miles. Among these may be named
Wallace, Pugwash, and Pictou. The tide
ebbs and flows rapidly, with considerable rise
and fall, so that at low water there are great
clam-flats, the feeding-ground of immense
flocks of ducks, brant and Canadian geese, in
the spring and autumn, on their migration
from their southern to their northern home,
and vice versd. The larger geese arrive in
March and April, the season making a

176 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

difference of a few days; and the length of
stay depends also on the weather. In the
open season the brants begin to appear the
first week in April, and remain well into May,
when they become so fat they don't care to
fly much. In the autumn they come on the
scene, both brants and geese, in September, the
former leaving in November, and the latter,
if the weather is at all open, tarrying until
about the 20th of December, then taking up
winter quarters in the harbours and flats on
the North Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia.
These harbours have always been great shoot-
ing-grounds, but have only in recent years
been the resort of outside gunners. On some
of the islands in the harbour buildings have
been erected, and all the appliances in the
way of boats, decoys, duck-punts, tubs, ice-
boats, procured, so that, thus equipped, visitors
generally have excellent sport in a week or ten
days7 outing.

To add to the attractiveness of such a
course, all the oysters and clams requisite to
satisfy the most ravenous appetite can be
procured within a few yards of the houses on
the flats.

ON DERRY ISLAND 177

The 4th of April, 18 — , by invitation, found
me on Derry Island, at Fox Harbour, 4| miles
from Wallace town, for a ten-days' outing.
When we reached the latter place, the sea ice
was so very firm that we went in a sleigh out
to and into the above island — a thing quite
unprecedented at that time of year. It was
dusk when we reached the house, and I must
confess, when our surroundings were viewed
the next morning, the prospects for very extra
good shooting were remote, for, apart from a
few hundred acres of water, where Wallace
and Fox Harbours met, the whole horizon in
the direction of the sea was an extended body
of ice. Nothing daunted, however, we were
determined to know, and to know that day,
if there had been any immigrants to that
open spot.

You have no doubt noticed, reader, if a
close observer in sport, that migratory birds
come and go about the same time every year,
irrespective of weather. My companion S.,
with his boatman, rigged themselves up in
an entirely white dress, and started to their
ice-boat on a small sled for that — pool shall
I call it ? — on a mission purely of investigation.

N

178 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

This was then fully two miles distant. While
they were thus engaged, your humble servant,
with his boatman, prepared their ice-boat
for service. To help you who have never
seen a boat of the above kind, to better
understand the nature of it, as we shall
have to talk about it a great deal, I shall
spend a part of the time of their absence in
explaining its make-up and get-up. The
intention is to have the boat resemble as
closely as possible a floating ice-cake, and the
nearer it can be made to approach that, the
more successful the occupants will be. They
range from 9 to 11 feet in length, accord-
ing as they are intended for one or two
parties, and are 6 feet wide. The bottom of
the main part is much the shape of a fishing-
dory, but much lower on the side. The
bow is boarded or canvassed some 2| or 3 feet
from the stern, the latter not being over
9 inches high. Then there is a cock-pit,
formed by the washboard extending from
the covered bow to the stern, and it is in
this pit the gunners lie. A bend is necessary
on the edge of the closed-in bow to hold on
small ice-cakes, put there the more strongly

THE ICE-BOAT 179

to represent the natural cake. The wash-
boards are utilized in the same way, besides
being a protection against the washing water.
These boats are propelled by paddles, inde-
pendent of each other, so that the boat can
be steered and turned in a short space. The
paddles are enclosed or encased in a projec-
tion starting some two feet from the bow,
forming a part of the bow, so as not to cause
dead or drag water. They are entirely out
of sight. The man providing the stern with
elbow-grease sits on a box or bag of straw
between the handles of the paddles, so low
down that nothing can be seen of him,
but he has a peeking-place in front of him,
while the regular gunner has a seat near the
stern, also out of sight when approaching
head on.

The bottom of the boat has to be consider-
ably rounded, so that it will [turn easily. It
is not necessary to say there must be a bluish
white, like snow ice, which clamper ice mostly
is. As they draw little water, and conse-
quently take small hold of it, they are poor
craft to go to windward, when tides and
winds are contrary. When starting on a new

i8o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

cruise the covered-in bow is filled with little
ice-cakes if they can be got, if not, by snow,
the one or other to relieve the boat of woody
appearance. When the clamper ice enters
the harbours with the flood tide, as it does
when they are open, then the geese and
brants feed around them on the particles of
eel-grass they (the clampers) have started
from the bottom when aground at low
water. The birds thus busily engaged, the
ice-boat can readily be paddled up within
shot.

Did you hear those four guns a little ago ?
I did, and the boys must have found some
game. After half an hour or so, bang went
the guns again. Only three this time. Hardly
had we noticed, when bang went the fourth.
The tide is coming, and they will soon have
to return, so we — that is, my boatman and
myself — were becoming very anxious to find
out what all that firing resulted in. Well,
patience had its perfect work, and after a
while we saw them in the distance dragging
the sledge, which was almost a sure indication
of some game. As they came nearer, we could
not stand the pressure of suspense, so went to

THE GOOSE THAT WAS 181

meet them, and our eyes were gladdened with
the sight of three geese and three brants, with
very encouraging reports of future prospects.
The balance of that day was spent in prepara-
tions for the next.

Not being anxious for an accumulation of
game in the early part of the cruise, John,
our boatman and an A 1 cook, decided to
tempt our appetite at tea with a goose stew.
It was done up in most savoury style, and we
all got ravenous long before our hunger could
be satisfied. I need not tell you, reader, how
one's appetite grows on a cruise of this kind.
Not even six meals a day, with dough-nuts
between times, seem to stop the craving.
Well, when the meal was over, that goose
that was, was not there.

The next morning found us ready for
business as early as it was pleasant to face
the frosty wind, and with our ice-boat (Daisy)
on the sled, we started off together for the
open water. Once at its edge, our glasses
exposed to longing eyes several bunches of
birds — geese, brants, and ducks — located all
over the opening. As there was no floating ice,
the birds, especially the geese, fought shy of

i82 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

us, so that it was difficult to get a handy shot.
However, by allowing my boat to drift, while
S. was trying to approach them, a fine bunch
sagged near enough to me to open fire, and I
did so, laying out two on the first shot, and
tumbling one on the second with my No. 8.
Well, my boatman tried on his No. 10, both
barrels, without bringing any down, but one
left the flock and settled to leeward.
" Havers ! " cried S., " for getting you that
shot." That is, on the principle of one fellow
driving and the other fellow shooting. " Sup-
pose you take a turn now." " All right, after
we get the one that settled to leeward." As
we paddled toward him, he swam from us, and
the main flock rose and circled toward S.,
starting two other flocks as they went. By
George ! Well, I believe that other flock is
going to range close enough to S. There
they go ; they are close enough now, and will
get a salute soon. Now they have spied the
boat, and are turning to get away. Old
fellows, you'll catch it now ! Up go their two
guns : four barrels levelled on them. There
they go, " Bang ! " down came two. " Bang! "
nothing, "Bang!" one leaves. "Bang!"

PLENTY OF WINDAGE 183

another leaves. That first one acts funny : look
at him. He is going up in the heavens. See
him circle — still going up, and yet going up,
until now he is so high and still going, until
he looks no larger than a pigeon. That lad
must be struck in the head. Look ! look !
He is circling still, but is coming down. See !
He fell a lot then. He's pretty sick. Watch
him ! He takes a big swerve now. There !
there ! there ! there he goes, head first, then
end over end, flop in the water, stone dead.
Well done ! While these antics were being
watched, the other wounded one bore away to
leeward towards my boat, but lit 100 yards
short. When watching him, our own wounded
one we had gone for was near by.

After being disappointed several times by
bunches circling short of us, four came along
that the wounded one saw and spoke to.
His "houk!" settled the business, and they
were coming straight for our beam. " Look
out, Will ! Give these chaps plenty of
windage. Now is our time. I'll take the
two leaders, and you the last ones. Give
it to them!" "Bang I" mine: one short,
one hurt. "Bang!" Will's: one down.

184 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

"Bang!" missed stern shot the last fellow.
"Bang ! " goes my second No. 8, far enough
ahead that time, for down he came. Three
down, and were picked up. See that fellow
I struck — that second fellow in the flock?
He's going out to the ice. There he
settled out on the G-ulf ice. " Will, do you
see that immense body of birds outside,
circling over the ice? They are brants, as
sure as you live ! Have just arrived. We
will see you to-morrow, old fellows ! " The
tide was beginning to come, and the birds
had mostly been driven from the water out
on to the ice. Mr. Appetite was rushing in
for the island, so we headed him and left the
game to fatten ; but prior to doing so, shot
our decoy-goose, as also the wounded one
that came down to us from S.

We noticed the open water was enlarged
rapidly, and the ice rotting fast, as the sun
and wind the past two days were very warm,
so that while we had had uncommon success
the two days on the ground, yet we were
convinced there was still sport ahead. Our
eleven birds loaded the sled, and made a
beautiful picture for us so early in the outing.

HILL SPORT AHEAD 185

We walked along to the island as spry of foot
as if we were going for a dance. Our house-
keeper came from the main just as we were
leaving in the morning, so that when the
door was open the air was so fragrant with
savoury fumes from roast brant it was almost
impossible to control our appetites to get
ready for the table. Now, my readers, come
right in, and partake with us. There is
plenty. Three large brants. Now, do come,
and delight all hands of us. Did you hear
what the cook said then — " Save your appe-
tites for some of this plum-pudding " ? Now,
don't stay back with the idea there is not
enough for us and you. Just hear that S.
and John on that side of the table groaning.
I knew they would, if they kept up the pace
they started in at ; but S. says he was
sighing because he had to let up on goose for
that pudding. You may believe that explana-
tion if you like. I won't. I know them too
well. We had enough movability left to set
back from the table, smoke a cigar, and leave
for the Land of Nod for the space of two
hours. When we returned, John and Will,
who returned sooner, had the geese drawn,

i86 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

peppered, and charcoaled for preservation,
and hung up in the game-house.

This method of preserving game and keep-
ing it sweet for two or three weeks, is much
the best I know. I have found them as nice
after being shot seventeen days as when first
shot. When we awoke, we were surprised to
find the whole face of the heavens changed.
In the early part it was so calm and bright
we feared it was the inevitable weather-
breeder, and such it was likely to be, and
was, for the cloudless sky had given place to
a downcast — a threatening — one, with the
wind blowing heavily from the stormy easterly
quarter. This rather pleased us, as we knew
it needed such to break up the ice, open the
harbours, start the drift-ice, uncover the
oyster and clam beds, and thus enlarge
the scope of our operations. That night at
twelve it was blowing a fierce gale, accom-
panied ^with snow, which shortly turned to
rain; and then it poured, keeping it up
during the day until too late to go to the
feeding-grounds. But we received lots of
pleasure that day as we watched a channel
opening in Fox Harbour on the ebb tide, as

MAKING A BLIND 187

also the wearing away of the ice adjoining
the open water. The channel referred to
above was scarcely opened when a flock of
geese were seen winging their way from the
outside ice towards it, and alighting there
to feed. This brought up the necessity of
making a blind on the ice in their course of
flight from the outside water to the channel ;
so that afternoon, about halfway between
these two feeding-grounds, a breastwork of
ice-cakes and snow was built, the floor on the
ice being spruce boughs. So far as this went,
so good, but left thus, not a goose would come
within range, so we took there fifteen decoy-
geese, and twelve decoy-brants, which were
placed within range of the blind, always to
the windward on the ice. Then, not expecting
any birds, we went back to the house, which
we had scarcely reached when seven geese
came flying in from outside, as if on a scout-
ing mission, passed directly over the blind —
circled — lowered — circled — lit.

See them on the ice, close to the decoys,
heads and necks up, as if trying to make out
to which branch of the goose family they
claimed relationship — certainly not to a very

i88 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

noisy one. The old gander travelled around
amongst them, but, apparently becoming
disgusted with the want of friendliness dis-
played, moved back to his own. Oh, what
a chance was there then ! for they all moved
together. We could have tumbled over three
or four; but they were there, and we here.
After a few minutes they started up again,
and went up to the flock in the channel,
where they were originally bound. The next
morning we were up betimes, and were
delighted with the appearance of the enlarged
operating-field. The outside water was a
mile square at least, and the channel up by
the island 200 yards by 15 yards. Our opera-
glasses disclosed greatly increased quantities
of game on the harbour, with nine blue-wings
down by the ice-blind, among the brants.
We decided to go out in the ice-boats
in the forenoon, more with the view of
ascertaining about the game, though with
no expectancy of getting any, as without
drift-ice it was difficult to approach very near,
and, with the ordinary goose-punt, it was
useless to attempt it. We therefore started
out with little hope, but found large numbers

AWAITING DEVELOPMENTS 189

of brants had arrived during the past two
days, and were sitting all over Wallace
Harbour, which the open water embraced.
When we saw that, our hopes rose of
having at least a shot. The tide was ebbing,
and the inner feeding-grounds were bearing
fast.

Just see the geese on that outside bar.
My ! my ! Wish we could get there. S.
spied them, and started in their direction.
Hundreds of them are beginning to feed on
that spot. " Will, suppose we try to get
upon them ? " So we started also. Now,
S. had quite a lead, 100 yards or more, so I
saw the most hopeful chance would be to
work off to the eastward of S., and endeavour
to get between them and the ice, being con-
vinced that, if the birds rose and did not
settle again when pressed by S., they would
leave for the Gulf ice for safety and rest. So
Will pushed on Daisy at a rapid rate, making
great headway with the tide. Now we were
fairly well placed, and we put over our little
anchor, and awaited developments. As S.
approached nearer and nearer, the geese kept
walking towards the land, into a wide deep

1 9o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

cove. He kept pressing them, but they
would not let him get near enough for a
shot. At last they began to mistrust,
stopped feeding, did not like the look of
that ice-cake.

