us 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



PlAHOHg-t, 1881. 



destruction of game has been very great, in this section. At 

 least eighty per cent, of the quail have perished in our first, 

 snowdrift. There have been bevies fouud frozen since the 

 snow hHB gone i ft', sitting just as they went to roost. Only 

 two quail have been found since the drift, and as they were 

 trapped they are all right. Plenty of rabbits. Pheasants 

 (rull'ed grouse) very scarce. 1 hope there will be some action 

 taken to stock us up uga'li. 



Kingicood.—l have no doubt but that the severe weather 

 destroyed a great many game birds ; but what percentage it 

 would be hard to tell— perhaps one-half. I have not heard 

 of any farmers feeding the birds. 



Mount Pleasant.— The eold weather has caused many kinds 

 of birds to perish, especially quail. 1 do not think tie 

 tanners have fed I hem in this vicinity. The destruction has 

 been greater than in former years. 



Mount PUtnant.—'The fawners do not generally feed the 

 birds in tl>is section. The loss has been great r than usual. 

 At least truly percent, arc dead. 



2/etn Ucmucntpim; — The cold winter has destroyed quite a 

 number of rabbits. Some of the fanners fed some of the 

 quail. 



Morton..— About half the game perished last winter. The 

 farmers did not feed. 



<>akdeih.--l nui satisfied, a great many quail have perished. 

 I did not feed them for a while, but they have not been seen 

 since the 9nows. 



Oak (frave. — The winter has been verv hard on game of all 

 Kinds. Some residents have fed them. 



l'aUcnbnrgh.—T\w farmers of this section do their thresh- 

 ing at intervals during the winter from barracks and stacks 

 of grain ; this affords the birds food. 1 doubt if many were 

 destroyed. 



Perryei.ile. — The destruction of birds by the winter has 

 been very great. : probably fifty per cent of more have per- 

 ished. A very few farmers have fed. 



Daren AV/.\— The heavy snows and extreme cold weather 

 has about exterminated the game in this locality. The 

 farmers and others in this locality were willing to feed the 

 quail, but it was almost impossible to find them." There may 

 be a few left ; if so, very few. 



lieadii.gton.— The quail are all destroyed. I can only rind 

 one survivor out of two coveys of six each. These coveys 

 were fed and cared for by farmers' sons through the snow and 

 eold, but the weather proved too destructive " 



/iea<li!,gton. 1 consider I he game almost entirely destroyed. 

 Have been watching the condition of two coveys of six each. 

 One of these had the advantage of a wheat, stack and were 

 doing well up to about six weeks ago, since when 1 have been 

 unable to find them. They have probably perished. The 

 oilier covey had tbe shelter of au old hovel in a ragweed field. 

 I employed a person to entice them to the hovel by trails of 

 grain, and had the satisfaction a few days later of finding the 

 whole six under the hovel. Soon after eame a blustering 

 snowstorm, and since then 1 have- found but one survivor . 

 He can bo found about the hovel almost any day. The 

 farmers' sons have fed the birds very generally; but I fear 

 that, but few are Mi. 



lieatUnffton.—U has been a remarkably hard winter on 

 quail. There were seven birds by my place : I fed them, but 

 they are all dead but one. No one else cured for them in I his 

 seoliou to my knowledge. 



BeabiUe.—Vfc know of no further destruction nf birds 

 from cold weather last wint r than from previous ones. We 

 have seen birds fine.' the snows. No farmers feed. 



Tumble. -Eighty per cent, of the quail have perished. 



SOMEK.-ET COUNTY. 



gashing ffi&ge.—3X has been a very hard winter on game. 

 It is nearly all dead. A few birds have been fed. 



Brv,i'i.nlmilU\— The hard winter has not killed all the 

 quails. Some have been fed by farmers and sportsmen, 

 tlrouse are plenty. More game has been killed by hawks 

 than by seve.e weather. 



m„irri,!„ti S h.— More qu il have been killed this winter 

 than there have been in ten years. A few small coveys have 

 been saved that lived by the stack yards. 



