FOREST AND STREAM. 



315 



species differing from either that or the Michigan variety, 

 as it is reported as attaining 5 lb&. weight; or it may pos- 

 sibly be the fish abounding in the upper waters of the Saug- 

 enay, "the Winnemish." "Notes." 



— Here is rather a novel fish story from a Canadian cor- 

 respondent. By the way, do not the narratives of our Kan- 

 nuck friends show that they are rather more advanced in the 

 matter of "roughing it in the bush" than we of "the States" 

 are? 



" I was living at Fredericton in the summer of '59, 

 and often strolling on the banks of the noble river on which 

 that picturesque little town is situated, I observed large 

 fish, that, on enquiry, turned out to be 'sturgeon,' leaping 

 at intervals high out of the water. It was a common pas- 

 time, I was told, on the part of the fish, to do this, and I 

 became smitten with the insane idea, that, to capture one 

 of these by harpooning him in some manner, I should be 

 happy for the remainder of my natural life. After due re- 

 flection, I resolved to make the attempt, aud I therefore 

 consulted an Indian as to the pleasure of his society on the 

 projected trip. Great preparations were made at least a 

 week beforehand; an iron spear fitted to a pole, with a line 

 attached, was got ready; torches of birch bark, some grub 

 and a flask of eau de vie, were stowed away in the canoe, 

 and one beautiful summer afternoon, or rather evening, we 

 embarked in our 'birchen craft' and began our journey. I 

 must rest awile here to say I was not altogether ignorant of 

 the management of one of these specimens of 'Milicete' 

 naval architecture; in fact, I consideied myself a most per- 

 fect 'Indian' in paddling, poling up stream, standing up- 

 right, and other accomplishments for which the Aboriginal 

 is celebrated, and for which, it may be, I am not. I say it 

 may be, because I have heard remarks the reverse of flat- 

 tering concerning my performances in this specimen of 

 acrobatic absurdity, and there is perhaps a possibility 

 that the persons who made them knew what they were 

 talking about. 



- Having stated this, I will proceed. We wended our way 

 slowly and quietly along the shore until we reached 'the 

 Islands' around which we hoped to meet our giant prey. 

 On our arrival there, tea and tobacco, those staple articles 

 of the grocer's stock, were discussed, and, Wellington-like, 

 we prayed for darkness. When night had cast her sable 

 mantle round, (I am afraid, though, that's not original; be- 

 sides, I shall break down if I attempt being 'flowery,') we 

 lighted our torches and proceeded to search the rapids. 

 Hour after hour passed with no result; still, we persevered. 

 Torch after torch we burnt, with no sturgeon in sight, and 

 'I had almost resolved to give up in despair, when beneath 

 me, in a deep hole, I saw unmistakably a huge monster. 

 'Round with the canoe! give me another torch,' I excitedly 

 yelled at my companion, and quickly lighting it and plac- 

 ing it in the bow, I poled back to the spot; and with a vig- 

 orous thrust of might and main, I drove deeply into my 

 victim the barbed spear. Alas! must I confess it? my stur- 

 geon was nothing but a huge log sodden with water. Thus 

 secured to the bottom, and tapering from one end to the 

 other, it was really fish-like in appearance. Oh! how dis- 

 appointed I was at the deception; besides, my spear was so 

 firmly imbedded in the wooden imitation, I could not ex- 

 tricate it. After pulling and tugging for some time; I got 

 it away, but not before damaging the pole it was attached 

 %o—that I succeeded in 'springing' in the middle, rendering 

 it most liable to break easily. We were drifting, five min- 

 utes after this, with a very dim torch, down the 'Grand 

 Pass' where the current runs at the rate of somewhere 

 about six or seven miles an hour ; I remained standing in the 

 bow of the canoe with the damaged pole in my hand; we 

 were going full speed, and were just on a rock when I, put- 

 ting this article into the water quickly to push her head off 

 and thus escape shipwreck, leaned too heavily upon it, and 

 it broke in two. Over I went, upsetting the canoe and the 

 Indian with it. I reached the shore, but he had unfortu- 

 nately boots on, a present from some patron, and not the 

 conventional 'mocassin,' and these became in someway en- 

 tangled, so that both himself and his 'bonny bark' were in 

 a fail- way of drifting back to Fredericton, or rather part of 

 the way, "had I not rushed down the bank, or shore I think 

 it was, and, getting well ahead of this precious raft and 

 cargo, hauled them ashore. Such drowned rats we must 

 have looked! such pitiable objects! We emptied the water 

 out of the canoe, and (he having saved a paddle uncon- 

 sciously, by keeping a convulsive grasp on it while in the 

 water) set off in search of our missing articles. 



