314 



FOKEST AND STREAM. 



principle or the gun was desirable. They seized upon that, 

 and, by applying their superior workmanship and better 

 judgment to* it— thereby increasing largely tbo power of 

 the gun— they not only remedied its defects, but, little by 

 little, made it perform as well as their own muzzle loaders. 

 Of course this result was not all at once attained. It re- 

 quired much patience, experiment, and knowledge to reach 

 the standard muzzle loader, and, of curse, disbelievers 

 asserted Unit by no amount of skill or time could it, ever 

 be made to shoot as the muzzle loader did. More powder 

 was demanded and couceded for it, and then the results 

 were equal. 



"Rut it was in the hands of progress; and it wont on, 

 until now, after thorough trial and test, it ranks as the 

 peer of the other. 



"hi considering the shooting of the two guns, an anomaly 

 is presented as to the shape of a breech. 



"With but few exceptions, nil breech loading guua re- 

 semble closely that of M. Lefaucheux. Hi3 gun had the 

 pin cartridge. The central fire cartridge, since invented, 

 and now so extensively used, is merely a new application 

 of the same idea. It involves no new principle. 



"The general principle of the breech loader is this:— The 

 barrels of the gun are movable at their rear end, and abut 

 unon the face "of the standing breech. The ends of the 

 barrels are smooth. The face of the standing breech is also 

 smooth. There is nothing upon the ends of the barrels nor 

 upon the standing breech to resist the force of the gun- 

 powder, or to hold the barrels in their place. The two 

 books of the muzzle loader fitting into the stock are not 

 there, nor anything like them. But the barrels are held in 

 their places "by means of a solid piece of irou attached to 

 thr.tu underneath, called the "lump," descending into an 

 iron bed on the stock, called the 'action;'— the projections 

 on the lump tit into corresponding recesses in the action, 

 and are there held together by Keys, wedges, bolts, and 

 grips. 



"Each maker has his own devices for gripping, wedging, 

 or bolting up the gun. The variations in the appliances 

 and tonus by which the barrels are held to the stock are 

 as widely different and as great as the ingenuity of inven- 

 tors nud'the spur of rivalry can make them. 



"The barrels play upon a hinge pin, and drop down at 

 the muzzle, thereby throwing up the rear ends 10 receive 

 the new and to reject the old cartridge. At every discharge 

 the gun is opened and closed. The means by which the 

 gun shall he thus opened and closed are equally numerous 

 and various as are the means by which the parts are held 

 together. Upon these mechanisms depend the safely, 

 solidity, and value of the guns, and just so far as the vari- 

 ation "in them goes, is the difference between them all. 

 Whether it be that the barrels are held up by one process 

 or the other, or whether they are dropped clown by one 

 lever or another, it is all a difference of movement, giving 

 more or less security, but no difference of rule. It is at 

 last the Lefaucheux gun altered, modified, and sometimes, 

 but not invariably, improved." 



Colorado Game Laws— We have received a copy of 

 the Game and Fish laws of Colorado and the constitution 

 and by-laws from the Denver Sporting Club, an organiza- 

 tion that is doing most effective work in suppressing the 

 outrages of pot-hunters and uitro-glycerine anglers. The 

 officers of this club are Carlos Gove, President; II. A. 

 Cummings, Vice President; H. W. Kerr, Treasurer; C. C. 

 Davis, Secretary; James B. Thompson, Assistant Secre- 

 tary. These gentlemen have had placards published for 

 distribution, in which the penalties for destroying game 

 and fish out of season are distinctly stated. The fines are 

 as follows: 



Quail, until Oct. 1, 1878, $10; prairie chicken, Nov. 1 to 

 Sept. 1, §3 to ijllU; mountain grouse and wild turkey, Dec. 

