FOREST AND STREAM. 



411 



tin and Jjft/fe. 



GAME IN SEASON FOR FEBRUARY. 



Hares, Squirrels and Wild Fowl. 



1'OR FLORIDA. 



i? of l Deer Carlcus Ylrginianus) Wild Turkey, Mekagris gallopavo.) 

 woodcock, PhUohela minor.) Quail, Ortyx Virginianus.) 



Snip J, Plover, Curlew, etc., in great 

 variety. c 



r\ finder the head of " Game, and Fisn m Season" we can only spect/y iu 

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

 thai, 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 game we are 

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

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

 Vnective Mates for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist them 

 wiU only create confusion . ] # 



—A correspondent in Hillsboro, Ohio, who is a veteran 

 sportsman, sends the following extraordinary instance of 

 ' 'buck ague." Cases like this occur even with old hunters, but 

 they merely indicate a peculiar exceptional nervous state 

 of the system, which cannot be accounted for except on 

 general principles. Some of our nervous friends may find 

 sympathy or encouragement therein. The phenomenon is 

 not more singular than that nervous cbndition which starts 

 at the slam of a door or the snap of a twig while it remains 

 unshaken by the peal of the thunder-clap or the rattle of 

 musketry:— 

 Ed itob Forest and Stream:— 



Some thirty years ago the writer started out by daylight, "solitary and 

 alone," for a deer hunt. He had made a horseback trip to Portsmouth, 

 on the Ohio Eiver, fifty miles from his home, to attend court, and on his 

 way down left his rifle at a settler's cabin in the Sunfish Hills, then a very 

 wild section, abounding in deer, intending to stop a day or two on his 

 return. 



It was December, and a ten inch snow had fallen during the night, and 

 cround, bush, and bough were covered with the soft feathery crystals. 

 The hunter had resorted to a common trick to beguile the game by put- 

 ting on over his clothes a large white shirt, borrowed from the settler, 

 and tying a linen handkerchief over his cap. Thus accoutred, like the 

 ghost in Hamlet, he moved slowly, noiseleasly, and almost invisibly along, 

 often stopping to get sight of the quarry and steal unnoticed upon him. 

 On turning a ttvicket a deer was discovered browsing in a fallen tree top 

 not thirty yards off. He had not seen or heard or smelt the hunter, and 

 kept munching away at his breakfast. There seemed a certaiuty of fine, 

 fat venison, barring accidents, but no time was to be lost. The rifle was 

 brought quickly to an aim, and the hunter pulled and pulled, harder and 

 harder, but there was no report. It was a hair trigger, and should have 

 gone at the weight of a grain. When taken down to examine, it was 

 found that in the haste and excitement it had only been half cocked. 

 This was soon corrected, but when the gun was again brought to the 

 shoulder a film seemed creeping over the eyes, the atmosphere was filled 

 with a gray mist, the outlines of the deer disappeared, and an anguish 

 tremor ran through every bone and muscle. 



This time the gun went off, and so did the deer, but it is very doubtful 

 if even the tree top was hit, or whether if the object had been a Dutch 

 barn it would not have been missed. The fog and the film, however, 

 cleared away in season for the hunter to see the deer making 2:40 time 

 over the hill, evidently unhurt. Thereupon the sportsman sat down upon 

 a log and silently went through an argument whether it were better to 

 throw away the gun and go home, or go ahead and perhaps be fooled 

 again. But courage came with reflection, the rifle was reloaded, and the 

 hunt renewed, and before noon a fine doe was hung up to a sapling. It 

 was a clear and violent case of buck ague. Has the reader ever had like 

 experience? Veteran. 

 + _ 



—Our Minnesota correspondent relates an experience in 

 still hunting which has been alluded to in these columns 

 more than once, proving that it is often wiser for the hunter 

 to remain quiet after the deer has got the wind of him than 

 to persist in industrious stalking: — 



Brainerd, Minn., December, 18? 3 . 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



The sketch of my friend "Bedford," in number 19 of your paper, and 

 your accompanying foot notes, prompt the following:— One day after a 

 fresh fall of snow, we started to look after deer a mile east of town. 

