Ooi 1.1. 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



208 



Last summer, during the overflow. I was traveling in a 

 .kill willi tlic United Stales mail, a railroad conductor and 

 tw6 negro oarsmen, about eight feet above the track of the 

 | P. Railway. One of ihe irejgroOB (they have very 

 -harp eyes) called the conductor's attention to a snake up iu 

 a rypi-e'ss tree. The conductor had B small .°2-ealiher rifle, 

 which he carried along tor the destruction of snake-. I SV&S 

 unahle to see the snake until he filed, when 1 saw a water- 

 moecnsiu four or live feet long drop trout a point about 

 seventy-five feet high, on the body of the cypress. He fell 

 some distance .and caught oil a limb, where we left him 

 squirming, cut nearly in two by the bullet, ll was a very 

 good shot, and the snake was higher up the tree than I had 

 ever seen one before, and he hail scarcely a limb to assist him 

 in climbing. 



Tn my wanderings 1 have trod upon two rattlesnakes, 

 stepped over one. and have been in close proximity to quite 

 a Dumber of them, yet 1 never had one offer to strike mf 

 e.xeepl after being teased. 1 conclude that the expenditure 

 of venom is exhaustive to the snake, and he is reluctant to 

 make the effort unless excited. OuAetmv. 



MoNHOK, La. 



[The impression that the spreading adder (Ilrtermh'ii) is 

 venomous is very general, but is apparently without, any 

 foundation in fact. The appearance of the snake would 

 account in a measure for the dread in which if is generally 

 held.] 



BSOBNT AnRlVJLS .or TllK PfflfcADELPHX* ZOOLOBIOAl GAnl.EN.- 



K--o.-iv.-.l M |.u;. ■!■:,,,• <>„.. .Ail, I ,-at >l.y,rx ,-,,/es,. ,.,,,, MaoRqne 

 tnonkej i.U.owi/x.-i/,.oi,o.A/„.si. one la.aleelm i--. Iir,.u ,,,,,-,, /,-,,, ; i,.,a. 



■ '.' '. ; ,„' , ■ Karon-an 'robins' iErithacu* relu. •„!,',:. two 

 blackcap i. arlil-rs iSi/ln > ,,,;,-„■., ..,tln\ ami one ban.jei] rattle-hake 

 >Cn,t,ji„.s i„. ,r:, ;.,,.. Kf..-oivcJ bv presentation— One woodchuck 

 ( Ivrf,,,,,;;- ,„, , raccoons' i /■',-...■; i/.. „ lolw,, one opossum 

 (l>Meh,),ii< >■>!■■,;, vrinn\. . .ne female jrr.'iv lak'othrix \Lnqothns hum- 

 hotdti). on,. Carolina il.iv- ■ . ,.'■■■.■■■ ,■ • '„, ,;.-!,- ,;,,: 

 ,■,',...' .,.<„,h,*),i gmeaeaglB(,Aquilnchrj/s<rl,„ . iv „ 



h .. ni,,.l o,ik .,■-,„,'„, ,-,■,..,',.,■■ ,; ., ... '-.v.. Kittiwake (,-lllls [l.< ii-iw tritttf- 



0mqe §ng m\A %nt\. 



'J'o i, i sun- prompt attention, eomimwirutions should be ad- 

 dressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., ami not to 

 iiuliciilHttls, in whose absence from the office ninltnv of im- 

 portance are liable tadehey. 



OPEN SEASONS. 



The digest of open seasons, printed in our issue of Au£. in, has 

 been published in convenient pamphlet form, and will be Gent to any 

 address. postpaid. on receipt of 10 cents. 



PROFESSIONAL MEN AND GAME. 



BgMw Forest and Stream: 



It would usually seem that whatever opinions we. may 

 have entertained of a man's acts while he lived and breathed 

 among us. and was able to defend himself, that after he had 

 "gone to that bourne from whence no traveler has ever re- 

 turned," the least we can do is maintain a respectful silence 

 in deference to the solemnity of the occasion and ils circum- 

 stances. 



