FOREST AND STREAM. 



295 



Ice Boattng. — The fine fleet of ice yachts at New Ham- 

 burgh, Poughkeepsie and other points on the Hudson 

 river are being put in order for the winter campaign. 

 Probably the most interesting event of tjAseason will be 

 tbe regatta for the Challenge Ice Yacht Pennant of Ame- 

 rica now held by the New Hamburgh Ice Boat Club, and 

 which is open for competition to any Ice Yacht Club in 

 America and Europe. We are indebted to Mr. Irving 

 Grinnell, Commodore of the New Hamburgh Club, for the 

 folic wing list of yachts in the clcb and the regattas ar- 

 ranged for the cominSwinter : 



First class— measuring 350 square feet of canvas and over. 

 Name Owner.- Area of sails. 



gertie Gr. C. Lawson 43t 



phantom P. A. Mesier Van Wyck 366$ 



Quickstep Wm. Leroy 429 



Zephyr. J. R. Lawson 478 



Zero s - "W". Johnson and P. Leroy 462$ 



ZigZag J- Leroy and H. Millard 431 



filing Cloud Irving Grinnell 620 



Second Class— whose area of sail is less than 350 square feet. 



Magic -L E. Losee 185 



p n ff J. Grinnell 210 



Q n i Vive ,....• Chas. Leroy 292$ 



Whiff . J- Grinnell '. 306 



la addition to the above, at least two new boats will be 

 added to the club, both belonging to Commodore Grinnell. 

 One is for exhibition at the Centennial; spreads 316 feet of 

 canvas; is finished in the most thorough and handsome 

 manner, and will be sent on to Philadelphia in the Spring. 

 The other new boat is cat rigged, an experiment in ice 

 yachting, tried for the first time by the Commodore last 

 season, but in a very crude manner. This year the new 

 cat rigged ice yacht has been built in such a manner that 

 great speed and perfect control is confidently looked for by 

 her owner. 



There are 12 active members or boat owners, and 14 non- 

 active members. 



The followiug races are to come off this season : 



1. The Regular Annual Club Regatta. Two prizes in 

 first-class; two prizes in second-class. 



2. The Regular Annual Regatta for non-active members. 

 Two prizes also in the first class; two prizes also in. the 

 second class. 



The above is a race especially for the benefit of non-ac- 

 live boat owners, in which all the non-active members draw 

 by - lot the several boats of the fleet, and boats so chosen are 

 represented pro-tern by the respective non-active members 

 so drawing them, and the prizes are to be awarded to the 

 non-active members representing pro-tem the winning 

 boats. This is a new order of regatta, and produces much 

 satisfaction among those members of the club who are not 

 fortunate enough to be owners themselves. 



3. A regatta by boats of the first-class for the beautiful 

 silk pennant presented to the club last season by ex Com- 

 modore Kidd, of the Brooklyn Yacht Club, and which is 

 a challenge flag to be sailed for only by the first-class boats 

 in the club. 



4. A legatta by boats of the second-class for the silk 

 club singnal also presented by Commodore Kidd, which 

 is also a challenge flag to be sailed for only by the second 

 class boats of the club. 



5. A regatta between the New Hamburgh Club and 

 Poughkeepsie Club, for a flag held b} r the latter, called the 

 Ladies' Pennant, open to a challenge from any club on the 

 Hudson. The New Hamburgh Club sent a challenge to 

 the Poughkeepsie Club to sail for said flag last winter, but 

 owing to the shortness of the ice yachting season, although 

 the challenge was accepted, the race did not take place, 

 but will undoubtedly occur this season. 



In addition to all the before mentioned regattas, the New 

 Hamburgh Club now holds and offers for competition to 

 all ice yacht clubs in any part of the world a magnificent 

 silk pennant, known as the "Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant 

 of America," the conditions of which I enclose for your 

 perusal. 



