FOREST AND STREAM. 



51 



opposite flying birds •with each barrel, to mark the places in 

 the thick cover wberej they fell that they may be readily 

 found afterward, to dexterously withdraw the shells and insert 

 another one just initiate to take a straggler, which has re- 

 quired a double discharge of one's gun to be flushed from his 

 retreat, to take him almost out of sight for branches of trees 

 or dense undergrowth, to mark the Bpot where lie fell, and 

 then besides to see where or in what direction the rest of the 

 flock have gone,— I say, to do all this, as is frequently clone, 

 is a moment of the sublimestj physical pleasure to the sports- 

 man. 



Not infrequently have I seen soma verdant sportsman 

 fairly scared by the sudden uprising of a score of quail, or the 

 thundering whirr of a bevy of grouse from almost beneath his 

 feet! Baug ! Bang! would go both charges of his gun, no 

 in the direction of the birds, and having no dead bird3 to 

 mark or pick up, he would ask his companion if he saw 

 where those quail went, when they may all have alighted 

 within a stone's throw, and in almost open sight. A cool and 

 watchful sportsman will mark a half a dozen dead birds, and 

 the flight afterward of as many live ones. 



And then the dog— I humbly beg the dog's pardon for not 

 speaking of him before. If this hurried scribble should ever 

 get into pamphlet form I will make amends for this seeming 

 neglect by having my own or some other dog for a frontis 

 piece : that is the place for him. 



He goes bshind when no game is at hand, but in the field 

 he is not only the frontispiece, but he's half the volume, too. 

 Without a good dog half the pleasure and two-thirds of the 

 game would be taken away. This is really where a large share 

 of the pleasure lies. It is wonderful, as well as exceedingly 

 interesting and highly pleasurable, to see to what a remarkable 

 degree the delicate sense of smell is possessed by a portion of 

 the canine race. I remember once, after traveling fourteen 

 miles and taking a trout that turued the scales at seventeen 

 ounces, to have said, "There! I am paid for my trouble if I 

 get no more." And I have heard men, after going several miles, 

 and seeing a dog point and afterward r. triove a single bird, 

 say that they had been paid for their trouble. 



Some look with great disfavor upon this method of physica 

 exercise. I pity all such from the bottom of my heart. I be- 

 lieve gunning is poor business — well, followed, i. e., by a man 

 who has any other business. But for exercise, recreation, 

 physical strength and open air, there are few things that will 

 compare with it. And, besides, one is with nature then, sees 

 her beauties, appreciates and enjoys to the full all her 

 various moods ; becomes in a measure her student. "To be 

 in communion with nature," says Carlyle, "is in a manner to 

 perfect one's-self." 



Many think it low and vulgar, but those who think so have 

 a very small appreciation^ of a very important part of our 

 nature. It contributes to the establishment of that old Latin 

 motto, "Sana mem in corpoi-e sano;" and as for its being 

 necessarily a frittering away of time and money, I don't be- 

 lieve it, and to some little extent I speak from experience. I 

 feel better the whole following week if I have a good tramp 

 on Saturday. It clears out the cobwebs, as they say, and 

 makes one feel like a new man, and my only regret is that 

 there is not more in my own vicinity in. the way of game to 

 reward the exertions of a willing pair of feet, a good gun, and 

 a moderately good dog. In conclusion, I will quote, as bear- 

 ing directly upon the kind of amusement, as well as upon 

 other amusements of the mind and body, the following 

 from the celebrated Dr. Bellows. As it expresses my 

 my own ideas exactly, 1 will let Dr. Belllows blow for me. 

 He says : 



"I will not demand of amusement that it should directly 

 instruct, elevate, warn or improve. If it givos genuine 

 pleasure, and if it do not corrupt, deprave or injure, I will 

 bless it, and without a single misgiving invoke the blessing 

 of Heaven on its head." 0. J. 



GAME PROTECTION. 

 WHAT A GOOD LAW HAS DONE. 



WISE and discriminating protective game laws so seldom 

 find a place in our statute books, that, when such an 

 one is passed, it must itself be carefully watched over and pro- 

 tected. 



