200 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 



Dsvoted TO Field and Aquatic Smuts, Pp.AOTjCAi.NATURAi.H(>iTOKT, 

 FmhCultukk, the I'eotectihn .if Game.Puksehvation op Forests, 

 and the incrloatmn is men and women of a healthy interest 

 ci Our door Recreation and Study : 



PCBLISUED BT 



Rarest and J/w«f publishing fgomyaifit, 



» . IUTHAM STREET, (CITY HALL SQUARE) NEW YORK., 

 [POST Offi.ie Box B89BJ 

 ltt SOUTH TJIIRTi STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 



COBB'S BCILD1NO, DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO. 



I'eruw, Five Dollars a Year, (strictly lu Advance. 



Bollock's "Fishino Tourist,'' postage free. 



Ad lertiBlng Knuw. 



In regular advertising columns, nonpareil typo, 12 lines to the inch, 8E 

 cents per line. Advertisement s on outside page, 40 cent* per line. Reading 

 notices, 50 cents per line. Advertisements in duuble coluinu 25 per cent, 

 sst.ta. Who- :idver1iseiiicnis are in-erled over 1 month, a discount, of 

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

 months, 30 per cent. 



NEW YORK, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1874. 



To Correspondents. 



All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 

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

 tttniNo Company. Personal or private letters of course excepted. 



All communications Intended for publication mnst be accompanied with 

 real name, as a guaranty of good faith. Names will not be published If 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 arc urged to favor ns with brief 

 notes of tlieli movements and transactions, as it is the aim of 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 

 and 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 

 i. In Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 

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

 land to make them unpopular with the virtuous and good. No advertise- 

 ment or business notice of an immoral character will bo received on any 

 tBrms ; 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 malt service, If 

 money remitted to ns is lost. 



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

 CHARLES HALLOCR, Managing Editor. 



WILLIAM C. II villus. Business Manager. 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE CUR- 

 RENT WEEK. 



Friday, November 8th— Trotting at Dexter Park— Billiard Tourna- 

 ment at Tammany Hall, N. T., for the National championship. 



Saturday, November 8th -Trotting at Dexter Park— Billiard Tourna- 

 ment—Trotting at Bay District Fair Grounds, San Francisco, Cal. 



Monday, November 9ih— Billiard Tournament. 



Tuesday, November 10th— Billiard Tournament. 



Wednesday, November llth— Billiard Tournament. 



Thursday, November 12th— Billiard Tournament. 



A CHALLENGE FROM THE PACIFIC. 



WE have received a letter from San Francisco, in 

 which Company B of the First Regiment, California 

 National Guard, express a desire to shoot against any equal 

 number of men belonging to the "crack" regiments of the 

 N. Y\ N. G., at 300 and 500 yards; the conditions to be the 

 same as those at the recent military match at Crccdmoor. 

 They will shoot either for friendly supremacy or for a 

 trophy to be furnished by the losing "(cam" As the ob- 

 ject of this challenge is to arouse an interest in rifle 

 practice in the Goiden State, it is to be hoped that one of 

 our n.grmeuts will accept it, and by this means enhance its 

 own reputation Rud foster a most desirable exercise. If in- 

 ternational contests are interesting, those between various 

 eections of our own country should not be less so, as they 

 cause an emulation which yields the most satisfactory re- 

 sults, by bringing out the best shots, and encouraging all 

 in the attempt to allain an honorable distinction in so manly 

 and honorable an accomplishment. Each "team" can 

 shoot on its own grounds, and by this means save the ex- 

 pense of a trip across the continent. If this challenge is 

 accepted by a New York company the terms of agreement 

 can be readily arranged, as each "team" can shoot the 

 same day and then telegraph the scores. This would 

 simplify the matter and leave our city Tegimenta no excuse 

 for refusing the challenge, and permitting the Califomians 

 to boast that they could find no "team" in our National 

 Guard that would dare to contesl with them for the suprem- 

 acy. We hope, therefore, that the gauntlet will be taken 

 up ere the winter sots in. Any communication relative to 

 the matter, addressed to the office of the FoBebt akd 

 Stream, or to Captain H. J. Burns, Sheriff's Office, San 

 Francisco, will receive prompt attention. 



RIFLE CLUBS. 



THE recent International match has accomplished a 

 most important result in this country, as it has caused 

 all matters pertaining to rifle practice to receive the con- 

 sideration they deserve. We are in receipt of letters from 

 various portions of the Western Atlantic and the Pacific 

 States in reference to the subject, and all tho corres- 

 pondents make inquiries about the Creedmoor rules, so that 

 they may follow them literally, and reap whatever advan- 

 tages they may possess over others. 



