Jan. 17, 1884.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



497 



m tin 

 dep< 



an ice floe pay for their credulity usually by the loss of 

 several of their Bomber." 



The journal errs in giving the name of this fowl • 

 geese or brant. It is flic Arctic or snow goose (Aimer hi/per- 

 hurevs). As far as I cau learn Done have been billed by our 

 Philadelphia sportsmen Litis season; but it appears from the 

 account given that the Smyrna gunners are now taking 

 advantage of the ice in the bay and paddling up on them. 

 Oapt. A. A. Clay, of Philadelphia, a season or two since 

 succeeded iu decoying them on the marshes 

 resort to feed. No doubt this flock will remain 

 ware until early in the spring, when they will 

 their breeding grounds, which I think are in th 

 ated in the Pacific Arctic regions, as large numl 

 every spring passing overland in the west, their Cl 

 pointing to the northwest. Your correspondent 

 since killed a pair while snipe shooting, one will 

 as the geese flew over. This was about ten miles Horn \ al 

 paraiso, Ind. Hollabird will remember the incident, as he 

 was "at the death." Homo, 



Philadelphia. .T;id. 12. 



NOTES FROM MICHIGAN. 



about to be 



use seven drams of strong black powder and 1} ounces No. -1 announced purpose of the present _ law. It was put upon a. 



Dela- 



•t for 



tsilu- 



re seen 



always 



,v years 



,oh barrel 



umh 



IT will be interesting to watch an attempt 

 made by a party of Detroiters at preserving 

 tion of country iu Northern Michigan, For a 

 years the party referred to have annually hunted 

 grounds they propose in preserve; now they have g.-uueu 

 from the owners of the land the exclusive shooting privil- 

 eges. The territory they intend to lake in is some six or 

 eight miles square, BUTrounding Turtle Lake, so called from 

 its resemblance iu shape to B turtle. The land around the 

 lake has been lumbered; il abounds in splendid cover lor 

 deer, and ruffed grouse are there by the thousands, while 

 Turtle Lake itself swarms with fish, Mack bass predominat- 

 ing. The lake is a mile and a halt long by a mile wide, 

 snugly nestled in among the bills that surround it and is 

 distant some forty miles from Alpena. By the way. "Al- 

 pena" is an Indian name and signifies a country wherein par- 

 tridges arc plentiful — "a good partridge country," 

 as an old Indian told me some years since. 

 And it is such a country, surely, as your corres- 

 pondent can affirm, for, one afternoon -while ou 

 a still-hunt for deer, be Counted sixty-seven ruffed grouse 

 flushed by him inside of three or four hours. With a 

 fait show 'during the close season deer will go on and multi- 

 ply rapidly around Turtle Lake, as the country is well wat- 

 ered, sprinkled here and there with hardwood, and affords 

 ample cover and protection in its numerous swamps, slash- 

 ins and woods. In fact the section is admirably fitted. fOT 

 the shelter of game, and has been, and now is, one of the 

 very best hunting regions of our State. It remains to be seen 

 what will come of the somewhat ambitious attempt of the. six 

 or eight gentlemen who propose to be the, pioneers in form- 

 ing a game preserve right in the heart of the wilderness, and 

 where game laws are Virtually unknown. Be the experiment 

 of preserving this particular tract successful m not, the iu 

 fluence will be for good, and will have a tendency to educate 

 people in the northern counties as to the true value of game. 



