FOREST AND STREAM. 



403 



successful, returned, and were undeceived by hearing Cale 

 repeat, at request, tlie ventriloqual notes that were so de- 

 ceiving. Daring the day, when not in use, the guns were 

 placed together on gun rests on the piazza, and by imitat- 

 ing some plover whistle, Cale had not unfrequently called 

 out all hands, for the amusement of seeing the rush for 

 guns; but now a general wager was made that Cale could 

 cot again decoy any of the party out of doors if there 

 should be no game in sight. After this every one was on 

 the qui vive at the sound of a plover's whistle to know of 

 Gale's whereabouts, or else see some game from the win- 

 dows ere rushing to the piazza for guns. But a few days 

 after this, Cale being out putting the boats in order, began 

 whistling plover calls, but as no birds could be seen from 

 the house no one therein ventured out until after some time 

 had elapsed, when the report of a gun brought them to 

 the door, to see Cale picking up dead birds. "I waited for 

 yon to come out," said he, "until the birds started, and 

 then shot to wake you up." All then went into the house, 

 including Cale, who went up stairs to his chamber, and 

 thence, after a few minutes, stepped out on the upper pi- 

 azza and gave the shrill whistle of a "yellow-leg" that ap- 

 peared to those below to come from high in the air above 

 the house, and there was a grand rush for the guns on the 

 lower piazza, where they were greeted by a second whistle 

 from Cale, and the enjoinment "don't "shoot yet." The 

 bell was rung, and Cale came down to hear the verdict. 



His powers were well shown in his original story known 

 as the "Schoolboy Story." After explaining the circum- 

 stances of being appointed a member of the school com- 

 mittee of the town, and going to a school exhibition, lie 

 gives a rendering of the whole exercises; the declama- 

 tions, etc., by the boys, and the Yankee conversation of 

 the farmer who sat by him making aside remarks, and 

 giving a history of each performer and his individual pe- 

 culiarities. 



Those who have heard Cale tell this story will long re- 

 member it. 



Many times have I seen him call ducks, giving exact im- 

 itations of all their notes, from the contralto quack of the 

 duck to the bass of the drake, and the soft, courting notes; 

 and many times have I made my throat sore endeavoring 

 to correctly imitate him. After dining at my home, one 

 day, he accompanied me to my chamber, which is a sort of 

 museum of stuffed birds, guns, etc. ; and being pleased at 

 the many evidences of my taste similar to his own, asked 

 me if I made a will, to leave the contents of that room to 

 him. I called his attention to festoons of different vari- 

 eties of birds' legs hanging in a corner; taking one of them 

 in his liana, he exclaimed "Isthisaleg-I-see? (legacy). At 

 one time he took part in a shooting match in which a man 

 opposed to him was supposed to be a wonderful marks- 

 man, from the stories told (principally by himself) of the 

 shots made by him "at the Kedhouse in England." And 

 in the preliminary arrangements of the match everything 

 was compared by him to the superior manner in which 

 such affairs were managed "at the Redhouse in England, 

 you know." When the trial came, Mr. Bragadocio suffered 

 a most signal defeat, but w r ould not acknowledge that his 

 opponent shot extraordinarily well, and gave profuse ex- 

 planations, known as "gunners' excuses," of the causes of 

 his poor shooting, and had "oft beaten the field at the Red- 

 house in England, when every one there shot far better than 

 the best shooting of to-day." At the supper following this 

 match Mr. B , in answer to interrogation, acknowledged 

 that Cale shot "very well — very well." "But," addressing 

 Cale, "but, Mr. Loring, you should see the shooting at the 

 Redhouse in England." Cale asks, "I understand you to 

 say that you have shot at the Redhouse in England?" 

 "Oh, frequently! frequently!" "Allow me to ask did you 



fill %T7 



One of the farmers residing near the "shanty" related 

 in good faith as a fact that he "saw three old squaws (long- 

 tailed ducks) flying up river one day as Mr. Loring was 

 coming down in his gunning -float, and as they flew by the 

 boat Mr. Loring killed one with each barrel, turned a back- 

 somersault, picked up another gun and dropped the third. 

 How, that's quick shooting, I call it, for they say that old 

 squaws fly ninety miles an hour. He always has three 

 double-barreled guns in his boat when out gunning, and 

 fires them all about as quickly as most men can fire one." 



Some of Cale's friends hearing this story, asked of him 

 the particulars. He had not until then heard the farmer's 

 version, and explained, that as the ducks neared him they 

 divided and he killed one each side of him, but the third 

 one going directly over his head he was unable to turn en- 

 tirely around in the boat quickly enough to cover it with 

 his second gun, but threw himself on his back and shot 

 with the gun held firmly in both hands above him, thus 

 killing the last bird. 



