FOREST AND STREAM. 



93 



■ Boss 



replied, "Mr. V " What kind of n man is Mr. '•"' 



"You'll find out when you meet him." " W I' ■ 



build such fences for, they must be B tireut expense?" "To 



keep such fellows as you off.'' 



He then informed us that he was the owner Of. the laud. 

 and was in search of a crowd of gunners from the town of 

 Mexico, who threatened to defy him, and paid no attention tit 

 his sign? to "Keep off .'" painted on every alternate panel of 

 fence. He threatened to shoot the first one he caught "if it 

 cost him $1,000," and wanted to know if WO belonged to that, 

 party. We hastened to assure him that we did not, but 

 " were weary pilgrims from a far-off land— men of peace, gen- 

 tlemen of honor, who would not steal his sheep, seme tils' cat- 

 tle, nor shoot his hogs. We had speut, the previous night at 

 his neighbor O.'s house, who could vouch for as. We had 

 traveled too far to be disappointed now, and we must g 

 that inclosurc somehow. We were not princes no 

 Tweeds in disguise, but were willing to buy. Could 1 

 board us at his house? Was there not a bole of some sort in 

 that confounded fence ?" Finally, we succeeded in making a 

 treaty, we agreeing to help him keep others off. lie went 

 with us and showed us where the chickens were, even offer- 

 ing me his horse, to ride. We had fine fun for about an hour, 

 when we had to quit on account, of the heat. The next morn- 

 ing our host went with us again. We had plenty of sport 

 until about 10 o'clock, when" it became too hot, again. We 

 could not prevail on our host to shoot, though he carried his 

 gun all the time. He could not kill on the wiDg, and was 

 much astonished at our breech-loaders and the way in which 

 we knocked the birds down, especially on one occasion, when 

 I killed a pair out of the first rise and then a third one that 

 lingered long enough for me to reload and kill him. He 

 showed the keenest appreciation of the working of our dogs, 

 hut could not understand why we would not shoot quail when 

 dogs pointed them. When we parted he pressed us to come 

 again, but I am not infatuated with chicken shooting. At 

 the season when they will lie to a dog the weather is too hot 

 to allow you to preserve your game, and is too severe on 

 both man and dog. As a game bird, I find them easy to hit 

 and easily killed. No. 9 improved chilled shot does the busi- 

 ness for them every time. A fair marksman with a good gun 

 could not wish for easier game. Bbduokd. 



St, Louk, Mo., August, 1878. 



SALMON, TROUT AND DEER. 



Hkadwateks of thb MoOloud Eivmu, ) 



Nkab Sisson's, Siskiyou Co., Cat.., July 15.) 

 Editor Fotcest isd Stbeam : 



The McCloud is a glacial stream, flowing from the base of 

 Mt. Shasta, a full-born river, where it bursts from the ground, 

 inclosed in canyon walls from 500 to 1,000 feet in height, roar- 

 With a velocity of from ten to twenty miles an hour, and con- 

 tinually crooked. From its source to its mouth, hear the 

 United States Fishery, more than sixty miles, its icy waters 

 are not warmed by the customs of civilbsatiou nor polluted by 

 the flow of city or even country habitation. Apart from our 

 camp at Horse-shoe Bend, the Indian alone dances on its 

 banks and gathers to its fish-bakes. Prom his conical, bails 

 hut, or poles covered with boughs, he sallies forth to the deep 

 pools at every turn, and stauding ou poles, aupp Jrted by 

 crotches, hurls his forked spear, barbed with bone, through 

 the salmon, and withdrawing his rude spear the barbed 

 points remain, and by a strong cord attached the huge fish is 

 drawn ashore. But we had no such unscientific appliances for 

 taking our trout and salmon. 



The Dolly Vardens are found in this stream only, except, in 

 Alaska and the glacial waters of Mt. Hood in Oregon, and 

 Mt. Ranier and adjacent peaks in Washington Territory. 

