June 2, 1881.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



349 



SOME HINTS ABOUT GUNS. 



}jlBOM Mr. W. W. Offm-r'< vary comprehensive book, 

 J "The tfuo and Its Development," of which we have 

 receive:] advanced Sheets ihrough the courtesy of Mr. Henry 

 C. Squires, of this city, ton condense the; following useful 

 hints. W&bavc alMadyspokeo of I he great, practical value 

 of Mr. Ureeeei's woik. It ia a book which should be in 

 every- sportsman's lil.rsoy, 



. rjsvibrrtSG JtozaMi-LOtorEiis iflro breecu-loadbbb. 



Botneguna fill admit bl this conversion; others will not. 



The ban els beat-adapted for this conversion should be very 



Strong Mt the breei b. go as to allow for boring the chambers 



to admit lb i -, n-o, and yet be strong enough to resist 



! trge proi - they are subjected to in England. 



There are but tew muzzle-loaders strong enough for convert- 

 ing. If llie work is properly done, the altered gun will shoot 

 as well, and in some cases better than before. 



CONVERTING TW TO (IBHTRAL FJHR. 



This must be done bjr a thoroughly practical gimmaker, for 

 if the holes to receive (he extractor lege ate bored out. of 

 position, the breech-ends are materially weakened and the 

 guns made exceedingly dangerous. 



CLEANING GUNS. 



Unless a gun can b ' properly cleaned after a day's shooting, 

 it had better be le't until the proper time can be" given to it. 

 The best plan is to wipe out. with petroleum or turpentine, 

 and then wipe dry, fifterward oiling the barrels. Before put- 

 ting away at. the end of the season, or after shooting near 

 Bilt Water, the barrels should be well-cleaned inside and out 

 with boiling water, wiped dry and oiled. Before being put 

 away for a Icueth of IV 

 each (til by greased w, 

 covered sticks Bold foi I 

 is good if pure, such as 

 ends of the barrels shou 

 other cutiiug or brifihtei 

 barrels and the working 

 (died occasionally. Eoi 

 rod, plenty of rug or Law 

 necessary. If rust appc 

 t}eitrg,taken not tc eofali 



The best lubricant. I 

 Greenn 



the barrels should be stopped at 

 nuzzle stoppers, or the baize-. 

 rposo. For oil, any animal oil 

 •d neatsfoot oil. The breech* 

 rer be touched with emery, or 

 composition. The lugs of iho 

 of the. breech action should be 

 ug out the barrels, a cleauing- 

 a bristle brush are all that is 

 wire b'ush may be used, care 



n-locks and gun-actions, Mr, 

 aixlme, one-half best neatsfoot 

 oil, and one half pure paraffin, well mixed ; the oil prevents 

 the paraffin fr >m evaporatb -g, while the paraffin keeps the oil 

 in a liquid state. 



THE COST OF OoOD GUN?. 



A. first -class gun, Bays M r. Orcener, is expensive because 

 the l)est material anil the Best workmanship are employed. 

 In every stage, of the manufacture, from the tirst selection of 

 the iron and stee through all Ihe successive processes of 

 welding, boring grinding and tiling the barrels, and Ihe 

 preparation and fitting ol the different parls, there may be a 

 vast difference in the quality of the work. In the Simple 

 matter of filing the gun-luck, for instance, there are as many 

 as ten difterem classes of workmen who do this one particular 

 work at prices varyiug arcording to their abilities. The en- 

 graving is a branch of the trade which is thought to add 

 great |j to the oosl of the gun, but it is inconsiderable! in com- 

 parison with other branches. It is possible to completely 

 smother a. gun with cheap, common engraving for a few 

 shillings. Tue chief item iu the cost of good guns is the 

 regulating of the shooting, and alterations of the choking and 



boring. In 



lily large numbers 



me & 'pied in s 

 Most Of lie test g 



&sd when finished 

 important point it 

 taken by the make 

 actilal woik But this, 

 cheap gun makers take 



til. 



