FOREST AND STREAM. 



281 



Wild turkeys lire hard to kill, but often an expert caller 

 will bring them so near that missing is needless, and the use 

 of a wire cartridge of large shot in one barrel will do all 

 that can be to insure success in getting this superb bird, 

 which is a far finer trophy, and more dilHcult to obtain 

 than any that tempts the sportsman from his camp while 

 the day has not dawned, 



No dainty split bamboo rods, nor leaders of tinted gut 

 need be carried South of the Mountains of Carolina; for 

 tJia trout, grayling and sab/to salar lire not in the streams 

 that bear away the washings from rich mellow bottomlands. 

 The trout of these iivelS is ft black bass, and when garfish, 

 cat lish ;mj oilier, heavy-mouthed fellows try physical force 

 with the angler, artful devices are not called for; but one or 

 two stiff boat rods, all the better if in pairs with all the 

 joints interchangablc, and some large lines, gimp and wire- 

 mounted hooks, Etrong spoons, a gaff and one or two spears 

 for torch fishing,and some ponderous sinkers for tide ways, 

 will fit the fisherman for all ordinary work. If he wishes 

 a new sensation, it may be obtaiued at the end of a half- 

 inch rope, with shark hook and chain, but beware of any 

 coil about the legs, and get up anchor for a tow seaward, 

 if a large shark or swordfish accepts the challenge. 



About AruiBtasia Island, St. Augustine, the Minorcans 

 capture huge swordfish and sharks by fastening the rope to 

 a post, and carrying the hook out in a boat, leave it, and 

 retire to conduct their share of the conflict on, term fiima. 

 Ahoat is as needful in Florida as a horse on the plains. 

 For short trips from the settlements, nothing will be more 

 convenient, and render the sportsman more independ- 

 ent, than a flat-bottomed boat, with small sail, centre 

 board, and a water tight end with tight trap to carry dry- 

 clothing, tea. sugar, &c., to protect from the frequent 

 showers. Floating quietly with the current or tide, a 

 patient hunter may surprise almost all the game birds and 

 animals, and he will see more of interest in the little 

 streams than in miles ot the frequented channels. For ex- 

 ploration and travel a boat 18 to 22 feet long, 44 or 5 feet 

 beam, with the full width carried to the stern, built with a 

 flat keel, and hroad hearings to insure light draft, lilted 

 with centre board and sail, the latter on sliding topmast for 

 compactness, will be found the best. "When anchored the 

 bow will point to the wind. A tent open aft may be hung 

 under the boom, spread with stretchers, and furled sail; 

 and with light boards a bed for three or four may be ar- 

 ranged, and cookiug by spirit lamp be done at the wide 

 stern. 



Wltll such a boatj and two good negroes, boatmen, (cooks 

 they generally are,) more interesting trips can bo made than 

 with a yacht, and more unfrei 

 cruising in the wdde waters is 

 shear to the bow lines will 

 and a canvas bow deck will 

 ions will be found very comfortable, and in mishaps they 

 are invaluable as life preservers. 



One of Pond & Duncklee's stoves will fit out such a 

 party, but a spirit lamp is very useful to heat water for a 

 preventive punch, or for a bowl of soup from Liebeg's 

 Extract of Beef, and with it and an old Dominion coffee 

 pol, excellent hot coffee may be made, or Borden's Extract 

 will give it more simply. 



Often for miles no hard ground is to be found, and some 

 heating apparatus is indispensible. No one should brave 

 the night air of the everglades without warm and stimu- 

 lating food and drinks, and a little quinine will do no harm. 

 Light wines are of great service, and the water flowing 

 from the swamps will not be harmed by a "wee drop," 

 and for the rattlesnake or moccasin bite that never comes, 

 the same is needful. Prudent ones usually do not wait for 

 a bite, but show unbounded confidence in preventive 

 measures. 