The greatest speed in any of last year's regattas was in 

 the regular annual regatta of the New Hamburgh Club, 

 when the winning boat made the twelve miles of the course 

 in 26| minutes. It must be borne in mind, however, that 

 in a race to a mark boat and return, half the distance must 

 almost always be sailed over against the wind, when the 

 speed of an ice boat is at least one-third less than when 

 running with the wind three-fourths free, so that unless 

 there be a straiglit-away race the time made in a regatta 

 can hardly ever equal that frequently made in running 

 from point to point on the river on some favorable day. 



The officers of the New Hamburgh Club are as follows: 

 Commodore, Irviug Grinnell; Secretary, P. A. Mesier Van 

 Wyck; Treasurer, Jas. It. Lawson; Measurer, Charles 

 Leroy. 



The first regular meeting of the club takes place on Mon- 

 day next, when a Regatta Committee will be appointed, and 

 other arrangements made for the contests of the coming 

 seasou . 



The prospects of a good season are favorable. The up- 

 per Hudson is already frozen; the water here is very cold 

 and freezes easily for so early in the season, and one heavy 

 snow storm, followed by another cold snap like the last, 

 will close the river here. It is rarely, however, that the 

 season fairly opens before Christmas, though four inches 

 of new black ice will cany the largest ice yacht. 



There are quite a number of ice yachts up the river near 

 Athens and Alban}'-, but we believe'there is no club formed 

 up there, though one may be organized this winter. 



The Centennial Regatta. — The cirulars and invita- 

 tions for the ; ' Centennial Regatta" are now ready for dis- 

 tribution, and Secretaries of all rowing clubs are requested 

 to send their addresses as soon as possible to the Secretary 

 of the Regatta Committee, Jonathan Gillingham, that he 

 may be able to forward the circulars to proper parties. 



Orange Culture in Florida. — If oranges are not gold- 

 en apples, and the groves of Florida a new Hesperides, 

 there are indications that the culture of this fruit is coming 

 to be very profitable. A Palatka paper mentions that 

 Dummitt's grove, which only cost $1,000 per annum, 

 yielded last year 600,000 oranges, for which the proprietor 

 received $11,000; and that, with proper care, it would give 

 from $50,000 to $75,000 yearly. H. L. Hart's grove, at 

 Palatka, yields him an income" of $15,000 to $20,000 per 

 annum. Arthur Ginn's grove, at Mellonville, of 1,10G 

 trees, pays him $12,000 to $15,000 yearly, and is worth 

 $100,000. Mr. DeBarry, of New York, has a grove near 

 Enterprise of 20,000 trees. Mr. Charles S. Brown, of New 

 York, has one opposite Palatka of 1,200 trees. It will be 

 strange if the handsome profits of the business do not 

 stimulate the culture of a fruit which is always sure of a 

 sear and ready market, 



hm mid ^nipping. 



— __ « — , 



QUOTATIONS FROM O. G. GUNTHSB'S SONS. 



BEAR— Northern, according to size and quality, prime, . . .$10 00;i$l5 00 



Southern and Northern yearlings, prime 5 00 a 10 00 



BEAVER— Northern, per skin, parchment, according to 



size and color ... 2 FiOa 3 50 



Western, according to size and color, prime 1 5'J a 2 50 



Southern, and ordinary, per skin, according to size, 



prime. 50 a 100 



BADGER— Prime 20 a 50 



CAT— Wild, Northern and Eastern States, cased, prime.. . 50 a 60 



Wild, Southern and Western, prime tOa 50 



House, ordinary, if large, prime 05 a 08 



House, black, furred, prime . . 15 a «5 



FISHER— Northern and Eastern, according to size and 



color, prime , 7 00 a 12 00 



Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Western, ditto, prime. ..... 5 00 a 8 00 



