FOREST AND STREAM 
41 
Art. B The shooting season is from September 15th to Marsh 15th, 
Art. 10. No shootimr allow ed from sunset to sunrise. 
Art. 11. Hunters most exhibit their license on demand. 
Art, 12 land-owners must post their land prescribed in the last para 
grapn in article 7. and also enclose it with a line, cord, or temporary 
fence to render hunting thereon by licensed hunters nnlawfnl. 
Arts. 13 19. Tue fine for iiifrinetug nny of the abnvo regulations is 
not loss than three yen ($31 nor more, than twenty yen $50) to he doubled 
for a second offense, the offender to be also amenable in damages aud 
the imormer in all cases to have half the line. 
Tuttle Falls, X, Y., February 7th, 1376. 
.Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In yonr article "Game Protection," in the Issue of February 3d, you 
invite suggestions relative to the proposed amendments of the game 
law, and promise to lay snch suggeslious before the New York Associa¬ 
tion for thR Protection of Game. 
There has been considerable discussion among the sportsmen of the 
Mohawk Valley relative to the close season for woodcock, and I believe 
it is generally conceded that the 3d of July is too early to commeuce 
the season. Many of the birds are so small at that time as lo be unfit: 
either to Bhoot or for the table. 1 saw woodcock with down on their 
heads w hicb were shot 5th July last, little things hardly able to fly. 
In this yioinity w oodcock leave ns soon after moulting, and we net 
very little or no fall shooting, and consequently must kill our birds early 
if at all. 
Our association, and the sportsmen generally about here are of the 
opinion that the opening of the season should be deferred to Anguet 1st, 
then we will have a week or two of shooting before the birds moult, 
and wbat we get will be better and stronger for the delay. I would sug¬ 
gest that ihe law be so amended that the season open August 1st. To 
defer the opening beyond this time w ould deprive us who live and shoot 
near the breeding grounds of any-sport, and we certainly think we arc 
enliiled lo our share. Laigu numbers of woodcock breed along the 
streams and springy lands at the edge of the great Northern Wilderness, 
and furnish a considerable portion of the migratory birds which delight 
our friends of the “Southern Tier.” The season hou Id be the same for 
all portions of the State, and the 1st of September, which is advocated 
by some, is too late for ns in the central and northern portions of the 
State who obey the law, and endeavor to induco others to do so. Wo 
succeeded very well the last yeur in protecting the birds, and shall use 
our best efforts to enforce the law, but should the season open later 
than August 1st I fear wc shall be unable to enforce the law at all, onr 
tenure on those who dfsobey sometimes is too slight, and is controverted 
largely by public sentiment, and pntilic sentiment says that ihe 1 st of 
Augnst is late enough Watts T. Loomis, 
President Herkimer Connty Sportsmen’s Association. 
Buffalo, N. V., Feb. 11th, 1S77. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I noticed yonr remarks in regard te offering brouk trout for sale in Ba¬ 
tavia. in ihis week’s Forest and Stream, and trust tbe dealer will he 
made to suffer. One of the Arms here have been doing ihe same thing, 
and I have put the District Attorney ou his track, and he will be made 
to suffer the full penally, if possible. I am greaily surprised at the lack 
of interest in the B’orester Clnb, of (his city, in matters or this kind. 
The club comprises among its members a large number of onr best cl 1 
sens, some of whom are ardent anglers and gnuuers; but they don’t 
Ecem to care whether the gamo laws are lived np to by hunters and deal¬ 
ers or not. The firm I speak of, or any other, might offer brook tront 
for sale all through the close season, or black bass either, as they invari¬ 
ably rlo, and onr citizens wonld look on with indifference—probably bny 
some of the flsh without once thinking there is such a thing as a game 
law. X hope some of ihu members will read this and lake it in good 
part, as it is meant for their benefit. Haoestoi z . 
Salem, Mass., February 14th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I notice an article from Newbnryport upon game protection in your 
last issue. Generally, I agree with the correspondent, though in the matter 
of snipe, I think there are other tilings than the multiplicity or sports¬ 
men which affect our sport w ith this bird. Among my reasms are there: 
First, all observers of fnch things know that birds change their courses 
of migration, influenced by scarcity of food close pursuit, either too 
wet or too dry seasons. Then again, I think the turning up of the rich 
Western Unds, bringing to the surface, or near H, much food, may af¬ 
fect our Eastern shooting. As regards the grounds about Newbnryport, 
I think the mining interests have disturbed the Snipe, and again many 
of the best fields are being cultivated, and they get encroached upon 
each year. About here, in the spring, and of late years, I have seen our 
pastures slice with woodcock, and lame too, but. scarce any remain to 
breed. Ail sportsmen know that wo have our good and bad seasons for 
birds. Ido not think Ihe sniping in this vicinity has grown so very 
mneb poorer in the last five or six years. Everything now is “Go 'West,” 
and it is possible ihe snipe have accepted the invitation. But to facts. 