Rlttsboi-mtgli. — Game is very scarce about here, but do not 

 see tbatthe destruction has been greater than in other years. 



Martinsville.— I think most of the birds in this section have 

 perished. They were not fed by the farmers. 



M<mtgnm'r//.— The snow has been very deep here, and 

 killed a great many quail. Whole flocks "have been found 

 under the snow. There have been more killed this winter 

 than in many years past, We took care of a few, but the 

 snow was too deep. 



JVe.sh'/aic.—I do not think that any birds have been winter- 

 killed or starved to death, as they have fed on the seeds of 

 the high weeds: but foxes, hawks, owls and weasels have 

 killed nearly half of the birds and two-thirds of the rabbits. 

 Nearly all the pheasants have been killed by foxes. Farmers 

 have not fed the birds. 1 have given three bushels and a 

 half of buckwheat to one flock which originally numbered 

 twenty-two, and of which eighteen are now left. 



Peapaek. — Two-thirds of tbe quail and oilier game has been 

 destroyed. No one, to my knowledge has tried to feed the 

 birds. 



Plm.mi.lle.— The eold and snow this winter have destroyed 

 considerable of the game. Of quail, at least one-half; of 

 pheasants, one-third. Rabbits seem to be very scarce here, 

 but were plenty last fall. More birds have been winter- 

 killed than for several years, I know, because 1 hunt a 

 great deal. 



Barittm, -No birds of spy account have perished in con- 

 sequence of the cold weather. Farmers feed the birds. 



Bocky PI fit. — Birds have not frozen in this section in very 

 large quantities. Several of the farmers, who are sportsmen, 

 fed and cared for them in many ways. One gentleman, who 

 takes great interest in sport, lias carried over a wdiale bevy, 

 and thinks they will breed in his woodland this spring. One 

 overseer lias caught and wintered birds to stock the grounds. 



Sorm "V'.-i'i ini the best information 1 can gain the cold 

 and snows have destroyed a lame part of the game in this 

 section; what percentage 1 cannot state, but certainly a much 

 larger one than mual. In a few cases the birds have beeu fed 

 by farmers and others, and in that way kept from starving. 

 They have also been driven to farmyards and exposed places, 

 and have in that way suffered severely from hawks. 



8oidh Branch.— The cold and snow have had a very bad 

 effect on the birds. Very much afraid they are all dead. 

 The destruction lias beeu greater than in five years. What 

 were not soot have frozen to death. The farmers very sel- 

 dom feed them, 



roups oot'NTt. 



Cranford. —The destruction of game has been far greater 

 this winter than usual. Should think seventy-five per cent, 

 of the quail have been destroyed by cold, snows and hawks. 



I know of one flock of quail having been fed with abundance 

 of food, and they were in good shelter, and but three remain 

 out of nine : and 1 think, therefore, that all must have per- 

 islud if not well fed and were not iii good cover. 



Orairfprd. — What little game was left in our section has 

 been pretty well frozen out during the past winter. The 

 heavy storms of sleet and hail have "so effectually covered up 

 everything that the quail have been literally starved to death. 

 At least seventy-five per cent, have perished. Thiuk the far- 

 mers, in some cases, fed the birds, but not generally. 



Plainfield. — Have heard of no quail or grouse having fro- 

 zen to death in this section. They are very scarce here. As 

 a rule, where there has been a covey of quail the farmers 

 have looked after them. I have heard of several cases of this 

 kind. 



Scotch Plains.— I do think the cold weather has affected 

 the game a great, deal. There have been some quail seen since 

 the snow disappeared. There were quite a number when the 

 season closed. 



Union.— We have very few quail to winter, and at this 

 dale, March 18, 1 do not know of a bird that has survived. 



Middlesex oomsrJy. 