We had no light, and, finding our groping blindly in the 

 dark was useless, we gave it up. The misery I experienced 

 going home that night, few can imagine. I had lost my 

 coat, I was wet to the skin, my spears were gone, my 'com- 

 forter,' in the flask that would have warmed my chilled 

 blood, had, alas! vanished also. I had damaged the canoe, 

 for which I would have to recompense the Indian, and for 

 his clothes, and I had only the extreme consolation that I 

 would be unmercifully 'chaffed. ' 



It's needless to say I have never since attempted to cap- 

 ture a 'sturgeon.' I have never been fired with such a laud- 

 able ambition from that hour; but I often laugh when I 

 think of our ludicrous and unexpected bath in the 'Grand 

 Pass' of the mighty St. John." 



Friday, December 14th, a sword-fish, four feet long, 



was caught in the St. John's River near Jacksonville 

 Florida. , 



—Three codfish, weighing six pounds each, were caught 

 in the St. John's River near Palatka, last week, the first of 

 the kind ever caught in southern waters. The Herald says: 

 " Capt. Vogel, of the steamer Dictator, pronounces them 

 genuine codfish. " 



— From the Maine Farmer we take the following interest- 

 ing item in regard to salmon breeding at Bucksport: 



"The remarkable success in hatching salmon attained by 

 Mr. C. G. Atkins, last year, is well known, but it promises 

 to be excelled by this year's operations. Mr. Atkins has 

 put in the pond connected with the hatching establishment 

 about the same number (600) fish, and has taken out the 

 same number (400) each year. He would have taken out 

 more this year but for the premature cold and ice. Last 

 year he obtained 1,500,000 eggs; this year he has taken 2,- 

 800,000, but the breeding will probably be delayed by the 

 early cooling, and the extremely low temperature of the 

 water. He has 3,000 young California salmon that are do 

 ing well. These are all he saved from the 50,000 sent, as 

 by an oversight the eggs for Mr. A. were delayed so long in 

 transit that most of them were spoiled." 



<$hat §iim and ^ifJe. 



— * — 



GAME IN SEASON FOR DECEMBER. 



Moose, Alces Malchis.) Caribou, Tarandus Bangifer.) 



Elk or Wapiti, Cervus Canadensis.) Red Deer, Caricus Yirghlianus.) 

 Rabbits, common Brown and Grey.) Squirrels. Red Black and Gray.) 

 Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo.) Quail, Ortyx Virginianus.) 

 Rufied Grouse, JBonasa umbellus,) Pinnated Grouse, Cupidoria Cupido.) 



All kinds of Wild Fowl. 



[Under the head of "Game, and Fis/i in Reason" we can only speajy in 

 general terms the several varie'ies, because the laws of States vary so much 

 that were we to attempt to particularize -we could do no less than piublish 

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

 would require a great amount of our space. In designating game 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 tlieir re- 

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

 will only create confusion.] 



», , 



— A grand pigeon shooting sweepstakes, open to all com- 

 ers, will take place at Fleetwood Park December 30th, for 

 a purse of $1,000; ten per cent, entry; eight to fill; entries 

 to close at Jesse Smith's Astor House Billiard Room on De- 

 cember 29th, at four P. M. To shoot at fifty single birds, 

 each one and three quarters ounce of shot; otherwise, the 

 shooting to be governed by the Rhode Island Sportsmen's 

 Club. Prizes— $400 to the first, $300 to the second, $200 

 to the third, and the fourth to save his entrance. This, we 

 hope will be a match where the best shooters will win. The 

 shooters, and especially those coming from a distance, may 

 rest assured that nothing will be left undone to make this 

 the most successful affair of the kind every held in New 

 York. Trains leave the Grand Central depot for the Park 

 in ample time for the shooting, which will commence at 

 twelve o'clock precisely. 



— A Currituck, Virginia, sporting friend thus writes to 

 us: — "Geese ever so many; duck not so plenty. Brant — 

 hard to get them to stool on account of the scarcity of 

 young brant. A great many gentlemen gunners down here, 

 principally from New York, Philadelphia, and Balti- 

 more. The weather has been too soft and mild, and no 

 end of fogs. Have the ducks all left you yet?" [No; a 

 great many birds were Seen on Monday, December 21st, on 

 the feeding grounds of South Oyster Bay, Merrick Bay, 

 and West Hampton. Ducks Hying by the thousands to the 

 southward of Montauk Point.] — Ed. 



