Jtjkjs 23, 1881.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



409 



the causes of the rapid disappearance of wild fowl from the 

 bay to our front. To assist him in his investigations I col- 

 lected at my house the professional gunuers of the neighbor- 

 hood. These men. though daily violators of the game laws, 

 had no hesitation in acknowledging the fact, and in giving 

 their i easons for so doing. 



All were agreed that if the laws for the protection of game 

 could be. enforced v would result in Vast benefit to them- 

 selves! but bo long as one violated the same with impunity, the 

 others Bhould not" refrain from so doing. Moveover, it was 

 understood that one could not be induced to bear witness 

 against the other. All asserted that their necessities forced 

 them i " yield to the solicitations of the sportsmen who em- 

 ployed them, in the use of devices and unfair advantages 

 which were ruinous and fatal. Moreover, they were frank 

 to confess that among those who urged theinto violations of 

 the game laws in the matter of wild fowl, were many who 

 confessed themselves to be members of sportsmen's associa- 

 tions. Indeed :i man must be exceptionally conscientious 

 who can resist the allurements of dusking ducks and wild 

 geese, and abstain from shooting at fowl from a boat while 

 utider-weigh. 



The reporter, at the conclusion of his interview with these 

 gunners, came to the conclusion that to enforce the game 

 laws it would be necessary to suspend the writ of fiaSeastor- 

 pus and pat the country under martial law, and even under 

 these circumstances the gunners acknowledged that if they 

 wanted a mess of birds at any season they would have them 

 in defiant - | ir _ si guard. 



1 ; \. ress ion of such sentiments will show how difficult 

 bj ihE task to enforce laws, which, however desirable, appear 

 to be held in c ntempt and derided by those who would be 

 the greater gainers by their rigid enforcement. 



In other countries the magistral' s or justices of the peace 

 are nearly all sportsmen or in symprthy with them, conse- 

 quently the game laws are rigidly enforced and effectively 

 sustained, bur miuor judicial officers being eh ctive, their 

 sympathies are iu harmony w th the prevailing popn'ar sen- 

 tuents of their particular districts ,• with them it is merely a 

 question of securing the greatest number of votes. 



What shall be thought of a justice of the peace who en- 

 courages lads to snare quail of which he is a purchaser for 

 the market. He is certainly not the man to punish violators 

 of the game lawB. Vet just such functionaries hold sway in 

 many localities. Other incumbents of the office cannot dis- 

 tinguish one bird ir m another. I have in my possession a 

 1 -.'gal paper prepared by one of these officials, who speaks of 

 a gun as "she," that weapon having iu his eyes no o.hcr at- 

 tribute than as an expression of his opinion of the qualities 

 of the gentler sex. 



As to game constables, they are but another spoke in the 

 JrjlittCftt wheal. So f r as the purpose f r which they a' e 

 created is concerned, they are utterly worthies'. These 

 officers havj a large family connect' on, many of whom are 

 professional gunners and habitual violators of the game laws. 

 They certainly do not propo e to comnlcatc their domestic. 

 affairs for the sake of a form of animal life which iu their 

 opinion has nothing in common with their own sensitive and 

 superior [.attires. 



It Is my fortune to be so situated as to have peculiar facili- 

 ties for observing the results of the non-enforcement of the 

 laws enacted for the protection of wild fowl. From the 

 windows of my reside .ob 1 may, with a glass, sweep an ex- 

 tended line of sedge. By this ra ans, and from a constant 

 practical experi me as a sportsman, I am enabled to watch 

 the rapid decline of the shooting privileges in the bay in my 

 front. This body of water, situated on the east end of Long 

 lslilid, was once the haunt of seeming y inexhaustible sup- 

 plies of wld fowl. For many yews 1 have noted the de- 

 crease of the number of birds returning iu each recurring 

 BBa3Qli:. Today it is not worth the necessary exertion to 

 secure a few birds. Nowand again from being constantly on 

 the ground a comparatively g od day's sport m .y be secured ; 

 but ihc visiiorfrom the city whose time is limited has but 

 small chance of enjoying the same. 