Last summer we had occasion to speak very warmly in 

 praise of a bill passed by the Connecticut Legislature a short 

 time before, protecting the water-fowl, which, during the 

 ■winter, collect on the feeding-grounds at the mouth of the 

 Housatonic River. By the provisions of this act geese, ducks 

 and brant are absolutely protocted on their feeding-grounds, 

 although they may be shot while flying over the land, between 

 the waters of the Sound and the flats at the river's mouth, 

 The pith cf this act is in Section 1, which we quole ; 



"No person shall shoot, kill, attempt to shoot, or attempt 

 to kill, any wild duck, goose, or brant, in, on, or over the 

 the waters, buys, channels, islands, marshes, mud Hate, pond 

 holes, or any part of the bed of the Housatonic River below, 

 or south of, the bridge across said river, known as Washington 

 Bridge, and above, or north of, the beach on which the house 

 Of George Smith stands and a fine from the middle of the 

 west end of said beach to the middle of the mouth (south 

 side) of Neck Bridge Creek." 



In our romarks upon this bill in Forest and Stkkam of 

 July 4, 1S78, we adverted to the great benefit that must inure 

 to sportsmen if its provisions could be enforced, and predicted 

 in that event a great increase in the number of wild-fowl 

 which would make this attractive locality their winter home. 

 Among other things we said : 



" Ab is well known, wild-fowl will bear almost any amount 

 of persecution if only they are left undisturbed while on their 

 feeding-grounds; and wiih proper care to see this act enforced, 

 there is no reason why there should not be each year hundreds 

 Of wild geese and thousands of black docks, pintails and wid- 

 geons on the Housatonic flats throughout the winter. The 

 friends of game protection in Connecticut should feel greatly 

 encouraged by this wise and far-seeing action of. their Legis- 

 lature." 



So far, during the past fall and winter, the event has more 

 than justified our prediction. We have reason to know that 

 black ducks have not, within the past ten years, been either so 

 numerous or so tame as they are this winter, and a veteran 

 gunner, who is familiar with the locality and has several times 

 seen the flocks on the wing, e3timal.es their number at several 

 thousands. There are also a few small "bunches" of wid- 

 geons now on these grounds, although this species has for 

 some years been quite unknown at this point, having deserted 

 it on account of the indiscriminate warfare which has been 

 waged there against all water-fowl. Besides the birds men- 

 tioned, at least one flock of Canada geese has been feeding on 

 these flats all winter, and. no doubt, in spring large numbers 

 will be secured in this neighborhood. AVe mention these points 

 merely to show what a wise law has done for a single locality, 

 and to point out that, if its provisions are observed in the 

 future, there is scarcely any limit to the number of fowl that 

 may congregate in this place for the winter. The feeding- 

 grounds are very extensive, and so long as the birds are pro- 

 tected while on them, it makes but little difference how much 

 banging there may be outsido or on the beach. 



As we have already remarked, the law up to this time has 

 been pretty well observed, and there have been, as far as 

 known, no open violations of its provisions. The officers of 

 the neighboring towns, stimulated perhaps by a reward of 

 fifty dollars offered by private individuals for the conviction 

 of any poacher, have kept their eyes open, and frightened, off 

 law breakers. 



We are sorry to hear rumors of a movement, which, if car- 

 ried through, will undo all the good effected by the law as it 

 now stands, and will render its provisions essentially inopera- 

 tive. This movement, as we understand, takes the form of a 

 petition to the Legislature, praying that the protective act 

 may be so amended as to permit shooting on the feeding, 

 grounds on specified days of each week, though .not with 

 decoys. This amendment, if passed', will open a loop-hole 

 through which law breakers may escape penalties, and we 

 shall hear of the same indiscriminate shooting on the Housa- 

 tonic flats that was practiced up to the passage of the original 

 bill. The amendment, though perhaps not so intended, will 

 prove the entering wedge which will break up the shooting at 

 this point. 



Shooting on certain days in the week means chasing and 

 harassing each bunch of birds that may alight in these waters 

 during the day ; it means lying in wait where the feed is best, 

 and shooting at the birds when they come in at night from the 

 Sound; it means sculling up at night to a "ruok" of ducks 

 and shooting into the thickest of the flock with a mighty gun 

 that kills ten or fifteen, and wounds twice that number which 

 are never recovered ;— finally, it means driving off the ducks 

 and geese,for good and all.to some other feeding-ground along 1 

 the coast, so that some other people may have the shooting of 

 them. 



