FOREST AND STREAM' 



131 



the camper-out, is the frying pan. Never omit if. Let it 

 receive early attention. It should be a foot in diameter, 

 well made ot wrought iron, and with a hn;/ handle. The 

 handle is especially marked long in italics for the benefit of 

 the novice in cooking over an open tire. 



Next in order is " the hake kettle, an article once in use 

 among our ancestors a hundred years ago, or BO, in the 

 Iffing" old times; and to be found in every "cracker" family 

 (It the South at the present rlav. Tin- camper-out cannot 

 do without it, It should be at least a fool in diameter, and 

 cost, with the frying pan, not over $3. A quart tin cup. a 

 tin plate a knife and fork, and spoon, will he seen only t<> 

 he appreciated by the kndwing one. These may he dupli- 

 cated, as the loss of either, though not wholly irreparable, 

 might occasion discomfort. They cost hut little, say a 

 dollar or 80, A sharp knife should he in camp, but we are 

 not Yankees if we do not have a jack-knife in our pocket. 

 An axe or hatchet should certainly he taken, say $1 for a 

 hatchet. A few matches, candies, a little soap, salve for 

 bruises.and liniment perhaps, should he taken, and two dol- 

 lars will cover that whole hill. 



I'm a complete list of small articles of rise in camp, I 

 would refer the reader to numbers of Foltr.sr \mi STREAM 

 Eor Ootober and November, 1^::;. where, in "llinis to 

 Sportsmen." he will Mod many valuable and timely hints 

 upon woodcraft and camp life. 



As no extra expense is entailed in respect to clothing, 

 nothing will be allowed for its purchase, If shy thing, 

 there should he credit given for the amount saved by wear- 

 ing old clothes the entire winter. Aim to dress comfort- 

 ably, ami be able at times to dresa-wnrmly, Take a good 

 BlOckof old cisi-oiY clothing and remember to donate il 

 when you leave for the benefit of some one— you are sure 

 to meet him— poorer than yourself. Wear woolen Shirts 

 and stOclringS, old trousers and boots. :nid light, broad 

 brim fell hat, Take one pair water-proof leather boots, 

 but relv mainly upon easy-fitting shoes. An old overcoat 

 is most acceptable at times, for, though the temperature 

 will rarely descend below 35 or 40 degrees, n will cer- 

 tainly, at times, reach to -J* degrees, and then the unpro- 

 tected ones shiver. It is at night, however, that, it is cold, 

 and good blankets are necessary. At least one pair army 

 hlankets, costing about $6. Rubber blanket, or better, a 

 '.rood "poncho," costing §'2. A mosquito net, or bar, of 

 line lawn or mosquito netting, is absolutely necessary, as 

 mosquitoes and sand Hies fairly revel at times, and at such 

 times— "cncra'.lv When the camperoul most desires repose 

 —commit unsuiferable depredations. Make the liar of line 

 lawn or cotton cloth six feet long, four broad and three 

 high. This will shelter two persons, or ought to, and will 

 cost about $'-2. A. pocket compass is sometimes very valu- 

 able to oue travelling in the woods, and as he will not want 

 to remain at all limes in close vicinage to camp, and as the 

 faculty of direction i- not. generally sufficiently developed 

 in an amateur to enable him to wander tar into the swamps 

 without, getting lost, one had belter betaken. Expend a 

 few dollars in fislt dues; good, strong bass lines and hooks, 

 and some smaller ones for shCOpshead and smaller fish. 

 These, with the expense of freight, wUltake al least live 

 dollars, ninilitia a total expense Rn the whole trip Of ninety 

 dollars This leave- sld in: contingent expenses, which, 

 by a judicious expenditure, may lie made to conduce 

 materially tO the comfort of the camper-out. 1 flatter my- 

 seir that'ihe amount would not ha\e. remained had I not, 

 hv very careful calculation, reduced his wants lo the min- 

 imum.' Do not cast abo,u tor some means of spending 

 this sum, though it may burn the pocket; it is best to retain 

 a grip upon it, at least until the very logl week of camping. 

