FOREST AND STREAM. 



183 



of the I i i laidered worthy of Hie 



angler's or sportsman's attention, has just been organized in 

 Hampshire. The following gentlemen are the. 

 officers of theOlub: 



Dr. Edward Spalding, President: Virgil C. Oilman, Vice- 

 President : Geo. P, Andrews, Treasurer; Chas. E. Whitmarsh, 

 Secretary; Edward E. Parker, Attorney; Alfred W. Greeley, 

 Oilman 0. Shattuck, Aaron P. Kiig, Executive Committee. 



CONKBCXroTrE — We have receive! copies of a new Game Bill 

 which, our correspondent writes us, really has passed the Con- 

 necticut Eegis'ature, and become a law. There have bev I 

 ported to us so many bills as having been before that body, 

 that we trus! the deed has finally been consummate: i. 

 shall not have to report any further changes ior a year, at 

 least. The principal feature of the new law is, wherein a uni- 

 versal close season is made for quail, ruffed grouse, and wood- 

 cock, doing away with summer shooting. Following is a brief 

 extract ; 



Section 1 — Makes it unlawful to kill or attempt to kill any 

 woodcock, quail, or ruffed grouse between January 1st and 

 October 1st, the penalty being not more than $25 for each of- 

 fence. 



Section 2 -Forbids the taking the eggs or destroying the 

 nests of any of the above birds, under a similar penalty. 



Section 3 — Prohibits (except on one's own land) the snar- 

 ing, trapping, or netting of any of the birds mentioned in Sec- 

 tion 1 . under a like penalty. 



Section ■!— Peters to the transportation of said birds during 

 the close season, under a like penalty. 



Section 5 and U -Forbids trespass upon enclosed grounds, 

 without permission, provided the owner has six printed signs 

 or notices in as many cons} icuous places on his land. 



Section 7 — Prohibits shooting on Sunday. 



Pennsylvania. — The !,' ■ Press sayS! 



"In the Quarter Sessions dart inphiladelphia, yesterday, 

 before Judge Fiuletter, Lewis Hoops and William Evinson 

 were charged with exposing rabbits for sale on December 23d 

 in violation of the game laws. The law prohibits the expos- 

 ing for sale of game between December loth and October 15th 

 in any one year, and under that act Judge Finletter said he 

 could not sentence the defendants, even if they were con- 

 vict-!. ( if law? the V" ware none that should be more rigidly 

 ad than the game laws when they could be, but this 

 ict i- 3 is en impossible offence, because there could be 

 no inter. ,:i be ,.\Y-en December 15 and October 15 in one year, 

 and the Court could not insert in the law, "between Decem- 

 ber loth of one year and October 15th of the succeeding 

 year/' The bills were submitted and verdicts of not guilty 

 taken. 



It would be well for some other States to look to their laws 

 and see if there is not the same loop-hole of escape for in- 

 fractors. 



.—The game association 



i bushels of wild rice, 



• peninsula tins spring. 



:' Erie, one of the finest 



d is interspersed with 



A crop <>!' wild rice would 



. without doubt. The Fur, 



fly organised at North East, 



still cold here, this side of 



Pennsyi.vant:.. 

 of this place have purchased tifi 

 which they propose to sow on 

 This peninsula protects the harbc 

 harbors on the chain of lakes, 

 numerous ponds and marsh 

 make it a great n 

 Fin, and Feather Club was p 

 near this place. The weathe 

 the lake being covered with i 

 and snipe have not yet mad 

 few ducks in thoir season, and good snipe grounds. Owing 

 to our sovoro winters there are no quail here, lie game as- 

 sociation have ordered one of the Bogardus patent traps for 

 throwing glass balls, and 1,000 balls for practice. Although 

 nu morons changes were suggested, no change was made "in 

 the game law of this State by our Legislature, except with 

 regard to deer, the season being now from October 1st to 

 December 1st. D. K. C. 



Vieginia. — As a very suitable appendix to our article on 

 "Virginia as a Sporting Ground," published in our issue of 

 March 22d, we now give a brief abstract of the new game 

 laws of Virginia as recently passed by the Legislature. 

 Hitherto such enactments as have been in force have applied 

 to particular sections or counties only, but the new law is 

 general. 



Sec. 1. Makes a close season for quail between February 

 1st and November 1st, and prohibits netting or trapping for 

 two years. 



Seo. 2. Makes a close season for ruffed grouse between 

 February 1st and August 1st; for woodcock between Feb- 

 ruary 1st and July 1st, and robins between April 1st and 

 November 1st; and protects thrushes, cat-birds, cardinals, 

 wrens, orioles, etc. 