 They are the Pacific red-spotted salmon trout, Ralmo mrnp- 

 bdli); but the Indians call them " Wye-dul-dicket." They 

 are sometimes fifteen pounds in weight. But as a rare fish 

 they had no special interest for our parly, one of whom was a 

 fish commissioner of California. As a game fish they are not 

 excelled. The salmon, that literally filled the river, would 

 often take the hook in spite of every precaution to prevent it, 

 and it was hard work, if not good fun, to keep the monsters 

 out of the rapids, for once in them no tackle provided by any 

 of the party could get them back and land them safely. But 

 rightly managed the salmon soons gives up the fight. He is 

 stubborn, but, after his first run, too much hke the pickerel, 

 Not so with the Dolly Vardens. There seems to be no worry- 

 ing them to death. They are game to the very last, and must 

 be secured largely by strategy. The ordinary McCloud River 

 trout weigh from twelve ounces to three pounds, and a catch 

 of forty or fifty requires a horse to bear the load. Fishing 

 with a pack-horse was a novel experience. 



The telegraph was sixty miles away, and as for post office, 

 we had none ; but ice was on hand, and we packed the large 

 surplus of fish that a camp of twenty-six could not consume 

 to tempt the sickly appetites of our city friends, distant nearly 

 a hundred miles by stage and about "two hundred more by 

 rail. 



Why salmon bite either at a bait of their own eggs, or rise 

 to the fly in fresh water, is to mo a mystery. Some of the 

 proprietors of our many salmon-curing establssbments have 

 made careful examination to discover their food and found 

 nothing,. One firm examined nearly 100,000 with the same 

 result. Hence, many conclude, and our intelligent Fish 

 Commissioners are all of the opinion, that they eat nothing 

 after leaving salt water, and their nature might have served 

 for Watts, who wrote -. 



" Let doga delight to bark aad bite," 

 for they bite from habit. 



But they swallowed their bait as though this was their 

 habit, too. Some of them were greedy, but not promiscuous 

 biters. They would carry off a snell or a leader, and in a 

 few minutes, perhaps, be landed with the lost hook securely 

 fastened. Others would lie lazily on the gravelly or sand} 

 edges of the pool, and scarcely allow themselves to be fright- 

 ened away. 



Castle Lake is also near Sisson's, but in an opposite direc- 

 tion from our present camp, and in it there is usually fly- 

 fishing for trout unsurpassed in any country. But the fishing 

 might, grow tame at last if there was no other recreation or 

 employment. Usually, in a well-ordered camp, there is no 

 opportunity for time to hang heavily on any one, bnt here, 

 certainly, there were excursions too numerous for any one or 

 all of the party, and too many even to mention iu a single 

 letter. But the deer hunting attracted the attention of every 

 one by turns. The camp was never out of venison, although 

 only bucks can be killed in this State. This is the finest deer- 

 hunting region in California. The country is mountainous, 



but not rough. A competent guide can travel 100 miles 

 around the base of this snow-capped and glacier-clad moun- 

 tain, without, crossing a Stream or entangling himself in ehap- 

 paral, and weary neither horse nor rider. In a little moun- 

 tain grove and meadow, whore the south fork of the Sacra- 

 mento bends, and the pitcher plant feeds on insects that seek 

 its sweets, twenty-four bucks were seen by one man in one 

 day. Iu a single trip from Sissons to the camp twenty-seven 

 deer were counted. But there are those who will never get 

 the buck fever by seeking out their game, for, being destitute 

 of the instinct of the hunter, they are sure to frighten the 

 game for miles around. There ale those, loo, who have tried 

 rifles of every improved pattern, and scored well on the tar- 

 get, but have never killed a deer. It is possible to slaughter 

 them in this region almost at will, and whoever can shoot at 

 all can get the finest bucks without fail. There arc at least 

 twenty deer licks in the range of the party. There are min- 

 eral springs to which the deer resort ; these often appear line a 

 few drops of stagnant, water here and there in the crevices of 

 great rocks, where the deer lick the scanty fluid. Careful ex- 

 amination shows iron, sulphur and soda in nearly every one. 

 To one of theae I went, about uiue o'clock ouo morning. 