 While following a winding wood road, we got a glimpse of a buck about 

 twenty rods away, head and tail down, sneaking away like a fox through 

 the underbrush. We sent a ball after him. but the brush was too thick, 

 and with a bound he was off like a rocket. Sticking another cartridge 

 into the rifle, and taking a look at the compass, we were off, too, on the 

 trail, quietly and cautiously taking note of everything. The lay of the 

 ground, and the direction he was taking, told us he was making for a 

 tamarack swamp a mile or so away. Knowing the ground thoroughly, 

 we took a short cut, going pretty fast, and struck the swamp— a nearly 

 circular patch of tamarack poles, tall grasses, and dead trees— bad 

 ground for the hunter, but just the place for an old wily skulker like the 

 five prouger we were after. We soon found his trail, where he had 

 walked into the swamp, and noticed where, as he leisurely moved along, 

 he had stopped to paw or nibble a sprig from a birch, as much as 

 to say, "I've got into my stronghold now, and may as well take it easy; 

 this moccasined hunter who scared me so cannot find me here." We 

 followed him through the swamp, doing our finest work, and at the outer 

 edge saw from his leap that he had discovered our presence, but trusting 

 to his cover and sagacity he had disdained to take the timber and his 

 heels for it, but began to circle the swamp, now under cover, then outside 

 among the grass and rushes, now running and then walking. In one 

 place he had walked toioards us a few yards, then with a leap toward the 

 right he had turned and_gone on. Patiently, noiselessly, and ardently, as 

 becomes the still hunter, we followed the devious windings of the trail 

 till he had twice crossed the track we had made on entering the swamp. 

 We were peering cautiously ahead, hoping earnestly for one more shot 

 before dark, when a thought struck us, and wheeling about suddenly we 

 found that we were being trailed instead of doing the trailing! for be- 

 hind us, coming quietly and confidently along was the buck we supposed 

 we were in pursuit of! We pitched the rifle up, but with a flirt of his 

 body he "reversed motion" so quickly that we had no time to shoot. 



For a few seconds we were nonplussed, but there was one more chance 

 to take, and that was to race across the swamp, get in ahead of the deer, 

 and trust a hunter's luck for the rest, So we took it, and plunged into 

 the brush, jumping logs, dodging the spring holes, and struck the trail 

 before the deer came along. Hastily getting behind a big tree we waited 

 for him, and not in vain, for in about ten minutes (long enough to allow 

 «s to get our nerves in shooting condition after the brisk run) we saw his 

 antlered head bobbing over the rushes as he came steadily along. Slowly 

 raising our rifles and taking dead aim, we waited— waited coolly, for we 

 kuew he was our game. On he came slowly till within twenty rods, 

 when, with a terrific leap, he bounded into the swamp and stood still f or 

 °ue instant, then mounted an old dead tree and commenced slowly pacing 

 along it When he reached the end he threw up his head, as if 

 alarmed, and as he gathered himself for a jump the rifle cracked not a 

 moment too soon, and the lordly buck, which had led us such a chase 

 and fooled us so badly went "spread eagle" fashion into the snow. Yours 

 fc^y. HAVrXAND. 



spector-General on the staff of General J. B. Woodward, of 

 the Second Division, is to be looked upon as fortunate for 

 the interests of the rifle movement in the State. We may 

 feel sure that Colonel Wingate, the former most energetic 

 Secretary of the National Rifle Association, will instil into 

 the men of his division, a proper idea of the advantages of 

 rifle practice, and under his excellent method of instruc- 

 tion, undoubtedly many a soldier in the gallant second will 

 compete successfully with other divisions at Creedmoor in 

 future rifle contests. 



A FEW HINTS TO SPORTSMEN. 



—The merited promotion of Colonel Wingate, new In- 



Baltimore, January 29, 18T4 . 