Southern, ditto, prime 3 00 a 5 00 



FOX- -Silver, ditto,prime ' 15 00 a 50 00 



Cross, Northern and Eastern, ditto, prime 3 00 a 5 00 



Red, Northern and Eastern, ditto, prime 1 50 a 1 65 



Red, S. Penn., N. J., and N. Ohio, ditto prime 1 25 a 1 50 



Red, Southern aad Western, ditto, prime 75 a 1 00 



Grey, Northern and Eastern, cased, ditto, prime 75 a 1 00 



Grey, Southern and Western, ditto, prime 50 a 60 



Grey, Southern and Western, ditto, open, prime 40 a 50 



Kitt, ditto, prime 30 a 50 



LYNX— Ditto, prime 1 00 a 2 00 



MARTIN— States, ditto, nrime 150 a 2 00 



MINK— New-York and New England, ditto, prime 3 00 a 4 00 



Canada, Michigan, and Minnesota, ditto, prime, 2 00 a 3 00 



S. New York, N. J., Penn., and Ohio, ditto, prime. . 1 00 a 1 50 



Md., Va., Ky., Ind., Wis., and Iowa, ditto, prime. .. 75 a 1 25 



Missouri, and all Southern, ditto, prime 50 a 75 



MUSKRAT-N. New York, and Eastern, Spring ,. 00 a 00 



Western, including Penn. and Ohio, Spring 00 a 00 



Northern and Eastern, Fall and Winter 23 a 25 



Western, including Penn. and Ohio, Winter 20 a 23 



Southern, prime 15 a 20 



Southern, Winter and Fall 12 a 15 



OTTER— Northern, Eastern, and Northwestern, according 



to size aud color, prime 10 00 a 12 00 



Penn., N . J., Ohio, and Western, prime 8 00 a 10 00 



Ky., Md., Na., Kansas, and vicinity, prime 6 00 a 8 00 



North Carolina, prime 4 00 a 6 00 



South Carolina and Georgia, prime 2 00 a 4 00 



OPOSSUM— Northern, cased, prime 18 a 30 



Southern and open Northern, prime 12 a 15 



RACCOON -Mich., N. Ind., N. Ohio, Indian handled, 



dark, according to size and color, prime - . . 80 a 1 00 



111., Iowa, Wis., and Minn., prime 50 a 65 



New York aud Eastern States and N. Penn. , prime. . 65 a 75 



N. J., S. Penn., 111., Mo., Neb. and Kan., prime... 40 a 50 



Maryland, Virginia. Kentucky and Teun., prime.... 30 a 40 



N. and S. Car., Ga.. Ark., Florida and Ala., prime. 15 a 25 



RABBITS— Prime cased 02 a 03 



SKUNKS -Prime black, I., cased 00 a 130 



Prlmeblack, I., open 00 a 100 



Prime black, $ white streak, IT. , cased 00 a 80 



Prime black, £ white streak, II.. open 00 a 50 



Prime whole streaked III. and IV 15 a 20 



Prime scabs 00 a 03 



WOLF SKINS— Mountain, large 2 00 a 3 00 



Prairie, average age, prime skins 75 a 1 25 



fW There will be no change in our fur quotations until the middle of 



January. 



^-••* 



TRAPPING IN N ORTHE RN MISSISSIPPI. 



November, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Having some friends living on the Coldwater River, Tunica county, 

 Miss., we accepted their welcome invitation to -spend the Winter with 

 them and enjoy some sport with trap and gun. Expecting to make 

 trapping our principal sport, we accordingly took along wi'h us a fair 

 complement of "Newhouse" No. 1 and 2 traps, added to which we took 

 also a good shot gun and Winchester rifle. 



Within the last few years many of the once good trapping grounds of 

 Wisconsin, Minnesota and Northern Iowa have betn so tnoroughly 

 trapped out as to no longer pay the expert of the trap, and consequently 

 many yearly make their way southward in small boats, seldom stopping 

 until far below St. Louis, where, in the extreme southeast part of Mis- 

 souri and northeast Kansas, and parts of North Mississippi otter, coon, 

 mink and wild cat abound, andin some sections beaver are quite plenty. 



