346 



FOREST AND STREAM. . 



[Nov. bo, less. 



f<m{t §ag mjtl 



GAME RESORTS.— We ore always glad to receive for pub- 

 lication Shell iKites of desirable <iumc ri'anrfx ax m rti/ br of help 



to the readers of TTobest and Stream. Will not oitr eorre- 

 spondenU fwor Us with such rt&vieef 



To otsiov prompt attention, aomrMMications slooilri tie ad- 

 dressed to the Fores! and Siren,,, Publishing Co., and not to 

 inith-idnots. in whose absence from the. office matters of im- 

 porUrnee are lialib- It, delay. 



OPEN SEASONS. 



ilie iligesl nt 1. 1. i-ti r-i-.i'i.ins, printed m our issue of Aug. 1G. has 

 been published in eoiwenient pamphlet form, ami will he sent ro any 

 iui<in-'.~K. postpafd.ou recWptof 10 cents. 



CALIFORNIA "QUAIL." 



JT -.mis during my short residence in Sacramento. Cal., 

 Borne eight or "ten years since, tlmt I was initiated into 

 wild pigeon shooting; and tiuly there is ft great (harm in 



* b ' tbi ■■ Mi flying, hard to kill birds. At the 



time, referred to :i considerable number of wild pigeons were 

 roost iug in a grove upon "the Grant, " a large sheep range 

 just across (lie American River from Sacramento. Each 

 morning the pigeons flew away to feed upon acorns among 

 the fooih'lLs of the Sierra Nevadas. returning toward emitt- 

 ing to the roosting place, which was about ten miles 

 distant from the town. Taking advantage of windy days 

 (pigeons fly high in still weather), for a week in succession 

 we had royal spoil, and moreover took hut a few hours 

 from business, calculating to meet tbe birds on their return 

 at sundown from their feeding grounds. One of a number 

 of jaunts 1 well remember. It ,was one of the "red-letter'' 

 days. 



At lunch-time one bright, breezy day the usual four of us 

 planned to leave town at '■! o'clock' P. M. for the grove. 

 .Now. the writer at that time was a youngster, just twenty- 

 one, fresh from New York city, ami rather too apt to neg- 

 lect business for sport of any kind. The opportunities lor 

 shooting werc'so abundant that each temptation found the 

 city-bred youth a willing sinner. My conscience, however, 

 pricked me right along, for my partner, nohle Herbert, stuck 

 to work like a slave (we were Struggling bald to make our 

 living expenses) while I was enjoying life in a way thai no 

 pr^ncecould improve upon. Thai day [hated rather more 

 than usual 10 tell Herbert I was going, but the thought of 

 birds braced me up, my shells were all loaded, and so just 

 before H o'clock I said.' "'Herb,' it is rather quiet, nothing 

 is doing, suppose I try the pigeons tin's afternoon!" "Humph! 

 Well! all right!" was' the reply. Each separate expression 

 hit me hard.' His look, too, was a sermon. I knew he was 

 right, there was work that ought to be done. 1 was half 

 persuaded to forego the pleasure, but just then G. drove up 

 with his spanking team of hays, and the sight of my three 

 comrades in the wagon chased away all thoughts of business. 

 So gathering up sun, shells, etc., I. started for the door, but 

 was stopped by Herbert's singing out, "Say, Delta, try to 

 get .some quail for M attic."' (Mattio was his' wife, bless her 

 kind heart. i Those words of Herbert's lifted the one cloud 

 that might, have spoiled my afternoon, For in speaking them 

 he virtually requested me" to go. I was happv; I promised 

 the quail cheerfully. 



Now, Herbert and his wife were fond of quail upon prin- 

 ciple. Neither knew that it was out of season for quail, nor 

 did 1 hoy that, for the sake of preserving my reputation for 

 skill as'well as making them feel that they were benefited 

 by my shooting, thereby obtaining their sanction to it, all 

 The messes of "quail'' that 1 had hi • light home, and which 

 fliey had eaten with appreciative appetites, were the fattest. 

 finest kind of meadow larks, skillfully plucked and cooked 

 by the Chinaman, who didn't know a quail from a mud-hen. 

 Mai tie herself had first given me this idea by asking if some 

 Utl'kS I had shot were quail. Jestingly 1 had replied yes, 

 thinking no more of it until they were served on the table. 

