362 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Shot (§tm nml Jjfr/fe. 



GAME IN SEASON FOR JANUARY. 



Hares, brown and gray. Wild duck, kccsc, brant, Ac. 



L'PfldW f/« head or" 



't will only cr>n/r fi*mfusini< . I 



Uin.jn 



Gamic i\ Mmikht.— Game is quite plentiful at present. 



Venison in abundance from Minnesota, at twenty cents per 

 pound, a decrease of live cents during the past week. Prairie 

 chickens and rotted grouse bring seventy-live cents per 

 brace. Quails $3 per dozen; wild geese $3 50 per brace; 

 canvas back ducks are plentiful; the Havre tie Grace species 

 bring $3 per brace, and the Norfolk variety $2 50. Black 

 ducks, $1 25 per brace, mallards same price; red heads 

 scarce at $3 per brace. Wild I urkey abundant enough to 

 supply all the demand at thirty cents. English pheasants 

 very scarce; English hares out of market; Canadian hares 

 abundant at seventy-five cents per brace. 



Ntcw Yens— Pen Tim, Talis, Ob., K V. Jan. 7th 1875. 

 —At this place, Pen Yan, there was but little hunting done 

 la*t season among the sportsmen compared with previous 

 seaons. Woodcock and grouse were few, but a pretty good 

 show of Boh White for This country. Poxes and skunks 

 arc more numerous Mian we wish they were. On our best 

 Bob While grounds the farmers have put boards forhiding 

 Shooting, being pur-niaded thereto by a parly who l:as been 

 prosecuted for lishing with a seine. " "Ei.mhn-dohf. 



Maiiyi,ani> — Deer Park, Jan. Glh 74. — Hunting is about 

 over, although we have until 1st of Februarv tor grouse, 

 and the 15th insl. for quail. There is no law in this State 

 I believe against the killing of wild turkeys or rabbits, so 

 they will be shot until late in tin; Spring. 'Four years ago 

 mere was not a quail near us, with the exception of one 

 covey of four, now (here are seven eovevs on our place 

 •which average thirty birds apiece. No one is allowed to 

 shoot them, and I do not myself, so that we will soon have 

 good shooting. One man told me that last Fall he had 

 (rapped sixty brace of grouse, and another one said he got 

 forty three brace the same way. I don't think that they 

 will continue to do this, as there is a Strong feeling against 

 it. We are beginning to get ready for Hie Spring trout fish- 

 ing, and divide our attention between (hat and fox hunting. 



Al.I.F.OIIANY. 



— At. the annual election of the Qt.ica Club, last week, 

 the following officers were chosen: President, Charles W. 

 Hutchison, Vice President, T. R. Proctor; Secretary, F. K. 

 Peckham; Treasurer, Benjamin A. Clark. 



—Several telescopes offered as prizes at the October 

 meeting of the National Ride Association by J. II. Stewart, 

 of London, have arrived in this city. The treasury of the 

 association contains $1,136 35, the expenditures during the 

 year having been .$3,221 72. A barn is to he erected at 

 C'reedmoor for the preservation of the property ou the 

 range. 



—The New Jersey Rifle Association was permanently or- 

 ganized at Elizabeth Thursday evening, the following 

 officers being elected for the ensuing year; President, Cap- 

 tain W. H. He Hart; Vice Presidents," Hon. Augustus W. 

 Cutler, General J. VY. Plume, General Uriah He Hart; Sec- 

 retary, General J. Madison Drake; Treasurer, Major Wil- 

 liam Wilson. 



—The National Guard of the State of New Jersey is 

 to be armed immediately with the new Springfield breech 

 loading rifle. 



—At the meeting of the Eau Claire Sportsmen's Club 

 held on the 26th inst., F. W. Woodward was reelected 

 President; Frank Moore, Vice President.; O. S. Van Wago- 

 ner, Treasurer, and Dr. J. IT. Noble, Secretary. F. W. 

 Woodward was elected a delegate to represent the club at 

 the meeting of the State Sportsmen's Association, to be held 

 at Madison, Feb. 2nd. 



