182 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



X 



IN MEMORIAM. 



THE guild of anglers has lost a master of the gentle art. 

 Thuddeus Norris, of Philadelphia, widely known 

 throughout the country as a teaoher and authority on fish and 

 angling, has passed away. Suddenly but painlessly he fell 

 into his final rest on the 11th of April, 1877, at his home in 

 this city. 



To those who enjoyed intimate companionship with him 

 no words the writer can pen are needed to keep his memory 

 green ; still, a duty remains to ontline, however feebly, some 

 of the characteristics of an angler whom Walton would have 

 Soved as a kindred spirit. To attempt to furnish even a brief 

 rrecord of the events of his life is not the writer's purpose, 

 lit will be"sufficient to notice that he was born near Warren. 

 'ton, in Virginia, in lsll, and that at an early age he re- 

 moved to Philadelphia, which waB his home for the rest of 

 ibis life. He acquired, as a boy, a love for fishing ; but, to 

 •quote his own words, he "never became an angler until he 

 ceased to trust in the flesh"— that is, had abandoned the bait 

 and learned to cast the fly. But this latter art, oncoacquired, 

 became a delight of his life; and an experience of over thirty- 

 five years' practice as a fisherman in one so patient, so close 

 in observation, and so fair in his conclusions as Mr. Norris, 

 gave his name deserved weight with naturalists and savans, as 

 well as anglers, in all questions touching the genera, habitats 

 and characteristics of fish, as well as the best methods for 

 their capture. 



The special charm iu Mr. Norris to his brother anglers was 

 his subtle and artistic perception of all that is poetical and 

 beautiful in the surroundings of the angler at his sport, and 

 his power to portray truthfully and impressively the comfort 

 and delight they imparted to his own physical and spiritual 

 being, by bringing him into the closest contact with the 

 wonderful and beautiful creations which the great Maker and 

 Builder hath wrought in His handiwork, which we call na- 

 ture. To some men life in tho woods and by the stream is ff 

 kind of inspiration. If Thoreau had been an angler he would 

 have been oue after the heart of our departed friend. And 

 the reader of Mr. Norris" miscellaneous sketches at the con- 

 clusion of his "American Anglers' Book, " especially the two 

 entitled "Fly Fishing Alone" and "The Angler's Sabbath," 

 will in some measure comprehend, if he haB the stuff in him 

 •whereof (he true angler is made, how closely the writer of 

 •them dwelt to nature's true "inwardness," and how keen was 

 This appreciation of the secrets whioh the woods and waters 

 reveal to those who love them. 



For twenty years I was his companion in many of his ex- 

 • cursions to the mountain streams for trout fishing, and while 

 in expertness, perseverance and been relish for luring the 

 "wary trout to his fly he had few superiors, it was not by these 

 'that he made a trip in his company one long pleasure. The 

 'vista down the stream underneath o'erarehing boughs ; the 

 sturdy or graceful forms of the various trees, according to 

 •their kind ; the exquisite forms of vegetable life as shown in 

 the mosses, ferns and lowly growths of the forest and along 

 the margin of the stream ; the aromatic balm of the air, laden 

 with the resinous odors of spruce and hemlock ; the habits of 

 birds and insects ; the expressions and colors of the dawn 

 and sunset ; the changing face of a familiar landscape under 

 varying skies, with alternations of lights aud shadows— all 

 these things fed his soul with joy and moved him to the ut- 

 terance of devout gratitude to God, who thus opened His 

 storehouse of wonders and beauties to all His children, and 

 made His best gifts common to all the race. 



Possessing great mechanical gifts, he was led on little by 

 little to essay making his own implements for his spring and 

 summer campaigns, and in time acquired such great facility 

 and sneh accurate knowledge of the best materials for their 

 construction, that his rods and flies, in the judgment of many 

 experts, had no superiors. He was ever full of sympathy and 

 encouragement for every novice in angling or tackle making 

 who chose to appeal to bis stores of useful knowledge for sug- 

 gestions or aid. The boy who loved to go a-fishing always 

 found tho soft spot in his heart ; and his love for children was 

 as remarkable as his success in winning them to love him. 

