200 



FOREST AND STREAM; 



mr 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 



Dbvotbd to Field and Aquatic Sports, Ppactical Natural History, 

 Pi«.« "TrjruBE, the Protection op Game. Preservation of Forests, 

 atd the Inculcation in Men and Women of a healthy interest 

 xm Out-door Ebcreation and Study : 



PUBLISHED BY 



parent mi jf /ran? publishing jfeantpmtB* 



17 CHATHAM STREET, (CITY HALL SQUARE) NEW YORK, 



Tpoht Orrwe Box 2833.1 



127 SOUTH THIRD STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 



Taring, Five Dollars a Year, Strictly in Advance. 



A discount of twenty percent, allowed for five copies and upwards. 



Advertising Kates. 



In regular advertising columns, nonpareil type, 12 lines to the inon, 2E 

 cents per line. Advertisements on outside page, 40 cents per line. Reading 

 notices, 50 cents per line. Advertisements in double colnmn 25 per cent, 

 extra. Where advertisements are inserted over 1 month, a discount of 

 10 per cent, will be made; over three months, 20 per cent; over six 

 months, 30 per cent. 



NEW YORK* THURSDAY, NOYEMRER 4,1875. 



To Correspondents. 

 *• 



All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 

 correspondence, must be addressed to The Forest and Stream Pub- 

 lishing Company. Personal or private letters of course excepted. 



All communications intended for publication must be accompanied with 

 real name, as a guaranty of good faith. Names will not be published if 

 objection be made. No anpnymons contributions will be regarded. 



Articles relating to any topic within the scope of this paper are solicited. 



We cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 



Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor us with brief 

 notes of their movements and transactions, as 5t is the aim of this paper 

 to become a medium of useful and reliable information between gentle- 

 men sportsmen from one end of the country to the other ; and they will 

 find our columns a desirable medium for advertising announcements. 



The Publishers of Forest and Stream aim to merit and secure the 

 patronage and countenance of that portion of the community whose re- 

 fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 

 s beautiful in Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 

 the legitimate sports of land and water to those base uses which always 

 tend to make them unpopular with the virtuous and good. No advertise- 

 ment or business notice of an immoral character will be received on any 

 terms ; and nothing will be admitted to any department of the paper that 

 may not be read with propriety in the home circle. 



We eannot be responsible for the dereliction of the mall service, if 

 money remitted to us is lost. 



Advertisements should be sent in by Saturday of each week, if possible. 



CHARLES 11 ALLOCS, Editor. 

 WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Manager. 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE COM- 

 ING WEEK. 



Thursday, November 4 tk.— Trotting at Washington, D. C. Rifle. 

 Forbst and Stream Eadee, at Conlin's, 930 Broadway. Pigeon Shoot- 

 ing Tournament, Paris, 111, 



Friday, November Bth — Trotting at Washington. D. C. 



Saturday, November 6. --Racing at Jerome Park. American Rifle 

 Association, at Glen Drake. Exhibition at Wood's Gymnasium. 



Tuesday, November 9.— Wrestling, Miller and Christol. 



Woodcock on Toast. — A bunch of very rare visitors flew 

 in at our office door on Friday last, in the shape of some 

 fine woodcock, for which we are indebted to our friend, 

 Mr. John H.Thomson, of New Bedford, Mass. The birds 

 were in excellent condition, and although as a rule not in 

 favor of having long bills presented tons, we will liquidate 

 all of this description as fast as they appear. 



Mr. W. E. Papb.— We had the pleasure of a call a few 

 days since from this eminent English gunmaker. Mr. 

 P ipe's visit to this country is more one of pleasure than of 

 business. He is now sojourning with some friends in 

 Ohio, enjoying duck shooting. Mr. Pape is of the opin- 

 ion that the question of the advantage of the choke 

 bore system for general shooting has by no means been de- 

 termined, and as many guns are ordered bored on the old 

 plan as on the new. It will he remembered that the prize 

 cup was awarded to this gentleman as the original inventor 

 (in 1859) of choke boring. 



c —Mr. E. G-. Blackford has been appointed agent in 

 this city for the United States Fish Commission, and ht.s 

 been supplied with blanks to be distributed among fish 

 dealers, the object being, when these are filled out to ob- 

 tain accurate statistics of the fish busines of New York. 

