362 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Pennsylvania State Association. — We desire to call 

 the attention of sportsmen to the meeting of the Penn- 

 sylvania State Sportsmen's Association for the protection 

 of fish and game, which will be held at Harrisburg, on 

 Tuesday the 18th inst. There are two points upon which 

 we should like to offer suggestions to the sportsmen of 

 Pennsylvania, if the object of the present convention is 

 lo provide for the amending of their game laws. The 

 first is, that they should have a bill passed offering a 

 bounty for hawks, foxes, and polecats, and the other, to 

 make the penalties for trapping and snaring ruffed grouse 

 (pheasants) more severe, and, if possible, provide for the 

 better execution of those now in force. 



Game Pkotection in Canada. — The January meeting 

 of the County of Peterboro Fish and Game Protection 

 Society was held last week. Reports were read from sev- 

 eral of the district committeemen, stating that few or no 

 infractions of the game law have taken place in their lo- 

 calities since the formation of the society. Communica- 

 tions were read from the Prescotfc and Russell Society, 

 suggesting means for the passage of game protective laws 

 to suit the different counties; from the Secretary of the 

 Guelph Fish Protective Association, expressing the hope 

 of seeing a Provincial game and fish protective society es- 

 tablished on a proper basis, its membership list being com- 

 posed of delegates from all the county societies through- 

 out the Province; from B. C. Marshall, London, to say 

 that the keel had been laid for a strong and active game 

 protective club in that city; and from Mr. Samuel Wilmot, 

 Newcastle, concurring in the desires of this society of 

 having a further change in the fishery regulations regard- 

 ing the close season for salmon trout in the small island 

 lakes. After the transaction of other business, the meet- 

 ing adjourned to meet on the first Wednesday in February. 



*»♦» . 



Albany, New York, December 27, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I read your paper with, great pleasure, because of its intrinsic merits, 

 and for the interest which it manifests in the constant growth of manly 

 sports throughout the country. I read with greatest delight all articles 

 on Game Protection . I feel, perhaps, a special interest in this subject 

 because 1 live in a region of country, where, if our game is not protected 

 it will soon, be exterminated. 



I am happy to say, that our ruffed grouse shooting has been better this 

 year than for several years past. Our woodcock, alas, decrease in num- 

 bers every season . Now, what is the reason for this? One single mis. 

 take in our game law accounts for it all. Namely: that clause allowing 

 the shooting of these birds during the months of July and August, and 

 unless this is changed, woodcock shooting will soon be, for us, a sport 

 of the past. You are doubtless better acquainted with this subject than I, 

 but the greatest discouragement to the sportsman, is the practice by mar- 

 ket shooters (and I fear others besides) of shooting woodcock, chicken, 

 and partridge together, from the first moment Saratoga hotels, and 

 other fashionable summer resorts are opened, where they are sold as 

 young woodcock, and placed on the table to delight the palate of our de- 

 testable snobs, who pronounce woodcock the most delicious of game 

 birds. Alas! for the education of our citizens! But, perhaps when the 

 Government sees fit to adopt measures for compulsory education, a gen- 

 eration may spring up that can tell the difference between black and 

 white meat . 



I have written this letter to you, thinking that I might learn through 

 your paper what the general sentiment of our sporting people is, in re- 

 gard to the important question of summer woodcock shooting. The re- 

 sult of our summer shooting is, that the birds are almost entirely extin- 

 guished before the birds are able to take care of themselves, and that 

 many of our partridges are slaughtered when only half grown . The 

 woodcock that chance to escape are very sure not to return to their old 

 haunts another year. The practice of killing woodcock in the middle of 

 summer, compels us to rely almost entirely on the migrating birds for 

 our fall shooting, and I think the birds not in their prime, either for 

 eating or shooting, until September. It follows also that when you hunt 

 for woodcock alone, that your dog often points on partridges, and the 

 fugitive birds disappoint not only your dog, but yourself. It is my 

 opinion, that in many parts of our State, the extending the close season 

 for partridge until September 1st, is useless, as long as the woodcock 

 season opens in July; and also that unless woodcock have more protec- 

 tion, our favorite sport will soon be a thing of the past. For these rea- 

 sons, and others that may occur to sportsmen of more experience than 

 I, let me solicit your earnest aid in having a law passed, extending the 

 close season for woodcock until the 1st of September. The result of 

 this would be satisfactory to every one but the pot-hunter and hotel 

 keeper— the greatest enemies to our game biris. Mark. 



