FOREST AND STREAM. 



449 



ateamor, there arc seldom few craft besides the sugar vessels, 

 Near the fort is the English church, with a clock in its face, 

 and four mugnificcnt palmistes to guard its entrance. Ad- 

 joining is the Government house in a garden of flowers, and 

 near, the Court House, of stone, yellow and low. Opposite, 

 on a bluff overlooking the sea, is the public garden, neatly in- 

 closed, tastefully ornamented ; a few large trees, many roses, 

 humming-birds, butterflies, and a grand view of the sea, or 

 mountain towering south, and a circle of shore stretching 

 away down, terminating in the headland of Scot's Head— an 

 interesting rock, with a beacon and the ruins of a fort. The 

 road leads by a broad green savane, near which is a ruinous 

 cemetery, down betweeu long rows of lowly cabins, its bed 

 green and grassy, within a stone's throw of the surf on the 

 pebbly beach. 



This is Roseau, which I left one March morning for the 

 mountains. Early came the women, who were sent by a kind 

 friend to carry my luggage ; heavy boxes and bales they had 

 engaged to carry to the mountains for me on their heads. It 

 was all the way ascending, but they faithfully performed their 

 dutics. nor once complained. Astride an Island colt, the loan 

 of another friend, and accompanied by still another friend, 

 L knew not a few days before, I left behind mo the 

 towu, and set my face to the mountains. 



Down the street, past the jail, across the river over an ex- 

 cellent bridge, under the cliffs of St. Aromant, into the 

 banana and citron groves that lie at the mountain's base ; 

 then up higher and higher, the path growing rocky and slip- 

 pery, past the lovely valley of Shawford, where the house of 

 my friend Stedman, built upon a small plateau, surrounded 

 by bills, embowered in limes and plantains, overlooks a tropi- 

 cal garden. A mile above, we enter a deep ravine, where I see 

 the first perfect tree ferns on the trail ; the gorge is filled with 

 I hem, and the banks along the path covered with smaller 

 ones, infinitely beautiful. Eere I first heard the melody of 

 lire "solitaire." Long since the air of tie town, hot and 

 parching, has given place to cool and delicious breezes. "We 

 go out under the shade of trees, passing many a trickling 

 stream, until nearly an elevation of 2,000 feet ia reached, 

 when we hear voices, and suddenly come upon a party of 

 mountaineers (half Oarib, half negro), who present a very 

 fierce appearance — naked to the waist, hatless and armed, 

 each with his machette or "cutlass," over two feet in length. 

 They salute us politely, however, and we pass on until near 

 the H high woods," when we turn to the right and dive down 

 a narrow frail under large trees, and reach, finally, a narrow 

 gate of bars in a tall hedge of oleander. 



Descending rapidly from the forest was an open sp co of a 

 hundred acres, perhaps, sloping westward, green and smooth 

 as a sward of Guinea-grass could make it. Over this were 

 scattered volcanic rocks and clumps of trees. This slope ter- 

 minated abruptly in a cliff so steep that the people living 

 here could not descend except by a long detour. Over this 

 cliff fell the waterfall we saw coming up. Deep ravines seam 

 it at intervals, all tending toward the, valley wall, and on all 

 sides but this are nothing but forest and hills. From one of 

 the mountaineers I secured a cabin, one of the seven com- 

 prising this little hamlet, and before nightfall had comfortably 

 established myself. My companion then left me alone to 

 what proved but the first of many camps in tropic forests. 



GAME PROTECTION 



Dinnkrs ahd toe Game Laws. — A full stomach makes a 

 willing ear. It is wise, therefore, to argue with men who 

 have been well feasted. The merchant makes his bargain 

 over the table-cloth -, the Alderman secures his Aldermanic 

 feasts only after having feasted his constituents j the youth 

 pleads with much eloquence, it is true, but the ice cream 

 counts more than all his flue language. Annual dinners are 

 time-honored and necessary adjuncts of all social, political, 

 literary, religious and benevolent societies. Game protective 

 associations follow the custom, and a yearly feast of good 

 things excites a very commendable degree of transient enthu- 

 siasm in the cause. We have heard of game associations 

 (their headquarters are nearer than at the North Pole), whose 

 whole energy was given to these annual festivities with such 

 guslo that there was really very little left for any of the 

 other minor interests of the cause— such as securing the 

 enactment of proper protective legislation, the introduction 

 and protection of new game birds and fish, and the convic- 

 tion of offenders against the game laws. There can be no 

 possible objection to a social gathering of sportsmen, but to 

 invest such an occasion with the assumed importance and dig- 

 nity of what is, in fact, a cause worthy of earnest and de- 

 termined effort, strikes the disinterested observer as something 

 of a farce. Sportsmen's associations, whose active labor does 

 not go beyond their annual dinners and speeches, accomplish 

 very little in any other way. Eating is not protecting. 