It's a pity we cannot have a game warden duly appointed 

 by the Stale at once; for him we shall have to "bide a wee," 

 or rather a year, until our next Legislature meets. It is 

 hard to estimate the immense good such an officer can ac- 

 complish. The results of the efforts made by Mr. ITigby as 

 a missionary or warden of the State Sportsmen's Associa- 

 tion but faintly prophesy what he could do if invested with 

 authority by the people of the State. The impression that 

 no doubt was felt in some quarters that he was working for 

 the good of a select few would quickly give way to one of 

 respect and awe among the law-breakers. Without know- 

 ing, I imagine he has met with skepticism as to the disinter- 

 estedness of the association. No doubt many of the ignorant 

 "mossbacks" he labored with felt all the time that the asso- 

 ciation through him was endeavoring to attain some selfish 

 result. A game warden backed by a commonwealth could 

 certainly accomplish infinitely greater results than could one 

 appointed by a small body of sportsun 



Had we a" game w T arden now, i sho 

 his ear that brook trout from Luke Su| 

 the ice, were exposed For sale in Mans 

 within a week or so. Also that Christ tuns evei 

 was offered for sale at Bailey's Market. Botl 

 season, but both were freely offered for sale. 



Detroit, Jtieh., Jan. 12. 



chilled shot, 



With this gun I found that I could kill from one fourth to 

 one-third further than with any other guu I ever say, the 

 great weight preventing any serious recoil, and being pos- 

 sessed of physical strength beyond the average of men I 

 could wield It very handily. My friends insisted that I could 

 not kill with it much better than with my old gnus, but I 

 never found one of them to lie of litis opinion alter standing 

 by me during D day's shooting, as I would, for the sake Of 

 argument, occasionally cut down a single cluck which be- 

 longed to mv companion before it came near enough for him 

 to use his lighter gun. On one occasion I had four friends 

 at mv placeTone from St. Louis, the others neighbors, and 

 all good shots, belter than I, two of them being, perhaps, 

 the best in on i section. We shot from 3 till 5:80P.M., 

 and at night one had ten, one twelve, one twenty-nine, one 

 fortj I while I had seventy-four, and bad anyone of 

 them had my guu and I his I would probably have had 

 about a dozen -and he a hundred. Since this episode the 

 "big guu" has been treated with great respect, and my 

 considerably elevated by the posse: 

 nk that so large a gun is uusportsn 

 lu-ively lor ducks and geese, and 3 



spirits 1 



although 



hammer 

 gun half 



don of 

 ud ike, 



:t they 



able. 



lihalS in self-defei 



: Messrs. Grizzly & 0< 



and fat they would gr 



n thei 



To cut down a pair of bluebills at ninety yard-, i. . . ; at 

 ant thing, but you can't do it except very semi-oceasionally 

 wilb s light gun properly loaded, and if you raise your 

 powder charge you raise a corresponding bump on youi 

 shoulder, skin your fingers and break the third command 

 ment — and then you don't get them often. J. 8. 



Marshall. Harrison County, Tenn. 



different footing, and hence', we think, is objectionable, and 

 should be changed. 



The remedy for all such legislation is one which we have 



frequ 



do in >r 

 should 



legislat. 



afortun 



ed 



i it.L'ly we are p e.verles to 

 ■stiiiQ. It is that there 

 throughout the Stiles, by 

 lien should recommend uniform 

 -i States, based upon latitude or 

 isl.aliou would be productive of 



1 like to whisper in 



rior, caught through 

 Id .Market, this city, 

 :as evening, venison 

 were out of 

 Diu/r.y. 



THE CUVIER CLUB. 



IN their report read at the annual meeting the trustees of 

 Ike Cuvier Club say- 

 As the visitor, who has a thoughtful mind, looks through 

 our cabinets at examples of. game birds, who were once as 



familiar as the sparrows in our streets, but which are now so 

 a i to be almost practioallyextinct; and as lie turns from 

 these to look upon the quail and the grouse, which yet re 

 main to us, he will intuitively ask himself whether these 

 latter also are not destined soon to become almost practical!) 

 extinct, and to bo totally beyond reach as articles of food. 



lie will answer himself tlial their preservation for all pur- 

 poses of food or sport depends wholly upon an enlightened 

 public sentiment which will compel "the enactment and ob- 

 servance of proper laws regarding them. 



