Nov 8, 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



288 



§*Mf* §HQ Mid 



GAME REBQRTS.^We are always glad to receive for pub- 

 lication such notes of desii able game resorts as may be of help 

 to the readers of Ko'rkst AXO Strla.M. Will •<■■< • ',- >v >•- 



mdm 'atior its with sveh advice 



Toinsw-epr' eommunlaaUons should be adr 



dressed to Die Forest ojid Stream Fidilisliiit'i Co.. and not to 

 ftdividual.:. in trl,o:e absence from the office Matters of iUnY 



portance are liable to delay. 



OPEN SEASONS. 

 The digest d£ open e&usods, printed In aw issue oE Vug, IB, has 



beenpUl I .u-ut pamphlet fnnn, anri nil! be sent in any 



postpaid. on receipt ■•: lOeentS. 



WE WENT DUCK HUNTING. 



BfY DOBKDT. 



A r ES, there were' ten of us. Quite a party, and represen- 

 L tativcs of various vocations: two lawyers, two bankers, 

 one clothier, one dentist, one hardware merchant, and three, 

 men connected •with different manufacturing enterprises; 

 The objective point for the hase of our operations we 

 Creek, L oun.. and on a Wednesday evening the party boarded 

 a train en route for the place. Our journey was delayed for 

 an hour at Pine Meadow; waiting for a connecting train. 

 The station was taken possession of, lights turned out. and 

 things taken in hand generally. Venerable Major Loomis, 

 ,i:,ri master ivas absent for supper. By the way, he 

 hates tobacco smoke, and has H conspicuous notice posted 

 over the ticket window prohibiting smoking in the depot. 

 One of. the first things done by the boys was to reverse this 

 placard face to tin, 'wall, and then all lighted up cigars, 

 cheroots and cigarettes of all grades. The atmosphere in 

 that room was decidedly blue! perhaps the condition was the 

 most cerulean when the Major opened the door and appealed 

 on the scene. He did not shut the door. With, a dignified 

 sweep of his arm he brought his index finger on a line with 

 the aforementioned notice, and said, "Do you sec that?" 

 About that time he saw it, and noticed the reversal. For a 

 second the old gentleman was staggered, but soon gained his 

 equilibrium, remarking that when lie was at the front in '62 

 the boys faced the music. After a considerable persuasion 

 the Major was induced to firing out his old drum and beat a 

 uumbe'r of selections. His drumming elicited loud applause, 

 and when the train came we left the veteran in good spirits. 

 Our jaunt down the "Canal" road was not particularly 

 event fn'l Arriving at New Haven we took a hasty luncli 

 at the station, scrambled on to a ear thai was hot as Tophel 

 and smelled of fresh varnish. As we nearer! our journey's 

 era I the boys began to let out a trifle. Fred picked the 

 dentist's pocket of his spectacles and proceeded to assume 

 the vocation of the Owner. Several unsuspecting chaps 

 had their heads thrown back, jaws open and imaginary 

 molars extracted. All of these antics much Broo c 

 "feller and his girl." who irere passengers on the train. 



"Stony Creek," shouted the shore line elocutionist on the 

 forward plat 1'oi-m, and out. bundled ten fellows encumbered 

 with guns, bags ami other tackle. About the only change 

 in the place is a new depot, which is. a decided impiovc- 

 ment. We inarched down to Frink's hotel and there found 

 the host looking natural, although he had dispensed with 

 his goggles and cured his diseased optics of the previous 

 year. "Captain Page was there apparently as ready as ever 

 loappe.c :.. . tl - and gaze ■. Frink's French litho- 

 graph of the two dogs through a glass cylinder After get- 

 ting our weeds afire inquiries inaugurated as ta the 

 prospects of Success for the morrow among the ducks. We 

 were consoled with the announcement that we ought to have 

 come a day sooner, and reports were given of what had 

 been done "by new hands and tew guns. Fred asked if it 

 would be possible for him to hear the ducks quack should 

 he step oul of doors A- it was getting late some one Sug- 

 gested 'bat we step to bed, since We intended to rise early in 

 the morning. 