For sleeping in camp, in this animated land of fleas, 

 spiders and the creeping things so unfortunately taken 

 into the ark, a hammock should be used; one art anged, (as it 

 may easily be,) with a light canvas roof, with sides of net- 

 ting. Two or three rafter-shaped triangles hung on a line 

 will spread such a shelter, and in a canvas hammock under 

 it, one can rest free from the companionship of the guides 

 and dogs, and without vivid ideas of snakes and centipedes. 

 Sportsmen are often disabled by the fiercest animal in 

 Florida, the flea. High boots will be some defence, but 

 keep away from the vicinity of domestic animals, and sleep 

 not in any of the "cracker" houses, but camp in remote 

 pine woods and keep the dogs away from the tent. Such 

 forest is comparatively free from mosquitoes, and in mid 

 Winter the sand flies are not very annoying. 



For minor details the hints common to all hunting will 

 afford a general idea, and perhaps at another time some 

 more suggestions may bo made if these are found to war- 

 rant such an appendix. 



pienled points I 



e reach e.l. if 



intended, som 



< considerable 



make it dryer t 



md safer boat, 



do good servi 



ce. Air cush- 



AMATEUR CLUB. 



Colonel Wingate, the energetic Captain of the Amateur 

 BifleClub "team," has written to Captain Mildmay, Sec- 

 retary of the Wimbledon Association, stating that a party 

 of American riflemen will be in England during the Wim- 

 bledon M ecting, and that he would like to know under what 

 conditions.if any, they would be permitted to shoot. He also 

 desired to learn if they would be allowed to enter in the mili- 

 tary match, that is, of course, provided they wished to do 

 so. No answer has been received yet, but one is expected 

 ere long. Colonel Wingate has made no direct request for an 

 opportunity to display the skill of his men, as all he desired 

 was to know r what the conditions would be in case he 

 desired to do so, What the probabilities are for our "team" 



being represented at Britain's great contest, it would be lend 

 to specify at present, as the matter of competing or not 

 will depend much, undoubtedly, on their mood and other 

 circumstances. In the military match I hey would labor 

 under the difficulty of not using the calibre required by 

 the rules of the Wimbledom Association, for according to 

 these every rifle used in the contest must be of 15 calibre, 

 whereas those used here are only 44; so if the latter were 

 allowed, they could only use a ball having a 43 9-10 cali- 

 bre, while the others use 4-1 9-10. 



This may have some weight with the English riflemen to 

 prevent their extending the unsolicited courtesies they 

 otherwise would to our men. 



But inasmuch as no request has been made to allow our 

 " team" to enter the contest, and the purport of the letter 

 was to learn what conditions would be required in certain 

 eases, if they do not compete at all it leaves them in the 

 same position as they are at present. We should, however, 

 like to see them test their skill with the best riflemen of 

 the United Kingdom, that they might be able to make 

 certain deductions which they cannot do here, owing to 

 atmospheric effects. That they would worthily represent 

 the skill of our riflemen under all conditions we know very 

 well. So their principal object in competing would be to 

 gain experience. 



Man is Nothing. — According to scientists man is noth- 

 ing, or at. least next to nothing, as he came from a little 

 mite of dirt, or fluid, or something of that sort; SO those 

 who believe with Sbakospcare that he is like an angel or a 

 god must feel small, and with them those who boast of 

 "blue blood," for, after till, this peculiar hue of the vital 

 force only comes from a watery sourtic, and the god-and 

 angel like creatures are only developments from a bit of 

 mucus, that is, if the scientists arc to be believed. This 

 lowering of man to the category of nuttus is not very pleas- 

 ant; but if facts arc facts, why we must do the best we can 

 under these peculiar circumstances. The first effect ought 

 to be to lake away from some persons their egotism, self- 

 importance and vanity, and if it does this, the now theory 

 will have accomplished some good. 



