FOREST AND STREAM 
323 
April to September, from eleven A. iff. to seven or eight P. M. Thes 
winds interfere mnoh with the fishing. The first day I was there, lately, 
I had only about an hour's trolling, during which time T caught but one 
fish, a ponnd in weight, which took the spoon. I had two artificial Dies 
upon my lino above the spoon, nearly black, because that is the color of 
the natural flics and wild bees which fall into the water quite plentifully. 
It thea came on to blow “great guns 11 from the western shore, near 
which I was, and which rendered the contemplation of landing my boat 
on the eastern side to the club house, through the breakers, not particu¬ 
larly pleasant. At last, after waiting some time, I made up my mind to 
cross. Fortunately the rather flat spot, which I intended for a landing, 
and which I could dimly discern, was nearly opposite, and I bad only to 
keep the boat before the gale. This I succeeded in doing, being an ex¬ 
perienced boatman, and rowing aoross almost like a flash I drove right, 
ashore and jumped out in a moment to take hold of the boat before the 
waves conld take her broadside on and so swamp her. 1 accomplished 
this, however, with only a slight wetting to myself and creel, which con¬ 
tained my tackle, fly books, & c. Toward evening the storm abated, and 
the next morning the sun rose clear of fog clouds, and the weather was 
perfectly calm and beautiful. I was in the lake before his solar majesty 
had made hia appearance above the horizon. The superintendent was 
there also in a separate skiff. In crossing the lake I hooked a good fish, 
a salmon of two pounds, and after a sharp contest got him safely into 
ray landing net. He took the black fly. Then the water remained too 
smooth, and utmost without a ripple for four hours, with a warm sun. 
I and the overseer trolled faithfully for nearly all that time, and could 
not get even a touch of a fish at either spoon or fly. We saw only abont 
half a dozen rises, but observed quantities of chub close to the shores, 
ranch disturbed and jumping out of the Water, and the salmon no doubt 
savagely feeding on them. The overseer did not get a fish, and he soon 
retired from the field of action. 1 kept on for some time after thts, but 
met with no better success than berore. Then I gave up the fight under 
the conviction (consolatory to iny skill as a fisherman, of course) that 
these gentlemen fish were pampered gourmands, and by far too well fed 
to take the epicurean and delicious (i) fare we had so carefully provided 
for their generally voracious, though, as in this case, from satiety, rather 
delicate appetites for any artificial temptations offered to them. In 
about a month, when the water falls, from its Vast consumption in the 
city and evaporation, and the chubs and insects become scarcer, there 
will probably be some good fishing. In the meantime we sportsmen 
must make ourselves contented with what lakes Merced and Filarcitos 
and other waters can afford us, and In general, like all true sportsmen, 
take the good the gods provide us. E. J. Hooper. 
There are several tracts in the United States, which still 
Temain in nearly their primitive state, which ought to be 
assigned to the purposes ot parks, namely: one in the 
Blackwater region of Virginia, another in Northern Michi¬ 
gan, one in Southwestern Texas, and another in Florida. 
The latter comprises about 3,000 acres, of which 1,300 is 
cleared laud, lying within ten miles of the city of Tallahas¬ 
see, the Eden of Florida, diversified by lake and river, and 
abounding in game and fish. This property belongs to 
Mrs. Ellen C. Long, daughter of Gen. Ii. K. Cale, the first 
Governor of Florida, and is for sale It lies partly on Lake 
Jackson, and includes within its boundary a lake four or 
five miles in circumference, besides the River Oclockonee 
running through it, and affords a variety of fish, wild fowl, 
snipe, doer, turtles, quail, &c. It is not like the Florida 
jungles, but has fine drives running through it, and fields 
that have been cotton plantations, and buildings that may 
be utilized by any club or association. It is a bigh and 
rolling country, and has been always famous as a bunting 
ground. It is known as Orchard Pond now, but was called 
Lochiocha by the Spaniards and Indians—a much more 
euphonious name. Should any gentleman entertain the 
idea of purchasing this most desirable tract a letter may he 
addressed to Mrs, Ellen C. Long, Women’s Department, 
Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, or additional infor¬ 
mation may be obtained from the editor of Forest and 
Stream. 
