Sbft. 27. 1883.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



165 



when one of floese snafees climbed up to where we had placed 

 them on the beams preparatory to blowing. 



Notwithstanding tlie.se drawbacks, we became so attached 

 lo our camp thai we puiebascil the land and erected a sub- 

 stantial log cabin. At some future time 1 will send you 

 aceotmt of the rave birds obtained by us, with notes on th 

 bttsod'ms:. 



Should any reader Of the above desire to test, for himself 

 the truth of "the above statements, if lie will communicate 

 with the editor of Forest akb Stukam, permission will be 

 grnnleii him lo occupy the cabin without charge. 



KAI.n.VKAt.LA. 



NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION. 



A CIRCULAR sent OlH by 1he president of the N 

 State Association for the Protection of Fish and Game, 

 gives information respecting the twenty-flflh annual conven- 

 tion of tin- society. The circular is dated Niagara Falls, 

 M. Y, September iS. a id !- as tollo.vs: 



"At the last meeting of this Association, held at Niagara 

 Palls, N. T.. Jui>,:- 1882 1: was determined that the Associa- 

 tion should hold its next meeting here. 



'•'It was well understood I 33 would be an off year for 

 wild pigeons, ami in con Cl ueni " theeliiB under whose care 

 tUe Association mighteonfer the honor of attending to the de- 

 tails, would have great difficulty in procuring wild pigeons 

 for a tournament, which has usually been held after the busi- 

 ness meeting, The Opinion of those well qualified at the 

 time to judge of such matters has been fully verified by the 

 condition all through the season. Scarcely a wild pigeon 

 'i found in the North 1 1- States. 

 "The Niagara Falls Shooting Club, in whose hands the 

 convention was placed tor 1888, have deferred making the 

 call until this time in the hope that alter the harvest of grain 

 enough birds might be procured to at, least dispone of the 

 ,,,',:■:- ' ■! ;.;i,i Association, which under the rules 



hi i i. -r with live pigeons. After waiting UDtil 



| , , j , , , | , 3 i ,vi -ji— up to this date— no birds have 

 made their appearance. The pigeon committee of the club 

 have been very watchful, and have extensively corresponded 

 with all the principal neili-rs and dealers in the country, and 

 could procure no birds of a quality and at a, price which 

 would guarantee anything like a successful tournament. 

 Therefore, at last, the fondest hopes of a good many re- 

 spected nienil.-.ot our Association have been realized by force 

 of circum in , a convention might be held without 



a tournament— ami it remains, now to be seen whether a 

 mertiug of the Association will be as largely attended, The 



i! imain the -a t — that of the protection of fish and 



game— and it is li.rped a large attendance will he secured. 

 As heretofore, each club is entitled to send five, delegates. 



"As si question incidental lo the Association, it might be 



well to provide some legitimate way of disposing of the 



trophies in the future, in the event live, pigeons can not be 



prizes tl n - have been received will be 



ei othooima The grounds upon which the tour- 



i : , r remain in the possession of 



1,1 ,,!■>; Club. 



■1 respectfully ius itc your attention to the call of the. club 

 inclosed herewith, ol ming the first day of October next, 

 for the holding ol Ibe twenty-fifth annual convention of the 

 ii. at the Niagara Falls Shooting Club rooms, in 

 i i i ■■■> 8 o'clock P. M. of that day. "Respectfully, 



S. T. Motiray, President. 



PLUCKED GEESE. 



THERE is no shooting; The time for taking trout is 

 ended. The pound-nets have destroyed the bay fish- 

 ing, and. not being an athlete, I decline oysf bring. 



"Ii- -Admiral and Seth Grl'een are reported to be out in the 

 yacht somewhere on the water, and if not catching some- 

 thing, are certainly concocting some new dish out of what 

 none else will eat. Not long since Seth tried a mouthful of 

 the jelly fish. His report is that red pepper would he cooling 



after It. 



