FOREST AND STREAM. 



451 



iieas Of its fibres and their closeness one to another. Calcutta 

 bamboo, Out of which all the heat makers manufac- 

 ture toeil rods, increases the density of its fibres and their 

 closeness to each other from the centre to the circumference 

 of the cane. Probably no wood does this in so great a degree, 

 for, in less than one-third of an inch, what is almost pith be- 

 comes an enamel that often turns the edge of the best tools. 

 Another peculiar feature of Oalculta bamboo is that one often 

 finds several canes, equally strong and elastic and equally 

 good for making rods, which vary much in density of struc- 

 ture, When i say much, I mean much in the eyes of a fine 

 workman. The one thing needful in this matter is that these 

 discrepancies must not happen in any two sections of the 

 same rod All the pieces used in any one rod must have a 

 natural relation to each other in regard to comparative 

 weight and elasticity. There must be a natural homo- 

 geneity of all the sections. From this it follows that 

 rods of the same calibre may ba equally good in every respect 

 and yet vary as much as seven per centum in weight. Pos- 

 sibly on the whole there is a slight percentage in favor of the 

 quality of the heavier rods, or rather rods that weigh less 

 than you expect them to ought to be scrutinized very care- 

 fully. A perfectly balanced rod will always seem lighter 

 than one of the same weight that, is not correctly calibred; 

 but one who is used to handlipg fly-rods soon detects a light- 

 ness that is not due to delicate adjustment of proportions. 



I said that section bamboo rods which weigh less than one 

 expects them to weigh should be regarded with suspicion. 

 Some manufacturers make the butts of their section bamboo 

 either wholly or partly of cedar. This, of course, reduces the 

 weight very materially, but I think it does so at the expense 

 ol perfect action. There is, in my opinion, no wood that 

 works exactly right with bamboo. Another way of reducing 

 the weight of section bamboo rods is by making them hollow, 

 and still another by cutting off the hard part which is, of 

 course, the part which should be most carefully preserved. To 

 sum up in a few words, be extremely careful how you buy a 

 very light section bamboo, and be still more careful whom 

 you buy it from. 



In regard to the weight; of full s lid metal reel-plates. The 

 thickness of the metal is the main element, but of course the 

 length and circumference have something to do with compara- 

 tive weight. As a rule the circumference of the butt of a 

 section bamboo rod is greater than that of a solid wood rod of 

 the same calibre. Many think that this increased swell is made 

 mainly for ornament ; but besides adapting the rod to the 

 hand, it helps to give that magnificent single action which 

 nearly everybody in this country admures so much. The 

 weight of the reel-plate, especially in singe-handed rods, is by 

 no means a, disadvantage; in fact, it "makes the rod seem 

 lighter, because it balances the rod. I speak, of course, of 

 those rods which have the reel below the casting hand. The 

 easy confirmation of the fact may be obtained by any one who 

 will use an old-fas'hioned fly-rod," with the reel above the hand, 

 for an hour, and then take up one made with the reel below. 

 He will immediately perceive that the additional ounces really 

 seem to deduct themselves from, instead of increasing, the 

 weight Of the rod. 



The following is a tabulated statement of weights given me 

 by Mr. imbrie. They are, for the reasons which I hope I have 

 made plain, only approximate : 

 Length or Bofl, Weight of Keel Plate. Total Weight. 



Meet IK ounces. souuees. 



it ;-i feet 2 •' :o ii 



i«teet ix " U " 



*K " 18 « 



IB feet 2\ " 1!8 • • 



»X " SI " 



• '"' 3 •• 26 " 



iTMteet 3»s " 40 » 



IBloet ax " 44 » 



lSfeet 3% " 50 " 



HO feet 4 » 54 .. 



Pardon me for taking up so much of your space, but I must 



urge as my excuse that 1 believe that what so much interested 



me may prove equally interesting to some of your subscribers. 



Yours most truly, g_ 



[We feel greatly indebted to our correspondent for opening 

 up this important subject iu a logical and intelligent manner. 

