88 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



fd: 



A. WEEKLY JOURr 



devoted to fteld and aquatic sports, practical n 

 Fish Culture, tub Protection of Game.Piieskiiva 

 and the Inculcation inMen and Women op a he 

 is Outdoor Recreation and Study : 



PUBLISHED Bi 



forest and ,§treatn fltitblishittg {^ompang, 



17 CHATHAM STREET, (CITY HALL SQU ARE) NEW YORK, 

 [Post Office Box 2833.1 

 188 SOUTH THIRD STREET. PHILADELPHIA. 



COBB'S BUILDING, DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO. 



Terms, Five Dollars a Year, Strictly In Advance. 



Adiacotmt of twenty percent, for five copies and upwards. Anyperaon 

 tending us two subscriptions and Ten Dollars will receive a copy of 

 HallocE's " Fisiiino Tourist," postage free. 



Advertising Bates. 



In regular advertising colnmns, nonpareil type, 12 lines to the inch. 2S 

 cents per line. Advertisements on oni- ■ i ■■■:■■■ "■■■-■:. . - | ,>,r ''- ■'<' • Re:'dhu 

 notices, 5fi rents per Hue. Advertisements in double column 25 per cent. 

 sxtra. Where advertisements are inserted over 1 month, a discount of 

 10 per cent, will be made; over three months, 20 per cent; over six 

 months, .10 per cent. 



NEW YORK, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1874. 



To Correspondents. 



All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 

 correspondence, must be addressed to The Forest and Stream Pub- 

 lishing Company. Personal or private letters of coarse excepted. 



All communications intended for publication must be accompanied with 

 real name, «s a guaranty of good faith. Names will not bo published if 

 objection be made. No anonymous contributions will be regarded. 



Articles relating to any topic within the scope of this paper are solicited. 



We cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 



Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor us with brief 

 notes of their movements and transactions, as it is the aim or this paper 

 to become a medium of useful and reliable information between gentle- 

 men sportsmen from one end of the country to the other ; and they will 

 find our columns a desirable medium for advertising announcements. 



The Publishers of Forest and Stream aim to merit and secure the 

 patronage and countenance of that, portion of the community whose re- 

 fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 

 is beautiful in Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 

 the legitimate sports of land and water to those base uses which always 

 tend to make them unpopular with the virtnoos and good. No advertise- 

 ment or business notice, of an imm oral character will be received on any 

 (.arms ; and nothing will be admitted to any department of the paper that 

 may not be read with propriety in the home circle. 



We cannot be responsible for the dereliction of the mall service, if 

 money remitted to ns is lost. 



Advertisements should be sent in by Saturday of each week, ir possible. 

 CHARLES IIALLOCK, Managing Editor. 



WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Manager. 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE CUR- 

 RENT WEEK. 



Fbidat, September 15th.— Trotting meetings at Chatham Village, N. 

 Y., Peoria, HI., Providence, R. I., Lawrence, Mass., Waverly Station, 

 N. J., Norrislown.Pa., Florence, Ky.— Dorchester Yacht Club. 



Saturday, September 18th.— Practice day boat clubs, Harlem, N. Y.— 

 Trotting meetings Wuverly Station, N. J., Norristown. Pa,, Florence, 

 Ky,— -Dorchester Yacht Club regatta— Philadelphia vs. Boston B. B. C. 

 at Boston. Mass. 



Mondat, September 21st.— Trotting meetings at Fleetwood, N, Y., 

 and Sacramento, Cal— Philadelphia vs. Boston B. B. C. at Boston— Ath- 

 letic vs. Chicago. 



Tuesday, September Mid.— Trotting meetlugs at Hartford, Conn., 

 America, N. Y., Haverhill, Mass.— 22d to 24th— Portsmouth, Ohio, Pots- 

 dam. N.T., Prospect Park, 25th, Brooklyn, White Marsh, Pa., Albany, N. 

