FOREST AND STREAM 
171 
Which I could not ash a great many questions, which should be an¬ 
swered in (lie pages. It may he said that my ignorance is deplorable, 
hut if one knows all about such things, he baa no need of any book, and 
if lie doea not, ho wauts a bookthat will tell him. And just here, I think, 
lies Mr. Burges' fault. lie knows ao much himself that lie overlooks the 
necessity of going into details for the benefit of rhoae lees learned. And, 
moreover, there are numerous points, legitimately pertaining to the snb- 
jecl, which he ignores entirely; for instance, the period of gestation of 
the dog, all remarks on the size, shape, and general structure of the 
kennel ilself. In other words, he has made a small book out of wltal—in 
order to do any justice to its title—should be a large one, and the worst 
Of it is that its high Bounding title and corresponding price, and the 
name of the author, ate apt to deceive those who are obliged to order it 
unseen into a wrong estimate or its real practical value, as they aid 
your humble servant. V index. 
Brine to begin at 1,000 yards, at which range 20 shots will 
be Bred; then 900 yards, where Iff shots will be Bred, 
closing at 800 yards with 10 shots; no sighting shots; 
entrance i'ee, $1; badge to go to the competitor hav¬ 
ing the greatest number ot bull’s-eyes at the respective 
ranges? to he won three times before becoming property of 
winner. 
—Tlte first match of a home and home series between the 
Centennial teams of the Newark Shooting Society and New 
York Shutzen Corps will be shot at the Shooting Park, 
Newark, N. J., on the 24th inst. There will be prize shoot¬ 
ing on the same day, in which all riflemen are invited to 
participate. 
Massachusetts — Salem, April 15/7t.—Snipe are along- 
Your friend “Dry Land" shot the first one the 11th, and 
there are a few shot every day now. Uplauds and kildecr 
plover are with us. Ilawks numerous; olher spring mi¬ 
grants are on time; bay ducks scarce; whistlers cleared 
out; a few sheldrake or mergansus left. I shot two blue- 
bills yesterday afternoon. Weather and grounds “bang- 
up” for snipe. Bifle shooting is taking a Blart in our vi¬ 
cinity. Teat., 
New Bedford, April 141A.—Birds arc beginning to arrive 
quite freely—snipe, woodcock, etc.; plenty of geese Hying 
northward daily. Gunuiia. 
-•*•♦- 
CHOKE-BORING. 
CLUMBER SPANIELS. 
St. Lotus, Mo., April lfJtb, 1878. 
.Editor Forest and Stream:— 
1 was well pleased to see in the Forest and Stream of April 6th. a 
communication, from “B. S., of KeiUvillO, N. S.,” having had the 
pleasure of shooting woodcock over his dogs in the autumn of 1874, and 
thoroughbred little fellows they are indeed. I hope that 1 may see much 
more from ttie pen of 13. S. in the columns of Forest and Strram. Will 
he report the advent or migratory woodcock and snipe in the autumn 
for the benefit of New England sportsmen? Aod since he cannot hunt 
moose in Nova Scotia this year, let ua have an occasional hunt on paper, 
and many readers will accompany him in spirit. The hunting days of 
my setters that he admired so much are now over, but 1 can show him a 
pair even superior Lo them when the opportunity arrives, wbichT hope it 
may ere another twelvemonth passes. Roawer. 
§ln gifte. 
Connecticut Bifle Association.— The Connecticut 
Bifle Association, at their meeting in Hartford April 6, ap¬ 
pointed a committee consisting of Messrs. Davidson, Hub- 
hard and Pillard to consult with parties interested, aud to 
locate the new range at Beilin, if suitable arrangements can 
be made with property holders. The site proposed for 
Connecticut’s Creedmoor is near the Berlin junction, eleven 
miles south of Hartford, on the line of the New York, New 
Haven and Hartford Bailroad, and withal a fine location, 
being easy of access from the principal cities of the State, 
and in a locality where a safe range of 1,000 yards can be 
obtained. It has not as yet been made public what success 
(he committee have had towards securing the land, but it 
is hoped that the property owners will not stand in the 
way of the intentions of the association by refusing them 
the grounds. 
BERGEN POINT RIFLE ASSOCIATION. 
