FOREST AND STREAM. 



35 



Tanning SfirNS.— in answer to RCOTxespandent, the Mas- 

 sachusetts Pl/mghnmn gives the following directions for 

 tanning sheep t kins so the wool will stay on ! — 



"Take salt and alum in equal parts, pulverized, and sift 

 about luui ounces on. the flesh side of the skin wbenitls 

 fresh from Ihe. body, or it it has become dry moisten it, 

 and then apply Ihe mixture, and fold the skin up carefully 

 and keep it in a damp place about four days, thon open it 

 and lay it on a table and scrape it, with a dull knife to get 

 all the adhering flesh off, then rub it with a blunt wooden 

 iiisliuint ill till it is dry and soft. Then wash it, thoroughly 

 in warm soapsuds, let it dry moderately, and just before it 

 is fully dry rub it soft with the hands. After thorough rub- 

 bing it is toft and pliable as a kid glove, and will continue 

 ao. 



Some nail the skin smoothly and lightly against a door 

 or board with the flesh side out. Then with a blunt broad 

 Haded kuife scrape away alt loose pieces of flesh and fat, 

 then rub in as much ehaik as possible, not being sparing of 

 "elbow grease" or labor. When ihe chalk begins to pow- 

 der and rail off, lake ihe skin down and till it with finely 

 ground alum, then wrap it closely together and keep it in 

 a dry place for two or three days, then unroll it, shake out 

 the Mum and the thing is done! 



If it is desired to dress the skin soft, like buckskin, take 

 it fresh from the animal and stretch it tightly on a board, 

 and scrape off all the flesh that will come off easily. Warm 

 two quarts of milk and mix in a teacupful of salt and half 

 an ounce of oil of vitriol. In this mixture soak the skin 

 about forty minutes, stirring it and keeping it warm Then 

 take it out and stretch aud rub it over the smooth edge of 

 a board, working it until dry. The Indians are said to nave 

 the secrei of preparing buffalo hides and deerskins by soak- 

 ing them in a paste made of brains, and, after rubbing 

 them, drying them in smoke. Whether this is the way 

 they do it or not we cannot s.ty, but Ihey certainly know 

 how to do it in some way or other, better than we have ever 

 seen them prepared by white men. Perhaps it is owing to 

 more patient aud long continued rubbing. 



<• ■ » 



West Point, Arkansas, Feb. lith, 1877. 

 Editor Fokest and Stbkam:— 



1 inclose some notes on "Ratt Creek," where trapping is 

 good, aud we have been very successful* 



Haft Cieek is a small sluggish creek of ahouf fifteen 

 miles in length, widening out into small lakes and large cy- 

 press ponds in its tortuous course into White river. As 

 soon as we saw it we thought we had struck a good trap- 

 ping ground, and the following day put out a fair number 

 of urnk traps, and a few for otter, although the otter sign 

 wa^ nut so plentiful as coon aud mink. In viewing around 

 up and down the creek we found numerous fresh deer 

 track in our daily visits to our traps, but our experience 

 has always been that a trapper whoattends well to his traps 

 has no time to hunt after other game, and although we 

 nearly always carry our shot gun we seldom look for any 

 game except ducks and rabbits to bait the traps with. One 

 day last, week as we were going into the bottom alone, we 

 stalled three fine deer out of a thicket of bushes and cane 

 near the It ail to the traps; of course, we did not have our 

 "Winchester," and the shot gun was loaded with duck shot, 

 and our oniy satisfaction was the pleasure of seeing those 

 white tails loping away through the timber. Baley lake is 

 about a mile below where our traps are setting, aud is much 

 visaed as a fishing resort by the people liviug back on the 

 hills. The. water Is deep, and tine ouifalo aud perch are 

 now being taken with lire hook and Hue. Although the 

 lake is right in the bottom aud subject to six feet overflow 

 from White and Little Red rivers, there is about twelve acres 

 on the north bank of the lake entirely above any high water 

 which would be a pleasant camp ground at any time of the 

 winter. It is scarcely worth while to go into deiail as to 

 the number of varmiu we are catching, but we can say our 

 success in the short time we have been here has been much 

 better than in Mississippi, and takeu altogether, our calch 

 has bi en good. Shktiiab.-.boznai. 



