FOREST AND STREAM. 



tot 



is past, the truthful well written account of "moving acci- 

 dent i> eld," something that will soothe ami 

 interest. It. tniiat be pure iu style, choice in diction and 



■ .liful iu delineation, as to ■■>■■■■■ the reudjei bberfe, 1 



■ i i read a book ill EiBbTi M ■ S? mentioned, 

 you can almost smell the suit, dank air, when a prairie is 

 mentioned you (sun in .your minds eye see the long leve 1 

 Stretch Of waving gftCH !lD d nodding wild flowers; 

 when i ned, the (limit r -weath, the green 

 •wood tree am! the menu of the hunter's feast spread out 

 before you, you enn almost taste it, (this last requires great 

 skill on the part of the writer and a vivid imagination on 

 the part of the reader). 



Let us hope that books of the kind to interest sportsmen 

 in a pleasant kindly way will became more numerous than 

 they are at present, that some of the talent which crops' 

 out in our sporting journals iu short sketches may be in- 

 duced to expand itself into volumes carrying out the ex- 

 periences there so ineagerly portrayed, and becoming a 

 delight to the followers of woodcraft. 



There are plenty of men wdio could do this thing and do 

 * it well, men of leisure an. 1 means, men whose field of action 

 takes in the whole broad land, men of education and cul- 

 ture, whose name affixed to a book as author would be a 

 sufficient guarrantee of merit and truthfulness and iusure 

 a sufficient Kale among Uie fraternity to make it a success 

 financially. However, among the class mentioned above, 

 philanthropic motives should be the incentive, rather than 

 love of gain, to thiuk that the hcaits of the brethren had 

 been warmed, that the fireside had been made doubly 

 cheerful, that an aching void (between fall shooting and 

 spring fishing) had been filled, should amply compensate 

 (after paying expenses) for whatever of brain work the 

 author had expended. Let us have a legilmate sporting 

 literature. H. W.DeL. 



GAME PROTECTION. 



THE EARLIEST AMERICAN FISHERY 

 LAWS. 



TLtROPOH the kindness of his excellency, Gen. Lefroy, 

 Governor of the Islands of Bermuda, our correspon- 

 dent, Prof. G. Brown Goode, of the Smithsonian Institute, 

 at Washington, who is now sojourning on I he Islands, has 

 been enabled to send us for publication copies of two of the 

 .1 . ■ ;l the General Assizes of these islands during 

 ... iry. We believe them to antedate by 

 _!..,; ■■ ring !:.;■:.:.,, , i ia ssi ,1 by any of the American 



colonies. I tei c antiquity, as well as the careful forethought 

 of their proposers, entitles them to the attention of those who 

 Me interested in the nitrjeel oi protective legislation. 



The earliest wag passed in 1827, two hundred and fifty 

 years ago, fifteen years after the colonization of the Bermudas 

 and about nine years after the establishment of the General 

 Assizes. It aims at the protection of a small fish of the 

 herring family, the pilchard {Uaraigulu itifiivuph.lh/ama), to 

 this day abundant in Bermudean waters. "Fry" is the 

 name now applied to small fish, especially to the species of 

 Aihmm and En'jraulis common in the harbors : 



j, Alt ACT AGAINST THE DRAWING OF MXCHAItDS ANlTlTIlYE TO 

 MAKE OTELE. 



Whereas it hath bene ami still is a vsuall Custonte of the 

 Inhabitants of incise Islands to hale and drawe pilchards in 

 serterall haves and places where thev doe frequent, more for 

 the benefit* of the oyle than present vse of fishing, to the 

 generall losse of the same Inhabitants, not only by reason of 

 the distroying of very much frye but also to the greats losse 

 and priudice of the : . .' .1 .■ ■M-ano. by . nssing away other 

 greate fishe iron; the Shoare, weh lino vpon the said live. 

