FOREST AND STREAM 



313 



r kjs company shipped 1,500 pounds of ruffed grouse to 

 r> s t on and New York, and that they bad carried more 

 this season than he dared to say. Away off in the 

 p ovince of New Brunswick these game collectors are also 

 busy. I a Charlotte county they have been engaged for 

 two months past netting ducks. They select the spot most 

 f uented b y tne f ow l and set a lure by strewing corn on 

 the border of the lake. This is repeated until the birds 

 great in number; then the Bests are set with a fall ad- 

 justed so that when the ducks are well under it, the net is 

 dropped on them, when a general butchery is proceeded 

 with by dabbing the birds with stout sticks. They are 

 then, as quickly as possible, gathered together, put in bar- 

 rels and sent on their way to the American market. 



la the Province of Quebec, a leading journal annouuces 

 that parties are making preparations to export venison to 

 Europe just as our prairie fowl are exported from our own 

 ports. No locality can long stand such a drain upon it, 

 and unless something is done to prevent, no game will be 

 left One remedy that suggests itself is to pass a law pro- 

 hibiting the exportation of game beyond the limits of 

 the State or Province. We have our doubts about the con- 

 stitutionality of such a law, but the difficulty can be obvi- 

 ated by the appointment of Game Commissioners and De- 

 tectives as already advised. 



—Forty Americans who had gone into the Province of 

 Ontario for the purpose of killing deer after the commence- 

 ment of the close season, (Dec. 1st.) have been arrested. 



Norfolk, Va., December 13th, 1875. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Our Legislature is now in session, and there will be some resolutions 

 offerer! in regard to game laws. What is needed is a more uniform set 

 of laws through the country. W. E. Taylor, a gentleman of this place, 

 is much interested in the subject, and I think intends to call the atten- 

 tion of the members with whom he is personally acquainted to the de- 

 sired improvement of the existing game laws. He is an active member 

 and original starter of the Norfolk Game Protective Association. 

 Weather clear and cool to-day. Saw some quail in market last week 

 only three-quarters grown,. 8. 



Portland, Me., December, 1875. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



We have a good deal of legislative work on our hands in this State the 

 coming session, and hat few workers. Among our proposed alterations 

 are auentire revision of the fish laws; additional protection to deer and 

 caribou, as well as moose, including, if possible, an appropriation for 

 the pay of wardens; also some measure to prevent the wholesale 

 slaughter of ruffed grouse. I trust that fhe next year will show some 

 improvement in our laws, and that in time we may make a respectable 

 appearance in this respect, even by the side of your model State. 



Manasseh. 



We have received a copy of the constitution and by-laws 

 Df the Bay Club of Sodus Point, N. Y., which was organ- 

 zed a few months ago for the protection of fish and game, 

 md now numbers 125 members. Sodus Point offers fair 

 ^vantages to anglers and gunners. Our correspondent, 

 Charles Wood, furnishes the following notes: — 



"The town is situated on Lake Ontario, about mid-way 

 between Oswego and Rochester, or its lake outlet Char- 

 otte, and is built on a small elevation or ridge extend- 

 .ng •alons* the long narrow point which almost separates 

 lie dark°blue waters of the lake from intermingling with 

 ;be silvery wavelets of Great Sodus Bay, save at one point 

 where the government piers bv running out into the lake 

 seep the channel open. The bay is from two to two and 

 i half miles in width, embellished by three small wooded 

 slands, whose sandy bars and shaded holes the black bass 

 md pickerel know and love right well; and a fourth islet 

 ibout twenty feet by fifty feet in length covered with 

 narsh grass, where I have stopped the swift career of 

 Many a wild fowl. In Summer a fair bag of plover, yel- 

 ow legs, and now and then a curlew may be made on the 

 feach and point. Later on, the ruffed grouse and English 

 snipe, particularly the former, are plenty in this vicinity, 

 tnd I could once have added woodcock to the list, but for 

 some reason unknown to the writer, this bird has com- 

 pletely deserted its old haunts this last season. 

 r, -*»»- 



k REVIEW OF A. YEAR'S EFFORTS.— 

 WHAT ADVANCE HAVE WE MADE? 



