318 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



and best map of the State, and showB more rivers, islands, 

 creeks, passes avid inlets than any of the smaller maps. This 

 map can only be obtained from the Department through a 

 Congressman or Senator. I have found this map very ac- 

 curate and of great service. Two charts have been published 

 of Charlotte Harbor, and one of Tampa Bay. They would 

 be found useful, and can be purchased of any dealer in maps. 



A few tilings which I will refer to will be found almost in- 

 dispensable. At least seven gallons of water should be carried 

 for each member of the party. 1 prefer five gallon kegs, for 

 they make good ballast, and are convenient to move about. 

 A light shovel should be provided, for by its means water can 

 be obtained on most of the islands or on the mainland by 

 digging a shallow well in some low spots. A search for 

 ■water should never be made near mangroves, for if obtained 

 it will be brackish. In these communications and in my 

 notices of the coast north of Punta Rassa, republished in 

 *' Camp Life in Florida," 1 have pointed out several places 

 •where good water can be obtained. A supply can be secured 

 at the head of lagoons, or up any of the creeks or small 

 streams. 



When anchoring I always use a buoy connected with aline, 

 •which is attached to one of the flukes of the anchor. If it 

 should foul it can generally be recovered by the aid of the 

 buoy line. The loss of an anchor away from ship-chandlers' 

 stores is a serious loss. I invariably camp in my boat, for it 

 oaves the time and trouble of pitching a tent, and obviates the 

 •necessity of sleeping on damp ground ; and by studying locality 

 and the course of the winds the sportsman Can select an 

 anchorage where he will escape the sanguinary attacks of 

 musquitoes. During a cruise along this coast, more espe- 

 cially among the Mangrove Islands, it is at times very diffi- 

 cult to find a locality where a tent can be pitched. 



A five-tined grains would be found useful to capture turtle 

 and to land large fish. A seine from 30 to 40 feet long, with 

 one-inch mesh, would be found serviceable to capture bait or 

 a mess of fish. If the Bportsman can handle a six or seven- 

 foot cast net the seine can he dispensed with. I always de- 

 pend upon the best quality of pilot bread, and I find that a 

 barrel will last two men about six weeks. If the sportsman is 

 supplied with store teeth he can lay in a stock of soda crack- 

 ers or depend on slap-jacks for the staff of life. Pi'ot bread 

 ia nutritious, healthy, digestible and always ready ; not so 

 •with corn bread, slap-jacks and other fixings. I have found 

 Chicago canned beef very convenient and palatable. There 

 are times when fish or game cannot be obtained, or when a 

 person is making a long day's run, that this commodity 

 answers an admirable purpose. A fresh supply of provisions 

 can be obtained at Port Myers, on the Caloosahatchie, A 

 small pocket compass should be carried by every one who 

 leaves camp for any distance. When tramping in Australia 

 I made a study of the position of the sun in relation to my 

 course. In Australia, when soliciting directions to any point, 

 old bushmen will tell you to start with the sun in your face, 

 on your back, or on your right or left shoulder, and to study 

 its course in relation to your body at certain hours of the day. 

 A boat compass is not absolutely necessary, but might be 

 found useful; one that will answer a good purpose will cost 

 five dollars. 



Powder, shot, shells and ammunition, as well as hooks, 

 rods and lines and provisions, and even snake antidote, can 

 be purchased of as good quality and as cheaply in Jacksoville 

 as in the Northern cities. 