 Y ,Eau Claire, Wis. .Ambler Park, Pa.,Folsom.Cal., 2Bth,Merideo,Conn., 

 85th,Monongahela City. Pa., Cnba, N. Y., Tippecanoe City, Ohio, Middle- 

 town, Del., Sharon, Pa., Lockport, N. Y., 26th— Philadelphia vs. 

 Mutual B. B. C. 



Wednesday, September 23d,— Match day, cricket clubs, Hoboken.— 

 Trotting meetings same as on Tuesday. 



TmiKSDAY, September 24th. -Brooklyn Yacht Club regatta.— Trotting 

 meeting:, same as mi Tuesday and Wednesday. 



AMERICAN AND ENGLISH RIFLES. 



THE late discussions in Englaud in regard to trie 

 Muiliiii-Ht'iiry rifle, relate not as much as to the ac- 

 curacy bf the arm, as the violence of the recoil and the 

 variability of the trigger. Of course the latter point, being 

 a simple mechanical difficulty, could be readily controlled; 

 as to the recoil, that is another matter. The Volunteer Ser- 

 vice Guzrfte stales, "as regards the recoil, the more we search 

 the Glue Book the more strongly we adhere to our opinion, 

 that some evidence very much more weighty than a few 

 riflemen, however experienced at the last Wimbledon meet- 

 ing, is needing to rebut the extraordinary strong testimony 

 orf the other side, on which the small arms committee re- 

 lied in recommending the title." 



We think by comparison, then, we have every reason to 

 be satisfied with our own breech loading arms. The new 

 model Springfield, as an army gun, has proved its accu- 

 racy, and even as may have been seen at Oreedmoor, as a 

 purely military arm, has asserted ils claims as a target 

 weapon. Our Remingtons, Sharps and Ward-Burtous, 

 now used all over the country, subjected to constant 

 and various usage, fill perfectly the places demanded of 



them as arms of great accuracy and simple mechan- 

 ism. Without undue arrogance on our part, we are 

 inclined to think that our breech loading rifles, are, 

 in every way, quite the equals of the English weapons, 

 and in some, respects, even surpass them. We do 

 not mean to decry our muzzle loaders. As we have 

 before expressed ourselves, it is a matter to be regretted 

 that our manufacturers of muzzle loading rifles have 

 shown such apathy in regard to their iuterests. There are 

 no methods, therefore, by which comparisons can be made 

 between the best English rifles, (muzzle loaders,) such as 

 the Rigby and Metford, and those of American make. It 

 has been said to us, and perhaps with reason, that it will 

 require a certain amount of time before such arms will be 

 produced in the United States. Perhaps next season we 

 will see muzzle loaders in use in Creedmoor. As it is, 

 however, comparing American scores with the English 

 ones, Creedmoor against Wimbledon, the shooting of our 

 breech loaders leaves nothing more to be desired. 



GAME PROTECTION IN SWITZERLAND. 



WE had the pleasure of an interview last week with 

 M. Edward Guyer, fish commissioner from the 

 Canton of Zurich, in Switzerland, who is now on a visit to 

 this country with a view to ascertain what has been done 

 here relative to the protection of game, and to investigate 

 our methods of fish culture. His journey will extend 

 through the West as far as California. From him we learn 

 that Switzerland has taken up the whole subject in earnest, 

 and has acted with a promptness, energy and thoroughness 

 altogether worthy of imitation. Some three months ago 

 the constitution was revised, with the popular consent, so 

 as to place the protection of her forests and streams, with 

 their game and Ash, entirely under the control of the 

 Federal Government, the several Cantons or States re- 

 linquishing all their rights in their respective domains. 

 By this action she can now treat with other countries upon 

 all questions involved in these especial interests; whereas 

 unity of action was before embarrassed by each separate 

 State having jurisdiction over its own afEairs. The great 

 advantage thus gained must be conceded. The Federal 

 Government now designates close times and open seasons 

 for game and fish, controls water rights, grants licenses 

 and leases, regulates the fish passes and the sizes and forms 

 of nets, supervises fish culture, prescribes the weight and 

 size of fish to be sold in market, and moreover prevents 

 any one from engaging in the business of fishjug unless he 

 thoroughly understands it — a wise provision, certainly. 