The fact is that the people who desire this change want, to 

 use a homely figure, to eat their cake and have it too. This 

 they cannot do. We have sufficient confidence in Connecti- 

 cut's legislators to believe that, if such an amendment as the 

 one proposed is presented, they will vote it down. 



It is a curious fact that the movement to which we have re- 

 ferred seems to have originated in, and to be confined to, the 

 town of Stratford, and that the people of MUford appear to 

 be unanimous in their approval of the present law and their 

 desire to see it enforced. We earnestly hope that no change 

 will.be made. After the law, as it now stands, has been in 

 force for a few years, and the birds have become abundant 

 and have learned to regard these grounds as a refuge where 

 they can be safe from persecution, it may do to permit shoot- 

 ing on the flats one* day every two weeks, but at present any 

 relaxation in the stringency of the law will work mischief. 



. «. — . 



A Legislative Committee foe the Protection op Game. 

 — The New York State Legislature has a Committee on the 

 Protection of Game. It is composed of prominent sportsmen 

 and naturalists, with Col. Alfred Wagstaff, of the N. Y. City 

 Society for the Protection of Game, as chairman. Of course 

 all proposed amendments or additions to the present game 

 laws will be submitted to this Committee, and we can there- 

 fore hope for intelligent legislation hereafter, and simplified 

 laws, if such a thing be possible. It would be well if each 

 State Legislature had a similar Committee. The Connecticut 

 Legislature has a Committee on Fisheries, but not on game ; 

 and we think the Virginia Legislature has such a committee on 

 both game and fish. 



What is to be Dose ?— Alas! alas! what shall we well- 

 meaning, devoted game protectors do ? Here we are, propos- 

 ing to legislate for the protection of wild fowd ; and see what 

 the result is in England where such vermin are already pro- 

 tected ! We quote a single, sentence from London Land and 

 Water to show : 



There is another great evil which seems as yet to have es- 

 caped general notice, viz., the rapidly increasing hos 

 birds, owing to their protection by Act of Parliament. If al- 

 lowed to multiply as they are doing they will certainly be the 

 ruin of our salmon fisheries, not only ou the Tweed, but on 

 our northern rivers, where their devastations on roe and fry 

 are beginning already to tell a tale. 



Nature has decreed that all animals shall prey upon each 

 other. How shall man contrive to preserve all food creatures 

 for his own delectation and use, and iu so keeping them 

 alive, prevent their destroying ea h other ? The angler wants 

 good fishing and good fish: theguiirn ■ duck, 



and snipe shooting : which interest will finally ] (avail? By 

 and byo we shall have the gunners and the fishermen all by 

 the ears and then, what will become of the grand scheme of 

 universal protection? Something out to be done about these 

 blarsted wild fowl which are raising such a horrid rumpus 

 with the fish ? 



The Best Kind of Protection. — Here is mention of a 

 most commendable combination effort ou the part of the far- 

 mers of Western Pennsylvania, A correspondent, " C. H. 

 B.," writing from Allentown, says: 



" We have found that, the fanners in this part of the State 

 are following our example in catching quails and keeping 

 them over winter. Two farmers near Bresingsville have at 

 present. 3(10 live quails all caught by the hand in the drifted 

 I iks. Mr. Harry Stern, ot Starnton, has 130, while 

 our club at present have 114. These, together with those 

 which other farmers have, would make about 800, which will 

 all be let go nexi spring and will afford splendid opportunities 

 i mi sportsmen next fall." 



If the farmers everywhere would follow suit, we should hear 

 less of the necessity of game laws. These 800 quail ought to 

 multiply and increase to 8,000 or 10,000 birds by next shooting 

 season. Eight thousand are. a good many. The number, if di- 

 vided among the sportsmen of the neighborhood, would give 

 each man all the shooting he could reasonably ask for. All 

 we need is the seed quail for planting. Their product is for' 

 consumption. 