Of fin 



ilges 

 ud 



the 



deal of 



egul 

 makers lest the arm hoth in the rough 

 safety, this is certainly the most 

 gun,' and liie greatest care' Ehould be 

 to insure, good results when the gun iB in 

 ir'n, is a point about which the 

 trouble. 

 onoKK BolSES. 

 The term " choke bores " means simply " barrels whereof 

 the diameter of the bote at Ihe muzzle is less than the bore at 

 some point behind the muzzle, other than the chamber," 

 while .any barrel consiiicied at the muzzle to the extent of 

 .5,000lhs of an ir oil, may be tinned a modified choke. A 

 full choke is constricted io the extent of ,30 to 40,000lhs of 

 an inch ; but the larger I he bore, the greater must be the 

 muzzle. ! lie constriction of the bore, must be from one-half 

 inch to one inch from the exireniily of the barrel j this con- 

 striction if placet) three inches or nnue from the muzzle, fails 

 to throw the shot close together, but will give better pene- 

 tration than a cylinder bore. 



HOUNDING VS. STILL-HUNTING. 



"ITTEcmtiiaie the publication this week of the numerous 

 V V replies received in response to our request for experi- 

 ence and observation on the subject of deer-hunting. There 

 is no necessity of calling attention to the value of the data we 

 are collecting and setting forth here. The views are those of 

 experienced, well-informed observers The particular points 

 of the inquiry are as follows : 



1st. What is Die character t>f the country referred to? 



2d. What is the prevailing method of hunting deer? 



3d. Describe hounding deer, as practiced in the section referred 

 to, and its effects. Dues it diive deer out of the country ? 



4th. Describe in like manner still hunting and its effects. 



5th. What class of men kilt the most deer?— market hunters or 

 parties of sportsmen V- -residents or non-residents ? 



6th. Would resident sportsmen approve of a law prohibiting 

 hounding deer Y Would 1 lie residents assbt in enforcing it ? 



7th Would they approve of a law permitting hounding, but pro- 

 hibiting the killing oi capturing 01 the deer after it has been run 

 into the ii ater ? V\ on Id such a lav be practicable ? 



8th. What is the open season for deer? 



9th. What are the ..inter habits of deer, so far as you have per- 

 sonally observed them. 



FLOATING IN T1IK Al-U IIONDACKS. 



The slaughter of deer in the Adirondack region has already 

 begun. This week. a. party of six or seven hunters, with 

 guns, jacks etc have ion." :::; I ■■ ihe 3t. Eagle and vicinity 

 for a two weeks' hvml for ,b r Ov floating. And others arc 

 preparing to go soon. And between now and July 1 there 

 will, I have not the bast doubt, be more deer killed than in 

 all the remainder of the season besides. That has hem. the 

 case in the sevei.il years past, and 1 see no reason why it will 

 not be the case this year. We have no game protector in the. 

 county, nor nearer than in Hamilton 'county, who for pro- 

 tecting this county might just as well be in New York city, 

 for unless he trumps through the wilderness (if ty or sixty 



miles, he could not reach here without going around a dis- 

 tance about as far as it would be from that i 



I never could understand whv these three-northern counties, 

 Clinton, Franklin and Si. Lawrence, which contain a large- 

 portion of the Adirondack region and many of the bes: bunt- 

 ing and fishing localities within the HI ale. were without a 

 game protector, while in the centre of the Bi ate they have 

 appointed them in counties where there is but little game and 

 little market for its sale. It looks to me as if the pla/ i i 

 counties to appoint tbem would be where game is plenty and 

 where it is sold. These persons who bunt deer in May and 

 June hunt only for the sport, as they call It, Of shooting the 

 deer, and killing all they can in. numbers to boast of after- 

 ward. If the venison was brought to their doors to sell they 

 would not pay a cent a pound for it. They know the deer 

 are tame in the. spring, and easily approached at night with 

 alight, and therefore go early to* kill all they can. These 

 first hunters are residents of the, county mostly, but. during 

 June many come from abroad ami night-lrtrat. There will 

 hardly be a night when there is no moon bet, ween now and 

 July 1 but what lights can be seen on the Hi-mile level, 9- 

 mile below and level on East Branch and many of the ponds 

 south and south-east from here, and also as far east ns Clinton 

 county. This is what is killing off the rleer, not bounding, 

 as some hotel keepers and pot-hunters would like to make out. 