I have known your friend "Dry Land," and another gentleman to bag 
thirty-flve snipe in one day on the Newonryport grounds within four 
years aud have myself started forty iu a day. 
Since the time above mentioned, wc have had un favorable late springs, 
and for a number of years back dry fails, and If spring shooting is stop¬ 
ped we shall have very little dog work in Eastern Massachusetts. How¬ 
ever, this will oe giving the “solid men” of the Rod and Gun Club all 
the tietler chances In ihe Connecticut Valley Slate, Nutmeg Slate, and 
eo of course we of .the sea-board must;he content with an occasional waif 
and the bay birds. Teal. 
Brooklyn, L. I,, February 15tli, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream.— 
Under the heading of “Game Protection,” in your paper of February 
10. h, I notice in a letter signed “Fred. H. B„" a strong plea in favor of 
the proposed amendment to the existing game law. WiLh regard to 
woodcock, we, or Long island have bat Tittle to suy, and care as little, 
bat in respect to snipe, we most respectfully venture to differ with the 
gentleman. A simple statement as ta the prevailing scuicityof snipe, 
In this region at least, will, I hope, suffice all reasoning minds The 
extensive marshes heretofore abounding in the counties of Queen's and 
Suffolk, have of late been so drained and improved that the former 
grounds tor snipe have almost entirely disappeared, and the number of 
the birds Is yearly becoming “small by degrees, and beautifully less,” 
In this region at least, we And snipe the most useful bird to train a 
young dog on, and should this law pass, we might as well establish a 
regular liattne of dogs, and lot the snipe have their own sw eet will. In 
conclusion, we must submit, that, owing to the recent disapp arance of 
the swamps, if we m.,y shoot no snipe in the spring, we shall have more 
to shoot in the fall. 
Hoping that the Legislative wisdom of the State now assembled in 
Albany will see the justice of onr remarks, we can only repiat that if 
this amendment be past, nirh regard to snipe, a majority of the valua¬ 
ble dogs now ownrd in this Slate, will become practically useless, as it 
will lake at least one half of the time allowed ns to shoot, to get the 
dogs iuto the training which has become destroj ed by their long enforced 
idleness. T. T, 
—A petition is being circulated for more and better 
buoys at Fire Island Inlet. The three inner buoys 
being spars instead of cans, it is said that they are 
enlirely submerged when the tide is strong. The amount 
of liavel through Fire Island Inlet, particularly in summer 
lime, is scarcely appreciated. All of the towns on the 
Great South Bay procure their lumber, bricks, and many 
of their supplies in this way, to say nothing of the large 
fleet engaged ia ihe menhaden fisheries. This matter re¬ 
quires immediate attention. 
LONGEVITY IN MAN. 
F LOURENS and Buffon consider that the natural term 
of existence of man is one hundred years, ju 
Genesis (VI., 3), his days nre numbered Kt ouehundred and 
twenty years. Elsewhere in the 8criplures a good old age 
is estimated at three score and len. At Ihe present time 
the age reached by mankind is much influenced by circum¬ 
stances—by hereditary influences, by ihe observance of 
sanitary taws, as well as by the necessary friction through 
life dependent upon labor, mental anxiety, aud exposure to 
morbific causes, which in a great measure influence tile 
standard of perfect health and longevity. In considering 
the conditions which constitute perfect health we must lake 
into consideration the incidents which occur from the cra¬ 
dle to the grave, or tendencies imparted by progenitors to 
their descendants which admit of modification by training 
and education. A writer has remarked that “the Mosaic 
account of the origin and development of the Jewish race 
has a red line- of genealogical doctrine running through it, 
which presents features of the greatest interest to the stu¬ 
dent of mankind." The “Fortes area liter fortibm et bonin'' 
of Horace is one of the many instances of a recognition of 
Ihe samd principle by profane writers of antiquily, which 
has received larger and more scientific treatment by philo¬ 
sophic inquirers of recent limes. 
The evidences to determine the existence and character- 
of hereditary influences are derived from descendants, 
from collaterals, and from preceding generations. Great 
disparity of age is considered as exercising a prejudicial 
Eminence, although other points may be favorable. The 
offspring of blood relations are less capable of resisting 
morbid influence which sooner or later may be present. 