To create such a public sentiment regarding both fish and 

 game, and thus to secure such laws and their observance, is 

 the primary object, of this club, and therefore the trustees 

 deem it. to be their duty to give the subject renewed discus- 

 sion in this report, although they have discussed it largely 

 in former reports. 



In their view the subject can never become hackneyed or 

 tedious until the desired end has been fully attained. * They 

 are certain that to the members of the Cuvier Club it can 

 never prove to be a repugnant theme. 



And they would impress upon members the fact that this 

 topic should not only be discussed in the club-room, but 

 elsewhere upon every fit occasion. 



It will serve but 'little purpose toward gaining the final 

 end, if the members are content simply to listen to these re- 

 ports, and then to dismiss the subject from their minds and 

 conversation when they leave the club-room. It ought to be 

 talked of in such place's, at such times and upon such oeca 

 sions as will enlist other minds. Reforms are never gained 

 by .silence. Public sentiment is never created by secrecy. 

 What we want is that the object of this club shall he so 

 known in every circle of every society that there shall be 

 universal approval of it, and after that it will not be long 

 until such approval is manifested by favorable legislation 



The first thing to be said now is that already the public 

 mt in the large cities of the country is far in advance 



i by the con 

 1 lines. Su 

 inj in several ways. 

 Dealing in game, as a business; has become an established 

 occupation, and when legitimately carried on is untitled to 

 consideration as a regular commercial pursuit. However it 

 may have been formerly, the game dealers in Cincinnati at 

 least, are beginning to 'realize the fact that indiscriminate 

 slaughter of game moans the destruction of their bn 

 and the most of Mum are willing to co-operate with this club 

 in the observance of a proper law. They know the reason 

 and the requirements of such laws as well as wc do, aud 

 any law which is not founded in reason and upon such 

 requirements, is inimical to their business, and does not 

 obtain their respect. There are constant temptation? upon 

 their part to violate it, and yet they do not desire to appear! 

 as law-breakers 



Such uniform legislation as we have suggested would re- 

 move all the difficulties growing out of the present state of 

 things, and would enable us to know at all titties who among 

 than were the supporters of the laws, and who, if any, de- 

 served to lie. prosecuted. When such prosecutions wore had 

 the offenders would stand alone. He would not then have 

 Hie moral support derived fwm the knowledge that all his 

 eo-uValcrs were in full sympathy with him, and 

 to assist him to the utmo'st. But he would kno- 

 too, condemned him. It would not be long be 

 sped for the law would extend from the dealel 

 mission merchants in the city to their eonsigtic 

 tomers in the country, and hence the pot-hunters, the snarers 

 and the nctfers, and the country boy exterminators, would 

 cease to find a market. 



The past season has been the most prolific for years iu 

 quail, Throughout the whole scope of the country they 

 have abounded. How far this is due to favorable weather 

 and local causes, and how far to the influence of clubs like 

 this, it is impossible to say; but W* have a right to expect 

 1 hope thai the cause- in which we have engaged will be 

 popularized to such an extent as to acquire eornpli fce rceog- 

 Ito be universally aud comprehensively e.mboilii-d 

 in our laws. When that Sbtains, the birds will abound in 

 the greatest profusion, aud will be beyond the contingent E 

 if bad seasons. 



frequently asked whether they 

 OB of clubs auxiliary to the Ott- 

 ,-onld prefer that form of organi 

 independent clubs. 

 • Ciub has now become SO widely 

 dated to its objects "its name is 

 rc to avail themselves 



oo.l 



ready 



tha 



: they. 



IV 



his re- 



am 



f'Olll- 



1 cus- 



A DUCK HUNT IN TEXAS. 



TO lull ducks one must have a duck gun, especially if 

 they are deep water ducks— viz.. canvas-backs, red- 

 heads and bluebills— of the first two varieties we have but 

 few here and my experience lias chiefly been with bluebills. 

