270 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



FISHING IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. 



EMTOH FORK8T AND STREAM ! 



If your readers will take a good map and trace the many water- 

 courses that mark this section they will notice what an extent of coun- 

 try is drained by the Cheboygan Hiyer. Lakes and rivers abound with 

 fish, with scarcely any Inhabitants surrounding, save here and there a 

 few Indians. A party of us had been left by steamer at Cheboygan on 

 a quiet Sunday evening at the end of August. We made arrangements 

 that night to 90 up the river by a small steamer as far as it was possible 

 to go. Monday morning found us at breakfast by 6:30 : also a party of 

 Chicago Ufllm and gentlemen, who intended to go up about twelve, 

 miles to fUh fw baa*. A small steamer was watting for us above the 

 dam. The whole party, numbering about twenty, was soon aboard, 

 and we quickly left the few scenes of civilized life. The river winds 

 through graud old forests and lagoons, from which our puffing little 

 boat scares up many ducks and cranes. These scenes are new to ns. 

 The changing forest, touched by an early frost. The crisp air is quite 

 a relief from the heat of bricks and stones of a parched city in mid 

 August ; but we are aroused. Away before our boat is stretched a mon- 

 ster lumber raft drifted across the river. The little steamer pulled and 

 tugged In vain. There was no way to get through. After an hour's 

 hard workthey landed us, and said we should And plenty of flail while 

 they returned to the mills for a lumbering tug and crew. The party 

 divided itself into three companies. Two boats had been left for ns to 

 fish from, so to llshing they went. Myself and a young lad from Pitts- 

 burgh found a small point up the banks of the stream. Hods wen- 

 soon jointed, lines rigged, when to our disgust we found our bass Hies 

 had gone back with the boat. Well, we tried for sunllsh. Some of the 

 party caught a few miserable little things, all bones. Luck had gone 

 against us sure. We tried 'hoppers-Ash, but caught nothing until 



VncleP aaid: "Here! come in and get some young frogs." We 



soon had about twenty the size of a fingernail in our pockets. So, rig- 

 ging up strong tackle, we tried with frogs. I dropped into a school of 

 bass about fifteen feet from the boat. The frog had hardly sunk a foot 

 before my rod went down and the reel began to whiz, while the bass 

 began to rush this way and that; after playing him about ten 

 minutes we carefully drew him to the side of our boat, and, taking him 

 by the gills, lifted him into the boat— a beauty weighing about four 



pounds. A few minutes after young P said : '• S , I've got him, 



and a buster, too!" So it was— larger than usual— a tine itsh. that 

 fought hard for life ; but the boy was a cool hand, and knew low to 

 handle big bass. Need I say they were soon dead and cleaned, cooking 

 for dinner, for the whole party were hungry. We caught about siv of 

 these line fellows before we were aide to proceed on our journey. Per- 

 haps some lovorsof the art. w-ill lift their hands in horror that a disciple 

 of Izaak should thus degrade our gentle sport, but if they wanted Hslt 



as badly as we wanted those bass they would excuse us. We :il 



caught anything worth cooking ; and dry bread or crackers make a 

 poor dinner for a party of ladies. Often during these warm days wc 

 long to get away from the city. The tlies are ready, the rod stands hi 

 the corner waiting, and the spring of our Orvis trout-rod sends an elec- 

 tric thrill through all our system; lite youngster by our side catehca 

 I he infection, and worries us with, "Papa, say, papa, when arc j 011 

 going to start for Michigan •.'" We only wait for some comminuiiiea- 

 tlon from a trapper friend to join him in llshing for grayling En the 

 Manistee and Au Sable Rivers; while the memory of our romantic 

 trip up the Cheboygan River will be a bright spot in our life for years 

 to come. Yours, respectfully, Norman. 



<V 



FISHING IN LAKES SAN ANDREAS 

 AND FILERCITOS, CALIFORNIA. 