Tlte change of climate lias its healthful.effect, and children 
born in tropical climates, from healthy parents, are apt to 
succumb unless transferred to colder climates. It has been' 
found, according to Ihe sanitary reports of the Bengal 
Presidency forl8Tl, that deaths in the plains of India of 
European children amounted to 91-4 per 1,000, while at the 
school on Mount Aboo, which is 4,500 feet above the level 
of the sea, deaths have only been 8 per 1,000. Hot house 
plants, over stimulated by fertilizers, are the exact photo¬ 
types of children reared iu climates which change the 
normal period of development. The artificial mode of 
feeding hand-reared children has also a tendency to dwarf 
the brain growth. The processes of nutrition are stunted, 
and by this means the blood is impoverished which should 
support the muscle growth. 
The period of manhood is fixed by law at twenty-one 
years, but physiologically there is no fixed period for man 
to obiain his majority. Until the ago of thirty Lite great 
index of vital power, the chest, continues to expand. It 
has been shown that military recruits are capable of bear¬ 
ing more fatigue when men of maturity. In the United 
States the average height of males is five feet and nine 
inches, while that of females is five feet and two inches. 
In persons exceeding the normal height the chylopa'iic 
viscera do not keep pace with the muscular and osseous 
system. With persons of smaller statue it is different. 
The}'are heller nourished, and consequently heller filled 
for Ihe brunt of life. The full growth of the body is 
reached in thedecenniumof life iu the male; in the female 
at a still later period, but, according to Quetoly, at ihe ago 
of twelve the Weight of both girls and hoys is Ihe same. 
Considerable deviation in the avoirdupoise of individuals 
may arise without impairing the prospect of longevity, 
and these deviations depend on sex, age, habit of life, em¬ 
ployment, race, etc. Respiration and life are synonymous. 
Hence the value placed on a well developed chest which 
serves to keep up the combustion of the system. The 
vital capacity of adult human lungs is estimated as vary¬ 
ing from 108 to 300 cubic inches. 
The decline of life is governed by hereditary and Ihe ac¬ 
quired vigor of the individual. Exhausting influences 
which effect nutrition will cause decay and premature old 
age, which is the only naLural termination of life, it is 
recorded in the 14th and 15th Registrar-GeDeral’s report of 
the mortality of England that of 395,390 deaths from ail 
causes, 35,996 are said to have died of old age, or G-5 per 
cent. This, to American minds, appears lo be too much. 
The experienced physician in this country will not at¬ 
tribute this proportion of deaths to old age—to the wear¬ 
ing out of the machinery unaccompanied by disease. In- 
temperance lias an important influence on longevity. It is 
very difficulty to ascertain when intemperance begins, but 
when it has left its permanent impress, then there is no 
doubt. Venereal excesses and kite intemperate use of 
tobacco, all have their influence in breaking down strong 
and hardy constitutions. 
The consideration of an age Is important in reference to 
this vis vitalis of the individual. When persons appear 
younger than they really are it favors longevity, but the 
reverse indicates precocious development, and if manhood 
is reached it is a sign of premature decay and want of 
normal vigor. Ihe occupation of an individual has an im¬ 
portant bearing on his prospect for long life. Some em¬ 
ployments ate more favorable than others. Certain kinds 
of business develop the taints of disease, inherited or ac¬ 
quired, while others neutralize, as it were, the inherent 
tendency to decay. Asa rule, cities are not so healthy as 
rural districts, the rates of mortality often gives country 
residences eight per cent, the advantages. The modes of 
life must also be considered. The average duration of 
lives of thirty-five English sovereigns is 53.03 years, while 
statesmen’s lives are reckoned at 58 years. Dr. Guy fouud 
the average of the learned professions to be 704 years, and 
of these medical men are classed the highest, a circum¬ 
stance which is surprising, considering the risk Ihey en¬ 
counter from exposure to contagion, and from mental 
anxiety. Among the trades the mortality varies murli. 
Farmers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenlers, tailors, anti 
laborers have hotter chances for long life than miners, 
bakers, butchers, and inn keepers. Diseased persons can 
Often prolong life by pursuing favorable occupations. 
Asthmatics are improved by out door employment, and 
those with heart diseases in pursuing a business free from 
excitement, or that does not tax their minds, Excess in 
drinking is admitted by physicians to be the frequent di¬ 
rect or indirect cause of fatal illness. A constitution en¬ 
feebled by ihe use of alcohol never recovers so readily and 
fully from enervating diseases, 
it is a fact lhat the longevity of females is not affected 
by parturition, this statement is proven by the reports of 
the Registrar-General in England, which embraces a period 
of twenty-five years between the years 1847 and 1871, dur¬ 
ing which the number of deaths of mothers to 10,000 
children horn alive, was 49, or one in 204 parturient, 
women. It wonld seem from lids that pregnancy is. 
women’s safeguard. Hufeland insists, in his “Art of Pro¬ 
longing Life,” that bachelors do not live to advanced age. 
