346 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



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— AT— 



NO. Ill (old NO. 103) FULTON STREET, NBW YORK. 



[Post Office Box S883J 



TERMS, FOUR DOLLARS A YEAR, STRICTLY IN ADVANCE. 



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NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JUKE 28, 1877. 



To Correspondents. 



All communications whatever, intended for publication, must, be ac- 

 companied with real name of the writer as a guaranty of good faith, 

 and be addressed to the Fobksx ant> Stkeam rtrnrisurNu Coiu-anv. 

 Names v, -ill not be published if objection be made. No anonymous con- 

 tributions will be rcg-arded. 



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Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor us with brief 

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S&~ Trade supplied by American News Company. 

 CHARLES nAIJ.OCK, Editor. 



T. C. BANKS, 

 Business Manager. 



S. H. TURRILL, 



Western Manager. 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE COMING 

 WEEK. 



Thursday, June 28.— Trotting : Calskltl, N. Y.; Ithaca, N. Y.: Mar- 

 shalltown, la.; Jackson, J"ich.; St. Petersburg, Pa, Running meeting 

 at Rochester. Base ball: Su Louis vs. Chicago, at Chicago; Louisville 

 VS. Boston, al Boston ; Bnofce] e vs. Maple Leaf, at (Juclph, Can.; Alaska 

 vs. Keystone, at .iersey City; Indianapolis vs. Memphis Reds, at Indian- 

 apolis. 



Friday, June 29.— Trotting : Jackson, Mich. ; St. Petersburg, Pa. 

 Base ball : Indianopolis vs. Memphis Reds, as above; Enterprise vs. 

 Keystone, at flersej city: star vs. Live Oak. at Syracuse. Regatta of 

 Harvard and Yale, at Springfield. 



Saturday, Juue^O.— Trotting: Cincinnati, O.; Chicago, 111.; Monmouth 

 Park and Long Branch. Baseball: Louisville vs. Boston, at Boston; 

 Chicago vs. St. Louis, at St. Louis; Star vs. Live Oak, at Syracuse; Name- 

 less vs. Osceola, at Brooklyn ; Alaska, of S. I., vs. Seneca, at staten 

 Island; Enterprise vs. Orange, at Orange, N. J.; Crystal vs. Winona, at 

 Brooklyn. Harvard vs. Yale, at Hartford. Regattas: Port Hope. Can.; 

 Guclph, Can. Two mile race between the four-oared crews of the 

 University of Virginia ami the Tot iocco City Boat Club, on the James 

 River at Lynchburg. 



Monday, July 2.— Trotting: Cincinnati, 0.; Chicago, III.; Oskaloosa, 

 la. Base Ball : Chicago vs. St Louis, at St. Louis; Tecumsoh vs. 

 Hartford, al Loudon, Can.; Brooklyn vs. Volunteer, at Poughkeepsio ; 

 Mutual, of Janesvflle, vs. Racine, at Racine, Wis. 



July a— Trotting : PoUgOXeepsifc, N. Y.; Macomb, ill.; 

 Detroit, Mich.; Beacon Park, Boston. Running meeting at Utica, N. 

 Y. Rod and Gun Club shooting tournament at Burlington, la. 



.v July 1.— Trotting as above; also at West Meriden, Conn.; 

 Monmouth Park, Cong Branch ; Albany, X. Y. Base Ball: Boston vs, 

 Cliicago, at Chicago; Hartford vs. St. Louis, at St. Louis. Cricket 

 Match ■ St. Georges vs. Germantown. Rod and Gun Clnb shooting 

 Tournament as above. Bench show of Dogs and bird exhibition, at 

 Toronto, Canada. Regatta of the Argonauts Eovving Association, Rifle 

 Match at Jacksonville, Florida. 



—Prof. D. S. Jordan is now engaged at Washington upon 

 the fishes of the Smithsonian Institution. 



laws 

 but i 



ity of. valuable information relating to game 

 taction in a dozen different Slates is in type, 

 eferxed. 



—We are sorry to mention that we are constantly in receipt 

 of insulting letters from contributors who are disappointed 

 because their favors are deferred, declined, or curtailed. We 

 have understood that sportsmen had the reputation of being 

 always gentlemen. If insults continue, we shall expose the. 

 ncrpctrators at any personal risk. 



STATE CONVENTION AT SYRACUSE. 