— A pigeon shoot of more than ordinary interest took 

 place last week at Ditmar's, Flatlands, L. I. The birds 

 Were of the very best, strong on the wing, and nearly all 

 driving birds. The shooting was excellent, and is the best 

 average made by the several gentlemen during the year: — 



PRACTICE MATCH, 21 TARDS KISS, 80 BOTJNDART. 



Shot at. Killed. Gun used. 



Sberman 17 15 10-bore Purdy B. L. 



E.Madison 14 11 10-bore Greener B. L. 



J. W. B 15 14 10-bore Greener B. L. 



Dr. W 18 15 10-bore Dooley M. L. 



A. Ditmars 18 12 12-bore Richards M.L. 



S. Lott 15 11 12-bore Scott M. L. 



— The Buffalo Pigeon Shooting Tournament commenced 

 on December 17th, and was in every way a great success. 

 This shoot was open to all amateurs in the United States 

 and Dominion of Canada. The first prize was $150; sec- 

 ond prize, $125; third, prize, $100; fourth prize, $75; fifth 

 prize, $50; entrance fee, $15. The match was shot from H 

 and T ground traps at fifteen single rises, twenty-one yards 

 rise, and eighty yards boundary. There were forty-nine 

 entries. The following is the result of the day's shooting: — 

 Newell, Schultz, and Weighell each killed fourteen; Wil- 

 mer, Bear, Marsh, and Lansing, thirteen; Green. Smith, 

 Jones, Farrar, Miller, Clay, and Dorr, twelve; McElroy, 

 eleven; Loff, Wheat, and George Smith, ten; Joll, Shef- 

 field, Melvin, and Tyler, nine; Nash, eight; Richmond, 

 seven. The pigeon shooting terminated on the 18th. The 

 following are the names of the winners of prizes: — Robert 

 Newell, of Buffalo, first prize, $150; E. P. Fish, of Buf- 

 falo, second, $125; H. M. Clay, of Buffalo, third, $100; 

 J. C. Haskell, of Boston, fourth, $75; George Smith, of 

 Buffalo, fifth, $50. 



— A correspondent (L. S.) from Brooklyn, Wisconsin, 

 states that Mr. Powers, with two other gentlemen, and 

 guide, four guns, two spaniels, and two retrieving setters, 

 killed in a four days' hunt thirty-six quail, seventy-two 

 wild ducks, various kinds, forty-six grouse, fifteen wild 

 geese, and one black swan. 



— At Mount Airy, Virginia, some one hundred and fifty 

 miles from Lynchburg, three college students, accompanied 

 by two "whiffets," with a Clumber retriever, killed last 

 week thirteen rough grouse, three turkeys, seventeen quail, 

 and one buck fawn. 



— At Lincoln, Illinois, Captain Tevan and a party of five, 

 with two guides, and three brace of dogs, in five days made 

 the following enormous bag: — Foureen woodcock, seven 

 English snipe, 436 wild fowl of all kinds, twenty-seven 

 geese, one brown cinnamon bear. We have to thank Cap- 

 tain Tevan for a noble portion of the young bear; 



— Captain Bogardus, the American champion pigeon 

 shooter, and Mr. F. Charleville, attracted at Oakland Park, 

 New Orleans, on December 15th, a numerous assemblage 

 of spectators, including nearly every notable patron of the 

 sport of pigeon-popping. The day was too cold and the 

 north wind too lively foi a satisfactory display of the con- 

 testants' abilities, despite which, however, the shooting on 

 one side, at least, was noteworthy. The terms of the 

 match provided for the shooting at twenty-five single birds 

 at thirty yards rise, which latter proviso, involving a greater 

 than the customary distance, must be especially noted in 

 estimating the merits of the performance. Mr. Bogardus 

 shot out his opponent at the tenth bird. Annexed is the 

 summary: — 



Bogardus— 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0—7. 



Charleville— 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0—4. 



