FOREST AND STREAM 
91 
PIGEON MATCHES. 
Brie, Pa.—T wo matches were shot at this place a few 
days since, both at 21 yards rise, 80 boundary. The first 
was between sides, and resulted as follows:— 
TttoairaoN’s BIDE. 
Name. Total.I Name. Total. 
J. B. Thomason.... 6IH. Carey. 6 
H. C. Lynch . 9 J. Mutcaf . 7 
W. W. Durby. «| — 
Total...33 
niDDLB'S BIDE. 
Name. Total.I Name. Total. 
J. Riddle. 8 J. Graham.10 
J Just is... 6C, Olds. 6 
G. Davis..81 ' — 
Total. .18 
The other resulted in a tie, and there being uo more 
birds on the ground, it was uot shot ofE. Below is the 
score:— 
Name. Total.I Name. Total. 
W. W. Darby. 0 JackRirtdle. 6 
II, Carey. a|Jnke Graham. 3 
—A match waB shot on the grounds of the Long Island 
Club on Thursday, which created some interest, from the 
rather peculiar conditions attached to it. Mr. Henry 
Brooks, of New York, talked business to the extent of 
$250, to kill 13 out of 25 of any birds that could he trap¬ 
ped for him. The gentleman backing the birds procured 
some remarkably fast pigeons, that so bothered Mr. Brooks 
that he retired, after killing 5 ont of 19. Mr. Parks was 
referee. 
The Dittmar Powder.— Mr. Carl Dittmar writes us, 
apropos of the manufacture of his powder, that his patent 
covers two distinct kinds of powder, one for blasting, and 
one for sporting. He says, in referring to a letter from 
Mr. Burges, which we published:— 
Neponset, Mass., Fab. 4th. 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
I never have need, and nevor shall use for tny sporting powder snch 
dangerous materials as uitro-glycerine, chlorate of potash, picric acid, 
etc. If my powder is put on an anvil and struck with a hammer it does 
uot explode, which shows that It cannot contain nitre-glycerine or chlor¬ 
ate of potash. I am sorry that Mr. Burges has been unlucky In the use 
of my powder, hut this was last spring when my powder was soft and 
could be squeezed together loo easily iu a small space. Since first of 
September, last year, 1 make an entirely different powder, mnch harder 
grain, not so compressible as the first. But even with the softest kind, 
1 made in the first time, I have not been able to Injure my guns. 1 can 
use it in the strongest as well as In the weakest, I have exchanged lots 
of it for the new kind and have tried what 1 got hack, over and aver 
again without bad results, so I think that the fanlt can only have been in 
loading loo haid. All the new kind is put up in canisters like black 
powder, and as I pnt my own signature on every can. none is genuine 
without that. I warrant for evpry can with my signature ou it. I hope 
that those gentlemen who expressed themselves favorable to my powder 
in yonr last issue will continue to use it after this explanation. I can 
make it always uniform, and shall not make any change in those brands 
which nave the approval of the public. 1 shall change the finer grades of 
rifle powder, which have been pronounced loo quick for breech-loaders. 
I cau give any desired strength, quickness or slowness. At the present 
I am experimenting to give the powder a water-proof coating, so as to 
make it absolutely indifferent against dampness. If I change the powder 
it snail only he for improvement. I am in hopes to convince, by and by, 
even the strongest adversaries to my powder, that it performs all what 1 
claim. Cheapness will follow with the increased demand. 
Card Dittmar. 
A WORD FOR THE KAY CONCENTRA¬ 
TOR. 
Newark, N. J., March, 4th, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The close seaeon is almost over, and the voice of the eoipe—"soaip! 
scaip! scaip!"—shall be heard in the land, and that right soon we hope, 
so as to gratify the lovers of dog and gnu, with an opportunity to draw 
on their water-proof boots, and try the low lands In this vicinity, for 
their favorite bird—and be more sncoessfnl than were many sportsmon 
the last season. 