Frequently, as on this occasion, when inconvenient to 

 turn quickly to shoot birds passing each side of him, he 

 would shoot on one side, and, changing the gun to the 

 other shoulder, shoot with the same unerring aim, always 

 shooting with both eyes open. Although able to dis- 

 tinguish birds so readily he was "color-blind." I first be- 

 came aware of this through taking to him for identifica- 

 . tion a sandpiper, of a species then new to me, although 

 very familiar with most of the genus. He examined the 

 bird, told me that it was a "buff-breasted sandpiper," and 

 asking me to describe its color, said that all birds appeared 

 gray to him, although he could detect marked differences 

 in shades. He added that this specimen was somewhat 

 Tare, and, although he had shot several on different occa- 

 sions, he had never seen them in numbers. I afterwards 

 compared it with the plate and description in Audubon's 

 "Birds of America," which confirmed its identity. I 

 regret that I did not preserve the skin, for the species ap- 

 pears to be now extremely rare. To the ordinary observer, 

 depending us he does, to a great degree, upon color in dis- 

 tinguishing the different species of birds, color-blindness 

 ^ight seem a great obstacle; but this defect would render 

 one much less liable to be deceived by varieties of plu- 

 mage, or colors of eyes, bills, and feet, incidental to the 

 same species of different ages, sexes, seasons, localities, 

 etc. 



U was rarely that any one but Cale's most intimate 

 friends had opportunity to see him show his skill in shoot- 

 •iog, except it were by accident. In 1853 a wager was 

 Tuade among some of his friends that he could not kill 

 ninety woodcock in one hundred shots; the conditions re- 

 quiring him to shoot at every woodcock that his dog 

 pointed or flushed. Of course not enough birds could be 

 found in one day, and the shooting extended over seven 

 days, and at several places, in Maine and in Massachusetts. 

 It will be remembered by those who witnessed it (Messrs. 

 Pratt, Morse, Tiltou, and others), and by many others 



among his friends to whom these facts are known ; but I 

 believe that the score has never before been published: — 



Day. Shots. Birds.] Bay. Shots. Birds. 



First day.... .. 11 lOjFifth day. 10 



Second day..... 7 7 



Third day 8 8 



Fourth day 17 16 



Total..... ioo 



Sixth day 27 



Seventh day 20 



Missed second, fortieth, forty-third, forty-fourth, forty-eighth, and 

 fifty-third shots. ' ' " 



By the score it will be seen that forty-one birds were 

 killed consecutively; as were also thirty-eight. One of 

 the birds shot was brought to hand by the dog, and instead 

 of taking it from the dog's mouth as was his custom, Cale 

 told him to drop it; but the bird, being only wounded, 

 fluttered off and was knocked over again with the second 

 barrel. This was counted as two shots, one bird. Sports- 

 men accustomed to shoot woodcock will appreciate this 

 wonderful score, for wonderful it must appear to even the 

 best of crack sportsmen of the day, or other days. Mr. Lor- 

 ing enjoyed the friendship of many distinguished gentlemen, 

 and widespread was the sadness caused by his death. He 

 died of kidney disease August 28th, 1868; and, to quote 

 from an obituary, "we all knew him, all loved him, and 

 we all feel sad that his pleasant jest will never again 'set 

 the table in a roar.' " 



I write these few reminiscences in the hope that through 

 the columns of Forest and Stream many more will be 

 given from an abler pen than that of The Boy. 



A WOLF HUNT 



For Forest and Stream. 

 FIFTY YEARS AGO. 



I HAD just risen from the breakfast table one winter 

 morning, when a farmer from an adjacent settlement 

 drove into the door yard and informed me that the night 

 previous a wolf had entered his fold and killed several 

 sheep, and requested me to go and hunt the animal down. 

 I needed no urging, as from early boyhood hunting and 

 trapping had been my chief pursuit. My home was among 

 the green mountains, and bear, lynx, wolf, and smaller 

 game were quite abundant. Devoting, as I did, my whole 

 time to the pursuit, it was common for the farmers, when 

 suffering from the depredations of wild animals, to call 

 upon me to rid them of the pests. 



In the present instance I was soon ready, my knapsack 

 packed with food and blankets, prepared for a longcha. c e, 

 as wolf hunts usually were, and ten o'clock found me with 

 hound on the trail, the latter soon rounding far up the 

 mountain side. Ere long the wind had died away, but 

 about noon, on arriving at the summit, it was again heard 

 on a ridge beyond. I was descending towards the inter- 

 vening valley, when the voice of the hound struck peculi- 

 arly upon my ear. On listening, I plainly discerned that, 

 instead of pursuing, the hound was pursued. In lieu of 

 the long-drawn, clear-ringing tones there came an occasion- 

 al ki-i ing and whimpering. Blucher was a powerful, 

 courageous fellow, as had been often proved in encounters 

 with the bear, lynx, and wolf, so that at first I was loath to 

 credit my sense of hearing; but as the sound drew near I 

 was forced to accept the situation, and prepared for it. 