Touching Mr. Charleville's score, it may be mentioned 

 that the majority of his birds were what is known as "tail 

 birds." and pigeon shooters will at once understand that 

 they are not to be hit every time. For the wind-up of the 

 day's sport, Captain Bogardus attempted the feat of killing 

 twenty-five birds in four minutes, using four traps, with 

 two birds in each. After the initial effort it was found 

 that the traps worked badly, when the experiment was 

 continued by shooting the birds thrown up by hand; but 

 this plan did not work satisfactorily, and the project was 

 deferred until Sunday, 21st instant; but from the evidence 

 offered the pigeon shooters in attendance were unanimous 

 in their opinions that Captain Bogardus can perform the 

 feat. The next exhibition will occur at the same place on 

 Sunday, 21st, when, in addition to his second attempt to 

 kill fifty birds in eight minutes, Captain Bogardus will also 

 shoot with Messrs. LeBreton and Charbonnet a match at 

 double birds, twenty-five yards rise. Herewith, it will be 

 in order to recite that Mr. Charbonnet will on that occasion 

 undertake to perform a similar feat of killing fifty birds ia 

 eight minutes, provided that the birds be furnished him, 

 and pledging himself to pay for the same if he fails to per- 

 form the task. The debut of the champion here has con- 

 vinced our pigeon poppers that he is a "stunner," and that 

 no man in this section of the country can begin to equal 

 him in point of skill. — New Orleans Times. 



— Good for the ladies of Terra Haute, for there is a true 

 Diana among them, and perfectly authenticated. Of course 

 she eschews the golden bow and silver arrow, at least for 

 game, and takes to a breech loader. Think, then, of this 

 wonderful woman going out one day this month and kill- 

 ing forty-three pinnated grouse, and the next day, to keep 

 her hand in, laying fifty-one more at her feet. It took 

 two gentlemen to follow her, and pick up and carry her 

 game. "Mr. Editor," writes our informant, "that young 

 woman never missed a bird. She disdained killing her 

 birds at close quarters, but would allow them to have a fair 

 flight before shooting them. It is not only her being a 

 quick shot, and a certain one, which is remarkable, but the 

 fact that she can carry a gun weighing eight pounds all 

 day and not tire under it; and as for tramping it across the 

 prairies — well, please in the future never bring up as an 

 example in your excellent paper any of those English la- 

 dies. They would have had to give up alongside of Miss 



. Five mortal hours did I follow that fair sportswoman, 



crying 'enough, enough,' but she smiled, and was only anx- 

 ious whether I could let her have a few more spare cart- 

 ridges. Miss reads the Forest and Stream, and 



whether it may be a compliment to the paper or to your- 

 self, Mr. Editor, in a gustatory sense, she hunted just one 

 half hour for you exclusively, and killed eight birds. I 

 have added five more, which makes the baker's dozen, 

 which we both send with kind regards. 



" Sincerely, "A. G." 



[The birds are not yet at hand, but we expect them im- 

 patiently. When they do come we shall have them served 

 up with all due pomp and eeremony. Perhaps, like Sancho 

 Panza's uncles, who were famous wine tasters, we may be 

 able to distinguish the birds killed by our Terra Haute 

 Diana from the others, for they will be undoubtedly the 

 sweeter.] — Ed. 



— From our correspondent in Yates county, New York, 

 we have received the following in regard to the game of 

 that region:— "The birds are the ruffed grouse, woodcock, 

 quail, and wild ducks, and as to fur-bearing animals the 

 mink, musk rat, red fox, grey squirrel, and grey rabbit are 

 found. The forests are suffering from over-cutting. Hotel 

 accommodation of an excellent character can be found at 

 Penn Yan. The sporting club of the county is called the 

 Forrester Club of Yates county, of which Mr. John C. 

 Shutz is President, and Mr. C. Elmendorf the Secretary." 



— A valued correspondent in Crow Wing county, Minne- 

 sota, speaks of deer as being most plentiful in that region. 

 Mentioning a mighty hunter, Sleeper by name, he says he 

 killed ten, and that Kirk brought down five just for the fun 

 of the thing. "The professionals," continues our Crow 

 Wing friend, "have piled up the deer all over the woods, 

 and still there seems to be quite as many as ever. Venison 

 in the carcass is a drug. Saddles are worth from six to 

 seven cents a pound. I saw a man refuse to carry home a 

 fine saddle the other day as a gift. It was 'too heavy,' he 

 said, 'and he had kind of soured on venison.' " 



— A correspondent of the Halifax Reporter, writing from 

 Marble Mountain, Cape Breton, says a neighbor caught a 

 moose calf the other day. He was taken in the water while 

 attempting to cross the harbor, and is consequently with- 

 out hurt and is doing well. The correspondent writes this 

 fancying some one there may want to bu y the calf and raidt» 

 him as a pet, or something of that kind. 



