Maboh 81, 1881.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



171 



A Novel Proposition — March 22 — J2dit<rr Fnreat and 

 Stream: I presume that 1 may fairly be called a "■ gentleman 

 sportsman." At, all events, I have many elaborate theories 

 concerning Ores-arms and projectiles. I seldom kill any game 

 and never sell any. Who, then, has a better right to the 

 above flattering I file? Moreover, lam morbidly conscien- 

 tious about the' game law and the recollection that 1 once 

 shot an inadvertent prairie-chicken on the 5th of August is 

 the bitterest memory of my life. But, Mr. Editor, these laws 

 are rapidly putting it out, of tbe power of members of my 

 profession to do any hunting whatever. You would be Bur- 

 prised to learn how many school-teachers, college tutors and 

 professors are in the habit of spending the month of August 

 in the woods and amusing the deer, bear, etc., by " firing at 

 surrounding objects." We are a harmless crowd, but now 

 and then one of us kills something, and it would be pleasant 

 to be able to do so legally. Soon, however, unless all signs 

 fail, August will be everywhere a close month for deer and 

 most other game, and then good-bye to our favorite amuse- 

 ment, for our vacations do not usually extend much beyoud 

 September 1. 



The game laws seem Intended to accomplish two principal 

 objects — 1st, to protect game during the breeding season and 

 while the young need maternal care : 2d, to so limit the time 

 for hunting that our forests and fields shall not be depop- 

 ulated. As to the first of these objects, 1 have nothing to 

 say. But it is well known that the open season for most va- 

 rieties of game is not nearly as long as the time during which 

 it may he hunted to a reasonable extent without injury to 

 the young. Is it not possible, then, to considerably extend 

 the general open season, but limit the time during which in- 

 dividuals may shoot ? Make every man who wants to hunt 

 get a license which shall cover the days or weeks which he 

 wishes to devote to this recreation. Let these licenses be for 

 short periods and do not issue more than one or two to one 

 man. Such a plan is feasible and such a law could be en- 

 forced at least as easily as those at present iu vogue. A small 

 fee for the license would be in order, and it is not impossible 

 that, these fees would pay the salaries of competent detectives 

 and prosecutors. Few laws bear equally upon all, but it 

 seems to me that some such modification as I have suggested 

 would preserve the game and enable many to indulge in much- 

 needed recreation who cannot devote October to such charm- 

 ing pursuits. Pedagogck. 



South Abington Sportsmen's Club — South Abington, 

 Mass., March 26.— The sportsmen of South Abington held a 

 meeting this evening, the object being to unite the South 

 Abington Sportsmen's Club and the East End Glass Ball 

 Club under one organization, the new association to lie 

 known as the South Abington Sportsmen's Club. The meet- 

 ing proved successful ami the following officers were elected 

 to "serve one year : President , W. H. Cook : Vice- Presidents, 

 Thos. Fish and Geo. Harlow ; Secretary, F. W. Bryant, ; 

 Treasurer, t '. F. Cook : Directors, Wm D. Lincoln, Geo. 

 Edson, Sam'l Norton, P. Smith and Warren Edson. 



A Committee on Constitution and By Laws was appointed, 

 consisting of Messrs. Thos. Fish, Geo. Harlow and Seth I 3 . 

 Gurney. 



A club badge, has been ordered and will be contested for in 

 the following manner during the season : The first shoot will 

 take place on Fast Day, the second in July and the third iu 

 i ictober. This badge becomes the properly of the member 

 who shall win it three timeB in succession It is hoped that 

 much good may result from the union of the clubs. 



The game in this section needs looking after badly— not with 

 dog and gun, but by energetic, fearless game constables. By 

 merciless trapping the ruffed grouse is in this vicinity about 

 exterminated. Go where you will, the woods are filled with 

 snares — not of recent make — but made and set years ago, for 

 it would not pay man or boy to waste his time setting snares 

 now. I suppose the ticks had something to do with it also. 