 Mr. B. has already shown much public spirit in obtaining 

 for preservation and classification all the specimens of rare 

 fish which find their way into our waters, and bis endeavors 

 in the cause of science are fully recognized and appreci- 

 ated by those in authority at Washington, 



FOREST AND STREAM AT THE CEN- 

 TENNIAL. 



— — ♦■ — — - 



IN an adjoining column will be found the circulars is- 

 sued from the Smithsonian Institute and the United 

 States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, showing how it 

 is proposed to illustrate the animal and fishery resources 

 of this country at the approaching Centennial International 

 Exhibition. The supervision and the labor of collecting 

 the material for the special departments designated as sec- 

 tion 3 in each circular, has been placed under the charge 

 and management of this paper. The sections referred to 

 are as follows ;— 



FISHERIES, ' 



(3.) The apparatus which may be enumerated as used in pursuing, 

 capturing, and utilizing the various species consists: first, of special 

 clothing for the protection of the wearer, such as waterproofs, boots, 

 hats, gloves, etc.; second, of the different, klnd.3 of canoes, skiffs, 

 birches, boats, and rafts, with their oars, paddles, or poles, and other 

 devices for pursuit and capture, or for transportation of the articles, as 

 smacks, merchantmen, etc.; third, of bows and arrows, spears, har- 

 poons, lines, hooks, floats, sinkers, reels, rods, artificial flies and baits, 

 nets of all kinds, traps, pounds, dredges, trawls, rakes, etc. The appa- 

 ratus for the preparation and utilization of these products will consist 

 of models of smoke houses, salting establishments, fish flakes for dry- 

 ing fish, factories for the manufacture of fish or other oils, fertiliz- 

 ers, etc. 



animals. 



(3.) Under the head of apparatus for capture will be included: first, 

 special articles of dress or of clothing for the better accomplishment of 

 pursuit or capture of the various animals; second, the means of ap- 

 proach, such as boats, sledges, snow shoes, etc.; third, the various modes 

 of attack and capture in the way of traps, decoys, lariats, bows and ar- 

 rows, lances, harpoons, guns and rifles, both muzzle and breech loading, 

 pistols, knives, etc. This division will also embrace the various forms 

 of powder flasks, shot belts, cartridge cases, caps, primers, etc. Of the 

 boats the smaller kinds, and especially the so-called portable boats, may 

 he of 1 he ordinary size; of the larger ones models will be best adapted 

 to the purpose. 



In fact, eveything in the way of appliance which in any 

 manner forms a portion of the outfit of the hunter, the 

 trapper, or the fisherman. It is our desire to make this 

 department as thorough and complete in detail as possible, 

 and with this view we would solicit from our friends con- 

 tributions of any articles included in the above lists, and of 

 many others not mentioned therein. For instance, there 

 have been of late many improvements in shot guns, load- 

 ing implements, cartridge belts, etc. We should like all 

 of these, and also camp equipage of every description, 

 models of yachts, pictures of celebrated dogs, hunting 

 scenes, etc. All articles embraced under the above heads, 

 whether old relics or new inventions, useful or ornamental, 

 will find welcome and a place. We shall make it our duty 

 to see that every contributor obtains due credit for the 

 article he exhibits, and when desired they will be returned. 

 We ask from our readers a generous and enthusiastic 

 co operation, that the sportsman's share in the great Cen- 

 tennial shall be worthy of the country. Our extensive cor- 

 respondence has already furnished interesting and valuable 

 contribution to the general display, and we are promised 

 a large assortment of articles. We would request an early 

 response from those who desire to exhibit, that the neces- 

 sary details as to arrangement etc., can be prepared. Our 

 proposed camp is exciting much interest and promises to 

 be a feature of the exhibition. Articles can be sent to us 

 at our expense. 



