22 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



and resumed his seat in the Senate. Mr. Anthony ate the 

 bird in Baltimore, to which city lie was called on business 

 and wbb taken sick on the train as he returned to Washing- 

 ton a short time afterwards. 



After two months of hard winter we are now enjoying 

 delightful spring weather, and should it continue we will 

 soon have good fishing. In early spriug we have magnifi- 

 cent porch Oahing in the vicinity of the Little Falls, and 

 frequently catch white perch at that season "weighing a 

 pound. The large perch are caught only in deep holes, 

 ami | hey seldom remain in these waters longer than two 

 or three weeks. They seem to follow the shad and her- 

 ring when Ibey run up to spawn, and return to salt water 

 soon after those fish. 



I meutioncij the fact in my last letter that farmers in 

 Maryland and Virginia have been feeding the partridges 

 during the severe winter weather, Since then I have 



1 rfled that, tlie practice in some localities has been almost 

 general, and many birds have thus been preserved. 



There are quite a number of fountains and pools in our 

 public squares which have been stocked with gold fish, 

 in. i it has been noticed that the fish did not "increase and 

 multiply." Some of these pools liud piles of stone in the 

 centre, placed there for the protection of the fish. In 

 cleaning out a pool some time since it was discovered that 

 the pile of stones instead of being a protection for the 

 fish was but a harbor for eels, thirty of which, varying in 

 i ..in. ; to three re it in length, were killed. 

 The eels were very destructive to the gold fish, and to pre- 

 vent them getting into the pools wire screens have been at- 

 tached to (lie inlet pipe3. If the eels can be kept out the 

 gold tish will increase rapidly, and soon our pools will be 

 filled with them. 



A gentleman named Owens recently advertised in the 

 Baltimore Sun for fifty live partridges to stock his farm, 

 ;u thereafter his agent received a letter from a farm, 

 er in one of the lower eouuties of Maryland, staling that 

 lie had a certain number of birds and would soon for- 

 ward them. The farmer very particularly wanted to know 

 if the partridges were for the "apple sass man," meaning 

 Solon Shingle, who is a Baltimore county farmer and 

 Sheep raiser. 



The Cambridge Chronicle says that some two or three 

 hundred canvas-back ducks were caught fast during th« 

 late freeze eff the Talbot shore of the (Jhoptank river 

 nearly opposite Cambridge, and in that condition were 

 picked uii without difficulty. Speculations upon ibis sin- 

 nrrence are various, some supposing that the 

 snow and sleet caked on the ducks' wings, thus preventing 

 their flight, and others that tbey were caught iu the mov- 

 ing iee. 



W f - 



INTERNATIONAL MATCHES. 



FOR the last three years, in fact since the commence- 

 ment of long-range rifle shooting in this country, 

 the American maiksmeu have been acting on the defensive, 

 accepting all challenges, but never issuing any. "Excel- 

 sior!'' This is the time for them to aim for a higher 

 position and add, if possible, more glory to their present 

 brilliant record Of rifle shooting. Why not challenge the 

 best marksmen of Great Britain? During the spring of 

 last year an invitation was issued to all teams of foreign 

 countries by the join' committee of the Amateur Rifle 

 Club and ihe National Rifle Association on behalf of the 

 American riflemen to come to this country and compete 

 for the championship of the world and the Centennial 

 trophy. Our Irish friends, the plucky Aus- 



traiians, who traveled so many thousand miles to shoot with 

 us, the Scotch and Canadians, all came to pay this coun- 

 try their compliments, and, it might be added, they were a 



i.l ft dent of carrying off the honors; but the team 



to represent. England's skill with Ihe long-range rifle was 

 absent; it would have hteu warmly welcomed, and it is 

 not likely the captain of the English team, which had won 

 the E'ch'o shield and were champions over the Irish and 

 Scotch, was afraid of having his men defeated . However, 

 lie declined the American's invitation, giving as his reason 

 that the riflemen of the various portions of Great Britain 

 should only be recognized as British marksmen and not as 

 individuals lie signified his willingness to form an Im- 



i |eam to consist of picked men from Great Britain, 



to visit America and enter the Centennial competitions. 