In truth, we have passed through a very dull winter, dnli in business 
as well as dull in field sports, as the shooting season just past will abun¬ 
dantly verify. Qmiil and fall woodcock, anything but plenty, and (he 
experience of onr shooting friends accords directly with onr own; birds 
scarce, wild, and very hard to get. It may not be out of place for me to 
say to our shooting friends, right here, that we have an invention, got np 
in this city, that should commend itself to the friends of the shot gun, 
particularly when birds am wild and shy, that may help them to fill their 
game bags, when ordinary methods would not prevail. This Invention 
is known as the -Kay cartridge concentrator,” and according to our own 
limited experience, it fills the wants of the gauner very much better than 
anything of the kind it has been onr pleasure to use. They are mar¬ 
velously exact in distribution, penetration, and distance. In addition, 
they are economical and more convenient to load, carry, and handle, than 
loose shot, besides this, they equalize tne shooting of a gun to a degree 
that would be more than surprising to one who had not used them. 
Having mentioned a few of the good resnlts from the “Kay concentra¬ 
tor" to your sporting readers, we trnst that some of them will try the 
concentrator, each for himself, to his own satisfaction, and give us an 
opportunity, through your valuable columns, to judge of his success or 
otherwise, with them. Feathered, or in fact, any kind of game is very 
scarce, and hard to get through this thickly populated section, and there 
must be something more than loose shot used to reach the birds, and 
should this “Kay concentrator” touch the desired point so much the 
better for us who are partial to field sports. Rip-Rat. 
WILD PIGEONS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
Altoona, Fa., March 10th, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Having returned from a wild pigeon hunt, I thought it would be Of in¬ 
terest to 4, let your readers know something of it. Pigeons are around 
here by the millions. On Tuesday, March 7th, they flew over our city in 
a constant steady stream, for over an hour, and in a line a mile or more 
in width. I do not stretch the truth, and this is but a small portion of 
them already here, being a fresh arrival. If any of you or yonr friends, 
want f tin, tell them to come on—indications are that they will remain, 
Would be willing to answer any questions in regard to them_. Jnstto 
think of it, place yourself behind a slump, lay gun, shells, an<f ammuni¬ 
tion on the ground, and reload gun and shells at intervals, and shoot con¬ 
stantly for four or five hours straight ahead, until you have your fill. I 
shot 150, when I had to stop for want of ammunition. J. W. F. 
CHOKE-BORES. 
8m—Having purchased one of Greener’s No. IS choke-bores this sea¬ 
son, Ibeg to give yon the following as my experience of ft. I consider 
it kills on an average at least twenty yards further than a non-choke- 
bore, and, if large shot is used, will kill at extraordinary distances. I 
myself kilted a heron sitting at more than a hundred yards, and, on 
skinning the bird, found he was hit in five places, I have also tried it 
on wild fowl with gooa success nt distances at which an ordinary gun 
wonld not have been of any service, I have made good bags on Bnipe 
and other game during the laBt month without smashing the birds. 
Leamington', Jan- 10 ih. B. S. 
Sin—I often read inquiries in yonr columns about choke-bored guns. I 
purchased a 13 bore last September direct from Greener, and must ssy 
that 1 have killed a few most extraordinary shots, viz: a wood-pigeon 
(single bird) at least one hundred yards distant; several partridges at or 
over eighty yards; one rabbit running broadside on, distance measuted 
eighty-one yards. I pat five No, U shot into her, two of them passing 
clear through. Another most extraordinary shot: I fired at a mallard 
rising from the Thames, wonnded the bird snfllcieiiUy for my compan¬ 
ion to walk np to and kill it afterwards. The distance was judged by 
threB friends with me to be at least 150 yards. No. 4 shot used. I am 
prepared to prove all these statements, if required, by independent wit¬ 
nesses. I have since purchased a second gun for a friend, and lhat luma 
ont equally good. William Box. 
Uffimjinton, Farrlngdon , Berks, Jan, 10 th. 
Sib—R eading so much on the merits and demerits of choke-bores. I 
Bhonldlike to give my experienos. Last spring Mr. Greener converted 
my favorite muzzle-loader—a 12 bore, weighing over 8 pounds, made by 
his father—into a modified choke 10-bore, breech-loader, lever action. 