 Removing my knapsack and snow-shoes, 1 took a position 

 beside a large tree a little way from the trail, ready for a 

 shot. The hound came first in view, as I feared, the wolf 

 close upon him. The latter had not detected my presence, 

 and when at fifty paces I drew up for the shot. At that 

 instant he turned, and received the charge in his hind legs, 

 breaking both off below the gambiel joint. He was crip- 

 pled for an instant, but was soon out of sight on the back 

 track. Feeling sure of my game, I was in no hurry to 

 pursue. My poor hound was in a sorry plight. His rump 

 and flank were literally scarified by the fangs of the wolf, 

 and not until his wounds had been along time bathed with 

 snow did they cease to bleed. After a lunch of raw salt 

 pork and brown bread, I took up the trail, now doubly 

 flecked with blood. But on old Blucher's part the fight 

 was over. Neither threats nor entreaties would make him 

 go, except at heel. Night was approaching, and I had not 

 once sighted the wolf. It seemed marvelous that he could 

 proceed so fast, dragging himself by the fore legs alone. I 

 had for some time been looking for a place to camp. A 

 giant hemlock that had been blown over down the steep 

 side hill, and resting on the roots for some distance, leav- 

 ing an open space between it and the ground into which 

 the snow had not penetrated, was just the place. With 

 my hatchet I soon made a bed of boughs, then a thick 

 screen was set up of the same on each side, the tops rest- 

 ing against the body of the tree, against which, with a 

 snow-shoe, I piled the snow. The thick, dry bark and 

 limbs of the same tree afforded plenty of good fuel, and 

 with my tinder-box I soon had a roaring fire, where I 

 broiled my pork spitted on the steel ramrod. After a 

 hearty supper and a pipe I turned into my fragrant couch, 

 where, with hound to feet, and well wrapped in blankets, 

 I slept the sweet sleep of a weary hunter. Daylight found 

 me astir, and after a hearty meal, which emptied the com- 

 missary department, I took up the trail. It was noon ere 

 I reached the lair of the wolf— a shallow cave near the 

 summit of the mountain, where he lay cowardly subdued, 

 casting his eyes furtively around, but never once looking 

 me in the eye. Another charge of BB, this time in the 

 head, and I soon had his shaggy coat off oyer his muzzle. 

 Ascending a tall spruce, 1 got the bearings to a shingle 

 camp, which I reached ere sunset, and met with hearty 

 welcome, tarrying over night and returning home next day. 

 On stretching the p^lt it proved much larger than any I had 

 previously captured, besides being the last wolf ever seen 



in that section. C. L. Whitman. 

 . ■#-♦♦- 



Dried Eggs. — A new industry, that of drying eggs, 

 which is represented in this country, has been set on foot 

 at Passau, on the Danube, and the Prussian military au- 

 thorities are about to give the product a fair trial for sol- 

 diers' rations. The London News says several German 

 chemists, and Prof. Pettenkofer in particular, are very 

 sanguine as to the success of the experiment, and they 

 pronounce dried eggs to have lost none of their valuable 

 properties by the gradual evaporation of the water con- 

 tained by them in their original state. 



«*.*.*. — 



— Southern California is subject to terrific sand storms, 

 the sand being lifted in such masses as to resemble fog, 

 and so dense as to render objects invisible at only a few 

 feet of distance. One of these storms recently visited 

 Bakersfield, blowing up from the Mohave desert through 

 the Tejon pass. At Wilmington, or old San Pedro, the 

 seaport of Los Angelos, the sand can sometimes be seen 

 piled up behind the fences like snow-drifts. 



#4 §nlhqe. 



ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE 

 COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES OF 

 MARYLAND. 



THE Commission which was appointed in 1874, al- 

 though without reliable statistics as to the yield of 

 their waters, have yet become satisfied that the most valu- 

 able fisheries of the State are becoming less and less pro- 

 ductive, and are being depleted of their supplies of fish 

 food to an alarming extent. The natural geographical ad- 

 vantages of Maryland are so great that no effort should be 

 wanting to make her waters, one-fifth the whole area, 

 yield their utmost abundance. We cannot agree, how- 

 ever, with the Commissioners in their statement that the 

 * 'rivers of the more southern States are year by year be- 

 coming more and more depleted, and their unhappy condi- 

 tion, both pecuniarily and politically, renders it improba- 

 ble that they will be able for many years to do anything 

 towards the restoration of their fisheries. The spring fish- 

 es of the Chesapeake Bay, being the earliest in market, 

 will command the most remunerative prices." Her imme- 

 diate neighbor, Virginia, is doing nobly in the cause of fish 

 preservation, and the fish business of Norfolk is scarcely 

 exceeded by that of Baltimore itself, while Savannah is the 

 point of shipment for the catch as far south as Key West. 



