Forest and Stream 



A Weekly Journal of the Rod and Gun. 



NEW YORK, DECEMBER 27, 1883. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 

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CONTENTS. 



Editorial. The Kennel. 



Another Word in Season. The Beagle Club. 



The Year. Sale of Fox-Terriers. 



A Baud of Bears. Spaniels at Louisville. 



The Sportsman Toothst. The Southern Sim-- Field Trials 



Johanna. The Grouse Dale— lit Match, 



Down the Yukon on a Raft.— II. Rifle and Th-vp Shooting. 



Life among the Rloekfeet.— v. Range and Gallon-. 



1- geriu Park. - in . The Trap. 



N atttral History. Canoe ino . 



The Purple Finch and hist 'omins Spring Held Canoe Club. 



Interesting Pet-. Club signals. 



Came Bag .tsn Gun. Some ..1 my Canoe-. 



Di r in Michigan. The Chart Locker. 



The CI- -■ ,.,.■,. Hide Passaic liver.— nt. 



Veni.on in the Lumber Camps. Oonnedaoni Biver.— it. 



Griznl.i Bear--. -1.1,1 Large RiftW Building ' .--. 



The Altra.-!i,,ns,.f [loan!.., The Perfect Canoe. 



Notes or, Same Birds. The Diamond Canoes. 



On the Virginia Kroa.d>vnt-r. Amateur Canoe Building. 



Camp-Fire Fijckerinos. Yachting, 



Which are the Best. .Measurement. 



Sea ant, River Fishing. The Season in l'.ritish Waters. 



Florida Fishing. , -Cruises in Small Yachts.'' 



Trouting in New Brims wiel.. Challenge i,, Brit.i-.-b Yachtsmen 



Tlie Engli ;h and American Trout Deep and Light Draft. 



rrsiiei,.,' LB. Supplementary List, 1881. 



Mr. Whitoher Retires. Aksweks to Correspondents. 



TIW VKAH. 



THE year lias been marked by activity in all lite depart- 

 ments of out-door life represented by this journal. As 

 we predict ed early in 'lie yct.t' that it would be, I lie season 

 of 1888 has proved, in many .sections of the country, excep- 

 tional for the generous supply of feathered game, 



Perhaps the most important event of Ihe year in natural 

 history was il.e establishment of the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union last September. The association includes 

 among its members, active and associate, a very large pro- 

 portion of the best American workers in this bitnch of 

 science, and the energy with which its work is being poshed 

 by the Council is an ample guarantee of the good which the 

 Union will do. The Nuttall Ornithological Club has turned 

 over to the new association its Bulletin, which will hereafter 

 be the special organ of the Union. 



Preparations are. now being made to grapple, with the 

 problem of bird migration, which has hitherto proved so 

 elusive and so puzzling. The method suggested by Mr. W. 

 W. Cooke, who first put it in practice, and to whom full 

 credit for the suggestion is due, will probably be adopted, 

 and with the result, it is hoped, of adding much to our 

 knowledge of ihe subject, 



1.1 is unnecessary to particularize the various works of 

 more or less scientific importance which have been published 

 during the year. Much good work has been done, and the 

 army of laborers in the field is now larger than ever before. 



The interest in angling has increased in most parts of the 

 land. There has been a steady growth of taste for fly-fish- 

 ing. This is shown in a most practical manner by the safes 

 of fishing tackle to those who fish in fresh water; the dealers 

 say that the sale of fine fly-rods never has been greater than 

 in the past year, In salt water angling fine rods have been 

 in greater demand also, and the rising generation of anglers 

 have better facilities for learning the art than ever before. 



The tournament of the National Rod and Reel Association 

 in October awoke more enthusiasm than any similar one, 

 and afforded a good school for those who wished to study 

 the different methods of casting both fly and bait. One 

 of the most important strides toward uniformity', and con- 



quently perfection, of fishing tackle, during the year, was 

 the adoption of a standard for reel-plates by this Associa- 

 tion, which will, no doubt, be adopted by manufacturers in 

 time, and will remove a fruilful cause of annoyance. 