 And further doth hereby cause the said Pilchards and other 

 small fish to be vi ] ;,■ la, b-v I.- great scareeity of Bayte 

 for necessary fishing, web beeing considered by this wortnye 

 and graue assemblie It is enacted by the power and author- 

 ise of the same That from hen eei'ort h noe manner of pson 

 w'hatsoeuer do hale or drawe any pilchards or other frye or 

 small fisne (vnless for baite or food) out of any the baves or 

 other placet belonging to I tese Islands asafbressid And the 

 rather for that it is u groatc relieic- being taken only for baite 

 to bring in sea fishe and otherv, ise a greate losse, especially in 

 tyme of searceit.ye. of eorne And it is further enacted by' the 

 power an 1 : ,,ii -i .. ,. ,|y : .1 ', - .... ;M j that noe man of what quality 

 so ener shall hale or din we in any bay or about any Island 

 Win any long ne.tts any manner of Vrearnes, to the distraction 

 and fraj - ' . . of 1 1 ie greate fish from shoare, but only wtb 

 etfa i : L !i . u long at the most in forfeiture of the 



■.: net . >. -e.d to be sould, and converted to genrall vses 



of I ... li.uitacon 



Art? of Assanhly, 1627. 



At a later period the length of fry net s was restricted, I am 

 told by General Lefroy, to two fathoms. It would seem as 

 this measure must have almost put an end to the capture of 

 small fish. 



The other law, fifty years later, has for its apparent object 

 if protection of the pQrgies ij>voh:il>ly Sjun'-ns cnltimtis and 

 . is) during the spawning season. 



EXTRACT FROM THE WORDS OF THE ASSIZES HELD AT ST. GEOEGES, 



&m embeb, 1676. (vii., p,6). 



"Tiponii of the Grand inquest presenting 



the euill 'practise of seuerall inhabit 



: these Islands 

 wne Porgaye; 

 and kill then 

 Bland, Ordem 



to dry forsavlerotbepriufliee of ve v 



That ten the white bone Porgayes sculls or are 



found morals.- aster ,,,, pari . - b D If in the 



month of Aprill ui id .v. , >\. :-,, ,i even i nati [man- 

 ia i ' , i i i ....... forbear* ketch'ing oi killing, of any 



b-i ... lilies BBe epon ye forfeiture of ffive 



shillings loi euery Poi < ) ket Et, orfcild to Try, the ln- 

 foTiiea to ini.ue .'in.- moiety and ye other moiety 'to be for 



'''..i.i. i sine to be published in ye' Governor's 



Trot. 6oo.de says that he is not aware that any laws for the 



regulation of the fisheries are now in force in the colony of 

 Bermuda. 



:. it si. The Connecticut, Legislature on the 13th 



fine 



.eh 



OoMMBomcrr.— IFes/ M>rU1tr<, JTttreA lGth.— The Connecticut 

 River is very low for the season, and as no extensive 

 freshet is anticipated, the meadows will be in better shape 

 than usual for the birds, which will make glad the hearts of 

 our snipe hunters, who love to roam the river meadows in 



teal -I I lieii lav. .[-a.- bird. 



No summer woodcock shooting iu Connecticut this year, 

 for the Legislature has just passed a bill, "providing that the 

 close season for woodcock- and grouse shall be from the 1st 

 of January until tlie 1st of October." In regard to quail, the 

 lower house has pasBed.on amendment "providing, that quail 

 shall not be shot for the next throe years." It now remains 

 for the Senate to act on the amendment. G. 



Indiana. — A new game law has passed both houses of the 

 Legislature in Indiana, of which the following is a brief ab- 

 stract : 



Sac. 1. — The killing of deer in any manner is prohibited 

 between January 1st and October 1st, under a penalty of $10. 



Sec, 2. — Prohibits the killing of quails or ruffed grouse 

 between January 1st and November 1st. Penalty, $2 for 

 each bird. 



Sec. 3. — Makes a close season for prairie chickens between 

 February 1st and October 1st, and makes trespass upon the 

 grounds of another without permission a misdemeanor, and 

 punishable by a fine of not less than $5, or more than $25. 



