FOREST AND STREAM. 



181 



PORTABLE SHOOTING BOXES'. 



WE wish to call especial attention to the advertisement 

 in this week's issue of the portable houses which, 

 the Messrs. O'Brien of Y. inkers sre now prepared to con- 

 struct for sportsmen and summer, sojourners in this country. 

 The accompanying design and specifications give a very 

 accurate idea of thai* construction, and the uses to which 

 they may be put. The Messrs. O'Brien have, had the con- 

 tract of fitting the rustic work in Gilrunre's Garden since 

 fchatenb rprise was initiated. 



"We have more than once, brought this subject to the no- 

 tin- 'f our readers, andfora longtime have labored to induce 

 some enterprising firm to undertake their manufacture, for 

 the benefit of those whose purposes they are well calculated 

 to serve. We have ourselves seen these houses put to a va- 

 riatj oi u& -.. and knowing their value, have wondered why 

 our suggestions have been so coldly received by those who 

 we rhengkl would be eager to adopt thern. Failing else- 

 where, we think we have at last found the right men in the. 

 right plaOB. The MSSSTS. O'Brien have obligingly taken our 

 views into eonsideration. and after much careful study of 

 plans, which should combine both convenience and cheap- 

 ness, believe that thsy can now fill every requirement. 



Tli. idea of portable houses is not new. Dwellings, and 

 even churches, have long ago been constructed in sections 

 and shipped to California, South America, and elsewhere, 

 where they have been put together in a brief space of time. 

 "Within twenty-four hours villages have occupied places 

 which were previously waste and unoccupied. With equal 

 facility they can be taken down, and again removed to other 

 sites more desirable, if such a change be required. We can 

 readily conceive that among a people so restless and fond of 

 change as we of America, especially those who annually seek: 

 a temporary sojourn in some summer rural, such a class of 

 houses would prove very desirable. Dissatisfied with a 

 chosen location, or wearied after a time with surroundings 

 that had become monotonous, or necessitated to remove from 

 the seaside to the mountain, or seek a change of climate, 

 no sacrifice of property by forced sale or absolute abandon- 

 ment would be compelled. Hot even the purchase of ground 

 would be involved. Hnndreds of choice spots might be tem- 

 porarily leased which could not be bought. Indeed, ad- 

 vantages various and wonderful can be imagined if not 

 enumerated. Houses of one, three, or even ten rooms can 

 be constructed in this manner, with more or less conveni- 

 ences and ornamentation, at an expense very considerably 

 hiss than buildings erected in the ordinary way. For 

 summer recreation they need no lath, plaster, or heavy ma- 

 terial. Planed boards, tongued and grooved, laid on orna- 

 mental joists and rafters, painted outside in colors, and 

 grained inside to represent any wood desired, can be made 

 highly attractive. 



This class of structures, however, does not call for our 

 especial attention. Our desideratum is a cheap building of 

 one or two rooms, put together in the rough, affording com- 

 fort only, to be used where the period of temporary sojourn 

 is to occupy a month or more, either as a camp for the 

 angler in summer, or the gunner in fall or winter. It can be 

 shipped to the ducking grounds along the coast, or be used 

 by fishermen engaged in seining. It will serve the thousands 

 who annually swarm upon the ice of the great lakes for 

 winter fishing. It is alike useful as a lodge for game 

 keepers, graziers or herders. It is a complete and comforta- 

 ble protector against the storms which so often make dwell- 

 ers in tents miserable. It insures a good, dry bed, and well 

 cooked meals. Such a building, wholly suitable, the Messrs 

 O'Brien can construct for the trifling sum of SI 35; and when 

 once made, will last for an indefinite time. It is economy 

 itself. 



In furthering this project, the gentlemen who .advertise 

 have been prompted by no spirit, of speculation. They 

 simply endeavor ro meet what we believe to be the require- 

 ments of sportsmen and others whose pursuits make such a, 

 class of buildings desirable; and being sportsmen them- 

 selves of long experience are veil capable of judging what the 

 requirements of sportsmen are. No doubt numbers of these 

 portable houses will dot the shores of many lakes and moun- 

 tain streams before two years roll around. Several associa- 

 tions have been formed, owning large tracts of territory, 

 which invite the erection of cottages within their domains; 

 and what can be more suitable than these, and what more 

 easily erected in out-of-the-way places where no facilities 

 exist for house building '■' We leave the question to the good 

 judgment of our readers; merely adding that such houses 

 •ire in use in Great Britain, where they are as regularly ad- 

 vertised in the sporting journals as any class of sportsmen's 



GAME PROTECTION. 



Sev; Yobk.— YVe are pleased to learn that our good friend 

 Farugan, of the TJtiea llerukl, has been elected President of 

 the Central New York Sportsmans' Club of that city. 