 The facts he gives, and his table of relative weights are not 

 often found in the literature of angling and anglers' imple- 

 ments. We note with pleasure a progressive development in 

 the art of rod-making, as in gun-making. A Tod is no longer 

 "a stick and string, with a fiabuat one end a fool at the 

 other."— Ed. 1?. and S.] 



THE FISH MORTALITY IN THE GULF. 



Jackson vo.LB, l'!a., Dec 26, isis. 

 Editor Forest and streau : 



In reply to your comma nlcatlon soliciting information regarding tlie 

 mortality among the Ash on the coast ana ouean near fctie Keys, I can 

 only say that from personal observation I have none to communicate. 

 Through the public press I have noticed that ash have been dying In 

 Immense quantities for some time. 



By some the mortality is attributed to the freshness ot the water, as 

 o. cons, quence of the heavy rains of the past snmmet and autumn. 

 Bat la my opinion this explanation will not suffice, as the mum outlets 

 ot Ocitecliobee empty into the ocean north o! Pavtlllon Key, and that 

 sheephead.tarpum, channel bass and mullet vielt and live in brackish 

 and even fresh water. By some it haa been attributed to volcanic ac- 

 tion, and by others to the breaking forth of a subterranean stream, the 

 waters of which are poisonous. One fact is positively known/and 

 that is that fish in enormous quantities are dying over a large extent 

 of the Gulf from the effects of something contained In the water— be 

 that, something deleterious gasses, mineral BUbstances held in solu- 

 tion, or fungi. 



The fishing Interest of Key West is an important one, for it supplies 

 thousands with the means of subsietanoe, and if the fish mortality 

 should continue is will bring privation and suffering to many a family. 



It appears to me that the existing mortality among the flsh is a mat- 

 ter of scientific importance, and should be thoroughly Investigated. 

 I would suggest the advisability o£ the Revenue Department or the 

 Smithsonian Institution sending a commissioner to investigate the canae 

 of the mortality. The Government baa a dispatch boat at Key West 

 which eoald be spared for the purpose, and the expense would ,be 

 trining. .is a matter of scientific Interest, Independent of Its com- 

 mercial importance, this subject demands Investigation. 



I remain yours truly, c , j. KKt) wowmYm 



We warmly second Dr. Kenwotthy's suggestion, and hope 

 the Government will permit the use of facilities for investiga- 

 tion which it appears to have in readiness at Key West. We 

 have already hinted that the use of fluorescine in those waters 

 of Florida which empty into the Gulf might serve to indicate 

 the origin of the boiling spring, whose discovery somewhsre 



off the Gulf Coast was announced two months ago if sncii 

 a volcanic spring exists, the poisoning of the water can easily 

 be. accounted for j though the remedy to prevent continued 

 mortality of the fish is not so readily found. The locality of 

 this boiling spring was given by the Key West Key of the 

 Gulf, of November 0th, or thereabouts, as "along our 

 bay coast from two to ten fathoms out." This is 

 not very definite, but it is the most positive desig- 

 nation that we have seen. No authentic information 

 seems to have been derived from any other source. 

 The fishermen whose occupation has been cut short so sud- 

 denly should devote their leisure time to efforts to determine 

 the locality of the obnoxious cause, wherever or whatever it 

 is, and report at once to the revenue station at Key West, 

 thereby seconding the efforls of the Government to remedy the 

 evil. It will he a direct way of putting bread in the mouths 

 of their now starving families. The polluting substance, 

 whatever it may be, is evidently most subtle, for its influ- 

 ence is seen for a distance of 200 miles, dead fish covering the 

 surface of the ocean wherever the eye rests. One proof of its 

 volcanic origin is that the water so polluted is of a "red brick 

 color," at a distance of less than a mile from shore, while the 

 interval of water along the land is natural in color and taste. 