About daylight we tackled Frink's fried oysters and other 



viand relish. After breakfast we repaired 



to the dock, and taking three small boat-., pulled to the outer 

 islands. The party divided into squads, some in the gut in 

 boats, and others oil eithei sides Cuns were put together, 

 ammunition unpacked, and things made ready. One of our 

 legal brethren was somewhat I isgustei when lie discovered 

 that he had got .seventy-live loaded shells that would not Bt 

 his gun, neither would any othi t 8lii - brought ! 3 m- pai 

 go into the gun. He. cursed a little on general princi] li 

 and also specially for the dealer to whom he had sent his gun 

 to have the -hell's titled and loaded. 



The fust duck that went through the gut received a salute 

 from the whole Hoe, but did not stop. The next one fared 

 differently, for the clothier held his piece so that the duck 

 was blown ashore with a hole in his head. Sport continued, 

 with luck more or less varied, by hits and misses. When 

 steamers or other craft passed on the outside thousands of 

 birds rose, but unfortunately only a tew found their way 

 . . i ,d us. Our captain informed us that the wind was too 

 strong for good siieecss. As the day wore on the party shifted 

 about, audow oi IfiGSi shifts brought a lawyer and Jay into 

 a small boat where success seemed to favor them. Indeed, 

 they were quite busy picking up the birds dropped by them 

 and" their friends on the islands. They got too busy, and 

 presently found themselves nearly upset by a rock under 

 water, and their boat filling rapidly. The advocate jumped 

 out on to the narrow rock, and Jay began to bail, but hedid 

 i i ; : ■ I : . ni very much, as the writer came in taster than it 

 was' dipped out. ' Things began to swim about the boat that 

 were at all buoyant, but gun's and shells did not float. 



The Captain, who had brought out his sailboat, hastened 



to the spot and took in the wet fellows with their traps. Jay 



was lotB to leave the small boat. He said he wanted to look 

 out for his ammunition, as il was wet. This anxiety about 

 ammunition rather roiled his companion, and in terms more 

 forcible than elegalll, lie told him to get out and save his 

 bl'e. as the water was twenty feel deep each side of 

 row rock, and the boat stood at an inclination of forty -live 

 degrees. After getting ashore and putting things to rights, 

 (he shooters resumed their place in the small boat in the mid- 

 dle of the gut. the wetting having net suflicicutly dampened 

 their ardor to make I hem retire, The legal light, v 



: i. donate as to have a misfit with his shells, took a sail 

 with the Captain. He wore a fancy derby bat, but that tile 

 was doomed, for when the boat, wept about and the boom 

 came over it collided with the aforesaid hat, and il was 

 wafted far out into the brine. It is a well-established fact 



a Who has lost his hat is n ridiculous spectacle, and 

 this occasion was no exception to the general rule. The hat 

 was retrieved alter several tacks, and its owner, with a hand- 

 kerchief tied over his head, set ashore. 



About 3 o'clock all hands were of the opinion that dinner 

 was the proper thing to discuss. Accordingly we took seats 

 in Captain Page's Billow and he soon lauded us at Frink's. 

 Guns were cleaned and wiped: Jay and his wet companion 

 toasted themselves and their garments before the lire, some 

 reeivilized themselves by a change of tosgery, while others 

 dozed in the corner. Dinner was soon served, which was 

 good and Well pin. on. ft goes without saying that our 

 appetites were keen, and it is doubtful whether Frink reaped 

 any profit on that meal. Dinner over, an informal discus- 

 sion was held as to whether we should stay over night and 

 try our iucl; again the following day. or go home and come 

 later. The latter view prevailing, we shook Landlord 

 Frink's hand and struck out for the railroad station. Per- 

 haps, it would be well to mention that we paid our bills 

 before leaving. At the depot, we encountered Captain Page, 

 but so transformed that he was scarcely recognizable. He 

 had put off his everyday garb and assumed a costume that 

 made him appear quite a dude, New Haven was his des- 

 tination, and he said he was going over to "see a man," but, 

 we rather suspected he would call at the American Theater 

 before returning. 