Now, it has been my experience, in hunting
geese and brant, that it is wise not to press
them with the boat when they are swimming
from you. Let them see that they can get
away from the thing following, then, when
they slacken, get upon them quickly, slowing
down the boat again when they move off;
generally, the third time, you can approach
near enough to fire before they try to escape.
As I found they had shifted position so much
after we anchored, we raised it, and got more
in direct line to the outside ice. " Will, it
begins to look as if S. and John will get a
chance at them. They are less than 100
yards off now, and the boat is to windward,
and they must rise in that direction. " The
prospects were brightening, and they made
me tremble with excitement. If no false
move is made now, they will get an awakening
soon. " Will ! S. is going to fire." He has
his gun levelled, and they are standing with

AIM WELL AHEAD 191

heads erect, ready to jump. " Bang ! " goes
S.'s No. 8. They jump towards the boat,
when, "Bang ! bang ! bang ! " They were tum-
bling in every direction, but, for the moment,
my own work was cut out. "Don't move,
Will, for your life ! Get both barrels ready.
They are coming directly for us, about 20
yards up. Don't move till you get the word
from me, then act quickly." So, when the
head ones were abreast of our boat, and a
little back, I called out — " Now, Will ! give it
to them. Aim well ahead." When that shout
was made, and the guns thrown up, that
hitherto harmless ice-cake became suddenly
transformed into veritable gunners on murder
bent, and that flock of geese was more sur-
prised than when S. woke them up. " Will,
keep your eyes on the flock as they go to the
ice. There may be more fall." We have
down, six; four of them dead, two winged,
and they are working off. " Mr. P., there goes
another fellow, and, by George ! there has
another one left the flock, with his wings set,
going off towards the westward. Great Scot !
he is down, too. I know he fell dead, the
way he tumbled. Load up again, quick, with

192 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

No. 1, and I'll use No. 2, and let us get after
those two winged ones, or we'll lose them."
Will soon started her, and we began to gain
on the nearest one. " The other chap is
going off at right angles. Now, Will, try your
No. 10 on him. Bang ! he's under, don't
think you touched him. Give him the other
as soon as he shows above. Bang ! There he
lies, with his wings spread. Now for the
other ! load up, and we are after him. He
knows it too, and it is no mean race. What
is the matter with him ? He is not larger
than a teal. Well ! well ! well ! did you ever
see the equal of that ? "

This fellow had actually weighted his body
— a power that geese and some ducks have,
when closely pursued, and can by this keep
their bodies invisible under water, with their
beaks just above. " Get up near, Will, and
I'll blow him from underwater with my No. 8
blunderbuss." So when we were within 6 or
8 yards of his bill, or beak, I spied it moving
along quite fast, so pulled on it. The volume
of that shot was so great from my No. 8 that I
actually killed him under water. Then we re-
turned, and picked up the four that fell short.

WHITE DAISY 193

S. had several down, and was chasing some
wounded ones, when we started after the two
seen to fall out towards the ice. The wind
and the tide were in our favour going for them,
and they were soon in the boat, as we found
them dead. But now, friends, the wind and
tide combined say, " Get back."

Will worked and pumped. Sometimes we
gained a little, and oftener didn't. When he
caved in I took his place, and pumped those
paddles, till the sap was nearly gone. Then
we anchored awhile, and looked in scorn at
those two birds that were working so hard.
Anchor is up again, and those ponderous
wheels are revolving with a swiftness and
power approaching those of a Cunarder.
White Daisy is forging ahead, and more out
of the tide. Then we got hopeful, and, after
a time, came to anchorage near S., who had
been watching our struggle back. " How
many have you, S. and John ? Half a dozen?"
" Well, I guess. " " I don't believe it." "Well,
you may, for we have." " For we have what ? "
" Why, if you must know, six." "I don't
believe it yet." " Well, then, count. There's
one — there's two — there's three." I noticed,

o

194 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

when lifted, that one had a peculiar blood-
mark about his head. " Now, there's four ;
then there's five." " Well done ! " " And
there's six." " Ah! no, you don't ! that last one
you counted as No. 3. You have only got five.
Be honest." "Let us come alongside your
boat, and see if yours are as fine as ours."
Very suddenly they concluded it was time for
a shot at brant, as there were several flocks in
the opening, As he was starting, he asked,
"How many did you get ?" "Six !" "Ah, but
we know you got more than that. We know
we saw you get six ourselves, and we know
you got more." So we had to tell them we had
eight. " You just played that same ' get to
leeward ' game you did on the first day, when
you captured the best shot." " Well, you
know, it is nice to experiment on people that
know it all. Now, if you want to go chase
brants away to leeward, to paddle back against
this tide and wind, do so. You will find it
very interesting, as well as muscle and appe-
tite making, the latter of which neither of
you chaps want an increase of. We have
had all of it necessary to satisfy us for one
day at least, and we shall return to the

A BIG CLAM HASH 195

island/' So with our experience, so freely
related, they decided prudence in this case
should be the better part of valour, and so
gave up the hunt for the day — in that
form.

On our way up over theice with the sled-
load of geese, we noticed three rise up from
the decoys at the blind, and go up Fox
Harbour to the channel. Seeing that, S.
decided he was going to spend a couple of
hours in that blind towards sundown, to try
for a shot. The cook, in expectation of our
arrival, had a most attractive meal ready for
us. I don't believe you could guess, as the
boys say, in six guesses. He was an old
stager about Derry Island, and knew just
where to go for clams, so he had taken his
axe to cut the ice, and his hoe for the clams,
and thus secured ample for a big clam hash
made up of fat pork, onions, clams, bread-
crumbs, and a number of etceteras, that helped
to make it a most enjoyable dish. Don't think
this was all. We weren't living on starvation
rations. Don't you get that idea. We went
there to live like fighting cocks, and you
might have been there too, right now ; but a

196 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

reader who would not accept the hospitality
of a dinner of roast brant must not expect
a repeated invitation to clam hash and buck-
wheat pancakes soaked in maple syrup.
Why, the remembrance of such a delicacy
lingers with me so long that I have to fight
my lips at this writing to prevent them
smacking together. Don't you wish for a
plate of clams just now ? Wait a day longer,
and we'll invite you to oysters. Cook says
he knows the spot for them. There was a
little too heavy ice to-day. They are such
nice, fat, tender little fellows, one has just to
open his mouth and they move right along.
They are just so delicious, the inclination to
keep them moving can't be resisted.

This is the spot for an outing for a worn-out,
dragged-down, no-appetite, nervous, crotchety,
cranky individual. A fortnight here, if he
has an inclination andl knows how to use a
gun, with all the make-up, on such a cruise
would transform him almost into an angel of
light. When the island was reached, a couple
of S.'s friends from Wallace were there to see
him, interested in his success. These, of
course, opened their eyes as our pile of birds

THE GREETING OF THE GEESE 197

loomed up on the sled, and they grew larger
when allowed to look in the game-closet. A
lot of Canadian geese, such as we had hanging
there after this day's success, presented a sight
pretty enough for a picture. They partook of
our clam feast and pancakes, leaving Derry
Island with a flattering report to make of our
success at so early a stage in the outing.

The following morning we decided to divide
our forces somewhat, by Will going out alone
in the Daisy, leaving me to look after the ice-
blind, while S. and John went in their boat.
When the ebb tide answered, they started for
their boats and the open water, while I par-
took myself to the blind, not reaching it any
too soon, for scarcely was I under cover when
my ears were greeted with a good morning
"houk ! " from two geese flying directly for
the decoys, but very high. They were invited
to draw nearer by a responsive " houk ! " from
that prostrate gander behind the cover, which
they could not resist, so they swerved from
their course up harbour, made a circle, drop-
ping 40 yards, and have spread their wings to
light amongst those outside decoys ; but they
did not do it, for No. 8 with a bang sent one

198 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

kicking, and the next bang tumbled his com-
panion. " What a shame to kill them both ! "
I hear my tender-hearted reader say. But
this warm-hearted old sportsman replies, " It
would have been cruel to leave one to wander
alone, so he didn't." No. 8 is ready again.
My attention is aroused by what sounded like
a gun. I listen, when a bang salutes me,
followed in a moment with "bang," a pause,
" bang." Then looking in the direction of the
water, I saw large flocks of both geese and
brants on the wing, some of them going to the
Gulf ice, more of them circling over and settling
on the feeding-ground ; while coming towards
me on the way to the channel are three small
flocks. The leading flock was very high, the
others lower, but not in direct range. They
spy the decoys, and are making towards them.
" Houk ! hawouk ! " comes the signal ;
" Hawouk ! " goes the answer. They swerve
towards me, but suddenly check themselves,
and continue up the harbour. What occa-
sioned that unexpected change ? Those two
dead geese lying on the bottom of the blind.
I cannot say, reader, " I was very sorry; " for
even when gunning there is a little streak of

THE OLD GANDER SPEAKS 199

tenderness left in my composition, which the
appearance of eight inquisitive blue-wings that
dared to come to inspect my shams completely
buried out of sight, five of them paying the
penalty of that rashness. " Bang ! bang !
bang ! " " Well done, boys ! You are into the
fun too." " Bang ! bang ! " " Hurrah, Will !
Well done, boys!" That must be you. Geese,
brants, and ducks in great quantities are on
the wing. Most of them, disliking the music,
are off to the ice ; but there is a flock of geese
coming in over the dyke between Oak Island
and the main, that have not been in the
racket.

They have just come down the strait, and
are seeking feeding-ground. My call went
after them, and they are coming directly for
me. The old gander speaks, and is answered.
Speaks again — still coming. Don't think that
anyone is nervous around that blind just now,
but there's a shaking from some cause. See
them ! See them ! See them ! Their wings
are set, and they are going to light. They
are down in the midst of the decoys. That
old gander's head reaches up to the clouds,
taking in the situation, as much as to say, as

200 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

he begins strutting, " What kind of a scrape
have we got into ? " The more he investigated,
the less he seemed to be satisfied. He would
have been much less so had he seen two No.
8 barrels pointing at him. Now he walks to
the others, apparently for consultation. Poor
fellows ! Must I break it up ? Just then that
kind streak of mine cropped up again, the
outcome of which was that, as they must be
very tired, charity required me to shoot them,
and shoot them I did, four of them not know-
ing what happened, the two other starting up
for the channel opening, got safely away, as I
supposed, through the left barrel snapping.

The cook found a goose on the ice opposite
the house that evening, which must have been
one of them. As these were gathered up and
spread out on the ice with the others, the
sight satisfied me. The boys wouldn't have
much of a laugh on the old man, nor did they ;
for when they came along at noon, I went out
to meet them. You can imagine they were
very inquisitive as to my luck, and they found
me equally communicative, of course, to satisfy
their curiosity. Their luck was offset by one
gander and three black ducks. The help of

SPINNING YARNS 201

the sled had to be procured to carry mine to
the island, so we went off to the blind.
" Great Scot ! " was the first salute. Harry
Weasel followed it : " You've fooled us nicely ! "
S. said, " I thought you were fooling us all
the time. I felt those shot brought you more
game than you admitted. Never mind, boys,
we'll get even with him yet." The ice was
melting fast and breaking up, and another
storm was at hand. We were all tired when
the game was lying on the platform at the
house, and cook said, " You are just in time.
The goose and duck are done, and all get
ready for dinner." He did not have to say
that twice, nor coax us to be seated at the
table. We even allowed him, in our thought-
fulness, to do the carving, while we attempted
to overtake our growing appetites, and hold
them in chec'k for the plum-pudding that was
to follow. We whiled away the time that
afternoon cleaning the guns, loading cartridges,
spinning yarns, and playing forty-fives. The
next morning ushered in a big wind and rain
storm, which brought into the open basin large
quantities of drift ice, or broken ice out of the
strait, amongst which were heavy clampers

202 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

that grounded in the harbour before the tide
was half down, thus affording splendid shelter
as blinds for geese and brants on their flight to
the feeding-grounds.

During the next three days we had variable
success. On Wednesday of the following week
information came to us from the strait shore,
that during a heavy wind on the day before
thousands of grey geese had come down the
gulf before it, while all the harbours where the
geese on flight scattered themselves usually
in the spring, were still closed. We therefore
expected, as Wallace and Fox Harbours (ad-
joining) were the only waters where they
could feed, that we would be kept busy that
(Wednesday) afternoon. So at one o'clock we
were on the move, quick march, for Brant
Point, a mile from the house, where our ice-
boats were awaiting us.

From a knoll with our glasses we surveyed
the solid ice outside. What a sight greeted
us ! Acres of geese here, there, and every-
where, were resting, sleeping — solid black
masses, so we knew that as soon as the flats
began to bear, they would be on the move. The
wind was blowing heavily down the bay, and

AN EXCITING SIGHT 203

the ebb-tide running in the same direction, so
we all decided not to attempt to go after birds
falling over 100 yards to leeward, but to leave
any that thus fell to two lobster sailing-boats
that had come out from the eastern shore to
pick up. S. and John placed their boat first
to windward of a clamper, on which there was
a sort of cove that nicely concealed them.
There they anchored, as it was in line
with some of the best feeding- ground. Will
and I found another, grounded about 200
yards to leeward of S. and anchored the
Daisy.

From these two positions we had an ex-
cellent view of the ice as well as the geese,
and could see every flock as it started. The
tide had ebbed a couple of feet when we saw
the first flock of thirty rise from the ice, head
the wind and make toward the feeding-ground,
which brought them within easy range of S.
and John. What a pretty, exciting sight ! S.
and John are concealed, ready for action.
They are now nicely within shot, labouring
along against that heavy wind, entirely un-
conscious of what is awaiting them. The
head of the flock has passed a little, when up

204 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

rise the boys, and up go the guns. While we
were quivering with the excitement of the
scene, the old gander has twigged the move-
ment, and gives the alarm, which broke up the
direct line, making a falling backwards and a
rushing together, when " Bang ! " down they
come. " Bang ! bang ! " they are still falling.
" Bang ! " and yet they come. At this re-
ception they whirled before the wind, circling
to windward of our clamper, which brought
them within our range, but moving like a
streak of light. " Will, take those head fellows ;
give them five or six feet windage. I'll take
the middle. Now give it to them." " Bang !
bang ! bang ! " Well done ! Well done ! S.
hasn't got them all, anyway. There are five
dead, two more fall to leeward, and one scaled.
The five were soon in the boat, and S.
gathered up even more than that. Great
Scot ! Those poor fellows got rough treat-
ment. While we were after those, two other
flocks came along, that, seeing our boats,
turned up the harbour for the channel feeding-
ground. Just look out towards the ice. What
a sight ! Hundreds — I would be justified in
saying thousands — for they were coming in

THOUSANDS OF GEESE 205

flocks from three to fifty, all making for the
feeding-ground.

To say that we were kept busy loading,
shooting, and picking up, only faintly conveys
the excitement in our ice-boats the next
two hours. We got perfectly wild; and
who wouldn't, with any of the "shoot" in
him?

