215 



FOREST AND STREAM* 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 



D^oted to Field and Aquatic Sports, Practical Natural History, 



Ml*** TVTTJRE, THE PROTECTION OF GAME, PRESERVATION OF FORESTS, 



A2?» the Inculcation in Men and Women of a healthy interest 

 in Out-door Recreation and Study : 



PUBLISHED BT 



w ?&orB8t mti Sttrmtq 



@omp*tfg. 



PIGEON SHOOTING. 



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



[Post Office Box 2832.] 

 127 SOUTH THIRD STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 



Terms, Five Dollars a Year, Strietly In Advance. 



♦ 



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



^ «« t » 



Advertising Rates. 



In regular advertising columns, nonpareil type, 12 lineB to the inch, 25 

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

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

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

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

 months, 30 per cent. 



NEW YORK, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11,1875. 



To Correspondents. 



All^ommunications 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 Names will not be published if 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 anonymous 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 it 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 cannot be responsible for the dereliction of the mail service, if 

 money remitted to us is lost. 



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



CHARLES 11 ALLOCK, Editor. 



WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Manager. 



INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR 

 PROTECTING GAME AND FISH. 



THIS is is merely a temporary organization of scientific 

 men and others, numbering some 250 persons, whose 

 sole object is to devise and prepare, upon purely scientific 

 data, a suitable law for the propagation and preservation 

 of the creatures that populate our wodds and waters. It 

 has the approval and direct support of the Smithsonian 

 and other leading academies of science, and there can be 

 no doubt that upon the information and aid directly avail- 

 able it will be successful in its objects. It should not be 

 confounded with the National Sportsmen's Association, 

 which, although interested in, and laboring for, the same 

 objects, is a permanent organization composed of delegates 

 annually elected to its conventions from the local clubs of 

 the several States recognizing its jurisdiction, and opera- 

 tins: through them to disseminate a healthy opinion as to 

 thenecessity of game laws and the protection of game. 



A meeting of the International Association, first named, 

 was held in New York last Spring at the Cooper Institute, 

 and this was followed by a meeting of the Executive Com- 

 mittee on the 22d of October just past. An adjourned 

 meeting of this body will now be held on the 19th of this 

 month "of November at the Hall of the College of Physi- 

 cians, Locust and Thirteenth streets, Philadelphia, at which 

 an influential attendance is pledged. The presence of any 

 member of the association is earnestly invited. The direct 

 object of this meeting is to perfect the committees on No- 

 menclature, Habits of Species, etc. 



After the locality for holding the meeting was designa- 

 ted the following courteous invitation was extended to the 

 association by the Philadelphia Sportsmen's Club, through 

 its President, Bernard A. Hoopes, Esq. :— 



Philadelphia, Pa., November 5th, 1875. 

 Charles Hallock, E*q . , Secretary International Association. 



Dear Sir— It was announced that the meeting of the "International 

 was adjourneu to meet in this city on the 19th insfc. : 



I would beg leave to say that the Philadelphia Sportsmen's Club ten- 

 ders their rooms and assistance for the objects of the meeting, and wil 

 feel honored by the acceptauce of our efforts. 



Very respectfully, B. A. Hoopes, President. 



This courtesy and recognition of the objects of the so- 

 ciety were duly acknowledged by the Secretary. We are 

 authorized to state that any gentleman interested is most 

 cordially invited to attend the meeting. 



THIS is not the. first occasion on which we have advo- 

 cated the abolition of pigeon shooting at the meet- 

 ings of sportsmen's associations; and we would say to the 

 members of the numerous clubs now forming for the pro- 

 tection of fish and game, that the ostensible objects of 

 their organization will be much better served if the shoot- 

 iug of pigeons is not made the all important portion of 

 their meetings, and allowed to entirely override the real ob- 

 jects of confederation. In discussing the question we are 

 disposed to leave out the humanitarian view entirely, and 

 put it upon the broad ground of expediency; that the much 

 needed preservation of fish and game may not be forced 

 to disappear before the opportunity of attaining reputation 

 as a skillful pigeon shot, or acquiring a trophy of one's 

 prowess. 



We are glad that the National Association decided to 

 hold their deliberations aloof from pigeon shooting tourna- 

 ments hereafter. At the last meeting of the Ohio State 

 Association the more important business of the occa- 

 sion was transacted without the usual accompaniment of a 

 feu dejoie. Local associations are also beginning to see 

 the necessity of prompt measures to prevent the rapid de- 

 crease in the supply of game, and in abandoning their pig- 

 eon shooting are enabled to give due attention to the main 

 objects of their organizations. The Yonkers Sportsmen's 

 Club, one of the most energetic associations in the country, 

 has divided, and that portion of the members comprising 

 those who are opposed to pigeon shooting as an adjunct to 

 their institution, have formed themselves into a new club, 

 with the title of the Yonkers Game and Fish Protection 

 Society. The list of officers' are as follows: Dr, Charles 

 W. Torrey, president; G.Livingston Morse, vice president; 

 H. T ? Keyser, secretary; James Ackerman, treasurer; Al- 

 anson J. Prime, counsel; Frederick Shonnard, Hyatt L 

 Garrison, Ralph E. Prime, Dr. G. B. Balch, Isaac D. Cole, 

 N. F. Rowe, J. A. Sniffen, J. G. P. Holden, W. F. H. 

 Getty, and W. W. Wilson, executive committee. 