AtTicA, Ohio, Feb. 10th, 1877. 



RDITOH FoilBST AND STREAM: — 



Alter reading "Buckshot's" communication I considered 

 it my duty to give to the readers of the Forest and 

 Stream an account of a grand fox hunt which took place 

 near here on last Friday, Feb. 9th. 



The morning came, and at an early hour the horns and 

 drums, and horse and devil-fiddles could be heard iu the 

 streets of our little village. The boys and men all started 

 at 8 o'clock, in older to scour the woods between here and 

 the starting point. The lines were formed and started to 

 close i 1 10 o'clock sharp. The lines then proceeded cau- 

 tiously to the closing point, us we uearcd which could be 

 heaid the (shouts of men and boys as the loxes tried to 

 make their escape through the lilies. Owing to the hunt 

 bemg poorly managed, and some misunderstanding be- 

 tween the marshals^ a partial failure was the result. Two 

 red and grey and one black fox made their escape, but 

 ■when the lines were properly closed we found within one 

 large red fellow. Now the inn commenced in earnest. 

 Reynard found himself outwitted, for the lines were per- 

 fect with more than three hundred on each, every one in ik 

 jug a noise. At our tirst sight of the fox we ihought he 

 was nearly run down, but he, doubled ihe field, wh.eli was 

 some twelve times eighty rods long, before he showed 

 much sign of real fatigue. The lines then closed in to a 

 much smaller compass, when the fox was caught and per- 

 mitted to lake breath lor fifteen minutes. Wuilethefox 

 ■was restine lour buysuf ten or twelve years of age stepped 

 into the arena; the iox was then turned loose, the hoys 

 giving lively chase, until one of the hoys caught him, but 

 happened to catch him by ihe wrong end. The lox find- 

 ing himself at liberty 10 bite, did so, inflicting a severe 

 wound on the Utile fellow's wrist, lie was promptly 

 choked off, aud was theu put up and sold for $3.oU, which 

 paid the expense of advertising. 



Foxes sometimes sell at our hunts as high as $0. lam 

 of the opinion that "Buckshot" made a mistake in regard 

 to the number of square miles inclosed. It should have 

 been lour miles square, instead of lour Bquiire in.les. 

 Sportsmen in this locality are using every eadeavor to pie- 

 serve the quail, and I am happy to say that prospects lor 

 shooting next, fall are very good. At present we are I unk- 

 ing forward to spring, when we will have fine snipe shoot- 

 ing on the marsh surrounding the great pigeon roost a few 

 miles east of this ph.ee. J . W. S. 



To Fisu Oultokists.— Please observe the suggestions of 

 "Piscator" in our. Fish Culture Department, 



£nswet[S $o <£ori{en$on&mt$. 



1*&~Wc have ono column of Answers In type which aro unavoidably 

 left over, nntl will appear in our next issue. 



Bacoek, Berlin, Wis.— Wm. Malcom, of Syracuse, N, V. Id 

 good a telescope lor rifles as anyone can and makes n specially or 

 sjime. Tor Soap. 



W. F. R„ Coving. Ky.— Can I And good duck shooting between St. 

 Louie and Little Eoofc on or near the Iron Mountain 1!. R. in Arkansas 

 about the 1st of April'/ Ana. Il is a food ducking country, bat April is 

 rattier late, 



W. MoM., Bedford, Pa— 1 have a muzzle-loader 13-bore. It does 

 not shoot close enough for this kind of work. Would like to Bftve It 

 Bhoke-Dorefl. Ana. It. will cost you $5. Scud the whole gnu to tl.C. 

 Squires, No. 1 Cortlaudt St., this city. 



SUIWAJIB, Chilieoihe.— What, is the easternmost point in th 

 States where elk can be found— I mean the Wapiti, not the moasc? Ana. 

 We know that elk are quite abundant in Tuscola, Huron ill 

 counties, in llichlgan, but we have uotheaid of them any further east. 



