FOREST AND STREAM 



409 



operation where possible. In fact our interests in this 

 matter are identical with those of our Canadian friends; 

 indeed, greater, for probably, putting the sporting question 

 on one side, there are a much larger number of persons 

 who follow wild-fowl shooting as a means of livelihood in 

 this country than in Canada. Yet we must look to them 

 to preserve the birds for us during the breeding season . 

 This is one of the points we have had: in view in advocating 

 the formation of the International Society, a system of co- 

 operation, by which the intelligent sportsmen as well as 

 the scientific men of both sides could meet, and by an ex- 

 change of information and ideas ascertain the real wants 

 of both, and by suitable and united action obtain such 

 legislation as would operate to the advantage of all. 



If there is, indeed, this alarming decrease in the num- 

 ber of wild-fowl that the writer alluded to claims, we 

 would be inclined to advocate, for a term of years 

 at least, the abolition of Spring shooting, that a larger 

 number of ducks might return to their breeding grounds 

 to come to us again with augmented numbers in the Fall. 

 Unquestionably they should have the fullest protection 

 while on the breeding grounds, as well as in other places 

 to which they may resort during the close season. The 

 example of the Long Point Company is well worthy of 

 imitation. They have the satisfaction of knowing that by 

 their exertions they have to-day the finest duck-shooting 

 in the Dominion, if not on the continent, all through a care- 

 ful protection which has restored the confidence of the 

 birds and brought them back to their old feeding grounds. 



The experience of many Canadian sportsmen, however, 

 who would fain follow the example, of the above company 

 is very similar to that of many of our own in their endeav- 

 , ors to obtain possession of favorable "points." Lands ut- 

 terly worthless and unproductive now, become of untold 

 value when any one proposes to buy or lease them. The 

 Globe's correspondent suggests that game protective socie- 

 ties should be assisted from the public purse. We have 

 urged the same thing here, by the appointment of game 

 constables and detectives. First, however, our game 

 laws require a careful over-hauling, Those of Massachu- 

 setts and Connecticut are particularly faulty in permitting 

 snaring during certain months, a license which is most 

 grossly abused. Those of this State,particularly in the clause 

 which permits the sale of quail and grouse until March 

 1st, when the close season commences on the 1st January, 

 are equally as bad. But above all, let us co-operate with 

 our Canadian neighbors in preserving and protecting the 

 wild-fowl in which we have an equal interest, before the 

 policy of extermination has been carried so far as to place 

 it beyond the reach of a remedy. 



—A powerful association has been formed in London, 

 Ontario, under the title of the London District Fish and 

 Game Protective Society, with the following officers: — 

 President, Dr. Woodruff; first Vice, Col. John Walker; 

 second Vice, James S. Kiven, M. D. ; Secretary, B. C. Mar- 

 shall; Treasurer, James A. Mahon; Solicitor, John Taylor, 

 Barrister; Committee, W. C. L. Gill, W. Hudson, J. A. 

 Smith, Thomas Smallman, J. V. Thompson, I. C. Merritt, 

 Henry Bruce. The society starts with a membership of 

 over one hundred, and the County of Middlesex will doubt- 

 less soon feel the effects of their labors in the cause of 

 game protection. 



Wisconsin.— At a meeting of the Wisconsin State As- 

 sociation for the Protection of Fish and Came, held at 

 Madison, January 19th, 1876, Hon. W. W. Corning intro- 

 duced the following resolution, which was adopted: — 



Resolved, That in the opinion of the Wisconsin State As- 

 sociation for the Protection of Fish and Game, the artifi- 

 cial cultivation of fish is worthy of State aid, and to this 

 end we respectfully ask the Legislature now in session to 

 make suitable provision therefor, and a? asked by the Fish 

 Commissioners in their second annual report. 



The following resolution was introduced by Col. R. M. 

 Strong, and adopted:— 



Resolved, That Messrs. Bailey, Mayars, and Welch be 

 and they are hereby appointed a committee to codify the 

 game and fish laws of Wisconsin, general and local, and 

 to report the same to the association at the next adjourned 

 meeting thereof. 



On motion of Mr. Burdick, the Secretary was instructed 

 to notify members and clubs, and other sportsmen of the 

 adjourned meeting. 



An amendment to the game laws of Wisconsin intended 

 more particularly to preserve waterfowl from sneak-boat 

 and battery shooting has already been introduced into the 

 Legislature. It now rests with sportsmen throughout the 

 State to shake off their apathy, and to interest themselves 

 in the matter by urging upon members the importance of 

 passing the bill. 