We gave in our last issue an abstract of proceedings of the 

 convention Of the State Association, and of President 

 Smith's address. The latter we print in full herewiih: 



About nineteen years ago a few earnest sportsmen met in 

 the village of Geneva, iu this State, and organized the New 

 lurk Stale Sportsmen's Ass icialion. now known as the 



N'ru Yitrk state Association for the Protection of 

 Fish and Game. Prior to thai lime laws for the pro- 

 tection of gamedidnot, I think, exist in our State, but to-day, 

 with hui few exceptions, our game laws arc above reproach. 



Neatly fifty local iiriRliii/.itlioi].- have budded their laurel leaves 



on the wealh of the Stale Association, and our forests fields 

 and streams bear happy teUtnionj to out labors by the rich 

 rewards which they offer, not o.,h t..iiic disciples" of Diana 

 and Sir Isaak Walton, hut tc» the farmer, mechanic, laborer, 

 and indeed to almost evi rv ituiabitanl of our State. ( lur laws 

 concerning quadrupeds have, itBeems, Leon wisely passed, 



our bird laws 1101 80 wisely. Wc find the ruffed ".Toit.se, nod 

 thequa'ri,0r more properly speaking the Virginia, partridge, 

 increasing in numbers, bul we Cannol say as much of the 



W IcocU. anil will never be aide |o say it until cocking is 



put off until September, As most of our ducks and snipe do 

 nol asurule breed "in this latitude, they might with more 

 reason be shot in the spring, than our aummi r a an ddenta, 



but WllO can deny that snipe and ducks in the fall arc far more 

 valuable for the table than in the spring, and is there a .spoils- 

 man or an epicure who does not take more pleasure in encoun- 

 tering a woodcock, either with gun or fork in October than 

 in July? If it shall he a misdemeanor to bfi in the field, forest 

 or marsh with dog and gun before the first of September, 

 many a ruffed grouse, snipe and duck would grace our autum- 

 nal game bags in future that now go to satisfy the appetites, 

 or rather the eyes of self considered epicures minimal urit.y and 

 leanness. Summer cocking is. moreover, very apt to be at tend- 

 ed with the killing of young grouse mistaken for woodcock, 

 especially in thick cover where it is hard to see and be seen. 

 That the forbidding by law of the wanton killing of song and 

 other than game birds, at any season, has been" beneficial can 

 not be doubted, if we will but observe the immense numbers 

 of insects, injurious to vegetation, that are destroyed by Our 

 companionable and industrious feathered friends. 



It is probable that nearly, if not all, birds are useful to man, 

 although some of l hem take a little pay for services rendered, 

 in the shape of grain and fruit. 



Our wild pigeon, although, perl taps, not a game bird, should 

 have protection, not onlj* on his own account, but for our 

 benefit. It is cruel to pursue these birds with nets or guns as 

 soon as they begin to nest. Why not give them a chance, as 

 yve do other birds that furnish us with food and amusement ? 

 Suppose we protect them until, say, July or August. I admit 

 that, a late, lot of birds would comprise' a majority of young; 

 but young birds properly cared for fly well and are excellent 

 for the table. A close season for pigeons would necessitate 

 Ihe postponement of our State shoot until fall; but if we don't 

 have a close season for them, our Slate shoot will, ere long, 

 be postponed to eternity. 



There are probably more pounds of edible fish in the waters 

 of the Slate today than there have been at any lime during 

 the past twenty years, for which fact we should be es- 

 pecially thankful to the Sew York City Association and 

 to that fishy old patriarch, Selh Green, as well as to our State 

 Association. Let me call your attention to this very valuable 

 suggestion of Mr Royal Phelps, concerning the quail season. 

 He urges that the open season for this bird shall he from No- 

 vember first to February first, and I sincerely hope that this 

 may become law, that we may secure birds in good condition, 

 without an}' half-fledged specimens, to mar I he result q! a day's 

 shooting, and I feel by no means certain that the open season 

 for ruffed grouse should not run to the first of February also. 



It has been thought by many of our spoilsmen that a list of 

 dogs, with description and number, should be kept iu books 

 of the association, to facilitate the recovery of lost and stolen 

 dogs. Mr. Townsend, of the Onondaga Club, once presented 

 this plan of the association, and let us hope it may receive due 

 consideration at no late day. 



Game and fish laws are easily made but apparently hard to 

 ■■id must remain so, until our citizens are sufficiently 

 educated to appreciate the benefits accruing from wise game 

 legislation. We ought to use every effort to educate the ig- 

 norant, on these subjects, as yvell as to bring offenders to jus- 

 tice. 1 would suggest that we bar from our membership, any 

 local organization that has not expelled from its members" 

 persons known to be cognizant of infringements on game and 

 fish laws, without, reporting the. same. If any member 

 of a sportsmen's club is afraid to ibfdrm against law-breakers, 

 he does not deserve to be one of the members, and no local 

 organization should be admitted to the State Association un- 

 til ii shall liave purged itself of all such unworthy membership 

 When wc hear of a violation of game law, let us exclaim 

 with Hamlet, 



•• Haste we to know it— 

 That I, with wings as su aft as meditation or the thoughts of lore. 