 He ever manifested the heartiest sympathy and respect for 

 the worthy poor, and his sudden departure will be mourned 

 in many a lowly borne where the dwellers had had their bur- 

 dens lightened and their hearts cheered by a friend whose in- 

 terest in their welfare they knew by an infallible instinct was 

 genuine and sincere.. 



Without professing any ability for literary work, his accu- 

 rate knowledge and his thorough appreciation of the subjects 

 of whioh ho wrote, enabled him to produce one of tho most in- 

 structive and entertaining books on angling which has ever 

 been published, while bis work on pisciculture is recognized 

 as a standard authority on a subject now engaging wide- 

 spread attention. 



His experience in angling was wide and varied. From the 

 lordly salmon to the smallest member of the finny tribe, he 

 bail ruptured many varieties, and in many waters. But after 

 all this experience was attained, he was ever ready to confess 

 that his highest enjoyment from the sport was attained by an 

 excursion with a congenial spirit to a mountain trout stream 

 which he could wade, and along which he could wander at 

 will, taking in due season his "nooning" and rest for the im- 

 promptu dinner, made up in good part from the morning 

 catch, and where the pipe aud sweet discourse which followed 

 whiled away the time until the afternoon sun lowered to the 

 proper point for beginning the evening fishing, which was 

 protracted into the gloaming— this was, in his opinion, the 

 orownof the angler'a delight How often has it been the 

 writer '$ privilege to enjoy 1 hc-se scenes with him ! Whftt a de- 

 lightful companion he was, ever cheerful, fertile in resources, 

 full of knowledge in all things pertaining to the craft! What 

 a droll raconteur ! Plow vividly he could depict the amusing 

 C* grot | ,;,,,, | e j lu Lad met, how full 



of verse and song and story; and withal how noble, how un- 

 selfish, and how warm-hearted ! Dear Uncle Thad ! never 

 again shall wo take our diversions together, or revisit the 

 scenes of our former exploits by the limpid waters of the 

 mountain streams, where our friendship was strengthened to 

 a true brotherhood ! 



But if this feeble tribute to thy worth and admirable quali- 

 fies shall help to lead the younger baud of enthusiastic an- 

 gleTs to emulate thy example, by cultivating the habit of so 

 using their wanderings in quest of recreation that they shall 

 grow in useful knowledge, in the spirit of humanity and 

 charity, in love of God and their fellow-men, then it is fit 

 that out of a full heart these few feeble words bave been 

 spoken. Joe. 



T J ]iiin<k>l,>hm, April, 1877, 



—Barton & Co., who were the concern of Barton, Alexan- 

 der & AValler, the well-known dealers in guns, fishing tackle, 

 pocket cutlery and sportsmen's goods of every description, 

 have recently removed to 337 Broadway, where they have a 

 very full and complete stock, embracing every standard 

 article or popular novelty connected with the sportsman's 

 outfit. They are extensive manufacturers of many import- 

 ant lines of goods, their fish-hooks, lines and tackle 

 having long been in high favor with the fishing fraternity. 

 They are extensive importers, and can supply guns and gun 

 material, powder flasks, ammunition, etc., from all tho lead- 

 ing foreign or American manufacturers. Their new store is 

 a model of elegance and taste, and sportsmen may spend a 

 pleasant hour in looking through their really wonderful col- 

 lection of novelties. 



CALrpoBNU.— The spring meeting of the California Rifle 

 Association was held at San Bruno on the 11th inst. The 

 meeting was in every way a success, and the Bhooting shows 

 a remarkable degree of improvement on tho part of the rifle- 

 men. Following is a summary of the matches and scores. 

 Military Short-Range Nursery Stakes; distance, 200 yards; 

 five rounds; position, standing: 



Name. Total. 



