FOREST AND STREAM. 



327 



ined as to cleanliness, and found to contain less deposit than do shells 

 cleaned with acid, after the use of ordinary gunpowder. 



From these tests the following facts may be safely laid down:— 1. The 

 recoil is about one third as great as compared with Hazard FG. 2. Uni- 

 formity of composition in the contents of one can. 3. The rending or 

 bursting force is no greater than in black powder. 4. Wiping the rifle 

 is entirely unsecessary. 5. The shells can be reloaded without cleaning, 



6 Heaped up loosely Dittmar powder will sputter and burn, but not 

 flash like ordinary gunpowder; it is therefore much safer to handle. 



7 The explosion in the gun is quick— a disadvantage, as if made to burn 

 more slowly it would have greater projecting force and less recoil. 8. A 

 decided lack of power. The only means of judging this fact were by 

 the elevations on the scale, and although these do not admit of nicety in- 

 calculating the force, they give a very tolerable idea of the difference be- 

 tween the two powders. At 500 yards a charge of l'»2 grains Hazard FG 

 takes an average elevation of fifty-five and a half points; at 500 yards a 

 charge of forty grains Dittmar F takes an average elevation of sixty-six 

 points; at 500 yards a charge of forty-fcur grains Dittmar F takes an 

 average elevation of sixty-four and a half points . From which we con- 

 clude that four grains Dittmar=one and a half points elevation; that the 

 difference between forty -four grains Dittmar and 102 Hazard=nine points, 

 and that sixty-eight grains Dittmar would about equal 102 grains Hazard 

 in elevation. From this rough estimate two grains Dittmar=three grains 

 Hazard in power, or at least will give the same flat trajectory. But in 

 equal bulks the Dittmar appears to be one third the weight of Hazard, 

 or one grain Dittmar=in power one and a half grains Hazard; but one 

 grain Dittmarr=in bulk three grains Hazard. Therefore with equal 

 bulks the Dittmar has one half the force of Hazard. Notwithstanding 

 this difference in force the Dittmar seems to be sufficiently powerful for 

 500 yards. At 1.000 yards it would probably require about thirty points 

 mote than the ordinary elevation at that distance, giving a very high tra- 

 jectory, and making accuracy impossible except on a perfectly calm day. 

 Improvements, it is said, are being made, both in reducing the bulk and 

 quickness of this powder, which are absolutely necessary to warrant its 

 introduction into long ranges. Of the perfect accuracy, docility, and 

 cleanliness of this powder, as used at 500 yards, there can be no ques- 

 tion. Now let it be made equally serviceable for 1,000 and 1,500 yards, 

 and a great improvement will have been made over our ordinary ammu- 

 nition. 



It is necessary to state that there has been a difference of opinion in 

 the change of elevation needed for a higher charge, some claiming that a 

 heivier charge needs a greater elevation. This fact, if proved, would 

 destroy the conclusions arrived at above. Experiments were made on 

 a calm day to decide that point. Twenty shells were filled, five each with 

 85, 95, 105, and 115 grains Hazard FG-, all poured in loosely except the 

 last, which had to be tapped. They were all fired at 500 yards, with 500 

 gram balls, within a short space of time, the rifle being cleaned after 

 each discharge. The elevations were found with perfect accuracy, four 

 shots being fired with each weight of powder, and finally four shots were 

 fired, one of each different charge, the elevation being changed before 

 firing, and giving with four different elevations (with a total variation of 

 eight points) four successive bullseyes. The elevations were— with 85 

 grains, 60 points; with 95 grains, 57£ points; with 105 grains, 55 points; 

 with U5 grains, 52 points. Showing a decrease of about two and a half 

 points in elevation for every additional ten grains of powder; the extra 

 difference of one half point In elevation between the two last charges is 

 owing to the fact that the 115 grains were packed more closely than the 

 105 plains, having therefore greater power. These conclusions, carried 

 out, would give about seventy grains Hazard as an equivalent to forty- 

 five grains Dittmar in power, which would seem to prove the opinions 

 reached above. There was very little perceptible difference between the 

 recoil from 85 grains and that from 115 grains, which, by analogy, would 

 suggest that the recoil of 45 grains of Dittmar being very slight, that of 

 68 grains Dittmar would be not much increased, and consequently much 

 less than that of its equivalent, 102 grains Hazard. 



Experiments were also made with four charges similar to the above, 

 with a short or 414 grain bullet, which gave less recoil, and from four to 

 five points less elevation than the same charges with 500 gram bullets. 