The following letter, describing one of our prominent 
clubs on Long Island, is pertinent to the subject of this 
article, and will be read with general interest:— 
Editor Forest and Stream:— On Tnesday last, by tlio kind invita¬ 
tion of Mr. S., we left in lint 9 A. M. train on the Long Island Railroad 
to paes a few days at tbe famous Suffolk Club. Oar party, consisting of 
three, arrived at tbe club house at mid-day, and arter partaking of an 
excelllent lunch and arranging our tackle, we started for tbe pond, Mr. 
8. and I going in one boat. The day being fine, and a light breeze 
blowing from the southeast, we were confident of a good afternoon's 
eport. We made a good beginning, for the boat had only jtist left the 
shore when a large fish rose to my fly. I missed him, and after three or 
four more casts he rose again, this time I struck him, and after a few 
minutes 1 play landed a fine one-pound trout, and scored the first fish of 
the party. Mr. S. soon followed my lead, and before the afternoon bad 
half gone had gained some two or three fish ahead of me. Onr eport 
was good, but at sundown we expected to do wonders. Onr hopes were 
not to be fulfilled, for at 5 o’clock, or a little later, the wind began to die 
out, and by 6 o'clock the pond was as Bmootb as a looking-glass. So 
we took ourselves home—tired, hungry, and well satisfied with our 
afternoon’s work. Our smalt fish we returned to the pond, reserving 
only those weighing one-half pound and upwards. 
Mr. S. had impressed upon ns that at the Suffolk Club every one had 
to make up his mind to rough it. so imagine onr surprise at having a 
dinner placed before us that would have done honor to Delmonloo. The 
history of the club is this;— 
Mauy years ago fifteen gentlemen In Now Tork formed themselves 
Into an association, bought some eight hnndred acres of land, hired tbe 
fishing in the pond, and bntlt the present club house. They have since 
bought the pond, which covers some forty acres, and secured the fishing 
in the stream which feeds it, for two miles np, which, by the by, is an 
excellent spawning ground, the bottom being covered with beautifnl 
gravel. They have also hired the exclusive right to shoot over twelve 
hnndred acres adjacent to their own propeity, giving them in all some 
two thousand acres of as fine shooting as there is to be found anywhere 
on Long ;i»land. English Bnipe may be found on the meadows in the 
Bpring, and in the summer and fall woodcock, qnail, and ruffed grouse 
abound. The club houBe is a large wooden building, two stories high, 
with a large dining room, library, and Borne twelve bedrooms, and as all 
tbe members are never present at once, there Is always ample accom¬ 
modation for all. In tbe latter part of tbe summer and fall some of 
the gentlemen bring their families down with them. The ladies may 
occupy the morning in boating, or croquet, or take a book and spend their 
time reading by tbe cascade, a trnly lovely and romantio spot, or m a 
boat row np the stream. In the afternoon tbe drlviug and riding will 
keep them busy until dinner time, when the weary sportsman returns 
from bis day’s tramp. The stables and kennels connected with tbe 
dnb are tbe best of their kind and afford accommodation for any num¬ 
ber of horses or dogs. Mr. S. told me that for three years he put out a 
dozen paitB of the pinnated grouse, or prairie chicken, but hear¬ 
ing nothing of them, after numerous inquiries made through the country, 
came to the conclusion that they ware all dead, anti last year gave up 
the experiment of propagating them. But the head game keeper on 
our arrival this trip, reports that two pairs, quite tame, had been seen 
pear the club house, and another pair across the pond. This was, of 
course, exceedingly gratifying, for if they are not disturbed they must 
in lime multiply, and a',1 that section or tbe conntry will be as plentiful 
in prairie chickens as it now is In quail, and the Long Island pinnated 
gronsc will cease to be a thing of the past. The morning before I left 
the club I rose early, wakened by the calling of tho quail and bright 
rays of the sun pouring in my room, and taking “.Tim, 11 (a black pointer, 
full brother to Mr. S’s “Tom,” winner of first prize at Springfield this 
year) and slatted for a morning tramp in the woods, both to see the 
working of the dog and how much gatno there was. 1 found every¬ 
thing as it had been represented to me, the dog worked handsomely, 
and we found more game than lever saw in a day’s tramp anywhere. 