Had an intelligent system been inaugurated to preserve 

 and protect the fowl on this sheet of water, for generations 

 to come it might have afforded a source of enjoyment and 

 pleasure. Instead of this the most destructive devices have 

 been used The geese and ducks are fire lighted and dusked. 

 and no sooner do a few birds settle on the water than a boat 

 pursues them. It is a popular fallacy that eel-pot stakes and 

 Ashing boats keep the birds from off their feeding grounds. 

 This is a mistake, for they soon learn to disregard all which 

 does not inflict injury upon them. Their abandonment 

 iu this locality must be entirely attributed to the night 

 attacks made upon them. Ordinary shooting over de- 

 coys from meadow points, would have had no appreciable. 

 effect in diminishing their numbers. In addition, tne killing 

 of migrating wild fowl in the spiing of the year is a potent 

 factored th' ir coming annihilation. Could they be allowed 

 to remain undisturbed during t is season of the year, they 

 would return to us in the autumn in vastly augmented num- 

 bers, ami with less fear of tlie decoy. 



1 he question may be asked— Why not make an effort to 

 enforce the game taws on these waters? It cannot be doue 

 except by the' establishment of patrol boats manned by 

 men strangers to the loi ality, well paid and earnest in their 

 efforts. It such a system o tild be devised and put under the 

 care of efficient persons it is possible that the wanton and 

 fatal destruction of wild fowl might he checked and they in 

 time return to us with their lot mer profusion. Unless some- 

 thing of this nature be done, and that quickly, the once- 

 famous waters of Long I-lmid will be entirely deserted by 

 their, feathered inhabitants. 



To pro ect the upland birds a system of patrol by non- 

 political officers would res ore to the sportsmen of New York 

 one- o! the finest shooting grounds of the world. There is 

 are— no end of shelter and food. All 

 ntclligcut system of protection for the 

 is not in existence to-day, nor will it 

 ige iu our method of enforcing the game 



rel. Will some one be kind enough to give a good receipt 

 in the Forest akd Stream that will cause the pests to keep 

 their distance ? — W. C. 



MR. CROOK TO MR. BERGH. 



The following letter has been published ; 



New Torf, June 10, 1881. 

 Henry Bergh, Bi>q.: 



Mr Dear SiR--Vly attention has been called to certain 

 squibs in some of the daily papers to the effect that, as the 

 President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to 

 Animals, vou had asserted your intention to break up the 

 tournament of the Xew York State Association for the Pro- 

 tection of Fish and Game, to be held at. Coney Island, com- 

 mencing next Tuesday, and that 1, a President of the last 

 named organization, had returned the compliment by threat- 

 ening to cause your arrest I desire explicitly to deny that 

 any such action baa ever been contemplated upon my part. 

 Had we the advantage of personal acquaintance with ench 

 other, sueh an unfortunate rumor could not have found its 

 way into print. The association which I represent is largely 

 composed of the most influential citizens of this State, em- 

 bracing many who have honorably held seats in the Sta e 

 and National Legislatures and in the executive chair, and 

 »il - o including the representative business men of the several 

 cities, towns and hamlets in this 81 ate, and also those who 

 have b en foremost in concerted efforts not only to protect 

 but to propagate and cultivate fish and game." That such 

 gentlemen should be classed with the cock-fighter a-irj dug- 

 fighter is neither just nor creditable to the person making 

 such charge. 



Nothing will afford me or the association which I repre- 

 sent greater pleasure than to assist your society in preventing 

 anything which shall bear the resemblance of cruelty. The 

 suggestion accredited to you to the effect that birds were to 

 be drugged or mutilated "could only originate in ignorance of 

 the character, customs and purposes of the State organiza- 

 tion. I assure you that due courtesy will be shown you and 

 all others who may attend the tournament, and that nothing 

 shall occur in any wise warranting any unfavorable criticism 

 of our proceedings, and that the members of the association 

 will prove your most reliable assistants in the humane work 

 in which you are engaged. Respectfully, etc., 



Aiikl Crook. 