In conclusion, I shall simply remark that I have no pecu- 

 niary interest whatever at stake on the southwest coast o 

 Florida, and merely refer to it because it offers the sportsman 

 an accessible section where game is abundant and where it has 

 not been disturbed by settlers, Indians or pot-hunters. Ow- 

 ing to the superiority of the climate, it offers many induce- 

 ments to the adventurous tourist or the lover of an extended 

 boat trip. To the naturalist it offers a prolific field, where 

 treasures have not been investigated. Although one of the 

 healthiest sections in the United States during the winter, and 

 likewise during the summer on the islands, or the main-land 

 near the Gulf, yet if the sportsman should penetrate the Ever- 

 glades to any extent there is a bare possibility of contracting 

 fever and ague, which can be arrested at once by ten or fif- 

 teen grains of quinine. In some persons a change of water is 

 liable to produce an attack of diarrheas, and a diarrhoea mix- 

 ture might prove useful. South of Capo Komano mosquitoes 

 are troublesome during the winter months, and if sportsmen 

 camp on shore, or sleep in a boat in some of the narrow 

 streams, a remedy to drive away these insects might save the 

 tise of words unpleasant to the ears of deacons and class- 

 leaders. Al Fkesoo. 



Jacksonville, Flo.-, Oct. 14, 1878. 



flock of ducks is sailing in and out through the headlands of 

 the bay, and the lake sleeping amidst its rugged mouutains 

 seems as if no rough winds could ever ruffle those waters, 

 which but a few years ago treacherously closed over the late 

 lord of the soil and his five trusty followers. 



Up and up through woodland paths, the sportsmen and 

 beateis in one party, now step briskly on. At length a halt is 

 made. McTavish respectfully places each gun in his proper 

 pass, and remains in attendance ; his authority being delegated 

 for the time to one of his subordinates, who beads the men on 

 their rapid ascent to the eud of the wood. Twenty minutes 

 being allowed to reach their destination and get in file, the 

 signal is given, and a wild cry wakes the echoes of the glen. 

 Again and again it rises, now in the distance, now nearer, 

 now fading away! At different points the wild whoop 

 breaks out, as it were, simultaneously, yet for some time 

 without result. In the passes all is silent expectation. At 

 length, bang ! a single report deep In the forest. 



The writer, who, if the truth must be told, has been in- 

 dulging in a secret pipe— which is strictly forbidden at a 

 drive, the nostrils of a roe-deer being peculiarly sensitive- 

 pops it in his pocket and springs to his feet. He has caught 

 a swift rushing round, a crackling of twigs which means 

 something. By Jove, it does ! Not one, but two ! Eight I 

 Left ! Over and over roll the pair, the points of one little 

 head are stabbing the moss: the buck jerks back his head in 

 agony and leaves them there ! A splendid fellow ! He will 

 never tread those shady glens again. 



As this successful sportsman stands regarding his good 

 luck, another is on the alert. He, too, has caught a sound 

 which sends the blood to his heart. A soft rustling, a gentle 

 pit-pat on the mossy path ; but unlike the advent of the other 

 couple comes the single, timid creature, who now, all con- 

 fused, trembling and suspicious, creeps along the quiet open- 

 ing. Ha! what is that she sees? Something unsual, some- 

 thing dangerous. One slender limb ia extended, the graceful 

 head is thrown upward, the scared eyeballs search the pros- 

 pect. A Bhout from above and the doe bounds forward to 

 her fate -, that shot needed not much of the sportsman's skill; 

 but as to this we fancy he will hold his tongue. 



Keports are now ringing through the wood as the heavy 

 tramp of the beaters approaches nearer and nearer to the 

 "guns." By this time all the roe deer have passed, eleven in 

 all having fallen, and small game, i. e., pheasants, woodcocks, 

 black game, hares and rabbits may be shot, these having en- 

 joyed an immunity hitherto. All ''guns" now leave their 

 passes and begin the skirmish merrily in line with the beaters. 

 Anything that gets up is fair prey. Away whirrs an old 

 black cock, down he comes. By canters a hare, over he top- 

 ples. Rabbits in all directions pop head over heels, and the 

 game bags are rapidly filled. 



The light iB waning and the day is over, so home we go 

 through the dusk. Tweed cloth is exchanged for swallow- 

 tails, and by eight o'clock we are telling our experiences to 

 fair listeners round the dinner table. S. Q. Colquhoun. 



November 1st, 1878. 



For Forest and Stream and Rod and Own. 

 A ROE DRIVE IN SCOTLAND. 



JT is ten o'clock on a cold, frosty morning in October, and 

 there is to te a roe drive along the banks of Loch Lomond. 