I had seen wonderful exhibitions of game
on the North- West prairies, but the scene
here went far beyond in comparison. When
the flats bared so that the geese could wade,
and the boats, with their heavy cargoes, could
not approach them, they literally gathered by
the thousand, flocks joining them constantly.
These would feed for a while, then, with a
roar like thunder, would rise, circle, still rise,
circle, and still rise, then settle in the same
way, and feed again. What a sight ! What
a sight ! Never did I, although a sportsman
of fifty summers, ever see, or expect to see,
a sight at all approaching to what was before
me. There were all the birds that usually
were gathered in scores of harbours, congre-
gated within the compass of half a mile,
feeding and talking. A "pow-wow" of a

206 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

hundred wild Indians would be entirely cast
in the shade by the " houks ! " of that body of
geese.

The direct flight for that tide being over,
we left them feeding, and started for the
shore. We paddled directly by them ; but
a goose is such a good judge of distance, he
knows, when he can see you, just how close
to let you approach; and so intent were they
on something to eat, that they did not even
raise their heads, with the exception of the
sentinels. By allowing the tide to fall too
low before attempting to land, we had the
privilege of backing thirty-eight geese — that
was the number we picked up — a third of
a mile to the land, also to drag the boats
thither. We had to make three trips with
the sled to remove them to the house. Just
look, with me, at them as they lie on that
platform before being hung in the game-room.
Is not this fellow an old settler? What a
strapper ! and this one ! and that ! In fact,
there are a dozen that have been this way
a number of seasons before. Bouncers, ain't
they? Could it be possible that this great
display of Canadian geese could be captured

A MOST DECEPTIVE BIRD 207

within four hours ? Yet there they were to
decide the matter.

A goose is a most deceptive bird for inex-
perienced gunners to shoot. They are so
large, they are much farther away than they
seem, and their flight much swifter, so that
many a goose escapes the shot sent after it
by unskilful sportsmen. The knowing how
to do it is what makes so large a proportion
of big ganders in that pile. After they were
disposed of in the cold-room, Old Appetite
put in his claim for attention, and that at
once. When we were in the Land of Bedlam,
no one had thought of him ; but he will not
be longer ignored. The savoury smell of
onions from that dish of oysters makes him
ravenous, while the cook's big plate of biscuit,
accompanied by that bowl of dough-nuts,
don't improve his behaviour in the slightest.

Now, reader, you have been looking at our
birds : do come in and join us at tea. There
is plenty and to spare for all hands. By the
time we had finished, it was dark, so we
settled back on our easy-chairs, recounted
some of the exciting scenes of the afternoon,
whiffed our pipes, and finished up with a

208 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

game of euchre. While all this was being
performed, we were edified and exhilarated
by a tune we designated the "' Honker'
Quick-step," for to the right of us, to the left
of us, in front of us, and behind us, there
was nothing but geese, geese, geese. The
brants and ducks were not in it then. That
channel in front of the island, only some
300 yards away, had opened by the current
a third of a mile, and it was literally packed.
The geese at night on the flood remained,
and fed on the morning ebb, leaving for the
ice at day-dawn. The question came up at
the table as to the quantity we had seen that
afternoon, the number ranging between forty-
five and seventy-five thousand, so we settled
on the lesser number, which was well within
bounds.

As the weather was growing warm, the
ice was breaking up fast, thus opening up
other harbours, so that the next day we
observed a very marked difference in the
numbers visible. However, we had another
afternoon of excellent shooting, not exactly
on the same ground, but nearer the ice-floe,
and farther to the north, as the wind had

ON SENTINEL DUTY 209

changed, altering somewhat the range of
flight to the feeding-ground. We secured
several good shots that afternoon also, and
went ashore with eighteen fine birds, all large
ones. The like never was known in that
neighbourhood, and is not likely to be again.
Besides these, we know of eleven being picked
up to leeward that we shot — one boat securing
eight.

Well, like everything else, our trip is
drawing to a close. Friday morning has
come along — the last of it — so Will and I
started out in pursuit of a finishing-up shot.
With our glasses we noticed a large flock of
geese sitting on the edge of the Fox Harbour
ice, near by the light-house — a most inviting
shot ; so we paddled along with the flood,
and were soon within a few hundred yards,
when we observed the old gander out by
himself on sentinel duty, while all the others
were sleeping with their heads under their
wings.

To make the approach to them less notice-
able, drifting along by the edge of stationary
ice was a floating, drifting ice-cake, some two
feet out of water. Behind this we sneaked

210 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

and drifted with it, till we were as near as we
ought to be for an effective shot, so we pushed
the Daisy ahead of the cake, and just then,
and not till then, did the gander sound the
alarm. Up like a flash went all their heads,
but there was apparently nothing confronting
them ; even the old gander lowered his head,
as though he had been fooled by a little ice-
cake. Now as many as ten strutted up to-
gether, and as they saw me level my gun,
their heads straightened up accordingly.
" Now," thought I, " nothing less than
half a dozen here ! " They were so near
now, not more than 12 yards. If I fired at
their bodies, they would be torn to pieces and
spoiled. The right barrel was levelled so as
just to take their heads. My clothing was
so burdensome — two or more coats, leather
vest and the like — that they made me very
clumsy, and consequently the butt could not
be got near my shoulder to steady the gun.
When I fired, therefore, the concussion made
her jump, and the charge went over every
bird— not one was touched except by the
wind. All jumped up and winged their
flight. The results were so disappointing

WE KODAK OUR BAG 211

that, by the time my thoughts were collected
sufficiently, they were all out of range but
the old gander. On him a parting bead was
drawn, and down he came on a portion of ice
that was very unsafe, and so far from the edge,
as to prevent our approaching him with the
boat. So we got behind the clamper already
referred to, to watch developments. After
a while, thinking he was alone, this gander
that had been shamming helplessness, sud-
denly obtained a new lease of life, and started
for the woods on the light-house shore, at
least 500 yards away. We allowed him to
travel until he reached ice strong enough for
Will to follow him. When he observed Will
on his track, to show his cunning, he turned
from the shore for the outside ice — but too
late. Will soon had him by the leg, and
stopped his further running. Thus ended
the last act in the drama, and we returned
to Derry Island to make ready for our de-
parture the next Saturday morning.

To commemorate this grand outing the
birds were hung up in front of the house,
the gunners were placed in suitable positions,
and the "kodak" brought into requisition.

212 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Then they were stowed away in boxes and
packed in bags, ready to be removed to
Wallace the next morning, provided — pro-
vided what ? — that the ice between us and the
mainland moved out. It was then so rotten
as to be unsafe to cross ; nor could we work
through it with boats. This was our posi-
tion when we retired Friday night — one of
uncertainty; so you can imagine all were
pleased to find the channels in both harbours
open to boat navigation the next morning.
At seven o'clock our boats were loaded, and
half an hour later Derry Island was bade
adieu by the writer and his pleasant com-
panions, realizing that this outing had trans-
formed us into vigorous men, and given us a
new lease of life. Our birds were weighed at
the station, and totalled upwards of 700 Ibs.,
several' being over 12 Ibs., and there were a
hundred geese besides those we used. Some
thirty of our friends were remembered in the
distribution, and the balance sold to a poultry-
man in one of our principal towns. This sale
realized sufficient to pay every expense of the
outing, and we separated, feeling that the last
twelve days had been amongst the happiest

SPORT ON DERRY ISLAND 213

of our lives. The success attending this
cruise is so much out of the ordinary luck of
sporting mortals, that some of the unfortunate
ones may consider it is exaggerated ; never-
theless, it is strictly true.

The wonderfully successful outing recorded
above became widely known amongst our
sporting friends, and little persuasion was
needed to induce them to travel hundreds of
miles to participate in the sports and pastimes
Derry Island and its vicinity usually afforded.
So April 4th the following spring found us
there again — that is, S. and the writer, with
a friend from New York, and another from
Toronto. These shall be known in this
narrative as Pat, Bac, Gun, and Bob, with
our helpers, Will, Jack, and Jonah. This
season was as unseasonably early as the
previous one had been late, consequently,
the Canadian geese we expected to meet
here as before had preceded us a fortnight,
and only scattering small flocks were linger-
ing. Fox and Wallace harbours and rivers
had been open several days, and Northumber-
land Strait was free of drift ice, so that the
geese had open feeding-ground everywhere.

2i4 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

It was difficult, for want of ice, to approach
in our ice-boats the few seen ; nor did they
come to Berry's Well, so that the days passed
by without producing very satisfactory
results. Yet we were encouraged by the
knowledge that brants were behind, and might
be expected in large bodies any day. We
were living like fighting-cocks on — the fat
of the land: oysters, clams, cohawks (I am
doubtful if that is right), razor-fish, blue-
wings, roast beef, baked beans, filling in the
gaps by reading, smoking, yarning, and playing
forty-fives. Of course you do not know what
they are. If not, then guess. Each morning
the horizon was scanned with the glasses, in
the hope that the long looked-for had come at
last ; but not they. On the Monday forenoon
of the second week a large flock of geese,
a couple of hundred at least, was observed
feeding on a clan-spit, in a deep cove, half
a mile to the east of the island. How to get
a shot at these at once became the exciting
question. If not disturbed, we felt reasonably
sure they would be on the same ground the
following tide, so we began to plan an attack
upon them accordingly. The most feasible

WITH LANTERN AND REFLECTOR 215

way of approaching them to within shot
seemed to be by lantern and reflector,
especially as the nights were pitchy dark.
This plan was decided upon, therefore, while
Pat and Jack undertook to get the necessary
gear ready, by making a box sufficiently large
to accommodate a rail way- engine reflector
and lantern, which we intended using. Thus
equipped, and the box securely attached to
the bow of a gunning-punt 13 feet long, with
four thwarts, we considered ourselves ready
for the performance when the tide suited.
Now, all of us could not go on this murderous
cruise, so the hardest-hearted fellows were
selected — Pat, Bac, and Gun — to do the
slaughtering, while Jack, the courageous scout,
was to pole them to those unsuspecting birds.
" Old gander, if you could only hear what these
companions of mine are saying, you would
not stay out there 'houking,' but get up
and get away quickly. Why, there's Bac has
a dozen of you down already with the double
discharge of his trusty No. 8, while what
Gun is planning with his trusty circle-shooter
I hesitate to name here, but suppose you
ought to know. Have you ever heard of the

2i6 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

gunner that was sitting in the corner of his
old-fashioned fireplace, loading his old Queen
Anne, and, just as he had the powder rammed,
he heard the ' houk ! ' of one of your family
overhead. Leaving the ramrod in to supply
the place of shot, he fired up the chimney,
and strung you up by the dozen ! Now, Gun
is not going to treat you so cruelly, but listen,
he told Pat just now that he was going to lay
you out in windrows. I just think that is
awful, and told him so. Would you think it,
the cruel fellow just laughed at the prospect
of the fun for him, without the slightest
consideration for you. Linger a little, and
you will hear more plotting. There is that
Pat, who always boasts of the way he knocked
spots out of you last April, is worse than
cross to think the bulk of your relations stole
a march on him this year, and got away before
he came. You can see the murder in his
eye by the machine he has rigged on that
boat to blind you. If my spectacles would
help you out of the terrible trouble confront-
ing you, my sympathy of soul would send
them ahead to you. Pat, by working in-
geniously on the generosity of his friend Gun,

NOT PIGMIES 217

has got his consent not to fire until he has
stopped his score or more. The only hopeful
escape I see for you is that the recoil of his
No. 8. blunderbuss may knock him overboard,
which it occasionally does. Poor birds ! It is
well you can't see into the future, or you would
take out life and accident policies."

Scout Jack is sitting there, getting on his
long leather boots, with his face as long as
the Moral Law, at the probability of having
to wade his boat back to the island with that
prospective load. He sees his work is cut
out for him, and sighs at the very thought.
Come along with me, reader, and have a peep
in upon them as they rig up for the jaunt.
The wind is blowing an easterly gale — cold
and raw — necessitating warm clothing to
prevent being chilled. Our friends have
lots of it, so they appropriate short hose,
long hose, gaiters, leather and rubber boots,
wool shirts and jumpers, corduroy pants and
vests, leather jackets and vests, oil-coats,
rubber coats, gloves, and mittens, and heavy
caps. These they piled on till they could get
on no more. Ordinarily clad, they would turn
200 — not pigmies, by any means ; but now,

2i8 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

with the above additions, become veritable
giants. John has stepped up beside us, and
whispers, "Hope none of them will fall down
or tumble overboard — I'd never get them up ! "
Will from the shore shouts out, "I hear the
old ganders ; they have just arrived, and there
appear to be lots of them." At this report
those of us who were to remain took down
our guns to the boat and waded her off, so
that they could get started while the sports-
men followed along. The lantern was now
lighted, and showed up brilliantly ahead.
Gun was given the place of honour next
the box, so that he might have a fair chance
to lay out his windrows; Bac taking the
second place, where his keen eye and acute
ear would serve him in his prospective
slaughter ; while Pat, the slayer of his hun-
dreds, occupied the third place, sitting there,
all drawn down and looking as meek as Moses,
but keeping that fellow Gun in view, that
he did not cheat him out of his shot. Thus
placed, with a push from each of us who were
to stay behind, and a shove from John's pole,
off they went on the wild-goose chase. " Good
luck ! " all of us shouted, and returned to the

QUACK! QUACK! 219

house, leaving a signal lantern on the shore.
While you are sitting there with them waiting
to hear the cannonade open, come with me in
the boat, and see the fun there.

The foolish old ganders, by their incessant
" housing " lead us straight to them. The tide
being in our favour aids John very materially
in overcoming the force of wind, so that we
come upon them faster than expected. In a
short time we are up to them; they are visible.
What a large flock, two hundred at least, and
black ducks amongst them, feeding all around !
We are now within 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 yards of
them, some so blinded by the intensity of the
light that they actually hit the boat, near
enough, if we dare to reach out, to take them
by the neck. A bunch of duck has sagged
to leeward and taken our scent, and up they
go " quack ! quack ! quack ! " This starts the
geese together. Oh, what chances ! Directly
in front of Bac are the dozen he spoke for,
with their heads erect, winking at one
another as though waiting for him, while he,
patient soul, not wishing to spoil the shots
of the others, was delaying the slaughter of
the innocents, awaiting the signal from Pat,

220 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

who was sitting with both barrels cocked and
scores in front of him listening for the word
from Bac to fire; the result in both cases
being the want of arrangement. There,
before these excited sportsmen, sat the dis-
turbed circle-shooter arranging his windrows
for future action, when all of a sudden the
scene was changed; the birds, being pressed
so closely, became bewildered by the light, so
that when a second lot of ducks jumped with
their danger-signal " quack! quack ! " up went
the whole of them with a deafening rush,
and up went the guns.