 I to Sept. 1, $2 to $10; wild goose, wild duck, curlew, 

 snipe, plover, lurk, or dove, May 13 to Aug. 15, $2 to $10; 

 Uisectiverous and upland birds, or robbing their nests, at 

 any time, $2 to $10; buffalo, elk, deer, mountain sheep, or 

 antelope, Jau. 1 to Aug. 1, $25; for killing and leaving any 

 edible part of buffalo, elk, deer, mountain sheep, 



lope to waste, $35. The penally for ensnaring, netting, 

 entrapping, or taking by any oilier device, quail, at any 

 time, is not less than $10 or more than $100. The penalty 

 for killing or taking trout or other fish by any poisouous 

 or deleterious drug, or by the use of any explosive sub- 

 stance, is not less than $100. The penally for obstructing 

 any stream by a dam, weir, or oilier artificial obstruction 

 is $100. The penalty for taking fish of any kind from any 

 private pond, lake, or stream, without the consent of the 

 owner, is not less than $50 or more than $200. 



We are also under obligations to Preund & Brother, of 

 Deuver, for several courtesies. Their place is one of the 

 most interesting in the West, as it is a perfect museum of 

 the fauna of the West and the various kinds of shot-guns 

 anil rifles. Around the museum buffalo, elk, and deer 

 heads, handsomely mounted, are grouped, and under them 

 are ranged the Rocky Mountain sheep aud goat, I he differ- 

 ent species of bears and cats indigenous to the region, and 

 the numerous varities of trout. Persons vi.-itiug Denver, 

 wishing any information about the hunting and fishing of 

 Colorado aud the best resorts, should not fail to call on 

 these gentlemen, as they have ms.da Hie subject a special 

 study. The Messrs. Preund have been always foremost in 

 the efforts being made to propagate aud protect the game 

 and fish of Colorado. 



«•♦*« 



Walker's "Battle of Lookout Mountain." — The 

 grand picture of the Battle of Lookout Mountain, now on 

 exhibition at the corner of Broadway and Fourteenth 

 street, is, in our opinion, one of the finest battle pieces 

 exhibited in this city, Not only does the spectator seem 

 to be present at the great, fight, but the soldiers appear to 

 be instinct with life and imbued with that steady action 

 indicative of veterans joining iu a glorious strife. The 

 figure of the old mountain looms up in solemn majesty, 

 with its crest above the clouds, while the Union troops are 

 seen winding iu a long, serpent line up the steep elopes of 

 the rocky paths, moving onward with undaunted courage, 

 and overcoming all the obstacles that nature and a valiant 

 enemy could oppose to them. The figures of Gen. Hooker 



and the Chief of Artillery, Major Reynolds, stand promi- 

 nently forward, and are excellent likenesses, while all the 

 incidents arc portrayed with a master's hand. The breast- 

 works and rifle-pits of the Confederates, extending from 

 the base to the crest of the mountain, show how strongly 

 they were intrenched and what difficulties the Federal 

 troops had to encounter on that eventful day. Every sol- 

 dier should witness this flue work of art, and every one 

 who can appreciate a noble deed nobly described should 

 not fail lo see it. The well-known elocutionist, Prof. Law- 

 rence, ably describes the picture every evening at 8 o'clock 

 mid recites tinker's noble poem of the "Battle of Lookout 

 Mountain" with an eloquence worthy of the subject and 

 himself. 



■♦•■*- 



Florida Frcit-Gkowers' Association.— This active 

 organization which elected its officers at Palatka in No- 

 vember, will hold its next meeting 24th January. It has 

 already commenced a work of much importance to the 

 State by recommending a botanical garden in which tropi- 

 cal fruits, flowers and plants are to be cultivated, and from 

 which seeds may be distributed gratuitously to the poor. 

 The importance of this step cannot be overestimated, for 

 besides the benefit it will bestow on the residents it will 

 also attract more attention to the State, and thus cause it 

 to become the Italy of this continent. No portion of the 

 country has a climate more suitable for the growth of trop- 

 ical plants; hence it would indicate a most serious lack of 

 enterprise if this advantage was not utilized. Tho report 

 made by a committee appointed to investigate its feasibil- 

 ity states that the "enterprise will be a great auxiliary to 

 tho science of botany. The explorer in this field— the 

 novice and the proficient— will here find subjects for study 

 which have hitherto been excluded from their contem- 

 plation, and our children will have text books on this 

 science far surpassing those previously in use. 



