70 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 22, 1SSS. 



rge the passage of such laws as will prevent the total ex- 

 tinction of our vernal visitors, 



A positive proof of the damage done (luring (be return of 

 tlu- bay birfls from the South in the spring is the great de- 

 crease in their numbers that is noticed every venr. Some 

 species have almost entirely disappeared, Duck shootine 

 likewise must be limited to autumn and winter; and it is be- 

 coming a question in the mind of many whether-batterv or 

 box shooting should not be also entirely abolished. It is 

 high time something should be done, and it is pleasing to 

 notice that Fokekt and Stmsam is ever ready to advocate a 

 proper method of remedy. IIomo. 



Bai/timoke Ducking Notes.— Baltimore, Md.. Feb, IS. 

 It is next to impossible, it would seem, to crush the band of 

 lawless big-gun marauders headed by Barnes. He has paid 

 spies in his employ, who give him. timely warning of every 

 movement of our local authorities. It' is even' intimated 

 that he lias a confederate belonging to one of our ducking 

 clubs. It is stated on good authority that the man is known 

 and that strenuous efforts will be used to collect evidence 

 sufficient to c-iMsc the arrest of this particularly despicable 

 specimen of pot-hunter and spy. This individual know-; 

 that he is under police surveilance and is becoming decid- 

 edly uneasy. 1 understand he is endeavoring to dispose of 



his" skiff. ' Blackhead due 

 Bush, Gunpowder, Middle: 

 imlica'ion that I lie- noble i 

 soon to be among ua again fi 

 ing their sojourn 



re beginning to arriv 

 nd Book iivcrs. '" This is a sure 

 ■acts ami redheads are 

 ith or six weeks. Dur- 

 n incessant fusilade all 

 along the line will he kept up against the poor ducks day 

 and night. Your correspondent is liimselJ a spring shooter 

 (as who is not), because it is lawful and every one else docs 

 the same; but he would gladly welcome a law that could be 

 enforced imposing a heavy penally for wildfowl shooting 



after March 1 in the tribut'i 

 Baltimore, Feb. If. —Mr 

 the sportsmen who arc pros 

 Susquehanna River, returi 

 night with two more big-gut 

 to him by John Day and 

 Day is the uncle and" Barnes the b 

 the chief duck killer of Bpcsulaa Wand. 

 captured first when the raid was made 

 the detectives a few weeks ago. The 

 back yesterday were procured by peace 

 Barnes, while on a visit to Mr. Serum 

 obtain a return of the fine imposed upor 

 is ueedless to remark, he did not get), wa 

 two relatives were among a number of 

 be prosecuted for killiug ducks at night - 

 sneak boats. After considerable palaver 

 render the guns if their prosecution was 

 Semmes then went on to Havre de Grace 

 to Baltimore. They will be broken un 

 shop. This makes six big-guns tin 

 will follow. The night gulmere i t 

 they may well be. Mr. Semmes t 

 hjjeakup tin- gang root and br&JHS 

 with some of the attributes of bis 

 bama fame. I am informed by a g 



lerday on the Gunpowder, thai redhead ducks are' puttiir 

 in an appearance slowly, and are exceedingly poor. Gooi 

 shooting is expected by "next week. — (-. A. P. 



of the— Chesapeake. 



John E. Semmes, attorney for 



cutihg the pot-hunters of the 



id from Havre de Crace last 



3. which had been surrendered 



rd Barnes, their owners. 



r of Wash Karnes, 



mid whose, gun was 



y Mr. Semmes and 



two guns brought 



ihb means. Wash 



*, in Baltimore, to 



him (and which, it 



s informed that his 



pfhera who were to 



ivilh big-guns and 



they agreed to sur- 



ivas not pressed. Mr 



•ace and brought them 



up to-day at a junk 



far captured. oiheis 



becoming alarmed, as 



ys he is determined to 



and he is accredited 



incle Raphael, of Ala- 



lemau who spent yes- 



The Flight op Drcus. — A correspondent writing from 

 Rutland., Vt., saya; "In conversing with gunners as to the 

 velocity of the' different birds in" their flight, I find quite 

 a difiorence of opinion. If you or any of vour readers can 

 throw any light upon this matter it would be of Consider- 

 able interest. A series of calculations on this subject woe 

 made some years ago by our valued correspondent, Mr. |>. 