 This lessened recoil and lower trajectory would seem to be in favor of 

 using a light ball at 500 yard ranges, and would be an apparent contra 

 diction of the theory that the recoil of a gun is in the-ratio of the pro- 

 pelling force of the charge. Douglass Smyth. 



«Q^*» ' 



Shakopee, Minn., Dec, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



At a turkey shoot held here recently, under the management of the 

 Bille Practice Club, open to all comers, a fair field and no favor, the re- 

 sult was that of seventeen turkeys set up and knocked down, fifteen 

 were killed by the writer. Sharp rifle with the Beach combination open 

 sight, in the hands of parties, most of whom never shot it before; thus 

 satisfactorily proving to all present that breech loading rifles, as made 

 in these days, are unexcelled, I may say, in any particular. But I am 

 thoroughly convinced that these old fashioned chicken and turkey 

 shoots savor too much of the unmerciful, and ought not to be allowed, 

 as they belong more properly to more ancient and barbarac times. In 

 fact, 'tis but cruelty in its fullest sense. Target shooting is by far more 

 satisfactory, and besides the hen or turkey not only escapes a sore trial 

 hut is awarded to the winner in good order, live and sound, instead of, 

 being bruised and mutilated, as is the ca.*e in the not good old way. 

 Eor one I would like to see this practice of setting up the "live bird" 

 discountenanced teetotally, and I am glad to add that others hereaway 

 to whom I have urged my protest indorse my views in this respect. A 

 friend has a $45 Remington shet gun, purchased on my recommenda- 

 tion on the strength of Forest and Stream's advertisement, and has 

 used the same right along since last Sprin?, and thus far it stands the 

 wear and tear apparently as well as any, and shoots as strong, too. One 

 word for the Bridgeport shell«: The brown ones we used to get here 

 were good enough, strong and durable; the white ones we now get (only 

 we dun't buy them when we can get Ely's) are a nuisance . S. 



FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY. 



SOUTHERN waters. 



Pompano, Trachynotus carolmus. Grouper, Epinephelpus nigritus, 

 Drum (two species.) Family Scice- Trout (black bass,) Centropristls 



T' l( ke. atrarius. 



Jungrish, Menticirrus nebulosus. Striped Bass or Rockfish, Eoccm 

 feea Bass, Sciamops ocellatus. lineatus. 



sueepshead, Archosargus probato- Tailorfish, Pomatcmvs saltatrix. 



cephalus. Black bass, Micropterus salmoide8\ 



Snapper, Lutjanus caxus. M. nigricans. 



* 



{Under the head of "Game and Fish in Season" we can only specify In 

 9»n.eral terms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 

 mat were we to attempt to particularize we could do no leSs than publish 

 uiose entire sections that relate to the kinds of game in question. This 

 tooitid require a great amount of our space. In designating game we are 

 yuiaed by the laws of nature, upon which all legislation is founded, and 

 our readers would do well to provide themselves with the laws of their re- 

 spsaive States for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist 

 Mem will only create confusion.] 



* . 



Fish in Market. — The supply during the week has been 

 plentiful, particularly that of shad, which are unusually 

 abundant and cheap for this season of the year. Fine 

 shad can be bought for 50 cents each; last year at this time 

 they brought $1.50. On the 23d inst., near Oregon Inlet, 

 oa the North Carolina shore, a large school of bluefish 

 weighing 8 to 10 pounds each were taken, and are now 

 v into market; an unusually late catch; they sell for 



12 cents per pound. Striped bass are worth 22 to 25 cents; 

 smelts, 15 cents; salmon, frozen, 50 cents; mackerel, 20 

 cents each; white perch, 15 cents per pound; Spanish 

 mackerel, 40 cents; frost fish 8 cents; halibut, 20 cents; 

 haddock, 8 cents; codfish, 8 to 10 cents; blackfish, 12 to 

 15 cents; flounders, 12|- cents; sea bass, from Charleston, 

 15 cents; whitefish, 18 cents; perch (yellow), 12 cents; sal- 

 mon trout, 18 cents; black bass, 18 cents; ciscoes, 10 cents; 

 pompano, $1; green turtle, 20 cents; terrapin, $12 per 

 dozeri; lobsters 10 to 12 cents per pound; scollops, $t per 

 gallon; soft clams 30 to 60 per 100; hard shell crabs, $1 per 

 100; soft shell crabs, $1 per dozen. 



