FOREST AND STREAM. 



233 



AMERICAN 



AMMUNITION. 



« — • 



WE mentioned recently, in an appeal to American 

 manufacturers to give us home made ammunition 

 of a quality at least equal to the imported and high priced 

 article, an instance of a friend with whom we were shoot- 

 ing, and who used American paper shells, having a large 

 percentage of raissfires. Our remark called forth a reply 

 (which we published last week) from a number of sports- 

 men, residents of Jacksonville, Illinois, who stated that 

 they bad never known a missfire while using paper shells 

 of the Bridgeport make. As we anticipated at the time, 

 the other side of the question is now making itself heard. 

 "We print below communications on the subject from 

 two prominent sportsmen, and are informed that their ex- 

 perience is that of many others. We wish our readers to 

 understand that we agitate this subject solely in their in- 

 terests, and with the hope that in so doing we may stir up 

 our manufacturers to a sense of the fact that we are paying 

 large prices for imported articles which we have"a right to 

 expect could be produced of equally good quality at 

 home:— 



New Yokk, November 15th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest akd Stream:— 



In reeaid to the quality of the Bridgeport brown paper shell, as com- 

 pared with the Ely brown paper shell, allow rae-to state that within two 

 years I have bought three hundred of the former, and so many of them 

 mi^ed fire (at lta^t twelve to fifteen out of one hundred) that I gave my 

 lasr fifty shells away. Sin' e that time I have used the cheap brown Ely 

 shell, and not more than two or three out of every hundred have missed 

 fire. I find throughout the country where I shoot that nearly every one 

 has had the earae experience with the Bridgeport shell. Another serious 

 fault that I found with them was that in extracting the cartridge, after 

 firing, the head was very liable to come off, leaving the cartridge in the 

 gun, and causing delay stiid vexation. I have shot this Fall every day for 

 three w«-eks, using nothing but the Ely shell, and not one cartridge has 

 been kft in the gun by the extractor pulling off the head. I trust that 

 nest week some of the gentlemen of Hampden county, Mass., will give 

 yoti furiher information in regard to the matter. W. S. Webb, M.D. 



Janesville, Wisconsin, November 12th, 1875. 

 Editou Forest ani> Stukam :— 



I have never used the Bridgeport cartridges, but I heard some very tall 

 swearing d>ne by a friend of mine this Fall, who showed me eight shells 

 which be sai't had missed fire out of one box of a hundred. That was 

 enough for him, and for me also. A. M. Valentine. 

 _+•*. 



Florida. — The tide of travel is already setting strongly 

 toward the "Land of Flowers," and the St. Augustine 

 Press of November 6th says that all the boats and trains 

 arriving in Jacksonville from the North are crowded with 

 passengers. The St. John River boats have commenced 

 their Winter trips, and several of the fashionable hotels 

 are already open for guests. The Magnolia Hotel, at St. 

 Augustine, opened on the 10th of November, and all will 

 be ready by December 1st. A great many additions of 

 value are being mad 3 to the facilities for transportation. 

 The steamer Pastime, of New Haven, and the Stamford, 

 of Boston, the latter capable of accommodating 1,900 per- 

 sons, are to go to Florida. The latter will run either on 

 the St. John or ply between Jacksonville and St. Augus- 

 tine. The steamer Mayflower is to ply three times a week 

 between St. Augustine and Malanzas beach. The fishing 

 at Matanzas is now excellent. The run of mullet along 

 shore has commenced. The other day a fishing party cap- 

 tured a porpoise at the mouth of the St. Sebastian River 

 and brought it to town. The Indians who are captives in 

 Fort Marion called it "buffalo in the water." They tasted 

 it and declared it "no good." Shark fishing is also in order 

 at the head of the wharf, and several have been caught. 

