FOREST AND STREAM. 



247 



It is a sheet which one docs not feel it necessary to put buck in the 

 pocket after reading. 



The W. J. G. P. A. now has men stationed at the ferries, lo watch for 

 persons violating their luw. I have heard of no streets, but have seen 

 them examine the spoitsiueua' licenses at Market Struct Ferry, Camden, 



J. \V. II. 

 ■*•♦♦■ 



LAKE KOSHKONONG. 



CmoAOO. Til.. Nov. 17, 1874. 

 Emtmi Forest *sn BriCE.01:- 



This lake, situated about fonilci-n miles from Jaue-viHe, Wis., on line 

 or Chicago ami Northwestern Railway, has of lute years hecouie quite a 

 noted resort for sportsmen from all sections of the country, asduriug the 

 Tall months it is the feeding ground of the celebrated canvass back ducks 

 which annually congregate there in large numbers to Teed on thu wild 

 celery with which the Like abounds. There is no spot in the Weft where 

 they are found In such abundance, or where so many are secured by 

 sportsmen. The lake is seven miles long by three wide, bordered by 

 large marshes at intervals, where the wild rice grows in great profusion. 

 On the lake and In rhemarshea may bi foonafcom September until the, 

 lake Closes, even' variety of duck known in the West. To give some idea 

 of the number* I will simply state that two sportsmen shot this season in 

 one week 513, including all the early varieties. Snipe arc found about 

 the mar-bes, put fridge- in ; he wood-, prairie chickens vol quail hi the 

 immediate vicinity, ami r : . -|. : .... n wt..> enjoys (he different kinds 

 of field and lake shooting, 110 locality conld suit him better. This season 

 parties from Xc.w V'ork, Hoatou, Providence, Cincinnati, ,vc, have made 

 this tie-it headquarters fur Fall shooting, although, owing to the mild 

 weather the sport has not been equal to that of former years. Still, 

 canvass bucks have been, since October, quite plenty. The htrgesl ' 

 made by any one party was 108 in two da;, s. Two Bents from Now York 

 shot eighty-seven ducks in one day, mostly red heads. These parties, as 

 well as those who are posted, have invariably Btopped at "Bingham, " 

 who owns a fine firm bordering the lake, and although not professing to 

 keen a hotel, has accommodations tor about twenty gentlemen, where 

 they are snre of the best tft country fare. There arc other stopping 

 places in the vicinity, but none equal to ; '. - 1 Bingham, a son of the 

 proprietor of this farm, is acknowledged' the champion canvass back 

 shooter of this lake. During the season he often secures from sixty to 

 seventy-live a day, when the lake is smooth. This, to some who are 

 aware that these docks feed and live mostly in open water, not often 

 feeding near the shore, may look large: so, how he does it will be ex- 

 plained. He has a light boat which sets very low in the water, having 

 depth cnongh so that when lying flat on his back, he is not visible. 

 Armed with two breech loaders, he sits in the stern, paddliug out into the 

 lake, until he espies a Hock of canvass backs. He then lies flat on his 

 back, propelling the boat with a scnli oar, which he works over his 

 shoulder. Being entirely hidden from view, the duck are. not alarmed until, 

 when witliin sbtjottng liisi.iiu-e, lie suddenly rises and makes sad havoc 

 _n their ranks, for he is a good shot. The second gun is used for orip- 

 pled birds, so but few getaway. To those who desire to visit this lake 

 another season it may be well to say they should leave Chicago by Chicago 

 and Northwestern Railway, securing tickers to Koshkonong. from which 

 station they can easily reach the lake, which is about two miles distant, 

 by private conveyance, w liich can always be procured; or, if intending to 

 stop at Binghauis', direct letter 10 Ira Bingham, Koshkonong, Wisconsin, 

 slating what day they will be there and he will be on hand to convey 

 them. Shamrock.. 



COOTING AT ' CAPE ANN. 



Salem, Mass., November 9th, 1874. 