Okkedmoou.—T he first out door match of the season 
was shot, at Creedmoor on Saturday last, the occasion being 
the contest for the Lulhei Badge, at long range. The 
weather was very unfavorable, the wind blowing half a 
gale across the range, and the scores made much below the 
average. There were sixteen entries, the conditions being 
two sighting and five scoring shots at 800, 900 and 1,000 
yards. The following are the scores of all the contestants 
excepting Messrs. L. Webber and T. Hyde. 
Names. Yards. Scots. Total. Gr. total 
( SOD....3 5 4 5 5....22 ) 
L. M, Ballard....-■ U00....0 4 3 3 B....15> 54 
I 1000. ...3 3 3 5 S. ...17 
i SOU....4 4 3 3 5....19 1 
IS, H. Raymond. J 900_4 5 4 4 4....S1 V 53 
(WOO....4 0 3 3 a....w( 
i 800....3 3 4 3' 5....171 
Limit. Col. W. B. Farwell.... 4 900 _5 3 5 it 3_15 - 50 
( 11)00. ...3 2 5 5 3.... IS j 
800....5 3 5 4 4....all 
L.Goigec...1 900....3 5 0 4 4....16V 60 
( WOO. ..0 3 3 4 3.... 13 \ 
l 800....2 5 3 3 3....W 1 
G. W. Yale.4 1)00....3 3 3 4 B_15 L 47 
(woo....4 0 4 4 4....w( 
l 800....4 4 2 3 5....181 
Lieut. A. Anderson. 4 900....3 2 3 2 5....lib 46 
W00....3 5 3 0 3... 131 
800. ...8 5 2 0 it.... 10 I 
A. Ratllbono. .-! 900....4 2 5 2 3....I6V 45 
(WOO....5 4 5 5 0....19 ) 
800 ...3 5 3 5 6 ...31 I 
I S. G. Perry.4 800....3 3 0 8 0.... 9 V 45 
(1000.. ..3 0 5 5 3.... 15 J 
( 800....3 3 4 0 3....13) 
N. WaehbnrBe.4 900....5 5 3 2 2....17V 45 
( tOGC* 4 4 2 0 5..,,15 ) 
1 8110....4 3 4 4 3....IS) 
Eomei;Fislier. ..4 900....0 4 5 0 4.... 1SV 42 
( WOO... 0 2 3 3 3....11 j 
1 800....4 4 3 3 2....15) 
A. J. Hcnnion, Jr .4 rtOO.,,,1 4 4 3 3....18V 53 
( WOO ...0 3 2 0 0.... 51 
l 800 3 .0 3 3 3_12) 
E. M. Litchfield..4 900....5 0 4 1 3....15 S- 28 
(W00....0 0 0 0 0.... 00 4 
l SOIL ...0 8 3 4 3... 13 j 
Majorn. S. Jowolt.4 900... 0 0 4 3 0. 7 b 27 
(UIUJ....0 4 0 3 It..., r) 
I 800 ...0 0 S 3 4. ...401 
J. McGleusey.s 900_0 0 0 0 0....00 J9 
W00....3 3 3 0 0.... 9! 
Berger Point; N. J., April 1st, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The Bergen Point Rifle Association waa organized in the early part ot 
1875, the membership limited to thirty, which was withiu a very short 
lime Oiled with gentleman taking a lively interest in rifle practice, and 
as a natural consequence one may hear the crack of the rifle upon uor 
range every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, both winter and sum¬ 
mer. We have a 200 yard range, situated near Newark Bay, and a small 
olub house erected on the grounds, which wc use during the winter sea- 
sou and stormy weather to shoot from. Our practice is all done strictly 
in accordance with the rules of the National Itifle ABSocialiou, aud wc 
now think that wo can turn out guile a strong team; At any rate wo 
stand ready to try conclusions in a friendly maicll with any of our New 
Jci'.-ey brethren. 
Having just entered upon the Bccond year of our existence, wc can 
justly feel prautf of the flourishing condition of the association, and 
with the interest taken by all the members in everything pertain¬ 
ing to the good aud welfare of the club, we look forward to many pleas¬ 
ant afternoons, and indeed profitable ones, duriug the year, We intend 
making, every three months, a quarterly average account of our shoot¬ 
ing, which we would be pleased to forward you from time to lime, if yon 
Uilnk.il of enough importance for publication. The following is the 
average for the quarter ending March 31st:— 
Standing. Names. No. shots. Total score. Average. 