 May sweep to uiy revenge 1" 



In framing laws for the protection of .game and fish, let us 

 bear in mind that these laws should not he sumptuary, should 

 not be made solely, or even any- more than incidentally, for 

 the benefit of the 'wealthy sportsman, but for the purpose of 

 increasing Ihe amount of game and fish, that it may come 

 yvilhin the reach of all. Every American citizen has an inborn 

 right to fish and hunt, and it comes under our jurisdiction to 

 regulate, to the best of our ability, the seasons during which 

 he may lish and hunt, that he may, in the end, secure more 

 game and in better condition thau he could if DO laws were 

 imposed. And further, we must bear in mind that a game 

 bird or fish, when dead, haying been killed according to law, 

 is personal property, although if killed out of season, is a very 

 important witness against law-breakers. 



A supplementary meeting of the Convention was afterward 

 held, Ool. Wagstaff acting as Recording Secretary pro tern. 



The Treasurer submitted a document of the character of a 

 report, which was referred to a committee for examination. 

 Ea lance in the treasury. $743. 50; cash in bank to credit of 

 Dean Richmond Cup, $950, 



Col. Wagstaff moved that the thanks of the Association be 

 tendered to the Committee of the Legislature on Game Laws. 



On motion of Mr. Flanagan, (lie motion was amended by 

 tendering special thanks also to Senator. Wagstaff, lind. then 

 1. 1 pted, 



President-elect Pierce offered the following resolutions: 



Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention he and are 

 hereby tendered to the Sumner Corps for the use of their hall 



■'iii in ■ in '■ mvention. 



That the thanks of this Couvention be tendered to 



the retiring officers for the faithful discharge of their duties. 

 Thanks were also voted to the givers of prizes and to the 

 Onondaga County and Central City Sportsmen's Clubs. 



Remarks in recognition of the valuable services which Presi- 

 dent Smith has rendered to the Association were strongly ap- 

 plauded. 



Tiie President elect submitted the following standing com- 

 mittee: A. Wagstaff, Jr., of Syracuse; James Manning, of 

 Syracuse; Henry Faulkner, of "Dausville : W. C. Jaeus, of 

 Buffalo; W. M." Smith, of Watertown. 



Considerable discussion was indulged in relating to the fires 

 in the North Woods and ilic killing of came out of season in 

 that section. A committee of five was appointed to take tin 

 '■ i ' ■ '■" ' i ■■ "I' ' mil take such action as was deemed 

 necessary. The following gentlemen wore appointed: A. 

 Wagstaff, Jr., of Now York: Greene Smilh of Pelerboro : C. 

 O. Morse, of Roches! or: I). H. Bruce, of Syracuse : (.has. 

 Hutchinson, of LTtfcft. 



The Convention then adjourned sine die. 



DECOYING DUCKS BY THE THOU- 

 SANDS—A FORTUNE TO BE MADE 

 IN SPOILED MEAT. 



Nkw Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Jane 10, 1577. 

 Emma FOBEST anc Stkeam : 



I had the pleasure of writing to yon Inst, year about the possibility nf 

 forming a company to establish decoys for taking wild fowl, which 

 must resort in millions in tue winter on the mat-shea nf the Southern 

 States. It seems no one has yet given the subject the attention it de- 

 serves, when at the present time the European market, as well as your 

 own, has been anything but well supplied with wild fowl. I cannot 

 imagine how this proflt able business has been overlooked. The diffi- 

 culty in killing them in large enough quantities to make It a business, 

 no doubt, has deterred mauy from trying, and tltey did not know the 

 mystery of decoys, for the method by which so many thousands aro 

 annually killed is always kept a secret both iu Holland and England, 

 and for all, some favored parties are allowed sometimes to witness a 

 "take." The way the birds are enticed and prepared nobody but the 

 thoroughly initiated ever know. 



