FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Febettaby 3, 1881. 



fantastic briar-wood pipes, which he gathered, whittled out 

 with his own jack-knife and sent to the editorial corps of the 

 Forest and StBEAM. The essay, in another column, will lie 

 appreciated hy all who have shared the calm pleasures of a 

 smoke about the camp-fire at night. 



Unsigned Contuibctions. — Some of our correspondents 

 are notified that l hey are only wasting time, postage and sta- 

 tionery by forwarding to this office anonymous or pseudon- 

 ymous contributions. We have not the slightest, wish to 

 print the names of those who, when writing to us, desire to 

 conceal their identity, but we must have those names if their 

 letters are to appeal. 



This statement may well explain to a number of corres- 

 pondents why their unsigned letters have not appeared, and 

 to a number of seekers after knowledge why their questions 

 have not been answered. 



New Hampshire Game Commissioners.— In our notice of 

 the Maine system of game protection, we might have men- 

 tioned the tact which is familiar to our readers, that this was 

 the first State to adopt the plan of adding the protection of 

 game to the other duties of her fish commissioners. Messrs. 

 Webber, Hayes and Powersan, are the members of the 

 present very efficient commission. 



The flight of a rifle ball is a subject concerning which we 

 have had of late many inquiries. The excellent paper hy 

 Maj. H. W. Merrill on another page, is a revision of au article 

 on the same topic, contributed by him to this paper some 

 years ago. In its present shape it embodies the results of 

 recent studies by the author, and is a most valuable exposi- 

 tion of the principles involved. 



The Pistol Tournament.— To lovers of pistol shooting 

 the tournament now in progress at Conlin's gallery, 1,222 

 Broadway, will prove an immensely interesting exhibition. 

 Every variety of shooting with the petty arm may lie seen, 

 and the man who comes out victor in the several tests would 

 prove a very uncomfortable antagonist under the code. 



OtTii Kennee Notes are a good index of how the Foickst 

 and Stheam stands among dog men. Wo publish to-day a 

 column and a half of them, set in the smallest type and solid. 

 The weekly average is greater than that ever attempted by 

 any other paper in I lie world. Owners and breeders of dogs 

 are invited to register their notes in our columns. 

 » ■«. . 



Otm Oai-eTown- Couhespondent, Mr. R. P.. Biggar, con- 

 cludes tins week his graphs rk-turc of ostrich farnung in 

 South Africa. We hope that at some future time he may 

 supplement these papers with a further description of life in 

 that far off land. 



Wh publish elsewhere a report of the second day's pro- 

 ceedings of the Michigan Sportsmen's Association, and have 

 made arrangements to print the full minutes of the meeting 

 as early as Secretary Riney can furnish them to us. 



We have received the circular- of the Petersburg Fish and 

 Game Protective Association, of whose admirable method of 

 work we shall speak further. 



Next morning we. were up at 5 o'clock; breakfast was 

 'aiting. After It hot cup of coffee and some nice buckwheat 

 cakes and sausage, we found our horses awaiting us at the 

 door. We mounted and whistled for the dogs, who an- 

 swered our cull with a series of yelps aud barks, plainly tell- 

 ing their distress at finding au eight foot hoard fence between 

 them and us. Dush, however, did succeed in getting over the 

 top of it, just as old " Auat Roxy" opened the gate, and was 

 knocked flat by the rush of insupprcssibles from within. 

 The old woman picked herself up, exclaiming: "Lor', Mars 

 Tom, dat ole fool dog Dan done mose toe my does off ; and 

 dat ole mean musk-rat puppy done step his ole foot in my 

 eye, aud kicked my mouf full oh rocks," I had to dismount 

 to assist "Aunt Roxy," and get the dogs we did not want to 

 " carry" with us, back into the yard. We. decided to take 

 Dash, Cora and a ten-month puppy, '.' Bang," with us. Bang 

 had been hunted several times, was of good s'oek and pretty 

 well broken, but very hard-headed. (In several previous oc- 

 casions he had shown promise of making a remarkably fine 

 dog. 



Just after light, as the ruddy glow in the East proclaimed 

 sunrise near at hand, and a clear day, we started at a brisk 

 pace, with a cold, nor'-west wind in our luces, that brought 

 tears' to our eyes, and soon filled our beards with icicles and 

 our cheeks with color that art would find it hard to imitate. 

 The ardor of our dogs made it hard to keep them " to heel," 

 every piece of stubble and every inviting "branch" we 



assed were temptations hard for them to resist. After 

 .idiug about four miles we came to a fine stubble field of 

 about two acres. The road at this point being sufficiently 

 elevated to command a view of nearly all the field, we did 

 not dismount but put the dogs in. Dash and Cora started 

 around the field in opposite directions. Bang ranging out 

 finely in the middle, when suddenly he came to a stiff point. 