The gun was finished in June, and on trial at the target for pattern 1 
was perfectly satisfied that it wonld be of good service ngain. In the 
first week of August I used the gnn on ducks with a charge of good 8i 
drachms powder, (No. 4 Curtis & Harvey’s), 11 oz. No. 6 chilled shot, 
turned over with a thin stiff cardboard wad- I fired twelve shots, 
brought to bag eleven ducks. Only one gave me any tronble to recover 
(the second bird of a doubto shot), which most have been at least eighty 
yards from me when struck; being on the banks of a large pool in ad¬ 
vance of a boat. I paced the distance. Ducks were killed dead from 
forty-five to seventy-five yards. The gun has been used all the season 
on partridges, phoasants, rabbits, woodcock, Bnipe, shoots hotter than 
when a mnzzlc-loader, and is in every respect superior to any of my 
other guns on the old system. A second gnn 1 ordered from Mr. 
Groener—n 12 bore—it shoots first-rate, the game is not all smashed at 
short distances, but killed cleau, and in my opinion “choko-boring” is a 
great improvement in guns. J. S. Phillips. 
The Siam)' Bouse, Kiinuorth, near Leicester, Jan, 19 th 
—From the London Field. 
§achting and jganiing. 
All communications tram Secretaries and friends should be maUed no 
later than Monday in each week. 
HIGH WATER, FOR THE WEEK. 
Bate. 
Boston. 
New Tort. 
Charleston. 
H. M. 
FI. M. 
n. m 
Mar. lfl. 
3 3 
ove. 37 
11 51 
Mar. 17... 
3 <51 
1 
Mar. 78. 
4 45 
2 S3 
0 V 4f> 
Mar. 19 . 
5 47 
3 33 
1 47 
Mar. 20. 
6 51 
4 31 
2 61 
Mar. . . 
7 19 
5 SO 
3 49 
Mar. 22. 
8 45 
6 20 
4 45 
THE BOAT FOR FLORIDA. 
A N interesting chapter is contained in ‘'Camp Life in 
Florida" regarding an outfit for Florida; butpracti- 
cal experience, as well as the results of observation, induce 
me to offer a few criticisms, as well as suggestions, regard¬ 
ing the boat for Florida. Thousands of sportsmen visit 
this State annually, and among them are scores, if not hun¬ 
dreds, who would enjoy a boat cruise, if they could ob¬ 
tain a craft adapted to Florida rivers and lakes. 
A want is expressed through the columns of the For¬ 
est and Stream for an improved rod and reel, or other 
sporting appliance, and the needed article is produced. 
Such being the case, I shall offer a ew slug -si i n - to t) ml; 
builders, regarding a boat adapted to the requirements of 
Southern waters and sports, and trust that action will he 
taken and the want supplied. I have carefully examined 
a number of boats built by the most celebrated builders of 
the North, and humbly express it as my opinion that they 
are not adapted .to Florida waters. These boats unques¬ 
tionably meet all the requirements of northern rivers and 
lakes, where lightness and portability are desiderata; but 
these very conditions unfit them for Florida. Some of out- 
rivers are several miles in width, and many of our lakes 
are extensive, and upon both rough water is frequently ex¬ 
perienced, requiring for their navigation a sea-worthy boat. 
For use on the southwest coast they must be able, for al 
certain points the sportsman must adopt a route outside of 
reefs, keys, and main land. Then again, some of our bays 
are twenly miles wide, and a light breeze kicks up an un¬ 
comfortable sea, in which a canoe or light shallow boat 
containing the necessary amount of sporting traps would 
be found uncomfortable, if not actually dangerous. 