 These ducks have names innumerable and I have often been 

 struck with the fact when half a dozen hunters were together 

 aud each one would use a different name for fhein, scaup 

 duck, bluebill, blackhead, black jack, nigger head, broad- 

 bill, and bullhead being among the most common; the large 

 black head of the drake giving most of the names. Where 

 they breed 1 know not, far north of Texas, but iu winter 

 they visit, us in large flocks, in numbers far greater than any 

 Other duck. They feed in both deep and shoal water, are 

 most expert at diving and very tenacious of life. When 

 crippled it is almost impossible for the retriever to catch The season and the 



of tl 

 advai 

 lcthic 

 exere 



le by the cities in all which pertains to the at! 

 1 outdoor life. The need of relaxation and physical 

 Is being daily more aud more impressed upon all oui 

 brain-workers aud busy denizens, and this is found in it> 

 most agreable form through the medium of rod aud guu. 

 It does not take the devotee long to learn that there is a 

 higher aspect to field sports than the mere pusuit and cap- 

 ture of the sranie. lie soon sees that Uierein is a food pro- 

 duct which rightfully cared for and protected should prove 

 the solution of" many a problem of poverty, and he speedily 

 becomes earnest to bis desire for such protection. 



For many reasons, which ought not to exist, but yet we 

 are sorry lei say, which do exist, this inspiration does not 

 extend to the average legislator, and in consequence thereof 

 the ga me laws, not only of our own State, but of the majority 

 of the States, do not 'exhibit such thorough knowledge o"f 

 the subject as its great importance aud large interests dt 

 mind. 



The law of Ohio, as it has now fixed the close sense 

 for quail, is an example, we think, of ill-advised legislat 



The. Trustees have been 

 roiild sanction the format] 

 ier Club, by parties who \ 

 ation rather than to form 

 It, is said that the Cuvie: 

 known that in all things r 

 a lower of strength," and that they des 

 of it. 



The Trustees have decided to give their sanction hereafter, 

 and will assist iu establishing branches in any locality ■■<• here 

 it may be desired, and where they are confident that the ob- 

 jects "of the club will be maintained, and its good name pre- 

 served. 



PHILADELPHIA NOTES. 



th which our immediate district 

 ist region was visited during the 



^IIE severe rainfall 

 and the Atlantic 



iLv.pp, 



ar and 





for the 



ior can 



le that 



ladelp 



da had 





by the 



ne;.:, 



) it has 



ition is 



taking 



n its te 



-ritory. 



liberated I am 



them, and as they only show the top of the head aud very 

 little of their backs as they swim off it is difficult lo shoot 

 tbem again. They are swift on the wing and all in all it re- 

 quires a good shot and a good gun to kill them with any 

 certainty. On the other hand, they decoy easily and the 

 mallard' call attracts their attention at once. On our lakes 

 we often see them resting on the open water in "rafts" of — I 

 might say— millions, coming in late in the evening to feed 



:essitiesof the subject arc all against it. 

 a only of the thirty days of Ni 



It provides an opei 



vember. 



During this period the quail are full grown and fit for the 

 table; and an extension of the open period for the gun would 

 not to any great extent diminish them. They can be 

 furnished." certainly, during November and December, at 

 such prices as will bring them within the reach of even the 

 most limited means. Being then at their best, and in the 



week, in a great 



we had begun to hope that better times were i 

 grouse aud quail, when news from the inte 

 the entire State excepting: directly around Ph 

 been presented with the heaviest snow of the 

 clerk of the weather. In Maryland and Virg 

 been very severe. 



The West Jersey Game Protective Assoc! 

 the proper steps for the care of the game i 

 The coming spring at least 2,000 quail will be 

 told, and negotiations are now under way to purchase a 

 large number from Tennessee These birds will be properly 

 divided between the six counties over which the association 

 has coutrol, and each borough of these counties will have 

 its apportionment. I am informed that heretofore certain 

 sections on particular lines of railroads were stocked with 

 quail, and the more isolated places, where birds had suffered 

 almost entire extinction from various causes, were neglected. 