 The St. Augustine P ess says: — 



"The wild ducks »re becoming again troublesome at the 

 light house. At night, during their" flight, they are blinded 

 by the light, and My recklessly against the iron net work 

 Surrounding Ihe gla-s windows and reflectors, which were 

 put up for iheir protection. It appears that the net work 

 fails to break the force of the ducks sufficiently, and they 

 have been doing much damage in the way of breaking the 

 glass windows, which are one-fourth of an inch thick. 

 One morning recently nine ducks were picked up about 

 thy light house." 



The same paper gives the names of a hunting party of 

 ten who had just started to the Twelve Mile Swamp for 

 venison, taking seventeen dogs. Altogether the season 

 opens most auspiciously, and the number of visitors, it is 

 believed, will be unprecedented. 



• -♦♦-»■ 



The survey for the proposed extension of the Bangor 

 and Piscataquis Railroad from Abbot to Moosehead Lake 

 is completed. The distance is twenty-two and a half miles. 

 The route is thiough Monson, Blanchard and Shirley into 

 Greenville, the station being at West Cove. It is expected 



by the officials that operations will commence this Winter. 



.«-»«. 



To oun German and Swiss Fiuends. — We would call 

 particular attention to the various prizes and the methods 

 of shooting which will be adopted by the German and 

 Swi^s rifle clubs at the coming Buuderfest, to be held at the 

 Centennial. The information imparted by our correspon- 

 dent, L , which will be found in our number of today, is 

 of the most valuable character. The Forest and Stream 

 will endeavor, when the time comes, to publish the fullest 



reports of these most interesting matches. 

 _ <««»■ 



— We hope our wealthy friends will not overlook the 

 present uuusual opportunity, referred to in an advertise- 

 ment of a "Ducking Craft for Sale," of securing one of 

 the best appointed yachts in the country. The purchase of 

 this vessel carries with it all the shooting privileges of the 

 Susquehanna River, in the vicinity of Havre de Grace, a 

 point widely known for the splenuid sport it affords among 

 the canvas backs. Last year the first six days' shooting 

 afforded 800 ducks. On Nov. 1st of the current year the 

 return was 1G I ducks- The shooting on the Havre de Grace 

 Fiats is now very fine. Fulloot rv.?\iouUirs can be obtained 

 at this oliice. 



GAME PROTECTION. 



The following letter is in reply to one published in this 

 column in our issue of November 4th. As to the merits of 

 the case, we are of the opinion that Mr. Wild was wrong 

 in shooting quail before the expiration of the close season. 

 Permission from an owner of land does not justify the 

 killing of game upon it; the owner himself does not pos- 

 sess that privilege out of season. Mr. Wild has done so 

 much in the cause of protection that his intentions can 

 hardly be questioned, but the example remains in full 

 force. There are so many who will say, "If So and So 

 does it, why should not I?" that leading sportsmen in every 

 community should be the first to set the example of strict 

 observance of the statutes. We willingly acquit Mr. Wild 

 of any wrong intent, and publish his explanation with 



pleasure :— 



Bed Bank, N. J., November 8th, 1875. 



El>ITOB FOBEST AND STREAM: — 



Seeing in your paper an article nnder the head of "Game Protection," 

 written by "Check Cord" of Shrewsbury, which reflects upon me, though 

 not directly, I consider it my duty to answer. Thursday, October 28th, 

 I started from my home for a few days' shoot among the woodcock, with 

 my friend Tom Taylor, of Colt's Neck. I was met in the village of 

 Shrewsbury by "Check Cord," who inquired my destination and what I 

 was going to do with Ace, my setter, that was with me at the time. I 

 told him I was about purchasing Taylor's Duke, and Ace was going to 

 change hands; also that before concluding to part with Ace, I took him 

 to see if he would retrieve; and that I had shot over his points two quail. 