Quail were gettiug quite plenty last fall, but the severe 

 winter has probably proved too much for them. Quite a 

 number of foxes have been killed about here the past winter 

 and fox-hunting is a popular sport. Among the successful 

 hunters may be mentioned Wm. Wilder, Dave Howe and 

 Seth Gurney. The latter gentleman, I think, killed two foxes 

 iu one day. I will corclude by saying that Forebt and 

 Stream is appreciated by sportsmen here, and its articles a>e 

 read with interest ; but I think " Uncle 'Lisha's SpringGnn " 

 rather lays over anything I ever heard before in the gunning 

 line. White Wing. 



Bulging of Choke-Bore Guns. — In your issue of March 

 10, among your answers to correspondents, I find the follow- 

 ing : "The ' bulging' of a choke-bore is not uncommon. It 

 cannot be remedied. Does not hurt the gun, and will not 

 affect the safety of the barrels." Allow me, please, to say 

 that you are mistaken. "Bulging" can be remedied 

 " Bulging" does hurt the gun, as far as accuracy is concerned. 

 Try a well " bulged" gun at the target and you will find how 

 incorrect your statement is. I have been there, and know of 

 what I write. "Bulging" can be remedied. Last August I 

 discovered that both barrels of my 12-gauge gun were badly 

 "bulged," caused by shooting No. 10 wads from No. 12 

 brass shells. I, to >, then supposed that my gun was ruined ; 

 showed the gun to John Brewer. He told me it could be 

 fixed and the barrels never show where Ihe bulge had been : 

 that there was only one gun-maker in the United States thai 

 could make a perfect, job of the gun for me, and that man 

 was Frank Kuhn, at No. 476 North Eighth street, Philadel- 

 phia, Pa I had my doubts about it, but Brewer satisfied 

 mo when he stated that two years before he owned a fine 

 Greener treble-wedge fast gun, No. 10 gauge, which he had 

 badly "bulged" in both barrels by using No. 8 wads in his 

 No. 1.0 brass shells. He took the guu to Mr. Kuhn, who re- 

 bored it and removed all signs of the "bulge" from both 

 barrels. This waB very cheering information, for, like you, 

 I had supposed there was no remedy for the "bulging." I 

 sent my gun to Mr. Kuhn ; he rebored it and removed all 

 sign of the "bulging." The barrels now are as smooth and 

 perfect as the day they were made, and 1 have given it pretty 

 hard usage during the past six mouths. If any one can de- 

 tect the least sign of a bulge on ei her barrel I will make the 

 gun a present to him. How Mr. Kuhn does away with the 

 "bulging" is a secret only known to himself. I hope the 

 information may be of value to my brother sportsmen. 

 Hammonton, N. J,, March 14. L. W. S. 



Game in Nova Sootia. — New Glasgow, N. S., March 17, 

 1881. — The heavy " silver thaw" in January _ has done great, 

 damage among the ruffed grouse, and they will be very scarce 

 next season. The ice remained so long on the trees that the 

 hirds were literally starved to death. Moose and cariboo 

 have been plenty, and good sport has been had. 



At the last meeting of the F. & G. P. Club it was decided 

 to reduce the license fee for non-residents of the Province 



from |50 to $20. It only uow requires the sanction of the 

 Gvernor to become a law", of which I will advise you in clue 

 mo This is a step in 1he right direction. The law whic b 

 imposed $50 as a license fee for mm-residents was a most ab- 

 surd oue. While no true sportsman objects to contribute his 

 share to the fund for the protection of game, it is not, always 

 convenient, if he has a friend whom he invites for a few 

 days' shooting, to be obliged to pay S50 for the privilege; 

 and it has been pretty well proven that it is not the sports- 

 man who goes out for a few weeks' hunting, once or twice a 

 year, that destroys tbe game. If the moose and cariboo were 

 only subject to inroads from such as these they would soon 

 "increase and multiply," a- the amount of legitimate hunt- 

 ing which would be done woidd not to any extent reduce 

 their numbers. 



