330 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 26, 1881. 



My house fronts the wes f . One room in the second story 

 was unoccupied, and as at that time there were no ladies in 

 the house, it was not often entered. A pane of glass was 

 out in one of the windows, and it was not pet in because 

 hawks often lit in the locust trees in the lawn. If a door 

 was opened they took the alarm and flew off j so we shot 

 them through the broken pane. One day, when the room 

 had been long unentered, I went in for some purpose, and 

 on the mantel I found sitting a dead bird. It had perfectly 

 dried tip sitting on its feet, and was, to my astonishment, a 

 " Stormy Petrel." I can only suppose that in trying to 

 cross from the bay (Chesapeake) to the seaside it accidentally 

 in the storm flew into the room through the broken pane, lit 

 on the mantel, died there of starvation, and in its attenuated 

 condition dried up. — C. R. M. 



Adirondack Visitohs who intend to enter the woods by 

 way of Ausablc Porks will learn with satisfaction from our 

 advertising columns that a new stage line will be started July 

 1, 1o run from that poiut to the Saranac Lakes, What has 

 long been wanted by sportsmen going over this route is some 

 one on the stages, who, during tiie long day it takes to reach 

 the lakes, could inform them regarding 'localities, guides, 

 equipments, etc. Now Chas. J, Greenough proposes To con- 

 duct a first-class mail line of Concord coaches, especially 

 for sportsman going into the woods. He has been known 

 for years as one of the most popular guides of that country ; 

 he knows every square foot of ground in the North Wood?, 

 and has, moreover, the. faculty of making friends, hosts of 

 whom, among them Mrs. R. B. Hayes anil Mr. Wheeler, will 

 be glad to hear of his fortunate prospects. We recommend 

 our friends to go by way of the Greenough line of stages ; 

 they will find comforts not to be had on other lines, and from 

 the proprietor they will receive square and fair treatment. 



Small Calibre for Game.— Westerly, R. I.— In reply to 

 the query of T. ,T. S. in your issue of May 12, 1 will say I use 

 a 32 Ballard rifle, 28 in. barrel, 8 lbs. weight. I consider 

 weight and length of barrel matter of taste only, not having 

 any effect on the shooting after a person gets used to the arm. 



With the best of ammunition, (and no other should be used 

 under any circumstances) no reasonable person can find any 

 fault with the accuracy and penetration of this rifle at 100 

 yds. For the first 50 yds. the trajectory of balls of this cali- 

 bre does not vary perceptibly from that of the large calibres, 

 but above that distance the curve is more noticeable. 1 would 

 like notthing better than to give T. J. S, ocular demonstra- 

 tion of i he powers of this little weapon, which looks so harm- 

 less to the unfamiliar eye. I am sure he would buy one. 

 For several reasons they are the best of any for squirel 

 shooting ; the cost of shooting is next to nothing, the report 

 will not scare your game if you do uot kill it j you can prac- 

 tice indoors, and when hunting you will not need to use quite 

 asmuch care in shooting toward inhabited territory. — N. K. M . 



Hawks and Owls— Northumberland, Perm., May 13.— 

 Many reports have been given me of the quail that have win- 

 tered over here. No doubt the large amount of corn that 

 was left in the fields last fall rescued their lives, and they are 

 heard now in the evenings as plenty as before. Last fall was 

 the best quail season we have had for several yors, and no 

 doubt a great part of it is due to our club paying fil'r.v dollars 

 bounty on hawks last summer. I advise all clubs to look 

 after the hawks, and the birds will increase more than antici- 

 pated.— J. H. E. 



Canton-, jV. F,, .1%/ !). —George Muir, of this county, re- 

 cently treed with a dog and shot a large panther a few miles 

 from the head of Cranbeiry Lake : also got a wolf in a trap 

 in the Big Inlet Swamp", George is a guide, but is some- 

 what out of health this season. — X. 



