FOREST AND STREAM. 



91 



not so clear. This long-range work must be made effective 

 for alt:' "d it is needed "to lend a moral 



support to his advance as well as with a view of inflicting ser- 

 ious loss upon the enemy. The assailant must reply to this 

 long-range fire by long-range fire, and therefore, however co- 

 gent may be the arguments urged against it, long-range .fire 

 will iu future be largely employed." 



In the Prussian and Austrian army musquetry regulations 

 instructions are now laid down for long-range practice, and 

 a recent semi-official reminder to the French General Staff 

 insists that those who oppose long-raugefire shall at least con- 

 sent to its study, since it " would occasion grave inconvenionce 

 if its practice were imposed for the first lime on the field of 

 battle." 



England, with her Martini-Henry, is not altogether at ease 

 at this prospect, and her habitual ridicule of the prediction 

 that the long range of firearms would be utilized in modern 

 war is giving way to a confession of the evidence of the deadly 

 power of long-range rifles used by large bodies of men. 



Another section of this same movement does not find the TJ. 

 S. so far in tho rear. It is the introduction of magazine, or 

 "repeating," rifles. In France the Kropatschek rifle has been 

 adopted for the navy. The Swiss infantry use them. Sec- 

 tions of the Norwegian and Austrian armies are so equipped. 

 The Turkish forces gave that terrible rain of lead at Plevna 

 from Winchester repenting rifles, while our own army will 

 soon have the Hotchkiss repeater in their hands, at least to a 

 limited extent. 



In fact, it will soon be absurd to speak of "military" and 

 " any rifles" as more than distinctive appellations. There 

 will soon be room in warfare for every form of weapon, for 

 the silencing of field batteries, the match rifle and the telescope 

 sights may be invaluable ; but when the pinch of battle comes, 

 the rattle of the magazine gun may give the victory to those 

 who possess them and know how to use them with effect. 



WHAT THEY SAY OF US. 



Painesville, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1879. 



Mb. Bditok ; That article in your issue of the 6th inst. 

 from an Ohio correspondent, enumerating the results which 

 followed his subscription to the Fokest and Stbkam some 

 four years since, reminds me that my experience has been 

 about the same, only more so. 



I have been a subscriber about fourteen months, and it has 

 been indirectly the cause of my purchasing a $i5, $00 and 

 an $85 Remington breech-loader ; also my last and final pur- 

 chase in the way of a shotgun— a. beautiful $300 premier \V. 

 & C. Scott & Sun breech kinder; two fine sole leather gun 

 cases from Thompson & Sons j breech- loading implements 

 from Edward K. Try on, jr., & Co.; a hunting suit from 

 Holabird ; a pair of wading pants and fishing-tackle from 

 Holberton ; flies from Sarah McBride ; two lots of Dittmai 

 powder ; fifty nickel shells • Spratt's dog biscuit and TJ. M. 0. 

 paper shells from H. 0. Squires ; fishing tackle from Oonroy, 

 Bissett & Malleson and Bradford & Anthony ; a pocket scale 

 of Fish At. Simpson ; a fly and bass rod ; a patent cartridge 

 belt from Pooler & Jones ; two pure blooded dogs; "Hal- 

 lock's Sportsman's Gazetteer" (the best book of its kind ever 

 written); "Field, Cover and Trap Shooting;" " The Breech- 

 Loader," by Gloan ; " Shooting on the Wing," "On the 

 Wing," " Game Birds," and other books I have seen men- 

 tioned in the Fokest and Stbkam. Besides the above arti- 

 cles, I have bought many others for my friends, among which 

 are about, $40 worth of Pool & Jones' belts. I might men- 

 tion here that everything I have bought has been all that was 

 claimed, and the firms who have, advertised with you I have 

 always found "square." I always find your advertising 

 columns interesting, but I think it would pay your patrons in 

 that department if they would change their advertisements 

 oftener. The cost is but a trifle more, and they would find 

 an increase of orders to amply repay them for the extra ex- 

 pense. I mean such houses as Read & Son, Tryon, Conroy, 

 Squires, Abbey <fc Imbrie, Schuyler, H. & Co., etc.— firms 

 who carry an extensive line of sportsmen's goods, among 

 which are many articles that are useful to all who hunt and 

 fish, but are known but to few that happen to have catalogues. 

 Being a business man myself, I know that an advertisement 

 should be constantly changed to obtain the best results. I 

 was pleased to read those communications on Dittmar pow- 

 der, as I believe in it. Have been trying some shells loaded 

 three months since, and find they shoot as well as when first 

 loaded, Subbobiber. 



Qtjincy, Ky., Fob. 10, 1879. 