Philo Jacoby 2j 



Philo Jacoby 2| 



E.H.Ladd 21 



Lonis Barrere 21 



H. C.Smith 21 



J. S. Campbell 21 



Major D. W. Laird 20 



Frank C, Alton 20 



Louis Barrere 19 



J. S. Campbell .-. 19 



Nime. Total. 



JohnG. Leibcrt 19 



E.H. Land 19 



H. C. Smith 19 



T. X. Carey 19 



J. K. Phillips IB 



Major D.W. Laird 13 



U. C. Smith 18 



J. K. Phillips 18 



Thos. Macauley 18 



J. S.Campbell 16 



Pacific Life, Challenge Cup, 200 yards, any rifle under the 

 rules. The winner in this match shot with a Bigby rifle: 



Obituary.— D. M. Boyd, Esq., GeneralPassenger Agent of 

 the Pennsylvania Railroad, died recently in Florida, where 

 he had gone for his health. Mr. Boyd was a keen and 

 thorough sportsman, and has always used whatever influence 

 he possessed to promote legitimate sports and assist sports- 

 men in their pursuit. He was always a warm personal 

 friend of the proprietors of this paper, who will ever regret 

 his untimely taking off. 



We regret that Governor Robinson should have vetoed 

 the bill which had already passed the Legislature, providing 

 for tho erection of fish passes in all dams in this State. 



ffie. 



CnEnnMOOK. — The regular 

 last week, was the third and 

 Field and Farm gold medal, 

 known short-range shot, wa; 

 his score of 43 points out of 

 W. Si. Livermore, IT. S. A. 

 however, his score contained two 

 won the badge on two pre.' 



and 43), now- retains possession of the trophy. The weather 

 was by no means favorable for good shooting. The condi- 

 tions w r ere 10 shots at 200 yards, any rifle within the rules. 

 There were forty-two competitors, of whom we give the 

 scores of those who made 35 points and over. 



Total. 



durdav's match at Creed moor, 

 nal competition for the Turf, 

 Mr. William Hayes, the well- 

 the successful man, although 

 possible 50, was tied by Oapt. 

 Unfortunately for the hitter, 

 ers. Mr. Hayes having 

 asions (on scores of 42 



Total 



Oavanagh 



r Fisher. as 



D. P. Davids 38 



II. (J. Walcotl 38 



S D. Ward 37 



T.Dyoll ;n 



. F. Clark 96 



W. Todd 3G 



E. W. Caudee 35 



B. H.Keene 35 



Name. 

 William Hav 

 W. R. Livorr . . 



J.L. Price 41 



S. Sarjeant 



L. C. Bruce 



J, E.B.Bayly.... 



E. Griffin 



S. B. Leach 



H. W. Gourloy... 



Lewis Cass 



W. Holburton ,88 



*Mtley Gallery. — The contest at tho Miley Range for the 

 gold pen prize in the Press match, ended ' Monday night. 

 But few contestants entered the lists, and but two took any- 

 thing like a leading position in the match. The winner 'of 

 the prize was Mr. Angell, Mr. Chadwick being second on the 

 lists. The best three targets in the contest was 45, 44, and 

 44, making an aggregate" of 133 out of a possible 150. The 

 next best, targets were 46, 41, and. 41, giving an aggregate of 

 128.— JirooUyii Eagle. 



A friend in Ashbysburg, Kentucky, writes: 

 ' 'I have been reading the Fobest akd Stp.eaji for over a year, 

 and like it better as I get acquainted with it, I take a great 

 interest in the rifle department, and, although I do not use 

 a modern breech-loader with all patent appliances, I think I 

 can hold my own with the most of the New York crack shots 

 up to 200 yards off hand. I use an old-time muzzle loader, and 

 can kill a squirrel four times out of five at 50 yards with it. I 

 killed two the other day at one shot with it. I have been 

 thinking of laying it aside and getting a breech-loader, but 

 have not seen one yet that I could shoot like my trusty 

 muzzle-loader. They are all so short and light, and above 

 all. the. abominable single trigger that one has to pull all his 

 might to get off. Paddv O'Leaby." 