The prospect for wild fowl shooting is very good this 

 spring. Already the geese and brant are beginning to come, 

 and we look forward to grand sport about the end of this 

 month and the first part of April. Giobe Sksut. 



Pennsylvania— Rush, Pa., March 15. — The Legislature of 

 thisStafehas passed a bill on second reading offering abounty 

 of fifty cents on hawks, and a dollar on foxes and wild eats. 

 I don't know that it has passed on third reading, but it may 

 be confidently expected. Such a bill ought to he hailed by 

 the .farming and sporting community. There were more 

 quail iu Ibis section last year than for the fifteen preceding 

 years. Many were killed hy hunters, and the remainder have, 

 been killed by the severe winter just past. For weeks the 

 ground was deeply covered with snow, and the themometer 

 ranging from freezing point to 30 deg. below zero. Trout, 

 too, must have suffered in the small streams on account of 

 the low water at the opening of the winter and the great 

 thickness of the ice.— J. W. G. 



A Rifle fob Vermin— Hackcnsack, N. J.— In killing foxes, 

 hawks, etc. , I have often wondered that sportsmen, particu- 

 larly anglers, do not use a light rifle more. They would find 

 that they could mive considerable sport if on their excursions 

 they would carry along one of Remington's .22 calibre rifles. 

 The report is very light, and the execution up to 100 yards is 



lost excellent. There is hardly a trip 1 take but I have a 

 shot at either a hawk, cat, coon, or some such animal, aud 

 while having the fun, it also benefits the birds by killing 

 their enemies. Aroimd home these little rifles are more 

 effective than a shot gun, and do not disturb our birds with 

 a heavy report. I have fed a number of quail this winter, 

 and bear cf others having done the same. Still quite a num- 

 ber were found frozen. — W. Holbkrton. 



A Gamr Pkotkotou's Work.— Herkimer Co., March 22. 

 — Editor Forest and Stream: Another depredator was 

 brought up with a short turn by State Game Agent, Dodge 

 last week in this county for killing deer. lie arrested two, 

 Geo. Wendover and Rudolph Wheeler. The juty before 

 which they were tried found a, verdict against, Wendover. but 

 let Wheeler off. However, the trial will have a good effect, 

 for it demonstrates that the game laws are going to be en- 

 forced. Aud all true sportsmen will feel encouraged by the 

 quiet and effective work of State Agent Dodge, and it is to 

 be hoped that in the year to come he may receive more help 

 from parties interested in the protection of fish ami game — 

 Zaoh. 



The Dpor Siiootiko. — Myriads of canvas-backs are now 

 at Havre de Grace, but the northwest winds being so high 

 few boxes could be put out the last two or three shooting 

 days. Brant have arrived in earnest on the New Jersey 

 bays. A new method of netting ducks is now being prac- 

 ticed at Sinnepuxent and Patomac grounds. A gill-net is 

 set under water over the feeding grounds and the ducks, 

 mostly blackheads, are caught by the head iu the meshes in 

 their efforts to dive through. 



Extermination or Vermin in Greenwood Cemetery, 

 N. Y. — The annual report announces that i is noted that, 

 chipmunks made their appearance in the cemetery during 

 the last year for the first time. The injury done by them has 

 been deemed a sufficient cause for their extermination, and 

 2,803 of them were kilted. Ground mice to the number of 

 375, 148 cats, 40 dogs, 133 snakes, 24 moles, aud 54 rats have 

 also been killed. 



Game Notes— Chagrin Falls, O.— Dr. Garliek, of Bed- 

 ford, ()., who writes occasionally for the fish department, in 

 Forest ami Stream, is very feeble, and does not think he 



During the past week there has been quite a number of 

 white swan on the river, between here and Lake Eric Mr. 