Among the recently published reports of the British As- 

 sociation] is a paper read by Mr. F. It. Eankester, "on the 

 Genealogical Import of the External Shell of Mollusca," in 

 the course of which he introduced the recapitulation 

 hypothesis, as it has been called, which effects to see in the 

 development of all living things a rapid series of resem- 

 blances of their ancestors arranged in historical order. 

 Taking man as an example of this theory, the origin of hu- 

 man being was a small speck of protoplasm of mucus-like 

 consistency, such as might be found in ponds; the next 

 stage shows him in the shape or a small sac, composed of 

 two layers of living corpuscles, the inheritance from 

 polyp-like ancestors; liter he is an elongated creature with 

 slits, like the gill-slits of a shark, in the side of the neck, 

 inherited from an ancestor of a shark kind. Tracing the 

 child's peculiarities after birth Mr. Lankestor showed how 

 in its crawling, climbing and shrieking qualities it exhibited 

 other results of inheritance. 



■»♦*■ 



Creedmoor. — The Scottish American Rifle Club tried 

 their skill at Oreedmoor on the 20th ult., with the follow- 

 ing result. Military rifles only were used: — 



2<vi 500 ann snn 



Yds. Tot. 



Yds. 



1. Lindsay 30 



2. Ross 27 



3. Fulton... . ....30 



1. Pyle 27 



5. Cameron 31 



6. Eamiindatomi..25 



35 



68 



53 



YrtE. 



7. Robertson.... 2.3 



8. Clarku 27 



•J. Duke 29 



hi. Hickliuy IB 



11. Vannctt 25 



Yds. Tot, 

 23 51 



23 50 



10 



41 



—The AVinckester Rifle Club, of Connecticut, made the 

 following scores at the last meeting. They shot at a 200 

 yard range, five shot strings. The honors and prize were 

 won by J. Daniels: — 



H. B. Sullivan ..28 3IJ. Sherman .18 3 



J, E. Stetson 28 1 A. Tilton 43 3 



J.Dauiels 18 2— Lyons 58 7 



T.W. Wutuiorc -18 4F.G. Burnett 33 4 



THE CHAL LENGE ACCEPTED. 



We published a few weeks ago a challenge from Co. E. 

 First California Regiment, and now comes the answer. 



D Compaky, Twelfth Inf't'i-;, N. G. S. N. Y., I 

 New York, December 7, 1874 [ 



Editor Forest asd Stream: — 



On behalf of this Company, we accept the challenge issued by E Co., 

 First California National Guard. 



As their proposition is in an indefinite condition, wo make the follow- 

 ing suggestions as our idea of what would equitably determine the supe- 

 riority: 



First— Let a team of, fsay twelve men, be named by each Company, to 

 be regularly enrolled members of the Companies, according to the laws of 

 the State under which they exist. 

 Second— Let the arms be either Remingtou or Sharp's military nlle. 

 Third— Distances, 200 and 500 yards; standing at 200; any position at 

 BOO without aniflcial rest. Target, same dimensions as now in use at 

 Creedmoor, scoring by the same scale as prescribed by ttieN. R. A., 

 seven shots and two sighting shots at each distance, so that the weather 

 may be nearly equal. Let the match occur on or about J une 20th, 1875. 

 Let each team begin firing simultaneously, telegraphing result on com- 

 pletion of tiring. 

 Of course more definite arrangements may hereafter be made. 

 We trust this match will improve the marksmanship of all participants 

 and move others to more ardor in rifle practice. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 

 H. B. Smith, Captain, 1 

 John H.Wood, mtSegt., | 

 AcurLLEs Wood, 3d Segt , f Committee. 

 M. D Farreix, Private, I 

 Thos. J. Dolan, Private, J 



—The First and Seeond Regiments are practicing duti- 

 fully in hopes of being able to make u good record at 

 Creedmoor next year. 



■«■»• 



— We are still short of our issue of February 12, 1674, 

 and shall be glad to receive copies from our subscribers. 



jpftf/ (gun and ^iflc, 



GAME IN SEASON FOR DECEMBER. 