—A correspondent writes from East Oakland, California, 

 Jan. 1st.— 



"Your articles in regard to the "The Rifle," are to me 

 most interesting, as I am very devoted to the "grooved 

 bore." You need not be surprised to hear of the formation 

 of a rifle club iu this locality soon, nor to sec at the Fall 

 matches at Creedmoor a team of long rangers from the 

 Eldorado of the West. We are having most delightful 

 ■weather here; overcoats entirely superfluous, except after 

 dark, and yet all say it is one of the coldest Winters on 

 record," 



-»•<- . 



COOTS AGAIN. 



ROOKY Dell, Cd8*S8BT, January B, 1875. 

 Itnm.H FmtE.vr and Stream:— 



We do not know what kind of men live on Cape Ann. bnt. have always 

 heard thnt it. was a remarkable place. We think we have aa good gun- 

 ners on our side of the bay, bat we can't shoot with any satisfaction in a 

 dory. I know what a dory la, and have caught codfish, mackerel, and 

 hauled seines in a? rough seas, I may venture to say, as my fiockport 

 friend, bat t could not and would not shoot in one. The worst feature 

 of them is, when yon go to haul in your cable, you must get to the bow lo 

 do it; then, owing to the sharpness of the hew, your weight puts it un- 

 der, and if a heavy sea comes at that time, you are liable to a ducking. 

 I think nine out of ten gunners would admit the fact were they to try 

 both in the same weather. The rough tea and breakers of Minot's Light 

 arc celebrated throughout the VFol'ld; of those under the lea of Straights- 

 mouth Island I can say nothing- Fishermen on the banks do not anchor 

 while fishing, unless the waier is shallow and the sea calm, I do here 

 accept Mr. Dory's invitation, and will visit him next Full. Anon t my 

 Using too much shol, I will admil him to be right if he can show a belter 

 score thai, I. The following shoi 1 made in October, 1672:— weight of 

 gun, IU Ids.: gauge, S; charge, ii drachms powder 2 oz, No. -I shot; 

 birds, gray coots; number in flock, 12— shot dead ten, wounded one, 

 which t did not have to shoor over. The shot is well remembered by 

 several who saw It. I prefer a gun of this size f. rail kinds of duck 

 shooting, and would like to try with "Ollipod'' on large flocks with his 

 gauge 12, where number or birds are to count. But I admit that hand- 

 somer shots on single birds can be made with a lighter gun, provided the 

 gun can chamber four drachms of powder. Bespectf '.illy, B, K ., J a. 



>; DEER SLAUGHTER. 



Noutu Adams. Mass., January 3, 1870. 

 Editou Forkst and Stream:— 



Yonruriirle on Deer Slaughter in the Adirondack!!, I have just read, 

 and your sng-esiions 1 heartily indorse. I am very sine of ilie fact that 

 in many localities or the North Woods, through Summer and Fall, not 

 one deer is killed by sportsmen to live time- this number by guides and 

 trappers. My nip iu the woods Ibis Fall happened to he unusually late. 

 I killed a. couple of deer, and could have doubled the number had my de- 

 termination been to destroy. I noticed while iherc the guides were 

 making preparation forthe slaughter, and my guide promised he would 

 write me his success, which he did. lo mv di-gu-t. His letter I received 

 the 111th or November, one month after J rail him, and. he writes he has 

 killed (hiiiec.n deer since I left the woods, and Mitts aft the river In tire 



iiy. they will, in the course of the Wilder, leave the Adirondack* with 

 many less (if her noble game. I want to ask oar sportsmen to consider 

 how short a time deer canto any extent exist in York State, if this 

 Slaughtering rati fa continued. H.B.J. 

 -*•»- 



— A U. S, Army surgeon stationed at Marion, N, &, 

 writes.— 



"Marion is a small village up in the mountains of Western North Car- 

 olina, and is in an excellent quail country. 1 urn stationed here as med 1 - 

 eal officer, and though there arc no public amusements, 1 manage, with 

 quail shooting and taxidermy, to pass the time pleasantly. By the way, 

 I learned the latter from Forest ano Stream list Winter, for though I 

 have since read Cones' work, "Field Ornithology," Forkst and Stream 

 gave all necessary instruci ion. I hear there is good t.ronl. lishing in a 

 stream five miles west from here, nud I look forwiml to good sport in 

 the Spring. Very truly yours, G. U. M., M. D., U. S. A." 