 As [ descended the canyon wa!l to the bed of the deep, 

 wild torrent, about, sixty yards across, I could see 

 several stately bucks coming down the well-trodden rocky 

 side opposite. To move not even a muscle, when any one 

 appeared in sight, and to advauce toward them when all 

 chanced to stop and look, or loss their brauchiug antlers at 

 the same time, and when each was behind some bushy tree, 

 was no easy task, bnt at last we had approached within good 

 range and I had selected the two largest bucks, standing one 

 hundred feet apart, and almost simultaneously they dropped, 

 one with a broken neck and the other with a pierced heart. 

 But my own spirit sank within me at the cruel slaughter. It 

 wus doubtful if both could be consumed in camp, and then 

 they were killed in such a cow T ardly way, taken by surprise, 

 where 1 knew they would be sure to come. To be sure it was 

 not even a, faint approach to the Adirondack method of driv- 

 ing them into the water, where one hunter seizes the deer by 

 the tail and another blows out his brains with a shotgun, but 

 stalking ought to be good enough for any one in this region 

 when it is so easy on horseback. Three varieties of deer are 

 found here— the mule, the black-tailed and the white-tailed. 

 Of the mule deer I have seen none alive, but at Sisson's I 

 find the head of one that was killed last winter and weighed 

 19G pounds, and they frequently weigh when dressed 225 

 pounds. 



The black-tailed deer are the most common. Somewhere I 

 have seen it stated that the flesh of these is very poor eating 

 and not to be compared with that of any other member of its 

 family inhabiting North America. This is a great error, and 

 must have originated with some one who killed a lean old doe 

 and expected the flesh to be tender and juicy like that of a 

 yearling. When the black-tailed are in good condition the flesh 

 is fully equal to any of the Virginia deer that 1 have ever seerj, 

 The black-tailed deer are migratory. Mr. J. H. Sisson, who 

 has resided here for 23 years, and has killed perhaps more 

 game than any other resident, is an intelligent and close ob- 

 scrvsr of the habits of all animals. He tells me, and his state- 

 ments are fully corroborated by everybody, white and 

 Indian, that the blaek-ttailed deer are found in sum-, 

 mer from the snow liue above the timber ou Mt. 

 Shasta to the beds of the rivers ; that in August 

 the bpeks are found alone on the high rocky points " harden- 

 ing their horns," and that as the winter becorhes severe they 

 I ravel across the Trinity mountains to the western side of the 

 Coast range and along the Pacific Ocean, or else follow the 

 general course, of the mountains toward the Sacramento Val- 

 ley, and return again in the early spring. 



A very few remain in this region all the winter. At some 

 seasons they lie under the thick brush aud will not stir unless 

 closely approached, but early in the summer they lie often at 

 the feet of large trees in open places. They go from gray to 

 red in May aud June, and the fattest are the first to change 

 color ; and go from red to' blue in September ; and back to 

 gray in November and December. They feed largely on the 

 blue thorn, a species of ceanthus. They rut principally in 

 December, but partly in October and November. 



Compared with the mule deer the feet of the black-tailed 

 are. small and the body round, the muscles lighter, the horns 

 smaller in proportion to the body, and less regular iu shape. 

 The color is darker, aud when blue it is really blue, and even 

 when the deer is in the red it is a reddish blue. The tail of 

 the black deer is long aud flabby, white under and black on 

 top. A good buck will weigh when dressed 140 pounds. On 

 the black-tailed deer there is usually much less white than on 

 the mule fleer, It is seldom white under the throat, but there 

 is usually a little white around the nose. Their habitat is 

 principally in the Coast Mountains of California ami Oregon, 

 and east to the Sierras. 



Considering their abundance, and how easy it is to shoot (or 

 slaughter) them iu the many licks of this country, and how 

 easily guides and all necessary outfit can be had at the foot of 

 Mt. Shasta, is it not strange that one will hold and another 

 shoot his deer in the Adirondaeks ? Let your sportsmen who 

 visit California bring rod and gun and turn aside for a month, 

 or even a week, to this region, and uo one need return from 

 hunting without his first deer. F. E. B. 



