452 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 3, 1884. 



to Octdber 5 of each year, and any persons having the birds 

 in possession were liable to the penalty. 



OP. Mitchell proceeds: "The country selected by these ex- 

 quisite birds requires a more particular description," lie 

 gives it as of mainly a sandy waste, with more or less 

 dwarfish timber, and "a soil more especially useful for mak- 

 ing glass; but nevertheless, "within the towns frequented 

 by these birds there are numerous habitations, and among 

 them some of our most wealthy fanners. " 



In this region of sands, slunled trees, and "brushy plains," 

 Dr. Mitchell was impressed with the idea, in 1810. Unit New 

 York would find fuel for its tires and game for its tables, 

 with recreation for its sportsmen for ages. 1 must beg room 

 lor his next paragraph: 



"But within these same limits there arc also tracts of great 

 extent, where men have no settlements, and others where the 

 population is bare and scanty. These tire, however, by no 

 means naked deserts; they are, on the contrary, covered with 

 trees, shrubs, and smaller plants. The trees are mostly pitch 

 pines of inferior size, and white oaks of small growth". They 

 are of a quality very tit for burning. * * The city of 

 New York will probably for ages derive fuel from trie grouse 

 grounds. * * Experience has proved that in the term of 

 forty or fifty years the new growth of timber will he lit for 

 the axe, hence it, may be perceived that the reproduction of 

 trees and the protection they afford to heath-hen would lie per- 

 petual, or. in other words, "not circumscribed by any calcu- 

 lable time, provided the persecutors of the latter w'oidd be 

 quiet." 



The poet Pollok refers to a man of limited information in 

 Ids day, who thought 



'The visual line that girt, him 'round the world's extreme." 



Your correspondent writes from the borders of this mag- 

 nificent lake in Dakota, with its three hundred miles of 

 shore line, teeming with water fowl, and in the midst of vast 

 prairies abounding in game, more than two thousand miles 

 from the court house that bounded one end of those "tracts 

 of great extent" on Long Island— prairies so apparently 

 bouudless, that one can not go out of sight of his home to 

 shoot without a compass, any more safely than one can 

 without a compass go out of sight of land'on the ocean to 

 fish. He finds it difficult to realize that so late as 1810 New 

 York, which then scarcely extended uptown so far as its 

 post-office now is, was expecting, in the estimation of one of 

 its scientific men, to rely ou the interior of Long Island, 

 "where men have no settlements,' for pinnated grouse and 

 fire wood during "incalculable time." 



While here in the far Northwest, we have neither the pin- 

 nated nor the rulfcd grouse, we have in considerable num- 

 bers the sharp-tailed grouse, a bird very closely resembling 

 the pinnated, though not quite so heavy ,'a little "lighter color 

 in plumage also, and a little lighter color in flesh; the latter 

 almost as white as that of tne ruffed grouse, and of a delioi- 

 ously gamy flavor. 



The sharp-tailed grouse is entirely without the neck feath- 

 ers, that give names respectively to the two other varieties; 

 the males and females looking much alike. 



The bird lies well to a dog, and when it rises goes off to a 

 straight Hoc like a shot out of a gun. It inhabits the driest 

 plains, as well as the vicinity of lakes and ponds, and de- 

 pends on the dews for drink". The sportsman who pursues 

 it has to carry water for his dogs, and one or more fluids for 

 himself. 



The sharp-tailed grouse inhabits high northern latitudes as 

 far up as Hudson's Bay at least, and west from .Minnesota to 

 the Ttocky Mountain's. It was little if at all known to our 

 people until about the time of Lewis and Clark's expedition, 

 and Wilson found the only stuffed specimen of it known to 

 exist in any museum in Philadelphia. That was a female, 

 and the same Dr. Mitchell, w T hom weha?e before quoted, 

 mistook an imperfect drawing of it for a female ruffed 

 grouse, and declared it to he an inhabitant of Virginia. 



The sharp-tailed grouse is very highly prized by sportsmen 

 here, but we are apprehensive of its gradual disappearance 

 he fort; the pinnated grouse, whose arrival in great numbers 

 will soon follow the farmer with his broad stubbles of wheat 

 and other grains. 