 By the addition Of a few dollars one can secure a most con- 

 venient nrrangemcnl called a ••camp kit." containing every- 

 thing desirablo for cooking in a small space. In a large 

 pail is packed frytfigJpah, plate-., knives, fork.-, etc.— in 

 fact, everything necessary to the wants ot a party of six 

 for the sum of a dozen dollars. And then there, is the 

 portable stove, which, weighing but link- and small in com- 

 pos, will prove a blessing In any camp. A kerosene 

 stove is very convenient, but will necessitate carry- 

 ing fuel, while for the camp stove, the tuel is al 

 hand, oniv needing to be cut. I speak of these things lest 

 any one should think me regardless of tin ir comfort. It 

 is possible that some desiderata may be omitted, but the 

 main desires and wants al least, are. provided for. In pro- 

 visions there mav not lie quite enough, bul I think what 1 

 have enumerated' will cover the wants of a winter's stay. 

 Pish and game will very likely aid greatly in providing lor 

 your Wants; but then lish are someiimcs vi ry perverse and 

 will not bite, and turkeys, quail and deer will persist in se- 

 cluding themselves in inaccessible places. That ten dollar- 

 should be sullieient to cover all extra outlay for provisions. 

 Now 1 expect some caviling person will .-ay. ■'You 



essary i e's comfort in a land unknown in him." 



1 know thai. I didn't agree to; merely promised to tfdec 

 you to Florida and back, giving a month on the water, two 

 on land, for one hundred 'dollars. I have done more than 

 lhat. 1 have provided for your wants for that period, not 

 taking into consideration the fact thai, your bare board at 

 the North would cost, vou twice the amount it will lo camp. 

 You haven't allowed for the value of the cooking ulensils, 

 blankets, etc., after they have served your purpose, and 

 you do not consider, though il i- Hue as gospel, Hint \ mi 

 have, it an Ordinary man, saved at least half tile expense 

 of clothing a winleVs residence :it the North would neces- 

 sitate. 



Heady the trip to Florida has cost you nothing, and with 

 n little more time and "liggerin"' 1 might perhaps show 

 Uial vou had made money by i he venture. Anyway you 

 will come hack with a .enc-wed lease ot life and rejoicing 

 in icgaiued strength, which ol themselves, arc inestimable 

 and incalculable. " A gun. by all means, should be taken, 

 and if the choice lies between shot gun and rifle, take the 

 forint r. Willi a Bhol gun one can secure a greater variety 

 of game than with a rilio, and should he able to supply the 

 camp, Do n<)l J- r(;l a muzzle if you can procure a breech 

 loader. There i- ho comparison between them, and it is 

 universally conceded tliat toe breechloader surpasses in 

 safely, and rapidity of loading and tiring. There is little 

 choice in the various kinds, except in price; they are all 

 generally safe enough, and Ihe choice of selection will de- 

 pend mainly upon the length "I the purchaser's purse. The 

 Kemingtons manufacture the cheapest. The new side- 

 action "Fo.i" gun is the best now produced, probably, and 

 destined to load at no distant day. Rilh-s of all prices 

 from the cheapest second hand at $10 to the latest and best 

 Remington. A revolver is sometimes useful, but not neces- 

 sary, unless one is expert enough to kill small game with 

 it. ' Six word for it, there will lie. no occasion, unless „nr 



visits the wilder portions of Florida for Its use npfl ' 

 game, if I may except an infrequent chance at deer or 

 turkey. Take 'a few 'steel or brass shells for Ihe breech 

 loader, but let the bulk of them be paper, which, costing 

 hut fcl per hundred, can be thrown iiwhv alter discharged, 

 and thus much weight of carriage and annoyance avoided. 

 By oiling them well they will not slick in Ihe breech, and 

 will prove every w.iv serviceable, fairy a cjutlrl 

 lbs.,) of good powder, as il can be readily exchanged for 

 other things, if not all needed- In Short, take three size?; 



B lew pounds of buck; ten pounds No. 'J, ami ten of No. 

 8 "Or 8. This will give sufficient variety without lOO great 

 weight. U caps are laken, choose the best Fh-y'-. I'll- 



cheaper grade of water proof at about si per in. i- •• 1 



enough. 