Many of the writers express the patriotic desire to organ- 

 ize clubs on no other grounds than that they may reveal 

 the best marksmen in the country, so that there can be no 

 possibility of the Americans returning from their next con- 

 test without I lie laurel wreath of victory. This is a most 

 excellent motive to prompt the action, and we hope it will 

 become general throughout the whole Union. Some give 

 as a reason for the organization of clubs, the advantage 

 which it would give our men in war, by teaching them 

 steadiness, coolness and accuracy of aim, while others 

 argue that it imparts vigor to tho frame, and elevates Into 

 a science a study which is now deemed little more than 

 guess work. All these assertions are good enough in their 

 way, and have some weight, but we hope that our riflemen 

 will never be called upon to test their weapons on anything 

 more important than a target or fleeing game. 



Calls huve been issued in one or two cities in this State, 

 in Chicago, and in towns in Minnesota and California, for 

 the establishment of rifle clubs, and all have been received 

 with marked approbation, not only by sportsmen, but by 

 the leading citizens, prominent among whom are the 

 officers of the National Guards; and from this we should 

 infer that ere the Winter is over these clubs -will be quite 

 numerous in several States. The representative of the 

 Forest and Stream in Chicago, General Webster, Major 

 Brand, and other gentlemen of the same city, have already 

 discussed the project of a club, and from present indica- 

 tions it seems as if that Western metropolis would soon 

 boast of one second to none, except our own celebrated 

 Amateur Club. 



In Scott County, Minnesota, a region of hunters, an 

 organization will be established ere long, and as the mem- 

 bers express a desire to practice throughout the Winter, we 

 3hall, no doubt, hear some good reports from them early in 

 the season. 



California is also paying a fair share of attention to the 

 subject, and this is a strong indication of its general interest, 

 for if the men of that Eldorado, who are supposed to be 

 wrapped up in naught but the procuring of gold, can be 

 aroused into action, it seems plausible to suppose that the 

 citizens of our Eastern States, who have more leisure time 

 to spare, and more opportunity and convenience for 

 practice, will not lack in enthusiasm. 



The first step for popularizing rifle exercises in the 

 Golden State has been taken recently by the military author- 

 ities, they having offered some excellent prizes for compe- 

 tition between the various company and regimental organ- 

 izations. This will have a most salutary effect, so we 

 should not be surprised if our next International "team" 

 contained a representative of the Pacific riflemen. 



This general interest in rifle practice is a good indication 

 of the result of the recent contests at Creedmoor, and re- 

 flects much credit on our Amateur and National Clubs, 

 who, unaided, aroused our people from their lethargy, and 

 gained us a victory from the accredited best marksmen in 

 the world, and thus enhanced the reputation of our 

 country, and proved that it was pre-eminently the land of 

 riflemen. 



If this enthusiasm continues, our next "team" to the 

 Green Isle will be a national one, in the most literal sense, 

 and if they should return victorious, then will file whole 

 country be entitled to share in the honor. 



PARISIAN SPORTS. 



THE nobility and other gentlemen of Paris, who are 

 attached to the sturdy pleasures which always char- 

 acterise nations in the most advanced civilization, and who 

 support with enthusiasm all exercises that tend to mentnl 

 and physical progression, have undertaken the project re- 

 cently, of establishing at Billaucourfc an institution in 

 which all the national sports are to be represented. This 

 will be founded on the broadest basis, so that no pastime 

 worthy of receiving the support of ladies and gentlemen 

 will be omitted. Many of the sports are a necessity, if the 

 gay Frenchmen would equal their Saxon or American 

 kindred in equitation, rifle practice, natation, or rowing, 

 and all are interesting from their high r-tandardas educators 

 of physical prowess and endurance. According to our 

 Paris exchanges, this grand sporting centre will contain a 

 hippodrome so arranged as to be adapted to trotting, run- 

 ning and steeple chasing, a school of equitation, a stand 

 for rifle practice, and to which will be annexed a shooting- 

 gallery for exercise with the pistol and shot gun, a grand 

 stand for pigeon tournaments, a school of natation and 

 rowing, a skating pond, a fencing, boxing and gymnastic 

 academy, a course for hunting hares with greyhounds, and 

 having field trials of pointers and setters, and all hunting 

 dogs in fact, and a large space where polo, cricket, croquet 

 and tennis can be played. 



This grand institute will also contain a large covered 

 pavilion for various pastimes, a reading and eonvennurlani 

 rooms, and a restaurant complete in all appointments, and 

 presided over by a famous chefde enMne. 



This arrangement omits no national sport worthy at 



mention, so that it possesses all the necessary elements of 

 success. 



The gay Parisians with their usual euthusiasm -will un- 

 doubtedly make this aggregation of courses and bulldinsrs 

 the finest of its kind in the world; indeed we do SM know 

 of any country that boasts of so complete a chole of sports, 

 so that we must give our Gallic neighbors the credit of 

 being the first to inaugurate a complete school of physical 

 education and blending business and pleasure most happily 

 together. This proves that our Gallic kindred are more 

 interested in these manly accomplishments than they gen- 

 erally receive credit for, and that the higher classes are 

 second to none as lovers of refined sports. 