 Editor Forest and Stream;— 



Seeing your uotice of sea fowl shooting at Gloucester, Mass., led me to 

 think that perhaps a description of the same might be of interest. That 

 portion of our State called Cape Ann. which stands out so boldly into 

 the bay, embraces five different places, including Antsquam, or, as it is 

 commonly called, "Squam." It is at this place that most of the sport is 

 bad, thongh other parts of the Cape are good. The sport is commonly 

 known as "cooring," I presume because some of those of onr sea ducks 

 known as cools are the birds sought for, though anything within range, 

 from a "grey gull" to a "devil diver," or grebe, is fair game. Parties of 

 gentiemeu own or lease shanties on the shore and spend from a couple of 

 days to a week, or even longer here, and sometimes make big days, as 

 many as 30 to 40 pairs being frequently shot. The sport is conducted as 

 follows: Taking a "dory," with one or two gunners in the same they 

 row to some favorable spot off shore and moor the "dory," bow and 

 stern; then a string of (generally on account of convenience) tiat decoys, 

 arranged so as to keep up, are fastened, sometimes a flock of them, at 

 each end of the boat, aud it is time for action, or actions of many kinds, 

 for I assure you some days, unless one has bis "sea legs" well on, he 

 will do net only some ludicrous tumbling around, but "heave up Jonah" 

 as well. And here let me say thai it is really remarkable to witni ss the skill 

 with which some of the old gunners will keep their feet, aud knock the 

 coots as they come along. Of course this shooting is not so gentlemanly 

 as true field sports, but to many it has strong attractions, and gives a shot 

 a chance to show his skill. Breech loaders are uuquestiouably the most 

 convenient for this, and to my mind all other kinds of at least duck 

 sbooiing; the rapidity *ith which you can reload, enabling one to secure 

 many otherwise hopeless cripples. Yours fraternally, R. L, N. 



■*♦♦■ 



KILLING DOES. 



PuiLADKLruU, Novcinbor 17th, 1871. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



no you approve of killing does? I think it a most unsportsmanlike 

 act to destroy the breeding animals of any kind of game, except beasts 

 of p < v. Thare seems to be a great number of persons who can afford to 

 spend money for the best outfit and time for their pleasure, anil who 

 think that llvey are entUlo.i therefor tithe bafne of sportsmen, If they 

 camp in Ihe woods mid bring down «o many deer, no matter how many 

 or them are does. -Men who cannot tjl] the mule froin'lhe female, or 

 who wantonly destroy the stock by purposely killing the latter, are noth- 

 ing better than pot hunters, and ouirht to he severely dealt with by game 

 protecting societies. The legislation for the protection of game appears 

 to me everywhere very ineffective and partial, and 1101 acad calculated to 

 make game an article of food for the people, but a luxury in 1 be reach of 

 the rich only. A. v. L. 



[Deer muJtii>ly so fast that, in localities where they 

 abound, there is no objection to killing does in the Fall of 

 the year, after they have discarded Iheir fawns. — Ed.] 



GUN TESTS. 



Akron, Ohio, November, 1874. 

 Editor Forest and Strbam:— 



In testing my gun j esterday 1 reached results that surprised me some- 

 what, and as they may be of interest to the readers of F. aud S., I send 

 you tliis. 



The gun is IS gllage, 3D hlch barrels and is chambered for a 12 A shell. 

 I use metal shells the full length of cotmterbore. In previous tests 1 bail 



found I hat llrjo n. i mil ul' powder the gun would Utilize, without 



: i spoiliug the pattern of shot, to bo 8» drachms of 

 of shol h, 1 powder anally adopted was very coarse, (1 

 rail .. ■:. :!-i-. 1. ;■_ one pasteboard and one pink-edged wad over powder 

 mid one thin pasteboard wad over the shot. But wishing to use smaller 

 ehot than heretofore and to give '.hem greater velocity, I concluded to re- 

 test, 1 first tried 4 drachms of powder and 1 oz, of shot, but the recoil was 

 bo unpleasant lhat I determined to try lbs affect of reducing the weight 



of the shot, and in that way gain increased velocity, it I could, without 



I 1, .Til. 



standard paper testing penetration. I took some thin 

 maililla for the pads, aud to more readily detect any loss of pat- 

 tern, I placed the target at thirty yards; the .first test was with Nos. 