NOW that the Summer is past and the rod, gun, and 

 collecting basket are, for a while laid aside, it seems 

 proper we should review the Summer's work, and every 

 effort that has been made, whether in the field, in the 

 forest, by the stream, or in the study, and see if in any- 

 thing we have advanced. 



We commence with angling. There is no disputing the 

 fact, that every year adds much to our stock of knowledge 

 in this art, also that there is yet much to be learned. None 

 e&n he blinded to the fact, that the art is not only a gentle 

 art, but that it is fast advancing to a refined one. If we 

 continue thus to advance, the day is not far distant when 

 ■■..angling will become a fashionable pastime for both sexes, 

 especially for the higher classes. Well! let that day come 

 quickly, for angling facilities will then be increased in pro- 

 portion. It will then become fashionable to have fish pre- 

 serves and to stock streams and lakes, until all our waters 

 shall yield a tribute to the enterprise of the people and 

 give room for many thousand anglers. 



In angling goods we have made this advance during the 

 Jyear: We have become more familiar with what we have, 

 'Vdmore qualified to decide which is best and most suitable 

 f for different waters. We think it is now demonstrated 

 Jtliat the split bamboo rod, is the rod of rods for trout ang- 

 Img; but that an eight ounce rod of this character is too 

 f light for bass fishing; certainly it is for our Western lakes. 

 -'There we often hook two, and sometimes three black bass 

 i'M one cast. And then we are likely at any moment to 

 i li itch on to a twenty or twenty-five pound pickerel. In 

 ;' either case, with an eight ounce rod, one may make up his 

 'i nund to devote the rest of the day to landing his fish. A 



jointed bamboo or Japanese, with lancewood tip, we be- 

 lieve to be the most comfortable and safest bass rod ever 

 used. As to hooks, we believe that about all anglers will 

 agree in saying that the Sproat and O'Shaugnessy are two 

 of the best hooks ever invented. We prefer the former for 

 all bait and fly hooks, and the latter for spoons, spinners, 

 and artificial minnows. In lines, the fine waterproof silk 

 are the best on the stream, and the braided linen for lake and 

 sea. In flies there has been but little change; however, we 

 are learning some important lessons: First, that many styles 

 made with no resemblance to anything that flies, creeps, or 

 swims, proves to be very successful. Second, that hackles 

 or palmers are after all the standard flies, and had we no 

 others, these would be sufficient. Every year we are more 

 and more inclined to the hackle flies, and now provide 

 ourselves with a greater variety than ever before. In 

 bass flies there is this advance: they are in greater 

 demand, and more have used them the last year than ever 

 before. The fly should be large and gaudy and shotted 

 for deep fishing; in shallow water use the same as trout 

 flies. We trust all have learned these simple lessons. If 

 they have, then we have gained something. It is gratify- 

 ing to see that very few now prefer bait fishing. Fly ang- 

 ling is practiced now more than at any time before in our 

 history. As a consequence light and delicate tackle has 

 been in greater demand the past season. Thus we are 

 making greater advances in the gentle art. 



Field Sports. — In field sports we have also gained 

 much. Certainly in the breed of our dogs we have made 

 great advances, and in time the pure bloods will entirely 

 displace the mongrels whose numbers are legion. The 

 bench shows and field trials, if continued, will create a un- 

 iversal demand for the purest strains. Again, in a very 

 few years we shall not be under the necessity of import- 

 ing dogs. We shall have them of our own breeding. 

 The demand for the best dogs is constantly on the increase, 

 and the few who have been instrmental in introducing and 

 breeding in this country the pure strains, are entitled to 

 great credit, and should be encouraged by every lover of a 

 good dog. As to the treatment of the diseases to which 

 dogs are subject, we in this locality feel that we have 

 made no advancement. About one dozen of our most valu- 

 able local bird dogs have succumbed to the distemper the 

 last season. Mayhew's or Stonehenge's treatment proved of 

 no avail, neither was the skill of our best physicians suf- 

 ficient to save them. The first attack seemed to be par 

 ralysis of the spine. Under this they went down at first, 

 and it was impossible to raise them to their feet again. It 

 is humbling to us as dog fanciers, that we could not save 

 our valued servants. But not only here, but all over the 

 country, we hear of many dogs dying with this complaint. 

