28 



FOREST AJND STREAM. 



[Feb. 8, 1883 



from the 151 h April until the 1st July in each year. This 

 district would include Isle Perrot, Yaudreuil, St". Eustache, 

 and Horse Island at the foot of the Cascade Rapids. As 

 this.' locality contains so many islands and channels, it is 

 very difficult to protect, and requires to have a man con- 

 stantly on the ground. 



Your committee has much pleasure in reporting that an 

 officer has been appointed for the River Beandet. and that 

 that very valuable breeding river is now well protected. 



During the month of August a guardian was sent to 

 Watch the lower end of Lake St. Francis, and remained 

 there until j\Ir. Baker was appointed to that district by the 

 local government. The shooting on this lake has greatly 

 improved this year. The new game act, which imposes a 

 $20 license on all non-residents of the Province, has effectu- 

 ally protected it from the hordes of American market- 

 hunters that formerly shot over it. Officers were also sent 

 to look alter crises which had been reported to the club from 

 Missisquoi, Pike River. St. Hyacinlhe, Dundee. Sorel, River 

 Maskinonge, St. Jerome and other places; also to visit the 

 lakes in rear of Terrebonne and Argenteuil. 



Beside the convictions obtained" by the club, we have 

 paid rewards in live cases to persons who have obtained 

 convictions, under the game act. 



At 8 meeting of your committee, held in November, it 

 was resolved that the sum of one hundred dollars be asked 

 as an extra subscription from members for the purpose of 

 sowing wild rice on the feeding grounds of water- fowl, and 

 that a petition be forwarded to the local government asking 

 for a. grant of $250 for the game purpose. A deputation 

 Waited upon the Hon. Premier, and after explaining the 

 object the amount asked for was granted. 



The annual dinner look place at the St. Lawrence Hall on 

 January 2ti, and was attended by over fifty members and 

 guests. It was as usual a very great success. 



During the past summer the Fish and Game Club was 

 formed in connection with the Fish and Game Protection 

 Clul), the object of which was to take and maintain a club 

 house for the use of its members, and members of fish and 

 game protection clubs are aloue eligible for membership. It 

 is managed by a committee of five, chosen from its mem- 

 bers. It has proved a great success, its list of membership 

 numbering some 120 names, and its very comfortable rooms 

 are well patronized. 



Your committee have once more to acknowledge the very 

 valuable services of Mr. Euclid Roy, advocate. The best 

 thanks of the club are due to this gentleman, for the very 

 able manner in which he has conducted our cases In court. 



During the past summer your committee had printed a 

 large number of posters, setting forth the close season for 

 game and fish, and also the changes that had been made in 

 the game laws. These posters were distributed throughout 

 the Province, and posted in railway stations, hotels and 

 country stores. 



The total number of members at the present time is 887. 

 There has been added to the list 103 new names since our 

 last annual meeting, aud 40 have been struck off for non- 

 payment of subscription. 



All which im respectfully submitted. 



Or. H. Matthews, Secretary 



"HUNTING WITHOUT A GUN." 



WHILE hunting in I he R.iugelev wilderness, way back 

 in the "forties," when the woods wen- BtbCked With 

 game to their full capacity, and before the white, man had 

 commenced to thin out the moose, fleer, caribou and the 

 fur-bearing animals, I began an exhaustive trapping effort 

 which lasted for twenty years. 



In the fall hunt, while setting traps ami boating here and 

 there through the lakes, ponds and rivers, it was very 

 necessary that I should carry a gun. but when the lake's 

 and rivers were frozen over." and the land and ice we're 

 covered with snow, and the snowshoes had to be worn, and 

 the heavy pack had to be shouldered, loaded not only with 

 bread and pork and other shack for a ten day *s cruise, but 

 with traps, bait, blanket, cooking utensils, such as camp 

 kettle, frypan, and other "calamity," beside an ax and 

 gun, it became a serious question, what particular article of 

 weight could be left out to lessen the load. 



