360 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



in one particular box a miniature tobacco shop." A luxu- 

 rious menu this. And the hunting done by Mr. M., the 

 Captain, Max, and Tripp was something to astonish our 

 powder-burners down East. Luke says, "By sunrise one 

 morning we were bringing d#wn the prairie chickens at 

 the rate of about a hundred an hour; after indulging in 

 this sport in the farmer's new cut rye fields for about two 

 hours, we drove around over the prairie and picked up 

 scattering ones. That afternoon the Captain and Max 

 drove out from Fremont and the next day we had glorious 

 sport. Just imagine four hunters in a line, following six 

 dogs down a hundred acre rye stubble; first one dog would 

 point and then another,, keeping all hands tolerable busy 

 until we got through. The next morning we all started to 

 town, as Mr. M. expected some friends from town, and 

 also wanted to express about fivo hundred chickens to some 

 other friends there." 



— In our last issue, in the review of the scores at Creed- 

 moor, we made the following errors. Dr. Anderson of the 

 4th N. J. used a Ward Burton rifle, and Lieutenant Smoot 

 in the fourth match made in seventeen shots, thirteen hits. 

 In our next number will be found a continuation of the 

 scores of the various matches at Creedmoor, taken from 

 official sources. 



—Dr. George F. Hawley and Mr. W. W. Hunt, of Hart- 

 ford, Conn., while at Great South Bay on the 9th and 10th 

 inst., killed thirty-nine (39) ducks and one goose, the latter 

 being killed with a seven pound breech-loader at ten rods; 

 all shot over stools. 



—Here are some valuable instructions about the use of 

 firearms, which we copy from a letter written by a promi- 

 nent member of the New York Slate Sportsmen's Associa- 

 tion, on the occasion of his making a lad a present of a gun. 

 Some of the points will not apply to muzzle-loading arms, 

 as the one in question was a breech-loading double barrelled 

 fowling piece. It would be well for all sportsmen, old 

 as well as young, to study these directions carefully. We 

 give the letter in full, omitting names and dates only: 



My Dear Nephew: Yesterday I sent the gun so long 

 promised, and I hope you will obtain from it all the pleas- 

 ure anticipated. But to have any lasting enjoyment you 

 must use it with exceeding care. 



First— Never in excitement nor in fun point it towards 

 any human being. «-,.', 



Second— Never carry it so that if accidentally discharged 

 it would endanger the 'life of a dog even. 



Third— Always think, when walking, which way your 

 gun is pointed, and if a companion is in the field with you, 

 no matter how near and how temptingly the game appears, 

 do not shoot until you know just where he is, and that a 

 stray shot may not possibly strike him, for one little pellet 

 is sufficient to destroy an eye forever 



Fourth — Never get in a wagon without taking the car- 

 tridges from the gun. 



Fifth—Never get over a fence without either taking the 

 cnrtrido-es out, or placing the gun through the fence on the 

 ground^ so that if you fall or the fence breaks it cannot be 

 discharged. 



Sixth— Always carry the gun at half cock. 



Seventh— Never let the hammers rest on the 'plungers," 

 or pieces which strike the cap. 



Eighth— Never try to close it when the hammers are 



down. „ . ,, TC 



Ninth— Never get in front of it yourself. If you see you 

 are about to fall, drop the gun so the muzzle will be from 

 vou Occasionally a cartridge will stick after it has been 

 fired A stout thin blade of knife will generally extract it, 

 if not remove the other cartridge, and then cut a straight 

 stick and poke it out from the muzzle, but even then don t 

 place your body in front of it, but content yourself with 

 using "the hand. , 



Tenth— After firing one barrel, take the cartridge from the 

 other and examine the wad over the shot to see that it is 

 not loosened by the concussion as it very frequently is, 

 which would produce a heavy recoil, and if it gets up the 

 barrel, will burst the gun and likely take a hand off be- 



SK E 3 f even th— Never take hold of the muzzle to draw it 

 toward you, nor set it up, when, if falling its muzzle would 



be Fi > nanv follow all these suggestions and be self-possessed 

 and the fields will afford you sport without danger, and I 

 hope without temptation. 



—Mr Chas. Pickering, of Toronto, has won the cham- 

 pionship for pigeon shooting from Mr. Miller, of Markham, 

 who held it through seven consecutive seasons. 