The sad occurrence iu the wilds of Northern Maine which 

 railed forth the letter of "Olibo" in your last, issue would 

 have gone into oblivion without any public comment on my 

 part, if he had not chosen to open the subject himself, and 

 had not invited the discussion of this topic. He says, in re- 

 ferring to the late casualty in Maine,"! am able to say on the 

 best authority — that of the gentleman who was with him 

 when the accident occurred— that he was standing on the 

 shore of the lake, and was in the act of putting his gun into 

 the final. '' Aud yet his gnu was loaded with heavy buck 

 shot while he was on a fishing excursion. Why was thisv I 

 will answer this query myself, "The gentleman who Was 

 ~dlh him" told several reliable persons at Ml. Kineo and 

 , i ieinville,who related thesame to the writer, that only a few 

 moments before the accident occurred they (Messrs. Smvthe 

 and Phelps! bad been firing at a caribou and failed to kill.' Be 

 -ides this, an efficient State detective had previously been on 

 1he trail of this same party, knew their whereabouts, under- 

 Stood their intentions anil was aware of their every move- 

 ment, aud he avers that such was the fact. It is useless to 

 deny that they were openly and notoriously making an 

 attempt to violate the game laws of Maine. 



But, "Olibo" prepares himself for proof of their guilt by 

 denouncing the law. There is an old maxim which says: 

 ' 'Those who do not preserve the law of the land , thence justly 

 incur the ineffaceable brand of infamy." 



The man who ■•prefers" to be classed with the "law- 

 breakers" rather than Ihe "law-makers" aud law-abiding 

 citizens, arrays himself upon the side of the lawless, espouses 

 the cause of poaching, law-breaking and violence, whether 

 the law is right or wrong, 



Bui upon the question of the merits of the game laws of 

 Maine. "Olibo" is entirely in error. He claim's that they fail 

 to "secure the approbation of one of the best, and in general, 

 law-abiding portions of the community." No state- 

 ment could possibly have been written that, would have been 

 tut 1 1 hi- from the truth than this one. 



If he refers to "professional men" or to the "sportsmen'' 

 it) general who visit Maine during the season for fishing aud 

 shooting. I deny thai assertion most emphatically. 



For many year, past I have resided in this" portion of 

 .Maine, near the region which was the scene of this fatal and 

 lamentable accident, and where thousands annually congre- 

 gate during the summer mouths to enjoy the charms and 

 attractions of these northern forests', lakes, ponds and 

 Streams, and during the time I have come in contact, become 

 associated with and formed the acquaintance of many of 

 these people who are denominated "sportsmen." and who' rep- 

 resent the professions and various other avocations of life. 

 The; come from almost every Northern State, but more 

 especially from Now England aud the Middle Stales. They 

 are, as a rule, gentlemen, and law abiding, respectable 

 citizens, 



Prom what knowledge I have of them, which is based 

 upon a close observation for ten years past. I helieve that 

 not five per cent, of their number are violators of Or are in 

 sympatic with any infractions of the Maine game and fish 

 laws. On the oilier hand, they are usually among the mosl 

 ardent and enthusiastic supporters of the idea of protection 

 to our fish nnd game, and their influence with the guides, 



their intercourse with our own citizens of Maine during 

 their summer visits here, have had much to do with creating 

 the wholesome public sentiment that now prevails in favor 

 of these laws throughout the entire length-and breadth of 



the Slate. 



Instead of these laws falling to secure the approval of 

 this class, they have ever been their truest and most staunch 

 and reliable friends, and in more than one instance these 

 "professional men" from other States have inspired or orig- 

 inated the acts which are now the very laws so despised by 

 "Olibo." 