— The latest novely is a braided fly rod, sold by Abbey & 

 Imbrie, of 48 Maiden Lane. We have the assurance that 

 they possess all the requisites of a perfect rod, while it is 

 quile impossible to break them by roughest usage. They 

 are made of ash and lancewood at present, but it is ex- 

 pected that any of the usual materials can be employed, 

 such as split bamboo, cedar, greenheart, majaja, etc. The 

 rod we have examined is quite a curiosity in its wajr, and 

 an ingeni ous piece of work. The price is $20. 



FISHES AND FISHING OF THE GREAT 

 LAKES. 



THIRD PAPER— MASKINONGE, PIKE PERCH, GAR PIKE AND 

 STURGEON. 



Editor Forest and Stream •— 



THE Maskinonge (esox noMltor). What may be the 

 proper mode of spelling the common name of this 

 fish, I am unable to decide, for there are at least half a 

 dozen different methods. Mr. Thompson, in his appendix 

 to the "History of Vermont" (1853), says the word is not 

 of Indian origin as generally supposed, but of Canadian 

 French, being derived from masque (face), and allongi (elon- 

 gated); hence, he spells it masquallonge. The maskinonge 

 is peculiar to the basin of the Great Lakes and is the largest 

 of pickerels, weighing from ten to eighty pounds. It is a 

 very handsome and game fish, and is the tyrant of these 

 waters, devouring everything smaller than itself, even of its 

 own species,though its favorite food is the whitefish, which is 

 supposed by many to accou nt for its superior flavor. It is 

 one of the best of fresh water fishes. The Northern pike 

 — first described by the late Agassiz — is sometimes con- 

 founded with this fish, but maybe easily detected, as it has 

 the lower jaw filled with teeth, whereas the anterior half 

 of the maskinonge is toothless. 



Another fine fish is the pike perch (tuoo-perca), better 

 known as the glass or wall-eyed pike. This is called by 

 the fishermen of Lake Huron and our Canadian brethren 

 the pickerel, and with like perversity they call the true 

 pickerel a pike. Again, it is known to the Lake Erie fish- 

 ermen as a salmon. This is a fine and well-flavored fish, 

 weighing from two to ten pounds, and, excepting her- 

 ring and suckers, is the most plentiful of all lake fish. 

 Although common to all these waters, it cougregates in 

 largest numbers in Saginaw and Green Bays. The catch 

 is enormous. The spawning season is in April and May. 

 Although the pickerel proper is found, they are not in 

 sufficient numbers to disturb the better fishes. 



The gar pike (Lepidosteus) is occasionally found in these 

 waters. It is a singular animal, and the only living repre- 

 sentative of the fishes that existed in the early ages of the 

 earth's history, and which by its formidable array of teeth, 

 its impenetrable armor, and its swiftness and voracity, 

 gives us a faint idea of the terrible creatures that peopled 

 the waters of that period. According to Prof. Wilder, 

 the young gar possesses two tails, the one serpent-like and 

 the other fish -like. The first is snake-like in motion as 

 well as in form, and is largest and most active in the very 

 young. As the fish increases in size and age so this ser- 

 pentine appendage correspondingly decreases, until at 

 adult age it is obsolete. Prof. Wilder's investigations show 

 that this temporary tail is a vestige, a reminiscence, a sur- 

 vival. The ancestor of the gar was a reptile, and the 

 young fish still carries the reptilian tail ("Popular Science 

 Monthly"). The manner in which the gar pike seizes his 

 prey differs from all known fishes, resembling more the 

 act of reptiles, as it does not swallow immediately after 

 seizing, but by a series of movements places it in the most 

 convenient position and disposes of it similar to the sau- 

 rians, while the food is seen to distend the body in passing, 

 as with ophidians. The gar is often discovered sleeping, 

 apparently, upon the surface of the water and gently 

 carried around by an eddy for half an hour at a time, par- 

 ticularly on warm and sunny days. When in pursuit of 

 prey he often leaps high out of water, and is so swift and 

 strong a swimmer as to stem the most furious rapids. It 

 is well that these fishes are not numerous. Though not a 

 food fish, I have inserted this pike because it is but little 

 known as an inhabitant of these waters. 