Sec. 3. Says: "It shall not bo lawful to kill or capture any 

 wild water-fowl in this State between the first day of April 

 and the first day of September of each year, except the wild 

 duck commonly known and called the summer-duck, and 

 except the wild fowl commonly called SOTO; or during the 

 night, that is, between dark and day-break; nor shall it be 

 lawful to kill wild water-fowl, except with a gun that can be 

 raised at. arm's length and fired from the shoulder without a 

 rest. Wild geese may be killed either during the day or 

 night. Provided that in no case shall floating reflectors or 

 lamps be used in shooting wild geese in the night time." 



Sec. 4- reads: "It shall not be' lawful to kill or capture wild 

 turkevs between the 1st day of February and tho 15th of 

 October of each year, nor at liny time by traps of any kind." 

 Sec. T. Protects de.-r between December loth and "August 

 15th. The penalty for each offence is $20, and the act goes 

 into effect on July 1st next. 



Fishing in Virginia.— The Legislature of Virginia has re- 

 cently passed an art to prevent the destruction and to pro- 

 mote the multiplication of fish in tho streams of that State. 

 It provides that during the next six years no fish shall be 

 caught otherwise than by angling in any streams above tide- 

 water. It is made unlawful to take mountain trout between 

 ■ mb ii 15th and April 1st by any process whatever, and 

 at other periods only by angling — a similar provision apply- 

 ing to black bass b< twi h and July 1st of each year. 

 Possess! m o: t:_, i fish within the prohibited periods to be 

 prime facie evidence- of violation i if the law. The penalty for 

 infraction of the law is filed at it fine in each ease of $20 mil 

 imprisonment until -the fine be paid. The offender is n 

 forfeit bis boats, nets or other illegal contrivances in such 

 taking of fish. The act is now in I i 



— The Mississippi L> e :■ ■ < ■ i a. very stringent 



law, approved Feb 1st, imposing a penalty o S100 on all 

 trappers from other 8t»t s boavai ' inimals 



sapturi 1 tea h . - - pi, and per- 



mitting Counties town an ! citi - to ■ an i 1 rational tax 

 not to exceed fifty per cent of the above sum. 



THE COMING STATE SPORTSMEN'S 

 CONVENTION. 



[The considerations presented below by a thoughtful cor- 

 respondent, demand respectfnl attention,— Ed. F. and B.] 



SPOBTSMEN of New York State are looking forward 

 With great interest to the coming meeting of the State 

 Association at Syracuse this spring. Grand results are 

 looked for by honest sportsmen, and it is to bo hoped they 

 wall not be disappointed. Syracuse is a grand centre to hold 

 this meeting : easy of access to all parts of the State, its iu- 

 ha.'mtanis renowned lor their hospitality and courtesy toward 

 strangers, and its sporting organizations perfect in their dis- 

 cipline and composed of gentlemen in every sense of the 

 word. 



What is the object for which these yearly meetings are held? 

 Why do the different associations for the protection of fish 

 and game make yearly pilgrimages to some given eeutro, as 

 faithfully as the " Moslem to his .Mecca?" This Stile Asso- 

 ciation was formed for high and noble purposes — partly for 

 social good, but mainly to devise ways and means to protect 

 and replenish our terribly depleted fields, forests, and' 

 streams. 



The above is ostensibly the purpose for which the annual 

 meeting is to be held at Syracuse, and has been held at other 

 places in times past. But now the question arises: Has the 

 State organization done those things expected of it? Have 

 the sportsmen who, through force of circumstances, have 

 been debarred the privilege of attending these associations, 

 ii en satisfied with the results of the meetings of their more 

 favored brethren ? Has the good resulting from the organiza- 

 tion been of great and lasting benefit, such as we, as a Com- 

 monwealth, can be proud of? I fear not. 



Look over the minutes of previous meetings, particularly 

 the one held at Genesee last year, what do you see in the 

 way of business ? Absolutely nothing^ Oh ! but they had a 

 big shoot, lots of fun, and there were a great many clubs rep- 

 resented. The ^magnificent 500-acre lot, so kindly placed at 

 the disposal of the. association by Mr. Wadsworth, was dotted 

 with club tents, and in these tents was everything in the way 

 of eatables and drinkable-;— and that was about all it 

 amounted to. The dog show was a failure, but the pigeon 

 shoot was a grand success; and so hard did the delegates 

 work in this latter direction, and so seductive were those tents 

 with their gaily flying streamers, and unbounded hospital- 

 ity, that when the business meeting in the evening was held, 

 they say the attendance was not very large or enthusiastic, 

 and the business done did not crowd the secretary to chron- 

 icle. 