Old though twelve years old, still deserves the appelation given 
him some years ago by some of the members, uumely, "Locomotive,” 
for be certainly is tbe fastest dog I ever shot over, and perfectly true and 
staunch, it being quite impossible to call him off bis point. One of 
the aunecdotes they are fond of telling relates how he came to a point 
two hnndred yards off. When Mr. S. came up with him bo commenced 
calling tbe party: it was nearly twenty minutes before they came 
together, they then began to walk in, and first one, then another, and 
still another bird got np, they were all killed but one; still Jitn held his 
point, and did so until Ills bird rose, which Air. S. killed. After 
breakfast we returned to tbe pond, and east mail noon. The sport, 
however, was not as good as the previonariay. While on the pond a 
number of quail tiew back and forth across the pond, and the woods 
re-echoed with “Bob Whites.” There are a pair of wild geese On the 
pond, which are very servieable as decoys in the spring and fall, and I 
had almost omitted to relate how one of our party seeing them in the 
morning harried back to tbe bouse for gun and ammunition, mistaking 
them for veritable wildfowl. It was consoling to him, however, when 
he became aware that ho was not the first Visitor who bad been thus 
deceived by these same geese. At 3 o'clock Mr. Wm, Osborn was in 
waiting to convey ns to Yapbanlc, where wo look the cars Tot Hnntcr’a 
Point, and thus ended one of the pleasantest irips I ever made. 
Grouse. 
New Tonic, May 20tb, 1870. 
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTERS—NO. 3. 
shot aims at the great exhibition. 
A S the demand for fine arms of every description 
increases rapidly in this country, and carries with it 
a growing competition, manufacturers necessarily make 
most strenuous endeavors to produce novelties and improve¬ 
ments, each of which shall be an advance upon the last. 
As might naturally he supposed the Centennial Exhibition 
affords an opportunity for the display of all that, is new of 
this description which lias been taken advantage of to the 
utmost, particularly by foreign manufacturers. In fact it 
is somewhat surprising to see the display of guns in the 
English exhibit so much larger than that in our home de¬ 
partment. English makers have an incentive in making a 
good Show from the fact of one of their host markets being 
on this side of the Atlantic, and their various exhibits are 
so arranged, on mite, as to make a remarkably handsome 
display. But we have enough manufacturers in Ibis 
country to liavo made an equally creditable exhibit had 
any combination been formed to have so arranged it. As 
it is, with the exception of what may be found in the Gov¬ 
ernment Building, and exhibited under the auspices of the 
Smithsonian Institution,our leading manufacturers, witlione 
or two exceptions, have contented themselves wiflt showing 
a few shot guns in connection with their more elaborate 
collections of rifles; and it may he mentioned lierc, that if 
the English exhibit of shot guns is superior in point of 
numbers as well as quality, our display of rifles far ex¬ 
ceeds anything of the kind of foreign manufacture in the 
exhibition. 
There is so much to he seen and discribed even in this 
one department alone, that it is impossible in a single let¬ 
ter to convey anything like an adequate idea of the Ex¬ 
hibition; it is our purpose, therefore, in the present 
article to confine ourselves to shot guns, and that, too, 
mainly with those shown by our foreign visitors. A single 
day, and that a first one, is indeed, almost insufficient to 
properly examine this department. Almost half a day is 
necessary for one to obtain his “bearings” and gain an in¬ 
sight into the general plan which will afterwards enable 
him to steer a course for any given point without the aid 
of a pilot. Even in the English department alone one be¬ 
comes almost confused with the dazzling display of all that 
is rich and rare in British manufactures. But the sports¬ 
man is guided almost instinctively to the guns, and once 
found it is nearly impossible to leave them. 