And now, if one would enjoy himself to the fullest 

 extent, let him take a boat. Whether he camp on lhceoa-l 



or the St John's, be will find himself sadly al 1 Eor 



means of .conveyance, unless he has a boftl fll bis 6WU, 

 Good boats arc scarce in Florida out of the cities, ami can 

 not be obtained. Il is not necessary that it he valuable or 

 fast sailing, but it should combine BEfety with lightness 

 and buoyancy. For merely coasting about the creeks and 

 qniei portions of the inlets, a liuhl boat, like a "dory," or 

 gunning skill, is all thai is needed. Hut tor more extended 

 trips, a larger one, built upon the same pattern, is what is 



wauled. When nol in use, il should be drawn upon the 

 sand and covered wilh palmetto leaves to keep the sun from 

 warping it. A coat of copper paiul is necessary to prevent 

 the worms, in the brackish waters of the coast, from rid- 

 dling it with holes. 



It is thought that everything is now provided for a tfu'ee- 

 raoitihB trip, and after a few words regarding ihe draw ■ 

 backs to enjoyment to be met in Florida, as elsewhere, Hit- 

 paper will bc'brouglu lo a close. 



Of the manv 



ANNOYANCES 

 incident lo a camp life in Florida, the (USCClS take first 

 rank. In fact, there are no nilu-r real causes for com- 

 plaint. Mosquitoes undoubtedly take precedence of all 



tirely avoided, though Ihcy may be kepi 



oth 



s tin 



laces. The 

 bile like a 

 ■ will crawl 



They cannot be entirely avoi. 

 at bay by the use of a good n 

 cover blankets. md bedding* 

 depredations are eonlined to s 

 sand tins, which sometimes 

 bull terrier, and Sting like a r 

 inlovour hair, nose, ears, unless much care is used, and 

 withal, are undesirable neighbors. They bile principally 

 in early morning anil evening, but are very uncertain, and 

 put in an appearance when lea-l expected or desired. 

 The mosquito is bad, the sand fly is worse, bul neither can 

 hold a candle, (liguraiively speaking,) lo ihe ilea. In 

 many things Ihe flea, the wicked Ilea, is wholly unapproach- 

 able. He can jump farthest, hold his wind lO'igesl and bite 

 ihe cussedcsl of any members of his tribe, or all things 

 the most annoying, he holds on, hits hard, and his perse- 

 cutions end only with his death, lie is a regular hard shell 

 Baptist; and if "there is no place of future punishment in 

 his creed, his victims fervently hope there is one for lleas. 

 If one of these crustaceans lakes up bis abode wi h you, il 

 is for life, and should at once be hunted' down. Rut ihe 

 ilea is not indigenous to Florida, as is well known, and Ik; 

 has no particular Slate for habitat, though dwelling only in 

 certain places. If the. camp he pitched in an old planta- 

 tion, or near a family of crackers, where canine and porcine 

 quadrupeds do abound, then look out for fleas. Camp on 

 fresh ground, near no plantation, deserted or occupied; al 

 low no dogs, hogs or flea-haunted men near, and you may 

 be exempt from their ravages. Should a Ilea obtain a lodg- 

 ment in vour garments, (you will know ii at onee.) lose no 

 lime in dolling your clothes and instituting a thorough and 

 vigorous search". Remain out a week ralherthan carry him 

 to camp. These are extreme measures nol recommended 

 — only suggested. 



Scorpions sometimes alarm the camper by .suddenly ap- 

 pearing from under an overturned piece of bark, or per- 

 haps from under a blanket. They are nut very common, 

 and their sting, though painful, is not fatal. There is no 

 danger from them unless suddenly grasped or confined in 

 the clothing. They arc very disagreeable visitors, how- 

 ever, and one lhat 1 happened to lake in my hand onee, 

 gave a rude shock to my nerves, though it did nol bile. 

 '1'is saiil that salt and vinegar, or ammonia, are autidotes, 



placed upon ihe sting. As preventatives for bites of mos- 

 quitoes take tar and oil and smear the face and hands, 



lliough there is a feeling against such a remedy. Ammonia 

 is recommended, though of little use. Fear of snakes is 

 almost wholly groundless. Though many varieties exisl in 

 Florida, there are but i wo to be feared, the moccasin :.nd 

 rattlesnake. The former is in great abundance in the 

 swamps, though the rattlesnake is not common. Both are 

 exceedingly venomous, and their biles speedily prove fatal. 

 There is 'little danger lo be apprehended, except from 

 snakes in the grass; the danger being in stepping upon one 



of in the next article, but the one surest in effect and most 

 generally in use is whiskey in large doses ami soon taken, 

 This may account for the general and widespread use of 

 that article, as it is in great demand, and there arc many 

 who believe that a pound of prevention is worth an ounce 

 of cure, and act accordingly. 