Now ir this right? Ought the weightier matters of the 

 association to bo neglected for those trivialities which give 

 but a moment's pleasure, and are ol no benefit to any one ? 



"Tin- New York State Sportsmen's Association have procured 

 ten thousand wild pigeons for the meeting at Geneseo." 



The above item went the rounds of the p,ipers a year ago, 

 mid was considered as something wonderful; and well it might 

 bo, for the massing of ten thousand wild pigeons is not an 

 everyday occurrence— and that was about all the. country 

 knew of the meeting. To be sure, the readers of Forest 

 and Stream saw an account of the proceedings, which, al- 

 though exhaustive, detailing the whole thing, amounted to 

 simply nothing, for the simple reason that they were the 

 faithful chroniclers of nothing. 



That there were members at the last meeting who went 

 home dissatisfied there is no doubt. Thankful are we that 

 there are some who look upon the annual gatherings of the 

 New York State Sportsmen's Association as something be- 

 sides " boys' play;" as something in which dignity and dec- 

 orum is as necessary as in legislative halls; who attend 

 these meetings to engage in them heart and soul; men to 

 whom the chairman's voice, "carried," announcing thepass- 

 ageof some good protective resolution, is far sweeter music 

 than the cry, "dead bird." 



Does the long line of delegates, each with his gun case in 

 his hand, passing from their hotels to the grounds, bound to 

 win a reputation they have not in the legitimate field, look- 

 to the outside world as if very extensive measure-, were to 

 be taken for the protection of game ? I think not. Do lunch 

 counters and kegs and demijohns ad libitum iu every tent, 

 look like a sober Consideration of matters of vital import- 

 ance to our children, whom we hope to instruct in the manly 

 art of sportsmanship ? Gentlemen — delegates — you have the 

 ma'ter in your own hands. It rests with you whether this 

 forthcoming meet of New York State sportsmen shall be a 

 meeting of earnest gentlemen, bent on furthering the inter- 

 ests of the fraternity and the State, or a lot of •' the boy?." 

 bent on sport, and giving precedence to the mere slaughter of 

 innocent, pigeons and the absorbing of "the rosy." La us 

 hope that; the coming meeting at Syracuse will be loug re- 

 membered as the one where the true sportsmen of the Em- 

 pire State met and worked for the interests of the fraternity 

 they represent, and win laurels more lasting than those of 

 previous gatherings. Lookee-On. 



«■» 



Gkbenwoou Lake, Orange County, Now Tork, Jtnroh 30, 1877. 

 Editor Pobbst and Stream: 



Knowing the interest yon lake in all matters for which oar clah was 

 organized, I take pleasorc in handing yon the report of our " Fish 

 Warden." this day received. It covers ouly the months of Sept., Oct., 

 Nov., and the first part of December, tho lake, being closed from the 

 latter part of Dec. unlit now. He reports three thousand reel of gttl 

 nets taken, also len thousand feet of set lines; had two una irt U 

 and taken before Justice Halt. They were discharged, hoU ( ■■■■■: - i the 

 a not sufficient to hold them-; he sajlng If brotighl S< Die 

 him again they would not get off so easily. We have placed in [he laSe 

 six thousand California salmon from the New York Aquarium, and lift} 

 thousand salmon trout from Seth C4reen, Esq. 



Very respectfully yours, 



n, 0, Cook, Treasurer, 



OUR WASHINGTON LETTER. 



fbom ona own cobeesfokbent. 



GAME AND OTHEB BIBDS OF THE D1MTBICT OF COLUMBIA — THEIR 

 HABITS, HAUNTS, ETC.— AN rXTEBESTING FIEED FOB SPOBTS- 

 MEN AND NATUBAIISTS. 



Washington-, If C., March, 1877. 



THE District of Columbia and the neighboring counties 

 of Maryland and Virginia, with the many varieties 

 of game birds frequenting these localities at nearly all seasons 

 of the year, not only present an attractive field for the 

 sportsman, but the extensive and interesting avifaaim found 

 in this vieinry makes it doubly attractive for the student of 

 natural history, especially in • the spring and autumn. 