 To this the Americans could not comply as they bud in- 

 vited the Eimfrsh, Irish, Scotch, Canadians and Aus- 

 tralians separately. Sir Henry Hal ford, Captain of the 

 English team, had certainly the right, to entertain such au 

 opinion, but the rest of the British Kingdom, or at least a 

 majority of it, thought differently, as was demonstrated by 

 the appearance of the respective teams in this country and 

 their participation iu the matches at Creedmoor. It was an 

 important event, iu the history of rifle shooting to have a 

 representative team composed of the best loug-rauge rifle- 

 men that five prominent portions of the world could pro- 

 duce, altogether on one field in competition for the 

 supremacy in skill as marksmen, and there has been no 

 event, for a long space of time which has done as much to 

 euiic the friendly feeding ihut now exists between Ame- 

 rica an I Ireland, Scotland, Canada and Australia as the In- 

 ternational long range matches, The true metal of the 

 Irish, Scotch, Australians, and our friends over the border, 

 has been seen and admired by the people of this country 

 In the Centennial competition Icr Ihe trcpiry Ihe Scotcti, 

 as is generally known, made the best total score for a 

 t ■ i.ni of right men in one day's shooting on record. The 



I ish and Australians plucky eudeavor= to legain their lost 

 ..,n >iind on the last daj's shoot were greatly praised, and it 

 ml whether Jd drier's score w'tll ever be tied. To 

 shoot fifteen consecutive shots into a bullseye three feet in 

 diameter a thousand yards oil" is a feat in marksmanship 

 almost beyond belief, But we have not seen the notorious 

 pluck and skill of the English riflemen. If they will not 



come to sec the Americans let the Americans go and sec 

 them; beard the lion in his den by Bending a challenge to 

 ihe long range marksmen of Great Britain to shoot against 

 any team they may desire to produce. They can ' form 

 their Imperial team by selecting ihe best shots of England, 

 Ireland, Scotland, \Vale3, Canada, Australia, India, ami 

 all other portions of the Globe governed by the English 

 crown. The riflemen of America can well afford to cast 

 the gauntlet to the only team in existence lhat, can dispute 

 their title of champions of the world in long-range shoot- 

 ing, and let, them know no such word as "fail." The 

 American breech-loading rifles are superior weapons, the 

 ammunition is made with more care and precision, ami 

 there will be twice as many expert marksmen to choose 

 from this year than there ever has been. The prospects 

 of having the. strongest team were never better for the 

 Americans. Every long-range rifle club in (he United 

 Slates should come forward and cooperate. Stind a chal- 

 lenge, appoint a committee to make plans for the selection 

 of ihe team and adhere to l.hein, and all America will surely 

 respond to the call for riflemen. i Imcko. 



Apropos to the above comes the following letter from a 

 Dublin correspondent: — 



Dublin, January 24! h. 

 Editor Forest and Stream :— 



The Council of the Irish Rifle Association recent]-, held 

 a nieeting at the Mansion House. The following are' some 

 of the members present, several of whom file American 

 p.Ublle are acquainted with, Major Leech, .1. Rigby, Pollock, 

 .loyut, tl. Uyas, Alderman Manning, Dr. Trail, Major 

 Bailey, G. O.Molley, D.E. Arnot, Messrs Moyers, Sullivan, 

 Burke, Kelley, Crotton and His Grace, the Lord Mayor 

 of Dublin, who was elected chairman. After several ques- 

 tions uninteresting to Americans had been brought up and 

 disposed of, Major Leech read a letter troru the Secretary 

 of .National Rifle Association of America, which was tn 

 the effect, lhat at a meeting of the regular board of Direc- 

 tors lield in November, a resolution was adopted that the 

 Executive Committee be requested to consider and deter 

 termine, after obtaining the views of the American team 

 and of the foreign representative riflemen, upon the pro- 

 priety of making any changes in the terms ot international 

 competitions for the Centennial Trophy to take place here- 

 after. The Executive committee complied with the fore- 

 going resolution at a meetiug on Dec. 1st, 1S70, and 

 instructed him (the Secretary) to communicate ttie same 

 and inclose, at the same time, a copy of the original con- 

 ditions, to the captains of the foreign teams who partici- 

 pated in the late international matches, wilharequest that 

 they should consider the matter and inform the Is. JR. A. of 

 their views. Major Leech then remarked that he had corres- 

 ponded with the principal title clubs and riflemen of Ireland 

 and tound that tliey wished lo hold the trophy in Ireland if 

 successful till beaten by some duly resogntzed represen- 

 tative team. He thought that the perlormance of the. 

 Irish team in America proved lhat there was no mistake 

 in the selection; ihe Australians were a splendid lot of 

 men and veiy popular with the Americans; the Canadians 

 and Scotch acted upright and fairly, The Americans have 

 the greatest desire lo engage in all pursuits capable or en- 

 couraging friendly relations, and lhat we had no doubt 

 they would be glad lo try their prowess on the English 

 soil, (neither have 1). Mr. J. Kelley then offered a resolu- 

 tion making the following changes in the condition of the 

 trophy:— 



RuLk 1.— That each team shall consist of six men. 