The shad being the most important of the food fishes of 

 their waters, the Commissioners paid immediate attention 

 to their propagation, and for this purpose put themselves 

 in communication with Prof. Baird and Seth Green. Their 

 first efforts at procuring spawn were frustrated through 

 the sudden and deeply-regretted death of Dr. Slack, which 

 indeed put an end to operations for 1874. The following 

 Spring, in order to select proper iccalities for operations, 

 the Commissioners, in company with Prof. J. W. Milner, 

 Deputy U. S. Commissioner, representing Prof. Baird, and 

 two members of the Virginia Commission, examined the 

 fisheries of the Potomac, and then ascended the Patuxent 

 as far as Bristol, examining the fisheries on that river. They 

 found Freestone Point, lying between Powell's and Neab- 

 sco Creeks, admirably adapted for shad hatching, being 

 an excellent shad fishery, the ripe fish apparently selecting 

 the extensive flats at this point for spawning, with a safe 

 harbor for the hatching boxes. An arrangement having 

 been made with Mr. Seth Green for the use of his hatching 

 apparatus, Mr. Orin Chase, of Rochester, reported for duty 

 on the 2d of April . Mr. Chase being provided with a 

 complete outfit, with facilities for hatching a half million 

 of eggs daily, was located on the Patuxent, and Mr. Alex. 

 Kent was sent to Coppages Landing, on the Chester, simi- 

 larly equipped. In the copy of the Report received by us, 

 the appendix, which was to contain the report of Messrs. 

 Chase and Kent, was not attached, and we are therefore 

 in the dark as to the extent of their operations. There ap- 

 pears, however, to have been great mortality among the 

 eggs, which probably was attributable to the heat of the 

 surface of the water and the increased power of the sun. 

 This, Mr. Ferguson thinks, might be remedied by sub- 

 merging the hatching boxes, and he so suggested. 



The books of the owner of one of the largest fisheries 

 on the upper bay show that, in 1824, with a seine of 500 

 fathoms, his catch of shad during the season ending May 

 24th, amounted to 52,617 fish, whereas, in that of 1871 he 

 took with a seine of 1,150 fathoms only 17,800. At least 

 twenty-three fisheries above the mouth of the North East 

 that were in operation some forty years since, have disap- 

 peared—another evidence of the marked diminution in 

 the number of shad. 



It was observed that the ripe males or milters made their 

 appearance in advance of the ripe females, and were much 

 more abundant early in the season. Quite frequently, to- 

 wards the close of the season, numbers of ripe females 

 were found, and after taking the eggs, were abandoned for 

 want of milt to impregnate them. In some cases the milt 

 from the herring was used, and also one or two lots of 

 eggs were impregnated with the milt from the rock. After 

 hatching, as they had no means to keep them that their de- 

 velopment might be observed, they released these hybrids. 



The herring (Promolobus pseudo hare ng us) is scarcely less 

 important than the shad, and should receive the fostering 

 care of the State. The fecundity of the herring is so won- 

 derful and their numbers so immense, that it would stem 

 only necessary to protect them so that they might reach 

 proper spawning beds. The eggs are more adhesive than 

 those of the shad, and more difficult to handle. Fishing 

 with the herring net should be discontinued earlier in the 

 season. 



The striped bass or rock, (Moccus lineatus), both for its 

 game and table qualities, deserves to be placed among the 

 most important of our native food fishes. They are taken 

 of great size in the shad and herring seines, and are called 

 "herring rollers" by the fishermen, who make war upon 

 them, believing that they consume a great many shad and 

 herring; a great mistake, as even if they were worthless aa 

 food, their predatory instincts cause them to follow the 

 schools of shad and herring, coneuming only the least 

 strong and vigorous, while the strongest are left to perpet- 

 uate their race. The Commissioner 3 experienced -great 

 difficulty in finding ripe females, although many ripe male 

 fish were taken. Regarding this fish the Commissioi erg 

 say:— 



"We deem it of the greatest importance that the time of 

 spawning be accurately determined, and, if possible, the 

 character of the spawning beds, etc. To enable us to pro- 

 cure the ova and increase this fish, we propose to select a 

 suitable locality, procure the fish in their first abundance in 

 February, and confine them until their eggs are developed. 

 Although impracticable for shad, this cuiTbe accomplished 

 at no great cost. At the Bucksport establishment the sal- 

 mon are taken in the shore seines in the Spring, transferred 