VronQwry. — There are several small bevies of quail in our 

 neighborhood that have been, fed by the farmers. Those that 

 were not fed perished. There has been a great many found 

 dead since the snow went off. Woodcock'have been around 

 about one week (March 10). 



Oranbury.— Tmfl winter did for the quail. Quite a number 

 hive been frozen to death. A number have been fed by 

 farmers. The destruction has been much greater than usual. 



Dean's. — The quail suffered very much around here. I 

 don't, know of but one in this neighborhood, and I fed him 

 all winter. I think the rabbits and partridges (ruffed grouse) 

 have wintered all right. 



Duntikn. — There has been a number of flocks of quail 

 frozen and starved. I do not know of but a few birds beir.g 

 fed. Nearly one-half have perished. 



Jseli?i. — The coldest winter for many years. The birds died 

 for want of something to eat. Farmers are too mean to feed 

 their stock, let alone quail. 



Me ucliin.— A few quail have been frozen to death. Many 

 farmers feed quail in this section. 



Monmouth Junction.— It is the general opinion around here 

 that not much game has survived this winter. Numbers of 

 quail and rabbits have been found dead. Few people feed 

 the game. 



Metuchin.— Several flocks have been fed here. Birds are 

 scarce, the winter was hard on the game. 



Old Bridge. — The quail have nearly all perished: they 

 were not fed. 



SayreoiSe,— The severe winter has had some effect on (he 

 birds in this place. I know or to one that fed them. 



South Amboy. — Although the past winter has been an un- 

 usually severe one for the game, especially the quail, they 

 have not been entirely exterminated, at least half having sur- 

 vived. Ruffed grouse have been quite numerous all winter, 

 and have not apparently suffered much. The farmers did 

 not, as far as 1 know, feed the quail. 



South Ambey.—Jxa care was taken of the quail by resi- 

 dents. The winter was very destructive, one-third of the 

 birds must have perished. 



Woodbridge. — The cold weather has almost destroyed the 

 birds in tbie township. I have made extended inquiry of 

 persons living on the farms, but only two small bevies have 

 been seen since the snows. The destruction has been greater 

 since the years 1856 and ! 57 when most of the game was 

 killed. The two bevies I speak of were fed by farmers. 



MEKUEK C0CNT1". 



Dutch Neck.— It is hard to tell the percentage of game de- 

 stroyed. Rabbits got along as well as usual, but quail and 

 other birds have frozen and perished. There are quite a good 

 many birds left. 



Edinburgh —I think the birds are hurt by the winter ; one- 

 half have been killed. 



Edinburgh.— Home quail have been seen since the snow. 

 Farmers fed them. Not over fitly per cent, perished. 



Kteinqrille.—FMy fifty per cent, of the birds have perished, 

 if not more ; in some localities they have all perished. The 

 birds have not been properly fed during the winter. Many 

 quail have been killed by the snows. 



Hamilton Sguare^— Winter was very severe. Very few 

 birds fed and a great loss of game in this vicinity, certainly 

 more than one-half. 



Hightstoicn. -I have not seen a quail since the heavy fall 

 of snow. I have heard of whole flocks that have been fouud 

 since the snow melted that were frozen to death. Three- 

 fourths of the quail perished last winter. 



JlighlstoLcn. — We had but few quail in this vicinity last 

 Fall and we hear of none since the suow. Bead birds have 

 been found under the drifts. Without doubt fifty per cent, 

 of the birds and rabbits perished by the snow. 



Lawrence Station. — One-half of the birds have been frozen 

 or starved. The farmers were very negligent in regard to 

 feeding them, many of them considering game of no conse- 

 quence. 



Lawrcncecille, — la reference to game matters in this locali- 

 ty, I would say that almost all our quail are destroyed. Some 

 of the farmers have fed the birds. I think we will import 

 birds next spring. Rabbits are cuiite numerous. Hawks do 

 gr. at damage to our quail. 



Pennington .—The whiter has been severe on the email. 