In the wilds of Florida our great garden would be the 

 attraction of civilization and refinement, and to the people, 

 the sovereigns of the land, would be open a hundred aven- 

 ues of delight, as the myriad paths leading among the 

 gardens of Babylon, to gratify the senses of oriental sover- 

 eigns, who derived their titles, not as we derive ours, from 

 free American institutions. 



A more beneficent scheme for our country, or one more 

 capable of expansion by hallowed influences, cannot be 

 conceived, and it behooves this the first Convention of the 

 Fruit-Growers of Florida to initiate and appeal to a com- 

 mon government for its promotion." 



The officers of the Association are President, P. P. 

 Bishop; Vice President, Ilarrison Reed; Secretary, Charles 

 II. Walton; Assistant Secretary, J. W. Whitney; Corres- 

 ponding Secretary, C. Codrington; Treasurer, C. Drew, 

 Jacksonville. 



THE BIG HUNT AGAIN. 



Chicago, IU., December, i674. 

 Eiiitor Forest anii Stream:— 



The appearance or the article of Dec. 3, in reference to the great hnnt 

 about lo be organized next May, has attracted my attention, aud beg to 

 say a few words, as a lover of hunting and fishing, in which sports I 

 huve spent my best days, being known throughout the United Statea 

 and Canadas as a shooter by gentlemen sportsmen. 1 wish them to know 

 my views In regard lo the hunting party to be organized to slaughter 

 breeding birds and animals in the breeding season. Their flesh and 

 skins, which are then worthless, would be left to rot on the plains. For 

 my part, I think it the greatest outrage ever attempted in this or any 

 other counlry. How any men, or party of men, calling themselves gen- 

 tlemen, can engage in such cruelty, is beyond my comprehension. 

 Where is Bergh? Why cannot these gentlemen wait until the 1st Sep- 

 tember? They have Ihen ample time for all the sport they wish before 

 the season closes to give the Tcxans and Indians an opportunity to cor- 

 ral their animals previous to slaughtering them. If this great organizer 

 and hunter, whose glory and achievements are heralded over three conti- 

 nents, hungers for blood, let him go to HutchinBon's Packing House, 

 where the} kill eight thousand hogs a day, and they will give him a 

 chance to take the fiery edge off his bloodthirsty appetite. Yours with 

 respect, J. Parnswobth, 



Union Stock Yard. 



Balustom Spa, N. Y., December 5, IBM. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I notico in your last issue of Forest and Stream an article in regard 

 to a hunting party being organized, aud thought perhaps you might meet 

 with some of the promoters of the scheme, and might call their atteutiou 

 to Che necessity of their having a number of portable folding boats as a 

 part of their outfit. 1 claim that I have the only safe, durable, and per- 

 feetly portable boat mannfactnred. The frame, being of tough ash.cannot 

 be easily broken by the roughest usage or transportation, aud when 

 necessary can be repaired on the spot by simply lashing with strong 

 twine, which can be doue by any person, in anyplace; while on the 

 olher hand a metallic or wooden boat would require expert mechanics 

 with proper tools to repair it when stove or broken. The frame, besides 

 being folded for ordinary transportation, can be divided Into several dif- 

 ferent sections or pieces, to be carried by individuals or on pack mules, 

 and can be put togettier with a screw driver, the only tool necessary, and 

 which may be done in a few rainot.es. The canvas cover can at any time 

 be repaired with a large needle and some cotton twiue, by simply sewing 

 a patch on the rent, the same as a farmer would repair a bag. The can- 

 vas is of great strength and durability, and can be slung as a hammock, 

 or used for a shelter teut, aud various other purposes. The boat, as an 

 invcolion, is intended for the roughest usage without regard to beauty. 