We have published voluminous correspondence on this 

 subject, for and against summer shooting. The opinion of 

 sportsmen is divided, but greatly inclining toward the 

 abolition of summer woodcock shooting, and efforts to pre- 

 vent it in this State will be made this winter through our 

 Legislature. 



Englewood, New Jersey, December 24th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 

 The Quebec Chronicle of a recent date contains the following:— 

 ''The severity of the fine inflicted in a recent case in New York, of 

 violating the game laws, will attract attention to the excellent work 

 which the American Society for the Protection of Game is doing. In 

 this case the simple act of offering trout for sale during the close season 

 was regarded as making the dealers liable to the penalty; evidence 

 as to where the fish were caught being of no avail. A similar course of 

 procedure in the Boston markets completely broke up the traffic in un- 

 seasonable fish and game, though it could easily have been shown in 

 many instances that the shooting and fishing had not been done in the 

 United States. This mode of enforcing the law is far more effective than 

 any other, since, it only rarely happens that a sportsman returning from 

 the meadows can be arrested with his gun upon his shoulder and the 

 robins in his game bag." 



Canada is indebted to the eastern cities and States for the rigid en- 

 forcement of their game laws, for although similar laws are in existence 

 in Canada, they have been virtually a dead letter, pwing to the country's 

 being so sparsely settled, and its inhabitants in full sympathy with the 

 violators, who also having a ready market across the lines were enabled 

 to carry on their relentless warfare against the game in defiance of the 

 prohibitory statutes. While this can no longer exist, it still shows the 

 importance of having a uniform law between the two countries. 



G. M. Fairchild, Jr. . 



V^ Patten's Mills, January 5th, 1876. 



Editor Forest and Stream:— 



Can there mot be a law to limit trout fishing to one hook, as it is in 

 some of the New England States? If it could be it would accommodate 

 the majority of people that come to Lake George. There are a few 

 men who have the skill and do nothing else but troll for trout, and as 

 they catch more in May and June than any other time, they catch large 

 amounts, and dispose of them as best they can, leaving poor fishing for 

 the man that comes to the lake later in the season. The bass in the lake 

 want protection from the 20th May to 15th July. These are the two ex 

 treme dates. I have seen bass making their beds as early as 20th May, 

 but commonly from 10th June to the 80th, when they are all in, and very 

 -~<«eldon3 r J ve J:|WS before 15th of July unless compelled to do so. 

 ries. No, 18« Ma^Kec-.^ to lgt of Novemb and want protecfcion 

 vama Jtolroad Depots. Jen*^^ mh November . br ^ ok trout 

 -Bshwsy, New Brunswick 8*\_ t « 



Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, December 28th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



There is a strong inducement to kill game out of season owing to the 

 ready markets for their sale; now if the close season for deer, for in- 

 stance, commences November 10th, close the markets December 1st at 

 the farthest. Better still have them closed with the commencement of 

 the close season, as you may be sure if there is one day's grace given to 

 the markets there will be game killed. Have the law alike in adjoining 

 States, and let the having in possession convict the parties, (and let the 

 penalty be heavy) even if they can prove the game was killed in Alaska. 

