448 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[July 7, 1881. 



miseration. There is one thing more Which concerns the owners 

 rather than the builders. You may try to sail in smooth 

 water and fair weather as much as you please— sometimes an 

 unlooked for combination of adverse circumstances may 

 arise. If you are afloat in a trap see to it, that provisions are 

 made for quitting a sinking ship. Have life preservers within 

 reach on deck, have them easily adjusted by yokels fresh 

 from green swards ashore. Have a practical plan of a raft 

 in your mind, to be improvised in haste from gratings on the 

 cockpit floor, with grip lines rove around the framing. Have 

 a can of water, brandy and provisions lashed thereto. See 

 that the thing cannot jam at a critical moment, and lash what 

 oars, buckets or wreckage you have lo the raft, in such a 

 way as not to "slosh" around when afloat. Finally, use a 

 modicum of common sense when yachting just as you would 

 ashore. Do not rely on the sailing master as your sole salva- 

 tion, and bear in mind that "forewarned is forearmed." 

 Strip heavy boots and clothing in nasty looking weather, and 

 give full directions before the storm is upon you. Batten 

 down hatches and doors, and stand by to trim ship as re- 

 quired. When overboard, tread water as though 3'ou were 

 walking on land, keep your mouth shut, don't swallow water 

 or waste precious breath in useless cries. Don't attempt to 

 stem the tide or sea, but save your strength to some purpose. 

 You are not going to drown simply because you are wet, but 

 have the chance of picking up something to help keep you 

 afloat. With a bucket, an oar, a stool, you are safe for 

 twenty-four hours or more, and stand a good chance of be- 

 ing picked up or getting safely ashore. But if you have kept 

 your wits about you in the first place, safety will have been 

 assured by means of a life belt previously attached. Look- 

 ing drowning in the face is an accompanying requisite of our 

 present vicious and ignorant style of modelling, and prepara- 

 tions for such a contingency should form part of every yacht's 

 outfit. 



Had a tithe of the foregoing beeu observed by the unfor- 

 tunates aboard the sloop yacht Sophia, capsized in the Sound 

 June 28, the lives of all would have been saved. Sim- 

 pie and natural enough as these directions seem not one of 

 the sloop's crew, from skippar down, had sense or composure 

 enough to follow even the readiest of all, other than to go in 

 out of the rain and then open the cabin doors again, letting 

 the flood down below. The " accident " illustrates most for- 

 cibly the immediate danger of deep cockpits, but these are 

 passing away in yachts of latest build, and flush decks, with 

 nothing more than " blind" or "false " cockpits bid fair to 

 become the rule. A few dollars would have put a bulkhead 

 under the forward and after thwarts of the yawl-boat and 

 she would not have sunk from beneath those clinging to the 

 bottom. But in the utter neglect of every precaution, in her 

 meagre, shabby outfit, in her dangerous model, top-heavy 

 spars and a very full inventory for the gratification of the 

 stomach, the luckless sloojiwasno different from the great 

 majority of so-called yachts of her sort. Built in ignorance, 

 light draft for deep waters, carrying four tons of iron high 

 up, when six dowu low would not have been out of propor- 

 tion in a well-balanced production, no wonder she rolled over 

 to a squall, filled and sank, and for want of outfit ; no won- 

 der five precious lives have been sacrified and a noble sport, 

 which can be made as safe as any other, receives another 

 black eye, from which it will take years to recover. 



We believe Forest and Stream has done more than all 

 Other journals put together in effecting reforms, andean trace 

 the increasing demand for safe, honest boats to our efforts in 

 these columns to cover the machines with the contempt I hey 

 deserve, and we hope soon to see a healthier appreciation of 

 the qualities of various types of boats. Public opinion is al- 

 ready ranging on our side. 



