FOREST AND STREAM. 



85 



iu America," Writing of what, lie calls the "high pres- 

 sure" system of running BkatiDg rinks, Mr. Plympton says: 

 "that this system has alternately failed wherever it has 

 been tried." He states thai "the great high pressure Par- 

 isian Kink, which flourished for a short time upon the good 

 name OUT own work had given roller skating in England, 



and managed by Baron B , who introduced nearly every 



objectionable feature that promised immediate gain, is 

 now hopelessly bankrupt, as you will see by the Paris pa- 

 pers." The character of the management referred 

 to may be judged by the fact that it was copied by 

 such notorious places as the Jardin Mabile, Valen 

 line Falres, Bcrthras, and other places of like char- 

 acter, which have all failed in their efforts to make 

 this "high pressure" system pay. The effect, however, has 

 been to damage the popularity of the sport in the estima- 

 tion of the best class of Parisian society, inasmuch as 

 it placed the patronage of the rinks in Paris in the hands 

 of the demi rtumde. 



Mr. Plympton furthermore says that, "as a rule, nothing 

 should ever be advertised or announced as connected with 

 roller skating in a popular rink which would cause the 

 most refined lady to blush if asked if she took part iu it." 

 His idea — and experience has shown it to be the correct one 

 — is to limit anything of the character of a special enter- 

 tertainment at a roller skating hall or rink to legitimate 

 displays of grace and skill in the illustration of the art it- 

 self. He says: "If prizes are to be awarded they should 

 be given for the advancement of that which is most desir- 

 able iu rink skating, and not for the encouragement of the 

 most rude, dangerous and objectionable features of racing 

 and fast skating." 



SUGARING AS A MEANS OF ATTRACT- 

 ING MOTHS. 



THIS subject is brought to the attention of the readers 

 of Fojiest and Stream with the view of assisting 

 amateur collectors in entomology. Many have a taste and 

 desire to collect, but do not know exactly how to make a 

 commencement, while others aiedeterred, thinking the la 

 bor loo great even to make an effort. 



Any oae who will practice this method will be surprised 

 at flic result, and will capture moths entirely new to them, 

 and often in a state so perfect that they will hardly recog- 

 nize as specimens once familiar to them, having witnessed 

 them previously in a worn coudirion. 



It is known that noctindte are altracted by the odor of 

 various substances, as the nectar of flowers, the sap which 

 exales from certain trees, honey, decaying fruits, etc., but 

 until within a few years no attempt has been made to bring 

 them to any given location by tempting their taste or ol- 

 factories. Since then the study of entomology has been 

 more pleasant, aud the .'deuce has taken rapid strides un- 

 der the stimulus of this labor-saving appliance. Entomo- 

 logical books and journals are not accessible to many not 

 making a specialty of collecting. A few general ideas, 

 therefore, may be acceptable, aud serve to slimulate many 

 to observe and commence the study of this attractive sci- 

 ence, and not only collect for themselves but help others, 

 by exchanging, who are not favored with so rich a location 

 for certain kinds of moths. It must be remembered that 

 many varieties of insects are extremely local in their dis- 

 tribution, and may be found in one location. This is very 

 noticeable in captures made at Center, N. Y. 



In preparing the sugaring the collector is governed by 

 his own experience, and may mix it to suit his own views. 

 After many experiments we have come to the conclusion 

 that equal parts of common molasses and strong beer 

 serves belter than any other mixture. We also add a tumb 

 ler full of Jamaica rum to every gallon of sugaring. If 

 the beer cannot be obtained, as is sometimes the case in 

 extreme southern locations, water may be substituted, and 

 will answer a very good purpose. The rum is a very ser- 

 viceable addition, as the odor is transmitted much more 

 strongly than without it. 



A laughable circumstance occurred during last summer. 

 A friend who had worked at sugaring somewhat, on taking 

 a vacation, offered to sugar while absent from the city. He 

 had taken pains in the meantime to learu his lesson well, 

 and had cleared up many points in his own mind by many 

 interrogations. His first night's labor, though crowned 

 With success, was fraught with unusual vexation. His 

 mother had desired to furnish the molasses, but by mistake 

 had given him a bottle containing cougllsyrup. The beer 

 and the nostrum was with difficulty caused to unite, aud 

 when the mistake was discovered it was none the less 

 laughable, especially as he had captured several rare cato- 

 cala (Melicta and Uoccinata), which he did not have the 

 good fortune to attract afterwards in the same location, 

 This circumstance is related to explain to the reader that 

 the operation is not so exact and difficult as may be sup- 

 posed. 



