188 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



a shallow box, wide enough to hold them when laid side by- 

 side, and two or three inches longer than the longest. 

 There is always some spare room in the house where this 

 case could be laid alone; the surbase and not be in the way 

 or seem unsightly. As regards tackle, all lines should be 

 reeled off and stretched from one end of the garden to 

 another on some bright and sunny morning, and left an 

 hour in the air to dry. They should then be over -run 

 lightly with a bit of woollen cloth or chamois to remove 

 any taint of mildew, sand, sea salt, or other extraneous 

 matter, and then be wound upon the reel not too tightly and 

 put away with the reel nicely cleaned. If frayed portions 

 are discovered they should be condemned, and the good parts 

 kept for miscellaneous uses, which will be found frequent 

 enough. Withrespec! to leaders, flies, ground tackle, &c, it 

 is admissible to defer immediate attention until some fine 

 evening when a cheerful blaze and indoor comforts are 

 heightened by the blustering weather without, and then 

 with his stock spread out upon the sitting room table, one 

 can summon the aid of the litt'e folks to assort the several 

 varieties. What a wealth of curiosities will be opened to 

 their wondering eyes ! How many interested questions they 

 will ask, and how much impracticable knowledge of 

 entomology they will acquire, keeping themselves awake 

 till long past regulation hours for "little folks to go to 

 bed!" As in the case of lines, all worn and imperfect flies, 

 all frayed leaders, and half broken gut lengths, should be 

 rejected as past service, for the great desideratum with a 

 careful angler is to keep his gear in as perfect condition as 

 possible, that at no time he may be aggravated through neg- 

 ligence by an untoward loss. Bait boxes and creels should 

 be thoroughly cleansed with warm soda water, and when 

 dried it is well to sprinkle them with a little carbolic acid, 

 or a wash of carbolic soap can be used. Never keep your 

 fishing and shooting gear in the same drawer or chest. 

 Have a place for every thing and keep every thing in its 

 place, and when the spring time comes you will be happy 

 and prepared for work. 



— We learn of a string of 18 speckled trout being taken 

 in the Nepigon a week ago Tuesday, which weighed 5? 

 pounds, over three pounds average! They were captured 

 for scientific purposes, and were on exhibition two days 

 ago at Andrew Clerk's, Maiden Lane. The largest weighed 

 5| pounds. This string, for average, rather takes the rag 

 off the Rangely samples, away down east in Maine. 



— Some lively specimens of California salmon, Balmo 

 quinnet, are on exhibition at Andrew Clerk's fish pond, 

 Maiden Lane. They were hatched by Dr. Slack from eggs 

 obLained by the Government. There is also at the same 

 place a capital painting of trout by that clever artist, Win, 

 Holberton, which best critics say possesses unusual meat, 



— One of our friends wishes us to state that a ten pound 

 salmon was caught in a shad net last summer at the State 

 dam, near Troy. 



— We don't intend to meddle with avery-body's business, 

 but wish merely to remark that Mr. M. T. Avery, of 

 Chicago, burned or buried four hundred pounds of speckled 

 trout that he caught and couldn't use, while on a visit to 

 the Nepigon river, Lake Superior, last August! We have 

 this from authority which, unfortunately for Mr. A., is 

 reliable. 



— A Maine correspondent writes from Piscataquis county: 



The railroad now building to Mooseliead lake will bring that sheet of 

 water, forty miles in length by five to twenty in width, within an hour's 

 ride of Piscataquis, a pleasant summer resort. 



The Commissioners of Fisheries for Maine, aided by the Commission- 

 ers of Massachusetts and Prof. Baird of the United States Commission, 

 selected a beautiful lake within four miles of us for the artificial ponds 

 and hatching houses which have been already completed near the mouth 

 of some of the beautiful mountain streams that come tumbling along to 

 form this lake, which is twelve miles in length by one to seven m width. 

 Some thousands of dollars are being invested here that the beautiful 

 land-locked salmon may be largely increased in New England. These 

 beauties are now caught in this sheet of water in large numbers, weigh- 

 ing from one to three pounds. There are also some of the finest pickerel 

 of the American continent, while a couple of miles only north, a small 

 pond contains lake trout. 



The speckled brook trout are truly at home in northern Maine, one 

 half to two pounds in weight. Many "strings" of ten to tweuty in num- 

 ber were brought to the hotels at Greenville, Moosehead Lake, from Wil- 

 son's pond, last summer. 



New Lisbon, Ohio, October 20, 1873. 