 If a correct count of all the deer killed during the year by 

 hounding and floating could be had. I would Bti - sJU 

 got that two are killed by floating to one by hounding, in 

 these three northern counties at least. AnsiON Ontmok. 



If&tf the Adirondacks, Ala:/ 88; 



THE TIBAVKri litVKK COT'XTKV. 



1. Undulating forest lands interspersed with streams, 

 lakes, beaver meadows and burned timbered lands. 



2d. May, June and July, out of season, prevailing cus- 

 tom, jack light hunting. 'August, September, October, No- 

 vember and December, iu season, prevailing custom, hunt- 

 ing with hounds. 



t!d. Parties are placed to watch "runways" where the 

 deer are. most apt to take to the water. A guide or woods- 

 man knowing the country then takes one or more hounds to 

 a section known to contain deer that are most apt to run iu 

 the direction of the stream or body of waler his party are to 

 watch; sometimes several miles away. Late iu the fall or 

 early in winter they start the hounds not far froth, the water, 

 as at that time, deer are. fat and "■ take to wafer" sooner than 

 during hot weather. Hounding temporarily drives deer 

 away from sections where practiced, and if persisted in ef- 

 fectually cleaTS them out. 



Still-bunting is the most aci 

 deer. .11 is generally pursued 

 snow, which enables" the hunt 

 move quietly through the woods 

 rations and fatigue, many d 



All 



ifie method of hunting 

 ring the. first, light fall of 

 to track the deer and to 

 attended with ureal pri- 

 appointments and constant 



i the 



,11 tmtgaurant.ee a dee 

 hunter between break of day and evening twilight. Still- 

 hunters are SO few (I do not in any Way refer to crosiers) in 

 number that deer do not decrease " in numbers very material- 

 ly through their aget icy. 



tit.h. Out of season, spring and summer non-resideuts of 

 Adirondacks. In season, ihe nrs; part, non-residents or 

 sportsmen. When cold wep.db.er sets in, market hunters. 

 And again out of season in winter— enisling. Contiguous 

 non-residents kill more than all the rest combined. 



6th. Residents of the Adirondacks would assist in enforc- 

 ing laws that seemed to them more for protection of fleer, 

 and not so much for the benefit or pleasure ol outsiders, who 

 only go to them for pleasure. And 1 think they would ap- 

 prove of a law allowing only a few weeks of bounding, com- 

 mencing Sept. 1. 



7th. First, I do not think so. Second, I do not think it 

 would. • 



8lh. The fawns are dropped in May, and generally are 

 able to care for themselves after July 15th, Open season 

 would therefore naturally begin then and last till about Jan- 

 uary, or deep snow time. 



I agree with one of your eorrespoi dents i hat. ' the present 

 law, with a little alteration in the time for bounding I com* 

 mence. and duration thereof, would be good enough en 

 allowing floating, if it coiild be en li e ,■•■- ;:i<; point I 

 should like to have settled, blow is the law ; be enforced 't 

 His testimony iu regard to numbera of dear killed graphic- 

 ally states the customs of hunting in the ArMrondaoJlB— 10 

 lulled out of season and 13 during legal open season, to 

 which he adds 4 killed since he left." Take Die 19 killed du 



killed ; 



of July tl 



difficulty 



iug 46 days, 17 of them w 

 when deer should not be 

 fooled in June. The last 

 are approached with great ei 

 for only two deer killed, 17 

 in July. I should not Wonder if the re 

 being "recorded" as killed during that, iu 

 a little more "music" day times than the ( 

 iug in August would do no harm where 

 He starts August off with 4 killed lienor 

 B but 15 days in August during which 



lb lays 



at a time, 

 ire easily 



una, 2 in ill days 

 son lop only two 

 nth was owing to 

 ser liked. Float- 

 on. ads are nssd. 