METAL FOR GUN BARRELS. 



at Ki.m St., Boston, January, '.S7j. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In last week's sketches upon the breech leader, which, by I he way. 

 1 consider an excellent tcaiure of your paper; there seems to be room tor 

 discussion relative to the merits of different metals to he used iu the 

 mauurac.lurc of gun barrels. Mr. Dougall, I believe, is correct when 

 stating that the. term laminated steel is u misnomer. The barrels intro- 

 duced into this country under the title of laminated steel are pearly all 

 land around Birmingham. England. Among the work/ 



s the 



u.fa, 



who, in an arbitrary manner, introduces Hie new term. and which the 

 consumer or general public quickly accept, believing in anything that 

 may pertain to steel being of a superior character, stun Damascus 

 means double iron, or two rods twisted in diverse directions welded to 

 gethcr and twisted iu the form of the gnu barrel, then again Welded; in 

 somccascs it extends to what Is termed treble rial. Supposing only 

 one of these rods are used instead of (wo, in this country termed skelp 

 twist, this does not aspire to ihe name of laminated Steel, though exact- 

 ly the same [|iiality of metal has bean USOd". This will show how far the 

 term laminated is to be trusted. It must not be considered, however, 

 that little variability occurs in the durability of different samples of stub 

 Damascus, and I hereto re we arc to look down upon all barrels termed 

 laminated steel, seeing that in the higher class of Scott, Greener, and 

 olher makers of guns, a much liner metal is at first worked, and although 

 the homogenity of the metal is increased, it is not liy the influence of 

 carbonization, as in'stcel, bnt. superior ore originally, manipulated and 

 worked up through all its subsequent operations by workmen of care and 

 skill, and which arc many before reaching the barrel welder, aftor com- 



g fro: 



tiny is instituted t; is this 

 the progressing of tbO barreh 



rels. In the question of s!e 

 that where subjected to extre 

 its greater liability to fi actio 

 strains (luring a low temper; 

 nearly impossible to expect s 

 barrel now used, as is the ease with Iro 

 turbing the molecular aggregation of it: 

 which has been stated, begin with slue 

 which ithasto unde:go,and at a high bet 

 which constitutes its main feature, and 

 conld not possibly prevent Carbonfzat 

 figured barrels, is, I quite believe, au a 

 luslon toritle barrels than anything else 

 caution is requisite, but in the case of 

 lortion and twisting takes place, there m 

 iron, well hammered, is superior to ou 



ontiuiiil overlooking and testiug through 



ntoa well earned reputation' for their bar- 

 I tw. iron iu gun barrels, 1 would contend 

 le climatic change, steel is nnsuited, from 

 .its inability to stand severe or sudden 

 uro. and m addition 1 think it would be 

 jbI to he worked up Into the highly figured 

 I with iron, without disinrergratiiig ordis- 



t this 



nal- 



Eveu iu this case the greatest 

 run barrels where so much con- 

 ist be little doubt that the finest 

 ■ of steel, or laminated steel or 



I believe it is out of place to advocate the softest metal, as in the case 

 of Ihe Belgian barrels, through the rapid oxidisation which takes place 

 in the interior of the soft portions, and which iu the course of a very 

 short time, shows itself by a regular and well marked honeycomb. This 

 not. only means short life to the barrels; but unequal vibration, and other 

 anomalies which a pair of the best gun barrels should certainly ho de- 

 void of. Yours sincerely, D. Kmiiwoou. 



NEW PAPER SHELL. 



Quinct, 111., January 5, 1S75. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I notice in your valuable paper of December 31, 1871, the following ar- 

 ticle, for which please let mo answer. 



"J. B. D.. Cleveland.— I understand that some gentleman in St. Louis 

 has, or is abou t to patent a new paper shell with a conical base, in my 

 estimation a great improvement on the present shell. Do yon know 

 anything of it? Aus. Only what rumor brings us. If inventors would 

 be just to themselves they should inform us of any improvements they 

 make in lire arms." 