 This my informant— who is now one of the society's active 

 working members — stated would be guarded against in the 

 future. 



We have in our own State, now that the Philadelphia 

 Game Protective Society may be said to have gone out of 

 existence, no one to prosecute a violation of our game laws. 

 Apropos of the Pennsylvania law, there was a very impor- 

 tant change made in it at the late long session of the Legis- 

 lature. Ducks can only be shot from Sept. 1 until Jan. 1, 

 and then only on Mondavs, Wednesdays and Fridays of 

 each week. No sailing on them with sailboats or tugs for 

 the purpose of shooting is to be hereafter permitted. This 

 law applies only to inland streams of the State at present, 

 river or stream divides ou: 

 . not take effect until the n 

 filar one, when il will be in for 



II be seen from this the Delaware River, owing to its 

 Jersey shore, is yet open to every day shooting until 



on Ike grass flats. The noise made by them as they rise from full flush of their season, it is proper that so long as they 

 these large rafts closely resembles distant thunder— not so remain so. they should be lawful food. 



very distant either. I had, with my fellow hiiuters. often 

 discussed the necessity of getting an extra hard hittina gun 

 to bring down aud Keep down these ducks, aud last season 

 procured an 8-gauge gnu of a celebrated English make, 12} 

 pounds in weight, 34-inch barrels. With this I did better 

 than before, but still I kept longing for aomethging more 

 effective. 1 then had built to oilier, by an Amiiiceiu tinn 



The States adjoining Ohio have different and fougerquail 

 seasons, and the birds killed lawfully iu those. States find 

 their way inevitably into the markets of ibis State, where- 

 upon traffic in ihei'n aud possession of them are prohibited, 

 and Iheu they become unlawful food. This should no? be. 

 It violates the first principles of game preservation. Thai 

 principle is to protect the birds thoroughly during the period 



Whei 



i another this 

 wing State adopts 

 on interior waters. 



fine gun of about the same size as I he above, except the in which they are not fit for food, in order that their natural 

 barrels were thirty-six inches long. After carefully testing i increase maybe promoted aud that they may be better and 

 it both as to pattern arid penetration, I found it inferior to plentier during the period when they are tit tor food. If it 

 my old gun. 1 then had a friend select from the stock of should become necessary to maintain an entirely close season 

 Henry C. Squires, of New York, a Greener for moon a large for one or two years, in order to resplenisli the game, that 

 scale," 14$ pounds, 8-gauge. 36-incll barrels, and in which 1 I would be a different queslion. But such was not the 



New Jersey passes a similar act, which I have no doubt will 

 soon be done. Non-residents of Pennsylvania cannot enter 

 the State for the purpose of trapping wild pigeons unless a 

 license of fifty dollars is paid lo each county in which the 

 trapping or netting is to be done. Rabbits are hereafter lo 

 be given two more- weeks of grace before being hunted, 

 Nov. 1 being the opening season. 1 cannot see why the 

 quail should not have also been given the same additional 

 ■ ■lose time. Our law then would be better in respect to the 

 ationed. Not having the text of the new act before 

 me, 1 can only write of it from recollection. The changes 

 made are all good. 



The suggestion was made a. few days since, and it struck 

 your correspondent as a feasible one, that the Philadelphia 

 kennel Club should obtain the old charter of the Game Pro- 

 tective Society of this city, if it is still in force, andl-eorganize 

 under its pow'ers and add the protection of the game of our 

 State to its field of usefulness. Could not this be done? 

 Your printer made me say running beagles in last issue of 

 Fout.s't \np Stream. It should have been winning beagles, 

 referring to prize-winning dogs. There are several of them 

 either on the way over or to be shortly sent. lit. mo. 