In many portions of the State where game exists in the 
greatest quantity, it is impossible to replenish the locker, 
and it is absolutely necessary to transport enough “belly 
timber” for a two or three weeks’ cruise. Hence a boat 
adapted to the wants and requirements of a Florida trip 
must possess stowage aud carrying capacity under deck, 
so that the necessaries of life and sporting impedimenta 
can be protected from raiD, as well as water. In addition, 
she must be sea-worlhy, so that the sportsman can safely 
navigate our rivers, lakes, and coast lines. A light, frail 
boat built of paper, bass wood, or white cedar, will uot 
answer on the soulhwest coast; for in this section 
extensive coon oyster bars, and limestone reefs exist every¬ 
where. Coon oysters are small, and form extensive beds, 
the edges of the shells as sharp as knives pointing heaven¬ 
ward, creating sad havoc with the bottom of a boat. The 
horizontal limestone reefs have been extensively disinte¬ 
grated, and present innumerable sharp points, each one 
capable of perforating the bottom of a light frail boat. 
A boat for Florida should be supplied at a cheap rate, 
so that it may be used for a season and abandoned or 
sold at a discount. Sandpapering, oiling, varnishing, and 
fancy fixings should give place to utility, adaptability, 
strength, atld common paints. Such a boat should be sup¬ 
plied with a sail of sufficient size to propel her; and she 
should be adapted to rowing when an ash oar breeze can be 
used to advaniage, as during a calm, or in ascending or de¬ 
scending rivers. 
Great lightness; is not so much to be desired as carrying 
capacity and sea worthiness; tor we have an ample supply 
of railroads, steamboats, and bullock drays to transport 
boats from point to point, and in (he case of the two for¬ 
mer, measurement and not weight determines the freight; 
charges. In a recent issue of ihe Forest and Stream I 
noticed that Mr. Bishop’s head is level, for in ilislast, trip 
lie abandoned the paper canoe for a “Barnegat sneak-box," 
as a means of conveyance. Having used these boats at 
Barnegat, I can fully appreciate the wisdom of Mr. 
15.’s selection. But for the use of sportsman in Florida 
waters, there is wanted a modification of I he “sneak-box" 
as follows: Length, 14 feet; beam, 4 feet 4 inches; width 
of stern, 3 feet 3 inches, space between deck and ceiliug, 
20 inches; floor midships, nearly flat; wall sides midships; 
deck,bottom, and sides, white cedar, i inches thick; timbers, 
natural curve, sawn from white cedar; model same as 
Barnegat sueuk box from midships aft; forward of this point 
like Whitehall boat, without any deck shear. Deck fill¬ 
ings, same as in sneak box; stool rack (or moveable comb¬ 
ing), abaft cock-pit, useful to carry hatch, water keg, an¬ 
chor, and other plunder on deck; small, but tight-fitting 
hatch in after deck, to enable spoi lsmen to stow and reach 
stores; moveable batch, as in sneak box, so that owner ban 
convert his boat into a Saratoga trunk, and lock up liis 
plunder when he is disposed to leave same; mast, spril, 
and oars of a suitable length to stow under duck. The ob¬ 
jection to the sneak box is the want of storage, capacity 
forward, and the thumping and pounding of the waves 
when working to windward. 
Such a boat as iniperfecily described would be found 
sea-worthy will! a large freight, and would carry two per¬ 
sons with two or three weeks’ provender. Such a boat 
would uot be oruamenlal, but would prove useful to the 
sportsman aud adventurous lourisl, and we trust that some 
enterprising boat-builder will construct such a craft; for 
we believe it would supply a want. Such a boat, and only 
such, is adapted to the wan's of Florida sportsmen, and we. 
feci assured thut the builder would find a market, if ihe 
boats were placed in the hands of a proper agent in Jack¬ 
sonville; cost of transportation to Jacksonville by sailing 
vessel from New York would be less than $5. 
We again repeat lhat fancy work, brass mountings, 
fancy woods, sandpapering, and varnishing will not meet 
the requirements of the State; but cheapness, strength, 
sca-worlhinebs, cairying capacity, stowage loom, protection 
of plunder from rain and water, and adaptability lo lake, 
river, and coast line navigation arc the requirements to be 
met. Who will construct a boat adapted to the wauls of 
Florida sportsmen y An Fiiesco. 
Jno/MonoUle, March isf, 1873. 
