FOREST AND STREAM. 



41 



As the majority of the committee are in favor of this 

 clause it will be inserted in the new bill. For our part, 

 however, we do not consider that it is one which will be 

 popular with the majority of sportsmen, and this opinion 

 is drawn, not from our own personal views as frequently 

 expressed in these columns, but from conversation and cor- 

 respondence with a large number of gunners. Slowly but 

 surely the flight of snipe, both in spring and fall, is tending 

 to the westward, not, we think, altogether from the effects 

 of too constant shooting on this side, but because the 

 opening up of large tracts of country, the turning over of 

 thousands of acres of rich, loamy soil containing an abund- 

 ance of their peculiar food is the attraction wlrch is draw- 

 ing them. For it is a mistake to suppose that the snipe, 

 by which term we mean the snipe par excellence, familiarly 

 termed "Jack," is a marsh or even solely a meadow 

 bird. In the fall he loves to stop his flight, even in a wheat 

 field, where the soil is black and loamy. We do not con- 

 sider that the few snipe killed in this State in the spring 

 would ever make any appreciable difference in the number 

 ^f the birds, while it does give the sportsman something 



ipon which to break his young dogs, preparatory to the 



rand work in the fall. 



Leaving the birds the subject of fish next comes up for 



iscussion, although the limited time left the committee 

 prevented the matter being gone into upon the present oc- 

 casion with that detail which it demands. The fish dealers 

 in New York very nearly succeeded in the last session of 

 the Legislature in having passed a bill which would have 

 entirely abrogated those sections of the law which regulate 

 the possession and sale of trout. Extreme watchfulness 

 will be required next year to prevent a like occurrence. It 

 was suggested by Mr. Hutchinson that it would be well in 

 order to encourage and aid the propagation of trout that 

 some measures be taken by which fishing in the smaller 

 brooks to which trout go to spawn could be prevented. 

 But one means seems feasible, and that is to authorize 

 county supervisors, with »he consent, of course, of the 

 owners, to name the streams in which fishing should be 

 allowed, the object being to protect young trout, and 

 prevent in a measure the capture and waste of fingerlings. 

 Last year's bill contained a clause limiting the size of mesh 

 to be'used in pound nets to three inches, but later experi- 

 ence has taught that if the fishing is ever to be restored, 

 particularly in the Great South Bay, that pound nets must 

 be abolished entirely. Such has been the action of the 

 New Jersey Legislature with regard to Barnegat Bay, and 

 the result is evident already. But there are other modes of 

 fishing in the Great South Bay that are equally destructive; 

 night seining, while the fish are feeding, for instance, and 

 whit-h probably does more to disturb and frighten away 

 the fish than any other course; fly netting is also injurious, 

 the "run arounds" alarming the fish in a like manner. 

 While it is not proposed to stop fishing with nets altogether, 

 it is as necessary for the interests of the sportsman as the 

 fisherman (and it cannot be deemed that the former have 

 equal interests and rights in nature's gifts with the latter), 

 that the use of nets should be controlled by judicious sea- 

 sons and appliances. The fable of the goose with the 

 golden eggs may be seem exemplified in the Great South 

 Bay by the sight of pound nets hauled out of water and 

 left on top of the stakes because there are no fish to corae 

 into them. The committee adjourned to meet at the call 

 of the chairman. 