 Being afraid lie would not stand very long, we dismounted, 

 hut before we got over the fence up went a lark just in front 

 of him, and ho started after it as if heaven and earth de- 

 pended on his catching that bird. However, at a sharp com- 

 mand from me he came in cringing aud begging, well know- 

 ing what to expect. Two or three sharp taps with the whip, 

 and the command ' ' Take care, sir," toned him down. He soon 

 saw Dash and Cora both working slowly up a little hollow 

 and started for them as if he had a whole fourth of July 

 celebration lied to his tail. No command would he heed. 

 No vision of raw-hide was before his eyes, only his uncon- 

 trollable ambition that his nostrils might sniff the first scant 

 of the birds governed his actions, and 1 feared the result. 

 But my fears were vain ; just as he got half way to the other 

 dons he suddenly wheeled to the right, going with head up, 

 cautiously, yet fast, to the head of the hollow, where he 

 " froze" stiff und rigid as a statue cut out of stone. We has- 

 tened up to him, the two old dogs followiug at our heels, 

 "back standing" all the way. When we got, to the puppy 

 Dash made a detour aud pointed on the other side. This ex- 

 cited Bang and he started, but at command " charged" close. 

 Whirr, whirr; up went the birds, and away went Bang after 

 them i'ud lilt'. Both old dogs charged at shot where they 

 were. We killed four birds. Tom oue with each barrel, and 

 I two with my Gist, but missing my second through my an- 

 noyance ac Bang. He came back, after having his run, aud 

 toqk his thrashing with philosophical stoicism. The covey 

 flew to a dense pine thicket. We followed them, making 

 Bang stay close to my heels. I killed one bird in the pines, 

 over Cora's point, aud missed three, two of which Turn 

 killed. We then remounted and rode until we came to a pea 

 patch and small oat. stubble, in the edge of which we found 

 a small covey, only killing two on the ri3e, though 1 feathered 

 my second bitd so badly that 1 concluded to follow it. Some 

 300 yards in the woods Cora pointed ; Dash ran in, got the 

 dead bird and hromrht it to me. We were unable to mark 

 the others, so left them, On our way back to the horses, 

 Bang pointed a rabbit in its bed, and when it started he 

 started to chase it, but timely remembrance of consequences 

 stopped him at my first command. In a little piece of springy 

 ground through which we passed Cora pointed a woodcock 

 which 1 shot. 

 Our next stop was at Capt. Brown's, where we were met 

 r a little how-legged "yellow nigger," with a head big 

 '- had " carried" 



Personal.— Mr. Theo. Morford, of Newton, N. J., has 

 gone to Florida where he will spend several weeks. 



Among the callers at this office the past week was Mr. J. 

 II. Whitman, of Chicago, 111 



vortsmm Sonrizi. 



QUAIL SHOOTJNU IN VI KG INI A. 



OUR old stand-bys, Dash and Cora, were comfortably 

 coiled up sleeping on the rug in front of a roaring old- 

 fashioned wood fire, only giving signs of life occasionally by 

 a nervous twitching of the muscles, and hysterical lit lie yelps 

 as they dreamed, perhaps, of " ole bars" jumping from under 

 their very noses, then suddenly remembering the rawhide 

 whip, which in their younger days, before they had learned 

 discretion, so often impressed upon their miuds that "M Jlie 

 Cottontails" were game for hounds hut not for bird dogs. 

 The lesson had been well learned, and now, except maybe 

 in their dreams, both dogs treat such temptations with, at 

 least, pretended contempt. My friend Tom and myself sat 

 smoking our cigars, with our legs stretched over the dogs, 

 toasting our feet by the fire in his cosy bachelor quarters, dis- 

 cussing the prospect, of fall shooting and kindred subjects so 

 dear to the heart of sportsmen. 



After a meditative silence of several minutes, Tom broke 

 the spell with "What say yon, Charlie, to going out to 

 Brown's to-morrow and trying ihe quail r" 



This struck right home, and I replied, "I'm with yon, old 

 fellow," as the terrapin said to my pointer pup when it 

 caught him by the paw. 



At once there began an examination of necessary outfit ; 

 hunting-shoes, leggi s, dog-whips, spurs, riding-whips, 

 powder-cans, shot-bags etc., were soon acattered in endless 

 confusion about the room. The dogs, roused from their 

 slumbers, were frisking about smelhuggame-bags, guns, etc., 

 knowing it all meant fun for them as well as us. "Down, 

 Dash, you rascal, if you don't stop chawing up that whip I'll 

 break every bone in your body. You, Cora, charge. Tom, 

 you must put these dogs out, or 1 shall be slobbered all over, 

 and the only clothes I have with mi 1 lit lor civilized society 

 will bcruioed. By the way, have you a needle and thread 

 with which I can sew up this rip in my corduroy pants ?" 