Wallace has not returned; perhaps you do not remem- 

 ber Wallace. He came down here from the City of 



('lunches, and brought 



, ol i :,,- ■,. 

 polite to the 

 all men." f 

 parties he loi 

 the destination was 

 the lordliest style. When I 

 had a check for two hund 

 landli 



hi 



:cd afr.e.i 



1 he 



nidation from 

 is of the godly. He was 

 •n, in fact "all things to 

 • perfection. On sailing 

 id everybody, and when 

 3d up the chs 



five dollars. Tin 

 drjiwer. So Wa 



El 



rille, 

 md h; 



me the balS 



skipped to Bi 



admired hilt 

 played his t 



furbished Up, I li 

 change, but would lik 

 dollars. No one couli 

 So he went forth with 

 he bies him to hish. 

 ealls for Ms bill, as he 



little account has been mi 

 ized at, about sevenly-fiv 

 tWO hundred dollar check 



rolls 



balance 

 heavy bills 1 



He thinks t 

 a horse and w 

 endeavoring t 

 a friendly hen 

 thinks that it 

 drive four miles himself 

 live dollars and reqm 



bark, he only 



oil with him: his bill was twenty- 



d had only one hundred in the 



id, '"That's all right, you can owe 



lie over in a day or two," and he 



lere he called upon the barber, who 



1 many times and oft used and dis- 



ore upon him. Wallace, being now 



lo the artist that he had no small 



■ to borrow for a day say twenty-five 



refuse SO small a sum to" such a man.. 



the contribution of the barber. Then 



stelry. kept, by the genial Foster, and 



must go to town for a day- or tw T o: bis 



running for a few weeks and is total. 



shekels. Again he has only the 



ad Foster presses upon him the 



he cheek and puts it away to pay some 



sepc 



light In 



living he will take a ride, so hires 



asl horse, stops on the road to see 

 hois just out, of wine, and who 

 iter to let Wallace buy if than to 

 iQ he hands Wallace some twentv- 

 kirn to order if 



_.._'le. which 



shortly appears arid with it the bill. Upon Wallace's return 

 to the hotel hfi shakes all warmly by the hand, states that 

 important business calls him for a few'days to the city, but 

 that as soon as he can arrange matters he will return. He 

 never found so interesting a village., nor such kind and 

 familiar people. The various creditors of Wallace are 

 looking for him yet, so if you hear of him say to him that 

 many of the Savrillians hanker to press his 'hand. A few 

 nights after his departure a band of minstrels delighted the 

 village by 11 performance. Oue end man a.sked the other if 

 he knew the difference between the words recollect and re- 

 member. The latter asserted that, they are synonymous. 

 The first man denies it, and is then requested to state the 

 ' i , ice, which be docs by saying that the barber rcmem- 

 bers f leling Wallace l went'v-fivn dollars, but does not recol- 

 lect that he repaid him. 



The prospects for quail are excellent. There are quite a 

 number of bevies in my immediate neighborhood, but 1 fear 

 that by the 1st of November most of them will be trapped or 

 shot. The balance, taking warning, will hie them to the 

 scrub oak, where neither man nor dog can get at them. 1 

 am of the opinion that, if it were not for the above mentioned 

 scrub, there would not be a feathered biped on the whole 

 island. It is the same story as a small boy whom I met ou 

 (he road a few days since silting by a fence, with his hat lie- 

 tween his knees, munching, told me. "What have von 

 there, Billy?- "Wild grapes, sir. Have some?' "No. 

 thank you, hut don't those vines belong to Enele Sam?" 

 "Yes, sir; but some of the other boys will get them, so I 

 thought, 1 might, as well take them." The grown-up boys are 

 the same. They dredge the bay because some oue else will 

 get the oysters. ' They put pound-nets in the channel of the 

 bay for rear some one else will get the fish, and they are ruin- 

 ing one of the finest sporting places in the world, for fear 

 tied some one else will do ik The birds are treated in the 

 same manner, and as T said before, if nature bad not pro- 

 tected them by leaving the middle of the island so poor that 

 it Will only grow eat briars and dwarf trees, there would not 

 ho one, except, perhaps, in a glass case as a curiosity. Within 

 Hie last three years there have been some large tracts of land 

 bought by wealthy men, who are preserving the shooting as 

 much as possible. This may have a salutary effect. 1 1 is 

 my hope. iJrc Rreinw. 