TOBEST AND STBBAH PCBLISBINO COMPANY : 



But a tew months since I was unaware that such a journal existed, 

 living, as I do, away from large centres, Isolated among tae hills of 

 northeastern Kentucky. ThankB to the kindness of a friend, a captain 

 of U. S. Engineers, whom 1 met upon the beautiful Ohio (and, by the 

 way, a sportsman of no mean pretensions, as the possession of a 1225 

 Greener, a long-range Sharps, a handsome pointer, a couple ef Bng- 

 lisli bows, traps, glass balls, targets, held glass, etc., ad infinitum, 

 would attest), who loaned me a copy, charging me with its safe return. 

 I wondered a little then, but not now, as I value each number now as 

 highly, 1 hope, as did w,y friend. To abbreviate, permit me to say 

 that I believe that from no souroe could I have obtained such knowl- 

 edge on the various subjects therein treated of, as your valuablepaper 

 has given me. If the class of men known as out ot season or pot- 

 hunters were intelligent human beings, all that would be neoessary to 

 eradicate the evil would be to mall them a few copies of Forest and 

 Stbkam; but the opposite being the rule, with few if any exceptions, 

 it would be " casting pearls before swine." If my acknowledgment 

 finds favor In your sight, I may some day tell you what I have pos- 

 sessed myself of, solely attributable to the fact of their having been 

 advertised In and indorsed by Fokest and Stream. 



Very truly, v. B. Mobse. 



Lb Hot, N. T., Feb. 24, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



So ranch ot the so-called sportsman's literature Is unfit to bring Into a 

 family ; but your paper contains leas objectionable matter than nine 

 tonlha of the dally newspapers. You have my hearty sympathy In 

 every movement which has for Its aim the freeing of field sports from 

 the odium commonly attached to their pursuit because of the low char- 

 acter of pseudo sportsmen and the free nse of the flask, Catka. 



Cubtom House, New Yore, ) 

 Collector's Office, Feb. 24, lsio. j 

 Editor Fobest and Stream : 



Permit mo to congratulate you and your fellow editors upon the 

 steady and rapid improvement of yonr paper. Its tendency to scientific 

 dlscuHHions and to articles suited to all grades of students In Natural 

 History, as well as the plain common-senee views of its many corres- 

 pondents from isolated and frontier points, render It an once scientific, 

 practical and as necessary to the lover of field sports or Investigations 

 as his easy chair and slippers are to fits home comfort. 

 With regards, believe me very truly yonrs, 



Wbdworth Wadsworth. 



GAME PROTECTION, 



Globe oe Open Seasons— A Correction. — In our table of 

 existing Game Laws which we printed last week, we inad- 

 vertently printed the word "close" when we should have said 

 "open." Of course, a glance will convince the reader what 

 we intended ; yet the blunder is a bad one. Also in regard to 

 Ihe proposed season for trout, it should read that the close 

 season called for, shall be between the months of August and 

 April. As it now reads, tbe summer months constitute the 

 close season. 



New Game Law Testimony.— A New Hampshire corres- 

 pondent writes regarding the table of game seasons, which we 

 published last week : 



The table gives the New Hampshire olose season for wood- 

 cock as ending July 1st instead of August 1st, and that for 

 ruffed grouse, quail and deer as ending August 1st. Deer can 

 be shot in Coos County after August 1st, but not in all the 

 rest of the State for three years, and the close time for grouse 

 and quail expires Sept. 1st, as it always has. The trout time 

 also is wrung, beginning April 1st instead of May 1st, and 

 ending September 3d. 



"We take great pleasure in setting ourselves up for correc- 

 tion, simply because in no other way can we better show bow 

 hopelessly tangled this game law business is. We have at- 

 tempted again and again, with the exercise of that care and 

 systematic endeavor, which avail in other undertakings, to 

 compile a correct comparative table of the close seasons of 

 the various States, and each time we have failed. Our failure 

 has been iimply and solely due to the puzzling condition of 

 the laws and counter-laws, amendments and counter-amend- 

 mentB, alteration with reason and alteration without reason, 

 which conspire to confuse the expert and wholly bewilder 

 the novice. Were a table compiled with absolute correctness, 

 the chances are that before it could be published it would 

 have already become obsolete in some one particular. We re- 

 peal what we have said before, that it is utterly impossible to 

 keep up with the game laws. This is of itself a sufficient ar- 

 gument for the adoption of such a co-operative scheme as we 

 have advocated. Only when such a scheme is adopted will 

 the question of game protection be satisfactorily solved. 