There can be no question but that pigeon shooting — par- 

 ticularly where the matches are shot under the auspices of 

 an organized club, or game protective society — has a ten- 

 dency to increase the number of pot-hunters and lessen the 

 true instinct of the sportsman, who would otherwise have 

 willingly walked and worked for his shots. There is not 

 the feeling of elation or satisfaction after a pigeon match, 

 even if one is successful, as there is after a good day's 

 tramp in wood or stubble, with pockets filled and the per- 

 formances of a well broken dog to expatiate upon. It is 

 said that trap shooting is good practice, and that proficiency 

 at it indicates also skill in the field. We are inclined to 

 doubt the latter statement, at least, and believe that many 

 superior shots at the trap would be quite at a loss in gen- 

 eral field shooting. 



That trap shooting in England is on the decline there 

 can be no doubt, and the leading clubs are witnessing a 

 rapid falling off. Royalty across the water sets the fashion 

 in most everything, and pigeon shooting is to be no longer 

 fashionable. The Prince of Wales and all the princes of 

 the royal family have withdrawn from the Hurlingham 

 Club, and the sport is to be tabooed in the British Army. 

 It is said that some of the officers stationed at Aldershot, 

 who recently engaged in matches, were severely rebuked. 

 An officer of high rank, in writing to a leading London 

 paper, says: "Officers of the Army, of all people in the 

 world, ought not to patronize so debased an amusement — 

 if amusement it can be called—especially after the very 

 praiseworthy conduct of the heir to the throne." This 

 seems like strong language, but perhaps the writer had in 

 mind the Hurlingham rules, which permitted the shooter, 

 if he missed with his first barrel, to kill his bird when on 

 the ground with his second. If the word debasing can be 

 used at all, it certainly must apply to this potting at birds 

 while on the ground, and nothing, we should imagine, 

 would so soon destroy the truer and better instinct of a 

 sportsman. 



We have no royalty, however, in this country, and pig- 

 eon shooting matches will probably continue until the mil- 

 lenium, Mr. Bergh's efforts to the contrary notwithsanding. 

 We merely wish to enter our protest against trap shooting 

 being made the leading object in the formation of sports- 

 men's associations. We have done the same before, and 

 are glad to see that our efforts are bearing good fruit. If 

 the members of the various organizations throughout the 

 country — and particularly the State Associations — cannot 

 be brought together to take measures to secure the enforc- 

 ing of the game laws, without the inducement of trap 

 shooting, we had better abandon our game and take to pre- 

 serving pigeons for our own potting. 



— The exodus to Florida has begun somewhat earlier 

 this season than usual, and many of our subscribers have 

 already departed, among them, G. M. Fairchild, of Que- 

 bec; and Fred. A. Ober, known as Fred. Beverly, who con- 

 ducted our Okeechobee expedition. Geo. A. Bcardman, 

 the naturalist of Calais, will go next month, and so will 

 Greene Smith, son of the late lamented Garrett Smith, Esq., 

 with Hiram P. Wilson as his traveling companion. Al- 

 most the only business done now by our dealers in fishing 

 tackle is in putting up orders for parties about visiting 

 Florida. Dropping into Messrs. Conroy, Blissett, and Mal- 

 lison's, and Messrs. J. B. Crook & Co.'s on Fulton street, 

 we found them packing large orders. For general fishing, 

 heavy bass tackle appears to be the best, and the larger 

 sized O'Shaughnessy and Virginia hooks— say from 10-0 to 

 6-0 of the former and 3-0 to 1-0 of the latter. A good large 



reel, with 150 to 200 yards of line, and above all, plenty of 

 sinkers. Some sportsmen are ordering as many as four 

 dozen, the largest weighing four ounces. Sportsmen 

 say they can not find a stone in Florida largo enough to 

 anchor a decoy with, which is true as to many localities 

 Any of our readers who may desire the services of a 

 skipper for coastwise voyaging, are referred to Capt. Wm. 

 I. Bennet, of Sarasota, Manatee Co., who has an eleven 

 ton schooner yacht accommodating a dozen persons 

 which, with two men to sail her, and a small boat, he will 

 furnish at $8 per day. He will meet them at Cedar Keys 

 or Key West upon proper notification given him. This 

 worthy skipper piloted our Florida Commissioner "Al 

 Fresco," to Charlotte Harbor last Winter, and is recom- 

 mended by him. 



+++. 



AMERICAN AMMUNITION. 