Rule 9. — That after the words, "shall preset ibe" the 

 following addition be made, "always provided such a place 

 shall be a neutral range." 



Major Smyly seconded the motion, but the chairman re- 

 marked lhat it was a serious thing to change lliese rules 

 without having fully considered the propriety of doing so. 

 Dr. Moyers concurred with him and moved as an amend- 

 ment, tliat the matter be referred to the council with 

 notice of .an intention to move, that the rules be altered. 

 Alderman Manning seconded the amendment, which was 

 adopted us an original resolution. Mr. Rigby said, it would 

 be u great pity lo allow the International matches between 

 the Irish and Americans to cease, and offered the follow- 

 ing resolution:— 



"Thar an invitation be addressed to the Amateur Rifle Club 

 of New York, to send a team to Ireland in the present year, 

 ta shoot a match on the same conditions as the Irish Am- 

 erican matches of 1871-'75-'76." 



Major Leech seconded the motion, which was adopted. 

 A viae of thanks to Ihe chairman was then passed auU the 

 proceedings terminated. 



Hunting, horse racing, coursing, and foot ball, arc occu- 

 pying considerable attention now aud the Royal JNalioual 

 Dog'show is quite a success, Ameiuhi's, 



JN. R. A.— The Board of Directors of the N. R. A., held 

 their regular meeting on Tuesday of last week. After the 

 regular routine business had been completed, Captain 

 Story offered the following resolution, which was carried: 

 "That the Treasury be requested-, to call at once upon the 

 officers of the L oug Island Railroad Company, in refer- 

 ence to the railroad tickets to Creed moor lor the coming 

 season, aud endeavor to have the rates fixed at a rate as 

 low or lower than last season, turd increased facilities 

 given for their purchase in packets, aud also endeavor to 

 get the railroad company to leave tickets on sale at the 

 office of the Association." 



The following, offered by Gen. Woodward, was also 

 adopted; 'That the Secretary bo instructed lo communi- 

 cate with the proper persons representing riflemen in each 

 Slate of the Union, inviting them to participate in theinter 

 Stale rifle matches, lo be shot at Greedmoor during the 

 fall meeting. Resolved, thai the Executive Committee 

 be directed to prepare the terms and conditions of such 

 matches." 



Colonel Wingate offered the following resolution: 

 "Whereas, The American team of 187b' has, in pursuance 

 of the conditions of the Centennial Long Range Match, 

 prescribed that tbe next contest lor the trophy won by it 

 at such match, shall take place at Greedmoor, in Septem- 

 ber next. Resolved, That the Secretary be directed lo 

 notify the various organizations of foieign riflemen of 

 this lact, aud to issue invitations (similar to tiiose issued 

 in 1870) requesting representative teams trom different 

 countries to participate in such mutch;" which, on motion, 

 was laid on the table, with the understanding that it shall 

 bo in order at the next meeting of this Board. 



The following, offered by Mr, Stinford, was seeouded 



and duly adopted, viz.: 'Resolved, That, the scores mode 

 in the Leech Gup Match of 1870, be published in the re- 

 port of the National Ri tie Association as part of the pro- 

 gramme of the spring meeting." 



The President announced the standing committees Tor 

 the year 1877, as follows: "Executive Committee, N. P. 

 Stanton, Col. G. W. Wingate, G. S. Schermerhorn, Jr , 

 Gen. D. D. Wylie ex-njUciu, Gen. Alexander Sbalcr, Gen. 

 lUomaa S. Dakin, and Col. 11. A. Gilderslecve, elected; 

 Range Committee, Col. Geo. W. Wingate, Chairman; 

 Cap!.. Joseph G. Story, and Col. G. D. Seolt; Eiuance 

 Committee, Hon. D. W. Judd, Chairman; E. II. Sanford, 

 and Gen. AV. G. Ward; Pri/.e Committee, Col. John Ward, 

 Chairman; Capt. W. C. Casey, and Major Joseph Holland. 



—The Helvetia Rille Club, an old and very favorably 

 known associaiiou, will hold a Pool Meeting on February 

 a2d, at the Union Hill Sehuetzen Park, as advertised in 

 our columns. W T e recommend our American friends to 

 lake part, as we are convinced that they will be well re- 

 ceived. 



MlCHIOAK.— Our Milwaukee correspondent w: 

 follows regarding rille matches in lhat city:— 



"The Milwaukee Rifle Club, .like others in latitudes where 

 the thermometer ranges below zero, is in a slate of hiber- 

 nation at present wafting for spring. When ihe 32d Feb- 

 ruary comes we shall come out like the ground hog to lake 

 an "indication" and see what, the chances are for the com- 

 ing season. Nevertheless we sleep with one eye open. 