—An exchange says that the Florida game law was 

 passed only for the purpose of preventing cattle stealers 

 from Georgia coming into the State under pretense of 

 hunting, and that it will probably be repealed at the next 

 session of the Legislature, when it is to be hoped that 

 another may be passed which, while protecting the game 

 a ad the true interests of the State, will not act as a bug- 

 bear to frighten people away. 



—Mr. Graham has introduced a bill in the Legislature 

 °f this State to prevent duck, brant, and wild-goose shoot- 

 1Q g, from floating batteries, on the ponds, rivers, and lakes 

 °f Monroe County. 



—The Pennsylvania State Association for the Protection 

 °f Fish and Game, which met recently at Harrisburg, 

 passed a resolution favoring the proposed amendment to 

 the game and fish laws of 1873. The resolution will be 

 submitted to the Legislature. 



—A very successful meeting of the Dansville (N, Y.) 



Sportsmen's Association was held on the evening of the 21st 

 iusfc. Committees were appointed among others to corres- 

 pond with the State Commissioners relative to stocking the 

 public streams with brook trout, and the Forest and 

 Stream relative to the introduction of prairie chickens. 



SPORTSMEN OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS 



f _^L 



IT has been truly said that "shooting has been time out of 

 mind the gentleman's amusement," but how many can 

 imagine the changes in the manner and mode of sportsman- 

 ship, since the days of Nimrod. Nay, I will not put the 

 period so far back, but simply to the times of Forester, 

 the acknowledged authority on all that pertains to shooting 

 or fishing, if you may except for the latter, the grand mas- 

 ter, Izaak Walton. 



Twenty-five years is a long space of time, and takes in 

 the greatest inventions in the line of sporting for the last 

 century. Nor is the change in this greater than the change 

 of manners among sportsmen themselves. A quarter of a 

 century ago the brotherhood of sportsmen, although not 

 nearly so large, contained a greater majority of hardy, 

 chivalrous, generous, and out-spoken gentlemen than at the 

 present day. First in the grand rauk of brilliant, whole- 

 souled sportsmen of that "elder day" was the renowned 

 Henry Wm. Herbert. Plain, unassuming, and of un- 

 bounded popularity, with a common dress of the back- 

 woodsman, a firm manly bearing and generous loyal heart, 

 he enjoyed as seldom a man ever did before, the respect of all 

 his acquaintances. His writings for brilliancy and tone 

 have never been equalled by any other authors or writers 

 of the style of literature which h'13 versatile pen was so 

 well adapted to, i. e,, of shooting, fishing, and kindred 

 sports. Samuel Swan, editor of the Southern Military Ga- 

 zette, of 1855, gave the credit to "Frank Forrester" of being 

 the best living writer on sporting subjects, and Johnson J. 

 Hooper, author of that admirable little work entitled "Dog 

 and Gun," thus eulogised his writings: — "Mr. Herbert's 

 descriptions have never been excelled; no living literary 

 artist equals him, in my opinion, in that sort of limning 

 which is accomplished by a few dashing strokes." 



As a writer of high merit in humor, combined with a 

 touch of the sublime, Wm. P, Hawes, ("J. Cypress, Jr."), 

 undoubtedly was without an equal. The chief interest 

 of his sketches is in the inimitable piquancy and wit, with 

 the characteristic flow of unheard of quotations and ad- 

 ventures. His aim was. to amuse, and in this matter he 

 was particularly successful. "Fire Island Ana" is gener- 

 ally considered his masterpiece, as it embraces the full 

 scope of his various moods— humorous, sentimental, and 

 sublime. This work was published in "The American 

 Turf Register and Sporting Magazine" of thirty-five years 

 ago, and republished in book form, together with his other 

 productions, in a book entitled "Collideomania," a small 

 edition of which is now extant. The description of Oliver 

 Paul, Ned Locus, and other characters of that sketch must 

 be read to be appreciated. 