 Outside the old gray towers, whose turrets are reflected in the 

 glassy lake, there assembles a crowd of from twenty to thirty 

 rough, stalwart, wiry Highlanders ; not, however, intent as 

 their forefathers were on following their chief to invade the 

 haunts of Caterans, or to repel the advance of Southern in- 

 vaders, but still at his bidding ready to risk their lives- 

 no vain boast either, when youthful ' ' guns " are of the party — 

 in lending their aid, while he pursues a humbler prey. 



It is the duty of these to find the game for the " Laird " 

 and his friends, and hunt it through the passes to where the 

 sportsmen lurk; in short, they are what is technically termed 

 •" beaters," and comprise the gamekeepers, watchers and 

 kennel boys of the estate. On the doorstep stands the head 

 keeper, to whom the major domo, or steward of the house- 

 hold, proffers attention. 



" McTavish, will you take anything !" 



"Thank ye, Mr. Swainson, no' till the work is over; a 

 full stomach in the morning makes an empty bag at night ' 

 Are they Teady yet ?" 



"They'll be ready directly j Master is come down, and he 

 is al ways to his time. ' ' 



" What straDgers have ye in the hoose the day ?" 



"You must do your best, McTavish, for there are Lord 

 William and Lord Charles as well as our own young gentle- 

 men, and I heard them say they want to show the English- 

 men what we can do in the North." 



The keeper's eye kindles as the door opens, and out file 

 half a dozen fresh, young, merry, light-hearted lads, laughing 

 and eager for the sport. They pleasantly return the general 

 salute, and a few of the keepers they single out. for a word of 

 notice: then the order is given, and off they all march for the 

 Bandry wood. 



What a morning it is ! Brightly sparkles the frost on the 

 fir-trees, bb it drips beneath the influence of the sunshine. A 



For Forest and Stream and Sod and Gun. 

 DUCK SHOOTING ON THE SUSQUE- 

 HANNA FLATS. 



THE State of Maryland derives a revenue from the tax or 

 license imposed upon the gunners— or duckers, as they 

 are here called — who shoot wild fowl upon her waters; 

 therefore a day for the commencement of shooting is fixed 

 by law. This is not for the protection of game, but simply 

 to give each one an equal chance. To a sportsman the butch- 

 ery of game practiced here is simply monstrous, and I can 

 scarcely withhold harsh words when I write of it. How- 

 ever, as I am here on equal terms — for the time — with all the 

 rest of the butchers, I must hold my peace and confine my- 

 self to a description of how the thing is done. 



There are forty-three boats licensed by the State as sinks, 

 and about half that number as sneaks, or bushwhackers, as 

 they are here called. The sinks are the same as what are 

 known as batteaux in the East. The bushwhackers, I guess, 

 would be a novelty on the Sound, and perhaps a description 

 of their modus operandi would not come amiss. Par bush- 

 whacking a stool of about seventy-five of the most perfect 

 decoys are necessary, painted so naturally that the ducks can- 

 not detect the fraud even while sitting among them. These 

 decoys are anchored out just as a bed of ducks would be 

 used. The gunner, in a large batteau, with the bow well 

 covered with cedar brush, takes his stand about a quarter of 

 a mile to the windward, and when ducks settle among the 

 decoys, sculls the boat down upon them. Generally the 

 ducks will sit quietly until he gets within from forty to fifty 

 yards of them. More canvas backs are taken in this manner 

 than by the sink-shooters. 



But to the point for which I began : 



Our party of three chartered a regular professional outfit, 

 consisting of a large, double cabin scow, with box and men 

 to work it. At four o'clock on Friday, the 1st inst., we an- 

 chored on the gunning grounds. The law does not allow 

 going upon the grounds earlier. We hung our lantern «pon 

 our shrouds as a warning to other gunners to keep at least a 

 mile away, and anxiously awaited the break of day. All 

 along, as we sailed toward the position we designed to take, 

 the splash and roar of ducks arising from their feeding- 

 grounds, disturbed by us, could be heard ; and now, as we 

 lay at anchor, busily preparing for the work before us, the 

 whistle of the wings of myriads of fowl, startled by the vari- 

 ous boats, may be heard. 