Editor Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun: 



I have, I believe, for these two or three years past, addressed jour 

 valuable journal on the subject of angling in our sportsman's clubs' 

 lnkes. In the vicinity of San Francisco, giving you some account of the 

 salmon and trout taken in them by the members and others. Accon - 

 ing to the rules lately made by the club, only the members an 1 those 

 residing at some distance from our city are permitted ti dsh in these 

 waters. It Is now in my power to present to you and your numerous 

 readers a very satisfactory report of the sport enjoyed by the followers 

 of the rod In two of these lakes this season. Owing to the dryness ol 

 our late winter and' spring, the water in them has become ve y low- 

 so low that before the next rainy season we are rather in dread of a 

 water famine in San Francisco, as the supply of that uecessaiy element 

 is likely to fall before the beginning of next winter. It is probable, I 

 think, that this small quantity of water in two of these large reseivuiro 

 — Lakea Filercitos and San Andreas— is the cause of the Ashing iu 

 them being so good, as the catch of trout in the one, and salmon in the 

 other, la almost unlimited. In Pilercltos one would have no difflcalty 

 In bagging 1«0 trout in twelve hours, and in San Andreas, before a re- 

 stricting law was passed by the directors of the club, fifty salmon » as 

 no uncommon number to be taken. Another reason why the fishing 

 has been so successful, is, of course, that the young fish or chub, and 

 other food that the trout and salmon have subsisted on, have been di- 

 minished in quantity, mak.ng them more eager to bite at any bait or 

 artificial Hy. The fishing has, indeed, been too good, as is well known, 

 as things which we can obtain very readily and easily are never so 

 much prized as those which require more time and labor to make our 

 own. The new rule is that a single angler shall not be allowed, in one 

 day's fishing, more than twenty-four salmon in San Audreas, and fifty 

 brook troat in Filercitos. 



In San Andreas the salmon average about one pound in weight, and 

 in Pilercltos the trout are about eigbt inches in length. This, to be 

 sure, Is rather small as to size for great sport, but it is somewhat re- 



m_ui1 by the number that can be taken. All these fish are iu 



capital *B<!Uion, are very gamey, and excellent for the table. 



The other «ay I caught ten salmon In San Andreas in three hours, 

 trolling with a small spoon from a boat, having to row and handle the 

 rod at the same time; that is, I was alone iu my boat, and with my 

 foot on the butt of my rod 1 used the oars, dropping the latter when 

 a fish Berzed the spoon. This is not near so pleasant as having two in 

 a boat— ■one to row while the other fishes, or for each person to do both, 

 alternately. 



1 do not consider this lake angling Is at all equal in pleasure to river 

 or creek fishing, where there is so much interesting, grauo, ami even 

 romantic scenery to be enjoyed, with a continual change of views. 

 The scenes arouud San Andreas Lake are rather bleak and barren, and 

 the angler is exposed modi to our trade winds, which blow more or 

 less all through the spring and summer here ; but Lake Pilercltos is iu- 

 closed with beautiful bills and mountains, clothed in lovely vegetation 

 of trees, shrnbs and brilliantly colored wild flowers, and is thus well 

 defended from the high winds at the llshing seasons. 



Lake Merced, one of our trio of lakes, and the nearest one to the 

 city, contains many large Lake Tahoe or River Truckee trout, aver- 

 aging now about three pounds, some of which Have been taken whose 

 weight has reached nine and a half pounds. This lake has also been 

 furnished with young salmon, but ihere ia no place in it where, tiit-v 

 can successfully spawn, therefore thev are becoming scarce, and this 

 •e of water needs a speedy replenishment 01 young lish of the 

 V ^enus of several varieties. 

 ""'-'e species of brook trout, averaging two pounds, which in- 



habit the McCloud and Pitt Rivers, in the upper portion of the State, 

 are being transported here hy our energetic Fish Commissioners, and 

 will be a great acquisition for us, as our native brook trout In the more 

 southern portion of California average no more than about a quarter of 



„ „„„ n(5 - e. j. noopgR. 



a pon t^^^^^^^t^^=^ 



§nuu §ag aiul §mu 



JUNE IS A CLOSE MONTH FOR GAME. 



Quail.— The valley south of the Blue Mountain range and 

 canning west through New Jersey mid Pennsylvania was, 

 prior to 1868, not surpassed by any territory in this country 

 for quail shooting;. Its advantages were— abundance of turds, 

 and open cover for shooting. The land is chiefly limestone 

 sub-stratum, rich and highly cultivated, wheat, and corn being 

 the staple crops ; and the timber is remarkably free front un- 

 dergrowth. The birds were winler killed in the winter of 

 1808-69, and notwithstanding they were since protected by 

 special legislation, the winters and springs were against them, 

 and up to last winter they had not recovered to within eighty 

 pet cent, of their former numbers. But reports from well- 

 informed spoilsmen and fanners through thissectiorj slate that 

 last winler did not destroy the quail ; that the wheat and rveare 

 better, and the quail niore plentiful than they have been for 

 years; that the spring has been unusually propitious for breed- 

 ing, and that the prospects for good shooting in these two 

 States are more fluttering than they have been for an interval 

 of eight years. 