This letter is longer than I intended. The writer is gelling 

 to be an old sportsman, and in deference to his old gun his 

 signature is PiK-FinE. 



Creel City, Devil's Lake, Dakota. December, 1883. 



[We have known of a pinnated grouse being killed within 

 twenty years near Islip, where the South Side Club has its 

 house; but it was not certain whether this bird was indigen- 

 ous or from an imported stock.] 



ANOPLOPOMA FIMBRIA-(Pallas) Gill. 



THIS fish was first described as a species of cod (Qu&ua 

 fmbria)bx Pallas in "Zoographia Rosso- Asiatica," 1831. 

 pages 200-201. ft was referred, however, by Girard in 1S5S, 

 and Glintber in 1862 with some doubt to the genus Mi Hue tv x. 

 In 1859 Ayres re-described the fish under the specific- name 

 merlcmyiti, placing it in his new genus Anophiprnmi , w iiicfi he 

 supposed to he nearly related to Slh'^/id/mii. Iu 1872 Dr. 

 Wilhelm Peters again re-described the fish as a supposed 

 new genus and species to which he gave the name &ombro- 

 cjHm mhnoiuvx, and indicated a relationship to both tl: 

 mackerels and the trout. In 18BH Gill adopted the genus 

 Anoplopmna of Ayres for the UadilS fimbria of Pallas, and, 

 ten years later, he pointed out Petcrs's mistake and stated 

 that the affinities of the species in question are with the CVtf- 

 apkracti, and more, especially the Chtpda. 



The. beshowe is related to the following well-known mem- 

 bers of the Vhimhi .■ 1st, the species of Jlcvftj/mmmwt, food 

 fishes variously styled sea trout, rock trout, starling, green 

 • fish, etc., etc. ; 2d, the atka fish or atka mackerel {JPUUfo- 

 grammus mmopterygi/iii); 3d, the cultus cod (Opldodon 

 .lottr/nliix); '1th, several other less known genera, the species 

 of which are not used for food. 



The beshowe is found on our western coast, from Monterey 

 northwaid to the Aleutian Islands It is sufficiently com- 

 mon and little esteemed in the markets of San Francisco. 

 In deep water, from Puget Sound northward, the species 

 grows to a larger average size, frequently exceeding three 

 feet in length," and fifteen pounds iu weight, and it is con- 

 sidered an excellent foo'd fish. We are indebted chiefly to 

 Judge James G. Swan, of Port Townsend, Washington Ter- 

 ritory, for our recent knowledge of the edible qualities of the 

 fish. He stales that it is highly prized by the Makah In- 

 dians, who have given it the name "beshowe." Which is the 

 most appropriate of the common names so far applied to 

 the species. 



The beshowe. when of about the same size as a common 



mackerel, resembles the latter in shape and general appear- 

 ance, but lacks (he oblique dark bands. Its 'color is usually 

 slaty gray, somewhat mottled with white, and the lower 

 parts are pale. The fins are dusky, the caudal is edged with 

 whitish. Large individuals, particularly such as Judge 

 Swan tuts recedtlj forwarded from the deep water of Van- 

 couver's Island, are very dark brown, sometimes nearly 

 black. 



The peritoneum is dark, but the flesh is white. When 

 salted like cod it is said to be exccllcni. hi I his condition 

 Judge Swan has recently sent specimens to the National 

 Museum for trial. 



According to Jordan and Gilbert the beshowe feeds on 

 Crustacea, worms and small fish. The same authors state 

 that it is caught in rather deep water at Monterey with set 

 lines and about San Francisco in winter with sweep nets. 

 while at Seattle in Puget Sound it is taken from the 

 wharves. 



What Does it Mean?— Editor ForeU and Stream: For 

 the last ten years or more it has been my good luck to have 

 the time each fall to indulge in my hunt of all hunts— a one 

 to four weeks' shoot among the squirrels of Southeastern 

 Ohio. Among almost every bunch of squirrels that we 

 brought in we would find from one to three females preg- 

 nant. T commenced to shoot Aug. '28 and stopped Oct. 26. 