Just at the dawn of da} r the sink was launched, and it was 

 our fortune to take first shot. We agreed to two hours each 

 in the box. Of all sport, we venture to say, this is the most 

 exciting. Although your correspondent has Bhot upon this 

 same ground every year for the last fifteen years, yet the 

 edge is not even worn from it, and all seems as new and fresh 

 to-day as was the first day's shooting. 



So soon as it was light enough to distinguish objects, 

 myriads of ducks could be seen flying in all directions, and 

 they came down to our decoys in such numbers that it was hard 

 to determine which to shoot at. Eight and left, at head and 

 foot, the bewildered creatures pitched to our decoys, seem- 

 ingly as though looking for shelter from the terrible cannon- 

 ading going on upon the ten square miles of flats. Our little 

 twelve Scott, with three drachms of Orange Lightning and 

 one ounce of No. 4 chilled shot, answered to our every call, 

 and duck upon duck splashed upon the water, until really we 

 were forced to cry "Enough." Then our tender went his 

 rounds, and picked up as the result of one hour and thirty 

 minutes' shooting one hundred and seven ducks. Add 

 to this the cripples and the dead lost, and those picked up by 

 cripplers (a species of hyena that infests these waters, In the 



shape of a native in a fast sailing skiff), we had knocked full 

 one hundred and thirty ducks, 



Although it is sport of the most exciting character, fit to 

 make a hearty sportsman's blood thrill, yet it seems like use- 

 less slaughter. The game is hardly worth the carrying home. 

 At this season it is rank, though exceedingly fat from the 

 unlimited supply of food. Later in the season, when the 

 ribbon grass is washed out, and nothing but celery can te 

 had, the birds are prime for the table j but by that time they 

 have become educated and are wary of the gunner and bis 

 decoys, and are taken in more limited numbers. Quail are 

 plentiful in this section. 1 bagged thirty.four in half a day. 

 If any of Foesst and Stream's readers would like to try a 

 day in a box let them address J. Torbcrt, Elkton, Cecil Co., 

 Md., and their wants will be supplied without charge, save 

 actual expense. Bleb Wise. 



SOMETHING ABOUT ARCHERY. 



LHvE all modern essayists upon this subject, little claim can 

 be laid to originality in this direction. Roger Ascham 

 has given, in his quaint style, probably "the whole of the 

 science," and we have, like most others, gone to him for 

 much of the material which follows : 



The accoutrements requisite for an archery "outfit" con- 

 sist of a bow, a bow case, about half a dozen arrows, a tin . 

 case or quiver for holding them, an arm guard, a glove, a 

 belt, a tassel and a grease box. These may all he obtained of 

 dealers in archery goods at prices varying greatly, but $7 to 

 §10 ought to buy a very good and complete outfit. Various 

 materials have been used in manufacturing hows. In Job we 

 read of " the bow of steel." Homer tells us that the bow 

 used by Pandarus was 



In many partB of the East horn and sometimes ivory are 

 used. The yew tree has also furnished many bows ; now 

 various woods are employed besides the yew ; lancewood, 

 rosewood, snakewood and tulip-wood combined with horn, 

 beam and hickory. The writer saw, not long since, a bow 

 made from this wood. It was about fifty pounds weight. 



