New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-13
Mr.. SMITHS SALMON.
THE PARTNERSHIP OF A HIGH-PRINCIPLED
SPORTSMAN AND TWO POACHERS.

phOny OF the most vivid contrast OF primary TINS
which can be arranged upon hook. The weather
may be dry and hot. the water low and the fish
lazy, or they may be possess d Of a deprayed OBJ
stinacy proof against all the seductIons Of the
angler. The fish are there, for one may them
rolling azlly out OF the hike porpoises in the
morning and evening. The fishermen there for
their lamentations are heard all day long as
they WELD their two-handed rods IN vain. But the
providence which is looked to for a combination
between fish and an glers is unpropittious.
Such were the conditions which vexed the souls
Of Mr. Smith and a few other American sportsmen
assembled at place half clubhouse and half hotel
near the junction Of the Restigouche aud Meta
pedla II was not so much the perversIty Of the
fish as the persistent watchfulness Of three fish
wardens which fatIgued and exacerbated
Pete half breed, aud Tom" his
pal. who were lurking about the river
tor purpose of which the wardens had a
strong suspicion. The SIMPLE fact was that " Pete
and Tom" wanted fish and they studied the
habits OF the vardens. The wardens kept faithful
watch, but there was one weak point When the
express train came down little before sunset and
stopped at a station on the Quebec side of the
bridge the lonely wardens could not resist the
temptation OF strollng up to see possible arrivals.
his was the poa cheers time. " Pete and " Tom "
had hidden containing net on an
island a little way above. Everything
was ready, and when the express
was heard laundering down to the station,
the poachers shot ont from behind the island. In
instant the net was IN the water al the head Of
the pool, stretching across, and deep enough to
reach nearly to the bottom The current drifted
it downward while the men in the canoe kept 1t
straight. Suddenly the rope on the surface shook
violently. A stroke with a paddle and the canoe
was at the spot. The net carefully raised. and
a noble salmon, entangled by the glls in mesh,
was quoted forever by blow with club and
tossed into the bottom Of the canoe Again
aud again this happened the p0achers
swept their destructive way through the
pool II was almost matter Of seconds. for the
train did little more than stop at the station. a
whistle from the engine sounded over the river like
9 warning. The poachers hauled their net into the
canoe, threw some coats over the fish, and as the
train rolled over the bridge they urged their canoe
through underneath with nine salmon and the
vaTlens " nIyer the wiser"
II may appear that tn re can be no possible con-
rcction between these sueaking poaohers and the
b sl-principled sportsman Mr.. Smith Under
ordinary circumstances there Is nothing which
Mr. Smith abhors a. he does poacher.
HIS sentiments regarding fish laws and the
StIlct OpscIEduCr VI usAlAs privileges W A4ii Il0
utmost honor He holds that it is little short OF
murder to take a fish IN any other way than with 4
ly III short Mr.. Smith Is a maA or e.ninently cor
rect principles and associations But the circum-
stances. rs have xplhned, were extraordinary.
lie had gathered uD his split bamboo rods and the
rest OF his costly paraphorlalia. and taken long
Journey to the RcstiSouche country only to meet
with disappointment He had a reputation as an
angler to sustain and tie other fishermen, who had
heard his tales Of killing salmon, were moved by
lis pres ant failure TO regard him as prophet
whose honor was thing of doubt. 1t happened
that evening that Mr. smith had been disturbed by
various sceptcal remarks concerning his skill
which had been Ut rel by men whom h. consid-
cred utterly beneath him in knowledge Of N, gen.
lie cIaff While bordering how he mig ii mon
~trafe his superiority, he b"held Pete ana
- ON" approaching with All ar OF beautiful
guielessne,s and bearing some splendid salmon.
eaush as they "fsI re% smith fr %y anS
looked away. Being somewhat familiar with
the country. he was aOle TO 1orn
worry clear Iaea as 70 how the fish met their death
lie sterny regarded the artess conn OF the
poachers and prepared to administer rebuke,
y. nen ali at once the sarcasms of his friends upon
ms had mex rose lid before him. and with them
came an idea. lie hesitated. there was strGg-
gn: and instead Of denOuncIng tne poac lers, he
looked over his shoulder cautiously and then SAID
10 Pete -: " PUT those fish away for me where
they'll be SAFE To " Io.n he said: Come up
to my rOOm." -.
For nearly an lour MI smith was ciOSeIeu WIN
When he reappeared down stairs he alluded to
the next mornings isnlng with an ar or DuOyant
confidence As this not shared by his friends,
Mr. smiths hopeful and even somewhat boast!ul
remarks called forth carpng and even derlslVe
comments. He was even WILING 70 nask us con
vlcrlon hat he would capture the frst hsh tor any
reasonable amount and his friends made haste 10
Accommodate him. lie was also of the opinion that
hs would bring home more than one salmon,
4
promptly arranged. When morning came
Dir. smith publicly engaged " Pete and Tom
as his canoemen circumstance III 40 way SIP
ing as they frequently were employed In THIS capAc-
Itv. HIS friends on the water early resolved
upon his dIscomhture Dir smith alto suostantl ~
breakfast and walked down 70 the canoe. ON
had preceded him. carrying with somewhat IN
usual care a bundle Of coats, as the morning ar
was chilly These no deposited IN tine canoe. where
" Pc o" awaited him There seemed 10 be no need
of brllast IN be light birch bark craft, but lom
appeared TO think differently, and he vas ar some
pains to collect number OF rOand stones VI Aal
Size before they left the beach
Dir. Smith took MS seat am dshps, r0d IN hand,
and Pete aid Tom padc ed the canoe toward
the pool None Of the men who were whipping the
water here and there had had rise" and they
were moro than ever inclined to leer at Mr. smith:
The story of what happened after the canoe reached
it, stat is best told b. one OF the cheI actors
Wed. sir. after we'd dropped anchor at our place
in the pool Mr. Smith, he begun to cast an he put
nIs fy here, an he put his ly there an neoei
they was watchln' him. for the talkn' he
done the night An then when they saw ne wa
catchIn' noihin' by an by they gave no heed at al
10 him. Twas then that we'd worked of some
ways from them, an' | saws TO my gentleman, very
quet Please reei in your line, siE An Whel
twas reeed in got a hold OF the line as If TO pu
new fy on, an with one hand inst opened thf
bundle of coats the bottom of the canoe an
! took out fine fat SALMON. hooked MN on wei
an then so as nobody could see | slid him easy
| over the side INTO the water. Ny gentleman h
had considerable slack Of line loose III HI
| hand an he let IL Iun out a
quick as ever he could Tho current
! took it. an the fshs heft, for twas twenty
| pouuder YES sir made he rod bend. Mr. smith
h. gave the line Jerk from tine reel an we got III
! the anchor in a hurry. The other gentlemen. they
heard the reel an looked around an saw Us gettin
| hsb sure enough Somebody called out to M
| gentleman bat 10 looked rs ii no was mighty BUSY
/ with ms fish, Down tho river we went, keeoIn o.
! tbs other sIae well of from them. Mr.. smith h