 The idea of appointing a chief game commissioner is a good one, pro- 

 viding he would select deputies of the right sort. I was told when I 

 came here that they had a game constable appointed, but after conversa- 

 tion with said constable, I made up my mind that he was not a sports- 

 man, and I found I was right, for before the law permitted the killing of 

 woodcock, (July 4th,) that man was one of a party that went to Orange 

 county to shoot woodcock. They arrived home July 3a. As soon as I 

 heard he had gone for that purpose, I had two men watch for his return. 

 They failed to see any birds in his possession, (but I think a search war- 

 rant might have found some). One grocery store in this place received 

 ruffed grouse by the dozen this fall, that the proprietor told me, (to use 

 his words,) "were trapped just above here." Now if the snaring of 

 groufce is prohibited, why not prohibit the selling of snared grouse, for 

 any marketman who cannot tell a snared grouse from one that is shot, 

 shouid not be allowed to keep a game market. For my part, as much as 

 I like my season's shoot, I would be willing to deny myself the pleasure 

 for a few years and give all the game a chance to increase, for 1 am satis- 

 fied that it will continue to decrease until the law is more eflic.ent. I am 

 now preparing a copy of a law for game birds that I should like to see 

 in force in this and adjoining States, with my reasons, &c. When I get 

 it ready I will send it to you as I woold like to have you express your 

 views on it, and if you think it advisable, present it to the public through 

 Forest and Stream. q. w. 



-^•♦» 



Florida Items.— The new building for the Florida 

 State Fair is to be 140 feet long, 72 feet wide, and two 



stories high There are 150 guests at the St. James 



Hotel, Jacksonville, an excess of 40 over last year. . . .Pine 

 land ou the St. Johns River, opposite Jacksonville, is now 



selling at $10 per acre The Sanford House has just 



been opened at Lake Monroe on the St. Johns River. It 

 will compare favorably with the hotels atLongRrahch . . . 

 The Fort George Hotel is now open. 



Large Quail.— A few days ago, one of our shooting 

 friends called in to say that he had just returned from a 

 days' quail shooting in Connecticut, where he found but 

 few birds, yet those he shot were of an unusual size, and 

 upon carefully weighing a pair of the heaviest, he found 

 them to weigh 17£ ounces. Those were heavier than any 

 we have ever shot, and we will be glad to know if any of 

 our readers have ever found any so large. 



-♦♦♦- 



— A. correspondent in Montgomery County, Kansas, re- 

 ports the black tongue as prevalent among the deer of that 

 section, from which disease many have died. It re- 

 sembles the Texas fever among cattle, and is believed by 

 some to have been communicated from the cattle. 



— The Hartford Accident Insurance Compauy should 

 receive the attention of all sportsmen and gentlemen who 

 spend any portion of their time amidst scenes in which 

 they are liable to injury, as it pays promptly, and insures 

 for such a low rate that every one can afford to be insured. 

 Mr. Dillbee, killed at the Westminster Hotel a few days 

 ago, was insured for $5,000 in it, and the sum was paid im- 

 mediately. _^ 



\m md Miver 



FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY. 



, » , 



BOUTHKRR WATERS. 



Porapano, Trachynotus carolxnus. Grouper, Epinephelpus nigritus t 

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



nidca. atrarius. 



Kingftsh, Menticvrrus nebulosus. Striped Bass or Rockflsh, Boccus 

 Sea Bass, Scicenops ocellatus. lineatus, 



Sheepshead, Archosargus probato- Tailorfish, Pomat<mus saUatrios. 



cephalus. Black bass, Microplerus salmolde8\ 



Snapper, Lutjanus caxus. M. nigiwans. 



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

 general tsrms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 

 that were we to attempt to particularize we could do no less than publish 

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

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

 guided by the laws of mature, upon which all legislation is founded, ami 

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

 spsclive Stales for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist 

 them will only create confusion.] 