 Therefore it is plain to see that a new treatment must be 

 found or a specific discovered. 



Guns. — In guns there has been this progress: The breech 

 loader has steadily advanced and occupied the whole 

 countrj r , so that in a very short time theie will not be a 

 single muzzle loader left save'as the relic of along and illus- 

 trio us career. It seems to me, among many lessons we have 

 learned regarding improvements in guns, there is one very 

 important one, ms: that our own American guns can be 

 made equal to the be&t in the world. Now if it is 

 true that we can furnish a gun of our own manu- 

 facture as good as the guns we have been in the 

 habit of importing, then it is an advance of which every 

 American should feel proud. The choke bore question is yet 

 in abeyance and although s ome of our best sportsmen are 

 using them , their superiority, except for trapshooting, is not, 

 we think, unquestionably demonstrated. [Infixed ammuni- 

 tion and in all shooting apparatus there have been immense 

 improvements. Our cartridges, powder, sho t, hunting 

 suits, and our camp equipage, are equal to the imported. 

 It is unnecessary to particularize, but in all these Ihings 

 our achievements have been very great and very satis- 

 factory. 



Fish Culture — Is it not wonderful how long we have 

 been in learning the simplicity and value of increasing the 

 supply of food fishes. Again, it is wonderful to what ex- 

 tent this enterprise can be.carried. What we have already 

 accomplished is but the beginning of an immense public 

 work, which is certainly the greatest enterprise of this age. 

 Our depleted and heretofore barren waters will soon teem 

 with unnumbered millions of edible fish, proving a greater 

 blessing to the masses than any other discovery of the 

 last quarter of a century. Now that the enterprise kas 

 become national in character, we cannot set any bounds to 

 it accomplishments, and it is gratifying to see that almost 

 every State in the Union is waking up and now beginning 

 to comprehend its value and magnitude. If the members 

 of our various State Legislatures have been reading and 

 observing men during the last year, we may hope for 

 ample appropiations to carry on the work during the year 

 to come. We expect to see, yet in our day, fresh water 

 fishes more abundant than was ever known before in the 

 history of the world. 



Game Laws and Protective Societies.— It is yet im- 

 possible to estimate the value of the various game laws 

 the States have already given us. But this much we can 

 say, thus far, they are working out a great good, and if 

 the States shall unite, as they ought, and give us co-opera- 

 tive game laws, with extreme penalties for violations, it 

 will be just what the country, even at this late day, has 

 come to demand. The good results which have followed 

 the execution of the laws we already have, are apparent to 

 every observer. But, have as many game laws as we de- 

 sire, they will be void, or almost useless/without the aid of 

 protective societies to enforce them. These are doing an 



immense amount of good, and we are only astonished that 

 their value is not more fully comprehended by the sports- 

 men and by the people. Strange it is that all sports- 

 men in the country cry out for a game laws; yet there are 

 many places where sportsmen are many, in which a sports- 

 men's club or a protective society cannot be found, or does 

 ndt exist. Until Congress or the States adopt such a 

 system as will hold the officers, in a degree, account- 

 able for the violations of protective laws, we must form 

 societies for this purpose, and rely upon our own efforts. 

 It seems to me that a part of our business should be this 

 Winter to induce the legislatures not only to give us pro- 

 per game laws, but to provide for the faithful execution 

 of the same. But if sportsmen will have a little more re- 

 spect for each other, and unite to elevate and execute, 

 great will be the result. We must not tire in this work. 