New Yokk State Association. — The New York State 

 Association for the Proleetion of Fish and Game will hold 

 its twenty-first annual convention in Rochester, May, 1879, 

 under the auspices of the Monroe County Sportsmen's Club. 

 The prize list is now open fcr contributions from sportsmen 

 and dealers in sportsmen's goods. The prize committee hs a 

 been appointed, and may be addressed through Mr. Edmund 

 Redmond, Rochester, N. I 



Messina Quatl is Pennsylvania.— Mr. A. F. Clapp, of 

 the Sunburg American, announces the receipt of a migratory 

 quail which was shot a Tiwortou, 2>a., in the first part of De- 

 cember. The bird was evidently a straggler from the broods 



set at liberty by the Pottsville Game Club last spring, and 

 was, when shot, with a covey of our common quail. 



YlEMONT Game Laws. — By an act rf our last Legislature 

 the close season lor woodcock is extended to Sept. 1, which 

 is a very good thing for the woodcock, as hardly any are to 

 be found here, except peihap3 in the southern part of the 

 State, after the middle of August. The top notch of absurd 

 legislation was reached by prohibiting the use of dogs in 

 hunting ruffed grouse ! It seema a little strange that our 

 State Association for the Protection of Game and Pish did 

 not prevent the passage of such a silly law, as it is largely 

 composed of influential men who could if they would shape 

 the legislation on such matters. Now, I understand, " it will 

 express its disapproval " of some of the fish and game laws 

 just passed! B. E, R, 



Who Fowl at Baknegat — Editor Tfi/rthi and Stream: I 

 have read the article in last week's issue in regard to what 

 keeps the wild fowl away from our waters. With all due 

 respect for Oscar B. Smith, and approving of some of his 

 suggestions as to the scarcity of fowl, yet I must beg to differ 

 with him as to the causes of the non-appearance of brant here 

 this season. After consulting with some of our oldest gun- 

 ners I learn that some eighteen years ago there was just such 

 a scarcity of brant, only three known to have been killed. 

 They (the gunners) have been letting drive at large bunches 

 of brant at 100 yards from time immemorial, and killing 

 them at that ; yet for tho past ten years, I cannot see any 

 perceptible decrease of that species. Some years they are 

 more plentiful than others, but this year I do not think up 

 to date twenty brant have been killed, and not more than one 

 dozen bunches made their appearance. Yet we attribute it 

 to some other cause than shooting at them at 100 yards. We 

 cannot see how it will frighten them any more at that dis 

 tance, and knocking a few over, than it would at close quar- 

 ters and demolishing two-thirds of the flock. As to his other 

 abuses in our bays, he is right. I learn from some of our sea- 

 captains that immense numbers of brant have been seen from 

 five to ten miles at sea on their southern tour. 



J. W. KlNSBY. 



MILITARY PRACTICE IN 1878. 



General G. W. Wingate makes a very complete report for 

 1878 of the doings of the Department of Rifle Practice in the 

 State of New York, and it is interesting as well to Guards- 

 men in this State as to members of tho Militia in other States 

 and throughout the ranks of riflemen. New York is not only 

 the pioneer State in the matter of military rifle practice, but 

 in the completeness of its appointments, and in the extent of 

 its facilities for ball practice before the butts it is far in ad- 

 vance of any other State. There was a time when in long- 

 range practice with small-bores New York was also in the 

 lead, but that period appears to have gone by, and the 

 superiority now exists in the department cf military practice 

 only. For 1S78 General Wingate finds " that the progress 

 Hiit has been attained in this branch of instruction during 

 that period has been more satisfactory than anything that has 

 been accomplished in any previous year." And this improve- 

 ment is not alone in an actual increase of marksmen, but in 

 the general careful and systematic manner in which the 

 schedule of practice has been carried out. It has been found 

 a good policy to encourage the establishment of many small 

 ranges, easily accessible to the men, rather than the opening 

 of a few large and elaborately appointed places of shooting. 