We made a flying connection at New Haven with the 

 "Camd' road and' were off for New Hartford. Seven of the 

 party took seats in a forward car. without tickets. The 

 first slop out of New Haven is but a short distance and the 

 conductor has a lively time at, the best to get the tickets 

 taken up. On this 'occasion he got nervous, got out of 

 change and completely lost bis wind by the time lie got 

 through the car. Sitting down in a rear car he related to a 

 brakemau how there were seven men without tickets in a 

 car where they did not belong and what an exciting time he 

 had generally." The plan for reaching home was to take a 

 night freight, train either at Pine Meadow or New Hartford. 

 There being some doubt about the train stopping at New 

 Hartford, the boys procured a lantern and prepared to make 

 things "solid" Everything worked well and all reached 

 home in good shape ready to try it over when the oppor- 

 tunity offers. 



TIED TO A PONY. 



VN incident during last fall's camp Kfe of a certain 

 Detroit deer-hunting party, which proved one of the 

 number to be a horseman of high degree, has just leaked out. 

 Nothing was said about if in the published report of the trip. 



li seems that one of them, big-hearted, genial "Ed.." had 

 purchased a pony a month or so before they left Detroit. 

 knowing that it would save many a weary step, as well as 

 prove useful for packing venison to camp. Said pony had 

 been shipped up ahead of the party, and was left at a small 

 clearing or farm a few miles from the regular camp. On 

 the journey up Ed. was full of that pony, talking up its 

 merits in a knowing manner, and as it was his private prop- 

 erly, he was the envy of the crowd, all being surprised to see 

 him, with all his other accompbshments, bloom out as a 

 perfect judge of horseflesh. 



After a day or two, when all things were nicely arranged, 

 Ed. marshalled the clan one morning to go over to the farm, 

 catch the pony, which was running loose, and lead it back 

 to camp. In due time the boasted steed was found, proving 

 lo be a little ten-cent fellow, remarkably lean, as well as 

 mild in appearance, but, still to Ed.'s prejudicial e.\e. a mag- 

 nificent courser. The pony was surrounded after consider- 

 able strategy, much shouting, and many noisy commands to 

 all on the part of his proud owner. Finally it was driven 

 into a barn, and a lorje, in lieu of a halter, was lied around 

 the mustang's neck. Ed. then foraged around for a bag of 

 oats, which he succeeded in getting, to take back with them. 

 the pony to carry the burden. 



Now, as all with experience know, it is exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to fasten a full bag of oats to the bare back of a horse 



ii will not slip or turn. Ed., however, produced an 



amount of strong cord and directed the mode of tying, at 

 length declaring that it was well accomplished, although 

 every one else there quietly whispered to each other that the 

 bag Would slip inside ten seconds, All having more or less 

 io carry in their hands Ed., with masterly horsemanship, 

 tied the pony's halter or rope lo his strong hunting belt, and 

 the procession started, Ed. first, the poor little horse next, 

 then four or five of the party, quietly expectant of a circus. 