TIM DOYLE'S FIRST SHOT. 



TIMOTHY DOYLE, the hero of this story, an industrious 

 young Irishman, not long married, came from the Green 

 Isle to the backwoods of Canada, and was told that a good 

 single barrel shot-gun would be of mighty good service to him 

 in his new home. So he hunted the town stores till he found 

 in a junk shop an old "Brown Bess," which had been con- 

 verted from a flint to percussion cap lock. This gun ho pur- 

 chased, together with a cow's-horn powder flask aud shot- 

 belt, for $3, and returned to his home delighted with the ac- 

 quisition, which he showed off in sportsman's style to the ad- 

 miring eyes of Biddy, his wife. Armed with this deadly 

 weapon, he one day sallied forth to hunt for game. His dog 

 was not long in chasing a squirrel up an old tree, and Tim 

 thought, he would have a shot, just to get his hand in before 

 he came to more desirable spoil. He loaded his gun, as he 

 had once seen a neighbor do, by pouring about four drachms 

 of powder in the palm of bis hand, then emptying this in the 

 gnu, On top of the powder he rammed down a piece of 

 hornet's nest for a wad, then did the same with about as much 

 shot. During this time the dog's frantic barking around the 

 tree kepi the squirrel quietly sealed in a notch, waiting to be 

 slaughtered. 



" llould now, Biddy; see that chap come down out of 

 that," cried Tim, bringing the gun to his shoulder. Trem- 

 bling from bead to foot he closed both eyes and pulled the 

 trigger, but no report followed. Down came the gun to a 



rest l,o the ground, and Tim peeped in the ban-el to see what 

 could be the matter. It, struck him he had not put in enough 

 ammunition. He emptied in another charge of powder and 

 shot, which were again wadded down as before. 



"Now, Biddy," cried he, "look out ; she is sure to go off 

 this time." But notwithstanding he snapped the trigger two 

 Or ilncc times it would not go off. " Be fabberB," cried Tim, 

 "I'll be aquul with yc yet, aud I'll rill ycr old barrel with 

 powder till ye do go off, had cess to yc." Around came the 

 powder horn once more, and a good load of powder was put 

 in on lop of the two charges of powder and shot already in 

 the guu, and, with a determined air, he was just raising it 

 again to his shoulder when Biddy cried out: " Whist there, 

 Tim ; put, iu your gun one. of those little copper things in the 

 little paper box." 



" Och, tare and ootids, that's just it; she'll go now, and no 

 thanks to her. Fetch it along quick ; the bird up in the tree 

 there is getting tired waiting till 1 Bhoot him, so he is." 

 Carefully adjusting the cap ; once more the gun was brought up 

 and the trigger pulled. This time it went off with a vengeance. 

 Tim was sent heels over head, and the gun went spinning 

 some yards off. Biddy helped Tim up. " Oh, are ye kilt?" 

 cried she. " Divil a kilt,"- said Tim, '' but where ia me gun?" 

 "T'llgo for it," cried Biddy, starting to run to pick it up. 

 "Holy Mother!" yelled Tim, holding his nose, which was 

 bleeding piofusely; "Stop, Biddy; stop, I say; don't go 

 near the divil ; there's two loads in her to come out yet; don't 

 touch her for yer loife." And there the gun lay till an older 

 settler, who chanced to pass, explained matters, and taught 

 Tim Doyle to become what he now is— a good shot. 



Stauocona. 



«■ ■ ! ■ « 



ERRORS IN PICTURES OF FIELD 

 SPORTS. 



Editob Forest and Stream : 



In your issue of August 15 I have read with much interest 

 the criticisms of "J. L. K." ou "Marine Painting." He is 

 evidently a seaman, and knows whereof he speaks. And who 

 can fail to admire his enthusiasm over the beautiful yacht. 

 He speaks of her as if he loved her, and 1 have no doubt he 

 does. His strictures on the average marine picture aro no 

 doubt perfectly legitimate. And yet there may be some ex- 

 cuse for inaccuracies here. Accurate technical knowledge of 

 the subject is not very easily obtained from books, and seamen 

 able and willing to give information are not found at every 

 turn. 



