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THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



often the impression of those who are not 

 initiated into all the mysteries and uncertain- 

 ties of shooting, and the "crack shot" is 

 usually too proud of his reputation to dispel 

 this illusion, or to keep any count of the 

 misses he may make. Some few years ago 

 the writer was in the habit of visiting a place 

 not many miles from Montreal, and where 

 there was a stretch of woods extending three 

 or four miles in length, and in which, at that 

 time, there were a good many Ruffed Grouse. 

 During one of my visits the birds were pretty 

 numerous, but I had by noon only succeeded 

 in bagging two brace, one of these being a 

 "pot shot," while I had missed at least a 

 dozen shots, the cover in most places being 

 very dense. While pursuing my sport nume- 

 rous shots were fired from the other end of the 

 wood, three or four reports in rapid succession 

 made me aware that more than one gun was 

 being employed, and that game was apparently 

 plentiful. In a short time the hunting party 

 approached near enough to enable me to 

 recognize three well-known sportsmen and 

 reputed " crack shots," — feeling ashamed to 

 appear before these gentlemen with only two 

 brace, I quietly turned about and walked in 

 another direction, — they had fired at least 

 twenty shots, and from their " reputation " I 

 concluded must have bagged nearly as many 

 birds. Some days after, however, I happened 

 to meet one of the gentlemen, and did not tell 

 him of the result of my day's sport until I had 

 ascertained that his party had, with a score of 

 shots, only succeeded in bagging " one bird." 

 I have since then been a firm believer in the 

 uncertainty of Ruffed Grouse shooting and can 

 confidently recommend this sport to any one 

 ambitious to acquire the reputation of being 

 considered a " crack shot." — "Wallace. 



LOBSTER CULTURE. 

 The subject of Lobster culture has taken up 

 the attention of Prof. S. F. Baird and the Fish 

 Commissioners of the State of Maine. The 

 Professor says : — 



" There is a very great promise of success 

 in cultivating lobsters on a large scale by in- 

 closing them in small salt water bays, where 

 there is a free circulation of water, and the 

 egress of the lobsters can be prevented by 

 grating or netting. They can be fed, as I 

 understand, very largely upon clams, and will 

 not only grow very rapidly under such circum- 

 stances, but carry on the propagation of the 

 young. The young can either be kept in the 

 inclosure or go out to sea and increase the 

 supply in the vicinity. This is, by far, the 

 most feasible way of solving the problem in 

 regard to the depletion of lobsters along the 

 coast of Maine and the Provinces. Is there 

 any provision in the fishery laws of Maine by 

 which an individual undertaking this work 

 can prevent unauthorized persons from going 

 in and reaping the benefit when the individual 

 cultivator actually owns or leases the adjacent 

 shore? Of course no man will be willing to 

 go into the business unless he can be protected, 

 and if there is no provision in Maine, as there 

 is in Massachusetts, by which the Fish Com- 

 missioners can lease a pond to particular indi- 

 viduals for the purpose of propagating fish and 

 secure to them thei'eby exclusive rights in the 

 waters, it would be well to have such a provi- 

 sion, with the understanding that it is to ap- 

 ply to salt waters as well as to fresh. If the 

 experiment proves as successful as I confi- 

 dently anticipate and believe it will be, it will 

 add enormously to the resources of the State, 

 as there are hundreds of localities where such 

 ponds could be established to the best advan- 

 tage. Of course I suggest no interference with 

 high seas navigation." 



In the September and October numbers 

 (Vol. I.) of this journal, we made a tew 

 remarks on the Canadian Lobster Fisheries. 

 It may be further stated in connection with 

 the subject, that in consideration of the extent 

 of this industry in our Maritime Provinces, it 

 would be well for those engaged in the busi- 

 ness to consider the propriety of cultivating 

 the lobster, as suggested b} r Professor Baird. 

 There are many available localities along the 

 Gulf seaboard where the cultivation of this 

 valuable crustacean can be carried on with 

 success. For instance, the Bay of Gaspe, and 

 and at several places on the coast near Perce 

 and Bonaventure. Prince Edward Island has 

 also many excellent sites for this object. 