Our friend Gun, not having straightened
his gun-barrel since he fired the circular shot
at a " shell-duck " — wherein lies a tale I shall
not tell you here — had this to do now, which
gave the others the opportunity they wanted,
and " bang ! bang ! bang ! bang ! " they are
tumbling in every direction. Such " houking"
as there was in their efforts to get away,
made it a complete Bedlam. Fifteen or more,
are there on the water, and several others are
threshing themselves off with broken wings.
While all this was being enacted, Gun spies
the windrow coming towards him as they

AN EMERGENCY 221

circled over those lying on the water. " Give
them plenty of windage, Gun ! " shouts Bac,
when "bang ! bang 1" is followed by Egyptian
darkness. " Holy horrors ! " shouts some one.
" This is a deuce of a go ! What's the matter ?
Stick your pole down, John, and hold the
boat. Well! well! well! if this don't beat
the Dutch ! " And all burst out laughing at
the ridiculousness of the situation. Not to
get the lantern lighted, and that very soon,
meant to us the loss of our birds. So that
while our position was most ludicrous, it was
also serious, made more so from the fact
that our supply of matches was small, not
having prepared ourselves for an emergency
like this.

Jack allowed the boat to swing by the
pole before the wind, which was so high
that as soon as the match was struck it
blew out. This was a dilemma not antici-
pated, leaving us in a most absurd, and, we
must confess laughable, plight. The only
remedy at hand was to get back to Deny
Island as speedily as possible before the tide
got too low, otherwise we would have to
wade hundreds of yards through the mud.

222 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

So homeward we started, reminded by Brother
Gun that " the best-laid schemes of mice
and men 'gang aft aglee.' " " Troubles," it is
said, " never come single-handed ; " and so it
proved in this case, for scarcely had we gone
two-thirds of the way back, using the signal-
lantern on the shore as our guide, when John
informed us the water was shoaling very fast,
and the boat would soon be aground. " Great
Scot! " we exclaimed, " not away out here ? "
Hardly had he remarked this, when we became
conscious of the fact she was aground — hard
and fast, and the only way out of the scrape
now was to wade. Just here Bac salutes
Pat thus: "Pat, what did I ever do to you,
that you brought me into such a scrape as
this ? " " Holy horrors ! " cried the " circle-
shooter," "got to wade ashore? Ha! well,
here goes it." Up he got and out he got —
" Great Scot ! " he calls out of the darkness,
" I am down below the top of my boots."

Our situation was so supremely ridiculous,
all we could do for a while was to laugh and
screech. This was wild-goose hunting with
a vengeance. Fortunately, those fellows on
the shore can't see us, or they would have

PERSEVERE 223

a feast. When Gun removed his giant
frame, John was able to push the boat far
enough ahead to escape his foot-holes when
we started. The boat had to be left with the
guns in her till morning, held by the anchor,
while we trudged for the shore. Now we are
all working towards that light on the bank,
wondering we don't hear from those fellows
on the shore. Away ahead Gun calls out
again, " There, I've lost my boot !" while
Bac's guttural tone to the north of us starts
out in lively melody, " Persevere and never
mind it," followed at the close by Pat's,
with the still livelier tune of " Three Little
Birds are we." Bac breaks in on the ominous
silence which followed these hearty outbursts
with, " Oh, crikey ! my boots are both full,
and a great splash of mud has just struck
me in the eye ! " responded to by Gun, who
is quite a distance ahead. " Bac ! " "What ? "
' ' ' Persevere and never mind it. ' Where's Pat ? ' '
While the others are having this interesting
experience, he is off to the left of them.
Thought he would get on to hard pan ahead
and have the laugh on them. He is working
hard, but watch him. Eight in his track is a

224 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

hole where they have been digging clams.
Soon he is going to have the laugh on Bac
and Gnn, when he takes another step, and down
he goes into the hole headlong. " Dang it !
what next ? " Don't that sound to you as
a near approach to classic English ? A kind
of utterance that comes when a fellow gets
an unexpected plunge. He couldn't lie
there, even if there was nobody to laugh at
and sympathize with him. Presently from
the northern pole came the stentorian voice
of Bac, " Pat where are you?" followed by
the deep guttural tones of Gun. " Pat !
Pat ! Pat ! where are you ? Was that you
we heard splashing in the water a while ago,
and practising swear-talk?" Not a sound
from Pat for a little, when the stillness is
broken by a deep bass voice, " Three Little
Birds are we," which, being encored by the
enamoured listeners, was followed by "I'm
going home to change my clothes."

Well, troubles and difficulties, like every-
thing else, have an end, and so did this seeking
terra firma, which, at the closing, was aided by
others from the house, bringing the lantern to
us. As we stood there admiring each other's

GUN'S EXHIBITIONS 225

profiles, and bursting with laughter, we kept
our voices in tune on " Happy are we to-night,
boys ! happy, happy are we ! " Bob calls
out from the bank, " Halloa there! where
are the geese ? What was all the banging
about ? " " Ask the 'circle-shooter ; ' he
knows,7' came the response. Now, John left
after the rest of us, and not being so heavily
clad, worked along finely, but so weakened by
laughter at our expense that he had to stop
literally still to gather strength for a fresh
start. Don't think, because we are on the
shore, the trouble has altogether ended. Do
you see that muddy bank yet to be sur-
mounted before we are up on the house-
walk? Gun seemed to think, as he had
the first privilege of getting out into the mud,
he would take the first to get out of it ; so up
the bank he started, aided by the light of the
lantern, and down he sprawled, his feet slip-
ping from under him. What a fine specimen
of ornamental sculpture, shaded with the red
Wallace mud, he made ! Bac, Pat, Bob, and
Jack still stood on the shore, so full of
laughter at Gun's exhibitions, that they
dare not attempt the ascent, for fear Gun

Q

226 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

might turn the laugh on them ; so to prevent
that, they pressed heavy stones into service,
and thus overcame the closing difficulty,
arriving in due course at the lodge, where
the participants in the shooting spree formed
themselves into a " mutual admiration
society" for the entertainment of themselves
and friends.

Those of you who looked with admiration
on our sporting heroes as they went forth to
the slaughter of the innocents a few hours
ago, return with me and behold them now.
Well may you wonder, when you ask if those
are the same sportsmen. What wonderful
transformant has been at work to change
them so ? You keep in the background, and
I'll question the windrow-shooter. Here is his
reply, " Mud ! mud ! mud ! " As he said this
he raised his bootless foot and sighed, " Mud I
mud! mud !" At this stage in the ceremonies
we all went off the handle — the whole affair
was so ludicrous. We laughed till we cried,
the whole being intoxicated with the excite-
ment. It was a long time before we quieted
sufficiently to take lunch. Even in that
performance some laughable part would get

END OF OUR LANTERN CRUISE 227

uppermost in the mind, just as some one had
taken a cup of tea, when off we would all go
again, placing the party drinking in an un-
enviable position. After supper was ended,
a smoke followed, and at half-past one o'clock
we had quieted sufficiently to retire, and soon
were in the land of dreams, not to remain
there long undisturbed, for as each of the
interested ones returned from the Land of Nod,
Gun's " lost boat " would come to the surface
and have to be inquired about. I can hear
him now replying, " Are you deeply interested
in it, and would you really like to know ? "

"Yaas!"

" Well, go hunt for it ! "

" Oh, thunder ! " came sounding from the
distance. " If you don't go to sleep, and let
Gun's boat rest in the mud till morning, I'll
fire mine at you."

"Oh, go to sleep !"

About four o'clock quietness reigned
supreme, apart from the snoring, and the
lantern cruise had ended.

The next morning, or rather that morn-
ing, in two boats we searched the shores of
the caves and harbours, hoping to find some

228 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

of those twenty-five geese reported to be
floating about waiting to be picked up; but
" nary " a bird did we see, and had to end it,
like many another wild-goose chase, without
any game. That spree closed up the outing
for all of us but Gun, who remained for a
week, and had great sport among the brants.
The rest started for their respective homes the
following morning, much the better for the
cruise.

CHAPTER XII.

SALMON-FISHING AT GREENFIELD.

FOR several years my business required me to
be at Greenfield, the head waters of the Med-
way, during the third week in June, which was
the choicest time in the whole season there
for salmon and trout fishing. The fishing-
pool here extends three-quarters of a mile
from the foot of Ponhook (Indian) Lake,
9 miles long to the head of Greenfield Falls,
while the river is not more than 75 yards
wide here. All through this pool are choice
resting-places for salmon. On these trips it
was not convenient to take my rod, so I had
to rely for one on my friends in the village.
On this occasion the Indian guide Newal,
known of late years to many American
anglers, placed his rod at my disposal, and,
tying my gaff to a mill-strip, proceeded to the

230 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

foot of the lake about four o'clock on Tuesday
afternoon, where a boat was procured, and I
went off alone. Now, as experience had
taught me never to rely on single casts when
I had double, nor single hooks when I had
double, in dealing with salmon and alone,
these were attached to my trusty callon line
of 150 yards. Eight here came the question
of the fly. There are Cock Robin, Silver
Doctor, White Admiral, Brown Admiral,
Certain Death, Prairie Dog, Yellow-leg,
Black Hawk, Tickler, Jock Scott, Butcher,
and Fury Brown all before me. My mind
and fingers take Yellow-leg to start in with —
a medium double fly. This had only been
cast a few times, when off to the right of me
at the head of a rock a lad started with a
heavy whirl, but did not hook. Seeing I
would have to fish him across the stream, and
consequently at a great disadvantage, I
moved the boat so as to be ahead of him.
Knowing where he was, my fly was cast
below and slowly worked up over him.
Scarcely had it come to him, when he rushed
out like a whale, and was hooked ; but in
doing so — miserdbili dictu — the middle piece

A NICE PREDICAMENT 231

of the rod snapped short off. A nice predica-
ment— a big salmon hooked, all alone, and
a broken rod ! Yet this was no time for moral-
izing. Action of some kind had to be taken,
and at once ; so I grasped the upper part,
about 5 feet, and held it with my right, while
with the left hand, I unwound a lot of line,
coiling or tiering it along the bottom of the
boat.

Up to this time the fish had not moved
from the spot where he was hooked ; so,
feeling pretty confident of my fighting ability,
the line was tightened with the right hand,
while the rod was held in the left. He soon
commenced to shake his head and started to
run past the boat up the river, and jumped
out just above me. I saw he was a fine one,
which made me all the more desirous to
capture him. He sailed around a lot, but
did not attempt a second jump, which made
me very hopeful. Now he showed signs of
exhaustion, and must be brought to the boat
while able to help himself ; so I gathered the
line with my right and checked it with the
left, holding the rod with the same until he
was a little above me. The gaff had been

232 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

placed where it was ready for an emergency,
so drawing in a foot or two more, he was
right in front of me. The time for action was
right there. Quick as thought the left grasped
the line, and the right the gaff, which was
instantly in him, but the rod had to be
dropped, as both hands were required to save
him. There he is in the boat. Hurrah !
Was I proud, reader ? How would you have
been ? Had my gear been in perfect order,
the capture of such a fish, 18^ Ibs., would be
something the captor might well be proud of,
but to take him as you have seen the writer
situated, made me more than proud — I was
just delighted. It was not more than half an
hour from the time the boat was anchored
till he was in the boat.

It was too early to go ashore, so I undertook
the difficult task of securing those round,
polished ends so as to be firm enough for
fishing. They could not be spliced, as the
wood was powder-posted, so the most was
made out of a bad business by using wax.

The water had been so much disturbed
where the first one was hooked that the boat
was moored to the head of a gorge formed by a

CRAZY GEAR AND A WILD FISH 233

cliff under water — a spot which any and all
of my American readers who have ever fished
the Greenfield waters will recognize as a
choice one; fish almost always being found
there; so when my fly was cast here and
worked towards me, the rush of a fish was
expected, and when the whirl was seen I was
ready, and hooked him. A wild fellow he
soon showed himself to be, for he started off
on the hop-skip-and-jump style, trying the
strength of my crazy gear, which soon began
to " wiggle-woggle " — not so classic as explana-
tory, leaving me in a peck of trouble. What
to do and how to do it had to be settled
speedily. Only one thing seemed applicable
then — that was the knife on the lashings.
How it was done I don't know now — I didn't
know then ; but done it was, and the 5 feet
of rod were again in my hand. As the salmon
gave up his racing a little, I see myself now,
reeling that line and coiling it along the
boat for future use. None too soon was this
accomplished ; for the lad was none of your
sluggish chaps, but a nervous, rushing one, so
he was off again, this time making straight
for me, as though having taken pity on my

234 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

position, and would end the trouble by jump-
ing into the boat. That line is coming in as
fast as it can be gathered, and the prospects
for gaffing so favourable that that instrument
was placed against my chest and the gunwale,
ready to be grasped in an instant. He is only
about 8 feet away, and still coming ; now is
the chance. But no, you don't — not yet ; and
off he scoots down the river. The moment
he took in the outline of the boat, away he
started. I had observed the hooks were
solidly placed, and my double cast back of
that, so I did not fear for the result, although
it was a wearisome as well as exciting pastime.
The fish was beginning to falter, and was quite
a distance below me, while the stream was too
strong where the boat was to hope to get him
up again; so while he was resting, the rod
and line were held in the left, the killock,
through the right and my feet, was raised,
and the boat dropped close to him, where the
river was wider, the water less swift, and the
chances for handling him more successfully
and quickly greatly improved. Now, my
lad, this question of conqueror has to be
settled right off; so here is at you : my line is

TIRED, BUT DELIGHTED 235

coming in, but he hangs back. There he jumps.
" Go it again — that was a weak jump, and
probably your last one." He threshes his head
and holds back, reminding one of a prairie
pony, when first halter-broken. But it's of no
avail — come you must ; and come he does, now
only a few feet away. Now, old gaff, do your
work, and over the gunwale he has come, and
is dancing the fisher's hornpipe in the bottom.
"Well done, Mr. P., well done!" comes to
my ears from the shore, where half a dozen or
more, who had seen me fast to the fellow and
alone with a broken rod, stood watching the
performance, and thus greeted me. While I
felt very tired, I must freely confess I was
greatly delighted.

Sundown was near, so I concluded not to
fish more then, but land and get my rod
repaired for early morning ; so I poled the boat
to the shore, and there met the friends men-
tioned before, two of them taking my fish to
Tybert's Hotel at the village, half a mile
below.

My success was made all the more apparent
by meeting a team containing two Halifaxians
with their guides, returning from an all-day's

236 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

fishing on the choicest pools down the river,
with but a single 9-lb. fish. I confess, reader,
although generally a very modest man, that I
felt very proud just then. Would not you,
under similar circumstances ?

