382 With Rod and Gun in New England 



for a shot, and then hardly ever a satisfactory one — such is upland-plover 

 hunting. 



This bird, as before stated, is extremely wary. It seldom allows the 

 gunner to approach nearer than thirty-five or forty yards, and, leaving its 

 hiding-place in the short grass with three or four sharp, bewildering notes, 

 adds ten yards more to the handicap with a couple of strokes of its wings, 

 and is under tremendous headway, fifty yards away, before its pursuer, 

 however quick he may be, can possibly cover him. Yet with all the 

 advantage on the side of the bird, they may be killed. Among the writer's 

 acquaintances in his own city are three gentlemen who are simply experts 

 with the plover. They are crack shots, to be sure, on all kinds of game, 

 but while there are others who keep handily along with them in the brush, 

 on the plover ground they are masters of the situation. Very large breed- 

 ing grounds for these birds in New Hampshire are not numerous, although 

 some are found in nearly every section of it. Prior to a dozen years ago 

 they were very abundant. At that time, for some cause unknown to the 

 writer, they began rapidly to decrease, and were comparatively scarce until 

 two years ago, when they reappeared in considerable numbers. 



It is within the bounds of possibility that in New Hampshire, as well 

 as in the other New England States, in a few years another valuable game 

 bird will be added to the varieties already found, viz.: the ring-necked 

 pheasant. In spite of the discouraging outlook at times, and the many 

 unexpected difficulties experienced in effecting their primary introduction, 

 the persistent efforts of a few individuals furnish strong probabilities of 

 being eventually crowned with success; and that the birds, when once 

 fairly established, will thrive, although the quality of sport they may furnish 

 to the gunner remains to be seen. 



Both the pure Chinese and the English ring-necks are being experi- 

 mented with, and the progress of the venture is watched, and the ultimate 

 result is awaited with much concern, both by the State officials who have 

 the matter in charge, and by private individuals who have been directly 

 interested in the movement from its inception. 



FISH- 



It is to the credit of a majority of the people of New Hampshire that 

 they have always been willing that the State should make some official 

 efforts to preserve and increase its supply of valuable food fish, although 

 the lack of any more than a passing interest in the matter, until within a 

 few years, has prevented the accomplishing of results, which a little fore- 

 thought, sprinkled with enthusiasm, would easily have made possible. 



The recent radical change in public sentiment in favor of the fish and 

 game interests in the State, and the acceptance of the fact that the officials 