 Herbert" and Mall ie, with whom I boarded, enjoyed the 

 birds so much, as in duty bound, because they were "quail," 

 that I could not get up courage to correct the mistake. 



With a lighl heari 1 tossed my spaniel in behind and 

 stepped into tbe high wagon w'ilh the easy riding "(.'" 

 springs. G. spoke to his horses; they swung into a four- 

 minute gait, and wc soon left the town behind. Shortly 

 alter crossing the American River we stopped a few minutes 

 to shoot the "quail" forMatth:-. It did not take long; five 

 or six were enough. If more had been taken back the een 

 erous little lady might have shared them with some, neigh- 

 bor; then mv "snap" would have been spoiled. See? 



That was a glorious ride over the level plains. The horses 

 were licet, clean-stepping fellows, good right along ft>r ten 

 miles an hour. We passed at intervals several deserted, 

 weird-looking, solitary houses, that in days before the rail- 

 roads bad been roadside inns, or "dead falls," as the Cah- 

 forniaus call them. The houses were surrounded by tall 

 trees, waving rhythmically in the breeze, and throwing fan- 

 tastic, dancing shadows noon the ruinous buildings. Those 

 lonely houses always impressed me strongly. They were 

 mysterious and gho-'ily beyond coy powena of description. 



Ere long we reached our grounds, unhooked the horses 

 and tied them seen rely a short distance from each other. 

 Guns were then taken out and loaded, pockets and belts 

 filled with shells, and we started to take our stands under 

 trees, for the birils were already flying by. .V» I walked to 

 my particular live one of those big California hares jumped 

 up right at my feet, startling me so that it was hard to say 

 which of us. the hare- or 1, was I he most frightened. That 

 hare looted as big as a buffalo, My gun was hurriedly 

 pointed at random eastward (the hare was running easterly), 

 the trigger pulled — well, the haie kept on apace, while my 

 companions, who hid witnessed my masterly snapshot. 

 offered me stimulants to revive me, and when I "came to" 

 any shoob-rean imagine the chaffing I received. 



The pigeons were 'now coming fast; the wind was blowing 

 land and lite birds came with it, going by with wonderful 

 speed. Wk commenced our shooting, holding well ahead, 

 wailing for the birds, until they had jueT passed our stands. 



Thev earned: larger oi smai!, ■ li ., I, r. i mally whizzing 



by like bullets. IB was load— shoo! -load— ShOOt— UHtll the 

 barrels were loo hot to handle. A splendid atop -followed 

 by a clean mfes — a gratifying double— preceding perhaps two 

 shots wasted in succession— such u as the excitement for over 

 an hour. I missed and lost more than 1 gathered, but our 

 I cnunl was large -considerably over one hundred. 



The time to re-ill ru came, so we quickly opened the crops 

 of I he piteous in order to lake out the acorns, which would 

 soon have impregnated the flesh with a hitter taste. The 



sun was just sinking out of sight as we hooked up the restive 

 horses. All the guns except one were stowed away, a few 

 sandwiches quickly eaten, cigars lighted, and homeward we 

 started, the eager horses footing along right merrily. 



As we b»wl«d over the smooth road a large hawk sailed 

 overhead, seemingly far out of range. '•Cigars for Ibe 

 crowd that you can't kill him," cried G. lo me. "Hone." 

 1 hardily replied (wood powder was nol then used, nor were 

 guns expected to kill at one hundred yards), so aiming as 1 

 sat at the slowly soaring hawk, I fired] "You have 'lost," 

 laughed 6., for there was no movement of the oird to indi- 

 cate that the shot had touched him. "Too far off," was the 

 verdict, but jusl then there was a change, for the hawk flew 

 slowly to a high tree, in the top of which he perched. "Do 

 you give up?" said G., hut as he spoke a rustling in the tree- 

 top was heard, and lo! we saw the great bird falling heavily 

 to the ground— dead. 



The sun by this time was hehind lhe distant mountains; 

 the full moon beamed softly upon the quiet plains. Now 

 and then a duck rushed by us overhead, at some of them 

 one of us shot as we rode, each report simply making our 

 horses trot a trifle faster. A few we hit and" bagged: "more 

 we missed. My little spaniel gleefully retrieved' the killed. 