—Shooting snipe at Rochester within the city limits is 

 thus described by an old sportsman : 



Rochester is a favored spot. The other day I had the 

 trood fortune to secure a bag of game within two miles of 

 the court house that one need not be ashamed to admit he 

 had traveled a dozen miles for. This was how it happened. 

 Some boys returning home from chestnutting, in passing 

 throuffh a certain field, were somewhat startled by the sud- 

 den flight of a dozen or more birds from under their feet as 

 thev iumped over a fence in a wet spot. The boys related 

 the occurrence to your humble servant and told him that 

 the birds arose with a whistle and had "awful long bills." 

 This was enough, and hastily gathering the necessary ac- 

 coutrements in fifteen minutes we were on the ground and 

 advancing into a bit of marsh, were greeted with the inimi- 

 table cry of a Wilson's snipe that rose like a phantom, and 

 went zigzagging up wind; he was stopped within twenty- 

 five vards and bagged. On reloading, not twopaces were 

 taken before a brace rose together. One scooting directly 



toward a horse that was grazing near by, balked us of a 

 shot The other turning to the left was toppled over, and 

 t ranstaed from a potato hill to our game bag. The next 

 ahot was a clear miss, but it was the last that day, for with 

 unusual good fortune we continued the sport until nine 

 nlumo and lively snipe were within the meshes of our game 

 baa: As we were shooting without a dog, two or three 

 birds that rose out of distance could not be found and were 

 left as "nest eggs;" but as nine birds out of ten shots was 

 not bad for four hour's shooting— in a city— I homeward 

 trod my way, doubting that there are many cities of 70,000 

 inhabitants, where a sportsman could fulfill the injunction, 

 "go thou and do likewise." Wad. 



— It is estimated that from two to four hundred men are 

 encamped along the line of the St. Paul and Pacific Branch 

 Railroad, Minnesota, engaged in killing deer for market. 

 One man is said to have slain fifty in a month, by lurking 

 in runways, and shooting the animals when they came to 

 drink. The same slaughter is going on along the lines of 

 other western roads. 



Brainerd, Minn., Dec. 3, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



A four years' experience in the forests and on the streams 

 of central-northern Minnesota, would not be exchanged by 

 me for the best opportunities for game animals and fish, on 

 any "stamping ground" in the eastern and middle States. 



My first experience with large game was in Wright 

 County, this State, in the fall of 1869, in bringing down a 

 buck, weighing not less than 300 lbs. on the hoof. On this 

 occasion I used a Wesson breech loading rifle, weighing 

 about 5i lbs; and with it I have killed since then forty-four 

 deer. 



I must tell you something about this first experience; it 

 may recall to the memory of many of your readers similar 

 experiences, which, I am» assured, are very agreeable to re- 

 member. 



