Juke ?, 1883.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



36S 



1<w(e §;tg at\d §m\. 



GAME RESORTS.— We are always rjlad in receive for pub- 

 lication such notes of desirable an me resorts as may be of help 

 to lifts readers of Forest irtrj Stream. Witt yiot our corre- 

 spondents favor us with such advice? 



CONCERNING BEARS. 



I) ILL asked mo for a ride the other evening', and got into 

 ) my cutter. K was a wild night, and the road was Ions, 

 and as we drove slowly through the drifting suow. Bill 

 lighted a cigar and congratulated himself on tin- fact tbal 

 the wind was in our backs, 



tinder the influence of. the weed lie became communica- 

 tive, and it is always a pleasure to me to find biin in this 

 mo, id. when I have time to listen, for lie is a man of wide 

 experience in his way, and is no ordinary character. 



Bill does not call himself a hunter: 'but there aie tew 

 beasts of the Forest Which he has not seen and slain. He 

 knows the country, much of it intimately, from Denver, 

 Colorado, to the outlet of the Great Slave Lake: has win- 

 tered on Lake Nippisaing (in old muzzle-loading days), and 

 starved in the Grand Brulee. The Dog-rib Indians' nearly 

 took his scalp, but lie gave them cause to remember his rifle 

 and revolver, and merely carries a scar or I wo to remind him 

 of their polite attentions. 



"Bill." said I, "you've killed bears?" Of course, I knew 

 he had, but 1 wished to draw him out. 



"Yes,'' said Bill, "I have." 



''How many'.''' 



"f killed seventeen one fall." 



"How many altogether?" 



"About forty." 



"Did you ever know a bear to kill and eat a man?" 



"N-no, I. never did. 



"Ever have any trouble killing 'em?" 



"No. I never had what you might rail a tight will) one. 

 The worst racket I ever had was with a wild stag. He 

 shook me up so's I thought I'd never get over it," 



"How was that?" 



"Why. it was a rousin' big buck. Jim W 's got the 



horus now, You see, he was folleriu' a doe. I shot the doe 

 with one bar'), and him with the other, and thought he was 

 all right, but when I stepped over a log to look for him in 

 the brush, he lit on me so quick I couldn't use niv gun. He 

 knocked it out of my hand, and then my knife, 'some way, 

 and I grabbed his horns. I thought he'd never stop yanki'n' 

 me 'round." 



"How did you get clear of him?" 



"I give bis horns a twist and dislocated his neck." 



"That was a lucky twist." 



"Yes. 1 had another time with a buck up on tbe Six 

 Mile' a good deal like that, bul t managed to get out a 

 Smith & Wesson revolver I carried then, arid shot him." 



"Did you ever know a bear to chase a man?" 



"Yes, "I did— one o' your own neighbors, Bill D. Me and my 

 wife, and four orfive others, was down to his house that night, 

 aud he heerd a Bcrabhlin 1 in a brash fence about twenty rod off, 

 and thought it was a breachy steer Johnson had, and went to 

 drive it away, and he got right up to it before he see what 

 it was. The bear chased him clean up to the bouse, aud he 

 was while as a sheet when he came in." 



"Do you believe a she bear, when she has cubs, will 

 tackle a man?" 



"No, I don't; not if he stands and faces her. I can give 

 you an instance, with a witness, Henry D. He was the 

 man that come to the tree first when he heard me whistlin', 

 I'd been putting up a little warehouse for a man in Kinuiont 

 and was going home just at night, with niv adze and a basket 

 of tools. When I got to the bridge I saw two porcupines, 

 as 1 supposed, and started for 'em. They ran up a tree and 

 then I saw what they were, especially as they begun to 

 squeal. Then I heard the old bear coming through the 

 brush and had a mind to run, but I thought I might as well 

 make a good tight as a bad retreat, and I dropped mybaskel 

 and clinched my adze. The old bear came charging up 

 within ten or twelve feet of me and capered and snorted 

 round, and growled aud snarled fearful. Then I begun 

 whistling, and after a while Henry beard nie and came 

 where I could talk to him, and 1 told him what was up, and 

 that if he'd stay there and keep the cubs up the tree. I'd go 

 and get my gun. He said he wouldn't stay there for a hun- 

 dred dollars, and about, that time my wife— my farm joined 

 Henry's— heard the whistling and the racket and let loose a 

 big Spanish hound I had. Henry VI set on his bulldog be- 

 fore, but the bear took after him and back he went to the 

 house. 