California— San Francisco, May 16.— I was shootinc last 

 night at Niles, Cal., and had the success to kill tj (six) Jack 

 snipe ; they are coining in large flocks, and the prospects for 

 the season are very good. — C.'K. C. 



South Carolina.— Rock Hill, May 12.— The cold Winter 

 did not kill out the partridges in this section, we have enough 

 left for next season, even if these are never hatched this 

 year.— F. H. L. 



Migeatobt Quail.— Some of the migratory quail released 

 in Monroe County, this State, last season, are said to have 

 returned. 



—Deer at any price— venison.— Lowell Courier. On the 

 contrary, it is generally sheep. — Boston Post. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



A Nameless Nobleman is the initial volume of the Homid Robin 

 series of anonymoiiH novels, publishing by James B. Osgood & Co., 

 of Boston, which is to contain works of American authors. The 

 plot of the book shows some originality, but the story cannot be 

 said to be particularly well told. The scene is laid partly in Franco 

 and partly in America, and the story is Baid to be founded on the 

 traditions of an old Massachusetts family. The second volume, of 

 the Bound Robin series, A Lesson in Love, is now in press. 

 Price, §1 p er volume. 



ODE TO A HORSESHOE. 



rpHOU relic of departed horse! 

 1 Thou harbinger of luck to man ! 



When thins:-' seem v rowing worse and worse, 

 lime good in rrei t'nee la i lie van : 



A hundred thousand miles, I ween, 

 You've traveled mi tin? living heel— 



!",■ e.,.:i:l IV .,..., I ■-■,,■■■,,, 



O'er pavements, with the rattling wheel. 



Your toe-calk, In that elder day. 



Was sharper than a serpent's tooth; 

 'im i 



The blacksmith should renew Its youth 



Blight IS the side was next the ground, 

 And dart thestde was next the hoof; 



■".Lis thus true met id's only round 

 Where hard knocks put It to the proof. 



For aught I know you may have done 



Your mile In two nineteen or twenty; 

 Or, on a clrav-l'ioi se, never run, 



But walked and wanned and yelled a plenty. 



At last your journeys all are o'er, 



Whether oi labor or of pleasure. 

 And there you nana above my door, 



To bring me health ane suvnan and [ensure, 



— Fr&m the June St Mchotast. 



No one can be sick if the stomach, blood, liver and kid ( 



Hop Bttttsra keeps thorn won, 



&* xnd Erivev Mi, 



(Two 



JtMSH IN SEASON 11V MAV. 



FREBH WATKR. 



Itrnok Trout, ialmo /ontinalis. I While nana, ft«'ra« enn/tops, 

 riekei'cl, AVer ruhculatut. Book Bass, Amblvpl-iteo. 



t'lke or Pickerel, /;.w tucivn. I species). 



Pike-perch (wall-eyed pike) I \\M--mwtt\,ch,r-ni,br!jttwnjulomui. 



■Hiii.lr.tliiam americanum, a. \ Grapple, iv«i,uj;, /li.jnmiaiiulatus. 



itjasaam, etc. j Raelielor, ft'tr/oxy:; annularis. 



yellow Perch, _P.vr.-a flumntiliii. G'lmb, v'.e.a.d.is iurporalis. 



Slripod Pass. Jloccue hj,.eit!v.s. \ 



SALT WATER. 

 Sea Bass, Centropriftit atrariits. I Pollock, Poliarttiux carbonaHus. 

 Striped Bass, Roccus UneatUa. Tautog or iilackfish, Tautom 



Wlute Perch. Jferc-j.eaii.a.-i'.Mjio. | i.nitis. 



Soup or 1>. -rail-. .■■•■;„ vera us arm,;-.. as. 



Fisniso About New Tokk.— Wo are prepared to direct anglers 

 to fishing resorts easily accessible from this city. This informa- 

 tion will be given upon personal application to this office or to 

 those who may inclose self-addressed envelope. The kind of fish- 

 ing, the distance and the time to be spent should be stated. 