We w'ould also call attention to the other sections of the 

 circulars, as deserving the notice of all owners of collec 

 tions of Natural History, etc., who can assist greatly by 

 their perconal contributions. 



! «♦»»» ■ ■ 



AN INVITATION. 



WE have been, in our time, the recipients of many a 

 kind invitation. We have been asked to fish and 

 hunt, to exercise what little skill and cunning we might pos 

 sess on almost every beast, fish, or bird that inhabits land 

 or water, forest or stream. Noted Shekarecs have begged 

 us to hasten to India and polish off a tiger or so in the 

 jungle, and we have been cordially pressed to come and 

 take a rogue elephant as he charged. But to-day we have 

 received a letter from a German gentleman, a leading 

 sporting authority, who asks us to Gorach-thal near Tam- 

 sieg, in the Duchy of Salzburg, in Austria. There, over 

 an expanse of 25,000 acres, we are to hunt the lordly stag 

 and the bounding roe-buck. Nay, more than that. If 

 such noble game did not suflice, we are to be tempted with 

 chamois hunting. Salzburg Iks in the midst of an Aus- 

 trian Switzerland, and is the loveliest and most picturesque 

 country on earth. Chamois hunting! That means crags 

 to be climbed, cliffs to be scaled, and break-neck passes to 

 b-3 threaded. It means to scan the chamois from afar, a 

 faint, black moving speck on the mountain side; to breathe 

 the purest, sweetest, the most exhilerating air; to see rang- 

 ing far above and beyond the snow-capped mountains; to 

 discern below the feathery water falls and silver streams, 

 and to listen to the music of the tinkling cow bells, from 

 the herds pasturing in the emerald green valleys. It re- 

 calls the rifle in one hand, the stout iron-pronged alpin 

 stock in the other, a game bag thrown over the shoulder, 

 and how T one's heart was in one's mouth all the time, until 

 the game was down, and then the cheers, the vims, as they 

 rang reverberating in *loud echoes from peak to peak, and 

 next the cups of kirchwasser drained to bold chamois hunt- 

 ers, and to gallant Yagers all over the world. 



This is what Heir von Ivernois, the editor of that well- 

 known journal, Ber Waidmarm, writes us. "If you will 

 come and visit me, I warrant good shooting. We have 

 stags, roe-bucks, and chamois. There is also good trout 

 fishing. There are 25,000 acres of land, and no one has 

 the privilege of hunting there but myself, or such guests 

 us I may invite." G-orach! That must be truly a German 

 hunting elysium. 



HOW TO CHOOSE A RIFLE 



_ i — *— — , — 



E have chosen this title for our little essay a 8 u • 

 just what it. purports to be, a general answer to 

 the numerous questions received by us every week u 

 this subject. There are so many kinds of rifles now in u 

 market that persons are puzzled which to choose. With 

 recommending any particular maker, we will point out c 

 tain general principles which, if remembered and acted 

 upon, will help very much in choosing. It is certainl 

 much easier to do this now than it would have been a ij 

 years since. The race has been won by breech loaders a 

 against muzzle loaders; and by the central fire cartridges 

 capable of being reloaded several times, as against the rite 

 fire cartridge. We shall not stop to discuss either of these 

 points, but go on at once to our subject. 



All rifles divide themselves into two great classes— lone 

 range and short range. Long range rifles are used as mili- 

 tary weapons for arming infantry, and as sporting weapons 

 for hunting cariboo, deer, antelopes, and other such timid 

 game as will not allow of near approach. Short range ri- 

 fles are used as military weapons for arming cavalry and 

 for general sporting purposes. The division between the 

 two may be taken at 200 yards. Rifles for match shoolia'g 

 may be used at both, ranges; but, from the natural desire 

 of all of us to accomplish the most difficult feats, they are 

 generally held to mean long range weapons. 



The first rule we shall lay down is this: It is necessary 

 to decide whether you want a rifle for long or for short 

 range. You can select either, or both, but not both hi the 

 same rifle. One will not do the work of the other. A 

 knowledge of this will save much annoyance and some 

 money. We will first consider the requisites of a short 

 range rifle, and how they are to be attained in practice. 1. 