The Coldwater Is a deep, narrow, sluggish river, running south 

 through the eastern part of Tunica county, parallel with and some fif- 

 teen miles from the Mississippi . On the east of the Coldwater, through 

 parts of Tunica and Panola counties, runs a line of bluffs, along the 

 foot of which the wolves frequently gallop and give tongue to their mel- 

 odious howl. Ducks are plenty the early part of the Winter, and geese 

 and brant frequently find their way in from the "Father of Waters" and 

 become easy prey to a good sportsman from behind a thick clump of 

 switch cane. Frequently on either side of the river, back from one 

 hundred to five hundred yards, arc to be found cypress "brakes"— i. e., 

 ponds of water from one to five feet deep, eneircled by great cypress 

 trees, among which grow up innumerable cypress "knees." These 

 "brakes" are fine places to trap in, being nightly frequented by most of 

 the fur-bearing animals in the neighborhood. The day following our 

 arrival at Hudson's Ferry we took a light skiff, and putting sorre traps 

 into it, stepped in and pulled down opposite a long lake, about a mile 

 below, where, fastening the skiff, we packed our traps back some four 

 hundred yards to the lake.- We soon found "sign" of otter, and getting 

 a forked stick drove it into the ground through the ring of the trap 

 chain, and set a No. 2 double spring trap in the otter's path, some three 

 feet or more from where he came out of the water, taking care to 

 sprinkle the place well with water for several feet around to take away 

 ail scent, for the otter's sense of smell is very acute. We passed on 

 around the lake, setting occasionally a small trap for mink or coon; but 

 seeing no more "sign" of otter, we returned from whence we came. 

 The followiug day we again visited the lake, but only found two coons; 

 but on the second day, on going to our double spring trap, we were 

 pleased to find a large otter jingling at the chain, which we soon killed 

 and skinned without splitting, to be afterwards stretched on a thin 

 board five feet long and seven" inches wide at one end, tapering to six 

 inches at the smaller end, with the tail drawn over the end and tacked on 

 the opposite end. In stretching all hides that are cased, we insert a 

 smooth stick under the skin from one end to the other, which, on heing 

 withdrawn when the hide is dry, will permit of the pelt being easily 

 pulled off the board. We visited some six or eight "brakes" during our 

 stay on Coldwater, and in most of thea had good success with beaver, 

 otter and coon. Mink are scarce in this section, and muskrat are al- 

 most unknown to many of the residents,and we have thus far only killed 

 three. We will give some further account of the beaver and their habi- 

 tations which, here, can be studied to good advantage. Their paths 

 from the river bank often led us to discover new ponds and "brakes," 

 where often the first thing that would meet our sight would be the iden- 

 tical "Beaver house," as described and pictured years ago in some old 

 Natural History. These habitations look like a massive piles of mud and 

 sticks. They are from four to five feet high, and will readily bear the 

 weight of a man. One day our curiosity led us to take along an old axe 

 and with it we cut a square hole into the top of one of these houses 

 large enough to admit our bodies. The top was from twelve to fifteen 

 inches through, and inside, raised some six inches above the level of the 

 watar, was the floor, through which was a single entrance from the water 

 beneath to admit the beaver and allow them to bring an occasional sup- 

 ply of willow branches and bark. The house that we examined w as 

 large eneugh on the inside to admit of an upright sitting posture. Bea- 

 vers frequently use hollow cypress trees for the purpose of laying m dur- 

 ing the day, instead of buiiding a house. We caught three all in one 

 trap and in one tree, by cuttinga hole in the tree and setting the trap on 

 their landing inside, and arranging a sliding pole to drown them by in 

 deep water. We kept the hole well darkened during the day. Beaver 

 are plentier in Northern Mississippi than in Arkansas. We know of one 

 trapper who caught ninety-eight in one Winter, in Horn Lake, Miss. 



— — ♦ — - 



filo Notice Taken of Anonymous Communications. 



C., Taunton.— In regard to targets, address Mr. Conlin, or the proprie- 

 tors of the Creedmoor Junior Range, No. 260 Broadway, N. Y. 