The next morning, a fine one, 4.30 o'clock
found me, with the rod spliced, alongside the
boat, ready for another experience, and I was
soon anchored near where the first capture
was made. The Yellow-leg was the first
tried, and started a fellow sufficiently to'show
me his whereabouts, but I could not get him to
take ; then a White Admiral was tried, which
he treated entirely with contempt. The next
selection was a small-size double-hook Grey
Doctor. When this was worked up near
where he had shown himself, he came like
a porpoise, and was hooked. All of 40 yards
of line was out, so, as he seemed pliable, the
reel was kept at work, and he came within
a few yards of me, when suddenly he started
at rail-road pace up into the lake, jumped and
raced, double-jumped and ran, until he had 70
yards out, then turned direct for a salmon net
which was setting from the foot of an island
towards the head of the pool, and entangled

HOOKED AND MESHED 237

himself, so I had to raise the killock and work
the boat to him, not only to gather in the
100 yards that were out, but to free him of
the net. His meshing himself settled the
question of his capture. Ordinarily, with a
helper, the killock would have been weighed
when he first took into the lake and been
followed, thereby keeping him more under
control ; but being alone, this could not be
done, so he manoeuvred himself into the net.
Its owner, one Indian Glode, was encamped
on the shore of the mainland, who, seeing my
fish flouncing in it, came off in his canoe, and
was there by the time the line was reeled up,
and claimed possession of him. My fly was
fast to him, and so was his net. Appearances
were fast putting on the tug-of-war style, with
the advantage in my favour.

It was contrary to law to have out a net in
fresh water, with a penalty for violation of $10.
This we both knew, so, after parleying with him
for half an hour without much headway, the
salmon still in the net, I told him that if he did
not consent to my taking out my fish peaceably
inside of an hour, I would have him arrested
as a law-breaker, and his net forfeited.

238 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

Concluding discretion the better part of valour,
he told me to " take the salmon, and get out."
" All right, sir. Now I tell you to get up that
net, and get out of this neighbourhood, or I'll
have you arrested any way." Before he went
back to camp, he took up the net, and left for
other parts that p.m. The salmon weighed
131 Ibs., a very pretty-shaped fish.

After this episode the pool was fished in all
the likely resting-places, only one being
started, which, being pricked, prevented my
getting him to come again. The afternoon
before and that forenoon every little eddy and
run was literally alive with trout, feeding on
a little brown fly, closely resembling what
anglers call the " cow-dung " fly, that at
this time, in June, yearly settle on this pool in
millions ; and these swarms of trout out of the
Nine-mile Ponhook Lake, apparently knowing
of the time of their arrival, are there, as we
stated, to receive them. Putting on a single
cast, and a fly closely resembling the natural
one, I was soon into lively business.

Having no landing-net, and my gaff too
large for most of them, placed me at a dis-
advantage. As soon as my fly touched the

BUSY BLACK FLIES 239

water, it was fast ; and such beauties ! I fairly
groaned in spirit, as so many fell off when
raising them over the side of the boat — mostly
all very large. My gaff was requisitioned on
some of them, and thus the two largest, 2 Ibs.
7 ozs. each, and five varying from If Ib. to 2
Ibs. 3 ozs., were saved. When I landed at 8.30,
there were twenty-seven in the boat, with only
one less than f Ib.

It was now getting very hot, and the black
flies were in pursuit of their breakfast, as the
call from my inner man said I ought to be ; so
my line was reeled up, and the fish prepared
for carrying to the hotel. My friend of the
night before lived in the immediate neighbour-
hood, and had been watching my morning's
performance, and seeing me capturing so many
fish, he brought his wheelbarrow to help me,
so that with his assistance we got them easily
where they were placed in my friend Tybert's
ice-house, as were the salmon the night before.
It was 6.30 p.m. before I could get on the
pool again. The trout were as plentiful as
before, and the flies also. It might truthfully
be said it was like rain.

If you have witnessed a school of mackerel

240 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

coming to the surface, you can form some
idea of the sight that was before me. Don't
judge of the sight I saw, reader, if you have
been a fisherman at Greenfield in these later
days, for then there was scarcely a fisherman
where now there are scores. Fish then had a
chance to multiply and grow large, while now
there is some one after them as soon as
spawned. When there on the pool, I was
puzzled which to fish for, salmon or trout, so
I put on a small Yellow-leg, double hook, of
sea-trout size, which it was hoped would
attract a large trout, or fool a salmon. It was
soon evident the trout did not want Yellows,
and a brown had been selected to replace it,
when a whirl of a large fish was noticed as
the line was being reeled in, so another cast
was made at once ; but he did not show, nor
could he be started in the same place again, for
the lad had changed his position, and when
and where not expected he made a rush and
hooked himself.

Wasn't there a mad fish then ? He took to
the bottom, and rubbed hard to rid himself of
his entanglement, then made a rush across the
stream until he almost struck the shore, then

KEEP THE ROD UP 241

turned and made equally as mad a start for
the opposite, giving me interesting work to get
my line in without looping it, which, as my ex-
perienced fishermen-readers know, is dangerous
work. To make the danger still greater, when
in the middle of the river he made direct for
the boat. The line was thus left very slack,
in spite of anything that could be done. At
this crisis, as if the fellow knew it was his time,
he jumped. My rod was thrown behind me,
but did not and could not gather in all the
slack, so that the salmon threw his raspy tail
across my single cast, and — was not there, but
free. " Hang the fellow ! " I groaned. " I wish
he had kept out of sight ; then the disappoint-
ment would not have been mine."

This experience has been the sad one of
many an angler, but can only happen to one
who knows their trick, by a circumstance like
the foregoing. To keep them from throwing
their rasp-like tail over the cast, the rod must
always be kept up, and the line tight.
Another cast was soon in place, and a Yellow
Doctor upon it ; then the boat was dropped
down to the head of a rock — a promising spot,
in fact, one where in previous seasons sport has

B

242 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING. ETC

been found. Just before the cast was made,
up rolled a bouncer after a little eel. It was a
satisfaction to know lie was there ; but not a
very encouraging motion for my fly, as, when
after eels, they don't fancy flies. However,
never venture, never have ; so the fly was
dropped very slowly over him and fished coax-
ingly, but did not move him ; then it was put
below him, drawn a little, stopped, drawn a
little further, stopped, drawn faster, stopped.
" There ! by George, he's got it ! Hurrah !
well done ! " My work for the next half-hour
was cut out, as a wilder scamp my fly was
never fast to. He ran, he jumped, he scooted,
then jumped again, and, to cap the climax, he
turned over and over. Hold on, old splice !
hold on, double hook ! Don't know what he'll
try next. These last performances I had heard
others speak of, but never had hold of a fish
that practised them. Certainly, if ever a fish
fought hard for freedom, this one did ; yet by
this time it could be seen he was yielding
rapidly.

The water was strong where the boat lay,
and it was doubtful if he could be got up near
enough to gaff. There were some friends on

ALIVE WITH FISH 243

the shore watching me, so I decided, as he
was resting quietly in the eddy of a rock, it
would be a good time to try to pole to the
shore. So, laying down the rod with a couple
of fathoms of slack line to draw out, the
killock was raised and the boat successfully
poled there.

Now a friend took the gaff, and with my
rod again in control, I walked slowly from the
shore, drawing him across the stream, which
helped, in his weakened condition, to work him
closer to it (the shore). In a few minutes the
gaff had charge of him, and he was safely
landed — another fine one, 12 Ibs. It was so
near sundown now that, being very tired, I
concluded to close up the season's fishing, and
took the rod apart. It was very trying to
bring myself to believe this fine sport had now
to be closed for a whole year ; but there was
no remedy. During the two hours out in the
boat that afternoon, hundreds of those great
speckled beauties could have been captured.
The water was then, as it had been every time
I was on it, literally alive with fish.

These flies only last about four days, then
the fish that have settled down from the lake

244 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

return there. I am assured that the same
kind of fly make their annual visit there now,
pursued by the trout, but in much less numbers
and of smaller size.

CHAPTEE XIII.

MOOSE-HUNTING WITH DOGS AND ON SNOW-
SHOES.

IN March, 18 — I was at Port Joli, Queens, Nova
Scotia, heretofore spoken of in this volume, on
my usual spring outing after geese and ducks.
Besides this being the famous resort and feed-
ing-ground of these birds, its backwoods then
for miles was equally the moose yard or pasture
of scores — it would not be an exaggeration to
say hundreds — of these noble animals. The
previous early autumn my business required
me, in company with locaters and surveyors,
not only to outline a 1000-acre lot, but
also to travel through and over it. It was
then we noticed what justifies me in making
the statement above as to the quantity
occupying those grounds. There were as sure

246 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

signs of abundant occupation all over that
land as one would expect to see of cows in a
10-acre pasture, that had been occupied by a
half a score of them a season.

While on our way into the lot on that
tramp, we sat beside a brook which crossed
our path, eating lunch, when the crack of a
stick called our attention in the direction from
which it came, to see a bouncing big bull
moose — oh, how I wanted those antlers 1 —
strutting up the road as indifferent, apparently,
to us (he must have known it was close season,
and therefore he was safe with honest (?) sports-
men) as if we were mosquitoes.

At the time of the occurrence related here
there was very deep snow, covered with a
heavy crust, making extra snow-shoeing and
dog-hunting. Some of the lads, with four dogs,
went in from the settlement on Monday, the day
of my arrival there, and planned to stay till
Saturday, but came out on Thursday at noon
for teams to bring out four they had captured.
One of this crew was from the house at which
I stopped. He informed his father, an old
moose-hunter, whose youthful fire was sup-
posed years ago to have expired, that they saw

MY FIRST SNOW-SHOES 247

a fresh track of a large moose, which had
crossed the road a mile and a half back ; that
he had apparently gone only a short distance,
and could be easily got. This aroused the slum-
bering fire, and put new energy into the old
hunter. He started off, and secured the use
of the dogs that the boys had from their
owners, overhauled and repaired two pairs of
snow-shoes, and was awaiting my return from
the goose-hunt.

Scarcely did he allow me time to take tea
when the proposal of our going after that
moose was made. His enthusiasm aroused
mine, which was further increased with the
prospect of a veritable snow-shoe hunt with
dogs, something I had wanted to have a share
in for years ; but to me there was a very serious
obstacle now. This moose could only be
approached on snow-shoes, and a pair had
never been on my feet. To get the spring-
halt gait necessary for rapid striding seemed
to me right then a formidable task ; but the
old man encouraged me by fastening them on,
and helping me to travel over the crust in the
fields, accompanying me, so as to teach the
gait. I was conceited enough to think I

248 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

proved an apt scholar, at least my companion
said so. With this objection removed, the
way seemed clear. He would not take a gun,
but an axe, leaving all the shooting to me and
my trusty Enfield, which arrangement was
doomed later to cost us the carcase of an
immense moose, which passed within a few
feet of R., my companion, while the writer
was kicking in the snow, helpless. We retired
early, planning for an early start, so that four
o'clock found us on the move, breakfast
over, dogs fed, snow-shoes and lunches over
our shoulders, gun and axe in hand, and the
quick march sounded. It being frosty, we
started off at a lively gait, the dogs following.
The roads by which the woods were entered
passed within a short distance of the home of
our best and leading dog, and the thought to
watch him when in that neighbourhood did
not occur to us, nor was he missed from the
kennel until we had proceeded half a mile
or more, necessitating the return for him and
consequent delay of an hour, making it broad
daylight when the track we were after was
reached. Here we secured on the snow-shoes,
and began to follow the track. Eover, Ready,

EFFECT OF HURRY 249

Jenks, and Grey were the names of the dogs,
the first two being much the best.

We proceeded very cautiously, as the crust
was so frosty and the air so still, we could not
avoid making noise. The tracks occasionally
showed blood ; that told us the maker of them
had sore feet, and justified us in the conclusion
he did not go far before yarding. When 300
yards or so on these tracks, Eover, our leader,
followed by Eeady, threw up their heads, left
the tracks, and made a straight road more to
the westward. E. said to me, " Look out,
they have got his scent, and have gone direct
to him. Quicken your pace, so as to be as
near as possible when they come to him."
Scarcely had we hooped her up, and started
those awkward feet of mine into a livelier gait,
when we heard the dogs giving tongue, as my
old hunter called it. " They have rounded
him up. Hurry ! hurry ! while they hold him
at bay, and get a shot." Eeader, take a good
look at me if you want a hearty laugh, as that
word hurry started me. My feet got here,
there, and everywhere, tangled in bushes,
jammed between trees, pitching me now in
one direction, then in another, until they

250 MOOSE-HUNTING, S \LMON-FISHING, ETC

assumed, or I did, a kind of ricocheting
motion. " Keep clear of me, B.," I yelled,
" and of my gun, for I am afraid of myself."
As the dogs continued, it was evident he was
still standing. Now, by the nearness of their
sound, we knew he was close by, so sneaking
along and peeping through the low woods, I
spied him standing, Bover leading him, and
Beady at his heels. Just at that instant he
must have spied me, for as my rifle was raised
he made a spring, and away he went, over a
partially open country. We ran out of cover
to watch developments, and were greeted with
a sight of the lad going end over end, or,
in other words, turning a somersault. B.
was 40 yards or so behind me, so he was able
to explain that unaccountable performance to
me in this way. Bover, in chasing him, had
taken hold of his muffle (nose), and thrown
himself between the moose's fore legs which
caused him to pitch on to his back. Beady
at the same time, seizing him by the gambol
or muscle of the hind leg, held him. The poor
fellow lay there apparently helpless, and my
trusty rifle might have kept him there ; but,
reader, that was not the kind of sport that

COWARD ! 251

pleased me, even if it was to capture a moose.
I said he was helpless. When, however, he saw
us approaching him, his tremendous power,
for he was a large fellow, flung _Rover off him,
and sent Eeady with a kick 12 or 18 feet
behind him. Then he sprang up and stood
facing me, a picture of bold defiance. My
rifle was raised, ranged for a blank shot.
" Coward I " sounded in my ears. From whence
came the sound? It must have been an
inward consciousness that it was a shame to
shoot him when he had no fair chance for his
life. The word was spoken loud enough to
hold my hand, and the rifle was not fired
by me.

" Why in thunder don't you fire ? Are you
going to let him go again ? " asked R.

" I can't shoot that moose, helpless as he
is with those dogs."

" Confound such sentimentalism ! What
did we come away out here for, if you weren't
going to shoot when a chance like this came
to you?"

" Well, here, you take the gun and fire, if
you like : I won't at that one."