 7, 11 and 11 shot, using ftanonrd loud of powder and shot, four loads for 

 each number. The second test was with same Nos. of shot, BJ drachma 

 of powder and £ oz. shol, four loads of each number. I found an 

 average gain of penetration of -IS per cent, the gain being the greatest 

 with the finest, shot. The pattern with No. 7 was same as with standard 

 load, with No. 9 not quite as good, aud with the No. 11 was the best I 

 bale ever had. This result Is entirely at variance with the prevailing 

 Iheory, "I. e. to improve the pattern, increase the amount of shot," and 

 this quile likely is due to some peculiarity in the bore of the gnu . 



Perhaps few sportsmen tire aware how much a slight difference of 

 bore in guns or sameguage will • J the euns in using shot of same 

 numbers. Some time since 1 a-sisic-d a friend in testing a gun which he 

 thought of buying, same gnage and length of barrel as mine, and gouging 

 the barrels with a star guage, I found that the barrels were three-one 

 thousandths of an inch (3-1,0011) smaller at the muzzle than mine, but the 

 increase of diameter towards Ihe breech followed the same proportion us 

 mine. Yet Ihe gun would not give any pattern with Nos. 7 and 9, mid 

 gave splendid patterns with Nos, 8 and 10; the same shells aud weights 

 of load h ere used as in mine. Yet this difference in size, (3-1,000,) would 

 hardly be noticed with a pair of ordinary callipres. 



1 was pleased to see iu a late number of your paper a description of a 

 gun owned by a Mr. Ellntore, one with a 4} inch drop or stock. I have 

 used for nearly three years one with 4) inch drop and U| inches from 



:,i :,m,: trigger, and am so well pleased with its convenience and 



, artatoty 1 I aim En shooting in thick cover, that I could not be persuaded 

 i.j change back to the old style. Cannot some of your mauy correspond- 

 cntsgivl Its iheir experience with coarse powder. The sizes most used 

 by the sportsmen in onr club are from No. 1 to 3 Oriental, aud No. 4 to 6 

 Orange Lightning. The size I have been compelled to adopt, to secure 

 good pattern with a fair penetration in my gun. is so coarse that 1 am 

 frequently advised by my friends to use blasting powder on thu BCorc of 

 cheapness. I NG - 



METAL SHELLS. 



. Font:: 



Newaxik, November 13th, 1B74. 

 Stream:— 



I fully indorse "Side Lever's" opinions in regaid to the length of 

 shells aud rorins of shoulders In breech loaders; but he dld'nt loll how 

 he loads either of the guns he mentioned. Judging from his remarks, 1 

 should say he had thoroughly studied the subject, and doubt not Unit 

 many of your readers beside myself would like to bear from him fre- 

 quently. 1 sho 1 Id like to have his opinion on the merits of metal shells, 

 or if he only uses paper shells, would like to know how he creases or 

 closes them, for 1 have been unable to get any good results from paper 

 shells turned mat the lop, or creased on the outside, and firmly believe 

 that the only way to get good pattern is by leaving the shells in the form 

 they are made, and securing the shot with at least three hard wads. I 

 have bought shells loaded and creased, which, when tired, lapped over 

 and above the shoulder in the gun about one-quarter of an inch, thus 

 contracting the wad in passing that point, so that it must have gone out 

 of the gun without: touching the slues of the barrels. I should recom- 

 mend India rnbbc-r wads in such cases. I have heard many opinions ex- 

 pressed on tbe stupidity of gunmakers in boring the chambers, but lean- 

 not help feeu'ng that they would not continue boring In what' "Side Le- 

 ver" calls tbe "opened plan," unless there was some well grounded rea- 

 sonforit. Will some expert enlighten me? 



Perhaps 1 may be wrong in thinking that by the "opened plan" "Side 

 Lever" means tapering tbe chamber into the barrels so that no shoulder 

 is perceptible. 1 shoo Id call it the contracting plan, and will believe it 



tonenftitsu method until informed <jt lUo uiiat,,Lc m haUng a. square 



shoulder for the shell to butt against. Toodles, 



, *-«- 



Jackson, Miss., November 11th, 1874. 