We have a high opinion of the old Hawlen Rifle, whose 

 efficiency was tested by Daniel Boone and his contempo- 

 raries, and we have seen some tall shooting done with it; but 

 we think our correspondent will admit that there are better 

 arms after he has had an opportunity to test them. Eighteen 

 monthsago, when we w T ere in the mountains of Tennessee, we 

 had a shooting match for "beef," — that is, a shooting match 

 was called; but when the mountaineers saw a Springfield 

 rifle shoot, they quietly withdrew the "cutter" and drove it 

 off, spending the rest of the day in examining, admiring, 

 and testing this new weapon, which they "allowed" could 

 "knock the hind sights clean off' their long squirrel guns. 

 Still there are certain indications that for match shooting the 

 muzzle-loading rifle is about to regain some of its lost 

 prestige. Many of the Creedmoor experts will us 

 loaders in the long range mutches this season. The question 

 is one not so much of accuracy in the weapon itself as in the 

 ammunition. It is an admitted fact that, •'imaceountables" 

 are more frequent with breech-loaders than with muzzle- 

 loaders. 



Name Total. 



Henry C. Smith 24 



Henry C. Smith 23 



HenryC Smith 23 



Sergeant Chas. P. Le Breton 22 



Philo Jacoby 22 



William Shew 21 



H.C. Smith «] 



Philo Jacoby 21 



Phlln Jacoby 21 



Sergeant Chas. P. Le Breton.. ..21 

 CaptainH.J. Burns..., 20 



Name. Total. 

 !. H. Ladd 20 



Sergeant Chas. P . Le Breton 30 



I.E. Hughes 19 



J. W. Matter 19 



; ■ ' ■■ If F. v ' q r , ... Mi 



T. N. Carey 10 



Frank G. Edwards 18 



Frauk G.Edwards 18 



.John G. Leibcrt 18 



T. N. Carey , 18 



Kellogg Challenge Cup, open only to active members of 

 the N. G. Distances, first stage, 300 yards; second stage, 

 600 yards; rounds, five (with two sighting shots), at each 

 distance; position, 300 yards, standing; 600 yards, any, 

 without artificial rest, and if recumbent, with the head 

 toward tho target; weapon, U. S. Springfield rifle. There 

 were twenty-six entries, fifteen of which made fifteen points 

 and upward at the 300-yards range, under very provoking 

 circumstances as to unsteady wind, and of the fifteen, only 

 five made above 10 points at the 600-yards stage. The cup was 

 won by Sergeant Warren, of the Union Guard, Second Regi- 

 ment, who holds it until the Fall Meeting of the Association, 

 when it will be again competed for. 



The Regimental Team Match was shot at 200 yards by 

 teams of ten men, ten rounds each. But threo teams com- 

 peted, being from the First, Second and Third Infantry re- 

 spectively. The first named was the winner, the scores 

 being respectively, 409, 367 and 352 points. As the winners 

 are likely to visit Oreedmoor to contend in the Inter-State 

 Match we give their complete scores at the 300-yards range : 



FIRST UTFAJtTRT- 



Name. 



Charles E. Burtons , 4 4 4 



Corpoial T. E, Carson 5 4 4 



Charles Nash 4 5 4 



Lieut. J. Robertson 5 S 4 



Captain Henry J. Burns 1 5 4 



Sergeant C. P. Le Breton 4 5 3 



P. H. McKlhlnny 3 4 4 



Elijah Linger 8 4 



J. W. Matter 3 3 4 



VV. Burke 4 8 4 



CRANNIES. 



Score. 



4 5 5 6 5 S 



4 4 5 4 4 4 



4 6 4 1 4 4 



4 4 4 4 4 4 



4 4 3 4 4 5 



4 4 4 4 5 4 



4 4 5 4 4 4 



4 4 4 4 4 3 



4 4 4 4 4 4. 



4 3 5 4 3 4 4-8! 