 The destruction has been greater than in other years. Bo not 

 know of any farmer that fed the birds. The quail that the 

 snow did not kill went to the stacks and the hawks destroyed 

 them. One farmer did not let any one kill birds last fall. He 

 says that he has not seen one since the snows. 



Princeton. — The quail of this county have been preserved 

 iu two ways — the one by being cared for by the farmers, the 

 other by being lift unmolested by the hawks. The hawks 

 left us very early in the season, presumably because they 

 could find nothing to eat on account of (he depth of the 

 SHOW. The birds have kept near the farm-houses and been 

 cared for. Few birds were killed after the cold weather com- 

 menced. 



Princeton, — Have seen no game this winter. The quail 

 perished with the snow and cold weather. Heard of one 

 flock of seventeen quail, near Princeton Junction, which 

 were kept over by the man feeding them from his wheat 

 stack. 



Piinceton Junction.— Since the suow has disappeared it 

 has been discovered that hundreds of quail and other birds 

 have perished. Whole flocks have been found huddled to- 

 gether dead. 



lioibin^ile.— There has been about fifty per cent, of the 

 gauifl killed off. Some of the farmers fed the game. 



YardvtUe.—~Lteax the weather has proved destructive to 

 most of the quaiL I should think fifty per cent, have per- 

 ished. Farmers do not feed as a general fling, 



1 itwrille.— The quail mostly perished during the first 

 snowstorm. I think we have about one out of twelve left 

 for breeders. Farmers do not feed them. 



Windsor.— Most of the birds have frozen to death. Birds 

 were fed when we could find them. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



_ A (lair.— My opinion of the snow and cold in this vicinity 

 is that I think it is within bounds to say eight out of every 

 ten quail have perished with cold and hunger. We, the 

 sportsmen, fed all we could find, but the snow was so deep 

 we could not find the birds for several days after it fell We 

 have not experienced as hard a winter for thirty years, and 

 then the snow was not so deep as this. I have one bevy 

 of twenty-three that is fed every day. 



Vlarksburgh. — The last winter has been so severe on ■Tame 

 the percentage of loss must be fully fifty per cent. Fanners 

 have paid no attention to feeding game. 



t'larksburgh-.—The game around here has suffered some 

 but I think there will be enough left to have fair shootino- 

 next fall. Grouse and rabbits are all right, 1 shall turn out 

 1(10 quail in the spring which, with what are left over, will 

 make fair shooting in this township next fall if nothino- hap- 

 pens. ° * 

 (.'nam. Ridge.— More birdsjhavo died this winter from ex- 

 Ircmo eold than for many years. I think four-fifths of the 

 quail left last fall have perished. Some sportsmeu-farmers 

 have fed a few. 



Deal- -The cold and snows last winter have killed about 

 two-tbirds of the quail and rabbits. The winter has done 

 more damage to game than our gunners know of for many 

 years. Four or five farmers fed the quail. 



Deal Beach.— Asfar as I can learn the winter has been very 

 severe on game, especially quail, and lhave heard of no one 

 feeding them to preserve them. One old gunner informs mo 

 he has not seen a quail or a meadow lark this season. 



Ellhdale.— The shows and severe winter have killed pretty 

 generally all the birds, what few that have survived have 

 been fed T do not think that we have om; bird whfr,-- w.- 

 had five or six. 



Fair Haven.— I found four remnants of bevies to-day in a 

 walk of two miles. The flocks averaged seven birds each. 

 This is as good as usual 



Freehold.— Futty ninety per cent, of the game in this sec- 

 tion has been destroyed by the severe winter. Far more per- 

 ished than for many years. In a few cases attempts have 

 been made to feed the quail. The supply of food in the 

 woods and fields has been almost nothing. Many birds have 

 been found starved to death. 