 Editor Forkst and Stream: — 



I am glad to see that sportsmen are awaking to the idea that birds, fish 

 and animals should be called by their right names. I think it would 

 be a good plan to introduce into sehools a hand-book of Natural His- 

 tory, and teach the growing ones at least what is correct. Here they 

 call the quail a partridge (for this there is an excuse, as they quote Au- 

 dubon; which is right?) they call a ruffed grouse a pheasant; the ruddy 

 duck a coot and water partridge; the coot proper, a crow bill; the rail an 

 ortolan; rabbits for hares, of course; Wilson's snipe a jack snipe; the 

 weakfish sea trout; bluefish taylors; and speak of catching salmon in 

 the Ohio river. 



I ventured to remonstrate the other day about calling the ruddy duck 

 a coot, and was told that men who had lived for twenty years on the 

 shore called them coot, "and did I pretend to know more than they 

 did"?" Again T happened to say that it was a shame to kill robins (mi- 

 gratory thrush), and was told it was good sport, and besides, the lobins 

 ought to be killed, for thsy ate up t'^e wheat. Whew! What do you 

 think of that? It put me m mind of the old story of the farmer who 

 kept missing his sheep, and at last found a fellow in the road that run 

 by his place, cutting the throat of one of his sheep. He asked him what 

 he meant, and he said that he would give him to understand that no 

 man's sheep should come out and bite him. I expect to hear them say 

 yet that the bluebirds carry off their chickens. 



It is of no use to talk to them; they either think yon are putting on 

 airs, or look upon you with pity, and wonder how you can be so igno- 

 rant. 



They stick to long barrels to their guns here, and small loads of pow- 

 der with large loads of shot of large size. For instance, many of their 

 guns of 10 or 8 bore, are 36 or 40 inches in the barrels, and they tell you 

 the proper load for these is from 2J- to 3 dr. of powder, 2 to 2J oz. of 

 shot, size from No. 1 to B. B. We think that 32 in. 8 bore, or 30 in. 10 

 bore about right, and the load 5 or A\ dr. powder to 1} to If oz. of No. 

 4 shot for ducks (No. 6 early in the season), No. 1 for geese. Which do 

 you think is right? Speaking of guns, they have a gun maker here that 

 makes, to my notion, the best central Are breech-loader I have ever seen. 

 For simplicity, strength and correct proportions I hava never seen its 

 equal, and I have seen many good ones. As he does not advertise iu 

 Forest and Stream, I shall mention no names; but when he does may 

 say more about his guns. 



I am glad to nee that there is a chance for a field trial between Eng- 

 lish and American dogs, and I trust that it may come off and that I may 

 be there to see it. I agree with you about Western dogs. I have seen 

 many a rough looking one out there that was a paragon, and I think they 

 are better handled, less yelling and beating than in th.p East. Often I 

 have seen the -silky coated English or Eastern dogs put to shame by one 

 that was hard to look on, at which the owners of the former had turned 

 up their noses. Wanderer. 

 * 



—The Brooklyn party shot a match at Dexter's last week. 

 Dr. Aten and Mr. Hickock were matched against Messrs. 

 Baylis and Birdseye. The match was shot under the Eng- 

 lish rules, that is, use of both barrels, and from five traps, 

 30 yards rise, 80 yards boundary, 1£ oz. shot. The birds 

 were poor. Mr. Baylis killed 10 out of 15; Mr. Birdseye 

 killed 6, making 16 out of 30; Dr. Aten killed 10, and Mr. 

 Hickoek 9, making 19 out of 30, the latter winning by 3 

 birds. Capt. Elmendorf was the referee. 



—The cold weather of last Friday did not prevent a 

 goodly gathering of pigeon shooters at Deerfoot Park ; the 

 birds, as supplied by McMahon, were strong on the wing, 

 and mostly driving birds. The shooting began with a 

 sweepstakes of five birds each, $5 entrance, Long Island 

 rules to govern, 21 yards rise, 80 yards boundary, and 1£ 

 oz. shot. There were five entries, which resulted in a tie 

 between Messrs. Townsend, Bohring and Ireland, when, it 

 being shot off, the $25 was divided by Messrs. Ireland and 

 Bohring. 



Charles Townsend— 1, 0, 1, 1, 1— Killed, 4. 