 It was the exception not to find a pregnant female in 

 the. hunch on dressing them, and the number of young was 

 either three or tour, always one of the two numbers. In my 

 ten years and over of squirrel shooting I never found but 

 one'female that was likely to have .the care, of a family at 

 the time of year mentioned until this fall. Does this mean 

 an open, mild winter? So far the signs have been very 

 favorable for an easy winter. — Gtso. K. Jenhey {Marietta, 

 Ohio, Dec. 11). 



!#»f* §ag mjd §m\. 



AN OCTOBER SAIL FOR DUCKS. 



ATRIP to the Berkshire Hills, taken for health, was cer- 

 tainly a pleasure; but with all its charm there came the 

 haunting idea that the season for boating was rapidlv flitting 

 away, and if the state of the temperature in the attractive 

 hill towns was any criterion to judge by, freezing as if did 

 some two or three nights in succession, there must be a lot of 

 innocent ducks, far away on salt water just, aching to be siiot. 

 So the little plan was made that an early return to the shores 

 of Narragansett Bay would put in reach a pleasant sailing 

 trip, with ducking as a motive, and a smiling moon to beam 

 upon our efforts after "Old Sol" had turned iu at the early 

 hour lie affects at this season. While our preparations w 

 in progress the w T eather put on its most enticing ways. Sum- 

 mer seemed to have returned to stay; aud the the'rmometc 

 look a look even at 80 . All nature seemed to say, "W 

 arc only waiting for you, this is the best part of the seaso 

 for boating; come upon the gentle sea; be wafted by the soft 

 airs; no equinoctial now; oh, no." 



So everything being finally got on board our small craft at 

 noon, we "started. We being F. and myself, two confiding 

 creatures armed for slaughter, with visions of more black 

 ducks than we could possibly eat. or perhaps give a v. ay. 

 Our boat was a comfortable keel cat, with cabin room enough 

 for two; I ought to say three, perhaps, as a capital spaniel 

 was one of the party, and withal not to be overlooked. 

 Slowly drifting out of the harbor with the gentlest of sou' 

 wester, ue turned before it and were fairly on (he road to 

 our destination, some leu miles north, the "last wonts of a 

 friend on shore were, "Look out for bad weather. The 

 barometer is falling, and this kind of thing is a weather 

 breeder." That's what they always Bay when they have fine 

 weather, 1 think to myself, "can't let anybody enjoy it, try to 

 scare them from taking comfort in the present. But it was 

 hot; July this year could not. equal it: no coat could he en- 

 dured, even shoes were intolerable, and had to be discarded 

 temporarily, the sun burned so hotly on our deck. 



But night comes early ; and long "before dark we are at our 

 anchorage in the lee of a promising island, where we have 

 seen ducks before. F. determines to take iu the lay of the 

 land before dark, and goes ashore to interview one of the in- 

 habitants, who is visible in the distance mowing. He soon 

 returns and tells me lhal his interview with the aforesaid 

 brings to light that no ducks have been seen there for a year; 

 but as bis informant has lived on the island for eleven years 

 without visiting a town but a mile away, I feel that a man 

 of so little ambition is a poor judge of anything, perhaps 

 would not know a duck from' a hawk. His assertion is 

 strengthened, however, by a smart young fellow, who pulls 

 alongside in a shell ; and so we decide to 'make sail again for 

 another and better spot at once, instead of next, day as was 

 our plan. 



We have enough daylight and reach our anchorage, where 

 there is good shelter from all winds; and glad enough we did 

 so, as the sky begins to look ominously. That falling 

 barometer meant "business after all. However, we pile 

 ashore, laden with guns and decoys, to look for n desiruhle 

 pond where our prey is pretty sure to seek shelter at night. 

 Away we statl. feeling fresh and full of enthusiani. The 

 decoys are heavy, but what of that? We will soon have 

 them where they wil do the most good. But— where has 

 that pond gone "to? I thought I could find it in the dark. 

 Down drop Ihe decoys, thai pond must be caught before 

 dark; and a rush up a hill, to where an extended view can 

 be got, hardly comforts me; but a narrow streak of water 

 shows itself half a mile further than I remembered it: and 

 we grab the basket of decoys aud make a dash for it. Tt 

 proves to be the pond hidden by a hill, and just as we set 

 our decoys the first "blackie" appears right over our beads. 