 \V. Oroffi, of Cleveland, Ohio, the results being published 

 in his "Fifty Years with the Gun and Rod. For the 

 flight per hour of birds in full plumage and at highest 

 rates of speed, he gives the following estimates: Crow. '„>." 

 to 40 miles: mallard, black duck ami shoveler, 40 to 50; 

 pintail, 50 to 60; woodduck, 55 to (10: widgeon and gad- 

 wall, 60 to 70; redhead, 80 to 00; blue-winged and red- 

 winged teal, 80 to 100; bluebill. 80 to 110; canvas back, 80 

 to 120; sparrow, 40 to 92; hawk, 40 to 150; wild geese, 80 

 to 90. The distance traveled by birds in ^ second is given 

 as follows: at rate of 5 miles per hour, .92ft.; rate of teu 

 miles per hour, 1.83ft. ; rates of 12 miles, 2.2ft.; 20 mjlps, 

 3.66 ft.; 30 miles, 5.5ft.: 40 miles, 7.33ft.; 60 miles, lift.; 

 80 miles, 14.66ft.; 90 miles, 16.05ft.; 100 miles, 18.33ft.; 

 120 miles, 22ft.; 150 miles. 27.5ft. 



Canada Con vent-ion. — At the suggestion of several of 

 the leading sportsmen in each province, a committee con- 

 sisting of Mr. F, J. Doswcll, Major H. R. Smith and Mr. W 

 A. Allan, has been formed for the purpose of holding, it possi- 

 ble, a representative convention of the sportsmen of the Do- 

 minion to consider the present anomalous condition of the 

 game laws, and, if thought advisable, to take immediate 

 action with a view of doing away with market shooting by 

 foreigners, and the export of game, and for the discussion 

 of other matters of interest" to lovers of sport. At a 

 meeting of the Central Commillee, it was resolved, 

 "That the Secretary be instructed to issue a circular re 

 questing some leadiug sportsman to call a meeting of the 

 sportsm'cu in each county in the Domiuion for the purpose 

 of electing a delegate to attend a general convention, to be 

 held iii the oily of Ottawa, on Easter Monday, the 2(ith of 

 March, 1883."' The Secretary's address is Mr. G. A. Gouin, 

 Ottawa. 



Camps in the Rockies.— Alpine Club, London, Jan. 31, — 

 Editor Fbmtand tifrmin.- 1 have just seen your Haltering 

 review of my little book "Camps in the Rockies," in a recent 

 issue of your paper. ThougJi I niiKih appreciate the "naive 

 and unconscious frankness" to which my reviewer draws at- 

 tention, I think the instance by which he chooses to prove 

 it, is not one fairly selected. It is the occasion when 1 ap- 

 proach an apparently dead big-horn ram — in reality he was 

 only "creased" — without my rifle in my hand. Tills reads 

 fresher than it was, for the leaving behind of my aim was 

 not a mailer of choice but oue of dire necessity, the nature 

 and narrowness of the ledge overhanging a deep precipice, 

 along which I had to creep, being of such a character as to 

 oblige me to do so, fora rifle on such occasions when down- 

 right climbing has to be done is a great impediment. 1 am 

 afraid I exhibited worse instances of 'fresh tenderfooted- 

 ness" in the course of my four years' travel in the Rockies 

 than the one which my considerate reviewer has selected, — 

 Wat. A. Baxllie-Gko'umah. 



Dakota Game PfiDSFBOTS.— A sportsman's club has been 

 tornled in Deadwood, for the protection and propagation of 

 game. Sugb associations are needed throughout the Terri- 

 tory. Cur vast prairies now swarm in summer iime with 

 myriads of wildfowl, yet but comparatively few quail and 

 prairie chickens are to be found.- It is advisable that, in 

 order bo keep our lauds well stocked with small game, that 

 a new code of game laws should be enacted by the Terri- 

 torial Legislature, which will give increased protection to 

 wildfowl, quail and chicken during the breeding season, 

 thereby preventing the gradual diminution of game birds, 

 which is sure to follow unrestricted shooting the year 

 around. There i- now ab.-olulelv no law for the protection 

 of wild ducks in this Territory, and thev can be slaughtered 

 during the entire twelve months, even on their breeding 

 grounds. It has been the universal experience of all Eastern 

 States that the game supply is rapidly disappearing before 

 the increasing army of sportsmen, and it bellOOveii lie 

 lovers of held sports in Dakota to see to it that ibe -ame. un 



fortunate result'-, do not folio 

 laud. Dakaro is now a va-t 

 s&r? :n order to maintain it 

 should be enacted, and en ft 

 -ame. Heretofore this math 

 account of the comparative! 