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 



PiTTSnmto, Pa., June 14. 



THE Forest axd Streatm comes to us this week fresh 

 with news from field, kennel, river and ocean. It 

 seems as though your paper improves with every issue. The 

 growth and lute est in sp >r big mutters in this city furnishes 

 a good illustration of the value and influence of a good 

 sportsman's paper. Only a few years ago, a group of half 

 a dozen enthusiastic sportsmen met and organized the first 

 sportinen's association in Western Pennsylvania, selecting 

 Robert, Dalzell, Esq., as President. I refer to the "Spoils, 

 men's Association of Western Pennsylvania." At the time 

 of its organization, the directors rented a small back room 

 on Fourth avenue, second floor, and placed on file tfcj 

 Forest and Stream. The meetings at first, were not well 

 attended except for the purpose of reading your paper. For 

 several years it seemed as though the success of the enter- 

 prise was doubtful; but the interest awakened by news from 

 all parts of the country so increased the interest that the 

 number of members was doubled and trebled and quadrupled, 

 until larger rooms were necessary, and the association re- 

 moved to No. 39 Fifth avenue. Here the association still 

 doubled and quadrupled in membership until still larger 

 rooms were necessary, and the association secured a long 

 lease on the building they now occupy, No. 75 Fifth ave- 

 nue, wdiere they have fifed up apartments at a cost of over 

 $11,000, and the membership now includes nearly 300 of the 

 best names in this city. 



A few years after the organization of this association, the 

 Allegheny Sportsmen's Association was organized, and it 

 now has a membership of over one hundred. The interest 

 awakened by these two associations occasioned the organiza- 

 tion of smaller associations in nearly all the counties through- 

 out the western part of this State, and finally to the organ- 

 ization of the Pennsylvania "State Association," an associa- 

 tion composed of representatives from all the regularly or- 

 ganized associations in the S'ates. Through the influence of 

 the State Association, such legislation has been secured as 

 protects all game and song birds, as well as game and game 

 fishes, and this protection has become so complete th-it it is 

 now decidedly healthy for any one in the State to kill game, 

 or take fish out of season. 



The high character of the gentlemen enrolled as members 

 in this association have entirely changed the term "sporting 

 man" into "sportsman," and las made shooting a recreation 

 and pastime for professional men and over- worked business 

 men. With this change came a demand for finer weapons 

 than were previously used, and this demand became so great 

 that, in May, lb?8, the firm of J. Palmer O'Neil & Co. was or- 

 ganized, and became at once importers of fine guns and fine 

 goods in every variety. This firm is now agent iu the United 

 States for the Westley Richards' hammcrless guns. 



The spring contest of the Allegheny Association was duly 

 reported in your columns. The contest of the W. stern 

 Pennsylvania Association was postponed on account of 

 scarcity of birds. The contest will, however, take place on 

 'I'm sday, June 2t, at Bridgcville, ahout eleven miles from 

 this city. Rkportek, 



syste 



land en 



that is i 



birds. 



be until a radical 



laws is inaugurate 



'the question for sportsmen to consider is, " What are you 

 going to do about it? i * B ' K 



Gaston Fat. 



South Abisgton, Mass , has a first class sportsman's 

 club Of folly WOikjng members, and more coming. We 

 have just joined the Massachusetts State Glass Ball Associa- 

 tion, and arc going to work and do what we can to protect 

 the game birds' iu our vicinity, as they i eed looking after 

 badly -L\ F. 0- 



Moscji rroES. — I am a veteran squirrel hunter, but as yet 

 I have never heen able to conquer the myriads of mosquitoes 

 that infest the woods, and hunt you while you hunt tfie equir- 



fua nnd §iver fishing. 



FISH IN SEASON IN JUNE. 



TOissn 



Brook Trout, SalwlbmsJontinalU. 

 Rainbow Trout, Halmo iriflca. 