 He rejoiced in saying that he would immediately give me a rattle in the 

 sporting papers. This I paid no attention to, nor would I, until I saw by 

 this last issue of your valuable paper that he has carried out his (to him) 

 piece of great satisfaction in seeing his nom deplume in print. The two 

 quail killed were found on the land of Nathaniel Roberts, Esq., of 

 Leonardville, N. J , a very intimate friend of mine, who has given me 

 permission to shoot on his lands. I would not have thought anything of 

 killing twenty birds, if I had wanted to; but my object was gained in the 

 killing of the two quail. And when I did so I immediately returned 

 home. What has "Check Cord" ever done for the protection of game? 

 Can anybody answer this question? if so, let them speak through the 

 columns of Forest and Stream. Writing up articles and casting re- 

 flections upon enthusiastic sportsmen is very easy; but let h : m wi'h his 

 heart and finances do somethiua for game protection, as I have done. 

 Let him get a copy of the New York Citizen, published a few years ago 

 by Robert Boose velt, Esq., and he may find howl worked. vVho or- 

 dered and paid for and distributed some 1,500 notices to game dealers in 

 the city of New York? These notices were worded for me by Bobert 

 Boose velt, Esq., of New York, who was instrumental in bringing to 

 grief some game dealers in the city of New York? Who wrote and 

 worked for the destruction of all big guns found in use on Havre de 

 Grace flats (Chesapeake Bay)? Who wrote the articles and worked for 

 the proteciion of wild fowl at Havre de Grac3 flats? Who wrote the ar- 

 ticle for the Governor of Maryland (then Bowie's) consideration? Echo 

 need not answer who. I will answer it my self — the undersigned. Messrs. 

 Editors, if "Check Cord'" had in his composition a fifty- thousandth part 

 of the love for field sports that I have, he would himself have done the 

 same thing, knowing well that he would not have violated any game law. 

 If a land owner has not the right to do as he sees fit with any game on 

 his lands, the law must be altered. Come, "Check Cord," be a man; 

 shoulder a gun— we presume you have one— go forth these fine mornings 

 in search of the woodcock; they have not all left us. A tramp, if only 

 for one hour, will make you feel like another man. Go out; look upon 

 nature — human nature included. Don't kill any game before the law is 

 up, even if you get permission to do so. Give us some sporting news 

 from your section of the country. We will have pigeon shooting again, 

 brother "Check Cord," and I think you will join us, as we never saw 

 you shoot a gun at pigeons, or anything else. I know some of the boys 

 at th% village will be more than pleased to see you aim the destructive 

 tube. I shall be pleased to have you at my shooting shore on the Bird 

 Biver, Md., as I know you are in for the protection of game, and I am 

 satisfied that they will be very safe when you are in the blind. 



Yours, G H. Wild. 



Port Bichmond, L. I , November 12th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I trust you will use your influence this Winter in having a law passed 

 to Ptop the shooting of quail, except during the months of November 

 and December. I had some birds brought to me yesterday, and among 

 them was one that the dog had caught, being too small to fly. A week 

 or so a«o two of our members were out and the dog came on a point, and 

 they walked in, when up went two quail, and both were killed. They no- 

 ticed the dog pointing just at their feet, and on looking down saw sev- 

 eral young biids about as large as a sparrow. Of course this may have 

 been a late brood, but it only goes to show that October is at least one 

 month too early to shoot them. I will guarantee to show any one young 

 quail to-day (Nov. 12th) that can hardly fiy, and no doubt the old birds 

 have been killed off, and these poor hi tie things compelled to take care 

 of themselves. Law, or no law, I for one shall decline shooting these 

 fellows until the first of November. Mortimer. 



Illegal Fishing in Onetda Lake. — The waters of 

 Oneida Lake, it is said, are being illegally netted of the fish 

 with which it was stocked a short time since at Ihe ex- 

 pense of the State. A policeman of Rochester who was 

 recently visiting at Fort Brewster says that the netting is 

 carried on to such an extent that he saw a number of fish 

 cars filled with fish taken in this manner. The Rochester 

 Express publishes the name of seventeen persons engaged 

 in this illegal fishing, one of whom is a game constable. 