— Much excitement is said to prevail along the Delaware 

 River above Port Jervis in regard to the violation of the 

 fish laws by riparian owners, who persist in putting eel 

 weirs in the river, therebv destroying thousands of young 

 black bass every night. Several weirs have been removed 

 surreptitiously, and it is threatened that if all are not re- 

 moved by the owners they will be removed in the same 

 manner. Looking upon this movement simply as an evi- 

 dence of increasing favor in behalf of the sumptuary fish 

 laws that have been enacted, it gives us pleasure, though 

 we shall deplore violence on the part of anyone. These 

 eel weirs have been set in the river by riparian owners ever 

 since we can remember; and the long continued and un- 

 disturbed practice has impressed these men with 

 the idea that their vested rights are being 

 infringed upon, or that the law itself is uncon- 

 stitutional, and the fish wardens acting under it rob- 

 bers. Setting the fish-protection question entirely aside, 

 however, it should be understood that the rights of riparian 

 owners have long since been adjudicated by the courts. It 

 has been decided in this State at least, that persons owning 

 land on the banks of a stream not navigable own to the 

 center of the stream, while with respect to navigable rivers 

 in which the tide ebbs and flows (and only such are consid- 

 ered navigable in a legal point of view) private ownership ex- 

 tends only to high water mark; and the New York Supreme 

 Court, in ex parte Jennings, 6 Cow., 518, expressed the 

 opinion that the public had an "absolute proprietary 

 interest" in the land below. In the case of Ledyard, 2 Ten 

 Eyck, 36 Barb., 105, the Supreme Court assumes to say 

 that the State is trustee for the public in the case of such 

 navigable waters, as well as trustee for the riparian propri- 

 etor. Both have rights to be protected; but the public 

 must not be made to suffer loss by the cupidity, ignorance, 

 or willfulness of the other party interested. [The words 

 are our own, being natural deductions from the ruling 

 aforesaid, as given in the text]. The Court of Appeals 

 goes even farther when it affirms, in the case of The People 

 vs. Tibbetts, 19 New York, 523, that it is beyond dispute 

 that the State is the absolute owner of the navigable rivers 

 within its borders, and that as such it can dispose of them 

 to the exclusion of the riparian owners. 



— The Halifax (N. S.) Reporter is anxious that the law 

 prohibiting the killing of moose shall be extended for an 

 additional period of three years. It will expire on the 

 1st September, 1877. 



— The following letter from a Connecticut correspondent 

 shows good pluck : — 



Niantio, August 131 h. 

 Editor Fobest and Stream:— 



I sincerely \**sh we had more such men as Von G. I had grown tired 

 of being; told that my ideas oa game laws were fanatical, and that I had 

 better go home and ventilate my opinions. $.ny man is proud of his 



b'rthplace, and I am proud of Gotham. At any rate it is ahead of this 

 nutmeg region, and its sportsmen understand and appreciate any game 

 that comes their way. let it be fish or fowl. Von G. gave me the first 

 word of encouragement, and I shall stay in the ring for one more round, 

 just to bother the boys, and at any rate ventilate my opinion. Plenty of 

 good fellows can be found in New London that do not indulge in pirat- 

 ical adventures, but dislike to speak plainly to those that do. If they 

 would get together and build up a quiet club of sportsmen I think its 

 good effects would soon be seen; at any rate it is worth a trial. 



Scales. 



HINTS ON PRAIRIE SHOOTING. 



HAVING made periodical shooting trips to the western 

 and northwestern prairies during the past fifteen 

 years, we have frequently been asked for information as to 

 where to go and the proper time to go, in order to have the 

 best shooting. Before we made our first trip in 1859, we 

 had frequently been told that the proper time to be there 

 was the middle of August, and we would have taken that 

 advice and gone at that time, had we not, very fortunately, 

 been introduced to the late Wm. Bissell, of Pittsburgh, 

 Pa., then a skillful sportsman of large experience in 

 prairie shooting, who advised us, by all means, not to go 

 there before the middle of September; and with one ex- 

 ception, we have made it a point to reach our destination 

 not before the 15th or 20th of that month. The 15th of 

 August is the opening day of the season for pinnated 

 grouse— or "chickens" as they are usually called out 

 there— and during the remainder of that month and the 

 first two weeks of September, much larger bags can be 

 made than later in the season; but to us there is very little 

 pleasure in shooting a large number of this splendid game 

 when the weather is so extremely warm, using up both 

 the hunter and his dogs, and when it is almost impossible 

 to prevent the game from spoiling on our hands. More- 

 over, in making the trip thus early in the season, the only 

 kind of game to be found is the pinnated grouse, but by 

 defering the time until the latter part of September, we 

 can have, say, a week's shooting for grouse, and at the end 

 of that time the snipe and ducks will begin to visit the 

 lakes and marshes which abound in the west and north- 

 west, and afford most excellent sport. Two years ago we 

 made a trip to Rudd, Floyd Co., Iowa, in company with 

 Mr. Theo. Morford, of Newton, N. J. ; Mr. J. J. Seitzinger, 

 of Philadelphia, and Mr. I. Y. Ross, of Milwaukie, Wis., 

 all keen, skillful sportsmen, and after having had about a 

 week's capital shooting of grouse during the closing days 

 of September, we ran back to Madison, Wis., where we 

 spent a few days, and had most enjoyable sport shooting 

 snipe on Nine Spring Marsh, and ducks on Third Lake. 

 We well remember the morning we found ourselves on that 

 marsh, with snipe all around in great abundance; how 

 Frank, our red Irish setter, over which our friend, Theo. 