 EditokFokest .and Stream:— 



Noticing an article in your paper of October 9th in relation to fly fish- 

 ing for black bass, signed "Kirby,^ induced me to give my opinion in the 

 matter. My experience is similar to that of "Kirby's," and I have con- 

 cluded that black bass will not rise for a fly, no matter how carefully 

 thrown or what fly is used. I have thrown into a school without dis- 

 turbing them, and immediately gave them a minnow when the whole 

 school would rush for it. In a conversation with a friend of mine who is 

 an old hand with the rod, he says he has tried the fly and never saw a 

 black bass rise to a fly. The bass fishing is good with us at present, al- 

 though two pounds is the average weight. I succeeded in fooling 

 thirty-eight the last two times I was out. Quail shooting was never as 

 good in this section as now, thanks to the game law, and the example of 

 the better class of our hunters. While oat on a business trip a day or 

 two since with my friend Bob S., we took a couple of hours with the 

 "rod and gun," and returned with squirrels, quails, pheasants, plover, 

 black bass and perch. If we had devoted the day to sport, no doubt we 

 would have had something to write about, We have not commenced 

 onr "sport" yet, but. expect to bag a few before Christmas. The Forest 

 and Stream ' as many admirers in this section, and we hope for con- 

 tinued prosperity in your undertaking. Yours. • II . W. B. 



— The Tribune correspondent, who accompanied the 

 Hay-den Expedition, writes thus glowingly of the first trout 

 found in Colorado: "In the Eagle river we find at last 

 the trout, long promised and long sought in vain— great, 

 splendid fellows, with red lines on gill and fins, averaging 

 a pound apiece or near it, and rising to two pounds. We 

 are ill-provisioned with tackle that will pull out those stil 

 larger, all ready, too, to snap at the enticing bait. The 

 day we turned to go up the mountain flank, four of the 

 party stayed behind a few hours to fish, and came into 



camp at evening with a hundred pounds (deduct, if you 

 choose, a quarter for the usual over-estimate of fishermen). 

 The biggest of those caught the day before had been an in 

 teresting entomological collector, a considerable variety of 

 insects being found in his maw ; but his predilection was 

 grasshoppers, of which he contained nearly thirty undi- 

 gested, beside apparently twice as many no longer distin- 

 guishable as individuals. The value of trout as repressors 

 of the plague of grasshoppers has perhaps not been proper- 

 ly appreciated, we shall have them by and by protected by 

 act of the Territorial Legislature. This afternoon we have 

 about 50 pounds more. 



GAME IN SEASON FOR NOVEMBER. 



Moose, Alces Malchis.) 

 Elk or Wapiti, C'ervus Canadensis.) 

 Babbits, common Brown and Grey.) 

 Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo.) 

 Woodcock, Scolopax ruklicola,.) 

 Buffed Grouse, Tetrao umbellus,) 



Caribou, Tarandus Bangifer.) 

 Bed Deer, Carious Yirginianus.) 

 Squirrels, Bed Black and Gray.) 

 Quail, Optyx Virginiana.) 

 Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido.) 

 Pigeons, and all kindsof Wild Fowl 



[Under the head of " Game, and Fisn in Season" we can only specify in 

 general terms tlie several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 

 that were we to attempt to particularize we could do no less than publish 

 those entire sections that relate to the kinds of game in question. This 

 would require a great amount of our space, 'in designating gams we are 

 guided by the laws of nature, upon which all legislation is founded., and 

 our readers would do well to 'provide themselves' with the laws of their re- 

 spective State* for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist them, 

 will only create confusion.] 



A — We have made most thorough inquiry, through circu- 

 lars sent all over the country, for vital statistics concerning 

 the common red deer, and gather the gratifying informa 

 tion that the country at large shows a decided increase in 

 their number over the previous year. This is especially 

 true of the Cumberland Range and of the Lower Raquette 

 river, Adirondacks. In the vicinity of Winchester,- Va., 

 deer seem to be unusually numerous. " If we could find fig- 

 ures upon which to base a comparative estimate of the rel- 

 ative loss and gain in other years, the statement would be 

 valuable. As it is deer actually seem to be increasing, 

 no doubt due to an observance of the close season and a 

 general disposition to be sportsmanlike in the mode of cap- 

 turing the animals. Justin Roe, of Patchogue, Long 

 Island, informs us that fifteen deer were killed near Islip in 

 one week. Old settlers did not suppose there were so many 

 deer on the whole Island. From all indications the num- 

 ber is very considerable, and the "sign" abundant. But 

 isn't it deplorable to slaughter these creatures by the whole- 

 sale? If it were possible to forbid the killing of more than 

 one deer at a time, whether to a single gun or to a party of 

 half a dozen, it would be very proper to do so To be able 

 to claim a single Long Island trophy is something to be 

 proud of, while it is most important to maintain a shooting 

 presence so accessible to New York as this is. It is a most 

 short-sighted folly to glut one's self with venison for the mere 

 sake of counting coups. We respectfully commend this 

 matter to the attention of some gentlemen of the South Side 

 Club, and give no offence in doing so, we hope. 