 hounds. There 

 hounds could be 

 ; well for August, 

 three 



■cry day by the diff.u 



legally used for driving deer. Th 



September should have been 



times better even than Sept., 



in 15 days floating, for the i 



and will take to water qu 



were pursued in hot weathet 



ties and betook themselves to parts 



dogs. They found "the 16-mile level 



of hounds generally knows where to 



will notgo there. A starlet' might 



by starting hounds ia hoi weather 



parly, and let them hear tie "mush?" I a b 



them to convince themselves of the trw 



ing the deer so started. They think he did his 



deer would run away oil to some othei : 



sol I have known a conscientious starter to 



hounds seven or eight miles away, then walk 



only to bear, "wu waited till two o'clock a id h 



so gave up the watch, .lust after we came ft 



swam across ihe river," etc. Ol' if any number 



got tired and went to sleep, the atartei is bs 



first thing I knew a deer jumped in. the wat 



deep enough for him to swim in. I could 



before he disappeared on the other sb:.-. 



kind will get very few shots, ami every night tin 



home with tails down, and a starter know* thei 



over exerting himself. 



While here, on my annual spring fishing trip, I have 

 the Fokbst and Stkkam regularly sent iu to me. I 



Tie killed 



run far, 



Ihe deer 



par- 



iknown to starters of 



too hot. The starter 



4-0, but sometimes he 



adily ftt.il greenhorns 



.viib n hearing of I is 



i) a irhile, and allow 



for- net kilt 



i did his port, hut the 



read B. A. M.'s letter on the "Hounding as. Still- 

 11 mi ting" discussion in your number of May l!)th with much 

 pleasure, as 1 can from quite a number of years' experience 

 verily hi* conclusions. But on one point that he does not 

 touch, I think special mention must be made, and that is the 

 proportion of deer wounded and not secured by the hunters 

 by jack or still bunting is far greater than by any other way 

 of hunting. My guide, "Honest John" Pioudey of Mur- 

 ray's Rock ('whose, statement is that of all guides who honestly 

 tell what they know of the matter), is that on the average not 

 over one out of five shot at, is ever got by the night hunter, 

 lie says that he has paddled a sportsman up to as many as 

 twenty-four deer in one month and only one deer was se- 

 cured, though most of the rest had probably been wouuded 

 by a few buckshot and had died in the woods. He says that 

 on some carry or lonely inlet he hus often came upon the 

 carcass of a deer that had thus been wounded by some mid- 

 night fusilade, and had died where skin and venison could 

 benefit no one. 



For five years past I have made one of a party to come in 

 on an October hunt with hounds, and during that fire yearn 

 not one deer that was shot at and wounded got away from us, 

 We have always had excellent success (an average of one 

 deer each for a week's hunting, but find we must go farther 

 backaavery year, as the pot or still hunters, who spend the 

 summer hunting for the hotels, are fast clearing all the easily 

 accessible places. I have considerable hopes that the State 

 Game Constables will stop at least part of this early killing 

 this season, as they appear to be more active than usual 

 this spring ; and I hope that the fear of the 

 $75 fine may save the life of not only many a doe 

 and her fawn that are sure to die if she is killed, but of many 

 a noble buck that would cheer the heart of the real hunter, 

 as on some crisp October day he stands on some river run- 

 way listening to the bounds on the, mountain side ready for 

 the iptick shot, with his Winchester rifle us the lordliest of all 

 our game gives a few bounds in sight. 



I think that if my brother sportsmen would follow my 

 plan, viz.: a two-weeks' or more fishing trip in the last two 

 weeks of May before black flies bother much, and fishing is 

 the best ; then take the same time in October for hunting, 

 and not try and combine the two in July or August they 

 wotdd not Only enjoy themselves much better, but find their 

 general health improve, and would join the guides and my- 

 self in condemning the useless slaughter that always accom- 

 panies floating or still-hunting. 



I believe that all reputable guides in the Adirondacks would 

 sign a paper requesting all visitiug sportsmen not to ask theru 

 to paddle them up to a deer, and not to run their hounds till 

 after the middle of August under any circumstances. 