The laigest display is that of Messrs W. & C. Scott & 
Son, of Birmingham and London, which is in charge of 
Mr. Romney, of Messrs. Read & Sou's, of Boston, during 
the absence of Mr. W. M. Scott, who is spending the sum¬ 
mer in this country. The “Scott” guns are now so widely 
known throughout the United States that it is only neces¬ 
sary to allude to some of their more recent improvements 
in the actions and mode of boring. The latest of these is 
the triplex lever grip, which, in addition to a solid double 
bolt at bottom, has a strong hooked cone attached solid to 
the head of the lever which enters into a steel projection in 
the rib. The advantage of this action is that it effectually 
holds the barrels to the breech and enables the heaviest 
charges to be used in duck or match shooting. Another new 
fastening is the quadruple bolt, which in addition to the 
solid double bolt at bottom, has also two top fastenings, 
two steel socket projections being left on the sides of tho 
barrels into which two bolts at the breech, worked by the 
lever, fit when the gun is closed. Some of the guns itave 
in addition an extended rib dovetailing into the breech. 
These are hut two of the various actions exhibited. In 
quality, the gnus rank from the "premier" at, say $300 to 
the 4th quality at $ 100. A very neat and inexpensive gun 
made by this firm is the “Special Field” gun, with top- 
lever, solid double bolt and rebounding locks, sold at $100. 
Another improvement of Messrs. Scott which is placed on 
all guns when so ordered, is an improved “high dead-level 
rib,” with which it is claimed that the shooter can lake a 
surer and quicker aim. This ease contains also a number 
of highly finished gilt engraved guns and revolvers, such 
as wore taken to India by the Prince of Whales for presents 
to Indian rajahs, etc. Also sections of barrels showing 
their modes of choke-boring and actions. 
Adjoining tins exhibit is that of Messrs. J. & W. Tolley, 
whose guns are also widely and well known in this country. 
Messrs. Tolley have adopted the plan of giving their guns 
distinctive brands with uniform prices for each, ranging 
from the “Pioneer" at $05. (gold) to the “Paragon” at $335. 
The workmanship of these guns is excellent, and shows 
great care. One of the novelties shown us by Mr. Tolley, 
who is present in person to give information, ia a new 
action in which in addition to the double bolt there is an 
extended lump in which the bite is taken back of the face of 
the false breech, giving great strength. We had an oppor¬ 
tunity of examining and comparing guns made for English 
sportsmen and for our own. It is rather remarkable tho 
difference which exists in the drop of the stock. Gnus 
ordered from America usually ltaving from one to two in¬ 
dites more drop than those used in England, where much 
straighter stocks are in vogue, We noticed recently, how¬ 
ever, at Geneseo, that some of our crack pigeon shots were 
using straighter guns. Mr. Van Vleek, of Buffalo, who 
won several prizes, shot with a Greener gun with only one 
inch and a half drop; and by the bye, our representative 
shot in the press match with the same gun and found the 
difference between an inch and a half and three inches dis¬ 
astrous to his chances. The position taken by the ma¬ 
jority of pigeon shooters, leaning far forward, may neces¬ 
sitate a straighter stock to enable them to avoid shooting 
under their birds. 
Mr. John Rigby, of Dublin, the well known rifleman, 
whom we trust soon to welcome to our shores once more, 
has a case containing botli shot guns and rifles, which do 
him credit. Mr. Rigby, on the occasion of his last visit to 
this country, brought over a couple of guns which were so 
much admired that lie was induced to leave them here. Of 
those under review we were particularly pleased with a 
very kaudsome gun fitted with Rigby’s patent snap- 
lever easily removable, simple and strong. The price was 
$339. Mr. Rigby also exhibits some elegant double Ex¬ 
press rifles, ranging in price as high as $440, gold. 