 Although it may seem incredible, we have here, including 

 permanent residents and annual visitors, 226 distinct varie- 

 ties of birds. Of these, 41 are permanent, residents, 54 are 

 regular visitants, 25 are accidental visitants. 44 are winter 

 residents, and 59 are summer residents. The most complete 

 list of birds ascertained to inhabit the District is that pre- 

 • pared by Dr. Elliott Ooues, now a surgeon in tho army, and 

 Dr. D. Webster Prentiss, at present a prominent physician 

 of Washington. This list was prepared by them when they 

 were college boys, and was made up after five years' actual 

 observations in the field, during which time they collected 

 about five thousand specimens, many of which were depos- 

 ited in the Smithsonian Institution. While collecting their 

 specimens they were students and classmates in that time- 

 honored institution, Columbia College, but the care and 

 accuracy with which their work was done would have re- 

 flected credit upon older heads. Though sixteen years have 

 elapsed since its preparation, not more than a dozen species 

 have been added to it, and of these a majority are indicated 

 in their list as probable visitants, though they were not 

 actually observed. Dr. Ooues, it is well-known, has devoted 

 his life to the study of natural history, and his numerous 

 works in regard thereto have a world-wide reputation. He 

 has more valuable works in print on that subject than any 

 other naturalist, of his years. His classmate -Dr. Prentiss— 

 though still deeply interested in all that pertains to that 

 beautiful study, found the demands of his profession steadily 

 encroaching upon his taste in this direction, and has had to 

 abandon in a measure the puiuiit of his early inclination. 

 Dr. Cones, with his honored position in the army, has 

 rapidly come to be one of the first naturalists of our 

 country, and his interesting articles, which often appear in 

 Poeest and Steeam, are extensively copied. The list of 

 birds prepared by them is valuable, not only on acoount of 

 having every species mentioned and fully described, but it 

 also gives the times of arrival and departure of such as aro 

 now residents, with brief notices of the habits of all birds 

 found by them. 



In the list of game birds I rank the woodcock first. This 

 bird is a permanent resident and frequents low, marshy 

 grounds and moist corn-fields. In early spring it is found 

 in low woods and thickets. Dr. Coues, in his admirable, 

 work on "Birds of the Northwest," says: "The woodcock is 

 by no means so exclusively an inhabitant of bog and brake 

 as those w r ho are not entirely familiar with it may suppose. 

 It frequently visits corn-fields and other cultivated tracts in 

 the vicinity of swampy grounds, and often betakes itself to 

 the woods, where, it rustles among the dry leaves, turning 

 them over to search for food. It, is erratic, or rather caprici- 

 ous, in its resorts as well as in its general movements north 

 and south. A few linger, unless the season be very severe, 

 in the middle districts all winter, but they are generally off 

 for the south with the freezing of the ground. A cold snap 

 will suddenly drive them away altogether from places where 

 a few hours before they had been found in numbers. The 

 general and regular movement occurs chiefly in March and 

 October. Some reside in the south, but. the greater number 

 pass north, to return again in the fall None appear to 

 winter, except casually, beyond our middle districts." 



The favorite feeding time for these birds is about the dusk 

 of evening, and I believe they migrate at night. Some time 

 ago, while walking along one of the principal streets in the 

 heart of the city about 9 o'clock in the evening, my atten- 

 tion was drawn to something on the sidewalk, which I found 

 to be a full-grown woodcock seriously hurt hut not dead. I 

 was at a loss to account for the presence of the bird at this 

 place, but the mystery was soon solved when I observed a 

 telegraph wire overhead, against which the bird struck in its 

 flight and was fatally injured. In this locality they mate in 

 February, and I am sorry to say that they are not protected, 

 We have a game law forbid ling the killing or sale of t,hdm be- 

 tween the 1st day of January and 1th day of July, but I un- 

 derstand that they have been for sale in market , within the 

 past two weeks. 



Our next game bird is Wilson's snipe, better known 

 as -English," or "jack snipe," and sometimes they are plen- 

 tiful enough to afford excellent sport. They are spring and 

 autumn visitants, and are now here on their way north, 

 though they have not been plentiful this season. They return 

 from the north in flocks early in September, and remain in 

 this vicinity about two weeks. Snipe frequent low meadows 

 and marshy ground, and in the spring very often arrive one 

 night and leave the next. Indeed, it is a very common oc- 

 currence to find tho snipe quite plentiful on a marsh or 

 meadow one day, and upon the next not the first, sign of 

 one. As an instance, I may mention .the fact thai, Cot Am?i 

 Smith, of the Senate Document Koom, a fei rvt in s 

 was walking over a pieoa of miadnw ne.ir his country resi- 

 dence, accompanied by his favorite Go pdon setter but un- 

 I'ortunately without his gun, and in less Mum half an horr 

 the dog put up a dozen snipe, most of them being hand- 

 somely pointed. Col. Smith was on the meadow early next 

 morning with gun and dog, but not a snipe was to be found 