 It has also set apart and reserved certain waters for propa- 

 gation, in which no fishing can be done for a specified 

 number of years. In these respects, it has followed the 

 example of Canada, which seems to be in advance of most 

 other countries in these matters. Each separate Canton, 

 however, is to have its own fish commissioner, and ap- 

 pointments have already been made in nine out of the 

 twenty-two. 



This plan of protection includes the forests and their 

 belongings, the propagation of trees for timber and shade, 

 and all other kindred economic interests. 



Without at present pressing upon the United States the 

 adoption of a similar system in its entirety (which would 

 certainly seem most advantageous), we will simply state 

 that Austria, Holland and Germany are preparing to recon- 

 struct their game laws upon some improved basis, and are 

 only awaiting the success of the movement in Switzerland 

 to make them conform to hers in all essential features. 

 We shall do wisely if we also scrutinize carefully the 

 work she is doing. A growing interest is certainly mani- 

 fested throughout this country in this most important sub- 

 ject, not only in the formation of clubs and associations to 

 protect game, and the holding of conventions to discuss 

 vital points, but in the increased amount of information 

 that is daily and weekly disseminated through the press, 

 and the eagerness with which it is everywhere read. The 

 establishment and liberal support of papers devoted 

 exclusively to these interests, two of them within fourteen 

 months, is a most positive indication of the popular drift. 

 Our people seem to have awakened to the exigencies of 

 the hour, and to have heartily embarked in the work de- 

 manded of them. What is important is to secure the best 

 method for preservation and protection that can be devised, 

 and then to place it in the hands of the best executive to 

 enforce its observance. 



In this connection we may mention one fact most inter- 

 esting to Americans that has been communicated to us 

 relative to the Austrian fish commission; namely, that its 

 president bears the name of Baron Washington, who is 

 none other than the great grand nephew of our own 

 George Washington, and the only one of the name now 

 living. He comes from a branch of the family who did 

 not follow the fortunes of George from England to 

 America. His age is about 55, and his wife is a sister of 

 the reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg, and a neice of the 

 Emperor. He resides at Schloss Poels, Steiermark, 

 Austria. 



■♦«♦- 



—Last August was the hottest month that has been ex- 

 perienced in Florida for many years. The average mid- 

 day temperature was over 90 ; ; highest point reached, 97°; 

 lowest, 11". Rainfall for the month, one inch. We have 

 a full record from our regular observer at New Smyrna. 

 *«♦■ 



— There was a sharp white frost in the Muskoka district, 

 in Ontario, Canada, on the night of September 3d, which 

 blighted the potato vines. 



NITRO-GLYCERINE FISHERMEN. 



SOME weeks ago we were requested by a person in Mas- 

 sachusetts to give the method by which torpedoes 

 and explosive materials could be manufactured to be used 

 for the destruction of fish. We naturally hesitated before 

 giving such information, and finally thought it better to 

 give no reply to the party making such inquiry. We could, 

 of course, imagine an isolated case where the use or tor- 

 pedoes to destroy fish might find legitimate employment, 

 as when a pond contained pike, and where it might be nec- 

 essary to kill all the pike in order to introduce trout or 

 other fish. Of course we gave our enquirer the benefit of 

 this doubt, straining a point, thinking perhaps that torpe- 

 does might be wanted for the above purpose, but deter- 

 mined that it was better to keep to ourselves what we knew 

 of the many rascally methods employed to kill fish. Our 

 most worthy contemporary, the Turf, Field and Farm, did 

 not, however, mince matters, for baving been requested, 

 very probably by the same person who addressed us, to give 

 the much desired information, "How to kill fish by torpe- 

 does," very properly gave the inquirer a sound rating. 