 Doily Vartlen Trout, Kaleelinus 



mnlmn. 

 Grayling, ThjftndltiiS tricolor and 



ttlaek ] 

 ami ,1 



Maxeali 



Pk'.l.rr,' 



P'k''- 



n,(/ I. ,',m. a* 



WATIB. 



Stizottthium. a-nwricanwm^ & 



r/a.wimt, etO. 

 Yellow Perch, Perca Jluviatilis. 

 Striped Bass, Roccuh Hneatus. 

 White Bass, lincais cnri/scpt. 

 Rock Bass, AmblopliUs. (Two 



species). 

 War-mouth. ChanoVrn'iunijulaaua. 



.., .,-,!:■, [•„,„.rrei,a >i,'/r„ f,lrtCtt((l(U8, 



Bachelor, Punwxye annularis. 



Chub, .S'ta.'eV'i/;^ rorporalis. 

 Shad, Alqsa $api*.U*t?ima. 



SALT WATER. 



lineatv*. 

 White Perch, Morone ainericana. 

 Rhietish or Taylor, Pvmatomui 



saltatiix. 

 Seup or Porgle, xt-cmtoimtii urgy- 



rope. 

 Pollock", PoLiachius carhonariun. 

 Tautog or Blackmail, Tautoga 



Weakflsh or Squetague,C//no«tj/<«» 



rcgalis* 

 l.a Fayette or Spot, Liostovtusobli- 



t/nuos. 

 Channel Bass, spot or Kedtish, 



Sattevaps ocetiazua. 



,,(;:. eei'-al, ! ,r/,„.:.,r,< ;,(.-;.,, y, ',,,',,.,,. 



vephaius. 

 fiia'iee l"'t' or Barb, Mrnticirrufi 

 nebulusus. 



Fishermen never lose the love lor the employment. And it, is nota- 

 bly t no that the men who flsh for a living love their work quite as 

 tuueh as those who Hsh lor pleasure love their sport Find an old 

 tlslienuan if you can, in any sea-shore town, who does not enjoy his 

 fishing. There are days, without doubt, wlien he does not care to go 

 out, When ho would rather that need did not drive him to the sea ; 

 but keep blm at home a few days, or set hlra at other labor, and you 

 shall see that he longs tor t he toss of the swell on ihe reef and the 

 sudden joy of a strong pull on his lino. Drift up along side of him In 

 your boat when lie. is quiet ly at his work, without knowing that you 

 are near You can do It easily. Tie ts pondering solemnly on a ques- 

 tion of deep importance to liUu, and he lias not stirred eye or hand or 

 head for ten minutes But see that start and sharp Jerk at lits elbow, 

 anil now hear him talk, not to you— to the fish. He exults as lie 

 Drags him tn, but. he mingles his exultation with something of pity 

 as he Baits tils hook for another. Could you gather the words that 

 he. his in many years flung on the sea winds, you would have a bls- 

 tory of his life and adventures, mingled with very much of his liunost. 

 thinking, tor he tells much to the sea and to the fish that he would 

 never whisper In human ears. Thus the habit ot going a-flshlng 

 always modifies the character.— \V. C. Phuie. 



Information Wasted. — I desire to learn of some point in 

 the Adiroudacks, within say thirty miles of tail connections, 

 St. Regis region preferred, where good hot'. I or private 

 family accommodations can be obtained for invalid ladies, 

 not sick ones, at prices from $7 to $10 per week each. Three 

 in party, aud length of stay from throe months to a year 

 Address F. E. H., Oswego, N. Y. 



Deferred.— We are obliged to defer a number of com- 

 munications until next week. W.e beg the indulgene- of 

 correspondents whose communion ions should have appeared 

 with this issue. 



tW 8& notice elmsltpy of .Neu< Turk ijmtie hm. 



Uoiabird Shooting Suits. TJpthegrove * McLeihm, Ynlpalaiso.Ind. 



GAME FISHES IN WEST VIRGINIA. 