 The first requisite is, that you shall be able to hit any mark 

 small enough to be seen over what are technically called 

 ''hunting sights," with an off-hand shot from the 

 shoulder. Greater accuracy than this is not needed. Such 

 a rifle ought to» shoot close enough to place a majority of 

 any number of shots within the following sized targets:— 

 2 inch ring up to 50 yards distance; 4 in do. 100 yards; 11- 

 inch do; 150 yards, and 8-inch do. 200 yards. A good off- 

 hand shot can do this and fire very quickly, and his gun 

 ought to be able to shoot as close as he can hold it. 



2. The next requisite is, that the trajectory of the ball 

 should be so flat within the above ranges, or, in other 

 words, its velocity so great, that the rifleman fhould not be 

 obliged to depend on an elevating back sight, raised to 

 distances before ascertained, but should be able by merely 

 drawing a coarser bead the farther off he is to hit his mark. 

 There is no military or long range rifle that will do this. , 

 The best example of a weapon that could' do it was the old 

 muzzle loading, long barreled Kentucky rifle. In this es- 

 sential requisite of a hunting rifle we have not improved 

 upon the weapon of our grandfathers, but have, for certain 

 reasons, fallen behind it. 



3. The third requisite is, that the ball should have suf- 

 ficient impinging surface to give a severe shock to and stun 

 the game fired at. This requires a large calibre for small 

 game. 



The sportsman will have no difficulty in finding a num- 

 ber of different rifles in the market, which will answer the 

 first requisite of accuracy within the conditions above laid 

 cU>w T n. We will say no more on this point, except to sug- 

 gest that he ought to insist upon his rifle doing as well ai 

 that at least; better would be of little use. When we come 

 to the second point,, and try to get a rifle that does not re- 

 quire the use of an elevating back sight above 150, or even 

 100 yards, we shall not find it easily. The reason of this 

 is, that military rifles, which are long range, are so fash- 

 ionable that makers of so-called sporting rifles follow th« 

 proportions of powder and projectile, and the rate of twist 

 best suited for long range, but quite unsuitable for short 

 range. For long range we want as small a bore as possi- 

 ble, as long a projectile as possible, and a very quick twist, 

 to give enough velocity of rotation to keep the elongated 

 projectile end foremost, and as much powder as the sirral 

 bore will burn. The result is a moderate initial velocity; 

 but owing to the small surface exposed to the resistance o^ 

 the air, the momentum of the heavy projectile, a very long 

 range. 



Now, for a short range rifle we require the very opposi- 

 site of all this. We want as large a calibre as 'possible, s^ 

 as to make a big hole in our game; as large a clial « e . ch 

 powder as possible, to give a high velocity, without wji 

 we cannot have a low trajectory. This also require^ 

 short projectile, to diminish the friction on the S r0 ° jj 

 and a short projectile requires a slow, twist. The Bfr 

 of the rifle barrel must be shorter, which a ls ° diminl? flnd 

 friction. To reduce these proportions to practice, we 

 that the Creedmoor long range rifle and its ammU ° ]bs . 

 have the following proportions: Weight of rifle, 1 J 

 550 grs. (ratio 1-6)' wag" « 

 powder, 90 grs.; twist, 1 in 20 inches; calibre, ^ ^ 



weight of projectile, 

 powder, 90 grs.; twist, 



length of ball, 1 6-10 inches, length of barrel, 30 inC ' ld 

 short range rifle, suited for deer, bears, buffalo, etc., 

 have the following: Weight of rifle, 9 lbs. ; weight© ^ . Q 

 jecile, 320 grs. (ratio ±); weight of powder, 80; tv?1 . ' cheS . 

 48 inches; calibre, 55-100; length of projectile, * g 



length of barrel, 24 inches. For smaller game, -^ 0l 

 turkeys, a calibre of 35-100 will answer, and the len^ ^ 

 weight of ball, charge of powder, etc., will be red 

 proportion. t [. 



The difference in the practical operation o£ the * haV e 

 fies will be this? With the long raeige weapon, it y ^ 

 your range within a very few yards, and elevate y 