 By this means men are encouraged to take a few hours now 

 and then, and put in a few shots when they would not find 

 it possible to leave business for a whole day. From 1873 to 

 1S75 Creedmoor was the only Tango in the State, now there 

 are thirty official ranges used by the National Guard as fol- 

 lows -. Creedmoor, Yonkers, Sing Sing, Mouut Vernon, 

 Ponghkeepsie, Ellenville, Kingston, Albany, Troy, Malone, 

 Whitehall, Port Henry, Glens Falls, Syracuse, Oswego, Iltica, 

 Watertown, Auburn, Moravia, Oneonta, Bingliamton, 

 Rochester, Elmira, Buffalo, Westfield, AVarsaw, Elliocott- 

 ville, Batavia, Lockport and Jamestown, and several new 

 ones are now in process of clearing up and repariug for use. 

 Many of these ranges are of limited pretentions, while a few 

 are able to accommodate a large force of shooters and are 

 put in use for Division and other large matches. The State 

 looks upon a range from a purely military stand-point, and 

 does nothing to aid long-range practice. Each of the State 

 ranges are described in detail from notes taken by Gen. 

 Wingate and his assistants during their tours of inspection. 



The change in the manner of recording and reporting the 

 work of the troop is commended as a great improvement over 

 the old and complex way of working out the regimental 

 figure of merit. Each organization is now divided into four 

 classes. Each mau starts in the fourth-class at. the opening 

 of each season. As soon as he shoots in class firing he passes 

 into the third-class without regard to any score he may make, 

 he having necessarily learned more about loading and firing 

 his rifle than men who have never visited a range for practice, 

 The other classes are the same as last year, the third-class 

 shooting at 100 and 150 yards (standing), the second-class at 

 300 yards (kneeling) and at, 400 yards (lying), and the first at 

 200 yards (stauding), and at 000 yards (lying), Each class 

 fires live shots at each distance, and to qualify, must make at 

 least 25 points in the possible 50, in November of each 

 year, and the " figure of merit " reached by allowing 



For each man who has beeotnu a marksman too 



" «■ " remaining in the 1st chins SO 



" •• " " " id •' 80 



" « » " " 3d " 10 



<■ « " " " «a •< o 



These figures are aggregated and divided by the number on 

 the muster rolls at the last annual inspection, and the result 

 is the " figure of merit." During the past year reports were 

 received from organizations numbering 17,623 men as against 

 13,343 in 1877, 10.9-10 in 1870 and 7,670 in 1875, The num- 

 ber of marksmen now entitled to wear the badge is 3,050 as 

 against 2,120 in 1877, 018 in 1876 and 588 in 1875. It is 

 noteworthy that the fourth-class men, those who never visit 

 the ranges, number 8,0-10, or nearly half of the men enrolled. 

 As might be anticipated under this way of computation the 

 separate companies who cau readily call out their whole 

 strength, go to the top of the hat and the full highest figures 



of merit are made by as many such companies, the Ninth 

 Separate Company, practicing on the Whitehall Range, head- 

 ing the list with 8130 point3 per cent. The Forty-ninth 

 Regiment is the head of tho regular regimental organizations, 

 followed by the Twenty-third Regiment of Brooklyn and the 

 Seventh of New York. The Fifth Separate Company foots 

 the list with a figure of 04.41, and three marksmen in 68 

 company roll. It has been found that the bronze badge is 

 highly valued by the National Guard, and the desire to pos- 

 sets it has induced many to learn to shoot who would not 

 otherwise have done so. It is rare that a man who has once 

 won this badge will consent to surrender it. Those who fail 

 to qualify on the first occasion almost invariably practice at 

 their own expense until they can win it. 



Gen. Wingate hits a vital point, and one which cannot be 

 taken too closely to heart by militia officers anxious to show 

 a good record, when he says : "The fundamental principle 

 of our By stem of rifle practice is that accurate shooting is a 

 matter of drill, which should be carried on in the armories dur 

 ing the drill season, the ranges being used to test the lessons 

 previously taught." The report is very full on the subject of 

 armory instruction and volley firing. This latter, as that 

 which the Nat ional Guardsman would probably use in case of 

 civil disturbance, is valuable as tending to make the men 

 steady and accustom them when in ranks to obey commands 

 given by an officer in their rear, as they would have to do in 

 service. 



Camps of instruction are urged, and the question of how 

 to best economize the time taken from business for rifle prac- 

 tice. During the year over 700,000 rounds of ball cartridge 

 have been expended, and au annual allowance of sixty rounds 

 per man and officer is recommended, or about 1,200,000 

 rounds for the total State Guard. The report closes with the 

 full scores of the important military matches of the year, in- 

 cluding the Inter-State, International Military and the Ne- 

 vada Badge scores. The report closes with the encouraging 

 announcement that " the prospects for future improvement 

 wore never more promising." 