 Dakota, but now that a -rani 



in this 



ne j. res, 

 such, 

 cd for 

 us beei 

 few sp 

 idal w 



aparatively uew 



'I is'neees- 

 genl laws 

 vation of 

 merest on 



the pi 



of liltl 



upon as, spoiling matters will soop assume an entirely • I i t 

 f.-ivi.i aspect. Although it seems hardly possible, to the 



terminating the multitudes of wildfowl that now'covcr our 

 prairies during the warm season, yet we slate it for a fact, 

 which similar experience in the" East universally demon- 

 strates, that unless restraining laws are enacted soon, ten 

 years from to day there will be a marked decrease in the 

 game supply of this Territory. There are hut two or three 

 States and Territories throughout the Union but that have 

 laws restricting the shooting of wildfowl, and we should 

 have such a law in this Territory. The best way to handle 

 such matter-, is not to wait Until it is too late, and then en- 

 deavor to replenish the stock by artificial means, as all 

 Eastern States are now doing. To push matters it is neces- 

 sary to organize sportsmen's "protective clubs which will take 

 the mailer in hand, and present it to the Legislature.— 

 Huron- 0qk t ) LeMev. 



DiihiNo in thk Ice. — Norristown, Pa., Pel). 15. — 

 E'lit'.r l-un.*l and Stream: 1 send you the following extracts 

 from a letter received from a friend at Long Branch Club 

 House. Barncgat. New Jersey, dated Feb 1: "1 must tell 

 you of the shooting 1 had on last Saturday in an air-hole 

 mar Sandy Island. 1 started about eight o'clock with my 

 boat and twenty decoys on the wagon, and drove to the 

 southwest point of the ledge; there put boat on the ice, and 

 as she had runners under her it did not take me long to 

 reach the open^vatci near the island, from where 1 drove 

 at least five broadbills and redheads. Before I could gel oul 

 half the decoys they began to come back. I paid no 

 attention to them until all the decoys were out, and the boat 

 covered with ice and mv white canvas suit on Then I got 

 down for business. In the first bunch five came ami three 

 stayed; next about twenty came and five stopped; after that 

 not mor,- than four came at a time. Before two o'clock 1 

 had oy,r fifty with their toes up in and around lie- airhole, 

 when, without an instant's warning, the whole field of ice 

 started up the bay. The ice ran over decoys, ducks and all. 

 shoving some under and others on top the firm ice, some- 

 times raising my little boat out of the water. By hard 

 work I succeeded in getting all my decoys and thirty-eight 

 of the ducks, and then tried to reach the shore, which I suc- 

 ceeded in doing an hour after dark, about as near played 

 out as I ever want lo lie. When trying to work through the 

 ice, I passed within twenty feet of seven dead ducks lying 

 in one bunch, hut left ll.ein "alone in their glory." for .just 

 then twenty feet toward shore was worth more to mo than 

 seven ducks. There was a dense fog and a piercing south- 

 east wind going at the time. 1 missed but twice dining all 

 the shooting, which I think is not so had f. or a chap thai 

 can't shoot pigeons, and considering that the ducks were 

 going like lightning. — J. K. R. 



Tk.nnksski; Game Notes. — Nashville, Feb. 12, — Robins 

 by the million have appeared among us, and the boy- are 

 having line times ••tiring them.'' This mode of exhausting 

 the bird supply is to go into thickets, where the little Crea- 

 tures roost, with lighted torches; these blind the birds, and 

 lie- work of gathering them begins. Thousands are taken 

 in this way. put into bags, and those that are not suffocated 

 by overcrowding are killed on reaching home. Larks in 

 considerable numbers have been brought to market, and 

 quail arc abundant Bui few ducks arid geese have been 

 brought up from Keelfool. as the people here do not Care 

 for them as food. It is astonishing that so few turkeys and 

 deer have been seen heie this winter. I have only heard of 

 one or two deer and perhaps a dozen turkeys. The veteran 

 Commodore Wallman told me this noon that he had beeu 

 shooting last Friday and bagged nine English snipe, lie 

 and Hermann BurkhoJz go up the river next wee!:, taking 



with tie- line large "skiff" and camping outfit, intending 



to float back to the city with the current, ami shoo! what 

 ever comes in their way. I have often thought that a canoe- 

 ing excursion up the Cumberland at a favorable season 

 would prove a very delightful trip; but 10 float down a 

 turbulent stream, as it is now, with rain and cold to add 

 discomfort to the danger, seems to me a foolhardy under- 

 taking. -J. D. II. 



Iowa Notes.— Anita. Feb. 14, 1883— Owing io the 

 severe winter we have had quail have Wintered poorly — a. 

 great many freezing to death. A (lock of aboul thirty' last 

 fall I have waieheci'all winter, ami have seen them decrease 

 until only one remaius, and this solitary quail comes around 

 every morning to a eorn-crih the same as the rest of his 

 flock did. it is very probable that quail will be scarce next 

 fall Pinnated grouse have wintered well. Babbits plenty, 

 but snow too deep to hunt them without a dog. Snow is 

 melting. — C. B. 