"My hound came up full chisel, and meant business, and 

 it wasn't long till he drove the bear up a tree. 



"Well, the short of it. was that I stayed by my tree till T 

 got my gun, shot the cubs, and then went and got. the old 

 hear." 



I spoiie of an instance within my own knowledge where 

 two men, seeing a bear near a small' wood, went up to it and 

 killed it with axes, and found that it was very old and per- 

 fectly blind. 



"The fattest bear I ever killed," said Bill, "was blind as 

 a bat. Jfm Wilson had a field o' corn that they was workiu' 

 bad, and one night I went over to watch for 'em. I stayed 

 to the house and talked with the old man till it got to be so 

 late that I told him if I stayed much longer the ueighbors 

 'ud think I was after sparkin' some of bis daughters.' and L 

 put out for the field. There was a stand part way down, 

 where I'd watched before, and though it was dark" 1 knew 

 what row of corn to follow to take me right to it. Before 

 T hail got half way across the field I saw in the dim light 

 something like a log right in the row, and I stopped. I 

 know 'd that there was" no log there when I seen the place 

 before, but there it was, and it. lay perfectlv still. Then I 

 moved up a little nearer. I had one of those old English 

 muskets, with two or three balls in it. and I took aim in the 

 darkness and onhitched. The thing hardly stirred. I see 

 I'd killed something, and went back to th. house for a lan- 

 tern. It was an old gray bear and blind as could be, and 

 he'd been living on that cornfield, I suppose, all summer, 

 and died with the cob he was a-eatin' in his mouth. He 

 was fat." 



"You hadn't much trouble with him." 



"No, not much. I never had what you might really call 

 'trouble' with em. I once thought 1 was in tor it, though, 

 and no mistake. 



"It was in Lower Canada, [',1 been following a track in 

 the early snow, and it seemed as if they— there was two of 

 'em, an old one aud a cull— didn't kriow where they was 

 goin'. I believe they did though, all the same. 'They 



trailed me round— or I did them— hither and you through a 



big swamp of several hundred acres. At last thej took a 

 beaten track toward night, and 1 followed 'till I came to a 

 ledge with a bole ncai the bottom. It wasn't very large, 

 and went down into the ground, or rock, and after looking 

 the place over. 1 took a piece of a large dry poplar tree, and 

 dropped it in tor a plug. I thought 1 heard a growling, but 

 I went on and built a fire about twelve feet from the hole. 

 Then 1 lookout the plug, lay down on the other side the 

 tire, where I could see the bole, and waited. 



"It got dark, and 1 began to feel sleepy. At last, I saw 

 the bead of a small bear pop up. He just took one look and 

 settled back. Pretty soon be looked out again, aud the t bird 

 or fourth time he climbed out. T drew a bead on him, and 

 knocked him over. Then 1 waited. In about two hours 1 

 sec another head. That was a yearling, and when he finally 

 came out, 1 shot him. Then 1 waited." and it go! pretty weil 

 toward morning, when I heard a grunting. I guess I must, 

 have been asleep, lor the bear was half way out of the hole 

 before I saw her. I jerked up my gun and let loose, and 

 back she tumbled into the hole. "Then I thought I had 'em 

 all, and 1 tried to get the old one out, but couldn't do it. 

 Then 1 got a torch and slid down into the hole. It, branched 

 off level, and 1 walked on through a, sort o' cave, about, 

 eight or ten feet high, (ill I came near She end. 