Rawtu.f,. t.onr; Islam!, Kept. 18. 



MAINE AND IVTOOSE WARDENS. 



FROM the day the writer first began to reel the excite- 

 ment of striking a two-pound trout, or of guessing tin; 

 age of a deer-track, he has looked with longing 'eyes toward 

 the backwoods of Maine. But until September 1 of the 

 present year he only looked and longed. Upon that day he 

 started 'for the Maine woods. The region of Mt. Katahdiu 

 was chosen in preference to either Raugelev or Moosehead 

 because it is visited by 7 fewer sportsmen. Our purpose was 

 to go at once to Bake Katahdiu, to which a road has been 

 opened this summer, and where a camp has been built, 

 where, also, board, boats, guides, etc., may be obtained. 



Our ardor to reach the lake and to climb Kalahdjn was 

 greatly quickened when our stage came out of the Seven- 

 mile Woods, en route from Matawamkeag to Patten, and we 

 saw for the first time the grand old monarch standing out, 

 boldly against the sky before us. The day was tine, and the 

 view from the hill In No. 1, where we stopped to change 

 horses, was finer; the best, view of Katahdiu from any point lo 

 the eastward. 



At, Patten the, general impression made upon us by the 

 talk of the townspeople was, that if we wanted to enjoy fine 

 scenery and climb the mountain. Bake Katahdiu wasour place. 

 But, if we were after trout and game, our chances were bet- 

 ter to go elsewhere. Since we had a new gun and a brand 

 uew rod. we wanted game and trout, so we chose to go else- 

 where. The majority 7 vote of the natives was in favor of 

 "Trout Brook," and "for "Trout Brook Farm" we started. 

 The "farm" lies thirty-five miles from Patten to the north- 

 west, on the waters of the east branch of the Penobscot, and 

 twenty-five miles from the last rod of turnpike and tin; last, 

 edge of civilization. We expected lo make the journey in 

 one day, but later we concluded that we did not know the 

 country. We thought we knew what bnckboarding over a 

 rough road was, but we didn't. 



As the baggage was strapped and double strapped on be- 

 hind our seat, we began to ask questions; and When the sec- 

 ond rubber was spread over it all and again tied on. we ex- 

 claimed. Our exclamation was answered by the suggestion 

 that there might be some mud in the road in the woods. 

 One of the party, of an inquisitive disposition, ventured to 

 ask how much "of the way we could trot. "Humph, not 

 much trot you will find," was the reply, and so we did find. 



Ei t year we recommended a day or two of buokboarding 

 in (he Adirondack* for dyspepsia. That is good, and 1'iii 

 sure it would prove 10 be an effective cure, but it's nothing 

 compared with the ride from Patten to ' 'Trout Brook Farm. " 

 One or two applications of that road is sure cure. It would 

 utterly annihilate any stomach troubles. Between the rising 

 up of "the things under it and the jolting down of the things 

 over it, and the sudden pressing in of a rib, or the side of 

 the seat, or your backbone, or whatever chances to be about 

 it, the stOmach is utterly crowded out of existence in a very 

 few hours, and you have left only an aching back and sides, 

 and a tremendous void where once was a "stomach, which 

 void also aches and cries for "pork and beans." 



The ride is not without liberal Compensations, however. 

 If Mr. Liltlefielil, the proprietor of "Trout Brook Farm," IS 

 your driver, you have absolute confidence in him and in the 

 strength of "his wagon and horses, and you are absolutely 

 sure that in most places the rocks under tlie wheels will not 

 give way and let you down. You will come down, but it 

 will be just the other side of the rock, and you will wish 

 you hadn't. The forest through which you go" is unbroken. 

 You will cross two or three streams where you can catch a 

 couple of good trout while the horses are baitiug, and now 

 and then a partridge will stop by the road side and wait for 

 you to shoot him. 



At the farm you are in a little paradise; a vegetable oasis 

 in a desert of trees. Your nearest neighbor to the east is 

 eleven miles, and to Ike we.st thirty miles. At the house 

 you have a good lied, and a most generous table, and genial 

 entertainers, who are full of the love of the woodman's life. 