I Unlctiis. Caribou, Tornndns Hnngi/t.r. 



Elk or Wupui, Itrr.ut Canadensis. Ued lieer, t'cirfcJvi lirr/imunut. 

 Ilmv. Iiioivn ui.,1 grav. Quail. Orl'/r Viiybiianui-. 



Wild Tinkcv. ,l/i.\ ,-;,;. w,7.i/i«j/... Pinnated (.muse. Tr'roo Cv))Mo. 

 Woo.lni.l;, Wild Duel;, ttcese, Brant, ,Vt. 



wso. Ira, ■ 



Tl:- AMI SKINS— THE QUOTATIONS 





Aciarding to siu. 



Xonln , 



n atiU 







color and //notify. 



Eastern. 



11,.-'..- .. 



Southern. 



Heaver, per Hi . . 



SI 50 a 



$2 00 



SI OH a SI Pi 



$ 00 a 8 75 





3 oo u 



•1 00 



2 Bt) a 00 



1 nO a 1 50 



Beaver, pale 



2 50 a 



8 00 



2 00 a 2 00 



1 (10 a 1 50 



Bear, black 



10 00 a 



20 00 



8 00 a 12 00 



2 00 a 3 00 



Bear, brown 



2 00 n 



5 00 



1 00 a 3 f0 



1 Oil a 2 00 



Badger 





1 00 



37 ll 50 



Cat. wild 



,17 a 



60 



25 a DO 



;0 n n 



Cat. hou.-e. black... 



io a 



13 



10 a ir. 



5 a 10 



Fisher... 



ill DO a 



ir> oo 



R 00 n 111 00 



,1 CO a ii 00 



Fox, Bilvoi 



2; 00 I 



too oo 







l'o\, crosa 



3 (HI ;l 





I (in a 3 00 



1 00 a 2 no 



Fox, lid 



1 M a 



2 00 



1 ■.'.-. a 1 50 



1 00 a 1 25 



Fox, white 



2 on u 









Fox, blue 



S 00 a 



10 00 







Fox, gray 





1 00 



me 



50 a 76 



Fox, prairie 







BO a 75 





Lynx. 





3 (»> 



2 00 a i! 00 





Murt.u, dark 





in i:n 



9 5 ro 





Marten, sals 







E III a 2 "ll 



.... a .... 



.Mink, dart; 



a 00 a 



1 no 



2 50 a 3 00 



1 60 a 2 Hi) 



.Mink, pule ,... 



1 00 li 



1 50 



i on n i r.o 



75 a 1 DO 



OlUT 



H oo a 



10 en 



1 00 il 3 00 



1 00 a 5 OH 



Otter, sea 





150 00 







Mu-krat. Full 







IS a :n 



15 a 10 



Muskrat. Winter. . 







22 ii 95 



20 a 21 



Mu.-krat. Spring.... 





85 



30 a 32 



28a 30 



M-.iskrut. kilt 





8 



5 a 8 



4 a 4 



Opossum, cased 



20 a 



25 



10 a 15 



5 a 10 







80 



00 a 70 



20 a 30 



Seal, lur 



6 00 a 



15 00 







Seal, hair 



50 a 



1 00 







Skin. k. blank 



1 mi a 



1 25 



1 (10 a 1 25 





Skunk, sliortstripcd. 



fiO a 



;:. 



00 a 75 





Skunk, long stnjicd, 



40 a 



50 



40 a 50 



.... a .... 



Game eh Market. —The market is well supplied with 

 game at present. Canvas back ducks in fine condition, 

 from Havre de Grace, bring $3 per brace; red-heads 

 §2; black-heads 75 cents; mallard $1 25. Huffed grouse 

 bring s?t per brace; prairie chickens §1; Venison from 

 Minnesota, 85 cents per pound; quail from the West 

 and the interior of New York bring only $2 per dozen. 