UKAI.TIIl'II.NliSS 



first consideration. Ii has been 



of the country 

 abundantly and ( 

 free from any en 



i Flo 



s tolerably 



' lb 



ias| 



fresh a 



1 to 



Except 



id 



preserve bis health with tolerable care. A 

 winter's residence in any section of Florida is nol likely to 

 give one What is so universally and justly dreaded— the 

 '"'shakes." 1 have camped In. swamps and marshes frighl 

 after nlgllt and have passed week- upon thQ hanks Of 

 rivers and lakes, with no covering over me at night except 

 my blanket and mosquito bar, and have yet lo feel the 

 slightest touch of fever. I have known ol ii, -lances of 



fever the firsi season, hut do think the disease was Q(m . 



traded there. So far AS lay observation extends, lam in- 

 clined to agree fully with one belter qualified to judge than 

 myself, lhat " Florida possesses a much more agreeable 

 aud salubrious climate than any other Slate or Territory in 

 the Union " Fkkd Bkvi.ki.v. 



■».«. 



—The average temperature of St, Augustine, Florida, for 

 September, wn» about 70 degrees, 



For Fori ■■-' GWi# StittttH 

 WOODCOCK AND WOODCOCK SHOOT- 

 ING.— NO. 2. 



THE woodcock begins its yearly migration FrOVn its 

 southern winter quarter- lo i I - i e northern breed- 

 ing groumf; early in Ihe spring, and makes ils appearance 

 wilh us about the latter part Of Fein nary or ihe first week 

 in Much, when the winter has been open and mild, hut in 



■ i thai nave been blustery and cold, their travelings are 



delayed a- lata as Ihe firsi p| April. They appear toohon-e 



ihe progress of n southeasterly storm n'n which lo make 

 their journey?, and frequently after such rains, are found 

 iu great numbers scattered throughout the country, 



V.n soon after their arrival they begin laving and hatch 

 Iheii 'young in iibniil the same lime as the qimil-lhrce 



weeks-being : tho period of incubation of the latter bird— 

 and when sections of the country in which they breed are 

 visited in early spring by wverc ftnows and freshets, thous- 

 ands of the young arc destroyed, as in the past seitson, 

 wdien very few broods e-caped the heavy snow and rains 

 experienced iu ihe Middle and Northern Slates on the 28:11 

 and 89th Of April. 1 am not. inclined to believe the wood- 

 cock as a rule raises a second brood, which [ have heard 

 argued, and ii is only when I he lirsl has been destroyed 

 eai iv in the -eason, e.m | ihink the parent birds begin to , 

 iic.-i again, for our springs are loo variable to regularly pi r 

 mil tlie hatching and rearing ol a liisl . and In give' lim,.- 

 for Ihe raising of a second before their moulting time, 

 which begins in August. I will not say Ihe woodcock does 

 not frequently have two breads, bill, feel convinced such is 

 their hahii oidy when deprived of ihcir young by , arl\ 

 Spring rains or snow. 

 ' 1 have always looked upon the presold law respecting 

 woodcock as unjust and nol giving Hie proper protection 

 lo the bird, and would advocate the dose seasons to begin 



January 1st, and end September 30th. 1 have been partic- 

 ular in inquiring of my shooting friends who have been in 

 quest of woodcock manv limes during tlie past summer, 

 what had been Ihe ratio ,,'f young birds lo Ihe old ones thev 

 had killed, and in altnbsl every case found that where 

 twenty Old were bagged, hut one or two voung would be 

 found', proving beyond doubt thai He- severity of the 

 weather in the spring had de-iroved the greater portion of 

 brood--, aud the sportsman had been "killing the goose thai 

 laid Ihe golden r^," cutting off the source of Supply lor 



the. next season, and presenting the roaring of asecond brood. 



draining thai woodcock four years out ol live are in con 

 diiiou to be shot in July, how much heller, how much 

 more sportsmanlike, would it be to allow them to remain 

 iinmole.-lcd illiiil autumn, when no doubl can i \ist ,,( their 

 being in full plumage, strong and vigorous on the wing, 

 and .viihoui the cares or a family? 