 Certain sleuth hounds arc on our track from the city of 

 Ch-e-gowith theiutententionof "scooping" us in the spring 

 rime's pleasant weather. Owing lo the generous hospitably 

 of our Treasurer, Mr. Johnston, the members of the club 

 have enjoyed the privilege of using bis private gallery dur- 

 ing the winter, and the amount of waste copper from the 

 ,23's we have used is frightful. Threeof our bravest boys, 

 Welles, Turner, and Fielding, tried the 1,000 yard range 

 the other day hut they didn't do much— they Couldn't— the 

 snow was too deep. 



"We are not dead, only sleeping. Our club is compact, 

 close, and we have money In the treasury and pi 

 keep some there. We enjoy unusual facilities at our 

 ranges through the courtesy ol our Vice President, Gen. 

 E. W. Hincks, Commandant of the National Asylum lor 

 Disabled Soldiers. The ouly trouble we have is with om 

 gentlemanly gunsmith, who will not, or does not, keep the 

 Ditlmar powder in stock. But lie will doubtless wake tip so 

 lhat we can take a baud in the controversy and determine 

 four ourselves whether 'saw-dust" wilt propel a bullet. (I 

 think it will). Tomick. 



-♦•*■ 



"OLD RIFLEMAN'S" LETTER. 



FEltKisBDitGH, V!., February 10th, 1877. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



The rather spiteful rejoinder of "Howcolah'' to the article 

 of "An Old Rifleman," has aroused the indignation of 

 some of your readers here, as your. southwestern coires 

 pomlent has so needlessly strayed from the subject. L0 have 

 a fling at Yankees and the "land uf Yankeeisms." But 

 the only notice worth taking of ii is expressed in the sub- 

 joined note, handed me by Hn old gentle — Tft ,■■ 

 1 mean. R. E, R. 



Editoji Forest and Stream: — 



I am an old man, my shooting and fishing day's past and 

 gone, but I take a lively interest in Forest and Stream, 

 which my son takes, and I fear you will injure it iu the 

 north and east, and among sensible!.. re by 



publishing such ridiculous compounds of egotism, sectional 

 jealousy, and "Secesh" spite, as thai from the pen ot 

 "Howcolah" in your issue of 8th inst. Truly yours. 



G. G. R 



We cannot agree with our correspondent, and consider 

 that he has placed an entirely wrong construction upon 

 "Howcolah's" remarks. That writer is au army officer of 

 high standing, and we believe a northern man, and because 

 a letter dated from New Orleans says that "Yankees" were 

 not. so much accustomed to rifle shooting as the men of the 

 south and the west, we see no reasons why such violent 

 exceptions should be taken to it. We are satisfied lhat 

 nothing in the nature of a slur was intended, and so fat 

 from "injuring our paper among sensible people," we" 

 think that such a result would be much more likely to 

 occur from restricting liberty of opinion and expression. 

 ♦•» 



CuEED-UOOit, Jk,— A rille match was shot Satin 

 evening, Eel). 10th, al the Greedmoor Jr., underground, 

 00 yard range, between Arnold, Constable A Go.'s Cen- 

 tennial Rifle Team and the Jottrnay & Buruham Rifle Club 

 of Brooklyn. Conditions: Teams of 8, 10 shots per man, 

 100 yards off hand, any rille. Result, vieiory for the A. 

 C. & Co. team by one point. The scores are as follows: — 



W. it. Brown 



U. 11. Fredrick :■;; , .'• . twi V 38 



J JtUsnire 3T,W K. -Jarman 17 



.1. H. Fitzgerald ... tflirll .1 . U.iJL»nli.n :l 



W. MareU as J. M. Brjyn 33 



fl. Bryant 38 8f . A. V. JJoneM a 



Tola! SSffll Total 



.Milky. 'a Gallery.— The following i.- a reccord of last 

 week's shooting, 10 shots at 131 feet range:— 



Xame, Turin 



J. C. Kmeslay i 



Chae. H. Jolir -i 



J. F. Burns 46 



J. W. Walhs fi 



Name. 



Geo. Glcndenning u 



J. L. s- IiuUnef. 



W. n. li.jiirih.-rty 



.J.J. Teevan 



The Lees-burg Academy, which is advertised in our paper, 



offers to pupils a rare combination of facilities for ri 



and sludy. The Principal is not only an anient sportsman. 



and angler, but an enthusiastic naturalist, and can teach the 



young ideas to shoot if anybody can. Situated in the 



Piedmont region of Virginia, and wilhirj 



Washington, both climate and location are altogether tk- 



siiable. 



*■■»■ 



Albino Fleas; "Mary had a lilll 



white as snow." 