J. M. B.,lilmira, N T.— Can you fend me Col. Wingate's Annual 

 Keport or loll me where I can get it? Ann. Address Col Geo. W. Win- 

 gate, No si's Broadway, It will probably be in the next annual report 

 of the N. it. A., or at least it should be. 



I, H. C. , Ashland, Vs.— At what aye should the operation of spaying 

 be performed on a bitch? If the operatiou should be performed at ihe 

 right time will she at some time afterwards go iu heat? Ans. Before 

 the pnppy is ton weeks old. The bitch will never come iu heat. 



K. W., l.akeville, (Joan.— How many can be counted for two sixes and 

 three threes? Some claim fourteen aud some eighteen. 1 favor four- 

 teen, because the threes having beea used singly with tt 

 pairs cannot be used together with the sixes singly. Ana. The hand 

 counts eighteen. 



J. C. St. Louis, Mo.— Where can I buy tbiee dozen summer duck 

 eggs, and what will I have to pay foo same? A frieud in England wants 

 them for hatching. Ans. Address D. Gilpin, Coucordville, Delaware 

 Co., Fa., or U. O. Brown, Brooklandville, Md.; IheBemeu deal in eggs 

 and fowls. 



Q. II. N,, Cranston, K. 1.-111 your paper 0/ January lib, page 3,19 

 yon speak of an advertisement in the Clipper. 1 wish to correspond 

 with the author of that notice, but am unable to flud it in the Clipper. 

 Ans. We have not the man's address. Better correspond with the 

 ( tippi 1 Editor. 



0. J., Boston — Can yon inform me where 1 can get a spayed bitch pup 

 from eight to twelve weeks old, color orange and white with black nose 

 aud eyes? Aus. If a pointer will answer you may lie able to get a 

 Sensation- Whisky puppy fromttic Westminster Kennel Club. Address 

 D. W.S. Webb, No. 7 West Fifty-fourth St., this city. 



(.'. T., Claromont, Mill.— Is there a paper published in Chicago called 

 Bridal Bells'! It was published last year. Has it been discontinued; 

 Ans. No such paper as Bridal Belk. There was one called The Bridal 

 Veil published there, but il had a short life and wcul up last spring or 



it, Boouville.— The stock of my breechloader is too straight 

 and I would like to know where to send it to get it remedied and what 

 would be the probable cost for from half to three-quarters of an inch 

 extra drop? Ans. Send your gun to H. C. Squires, h 0. 1, Courtland 

 sued; cos] j3 50, 



J. L,. C, Richmond, Va.— Please furnish a reader of your valuable 

 paper information as t the habits of the shad and the takuig of this 

 risk wiih the fly. Ans. Vol. II of Forest and Stream devotes a Rood 

 deal of space to the consideraliou of the shad and its habits as a game 

 tish. We have scut you selected articles. There are some, twelvoiuail. 



Y1-.1.1., dueksonport, Ark.— There is a work called the "Naturalists 

 Library," of which Messrs. Lippincott & Co., of Philadelphia owu the 

 plates. It was edited by Sir William Jardiue, aud is in over forty vol- 

 umes. Is it. a good and comprehensive work as to the animals and birds 

 of America? Aub. Very good as far as it goes, but now somewhat out 

 of date. 



W. M . A . , Schenectady.— I am desirous of entering my setter in your 

 Kennel Register. Will you kindly inform me. through your paper, how 

 to do so, or if 1 must 1111 out a blank. Will you send me one? Aus. 

 Fill out the blank pedigree wc have sent you and return it. Pedigrees 

 for the first volume of the Register will only be received for a for might 

 longer. 



Fred L. R., Longwood, Fla.— My dogs and horses are often greatly 

 troubled with ticks. What will take and keep them off? Ans. The 

 ticks must be picked off in the first place, but wo doubt if anything can 

 be pat on to keep I hem from returning in time. "Dink's" recipe may 

 answer— a teaspoonful of snuff in a pint of gin. 