If such an institution were established in the vicinity of 

 the City of New York it would fulfill a high purpose, and, 

 no doubt, receive the support of our most prominent find 

 influential citizens, at least all who are interested in those 

 exercises which are always supposed to grace the virile 

 gentleman and sturdy soldier. We need something of this 

 sort to educate our young men in accomplishments which 

 are necessary to their health, and of use to them in every- 

 day life. 



The hoarding of money does not constitute the whole 

 purpose of life; indeed its use is very limited if one has 

 not the physical health to enjoy the comforts it brings, SO 

 that the first duty is to gain sturdy, hounding health, by 

 engaging in manly exercises, then one can appreciate the 

 value of the yellow metal. It is a very radical defect in 

 our sociology that effeminacy is not deemed a defect in our 

 young men, for if it were, they would then pay more atten 

 lion to gaining strength as well as money, and instead of 

 indulging in sybaritical pleasures they would devote their 

 time to attaining distinction in those accomplishments 

 which ever characterize virile natures, and which are the 

 most marked characteristics in all conquering nations. 

 -*•«■ 



Antioosti. — In the first three published numbers of this 

 journal, August 1873, will be found the only description 

 extanj, we believe, of the Island of Anticosti, in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence. Something more than a year Bgo its 

 colonization was attempted by a company which seems not 

 to have acted in good faith in all respects; or else its judg- 

 ment was unfortunate. At all events reports against its 

 honorable and financial Integrity have been freely printed. 

 The condition of the settlers who located under its auspices 

 has also been represented as deplorable. In view thereof, 

 Mr. J. U. Gregory, Government Agent at Quebec, was dis- 

 patched in a thoroughly provisioned steamer to ascertain 

 the condition and judge of the prospects of the settlers. 

 The report of his investigations, as furnished to the Minis- 

 ter of Marine and Fisheries, is printed in the Quebec 

 Chronicle of 27th October. From it we learn that, how- 

 ever justifiable the reports of destitution may have been 

 last Spring, it appears that, save in one instance, there is 

 no absolute want existing now. So long as the settlers de- 

 pended upon the promises of the Company for assistance they 

 were in a deplorable condition, houseless, hungry and dis- 

 couraged. The arrival of the stores of the Napoleon III., 

 in the Fall of 1873, was a God-send which enabled them to 

 struggle through the Winter, and as soon as they began to 

 work for themselves, they experienced comfort. There 

 are some 250 families upon the island. At English Bay arc 

 210 families, chiefly Newfoundlanders. They were com- 

 fortably housed, and had cultivated patches of land very 

 successfully. At Ellis Bay was found a farming establish- 

 ment where the agent saw "fine horned cattle that, would 

 do credit to any stock raiser." At South West Point of the 

 Island, families were found in great want, owing to their 

 having placed reliance upon the promises of the Company, 

 and the failure of the fisheries in their vicinity. In fact 

 wherever the promises of the Company were depended up- 

 on by the settlers, they suffered want aud privation. It is 

 plain that the most reckless mismanagement must have 

 prevailed. If the Company is crippled to-day the incapa- 

 city of the agents who undertook to prepare the settlements 

 must be held accountable, for the settlers have done their 

 utmost to fulfil their obligations. Anticosti is not the howl- 

 ing waste it has been pictured, but a fitting home for a par- 

 ticular cjass of the population of the Gulf of the St. Law- 

 rence. It is vastly more inviting than Labrador or the 

 North Shore, to whose people the condition of the settlers 

 of Auticosti is opulence itself. 



FniKs Evertwhere. — Seldom has the country experi- 

 enced such a general and wide spread drouth as during the 

 three months past. With the exception of infrequent local 

 showers, there has been no rain since August over an area 

 of territory that stretches from Maine to Texas, and from 

 Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately the drouth 

 came too late to materially curtail the crops; but the dearth 

 of water in certain sections is most seriously felt by mill 

 owners and those who use it as a beverage. In those States 

 West of the Missouri River, especially, the suffering for 

 water to drink is really painful. Lately wc made a tour 

 Westward through ten Statos into tho Indian Territory, 

 and throughout the whole route, we found the water courses 

 nearly dry. Through beds of rivers that usually flow in 

 ample volume, rivulets barely trickled. In Southwestern 

 Missouri, Kansas, and the Indian Territory, the beds of 

 creeks were totally dry, and the game deserted the country. 

 Those farmers who had water in their wells sold it by the 

 barrel to those who travelled a dozen miles to get it. Veg- 

 etation is everywhere parched; tho prairie grass is dry as 

 tinder, and when set on fire consumes in a flash. Over the 

 limitless expanse dense clouds of smoke rolled up all day 

 in all directions, and the blaze of a dozen running fir -s lit 