Total, 

 4-45 

 4-42 

 4-42 

 4-42 

 4-41 

 4-41 

 4—40 

 5-40 

 4-38 



Total 409 



—The Central New York Sportsmen's Club held its annual 

 meeting Saturday evening. Officers and delegates were 

 chosen as follows : President, J. J. Flanagan ; Vice-Presi- 

 dents, L C. Mcintosh, W. B. Sutton, Dr. Chas. W. Shapley; 

 Prosecuting Attorney, Thomas E. Kinney ; Secretary, W. M', 

 Storrs : Treasurer, John D. Flower ; Delegates to the State 

 Convention, Chas. W. Hutchinson, E. B. Graham, E. Z. 

 Wright, X C. Mcintosh, J. J. Flanagan. 



f§<w u f?## mid (§nn. 



MAY IS A CLOSE MONTH FOR GAME. 



Mb. Dane's Extbaobddiaby Gun,— The gun referred to bo- 

 low in Mr. Lane's letter to Mr. Ritzmann, the gun dealer, is 

 certainly a remarkable tool, but we don't think it would 

 "shute that-a-way, stranger," if brother Lane weru't be- 

 hind it: 



Mb. Chaki.es L. Kitzmakn, I 

 943 Broadway, N. T, j 



Dbab Snt— Tho gun you imported for me is the smartest and best 

 shooting gnn I havo ever seen, especially for long shotB. I have 

 hilled ducks and geese at 100 yards. I use 6 drachms powder, \% ounce 

 No. 1 shot I think if I were to put iu 3 B shot, J could kill u goose at 

 135 to 150 yards, I did not think it possible to make a gun to shoot 

 the way mlue does, and if a goose comes within 100 yards of the muzzle 

 of the same, it is as good as dead. Tho first shot I fired out of it I killed 

 a sea-gull full 150 yards, and 1 have killed ducks out of a boat full as 

 far a number of times. You can order another gun like this one, and 

 have it 10-bore, 32-inch, 10;i pounds weight. Have the cbambor bored 

 to take a 3-inch shell, so I can put in plenty of powdor. Let mo havo 

 it as soon as possible. My gun takes the shine off them all. 



Yours, truly, Wiu.iam Lane. Good Ground, L. 1. 



Mr. Lane's gun is 10-bore, 38-ineh, 14 pounds weight. 



Woodcock at Quebec.— The Quebec Budget says that Mr. 

 Portugais, the veteran sportsman, has again succeeded in 

 raising the first woodcock of the season, on Wednesday after- 

 noon, at Lorctte, a feat he has accomplished for 36 years 

 consecutively. Lorette is a suburb of Quebec. 



New Jersey— Bed Sank, April 23</. -The snipe shooting in 

 this vicinity has thus far been a failure. I have hunted for 

 them since April 2d, and cannot report any larger bag than 

 five. I give a few hours every morning, and find from one 

 to five, just about enough to break my dog on. I sent four 

 pail to Warwick, and he pronounced them to be as fine 

 spring birds as he ever saw. "Check Cord" cannot be. in- 

 duced to shoot a spring snipe. Whb. 



—Our Barnegat correspondent, "B," writes: "Shooting 

 for wild fowl is done for the season. Thecormorantsfthe last 

 in the spring and first in fall of the duck tribe in their 

 migratory flight) have put in their appearance. I 

 " d a few hav birds. Mr. W. E. I). Scott killed the first 



willot yesterday. Mr. Scott, wh< 

 of Natural History of Pri.'i ■■ : 1 ■ 

 Florida and our Western States. i> 

 York Club House, engaged in col 

 so far obtained spm I s mtj 

 looking forward for our fishing 3d 

 selves here from between May 1 

 flounders arc still being caught 



1 1 ■ weak. 



f c 



't' the Museu 

 •1., having done 

 r stopping c.t thj New 



iuiens. lie has 

 3. 'V, are anviously 

 . Bitterish show theni- 

 and June 7th. 



latching a 



b; 