—Yachting was inaugurated in this country in 1844 by 
Ibe creation of the New York Yacht Club. Now there 
are about fifty yacht clubs, owning eight bundled yachts 
or more. The New York Club alone lias eighty sailing 
and steam vessels, 
Brooklvn Yacht Club.— This club bold its regular 
monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, the President, 
Mr, P. fV. Ostrander, in the chair. The Treasurer, Mr. Clmn- 
cey M. Felt, reported lhat the bahiuce or. hand from the 
last report, was $314 91; leccipls since, $(>57, making a to¬ 
tal of $971.91. Payments since last- report, $354.79, leav¬ 
ing* balance on hand of $317.31. A lor in of certificate 
of measurement was reported by the Regatta Committee, 
aud Cnpt. Hall moved that the owner or owners of each 
yacht enrolled in the Brooklyn Yacht Club and flying its 
signal, be required to lake a certificate of measurement, 
properly filled out by the measurer, according to the foi m 
just adopted. 
The by laws were so amended as to read that, when a 
yacht owned l>y several parties was enrolled in the regia ret 
of the club, the party so enrolling her should be held re¬ 
sponsible for compliance th the sailing of said yacht with 
the rules of ihe club. 
Ou motion of Cnpt. Huntley it was voted that the min¬ 
utes of the club of Nov. lOlh, 1875, be so couched as lo' 
show that the Regatta CommiMi e reporied that the Schemer 
was the winner in the race held at Greenpoint fast sum¬ 
mer, in the coutesl between second-class yachts. 
Letters of resignation were real from Messrs. Cutwater, 
Stratton, Livingston, W. C. Fowler, Hubbard, Fields, 
Franklin, James Gordon Bennett, and Alfred JJ. Snow. 
The resignations were accepted. 
St. Augustine Yacht Club. —On the 2d inst. the ves¬ 
sels of flic St. Augustine Yacht Club left ihe oily ou Urn 
annual cruise to Alatanzas. Seven vessels in all fallowed 
the Commodore's signal from the Saucy Kate, ami with 
single-reefed mainsails bowled out of the harbor before a 
strong northwest breeze. Matauzos, eighteen utiles dis¬ 
tant, was reached abGut one P. M., and at five Ihe mem¬ 
bers of the club reported for dinner, which had been an¬ 
nounced and provided by Mr. S. Cl. Wbilney, of the Lunch 
Basket. At ten o’clock ou the following morning the fleet 
started again for St. Augustine in a Handicap race, the 
wind blowing almost a gale from the northeast. The of¬ 
ficial time of the arrival of the fleet abreast the Govern¬ 
ment schooner, anchored off the wharf, is as follows. 
America, 1:15:40 P. M.; Belle, 1:40; Fleetwing, 1:55; Saucy 
Kale, 2:07. The Genrietta, Seminole, and Neva did not 
sail over the entire course, consequently no lime taken. 
The International Regatta, —Commodore Ferguson, 
of the Schuylkill Navy, has received communications from 
the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Dublin Uni¬ 
versity Rowing Club, in response to ihe invitation of the 
navy to participate in the international regatta this sum¬ 
mer. President Close, of the Cambridge University Club, 
snyB he has no doubt that one crew from Cambridge will 
accept, even though the University Boat Club itself does 
not. He will bring the matter forward at the next general 
meeting of this club, but hardly thinks any definite answer 
can be made until the race with Oxford is over. President 
Bush, or the Dublin University Club, states that Mr. La- 
bat will row under the name and color of the club in the 
single scull race. He adds that he has uo doubt that tho 
club will be represented by a four-oared crew at the regat¬ 
ta. It is considered probable that Oxford has also conclud¬ 
ed to accept. 
CENTENNIAL REGATTA FUND. 
Philadelphia, Pa., March 7th, 1&70, 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Permit mu to acknowlcgo through your column? a subscription of 
$50 00 from the.Chicago .Scullers for the pr[*e fund of the Centennial 
Regatta, also I, he sum of $100.00 from the Bachelor 1 * B.irgaClub of Phil¬ 
adelphia, for file same fiiipl, On behalf of the commuted would I limilc 
these clabjj for Iheir geucroitu subscriptions. Jas. M. Ferguson, 
Commoco.e 5. N„ 