 After putting the dogs out, we succeeded in getting every- 

 thing ready for an early start. 



we did not waste much time into getting the house. There 

 we found a nice warm supper of the best the country afforded 

 prepared for us. 



After allowing Tom time to change his wet suit for a dry 

 one of the captain's, the sleeves and ankles having to be 

 turned up some three inches, we fell to and demolished our 

 share of the eatables. Upon counting np we found our bag 

 to contaiu forty -seven quail, orie woodcock aud seven rabbits, 

 shot by Tom and myself. We took an after-supper smoke, 

 and bid our genial captain and his wife good-bye, mounted 

 our horses, and were soon galloping toward home. Poor old 

 Cora was so tired that I had to let her ride in my lap to town, 

 where we arrived in good bedtime. On the way we made 

 up another hunt for the followiug week, at a place where we 

 knew we could get some fine turkey shooting as well as plenty 

 of quail. Bedford. 



by 



enough for two Daniel Webstcrs. After 

 our horses to the, stable, 1 asked, "What is your name, my 

 worthy son of Ham ?" "Lor' goodness I Mare Charlie, has 

 you done forgot Washington Clay Browu, what tote the din- 

 ner, au all tie ole burs las time you an Mars Joe was heah?" 

 "Well! well! well! 1 declare, Washington, 1 did almost for- 

 get you ; you ' done' grown so haudsome ; where is Capt. 

 Brown?" "Mars Brown done gone to mill wid a turn of 

 corn ; I reckon he be back bout a hour, an he mighty glad to 

 see you gemmen." " " 



Just, then we heard some one pulling down the draw-bars, 

 and looked around i there was the captain in all his glory of 

 six feet two, aud 238 pounds avoirdupois. " Dad bone my 

 buttons, but that, is a powerful good looking pup," said the 

 captain, and continued, " Well, 1 am mighty glad, forcertain, 

 to see you all. Go into the h:mse by the fire," Wc needed 

 no second invitation, and were soon sealed tu the sitting room 

 with a plftle of apples and decanter of blackberry brandy by 

 us on the table ; the children beginning to climb all over us, 

 and Mrs. Brnwn telling us how many fine chickens she had 

 lost by the hawks, when, folbwedby his black setter, in 

 walked the captain, carrying his old muzzle-loader, barrel in 

 •tie hand and stock in the other. lie pulled some tow out 

 from behind the old-fashioned clock and proceeded to wipe 

 out his guu. In less than half an hour we were again in the 

 field. The captain knowing the location of every covey, we 

 id nlenty of birds, starline seventeen coveys during the 



.r .. r . :~ „ .„ tu:„i- „„.„... nl ri-„. Hi.rl,t 



Cora working tast and splendidly on single birds, in spite of 

 old age. The puppy got some good points, aud after his 

 whipping in Ihe morning worked well. But Cora, with her 

 years of experience, was too quick for all the other dogs to 

 get many points. All three of our dogstwice pointed separate 

 single birds, the captain's doe back-standing. Washington 

 Clay B. accompanied us all day ou horseback " to tote de 

 dinner and de game." When the sun was about "half an 

 hour" hi<di, we instructed him to proceed home by a short 

 cut and have our horses and things ready for an immediate 

 start when we came. Old Cora was pretty well broken down 

 and limping badly, so we started home. As we were crossing 

 a log over a "branch," Tom being nearly across, and I, just 

 wilh one foot on the log, looked down, and there was Bang 

 right in the branch under the log pointing. I was tangled in 

 blackberry briars, so I called to Tom to look out, when up 

 went one bird from sight under our feel, and flew oyer my 

 head back of me. Tom wheeled where he stood on the log, 

 ami fired both barrels. He missed the bird, but fell flat on 

 his back, full length in the water. As it was almost freezing 



TROUTING IN THE VALE OF ARNO. 



Boston, Jan. 8, 1881. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



THE following incident apropos of snakes eating fish may 

 seem to you worth putting on record. In the summer 

 ol 1863, I made a pedestrian tour with three friends through 

 the Tuscan Appenines, and for three or four days en j eyed 

 the hospitality of the Monks of Camaldoli. This celebrated 

 monastery is situated on the western slope of the main ridge 

 of the Appenines, and at that time was one of the richest aud 

 most prosperous of the religious fraternities. The convent 

 owned large farms on the slopes, and in the fertile bottom 

 lands of theVal d' Arno, which literally overflowed wilh corn, 

 wine and oil. The upper regions of their laud was kept as 

 forest and was celebrated for the size and quality of its 

 pines, on the judicious cutting of which by uo ineaos a 

 small part of the Monks large revenues depended. I re- 

 member being 3hown the stumps of four huge trees that had 

 been cut and shipped to the East to be used as columns for 

 some mosque. 1 should be alr^id to state my recollection of 

 what the diameter of the largest was, but we were told, and 

 readily believed, that a party of travelers who were visiting the 

 monastery danced a quadrille on the flat stump of one of 

 them. 