If disasters, fraught with terrible consequences, can hasten 

 the turn of the tide and quench the craze for beamy, light 

 drafts, the victims of the sloop in question will not have lost 

 their lives in vain, poor consolation as this may be to friends 

 and relatives so suddenly bereft of those they loved. There 

 was nothing extraordinary or exceptional about this disaster ; 

 the only wouder is that more of the sort do not occur. A 

 sloop hired for the occasion, thoroughly seaworthy, staunch 

 and fast, of course, sets sail for a short cruise up 

 the Sound in charge of aa experienced and thor- 

 oughly competent " captain," of course — one of the 

 kind who has never seen a day at sea, but has graduated 

 about Gowanus Bay from the hearsay school. The yacht 

 was well and completely fitted, of course— that is to say, in 

 the estimation of sand-bag critics, who think a mast, per- 

 haps a bowsprit, and enough gear to hoist sail all that any 

 sensible, "practical" man would have on a yacht. The 

 merry party consists of the usual muster of clerks and brokers 

 bound on a holiday, this time supplemented, unfortunately, 

 by a most estimable young lady, persuaded into the trap by 

 the rest, who knew as little about a boat as she did, though 

 one was " brought up all his life among yachts and boats,'" 

 but in the moment of trial was found as tittle prepared to 

 devise means of safety as a novice. After drifting about 

 June 28, beyond the Miridleground light, in a calm, with a 

 threatening sky, the "captain" taunted by the passengers 

 for not making more sail, the squall finally burst with fear- 

 ful fury. Sai's had been furled in time, "everything se- 

 cured and all preparations made," as the survivors report, no 

 doubt referring to stowing the dishes out of harm's way, for 

 nothing else was accomplished. The sloop, under bare poles, 

 is literally overpowered by the gale, "lifted bodily into the 

 air," and thrown on her beam ends. The seas rush in, and 

 the miserable thing ineontineutally sinks. The yawl follows 



suit, and hardly a thing is to be found adrift. After a short 

 struggle five arc drowned; two luckily get.an ice-box within 

 their reach and are rescued by a passing schooner, revived, 

 aud bring home the sad news. That is all ; a plain enough 

 affair, likely to happen again unless the advice and warnings 

 we have given are heeded. 



Capsized under bare poles 1 What a comment upon yacht 

 modelling in America ! Are there any obtuse enough not to 

 sec the moral of this disaster, and, with it, as powerfu' evi- 

 dence, how long before the old school will relinquish, or be 

 compelled by law to relinquish, the unsupported myths, the 

 wildest and most illogical cant, they still cling to as "practi- 

 cal" teachings, when they only lead to dismal, abject failures, 

 stamping them incompetent to the verge of criminality? 



THE FLYING CLAY PIGEON. 



THE latest device intended to afford a substitute for live 

 pigeons at the trap is the "flying clay pigeon," invented 

 by Mr. George Ligowsky, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 



The target, or "bird," as it is called, is a light convex 

 disk of clay, much resembling in shape a saucer with the 

 rim turned over aud in toward the centre. 



A trap has been made to throw this target at any desired 

 vertical angle, and the flight much resembles that of a quail 

 or a pinnated grouse ; in fact, it is the nearest artificial ap- 

 proach to the natural flight of a bird that we have ever seen. 

 The disks are very brittle, and when struck by shot are not 

 liable to leave any room for dispute. In flight they skim 

 along horizontally, or at such an angle as may be desired, 

 and settle gently down to the ground like a bird and without 

 breaking. 



This flight so nearly resembles the actual motions of birds 

 in the field that the "clay pigeons" afford excellent practice 

 for wing shooting, at the same time possessing in a less de- 

 gree than other substitutes for game the disadvantages at- 

 tending trap shooting. An expert "clay pigeon" shot is 

 well advanced toward being an expert wingskot in the field ; 

 aud it takes a good degree of skill to make a fair score with 

 the clay target, as some of those who tried it at Coney Island 

 last week discovered. Mr. Ligowsky's " birds " were more 

 difficult shooting than many of the live pigeons which were 

 thrown up from the traps to a certain point in the air and 

 hung there for a second, before falling, as they did fall whether 

 hit or not. 