"Dr." Ireland— 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0— Killed, 4. 



Mr. Bohring— 1, 1, 0, 1, 1— Killed, 4, 



Moses Chichester— 1, 1, 1, 0, 0— Killed, 3. 



Thomas Broadway— 0, 1, 0, 1, 1— Killed, 3. 



The second sweepstakes of five birds, $5 entrance; same 

 rules and conditions. 



"Dr." Ireland— 1, 1, 1, 1, 1— Killed, 5. 



Charles Townsend— 1, 1, 1, 1, 0— Killed, 4. 



Thomas Broadway— 0, 1, 0, 1, 0— Killed, 2. 



Mr. Van Dyke— 1, 0, 0, 1— Killed, 2. 



W. McFall— 0, 1, 0, 0— Killed, 1. 



Mr. Bohring— 1, 0, 0— Killed, 1. 



"Dr." Ireland took first money and Charles Townsend 



second. 



Sweepstakes, five birds each, $5 entrance; same rules 

 and conditions. 



Moses Chichester— 1, 1, 1, 1, 1— Killed, 5. 



Charles Townsend— 1, 1, 1, 1, 0— Killed, 4. 



Thomas Broadway— 1, 0, 0, 1— Killed, 2. 



Mr. Gildersleeve— 0, 1, 1, 0— Killed, 2. 



Mr. Van Dyke— 1, 0, 0— Killed, 1. 



"Dr." Ireland— 0, 1. 0— Killed, 1. 



Referee in all the sweeps, Mr. Wingate. 



—A pigeon match took place at Dexter's Club Grounds, 

 on the 29th, between four gentlemen amateurs of Brooklyn, 

 15 birds each, 30 yards rise, 80 yards boundaay, from five 

 traps. * English rules to govern. 



An. killed 10, missed 5. 



L. C. killed 9. missed G. . 



By. killed 10, missed 5. 



Bs. killed G, missed .9. < 



[We cannot publish any more initial letters, as if a match 

 is worth printing at all, the full name or pigeon shooting 

 name must be given, Ed.] 



—The covert shooting on the estate of Mr. R. J. Lloyd 

 Price, (the owner of "Belle,") at Rhiwlas, Bala, North 

 Wales, has been excellent. Mr. Price, accompanied by 

 two gentlemen, killed on New Year's Day, using sixteen 

 dogs, (retrievers,) cock pheasants, 53; hen pheasant, 1; 

 partridge, 1; rabbits, 34; woodcocks, 13;' snipe, 1; total— 

 103. 



Scranton, Luzerne Co., Penn., January 30, 1874. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



A pigeon match was shot at Wilkcsbarre, Luzerne county, Penn., on 

 the 22d instant between Mr. Cox, of Schuylkill county, and Mr. Maddox, 

 of this place, for the championship of the two counties and $1,000 a side 

 Mr. Cox won the match by shooting 25 birds out of 36, Mr. Maddox kill- 

 ing but 19. 



A sweepstake pigeon match was shot at Scranton, Penn., on January 

 29th between Alfred Evans and John Hughes for $100 a side. Tho fol- 

 lowing is the result: — 



Evans 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1-11 



Hughes 1, 1, 0. J, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0. 0-7 



Q. A. Dickson. 

 ^■•-^ 



Washington, D. C, January 26, 1874 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I send to your address by today's mail the score of a pigeon match 

 between William Harris, of Alexandria, Va., and John Ferguson of 

 Washington, at Riley's Coral on Saturday, January 24, at 25 birds, 21 

 yards rise, P0 yards bound, for $25. Harris gave up the match at tho 

 thirteenth bird; also the score of a match between Ferguson and Wil- 

 liams, same day and place, at 10 birds, same rules as above, for $10. 

 Each man handled and trapped for the other. Referee, A. Wardell; 

 judges, Derrick and Smithson. Very respectfully and truly yours, 



Jas. N. Davis, Jr. 



Ferguson 11110 1111111 1—15 



Harris 0011001000010—4 



Williams 11110 10 1 1—7 



Ferguson 1111110 11 1—9 



» . 