. — •♦. — . 



PIGEON MATCHES. 



AlAssAcutisiTTs.— The Spoil siuen's Clui of Spencer, .Mass., 

 have purchased one nf Bngnrdua' glass ball Imps, with 2011 

 balls. They purpose to try their skill on Memorial I )uy, Wed- 

 nesday, May 30. 



Nevada.— The following are Hie scores in the last monthly 



shOOl between twelve members of the Virginia Shunting Chili. 

 Conditions: ten single rises at 36 yards, lies to be shot rive 

 double rises. 'Jhewmd blew great guns, and the birds very 

 inferior. Referee, Mr. flalsey; Judges. Messrs. Billon and 

 Loynncban 1 



D. H.Jackson n G. K Wiser ■■'■ . ...r. 



Nohoneinau- , 5 T. !>lamuud 8 



B. Reb.nson ;i \v. thinner s 



Conroy r (J. Rrysou 5 



H. I'urker a J. Mmiaulev u 



J. S. Kaiieen ; tieo. Duv 7 



The birds being scarce, Messrs. Kobinson and MrtCnuley 

 agreed lo shool nil' al some future lime for the stakes. 



Iii.imus. The members of the Q. I'. S. ( '., of I'hampain, 



111., shot a match for a medal mi Ihe Dili 

 the mutch, single and three double, rises 

 following is the score : 

 Cooler 11 1 * 



Kill 



1 1 



Hull 



...1 1 



. ..' 1 



1 1 I 



Conditions of 



! birds. The 



in) 11 11- T 



11 11 n— in 



in in 11-11 



ii 11 iii-i.i 



11 on 1 1— 9 



ID 1" 11— II 



NBw Yoi:k.— The following scores were made al a sweep- 

 stakes shoot of the Wayne County Sportsman's Club at 

 Clyde. N. V., on the 8th instant, Ul glass balls, liogurdus' 

 trap. IS yards rise, tell birds guoh. 



L. A. Dayton 7 M. .1. -Mclntyre 4 



Cell Catchpole ri J Al. Curvtiy... ,. 4 



Beo.Wrlile :; .1. M. Ilurclidurf 4 



J. M. Sireeicr 7 c. (.. Kiliuti r. 



II K.Comp.on to -llu Dauiewood 7 



JakeWuns 5 J. York... :s 



u. A. llelrner t Hob Catchpole 1 



C'ompson took first money, Dayton won second in shooting 

 off ties of seven, and Catchpole took third. 



The members of the Long Island .shooting Park assembled 



at Dexter'? on Saturday last 10 shoot for their champion cup. 

 1 he conditions were seven birds at -'o pards rise, the previous 

 winner to stand at 27 yards, The following is the result . 



W Wytm I 1 1 I 1 1 1—7 llauce 1 II 1 u —2 



Edwards 1 1 1 1 ti 1 1— H Appleyard 1 ft _i 



uroadway 1 1 1 1 11 1-5 Wallers n 11 -» 



Ausioii 111)110 —4 Yates 11 _o 



Madison 10 111 —4 Williams — 



Weilar 01110 — :t Heudeisoy — n 



lteddee. 1 1 « 1 u —3 Hone I) — 



Jouuson .....0 110 — 'i 



Time of shoot— 1 hour, 16 minutes. 



Isf.w Jehsev.— The members of the Midway Shooting Club. 

 of Matawan, N, J., mel on Thursday, May 24, at Morgan's 

 Station, on the line of the New York and Long Branch Kail- 

 road, to witness the contest for the club badge, an exquisile 

 piece of workmanship, and as appropriate an emblem as the 

 sportsman could desire. The conditions were ten birds each, 

 21 yards rise. II and T traps, l T oz. shot. 80 yards bounctarj . 

 between Wni. A. Dtmlop. present holder, and Stephen Lam- 

 berson, challenger. Annexed is score : 



W. A. Duniop 1 II TO 10111— 8 



Stephen Lamberson 1 1 1 1 I I 1 I 1 0—9 



Dunlop's fifth bird fell dead outside. 