'Die angler, t think, dreams of his favorite sport, ottener than other 

 men of theirs. T here Is a peculiar excitement Hi It, which perhaps 

 arises from somewhat of the same causes which make the Intorest In 

 si-arching I'oi ancient treasures, opening Egyptian tombs, and digging 

 into old ruins, one does not know what Is under the surface. There 

 may be something or there may be noihlng. He tries, and the rush 

 oi Minna mug startles every nerve. Let no man laugh atf\ compari- 

 son oi trout fishing with antiquarian researches, r know a man who 

 has done a great deal oi bom, and who scarcely knows which !s the 

 most absqrblhg or most remunerating, lor each enriches mind and 

 body, cacti gratifies the mo-r refined tastes, each becomes a passion 

 unless the pursuer guard hla enthusiasm and moderate his desires. 

 It is nothing sirange that men who throw their files for trout should 

 dream uf it.— w. C. Piuue. 



SOME FISHING CLUB BULKS. 



Til I famous actor, Richard Brinsley Sheridau, once drew 

 a set of by-laws for the rules and regulations of a 

 fishing club. These, in the handwriting of Mr. Sheridan, 

 are now in the possession of the Walton and Cotton Fishing 

 Club, London, having been presented to it, by W. Dunn' 

 Esq., treasurer of the Drury-laue Theatre, who was also a 

 member of the club. We give them for the humor contained, 

 much of which is local and applies to persons long since 

 dead, believing that there is enough to interest the 

 angler of to-day, if he have humor, and if ho have none, let 

 him imitate the lively flea and skip it, for a man with no sense 

 of humor is a poor companion at any time. 



His "Rules and Regulations" were : That each male mem- 

 ber of the party shall forthwith subscribe the sum of five 

 pounds five shillings toward the general expenses, and that 

 such, subscriber do really pay the same into the hands of the 

 treasurer. 



Henry Scott, Esq., Captain of the Light Infantry of the 

 South Hants, to tie collector of the said subscriptions in ihe 

 town department, the said captain having given a great proof 

 of ability for that office, inasmuch as he has already collected 

 five guineas from Gigas, alias Matthew he.a, Esq., and the 

 society have, the strongest hopes ihat he will give an equally 

 unexpected proof of his integrity by paying over Ihe said 

 sum into the bauds of the treasurer. 



A journal is to be kept of the occurrences of each day. 

 which, among other interesting matters, is to contain an a'c- 

 conut of the number of fish caught, their respective weights, 

 by whom caught, etc., etc. 



The said journal is, at a proper lime, to be printed and pub- 

 lished ; and although the party are confident that the said 

 journal will also be a record of wit, humor, pleasantry, and 

 possibly even of deep observation, from the acknowledged 

 and various talents of the said party, yet, disdaining all per- 

 sonal advantage, it is resolved, in "humble imitation of the 

 example set by the Rev. W. L. Bowles, that in case any 

 copies of the said fresh- water log-book should be sold, the 

 profits shall be solely applied to the benefit of the widows 

 and orphans of deceased fishermen. 



No drawing, painting, sketch or model of any trout shall 

 be taken at the general expense, unless such fish shall have 

 exceeded the weight of five pounds, and shall have been 

 ■bona fille caught by one of the party, and not privately 

 bought at Stockbridge. 



Any* member describing the strength, size, weight of any 

 immense fish which he had skillfully hooked, dexterously 

 played with and successfully brought to the bank, when by 

 the clumsiness of the man with landing-net — only conceive 

 how provoking — the said fish got off, shall forfeit half-a- 

 guinea — and so, loties guoCmn, for every such narrative. To 

 prevent unnecessary trouble, the said forfeits are to be col- 

 lected by the Rev. I O- . 



There shall be but one hot meal in the course of the day, 

 and that shall be a supper at nine o'clock ; cold meat and 

 other refreshment in the tents, or at the water side, at two 

 o'clock. 



A committee is to be appointed to provide these repasts, 

 and shall be called and entitled the Catering Committee, and 

 their decision as to snack and supper shall be final. 