A clean paint or varnish brush is used to spread the su- 

 garing on the bodies of trees, fence rails, or the sides of 

 out-buildings in the vicinity of orchards or timbered lands. 

 Weather beaten surfaces are much better for its application 

 than painted ones. The wet sugar which settles in the 

 bottom of molasses casks is preferred by some rather 

 than molasses; if used it must be diluted as before ex- 

 plained, Moths are attracted by the pomace from cider 

 mills as well as by fruit undergoing dessication and decay. 

 Collectors frequently search bar-rooms in early morning 

 wiLh success, the insects having been attracted thither dur- 

 ing the night by the bright light and the odor of the 

 liquors. 

 Rags may be saturated with the sugaring and attached 



to trees or shrubbery, or the preparation may be. spread on 

 the same with a brush. By visiling the sugared places 

 with lantern and cyanide bottle the noctindre will be seen 

 around the bait; often they some in swarms. This stale 

 of affairs may continue until 9 p.m., when for an hour 

 there will be an intermission. About 10 p. m. they come 

 again, and continue to do so till nearly daybreak. On ap- 

 plying sugaring for a few nights there may be an absence 

 of moths, but by persevering forseveial nights in succtss- 

 sion they are sure to come. When not successful it may 

 be attributable to shrubs bearing odoriferous flowers being 

 in close proximity to decaying fruit; to strong winds, etc. 

 The most favorable time for collecting is just before a 

 storm, as the same rule applies to the capturing of noctin- 

 dte as to fishing. The more favorable places for sugaring 

 are forest glades, the edges of timbered lands, or along 

 roadsides and open places studded with underbrush. It is 

 advisable to extend the line of sugaring in a circle. If on 

 the trunks of trees, paint a space within easy reach six 

 inches wide by two feet in length at intervals of ten or 

 twelve feet distant, or even further apart, so that each 

 place sugared can be visited several times during the eve 

 ning. 



The cyanide bottle is very essential in capturing. It is 

 prepared in the following manner: A wide, salt-mouthed 

 bottle should be selected. A piece of the cyanide of pot- 

 ash may be broken np into pieces weighing at least half a 

 drachm each. Six or eight of these are quite sufficient to 

 be placed into the bottom of one bottle. Plaster of Paris 

 should be mixed with water into a paste sufficiently thick 

 to flow easily into another vessel, and poured over the cy- 

 anide until covered half an inch or more. The prepared 

 bottle taken in hand and tapped gently upon a table or 

 some level surface will cause the paste to settle between 

 the insterstices of the cyanide, and then should be afllwed 

 to remain unstopped for at least six hours, when the moist- 

 ure will have evaporated, leaving a dry and smooth and 

 hard surface, which will not displace the delicate scales of 

 the insects by contact. The stopper then should be kept 

 iu place, except when used in capturing. The cyanide is 

 very volatile, and the plaster of Paris is porous, which 

 readily admits the fumes to pass through it, which com- 

 pletely changes the bottle. 



On arriving at a tree, byGarefully turning the light on 

 the sugared patch, the collector will be enabled to select 

 such moths as is deemed advisable. The glass stopper 

 should be gently removed and placed over it, when it will 

 drop into the receptacle. By replacing the stopper the 

 insect will be safe until stupefied, when it can be transfer- 

 red to another bottle prepared in the same way, and al- 

 lowed to remain until the next morning, when they will be 

 in condition to be carefully examined, selecting such spec- 

 imens as are most perfect to be placed in position on the 

 preparing board. The cyanide lenders the wings rigid if 

 left in the fumes a much longer period than necessary to 

 kill them; but if allowed to remain during the night the 

 same specimens will be quite pliable and relaxed. Care 

 should be exercised in transporting the reservoir bottle so 

 as not to unnecessarily rub the moths, thereby damaging 

 them. Many moths are apparently attracted by the su- 

 garing as soon as they emerge from the pupa, and there- 

 fore can be procured by this method in their most perfect 

 condition. 



■ ■»■»■ 



GAME PROTECTION. 