Shortly we reached my partner's house, where 1 was left 

 with gun and "quails,"' Neither ducks nor pigeons were 

 wanted there. 1 had smothered them with coarse game too 

 often and knew the "quails" only would he welcome. 

 Herbert was not at home, but his wife calkkl out as I passed 

 the parlor door, "Delta, did you shoot some quail for me f* 

 "Look at the beauties," I replied, holding up those martyred 

 larks in the dim light. "I'll take them to Ah Sam at once 

 and have them plucked." Such was my usual course. 1 

 sought the kitchen, found the Chinaman, threw down the 

 birds, said "hurry, hurry." tossed him a two-bit piece, and 

 inside ten miaute's those darling "quails' 1 looked too "sweet 

 for anything." 



The next morning they were served at breakfast as of old. 

 I now seem to see pretty Mattie delicately picking those 

 tiiiiill bones, and hear her declaring that she believed it was 

 all bosh about one's not being able to eat a quail a day for 

 thirty consecutive days. Herbert, soberly munching, would 

 reply by calling attention to the gamy flavor and declare 

 the feat was impossible. The noble old boy was no sports- 

 man—his life had been too steady a struggle. Although we 

 have not met for years, lie is my dearest friend. Certain 

 plain words of his at just the right lime changed my ideas 

 of life; be showed me that it should not. be a" simple play- 

 spell. God bless that generous, frank old partner of days 

 gone by. Det.ta." 



A PLEA FOR A 40-90 REPEATER. 



Editor Fores! a,al Steniw: 



I notice in your last issue a reference to a repeating ride 

 using the 40-911 ammunition, or rather it was in the form of 

 a suggestion thai companies engaged in the manufacture of 

 repeating arras put upon the market a rifle of this pattern. 



Now as one having bad considerable experience in large 

 game shooting and having not only thoroughly discussed 

 but practically tested nearly all til 

 general use, such as, the various ki 

 the Winchester, Martini. Ballard, 

 the like, aliow me to heartily indor 



I have discussed the merits of va 

 with many of the best (by which 1 

 successful) game shois in th 

 found, especially in I he wester] 

 that almost universal preference 

 rifle, and that the majority were 



This they considered the most ( 

 shooting, and where an objeetioc 

 the smallness of the caliber, thei 



because I am confident that it would be such au improve. 

 ment as would be welcomed hy all true lovers of the sport- 

 ing rifle, who wish to kill cleanly and surely and lo avoid, 

 as far as possible, crippling and unnecessarily mangling their 



spotting rifles now in 

 ds of English Express. 

 Sharps, Remington and 

 the above suggestion, 

 ous rifles, calibers, etc., 

 ,ean the most practical 

 West and elsewhere, and I have 

 portion of this country, 

 s accorded to the Sharps 

 favor of the 40-90 model, 

 cetive rifle made for game 

 vas made on the score of 

 answer was that if would 

 be found to be "quite large enough to kill anything in this 

 country," and so it is. As they express it, the flight of the 

 bullet out of the 40-90 Sharps is the "quickest" of any rifle 

 used hy them, meaning by this that the trajectory is the 

 lowest. 



They claimed that the "curve" was not more than ."i to (i 

 inches" in 200 yards. This, as far as I have been able to test 

 it. is not. an exaggeration. 



Consequently' the per centtge of hits, as is readily seen, 

 would be large'. Besides, as opposed to the large majority 

 of so-called "express" rifles, especially when using the hollow 

 point bullet, it has that essential which they have not, 

 namely, penetration. It always sends a bullet from "skin to 

 skin, "'and rarely floes it find a resting place in the body of 

 any game. 



In my humble opinion, a rifle such as proposed would be 

 infinitely superior to any large caliber "express" made. 



It has been demonstrated so often that i I is now a recog- 

 nized fact that a 40-90 Sharps seldom fails to throw a bullet 

 clean through the shoulders of an old bull buffalo, the heavi- 

 est game on the continent. 



It would be superfluous for me to enumerate the manifold 

 advantages for the purposes of game shooting of the repeat- 

 ing rifle over those which carry a single cartridge; so. also, I 

 will not attempt to deny thai these advantages are generally 

 recognized throughout the West:. Witness the number of 

 Winchester and other repeating rifles of more recent maim 

 faeture now in use. 