"I'd set, my torch down agin the side of the cave, and 

 was lookiu' round when I heerd a growl, and up. on a sort 

 of shelf to one side, I see tbe head of an old rouser. T up 

 gun and fired, the torch went out and I (hopped gun, axe 

 and all, and scrambled out. of tbal hole, as quick's I could, I 

 tell ye. I thought 1 was called for. I plugged up the hole 

 again aud started for home. I looked up a chum o' mine 

 and we went back, and after listening awhile, went into the 

 hole. I'd blowed that bear's head hall off. We got 'cm out 

 and managed to get 'em home after a while. There was 

 lots o' people went to see the place that fall, and the next 

 year but one there was two more, bears killed in the same 

 hole." X. 



MiCHIOAS. 



HUNTING RIFLE SIGHTS. 



Editf/V Forest and Strain,: 



I was much interested in a communication from "Occi- 

 dent" which appeared in the Fokest and Stream last week. 

 He seems to prefer tin 1 old-fashioned open sights for hunting 

 purposes. I agree with him to a certain extent as regards 

 using a muzzle sight only — the same as a shotgun, I have 

 made some very good shots with a rifle using a muzzle sight 

 only. The old-tashioned notch and bead I have discarded 

 entirely, and I think that "Occident" would do the same if 

 his experience were like mine. Last, year I commenced using 

 a Lyman rear sight: the more I use it" the belter I like it, and 

 1 think that if "Occident" will try one of thetuiu connection 

 with almost any front sight (I prefer the Beach) he will soon 

 change his opinion about the best kind of ride sights for 

 hunting purposes, and especially for shooting moving 

 objects. 



But when aiming with a Lyman sight be sure and keep 

 both eyes open. Don't go to "peeping and squinting" with 

 one eye' shut and the other nearly so. Don't try lo"use the 

 large aperture for a peep sight, for it is not. intended to be 

 used for any such purpose; but keep both eyes open, throw 

 up your rifle, and yon will find that the eyes strike' ihe line 

 of s"ight easily and naturally. You don't, have to hunt around 

 for your front sight, then find the notch in your hind sight, 

 and' then probably take your eyes off the gun before you Van 

 see the game; but everything accessory tcTgood, quick shoot- 

 ing is naturallv presented, and the eve at once lakes in the 

 whole field. 



I now have two of the Lyman sights in use, and I prefer 

 them by far to any sight that I ever used or saw. 1 most 

 heartily agree with "Occident" when he says: "If we have 

 no eyes [one of them closed] we certainly have no need of 

 gun sights, and if we produce an aberration of vision thai 

 interferes with the organic functions of the eye by peeping 

 and squinting, we naturally have no eyes to see straight." 

 Ibok ILvMTion. 



SoMEBVlLLE, MaSS. 



BAY BIRD SHOOTING ON THE CHESA- 

 PEAKE. 



XHAYE been putting my breech-loaders, and notably my 

 Greener trap gun No. 10. to a severe test during the last 

 two weeks, for I never in my life saw so many birds, espe- 

 pecially curlew, and I have' had sport sufficient n -■it>iy 

 tbe most insatiate sportsman. As 1 have written up Cape 

 Charles for the Forest and Stream, I will not indulge in a 

 descriptive vein, but, simply copy from mv diarv r 



May 16, 1883.— Stopped at the Hygeia' Hotel, Old Point. 

 May 17. — Started for the Chesapeake shore on the steamer 

 Northampton. The wind was blowing high, the hay was 

 rough, and the passengers as a general thing yielded up 

 their breakfasts. Reached Cherrystone, a pretentious vil- 

 lage of many streets and avenues, but no bouses: hired a 

 darkey, a mule, aud an antiquated spring wagon to carry 

 me to' Ketchum's. The animal was in the last stages of 

 goneness, and I believed if the mule could cheat the buz- 

 zards I would make the trip sure. Reached Ketchum's in 

 about five hours — a little grocery and a one-horse oyster and 

 clam steamery built, on piles in the bay. Captain Kctchuin 

 is a retired merchantman sailor, grum in manner, but accom- 

 modating and kind. George Hutchings carried me over to 

 Smith Island. 