Weasel, Norristown— W. H. Brummitt, of Pontiac, Michigan, has 

 twenty-five or thirty ferrets. Perhaps you can buy them of him. 



Brooks, Stamford.— Be kind enough to send your present address to 

 this office, as we can perhaps anange the Florida party to your satisfac- 

 tion. 



FtsORiDA.— If the gentleman who wished to purchase a shot gun for 

 two German friends going to Florida, will call at this office we can show 

 bim a first class weapon for sale at half price. 



Seneca, Syracuse.- -I have a five shot revolver, muzzle loader, made 

 by Allen & Wheeiock. Can I get it altered to a breech loader, and if so, 

 where? Ans. Yes; D. Kirk wood, Boston, or Clark & Snider, Balti- 

 more. 



Madison, Madison, Wis.— Will you inform me whether the Western 

 Gun Works, of Chicago, is a reliable firm or not? Ans. The Great West- 

 ern Gun Works are located at Pittsburgh, Penn., and are considered re- 

 liable. 



F. R., Randolph, Mass. —Can you tell me tbe name of the Secretary 

 of the new rifle association forming m Boston? Ans. Address Dr. 

 Hazelton or C. A. Sawyer, Boston tiifle Club, care of the Messrs. Rem- 

 ington, 148 Tiemont street, Boston . 



Boston.— Please give dimensions of Conlin's target. Ans. Total di- 

 ameter, 6| inches; ballseye, 1|; from middle of hullseye to the centre 

 ring, If; from centre of bullseye to inner, 2 5 16; from centre of buliseye 

 to line ef outer, 3f. We mail you a taiget. 



H.B ., Providence, R. I— Will you tell me where the Rob Roy canoe 

 is made in this country, and the probable cost of one? Ans. William 

 Byles, Harlem; J. Everson, Greennoiut; and Mr. Jarvis, Watkins, N.Y. 

 Cost from $100 to $180, the latter rigged with sails, etc. 



A. F. D., Philadelphia.— I have a pointer pup, seven months old, and 

 on the 21st of November he swallowed a silver half dollar. Please give me 

 your opinion what well become of the half dollar. Ans. If the half dollar 

 was pure silver it was probably passed within six days from the time he 

 swallowed it. If it was a counterfeit he may have tried to pass it with- 

 out success. 



Perdrix, St. Louis.— Is there a fixed rule to determine the position 

 of a centrehoard, as to distance from stern or bow? Ans. The centre- 

 board of your boat should be one third of its length, and the centre of 

 the trunk should be six inches forward of the centre of the keel. Will 

 the wild rice of Minnesota grow an far south as Tennessee, and how is it 

 to be planted? Ans. Certainly; it grows naturally in Indiana. Write 

 to W. H. Holabird, of Valparaiso, if you wish to get it. For modes of 

 planting, etc., see Forest and Stream, Vol. IV., page 39. 



Joseia'N, Charleston.— What is the difference hetween a bowline and 

 a bow line? Ans. A bow-line is any line run from the bows of a vessel 

 in warping or making her fast, in contradistinction to stern fasts and 

 breast lines (that is, lines from amidships) ; but a bowline is either a 

 knot, of which there are three kinds, the bowline, the running bowline, 

 and bowline-on-a bight, or a small line used to haul the weather leech of 

 a sail out when close on the wind. Something like the difference be- 

 twen a facsimile and a sick family— you see not much for sound, but a 

 good deal for sense. 



Secretary, Ithaca, N. Y.— 1. Can forest lands be hadjin the vicinity of 

 Indian River, Florida, on the homestead act? Ans. We do not know; 

 address Florida Agriculturist, Jacksonville. 2. Is there good fishing and 

 hunting throughout the year in Eastern Florida? Ans. One or the other. 

 3. Can Northerners live in the 24th latitude during the Summer months 

 without injury to health? Ans. Certainly. 4. If a person has rheumatism, 

 would the climate of Florida be for or against him. Ans. Depends upon 

 the locality; some parts of Florida are very unhealthy, and others quite 

 the reverse. 