The sturgeon (acipenser rubicundus) is the leviathan of 

 the lakes, and is abundant in localities; more particularly 

 near the Apostle Islands in Green Bay and the Western 

 Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. He is often caught in nets, 

 but is no desirable customer, as in the eyes of fishermen he 

 has no value, besides the liability of breaking the nets and 

 allowing the smaller and more profitable fish to escape, and 

 when caught is killed and usually thrown upon the offal 

 heap. Sturgeon are generally taken|in four to eight fath- 

 oms. The quality of the flesh is very fine, and when prop- 

 erly cooked is said to be with difficulty distinguished from 

 veal cutlets. Of late smoked sturgeon lias become quite 

 an article of commeree, the demand being far greater than 

 the supply, and it is said to be superior to halibut. Caviar! 

 is also prepared, but to no great extent. The sturgeon is 

 an exception among cartilagineous fish, being oviparous 

 and depositing spawn in a similar manner to the bony 

 fishes. This act takes place in June in the confluent 

 streams, at which time they are followed by vast schools 

 of herring and w all-eyed pike for the purpose of feasting 

 on the ova. A very superior quality of lamp oil may be 

 obtained from this fish, but whether the enterprise would 

 be profitable or not, I am no judge. Archer. 



Doings op the Fishing Fleet.— The shore fleet have 

 not done much the past week, owing to a sjarcity of bait. 

 There have been five arrivals from La Have Bank, bringing 

 110,000 pounds of codfish and 11,000 pounds of halibut. 

 The number of vessels in the herring business comprises 

 63, 31 of which have sailed for Fortune Bay, Newfound- 

 land, and 32 for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. These 

 vessels are among the staunchest of the fleet. Reports 

 from Newfoundland show a scarcity of herring in that 

 section, and many of the vessels are expected to go to 

 Fortune Bay to finish their cargoes.— Cape May Advertiser, 



December 24th. 



. **•*» • 



WILLOW BASS RODS. 



tf Walnut Hill, Fayette county, Ky., Dec. 13th, 1875. 



Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I wish to call your attention to the common yellow willow as a mate- 

 rial for bass rods. I had a walking stick of willow, and was struck 

 with its extreme lightness, great strength and elasticity— all necessary 

 qualities for bass rods. I made a rod of it and tried it on black bass 

 this Fall, when it performed to my entire satisfaction. The entire rod 

 was of willow. Rods of different wood are necessarily Imperfect from 

 the difference in weight, density, elasticity, etc. Another Berioua ob- 

 jection to the rods as now made, is the enlargement behind the reel for 

 hand hold, which throws an increased strain in front of the reel, which 

 is the weakest part of the rod. 



I have not written this with a view to publication, but would prefer 

 your experimenting with the wood and, if satisfactory, give the 

 result. The willow is common to all the streams of the Mississippi val- 

 ley. I don't know if it grows east of the mountains or not. It will 

 season sufficiently for use in one month from the green tree. Input- 

 ting up a rod of this wood certain conditions are necessary to be ob- 

 served. Try a single experiment. Take a crooked willow stick and 

 bend it with force in the opposite direction; notics the spring and 

 whether it returns to its original shape. Next note the strength, by 

 bending with sufficient force to break the stick. If these simple exper- 

 iments give you any confidence, I will give you all necessary informa- 

 tion. Dr. T. J. G. 



, — ♦ . 



f¥o Notice Taken of Anonymous Communications. 



H. H. Thomas, Randolph, N. Y.— When dots the close season for 

 brook trout commence and close in the State of New York? Ans. Close 

 season from loth September to 15th March. 



G. B . , Rochester.— Can you tell me who manufactures the Ward-Bur- 

 ton magazine rifle, and give me the address? Ans. The arrangements 

 for the manufacture of this rifle, we are informed, are not yet com- 

 pleted. 



M. H. L., Decatur, 111.— Will Pride Of the Border be taken to Chicago 

 during the exhibition in January, 1S76? Ans. Pride having been worked 

 pretty steadily in the field this Fall he will probably not go to Chicago. 

 Fairy and some of her progeny will go. 



Subscriber, Long Branch. — Is there anything I can use to remove fly 

 stains from the leaves of a book? Ans. Nothing will remove the stains 

 without more or less injury to the paper. By binding the leaves tightly 

 together and rubbing gently one way with alcohol and water in the pro- 

 portion of one part to three, you might accomplish it without any 

 serious demage. 