In answer to the above inquiry 1 will say T am the inventor and patent- 

 ee of a conical base paper shell, and that there is a company of gentle- 

 men in St. Louis, Mo. , that are waiting for some mechanic to put, up the 



ion that they will tie put upon the market iu a few months. I have ex- 

 perimented wdth, and have given them some very severe tests, and it is a 

 fixed fact that they will shoot from is (o -2i:, percent, hinder tbau the 

 shell now in use, and I avoid a large amount of the recoil. 



Respectfully yours, Col. E. D. Williams. 



BRASS vs PAPER SHELLS. 



Montello, Wis.. January 6, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream.— 



Seeing in Forest amd Stream of No. 20, an article from the pen of 

 yonr valued correspondent Elliott Cones, on the relative difference be- 

 tween brass and papersheHs, 1 notice he inclined rather strongly tn favor 

 of the paper sheU. As to his argument against brass shells, on the ground 

 of the trouble in carrying them after being tired, I think if he will try the 

 patent Clip Cartridge Belt, this will in a great measure lessen that fault. 

 And as to shooting qualities, I think brass shell superior enough to the 

 paper to counterbalance this, leaving out the liability of the latter to 

 stick in the barrel, on becoming slightly damp, which is, to say the least, 

 very annoying at times. Dr. Elliott Cones, at the conclusion of his 

 sketch, I think yields the superiority of brass shells, In acknowledging 

 that he takes a few of these on going to a distant region, that he may 



have a cartridge that "may be implicitly relied upon in such an emergen- 

 cy as may arise in an Indian country, when a double barreled brtcch 

 loader in the hands of a person who can nan It, is the most effective 

 known weapon of offense or defence at short range." In speaking of 

 brass shells as "a nuisance to carry loaded," I wish to say that 1 cannot 

 seethat they are more of a nuisance than paper ones. One great objec- 

 tion to paper shells, in my mind, is that in any remote district your sup- 

 ply (even though yon may have taken all you supposed could be. used) 

 may give out, and you can procure mi more at the village or boarding 

 house. On the contrary, ammunition (provided you have caps suit- 

 able for brass shells) may be had at almost any village, however remote. 

 A-- n. his objection against I he latter that the head is sometimes loo thick 

 b.r thesink in which it is received, I think such a case so rare as to count 



I have answered a few of the objections urged against brass shells : but 

 let us hear both sides ere condemning either. Fbed. 

 ■•♦* 



Palatine, 111., January -1, KSiS. 

 Editor Fouekt and Stream:— 



The Audubon Shooting Club, of Palatine, HI., held their second match 

 on theii grounds, ou the 1st inst. The following is the score:— 



'\Y. W. White I 1 1 1 1 0* 1 0* 1—7 



A.Leonard 1000000010 000 0-2 



?,• V- Hopkins 1 i 1 0* 1 I 1 I 1 0-8 



J. J. Filbert 00000010010011-4 



R. S. Williamson... 10 10 1 1 (> 1 0-5 

 J. II. Schirding... t) 1 t 1 1 0-4 



♦Dead outside of bounds, ]T. 



Port Ricumond, January r, 1874, 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



A pigeon match of twenty birds each, Staten Island Shooting Associa- 

 tion rules, for ,fi2oO, came off at Ridgewood, N. J., on the 4lh inst., be- 

 tween Messrs. Louis Lowe ami P. V". Hopper, resulting in a victory for 

 the former. The birds were strong flyers, and many a one that was hard 

 hit flew out or bounds. Mr. J. H. Cutwater, of Monoche, N. J., acted 

 as judge for Mr. Lowe, and Mr. G. Acker man, of Ridgewco 1. for Mr. 

 [topper. Referee, Mr. Louis Palmer, of Jersey City. J. V. Robinson 

 trapper] for Lowe, Hopper handling for himself. 



Louis Lowe.O 1 000111 1100011111 1—13 

 G.V. Hopper. 1 001 101101 OIOIJOIO— 9 



Mortimer. 



Editor Forest and Stiie, 



A pigeon match for $200 tt 



the 8th instant between Mes 



buds each; club rules; resul 



Metcalf n I I 1 i 



..0000 



Port Richmond, January !)th, 1875. 