In fisheultUre there is always progress. Among the many 

 things of note during the year may be mentioned: The In- 

 ternational Fisheries Exhibition at London, many accounts 

 of which have appeared in our columns. The extended 

 work of the United States Fish Commission in both scien- 

 tific and practical work. The building of the improved 

 McDonald fisfrways at Oswego, X. Y., and Augusta, Ga., 

 and the planning of one for Ihe Great Falls of the 

 Potomac. The increased interest manifested in the science 

 in the different States. The establishment of a free 

 laboratory in Fulton Market by Mr. Blackford, where 

 experiments can be conducted, and where the food and 

 habits are recorded by Prof. Rice. The increased work 

 of the New York Commission, which has built a larger 

 hatchery at Caledonia, and begun work at Cold Spring 

 Harbor, Long Island, where both freshwater and salt 

 water work will be done. The increase of private ponds 

 and hatcheries, notable among which are the stations of the 

 Bisby Club, in Ihe Adirondack's, Herkimer county, N. Y r ., 

 and that of the Adirondack Club, in Essex county. The 

 States of Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa have extended their 

 labors in fishculture, aud there are evidences of improvement 

 in all parts of the country. 



■The year 1883 litis been marked by the first defeat of an 

 American team on British soil. This was in some measure 

 an unexpected event, but the same can hardly be said of the 

 defeat which took place on American soil d»riugthe preced- 

 ing year. At home there has been in the aggregate an un- 

 usual amount of careful, systematic work done with the 

 rifle. The great shooting bodies have been naturally the 

 regular army and the militia forces, and in both of these or 

 ganizations satisfactory progress has been made. In the 

 regular army something like a real enthusiasm has marked 

 the efforts of the men to place themselves in the picked 

 teams, and the meetings of these chosen squads have been 

 close, sharp contests by men who were experienced in the 

 use Of small arms. When it is remembered whal the shoot 

 ing ability of the army was, or rather what it was not, but a 

 few years back, these statements of work done in 1883, gain 

 an additional significance. 



Many private clubs aud associations of riflemen have found 

 great enjoyment in many contests. Here and there the sport 

 has seemed to languish, but takeu the country over there has 

 been plenty of shooting, both at long and short range, and a 

 great deal of keen rivalry enjoyed. In gallery work there is 

 now hardly a city where there is not a coterie of miniature 

 target-makers who, with tine small-calibre rifles, hud that 

 careful practice will bring fine targets, aud that the best, man 

 must win in the long run. Where there are a number of 

 galleries it is comparatively easy to get up a number of small 

 clubs, and then in match shooting an additional zest may be 

 added to the contest. Among the rifle-makers I here has been 

 some gotid work iu Ihe direction of improving the present 

 arms, more particularly in the direction of simplicity of ac- 

 tion. It is more than likely thai the limit of probable ac- 

 curacy has been reached iu the arms now in use, but there is 

 room for satisfactory changes in the way of getting rid of 

 some of the complexity which marks the present arms. Some 

 of the newly introduced pieces have already gained a wide 

 popularity, .since I hey were the invention of men who had 

 already become familiar with the merits and defects of exist- 

 ing models . 



Iu yachting the scasou has been uneventful one iu some 

 important respects. Schooner racing has declined and, in- 

 stead of occupying public attention to the exclusion of other 

 rigs, the racing has been almost monopolized by sloops and 

 cutters, and by craft of small dimensions. Cruising at home 

 as well as foreign voyages have taken fresh hold ami given a 

 quiet, but none the less profitable turn to the sport. In 

 racing the feature has been the successful performance of the 

 cutters, its the prizes in more than half of the races they 

 sailed fell lo them iu competition with the sloops. As all- 

 rouud yachts they have also grown fast iu favor, and il is 

 more than likely that a uumber of cutters will be added to 

 the fleet in consequence. Iu general yachtsmen have learned 

 much, acquired more experience and look forward with 

 deeper interest than ever to the first balmy days of spring. 