 Morford, was shooting on that trip, began drawing across 

 the meadow, and after trailing a considerable distance to 

 some cover, came to a staunch point, when Theodore 

 stepped a few paces ahead, and put up a pack of about a 

 dozen grouse, a pair of which he neatly stopped. The 

 rest of the pack passed just out of shot from Mr. Seitzen- 

 ger and ourself, and dropped in cover within a short dis- 

 tance. We started for them, when Theodore hailed us to 

 know where we were going, and the answer was, "After 

 those chickens " ; "Why," said he; "I had rather shoot a 

 dozen snipe now, than all the chickens in the State." Yet, 

 we did go for them, and bagged half a dozen, but were 

 really glad when we got through with them and back 

 again among snipe. We allude to this circumstance to 

 show the advantage of going to the west at a time when a 

 variety of game may be found. Last season we did our 

 shooting in Eau Clare and Trempeleau counties, Wis., 

 were we found the sharp tailed pinnated and ruffed grouse 

 in sufficient numbers for fair sport. Last season was not 

 a favorable one for such game, but this year the birds 

 have done much better there, and right good shooting may 

 be expected. 



In making such trips as we have alluded to, in order to 

 have the best sport, it is important that each shooter should 

 take with him at least one good, steady, well- broken dog, 

 and in condition to work day after day, and by all means 

 one that is a good retriever. If a dog is a strong, well- 

 formed fellow, and in proper condition for work, is prop- 

 erly fed and has a comfortable place to sleep after his 

 day's work is over, he will do all the work required of him 

 on such a trip; yet it is far better to have one or a brace of 

 extra dogs along, in case of lameness or some other casu- 

 alty. There are, no doubt, many places in Illinois where 

 fair grouse shooting could be found, but during the past 

 seven or eight years we have considered it best to cross the 

 Mississippi River into Iowa or Missouri, or to shoot in Wis- 

 consin. In making such shooting trips we have frequently 

 availed ourselves of trustworthy information from the 

 different conductors of the trains over the prairies as to tbe 

 best places to stop. Many of these gentlemen are sports- 

 men, and we have found all to be courteous and anxious to 

 give strangers valuable information as to where comfort, 

 able quarters and game may be found. In such shooting, 

 it is absolutely necessary to have a team and driver, as the 

 game is too heavy to carry any length of time; but a good 

 team and careful driver can always be found at moderate 

 rates. 



letter S., inclosing the blue mountains in its embrace and 

 winding afar off through a prospective so charming that 

 the artist Cole selected the site near by for his home. On 

 the opposite side of the river, on the highest elevatiou of a 

 range of hills, is the residence of Mr. Church, the painter 

 of Niagara. The river is wide here, and directly in the 

 foreground, and midway from shore to shore, is a grassy 

 island, where snipe occasionally venture to feed at low 

 tide, and are as quickly shot for their temerity. In Cats- 

 kill Creek, close by, Mr. Braisted will tell you they caught 

 25-pound striped bass 20 years ago, although there are 

 none there now. However, sportsmen do not make this 

 a rendezvous, and the beautiful grounds and the moun- 

 tain view, and the far-reaching landscape, with the veran 

 dahs, and the music and the ladies, more than compen- 

 sate for the absence of game and fish. So thought the 

 weary editor as he sat a week ago, on a hot day, dozing in 

 the shade of the verandah. 



Wild Rice.— Wm. H. Parker, writes from St. Elie, 

 County of St. Maurice, Province of Quebec, Canada, to in- 

 form those of our readers who may require Wild Rice for 

 planting, that he purchased last autumn several bushels 

 from Henry Merriam, of Harwood P.O., had it planted 

 in several lakes, and that it is now doing finely, promising 



an abundant yield. 



^.^. 



— Our Florida correspondent says that a steamer is be- 

 ing built 121 feet in length and proportionate beam to run 

 on the Halifax and Hiilsborough Rivers as far south as the 

 head of Indian River. The style of boat is like those on 

 the Mississippi. During the winter a canal will be cut 

 through sufficiently large lor boats to pass through to In- 

 dian River, and within two years parties can go as far 

 south as Jupiter. An outside boat to connect with 

 the New York steamers at Fernandina will be put on 

 in Decembei. Through tickets can thus be had to all 

 places on the Indian, Hillsborough, or Halifax Rivers. 

 That portion of Florida is being settled rapidly. 



THE INTERNATIONAL REGATTA. 



To any member of the Can't- Get- Away Club who wishes 

 a brief respite from labor, nothing is more enjoyable than 

 a sail up the Hudson River to Catskill, and a Sunday so- 

 journ at the Prospect Park Hotel, kept by the Messrs. 