For two or three years I think I carried the gun and 

 found it very convenient to bring down grouse, rabbits and 

 larger game sometimes, for my daily living. Finally I 

 gradually left my gun in camp through the winter months 

 while trapping, "and carried it only when on a moose or 

 bear hunt. 



Through the coldest weather very little game is stirring, 

 and it requires considerable courage to lug a good-sized 

 double gun day after day on top of a heavy pack, unless you 

 can get some reward for it. Yet I could have killed in all 

 those years, I am satistied, enough to have well paid me if 

 I had always carried it. 



I frequently saw otter, mink, lynx and other valuable 

 game, and it was very tantalizing to stand and have it come 

 up within easy range* and know you cannot secure it, and 

 think, w T ell, if I'd only taken my gun. 



At one time I was going up the lake from the sun, which 

 was shining brightly in the early morning, when I saw a 

 fox coming down toward me; the sun bothered his eyes and 

 he came down within rifle shot before he discovered me — 

 but when he did, he stopped short— I stood still, and after 

 looking me over for some time, lie came along several rods 

 and then halted again. I stood still from the first and thought 

 1 would see what he would do, for I was "hunting without a 

 gun.'' He would come along a little and then stop, and 

 cock up his eye sidewise, and then start along again, until he 

 finally got within twenty yards of me, and then he looked 

 at me for a long time, and" when he started he veered to go 

 round me. Just then I jumped at him and screamed. He 

 could not run he was so frightened, but he went, end over 

 end, and there being a light snow on the ice, I could see 

 notbiug but a round ball of snow going toward the shore 

 like a little whirlwind. 



At another time 1 was standing on the shore of a pond, 

 the snow being some four feet deep and a warm winter clay, 

 when up came an otter within ten yards of me, from under 

 the ice through the snow; aud, by standing perfectly still, 

 1 had a fine view of him and his pranks. He would roll 

 over and over, and then stick up his nose and snuff; then 

 make two or three jumps; then slide on his belly on the 

 hard snow ; then stick up his nose toward me and snuff 

 again. This tie repeated constantly until I started to get 

 between him and his hole in the snow, when he just let me 

 see his prowess — he did not seem to run or slide, but he 

 went for that hole in no time, and was out of sight. 

 At another tim: I was traveling in the woods on the side 



of a mountain, when I heard a moose very near to me, 

 Thug, thug, thug— like striking an ax on' a rotten log, 

 (This is a common sound they make to call their mates, and 

 is made, 1 think, only by the male.) This time I had a 

 t'olf's navy revolver in mv knapsack, but while I was get- 

 ting it out, the old fellow "made off. I felt, however', that 

 if he had discovered me, and had been in the mood of it. he 

 could have demolished me in no time, 



Another time I was fishing on the west arm of Molly- 

 chunkmunk Lake one cold morning, when I saw a mink 

 come from the shore out toward "the middle of I lie arm 

 within easy range, had I had a gun. but I had none, aud 

 the next best was to get between him and the shore and trv 

 to run him down on the ice. Well, he allowed me to get 

 the inside i raek and then it was nip and tuck across the 

 pond. Presently as 1 came near to him he ran into a hum- 

 mock ot snow, about as large as a bushel basket, which hap- 

 pened io be just there. I gol on to my knees aud peeped in, 

 for minks were then worth ten dollars, and I felt sure I had 

 hirn safe, so 1 began to dig away the snow with my hands, 

 when all at once do vn I went into the lake all over. The 

 bunch of snow T covered a breathing hole in the ice and the 

 mink knew it all the time, but I "did not realize it until 

 about half way Io camp on the run. where I found my 

 clothes frozen stiff and locomotion difficult. J. G. R. * 



Bethel, Maine. 1HS3. 



THE WORCESTER FOX HUNTERS. 