THE moment the Afriie in Arabian fable had revealed to 

 the fisiiermau the lake of white, red, blue and yellow 

 fishes, ihe secret was locked up iu his selfish bosom until he 

 had enriched himself. But times have changed, and men 

 have grown more generous since then. Now, when a fisher- 

 man discovers a good place to fish and his cup ot joy is 

 brimful and bubbling over, a mysterious something woos 

 him entirely away from Belf and compels him to share the 

 knowledge with lovers of the sport all over the couutry. 



A. good geni reminds me that a word in seasou is like 

 " apples of gold in pictures of silver," and then intimates 

 that the fishing grounds of Greenbriar County, West Vir- 

 ginia, deserve more than a passing notice in the columns of 

 FoiU'.sr and Stream. I shall only speak of the southeastern 

 or mountain district of our State, and leave the fishing 

 grounds of other sections to the guardianship of other 

 writers. Greenbriar County can boast of one of the most 

 popular summer resorts in America, with plenty of game 

 fish almost at its doors, and will be hailed aa a well-spring 

 of happiness by those who come to West Virginia for recrea- 

 tion. 



Away out here, in the very heart of the blue Allegbenies, 

 the angler finds an abundance of black bass and mountain 

 trout, and our waters afford as much amusement 33 any lake 

 or river that ripples beneath the influence of these columns. 

 Those of my readers, if I have any who love 

 To caat the line and draw the prey 

 From (lie clear ripples Where tliey play, 

 may spend the season at the Greenbriar White Sulphur 

 Springs and devote as much time as they choose to this most 

 delightful of all the pastimes. One peep into this elysium 

 of ihe angler and the tourist is fascinated forever, and a 

 bird's-eye view of the United States will explain why this is 

 so. The peaks of the Allegheny and Rocky Mountain 

 ranges resemble the tents of two opposing armies pitched on 

 cither side of a mighty plain, and West Virginia lies in the 

 very midst of the eastern encampment. Of course we have 

 the valleys, birds and fountains, rivers, hills and mountains, 

 a feast of beiuty and song, and a limitless display of infinite 

 wisdom to satisfy the cravings of the mind and soul of any 

 man. 



Twenty-five miles west, of the Springs the "Clear Creeks" 

 sparkle aud dance iu the valleys of the Sewells like wavy 

 threads of burnished silver, and the local fame of these two 

 little streams is justly deserved. Their crystal depths are 

 chuck full of the fiuest silver-finned mountain trout ever 

 lured to the surface with dainty fly and I lien "snatched 

 right out of the wliirling billow." This fish can be taken 

 almost any bright day in the winter time, with cither the 

 angle-worm or artificial bait. 



About six years ago Major J. W. Harris, of our State 

 Fish Commission, made a successful "plant "of black bass 

 at dff ere nt points in Greenbriar River, and the increase has 

 been astonishingly rapid ever since. Not one out of a thou- 

 sand has been captured with the ordinary hook and line. 

 Hardly a d"zen persons out here have taken even the ini- 

 atory in the science of surface-fishing, and the art of throw- 

 ing a fly down the throat of a wily bass the first clip and the 

 fish thirty feet away at the bottom of the river is a little 

 more of mystery than the masses can unravel and properly 

 reel in. 



The Greenbriar is only six miles from the Springs and, as 

 the angler wades or floats around where the " delicale lily 

 Uangs its trembling flake of snow above the water, dreamily," 

 his view is hemmed in by rugged hills and lofty mountains, 

 forming in Nature's gallery a picture of the tenderest beauty 

 and wildest sublimity. No wonder the heart thumps hard 

 and fast, against the ribs ! The river is found to have a rocky 

 bottom and plenty of shoals, with a width of from twenty- 

 five to 1100 yards and a depth of from two inches to tnirfy 

 feet. A more natural habitat for black bass does not exist in 

 America and any point along ihe river, from its source in 

 Pocahontas County to its mouth in Summers County, is a 

 good place to fish. At present we enumerate the lish by 

 scores of thousands, but in a little while millions will feel 