Some days previous, and on two other occasions, I had 

 seen this buck on a "dry marsh," near where I was living, 

 and had obtained one good shot at his head and missed. I 

 naturally felt sensitive over this poor luck, and was deter- 

 mined to try again and again, if necessary, until victory 

 should crown my efforts. With this determination I set 

 out one afternoon, about 5 o'clock, p. m., as I was then 

 certain of catching Mr. B. feeding. Sure enough, on ap- 

 proaching the small marsh, which he frequented to dry his 

 horns and feed, I discovered him, and he at the same in- 

 stant discovered me, and left before I could bring my piece 

 to bear. I followed along in the direction he took, some 

 400 yards, and looking back across my left shoulder, dis- 

 covered Mr. B. quietly watching me at a distance of per- 

 haps 75 yards.* I drew a bead on the foreshoulders of the 

 buck and fired, planting a bail in the center of his forehead 

 equidistant between the eyes, unnerving him so quickly 

 that when I came up to where he lay — and I made the best 

 time of any known record of a 75 vards' run — not a muscle 

 contracted indicative that animation had ever occupied that 

 frame. But wasn't he a beauty! Splendid, grand, superb, 

 even in death! And what a shot! My heart wasn't lively 

 much either, I reckon. I did not say much — when for 

 days afterwards old hunters praised me for that evident 

 coolness which directed a ball to that head! I could not 

 help saying my nerves "were steady" at the time; it flattered 

 my vanity. But the fact was, there was not time enough 

 between what otherwise might have been called throbs to 

 separate them. It was one powerful concentration of mus- 

 cular force knocking the wind out of me from within. I 

 remember now distinctly that I did not breathe for about 

 four minutes. I began to realize that something was 

 wrong, and upon strict examination found that I was 

 trembling all over. Every muscle in my body twitched 

 and jerked as if some invisible spirits had each selected 

 some particular muscle, and were desirous of discovering 

 just how much tremendous forces combined might disturb 

 my system. I fairly shook in my boots. Perspiration ran 

 down my face in streams. Still I was not hurt, not fright- 

 ened, no necessarily exciting cause to produce such a sen- 

 sation. Nothing but a huge gigantic buck, lying there in 

 his blue coat and splendid proportions, round and trim, 

 and clean cut as the sculptor's model, with lofty antlers 

 that proved him to be the "monarch of the forest," lying- 

 there in his holiday attire. It required some six minutes of 

 time and much effort to realize this fact. I then com- 

 menced to survey the prize. His saddles were full, plump 

 and rounded. Hair short and smooth. He carried five 

 points on his antlers, and his limbs were sleek as those of 

 the " Greek Slave" and just as pretty. He was a beauty! 

 Many old hunters claimed they had spent day after day in 

 trying to get this same identical animal. Had grown 

 hungry and cold on his "runway," but he had dodged 

 them all. Some of them felt a little envious for a time ; 

 others hinted that they should uot have worried about it so 

 much, but to have a "greeny" from the east come out and 

 gobble their best piece of venison, was too bad. However, 

 I talked knowingly of long shots, and good sights, and the 

 best breech-loaders, and became reinstated in their good 

 graces, and have had many a "long talk" over the incidents 

 of a days' hunt since then, wherein I have been recognized 

 as "one on 'em" and entitled to rank as an energetic 

 sportsman, a No. 1, "deer shot" and to enjoy the privileges 

 of an old hunter. 



But the "buck fever" I did have, bad, too, on this first 

 experience. That I have had it since then, slightly, it is 

 unnecessary to admit here, though I may be induced to give 

 your readers some further recitals of experiences in this 

 northeastern country in which the fact may more fully ap- 

 pear. Bedford. 



[*This letter confirms what we have said in a previous 

 number of this paper, that game is often lost by too much 

 hunting. If men would only have patience to wait, the 

 game will come round to them\ for deer, and caribou es- 

 pecially, have just as much curiosity as the hunter, and 

 perhaps more. How often the persistent enthusiast has 

 been traveling a circle in pursuit of the deer which is per- 

 haps following his tracks not far behind.— Ed.] 



The Amateur Pigeon Shooting Tournament, open to 



all comers, which was begun at Toronto, Canada, on De- 

 cember 2d, was concluded on the 9th. There were 105 en- 

 tries, distributed in twelve squads, each man allowed 

 twenty-one rounds. Mr. Dalton, of Hamilton, won the 



first prize, which was $300 and a gold medal, having shot 

 20 birds out of 21. Haskell, of Detroit, killed nineteen 

 birds. 



— The international match which was commenced on 

 Friday, between twelve Americans and twelve Canadians, 

 for a purse of $240, ten birds each, with the same rules as 

 those governing the tournament, was brought to a close on 

 Saturday, and after a close and exciting contest resulted in 

 favor of the Canadians by three birds. The following was 

 the score: 



UNITED STATES. 



Haskell, Detroit 1111011111- 9 



Stanton, Detroit 11011 11100- 7 



Henderson, Detroit. . .1111111010- 8 



Long, Detroit 1111111011- 9 



Fulton, Niagara Falls. 1010110010- 5 



Eldridge. Detroit lOllllOni- 7 



Fisher, Detroit 0111101111- 8 



Dubois, Detroit 1010001110- 5 



Cole, Detroit ,. . .0101111111- 9 



Feat, Toledo 1111111111-10 



Smith, Burialo 1101111111- 9 



Littleton, Detroit 1110101111- 8 



Grand Total 94 Grand Total 



CANADA. 



McElroy, Perth OlllllOlll- 8 



Drake, London 1111111010- 8 



Moore, Clinton llllllllii-lO 



G. Smith, Toronto 1111111010- 8 



Rennardson, Toronto. .1100111111- 8 



Taylor, Toronto 1001111101- 7 



Pike, Chatham 1111011010- 8 



Stroud, Hamilton 1110101111- 8 



Rogers, St. Catharines. 1110010011- 6 



Thomson, Toronto 1111011111- 9 



Binkley. Hamilton 1111111111-10 



Chapman, Toronto 0011110111- 7 



3? 



§tnchting and Ranting. 