Sec i. — Protects insectivorous birds. 



Sec. 5 — Mikes a close season for woodcock between 

 January 1st and July 1st and for ducks between April 15th 

 and September 1st. 



Seo. 6 — Refers to transportation of game out of season. 



New York. — A committee of citizens residing near Lake 

 George has engaged H. A. Howard Esq., of Glen's Falls, as 

 counsel in the case of any or all violations of the laws by 

 persons illegally taking fish from the waters of the lake. 

 Citizens to whom knowledge of such violations may come are 

 requested to report them to said counsel. 



Pennsylvania. — By a letter from a valued correspondent, 

 the Secretary of the Greenville Sportsman's Club, we learn 

 that fifteen sportsman's clubs have already joined the State 

 Association, and that many others are likely to affiliate soon. 



Ex. Governor William Bigler, of Clearfield County, Pa.. 

 has been elected President of the Sportsman's Club of 

 that County. 



Massachusetts. — We are indebted to several correspon- 

 dents for copies of the new game law of Massachusetts which 

 has passed the Legislature, and which is the result of the 

 efforts of the Committee of the State Sportman's Association. 

 Our space only permits us to give a brief abstract: 



S»c. 1. — Makes a close season for woodcock and ruffed 

 grouse from January 1st to September 1st, and for quail 

 from January 1st to November 1st. The penalty for having 



Seo. 2. — Protects wood ducks, summer ducks, black 

 ducks, and teal, between April 15th and Sept. 1st. Penalty, 



Sec 3.— Makes a close season for upland plover from 

 January 1st to Julv 15th. Penalty §10. 



Sec 4.— Protects insectivorous birds. 



Sec. 5. — Prohibits the killing of any game bird except 

 wild pigeon by means of traps, snares, nets, or springs, and 

 also the use of batteries, swivel or point guns, torch or jack 

 lights, in wild fowl or brook bird shooting. 



Sec. 6.— Names a close season for deer until 1880, and 

 then after between December 1st and October 1st; and for 

 gray squirrels, hares, and rabbits between March 1st and 

 October 1st. 



Sec 7. — Prohibits the killing of prairie chickens or 

 pinnated grouse. 



The remaining sections refer to penalties, forfeitures, etc. 



Nova Scotia. — A new Game Bill has been presented in the 

 llouse of Assembly of Nova Scotia, of which the following is 

 a synopsis : "After this law comes into operation it. will be 

 lawful to kill moose and cariboo in the months of October, 

 November, and December. Not more than three moose and 

 five cariboo can be killed in one season by any person or 

 number of persons forming a hunting party. Hunting with 

 dogs, setting of traps, pits or snares, are absolutely pro- 

 hibited, under severe penalties. Beaver tire protected from 

 the first of April until the first of November." Another sec- 

 tion of the law provides for the isuing of game licenses at 

 a charge of twenty dollars each, to all persons residing out of 

 Nova Scotia. With regard to this enactment, we are inclined 

 to think that the charge of twenty dollars for a game license 

 is exorbitant, and the effect will be to keep out of the 

 province a much larger sum of money than would be realized 

 from all the moose or cariboo killed by residents. It is very 

 true, as one of our Halifax contemporaries states, that the 

 game belongs to the people of Nova Scotia, whop 6m its 

 protection. But the- question of property being admitted 

 smother arises, and that is, how can that property be. disposed 

 of to the best advantage. It. is an undisputed fact that 

 sportsmen, particularly those who would go' from the United 

 States to the Province of Nova Scotia, Spend a great deal of 

 money in their excursions, and the amount they would leave 

 behind them would be of very considerable" importance. 

 The law restricts them to a certain number of animals to be 

 killed, and this, with the addition of an obnoxious tax of the 

 amount, proposed, would effectually keep them at home, and 

 many people in Nova Scotia may revel to their heart's con tent. 

 in a diet of moose or cariboo meat— but unaccompanied by 

 those luxuries or creature comforts which would have fallen 

 to them had they been visited by Yankee sportsmen. 