Bows are of two kinds, "self bows," or those formed of 

 one piece of wood, and " back bows," composed of two kinds 

 of wood, one tough and the other elastic, joined lengthwise 

 and firmly glued ; the common lancewood self-bow is per- 

 haps the cheapest of the better imported articles. The conti- 

 nental yew self -bow is among the most expensive. Bowstrings 

 have been made of silk, hemp and catgut; the hemp is con- 

 sidered by many the beat and most durable— but silk is more 

 elegant and preferred by some. Arrows are chiefly manu- 

 factured of prepared limewood, pine, whitewood, maple and 

 aspwood. The "nock" or notch for the reception of the 

 string is (or should be) of horn ; the feathers from the wing- 

 of the gray goose, the turkey or the eagle, and the head or 

 pile of thin steel or iron ; another head is made of pewter for 

 target practice. The length of the arrow depends much upon 

 thai of the how. For a bow five fejt long the arrows should 

 be twenty-four or twenty-five inches in length— twenty-seven 

 inches is the usual width. Arrows vary in weight as well as 

 in length, and are usually proportioned to the strength of the 

 bow , their weight is always marked on them between the 

 feathers, and archers should be careful, when shooting at a 

 target, to keep to one certain weight. 



The "quiver" is of tin, usually japanned, and if the taste 

 dictates, is ornamented more or less. It is generally made to 

 hold about a half dozen arrows. It may be made of very rich 

 and expensive materials. 



The " brace" or arm guard, used to protect the arm from 

 being hurt by the rebound of the string, is made of leather 

 (morocco or calfskin) j the face ia smooth, hard and polished 

 to prevent the string from being fretted in its passage over it. 

 The belt is composedof the same leather as the braci 

 this is entirely a matter of taste and money, Eeantifully 

 wrought and expensively ornamented belts are imported, and 

 no doubt used, The color is usually crimson, purple, green 

 or black, russet sometimes also being employed. From the 

 belt on the left side is suspended "the tassel, which is of 

 worsted, and in color matching the belt. Its use is to wipe 

 the arrows after they have been used, as a small particle of 

 dirt, adhering to them will impede their flight. The grease 

 box, if not an absolutely necessary appendage, is a very use- 

 ful one for keeping the fingers of the glove moist and supple. 

 It usually consists of a plain or ornamental metal bos, worn 

 on the same side as the tassel. The glove is worn to protect 

 the fingers from being injured by the string; it is made to 

 match the belt and brace, and should lit well to be of any 

 use. 



The target is made of straw twisted into a rope, and wound 

 from the centre outward until a diarueter of two feet is 

 reached with a thickness of two and a half or three inches; 

 this is then covered with canvas and painted white. The tar- 

 get has a gold spot in the centre called " the gold "—a red 

 ring a ouad tb.ii>, then a white, then a black, and outside 

 of all a white ring bordered with green. These circles deter- 

 mine the value of each shot aud test the skill of the archer, 



Our friend Ascham pithily observes: " Archery is mure 

 pleasant to behold than easy to be taught ; leas difficult to be 

 followed in practice than to be described" A suggestion 

 here made preliminary to other rules, is to begin practicing 

 with a bow that can be managed without extra exertion of the 

 arms and chest ; a bow of about twenty or twenty-eight 

 pounds will generally be the heat for young ladies during the 

 first season , the next they can increase the power to thirty or 

 thirty-five pounds, tut we should never advise them to exceed 

 forty pounds. Good instruction and example, backed by dili- 

 gent attention and practice on the part of the learner, will be 

 speedily rewarded by proficiency ; the moment of taking 

 aim the powers of the mind should be concentrated on the af- 

 fair in hand, the action being governed by judgment and cool- 

 ness ; nervousness, inattention, or a wandering of the thoughts, 

 or eyes, will cause inaccuracy of aim, and probably a clear 

 " miss." Yegetius says that " the left hand should be steady, 

 the right hand draw the string with judgment, and both 

 the eye aud mind be brought to bear together on the subject 

 of the aim." 



" Shoot slralgiite ana of a good lengthe, 

 Tben shall ye win of aDj Htiengine " 

 is the advice of an old author who wrote in the sixteenth cen- 

 tury ; and to shoot straight, the eye must be fixed upon the 

 mark, the mind bent to assist the eye, and the bands will 

 obediently obey their duty. To shift the eye from the shaft 

 to the mark and from the mark to the shaft, is to insure a 

 failure. 



The bow Bhould be held in the left hand, the arm extended 

 in a straight line, and the wrist turned inward; the hand 

 grasps the bow at the handle, as nearly level with the top as 

 possible. 