So the rifle was passed to him, at which the

252 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

moose jumped. Eover seized him again. E.
levelled and fired, when, instead of the moose
being down, our poor Eover lay there bleeding,
with the bullet through his head.

" That's bad gravy ! " said E. " A valuable
— the most valuable dog we had — dead, and to
be paid for ! If you had fired at that fellow
when you ought to, this would not have
happened," E. said rather crossly. " How
am I to tell Mr. D. his dog is dead ? I would
rather have lost ten dollars than it should
have happened."

When the dog fell, the moose, released,
started off at a hurricane pace, Eeady in close
pursuit. Presently we heard Eeady bark, and
away in the distance could we see the moose
at bay, the dog at his heels. A moose is
bound to stop when the dog bites him on the
gambol muscles, and will turn round and face
him, which he was then doing. E. still had
the gun, while my weapon was his axe. His
first lesson had made him cautious, so as he
approached and came within 60 yards of him,
I was sure he was ours, and so was E. He
would have been had she been in my hands,
for I had learned that firing a blank range or

NOT FOR US 253

any thing within 100 yards, you must aim below
the spot you wish to hit ; but this he did not
know, and I was too far from him to explain,
so he ranged, he told me, for the upper part of
his head as he stood side to him, calculating to
shoot him in the eye, but he overshot him,
and off he started again.

" Hang the moose ! What's the matter
with him ? "

"The moose is all right: you had better
say, ' Hang me ! what's the matter with
me?'"

" Here, take your old gun : she's no
good!"

" You would be nearer the truth to say you
are no good ! That moose is not for us, or we
should have had him before this."

He has started again, Ready still in com-
pany. " Where are the rest of our dogs ? "

In the excitement of the chase the thought
of them had escaped us, but here they are
coming panting. They must have been on
that other track. In our rush after the moose
when Eover and Eeady gave the first alarm,
another track was noticed crossing the one we
were on at right angles, going directly south

254 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

towards home. We stopped an instant as we
came to it, and decided to follow it going out,
but the two dogs that had just come to us
must have been following ifc. However, we
could give them no more thought then.
Eeady and the moose were away and out of
sight. Occasionally away in the distance
could be heard his yelp.

" What is that?" said E. "It sounded
like a gun."

" Yes ! it was a gun too. There must be
some others out as well as ourselves."

So we continued travelling, hoping Eeady
would come back. Had he been with us, we
would have gone no further, but we feared to
return without him, so, trudging along, not
very happy at the turn of affairs, of which
your humble servant got the principal blame,
we came out into a beaten log-road which E.
knew, and suggested we go to Freeman's
Camp, which was alongside of it, one-third
of a mile further on, have our lunch there,
and get some warm drink.

So we took off our snow-shoes to relieve our
feet, and away we scaled as fresh as when we
left home.

OUR MOOSE 255

"Halloa! what's that along there in the
road?"

" Why, it looks like a moose."

" Never a moose in the world ! "

" Well, what is it, then ? "

" By George, it is a moose ! "

" See ! there's a dog by him ! "

" Yes ! and it is our Eeady. What can it
mean ? "

"You must have hit him that last shot,
and he ran till he fell here."

Now we are beside him, and while looking
to find where he had been struck, saw a man
approaching from Freeman's Camp, which
was only a few yards in the woods.

" Halloa, neighbour, do you know anything
about this moose ? "

"Oh yes," he replied laughing; "that is
our moose ! "

" Yes. It may be, but our dog is with him,
and we shot at him twice."

" That may be," still laughing at our per-
sistence. " He did not look much like yours
as he came trotting down the road, with
the dog barking at him. It was the dog
that called our attention, as we were eating

256 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

breakfast, when Mr. Freeman at once took
in the situation. ' Hark ! that's a dog on
a moose, I verily believe ! ' So he jumped
up, seized his gun, and ran to the road just
in time to meet him, and shot him down
where he lies.75

"By George!" said E., "that must have
been the shot we heard, and no doubt it was."

So we were invited in to take dinner, and
wait till Mr. F. came for his. As I stood
over his dead body, I could not help thinking
that he deserved a better fate. He was a
large one between 500 and 600 Ibs.

When Mr. F. came, he offered us the car-
case ; but as we really had only a small claim,
we refused to take but the half, which he
kindly sent to us to Port Joli the following
day. After resting here in these comfortable
camp quarters until two o'clock, we started to
return, calculating to put the dogs again on
that southern track already referred to. Poor
old Eover ! When we came back to his body,
we stood for a time feeling badly at the tragical
end of such a fine fellow. We dug a hole in
the crust and snow, and laid him away to rest.
As we resumed the march, R. exclaimed —

ONE WE READ ABOUT 257

" I'll catch ' Hail, Columbia ! ' when I tell
Mr. D. Do you know that Eover was his
splendid bird dog, and it is hard to duplicate
him ? "

We consoled ourselves with the fact that
it was accidentally done, and therefore no
one was to blame, and concluded, as Mr. D.
was a reasonable man, he would accept the
explanation, and with the fact that I could
get him a fine pup to replace his loss, the
matter would be smoothed over. The walk
homeward was more hopeful, the track was
at last reached, and we started to follow it,
keeping the dogs in the background. We
could see as we went along that they had
been on it for half a mile before leaving it
to return. By its appearance we concluded
it was made the previous afternoon, and we
would probably find the maker of it yarded
near the swales about the lake. Never-
theless, we proceeded cautiously, scrutinizing
closely our surroundings, when we came to
an immense track, apparently made within
an hour or so, and going directly west. As
we stopped to examine, Eeady, who was by
us alone, the others having forged ahead on

s

258 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the other track, snuffed the air, looking west-
ward, and started on the jump, our eyes, of
course following him. Scarcely had he gone
75 yards when he spoke fiercely, by which we
knew he was up to him. So off I rushed,
with the determination to have a shot if one
could be got. There he stood — oh ! what a
monster ! A fellow such as we read about
but seldom see. Yes, there he stood facing
Ready, so I made another rush to get still
closer, when the toe of one of the snow-shoes
caught a limb or root or something that sent
me head over heels, and left me floundering
to get up on to my feet again. By the time
my feet or shoes were extricated, nothing was
to be seen of dog or moose ; but the wood was
resounding with funny noises, yet not in my
praise.

" Where in the name of sense are you, P. ?
Why didn't you shoot that moose ? Why
didn't you fire ? "

"Let echo answer c Why ? ' Had you seen
me going at him headlong, you would have
concluded that, instead of shooting him I
intended capturing him by main force and
stupidness."

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 259

" Oh, if I had only had the gun, I know I
could have dropped him here within 30 feet
of me. See his tracks where he went. He
excited me so, I actually threw the axe at him
as he passed, which just escaped our having to
bury another dog. I could hear you screech-
ing and laughing, and thought it very funny
you would let such a rare chance at such a
moose escape purposely, unless you had taken
another moralizing fit. You won't catch me
hunting again with such a tender-hearted chap
as you ! Why did you come ? You must have
known that the dogs would stop them, and
they would have to be shot then or not at
all!"

Thus was I harangued by E. When I re-
lated my ridiculous toss-over, and the frantic
efforts to relieve myself, the ludicrous part was
so prominent he did laugh a little ; but all this
did not save the moose. He had escaped,
and the only satisfaction left was to look at
the immense tracks, and sigh over "what
might have been." Ready has left him and
returned, so we will see what is in store for us
with the fellow somewhere between here and
home.

260 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTEE XIV.

CONTINUATION OF MOOSE-HUNT ON SNOW-SHOES
AND WITH DOGS AT POET JOLI, QUEEN'S
COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA.

ON the re-start for home all (dogs and hunters)
showed they were tired by the way they
trudged along, but encouraged by the hope
that each step carried them nearer rest, as also
near a moose, which Eeady had made me
promise to fire at if — if what ? — if we got
another chance. When that part of the track
was reached where we saw the dogs had
turned back in the morning, it was evident we
were following one a day or two old, for there
was no scent in it, and the prospect of coming
up with the maker, unless yarded near Louis
Lake, a short distance ahead, was slim.

Up to within 400 yards of the lake there
was no change in its appearance, and the dogs

AT BAY 261

were entirely indifferent to it, following on
behind ; but at this point Keady, followed
quickly by the others, jumped out ahead, and
rushed at top speed to the south-west, which
movement naturally quickened ours and
brought us on to fresh tracks, which confirmed
the hope that she had yarded in some of the
swales. All the tired feeling fled as "Bow-wow-
wow! bow-wow-wow! " continuously greeted
us from a short distance ahead — our course
having been changed to follow them. To this
spot I was rushing as speedily as prudence dic-
tated ; another headlong flight through over-
eagerness I was not anxious for. To prevent
her attention being drawn from the dogs, my
movements were cautiously made, until within
75 yards, where the first view of her was had
— standing at bay, with all the dogs heading
her and fiercely barking. The distance was
rather far, on account of intervening small
trees, so I crept up till she stood 60 yards
away, looking fiercely at her annoyers.

" Now, Pattillo, your reputation is at stake.
Let neither tender-heartedness nor over-eager-
ness cheat you of this, probably your last,
chance to redeem it." My Enfield is resting on

262 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

a spruce bough, cocked ready for the pressure.
I want to place that bullet at the butt of her
ear, to do which she was ranged three inches
below. Inexperienced hunters would say,
" Oh ! he'll undershoot her." Wait a little and
see ! Practice had taught me my Enfield
cartridges were loaded with sufficient powder
to kill sure, at blank range, 100 yards, so that
when firing short of that, the nozzle must be
lowered accordingly. The resulting shot will
prove the truthfulness of this reasoning.
Further, when firing at a large body, to be
reasonably positive of your target, a special
prominent point needs to be selected as a
bulPs-eye, otherwise the sights are not ranged
and the bullets fly wild.

Many a splendid sportsman at ordinary
game, men who could at 40 or 50 yards take
the head off a partridge, miss their first moose,
simply because the target is so large that they
look at space and shoot at it. So is it the
case in wing shooting — the best shots being
made with large flocks by covering that single
bird in proximity to the many others.

Pardon the digression made for the benefit
of the inexperienced, and we will put our eyes

OLD SCORES 263

on that barrel again, to see it is pointing
right. Poor moose ! your browsing days are
over. The trigger is pressed, the woods ring
with the report, and on the ground she lies,
with scarcely a muscle moving. The bullet
went straight to the bull's-eye — the butt of her
ear. As I ran up to her prostrate form, a
salute of " Well done ! well done ! " was borne
to me from those hitherto upbraiding lips,
" You can do it when you want to."

" Do what ? Shoot dogs ! "

" Oh ! tut ! that's unkind."

" Well, that is only squaring up old scores
before getting out of the woods."

While the conversation was proceeding
he was approaching me to find at my feet
the carcase of a three-year-old farrow-cow
moose. As soon as he had looked at her my
attention was called to the unusually dark
colour of her hair, which he informed me was
a sure indication of her being a fat one, which
she proved. After bleeding her, he looked
around as to the chances of getting the carcase
home, to find a team that could be brought
alongside her. So while E. remained to dress
the body, I went to the house for an ox-team,

264 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

reporting at the same time our success.
The young man already referred to in the
early part of this cruise pressed into service
two of his companions, and off we started for
the game. Inside of two hours it was in the
yard and under cover, closing up a wonderful
day's experience for me. Three moose had
actually been within my grasp, for both the
others could have been mine as easily as the
one we captured, but the "if" let two of
them escape.

I cannot say at the close of this adventure
— a most remarkable one — that the result
made me over-joyous, as many a previous
cruise had done. When a bird or animal has
the chance of keeping clear of the range of
my gun and is attracted within it, falling
thereby, there are no compunctions ; but a
moose held by dogs, so that he has no freedom,
seems to me unjustified slaughter. It was my
first experience, as it was the last, in this style
of hunting. The unpleasant task of reconciling
the owner of poor Bover to his loss was pre-
formed by the promise of a nice pup, which
was sent him the following week. After two
days longer amongst the geese, my journey

A GOOD LOAD 265

homeward was taken, the waggon being loaded
with moose meat, five large geese, eighteen
blue-wings, twenty-seven trout taken through
the ice, and clams galore, with a small chap
like myself to balance it.

266 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

CHAPTER XV.

EXCITING OCCURRENCES ON A WEST-INDIAN
VOYAGE, INCLUDING A HURRICANE ADVEN-
TURE, THE CAPTURE OF A MAN-EATER
SHARK AND DOLPHIN, CLOSING WITH AN
ENCOUNTER AND THE KILLING OF A FISH
BEARING THE EUPHONIOUS TITLE OF " THE
DEVIL-FISH," IN A BOAT ON THE GULF OF
PARA.

A Hurricane Adventure.

To seamen as well as landsmen the threatened
approach of an ordinary gale carries a dread of
results, but the stealthy on-coming of a hurri-
cane in mid-ocean bears before it indescribable
terror. In August, 18 — , I was supercargo on
board the square-rigged Big Albion, (" square-
rigged " means yards on both masts) on a
voyage from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to

A SHORT DIGRESSION 267

Trinidad, British West Indies, loaded with
lumber, fish, etc. The passage up to the
latitude of the Island of Antigua had been
more than usually short and prosperous,
neither tack nor sheet, as seamen say, having
to be started from the time of leaving the
wharf.

The trade winds, which had been bearing
us along so rapidly and agreeably, had died
out and we lay becalmed. The sky, which
had been so bright, began to assume a dull,
lowering appearance, and the atmosphere
became oppressive as the day advanced. Our
captain and mate were both men of large ex-
perience, the former having made a hundred
and forty-two trips to the West Indies, and
the latter upwards of a hundred — experience
which did splendid service for us in the
approaching perilous hours. Every available
sail had been and was spread to the hitherto
propitious breezes, when the dog-watch — from
four to six — was called. To make this intelli-
gible to my ordinary readers, allow me a short
digression to explain.