 We have made great advances the last year, but we shall do 

 more than this, if we unite for action. Again, it is encour- 

 aging that this subject has become national aud interna- 

 tional. And we apprehend that the International Associa- 

 tion for Protecting Game and Fish will accomplish a work 

 which will astonish us by and bye. Societies auxiliary to 

 this should be found all over the country, whose mission 

 should be the protection and study of game and fish. Be- 

 fore our work is accomplished we shall, no doubt meet 

 with many discouraging results, but w 7 e have advanced, 

 and shall still advance. 



Natural History. — It is gratifying to see that every 

 year the study of this branch of our out-dcor pursuits is 

 more and more attracting the attention of sportsmen. To 

 the naturalist sportsmen we are greatly indebted for very 

 much that we know regarding the habits of our game and 

 fish, and we have reason to expect much more from them 

 in the future. Again, it is gratifying to see that the masses 

 are beginning to respect the sportsmen and naturalist. We 

 well remember, and not many years ago, when we returned 

 from the fields and streams burdened not only with game, 

 but curious creeping and flying creatures, singular things 

 animate and inanimate, that we were made the laughing 

 stock for almost a whole community, and men said, "he 

 had better throw his collection out of the window and do 

 something more useful." Our great field at present seems 

 to be to study more fully the habits of our food fishes, for 

 the more thoroughly we understand this subject the more 

 successful we shall be in fish protection . For the next year 

 let us all see how much we can learn regarding the habits 

 of our fish, and having learned, let us report, that all may 

 share in the knowledge we have gained. 



Literature and the Press.— Who among us does 

 not feel elated when he sees all around him the good effects 

 of the press, our special advocates. It is impossible to 

 estimate its value, not only to us as a class, but to the 

 whole people. How feomes it that Legislatures and the 

 best of our people begin to open their eyes, and are making 

 haste to help us in our efforts to protect and increase the 

 supply of game! How comes it that the secular press be- 

 gins to notice us, occasionally copying an article from our 

 papers! It all comes because of the existence and wide 

 spread influence of the Forest and Stream and kindred 

 papers. The former is doing more to win the secular press 

 and the people to our favor than all else besides. What 

 we have gained in this respect the last year is astonishing. 

 What we want now, is also the influence of the local press, 

 and we think the time has now come when it is demanded 

 of every secular paper in the land to devote at least a small 

 portion of its space to this kind of news and to the advo- 

 cacy of fish culture, games laws, and protective societies, 

 and also to encourage and laud the efforts of those engaged 

 in these pursuits. If they will do this we shall have but 

 little difficulty in obtaining and enforcing all the protective 

 laws we demand or require. 



Now, in conclusion, let us say to our colaborers, during 

 the year to come let us make a greater effort to learn, and 

 to improve upon everything, and above all, to see what 

 we can do to encourage and sustain our literature, for 

 without this medium our hopes and aims are hopeless. 

 Again, let us see what can be done to induce our local 

 press to aid us in our efforts to create a public and popular 

 sentiment in favor of game laws and game protection; 

 against poachers and pot fishers; and in favor of gentle- 

 men sportsmen and humble naturalists. 



Lake City, Minnesota. D. C. Estes, M. D. 



—The Toronto Weekly"C7fofo? has just undergone a sur- 

 prising and most creditable metamorphosis. By one single- 

 effort of exceptional enterprise it has quite outstripped the. 

 whole of its Canadian contemporaries, and now appears in 

 a form and character that would do credit to the best jour- 

 nals printed in the United States. The Provinces of the 

 "Dominion" have never been distinguished in their jour- 

 nalism, most of the papers being laggard in news, primi- 

 tive in their letter-press and form, and decidedly unmetro- 

 politan in every aspect. Quite recently the Montreal 

 Gazette adopted the folio sheet, and is now greatly im- 

 proved and quite creditable to the chief city of Canada. 

 The Globe, however, eclipses it, appearing as a twenty page 

 paper, printed with exquisite typographical taste, and in- 

 cluding a great variety of departments that meet the re- 

 quirements of a mixed constituency and render it accepta- 

 ble In every respect. 



-♦*♦- 



Camp Life in Florida.— Editors of newspapers who 

 have not received copies of this seasonable book for review 

 and wishing them, will oblige us by notifying us to that 

 effect. 