 — As to general habits of sportsmen in quest of game of any 

 kind, they make the mistake of hunting too much. Moving 

 about through the woods has the effect to scare the game 

 away! and in consequence a man may often cover a large 

 tract of good ground and see absolutely nothing. The less 

 "hunting" ihe more game usually. A dozen squirrels can 

 be shot from the same stand oftentimes, if one will only be 

 content to remain quiet. Tn deerstalking, too, it is not 

 necessary for a hunter to run the animal to earth as he 

 would a fox. Let him but stand still as soon as he discov- 

 ers the deer and perceives that he is discovered in turn, and 

 the df er, if not much frightened, will not run far. After 

 she breaks cover she will make a few wild leaps and then 

 stop and turn to ascertain the cause and character of the 

 alarm. She will not run far if not followed, and will re- 

 main in the vicinity until her curiosity is satisfied. There 

 is a natural inquisitiveness about animals. They don't be- 

 come frightened as much through the sense of sight as 

 through the senses of smell or hearing — particularly the 

 first. The antelope of the plains is notoriously attracted by 

 anything red, and the moose is especially distinguished for 

 his curiosity. The moose is much more easily killed than 

 the deer. If he has your wind you may follow him till 

 doomsday and save your powder. But if you remain 

 quiet — perhaps it may be for hours — 'nevertheless the moose 

 will not rest until he has made his detour and come around 

 to satisfy his curiosity. We have known an old hunter on 

 one occasion to follow a moose three times over Ms own trail, 

 having stalked him so cautiously as merely to interrupt his 

 occasional attempts to browse. His route w r as almost a 

 circle. 



Naturalists are the most successful hunters, for in their 

 search for information it becomes necessary to lie perdu 

 for hours, in order to pursue their investigations of the hab- 

 its of the animals and- birds they study. That which is to 

 be most guarded against is giving the animals your scent. 

 It is all important to hunt up wind. 



The first light snow of the season gives the hunter a great 

 advantage over the game, and in the case of caribou one 

 has only to dress in white clothes to approach to close 

 range and ensure his success; and the same is true of grouse 

 and rabbits, both of which are readily tracked. 



— Although the woodchuck can scarce be called game, 

 yet the sportsman who is fond of rifle shooting can do the 

 farmer a good service by knocking over these pests as they 

 sit at the entrances of theii burrows. They are very fat at 

 his season, for they are about to retire to the depths of 

 ttheir holes, where they remain all winter; they are there- 



fore not bad eating, but*the peculiar glands which lie un- 

 der the fore legs must be carefully removed before cooking, 

 else they impart a disagreeable, rank flavor to the flesh, 

 which otherwise is as dellicate as that of the rabbit. The 

 woodchuck is one among a few r of our mammals which hi- 

 bernate. The long-tailed jumping mouse {Jacidus Hudson- 

 uses) is the smallest species that passes the winter in this 

 way. C. J. Maynard, the naturalist, writes: "I have 

 taken this little animal during the cold season from a nest 

 which was buried in the ground to the depth of five or six 

 feet. I found it perfectly dormant. Circulation was ap- 

 parently suspended and the mouse did not seem to breathe, 

 but when placed near a fire it recovered, becoming quite 

 lively; then, when removed to a cold spot, it almost imme- 

 diately returned to its previous condition. If again brought 

 to the warmth the effect was as before, but the little crea- 

 ture was uneasy and invariably sought some cold spot, 

 where it crept beneath some article of clothiugand returned 

 to its state of lethargy. 



The common striped squirrel also remains beneath the 

 surface of the earth all winter, but I do not think they be- 

 come dormant, or at least do not remain so for all that time, 

 for they lay by a large supply of food in autumn, in antici- 

 pation of the coming cold season. Bears are the largest 

 animals which hibernate." 