 F is :il the decovs. up goes my small bore loaded with, as 1 

 suppose. IN o. fl chilled shot. Spang. I look for results. No 

 results. What is the matter? I ought to hare had him, are 

 small bores a failure after all? I will just look at. the other 

 cartridge. No. 8! No wonder I lost him: and I find that 

 though brimful of enthusiasm, 1 am short of ammunition, 

 and what I have is No, 8. There is no alternative but to 

 return on board and load up, F. says lie will stay aud lake 

 them all in, if I will kindly bring a" sayiuwich on my return. 

 So 1 start back consoling myself with the thought that I inn 

 awfully hungry anyhow, and F. mar have all he can get 



How heavy rubber boots feel on a back track. I think as 

 I trudge along uncomfortably euows.li, climbing fences and 

 stumbling through an old cornfield ton my way to the shore. 

 "The moon, tile pale inconstant moon,'" hides, of course, 

 and leaves me only a glimmer to find the rowboat by, but 1 

 do find it, aud reach uiv cosy cabin. Now, 1 think, 1 have 



rather the best of it. F. is sitting in the blind, prohftplj 

 getting chilly and ravenous, while the cabin lights burn 

 cheerfully and the "harmless, necessary'' kerosene stove 

 gives immediate promise of hot tea. Ah", what virtue there 

 isiu a good cup of thai cheering beverage, after fatigue or 

 even disappointment. Made with a squeeze of lemon juice 

 instead of milk is the perfect WSJ 



The comfort is my alluring, bul after an hour has passed 

 the thought suddenly occurs t lint leaniehcrc tO shool ducks, 

 and F. must he about leady to eat his dog if 1 dOn'l p\\\ in 

 an appearance with the bread and butter substitute; and al 

 though T have not heard his gun perhaps he is killing m\ 

 share in addition to his own. Back again then to the pond. 

 which is easily found now. A stealthy approach to the 

 "blind 1 ' reveals P. coiled up in one corner. "Well, what 

 luck? Have you got any?" "No. A splendid bunch came 

 over the decoys, but they made so much noise it Started the 

 dog. and I just missed ihem. No otl «ne since." 



A sense of inward comfort and congratulation comes over 

 me as 1 mentally recall that cup of tea uid ;n ci ssoties, and 

 settle down on a hard rock iu the "blind" to wait lor the 

 uncertain appearance of more ducks, which do not come 

 alter all. It is getting late, and we go back to the bftCt 

 (Linking that al a very early hour we will try il again. The 

 weather now loots as if we might "catch it," and properly 

 thankful we feel thai we did not stay at our first ancle nn r 

 which would now be so exposed that we should have had to 

 leave il during the night. There is nothing like a well pro- 

 tected cove for a small craft, when you come back to her for 

 comfort aud a good sleep, and the feeling that no mutter 

 how it blows you are safe, and chat- care Is oil one's mind, 

 The pleasant contrast of our cabin and the outside weather, 

 and a warm supper, predispose us to look upon the bright 

 side of our luck so far, and thankful for what we have we 

 soon drop off lo dream of endless flocks of ducks, wonderful 

 shots, etc. 



Another day shows no improvement in weather, and we 

 do not get up to have a try at daylight. "What's the use " 

 says I, "of making one's self so uncomfortable? Let's enjova 

 good breakfast, aud if fog, rain rind ether discomforts 5,1 

 ready for us, we are just so much the better reinforced to 

 meet' our disappointments. It was as well alter all; no ducks 

 needed shelter iu such culm weather, and our breakfast is a 

 great success." I begin to think less of ducks and more of 

 provisions, the latter being so much more certain than the 

 former. But all this does not quite suit F, he feels thai 

 nothing is being accomplished. So we prowl about on shore 

 and look for plover. One lovely creature of that Bpecjea 

 succumbs to No. 8 from my lli-caliber; and now being cov- 

 ered with glory and tired out. I long lo return onboard for 

 a rest and something lo eat. F. is nowhere iu sight, bul 

 turns up later with a first-class appetite, but no bints. Tins 

 is discouraging. 