 Braisted. The comforts of the house are all that any per 

 son can desire, while the location is the most charming on 

 the river. The Hudson here makes a huge sweep like a 



Philadelphia, August 21st. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



The Regatta Committee of the Natioual Association met 

 at the Philadelphia Boat Club House, this afternoon. They 

 had received protests against the entries of the Neptune, 

 Argonauta, and Atalanta crews. They decided that Riley, 

 of the Neptune, having been barred by the Executive Com- 

 mittee of the Association had no standing whatever, and 

 would of course not he allowed to row. "Upon evidence 

 which they considered fully sufficient, they barred Ed. 

 Smith of the Argonautas, hut in reference to the oilier 

 parties protested against, they decided that there was noth- 

 ing at present to warrant action. This amateur business is 

 a vexed question, and seems like to be. 



TheN. A. A. O., or rather its committees, have no 

 power to compel the attendance of witnesses, and none to 

 compel those to testify who do appear, yet they are the 

 only tribunals to which amateur clubs can look for protec- 

 tion. Whether or not they would be justified in barring 

 men on presumptive evidence is a grave question. Peihaps 

 the Convention of the Association will throw some light 

 upon the matter when it meets to-morrow night. 



The drawinging for heats and positions for the races for 

 Tuesday and Wednesday, resulted in the following pro- 

 gramme, Tuesday, Aug. 22: — 



First final Heat, Four Oared Shells, 3 p. m.- Atalanta. position west- 

 color red; Beaverwyck, potation middle; color white; Yale, position' 

 east; color blue. 



Second Trial Heat, 3:30 p. m.— Columbia College, position west; color 

 red; Vesper, position east; color white 



First Trial Heat. 4 p. m., Single Scull Shells.— Tasker. Crescent, posi- 

 tion west: color red; Ackerman, Atalauta, position middle; color white 

 Robinson, Union Springs, position ea.~t; color blue. 



Second Trial Heat, 4:30 p. m— Kennedy, Yale, position west; color 

 red; Pleasonton, Quaker City, po^ii ion middle; color white; Conrtuey, 

 Union Springs, position east; color blue. 



Third Trial Heat, 5 p. m.— Ke tor, Neptune, position west; color red- 

 McMillan, Vesper, position middle; color white; fates. Union Springs' 

 position east; color blue. 



Wednesday Aug. 23— Double Scull Shell Race. 4 p. ra,— Neptune, posi- 

 tion west; color red; Union Springs, position — -; color white; Atalan- 

 ta, position ; color blue : Vesper, position ean; color green. 



Fair-Oared Race, 4:30 p. m.— Argonauta, position west; color red ; 



Nautilus, position ; . olor white; Atalanta, position ; color blue- 



Beaverwyck, position east; color green. 



The final heals for four-oared and pair-oared shells will 

 be rowed on Thursday. The races will all he rowed on 

 the National Course, from Falls Bridge to Rockland, 1£ 

 miles straightway. Mr. E. D. Brickwood, aquatic editor, 

 London Fie/d, was appointed umpire. Besides the entries 

 for these races, there are many of the crews entered for the 

 International regattas only, at work on the river, and give 

 it a lively appearance. Since my last there have arrived 

 the Neptune, quartered with the Pacific, the Atalanta with 

 the Quaker City, the Argonauta with the Bachelor, the 

 Nautilus with the Philadelphia, and the Columbia College 

 with Malta. The Eureka, of Newark, N. J., and the 

 Beaverwycks, of Albany, are quartered in the new boat 

 house, as is Hanlon, of Toronto, the only professional here 

 at this writing. 



I notice in practice on the river this afternoon, the four- 

 oared crews of Cambridge, Dublin, London Rowing Club 

 Columbia ColLge, Beaverwyck's, Yale and the Crescents! 

 Much talk has been made, especially since the Harv- 

 ard and Oxford race, about the great difference between 

 the English and American stroke. No better time than 

 to day could be had, excepting of course the day of the 

 races for comparing them, and I am further confirmed in 

 what I asserted some weeks since, that the so-called Eng- 

 lish stroke might more properly be named the English Uni- 

 versity stroke. There is no characteristic difference that I 

 can see between the rowjng of the London crew and several 

 of the best amateur crews of this country. They 

 row wonderfully clean, their oars entering and leav- 

 ing the water without splash or flurry, and clear- 

 ing the water perfectly on the recover, even when the 

 riAer is rough. They drive their boats at racing speed with 

 httel apparent effort, and are to look at the most taking 

 crew on the river, not even excepting Yale, which is j-av 

 xng a good deal Sculls/ 