The twenty-four hours on board ship are
divided into watches of four hours each, called

268 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the larboard and starboard watches, composed
of the officers and men equally divided; the
captain and cook in vessels with a crew of
eight hands and upwards being excepted from
what, in nautical language, is called " stand-
ing watch." The steering of the ship and
the trimming of the sails supposed to be
alternately in the care of the captain, who is
represented by the third officer, styled the
second mate, and his assistants, known as
the " starboard watch ; " while the mate, with
a corresponding number of helpers, takes
command of the "larboard watch." Unless
some more than ordinarily heavy work is to
be done, and to be done at once, the watch off
duty is not called. That each watch may
have an equal amount of sleep, the one on
duty from 8 to 12 p.m. and 4 to 8 a.m. one
night is supposed to be resting those hours
the following watch. So to accomplish this
change the hours from 4 to 8 p.m. are divided
up into two watches of two hours each, called
dog-watches — 4 to 6 and 6 to 8. By doing
this the other watches are changed every day,
and all hands secure an equal amount of rest.
To return now to the calling of the dog-watch

IT WAS STILL CALM 269

from 4 to 6 p.m. I had noticed the captain
and mate in anxious conversation for some
time, when the former said to the mate,
" Call all hands, and we'll get all the light sails
furled. Halloa ! below. Ahoy ! All hands on
deck to shorten sail ! "

The boys soon responded, when the mate,
whose watch it was, ordered them to " take in
and stow snugly and carefully, so that they
couldn't blow loose, the royals, topgallant,
sails, staysails, jibs, trysail, and square main-
sail. Be lively about it, boys!" Now the
hitherto quietness of the deck was broken in
upon by the shouting of the men, for sailors
work most effectively and rapidly when they
can halloa ! It seems to grease the blocks and
sharpen the muscles, and the labour is less
wearisome.

" Be sharp, boys 1 be sharp ! " he repeated.

It was still calm, and to ignoramuses like
ourselves, the work seemed uncalled for, and
looked much like what sailors call a " work-up
job," not very agreeable affairs to men entitled
to rest. One of the crew in the top-gallant
yard thoughtlessly expressed himself in the
following style : " The d — d old fool is giving

27o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

us a work-up job ! " which reached the captain's
ears, unbeknown to Jack who uttered it. The
officers noticed the work was lagging, so the
captain shouted, " Be lively, boys, be lively 1
we have got to get in those topsails. A hurri-
cane is coming down upon us," which electri-
fied all hands. Captain repeated, " Fasten
those gaskets (the wrappers of the sails) solid,
so the sails can't blow loose, and rush the
work, boys ! rush it ! " and it was rushed. By
the time the light sails were secured, the
necessity for every one's help, cook and super-
cargo as well, was evident. So we manned
the topsail-yards and assisted in reefing first
and then furling the fore-topsail and square-
foresail, also tying first, second, and third
(or close) reefs in the main-topsail.

Ere this had been accomplished it was
pitchy dark, only lightened by the most vivid
and continuous lightning, accompanied by the
most terrific and constant thunder, as though
the battlements of heaven had been attacked,
and were replying in defence. To say we
were not frightened, would be disguising the
truth. All of us, from the captain to the cook,
felt there was a fearful experience ahead of us,

THE STORM BEGINS 271

out of which none of us might pass to tell the
story. " Boys," the captain asked, " is every-
thing secure ? " To which the men replied,
"Ay, ay, sir! " " Then each one take his
station to man those main-topsail braces, and
see you have a rope at your hand and some-
thing solid to fasten it to at a moment's warn-
ing, so as to secure yourselves."

There were not many happy hearts in
that crew just then. Up to that time
there was apparently not a breath of wind,
and the vessel lay sluggishly on the water.
The captain and second mate were lashed by
the wheel, to take charge of it when needed.
Now there strikes a "cat's-paw" (a puff of
wind), quickly followed by another, and fortu-
nately a little abaft the beam, so that our
close-reefed topsail felt it and started the vessel
into steering, which was our salvation.

Oh, the thunder and lightning ! We poor
souls were clinging with terror, as it shook
the very spars in our helpless little craft.
The wind increased rapidly, and now the
Albion was moving at a quarter course — the
object being, as the captain told us after-
wards, to run out of it, as the track of a

272 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

hurricane is not very wide. Don't you see
where the experience came in ? Presently
he shouts out, for he had now to halloa to be
heard —

" Do you hear anything unusual ? "

" Yes," we all replied, as it was not difficult
to hear a rumbling, roaring, terrifying sound,
resembling heavy breakers, or tumbling water.

Then he shouted again, " Secure yourselves
with your ropes, and grasp something solid
with your arms, and hold for your lives ; for a
tidal wave — the roar of which we hear — is
right upon us."

Here was where experience saved us again,
for scarcely had we carried out his precau-
tions, when, by a flash of lightning, we saw
the mountain of water coming, rolling, tossing,
tumbling, as if ready to engulf our almost
helpless little craft. When it tumbled on us
over she went on her beam ends, that is, on
her side, and we were all several feet under
water. The buoyancy of her cargo and the
passing along of that terrible roller soon
allowed her to right herself, lifting us all
from an unwelcome bath. As soon as we
got breath to speak, the captain shouted —

AT THE MERCY OF THE HURRICANE 273

"Boys, are you all right?" when the
joyous response from each and all of us was,
" All right, thank God ! "

Closely following on the heels of this wave
was the wind with its hurricane force, and
those of my readers who have not experienced
its power know little of it. All the sail on
that vessel was not over 180 square feet when
the real hurricane struck her and bore her
down on to her beam ends again. As she
gathered speed, and the wind, which was at
first puffy, grew steady, she righted so that
her lee-rail was in the water. With wonderful
speed she was angling her way across the
track of it, when all of a sudden our topsail
blew away, leaving only the rope behind.
To add to our troubles — which we all know
never come single even to sailors — the yard-
arm gasket of the square-foresail had blown
loose, and, unless immediately secured, was
likely to blow away too, or, if loosened, to
upset us.

While the mate was obtaining canvas to
supply the place of the lost topsail, the rest
of us started aloft to secure the foresail. To
state here that on our way up the fore-shrouds

T

274 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

a puff of wind was so violent that we were
actually, for an instant or so, pressed so firmly
against the rigging that we could not move up-
wards, may seem exaggeration. Yet I assure
you it was a fact. The hurricane had in-
creased at such a terrible pace we dare not,
nor could we show any sail to it, so that the
captain and mate decided " to heave her to,"
nautically expressed — that is, to arrange the
sail so that the wind, striking it, will keep the
vessel's bow in such a position that her hull
escapes its force. That you may gain a still
better idea of a hurricane's power, let me tell
you that all the canvas we dared show to the
monster, and all that was necessary, was a
piece the size of two towels, or about 4
square feet.

When this had been secured to the main
rigging and the wheel lashed, she rode on
that stormy sea like a duck. It was then,
and not till then, were we poor drenched
souls able to change our clothing. Thankful,
I trust, we all were to our Maker, that in His
overruling providence we were under the con-
trol of an experienced master ; otherwise none
of us would have been left to tell this tale.

" COMPOSANTES " 275

Had the brig been overtaken with all her
sail spread, or any considerable portion of it,
she would have been turned bottom up and all
of us drowned. About nine o'clock the captain
called our attention to the peculiar appearance
of the ends of the yards and the tops of the
mast, which looked as if ablaze with a bluish
light Some of the crew had noticed this
before, and, as sailors generally are supersti-
tious, dared not speak of it even to their
comrades. So the calling of our attention
to this relieved their fears and helped to
explain the mystery to the others. In nautical
language this blue light — phosphorescent in
its composition — is called " composantes ; "
and shows a state of the atmosphere which
experience and observation explain as reached
when the storm is nearing its height. It is
really an electric "glow," caused by a rapid
upward discharge to a highly charged atmo-
sphere. These lights at this state begin to
form on the most prominent projections, which
on the brig were the ends of the yards. They
were first seen on the lower yard, then the
topsails, next the top-gallant, then the royal,
finishing with the truck of each mast.

276 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

There they were visible for at least half an
hour, when the captain remarked — •

" The worst of the blow is over. Do you
notice the lights have left the mast-heads and
the upper yards, and are growing fainter
below?"

By midnight we were able to make more
sail and set the watches again. Thankful, I
believe, every soul was for our wonderful pre-
servation. When the sailor referred to here-
tofore as calling the captain " a d d old

fool " came to take the wheel, he (the captain)
was there.

"Now, Jack/' he said, "where do you
think we would be now, if it had not been for
' that old fool 7 you were pleased to term me ?
You ought to know me well enough by this
time that we have no work-up jobs on this
vessel. My men always have enough to do
without those."

Poor Jack made a very humble apology. I
seem to hear him saying now. " Ah ! captain,
I ask your forgiveness. It was my ignorance.
I couldn't see what you could. I ought to
know you better than to think you would give
us a work-up job. Do forgive me, captain !

"HALLOA, ON DECK!" 277

Your judgment and the dear old mate's saved
us all."

" All right, Jack boy," replied the captain ;
and the hurricane was past, leaving us a top-
sail to mend, as the most of the damage done.

In closing this recital let me remark that
when and where the tidal wave and hurricane
struck the Island of Antigua and others in its
route, terrible disaster followed in loss of life,
houses, property of various kinds, and destruc-
tion of vessels discharging cargoes in port.

Capturing Dolphin and Man-Eater Shark.

The exciting and wearying experience of
the hurricane was followed by several days of
calm, in which we did little more than drift,
only making two degrees to the south in fiv.e
days. Life had begun to be monotonous.
The damage caused by the hurricane had been
repaired, and there was really nothing to do
but watch the ship, eat, and sleep.

About nine o'clock one morning, Sam, one of
the seamen, was scraping the royal mast, a
job to the sailor — although more perilous —
such as washing windows is to the housemaid,
when he called out " Halloa, on deck ! "

278 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

" What is it, Sam ? " replied the captain.

" There is something ahead, looks like a
tub — a soak-tub ! "

"Where away?"

" About two points on the larboard (left
hand as you look forward) bow, a mile or so
ahead."

The captain turned to the helmsman and
ordered her to be kept off. As her head
pointed to the tub, Sam called down,
" Steady ! " and the captain repeated the
" Steady!"

Now all eyes were turned towards the tub,
which could just be discerned from the deck.
The captain, however, had been looking at it
with his glass, and remarked —

" If that is a soak-tub, and it looks much
like it, with any remnants of meat in it, there
is fun ahead for us."

A " soak-tub," in nautical parlance, is the
bottom portion of a pork-barrel used to freshen
salt beef and pork before cooking. It was
quite evident this had been washed from some
vessel's deck, and more than probable con-
tained meat. One of the men asked the
captain what kind of fun he meant.

.A MAN-EATER SHARK 279

" Why, the wash of water in and out of it
from the meat will collect dolphin by the
score about it, and very likely shark, neither of
which will leave it until starved away."

Just then we had approached near enough
for Sam, from his lofty position, to take in
the surroundings, who, knowing nothing of
what the captain had been saying, shouted,
" Halloa, below there ! "

" What is it, Sam ? "

" Crikey ! crikey ! what a lot of fish are
about it ! Three and four feet long : how they
are scooting around ! By George ! captain
( sailors are allowed to make their statements
emphatic), there is an awful big fish a little
way from it — a kind of light-coloured fellow.
What do you think they are, sir ? "

" The small ones are dolphins, and the large
one, by your description, the sailors' friend —
the man-eater shark," the captain replied.

" By Jingo ! I guess you are right, sir."

This information put new life into every-
body, for after eighteen days' constant living
on salt food, we were fresh-fish hungry.
Dolphin at sea are always considered a luxury,
as scarcely more than one or two are captured

a8o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

during a passage. In their actions on a line
they resemble a salmon and pollock, fighting
for their freedom, as every inch is gathered
from them. As we got nearly up to it, the
captain ordered seaman Jack to get down in
the main chains, and grab the tub as it passed
along.

"Will and Ned, you stand by to take it
from him. You had better take a turn of
that clew-line around your waist, in case you
should make a miss any way, Sam."

So down to the main chains (those used
to be the bars of iron on the sides of a vessel
to which the mast-shrouds were attached,
called in nautical terms, chain-plates, some-
times fore-chains, sometimes main, as they
applied to foremast or mainmast) Sam goes,
seizes it with his right hand, but of course
could not raise it. Then Will jumped to his
assistance, and even then it was no light
task ; but all hands were there ready to help,
and it was soon on deck. We felt, as we
looked at that tub for a moment, that it had
a history unknown to us. Had the vessel to
which it belonged gone down in the hurri-
cane ? Had that tidal wave swept it off the

HUNGRY DOLPHINS 281

deck ? We were all so anxious to get at
those dolphins, we could no longer moralize,
although its unwritten history did not have
a cheering effect. The dolphins, in great
numbers, could be plainly seen from the
deck as the tub was approached. These
dropped astern, and played along in the wake
of the vessel. She had just enough headway
to take the lines out from us, so that when
the captain on the larboard taffrail and the
mate on the starboard with two of us assisting
each of them, threw out their baited hooks,
they were immediately seized by those
ravenous fellows. I had never seen a dolphin,
but the captain and mate had seen hundreds,
and they both stated they had never seen
such large ones as were these. It was not
picking fishing by any means, for every fellow
rushed for his bite, and woe betide the one
that got it first, for he had to follow right
along to the taffrail, though jumping, scooting,
rushing, and fighting every inch of the way.
The quarter-deck soon presented the appear-
ance of a George's fisherman, dolphin flouncing
here, there, and everywhere.

We had captured some wonderfully large

282 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

fellows when the mate struck apparently the
king of the crowd — a monster, which he did
not know how to manage. Hitherto it had
been main strength and stupidness, which
sometimes works all right on small fish, but
you don't want to treat giants — in anything —
as you would pigmies. This the mate found
to his sorrow, for when he got him nicely
started, as he thought, and had another to
add to his already large number, the dolphin
gave a jump and a plunge, and was free from
his captor, although still attached to the
hook and two fathoms of line.

This started the classic English, which was
checked by the captain — u Oh, Mr. 0., there
is no need of that. Put on that other hook,
and don't be so rough with the next one.
Play the large fellows, like I do, and weaken
them. The hooks that are on the lines are
the last, and we must make the most of
them."

So over goes the new gear, and as quickly
as the bait clears the vessel another big one
seizes it.

" Now, play with him a little before
attempting to haul him."

TANGLED LINES 283

This would be just the advice to give a man
that knew anything about fishing, which our
mate didn't, nor would he let those that did
take his place. So as a result, when the
captain hooked one about the same time,
they ran across the track of each other and
made a fine muddle. Backwards and forwards
they went, as if in a country dance, which
induced me to call what the boys used to
when they got their lines tangled, " first cut
of a green cheese." The fish had nearly
wound up the slack of the lines, and the only
possible way out of the difficulty was to drag
them in together, which caused a lot of merri-
ment for the whole of us. In fact, by this
time we were in great glee.

Think of eight men being confined for
eighteen days on a space 25 by 100 feet, and
not taking advantage of such a spree and
ridiculous outcome as this. The old captain
laughed till he cried, and that sober old mate
actually stopped swearing and started into
laughing also.

