The sun., 1903-10-18

RDeckled Trout In Every Dtch ana brOOk,
and PartridEes Common Enough to
Keep q Party Supplied With Food
Caribou by the Hundred Seen on the
March. Their Well Trod Paths, the
Same for Generations. Laid on the River
Banks Wonders Seen by Hunters.
GAsPk BASIN, Bay Of Chaleur, Oct, L.,
Three energetic visitors have just re-
turned from a memorable ten weeks trip
to the coast of Newfoundland in fishing
smack The inhabitants about this little
resort think nothing of the long run across
TO the island, if the weather conditions
enable them to keep out Of the way Of ocean
steamers and icebergs; and these found the
ocean voyage merely pleasant episode in
a delightful outing experience.
The point made for was a little river,
really more of an estuary of the sea, not
far from Notre Dame Bay. Most unso-
phisticated salmon were met with here,
which had apparently never heard of such
deceits as artificial flies, The Palmer and
Professor were the flies fl rst tried. and as
lusty young salmon of from twelve to fifteen
them. there was no object in making a
change.
The professional fishermen took their
hsh in very peculiar manner. With all
the contempt of the old salt for such gim-
crack tools as rods and reels, they heaved
out from the boat, and then drew in slowly,
long handlines OF twisted horsehair, which
were baitcd with conglomerations of seal
bristles. gulls' feathers and red yarn. not
In the least like any living thing. When
. line grew heavy with water, a bit Of cork
was strung to it, just above the hook, to
keep it up.
These primitive lures were as successful
as were the expensive flies of the anglers,
and the speedy, matter of fact way in which
the men hauled in the beautiful fish was
trying to the sporting souls OF their COM
panions. No large fish were taken, and
the old fishermen said that since the ancient
colony put a stop to the netting of salmon
no way of catching such immense fellows
as used to be seen had been discovered.
Led by their guides the party visited
little nameess lake in the heart of the
woods. long days journey from the sea-
Here they caught trout of a variety quite
new to them, resembling in some respects
both the brown and the spotted kinds
On an average they weighed about three
pounds. and were good game dsh. not too
easily handled, even upon salmon tackle.
One Of their peculiarities was their gre
gariousness
The hooked fish were invariably sur
rounded by several Others who ran with
them. jumped alongside of them and came
up so near the landing places that twice
over the guides contrived to strike the
sympathizsrs with the gaff-no landing
net had been taken along-and thus secured
two larger unlocked fish.
The strangely marked trout were not
alone in the lake. Large club raced with
the trout for the flies. One, which weighed
seven pounds, made a capital fight, caus-
ing him to be mistaken for sulky heavy
salmon as long as his strength lasted.
Three or four grilse, or young, salmon, OF
which led to much discussion among the
members OF the party. There was no
visible connection with the sea, though
the guides asserted that the effect Of the
tides was clearly visible twice day, and
that the salmon must have come in by some
ever, Incline to the belief that they were
the so-called land locked salmon, or ouan-
aniche, but have no argument to offset
the appeal 70 the intense brilliancy of the
red coloring Of their flesh, in proof that
they were newly run from deep sea feed
ing ground.
The men remained in the island longer
than they had intended, owing to their
having had a glimpse of the advance guard
Of the emigrating caribou, which, like the
reindeer herds Of {. .andinavia change
their feeding grounds every spring and
change OF plan. Partridges of small,
but gastronomically delicious type we're
SO plentiful that they had no difficulty in
making them their staple food. Spsckled
trout they caught at will in every ditch
like brook All the caribou their licenses
allowed them they killed, caro- being taken,
too, TO pick out only the best heads.
One fine creature they caught alive in Il
rather curious way. He evidently had
been vigorously rubbing the velvet from
his antlers against the branches of fallen
birch tree. and had contrived to entangle
some Of his many prongs in their forks.
How far he had dragged his heavy. clumsy
clog it was impossible TO say, but when
discovered he was in a thoroughly de ejected,
tired condition, and was quite unable 10
extricate himself from the trees between
which the encumbrance had become
lodged
Two Of their specimens they got by set
ting up colored handkerchiefs as flags,
toward which little herd of the curious
caribou came trotting, and. shifting aloud
as they approached closely, gave the con-
cealed hunters an excellent opportunity Of
shooting the males among them
On little excursion mort Inward they got
sight OF regular flock Of some hundreds
OF the caribou upon the march. They
appeared to be nal king a roadway of the
bed Of a shallow stream and were eating
the eel grass and water weeds as they trav-
elled in leisurey kind of way. Occa-
sionallv some of them jumped ashore after
particularly tempting bunch Of twigs
or wild grass or TO enjoy n trot bf ckwNrd
and forward along the sides The well
tramped green banks and the other signs
caused the observers to conceive the idea
that this part of the stream was the regular
great highway for the deer, by which they
had made their migiations for many gem
erations.
True reindeer moss, Clddonin rungif-
ertnd, was found in most OF the swamps,
and probably forms the chief winter food
for the thousands Of caribou which con-
trivn 10 exist in that rather inhospits BILE
part Of the island This moss the guides
soaked in seis water, dried roughly and
then boiled for some Eours, the result be-
ing, when STIR ined, q Il ck, almost tast--
less Cruel, evidently containing enough
nutriment TO sustain even human life in
an emergoncv
APPLE MNTING FOR GROI Sc.
Fascinating but Dihicr't Cunning Found