Editor Forest and Stream.— 



If your columns are still op-n to the "shell qnestion," after "Her- 

 bert's" two columns in Forest Asn Streim of November 5th, in favor 

 of metal shells and coudemtiation of paper ones, I'll have my say. I 

 own metal shells, and do not use them. One has the cap sticking in it 

 that I cannot remove; another 1 threw away for a like reason, aud 1 did 

 not "load them one hundred times," nor let them get so dirty that I could 

 "scraoe off the dirt," like Capt. Bogardns, or "Herbert," and I afflrm, as 

 a practical man, that a brass shell needs nearly the same cleaning as one 

 barrel of a muzzle loader. 



Metallic shells are cheaper in the long run, and shoot better thun paper 

 shells, (because they are more soliif, and are not crimped as the 

 latter'usually have to bo,) in the ratio of the former bringing one bird 

 more to bag in twenty-five or thirty than the paper shell, provided the 

 metal shells are the full length o( the chamber, else they will not; a great 

 many metal shells do not have the requisite length. Metallic shells will 

 Are afterhaving been immersed in water for along time. (Query: Does 

 that constitute them hard shell Baptists?) 



"Herbert" tells of a gentleman in whoso gun the cartridge extractor 

 slipped past the shell because he was using paper shells. 1 deny it; it 

 was the fault in the construction of the extractor. 1 could name guns 

 of American manufacture that do so frequently, orten enough to make it 

 qnite a per centage.in a day's shooting. I have tired my gun, say two 

 thousand times, and the extractor has to slip by I h : first time yet, and I 

 have shot, the poorest of Ely's shells— his xxx, as well as brown, blue, 

 and green. Furthermore, the barrels of my gun fit tight cnotiqli against 

 the false breech to keep the powder from being forced through aud 

 "wounding" or "beautifully tattooing my left wrist" — vide "Herbert's" 

 quota) ion from London Meld, though 1 have flrsd several xxx shells 

 whose bases had parted on one side from the brass cylinder. 



"Herbert" says in regard to Ely's shells: "As far as usual charge of 

 powder comea, no doubt they are harmless." I do not know what he 

 calls a UBtKU chwge. We have shot 4 drachms, of powder and II az. Bhot 

 from a IS bore gun, and B drachms of powder and li oz. of shot out of a 

 10 bore gnu, or. in olher words, all we could get into the respeciive cases, 

 aud wo are not "tattooed" either. 



I have been out iu a drenching rain, carrying my paper cartridges in 

 a belt on the. outside of my coat, and not one of I hem refused to go off 

 at the time or afterwards, and I contend that when it rains so that paper 

 shells become useless, no one but a pot hunter would Und It tpoti in 

 staying. Yours truly, _^^_______ Geo. 0. Lvntou. 



V. W. T., Washington.— Will you please tell mo the names of two of 

 the best hotels ia the W : hlte Mountains? Aus. Profile House and the 

 Glen House. 



D. C. D.- I have a muzzle loading shot gun that scatters too much. 

 What had I better do about it? Ana. (Jo lo a competent gunmakcr and 

 ha.-e it draw bored. 



P. U., City .—A good remedy to remove warts is a tincture of canthar- 

 iih-s, with a few- drops of iodide. Apply to the warts with a small brush. 



in n Inn .')■'. 1 11 :hl to be equally effective in man or beast. 



Tu a short lime they will disappear. 



Header. — Would you be kind enough to inform me, through your col- 

 umns, tin- name of some man who makes it a business to train dogs. 

 ; ,_ got EtlttUfi bitch about nine months old, and wish to put her into 

 good 1 ..1 1 1- - - art lvortisfng columns. 



P. O. Box 190, Schenectady— Can you inform me where I can get 

 some genuine Russian grain lesther for hunting boots, and about the 



cost of same? Ans. Co lo Mtdford, Gary & Conklin, 34 Spruce Btreet. 

 The genuine is red, ami costs $7.50 to $8.50 per skiu. 



J. 31., East Li verpool, Ohio .— I purchased a gun lately, which does 

 very well shooting squirrels, but is of very little account upon birds, 

 shooting too close. How can it be made to scatter sufficiently for wing 

 shooting? What is the most killing charge for quail? Ans. No. 8 shot. 

 U«e more powder. 