— ♦ 



All communications from Secretaries and friends should be mailed not 

 later than Mofiday in each week. 



HIGH WATER, FOR THE WEEK 





DATE. 



BOSTON. 



NEW YORK. 



| CHAEL'ST'N 





h. m. 



h. m. 



h. m. 



Dec. 18 



10 43 



7 27 



6 48 



Dec. 19 



11 31 



8 13 



1 7 31 



Dec. 20 



morn . 



9 8 



8 21 



Dec. 21 



21 



10 



9 14 



Dec. 22 



1 14 



10 48 



10 6 



Dec. 23 



2 6 



11 40 



1 10 A 



Dec. 24 



2 56 



morn. 



I -11 «j 



YACHTING REMINISCENCES. 



THE YACHT META AND HER RACE WITH THE VISION. 



A SIMPLE description of the race between these two 

 celebrated yachts for the cup valued at $500 might 

 hardly be called a yachting reminiscence, but rather a de- 

 scription of^a sporting event. I propose to review some of 

 the main points of the event, and to give some of the ex- 

 periences of her crew during those five trying days when 

 her sea-going qualiUes, the bravery and pluck of her gallant 

 crew, and the persistence of her owner to do or sink in the 

 effort, were so well tried. The race has been run, although 

 the owners of the Yision seem unwilling to admit the fact; 

 but I propose to give my humble opinion why I assume 

 that it has been not only run but won by the Meta. 



The decision of the referee, Commodore Whitney, has 

 not yet been received, (13th,) but will probably be given 

 this week; as soon as it is known it will be handed to you. 

 I may say this, however, that with the points submitted to 

 him and the claim in writing made by the Meta party, I 

 cannot see how he can fail to decide but one way, and 

 that in favor of the Meta, and I say this with full and 

 yachtmanlike deference to the owner of the Vision, his 

 splendid yacht, and his gallant struggles for victory. 



Let us ; look at some of the main points in the race. In 

 full accordance with the terms of the agreement, the yachts 

 were started by the judges for the struggle. The articles 

 of agreement made no time limitation binding, and there 

 were no restrictions as to anchoring. They simply, when 

 once started, had to sail a certain distance and back to the 

 starting point. 



Let us follow them a little, or rather one of them, for 

 after going a short distance the Yision turned back. 



Being started by the judges at 11,52, Monday, October 

 6, they had fair weather to Long Branch. At 1 P. M. the 

 judges hailed them and bid them go back— the wind being 

 SSE., it was a beat to windward down the coast. After a 

 few tacks, the Yision put about and went back. Commo- 

 dore Beling said to the judges that the race had commenced 

 and that he was going on over the course. The judges' 

 boat then turned and went on and turned back and came 

 alongside the Meta. Mr. Krebs, the judge for the Vision, 

 said that she would go back to New York on account of 

 bad weather, and that he would claim no race. Mr. Dil- 

 lon, the Meta's judge, said go on. As an evidence of the 

 stiffness of the Meta, an' occurrence during that interview 

 may be cited. While those on the judges' steamer were 

 hanging on to the rails for dear life, being the only means 

 of standing up in that heavy sea, Commodore Beling and 

 some friends stood up, aft the traveler, hanging on to noth- 

 ing except a good cup of coffee, (nothing stronger, 'pon hon- 

 or,) and stood as easily and securely as possible, the Meta 

 gently and gracefully rising and falling with each succes- . 

 sive wave, riding like a duck. The judges' boat then 

 started off in the direction of the race; and the Meta party 

 supposing there had been an agreement, kept on. 



After going about four miles, the steamer again turned 

 and put back for New York. On passing the Meia, Mr. 

 Diilon waved his hand for them to go on. At 3 P. M. the Mela 

 arrived at the point for turning, and now things began to get 

 lively; just at this point a heavy squall struck them frcm 

 SE., as if they had not enough already, and they had to 

 shorten sail;"with a heavy sea running, they got in the j;b; 

 in trying to get down the sail, the topping lift caught the 

 peak-halliard block. The only resource now was to wear 

 ship, a dangerous experiment in such a sea and wind, but 

 they tried it, watching the result, we can well imagine, 

 with great anxiety. There, she goes like lightning on the 

 other side, and, whack, goes the boom, broken off like a 

 pipe stem. Now it was neck or nothing, and they set about 

 to save themselves. They could not go back now if forty 

 judges*said go back. Clear the wreck was the order, and 