THE month of January has been exceptionally bad 

 for the fox hunters' in Massachusetts. Nearly 

 every snow storm ended with rain, Ln&krug one con- 

 tinuous sheet of crust and ice almost the entire month. The 

 storm of last Sunday and Monday was, however, an excep- 

 tion, beginning with rain and ending with a light fall of 

 snow. Tuesday. January 30. was mild and Still; in fact a 

 perfect day for fox hunting, and all hands were out early. 

 The rendezvous at M. E. Shattuck's cigar store was 

 thronged Tuesday evening with members of the "fur com- 

 pany" and their friends; Io hear the reports and it was 

 really an entertainment worth attending. Everybody had 

 had a good chase whether they had killed a fox or not. The 

 excitement ran high when Mr. Rand and "Johnny" Sloeum 

 came in and reported two large dog foxes as the result of 

 their chase. The details were give"n in .ull and listened to 

 with the greatest interest but the climax of excitement was 

 not reached till Mr. Kinney arrived. His report was so re- 

 markable that I think it may lie interesting to the readers of 

 Forest abb Stucam. 



Mr. Kinney went to Millbury as usual for a chase with his 

 friend J. M. White. They started a fox early in the morn- 

 ing and led directly off, and the dogs were soon out of hear- 

 ing with the exception of one which fattl d to get on with 

 the pack. 



Mr. White followed after the started fox, while Mr. Kin- 

 ney took a stand on a runway, hoping I he fox would make 

 a turn. After waiting a long time without hearing any- 

 thing he began to think he was "left," sure. The dog that 

 failed to get Off "With the pack had been at work and w:;s 

 beginning to bark with some animation, which caused Mr. 

 Kinney to look in that direction which was across a large- 

 pond. " Much to his delight he saw a pair of foxes come on 

 to the pond, making directly toward him. He remained 

 perfectly quiet till they were vfithin easy range and then 

 just made a "right and left," killing the'pair, a thing easy 

 enough to do of course, but the chance to do it is not "likely 

 to occur more than once in a lifetime. Mr. White shot at 

 the other fox at long range, but failed to kill him. So few 

 foxes have been added to the list as I gave it January 1, 

 it will hardly be worth while to give it again till the close 

 of the season, which will tie Mareh 1. 



The Sportsmen's Club have challenged for I he State team 

 badge, which they lost to the Marlboro' Club last summer. 

 The match will be shot at Marlboro', Feb. M. K. 



Feb. 3, 1883. 



GROUSE SHOOTING PAR EXCELLENCE. 



kiYArELL, 1 do know" of two coveys of quail wilhin a 

 It mile aud a half of your place, but bless me, why 

 don't you drive over to B!? It's only twenty one miles, 

 and you'll sec more email and pheasant in one day there. 

 I ban' you could find in a year in our country. Of "course. 

 I've been there. Me and" John and Old Dan, went iv.g'ier 

 every season, until a few years ago. when rheumatism aud 

 the like of that, laid us by' the heeds." 



The idea grew on us. "Here were Jock and Floss spoiling 

 for practice. Here was ourself able to take a day or two, 

 at the most, afield, with no time io lie lost. Returning home 

 the "glide wife" was consulted and she, faithful patron, in 

 many a happy outing to woods and wafers, before our quiver 

 was 'so well filled with "arrows of the Lord," urged our 

 gouip;. while she tarried I v lie. children Sue herself packed 

 the sportsman's valise and sent us off with orders to "come 

 back, when we would rather be home than anywhere else." 



For years we have been spending money on a country 

 seat in New Jersey, where the introductory conversation 

 ibove narrated took place. Wending our way thither. 

 James was instructed to be on hand with the bay team, 

 Colonel and Frank, bright and early Tuesday, A. M. Im- 

 agine the next day erisp and bright, a good looking colored 

 man — that's James, the "boss" — that's us (when we are in the 

 country) -a team of big bays attached to a, buggy, a small 

 liver and white pointer dog, Jock, valise, bags, bundles, 

 I, etc, James was to have the long coveted privilege of 

 seeing the "boss" shoot, and picking up a rabbit "his self" — 

 all bound for B. Floss, a Gordon setter, was left behind for 

 lack of room, since even a sportsman's buggy won't hold 

 as much as an omnibus. 



