366 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jmra 9, 1881. 



seemed to be as conspicuous as his dislike for hard work. 

 How many or us have fallen into the hands of his counter- 

 part : So when the great October snow storm struck us, 

 eighteen miles from the nearest railroad station, we were 

 obliged lo depend on our own resources to extricate ourselves. 

 1 1. took ua a vi k to do it. 



To lovers of the roil and gun this region offers many at- 

 tractions'. The canoeist, or parlies with light boats, can 

 traverse this entire system of lakes Uncling royal sport, with 

 I'm tiiri ■:-que and ever-varying scenery. 



Its altitude averages about two thousand feet above the 

 sea, i ' s climate healthful and invigorating. A few pioneer 

 settlers are found here and there. 



Our next haltiiiij-p'ace was at Fargo, the thrivintr young 

 metropolis of the valley of the Red river of the North. This 

 busy little city is already the centre of a large trade. It, lies 

 in the eastern edge of Dakota, and furnishes supplies for the 

 wheat growing interests so rapidly developing iu Northern 

 Dakota But as our business is with the bulfalo, deer and 

 antelope of the vast plains bevond, we take the train for the 

 far West 



After leaving Fargo, the lakes and watercourses begin, to 

 show a Strong Solution Of tfikall. Geese and ducks by thOU 

 sands could be seen rising from them, as the nOise of the train 

 startled them from their feeding grounds. Geese seem to 

 delight in alkaline waters. 1 have seen them in thousands 

 feeding in the shallow alkali lakes among the mountains of 

 Wyoming and Montana, even as early as the mon'h of Au- 

 gust. 



After a few days spent in the vicinity of Crystal Springs, 

 which seera to be the headquarters of the Northern Pacific 

 for wild geese, we went on to Bismark. This place, n pres- 

 ent, is on the border. Beyonu, the vast limitless plafnS stretch 

 out, uuinhnbVed and almost unknown to the white man. 

 Within a few months it was not healthy for a while man to 

 show himself out of sight of the railroad line. Much of this 

 territory seems to be identcal in character with the rich 

 lands of Eastern Dakota. About two hundred miles west of 

 Bismark' we reach the had lands. Here the scene changes. 

 Vegetation almost ceases. The little Missouri hows through 

 them in a northerly direction. Here could he seen antelope 

 in thousands, gracefully hounding away from the approach- 

 ing locomotive, Here, too, is the last resort of the buffalo, 

 and following them like a Nemesis are the white and copper- 

 colored butchers who, unless soon restrained, will extermi- 

 nate them. Cannot and will not. Congress, before it is too 

 late, take means to pin a stop to this reckless carnage, or 

 must, this noble animal become extinct? 



Doubtless another season will see hundreds of sportsmen 

 taking advantage of the completion of the N. !'. to the Yel- 

 lowstone to take a trip to that wonderful game resort, The 

 head waters of the numerous streams that contribute to the 

 formation of the Yellowstone still abound in a great variety 

 of large game. In the autumn of 1378, iu a somewhat ex- 

 tensive trip over this region, I saw herds of elk daily quietly 



grazing in the raUej 



s and oil the mountain sides. Antelope 



weie rarely out of 



sight. Grizzly, cinnamon and black 



bears were frequent 



Iv met with — mountain lion and moun- 



tain sbeep '" i asiona 



Iv. This region seems now to be the last 



great game preserve 



of the continent. The streams are full 



of trout, and it is in 



reality a sportsman's paradise. But our 



month had expired. 



We had no time left to visit the far- 



famed Yellowstone, so we have gone hack to business, and 

 must defer this pleasant trip till another season. 



Chicayo, January 7, 1S81. H. L. Story. 



CATCHING WILD HORSES IN TEXAS. 



SOME TIME since as we were returning from a hunting 

 expedition on the plains of Texas toward evening, we 

 came upon a wagon trail, and as we were by no means cer- 

 tain 01 OUT locality we concluded to follow it. 