Fish in Market. — Up to the present cold snap the 

 supply of fish has been abundant, but the change in 

 weather is immediately felt, and the prices go up with a 

 decrease in supply. Green turtle from Key West are very 

 scarce, there having been but one lot received for four 

 weeks-, price, 25 cents per pound". A splendid lot of red 

 snappers came up during the week from the same port, 

 probably the finest ever seen in this market ; they sold for 

 20 cents. The flavor of this fish is something between 

 that of a striped bass and a sheepshead. Striped bass, 

 from the Mirimichi, bring 25 cents per pound; smelts, from 

 Maine, 25 cents per pound, and 15 cents for frozen; blue- 

 fish, 15 cents; salmon, 50 cents; mackerel, 20 cents each; 

 shad are not so abundant as they were last week, those in 

 market having been taken in Florida waters, shipped to 

 Savannah, and from thence forwarded to this city; price, 

 75 cents each; a few, however, were taken off the coast of 

 North Carolina. White perch are worth 18 cents; Spanish 

 mackerel, 40 cents; codfish, caught off Sandy Hook and 

 the South Side of Long Island, 8 to 10 cents; blackfish, 51 

 cents; eels, 15 to 20 cents; sheepshead, 30 cents; white- 

 fish, 18 cents; pickerel, 15 cents; sunfish, 10 cents; salmon 

 trout, 20 cents; pompano, $1; terrapins, $12 per dozen; 

 lobsters, 8 to 10 cents per pound; scollops, $1 per gallon; 

 soft clams, 30 to 60 cents per hundred; hard crabs, $3.50 

 per hundred; soft crabs, 73. cents per dozen. 



— "We have just been favored with a call from John 

 Mowatt, Esq., Fisheries Superintendent of the Restigouche 

 district, in Qanada, and well known to all anglers who fre- 

 quent that section. Next Summer we hope to return* his 

 visit, and wet a line in the famous river over which he ex- 

 ercises watch and ward so efficiently. We are glad to 

 know that Mr. Mowatt agrees with us in the opinion that 

 sea trout (Sahno Canadensis) are a different fish from 

 speckled trout (Salmofontinalis). 



A Steam Fishing Smack. — Messrs. Rogers & Edwards, 

 commission fish dealers of Fulton Market, are building a 

 steam propeller for the purpose of bringing the boats and 

 fishing gear to the ground and the catch to the market. The 

 new fishing craft is called the Gerret Polhemus, is 79 tons 

 burden, and 103 feet long. She will carry six fishing yawls, 

 15,000 fathoms of line and 15,000 fish hooks; she has also six 

 ice houses for the reception of the fish, and also wells. She 

 will leave New York at night, arrive at the fishing grounds 

 around Sandy Hook in three or four hours, send out the 

 boats, each of which will be anchored with 400 fathoms of 

 line with 400 hooks attached set, pick them up with their 

 catch, and return in time for the opening of the maiket 

 on the day following the fishing, The great saving will be 

 in ice, which it is thought will pay for the fuel. 



Mesh Measures. — Land and Water says that as long as 

 101 years ago mesh measures, in the shape of brass fishes 

 of various sizes, were carried by water bailiffs for the pur- 

 pose of ascertaining whether the meshes of nets conformed 

 to the sizes allowed by law. The plan is worthy of imita- 

 tion at the present day. 