 ♦■ — 



WE are in receipt of several communications on the 

 subject of ammunition of American manufacture in 

 which the writers contend that the shells for breech load- 

 ing guns made in this country are equal, or nearly so, to 

 the imported. These letters are apparently called forth by 

 our statement in a late issue to the effect that a friend 

 with whom we recently shot, and who used American 

 shells, had at least fifty per cent, of missfires. Of course 

 our remark was not intended to lead to the inferrence that 

 all persons using these shells had this per centage of miss- 

 fires, nor was it made in favor of the imported article, but 

 simply as an appeal to American manufacturers to give us 

 every article of a sportsman's outfit of a quality equal to 

 that of the imported goods, thereby relieving our pockets 

 of the extra cost. We are very glad that our remarks have 

 called forth these letters, and we print such as are not an- 

 nonymous with pleasure, in hopes that the subject may be 

 further ventilated. Mr. Hayden appears to lay much stress 

 upon the pattern and penetration made with the native 

 ammunition . We should be induced to give some of the 

 credit to the gun. The best of our powder we believe to 

 equal the English. As for the shells, notwithstanding the 

 fact that so many gentlemen, whose names are signed to 

 the communications below, have fired such a number with- 

 out a missfire, we are still inclined to think that their ex- 

 perience is not that of all sportsmen. In fact, for them to 

 have used so many shells of any manufacture without a 

 missfire is a little remarkable, and if the superiority of the 

 Bridgeport shell can be substantiated, we will herald the 

 good news to the extent of our ability. It will be borne in 

 mind that we mentioned no particular make of shell, and 

 we will also add that the gun with which the mrsfires oc- 

 curred had rebounding locks, and complaints have already 

 been made in these columns that missfires were more 

 frequent in guns fitted with these locks than with those 

 on the old style. The caps, however, were fairly and 

 deeply indented. We shall be glad to hear further from 

 our readers on this very important subject:— 



Jacksonville, 111., Nov. 1, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In yonr issue of Oct. 28 I notice a communication from your Boston 

 correspondent, "Under Grip," also your foot note in relation to Ameri- 

 can ammunition. On the 24th of September, in company with the field 

 editor of the Turf, Field and Farm and a dozen or more of prominent 

 New York and New Jersey sportsmen, I witnessed a trial with American 

 ammunition that is good enough for me. With 3i drachms of Laflin & 

 Rand's No. 6 powder and 1£ ounces Le Roy No. 7 shot, Bridgeport paper 

 shells, distance 40 yards, six shots from each barrel, 166}- pattern (30-inch 

 circle.) and thirty two sheets penetration was made; averaee of the 

 twelve shots. I have one of these penetration pads, 9£ by llj- inches, 

 forty sheets heavy wrapping paper, weight 17J ounces; four shots are 

 sent through this pad of forty one sheets, including the pattern sheet. 

 What better ammunition is wanted than this. The English pad, same 

 size and number of sheets, weigh scant, T6 ounces. The gun making 

 the above record it a ordinary field gun made by E. C. Green, of Chel- 

 tenham, England, 12 gauge 30-inch barrels, weight 7£ pounds; has oeen 

 in use over a year. In regard to paper shells, I have been using the 

 Bridgeport paper shells, sometimes nearly a 10') a day. I have never had 

 one to miss fire . I append the testimony of a few of our best sports- 

 men who use the Bridgeport shell for trap and field shooting. 



Yours very truly, George Hayden. 



Jacksonville, 111., Nov. 1, 1875. 



We the undersigned, using the American paper shells made by the 

 Union Metall'c Cartridge Co., Bridgeport, certify ihat we have never 

 known one to miss fire. 



Alfred Hayden, George Rippon, Richardson Vasey, Wm. G. Russel, 

 C. H. Baker, K. Blackburn. Robert Ranson, R. R. Chambers, Cnas. 

 Henry, John Ranson, Wm. Benson, Chas. O. Sperry, D. M. fcimmons, 

 U. D. Fitzsimmons. 



Jacksonviixe, 111., Nov. 1, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



While on a visit here to my brother sportsmen the subject of the merits 

 of the Bridgeport and Ely's imported shells was fairly discussed. I, to- 

 gether with numerous sportsmen, both East and West, whom I have con- 

 versed with upon the subject, practical not theoretical sportsmen, claim 

 the Bridgeport shell equal to any imported excepting Ely's gas tight 

 shell, which costs fully one-third more. Euoene H. Shore. 

 ^*> , " 



A Fox Hunt.— -It is now said that the fox hunt recently 

 alluded to will really come off in about a fortnight. The 

 vicinity of Hackensack is the location fixed upon for the 

 "meet", and if a "real live" fox cannot be found, a "bag- 

 man" will be in readiness. Even a red herring is some- 

 times used for a drag, and if none of the showmen will lend 

 a fox, this mode of procuring a scent might be resorted to. 

 We are informed that it is to be only an "invitation hunt," 

 but that the general public will kindly be permitted to look 

 on and see the noble horsemen "negotiate" their fences. 

 Seriously speaking, if this meet is successful and a regular 

 club is organized, one good effect from it will be to popu- 

 larize riding. The number of good horsemen, in this sec- 

 tion of the country at least, is a standing disgrace, and a 

 little rough riding across country will do more to familiar- 

 ize our young men with this healthful recreation than all 

 of Mr. Dickers and other riding master's efforts combined. 

 We might in time see something of a field in a gentleman's 

 race at Jerome Park, and ultimately arrive at the point 

 where an American gentleman would undertake to ride a 

 steeple-chase. 