KIFLE PRACTICE. 



The following ere the highest scores at Conlin's Gallery, 

 up to February 3d. 

 For the first prize seven consecutive bullets. 

 For the second prize five consecutive bullets. 

 For the third prize four consecutive bullets. 

 For the fourth prize twelve in twenty shots. 

 For the fifth prize eleven in fifteen shots. 



im nnd Jjfiiw ^h)m\^ 



FISH IN SEASON IN FEBRUARY. 



Pompano. 

 Snapper. 

 Grouper. 

 Rockfish. 



SOUTHERN WATERS-. 



Trout, (Black Bass.) 

 Drum, (two species.) 

 Kingfish . 

 Striped Bass, Rockfish. 



Sheepsheftd. 

 Tailorfish. 

 Sea Base. 



The Massachusetts Anglers 1 Association held an im- 

 portant meeting on the 28th of January, in Boston, Dr. J. 

 P. Ordway, the President, in the chair. Twenty-eight new 

 members were elected. Dr. A. L. Squires, now of New- 

 port, accepted the office of Corresponding Secretary. The 

 committee on trout submitted a report in which they stated 

 that they have made a careful examinination of the laws 

 relating to trout fishing, and have also visited many places 

 where trout were exposed for sale. We copy the report 

 almost entire: 



That the laws of Maine are daily violated, and to a great 

 extent is apparent. Hardly a day that there are not ex- 

 posed in the stalls of Quincy Market light-meated, dark- 

 sided trout, whose spots and general appearance tell too 

 plainly that the waters of the Kennebago and Cupsuptic 

 were once lashed by their tails. Most of such Maine trout 

 brought here for a winter market are in the worst possible 

 condition — very soft and often so long out of water that 

 they are utterly unfit for the table. And jet there is a de- 

 mand for them. 



Brook trout, also, from Vermont and Maine, are offered 

 in the market in large quantities — poor, little, weak, puny 

 things, not to be compared to the speckled beauties of next 

 May. A blind man, with a copper-fastened stomach, and 

 no reputation, might possibly be induced to admit that he 

 had purchased and swallowed half a dozen such trout, but 

 that a person in his right mind, with eyes, and knowing 

 anything of the laws of health and digestion, could be 

 found to admit as much is beyond the comprehension of 

 this committee. Nature stamps their corruption with plain 

 marks, and their sickly, unhealthy appearance outside and 

 in would warn anybody except the keeper of a boarding 

 house. But how are we to prevent these sales? Your com- 

 mittee find that the sum of all the periods in the different 

 States during which, trout are forbidden to be taken or sold 

 amounts to nearly the whole year. The spawning season 

 varies very much in the time of its commencement and 

 ending, varying even in the same State in different local- 

 ities. 



There would then be an evident injustice in passing a law 

 to prevent the exposure for sale in Boston of all trout 

 caught outside the Commonwealth within the limits of time 

 which, in this State, it is illegal to take them, as such trout 

 may have been caught at a time when, where caught, it 

 was perfectly legal to catch them, and may be in a perfect- 

 ly good condition. 

 • It may be possible to provide by statute that it shall be 

 illegal to sell or have in one's poss'ession in this State trout 

 caught in another State contrary to the laws of such State 

 or within the prohibited periods; and your Committee en- 

 deavor herewith to lay before you a bill for this purpose. 

 There are also in this State laws relating to the inspection 

 of food, from which the Committee hope to gain some aid 

 for the objects of this Association. We can actively in- 

 fluence the appointment of inspectors — men open to con- 

 viction on the subject — and we can see that they are fully 

 informed as to the quality of the trout coming into this 

 market within the prohibited times. Under the provisions 

 of 1872, chapter 231, such inspectors have the power to in 

 spect all fish offered for sale, and when they find any that 

 are unwholesome, from any cause, they may seize the same 

 and have them destroyed. Another provision of the same 

 statute is to the effect that whoever knowingly offers for 

 sale unwliolesame fish is to be punished by imprisonment in 

 jail not exceeding sixty days, or by fine not exceeding f 