I can Imagine no more profitable business than to start a decoy (»r 

 if a company engage in it, a nnmber of them) in the neighborhood of 

 some place where the clacks stay all the winter, and the carriage 

 handy to the principal American and European markets. They send 

 beef, lobsters, prairie hens, etc., to England, even in the summer, why 

 not send wild ducks? The price is increasing every year. Last Janu- 

 ary mallards were quoted at Leadenhsll Market, in London, al 10s. 6tl., 

 and teal and widgeon'at. 2s. Cd. per couple, and not to be had at that. 

 price. One hundred thousand birds sent annually to London would 

 not nearly supply the place of the numbers that used to be imported 

 from Holland, where drainage has in a great measure ruined so many 

 decors, and the comparatively few now left, in England cannot nearly 

 supply the demand. Tt is not that the birds are any scarcer, but the 

 privacy required makes only a tew estates in England able to keep 

 them, and the few that are shot very ee'dom go further than the table 

 of the person who is lucky enough to obtain them. 



The expense of making a decoy with, say four pipes, wonid not bo 

 great, and of course would depend on the value of the property; bat as 

 this would be in some neighborhood that is very thinly inhabited it ooultl 

 not be great. Independent of the land, such a decoy would not cost 

 over $1,000; that is, building the four pipes. Of course I am presum- 

 ing the pond to be already there. 1 should never recommend a larger 

 pond than live acres— the most successful decoys in England are a' 

 little moielhan one. Yon will see that any one who owns and iina 

 complete control of a largo extent of land in the neighborhood of 

 marshes where ducks resort, could easily start a decoy If he knew 

 how to go about it, but if he cannot command perfect privacy he bad 

 better not try it. 



Jly idea was, could a company be formed with a few thousand dollars 

 capital to establish ten or twelve decoys in different places where 

 ducks resorl, It would be one of the most paying concerns it would be 

 possible to conceive, for should you ever stock the market with the 

 fowl, surely good wild duck or teal canned up as the other kinds of 

 poultry are eanned, would be far preferable to Ihe old cocks and liens 

 mat they put up iu such numbers in Loudon, and no doubt American 

 cities as well. Then look at the feathers; what a trade might be done. 

 with those alone 1 



No doubt some of your readers will think killing them In and estab- 

 lishing decoys will lessen the quantity of wildfowl. I assure yon this 

 is not the case, for there is no waste as in shooting— perhaps In wild- 

 fowl shooting more than any other; for every bird that; is killed aud 

 bagged ten go away and die, or are rendered useless for breeding. 

 Tins is partly because parties will lire at birds too far off to kill, and 

 they usually take such a hard blow to kill them outright, and if not 

 killed dead are generally lost. The season would last from October 

 till February, during which time the birds would be In the best con- 

 dition, and all that arc caught would find a market. "When they are 

 killed in a decoy they always obtain the best, price, and the skin not 

 being broken they would stand the carriage bei t er. 



To give you some idea of the way wild fowl can be enticed to a de- 

 coy I will mention the one on my father's estate In Yorkshire, where 

 wild dncks were quite a rarity and seldom seen to fly over. One 

 spring I found a nest of eleven eggs; took them home and set them 

 nnder a hen. In a short time they hatched, and I reared eight. When 

 they were old enough, neglecting to cut their wings, tliey flew away 

 and seldom came back : but when I hey did, generally brought, others 

 with them. I persuaded my father to let me go and see Lord Wen- 

 look's decoy, some (en miles away, which I did, and on my return 

 made one pipe at the end ol t tie pond t hey frequented. During the 

 Orst winter I amgbt my own again and nine wild ones, all the wings 

 of winch I cat and turned them out again to breed the next spring. 

 The next winter I killed 25t>, after which the wild fowl came regularly. 

 1 added three more pities to ray pond, nm the lost eosgn I killed 

 7,71)0 head, and I suppose 5, ooD were on the pond when I ceased killing. 

 Previously, the flight of fowl, when they came over from Holland after 

 they struck the Uutnber, was to follow the Trent and Ouse; but my 

 decoy brought them from their course at least twenty miles. Iu 

 fact I have seen birds on decoys in Lincolnshire that a week Before 

 I had with me. a distance of 100 miles. I hope you will excuse me for 

 troubling you at. this length. E. ''• O. 



[RbwA-BKS.— The above is the most singular proposal we 

 have ever published. The writer's name we decline to give, 

 that we may not be instrumental in encouraging the procedure. 

 We will, however, put approved parties in communicaiion 

 with him if they desire. It is proper to say that be is a 

 Canadian Came Commissioner, and probably sincere. We 

 have couimuniealed with liiui before. His idea is that the 

 ducks will QOt be diminished, and that Ihe procedure will not 

 come within reach of the gnme laws : " A decoy being pri- 

 vate property and inclosed, males tzne to the 

 pond also private property, aud you can kill them as yuu 