Going but a short distance we came to a ranch, and riding 

 up we found the owner at home, and to o ir surprise an ac- 

 quaintance, a Mr. Woods, whom we had met in Fort Griffin 

 a few weeks before. 



He gave us a hearty welcome, and as there was plenty of 

 room outside the house if not in, we accepted his invitation 

 and went into camp near his wood pile, that beiug about all 

 the accommodation we wanted. 



Staking out our ponies, and making a rousing fire, supper 

 was soon" ready, and as we had a good one, I invited Mr. 

 Worlds to join us and take a cup of coffee with us. 



After supper was Over, the table-cloth— I mean the rubber 

 blanket, shaken out, our plates wiped off with a piece of 

 Hour sack, the frying-pan turned upside-down to keep the 

 dogs fpfciij eating the grease out of it, and a large armful of 

 Wood thrown on the fire- -for there was. nothing mean about 

 my man iu making a lire when he did not have to cut or carry 

 the wood— we were ready for a chat. 



Our host tilled his pipe, and after a few puffs proceeded to 

 give US an account of his capturing a herd of wild horses a 

 short time before. A.s I was interested in if, I thought some 

 of the readers of Fokest m-d Stkeaji might like to hear of it. 



Mr. Woods had noticed several times during the winter a 

 small herd of horses, feeding not far from the ranch, and de- 

 termined tO try and capture them. 



From his account of their habits it would seem that they 

 always feed on a certain range, and that if driven they will 

 go to the extreme end of if, then make a circuit and return to 

 about the place they started from. 



In the early spring, when the grass is short and conse- 

 quently the ponies are poor and weak, is the time selected, 

 as during the summer it would be almost impossible to ride 

 them down. 



The first preparation necessary beiug the building of a 

 strong corral, he selected a place in a thick grove, on a trail 

 leading to a water-hole: here he built his corral, leaving au 

 opening wh re the trail entered, which he closed wih a strong 

 gate. The entrance he made V shaped, running out for forty 

 yards on cither side of the trail a strong fence of brush and 

 stakes. Concealing all as much as possible he was ready to 

 begin the drive. 



This preparation took three days, with the help of two 

 men. 



They then selected four of their best horses. Packing a few 

 days' rations and a little corn on one of them, they started. 

 out, in search of the herd. 



They sighted them about noon, five or six miles from the 

 corral. Halting, Mr. Woods mounted his best horse. Put- 

 ting a few quarts of corn into one of his saddle pockets, 

 wiili a few days' rations of bread in the other, and filling his 

 canteen with water, he was ready for a long ride. 



He directed his men to camp where they were, and have 

 their horses saddled by daylight ready to relieve him, as he 

 expected to pass about that lime. 



The herd had all this time been quietly feeding about a 

 mile off. 



As Mr. Woods rode toward them they started off on a 

 run ; keeping after them, they ran a mile or two, then came 

 to a walk and allowed him to ride within a quarter of a mile 

 of them, when they again started off on a run, he keeping 

 after them as before, never allowing them to get out of his 

 sight. 



They kept on a run all the afternoon uu til toward evening, 

 when they came to a walk, seeming to think it was no use 

 trying to get, away from the strange horse that was always 

 following them. He did not press them, keeping about* a 

 quarter of a mile behind, but giving them no time to stop 

 and feed, feeding his own horse a little corn as he went along 

 out of his saddle pocket. 



Toward night the herd went to water, but Mr. Woods gave 

 them no lime lo drink much, although allowing his own 

 horse, lo driuk all he wished. 



The night was clear, with a moon, so there was no trouble 

 In keeping them iu sight. 



By this time the herd seemed very much inclined to stop, 

 and would albw Mr. Woods to ride within a few hundred 

 yard-, In ion; they would move on. He kept after them until 

 toward morning, when ii, became cloudy and dark, so that he 

 lost sight of them ; he therefore stopped, unsaddled and fed 

 his horse, ale some supper, and, wrapping himself iu his 

 blanket, was soon sleeping. 