Frank, East Liverpool, Ohio,— 1. How can brass shells be cleaned 

 without using any bard substance in scraping them inside? 2. My dog 

 has been almost blind ever since he had the distemper. His eyes are 

 large, and have a glassy look, and when in the field he cannot see me if 

 over forty yards away. What is the remedy? Ans. 1. Metallic sheila 

 may be cleaned with turpentine and a stiff brush; but we have found 

 shells to work best when not very clean, as they hold the wad in its place 

 better, and shoot as well. 2. Try a drop or two of molasses in your 

 dog's eyes occasionally. 



H. S., Washington, D. C— 1. Please inform me of the best authority 

 on the breeding and raising of black and tan terriers. 2. I have a black 

 and tan terrier bitch, six months old, weighing only four pounds, and 

 wish to have a good litter of pups from her. Do you know any one in 

 Washington who has a good dog of the same size, and «f pure breed? 

 Ans. 1. A work was published in England some years since entitled "Tur- 

 ton on the Terrier." It has long been out of print, but by application 

 to some second hand book dealer in London a copy might be picked up. 

 2. We do not know of such a dog there. Perhaps some of our readers 

 can in form us. 



Augtjstin, Pittsburgh.— Would it be advisable for me to have my set- 

 ter pup broken this season? He is now six months old, and I see by 

 your paper that many dogs are working finely in the field at that age. 

 My idea was to housebreak him myself, and have him broken next sea- 

 son, commencing on ruffed grouse about September 1st. Would you ad- 

 vise having him broken by a professional dog breaker or hy an amateur 

 (a friend of mine), who could break him alone? Ans. Your pup should 

 be housebroken, and worked moderately on game this season. If the 

 amateur you speak of has skill, and will give the youngster proper at- 

 tention, it would be as well to place him in his hands. 



Flushing, New York.— Will you be kind enough to tell me what one 

 of William English's canoes, Peterborough, Ont., will cost delivered in 

 New York? His price for No. 2 is $25; is that gold or currency, and 

 what will be the best way to have it shipped so as to save expense? Can 

 a sail be used, and will it carry two persons and their baggage? Ans. 

 About $50 currency delivered in New York, freight and duty included. 

 Ship via Port Hope, Canada, and Charlotte Harbor (if boats are running) 

 to New York Central Railroad. A neat triangular sail is made for use in 

 these canoes, if desired, costing $5 additional. 



T. and L. R., New York.— Please let us know how to get to Florida 

 for $15. Ans. Pay as far as your money will go, and work your passage 

 the rest of the way. 2.[Can two men feed themselves by hunting, fishing, 

 and eating fruit from the groves without going to the necessity of buy- 

 ing food? Ans. Certainly; the Indians do it, and so do some of the "poor 

 whites." 3. What is the price of powder and shot in Florida? Ans. Any 

 possible advance sellers^can get on prices here. 4. Will the inhabitants 

 ouy the skins of animals, or trade them for powder, shot, caps, or food? 

 Ans. Oh, yes! The natives will trade anything under the sun. They 

 even brag on skinning the Yankees every Winter. 



X., Rochester, N. Y.— 1. Can umbilical hernia on a dog be cured? I 

 have a setter puppy four months old that has it. 2. I wish to try the 

 new worm remedy— areca nut— spoken of in Forest and Stream. 

 W T here can it be obtained? Ans. 1 . We have had several cases of hernia 

 in our own kennel, but could not effect a cure In consequence of the dif- 

 ficulty in using anything in the nature of a truss. In cases of umbilical 

 hernia, if the patient is tractable, or if a muzzle is used to prevent inter- 

 ference, a pad might be applied, by aid of a bandage, with some prospect 

 of success. It would, however, require care and great patience. 3. 

 Have mailed to you some powdered areca nut, wife directions for its use/ 

 It Iw the best knows remedy lor worms is fep, 