—A Wisconsin correspondent reports that about 1,500 

 pounds of brook trout were, caught on the Brule River, 

 thirty miles from Superior City, during December and Jan- 

 uary — of course, against the law. These despoilcrs find a 

 market and 'encouragement from the hotel and eating 

 hOUSfiS in St, Paul. Minnesota. Hundreds of pounds spoil 

 before they could be brought in. 



-At a stockholder's meeting of the Blooming drove Park 

 Association, held at the lark, in Pile, I 'ouuty, T'a., March 

 13th, the following named Board of Dip . ... . i i .,., 

 monSly elected for the year ending March, 1878: 

 cioniu C. Sl-oH, Dudlt.v Fioia, Gaorge S. Qreene.Jr., E. It. Wilbur, 

 H. Slennsy, Sanders 0, Btikc, Juhn Avery, *'. 8. GUbh, A. H. 



Wellington, Olias, Hallook, Joaopb Dore; InspuctorE of Election. r.<n- 

 ert Ednuston, and William Hie. kuon. 



Bambijkg, Panna., Match 15th, I . 



tinner. Forest and Sthham:— 



Considering the severity of tin.' past wilder, perk ... 

 goodly number of partridges within its prcciacis. rat it] 



ers for their kind heartedncss. in providing for so many of the poor 

 birds. One ludy cauRlit nineteen out morning, which, added to a 

 neighbor's flock, swelled tlia niunber to ariy-se.ven. Thfeblwla Oft be 

 coming iiicc tame comparatively, and now, having once more full 

 freedom, are lottt to leave the premises of tDOBC "Who provided 



.||. L seldom leaving ttiehonpes fera en-. I n | if 1 1 . .. . ■..:. 

 always ready for the "crumbs" when the poultry receives their rations. 

 Partridges are, to a certain degree, protected by our game laws; bin limy 

 are far from enjoying perfect immunity. Since tbe disappearance of 

 the snow-drifts, the dead bodies of a largo number of tbem have been 

 found. 



Our veteran trapper, "Fritz"— Horlocher— told yonr correspondent 

 that, he has four wild pigeons (decoys) in readiness for expected llights. 

 That the Knglish sparrows have either been starved or frozen, is a 

 matter which has engaged attentiou. for llieir number lias been fearfully 

 diminished, through some cause or another, iu this locality. 



Fbro Hixon. 



OUR "WASHINGTON LETTER. 



(FEOM OtJB OWN COBKESrONDENT.) 



Peiich Pishing on thu IJitec. I'otoiiao — Payne's Eddy At.D 

 the Little Falls — Bait and Tackle foe Feeoh— Com- 



MEKcIAL FlSHEEfES OE THE PoTOUAC — TVlLD DrCES, ElC, 

 ETC. 



■Washington, D. 0., March 1G, 1877. 