F. W.. Lexington, Ky.— I saw in one of your issues some time .ince 

 that a deer was killed on a railroad, and its "saddles" weighed 200 

 pounds. How was that? The largest I ever knew of was in Nebraska, 

 and ttie whole carcass, dressed, weighed 219 pounds. A deer whose sad- 

 dles weighed 200 pounds ought to weia;h, whole, over 300 pounds. Are 

 your Northern deer larger than our Western and Southern ones? Ans . 

 Northern deer are larger, especially those of Pennsylvania, We have 

 seen a Pike county doe that weighed. 250 pounds, dressed. 



F. C. W. W. Co.— 1. Do you know a gunmaker by the name of J. 

 Holhs & Son, London; does he make a good gun, and what are his guns 

 worth? 2. Do you think the papers (Forest and Stream) of one year, 

 two volumes, can be bound into one book, or will it make the book too 

 large and heavy? Ans. 1. They are good, reliable makers of Birming- 

 ham, having a branch of their business in London. Their prices are 

 moderate, but vary according to material and finish. 2. We would not 

 advise yon to have two volumes bound in one, as the binding would be 

 expensive, and the book too large. 



Top Boots, Newark, N. J.— 1. Is the all red setter the only true type 

 of the Irish breed, or can they be of any other colors. 2. Is it so con- 

 sidered that a pup born from Rake and Fan a full brother to a pup born 

 of the same pair two years la*er, or an indefinite period afterwards, so 

 long as the father and mother are the same. Ans. 1. There are un- 

 doubtedly thoroughbred Irish setters of all colors. The predominant 

 color of those imported to this country is red, but it does not follow that 

 those of other colors are not equally as pure bred. The best Irish setter 

 we have ever met with was Shot, a splendid deep red and white dog, im- 

 ported for us by the late R. Gaaible, Esq., of N. A. 2. Yes; a full 

 brother. 



S. M. F., Philadelphia.— Does your answer in last Forest and 

 Stream, to the question relating to centreboards, apply to cat rigged 

 boats? If not, what is the rule for them? To obtain the length for cen- 

 treboard on a cat rigged boat tweoty.seven feet long on deck and twenty- 

 four feet on the water line, do you take one third of the length on deck 

 or of the length on the water line? What should the length of mast be 

 for such a boat? Ans. The same rule applies, the length on water line 

 always being taken. Sometimes, however, in the case of small boats to 

 be used for fishing, the centreboard is placed forward of the middle 

 thwart, in order to give more room. The length of a mast depends 

 much upon the model of a boat, and the purposes for which she is to be 

 used. About the right thing for cruising would be a mast twenty-seven 

 feet long, with twenty -two feet hoist of sail. 



T. W., Lexington, Ky.— Do you hear any complaint about choke bores 

 not shooting buck shot. My Scott gun, 32-inch, No. 12, 7J- pounds, 

 will not shoot loose buck shot; have to use concentrators, or run tallow 

 ou the shot in the shell. Eley's wire cartridges are too irregular. Have 

 tried several choke bores— Greener's and others— but all have the same 

 fault. Ans. Yours is the first experiment we have heard of in the way 

 of using buckshot in choke bore guns, consequently it is a new thing to- 

 us. In getting the opinion of a practical gunmaker upon the subject, he 

 thinks that if the size of the buckshot is selected so as to chamber evenly 

 in the cartridge it will shoot very close in a choke bored gun. In the use 

 of Eley's cartridges we nave found the same difficulty you complain of— 

 their shooting being very irregular. They sometimes make a magnifi- 

 cent target, and at other times break up in the gun, and are not equal to 

 loose shot. 



Planners, Hudson, N Y.— 1. Do you think that a spayed bjtch (set- 

 ter) would be as good, generally speaking, as "one that was no! ; would 

 it not have a tendency to make them fat and lazy? 2. Can you give me 

 Joseph E. Fisher's address? Ans. 1. We have repeatedly tried the ex- 

 periment of having bitches spayed, and are fully convinced that for any 

 one who does not wish to use dogs for stock purposes there is no kind of 

 dog for service more desirable than a spayed bitch, if she is spayed at 

 the proper age, and they should by all means have the operation per- 

 formed, before they aie ten weeks old. A skillful person can succesf- 

 fully perform the operation after they are four weeks old, and then th« y 

 grow up in proper shape, and have no more tendency to get lazy or n & 

 to fat than other dogs. But if they are allowed to become fully devel- 

 oped before the alteration they run to fat and become lazy and of little 

 use. 2. No, 108 Sackett street, Brooklyn, 