Summer cock shouling when the mercury is among the 

 ninelies, and in swampy Ihickels where musquitoes and 

 Hies arc swarming in myriads, cannot possibly be compared 

 to autumn shooting of the same bird. In the first season, 

 we have il hardly two-thinls grown, often becoming tainted 

 before we reach home, while in the lailer we find il a far 

 more difficult object lo bring down, much more puzzling in 

 its flighis, and worthy of tin- sportsman's skill. 



About Ihe middle of Angiisi the woodcock leave their 

 old haunts in low wel localities apparently almost in a 

 mas-, lo seek higher ami more mountainous sections where 

 thev can pass undisturbed Ihcir moulling season, aud lo 

 remain until early frosts drive Ihem lo more- sheltered and 

 wanner feeding grounds. Il i- believed by many lhat they 

 lake to the corn field to moult, but 1 think ii'safe to say 

 Ihcy arc only attracted thiiher iu wel seasons for their 

 usual food. 1 have shot them in such places quile fre- 

 quency in July and the first ol' August, hut have always 

 noticed the ground was moisi enough at the time to adniii 

 of their boring in search of worms, Ihe larvae q! inVecls, 



&C. Iu searching for f I Hie WOOkCOcfc appears CO depend 



upon it- acuta. -. n.-e of smell in directing ils bill in this 

 probing operation lo the spot where a worm is hidden. 

 Some year- ago I secured ii full grown bird, which had 

 llown against a telegraph wire and injured its wings, and 

 having lurnished ii with a supply of worms which 1 placed 

 in a bOX of earth, turned il loose in a large enclosed sum- 

 mer bouse, and for several evenings watched it. while feed- 

 ing. Taking a po-itiou on one side of the. box it would 

 gently touch ihe earth in different places until its bill came 

 directly over Hie spot where Ihe worm was situated, when 

 it W-BS ihrUSt downward to the nostrils, and Ihe food se- 

 cured, which it would swallow after throwing its bill np- 

 ward lhat Ihe worm might, pass down eodforemosl. 



During droughts in July when the smaller streams are 

 dried up and the ground "becomes parched", woodcock are 

 driven lo the cripples bordering our rivers and creeks in 

 search of food, and great tiumhcis arc killed by the spoi Is- 

 mail when they are thus concentrated as it were. Bucll a 

 season marked by dry weather is called a good one for 

 woodcock; in one sense it Is, namely, for ilieir slaughter, 

 bin I should more appropriately term it a very bad one for 

 the bird; indeed this shooting of cock, -when thev are col- 

 lected together to a certain exlenl in places thai arc always 

 moisi, deprives the sportsman of a greater, enjoyment 'in 



the rail, fori have then Iced the aulumns are j'lis'fas noted 



for their scarcity. 



The woodcock has tips year received a blow from which 

 il will not soon recover, and if good laws looking to its 

 protection iu the summer, are nol passed, in a few years 

 we will have no cock shooting at all. 



To insure success in autumn cock shooting, the sports- 

 man should select a dog that, will work carefully and slowly 

 in COVOT and he. not too anxious to be close lo the bird he i's 

 pointing, for all hough woodcock lie well, they differ from 

 ihe quail in iioi being quite so stubborn in their hiding. 



In beating Forquail in November weshould never neglect 

 working out the hill -ides or second growth limber, or sap 



lings adjacent to swampy bottoms, which come in our path 

 for woodcock. Black alder margins of streams nfuning 

 through woodlands should be vi-iled, lor if any flights of 

 bird- have come on we will ecu ainly find Ihem in rucli places. 

 Il\ the middleor lailer part of September u oodcoi k have 

 grown to be hall' a- large again as they were in Juiy, ami 

 arc a inin.h dill'eieiil bird in m: er of llight, staying in 



. otionsof the country where they have been pass- 

 ing their moult, until tlie Mis! breeze in October drives 

 tin in to lower and more sheltered localities. Their num- 

 bers iu these high feeding grounds are being augmcnied 

 by flights of birds from more northern sections impelled 

 to move farther South by still earlier frosts. Should the 

 sportsman be fOTtUOftte etiOUgu to find such a country, and 

 be on the ground at the proper time in autumn, tie will 

 never forgot it, and evermore denounce the Blioolingof 

 i i i " u In fiuinnier, Homo, 



