The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-28

II Ohu d Suit0 ZOE you.
You needn't disturb any of the
guides, if you'll give my boat push fol
me, said I, and at half past 8 O'Clock he
pushed my skiff off from the wharf. II
was glorious summer morning, but
: after ! had been out q few minutes q
mind that, for SO long as the rain didn't
bother the fish 1T didn't bother me. AT
exactly half past o'clock pulled up to
the wharf with thirty-nine fish. I blew
my fish horn, aroused the nineteen peopla
who were in camp. and we made our
breakfast off my catch. l remember it
as we'll as If it were yesterday. 1 had on
a silver doctor and a brown haokle and
another.
"My rifle is 33. 40, and people say that
am a good shot. / don't know about
that, but brought down good-sized
deer last fall, and never have suffered
any with buck fever. One thing that
enjoy about hunting and fishing as much
as any other is the sensible dress that one
is compelled to wear. My costume oon-
sists of very short skirt made of some
heavy wooden stuff that Is waterproof, a
sweater, "a loose hunting coat, very thick,
heavy high boots and soft bright red
SLOUGH hat"
just as Miss Crosby began to explain
how free one felt in suoh garb after wear
ing the conventional dress of women for
many years, one Of her guides came in to
speak to her, which gave the visitor an
opportunity to study her more closely.
She is not pretty woman. but she is
picturesque and looks unoommonly well
with short skirt and open jacket which
shows brig hit red sweater. High laced
boots of the same material as her dress
and a green hunting hat with bright
red Tam o'Shanter crown turned coquet-
tishly up on one side with a red quill,
gave the finishing touches to her Co.'S
tune. She is quite tall and straight,
and runs rather to muscle than to plump.
ness. Her eye is bright and keen and she
has rich color such as comes only from
a life spent in the open air. AS for bangs
and crimps she would not bother with
them for the world but brushes her hail
straight back, though every now and
then curly lock strays down on he1
forehead
"Where did leave offf'' she said,
turning to her visitor once more. "Oh.
yes, was speaking of hunting. have
supported my mother for long time,
and after had to give up my position
and Iood IN outdoor life xuac 1,111o1 +r
know how would make both ends meet
but hit on fine plan two summers ago.
1 took large party of boys, ranging
from fourteen to eighteen years Of age, to
the Rangeley Lakes and taught them
how to fish and shoot. These boys came
from all over the States but we started
out from Boston in special cars. I hired
several camps, cooks, and guides, and
several teachers came along with the
boys. We were out for sixty days, and
those who wanted to fshed while the
others hunted. Turning those boys loose
IN the woods of Maine was like putting
spawn into pond; they caught the.feyel
and were simply crazy oyer the SPORT and
think some very fine sportsmen were
Matched out that summer. The boys were
all city boys, and were perfect greenhorns
about fishing and shooting when they
started out.
"I'm about as fond of bagging game
and landing fish as any one you ever saw
or read about" continued Miss Crosby,
drawing herself up very straight, "but
when the game laws are on Pm as severe
on those who attempt to break them as
the next one. Last year [ spent good
deal Of my time IN Augusta while the
Legislature WAS in session, doing what
could to influence the members in i'm
proving our game and fish laws, and
then some time ago l took a notion tc
nave fish exhibit here at the Sports
mems Show. I went before the State
Commissioners, and they said could
have the fish, but everybody said it was
nonsensical for me to try to carry out
such big undertaking. 1 came here
and consulted Dr. Bean. the Fish Com
missioner, as to what fish could live in
the Croton water. My talk with him
was so satisfactory that I applied to the
Government for one of their four fish
cars to bring the exhibit on here, and the
Government not only sent the Car, but
six men along with it. Arthur Merrill
of the Maine hatcheries came along, too,
with the exhibit, which consists of 100
live fish, varying in size from finger
length to salmon weighing eight and a
half pounds and trout that tips the
beam at five and half. We had to &c
800 miles out of our way on account oil
the freshets but we are here in great
shape.
Ed Grant built the log cabin which
, we brought. 1t was made at the Range.
leys, and is built Of spruce logs, and Gov
cred with cedar shingles. The hunks Oh
the inside are covered with spruce an d
hemlock boughs, and the pine knots
burning in the open fire place give the
final touch to typical Maine camp. We
got showed in with that cabin. and ha d
to go over three different roads to get td
Portland. By this time we were so de-
layed that the superintendent of the