J. J. T. B. L'ollinB.30 125 4.16 
2. F. Schilling.082 119-1 4.08 
3. A. K. Warner....110 422 3.83 
4. Hr. J. Hickman. 60 247 3.18 
ft. J. O. Simmons.1 0 671 8.72 
6. II. .1. Siilaou.123 452 3 67 
7 A. Vrriicnbuigh.199 726 8 61 
8. H. Meigs, Jr.120 431 3.59 
9, R. V- R Sctinyler. 10 35 3.06 
10. L. L. spring. 10 ’.33 3.32 
11. J. Newman. 64 2U9 3.20 
12. Col. O. W. Fuller. 70 225 3.21 
18. G. U. Galo. 30 U5 3.16 
14. llr. J, Finn.173 535 S.-U 
is. B. K. Pox . 47 145 3.08 
16. F. G. Payn.280 857 3.06 , 
17. A. P. Viedeiihurgh. 90 272 ,8.02 
18. G. H. Kennedy. 30 88 2.93 
19. 0. ZaS .110 2(8 2.70 
20. U. Jones.,... 84 226 2.69 
Toials. .2142 7365 3.43 
A. P. VRRtinRNHtrRGU, Secretary. 
mine 
puj and ] 
So strong waa the force of the wind that Copt. Anderson, 
whose wind guage was too short to permit of his making 
. the proper allowance at 900 and 1,000 yards, aimed at No. 
5 target and actually succeeded in hitting Ho. 6 nine out 
of ten times. The Luther Badge has now been contested 
lor seven limes, and the contest for it promises to he one 
of the standing events of the season, 
Creedmoor Jr. —The return match between teams of 
six, representing the employes of Howard, gauger & Co., 
and the New York Life Insurance Company, took place at 
this range on Saturday, resulting in a victory for the latter 
by the score of 227 to 218. 
The 2cl Gold Badge o£ the U. M. Co. competitions was 
won by Mr. D. H. Stephens, of Biverton, Conn,, on a total 
> score of 210 out of a possible 250. The 3d prize was 
Won by J. McGlensey, with a Bcore of 209. The All-Corn¬ 
ers Gold Badge was also won by Mr. McGlensey with the 
fine score of 223, out of a possible 250. 
Another Match with the Irishmen. —A.meeting of 
( the Executive Committee of the Amateur Bifle Club was 
held on Monday last, the principal business of which was 
to consider a reply to the following challenge:— 
Irish Rifle Association, No. 110 Grafton Street, I 
Dublin, March 22d, 1876. f 
Mt Dear Sir—1 have been requested to acquaint von thatat a meeting 
of the Irish Rifle Association, held this day, the following resolution was 
unanimously adopted, viz.:— 
| Besolmd. That a challenge be sent to the riflemen of America (through 
I the Amateur Rifle Cmb of New York) to shoot a return match on similar 
terms to those already shot at Creedmoor in 1874, and Dollymountlu 
1875, save as to targets and rifles, which are to be Greedmoor targets and 
"any rifles,” according .to Creedmoor rule", the match to take place as 
soon as possible after the conclusion of the Centennial ma'ches. 
May 1 request you will be so good as to lay this communication before 
yon r club, and accept it as the challenge which my association desires to 
offer. 
1 am, my dear sir, most truly yours, 
Henri H. Foster, Honorary Secretary. 
To the Secretary Amateur Rifle Club, New York. 
The challenge was accepted, aud the Secretary directed 
to acknowledge receipt of the letter. 
The bull’s-eye trophy offered for competition by Mr. 
Leonard Geiger, of Hudson, N. Y., was accepted, aud 
Saturday next agreed ou as the time tor the first competi¬ 
tion, Major Josepit Holland acting as executive officer, the 
ghooliug to begin at eleven o’clock A. M. sharp. Entries 
can be made on the range till that time. The matGh is 
£ipep to all comers; distances 800, 900, and 1,000 yards? 
GAME IN SEASON IN APRIL. 
Wild duck, geese, brant, Ac. 
Game in Market. —A few canvas backs continue to 
come into market from the South, although the season is 
over and the slight demand has sent prices down to $2 per 
pair; red-heads are worth $1; wigeou, broad bills, black 
ducks, etc., from 50 cents to $1, according to quality; 
wild geese, $1 each. English snipe are very abundant, and 
line Jersey birds are selling for $2.50 per dozen; wild 
pigeons are worth $2.50. 