But it is undeniably true that for a single shot, no re- 

 pealer has yet been made which is as effective as the 40-90 

 Sharps. 



Despite, however, these manifold advantages of the re- 

 peating rifle, many of the best hunters I know still chug, 

 with a pertinacity which furnishes powerful evidence of 

 their confidence in it. to their old Sharps rifle. Now let the 

 Winchester, whose arms I hold in great esteem, or some 

 other good company— Colts. Ballard and the like— proceed 

 lit once to make tests with » view to manufacturing a repeat- 

 ing rifle, using the 40-90 ammunition (/. «., 40-cal., 90 lo 100 

 grs. powder and 500 grs. lead, lubricated bidlets, straight 

 shell preferable). 



That such tests would be successful, and that such a rifle, 

 when made, would become a prime favorite, I consider there 

 can not he doubt. 



Were this suggestion prompted by theory upon thesull 

 ject. it would not be made; but since from praeti 

 . -,], psreoual experience and observation, as well as 

 from the opinions of non-theoretical game shots 

 (by which is meant men who do not advance 

 a "theory with regards to the effect of rifles. bulk-Is, etc.. 

 until they have stripped ir of all probability or surmise, and 

 reduced it to a fact by actually testing the same upon game) 

 i am made to feel I hat such an arm would he a vast im- 

 provement, upon any sporting rifle now inusein Ibis country. 

 1 submit it for what ii is worth. .1 am emboldened to do so 



gain 



Nov, •:;;, issij. 



D, M. B. 



THAT OLD COAT. 



DIOA.K coat of my hoyhood, mv memory still lingers 

 midst thy buttons, ' many pockets, and fashion ible 

 flaps: you sheltered me often from winter's cold whistles, 

 while hunting o'er mountains, the moorland and Hats. 



Thirty -six years ago: can it be possible that time slips past 

 so silent, so sure, leaving behind it, along Pne path of life, a 

 smile here, a tear there. We all cherish reminiscences of 

 by -gone days, when we. as boys, hnew no care save that of 

 our gun, our dog; and, perchance, our first hunting coat, a 

 coat that was, and now is, the most pleasant garment we 

 wear: a coat that was never too heavy on a hot summer day. 

 nor too light for a cold winter day ,- a coat whose pockets 

 were so numerous that if was equal'to a voyage of discovery 

 to find them all. They were pockets that' could only be 

 known hy name. There was the handkerchief pocket, 'left, 

 in front, on the top story; the flask pocket, same side, second 

 story; the lunch pocket, same side, first story; 1 he whistle 

 pocket, the cap pocket, the powder pocket, the wad pocket, 

 the whip pocket, the cord pocket, the dog-biscuit pocket, 

 the coupler pocket, and half a dozen more whose names and 

 uses I never knew. 



In imagination I can almost feel its weight, and in those 

 ponderous pockets as they bulged out under their loads of 

 eatables, drinkables, and traps and tricks so necessary to flu- 

 sportsman when far from the habitation of man. When the 

 coat was put on in the early morning, heavy freighted as it 

 was, yet it was as light as a feather; but, oh, what a relief it 

 was to draw it off at evening and swing it up on the hook. 

 That dear old garment, even now 1 can almost feel its 

 downy softness and see ils black, glossy, silken sheen. And 

 those buttons; talk about buttons with "pointer's head" and 

 "crossed guns," they were nowhere compared with the 

 lovely hunting lodge in a romantic glen; a spoilsman bring- 

 ing down a duck; the huntsman and dogs beating a field; a 

 buck crossing a glade, with other designs of equal inlerest, 

 all in rainature relief, bordered with a bright aiH band. 

 Oh. those buttons, how tbe farmers 's boys would look at 

 and admire them; and then the pockets, "what is Ibis one 

 for?" then "what do you carry here?" etc., etc.. all of which 

 would be duly answered by the proud, haughty owner. 



"Hid it fit'.'" queried Charley, who was sitting at ibe op- 

 posite side of the fire. 



"As a matter of course it did, or at least ii ought to, for it 

 took n month to make it." 



"Was it good material?" 



"I should think so, black velvet." 