Before we are out of sight of the house, snap! goes the 

 front spring. Frost and a little jolt did it. We pride our- 

 selves to go through when we start, so it did not take long 

 to impress the nearest vehicle — an open jugger wagon— into 

 the service, transfer traps and send back for Floss. Once 

 more under way we hold it true for ten miles, and then get 

 a little mixed as to route. But the team is a good one. the 

 air delightful, aud the country surprisingly beautiful for the 

 season, so we don't count the extra miles, and dually call 

 halt at a roadside inn seven miles distant from B— , to lunch 

 and feed the horses. Four men and two boys greet us at 

 the stove in the barroom. Floss is vo'ed the best dog of 

 our two, "only she's got the ague, bad," as with trembling 

 delight she interprets the halt to mean business, while Jock, 

 who, if only one dog could be taken aiicld, would be pre- 

 ferred by his owner to any, knows there is no use in getting 

 excited until "boss" puts on his leggins, Turning from 



| their interviewing of the dogs, a volley of questions are 

 ! tired at us as to whence, whither, for how long, and what 

 for? in the midst of which "lunch is ready,'" We have 

 fared at times more luxuriously, but seldom with better 

 appetite, and leave the lil tie inn 'with kindly feeling., thai 

 change a wee when we discover later on that' we have been 

 deliberately sent five miles out of our way in order that a 

 dog merchant may have an opportunity of showing us a 

 mate lor Jock, which he would like to 'sell — this, in spite 

 of the fact that we had explained that our sole need was 

 birds. Discovering the fraud too late- to retrieve, we hold 

 on our way, rejoicing that though we have driven many 

 miles further than we had intended, our road lies through 

 romantic and at times wildly beautiful mountain scenery, 

 and the horses don't, mind, and we finally reach B — . The 

 hotel accommodations are line, and— and — the cars from 

 Jersey City arrived about the time we did. 



Instead of primeval fastnesses and the gunner's paradise 

 we had been told lo expect, and I oal the scenery had boon 

 preparing us to find, handsome villas, stylish equipages aud 

 a general cdyricd an-, made our hearts sink. inquiring for 

 our guide, we found him out escorting a party of sports- 

 men from Newark. Subsequently lie and they courteously 

 offered to open ranks and let us in, but although they were 

 going to try for birds in the direction from which we hail 

 come, we declined with thanks, and engaged aunthergnido, 

 "young bid experienced," and the morrow beheld us off for 

 birds. 



"Ain't seen none myself this season, but know where they 

 must be if there are any about." For six hours wo climb 

 mountains up and do'wn; Floss, somewhat dispirited, but 

 Jock working like a machine; alas, that it should have been 

 so exactly like a machine as to be without stopping, But not 

 a point nor sight ot any game, save thai James got his rabl.it 

 and the guide likewise blew .smithereens out of a sleeping 

 cotton tail. At length, standing ou a knoll on theedge of a 

 thicket with a box of fusees in my hand, essaying to light 

 a homeward bound segar, a shout goes up from I lie guide, 

 ~'l" iog ari s ■• anting staunch, hoop-la! 'and u iili a" rush, 

 in goe.- the guide, off goes his gun. Out comes a pheasant 

 straight for me, and away across the open toward an ad- 

 joining thicket. What further happened l overheard James 

 telling in the barroom thai evening; "Ise got b rabbit and 



the tether 1 elf, w he's gol a rabbit, and 'BOSS he tired twice 

 at a pheasant and didn't get nothiu', and Ise got to take' 

 the team back m\ own sell'.'' 



We came home on the cars Hial Barae evening, the condi 

 lions of our return fulfilled. Boss. 



BELL-RINGING FROGS. 