Following this was a sweepstakes. $:j entrance, three birds 

 each, with seven entries. 



S. Lamberson 1 1 1-3 John P:ei son 1 1 1— 3 



Hint Wnnir 1 1 1—8 II. A. Warne I 1 0— S 



lames Vanbrokel 1 1 1— a H. A. Duniop 1 1 0— 9 



.lames Lamberson 1 1 1— a 



Tie 011 three. 



s. Lamberson I 1 1—3 James Lamberson 11 0—2 



Cort Warne 1 1 1—a John Pierson 1 1 1—3 



James Vanbroekel. I 1 1—3 



.second tie. 



8. Lamberson 1 1 1— :l James Vanbroekel 1 1 0—2 



Cart Warne,-.- Ill-:; John Pierson 1) —11 



Thiol lie. 

 S.Limberson I Coil Warne 1 



Kirst money divided between Stephen L11ubers1.11 and Coii 

 Warne. Second divided between II. A. Warne and \\ . A. 

 Duniop. 



Same Day.- Sweepstakes. Conditions same, with eight 

 entries. 



James Vanbrackel I 1 1-4. AbeTenEyck I 1 1-3 



Con II. Warue 1 1 1— a Stephen Lamberson 1 1 1-3 



11. A. Warm: 1 1 1—3 K. oisbrow 1 1 0— 'i 



W. A. Duniop I 1 1—3 James Lamberson in —I 



Tie 0111 lire. 



James Vanbroekel 1 1 1-3 W. A. Duniop 1 1 0-2 



CornJI. vyarna til ■'■ -\i.e r.-u i;mK. 10 —I 



U. A. Warne 1 1 1—3 Hiepbeii Lanioersou 1 — 1 



Second, tie. 



James Vanbrackel 1 1 1—3 )J. A, Warne 1 — 



Cort U. Warne 1 1 0-S 



MiruioAN.— The Deli'nif Gun Club had a shoot for State 

 medal, which was held by J. E. Long, on their new grounds, 

 —The Hurling Park-on' the Pth hist Wm. Clark, of Toledo, 

 referee? S. K. Whitman scorer, and Wm. Hart manipulated 

 the trap strings behind a blind; English rules. 80 yards 

 boundary, 20 yards rise. live ground traps, eleven birds 'each. 

 The following are scores made : 



J. E. Long 5 .1. v. D.Etdridge 9 



Cook Cousins 9 11. c. Mallborn 6 



E. II. Caiman 9 JI. K. Cristy « 



K. c. Nichols i 



Ties at nine. 



Cook Cousins 1 1111 _r, J. V. D. Eldridje 1 10 10-11 



E. It. (iillman I «- 



A number of sweepstake mulches were shot on the same 

 day. During the medal shoot the wind was blowing almost a 

 gale. The most of the birds were good, Btrong birds, bill 

 were very loth to leave the traps when sprun;:. and -"i... - 

 Ihem actually walked from rive tb ten yards from the traps 

 before rising. Some of the shooters had rises thai would 

 measure every foot of forty yards, so I he v did not do such 

 bad shooting after all. S. V. W. 



Shoot at Hurlingham Park. Ilamtiatnick. on the . 

 II and T traps. 31 yards ri.se and 80 yards boundary: ten 

 birds each. Class shooting. 



B. H. Glllman, captain., 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1—10 



^H-Turriu t 1 1 1 1 n i 1 1 1-9 



C.A.Mick 1 01111-111 1— »— 88 



(Joll sieiuone, ouptaio 11 1 1111111 1—9 



J. V. D. K dridue 1 011110 111— S 



Ed. s. DarOonr 1 1 1 1 u 1 1 1 l-S-25 



THE STATE SHOOT. 



A correspondent writes from Poiigltkccpsie as follows: 

 "Iu your paper of May IT, you notice the meeting of the State Spot ta- 



Inen's Convention 10 be held at Syracuse in June, and that the eon 



lee have contracted for twenty thousand birds (pigeons) to be Shot al 

 by the spoilsmen attending the convention. For tile informalum or 

 your numerous readers will yon please, in your next issue, jrive us as 

 near as possible the number of pigeons destroyed to obtain Die twenty 

 thousand for the gentlemen sportsmen to amuse themselves over, at 

 Oils, their annual gathering, audobiige, w. S. J." 