 The lake is now being stocked with salmon trout, and 

 operations might as well be suspended if men are to be al- 

 lowed to take the fish out with nets as fast as they are 

 put in. 



*— The Auburn Advertiser directs the attention of the 

 Auburn Sportsmen's Club to the fact that poachers are out 

 every night on Owasco Lake spearing trout, as many as a 

 dozen of these T ampires plying their business of a single 

 night. Id November these fish swarm along in shallow 

 water near the shore to deposit their spawn, and are 

 pounced upon by the law breakers and pot-hunters. 



— The quail season in Pennsylvania as authorized by the 

 State law opened on the 1st inst., but according to the 

 Eastonifyee Pms the pot hunter's season had been open 

 for a month, and the law-abiding sportsmen found only 

 broken covies thinned out to one-third or one-half. The 

 general report is that quail in that vicinity are yet scarce; 

 that is, that they have not recovered to one-fifth of their 

 numbers a few years ago, and that if they were let alone 

 this year, with a favoring Winter, they would be as abun- 

 dant as ever next season. 



—The Pennsylvania State Association for Protecting 

 Game and Fish meets at Harrisburg to-day. We are prom- 

 ised a report of the proceedings . 



foe ^iflt* 



Name. Score. 



Colonel J. Bueger 38 



J. L. Farley 38 



V. C.Noone 38 



G. W. Smith 38 



J. Bnckbee 38 



G. Doughty 3* 



S. G. Perry 37 



Colonel D. E. Austen ST 



W.B Farwell 37 



J. Le Boutillier 37 



Creedmoor.— Turf, Field and Farm Challenge 

 Badge —On Saturday last, the 13th, this interesting con- 

 test was renewed. The weather was beautiful, and a great 

 many marksmen were on the ground. The match was 

 callei promptly on time, and by 3 o'clock was under way. 

 There were sixty-three entries, and we are pleased to state 

 that the National Guard were fully represented, the prize, 

 indeed, having been carried off by Mr. John Beattie, of 

 Company D, Twelfth Regiment. Conditions— Any breech 

 loader within the rules; distance, 200 yards; shots, ten. 

 Prize to be won three times before becoming the property 

 of the winner. We append the best scores:— 



Name. Score. 



John Beattie 42 



W. 8. Elmendorf 42 



T. Duke 41 



W. C. Clark 40 



3. I. C. Clark 40 



T. R. Murphy 40 B. 



George Crouch 39 



J. L. Price 39 



J. M. Crane 39 



A. Dutch 39 



W.S. Collins 38 



It must be borne in mind that the 42 out of a possible 50 



was made by Mr. Beattie with a military rifle and open 



sights. As this is possibly the last match for the Turf r 



Field and Farm Badge for the season, the winner will have 



the chance of sporting the handsome trophy during the 



Winter. This match, due to our worthy contemporary,, 



has been signally useful in founding the most necessary 



school of off-hand shooting. 



— Last week the annual rifle match of the Washington) 

 Grey Cavalry Rifle Club took place. The weather was exe- 

 crable, the wind blowing a reefing gale at times. The 

 shooting, however, was fairly good. Conditions — Reming- 

 ton military carbines; distances, 100 and 300 yards; seven 

 shots at each range. The five prizes were awarded as fol- 

 lows:— 



Yards. 

 Name. 100 



Sergeant II. B, Kelsey 29 



Lieutenant A. T. Decker 27 



Sergeant J T. McHugh 29 



Private J. Rozell 24 



Sergeant C. A. Fuller 29 



In the Consolation Match Private S. M. Megie, Jr., won 

 the first prize with a total of 48. The second prize was 

 awarded to Corporal M. Timmum, who made 39. 



— The Hepburn trophy, it should be remembered, will be 

 shot for for the first time on Saturday November 27th. 