When he awoke the sun was shining brightly, and on-look- 

 iug around he. saw the. herd feeding only a short distance 

 away: 



Saddling his horse, he was soon after them. 



They started off on a brisk gallop, but Woods kept up, 

 and they soon got tired and came to walk. 



lie kept them on the go as before, always keeping within 

 a few hundred yards of them, and giving them no time to 

 feed, but feeding his horse with a little corn as he rode 

 along. 



Toward noon they were approaching the place where his 

 men should be to relieve him, they having made a turn in 

 the night, and were now on their way hack toward where 

 they had been started from. 



Woods kept a sharp look-out but could see no one, so he 

 kept on all day. 



By night he" could ride within a few yards, and they had 

 not, indulged in a run lor some time ; he was very tired but 

 kept, on, still hoping his men would cothe to his relief, but 

 no help appeared, and toward mornmg his horse gave out and 

 he had to give up the chase. Taking the saddle and bridle 

 off he turned his horse loose, thinking there was no danger 

 of his going away, ate his last ration, rolled himself in his 

 blanket, and went to sleep. 



He woke, at daylight, and looking around for his horse 

 found he had gone off. He was certainly in rather a bad fix; 

 but determined not to lose all his labor, lie threw his blenket 

 on a hush to mark the place where he had left his saddle : he 

 started after the herd on foot ; they were lying down only a 

 short distance off, and as he came up started off on a run, 

 but OJply kept it, Up for a short distance, theu came back to a 

 walk, so that there was no trouble iu keeping up with them. 



About eight o'clock Woods saw his men coming toward 

 him with a horse ; they bad been out looking for him during 

 the night, but, seeing nothing of him went, back to camp. 



In the morning they found his horse near camp, so knew 

 he could not be far off, and started with a fresh one to find 

 him. 



Mr. Woods thought that the ponies were so nearly exhausted 

 that they could now pen them. Sending a man out on each 

 side of the herd ami bringing up the rear himself, they drove 

 I hem slowly toward the corral, which was only five or six 

 miles off. 



They worked them slowly toward the trail which led to 

 the correl, and wheu they struck it they started off in a can- 

 ter, making for the water; the men kept, after them and they 

 trotted along, following the trail between the wings, without 

 seeming to notice them, right into the pen. Mr. Woods 

 kept close behind, and closed the, gate after lliem. 



He: had the herd now safe, and after a short time more of 

 fasting for them, ihey were tame enough to handle with 

 safety. They then lassoed them, and hobbliug securely turned 

 them out to feed. 



Toward night .they were driven to the ranch, and they 

 found they had fifteen good ponies besides two mules; the 

 mules were branded U. S., and had evidently been abandoned 

 by some government expedition on the plains: they were 

 the wildest and hardest, to handle of the herd. 



In about two weeks Woods had most of the pjnies broken 

 to ride, thai is, broken in a Texas sense. Some were very 

 fine, and he sold most of them for a good price. The mules 

 he broke for himself, and they turned out a very poor pair. 



H. 



WINOTJS POINT CLUB. 



IN nine cases out of ten, a long anticipated and impatiently 

 expected week over decoys and behind blinds turns out 

 like a precocious child with a big head ; wonders are pre- 

 dicted of il, but, alas! it too frequently shrivels up and dies 

 of water on the brain. Ducks don't fly, weather too warm 

 and wind not favorable often wreck our fairest visions; and 

 after three or four hours behind the best blind, with all his 

 good nature frozen out, one readily realizes that weather and 

 wind have much to do with successful duck-shooting, amply 

 confirming poor Joe Long's oft-repeated advice, ''Who are 

 wise and would make the biggest bags must freely consult 

 Old Probs and their owu barometer." 