Some Fine Guns.— We had the pleasure a few days 
since of inspecting one of the finest guns we have ever 
seen. It was made by Messrs. W- & C. Scott & Son, and 
imported by H. C. Squires for Mr, L. A. Brigham, of Jersey 
City. The gun is a treble grip “premier" with two sets of 
barrels, one 10-gauge, weighing 9f pounds, and the other 
12-gauge, weighing 8 pounds; cost, $400, gold. At the 
same time we saw another fine gun by the same makers, 
and imported through Mr. Squires for a very intimate 
friend of our own. This gun has Messrs. Scott’s newpa- 
ent top action triplex lever grip, the strongest action known, 
and is aremarkably fine, though plain, gun, It has already 
acquitted itself on-snipe to the entire satisfaction of the 
owner. 
—Large flocks of pigeons are sojourning near Sandy 
Creek, Oswego County' this State. 
—The Onondago County Sportsmen’s Club will hold a 
tournament at East Syracuse at no very distant day, and 
contest for prizes to the amount of two thousand dollars. 
—William Fage and Henry Gale shot for the Onondaga 
Club medal on Saturday last at Syracuse, and Mr. Fage 
won by the following score:— 
Fage. 1 o 1 1 i 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 11 
Gale.0 0 0 1 1 0 1 111 01101 9 
Seneca . 
Hew York— Rochester April 10 1h .—Great flocks of 
pigeons have been Hying over this city, aud the woods 
along the lake shore cast and west of the city are full 
of them. An army of sportsmen have started out for 
I them, aud pot-pies vvill soon be the standing dish. 
Buffalo, 1?. Y., April 5lh, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The fact of some manufacturers having produced stronger find eloper- 
shooting gnna than the old aud common horo, has given ripe to n grout 
deal of controversy as to whether the new system Is an impiovuruenL or 
not. I have read the opinions of such writers as have expressed them- 
selves in yonr columns, and 1 believe the new system receives more fa¬ 
vor than of disfavor. There certainly is such a things carrying it to 
excess, as men are oj>t to with all new ideas. They have carried this 
one too far in some instances, and the evidence in such cases has thro* ti 
it into disfavor with a great many. The idea of boring guns in such a 
manner as to make them throw the shot into a small Space is not new by 
any means. It has been discovered that guns were made with that pm - 
ticnlar point in view over a hundred years ago. Mr. Papo claim* to 
hold a cup valued at £45., awarded to him for the original(t) invention of 
Choke-boring. It appears to me that hiB claim to being the original In¬ 
ventor of this system ts absurd, to say the least, I have seen no evi¬ 
dence of uniformity of system among the manufacturers In choke-bor¬ 
ing. Each one appears to be using the system lie happens to In: pos¬ 
sessed of or thinks is the best. A short time ago you informed one of 
your correspondents that choke-boring consisted iu enlarging the bore n 
few inches from the muzzle. That system was in use, and probably may 
bo now, by one or more makers, but not by the one who won the fluid 
trial of 1875. It seems to me, although I am not a practical gunsmiih, 
such a system must of necessity weaken the gnu where the enlargement 
is, and cause the wear and tea«* Lo be much greater. 
Since the success of Mr, Greener at the field trial, t have learned Unit 
the system in use by him is the invention of Mr. J . O Robson, an old 
and experienced gunsmith of this city, and was suggested by him when 
iu England a year ago last fall. In .conversation with him u day or 
two ago he explained the system to me as nearly as he con Id. As you 
will see, the treatment of the barrels depends on their length. In the 
shorter barrels, commencing at the bieech, the bore is grodually con¬ 
tracted by a certain' rule of graduation, to within a short, distune® or the 
muzzle, when it is slightly enlarged—hardly etiongh to he perceptible. 
Longer barrels are contracted from the breech to the muzzle, forming a 
perfectly graduated cylinder. There are certain points to he Understood 
and kept in mind when boring that cannot well ho explained. In know¬ 
ing how to graduate tuc contraction to attain any desired pattern is 
where Mr. Greener gets his superiority over other makers. It is not the 
result of guess work or accident when he turns out a gun that will nmko 
a pattern of 200 or more. The system has been perfected so he can fur¬ 
nish a gun the exact counterpart of any other made bv him. 