Migratobt Quail fob New York.— An interesting meet- 

 ing of the Brooklyn Gun Club was held at their rooms on the 

 evening of the 3d of March, at which much interesting infor- 

 mation was elicited respecting the habits of the migratory 

 quail in England, Germany, and the countries bordering the 

 Mediterranean; also concerning the results of the efforts made 

 by Judge Everts, of Vermont, and others to introduce and ac- 

 climate tbe birds in America ; and whether these results were 

 sufficiently satisfactory to encourage other like efforts. The 

 meetiog was addressed by Dr.JStutee, of Germany, Navy Pay- 

 master Billings, John Ackhnert the veteran naturalist, and 

 Chas. Hallock. Mr. Acklinert, who is an Englishman by 

 birth, was able to tell much ot the habits of the bird in that 

 country. He also stated that attempls were made more than 

 twenty years ago to plant migratory quail in this country, 

 and that he had mounted specimens which were obtained near 

 Jamaica, Long Island, and elsewhere in this State. He had 

 heard nothing since relating to the experiment. The general 

 impression of the meeting was, that the birds would not afford 

 the very best of sport over a dog, but that they would prove 

 a very desirable acquisition to the game stock of this country, 

 and it was therefore voted unanimously to import 300 for dis- 

 tribution on Long Island and other localities in this State. An 

 order was forwarded to Horace P. Tobey, Esq., 17 Oliver St., 

 Boston, to accompany others which he already has secured. 

 These will soon go to Sicily, and the birds will be received 

 here early in May. 



The example set by the Brooklyn Gun Club is most praise- 

 worthy, and should be followed by other Clubs and by indi- 

 viduals. Should any such wish to order a lot, they should 

 send in their orders to Mr. Tobey, as above, at once. We learn 

 that Rev. J. C. Fletcher, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has ordered 

 180 quail for his section. 



The Brooklyn Gun Club is comprised of some of the most 

 substantial citizens of Brooklyn. Dr. Aten is the President. 

 —Rev. J. C. Fletcher, author of " Brazil and the Brazil, 

 ians," and one time Secretary of Legation to Brazil, is now a 

 resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, He is one of our most en- 

 thusiastic sportsmen in the West. He is just sending for 100 

 Messina quails. 



European Partridges.— We shall be indebted to any of 

 our correspondents who may give us any information about 

 attempts to import into this country the European partridge. 

 Have there been such attempls, when, where, how, and with 

 what result ? 



Sr Joseph Spoilsmen's Club.— The following officers were 

 elected at the annual meeting of the St. Joseph (Mo,,) Sports- 

 men's Club; President, Paul Fraucke -, Vice-President N 

 E. Barnes; Corresponding Secretary, H. Carter Recording 

 Secretary, C. B. Claggett ; Treasurer, C. Mast. The club is 

 m good active condition, and five new members were added 

 t0 the rol1 ' H. Caster. 



Quail in Ohio.— The G< neral Assembly of Ohio has lust 

 passed a law prohibiting the killing of quail, Virginia par- 

 tridge, and prairie chickens until Nov. 15, 1880. This is n 

 sensible step and the only way in which to pr*wr«e the; 

 birds. 



THE NEW YORK GAME LAWS. 



Editor Forest and Stbkam : 



There seems to be a disposition to overhaul tbe game laws, 

 at the present session of our Legislature. Let us hope: 

 the matter will receive the intelligent consideration which, 

 its importance deserves. Vigorous and sweeping reforms, 

 are necessary everywhere. The first in urgency, it seems to. 

 me, is the limiting of the season in which game may be ex- 

 posed for sale or had in possession. This must be apparent to ■ 

 any one who has watched our city markets this winter. The 

 amount of game, principally quail and grouse, brought to* 

 this city since the proper shooting season closed is simply 

 npnlliDg. When the season so handicaps the birds in I heir 

 otrugjj.-. for existence that they can be taken in such quan- 

 tities as to enable the markctmen to transport them a 

 thousand miles, pay two or three profits, or peddle them 

 through the streets at less than tbe price of beef, We niusi 

 if we will not submit to their utter annihilation, either limit 

 the selling season, or evoke divine power to surpress snow 

 storms. So long as any birds remain this destruction will 

 be repeated every season of heavy snows. It is evident the 

 law must come to the rescue or the birds be exterminated 

 1 have found on examination of the immense bunches of 

 birds in market that a large percentage were absolutely 

 nothing but skin, bone and feathers, showing that they had 

 been almost (or quite) starved to death. How ul tody unfit 

 for food sucn meat is I This consideration alone should 

 stop the sale of it. Since our lasting snows rarely fall be- 

 lore the first of January, if the season for selling game ex- 

 pired with the season for shooting the same, or, say fifteen 

 days thereafter, it would preserve untold thousands of birds 

 which are necessary to propagate the species in sufficient 

 numbers to maintain an undiminished supply. 