The same is said of persons without occupations. Tlte 
experience of most writers confirm these statements. 
The procreative powers of man arrive at maturity at the 
time of puberty, and are sometimes annulled at an early nge 
by excesses, or by disease. Instances are on record when 
healthy men have become fathers at an advanced age. 
Thomas Bailey', in his “Records of Longevity," gives the 
following: “Thos. Parr, of VV'iutiington, Shropshire, who 
died 1635, aged 152, married at the age of 80 for the first 
time, and lived with his wife for 32 years, but during her 
lifetime, and when 105 years old, he had an illegitimate 
child by Catherine Millon, for which be did pemmcc in 
Alderlmry Church. After the death of his first wife he 
married again at Hie age of 132, and had one child.” Tlte 
vigor of the offspring depends upon the vigor of the pa¬ 
rents. It is, therefore, not physiologically desirable that 
there should be a great disparity of age between father aud 
mother. The writer recollects a ease where the father 
at 85 married a wife whose age was 30, aud Ihree children 
were born to them, all of which possessed the known 
weakness of intellect of their father, aud at Hie age of 
puberty were scarcely able to take care of themselves. It 
seems desirable, iu order lo favor longevity, that both pa¬ 
rents be in full vigor, for if the parents are very young, 
or very'old, the same stamina of constitution is not im¬ 
parted to their offspring. J, s. B. 
—What Springfield does she does well. The great poul¬ 
try show in that city, iu which the Poultry Associations of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut had I lie assistance of Ihe 
Rod and Gun Club, was a great success, due not less lo the 
gentlemen of the club than to the breeders of fine poultry 
throughout ihe Stale, who sent their best specimens, and 
made a display worthy of the occasion. The efforts of I lie 
Rod and Gun Club will next be directed towards their 
great Bench Show of dogs to be held ou the 27lh. of April. 
—Last week 25,000 California salmon trout, from the 
Donegal hatching-house, arrived at Euston, and were 
placed in the Bushkill, under the direction of Commis¬ 
sioner Mr. Howard J, Reeder, of the Pennsylvania Fish 
Commission. 
—There is no better indication of Ihe growth of field 
sports in this country than the manner in which public 
holidays are passed. The rifle bulls and pigeon imps 
even at Ihis season atlract crowds who before looked upon 
the matinee as the popular means of amusement. 
Camp Life in Florida.— For those who are prevented 
from taking their anticipated trip to Florida we cau com¬ 
mend this book as a substitute. The graphic descriptions 
of the most interesting and beautiful part of Florida nre 
only exceeded in interest by the localities themselves. 
Everybody who is at all interested in the State should have 
a copy. 
■--*♦-*- - 
—I go to the woods after game; but. if the game is not 
there, I get nuts; if there are no nuts t gather Dowers or 
leaves; if all fail, yet I get health, a little woodcraft, nr by 
grace of heaven, a thought. I am not of lltose who find 
that the road is only good to leave behind them.— Golden 
Rule. 
—Robert B. Taylor, who resides in Gunpowder Neck, in 
Harford county, Md , killed the other day T on Chesapeake 
Bay, a swan weighing 25 pounds and 2 ounces, and meas¬ 
uring 7 feet 64 inches from tip lo tip. 
—Col. H. A. Gildersleeve, Jndee of the Court of the City nrd County 
of New York, member of the American Rifle Team of 187J. and Captain 
of the American Rifle Team of 1875, writes os follows to the Sharps Rifle 
Company, Bridgeport, Conn,:— 
E. G. Westoott. Esq., President:— 
Dear Sir: -I have used your different Rifles for the past twoyears with 
great pleasure and success. 
■ I regard them as second to no Rifle in the world for strength nod 
simplicity of mechanism, excellence of finish, and sccuiarv or exri u- 
tion. No one need have a butter arm than they have prmed themsi lies 
to bo in the International malches, at Oreedmoor in 1874, and at Doily- 
mount, Wimbledon, and Clandeboye, in 1875. 
“Yonrs very truiy. 
“H. A. GILDERSLEEVE." 
"New York,December 1st, 18i6."— A(/». 
Thompson & Son, 833 Broadway, use no sugar of lead in waterproof¬ 
ing their suits. Sugar of lead wil.’ not ataud washing, and i mongst old 
sportsmen la considered detrimental to health,making ihem liable to 
rheumatic attacks. Thompson's sails ore guaranteed to lie thoroughly 
waterproof, even aftor being washed, and are us good and cheaper Hum 
any other suits in the market .—A tfvntisement. 