It is yet too early to fully and unqualifiedly indorse the 

 " flying clay pigeon " as a satisfactory substitute for live 

 birds, but it appears to be such, and we commend all sports- 

 men to test its merits and decide for themselves. The ad- 

 dress of the manufacturers will be found in our advertising 

 columns. A trap is now on exhibition at this office. 



Tiik St. Lotus Association. — The St. Louis, Mo., Fish 

 and Game Protective Association has an active membership 

 of 135. The first annual report of the society is now before 

 us. It shows that work lias been done and results accom- 

 plished. Four prosecutions have been instituted against il- 

 legal netters j three convictions were secured and fines im- 

 posed. Two convictions were also had of parties violating 

 the game law. The society has secured one very sensible 

 and effective aid in (heir work, that is the co-operation of 

 the express companies, who have been induced by the society 

 to prevent the shipping of game killed out of season. Bat 

 by far the most encouraging sign of the St. Louis Associa- 

 tion's good influence is the growing recognition of their work 

 and aims by the public. The people are finding out that 

 there iH such a society and that its members are in earnest ; 

 and such knowledge goes a great way. The Secretary of 

 the association, Mr. H. C. West, care St. Louis Cotton Ex- 

 change, invites any information of game law violations. The 

 President of the society is Hon. John D. Johnson, in whose 

 hands, we need not add, the work will go on. 



Carry it Out.— While the late meeting of the New 

 York State Association for the Protection of Pish and 

 Game was barren of result — save the pigeon shooting 

 and fly-casting — it may yet prove a turning point in 

 the history of the society if one of the resolutions 

 there made be carried out. We refer to the proposal 

 to call a meeting of delegates from the several coun- 

 ties of the State to transact the business which legiti- 

 mately belong to a game protective association. It is sin- 

 cerely to be hoped that this matter may be agitated by the 

 clubs, and Buch a convention called together. An association 

 representing the entire State would have great influence at 

 Albany, and the annual wrangling over the game laws might 

 be stopped if that society took the matter into its hands. 

 The proposed convention is a most excellent project. Carry 



it through. 



.^«k_ 



Wild Celery. — Can any one inform us as to the cultiva- 

 tion of wild celery ? Has it ever been transplanted or sown 

 in waters to serve as food for wild fowl 1 Who can supply 

 the seed, and at what price ? When should it be sown ? This 

 information is sought by several correspondents. 



cent a pound. Such are the poor accommodations of New 

 York for distributing an unusual catch of fish that many of 

 these went back to the oil factories. The fish are plentier 

 than in many years and are taken up the Hudson as far as 

 Vonkers with hook and line, a most remarkable circum- 

 stance. And this fish was thought to be gradually decreas- 

 ing. We know but little yet of the laws which govern the 

 increase or decrease of fishes in a state of nature. 



An Invasion of Weakmsh.— The fish known as weak- 

 fish, squetague, squit, salt-water trout, etc. (Oynoscyon re- 

 galis), have been unusually plenty for the past ten days. 

 Three menhaden steamers hauled their purse seines around 

 some 20,000 pounds of them and threw them on New York 

 market in such quantities that they could noi be sold for a 



Manhattan Beach still holds the leading place among 

 Coney Island resorts. Its varied attractions, the bathing, the 

 music, the Tuesday aud Thursday fairy-land illuminations, 

 the Saturday eveuing pyrotechnic exhibitions, and the Marine 

 Railway excursions, afford abundant entertainment and 

 amusement for the thousands who seek the beach daily. 

 Manhattan Beach is easy of access via the boats from White- 

 hall street to Bay Ridge, or by way of Greenpoint. There 

 is a solidity about the Manhattan establishment which argues 

 well for its future. 



Witji July comes to us the June number of the new aspi- 

 rant for public patronage, Tlie American (lentlemeii'a Maga- 

 zine, which appears to be in all respects, save in the name, 

 an after issue of Brentano's Monthly. The periodical is con- 

 ducted by Mr. Marius Lazare, the well-known bicyclist, and 

 is devoted to sports of the day. 