 Small yachts will be the rule for match sailing as well as 

 cruising in the future, though the expected advent of a 

 challenge from abroad next season, has caused two or 

 three large vessels to be laid down, all of them being ol the 

 compromise order, with more depth and displacement than 

 usual, and all are to be rigged as cutters as well, though still 



retaining small cenlerboards and some of the beam of the 

 old-fashioned sloop. Sailing canoes of considerable power 

 and suitable for open-water work are claiming attention in 

 circles where a small and handy boat, on a given length is 

 sought, and large and small sharpies have been added in 

 considerable number to the fleet, especially where sporting 

 purposes have been kept in view, and singleuand sailing has 

 been given a great impetus. New measurement rules have 

 been given a trial, without, however," fully settling all differ- 

 ences, and as the racing was not very conclusive, owing to 

 flukes and light winds, another season's trial will be required 

 before clashing interests can be reconciled iu a rule which 

 shall be accepted finally by all concerned. Next week 

 we will proceed with our usual summaries for last, year, 

 beginning with schooner racing and following it up with a 

 review of the doings of the cutlers and sloops. 



Besides the American Canoe Association, another organ- 

 ization has been formed in the West — the "Order of Cruis- 

 ing Canoeists" — its main object being the piomotion of 

 cruising and the collection of information concerning Ameri- 

 can watercourses. Two new features have also been intro- 

 duced into canoeing during this season — local meets between 

 neighboring clubs, in addition to the annual meet, the first 

 of these being held last July by the Springfield and Hartford 

 Canoe Clubs; and the winter camp-fires first suggested by 

 Fohest and Stream, and held tri-weekly in New Y*ork. 

 The latter meetings are already finding favor among canoe- 

 ists, and are serving a valuable purpose in uniting them and 

 keeping up their interest throughout the winter season. 

 Besides the A. C. A. meet at Ihe Thousand Islands, a meet 

 will be held early in the season on the Hudson, also one on 

 the Connecticut, and doubtless others in different sections 

 of the country. 



ANOTHER WORD IN SEASON. 

 tfcQ HE'LL ride grandly into port next Monday," said the 

 £3 editor. 



"Founder in mid-ocean, more likely," returned the visitor. 



"At midnight, in the blackness of darkness, no time for 

 a rocket, all on board lost, never heard from again;" and 

 the editor glanced toward the stuffed shark in the glass 

 case. "But it has been smooth sailing so far. aud I don't 

 take any stock in your prognostications of woe. Christmas 

 has made you hoarse, but that is no reason for croaking like 

 a raven of disaster." 



They were talking about the magnificent craft, full ship- 

 rigged, coming along end on, under full sail, royals, and 

 st.tn'sails alow and aloft, carrying a bone in her teeth — the 

 Ship of 1883, on the calendar over the editor's desk. 



"Time to pull her down, anyway," said the visitor. "The 

 year, in Nessmukian phrase, 'must go.' All the railroad 

 men iu council could devise no scheme of standard time to 

 save it. Take down the old calendar and hang up the 

 new. Close the Red-Letter Day Book of '83, and open an- 

 other for '84. My book is unusually full this time. That 

 reminds me, why don't you say something about the Book 

 to the people'.'" 



Is there any one who needs to lie told about a Red-Letter 

 Day Book': Here, then, in time for the New Year, is the 

 explanation. A Bed-Letter Day Book is a small blank book, 

 in which are set down memoranda of each red-letter day. as 

 it comes in the year. No humdrum diary about it; no 

 printed dates, you write them yourself in red ink; aud never 

 a day noted unless so full of pleasure that its recollection 

 will be a jov. "No sane business man." said the visitor, 

 "neglects to record important commercial transactions, and 

 hold that whoever is wise ought to keep a circumstantial 

 account of the good things that full to his lot, outside of his 

 business rut." 



"Yes, ihe memory of the red-letter dales in my Day Book 

 is worth more to me than my bauk account," assented the 

 other. 



"I don't doubt it in the least," said the visitor, without a 

 trace of hoarseness, and rising to go; "and I hope you may 

 use a deal of red ink in 1884." 



This, as the editor took it, was the visitor's way of saying 

 "I wish you a Happy New Year," which kindly sentiment 

 is here repeated to all who read these lines. 



Tiil "Flickkiilnos" VOTE. — The voles on the "Camp. 

 Fire Flickeriugs." called for in our last issue, are coming in 

 with every mail. It is hoped that every reader of the paper 

 will accept the invitation to express an opinion upon the 

 merits of the stories. There is no entrance fee. Voters will 

 oblige by putting in their ballots as early as possible. 