 None dared hint to the leader that anything could have 

 been improved upon. For three steps all was well, but 

 quickly the bag of oats began to slip, then it suddenly 

 slid around banging fast under the pony's belly, whereupon 

 the pony, with a snort of fear, leaped wildly upward, 

 twitching surprised Ed. nearly off his feet. The air was full 

 o! ti.\ ing pony, and flying,' shouting Ed. The way that 

 mustang tried to get away from that bag of oats, and the 

 way Ed. tried to get away from that mustang, 

 was wonderful to behold. The rope was. strong, 

 the belt was stronger, and the knot had slipped around to 

 Ed 'aback. Talk about a tin pail tied to a dog's tail' why 

 it is nothing to the way our genial friend (315 pound avoir- 

 US snaked around by that energetic little scarecrow 

 of a horst. The picture of that crazy beast, jumping, buck- 

 ing, rearing, and of Ed.'s seared face looking backward over 

 his shoulder bet ween his flights, will not scion be forgotten 

 by the convulsed spectators. It was the greatest "double 

 act" Of the age. The frantic calls for help'and sulphurous 

 ejaculations of the lively horseman, are also to be remem- 

 bered. Finally, after our hero had been jerked all over a 

 ten acre lot, one of the parly contiolled his laughter, ran to 

 the rescue, and cut the Gordiau knot. The way thai un- 

 happy pair parted company was a caution. The. pony lit 

 Oi I like a scared wolf tor the open plains; Ed. for a high 

 stump, which he clambered up in hottest haste and looked 

 around with a sad, bewildered air, which gradually passed 

 into a sickly, ghastly smile when he beheld his companions 

 rolling in convulsions on the grounel. 



His respect tor that poor little beast was most marked 

 after the circus. For ten days the mustang was common 

 property. Nearly all the party rode it and pronounced it 

 very gentle, but Ed. continued to consider it a very vicious 

 animal. After awhile, seeing that the pony cut up no special 



: " friend made some excuse to stay in camp one 



morning. When he thought all but Francis, 'the cook, were 

 far away, he ordered the cook to saddle, the horse. Now the 

 cook had just as much awe of the gentle little horse as had 

 Ed., so that it required considerable persuasion on the part, 

 of the latter lo get Francis to do his behests. The pony hay- 

 ing been saddled, the following dialogue was overheard by 

 the other members of the party who had quietly crept back 



to camp, suspecting something was going on that ii would 

 not do to miss: 



Ed. — "New Francis, take my rifle, get up on the pony, and 

 shoot. 1 want to see how the pony acts." 



Francois (in righteous indignation and terror)— ' 'By gar, 

 Monsieur Ed., 1 do no such ting; 1 ees cook, not what you 

 call 'em horse breaker." 



Ed. (coaxingly) — "Francois, the pony is very gentle. I just 

 want to see if he flinches when you Are. Come, there's a 

 good fellow, get, up and I'll give you a couple of dollars," 



Francois — "I do no such ting You not make me break 

 my neck to rind out eef pony ees safe." 



Ed. i furiously )— -"You confounded French man, get up or I'll 

 break you to pieces. Fire my rifle off the pony 's back at once 

 or I'll scalp you." 



Ed. heie began to peel his buckskin coat with a terrible 

 air. Poor Francois looked about, for help. None was near. 

 Another look at Ed. He tremblingly took the gun, climbed 

 on to the pony's back with the expression of a man going to 

 the scaffold, locked his feet together under the pony's belly, 

 shut his eyes, pulled the trigger, and when he came lo, was 

 joyfully surprised to find himself still safe in the saddle. 

 The "vicious animal" stood like a rock It's not. often Ed. 

 is caught "tied to a pony," Delta. 



Detroit, Not. 2, 1883. 



A VISIT TO OLD HUNTING GROUNDS. 

 \\7E arc glad to know that the Saiiv Gamp is sa.fe and 

 Il laid on the shelf, also that "Nessmuk" has failed 

 in his foolish attempt to commit suicide by drowning. We 

 count "Nessmuk" among oiu unseen friends, [and would 

 never have ceased to regret it, had such a calamity befallen 

 him during his erratic wanderings through flood and field. 

 1 admire the man who can enjoy a solitary tramp through 

 forests and streams without the'ai'd of guides or comrads. a 

 man who can paddle his own canoe, or take it up and walk 

 as occasion recpiires. Speaking of canoes reminds me of 

 one that I owned in my younger days (named the Petit Jean), 

 which I kept and used for many years. It was made out of 

 awhile piue tree, worked down 'very light and thin. I did 

 not make it, but I hired a redskin 'to do it, fully believing 

 that no white man could carve out so perfect a eiaft from 

 the same material. I cannot compute the tonnage down to 

 pounds and ounces, let it suffice: to say thai, oue fair-sized 

 man and two large deer made a full cargo, or throwing out 

 one deer and taking in my camp fixings, grub, rifle, tent. 

 etc., made it about the same. It was a swift runner, and the 

 propelling powers were worked without steam or any alco- 

 holic appliances. I thoroughly proved the sterling qualities 

 of that little canoe on the upper waters of the Alleghany, 

 wheie I trapped and hunted occasionally for several years. 



