24 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 17-No. 2 



to face with Capt. Fred Barker, the most 

 popular man in the Rangeley Lake district. 

 Capt. Barker's popularity has been gained by 

 his sterling worth. 



In this vast assemblage I perceived a person 

 who would be noticed anywhere. He looked 

 as though he feared no living person or animal. 

 He was tall, broad shouldered, and possessed 

 a herculean frame. He had a clear, rich brown 

 complexion, a heavy brown moustache 

 sprinkled with gray, and throat beard. He 

 had an eye as clear as a mountain spring, and 

 it was piercing as an eagle's. I never saw a 

 more resolute face, and yet there was not a 

 cruel line in his features, and his smile was 

 genial and winning. He was neatly dressed, 

 and his whole appearance indicated a man of 

 cleanly and abstemious habits. " Who is he ? " 

 I heard many of the assem.blage inquire, and 

 then would follow this answer, " Why, that is 

 the famous Jock Darling of Maine." 



I might write several columns of the dis- 

 tinguished sportsmen in this congregation, 

 but the call came to fall in for the banqueting 

 hall, and, headed by the following guests, the 

 company proceeded thereto: — • 



Hon. Geoige W. Wiggin, president of the 

 Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Asso- 

 ciation; Hon. E. B. Hodge of the New 

 Hampshire Fish and Game Commission; Hon 

 F. D. Courier; Mr. Stephen O'Meara, Boston 

 Journal; Mr. S. A. Wetmore, Boston Herald; 

 Capt. Fred C. Barker; Mr. Walter M. Biackett; 

 Mr. .Jonxthan Darling, Maine Game Warden; 

 Gen. Douglas Frazer; Mr. J. N. Taylor, Boston 

 Globe; Rev. C. F. Lee; Mr. Henry Dutton; Mr. 

 A. C. (iould, of 8/tooting and Flshhig; Mr. J. 

 D. Whitcomb; Dr. W G. Kendall; Mr. W. S. 

 Adams and Mr. Frank B. Webster. 



The banqueting hall was a scene worthy of 

 description. Upon entering the hall the first 

 object seen was a huge black bear; this animal 

 was shot in Manitoba, and was one of the 

 largest specinrens ever killed. Suspended 

 from the ceiling, midway in the hall, was a 

 full-sized birch-bark canoe, and at one end of 

 the hall was a large deer, superbly mounted. 

 Attached to the columns in the room were two 

 fine moose' heads, three caribou heads and 

 five *deer' heads. In the centre of the room 

 was an artificial grotto containing otter, mink, 

 beaver, weasels, and in fact almost every small 

 game animal, as well as the birds found in 

 New England and Canada. Here and there 

 were Winchester rifles, fly rods, landing nets, 

 gaffs, and various implements used by the 

 sportsman, and arranged with artistic effect. 



Mr. Walter M. Brackett kindly loaned some 

 of his superb salmon paintings, one showing 

 the rise and two others the dead king lying 

 upon the river's bank. 



Mr. Darling brought an enlarged camp scene) 

 showing six immense bucks killed by sports- 

 men visiting his camps. 



The walls were covered with trophies of the 

 chase; every available space was decorated 

 with skins, mounted specimens or parapher- 

 nalia of the sportsman. 



The menu was in keeping with the other 

 features of the entertainment, and a fine 

 orchestra discoursed music through the re- 

 ception and dinner. 



There was something like decorum until the 

 musicians chose to render "Maggie Murphy's 

 Home," when the ice was broken, and the 

 strains of the orchestra were drowned by the 

 singing of the assembled sportsmen. 



AVhile dinner w'as being served President 

 Woodiuff rapped for order and read the fol- 

 lowing telegram: 



New York, Jan. 27th. 

 Broke my paddle and can't fetch your 

 camp in time, but here's health to you all; 

 long life on earth and something very like 

 camping ever after. w. ii. h. murk ay. 



At the conclusion of the repast President 

 I. O. Woodruff called the assemblage to order. 

 He stated that it was his pleasant duty to 

 preside at this meeting. The past year has 

 been the most successful one in tlie history 

 of the club. In behalf of the committee of 

 arrangements he extended thanks to Mr. 

 Webster, of the Frank Blake Webster Co., for 

 the elaborate decorations. He referred to 

 the increase in membership from 217 last year 

 to 283 at the present time, there being but 17 

 shares of stock unsold at the present time. 

 The club had redeemed bonds to the extent 

 of §2200 last year, and there was a balance of 

 .$22:^"> in the treasury at the present time, the 

 remaining bonded indebtedness being $1800; 

 outstanding liabilities none, except current 

 expenses. The club now controls 1.59,600 acres 

 or 2o0 square miles, and although a young- 

 club, has the largest preserve, except a strictly 

 private territory, in America. He referred to 

 the work accomplished by the club in the past 

 four years, and hinted at what might be ex- 

 pected in the next twelve. There were to be 

 additional accommodations for members, new 

 boats and canoes having been ordered. Refer- 

 ence was made to one of the visitors who, 

 when visiting the preserve last year — 