Any member willing to send in any stores for the general 

 benefit, at his own expense, shall be permitted so to do, and 

 is entitled to be laughed at accordingly. 



All fish, by whomsoever caught, are to be considered as 

 general property ; and if there are sufficient to send any as 

 presents, the choice of the fish shall be determined by lot, 

 always excepting such as shall be sent to the drawing-room, 

 which are to be a tribute from the firm. 



Any gentleman, falsely, shabbily and treacherously con- 

 cealing the number of fish he had caught, and slily sending 

 off any of the same as a present to ladies or others, shall 

 forfeit, on detection, one guinea for each fish so purloined 

 from the common stockT and be publicly reprimanded at 

 supper for the same. Mrs. Sheridan is not to draw up the 

 form of this reprimand. 



Any person restless and fidgety, presuming to insinuate 

 that sea--fishing is preferable to the tame and tranquil occupa- 

 tion of this party, and detected in endeavoring to inveigie 

 elsewhere any of the liege and dutiful subjects of Izaak 

 Walton, shall^ on conviction, be sentenced to fourteen min- 

 utes abstinence from ale, beer, porter, wine, brandy, rum, 

 gin, Uollands, grog, shrubl), pun,ch, toddy, awiperuA caulkers, 



pipe, cigars,quid, shag, pigtail, shortcut, variuas, canaster, pick- 

 ater, and if such culprit shal I appeal against the severity. of the 

 above sentence as a punishment disproportioned to theuimpst 

 excess of human delinquency, he shall be entitled to have a 

 hearing, and Nat Ogle assigned to him as counsel. 



The Rev. Is not to chew the tobacco called pigtail 



after sunset, as he will then join the societ3r of the ladies j 

 nor for the same ri asou is Jos. Richardson, Esq., M.P., and 

 author of the " Fugitives," to flick his. snuff about during 

 supper, even though he should have, been competing wi h. Nat 

 Ogle. 



H any of the party, deserting the rotl shall assume the gun, 

 it is recommended to them— as white-wafes are not likely to he 

 seen and black-whalers are unworthy their pursuit — to direct 

 all their attention to green whalers, alias plovers, which will 

 afford not merely good sport to the shooter but considerable 

 aid to the laider. 



A copy of these rules and regulations, fairly and legibly 

 transcribed, is to be posted over the chimney of the eating- 

 room of the society's house at Lickford, provided the pane! 

 on any side of the said room is of size to contain such paper. 

 If not, authentic copies thereof shall be delivered to each 

 member. 



HUMAN AGENCIES AS AFFECTING THE FISH 

 SUPPLY.* 



TT may safely be said that, wherever the white man plants 

 I his foot and the so-called civilization of a country is be- 

 gun the inhabitants of the air, the land and the water begin 

 to disappear. The bird seeks a new abiding place under the 

 changed conditions of the old, but the return of the season 

 brings him again within the dangerous influence, until taught 

 by several years of experience' that his only safety is in a 

 new home. The quadruped is less fortunate in this respect, 

 environed as he is by more or less impassable restrictions, 

 such as lofty mountains, deep rivers and lakes and abrupt 

 precipices, and sooner or later reaches the point of compara- 

 tive extinction, or reduction to such limited numbers as not 

 to invoke any continuance of special attack. 



The fish, overwhelmingly numerous at first, begin to feel 

 the fatal influence in even less time than the classes already 

 mentioned, especially such species as belong to the fresh 

 waters and have a comparatively limited range. 



The cause of this rapid deterioration is not to be found in 

 a natural and reasonable destruction for purposes of food, of 

 material for clothing or other needs. The savage tribes, al- 

 though more dependent for support upon the animals of the 

 field and forest than the white man, will continue for centu- 

 ries in their neighborhood without seriously diminishing their 

 numbers. It is only as the result of wanton destruction for 

 purposes of sport or for the acquisition of some limited por- 

 tion only of the animal that a notable reduction is produced 

 and the ultimate tendency to extinction initiated. 