ONI. day in June, 1881, the writer aud three others, in- 

 cluding the veteran angler, Rev, P. Parker, D. I)., 

 took a trip to the celebrated lishing waters of Fa\ " 

 the Obion River, ten miles from' Dyeraburg. 'We arrived 

 there in good time to get plenty of squirrels and a nice mess 

 of white pei eh and black bus-', for supper and bruaki's • 



and after a hearty slipper aud the usual roul 



we spread ofli 1 bedding on the Ueavymoas carpet, with 

 which the banks of the basin are lined, and turned in for 

 the night. 1 lay for sometime meditating aud listening to 

 the delightful strains of Itie mocking birds oyer our beads, 

 (it must be remembered that in June they sing every hour 

 in I be night as well as in the day), when ' ray ai tout tot] was 

 called to the ■ ■tintinnabulation that so musically wells from 

 the jingling ami Ihe tinkling uf 'he b, lis. bells, bells. 1 

 Knowing that Bto, Parker "knew everything'," from a lifc- 

 long experience in the loresl and on the stream. I D I 

 called to see if lie was awake, and asked him v. hereon earth 

 the sound of so much tinkling and jingling of bells came 

 from. " Why." says lie, "they are the bell ringers." And 



from a thousand [ittle throats, down among the water lilies 

 and the "bonnets" in the basin, came gently and sweetly tic 

 tinkle, tinkle, tinkle of a thousand little silver-toned 'bells 

 that lost their echoes among llie majestic oaks lining the 

 banks. 



We took our boat, and in the clear moonlight we glided 

 across (he placid water to the oilier dtore. where was shal- 

 low water, and lilies and fjOtttititS and other wall 

 tion, which afforded line breeding grounds for fish, and 

 which was alive with these small white-throakd frogs. 

 But we did not capture any, so we left them in peace, .and 

 returned to our camp, and took a tine night's rest, prepara- 

 tory to the fun on hand foi the next day. If tiny of your 

 readers have any similar experience would like 1.0 'lioar 

 from them. 



Rollins have made their nppL.-tran :'(■ here in wi-l (lumbers, 

 The boys who have been Skating OU the ponds about town. 

 report having seen, under the ice. huge schools of white 

 perch and myriads of minnows. A few woodcock have put 

 in an appearance, and quail are always here in goodly num- 

 bers. B. M. Jackson and J. TV. Mehois in one day la-' 

 week bagged eighty-six, and on another day rifly'four. 

 Wild geese are to be found occasionally in the wheal fli id- 

 A. B. Tigrett has killed nineteen in his field, with a Win- 

 chester. T. L, W. 

 Dversbvbg, Tetiu., Jan. 29, 1883. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE NOTES. 



1\HK present wither has been rather unfavorable for our 

 style of fox hunting here in New Hampshire* For 

 about six weeks there litis been a crust on the snow, which 

 would hold up a fox, but nut a houud. making it almost use- 

 less to go but However, within a day or two then has been 



a heavier eiust formed, aud as soon "as. then- is SOI 



snow, we shall endeavor o make up for lost time. 



Last winter 1 killed a good many foxes in the immediate 

 vicinity of my home, and I find It has Caused them to be 

 rather "scarce;" but by going t wo or three- miles from here, 1 



can usually start one or two The first part of this 



killed ten", one of which was a gray one. Hie body being 

 gray and the breast and belly black. The last time 1 was. 

 out'.! atre' another like the above, only handsomer. I had a 

 good chance to see him, as he came almost, within gunshot 

 three times. If we have any fail kind ot tunning 1 mean to 

 kill that fox, if it takes the rest of the winter. 



There are quite u number of quail about this winter, which 

 is somewhat unusual for this part of New ii: 

 whether they will stand the rest of the season remains to be 

 seen The ruffed grouse are also more numerous than for a 

 number of years. Most every nigh! an i pQurqrflve, 

 within 150 yards of the house, on some bitch free picking off 

 the buds. " C. M, S 



DDKBAMCOW, H, H., Feb. 2, 1883. 