THE citizens of WaKbington who are inclined to the 

 pleasures of shooting and fishing, are probably I . 1 1 

 with as great variety of these sports as those of any other 

 section of the country. There are not lnoro than three 

 months in the year when the followers of these sensible and 

 health giving recreations cannot enjoy themselves, and even 

 during that period, if the river is not closed with ice, those 

 fond of aquatic shooting have the Potomac, with its millions 

 of swans, goose, and ducks, where there is no end to snub 

 sport. Our fishing season opens generally about the first of 

 April, with the magnificent white perch fishing in tbe i 

 borhood of the Little Palls anrl above Georgetown. The 

 perch, with the hening and shad, ascend the river to spawn, 

 and remain in this locality two or three weeks before return- 

 ing to salt water. During the season it is a very common 

 thing to take them weighing from three-quarters of a pound 

 to a pound and a quarter each, and measuring from six to 

 twelve inches in length, and when of this size theyrnakoa 

 delightful pan fish. But before speaking of the habits of the 

 perch, a brief description of their favorite haunts wdll not to 

 out, of place. Their spawning grounds extend all the v, ay 

 from Ead's Mill to the foot of the Little Palls, a distance cf 

 about, a mile. The river between these points varies in width 

 from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty yards, and in 

 depth from four to fifty feet! The bottom is rocky, and at 

 low tide numerous rocks are visible above the surface of tl 6 

 water. The shores on both sides are almost a solid mass of 

 rock, and many fine perch are taken at high tide from the 

 eddies formed by the rapid current behind some of the 

 larger rocks. 



Payne's Eddy.the largest and most notable one on the river, 

 has an -extensive reputation. It is located just at the foot of 

 the Little Falls, and is an excellent fishing place, not only iov 

 perch, but for bock, or striped bass, and black bass in 



while the wild scm 

 traetiveness. On the Virgil 

 is an immense cliff, fifty ft 

 rack for the turbulent wat 

 a narrow gulch for a dista 

 current at the rate of ten l 

 the Falls the Potomac is 

 shallow, and filled with 



ide, to- 

 lien, fo: 



y it adds to its at- 

 ■ above the stream, 

 a bulwark of solid 



as, which at this point rush down 

 nee of a quarter of a mile, with a 

 dies an hour. Immediately above 

 nearly half a mile in width, I [ •. y 

 ■oeks." At tbe Falls ir sa I.lcaly 

 narrows, and forms a cascade ten or twelve feet high. Iwiil 

 not attempt in this brief letter to give a complete history or 

 Payne's Eddy, which has heretofore been noticed in f 

 and Stkeam, but a few weeks ago. I believe some of its 

 ancient traditions were graphically told in rhyme by Mr. 

 Shoemaker, of Georgetown. For more than half a century 

 did Joe Payne capture the members of the finny tribe at this 

 place. It was here that Daniel Webster, (literal Gibson, Judge 

 Bibb, and many other prominent men of our own country, as 

 well as diplomats residing at the seat of go: graini .ait. were 

 always taken by old Joe, and many were the anecdotes he bad 

 of the fishing excursions of these distinguished peisoill 

 The legend of the phantom drummer of the Little Falls is 

 alioa.il, familiar to your readers, so I will not dwell on the 

 history or traditions of the Tails and Eddy, but say some- 

 thing of the fish therein. The anglei to be successful must 

 have that knowledge of the habits and feeding time of the. 

 perch, which is essential in this,as well as all other sports, to 

 insure success. Tide water of the Potomac extends as far up 

 as the foot of the Little Falls, covering the noted Eddy, 

 where the tide has a lise and fall of a 

 angler must: always avail him.-.t itf Cff I. 

 lishing, as perch begin to bite about an 

 and continue to take the bait lively u 

 after the ebb tide has set in. Small p 

 any stage of the tide, but high v. <• i 

 large ones. Ko other bait is require 

 angling worm, and the bunching of tl 

 to make an attractive appearance gem 

 fish. I have frequently caught tine per 

 but believe the worm to be equally as rj 

 A few hundred yards below t|.- [jj 

 bridge or rather, what is known as thi 

 truth, it is a handsome iron truss bridge, built, on sttuli i 



fifty leu above the surface of the river, at a cost of tfi 



-".iiio.iiini isi.M, >■ ., ,. in-:; ., ears ago, J bt U> i >, Un tse wW B bridge 



suspended by chains oNcl I In POtninaC &t this pl 



,i i ■... s-.l., 1 1 .it. .i I ■.., I l.c ir isacla, and two or three 



s feci. 



The 



tab b . have good 

 lour before high tide, 

 itil an hour or more 

 rch will bite at tiiost 

 best for the 

 than the ordinary 

 .I or four on aliook 

 ■ !■ DytiGBH the best 

 b with live minnow, 



le Falls is the chain 

 ..tiaiu bridge, I 