SfeW Jersey.— Bamegai, Dec. 3.— At last the brant have 

 made their appearance in large numbers. Our Hats arc 

 covered with them: a goud easterly storm and you will 

 hear of big shooting. T. D. Wetterill killed five swans 

 near the " Cedars" one day last week, and C. Parker and 

 J.lW. Kinsey killed thirteen brant on Tuesday, C. Parker 

 killed six brant and two geese Wednesday. Wcalher too mild 

 to make big days; plenty of black ducks; fair show of geese; 

 no show of any broadbi'ils, which generally arc so numerous 

 here. B . 



Mb, Editor:— Your article in reference to the scarcity 

 of scent, and the " apparent want of nose in dogs" this 

 season, was well timed, as many so-called sportsmen were 

 under the impression that their dogs were worthless, not 

 knowing the effect produced by drought. One good tiling 

 has been perfected by this, viz • Pew birds have been 

 killed, and naturally the increase will be greater next 

 season, thereby making the sport all the greater. I never 

 knew partridge to be so plentiful as this year, and ihcy, 

 like the quail, have succeeded in escaping death by the 

 gun. The leaves in the mountains are so thick and dry- 

 as to made it impossible to approach within trim shot of 

 the birds, and if the foxes and weasels don't kill Ihem this 

 AVinter they will be out in full force next year. Have you 

 noticed the scarcity of rabbits? The minks, foxes and 

 weasels have laid them out in certain sections. I shot one 

 large brown weasel, and a friend of mine killed a large 

 mink last week, whilst hunting for qnail. In legislating to 

 protect our- game it would be well for you tot suggest to 

 the conventions the necessity of offering a large bounty for 

 every mink and weasel caught running- wild, 



E. S. Wajtmaker. 



Maryland.— Deer Park, Dec. 4.— Since I wrote you . 

 last the people here have been attacked with hunting 

 fever, and during the light snow of this week the woods 

 were tilled with hunters. One gentleman named Lashoru 

 had splendid luck last Saturday.' lie was out rnbbit-hunl- 

 ing, and was standing in a thicket wailing tor the dogs lo 

 run out a rabbit, when a large buck and doe ran up to 

 within twenty-five paces of biin and stopped. He could see 

 nothing but the buck's horns, but being afraid to move. 

 he calculated the distance to his [the buck's) shoulder and 

 tired, shooting him through the neck and wounding him 

 mortally. He had a muzzle loading shot gun, with a load 

 of H 07.. of No. 1, 2 and 4 shot mixed, aiid shot but one 

 barrel. Another hunter shot a buck with No. 4 shot, I 

 don't know at what distance. Deer are very plentiful. I 

 heard of one man's bringing eight saddles to town one day 

 this week, and of many others had from one to four. Great 

 numbers of rabbits, grouse, quail, squirrels, &c, are for 

 sale at the stores throughout the country. Grouse bring 

 80 cent per brace, quail $1 25 per dozen, rabbits 30 cents 

 per brace, venison 12} cents per pound. I think of going 

 turkey shooting to-morrow. I will inform you of my 



lUCk. ALLEGnANT. 



Tennessee, — Memphis, fflv, 30.— Without going into 

 details as to the probable yield of game in this vicinity for 

 the next week or ten days, I will say that since my last 

 letter lovers of the dog and gun have had a lair week's 

 sport, and each and all who have been " out" note an im- 

 provement in the supply of small game, and "old hunters" 

 have had their time well occupied in the pursuit, on this 

 as well as on the other side of the Mississippi, of bear aud 

 deer, as is attested by the fact that our market is glutted 

 with venison, and at nearly every game stand can be found 

 choice cuts of " bar" meat, which is so highly (?) relished 

 b} r epicures, and notwithstanding that the weather has 

 been exceedingly mild, largo numbers of ducks and 

 some turkeys have rewarded the labors of the "callers." 

 The canebrakes and swamps adjoining nearly all of the 