[We regrel that we cannot supply our correspondent with 

 the information he desire*. In fact, we believe that as the 

 convention igpbstponed until the 18th proximo, the birds 

 are still Hying in freedom over the trackless expanse of Hie 

 North Woods. If they are captured we shall have to refer 

 our correspondent 10 the committee having the mailer i u 

 charge.— Era.] 



THE MASSEY CARTRIDGE CRIMPER. 



Etmtoi: Fokkst and Stream i 



As I have derived both >" 1 

 your pages, 1 am induced, for the 1 

 a little implement in the sporting li 

 in which I have no pecuniary inien 

 to supply a want of those who use 

 especially those who use tight rifle 



M.wivi.Axn. May j8S, 1877. 



nl and instruction from 

 letit. of others, to refer lo 



. recently met with, bui 

 whatever, which appears 



ireech-loaders, and more 

 which it is desired 



is tire Massey Cartridge Crimper, and may be 

 thus described, having been invented, I believe, within the 

 past year, but as yet little known. It appears to answer a went 

 which has not heretofore been satisfactorily supplied byarw 

 oilier cheap device. Its simple form and practical value will 

 interest those who wish to do fine rirle shootiog in the forest, 

 or at the range. 



A shell that has been used but once or twice with a heavy 

 charge of powder, is often so much expanded that it will not 

 bold the bullet true and firmly in position, when reloaded, un- 

 less the mouth or portion of the shell seating the ball, bo some- 

 what reduced in size. It must be compressed or crimped, so 

 as to hold Ihe bullet firmly, with its center line, from base lo 

 point, exactly coinciding with the axis of the bore of the barrel. 

 This little implement will meet this required exactness, and us 

 is believed, with as little trouble and expense as any 

 device. 



It consists of a pair ol pinchers with javvs formed to fit the 

 shell, and a cylindrical tongue, or pin between them, over 

 which tongue the shell is placed for crimping ; the tongue hav- 

 ing a slight depression in one side, into which the jaw com- 

 press! ii o shell, by a projection in the jaw, the opposite side 

 lining the diameter of the shell, preserves it s circular form 

 intact, while the end of the tongue acts as a gauge e -!■■'. 

 when sufficiently crimped. The shell will remain "ui lie > • 

 tit which the expansive power of the powder gave it, except 

 so much of the mouth as the bullet ■ ,.- 



a mere I rifle at the mouth to fully admit, the patch of ] aper or 

 muslin >. il reduces the shell all around with perfect uniiormity. 

 The bullet is therefore properly held, and starts straight on its 

 course. 



1 1 w shells, it is well known to Creedmoor experts and 

 other observing riflemen, that Ihey often do not exactly til lie 

 chamber, and those which arc trregtUar in shape 11 

 uniform shooting. The Massey Crimper appears to e 

 this want, and to correct or remedy these defects very satis- 

 factorily, ii. S. 



St. Mast's Woeks, 



St. Mary's Square, Birmingham, May 4, 1877. 

 The champion triple wedge fast gun has beaten 102 guns 

 by the best makers at the London gun 1 rials, ami 

 the best shooting at game ever known. It will stand 10 drs. 

 of powder in the proper shell, 'and can be obtained in the 

 Slalcs at from $ 150 to iJSiiO. YV. ^Y. GB8BNBS, 



Si. Mary's "Works, Birmingham. 



rn-rsBrBGU, May 1. 

 EniToit FOltEST ami Stream : 



I observe 111 your issue of Z8th ult., your correspondent "J. .I.E." 

 quotes from Jas. I). Dongalt'a work on "Shooting," el c, in reply '" '"'' 

 Unibellua " iiis u-nie iin relative merits of "breech" ami "muzzle" 

 loaders, in which "J. J. K. ' .says "11111!. the writer of lie ll 

 acknowledges superior durability and shooting of the muzzle loader, 



id rapli ol loading ami ttrinj s 1 



loiulei isoiey anollsel towards those oilier qualities 111 mUSWCli 



Now, T Afn not. going I h ., ■ 1 ly that. I cuu- 



nol liiid in the work referred to anything that would irarroni such a 

 conclusion in 1 h« matter, in Ihe last edition ol Ills work on "Shoot- 

 ing "— London, 1SI6— at page T-l Mr, Pongall says, "Possibly the inveu- 