Rhoue IsnAiro.— At the third annual meeting of the Rhode 

 Island State Association for the Protection of Game and 

 Fish, held at Providence. Wednesday evening, April 11th, the 

 following named officers were elected for the ensuing year: 

 President, Henry T. I i e -President, William E. 



Taber; Second Vice-President, John Howe; Third Vice-Pres- 

 ident, Rev. F. H. Hempeii.y, Fourth Vice-President, Br, 

 Amos 1A- Hawes; Kffch Yice-Pre=idonl, William H. YVitniarth; 

 Secretary, L. H Cfltler; Treasurer, C. F. Pope; Advocate, 

 H, B. Whitm&ilj Managing Board, Messrs. Edgar Pratt, 

 AValterf. Mason, James Patterson, William H, Fenner, Jr., 

 M K. Bowing, Jl . G. M Carpenter. Preston E. Day (Warren, 

 B. Li J. K. H. Nightingale, and W. P. Morton, 



Virginia.— The Virginia Legislature has recently passed 

 seme very important bills relating to fish and game. The 

 first applies to the protection of fish above, tidewater, and 

 bill fly is as follows: 



Sec. 1 prohibits the taking of any fish in the waters 

 ' I ■ ■ -, i nm m wealth, except bait fish, above tidewater for a 

 period of six years, by any means except angling with hook 

 and line. 



Sue. -J makes a close season for trout [Saifno fontinfdis) 

 from September loth until April 1st, and for black- bass or 

 pond bass (Southern chub) from May 15th until July 1st, 

 and shooting or spearing either of these fish is prohibited. 



lending sections apply to having in possession 

 the use of poisons, etc.. and the penalties, the latter of which 

 is fixed at twenty dollars, or thirty days imprisonment for 

 each offence. The act. goes into force immediately. 



The second act is for the protection of fish in tidewater. 

 The following are its principal features: 



Sei '. I i irohibits the. use of purse nets in Chesapeake Bay 

 at night or on Sunday, or in any of the rivers or creeks of 

 the Stale, or within two miles of the mouth of said rivers or 

 creeks. Pound nets are also prohibited in a like manner, 

 and the latter nets are also prohibited m any of the waters 

 of the commonwealth during the months of June, July and 

 August, or in such manner at any time as to obstruct the 

 channels. The act goes into operation November 30th of 

 this year. 



In this latter act it seems to us that the framers of the law- 

 have erred in placing the prohibition upon pound nets dur- 

 ing the. month named, instead of the three months preceding, 



i ■ -,. leasi luring April, May and June. It is during these 

 months that the great Northern migration of sea fishes takes 

 place, and it has been found that to induce these fishes, such 

 as the blue fish, weak fish, sheepshead, etc., to return to 

 their old spawning and feeding grounds, in the waters of 

 New Jersey and New York, pounds must be abolished 

 during the months named. The mischief is all done before 

 July, and the same, would occur in more Southern waters at 

 an earlier date. 



The act for the protection of game is as follows: 



Sec. 1 makes a close season for partridges (quails) between 

 February 1st and November 1st, and setting or trapping is 

 prohibited until after the expiration of two years from the 



of the 



ict. 



2 makes a close season for ruffed grouse from Febru- 

 ary 1st until August 1st, for woodcock between February 1st 

 arid July 1st, for robins between April 1st and November 

 1st, and' protects insectivorous birds. 



Sec. 3 makes it unlawful to kill or capture any wild water 

 fowl between April 1st and September 1st, except summer 

 duck and sora (rail), and prohibits the killing of wild fowd 

 between dark and daybreak, or the use of any gun that can- 

 not be held at arm's length. Wild geese may be killed 

 either during day or night" providing reflectors are not used 

 at night. 



Sec. -1 protects wild turkeys between February 1st and 

 October 15th. 



Sec. 5 prohibits the capture of mocking birds. 



Sec. provides that marsh hens or their eggs shall not be 

 taken before June 20th, or willets before July 20th. 



Sec 7 protects deer from Deoember 15th until August 15th 

 of the next succeeding year. The remaining sections refer 

 to penalties, etc. 



Mih>tesota.— The Lake Pepin Sportsman's Club is prepar- 

 ing for a vigorous campaign during the coming season. At 

 their last meeting the. following officers were elected: Presi- 

 dent, G. W. Lemley; Vice-President, L. S. Van Yliet; Secre- 

 tary, D. C. Estes", re-elected; Treasurer, F. Rueckert, re- 

 elected ; Managing Committee, O. Gibbs, E. A. Patton, J. 

 McCroden, Chas. Wise, Wm. Morris, Nate Patton and Chas. 

 Sehmuser. 