Subsouirer, Aucram, N. S.— I have an orange and white fetter bitch 

 nearly thirteen months old, and she has not been in heat yet aud shows 

 no signs of being so. What do you think is the matter with her, or is 

 it all regular? Ans. It. is usual for a bitch to come iu season when she 

 is twelve mouths old, but Ihey sometimes go longer. We should not 

 advise you to breed from her the first time. 



Glens.— 1. Which will sail the faster of the two, hulls the same, a 

 boat cat or one sloop-rigged; same amount of canvas. 2. Can a sloop 

 orschooner sail within two points of ihe wind? 3. Of the two which 

 will sail the closer to the wind a slocp or cat rigged boat? Aus. 1. In 

 light winds tho cat rigged boat would probably be the fastest; ia a, sea- 

 way the Blocp. 9, ilo, 3. The cat rigged boat. 



W. II, B., Wilmington, N. C— Please describe simplest Method of 

 administering castor oil to a dog eighteen mouths old. Ans. Take the 

 dog between your kueee with his bead facing from you. Open his jaws 

 with the finger and thumb of ouc baud, and with the other pour the oil 

 down bis throat; by stopping his nose the dog will be compelled tq 

 s.valiow. Castor oil cau now be had in. ciipules, which aro much easier 

 to administer. 



W. H. A.. Jersey City.— 1. Can you inform mo where 1 can buy 

 feathers of different colors, and mohair and other requisites for making 

 artificial flies? 2. Can yon direct roe 10 some gentleman thai, is familiar 

 j ii. tog because i have a dog which I think is a cocker .spaniel, and I 

 would like to know if it is? Ans. J. Yon will have to pick I hem up 

 separately; one here and another there. :!. Bring your dog here ami we 

 will tell you his breed. 



W. C. B., Williamsport, Pa.— 1. Intending to purchase a gun wc wish 

 to know which is the in" ■ e «h]i On who advertise their guns in your 

 columns? Please say what gnu would suit for us, say 875. We will nay 

 cissary, for a good gun. 3. What pert, of Maine furnishes 

 the best hunting and fishing during the summer mouth"? Ans. 1. All 

 the dealers who advertise in our columns are reliable, 1 

 criminate between their wares. 2. As a seapori. I I 



Nemo, Cleveland.— 1. Wherecanlgct acompleie cheap copy or the 

 game laws or Pennsylvania? 3. Whs »i iti U 0! Pennsylvania is the 

 mildest and moat abundant in larg md bear, and also trout? 



Ans, We can send you a copy of --Fur, Fin and Feather" (price 50 els.) 



CO.; take Erie Itailway to Lackawaxon, and thence, conveyance to Weal- 



tavern whew you will lied haulers. 



,1 . C. ('.., New York. — Iu youi Answers to Correspondents will you 



kindly oblige by answers to the following: 1. Weight of Remington 



gun as supplied to the N. G. ot Ibis Slate. 2. Length of bariel. 3. 



I ■■[ gun with bayorfctte, 



1. ' , ■ 1. of gun, hayormlte fixed and fully loaded. Thanking you in 



A 1 1 10 in 1 ' I 2. 35 inches. 



D ;r«li i 1 ■ mid*, a. Same with weight of 



one cartridge ad led. 



D. S. C, Middlefield, Conn.— I have a pointer dog 1} years old which 

 is just rc«overlng from the distemper. Since last fall I have policed 

 that his hair comes oft* in spots. The first that 1 discovered was under 

 his neck; those on the ends of ears and on Bide of nose seems tn be 

 qnito sore aud spread. Ans. Annoint the bare bpoIb wilh carbolic 



If the doghas mange, which can readily be ascertained by ihe spj 

 ancc and by his scratching, use the baslhcon and sulphur oiutm.iit io 

 often given in this column. 