With this experience and advice we started on receipt of a 

 letter from " El-Liv-Ves" (the man who never smiles), 

 which I'innegau triumphantly showed us, with the sen ten- 

 ffoUS remark, "That's the stuff," and were soon gliding 

 along the Lake Shore Railway from Buffalo toward Sau- 

 dusky. 



The Bay of Sandusky has an extent of over 80,000 acres of 

 marsh, which furnishes feeding ground in the fall and spring 

 for millions of ducks and geese. Wild celeij r grows in the 

 greatest abundance, and here the canvas-backs flock in great 

 numbers. Twenty-six years ago a few old sportsmen of 

 Cleveland, apprecia'ing the. immense advantages of such a 

 locality, purchased and otherwise obtained control of over 

 5,000 acres of marsh and meadow, and at Winous Point, on 

 Mud Creek, an affluent of the bay, erected their modest 

 shanty. From this nucleus has grown the elegant and com- 

 fortable buildings of the Winous Point Club, limited to 

 thirty members, now owning and leasing over 13,000 acres of 

 the finest duck, sn ; pe and quail ground in the West, and 

 valued at over $100,000. 



Barring the incident of a smash on the Lake Shore at Not- 



tingham, that lost the lives of the engineer and fireman and 

 destroyed $25,000 worth of railroad property, we arrived at 

 Cleveland in due course, spending the night in the hospitable 

 house of one ot its oldest citizens. We took the early train 

 on the following morning, and with the addition of another 

 old Nimrod to our parly, we anived at Port Clinton at ten 

 o'clock. 



The kindly phiz of George met us at the depot, and after 

 seeing our impedimenta stored for a sled transfer over the 

 mud roads to the Club House, Finnegan, Sore aud the writer 

 started by the new mute for the Point. How many limes 

 Mike lost his overt-hoes, how many darns Finnegan scaled 

 and rested on with the plaintive inquiry, "How long, oh, 

 how long?" and how Straight Sore guided us through mud, 

 slush and water, to the big, warm, comfortable lounging room 

 of the Winous, and its eld fashioned fireplace filial with 

 four logs, I'll not now narrate Suffice it to say we reached 

 there at: last, and wore amply repaid for the weary trip by 

 one of George's best dinners 



The club has two large substantial buildings containing 

 some thirty sleeping rooms, with the necessary" addition for 

 kitchen, dining-room, laundry, etc. Adjoining the house is 

 the tank house and boat house, in the forun r of which are 

 the necessary counters and benches for loading, cleaning, 

 etc., with tanks or lockers for each member, and iu the latter 

 over 10 dUcll boats of various models, including the Kushton, 

 Osgood, Earnegat, Raeine and others. H ere also is au army of 

 decoys, from the little blue bill lo the big goo-e, all ready for 

 their t deceptive occupation. Along the south front of the 

 house is a wide veranda flanked by a beautiful lawn, with a 

 40 ft. flagstaff, at the toptusst of which flies the club fl-g, 

 always signalling occupancy of the house. It is vety seldom 

 that the flag is not fluttering in ihe breeze. 



On Ihe. "right, ;:s you enter the club lounging room, is a 

 black walnut and glass case of ample dimensions, containing 

 a large number of beaut ifully set up spec mens of wat, r fowl, 

 all lUtled by members of the club — ducks, teal geese, swans, 

 brant, quail, woodcock, snipe, eagles and hawks. A 

 ularly beautiful specimen, a swan killed by Mr. Cross, is 

 much admired. On the south side of the ro m is the library 

 and a rack for guns. The club has a superintendent, 

 the omnipicseut and ind mi table George, and four keep n 

 who patrol the grounds during the. season, and woe lo iheluck- 

 less duekerhcat who is caught poaching. What George 

 would do with such a one is best told by the Earl of Dun- 

 raven's game-keeper on being questioned in court as to his 

 disposition Of any one caught red handed : " Phut, ml 1 tlu ? 