 Of its subaqueous origin there can be no doubt, but whether 

 it has connection with waters iu the interior of Florida by 

 subterranean passages, or has a deeper and independent 

 source and seat, is what we wish to know. The phenomenon 

 in itself is not wonderful or incomprehensible, being only a 

 reproduction of boiling springs in all parts of the globe, both 

 in land and ocean. Off Matanzas there is on immense 

 spring, not hot, but of clear, cold, pure water. 



— See Bogardus' advertisement. 



%mn% §ng and §ntu 



GAME IN SEASON FOR DECEMBER 



Moosa, Alces malchti. 

 Elk or wapiti, Cervus canadensis. 

 Hares, brown and gray. 

 Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo. 

 Woodcock, fiiilchela minor. 

 Huffed grouse or pheasant, Bonasa 

 umbtUxt*. 



Bed or Va. deer, O. virginiamts. 

 .Squirrels, red, black and gray. 

 <iuail or partridge, Onyx Virginia- 



Pinnated grouse or prairie chick- 

 en, Cupidonia cupida. 

 Caribou, Tarandus rangtfer. 



"Bay birds" generally, including various Bpecies of plover, sand 

 piper, snipe, curlew, oyster-catcher, surf birds, phalaropos, avocete, 

 etc., coming under the group Limacolai or Shore Birds. 



SS~ In New York state December Is a close month for deer. Deer 

 Bhootlng la permitted only during the months of September, October 

 and November. Sale of venison is permitted until January l, and not 

 after. 



New Sportsman's House in Florida.— Capt. Wingate, of 

 the Cincinnati Rifle Team, has opened a house in the Gulf 

 Hammock, seven miles from the Beaver Creek station on the 

 Femandina and Cedar Keys R. R. The house is 40x60, two 

 stories high, with accommodations for thirty guests. 



Canada— Montreal, Dee. 20.— Since the shooting began I 

 have hunted over a large portion of the Province of Quebec 

 that lies south of the river St. Lawrence, and have bagged 

 but little game. Small game has been very scarce in this 

 vicinity. In many places where last year I killed full bags of 

 ruffed grouse, this season my dogs some days would not flush 

 but one or two birds, and they were almost invariably old 

 flcocs. The great amount of rain flooded our swamps and 

 ats kand kept the streams at flood-tide, which spoiled our fun 

 in a great measure with snipe and ducks. There was, how- 

 ever, early in the season an invasion by bears and wolves on 

 some of our border settlements, near Thursa, a small village 

 on the Ottawa. Twenty-two bears have been killed, and five 

 of this number were brought to grief within the village 

 limits, and one of them was, in fact, laid low in the door- 

 yard of the only hotel of the place. The writer, while cross- 

 ing the river there one night, nearly ran afoul of one ; but 

 Mr. Bruin made his escape in the darkness. As yet there are 

 but few deer here in our markets, though one parly claims to 

 have shot twenty near one camp on Bear Brook, Out. The 

 ground is now covered with a few inches of snow— enough 

 for si ill hunting— and we may expect to see some caribou 

 brought in by some of our sportsmen soon. I have informa- 

 tion that a yard of caribou are within a short ride by rail 

 from this city. Stanstbad. 



New Jebset— Malaga, Dec. 28.— The gunning this season 

 has been better than at any time for ten years. Under the 

 West Jersey Game Protective Society, all the five counties 

 comprising West Jersey (New Jersey South and West), have 

 been stocked with North Carolina quails, and last winter was 

 a favorable one to the young birds. Judge Miller, Secretary 

 of the Game Protective Society, spent two days here this 

 month and bagged 107 quails, which we think is good shoot- 

 ing. The Judge is one of our brightest lawyers and a good 

 shot. He tells me that he killed 05 quails last winter in one 

 day at Cape May Court House, Cape May Co. The beach 

 near Cape May abounds in rabbits. The best ground for 

 ducks is near Leeds Point (mentioned in your paper of Dec. 

 5), where Jority Looy will meet parties at Absecom and show 

 them some rare sport at geese and ducks. 