BIG SCORES. 



Editob Fobkst and StmiAm: 



The fairness of your remarks in your issue of Nov. 25, 

 on Mr. Partello's " big score," and on the desirability of 

 keeping the degrading influence of hetting as far aloof as 

 possible from all rifle contests, will commend them, I am 

 sure, to all your readers. 



You are perfectly correct, also, in your statement that a 

 match score ought to have precedence over a practice score 

 of the same, or even a greater, number of points. But I can- 

 not help thinking that you give a little more importance 

 than it really deserves to Mr. Sumner's record on the first 

 day of the so-called walk-over at Creedmoor, in classing it as 

 a match score, thereby giving it the precedence over that of 

 Mr. Partello. 



In the first place, there was no match, in the sense that 

 previous international contests have been matches — inas- 

 much as no competing team was actually present. It seems 

 to me, therefore, that the conditions for making a great 

 score were more than usually favorable on that occasion. 



First, there was none of the excitement and trepidation in- 

 cident to the great international matches hitherto shot on the 

 same range. 



Second, the weather was all that could be desired. 



Third, every member of each squad, especially the one in 

 which Mr. Sumner shot, had the benefit of the experience, 

 on matters pertaining to wind and elevation, of every other 

 member, and of the coach besides. The members of this 

 squad knew also from long practice together at "Walnut 

 Hill," that each could rely implicitly on the honest judg- 

 ment and watchful helpfulness of the other. 



In short, it would be difficult to conceive of a practice 

 score which could by any possibility be made under more 

 favorable circumstances than the walk-over scores referred 

 to. 



I have no desire to underrate Mr. Sumner's score, by any 

 means. It was a great score, and one that will not be 

 equallad soon again. My object is to estimate it fairly, and 

 at its true value. And in doing so, it seems to me unfair to 

 classs it among match scores in the same sense that Mr. 

 Bruce and Mr. Blydenburg'a scores would be classed in the 

 great actual contest with the British team. 



Indeed, in whatever light you view it, it ^seems evident 

 that Mr. Sumner had more and better help lrom his sur- 

 roundings in making 221 in the " walk-over" than Mr. Par- 

 tello had'in making his score of 224, with no one but a friend 

 to coach him. Therefore, can we do otherwise than accord 

 Mr. Partello's score, de facto and dejtire, a higher rank than 

 that of Mr. Sumner's. For the same reasons I would consider 

 Mr. Jackson's score of 220, made in an individual match, at 

 Walnut Hill, Nov. 27, entitled to fally as much credit 

 as Mr. Sumner's 221. 



While speaking of Mr. Partello whom, by the way, I never 

 saw), what remarkable scores he has lnado since assuming 

 his new position and practicing a more approved method of 

 loading ! 



Beginning with 224, his ten consecutive scores have been 

 (a9 I'learn from most reliable authority"), as follows: 224, 

 214, 207, 214, 207, 217, 213, 318, 217, 213i making a total of 

 2,146, and an average of 214.6 j or, taking the average of the 

 best five, it is 218. 



This is certainly a remarkable record for an amateur who 

 had had very little previous practice, and it will bear com- 

 parison with that of any expert in the world. 



There has been no parallel to such sudden and phenome- 

 nal excellence, except in the case of Mr. H. Jewell, of the 

 American team, who, on assuming a more favorable posi- 

 tion, astonished the rifle world with some of the largest 

 scores ever before known. Kebk. 



Dec. 17, 1878. 



» it ' » 



THE TE AM O F 1878. 



Communication Read to toe American Team at theio Meet- 

 ing, Dro. 17, 1878. 



Boston, Deo. 12, lsrs. 

 Gentlemen op the American Team : 



Wc answered a call of tho National Eiflo Association to compete for 

 places upon the American team, ami shoot a walk-over for the Paima 

 We devoted oai time and skill to sustainthe dignity of tliatassociaUon, 

 aud are recognized at- the American team of 1878. It has been the cus- 

 tom (or the President of the K. H. A. to present the trophy to tho cap. 

 lain ot the team, and he (the captain) become! the enstodian of tho 

 trophy. It ia with regret that 1 have to repeat to you that your captain 

 does not know wtiore the trophy Is, as the enstomary presentation has 

 been omitted. 



I and that in the original conditions ot the international lons-ranns 