Freehtild. — I Jiave heard from various sources of the great 

 destruction of game by the severity of the weather. A" tax- 

 idermist here has had an unusual amount of work to do lately, 

 because, as he has said, "So many birds have been Starved 

 out." A number of ra-e (for this locality) birds have been 

 shot near farm houses where they came lor food. Over six 

 feet of snow fell here during the winter, and good Blaighjug 

 lasted from Christmas to February 9. This" will show the 

 condition of food supply. 



Hamilton.— I believe that fifty per cent, or one-half of all 

 the game birds have perished. Of quail I believe that nine- 

 ty per cent, have been destroyed. 



Hazlel. — In this section the quail are not entirely destroy- 

 ed, but at least seventy-five per cent. are. 1 think the first 

 heavy fall of snow did the damage, for 1 had located seven 

 coveys before the snows, ranging from four to twenty-one, of 

 which I could find but one covey of fifteen after the snows. 

 Of these I.succeeded in saving twelve by constant feeding and 

 attention. I know of but three other instances of their be- 

 ing fed by farmers. 



Highlands.— Only in one instance, have 1 heard of quail be- 

 ing bred here. They say the birds have died from old. 



Hulmdel. —Have heard of no perished birds. Have heard 

 of a UUHlber of quail flocks harboring about barns or out 

 buildings. Have heard of but few birds being fed by farm- 

 ers. 



Imlaysttoicn.— Two of our sportsmen gave the quail here a 

 good dose of breech-loader's pills iu the fall, and fed the bal- 

 ance all winter. 



Keyjxrt.— There is very little game in this section. Have 

 not heard of any destruction among birds or other game. 

 The country back of this town is very thinly settled, aiid I 

 should think that the few game birds would find all they 

 wanted to eat from the numerous barn yards with which the 

 country abounds. 



Keyport.—From what I can learn the game has not suf- 

 fered as much as I expected it would. Hawks have done 

 much harm. I know of one bevy of twenty-three from which 

 they have taken ten, and another of nine from which several 

 have been taken. SuperintendentWalling, of your city, has 

 sent down 108 Virginia birds to be turned out iu the spring. 

 They are in good order and will help us. If all lovers of the 

 sport would do the same we would have plenty of game. 



Kfi/port.— There are plenty of quail left about Clarksburg 

 and Monmouth Junction, They are not all dead in Raritafl, 

 Holmdel, Middletown and Matteawan townships. Over 30U 

 birds have been put down this spring. We were obliged to 

 turn them down at once as they had begun to die owing to 

 vermin. 



~ Leonardeille. — As far as my knowledge goes there is not 

 one bird left to toll the tale. I have seen nothing but dead 

 ones since the snows fell. 



keonardeille. — The winter has destroyed nearly all the 

 game, there may be five or six quail left. Birds are scarce 

 here, as they are killed otf very close every season by the 

 hunters. The fanners could not feed, as the birds 'wete 

 snowed under. Several have been found dead after the melt- 

 ing of the snow. 



Little Silver. — The game seems to have suffered to some ex- 

 tent. Some quail have been found dead. 



Little Silver.— Game in this section is not very plenty, 

 mostly rabbits and quail. They seem to be alive, none hav- 

 ing been found dead. 



Long Branch.— -The effect of the weather has been disas- 

 trous to the game, and the destruction has been noticeably 

 greater than iu other years. Not less than seventy-five per 

 cent, of the birds have perished. Birds have not been fed 60 

 any extenl. 



M~a>Lii'npa/L.—Qreat many birds have perished this winter 

 from tbe effects of cold and snow r . Some farmers h«ve fed 

 birds, bul not many of them. Cannot tell what pep i Btagi 

 have perished. 



Mateiwan. — We had more quail left when the season was 

 up this year than we had for years before. The heavy 

 snows and severe winter have nearly exterminated them. I 

 should think that ninety per cent, have been destroyed. I 

 know of a number of cases where fanners and gunners have 

 fed and fried to care for them, but in every instance theylHtve 

 either frozen or been killed by hawks. 