YouK > Matlack. 



Pennsylvania— Williumsport, Lycoming Co., Deo. 19.— The 

 hunting season just closed has been a very uninteresting one 

 in this locality. Ruffed grouse, our principal game bird, con- 

 trary to all expectations, were extremely scarce. Having had 

 very little tracking snow, and running deer with hounds be- 

 ing unlawful and generally discountenanced, comparatively 

 few deer have been killed in the county. Our hunters gene- 

 rally are dissatisfied with the present law, as the season end- 

 ing Dec. 15 practically prevents tracking in this latitude. 

 The law will doubtless be broken more or less, and the ques- 

 tion arises, " Will the man who hunts two weeks after season 

 by that time not become reckless and demoralized enough to 

 hunt even later?" The most of ua think it would be wise to 

 restore the quitting time to Jan. 1, and rather take off two, 

 or even four, weeks from the beginning of the season. 



BoaoLiux. 



SoxiTn Oabomsa.— Ofwteston, Deo. 28, -Our sportsmen 

 turned out en masw on Christmas Day, and several line bags 

 of woodcock, partridge and ducks were brought in. A large 

 number of deer and turkey were also killed by different hunt- 

 ing parties from the city. Our party hunted about twenty 

 miles from here, and on Christmas morning started ten deer 

 in less than two hours' time, and although several shots were 

 had, we succeeded in getting only a rice buck. Deer are 

 more plentiful in some sections of this county this season than 

 at any previous time since the war. During a recent freshet 

 in the Santee Swamps, about forty miles from the city, a 

 hunting party killed sixteen in one day's hunt, It is to be 

 hoped that this wholesale slaughter will not be permitted 

 again, or we shall soon be compelled to hunt rabbits for lack 

 of larger game. During the recent critical illness of G/QV> 

 Hampton, an incident occurred which shows his intense fond- 

 ness for hunting. It had been raining bard and continuously 

 on the Friday proceeding the day fixed for the amputation of 

 his leg, and, notwithstanding the depressing influence of the 

 weather and the intense pain that he was suffering, he re- 

 marked to one ol his friends present, lluit, "As it has been 

 rainiDg so heavily all day, the deer will be driven out of the 

 swamps, and it would be a famous day for hunting" We 

 are happy to report the Governor's daily improvement, and 

 trust that it will not be very long before he will again be able 

 to indulge in that glorious sport of which he is so fond. 



Yksots. 



Straining at Gnats.— It is rather remarkable that in such 

 a sporting State as Tennessee there should be found persons 

 narrow-minded enough to fake the action below, yet such ap- 

 pears to be the case. In July last a number of gentlemen of 

 Nashville known as the Nashville Team, and comprised of 

 members of the A. B. Bower and Forest and Stream Gun 

 Clubs, accepted a challenge from a gun club iu Murfreesboro 

 to shoot them a match at glass balls. The match was shot, 

 the Nashville team ' being defeated. Now the Sheriff of 

 of Rutherford County has served upon the gentlemen of 

 Nashville notices of indictment before the criminal court at 

 its nest April session to answer to the charge of gaming. 

 Our correspondent who gives us these particulars says that ho 

 has made inquiries into the matter and finds that the teams 

 did not gamble in the true sense of gambling ; they shot for a 

 sweepstakes, the proceeds of which were to defray expenses. 

 If such interference on the part of the law continues it will 

 naturally affect that class of sport out here. Glass hall shoot- 

 ing is quite an expensive amusemehi, and if sweepstakes are 

 not allowed, so that a shooter might win a little from time to. 

 time, many of them would have to give up shooting. 



Very respectfully, J. D. H. 



Tennessee— Nashville, Deo. 26.— During Christmas week 

 great quantities of game and fish were offered for sale by the 

 different dealers in this city. In the market-house two bears, 

 were offered for sale besides a number of deer. J. D. H. 