 They will lake you into a logger's camp, or tree a bear, or 

 shoot a bull moose for you anv evening, as you sit about, the 

 cheerful fire. Trout Brook, which runs through the farm, 

 abounds in trout. We saw one taken from the brook which 

 weighed 2^ lbs,, and ourselves took a great many that 

 Weighed a good deal less. Matagamon Lake is just below the 

 house, and three miles above is Matagamousis, or second 

 lake, about whose waters you can get both fish and game. 

 Canoes and cauoemen are at your disposal. All about you 

 are bears, deer, caribou aud moose. Only one thing prevents 

 your perfect enjoyment, viz., the retiring disposition of the 

 bears, and the law which prohibits shooting other large 

 game, and the vigilance of the game wardens." 



As much, however, as we were anxious to catch the bull- 

 moose who chased the cowboy up a tree the day before our 

 arrival, and to punish him for his audacity, we heartily re- 

 spected the Maine law-makers, and the faithful wardens who 

 seethal Ibe lav isoheyed. A number of poachers ate this 

 uiomh being tried for killing moose in the deep snows of last 

 winter, and we learned from tourists who came from Moose- 

 head and Chamberlain, of the too much uumemusiiess ami 

 watchfulness of the game wardens to make shooting sale. 



Good for the wardens, we say Heartily, and we are glad of 

 an opportunity In publish a communication of their" faith- 



fulness, and of the determination of the Maine people to 

 preserve the game which is so fast being exterminated from 

 our country. In Northern Maine there is a gieat region 

 where large game is yet quite abundant, and the present law, 

 which SeelflS tO the natives all too severe, gives opportunity 

 enough for all legitimate spotting, and alf men who are no"t 

 simply thoughtlessly selfish and intent upon present enjoy- 

 ment, are more than content to both keep and sustain the 

 present, severe game law. 



Some of the growlers are loud mouthed in their determin- 

 ation not to stand it. Their denunciations imply that out- 

 siders kill the game, and that the laws were made to keep 

 the natives from their privilege. L'pou the testimony of 

 both woodsmen and hunters we affirm that the contrary is 

 true. Sportsmen from other parts kill comparatively little 

 game. But the pothunters, who slaughter moose and deer 

 in the deep snows and lug out the hides ouly, are the wretches 

 whom the law is after, and whom all sensible men, whether 

 they live in Northern Maine or Southern Massachusetts, hope 

 it, will catch anrl severely punish. H. H. K. 



Boston, Sept. SO, 1883, 



PROFESSIONAL MEN AND GAME. 

 Editor Ftfml am! stream: 



You seem strongly inclined to make use of the sad acci- 

 dent, by which my lamented friend, Prof. Stuart Phelps, 

 lost, his life, "to point amoral aud adorn a tale." In your 

 issue of September t! you class him— and possibly deservedly 

 —among Ibe thousand and oue ignoramuses who do not 

 know how to handle a gun, aud in last weeks' issue you ar- 

 raign him as a breaker of the game laws. If he could wield 

 his caustic pen. he would, I am sure, send you something 

 on both these points which would be well worthy of vour 

 consideration, but unfortunately his hand is still, and his 

 friends must speak for him. 



For three successive seasons— in 'TO. '80 and '81 — it was 

 my privilege to be with him in the woods, and I had abun- 

 dant opportunity to observe him in all the phases of camp 

 life. He was an enthusiastic and well-trained sportsman, 

 thoroughly familiar with the use of weapons, and habitually 

 one of the most cautious men in handling them I have ever 

 known. I never saw him, for instance, put a loaded gun into 

 or take one out, of a boat, or carry one into a tent, and when 

 we were on the trail he was always careful to hold his weapon 

 in such a way that, in case of accidental discharge, it could 

 not possibly 'injure himself or any one else. j\Voue knows 

 precisely how the fatal accidenl occurred ; it, is evident, how- 

 ever, that in this instance hew as disregarding consciously or 

 unconsciously a rule which he considered "imperative, "and 

 which, so far as my observation extends, he habitually ob- 

 served. Many surmises on the subject may be made, ' but, 

 of course, speculation is useless. For my own part, lam 

 content to regard the sad event, as one which may happen to 

 any person who uses a gun. as a providence for which there 

 is no satisfactory explanation in this world. 