Wisconsin. — The Legislature of Wisconsin has also passed 

 a new game law. By its provisions ruffed grouse and prairie- 

 chickens are protected from snares and nets, the close sea- 

 sons remaining the same. Deer are protected by a close 

 season, extending from January 1 to September 15. In- 

 sectivorous birds are protected at all seasons. The most 

 important section is that referring to wild fowl shooting on 

 Lake Koshkonong, which we print in full: 



• It shall not be lawful for any poison, at any time or in any place, 

 upon any of tlie waters of Lake Koshkonoug, or Encls River, ill the 

 Counties of Koc.k, Dane and Jefferson, in this State, to shoot at, witch, 

 kill, wound, destroy, or to pursue any duck ev other wild fowl, while 

 bedded In flocks on their feeding or roosting grounds, by the aid, 

 means, or use of any float, punt-boat, sneak-boat, or similar device or 

 structure, however known or called, or to shoot aiorpnis.no. by any 

 aid or means whatsoever, any such duck or other wild fowl, between 

 the hours of eight o'clock in the atteruoon aud threo o'clock in the 

 forenoon of the following day; nor shall it be lawlul lor any person to 

 build, or to use, for the purpose of hunting or shouting duck or other 

 wild fowl, upon any of the lakes, rivers, streams, or marshes, b ties 

 State, any sunken or floating boxes or batteries, or any other similar 

 device or structure, however known or called, or to sail for any wild 

 fowl of any kind in, or to shoot at them from any vessel, propelled by 

 steam or sails, or from any boat or other structure attached to the 



A New York gentleman camped out in Florida last win- 

 ter with a party, and they killed 705 quail, 697 snipe, 37 

 ducks, 63 deer, 10 turkeys, 9 fox squirrels, 1 fox, 8 wild cats, 

 2 sandhill cranes, 1 eagle, 1 woodcock— grand total of 1,534. 

 He says: 



"Had we hunted deer only, all day long and every day, I 

 feel confident we could have, kiUed, at least calculation, 175. 

 But we only killed them as we needed them, and then re- 

 turned to 'camp. Though the number we have slain seems 

 large, it must be remembered that the Southern deer are 

 very small as compared with those of the North. If we 

 had used even the whole of the spare time after deer hunt- 

 ing, the number of quail could have been quadrupled, and 

 of snipe doubled. Turkey hunting requires great care and 

 patience, two qualities we did not put to the test to any ex- 

 tent or we might have killed several more of the noble 

 birds for there were plenty of them within a mile of camp. 

 Ducks were verv numerous, and correspondingly wild. 



Please always to bear m mind that we have wasted not a 

 bit of game. T£ we have had at times more than we needed 

 ourselves we have given it to friends." 



-Blackberries are now in season in Florida, and quite 

 abundant, 



An Ai ■tiiob'k Home.— Charles Lonnnui, Esq., of George- 

 town, D. C, is an embodiment of what is expressed in the 

 simple words, "fishing tourist." As an angler he is better 

 known to .$lie generation of fishermen who are rapidly fol- 

 lowing Thad. Norris Over the border, than to those whPKTC just 

 now stepping in. He has lishe 1 almost all waters of theUuited 

 it a time When tile venture required more pluck 

 and hardihood than it now does to go around the world; 

 when st. ice coaches were, indeed, alnmsf the only convey- 

 in 1 -. n 1 .steamboats not fairly introduced. The material 

 Which be (hen fished out from the. running brooks, lakes and 

 rivers of our country, from the S.agitenny to Lake Superior, 

 writing as he went, had a freshness about it which is not ap- 

 parent now when the book is no longer sealed, and the 

 things then hidden have become familiar objects. Much 

 information has Lannian contributed to the geography and 

 uatnral history of the country, and it is very creditable to 

 the carefulness of his observations and the accuracy of his 

 statements that many of his observations then made and re- 

 counted are now substantiated and adopted by our best 

 scientific authorities. 



No doubt, in the present vigor of his ripe maturity, he 

 would disclaim the insinuation that he was aged, but the 

 writer of this knew him twenty-five years ago as the "Wash- 

 ington correspondent of the New York Journal of ';>,,»„, ore," 

 and he was in the prime of his manhood then. But years 

 do not always bring stiffness or decrepitude, and Mr. Lan- 

 man is a well-preserved specimen, hale, hearty and athletic, 

 who would grace the company of H. P. Durell, Esq., of 

 Morrisania, for instance, who at the age of 82 years annu- 

 ally follows the hounds, or takes his day's tramp with his 

 log! into the stubble and cover. (Inoidenhdly, we may 

 mention here that Mr. Durell has entered one of his dogs— a 

 black and white setter— for the Bench Show to be held 

 next month in this city. ) 