Maine. — A man was recently arrested in Machias for 

 shipping nineteen partridges during close time, and on ex- 

 amination before a trial justice was bound over iu the sum 

 of $200 to appear at the April Term of the Calais Court. 



jMiuuc,a.n.— Last Saginaw, Feb. 13.— Quail are being 

 lulled by the winter. Some are being kicked up out of the 

 snow and fed by the farmers,— Beh B, 



Anotiieii TAMED Wn,D Dcck.— Lalimer. Franklin 

 County, Iowa, Feb. 2.— A yearago lasl fall a brother of the 

 writer who lives in Illinois had some tame ducks in a small 

 pond about twenty rods from the house. One day a null 

 lard drake came along and lit among the ducks; one oi the 

 boy- look .a gun anil went to the pond to kill ii. but a-. i| 

 would not raise, and kept among the Other duck* he did 

 nol g( l a shot and left it there. That night the mallard fol 

 lowed the lame ducks close to the house, but when any- 

 one wenl near it flew back to the Water, will n it remained 

 mild the ducks wenl. back the next day. The following 

 night it got as far as the barnyard, where " stayi d, while 

 the r.st went into the barn. After asjbort lime tlu- boys 

 succeeded in getting it in the barn, when [hay clipped its 



wings. It is still alive, and mates with a small tame dill k. 

 Have you ever heard of a Similar casev-II. A.C. [Yes, 

 we have published records of several Euch Instances. Wild 

 ducks .•oul wild geese are Occasionally caught in this way, 

 In ouri-sueof December 21. 1883, our rJonoapondenf .1. i, 

 D., of Lockport, N. Y., reported the capture of thirteen 

 wiid terse, whieh during a storm alighted among bis tame 

 un--, in the barnyard and weredriveii into the barn. | 



West Viiioima.— Alderson, Feb. 12.— The Forest aud 

 Stream Sporting Club was organized lasl December after a. 

 hunt on the Allegheny Mountains, iu which fourteen deer 

 were killed. We have a nice cluli room, and solicit Contri 

 billions of nicely-framed advertisements Of gunsmiths, tax- 

 idermists or any other business, 01' lams pictures of ftn) 

 kind to hang on our walls. — B. 



The Massaohoshtt Anh-.-m'.nkkow lin.i. ha- been in 

 definitely po.-tponed. 



THE FUR MARKET. 



THE following Hew Sort* quotations for furs mxl s!<i»s are cw- 

 rei-ieil in l eti n'.. in,- |ir;oi-s are for prtios sltius only, accord- 

 ing to Size, color and quality, us realized by tin New Vorf; coimnis- 



la, -,i It) 



mi full furred, oaci) 



I'raii-i- I "■'.. I SS 



Wolverine— N'ortli Ann-ricn . 

 Greed skin-; are wiu-lli le,ss than eleaii, rtry, well liunUled slilufii 



TlKil rcmuiils nSB." 



IHAVK read with gnat interest your recent an icles about 

 hunting wilhoiit a gun. 



The incident 1 am a | to relate liapppuci mold 



uncle of mine living in n small village of the fatherland, 

 lie was a peevish kind of a fellow but good-hcartcd after 

 all. as ardent a sportsman as ever pulled the trtggCTi and a 

 splendid wingsbot. 



One Suudiiy afternoon he made up his mind to tab a v. alls 

 through his hiiiitim: ground, being diatautotflyn few minutes.' 



walk from his house. The weather bolngcloudy he H "hi 



he had bolter take his umbrella along— it nenl ,,.,i !„■ ,,,, D 

 tioned that his faithful dqg Hector never went from his shi,.. 



A few hundred paces brought him to the open liclds. On 

 he went along tin- stubble-field when- a good many bevies of 

 partridges could he found. Passing through a siuall cover 

 his dog suddenly came to a still point, aud out rushed u 

 hare of at least b u pounds size. In his zeal, my uncle 

 raised the umbrella to his shoulder, covered tin 

 banged away— in his imagination. Tin- hare Stopped short, 

 and souuded the plaintive cry a wounded hare always utters; 

 a moment later Hector had him. 



Mauv a hearty laugh we had when the old fellow told us 

 the story how he shot that big hare with that umbrella. Tie 

 merit oi this is, that it. is a true story and to convince your 

 incredulous readers let me add thai the Inn- 

 wounded by some other party, hunting wilboui a dog, 

 which show's that hunting without a gun k by far preferable, 

 to hunting without a dog" A. F, 



New Vobii. 