There is another department of art, however, equally faulty, 

 or more so, with not a shadow of excuse. This comprises the 

 legion of sporting sketches which adorn or disfigure the walla 

 of our public and private houses. Most of them are so faulty 

 as to be exceedingly offensive to the sportsman and the 

 naturalist, or to anyone, in short, who knows much about the 

 subjects treated. To illustrate, 1 have before me three pic- 

 tures. In many respects they are very good indeed. The 

 landscape, the still life, the color, the atmosphere, the group- 

 ing aud drawing of the figures, all show much artistic merit. 



The first is entitled a " Quail Shooting." It is a very popu- 

 lar picture, has been much admired, and reproduced in many 

 forms. I need hardly describe it ; everybody has seen it. In 

 the foreground are the pointers, the covey of quails and the 

 hunter, In the background is a field of rye, partly cut and in 

 shock, with the harvest hands busily at work finishing the 

 job. It probably never occurred to the ^artist that quail arc 

 never shot in harvest-time, from the fact thai, they are mostly 

 in the shell, and it is contrary to law in every State of the 

 Union. The artist has just placed a late autumn scene on a 

 midsummer landscape, That is all. 



The next is " A Herd of Deer," a buck, a doe and two spot- 

 ted fawns. Did the artist not know that such a group is never 

 seen in nature ? The buck is never found in company with 

 the doe when her fawns are "in the spot." He cares no more 

 for her or his fawns at this season of the year than he does for 

 the sod under his hoofs. The buck has no affection for his 

 children. Indeed he will destroy them if he can get at them. 

 The male and female consort together for about one month — 

 generally through November, long after the spots have disap- 

 peared from the fawns. In this picture there is a double 

 anachronism. The spotted fawns indicate spring or early 

 summer. The fully- developed and beautifully-pointed horns 

 of the buck certainly mean October or November. 



These blunders are sceu at almost every turn, and are alto- 

 gether inexcusable, because the least hit of research would 

 have pointed out the errors. 



There is a print which illustrates pickerel shooting in the 

 overflowed prairies of the West. Tha artist and the writer 

 both place a large dorsal fin upon the pickerel, an appendage 

 which he does not possess, as every one knows who has ever 

 seen him. 



There seems to be just now r a demand for literary and 

 artistic work of this kind. Why do these men offend the 

 public taste by producing such stuff? A. picture should tell a 

 story. The artist should he a teacher of correct principles in 

 the natural history of the objects he portrays. In other words, 

 he should speak the truth. In looking over these art blunders 

 one is reminded of that celebrated picture of " Abraham Of- 

 fering up Isaac," in which the old Patriarch is represented as 

 about to dispatch his son with a modern fowling-piece, or of 

 that other great historical panorama of the Israelites crossing 

 the Red Sea, pursued by the hosts of Pharoah, who are armed 

 with breech-loading repeating rides. Yknatob. 



Monmouth, Warren Co., Ill, .ht</us£19. 



" Venator's " points are well taken. A great many ana- 

 chronisms do exist, and many of them of the most glaring 

 character. Our attention was called some time ago to a clever 

 bit of art criticism in the London Athenmim, which showed 

 the blunders made by artists who introduced flowers which 

 were not only out of season, but which could not belong to 

 the locality in which they were depicted as blooming- We 

 have before written, however, ou this particular point, that 

 the picture of a fish, for instance, which might suit tho 

 thorough art critic, would not do for the professor Of icthy- 

 ology. For the former, general effects that slight necessary 

 idealization of nature would he acceptable, while the Smith- 

 sonian Miixmi would find fault if there was a scale too little 

 or a spine iu the dorsal too many. General coarse blunders, 

 however, when nature, is travestied, ought to be decried. 

 Neither birds, fish nor animals can be drawn from one's iuner 

 consciousness. Mistakes in natural history by distinguished 

 authors might he made quite noticeable, if one were to seek 

 for the tares in the wheat. Does not Thackeray ia "The 

 Virginians " make the Potomac teem with salmon ? 