You state editorially, that at (lie time of his death he was 

 engaged in violating the game laws, aud thereat your editorial 



bauds are lifted iu holy lini ;-i .;■ i hi ne , uot g^n,-,; i 



am able to say on the best authority — that of the gentleman 

 who was with him when I he accident occurred— that he was 

 Standing on the shore of the lake, and was iu the act of put- 

 ting a gun into his boat. If the relation of professional men 

 to the game laws is to be discussed, and 1 hope it will be 

 thoroughly, I think that as Prof, Phelps, whatever his inten- 

 tions may have been, was not actually in pursuit of game, 

 his name ought, in all fairness, to be 'left, out of the discus- 

 sion. On the general subject — the attitude of professional 

 men toward the 'game laws— I am well aware there is much 

 to fie said on both sides, and I have read attentively all you 

 have published hitherto. I frankly confess, that as'the laws 

 now stand, I much prefer to be classed among the breakers, 

 than among the makers, of them. Laws which fail to secure 

 the approbation of one of (he best, and in general, most law- 

 : i ,n. portions oi up I'liiMiruinil y, may- lie -.ufcdv set down 

 as practically obsolete from the day of their enactment. The 

 class of men to which I have the honor to belong are gentle- 

 men; many of them are accomplished sportsmen; none of 

 them are trout-bogs, or game-hogs. All they ask is what 

 everybody else enjoys, or may enjoy, viz., the privilege of 

 taking enough fish and game to eke out such Supplies as they 

 can conveniently- take into camp. They could safely be 

 (rusted to kill no more game, than is necessary, and their 

 number is not so large, that, they would make any serious in- 

 road on the supply of game. Surely a law might, be framed 

 Which Would permit them, on presentation of proper papers 

 to the game commissioners of any State, and perhaps on pay- 

 ment of a fee, large or small, to take what they need. But 

 it. is scarcely reasonable to suppose, whatever" others may 

 think, that, professional men whose duties are such, that if 

 they go into the woods at all, they must go during the close 

 season, and to many whom a trip to the woods is literally a 

 new lease of life, will respect a series of statutes enacted by 

 the average State Legislature, the majority of whom, to judge 

 them by their work, do not kuow the difference between 

 trout and tomcod, or caribou and 'coon. Oi.tbo. 



New Haves. Cone.. Sept. IS. 



GAME IN TEXAS. 



ANTELOPE are rather scarce net 

 has been dry. We have had -v 

 mer, although the grass is quite ; 

 shower a few days ago about three 

 and I noticed a ounch of about twen 

 ing, and the grass looked fresh and gre 

 follow up the rains during til 



r here at present, as it 

 ery little rain this sum- 

 ;ood. It rained a erood 

 aides west of this place. 

 Ly head there this morn- 

 en. Most of the antelope 

 I killed two fat 



bucks day before yesterday on my way from our camp to 

 this place, ten miles distant. All the old" bucks are very fat 

 now and will continue so until next spring; they are "very 

 fine eating. Most of the antelope are away north on the 

 plains now, but will begin to drift south 'as soon as cold 

 weather sets in; and then there will be fine sport along 

 the railroad anywhere, between Odessa aud forty miles east." 

 There are soine few buffalo yet on Hie plains, about fifty 

 miles northwest of here, but they are very wild and almost 

 always poor, for they have lo go without water half the time, 

 as there is very little or no water on the Staked Plains, and 

 when they drift to the edge of the plains to their old water- 

 places they are shot at, "by ranchmen and cowboys, who 

 almost always cripple more than they kill. The plains are 

 getting ranched up very fast this summer by sheepmen, who 

 have been crowded out of the lower counties. Thev dig 

 wells in the basins and draws, and some of them have si ruck 

 splendid water. Most "f thewatel in this country is salty 

 and alkaloid; and lh.iv mv several salt lakes near this place 

 which dry up during the summer and afford good stock salt. 