^ —Mr. J. Ives Pease, of Twin Lakes, Canaan, Ct., sends 

 the following timely instructions for Winter fishing through 

 ice: — 



"Fishing through the ice may not be a thoroughly artis- 

 tic operation, but to the average sportsman it is certainly 

 exhilarating. Given one of our pretty inland ponds — 

 Twin Lakes, for instance — a sheet of opaque ice not too 

 thick, a score or two of well set lines, plenty of lively 

 'live bait,' the sky slightly overcast, or with a light snow 

 falling, and it is a sport that even a Hackensack fox hun- 

 ter might (just now) be glad to take to. During the last 

 two weeks many fine strings of perch and pickerel have 

 been taken from the shallower of the 'Twins,' which was 

 first frozen. All sorts of devices have been resorted to, 

 from stunning blows on the thin ice, over the half torpid 

 fish, or hooking up through holes cut for the purpose, to 

 the more legitimate mode ot hook and line, with a pond 

 shiner for lure. The old method was to cut holes with an 

 axe, plant a bush beside each hole, hitch the line, with a 

 little red flag, to a branch, and trust to luck. More re- 

 cently, many sorts of tilters, or tip-ups, have come into 

 use. One of the best consists of two sticks, set at right 

 angles, with a cross-piece at their junction, by way of base, 

 one arm holding the flag and the other the line. The ob- 

 jection to this one is that it is liable to freeze in if the ice 

 is at all wet, and ihere is no place to wind the line when 

 all is done. The best one I have yet used is that which 

 figures in this engraving. Any one with a ,..,, 

 good gimlet, a little gumption, and a jack .,- ■'''■■ >'X" 

 knife, may make a score of them in an even- / 

 ing or two. Take a piece of lath, eighteen 

 or twenty inches long, and at four inches 

 from one end make a mortice an inch or so 

 long, and wide enough to let a wire, holding 

 a sliding weight, (as described further on), 

 p*ss through it. At some distance from the 

 oilier end bore a hole to pass the iine 

 through, and scollop out the two ends of 

 the stick, so that the line can be wound upon it. 

 take a piece of wire' (brass preferred) about a footTn 

 length, and at lour inches from ihe end give it a turn round 

 the pin that is to hold it in the. mortice, so bending the 

 wire that the two ends may lie on opposite sides of the lath, 

 as shown m the engraving. Slip a leaden weight on each 

 end ot the wire, fasten a little red flag on the long end, loop 

 the line to a suitable bend at the other, and the 'tilter' is 

 complete. To set it, chip out a suitable slot in the ice a 

 few inches from the hole, incline the tilt at the angle that 

 will bring the line over it, loop the line to the top of the 

 wire, and when there is a bite down goes the tilt and up 

 goes the flag, and the pickere* is, or ought to be yours 



"To cut holes in ice neatly, an iee-chisel is sometimes 

 used, but the writer has just tried a newly invented 'Ice- 

 augur,' that bores a six inch hole, or rather takes out a plug 

 of that size and leaves the hole. This augur consists (as 

 will be seen in the annexed engraving) of an 

 upright shaft some two feet long, to the bot- 

 tom of which is fitted a small augur, and to 

 the top, a common bit stock. Two arms 

 project from this shaft at right angles, and 

 about a foot from the lower end, and are 

 bent down parallel to it, and at three inches 

 distant from it; into these arms are screwed 

 two steel cutters, in shape like the lip of a 

 centre-bit, and calculated to cut a groove 

 an inch or so wide ai ound the plug, as shown 

 in the dotted lines in the cut. To stiffen 

 these arms a disk of sheet-iron (slit as in the 

 common post augur) is slipped to both shaft 

 and arms, where it serves to remove the 

 chips as the boring deepens. If the ice is 

 very thick then 'plugs' maybe chipped out, 

 and the boring continued till you strike water. The ad- 

 vantage of this ice-augur is, that it cuts a smooth hole, 

 without noise or great labor; leaves no chip-ice to freeze in 

 and catch the slack of the line, or make hubby-walking; is 

 easily carried, and with the aid of an ice-chisel, will bore 

 through ice of a thickness that can hardly be done in the 

 ordinary way, 



— Here is an anecdote of Judge Fullerton, so honorably 

 identified with the long-to-be-remembered Beech er trial. 

 The narrator is George Dawson, Esq., of the Albany Jour- 

 nal, whose companion the Judge was last Summer during 

 a salmon fishing excursion to the river Caspapedia, in 

 Canada :— 



"The Judge entered upon his work with grace and skill. 

 His first casts were made with becoming caution — asif 

 feeling his way for the open joints in the harness of a 

 prafty witness. He was too wise an angler to drop his fly 



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