 The badge is an exceedingly elegant one, octagon in shape, 

 supported by rifles, and of solid gold. The conditions allow 

 ail members of the National Rifle Association to compete 

 for the trophy, exclusive of the two international teams of 

 1874 and 1875; distances, 800, 900 and 1,000 yards; fifteen 

 shots at each range; without sighting shots or previous 

 practice on the day of the match; weapon, any breech 

 loading rifle, to be loaded only at the breech ; entrance 

 fee, SI. 



— The following important resolution was offered by CoL 

 Gildersleeve, or Judge Gildersleeve (in either a military or 

 judicial function this gentleman will be found equally com- 

 petent,) and adopted by the Executive Committee of the 

 N. R. A. : "That all special matches hereafter to take place 

 at Creedmoor shall be shot at such time and at such dis- 

 tances as conform to the rules of the range governing the 

 practice thereof." The positive enforcement of this rule 

 will very much facilitate business at Creedmoor. 



Conlin's Shooting Gallery.— The second contest for 

 the Turf, Field and Farm Cups was held on Thursday, No- 

 vember 11th:— Conditions: Ten shots, off hand, 110 feet, 

 200 yards miniature target reduced in proportion for dis- 

 tance, Wimbledon rules. Prizes, first cup, best score; 

 second cup, to best score nearest 35; third cup, to best, 

 score nearest 25 : — 



300 



Total. 



Prize. 



25 



54 



Firpt prize. 

 Second prize. 



19 



47 



19 



43 



Third prize. 



38 



4i 



B'onrth piize. 



It 



40 



Fifth prize. 



Name. Score. 



T. C. Noone, 1st badge 46 



P. W.Pape 43 



M P. Lenudn 43 



Thos. Lloyd 43 



Chas. A. Cheever 42 



Robert Faber 41 



Ceorsre Schnltz ,.41 



Robert Nliley 40 



J. B. Blydenbnrgh 39 



Name. Score, 



Geo. W. Hamilton 3<j> 



Krtd Keeslar 3^ 



H. F^her ^ 



Joseph Woodward 36 



U. C Blydenbnrgh, (2d badge).. .35- 



M. W. Doian 35. 



A . Mar^h ..." 34 



C. E. Blvdenburg 34 



T. C.Bank* ...3$ 



Wm. Mosr. -Jr.". 39JJ S. Wiiyht. ... ".".".".' ".' 33 



J. J. C. Clark... ?,9R. Offiey 33 



T. n P.nir.i3 on w xj t>„..i- „_ 



L. C. Bruce. 



M 



Thomas Bixbee 3 



L. V. Sone 37 



Prank Hyde 37 



M. G. Duffv 36 



Wilson MacDonald 36 



W. H. Park 



J. O. Wright .7.7.31 



P. H. Lord 27 



W. TT. Richaids, (3d badge)" 7.'.!! 25 

 R. F. Sculley....; ..7. ...16 



—At a late meeting of the Board of the N. R. A., Gen. 

 Shaler presiding, measures were taken to further the meet- 

 ing of riflemen from all nations at the coming Centennial 

 anniversary to be held at Philadelphia, and to inaugurate a 

 series of rifle matches to take place during the Summer 

 and Fall of 1876. In pursuance with the following reso- 

 lution, "that the Executive Committee be requested to con- 

 fer wilh the Centennial Commission and ascertain to what 

 extent said Commission will co-operate in carrying out such 

 a programme as this association may adopt for the occasion 

 referred to," the Executive Committee and Board of Direc- 

 tors left yesterday to hold a conference with Gen. Hawley 

 and the Centennial Commissioners on the location of a 

 range and other preliminaries of the international match 

 next year. 



—We are led to believe that a new rifle gallery having 

 quite an extent of range wiU shortly be opened on Broad- 

 way, near the City Hall, and that there is a movement on 

 hand to establish an off-hand club, with over 135 feet of 

 range for the exclusive use of its members. 