Some of our esteemed daily contemporaries atfeet to con- 

 demn dog fights ; but they take good care to give all the par- 

 ticulars of each affair of the kind. The rule is to assume 

 high moral ground, but give the news. A very good rule- 

 but what is news ? 



What has come over the Market Index and Journal ? Its 

 comments on the Coney Island tournament are not iu keep- 

 ing with its former role of "special organ." 



THE 'POSSUM IS SERVED. 



ONE day last month there came, in our Southwestern 

 mail, this letter : 



TtjcbQX, Arizona, May 5, 1881. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



A controversy lias arisen in this remote locality on account 

 of the inclosed engraving iu Sapper'* Weekly of April 80, 

 1881. 



A Kentuckian contended that no well-bred negro would 

 cook an opossum upon a cooking stove, aud a Virginian as- 

 serted that opossums were always to be eaten cold, where- 

 upon the dispute was left to th' arbitration of Senalor Nor- 

 wood, of Georgia, who happened to be sojourning among us, 

 aud who decided that an opossum should be eaten cold. 



The Keutuckian appeals from the opinion of Ihe Senator 

 to the Forest and Stream, and alleges for exception that 

 the opossum is essentially a winter dish, and as a winter di6h 

 should not be eaten cold, but hot like spare-ribs, sausages, 

 buckwheat cakes, etc. 



It is well known to all huuters of the opossum that he must 

 be frosted three nights upon a clap-board roof before he cin 

 be propeily cooked, and that the accompaniment must be 

 sweet potatoes. No other esculent will answer. No wine or 

 beer of any kind is proper with a baked opossum. Nothing 

 but genuine Bourbon whisky is strong enough to assist the 

 digestion of 'possum fat. 



The engraving in Harper's is au atrocity, equal to the de- 

 cision of the Senator from Georgia in favor of cold 'possum. 

 An African cooking an opossum on a cast-iron cooking slove 

 —this would raise an old Virginian or Kentuckian 'poEEum 

 hunter from his grave. 



If you will kindly take the trouble to have a formal de- 

 cision entered in your columns whether an opossum should 

 be eaten hot or cold, you will oblige many readers, and very 

 respectfully, your obedient servant, 



Charles D. Poston (from Kentucky). 



Now, while the Forest and Stream claims to know a 

 great, deal about the subjects which arc properly within its 

 field, it confesses that this Tucson appeal was a poser ; and 

 the editor cheerfully owned up, on this particular point, to 

 that "inexperience," of which the Dittmar people have been 

 tooting since their preposterous powder pretensions were ex- 

 ploded. He was the more willing to do so, since from very 

 early times the art of preparing this game for the table has 

 been recognized as the accomplishment of a gifted or fortun- 

 ate few. As the Latin poet has it, Non omnia possumus omnes 

 — we cannot all cook 'possums. 



But next to kuowing a thing yourself is knowing where to 

 find out from some one else who does know it. The Forest 

 and Stream has the happy advantage of being in a position 

 to supplement its own knowledge with the information and 

 experience of others ; there are few culinary myaterieB from 

 an Ichthyophogiau stew to an Alaska gurry-garoo which it 

 cannot fathom. 



We besought our Tucson friend to allay the excitement in 

 Arizona, to calm Kentucky, and to restrain the Sta'es of 

 Georgia aud Virginia from any rash action — and we would 

 find out how to cook a 'possum and all about it. We have 

 received, in response to correspondence ou the subject, a 

 number of happily written letters, which we print to-day, 

 with our acknowledgement to the writers for their aid in 

 bringing to a satisfactory conclusion so liiooientuous an in- 

 quiry. Supported by the advice of such trusted councillors 

 we have now no hesitation in "entering a formal decision" 

 that 'possums should be served— but read the testimony be- 

 fore hearing the judgment. 



The first comes from a Virginia judge — his pseudonym is 

 familiar— who after the delightful manner of Virginia judges 

 first delivers a sententious opinion, and then tells a story for 

 the edification of the court-room : 