Another grand light in the phalanx of sportsmen of that 

 period, the editor of Porter's Spirit of the Times, well known 

 as "Yorks Tall Son," was a kindly, generous man, whom 

 the Southern Military Gazette thus described under the title 

 of "The Spirit and its Editor." The following is but a 

 brief extract:— 



"And still unchanged art thou, amidst the change of all 

 around us, dear old Bill. Dear Bill, serious or merry, sol- 

 emn or sentimental, still so calm and serene and softly 

 smiling, in thy ruby-colored waistcoat, with thy soft, silky 

 hair, coolly disparted from thy high, white, unwrinkled 

 forehead; with the luxuriant "flow of that grand beard, 

 which a Mussulman might envy; with that mild, cleat- 

 blue eye; that almost effeminately sweet smile, singularly 

 contrasting the athletic frame; the six foot four in the 

 stockinged feet; the chivalrous, gallant spirit; the free, 

 open speech; the high soul, made up all of honor, the sim- 

 ple-minded, straightforwardness of thought and action, 

 which go together in thee to make up that noblest of God's 

 work — a real man. 



"Loyal and firm and kind and true, 

 That f e ar or falsehood never knew. 



"Long mayst xhou flourish, dear Bill, the spirit of the 

 Spirit of the Times, the glory of not yet utterly degene- 

 rated Gotham, the best, as the tallest 'son of York.' " 



In the initial number of Porter's Spirit is an excellent 

 life-like picture of its tall editor, William T. Porter, and 

 never did likeness show more plainly than this the impress 

 of one of Nature's noblemen. 



Col. Wm. T. Stockton, known to the readers of sporting 

 literature twenty-five years ago as "Cor-de-Chasse s " proved 

 a very fascinating and lively writer; his best productions, 

 which were published in the New York Spirit of the Times, 

 and Porter's Spirit of the Times, commanding wide-spread 

 attention. One of his first sketches, entitled "The Big 

 Talugie Buck," is a marvel of ingenious thrilling adven- 

 ture, resembling somewhat "J. Cypress' " highly-wrought 

 stories. 



Among the host of other gentlemen of that day who 

 were well known under their noms de plume, were "Hal-a- 

 Dacotah," of the then territory of Minnesota, a dashing 

 writer of far more than moderate ability, "Omega," whose 

 stronghold was a humorous vein of literature, with an oc- 

 casional touch of brilliant thoughts; Weston Fisher, H. 

 P. Leland, and others long since departed, or forgotten by 

 the new generation springing up. And of all those glorious 

 old sportsmen there now remain but a few who are known 

 as either literary men or authors . Among those now liv- 

 ing who once knew and admired "Frank Forrester" as a 

 friend, and themselves contributed not a little to the sport- 

 ing press, are Genio C. Scott, the venerable and talented 



angler, and author of "Fishing in American Waters;" 

 Isaac McLellan, the poet sportsman, of Greenpoint, L. I., 

 who still contributes his glowing poetry to the journals of 

 to-day; and George Wilkes, late editor of the Spirit of tU 

 Times. Others undoubtedly there are of that old school, 

 but not so far and widely known as these three I have 

 mentioned. 



Gen. H. ,H. Sibley, ("Hal-a-Dacotah"), still resides in 

 Minnesota, (at St. Paul), the foremost man of all in public 

 esteem, and time has touched lightly the vigorous athletic 

 frame. With his sixty-three years, the General is still erect, 

 his step as firm aftd buoyant as the majority of men at twenty- 

 five. The people, prizing him rightly as the suppressor of 

 the terrible Sioux war, and as the first and most fitly-chosen 

 Governor of the State upon its admission to the Union, 

 hold him to-day in their estimation as second to none of 

 the many public benefactors. He is still a most ardent 

 and enthusiastic sportsmen, but in place of the chase of 

 deer, elk, and bear, which was his pride of yore, he now 

 takes his recreations in the less exciting, but still exhili- 

 arating sport of grouse and duck sheeting. Long may he 

 live, and may his fame never grow less as a sportsman, a 

 writer, and a man. 



And poor "Tom Draw!" (Ward), he has long since passed 

 "that bourne," but his memory still lives revered and 

 strengthened through the mediumship of those unparalled 

 sporting tales, the "Shooting Box," "Deer Stalkers," and 

 "Warwick Woodlands." "Tom Draw," the original, quaint, 

 and humorous host of Warwick; the true friend of la- 

 mented "Frank Forester," what a multitude of incidents 

 are connected with his life. 