 Robert Graham succeeded iu shooting one of them and wing- 

 ing another. There have also been a few geese and ducks 

 on the river. — H. 



Kansas— Lawrence, March 4. — We are having excellent 

 duck shooting just now. The birds are here in great variety 

 and almost countless numbers, among them many canvas- 

 backs. Quail seem to be quite plenty, and I think tbe}' have 

 passed the hard winter in good shape. 



The Bckv Gun.— Several correspondents write us that 

 the gun marked "Geo. Bury" is a cheap make, W. & C. 

 Scott's. They are for sale in Boston by Messrs Win. Read 

 & Son, and arc said to be serviceable arms. 



Michigan. — Bellevue, March 21. — Suow, snow ! Slush, 

 slush ! describes the weather here. Boys have fun with 

 coons. Saw two ducks this week. There arc quite a fine lot, 

 of partridges left over, aud some quail. — C. M. 



New Jersey — Tuckerton. — A fine buck deer was caught 

 not very far from this place during the past winter by a 

 "collier" back in the woods. He "is now on exhibition at 

 the house of Mr. H. E. Mulholland, and is becoming very 

 tame. 



New Jersey — Pine Brook, March 26. — The snipe ground 

 is all covered with water. There are quite a number of ducks 

 flying.-W. J. P. 



Indiana — Worthington, March 27. — A few snipe have 

 come, but tbey are very wild as yet. — S. 



Mississippi— Philadelphia.— We have plenty of deer, tur- 

 keys, ducks and squirrels in the woods up here, now, and a 

 few quail and snipe in the open lands, but our shooting, ex- 

 cept for squirrels, will soon close for the season. 8. P. N. 



Virginia— Norfolk, March 25.— Snipe are beginning to 

 >me on the marshes below here. Time to get ready for 

 them.— J. E. M. 



New Jersey — Glassborougli, March 15. — I have seen some 

 few woodcock already this season.-- -B. 



INFORMATION WANTED. 



W. J. M. wants the pedigree of an Irish setter dog named 

 Buck, brought to Norfolk, Va., by a young man named 

 McFall, who once lived hi Brooklyn, N. Y. 



A correspondent desires to obtain eggs of the sharp- 

 tailed grouse to batch under a bantam hen. Can any of our 

 Iowa, Nebraska or Minnesota readers help him? 



To "C. E. W."— Brainerd, Minn.—" C. E. W.," Troy, 

 N. Y., asks where he can find deer hunting 150 miles from 

 St. Paul with board, etc. Tell him that if he will write to 

 R. H. Morford, Dcerwood, Crow Wing Co., Minn., he will 

 post him and take care of him next fall \ or write to C. D. 0. 

 Williams, Otter Tail, Otter Tail Co., Minn., or go to Perharu, 

 on the Hue of the U. P. R., and radiate in any direction. 

 Sporting centre on line of St. P. M. & M. M. anywhere west 

 of Sauk'Rapids to St. Viucent.— T. P. C. 



fea md §iver ^fishing. 



FISH IN SEASON IN AI'KH,. 



FRESH WATER. 



ret, Beoto tudns. 



SALT WATER. 



■■■■ I ,i i .-:•■::: : :• ,.*.',:;■'..'■:. i IVil'.ivl,-. p,.i i.trl, ,'u : ,-,<, -[J,, iui r i >■'.-,. 



Striped Bass, Roccus lineitlrtx. Tautog or Blactiflsli, TaiMffa 



WlUte I'erctt. Moronc ameriama. \ tmitix. 



FISH AND FISHING IN THE EDISTO, SOUTH 

 CAROLINA. 



Edttw- Forest and, Stream : 



Onr town, Bamberg, is situated on the S. C. R. R., two 

 miles from Edisto River, acomparativclysma.il stream, but 

 one abounding in the most beautiful semi-tropical scenery in 

 early spring that it is possible, to imagine, and I have some- 

 times thought while waiting on some quiet aud secluded 

 island in the swamp to get a shot at some wary old gobbler 

 that nowhere else in this green earth can equal forest beauty 

 be found. 