,'icw Park, Staten Island on 

 alf and Win. M. Crane; 33 

 or the former:— 

 1 1 1 l 1 1 I 1 1 1 0-20 

 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 I 1 1— IB 



Messrs. Underbill and Mctc dr then shot a: 5 birds each, for the birds. 

 Indcihill I 1 1 I Metcalf 00 (Shot out.) 



On a bet of $50, they again shot at 10 birds; winner to pay for birds. 



Metcalf 1 1 1 (I I I -•■>'„„„•,.„,,„ ,;„ il I 1 1 1-5 



Underbill t) 1 1 1 Qo 1 i-5i !-,100t,n '> °" '"-• ,' 1 1110-4 



Underbill's last bird dropped dead two yards out of bounds. 



Mortimer. 



jfitf and §iver <gtehh\§. 



FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY. 



Trout (black bass). Shecpsliead. 



Drum (two species). Tailorfisb. 



Kingjish. Sea Bass. 

 Striped Bass. 



Pompano. 

 Snapper. 

 Grouper. 

 Rocktisb. 



Frsn in Mauket.— Several species of fish are now very 

 abundant. Smelts are arriving in unusually large numbers 

 anil retail at 15 cents. Codfish is quite common at. 8 cents. 

 Shad from Savannah, coming in quite profusely and sell at 

 40 cents each — a low price for this season of the year. 

 Striped bass sell 20 to 25 cents. Mackerel about 25 cents. 

 Winter softsbell crabs 75 cents per dozen. Hardshell crabs 

 scarce at |3.50 per hundred. Scallops $1.75 per gallon. 



— The Fishing Tackle Shops are actively preparing for 

 Spring trade, which promises lo be unusually large, not- 

 withstanding the general business depression. Gentlemen, 

 are already sending in their orders and selecting localities 

 for future angling operatious. We receive letters of inquiry 

 by every mail. 



— Alf the coves and inlets of Long Island are said to 

 abound with oysters, and a large force of men and vessels 

 is constantly engaged in the work of fishing for them by 

 means of tongs, etc., and conveying them to market. As 

 many as 40,000 baskets, or 9,000,000 oysters, have been 

 brought to this market in a single day, but the average 

 daily supply through the oyster season is from 35,000 to 

 30,000 baskets, or somewhat over 6,000,000 oysters. 



— The canning of salmon in Oregon has been so overdone 

 that there is no profit in it, and the canucrs have gone into 

 beef-preserving. Beef costs but 2J cents a pound. 



We find this item (evidently an excerpt,) in the Cape Ann 

 A/tiertker. It. is quite important, if true. 



— The following regulation has been made by the Gov- 

 ernor-General of Canada in Council under the Fisheries 

 Act:— 



"In the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 

 bass shall not be fished for, caught or killed by means of 

 any kind of net having meshes of a less size than sis inches 

 (extension measure.) This regulation to be iu force on and 

 after the twenty-ninth day of December, 1874. 



—The Grand Western Bank halibut fleet are now fitting 

 away quite lively. About a dozen vessels have sailed dur- 

 ing the past fortnight, making some twenty sail in all noW T 

 absent in this branch of the fisheries, and by the last of the 

 month about forty vessels will be underway. Two or three 

 vessels arc now due, and by the first of next month several 

 fares of fresh halibut will be along. The lirst arrivals will 

 command good prices, as the market lias been entirely bare 

 of halibut the past fortnight. 



The Georges tleet will soon commence fitting away again 

 and hv the first of February there will be full fifty sail in 

 readiness lo start. Upwards of one hundred vessels will 

 engage in this branch of the fisheries the present season. 



The Newfoundland herring fhjjt eoine along slowly. 

 Four salt fares have arrived thus far", and cue vessel is now 

 on her homeward passage. Late advices represent herring 

 scarce, and the weather very unfavorable fur freezing. The 

 same ililhcuUv is experienced at Grand Miuiau, N. B. , nml 

 but three fares have yet arrived from that port. 



Codfish are moving off lively this week. The stock on 

 the market will not more than last uni.l the new catch 

 comes along. — Gape Ann Atlrei liter. 



