250 With Rod and Gun in Neiv England 



accepted for several years. The quality and quantity of birds became 

 known, and the pressure from other gunners became great for admission. 

 For many years gunners from Orleans shot together with the Chathamites. 

 At length a schism arose between the Orleanists and the Chathamites. 

 Here was an opening, an opportunity for the outsiders. In 1862 a club 

 was organized by the writer and Mr. Alonzo Nye, the recognized leader of 

 the Chathamites. The new club was christened " Monomoy Eranting Club," 

 and was to consist of fourteen non-resident and four resident members. 

 The resident members were to do boating, build bars, etc., and the non- 

 residents to pay bills, etc. We drew up a form of constitution and by- 

 laws, and I served as president and manager for thirty-four years, retiring 

 late in 1890. At the time the club was formed, a new shanty was built and 

 things assumed a more comfortable aspect. A few years later an enlarge- 

 ment was called for; the capacity of the shanty was doubled, and the club 

 had good shooting and it prospered. Soon after, another club was formed, 

 which later on was known as the " Providence Club." A few years after- 

 ward a third club, the Manchester, was formed, with boxes in proximity, 

 which did not tend to produce harmony, and finally, in the interest of peace, 

 the three clubs were merged in one under the rules and management of 

 the Monomoy. The triple alliance proved satisfactory and brought peace 

 to the clubs, and good-will in the camps. In the earlier stages of devel- 

 opment of the Monomoy Club, the accommodations were so limited that 

 weekly parties of only four could be admitted, but with the addition of the 

 Providence and Manchester club-houses, weekly parties of eight were 

 accommodated with both box and sleeping-room. These, with the four 

 resident members, a cook and boatman, made our regular crew fourteen. 

 The season embraced the time from about the '20th of March to the 1st of 

 May. From the first organization of the club, a journal was kept, in 

 which was recorded, each day, the temperature, tides, wind, weather, num- 

 ber of members and invited guests present, the boxes they occupied, with 

 number of brant killed at each, together with any incidents worthy of 

 remark, such as a severe storm or gale, shipwreck, great flight or scarcity 

 of brant, etc. Sea-fowl, other than brant, were not always noticed. 

 This journal, of which the club has three volumes, may be of no great 

 value, but it is convenient for reference, and often proves quite interesting. 

 It has often been affirmed, by persons competent to judge, that the Mono- 

 moy Branting Club has the most complete record of any sporting club in 

 this country. The journal shows a total of 9,048 brant killed during Hap- 

 good's thirty-four years of management. 