Well, half an hour passed before the
lines could be cleared and the baits trailing
again. All this while the excitement was

284 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

kept up by just such ridiculous speeches as
Jack tars can make. We were soon fast into
another pair, and continued catching them
till fifty-seven lay on the deck. Then with
all our hooks gone and lines more or less
broken up, we were forced to knock off, while
there were apparently a hundred more waiting
and ready to be captured. The deck at that
time was not in a condition to receive either
the admiral or a health officer, but with six
hands at work the fish were soon disposed of
and the deck washed down. When this was
nearly completed, the captain was at the
wheel, and, looking down the rudder port,
spied some little fish.

" The fun is not all over yet. There must
be a ' man-eater ' in this neighbourhood ; for
here are his pilot fish — seven of them," said he.

These little fellows look like mackerel, are
grand eating, and accompany this particular
shark, the man-eater. They always precede
them, and many a poor fellow's body has been
saved from his ponderous jaws by the appear-
ance of these little fellows, so that while they
act as pilots for the fish, they are often the
protectors of the man. Where the captain

A VIEW OF THE MONSTER 285

saw these — the rudder port — is their favourite
resort about the vessel, the shark then often-
times lurking under her bottom. Of course, it
can only be in moderate weather they are
visible. Pardon this digression for the above
explanation.

" Sam," said the captain, " go up on the
main-topsail yard, and take a view of our
surroundings. That shark you saw is about
somewhere, either under or astern of us."

" All right, sir," and off he started.

As soon as he reached his look-out, he
shouted back. " There he is, sir, about 100
fathoms astern in the ship's wake, playing
about."

" Stay there, and watch his movements.
Mr. C. (the mate), you take charge of the
capture of this fellow. I think it will be no
trouble to get him."

" All right, sir."

So down into the cabin he went, returning
with a piece of pork and a coil of small new
rope, called in nautical language " ratline."
In the mean time the captain had gone up to
Sam's position, taken a view of the monster,
and returned to the deck.

286 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

" Have your gear solid, Mr. C., for you have

no chicken to deal with. Judging from the

distance, I think I never saw so large a one."

" What are you going to do with that pork

and rope, Mr. C. ? " I asked.

"Well, the pork is to bait him. He is not
a fish but flesh eater. That is the reason he
did not bother us when we were baiting up the
dolphin. With the ratline I'll make a ' running
bowline/ nautically speaking equivalent to
a ' slip-knot ' in plain English, or a ' snare/ as
the boys say. Now, the pork must be attached
to a piece of ' marline ' — more sailors' language
— and hung out of the larboard stern hawser-
pipe so as just to fcouch the water, that the
oil and scent from it may be trailed to him in
the brig's wake. Cook ! bring me some slush
(the fat drippings of the meat) saved for
ship's use."

With this watch him greasing the bowline
he has tied, and hear his explanation of it.

" I want this rope to help toll him as well,
and if there is a chance to draw it upon him it
will hook all the closer."

The mate has taken his position on the
taffrail — or top of the stern — his bodyprostrate,

COAXING A SHARK 287

with both hands on the outside, holding
the slip-knot. The one the standing, the
other slipping part ready for immediate action.
The tolling with that bait was assigned to me,
as they knew me to be a skilful fisherman.
So it was soused well at first, and the water
at once saturated with the oil from it, which
could be easily seen on the surface, and
watched as it moved to the shark. He seemed
to get its scent even before it reached him,
and started forward quickly, threshing his
great tail as if pleased.

Sam shouted, " There he comes, captain,
fast."

Well, he did come fast until about halfway
to the vessel, then checked himself, and
worked backwards and forwards across the
brig's wake, as if suspicious of danger, and
looking for his little pilots he was never again
to see.

" Mr. C., don't you think some of the oil off
the pork-barrel might coax him along," sug-
gested one of the onlookers ; and you can be
assured they were all there, deeply interested,
more than that, greatly excited.
As quick as thought the second mate had

288 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

some there, and the trail of it made, by drop-
ping a little at a time. Its effect for a while
was magical, for he sailed straight ahead, then
hesitated, but each fresh oil-baiting coaxed
him along a little, until he reached a point
about 12 feet from the snare. My pork
dangled 3 feet in front of the bowline, and
directly in its line, so it could not be taken
without his head first going through it. It
occurred to me to try a little coaxing with
that bait, so I dropped it along with the current
of the vessel, through the bow of the bow-line
and within three feet of him, knowing he could
not get it without first turning over on his
back. This seemed to infuriate him. He
wanted that bait, but fought shy of the vessel.
We were all eyeing him, with some of our
heads just peeping over the taffrail, others
looking through the hawser-pipes — eight pairs
of anxious eyes on him.

When the bait was hauled away from him
he made a short rush for it, but not to swallow
it, because he could not. The pork was
getting so much soaked there was little
substance leaving it, so a fresh piece was
brought into requisition.

HOOKED ! 289

Just then an exclamation came from the
mate, who had been lying all this time in a
trying position. " Hope to Heaven he'll start
soon ! I'm almost dead."

As soon as the new bait was dropped
towards him his eyes snapped. He was only
a few inches under water now, and was very
uneasy. As the bait was drawn back slowly
and just entering the bowline, he whipped
over on his back and rushed to his doom, for
as soon as his head had passed the bite of the
rope in the water the bow was dropped, the
standing part caught up by the mate, and he
was fastened behind the jaws.

" Seize the rope quickly and set back on
it. Hold for your lives ! " said the mate.

The boys didn't want any encouragement,
for they started in with a seaman's chorus
" Tally I.O.TL know." That helped our pur-
chase (ropeyarn over a spike) — not a patent
by any means, for the weight of that monster
cut right into the wood. Yet come he had
to. The water behind the vessel was threshed
into foam, as he resisted, with his immense
tail, the friendly treatment he was receiving.
It was 9 feet from the water to the top of the

u

29o MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

rail and the rope is now flush with it and his
head is protruding above. Could you have
heard the friendly salutations he received as
his immense jaws were coming up into sight,
you might have concluded he was an old
friend, that had been looked for and expected
for some time.

Sam the sailor hailed him. "You old
vagabond! You'll never again smack those
jaws over a poor seaman ! "

Jack followed this with, " You venerable
pirate ! You have finished your body-snatch-
ing for ever ! " while some other ones proposed
the contempt of all hands be shown, " by giving
him three groans," the response to which was
most hearty, some of them being as hollow
as if starting from their toes.

The above is only a specimen — and a small
one — of the full initiatory ceremony by which
he was welcomed into the arms and control
of the Albion crew. In justice to him, it
must be admitted he was no mean foe in
respect to fighting power, for at one time it
looked, when our new ratline showed signs of
weakness, that he might escape us after all.
So he was treated by each and every one to

HE DIES HARD 291

a knife-plunge, which settled largely his resist-
ance ; yet five hours afterwards he had suffi-
cient vitality to try to get under the bottom,
as his carcase was being moved amidships for
final disposal. This fellow was 12 feet long,
had a wound on his side, evidently made
by a harpoon, from which he had escaped.
The captain and mate, who had in their long
sea life seen many of this shark family,
declared he was the giant amongst them.

To return to the dolphins, they supplied us
with abundant fresh food for the next four
meals. The balance, about fifty, were divided
equally amongst the crew, the different piles
being chosen by lot. The fish were pickled,
dried, and exchanged with the negroes for
pepper. There is a peculiarity about these fish,
not seen, I believe, in any other, that nearly
escaped my notice, viz. their changing into
the different rainbow colours when dying.

Attack and Capture of a powerful and terrifying
Monster bearing the euphonious and digni-
fying title of" Devil-fish:'

The cargo and lumber in the brig were sold
at Port-au-Spain, Trinidad, to be landed^at

292 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

San Fernandez — a settlement 30 miles down
the coast, in the neighbourhood of the Asphalte
Pitch Lake, bordering on the Gulf of Para.
The water in that district is shoal a long
distance from land, necessitating the vessels
anchoring from one to two miles off, and
landing their cargoes in lighters, or, if lumber
— as in our case — in rafts warped ashore at
night when calm. The above explanation is
necessary to account for the appearance of
four negroes on board our ship who had been
hired at Port-au-Spain to assist the crew in
the extra work of discharging.

The second day down the coast was a very
calm one. Our vessel, being anchored a
mile and a half off, was surrounded by large
shoals of small fish resembling, in appearance,
the herring of the Atlantic. Noticing some
large fish threshing about, feeding amongst
them, I became greatly interested in them,
and my sporting proclivities were aroused
sufficiently to inquire of the " darkies " what
those large fish were.

" Oh, Massa Cap'n " (every official, with a
West Indian darkey, is a " Massa Captain "),
" he devil-fish. Ketch one for poor nigger : he

"KETCHUM ONE!" 293

grand eat when he get urn, but hard ketch
urn. Ketchum one ! "

This appeal didn't quiet the desire to tackle
one of them, so, after watching for some time
longer, during which they approached nearer
the brig, the " grains " used for catching
dolphin and similar fish were procured and
attached to the deep-sea line, some 200
fathoms long, used for taking soundings, or
the depth of water when approaching the land
from the sea. The "grains," it should be
explained, consist of four pieces of half-inch
steel, 10 inches long, with beards on the
one sharpened end, and an inch and a half
long. These four pieces are welded together,
with a socket on the top, into which a staff
is fitted, the whole attached together when
in service by a snood worked on the socket
with strong twine, also another on the staff,
into both of which snoods, or eyes, the rope
is attached ; that on the staff being so arranged
than, when a fish is struck, the staff detaches
from the socket and is held secured by the
line through the eye.

Well, with this gear and the brig's cutter
(boat) I started for the darkey's fish, taking

294 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

the precaution to fasten the end of the long
line to the thwart, also securing it about
midway, which proved afterwards a very justi-
fiable and prudent one*

Not over 100 yards from the vessel was
a shoal with one of those fellows having
such a lively time that there was no diffi-
culty in approaching him. So with the
grains near me, when about 15 feet from
him, he came to the surface, I hurled them
and they struck his side, when he gave
a flounce which buried me in water, as if
under a water-spout ; but the grains did not
hold. This experience should have sent me
back to the vessel, but the laughing and
shouting of those on ship-board, who had
been watching the performance, only served
to urge me on to try again. Well, I did not
have to go far nor wait long, for just 200
yards to my right was another fellow making
wonderful gyrations. So at him the boat
was directed, and soon I was in position to try
his lordship, or devilship, better termed. So
when he came on top of the water the grains
were thrown into the air with a circular
motion, falling upon his back and burying

HOOKING A DEVIL! 295

themselves. Great Scot ! what a plunge
and a jump ! the latter opening my eyes to
the fact that it was not a salmon, but a
veritable " devil " I was hitched to, and
my knife was reached for, to cut the line
and let him go. No knife ! that was a deuce
of a go ! — left in my coat on the vessel ! So
there was no alternative but to fight it out
or lose the whole gear — line and grains,
which then I was not prepared to do ; so I
concluded to fight him awhile. My boat was
trustworthy, and, unless he got under and
overturned her, I did not fear his getting
at me.

It was evident his sanctum had been ruth-
lessly invaded, and he intended making it
lively for his adventurous invader, so he started
off at railroad speed for the infernal regions,
out in the Gulf of Para, and directly away
from the ship. Fortunately, there was a
small piece of canvas in the boat, with which
I was able to seize the line, as he was rushing
it out, and thus, by checking it, helped to
speed the boat, so that she had headway
enough, when the fastened portion was reached,
not to snap it. At the time she was moving

296 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

faster than she ever did before, and it became
necessary to steer her to keep her from broach-
ing to and prevent capsizing.

Just then, out of the water, came the
ugliest appearing living thing my eyes had
ever seen, and went 10 feet into the air.
"Devil" was no misnomer, and led me to
the conclusion that the giver of that name
must have had a squint of his satanic majesty.
The grains had struck him a little ahead
of 'midships, so, when he was rushing, the
weight of the boat on the line inclined his
body crosswise of the water, and helped to
shoot him out into the air. My position was
by no means enviable — alone, and travelling at
such fearful speed away from the brig and out
into that boisterous gulf. Still, up to that
time, there was no thought of letting him
clear. Experience satisfied me, if he was the
devil himself, he could not keep up that per-
formance long. Then, noticing when he
jumped, that the grains must have gone into his
vitals, for they were out of sight, confirmed
me in that decision.

While all this was going on with me, the
mate and crew, for the captain was on shore,

"OLD DEVIL-FISH NO CHILE" 297

were not disinterested lookers-on, so that
when he had dragged me a mile or more away
he (the mate) ordered the four darkies to man
the " jolly-boat " with four oars, and go to
my assistance. Seeing this movement, my
courage went up fifty per cent., the fear being
for getting back out of the gulf. After he
had jumped out three times, it was noticeable
that the spring was leaving him, followed soon
by a slackening of the line, as well as of the
pace. Then hope and courage rose another
twenty per cent., and I saw it was necessary
to gather in the line as it slackened, so that
he would not be so heavy to get up to the
boat when he caved in, as every moment gave
evidence he soon would do. Now the boat
had ceased to move, and, deciding he was dead,
the line was shifted aft and hauled in over the
quarter, until the weight of his body came
upon me. By this time the boat sent to my
assistance was near, when the old darkey
hailed me with —

" Well, Massa Cap'n, you had a gran1 time.
Old devil-fish no chile. Hay ! you got him,
hay?"

" I've got something — the devil or his

298 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC

imp. Come on board here and haul him
up.'7

So with the aid of three darkies, he was
brought to the surface, and secured to the
boat for towing back to the vessel. I wanted
to cut him clear, but they would not listen to
the proposal.

" Fine fish, Massa Cap'n ! Oh gran' ! Don't
cut him ! Darkey give you thousand oranges."

They didn't know my knife was on the brig,
or they would not have pleaded so hard. To
bring the story to a close, the getting back to
the vessel, which constituted a couple of hours
of hard towing, we'll pass by, and view the
prize as he lay on the raft. He was 8 feet
long, 6 feet wide, 2 feet or more thick, much
the shape of a skate, with a whip-handle tail.
A head in ugliness resembling what is known
among shore fishermen as a " drum sculpin "
— most repulsive when looked at. A mouth
18 inches or more wide, set with rows of shark
teeth, and hung round with long smellers or
suckers. After being cut up, he weighed
nearly 400 Ibs., his colour nearly approaching
blackness.

With this recital, leave must be taken of my

FAREWELL ! 299

readers, with the wish that you may all enjoy
in your outings everything that has been
pleasurable in mine, while those that have
been alarming, as those just recited, may be
kept in the background or out of sight.

THE END

PBINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

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