"Olibo" further says, iu support of his denunciation of 

 the game laws. "All they [the tourists] ask is * * * the 

 privilege of taking enough fish and game to eke out such 

 supplies as they can conveniently take into camp." The 

 midnight assassin and the "gentleman' who robs banks 

 could with as much reason make the same argument and 

 appeal for their "rights." When the loue squatter upon the 

 shores of Moosehead and Chesuncook lakes and the hardy 

 pioneer at the outposts of civilization require game during 

 the prohibited season for the purpose of satisfying the 

 hunger of himself and his wau family, there might be. 

 viewing his case from a purely humane standpoint, some 

 plea in justification of the warden who refiains from enforc- 

 ing the extreme rigors of the law upon him when he exer- 

 cises the "privilege of taking enough fish and game" to his 

 meager and dreary cabin to prevent starvation But for the 

 professional— whet her he be clothed in clerical robes, re- 

 ceiving tl munificent salary, and living on the "fat of the 

 land," or whether he he the luxuriant lawyer, endowed with 

 a rich clientage— to claim this favor has" not the merit of 

 good sense. 



The man who can afford to travel [three or five htiudred 

 miles by rail, put up at first-class summer hotels, and employ 

 guides in his tours, is able to supply himself with all tli 

 necessaries and luxuries of camp life without killing dee 

 moose, caribou, or game birds in close time. 



I do not say that the poor man should have the right, to 

 vJ late the law, but T do claim that if either of these classes 

 are to be condemned, it .is in every sense more proper, fit- 

 ting aud christian-like that it be him rather than those repre- 

 resented by "Olibo." 



As I have never been a member of the Legislature of Maine, 

 I do not take any special umbrage, at bis gentlemanly ideas in 

 Tegard to the Maine law "makers." Generally speaking, 

 they have been those who were amply able to defend them- 

 selves. But they have been "gentlemen" wdio have had con 

 victions that the fish and game of our State belong to the 

 public, and not to a privileged class or a favored few, 

 whether they be men from the classic walks of professional 

 life, owning Government securities, and living in palatial 

 residents, or the backwoodsman of the forests owning a 

 hundred acres of land and living in a log house, and they 

 have enacted laws which protect and preserve this game for 

 the whole public, and their laws are now being sustained by 

 the most intelligent and influential of Maine's citizens, a"s 

 well as by nearly all of those from the cities and towns of 

 other States, who favor us with their presence during the 

 summer months. J. P. SPBACtoE 



VIoxsok. Maine, Oct. 1, 1683. 



Editor ForiSt and Stream: 



In your issue of September 27 are two communicati, 

 relating t.o Maine, both interesting to me, the first from its 

 sympathy and good will, the second for the want of the 

 same. Let us iook at game protection as it is, aud see who 

 protect the game and how it is accomplished. We must all 

 admit thai large game can last but a few years at best, and 

 if not protected its extinction is near* at hand. I have 

 watched for over forty years its steady and rapid decrease, 

 and the effects of different agencies wiiich have caused thii 

 destruction, and at some future time will speak of them. L 

 do believe that with judicious laws properly enforced much 

 can be done to restock our depleted forests; yet how- best to 

 do this is the question. Our Legislature passed laws, (bey 

 were amended when found imperfect, and now wc have 

 them, not satisfactory to all, but we do hope by their en- 

 forcement to save our game, and when we fiud they need 

 changing we shall very properly submit the question to our 

 Legislature. 



It is the duty of our good citizens to obey and aid in the 

 enforcement of laws, especially when they "originated by the 

 wish and will of the majority of the people, which is true of 

 our game laws. Our game laws were intended to benefit 

 all, and when our Legislature enacted them all sportsmen 

 and protectionists were invited to assemble in Augusta for 

 consultation. We arc satisfied that our Legislature acted 

 wisely and advisedly, and that proper enforcement of out- 

 present laws will result in great good to our State. A law 

 may be good, yet not enforced "because of want of proper 

 moral sent iment. We see it. in the enforcement of the Maine 

 liquor law; one town punishes its rumsellers, another does 

 not, for the reason that the first has a moral power, the second 

 none, yet, no one will say the law is not good in its intent, 

 or thai the enforcement of same would not be a benefit to all. 