1 fancy 1 hear some one saying, " Yes ; but many of Jhe 

 birds now in market were picked up dead on the prairie^, 

 or, at least, in BU ch a stale of exhaustion and starvation, thai 

 they could not have lived till spring. Why then so far as 

 protection to the game is concerned, do you object to their 

 being sent to market ?" A little reflection will show- thar 

 this does not alter the case a whit, for, while it is undoubt- 

 edly true that many birds are sent to market which wouldl 

 otherwise be wasted, it is also true that as many more 

 are taken which would have pulled through it if left 

 alone. Then again .• You, Mr. Editor, have shown in 

 one of your late valued editorials how much can be 

 done, and very easily too, by farmers and others to 

 prevent game irom dying in stress of weather bv 

 scattering gram, erecting brush heaps, offering the hosni- 

 talmes of the haystack and barnyard, etc. Now it seem, 

 to me that this would be more generally done if there were 

 not a price on the head of every bird. It farmers could not 

 find a market probably self-interest would induce them to 

 give the birds food and shelter to keep them alive tall th" 

 next season. I am informed that in certain localities of this 

 State more ruffed grouse are snared and marketed fas west- 

 ern birds I suppose) after January l.when they are under 

 the law s feeble protection, than are killed during the wholfe 

 open season, bo no person, be he ever so selfish can on- 

 pose this measure by saying, " Oh, we don't care What be- 

 comes of the game of other States so long as our own are 

 preserved." Therefore, I would most earnestly beseech he 

 gentlemen who have in charge the duty of amending ihe. 

 game laws to give this question their first and best attention 

 Let January 1 be the very latest date on which it shall 

 be legal to sell or possess game of any kind. And don't let 

 the open shooting season extend a day beyond the present 

 limit, January 1 It has always seemed to me that sum- 

 mer shooting should be abolished in Mo; legislation in 

 many States has been gradually approaching this end 



Ihe law which for the last two seasons has prevented! 

 shooting till August!, has, so far as 1 can judge, wS 

 well, and car. only be bettered by one more advance and 

 striking off tbe remaining summer month, ft is now propos- 

 ed, however, to allow the killing of woodcock (young quail 

 and grouse incidentally) in July, and then call off the dogs till 

 Oct. The reason for this truly ingenious plan is, probably 

 to sanction the killing off of the young, half-fledged broods- 

 m early summer m order to reconcile people to letting what 

 are let moult m peace, when it is naturally more difficult 

 to find one bird than a dozen poor, helpless, just-hatched 

 things earlier m the season. In other words, it is thought 

 expedient to sacrifice a dozen little chicks in order to efve 

 one old and secluded bird a chance to moult unmolested 

 Aside from the question of whether, if properly observed' 

 it offers better protection, such a law will work confusion" 

 We have by all previous legislation become accustomed to 

 one uninterrupted open season ; and now to have it open 

 close, and open again, would, I fear, so blur the lines of 

 ration that they would be over-stepped both way 

 It is easier to keep the gun on the hooks till it can be used 

 uninterruptedly than to take it down just long enough to 

 get it nicely warmed and then bo obliaed to let it cool off 

 again. " 



Gentlemen, let good common sense rule this time and we 

 shall have cause to rejoice for years to come. Ossihing- 



Jfeio York, Feb. 24.— Editor Forest and Stream-. I saw in. 

 your paper of Feb. 13., that the N. Y. Association for the 

 Protection of Game had adopted a resolution to recommend 

 to the Senate Committee the adoption of the following as a 

 law, viz : " That woodcock shooting be allowed durino- J u i v 

 then close, and open again on Oct. 15." I hope this will not 

 become the law in this State and that you will not favor its 

 passage. I don't wish to re-open the arguments for and 

 against summer shooting, as they were well ventilated in 

 your columns some time since; the law was passed nrohih 

 jtmg woodcock shooting till August 1, and has proved very 

 beneficial to all sportsmen. The- birds are not all full 

 grown ,n July, and if shooting were again permitted then 

 there would come the old complaints of a scarcity of ruffed' 

 grouse when the season for them opened, as many are shot 

 by pot hunters when out shooting woodcock. If there is in 

 be any change in the present law, let the opening of the 

 season be fixed for Sept. 1, or even as late as Oct. 1 In any 

 event 1 am not in favor of again having summer woodcock 

 shooting, and 1 trust many of your readers are of the same 

 opinion. g ^ 