Boats of the size to curry five to seven persons capacity would, I think, 

 be the moat suitable, and when lashed together will form a ferry boat or 

 rufi to ferry wa.-ons, horses and materials across streams. Such a raft or 

 li-ici-i- riui'be improvised in un hoar's time, by lashing together with 

 Wagon beds, teut poles, or any material at hand. I will furnish such 

 boats to the expedition at cost. John Heoeman. 



Edithi: Forest and Stream:— 



In the 31 November Dumber or your paper I read with much Interest 

 your editorial headed "A great Hunting Party." The new idea of a great 

 international hunting party, to be composed of English and American 

 gentlemen, meeting next Summer to inaugurate a grand huutUuj and fish- 

 ing excursion upon the great plains of the West, Is certainly a most eool- 

 msplrlng theme. Heme, I am not surprised that under this general 

 view of it you, as well us others, have approved of it. 



But for this I see yon are taken severely to task by one of your cor- 

 respondeats; aud as toCol. MeC&rty, the projector of the expedition, he 



stands already "impaled on a bison's horn, or hugged within an inch of 

 his last breath by a grizzly, or kicked to pieces by a buck, or butted 

 black and bine by a mountain ram." I fear the bare mention of the bad 

 propensities of all those animals may have a disheartening effect upon 

 our English neighbors across the way. and hence I will add that the wri- 

 ter states that he wrote in a "heat," and hence I think there is no danger. 



Nor are hie views so harsh, when viewed from his own standpoint. Ho 

 evidently sees game everywhere, slaughtered in piles mountain high. Ho 

 says: "It will be a most reckless, foolish, destructive slaughter, and it 

 may be inaugurate a never ending series." Think of half a dozen such 

 murderous armies sweeping over our plains and mountains every season 

 for years to come! It may be "foolish," it may be "reckluss," we ad- 

 mit. This depends upon how it is condnctcd. But there need be no 

 fear or the '-destructive slaughter." No, not any-I have been there. 



Then there is no fear of "great slaughter?"— no, none. The rumbling 

 wagons will wake np all the animals, provided they are asleep, aud this 

 is not often. The "band of music" will set them all a-bobbing, and toe 

 tooting bugles will set them a "scorning," and the "patks of hounds" 

 will setthem all a runuing: so good bye, ye slaughterers of game. 



Thus stautla the programme, bo far as developed, aud hero I rest now, 

 merely remarking, however, that such an expedition, if rightly planned 

 and executed, may be one of the most interesting, and at the same time 

 useful expeditions of modern times. 



I hope, Mes-rs. Editors, you will watch the progress of this movement, 

 and continue to give it your support, should you deem it worthy of it. 

 Maj. H. W. Merrill. 



Visitors to Florida.— A St. Augustine correspondent 

 writes us under date of Dec. 14th: — 



"The Winter season for travel has now sensibly commenced. Stran- 

 gers and tourists are arriving daily in unprecedented numbers, far ex- 

 ceeding that of any previous year. The hotols are doing an encouraging 

 business, and all are well kept. For location, the St. Augustine HoleLfor 

 elegance of furniture, the Florida House, and for the best table, the 

 Magnolia Hotel. Beside these, there arc numerous boarding houses, all 

 conducted in good stylo. Your enterprise— the Forest anu Streak— 

 is universally appreciated and spoken of in flattering terma. Among the 

 prominent, visitors here are A.J. Alexander, of Ky.; Henry Ball, Ot 

 Newburg; John P. Howard, of New York; Holmes Ammidowu. of New 

 York; John L. Wilson, of Boston; J. W. Dunbar, of New York; K. F. 

 Armstrong, of Nova Scotia; D. M. Edgar, of New York; Ja.ues McMar- 

 lin, of Albany; J. BUkley, of Philadelphia; Clias. H. Ptoyce, of New 

 York; George Washington, of New Jersey; and a large number of 

 ethers." O. A. K. 



About Friday, the 11th ins t., the last iron rail of the 

 St. John's R. B. was laid; thus connecting St. Augustine 

 with Tocoi by as line a rail road as there is in Florida. 



A new steamer is to be put on the St. Johns Hiver, 

 which will get up a speed of eighteen miles an hour. 