Geoboia— Americus, Dee. 19.— Every year we take one big- 

 hunt — that is, turn out for a day to see how many birds we 

 can kill. We do this only once a season, and then arrange- 

 ments are made previously to prevent wasting buds. We 

 took the hunt for this season on the 14th. Five guns and five 

 dogs all on ground entirely new. To say we did poor shoot- 

 ing tells only the truth ; poor as to quality, but for quantity- 

 rich in profusion. Sportsmen are said to be both punctual 

 and truthful, antl I must not. go back on the profession. 

 There was only one first-class shot among us, and he did 

 worse than any. He was shooting Ditrnar powder, and con- 

 trary to all our hopes and expectations we are forced to at- 

 tribute this as the cause. Even at this late day it was our 

 first trial of the powder. Perhaps his was not the right grain 

 or his shells were improperly loaded. We hope it was some 

 such fault as this, and trust "to succeed with it yet if we can 

 get it to be quicuer. It is too slow entirely. In watching 

 my friend shoot I could absolutely see the shot strike the 

 birds. Our greatest trouble has always been the smoke, the 

 abominable smoke spreading in a cloud before us just in time 

 to obscure the birds both living and dead. In shooting ducks 

 this evening, the atmosphere was light, and I was unable to. 

 get in a second barrel a. single time on account of the smoke. 

 We bagged only 159 all told, every one quail, and every one 

 honestly killed, for what lover of a good dog and fine gun 

 would have a bird obtained otherwise"? Oue "thing that per- 

 haps is peculiar to us is that wo never shoot a hare. Experi- 

 ence has taught us that for truthful and handsome work by a 

 dog in a country abounding with quail and hares the latter 

 should never be shot, and consequently they soon will not be 

 pointed. Nothing is more provoking than to dismount to 

 point and have scamper away from your approach "Molly 

 cotton tail." ft is a handsome shot, I admit, but my word 

 for it, if spoils your dog. Shot. 



Mississippi— Corinth, Dee. 27.— Weather fearfully cold; two 

 inches of snow on the ground. Have had part of one day in 

 the field since my return from Nashville; made quite a fair 

 bag of quail over my brace of pointers Kate and Maida. 

 Have not been after ducks this winter ; some reported in at 

 this writing. Received to-day from Dr. Caldwell, of Texas 

 an immense pair of ears of a jackass rabbit run down with 

 his pack of greyhounds. White showing the ears to some 

 gentlemen in the street, a negro fellow saw them. "Great 

 golly I" said he, " See dem yers— gwine rabbit hunting right 

 off I" > Guyon. 



Montana— Virginia City, Dec. 7.— 6ur hunting season is 

 drawing to a close. It has been a prolific one, and many fine 

 bags have been made. Geese and duck have mostly gone to 

 their more southern winter quarters, but still there are a few 

 to be found in the open marshes and streams. Chickens are- 

 very plentiful, but very wild and hard to approach; will not 

 lie for dog. I have just returned from a two days' shoot. 

 bringing in a fair bag of chickens and ducks topped oil wieh' 

 three fine geese, very fat and weighing from twelve to four- 

 teen pounds. I had tine sport at jack snipe for an hour or so 

 one day this fall, killing 51 in the time. Something unusual, 

 in this country. a. B. K. 



Shells of Twenty Gauge.— Editor Forest and Stream - 

 I see in your answer to correspondent, " F. R. «,," Laconia 

 N. H., in issue of December 20, you say, "No shells of twenty 

 gauge are made in this country," In this you labor under a- 

 mistake, as this Company can furnish shells of their own 

 make in all sizes— brass and paper— from eight to twenty 

 If you can correct you will oblige. 



Youra respectfully, Hooper, 

 New York, Dec. 26. Winchester K. A. OL 



Rust Pebventee— Schenectady, N. T., Dec. 28.— In answer 

 to the many inquiries which you have in reference to a rust 

 preventer, allow me to state that in my opinion the most per- 

 fect one In existence is cosmolino. It can be obtained at any, 