"Was it a new coat?" 



"W-e-1-1. n-o; not exactly, but it was a beauty, and had 

 sixteen pockets." 



"Was it made by a tailor?" 



" Y e-s; thai is. the fir t time it was made; you see it was 

 a little loo large for me. but it fit splendid." ' 



"Come, Cape, no shuffling, old fellow, we must have the 

 history of that coal, and if yon don't, we will nol wake you 

 up, but go to the pond without you in the morning." 



Such war- the penally attached to mv refusal to give lU 

 history of "My First Velveteen," and I dare noi n EjJ 



B., W. and myself were silling around a cheerful hickory 

 lire at father Ke'mpf's place. "Pleasant Hill, "souk twelve 

 miles from this city, where wc had met to have a duck limit 

 in the "goose pond" close by; and alter an hour's lively skoot- 

 ing among the ducks, thirteen of which — large fat mallards 

 — were then dangling by their feel in the cool smokehouse. 

 After supper we doffed our coats and boots, and were bask- 

 ing our feet around the "ingle blazing finely." When 

 gathering up my traps for I he start 1 chucked into my pocket 

 the lusl number of Pokes r AND STREAM, containing "John 

 ap John's'' article "My First Velveteen," which I had read 

 aloud to the campers. After finishing it 1 fell into a long 

 brown study; my thoughts took wings and carried me back 

 to my boyhood, I was on the moor, with old Waterloo l» 

 my arms." and arrayed in nil my glory in "that old coat," 

 Which three words' were spoken aloud, and I was rudely 

 awakened from mv pleasant re very by Charley's question 

 "did it fit," and there and I hen was forced to give its history. 

 I was a boy then. The year previous 1 had come into pos- 

 session of an old musket that had done good service on the 

 field of Waterloo. This ancient arm 1 had converted into a 

 fowling piece bv cutting off both stock and barrel, and had 

 learned to do some good shooting with it. 



One day early in (he fall .Major Gordon, and Mitchell, the 

 keeper, came to our place to shoot partridges. Tiie.y were 

 both splendid wing-hols, had one pair of setters and a re- 

 triever with them; both being rigged out in fine shooting 

 coats. After their arrival they weal into the house for re- 

 freshments, leaving their guns" standing by the hall door. 

 When they returned 1 was examining the Major's gun. a fine 

 one, but if was a little heavy and too long in the stock for 

 me. The Major observing me as he came out, said : "Well, 

 my SOD, can you Shoot?" "Yes, sir." "Have you got a 

 gtin'/" "Yes." sir." "Good; bring il out." I soon returned 

 and Disced Old Waterloo in his' hands; and of all the as- 

 tonishment and laughter I ever witnessed, their's excelled. 

 They turned if over, upside down, end for end, tried the 

 lock", snapped caps Oh it. placed it. to their shoulders and 

 sighted, then took another ba-ha-ha. I was angry, offended, 

 mortified at seeing my pet made so much sport of. and 

 showed it by stepping- dp to the Major and demanding my 

 gun. lie saw 1 was hurt, and said, "Pardon rue, my ho>, I 

 did not mean to offend you: but your piece is so clumsy I 

 I could not refrain. You say you can shoot'/" "Yes, . dr." 

 ■■Then get your shooting jacket, and come along; yon shall 

 have one good day's spoil lor this." Then the tables Were 

 turned on" me, and I was forced to tell 1 had no shooting 

 coat. "Thai is unfortunate; every huiiler must have a 

 shooting-jacket." This was a new revelation to me, and 1 

 pondered over his lael? words for days and nights, but how 

 to ui-i one was the nib. No use asking my parents, as they 

 contended, "1 would shoot myself, 1 was too young, must 

 wait a lew years," etc, f was completely broken in purse, 

 as it took ali my pocket money purchasing caps, powder and 

 shot; but a coat 1 must have before 1 he Major came back 

 fot a second hunt. 1 was troubled and in distress, could not 

 sic, p oj Study my books for thinking about it 



Aftei a week's reflection I remembered that grandfather 

 had several fine hunting outfits, so to grandmother I went 

 and laid my troubles before her. She quietly ar 

 her easy chair, beckoning me to follow. She I 

 gun room, and there on the hooks hung a dozen hunting 