The gigantic moss-crowned cypresses, the spreading bench 

 trees festooned with the trailing jessamine, aud the deep sea 

 green of tbe glorious magnolia at sunrise of a spring morning 

 make up a scene I think unrivaled and worthy of the pencil 

 of a Salvator Rosa. 



But 1 am to talk about fishing. So come, Mr. Editor, let 

 you and I with Donald the old veteran, get into the buggy 

 and go down to Simm's old river to try the redbreast perch. 

 At sunrise we arrive, and having provided onrselves with a 

 good supply of bait — earth worms or angle worms — we unmoor 

 Donald's boat, push off aud move down the stream two hun- 

 dred yards to the sand bar where the fish have come to 

 spawn. The water is about four or five feet deep, and the 

 bottom swept perfectly clean by the male fish which are the 

 principal ones caught, it being very rare to catch a female 

 while spawning, though afterward they lake the hook very 

 readily. 



With a long line, a long flexible cane or rod, a small hook 

 and plenty of bait here goes your first cast. Donald says, 

 "Wait," and wc wait, as the fish, alarmed by the disturbance 

 in the water, have sought the cover of the bonnets; but pretty 

 soon they come back, and you notice your float or cork mov- 

 ing rapidly away. Wait a moment and then pull, and for a 

 minute or two you have as fine a contest as you could wifh. 

 You land a perch that will weigh say eight, ounces, and as 

 handsome a fellow as ever rejoiced the eye or palate of an 

 epicure. Dork on back, dark gray on sides, sharp dorsal 

 fins, spinous ventral and pectoral and a dark crimson breast, 

 altogether as handsome a fish as one would wish to see. 

 They arc vigorous biters when in the notion, and when they 

 are not you might as well roll up and go home, as no amount 

 oT coaxing will avail anything. I have often taken twenty- 

 five or thirty iu a morning using two rods and lines at the 

 same time. 



Redbreast fishing is, take it altogether, the most exhilarat- 

 ing sport next to partridge shooting that I know of. 



We have also trout (black bass), rockfish (striped haw), 

 besides many other kinds, and shad in early spring when the 

 dogwood is in bloom. 



The rockfish grows to quite a respectable size, twenty- 

 eight to thirty pounds, so also the blue-cat. These heavy 

 fish arc rarely taken with rod and line as, owing to the many 

 obstructions in the river, we cannot use the rod and fly to any 

 advantage. We tie a very stout hook and line (short) to an 

 overhanging limb or bush, aud bait it with a large perch of 

 some kind, and wait sometimes all night, and in nearly evciy 

 instance if the hook holds we capture a large cat or rockfish. 



You will say perhaps that this is not very sportsmanlike, 

 and it isn't, yet so we catch 'em. 



Another not much known method of taking fish is with a 

 basket trap. 



This trap is an oblong basket, eight feet long, made of 

 white oak splits. One end is closed up, and the other is 

 partly so, by the incurved horizontal splits of the framework, 

 so arranged as to permit the fish to enter the basket through 

 a narrow opening, but prevents their escape. This trap is 

 baited with Indian corn ears, and sunk in some deep quiet 

 cove and left for a week, aud generally the owner finds it full 

 of cats when he returns. 



Our best fishing for trout is in the fall season, in October 

 and November, and during these months, if the river is not 

 too high, our host baskets are made The bait mostly used 

 is what we call roaches, also " horneyheads " and "silvers." 

 Having procured a sufficient number of these and having a 

 rod of say twelve feet long and a line of eight or nine feet, 



•From our correspondent's description ..this " rerlbreasterl perch " 

 is vnientlyono of the many fishes which are variously knewn as 



ma Isnes," "pond Ashes," etc it Is probable that it may be Jor- 

 dan's " bloody sun-flan, Xerwtia aanguinolentua," 