N. Y Association for the Protection op Came. — 

 The regular monthly meeting of this Association was held 

 on Friday evening last, at the Hotel Brunswick, Vice Pre- 

 sident Robert B. Roosevelt in the chair. The Secretary 

 read letters asking the Association to advocate the grant- 

 ing of more power to game constables. From the House 

 Committee on Game Laws at Albany, Messrs. Childs, 

 Gallagher and Tabor were present. The Secretary read a 

 report of the first case tried in Pennsylvania for a breach 

 of the game laws, exposing quail for sale out of season, 

 which did not resmit iu a conviction, as the Judge held that 

 the accused was probably not aware of the fact that the 

 game was offered for sale. Letters were also read asking 

 lor a law that would govern the shooting of English snipe 

 and also referring to the wholesale slaughter of deer dm i ug 

 the past winter, when they were penned in by snow. Ex- 

 Congressman Clinton 8. Merriam said that a large number 

 of deer had been slaughtered in that manner in Oneida, 

 Herkimer and Jefferson counties. 



Mr. Austin Corbin was then elected a member of the 

 Association. 



Senator Wagstaff spoke of the progress now being made 

 in Albany toward lraming a thoroughly efficient game 

 law, and on his suggestion Mr. Brown's bill on the game 

 laws, now before the Commitlee, was read to the meeting 

 by the Secretary. During the reading of the bill a number 

 of suggestions were made by different members, aud on 

 motion of Mr. Fliess, President of the South Side Club, ot 

 Long Island, a resolution was adopted to the effect that it 

 was the sense of the Association that in regard to the kill- 

 ing of deer in Suffolk county, the law should be changed 

 to read "that no deer should be killed in that county for 

 the next five years." This was done, as it is understood 

 that there are not more than eight or ten deer left in the 

 county. 



On motion of Senator Wagstaff, section of the bill was 

 not approved, as it afforded a rather easy way of evading 

 the law. 1 hat section gives dealers in game the right to 

 prove that the game so found was killed during the season 

 or out of the Slate. 



A short discussion in regard to spearing fish brought out 

 various opinions on the subject, and Mr. Roosevelt stated 

 that, in his opinion, it was destructive, as in nearly all 

 cases the fish were speared during the spawning season 

 when in shallow water, Mr. Seth Green's views were also 

 quoted- as being very averse to Bpearing flak being per. 

 witted. 



Mr. Childs, of the Assembly Committee, then made soma 

 remarks, assuring the members of the Association that the 

 Committee were with them heart and soul in endeavoring 

 to framo game laws that would be of permanent benefit to 

 the country, They were divided up into Sub-Commitiees, 

 and every branch of the subject was beiug thoroughly in- 

 vestigated. He alluded in his remarks to the views of 

 Mr. Selh Green as to spearing fish, and that spearing could 

 not be carried out effectively against game fish unless when 

 they were iu shallow water lo spawn. This protection of 

 game was a great thi.ig for the country, and now that our 

 lakes were being stocked with fish and our gamo pre- 

 served, in time of famine we shall have something to fall 

 back upon. 



Mr. Tabor, of Buffalo, thea gave his experience of what 

 had been done toward the framing of game laws He said 

 he thought the season was really to long, and dealers 

 should not be allowed to sell game a month alter the shoot- 

 ing was over. 



On motion the Association approved the bill as read, 

 with the exception of section six and the clause allowing 

 woodcock to be shot on Long Island after July 4th. 



After business had been concluded the meeting ad- 

 journed, and the members repaired to another room where 

 they sat down to a substantial supper and passed a couple 

 of hours in social enjoyment. 



Canada. — The annual meeting of the County of Peter- 

 borough Fish and Game Protective Society, was held at 

 the "Huffman House," Peterson, the 1st ins 1 ., President 

 Ludgate presiding. The election of officers, etc., for the 

 ensuing jear, resulted in the appointment of the lollowing 

 gentlemen: — 



President, William Eastland, Esq., first Vice-President; 

 Rev. V. Clement, B. A., Peterboro; second Vice-President, 

 Henry J. Le Fevre, Esq., Lakefiekl; Recording Seeretaiy 

 and Treasurer, John K Hammond, Esq. ; Corresponding 

 Secretary, C. A. Post, Esq.; Counsel, E. H.H. Hall, Esq. 

 A Central Committee aud a General Committee were also 

 appointed, after which Mr. John O'Donuell moved a vote 

 of thanks to the retiring officers, Ex-President Ludgate 

 duly acknowledging the compliment. 