S. S. P.. Bridgeport, Conn.— 1. Is the absence of feather for tlm 1 

 four inches at the root of 8 setter's tail an indication ot good 01 

 breeding? 3. Is a dropper the offspring from a setter and polntoi 



or from any two different breeds? 3. What is a full aiiiln ;. 1; . ,; 



grce of a dog? Ans. 1. Iuaoine breeds, particularly the Qordui 

 feather should commence three or fonr inches from the root. .: 

 term is applied only to the cross of setter and pointer. 8. tine m which 



i'loof of the progenitors 01" the dog being as represent* 

 companies it, 



SiiistiuiiiER, Brooklyn.— 1. Do yon think it advisable to have a muz- 

 Me t.miiei changed to a bieech-loader; if so, would you he kind enough 

 to tell the about ihe cost, 3. Jly seller do^'s hair rutin off very easy, 

 and when he rubs against my clothing ho leaves a lot; of his hair. Would 

 you be kind enough to inform nui whether tins is any disease, and if so, 

 what would be a good cure? Ans. 1. It would cost you about .550, and 

 unless it was a very fine guu we should not advise it. 3. Tho dog jh 

 probably shedding his coat; a bolus or tar tho size of 11 hickory nut 

 would expedite the shedding. 



C. F. O., Philadelphia. ~ I have a red setter pup one year old which is 

 very timid, so much so that I /ear I never will be able to do anything 

 with him. Can you tell me if there is anything I can do to give hiru 

 courage. If he is spoken to sharply ho will run in his house, from 

 which it is impossible to move him except by force. Ans. Nothing but 

 the most careful aud judicious treatment will cure your pnppy. Wo 

 should recommend seuding him to a good breaker, Gladstone, "t 

 Boouton, N. J., has the reputation of oeiug able to overcome shyness iu 

 dogs. 



C. H. C, Jh., Philadelphia.— 1. Are there any laws about shooting 

 quails or pheasants out or season, for Stuffing, iu this State (t'enusjiui- 

 nia)? d. Is there any difference between a boat tailed graukle and a 

 purple gracklo. 3. What is tho right load for a breech-loading shot gun. 

 Weight eight pounds, and laminated steel barrels, 13-bore as-iuch bar- 

 rels? Ans. 1. Tho birds you mentioL cannot be lulled out of season r,ir 

 anypnrpose. 2. There are different species. The boat-tailed gracklo 

 is Q ■ihralus major, the purple, Qulscalus versicolor. 8. 3J dra. po.vder 

 Hoz. shot. 



H.B.L., Barry, III.— Please tell me some mannal or text book by 

 which lean lcain drawing by myself, us Ihese small places have no 

 teachers? For hunting and target use out west would not a Kami I 

 niditary rifle costing SIS do as well as a Remington spoiling rifle * 

 $36! Ans. The best book we know ol" is "Minute .Mechanical Draw- 

 ing," price SI. lobe had of D. Van Nostrand, Xo. '~3 Murray stre. ; 11 

 city. The same publisher has a little book call 

 ing," price 50 cents, which would be useful 3. For general rough 

 work, yes, 



N. B. J., Utica.— J. Can yon inform me where I can procure a map of 

 that part of Canada which lies north of New \ ork State. I want an ac- 

 onrale map, aud one by which I could he truided io traveling throng 

 woods. 2. I have a Remington breech-loader, 12 gauge, 33 lueh twist 

 barrels. What kind of powder and now muca would you advise me tu 

 use in shooting ducks, and what for upland shooting? Ans. 1. 

 Address James Campbell & Son. 3t. Flout eireet, Toronto, a. All 

 depends upon the kind of shooting and weight of gun; for general pur- 

 poses 3 drs. powder ami 1J oz». shot. For size of powder the number 

 corresponding with Hazard's Ducking No. 4. 



W. E. M., St. Paul, Minn.— Your Editor-in-Chief once went to Lab- 

 rador. Perhaps he can inform us or the oriain of ihe word E-.i-ii: 

 the question having accidentally arisen in a 1ml. I D i Ana. 



We are glad 10 be able to answer ex calheilra lhat tne te*m Esquimau.-, 

 was first applied to the lilbe by the interior Indians of Laui lorwii 

 known as Nascaupics or Mouulaiueers. They ely led them Ashk'mai, 

 which signifies "caters ol raw meat," In distinction from themselves 

 who always cooked their food, Esquimau*: is a corruption of the word 

 given by the Fieuch explorers who hud intercourse With too Mouu- 

 tainccis. 