And just here wc may mention (not as a coincidence so 

 much as a consequence, perhaps,) that a man has just been 

 discovered killing fish at Quincy Point, Mass., by the ex- 

 plosion of nitroglycerine, and that, much excitement has 

 naturally resulted therefrom. The facts, as we gather them 

 from the New York Times, are these: — The fish killed were 

 principally sea bass. A small vial of the explosive was at 

 first used, but with indifferent success, as only a few fish 

 rose to the surface; but with an extra charge in a can all 

 the fish within a circle of forty yards were shocked by the 

 concussion. About one hundred were Idled instantly, and 

 captured and sold. It is estimated that a hundred more 

 were so seriously affected as to perish. A careful inspec- 

 tion of the fish killed showed, in every instance, that the 

 second or air bladder was rent and filled with blood. The 

 fisherman has been warned against a repetition of this ex- 

 periment, which is punishable by fines. 



We are moreover informed, by the most reliable author- 

 ity, that quite lately on the Jersey flats nitro-glycerine has 

 been used, and that numberless fish have been destroyed. 

 Though we have looked up lite subject carefully, we have 

 not been able to find out whether there is any positive law 

 for the prevention of the use of nitro-glycerine on the sea- 

 coast. All we have to say is, that without exactly advis- 

 ing the enforcement of a maritime Lynch law, we would 

 endotse the principle carried out successfully some years 

 ago by those catching smelt in Massachusetts with a hook 

 and line. Those men who used nets to capture the fish 

 (although the law was not explicit as to their prohibition) 

 were caught by the hook and line men and ducked. As to 

 the nitro-glycerine fishermen, we should think a good gal- 

 vanic kicking, prior to ducking, would be beneficial. To 

 go as far, however, as "to hoist them with their own pe- 

 tards," would be carrying the punishment perhaps a grade 

 beyond what such a crime deserves. We very respectfully 

 bring this subject of nitro-glycerine before the United 

 States Fish Commissioners, and the Massachusetts and Bos- 

 ton societies for the protection of fish and game. 



In this connection we may state, and with regret, that 

 questions are very frequently put to us in regard to meth- 

 ods of killing birds, beasts, and fishes by means which are 

 unsportsmanlike, and that it has been our invariable rule to 

 pay no attention to such questions. Our advertising space 

 has also been asked for by parties desirous of selling in- 

 struments or substances which we knew were to be used 

 for the destruction of game in an illegitimate manner, and 

 such space in our advertising columns has been, as it al- 

 ways will be, denied to them. 



-»»•- 



RATIONAL RULES FOR CROQUET. 



OUR recent remarks on croquet have called out some 

 correspondence indicating a general interest in the sub- 

 jected a demand for some recognized authority. In view of 

 the fact that there never has been, ami probably never will 

 be, any published laws, resting on national authority, gov- 

 erning this popular game, the next best thing that play- 

 ers can do will be to adopt by common consent some 

 popular manual, and thus in time make it practically the 

 desired national authority. 



From 1804 to 1808 there was much controversy among 

 players as to the methods of the game, and several valu- 

 able works were published. AYhen croquet was first intro- 

 duced to this country, the English rules of Mayne Reid, 

 Routledge, anu Jacques were the recognized authorities. 

 In 1805, "Croquet, as played by the Newport Club," was 

 published, and was the subject of much comment among ex- 

 pert players. In 1808 a new edition of a book by R. Fellow 

 was published, in the preface of which the author mentions 

 as one reason for revising a former edtion, and a cause 

 greatly influencing and modifying his whole method, the 

 publication of "Croquet: its implements and laws," drawn 

 up by a committee of players appointed by the editor of 

 the Field, London; also an article on this hook m London 

 Society; and states that, he had endeavored to agree, as far 

 as possible, with ihc English committee. But these and 

 many other books seemed to mystify and muddle the ave- 

 rage player, and to disgust him with the "scientific game," 

 producing a false impression and laxity of discipline in the 

 game that many years will not eradicate. And yel, with 

 all the wrangle and discussion, there seemed to be very 

 little advantage to the game, as the only really practical 

 point at issue was the restriction or non-restriction of the 