In conjunction with this measure there should be enforced! 

 the most imperative demand to prohibit sales of quail in mar- 

 ket after January 15th. This will stop the trapping which is 

 so destructive of stock and supply. We have repeatedly ex- 

 amined large bunches of birds in market— all trapped. At the 

 last. meeting of the N. Y. Assoc, for Protection of Game, we,. 

 with two or thfee others, urged this necessity upon the atten- 

 tion of the meeting, but the wise majority preferred to recom- 

 mend to the Legislature that the period of permission be ex- 

 tended to Feb. 1st. We are sorry for this, but the Legisla- 

 tive Game Protective Committee may nevertheless decide up- 

 on the earlier date as the terminal of the season of sale. We- 

 hope it will. We would not decry trapping by farmers and 

 farmers' boys, if they would only winter enough birds for seed. 

 We prefer trapped birds for the table— don't have to pick the 

 small shot out of our teeth ; besides, the flesh is not discolored 

 and unsightly. These birds are Heaven-sent for food, as well 

 a3 for sport, and the appeals of the palate and stomach ought to 

 have some weight, as well as the insatiable desire to pursue, 

 shoot, and kill. Quail are the most prolific and toothsome of 

 wild birds. They were supplied to the Israelites for food in 

 quantity, and are vouchsafed to us now. The law should not 

 prescribe that only shot birds shall be eaten. What we want 

 is, that birds shall be neither trapped nor shot after the end of 

 the prescribed season. Sportsmen hang up their guns on the 

 1st of January, but thelowler still sets his snares for the poor 

 friendless storm beaten birds. He digs the starving creatures 

 out Of the snow banks and wrings their necks for a miserable 

 pittance which would scarcely buy grain enough to winter a 

 single bevy through. This business we who have power, and 

 influence, and persuasion, and money, intend to stop. We 

 will shut the markets and keep the quail out of the shambles 

 Let every Legislature now in session amend its game law so 

 as to prohi bit the sale of all game birds after Jan. loth. 



New York, Feb. 13, 1879 



Editor Forest ahd Stream : 

 In last evening's Express I find the following : 

 "At a meeting of the Society for the Protection of fiaftie 



hell last night, Mr. Robert U Roosevelt presiding, a long 



discussion was had on the advisability of recommending that 

 the close of season for birds and deer be February 1 instead of 

 March 1, as at present. Other States are invited to co-operate 

 with the State of New York in fixing a common time for the 

 close of the game season." 



Now, will any kind reader tell me of what practical use a 

 game protecting society is good for that advises the above. 

 The close season for game is not March 1, but January 1° 

 with the idiotic proviso that game killed prior to January 1 

 may be sold in the State up till' March 1. it these gentlemen 

 really mean to protect game I will be one to contribute to 

 send some sensible gentleman to Albany to show our Legis- 

 lators that the close season, January 1, is correct, but per- 

 mission to sCil ought to cease ten days after. Kill game in 

 January, indeed ! when quail are huddled together 

 almost starving, and rabbits can be caught in the snow with 

 your hand, often, or dug for. What bright lights belong 

 to Game Protection Societies. Belter do as the Express in 

 the same issue, says of Cincinnati, as under : 



"Cincinnati sportsmen have made a commendable move on 

 I he dealers in game, the shooting of which is prohibited at 

 this season of the year, by causing the arrest of some of the 

 marketmen for selling stale and unwholesome game. It is 

 evidently the intention to harass these evaders of the kw uutil 

 ise to sell. When that is done the pot-hunters will 

 cease to shoot for the market, and it is these pot-hunters and 

 not the amateurs who deplete the country of the choicest 

 game." 



Now this shows some common sense. Either the birds 

 sold four or eight w r eeks dead are stale and unwholesome, or, if 

 not, they have'been lulled in the close season. Will not all 

 who want to protect game and not have them become, i , 

 in this country do somethingtoward enforcing thelawin New 

 York State, that is, " No more killing after January 1. and no 

 having in possession after January 10." I have' now some 

 western quad that a reliable farmer can have on March 15, 

 who will guarantee (with exceptions I may name) to keep 

 every man off his farm until the law is up, i. e., Nov. 1, 187U. 

 The Legislature will soon adjourn. Work must be done now ! 

 Yours respectfully, C;oail. 