May 18.— Set the decoys on the mainland shore. Much 

 to my surprise the robin'snipe have not made their appear- 

 ance, but the curlew and caheo-back snipe are in abundance 

 and stool well. Result, forty-one birds. 



May 19.— Went with ox' cart four miles up beach of 

 Smith Island to Mud Hole, where El. Cobb, of Cobb's Island, 

 killed two hundred birds in one day last week, 1. til then 

 Cobb is a pot-hunter, and shoots for the New York market, 

 and he has the thing down tin*, his decoys are life-like and 

 numerous. Ins patience untiring and he "eau whistle every 

 bird to him for a. mile around. " Did not have Colib's luck 

 by a. long sight, the spoils only amounted to thirty-two 

 birds. No sign of the robin snipe. It, is terribly hoi', face 

 and hands scarlet and burning. 



May lft— Woke up this morning and upon going to the 

 looking-glass started back with feeling akin to the unfortu- 

 nates who gazed at the prophet of Ivohassan'S countenance 

 unveiled— skin coming off in flakes oil' face — nose, already 

 large, now of double size, cheeks puffed out, eves bloodshot, 

 hands cut and sore shoulder, bruised and black from kicking 

 of the gun. Some would not. call this fun, yet as the 

 Cockney would say, "Wat's the hodds, long as vour'e 'appy." 

 A stiff wind blowing and the birds flashing by on the 



pinions of tiie wind. Shot until evening and the score was 

 seventy-one birds, all killed singly audonlhe wing. Still 

 DO sign of the robin snipe, which' have invariably hitherto 

 stopped here on their migrations about the first of May. 

 The old inhabitants say their absence is something unheard 

 of. 



May 20. — Sunday, a day of grateful rest and case. 

 II has been the custom from time immemorial, both in 

 vers-. BOllE find story, for the enamored swain to express his 

 desire to fly to a desert isle with his fair one and live in the 

 light of liei* smile evermore. It. is a beautiful sentiment, but 

 I would recommend the love-sick youth and the bashful 

 maiden to stay for a week al Mime lighthouse, where the 

 moaning of the surf sounds a requiem in one's ears. 



May '.'1.— Again at the blinds: birds more plentiful than 

 ever. Only stayed a couple of hours. Spoils, twenty-one. 

 No sign still of 'the robin snipe. 



May 22.— It is a wonder to me that some of the votaries 

 of Ihe rod and gun do not. erect a club house on some of the 

 uninhabited islands scattered around here, where the gun 

 ning is fine, the fish plentiful, and where oue is free from 

 mosquitoes. I know of oue gem of an island in this vicinity, 



May 31.— At. the blinds at sunrise, and the like of the cur- 

 lew I never saw before. They came from every point of 

 the compass and in llocks. Such an exciting' time don't, 

 come often. 1 had shot both barrels into a whirling, quiver- 

 ing mass, and when in a frenzy of haste tried to unlock Ihe 

 barrels I found they would not open. I separated the bar- 

 rel from the stock and with a rod tried to forcooul ihe 

 shell, which was a brass No, 10 with Berdan primer. In 

 vain — the shell was stuck fast. 1 rammed and rammed until 

 the rod shivered, and one half stuck in the barrel. And 

 there I was with an empty gun, and the curlew, calico-backs, 

 black breast ami yellow-legs, fresh from their slumbers and 

 fearless, were lighting and hovering over the decoys in hun- 

 dreds. 1 have been in many situations of trying 'nature in 

 my life, but never one more aggravating and more Irving 

 There 1 sat — 1 could not do anything else— the nearest house- 

 was two miles distant, and by the time I could walk there 

 and get a ramrod the birds would lie scattered to their feed- 

 ing grounds. I became silent al last, for words were inade- 

 quate. 



Break, break, break, 



On th y odd graj stones, oh sea ; 

 And 1 would that, mytougue eould utter 

 The thoughts that arise in me. 