— The Germantown Telegraph says: — • 



"We have the most remarkable rail-shooting to report 

 that has ever occurred. It happened at Port-Penn on the 

 Delaware, two weeks or so ago. A party of sportsmen 

 from this city, with ten guns, bagged in two tides three 

 thousand six hundred birds! The marsh was literally alive 

 with them. They rose in flocks and were slaughtered by 

 wholesale. One gentleman, not of this party, on the same 

 day shot nine without moving his boat, running on the 

 broken down reeds., and they could be seen on all sides as 

 thick as blackberries." 



— Robert Sixbury died on the 22d inst., at the house of 

 his son, Isaac Sixbury, in the town of Le Ro3 r , Jefferson 

 county, N. Y., at the age of 110 years and 7 months. Mr. 

 Sixbury had acquired great reputation as a hunter on John 

 Brown's Tract in Northern New York, where he had slain 

 over 2,200 deer. 



— Mr. Louis A. Leland, of St. Joseph's county, Michigan, 

 has just sent 150 wood ducks to Europe. These beautiful 

 fowls are very abundant in that section, Mr. Leland having 

 netted as many as 800 in a single season. 



— The Baltimore American, speaking of a collection of 

 guns in a store in that city, says: — "Two of these are 

 unique affairs, brought home recently by our worthy citi- 

 zen, Mr. T. II. Oliver, who spent twelve years traveling in 

 all parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are of great 

 length, and of the most antique construction. One of them 

 has a barrel five feet long, made of the finest steel, curi- 

 ously carved and inlaid with gold and platina. The inlay- 

 ing is elaborately and beautifully done. The stock of this 

 gun is of ebony, inlaid with silver, pearl, and ivory. The 

 flint lock, of antique pattern, with springs and works all 

 outside the plate, is finely inlaid with platina. The barrel 

 and stock are bound with six silver bands, and all the 

 mountings are silver or gold. The stock is affixed to a 

 but plate of ivory, very handsomely inlaid. The bore of 

 the gun is five-eighths of an inch. On its side is an ele- 

 gantly written Arabic inscription that nobody has yet been 

 able to decipher. The gun was made in Morocco, where 

 there are twenty-five gun-makers, who, with the crudest 

 implements, turn out guns that have great reputation in all 

 Northern Africa. Such a gun as this one brought home by 

 Mr. Oliver as a curiosity could not be had in this country 

 for less than $1,000. The other of the two guns that he 

 brought home was made in Algiers, has a similarly im- 

 mensely long barrel, flint-lock inlaid with platina, an ivory 

 and steel but-plate, and a stock inlaid with silver and 

 coral. This gun is not so fine as the other, but is very 

 curious." 



— That popular and brilliant Canadian author J. M. 

 Le Moine, tells us in his "Maple Leaves" of shooting in 

 Canada, writing thus pleasantly : 



" What clouds of sand pipers, curlew and plover, Sep- 

 tember brings forth from their breeding places, in the bar- 

 ren wilds of Labrador, the secluded lakes and solitary 

 islands of the north, up to the frozen ocean! Look at that 

 dense vapor hovering over that long sand bar, La Batture 

 aux Aloitettes, a breast of Tadousac. From afar, you might 

 take it for a cloud of hail or rain; but wait a minute, until 

 the sun's rays light up the picture. Now, see the snowy 

 breast of myriads of chubby little northern strangers, the 

 ring plovers; look out for them as they settle by thousands, 

 on the sand; now is your time. Enfilade their serried 

 ranks, fire low; ban°'! One shot suffices, you have one 

 hundred victims; to fire again would only cause unneces- 

 sary carnage. Father Point, lower down than Rimouski, 

 during strong easterly winds, affords capital sport. Canada 

 geese, Brent geese and ducks are perpetually hovering over 

 the extreme end of the point: the fowler carefully con- 

 cealed, pours a deadly volley into the flock, and his faith- 

 ful Newfoundland dog springs into the surf and fetches out 

 the dead and wounded birds. You can either continue to 

 beat the shore or cross over with us to Seal liocks, opposite 

 the Traverse, a delightful small game preserve, so bounti- 

 fully stocked with ducks, teal and plover, that a club of 

 chasseurs of St. Jean Port Joly have leased it from govern- 

 ment, A rare thing in Canada for natives to pay for the 

 privilege to shoot game; it is so plentiful everywhere. We 

 are now at Crane Island. Quadium mutata ab ilia! Night 

 shooting has effectually scared the ducks from their resting 

 places. Of swans, Lord Dalhousie seems to have had the 

 last. As to cranes, two only have been seen of late years. 

 This wary stilted stranger, Gruem advenam, can only be an 

 accidental visitor, as its range is considerably more to the 

 west. How often have we seen its solitary figure looming 

 up at low tide, far beyond the range of a gun? Where is 