Of the abundance of animal life in North America,- in the 

 primitivedays of its occupation by the European immigrant, we 

 have an ample history in the accounts of the earlier travelers. 

 Buffaloes in enormous hordes reached almost to the Atlantic 

 coast, wherever extensive plains existed. The antelopes 

 rivaled in numbers those of Central and South Africa. The 

 deer of various species were distributed over the entire con- 

 tinent from the Arctic regions southward, and from the At- 

 lantic to the Pacific. The moose existed far south of its pres- 

 ent limit. The ela was a familiar inhabitant of Pennsylvania 

 and Virginia. Wild fowls, such as ducks, geese, swans, 

 etc., of many species, were found during the « inter in count- 

 less myriads in the Chesapeake and other Southern bays and 

 sounds. 



Now what remains of this multitude? The buffalo has 

 long since disappeared from the vicinity of tie Mississippi 

 River, the deer is nearly exterminated in many IronliiicH, 

 though still holding its own under favorable, chcu 

 and the antelope is restricted to limited areas. The wild 

 fowl, congregated at one time in bodies miles in extent, rd 

 now scarcely to be seen, although still proportionably inure 

 abundant in the winter season on the coast of California and 

 toward the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas than anywhere 

 else. 



Perhaps a still more striking illustration is seen in ihe 

 fishes. ' It is still within the recollection of many old people 

 (showing how plentiful the fish must have been) that the ap- 

 prentice and pauper, in the vicinity of the Connecticut Liver, 

 protested against eating salmon more than twice a week. 

 This noble fish abounded in all the waters of New England as 

 farwes:as the Connecticut, and even to the Housatonic, 

 though we have no evidence that they ever occurred in the 

 Hudson River or farther to the south. The shad was fouud 

 in every stream of the coast from Georgia to the Gulf of St, 

 Lawrence, and, although still ascending most of these waters 

 during the spring, has been sadly reduced in abundance. 

 Within even fifty years no waters of the same extent in the 

 world could show such numbers of shad and herring as the 

 Potomac River below the Great. Falls. Martin's Gazetteer of 

 Virginia, published, in 1834, at Alexandria, states that the 

 preceding year twenty-five and a half millions of shad were 

 taken bythevariouBPotomaensherics, as well as seven hundred 

 and fifty millions of fresh water herring. This, by a modi rate 

 estimate, would amount to six hundred million pounds of 

 fish secured in six weeks in this single system of waters. 

 This Gazetteer also Btstes that during the same year nearly one 

 million barrels of fish were packed on the Potomac, requiring 

 as many bushels of salt. These were consumed in the United 

 States or shipped to the West Indies and elsewhere. What 

 is the condition of things at the present time? In 1866 the 

 catch of shad on the. Potomac had dwindled to 1,326,000, in 

 1878 to 234,000, the latter uot 1 Der cent, of the yield of 

 1833. The catch of herring in 1833, estimated, as stated at 

 750,000,000, had been reduced in 1866 to 21,000,000, in 1876 

 to 13,000,000, and in 1878 to 5,000.000 ; again less than 1 per 

 cent, of the yield of the first mentioned period, 



A similar reduction has taken place in the abundance of 

 the striped bass or rockflsh, a species inferior to none in its 

 excellence and economical value for food. John Joselyn, 

 gent., in 1660 says that three thousand bass were taken at one 

 haul of the net in New England. Thomas Morton, in 1632, 

 says of the Merrimac, that he has seen stopped in the river 

 at one time as many fish as would load a ship of a 

 hundred tons, and that at the going^ out of the tide the river 

 was sometimes so ftdl of them that it seemed as if one might 

 so over on their backs dryshod. 



~ Mr. Higginson, in 1630, says that the nets usually took 

 more bass than they were able to land. Even so recently as 

 1846. one hundred and forty-eight tons are said to have been 

 taken on Martha's Vineyard at two hauls of the seine. PeT 



'From Report o£ Tj , fy Fish commissioner Bairtl jor 1S76^ 