May 35— The fide not being exactly right, did not go 

 hunting. The greatest case on the island is George Hitch - 

 ings; he has a most exuberant fancy. The islanders say 

 that when George wants oysters he goes to a tied and tells 

 some of his colossus lies', and as he proceeds the oysters' 

 mouths open wide in astonishment aud then George helps 

 himself with a folk— and old Joe Millerism— but it shows 

 how rustic tradition hands it down. 



May 20. — Last shooting day. Killed twenty-six calico 

 backs' in about two hour?. 



Sunday, 27.— Walking along the beach this evening 

 found the robin snipe had arrived— they come all at once — ■ 

 to-morrow they will be in millions, and I have to go home 

 to-morrow. Just my luck. OhABSBUR, 



Oft the Virginia Capes, May 2S, 



FLORIDIAN EXPERIENCE. 



Editor Fori st aid Stf «»1 



"I hate the man who can travel from Dan to Beersheba 

 and cry all is barren!" So wrote Sterne a hundred years ago, 

 aud the race of grumblers is not yet extinct. We meet, them 

 in cars and steamboats, aud they utter their complaints in 

 the newspapers. Especially do (hey abound among tourists 

 returning from Florida. One elass'goes there for health and 

 amusement, and being of vacant minds, with no resources 

 within themselves, they pass through a region full of novel' 

 ties and see nothing except the poor food, the mosquitoes ami 

 the Mens. All these inconveniences arc met with in the 

 Northern States, aud many of them in European traveling- 

 hut, to hear these people talk, and to read their indignant 

 letters to the newspapers, one would suppose that fried beef- 

 steak and saleratus bread were unknown in New England 

 and the West, and that, the mosquito aud the flea were pecu- 

 liar to Florida. 



Often have we met. with these unhappy people and listened 

 to their complaints. "Florida is all a swamp." "Nothing 

 can grow in Florida, it is nothing hut sand." "I've been ail 

 over it and I know." "Where haveyou been?" I ask. "Oh, 

 I've been to Enterprise, staid one night at the Brook House; 

 theti I went up the Oelawaha, and after that to St. Augus- 

 tine. I am told it's all alike. 1 wouldn't give a hundred 

 dollars Tor a whole county." 



Then there is another class who try to pass for sportsmen. 

 They go loaded with guns, dogs and rods. They take the 

 great traveled routes and are surprised not, to flush" quail in 

 the streets of Jacksonville, that they see no deer or turkeys 

 about the Putnam House, in Palatka, except on Orvise's 

 table, or find no bears in Enterprise or Sanford, except in ihe 

 hotel office, perhaps. 



i have seen them fishing in the St. John, Black Creek and 

 bake: Munroo. Haying no boatman who knows the waterB, 

 they come home with a few eatlisb or perch, swearing that 

 (here are no fish in Florida, aud that the whole thing i^ a 

 fraud. 



The tourist w ho ha,s an eye for natural scenery, or who 

 has a special pursuit among the sciences, will always find 

 matters of interest in every land; and the real sportsman. 

 who knows where to look lor game and fish, and bow to kill 

 il when found. Who goes into the wilderness properly 

 equipped willi guides, or to the remote lakes and rivers, or t'o 

 the seashore willi skillful boatmen, will find sport in Florida, 

 and that of the best. But neither Norl h or South will every 

 day bring success. No one but the creature known as the 

 "trout hog" expects or wishes to commit constant slaughter. 



S. 0. 0. 



Marietta, Ga. 



Fditor Forest ami Stream: 



I see in your issue of May 21 a letter on sport in Florida. 

 Having spent this year some weeks wandering there in 

 Maxell ami April, I am able to corroborate much that 

 "Didymus" says with regard to the badness of the general 

 run of the Flofidian hotels, and I think most people who 

 visit. Florida for winged game shooting arc likely to be more 

 or less disappointed; but on the other hand 1 think he is too 

 sweeping in his condemnation of Ihe sport to be foil nd there, 



The greater part, of the Gulf Coast, is still almost a terra 



■"''< to the sportsman ami the tourist, and to anyone 



who does not mind a moderate amount of roughing it, and 