To compare the standard of shooting and fishing litera- 

 ture of that day with the average of the present day would 

 be to find a superiorit}^ for the latter on one point, vis.: 

 less allusions to the free use of spirits in all anecdotes of 

 hunting or fishing tours. Though the use of whiskey may 

 be, and oftentimes is, beneficial in times of exposure to 

 rains, etc., it should not be extolled by any writer as an in- 

 dispensible article on such occasions, as this gives a wrong 

 example to young sportsmen, and a worse impression to 

 the reading public, which, judging the class of gentlemen 

 anglers and gunners by the sketches of their exploits with the 

 bottle, imagine them a class of carousing topers whose chief 

 aim in seeking the field or stream is to enjoy a drinking bout 

 with their companions. We of the fraternity all know 

 that this is a very erroneous impression, and the least 

 written on using spirits will add to the right by raising the 

 standard of true sportsmen in the opinion of the public to 

 what they really are, a class of gentlemanly courteous 

 men. Fjied. 



. -#-*#. j 



Florida Items.— A correspondent w rites us from St. 

 Augustine, under date of January 25th, as follows: — 



"The hotels are filling, new amusements, more hope, and, in fact, 

 everything is lively, while the hunting is improving with the continu- 

 ance of mild weather. The various salt water birds are numerous, 

 while the quail and alligators are very plentiful. The weather for fifty - 

 two days has been sunshine and almost rainless, as but two very meagre 

 descensions of rain have occurred during this period. The St. August- 

 ine Yacht Club is gradually going ahead, and they supply the city with 

 much entertainment. A pigeon sbooiing club has organized, composed 

 of sportsmen from the North, aud a range and trap have been selected 

 on the north beach, near the "Lunch Basket." The "Lunch Basket," 

 by-the-way, is also something original, and has just been opened. It 

 consists of three tents— one 60x32 feet, used as a resting place and res- 

 taurant for pleasure and hunting parties. The little steamer May Flower 

 is now making daily trips to the beach, and affords a great convenience. 

 We °re in receipt of information to the effect that Mr. Charles Hallock, 

 your venerable (?) editor, will be here with us by the 1st of February. 

 We are impatient to welcome him among us, and will endeavor to char- 

 acterize hts stay with pleasure and contentment. There will be a grand 

 yacht race here next Saturday, instituted by the yacht club. The In- 

 dians are attracting considerable attention, as usual. A number of 

 them are now at Matanzes (a hunting ground) with the sportsmen 

 Geo. W. Fox of Philadelphia, H. C. Caruthers of Tarrytown, N. T.; 

 Joe Cowdrick, Toms ftiver, N. J.; and Dr. Lathrop, Kingston, Is. Y„ 

 There are a number of sportsmen here, including Dan and N. 

 Edgar, Mr. II. C. Meinell, Dr. Caruthers and others, besides a num- 

 ber of excellent northern dogs, setters and pointers. "Fred Beverly" 

 was here last week, and has left for the Ochlawaba River. Also Dr. D© 

 M., "AlFresco's" companion during his last expedition, is here, and will 

 remain the entire Winter." 



— The number of miles of railroad built in the United 

 States during the year 1875, was 1,483, against 1,025 miles 

 in 1874, 3,883 miles in X873, and 7,340 miles in 1872. The 

 first of the railroad States is now Illinois, with 6,931 

 miles. Pennsylvania is second with 5,805 miles, New 

 York third with 5,450, and Ohio fourth with 4,405. 



— Tom Moore compares love to a potato "because it 

 shoots from the eyes." "Or rather," exclaimed Byron, "be- 

 cause it becomes all the less by pairing." 

 — -»»♦- — — 



—A steamer which lately arrived at San Francisco from 

 Yokohama brought the materials for a Japanese temple 

 aud the men to put it up iu the Centennial Exhibition 

 grounds. 



-^x~.;-- 



— Suggestive of poker-playiug- 

 house. 



'ante" rooms in a club 



Fur, Fin and Feather. Mr. Suydam has just issued a 

 new edition of his capital compilation of game and fish laws of the vari- 

 ous States and the Dominion Provinces. This book is a necessity to 

 every sportsman, and is now arranged with such care that it may be re- 

 lied on for accuracy. It costs but 50 cents and can be had at this ofilce s 

 or of the publisher, No. 149 Chambers street. 



- — — — — — - » » » - ■.-■,. 

 Thompson & Son, 338 Broadway, use no sugar of lead in waterproof- 

 ing their suits. Sugar of lead will not stand washing, and amongst old 

 sportsmen is considered detrimental to health, making them liable to 

 rheumatic attacks. Thompson's suits are guaranteed to be thoroughly 

 waterproof, even after being washed, and are a ° £ ^u and cheaper tha 

 any other suits in the market.— Advertisement ' j£n27-tf 