As they know and all say, that unless this summer hunt- 

 ing is stopped their "occupation will soon begone." Win- 

 ter killing is now practically stopped, and we must attack 

 the next objectionable feature, and I thank you for the op- 

 portunity given to thus thoroughly place the matter before 

 the public. M. S. NoitTBiinr. 



In driHp, /l".C(/wltn Lake, May 34. 



THE YELLOWSTONE BUFFALO SLAUGHTER. 



IT 13 estimated bv competent authorities that 100,000 buf- 

 falo hides will be shipped out of the Yellowstone coun- 

 try this season. Two Arms alone are negotiating for the 

 transportation of 35,00.0 hides each. When to this is added 



isa amount of skins and furs of other kind?— deer, 

 elk, aotelope, bear, beaver, etc.— some idea may be formed 

 of the . .cut of the Yellowstone pelt and fur trade. 



Most of our citizens saw the big load of hides that the C. 

 K. Peck brought down last season, a load that bid everything 

 liboul the boat below (he hurricane deck roof. There were 

 10,000 hides iu that load, ami they were all brought out of 

 the Yellowstone on one trip, and transferred to the C. Iv. 

 Peck. How such a load could have, been piled on the little 

 Terry, not even the men on the. boat appear to know. It 

 bid every part of the boat, barring only the pilot house and 

 the smokestacks. But such a load will not be attempted 

 again. For such boats as ply the Yellowstone there are at 

 least fifteen full loads of buffalo bides and other pelts. Beck- 

 oning 1,000 hides to three carloads, and adding to this fifty 

 ears for tin- other pelts, it will take at least 350 box cars to 

 carry this stupendous bulk of peltry east to market. These 

 figures are not guesses, but estimates made by men whose 

 business it is to know about the amount of hides and furs 

 awaiting shipment. 



Nothing like ii has ever been known in the history of the 

 fur trade. Last season the output of buffalo bides was above 

 the average, and last year only about 30,000 hides came out 

 of the Yellowstone countiy, or less than a third of what is 



The past aei 

 elves in a few 

 he slaughter < 

 I,, amply i 



ihipment. 

 ere winter caused the buffalo to bunch them- 

 valleys where there was pasturage, and there 

 vent on all winter. There was no sport about 

 itiug down the famine-tamed animals as cattle 

 might, be shot down in a barn-yard. 



To the credit of the Indians it can be said that they killed 

 no more than they could save the meat from. The greater 

 part of the slaughter was doue by white hunters, or butchers, 

 rather, who followed 1 he business of killing and skinning 

 buffalo by the month, leaving the carcases to rot. When the 

 buffalo are all killed off, as they bid fair to be in a very few 

 years at this rate, then everybody will wonder that th- 

 government did not, do something to preserve this, theuotiu^ 

 of animal game, or at least prevent the killing of the buffalo 

 for the hides alone. — ,Sit'ti.r City ■Imtruirf. 



FflOGRAifME Ot THE STATE SHOOT. 



eiRST DAV— MONDAY, JUNK 20. 1881, 



At 12 o'clock', noon, the Reception Oommittee, Judge Heurv S. 

 butt, llhaiiniiiii, will attend lit the Lone; f K |;,.ml ISpertsmen's Aspo- 

 eeitioti Headquarters, at the Hotel Brighton ("Brcsli-.i's), at Oaiey 

 Island, to meet delegates and friends, to exchange emu r<'--i-- Io 



- - loeaimiiot visitors m satisfnetorv lotimngs, and een- 



eiallyto make such final arrangements as may be adviaaWS, 



,\ Hieiii' i :!■ owdi r With appropriate aerorupuniments, rviil bo 



!• 



ubrOf J ;l 



' r-ej.t 



ici'l 



-.lied to 



nil 



tl nrmttec. and inspect the prizes, which will he m.,'i,„.,l in 



attractive form in the exhibition windows of the Brooklyn Furni- 

 ture Cumeanv. B(il Fulton street, 



Return trains will leave the city for Coney Island to seccmn:o- 

 date those "wishing to paiticipate in the meeting of the Conven- 

 tion; 



At ? o'clock in the evening the Convention will meet iu the east 