B. M. S.,Nelle; Corners, Out.— 1. Which of the .23 calibre rtfies ar 

 considered the best, Ihe Ballard, Remington, Stevens, or Wessons, aud 

 are Ihey all chambered for the long .22 ritntiro cartridge? If not, what 

 is the charge for chambering them for such? 2. Can the U. &G. Air 

 gun be relied on for accuracy up to 50 yards, and is it chambered for the 

 long shell .32 cid. 3. What will it cost me to havo the V. & S. bound— 

 a six months' lot of them? Aus. 1. There is nut little difference, and 

 they are usually chambered for the short cartridge. They can bete- 

 chambered at a Slight expense, not exceeding a uuilar or two. 2. No; 

 chimbered for the short cartridge. 3. $1.50 



Y1.L1, Jackeouport, Ark.— What is the difference between the ■ 

 of the gulf coast ot Horida, Texas, etc., ami tho-e of c 1 1. 



2. Which is or the better qualily, and to what oansemaj ■ 



be attributed? Ans. There are as many varieties of oysters on the 

 guH coast as on the Atlantic, and they differ as greatly in quantity, size 

 and flavor. From our owu experience we should hesitate to Ba; Hat 

 the best oysters of the gulf tuisi tin Inferior to Ihe best oysters of 

 the Chesapeake Bay. Tho impression that tHe oysters of waters, iu tow 

 latitudes are inferiOl Is derived trotn the lact that, reefs and bars ot 

 worthless "cuoii oysters " are bo constantly encountered as odiously to 

 obstruct nai Igath •-•- 



J. S. S., Uazletoti, Pa,— My setter pup ten months old has had a 

 very severe a.tack of distemper, aud though apparently cured 

 disease has never been aide to wall; since on account of a weakness in 

 his back. It is felly a mouth since U.e discharge from his nose and 

 cj us ceased and hu began to mend. Cts appetite la good, ai 1 hi 1 



u"f the beef broth and corn meal uic..-h that we give him- What t would 

 like, to know is ., e her tuei 1 Ol his regaining Ma 



Strength! Aus. yonr dog has chorea, whicd we donht era be entirely 

 cured, it can be much alleviated, however, oy carclul dieting, feeding 

 beef broth and boiled milk. Tne billowing tonic la iceo~.iueiuii 

 Well known authority; lake of Iodide Of potash ami mix vomica, ..f 



each two grains; bromide 1 1 p 1 is tm, I irei mams; add sllbcatbt 



of bismuth, ten grams. Bits si d give batti oneea day, in a little broth. 

 Ci.utimie until it is apparent it is uo longer needed or useful. 



E. CM.— 1. 1 have a gun (muzzle-loader) which was imported from 

 England by a man named Toms, and was for tale and 



. l.he 'limes about November 21ol, IBSS irre] 



were imported-, atd wee made hy Joseph Manton, of England. The 

 ■ was bj , John Mull, n, of Sew folk; it C066 $160. Whttl sboi 



youlhiiikil is W01 II I ft'i Iba.j liftl eh 



; ■,..! would it be advisable for me to nave ii elm! , ,.<,i - -0, bow 



much would it cost; Whai load would it require of boih pom 1 . 

 Shot 1 v.. Is there auy powder just as good as Hazard's Elecmc powder 

 mil costing SO much? Ans. 1, The value of a muzzle loader at Ihe 

 ,.,-., day depends entirely upon the desire ol a-j ■■■• to no less it. 



Yon can have one barrel ehi ! borei praise ling }"i. 



The proper charge for It would be a die. powder And silo 

 Hazards Ducking is quite, as good tor otdinary shooting as Ihu ElCClUO 

 and costs less. 



—That, which I? gei.il fin- ihe Oi limit.; s|;in „i thababyis no leas de- 

 lightful fur the use of mature people. It is, theietore, that. B. T B ti 



1 ; Toilet Soap, anew article just put on the malkllt, merilnavord 

 of praise. Made of the purest vegetable ol 



is simply ihe perfection of sons tell tlO? lot old 



. ■ ■ .! ■:/.'.', 