Messrs. P. Webley & Son have a remarkable handsome 
case of guns in which every variety can he found, from the 
highly finished and more elaborate gun to the cheapest. 
Messrs. Webiey have guns as low as $50, Good servieable 
pieces they appeared to be, and one at $91 a 10-gauge, with 
top action and rebounding locks, appeared to be a particu¬ 
larly fine gun. We were shown some self-cockers, an im¬ 
provement, we believe on Mr, .Lang’s patent, in which tho 
movement of the lever under the guard throws the ham¬ 
mers to full cock, a very good arrangement for Captain 
Bogardiis in his matches against time or for duck shooting 
in very cold weather, when one’s finger become numbed, 
but for ordinary shooting we should prefer rebounding 
locks. Some of the guns were fitted with the Webley - 
Laneaster lock-fast, in which the forepart, or as it is some¬ 
times called in this country, the false stock, is attached to 
the action. The Webley guns, although not so widely 
distributed in this country as those of other makers, are 
likely to become much better known through the medium 
of the very handsome exhibit which is now to be scon in 
Philadelphia. 
Mr. W. W. Greener exhibits a handsome case of guns, 
not numerically large but of remarkably fine workmanship. 
Some of them are most elaborate in finish but as there was 
no one in ehaige of the case we had no opportunity of ex¬ 
amining them. Mr. Greener's guns, however, are too we 1 
known to require special comment. His choke-bores are 
now used by many crack pigeon shots, particularly in the 
Southwest. One of the most striking objects in Mr. 
Greener’s exhibits is the elegant Field cup won by him in 
the great gun trial of 1875, a reproduction of which also 
ornaments the stocks of some of the fine guns. 
A very popular maker in this country is Mr. Edwinson 
C. Green, of Cheltenham, England, wlro also exhibits a 
case of guns, not made especially for exhibition hut taken 
from the stock of Mr. Green’s American agents, Messrs; 
RusselL & Hayden, of Jacksonville, Illinois, or made to 
order for sportsmen in this country. Mr. Green lias made 
choke bore, or extra close shooting guns for the past nine 
years, and claims to be the first to use the system. He 
makes a gun at as low as $45, currency, for No. 12-gauge, 
witli a double grip action and the left barrel bored to shoot 
close, and from that at all prices np to $350 for the “Ex¬ 
celsior." 
We were unexpectedly gratified in meeting Mr. Purdy, 
sou of the well known London maker of the same name, 
Mr. Purdy is in charge of a choice assortment of fine guns 
from his factory, comprising both Express rifles and shot 
guns. The workmanship of these guns is remarkably fine 
and although the prices are high there is full value given 
for tho money. The warrant of "Gunmaker by appoint¬ 
ment to H. R. H. the Prince of Wales,” which ornamenis 
the case is in itself a good guarantee of quality. Mr. 
Purdy showed us some ,'guns, such as are used by mauy of 
the best amateur pigeon shots,in England, among them Sir. 
Howard S. Jaffray, of this city, who has been meat suc¬ 
cessful in his matches. We were surprised at the iighlnets 
af the guns—seven pounds being about the average. Mr. 
Purdy now uses the top action on most of bis guns, otlieis 
of his make which we had seen in this country having had 
the lever under guard action. 
Mr. Geo. Gibbs, of Bristol, exhibits a case of fiue guns 
and rifles, among the latter of which we noticed a heavy 
rifle entered for 2,000 yards, some with telescope sights, 
etc. We hope to make a closer examination of it on our 
next visit. 
Mr. J. D. Dougall, of London, exhibits a fiue collection 
of his new lock-fast guns, the pecuiiaiityfof which is that 