A steamer has at last been purchased for St. Augustine 

 to be used for pleasure parties, and will visit the Beach 

 hourly. It is a side wheel boat, and will accommodate 

 about scventy-flve passengers. Dr. Weseott is oue of the 

 parties interested. 



jf/ui/ gf/w and ^i/ie. 



GAME IN SEASON FOR DECEMBER. 



Moose, A Ices UalchU. Caribou, Tarandus ttangifer. 



Elk or Wapiti. Cercus Canadensis. Red L'eer, driers Virgimanus. 

 Hares, brown and gray . taie~.il. ortnr Vlrainiano.s. 



Wild Turkey. 1R!*\, yri., epilteipavo. I'innated Ur.vii-..-. Tetrao Cupid.o. 

 Woodcock. •: Wild Duck, Goose, Brant, &c. 



Ruffed Grouse, Tetrao umbellus . 



[Under the head of " Game, ana Fish in Seai'n" we can mly speci- 

 fy in general terms the several varieties, oecanse tt ie laws of Slates vary 

 somuch that were we to attempt in particularize we could do no less 

 than publish those intire sections that relate to the kinds of game, in 

 question. This would require a great amount of our space. In desig- 

 nating game we are guided toj ttie latvs of nature, npon u-hich all legis- 

 lation is founded, and our renders mould do well lo mo"hit themselves 

 with the laws of their respective States for enn.-tant reference. Otherwise, 

 unoattemuts to 'assist them will only create confusion.] 



Game in Market.— Owing to the approach of the holi- 

 days game has advanced in price during the last week. 

 Wild turkeys, which are quite common, came principally 

 from Illinois and. Missouri. This abundance has reduced 

 the price to 16 cents per pound, though the best condi- 

 tioned bring a higher sum. Quails are very scarce, so 

 bring from $2 75 to $3 per dozen. Buffed grouse, which 

 are quite abundant. Sell at $1 per brace; prairie chickens 

 the same price, and venison at from 30 to 25 cents per 

 pound. The animals killed in this State bring the former 

 sum and those killed in Minnesota the latter. Canvass 

 back ducks bring $3 per brace; red heads, $1 50; mallards, 

 $1; black ducks, $1; teal, 75 cents; brant, $1 75; squab 

 pigeon, $3 per dozen; English pheasants, $5 per brace; 

 English hares, $2 50; Canadian hares, $1; rabbits 75 

 cents. 



New Hampshire.— There has been a large bear rambling 

 over the Northern range of Ossipee Mountains (lie. past 

 Fall, and a man by the name of Merrill set a steel trap that 

 weighed twenty-five pounds, with an ox chain attached to 

 it that would hold a pair of six feet cattle to draw by, and 

 yet his bearship snapped it in twain and left for other 

 parts. 



>, Massachusetts.— One hundred deer were shot in Sand- 

 wich and Barnstable woods during the month of Novem- 

 ber. 



Old hunters say there are ten foxes on Cape Cod now 

 where there was one a few years ago. 



New York, Pond Eddg, Dec. 11.— One deer shot within 

 ten miles of here, three miles back in Ihe mountains from 

 Pond Eddy, next station from Port Jervis, and two bears; 

 a third badly wounded. S. 



Quod Ground, Long Island, Dei: 12.— The shooting at this 

 place holds good, the weather fine, and ducks plenty; 

 more birds than has been known in a number of years. 

 We are visited by parties from New York every week; all 

 have succeeded in getting good bags of thick. Walter 

 Richmond, Esq., of the Richmond Print Factory, of Provi- 

 dence, was here last week; killed one day 21 ducks wilh 

 his own gun. Colonel Bodine also visited me last week; 

 carried away a flour barrel full of ducks; rabbits arc 

 plenty. M. V. B. 



Maryland.— Deer Park, Dec. 16.— Game is about the 

 same as last week, and is If anything more plentiful. A 

 great many deer have been killed near town, and they seem 

 thicker than they have been for many years. I never saw 