Several subjects^relativo to game protection were dis- 

 cussed in a spirited manner, and the Secretary was re- 

 quested to communicate with the sister societies of tile 

 Province, asking their cooperation in presenting a petition 

 lo the Ontario Legislature, ut its next session, praying that 

 the present Fishery Overseers may also be appointed, Over- 

 seers of Game, in the districts they control, receiving addi- 

 tional remuneration therefor. 



The Secretary was also directed to make application to 

 the Minister of Marine and Fisheries lor tilty ihousand 

 salmon and whilefish fry, to stock lakes iu the northern 

 part of the county. Altogether the meeting was a most 

 interesting one, and it is to be hoped the Society has a use- 

 ful career in the future. 



A 524 Walnut St., ) 



Philadelphia, March 9th, 1877. }' 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



As many of your subscribers are members of the West 

 Jersey Game Protective Society, aud in all probability 

 would like to know what has been done by the Committee 

 ou Game and Fish appointed al the meeting held on the 

 19th of September last, I send you the following statement 

 of the distribution of fish and partridges made on account 

 of the society, and trust you may think it worthy of publi- 

 cation: — 



No. Distributed in l No. . Distributed in 



300 Bargatmown Pond. 300 Egg Harbor City Lake. 



200 Hammontown Lake . 1 10«t Bridgeton Pond . 



100. Ncrchatuxen Stream. 11*0.. Alison Pond 



100 Kirkwood Lake. J100 Crystal Lake. 



100 Great Egi; Harbor River. 1 101 Ludlan't, Pond. 



74 oldman's Creek. i 74 Woodbury Creek. 



78 Timber Creek. | 74 Raccoon Creek. 



4» Abbott's Pond. 1-100 Mantua Creek. 



No. Distributed in | No. Distributed in 



2,000... Tuckahoe River.| 5D0 Timber Creek. 



2,000 Alloway's Creek., 2,500 Dennis' Creek. 



10,600.. .. Various branches of the 2,5(;0 Maurice River. 



Great Egg Harbor River. 3,000 Salem Creek. 



1.B0O Mantua Creek. 2.600 Cobansey Creek. 



2.5Q0 Oldniana Creek 600 Woodbury Creek. 



4,000.. Mullicas Htver.| 



Eleven thousand escaped into Mantua Creek by an acci- 

 dent to the dam of the pond where the salmon were tem- 

 porarily kept. The foregoing statemeut is believed to be 

 rather under the number of salmon actually distributed. — 



40.. 



Sent to Remarks. 



... Bridgeton bdead. 



Cape May 18 dead. 



Woodoine Station.... 7dead. 



Tuckahoe 50 dead. 



. . . . Williamstown -4H dead. 



.. .Swcdesboro 2dead. 



Woodbury 4 dead. 



Paulsboro tidcad. 



Woodoury No report. 



... Watei f oi d iO dead. 



Barnaooro... No report. 



Hancock' s Biidge IT dead. 



... Seaville S dead, 



LeedsPoint 7 dead. 



Kio Grande Station. .. 6 dead. 



Wenonah lodead. 



Green Creek Station ,12ucad. 



Waterford No report. 



...Pitman Grove 4dead. 



...Salem None dead. 



. .. Haiuuiouton, 3 dead. 



1310 Total number received. 206 rteud. 



The number of dead given is the number reported to 

 the committee at the time of the nrrival of the birds at their 

 places of destination as above given. 



In addition to the foregoing quite an active police sys- 

 tem for the observance of the game laws has been kept up, 

 resulting in the arrest and conviction of several offenders. 

 The effect of which has been quite marked. 



A Member. 



A WORD FROM A POT-HUNTER. 



PomcnESTER, N. Y., Feb. 20th, 1877. 



EDITOR FOIUSST AND STREAM:— 



Having for the past two years been a constant reader of your valuable 

 paper, as well as the Sod and Gun, 1 beg to take the liberty of cxprsss- 

 ing a few of my opinions with regard to the domgsof the so-called "gen- 

 tlemen sportsmen," of which your paper seems to be the champion. 

 There Is ecarcely a week passes in which 1 am not stung to the quick by 

 some of your correspondents in their frequent allusions to the men tbey 

 call "pot-hunters.'' Now let it be clearly understood that / am a pot, 

 bonWr, lor when a boy I trapped grotiae an* sold for the paltry sum of 