Public sentiment is with game protection, and is daily 

 gaining in strength. Market hunters and middlemen are 

 loud in their denunciations, but their number is small when 

 compared with the supporters of the law. I have lived all 

 my life in Maine, and for the greater part of the time in one 

 of the best regions for game; and I thoroughly know the "law- 

 breakers,-" "Glibo" is correct, "breakers of' the law." That 

 means here skedaddler, bounty juniper, smuggler, whisky 

 seller, fire-bug, thief and poacher. I believe all our resident 

 poachers can be classed as possessing one, if not all, of the 

 qualifications of the above law-breakers. The game protec- 

 tor proper is the resident who aids the officers of the law. 

 I elaim to helong to that number. It is enough to contend 

 with our own depraved aitizens without having tourists come 

 in with their money and bad whisky to encourage our "law- 

 breakers/' Wc pay money and ; wo'rk for the protection of 

 game, and claim we have a right to speak when our visitors 

 from other States come in to steal what we have produced. 

 I am not severe, for just read: 



"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 Ihe approbation 

 of the best, and in general, mosl law-abiding portions of the 

 community, maybe safely set down as practically obsolete 

 from the day of" their enactment. The class of men to which 

 1 have the honor to belong are gentlemen, many of them are 

 accomplished sportsmen: none "of them are trout-bbgs, or 

 gun 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 eould safely be trusted to kill no more game 

 than is necessary, and their .number is not so large that 



they would make any serious inroad 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 payment of a fee, large or small, 

 to take what they need. But it is scarcely reasonable to sup- 

 pose, whatever others may think, that professional men. 

 Whose duties are such, that if they go into the woods at all 

 thev must go during the close season, and many to whom a 

 trip to the woods is literally a new lease of life, will respect 

 a series of statute., enacted by the average Stale Le.gislat.un-, 

 the majority of whom, to judge them by their work, do not 

 know the difference between trout and" tomcod. or caribou 

 and "coon." 



Is this the position of honorable men? Oan it be that we. 

 inhabitants of Maine, are not capable of self-preservation, or 

 have wc no idea of right and wrong? Has this very select, 

 honorable and high-toned body of gentlemen to which 

 "Olibo" belongs a right to demand and expect of a State 

 special privileges not allowed to its own citizens, in order 

 that they may kill the mother deer with her tiny fawn by 

 her side,- or lite hen grouse yet hovering over her young. ' 'to 

 eke out such supplies as they can conveniently take into 

 camp?" Is it not open season for fish, and are not our Com- 

 missioners doing their best to keep up and restock our waters 

 with game lishv Can man change the laws of nature? Does 

 not the game fish of Maine afford sufficient pleasure for the 

 reasonable tourist, added to our beaulilul forest scenery? 

 Must, this very select body of gentlemen have the privilege 

 of destroying sick and immature animals not ye! same, be- 

 cause they chance to grace a professor's chair and their y.-,ea- 

 tions do not correspond with the laws of nature'/ Must all 

 law be set aside to suit the desire of a few tourists to destroy 

 animal life? Is a man a sportsman that will take such a 

 position? Is it right to allow a man to break a law because 

 he occupies an exalted position in society? Who does not, 

 see the impracticability of such a position? Does not, this 

 course of "Olibo's" show most astonishing self esteem, sel 

 fishness and disregard for the feelings of others? Let us be 

 reasonable. 



For one I will say, "Equal rights to all." Ot.D Tuei. 



UAOEUS, Oct. 1, 1883. 



A SPRING DAY ON THE PRAIRIE. 



I WAS living near the Platte river, iu the beautiful State 

 of Nebraska. This river, with its tributaries, is the 

 natural feeding ground for the myriads of geese and ducks 

 that migrate yearly from North and South, The geese seem 

 specially to like the sandbars of the river, and every fall and 

 spring the sportsmen from Omaha. Lincoln and Nebraska 

 City, shoot, large numbers. One day not long ago, 1 saw 

 over two hundred geese, in a pile in the streets of Lincoln. 

 I may be mistaken as to the exact number, and if so. Burr 

 H. Polk, one of your most interesting correspondents, can 

 correct me. 