P. W. H., Hartford. -I have a William & Powell gun; weight, 8|lbs.. 

 nearly; gauge, No. 10, and length of barrel 30 inches. Will yon inform 

 me if it will injure its shooting qualities by cutting the barrels off lo S8- 

 iuch? Ans. So far as wo have learned, alterations of this kind have 

 proved altogether satisfactory. 



E. B., Conn.— Can I buy a good gun (muzzle loading) for fifteen or 

 twenty dollars? Would you advise me to get a aiugle or double barrel at 

 that price, and will you tell me the best place to send for it? Ans. A 

 double gun ftwist) will cost you $18 to $15, and the same of laminated 

 steel from $17.50 to $20. Get double barrel, and apply 10 any good gun- 

 maker. 



Sanhome, California. — 1. Can yon inform tne whether Mr. Righy, of 

 Ihe. Irish Team, uses a false muzzle in loading? Ans. He does. 2. What 

 is the twist of the rifling -in Ills gnus? Ans. Both Righy and Metford 

 use what Is known as the Increasing spiral, a term that defines itself. It 

 is a system of rifling tried some years ago aud abandoned, but recently 

 resumed with satisfactory results. 



CoiiREsfOSDESTB.— Seventeen persons this week ask ns for informa- 

 tion through our Correspondent's Column, which can be found among 

 our advertisements. If some people would lake as much trouble to ex- 

 amine our list of advertisements in search of the goods they require, as 

 to write and mail their letters of inquiry, they would And it more profit- 

 able to themselves, as well as vastly more convenient to us. 



Lockwood.— Will you be kind enough to direct me to a place where I 

 can get some good sqnirrel shooting, within from three to II ve hours of 

 the city? Ans. Ion. will he a little too late for squirrel shooting any 

 where. October, when the squirrels are nutting, is always the best time. 

 Why not take the day with rabbits, with a beagle or two, in Jlorris or 

 Orange county, N. J., where you might possibly run across a few squir- 

 rels also early in the morning? 



3. A.B., Newark.— Will yon please inform me if lean And good par- 

 tridge or quail shooting on any grounds adjacent to tributaries of 

 Chesapeake Bay or I'otomoc Stiver in December? Ans. Good quail 

 shooting can be. hud at most every point you choose to locate youreolf 

 for sport, adjacent lo the tributaries of Chesapeuke Bay or Potomac 

 River, providing the country is cultivated for grain. We advise you to 

 go to Acquia Creek, Stafford county, Va. 



Mount Hope.— Are there any farms on Indian River, in Florida? 

 What is land worth on itopposite Lake Harney? Is there any book on 

 the Indian River conntry? H so, the name, tbe best route there, also the 

 numbers of your paper containing articles on it, and can they be ob- 

 tained? Ans. ^Ve know of 110 modern book that contains so full and 

 reliable Information as Is conveyed in the numbers of Forest and 

 Stream relating to Indian River. Can furnish most of the numbers. 



Sheffield.— A drachm is i of a Troy ounce, or GO Troy grains; and 1-16 

 of the avoirdupois ounce, or 27 11-33 Troy grains. The laiter ib the 

 weight in nse for gunpowder, and our powder flasks are graduated to the 

 "drachm" avoirdupois. One pound of powder will make 85 churges of 

 3 drachms each- Thus a drachm Troy is more thau twice tho weight of a 

 drachm in avoirdupois weight. These drachms are very perplexing to 

 many sportsmen. Thereare three scruples in a drachm Troy, but there 

 need not be any scruples about a liquid drachm, if the quality be good. 



Q. C, Philadelphia.— How many shot of each of the followine sizes 

 should hit the target under these conditions: Gun, 8 gauge, central fire, 

 breech loader, 33 inch barrels, paper shells 6 dr. No, I Dupont ducking 

 powder. 1} oz. shot, viz: "T's" 71 pellets in full charge; B K's, 105 pel- 



50 yards; target a circle 30 inches in diameter; shot from dead rest; no 

 cross wind? Ans, If you will refer to the report of the trial of different 

 makes of breech loaders in the Spring of 1873, at New Tork, you can And 

 full answer. Space will not permit our giving it. See Tfilkei Spirit. 



Subscriber, Minneapolis.— Myself and friend propose to take n Win- 

 ter ramble to Puget Sound via San Francisco and Ltnion Pacific R. R. 