I usually set my traps along the banks from the canoe, 

 and camped on shore nights. One catch which I remember 

 while being out fifteen days during the last half of Novem- 

 ber, amounted to 3 otter's, 42 minks, 38 muskrats, and 11 

 'coons. Besides this I incidentally killed one deer and 

 several grouse, a portion of which was then and there appro- 

 priated for present use. Those late fall trips after furs were 

 frequently attended with cold storms, but having a small 

 canvas tent and also a pretty thorough cam ping-out. experi- 

 ence, I suffered but slight inconvenience on that account. 



1 visited some of these localities above mentioned during 

 the past summer. The charm that ever pervadesa primitive 

 forest and stream had passed away, towns and villages bad 

 sprung up, okl landmarks and water-marks were obliterated. 

 Fur, fin, and feather were among the missing, and here rod 

 and gun had become as useless as a last year's almanac, ( >u 

 one of my former favorite hunting grounds stands the city 

 of Bradford, Pa., with its 11,000 inhabitants and the central 

 point, of several railroads. I mention these tacts, not as 

 cause for complaint, but because it seems a marvelous 

 change. antleb, 



itRAS-D Vntw. Term., Oct. 30. 1883. 



PROFESSIONAL MEN AND GAME. 

 Ed/for Forest ami .-'■ 



It appears to me that you must be a marvel of charity to 

 be able to refrain from puncturing the bladder of conceit 

 that appeared in your issue of Sept. 27 over the signature of 

 "Olibo," or it is possible that the hopelessness of any attempt. 

 to make it more ridiculous than it already was was so appar- 

 ent that all comment was. abstained from in order that your 

 readers might get the full benefit of this rare bit of ego' ism. 

 Do they have much of that kind of stock in the Nutmeg 

 State? ' If they do it is hardly surprising that we hear of a 

 revival of the '"blue laws'' there. 



The editorial remarks in previous issues upon the fatal 

 accident to Prof. Phelps while in quest of game during the 

 close season, and which elicited this Idler of "Olibo's," were 

 regarded by the sportsmen of this city as not only appro- 

 priate but right to the point We are unable to Bee how the 

 unfortunate "termination of the affair can change the unlaw- 

 ful character of the act. or why you should be assailed lor 

 noticing that violation simply because it, was a professor and 

 not some ignorant squatter or lumberman whose life became 

 the accidental penalty of the violation. "Olibo" informs us 

 that "gentlemen" of 'the class to which he "has the honor to 

 belong" could be safely trusted to kill no more game than 

 "is necessary." and in* the next paragraph informs us that 

 he would break SJj ii game laws a.-, now exist himself if In- 

 got a chance, or words to that eflect. And why, pray? 

 Simply because they were not made expressly for hi- I 

 and the class to which "lie has I he honor to belong;" simply 

 because 1 he clear headed legislators of the Stale of Maine 

 decline to permit him or any of his stripe to slaughter does 

 and helpless fawns at any and all times, and at Ibe same 

 iirue debar all others from so doing. 



V" hether, "Olibo" considers himself and his friends as be- 

 ing made of finer material than the rest of mankind, 0] 

 regards it as an outrage that he was not called upon to dic- 

 tate the game laws of .Maine, does not appear -quite plain. 



We have always been accustomed to regard professional men 

 in this, as in other matters, as about like all other men. 

 neither more nor less likely to do an honorable or dishonorable 

 action, reasoning from the. standpoint, that men made the pro- 

 fession and not. the profession the men, and this letter of 

 "Olibo" is hardly calculated to eflect radical change in our 

 views upon the subject. Permeated, as ii is throughout 



liineuts of a born poacher and pot-hunter, the horizon 

 of its vision is naturally found at the point where cease the 

 personal pleasure or 'profit of the writer and the class to 

 which "he has the nonor to belong." It does not seem to 

 occur to him thai the objection be. makes to the close season 

 will apply equally as well to a score of other avocations as 



