262 



the Canadian sportsman and naturalist. 



ment of the Smithsonian Institution, at Wash- 

 ington, invited a few of the leading ornitho- 

 logists of America to meet them in convention 

 at the Museum of Natural History in the 

 Central Park, in the city of New York, on 

 September 26. The meeting was a very 

 pleasant one, as it brought together those of 

 similar tastes, who had for many years known 

 each other by correspondence, and yet had 

 never met. Mr. Mcll wraith, of Hamilton, and 

 Mr. Chamberlain, of St. John, N.B., repre- 

 sented the Dominion, and were heartily 

 welcomed by their American cousins. The 

 convention continued in session for three days, 

 the principal business being the formation of 

 an American Ornithologist's Union, with a 

 constitution and by-laws similar to the British 

 Association of the same name. Professor J. A. 

 Allan, of Cambridge, Mass., was elected presi- 

 dent ; Dr. Elliot Coues, of Washington, 

 first vice-president, and Mr. Robert Ridgeway, 

 second vice-president, for the ensuing year. 

 Committees were also formed to report on the 

 migration of birds, on the deshabilitj or other- 

 wise of encouraging the English sparrow, and 

 specially on the nomenclature and classification 

 of American birds. In view of the import- 

 ance of the work and the enjoyment it had 

 afforded to those who took part in it, it was 

 resolved to have those" who had attended this 

 first meeting photographed in a group as the 

 founders of the A.O.U., after which the 

 members reluctantly separated, to meet again 

 in about a year, at such time and place as may 

 be decided on by the council of the union. 



THE SHAWINIGAN CLUB GROUNDS. 



My Dear Sir, — I have read with much 

 pleasure and interest the correspondence of a 

 member of the Shawinigan Club, in the 

 Star of the 13th inst., and will coincide with 

 him, that the scenery ot the Laurentides are 

 unsurpassed, both in lakes, rivers and forests, 

 abounding with game and fish ol all qualities. 

 From what I hear, most of cur lakes within 

 thirty or forty miles of Berthier, Riviere du 

 Loup and Three R vers, are all taken up by 

 sportsmen, who intend keeping guardians over 

 their grounds, and, more than that, stock 

 some of their lakes with the famous land- 

 locked Salmon or Wawanish. I see that our 

 American friends and neighbors, who are 

 generally good anglers, have taken up a large 

 share and the balance is secured by Canadians, 

 who are also good in the use of both rod and 



gun. The Shawinigan Club deserves praise 

 from every one who love to stimulate out- 

 door sport, for their exertions so far, in making 

 their place so attractive. They have made 

 wide portages on their grounds, leading to 

 several beautiful large lakes ; even ladies can 

 walk over these with ease. I know of seve<al 

 of the fair sex who have patronized the club, 

 and were plucky enough to go through steep 

 portages, and several miles of canoeing with- 

 out finding the least inconvenience ; they 

 have given the entrain, and made the club so 

 much more sociable. Their club-house, out- 

 buildings, ice-house and stable are built as 

 log houses, ver^v substantial and durable ; 

 occupying about twenty arpents of cleared 

 land fronting on lake Wapizagonke ; this year 

 they have already harvested several bushels 

 of grain and vegetables. The club canoes 

 have been well chosen, light and heavy, suit- 

 able for portaging and lake use; the Peterboro' 

 coming ahead for swiftness; the bark for 

 lightness, and skiffs, also for the lake; besides 

 sail boats which can be trusted in heavy 

 weather. I wonder how the canvas canoe 

 would suit ; they are now made fifteen feet 

 long, weighing seventy pounds and can carry 

 800 pounds, and, when folded up, can be 

 carried on one man's head, his hands being 

 at liberty ; he can then carry a good deal 

 more with ease. This would help considerably 

 to a party of two, who would like to go straight 

 along. The Peterboro' canoe, and even the 

 bark canoe, after some wear, require two men 

 to carry each of them, aud they have often to 

 return to the landing place, to load again 

 what they could not carry at first while porta- 

 ging; experience will tell. I also understand, 

 the club intends to purchase tents of different 

 sizes, and camping kits with all attachments 

 for cam ping away from the club house. Guides 

 can always be obtained by writing to St. Elie 

 or Hunterstown, a couple of days ahead. I 

 may mention here, having heard it stated by 

 Mr. Baker, who resides at St. Elie, that the 

 new government road has been cut out from 

 his place to a point called Dufresne, thereby 

 shortening the transit at least six miles to the 

 members who will pass by St. Elie. I havejust 

 heard of the very pleasant time that one of the 

 members had lately, under canvas, it be.ng 

 his first visit to the club's sporting grounds. 

 The trip was made from Three Rivers, where 

 one can obtain a double seat d buckboard, 

 with a strong horse to keep pace at the rate of 

 six miles an hour, even through a sandy road, 