 Please inform me at whutpoiuts on the route we may expect to find 

 game, w hether of feather or fur, andwhat kind of a weapon will be the 

 oest for general use? Ana. Get a good heavy shot gun, as it is most 

 useful for bush shooting, and the luxuriance or the shrubbeiy there is so 

 great that yon can get little else. Ton will find game at any point from 

 the mouth of the Columbia Hirer to Fuca Straits, and varied enough to 

 give all the sport needed, as it embraces deer, elk, bear, panther, grouse. 



A ourscribek. Savannah.— Will you be so kind as to let 1110 kuow the 

 best;ioad of powder and shot for a Stephen's patent, single barrel, breech 

 loading shot gnn, 14 bore, 30 inch barrel, and 6 pounds weight, for shoot- 

 ing doves: also state best sizeof shot andquality of powder lo nee? Ans. 

 We do not know of ihe Stephens patent breech loader, but advise for any 

 6 pound, breech loading, single gon for game shooting, a load of 3} dr. 

 Lalliu & Rand's No. 4 dock powder to 1 oz. of shot, size, according to 

 game sought. We do not know anything abont dove shooting, nor do 

 we care to learn; 'tis a pity to kill them. An average size of shot for 

 such game as quail, woodcock, and snipe would be No. 7Tatliaus. 



W. II. G„ City.— Is there any party in Saratoga who raises black Dass 

 and has them for sale? T am anxious to stock a lake in the Adirondack? 

 and if I could get them In Saratoga I could take them on tbe Adiron- 

 dack R. R. to North Creek und then by team to the l?ke (Sandford) ? Ans. 

 We know little, or nothing of Saratoga, but have an impression that bass 

 e-xist in the lake, and also that Mr. Moon has n pond of bass. We really 

 don't kuow of any pond of true black bass (if. nif/riatiix,) but have 

 found that all Woe* bass breeders have the Oswego. Another impression 

 is that the true black bass won't thrive in small ponds and niuttdv bot- 

 toms. They will probably do well in Adirondack lakes, but will kill out 

 trout. Why don't you stock with troot o'r grayling? 



G. F. HrLtiEBRAND, Boscobel, Wis.— There lias been a controversy in 

 our place about a lish question, namely: Is what is known as ihe Mack- 

 inaw trout idenlieal with the salmon trout proper, as deseri bud In Nat- 

 ural History? One of your subscribers in this place— Mr. A. Palmer- 

 has referred us to you us authority. Please answer the above questions 

 iu your next issue. Ans. We cannot observe enough similarity in tho 

 characteristics of the two fish named to establish more than a relation- 

 ship between them. We designate the Mackinaw tront as salmo nay- 

 mavush otsoZW anuihystae, and the lake trout of our more Eastern 

 lakes as salmo con finis. The latter seldom reach 30 lbs. weight, while 

 the former have been known to weigh 120 lbs. The shape, size, color, 

 markings and habits of the two differ considerably. The flesh of conjlnis 

 is much the finest in texture and flavor. 



MusKOK A. akd Macnetewan.— The numerous gentlemen who have 

 addressed letters of inquiry to onr correspondant "Music," asking for 

 more information relalive to the Muskoka and Magnetewau districts, are 

 referred to Fi>i:i>i and Stream of October 1st, pages 113 and lit; „i do 

 to previous numbers MusUoku lands are given five to actual settlers, 

 and rue country has increased its population by several thousand within 

 the past live years. The hotels are equal to the average Summer houses 

 in the. United States, aud the. charges last Summer were only $1.50 per 

 dny, with as good table as any but tbe fastidious could require. Sfeveral 

 newspapers are printed within the district. Pratt's Hotel, at Rosscau, 

 is three stories bigb, with Mansard roof. There is telegraphic commu- 

 nication throughout the Whole region, and au excellent mail route 

 There is good pine and hardwood timber, with extensive lumbering ope- 

 rations, and very best of water power. Fur bearing animals, as mink 

 tuuskrats, and marten, numerous. Varieties of flsh in all lakes and 

 streams. Parties goiug to ilnskoka will find one of Hegeman's or other 

 portable boat, most indispensable, although there arc 3 boats at all ire- 

 quonted Summer resorts, 