By-the-bye a most striking proof of the benefit of wi-e pro- 

 tection of forest lauds is to be seen there. Tint part, which 

 is owned by the monastery has be;n kept, in wood, especially 

 on the Steep heights, and the openings aud cleatiug that 

 have been made are probably a? fertile pastures, griin-grow- 

 iug fields and vineyard, as are to be found. All aioutid 

 their domain are to be seen hare sterile hills, washed dowu to 

 rock by the heavy shower?, which, utnil the short-sighted 

 cupidity of the ignorant owners had out off every stick, were 

 as productive as what belonged to the convent 



Ou mounting the ridge behind the monastery one of the high- 

 est points of tiie buck-bone of the Appenines is reached, and 

 on climbing into the branches of a free, on a clear day ihe 

 Adriatic sea can be seen to the eastward, aud the I/gurian 

 sea, or Mediterranean, to the West. Ou the western slope of 

 this chain of hills there are many brooks, which, in the 

 upper part of their course, run through the woodfaurl, aud as 

 the ground is very sleep, they form a series of small cas- 

 cades, with little pools below each fall which were full of 

 trout. These small brooks all ruu together, and by the lime 

 they reach the tableland ou which the monastery stands, they 

 have uuited to form a good sized stream, wdiieh, for a half 

 mile or so, runs alongside of the road, and after passing the 

 convent pitches down the decline to join the Arno. Along 

 this comparatively level point the brook was divided up into 

 a series of sandy shullows and rocky po ds, all of which were 

 swarming with trout. 



The Abbot having paid us the compliment of coming in to 

 see us after our dinner (they had a set of most elegant apart- 

 ments which were kept for lodging tourists, travelers, etc. j, 

 ou my mentioning having seen trout in his streams, fumed out 

 to be a most enthusiastic admirer of the trout species. The 

 streams were very stt icily preserved, aud the Prior afterward 

 told me that it was an uuheard-of thiug tj have the Abbot do 

 whal he did, that is, tell me that I might catch some. This 

 was a prerogative of his office which he had always kept to 

 himself. Unfortunately there was not a fishhook to be had 

 in the whole neighborhood. The Abbot himself always 

 caught as many as were needed on their fast days, and his 

 method was the same as 1 had seen practiced in the moun- 

 tain streams of a small village in Austria, where as a boy 1 

 had passed a spring and summer. He would take off his 

 sandals, roll up his gown, aud wade into the clear stream, 

 and working up against lite current would see the trout 

 darling under a stone for shelter, and then going up to it 

 very quietly, would put his hands down on the side on which 

 the trout ran under, and feeling very carefully underneath, 

 would finally get a grip on the fish and throw him on the 

 bank. As I said before, 1 had seen the same thing done in 

 Austria, and a few years ago a young Scotchman whom I 

 met ou the Umbngog waters not only told me that that was a 

 very favorite and successful method of poaehtug in Scotlaud, 

 but actually proved to me that it, could he done. This pro- 

 cess is known in Great Britain as "tickling" a trout. 



Not having had any experience in this form of sport, I 

 naturally devoted one o[ the few days we speul at Camaldoli 

 in trying to rig up a rod, and if Seth Green had at that time 

 writen as much as he has since about the beauties of needle- 

 pointed hooks, I should have managed to bend a needle, and 

 from the populous barn yard got hackles to make some 

 apology for a Hy. But 1 was in those dnys in such a state of 

 ignorance as to suppose that in order to catch a trout 

 seoundem artem, you must have a fishhook, aud a fishhook 

 was not to be bad. Every anglar will appreciate the 

 aggravation of my position, being surrounded by beautiful 

 brooks, actually teeming with fine trout, on which a fly had 

 never been cast, and not only not being able to avail myself 

 of the chance of a couple of days' splendid fishing, but los- 

 ing the opportunity of initiating the Abbol, who was a 

 splendid fellow, into a method of sport in comparison with 

 which his "tickling" would have dwindled to nothing. 



The gist of the matter, however, is the fact that one morn- 

 ing while walking along the bank of the brook, aud having 

 my mouth water 'at the sight of the noble fellows that were 

 darting here and there in the pools, I saw a snake in the 

 water, about three feet long. He was on a shallow sand-bar, 

 and with a stick I was carrying, I soon straightened him out. 

 He was, as I remember, very much the same sort of a gentle- 

 man as our common black snake, but about six inches from 

 his head his body was swollen to over three times its natural 

 dimensions for the space of eight or nine inches further. 

 The blade of my penknife having been put into the service of 

 ripping him up, a fine fresh trout of nearly a half pound was 

 found to be the cause of the deformity in his symmetry. Not 

 knowing as much as I do at present about comparative an at- 