Some men have Been fit to characterize choke-boring cm a groat mis¬ 
take. If they think so they are not obliged to adopt it. We all know 
that the shooting is not alike in all parts of the .country; that in rim 
place where one particular style or bore of gun is very cJlic.iiint, another 
one with closer aud stronger shooting qualities would be comparatively 
no good, aud vice versa . Consequently sportsmen -should bo cbnrii.uole 
toward those whose requirements are not the same as tludrs, mid Who 
do not think ns they do on some particular point or points as to the mer¬ 
it of a system of boring a gun. 
Mr. Rob8on has a lot of guns on the way from Birmingham, which uro 
claimed by the makers, Messrs. Clabrough Bros., to be Lhe best uuus 
they ever turned out, for accuracy, penetration, and pattern. They are 
bored on Mr. Robson’s system. That the system is serviceable is shown 
by the fact of Mr. Greener’s taking the prize for wear and tear. 
I forgot to say that the first match at pigeons of the. season for I he 
watch presented to the Forester Club by Mr. Robson, will be shot during 
ihe first part of May. 1 hope to give you an account of it. 
Cha*. Battey. 
THE DITTMAR POWDER. 
Newark, N. J., April, I87Q. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In looking through your bright and sparkling paper of the 16th ulfc., 
I notice a communication from Mr. Dittmar relative to the merits of his 
make of sporting powder. As the writer of this communication hus 
had the privilege of experiment!og with the Dittmar powder soon after 
its introduction to the public, some fifteen months ago, and has used 
ana handled it from that time to this, it may not be amiss for him to re¬ 
fer to it again. A full account of these experiments was published Tn 
the columns of yonr able contemporary, the TurJ\ Inelil md Farm, 
soon after they were made. 1 have also compared it with the wood or 
Schultz powder, and find that, in color, evenness of grain, and fruedoik 
from residuum of any kind after firing, 1 think the Dittmar powder the 
best; and as the general results of my experiments, I think the Dittmar 
powder as good for practical purposes In the field as auy black poWdcn I 
ever used, and when you lake, in addition to this, its almost perfect 
cleanliness, freedom from noise and smoke, it has advantages lo the 
persons using it not readily overcome. 
The Dittmar powder has some peculiarities, which, at present we can¬ 
not account for, but which, after all may be the result of our want of 
knowledge. Among these peculiarities is the difference in the son ml of 
the report at the firing of a gun loaded with jt; it makes but little noise 
at any time, but to my ear there is a distinct difference in the sounds, 
some being moro feeble than others, and this from charges that are as 
carefully prepared and measured, in regard to quantity, wads, etc., as is 
possible under ordinary circumstances. This exceeding light report 
gives the shooter a feeling of want of confidence in this powder (though 
my experience with it at target practice gives good and equal results in 
penetration, etc.,) which may bave something to do with its want of pop¬ 
ularity among sportsmen. A good loud report at each firing of my gun 
is what I am accustomed to, and whether 1 bring the game to bug or not, 
l feel that the powder is all right, and rather take the blame to myself, in. 
case Of a miss-fire, than give it to citflbr the gun or powder. Nuw, it is 
just possible that being accustomed to a very loud report ha* something 
to do with the feeling that the Dittmar powder is not exactly the thing. 
There is one thing abont this powder that 1 liave faith In—it is cer¬ 
tainly not more dangerous as an explosive than the black powder in 
daily use among sportsmen. That gnus will he buret in using it 1 cer¬ 
tainly shall not deny; so also do gnus burst with nse of ordiuary black 
powder. But as gun bursting generally occurs, either from a defect in 
the barrels or from careless loading, I cannot blame the powder. 1 think 
in nine cases out of ten either of the above causes will bo found at the 
bottom of any barsting caused by this powdei. The only true way for 
sportsmen to get at bottom facts, and make up their minds fully about 
this powder, is to get some, and try such experiments with it as they 
miry deem expedient; they will then be able to talk or write knowingly 
on the subject. __ Rip 11a V. 
—The latest “fish story” comes from California, where 
it is said 4 that largo quantities of wheat liave tyeen destroyed 
by lish during the winter, owing to the submersion of file 
fields by high water, during which the fish led on the ten¬ 
der grain roots,. 