Mr. Lanman has contributed to this paper, occasionally, 

 groin its beginning, and those who know him will be 

 pleased to read the following description of his abiding 

 place, written by one of his admirers, which we copy from 

 a letter in the Cincinnati G't'.zetlc. When those who have 

 toiled and borne the burden of the day are able to take their 

 rest and reward with dignity and comfort, it kindles in a 

 sympathetic brotherhood that fellow-feeling which makes 

 the whole world kin, and makes us all happy to see it; 



"Mr. Lanman's house is a veritable museum. He is a 

 thorough literary and artistic man, and believes in gather- 

 ing around him the wonderful and beautiful objects met 

 with through life, rather than furnishing a homeless feeling 

 house with gorgeous satin and sumptuous gildings, which are 

 too handsome to suggest comfort in their use. The walls 

 of his attractive home are decorated with beautiful pictures 

 in oils and water colors, many of them the production of his 

 artistic brush, while rare old books, and piles of engravings, 

 and articles of virtu fill up all the brackets and nooks, with 

 that enjoyable prodigality seen only rarely, and then in the 

 11 sn 1 1 noes of men of artistic readings. 



" Your correspondent has visited Mr. Lanman's residence 

 lately, and is therefore able to complete the above descrip- 

 tion. The house in question, which is small and unpretend- 

 ing, is flanked by a combination of garden and lawn nearly 

 an acre in extent, and adjoining it is the old homestead 

 where the "lady of the mansion" was born— something un- 

 usual in this age of transitions. The rooms are small and 

 always open to the sunshine; fire-places and Franklin stoves 

 take "the place of furnaces; books and pictures are substi- 

 tuted for rich and desolate furniture; and every nook from 

 garret to cellar is eozv, plain, and pervaded by the spirit of 

 home.. Of books there are perhaps 3,000 volumes, among 

 which are many autograph copies, and an ample store of 

 travel, sporting volumes, and illustrated works on the fine 

 arts. Among the pictures in oil, water colors, and in black 

 and white which meet you in Bvary direction, may be seen 

 original productions by such men as David Cox, T. S. and 

 Abraham Cooper, Eastlake, Holme. Phillip Copley Fielding, 

 and other English celebrities; some good things by French 

 artists, and representative productions by such Americans as 

 Church, Huntington, Dnrand. Ltutze. Eastman, Johnson, 

 A. Fisher, William Hart, White. Casilier, Oertel, Weber, 

 Hamilton, Gegrioux, Edmunds, Cole, Sully, G.L.Brown 

 and others. Of works which have come from the author- 

 artist's own hands, a collection of more than twenty volumes 

 would naturally attract attention, among which are several 

 beautifully printed English editions, and packed away in 

 portfolios are to be seen hundreds of original sketches in oil 

 of American scenery, ranging from the Saguansy Biver and 

 Take Superior to the Gulf of "device. The visitor who has 

 a fancy for rods and reels and artificial flies may discover in 

 one of the out-of-the-way corners something less than a cart- 

 load of such stuff, which has assisted the owner and made 

 him happy in killing salmon 111 Canada, black buss in the 

 TV, „.-,■ "\fw:-'.:,-;. T i and various kinds of fish in the waters of 

 Florida and Alabama. One particular shelf in this home of 

 a hard-working author, which once contained a vast number 

 of autobiographical letters from Congressmen, and which 

 were sold for five thousand dollars after the sap had been 

 taken out. of them for the "Dictionary of Congress,' is now- 

 filled with the private correspondence of Mi-. Lanman's per- 

 sonal friends, including eminent authors, artists and states- 

 men, and among which are many letters of great beauty and 

 historical value. But one of the brightest attractions of Mr. 

 Lanman's home is the presence of a Japanese child , now just 

 twelve years of ago, wleve lie, ,10 ion ha is superintending 

 in this country, who speaks English fluently and whose name 

 is Ume Tends, and as he has for several years been officially 

 connected with the Japanese legation in Washington, he has 

 not been backward in filling his home with curiosities from 

 the Far East. Of Oriental books and pictures, choice po 

 lain and lacquer ware, swords, shell and bronze productions 

 and beautiful costumes, there is a rare supply, but perhaps 

 the one particular thing that would be most generally 

 eoveted is an edition of Japanese poetry, m three tiny vol- 

 umes, written only about nine hundred years ago." 



—Dr. J. Wilis Houston, of Collupicr, Chester County, 

 Penn., has for sale a unique cabinet of woods, which is com- 

 posed of 110 species and 90 genera. The woods are turned 

 into cups for holding mineral specimens 110 cops, each 

 cup and lid representing a distinct kind of wood. It can 

 be bought very reasonably. 