Let's get out of this. So said, so done. We gel out, aud 

 think to ourselves that we might, as well go borne. So our 

 prow turns to flic south with a pleasant little breeze to en- 

 courage us with the false idea that we shall gel, home before 

 night. That delusion fades when we find ourselves trying to 

 sail against a strong head tide, wind failing, a solid-looking 

 fog bank coming down the wind, reducing our two more 

 hours of daylight to much less; and there are seven miles of 

 beating dead to windward, unless we quietly give it up aud 

 turn lo the only shelter, a small island which 1 vaguely re 

 member was said to be good for shooting or fishing. 1 can't 

 recall which, and where we can anchor; if w T c do not wish to 

 run away back to where we started. F. says, "You are the 

 skipper :'md must decide;" so after a few minutes of holding 

 on one course, we see it is of no U8C and turn hack; just now 

 the wind drops, and we drift buck willi barely steerage W . 1Y 

 to where we arc advised to let go tin- 'mud hook." by a lone 

 fisherman, who has his small sloop anchored for the night. 



It is growing dark rapidly-, we must see if our decoys can 

 be used here. So quickly a.shorn we get. having but a few 

 yards to row, and find evidence of faith iu ducking possi- 

 bilities in Ihc shape of blinds well placed, and a most allur- 

 ing pond for ducks if il should blow hard. By dragging our 

 small boat over land to the pond we place the decoys, and 

 take our positions about eighty yards apart. I always keep 

 an eve on i he weather, even ashore, but I am puzzled this 

 time to know what we are going to Lave, until a fleeting 

 glimpse for an instant, high up, where Hie moon ought to t>e 

 through the fog, shows a ragged state of things that means 

 wind, probably southeast, and we are too near the beach to 

 let out much scope of cable. So we get aboard quickly, 

 change the anchor by using the small boat to tow with, and 

 when that is in place, as it weighs only forty pounds, the 

 fishing kedge is thrown over also, rather hastily attached to 

 an old main sheet instead of its proper Gable, il bit of care- 

 lessness at the lime which 1 regretted all night, as the gate 

 strengthened, and il became impossible to make any change 

 in that direction. F. was now on shore alert for the prob 

 able flight of ducks which could not fiud rest in open water; 

 but 1 had deserted my blind when tbe first warning clrop$ Of 

 rain began lo fall, and was able to tumble aboard in advance 

 of a regular down pour, thanking my stars that 1 had done 

 so, and that 1 was in time to see to playing out more cable 

 to both the anchors, as (he wind now canii 

 southwest, aud the high tide brought our deck nearly on u 

 level with the highest part of this end of our island. 



Evidently we were in fore regular night of it. To drag 



our anchors or part the cables meanl drifting ivom shelter 



and running miles before the gale iu a fog thick to see 



where safety was to be found. So our third and best anchor 

 was put on deck ready to let go at the least sign of ttouble. 

 llv this time P had had enough wetting on shore, and in n 

 let up of the rain, hailed to be taken onjjourd, wle 

 turned in, going calmly to sleep, a performance I IroVi 

 Imitate With very poor success, as the swish of rain. Ihe 

 whistling and thrashing of ropes, all tended to keep at leasl 

 one eye open, not forgetting the discarded main sheet, a cot- 

 Ion rope that was doing duly as cable. .Many timet 

 look on deck forward, always finding that wretched rope 

 doing all the work Even when, determined to case if. I 

 gavemOre scope, the nesl Mine [ looked at it, it was tight as 

 a harp string, straining al that little ton-pound ancl 

 nobly doing lie- whole work of holding our boat, which cut 

 and sheared about as if determined to get away of break 

 something. Thunder and lightning finished my 

 slumber, aud I popped out of the companion way just as the 

 worst of the gale was upon us. Little was lo he seen bul 

 fog on one side and the. dimoulliuc of our friendly island )U 

 the other. A closer look into [he fog revealed H schooner go- 

 ing adrift, probably having parted her oe 

 made no effort to seek a lee near us, as she might have done, 

 but disappeared to leeward showing half her jib to help in r 

 steering. 



"Now T ," Says P . 'I have waked up in time, and I lim 