 I'll kill him and ate him." 



Such a spot and its accessions nmy well be called a sports- 



A Iter a good'old fashioned game of whist and a well-spread 

 supper and night cap we ieiired early with visions Of ducks 

 innumerable. 



Breakfasting early, Finnegan, Bob and the writer started 

 for Teal Pond, hut finding the wind unfavorable we set up 

 our blinds on the point. The wind blew a gale from the 

 northv.est all day, and the birds were akin to lightning holts 

 in their fliuht, scarcely noticing our decoys ; still our bug of 

 canvasbacks, teal, widgeons and redheads was fair, and we 

 returned well satisfied. 



It is no exaggeration to say that from almost any point on 

 the bay could have been seen thousands of mallards, wid- 

 geons, "canvasbacks, whistlers and teal, while occasionally 

 our eyes were blessed and our fingers tingled by the sight of 

 a string of old honkers. 



The register of birds kept each season by the club mem- 

 bers for many years shows an enormous number killed, 

 Butterhalls and coots are not counted. To the credit of the 

 club he it said that mallard shooting is prohibited in the 

 spring. 



Unfortunately for Ihe writer a telegram rudely dispelled 

 his hopes of a week's vacation, and he was reluctantly com- 

 pelled to bid good bye to Winous Point and its hospitalities 

 in the midst of his enjoyment. Another season an I your 

 correspondent may be enabled to discourse more eloquently 

 of ihe varied attractions of the "Winous." En Gakue. 



^tuml W¥° r U- 



THE FISH MORTALITY IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. 



rpilE following report into the causes of the recent terrible 



I mortality among the fishes of the Florida coast has 

 been made by Mr. Ernest. Ingersoll to Professor Baud and 

 will appear in the proceedings of the United States National 

 Museum. Owing to the impossibility of procuring samples 

 of the supposed poisoned water for analysis no definite con- 

 clusion as to the cause of the destruction of the fishes ui the 

 Gulf has been reached. The repo- tis as follows: 



Pursuant lo your verbal suggestion, I made it an object, 

 during my recent cruise down the western coast of Florida 

 in the service of the Superintendent of the Census, to inquire 

 into the so called "poisoned water" which was supposed to 

 have caused the remarkable mortality among the sea-fishes 

 that occurred in the autumn of 1880. I am sorry to be able 

 to give so meagre an account of the matter as follows, but 

 must beg excuses on the plea that I was too late to see any 

 actual destruction, since the cause had wholly disappeared 

 previous to my arrival there, and also from the fact that 1 

 was unable to carry out my intention of going to Key West, 

 where most of the fishermen live who suffered injury, and 

 who could perhaps have furnished additional information. _ 



It appears that this misfortune is not a new experience in 

 the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico. One of the oldest 

 residents on the fluridan coast, Mr. Benjamin Curry, of 

 Manatee, told me, what others confirmed, that as far back as 

 1844 a widespread u< structiou of all sorts of salt-water 

 animal life occurred, apparently due to causes precisely 

 similar to those which produced the lately noticed desolation. 

 Again, in 1854, the fishes suffered all along the southern 

 shore, and have done so at intervals since to a less degree, 

 uutil in 1878 an excessive fatality spread among them, wh ch 

 was wider In the extent of its damaging effects and probably 

 more destructive, in point of number of victims than ihe la'er 

 visitation of 1880. Even the cooler half of .1879 was not ex- 

 empt from some appearance of the plague. 



Iu regard to some of the manifestations of this deadly in- 

 fluence in the sea during 1878, Mr. John Brady, Jr., an 

 intelligent captain, told "me that the time of year was 

 January, and thai the " poisoned water," to which universal 

 belief credits the death of t 1 e fishes, could easily be dislin- 

 euished from the clear blue of the pure surrounding element. 

 This discolored water appeared in long paid es or "streaks," 

 sometimes 100 yards wide, drifting lengthwise with the flow 