Ducks are found in the small streams and ponds at points 

 from ten to twenty miles from the river, and afford a great 

 deal of sport. I think they are not protected at all iu Ne- 

 braska, but, they most assuredly should he, as often teal are 

 shot, in May. they nest quite frequently, but, would remain 

 in larger numbers if protected. 



In the school where 1 was teaching— for I was a school- 

 master, aud my business according to the usual saying, was 

 teaching the young idea the use of firearms— was a very 

 bright boy, Bert, who was an enthusiastic sportsman. He 

 and I soon became fast friends, for I. too, am an "enthusi- 

 ast." Ever since the age of twelve, I have owned some kind 

 of a gun, and like O'Gorraan's green bottle, "must have one 

 in the house for its company. " 



One day in April I told Bert that on Saturday, should it 

 be pleasant, we would spend at least a part of the day in 

 duck shooting. He was to furnish the lunch and I the horse 

 and buggy, and as is usual in making such plans, we agreed 

 to get an early start. I think the hour named was seven. 

 Saturday dawned cool and clear, with a spanking wind from 

 the N.W. Really it was decidedly stiff, andhad it uot 

 been a hunting excursion on which we were bent I should 

 have'given it up. Alas for my plans! I did not wake to a 

 certain knowledge of this world until 8 A. M. Either the 

 school duties of the week bad been too much for me or I 

 had been out late the evening before; at any rate it was ten 

 o'clock before we were fairly started. We had an open 

 buggy just right for shooting excursions and an old nag. 

 trusty and true. According to report she had spent the 

 greater part of her late years in hunting, and was just the 

 outfit we wished. I noticed that Bert's lunch basket was 

 rather large, and from the many excuses made by his mother 

 concluded that wc had a fine "spread." 



I was much disturbed by the uncertain and mysterious 

 appearauce of a sporting ordnance, called the ' 'Zulu"," which 

 constituted Bert's weapon. This gun is a kind of a club- 

 footed affair, that perhaps is known to some of the readers 

 of the Foukst and Stueam. 1 never snw|[one before, nor 

 have I seen one since. They may lie fine guns, as a class, 

 but this was not. Its record' was poor indeed. Was 

 "knocked lint" at the second round, and consigned to a rest- 

 ing place under the seat— Bert declariug that he "preferred 

 rather to drive than to shoot." But more of this anon. 



We were hardly outside of the city limits, when I saw a 

 bunch of teal flying head to the wind, and apparently about 

 to cross the road near us. ft, did not take me long to "slip my 

 12-gauge Baker from its case and hunt up a couple of shells. 

 The birds lit in a small mud hole near us, and by creeping 

 and crawling a short distance, I got two shots at them. Ue- 

 suit one bird. "First blood!" yelled Bert. "First blood." 

 echoed I. We now put the old" nag to her best paces, in our 

 anxiety to get to the shoooting grounds. It was nearly noon 

 when we reached our destination. We both took our guns 

 from the buggy, put a few shells in our pockets, and started 

 along the banks of Salt Creek. (Notice, this is not Un- 

 fabled stream, up which disappointed candidates are sup- 

 posed to journey, but, it has an actual existence.) We saw- 

 plenty of ducks flying from poiut to point, and soon had 

 two teal and a widgeon added to our bag. Bert made a 

 POt-shot at seven teal, which were silting on a lnudbank 

 just across the creek and failed to get a feather. He looked 

 leeidedly blank, but from the far-reaching shot holes 1 

 aoticed in Ihe bank, I think the fault, was in the gun. 



On taking a vote of the "delegates we decided that, it was 

 dinner time and the convention adjourned to the south side, 

 of a straw stack. Here we were out of the wind and iu the 

 sun. 1 found that our lunch was a very elaborate cue. 

 After dinner we drove along the banks of a 'little "branch/ 



they say in Georgia, thinking that the ducks would seek 

 protection from the wind in the small poutls. Sure enough. 

 Every widening of this little stream contained ducks I think 

 for at my first shot they got up in numbers. Here I nagged 



